Be humble

I really have no particular insight into political matters, but I am pretty skilled at listening to people.  Following are a few predictions:

• Lawrence will win Cardigan, with a reduced (but still significant) margin. 
• Wayne will win Malpeque, with a reduced margin.  Ms. Crane will have run her last campaign. 
• Shawn will win Charlottetown with a similar margin to last election.  Tom DeBlois has run his last campaign. 
• Keith will win Egmont by a small margin.  We have not seen the last of Gail.  This would could still go either way, but the anti-Gail vote in Summerside will swing the election to Keith.

Canadian voters will return a Tory minority government.

The next Premier of PEI will be over 45 years old, have a university degree at least at the Masters level, and will not be a Charlottetown lawyer.

The United States will elect a Democratic President and the success of the Democrats will have more to do with Joe Biden than Barack Obama.  The US will struggle internally with the election of a half-white President.

There is something about fathers and daughters.  There is something special - dads who have little girls understand - and there really is no way to explain it.  Of course, dads and sons have something equally special - it is just a different special.  My friend Nils has a remarkable gift for exposing real feelings and for showing us a little of his life.  I hope you will take a few minutes and read what Nils has to say about the most event in the life of the Ling family.  View the videos and the album.  My favourite is this one.  You might guess that is my favourite because I love all dogs - wrong - it is my favourite because it is the one that my daughter would have said was her favourite.

Of all that Nils said, the following caught my attention…

I was called to the foot of the stairs to watch Allison descend. The look of her literally - not figuratively but literally - took my breath away.

Mom and Dad, yas shore done gud!  ..and yeah, Nils, I do see that your allergies were bothering you again.

Falling oil prices and investor fears of a global recession pounded the Canadian stock market again Monday, dragging the benchmark index to its biggest intra-day loss ever and wiping out more than $100 billion of stock value.

The Toronto stock market plunged nearly 1,200 points in morning trading before clawing back nearly half that loss to trade 650 points lower shortly after noon. The panic selling continued a wave of volatile trading that has seen huge swings up and down as investors worry about where the Canadian and global economies are headed.

At the same time I walked by my colleague’s office to hear him say, “great time to buy!”

Who is correct?

Do you suppose he might be a Democrat?

I received a call from an old friend in the US.  He is a former NYS Assemblyman (R) and a defeated candidate for the US Senate (R).

He commenced the conversation with “Bub, I implore you, I beg you, to do the following things immediately after we hang up.

• If you have any stock of any sort, call your broker and immediately convert your investment to T-bills.  Do it now.
• If you do not own a gun, go an buy one.  Get ammunition.  Do not tell your neighbours you have one.
• Move as much cash as you can out of the bank, and keep cash (small bills) in a safe deposit box.
• Have at least 6 months of non-perishable foods in your home.
• Have 1500 gallons of fuel stored at home.
• Always be prepared to run - we are going to have to. 

He further went on to rant about the implications of “Bama’san” getting elected, and equally upsetting was the prediction of wide scale rioting if “Bama’san” did not get elected.  He further predicted that the North American way of life will soon be a thing of the past.

Now before you wonder if this is Bubba from the hollars, be aware this man is well educated, a practicing Christian, a successful business person, father of 5 and well thought of in his community.  He is very wealthy (self-made) and sought out as a guest on call-in conservative radio shows.

Are you scared yet?  Me too!  There are a lot of him down there!

I came to Canada in 1975.  When I arrived, I had less than $1,000 in my pocket.  I had sold my mortgaged home for $6,000 more than I owed, and the $6,000 would follow after I had settled in to my new life.

I first saw PEI during the last two weeks of June of 1975.  I fell in love with the place.  I met with a few prospective employers while I was here, and on return home was offered employment by two firms.  I accepted one, and commenced the process of applying for Landed Immigrant status.  This involved an application, a fee (I do not recall how much), a medical, a criminal check and an interview at the Canadian Consulate in New York City.  This process commenced around July 10, 1975.  On December 28, 1975, Herself and I, in the company of our two children, Prince the Collie dog and Miss Piggy I (chubby little Guinea Pig) presented ourselves at St. Stephen, NB and officially became Landed.  We had arrived.  For anyone who does not know me, I am white, of Scottish / Irish background, speak fluent English (I am uni-lingual to this day) and my skills were limited to having worked in the Insurance Industry for 5 years.

Today, I took the PNP preliminary test, to see if I would have been eligible to buy my way into Canada.  I answered the questions as I would have answered them in 1975.  I scored 61.  A score of 50 is required to be considered and I suspect I would have been towards the end of the desirable immigrant list.  I am in every way, average.

Reflecting on my 33 years as an immigrant - I have been employed during my time in Canada.  100% of the time.  I have paid my taxes on time and have not run afoul of any laws.  (I have had 3 speeding tickets during the time I have been here).  I do not have a criminal record.  I have purchased 2 homes and numerous vehicles.  I have consumed (some might suggest overly so).  I was involved with my children’s education at the local council level and invited to serve on the Unit School Board.  When Canada allowed me the incredible privilege of becoming a citizen of this wonderful country, I did so and I have exercised my right to vote on every occasion.  I have been active politically and have supported the candidate of my choice with effort and my chequebook. 

With the son of an immigrant, I started a business 10 years ago.  As well as being employed elsewhere, I have been active in our business.  Our business has prospered, provides employment and contributes in numerous ways to our community.

I am proud of my accomplishments in my career.  I am seen by many as quite skilled at what I do, and I believe my employer would allow that he is satisfied with my performance.

I hope that when I am on the other side of the sod, others might say that PEI has benefited just a little from my being here.

Last evening on Compass, I watched while a recent immigrant who had bought the right to be here was interviewed.  Smiling happy Chinese family.  They seem like really nice people - people I would enjoy having as neighbours and perhaps friends.  It was noted that the gentleman was VP of a company in China and he was going to continue working with his company.  It was reported that he would be commuting back to China for his employment.  It is presumed that he scored well on the preliminary testing.

Are there any conclusions to be drawn in comparing the Chinese family and mine?

Read this and this.  Both good.  Decided that DNA Boys cripted orchid status does not warrant comment.  All a welcome diversion from the PNP scam.

...I received this today…

Dear ,
I am Gregory Warder a lawyer and the Personal Attorney to John Motil. I hereby attempt to reach you via your email to intimate with with this sad news. I regret the manner I am giving you this news, but I had no other option.I wish to notify you that my Late client’s(John Motil) has passed away and left no one as his next-of-kin. This is also a double edged scenario. It is no tussle as I have been mandated to provide the authentic beneficiary.I am contacting you to assist in repatriating my late client’s funds before they are declared unserviceable.

Particularly the deceased had an account valued at about US$7.3Million dollars. We can make this claim legally without much problems and weare sure of success if you are willing to follow my instructions.You should forward alone your current telephone and fax number, including your current mailing address. I hope to hear from you in no distant time. I will be paid my lawyers/legal fess at the conclusion of this transaction.

Please get to me speedily to enable us discuss further.
Reply to
Best regards,
Gregory Warder
+44-7045708452

In the Saturday edition of The Guardian, West Prince businessman, Joe Dorgan is quoted as being told that Minister Neil LeClair advised him that as applications are still being processed for the PNP program (after the program has expired), he might still qualify for his additional two units of investment.  To confirm this, Mr. Dorgan was apparently told to present a certified cheque for $180,000 which would be returned later.  This fits with what I spoke of earlier.  Of the $200,000 supposed investment, only $110,000 was ‘real money’.  2 units @ $90,000.

Smoke, mirrors and things that smell like dead fish.

I guess I sure feel better.