My Newest BLOG

Everything has changed dramatically for me when I started writing another Blog. It obviously had to do with the big deal that took place in Detroit which I think will lead, hopefully soon, to a settlement of the border issue. Unless our Liberal Government has destroyed our relationship with the US!

I am trying to write the best that I can once more. I have to admit that I am really trying hard to think about what I should say when the temperature is going so high again. I probably should have a nice cool drink made, with lots of ice of course, and have it while I am dictating. That would make my task so much easier to do. Of course, that is not going to happen. I would be too concerned about spilling it all over my computer!

I have started writing this BLOG on a day when the temperature outside is going up to the high-20s° and is expected to go even higher on the weekend, 33°. Moreover, the humidity makes it seem even warmer than that. Oh yes, I do have an air-conditioning system in the condo unit but I have to admit that I rarely turn it on. It just seems that much cooler inside.

When my wife and I first moved down here about three years ago, I think we only turned on the A/C system a few times even though it was quite warm. That seems to have been the model we have followed subsequently and one we may follow again this year.

However, last year, I believe I turned on the system a little bit earlier and ran it on more days than before. Who knows, I might be following that model again soon if the temperatures stay so warm. I am surprised that the weather has gotten so hot so early on because I expected it to take a lot of time to do it this summer because winter started so late last year. I can remember that it seemed like an eternity before the leaves fell down from the trees last year and we had our first snow storm.

Accordingly, I expected that the warmth would not hit here until much later than now. Well, Mother Nature has her own plans which she is now following.

Whew, writing this introduction is quite difficult when it is this warm at this time of the year. I think that I had better stop dictating for now and just relax a bit. That cup of something cold just seems to make a lot more sense at this time.

There, I am finished relaxing. Now it is time for me to write some stories.

MOROUN ASSET SOLD

Obviously, the biggest story for me at this time is that the Morouns have sold one of their big assets, the Michigan Central Station, to someone else. I even predicted that this would happen in my May 31 article “IS THE MOROUN ASSET REALLY SOLD NOW.”

Duh, of course that deal was done then! I pat myself on the back for not being afraid to predict it and say it.

It’s too bad that we do not know how much money was paid. I would guess that it was a lot considering how long the Ambassador Bridge Company owned the property and how much money they put into it recently to fix it up. However, I also do not think that the amount was outrageous either or Ford would not have bought it. I also believe that the Bridge Company still owns some land nearby so its value will increase dramatically especially if it is sold or subsequently is developed.

In other words, there are some interesting subjects that have to be dealt with later.

In my view, the Morouns will have gained a lot of respectability now. It demonstrates that they are clearly capable of doing significant and important business these days involving major players. It also shows that they are prepared to stand up for themselves too and to fight for what they want.

Something will happen soon with respect to the second Ambassador Bridge I am sure. What it is and when we will just have to wait and see.

WORLD CUP COMING HERE

Should anyone really wonder whether there is a real dispute between Canada, the United States and Mexico over NAFTA? Of course there probably is not one at all. It has to be nothing more than a big publicity campaign that has been run by the Governments of each of the countries to help themselves out locally.

Seriously, dear reader, how could anyone think otherwise after reading this story that has just been posted recently:

“World Cup 2026: United States, Canada and Mexico Win Bid to Be Host

A combined bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada won the hosting rights for soccer’s 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, bringing the tournament to North America for the first time since the 1994 event on a pledge of record crowds, record revenues and, perhaps crucially, a record $11 billion in profits for FIFA, world soccer’s governing body.

It will be the first time the World Cup is hosted by three countries” (Tariq Panja and Andrew Das, New York Times, June 13, 2018) 

What I saw reported as well was:

"It was sold in countless other cities — Jakarta and Bangkok, Copenhagen and Lisbon, Jidda and Johannesburg — by officials from the United States, Mexico and Canada soccer federations who had teamed up in an unprecedented effort to share the world’s most-watched sporting event.”

I just cannot take seriously any longer the so-called disagreement among the three countries over the trade issues. They have done a very nice job competing among themselves supposedly to keep their voters onside. One should expect an agreement coming soon since it will certainly help them in elections coming up shortly in each jurisdiction.

DID YOU VOTE

I cannot believe how few the number votes were in our area. Here is what I saw:

“Windsor ridings boast lowest voter turnout in Ontario

Of 124 ridings in the June 7 voting, Windsor-West and Windsor-Tecumseh had the distinction of having the two worst voter turnout rates, according to Elections Ontario. Not only that, but those two local ridings are among only four ridings where more than half the eligible voters didn’t even bother to cast ballots.

Windsor-Tecumseh, where the NDP’s Percy Hatfield repeated as winner, had the second-worst voter turnout in Ontario at 48.2 per cent. In Windsor West, where the NDP’s Lisa Gretzky also won reelection, the turnout was even lower at 43.8 per cent…

the provincial voter turnout was 58 per cent, a nearly 20-year high and a big jump from 51 per cent in 2014.” (Doug Schmidt, Windsor Star, June 10, 2018)

However, I believe I understand the reason why this happened. People in each riding expected these candidates to win and saw no reason to go out either to vote for them to make sure that they won or to vote against them to ensure that they lost. 

Of course the voting results here hurt this area because the Government is not an NDP one. Accordingly we can only be hopeful that the winning PC candidate in Chatham-Kent—Leamington, Rick Nicholls, will help us out if required.