Turning shit into solid gold, or, the only time Toby will quote Matt Good in a blog title

Even CEO Can't Figure Out How RadioShack Still In Business

FORT WORTH, TX—After a thorough review of the its operations, RadioShack CEO Julian Day could provide no real explanation for the analog-riddled company's staying power.

This Onion article addresses an issue that has often fascinated me. RadioShack has changed a bit here in Canada since become "the Source," but I always wondered why anyone would buy things at RadioShack. I mean I shopped there for cables and other miscellaneous geekery, but they also sold computers and TVs and other things you could get for way cheaper at department stores or Future Shop. Does the entire company stay afloat on people like me needing Y-adapters and RCA cables?

On a related topic, I still wonder how Music World stays afloat. Their entire business model seems predicated upon
setting up in Malls with HMV and then selling every single item for $2-$5 more.

Not Photoshopped

This partially makes up for my post-Flames game mood. This picture is from a Sens-oilers game that Barb went to with a bunch of Oil fans. She is the one sitting down. In the Sens shirt. I think the sign says it all though.

Small Bells

Is Paul Wells really allowed to bash the Globe's new layout? Has he looked at the Maclean's website, which is quite possibly the ugliest thing on the internet outside of Senator's personal pages?

Cats

FPTP, PR & MMP

In the upcoming Ontario election voters will have the unique opportunity (well, BC and PEI have done it, so not so unique) to vote in a referendum on a new electoral system. The Ontario Citizen's Assembly is recommending a Mixed Member Proportional system. Under MMP Ontarians would elect 90 riding MPPs the way they currently do. Then there would be 30 additional representatives from party lists to even out the legislature to match the popular vote.

I'll talk about it later, but what do others have to say? Well, The National Post says "You know, Hitler liked proportional representation..." and Andrew Coyne responds "WTF?"

Virginia

Tragedies like today's never cease to bring out the douchebaggery in the media. CNN felt the need to have MASSACRE and SHOOTING SPREE splayed across the screen at the same time. Every station had 'experts' on talking about what 'might' have been the motive. 48 hours promises to have an "anatomy of a massacre" tomorrow - what futurists they are. The 24 hour news cycle is not an excuse for this kind of callous reporting, I mean many of the students' families don't know what's happened yet. CNN referred to one reporter's vigil outside the campus. Not exactly the sort of vigil these people need right now.

Captain Planet

Wow

BELINDA STRONACH TAKES ON NEW CHALLENGES

PRESS RELEASE (For Immediate Release)

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

AURORA, ONTARIO --- The Honourable Belinda Stronach, Member of Parliament for Newmarket and Aurora, today announced that she would assume the position of Executive Vice-Chair of Magna International Inc. effective immediately, and simultaneously, she will not stand for re-election as a Member of Parliament in the next federal election.

"I am always assessing the best role I can play in public life, and, after being encouraged by members of the corporate leadership at Magna to return, I have decided that the timing of my return to the business should not be delayed. My father is looking to the future, the company is facing important strategic decisions, and the Canadian and global auto sector and economy is in a period of great challenge," said Belinda Stronach. "So I am stepping aside from elected politics for the time being and will now take part in public life in a different way."

"There are other considerations behind my decision that are important to me. The heavy demands of public life on family time are real, and as a mother I want to spend some more time with my kids" added Stronach. "And I remain concerned with the issue of global security for the coming decades, and will continue to work towards ending extreme poverty and disease in Africa. I will be involved increasingly in this work through such initiatives as www.spreadthenet.org and through the creation of a personal foundation."

"It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people from my community of Newmarket and Aurora and I thank them again for having placed their trust in me.

I will continue to represent the interests of the constituents I serve until such time as a federal election is called. I also plan to continue to play an active role in the community," emphasized Stronach.

Belinda Stronach noted that she had informed The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Senator Marie-P.Poulin, President of the Liberal Party of Canada, of her decision earlier today. She affirmed her interest in continuing to play an active and constructive role in the growth of the Liberal Party in areas like the recruitment of women into politics, fundraising and the modernization of the Liberal Party, including one member, one vote.

-- 30 --

For further information, please contact Greg MacEachern at (613) 882 5533

University of Toronto to Sell-Off Tobacco Industry Holdings

University of Toronto to Sell-Off Tobacco Industry Holdings

Decision also Prohibits Future Investments in Tobacco

TORONTO, April 9 /CNW/ - After more than a year of petitioning and deliberation, the University of Toronto will be the first institution of higher education in Canada to divest from the tobacco industry, paving the way for others to follow. For the members of E-BUTT (Education-Bringing Youth Tobacco Truths), a student group at U of T, the decision marks a positive end to a long journey.
"It is an amazing feeling to see all of our efforts over the past year come together and lead to the right decision," said Tyler Ward, University of Toronto student and president of E-BUTT. "U of T president David Naylor made the right decision by not only divesting, but also prohibiting future investments in the tobacco industry, whos products kill more than 50 per cent of long-term users and harm the health of countless others."
U of T joins Ivy League university Harvard, as well as Stanford and Johns Hopkins, becoming the 24th institution of higher education in North America to divest its tobacco holdings. According to Naylor, the fact that "there is no serious academic or social debate about tobacco's health effects," along with the position taken on this issue by sister institutions, partner institutions and countries around the world helped him decide to accept E-BUTT's proposal.
"Against that background, our continued investment in tobacco companies was arguably something of a proverbial elephant in the room," continued Naylor. "It was our students - led by E-BUTT - who decided their university, the University of Toronto, should take a leadership position on this issue."
UTAM (University of Toronto Asset Management) has been instructed by Naylor to begin the divestment process immediately. As of December 31, 2005, U of T held approximately $10.5-million of tobacco industry stock, with investments in Japan Tobacco ($4.6 million), Altria Group Inc. ($4.5-million) and Rothmans Inc. ($1.4-million).



For further information: Tyler Ward, (416) 912-7079,
ebutt.studentaffairs@utoronto.ca

sick

I seem to come down with an awful cold every April. I thought I was going to avoid it this year, as Barb had one for a while and I didn't catch it, but on Tuesday the cold spontaneously arrived. My head has felt like it is going to explode. Fortunatel the sore throat seems to be gone now as the cold goes through its annual paces. I managed to drug myself up and go out for Caen's birthday last night which was an Honest Lawyer good time. Also, drunk Caen, who doesn't come out all that often (Sober Toby, Joanna, and Phil were there too, who are equally rare).

I wanted to go to Toronto this weekend to visit my Nan, but I believe I am too sick to travel, as I hate that drive at the best of times. Phil is in NY, Sarah is in Vegas, and James is in South America. Toby is jealous. To top it off, Ottawa has decided to drop below zero again.

What day is it?

Enjoy. I was actually fooled for about 10 minutes last night by Google Paper...