Man Dies of Caffeine Overdose

In April of this year, a 23 year old British man, Michael Lee Bedford died of caffeine overdose, after eating 2 teaspoons of pure caffeine while at a party then washing it down with an energy drink.

According to health authorities after his autopsy, it was believed that the amount of caffeine he ingested was the equivalent to 70 red bulls. 70!

Party goers swore statements that they seen a friend of the man give him the powder. Apparently the caffeine powder was purchased online for $5.38. The original packaging specifically stated not to consume more than 1/16th of a teaspoon, but it is unclear if the powder was given to Bedford in the original packaging or not.

The death was apparently quite violent and unpleasant (as one would expect) but this week police have officially ruled his death as accidental.

Featured Destination: Easter Island

World Famous Statues or Moai on Easter Island

This week's feature destination is Easter Island. Technically considered a "Special Territory" of Chile, Easter Island is one of the most beautiful, yet isolated places on Earth that is permanently inhabited. The island, also known as Rapa Nui is more than 3,500 km west of continental Chile. The next closest civilization is the New Zealand protectorate of Pitcairn Island, which is still over 2000 km away, and actually has less than 100 habitants.

Easter Island has a little under 4000 year round inhabitants, 65% of which are natives. The remainder of the residents are primarily Chileans who have married into Rapa Nui families.

The Rapa Nui are fiercely protective of their Island, and are working towards gaining more control over emigration to Easter Island. However, tourism is a major industry on Easter Island, and the residents are most welcoming of visitors, so long as they are committed to returning home eventually.

Pano Anakena Beach

Easter Island is perhaps most famously known for the many statues that litter the shores of the Island. Many are in good shape and still standing or have been resurrected. There are a number of different theories and legends as to why they were built, and it has long been thought that the erection of the huge monoliths contributed to the massive deforestation of the island, in that the Rapa Nui cut trees down to help lift and move the statues.

But there are many other things to see and do on Easter Island. There are beautiful beaches to relax on or do some snorkeling, such as Pano Anakena beach. The waters are pure and crystal clean.

In fact, the Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is fiercely protected with a number of ecological programs ongoing such as re-introducing native flora to the island. Try taking a tour of the Rapa Nui National Park.

Viewing Orongo From The Ridge of Rano Kao Volcano

Easter Island was formed by extinct volcanoes. Spend a day hiking up to the top of Rano Kao volcano. The summit is 400 meter high and offers spectacular views of the island and the South Pacific. While you are on your trek, you can continue onto the the site of Orongo. Here you will find dozens of archeologically restored stone houses used by the Rapa Nui centuries ago. The houses are near a lake filled crater that offers a spectacular vista.

Stone Houses of Orongo

(All images from wikipedia.org)

When you go to Easter Island, you are best to go in January or February, which are the warmest months with daily highs around 28C. Going in the winter months of July and August will won't be too bad, with daily lows reaching 18C. I do recommend staying away during the month of April, as it is typically the rainiest.

To get to the Island, you can take Lan Chile from Santiago. Lan Chile is the main airline in Chile so it is a safe and reliable bet. That being said, flying to Easter Island is not cheap, so if you are on a budget, try searching one of the many smaller air companies that fly to the island.

While you are there, you can use the Chilean Peso, US Dollar or Euro. Sorry Canadians and Brits, but you will have to convert currency. There are several different tours that travel Easter Island, so if you are looking for a guide they should be easy to find.

Eco Cabins of Morerava

There are several different accommodation options on the island. If you check out the Easter Island home page, they even reference being able to stay in a private residence. That being said, why not try Cabanas Moreava?

Master Bedroom

This company has built a number of eco friendly cabins. The cabins are comfortable and well appointed and are meant to be as eco self sufficient as possible, so as to not damage the delicate ecosystem on the island. The cabins collect and purify their own rainfall, use solar panels and are built so they will do no damage if moved. You can check out the Moreava website here.

Living Room /Kitchenette

Easter Island is truly a unique place to visit. Their literally is no other place like it on earth. The island has only been inhabited for about 1000 years, but has such a rich history. It's a once in a lifetime trip, so if you go, take a million photos.

Happy Travels

Starbucks Out, Tim Hortons In?

Supermarket giant Safeway announced today that they will be pulling Starbucks kiosks out of 4 of their locations to test the famously Canadian Tim Hortons Brand instead.

2 locations in Calgary (Kensington & Castleridge) will be the first to make the transition this December, with the Callingwood location in Edmonton and the Transcona store in Winnipeg to follow shortly after.

Safeway has not said how long the test will be for before they convert the other locations or pull out the Tim's test stores.

Currently, the employees who run the Starbucks kiosks are direct employees of Canada Safeway, and will remain so with the brand changes.

From a consumer perspective, it is a smart idea, as most Western Canadian Tim Hortons locations frequently experience long line ups due to popularity. Also, Tims lower priced coffee will most likely be a boon to shoppers.

Number Crunching

Canada Safeway

Number of Safeway Locations in Canada: 222

Number of Safeway Canada Locations with a Starbucks located within: 168

Unusual Safeway Factoid: In the late 1970s, Safeway controlled nearly 80% of the Alberta grocery market, causing the Alberta government to launch an investigation into potential price fixing and/or price gouging of consumers

Tim Hortons

Number of Tims Locations in Canada: 3,040

Amount of Canadian coffee market held by Tim Hortons: 76% (1st place nationally)

Unusual Tim Hortons Factoid: By 2002, Tim Hortons overtook McDonald's both in the number of locations, and yearly sales revenues in Canada.

Starbucks

*Number of Starbucks Locations in Canada: 785 company operated stores & 266 "licensed concept stores". Grand Total: 1,051

*Amount of Canadian coffee market held by Starbucks: 7% (2nd place nationally)

*These numbers count only Starbucks branded stores. These numbers do not count the Seattle's Best brand (also owned by Starbucks) which is sold in various chains and stores, such as Mac's convenience stores.

Unusual Starbucks Factoid: In 1999, Starbucks covertly opened a number of eateries in the San Francisco Bay area under the name of Circadia. Unfortunately, the experiment didn't stay secret for very long. As word got out that the eateries were actually owned by Starbucks, they soon converted into Starbucks Cafes.

Crazy Quaids Claim They Are Refugees From US

I don't know how I couldn't have seen this coming. Yesterday I posted a story about Crazy Randy Quaid and his wife Evi and their numerous run ins from the law throughout the US, and that they were arrested in Vancouver for violating Canadian Immigration laws.

In what is clearly a last ditch effort to avoid re-arrest in California on outstanding warrants, the Crazy Quaids are now trying to claim refugee status! They claim that 8 of their close friends have been murdered in unusual circumstances, and they feel they are the next targets. To prove their point, they site the deaths of Heath Ledger and David Carradine as examples of these murders.

I guess they must not have read the news when it was stated that Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose, and David Carradine died in a sexual asphyxiation accident.

Unbelievable. And the worst part is that the Canadian Authorities released them on $10,000 bonds. So surely, they will disappear yet again. Even in the best case scenario, it will take months for their claim to be denied.

This is ridiculous. Would someone just lock up these people already?

Randy Quaid: When Bad Actors Do Bad Things

Randy Quaid Looking All Craaaaazzzzzy

I am not one who typically cares about Hollywood gossip, but I have got to say: What the hell is wrong with these people?

Every second week when I read the news, it seems there is some description of bizarre and illegal activities of Randy Quaid and his wife, Evi.

In case you have forgotten, last September, the Quaids had been arrested for failing to pay a $10,000 hotel bill. As I recall, Randy was said to be quite cavalier and insistent about not paying for the bill. They had been arrested, with a court date set, and the couple failed to show up to court, having fled to Texas. Warrants for their arrest as well as a request for extradition from Texas had been submitted.

Finally, they were re-arrested, with a new court date set, of which they failed to appear not once, but thrice!

Hello?? Anyone home? Do you not realize that failure to appear multiple times is not going to help your cause any? Did they think that the matter would simply go away if they didn't show up? Maybe the Quaids thought "oh ya, the State of California will get bored with this and forget about it."

As though all that was not strange in its own right, in September of this year, the Quaids were again arrested. This time for burglary and trespassing. Apparently the couple broke into a house that they formerly owned in Santa Barbara and were, well, squatting. There were also reports of vandalism of the property.

The story gets weirder. Randy Quaid claimed the house had been unlawfully transferred to a third party illegally by a woman who forged the Quaids signature on real estate documents. They claim her name is Rhonda Quaid.

Simple solution right? Simply find Rhonda and ask for answers, right? Nope. Rhonda is now dead. Don't ask me how, as I have no idea. Perhaps we should be looking for a murder weapon in the Quaids suitcases??

At any rate, the Crazy Quaids AGAIN failed to show up for court, and new arrest warrants were issued.

To top it all off, Today, the Quaids were arrested in Vancouver, for violating the Canadian Immigration Act. Most likely because they fled to Canada with outstanding warrants for their arrest in California. Duh. Did they think that Canadian and US Boarder Services does not share that information with each other?? Though it does make one wonder how they were allowed into Canada to begin with. Did they swim to Canada, thereby bypassing Customs?

The Quaids have been arrested more times in a year than Lindsay Lohan has been sent to rehab. Thats pretty bad.

I think they both need a serious psychological evaluation. And stop letting them out on bail, for crying out loud!

Missing Missy and the Man Behind The Sarcasm

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.



This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"

Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

I never said I don't like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a wet brown stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.

Attached poster as requested.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,

Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.

I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say lost.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,

I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.

I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.

I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.

Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.

The above email had been sent to me recently as an amusing joke. I must admit I found it roll-on-the-floor-laughing-while-trying-not-to-soil-myself funny. I had to find out if Shanon was a real person, if she indeed lost her cat, and if she had ever found it.

The series of emails actually comes from a man named David Thorne, who lives in Adelaide, Southern Australia. His website is called 27b/6. It is a blog in which he seems to intentionally not pay bills or respond to business colleagues until the situation can be dealt with humorously through email, which he then documents and posts online for our amusement.

By reading the website, one can believe that Shanon is indeed a real person whom he works with. David published a book about his internet adventures, which you can purchase on Amazon.com for about $18. I encourage you to check out the website, as it is a hilarious waste of time.

Incidentally, if David should read this post and see that I published the above transcript without his permission, I am sorry. Simply send me an email (of which I am sure you will have no shortage of things to say) and I will remove it.

Air Canada Sticks Up For Nut Lovers

So in a bizarre and ridiculous ruling this week, the Canadian Transport Agency has ruled that Air Canada must create 'nut free buffer zones' for passengers who may be allergic to nuts.

These nut free zones will be the seats immediately to the left and right of the affected person, as well as the entire rows in front of and behind them. This means that any nut lovers who may be sitting within a 5 foot radius of a allergy sufferer will not be permitted to enjoy their mid-flight peanutty snack.

This was a solution which was offered by Air Canada itself, and agreed upon by the Transport Agency in response to a complaint issued by two women, Sofia Huyer and Rhonda Nugent.

Apparently, the ruling is still not satisfactory for either woman. Huyer, in the complaint she submitted to the transport agency said she felt that nuts of any form should not be served on any aircraft which she may be flying in.

She also said that she was "startled and astonished" that the Transport Agency agreed to the suggestion.

Seriously? This woman needs to back off. She deserves a dose of reality, and I for one would have liked to see the Transport Agency give her the proverbial middle finger.

Don't get me wrong, I sympathize with people who have severe nut allergies, and once witnessed the near death of a close friend who accidently ingested nuts due to a careless restaurant that mistakenly promised a nut-free dessert. That being said, the chances of someone having an allergic reaction simply from someone sitting 10 feet away eating peanuts is slim to none. Apparently the Transport Agency brought in medical experts who agreed that this scenario is extremely unlikely, especially with the specialized, high quality ventilation on air planes.

Additionally the Transport Agency stated: "Simply put, it is neither practical nor possible to ban all substances to which any person may be allergic in a mass transportation system, nor is it feasible to eliminate all risks,"

But where does it stop? Are we going to eliminate bulk sales of nuts from grocery stores because someone may stroll through the aisle and inhale a nut particle? Are we going to sell peanut butter and nut related products only in special stores which do not allow minors? Enough is enough. Already we can't allow our children to eat a simple peanut butter sandwich because the substance has been banned from most schools.

And what many medical experts will tell you if you ask: we are making nut allergies worse and more deadly by doing this. Studies have repeatedly shown that a large percentage of young children display mild symptoms of nut allergies. This is both common and normal. Traditionally, as these children are exposed to nuts and nut products more frequently, the symptoms dissipate, the allergy goes away. By panicking and removing any and all contact from nut products, we allow the allergy to develop and get more dangerous.

The world is not wrapped in bubble wrap people. Certainly we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of people in daily activities, but at what point do we try to preserve simple things that contribute to the quality of life?

Naheed Neshi: New Mayor of Calgary

So I have been terribly busy these last few weeks. It seems like I have a million things to do each day, and I never get them all done.

That being said, never fear, as I always keep track of topics I want to write about on the blog.

One hot topic this week was the municipal election here in Calgary. This is the first election that I have not voted in. With recently relocating here, I felt that I did not know enough about the history of the candidates to make an informed choice on who to vote for. Sure, you can always find the candidates online and read their platform, but I like to know some history about the candidates: were they in politics before? Did they live up to previous promises they made? Are they reputable business people? Personally, I believe idiots that make an uninformed decision on who they are voting for are far more dangerous than those who abstain.

But I digress.

Much to many people's surprise, Naheed Nenshi, who was considered a distant third runner up during the entire campaign won by a reasonable margin.

Naheed Nenshi Celebrating (photo from www.nenshi.ca)

Naheed Nenshi ran against Barb Higgins, a well know former news anchor on CTV news, and Ric McIver, an older white businessman and former city alderman, who people seem to either somewhat like or openly despise.

Barb Higgins, a well known television personality and attractive white female, was considered the front runner in the race the week prior to the election, though she jumped on the political band wagon relatively late in race.

But, in a rare turn of political progression, Naheed Nenshi pulled ahead when it really counted. Naheed is a Harvard Graduate with a Masters in Public Policy, and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary. He currently is a professor at Mount Royal University here in Calgary.

So he has solid credentials. Why would this be considered a progressive political choice? Because not only is Naheed a visible minority, (a first for Calgary mayors) but he is now the first Mayor in Canada who is Muslim.

Yes, I said Muslim.

Lets be honest. Muslim is an attention getting word these days. I think draws more attention in the US, certainly, but even still it is capable of causing heated debate here in Canada.

Now the funny thing about it all is I have heard a few people talking about the record voter turn out for the recent election. There were more than 300,000 votes cast which means an estimated eligible voter turn out of approximately 46%. I have heard several people mention that they felt Nenshi won because many of Calgary's visible minorities made sure they got to the polls this year.

While that may be true, I am not sure that the motives were race or religion oriented. Calgarians en masse were definitely ready for a change. Over the course of the last year, most of the local media ran editorials about how the city needed a political change. Additionally, many opinion based publications called for an all out recall of city council. And, if that wasn't convincing enough, there were a record amount of candidates for the mayors chair. At one point during the election, there were 15 declared candidates.

As an added analysis, here are some brief statistics about Calgary:

Population: 1,079,000 (2006 census)

Visible Minorities 23.7% (2006 census)

Number of declared Muslims 26,000 (2001 census)

So looking at all of the numbers, even if every declared Muslim in the city of Calgary was eligible to vote, and casted a ballot for Nenshi, it still would be less than 25% of the votes received. Add that to the amount of eligible minority voters, and it still would not have put him over the top.

After all of that, I think the only fair way to sum up this election, is that the best man won. Simple as that. Nenshi is a well educated, succinct speaker who ran a clean campaign and had a solid platform.

I don't believe the media will let the minority issue or religious affiliation drop anytime soon. But, I hope that Nenshi is clever enough and tactful enough to use it to his advantage. If he spins the media attention correctly, he can bring more positive attention to the city of Calgary and attract a lot of important investment and cultural opportunities to the city.

Good Job Naheed, and good luck with the political career.

Lobe Licker at Large

So in a bit of bizarre news today, police in St. Catharines, Ontario are on the hunt for a man who assaulted a Dollar Store employee by licking her ear.

According to reports, a man went into a My Dollar Shop, purchased several cans of spray paint, and left the store. He came back about 5 minutes later, motioned to the female clerk to lean closer to him, then allegedly licked her ear and began whispering sexual comments to her.

When a male coworker approached, the man fled the store. He is described as being a very tall black male, between 6'2" and 6'5" with a shaved head and wearing a green and white stripped sport jacket.

Seriously? Whatever happened to the day where sexual assault used to just be an inappropriate slap on the behind? Not that I am condoning that either, but licking a strangers ear? Gross.

I recommend the women in St. Catharines wear ear muffs for the foreseeable future until this man is apprehended.

U.S. Issues Travel Alert For Europe

The US government today issued a warning for American traveler to be vigilant while in any European state.

The US government sites intel about al-Qaeda potentially launching a terrorist attack somewhere in Europe, similar to the Mumbai shootings that took place in 2008.

While the US government did not specify a particular region within Europe, the British authorities said Germany or France may be likely targets.

Following in the footsteps of the US and UK, Canada also issued a warning for Canadian travelers to be extra cautious while traveling.

While I am not making light of a potentially dangerous situation, I have to question the value of issuing a travel warning for the entire continent of Europe.

I think the warning was excessively broad, and will instill more fear than vigilance. Additionally, in our global economy, we need to be cautious about issuing frivolous warnings that can effect national economies (ie, national tourism). Europe is a large place and there is more international travel within Europe than anywhere else on the planet.

Blanket warnings can often cause more harm than good by scaring potential tourists away from locations which may be perfectly safe, such as Greece or Switzerland. Similarly, both Canada and the US are vast nations. If there were to be a potential security threat in say, Vancouver or Los Angeles, there could be far reaching consequences if other national governments were to issue travel advisories for all of Canada and the US.

So, to international travelers, I say this: You should always be vigilant while traveling regardless of potential security threats. There are always chances of theft, assault, or worse no matter where one goes. General caution should always be used, but do not let fear rule your life.

Also, as a note, no matter where you go or when, it is always good to register with a local embassy or with the Register of Canadians Abroad service. They can be invaluable services in cases of civil unrest, such as the recent riots in France or in cases of natural disaster such as the earthquake it Haiti. It is always good to have a line of communication available.

Happy & Safe Travels

Michaelle Jean Talks About Prorogation

Today the outgoing Governor General of Canada briefly discussed her decision to prorogue parliament (for the first time) in 2008.

You may remember the time of political crisis when the 3 opposition party leaders decided to oust Stephen Harper from the Prime Ministers Office and form a coalition government. (You can read my previous post from December 2008 here:http://thoughtsofrainn.blogspot.com/2008/12/harper-prorogues-parliament.html)

There was a certain amount of outrage at the time when Michaelle Jean bowed to the request of the Prime Minister and agreed to the suspending of parliament. This effectively allowed the government to unexpectedly adjourn the session of parliament, and there by dodged the bullet of a non-confidence motion from passing.

Regardless of whether or not you agreed with the decision, since it was a precedent setting course of action (as no other Governor General had made a similar ruling, and the fact that it prevented the opposition from tabling a confidence motion) the people of Canada were owed an explanation as to why and on what merit her decision was made.

We still have not received a justification.

Personally, my biggest problem was not so much with the fact that it saved the current Conservative government but the fact that the action prevented democracy from occurring. There are reasons as to why a process is in place for what should occur if a confidence motion does not pass. It means that the ruling government has lost the confidence to govern, and that either an election be held, or an opposition party take the reins. In all fairness, Michaelle Jean took that democratic process away from the people.

And for that we are owed an explanation.

Unfortunately, during her conversations regarding her choice, she still has not offered any reasonings. (No doubt waiting until she releases a new book about her time as Governor General.)

What she DID say was that she felt her decision had a positive spin, in that it forced a national discussion and led Canadians to learn more about their "democracy".

I find her comments insulting and laughable.

I am glad to see the woman go, and I look forward to the next Governor General. Frankly, I think anyone could do a better job.

Destination of the Week: Athens, Greece

As fall sets in, the colours become bright and vibrant, the weather seems to suddenly take a turn for the better (we had a horrible summer), and it reminds me of lazy summer days. Which is why I think Athens is the perfect choice for a featured destination!

The weather always seems to be beautiful in Athens, with nothing but sunshine and and the occasional breeze off the Mediterranean Sea.

Athens is a remarkable city, and one of the oldest on the planet. It was once the major power of the known world, and much of modern Western civilization was built upon its principles and social graces.

Over the millenia, Athens has continued to grow, evolve and expand to a burgeoning metropolis of more than 3 million people.

Athens For Miles

Although the city is huge and expansive, you would never know it by walking and touring around. There are always people milling about, and with so many outdoor cafes, charming streets, and public squares, it's easy to think of yourself as being in a small community.

Changing of The Guard: Constitution Square

Of course one of the most important reasons for visiting Athens is the architecture and history of the city. After all, this is one of the places where civilization as we know it started. There are many interesting sites to visit.

The Acropolis is arguably one of the most visited sites in the world. It can get very busy throughout the day, but I assure you it is worth it. This site has some of the best kept ancient buildings in all of Greece. And the government has been working continuously to restore much of the damage.

The Acropolis

Another great site to visit is the Ancient Agora and the Roman Agora, which are located next to each other. They are in an area of the city called Monastiraki, and the local metro has a stop right there. Make sure to tour the whole area of Monastiraki, as there are literally dozens of great restaurants and lots of shopping for the ladies. (Remember to barter with the shop keepers while shopping.)

Ruins in Monastiraki

Other great sites to see are The Temple of Olympian Zeus, The Archeological Museum, and more. Infact, there are so many museums that it would be difficult to see them all in only one week.

The people in Athens tend to be very friendly, and most of them speak a fair amount of English, especially in the more tourist areas. Though they often seem to look at Americans (or Amerikani, as they say) with a certain amount of amusement. They really don't seem to want to make the distinction between Canadians or Americans though. If you are from North America, you will be considered "Amerikani".

The Greek have a much different way of life than we do in Canada and the US. Their culture is very much driven by family. Greeks tend to live at home with their parents until they marry, and family is the most important aspect of their lives. While the Greeks work hard, work seems to be more of an afterthought to many of them. Simply a means of maintaining their lifestyle, rather than an important area of focus. Upon talking to many of the locals, they seem to have a more positive outlook on life and enjoy themselves more frequently than we do.

It is true that the city looks old. The WHOLE city looks that way. But the insides of buildings are well maintained and it's part of Athens' charm. I especially recommend going to the bar on top of the Intercontinental Hotel at night to get a great view of the city. It's truly spectacular.

A trip to Europe is simply not complete until one visits Athens. I think after you've been there, you tend to look at life a bit differently. I know it made me re-examine what is truly important in life.

Happy Travels.

Orgy of Excess

The Liberal party today made headlines in no doubt every news publication in Canada today by calling the expenses of the G8/G20 summit in Toronto & The Muskokas an "Orgy of Excess".

I am not going to defend or attack the expenses of the summits, as I think each Canadian needs to make that decision for themselves.

But what is it about the term "orgy" that generates so much interest in the media, and indeed, with average Canadian readers?

Dictionary.com defines the term as:

1. wild, drunken or licentious festivity or revelry.

2. any actions or proceedings marked by unbridled indulgence of passions.

3. Informal. A boisterous, rowdy party.

While there are a few different definitions, they are all rather similar, and do not leave a lot of room for duplicity in meaning.

However, none of the three terms are overtly provocative. Yet, somehow, throughout the centuries, the term has always held it's connotations of being lewd or dirty.

The particularly lewd connotations stem from the ancient Greek civilization. Specifically in the way certain gods were worshipped. I suspect, the acts of worshipping in this fashion was considered inappropriate with the adoption of Christianity.

Yet even thousands of years later, the term is looked upon as being provocative and even shocking in nature, and thus, is used rarely. This allows the user of the term to be noticed, and considered to be making a rather harsh observation.

It works not only in politics, but with everyday conversation as well. For example, if an online reviewer of televisions, who probably writes reviews on dozens of TVs each year were to state that the new Sony Bravia television was "An Orgy to the Senses", one could guarantee that it would likely be the most viewed or discussed product all year.

So if it is such a powerful term, why exactly is it used so rarely?

I think because no matter how often the term would be used, it would always have that slightly childish, negative slant. Even if the word were to be only used in a positive way (as in the above example). Eventually, the person or publication frequently using the term would be viewed as the dirty uncle wearing a trench coat while reading adult magazines at the gas station.

While it can be a fun and poignant term, use it wisely! It is a powerful word.

Rainn

Featured Destination of The Week - Zurich, Switzerland

Since I like to travel so much, I thought a new and interesting idea would be to post my "Featured Destination" each week.

Some of these destinations may be places that I have visited, or where I would like to go. I will be sure to include some really neat photos, as well as travel tips for each destination.

To start off this week's destination, I have chosen Zurich, Switzerland.

Lake Zurich

Zurich is a beautiful and peaceful city in Switzerland. It sits on Lake Zurich, which is a wonderful place to take a boat ride and do some site seeing of the countryside. As well, I believe one or two of the smaller tour boats actually sail you down the river which intersects part of downtown Zurich for a closer look at architecture.

Part of Old Town Zurich

All of the streets appear to be quite clean and tidy. The Old Town has plenty of high end shopping outlets and pubs are located everywhere if you need to take a break from touring around.

The people seem to be genuinely friendly, though I was surprised how many citizens speak absolutely no English at all, which seems odd for such an international city. It is quite helpful if you speak German or even Italian.

It's easy to get around in Zurich, as the rail system seems to be quite extensive. However, if you stay in the downtown area, you can walk pretty much anywhere. The weather in the summer is pleasant enough that you may prefer to walk anyway.

As a note, they do not typically use the Euro in Zurich, as the prefer they Swiss Franc. The currency is close to Par with the Canadian dollar, but the city is expensive. I have also had reports from some travelers that they had problems using some of the automated banking machines in Zurich, and that for some reason they would not read Canadian bank cards (though mine seemed to work fine).

If you are in town for a short while, I recommend you stay at the Hotel Ascot, which is right across the street from the central rail station. It is well kept, clean, with fairly spacious rooms. There is a nice quiet evening restaurant on the main floor, and they have a great breakfast buffet in the morning which is included in the room rate. Also, the staff is fluent in English, and very polite and helpful.

You can view their website here: http://www.ascot.ch/en.html

If you have been to a place that you think is fantastic and would like to see it featured, send me an email and let me know!

Happy Travels

Rainn

BC Voters Move to Recall Defiant MLAs

Most people have probably heard at least something about the ongoing fight to repeal the Harmonized Sales Tax in BC, which added an additional 5% tax onto many products and services that had previously been exempt.

The fight has been ongoing for nearly a year now, ever since BC's Liberal controlled provincial government signed onto a Federal agreement to meld the provincial sales tax with the Federal Goods and Services tax.

The new "Harmonized" tax has been hotly contested, mainly since the Liberal government had partly been elected by standing on a political platform of rejecting the idea of a harmonized sales tax.

Having our elected officials renege on election promises is not a new development in Canada. However, in a rare form of democracy being exercised, more than 10% of eligible voters in EVERY BC riding signed a petition which forced the BC government to make a choice: Either table new legislation to repeal the tax all together, or hold a province wide referendum allowing the voters to decide whether to scrap the tax.

Now a few things should be noted here. First of all, tabling new legislation does not mean the tax would actually be repealed. Since the Liberal government still hold a majority in the BC legislator, they could in effect, vote the bill down. The tax would carry on and nothing would change. Aside from the problem of mass voter revolt in the next election which would probably decimate their political party for the next 10 years.

The other option of choosing the referendum has its flaws too. A referendum is a lengthy and expensive process, not unlike a general election. It requires polling stations stacked with election officials, and vote counters. It is also NOT legally binding. This means that even if an overwhelming amount of voters choose to scrap the tax, the government is not obligated to do so. Though again, failure to listen to the voters most likely means political death.

In recognizing that the non-binding and expensive referendum is not a favorable option, the organizer of the anti-HST movement, Bill Vander Zalm publicly called for the government to call the legislature into session early and to table a bill to repeal the tax.

Vander Zalm, who spent a great deal of effort to rally BC voters to have their voice heard, was also very up front in stating that failure of government MLAs to table the legislation and to listen to voters and repeal the tax would face the unpleasant consequences of a recall.

In true politicking fashion, the Liberal government chose the route of holding a referendum. Next year. This would allow the tax to be integrated into the province for a considerable amount of time (ie, the citizens would be used to paying it), the heat of the topic would die down, and it would buy the government time to buy votes. Pardon me. Regain voter confidence.

Bill Vander Zalm is now on a mission to show the government his bite is as harsh as his bark. He has already set a date for recalling Liberal MLAs. And, he's published his hit list of MLAs that will be recalled first.

While recalling an elected MLA is exceedingly difficult, (it requires 40% of eligible voters in the MLA's riding to sign a petition in 60 days) the MLAs on the hit list should be legitimately worried.

Vander Zalm's campaign has specifically targeted MLAs that are already weak prey. They are the elected officials who won their ridings by slim margins, or have been embroiled in public controversy since the election. In addition, Vander Zalm is going to start with attempting to recall 3 MLAs, with another one being added every month starting in February. To determine who the first 3 targets for recall will be, Vander Zalm is hosting a Survivor-like contest asking for extremely competitive volunteers to help with recall efforts. Whichever 3 ridings have the most volunteers signed up will end up being the targets. Holding this contest should keep the recall efforts on the list of top stories for every BC news outlet for the next 3 months.

Ultimately, Vander Zalm's goal, aside from showing his displeasure with the government, is to recall enough Liberal MLA so that they will lose their majority in the Legislature.

I for one, hope his efforts succeed. This is a rare glimpse of the Canadian public doing something to hold their elected representatives accountable. It happens so rarely in Canadian politics. Other provinces should be paying close attention to these developments. If the recall campaign is successful, voters across the country may decide that there are viable courses of action to punish their representatives for failing to listen to them.

And after all, isn't that what democracy is all about?

For those of you that live in BC, here is Vander Zalm's complete hit list of MLAs. Yours may be on it:

John Slater - Boundary-Simikameen

Donna Barnett - Cariboo Chilcotin

Terry Lake - Kamloops North

Bill Bennett - Kootenay east

Ida Chong - Oak Bay - Gordon Head

Ron Cantelon - Parksville - Quallicum

Bill Barisoff - Penticton

Norm Letnik - Kelowna - Lake Country

Ben Stewart - Kelowna Westside

Steve Thomson - Kelowna - Mission

Eric Foster - Vernon Monashee

John Les - Chilliwack

Don McRae - Comox Valley

John Rustad - Nechako Lakes

Colin Hansen - Vancouver Quilchena

Jane Thornethwaite - North Vancouver - Seymour

Joan McIntyre - West Vancouver - Sea to Sky

Marc Dalton - Maple Ridge - Mission

Man Pleasures Himself in Wal-Mart Toy Dept

Ok, So this was just too bizarre not to post.

The picture you see is an actual mug shot of 28 year old William Tyler Black. Black allegedly went into his local Florida Wal-Mart, grabbed the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. He then took the magazine into the Toy Department and pleasured himself to completion. The article further alleges that when he had finished, um, playing with HIS toy, that he wiped his hands on a child's toy which was on a nearby shelf.

Police have levied a series of charges on Black.

While I agree that the man needs help and SHOULD be arrested, I think the last charge of Battery On A Child may be reaching for straws. Police felt that the charge was reasonable, as they concluded it was possible that a child may have come into contact "with the fluid on the toy".

In any case, I guess Wal-Mart really DOES have everything.

Montreal Canadiens Too English?

So today, Pauline Marois, Parti Quebecois leader (That's the official opposition party in the Province of Quebec) stated publicly that she felt the players on one of the most beloved NHL teams in history, the Montreal Canadiens, are "not French enough".

Apparently, Pauline also told reporters the fact that there are so many non-French players on the team is not in Quebec's interest.

Sound stupid? Wait. It gets more retarded.

Pierre Curzi, who is the language critic for the Parti Quebecois stated on a popular French radio program that he believes the lack of French players is "Not by chance" and that it is an attempt to "Serve the Federalist agenda"

It seems that Curzi's comments have created quite a stir in Quebec, and indeed within the NHL.

Dominick Saillant, a spokesman for the Montreal Canadiens responded by saying that language has nothing to do with who plays on the team, and that player selections are done purely based on talent.

As it should be, in my opinion.

Saillant did go on to say that as long as people are counting, the Canadiens do have more francophone players than any other team in the league, with 11 being French.

Since the public furor, language critic Curzi has attempted to backtrack on some of his comments suddenly saying he did NOT believe this was a deliberate attempt by the team to stack itself with English players. This came after Pauline Marois denied that there was a federal conspiracy to slight the French speaking people.

As if Curzi doesn't sound brain-damaged enough, he made headlines 2 years ago when he spoke out against Paul McCartney putting on a free show on the Plains of Abraham to celebrate Quebec City's 400th birthday. He stated it was inappropriate for McCartney to be singing in English on the historic battle site of French and English troops.

On a personal note to Curzi, should he happen to read this: 1. I doubt Paul McCartney could care less about furthering Canada's Federalist agenda, and 2. The French LOST. Deal with it.

All of the above shenanigans is a prime example of what is wrong with the Parti Quebecois. I don't really have a preference for or against Quebec separating. Whatever they want to do is fine with me.

What I DO have a problem with however, is irrational, uneducated ramblings from people in high ranking positions with the intention of getting the public worked up. Instead of wasting valuable air time being negative and looking for non-existent conspiracies, the party SHOULD be showcasing the positives and uniqueness of their culture. Why not spend some of the cultural dollars Quebec has and use it for a cross Canada promotion of French Heritage? Lots of provinces (ie, New Brunswick, Manitoba and even Alberta) have a significant Francophone population, and such actions would probably do well to convince other Canadians to embrace the importance of the French culture.

What do you think? Am i being too hard on the Parti Quebecois? Or do they really use scare tactics on a frequent basis. I don't live in Quebec, so it is possible I have a bias. If you think so, let me have it!

Rainn

The Vegas Lights Collection

So this winter I finished a new collection of photos called The Vegas Lights Collection. I really like this series, and yet I haven't done anything with the photos.

Typically I will add them to my collection for sale, or give away some prints for gifts or auction, but so far... nothing.

I am not really sure why. I guess though, since I moved into a new city this month, I am suddenly ready to share them.

So here they all are. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Rainn

The Bellagio

Bill's Gamblin' Hall

Caesars Palace

Ballys & The Eiffel Tower

Flamingo

The Strip

Telus Mobility Sucks!

Ok, so lots of people say lots of different companies suck. So why should you read this post?

Here's why:

Telus Mobility is selling you a product that doesn't work properly. And they know it. And they won't compensate you in any way.

About a year and a half ago, the iPhone was made available in Canada through Rogers Wireless. Rogers was first to the market because they have been using the SIM card network for years. Canada was one of the few industrialized countries where the majority of the big telecoms (ie Telus & Bell Mobility) used CDMA technology - meaning that SIM cards were not used, and therefore most handsets were programmed to only work on one specific network.

However, Telus & Bell were wise enough to realize that the majority of popular smart phones would all use SIM cards, and that the manufacturers would not make special versions of their handsets to work with the CDMA networks that they were running. This forced the two companies to work together on their networks again to create a new SIM card enabled HSPA network. And presto! Both phone companies could now sell the iPhone.

So I finally caved in June of this year, and purchased an iPhone through Telus Mobility. I'm not a hardcore tech geek, but I already had an iPod touch, and my phone was outdated, so I thought why not combine the two?

When I first got the iPhone, I was working in Fort McMurray, Alberta, which is WAY north, and well known for cell reception problems and dropped calls. I would get the occasional dropped call on m iPhone when I was there, but my old phone (which worked on the old CDMA network) would do the same thing, so I figured things were par for the course.

After two months of using the iPhone, I traveled to the US for a week and my phone worked perfectly fine there. After returning from The States, I moved to Calgary, Alberta. Suddenly, my iPhone seemed to suck. Bad. Really bad, in fact.

I have now been in Calgary for 3 weeks, and I am averaging 2 - 3 completed calls out of every 10 calls made. The rest of the calls drop, and I get that lovely message 'Signal Failed' on my iphone. The signal typically drops right away. And in a some cases, the bars on my phone show full, but it drops the call any way. The call usually drops in the first five minutes or less. Yesterday, when I was trying to make a call, it dropped 3 times while the phone was still ringing.

So finally, the other day, i needed to call a utility company to get my utilities connected, since I had just moved into my new home. As usual for utility companies, I was placed on hold on their automated system. After being on hold for 18 minutes... You guessed it. 'Signal Failed'. This was the last straw. I called Telus.

I called Telus (and ironically the phone did not drop the call). I navigated my way through the automated system to talk to a technician. (I'm sorry, I do not remember his name). Here is a brief script of key points of the conversation as I remember it:

Tech: Thank you for calling Telus, how can I help you today?

Me: Yes, I was wondering if you have been having a problem with your network in the Calgary area lately? My phone has been dropping calls for-

Tech: (Interrupts) Yes, we are. We have been having problems across Alberta for some time due to the network upgrades we are doing.

Me: Oh, I see. Well do you have any idea how much longer this will go on for? I can barely make a call.

Tech: I really don't know. I could say 6 months, but it might be a year. The upgrades to the system are slow, because we have to work with Bell on the network and that takes time.

Me: A year? Really? Well, that's not really acceptable to me. This is the only phone I have and I use it for business. I was speaking with a client the other day, and the call dropped 3 times. That doesn't make me look very professional.

Tech: Yes I understand. But the network is in its infancy, and we are constantly trying to improve it. (Tech then goes into a long winded speech about the problems that other companies such as Rogers had when they launched their networks.)

Me: Ok, I understand that, but we need to come up with a solution.

Tech: Well, what do you suggest? You can always press both buttons on the iPhone and hold for 10 seconds to try and reset the phone. (I am not sure how he knew I had an iPhone.)

Me: Well, either provide an ETA on how long the reception troubles will be, or find a way to compensate me for service interruptions.

Tech: That is not likely to happen sir. We do not guarantee service or reception and we have a limited liability. You have signed a contract stating that you agree to those terms. Let me read the liability section of the agreement to you. (Tech then reads 2 paragraphs of fine print to me verbatim.)

Me: Well, I admit that I did not read all of the fine print in the contract. Who does? I will accept responsibility for not reading that, but in all fairness, what you just told me is that you sell a product but don't stand behind it in any fashion.

Tech: We stand behind our products, sir.

Me: How is that? The product doesn't work, I am paying full price on it, but you refuse to help me. In addition to that, it is misleading. Do you think any of your sales people are telling customers that there have been constant problems with the network?

Tech: We no, I am sure they don't. But it's not misleading.

Me: How is that not misleading? They are selling a product that they know does not work correctly, but they are not telling anyone. Do you think I would have bought the product if I knew there were network problems?

Tech: Well no, I am sure you wouldn't.

Me: Well then. It's misleading, isn't it?

Tech: Well what do you suggest?

Me: As I said before, either provide me with an ETA on when the service will be reliable, or connect me to somebody who can compensate me for lack of service.

Tech: Ok, no problem. I can connect you right away to someone from our Loyalty and Reception department. Can you hold for a moment?

Me: Yes that's fine.

That portion of the call lasted about 20 mins, as the tech told me all about their new HSPA network, and that it is a new technology for them, and like all new products, its takes a year or so to work the bugs out of it.

He didn't try to offer any solutions for compensation, and he couldn't offer any solutions to make the reception problems disappear, but he is a technician and his hands were tied. I understand that. So I waited on hold for about another 8m minutes, and I was seriously rocking out to some hard core elevator music. This is where the call gets more interesting.

Tech: Hello Sir. Thank you for holding. I have Nicholas on the line for you. I gave him a brief update of what we talked about, and he will take care of you now. Thank you for calling.

Nicholas: Hello, my name is Nicholas. How can I help you?

Me: Well, I am guessing that the Tech told you about the issues I was having?

Nicholas: Yes. (Pause. Nicholas liked to pause A LOT on this call.)

Me: Well the issues I am having are not really acceptable. I use my phone for business, and at this point in time, it doesn't hardly work.

Nicholas: I see. And what would you like us to do Sir?

Me: Well, either provide me with an ETA on when the network will be working normally, or, if it's not going to work properly, then we need to make it financially viable for me to stay with you.

Nicholas: You mean as in a credit? Why would we do that?

Me: Your product does not work consistently. There must be some benefit to stay with your company. Either reliable service, or reasonable prices. Currently, I am paying a premium to be on your network, but the network does not work well. So, then the price must be cheaper than your competitors, or there is no point in staying with your service.

Nicholas: Pause. I have nothing to credit you for. The network is fine. It sounds like the reception problem is with your phone, and I recommend you send the phone back to apple to be repaired.

Me: Pause. There is nothing wrong with the phone. It works perfectly fine everywhere except in Calgary. If the phone works everywhere else, then there is not a problem with the phone.

Nicholas: That's not true, if the phone works in other places, but not in a big city, then there could still be something wrong with your phone. We have not had any problems with the network in Calgary since last November.

Me: But that's not true. In fact that's the exact opposite of what your tech told me. He told me himself that you have had constant problems with the network here.

Nicholas: No, I don't believe so. To my knowledge there has been no problems with the network in Calgary since last November.

Me: Well, no offence to you, but I think I'll take the word of your technician over you on network problems.

Nicholas: That's fine. So what would you like me to do then?

Me: Well, credit my account for the service I am paying for but can't use please.

Nicholas: I have no credits for you and nothing to credit you for.

Me: Pause. Well then maybe we need to put in for a disconnection of service.

Nicholas: Snicker. Well what network are you going to go to then?

Me: There are others out there. There's Rogers.

Nicholas: Snicker. Yes, but their network is older and slower.

Me: Yes, but if I can actually make a call on their network, then it doesn't really matter, does it?

Nicholas: Well that's fine. When would you like a disconnect?

Me: Let's go for September 30th.

Nicholas: Your billing cycle ends on October 9th. I can disconnect then. Does that work for you?

Me: Yes, that's fine. And just so I can write it down, what is your name and position again please?

Nicholas: My name is Nicholas and I am in the Loyalty and Customer Retention department.

Me: Really? Well good job. Anyway, thanks.

So, the long and short of the call was the Tech admitted they have been having problems with the network all over Alberta for some time. He also told me that they have no idea when it will be working properly, as it is a 'new technology' for Telus. Both people I spoke with refused to compensate me in any fashion, and Nicholas, who supposedly works for Customer Retention did not even make a suggestion that would have attempted to retain me as a customer.

If you are going to purchase an iPhone, or a smart phone that uses a SIM card, I warn you, do not purchase it from Telus, or you will be really sorry.

Got a horror story about Telus? Tell Us all about it!

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!