Four million satisfied customers

Since the web site re-jig, and since we started counting in earnest, wk.com has received more than four million visits – 4,050,000, to be precise.

A significant perecentage of those visits belong to people who (a) hate Yours Screwly but (b) can’t keep away, because I am richer, smarter and better-looking than they are.

Four million! Wow! Thanks to you, wk.com regulars!


Tim Hudak: job killer

Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak’s pledge to reverse the McGuinty government’s key green energy policy if his party wins the October election could mean the death of a burgeoning new industrial sector in Windsor, renewable energy companies said Tuesday.

“It would mean, basically, that we would close our factory and leave,” said Paco Caudet, general manager of Siliken Group, a Spanish manufacturer of solar panels.

If Ontario’s Green Energy Act were scrapped, “we would have no more basis to operate here,” added Klaus Dohring, president of Green Sun Rising. “It would have a devastating effect (on the sector),” he said.

“It would be a disaster for Windsor,” said Caudet, whose Windsor operation hosts its grand opening Friday. Manufacturing solar panels since last month with just over 50 employees after a $7-million investment, he said the current plan would see 165 workers employed by the end of this year.

More here and here and here.

 


SFH for Manitoba

Our lead guitarist, Ritalin Boy, is the devilish fellow featured on the SFH poster, below.  He’s from Brandon, Man., parts of which are fully under water (his Dad, by the way, was a Conservative cabinet minister, under Dief).  At our gig tomorrow night – parts of which I’ll be stepping out on, because Face To Face and Strung Out are at the Phoenix – we will be passing the hat for Manitoba flood relief.  Folks there are facing terrible destruction and devastation, and they deserve all the help we can give.

And, if you can make it to the show tomorrow night, please do!


I have a son who is thirteen!

Today.  Thirteen! His sister preceded him, so now half the kids are adolescents.

Anyone who would like to explain how I am therefore “not as old as I think” are welcome to do so in comments.  You won’t be successful, but my thanks in advance for your efforts.

And happy birthday, eldest son!


The anti-Rae rule (updated)

I carry no brief for the Bob Rae – see belowbut this “decision” of the Liberal Party’s functionaries is a joke.  It’s simply an anti-Rae missile dressed up as something else.

In particular, the thought control part of the diktat – that you can’t even discuss cooperation/coalition/merger with another person – is extraordinary.  Will they now ban unauthorized gatherings of more than three Liberals, too?

Anyway, it sure is a good thing we still have Alf Apps in charge.  He did such a great job in the election campaign, and he’s now doing a terrific job of bringing everyone together!

UPDATE: They’re not fooling anyone, either.  See here and here.


Flush this garbage

Geert Wilders is human garbage.

It was a mistake for the Harper government to let him into Canada (when they had previously, and appropriately, made things inhospitable for George Galloway). It is an even greater mistake to allow a federally-funded facility play host to this asshole.

I know folks at PMO – and James Moore – read this site regularly.  They should do the right thing and ensure that this bigot spews his venom elsewhere.

If they don’t, they risk Wilders’ stink enveloping them, too.


In today’s Sun: Rae day

Now, neither left nor right, the once-great Grits are at a crossroads. Lots of big decisions loom. One of them: With Ignatieff now back to academe, who will replace him, short or long-term?

For an interim leader, the job description is pretty straightforward: Bilingual, to keep the Libs relevant in Quebec (for the inevitable NDP caucus stumbles). Good on their feet in the House (which is where all the action will be for the next four years). And will focus on keeping the Liberal brand alive (because the brand still has value — and, in fact, Liberals still govern in our three largest provinces).

Rae carries steamer trunks of baggage from his time as Ontario’s NDP premier. Tory strategists would be giddy to have him in their sights in the next election.

But if Rae promises, in blood, to be only an interim leader, and not run for the top job when the leadership race commences? Then he’d be fine.


Chat at Starbucks on Rideau

A guy just came up to me to say hi, he reads the web site, etc. Asked me about the chances of an NDP-Liberal merger/cooperation thing now.

Said I: “It’s a good idea, therefore it’s dead. Ottawa is where good ideas come to die.”


Good morning, Ottawa

It’s a beautiful sunny morning in Ottawa, to which I have returned for the first time in many months. I’m here to give a speech about the Canadian political future with the Cons’ Tim Powers and the Dippers’ Brad Lavigne.

It’s a closed-door session, so I won’t give away what I intend to say. It’s Top Secret!

But on the issue that needs to be settled this week – who should be the Grits’ interim leader until a full-time one is selected by party members – here’s what I think:

1. Bob Rae is fine, but only if he pledges to be interim, and he doesn’t run for the full-time post. I get the impression he doesn’t want to agree to that, which will sink him.

2. Stephane Dion is an awesome choice, since he’s (a) been leader and (b) he’s a Quebecker – which is the place where we have the greatest potential for growth, as the Dipper Kiddie Kaucus continues to stumble.

3. Ralph Goodale doesn’t speak French, and is therefore not a good idea.

There you go. That and fifty cents will get you a cup of coffee.

Have a nice day, Ottawans. Enjoy the calm before the storm.