An Open Letter To Peterborough's Municipal Candidates

The opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of his family, friends, or place of business.

Hey buddy.

How are ya?

It's been quite a campaign, eh?  You've been knocking on doors, prepping for debates, answering emails.  We're in the, "dog days" of the campaign now.  Your original filing & declaration barely a spot in the rearview mirror, but still three weeks out from the culmination of all your efforts.  There's peaks and valleys to every campaign, and as the leader, all your campaign workers look to you for strength and energy.

It's tough sometimes, eh?

I've been through a couple campaigns before, both as a candidate* and a volunteer, and I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I would like to share a couple things I've learned in that time.

Signs Don't Vote

You have a great chat at the door.  They're enthusiastic about your platform.  They say, "You're just what this city needs."  They want your sign on their lawn.  This is excellent!

But y'know what?  On election day, they step up to a desk with a privacy screen and do whatever they want.

It's really easy to roll through your ward & city and be filled with pride with all the signs bearing your name.  And you should be proud.  You worked hard for those signs.  Just remember that a sign doesn't necessarily mean a vote.

Be Polite

It's very difficult to separate personal and professional when it comes to politics, especially municipal politics.  You don't toe a party line like at the provincial and federal levels.  As a result, when people disagree with your stance on something, it's very difficult to not take it personally.  Consequently, it's very easy to make your counter argument personal.

DO NOT DO THIS.

Firstly, it makes you look bad. Really bad.  Not leadership material bad.

Secondly, as a ward candidate, you'll be working alongside one of your opponents for the next four years.  Burning a bridge after you cross it is one thing, but before you even cross?  You're just making more work for yourself.

Here's a couple of alternate suggestions for some of the less than ideal adjectives I've heard used around campaigns so far from a political science major (thank you, University of Windsor!):

young < ambitious
old < experienced
bully < commanding presence

Also try to avoid derogatory cliches like, "Old boys club," "Out of touch, " "Put out to pasture."

This link describes it perfectly.

Regardless how much you disagree with your opponents, going negative paints you in a bad light.  Focus on the positive you'll bring to council.

Know Your Friends

It was probably your friends that first encouraged you to run, helped design your brochure/website/signs, and are out there knocking on doors with you every night.

Friends are awesome, eh?

But sometimes, friends take things too far.  They do things like this. And this.  These aren't just casual supporters; these folks were actively working on candidate's campaigns.  Remember when I suggested being polite?  This goes double for anyone working on your campaign.

I'm not saying you need your campaigners to take a blood oath, but understanding the importance of how you're represented in our small town is awfully important.

Stay The Course

I know, I know.  You're tired.  It's been a long campaign.  You've heard the same questions on every doorstep and every email over and over again.  Your opponents continue to bring up things that happened years ago, or talking about things like age and gender as though they're things you have any say over.

This is the biggest test.

Can you handle the heat?  When the pressure starts, do you crumble or rise to the occasion?  Your response to these situations will speak louder to your candidacy than your carefully researched platform.  One thing that is often overlooked at the municipal level is, as much as what you write down prior to your appointment matters, what a citizen really votes for is the person.  There's no party line to toe, as in the provincial and federal levels.  You are running as you; your experience, your passion, your ambition, and, how you will vote in the future.

Also remember that the person standing in front of you right now doesn't care how many times you've been asked this question, because this might be their first chance to ask you that question in person.  They finally have you one-on-one to find out who you are, what you've got planned, and (for incumbents) why you voted the way you did on past issues.  And neighbours talk.  Taking the extra five minutes at the door could lead to a bigger impact on your campaign than you initially realize.

It takes guts and a thick skin to run for political office.  Every part of your life will be scrutinized & criticized.  I applaud you all for taking the most difficult step; filing to run.  You've almost navigated through all the twists and turns of the campaign; acquiring funds, building your platform, producing brochures, knocking on doors.  The finish line is in sight and it's time for the last big push.

Keep at it, work hard, and best of luck on October 27th.

Jube.

*Sure, it was high school student council, but it still counts...Right?

What Can You Buy For $90 Million?

On Thursday night, the Ontario Liberals swept to a majority government (in no small part to, "Fort Toronto" but that's a story for another blog), replacing their own minority government.  The result left some asking, "Why did we spend $90 million on this?"  A co-worker argued that $90 million bought the Grits 4+ years without having to call an election, but that's waaaay too logical for this page.  But it begs the question...

What can you buy for $90 million?

I'm glad you asked!  Let's give the list an Ontario feel, shall we?

- 514,285 CN Tower EdgeWalk passes

- 3,461,538 Niagara Falls Clifton Hill Fun Passes (adult)

- 762,711 months of Rogers, "VIP Ultimate with Super Channel" TVpackage (that's over 320 channels!)

- 3,409 Oshawa-built Chevy Camaros

- Almost 13 Canadian Football League expansion franchises (It's been reported that the Ottawa Redblacks paid $7 million to join the CFL)

- 11,000,000 shares of Blackberry stock (NASDAQ: BBRY)

- 2,000,000 cases of Mill St. Stock Ale

- 418,604 custom Toronto Maple Leaf premier jerseys

- 33,333,333 TTC tokens

- approx. 16,071 university tuition fees

- 72,000,000 litres of gas

- 2,500,000 GO Transit Peterborough to Union Station Day Passes

- 5,625,000 Oktoberfest beer steins

- 1,250,000 Edgefest VIP tickets

- 4,500,000 Rideau Canal Skateway toques

- 51,428,571 large double doubles from Tim Horton's

So next time you're hurrying home from university, be it by car, bus, or train, with your festival tickets in hand, to watch your favourite hockey team on TV, while reaching for your favourite beverage, with your buddies texting you, and planning where you wanna go this summer & winter, just remember that members of the Ontario government average about $120,000 a year.

Lather, rinse, and always repeat,

Jube.

Jube Theory - A Voter's Plea

Imagine tuning into TSN Sportscentre to get up to speed on your favourite team's latest moves, and you're greeted by this,

"Welcome to Sportscentre!  Tonight, we've got all the highlights, but do you know who doesn't?  Sportsnet.  Did you know Sportsnet hates your team?  Did you know if you watch Sportsnet you'll never see the highlights you want?  Sportsnet only wants to show highlights of all the other sports, and nothing that you like.  Sportsnet has a plan that will hurt everyone.  We, at Sportscentre have a plan that will give you all the sports you love.  Watch Sportscentre."

And you sit thru it, hoping to actually see some highlights, news, and information on what Sportscentre is touting, but what you get is more of how awful Sportsnet is.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2014 Provincial Election.

I like to think I have a political mind.  I was a Political Science major in university, my father has been a part of local politics for over a decade, and I've voted in every election since my eighteenth birthday.

But this time, it feels...Different.

As the attack ads & special interest groups bombard the electorate  with as much hate and venom as possible directed to their opponents, it has become increasingly difficult to find out what a party's election platform truly consists of.  You can of course check out each party's website for details, but how much research does the 'average' voter invest in prior to election day?  I'd wager most have made up their minds based on the information (or in some cases misinformation) from TV, radio, newspaper, and internet ads.

Well, I decided to dig a little deeper.

I sent the following letter to the local NDP (Sheila Wood), Conservative (Scott Stewart), and Liberal (MPP Jeff Leal) candidates on June 5th:

I know you're fully engrossed in the provincial election campaign, but I was hoping I could ask you for some help.

I'm from a family of political enthusiasts; I've voted in every election for twenty years, my father has been involved in local politics for well over a decade, and many dinner conversations during my formative years were about what was happening at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government.  I feel I'm informed on the issues facing the province as well as our city, but this election season has left me exhausted as I attempt to wade through the, "attack ads" that are flooding every media outlet.  Instead of explaining any details of what a party plans to do if elected, every ad I've seen, heard, and read seems to be all about how evil the opposing party is and how badly they'll damage the province for generations if they're voted in to power.  This has resulted in this election feeling less like a privilege and more like a chore.

I was hoping you could help this disenfranchised lifetime voter by explaining what you will do for the Peterborough area if elected, without vague buzzwords and without mentioning any of the shortfalls of your opponents.

I received only one response prior to the June 12th election.  Candidate Sheila Wood replied in less than 24 hours:

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the email. I understand the difficulty in making a decision on June 12. There is lot of information our there but sometimes it needs a personal touch to be explained.

The New Democratics have had 3 key main points through out the campaign. 1. Create jobs with our job creation tax credit plan. Which really means as a small to medium size business if you create a job you get a tax credit if not you don't. I believe this is a good plan as it makes the business part of the solution and gives both the employer and employee stability. 2. Make life affordable for all. This really means put money back in the pockets of the people of Ontario by reducing hydro costs, auto insurance and cutting at the top by a very modest roll back of 1%. Involved in this cut back is streamlining many of the positions at the "pink palace" and in a nutshell sharing the wealth..everyone I believe deserves to have a fair wage but I also understand the plight of small business - it is not easy to make a living out there these days. So a reduction in the business tax over the next two years to bring it down to 3% is a balance  between wages and bottom line for business. 3. Stop the waste and protect the tax dollars. We will establish a Financial Accountability Office which will review all initiatives and make sure they work for the people of Ontario before they are implemented.

My riding of Peterborough as you know,  is very dear to me. As the former General Manager of the DBIA I worked hard to make sure we were given a fair  shake and as -  your Dad will tell you - I have no fear. I want to see the City and County of Peterborough be prosperous and continue to grow. Having the health unit in the downtown is a priority for me, making sure we have conference center, building up not out, sharing the wealth, keeping schools open not closing, diversity = creativity and making sure our community's voice is heard. As I have said to many people at the door - your office is my office ( backyard, business, farm on the street) it is a privilege to run in the election and to know that we can make a difference by working together. I would have Town Hall meetings with Councillors of the wards ( which I will fund) so that I know what is going on and we are communicating. Just because you are elected doesn't mean you stop knocking on doors.

Please drop by my office at 157 Charlotte Street for our full plan or if you wish give me a shout at 705-741-3244 if you want to chat.

Again thank  you for the email and I do hope this helps with your decision on June 12.

Cheers,

Sheila Wood

Candidate, NDP Peterborough Provincial Riding

Why did I not receive responses from the other candidates?  Well, I see three scenarios...

1.  A computer error did not allow the email to be received.

2.  The email was opened and they intended to reply, but got caught up in other campaigning.

3.  The email was opened and ignored.

Situation 1 is pretty unlikely, as the internet is how candidates can get their message out and find volunteers to help spread their message.  Situation 2 has happened to all of us and an honest mistake, but seems like a reach.  In my opinion, Situation 3 is the most likely scenario.

So, what can we conclude from this exercise?  Since they were the only party that responded, is the NDP the only party that cares about individual voters?  Have the Grits & Tories become so bloated with arrogance that they don't acknowledge the influence of a single voter?  Does this represent the futility of the common voter trying to connect with a political party?  Or, does this result mean that the campaign machine that is the Liberals and Conservatives is pushing candidates out to press palms in person and they were unavailable to reply to emails due to obligations of getting their message out to more people?

That's the amazing/frustrating thing about politics:  You can spin any news any way you want to tell any story you need.

Wanna be part of the story?  Make sure you vote on June 12.

An Open Letter To The Toronto Maple Leafs

Hey guys.

Normally I open with, "How ya doin'?"  But based on how this season wrapped up, I think we already know the answer to that.

I just wanted to let you know that I'm done.

It's over.

I'm out.

No, I'm not referring to this year's season.  I'm talking about my support for the team.

Here, lemme explain...

Y'see, I've been a Leaf fan since birth.  My father raised me on stories of the Big M & the China Wall, of 7-game comebacks and Pyramid Power.  He laid the foundation for a Leaf fan with the classic history.  My uncle took me to my first Leaf game at storied Maple Leaf Gardens in '85, where I saw Wendel Clark score a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks.  He brought the team to life for me.  My high school years brought the rabid fan out in me.  Aside from cheering for my hero, John Druce, and his Washington Capitals, it was all Leafs.  All the time.  I remember Cliff Fletcher, Doug Gilmour, Dave Andreychuk, Felix Potvin, Clark, and the '93 run.  Man, that was amazing.

Thru my 20's, I saw my beloved Leafs leave the Gardens for the basketball-built Air Canada Centre.  I watched GM's trade draft picks & prospects for, "The missing piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle" year after year.  And each year, the Cup drought droned on.  After Harold Ballard died, I watched the team be acquired by the teacher's union, and this seemed a corporate turning point for the organization.  Now, "Pal Hal" was never one to pass up on a dollar (he renovated the Gardens and made the seats narrower to fit more fans in the building), but there was now a different feel from the Leafs' roster moves.  As the playoff losses mounted, a theory came forth that the teacher's were more concerned with the team's dollar value than on ice success.  I never put much thought into this theory of dollars over titles until a good friend and I journeyed to the ACC to see the Leafs host the now-hated Ottawa Senators back around 2000.  Our tickets said, "Obstructed view" but we assumed we'd have to lean around a support pillar or duck under a cross beam.  Boy, that would've been a treat compared to what we had.  When seated, we couldn't see 1/3 of the ice, as it was blocked by the protruding pub on the level.  Basketball sight lines do not translate well into hockey ones.  As awful as our seats were (we snuck to the standing room area shortly after the National Anthem for a much better view), there were at least 20 seats in our section that were deeper into that corner with even less view of the game.

That was the first chink in the armour.

It's no secret that paying to see a live sporting event ain't cheap, but the Leafs took it to another level.  According to this > http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/puck-daddy/nhl-teams-most-expensive-cheapest-tickets-135920048--nhl.html , the average seat for a Toronto Maple Leaf home game will set you back $369.  That's per game, per seat, folks.  The second most expensive is the Chicago Blackhawks who, after winning their second Stanley Cup in 4 years, raised theirs to $314.  Which begs the question, "How does a team that hasn't appeared in a Stanley Cup final since '67, let alone won one, justify charging approx. 15% more for tickets than the most recent Stanley Cup champion?"


"Because they can."

Here's really where the essence of my split with the Leafs lies. I understand that pro sports is a multi-million dollar business, but in its heart it's pure competition.  Most pro teams have a single owner, and this owner has made their fortune in some other field.  Being a part of a pro sport is more about ego than dollars. I know, I know; It's still business.  There'll always be dollar signs in their eyes as well.  Most of 'em really want a winner on the scoreboard.  There are a couple of publicly-owned teams as well, and they're clearly motivated to put a winning product in front of their hundreds of thousands of owners.  Once the Maple Leafs were bought by a group whose sole purpose was to protect and increase Ontario teachers' pension fund, the team took on a different feel for this fan.  Now, every move felt more about the organization's fiscal bottom line than on-ice success.  And, $369 for one game???  I can get Toronto Argonauts season tickets for less than that!

Ah yes...The Toronto Argonauts.

Y'see, the ridiculous ticket prices for the Maple Leafs opened the door for another pro sports team to win my heart.  My evolution as an Argos fan is really quite simple.  The same buddy I went to the Leafs game with suggested coming up to see an Argos playoff game.  The team played up tempo, with some heavy collisions, crazy catches, and electric fans.  After the game, I wondered aloud how much season tickets might be.  My buddy checked it out - $228.  So, 2/3rds the price of a single Leafs game gets me an entire season of nine home games, no 'loser point' (Really frustrates me how the NHL awards points for losing!), and I can practically pick my seat in the stadium?  Where do I sign up???  I've just renewed my Argos tix for my ninth season, and in the previous eight years, I've met some awesome fans, expanded our season ticket group to seven, got to interact with the players at a jersey launch, got to work on a fan blog (www.ArgosEndZone.com), and witness two Grey Cups in person, with the Argos winning it all in 2012.

There's the rub, isn't it?  I've seen the Argos win a league championship.  Live.  In person.  They've actually won six in my lifetime.

The Argos have been fan-first in every interaction I've had with 'em.  Players are available and humble, tickets are reasonably priced (actually had a price reduction after a couple of poor seasons & converting our seats to benches where I sit), and every game matters.  Sure, you could argue that the Maple Leafs are the #1 draw in Toronto & don't need to do any of this, but as a fan, which organization would you rather support?

I still love hockey.  I'll always love hockey.  There's not another game in the world that combines speed, strength, and skill like hockey.  However, I've bought my last piece of Toronto Maple Leaf merchandise.  I've shared my last pitcher anxiously watching the Toronto Maple Leafs at a bar.  I've rearranged my last work or social calendar around a Toronto Maple Leaf playoff game.  I still respect the Leaf fans that are sticking with the team, and I'll always be a Wendel Clark fan, but with the unattainable ticket prices, an indifferent front office, the lack of on-ice success, and other options for my fan attention and dollars, I am respectfully discharging myself from your ranks.  Maybe I'll start supporting another team in a year or two, but for now, I'm just gonna enjoy the game from the perspective of a nomadic fan.

Now, if you'll excuse me, the CFL season is right around the corner, and I've got a blog post to research.

Monday Morning Music - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Monday Morning Music is whatever tune I've got in my head when I wake up.

Dropkick Murphys - I'm Shipping Up To Boston

"I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is a song with lyrics written by the folk singer Woody Guthrie and music written and performed by the Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys. It appeared on their 2005 album, The Warrior's Code.  The single is the band's most successful to date and was certified platinum.  The video features the Dropkick Murphys performing the song on the waterfront in East Boston. The band is also seen "hanging out" with hooligans while being chased by Boston police officers. The song's simple lyrics describe a sailor who had lost a leg climbing the topsail, and is shipping up to Boston to "find my wooden leg."

Enjoy!

Monday Morning Music - Are You Okay Annie?

Monday Morning Music is whatever tune I've got in my head when I wake up.

Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson

 "Smooth Criminal" is the seventh single from Michael Jackson's 1987 Bad album. The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by a "smooth" assailant. 

"Smooth Criminal" is a song written by Michael Jackson and co-produced with Quincy Jones. Two early versions of the song were written by Jackson in 1985 and the original demo was recorded in 1986. The first song was called "Chicago 1945" which evolved into "Al Capone" (which was later released on the Bad 25th anniversary edition of the album). This version didn't make the album and was re-worked and re-written as "Smooth Criminal".

It was covered (successfully, in my opinion) by Alien Ant Farm in 2001.

Enjoy!

Monday Morning Music - What Did You Say?

Monday Morning Music is whatever tune I've got in my head when I wake up.

Pantera - Walk

 "Walk" is a song and the fourth single from Pantera's sixth album Vulgar Display of Power.  The riff for "Walk" is played in a time signature of 12/8.^[1] Dimebag Darrell played the riff at a soundcheck during the tour for Cowboys from Hell and the rest of the band loved it. Phil Anselmo said that message of the song was "Take your fucking attitude and take a fuckin' walk with that. Keep that shit away from me".^[1] His message was aimed at friends that treated the band differently when they arrived home after touring for Cowboys from Hell.

 The song is considered to be one of the band's best tracks and is also the band's most well known song to both Pantera fans and casual listeners.

 Wrestling fans will also remember the song used as Rob Van Dam's entrance theme during his ECW days.

Enjoy!

Monday Morning Music - And I Always Pay For Your Drycleaning

Monday Morning Music is whatever tune I've got in my head when I wake up.


Natalie Portman's Rap - The Lonely Island

http://vimeo.com/51268555


Natalie Portman hosted Saturday Night Live on March 4, 2006.^[62] In a SNL Digital Short, she portrays herself as an angry gangsta rapper (with Andy Samberg as her Flavor Flav-esque partner in Viking garb) during a faux-interview with Chris Parnell, saying she cheated at Harvard University while high on marijuana and cocaine.^[63] The song, titled "Natalie's Rap," was released – alongside other sketches from the show – in 2009 on Incredibad, an album by the Lonely Island  

Sorry, the YouTube videos aren't up to snuff, so click on the vimeo link to enjoy some gold.

Enjoy!