A Few Thoughts

I wonder if you have considered the following matters. It is a very competitive world out there isn't it:

NEVER BET AGAINST A CASINO

The battle for the customer dollar between the Casinos on both sides of the river is heating up with the opening of Caesars Windsor.

I happened to be near the Tunnel around 5:30 P.M. on Sunday evening. Traffic going north on Goyeau into the Tunnel was almost nonexistent. More troubling however was that traffic at the Canadian Customs area was pretty light as well. It would be interesting to know how many cars actually came over during the period 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. when the Casino was paying for the Tunnel tolls.

To be blunt about it, it was a good deal for the Casino. Look at the terrific free advertising they got about the promotion in the first place. Moreover, do the math. There was little chance that they would ever have to pay for 4000 tolls.

4000 tolls represent 800 vehicles per hour. There are nine Customs booths for cars at the Tunnel. That means each booth would have to clear about 90 cars per hour. That means each vehicle would be examined for about a 40 seconds by a Customs officer to clear 4000 in five hours. That is something I'd like to see happen!

No wonder Casinos make money. The odds are always in their favour.

EAST END HOTEL

From the Fairfield Inn Windsor website:

Remember this in the City's Summer 2007 Newsletter after the fight over the arena:

• "Economic spin-off is already evident. Fairfield Inn by Marriott will open a 103-room and suite hotel with attached commercial and retail space in the same neighbourhood. This will be the first major hotel chain in the city’s east end."

I wonder what has happened to that hotel. Will it be finished in mid-20o8?

CKLW AWARDS

Congratulations to the Radio Station CKLW for winning 2 RADIO-TELEVISION NEWS DIRECTORS' ASSOCIATION OF CANADA awards in the competition against stations across Canada.

It is unfortunate for listeners in this area that they did not win the awards for In-depth/Investigative or for Editorial/Commentary but then again, it is hard to do that kind of work with a "W" weighing down your chest.

PREPARING FOR THE INVASION OF CANADA

The choice of language by Prime Minister Harper at the SPP meeting was quite unfortunate. Effectively, he threatened President Bush with the cutting off of oil if the US wanted to renegotiate NAFTA to the detriment of Canada.

• "But, look, as I said, we'll be prepared for any eventuality. Canada is the United States' number one supplier of energy. We are a secure and stable supplier. That is of critical importance to the future of the United States, and if we had to look at this kind of an option, I think quite frankly we would be in even stronger position now than we were 20 years ago, and we'll be in a stronger position in the future."

Energy was one of the issues that Senator McCain talked about in Ottawa during his NAFTA speech so clearly the subject is on the mind of a person who could be the next President of United States.

Here is what one of my readers wrote to me with respect to my BLOG on the the border plazas. Too far-fetched? You be the judge of that:

Email #1

"Just another conspiracy theory on the real reason for the expansion of the bridge plazas at Buffalo, Detroit, and Port Huron. About ten years ago the U.S. Army built a very large army base in up state New York, called Fort Drum, not far from the Canadian border. It was then mentioned that it was quite possibily could be used for the invasion of Canada but the U.S. poohed, poohed that idea.

Now with the expansion of the plazas or planned expansion of the three plazas can only be future military staging areas for the invasion of Canada. Secure Ontario and Ottawa and you got the country!

One more political interference in U.S. elections or governing from Canada and the Americans will just decide that they would be better off with ten new states and three territories! And our oil will be theirs!"

EMAIL#2

"The new plazas on the American side could be used as military staging grounds for the invasion of Canada! Just like I pointed out to you the other day!

From McCains speech (on your blog):

"On my watch, America will listen to the views of our democratic allies. When we believe action is necessary, whether military, economic or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we, in return, must be willing to be persuaded by them."

And the use of their military is not out of the option!"

For more commentary on this subject, take a look at "Bordering on Agression" http://archive.peacemagazine.org/v09n2p20.htm