A Couple of Thoughts on Marriage

My husband and I have a unique marriage based on respect but unlike those who quip they never fight we do.  Oh gosh, we've had a few dilly fights because I have a temper.  However there are some topics while we may discuss on the surface just are not up for discussion in our married life.  They are religion, politics and personal decisions regarding health care.  It's not that we don't agree or that we do it is just that these topics are not ones up for discussion to the point because they evoke very strong emotions that could cause a more than nasty fight.  We learned a long time ago that we were not going to change each other's minds on these topics so not delving into the details manages to keep peace in the household.

Just imagine being a fly on our wall over the last five weeks with the upcoming, forced election.  My gosh, talk about fight fodder!  Yet the only thing said in our home during the entire five weeks related to the election was "Where are the voter's cards?"  That's it!  There wasn't even so much a a comment in passing as we drove to the polling station or on the way to eat out after.  Nada, nothing a testimony to the respect we share for each other  as a couple :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

The HST Outfall is a Coming

Despite voter disapproval BC Premier Gordon Campbell and ON Premier Dalton McGuinty put through the much hated Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that came into effect on July 1, 2010.  In fairness Gordon Campbell is not quite the snake in the grass that Dalton McGuinty is so it did come as a bit of a surprise when Campbell called a special press conference shortly after lunchtime here, central time.  Campbell cited voter hatred of the HST as the reason for his drop in popularity and hence his resignation.  As it stands, Campbell is showing himself to be the better man, admitting defeat over a very poorly planned and implemented tax at a time with the taxpayers have no more to give.  One can only hope that Dalton McGuinty's ears are ringing and he will follow suit! 

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

The Ontario Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Update

It's now been over 2 months since the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) came into effect into Ontario.  Despite election promises of no new taxes, Dalton McGuinty effectively increased taxes on 17% of consumer goods in Ontario.  The HST has had a bit of an unexpected effect though in both BC and ON as well as the rest of Canada.  BC has announced it will scrap the HST if voters demand it.  No such announcement has been made by the ON government and it is doubtful if there will be given McGuinty's greedy tax grab policies.

We have been finding ways to avoid paying the HST as well as voicing our displeasure over the HST.  In essence we have decreased our support of ON businesses for most consumer goods but we continue to support local farmers, growers and producers.   This isn't about the actual monetary costs of the HST either.  It is a matter of principle that we don't agree with the HST and the less of our money going to support McGruinty's greedy tax grab the better!  Overall the HST has had little impact on us other than purposely avoiding paying it if we don't have to.  Here's a few ways we've of avoiding HST or minimizing the HST we must pay:

• stopped buying any plastic shopping bags - We use mainly cloth shopping bags but occasionally end up having to buy a plastic bag at the grocery store.  The store charges 5¢ but did you know that HST on that is 1¢?  That's ridiculous! So we have made it a point not to buy any bags at all there.
• reduced our internet service - We were paying $70 for horrible satellite internet service which is the only high speed service available to us in our rural location.  Now that HST is added to the service we reduced it to the lowest available package of $50 per month plus HST.  The next option is to go back to dial-up or cancel the internet service all together.
• took our house off the market - We listed the house in March so planned to have it sold before the HST kicked in July 1.  The HST now applies to land transfer fees, real estate fees and lawyers fees so on the sale of a house that can really add up.  Once the HST kicked in it was obvious that those extra charges were hindering the sale of our house so it became one of the deciding factors in taking the house off the market.  If we ever put the house on the market again it will be privately which will at least save us the cost of HST on the real estate commission.
• general shopping - Since the HST kicked in we have dramatically cut shopping in ON for any item that has HST on it.  If it is something we really need then we look for the item used. Kijiji and eBay are great places to shop for used items from the comforts of you home without using the gas of yard sales since gasoline now has HST tacked on.  If it can wait it goes onto our shopping list for buying in the US when we can bring them back duty/tax free under our personal exemption allowed based on the length of time out of the country.  
• gasoline - We buy gasoline as much as possible in the US.  For day to day driving of the vehicles and when traveling any distance in ON then we still end up buying gas in ON so pay that HST but for the most part we can avoid a good chunk of the HST on gasoline.  We always fuel the boat in the US so that eliminates that HST.
• haircuts etc. - The HST now applies to services like barbers, hairstylists, nail salons and those types of things.  I trim my own hair and gave up on nail salons in favour of the all natural nail so pay no HST on these services.  A friend cuts my husband's hair for free so again no HST.
• hydro - There is now HST on our hydro bills based on the kWh used.  We are already well under the average household use of 1,000 kWh per month which makes us very good candidates for going solar.   We are moving in the direction of solar while using less electricity every chance we get.  I will guarantee you we won't fall into the ON solar plan where you sell back hydro for 84¢ per kW generated because McGuinty has already cut that price to infuriating farmers who bought into the scam.  We have a 5 year plan to be completely off the grid.
• natural gas - There is now HST on the natural gas we use to heat our home.  In our little corner of ON home heating in the winter is a must, something McGuinty fails to realize.  Aside from using good energy conservation methods we are also moving towards solar for subsidizing our home heating and we may convert our fireplace from gas back to wood that we will buy using cash through the underground economy.
• using the underground economy - The very fact that an underground economy exists means the above ground economy isn't working.  The HST has strengthened the underground economy.  Cash talks!  If we need something done around the house that we can't do ourselves it is as simple as putting the word out to find someone who will do the job for cash, cheaper and without HST.
• vacations - Our vacation home is in the US as is our other favourite vaction destination.  If we fly, we fly out of a US airport since there is now HST on flights out of ON.  Most of our two or three day mini-getaways are in the US as well.  This avoids having to pay HST on motel rooms.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Just a Reminder Come Election Time - Dalton McGuinty

[from my email files]

My comments:  This email has been circulating throughout Ontario and each time Dalton McGuinty adds another tax or does something else behind closed doors it is added to.  What isn't mentioned in this email is how Dalton McGuinty evoked an ancient law to give police extra powers during the G20 Summit in Toroto which results in a huge abuse of police power stripping Canadian citizens of their constitutional rights and freedoms, turning Toronto into a police state.  This has resulted in several lawsuits against the Toronto Police that will ultimately end up costing Ontarians millions of dollars. Dalton McGuinty's actions with respect to the G20 brought both shame and shock from Ontarians as well as the rest of the world.  It is very important to remind Ontarians of the negative effect Dalton McGuinty has had on this province since becoming Premier of Ontario. Thanks to Dalton McGuinty's leadership Ontario has gone to hell in a handbasket!  Re-electing him would be a horrible crime against Ontario.

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PLEASE READ, PASS ON AND REMEMBER NEXT ELECTION.  THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT:

Here is what our Premier has done for Ontario in the past seven years.  Remember...he had a no tax increase election message/campaign:

• He has increased all the licensing fees from your car to your boat including fishing and hunting.
• He introduced the health care premium  (not called a tax) and some couples pay as much as $1,500.00 a year.
• He has put an ECO tax on many containers such as paint cans and window washer fluid most and people still don’t realize it until they see the bill - he kept that one real quiet.
• He put a disposal tax on all electronics.
• He put the disposal tax back on tires.
• And now he has passed the HST tax - the largest tax on the province ever and the only other tax in Ontario that ever came close to this in the past was the health care premium.  He passed this bill even though 76% of the people in Ontario were against it.
• This HST will provide the Province with an additional THREE BILLION dollars a year.
• Soon, July 15th, we will all have our S.M.A.R.T. Meters on which we will have to pay perpetual rent and will end up doing our laundry in the middle of the night.  We are also going to pay big time for air conditioning from now on because when we need it the most it will be in the prime time of usage.
• Let us not forget the E-health scandal with 1.2 billion dollars wasted and paid out to friends and relatives.   What was Mr. McGuinty's answer to this? “ Well, if the people of Ontario don't like it, they can show it in the next election.”  Nice attitude.  This after he fired the CEO and then gave her a severance package of $300,000 - not bad for only being on the job for seven months.
• And what about the SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS windmill power plant contract that he awarded to KOREA ?  One would think there was some place in Canada or North America that could have built these.
• He also closed the emergency rooms in Port Colburne and Fort Erie because there is not enough money. There have been two deaths since then because by the time they got to St. Catharine's it was too late.
• But he then awards a hospital in Toronto three million dollars - of course, that was in the riding where there just happens to be a by-election to replace George Smitherman!
• He has taken the richest most prosperous province in Canada down to one of the 'Have-Nots' and, over the past six & one half years, has increased the budget deficit from $5.6 Billion dollars to TWENTY SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS and he still has a year and a half to go.
• And don’t forget his nice little salaryincrease of  $40,000.00 a year - millions of people in the province don’t earn even half of that.
• Have we forgotten all the MPP’S who also got a 14% increase? And now that they've had their increases he comes out with a new budget to freeze all provincial employees wages for two years - a bit late don't you think.
• He increased the hydro tax by 10% in April of 2010.
• He has increased the tax on liquor and wine by 10% in May of 2010.
• He continues to permantently 'Blight' landscapes across the province with unsightly wind turbines.

But, Mr. McGuinty will retire with his nice comfortable pension and all his benefits paid.
I hope this gets passed around the province of Ontario and everybody remembers the way we got screwed by Mr. McGuinty and the Liberal party and - remember - not one Liberal MPP had enough guts to vote against any of the above.                    

Wake up Ontario ....!!

And all pensioners got no raise at all over the past 18 months!!!!!!!!!

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Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Premier Dalton McGuinty

The following is from my email files.  This email has been making the rounds via forwarding as the author asked.  This is good food for thought so I'm passing it on.  The email is not signed so I added the author unknown.  I did not modify the email in any other fashion.  The author of the email presents very valid points as to how Premier Dalton McGuinty has greatly increased the cost of living in Ontario.  If you have followed this blog you will already know my opinion of Dalton McGuinty and his greedy tax grabs.  I will certainly do my part to pass this email along!

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Dalton Mcguinty

27 Billion in debt and he still has a year and a half to go.
Forward this please!

Here is what our premier has done for Ontario in the past seven years !!!!!! and this was a no tax increase election campaign.

He increased all the licensing fees from your car to your boat including fishing and hunting.
He introduced the health care premium (not called a tax) some couples pay as much as $1,500.00 a year.
He doubled the price of most lottery tickets. (Not called a tax).
He has put an ECO tax on many containers such as paint cans and window washer fluid most people still don’t realize it is on your bill. He kept that one real quiet
He has put a disposal tax on all electronics.
He has put the disposal tax back on tires

Now don’t forget that all except the health care premium are subject to the GST and PST (taxes on taxes.)
And now he has passed the HST the largest tax on the province ever, the only other tax in Ontario that ever came close to this in the past was the health care premium.
He passed this bill even though 76% of the people in Ontario were against it
This HST will provide the Province with an additional THREE BILLION dollars a year.
And now we will have our S.M.A.R.T. meters that we will have to pay rent on and do our laundry in the middle of the night and we are going to pay big time for air conditioning from now on because when we need it the most that will be prime time. As if it costs any more to produce hydro at two in the afternoon or ten at night another tax grab.
Let us not forget the E health scandal with one point two billion dollars wasted and paid out to friends and relatives.
What was Mr. McGuinty’s answer to this (well if the people of Ontario don’t like it they can show it in the next election.) Nice attitude. This was after he fired the CEO and gave her a severance package of three hundred thousand dollars not bad for only having the job for seven months.
Then the windmill power plant he awards the contract to KOREA seven BILLION DOLLARS. One would think that there was some place in Canada or North America that could have built these.
He closed the emergency rooms in Port Colburne and Fort Erie because there is not enough money and there has been two deaths since because by the time they got to St.Catharines it was too late.
He awards a hospital in Toronto three million dollars in the riding where there just happens to be a by- election to replace George Smitherman
He has taken the richest most prosperous province in Canada to one of the poorest and has created a deficit of TWENTY SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS and he still has a year and a half to go.
And don’t forget his nice little salary increase of $40,000.00 a year, millions of people in the province don’t earn half that.
All the MPP’S got 14% increases Now that they all got nice increases he comes out with a new budget and freezes all provincial employees wages for two years.

He has increased the hydro by 10% in April of 2010.
He has increased the tax on liquor and wine by 10% in May of 2010
But mister no tax McGuinty will retire with his nice comfortable pension and all his paid benefits.

I hope this gets passed around the province of Ontario and everybody will remember the way we got screwed by mister Mcguinty and the liberal party.
Not one liberal MPP had enough guts to vote against any of the above ! !

-author unknown

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Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

What the Ontario Government is Really Saying With the HST and Eco-Fee

The Ontario government under the leadership of Premier Dalton McGuinty despite campaign promises of no taxes introduced both the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which adds 8% tax on 17% of consumer goods and services and the Eco-Fee (aka tax) to be collected on 9,000 consumer products including items like CFLs, rechargeable batteries and laundry detergent.  What message is the Ontario government sending to consumers?  Here it is in a nutshell:

• shop the underground economy
• shop outside of Ontario - shop in Quebec, Manitoba and boarding US states
• quit shopping new but rather shop used
• convert to solar (buy supplies outside of Ontario) and/or heat with wood (currently no tax)
• and basically we lied to you during the election campaign so you now are paying the price

And good golly gosh, some folks have actually claimed that McGuinty's government is bad for Ontario.  I thinks his taxes are going to boost our popularity rating in the US, don't you?

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

The HST Stimulus Cheque Explained

[from my email files.  Warning not for children.]

Sometime this year, we taxpayers will receive an ' HST Compensation'' payment.  This is indeed a very exciting program, and I'll explain it by using a Q & A format:

Q. What is an 'HST Compensation' payment?
A. It is money that the provincial government will send to taxpayers.

Q.. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen of it.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the economy by spending your compensation cheque wisely:

* If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China or Sri Lanka.
* If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.
* If you purchase a computer, it will go to India, Taiwan or China.
* If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.
* If you buy an efficient car, it will go to Japan or Korea.
* If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.
* If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.

Instead, keep the money in Canada by:

1) Spending it at yard sales, or
2) Going to hockey games, or
3) Spending it on prostitutes, or
4) Beer or
5) Tattoos.

(These are the only Canadian businesses still operating in Canada.)

Conclusion:
Go to a hockey game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day!

No need to thank me, I'm just glad I could be of help.

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Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Now That I Have the Attention of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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Ways You Can Still Fight the HST

Yesterday I posted ten ways you can minimize and avoid paying the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Ontario.  The fight regarding the HST in both Ontario and British Columbia is far from over.  Just last week it was announced that the anti-HST movement were delivered petitions in British Columbia last week.  This week a resident of Chatham-Kent, ON had signs on his car stating that HST was Human Slavery Tax.  So people are still voicing their opinions and making their voices heard.  Here are a few ways to protest the HST:

1. Quit or greatly reduce shopping and each time that you do make sure the stores know why you aren't shopping.  The stores have a bit more political clout than individual citizens so perhaps if a larger company like Wal-mart threatened to pull out of Ontario because of the HST the government would start listening.
2. Reduce services like cable, satellite television, internet and cell phone to the lowest possible that gets you what you want.  Be sure to tell them that because of the HST you have to find another way to cut 8% from the bill so that has to come from their services.
3. Eliminate some activities and services.  It is cheaper for you to add a light movie package onto your cable or satellite service than it is to go to the movies that will cost you HST on ticket price, HST on gas used to get to the theatre, and of course the necessary snacks.  Cheaper than adding a movie package is borrowing movies from the library or creating a movie exchange between friends and family.  What many Canadians are doing is turning television services off completely and turning to the internet where they can get television shows online for free (other than their monthly internet bill).  Movies can be downloaded as well quite often cheaper than renting them at a video rental store.
4. Growing your own food is a very frugal choice and while HST is not applied to basic foods the gas to get to the store does HST applied.  A trip into town that previously cost you $10 in gas is now going to cost you $10.80 so less driving is in order.  Make sure your local grocery store knows why you are choosing to grow your own and the gas stations why you aren't buying as much gas.
5. Post your property with a Say No to HST or Fight the HST sign.
6. Sign any petitions and get involved with any anti-HST rallies or protests.  The more voices heard on this level the better.
7. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and those in your area.  They will be especially interested to read how the HST is affecting your daily standard of living.
8. Write your MPP and MP voicing your displeasure over the HST and how it is adversely affecting your daily life.
9. Be vocal!  If you have a blog, blog about it.  If you are on Twitter, tweet about it.  Use any avenue you can to get the word out about your displeasure over the HST and the impact that extra 8% is having on your life.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Ten Ways to Avoid Paying HST in Ontario

Towards the end of last year I posted about the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2010 in Ontario and British Columbia.  Despite campaign promises of new new taxes the HST effectively introduces a new 8% tax on 17% of consumer goods and services in Ontario.  There has been rather vocal opposition to the HST and continues to be opposition even though it is now in effect.  The HST has resulted in a dramatic increase in the underground economy to the point the McGuinty government has spent taxpayers dollars warning against using the underground economy to avoid paying the HST.  The bottom line is a price increase of 8% on anything right now while we are still in a recession is hitting people while they are still down.  The hardest hit will be those on fixed incomes.  Unfortunately in McGuinty's ultimate wisdom the HST now applies to home heating fuel, electricity and gasoline so unless you go solar or go without and don't drive a vehicle you will end up paying some GST.  The average person is expected to pay somewhere $1,000 extra per year as a result of the HST.  With a few shopping and lifesyle modification you can cut that cost by half if not more!  Here are ten ways to minimize what HST you have to pay and avoid the HST you can get away with not paying:

1. utilities - Reducing the amount used will reduce the amount of HST on your utility bill.  Lower your temperature setting by 2ºC in the winter and raise the air conditioner setting by 2ºC in the summer.  Turn off the air conditioner whenever possible.  Winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Practice energy conservation.  The less energy you use the less impact by HST. If you can switch to wood heat since there is no HST on wood.  If possible switch to solar for supplemental heating and switch as much electrical use to solar as possible.  Ideally your home can be covered to fully solar for electricity and water heating.  This can be a DIY expandable project that doesn't break the bank but will eliminate electricity from the grid entirely saving you both the cost of electricity and the HST on it.
2. underground economy - The underground economy is alive and well thanks to the HST.  Essentially what this means is you pay cash for goods and services.  The government would have you believe this is extremely risky but if you know who you are dealing with it isn't.  Use local services that will offer a discount plus no HST if you pay cash.  In older terms it meant doing something "under the table" so the concept is not a new one, it's just growing in popularity thanks to the HST.
3. barter - Bartering has always been a frugal way of getting what you want without any cash outlay.  For example I trade some of my garden extras for other produce I don't grow or extra fresh caugh local fish.  Each person in the barter ends up with what they want with no money changing hands.  Hair cuts now have 8% HST added so a frugal person will either cut their hair themselves or trade something like extra produce or even offer to babysit the hairdresser's kids for a couple of hours in return for a hair cut.
4. reduce spending - The reality is many spend simply for the sake of spending making no distinction between needs and wants.  
5. yard/estate/garage sales and resale shops - Buying those items you need used is eco-friendly recycling and you avoid paying any HST.
6. shop outside of Ontario - Washington State has announced that they will be giving BC residents a tax break for shopping there due to the HST.  That's a pretty good incentive for BC residents to shop in the US rather than BC.  In Canada BC, ON, NS, NB and NL have HST.  The rest of the provinces do not.  Those in ON close to the Quebec and Manitoba borders can shop there without paying HST.  Those in border areas to Minnesota, Michigan, and New York can shop in the US without paying HST although it may be assessed when returning to Canada if you were not out of the country for 24 hours.  In general gassing up in the US is overlooked so not only do you get cheaper gas but also don't pay the HST.  At the same time basic groceries don't have HST added on but many are cheaper in the US so during a gas trip do a bit of grocery shopping as well.
7. magazine subscriptions - Magazine subscriptions will now be 8% more expensive.  In this day of the internet which will also have an addition 8% tax, eliminate any magazine subscriptions.  Magazines are not eco-friendly to begin with.  In many cases you can read them for free at the library and there's always the trading amongst friends.  Many magazines are now offering online subscriptions as well so while you are paying 8% on your internet bill you won't be on your online subscription.  
8. home repairs/service calls/landscaping/home renovations - These services now have an additional 8% tax on them.  The simple solution to avoiding tax on these services is to become a do-it-yourselfer (DIYer).  There are several online sources and library resources to help you and chances are you already know someone who wouldn't mind sharing their knowledge.  Doing it yourself is going to save all the costs of hired labour as well!
9. real estate commissions - An additional 8% tax is now applied to real estate commissions something that doesn't sit well with since our house is currently on the market.  Our solution baring an acceptable offer will be to remove our house from the market something many will likely do.  Unless you are moving to lessen the commute to work it is usually cheaper to stay where you are and upgrade.
10. hunting and fishing licences - There is now an additional 8% tax on these licences.  Those who qualify as Aboriginals under the Canadian Constitution Act (1982) do not require either licence so it is more important now to know your rights!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

For Those in Ontario

[from my email files]

-----
Pinocchio, Snow White, and Superman are out for a little stroll in town one afternoon enjoying the sunshine. As they walked, they come across a sign: "Beauty contest for the most beautiful woman in the world."......"I am entering!" said Snow White.

After half an hour she comes out and they ask her, "Well, how'd ya do?" "I won First Place !," said Snow White.  They continue walking and they see another sign: "Contest for the strongest man in the world."......."I'm entering," says Superman.  After half an hour, he returns and they ask him, "How did you make out?"  "I won First Place too," answers Superman.. "Did you ever have a doubt?"

They continue walking when they see a third sign: "Contest! Who is the greatest liar in the world?"
Pinocchio quickly enters the contest. After half an hour he returns with tears in his eyes. "What happened?" they asked.

"Who the heck is Dalton McGuinty?" asked Pinocchio.

-----

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

When they got there, the disaster was clear...

[from my email files. Please keep those great emails coming!]

-----

When they got there, the disaster was clear.

The aircraft was totally destroyed with only a burned hulkvleft smoldering in a tree line that bordered a farm. The top cop and his men entered the smoking mess but could find no remains of anyone, including the Premier. They spotted a lone farmer plowing a field not too far away as if nothing at all happened. They hurried over to the man's tractor.

"Hank," the cop yelled, panting and out of breath.

"Did you see this terrible accident happen?"

"Yep. Sure did."

The farmer mumbled unconcernedly, cutting off his motor.

"Do you realize that is the airplane of the Premier of Ontario ?"

"Yep."

"Were there any survivors?"

"Nope. They's all kilt straight out" the farmer answered. "I done buried them all myself. Took me most of the morning.."

" Premier McGuinty is dead?" the mountie shouted.

"Well," the farmer grumbled, restarting his tractor. "He kept a-saying he wasn't ... but you know what a liar he is."

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Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

I Just Have to Ask

Rick Mercer is my number one favourite for blog fodder. Now this is a great video clip with a lot of underlying meaning but I seriously have to ask, can rum and Fanta by any stretch of the imagination taste good? Inquiring minds want to know!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

RMR: Focus on the Olympics

It is so nice to see Prime Minister Stephen Harper out there enjoying a hockey game while Parliament is prorogued. That basically means Stephen Harper gets a 3 month salary for doing nothing as opposed to the normal nothing he does on a regular basis. Either way he gets paid for it. Anyway it is so nice of Stephen Harper to share with the Canadian populus his generosity. Given there is nothing on Canadian television we are certainly waited with baited breath to the start of the Olympics that is of course if we can afford the tv tax, additional HST and have some type of device to see it in digital form. What a wonder the internet is. Yep we now have to pay an additional 8% in HST for internet but YouTube is cheaper than buying a decoder box and saves me 8% in the process. Thank-you Stephen Harper for providing blogfodder for this blog :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Tiny Stephen

It is rather interesting how the Canadian people are seeing the antics of Priminister Stephen Harper. Here's another good video courtesy of The Rick Mercer Report. I'm wondering if he is getting the idea proroguing parliament was not one of his Einstein moments. Thanks Rick and keep them coming! Enjoy :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Prorogue Vacations Dot Com

As most of you know Priminister Stephen Harper has prorogued parliament providing and comedians and bloggers with ample material to keep them busy until at least March 3, 2010! Here's a cute little video courtesy of Canada's leading funny man, Rick Mercer. Enjoy :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Dear Grim Reaper

[from my email files, I'm just saying I can relate to the following sentiment.]
---

Dear Grim Reaper,

So far this year you've taken away my favourite dancer Michael Jackson,

- my favourite actor Patrick Swayze,
- my favourite singer Stephen Gately
- and my favourite actress Farah Fawcett.

Just so you know,

- my favourite politician is Dalton McGuinty.

Regards,

Tom

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Garden Gnome
©2006-2009

Oh Canada!

There are some topics I intentionally try to keep off of my blogs and politics is one them. Like many Canadians I have been watching our politicians in action. We are living in uncertain economic times and Canadians need a strong and stable leadership. It would appear that is not going to happen for some time. Canadians have effectively rejects Stephan Dion and we are one step closer to a coalition. Stephen Harper has vowed to stop a coalition take-over (details here) but he really isn't showing any substance.

Let me remind each and every Canadian:

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

(French)

O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux.
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix.
Ton histoire est une épopée,
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

A coalition government over democracy is not the road we want to go down.


Garden Gnome
©2006-2008