You're late? That's OK! You've plagiarised? Forget about it!

The local public school board wants to mark students "based on what they have learned". Apparently teaching them lessons after catching them plagiarising, turning assignments in late or simply not doing them just isn't important anymore.

Is this yet another example of government (or in this case, the school board) further dumbing down the education system? It's bad enough that giving a child a failing grade is pretty much a thing of the past. It's bad enough that the element of competition has been removed from sporting events so that "nobody has to lose". But to actively choose not to punish students for the ultimate educational fraud - copying or plagiarising someone else's work - is a whole other thing.

What's this world coming to?

A local trustee was interviewed this morning on CFRA and she said that it was the aim of the system to use marks as a tool to evaluate and quantify the amount of material a student has learned in a given course. She said that marks are not supposed to be used to reward or punish students as if they are, they no longer gauge how a student has achieved in a class throughout a given semester.

Why not? Was the so-called "old system" flawed?

Sure, I turned the odd assignment in a day late and usually was docked 10% for doing so. Some teachers would say that students could turn assignments in late up to three days late (losing 30%) and then it was a big, fat resounding zero. I never took it that far, but it certainly makes you think.

If the only reason for a marking system to remain in use is to measure the amount of knowledge a student has learned and "other" methods will be used to punish that student for plagiarising or simply not handing in an assignment (why bother working on a difficult assignment if it could, in theory, end up lowering your average?!) then students will be in for a hell of a shock when they get into the real world.

As it is, students leaving the education system to get full-time jobs already have some sense of entitlement. When I tried to chastise a staff member last winter for not showing up one day because four centimetres of snow fell and the roads were considered "too dangerous" to come in from out of town, I was told that this staff member was disappointed that I would have the nerve to try and impress the importance of showing up for your paid job upon this person.

Say what?! If you chose to live out of town and work in town, you made your own bed. Now lay in it. It's not my problem.

What will happen when the student who graduates from the "nobody loses" mentality and they are turned down for a job? They've never learned how to deal with adversity. What will happen when this same person produces a report for a superior and the superior is unhappy with its quality?

Schools should revert to preparing children for the real world, not the next level of the education system. There is adversity everywhere in life. I had my share of successes and failures in school and I will face them again I'm sure. Why should everyone get a mulligan every time they do something wrong or fail in school?

There are no mulligans in the real world.

Honesty and integrity - apparently they will soon be taken out of the curriculum... can't hurt Johnny's feelings if he actively decides to not do an assignment... and you can't toss Janie out of class because she plagiarised that paper - see how that works out in the real world - it's called a lawsuit, folks!

I hope the OCDSB board of trustees grounds itself in reality tonight. Failing to do so will do way more harm to students than these birds could ever imagine. Schools are there to teach more than 2+2 - or so I thought.

Congratulations go to Toronto City Council this afternoon

Congratulations on unanimously passing Councillor Nunziata's motion to keep military support stickers on fire trucks and ambulances and for taking it a bit farther by making the campaign last an indefinite period of time and by expanding it to include police cars.

You guys are the real leaders at Toronto City Hall. Did I just hear the last CFRB newscast right? Did "Mayor" Miller leave chambers when the vote was taken?

Hee hee hee... there's a real man who can stand by his convictions!!!

David Miller: another hypocrite of a politician

I'm sick and tired of hypocrite politicians.

Politicians who tell staff they can't be caught dead without wearing a poppy in the days leading up to Remembrance Day, keeping someone close by at all times to make sure that no camera will catch them without one.

Politicians who "proudly" stand up in front of the crowds and the media to deliver their recycled (and apparently faked) speeches on cue every year on November 11th. In these speeches, these politicians always talk about how grateful we all must be. They say that it is thanks to the men and women who fought on our behalf all those years ago who made the country what it is today.

And, again, right on cue, we eat it all up, glowing proudly and nodding in agreement with every pithy statement these elected officials make - often pausing for the applause to die down.

David Miller, Mayor of Toronto, has apparently equated "Support our Troops" with "Support the Mission in Afghanistan". Consequently, he intents on having all such ribbons removed from ambulances and fire trucks. He has distorted what it means to be someone who wants to show support for the troops out there defending the free world. As is the case for most politician with his stripes, any position on an issue other than his is uncivilized.

We'll show you uncivilized, Mr. Miller, if you show up at a Remembrance Day ceremony in four months or so to deliver some speech you obviously do not believe in, and in spite of this you deliver it anyway because it's the politically expedient thing to do on that day. Why do you waste your time? Stay home!

I'm hoping that saner minds prevail in Toronto (for once!) and that you, Mr. Miller, come to your senses and release a statement this afternoon proclaiming that you were "misquoted", "taken out of context", or "misunderstood". That's what politicians do when they suddenly realize that what they said is not exactly appreciated by the masses.

You can't make this magically go away. You were quite clear, Mr. Miller - now fess up and fix this mess. You might think that because you just got re-elected that people will forget this little incident when you hit the streets in three years. They won't. They'll remind you in November 2007, 2008, 2009 and hopefully in 2010 - with a boot square you know where.

Some say you're either "with us" or "against us" - a little too black and white for even me, but you've definitely crossed a line you should not have. Now apologize and admit you were wrong. You might be the first politician to openly do so - and doing so might resurrect a career you so carelessly (and, I hope inadvertantly) tossed off a cliff this morning.

It's not too late...

Why wouldn't oil companies pass new Quebec tax onto consumers?!

I read a Montreal Gazette article this morning reporting on Quebec Natural Resources Minister Claude Bechard's announcement yesterday that effective October 1, the province of Quebec will impose a 0.8 cent per litre 'carbon tax' on gasoline sales. In making the announcement, the rather naive Minister expressed his hopes that oil companies will absorb the tax and not pass it on to consumers. Why? Because they're obsessed with making record profits.

They're making record profits because they're not falling for what may seem to some as honourable attempts at convincing big oil to do something that would make it look like it actually cares about its customer base. Of course it doesn't! If it did, we wouldn't be paying what we are today each time we fill up. Margins are up at record levels and demand isn't waning.

If Minister Bechard seriously thinks that Imperial Oil, Petro Canada, Shell and their co-conspirators will step up, he should seriously consider looking for another job - he has obviously lost touch with reality.

This tax is supposed to raise approximately $200 million a year. Even with profits in the billions, $200 million is a somewhat significant chunk of dough for these "enterprising" mega-corporations. They won't absorb that much "loss". Has anyone noticed any difference at the pumps since our dear Stephen Harper led federal government chopped a point off of the GST? Nope, don't think so.

So when Ultramar tells Minister Bechard that it hasn't made up its mind as to what it would do with this tax, it isn't telling him that it will opt to side with the angels... again, if he thinks that is even remotely possible, his detachment from reality should be a major concern for Premier Charest.

Snap back to reality, guys - big oil cares about one thing and one thing only... its bottom line. Sorry Quebec - I guess you're getting stuck with a tax by your minority government - maybe there's something you can do about that! Remember what happened to Joe Clark a few years ago?!?

If you sue the City of Ottawa, don't expect another contract!

What is the consortium made up with Siemens Canada Ltd., PCL Constructors Canada Ltd. and Ottawa LRT Corp. thinking?

This intrepid group served the City of Ottawa with notice that it is being sued for breach of contract, I suppose, alleging that they have suffered "damages" of $175 million dollars as a result of the City cancelling the contract after the November 2006 municipal elections.

The consortium has not lost $175 million as a result of the City coming to its senses and cancelling the ill-conceived light rail plan that Bob Chiarelli and his Council had approved earlier in 2006. The City of Ottawa had planned on reimbursing the $25 million that had been spent on putting everything together, but apparently that's not good enough.

I'm no lawyer, but I have observed in the past that courts tend to "make one whole once again" - in other words, if the contractors had invested $25 million in the bid that ultimately had the contract awarded to them, they should have that amount returned to them. I cannot think of one court case I've read about or seen on television where damages actually put the complainant ahead once the court's decision was rendered.

Will this lawsuit end up with a decision being made against the City of Ottawa for $175 million? Not likely. Is this a tactic being used to up the ante in this growing feud between the City and Siemens/PCL/Ottawa LRT? Probably. In the end, the City will likely have to pay whatever it is that these companies are out of pocket, not a penny more. If that's the case, the consortium will end up with fewer dollars in their bank accounts... it's the lawyers who will end up ahead!!!

The thing is, surely these companies know that this "new" City Council will ultimately come up with a new public transportation strategy or plan. A new document was tabled today and it will serve as the starting point for new discussions. Do Siemens and PCL seriously think that they will be contenders if and when another contract comes along? Would they not have been better off to allow the City to pay its expenses and walk away, and then wait for another kick at the can? Is it not possible that a new plan might be even more profitable, meaning that they'd still be even further ahead down the road?

I guess not.

I was always told not to bite the hand that feeds you. Where I come from, contracts that can generate up to $175 million in profits don't come around every day. All I can say is that when this case is decided (or more likely, settled), Council had better not award the new contract to any of these companies when the time comes to actually build whatever it is we will dream up. That would simply be rewarding bad behaviour and "not playing nice in the sandbox". I know that if I am on City Council when the day comes to select a new contractor, they better not expect any support from me after what they've just pulled off.

Come on, guys... think about it!! Not smart.

* Follow up: I have spoken with a lawyer who tells me that anticipated profits can be pursued in courts under some provisions of our contract laws. Even so, this suit is likely nothing more than posturing by Siemens/PCL/Ottawa LRT, but I would still question anyone who would consider entering contract negotiations with this group when the need arises. Surely there's someone else out there who can step up to the plate. Again - I've always been told that biting the hand that feeds you is never a good thing!!

Oh, what a night!!! - Part two

Once the puck was dropped the intensity level at Scotiabank Place was incredible. It didn't take long for the insane happy state of the 20,500 people in attendance to wane a bit, though. Five minutes into the game Anaheim scored. I couldn't help but wonder if it was going to be "another one of those nights".

The Senators came back with a goal late in the period to send everyone to the concession stands in the same giddy state of mind in which they entered the building only an hour or so earlier. The rollercoaster ride that I wrote about before the series started was magnified in Ottawa's first Stanley Cup Final home game - the score went back and forth with five goals in the second period!

I can remember playoff series where it took five or six games before five goals were scored! OK, I'm exaggerating a bit, but it has felt that way - and having lived through game two only a couple days earlier, I couldn't be blamed for being shocked at the offensive outburst in the second frame.

Thanks to Dean McAmmond the Sens headed to the locker room once again up a goal after period number two. I remember calling my father and a friend to tell them how incredible the game was thus far and how being at a Stanley Cup final game was unlike any sporting experience I had ever lived through.

Highs and lows were to be found in the third period as well, with Dean McAmmond getting smoked by Chris Pronger. To this day I still can't believe that Pronger is a repeat offender dirty player. He has been recognized on several occasions for being the best defenceman in the NHL. I remember fighting friends over Pronger in various pools over the years. Sure, he's good, but it seems that he is also a massive liability.

With McAmmond in the locker room only minutes in the third period and the Senators holding on to a one goal lead, the crowd's anticipation only grew. When Anton Volchenkov scored and gave the Senators the insurance goal they needed, we knew that the win was within our grasp.

The last ten minutes flew by, and before we knew it, the Ottawa Senators had won their first final round game. Ottawa was back in the series. People in my section were high fiving each other... random people were high fiving each other in the stairwells... the unthinkable had happened and we'd never been there before.

The temperature and humidity had moderated outside and the twenty minute walk back to Costco was an experience in itself. People running up and down Palladium Drive, cars passing by with people hanging out the windows while drivers honked horns and passengers high fived pedestrians as they drove by... even the traffic control cops were into it!

After having watched the Sens blow game seven against the New Jersey Devils a few years ago, being there for a Stanley Cup Final playoff game win is something I'll never forget. My mother is the person who made it possible - merci!!

Now... we lost the first two games. We've taken our first and now trail 2-1 in the series. Let's hope our one "fun and unbelievably enjoyable" game day experience is repeated... if it is, man - it'll be one heck of a memorable season!

GO SENS GO!!!

Oh, what a night!!! - Part one

The one thing that was missing from the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals for Ottawa Senators fans was: fun. After watching the Sens go through the motions in the first two games of the series, the only "fun" the Sens fans had had to that point was watching them get to the finals, not be in the finals. They didn't even score a goal in game 2!

When the scene shifted to Ottawa, however, things were in for a huge change.

I have been to close to 175 NHL games. Up until the lockout year, I had been to every single home playoff game in "modern Senators history". I was there for the first ever playoff game. I was there when Ottawa clinched its first playoff series win at home. Leaving the Corel Centre that day was unlike any other sporting experience for me to that point.

Until last night.

I am fortunate to have a mother who seems to be even more into this playoff run than I am. She seems to be more addicted to everything Senators more than I am this year. Not bad for someone who still splits her allegiance between the Habs and our Senators. There we were, driving to Scotiabank Place last night, eagerly anticipating the biggest Senators home game in "modern history".

The parking lot I always park in was closed off about 6-7 cars before I could make it in. It turns out we waited about 20 minutes in line for nothing. Undeterred, I opted to head east on Palladium Drive to see what I might come across. The lineup to get into the eastern-most parking lots was long and I didn't want to wait. Further east I went. I figured that the Costco would be closed by then and, being a member, surely there wouldn't be a problem parking there. My Escape being secure, it was time to make the trek back west to the "Greatest Arena on Earth" - do we still call it that?!

The walk was reminiscent of a walk I took some ten years ago when I attended the Palladium "open house" - the arena was still five months away from opening night. The enthusiasm for the new building was too exciting for words. I remember standing at the bottom of what would become section 301, looking out at where ice would some day be. Last night, we sat in row P of section 304 and were shocked to see the arena was already pretty much at capacity - and the warmup wasn't quite done yet! Something special was happening - and we were there.

After a rather impressive light and A/V show, Lyndon Slewidge took to the ice to sing the national anthems. I don't know what it is, but it seems that every time he pulls the mike away to let 20,000+ people "carry the tune" and I'm standing there singing O Canada along with each and every one of them, it's almost emotionally overwhelming. The unity - the unquestioned patriotism (for once) of each and every fan in the stands and throughout the arena is almost tangible. I love it - it's an experience in itself.

And finally, the drop of the puck. Let the games begin!!!

More to come later today - off to the golf course!!