Too funny!!!

Of course, this story made me think of this video:

http://axiomsun.com/home/video/beavers_-_hilarious_hooters_parody.html

(WARNING: May not be suitable for all ages.)

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http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080725/hooters_restaurant_080725/20080725?hub=Canada

Hooters' girls too distracting for N.S. drivers

Updated Fri. Jul. 25 2008 10:20 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Police in Dartmouth, N.S. have told employees of a Hooters restaurant not to practice calisthenics outside because their bouncing bodies have been deemed a major distraction for nearby drivers.

The Hooters restaurant chain is famed as much for its young waitresses in low-cut tops and short shorts as it is for its hot chicken wings.

At the restaurant in Dartmouth, the employees begin their shifts with a number of outdoor exercises to help prepare them for their work. They have been performing the outdoor exercise routine since April 5 of this year, when the restaurant opened.

But there was an accident linked to the Hooters' ladies about a month ago.

"We were cheering to the cars, waving (and) people were beeping," bartender Bryana Doyscher explained to CTV Atlantic. "One guy kept his eyes on us and kept going down (the street) and a bus stopped to let a passenger out and the guy smacked into the back of the bus."

On Friday, another rear-end fender bender occurred during their morning exercises and police told the employees not to exercise on the sidewalk. They have since moved their routine to the parking lot.

"We attended Hooters and we had asked them to move their staff away from the roadway to another parking lot where they wouldn't be distracting drivers," Halifax Regional Police spokesperson Theresa Brien said.

But Hooters' manager feels that his employees should be able to use the sidewalk on one of Dartmouth's busiest streets.

"I can understand safety but we're not doing anything wrong," store manager Scott Samways said. "It's a huge marketing ploy, pretty women can sell pretty much anything they want."

Employees say they, and the restaurant, benefit from a little outdoor jumping and stretching.

"I think we should be out here promoting ourselves," waitress Amy Randell said. "It gets people in the restaurant and a lot of people enjoy it."

Not everyone in the neighbourhood agreed with that assessment.

"I'm a guy but I don't think it's proper to do that out here," one area-man said. "Like you seen, a fender-bender right off the get go."

But then there are those who recognize the benefit to the community that Hooters provides.

"I can understand it causes distractions for the drivers, however they shouldn't be looking at pretty girls," an older gentleman said.

As for him?

"I'm not driving," he said with a smile.

With a report from CTV Atlantic's Lindsey Deluce

Why I have problems with "most" unions

I agree that some existence of union is necessary - that is to protect some basic rights of workers (i.e. safety, workplace conditions, and to prevent close to "slavery wages").

However, the following is why I have problems with many unions and their cronies:

- "the workers wanted a share of Potash Corp's soaring revenues," and

- "they [the workers] are the ones who have done the work underground and on the surface to produce the product that's been sent around the world and made this company the money that it has."

What about the management and investors? If there is no management to plan and coordinate production, and if there is no investors (shareholders of the company) to take the risk, those workers would not even have jobs (a footnote here: Potash Corp. was a crown corporation until the 90s, and is now the second largest company in Canada, in terms of market value.)

Now, did workers' job nature changed much, over the past two years, that produced such a huge jump of revenue for Potash Corp.? I highly doubt it. Not to mention mining potash is much safer than mining coal and other minerals.

The sole reason of such a high revenue for the company is because of high commodity price in fertilizer in the global market (hence, Potash Corp. is now flushed with cash.) It has everything to do with supply and demand, and I believe that shareholders and management (in some degree, because of excellent strategic positioning the company in the past decade) should be the first ones to be rewarded before workers.

Workers?? Yes, they should be rewarded as well, but not as much as the other two stakeholders.

If the price of potash crashes tomorrow, and Potash Corp. is in a crunch and demand a wage reduction from it workers, I wonder if the union will say "the workers wanted a share of Potash Corp's burden, and will take a substantial pay cut voluntary."

Now, I have to give an applause to Buzz Hargrove - which he did exactly the above a few months ago in his negotiations with the "Big 3" (however, I am still not too sure if those three companies can be saved - even with concessions from CAW). As much as I dislike Buzz, he deserves that credit, for once.

According to the latest development, Potash Corp. has offered their workers to become "the highest-paid potash miners" in the industry - global-wise speaking. I hope the union will not get too greedy and reject such an offer.

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PUBLICATION: The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)
DATE: 2008.07.22
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Business
PAGE: C7
BYLINE: Cassandra Kyle

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Potash Corp union holds strike vote

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Unionized employees at Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan's Allan, Cory and Patience Lake mines held a strike vote Monday after being without a collective bargaining agreement since April 30.

United Steelworkers (USW) District 3 staff representative Lee Edwards confirmed Monday afternoon the vote was underway at Saskatoon's Confederation Inn. Vote results were to be returned either late Monday evening or today, she said.

Potash Corp spokesperson Bill Johnson said the company is hoping a settlement will be reached soon.

"We remain very hopeful that we can reach a settlement with all three unions," he said. "We value our workers a great deal. We think they are the best in the industry, and we certainly hope we can come to an agreement with them."

Of the nearly 600 people who worked at the three mines in 2006, nearly 500 are represented by a USW collective agreement. USW District 3 staff representative Mike Park said in an earlier interview with The StarPhoenix that safeguards would be put in place to protect employees if the April 30 deadline passed without a deal.

Speaking in March, Park said the workers wanted a share of Potash Corp's soaring revenues. In 2007, the company recorded a net income of $1.1 billion.

"They're the ones who have done the work underground and on the surface to produce the product that's been sent around the world and made this company the money that it has," Park said of the employees.

The union rep added there needed to be a balance between revenues and wages.

"It's not unusual when we get to bargaining . . . to sit down and look at the economy of the day to see where we're going to go," he said.

On Thursday, the same day the company celebrated the completion of $410 million in expansions at its Lanigan mine, Potash Corp announced plans to increase its potash production by 2.7 million tonnes to 18 million tonnes by the end of 2012.

On Wednesday, Canpotex, the offshore marketer for Saskatchewan potash, raised its spot price for some Asian buyers to $1,000 US per tonne.

ckyle@sp.canwest.com

Something that I don't quite understand - how could sales quadrupled with only a $250 credit/discount on each vehicle???

Did the "marketing gimmick" make such a big difference??

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Buy a car, get a free gun

Fri May 23, 2008 11:06am EDT

By Carey Gillam

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A Missouri car dealer said on Thursday sales have soared at his auto and truck business since launching a promotion this week that promises buyers a free handgun or a $250 gas card with every purchase.

Max Motors, a small Butler, Missouri dealership that has as its logo a grimacing cowboy wielding a pistol, has sold more than 30 cars and trucks in the last three days, far more than its normal volume. And owner Mark Muller credits his decision to start offering buyers their choice of a $250 gas card or a $250 credit at a gun shop.

"This thing has taken off. Sales have quadrupled," said Muller. The store sells both used and new vehicles including General Motors and Ford products.

Every buyer so far "except one guy from Canada and one old guy" has elected to take the gun, Muller said. Muller recommends his customers select a Kel-Tec .380 pistol.

"It's a nice little handgun that fits in your pocket," he said.

Muller said the promotion was inspired by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who is vying with Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic nominee for the presidential election in November.

"We did it because of Barack Obama. He said all those people in the Midwest, you've got to have compassion for them because they're clinging to their guns and their Bibles. I found that quite offensive."

"We all go to church on Sunday and we all carry guns," said Muller. "I've got a gun in my pocket right now. I have a rifle in my truck. We've got to shoot the coyotes out here, they're attacking our cows, our chickens. We're not clinging to nothing. We're just damn glad to live in a free country where you can have a gun if you want. This is the way it ought to be."

(Reporting by Carey Gillam; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved

Ok ladies, this is just a joke economists found funny............

One of the dumbest things I have seen recently......

These MPs are just shameless - by making this a political issue.

I wonder how many of these MPs wear all Canadian-made clothes in their foreign visits or trade missions. Maybe they should check their undies!!

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080502.wuniforms0502/BNStory/National/home

Hudson's Bay says it will review made-in-China Olympic uniforms

BILL CURRY

Globe and Mail Update

May 2, 2008 at 7:03 PM EDT

OTTAWA — Hudson's Bay Co. is offering to boost the Canadian content of its Vancouver 2010 Olympics gear after critics raised a stink over its largely made-in-China line for Team Canada in Beijing.

MPs from the opposition Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois and NDP were all shaking their heads yesterday after learning that the federal government did not ensure greater Canadian content in the contract, especially given the financial challenges facing Canada's textiles industry.

Instead, the uniforms from Hudson's Bay Co. will be 80-per-cent made in China, which is hosting this summer's Games and coming under increasing scrutiny over its human-rights record and high pollution. The Olympic wear sold in retail stores like the Bay and Zellers will be 90-per-cent made in China.

The Conservative government added its voice, saying they would have preferred to see the Canadian Olympic Committee ensure the clothes be made in Canada.

“We regret the decision to produce Olympic clothes offshore,” said Blair MacLean, a spokesman for Helena Guergis, the secretary of state for sport.

This is the second of four Olympic games in which Hudson's Bay Co. will be Canada's official clothier, after a $100-million bid in 2005 knocked off the previous supplier, Roots, which made a point of manufacturing its Olympic clothes in Canada.

“This is a no-brainer. This is our Olympic team,” NDP MP Paul Dewar said. “We should be ensuring that all of our Olympic athletes are proudly wearing Canadian-made textiles and all of their uniforms should be made in Canada.”

Mr. Dewar expressed hope the government and Hudson's Bay Co. will ensure the uniforms are made in Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

“Wouldn't that be an embarrassment to have our uniforms made in China or anywhere else for the upcoming Vancouver Olympics? So hopefully someone is doing their homework on that,” he said.

Liberal MP Denis Coderre said the issue is about symbolism.

“I think that we are missing a tremendous opportunity here,” he said.

Hillary Marshall, the director of corporate communications for Hudson's Bay Co., said the company turned to the Asian market, which has expertise in the organic, moisture-reducing fabrics needed for the athletes. She noted that the uniforms that will be worn by the athletes during the parade and on the podium will be 100-per-cent Canadian-made and all clothing is also 100-per-cent designed in Canada.

“We always prefer to buy Canadian,” she said, adding that most of the clothing industry has moved overseas. “We'd be very happy to sit down with the textile and garment manufacturers in this country now – because we're starting to plan for Vancouver now – and discuss how they can provide made-in-Canada product that meets costs, the enormous quantities and the technical requirements.”

Elliot Lifson, the president of the Canadian Apparel Federation, said it would not be difficult to find Canadian suppliers for the contract.

“The argument of not finding somebody [in Canada], I don't buy,” he said. “The argument … ‘I make it where it is the least costly,' I buy that. I'm in business.”

While it would have been a positive symbol for the athletes' clothing to be made in Canada, he said Hudson's Bay Co. should not be singled out for what it does with its retail line.

“Don't hang the Hudson's Bay out to dry. If you're going to do that, do that to everybody. We might as Canadians go out and hang ourselves, because that's what we're doing. What can I tell you? Go try and find a made-in-Canada label in Wal-Mart.”

Very Funny

You can find this on YouTube (don't know why it refuses to post on this blog.)

In the mean time, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Loser!!

First, I am glad that he is now a Liberal problem.

Second, I hope he will get screwed by the Grits.

Third, he is a LOSER (with a big "L" on his forehead.)


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PUBLICATION: The Leader-Post (Regina)
DATE: 2007.12.20
SECTION: News
PAGE: A12
DATELINE: SASKATOON

Orchard's nomination could get scuttled

SASKATOON -- A political tug-of-war is brewing within the Liberal party over David Orchard's campaign for the nomination in the sprawling northern riding of Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.

Orchard was a prominent Saskatchewan backer of Stephane Dion during his successful race for Liberal Leader in 2006.
But there are now media reports that Dion, at the request of Liberal House Leader and Wascana MP Ralph Goodale, will override the nomination race and instead appoint NDP MLA Joan Beatty as the candidate.

The news that the nomination process might be circumvented has been met with mixed emotions from the camp of Orchard, who first rose to prominence in the late 1980s as an anti-free trade activist and later ran twice for the leadership of the defunct federal Progressive Conservative party.

"He thinks it's not something that should be happening, but he's been encouraged to continue campaigning by the response and support he's getting," said Marjaleena Repo, an organizer for Orchard, on Wednesday.

Orchard's candidacy was announced at an October brunch for Dion by Goodale, the Liberal's sole MP in Saskatchewan after the August resignation of Gary Merasty created the vacancy in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.

"The understanding we have is this is a real diversion and it falls into Mr. Goodale's lap because he seems to be pushing for someone else," said Repo.

"This goes counter to everything that he was operating from. He had a clear understanding that he was wanted and he was encouraged by Mr. Dion to fight hard. It's unnerving."

When asked in an interview if he was trying to block Orchard, Goodale said he does not comment on nominating processes.

"There are at least three, if not five people, who have expressed interest in that riding. Some very interesting people with some very good credentials. It's a northern riding with a big aboriginal population. There are both aboriginal and non-aboriginal candidates that are interested. The process is ongoing," said the former federal finance minister, noting that the party's "green light" committee is supervising to ensure everyone is treated fairly.

Goodale said the party is by-and-large best served by a full nomination process in a riding but there are rare times when a leader needs the opportunity to appoint a candidate.

He said "we'll see," when asked if this was one of those times.

A Dion representative in Ottawa said only that the federal leader spoke publicly of his appreciation for Orchard on Tuesday and expressed a desire for him to be a candidate at some point.