Monday, June 22, 2009
mistakes lead to success
"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…."1
Many years ago, in much younger days, I used to work in construction. On a construction site in which I was in charge I made what to me was a whopping error and was scared to death to tell my boss. Fortunately for me when I did tell him, he simply said, "Dick, the man who never made a mistake never made anything!"
What a relief it was to know my "error" was forgiven! Then we set about to correct my mistake.
I think it was Robert Schuller who said, "A high jumper never knows how high he can jump until he reaches a failure point." That's a good point, for we too will never know how high we can reach in fulfilling our personal goals until we also reach a failure point.
In fact, we probably learn a lot more through our failures than we do through our successes. The important thing when we fail is to get up, learn from our mistake, and go on to achieve better things. As another has said, "Not failure, but low aim is crime."
mistakes lead to success
"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…."1
Many years ago, in much younger days, I used to work in construction. On a construction site in which I was in charge I made what to me was a whopping error and was scared to death to tell my boss. Fortunately for me when I did tell him, he simply said, "Dick, the man who never made a mistake never made anything!"
What a relief it was to know my "error" was forgiven! Then we set about to correct my mistake.
I think it was Robert Schuller who said, "A high jumper never knows how high he can jump until he reaches a failure point." That's a good point, for we too will never know how high we can reach in fulfilling our personal goals until we also reach a failure point.
In fact, we probably learn a lot more through our failures than we do through our successes. The important thing when we fail is to get up, learn from our mistake, and go on to achieve better things. As another has said, "Not failure, but low aim is crime."
Many years ago, in much younger days, I used to work in construction. On a construction site in which I was in charge I made what to me was a whopping error and was scared to death to tell my boss. Fortunately for me when I did tell him, he simply said, "Dick, the man who never made a mistake never made anything!"
What a relief it was to know my "error" was forgiven! Then we set about to correct my mistake.
I think it was Robert Schuller who said, "A high jumper never knows how high he can jump until he reaches a failure point." That's a good point, for we too will never know how high we can reach in fulfilling our personal goals until we also reach a failure point.
In fact, we probably learn a lot more through our failures than we do through our successes. The important thing when we fail is to get up, learn from our mistake, and go on to achieve better things. As another has said, "Not failure, but low aim is crime."
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Brantford.com -
Brantford.com -: "The return of Lloyd St. Amand
Last Updated: Wed, 17 Jun 2009
BRANTFORD (BCN) - Lloyd St. Amand, who lost his federal seat in Brant to Phil McColeman in the last election, will be back to lead the local Liberals next time around. He was acclaimed last night in front of about 80 members of his party at the Polish Hall at 126 Albion Street. He won the two previous local federal battles in 2004 and 2006, but lost by over 3,000 votes to McColeman in 2008."
Lloyd St. Amand is a good choice who did an honest credible worthy job in the past. He is a quality contender for the post. PR
Last Updated: Wed, 17 Jun 2009
BRANTFORD (BCN) - Lloyd St. Amand, who lost his federal seat in Brant to Phil McColeman in the last election, will be back to lead the local Liberals next time around. He was acclaimed last night in front of about 80 members of his party at the Polish Hall at 126 Albion Street. He won the two previous local federal battles in 2004 and 2006, but lost by over 3,000 votes to McColeman in 2008."
Lloyd St. Amand is a good choice who did an honest credible worthy job in the past. He is a quality contender for the post. PR
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Whose Ego is Bigger?
Ignatieff, Harper in duel of egos
Posted By GREG WESTON
Posted 3 hours ago
This week's sabre-rattling between Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper over a summer election has all the makings of an epic battle over which leader has the biggest, um, sword.
Forget the worst economic crash in decades, the collapsing industries, the thousands of Canadians losing their their jobs, their savings, their pensions, their homes.
If the political jousting between Iggy and the PM is any indication, the country is at risk of being dragged out of the pool and off to the polls in July over duelling egos.
Harper, of course, is no slouch in the larger-than-life department, having spent the past three years successfully muzzling his ministers, and generally trying to put an iron grip on everyone and everything government.
Today, the Conservative administration remains predominantly all Harper all the time.
But make no mistake, there's a new ego-slinger in town with the potential to make "l'etat c'est moi" an understatement in both official languages.
As the Commons headed into its final week before the scheduled (and long overdue) summer break, Ignatieff held a press conference to set out the Liberal party's four conditions for not voting the country into a mid-summer's nightmare election.
For the first 15 minutes, Ignatieff spoke from a written text about what his party and fellow MPs were expecting from the Harper government.
But as soon as Ignatieff left his prepared text and went to questions from reporters, the political situation at hand was suddenly all about him.
By our rough count, in less than 20 minutes of answering reporters, Ignatieff used one word over 100 times -- "I."
For example, one of the Liberal demands on the Harper government to avoid an election vote at the end of this week is some enriched proposals for employment insurance (EI).
"I have said that I'm looking for co-operation," Ignatieff said.
"I will judge the proposals that I'm calling for . . . I require he (the PM) come forward with proposals now, not in the fall . . . I am pragmatic. I am prepared to make compromises."
Ignatieff was asked about leaving Harper an easy way out of a summer election.
"I know Canadians aren't crazy about an election, especially eight months after the last one . . . I accept the results of that election, and I'm just trying to work with government.
"I voted for the (January) budget even though I had some questions about it because I thought it was better for Canadians than the opposite. So that's why I did it."
And so it went for the entire press conference. As it happens, Ignatieff's proposed changes to EI
have caused divisions within his own caucus and party, just as there is among Canadian voters.
No surprise there -- the Liberals are proposing to change EI to provide a full year of payments to anyone who works a minimum 360 hours -- what the Conservatives accurately call a 45-day working year.
Asked if the Liberals would bend to a compromise from the Conservatives, Iggy said he would consider proposals from Harper, and "I will determine whether he's helping out the unemployed."
One of the Conservatives' latest attack ads aimed at Ignatieff claims the Liberal leader is in national politics for himself: "It's not about you; it's just about him."
While there seems to have been mixed reaction to the ads among average Canadian voters, Liberal MPs must be wondering if the Conservatives have a point.
Adding a crisis to a crisis is not impressive - lets get people working stop making useless points at our taxpayers expense PR
Posted By GREG WESTON
Posted 3 hours ago
This week's sabre-rattling between Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper over a summer election has all the makings of an epic battle over which leader has the biggest, um, sword.
Forget the worst economic crash in decades, the collapsing industries, the thousands of Canadians losing their their jobs, their savings, their pensions, their homes.
If the political jousting between Iggy and the PM is any indication, the country is at risk of being dragged out of the pool and off to the polls in July over duelling egos.
Harper, of course, is no slouch in the larger-than-life department, having spent the past three years successfully muzzling his ministers, and generally trying to put an iron grip on everyone and everything government.
Today, the Conservative administration remains predominantly all Harper all the time.
But make no mistake, there's a new ego-slinger in town with the potential to make "l'etat c'est moi" an understatement in both official languages.
As the Commons headed into its final week before the scheduled (and long overdue) summer break, Ignatieff held a press conference to set out the Liberal party's four conditions for not voting the country into a mid-summer's nightmare election.
For the first 15 minutes, Ignatieff spoke from a written text about what his party and fellow MPs were expecting from the Harper government.
But as soon as Ignatieff left his prepared text and went to questions from reporters, the political situation at hand was suddenly all about him.
By our rough count, in less than 20 minutes of answering reporters, Ignatieff used one word over 100 times -- "I."
For example, one of the Liberal demands on the Harper government to avoid an election vote at the end of this week is some enriched proposals for employment insurance (EI).
"I have said that I'm looking for co-operation," Ignatieff said.
"I will judge the proposals that I'm calling for . . . I require he (the PM) come forward with proposals now, not in the fall . . . I am pragmatic. I am prepared to make compromises."
Ignatieff was asked about leaving Harper an easy way out of a summer election.
"I know Canadians aren't crazy about an election, especially eight months after the last one . . . I accept the results of that election, and I'm just trying to work with government.
"I voted for the (January) budget even though I had some questions about it because I thought it was better for Canadians than the opposite. So that's why I did it."
And so it went for the entire press conference. As it happens, Ignatieff's proposed changes to EI
have caused divisions within his own caucus and party, just as there is among Canadian voters.
No surprise there -- the Liberals are proposing to change EI to provide a full year of payments to anyone who works a minimum 360 hours -- what the Conservatives accurately call a 45-day working year.
Asked if the Liberals would bend to a compromise from the Conservatives, Iggy said he would consider proposals from Harper, and "I will determine whether he's helping out the unemployed."
One of the Conservatives' latest attack ads aimed at Ignatieff claims the Liberal leader is in national politics for himself: "It's not about you; it's just about him."
While there seems to have been mixed reaction to the ads among average Canadian voters, Liberal MPs must be wondering if the Conservatives have a point.
Adding a crisis to a crisis is not impressive - lets get people working stop making useless points at our taxpayers expense PR
With Win -Win Standards The Indians win , Canadians win
National Post editorial board: Report, then reform reserves
Posted: June 16, 2009, 8:00 AM by NP Editor
We have long been advocates of more independence and responsibility for First Nations governments; not just more money and power — the typical demands of national Aboriginal politicians — but more transparency and accountability to those governed by band councils, too.
That is why we applaud the efforts of Winnipeg’s Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Last week the FCPP released its third annual ranking of the effectiveness of administration on Prairie reserves based on five criteria: impartiality of elections, effectiveness of band administration, respect for human rights, transparency of band business and success at generating economic activity.
Many non-Aboriginal communities would have trouble scoring well, measured against those yardsticks. Happily, a good number of First Nations did very well. Ten of the 68 reserves measured in the study received scores of 65% or higher. Based on more than 5,000 surveys conducted with band councillors and ordinary band residents, the FCPP results paint a reliable picture of the state of Aboriginal local governance. As the centre points out, while it found some examples of abysmal reserve administration, there was also plenty of “positive news.” Many bands who have been surveyed all three years now are using the results to encourage internal reforms, while others with high rankings have used their scores to attract non-Aboriginal business investment.
Not all Prairie reserves participate in the FCPP assessment, so it would be inaccurate to insist the survey necessarily identifies the very best or worst bands. But to the extent it forces band leaders and members to examine what they are doing right and wrong, it is more than just a useful exercise. The FCPP survey could be a catalyst for better governance on reserves.
As the authors point out, “good governance is crucial” as a precursor to self-government and prosperity. The Frontier Centre survey, then, may be a useful step toward those goals.
It is true to say that without measurable standards there is waste and chaos -good for the Frontier Centre in leading the way PR
Posted: June 16, 2009, 8:00 AM by NP Editor
We have long been advocates of more independence and responsibility for First Nations governments; not just more money and power — the typical demands of national Aboriginal politicians — but more transparency and accountability to those governed by band councils, too.
That is why we applaud the efforts of Winnipeg’s Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Last week the FCPP released its third annual ranking of the effectiveness of administration on Prairie reserves based on five criteria: impartiality of elections, effectiveness of band administration, respect for human rights, transparency of band business and success at generating economic activity.
Many non-Aboriginal communities would have trouble scoring well, measured against those yardsticks. Happily, a good number of First Nations did very well. Ten of the 68 reserves measured in the study received scores of 65% or higher. Based on more than 5,000 surveys conducted with band councillors and ordinary band residents, the FCPP results paint a reliable picture of the state of Aboriginal local governance. As the centre points out, while it found some examples of abysmal reserve administration, there was also plenty of “positive news.” Many bands who have been surveyed all three years now are using the results to encourage internal reforms, while others with high rankings have used their scores to attract non-Aboriginal business investment.
Not all Prairie reserves participate in the FCPP assessment, so it would be inaccurate to insist the survey necessarily identifies the very best or worst bands. But to the extent it forces band leaders and members to examine what they are doing right and wrong, it is more than just a useful exercise. The FCPP survey could be a catalyst for better governance on reserves.
As the authors point out, “good governance is crucial” as a precursor to self-government and prosperity. The Frontier Centre survey, then, may be a useful step toward those goals.
It is true to say that without measurable standards there is waste and chaos -good for the Frontier Centre in leading the way PR
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Fed-up homebuilder sets sights on mayor's job - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Fed-up homebuilder sets sights on mayor's job - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Local homebuilder Mike Quattrociocchi says he's so fed up with the "shenanigans" that city staff and council are carrying on over his controversial Grand River Avenue housing project that he is running for mayor in the next municipal election in November 2010.
"I couldn't stand anymore the shenanigans of the last few months that I have every intention of running for mayor and getting elected," Quattrociocchi, owner of Mayberry Homes and a former city councillor, said in an interview Wednesday.
He accused "several members of council" of trying to stall a housing project he has been building in stages by imposing periodic bureaucratic and political "roadblocks" against it.
"Look at this council. Some members can't get along with each other, some are being obstructionist and some are using their position for personal agendas," he said.
Local homebuilder Mike Quattrociocchi says he's so fed up with the "shenanigans" that city staff and council are carrying on over his controversial Grand River Avenue housing project that he is running for mayor in the next municipal election in November 2010.
"I couldn't stand anymore the shenanigans of the last few months that I have every intention of running for mayor and getting elected," Quattrociocchi, owner of Mayberry Homes and a former city councillor, said in an interview Wednesday.
He accused "several members of council" of trying to stall a housing project he has been building in stages by imposing periodic bureaucratic and political "roadblocks" against it.
"Look at this council. Some members can't get along with each other, some are being obstructionist and some are using their position for personal agendas," he said.
Bailout waste -auto - reality check
Yet despite the stabilization of U.S. sales, not to mention the taxpayer-funded bailouts of GM and Chrysler, there is very little chance the Canadian sector will ever top its 157,130 peak employment in 2001 — when total North American sales of cars and light trucks were around 20 million. According to Statistics Canada, auto manufacturing jobs in this country crashed by about 20%, reaching 99,684 in the three-month period ending March 31. But the Q1 figures do not account for the recent downsizing of GM and Chrysler operations, so that number will go even lower. As well, the recently increased value of the loonie might already have wiped out most, if not all, of the cost savings GM and Chrysler gained from concessions made by the Canadian Auto Workers, when the troubled Detroit duo renegotiated contracts to try to make local operations more competitive.
Meanwhile, DesRosiers and other industry watchers say aggressive competition from solvent automakers, not to mention government involvement in product planning and plantlocation decisions, could seriously hinder attempts by GM and Chrysler to stabilize their operations. That would probably lead them back to the public trough — especially given the way private-sector lenders have been treated by Washington and Ottawa during the restructuring process. And every bailout dollar handed to these industry dogs hurts the stronger North American operations of offshore-based players while making it more likely that Ford will eventually hit a wall.
In short, relatively few Canadian jobs have been saved, and a lot more bailing may be required to keep the shrinking Big Three from running off the cliff again.
What a waste - good job intentions does not make good economic or market sense Pr
Meanwhile, DesRosiers and other industry watchers say aggressive competition from solvent automakers, not to mention government involvement in product planning and plantlocation decisions, could seriously hinder attempts by GM and Chrysler to stabilize their operations. That would probably lead them back to the public trough — especially given the way private-sector lenders have been treated by Washington and Ottawa during the restructuring process. And every bailout dollar handed to these industry dogs hurts the stronger North American operations of offshore-based players while making it more likely that Ford will eventually hit a wall.
In short, relatively few Canadian jobs have been saved, and a lot more bailing may be required to keep the shrinking Big Three from running off the cliff again.
What a waste - good job intentions does not make good economic or market sense Pr
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Invitation to view sieg's Picasa Web Album - Knights -street hockey tournament -june 09
| You are invited to view sieg's photo album: Knights -street hockey tournament -june 09
Message from sieg: This was a fun event which everyone enjoyed. All councils participated and we thank those who participated in making this a success. Sieg Holle Grand Knight 9262 If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/sredir?uname=BTECaregivers&target=ALBUM&id=5344962894576583457&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLW3ebTmqrmEg&invite=CIHmr8EF&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.  |
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Councillors eye ditching integrity complaints - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Councillors eye ditching integrity complaints - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Why not let the electors decide this . Stop the self serving nonsense and pre-electioneering let them resign and call a ward election Brantford deserves better PR
Why not let the electors decide this . Stop the self serving nonsense and pre-electioneering let them resign and call a ward election Brantford deserves better PR
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Higher council conduct standards, not lower standards, needed please
Why are City council rules of conduct and performance standards so
important to the taxpayers? Objective, visible standards can improve
accountability and results to and for the customers, the taxpayers and
the public. Standards protect Taxpayer interests.
important to the taxpayers? Objective, visible standards can improve
accountability and results to and for the customers, the taxpayers and
the public. Standards protect Taxpayer interests.
The recent call to reduce objective standards of conduct at City hall
is disturbing. Using the Taxpayers as a tool or validation for this
proposed action is unacceptable to many
In the guise of saving the City taxpayers, $18, 000 plus in fees for
the independent commission findings, or similar oversight costs in the
future, the city councillors would like to change or reduce their
rules of conduct. The councillors', who oversee a $100 million plus
budget, are concerned that future independent oversight commissions
might overtax or overburden the budget. This reasoning comes from
those that appear to be promoting an increase in the public
funding/spending burn rate on their pet projects. The proposed
reduction in public standards by this council is transparently
foolish, self-serving and considered by many to be outright
hypocritical. .
Why have public standards? Every business, group, individuals has or
should have standards. ( Read the City Mission statements). A proven
fact is that the higher the standard, the higher the performance, and
the higher the results measured against an objective benchmark. Rules
of conduct improve performance.
Why then should we reduce our proven city standards, be in contempt of
the independent and paid for commission findings? Ask the Auditor
General or the Gormley Commission if an apology is enough to condone
bad behaviour or lapses in public interest judgement.
In sports, penalties are based on rules of engagement.. There are
consequences if they are not followed. You may be suspended from the
play or game if you cannot follow the basic rules. This is often to
the detriment of your team mates. There is a real incentive .to play
fair. Why should we settle for less from our councillors?
Here are some constructive suggestions to improve the integrity of
this important process. Do not change the conduct rules, follow the
rules fairly, and enforce the penalties as defined by the independent
commission-or have the offending councillors resign and let the voters
decide. We need higher not lower public standards that are executed in
a timely manner. If the outside legal oversight cost is deemed too
high, why not use the paid for city legal staff to handle future
breaches of ethical conduct?
Brantford deserves professionalism and good conduct from their
representatives-reducing the standard of conduct is not the answer.
and appears to be self-serving and counter productive
--
The Taxpayers also commend Councilor Martins attempt at following the
integrity commissioners ruling and keeping the process fair by
enforcing the given 90 day salary penalty, We, the ratepayers second
the motion ,even though the other councilors did not. Perhaps an Media
poll on this issue would clear the fog on this important issue.
Sieg Holle
Brant Taxpayers Coalition
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
FAIR testifies to Listeriosis inquiry
CCWG agrees
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| FAIR Newsletter 2 June 2009 FAIR testifies to Listeriosis inquiry Ottawa - Executive Director David Hutton testified yesterday to the Food Safety Subcommittee, which was set up to investigate last year's Listeriosis outbreak. Hutton stated that: "Unless we create effective whistleblower protection for people working in the food industry - from the public servants who make policy and oversee the industry, to the managers and workers on the production lines - Canadians will continue to die needlessly because of avoidable failures within the food supply." The full testimony (including video) can be seen at the FAIR website: and in French: FAIR (Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform) Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR) promotes integrity and accountability within government by empowering employees to speak out without fear of reprisal when they encounter wrongdoing. Our aim is to support legislation and management practices that will provide effective protection for whistleblowers and hence occupational free speech in the workplace. FAIR is a registered Canadian charity. | |
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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Monday, June 01, 2009
Fwd: NoBailouts.ca: Dollars could be flushed away
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Canadian Taxpayers Federation <taxaction@taxpayer.com>
Date: Fri, May 29, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Subject: NoBailouts.ca: Dollars could be flushed away
![]()
From: Canadian Taxpayers Federation <taxaction@taxpayer.com>
Date: Fri, May 29, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Subject: NoBailouts.ca: Dollars could be flushed away
Thank you for adding your voice to www.NoBailouts.ca. We've been busy making the case against bailouts to the media. But now is a crucial time for you to speak to parliamentarians.
The Globe and Mail reports that Canada's contribution to the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler could soar to more than $13-billion. GM moved a giant step closer to filing for bankruptcy protection as its bond holders refused to swallow their debt in exchange for equity in the company.
This means the $3 billion committed in "repayable loans" to GM Canada could increase to $10 billion. So far, GM has only borrowed about $500 million from Ontario and Ottawa so far. The governments are also providing $3.8 billion to Chrysler. Canadian Taxpayers took a 2 per cent ownership stake in Chrysler and may take a 10 per cent stake in GM.
| Who stands up for taxpayers? While opinion polls show a majority of Canadians oppose auto bailouts, all federal political parties support them. Win, lose or draw your generous contribution in support of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation ensures taxpayers' voices are heard! |
The federal government has admitted some of its loans have already been written off, and the same might happen again. The expected federal deficit has gone from $34 billion up to $50 billion and counting. Strangely, the Harper government says that much of the increase is due to money set aside in case the car companies can't pay the anticipated loans.
Before the federal government knowingly flushes your tax dollars down the proverbial toilet, let them know you do not approve! Click the following links to contact Prime Minister Harper, Industry Minister Tony Clement, and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Contact info for your MP is available at www.parl.gc.ca.
Finally, continue to forward www.nobailouts.ca to everyone concerned about proper financial management of our country. There is strength in numbers. Our voices will be heard!
|
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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Friday, May 29, 2009
Downtown dream Helpful ideas needed, gets closer to reality not political hysteria - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Downtown dream Helpful ideas needed, gets closer to reality not political hysteria - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA: "Downtown dream Helpful ideas needed, gets closer to reality not political hysteria
n point ofview"
worth reading PR
n point ofview"
worth reading PR
Friday, May 15, 2009
City staff told they can't delay - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
City staff told they can't delay - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA: "City staff told they can't delay
Posted By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
Posted 2 hours ago
A city council group overseeing redevelopment on the decrepit south side of Colborne Street wants a plan ready to relocate tenants and demolish all buildings as soon as a $10.5-million bid to expropriate a stretch of 41 properties gets final approval.
The South Side of Colborne Task Force authorized a senior staff team on Thursday to prepare a step-by-step procedure for expropriation. The task force wants direction for administrators and council on how various departments are supposed to assist in the relocation of businesses and tenants living in the mostly rundown buildings. And it wants a detailed plan ready to carry out the demolition."
"A action plan would be a good thing in this massive undertaking" Pr
Posted By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
Posted 2 hours ago
A city council group overseeing redevelopment on the decrepit south side of Colborne Street wants a plan ready to relocate tenants and demolish all buildings as soon as a $10.5-million bid to expropriate a stretch of 41 properties gets final approval.
The South Side of Colborne Task Force authorized a senior staff team on Thursday to prepare a step-by-step procedure for expropriation. The task force wants direction for administrators and council on how various departments are supposed to assist in the relocation of businesses and tenants living in the mostly rundown buildings. And it wants a detailed plan ready to carry out the demolition."
"A action plan would be a good thing in this massive undertaking" Pr
It is time to stop the chaos on council
It is time to stop the chaos on council
Who really spammed the Brantford taxpayers this week ? Levac/Charest where not allowed to speak due to righteous council decorum.
So is Brantford open for business or not?
You would think that if our senior public representative ie MPP Levac- a channel of our funds at Queens park and a developer /major taxpayer of major land holdings wish to present something to council in public (not behind closed doors) that the councillors would give them the courtesy to be heard? What reality or world are they, our councillors, living in ? It should be about creating real jobs, a viable new tax base not talking about it,studying it - or spending more of our tax money in behind closed door pet schemes or paying more money to their friends,or people that they are supposed to lead, control or direct.
They could not spare 20 minutes to listen to a future big picture solution. Why not? - Well the integrity report and the juicy Carpenter Callahan soap opera was more interesting of course. Even then councillors could not listen and follow the basic recommendations of the independent commissioner. Could penalizing their own council members for bad or inappropriate conduct set a terrible potential accountability precedent ? Is contempt of impartial independent commissioner findings permitted? Stay tuned to find out as the drama with our "righteous council " unfolds. Sad -thankfully an election is coming soon . Maybe some professionalism , public ward representation not special interest representation ,common sense and financial sanity can then be re-established
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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Summary or lessons learned from Gladwell's David beats Goliath by S Holle
Gladwell's David beats Goliath is a excellent review of a winning strategy for the underdogs or the David's of the world. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/11/090511fa_fact_gladwell?
My summary and key lessons learned are as follows
Leadership stance and deportment is important. "He would speak calmly and softly, and convince the players of the wisdom of his approach with appeals to reason and common sense".
Winning is not about egos and playing conventionally were the opponent has all advantages. Why, then, did weak teams play in a way that made it easy for good teams to do the very things that made them so good?
When underdogs choose not to play by Goliath’s rules, they win,ArreguÃn-Toft concluded, “even when everything we think we know about power says they shouldn’t.”
The political scientist Ivan ArreguÃn-Toft recently looked at every war fought in the past two hundred years between strong and weak combatants. The Goliaths, he found, won in 71.5 per cent of the cases. That is a remarkable fact.
ArreguÃn-Toft was analyzing conflicts in which one side was at least ten times as powerful—in terms of armed might and population—as its opponent, and even in those lopsided contests the underdog won almost a third of the time.
When an underdog fought like David, he usually won. But most of the time underdogs didn’t fight like David. Of the two hundred and two lopsided conflicts in ArreguÃn-Toft’s database, the underdog chose to go toe to toe with Goliath the conventional way a hundred and fifty-two times—and lost a hundred and nineteen times. In 1809, the Peruvians fought the Spanish straight up and lost; in 1816, the Georgians fought the Russians straight up and lost; in 1817, the Pindaris fought the British straight up and lost; in the Kandyan rebellion of 1817, the Sri Lankans fought the British straight up and lost; in 1823, the Burmese chose to fight the British straight up and lost. The list of failures was endless. In the nineteen-forties, the Communist insurgency in Vietnam bedevilled the French until, in 1951,the Viet Minh strategist Vo Nguyen Giap switched to conventionalwarfare—and promptly suffered a series of defeats. George Washington did the same in the American Revolution, abandoning the guerrilla tactics that had served the colonists so well in the conflict’s early stages. “As quickly as he could,”William Polk writes in “Violent Politics,” a history of unconventional warfare, Washington “devoted his energies to creating a British-type army, the Continental Line. As a result, he was defeated time after time and almost lost the war.”
Winning Strategy,tactics and tips for the underdogs, change agents or idea insurgents
DAVIDS
Play the whole field and use the rules unconventionally to your advantage , “he should wage war over the broadest territory possible”. Lawrence of Arabia
Attack the Turks (Goliaths} where they were or are weak
Understand your resources and people “Our cards were speed and time, not hitting power,” Lawrence wrote. “Our largest available resources were the tribesmen, men quite unused to formal warfare, whose assets were movement, endurance, individual intelligence, knowledge of the country, courage.”
Effort wins over skill. We tell ourselves that skill is the precious resource and effort is the commodity. It’s the other way around. “Effort can trump ability—legs, in Saxe’s formulation, can overpower arms—because relentless effort is in fact something rarer than the ability to engage in some finely tuned act of motor coordination.”
Try harder – right attitude teach them skills in that short period of time, and so all we did was make sure they were fit and had some basic understanding of the game.
That’s why attitude plays such a big role in this, because you’re going to get tired.” He turned to Craig. “What was our cheer again?”The two men thought for a moment, then shouted out happily, in unison, “One, two, three, ATTITUDE!”
Operate in real time not lag time and win through endurance
“Insurgents,though, operate in real time. Lawrence hit the Turks, in that stretch in the spring of 1917, nearly every day, because he knew that the more he accelerated the pace of combat the more the war became a battle of endurance—and endurance battles favors the insurgent. “And it happened as the Philistine arose and was drawing near David that David hastened and ran out from the lines toward the Philistine,” the Bible says. “And he reached his hand into the pouch and took from there a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead.” The second sentence—the slingshot part—is what made David famous. But the first sentence matters just as much. David broke the rhythm of the encounter. He speeded it up. “The sudden astonishment when David sprints forward must have frozen Goliath, making him a better target,”
Goliaths
Know their weakness and power and use it to your advantage
Staying power-The prospect of playing by David’s rules was too daunting. They would rather lose.
Contempt and arrogance -The price that the outsider pays for being so heedless of custom is, of course, the disapproval of the insider.Goliath does not simply dwarf David. He brings the full force of social convention against him; he has contempt for David.
Power levers and time -They will change the rules so that they can win.”It’s wrong to sink your own ships, they believed. And they were right. But let’s remember who made that rule: Goliath. And let’s remember why Goliath made that rule: when the world has to play on Goliath’s terms, Goliath wins.”
Poor mobility to act independently- Time lag, the batch universe with multi lines of authority and approvals means poor response times.
Engagement rules. They are regimented by their own insider rules. “The other gamers were people steeped in military strategy and history.They were the sort who could tell you how Wellington had outfoxed Napoleon at Waterloo, or what exactly happened at Antietam. They had been raised on Dungeons and Dragons. They were insiders. Eurisko, on the other hand, knew nothing but the rule book. It had no common sense.”
Decision Lag Effect
“Such people are powerfully invested in the notion of the Fed as a Solomonic body: that pause of five or eight weeks between economic adjustments seems central to the process of deliberation. This“deliberation”just prettifies the difficulties created by lag.H
ow to win- that becomes the pivotal question?
Historically David’s win through effort and when they follow their own rules of engagement , out do, overwhelm or overpower their opposition in unconventional ways. They have the mobility of action, staying power,and advantage in real time scenarios and can use Goliath weaknesses to their advantage.
David can more then equalize and win in the playing field against Goliath if he plays by his own winning rules.
S.Holle -a Goliath turned David through necessity
Your comments, input and examples please. Sieg Holle
Carpenter should resign
So what ? Having a loose cannon on council who is a proven divesive and unprincipled element reduces the effectiveness of council. Carpenter should resign . He has no integrity and that is now a proven fact. We need leaders not children handling our public affairs - PR
Carpenter broke code, so what?
Posted By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
City Coun. James Calnan says he will "carry on and hope for the best" after colleagues declined to punish his wardmate for violations of the code of conduct identified in an integrity commissioners' report.
"From my point of view all I ever asked for was an apology," Calnan said in an interview Monday after council voted to receive a report by commissioner Aida Gatfield.
The London-based lawyer was appointed integrity commissioner to investigate a complaint by Calnan six months ago concerning an alleged pattern of behaviour by Carpenter toward him last year.
In her report, Gatfield found that "on the balance of the probabilities" Carpenter violated sections of the city's municipal Code of Conduct with a series of coments concerning Calnan. The code prohibits "patronizing or condescending behaviour, written or verbal abuse or threats."
She said council could formally reprimand Carpenter or suspend his council pay for up to 90 days, but she made no recommendation.
Councillors chose to do neither. With almost no discussion, they voted to receive the report and release it to the public.
They quickly adjourned the meeting and all, including Carpenter, left the room with only Calnan remaining with reporters.
"In the absence of an apology from my wardmate, I'll just have to carry on and hope for the best," he told reporters.
"It's very clear that I have had had a less than cordial relationship with my wardmate," Calnan p>He noted that he filed his complaint against Carpenter "as a last resort."
Although no action is being taken, "we now have a report that has resulted in a change of behaviour," Calnan added.
Carpenter declined to comment on the report or council's decision.
Gatfield investigated a series of incidents and comments dating back to 1996. At the time, Calnan wasn't on council but he said the incidents displayed a pattern of unprofessional behaviour by Carpenter.
In an interview with Gatfield, Calnan presented news clippings from an incident in 1996 in which it is alleged that Carpenter attacked a fellow councillor. She ruled that incident was so long ago that she considered it staledated.
She also dismissed another incident during the 2003 election campaign involving a dispute over signage between Carpenter, then an incumbent, and Calnan as a candidate.
But Gatfield ruled that more recent incidents in 2008 constituted breaches in sections of the code.
During a Nov. 3 closed-door meeting about how council should deal with challenges from a Six Nations Confederacy organization called the Haudenosaunee Development Institute, Calnan said he advised his colleagues to refrain from engaging in divisive behaviour.
He claimed Carpenter stated: "You are the divisive element on council," and added: "You shouldn't even be on this council."
In his interview, Carpenter denied having called Calnan "divisive," or saying that his wardmate shouldn't be on council.
But Gatfield cited testimony from some other councillors who recalled Carpenter making comments to Calnan about his fitness to sit on council.
Carpenter did agree that he did call Calnan a "backstabber" in the press. That was when Calnan began breaking publicly from council's position on the native land claims dispute, and its policy to have Mayor Mike Hancock serve as the sole spokesman on such issues.
Gatfield wrote that Carpenter agreed his comment was emotional and not respectful.
The report cites testimony from other councilors, who stated that Carpenter treats them in the same manner, making personal attacks.
In her conclusion, Gatfield said Carpenter's comments toward his wardmate were not justified, but found the context in which the comments were made to be a mitigating factor.
"The First nations issue is an emotionally charged matter," she wrote. "Council had unanimously agreed to a course of action, which the complainant subsequently publicly rejected without prior notification to council."
Although council appears to have put the complaint against Carpenter to bed, it is due to consider again in two weeks another report identifying Calnan as an information leak regarding an in-camera discussion about a document important to progress on the native land claims dispute.
In an interview, Calnan noted that his complaint took six months to investigate, while the investigation into the leak began later and took less than half the time.
He said he is still consulting legal counsel on his response.
Carpenter broke code, so what?
Posted By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
City Coun. James Calnan says he will "carry on and hope for the best" after colleagues declined to punish his wardmate for violations of the code of conduct identified in an integrity commissioners' report.
"From my point of view all I ever asked for was an apology," Calnan said in an interview Monday after council voted to receive a report by commissioner Aida Gatfield.
The London-based lawyer was appointed integrity commissioner to investigate a complaint by Calnan six months ago concerning an alleged pattern of behaviour by Carpenter toward him last year.
In her report, Gatfield found that "on the balance of the probabilities" Carpenter violated sections of the city's municipal Code of Conduct with a series of coments concerning Calnan. The code prohibits "patronizing or condescending behaviour, written or verbal abuse or threats."
She said council could formally reprimand Carpenter or suspend his council pay for up to 90 days, but she made no recommendation.
Councillors chose to do neither. With almost no discussion, they voted to receive the report and release it to the public.
They quickly adjourned the meeting and all, including Carpenter, left the room with only Calnan remaining with reporters.
"In the absence of an apology from my wardmate, I'll just have to carry on and hope for the best," he told reporters.
"It's very clear that I have had had a less than cordial relationship with my wardmate," Calnan p>He noted that he filed his complaint against Carpenter "as a last resort."
Although no action is being taken, "we now have a report that has resulted in a change of behaviour," Calnan added.
Carpenter declined to comment on the report or council's decision.
Gatfield investigated a series of incidents and comments dating back to 1996. At the time, Calnan wasn't on council but he said the incidents displayed a pattern of unprofessional behaviour by Carpenter.
In an interview with Gatfield, Calnan presented news clippings from an incident in 1996 in which it is alleged that Carpenter attacked a fellow councillor. She ruled that incident was so long ago that she considered it staledated.
She also dismissed another incident during the 2003 election campaign involving a dispute over signage between Carpenter, then an incumbent, and Calnan as a candidate.
But Gatfield ruled that more recent incidents in 2008 constituted breaches in sections of the code.
During a Nov. 3 closed-door meeting about how council should deal with challenges from a Six Nations Confederacy organization called the Haudenosaunee Development Institute, Calnan said he advised his colleagues to refrain from engaging in divisive behaviour.
He claimed Carpenter stated: "You are the divisive element on council," and added: "You shouldn't even be on this council."
In his interview, Carpenter denied having called Calnan "divisive," or saying that his wardmate shouldn't be on council.
But Gatfield cited testimony from some other councillors who recalled Carpenter making comments to Calnan about his fitness to sit on council.
Carpenter did agree that he did call Calnan a "backstabber" in the press. That was when Calnan began breaking publicly from council's position on the native land claims dispute, and its policy to have Mayor Mike Hancock serve as the sole spokesman on such issues.
Gatfield wrote that Carpenter agreed his comment was emotional and not respectful.
The report cites testimony from other councilors, who stated that Carpenter treats them in the same manner, making personal attacks.
In her conclusion, Gatfield said Carpenter's comments toward his wardmate were not justified, but found the context in which the comments were made to be a mitigating factor.
"The First nations issue is an emotionally charged matter," she wrote. "Council had unanimously agreed to a course of action, which the complainant subsequently publicly rejected without prior notification to council."
Although council appears to have put the complaint against Carpenter to bed, it is due to consider again in two weeks another report identifying Calnan as an information leak regarding an in-camera discussion about a document important to progress on the native land claims dispute.
In an interview, Calnan noted that his complaint took six months to investigate, while the investigation into the leak began later and took less than half the time.
He said he is still consulting legal counsel on his response.
Reel life situation makes waves - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Reel life situation makes waves - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA: "Reel life situation makes waves
Posted By GREG WESTON
Today's tour of federal absurdity takes us to Canada's rivers, streams and other rich fish habitats where the biggest environmental threat to aquatic life may well be the government agencies protecting it.
In a damning report released yesterday, Canada's environmental watchdog chews out the federal fisheries department for all but leaving the nation's freshwater ecosystems up a creek without a protector.
Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan reported bluntly: 'We found that efforts to protect fish habitat have been inadequate.'"
"A worthwhile assessment of the federal fisheries department, with a burn rate of 70 million , what does this department do other then fill its own pockets - who cares about our fish. Accountability is a joke here . PR"
Posted By GREG WESTON
Today's tour of federal absurdity takes us to Canada's rivers, streams and other rich fish habitats where the biggest environmental threat to aquatic life may well be the government agencies protecting it.
In a damning report released yesterday, Canada's environmental watchdog chews out the federal fisheries department for all but leaving the nation's freshwater ecosystems up a creek without a protector.
Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan reported bluntly: 'We found that efforts to protect fish habitat have been inadequate.'"
"A worthwhile assessment of the federal fisheries department, with a burn rate of 70 million , what does this department do other then fill its own pockets - who cares about our fish. Accountability is a joke here . PR"
Monday, May 11, 2009
know your rights -do your homework -useful resources
Free Online Legal Advice That You Can Trust... In Plain English, Too
Albin Renauer, JD
LegalConsumer.com
any law-related Web sites offer little guidance beyond "call a lawyer" -- often because they actually are marketing tools for law firms. Others are written in hard-to-understand legalese. But a few sites do provide reliable, understandable legal information for laypeople. Top sites now...GENERAL LEGAL TOPICS
Lawyers.com. From the publishers of the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, this site offers solid legal guidance on a wide range of topics, including civil rights, consumer protection, criminal law, employment, family law, immigration, malpractice, personal injury, real estate and Social Security. You can post specific legal questions on the site's message board, and they will be answered by practicing lawyers. You also can search for a lawyer in your area.
Other sites that provide solid information in plain English on a wide range of legal topics...
Public.FindLaw.com. The most heavily visited legal-information Web site, FindLaw covers matters ranging from accidents and divorce to real estate and taxes.
Nolo.com. Nolo is the nation's leading publisher of plain-English law books, and it offers information online for free.
STATE LAWS
If you need to learn about a law specific to your state, check your state government's Web site. Most can be found at "www." followed by the state's postal abbreviation, then ".gov." Example: www.ny.gov for New York. Or type your state's name followed by "government Web site" into an Internet search engine, such as Google.
Most state sites have a section related to law, the courts or the judiciary.
If you can't find what you need, try typing your state's name and "laws" or "attorney general" into a search engine -- many attorneys general provide information for consumers online.
You also can enter the state's name plus key words related to the specific topic, such as "small-claims court" or "consumer protection."
DEBTOR'S RIGHTS AND BANKRUPTCY LAW
Bankruptcy in Brief. This Web site, developed by Moran Law Group based in Mountain View, California, provides a road map for the bankruptcy process. www.moranlaw.net.
LegalConsumer.com. My site offers information on bankruptcy -- how to file, links to federal forms, state bankruptcy exemption laws and a free "means-test" calculator to determine eligibility.
ELDER LAW AND ESTATE PLANNING
The American Bar Association site has a section on wills, probate and trusts that offers a good, if somewhat lawyerly, outline of estate-planning law. www.abanet.org/rppt/public/home.html.
ElderLawAnswers.com. Information about legal issues facing seniors, including Medicare, long-term-care insurance, Social Security, disability planning and more, provided by a nationwide network of elder-law attorneys.
The Estate Planning Links Web site has links to articles and Web sites related to estate planning. www.estateplanninglinks.com.
MSN MoneyCentral's Retirement and Wills page offers hundreds of articles related to estate planning. moneycentral.msn.com/retire/home.asp.
Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'
- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden 
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