My Very Own Parking Spot...

But first,



Yesterday I dealt with interviews with Sports Stars and today I heard another one that nicely fits the bill.



A Sportscaster was interviewing the San Francisco Baseball Manager after his team's 9 to 0 trouncing of the Texas Rangers in this year's World Series. Here's how it went:



Sportscaster - well you beat them 9 to zip - do you have any comments?



Manager - well we are not going to give any of the runs away.



That was it - nothing more. Again, how profound and did he really think he could give away some of their runs?

I can just hear it now -



Manager to Umpire:



"Hey Ump , we won by 9 runs - so in the spirit of fairness we would like to give some of those runs away".



Ump - "to whom exactly?"



Manager - "to the other team I guess - let's say 6"



Ump - "but then the Rangers win 6 to 3".



Manager - "Good point - okay give them 4 and we'll have won 5 to 4"




Bizarre. And it certainly questions the common belief that the game is 90% mental.





Now on to My Own Parking Spot:



It started quite some time ago when Parking Lots began designating certain spots for the handicapped. Not many at first but soon the numbers grew as did the size of each reserved spot. Now each spot seems big enough to accommodate a Mack Truck.



Then in more recent times spots were reserved for pregnant women. Later women with children and then parents with children were added.



And more recently, spots are now being reserved for cars - specific types of cars that is - Hybrid and the like.



You now enter a parking lot - say Loblaws and encounter a vast waste land of empty spaces - all dedicated to someone or another or something or another that has failed to show up. But none of those spots can be used by those who class themselves healthy, with no children or expected children, while driving a gas guzzling relic of the past.



This latter group can be found parked in the parking lot's outer extremes -and easily identified by the area of lot containing all of the cars.



I fully expect that this trend will continue to grow and I am simply delighted with the prospect.

My theory is that there will come a day when all but one spot will be reserved and to save signage the Parking Lot Managers will at that point simply designate that one spot "For All The Rest".

And by that time, I will be the only one left to qualify for it.

Everyone else, the disabled, the pregnant, the parents with children, the Hybrids etc will be in a free fight for

the remainder. Like it used to be.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

You Gotta Love Those Sports Interviews...

Listened to one just this afternoon - and here it is word for word.

Announcer to Baseball Player:

What do you guys have to do to win tonight?

Player:

We gotta pitch strikes and keep them off the bases.

Simply Profound.

I can just imagine how the old Yankee Catcher Yogi Berra would have answered the question:

We have to make sure that after the last pitch we are one run ahead.


And here are some real Yogi quotes:

• a nickel ain't worth a dime anymore;
• always go to other people's funerals or they won't go to yours;
• baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical;
• I always thought that record would stand until it was broken;
• I never said most of the things I said;
• I wish I had an answer to that because I am tired of answering that question;
• If people don't want to come out to the ball park, nobody's gonna stop 'em;

and finally, If you ask me anything I don't know, I am not going to answer.

One thing is for sure, Yogi's answers or non answers are far more interesting.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

Peek Behind Governments' Backs

Whenever a government acts in a "clear, concise and fully transparent" fashion it is wise to look behind its back to determine what is really going on.

Take the recent draft refugee legislation for instance.

The Harper Government claims that it is addressing Canada's out of control Refugee System by clamping down legislatively on the Smugglers behind the arrival of Refugees by Boat.

It won't.

Not only because smuggling itself - whether it is in cigarettes, booze, drugs or people - is virtually impossible to control, but more to the point, the smugglers themselves are not the real problem.

Heresy you say.

The real villains in the piece are the Human Traffickers. These criminals arrange for the entry of people, both legally and illegally into a country, and then live off the avails of their work. Most often this work consists of illegal activities e.g. prostitution / drug trafficking. Modern day Slavery.

And, the Real Problem, is the fact that multi millions of migrants throughout the world are on the move looking for a better place in which to live. When I worked for the Refugee Board 15 years ago, the United Nations estimated the number of migrants to be in the range of 50 million. Today that number would be far higher as the 'world' continues to shrink in this modern age of communications and transport.

Plus, contrary to popular belief, Canada is not obligated to accept migrants as Refugees. As a Signator to the United Nations Convention on Refugees, we are only obligated to accept Refugees who are fleeing from Persecution. Although no statistics exist, I estimate that perhaps one out of every 100 refugee claimants would into that category. The other 99 are looking for a better economic way of life.

Add to this the fact that only a very small per centage of Migrants arrive by Boat (90% + come by air) so legislative initiatives directed against Marine Smugglers are but a spit in the ocean - (excuse the pun).

When I was with the Board some 40% of Migrant Refugee Claimants (at that time some 40,000) simply disappeared after making their claim for Refugee Status. Again, today, that missing contingent would be so much more numerous. It is safe to assume that a high per centage of these missing numbers would be actively involved in crime under the control of Traffickers.

Each year approx 40 - 50 thousand Migrants reach Canada and claim Refugee Status. Half receive favourable decisions - most of the remaining 50% are never returned to their countries of origin but are allowed to stay here in Canada. Save for the tiny few who are legitimately in fear of persecution - the vast remainder are, at the very least, queue jumpers and far too often criminals.

So back to Canada's draft refugee legislation - it is not what it appears to be and it will most certainly not curb illegal migration into our country.

As I See It....

"Galagher"

A Tooth For The Killing ...The Finale

Let me begin by saying that I had not planned for this edition but circumstances have overtaken.





We left off the other day at the end of my most recent visit to my new Family Dentist at which time his hygienist applied a protective layer of something or other which would hopefully do away with the sensitivity of my tooth - you know, the second one in, on the Upper Left Hand Side of my mouth.





Sadly, it didn't work.





Another Brief Recap is probably in Order:

• It all began with a cleaning at my former Dentist's office;


• She noticed a cavity in my second molar in - on the Upper Left Hand Side;


• She prescribed a new Crown, a root canal, and finally a fix to the cavity,


• I told her that if she could not just fix the cavity, all she need do is pull the tooth;


• She was not at all happy but nonetheless sent me to a Specialist to "do some gum work" that would enable her to fill the cavity;


• Specialist did the gum work even though I strongly encouraged him to save us all time and money by pulling the tooth;


• I asked him if he could also do the needed filling but he said that he has never does them - so it was back to Former Family Dentist who fixed the cavity;
• Former Family Dentist fixes cavity although her heart was not in it;
• At this point I found a New Dentist - one that was closer to home and came with a smile;
• Again I went in for a cleaning at which time I pointed out to New Dentist that my Molar - second one in on the Top Left Hand Side - was bothering me (guess Former Dentist was right about the need for a root canal - but then again it could have been simply pulled);
• In any event, after some give and take and a draconian test with New Dentist and after suggesting that he too just pull the damn thing out - New Dentist decides that I need to go to a Dental Pain Specialist to determine the source of the pain - you know the pain that was originating in the root of my second Molar in ...;
• Pain Specialist Dentist takes all but 15 minutes to determine the pain's origin - my second Molar in on the Top Left Hand Side and charges $120 for his diagnosis but he allows that a gel can be applied to the source of the pain which has a 50% chance of success;
• Not surprisingly, he could not apply this gel himself so I am sent back to my New Dentist for this taxing 5 minute procedure;
• This work is done for free along with an admonition that I may still end up requiring the dreaded Root Canal.

Okay - we are now more or less back to the present.

I go home and a few days later realize that the 'gel' treatment has failed to alleviate the pain.

I then call the New Dentist's office and request the dreaded Root Canal.

New Dentist confirms that he does not do Root Canals and I am shipped off to another Specialist to have this fine work performed.

As I get into the Specialist's chair I foolishly inquire - without vigour - whether or not it is too late just to have the damn tooth pulled. She looked at me like I had to heads and quickly inserted the Novocain.

Work done - bill rendered - another $1,050 for 45 minutes work - I kid you not.

So the final tally - Dentists $2,050.00 // me - a new filling and a root canal and one damaged Crown.

Remember now, this is in addition to the initial $1,000 plus that was paid to have the initial Crown work done.

Next time they won't push me around...

As I see it..

'Galagher'

I'll Be Voting For The Towne Clown.

With two Elections coming up within the month; the US Congressionals and the Ontario Municipals, the time is ripe to consider who best to Elect.

For me, the olde tried and true is no longer a viable option.

Simply stated, the Professional Politician has failed miserably to look out for the interests of the humble Taxpayer.

When one says 'Taxpayer' one tends to think only of the poor slob who wrestles with his / her annual Income Tax Return but in truth, this has become only a portion of an individual's annual tax liability. Other Taxes, including Realty, HSTs, various User Fees, Hidden taxes on such things as Gas/Fags &Booze are now taking an ever increasing bite out of the growing tax revenue pie.

Plus more and more government services such as Hydro are going stratospheric to cover the airy fairy 'green costs'.

Let me be clear as well, I am not pointing solely at the individual politician in regard to this failure, in truth the major responsibility for the tax and spend orgy rests with their respective Leaderships. But that said, the individual politician has allowed this to happen by following blindly along.

I have flagged in past Blogs one particular area where any semblance of fiscal control has been totally lost for want of proper management and that is in regard to the Civil Service. And when I say civil service I am speaking about all those who receive their wages from tax revenues. This obviously includes the Politicians themselves plus their Bureaucrats but the ranks also include our teachers, our doctors, nurses, police, firemen, military and so on and so on.

Statistics show that the average civil servant is paid up to 40% more than his private sector counterpart and retires a good 10 to 15 years earlier, on an enhanced pension.

How did this come about you might ask?

For the sole sake of Harmony with the Civil Service Unions. Our Politicians have time and again solde out by awarding far too generous wage and pension settlements. As a result, taxes have continually risen and vital services have been crippled for lack of available funding.

In one particular Senate Race in Deleware, the Republican candidate is accused of being a Witch because she met with a Coven in her University days. (I seem to recall though that one of our former Prime Ministers motor cycled around the streets on Montreal wearing a Nazi Helmet which did not preclude for him electoral success). In any event, this lady - witch? - is backed by the Tea Partyers and is being condemned by both Republicans and Democrats alike. Indeed the GOP's senior strategist Karl Rove is on record in opposing his own candidate.

And why is that? I can tell you that it is not because of her minor fling with the occult during her school years, rather it all has to do with Power and more importantly the Loss of Power. Both main stream US Parties are fearful of losing their clout to the ordinary Jane and Joe via the success of the Tea Party.

I can also tell you that if I was an American living in Deleware, the Witch would get my vote since both she and her Tea Party Conferes stand for Smaller Government and less Taxation.

Turning to our own Municipal Election - I am indeed fortunate since all but one of the Candidates can be classed as a Towne Clown. The odd man out is the quintessential politician and sadly, the likely winner, Jim Watson and it is he that will not garner my vote.

Recently, I did read that a Towne Clown had in fact been elected to an office in some jurisdiction and I smiled in the knowledge that he or she could have counted on my vote, if I'd been there.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

The Tea Non-Party

Much has been said and written about the Tea Party - south of the Border ,and to a much lesser extent here in Canada. From my perspective though much of it is wrong.

Briefly stated, the Tea Party is not a Republican Party initiative - although most Tea Partyers are in fact Republican nor is the Tea Party - north of the Border - simply a re-hash of the former Reform Party. In fact, the Tea Party is not a Party at all.

Rather, it is a grass roots development completely outside of main stream politics.

Tea Partyers are your common folk - average Citizens - who are tired of Big Government, High Taxes, and having their Social Norms of a Century and More demeaned by self-styled Elites.

I get a kick out of so called 'pundits' predicting a re serge in Democratic fortunes between now and the November Elections because "The Tea Party has embarrassed the Republican Party".

In fact, the Tea Party itself - sees both the Republicans and Democrats as having embarrassed and demeaned a once proud US of A. The Tea Partyers are simply using the GOP as the lesser of two evils.

As mentioned in earlier Blogs, America is broke - China for all intents and purposes is now calling the shots economically and there is nothing the US can do about. Its $ drops in value daily as the price of gold continues to rise. The Emperor no longer has any Clothes.

For as long as I can remember, our Leadership has led as if they know best - to heck with what their citizens - the great unwashed want or need. Indeed, many politicians have confirmed this arrogance themselves when their guard has been down.

Majority Rule - the very essence of a healthy, vibrant Democracy - has been replaced in our time by rule of the Special Interests, the Elites and the Courts.

With the Tea Party - the Majority are now saying that this needs to be changed - that from now on Politicians will Bow to their Will and if the Republicans/Democrats/Tories/Liberals dare try to block them - the Tea Party will find other democratic vessels to work through to achieve their goals. Party loyalties will mean less than results.

And, in that sense, the coming November Elections could very well stand out as a Watershed - a time when the average Jane and Joe begin to take back their Agendas.

One thing is for sure, Politics in the Americas will never be the same again.

As I see it...

"Galagher"

A Tooth For The Killing...Part Two

First a recap.

When I left off I was in the process of locating a new Family Dentist - primarily to get one closer to my home and thereby save going 'down town' for my frequent dental visits.

It also had to do with the fact that I still had my aching tooth - the one that I wanted pulled. As of the last writing I had avoided a root canal and had retained my original Crown. The Dentists though were up by another cool $1000.

My wife Anne recommended a great dentist much closer to home and I was off for my initial visit. It went on some time and the guy seemed quite friendly and his staff were all over you with friendliness.

I should mention that upon my entering their shop I was handed the usual form for completion - the one that asks for particulars about your dental insurance and what drugs you are on etc. But this form went well beyond the norm. For instance, it asked how I wished to be addressed by Staff and Dentist alike. I filled that out with "Worshipful Sir" believing that just 'Sir' was a bit too informal.

Well the Staff convulsed with this but soon made it evident that my wished for title was not in their vocabulary. I then offered 'Sir' but that too received all but howls of laughter. Makes one wonder the value of these forms?

Anyway, the initial visit went well and I kept my mouth shut - not easy in a dentist office - about by bothersome tooth.

A month or two past and I was back at the new Dentist office for my first cleaning. The nice young lady doing the cleaning asked if any teeth in particular were giving my trouble.

Now was my time - "yes" I responded - "my second molar in on the left top side often aches and is extremely sensitive to both cold and hot". "I'll have the dentist check on it before you leave" said she.

In comes my new dentist - harried this time and not with the friendly demeanour he showed during my initial visit. "What's the trouble?" he demanded. And I recount for him the problem I have been having with you know what. "Well I only have two minutes" responded the Dentist - "I do not have time to diagnose the problem."

Had it not been for the nice young lady present I would have told new Dentist what he could do with his two minute diagnosis. Rather and more to the point, I told him that I had an easy solution for him.

Pull It Out.

Well the look on his face far surpassed the expression of my former dentist when confronted with the same offered cure. He nearly swallowed his dentures if he had any which I well suspect he did not.

He grabbed a jar of something or other - inserted one of his instruments of torture into it - telling me that this would drop the temperature on same to nearly zero centigrade - then he applied it to the outside of my troublesome tooth. Wow did that hurt.

Again, I had the sense that a Dentist was taking particular satisfaction in inflicting pain on me. I was beginning to get the impression that Dentists do not like being told to pull anything out.

Where was olde Doc Dunnett when you needed him - he'd pull your tooth out on demand.

I was truly floored by his next comment - "We will now have to determine where the pain is coming from?"

"The second molar in" I proclaimed.

"Not necessarily" he said - "it could be coming from the teeth on either side of it".

"We will need you to see a Specialist to determine the location of the pain".

Another Specialist? You have to be kidding - I thought, but too afraid now to vocalize.

I paid my bill - including an additional $80 charge for the Dentist's 2 minute consultation and picked up my appointment to see the Pain Specialist.

Back downtown I went. The Dental Specialist took but 15 minutes which included a good portion of time talking about the weather - it's been quite rainy of late. He took out a similar looking jar as my new family dentist had and placed into it the same looking instrument of torture and advised me that this was going to hurt.

I told him that I was quite familiar with the drill but I refrained from offering him my quick fix solution.

And Boy did it hurt - but not as much as when Family Doc performed the test.

His Finding?

It's your second molar in from the top left.

On your way out pay the nice receptionist $120 for my diagnosis.

A day or two later my New Family Dental Office called to say they have received Pain Specialist's report and I am to come in as soon as I can.

In I go - where upon I am told that a gel can be applied to my gum surrounding my second molar in and that with luck that will be all that is required to solve the problem.

Technician applies the gel while New Dentist offers up that if this does not work and there is better than a 50% chance that it will not work - then we will have to do a Root Canal.

At this point I have totally given up on my quest to have the damn tooth pulled - I ask him if he can do the Root Canal?

"No, we will have to send you to a Specialist".

Finally some good news - the Receptionist hands me the Bill for $40 but it is marked paid. "On the House" she proclaims.

If only she had also referred to me as Worshipful Sir.