The Barron Blog

Monday, 21 July 2014

Top Ten Movies About The Afterlife

The Afterlife is a fascinating other-worldly concept for many people. It has been spoken about in just about every religion on Earth and many books and movies have been written about it. There's even a website "Afterlife 101", that covers the subject pretty thoroughly.
I believe that the basic self/soul can percieve spiritual realities like the afterlife. These things are usually contacted as visions or intuitive, mystical perceptions.
Some beings are lucky enough to have first hand knowledge like "Out of Body Experiences".
Many movies dwell on the fact that the afterlife can be a horrifying experience in the body of a zombie or a vampire. None of those horror movies made it to my top ten list.
I wanted something that was realistic, entertaining and mentally expansive as well.
Here's the list starting with number one:
Ghost: It was best picture in the early 1990s. Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg were great in it. One of the most memorable lines: The subway ghost yelled "If I could only have a drag" after he broke the glass of a cigarette machine.
The Others: A family in an old dark house surrounded by fog hear the voices of spirits or something else. This is a chilling story of terrible secrets and grim disclosures.
Heaven is Real: A four-year old child has an out of body experience that shows him secrets that he never knew about. Based on a true story.
What Dreams May Come: The afterlife heaven and hell become blended together from human creativity. It's a story where redemption comes in a very different way.
Insidious: It's a dark/scary view of what reality ("The Further") looks to those who haven't gone to the light or passed over.
Beetlejuice: Humorist view on what can happen if you get involved with the wrong kind of people in the next world.
Heaven Can Wait: Sometimes shit happens in the afterlife that shouldn't. Comedy about keeping body and soul in the right place. Lots of fun.
Defending Your Life: This is definitely a new age view of heaven and what goes on there. It's a great place to eat anything you want.
Made In Heaven: There is a possibility that some relationships are made in Heaven, but how do they end up on Earth.
The Lovely Bones: A dead (murdered) teenager narrates the story from this world and the next. Film doesn't succeed as a crime thriller or sci/fi fantasy. The story was better in the book than in the movie.
Other interesting movies that didn't make the top ten were "The Sixth Sense" and "Phantasm". Phantasm, probably, has the freakiest view of the afterlife that I've ever seen. Don't miss it.

Posted by qualteam at 11:25 AM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 27 July 2014 11:42 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Top Ten Poker Buttons And Sayings

The above saying comes from the movie "Rounders"  starring  Matt Damon. If you want to know some good tactics and strategies about playing poker, this would be a good place to start.
I practice a lot playing cheap poker games (under $2 dollars) at www.pokerstars.com. This is where I discovered the top ten buttons above the players' nicknames. Despite all the badbeats and insults at the poker tables, these buttons and sayings remind you that poker first and foremost should be fun:

"Save The Drama For Your Mama" If you're a cry baby tell your mother, not other poker players. Good advice.
"Donk of Donks" This guy would be a super donkey or fish. Well phrased. You should be able to make his money your money.
"Sir Trap A Lot" This is a player who sits in the weeds and disguises the power of his hand. Watch out for him.
"Newfoundhand" This is a player from Newfoundland. If you don't know where it is, find it on Google maps.
"Sw33tNutz" I don't know if this guy is talking about an unbeatable poker hand or a part of his anatomy.
"Puke KO Queen" This is probably a gay guy or a woman who drinks a lot while playing online poker.
"Limp Chimp" This is a person who just calls the blinds rather than raising. He might also make weird sounds when playing like Cheetah, Tarzan's chimp.
"Fish 0" This is a guy without much confidence in his poker playing ability.
"Keep Calm And Bluff" This is obviously a guy who wears sunglasses when he plays poker.
"Toilet Police" These cops make sure people flush the toilet after using it. The guy who uses this button/badge probably plays lots of crappy hands.
Personally, I like Daniel Negreau's approach to poker. It's a fun social event even when he loses.

Posted by qualteam at 9:58 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 17 July 2014 11:00 AM EDT

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Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Fallview Concert With The Diamonds, The Shirelles and Bryan Hyland

This concert was actually called "The Original Stars of Dick Clark's Bandstand" which was different than "The Legends in Concert" or "Great Moments on Bandstand" at Dick Clark's Theatre in Branson.
The "original stars" at the Fallsview casino were the title performers above. The Branson shows were tribute artists and video clips. Obviously, it's better to see the real stars themselves rather than imitators. I also saw the concert for free because I had a few points on my player's card. Not bad at all.
The lead singer of the Diamonds, David Sommerville sang the group hits including the "Do Wop classic, Little Darlin" and the first line dance tune, "The Stroll". The Diamonds were the first Canadian group to have a rock and roll number one hit.
Bryan Hyland came on next and he sang the longest titled song in the English language "Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, Weenie, Yellow Polka Bot Bikini". What a hoot. We saw the video too. He, also, sang "Sealed With a Kiss" which brought back memories of teenage dances and first romances.
The stars of the concert, however, were "The Shirelles". The first girl group to have multiple hits. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Soldier Boy" were their biggest. Just incredible songs.
The Shirelles, David Sommerville and Bryan Hyland, then did they own tribute to the great rock and roll performers of the 1950s and 60s. This included "Chubby Checker", "Little Richard", "Jerry Lee Lewis", "Chuck Berry", "Elvis Presley", and "Fats Domino".
While rock and roll performers get older, the music never does. It remains as youthful and energetic as it was 60 years ago. That's when Elvis made the first rock and roll hit, "That's Alright Mama".

Posted by qualteam at 10:00 PM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 8 July 2014 10:03 PM EDT

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Wednesday, 25 June 2014

The Government Of Ontario Has To Run A Tight Ship

You don't fix what is working, but you do fix what isn't.
I worked at Canada Post for 35 year. When it was a government department, it suffered huge debts from cost overruns on computer equipment, sorting machines and carts that didn't work. For years, the Government had to pay off the Post Office's debts.
Added to this were surplus employees both on the floor and in management. I know this because, I saw them sitting around doing nothing during quiet times. There was also a great deal of unnecessary overtime throughout the year. I was there. I worked the overtime.
The Federal Government made Canada Post a Crown Corporation and things started to change slowly.
Buyouts were offered to workers during the late 1980 and early 1990s to reduce bloated staffs and supervisors. Our staff was cut in half, but we still did as much work.
I, also, worked with Canada Customs. I could see that they often had a lot of time on their hands.
As a member of CUPW for 35 years, I know they never worried about any lack of productivity. They just wanted more benefits, more money and more jobs, much like the Ontario civil service unions.
Informed sources will tell you that government departments pay too much for equipment, consultants and travel/food/hotel expenses. Look what happened to e-health, Ornge air ambulance service and hydro executives' bonuses, salaries and severance packages. Could it be that all government departments have bloated, costly, inefficient bureauracies?
There is room where taxpayers could get a bigger bang for buck.  Kathleen Wynne has a new minister in charge of finding savings in government departments and projects.
I hope that she can find savings that will aid businesses and Ontarians who pay high taxes, debt and energy costs.
Can the boat get fixed or do we need a new boat?

Posted by qualteam at 11:01 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 25 June 2014 11:08 PM EDT

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Sunday, 15 June 2014

Top Facts About Ontario's Debt/Deficit

Since 1990, Ontario's debt has increased from 38 billion to 300 billion in 2014. There were three different governments during that time: Bob Rae's NDP, Mike Harris' Conservatives and McGuinty's/Wynne's Liberals. There's even a wikipedia entry on Ontario's debt as it increased year by year.
There should have been a debate or, at least, an attempt by the politicians of the three parties to enlighten the public on the size of the debt and how it compares to other states/provinces and what can be done about it.
Here are the top facts:
The Premier of Quebec, Phillippe Couillard, is taking decisive action against Quebec's Debt.  What is Kathleen Wynne's plan? I didn't hear much about it during the election.
Ontario's "revenue to debt total" is worse than any other province including Quebec.
Ontario's debt is worse that California's.
Servicing Ontario's debt is the fourth largest expense in the budget.
Debt servicing costs are monies that aren't going to health care, roads, education, etc. Debt servicing cost is the millstone around the government's neck.
A quick overview of Ontario's debt compared to the other provinces.
A look at "The 2012 Drummond Report" that suggested solutions to Ontario's debt problems.
Are Ontario governments addicted to debt???
Ontario's debt burden keeps getting worse.
Hopefully, these debt/deficit problems can be handled over the next four years. At least, by then, we should know where we're going on this huge issue.

Posted by qualteam at 10:12 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 19 June 2014 7:35 PM EDT

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Saturday, 14 June 2014

The Anti Deficit Crusade, Then And Now

In the early 1990s, another guy and I started "The Anti Deficit Crusade" with the Federal Government. This was in response to "Mulroney's huge deficit" during his two terms in office.
We did research in newspapers and magazines and sent our results to MPs in Ottawa. I joined the federal Liberal party and supported Paul Martin for leader. Jean Chretien won the leadership race, but the anti-deficit campaign had some firm believers like Paul Martin. He would later become finance minister and wrestle the deficit to the ground.
The deficit didn't just handle itself, Martin brought in fiscal restraints through cuts and tighter money management.
In Ontario there is a major deficit problem as well, but there has been no decision as to what to do with it.
Back in 2012, "The Drummond Report" laid out suggestions, but the Liberal response was something like this:
The Globe and Mail is a little pessimistic over this situation and probably there is cause to be that way.
In the last election, there wasn't much information distributed with regards to this problem even from the Conservatives. I had to find out about it on the internet.
We have to start at "Deficits 101" and proceed from there. In order to solve a problem, you have to be aware that there is a problem.
To begin with, there has to be more full-time decent paying jobs in Ontario. The bottom line, this province has to be attractive for companies to invest in, so tax revenues will go up.

Posted by qualteam at 8:24 AM EDT

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Wednesday, 11 June 2014

The Top Ten Reasons To Not Vote For The Ontario Liberals

I could only find one website that had "The Top Ten Reasons For Voting Liberal". It was a bit of a hoot. Nothing like a little humor to relieve the tedium of all those attack ads. I've written some tweets about those ads.
I did find one website that had 101 reasons not to vote Liberal. That's a bit of an overkill. There's also instructions from the National Post on "How to Decline you Ballot Without Spoiling It".
Here's my top ten reasons for not voting Liberal.

With billions wasted on the gas plants and the E-health fiascos, the Liberals don't deserve another term in office.
The NDP are a better safer choice, fiscally responsible but not too right-wing.
The Liberals have not discussed their plans for job creation or the reduction of hydro rates.
The Liberals are getting too much support from the unions.(Attack ads, etc.)
The Liberals have not commented on concerns with "The Sunshine List" or "The Bloated Bureauracy".
Instead of promoting their record, the Liberals have depended on negative attack ads against the Conservatives to get them votes.(Fearmongering)
The Liberals appear more left wing than the NDP.
The Liberals lost the leader's debate earlier in the month.
A vote for the Liberals is a vote for the same crap over the last three years.
A stiff new broom sweeps clean. Time for the "McWynnety Liberals" to become history.
I said this before, but voters can protest against the Liberals without voting Conservative: (A) Voting NDP or (B) Not voting at all.

Posted by qualteam at 2:02 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 11 June 2014 2:50 PM EDT

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Sunday, 1 June 2014

My Top Ten Tweets On The Ontario Election June/12/14

Over the last few weeks, I've had much to say about the upcoming Ontario election.
I've looked over my tweets on the subject and here are what I consider my best ones:
The Ontario PCs seem to be the only party with a job-creation plan. Better some plan than no plan.
Mayor Rob Ford won on a platform of "Ending the Gravy Train in Toronto". The PCs want to cut "Ontario's Bloated Bureaucracy".This is a gravy train with another name.
A vote for the NDP leader, Andrea Horwath, isn't a vote for the PCs. She's a fiscally responsible socialist like Tommy Douglas.
The Liberals look like Santa Claus and the PCs look like Scrooge. Sometimes the voters need a cold shower.
The "new" Ontario Liberals are following the path of the "old" Liberals. They'll say or do anything to get elected.
I'm a small "c" conservative, but I like Andrea Horwath's shift to the centre. Less ideology and more practically.
Which party or leader could handle Ontario's escalating deficit? Who's up to this challenge?
Anyone who wants to cut the fat on Ontario's "Sunshine List" can't be all bad. Bring on the meat cleaver.
Ontario needs more politicians like former premier, Bill Davis. He ran a good ship.
On twitter and on my blog, I've tried to make myself and others aware of the issues in the Ontario election. Become informed and vote intelligently.
The leaders debate is on Tuesday/03/14 at 6:30 P.M. Hopefully, you'll find someone or some party to vote for or its "none of the above".
More Tweets by David Barron

Posted by qualteam at 10:54 AM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 4 June 2014 4:21 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Ontario's Escalating Debt: An Ongoing Concern

For the last twenty-five years, all of Ontario's political parties have failed to handle its escalating debt. Particularly, this included Bob Rae's NDP, Mike Harris's Conservatives and Dalton McGuinty's Liberals.
This has lead to a threat from Moody's the international credit rating agency to lower Ontario's credit rating. That would mean that more of our tax dollars would go to cover the interest on a 300 billion dollar deficit.
All three parties were responsible for creating this horrible debt, and all three parties could be forced to deal with it whether or not they wanted to.
It should be noted that on a federal level, Paul Martin in the 1990s corrected the escalating deficit in Canada. Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions to get your financial house in order.
Who's going to do it in Ontario?

Posted by qualteam at 11:00 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 28 May 2014 12:02 AM EDT

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Friday, 23 May 2014

The Ontario Provincial Election: There's Really Only Two Choices

Back in 1993, the Mulroney Government got only two seats after "The Meech Lake Fiasco". A few years later in New Brunswick, a corrupt Conservative Party lead by Richard Hatfield was wiped out in the province.
Shouldn't the same fate happen to the Ontario Liberal Party after the financial debacles of "The Gas Plants", "E-Health" and "Ornge Air Ambulance".
Added to the above are the Liberal's poor record on "The Deficit" and "Ontario Job Creation and Preservation".
Kathleen Wynne should be looking for new job. Perhaps, driving a tractor would be more her speed.
The choices are Tim Hudak's Conservatives and Andrea Horwath's NDP. Both have shown signs that they will be fically responsible in power. Horwath wants to reduce hydro bills. Hudak wants to create jobs with small businesses and in the northern "Ring of Fire" area.
Having worked at the Post Office and with Canada Customs, I know that large businesses and government departments can be overstaffed and full of red tape. My own section of the Post Office was reduced by half without any change in the productivity of our unit.
The idea of leaner more efficient government departments is a good goal to work towards.
"Rae Days"  are another way of reducing the cost of government without laying off a lot of people.
Right leaning Liberal votes would go the Conservatives and left leaning Liberal votes would go to the NDP.
The decimination of the Liberal party would be a warning to any government of any stripe that corruption and financial irresponsibility will not be tolerated.
P.S. A third choice is the Green party or "None Of The Above".

Posted by qualteam at 12:14 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 24 May 2014 8:29 AM EDT

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