Join me for a cup of Tim Horton's coffee while we think about that

Anyone familiar with a fellow by the name of Julian L. Simon? I am sure I heard of him before, but his name had obviously slipped from my memory, I say that because when a friend emailed something by him to me, the name didn't ring any bells.

Same for you?? Well a quick Google and click on Wikipedia will turn up this VERY brief introduction / reminder for you.

Julian Lincoln Simon (February 12, 1932 – February 8, 1998) was a professor of business administration at the University of Maryland and a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute at the time of his death, after previously serving as a longtime business professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Simon wrote many books and articles, mostly on economic subjects. He is best known for his work on population, economics, and immigration. His work covers cornucopian views on lasting economic benefits from natural resources and continuous population growth, even despite limited or finite physical resources, empowered by human ingenuity, substitutes, and technological progress. His works are also cited by libertarians against government regulation. He died at the age of 65 of a heart attack.

Jack ... what exactly does it means to have an "appreciation of some of their (Quebec's) key issues".

I just don't get it --- what's with Jack?

Jack Layton has been leader of the federal New Democrats (NDP)since 2003. He says that he is “delivering the kind of change that can make life better” for me and my family, and that his leadership is all about teamwork.

Now Jack Layton says he is, “ready to take the next step”, and that he is “applying for a new job: Prime Minister of Canada.”

Give me a break – is this alleged break-through really anything new? According to the Vancouver Province (April 26^th) they think so, bleating out that, “no one predicted the unprecedented national surge in popularity of Jack Layton and the NDP.

We have too many questions ... and not enough answers

HST in BC is the government website, set up to provide details on the tax, in an impartial way. At least that is what they want us to believe – but is it? Just one of the things they have on the website is a little quiz we can take to see if we truly understand the tax. Have a look at the questions on it, and see what you think.

1. The combined PST / GST rate was 12 per cent. What is the total tax rate under the HST?

The choices are 12, 15, 19 or 24%. Notice how none of the choices being offered are less than 12%. Given that the tax now applies to an additional items not previously taxed, should we not have a choice under 12%??

If Clark loses, the results will be terminal for her, and the BC Liberals.

With the words, 'I don't think that British Columbian's want an unelected premier without a mandate,' Christy Clark set up the start for her return to the BC legislature – first though she'll actually need to win the by-election she's called for Vancouver Point Grey.

In calling the by-election for May 11, in the affluent riding of Vancouver Point Grey, which includes Kitsilano and UBC, Clark is challenging a 30-year tradition that has seen the party in government lose 17 straight by-elections. The last exception was in 1981 when Claude Richmond won in Kamloops for the Social Credit Party.