It has been said that it is just as important to avoid the appearance of impropriety as it is to be guilty of impropriety. This, out of context, quote from the Globe and Mail will inform this point.
The Globe and Mail: Alberta eases child-hiring rules: "Restaurant owners in Alberta are now able to hire children as young as 12 without first getting provincial approval as a result of what government officials call a 'procedural change' in employment practices."
There is a lot more to the legislation, and not all of it sucks balls. But could they get the initial reaction more wrong? Like the federal Liberals, the provincial Tories in Alberta feel that they are above worrying about public opinion.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Pot Calls Kettle, Kettle Insists It's White
On CNN's Inside Politics, Bob Novak had this to say about Hilary Clinton : "NOVAK:...I think the problem with Senator Clinton is that, unlike her husband, she's not very likable. She is smart, she is tough...But she's not a likable person, John."
Delicious.
Delicious.
Shenanigans on Parliament Hill
It all started when Don Boudria (Liberal MP for Glengarry - Prescott - Russell in Ontario) found out that the anti-human rights crowd had bought www.donboudria.ca and was using the domain to push their homophobic agenda. Don got a bug up his ass and complained during question period. Clueless half-wit. Well, the story gets better. Jason Kenney, a flat-earther who believes that Sunday is a day set aside for the celebration of the marriage of one man to one woman, got up and railed at the ignorant (his words) Boudria for not registering his name. Luckily, Rick Mercer registered www.jasonkenney.org for him. What a sweet gesture. Kenney does have a dot-com address, but that one is only funny if you read it.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Why Does God Hate Alberta?
First the floods, now this? If the toads start to fall, head for Moosjaw.
2005 Volkswagen Jetta
There seems to be a lot to like in the previously taunted Volkswagen Jetta.
The really good news is:
"The new Jetta has been acing every crash test with flying colors, scoring "Good" marks in the IIHS's side and offset-front tests, plus 4- and 5-star scores in the NHTSA's front and side tests, respectively. You can bet the standard side and curtain air bags helped, as did the active front head restraints that move forward upon impact. Other broken-bone savers include pedals that collapse in a crash, three rear head restraints, antilock brakes, brake assist, traction control, and stability control. If the Jetta's going to save our necks, maybe we can forgive the excess girth." (Automotive.com)
The only ouchy point is:
"The Jetta is still a pricey piece, with the so-called Value Edition opening the line at $18,515. Adding $1,075 for the automatic brings that to $19,590. In other words, the Jetta starts right about where all of its competitors end when loaded to the gills. The only option: stability control for $280.
The Jetta 2.5 upgrades with 16x6.5 wheels (replacing 15x6), rain-sensing wipers, heated windshield washers, chromed window frames, diversity antenna, automatic headlights, Climatronic with air diffuser, vinyl everything, trip computer, auto-dimming rearview mirror, premium 6-disc CD, power-reclining front seat, heated front seats, flat-folding passenger seat, rear-seat center armrest and trunk opening, and brake assist. All these goodies cost $2,490, bringing an automatic model to $22,080. The Jetta 2.5 has two option packages, surely enough named Package 1 and Package 2.
Package 1: moonroof, alloy wheels, premium sound system, $1,960. Package 2: Package 1 plus leather seats, parking brake, and steering wheel, wood trim, HomeLink, 12-way power front seats with driver lumbar support and memory, manual rear sunshade, and 3 months of either XM or Sirius radio. $4,660, meaning $2,700 not counting Package 1 content.
Uh, is the world ready for a $26,740 Jetta? I'm guessing the Mazda 3 will have the most psychographic crossover, but when you load up the zoom-zoomer to Jetta-like levels, you barely cross 20 grand. Even without that $6,000 gap, I'd still take my chances with the faster, more-fun Mazda, especially since I have no reason to question its mechanical longevity, which is more than can be said about the perpetually Puebla, Mexico-built Jetta."
Of course we have to consider that: "The list of standard equipment belies the cars' price points. Even without ticking a single box on the options sheet, the new Jetta arrives with plenty of content: a full gauge cluster; climate control system with rear passenger vents in the center console; cruise control; tinted windows; power windows with one-touch open and close; AM/FM stereo and CD player; external temperature display; eight-way front-seat and lumbar adjustments; heated power outside mirrors; split/folding rear seats; remote central power locking; two power outlets in the center console and one in the trunk; remote trunk and fuel-filler flap releases; and an anti-theft alarm." (International Auto Guide).
I still wish it didn't look like every other car on the road.
The really good news is:
"The new Jetta has been acing every crash test with flying colors, scoring "Good" marks in the IIHS's side and offset-front tests, plus 4- and 5-star scores in the NHTSA's front and side tests, respectively. You can bet the standard side and curtain air bags helped, as did the active front head restraints that move forward upon impact. Other broken-bone savers include pedals that collapse in a crash, three rear head restraints, antilock brakes, brake assist, traction control, and stability control. If the Jetta's going to save our necks, maybe we can forgive the excess girth." (Automotive.com)
The only ouchy point is:
"The Jetta is still a pricey piece, with the so-called Value Edition opening the line at $18,515. Adding $1,075 for the automatic brings that to $19,590. In other words, the Jetta starts right about where all of its competitors end when loaded to the gills. The only option: stability control for $280.
The Jetta 2.5 upgrades with 16x6.5 wheels (replacing 15x6), rain-sensing wipers, heated windshield washers, chromed window frames, diversity antenna, automatic headlights, Climatronic with air diffuser, vinyl everything, trip computer, auto-dimming rearview mirror, premium 6-disc CD, power-reclining front seat, heated front seats, flat-folding passenger seat, rear-seat center armrest and trunk opening, and brake assist. All these goodies cost $2,490, bringing an automatic model to $22,080. The Jetta 2.5 has two option packages, surely enough named Package 1 and Package 2.
Package 1: moonroof, alloy wheels, premium sound system, $1,960. Package 2: Package 1 plus leather seats, parking brake, and steering wheel, wood trim, HomeLink, 12-way power front seats with driver lumbar support and memory, manual rear sunshade, and 3 months of either XM or Sirius radio. $4,660, meaning $2,700 not counting Package 1 content.
Uh, is the world ready for a $26,740 Jetta? I'm guessing the Mazda 3 will have the most psychographic crossover, but when you load up the zoom-zoomer to Jetta-like levels, you barely cross 20 grand. Even without that $6,000 gap, I'd still take my chances with the faster, more-fun Mazda, especially since I have no reason to question its mechanical longevity, which is more than can be said about the perpetually Puebla, Mexico-built Jetta."
Of course we have to consider that: "The list of standard equipment belies the cars' price points. Even without ticking a single box on the options sheet, the new Jetta arrives with plenty of content: a full gauge cluster; climate control system with rear passenger vents in the center console; cruise control; tinted windows; power windows with one-touch open and close; AM/FM stereo and CD player; external temperature display; eight-way front-seat and lumbar adjustments; heated power outside mirrors; split/folding rear seats; remote central power locking; two power outlets in the center console and one in the trunk; remote trunk and fuel-filler flap releases; and an anti-theft alarm." (International Auto Guide).
I still wish it didn't look like every other car on the road.
Volkswagen Loses Its Cool
Once upon a time, the VW provided a shape and livery that set it apart from the crowd. While they still have lots of power under the hood, they seem to have fallen prey to focus-group design styling. Compere the new Jetta to the Ford Focus and the Toyota Echo. I guess the power of the distaff side of the consumer base has a new victim.
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