GAS PRICES ARE CRMINAL!

Collusion is present and evident on Vancouver Island simply from the fact that there is no price difference from one vendor to the next. I am fed up with this and am sure others are too.

Built in Obsolescence

Why is it some manufacturers don't care about their customers? I emailed Panasonic about my defective DVD player but to date have not had a reply. Maybe they feel it's not worth the bother since it's out of warranty. The affected unit is Model DVD-S55 which just stopped working. This unit is only a few years old. I expect such appliances to last longer than that. Panasonic, like Sony and Onkyo are now on my DO NOT BUY LIST because it's been my experience that their products don't last. UPDATE March 30/07: Web research aided me. I unplugged a wire from the DVD tray to the circuit board and reconnected it and the unit worked for about a week then died again. Still have not heard from Panasonic. I would not recommend Panasonic products based on my own experience with this machine.

National Canadian Drug Store Poor Merchants

I went to a national Drug Store chain (name withheld until they have time to respond ) in Victoria to purchase Colgate toothpaste on sale for .44 cents but there was no stock and no manager on duty to make a substitution (crest would have sufficed and would be on sale the next day for about the same price) the clerk said she could not make a substitution. Had a manager been available, perhaps I wouldn't have wasted my time. Also, no rain checks were being offered although this, nor a limit was stated in the ad. Were there a limit, perhaps there would have been sufficient stock for me as well. Is this how (the national chain drug store) wants to conduct themselves as a retailer? I have been alienated due to this and may never shop at their stores again due to this. A lost customer is bad for business, but I shouldn't have to tell them that either. UPDATE March 30/07: I received an email from SDM Customer Service saying I should have received a raincheck. The merchant will honor the advertised price. However, I feel I should not have had to complain in this manner. Fight for your rights!

Miserable? Then look at Manufactured Landscapes for some perspective

I finally saw Manufactured Landscapes. What a powerful documentary. If you think your life is tough, look at this film to get some perspective. We like to complain about our lives being tougher than others. It's human nature to compair ourselves to others. However, when you see this film and the conditions people in China work under, it will change your attitude. Despite our hardships, we have it easy compared to some people.

ICBC Car Insurance Policies Not Fair

Under the Wage Loss Benefits section in the ICBC literature, one can not claim lost income under the policy if one has worked less than six months in the year preceding the claim. Plus, there is a seven day deductable. That's BS! They can take your money but when it comes to paying out it's another story. What a rip off.

Musings of Today

Denial is a strong demon. Our economy is based it. So many people are living beyond their means, hoping the future will bring them contentment and security. The future is just a possibility, a fantasy for each of us to try to make real by maintaining our denial.

Quotation from Ninth Century Iraqi Poet

Profound quotation from the TV series

"Legacy: The Origins of Civilization" (1991) (mini) with Michael Wood episode on IRAQ Ninth century poets, (Suffi) "Al Nafabi" ?? If you know the poet, please email: bcnewbie@gmail.com

“I saw fear holding sway over hope and riches turned to dust. I saw poverty as the enemy. I saw this world to be a delusion and heaven to be a deception. I saw every creative thing and it fled from me and I was left here alone”