When I worked at Canadian Tire, they would throw out thousands of dollars worth of perfectly good products and appliances into a secure dumpster so that no one else could benefit from them. I've heard of some companies even grinding up thousand dollar sets of golf clubs as well. Why do they do this? So that the new product (that which makes money) doesn't get cheapened by having it out in the world being used.
On my way to work this morning, I heard that MEC donated close to 5000 pairs of long johns to schools and native communities in the far north. Now, that is very nice of them, but this is why MEC "rules" in my opinion:
They gave those away because the long johns didn't live up to their recycling standards! Most companies throw these things out, but not MEC. Someone up north caught wind of this faulty shipment of clothing from China and simply asked if they could have some of them. MEC insisted that they take all of them and they shipped it free of charge.
This makes me happy. Someone very high up in the company made this decision. It wasn't a profit driven decision, but a moral one. Hopefully the bug catches, because this kind of thing is good from an environmental point of view but it's also great press for the company!
Way to go MEC!
P.s. If you can find the article about this, please let me know. I couldn't find it personally. I hate navigating the CBC website.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Don't fix it, get a new one....
Our dryer has been squeaking lately. The noise is unbearable, so I decided to replace the parts that needed replacing.
I proceeded to take apart the dryer, removed the rear rollers, and went to a sears outlet store and bought the over-priced yet necessary parts and a lint collector. That was about $70. Then, when I put the rollers on, I noticed that I needed to replace two little pieces (called a bearing kit) that consisted of a piece of cork and a special friction resistant plastic. Those cost $20 each!
When I found out the price, I called my landlord to inform him of the parts that I was about to buy and that everything would cost about $110. Unfortunately, I was reminded of North American society's consumer ideologies. Basically, his solution was to buy a new one for about $20 more and it would be under warranty. He wanted to pay only a small portion for the fixing of his dryer.
The fact that he wanted to replace it entirely was a blow to my day because I was reminded of how the world works. I was also disgruntled because I already took the initiative to fix this thing on my own without charging for any labour and only the cost of the parts. Essentially, I'd be saving him time, and money.
My personal dilemma with my landlord is not important in this entry. Actually, I don't really blame him for wanting to buy a new one. When our society is based on monetary competition, companies like Sears will charge ridiculous amounts for the most simple, yet necessary appliance parts. There is no incentive to fix your shit! I've always known this, and you have as well. But when the guy told me that this piece of cork and plastic was $20, I was hit hard with this re-realization.
Well, I'm going to fix this dryer. Since it is not my property, we will be trying to get reimbursed for it. If we don't, then I'll simply leave the parts that he paid for and take out the ones that I bought and replace the old, noisy rollers that I removed. Am I really that childish? Yes, I guess I am. I paid good money for those parts, and I have the right to take them with me. I may even go so far as to wash the grease that I bought off of the bearing shafts!
Anyways, the moral: fix your shit!!!
Addendum:
Coffee maker is on the fritz. I would like to fix it, but on the bottom there is a warning that says that there are no serviceable parts inside. I thought: "screw that, I'll fix it". So I turned it upside down, and ironically I can't "screw" that because it's a triangular screw! Who uses a triangular screw except for the good people as Bosch?
Pricks......
Friday, December 19, 2008
Environmental Investment which cost nothing but a little effort.
I've been becoming increasingly annoyed by paying lots of money to get my oil changed. So, I thought it was time to invest in some car ramps so I can change my oil at home instead. I figured that I would have to pay about $50 for the ramps, and that in about 2-3 oil changes at home they would be paid for.
I was wrong. I was wrong in a good way. Instead of running over to Canadian Tire and buying the car ramps there, I decided to "invest" my time instead of my money. How? I went on Craigslist. I searched for some to buy, but I also put out a wanted ad for car ramps. Within a few hours, I had 3 offers of car ramps for a nominal fee. The winner was Bob, who gave me the ramps for free.
It was a little drive out of the way on our way to Hamilton and was well worth. Turns out that he didn't want to have them end up in a landfill. Myself, do I care whether the thing that my car is going to rest on is bran new or not?
Bottom line, is..... well, the bottom line. I may have rammed my wang up the economy's ass without a condom, but what good is an econmy that is based on waste? It has to end sometime.
I was wrong. I was wrong in a good way. Instead of running over to Canadian Tire and buying the car ramps there, I decided to "invest" my time instead of my money. How? I went on Craigslist. I searched for some to buy, but I also put out a wanted ad for car ramps. Within a few hours, I had 3 offers of car ramps for a nominal fee. The winner was Bob, who gave me the ramps for free.
It was a little drive out of the way on our way to Hamilton and was well worth. Turns out that he didn't want to have them end up in a landfill. Myself, do I care whether the thing that my car is going to rest on is bran new or not?
Bottom line, is..... well, the bottom line. I may have rammed my wang up the economy's ass without a condom, but what good is an econmy that is based on waste? It has to end sometime.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
I wanna buy some gold..............and a random thought to conclude
I wanna buy some gold.
Yes, for investment purposes, but also because it's just so neat. I picture myself staring at a couple of sweet gold coins like I was Frodo staring at the ring.
If you really think about the value of gold, it has no value. You can't eat it, drink it, inject it, drop it, or smoke it (he he). It's only valueable because someone else wants it. Right? Ok, I know this, but I still want some.
Did you know that one ounce of gold can be hammered out to cover a rediculous area and that gold foil is only 20 atoms thick? That's pretty cool.
But really, my excuse is that it will go up in value drastically with the progressively worsening economy and it would be beneficial in case financial doomsday (collapse of the U.S. dollar). That's why I "need" some, but I want some because.....well....I can't give you a rational answer. It's just plain neat!
If the world turns to shite, then it would be good to have. But if it doesn't, then I'd have some gold. I just wish that I wasn't in such debt.
Speaking of which, why am I charged interest on my student loans? Isn't the point of a student loan to make a person more educated and thus more productive to the economy? Why would a bank feel the need to capitalize from me persuing my education? We think that's it's the government that lends us this money, but it's really the bank. Right now, the people that I deal with are not government workers. They are a seperate company that is paid to manage the people who owe money from going to school. Now, since I have to pay6 $450 a month just for the "government" loan, I can't do too much can I? How is this helping our bleeding heart economy if I can't save up to buy say, a bran new spankin car from one of the THE BIG THREE.
Fucking banks. They lent me money that never existed (if it is at all like the American system), and now I have to pay it all back and then some. I probably wouldn't have taken loans if I knew that my loans would actually cost me much more that I borrowed. I foolishly believed that the interest rate would be significantly lower than other loans, but it isn't. I even applied for interest relief, twice, and sent a letter to the government (the actual government) and again....."I make too much money".
Canada's a good place to be, but this feels like the government doesn't really care about the people. Well, the student loan sector anyways.
Yes, for investment purposes, but also because it's just so neat. I picture myself staring at a couple of sweet gold coins like I was Frodo staring at the ring.
If you really think about the value of gold, it has no value. You can't eat it, drink it, inject it, drop it, or smoke it (he he). It's only valueable because someone else wants it. Right? Ok, I know this, but I still want some.
Did you know that one ounce of gold can be hammered out to cover a rediculous area and that gold foil is only 20 atoms thick? That's pretty cool.
But really, my excuse is that it will go up in value drastically with the progressively worsening economy and it would be beneficial in case financial doomsday (collapse of the U.S. dollar). That's why I "need" some, but I want some because.....well....I can't give you a rational answer. It's just plain neat!
If the world turns to shite, then it would be good to have. But if it doesn't, then I'd have some gold. I just wish that I wasn't in such debt.
Speaking of which, why am I charged interest on my student loans? Isn't the point of a student loan to make a person more educated and thus more productive to the economy? Why would a bank feel the need to capitalize from me persuing my education? We think that's it's the government that lends us this money, but it's really the bank. Right now, the people that I deal with are not government workers. They are a seperate company that is paid to manage the people who owe money from going to school. Now, since I have to pay6 $450 a month just for the "government" loan, I can't do too much can I? How is this helping our bleeding heart economy if I can't save up to buy say, a bran new spankin car from one of the THE BIG THREE.
Fucking banks. They lent me money that never existed (if it is at all like the American system), and now I have to pay it all back and then some. I probably wouldn't have taken loans if I knew that my loans would actually cost me much more that I borrowed. I foolishly believed that the interest rate would be significantly lower than other loans, but it isn't. I even applied for interest relief, twice, and sent a letter to the government (the actual government) and again....."I make too much money".
Canada's a good place to be, but this feels like the government doesn't really care about the people. Well, the student loan sector anyways.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Some over stated, cliché thoughts....
I just saw the movie "Sicko" by Micheal Moore. Yeah, he still uses simple examples to show his point (like how the French doctor was very wealthy which proves that socialized medicine still allows doctors to make enough money) but it made realize nonetheless that America really sucks.
All this bullshit patriotic rhetoric that so many people swallow is repeated ad nauseum and it is nothing more that the biggest, most obvious (yet most subtle) lie. Is there a small group of people who think "lets make sure that we say how it is heroic to die to for your country, or to work like a slave in the name of the USA as much as possible"? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But it is hapenning. The powerful people in that country really have the people by the balls, and truly don't care about them. They want their people to be defeated for some reason, and I can't see why that is good.
It's really too bad. Although it happens in Canada as well, most US doctors and medical companies are profit driven. The most accurate word that I can think of to describe this corruption is barbaric. A doctor will actually prescribe more pills because it will make him/her richer. And, if you can't pay your hospital bill, you can actually be kicked out of the hospital. I know that Moore's films have a tendency to state broad, sweeping generalizations. In Columbine, he found that "Canadians don't lock their doors". I fucking lock my door. In this film, he makes the US medical system look much worse that it is and much better in other countries by using one carefully chosen example. Despite this, you can't deny that it is a dog eat dog world down there - well, more than most "civilized" countries. How could the government spend so much money on defence which kills it's soldiers and millions of others, and neglect the problems that are right at home. Aaaargh, I'm so angry at stupid and degressive it is!!!!!
For some reason, I'm really pissed right now. That's why I had to write. I really want the American people to get really pissed off and actually do something. The American Empire will fall, and I feel like it will happen in our lifetime. And guess what, I can't fucking wait. Those greedy freaks who perpetuate these institutions and hold back positive change have had their fun and the party's gotta end sometime. I hope soon.
Anyways, I'm glad that I'm Canadian, even though our country is far from perfect. Living in America seems like pure shite though.
Is this an idea for the planet? Well, it can relate. I'm too tired/lazy to think of an interesting point that isn't blatently obvious. So, you think of one for me. I know that only one or two people read this blog, but that's cool. Even one is enough.
Thanks for reading.
All this bullshit patriotic rhetoric that so many people swallow is repeated ad nauseum and it is nothing more that the biggest, most obvious (yet most subtle) lie. Is there a small group of people who think "lets make sure that we say how it is heroic to die to for your country, or to work like a slave in the name of the USA as much as possible"? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But it is hapenning. The powerful people in that country really have the people by the balls, and truly don't care about them. They want their people to be defeated for some reason, and I can't see why that is good.
It's really too bad. Although it happens in Canada as well, most US doctors and medical companies are profit driven. The most accurate word that I can think of to describe this corruption is barbaric. A doctor will actually prescribe more pills because it will make him/her richer. And, if you can't pay your hospital bill, you can actually be kicked out of the hospital. I know that Moore's films have a tendency to state broad, sweeping generalizations. In Columbine, he found that "Canadians don't lock their doors". I fucking lock my door. In this film, he makes the US medical system look much worse that it is and much better in other countries by using one carefully chosen example. Despite this, you can't deny that it is a dog eat dog world down there - well, more than most "civilized" countries. How could the government spend so much money on defence which kills it's soldiers and millions of others, and neglect the problems that are right at home. Aaaargh, I'm so angry at stupid and degressive it is!!!!!
For some reason, I'm really pissed right now. That's why I had to write. I really want the American people to get really pissed off and actually do something. The American Empire will fall, and I feel like it will happen in our lifetime. And guess what, I can't fucking wait. Those greedy freaks who perpetuate these institutions and hold back positive change have had their fun and the party's gotta end sometime. I hope soon.
Anyways, I'm glad that I'm Canadian, even though our country is far from perfect. Living in America seems like pure shite though.
Is this an idea for the planet? Well, it can relate. I'm too tired/lazy to think of an interesting point that isn't blatently obvious. So, you think of one for me. I know that only one or two people read this blog, but that's cool. Even one is enough.
Thanks for reading.
Friday, November 21, 2008
A view from the other side.....
All throughout history, there are incidents of false paranoia and mass hysteria. Is it possible that the financial crisis, global warming, peak oil, and the environment are similar?
Well, as for the financial crisis, here is an interesting article that explores the other side. There are some interesting points that explain how the media convinces people to behave like there is a recession. In other words, the chicken is hatched before the egg.
Click Bellow:
An open letter to the Wall Street Journal
Let me know your thoughts.
I also just caught this snippet from Ron Paul.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/024086.html
Perhaps a change in currency is closer that we think.
Well, as for the financial crisis, here is an interesting article that explores the other side. There are some interesting points that explain how the media convinces people to behave like there is a recession. In other words, the chicken is hatched before the egg.
Click Bellow:
An open letter to the Wall Street Journal
Let me know your thoughts.
I also just caught this snippet from Ron Paul.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/024086.html
Perhaps a change in currency is closer that we think.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Arguments
The last few days I spent many hours debating a friend of mine on certain issues that I've been concerned with. It led to do some reading online and I ended up learning quite a bit. I must admit that it really took a lot of energy to look up so many conservative based arguments. The idea that we should keep on going like we have been simply doesn't sit right with me.
A large part of our discussion was about global warming science. So in my readings, I came across a movie called "The Global Warming Swindle" (which I've recently downloaded and am going to watch soon). The series of youtube videos shows a few clips from the documentary, interviews the film maker, then they proceed to debate both sides with a panel of scientists.
Global warming isn't really my main concern at this point in my life, but I'm interested in it and these videos are worth a look.
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
A large part of our discussion was about global warming science. So in my readings, I came across a movie called "The Global Warming Swindle" (which I've recently downloaded and am going to watch soon). The series of youtube videos shows a few clips from the documentary, interviews the film maker, then they proceed to debate both sides with a panel of scientists.
Global warming isn't really my main concern at this point in my life, but I'm interested in it and these videos are worth a look.
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
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