Watching this federal election campaign can bring tears to your eyes for a couple of reasons.
Some of the things these leaders will do to buy your vote borders on the line between hilarious and sad. I mean Stephen Harper playing a piano and singing his lungs out at a social gathering? Jack Layton serving some Timmy Ho's? Michael Ignatieff flipping hamburgers so poorly that a couple landed on the ground? All of these were 'photo ops' for the fed leaders. I'd like to see even one of these guys serving coffee a month from now.
The Conservatives have sunk to last place in Quebec, if you believe the latest polls. If that's indeed the case, then why don't they just cut their losses on Quebec and take a more solid stand that is favorable with the other nine provinces? It could result in more seats.
Speaking of polls, these things should be outlawed. The numbers fluctuate wildly and also influence the portion of the public that is, perhaps, sitting on the fence with their vote. Polls should not do that. Furthermore, if you look at the fine point when it comes to polls, they are only accurate 19 times out of 20, which means five per cent could be wrong. The Conservatives, instead of having 38 per cent support, may have 43 per cent Or even 33 per cent. That's a ten percent swing. And, the poll is done based on popular vote, not on seats.
The NBA's New Orleans Hornets are cash strapped. The NBA has taken over day to day operations of the team; but the true sign of trouble came over the weekend when a fan sunk a series of baskets, including one from mid-court to win a promotional prize. Some teams give away cash prizes in excess of $100 000. One club gave a winning customer a couple of new vehicles. The Hornets? They gave their winner a one-year supply of 7Up. Who should be more embarrassed, the Hornets, the NBA, or 7Up? The grand cash value of the one-year supply is about $95 US dollars. That's $98 Canadian!
The La Ronge Ice Wolves have every right to be proud of winning back to back SJHL championships, but I can't help but think the sour taste they must have for losing the ANAVET Cup to the MJHL champs both times. That's usually a series Saskatchewan wins, and sometimes wins easily. The calibre of play in the MJHL has improved a great deal and Manitoba has actually taken four of the last seven.
I wonder if professional athletes would embrace non-guaranteed contracts as opposed to salary caps. If Carl Crawford can get $140-million dollars from the Boston Red Sox then that's fine. But, if Carl Crawford wants to bat .130 through the first month of the season, perhaps the Red Sox should be well within their rights to fire him for breach of contract.
Furthermore, Crawford's $20 million a year contract is nothing when you consider Ryan Seacrest won't break a sweat this year and take home $55 million.
In a time of fiscal restraint, we could all save a ton of cash if we simply abolished our affiliation with the Royal Family. I have zero interest in this wedding taking place this weekend and any amount of my tax dollars that go to this symbolic group of people is a waste of money. That may sound harsh to some of the older people in our society; but I have no connection to the Royal Family at all and would much rather see my money stay at home or go towards an overseas effort that actually helps someone.
Nice person mentions this week to Steve Simmons, Marlin Murray, Mike Davidson, Susan Tymofichuk, and Jody Bartel.
