� June 2004 | Home | August 2004 �

July 31, 2004

Ouellet's expenses

The story is now so predictable. The Liberals appoint a friend to head up a Crown Corporation or agency. That Liberal friend then robs the taxpayers blind and says he did nothing wrong. The latest Liberal crony to come under... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 10:45 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Canada

July 30, 2004

Balloon-acy

I only caught the last five minutes of Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerrry's speech last night. The usual post-speech spinning is going on with Democrats saying Mr. Kerry "knocked it out of the park" and Republicans saying it was a... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 08:33 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

July 29, 2004

Premium may be dangerous to your wealth

A report released today by the Fraser Institute says the Ontario Health Care Premium will have to triple in the next three years to make up for the anticipated increase in health care costs for the province. The report is... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 12:02 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Ontario

July 28, 2004

da Vinci team to launch in the Fall

Yesterday, the SpaceShipOne team, which launched the first successful privately funded visit to space, announced it will make an attempt at the X-Prize in 60 days. The X-Prize was inspired by the Orteig Prize that prompted Charles Lindbergh to fly... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 07:57 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Science and Technology

July 27, 2004

Media Event of the Day - July 27

Here's something you won't want to miss. MGM Home Entertainment is hosting a free screening of the "VIP edition" of Showgirls - the most boring film in history.... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 10:05 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: The Media

911 report a good read

CNN reports US President George Bush says the 911 Commission report "reads like a mystery - a novel. It's well written." Uh... a novel is a work of fiction. Does the President think the 911 Commission made it up?... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 09:22 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

"Shove it"

America's Democratic Party must be kicking itself. Every four years the political parties south of the border get what amounts to a week-long infomercial on the television sets of American voters. Everything is planned to get the most positive exposure... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 09:22 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

July 25, 2004

Restroom plans upset media

The arrangement for restroom facilities at this week's Democratic National Convention have left reporters with a bad case of "potty mouth." DNC organizers have arranged for the 1200 reporters covering the convention to have access to just 20 port-a-potties outside... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:21 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

July 24, 2004

They're back...

A week after they were fired by CBS execs in a contract dispute, Jorja Fox and George Eads have reached agreements with the broadcaster to bring them back.... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 07:26 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: The Media

Chief, put a sock in it

I had hoped he would have come to his senses by now, but Peel Police Chief Noel Catney isn't backing down from the controversial comments he made on Thursday. Thursday's news conference announcing that police had charged a man with... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 07:20 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in:

July 22, 2004

I AM... no longer Canadian

Molson Inc. and Adolph Coors Co. have officially announced their merger. While they are calling it a merger it appears to be nothing of the sort. Senior management positions are going to Coors execs while Molson's management team will be... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 08:39 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Business

July 21, 2004

Do we really need this person?

Canada's Foreign Affairs Department is looking to hire a "Canadian Wine Coordinator." This lucky guy or gal is is going to be making between $61,312 and $66,287, but the job posting (I have captured it here in case they pull... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:16 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Strange Stuff

July 20, 2004

Valeri has his work cut out for him

When you're facing a minority Parliament, there is no more important position than House Leader. The person the PM puts in that role needs to be a good negotiator, understand Parliamentary procedure and above all, needs to have the full... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 12:25 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Canada

New Cabinet - Winners and Losers

Prime Minister Paul Martin announced his second Cabinet this morning. As with all Cabinet Shuffles, there are winners and losers:... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 12:08 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Canada

July 18, 2004

Cat herding is hard work

This ad from EDS is one of my all-time favorites. Take a look.... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:24 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Strange Stuff

July 17, 2004

A new cost for admission to the museum?

Have you ever been to the Science Museum in London (England)? It's a lot of fun - plenty of buttons to press - and it's free! Next time you go, you may be able to show your appreciation by visiting... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:02 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Strange Stuff

She's no Mandela

Just moments after Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison yesterday she began a new media offensive designed to rehabilitate her public image. She told reporters outside the courthouse the whole thing had been blown out of proportion... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 07:45 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Canada

July 16, 2004

Sense or over-sensitivity?

Yesterday the CRTC ruled cable companies can now add the Arab all-news network Al-Jazeera to their lineups but attached some rather stringent conditions. The broadcast regulator says cable companies must monitor the network and prevent "any abusive comment" (whatever that... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 01:04 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Canada

Fired...

We may have to wait a little longer for the premier of the new season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. There are reports two stars of the the show have been fired for breach of contract. I guess we'll make... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:58 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: The Media

Service outage

My apologies to those of you who tried to reach the site this morning, my host had a service outage. Things should be back to normal now.... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:37 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Site Updates

July 15, 2004

Cheney says he's staying

US Vice President Dick Cheney says he's staying on the Republican ticket despite continuing rumours that President Bush will ditch him. The rumours suggest that Mr. Cheney's advocacy for war with Iraq - an increasingly unpopular decision - is at... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 01:59 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

July 14, 2004

Lies or Errors

Lord Butler's conclusion will hardly come as a surprise to anyone. After the former British Cabinet Secretary's review of the intelligence used to bolster the case for war against Saddam Hussein, he has come to believe it was "seriously flawed."... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:43 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / World

July 13, 2004

If it costs too much, don't buy it

This weekend, an arbitrator ruled the 407ETR (Ontario's only toll highway - for now) doesn't need to seek the Provincial Government's permission to raise tolls. People are outraged. The comment, editorial and letters pages of Toronto's daily newspapers have been... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:21 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Ontario

July 12, 2004

Bush/Kerry "This Land" sing-a-long

Christie found this "This Land" duel between John Kerry and George Bush. It is hilarious!... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 02:51 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

Scamming the scammer

Many of us have received email messages requesting assistance in moving large amounts of money out of foreign countries. We read them, laugh out loud and delete them. Today's Toronto Star has a story about people who have decided to... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:40 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Science and Technology

July 10, 2004

Separated at birth?

I am just utterly confused why Indy star Paul Tracy has taken to dressing like Strong Bad. Perhaps it is an homage and Paul Tracy is cooler than I thought. Strong BadPaul Tracy... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 05:35 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Strange Stuff

A few short pieces on Michael Moore

First, let me say that I have been known to enjoy Michael Moore's films. However, I am not fond of him. In my view he is an arrogant, I-know-better-than-you type whose films are not documentaries but stories supported by a... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 01:21 PM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: The Media

July 9, 2004

Politics or prudence?

Yesterday, US Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge warned that terrorists might be considering attacks designed to disrupt the Presidential Election campaign. In keeping with the highly partisan atmosphere south of the border some Democrats have suggested that Mr. Ridge and... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 09:37 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

July 7, 2004

Patched Internet Explorer still vulnerable

ZDNet reports that - even with the patch Microsoft released last week - your Internet Explorer is still vulnerable. M'soft claims that all of the vulnerabilities will be dealt with when it releases Service Pack 2 for Windows XP in... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:39 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Science and Technology

July 6, 2004

Strange roll-out for VP announcement

It wasn't a traditional announcement by any stretch of the imagination. Normally when an American Presidential candidate announces his running-mate, the two appear on stage together, hands raised in anticipation of victory, smiling at the throng of insanely enthusiastic... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 11:53 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / United States

July 5, 2004

Is the media less ethical today?

The National Post announced on Friday that it had determined one of its reporters had been less than ethical in some of his reporting. The paper says the reporter in question (who covered health issues) fabricated names and quotes. The... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 10:21 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: The Media

July 4, 2004

Stupid law

Spring cleaning is a pain, but we're all better off when we go in to the garage, sweep out the cobwebs and throw out the the accumulated junk that no longer serves any useful purpose. When you find a gem... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 10:21 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Strange Stuff

July 3, 2004

Only in America

Fireworks are a traditional celebration of the Fourth of July in the United States. This year, fireworks manufacturers and retailers are expecting their biggest year ever. They attribute their upswing in sale over the last few years to resurgent American... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 10:47 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Strange Stuff

July 2, 2004

It's about the company you keep

Conservatives in Alberta are angry at Ontario. They say that Ontarians' decision not to give greater support to the Conservative Party in Monday's election will lead to greater Western Alienation. Like most Conservatives in Canada I was disappointed at the... More...

Posted by maxthecat at 10:41 AM | TrackBack | Printer-friendly version
Filed in: Politics / Canada