Let's do lunch... · Thursday February 15, 2007 by colin newell
One of my favorite places for a meal on Vancouver Island is the Crow & Gate Pub at Cedar south of Nanaimo.
I know. I know. This is one of the best kept secrets of many Islanders (and mainlanders for that matter…) and I know full well I am going to be paying dearly for letting this cat out of the bag!
Ok. So it is a pub you say. So what?
Well (more secrets about to be let out of the bag…)
The Crow & Gate is the most authentic English pub you will find in North America (I know – hyperbole)
It is as if it was transported lock, stock and barrel from England.
Except for a couple of small details.
The food is way better than the average English pub…
and way cheaper too!
I dare say I have had virtually everything on the menu; Steak Pie, Oyster Pub plate (My god! Yum!), Ploughmans Lunch… and on and on and on.
All menu items (made at the time you request them) are under 10 dollars (average price being about $7.50 Canadian)
Did I mention the food is really, really, really good?
Secrets out.
Oh yea. Why the Heli photo above?
Well. Short story. A small group of us were at the C&G a year or so ago when we heard the familiar Whop-Whop of a Bell Jet Ranger coming in for a landing… a landing in the middle of nowhere.
Picture this: Chopper cools down. Pilot jumps out and sprints to the pub back entrance. Pilot whispers a question in a waitresses ear. She nods no. Pilot returns to helicopter. Helicopter powers up and flys away.
I could not resist. I went over and asked the gal what the pilot wanted.
“Steak and Kidney Pie” she said.
“We were out…” she concluded.
It seems they get regular high-rollers from Vancouver flying in for a quick lunch.
Geeze – at 500 to 1000$/hour for a Bell Jet Ranger and pilot you would think they would call ahead.
Sun to set on post 9/11 police powers. · Saturday February 10, 2007 by colin newell
Canada is set to roll-back some of the police powers the Canadian government and courts granted post 9/11.
The Canadian Liberal party, currently in partnership with the NDP and Conservatives in a minority government, have withdrawn support for the controversial laws set to expire at the end of next week.
The former Liberal majority government, under then prime minister Jean Chretien, rushed the sweeping changes in the stressful weeks following 9/11, arguing law-enforcement needed better tools for dealing with the palpable threat of terror.
In response to concerns the new laws would trample civil liberties, the government of the day placed a sunset clause on the far-reaching legislation. Well, the day is almost upon us.
The current Conservative government (in minority) have tabled a motion to extend the provisions of the law for three years. Lacking Liberal, NDP and Bloc(French) support the bill will die on the vine.
This shift of thinking from the Liberal left has shocked many in the security industry, not surprisngly.
This claw-back of police powers puts Canada on a substantially more moderate track than World security partners, the U.S., Britain and Australia.
Canada’s security laws function thusly: A preventive arrest clause allows police to arrest suspects without warrant and detain them for upwards of 48 hours or more, without charge — if they (the police) suspect that the subjects of interest may do something or are thinking of doing something unlawful.
In the 5 years since the act has come into force, it has never been used. Yes neighbor, we Canadian’s are that law abiding. Although I have to admit, there have been times where I have had unlawful thoughts. You know: Will I pass the car ahead of me over a double-solid line?
Anyway, I think we are on the right track – but I can only speak for Canadians… not meaning to set any examples for anyone else, begging your pardon and all `eh.
Big Banks shrink staff to enhance obscene profit margins · Monday February 5, 2007 by colin newell
Bank of Montreal, Canada’s fourth- largest bank, plans to cut about 1,000 jobs, or almost 3 percent of its workforce, to reduce costs as profit growth slows.
I hate big banks.
The bank will post a one-time cost of C$88 million ($74.8 million) in the fiscal first quarter to cover the job cuts, the Toronto-based lender said today in a statement. Bank of Montreal reports earnings on March 1.
We owe it to our customers, our employees and our shareholders to have lean, efficient support functions, simplified processes, fewer layers and to eliminate duplication across our enterprise,’‘ Chief Executive Officer Anthony Comper said today in the statement. Comper, 61, is stepping down as CEO in March.
Right. I hate banks.
The job cuts would be the biggest by a Canadian lender since Royal Bank of Canada, the country’s biggest bank, eliminated 1,660 jobs in 2004. A year later, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the No. 5 bank, cut 950 jobs.
Hate banks. hate banks.
Bank of Montreal will cut head office positions and fire support staff who don’t deal directly with customers in cities including Toronto, Montreal and Chicago, spokesman Ralph Marranca said in an interview. Most of the cuts will happen by November.
Reminds me of two experiences with the Bank of Montreal.
BMO closed a branch in the Okanagon region of B.C. and forced thousands of seniors to drive the extra 75 miles (one-way) to the remaining branch in the region.
When asked (by CBC radio), the regional manager of BMO said they closed the branch to better serve the seniors.
I hate banks.
I had a BMO account from the time I was 11 years old… 20+ years in the same location. I had over-draft protection on my account and all my retirement investments with them. When they closed my branch to serve me better, I got a collections notice within 5 days for the 250$ of over-draft on my account.
When the biddie manager of this soon-to-close branch asked why I was pulling all my investments, I replied…
To serve you better!
I hate banks. Hate ‘em.
Downsize me... [1]
Oh Damn, not another hobby... · Wednesday January 24, 2007 by colin newell
There aren’t too many Christmas gifts that make me light up like a…
well, you know.
My sister-in-law and brother-in-law bought me one of these for the holidays.
And I curse their names every hour of every day…
that I am playing with it.
I mean, if you know me, you know that I have one too many hobbies.
One too many.
This one actually takes the cake though. It looks simple enough but it demands 100% of your attention to keep it in the air and out of your hair.
The Micro-Mosquito coaxial helicopter is a lot of fun. There are online forums dedicated to the discussion and dissection of this toy.
Alas, I have almost moved on to this website
located in Canada no less.
I have my eye on a tricked out Nitro Raptor with a Futaba radio, tight damping and all metal swash-plate…
whatever the heck that is…
Gift givers – I curse your name!
