Monday Post

Quickly now....


Again, Merry Christmas to all Orthodox and Julian calendar followers.

Related: the unfair Russian adoption law 


Today also marks the feast day of Saint Andre Bessette.


Oh, this must be embarrassing:

An Idle No More spokesperson says that a leaked audit critical of the Attawapiskat Band Council appears to be an attempt to smear hunger-striking Chief Theresa Spence.

On Monday, CBC News reported that they had received a leaked audit from Deloitte and Touche — commissioned by the feds — which claims 'there is little or no documentation for millions of dollars spent by the band' between 2005 and 2011.

(Sidebar: did it just occur to you to do your jobs, CBC?)

"In a letter dated Sept. 20, 2012, that was written by Deloitte to Chief Theresa Spence and copied to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, that auditing firm says that of 505 transactions reviewed, more than 400 lacked proper documentation.
The letter says "an average of 81 per cent of files did not have adequate supporting documents and over 60 per cent had no documentation of the reason for payment."

Idle No More spokesperson and Mi'kmaq lawyer Pam Palmater says that in the midst of the ongoing protests and just days before a summit between the Prime Minister and First Nations leaders, this leaked report is more than just a coincidence.

It sure is a coincidence, just like the sun rising.
 
This discovery (and let all props and glory go to Ezra Levant and Sun News for covering this as they and other news agencies worth their salt should) is no more "political" than claiming to go on a hunger strike in order to cover up one's corruption. Where did that $104 million go?


Millenials are silly people:

" Only at the agency a few months upon graduation, a young lady walked into my office and told me her dad thought that she was underpaid," an anonymous agency exec told Digiday. "I replied that her dad should call me so that we could discuss the matter. He never called." ...

An agency exec told Digiday a similar lament: " There’s a level of career impatience that used to be reserved for the “kids that were too smart for their grade,” justifying misbehavior with boredom. Now the entire grade feels too smart for their grade — and we have to manage that."

While some are incredibly hardworking, Salzman noted that others are simply incorrigible. "It's their way or the highway," Salzman noted about the incorrigible sect of millennials. "The rest of us are old, redundant, should be retired. How dare we come in, anyone over 30. Not only can't be trusted, can't be counted upon to be, sort of, coherent."

If only they could explain what exactly the world owes them.


Related: because the simpletons whose threadbare resumes read: "brings awareness of issues" are too simple to understand Professor Simple's Simply Explained Economics and what happened when people tried boycotting Chick-Fil-A, they must learn the hard way when one attempts to boycott a business that does what it wants or must.


Prepare those flaming trashcans for the Chosen One now:

According to government projections, Social Security will be broke in 2033, but outside estimates suggest the date when the program can no longer pay its obligations is at least two years closer.

You can reform them by not having them:

China will reform its controversial system of forced labour camps this year, state media reported on Monday, which would mark a first step toward legal reform promised by new Communist Party chief Xi Jinping.

In case we're tempted to feel good about this:

When freelance writer Wang Jian shops for toys for her 5-year-old son, she’s happy to pay extra for Legos blocks and Japanese-brand train sets. 

The reason, she and other parents say: Foreign brands enjoy a reputation for higher quality — a perception reinforced by the product scares of recent months.

“We pay close attention to the news about toy and food safety. If I find a problem with a certain brand, I will just stop using it for sure,” said Wang, who writes for film magazines.

China may be Santa’s global workshop, but when it comes to buying playthings for their own children, Chinese families who can afford it opt for foreign-brand toys — even if they are made in China.

Quality and safety issues are drawing more attention as incomes rise and upwardly mobile Chinese grow more health conscious. While virtually all toys on the market, whether foreign or domestic brands, are made in China, factories making foreign brands are assumed to abide by more rigorous standards to screen out lead paint and other harmful materials.

“I dare not buy cheap wooden toys or toys with paint,” said Lin Yan, a professor at Shanghai International Studies University, whose 7-year-old daughter tested for elevated levels of lead in her blood.

“I have a stupid standard: I buy her expensive toys in big department stores. I can only assume most of the expensive ones are foreign brands and are guaranteed to have better quality,” said Lin.

When her daughter is given toys she suspects are unsafe, she throws them away.

“Sometimes they have indescribable odors,” she said.

It really must be screamed at the top of one's lungs.


And now, ten facts about Bond, James Bond.


(for your eyes only)