Russ Skinner's Blog

I love this analogy…

russskinner — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:11:58 +0000

Just catching up to yesterday’s New York Times. In an article dealing with the ongoing skirmishes over public servants’ rights and privileges, there was this last paragraph:

Jennifer Brunner, a lawyer and former Ohio secretary of state, said a post on herFacebook page this week nicely summed up what she believed was happening. “A dozen cookies are put down in front of a C.E.O., a union member and a Tea Partier,” she said. “The C.E.O. takes 11. Then he says to the Tea Partier, ‘That union guy wants yours.’ ”

Now, that is an over-simplification and hyperbolic, but there is also a lot of truth there.

P.S. Just catching up on last night’s Rachel Maddow Show; see she used the quote, giving the Times credit.

Maclean’s cover horrors (again)

russskinner — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:59:45 +0000

Cover: EXCLUSIVE HER NIGHT OF TERROR: THE COLONEL’S VICTIM
For the first time, Laurie Massicotte recounts her horrifying three-hour ordeal at the hands of Col. Russell Williams [with pictures of both]

Sub-headline, p. 25 “…the hours of hell she endured at the hands of the man police told her is Col. Russell Williams”.

Not until the seventh paragraph is the word “accused” used. Presumption of innocence, R.I.P. (Perhaps interred alongside Maclean’s credibility.)

Phil Mickelson quote on difference between great and smart golf shot

russskinner — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:12:57 +0000

“A great shot is when you pull it off. A smart shot is when you don’t have the guts to try it.” (Sports Illustrated, Apr 19, 2010, p. 40)
Russ Skinner | 416-728-2298 |

Great Curt Schilling quote on Joe Carter 1993 Series-winning home run

russskinner — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:13:54 +0000

“I was part of some of the greatest moments in the sport. I can remember sitting on the bench in 1993 with John Vukovich watching Joe Carter hit that home run. I was obviously devastated, but not initially. My first thought was, ‘Oh, my God! I just witnessed one of the greatest moments in the history of the game. How cool? Oh, my God, we just lost!’ I love the game.” – interviewed by Dan Patrick, Sports Illustrated, March 29, 2010, p. 19

How’s that again?

russskinner — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:38 +0000

There is a letter in the March 15th Sports Illustrated, commenting on a profile of U.S. Olympic hockey player Zach Parise. As a Canadian, I was confused by the sentence, “While his father, J. P., may be French-Canadian, Zach’s leadership, grit and determination in leading Team USA to the silver medal was all-American!”

Thoughts on “A” list cities

russskinner — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:22:22 +0000

There is a short article in today’s Metro (Toronto edition) headlined “Richmond Hill makes ‘A’ list,” with that suburb of Toronto being one of “six Canadian cities that are the best at attracting new residents.” The sidebar, “Toronto’s failings,” says that “Toronto was held back by too few doctors, too many smog alert days and too many people living in poverty.”

While I have nothing against Richmond Hill, many (most) of the people I know who’ve lived there have used Toronto hospitals (therefore doctors), and tend to drive to jobs downtown, hence contributing to the smog problems.

My (urban) two cents’ worth. (Link to be added later, and I’ll also be looking for other coverage.)

Thoughts on “A” list cities

russskinner — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:22:21 +0000

My (urban) two cents’ worth. (Link to be added later, and I’ll also be looking for other coverage.)

Profound licence plate

russskinner — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:08:35 +0000

Seen today at Yorkdale.

Thought for the weekend

russskinner — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:45:00 +0000

I’m behind on my reading but enjoyed this from Stanley Bing’s column in the Dec. 21st “Fortune”: “… We have all these houses now with nobody in them and banks holding all this real estate they neither want nor need. How about the banks put as much thought into solving that issue as they did on the question of how to pay back their TARP loans so they can get their 2009 bonuses?”

Thought for the weekend

russskinner — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:45:00 +0000