TTC strike

TTC drivers and other employees have the right to strike--except when it inconveniences the public. Practically, they do not have the right to strike.

I do think that the lack of 48 hour notice is a red herring. Had the union given 48 or 72 hours notice, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty would still be recalling the legislature to pass a bill that orders the striking TTC employees back to work.

If we want to make public transit an essential service with no right to strike, I could accept that so long as there are fair arbitrators to decide on disputes between management and employees. The arbitrators may be appointed by the government, legislature, or by agreement between management and the union.

How can we make public transit more efficient in Toronto? Let us get rid of the ticket collectors at the subway stations and eliminate the responsibility of the drivers to collect fares. Let's go to the honour system where passengers pre-pay for tickets or passes and validate them on the buses, streetcars, and in subway stations. That way the vehicles will move faster with less delays. The TTC can lay off some employees and hire police constables/inspectors to enforce payments of fares. Make the fines high enough to enforce fare compliance. Most European transit systems are based on the honour system; they move passengers smoothly and quickly. Passengers get on and off buses and streetcars at both the front and back doors. There is no waiting around for someone to look for change to stick in the fare box. Finally, offer one-day, three-day, five-day, or seven-day passes with random starting days and times.

When the drivers get ordered back to work, I expect some of them to wait longer to make right turns at red lights. Safety is important. Service will slow down.

Nothing in the fridge

Don't you hate it when you look inside your refridgerator and you say, "There is nothing to eat." Yet, the fridge is full.

London: Where is the torch?

I am watching BBC News on the web. All I see are blue-jacketed Chinese police and yellow-jacketed British bobbies surrounding and guarding a Hanky-the-Christmas-stick. I wonder if any of the spectators got to see the stick behind the Great Wall of China guard.

Boycott the sponsors of the Beijing Olympics; boycott the torch bearers. Don't buy products that they may endorse.

Boycott the Beijing Olympics: Part II

I will not be watching the Beijing Olympics on television. I will not care how many medals each country gets.

Just like race car drivers who have cigarette advertisements plastered onto their cars, the Olympic athletes will be promoting death. Instead of death to cigarette smokers, the Beijing athletes will be promoting death to Tibetans.

Javelin throwers will be spearing Tibetans in their hearts.

Swimmers in techno-robotic super sized Speedos will be swimming in the blood and among the corpses of dead Tibetans.

Marathon runners will be trampling over the dead bodies of Tibetans.

Instead of promoting athleticism and healthy living, the Beijing Olympic athletes will be promoting death.

Boycott the Beijing Olympics Sponsors

Here is a list of Beijing Olympics sponsors who I will be boycotting because of the persecution of the people of Tibet by the Chinese government:

• Coca-Cola
• Atos Origin
• General Electric
• Kodak
• Lenovo
• Manulife
• McDonald’s
• Omega Ω
• Panasonic
• Samsung
• Visa
• Bank of China
• CNC
• Sinopec
• CNPC
• China Mobile
• Volkswagen
• Johnson & Johnson
• Adidas
• Air China
• PICC
• State Grid
• UPS
• Haier
• Budweiser
• Sohu
• Yili
• Tsingtao
• Yanjing Beer
• BHP Billiton
• Heng Yuan Xiang
• Uni-President
• Great Wall
• Kerry Oils & Grains (Arawana)
• Gehua Ticketmaster Ticketing
• MengNa
• Beifa
• Vatti (Vantage)
• Yadu
• Snickers
• Qinxihe (Kinghey)
• Synear
• technoGym
• Royal
• Staples/Bureau en Gros au Québec
• Aggreko
• Schenker Logistics
• Taishan
• Sunglo
• EF
• Aifly
• Crystal CG
• Yuanpei Translation
• Aokang
• Liby
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Dayun
• Capinfo
• Unipack
• Microsoft (China)
• Kokuyo
• Newato
• Mondo

Links that are in bold and red are my primary boycotts.

Links in bold are secondary boycotts.

Links not bolded are tertiary boycotts. Chances are that I will not be purchasing anything from these companies anyway.

Boycott the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the sponsors!

What would Jesus do?

Imagine an independent thinking Jesus Christ running as a Conservative candidate under Stephen Harper's leadership. What would Harper say to Jesus?

"Jesus, you've been dropped as a Conservative candidate for failing to follow My campaign instructions."

Free Brenda Martin. Boycott Mexico

Brenda Martin is not getting a fair trial in Mexico. She needs to return freely to Canada.

From the Edmonton Journal:

The Mexican criminal court judge who is to decide the fate of the Canadian woman
imprisoned without trial for two years has already written the judgment even
though her lawyers have yet to file their defence.

Make Tuesday, March 25th Free Brenda Martin Day. Boycott Mexico. Don't travel to Mexico. Don't buy Mexican products until Brenda Martin is freed.

If anyone can make Internet icons in support of Brenda Martin, it would be great.

Let's start the campaign.