Boges

Isn't that what short-term disability is for? If you're taking time off frequently because of a condition. That's a human resources issue. Perhaps you're job is too taxing, physically for you.

I didn't start this thread but I'm simply adding evidence to back up the statements made in the OP. Apple has decided to sue it's competition because they believe they own the basic principals of the modern smartphone. But in reality the competition does what Apple does, only better. IMHO of course. Apple started this whole, My tech is better than yours with their "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads. I just like to point out that Apple isn't very state-of-the-art when it comes to the kind of tech they bring to market, but they are price their products like they are. You may not care, which is fine. There are plenty of people that just have iPhone or Android phones just as basic tools. It bugs me that my wife uses her Android phone like an iPhone because it can do so much more than what she's using it for. But that's her choice. There are people that like to use their tech for the newest and greatest stuff. I just found an Android App called Google Goggles that scans words on paper and translates them into simple text. If it's in a different language It'll translate. I'm sure iOS has something like that, but I'm always looking for the new cool things to do with this tech I have. I just like to point out the difference.

In Canada isn't it more a criminalization of pushing such hard drugs? You have places where people can use such hard drugs legally to "reduce harm".

I was referring to drugs like Meth, Heroine and Crack. Drugs that most people agree don't really have a safe dosage. Very addictive, very harmful to the human body. Prescription drugs are a problem. There was a debate about the federal government allowing generic versions of Oxy on the market. Oxy is effective as a multi-staged pain killer but drug addicts would grind the pill and shoot it, giving them all the effects of the drug at once. Oxy unveiled a Gel Cap that was impossible to grind up but now the market is open to other makers that may not do that. Ultimately there is a way to control prescription drugs but people cheat on the system. The same could be said for any drugs that are legalized. Look at the contraband cigarette problem at Ontario reserves.

You going to carry a vaporizer around with you? What makes cigarettes dangerous is that nicotine is more addictive and the filters have toxic ingredients. Cigars should be fine, you can't even inhale cigar smoke. But again you can smoke a cigarello and cigarette and not achieve a noticeable form of impairment. Not so with THC.

Another thing. A lot is being made of the revamped look of iOS 7. As if, how it looks matter. Did it ever occur to Apple that allowing 3rd party developers to create themes based on what you may like is the way to go. That way user can make their phone look however they like. That being said the new look, looks a lot like Google Now. I think Apple should be sued http://technewsreporter.blogspot.ca/2013/06/wwdc-apple-copying-competitors-side-by.html

So what's the point of banking a sick day if you can't cash in on them at some point?

Because it's extremely expensive. And you're still using it as a commodity. You're not using it as a vacation day, but you're using it as a day's pay when you retire. That's why the "LIBERAL" Ontario government fought and won a battle with the Ontario teachers trying to cut sick days in half and stop people teachers from banking them. You wouldn't expect the Conservatives to try and do the same?

People can usually consume a single beer or wine and see little or no impairment. As little as 2 puffs of weed comes with impairment. People don't always consume alcohol to achieve impairment. With weed, that's 100% the case. Why would you smoke something that harsh if you didn't want impairment. I like to have a beer when I go out to cook on the Barbecue. I would never think of bringing out a joint. And in Ontario there are laws about where you can consume alcohol. That's why there isn't as fun an environment at Football games. You can't just tailgate in the parking lot, like you can in the US. Also the whole process of smoking something that goes into your lungs is a question. If you're doing that daily, there's going to have some effects on your health. Also smoking tobacco has been stigmatized by society already, I would see no difference to the treatment of weed. Do you think smoking a joint on a restaurant patio would ever fly?

I don't approve of set sick days because people use them as defacto vacation days, it's a commodity. What don't you get about an employer and an HR department just allowing people to be sick when they're sick. And if they're sick a lot then perhaps something needs to be addressed.

Nice hyperbole. I question sick days and you basically say. "Well if we shouldn't have sick days, might as well get rid of public health and public education" I never said people shouldn't be allowed to take sick days at full pay. I just oppose to having them used as a commodity. I have 4 sick days left, better use them, lose them or bank them. Oh and Unions don't try to influence government politics?

I'm not opposed to legalizing marijuana. But like others here, I see how government makes alcohol and tobacco use such an expensive vice to have that I don't really look forward to seeing sin taxes added to pot. Also I don't really want to live in a society where Pot smoke is as common as cigarette smoke. It's something that's fine if done privately at home or in a backyard but I would oppose having people walking down the street smoking pot in the middle of the day or smoking pot on a patio. It is a very potent drug and you can't do normal tasks under its influence.

As long as their are things that are illegal, there are criminals that will try to make money trading that illegal product. If it's not pot, it'll be something else. There are people that think all drugs should be legalized but those people are in the vast minority. Whey else would people freak out about the Rob Ford crack smoking thing. Most people see using those type of drugs as a character flaw.

You should defend that statement a bit. You can say you don't want the options Android offers but I can't see someone wouldn't like to have different options. That's why it's good. You may not like automatic updates, but clearly that's something people want or Apple wouldn't finally be putting it in iOS7. As for a cross platform browser. Chrome does that nicely. Google Now also keeps track of your Google activity on any computer where your signed into a Gmail account. What are some of the things that Apple allows you to do that Google/Android doesn't?

But not moonshine. You brew your own wine with companies. Would the government allow unlimited growth in someone's garden. What if you want to sell your stash tax free? Laws would still apply. Decriminalisation is a nice balance.

I think the problem is the idea of Metrolinx. It's another layer of highly paid bureaucrats doing consultation and, quite frankly, wasting money. There's already a regional transit operation and it's called GO transit. I know Metrolinx is supposed to be an organization that brings GO and the local transit providers together but it's not doing a very good job of that. I know that Tim Hudak wants GO to control all the GTHA transit, except maybe TTC Subway service. I think that would be a great idea.

iOS 7 got previewed today. http://reviews.cnet.com/apple-ios-7/ Apple is completely playing catchup to Android. The big announcement here is the notifications and setting are being changed to something similar to what Android currently has. On a current OS Android phone you can swipe down and find a variety of updates, what music you might be listening to, Google Now Cards, A hot key to your settings and several popular settings you can easily access. Also the fact that Safari is the only browser is ridiculous. My Android phone comes with a stock browser, but I use Chrome. There are also 3rd party browser designed specifically for saving data. The idea of an iTunes radio app similar to Songza and Slacker is pointless. It's just coming late to the game for something that already exists. One feature that is rather cool is a first party flashlight. No need to download your own flashlight app and waste real estate on your front screen for it. Also the fact that Apple didn't have automatic updates until now is crazy!!! at 7pm or later every day my phone looks for updates as long as I'm on a Wifi connection.

I really enjoyed the finale. I think the ending was a bit lame. We get it Dany is awesome but now she's a chick version of Spartacus with Dragons? It's interesting that we never saw the other Greyjoys up until the 10th episode. They were such a huge part of season 2. The war in the north is most certainly not done. We have Bolton v Greyjoy now. A little bit of a spoiler for those that didn't read the book. Apparently in book 5 we get introduced to Reek (Theon) but it doesn't say what happened to him. To ensure that the actor that plays Theon stays employed the makers of the show decided to show you what happened to him. The scene with Tyrion and Tywin was some of the best back and forth of the season if not the series, great acting! LOL! I also really liked the scene were Varys tries to buy Shae off because he really believes Tyrion will save everyone and having a whore on the side is way to much of a distraction. It's kind of comical to have such a tall girl like Sansa married to a midget. Shae looks like a midget compared to Sansa. Hound and Arya could make quite the dynamic duo. One great thing about the episode is you get something to look forward to in just about every storyline. So many questions, so many things are about to happen but we have to wait until next April to find out what happens (unless you want to be a sucker and read the book)

You shouldn't be allowed to bank sick days, also you shouldn't have a job where you feel there are no consequences for taking a day off when you aren't sick. People don't try to tell me that Civil Servants are actually more than 2 times sicker than the rest of the population. I think when you give a person a sick day, they believe it's there's to do with what they please. I don't think you should have sick days. I don't get sick days but I can take days off when I'm sick and if I'm taking many days because of an underlying condition I can take short-term disability. I see nothing wrong with this. Demonizing corporate profits is fashionable because people think they just go into the pockets of very wealthy people. But profits go into small-time investors too. A lot of investors include pension plans that serve your average union member. So it's not as easy as just labeling corporations as these evil entities.

Well they should do the accountability thing first before they try to ram through a 25 year plan to raise our taxes significantly. Maybe small steps like the HOT lanes before HST and Gas Taxes. Regardless, the government has a very uphill climb to get these tools put into law. Both opposition parties oppose it and the Feds won't let them hike the HST. This is the type of change that should be a platform of an election. If the Wynne Liberals try to unilaterally implement these tools before going to the polls, it'll be truly scandalous. Also people don't trust giving money to Metrolinx. They are the organization that implemented the Presto program, which became the most expensive program of it's kind in the world.

It's rather ironic when you call someone who says banking sick days is wrong jealous but then start ranting about how cutting taxes is akin to giving money to corporations. That money should be funding my lavish sick leave benefits!!!! That sounds like jealousy to me. There are many sensible ways to allow people to take sick days. Allowing people to bank them isn't one of them.

When it comes to the Federal Civil Service. This could be one great reason why people are hostile to unions. http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Clement+outline+sick+leave+disability+changes/8503216/story.html Sure you can blame governments for negotiating these agreements with Unions. But these are the type of benefits that society simply can no longer afford. This is the same sick day thing that made Ontario Teachers have a temper tantrum late last year.

I'm not going to bother reading this thread up until now. Interesting story in the news lately about how the wind farms are making people decide who they'll offer services too. http://www.manitoulin.ca/2013/05/08/island-dentist-chooses-against-treating-first-nations-and-municipal-councillors-voting-for-wind-turbines/

Just speaking to the point that giving this government more revenue probably won't solve these problems because they waste it like it was monopoly money. There are tools I do support, I never said we should do nothing. But there are tools 2 of which I've mentioned several times, that I oppose. Both of them (Gas Tax and HST hike) were in the Metrolinx proposal, where they ignored a zones fare system for the TTC, tolling of any highways and they're only proposing a modest 15% increase to development charges.

Certain Toronto lines are already planned. They just started with the Cross-town LRT. I'm assuming the Yonge Relief Line will be funded with existing resources. Ditto with the Peel region's LRT up Highway 10. They were able to build the useless HOV lanes without using a dedicated extra gas tax or an increase to the HST. They've also doubled GO Train service along the Lakeshore line because it's ridership is saturated. These "tools" are just excuses for the government not to be accountable for how they currently spend money. I've read that the Crosstown LRT could have been paid for with the money the Liberals flushed down the toilet canceling the Gas Plants. Most of this 2 billion per year could have been funded by the All-Day Kindergarten thing that Don Drummond said we couldn't afford. But they went with it anyway AND they added to the cost by allowing unionized teachers take control of what amounts to a daycare position. This government has done so many thing to waste money that giving them these tools are an obvious recipe for more indebtedness.