A short comment on this big pipe line debate. Now it would be nuts not to acknowledge that preserving the environment is very important and putting toxins in the air is unacceptable. What is happening now is there a strong group saying that the pipeline has to be killed because it MAY have a spill and do some damage. No kidding!

PHOTO CREDIT - NorthernGateway.ca

Cornwall - Jan. 17, 2012 - A short comment on this big pipe line debate. Now it would be nuts not to acknowledge that preserving the environment is very important and putting toxins in the air is unacceptable. What is happening now is there a strong group saying that the pipeline has to be killed because it MAY have a spill and do some damage. No kidding!

However, in a formal hearing they should be required to say in precise terms what the damage would be - quantify the cost of clean up as well as to rehab the area. They should be offering options on what to do with the oil.

The way they are framing their position is - kill the gateway line, kill the line to Texas. Then what I wonder? Just let the oil sit there!! How about a thought on plan B for a substitute to oil in our world. You can’t be standing there with your nose to the glass door kicking and screaming with some motherhood concerns without dealing with the real world. The need for oil is not going away, so let’s get some real input on a plan other than to save a few spotted owls or whatever.

- Well this may be where I document that I am nuts - but I went to Montreal last week to hit golf balls in a dome. I went with two pals (who shall remain unidentified to protect their reputations). It was fun, you rent a spot and can hit as many balls as you want and pay for elapsed time. An hour would cost you about $20 taxes in.

- You may remember from previous postings, I have been trying to get into the system to have a hernia taken care of since April. I tried a clinic in Toronto who do only hernias but they wouldn’t accept me unless I lost 40lbs (my high school weight). Really? Well, I now have a procedure set for early March. I like my surgeon so it will all work out. The reason I bring it up again is because a friend pointed out that the probable reason the clinic made the silly requirement, is my procedure would be paid by OHIP which probably is not anywhere near what people from around the world pay. It is simple "do the math".

- I got a little push back on my comments about the wage gap between CEOs and average workers, which is good but I want to clarify. I don’t blame the CEOs - what are they supposed to do turn it down? I don’t blame them any more than I blame pro athletes with huge pay days. Somebody agreed to pay that. My gripe is with the people that agreed to pony up the money. Everybody offers a service or a product and those costs all get passed onto us.

- I see that a bunch of retired NFL players are suing for help with their future, saying the league knew or should have known the dangers of this violent sport. That may be a tough case to satisfy the courts, but these guys played in the 50s-60s-70s and as part of their file had 21 guys tested and only two had no brain damage. WOW! I played in those days and you were taught that the first contact in a block was to hit the opponent on the numbers with your forehead. The tackling method evolved spearing the guy with the crown of your head. That was before recently where they are trying to legislate it out of the game. They better start with the kids.

- I was going to comment on the "rat" infestation, but I will only say that Brian Burke is right. They will take over the NHL culture sooner than later.

- To show you how much the world has changed - I see in 1950 US Steel had 30,000 workers and produced 6 million tons of steel. Now they have 5,000 workers and produce 7.5 million tons . Progress!! How do you spell - Get an Education Kids?

Keep smiling!