I see lots of chatter about politicans using the company jets. I for one did a lot of business flying all on commercial and to say that it gets in the way of productivity is an understatment. It reduces your usable time by at least 40%. I guess then we could dump on them for not getting things done. I have a pal that spent most of his career flying these jets once with a company with 20 pilots and seven planes. The math had been done and it made sense. He makes a good point that the cost of having this equipment hits the books on January 1 [fixed costs] and it is in your best interest to use them, because the only extra cost is the fuel. You have to pay the pilots anyway and the other costs are fixed. I guess the simple answer folks is CHILL - it is not a perk they can do without.

Rumor going around is that Canada Post is going to move their customer sevice department to India. That is so stupid it just can't be true - it's even beyond that outfit's bounds.

I see in the newspapers Don Cherry [I stopped watching him years ago] has put his mouth in gear again and put his foot in his mouth. He is defending the need for fighting in the game, otherwise violence will go crazy. The "code" says if you don't fight you will get run out of the rink. Thats nuts and I think he knows it. Tell me, do you think hockey is more violent than football and when is the last time you saw two football players pull off their helmets off and "go".

Speaking of football please spare me these coaches who spend all their showing studied intensity - you would think somebody just mugged their Grandma. It is my experience that people like that in the corporate world, as well as sports, usually is a sign that they are in over their heads. You older folks will remember the controlled coaches like Bud Grant in Winnipeg and Minnesota and Tom Landry in Dallas standing quietly on the sidelines and just winning.

I see the voter turnout in Ontario was 49.2. Low but not surprising. I voted but I am a senior and a political junky - but how do you expect to to interest 20-30 somethings with all the highschool childish behaviour by the parties [all of them]. Still on the election, I saw a talking head say the public had decided to slap his wrist but they weren't ready for a full change. Did I miss the general population meeting, where the plans were made - Ok you guys in ths north vote NDP - in the east you go Conservative etc and that should get it to a minority which is good "right". Where do these talking heads get this stuff? You know Tip O'Neal when he was speaker said "all Politics are local" - I think he is right.

RANTS
This is a bit personal but the point begs an answer.

I have opined in the past that the health system is excellent once you actually get into it. I have had two major adventures and saw it at its best but recently I had a bizarre experience. I will try to keep it short.

I have a hernia that needs attention so after the usual delay in getting to the family doctor, he agreed to arrange a referral to the Shouldice Hospital in Toronto which was recommended to me by at least six people. They have been in operation since 1945 and hernia surgery is all they do. I expected to avoid a long wait perid and after some administation screw ups from this end, I got a package from them and sent it back. A short while later I got a response and thought it was my date. Wrong. The letter said I would not be accepted until I got my weight down to 190lbs. Well well thats 40 lbs away.

I emailed back and explained at my age [70s] that was not possible. I havent weighed 190 since I was 16-18 years old. I told them I went through Bypass surgery at 270 and three years later cancer surgery at 230 lbs.

I have been athlectically active all my life - still am - so what is the issue? Where did that come from? By the way this all covered by OHIP, so I am not trying to buy a service not available to all - Or is it????

Keep Smiling