The Barron Blog

Sunday, 22 April 2007

Movie Review 115: Bubba Ho-Tep
Mood: a-ok

There's dumb stupid and there's dumb funny. This is the latter. Dig this story-line: An elderly Elvis is in a nursing home with other nuts like "The Lone Ranger", "A Black JFK", and "An Egyptian Mummy." Elvis and the Mummy are real, but the others are deluded. Things aren't easy for Elvis, who has to chase the mummy while using a walker. Please note, that the mummy can suck your soul out of any orifice of your body.
Bruce Campbell does the best Elvis impersonation that I've ever seen. He ends up being funny, sympathetic and heroic at the same time.
At a time, when Hollywood does remakes and sequels to just about anything, it's great finding something that is based on unique, imaginative material. Three and a half stars.
Film Reviews For "Bubba"
Bruce Campbell's Website

Posted by qualteam at 9:36 AM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 22 April 2007 9:49 AM EDT

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Friday, 20 April 2007

The CUPW Ratification Meeting on 18/04/07

Although we were given ballots when we showed our union cards, we weren't allowed to vote until after the union meeting (We were running into enforced CUPW By-Laws doing "what is best for the membership".).
The meeting certainly illustrated the ideological differences between local president, Jane Marsh, and vice-president, Lyn Bue. Sister Bue realized that negotiations are discussions over various packages that may or may not be acceptable to most posties. There were pressures on both sides to make compromises. Canada Post, of course, has much to lose in a strike while CUPW has much to lose in an arbitrated settlement following a strike.
Jane Marsh's militant rant for continuing negotiations and confrontations boil down to this: "The Solidarity Of The Membership Will Drive Canada Post And The Government To Its Knees" and produce bigger gains. All we have to do is walk the picket line with signs saying "We Deserve Better" and everything will be ok.
Most of us have been in that "CUPW Fantasyland" during the strikes of 1987,91,97. Please check out my website ("CUPW Guy In CUPWLand") at www.cupw.info on what has been gained and losted in strikes.
There were less than 200 members there. I would say that 40% supported sister Marsh's position.
There's no doubt in my mind that if ballots were mailed out along with agruments for and against ratification, there would be greater participation by the membership. The last ratification vote is at The Toronto Convention Centre on Apr/22/07. Please attend if you can.
www.cupw.ca (The Domain Name Of The National Website)

Posted by qualteam at 10:32 AM EDT

Updated: Friday, 20 April 2007 10:46 AM EDT

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Thursday, 19 April 2007

Statistics: Gun Violence In U.S. Communities And Schools
Mood: chillin'

Below is my Website Of The Week about gun abuse in the U.S. There's an interesting article about how often "Guns Fall Into Wrong Hands" because of faulty records.
Gun Abuse In U.S. Communities And Schools

Posted by qualteam at 11:40 AM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 19 April 2007 11:47 AM EDT

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Wednesday, 18 April 2007

Dear Jesus, About Virginia Tech And Others Like It

Of courses there are losses that have to be dealt with, but more than that there has be a spiritual and physical infrastucture in place to handle psychopathtic personalities so they don't inflict death and injury on innocent students and others.
Primarily, an early detection system must be developed to locate these loners with violent tendencies. They, then, must be prevented from obtaining weapons of destruction. If through human error, they slip through the hands of the authorities, a powerful spiritual being must be assigned to such a person to stop him from killing children, students, teachers and other helpful people in his way.
The evil forces moving these psychotic persons to murder must be bound and the forces of good within their darkened minds must be unleased so that murders will not take place.
I'm sorry that I didn't mention anything to you when the Amish children died last year.
Families And Friends Seek Answers To Virginia Tech Murders
The Psychopathic Personality At Work
The Marc Lepine Murders At A Montreal University

Posted by qualteam at 2:25 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 18 April 2007 2:57 PM EDT

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Monday, 16 April 2007

The Heavenly Newfy Entrance Examination
Mood: a-ok

The day finally arrived. Newfy Dave dies and goes to Heaven. He is at
the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed, and Newfy Dave approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, "Well, Dave, it's certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The Newfy test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven."

Dave responds, "It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.

St. Peter continued, "Yes, I know, Dave, but the test is only three questions. Each one is harder than the other."
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year?
Third: What is God's first name?"

Newfy Dave leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up, and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers."

Dave replies, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter "T"? Holy codfish, buy, that one's easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow."

The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, "Dave, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?" asked St. Peter. "How many seconds in a year?
Now that one is harder," replied Dave, but I tunk and tunk about
that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve."

Astounded, St. Peter said, "Twelve? How in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?"

Dave replied, "I did this on me hands and toes, there's
got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... "

"Hold it," interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you are going with this, and I see your point. That was not quite what I had in mind....but I will give you credit for that one, too. Let's go on with the third and final
question. Can you tell me God's first name"?

"Sure," Dave replied,"It's Andy."

"What?....And my name is Amos?" exclaimed an exasperated
and frustrated St Peter...."Ok, I can understand how you
came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?"

"Lard tunderin', that was the easiest one of all," Dave replied. "I learnt it from the song, "ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN."

Suddenly, the Pearly Gates opened, and a voice rung out. "Come on in, Newfy Dave."

Posted by qualteam at 8:00 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 16 April 2007 8:36 PM EDT

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Sunday, 15 April 2007

June Callwood, Canadian Hero

Regretfully, she passed away yesterday at the age of 82. I was amazed on how many charities and social organizations that she founded or co-founded. The number is over 50. This includes Casey hospice in Toronto for AIDs, Nellie's Hostel For Women and Jessie's Centre For Teenagers.
She has also written 30 books on different subjects and recently was inducted as a "Companion Of The Order Of Canada." She was on speaking terms with most Prime Ministers, Ontario Premiers and Toronto Mayors over the last 30 years. Of course, this is necessary if you have your hand in over 50 social action organizations.
June espoused those values that many Canadians aspire too like caring for children, teenagers, AIDs victims, and the underpriviledged in Canadian society. Some have even dubbed her St. June.
Other countries may have military leaders and politicians as role models, but Canadians look up to those who give a helping hand.
Premier, Tommy Douglas was another hero who started public health care in Saskatchewan in 1944. That lead to our present heath care system in every province.
The Toronto Star Obituary On June Callwood
The Life Of June_Callwood
Other Great Canadians

Posted by qualteam at 9:24 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 15 April 2007 9:58 PM EDT

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Friday, 13 April 2007

CUPW National President, Deborah Bourque, Was At Gateway Today
Mood: energetic

It wasn't to speak to the converted. She simply wanted to get out the vote for tomorrow's ratification meeting at The Toronto Congress Center.
Deborah has an intuitive sense of knowing when Canada Post is starting to push back on union demands for more. This was not the strong point of former presidents', Daryl Tingley and Jean Claude Parrot. They pushed Canada Post into the arms of an unsympathetic Government who gave us binding arbitration in four instances.
She has earned the ire of some local executives who feel that more could be achieved from further negotiations or a strike.
I'm aware of the pressure she feels from both sides. But with Parliament in session, the call for a "yes vote" is the proper one at this time.
Personally, I don't want to deal with Canada Post's retreaded rollbacks like a 30% increase in retirement benefits in further negotiations or in arbitration. A confrontational union would only create a confrontational Post Office and Government. It has happened many times in the past.
One Of Deborah Bourque's Recent Bulletins
The Campaign Against The Closures Of Post Offices

Posted by qualteam at 10:47 PM EDT

Updated: Friday, 13 April 2007 10:57 PM EDT

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Thursday, 12 April 2007

Regional Director, Irwin Nanda Was At Gateway Yesterday
Mood: special

Unlike Toronto Local President(Vote No), Jane Marsh, Regional Director(Vote Yes), Irwin Nanda, doesn't have a website. That gives sister Marsh a definite advantage in this area, but he made up for his low profile by showing up at Gateway yesterday and promoting a "feel good yes-fuzzy".
Jane Marsh hasn't made an appearance yet. That gives an advantage to Irwin who got a positive response from our staff(TEO).
Voting for Toronto West CUPW members is at "The Toronto Congress Centre" 650 Dixon Rd. on April 14/18 at 11.00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.
You're lucky if 25% of the membership votes. Many members already know how they'll vote, but large, loud and long union meetings are a real turn off.
It would be better if ballots could be sent to all members like when local executives are elected. The results would be greater participation by the membership in the quiet of their own home. What do you think? qualteam@yahoo.com.
www.cupw.ca (This is the CUPW National Website)
www.cupw.com (This is not a unionized website. So what?)
www.cupw.info (This is CUPW Guy's Personal CUPW InfoSpace)
The Toronto Congress Centre

Posted by qualteam at 10:24 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 12 April 2007 10:50 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 10 April 2007

Why Should Our CUPW Local Union Dues Go To Promote One-Sided Positions?

A fair debate has to occur on all parts of the "Tentative Agreement" including the CTI. Just having a "no side" on the CTI issue or other issues isn't a fair democratic debate. In any CUPW local, members can be found that support the "yes side".
If the union is truly democratic, it would see that both sides are heard equally on any issue. There should be a committee that supports the "no side" and a committee that supports the "yes side". Union dues would be equally distributed to promote the views of both sides. This happened at the National CUPW Level when "vote no" NEB members expressed their views on the national website.
Where the local executive is predominately "no" orientated, the yes members should also have a voice to express their views to undecided local members. The 5% of those who attend union meetings do not speak for everyone. The silent majority pays union dues and they should have a platform for their views as well.

Posted by qualteam at 11:09 PM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 10 April 2007 11:27 PM EDT

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Monday, 9 April 2007

Local CUPW Marshland

And we could sink fast unless we get a good grasp of reality. It’s never easy negotiating with Canada Post when their lifeline is THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.
Do you remember the strikes in 1975, 1987, 1991 and 1997? In 1975, CUPW executives said we would get more than $1.70 an hour raise if we went on strike. We went on strike for six weeks and we settled for $1.70 an hour and six weeks of lost wages.
In 1987, 1991, and 1997, there were more issues, but the results were the same.
Canada Post refused to negotiate after a final offer was tabled. A strike would be called at that point.
CUPW continued to insist that Canada Post make a better offer which it didn’t. CPC negotiators often complained to the media about how union demands might send them into bankruptcy.
A mediator-arbitrator would be chosen by the Government, but Canada Post still wouldn’t move on its final position. CUPW was now confronting “The Final Offer Brickwall.”(i.e. CPC was handing over negotiations to the Government of the day.)
The mediator-arbitrator would conclude the parties were too far apart and only binding arbitration was the answer. The workers were legislated back to work and the union sat back helplessly while a third party imposed a contract.
The result for the members was a “CANADA POST FINAL OFFER SOLUTION,” sometimes a rollback in wages, inevitably a big screw up in retroactive pay. Of course, there was always lost wages from the strikes.
Are things different now with the Government in a minority position? Will Bloc Quebecois and NDP support stop Canada Post and the Conservatives/Liberals from doing the inevitable with uncertain results and maybe rollbacks?
Let’s Keep The Facts Straight On Wages
According to Stats Canada, During the first three months of 2007, the average hourly wage in Canada rose an estimated 2.4% compared to the same period last year. This exceeds the most recent comparable Consumer Price Index, which increased by 1.6%.
According to Human Resource, Skills Development Canada, the wage average increase from 2003 to 2006 were as follows:
Public Sector
2003--2.9%
2004—1.4%
2005—2.2%
2006—2.6%
Private Sector
2003—1.2%
2004—2.2%
2005—2.4%
2006—2.1%

For those years, postal workers had a 3.0% increase each year.

www.cupw.info (CUPW Guy In CUPW Land)

Posted by qualteam at 7:23 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 9 April 2007 7:29 PM EDT

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