July 22, 2004
Moving the Olympics, or not
In the Washington Monthly: An article questions the practice of holding the Olympics in a different city each time.
The heart of the problem is that the Olympics--for no unassailable reason--alters its location every four years. With every change of venue, millions of staff-hours of know-how are lost. That's not how most other major sporting events are organized. Professional golf tournaments return to the same courses year after year, allowing the staffs there to learn from their mistakes. … Yet the Olympics tries to reinvent the wheel every time, fielding a new team of planners, contractors, accountants, technicians, security personnel, and volunteers every four years, and expecting them to execute myriad complex logistical tasks perfectly the first time out.
The writer goes on to argue that the Olympics should stay in Greece indefinitely, if they aren’t a complete disaster.
You could use the same observations, though, to argue that a modern summer Olympics is so large, complex and expensive that it’s no longer sensible to expect one city to host it. It would make much more sense to have a system in which different cities bid for Olympic events. A big aquatic complex somewhere could get very smooth and professional at hosting the Olympic swimming events, and the city that hosts it could get excited about being the Home of Olympic Swimming, for example. It certainly wouldn’t make any difference for TV viewers.
This way, cities could have fun with a spectacle without having the whole life of the community stalled for years and threatened with financial disaster.
Olympic events would get far more physical spectators, worldwide. (Some events in Athens are having trouble selling enough seats.)
In last week’s eye, John Sewell shows – thought this isn’t his argument – how the all-or-nothing model has hurt Toronto’s waterfront:
The effect of the three previous bids (the 1996 Olympics, the 2000 World Expo and the 2008 Olympics) was to freeze any decision-making about the waterfront until it was determined whether Toronto was victorious, since the proponents wanted to keep all options open for a stadium, Olympic housing, Expo pavillions, or whatever. The waterfront is a mess today because, since the late '80s, city council has been waiting for some international committee to decide that Toronto is a world-class city.
Could Toronto have bid for a couple of Olympic events, built infrastructure that would more or less force the bids to be accepted, and centred urban renewal around those projects? Of course.
The IOC is too conservative an organization to ever consider this - more's the pity.
July 19, 2004
Massasauga mini-trip, July 16-17
We didn't see any rattlesnakes, but we did get acquainted with a large snapping turtle. Photo gallery here
July 18, 2004
Really, the ACLU should use humour more often -
This is very funny.
July 09, 2004
Start with the guy in the tie -
from the Washington Times:
The Homeland Security Department's sense of fashion is endangering the lives of federal air marshals by making them conspicuous to terrorists, says the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Marshals, they say, must follow a strict dress code and military grooming that is enforced by the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS).
...
"The bottom line is these guys are supposed to blend in a crowd on a plane, and no one should be able to pick these guys out from the rest of the people on a flight," said John Amat, spokesman for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). "There have been many instances where air marshals have been picked out by travelers; people give them the thumbs up and thank them."
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) said air marshals "look like FBI or Secret Service agents straight out of central casting," and the Allied Pilots Association said changes are needed immediately to protect the officials' identities.
... One frequent flier from Florida said the marshals are easy to spot and look like "military Ken dolls."
"You can tell who they are; no one dresses up to travel anymore, and most offices are business causal," the traveler said.
July 07, 2004
About the painted bike rings
Okay, so while a bit disappointing to learn that this was a co-ordinated action of some contrarian groovier-than-thou art kid collective, I guess it beats a fiberglass moose on every street corner emblazoned with corporate logos.
July 02, 2004
Trinity-Spadina, redux
John Sewell’s CityState column in this week’s eye weekly explains Olivia Chow’s defeat thus:
She lost by about 1,345 votes. (ed: He's using figures published on election night, when 50-odd polls had yet to report. The correct margin is 800.) Green Mark Viitala attracted 1,607 votes, but it's optimistic to think that those votes would have gone to the NDP if the Greens weren't in the race -- those voters might not have voted at all. The real problem for Chow was that conservative-leaning votes in the riding rushed over to Ianno to block Harper.
The theory that the riding’s Red Tories swung to Ianno, giving him the margin he needed, actually does explain quite a lot.
Chow lost on Monday by exactly 800 votes. The Tory candidate in the riding, David Watters, got 4,605, or 8.65% of the vote.
In 2000, in the redistributed results for of Trinity-Spadina (ie. the 2004 boundaries of the riding projected backward on the 2000 election), the combined votes of the Tories and Alliance were 5,443, or 12.84%. 12.84% of the total 2004 vote in Trin-Spadina would have been 6,838 votes.
So on Monday, the riding had 2,200-odd ex-Tories, disaffected Tories, exiled Tories, call them what you want to, who in the past had voted either PC or in theory Alliance, who were looking for a place to park their ballots.
There isn't any reason I can think of why somebody who voted for the Alliance in 2000 wouldn't want to vote for the CPC this year; so they'd pretty much have to be Tories in the old-fashioned sense.
Centrist Red Tories voting Liberal are going to be an ongoing liability for the NDP.
Good news? Bad news? I'm not sure.
A laser-bladed (laser-bladed!) ride-on lawn mower, built on a roadworthy Smart Car chassis, complete with onboard Internet access.
The laser mowing system cuts the grass almost silently and much more finely than any existing blade or flail system. It is also extremely accurate, trimming the lawn to the set cutting height with a resolution of one millimeter.
July 01, 2004
In victory, magnanimity, or something
In today's Globe, Tony Ianno manages to be petty and graceless in victory:
So much for "the most famous and competent mayor Toronto has ever had," Mr. Ianno sneered. Did they tell you they lost Chinatown, too? "How about the waterfront? Have you heard that one too?"
Not yet. "We cleaned their clock."
And he did it despite the "awesome strength of change in the air," the sponsorship "issue" and Mr. Martin's initial weakness in the campaign. "Is there something that maybe I've got going for me that adds some value to the equation of politics and democracy in this country?" Mr. Ianno wondered.
full story here
Well, maybe, or maybe not. Here's everything Ianno had to say in the Commons during the life of the 37th Parliament, from January 2001 until a month or two ago:
Wednesday, January 31, 2001
Mr. Tony Ianno (Trinity—Spadina, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise with sadness to recognize the passing of Mr. Al Waxman, a great Canadian, husband, father, friend and actor.
Mr. Waxman contributed significantly to the Canadian arts scene. He starred in over a thousand TV, radio, theatre and film performances. Although his career took him abroad, he always came home to Canada, particularly to Toronto. He never forgot where he came from.
Mr. Waxman was celebrated for his artistry as both an actor and a director in the theatre, especially in Stratford, for the many plays that he directed and participated in. Mr. Waxman played many roles on TV but he will be best remembered by millions of Canadians for his role as Larry King in the popular CBC TV series King of Kensington, which was filmed in the Kensington Market, the heart of Trinity—Spadina.
His true spirit of supporting his community was reflected throughout his life. He was very active in many charities. He represented the Canadian way through his theme of giving back.
I thank his wife Sara Waxman, daughter Tobaron and son Adam for sharing his great personality and talents with us. He will be missed and his huge personality will be well remembered.
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
Mr. Tony Ianno (Trinity—Spadina, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness today to pay tribute to a former seatmate, colleague and good friend, David Iftody, on his sudden passing.
I pay tribute to the dedication and devotion with which he served in the House, working tirelessly for the people of Provencher and championing many of their causes from the rural base he was so proud to represent. He was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in, at times when it might have been easier to go with the flow.
He fulfilled his role as a parliamentarian on issues that were dear to his heart. His position as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and his work on behalf of small business allowed him to display in the House his sharp wit.
His love of the outdoors and his support for the rural way of life were always evident. One could feel the pride he felt in his grandparents' struggle to establish roots in their chosen country. The opportunity to return to his grandparents' homeland, Romania, as a member of parliament, along with the Prime Minister of Canada, was an historical and emotional moment for David.
There is so much more I could say about this great friend, but I will end by expressing, along with my friends in the House, my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to his family at this very difficult time.
Tuesday, February 26, 2002
ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
Mr. Tony Ianno (Trinity--Spadina, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the vital importance of immigrants to this country is known in Canada and around the world. Could the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration tell the House and the country what the minister intends to do to ensure that the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, when implemented, will continue to enrich Canada?
[Translation]
Hon. Denis Coderre (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I confirm today in the House the government's decision to have the new immigration act and regulations take effect on June 28 of this year.
[English]
Regarding the skilled workers who apply before December 17, there are three decisions. First, they will be evaluated with the old grid until January 1, 2003. Second, after that date their passage mark will remain at 70 points. Third, those who withdraw their application before paper screening qualify for a refund.
For the future grid and passage mark, I will wait for the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
Thursday, April 1, 2004
Mr. Tony Ianno (Trinity—Spadina, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am trying to figure out the NDP's approach on fiscal numbers and how his leader came up with $222 billion, taking into account $3 billion of contingency debt relief times 10, which is $30 billion, or $40 billion, or perhaps even up to $50 billion if one wants to be generous.
The member opposite speaks about fiscal balance, prudence, opportunity, fixing leaky roofs and paying down a mortgage once in a while. Since the NDP's numbers rarely add up properly, can the member enlighten me, the House and Canadians on how the NDP calculates $3 billion times 10 to equal $222 billion.
Mr. Peter Stoffer: Mr. Speaker, there is a phrase in the House that “you never lead with your chin” and the hon. member, who I have great respect for, just did that. He talks about numbers. Have we ever once seen projections from the government on budgetary surpluses that were correct? Never.
To answer the question on where that figure comes from, if we calculate what the government is asking for, 25% of GDP, that is a $200 million drop from what it is now over 10 years. That is a fact. However, reality is that when it comes to numbers and fudging the budgets, the government is an expert at it.