Foolish Shapiro and Atkins fail to sign Vladdy

The Toronto Blue Jays have really blown it.  They have made a fatal error.  Many fans, including myself, are thoroughly  disgusted and profoundly disappointed.  Vladimir Guerrero is the face of the franchise, a four time all-star.  The fans come to watch him play.  Yet, the Jays have failed to reach a long term contract with him.  It's  likely that he will become a free agent in the fall.  

There are no excuses. The Jays had the resources to sign him.  Remember how much they were willing to pay Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto?  They wasted time chasing those two players when it was doubtful they would come to Toronto.  They would have been much wiser trying to make sure Vladdy remained a Blue Jay.  One can only assume they didn't value him enough.

Other teams are already salivating at the thought of signing Vladdy, and they will open the vault.  The vultures are flying overhead.  It didn't have to happen this way.  This could have been avoided.  Vladdy could have been a Blue Jay for years to come.  He wanted to stay in Toronto.  The Blue Jays, however, chose to wait until the last moment to sign him.  Yet, they could have signed him for much less before the Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto deals.  

Unless Vladdy is traded, his free agency will hang like a cloud over the Blue Jays for the rest of the season.   The team will be distracted.  It will be hard for the Jays to attract good players when Vladdy will be a free agent after this season.  

The Jays have made some improvements during the off season.  However, they still do not have enough hitting, and they are in need of a catcher to back up Alejandro Kirk.  Wouldn't it be nice to have Gabriel Moreno sharing the catching duties with Kirk?  He should never have been traded.

The truth is that the Blue Jays are not anywhere good enough to compete with the Yankees and the Red Sox.  I expect them to finish third or fourth in the American League East.  Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins have got to go, and the sooner the better.  In any other city, they would have been gone by now.  There may empty seats at the dome this season.  Blue Jay fans are patient, but there are limits.

- Joanne

An American's Essay about Canada

I couldn't resist posting the following essay, written by an American.  The essay is a commentary on the history of the relationship between Canada and the United States.  According to Snopes Fact Check, however, it has as been falsely presented as an open letter by a Florida circuit judge named Robert Meadows.  In fact, it was not written by Judge Meadows.  This is just a small taste of all the misleading information on the internet and social media.  I urge you to double check and triple check everything you read online.

I'm relieved that I decided to check if the work was indeed an open letter written by a Florida judge.  I learned that it was not the work of Judge Meadows.  I discovered that it was originally posted on Facebook by Bruce Lindner of Portland, Oregon (with Ana Bee Gonzales) on Facebook on June 7, 2018.  The essay was written during the first Trump administration, shortly after Trump announced he would be imposing steel aluminum tariffs on imports from Canada.  As a result, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs.  On May 17, 2019, the U.S. and Canada agreed to lift tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, as well as Canada's retaliatory tariffs,  Three days later, both governments lifted their respective tariffs.

I have posted Bruce Lindner's essay because it is more relevant than ever, more than seven years after it was first written.  

- Joanne

Thank you, Canada

By Bruce Lindner 

"Have you ever stopped to consider how lucky we Americans are to have the neighbors we have?

Look around the globe at who some folks have been stuck sharing a border with over the past half century:

North Korea / South Korea

Greece / Turkey

Iran / Iraq

Israel / Palestine

India / Pakistan

China / Russia

"We’ve got Canada! Canada. About as inoffensive a neighbor as you could ever hope for. In spite of all our boasts of “American exceptionalism” and chants of “America first,” they just smile, do their thing and go about their business. They are on average more educated, have a higher standard of living, free health care, and almost no gun problems. They treat immigrants respectfully and already took in over 35,000 Syrians in the last two years.

"They’re with us in NATO, they fought alongside us in World War I, World War II, Korea, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, Afghanistan, the Kosovo War and came to our defense after 9/11. There was that one time when Canada took a pass on one of our wars: Vietnam. Turned out to be a good call.

"They’ve been steady consumers of American imports, reliable exporters of metals and petroleum products (they are the biggest importer of U.S. products from 37 states), and partnered with NASA in our space missions.

"During 9/11 many aircraft were diverted to Newfoundland, an island province off Canada's east coast where Americans were housed in people's homes for two weeks and treated like royalty. In return for their hospitality, this administration slapped a 20% tariff on the products of Newfoundland's only paper mill, thereby threatening its survival.

"And what do Canadians expect of us in return? To be respected for who and what they are: Canadians. That’s what I call a good neighbor.

"But the King of Chaos couldn’t leave well enough alone. Based on his delusions of perpetual victimhood, out of the clear blue, he’s declared economic war on Canada. On CANADA! And he did it based on Canada being a national security risk to the US! For no good reason, other than the voices in his head that told him it was a war he could win. So why not do it, then?

"Again, we’re talking about Canada. Our closest ally, friend and neighbor.

"On behalf of an embarrassed nation, people of Canada, I apologize for this idiotic and wholly unnecessary attack.

Please leave the back channels open.

We the People of progressive persuasion stand with you."

Editor's Note:  Canada refused to participate in the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq.  Canada's intelligence services determined that Iraq did not have an active weapon of mass destruction program.

Canada vs. Sweden: What a great hockey game!

Wow!  What a game!  I'm talking about Wednesday night's thriller between Canada and Sweden in the Four Nations Face-Off tournament.  It was one of the best games I've seen in a while.  It was fast and entertaining.  It was everything hockey should and can be.  Here are some comments about the game, which Canada won 4-3 in overtime.

* There was no fighting.  In fact, I think Canada had only one penalty, in the third period.  However, every NHL player will always parrot the party line.  "It's part of the game," they will invariably claim.  I doubt there is a single player who doesn't echo those words.  Players are too afraid to go against the grain, to stand against the macho narrative.  They fear being ostracized, of having their manliness questioned.  If referees called more penalties and there were longer suspensions for fighting, teams would not feel the need to recruit enforcers to protect the more skilled players.  The NHL has highlighted fighting as a means of  marketing the game in the United States.  There are too many teams in the league, and too many games in the regular season.  The playoffs last far too long.  Thus, the quality of play has been watered down.  Furthermore, late June is not the right time for the Stanley Cup championship.  

* Kudos to Nova Scotia's Sidney Crosby for his three-assist performance in the game against Sweden.  At 37, Sid is no longer a kid, but he still has it.  He has been a real leader for Canada in international competition.  Thanks, Sid.

* The Swedish team played well, and they deserve credit for their performance.

* It was good to see Mario Lemieux greet the fans in Montreal.  Lemieux, a Montreal native, sent the crowd into a frenzy.  But where was Wayne Gretzky, Mario's teammate in the 1987 Canada Cup.  Gretzky should have been there to lend his support for Team Canada.  Instead he was a commentator on TNT, an American cable and satellite television network.  

* The All-Star game should be permanently replaced by international competition.  Nobody really cares about the Campbell Conference or the Western Conference.  

* The NHL puts money about all else.  I understand that it's a business.  However, the integrity of the game doesn't seem to be a priority.  The fans are not respected enough.  Many people can't afford to attend a game.  Here in Toronto, the corporations fill the arena.  On top of all the that, some games are only shown on streaming services. which prevents people from even watching the game on television.

I urge Canadians to refrain from booing the U.S, national anthem.  I understand the frustration, and I am appalled by how Trump is treating Canada.  Still, the best way to deal with the tariffs is to buy Canadian and refuse to travel to the United States.  We must stand up to the bully, but booing the American anthem is not the way to go about it.  We can still sing the Canadian anthem louder and with great pride.

- Joanne

Canada is the mouse that roared. Trump has awakened Canadian pride

 

In March of 1969, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, 15th prime minister of Canada, travelled to Washington to meet with then-president Richard Nixon.  While in Washington, Trudeau addressed the Washington Press Club.  He spoke these memorable words, which have come to define Canada's relationship with its southern neighbour.

"Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."

Pierre Trudeau 1969 Washington Press Club

Pierre Trudeau could not have envisioned an American president as unstable and vindictive as Donald Trump. Yet, 56 years later, his words seem more prescient than ever.  Ironically, Trudeau's own son, Justin, is Canada's current prime minister and has to deal with the very aggressive elephant next door.  The elephant is cranky and rude.  The mouse has no choice but to roar.

I have lived in Canada my entire life, and I have never seen Canadians so upset with the United States. Trump's actions feel like a slap in the face from a good friend.  It really hurts.  Can you blame us for being outraged?  What has Canada done to deserve this treatment from Donald Trump and his supporters?  We've been loyal and trustworthy.  America couldn't have chosen a better neighbour and ally.  Trump is using fentanyl as an excuse to bully us.   By the way, it's the U.S. users who have created a demand for the drug.

By the numbers, Canada lets in only a fraction of America's fentanyl.  Here are the facts as provided by data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In the 2024 fiscal year (October to September), some 43 pounds (19.5 kg) of the drug fentanyl were seized at the border, bound for the United States, with an additional 10 pounds (4.5 kg) intercepted since then.

This is a large increase over 2022 and 2023, which saw seizures of 14 pounds (6.3 kg) and two pounds (almost 1 kg) respectively. However, the numbers were also buoyed by two months (June and July) that saw 23 pounds (10 kg) seized.  Is this a large amount compared to Mexico.?  Not at all, according to the National Post. "Those figures amount to little more than a rounding error when compared to numbers from the southern border. Fentanyl seizures there last year amounted to approximately 21,100 pounds, or 9,500 kg. In the last three years, the lowest monthly figure for fentanyl seizures at the southern border was 461 pounds, or almost seven times the amount seized at the Canadian border during the entire three-year period."  Is this a large amount compared to China?  Not at all.  "U.S. coastal and interior seizures, which would presumably include China, totalled 1,583 pounds (718 kg) over the last three years — 10 times less than the supply from the southern border, yet still more than 25 times as much as was arriving from Canada."

There is a lot of talk about fentanyl.  Why isn't there more discussion about all the illegal American guns that are smuggled into Canada. They are used to commit crimes in this country.  One of the many reasons why most Canadians don't want to become the 51st state is America's lack of gun control laws.  Most Canadians don't want automatic weapons and school shootings.  

Most Canadians value our public heath care.  We don't want to lose the Canada Health Act.  The people of the province of Quebec do not want to be forced to abandon the French language.  That's exactly what will happen if Trump lays his grubby hands on our country.

Yet, Trump insists on slapping tariffs on Canada.  As of the writing, he has announced a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum.  Guess which country sells the most steel and aluminum to the United States?  Canada does, by far.  Wouldn't it be preferable for the United States to work with Canada in order to solve problems, rather than to punish Canada.  Unfortunately, that's not the way Trump operates.

Donald Trump has colonial ambitions.  He seems to have a great deal in common with his good buddy, Vladimir Putin of Russia.  It's likely Putin will equate Trump's quest for empire with his own invasion of Ukraine and future invasions of other territories..  If the United States can annex Canada and Greenland, why can't Russia annex Ukraine?" Putin will ask.

Sadly for the United States, America's image around the world has suffered greatly since Trump's return to the White House.  I realize that millions of Americans did not vote for that madman.  I am not blaming them.  I hope that they let their voices be heard in defence of Canada.  However, Trump was duly elected and he is already causing chaos around the globe.

Donald Trump, stay away from Canada!.  Leave us alone and mind your own business!  We don't want a trade war.  We have never asked for this.  You have foisted it upon us.  You are threatening our sovereignty.  You are also punishing American consumers.  Nobody wins a trade war.  It is a lose-lose proposition.  

Canada's very existence as an independent nation is being threatened by a big bully.  We have to resist the bully or we will lose our precious country.  That's why Canadians are boycotting American products.  That's why Canadians are cancelling vacations to the United States.  That's why the sales of Canadian flags have hit the roof since Trump announced his plans to impose tariffs.  By the way, February 15th is Flag Day in Canada.  We officially adopted our Maple Leaf flag on February 15, 1965, almost exactly 60 years ago.  According to Murray Jefferies of Flying Colours International in Toronto, sales of Canadian flags have increased "I would say 50 per cent."  It's heartening to know that some of those purchasing Canadian flags are Americans.

In the words Canadian-born singer Joni Mitchell in her song Big Yellow Taxi:

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

- Joanne

Language Corner: Some useful grammar tips

 

Convince versus persuade

There is a difference between "convince" and "persuade."  

Here's a little ditty to help you remember the difference: "Convince of a fact.  Persuade to act."

Here are some examples of the correct use of the two words.

I convinced Joe that his computer was out of date.

I persuaded Joe to buy a new computer.

I convinced my son that he was spending too much money.

I persuaded my son to make an appointment with a financial advisor.

Farther versus further

This is a tricky one.  It can be confusing.  Both words mean "to a greater distance or extent."  Both words can be used as adjectives or adverbs.

Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary states: “Farther and further have been used more or less interchangeably throughout most of their history, but currently they are showing signs of diverging. As adverbs they continue to be used interchangeably whenever spatial, temporal, or metaphorical distance is involved. But where there is no notion of distance, further is used.”

The traditional rule is that farther should be used for reference to physical distance.

Example:  I walked farther than all the others.

Example:  My house is located farther down the road.

Farther has the restriction of physical space  Further, on the other hand, is used when referring to a figurative distance, a metaphysical advancement, or an extension of time or degree.

Example:  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Example:  In order to further myself, I need more more education.

Example:  After being fired from his job, Bob asked for further consideration.  He claimed that he had been treated unfairly.        

Further has the meaning of "moreover" or additionally.  Example: Further to your remarks . . .

When in doubt, it is advisable to use further, because farther has the restriction of physical space.

Correct use of the verb "to go"

It is incorrect to say "I would have went,"

It is correct to say "I would have gone."

'Went" is used in the simple past tense.  Example:  I went to the library yesterday.

"Have gone" is used in the present perfect tense (have + past participle}. "Gone" is the past participle of the verb "to go."  Example:  I have gone to the doctor twice this week.

Redundancies

"Tuition fee" is redundant.  Tuition is a fee.  

"I have paid my tuition fee" is incorrect.

 "I have paid my tuition" is correct.  

Revert back is redundant.  Revert means to come or go back.  Therefore, "back' is not needed.

"Revert back to your old eating habits." is incorrect.

"Revert to your old eating habits." is correct.

Incorrect use of past participles of irregular verbs to swim, to drink, to take, to shake and to eat.  

According to grammarly.com: "Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the normal pattern of conjugation to express tenses and past participles.  Unlike regular verbs, which take on their simple past tense and past participle forms by adding -ed or -d to their base, irregular verbs are conjugated in many unpredictable ways."

I have swam is incorrect.

I have swum is correct.

I have drank is incorrect

I have drunk is correct.

I have took is incorrect.

I have taken is correct.

I have shook is incorrect.

I have shaken is correct.

I have ate is incorrect.

I have eaten is correct.

Medium and media

Medium is the singular form of media.  Media is plural.

Examples of correct use:

The medium is the message.

In totalitarian countries, the media are used as propaganda tools.

- Joanne