Simple Solution To Productivity Improvements

Unions, and the Toronto civil servant unions are no exception, always end up saying that the signing of the contract will see improvements in productivity and an enhancement in innovation but it never seems to happen so maybe Comrade Miller and his lackey Shirley Hoy might want to read the following.......

Study Finds Working At Work Improves Productivity
November 5, 2007 | Issue 43•45

WASHINGTON, DC—According to a groundbreaking new study by the Department of Labor, working—the physical act of engaging in a productive job-related activity—may greatly increase the amount of work accomplished during the workday, especially when compared with the more common practices of wasting time and not working.

An worker can triple his work output by working.

"Our findings are astounding: By simply sitting down and doing work, employees can dramatically increase their output of goods and services," said Deputy Undersecretary of Labor Charlotte Ponticelli, who authored the report. "In fact, 'working' may revolutionize the way people work."

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Consequences

These screwup have resulted in one execution and one suicide.....in North America it would have resulted in election to positions of power starting at the local level.

Just how bad was the cake?

Woman runner-up in one-horse race

A grandmother won second prize in a cake-baking contest at a fete, only to discover she was the only entrant. Jenny Brown, 62, entered her Victoria Sponge into the competition and was initially pleased to have come second.

But she was left shocked when a friend revealed to her that she was the only person to take part.

The contest was organised by the Wimblington Sports Committee and judges marked down the cake because it had indentations from the oven rack.

Ms Brown said: "My friend came over to me at the fete and said I had come second. "I asked her how many more entries there had been, but she just started laughing and said I was the only one.

"I definitely wasn't annoyed about it."

Although the cake was not deemed fit to win the competition, Ms Brown said it was soon polished off with no complaints.

Julie Dent, from the Wimblington Sports Committee, said: "The judges had an expectation and I suppose they didn't feel as though it qualified for first place.

"This was the first year but the cake competition will become an annual event."

She said her own baking was subject to another strange decision.

"About 11 years ago I entered a show with some fruit scones. I was the only entrant but I came third."

Uniquely Canadian. Eh!

Quiet news day?

Those nasty, little habits we have TheStar.com - living - Those nasty, little habits we have

Automatic behaviours a vent for nervous energy and also an indicator of our Canadian identity

July 03, 2007

Michele Henry
Living Reporter

We pick our noses when we think no one's watching.

We bite our nails, chew on pens and pencils. Some of us nervously suck the tips of our hair.

But we have a few habits that are distinctly Canadian. We're polite to a fault, won't push in line, can't stop whining about the weather.

And, of course, there's this:

"You say `eh,'" says Margaret Wilcox, 68, a tourist in town from Virginia. "I don't think it's a weird habit, but I love to hear you say `eh.' There's something about it. It's the opposite of our `y'all.'"

Adding that extra word to the end of our sentences is a habit that makes hosers unique. It's akin to bowing in the Japanese culture, being hospitable in the Maritimes. Or the wild gesticulating that accompanies conversations in many European countries.

Steve Joordens, a University of Toronto Scarborough psychology professor, says such habits help us fit in – even if the most enduring ones aren't as sexy as "eh."

We've probably picked up a lot of our tendencies by copying others, he says, but habits are not things we consciously perform. "It just happens when we're not thinking about it."

These unconscious actions – twisting our hair or sucking our thumbs – might satisfy some primitive need to rid ourselves of extra energy. Our conscious selves probably won't allow us to dispose of it any other way, Joordens says.

Banning Handguns. Logic Says We Should Also Ban Cars

Think about it!

Police Allege Car Used As Murder Weapon

Sunday June 17, 2007

CityNews.ca Staff

Police allege a car was used to kill a young man early Sunday morning after a conflict at Dufferin and Eglinton.

Twenty-year-old Daryl Sebado was having a party at his home when he left and got into an argument with the suspect. Police say the two didn't previously know each other.

Poetic Justice???

Dutch smoking ban to cover coffee shops

Fri Jun 8, 3:49 PM ET

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch smoking ban will come into force in July next year for all restaurants and cafes -- including coffee shops where cannabis is the top attraction, the government decided on Friday.

"Coffee shops will be treated in the same manner as other catering businesses. They will be smoke-free," Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told NOS television.

"It would have been wrong to move towards a smoke-free catering industry and then make an exception for coffee shops. People would not have understood that."

A Strange Editorial

Especially in a newspaper who supported a mayor who was elected on stopping the building of bridges.

Build a city of bridges, not walls
May 24, 2007
Karen Zhou

No matter how much bashing this city has endured over the years, Toronto can still take pride in the allure it has for all kinds of people, from adults seeking employment, to students in search of a good education in one of its world-class institutions, to immigrants who want to make it their new home.

Another Hostage Praises Captors Humane & Caring Nature

Kidnapped Hostage Paris Hilton Doing Well; Captors Release Video

Left: Still image of hostage Paris Hilton

(Los Angeles) Los Angeles militants have released the first video of celebrity Paris Hilton since she was kidnapped two days ago, during which the heiress said she was in good health and being well treated.

"First of all, my captors have treated me very well. They’ve fed me decently, there’s been no violence towards me at all, and I’m in fine health," said a pale Hilton, wearing an light grey jumpsuit and seated before a plain backdrop. "My merciful captors demand the release of political prisoners held in Los Angeles jails, and they would also like a 2008 Hummer. Those things kick ass."

There was no indication as to when the Internet video was produced, but Hilton at one point referred to "here in LA" and its debut marked a new round of international calls for her freedom.

Speaking from DC, President George W. Bush said that the United States was doing everything in its power to secure Hitlon's freedom.

"We are doing everything possible that we can to secure her release, and I hope we will be able to close this chapter in the next few weeks," he said. "I am asking the kidnappers to release her immediately because holding Paris Hilton does not help the South Central cause. Also, I totally dug Paris in that crazy sex video, and I'm hoping to see some more of that shit."

The militant group that claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and which has posted the video on the Web, is referred to as the Army of Compton. Government officials said that the militants have threatened to bring harm to the wealthy Hilton.

"I believe the phrase they used was: 'turn her out like a five-dollar ho,' and I have no doubt they mean what they say," said a California official who spoke with National Nitwit reporters, requesting anonymity. "But Paris, she is so strong. If anyone could get through something like this, even if it lasted three months, even if it's longer, I think she would be able to stay psychologically strong. This woman is a survivor. No wait; that was another show. I mean this woman knows the simple life, and she is an inspiration to us all."

Labels: Los Angeles, Paris Hilton

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THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!

If only we could count on that.........

O'Donnell Will Not Be Back on 'The View'
ABC Announces Early Departure for Host

I can see one of the networks bringing her back to compete with the redneck bounty hunter and his family.

Political Correctness 1 Freedom Of Expression 0

The use of "satire" as a defense is probably used by all bloggers at one time or another.

Is it satire or a threat? Peel senior in court over a poem

By SAM PAZZANO, COURTS BUREAU

The message from Peel Regional Police to Antonio Batista is clear: Don't do the rhyme if you can't do the time.

The 75-year-old Mississauga resident is facing a criminal charge of threatening and intimidation against city councillor Pat Saito for his poem last year mocking her for being obsessed with filling potholes instead of solving other problems.

"We're going to build a pothole six-foot-long and five-foot-deep and three-foot-wide to hide her body inside," his poem stated. "And God will take of her soul. She can keep running at a good pace. We'll make sure she's in heaven and out of the race, so please God take this soul."

Lawyer Clayton Ruby said the poem is satirical, not criminal behaviour, and that's the defence he'll advance when the trial opens Monday at Brampton's provincial court.

The Whisperers

Conspiracy Theorists Plotting World Domination
Rumor and Fear Used To Subvert Minds—And Nations

World - A secret, centuries-old cabal is using rumor and deception on a massive scale to subvert democratic systems and build unprecedented political power, knowledgeable sources say.

The CIA was behind the September 11 terrorist attacks, these plotters would have you believe. The Air Force covered up the discovery of a crashed alien spacecraft in Roswell, New Mexico. The government created the AIDS virus to target homosexuals and ethnic minorities. All of these conspiracy theories, experts say, can be traced to a single group, known by the code name 'The Whisperers.'

"Many naïve observers dismiss these theories as merely random bits of modern folklore," says a U.S. intelligence official who declined to be named, for fear of endangering his life while investigating such a menacing threat. "But they all follow the same pattern. They all depict the government as evil. They all undermine the people’s trust in the very system that keeps them free. How can this be a coincidence?"

The Whisperers seem to excel at covering their tracks. "At first glance, these wild theories about assassinations and moon hoaxes seem unconnected," the intelligence official says. "There is no hard evidence indicating that their origins are in any way related. That just shows that The Whisperers are skilled professionals. They never leave a single trace of their activities, or even of their existence."




"It may sound impossible. But that’s exactly what the conspiracy theorists want you to think."



Tantalizing glimpses of the group's nefarious plans have become known. "Phase One of our plan is to use innuendo and fabrication to sow fear and mistrust in the population," says a source claiming to be a high-ranking member of The Whisperers, who refused to be identified while plotting global domination. "By the end of Phase Twenty, we will have every nation in the world in our merciless grip."

The source declined to explain Phases Two through Nineteen.

Still, investigators believe they have filled in many of the missing pieces. "Phase One, the spreading of preposterous conspiracy theories, is already completed," the intelligence official says. "They are now in Phase Two, in which disgust and apathy among the general public leads to increased corruption and scandal in the government. In Phase Three, the government divides into bitter factions and begins to lose control. This is followed by economic collapse, environmental catastrophe, biological terrorism, and a global energy crisis. It may sound impossible. But that’s exactly what the conspiracy theorists want you to think."

Experts caution that the danger can come from anywhere, at any time. Any story on the news, any piece of gossip at the water cooler, might have been planted by The Whisperers. But one simple piece of advice can keep you safe. "Above all: trust no one," the intelligence source says. "Next time you hear about an outrageous conspiracy theory that couldn't possibly work, don't believe it. If you do, then the conspiracy theorists have already won."

Elizabeth May - More Than You Might Want To Know

Elizabeth May, Nazis, and the voters of Central Nova

Much Ado About Nothing

But it does give Layton and Bouchard much needed media attention......their court jester positions have been diminished by Elizabeth May.

Hockey officials have been summoned to a parliamentary committee to explain their choice of Shane Doan as Team Canada captain. What do you think?

Silly use of time and tax dollars 4699 votes (96 %)
Smart way to raise the issues 180 votes (4 %)

Total Votes: 4879

Hockey officials to explain Doan's captaincy

Updated Tue. May. 1 2007 8:55 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Hockey Canada officials will be summoned by a parliamentary committee in Ottawa to explain why they chose Shane Doan as Team Canada captain at a world hockey tournament in Russia.

At issue is a derogatory remark Doan allegedly made toward a French-Canadian linesman during a game in December 2005.

Doan, a captain and forward with the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, has denied making any slurs. The allegations have never been proven and Doan was cleared by the NHL after a league investigation into the incident.

But on Tuesday the Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP supported a Bloc Quebecois motion demanding that officials from Hockey Canada and Sport Canada -- two federally-funded but arm's length bodies -- appear before the House of Commons' Official Languages Committee on Thursday.

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You Still Have To Wait Longer But Now You're More Fashionable

No more hangin' out at the hospital
By SARAH GREEN

It's the end of an era for the open-back hospital gown.

Trillium Health Centre unveiled its new patient attire at its annual gala last night, featuring a new style of gowns, jackets and pants that make more than a fashion statement.

The clothing is tailored with front and back ties, Velcro closures, even wider legs that allow medical staff to care for patients without leaving them feeling overexposed.

"It's all about dignity," said Jo-Anne Oake-Vecchiato, Trillium's director of women's and children's health. "It's the age-old complaint -- those gowns leave you exposed and vulnerable in one of the more challenging times."

The idea for the new patient attire began several years ago at the women's health centre.

TEST CLOTHING

Patients having mammograms were offered jackets instead of gowns and the cover-ups came in two sizes. Skirts followed in shorter and longer lengths, to accommodate cultural needs.

"It went over really, really well," Oake-Vecchiato said. "This is something we should do hospital-wide."

Last night's gala raised $525,000 towards the $600,000 cost of new patient attire. A three-month pilot project will test the clothing in different areas -- from the emergency room to birthing suites.

While research hasn't looked specifically at patient attire, Oake-Vecchiato said there's some evidence that patients are more willing to come back for screening and other procedures if the experience is not anxiety-ridden.

I Pose The Same Question To David Suzuki

Check the washrooms in Regina.........

Sheryl Crow: I Was Joking!
Posted by Matthew Sheffield on April 25, 2007 - 01:16.

Is it just me or does it seem that liberal political figures seem to have a propensity to say "it was just a joke" whenever a particularly idiotic idea of theirs meets with appropriate ridicule?

That at least, is what Sheryl Crow is now saying after her remarks about how everyone should only use one square of toilet paper were derided worldwide.

Same old hot air from Al Gore
Either way, there's a strong likelihood that you got exactly what you hoped for in Al Gore's speech in Regina. If you are among the group that doesn't believe a word Gore says -- "a group diminishing more rapidly than the glaciers," as Gore, ironically, described doubters during his Regina address Monday -- you will be comforted to know there was absolutely nothing in his speech that wasn't in his documentary An Inconvenient Truth .
- Murray Mandryk, The Leader-Post

Saving The Environment One Square At A Time

And gaining carbon credits.........


Saving the Earth: The Biodiesel Bus Blog
Sunday, April 22, 2007; D01

Singer Sheryl Crow and environmentalist Laurie David have been traveling across America on a two-week Stop Global Warming College Tour, which winds up today at George Washington University. Crow and David (co-producer of the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" and wife of "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Larry David) have been touting their cause and chronicling their travels in a rather idiosyncratic blog. Here, on Earth Day, are a few excerpts:

David (4/10, Dallas): I am jogging outside in 40 degree freezing cold . . . 70 degrees in January and 40 degrees in April. That is exactly why Sheryl Crow and I are in a biodiesel bus going thru the Southeast visiting college campuses to talk about the urgency of this issue and how everyone . . . everyone . . . has to start doing something. I would write more, but I have to go run warm water over my hands and thaw out from my run.

Crow and David (4/18, Nashville): Our other surprise was a visit by former Vice President Al Gore who sat and talked with us on the bus about what he hopes to see happen in this country as the stop global warming movement catches fire. Having the former Vice President visit was like having your dad show up for Father's Weekend at the sorority house. We were giddy with excitement and proud to show him our home away from home.

Crow (4/19, Springfield, Tenn.): I have spent the better part of this tour trying to come up with easy ways for us all to become a part of the solution to global warming. Although my ideas are in the earliest stages of development, they are, in my mind, worth investigating. One of my favorites is in the area of forest conservation which we heavily rely on for oxygen. I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don't want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required.

Crow (4/19): I also like the idea of not using paper napkins, which happen to be made from virgin wood and represent the height of wastefulness. I have designed a clothing line that has what's called a "dining sleeve." The sleeve is detachable and can be replaced with another "dining sleeve," after usage. The design will offer the "diner" the convenience of wiping his mouth on his sleeve rather than throwing out yet another barely used paper product. I think this idea could also translate quite well to those suffering with an annoying head cold.

Crow (4/19): This next idea I have been saving but I will share it with you if you promise not to steal it. It is my latest, very exciting idea for creating incentive for us all to minimize our own personal carbon footprints. It's a reality show. (I feel pretty certain NO ONE has thought of this yet!) Here is the premise: the contest consists of 10 people who are competing for the top spot as the person who lives the "greenest" life. This will be reflected in the contestant's home, his business, and his own personal living style. The winner of this challenging, prestigious, contest would receive what??. . . . a recording contract!!!!!

David (4/20, Charlottesville): Sheryl couldn't be with me tonight because of a previous commitment [Crow traveled to New York for a show that wasn't part of the tour] but luckily rock stars have rock star friends. Tonight, I spoke outside the gorgeous Charlottesville pavilion, in front of a couple of thousand slightly inebriated college men (there to see the wonderful Robert Randolph and the Family Band) who were forced to sit through the opening act . . . me. Truly, it was one of the most challenging 20 minutes of my life. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw guys yawning, I heard kids saying "where's the music?" and I think I heard the "b" word. I rushed through the speech and when I walked off the stage I immediately burst into tears. Not because I took anything personally but because it was so clear how much work is still to be done. Tonight served as a stark reminder that social change is a journey and I learned tonight that not every stop is going to be easy.

Rove, Crow debate global warming

It's Raining And There Is Nothing Interesting On TV

So pickup the phone and dial (818) 460-7477 to show your support for Rosie O'Donnell as championed by somebigguy.

OH! WAIT A MINUTE BEFORE YOUR DIAL. I JUST REMEMBERED THIS IS APRIL 1ST.Is it possible somebigguy got taken in?

Call ABC for Rosie
Contributed by: somebigguy
You know that you’re doing something right if Bill O’Reilly makes you the subject of his evening’s hate fest. In a courageous attempt to bring to the public some of the glaring questions about 9/11, Rosie O’Donnell dared to question the official narrative on ABC’s The View.

In addition to going public with her skepticism of 9/11, Rosie recently wrote a blog entry encouraging her readers to research 9/11, in particular the building 7 demolition. Apparently questioning the official story was too much for Bill O’Reilly, who, never straying from his usual bullying tactics, predictably called for the network to fire Rosie, claiming she was irresponsible and disrespecting the people who died that fateful day.


If you are in support of Rosie O’Donnell’s comments please call ABC immediately to tell them and please pass this information along to others. Comments can be submitted via phone by dialing (818) 460-7477 then press #2 - then press #4 (for Daytime shows) then press #849 (for The View)

The View Should Be Renamed The Vagina Dialogue

The Bible: Rosie O'Donnell Studies It, Barbara Knows Nothing, Joy Says Teach It As Fiction
Posted by Tim Graham on March 27, 2007 - 09:03.

When Rosie O’Donnell wasn’t urging the Googling of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident on ABC's "The View" on Monday, she was boasting of her knowledge of the Old Testament, based on her weekly private Bible study. She told Elisabeth Hasselbeck she could whip her in Jeopardy on the Bible.

The topic was teaching the Bible in public schools, as discussed in newspapers (and in this week’s Time magazine cover story). Like many secular journalists, Barbara Walters asserted "I know nothing about the Bible, and I think most people don’t." Joy Behar insisted "you can’t teach it as nonfiction. You have to teach it as fiction in many ways." When challenged about how the Bible could be taught, Behar blurted out: "People masturbate anyway."

Thanks to Sardonic Sideshow

It Seems Logical-House People Where They Work

Panhandling/begging seems to be a source of income for the homeless so why wouldn't you reduce their travel time by housing them in an area where there is a high volume of traffic. And of course we want to make tourists feel at home in the same way most major urban centers allow begging in tourist areas. But the local councilor brings up a valid point; ""The most serious concern that was raised ... (was) there were worries about the homeless with all the hooligans from the entertainment district and whether or not these people would get a good night's sleep," he says." Only In Toronto!

Shelter in club district called `disaster' TheStar.com - News - Shelter in club district called `disaster'
Plan to locate homeless in entertainment area leaves resident `flabbergasted'
March 24, 2007
Raju Mudhar
Staff Reporter

The city of Toronto is considering putting a homeless shelter in the heart of the Entertainment district at the corner of Richmond and Peter Sts.

The plan is to turn the old Fez Batik club space into a 24/7 assessment and referral centre. The on-site shelter would have a 40-bed capacity. The plan has both residents and businesses, particularly club owners, concerned.

The new location is needed because the current centre at 110 Edward St. closes at the end of April to make way for 300 units of affordable housing, says Phil Brown, general manager of the shelter, support and housing administration division of the city.

"A building such as this is very good for conversion into an assessment and referral centre and shelter because it has high ceilings, wide open spaces and it also has a commercial kitchen," said Brown. "These are the kinds of things we look for."

The site also meets municipal bylaw standards for shelter locations, such as having the correct zoning, and being close to major roads and public transit. The plan also accords with the city's streets-to-home program, which has moved more than 1,000 people into permanent housing in the last two years. Brown said the plan is to have the shelter open by end of summer.

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