Wednesday, March 31, 2010
How I spent my winter vacation
Well a few people have asked me what I did all winter while Clem was in jail.
This pic sort of sums it all up.....
I pretty much spent winter hanging out at the bar, in the shade in Ixtapa Mexico.
The thought of another adventurous expedition with my trusty side kick crossed my mind so we started in motion the efforts to locate Ricky Martin and ask him if he was gay.
The locals had all heard the rumors of a man who lived in a shanty hut on a near deserted island, who sang and danced in what resembled a prison cell suspended to a pole. Infrastructure left over from a grow-op that once flourished in the 80's. We chartered a boat and we were under way.
I wondered would it really be Ricky?
Would he want to talk?
Would any one care?
I surmised probably not... but the boat ride was fun...
Running low on liquor, I instinctively knew that time was not on our side., and the jungle is a dangerous place for the inexperienced. Wild monkeys screamed from the tree tops, while under foot the ever present crocodile waited silently for a chance of supper......(that's when the gringos to pass out on the beach)
I was no big feat to find the hide away; however the rumors proved to be true.
Yes Ricky Martin is gay, and no one cares. No one except for this little fella. Maybe he just found out that his favorite singer was gay, or maybe he realized we just stole his beer. That's right. Life IS unfair.
But beer is cheap.... he'll get over it. Plus we told him we were Americans.
Un inspired we chose to leave. While I was in the parking lot looking for my ride, I couldn't help but to wonder "was that a fish pissing on my foot"?
Life is unfair.
Mayor Potatoe Head Strikes Again!
Wow, a Million Dollars A Year to "Run" a piece of dirt about four city blocks long. That's about $20 for every tax paying house or apartment.
RIVER LANDING COSTS:
Urban design: $25,000
Decoration and banners: $10,000
Snow removal: $178,000
Maintenance: $440,000
Marketing: $30,000
Fireworks and Wintershines festivals: $45,000
Ever wondered what $10 in "banners" looks like? I can't wait to see the results. Also where is this being Marketed for $30k a year? I can just see the ads in Norway now... "You come now, make it picture jya?"
Thank or lucky wallets for Karim Nasser who plans to finance the development of the hotel with "that guy" who couldn't get the cash. this guy has done more for Saskatoon in three month from his personal wealth that our Mayor has done in 15 years with our money. Maybe the Mayor should have asked Darren Minisofer to find financial backing. It would have been done a month before any sod was turned. Actually I want Karim Nasser to run for Mayor next election... This guy seems to have a solid idea on how finances work.
On March 23rd, City Council authorized another $13 million for River Bank destination centre. What the hell is that even suppose to be?? Let private firms pay heavy to develop what is super prime land and give us a break while generating more tax dollars. That's what I say because 13 million is $260 for every house or apartment paying tax. (o.k. I know business pay tax too but it's my blog so I can skew the numbers to enhance my point) My point is, look at the condition of some of our streets and the other needs like the land fill. I think our city is still on a spending spree like a sailor on shore leave, except with our money!
Now we are being told that our land fill is getting full. The city wants to ram the blue box up our yangs to off set debris going to the dump. This is expected to cost us all an additional $20 per month. My solution is to take some of the money from the $13monument fund and commission Brandt Engineering Solutions in Regina to make us a king size garb orator.
These guys have a machine that is sold to hospitals to take left over parts from operations and such and turns them into dust using Ozone and a shredder.
Think of an industrial wood chipper that can tear through metal if needed. We all ready separate the garbage, so take the stuff the is organic, plastic and so forth and shred it into confetti. Second, when I lived in Alberta, (yes the fore front of Canadian Technology with trucks and fire arms) our city had recycle bins in numerous locations where we could save up our recycle garbage and once a week or so visit the bins. This is hugely successful because it is convenient and free and people feel good about making this effort. These should be found where bottle returns are, shopping centres and grocery stores. After all we go there anyway.
People will do the right thing if you give them a chance, and for those who don't want to do this the they pay the extra $ for blue boxes. (I see this as shifting a service we all ready pay for back onto us therefor creating an additional tax)
Anyway, we use to have reserves of over $115 million, but by the end of 2010 we will owe $171million. That is $570.00 for every man, woman and child in this city (based on population of 300k)
RIVER LANDING COSTS:
Urban design: $25,000
Decoration and banners: $10,000
Snow removal: $178,000
Maintenance: $440,000
Marketing: $30,000
Fireworks and Wintershines festivals: $45,000
Ever wondered what $10 in "banners" looks like? I can't wait to see the results. Also where is this being Marketed for $30k a year? I can just see the ads in Norway now... "You come now, make it picture jya?"
Thank or lucky wallets for Karim Nasser who plans to finance the development of the hotel with "that guy" who couldn't get the cash. this guy has done more for Saskatoon in three month from his personal wealth that our Mayor has done in 15 years with our money. Maybe the Mayor should have asked Darren Minisofer to find financial backing. It would have been done a month before any sod was turned. Actually I want Karim Nasser to run for Mayor next election... This guy seems to have a solid idea on how finances work.
On March 23rd, City Council authorized another $13 million for River Bank destination centre. What the hell is that even suppose to be?? Let private firms pay heavy to develop what is super prime land and give us a break while generating more tax dollars. That's what I say because 13 million is $260 for every house or apartment paying tax. (o.k. I know business pay tax too but it's my blog so I can skew the numbers to enhance my point) My point is, look at the condition of some of our streets and the other needs like the land fill. I think our city is still on a spending spree like a sailor on shore leave, except with our money!
Now we are being told that our land fill is getting full. The city wants to ram the blue box up our yangs to off set debris going to the dump. This is expected to cost us all an additional $20 per month. My solution is to take some of the money from the $13monument fund and commission Brandt Engineering Solutions in Regina to make us a king size garb orator.
These guys have a machine that is sold to hospitals to take left over parts from operations and such and turns them into dust using Ozone and a shredder.
Think of an industrial wood chipper that can tear through metal if needed. We all ready separate the garbage, so take the stuff the is organic, plastic and so forth and shred it into confetti. Second, when I lived in Alberta, (yes the fore front of Canadian Technology with trucks and fire arms) our city had recycle bins in numerous locations where we could save up our recycle garbage and once a week or so visit the bins. This is hugely successful because it is convenient and free and people feel good about making this effort. These should be found where bottle returns are, shopping centres and grocery stores. After all we go there anyway.
People will do the right thing if you give them a chance, and for those who don't want to do this the they pay the extra $ for blue boxes. (I see this as shifting a service we all ready pay for back onto us therefor creating an additional tax)
Anyway, we use to have reserves of over $115 million, but by the end of 2010 we will owe $171million. That is $570.00 for every man, woman and child in this city (based on population of 300k)
