Vancouver Secrets

Just Call The Election, Steve…

photo credit: kagey_b

Prime Minister Stephen Harper seemed almost certain to call a general election next week to decide who will guide Canada.

It’s a great idea.

Although the election and candidates will be about as exciting as watching lawn bowling, holding an election alongside of the US election would let Canadians in on the fun.

We might be able to get rid of Gilles Duceppe, leader of the separatist opposition Bloc Quebecois. I always wonder what would happen if a traitor ran in the US…

Jack Layton, leader of the leftist New Democratic Party, also needs to go. With no possible chance of ever getting elected, it’s a wonder how the NDP has survived all these years. Note that the Riders have only won a Grey Cup when Conservatives have been in power in Sask.

Liberal leader Stephane Dion has proposed a tax grab similar to the National Energy Program they blessed us with in the last economic collapse. This is good for at least 10% more votes for Harper.

It’s time for change – as Barack Hussein Obama would say.

Best of all, it’s time to trounce the Liberals before their wacky carbon tax plan can see the light of day.

Here’s a video for more information on how the election will be decided:

The Oil Companies Profit From Gustav

photo credit: TopTechWriter.US

Not to miss an opportunity to take advantage of Vancouver drivers, the oil companies have jacked our gas prices again – and will continue to do so throughout the week- in anticipation of Gustav’s arrival into the Gulf of Mexico.

New Orleans is the likely target, and it almost looks like a repeat of Katrina.

Vancouver wins the prize for most expensive Canadian gas, despite oil prices being lower by almost $20/barrel since the peak.

As I wrote last week, they forgot to lower the price when oil dropped to $115/barrel from $145 – but were quick off the line to raise them when it went up to $120. In fact, they raised prices before trading was over yesterday.

We now face prices above 1.44/litre – when they should be around $1.25-1.30/litre.

How high can they go?

Only greed will dictate.

In hurricane prone areas they have laws against this – it’s called price gouging. Raising prices to take profit from disasters is frowned upon.

Here in Vancouver it’s a fact of life – no matter how distant the disaster is.

Can You Say “Fore”?

photo credit: jalalspages

If you want to join the Vancouver Golf Club, you’ll need to speak English.

A few years ago they instituted the policy after prospective members – in particular East Asian immigrants – started applying with the help of translators.

“We ask them to go away and take language courses and reapply,” says the club’s general manager, Brent Gough.

The LPGA Tour plans also institute a policy that would suspend players who aren’t fluent in English.

The LPGA policy, which will sanction women golfers for not speaking English in pro-ams, trophy presentations and media interviews.

Human rights and legal experts agreed the Coquitlam golf club is likely within its legal rights to limit membership.

What next?

Requiring people to speak English as a requirement to immigrate to Canada?

I’m anxiously awaiting the response from French-Canadians…

Listeria Hysteria

photo credit: Glynnis Ritchie

With the recent news about Canadians dying because of Listeria, it might be helpful to explain exactly what the disease is… 15 people have died already from Maple Leaf Foods deli meat.

What is listeriosis?

Listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, mainly in Maple Leaf Deli meats. The disease affects people of advanced age, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems.

What are the symptoms of listeriosis?

Fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.

Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness; however, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn.

How great is the risk for listeriosis?

• Pregnant women – They are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one-third of listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy.
• Newborns – Newborns rather than the pregnant women themselves suffer the serious effects of infection in pregnancy.
• Persons with weakened immune systems
• Persons with cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease
• Persons with AIDS – They are almost 300 times more likely to get listeriosis than people with normal immune systems.
• Persons who take glucocorticosteroid medications
• The elderly
• Healthy adults and children occasionally get infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.

How does Listeria get into food?

Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer.

Animals can carry the bacterium without appearing ill and can contaminate foods of animal origin such as meats and dairy products. The bacterium has been found in a variety of raw foods, such as uncooked meats and vegetables, as well as in processed foods that become contaminated after processing, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts at the deli counter. Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk may contain the bacterium.

Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking; however, in certain ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination may occur after cooking but before packaging.

How do you get listeriosis?

You get listeriosis by eating food contaminated with Listeria. Babies can be born with listeriosis if their mothers eat contaminated food during pregnancy. Although healthy persons may consume contaminated foods without becoming ill, those at increased risk for infection can probably get listeriosis after eating food contaminated with even a few bacteria. Persons at risk can prevent Listeria infection by avoiding certain high-risk foods and by handling food properly.
How can you reduce your risk for listeriosis?

• Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry.
• Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
• Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk.
• Consume perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible

How do you know if you have listeriosis?

There is no routine screening test for listeriosis during pregnancy, as there is for rubella and some other congenital infections. If you have symptoms such as fever or stiff neck, consult your doctor. A blood or spinal fluid test (to cultivate the bacteria) will show if you have listeriosis. During pregnancy, a blood test is the most reliable way to find out if your symptoms are due to listeriosis.

Can listeriosis be treated?

When infection occurs during pregnancy, antibiotics given promptly to the pregnant woman can often prevent infection of the fetus or newborn.

Babies with listeriosis receive the same antibiotics as adults, although a combination of antibiotics is often used until physicians are certain of the diagnosis. Even with prompt treatment, some infections result in death. This is particularly likely in the elderly and in persons with other serious medical problems.

Hope this helps…

Petro Canada Is Ripping Us Off

photo credit: JoshMcConnell

You’ve heard it before…

When oil prices rise, the price at the pump goes up within a day.

When oil prices drop, it takes weeks for the adjustment.

It’s a way the oil companies gouge us both ways – up and down.

Why hasn’t there been a government inquiry into this?

Oil peaked at around $140/barrel and gas went to $1.45/litre in Vancouver.

Now that oil has dropped to $115/barrel, you’d think that gas would be in the $1.14-$1.20 range.

It’s stuck at $1.40 – meaning they are ripping off consumers by 75 cents per gallon.

This would cause an uproar anywhere else.. out here, nobody seems to notice.

Between the oil prices being artificially raised each morning and the overcharging, the oil companies should be getting a lot of heat.

Instead, we pay whatever they demand and become poorer through our silence.

Obama lin Biden

photo credit: San Diego Shooter

Obama probably just handed McCain the presidency today.

Everyone thought Barack Obama would pick Hillary Rodham Clinton as his vice president,  because he needs the backing of the 18 million or so voters who supported her. It would have been the smart move.

Obama chose a man who, months ago, dropped out of the race after he failed to garner 1 percent of the Dem’s vote. . .

Obama’s poll numbers have plummeted and Biden will do nothing to help raise them.

Here’s why:

1) His platform of “Change” is not helped by Biden – Biden was for the Iraq war and represents the same things they have criticized McCain for.

2) Biden’s past comments will haunt their campaign. You can count on his future ones to create problems. Just three hours after the Obama campaign sent out its text announcement, the McCain campaign rolled out its first ad this morning, using Senator Joe Biden’s own words against Obama.

3) Can’t keep raising McCain’s age as an issue.. Biden is only a few years younger.

4) Biden has spent most of his life in the senate – and has nothing to show for it. He has served on two key committees, both as chairman and ranking-minority member. One dealt with judges and constitutional law and the other with foreign policy.

Last, not falling in line with the “Clinton” camp may bite him also. They undermined Kerry last election and will do the same this time. Hillary wants in next time, and Bill needs to make up for losing it for her.

The next few moths will make for great TV.

Just wish Canadian politics could be this interesting…