tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-244009912024-03-23T11:07:13.807-07:00Atlas HuggedINFO-Tain-mentAtlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.comBlogger538125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-81558738172557107602013-08-02T11:00:00.002-07:002013-08-02T11:00:15.304-07:00Not Quite Legal AdviceSo, I like to help out on campaigns from time to time.<br />
<br />
I was legal counsel to a campaign in one of the by-elections held yesterday in Ontario.
The hardest part of that job is dealing with over zealous campaign volunteers who think that everything and anything is a violation of the various acts and regulations that pertain to elections.<br />
<br />
The most important part of a lawyer's role is ensuring all eligible voters can exercise their franchise, and that volunteers are granted access to polls to observe the proceedings. I enfranchised all kinds of people. Defending democracy is a grand endeavor.<br />
<br />
Often people violate other aspects of the acts and regulations. Significantly less frequently can you do anything about it. If issues are really big, you can make your position known, and most importantly, document the matter so if there is a problem, recount and/or litigation.<br />
<br />
You are in fact, preparing the best evidence. 99.9999999% of the time, you just smile, write it down, and let it go.<br />
<br />
Case in point:<br />
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Volunteers for another candidate were campaigning very close to a polling station. This is not allowed. It is also stupid, as it does nothing to get your voters out to the polls, because very few people are influenced if they are already at the polls. But I digress.<br />
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One of our volunteers called me and detailed the situation. She informed me that the returning officer had already spoken to the offending party. She said she was detailing the situation, and wanted help from me.<br />
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I listened attentively, and said that if the R.O. had already spoken to them, there wasn't all the much else we could do <b>now</b>. She insisted, and wanted me to take action.<br />
<br />
I said that I just didn't feel more was justified, given the R.O. had already acted. I then lamented that "they should stop being assholes."<br />
<br />
She quickly replied - "<i>Can I tell them they are being assholes?</i>" To which I replied, there was nothing stopping her from calling them assholes.<br />
<br />
I could feel her phone being muffled by her hand, as she screamed a the top of her lungs "My lawyer says you guys are assholes and you should stop being assholes."
She then thanked me.
Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-19621064664444323222013-07-03T09:57:00.002-07:002013-07-03T09:57:17.338-07:00Summer 2013 Update - stay the F$@# away from SealsMy Enemy's enemy is my friend<br />
<br />
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/07/sharks_return_to_cape_cod_gray_seals_are_the_bait.html<br />
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Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-91187045264931130182013-06-26T12:04:00.002-07:002013-06-26T12:04:52.436-07:00There is nothing insightful coming, but I am going to start blogging again. Jokes mostly.<br />
<br />
But, also as a reminder to myself to write down a story about clarence thomas.<br />
<br />Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-46495606972515310362012-10-10T14:12:00.001-07:002012-10-10T14:13:10.985-07:00Forget Big Bird...I would be way more worried about Bert and Ernie.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-83579214216844935982012-09-17T05:07:00.000-07:002012-09-17T05:07:34.019-07:00Liberal Leadership DebatesMy proposal would be to have 50 debates on 50 successive days that are 20 minutes long. Each debate would be about ONE subject - picked randomly out of a hat.<br />
<br />
Let's see Le Dauphin prepare for that.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-64059864467830579002012-08-31T11:06:00.002-07:002012-08-31T11:06:59.362-07:00Reclycling Jokes, 2012Remember when I made this joke?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://atlas-hugged.blogspot.ca/2007/03/adq-opposes-minority-government.html">One of these parties no longer exists...</a><br />
<br />
Doesn't seem so outlandish in 2012, does it?<br />
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<br />Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-89697202600157579492012-07-26T11:48:00.001-07:002012-07-26T11:48:14.156-07:00I am not even sure this still worksBut, my last couple of months has been quite raucous.<br />
<br />
Thank-fully, there is a full scale war being fought between two Premiers about how product should be shipped across their borders, so if that doesn't slow economic development, nothing will.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-3638859580118309342012-03-02T10:40:00.003-08:002012-03-02T10:43:35.264-08:00Elections Canada ComplaintsTake a VERY long time to resolve.<br /><br />In 2003-4 EC had a lot of complaints. It might not have been 31,000, but it was a lot.<br /><br />I would say that at least half of them had to do with enumerators and/or polling information at the FRONT END of the campaign.<br /><br />I would say that half of the rest of them had to do with things that any sane person would describe as "insignificant."<br /><br />I would say that half of the rest of the rest had to do with RUDE staff.<br /><br />I really hope that they catch the assholes who willfully tried to disenfranchise people. I hope they go to jail.<br /><br />I also wish people would stop throwing out numbers like they are significant on their own. 31,000 complaints are...well...just not that many in a country that has 25 million electors (or so - I am guessing.)Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-37087719097468245582012-02-15T13:47:00.000-08:002012-02-15T13:59:17.613-08:00There are a few things I hateBut there is NOTHING I hate more than blindly partisan <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">reposters</span>/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">retweeters</span> or whatever they are called these days.<br /><br />I don't really care about C-30. I think that our investigative tools need to be modernized. In fact, when the same bill was presented in 2005 by the Martin Liberal Government it was called the Modernization of Investigation Tactics Act. C74, as it was then known, was not universally panned by the opposition. Certainly, mainy of the critics of c-30 bill probably VOTED for it when it was introduced at first reading - that is, if they weren't defeated in 2006, 2008, 2012. Or, at the very least, they didn't object to its introduction. Landslide Annie (<span style="color:#ff0000;">L - Edmonton</span>) you were a great one.<br /><br />Of course, it wasn't about child pornographers in 2005. It was actually more about <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">aligning</span> with the US Patriot Act. That, in and of itself, is far more convincing to me as a reason to oppose it.<br /><br />I am not going to defend the Minister for ONE SECOND for their silly communications plan. It was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">atrocious</span> - and it appeals to a very limited base.<br /><br />But to call this updated review of investigative techniques a "Big Brother approach to spying on Canadians" is just as uninformed. I remember when wire taps were seen as an unreasonable encroachment of civil liberties. Or at least, I remember reading about that time period. Now they are a tried/tested method to help catch bad guys.<br /><br />I am a civil libertarian. I really do believe that our laws shouldn't be random and that Locke was right on what we can/not consent to. I don't see this as an onerous invasion of privacy. Neither should you.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-51634199358602428302012-02-15T07:58:00.000-08:002012-02-15T08:00:35.322-08:00I finally found herI have been flying on Air Canada as long as I have been alive. I have YET to find a SINGLE employee who was "going beyond the call of duty."<br /><br />In Florida, I finally met that employee. She started her shift over 30 minutes early, and didn't even bat an eye. She was super pleasant, and very helpful.<br /><br />To date, most of my exchanges with Air Canada employees are...brutal. Thank god for this one. I am almost afraid to send a letter to the company praising her work for fear that she will be ostracized in some way.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-88093427231261915982012-02-07T11:30:00.001-08:002012-02-07T11:30:21.233-08:00I don't like winterSo I am going to Florida. See you in a week.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-36020512063301173692012-02-06T08:43:00.001-08:002012-02-06T08:53:53.139-08:00In other news - The Superbowl is overNow that the Horrible Football is over, we can focus on the real American pastime - Pitchers and Catchers are reporting in 12 days!<br /><br />To quote George Will - the only conservative columnist I have any time for - in making his prediction this weekend:<br /><br />"Football is a mistake. This is the second-highest calorie day in American life, second only to Thanksgiving, and people are betting and eating," Will said. "Football, as I say, combines violence punctuated by committee meetings called huddles. It just replicates the worst aspect of American life."<br /><br />"That said, when it's over, pitchers and catchers report in two weeks, and intelligent people can go back to reading the newspapers," Will added.<br /><br />After some prodding, Will guessed that the New York Giants would win the big game.<br />"I usually root for the team whose victory would make the most liberals unhappy," he said, noting New England's liberal population."<br /><br />From ABC news-Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-56351633874041998252012-02-06T05:56:00.000-08:002012-02-06T05:57:46.465-08:00Betting in NevadaI don't care what they all say, 91% or more of the delegates are still on the table. God only knows what will happen between now and Super Tuesday.<br /><br />Though, I have no idea why a state which is as close to "New Sodom" as you can get would vote for such a pius man. You would think Gingrich would have had a lock on that group.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-85863276294079817142012-02-02T10:22:00.001-08:002012-02-02T10:24:00.484-08:00What is this worth?You would think that he would say "can you please endorse the other guy?"<br /><br />Though, I wonder who this 26% are<br /><br /><a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/02/02/value_of_trumps_endorsement.html?ref=tw">they are probably democrats or actual job creators</a><br /><br />Otherwise, this negative 18% might have an actual impactAtlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-30484006506436061492012-02-02T07:06:00.001-08:002012-02-02T07:07:14.024-08:00Corny Joke for your kids, nephews or other people under ten in your livesWhat do you call a Fish with no "eyes"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />a Fsh (pronouced phssssssssh)Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-53294228080544429252012-02-01T06:30:00.000-08:002012-02-01T06:31:53.176-08:0046 States to go!I am willing to take bets at this point that Romney will not have enough votes to win the nomination on the first ballot.<br /><br />18 Million, in a state that is very expensive, and he didn't knock anyone out. Oy. Even for a mega-millionaire, he is going to have trouble sustaining his money.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-54629050845234209062012-01-30T10:36:00.000-08:002012-01-30T10:37:41.310-08:00Question Period MusingHow many times have you heard that QP is too partisan?<br /><br />Often, critics of the "hour of power" talk about how the participants have to show better restraint and rise above the debate.<br /><br />Many would be reformers talk about how it could be changed, and why those changes would be for the best.<br /><br />Few of them, however, talk about how the nature of QP itself contributes to the partisanship lamented to as a condition precedent.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-72108401684491106212012-01-30T05:47:00.000-08:002012-01-30T05:50:09.035-08:00Iron LadyWhile Mrs. Streep was excellent, this is not a wonderful film. Anyone who goes to see this film thinking that they will learn much about Mrs. Thatcher will be woefully disappointed. Basically, this is a work of fiction because the director/screenplay author fixated on what life is like today for Mrs. Thatcher, as opposed to what she did accomplish as the PM of England.<br /><br />It basically focused on her current prison - being trapped in an allegedly demented mind with constant apparitions.<br /><br />If there is one word of it which is not true, I would sue the bejessus out of the producers. A Lady of her standing deserves much much better.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-44389098833229281252012-01-29T10:32:00.000-08:002012-01-29T10:34:15.922-08:00Eerie QuietThere hasn't been anything from the Newtonians lately, except a Herman Cain endorsement. I would imagine that is about as helpful as my endorsement would be.<br /><br />While I do honestly believe that Mitt will win Florida, I am actually quite intrigued by the next suite of contests. I think Mitt is going to have a tough time keeping up with Newt's intellect - and even though he may be a better candidate - I think there are a lot of conservatives who don't want a better candidate - they want a better intellectual leader.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-85793999940813559052012-01-23T06:18:00.000-08:002012-01-23T06:19:27.510-08:00Julius NewtonThat speech was WAY over the top.<br /><br />But, to his credit, at least he is consistent.<br /><br />Florida is going to be fun to watch.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-55435829969494798472012-01-20T13:50:00.001-08:002012-01-20T13:50:52.899-08:00The Most Important Endorsement in AmericaWould would Norris do?<br /><br />Vote Newt, apparently<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wnd.com/2012/01/my-endorsement-for-president/">http://www.wnd.com/2012/01/my-endorsement-for-president/</a><br /><br />He is so tough that by voting for Newt, he kills a voter for every other candidate.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-21955273194834972022012-01-20T12:49:00.000-08:002012-01-20T12:57:43.600-08:00Newt's Attack on Mr. KingIn South Carolina, it might have been Dr. King, but in this case it was John King.<br /><br />There is no doubt that Newt Gingrich is probably the best debater (soundbite or otherwise) that the US political scene has seen in a long time. He probably could - and did - go toe to toe with Clinton.<br /><br />Last night was a little embarrassing because you KNOW that it was coming down the pipe (so to speak.) I am not sure I disagreed with John King (<span style="color:#ff6666;">I?- CNN</span>) raising it in the exact way he did, but he absolutely did Newt a favour. It was a fastball over the inside part of the plate and Newt hit it out of the park.<br /><br />That said - is it relevant? I still don't care what someone did 12 years ago with his wife. Unlike Mr. Clinton, at least Newt asked about the open marriage. It probably matters to values voters -but I am more interested in knowing what they will do in the future as opposed to what they have done in the past. His hypocrisy aside, he didn't lie under oath like the President did. Many people think - after the fact - the perjury should stand alone as a reason for impeachment irrespective of what he was lying about.<br /><br />So, back to the main point, Newt defended himself by denying the accusation, lambasted the media, the moderator's deliberate choice. And he did it without looking too angry, and he even got a few laughs.<br /><br />Frankly, what kind of an idiot didn't expect that? Was the purpose to think Newt would go apoplectic and make himself (even more) unelectable? It didn't work dude.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-51200080786632252372012-01-17T12:43:00.000-08:002012-01-17T12:51:35.994-08:00Baseball, Baseball, Baseball!2012 Yankees fan is really excited about the changes to the rotation - two new SOLID arms to compliment a 6 man rotation. Move Joba back to the pen. Have Hughes do long relief. It is a great thing.<br /><br />2015-22 Yankees fan thinks we just traded Babe Ruth, who is actually named Jesus.<br /><br />Yanks certainly need at least 1 more "on base guy" whether it is a very old Johnny Damon or a mid-priced career player. My biased rankings of the team are<br /><br />Pitching - A. A solid work-horse starter and<br /><br />Relief Pitching A+. Adding Hughes and Joba to the pen full time, and arguably the best 3-2-1 combo to close (Robertson, Soriano, Rivera.)<br /><br />Infield: A. I know Derek Jeter is old. Old Jeter is still better than most others. I know A-Roid is busted. A busted A-Roid is still better than most others. Robinson Cano is the best second basemen in the game - I don't care about the dork that plays for the Sox. Tex is either the best or second best to an over-rated Red Sox first baseman. The only reason we talk about first base is because of Pujols, who couldn't field a turnip, and this is about gloves - not bats.<br /><br />Outfield: A - very deep defensively. Johnny Damon's Arm makes this a C if he is forced to play out there if he joins the team.<br /><br />Front end bats - (on base) A. There is no better line-up for getting people on base and in scoring position.<br /><br />Big Bats (SLG) A. When your fourth best power hitter is Alex Rodriguez, this are looking up for you. Cano and Granderson both deserved MVP votes last year. Tex is a SLGing machine.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-35824075001653147012012-01-09T14:29:00.000-08:002012-01-09T14:48:14.323-08:00Line of the Decade - Fidel CastroI just finished re-reading this <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Iron-Man-Defiant-Reign-Chretien/dp/0670043109">book</a>, a review of the Chretien Era in Canada by Lawrence Martin.<br /><br />The line of the book - possibly the decade - is an encapsulation of a meeting that happened between Chretien and Fidel Castro, who was in town for Mr. Trudeau's funeral. What is funny about the line is that Fidel Castro has never stood for a "free" or "fair" election in his lifetime.<br /><br />Mr. Castro - So, Jean, I just met the Leader of the Opposition Stockwell Day.<br /><br />Mr. Chretien - Well, what did you think?<br /><br />Mr. Castro - You should call the election as soon as possible.<br /><br />Gold, Jerry. Gold.Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24400991.post-59519524225269168932012-01-09T10:28:00.001-08:002012-01-09T10:30:54.787-08:00The TicketApparently, my previous prediction about the Democratic Ticket was not totally insane.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/opinion/keller-just-the-ticket.html?_r=1&ref=global-home">NYT Staff</a> and <a href="http://robertreich.org/">Robert Reich</a> agree.<br /><br />390ish Electoral votes?Atlas Huggedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812263909230104837noreply@blogger.com0