Terry Fox pushed himself to run just one more light pole. He never physically finished his goal of running across Canada, however millions are running around the world in 40+ countries supporting a cause because of him. He could never of dreamed this kind of outcome or legacy for [...]]]>

Terry Fox pushed himself to run just one more light pole. He never physically finished his goal of running across Canada, however millions are running around the world in 40+ countries supporting a cause because of him. He could never of dreamed this kind of outcome or legacy for himself. Not bad for a guy wanting to run just one more light pole and set out to raise $1 million for cancer research. To date, $450 million has been raised in his name worldwide, along with being bestowed the companion of the order of Canada, along with 32 streets and several schools named after him, and many other honours.

If that is not heroic then I am not certain what is.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjgTlCTluPA

How Terry Fox Changed the Canada

Terry Fox Wikipedia

These Lyrics are quite fitting for my hero:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVKDQgT_b-Y

May your legacy live on Terry.

@JaretManuel

It is beyond me how the press gives her the attention they do.  She made a big deal and canceled a speaking engagement at the University of Ottawa (Canada), because her one bodyguard said it was unsafe.  More importantly, she made it an opportune time to respond back to [...]]]>

It is beyond me how the press gives her the attention they do.  She made a big deal and canceled a speaking engagement at the University of Ottawa (Canada), because her one bodyguard said it was unsafe.  More importantly, she made it an opportune time to respond back to a letter that was written to her from that very same university to tone down her language for various reasons, and the press somehow made this news.  I am willing to bet there was probably 20 or 30 people that were not close to fighting, and it was probably no where near unsafe for someone that is not important like her.

This is about all the attention I can muster up to spend on the matter, however she gives the many true balanced (not coo coo) conservatives a bad name. Maybe she was at least offered some good wacky backy (Weed) while she was here in Canada & she could lighten up with a few puffs.  She has no problem being scantly dressed & it is unfortunate the marching drums allow her useless echo to beat as awful as it does.  She reminds me of Heather Mills.  What can I say to get heard for the sake of being heard.  Disgusting.  Ann, don’t use our water to bleach your pearly white hair as it may brainwash you & have you saying something that makes sense & isn’t arrogant or racist.

Well as most of you know by now the EU is going to ban the sale or import of all Seal products as they deem it to be an inhumane practice. It is also unknown to many that I am Newfoundland and Labrador’s minister of mainland ignorance and stupidity [...]]]>

Well as most of you know by now the EU is going to ban the sale or import of all Seal products as they deem it to be an inhumane practice. It is also unknown to many that I am Newfoundland and Labrador’s minister of mainland ignorance and stupidity (or at least I feel I am sometimes). Now before I upset everyone, most Mainlanders I meet have nothing but good to say about Newfoundlanders, however I have faced plenty of ignorance and stupidity throughout my life regarding our beloved rocky gem.

The topic of the Seal hunt is a very controversial one and albeit not popular amongst many Canadians, Europeans, and no doubt the world at large for those in tune with the issue. I have been reading some of the comments on various news articles, and every so often someone retorts to a line similar to “what else is a lazy Newfoundlander going to do to get off the couch”. Well my friends for those of you that have a clue about anything you would know this is not true for Newfoundlanders at large. Front lines of Beaumont Hamel anyone? I had a great uncle (one of the last survivors of the Royal Newfoundland regiment) serve in both world wars, a grandfather that lied about his age to serve in world war II, and I am sure many others can share similar stories. We can start from there and work our way to the countless inventions and I am willing to guess we have the most millionaires per capita in Canada, not to mention many hardworking people (and unfortunately some lazy ones like everywhere else).

Most ignorance stems from a lack of knowledge, understanding, or walking a mile in another person’s shoes and I think all is going on in this instance. Further, it disturbs me when Canadians and others are saying Newfoundlanders and seal hunters in other regions of the east coast and the north are barbaric. One must understand that Seal Hunting has been a way of life for years and it is not a very glamorous endeavour but nothing rarely is in killing a life regardless of species. Seal hunting is so much a way of life that I remember my family going to hunt for seals when I was a kid (they would shoot them). This was no different then them going in the woods to hunt for a moose, caribou, birds, rabbits or to catch a cod fish. None of this was for gaming, rather for food. In my time I have never witnessed any of this to be pretty, where you will often see blood trails or a fish getting their eye gouged out by a hook. I am not for one minute advocating barbaric behaviour and mistreatment towards animals and we must do our best to respect nature and our place in it. Personally, I doubt I will ever shoot a seal in my life as I am not that much into hunting but I understand their practice. I just think the anti sealers are going about it the wrong way and there are some questionable truths and facts being misrepresented. Everybody loves glamour and beauty so the rallying cry of welfare for animals gathers around those cute little seal pups with their nice white fur coat. I wonder if they were ugly would these lobbying groups be yelling as hard that these sealers are barbaric and this needs to be stopped and would mass media be as interested. So there will be blood in any killing; animal or otherwise and the ugliness of this once beautiful pup is magnified when you have nice bright ice getting covered in blood. Unlike land, one cannot load the back of a four wheeler on ice flows and be gone with their catch so sometimes the dragging of the pelt is required along with a trail of blood. It is not pretty is it? Indeed, and as I stated I am all for fair treatment of animals however I feel that the lobbying movement that is backed by serious money is using the seal industry to capitalize (yes capitalizing) on the fact this animal is glamorous, especially at birth.

So I think the anti sealing movement should first lay off the barbaric and compassion comments because you will find many of these people to be extremely compassionate and would be some of the first people to help you in time of need if they were your neighbour. Confucius said why complain about the snow on your neighbours roof when there is snow on your own? I live in and quite love Toronto but would many of you urban robots (it is my joke for us city dwellers) see the same compassion from your neighbour? You must understand that this is a way of life for several thousand people, and needless to say the aboriginals have been living off of seals for years. Are we to tell them they cannot eat seals anymore? And why is the EU saying it is okay for aboriginals to sell seal products in the EU and not non-aboriginals? One hand is saying it is inhumane and the other hand is saying it is okay. I am all for getting these sealers away from sealing if it bothers you that much or suggesting ways that would make it more humane in your eyes, however I think there is a movement to shut it down with financial interests in tow.

I also wonder how much the anti-sealing community is trying to offer financial assistance towards sealers getting educated in another profession, etc. Sealing may be only a portion of their income but every bit counts so they would need some replacement and government assistance is not the answer. Then there is the issue of a higher seal population and the consequences that will have on an already dwindling fish population but that’s right, some scientists say seals do not eat that much fish. Tell that to people in my hometown who have never seen this many seals in the mouth of Notre Dame Bay that far inland in years as they are there to eat cod and they will think you have lost your mind. Most people who know anything about seals will think you are an idiot if you believe this. This is a picture someone took in my hometown of Lewisporte, Newfoundland in the spring of this year.

It is the same type of misunderstanding that led Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills (at the time) when they were on CNN’s Larry King Live with Newfoundland & Labrador’s Premier Danny Williams. Paul said “Danny, but we are in Newfoundland” when in fact they were actually in Prince Edward Island and they flew in for a camera shot in the ice flows to put their weight into the movement and protest against the seal hunt. They got very close to a pup and they may have in fact touched it. If that is the case there is a high probability the pup’s mother abandoned it because of the human scent, meaning it very likely starved to death and was killed by the contact. Danny, being a Rhodes scholar and a very successful businessman (sold his Cable company to Roger’s for $210mil+) is no fool and he absolutely schooled them in the debate because they didn’t know what they were talking about.

Also, I find it worrisome that a 27 state economic union is wanting to open up a mega free trade agreement with Canada but we are going to experiment and tell you what you can and cannot import. What will be next? And why are they focusing on such a small industry. I think that if the people of the EU are this opposed then they will speak with their wallets. I will admit I have not done a lot of research on the following but isn’t there a huge Mink farm industry to the tune of a billion dollars in Europe and not to mention other questionable animal practices that exist? And what about the Running of the Bulls? Spain, I am not picking on you but I am merely saying is this practice okay to the EU? Spaniards like the anti-sealers are in their full right to speak and practice their rights and defend their positions. I am sure there is plenty of history to support or at least understand this famous tradition that is no doubt an economic boom to that region. I try and keep an open mind and I cannot come out and say I am against the running of the bulls but it seems to me the EU is wanting their cake and to eat it too.

Maybe they will come around and take a liking to some seal flipper pie.

I am propose we start a running of the seals! Maybe that will be ok with the EU!

Well for those who are visiting this site, thank you and hopefully you will get something out of it even if it is just a small tidbit regarding business, start-ups, or you leave (and you better come back) with a laugh.  As most of you know the [...]]]>

Well for those who are visiting this site, thank you and hopefully you will get something out of it even if it is just a small tidbit regarding business, start-ups, or you leave (and you better come back) with a laugh.  As most of you know the Canadian government opened up an auction to sell off licenses for more wireless spectrum in an attempt to add much needed competition to the marketplace and add money to their coffers (a paltry $4.2bil).  Incumbent carriers (Bell, Telus, Rogers) were only allowed to bid on 40% (I think) of what was being offered and the rest was open to newcomers.  I had the good fortune to work for Globalive communications (the owners of Yak, and several other niche telco brands) a few years back so I have a curiosity in how this will play out (disclaimer: I am not a shareholder and nobody has a clue that I am making this post).  Globalive managed to pick up licenses to cover all provinces (29 or 30 in total), except Quebec, which essentially will make Globalive Canada’s next national wireless phone carrier. But wait a minute… we are going to do everything possible to screw it up.  I say we as in us Canadians.  We live in the best country in the world.  It is the best by our very nature of character, people, values, and by the land and resources we have been fortunate to live on, etc…  it is an amazing country.  Need I say more? So why is it that we are such a terrible place for innovation, new business, and competition? You see the big boys on the block are pissed or should I say scared that their friendly we won’t rock the boat too much competition could very well change and because of that they are complaining that Globalive’s ownership structure is non compliant with respect to foreign ownership rules.  Further, the CRTC/Industry Canada has rules in place that Canadian Telco’s have to be domestically controlled, and big bad Telus, Bell, and Rogers are complaining and I understand because I would do the same.  It’s business. Business is war but it is also war for the consumer and as such, this country is down right pathetic for cell phone plans and innovation at large. To add insult to injury we have the most expensive plans in the industrialized world.  Come on Canada, WAKE UP! Yes that includes our Canadian Government and its agencies, however that will be more difficult because they are in a complete coma with little hope of survival when it comes to spurring innovation or caring to do anything (we are a leaderless government with no immediate challengers!).  So Globalive gets the government stamp and is cleared on the foreign ownership rules (more on its ownership in a minute) and the big bad boys are crying that the current structure is botched.  What’s wrong?  The current structure from public knowledge goes like this: Anthony Lacavera is Globalive’s Founder and CEO, and he would have a 35% equity stake in the wireless entity while Egypt’s Orascom Telecom would have 65% Equity, however this structure is non-voting, where the voting shares would be controlled by Mr. Lacavera and in essence making Globalive a Canadian controlled company and government compliant. Personally, I don’t care if Santa Claus runs the show, just give us Canadians some good competition. I know it is hard as we live in the world’s second largest country by land mass and we are spread out as scarce as hen’s teeth (hen’s have no teeth for those who don’t get it) but that doesn’t mean we have to damage something potentially great before it starts.  So Anthony (I know him as Tony so I find this weird) is a go getter, I mean he is the I’m coming get out of the way type go getter and we need more Tony’s in Canada to actually produce change and innovation worthwhile.  Sure he may sell out in 5 years or whatever, but he has to make it there first so let’s focus on the innovation, and at least let him and others in the cage to face the fight even if they have pebbles to start with.  I am sure Tony and team made many efforts to raise Canadian capital but this is Canada people, and when it comes to business or advancement we all know how to swim but we stay in the boat while the rest of the world tests the waters by diving in.  So of course Canadian capital would fall short of the $470+ mil auction costs and the operating capital to build a team of skilled workers and the $1 bil + infrastructure (I am guessing… probably closer to $2bil), etc etc.  So what does Tony do?… he does what he knows best and he makes it happen.  So enter into the picture Orascom Telecom out of Egypt owned by multi billionare Naguib Sawaris and their wireless carrier experience of 90 million and growing users in the Middle east and Asia.  Is Mr. Sawaris the new owner of Globalive or is Anthony Lacavera? Well rules indicate that Globalive and Mr. Lacavera are compliant but who cares?  Really, do you really want to be gouged by an oligopoly that doesn’t care about you?  I am confident consumers like myself are all for competition so lets give the new guys a shot.  Not just Globalive, but everyone…  put your gloves on and fight and if you are good, then the consumers will side with you because enough is enough. For the record, I am not against Bell, Telus, and Rogers, however I am against squashing competition unfairly, and Canada by our own nature is good at ruining innovation before it starts.  I understand the devil is in the details but this is another ploy for the big three to hamper Globalive’s operating capital by delaying the process of them going live.  It is time for change, so Mr. Sawaris, welcome to Canada and thank you for taking a chance on this great country of ours and I wish you luck in your endeavour with Mr. Lacavera and the Globalive crew.  If someone is going to lead this Canadian entity, then I can think of nobody that is better then Tony as he does more work while he sleeps then most people do in a week and is only 35 years young.  Globalive actually understands where things are going, all while realizing they are very small but they are listening to what people want in a new carrier with their Wireless Soapbox blog. Here is Tony on the Business News Network, and at last but not least here is an interview with Mr. Sawaris and Charlie Rose so you can get to know Canada’s new major telco backer.

Welcome to Canada Mr. Sawaris.  It is long over due… that is if we don’t screw it up!