Baldo Minaudo’s Blog

I didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry when I read about the results of an investigation by the Toronto Star.  The investigation uncovered a fraudulant degree operation run by Peng Sun whereby he produced hundreds of fake York University and University of Toronto degrees for paying clients who used them to land jobs or admission into other programs.

Among the cheats identified by the investigation is Quami Frederick, a 28-year-old immigrant from Grenada.  Frederick got into Osgoode Hall Law School with a fake degree she had purchased from a diploma mill on the internet.  Frederick’s name was on a list of bogus degree buyers compiled by U.S. Homeland Security and Service agents. According to the Toronto Star, Frederick’s bachelor of science in business administration from St. George’s Univesity in Grenada as a fake.

Here’s the truly amazing part of all this - according to the investigation a Bay Street labour law firm called ‘Wildeboer Dellelce LLP’ actually offered her a position.  That’s right, a LAW FIRM that advises corporations on labour law, which I imagine includes things like conducting due diligence, policies, procedures, etc. has offered a job to a Con Artist.  How ironic is that? 

Wildeboer Dellelce has some damage control to do.  They can always say that ‘we offered the job pending due diligence’.  Yes, that’s it…they offered her the job based on what she said but had to investigate her claims before the offer was binding. 

Regardless, let this be a lesson for everyone.

A few months ago I wrote about how a leader can have a greater impact on the people than any specific political ideology.

There is an importance distinction that needs to be made when we speak of politicians.  Politicians are not necessarily leaders.  A leader is someone who leads the people - a politician is someone who follows the people and is easily influenced by any threat to his/her career.  A leader is someone who cares for the people and takes the leadership role for his/her concern for the community - a politician is someone who often takes the job because he/she isn’t doing well in their career or has no job.  A leader takes responsibility to assess the situation, make decisions and implement plans - a  politician looks to deflect, dilute and defer the issue to someone else. A leader looks to give to the community, a politician looks for the community to give to him/her.

This is not meant to bash or criticize any particular person, but to make the distinction between a leader and a politician.  Now, based on the above who do we know in recent years at any level of government that we can call a leader?  Notice that no where in my description of a leader do I require a leader to be right all the time.

Leadership is an issue that once again has my attention because of the pending Toronto municipal election.  Last week I found myself chatting with a friend who asked me if I was going to run for Mayor of Toronto.  I giggled and then I realized she was serious.  So, I thought about it for a few moments and then found myself thinking about it again during the week. 

In order for me to run for Mayor, I’d have to believe that I can make a difference to Torontonians and to the City of Toronto, which I do believe.  I also have a vision of what Toronto used to be and what it can become.  A city that guided by prudent use of resources, social engineering, business decisions and long-term planning, something this city hasn’t seen in a long time.

The reality of it is that for those of us that can and want to make a difference the price of running for Mayor and then performing the duties with full intent is too high.  This morning I asked another friend of mine what he thought about me running for Mayor and his reply was, ‘I thought you had to be unemployed to run for Mayor’.  In my laughter I was inspired to write this entry.

Will I run for Mayor….hmmmmm - what do you think?

Meanwhile, I’ll be watching the candidates as they throw their hats in the ring.  As they do that I will not only be asking if they will make a great leader, but also if they  have a job and why they are running for the position.  What will you be asking yourself?

Happy Leadership,

Baldo

It was a betrayal that shook the Liberal party to its roots.  After years of a culture of entitlement that grew at an unobstructed pace the Liberals had gone too far.  In Jean Chretien’s hands the Liberal gang was caught in a $100,000,000 scandal whereby money was basically given to Liberal friends.  Even the long-time Liberal supporters were in shock, felt betrayed, like they couldn’t trust the Liberals again. 

The Liberal supporters that continued to vote for the Liberalts were compared to an abused wife.  The idea is that if you’re abused once to such a fundamental degree (not to mention the ongoing abuse that had gone unspoken) then why would the Liberal gang stop? 

Despite the remaining Liberal voters, the consensus was that the Liberals had to go through extremem bloodletting, a changing of the guards if you will before they would be fit to return to power.  The problem is that bureaucrats can live a long time and by the time they die of old age (because there really is no other way to get rid of them), it could take decades.

So, why am I writing about this now?

In the Saturday Star (November 21, 2009) I read that Gills-Andre’ Gosselin (a key player in the federal sponsorship scandal) pleaded guilty last week to several charges related to fraud totally $655,276.  The interesting thing is that a few months earlier he decided to file for bankruptcy.  Hmmmm…that’s interesting isn’t it?  If he’s bankrupt, then does that mean the court, even if it rules to have him return the money doesn’t have a way of collecting?  He’s guilty but he’s not giving the money back is that the case?

He probably wouldn’t be pleading guilty if he had any chance of winning the case.  Regardless, he’s sentenced to two years and one day.  Which brings me to another thought - I wonder how much of that he’ll serve in jail?

Even though Saturday’s story was printed on page A16, let’s not forget the abuse that the Federal Liberals have inflicted on its long-time supporters and the fact that they have done nothing to rectify the matter or return the money to the taxpayers.

As I have said many times before, what matters more than the ideology of the party is the quality and intention of the Leader and his Team. Let us hope that the Federal Liberals are able to find a good Leader with a good Team who will clean up this mess soon.

The Toronto Star recently conducted an investigation that showed a former York University student fabricated dozens of degrees, and another got into Osgoode Hall Law School with a degree purchased from a diploma mill. York University has now brought in new tougher controls.

The investigation revealed that a former York University student Peng Sun was producing near perfect copies of York University degrees for $3,000.  Peng Sun had claimed to the investigator that he had produced hundreds of York and University of Toronto degrees in the four years he had been operating.  To my knowledge, as of yet Peng Sun has not been charged or even arrested.  He graduated from York University’s Atkinson School of Administrative Studies in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in human resource management.  Needless to say, this reflects poorly on the whole human resources field, especially since a big part of Human Resource studies is ethics. Did you say ethics? What’s ethics?

As I follow this development I ask myself how is it that these individuals are able to get away with this? More importantly, how can we spot it and avoid being taken advantage of by these individuals who will do whatever it takes to get what they want regardless of the rules?

Two things:

1. Engage your critical mind and question how and why the person you are dealing with is saying, doing and making the decisions they are.  Be observant of their level of competence, vocabulary and general acumen in the area. There have been a number of times over the years when someone has stood in front of me claiming to be a graduate of a Canadian university and one in specific claimed to be an M.B.A. graduate.  Yet, they could barely speak English and their spelling (never mind sentence structure) made them ineffective at communicating.  I just couldn’t see a Canadian university letting them graduate. One time I was having problems with my heel and when I went to speak to a so called ‘Chinese Medicine’ practitioner he told me that my foot was missing a muscle and that I should stop doing all sports or I would be a cripple by the time I was a senior.  I saw two Chiropractors after that and they booth said that I had all the muscles (after laughing) and that the problem was caused by my IT band being tight.  Sevreal treatments later I was healed and continued with my jogging, rollerblading and weight training.

2. Ask for their credentials and investigate them.  The Chinese Medicine man above claimed to have been a physiotherapist.  Yet, he had no Canadian training.  His certificate was from some institution in China I had never heard of and didn’t know how to verify.  A search on the internet couldn’t help either.  It is better not to deal with such individuals if you can’t be sure.  Better to be safe than sorry.

This issue is essential for our society. What is the use of having universities at all if anyone can say they graduated to get whatever job or client they want.  What about safety standards? 

I’d like to leave you with a thought - how many individuals are out there now that are practicing medicine or some other profession and never even went to University? How can you be sure the next time you are in need of some professional help that the person on the other side of the desk is capable of giving you quality care?  Do yourself a favour and call their professional association or degree granting institution to make sure they’re qualified.

You can verify a degree from York University at www.yorku.ca/roweb/services/yuverify/ with some basic biographical information about the person (first and last name, date of birth, etc.) or their York University student number.

Be careful out there!

“When I barbeque, I get to look over 18b Yonge Street” commented Bijan in the middle of a discussion about Toronto’s civic condition.

“There’s an 18b Yonge Street.  I walk along there every day…where is it?” I asked.

 ”It’s the property between 18 Yonge Street and the Railway Tracks”he replies.

I visualize that area.  18 Yonge Street is a new condominium bulding (within the last 2 years), one of many built in the area to house an upwardly mobile, yet transient group that mostly work in the downtown core.  They work in the office towers or attend the many schools nearby.  Most of the occupants are in their late teens to mid 20’s (though you find the odd older individual or couple with baby).  Some are professionals just starting their career, some are here on student visas (and working on the side), some are in the pink collar industry (living three or four per apartment).  The vast majority of the residents are renters and the vacancy rate can make your head spin. 

Walking by on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday one can’t help like feeling they’re walking by a fraternity house, with yelling inside and outside the buildings, loud drunks stumbling along, and the stench of funny tobacco.  Yet, this building and its sister buildings are promoted as ‘prestigious’ buildings by their owners and managers.  What ever happened to the advertising watchdogs?   

Yes, I’m familiar with building and what’s next to it… there is no 18b Yonge Street.

Then he explains to me “Right beside the building along he north side is the bottom edge of the slope from the tracks.  There are people that have build cardboard houses and are living there.  You can’t see them from the street because they’ve blocked the view from Yonge Street with plywood.  The trains can’t see them because of the bush and steep slope.  We can see them because we’re looking straight down and can see the people coming and going.”

Well, I’ve been thinking about what he said for months.  In fact every day that I walk by I take a look at the plywood and once in a while I see someone sneaking out of the entrance.  I wonder how these homeless souls can live there.  It is bad enough for those living inside the new, supposed sound proofed buildings, how the heck can these souls manage it?

Then I realize, what choice do they have?

Growing up in Toronto I never thought would see this happening in our once great city.  I’ve travelled the world and seen squatter settlements dominatre hillsides, but in Toronto?  For the last few years we’ve had a civic government so concerned with taxing car drivers and forcing the TTC onto the citizens, but what about the very serious issue around just being able to live in the city?

As for the squatterers, I don’t know who they are, or what their story is.  But, not a day goes buy that I don’t wonder.  Then I think what can I do about it?  What can anybody do about it? (I mean about finding them decent accomodation).  Well, atleast they’re making use of space and it is better than nothing.  As for the cold, snowy winter months, the landscape and geothermal structures will help them survive.

So, next time you see a fancy new condominium building, ask yourself where is the ‘b’?, where are the homeless people living?…they may be closer than you think!

Baldo

This story was forwarded to me by a friend and I have no idea its original source:

Another case of truth being stranger than fiction… TORONTO, ONTARIO (CP)
A seven-year-old Toronto, Ontario boy was at the center of a Toronto city courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.

The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents & the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law & regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents & he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy alleged they had also beat him.

After considering the remainder of the immediate family & learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.
 

After two recesses to check legal references & confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

—-

This is a good one and I wish I knew who came up with it.  By the way, I’m a Toronto Maple Leafs Fan and wait for the day they can win the Stanley Cup again.

Enjoy your day!

Baldo 

The setting is the Washington, DC Metro Station.  It is a cold morning in January of 2007.  A man with a violin plays six pieces of Bach for about 45 minutes.  During that time about 2,000 people walk through the station.  Most of them are on their way to work.

Thanksgiving is one of the most significant days of the year.

As we run around caught up in our little world we sometimes forget just how fortunate we are.  Last year many, many people saw a big part of their retirement savings wiped out and they’ve been in a state of shock since. As a result they’ve taken their focus away from what they have to what they don’t have.  And away from feeling happy to feeling sorrow.

The act of giving thanks is discussed in many personal development books as a tool by which to shift one’s consciousness.  Something happens when we give thanks.  It’s like we focus on what we like and appreciate and open the gateway to the universe giving us more of it. 

So, lets take this opportunity to be thankful and focus on everything great in our lives. 

Here’s my contribution and in no specific order:

I’m thankful for my mother, sister and her family and the rest of my family.

I’m thankful for my health.

I’m thankful for the woman in my life.

I’m thankful for baby Maria.

I’m’ thankful for having travelled across the world last year.

I’m thankful for all the new friends I’ve made and all of my long-time friends too.

I’m thankful for my creativity.

I’m thankful for the country I live in.

I’m thankful for where I live and the fact that I can walk to most places I need to.

I’m thankful for my book which I plan to publish in the next few months.

I’m thankful for the lifestyle I live and things I can do.

I’m thankful I can contribute to the world.

Having been the President of MetroActive Lifestyle Network, one of Canada’s largest and premier business networking organization has allowed me to develop relationships with all sorts of people.  Often, I cross paths with MetroActive’s members in the most unexpected places.

Two weeks ago I was at the Toronto Investment Conference.  It’s a forum by which mostly exploration, mining and resource companies promote their projects.  As I’m walking along one of the isles I bump into non other than one of MetroActive’s members and well-known author.  She took me a little by surprise, especially since I didn’t realize she had any interest at all in resource investing.

You just never know who you’re going to meet and where.

Hundreds of millions of people around the world have been entertained by the wonderful voice of Susan Boyle. Boyle is the 47 year old unemployed woman from

Here are the Lyrics to I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables (Thanks to NewHotdox)-I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high,
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving. Then I was young and unafraid
When dreams were made and used,
And wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung,
No wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
As they turn your dreams to shame.

And still I dream he’ll come to me
And we will live our lives together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms
We cannot weather…

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seems
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.