People and Guns

 

 

I have been reading a lot about guns.  After the tragedy, this is unavoidable.  I have read many arguments for and against gun control, and I firmly side with control.  If you're against gun control, there is probably nothing I am going to do to change your mind, but I have to do something.

I really only want to tackle one argument that I keep hearing.  Guns don't kill people, people kill people.  I have read that in many forms throughout this debate.  Most recently someone said, guns aren't the problem, people are the problem.  Guns are no more to blame than car accidents.

HMMMMMM?

If we believe that argument (which I don't) we place all the blame at the feet of people.  So how do we solve that problem?  Do we put every person in jail?  Do we do a psychological profile on every person in the country?  Do we step on every liberty they have, to save one?  If people are the problem, maybe not allowing them access to guns, ammunition, and training is the answer.  By the above argument, we need to stop people from getting guns....... so wouldn't banning guns be the answer?

The Spirit of Christmas

There does seem to be a kindness in the air.  Though I, and some of you out there, might whine and moan about Christmas and commercialization, and the fact that Christmas displays start way too early, there is something to be said for the spirit of Christmas.

While watching YouTube today, several people (mostly Canadians working in Asia) noted that while the decorations in Asia were good in the stores, they felt an absence of the build up to Christmas.  They mentioned an absence of that Christmas feeling.  It made me think.

While shopping today (not for Christmas things--surprisingly I am done shopping for everyone and everything except for the present I am going to give myself.  That I will leave to boxing day or beyond) I noted many random acts of kindness followed by a "Merry Christmas".  Several people have also commented that complete strangers have paid for their meals at the drive through.

Huge, magnanimous gestures are always good, but I do find that small, personal gestures seem better. Thank you Christmas.  Thank you for rising above the commercialism and bringing out the best in people.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Psy Versus Justin Bieber

I heard that there was a huge competition this week between fans of Psy and Justin Bieber to see whose fans could get the number YouTube views over one billion.  Fans of either of these two performers would log onto YouTube and view the video, thus increasing the number of views.  According to the media, Psy was the first to reach one billion.  Psy was the winner.  I wonder, maybe it is YouTube and its advertisers that were the winners.

I am in favour of competition, and am not bothered by this.  It may not be the most productive use of one's time, but I can hardly condemn it.  I spend my time writing blogs that only a small number of people read (for the time being I hope...) so I can't complain.  Certainly, it is interesting to see how far social media has grown, and how much it can do.

I have enjoyed other campaigns. The one that pushed Betty White back into the spotlight was especially good.  She is a hard working actress and deserved to rewarded for her years of hard work.  Besides, she is actually funny.

I wish I could redirect more of this social revolution to solve the bigger and smaller problems in our world.  I wish we could get more people behind gun control, more people to exercise their right to vote, more people to clean up their neighbourhoods, more people to spread good will, more people to realize that they can make a difference.  I guess I am motivated by Christmas and the positive (though sometimes overly commercial) message it brings.

Funny how this blog entry worked out.

Careful Planning or Last Minute Panic?

 

What's better:  Planning your Christmas shopping and getting it done calmly and efficiently in the months, possibly several, leading up to Christmas or leaving it to the last minute and finishing the shopping in an adrenaline fuelled last minute scramble ending just as the store is closing?

Let us analyze.  Planning your shopping and executing it makes for a worry free Christmas.  It also probably means that you were able to stick to your budget and even if you didn't, you won't be facing a huge post Christmas credit card bill (like most of us).  You'll miss the crowded stores, the panic buying and dealing with salesclerks who've heard the same Christmas carol CD 20 times a day for more than 15 days in a row.  You will also have the ability to gloat whenever your friends, family and colleagues speak of their future shopping trips.  Of course, you don't have to gloat.  You could just smirk inwardly.

If you choose the last minute option you will have compacted the time you spent in the mall to a bare minimum amount.  You will have saved a lot of time to use for other activities (like procrastination) and used a lot of effort over a short time rather than a small effort over a larger period of time.  You will also have received the aforementioned adrenaline rush.  One other thing that must not be overlooked is that you will have spent the Christmas season in a place that was decorated for Christmas, full of people doing stuff with Christmas in mind, and lots of music to remind you that its Christmas.  Outside of church, where else could you find that?

I guess I would really like to be the first person, but am more like the second person.  I know it is more effective to decide what to get each person, then leave the house and go get it.  In a perfect world...... (hopefully you can finish this sentence)

Wrapping Conundrum

Unwrapping is more fun than wrapping.  Okay.  No surprise there.  I am basically stating the obvious that people have known from time immemorial.  I just had to get it off my chest.  I also needed some way to start this blog entry.

It is the Christmas season, and with it comes presents.  This year I was tasked to buy a lot of stocking stuffers.  That was the easy part (I mean, can anyone say dollar store--though, there seem to be fewer and fewer things there that are still one dollar).  I had no problem amassing all the required items, and, if I do say so myself, managed to avoid anything too crappy or too tacky.  The only problem was what to do with the stuff--to wrap, or not to wrap.  Since the actual gift exchange was going to work somewhat differently, I decided to wrap.  I guess I feel that unwrapping is a fundamental part of Christmas.

When I lived in Japan, whenever I bought somebody a gift, I always asked the store to wrap it up.  This was great and it was free.  They did it easily, and it always looked great.  The best part was that it only took one piece of tape (usually a store sticker) to wrap it up.  One piece of tape.  Amazing.

If only I could do that.  Usually I have to fumble around, hoping that I have cut off the correct amount of paper, though I have either cut too much, or too little, or the angle is so askew that nothing will line up.  I usually have presents that look like they were wrapped by a guy wearing oven mitts and dark glasses in a dark room.

Normally, nobody complains, and the unwrapping takes mere seconds so any evidence is long gone.

On an environmental note, one person wrapped their gifts using recycled newspaper.  They looked better than mine, and saved money.  Kind of wish I had thought of that.

Stupidity Abounds

So someone decided to become famous by plotting to kill Justin Bieber...?  Really?  Has the world really sunk that low?  Have we reached rock bottom even before the end of the world the Mayans predicted?  What kind of rocket scientist came up with that idea?  Just when I think I have seen or heard the stupidest thing ever, the world shows me that it can find an even lower place, and even greater absurdity.

First and foremost, you don't become famous for killing someone famous.  You become infamous, and that isn't the same thing at all.  Infamous people end up in jail, on death row, or camping out in the woods plotting the destruction of the world on a manual IBM Selectric.  Infamous people are not famous, despite the similarity in spelling.

I have seen and heard drunken morons and completely high idiots plotting bizarre fantasies not unlike these.... but they tend to leave those with the drunk or the stoned nature from the night before and not cart them out into the sane bright light of morning.  The idea couldn't have sounded good when they were drunk (not really) but how could it gained any kind of approval when the people were sober.  This leads me to conclude that they were either never sober or that their IQ's total a single digit number.

Whatever Happened to Courtesy

 

Whatever happened to subway courtesy?  As we are completely insulated from human reaction with our smart phones and ipods, does that mean we no longer part of the human race?  Does that mean we no longer have to do what's right?  If I were to ask some of my fellow transit passengers, they would probably say yes to that.

The two things which illustrate this breakdown quite succinctly are that people don't let passengers get off the subway before they try to enter (I have straight-armed two people to prevent this from happening in the past 12 months) and that some people don't follow the stand right, walk left rule any more.

There used to be announcements reminding people of their duties in these two areas.  I remember that preachy loudspeaker reminding people to allow people to disembark before boarding the train.  In those days the speakers usually turned peoples voices into background noise--at least that is what seemed to happen when any important information was broadcast.  However, that message seemed quite clear.

As for the escalators, there used to be good signs that explained the two sides of the escalator.  Those signs are gone now.  I heard that they had to get rid of them because someone might get hurt, and sue the transit company.  This seems ridiculous.  Why should the transit company care for you if you have never learned to walk up a bunch of stairs.

It would be nice if someone would reinstate these traditions.  I would welcome them, and I am sure I am not alone.

Star Trek Beat Us To It

 

Tablet computers and mini tablet computers are all the rage this year.  That is, of course, if you believe the advertisements from the big department stores and electronic megastores.  Those coveted front pages are jammed with the latest must have devices.  Seeing this, all I could think about was how Star Trek beat us to it.

This is not a new thing.  I am sure William Shatner did a television show about this (It couldn't have been a movie).  Science fiction has usually predicted things long before they came about.  In fact, I would argue that science fiction shaped the way things turned out.  We all watched them use hand held computers on that TV show, so that's what they built.  If not for the incredible works of William Gibson, the internet might be a bland, monochromatic land of information (as opposed to the multi-coloured, multi-formatted, multi-everything you want and don't want kind of place it is now--I am trying not to focus on the huge pile of useless crap it contains)

So, Star Trek beat us to it.  For non fans, or Star Wars fans, this might anger you.  That probably doesn't stop you from using these devices, so stop your bellyaching.  The technology exists, and there is no way that genie is getting back in the bottle.

I have always loved science fiction, or speculative fiction as Harlan Ellison would rather have it called.  I have enjoyed tales of intergalactic empires, interstellar travel and battles, and of course interspecies love and trouble.  I have let my imagination wander those stellar pathways.  Now, I just wonder when we are going to get the other stuff that science fiction has promised.

Are Scholarships Wasted on the Young?

Every day I am surrounded by people who are studying English on scholarships from their governments.  Don't get me wrong.  I am not unhappy for them.  I am, in fact, jealous.  I want a scholarship to go to a foreign country and study.

Some, not all, of my students get to study English in Canada because of these scholarships. Hopefully, they will go back home and utilize their English in their careers.  Those who aren't on scholarships, but are studying nonetheless, can hopefully do the same thing.

I said that I am jealous.  That is true.  I really wish there were scholarships for people in their early forties who want to go to Japan and study Japanese for a year.  The program could contain studying both language and culture.  That would be awesome.

These kinds of things are mostly given to young people, but wouldn't older, more mature (most of the time) people get even more benefit from them?  It is great that young people are given such experience, but we need to consider a few other things.  With age comes wisdom, or so the saying goes.  An older person would have the ability to see things more clearly, judge more accurately, and experience things more fully.  And then, wouldn't an older person be better able to articulate the things that were seen and learned?

Everybody is told to keep upgrading their skills.  Most workplaces want people to keep increasing their qualifications, or at least maintain contemporary skills.  Shouldn't this be the same for experiences as well?  It is certainly something to consider.

 

A Movember to Remember

November is over, ad so to is Movember.  The moustache came off this morning, and for a brief few moments, really a brief few, I missed it.  I spent a month growing, perhaps cultivating would sound more sophisticated, that soup strainer.  I spent a month watching it change my face little by little with each passing day.

I think back on my daily commutes, seeing the successful and not so successful moustaches on the faces in the crowd.  I am not sure how tough it was for some of you out there, but for some of us it was hard.  I can't say for certain whether it was physically, emotionally, or psychologically hard, but undoubtedly it was.

Thankfully it is over.

Congratulations out there to all my known and unknown (celebrated and uncelebrated) Mo-bros.  You did it, and you did it for a good cause.  Hopefully, with efforts like these cancer will be beaten in our lifetime.

Good work Mo-bros.....until next Movember. (Maybe)

Irony (or something like it)

It isn't hard to find irony in life.  I am probably using the definition incorrectly, but I care little.  People call it ironic, so that's good enough for me.  If it has become cliche, too bad.

I started watching the first season of Game of Thrones, and like all good TV shows it has its own tag line--"winter is coming"  Nothing wrong with that.  It's probably good for the show, and good for people watching it.  It would bother me less if they didn't say it every ten seconds. but that's television for you.

The irony is that I just started watching it on Friday night, and I have only gotten through the first four episodes (six more to go). "Winter is coming.  Winter is coming."  Of course it is, and that's why I woke up on Saturday with a yard full of snow.  I guess winter is here. 

I don't recall anyone calling for snow on the weather forecast, and I certainly didn't read about it in the paper (and that includes the horoscope section).  Granted, I wasn't really paying attention on Friday morning--last day of work for the week, black Friday nonsense, and all that.

I really shouldn't complain (though I didn't get all my raking done).  The stores have already decorated for Christmas, so why shouldn't the planet get in on the act as well.  Dress it up for the holidays.  Christmas is only one month away.  If only there was hockey on TV.

Dealing with a Courier Company

My package arrived undamaged, but ....

Nothing is as frustrating as sheer incompetence.  I am not talking about small mistakes, or mix ups.  I am talking about outright incapability.  For the past two weeks I have been a victim of this incompetence, and I need to share it with you.

Not long ago (actually longer ago than it should have been) I ordered something from US Amazon (Amazon Canada does not have nearly the amount of stuff available elsewhere in the Amazon world).  The problem is that this was through an affiliate website.

I ordered a train display case.  Shortly after the order was taken and paid for, I received a confirmation email stating that my package was sent--actually it wasn't .  After waiting a month, and my package not showing up, I sent an email wondering what was going on.  I was informed that my product was on back order and would be shipped the following week.  No apology was given and my next two emails were ignored.

Now I know this sounds bad (and I agree that it is, and I won't buy things from these people again--though, had they offered me an apology, I would have given them the benefit of the doubt) but that wasn't the worst of it.

The package was sent by UPS.  On Monday, I arrived at home to find a notice stuck to my front door informing me that I had a package awaiting delivery and notifying me that some money was owed before delivery could be made.  It also mentioned that they would only try three times.

In retrospect I should have had the package delivered to my place of employment. I chose not to so that I wouldn't have to lug this over-sized box on public transportation and incovenience other people.

Well, I called them and told them to try and deliver it on Friday.  I expected to be home that day, and could receive the package.  Of course, ignoring everything I said, they attempted delivery the next day.  I started worrying that they would try again on Wednesday and then I would have broken the aforementioned 3 attempt rule.  I called again and Friday delivery was confirmed.

Casually, I asked them about the package and they mentioned that it was 7" x 7" x 7".  This certainly wasn't the kind of train display case that I had in mind.  The one I was expecting was supposed to be 36"x18"x2"  I quickly became convinced that this was not my package.  Just to be on the safe side, I asked several employees whether these were actually measured, or just randomly generated.  Twice I was told that this was done by some kind of scanning laser. (I sent an email about this to the original seller, but never received a reply)  So I told them not to deliver the package and return it.

Surprise, surprise, on Friday they attempted to deliver the package.  I called, and they informed me that delivery was attempted at 7pm.  As I was home, and not sleeping or listening to loud music, and my doorbell works, that wasn't true.  I arrived home at 5 and found the notice on my door.

I called and reminded them to send back the package.  This didn't require too much effort.  I just had to answer the same questions and wait for the same confirmation I had gone through a couple of days earlier--I guess practice makes perfect.

The original company called me and told me that I would lose the shipping money if I returned the package.  I called them back and hashed it out with the customer service department.  (I still received no apology but in the end I decided to accept the package at my work and brave the ride home on the bus).

I called UPS and told them all of this.  I even found out that I could pay the small fee I had to pay over the phone (though this was never mentioned in my numerous calls to them).  I instructed them to send the package to my place of employment.  They said it would not come the next day, but would take an additional day.  By this point, the word whatever had become my go to world.

They were correct.  The next day the package didn't show up at my work.  However, when I arrived home it was propped up against my door.  I guess it was a miracle.

In the end, I got my package.  However, the process was far from painless, the courier company pretty much ignored every request I made, and the manufacturer never once said sorry for sending me a completely false confirmation letter.  I guess customer service is pretty irrelevant to some people.

How to Organize a Bookstore

I wonder why a bookstore can't do a better job of categorizing its books.  They usually have all the standard categories, (fiction, non fiction, cooking, selfhelp...) but that just doesn't cut it any longer.  In this age of thousands of TV channels, each with their own specialty, people want (and seem to need) and respond better to narrower classifications.  That has to be the reason behind the Game Show Network, and the All Reality TV Network. (okay sometimes there can be too much specialization)

I think bookstores should, at least, add a few categories.  It wouldn't necessarily increase the number of books, but would make finding some of them easier.  I am always happy when I go to a bookstore and find that they have separated the fantasy from the science fiction.  If only my local library could separate both of them from the general fiction area I would be happier.

I don't think what I am proposing is so hard, or so radical.  They do a lot of other things to make life easier for customers (self checkout, price scanners, loyalty points, computer screens) so why not go one, lest costly, step further?

For a start, I would love to see the already noted separation of fantasy and science fiction. (and would be even happier if they put all that vampire stuff somewhere else, but if that's what's selling....well, they're not going to put it in some deep dark corner are they?)  I say this despite the fact that fantasy is what is selling these days and what dominates this section of the bookstore.

What about having a section devoted to books that were made into films? (and not books that were written after the films--because that is definitely not the same thing)  I think people would be surprised to find out how different (and usually how much better) the books were from the films.

Of course this idea will be somewhat blurred because of all the aforementioned vampire and fantasy literature which is so quickly being turned into movies, or huge budgeted properties on cable TV.  Regardless of how much of that I won't read, I stand by my assertions.

Which categories do you think they should have.  I welcome your comments.

Movember

In case you didn't know, it is Movember (that month where guys grow hideous moustaches in a bid to raise both money and awareness of prostate cancer).  If you have a chance, please support those who are growing moustaches and give generously.

I am taking part this year, and my "MoBros" and I are hoping to raise both of the aforementioned things. (money and awareness)  We are fourteen days in and my moustache is itchy and I am definitely getting the "wrestler" look on.

Remember, it is Movember.

When They Put You on Hold....

I thought we lived in a high tech world.  We have computers the size of a chocolate bar that can do more than a room full of them used to do.  We can watch TV anywhere on the planet.  All of this is done by huge telecommunication companies.

So, why is it that when you call these companies, you have to listen to terrible, poorly recorded music when they put you on hold?  Why do they subject us to this stuff when they have power over the lines?  Since they own the lines, they should be able to offer us some choice.  Why can't I choose the music I listen to?  Press one for Jazz.  Press two for blues.  Press three for pop.  (you get the idea)  Shouldn't that be easy for them to do?  Why is it that they can't apply some of their high tech to themselves?

Every time I get put on hold, I am forced to listen to some horrible music.  The only time I get spared from this is when they  take time out of torturing me to force me to listen to some overly long and brutally boring commercial.  I am not sure which is worse.

We haven't got the jet packs that they promised us, but we did get some pretty crappy hold music.

Walk with Purpose

I walk fast. I admit it.  I am a fast walker.  This doesn't mean I am the fastest in the world or that I can blaze by anyone, or that I should be in the Olympics.  People who are taller than I, can certainly put together much longer strides and cover a greater distance that I can.  No problem.  If you're faster than I am, great, you won't be in my way.  If you're slower than I am, then not to worry, I will blow past you and not look back (unless of course you're beautiful, then I will look back and probably crash into someone in front of me--I will look stupid, but that is the price I pay.)

 

The problem is not with the fast or the slow.  The problem rests squarely on the undecided.  You know those people.  They walk from side to side, speed up to get in front of you and then slow down.  They walk without purpose or rhythm.  I tried to go past them on the right, they veer that way.  I try to get by on the left and they amble that way.  The worst thing is that they suddenly, as if remembering that they left the stove on, stop and ponder.  I've got places to go!

I seem to attract these people because they are always in front of me.  Getting off the bus, or getting off the subway, or on the stairs when I am heading to work, or most likely, when I am heading down to the subway and it is about to depart.  The stairwell is wide enough for three people abreast, but not when they are there.  They move in an odd diagonal pattern pausing occasionally (no doubt to check their cell phone signal strength--though why it might be different on that day no one has been able to tell me) or putting their arms out as if in flight.  The train is about to leave!

The treadmill has become a popular piece of gym equipment.  I see people on them all the time, or buying them from the store.  When they get on them, they seem to understand the concept.  Why hasn't this filtered down to the real world.

I am not a patient person.  I can be, when getting to work on time, or catching a bus or subway is not critical.  Yes, another subway will be along in two minutes, but that's two minutes later.  I just want people to walk with purpose.  If I don't have to get somewhere, I won't be walking in front of you.  I'll be at a bar having drink, or sitting on a bench reading a book.  If I have to get somewhere, I won't be zigzagging directly in front of you.  If you want to pass me, please do, on either the right or left. 

Shrinking Food, Unaware Customers

When people from my generation talk, occasionally, they remark that something seems smaller than when they were young.  The typical place this comment is aimed is at Wagon Wheels.  Everyone remembers when they were gigantic, and today they seem really small.  Honestly, when we were young, we were small, and some stuff looked bigger than it really was. However, there are many examples of things getting smaller, which seems to have been done to keep from raising the price.

Now coke comes in an 18 pack.  18 is a far cry from the two dozen that I expect coke to come in.  If they did that with beer, there would blood in the streets and revolution in the air.  I also remember buying a 600mL coke, but now it is only 591mL.  Does that seem right to you?

Most can goods have done the same thing.  The number of millilitres is always some awkward number because they started out at a standard round number, but have gradually crept it down so that instead of 750mL we get a number like 682mL.  How stupid do they think we are?  Did they think we wouldn't notice?  Of course not.  They knew we would notice, but they felt confident that we wouldn't say anything.

This must happen all the time.  We are given smaller versions of things and we accept it.  Over time, our products are shrinking. When I bought potato chips as a kid, they had to rather big bags inside one really big bag.  These days, the bag you get chips in is probably smaller than one of the two you got originally.

Only once, in the history of marketing, has this ever backfired.  One company of feminine products decided to reduce the number from 30 to 24.  This was met with a conscious and subconscious boycott which forced the company to rethink its strategy and sell the product in its original size.

 

It isn't just food.  Comic books used to have a hundred pages, now they have somewhere in the neighbourhood of 20.  Remember Mad Magazine?  I would say that fewer pages mean fewer laughs.

Why can't the rest of us do this?  Why are we towing the company line?  Next time I find a company doing this I will report it here, and I will send off as many emails as I can, and join any boycott I can.  If you find a product like this, attach a comment to this blog.

 

Christmas in October

It happened on the weekend.  It caught me by surprise, though you would have thought that I would know better.  I saw my first Christmas display.   We haven't even gotten to Halloween yet, and already the Christmas decorations are out.

Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but shouldn't we tackle things in some sort of chronological order?  It seems a little premature to be getting ready for Christmas when you're busy looking for a costume.  (and based on the advertisements for costumes, Halloween is not a particularly holy occasion)  As a Canadian, we've already gotten Thanksgiving out of the way, so we're doing our part.  For any of my other readers, you've probably got other holidays or celebrations before Christmas, but I am sure the decorations are already out.

Again, I love Christmas, and when my shopping is done, I love all the store decorations, Christmas music, and wholesome TV shows (Maybe this year we can get a Dexter Christmas special).  I am happy that so many people go to the trouble to brighten up the world, talk about goodwill, and promote happiness.  Sadly, I am cynical and believe that some of this is more target at the quest for greater profits than the greater good.... but it still does look nice.

I have heard, though not actually seen, some people have already started turning on their Christmas lights.......... sorry, but that's just wrong, regardless of how beautiful it looks.  I am impressed if you have already hung them (or still have them up from last year), but there really is no need to turn them on until we are much closer to the holiday.  If I were a Member of Parliament I would introduce a bill banning all Christmas displays to stay packaged up until at least November 15.  If I get my message out, I might actually win on this promise alone.

Are Free Newspapers Really Free News

Every day I take the bus into work I am greeted at the subway station by people offering me free newspapers. Since I like news, and like to be informed (and like to occasionally glance at the Sunshine girl) I avail myself of these offers..... but I am a little cynical.

First of all, why do these papers, who are so willing to hand them out for free, often call my house (despite being on the so-called "do not call list") offering papers for what they claim is the rock bottom price.  Really, if you don't mind handing out thousands for free, why in the world would I think 25 cents is a great bargain?

Secondly, when these newspaper companies hand these newspapers out for free, are they telling their advertisers that their readership includes all these non paying customers?  That seems a little unfair, doesn't it?  Free newspapers shouldn't really be counted in the readership.

If I were less cynical, I would think that these free newspapers were part of some great marketing scheme to get more customers.  It makes sense.  If you give people a free taste, they might come back and pay for more.  Unfortunately, I am too cynical to believe this idea, especially since there really doesn't appear to be any real news, or in depth analysis in these papers--there are several crosswords and Sudokus, but in depth reporting and scathing editorials seem to be lacking.

At the same station I am offered two of the commuter papers, which have always been free, and rate less cynicism from me (that is if you don't count my general cynicism over advertising--but we should leave that for another day)  These papers, which carry the same stories as their parent company papers (which are included in the ones they are handing out for free) only edited down to fit into the stricter confines of the free paper.  While not badly written, they don't convey the whole story.

Overall, I shouldn't complain too bitterly.  I read these papers, do their Sudokus, read their sports columns, and glance at whatever else they consider news.  However, don't for a minute think that they've got me fooled.

Smart Phone. Smart Owner?

I was on the bus the other day, minding my own business, overhearing some people talking.  (okay, I wanted to mind my own business, but they were sitting right next to me and talking very loudly)  What really caught my attention, other than tales of drunkenness, was that one of them claimed his cell phone bill was more than 200 dollars.

More than 200 dollars!  Is that really possible?  Was he calling the International Space Station?

Granted, we are talking about a smart phone, so this bill includes some sort of data..... but still.  Is everybody out there running up these whopping phone bills?  Are all of you paying hundreds of dollars for the convenience of sending text messages, and checking twitter messages?  (Couple this with the cost of some of these smart phones, at least I can understand why we call the phones smart......)

Honestly, I am not a big fan of cell phones.  I am not unaware of their advantages.  I am also not unaware of their coolness factor.  My problem is less with them and more with the owners.  Is the information being conveyed really worth hundreds of dollars?  Is what you have to say, and who you have to say it to, really worth so much money?  Just asking.

A Deal? Now?

Well, there seems to be an offer on the table to end the lockout of NHL players.  Great!  The sooner the better.  I miss hockey, and would love to see it again. (now I know you're wondering where I am going to go with this.....aren't you?)

The newspapers all mentioned how shrewd a movie this was of Gary Bettman.  Shrewd.  When I read that in several newspapers, it gave me pause to think.  If this was as shrewd as reporters have mentioned, then why are they telling me it is shrewd?  They make it sound like it was underhanded (this is Gary Bettman after all). If this is so shrewd, then if really isn't bargaining in good faith, is it?  Trying to back someone into a corner and forcing a deal on them doesn't really look or sound like a team effort to get people back on the ice.  I guess I am just unclear why bad faith is shrewd?  Shouldn't the papers be trying to find out why this deal is happening now?  Shouldn't these papers be dissecting the deal line by line.

I am already tired of the games, the brinkmanship and everything else that has come with this lockout.  I still can't see the owners side of anything--my view is blocked by those massive contracts they handed out before they had to lock out the players so that they didn't really have to pay for those contracts.

I am not going to follow this in the news until the day it is settled.  Until then, there has to be something on the sports channels. 

Winter

 

As if I didn't need another reminder that winter is coming.  The gigantic pile of leaves that I have to rake up should be enough.  Rather than let us think we have some time left before we are waist deep in the white stuff, the flyers for the local stores have to remind me that winter, and the need to shovel all that snow out of the way is nearly upon us.

When I look through the flyers, anticipating some great sale, or some knowledge of a new and wonderful product that will change my life (sadly, neither of those two things ever happen) the last thing I want to come across is a page full of snow shovels, snow blowers, car scrapers and ice melting salt.

Had I come across a more positive winter image (think Santa Clause, or a snowman, or maybe some reindeer) I would still be a little underwhelmed.  Coming across such a bold slap in the face, winter is almost here, advertisement really doesn't sit well with me.  Couldn't we just cancel winter this year, just this once?

Running Free in the Toy Store or Liquor Store

Sometimes when you go to a store, you see kids running amok.  They race from aisle to aisle, from item to item.  It can be pretty intense.  Most of the time I don't mind it, unless I have a headache--but then what in the world am I doing shopping. 

When the store in question is a toy store, I really can't blame the kids.  They are in childhood paradise, and they should revel in it.  Since I can easily channel my inner child, I can see how stimulating the experience is.

There are times when I wonder what their parents are thinking, though.  I watched the same scene that was wonderful in the toy store take place in a liquor store.  Call me judgemental, but somehow I don't think a child running wild in a store full of glass is really a good idea.  I have even seen some people let their children push the cart.  I can't be sure, but maybe the children were in better shape than the parents (it was a liquor store after all.)

When I was a child, we weren't allowed in the liquor store.  Of course, child abductors and the general decline of our civilization has made leaving children in cars or alone in front of stores a rather bad idea.  In fact, it was probably always a bad idea (like riding tail gunner position in the back of the station wagon) but we did it anyway.

I wish I could say that things are better.  Sadly, I think that though children are more computer and technology literate, they aren't better behaved. 

Where's my Jet Pack?

Technology is pretty amazing.  We have wafer thin phones which can 1000 more things than my first computer could do.  We have cars that have don't need keys, and can park themselves.  We have televisions that are bigger than some of the screens that were at the Eaton Centre movie theatre (when it was still open).  Great as this is, couldn't we redirect that at some other areas.

When I was a kid we were promised jet packs.  Where are they?  Why do I have to drag my sorry self onto a bus for an hour or more, or drive (concrete bound) on a crowded highway for the same amount of time.  I should be jetting across the sky to work at a speed only a Porsche on an empty highway could achieve.

virtually unchanged in my lifetime

Since that seems so far away, could I, at least, have more modern vending machines?  In Canada, we've been dealing with the same model since long before I was born.  They might have reorganized the buttons, and updated the pictures, but that's it.  In Japan, they have machines which have 24 or more choices, can serve hot or cold beverages (at the same time) and accept $100 bills.

We are putting all our technological eggs in one basket.  We are working on faster computers, more talented phones, and probably cars that can drive themselves.  Maybe we need to look in other areas to invest all this energy and innovation.  Why can't we have remote controls that don't need batteries?  We put all kinds of kinetic energy into them by using them.  We should be able to power them with that.

hot, cold, and lots of choices

Why can't we have a toaster that will evenly toast your bread, and never burn it.  We can put a rover on Mars, but I have to spend many of my precious morning minutes scraping the carbon off my breakfast.

We have the technology, but we need to think of a better way of applying it.

The Plastic Bag Debate

Recently Toronto city council voted to ban plastic bags some time next year (it could be January first, or June first--I am not really concerned with the date)  It was covered by all the major newspapers and found its way onto the local news for several days running.

I don't live in Toronto, so most people would argue that I shouldn't really think about it.  True, except that when Toronto passed a by-law requiring all stores to charge for plastic bags, it quickly became store policy.  So pervasive was this that most store clerks thought it was the law in the province, rather than store policy.  So, if this happens in Toronto, it is likely to be adopted by all stores province wide.

As for me, I don't really understand the resistance to the idea.  I remember when we didn't have plastic bags, and things worked out fine.  The only time there was any trouble was on sitcoms, where the main character had to struggle in the door with multiple bags, leaking fluids, fumbling with keys while the phone rang.  These days, they would just let it go to voicemail, and I would hope that you could put down your bags while you are opening the door.

I have embraced that bring your own bag to the supermarket, and so it seems have quite a few others,  It was difficult at first, but I always have some of the bags in the car.  When I am planning on going to the store I always manage to bring them with me.  If I forget, or don't have enough, I am sure paper will do. 

I realize that plastic is convenient, but I don't recall the last time someone tried to tell me that plastic was good for the environment. (though people are still debating global warming, it seems that we've all accepted that plastic will never go away)  Most people seem to have embraced the blue box concept.  Maybe a sensible first step is to force the blue box program to accept plastic bags......

I am prepared to lug paper bags home (or at least to the trunk of my car) and I am sure I will soon see bundle buggies full of paper bags being hauled across town.  Will the plastic bag go the way of the dinosaur?  Since the dinosaurs became oil, and oil gave us plastic, it seems only fitting.

Where No Cell Phones Should Go

Once again, I am forced to admit technology is amazing, truly amazing.  People, however, are not.  They definitely amaze, but not in a good way.  They adapt well to technology, and make it part of their lives.  They bring it into every part of their lives, including the bathroom.

I find it pretty disconcerting when I enter a public bathroom and hear someone talking on a cell phone.  I really don't think that is the place to make a call.  It isn't the acoustics either, it just seems like a point of etiquette.

It might be an old joke, but men are not supposed to talk in the bathroom.  Stare straight ahead, take care of business, wash your hands (yes, I believe in that religiously and so should everyone) and get out.  It is supposed to be a time of sombre reflection, or at least quiet deliberation.  I don't think somebody yammering on about something should interfere with that.

Forget my peace and quiet for a moment.  What is the person on the other end of the call thinking?  They must be wondering why this person chose that specific moment to call them.  They can't feel too valued, can they?  Today, a person flushed in the middle of his call.  There is no way someone would miss that, is there?  Usually when I come across this scene I try to flush as often as possible, and use as many hand driers as I can.   This is environmentally unfriendly, but some sacrifices must be made if decorum is to be established.

There was a very good TV commercial on that dealt with this over attention to one's cell phone.  The tag line, after people ignored their children, ignored their lingerie clad partner, and dropped their cell phone in the urinal, was "Really?".  I could only nod my head in agreement.

Gas Price Update

Though I am loathe to admit it, the gas price actually went up today.  I guess I should interpret that as the oil companies, not messing with us.  I should interpret that as the economy working the way it should.  Sadly, I just can't do it.  Deep in my heart, I know it. I know it to be true with every fibre of my being.  We are being messed with.

The Shopping Cart

 

 

Every time I go to the supermarket I have to deal with the whole cart issue.  Some stores want you to deposit money for the cart, thereby ensuring that you'll bring it back.  It makes sense.  I used to live near a store where more than a few people took the carts home, or at least to the  bust stop.  It certainly cost the store money to go out and round up these carts (imagine the advertisement for this job in the paper--wanted:  shopping cart wrangler)  They tried using a deposit system for their carts but all they got were a bunch of busted locks, and then they had to hire someone with a pickup truck to go out and wrangle all those carts.

So, I can see the financial expediency of having a deposit system.  It might make me feel like a criminal, but the carts get returned.  It might make me opt for a small carry basket (in which case I buy less because the teeny weenie basket gets full and heavy quickly) but the carts get returned.

The biggest problem that I usually encounter is that I don't have the specific coin they are looking for when I enter the supermarket.  Sometimes they want a quarter, sometimes they want a loonie (that's a one dollar coin for those of you not familiar with Canadian currency).  I have yet to come across one that requires a twoonie, (if you understand loonie, you should be able to figure out twoonie), but I am sure that day is coming.  They say you can easily get change from cashier, but when the store is busy, or everyone is using credit or debit cards.... you just might need more patience than you have.

Sometimes I am forced to use my lucky quarter (I can't really explain why it's lucky, it just is) and then I can't simply pass the cart off to a person racing up to me with another (and probably unlucky) quarter in their outstretched hand.  They give me dirty looks, but there's nothing I can do about it.

One store I went to had an ingenious system.  They put up a notice that if the carts were removed from the store area they would cease to function.  Psychologically this worked great.  What's more, this wasn't just a cool ploy, it was the truth.  One of my friends felt pretty foolish when suddenly their cart stopped moving and would go no further.  This system is probably quite expensive, but I would certainly prefer it.  My hope is that in the future, shopping carts will navigate their own way back to the store and into the line of shopping carts.  That will be perfect...until they rise up against us.

The Friday Phenomenon

 

 

It's Friday.  The weekend is here.  Everything is good.  Just one question.  Why....why does the price of gas suddenly climb on a Friday morning?  To  be clear, the gas price suddenly rose Thursday shortly after midnight.  How shortly?  When it goes up it is probably milliseconds after midnight, but when it goes down, they probably spend a few minutes making sure that a price decrease is really called for.  Of course, this decrease is never on a Thursday night.

I guess I should relax, and not let this gouging rile me up.  I get a free couple of days off, and the oil companies get my money.  Some might see that as an equitable trade.  Some might say that happiness needs to be tempered by some cold hard realism.  If anyone out there really believes any of that..... you might be reading the wrong blog.

I think the price of gas went up by four cents a litre.  For my car, that works out to about $1.60.  I guess that explains the real lack of righteous indignation.  In addition, some of my students told me about the price of gas in their countries.  Amazingly, some people are paying $2.50 a litre and others are paying $0.16 a litre.  Getting this information the way I did, created in me a sense of relief and a wall of tears at the same time.

Changing Cable Packages

If you needed proof that I have given up....look no further.  Today, I changed my cable channels.  I opted to reduce my sports channels in favour of movies.  Even if they do play hockey this year, I won't be watching it on TV.  Actually, I could still watch Hockey Night in Canada (but that's an institution) but there is no guarantee that I would.

Last time there was a lockout we were treated to one year of poker, followed by several years of poker.  As it turns out, it was pretty good to watch.  It's popularity is still quite strong, and I am sure there will be more poker on TV during this lockout.

I generally like it, but I don't love it.  The problem is that they tend to over show some TV poker moments.  I think I have see the one with Daniel Negreanu vs. the loose cannon in pink shirt more than 15 times.  That is probably 13 more times than I needed to see it.

Maybe this time they will find a new sport to showcase.  I suggest Australian Rules Football, or Hurling, or at the very least, bring back the Red Bull Air Race.

As for me, I will do my best to catch up on the movies I have missed.  I'll let you know how it works out.