Checkered Lounge Pants

Good morning from sunny Thailand. Just a quick note to say Happy New Year to all. My Xmas was quiet...Buddhists don't celebrate Xmas so it was barely noticeable, but, I thought of you all and, was with you in spirit. New Years however, is a really biiig deal and "dats what I be talking 'bout" (as Gru says on Despicable Me). Liquor laws are fairly relaxed here, compared to back home, so I plan to brown bag it and frequent the festivities along Beach Road in Pattaya on New Years Eve. I found a condo about a 5 minutes from the beach and leased it for 3 months. It is relatively new so everything is ultra modern. It has a private pool and all the amenities. The beaches are very handy and the locals are quick to provide all the services like food, drinks, souvenirs, chairs and umbrellas for very very reasonable baht. I tend to frequent the beach more so than any of the other attractions. Cyber-cafes line the streets and restaurants so leaving the laptop in BC, in lieu

Just a quick note to let you know I landed in Bangkok a week ago Monday night (Monday morning back home) and all is well..my flight through Shanghai was eventful but not regretful. My extended Shanghai layover required a "stay permit" from China Immigration that was not mentioned by the airline ticket agent in Vancouver (my bad for not inquiring..) but the Chinese customs officers were very professional and helpful in arranging the permit for me, when I landed in Shanghai. My travel buddy was waiting for me at the Bangkok airport with a taxi to drive us to the hotel. He had already checked into in Pattaya the day before, so my arrival was very smooth and simple...which was appreciated after a 36hr plane journey. After couple relaxing days, today is relegated to hunting down a couple condos to spend the remainder of the holiday. Weather is great, beaches are lush, Thais are so very friendly, scenery is spectacular, prices are unbelievable and the Thai cultural customs a

Judge rules Ritz broke law by not consulting CWB

First Posted: 11/18/11 03:15 PM ET   Updated: 11/21/11 03:36 PM ET   TORONTO - Stephen Hawking says the colonization of outer space is key to the survival of humankind, predicting it will be difficult for the world's inhabitants "to avoid disaster in the next hundred years." The renowned astrophysicist explores some of the most remarkable advancements in technology and health with the new U.K.-Canadian series " Brave New World With Stephen Hawking ," debuting Saturday on Discovery World HD. Before its premiere, he discussed the earth's most pressing concerns in an email interview with The Canadian Press from Cambridge, England, declaring space exploration to be humankind's most urgent mission. "We are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history," said Hawking, who has Lou Gehrig's disease, leaving him almost completely paralyzed and unable to speak. "Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are gr

Sarkozy called Israeli PM Netanyahu 'liar' The comments - embarrassing for President Sarkozy - have only just emerged Continue reading the main story   French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "liar" in remarks to US President Barack Obama overheard by journalists. "I can't stand him any more, he's a liar," Mr Sarkozy said in French. "You may be sick of him, but me, I have to deal with him every day," Mr Obama replied. The exchange at the G20 summit was quoted by a French website, Arret sur Images, and confirmed by other media. The remarks - during a private conversation - were overheard by a few journalists last week but were not initially reported, the BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says. Journalists at the bilateral press conference had been handed translation boxes but had been told not to plug in their headphones until the backroom conversation had finished. But those who did heard the r

Protesters ask Berlusconi to quit Tens of thousands of demonstrators gather in Rome for rally organised by the main left-wing party. L  Silvio Berlusconi faces scepticism about whether his struggling government can deliver vital reforms [REUTERS] Tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Rome for a rally organised by the main left-wing party to demand Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's resignation. "Silvio out" was the rallying cry for the large crowd that took part in a rally on Saturday organised by the Democratic Party, the country's main opposition movement. "The sooner we send them to the junkyard the better,"  read one large placard that was plastered with pictures of ministers in Berlusconi's government. The placard also included pictures of his lawyer Niccolo Ghedini and Nicole Minetti, the former showgirl who was promoted to regional councillor in Milan after serving as Berlusconi's dental hygienist. Both are symbo

  “We have faith in our citizens, we believe in their judgment and therefore in their decision. All the country’s political forces should support the [bail-out] agreement. The citizens will do the same once they are fully informed,"      German chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet on Wednesday in a desperate bid to keep the eurozone from collapsing. The emergency conference was called following the surprise announcement by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou that his government will hold a referendum on proposed austerity measures. Following Papandreou's unexpected move, six senior party officials from the ruling Greek Pasok party called on the prime minister to resign. Papandreou  threw European markets into turmoil  by announcing that the last minute deal signed by eurozone leaders last week would go to a public referendum, giving the electorate the final say on an agreement that would cut the country's debt by 50% but bind it to dif

CLP editor: This is indicative of the existing business models that absolutely derogates quality, customer, and employee value for share value.... BTW..the Maple Leaf CEO was heading up the mentor program in the Business Faculty at UWO as the processing plant production practices fatally infected Canadians with listeria. Plants Close Under Major Restructuring   TORONTO - Maple Leaf Foods is cutting 1,550 jobs, closing plants in four provinces and streamlining distribution in a continuing efficiency drive by the big food processor. The Toronto-based maker of processed meats, bread and other foods said Wednesday the changes are part of a three-year $560-million restructuring plan expected to boost competitiveness and profitability. Maple Leaf (TSX:MFI) will close processing plants in Kitchener, Hamilton and Toronto in Ontario; in North Battleford, Sask.; Moncton and a small plant in Winnipeg by the end of 2014. The company said the plan will create 1,150 new jobs but the associated pl

Jets' win the first of its kind

Blue can still win East Division, because nobody is any darn good By: Gary Lawless Blue Bombers running back Chris Garrett is brought down by Montreal Alouettes tackle J.P. Bekasiak (96) during first-half action. (FRED GREENSLADE / REUTERS) The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have lost four of the last five and watched their solo hold on first place wriggle through their white-knuckled hands, but never fear -- because no one in the East is any good. Winnipeg is just as likely to win the East, despite looking absolutely dreadful for all but a handful of quarters since Labour Day, as are the Montreal Alouettes or Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Als have gotten old in a hurry and the Tabbies have Kevin Glenn at quarterback, which means they are always just one pick away from a meltdown. No, as much as the Bombers have come unglued, there's still enough life in them to believe they've got a puncher's chance at finishing first and hosting the Eastern Final. Just as easily, however, they coul

Loss To Orioles Costs Boston A.L. Wild Card By DAVID GINSBURG      09/29/11 12:23 AM ET         BALTIMORE -- The Boston Red Sox completed their September collapse in horrific and historic fashion, falling out of the playoff chase by allowing two ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. The Red Sox held a nine-game lead in the AL wild-card race after Sept. 3, but a 7-19 swoon left them tied with Tampa Bay entering the final day of the regular season. Only minutes after this game ended, the Rays completed their comeback from a 7-0 deficit with an 8-7 win over the New York Yankees in 12 innings. Even if Tampa Bay lost, the Red Sox faced the prospect of a quick turnaround following a long night at Camden Yards that included a rain delay of 1 hour, 26 minutes in the middle of the seventh inning. When the rain came, Tampa Bay trailed 7-0. By the time play resumed, the Rays and Yankees were tied at 7 heading into the 10th inning. The Orioles won the game

Satellite hits Earth, location unknown - Technology & Science - CBC News

The men who crashed the world - Meltdown - Al Jazeera English

Obama: America's 'first Jewish president'? - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

Defunct satellite on track for Friday freefall from space

Keystone XL Pipeline Will Hollow Out Alberta's Refining Industry, Opponents Argue   That's the talking point a union that represents workers in the Alberta oil sands is using to oppose the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, the $7-billion project Transcanada Corp. is planning to build to transfer bitumen -- raw oil sands product -- from Alberta to refineries in Texas. The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) has called a press conference for Thursday where they plan to lay out in detail why they oppose a massive expansion of their industry’s infrastructure. "The pipeline will create environmental destruction, take potential upgrading and refining jobs away from Canadians, and put our country's energy security at risk," CEP President  Dave Coles said in a statement . " The Americans will get the jobs and Albertans, Canadians will get the pollution . It is wrongheaded for the economy of Canada," Coles told the Globe and Ma