HOW TO START YOUR DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK
1. Open a new file in your PC.
2. Name it "Housework."
3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN
4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN
5. Your PC will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete Housework permanently?"
6. Answer calmly, "Yes," and press the mouse button firmly....
7. Feel better?
Sunday, May 22, 2005
A little shopping
I was off to get a key cut at the Home Depot in Manhatten near the Flatiron Building (5th Avenue & Broadway) When I happenned to see this view and had my trusty camera to take it.
There it was! The Empire State building perfectly framed by 5th Avenue!
There it was! The Empire State building perfectly framed by 5th Avenue!
Stronach's Short Attention Span: Keeping Her Face in the Media
Belinda Stronach, the MP for Newmarket-Aurora who recently changed party allegiances from the Conservatives to the Liberals, has either a short attention span or is merely in it to keep her face in the media.
It all came to light when she was trying to become the federal Conservatives' first leader after the merger of the Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties. However, she realized, after the failed bid, that her leadership aspirations would have to be put on hold and her interests would have go some where else.
But let’s back ourselves up a bit before Belinda's political career got of the ground. Let’s start with her role at Magna International. Her daddy, Frank Stronach, barely gave her control over Aurora's Magna Autoparts. She bragged that she had risen Magna's profile and earnings. She became one of Canada's most influential businesswomen. Then she moved towards raising money for the new expansion of Newmarket's Southlake Regional Health Centre's expansion honourary fundraising chairperson. Her time at the top of Magna? About 5 years. Southlake Honourary Chairperson fundraising? 2-3 years maximum.
The hospital's fundraising campaign was barely rapped up when she got the political bite and got the Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties to merge under her mediation. Then the rest is history, she tries and places second to Stephen Harper for the new Conservative Party's leadership. Next, she gets elected by the constituents of the Newmarket-Aurora riding. After being elected, Belinda receives the International Trade critic's portfolio and then, just before the budget vote last Thursday, hops to a new challenge as Human Resources Minister and becomes a Liberal.
However, she was happy when Harper gave her the "International Trade" critic's portfolio in Harper's "shadow cabinet". But she obviously realized that the idea of a "shadow cabinet" really didn't mean much except to guarantee her speaking time. Thus, around a year later she snuck into 24 Sussex Drive to have dinner with Paul Martin over a deal to help her join the Liberals and gain some power in the cabinet. Martin, who's government was hanging by a thread, tripped over himself in order to get Stronach's vote onside in order to maintain power as well.
So there we are, all up to date. It seems Belinda Stronach's attention span has shortened or her need to be in the media spotlight has taken hold. How is this so? Consider that Stronach was at Magna for maybe 5 years, got the political bug then time between jobs shortened even more as her interests seem to have changed more quickly. Of course with every new job change (e.g. political party mediator, Conservative leadership candidate, MP, International trade critic, Human Resources Minister, etc.) there is a press conference where Belinda's smiling face shows up.
The question is, how long will Stronach be in this new job before she seeks even more press coverage and/or seeks something more interesting?
Watch out Paul Martin, Stronach might be gunning for the leadership of the Liberals over the next six months as her attention continues to shift from one thing to another. Or then again, maybe she might have had her fill of politics and go ask father, Frank Stronach, to let her have a chance in the horse racing industry. In which case the voters, after being screwed by Belinda not once (switching from Conservatives to Liberals) as well as a by-election in order to replace her, but twice after a by-election is held. This will only tarnish the once trustworthy Stronach name.
Bright Stronach name? Frank Stronach brought huge economic investment to Aurora in the late nineties when he decided the Town of Aurora should be home to the new Magna World headquarters and associated Research and Development, executive housing, golf course and much more. This development, on top of Stronach's existing horse farm, has been a kickstart to commercial and industrial development in the already burgeoning Aurora area. Magna and the Stronachs have been major supporters of quite a few local amateur sports teams by sponsoring both events and teams. Also, Magna provides soccer fields for free to the Aurora Youth Soccer Club and also uses this space to host the annual Magna Hoedown which supports local charitable organizations. Add to this the Southlake Regional Health Centre's fundraising campaign, the Stronach name has been pretty shined up in the Newmarket-Aurora area.
However, all this may change if Belinda decides to quit politics because of her seemingly changing interests. Then the Newmarket-Aurora area may become distrustful towards the Stronach name. Only time and Belinda will tell what the state of the Stronach name will be in the future. It all depends on Belinda's need for more press coverage or her attention span on looking for something new and interesting to do.
It all came to light when she was trying to become the federal Conservatives' first leader after the merger of the Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties. However, she realized, after the failed bid, that her leadership aspirations would have to be put on hold and her interests would have go some where else.
But let’s back ourselves up a bit before Belinda's political career got of the ground. Let’s start with her role at Magna International. Her daddy, Frank Stronach, barely gave her control over Aurora's Magna Autoparts. She bragged that she had risen Magna's profile and earnings. She became one of Canada's most influential businesswomen. Then she moved towards raising money for the new expansion of Newmarket's Southlake Regional Health Centre's expansion honourary fundraising chairperson. Her time at the top of Magna? About 5 years. Southlake Honourary Chairperson fundraising? 2-3 years maximum.
The hospital's fundraising campaign was barely rapped up when she got the political bite and got the Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties to merge under her mediation. Then the rest is history, she tries and places second to Stephen Harper for the new Conservative Party's leadership. Next, she gets elected by the constituents of the Newmarket-Aurora riding. After being elected, Belinda receives the International Trade critic's portfolio and then, just before the budget vote last Thursday, hops to a new challenge as Human Resources Minister and becomes a Liberal.
However, she was happy when Harper gave her the "International Trade" critic's portfolio in Harper's "shadow cabinet". But she obviously realized that the idea of a "shadow cabinet" really didn't mean much except to guarantee her speaking time. Thus, around a year later she snuck into 24 Sussex Drive to have dinner with Paul Martin over a deal to help her join the Liberals and gain some power in the cabinet. Martin, who's government was hanging by a thread, tripped over himself in order to get Stronach's vote onside in order to maintain power as well.
So there we are, all up to date. It seems Belinda Stronach's attention span has shortened or her need to be in the media spotlight has taken hold. How is this so? Consider that Stronach was at Magna for maybe 5 years, got the political bug then time between jobs shortened even more as her interests seem to have changed more quickly. Of course with every new job change (e.g. political party mediator, Conservative leadership candidate, MP, International trade critic, Human Resources Minister, etc.) there is a press conference where Belinda's smiling face shows up.
The question is, how long will Stronach be in this new job before she seeks even more press coverage and/or seeks something more interesting?
Watch out Paul Martin, Stronach might be gunning for the leadership of the Liberals over the next six months as her attention continues to shift from one thing to another. Or then again, maybe she might have had her fill of politics and go ask father, Frank Stronach, to let her have a chance in the horse racing industry. In which case the voters, after being screwed by Belinda not once (switching from Conservatives to Liberals) as well as a by-election in order to replace her, but twice after a by-election is held. This will only tarnish the once trustworthy Stronach name.
Bright Stronach name? Frank Stronach brought huge economic investment to Aurora in the late nineties when he decided the Town of Aurora should be home to the new Magna World headquarters and associated Research and Development, executive housing, golf course and much more. This development, on top of Stronach's existing horse farm, has been a kickstart to commercial and industrial development in the already burgeoning Aurora area. Magna and the Stronachs have been major supporters of quite a few local amateur sports teams by sponsoring both events and teams. Also, Magna provides soccer fields for free to the Aurora Youth Soccer Club and also uses this space to host the annual Magna Hoedown which supports local charitable organizations. Add to this the Southlake Regional Health Centre's fundraising campaign, the Stronach name has been pretty shined up in the Newmarket-Aurora area.
However, all this may change if Belinda decides to quit politics because of her seemingly changing interests. Then the Newmarket-Aurora area may become distrustful towards the Stronach name. Only time and Belinda will tell what the state of the Stronach name will be in the future. It all depends on Belinda's need for more press coverage or her attention span on looking for something new and interesting to do.
Koo comes home
Benson, Koo lead Mets over Yankees
So it was with great interest yesterday that I saw Dae-Sung Koo, a Mets'' left handed relief pitcher standing on second base. I thought nothing of it until after Koo slid accross home plate scoring on a weird sacrifice bunt play laid down by the Mets' Josey Reyes.
Koo came accross the plate when he noticed that Yankee's catcher, Jorge Posada, was up the line to field the bunt and home plate was open. Koo took a head first slide and barely got his pinky onto home plate in front of Jorge Posada who had received the ball and was trying to return to home plate to make the tag.
Why was the Mets' dugout rolling in laughter on the play? Lets go back to Monday nights game against the Cincinatti Reds. In this game Koo came to the plate and stood pretty well with his toes on the back of the batters box with a bat. The bat never left his shoulder in three pitches and he went down in a strike out.
So there it was yesterday (Saturday), Koo at bat against the Yankees' lefty Randy Johnson. This batting-pitching mismatch was so bad that Mets' catcher Mike Piazza, according to the Daily News, said to Mets' player David Wright that if Koo hits one Piazza would donate a million dollars to charity. So there was Wright after the hit totally beside himself in laughter and Piazza's mouth wide open in awe. Not only did Koo actually take the bat of his shoulder, he had hit a double of the center field wall. Then he scored on top of that on the next play to give the Mets' a 3-0 lead.
What a difference a week can make. Koo is now batting .500 with one run and a double. Not bad for a pitcher who, according to him, hasn't batted or practiced sliding since high school!
So it was with great interest yesterday that I saw Dae-Sung Koo, a Mets'' left handed relief pitcher standing on second base. I thought nothing of it until after Koo slid accross home plate scoring on a weird sacrifice bunt play laid down by the Mets' Josey Reyes.
Koo came accross the plate when he noticed that Yankee's catcher, Jorge Posada, was up the line to field the bunt and home plate was open. Koo took a head first slide and barely got his pinky onto home plate in front of Jorge Posada who had received the ball and was trying to return to home plate to make the tag.
Why was the Mets' dugout rolling in laughter on the play? Lets go back to Monday nights game against the Cincinatti Reds. In this game Koo came to the plate and stood pretty well with his toes on the back of the batters box with a bat. The bat never left his shoulder in three pitches and he went down in a strike out.
So there it was yesterday (Saturday), Koo at bat against the Yankees' lefty Randy Johnson. This batting-pitching mismatch was so bad that Mets' catcher Mike Piazza, according to the Daily News, said to Mets' player David Wright that if Koo hits one Piazza would donate a million dollars to charity. So there was Wright after the hit totally beside himself in laughter and Piazza's mouth wide open in awe. Not only did Koo actually take the bat of his shoulder, he had hit a double of the center field wall. Then he scored on top of that on the next play to give the Mets' a 3-0 lead.
What a difference a week can make. Koo is now batting .500 with one run and a double. Not bad for a pitcher who, according to him, hasn't batted or practiced sliding since high school!
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Frommer pens guide to loos across U.S.
CBC News: Frommer pens guide to loos across U.S.
Wandering again on the internet aimlessly before going to clean the bathroom and came accross this article (really it was a coincidence that I was going to clean the bathroom and this article came up on cbc.ca.
I do hope the guide is put out each calendar year and includes the cleanliness of the bathrooms in question. We all know there are some bathrooms out there that are "must go tos" and others that are "I can hold it". What do I mean. Just follow your nose. If your nose skips your brain and says to your feet "run as fast as you can". Just do it.
If on the other hand the nose is not giving you too much trouble, then go in and do your duty. But remember, keep it clean as we don't want the bathroom you found to become a "run as a fast as you can" bathroom.
I also hope the guide does not list any New York City subway stop bathrooms. These are usually locked most of the time or are definately "run as fast as you can" bathrooms. Exceptions do apply though as far as the subway goes, Penn Station and Grand Central station bathrooms are decent for New York public bathrooms. Just skip the Jay Street-Borough Hall Station though. I will leave it like this, if you enter, you have already gone to far.
Wandering again on the internet aimlessly before going to clean the bathroom and came accross this article (really it was a coincidence that I was going to clean the bathroom and this article came up on cbc.ca.
I do hope the guide is put out each calendar year and includes the cleanliness of the bathrooms in question. We all know there are some bathrooms out there that are "must go tos" and others that are "I can hold it". What do I mean. Just follow your nose. If your nose skips your brain and says to your feet "run as fast as you can". Just do it.
If on the other hand the nose is not giving you too much trouble, then go in and do your duty. But remember, keep it clean as we don't want the bathroom you found to become a "run as a fast as you can" bathroom.
I also hope the guide does not list any New York City subway stop bathrooms. These are usually locked most of the time or are definately "run as fast as you can" bathrooms. Exceptions do apply though as far as the subway goes, Penn Station and Grand Central station bathrooms are decent for New York public bathrooms. Just skip the Jay Street-Borough Hall Station though. I will leave it like this, if you enter, you have already gone to far.
A Day at Coney Island
I woke up this morning and thought to myself, why not a bright sunshiny day at Coney Island?
So after doing some morning shopping, I decided to head down for an afternoon at Coney Island. What an adventure!
I took the G train to Coney Island. Why the G? Because the F train was under construction and the G was routed down to Coney Island. Now that all New Yorkers have been taken care of in terms of subway routing (and all non-New Yorkers totally confused on what I am typing about) on with the story.
I walked down from the Stillwell Avenue station to the Boardwalk next to the beach in the beautiful sunshine. I walked all the way down to near the Brighton Beach subway station. Then I returned as much as possible on the street. However, I was eventually forced to come back onto the boardwalk as streets ended and I just figured, "hey instead of getting lost, lets just head back the way I came."
While on the street coming back I saw one fire truck after another screaming westward. I thought nothing of it considering "this is New York City."
However, when I reached the boardwalk near Nathan's hot dog stand there was this scene:
Finally, a look at the plethora of the fire trucks responding to this crash.
According to New York 1 , 4 people are now dead after the cessna crashed shortly after 1:30 P.M. into the beach at Coney Island. The beach, because it was such a cool day, had just the odd person. So no one was injured or killed on the ground.
There were fire trucks, ambulances, police cruisers and other such emergency support vehicles all around the boardwalk. Eventually the NYPD closed off the boardwalk to people.
All in all, the walk started out well with a bright sunshiny day, but didn't end too well considering the plane crash.
So after doing some morning shopping, I decided to head down for an afternoon at Coney Island. What an adventure!
I took the G train to Coney Island. Why the G? Because the F train was under construction and the G was routed down to Coney Island. Now that all New Yorkers have been taken care of in terms of subway routing (and all non-New Yorkers totally confused on what I am typing about) on with the story.
I walked down from the Stillwell Avenue station to the Boardwalk next to the beach in the beautiful sunshine. I walked all the way down to near the Brighton Beach subway station. Then I returned as much as possible on the street. However, I was eventually forced to come back onto the boardwalk as streets ended and I just figured, "hey instead of getting lost, lets just head back the way I came."
While on the street coming back I saw one fire truck after another screaming westward. I thought nothing of it considering "this is New York City."
However, when I reached the boardwalk near Nathan's hot dog stand there was this scene:
Finally, a look at the plethora of the fire trucks responding to this crash.
According to New York 1 , 4 people are now dead after the cessna crashed shortly after 1:30 P.M. into the beach at Coney Island. The beach, because it was such a cool day, had just the odd person. So no one was injured or killed on the ground.
There were fire trucks, ambulances, police cruisers and other such emergency support vehicles all around the boardwalk. Eventually the NYPD closed off the boardwalk to people.
All in all, the walk started out well with a bright sunshiny day, but didn't end too well considering the plane crash.
Stupid Computers!
Don't you hate when you have a computer that gives you problems with stupid "run time" errors?
Even worse is when your stupid computer's main monitor can be seen from the Prudential Financial Building near Times Square.
Even worse is when your stupid computer's main monitor can be seen from the Prudential Financial Building near Times Square.
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