CEFM.ca :: Charles E. Frees-Melvin's WebHome

Does council not care about protocol

Jul 16

This week I went to council to see the debate and decision on Peel Plaza/North of Union project. That particular topic is so revolting in so many ways that it needs not mention here.

But what is even more inexcusable is the state of the decorations in the Council chamber. I have attached a photo that demonstrates the three worst violations.

1. The Queen’s Photo

This item really bugged me most of the night it is not noticeable on TV or the web feed but the photos are crooked. In the chamber it was the Philip photo that looked wrong but upon review in PhotoShop it is actually the Queen’s photo that is eleven degrees clockwise crooked.

2. The New Brunswick Flag

This one is not as noticeable as the others but the flag is a good decimeter down the shaft from the top making it lower than the other flags.

3. The Acadian Banner/Flag

In this case you don’t even see it because it has no base and is leaning against the Canadian flag.

Bonus: Flag Order

The flags are positioned incorrectly. They are positioned left to right: Union Jack, New Brunswick, Canada, Acadian. By official precedence with 4 flags the Canadian flag should be on the left, followed by the flag of a sovereign state (Union Jack), Provincial Flag in order of confederation (NB), then historical flags (Acadian). Then an optional second Canadian flag could be on the right.

Leave a Comment City Hall, City of Saint John, Common Council Read more

Saint John Tweetup

Jun 25

Events

Last night I got to meet some really cool people at the first Saint John Tweetup. This hat to be one of the most geekiest event I have been to in the Saint John area. Well as a qualifier the IT Works 2003 was more geeky than last night but last night was pretty cool. Everyone that showed up to the even seemed to have an iPhone with the exception of 2 with iPod Touches.

I had a really good meal too and 2 amazing Hoegaardens. The meal consisted of a cheeseburger like no other and the famous kettle chips. The Saint John Ale House is definitely one of my favourite venues. In addition, everybody left with a door prize. My door prize was a Tri-Star Mercedes-Benz wine glass set donated by Tim Clark (@e55fan).

Thanks to everyone else for being there too: @SaintJohnShawn @chris_london @madelejm @MarkPridham @e55fan @koisspots @GrantTotten @shawnrouse @typeter and the must follow @horsetrough.

Leave a Comment Ale House, networking, Tweetup, Twitter Read more

Haddock and Potato Dinner

Jun 10

Fitness

Haddock and Potato Dinner

I thought I would take this opportunity since I have not posted anything lately to post a food success story. Unlike the horror stories of the past. The potatoes are my typical mashed potatoes. The was partly derived from my sisters variant.

2 Yukon Gold Potatoes
1/4 cup 2% Partly Skimmed Milk
1 Tbsp. Margarine
Several dashes of Curry Powder
Freshly Ground Peppercorn Medley

The fish is Highliner frozen Haddock but any fish could work. The fish is then coated and rubbed in Honey Mustard, fresh lime juice, canola oil, salt, and fresh ground peppercorn medley.

Then finished off siding the plate with canned cream corn and Sweet Pickles (with cauliflower.)

1 Comment Cooking, Food, recipies Read more

Montreal and New York City

May 31

SnapShots

: WTC Ground Zero

Leave a Comment Bangor ME, Montreal, New York City, Photography, Travel Read more

Saint John 225, but how?

May 21

News

Once again the City of Saint John is celebrating and making an attempt and rekindling of the community in Saint John. The big problem is that Saint John is in a place that makes it next to impossible to revive itself. Saint John is so backed in debt that there is a very little hope. There is the dynamic that Saint John is too big is size to support its population. It also requires large infrastructure funding to support its re-birth. Saint John has a plan that will rejuvenate the water system that only about 2/3 of the population base can take advantage of.

The tax rate is also incredibly high, in fact too high to attract new money. It is also too high to keep those here. In addition, the situation where many jobs that the city attracts are that of less than $30,000/year. Lets figure this out people this works out to less than $2,500/month. That alongside the incredibly large amounts of single parent families. It is almost an entire months pay for just the property taxes, alone. Another, month for insurance and water taxes. Another for 2 for car payments, 1 for electricity, 1 for food. Now we are down to 6 months left.

Now with the amount of pollution and poor air quality there are more people in this city with astheyma and other breathing issues and then the higher than average cancer rates that result in high medical expenses, add a month. You can’t tell me that it is not much easier to breathe once you leave the city for a period.

We can continue but, this should be enough to prove that Saint John is not the place to be if you can at this time. But without people and much more new people there is just no way to get out of the rut.