Election Update

Things are starting to heat up in the Municipal Election.

Well, not really.

In any event with a little less than two weeks to go, I certainly hope you have been studying the issues and the candidates. If not, here's a rundown:

First the issues.

There aren't any.

Seriously - Crime, Transit and Garbage are the major issues. Yes, I said garbage. Beats out Taxes and Poverty according to this Poll. The fact of the matter is, crime is down after the Summer of the Gun, and we haven't seen a garbage strike since Mayor Mel. Transit seems to be rising to the top of the heap of issues.

Now the Candidates.

There are three that matter to the media, and another 35 or so on the ballot.

David Miller: Running for second term. Miller isn't carrying a broom this election, but continues his Clean City Beautiful City theme, promising $100k per ward for beautification. On crime, he speaks of what he's done the first term. More cops on the street and so on. Miller has a comprehensive transit plan, that is heavy on Busways and Streetcar right-of-ways. Plus the Spadina subway extension. Miller seems to understand transit priorities, but unfortunately has shown little movement on the issue his last term. He is going to win, by the way. Thirty percent are committed voters according to a recent poll.

Jane Pitfield: Poor Jane. An early candidate, Jane spent most of her early days saying how bad Miller is. It's hard to understand what her platform is. For example, she currently supports growth at the Island Airport. She voted against the fixed link to it however. Jane is currently against the St Clair Streetcar right-of-way. Her voting record was in support of it during last term. Jane says Miller spends tax dollars recklessly, but was on the budget committee for two budgets, and supported both. She is opposed to the recent purchase of the landfill near London, which she voted to buy - presumably due to "human error." She wants to outlaw panhandlers. And she wants to build 2 km of subway every year, and enter into 'private/public' partnerships for transit . She likes the Guardian Angels and cameras in public spaces. And 6% are definitely voting for her.

Stephen LeDrew: A late-comer to the campaign, LeDrew started as simply anti-Miller. He said he will throw his support behind Pitfield near election day if he's still in third. (More recently, he said he will throw his support behind Miller). Not much going on with him. Miller has done nothing his last term, but everything he's done LeDrew is opposed to. On Transit, LeDrew will kill the St Clair ROW, and will build subways. By the way - one minor thing you should know. LeDrew declared bankruptcy leaving behind a over $350k of tax debt. (The courts have ordered him to pay 74% of it). No one in the poll is planning on voting for him.

This obviously is a very high-level summary of where we stand. Since most Torontonians simply aren't paying attention, this is likely all you'll need if you do decide to get off your ass and vote.

Perhaps whoever does win (and it will be Miller) will make such a mess of things the 2010 election will actually be interesting.

Categories: Politics

Happy Hallowe'en

Categories: Runescape

Where are the entries?

I wanted to give my gentle readers an update regarding the lack of updates.

I've created a lot of entries, and have ended up saving them to drafts. Had one about the snow in Buffalo, Thanksgiving, my birthday, the election, and what this time of year means to me.

I have presently determined that they are all very boring. Perhaps when my mood lifts, I'll publish them. In the meantime, you're stuck with the Feast.

Categories: Mookie

Friday Feast #117

Appetizer
Create a new candle scent.
I guess I'm really lame today. I could have a lot of immature fun with this, but not today. Let's go with Beef Ravioli Surprise

Soup
Name one way you show affection to others.
Affection. Yeah, right. I guess one way is the way I look deeply into one's eyes.

Salad
What is your favorite writing instrument?
It would appear the only thing worse than answering these is actually writing them. I don't have a pet pen or anything of the sort, but I do like fine ball-point pens.

Main Course
If you were given $25 to spend anywhere online, from which site would you buy?
$25? I'd throw it into my Runescape Membership.

Dessert
Are you dressing up for Halloween? If so, what are you going to be?
I haven't been in the mood the last few years to dress up. I can't wait for the "Nice costume" comments.

Categories: Feast

Government Websites

I surfed over to the Government of Canada website the other day (I linked to it in a previous Feast) and was quite surprised by what I saw. There has been a transformation - and not a good one. It has become more an advertisement of what the government is doing for us than a dry website one suffers through to order tax forms. And what's with all the Blue hues? It looks like the Conservative website. Hmmm...

My purpose of going there was to find the lyrics to O Canada! I dare you to try and find the link to information on Canada on the site. The link is there, just impossible to find. Perhaps people don't go to the Canada website to find out about Canada. Perhaps they go there to see what their government is doing.

I don't know.

I share with you a comparison of government websites, in which I researched the voting age. I used my own intuition to follow links, without using a search function.

On the Canada Website, it took 18 clicks to find this: "In 1970, a newly revised Canada Elections Act lowered the voting age and the minimum age to be a candidate from 21 years to 18."

United States - a sharp portal without government advertising. You can find that at the White House site. Eleven clicks, including one dead link got me this off a kids page: "Any citizen of the United States over the age of 18, and who meets certain state requirements, may vote in Federal elections"

United Kingdom - this portal looks like it shouldn't have survived Y2K. It is as easy to find info as it is bland. No advertising here, either. Four clicks for this: "To vote in parliamentary elections in the UK you must be a British citizen, a citizen of another Commonwealth country or of the Irish Republic, as well as being resident in the UK, aged 18 or over, included in the register of electors for the constituency and not subject to any legal incapacity to vote."

Australia - Another sharp, information and services only site. In 6 clicks I found this: "Yes, voting is compulsory for every Australian citizen aged 18 years or older. If you do not vote and do not have a valid and sufficient reason for failing to vote, a penalty is imposed."

Take from all of this what you will - I mean other than pondering the amount of idle time I appear to have. At the end of the day, this seems to be a Canadian thing that Canadians have decided to put up with. Just you wait until it's 47 clicks to order your tax forms.

I noticed the Ontario website went this way some time ago. Interestingly enough, it still has not been updated with the new Trillium Logo that caused some flapping earlier this year. It looks like the Trillium on the Ontario Liberal Logo some say. Three in a hot tub, others muse. Who gives a shit? even more say. There's even a website to save the old logo. Too bad that's brought to you by the Ontario PCs.




Categories: Canada, Politics, Links

Friday Feast #116

Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?
Non-alcoholic is coffee. Of course, I am addicted much to the glee of Tim's, so that's probably why it's my favourite.
Alcoholic is Beer. I'm not addicted to beer - although some may argue differently. It's just yummy.

Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.
Keyboard.
Monitor.
Mouse.

What were you expecting to list? My shrine to Andy Gibb?

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?
I'm a strong 9 with rare moments of 7.

Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?
I would re-rename Kitchener Berlin. Just to bring it back to its roots. And to piss off the War Hero historians. The only way to get a rise out of a historian is to change history.

Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?
I suppose Work has always been the greatest stress for me. There are various things that calm me down...it depends on the level of stress and availability of a partner.

Categories: Feast

Friday Feast #115

Appetizer Approximately how many hours per week do you spend reading other blogs?
Depends on the week. Usually 3-5. I've gotten lost in blogs for entire evenings from time to time. I've found none that compare to mine, however.

Soup
Your community wants everyone to give one thing to put into a time capsule. What item would you choose to include?
Mookie.

Salad
What is the most interesting tourist attraction you've ever visited?
Amazing how easy it is to remember the lame ones. Since I was a wee little tot, I've always enjoyed my visits to Port-Royal Habitation. This link provides a walking tour; the photo belongs to Parks Canada.


Main Course
If you could give an award to anyone for anything, who would it be and what would the award be titled?
The Asshole of the Year Award will be bestowed upon one of a list of hundreds. It's not too late to add yourself the the nomination list, gentle reader. You likely qualify.

Dessert
What do you think your favorite color reveals about your personality?
I think it reveals how cynical I am of attempts to read people based on what their preferences are. Or even worse, what sign they are. You may ask me my favourite colour (I believe I answered that on one of these feasts). You may not ask me what my sign is, because that's stupid.

Categories: Feast

Friday Feast #114

Appetizer
Name a song you know by heart.
See, I can't sing so it's harder for me to remember song lyrics than the tone-hearing - who of course, sing more often than I do. Some gentle readers may say I sing more often than I should.

They would be right.

To answer the question I know O Canada! by heart as we had to sing it every morning in school.

Soup
What will you absolutely not do in front of another person?
What a minefield this question is... Obviously I can't answer with anything I have done in front of someone else.

I'm pretty much left with picking my nose.

Salad
How often do you use mouthwash and what kind do you like?
Daily and Listerine.

Main Course
Finish this sentence: I am embarrassed when...
I think of things from the past.

Dessert
What was the last food you craved?
Kraft Dinner. How ridiculous is that!

Yet again, a bland, lame feast. Just pretend you're at Medieval Times.

Categories: Feast

Sounds of the City

Easbound Blue Night bus. Bloor at Keele October 1, 04:40

Bus Operator: Sir, Sir
Ian (in a drunken slur): Yes?
BO: Did you just show me a September MetroPass?
Ian: Yes, I did.
BO: You know it's October, eh?
Ian: Yes I do.
BO: Well?
Ian: It's not 5 o'clock yet.
BO: But it's October.
Ian: What's the date on your transfers?
BO: OK, you got me there.

I just love bus drivers that make fun of the drunk.

Categories: Heard

The House Warming

As you may know, Gillian and Marcos now co-habitate. This was their excuse for a party on Saturday. I saw right through it and in typical style did not bring anything.

Sean of course confirmed with me during the week that I was going (after the Wonderland incident, he now knows I don't remember plans I've made).

The conversation was kinda like this:

Sean: Are you coming?
Ian: Can I just sit there all night and get drunk?
Sean: That's my plan.
Ian: Count me in.

So off we went to High Park.

I haven't seen G since the start of the summer....only a couple times after Sean's party. I saw M one more time than that. They both seemingly fell off the earth (explaining why their blogs got so lame all of a sudden). So it was wonderful seeing them!

Now, I knew exactly three people at this shin-dig. I'm not big into parties where I don't know anyone.

I've been dragged to a few parties by my friends where I didn't even know the host. Hell, I even dragged a guy on a date to a party where I didn't know the host. He gave me pitty sex afterwards, so I suppose it was worth it.

I was pleasantly surprised and happy to report that G and M have a cool flock of friends. They're friendly. They've known each other for a while but are not completely inclusive, if that makes sense.

And every last one of them was good looking. Truth be told, some were actually hideous until I got drunk - and then they become sexy. Must have been the 2-4 Sean and I killed.

Sean went in (we spent most of the evening on the sidewalk in front of the house) to take a pee. M reported that she in fact went to bed to pass out.

It's all good - I know he can't outlast me. I just wish he decided to crash before he drank the last beer. But in a small way it balanced out because I went into the bedroom and bothered him. He surely doesn't remember. I however thought it was a riot.

A party is over when one of three things happens:

1. There is no more alcohol
2. The host is having a drunken fight with someone else
3. You are asked if you want to crash

As much as I was wanting to see a spectacular tiff between M and G, it wasn't meant to be. Number 1 already happened, number 3 just occurred.

Off into the cruel world I went.

It was after 4 am, after all.


Categories: Friends, Party

Friday Feast #113

Appetizer
What is your favorite herb or spice?
Cloves. I love the smell!

Soup
Name a song you like but haven't heard in a long time.
Radio Gaga by Queen

Salad
If you were to take just one minute to write down as many things as you can think of that you need (not want) to do, approximately how many things would there be?
I'm sure I can muster up 20 things.

Main Course
Tell something interesting about one of your family members (nothing scandalous, please, just something unique).
Read below about my Sis.

Dessert
What's the latest you've ever stayed awake?
By this I suppose one means longest. I believe it was 32 hours. It's rare that I'm up all night these days!

Categories: Feast

Apology to Non-Christians

After some pondering, I decided to take my sister Victoria's lead. As she did, I would like to apologise for linking to her blog. It may offend your non-religious sensibilities.

Sis found the Big J as it were, and never looked back. I on the other hand don't even know where to look. For me, it's kinda like a lost sock - it could be under the bed, but it's just too much effort to bend down and confirm.

Sis and I in some ways are very similar. I feel I meander through life. I've just been chilling for the last decade or so. It could be said by me Sis was going through a virtual routine as well. And then came a defining moment in her life in which everything made sense. So in a seemingly senseless manner, she quit her career and went to school.

In the short time since I've seen a lot of change in her. It's hard to explain - she's become more of the person I thought she was. She definitely doesn't nag me as much. I think she just prays for me instead. She makes me proud.

In her blog she contemplates one aspect of her new life after linking her gentle audience over to this hell-in-a-handbasket place. Why they'd be offended by rooster jewelry I don't know. So I started contemplating her contemplation, when I came across this post in Kelly's blog.

And I think that sums the whole thing up.

Bottom line: I don't write anything on this blog to offend. If you were offended with anything you read on my sister's blog, fuck off.

incidentally, I came across this, just in time for the season.

Categories: Life, Links

Friday Feast #112

Appetizer
Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?
You hit me on a good week. I walked around for hours last Saturday at Wonderland. I'm afraid I'm a rather lazy person. The most exercise I ususally get is lifting the beer glass. I suppose one tick on the 'good' side of being in a relationship is the regular sex work-out.

Soup
If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?
Mookie's Dead.


Salad
Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.
Why only one? Let's go with 'Fantasy Island' as it's the first to come to mind.
My favourite was likely 'WKRP'
Mr. Carlson: As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

Main Course
If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?
An Atlas. That would be cool.

Dessert
Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?
If you now me you'll know I'm into dark colours.

Categories: Feast

Canada's Wonderland

***I've been saving this in my drafts 'cause it's just not the way I want it. I am not perfect, gentle reader.

Sean and I try to go to Canada's Wonderland once a year. I actually look forward to the trips because I've only been there a handful of times, my first time about 10 years ago. We actually managed this Saturday! Of course, I forgot to buy the tickets on account I forgot we were going. Work has been busy, people! We managed to quickly get things back on track.

The whole Amusement Park concept intrigues me. One pays admission to spend most of the day lining up. When one needs a break from the line-ups, nothing satisfies more than a $7 burger and fries that were made it would appear at some point in the off-season. Just the whole 'theme' thing rattles my common sense. It's all very surreal. To that end, the walk in the parking lot certainly didn't help things...

Those who know me know I'm not a big fan of children. I have come to realise in a park setting, children are actually fun to watch. Except when they're crying because they're spoilt. Teenagers however are a menace to my adult sensibilities. As they were when I was a teenager.

I am a supporter of the concept of Adult Only days at all attractions, including the zoo, the science centre, museums and hell, why not shopping malls? Canada's Wonderland has come close - when they used to host Gay Days.

But I digress.

Sean and I were quite surprised to see how busy it was. Lots of families, and a bigger proportion of teens than my last outings. It actually started busy, and just got busier. We were unphased, for we enjoyed strolling and sitting and people watching. It was a very laid back outing.

"Hey, do you want to go hang out in a line?"

One of my favourite past times is people watching. That in itself is worth the price of admission! My new favourite thing is to go to Kidzville and watch all the yummy daddies suffering through the day. They're so vulnerable. Sean is good to remind me that I really should learn the art of subtlely.

And how!

Lineups are my favourite. Take The Bat, for example. By the time you are at the front of the line, you will have passed by the same people about 8 times. So every time the line moves, you get to re-check out the same people.

Sean is a good sport to put up with me. All he really heard from me all day was:

"That's hot."
"He's cute."
"Yummy."
"Where's a green umbrella? I want a smoke."

But it's give and take with us. All I heard all day was, "Dude, I'm not standing on the Go bus when we leave."

Check here for visuals.

Categories: Breeders, Space

Conservation Update

I wanted to provide a response to the query I submitted to Toronto Hydro:

Congratulations on successfully reducing your consumption this summer and we wish you every success in meeting our Summer Challenge.

Thank you very much for your helpful feedback regarding our conservation tips and programs; we appreciate every opportunity to improve the services that we offer and we have forwarded your suggestions to our web design team.

Should you have further comments or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (416) 542-8000. We remain ready to help you in any way that we can.

Sincerely,

Sandra

I am eagerly awaiting my Hydro Bill, where I'll get my credit if I was indeed successful. I will be sure to let you know the results!

Categories: Conservation

Friday Feast #111

Appetizer
What was the very last song you listened to?
You know, I'm afraid I couldn't tell you. I know you surf over here to find out meaningless facts about me. You're out of luck this time.

Soup
What is one company/store/corporation you would recommend that people stay away from?
I have to narrow it down to one? Hmmm...Let's go with Rogers Wireless.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy having your picture made?
A strong 4. Take it if you want, but don't expect me to ask you to.

Main Course
Besides a bookmark, what is something you've used to keep your place in a book?
There's a regular on my morning bus that outfits himself with a pencil. When the bus approaches his stop, he pulls it out and draws a line where he finished reading, then uses his pencil as a bookmark.
I've been known to use a Metropass and/or transfer, or the receipt from the purchase of the book. I more often than not will use my memory to bookmark.

Dessert
Name a food that you like that most people don't.
I'm a pretty bland eater, so nothing comes to mind. The only thing that comes to mind can't really be referred to as food, but it's high in protein.

Categories: Feast

Friday Feast #110

Appetizer
Name 3 things that you are wearing today.
Jeans, a blue shirt and of course my copper cock ring.

Soup
Who was the last person you hugged?
It was actually Sean last weekend.

Salad
What do you like to order from your favorite fast food place?
My favourite is a Whopper and Poutine. I've been a very good boy for nearly a year and cut my consumption by an impressive 85%. The stuff can kill you, people.

Main Course
What time of day do you usually feel most energized?
Usually around 1900 or 2000. Unless I'm already passed out drunk.

Dessert
Using the letters in your first name, write a sentence. (Example: Sweet unusual spaniels are nice.)
Intentions Are Negotiable.

Categories: Feast

Conservation Update

Been a while since I've provided an update.

Not much to report here.

I'm used to the measures that I have taken. I'm also looking forward to going back to my old ways after I get my $6.

I went to Toronto Hydro's website this evening. To report a streetlight outage - because I'm one of those geeks that keeps the city safe.

I stumbled upon conservation tips for apartment people.

A couple examples of what I read:

Temperature Settings: A temperature of 38°F to 40°F is generally recommended for refrigerators and 0°F for freezers. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, but check these settings by placing a thermometer in both sections.

Burner Tips: If you have a gas range, make sure the flame is blue and cone shaped by keeping the burner clean and unclogged. You can use a piece of wire or pipe cleaner to unclog burner ports. If cleaning doesn't help, call your apartment superintendent or appliance service representative. Keep burner reflectors shiny and they will reflect more heat.

As a result, being the prick that I am, I left the following feedback:

As an apartment dweller, I have taken several steps to reduce my energy consumption with a hopes of meeting the Summer Challenge and thereby saving an estimated $6.

I appreciate the tips you provide on your website. There are however some things I don't understand.

For example, Fahrenheit. And how maintaining my gas stove will help me save power.

Spending a little to ensure your content matches your market I'm sure is a good conservation measure.

Perhaps your expense in just having 20 similar comments read equals what it would have cost to have a couple eyes on your content.

Not that I don't believe you add value to THC, gentle reader.

Categories: Conservation, Electricity

It's Up To You

Or so says Toronto's official Election Website.

We're beyond Labour Day so it's time for me to focus on the Municipal Election.

As geeky as that sounds.

November 13th of course is the date where we get to exercise our right in this great democracy. A mighty 38ish percent of us will actually get off our asses and vote.

If you plan to vote, please do me the favour and make an educated decision. We are talking about the people who make decisions on things that impact us daily - such as sewers and transit and whether to call in the military when there's a snowstorm.

So take the time to look at what the issues are, and what pissed you off at some point over the last three years. Megabins anyone?

One of my leading resources will be Spacing. Check out what they have planned to help me along the way. Perhaps they can help you too.

Just remember people, if you don't vote, you will nullify your ability to bitch about anything municipal for the next four years.

Categories: Toronto, Politics, Space

Friday Feast #109

Appetizer
What are some lyrics you have misheard (such as, instead of "Gettin' Jiggy With It" you heard "Kick a chicken with it")?
I have no clue. My friends are of class, and would never correct me on such things.

Soup
What is the worst movie you have ever seen?
The one that comes to mind is Against a Crooked Sky. Saw it in its first release when I was five and was bored. Endured it at least one other time in school - our Christmas vacation gift. Shitty school.
Worst adaptation of a book has to go to Bonfire of the Vanities. Back in the early 90s my best friend and I would see two movies every Saturday. He was intensly into film. He insisted on silence, and sitting until the last credit rolled. He handed me the book and told me I had two weeks to read it before the film came out. It was an excellent read.
About halfway through the movie, my buddy called out, "This is dreck!" To which the audience applauded. In fact, about a third had walked out before the end.

Salad
Using the letters from your favorite number, write a sentence. Example: Tomorrow has really easy experiences.
My favourite number is 13882954. That would be a mega run-one sentence.

Main Course
What was the most interesting news story you have heard this week?
The anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The fact that it is old news (not much seems to have happened in the last year) makes it newsworthy in itself.

Dessert
Which word(s) would you choose to describe your wardrobe?
Clothes.

Categories: Feast