Some guilty pleasure. :)

In VANOC-secret-code,

“While this has been a difficult and challenging process for all involved, the ruling today means that we can continue on with our preparations for the 2010 Sport Program as set out by the International Olympic Committee, including a men’s ski jumping event. We appreciate Justice Fenlon’s careful consideration of the very complex issues.”

In the words of The Honourable Madam Justice Fenlon (emphasis added),

“[7] In my view, the exclusion of women‟s ski jumping from the 2010 Games is discriminatory. Many of the men the plaintiffs have trained with and competed against as peers will be Olympians; the plaintiffs will be denied this opportunity for no reason other than their sex. [...]“

“[131] The IOC made a decision that discriminates against the plaintiffs. Only the IOC can alleviate that discrimination by including an Olympic ski jumping event for women in the 2010 Games.

[132] There will be little solace to the plaintiffs in my finding that they have been discriminated against; there is no remedy available to them in this Court. But this is the outcome I must reach because the discrimination that the plaintiffs are experiencing is the result of the actions of a non-party which is neither subject to the jurisdiction of this Court nor governed by the Charter. The plaintiffs‟ application is, therefore, dismissed. [...]“

In my words,

“Shameful IOC forces Vancouver 2010 Olympics to discriminate against Women’s Ski Jumpers because IOC is a Swiss-based organization that doesn’t give a shit about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Justice Fenlon is angry but not much she could do under the law because VANOC is actually one of the good guys and the Shameful IOC is the bad guy.”

To show my dismay about the discriminatory action by the IOC [International Olympic Committee], I will use add the word “Shameful” along every mention of the Shameful IOC or the Shameful Vancouver 2010 Olympics until the Shameful IOC changes its mind re the women’s ski jumping decision or the end of the Shameful 2010 Olympics. [Wow, five "Shameful" in one sentence!]

Reports from CBC, NPR, BBC Sport.

The story continues.

“There is word this weekend that the government’s plans for the national copyright consultation has taken shape. The consultation will officially launch on Monday, July 20th and run for nearly two months until Sunday, September 13th.” See more in Michael Geist’s blog entry.

July 11th Update: Delay for 24 hours.

*******

The weather isn’t cooperating, Canadian astronaut Julie Payette and the space shuttle Endeavour crew may stay grounded today. Will see.

Check out this wonderful video interview of Julie by Alison Smith.

For a Canadian government that has little respect for the judicial system or the Charter of Rights and Freedom, it is no surprise they have little appreciation of the idea of the “tyranny of the majority“.

It is easy picking to attack new immigrants who speak neither English nor French and are least able to protest and protect themselves. Well done Minister Jason Kenney for picking on new immigrants and taking over the role as Minister of Citizenship & Bully.

Immigrants have ‘duty to integrate’: Kenney

Federal minister says integration of immigrants possible without loss of identity

“We know that justice and generosity can flourish only in an atmosphere of trust. For if individuals and minorities do not feel protected against the possibility of the tyranny of the majority, if French-speaking Canadians or native peoples or new Canadians do not feel they will be treated with justice, it is useless to ask them to open their hearts and minds to their fellow Canadians.“
– Pierre Trudeau, April 17, 1982, (from CBC The Charter at 20)

It is sad to see the Canadian government decides to use sticks to bully instead without true appreciations of the challenges some of our new immigrants feel.

Two Dragons from CBC Dragons’ Den are becoming Sharks on ABC. Find out who they are.

I am sure the two DragonSharks will have lots of fun. I just hope the ABC series will do the Dragons’ Den format justice.

P.S. Call me snobbish if you like, I love the original BBC Antiques Roadshow but the US PBS version is just too cheesy for my taste.

Designing the Brick Wall of the Future.

Quite neat.

After blogging about this musician’s horrible customer service experience with United Airlines, I am happy to blog about something wonderful. So let me blog about my Moen experience. Specifically,

Moen Lifetime Warranty: All Moen faucets come with a Lifetime Warranty against leaks, drips and finish defects.

Our house came with a Moen Faucet in the kitchen and it was leaking a little this last few days. I got my nice neighbour to take a look of the faucet and we finally figured that the water is probably leaking from some very tiny tiny cracks/gaps on the faucet wand.

And when I called Moen to try to find out how much is the replacement wand, I was very pleasantly surprised that Moen is going to send us a new replacement – Free of charge! This is what I call great customer service and standing behind ones products.

Thanks to the wonderful and nice Moen customer service agent Denise, I am a happy Moen fan! I know Moen is a great brand but my personal experience has turned it into a Lovemark for me! Check out their bathroom and kitchen collections here.

The full story of how United Airlines’ baggage handlers in Chicago broke the band Sons of Maxwell’s $3500 guitar by throwing it around. And the first of three songs Dave Carroll promised to write and produce. Very nice song.

Lessons for United and other businesses: It is always cheaper to resolve problems and do the honourable and right thing in the first place. The bad publicity created for United is way more than the cost of the $3,500 guitar which was thrown by the baggage handlers!

[via CBC News (with video interview with Dave)]

I’ve added a new entry to quotes I love.

I learned a lot from reading this Washington Post article, and this following quote near the end caught my eyes.

“I’m not wealthy, but I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, and I decided not to do anything that doesn’t meet two criteria: expand my understanding of the world, and allow me to apply whatever understanding I have in some productive way.” – Robert McNamara

News of the death of McNamara at TIME, NEWSWEEK, Washington Post, BBC, CNN, Guardian, Reuters, AP.

Here is Errol Morris’ documentary “The fog of war: Eleven lessons from the life of Robert S. McNamara“. (you can probably find the rest of the documentary online)

Have a listen to NPR interviewing Morris about McNamara and the “The Fog of War“.

Are there any precedence that might have raised any concerns over comments and conducts by previous Warren Buffett charity lunch winners? I just hope my suspicious is wrong here as there is probably no way to impose any “lunch etiquette”. Hmmm …

Warren Buffett Lunch Winner: I Won’t Profit From Stock Tip Windfall’

P.S. Here is something less serious and more fun. Warren selling mattress at Nebraska Furniture Mart.

[via CNBC]

John Sawers, British ambassador to the United Nations, will soon to be the chief of MI6 (UK Secret Intelligence Service). Sawers is in a “Facebook Controversy” at the moment as reported here, here, here, and here.

While I don’t know exactly when, but the day that these so-called “facebook controversies” becoming “non-news” will come.

P.S. People who honestly think that ambassadors to the United Nations don’t get fully profiled by friendly and unfriendly countries are much more naive that I can imagine.