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Thursday, 6 March 2014
Ukraine Is Not A Prize For Anyone, Right Now

Of the Ukraines that I've met in Canada, I see them as hardworking and honest people.

However, as a country between Europe and Russia, it leaves much to be desired. This article from "Bread Basket To Basket Case" was a real eye opener. Some even called it a "Failed State". If Poutine, the Great, thinks of it as a prize, then surely it's a "Booby Prize".

The Ukrainians have been very unlucky in their choice of leadership, and Ukraine is on the same level as any poor country in the third world. 

Ukraine workers make half of what Russian workers make (5,000 roubles a year to 10,000 for the Ruskies).

Politically, Western Ukraine wants to be part of the EU and Eastern Ukraine wants to be part of Russia.

It would take few referendums on the right questions to guide politicians on the different directions the citizens want to take. There could be questions on economic unions as well as political unions, but, right now, Ukraine has to get back on its feet and elect a government they can trust first.

It will take a big effort to put Ukraine on the path to becoming a successful nation. The EU, U.S., Canada and Russia can all play a part in making that happen.

 


 


Posted by qualteam at 8:53 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, 6 March 2014 10:20 PM EST
Sunday, 2 March 2014
Ukraine Should be Separated Into Two Countries

I was quite surprised over the huge failure of international leadership over the crisis in the Ukraine. This includes both Canada and the United States.

Just look at the map above. Does it say anything to you? There appears to be two Ukraines. one that favours the West(EU) and one that favours Russia. This isn't brain surgery or rocket science.

Sure the Russians may have put their own people into Eastern Ukraine under Catherine, the Great, but with his recent actions at Sochi and elsewhere, the present leader of Russia will probably be known as, "Putin, the Great".

I would like to point out that Czechosovakia was peacefully divided into two countries in 1993, "The Czech Republic and Sovakia".

There's and old saying that "East is East and West is West and never the twain will meet". This applies to the Ukraine. Western Ukraine wants"The European Common Market" and Eastern Ukraine wants "The Russian Common Market" with Poutine, The Great, thrown in as a bonus.


 


Posted by qualteam at 2:06 PM EST
Updated: Tuesday, 4 March 2014 4:47 PM EST
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
A Canadian (Me) Looks Back On The Sochi Olympics


In medal count, Canada(25)finished behind Russia(33), Norway(26), and the U.S.(28). The first three countries have so many fine athletes that it's difficult to compete against them. Norway, a small country, excels in great skiing which is very hard to beat.

Canada does have some fine skiers and skaters, but what we're most proud of is our hockey teams(men and women) and our curling teams(men and women). 

The Canadian women's hockey team overcame a 2-0 deficit against the U.S. in the third period and then won it in overtime 3-2. It was a incredible comeback and the greatest highlight of this Olympics. The men's team put on a clinic of defensive hockey against the U.S. and Sweden which lead to shutouts and a gold medal.

In the above photo, The U.S.A's star player, Phil Kessel ended up with no medal, but his sister won a silver in the game with Canada. In the words of the late great comedian, Jackie Gleason, "How sweet it is".

The next finest moment was Canada's curling team gold medal victory against Sweden. Lead by Jennifer Jones, the women's curling team posted 14 straight wins, an incredible record.

Shortly after that win, the men's curling team skipped by Brad Jacobs easily defeated Great Britain to win gold.

It's not very often a bronze medal would make a list of memorable Canadian Olympic moments, but Jan Hudec makes it because he ended a 20-year old medal drought in downhill skiing.

Canada did not equal its medal totals from the 2010 Vancouver games, but the above milestones made up for it.

Please note that Phil Kessel plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL.

 


Posted by qualteam at 9:37 PM EST
Updated: Tuesday, 25 February 2014 10:37 PM EST
Monday, 3 February 2014
The Ups And Downs In Las Vegas 2014


Here I am looking for a good crap game on the Las Vegas strip. Lots of female butts, but the crap games were expensive $10 and up. I went down to Ellis Island which is just off the strip and I played a crap game for $5. I won $75 on a $20 stake, my fourth win at that table. The other players around me broke into applause.

Over all, I lost at blackjack, broke even at video poker and tournament poker, but I won at craps. Needless to say, we brought home some U.S. money plus cheap liquor.

I played very little slots and micro-managed my bankroll very well. 

At the beginning of the week, our luggage was late for a couple of days and we were depressed about it.

After our suitcases arrived, we enjoyed ourselves not only gambling but at the Bellagio and Fremont street. Check out our pictures of the Chinese New Year at the Bellagio.

Las Vegas is an adult Disneyland. Lots of laughs, lots of good times. Just manage your money well, use a discount coupon book and look for cheap drinks and meals. Ellis Island is good for that.


Posted by qualteam at 5:42 PM EST
Updated: Monday, 10 February 2014 4:13 PM EST
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
New Year's Prayers and New Year's Resolutions

I've made a major New Year's resolution that I've never made before. It's to make prayers for the New Year which will help humanity in unique, positive ways. It isn't the impossible dream. It's the possible dream. 

I'm not going for first contact with aliens or the discovery of warp drive in 2013. Both of those advances would change Earth in very profound ways. However, mankind has severe problems that must be addressed ASAP.

  1. Fortune tellers are always predicting environmental doom and gloom on the planet every New Year. Isn't time to put positive thoughts and energies toward the control environmental events that cause massive destruction like earthquakes, hurricanes, tidal waves, forest fires, etc.? What about a 50-year moratorium on catastrophes of all kinds? Then many millions of human beings would have time to live, develop and contribute to their cultures.
  2. I would also like to see huge advances in the areas of curing diseases and conditions like Cancer, Alzheimer's DiseaseALS, Aids, Autism, Fibromyalgia and any kind of aliment that causes chronic pain and misery. 
  3. I'd like to see improvements in the living and educational conditions of those in poverty.
  4. I'd like to see less war and less terrorism anywhere. Humans can only reach their potential when they have safe living and working conditions.
  5. I'd like to see more help from spirits who are responsible for minimizing the bad effects of environmental catastrophes, diseases, poverty, ignorance and war on this planet. The time has come to up their/our game and meet the challenges of the 21st century.
New Year's resolutions are much smaller in scope. They usually center around an individual who wants to improve himself usually by becoming healthier or wealthier. Here are two lists that you might find interesting: One from a doctor and another from a young person.

If you have any personal prayers or New Year's resolutions, feel free to communicate them to me. We all need help in making ourselves and the world better.

Start with yourself and just keep expanding (in a spiritual sense not physical).


Posted by qualteam at 3:06 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, 2 January 2014 11:02 PM EST
Sunday, 22 December 2013
The Great Ice Storm of Dec/22/2013 In Ontario

This is what our street looked like after an ice storm in Brampton.

The biggest problem for many were old trees crashing down on power lines. This brought considerable power outages to Toronto where many lines are above ground. Our's are below ground and we only suffered a temporary loss of power (one minute).

There are more pictures of our street on my Facebook page.

The only comparable ice storm was further east in Ontario and Quebec (1998) which left one million people without power.

We spent half a day removing big branches from our driveway. There was a guy with a chain saw and he helped seniors who had their driveways blocked.

There was no rock ice to be found anywhere, so I used a couple of bags of ice melter that I bought at Loew's for $11 a bag. That wasn't all that effective. Fortunately, we had an ice cutting wedge to break up the ice and that worked better. I brought back the remaining three bags for a refund.

Hydro crews have been working hard over the last couple of days to bring power back, and apparently people are still in good cheer about Christmas too.

We've invited family over for a Newfie Christmas Eve dinner of salted Cod and sweets.

Some mummers may be able to dance through the ice branches on the street and the lawn. They may provide some warm laughs on a cold night.

For others, check out "Bad Santa" with Billy Bob Thornton. It was a hoot if you don't mind the language. The midget was priceless.

Have a very Merry Christmas.


 


Posted by qualteam at 4:55 PM EST
Updated: Tuesday, 24 December 2013 11:41 AM EST
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Canada Post Delivered, Delivers And Will Deliver: Past, Present And Future

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you remember when Canada Post delivered on bicycles? I worked there 35 years and I don't remember them.

There were and still are a lot of good things about Canada Post.

With the recent developments of cuts to mail delivery and the raising of stamp rates, I would like to share with you communications that I sent to politicians on the past, present and future of Canada Post:

"The Post Office was set up to deliver "high volume/low cost" mail to all the people in Canada.

Imagine if someone at Canada Post had invented Facebook or Twitter. It certainly wouldn't be in the state that it is now.

I know that Canada Post gives volume discounts to the ad mailers, but many years ago Christmas cards had a discounted rate so that customers would send many of them. That promotion worked beautifully then.

Customers should be encouraged to use letter mail, not only for Christmas, but for Valentine's Day, Mother Day's and birthdays. If it's a personal card, it should get a discounted rate. 

Christmas parcels should be discounted as well in order to encourage more gifts sent at Christmas time. Lets have a "Black Friday Week" for Christmas presents in November.

The Pension Plan

The Canada Post Pension Plan was originally part of the civil service plans and then downloaded onto Canada Post. This was a mistake because it's basically the same defined benefits plan as the civil service only with liabilities. This includes "Solvency Deficits".

The liabilities of business downturns and a Post Office full of boomers should have been apparent to the Government at that time.

The fate of the Canada Post Pension Plan should be the same as other civil service pension plans.

An "Enhanced Canada Pension Plan" (CPP) would probably be the best choice for a new pension plan at Canada Post and the rest of the federal/provincial civil service.

 The Future of Canada Post and Expanded Internet Services

Granted there has been some use of the internet in delivering parcels, but the potential of what can be done hasn't been fully tapped.

Here are some suggestions for expanded Canada Post services on the internet:

1. A Greeting Card Website: Customers would have all kinds of templates and messages for greeting/holiday cards. These cards could be designed manually or with the help of a "card expert". The finished cards would then be delivered to the home address of the recipient.

2. Personal Resume Website: We all know how important it is to send the right resume to the right potential employers. This website would work closely with the federal Job Bank in matching suitable employees with suitable employers. Editing services would be available for customers writing resumes.

3. Development of Literacy and Writing Skills Website: The development of literacy has always been a Canada Post pet project. This project should be moved onto a website where children and adults can improve their literacy and  writing skills for blogs, Facebook and Twitter. The quality of writing on Facebook and Twitter could use some improvement.

4. A database for scholarships and grants in this country. Often, scholarships and grants go unclaimed by students because they don't know about them.

5. Cheap money transfers and exchange of money from one  currency to another. Banks are expensive in this regard".

6. Apps for the above websites should be created for mobile devices and a special Holiday app called "Canada Post's Christmas Elves" should be created to cover all of Canada Post Christmas products and services.

7. Secured Hard Copy Business Documents: With the help of Blackberry Corp., these documents could be sent through regular mail or secured e-mail.

8. A Better Source of Movies Than Netflix. For a cheap monthly subscription, first run movie can be sent to a customer's home or seen through "Canada Post's New Movie Portal". This is a service that Netflix doesn't offer.

A good start to 2014 would be a senior's discount on products and services. Seniors have supported Canada Post through good times and bad for many, many years. 

It takes more than number crunchers to run a dynamic profitable business. Imaginative management that are willing to take  calculated risks are needed too. 

For more more of my history in the Post Office and The Canadian Union of Postal Workers go to "CUPW Guy in CUPW Land".


Posted by qualteam at 5:12 AM EST
Updated: Saturday, 21 December 2013 4:15 PM EST
Thursday, 12 December 2013
2013 Was A Wonderful Year For Concerts

This year we saw 8 concerts and 13 acts. Three concerts were for free and the others cost mostly less than $50 a person. The venues were casinos in Orilla and Niagara Falls. We didn't go broke gambling because our main purpose was to see shows.

I've never seen this many concerts in year. Most of the shows were very high quality like the Celtic's women Christmas concert above. We saw it  free last week (orchestra included).

Attending concerts in Toronto would have cost us at least $150 a person.

It's hard to understand the negativity towards casinos when they make  good efforts to bring in acts from all over the world at a reasonable price.

In May, we started out with the Bay City Rollers (presented at the bottom of this blog) at Casino Rama. Definitely, they are the kings of "Bubblegum Music". In July, we saw old time country singer Connie Smith and her bluegrass husband, Marty Stewart . It was traditional country fare, but pleasant to listen to.

At the beginning of August, we saw "The Happy Together Tour (late 1960s)" which presented an incredible 5 acts for the price of one: Gary LewisThree Dog NightThe TurtlesPaul Revere and The Raiders, and Gary Puckett.

In late August, we saw Dwight Yoakam who knows how to find the rock and roll in country.

In the middle of October, we saw the Nelson brothers do their father's(Rick Nelson) songs. They were almost as good as their dad.

At the beginning of November, we managed to get tickets to a free "Great Big Sea Concert". This was Newfoundland Rock at its finest.

A couple of days later at Fallsview Casino, we saw, The Tenors who integrated both opera and pop in their songs. It was awe inspiring.

In December, the Celtic Women presented their own version of traditional Christmas songs that blew me away. The video above contains most of that concert. 

Below are the Bay City Rollers who played their first date in Ontario in 34 years. Some bands and songs you never forget.


Posted by qualteam at 9:53 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, 12 December 2013 10:53 PM EST
Friday, 29 November 2013
The Twilight Zone And Mind Expansion

Yes, I have the complete TV series, 156 episodes and I try to watch at least one story at night.

Believe it or not, the Twilight Zone was popular with children during the late 1950s and early 1960s. I should know. I watched this TV series regularly. There was a lack of science fiction at that time. Most TV fare consisted of tame westerns and bland sitcoms.

Part of the charm of the series was the diversity of the material. Each story had a different cast with different themes. The themes ranged from regular sci/fi concerning aliens, space travel, robots, etc. to the supernatural and alternate realities that people could get trapped in.

Rod Sterling expanded my mind through the fifth dimensional concepts of "The Twilight Zone". He had much to say about Karma and the afterlife.

If he told his stories a few hundred years ago, he probably would have been burned at the stake. He pioneered the concept of non-conformity  "Out of The Box Thinking".

The Twilight Zone has produced some very interesting top ten lists: 1. Flavorwires Top Ten Stories 2. The Creepiest Episodes 3. The Top Ten Afterlife Stories

There were no zombies, vampires or slashers like Friday the 13th's Jason here. It was too intelligently done to be a gore fest.

I only saw about half the stories when it first came out.

When I've watched all the episodes , I'll put my own top ten list in this blog.

Below is one of my favourite Twilight Zone stories called "Death Ship". Please enjoy:


Posted by qualteam at 11:48 PM EST
Updated: Monday, 2 December 2013 4:37 PM EST
Friday, 22 November 2013
The 50th Anniversary Of The Kennedy Assassination And The Search For The Truth


I first heard that President Kennedy was assassinated in French Class. We were all shocked. That evening my rock group (The Archons) were playing its first concert at a school dance and we sucked hugely. My rock and roll career never recovered from that point.

As you might know, there were many conspiracy theories as to who was responsible for his death. One of the most popular was the second shooter in "The Grassy Knoll". A documentary of this demonstrated that a bullet had hit a stop light and splintered wounding someone underneath a bridge. There were sounds of a fourth gun shot on a police radio and someone saw a uniformed person with a badge and weapon in the Grassy Knoll. The second assassination commission (1976 to 79) found enough evidence (95%) to support the theory of a second shooter.

There were strong efforts to debunk these theories by "expert" opinion with references to "the thoroughness" of "The Warren Report"(The first assassination commission). 

Through all of these commissions, many of the files on Lee Harvey Oswald remained classified. Some of these may be about his deployments and activities in Japan while with the Marines in the 1950s.

I saw a biography on Oswald a few days ago. What struck me was that he could be pro communist and anti communist at the same time. He was robotic in his answers concerning communism and he didn't have much passion about his favourite subject.

Oswald had an incredible desire to go to Cuba during the summer of 1963. Where did that come from? Was he going to befriend Castro or assassinate him?

I learned from a book review of "The Perfect Assassin" that Oswald was connected to a military mind control project called MK-Ultra. Individuals who were hynotized in this project had difficulty remembering even the most mundane things. For example, Oswald couldn't remember that he had bought and used his own rifle.

The usual portayal of Oswald is that of a nutcase, but we all know that nutcases with rifles can kill anything that moves in a targetted area like the children at Newtown school in Connecticut.

I believe that Oswald was an assassin like in "The Manchurian Candidate". However, I don't believe that he killed Kennedy. I believe that Kennedy's death was an accident from the gun of a Secret Service Man. 

After 50 years, we are getting closer to the actual facts concerning the assassination.

 


Posted by qualteam at 10:42 PM EST
Updated: Saturday, 23 November 2013 12:40 AM EST

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