Harper Prorogues Parliament

So Harper successfully managed to petition the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until the end of January.

I have difficulty believing that this is in the best interest of the Nation, rather than the Conservative Party of Canada.  How, when Canada is facing an economic crisis, is it worthwhile to STOP working for two months, rather than let a coalition of people get to work and deal with the problem?  

This is purely a move on the Conservative Party to retain power, rather than to help the Nation.  

And shame on the Gov. General for bending to the will of Harper.  Granted the Gov. General position is primarily figurehead status, and has little real power in our current political system.  But considering that this is probably the first time in nearly a century that the Gov. General had a decision to make that actually effected all Canadians, she should have taken a different course of action. 

Since this was relatively uncharted territory in the History of Canadian politics, the Governor General SHOULD have consulted the British Monarchy for advice on how to proceed.  After all, that is her job.  She is a representative of the Queen.  Do not mistake her position as a Regent.  She is not to rule, but rather to represent the Queens authority.

Not only did Governor General Michael Jean NOT consult the Queen when making her decision, but now she has set a very dangerous precedent for future minority governments.  By choosing to prorogue Parliament, she has allowed any minority government to halt parliament whenever they may risk falling to a motion of confidence.  This gives almost any minority government an inexcusable amount of power.

So now, we wait another two months while the Conservatives wage a multi-million dollar propaganda campaign against the coalition, and the economy will continue to crumble.

I would like to be able to sit in a room with Stephen Harper for just 10 minutes, so that I might begin to understand his line of thinking.  The Conservative economic update not only lacked a stimulus package for Canada, but also included eliminating the right of Unionized public servants to renegotiate their contracts (granted I think most of them are already over paid, but they should still have the right like everyone else does), and limited the ability of women to sue for pay equity, but it also eliminated the political subsidies provided by Elections Canada to all of the political parties.  

Regardless of whether or not you feel the political parties should receive subsidies to help them focus on working, rather than fundraising, Harper had to know it would cause a political backlash.  And to save $26 million?  It's a drop in the bucket compared to the billions the economy needs in investment.  I have a hard time believing that Mr. Harper sat at his desk, feverishly looking for an area where he could save a few pennies.  I have a feeling it had more to do with the ability to potentially cripple his opponents under the guise of 'cost cutting'.  I think he expected it to go over better than it did.  But, if I am correct and that was his real motivation, I think the man is too stupid to be allowed to be Prime Minister!  Forcing your political competitors into virtual bankruptcy does not show good faith.  Especially to voters that you haven't convinced yet to agree to your way of thinking!

I would strongly suggest removing the man from leadership of the Conservative Party before he causes more political fallout.  Oh, that's right.  We can't.  Parliament has been suspended!

The Canadian Coalition?

This week, the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc all stated publicly that they would NOT support the Federal Conservative's economic update.  They claim multiple reasons for this, including the fact that there is no sign of any type of economic stimulous included in the update, the fact that the Conservatives are trying to take away any public servants ability to go on strike (or effectively renegotiate their contracts for their own benefit) , and the fact that the Conservatives would do away with the subsidy provided by Elections Canada to the political party.  

As you well know, all three parties voting against the Conservatives bill would bring down the minority government.  That leaves us either with a Coalition government or another election. 

So the Conservatives seem to be on their way out, and the Liberals and NDP in.  Interesting turn of events considering we Canadians just had an election 6 weeks ago.

I hear people bitching on both sides of the matter.  Those with Conservative view points tend to think that it's mutiny at best - as a whole, the Cons won more seats than any other party, and therefore, should lead the government.

Those on the Liberal or NDP side of the fence point out that not only did the Cons not win a majority government, but they also only had 35% of the votes.  So why not let a coalition of Liberals and NDP, who together received 50% of the vote run the country?  These people argue that at least this way, more Canadians will be represented in government.

Personally, I think there is merit to a coalition.  Not because of a numbers game, but simply because it will force the majority of our MPs to work together and compromise whether they want to or not.  Either they co-operate, or we go back to the polls again.  

Going back to the polls would likely not sit well with the bulk of Canadians, who are pretty much 'electioned' out.  We have had 3 federal elections in 6 years.  Add to that the overwhelming media saturation of the American election for the last two years, and that's a hell of a lot of politics.

I say bring on the damned coalition and get back to work!  Be done with it already.  We are in the midst of an economic crisis, and political instability is the last thing we need.  Aside from racking up a costly bill, another election within 6 months would likely see us back in the same situation we are already in.

Canada is ready for a new type of government.  There has not been a coalition since the 1920's.  I think that they Canadian People's political views are diverse enough that the bulk of Canadians would support a coalition government.

Just don't let Stephane Dion play Prime Minister.  There are at least two other men available who would do a much better job.

Rainn

Carleton University; Department of Idiocy

So the Student's Union at Ottawa's Carleton University, have decided to stop supporting Cystic Fibrosis with their annual 'Shinerama' fundraiser, "has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men." (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/11/25/ot-081125-shinerama.html).

The entire student union, sans 1 representative decided to vote against the charity, and to find a new recipient for their fundraising dollars.

The Shinerama drive, where students spend a week shining shoes or cars for donations, has been an institution at Carleton for nearly 25 years.

While I am all for being racially and gender inclusive, it seems to me using politics to choose a charity is rather despicable.  The last time I checked, Cystic Fibrosis was a fatal genetic disease, for which their is currently no cure.  But I guess it's alright to cut them off from funding, because, you know, they are mainly all just white men.

HELLO?  Am I the only one that sees the idiocy in this line of thinking?

According to the student council motion that passed this week, orientation week "strives to be inclusive" and "all orientees and volunteers should feel like their fundraising efforts will serve their diverse communities."

I fail to see the logic in this statement.  Does this mean that I should not feel that raising money for breast cancer research is not serving my community, because I am not a woman?  Should I feel that my community is not being served by people who fundraise for sickle cell anemia since it affects mainly black women, and I am not black nor a woman?

I sincerely hope that the students of Carleton who disagree with this policy demand changes in their student union representation, and continue to raise money without official support from their University.  

I feel badly for these students, as it is likely they will be considered guilty of idiocy, purely by association to their student council.

I can only hope that the Cystic Fibrosis foundation will receive additional donations from people who were outraged by this callous decision.

Remember that a disease causes heartache for everyone regardless of the victims appearance.  

Keep Giving.

Rainn

Election Frenzy

Sarah Palin

Elizabeth May

So. Two federal elections in North America within a 4 week period.

Thank God that's over. If I see one more political ad on TV in the next year, it will be too soon.

First, we had the federal election in Canada the day after Thanksgiving. I know *I* was impressed, having $300 million of taxpayers dollars to hold another election with nearly the same results as before.

Stephen Harper continues his minority government after breaking his own law to call the election in the first place. The Liberals continue to be the official opposition (though with a few less members). And Jack Layton contiues to be the runner up, along with Gills Duceppe. However I have a feeling Jack is going to be louder than ever with his newly acquired seats this term.

The one silver lining of it all was the surprisingly well spoken and knowledgable Elizabeth May, leader of the oft mentioned, yet fruitless Green Party. This lady made it seem possible for a new party to stand a real chance and make a real difference in politics. Even though she did not win her seat, I have faith that it won't be too much longer before we see her calling everyone in parliament hill a 'fraud' in both official languages during question period.

Now to the American Election which made history with their first Black President, Barack Obama. I think its great that finally we see some diversity in the American government rather than rich, old white men who supposedly represent the American Populous. Still, part of me thinks the nation would have been better off with Hilary at the Helm. Does anyone REALLY believe that she wasn't running the show behind the scenes during the Clinton administration?

Which finally brings me to the now infamous Sarah Palin. Is this woman to be believed? She certainly has a marketable appearance, but come on! She's the govenor of Alaska! It's like asking the Mayor of Flin Flon, Manitoba to run New York City! Perhaps not the brightest idea the republicans have had. And I can guarantee that the only thing that will be remembered from this election, aside from the Historic President Obama, is 'I can see Russia from my house!'

Rainn

I'm Baaaacckk!

Yes, its true.

I am back and better than ever.

I had taken a nearly two year hiatus from blogging and photography to pursue another passion. Alcohol!

No, I am not a problem drinker, but I have been running a bar in Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada.

I am still running the bar, but have managed to free up some time for the blog once again.

So, excuse me while I go mix a drink, but I will be back shortly to give you all a piece of my mind. (So to speak.)

Rainn

Canada Bans Incandescent Lightbulbs - And why it's a stupid idea.

According to Environment Minister John Baird this morning, Canada will enact a plan to completely ban incandescent light bulbs within 3-5 years. This follows the footsteps of California and Australia.

While it could be said that there are some environmental and financial benefits to consumers on banning these bulbs, it's what they are NOT telling you that makes this plan completely irrelevant.

The office of the Environment minister says that these bulbs are inefficient, and that 90-95% of the energy used in incandescent bulbs are emitted as heat, rather than light, thereby wasting electricity, and costing consumers money.

John Baird says consumers who switch to energy efficient fluorescent lights will help clean up the environment, and will save about $50 a year on their electricity bills.

And this is all true. The fact that fluorescent lights are more efficient is hardly a new revelation.

So how could banning incandescent bulbs possibly be bad, you ask?

What the Minister is NOT telling you is that fluorescent lights are harder to manufacture. Instead of using a normal filament to emit light, fluorescent bulbs contain argon or neon gasses. These gasses contain mercury vapour, which become excited when hit by electricity, which creates a plasma that emits ultra violet light. Then, the ultra violet light causes a phosphor to fluoresce, and Presto! Instant light.

One would be relatively safe to assume that a product which is difficult to produce (or at least more difficult than a typical light bulb) will actually pollute MORE during the manufacturing process. Also, as you probably have guessed, argon and neon gasses are not without their own environmental impact. These bulbs are not safe to toss into the trash, as you would with a standard light bulb. In fact, most fluorescent bulbs say right on the packaging that they should be disposed of at a proper facility equipped to handle such an item. And, as we all know, most people will simply throw the bulb in the trash when they have expired.

In addition to this, there is the matter of the actually efficiency of the bulb AFTER it has been manufactured. While light bulbs which emit a significant amount of heat may not be a good thing for places such as California or Australia, it IS a good thing for Canadians. We live in a country which typically requires our homes to be heated 70% of the year. Not only in winter, but often during summer nights depending on where you live. Incandescent light bulbs help us maintain a comfortable temperature in our home. Any savings Canadians realise on their electricity bills, will automatically be transferred to our heating bills. And of course, lets not forget that fluorescent bulbs are more expensive to purchase.

So what will be the ultimate outcome of this light bulb ban? Increased pollution during manufacturing of the fluorescent bulbs, increased costs to buy bulbs, and the potential to harm our environment even more during the disposal process.

Bravo John Baird! It looks like you have definitely thought this plan through.

Rainn

Saturn Update

So as I was reading my email today, I received a note from another dissatisfied Saturn owner expressing sympathy for me regarding my car. This reminded me that I was going to keep you all posted on what was going on regarding my 2005 Ion.

The car currently has 36,000KM on it. It has been in the shop more often than I have been able to drive it this year. A few weeks ago, my power steering stopped working. It, like all of the other problems on my car was intermittent. I had been driving it for an hour or so, and stopped at a photo lab to drop off some prints I had been working on for a client. About 10 minutes later, I came back outside, and drove down the block to Wal-Mart. I only picked up 1 item at Wal-Mart, and I went outside and started my vehicle. Everything appeared normal until I attempted to back out of my parking space. The steering wheel wasn't turning! I thought perhaps that I had a large build up of snow and ice around one of the wheel wells (This is a frequent problem with this car) and that maybe it was preventing the wheels from turning. I got out and checked, but the wheel wells were clear. So I jumped back in the car, started it again, and heard that lovely beeping sound that indicates there is something wrong with the car. Sure enough, the Power Steering message was flashing on the LCD screen.

So, I drove the car home using my superior biceps to control the vehicle. I immediately made an appointment to take my car in for servicing. The soonest I could get it into the shop was in 3 days time.

So the next day, being that I do have a job, I drove the car without power steering. On the second day before going into the shop, I turned over the engine, and wouldn't you know it, my power steering was back, and the car thought everything was peachy keen. And it remained that way right up until the car went into the shop.

At the shop, the mechanics said they had no idea what caused the problem. There were 3 error codes in the computers log, and they simply indicated that there was a low voltage problem. They had asked me if the car had recently been boosted, or if I had given anyone a boost. I said no. So they listed the repair as 'No Fault Found' and sent me on my way.

The next day, I had driven to a client's office. I went to park my car, and wouldn't you know it, the key wouldn't come out of the ignition. This would be the 4th time that the car has went into the shop for this specific problem.

I cancelled my meeting with the client and drove the car home. I had to leave it in the driveway with the key stuck in the ignition. Of course, I locked the vehicle using my spare key.

I called Saturn to make an appointment to take my car in for service. Being that I am currently in Fort McMurray, and there is no Saturn Dealership here, Saturn asked me to take the vehicle to Canadian Tire, because the automotive manager there used to be a technician for Saturn. I drove the car there that day, and the service manager told me he would diagnose the problem and call me the next day.

He lived up to his promise. He told me this time (unlike the last few times that I had taken the car in for this problem) that the problem was the shifter. It was not locking into place, and therefore, the car did not know that it had been put into 'Park', and therefore, would not release the key. He told me that he had contacted Saturn to let them know what the problem was, and that he was waiting for the Saturn Dealership in Edmonton to let him know how he should proceed. He said he would get back to me on Monday (as this was currently Friday).

In the mean time, I had made sure that I contacted Saturn's 1-800 number to make sure everything was documented, and that this would be listed as a warranty issue. The woman who was helping me deal with this was really quite pleasant and helpful. Her name was Marg Powell.

I also asked to speak with Mary Clarke. She is on Saturn's Management Review Board. I had spoken with her in the past when I had NOT been receiving any help from the call centre employees, and had asked her to help me find a solution with this piece of junk car. I suggested giving me a new car for the duration of my lease, or simply canceling my existing lease. Of course she told me neither of these solutions would happen.

Again I told her about the numerous problems I had been encountering. I did mention that Marg was being very helpful following up with the dealership on my current warranty issues, but that this was not solving the problem of the car constantly breaking down. Again I asked if we could come up with a co-operative solution to the car issues. And again, she gave me the same response, saying there was nothing wrong with the car, and any issues that arise are being dealt with under the warranty program.

I again pointed out the fact that I have had the car for 22 months, and that this would be about the 20th warranty repair. I said this was not acceptable. She told me, if I liked that I could trade the car in for a new one. Which means extending my lease, and having to take the hit of paying off the remainder of the existing lease. Also not acceptable. She told me there was nothing else that could be done. I told her that she left me with no other option but to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, contact the local Edmonton media, and to file a complaint with AMVIC (Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council). Mary Clarke's response was 'If that's what you feel you need to do, sir, then by all means.' That was the end of my dealing with Mary Clarke.

So, back to Canadian Tire. Monday goes by with no one contacting me. I did not think too much of it, as all repair shops in Fort McMurray currently have more business then they can handle. On Tuesday, I receive a phone call from Marg Powell at Saturn's customer care line. She is pleasant as always, and asks me how the car is running for me now. I told her I didn't have a clue, and that I still hadn't received a phone call from Canadian Tire, let alone actually have the car back in my possession. She was shocked. According to the notes that she had, the Saturn Dealership in Edmonton told her there was no fault found with the car, and that I had it in my possession, and that I was to monitor the car for future problems of this nature.

Naturally this enraged me, as none of it was true, and why should I be responsible to monitor the car for problems? I was already supposed to be monitoring it for transmission problems that they were unable to fix, let alone the key not coming out of the ignition. She told me she would contact the dealership to get confirmation of what was going on, and that I was to contact Canadian Tire to see where they were on the issue. I did so.

Canadian Tire told me that they had contacted the dealership with details on the problem, and were still waiting for the dealership's recommendation on how to proceed with the problem.

Fortunately for me, I had to fly back to Edmonton this same week. I called Saturn of Edmonton West while I was there and demanded to speak the GM and the Service Manager. While both of them were very nice in person, the GM was completely unfamiliar with any of the issues I had encountered. Apparently, the Service Manager I had been used to dealing with no longer worked for Saturn, and so they had a new guy in this position that was also unfamiliar with me.

I had them pull the service history for my vehicle. (10 pages of it!) We went through everything. All of the problems with the car, all of the problems with the servicing of the car, and especially Mary Clarke at the Corporate Care line.

The solution was to contact Canadian Tire again to tell them to fix the car. Also, I now have to drive the car back to Edmonton (a five hour drive) to have the car thoroughly inspected while the Saturn Sales Rep for Alberta happens to be there, so that he can be personally involved. Also, they were going to request the tapes from my phone calls with Mary Clarke, as they could not believe that she told me to go ahead and file complaints about Saturn if it made me feel better.

It certainly is not a new car or ending the lease, but I suppose it is at least a step in the right direction. I did tell them that I was concerned about driving the car all the way down there to have it inspected when all of the problems with the car are intermittent. What happens if I bring the car down there and it works perfectly fine for them? They didn't really have much of an answer for this, but did say clearly the car needed to be inspected regardless of whether or not the car currently had an issue.

So I wait. I have to take the car back on February 14th. And speaking of intermittent problems, I stopped at the corner store on the way back home yesterday afternoon. When I exited the store, I turned on my vehicle to drive home. You guessed it.... Once again I had no power steering. And this time, the car did not give me the warning light. When I pulled into my driveway, I turned the car off, and immediately turned it back on again. The power steering was back.

So I guess we will see what happens. In the meantime, NEVER EVER buy a Saturn. And, if you ever buy a used vehicle, even if it is from a branded dealership, do an online search for the VIN number and see what comes up. There are numerous websites that log and record service histories for each VIN number. And, I can assure you, when I give up this lousy car, I will make sure that I do the same thing on this website.

I will keep you all posted on how the car's inspection goes next week.

Peace,
Rainn

West Edmonton Mall/South China Mall

So. The Chinese have done it again.

You may remember in my original post on this blog that I informed you I lived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. You may also remember that I mentioned that Edmonton is home of the worlds largest mall - West Edmonton Mall.

West Edmonton Mall covers several city blocks. It has a full hotel, casino, ice rink, full size water park, a lagoon with submarines, Imax theater and a whole lot more.

And what did I see on the news this morning, but the Grand Opening of the South China Mall. Now officially the worlds largest mall. It's SO big that it is actually 10 times LARGER than the Mall of America. That's a pretty big damn mall.

So, to make sure that I was not accused of listing inaccuracies, you know now that Edmonton is no longer the home of the worlds largest mall.

Take Care,

Rainn

Las Vegas, Nevada

Edge Of The Las Vegas Strip

So, I am not going to bore you with the standard promotional photos that you always see of the Las Vegas strip. Everyone has seen those and there are more than enough to go around. If you would like one of those photos, buy a postcard.

But I would like to show you, throughout this commentary, some of the things that you may NOT have seen in, and around Las Vegas.

I will admit, visiting this city was one of the best trips I have had in a long time. The city is absolutely beautiful. In fact, it is probably the nicest US city I have visited. This, of course, excludes the awesome, yet gaudy spectacle of The Strip itself.

The weather was pleasant the entire time I was there, which made sightseeing and photo taking all the more enjoyable.

While in Sin City, I stayed at The Orleans casino resort. This hotel is about a $6 taxi ride away from The Strip. In fact, you can even walk to The Strip if you prefer. Although not as glitzy or glamorous as some of the other Hotels I visited, I found The Orleans to be the most comfortable and home-like. The rooms were very nice, every amenity you could want was provided. The staff, with the occasional exception were very friendly. I found this place more relaxed, and there seemed to be less pressure to constantly SPEND exorbitant amounts of money. I highly recommend staying there.

The Orleans Hotel & Casino

Of course, like a true tourist, I had to visit some other must-see resorts. Some of these included the world famous Ceasar's Palace, The Bellagio, The MGM Grand and the New York, New York.

Ceasar's Place is truly a work of art. The lobby alone is an attraction to see. Marble and plaster is abundant here. The hotel is elegant without being overdone. It is definitely worth spending a few hours to tour this resort. If your interested in shopping, there is a plethora available, but bring the Platinum card, as there is not many middle class stores.

The Bellagio Hotel, (directly across the street from Ceasar's) Was somewhat less spectacular. But this resort is still a must see simply for the show the hotel puts on every 15 minutes in the front lake. The lake has a choreographed fountain and light show, placed to music. It runs about 5 minutes in duration, but really is quite beautiful. If photo taking is a goal here, I recommend bringing one without a shutter delay, and id possible, one where you can change the shutter speed. The fountains can often be quicker than your camera.

The MGM Grand is definitely one of the larger resorts I visited. Clearly this place has had some major renovations in the recent past. A large segment of this hotel felt more like a trendy ultra-lounge rather than a casino or hotel. But the ambiance left me feeling cheap even though I had spent several hundreds of dollars here. I felt an overwhelming pressure to spend, spend, spend, for fear that security would toss me out on my ass if I didn't. Unless you plan to bring all of your piggy banks to this building, I would steer clear of it.

And that leaves us with the New York, New York. I personally don't have much good to say about this one. I did find the exterior of this hotel one of the more appealing. It looks so massive, as it is cleverly designed as a series of New York highrises. They even managed to work the Empire State Building into the architecture. But the inside is shamefully tacky. It's almost impossible to put into words how much I disliked this place. I left within an hour of arriving, and never considered going back.

While out and about on my sightseeing tours, I had the pleasure of meeting many of the 'locals'. I use the term loosely, since not once on my entire stay did I manage to meet someone who had actually resided in Las Vegas for more than 5 years. But I found this actually improved the atmosphere. These folks seemed to have a little bit more worldly knowledge, and were incredibly interesting to speak with. Almost everyone I encountered was exceedingly friendly. And to them, I say thanks for making my visit so hospitable.

My favorite part of Las Vegas however, was actually 20 miles west of the city. Here you will find a great place called Red Rock Canyon. At the Canyon, you will find expansive desert, incredible rock hills, and fantastic hiking. If you are not a hiker, never fear, you can take a 13 mile scenic drive around the Canyon, and still see lots of the good stuff. The colors are unreal, and the vegetation is incredibly unique. I implore any traveler to rent a car and spend a few hours out here. It is definitely worth it.

Red Rock Canyon

Thanks Again Las Vegas, and I will see you next year!

Rainn

MyCarSucks.com

I highly reccomend that anyone who has a Saturn check out the website www.mycarsucks.com There are SEVERAL issues on the website that I had taken my car in for. Most of the time, the dealership told me there is no problem with the car, but I suspect otherwise.

Rainn

Why Saturn Canada Sucks

So I have a 2005 Saturn Ion 2 sedan. And boy, what a hunk of junk. The car barely has over 30,000 KM on it, and I cannot count how many times the damn thing has been in the shop.

This car has been in the shop 4 times for transmission problems. The last time it was in for this problem was last week. And yet I am still having problems.

The car has also been in 3 times because I couldn't get the key out of the ignition. To make matters worse, not only could I not get the key out, but nor could I turn off the engine. This probably wouldn't bother me so much except the dealership was not open when this occurred, and I had to leave my car in the dealership parking lot, pull fuses out of the car to turn the engine off, and lock the key in the car to prevent it from being stolen.

This car has had 16 warranty complaints against it in the 19 months that I have had it. That translates to 1 warranty issue for every 36 days of ownership. Or, roughly 1 warranty issue for every 1875KM on the car.

Now I know what your thinking. Your thinking 'Rainn, why are you putting up with this crap? Just make them give you a new car!'.

Hey, I hear you. Believe me, I have been trying. Some time ago, oh, probably around the 10th issue with the car, I called Saturn Canada's corporate service centre. Basically, a pleasant English woman named Margaret told me that they would document all of the issues I have had for future reference. Stellar. Um.... The service centres document those.

So again, last week, I picked up my car from the dealership after they attempted to fix my transmission for the 4th time. 5 hours later, I drove to a client's home to drop off proofs of some photos I had taken for them. Low and behold, when I got to the destination, I could not remove the key from the ignition, or turn off the engine.

So once more, I called the customer service line. I told them I insisted on getting a different car. I told them I wanted to talk to someone higher up the chain of command. And the response? I was told They (GM Canada) won't take the car back, because your service records show the problems have been corrected. You will have to wait until you have another issue with the car before this can go further.

Of course they do. EVERY time the car leaves the dealership, the problem is shown as being corrected. That doesn't change the fact that the problems continue to reoccur. Also, Margaret would not give me the name of the District service manager because apparently 'There are too many of them to remember all of their names.'

So. Now what to do? Well, as luck would have it, the next day I was sent a card in the mail from Saturn to remind me to fill out my customer satisfaction survey. Believe me I did. But fortunately, the reminder card also had the address of the corporate office, and the name of the Director for Saturn Saab Canada. How fortunate! So I wrote a letter, enclosed a copy of all the service issues I have had. I made the dealership print me a history of the car the last time I was there. U will see a copy of the letter I sent below. I will keep you posted on what, if anything, I hear back from Saturn.

Now to all you fanatical Saturn owners out there... Please do not send me hate mail telling me how wonderful your car works. I am sure that there are many Saturns out there that work wonderfully. The point I am making is that MY car does not. I understand that every product that is mass produced will have a batch of defective units. However, I expect Saturn to deal with my car in a more productive fashion, because after all, continuing to repair the car under the warranty program is NOT working.

I will keep you posted.

Rainn.

LETTER TO SATURN

October 13, 2006

Saturn Saab Canada

7496-2 Bath Road

Mississauga, ON L4T 1L2

Dear D.B. McCall,

Recently, you sent me a Service Satisfaction Survey in the mail, as well as a reminder card to fill out the survey. After much consideration, I have decided that a survey simply cannot convey the concerns I have with my Saturn, the service centre, and your company.

I got my 2005 Saturn Ion 2 on a three year lease, which commenced in March, 2005. Since then, I have had warranty issues too numerous to mention. Enclosed, you will find a service history from the main service centre I use, although there have been other problems which I know are not recorded on this document.

While some of the problems have been cosmetic, such as needing a new CD player or new seal on the steering column, most of the issues have been substantially more serious. The car currently has just over 30,000 KM on it, and the transmission had to be recently overhauled. Even still, we are as of yet, unsure whether this will in fact fix the problem. On three separate occasions, I have been unable to remove the key from the ignition, and two of those times, I was unable to actually turn off the engine. This left me no choice but to pull fuses out of the car to turn it off, as it happened after service centre hours.

On October 11, 2006, I had picked up my car at 5 PM from the service centre, after they overhauled the transmission. 5 HOURS later, I had to return the car at 10 PM, because once again, I could not turn the engine off, or remove the key from the ignition.

I am currently on the 4^th repair for my transmission, and 3 times for the lock cylinder (so I can get the key out of the car).

I voiced my concerns with your customer service call centre some time ago, and no solutions were offered. Again yesterday, I called the service call centre. While pleasant, the agent flat out refused to take my concerns to anyone of a higher rank in the company. At least until I experience more problems with the car.

This is unacceptable to me. I have experienced nearly 20 warranty issues with this car in the last 18 months. I do not think I should have to experience more.

I will be moving to the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta at the end of October. The city is isolated, and there is no Saturn dealership there. I also use my vehicle for my job, and I cannot have an unreliable vehicle. At this point, I simply do not want the car. If that means having GMAC end the lease term early, or simply replacing the vehicle, then so be it. But this car is less than a quality product.

I am also disappointed with the service I have experienced with your call centre and the service depot. Even through all of the issues I have dealt with, not once was I ever asked if anything could be done to help make my experience better. Finally, I received a spoken apology from the service centre manager when I picked up my car yesterday. But nothing more has ever been offered. This does not sound like a company that puts people first.

At this point, with the experience I have had, I certainly would not purchase or lease another Saturn. And I would encourage everyone else I know to not purchase one. I am most disappointed, as I was very much looking forward to buying a Saturn Sky at the end of my lease.

Thank you very much for hearing my concerns, and I hope that in some small way, this letter will help improve the service given to other Saturn customers. I look forward to hearing from you.

I'll Have a Couple of Domis' with a Stronach Chaser..

How revolting the way the media has been sensationalizing Tie and Leanne Domi's divorce, and Tie's alleged relationship with Liberal MP Belinda Stronach.

Granted two of these people are public figures, and media coverage is inevitable. But this week, the media has gone so far as to publish excerpts from one of Leanne Domi's affidavit. I am not going to go as far to say that the media is intentionally trying to 'tarnish' the former Toronto Maple Leaf's name, as he has already had his fair share of negative media attention in the past. But no one is perfect, and to expect anyone to be perfect simply because they are a public figure is not only preposterous, but naive as well.

The fact remains that no matter what these people do (criminal infractions not withstanding) their personal lives are just that - Personal. If Tie decides he wants to commit adultery with hundreds of women, that is no ones business but his and his spouse. If Belinda decides she wants an entire male harem of NHL players, that is her business.

We as a society have got to realize that probing these issues to the extent that we do, such as publicizing personal court documents, that we are violating their human right to privacy. It is easy to sit and be entertained by these sordid stories the media spoon feeds us. But would you find it so entertaining if it was YOUR bedroom secrets broadcast to your friends and family?

Just something to think about.

Peace.
Rainn

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

SASKATOON SUNSET

RAIL BRIDGE

A PILLAR'S PERSPECTIVE

So yes. I did in fact venture out to Saskatchewan this year. I am sure at this point, they are happy to see ANY tourist these days. Hehehe Just kidding. (I am going to alienate some of my own readers if I keep poking fun at Saskatchewan.)

I did enjoy my visit to Saskatoon. I was there at the end of July, and, as always in the summer, the weather was warm and sunny. There were constantly people out on the river boating and jet skiing. There were a few festivals to take in that weekend, as the dragon boat races were going on.

One word of advice: If you are going to be taking in the sun on a rooftop patio in Saskatoon in the summer... WEAR SUNSCREEN. Granted my visit to the patio was impromptu, but I certainly paid for it the weeks following. The entire left side of my body was burnt to a crisp. It hurt to sleep on my side, and the pain would wake me up in the middle of the night. I peeled at least 2 or 3 times before I returned to my natural pigment. So. Lesson learned.

THE DELTA BESBOUROUGH

Contrary to popular opinion, Saskatoon is actually a beautiful city. Especially if you enjoy the outdoors. The river valley is beautiful, and the wildlife is also unique. If you enjoy architecture, I recommend staying at the Delta Besbourough. This hotel was built shortly after the Banff Springs and the Jasper Park Lodge. It is beautiful, and they have great pictures depicting the history of the construction mounted throughout the building. Though in typical fashion for hotels of that time period, the rooms themselves are small and modest. You may wish to stay at the more modern and affordable Radisson Hotel just down the block, and maybe stop in at the Delta Besbourough for a light meal or cocktail.

HUNGRY PELICANS

Another area to check out along the river is the Weir. This area changes the water level of the river. But pelicans love it for the easy fishing. You can often catch them hanging around splashing along the edges of the Weir getting the fill of fish. These are a rarity, and not often spotted in urban areas in Canada.

I encourage anyone traveling to Western Canada in the summer time to make a short stop in Saskatoon.

CLARIFICATION:

It has come to my attention from several of my readers that some people are under the impression that the photographs of Auckland, specifically the black and white photo of the skyline are post cards.

I can assure you, there are NO postcards or purchased images on this blog. Each and every image you see is what I snapped on my camera. The black and white photo of the skyline was taken while I was on a ferry to Rangitoto island. I added the 'Auckland City' label in photoshop.

Thanks very much for hearing me out. And I guess I should take it as a compliment that some folks think my photos are worthy of post cards.

Thanks Again,

Rainn

Auckland Tour

Ok OK, so I promised you this guide of Auckland a LONG time ago. I get it. I know. But hey, I'm entitled to have a busy summer too, right?

So here it is.

I would have to say that I consider myself a connoisseur of pubs. Which basically means, I like to hang out and drink in them. However, i have been in them enough to know what I do and don't like. You will find a bit of both in this guide.

The first day I was in Auckland, after 21 hours of nothing but cramped seats and airline food, the first thing i wanted after a shower and a nap, was some good food, and a nice frosty beer. My first stop was:

The Park Brasserie and Bar
446 Khyber Rd.
Newmarket, Auckland City
(09) 522-0414

It was a comfortable atmosphere. Certainly not pub like, but more contemporary. Light pine colored laminate flooring, matching wood table and chairs, and a fireplace, if I remember correctly. I quickly discovered that Canadian beer was going to be very difficult to find in New Zealand. This surprised me very much. After all, what else are Canadians known for besides hockey and beer?

So I chose a local beer. I started out drinking a local brew called Speight's. (www.speights.co.nz) This is a very popular beer in New Zealand, and has been brewed there since the 1800s. I didn't mind this one, but oddly enough, i found it to be better from the tap than in the bottle.

The Park Brasserie had decent food. Admittedly, if you are going to eat the usual pub fare in NZ, such as burgers, be prepared. While it tastes alright, the beef does tend to be a bit more bland than what we are used to here in Alberta. And, seemingly to compensate for this, almost every place that served beef burgers, slathered it in various types of sauces. However, I recommend not mentioning this to the locals. They are very proud of their beef industry.

My experience at The Park was alright once i figured out that table service was not a standard there. They seem to have it on occasion, depending on how many people are working there at the time. HOWEVER: TOURISTS BEWARE this was the only pub i discovered that seems to try and take advantage of tourists. There is a very unpleasant European woman that works there with dyed red hair. She clearly new I was a tourist, as I had my Canadiana gear on, and she charged me DOUBLE what her coworkers did (for the same product) when I went back in subsequent visits.

While the overall food, and ambiance was OK, if you find another pub that you like, then skip this one.

Another pub that I tried was:

The Cock and Bull (Newmarket)
Khyber Pass near Broadway
Newmarket, Auckland City

This particular bar intrigued me, as they had a flashing LED sign outside that said 'Buxom Blondes Inside'. Naturally, I had to see for myself. Talk about misleading. The bartenders, while nice looking, were certainly not Buxom. And most of them were not even blonde! But, the Cock and Bull is a chain of pubs in NZ. Similar to our Brewsters here in Canada, they brew their own beer. One of which is called.... You guessed it! Buxom Blonde.

My overall experience here was good. Again, no table service, but the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is very nice. A bit classier than your traditional pub, rich dark wood and brown tones dominate the building. And the often have live entertainment. You can view the band schedule at www.cockandbull.co.nz I personally did not enjoy the beer that they brew personally, but you can get Speight's in the bottle here.

The next stop on my tour was:
SPE
Located on K-Road, just off (Simmond's Street I think)

I really enjoyed this stop. I visited this place several times, and it always seemed to be fairly busy. Again with the light pine decor, with a large bar in the centre of the floor. This place definitely looked more like a pub than the Park Brasserie. And, you can get the beer I preferred on tap: Mac's Gold (www.Macs.co.nz) Also, the prices here were the best by far. $4 /pint. (or approx. $2.80 Canadian). This was a definite improvement over the $16 that I had paid at the Park Brasserie.

The one oddity I found here was the huge American flag hanging over the bar. All of the patrons and staff that I had met were locals. So I am not sure where the American thing fit in. But, if you can get over that, then it is a good stop.

The next stop was on the Viaduct. I had initially wanted to go to a bar here called The Loaded Hog, but it always appeared to be closed whenever I was in this area. So by default I tried:

O'Hagan's Irish Bar
Market Square
Corner of Market Place and Customs Street
Auckland City

O'Hagan's (www.ohagans.co.nz) seems to be busy much of the time. The pub is nice, but I recommend the Patio if it is nice enough out. There is always a lot of activity in the square, and it overlooks the marina. I found the pricing to be a little on the high end for food, but the booze prices were middle of the range. The food is good, but there is a myriad of choices in this area if you don't like Irish food.

The next pub I tried was by far the one I liked the best.

The Penny Black
489 Khyber Pass Rd.
Auckland City
(09) 529-0050

The Penny Black has a much more modern feel to it. And, has a tendency to be a bit cold in the winter. But the beer is a reasonable price, and Mac's Gold is on tap. The real seller here is the staff. They are friendly, and know a lot about Canada and Canadians (In fact, I think there is a Canadian working in the Kitchen). The food is good, but a bit on the higher price side. Also, if you like gambling, there is a sizable gaming room in the back.

Finally, the last place I will mention is:

Verve Cafe
311 Parnell Rd.
Parnell, Auckland City

Verve is not really so much a pub as it is a (duh!) cafe. But, I felt it deserved to be listed here, as it was one of my favorite places to visit. I had breakfast here more often than not, and I recommend getting the Eggs Benedict and a cup or two of flat white. This place is ALWAYS busy, but if you get there around 9 or so, you should be able to get a table. The patio is the real gem at this place, as it is large, always in the morning sun, and is warm, even in the winter, partially because of how it is covered. The staff is great, and there IS table service! Simply a great place, and nothing to complain about. One warning: plan on $45 for breakfast for two.

So I hope this helps any of you folks out there planning to visit Auckland. Take my advice or don't, but just make sure you enjoy yourself when you are there.

Peace
Rainn

New Zealand

Auckalnd City Skyline

Skytower

The Viaduct

Rangitoto Island

So New Zealand was great. The weather was wonderful for most of the time I was there. Sunny and about 20 C. Not bad for winter. We in Canada should be so lucky.

The people were nice, once they realized I was Canadian and not American. I advise any Canadian tourists to sew Canadian patches on there clothes, or wear clothing with the Canadian logo.

*Note: Beware American tourists planning to pose as Canadian: The Kiwi's DO seem to know a lot about Canada, including Canadian news and politics. Make sure you KNOW something about Canada, or they will smell you out.

There is a myriad of cultures living in Auckland. There are a LOT of immigrants. Most of which seem to be Asian or European. Many of the pubs have an English or Irish influence.

Coffee is different there, which really threw me for a loop. Brewed coffee seems to be a novelty there, only available at Starbucks. Otherwise they have 2 types of coffee... Long Black and Flat White.

The long black LOOKS like brewed coffee but definitely seems to taste a lot more like espresso. The flat white is not bad. It tastes like a mild cappuccino and comes with frothed milk on the top. Be aware... It IS expensive. It goes for $3 for an 8oz cup. Which is about $2.30 Canadian.

Also, tipping is a definite no. Most menu prices seem to reflect included gratuities, and most places do not have table service. You have to go up to the bar or counter to order, including booze and food.

If you should go to New Zealand, and I highly recommend it, there are a number of attractions I recommend seeing.

In Auckland:

The Skytower. This tower has its observation deck more than 1000 feet in the air. Those of you who live in Toronto will probably seem less than impressed because you have the CN tower, which IS quite a bit larger. However, the Sky Tower is unique because you can SEE things from the observation deck. Smog does not seem to be an issue in Auckland. Also, there is extensive shopping, dining and gambling below the tower.

The Viaduct. This trendy area that surrounds the waterfront and some of the wharfs off Quay St. The Viaduct is one of the hot spots in Auckland for nightlife. The area is filled with pubs and bars, and there are always dozens of people walking about. I suspect the area is even more lively in the summer. Be prepared to spend a lot of money in this area though if you are spending a whole day here.

K-Road. K-Road seems to be the ultimate part strip. Not quite as clean or trendy as the Viaduct, but it streaches on for several blocks, and there are always tons of people in the streets at night. The strip is kind of run down in areas. The gay and straight bars are mixed together here. But, despite how they look on the outside, there are some really nice pubs and bars on this strip.

Rangitoto Island. This island is an active volcano, which has been silent for quite some time. You can only get there by boat, but the views are spectacular, and the landscape is quite unique, made up mostly of vegetation and hardened lava. A WARNING: If you are a senior, or have limited mobility... You do not want to WALK up to the summit. Take the motorized truck up to the top. Proper footwear is imperative.

Stay tuned for a guided pictorial guide to some of Auckland's pubs!

Peace.

Rainn

Congrats to the Oil

So yes, It has been quite a while since I made a post. There were a myriad of reasons for this. The main one being that I was gearing up for a bit of a holiday to New Zealand. And yes, I was aware that it was winter down there. But hey, when a seat sale is good, I'm not one to pass it up.

So my precious Edmonton Oilers lost the Stanley Cup in Game 7 to Carolina. I know. It's shameful. Especially since North Carolina doesn't even get ice naturally. However, I say Kudos to the Oilers made it to the playoffs by default. We got in, because the Vancouver Canucks lost their last game. Had they won the game, they would have edged Edmonton out of the playoffs by one point. And yet, Edmonton made it farther than any other team in the NHL except Carolina. They played their hearts out, and we are proud of them.

Go Oilers Go.

A Sad Day

So by now, I am sure all of you hockey fans have heard the news that the Oiler's star goalie, Dwayne Roloson has been injured not be able to play the rest of the series.

This is tragic news indeed. Roli the Goalie was a very critical part of the Oiler's success during the playoff season. It will be interesting to see how well the backup goalie performs in the upcoming games against Carolina. (Next game: Tonight 6PM Mountain time)

I have faith that the rest of the team will be able to pull up their socks and pitch in a little more to help out the backup goalie (which ever one they choose to put in net).

In other news, CSIS (the Canadian equivalent to the CIA, but much better at keeping things quiet) have arrested 15 individuals for conspiring to commit a terrorist act. A horrible thing, indeed. However, upon CSIS revealing further details, we have learned that the terrorist were planning to storm the Canadian Parliament building, and take all of the politicians within the building hostage.

Hmmm. Less politicians? I have to ask myself... should we be arresting these people, or giving them a medal?

Just kidding. I do not condone terrorism in any fashion, and I sincerely hope that, if they are found guilty, that they be charged to the fullest extent of the law.

I will keep you posted on these events. Keep watching.

Stay Cool and Support the Oilers.

Rainn

WOO HOO! We are going to the Stanley Cup Finals!! Go OILERS Go!

You may have noticed that I didn't make a post after the last Oilers game, and, well, call me superstitious, but I didn't want to jinx anything. I am happy that we just have a chance to bring the cup home to where it belongs.

And to Mr. Dwayne Roloson.... You rock, and Edmonton is grateful for you skilled glove.

Stay cool and support the Oilers!

Rainn

Piapot, Saskatchewan

So I know what you're thinking. What or where the hell is Piapot, Saskatchewan? Well, quite frankly, there is not much there worth speaking of. It is in the southwest portion of the province, and really doesn't have a whole lot. I would be willing to bet that a good number of people who live in Saskatchewan have probably never heard of it.

So why was I there, you ask? My very best friend in the whole world, Megan, hails from this idyllic land. It may be hard to believe that Canadians in the 1980s lived without the luxuries of telephones, Nintendo games or even running water. But, where Megan grew up, just outside of Piapot, that was the case.

A few summers ago, Megan took me out to Piapot, to show me her old stomping grounds. It's an oddly beautiful landscape, very green and mostly flat, with the occasional rolling hill. There are plenty of trees on the plot of land that she lived on. Nestled in the trees is a modest house. Small and mostly empty.

Megan toured me through the house, showing me the simple kitchen, dining room and livingroom. Despite being small, it is a surprisingly comfortable abode, and it is easy to imagine the house full of furniture and knick-nacks, and, well, being lived in.

I queried however, about the water situation. Afterall, there was a stream on the property, but it wasn't overly close to the home. Megan led me outside and into a small grove. It's quite hidden, partly from the years of uninterrupted growth of vegetation. In the grove, sits a very large tractor tire with a long tube running into it. Clear water bubbles out of the tube steadilly, and creates a pool of water within the tire. And there, she explains, was their source of water.

I thought that the image itself was quite striking. It seemed so natural. It was very strange, in the sense that although the house and the source of water had not been used for years, you couldn't really tell. It was peaceful, and comfortable, and it was not at all hard to envision that it might still be used today.

Megan did not live in the house for more than a few years. But I do know that even though she was young, it is a place that she will never forget. Nor will I. And I can only hope that since you now know the story of the Water Wheel, that you might also remember it. Even if only for a short time.