The Constable

It's not gonna matter what kind of phone you get. You're not gonna be able to push the buttons with your stubby, mutant thumbs!

There's a community in north Georgia, not too far from where I currently live, where one of the prequalifications for home ownership is gun ownership. They have a surprisingly low crime rate.

Whatever dude.

That he doesn't say "new-kew-lar" alone places his legacy head and shoulders above GWB's.

Good one ... you're right. They should probably start carving his face on Rushmore for just that reason.

Such as?

How about bringing 'change' to DC? This is hardly evidenced in his selections of Biden, Clinton, and Panetta; all long time Washington insiders.

Since the election Obama has 'refined' his withdrawl committment from Iraq, he's backed off his tough talk to break the NAFTA agreement, he's become far less bold in his promises to 'unconditionally' meet with terrorist leaders, he's now contemplating corporate tax cuts.

It's classic election year politics. He moved to the center, told the lemmings what they needed to hear, won the election and then changed his tune.

Another Obama body tingling speach!

If by that you mean another short on content, rhetoric driven sermon then I whole heartedly agree.

The way everybody has been talking about Barry O. you'd think all the world's issues will be solved by the end of the week. He's already back peddling on a good number of his campaign promises. This guy's bitten off far more than he can chew and that'll become clear once his honeymoon is over.

Mark my words, history will look much more kindly on the Bush II administration after Obama's one term debacle is over in four years.

Cars are cars nowadays whether built by a North American or Japanese manufacturer. There really is little difference between them in terms of quality. All major car companies are building in North America and all are building cars for which there is or has been market demand. To suggest that Japanese automakers had some revelation that North American manufacturers didn't in embracing hybrid technology is false. Toyota and Honda continue to build huge gas guzzling SUVs and trucks just like the Big Three (see Toyota Sequoia SUV & Tundra puck up truck, Honda Pilot SUV & Ridgeline pick up truck). Steering wheels cost the same, tires cost the same, engines cost the same. On those elements the playing field is relatively level.

Where the difference lies is in the Japanese automaker's avoidance of union organization. This has become their primary competitive advantage over the Big Three. Until GM, Ford and Chrysler get out from under the mountain of waste and legacy cost heaped on them by organized labour they'll never recover.

You could hold back salaries for all executives at all the Big Three automakers for the next ten years and it wouldn't make a measurable bit of difference. There's a reason GM, Ford and Chrysler are on Capital Hill begging for bailout money while companies like Toyota and Honda are poised to emerge as industry leaders once the economy rebounds. It has nothing to do with better quality vehicles or executive compensation or environmentally friendly products.

The legacy of greed within labour unions and their unwaivering stance that they'll not make concessions under any circumstances is what's caused this mess. It's time to burst the union bubble. The $30 or $35 an hour a line worker gets to attach a bumper to a Ford Focus is overvalued. The full ride health care plans that follow retirees and their families to their graves have bled these companies dry.

Deny the bailout request. Force the Big Three into bankruptcy and shatter existing union contracts into a million pieces. $25 billion dollars won't go far without bottom to top restructuring of labour agreements. It's easy to look at executives and place blame but the real root cause here is the union rank and file membership and their misguided representatives.

Happy B-Day Meggo!!! See you soon.

What's it gonna be Chewie???

I know some folks in the Chatham-Kent area (several kms off of Lake Erie) who've been approached about having these turbines erected on their farmland. Apparently the proposals have been pretty lucrative in terms of initial and future compensation.

The upside of utilizing these gigantic turbines, aside from taking advantage of an obviously unlimited energy source, is that they take up relatively little farmland allowing the majority of space to still be used for agricultural purposes. The mechanical portion of the turbine itself is housed underground.

Whatever you end up doing ... VOTE FOR CHANGE.

Worst case scenario is that we go through this entire exercise again and end up with the same middle of the road, complacent, 'not challenged to do anything significant' Liberal government.

While the Conservatives haven't quite come far enough to have the broad based popular appeal they need to carry the country they're a better alternative than the NDP (anyone recall the Bob Rae debacle in Ontario several years back???), unless of course you don't mind paying higher taxes and dealing with their proven ineptitude.

Congratulations Chewie!!!

[color:"black"] English ... Have I taught you nothing???

gas prices at 3.00/L [color:"red"] - Not now. With Bush in office and a Republican controlled Congress the US is free and clear start movin' heavy machinery up to Alaska and drill up all the oil that's been sittin' up in the reserve for the last few thousand years.

another MAJOR terrorist attack on USA [color:"red"] - If someone wants to bad enough nobody's gonna stop them. The fact that there hasn't already been another major attack on the US is testament to what Bush has done and will continue to do.

a military draft for the US [color:"red"] - Never gonna happen!

continued disfavour of the US around the world [color:"red"] - Like electing John Kerry would have made a big difference in global opinion toward the US.

another 4 years without a visit to Canada by the President

stock market crash

abortion outlawed [color:"red"] - Bush would never touch Rv.W ... sometimes you gotta fabricate a story for the religious nut jobs just to get their vote.

many more monkey pictures on the internet

Hux moves to Namibia

huge tax cuts for the rich [color:"red"] - A simple trickle down economics lesson here ... the rich are the people with the cash, let them keep more of it then they can reinvest in businesses that will inevitably offer up job to the middle class, more jobs = more taxes collected by the gov't which means further tax cuts down the line for the middle class.

but hey, it only makes Canada look better eh.

[color:"black"] That should about do it.

Gatineau's awesome Meggo, especially when the leaves start to turn ... you'll enjoy a few hours in the hills.

Hope all is well. Take care.

I'm in Chewie. See ya' there dude.

I'll throw your Tigers jersey in the van.

Chewie,

I might be able to take these off your hands. Maybe we could swing something for the Deer Creek ticket.

Check your email.

Thanks bud.

You bunch of crazy hippies ... explain to me how a shift to the left is a good thing ... get out your cheque books cause this one's gonna cost us.

English, you're so right ... this show was incredible, probably one of the best Phish shows I've seen.

I decided at the last minute to shoot over to Indiana to catch this show. A couple of cheap tics and some stellar scores in the parking lot has me right back drivin' the E train, I realize now I was a passenger for way too long.

Coventry is gonna be one of those once in a lifetime events, kinda like Big Cypress, wish I could make it.

Hux,

Awesome experience indeed. I saw Kerry speak here in Dayton several months ago. He ain't no GWB but impressive nonetheless. I'd burn the pic of you and Sharpton!

If I were a Yank I'd still vote for Nader. HaHa!!

Forget about the individual candidates ... they don't matter in the Canadian political system, this rule goes for leadership candidates as well. MPs are bound to vote along party lines so you need to vote for the party that most aptly represents your personal opinions. Understand where you sit on the major issues that are most important in your life, identify the PARTY that best represents those opinions and that's who you vote for, regardless of whether you like the actual candidate in your riding or not. Once you figure out where you stand on issues you'll probably end up voting for the same party in every election and avoid this never ednding decision making process.

That's something that's always bugged me about Elections Canada -- in a party based system they don't indicate party affiliations on the ballots when in fact this is really the only information that matters.

English - Not this year bro ... we need to hook up for some beers soon though.

Chewie - Just got your email, I haven't checked the board in a while ... I snafued a couple of tics for the Knob show but am still looking at Deer Creek as a good possibility. The Roo hasn't shaped up quite as well as I would have liked (no WSP to steal the show this year) so I'm still up in the air ... might be a game time decision on that one.

Meggo - Probably see you at the cottage sister.

Chewie,

What's goin' on bro??? Congrats on the CBC gig ... fantastic news.

Hows about Sunday night in Indy then hittin' up the Detroit and Cleveland shows Tuesday and Wednesday, perhaps a dumpster party or 2 along the way???

Sounds like a nice bender to me. ::