Earlier today I received another e-mail from a guy in Canada who purchased a MIDI interface from me.
I posted it from Australia 23 days ago using normal airmail service and it still hasn't arrived.
This is very frustrating for me as it's not the first time it's happened.
The last MIDI interface I shipped to another fellow in Canada took 6 weeks to arrive.
Normal airmail to other countries like the U.S. or U.K. takes about two weeks.
So, today I complained at the local post office only to find out that I'm not the only one.
She advised me that they always have customers complaining about mail sent to Canada and India. She also mentioned that it's common for mail to take up to 6 weeks to arrive to Canada via normal airmail and up to 2 weeks using Express Courier International (ECI should take 3 to 4 days and is very expensive).
So, I jumped onto Google and read the following...
http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=75977&sc=96
:ironisk:
Quote from: MangeloreEarlier today I received another e-mail from a guy in Canada who purchased a MIDI interface from me.
I posted it from Australia 23 days ago using normal airmail service and it still hasn't arrived.
This is very frustrating for me as it's not the first time it's happened.
The last MIDI interface I shipped to another fellow in Canada took 6 weeks to arrive.
Normal airmail to other countries like the U.S. or U.K. takes about two weeks.
So, today I complained at the local post office only to find out that I'm not the only one.
She advised me that they always have customers complaining about mail sent to Canada and India. She also mentioned that it's common for mail to take up to 6 weeks to arrive to Canada via normal airmail and up to 2 weeks using Express Courier International (ECI should take 3 to 4 days and is very expensive).
So, I jumped onto Google and read the following...
http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=75977&sc=96
:ironisk:
I've had the same issue twice in the last 6 months sending auction items to Canada - I no longer sell to Canada because of this.
cheers,
Lance
I can attest to the backlog. I bought something from a guy in Buffalo, New York which is about 1.5 hours by car from where I live. It took 17 days to arrive. It use to take < 5 days for packages from California to get to me so there's a problem that Canada Post needs to rectify. Our soaring dollar has increased sales from the U.S.A. and when you add in the increased security measures you end up with a huge mess. The good news is that questions are being raised in the House of Commons and the head of Canada Post and the Canada Border Services Agency (the blokes responsible for customs) are being pressured to do whatever is necessary to eliminate the problem. My fingers are crossed.
The joy I felt at seeing my eBay purchasing power increase is being offset by the time it takes for me to get my toys. :(
Edit: Lance - don't shut us out! Just indicate in your listings that shipping to Canada can be a lengthy affair and that you won't be held responsible.
Quote from: gklingerI can attest to the backlog. I bought something from a guy in Buffalo, New York which is about 1.5 hours by car from where I live. It took 17 days to arrive. It use to take < 5 days for packages from California to get to me so there's a problem that Canada Post needs to rectify. Our soaring dollar has increased sales from the U.S.A. and when you add in the increased security measures you end up with a huge mess. The good news is that questions are being raised in the House of Commons and the head of Canada Post and the Canada Border Services Agency (the blokes responsible for customs) are being pressured to do whatever is necessary to eliminate the problem. My fingers are crossed.
The joy I felt at seeing my eBay purchasing power increase is being offset by the time it takes for me to get my toys. :(
Edit: Lance - don't shut us out! Just indicate in your listings that shipping to Canada can be a lengthy affair and that you won't be held responsible.
'spose so :)
It doesn't surprise me that even by plane it takes mail weeks and weeks to reach some of those remote little Canadian villages (like Toronto) way up there in the frozen North.
What I find surprising is that they have electricity to power their toys once they arrive. Maybe they make electricity by rubbing a polar bear against a moose. Something like that.
From the article linked above:
QuoteThe Canadian dollar closed yesterday at US$104.92.
:förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad:
No wonder our Canadian friends are on a buying spree!
Quote from: airshipIt doesn't surprise me that even by plane it takes mail weeks and weeks to reach some of those remote little Canadian villages (like Toronto) way up there in the frozen North.
What I find surprising is that they have electricity to power their toys once they arrive. Maybe they make electricity by rubbing a polar bear against a moose. Something like that.
Canadian scientists developed a technology that uses stupidity to generate electricity. It wasn't much use until we realized we could situate the power plants near the U.S. border and harness the overflow. Now we have more electricity than we know what to do with. Such is the benefit of sharing a border with the country that has the world's largest supply of the raw material. :)
The Canadian dollar was as high as $1.10 US recently and most analysts, Canadian and America, are predicting it will stabilize around $1.25 to $1.30 US. This isn't all that surprising to those of us over 35 because we remember the 70's when the Canadian dollar was worth quite a bit more than the greenback.
@Golan
This is really uncalled for, especially here where we've managed to go a couple of years without any of this BS. Keep it on c.s.cbm where it won't affect the signal:noise ratio.
Yeah! BS should only flow NORTH! :D
PS Golan, maybe you should locate a power plant in your embassy in Washington. THEN you'd have a REAL surplus!
Payton: Right, so when airship makes a condescending joke stereotyping Canada/Canadians, it's okay. When I respond in kind, you've got a problem with it. That's an excellent example of why so many people think what they do about you (myself included.)
Quote from: nikonikoFrom the article linked above:
QuoteThe Canadian dollar closed yesterday at US$104.92.
:förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad:
No wonder our Canadian friends are on a buying spree!
Hmm... I had missed that the first time I read through that article...
So, let's see... If I win something on an eBay.ca auction that's listed for C$20.00, that means I'll need to come up with US$2098.40!!! And the other way around, if someone from Canada wins something from me at US$20.00, they only have to pay me C$0.19! No wonder so many Canadians are buying from the U.S. right now! It's all so clear! :ironisk:
-Andrew
oooh oooh, can i join the fray on this? the BS factor has attrated me to post :)
I hope everyone knows that any posts I make like that are complete ribbing, which I expect to receive in kind.
If Lance has a problem with this, or if any of you object to that kind of chatter on this board, I'll quit.
I just think it makes it more fun. But if anyone is offended by it, I'll quit and we can just buckle down and be all serious-like.
Maybe when Lance gets back from his day job as a kangaroo-wrangler (or whatever it is he does Down Under), he can render an opinion.
Quote from: airshipMaybe when Lance gets back from his day job as a kangaroo-wrangler (or whatever it is he does Down Under), he can render an opinion.
I have an opinion on everything :) Anything specific ?
Lance
I think both of you are wrong.
I'd just like to throw out my opinion here because I'm actually quite offended. I could certainly tell both Airship and Golan were joking in their posts. They both provided quite a good chuckle in fact. Payton however, your reaction is what I found offensive because you vilified Golan and didn't have a word to say to Airship who was equally as harsh. The elitist attitude that you display in c.s.c. seems to have spilled over here now. Get off your high horse and let's just enjoy our favourite computers and maybe have a bit of fun on the side too. :)
Back to lurking...
We don't care what lurkers think. :P
BTW, I have nothing against Canada. I have many close personal friends in their southernmost provinces Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Maine.
Huh, a flame war! :D
That's nice to see :tummenupp: (from a safe spot in Europe :P)
I'm very amused.
airship's remark was joky (I like polar bears - not in my house but in the zoo or better in far nature) but Golan's reply was better (I would recommend the White House as a high energy generating place for this special technology - if Mr. President is in the town). But I was not amused about Payton's statement (not to say his comment sucked).
More polar bears!
More power stations!
No ditsy comments!
Regards WTE
QuoteMore polar bears!
More power stations!
No ditsy comments!
Regards WTE
More polar bears!
More power stations!
No ditsy comments!
No Bush haters!
Regards Dan...
Quote from: C128RETIREDNo Bush haters!
Regards Dan...
Who's Bush ? Oh yeah, one of the Gang of Three (Howard, Bush & Blair) - one already gone & we have our election in two weeks :tummenupp:
Lance
Religion and politics should be off-limits. However, US politics is one of the funniest shows going right now, so it's hard to afford.
And BTW, I'm sure WTE and Golan and Lance, et. al., are VERY proud that their countries have never had laughable 'leadership'.
QuoteHowever, US politics is one of the funniest shows going right now, so it's hard to afford.
I don't think it's a bit funny. If the democrats win in 08, we'll turn into a socialist country like our neighbors up north and like most of Europe. I don't want the federal government running my life and that's what we're slipping into.
Some European countries are beginning to realize it, France, Germany and Canada have all elected conservative leaders
Dan...
Citizens of the U.S.A. can elect whoever they want to be their President. I just think that they'd be better off with someone who isn't a) stupid and b) a liar. Of course, the majority did in 2000 but the fix was in and it was one that would have made the Romans shudder.
It's also worth noting that the current administration has acted in a way that is almost completely contrary to the ideals of the GOP. They've raised taxes, put the country on an almost irreversible course towards fiscal collapse, taken away civil liberties and waged pointless and illegal wars on foreign soil. Abraham Lincoln is rolling in his grave.
Quote from: airshipAnd BTW, I'm sure WTE and Golan and Lance, et. al., are VERY proud that their countries have never had laughable 'leadership'.
Where do I start.... :)
Quote from: C128RETIREDIf the democrats win in 08, we'll turn into a socialist country like our neighbors up north and like most of Europe. I don't want the federal government running my life and that's what we're slipping into.
But your current government is running your lives & taking away many of your 'freedoms' with it. Unfortunately our government seems to think that emulating the US government is the way to go. Fortunately, our Federal election is in two weeks.
Unfortunately due to Howards' support of the US war in Iraq Australia has taken a giant step backward & we're now well & truly set up as a 'terrorist target'. Add to that the extreme workplace laws his government has introduced (all in the name of a strong economy of course), the dismantling of Medicare, the flogging off of Telstra....
Hopefully after 24/11 we *won't* have a conservative government & Australia can start returning back to the country it was prior to Howard's election 11 years ago.
Lance
Typo alert: While our government is certainly hard to 'afford', as I stated above, what I meant to say was 'avoid'. But it's funnier the way I said it the first time. Carry on.
QuoteCarry on.
Thank you, airship.
Being nice to terrorists will not them go away. It's our freedoms and lifestyle they want to destroy. Then they'll come after you and your family if you don't adopt their religion.
You say you're politicians are paranoid; they are doing what you elected them for. Their trying to protect you and your families from a vicious enemy that wants you DEAD.
Whether you like or not, the only thing that is standing between you and the terrorists is President Bush and the US Military. You had better get your heads out of your you know what and look around before it all disappears.
Dan...
Oh boy.... I didn't expect my whinging post re Canada Post to have this outcome. :förvånad:
Dan, I hope you and I can agree to disagree on this. Personally, I think it's all overhyped BS to keep our own tyrant in power. Maybe that's an overreaction, just as what you said about the Democrats turning us into a Socialist state was an overreaction.
I didn't elect this set of 'leaders'. I voted for the other guys. And I think we probably won, despite what his stacked Supreme Court said. That being said, like Gore himself I'm willing to live with the results because I have every confidence that we'll win it back next election.
The great thing about a democracy is that if you like things the way they are, you can vote for the status quo. If you don't, you can vote agin' 'em. I think this country works best when we have a balance of power between the two major parties. It's kind of like a gang war - as long as they're at each others' throats, it keeps 'em from creating too much trouble for us.
Wouldn't this be a boring world if we were all the same, believing the same things, voting the same way, and marching to the same beat? As for me, I'm perfectly fine with being absolutely 100% right and having those with a differing viewpoint be 100% absolutely wrong. And I hope you are, too. :)
I'm going to miss Payton. He's a smart guy when it comes to these little CBM boxes. I'll miss his insights and inputs.
BTW I have nothing but respect for our people in the military and what they do for us. But I'm sick of those who try to label me a traitor just because I disagree with Bush - who, by the way, was able to keep from going to war himself because he had a rich daddy. I'm a 100% loyal American who believes our country headed down the wrong road when Republicans quit being Conservatives and started being Neoconservatives. I hope they find their way back, and soon.
Fotios, I'm sorry your thread got diverted, but I'm a veteran that loves his country and President even though I disagree with some of his positions. My youngest son is in Bagdad as we speak. I talk with him every two weeks and what he is telling me is they (US Military) are much appreciated by the Iraqis and the Iraqis are beginning to stand up for themselves.
I enjoy a joke as much as the next guy and the cutting up that airship and Golan were doing was funny.
When I'm reading a thread on this forum about the computers we all enjoy talking about and then somebody slips in a snide remark about my President or my country, I have to say something. Especially when it's aimed at me.
BTW; Golen, I knew that WTE is from Germany and he can speak for himself. Man, you have a big mouth, what you said to Andrew in the other thread was totally uncalled for. Every group of people have their own little clicks of like minds that discuss things and gossip about other people. But most don't go around telling people that they are talking about them, in the negative. I bet your little group has had a lot to say about me too. Who is in this group of yours anyway, so I can avoid them.
Dan...
P.S. Airship, I'll pray for you. :)
Quote from: airshipI'm going to miss Payton. He's a smart guy when it comes to these little CBM boxes. I'll miss his insights and inputs.
Did I miss something? Where is Payton going? :förbryllad:
-Andrew
Never mind... I just saw Lance's post in the News forum about closing the OpenCBM sub-forum, and now I understand. I can only hope he'll come back after a cooling-off period.
Okay... In an effort to try to get this thread back on topic... Here's my 2¢ on the topic of Canada Post. I've also had trouble with Canada Post, both with items sent to Canada, as well as receiving items from Canada. Some things things are received in a normal amount of time, some things take a long time, and a few things have just gone missing. It's a problem, and something obviously needs to be done to fix it.
-Andrew
Quote from: C128RETIREDFotios, I'm sorry your thread got diverted, but I'm a veteran that loves his country and President even though I disagree with some of his positions....
Hi Dan,
No need to apologise. This area is for general off topic discussions.
I wish people weren't so emotional at times, but I realise certain topics can be very sensitive to some.
Anyway, I'm not going to post my political views on this or any forum. I'd rather focus on my nerdy 128 hobby :)
I hope that the few members that canceled their accounts just take a small break to cool off and return in the near future.
I've been working on a few interesting 128 hardware projects in my spare time... don't miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this forum so we can chat about them very soon. I'd value your feedback good or bad.
Cheers
Fotios
OT so don't reply
Quote from: airshipReligion and politics should be off-limits. ...
Ups! Sorry but I forgot: Other countries other conventions. Normally in Germany there is no problem to talk about such things also in harsh words. (But you know, it's more than 60 years ago that it was ... not so normal to talk free). As politics is not "allowed" please ignore the following part of this message. ;)
Quote from: airshipAnd BTW, I'm sure WTE and Golan and Lance, et. al., are VERY proud that their countries have never had laughable 'leadership'.
I couldn't laugh about Schröder (last chancellor) because he was a power-hungry politician and i didn't like him. But I've laught a lot about Dr. Kohl (penultimate chancellor) like others have done. This have made him more human and didn't subvert his authority. But we had/have also some ministers who are only laughable and nothing more than that. Thats politics and we have to live (and laugh) with that. If laughing is no longer allowed than you live in a dictatorship.
I'm very sad to see that some people on this board have serious problems with this "political discussion". Hope that this is only temporarily. Keep cool!
Regards WTE
Well I had a big post going here but I fat fingered my keyboard and lost it! Anyhow, does anyone on this board collect guns? I'm into guns *big* time! I love'm. The more the merrier. I love to shoot'em but I don't kill critters. Personally I don't hunt. I used to but gained my senses back many years ago. Anyhow, I use the gun issue as an indicator who to vote for here in the US. Why? Well look at the anti gun folks. They are in the "touchy feely", let me help you with more laws, keep the border open, raise taxes, yada yada group.
Hey, I recently got back into building rockets. Not the toy plastic things but the type you cut, shape, mold, glue balsa wood and cardboard tubing. The ones, at least for me, that take a couple of months to build, then launch into the blue skies. Funny, I recently got back into Commodore computers after being away since the mid 80s. Yea, I know you can tell by my posts:) Since I retired from Unisys (Burroughs) I'm in my second childhood! Anyhow, I love retirement, my guns, rockets, now Commodore, and oh yes my wife.
Now, back to the subject at hand. Oh, I noticed at least for me, when I jump around here looking for different posts/subjects, on occasion my PC hangs waiting for a response from the host. Why?
The hangs are due to the fact that the bits get tired coming all the way from Australia, so they stop in Hawaii for a little rest before they come on to the mainland. Sometimes they get caught up drinking pina coladas and it takes a bit longer for them to get here.
I've got a .45 auto I go out and shoot sometimes. The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources has a free outdoor gun range just a couple of miles up the road. And Zeke, I'm a gun owner, a born-again Christian, AND a Liberal Democrat. Just remember that a stereotype is just that: a stereotype. I'm also in favor of enforcing our immigration laws, while remembering to treat illegals and their families like human beings. There are all kinds of Democrats, just as there are all kinds of Republicans. Aren't you glad we're not all cookie-cutter alike? Makes for a more interesting world.
Quote from: C128RetiredWhether you like or not, the only thing that is standing between you and the terrorists is President Bush and the US Military. You had better get your heads out of your you know what and look around before it all disappears.
I think the thing standing between me and the terrorists is the Atlantic Ocean. If they were in Mexico, I'm sure the US would suffer more frequent attacks. At the same time, I'm sure plenty of US vigilanties would retalaite. Citizens love thier guns and neabry terrorists would give us a good excuse to use them.
BTW, I think Airship and Golans remarks are humerous. Where did it all go wrong...
Quote from: hydrophilicQuote from: C128RetiredWhether you like or not, the only thing that is standing between you and the terrorists is President Bush and the US Military. You had better get your heads out of your you know what and look around before it all disappears.
I think the thing standing between me and the terrorists is the Atlantic Ocean. If they were in Mexico, I'm sure the US would suffer more frequent attacks. At the same time, I'm sure plenty of US vigilanties would retalaite. Citizens love thier guns and neabry terrorists would give us a good excuse to use them.
BTW, I think Airship and Golans remarks are humerous. Where did it all go wrong...
What's interesting to see is the politcal 'drift' over time - in the 60's & 70's, these were 'freedom fighters' - now they're 'terrorists'.
Times change.
Lance
Quote from: adminWhat's interesting to see is the politcal 'drift' over time - in the 60's & 70's, these were 'freedom fighters' - now they're 'terrorists'.
Right. When the Soviets were occupying Afghanistan they were freedom fighters and were supported financially, politically and militarily by the U.S.A. and now that they're pointing their guns at the new occupiers, they're terrorists. It's so very difficult to keep track of who is a friend and who is an enemy, according to the U.S.A., on any given day.
Well, that may be true but you can count on one thing. We're always keeping an eye on those Canadians. :)
Quote from: jt-3dWell, that may be true but you can count on one thing. We're always keeping an eye on those Canadians. :)
Don't they all go into hibernation at this time of the year (northern winter) ?
Lance
Quote from: adminDon't they all go into hibernation at this time of the year (northern winter) ?
Don't be daft. We don't hibernate during hockey season.
Go Leafs Go!
Everybody knows Canadians never sleep. They are always ploting their world domination, what with their hockey hair and catchy anthem and beavers and such. No, never turn your back on a Canadian. Besides, with all our nucular testing and greenhouse gassing we keep it too warm up here for them to hibernate. It makes them cranky.
Quote from: Blacklord on November 09, 2007, 05:23 PM
I've had the same issue twice in the last 6 months sending auction items to Canada - I no longer sell to Canada because of this.
cheers,
Lance
Couldn't you just warn Canadian buyers that due to the unfortunate reality of the latency of Canada Post's delivery system orders can take 6 weeks or longer and leave it at that? I quit bothering with ebay because either the postage rates quoted were more than the item (which is patently unfair and a rip-off) or shipping to Canada was not offered. It was either that or get a post box in North Dakota which I believe is frowned upon if you don't have a US address.
Part of the problem here is that several years back the labour unions drove the wages of postal workers so high that it became less cost effective to provide decent low cost parcel service. Today Canada Post interestingly sell premium package services which compete with UPS and they also sell the Purolator Products like Puroletter. This country of mine is a social democracy and Canada Post are a "Crown Corporation" which means the people here technically own them. However the unfortunate reality is that much of this is driven from Eastern Canada, the whole thing is run by bureaucrats, and here in the Mid-West where I live we WASP's are a forgotten tribe and spaces are wide open and the pony express never came this far North. Back when Canada was a Dominion and we sang "God Save The Queen" the mail did get through tho'.
However these days in the East where they milk the Great Canadian Cow perhaps part of the confusion is where Canada actually is... dunno for sure but maybe our mail comes here by way of France.
(http://www.clipshop.ca/DiskImages/quapple.gif)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_French (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_French)
o _____________
/\ / \
[__] ( take off, eh! )
__ | \ / (oo) ----'\_____________/
\/----///\ /-------\/
*/\______(xx) / | ||__|
( ) * ||----| U
^^ ^
Pro-democracy cow from Beijing Canadian Cow
http://www.sm.luth.se/~andreas/humor/cows.html (http://www.sm.luth.se/~andreas/humor/cows.html)
I have another interesting story to share about a recent experience with Canada Post. At about the same time, I sold an item to a guy in Spain, I bought an item from a guy in Brazil, and I bought another item from a guy in Canada. The item coming to me from Canada was sent with a rate called "Expedited USA". The package I sent to Spain arrived in Spain in 6 days. The item that was sent to me from Brazil got to me in about 10 days. The item that was sent to me from Canada (the shortest distance travelled of these three packages) took 5 weeks to arrive! There was no indication that the package was opened by customs... It apparently just sat somewhere for a long time.... Either that, or it took the long way around the globe to get to me in California from Ontario. Whatever the case, Canada Post's definition of "expedited" definately differs from mine! =|
-Andrew
Quote from: Mangelore on November 10, 2007, 11:31 PM
Oh boy.... I didn't expect my whinging post re Canada Post to have this outcome. :förvånad:
Yeah I know what you mean...
(http://www.clipshop.ca/evolution.gif)
Quote from: Andrew Wiskow on April 04, 2008, 09:40 AM
The item that was sent to me from Canada (the shortest distance travelled of these three packages) took 5 weeks to arrive! There was no indication that the package was opened by customs... It apparently just sat somewhere for a long time.... Either that, or it took the long way around the globe to get to me in California from Ontario. Whatever the case, Canada Post's definition of "expedited" definately differs from mine! =|
-Andrew
This is endemic of the efficiency or lack thereof even in domestic missives and in matters of great import my dear fellow. But can be used to one's advantage... for example being a truly tardy Canadian and a fiddler to boot (actually a guitarist) I have been remiss in filing of my my income taxes being busy working and making money and since deductions come off at source, no worries (and hate accounting and writing accounting software but do it anyway when not fishing).
Well just this week I received a demand for taxes from our government for the 2006 taxation year. This demand was sent via Canada Post and the letter dated March 1st or thereabouts and received a whole month later in our little post office in our small town about 45 miles North of the taxation centre where it was mailed from, stated that if I did not respond within 4 weeks legal action would be started. Of course I immediately called and was given a Month's grace by the taxman. I see a pattern here though. We Canadians are admittedly friendly but don't like to rush.
(http://www.clipshop.ca/pieces.gif)
Quote from: airship on November 10, 2007, 03:09 PM
Typo alert: While our government is certainly hard to 'afford', as I stated above, what I meant to say was 'avoid'. But it's funnier the way I said it the first time. Carry on.
I agree... and what's even funnier is that both hold true up here...
(http://www.clipshop.ca/georgie.gif)
I'm gonna toddle off now and play with some CP/M 80 code in my old compiler...
Quote from: Andrew Wiskow on April 04, 2008, 09:40 AM
...it took the long way around the globe to get to me in California from Ontario. Whatever the case, Canada Post's definition of "expedited" definately differs from mine! =|
-Andrew
Probably was transported by a three-legged moose.
I like the service from the UK (Royal Mail) to Australia (Australia Post) - generally three days, the best was two (which left me rather astounded).
Sometimes it takes longer from NSW to Tasmania - go figure.
Lance
Lance, maybe it's because the UK and Australia are both places that the Royal Post could find on a map, whereas NSW and Tasmania??? ;)
Quote from: airship on April 05, 2008, 03:56 AM
Lance, maybe it's because the UK and Australia are both places that the Royal Post could find on a map, whereas NSW and Tasmania??? ;)
Well I hope Royal Mail isn't doing the delivery between NSW & TAS :) Might be the Canadian mob which could explain the oft-times slow delivery :rolleyes:
Lance
Quote from: airship on November 10, 2007, 07:53 AM
BTW, I have nothing against Canada. I have many close personal friends in their southernmost provinces Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Maine.
Then there might be some truth to the rumour (that I am starting) that Corncob Bob is really an Iowa expat and an old school chum of yours who moved North to work as an editor of Computing Now! Magazine before taking up alchemy and converting himself into a renewable resource.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050929/corncobbob_parliamenthill_20050929/20050929/
(http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050929/corncobbob_parliamenthill_20050929/20050929/)
(http://www.clipshop.ca/dumbnu3cornhead.jpg)
Corncob Bob as a Schoolboy
Shown dressed in typical "Iowa Smart Casual" manner c/w "Reddenbok Head-dress" long prior to the genus-change operation and the subsequent kernal-grafts that made him into the cob that we all know and love today. His schoolmates sometimes referred to him as "Lee J.", "Husky", or "Earship" (a name that he later used in computer forums where he was know for his "corny" but eloquent humour). Bob's involvement with computers may have extended to collabrorating with several other Kernel suthors, but certainly although Carl Sassenrath has not been contacted for comment, his involvement did not extend to the Amiga and was confined to computers with fruit and vegetable-like names.
Laura "Pickles" Bush and Canada PostThis might also explain a conspiracy theory (that I am also starting) as to why your own leader might actually have a vested interest in slowing-down Canada Post in order to discourage the mailing of cross-border love letters... despite that this is patently unfair to the State of Alberta which is where Stephen Harper, Canada's Leader is from.
(http://www.clipshop.ca/pickles_corn_cob_bob.jpg)
The Corn Cob Bob Scandal
Quote
OTTAWA, CA (IWR Parody News) - An unnamed member of Laura Bush's staff has confirmed to IWR that the First Lady has been secretly seeing Corn Cob Bob ever since she met him on Canada Day. According to the source, the President is fuming because of Corn Cob Bob's affiliation with renewable fuels.
http://internetweekly.org/2005/07/cartoon_pickles_corn_cob_bob.html (http://internetweekly.org/2005/07/cartoon_pickles_corn_cob_bob.html)
Note: "Canada Day" is sometimes referred to by NSW yobbos as "Canad-Ear Day" especially after a bottle or two of "Bundy'".
Quote from: airship on April 05, 2008, 03:56 AM
Lance, maybe it's because the UK and Australia are both places that the Royal Post could find on a map, whereas NSW and Tasmania??? ;)
Canada Post US Delivery Map
(http://www.clipshop.ca/canadamap.gif)
Where in Texas is Iowa actually, Mark? Or is it in Norway? My wife is Icelandic (75% anyway). One of our local papers in this part of Manitoba is called Lögberg-Heimskringla. We often in the past did get the President or Prime Minister of Iceland in town up here and I could ask one of them where in Norway Iowa is, because I think Norway must be pretty close by where they are situated, but in view of recent events I am not clear if a visit is planned anytime soon.
Welcome to Lögberg-Heimskringla Quote
Marking yet another global first, Iceland has elected a giant squid to the office of President. Running on a "healthy seas" platform, President-elect Art K. Teuthisson is proud to be the first cephalopod elected to high office in any country in the world.
"It's an enormous responsibility," the fearsome sea creature said, his tentacles flailing wildly. "But the Icelandic people know I have ten arms to hold them."
http://www.logberg.com/ (http://www.logberg.com/)
While the Cheeseheads in Wisconsin won't be caught dead without their cheese hats, we in Iowa know better than to wear our national product as a wardrobe item. Heads here are universally adorned with freebie feed and seed caps. John Deere caps are also acceptable headgear. No one here would be caught dead in that corny hat.
As to our location on the map, only the northern part of Iowa is officially a part of Norway. The rest we prefer to keep secret from the rest of the world. We're afraid that once the foreigners (like Canadians and Texans) find out how good life is here, we'd be inundated with illegal immigrants.
Quote from: airship on April 06, 2008, 06:11 AM
While the Cheeseheads in Wisconsin won't be caught dead without their cheese hats, we in Iowa know better than to wear our national product as a wardrobe item. Heads here are universally adorned with freebie feed and seed caps. John Deere caps are also acceptable headgear. No one here would be caught dead in that corny hat.
The Iowa branch of the family is mostly into accounting or serigraph's or other generally hatless professions so not quite sure what the custom is. I once heard something about giant popcorn balls also being worn as headgear in your part of the world.
Quote from: airship on April 06, 2008, 06:11 AM
As to our location on the map, only the northern part of Iowa is officially a part of Norway. The rest we prefer to keep secret from the rest of the world. We're afraid that once the foreigners (like Canadians and Texans) find out how good life is here, we'd be inundated with illegal immigrants.
We don't get paid not to grow popcorn up here and not much in the way of anything illegal but smiles either:
John Prine - Illegal Smile (http://ohbrotherray.imeem.com/music/Ec2tQsaQ/prine_john_john_prine_illegal_smile/)
But back in the 60's when it was a little draftier down your way we did get a cornhead or two a'wanderin' in singin' Country Joe MacDonald's Fixin' to Die Rag with Fish Cheer and all. (No kids that has nothing to do with Big Macs) so like ourselves a fish-head then became (Nothing to do with Filet of Fish Either).
I did a Fixin' parody actually a year or several back in a fit of Socio-Political frenzy and Joe put it it up on his site with All the Fixin's...
I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-My Rag (http://www.countryjoe.com/fixins.htm#hep)
Maybe I'll do one about Canada Post if I ever get Politically Motivated again...
The Fixin' to Canada Post Drag "Come-on all you Slow Postmen
Your Uncle Jaques wants to strike again
He's got himself in a terrible Jam
Opening the mail from Uncle Sam
So pull off your bags and pick up your signs
We'll stop the mail for good this time."
"And it's one, two, three,
What're we workin' for,
We already got dual-cores,
who cares about used C64's,
and it's four five six,
open up that C128, and
even if you never check for bombs,
it's still gonna take 6 weeks long."
So now you see why I write code and not songs... or maybe I shouldn't do either and just go fishing.
Your knowledge of Iowa is woefully inadequate, which is just the way we like it.
No way any Iowan would waste perfectly good food (like, for instance, a popcorn ball) by wearing it. We likes to eat.
Not only do we get paid to not grow popcorn, we get paid to not grow all kinds of things. They don't pay us to not grow Mary Jane, but farmers down here don't do that much anymore, anyway. It's much more profitable to set up a meth lab in the barn. Sometimes on the news we hear about one that has blown up real good.
Quote from: airship on April 08, 2008, 11:53 PM
They don't pay us to not grow Mary Jane, but farmers down here don't do that much anymore, anyway. It's much more profitable to set up a meth lab in the barn. Sometimes on the news we hear about one that has blown up real good.
Interestingly, the DOA (used to be DEA before they lost the War on Drugs) whose jurisdiction doesn't necessarily stop at the 49th paralell probably should have considered crimes of compassion before they dug and they burned and they burned and they dug. Despite my government's attempts about a decade ago to provide good quality hydro from underground bunkers in abandoned mine shafts right here in Friendly Manitoba our Ledain Commission ground to a screaming halt almost 40 years ago now leaving us with a less than satisfactory socio-economic framework for our own entreprenurial prairie farmers and other parties interested in crop diversification (http://www.thecompassionclub.org/law/resources) for a recreational or other market.
The farmers here too have adopted a more scientific and less organic approach in their own business plans.Sadly, failing to learn from the days of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters (http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/sixties/kesey.html) (and a lesson that many of us including long distance truck drivers should have been able to pass-on to posterity without the ubiquituous "Six Days On The Road" romanticisation) a resurgence of stimulants in the current generation has led to the same phenomenae here as well as there.
In my own time as a volunteer in various alley-patrols and other noble pursuits that attempted to keep our children safe from needle-sticks in the schoolyards of our urban centres in the name of a newer concept called "Harm Reduction" I too have witnessed this shift occurring in epidemic proportions in all sectors and not just in farming.
The issues are confusing to say the least whether there or here or by Bondi Pier and elsewhere around this planet.Perhaps the "War on Terror" is not the only reason that Canada Post has become so slow, and perhaps other wars are being silently fought in the trenches of our fair Post Offices and it is not "working to rule" and all those time-honoured labour traditions that have created the obvious backlog.
There are also obviously personal choices that need to be made on a community basis whether the official crop is corn and the unofficial crop hails back to the days of "Thunder Road" or a more contemporary underground economy that is reminiscent of the days of "Blow" and "Boston George".
Also in my own time as an activist in some areas, I have spent my fair share of time with folk heroes like Dean Wilson (http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/3737) (a former IBM Salesman) sharing a plane on the way to Ottawa (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070817/court_injection_070817/20070817?hub=HealthOttawa) Canada's Capital in his bid to extend our own legislation (http://www.humanhemphealth.ca/section56.html) to include other lucrative crops other than popcorn. Like most I have seen the folly of applying a "one size fits all" philosophy to crop selection and rotation.
Your observation is interesting and despite some obvious cultural differences between our two countries the choices are remarkably similar.Recently a couple of idiots who are also both almost Senior Citizens in a small town close by the small town that I live in decided that since it was all contraband anyway, forgave themselves for lack of morals, and mixed-in illegal firearms with a Maryjane cash-crop and will probably die in jail.
How can we expect the children, many who are less well equipped to handle these choices by virtue of their own miserable parentage, lack of values, and peer pressure from losers to make good choices when so many poor examples exist in our own generation?
The values that I myself learned as a teenager and young adult were that the 3 parts of the whole person, the spirit, intellect, and "flesh" must be balanced. Each provides its own joy as well as sorrow and such is life. I suppose it is hard to transcend the reality of survival without making greedy choices when the opportunity of natural selection and those Darwinian principles provide such assuage and justification for cash crops other than corn.
However, the Joys of Playing with Computers, the "Hu-Manly Art of Programming", other literary pursuits and Fishing and other cool choices in life are perhaps all an individual can hope to inspire oneself and others with at the end of the day. Taking the Theologian's semantic view that Fate (like Faith) is immutable and cannot (or perhaps should not) be altered or tampered with by intellect or will is a complex lesson that is even hard for the smartest people that I know to understand (including myself:). The quiet place that belongs to all of us is very satisfying and doesn't need any enhancement, and one can disappear for years or a lifetime without missing a day with one's trusty compiler, favorite books, guitar and causes by one's side.
Having said all this, I appreciate your re-Mark. I almost understand why Norway does not show on the Map of Texas. Nor does Iceland show on the maps of Manitoba or North Dakota.
So it is perhaps also understandable that my knowledge of Iowa is limited and should remain that way, but surely Canada Post should also be capable of locating these exotic and far-off places more effectively despite the inpenetrable nature of the Corn Belt.
Theory: Airship makes the maps for Canada Post.
Wow... The problem with Canada Post is apparently so bad that there's even a website... http://www.postalproblem.ca/
-Andrew
I think of Canada Post more like a lottery. Sometimes you win but usually you lose. :(
Quote from: Golan Klinger on April 10, 2008, 02:49 PM
I think of Canada Post more like a lottery. Sometimes you win but usually you lose. :(
Ahhh.... So it's kind of like putting coins into the Coke machines on U.S. Navy ships... =D
-Andrew
Andrew, make that like putting coins (or bills) into Coke (or Pepsi) machines anywhere. Our machines at work have about a 75% payout rate. The candy machines, too, though they're most often guilty of snagging the item you buy so you don't get anything but the next guy gets two... and I never seem to have enough change when my stuff gets snagged so that I can buy the next one. :(
Quote from: airship on April 13, 2008, 03:56 AM
Andrew, make that like putting coins (or bills) into Coke (or Pepsi) machines anywhere. Our machines at work have about a 75% payout rate. The candy machines, too, though they're most often guilty of snagging the item you buy so you don't get anything but the next guy gets two... and I never seem to have enough change when my stuff gets snagged so that I can buy the next one. :(
Airship... I know exactly what you mean... But at least when you put money into a Coke machine and push the button for a can of Sprite, assuming the maching works, what drops out is usually a can of Sprite, right? Not so on navy ships... The navy Storekeepers that stock the machines don't give a damn, so trying to get what you want really is like playing the lottery. ;)
-Andrew
Quote from: airship on April 13, 2008, 03:56 AM
Andrew, make that like putting coins (or bills) into Coke (or Pepsi) machines anywhere. Our machines at work have about a 75% payout rate. The candy machines, too, though they're most often guilty of snagging the item you buy so you don't get anything but the next guy gets two... and I never seem to have enough change when my stuff gets snagged so that I can buy the next one. :(
Aha! I haven't had a coke or pepsi or a dr. pepper or even a gatorade for 6 weeks ever since my doc measured my fasting glucose and it had shot-up to triple what high normal is... so I would say that someone is probably watching-out for you by taking your money for nothing.
JUJYFRUITS
I managed to sneak some jujyfruits (actually several boxes) that we have imported special from south of the border (the Canadian Border not Chuck Norris's) but that is just recently.
That first week or 4 I got a little concerned and cut-out all carbs except for the brown rice that I ate with my baked fish...
Don't talk about coke... I want one. I gave-up cigarettes at about the same time and don't want one of those... but cola...
It is so hard to be healthy around this forum.
Quote from: BillBuckels on April 13, 2008, 10:35 AMDon't talk about coke... I want one. I gave-up cigarettes at about the same time and don't want one of those... but cola...
It is so hard to be healthy around this forum.
I need a cigarette... ;)
I confess to being a die-hard Coke addict. I can leave Pepsi alone, but Coke is the nectar of the gods. I have to watch it, though, because I'm a diabetic. Once a day only. It's a good thing, or I'd be swigging the stuff 24/7. Because I wouldn't be able to sleep from all the caffeine.
Quote from: airship on April 15, 2008, 01:39 AM
I confess to being a die-hard Coke addict. I can leave Pepsi alone, but Coke is the nectar of the gods. I have to watch it, though, because I'm a diabetic. Once a day only. It's a good thing, or I'd be swigging the stuff 24/7. Because I wouldn't be able to sleep from all the caffeine.
I on the other hand am in de Nile about being a diabetic and have decided to pretend I am not by drastically losing weight and removing carbs from my diet wherever possible. But some days I would throw it all away for a coke... to wash down the cigarette that I don't have and cut the tar from the throat... but since I don't smoke anymore having quit for probably the 20th time in 40 years I don't miss it.
Quote from: Golan Klinger on April 10, 2008, 02:49 PM
I think of Canada Post more like a lottery. Sometimes you win but usually you lose. :(
I know that Canada Post has seen a bigger backlog on deliveries than usual due to the weakening U.S. dollar and more Canadians purchasing products through mail-order from the U.S. ... But this is more recent... So I was wondering, were things better before, or has Canada Post always had a "bad rep"?
-Andrew
It use to be quite good. It seems to have gone to pot in the last few years and I haven't a clue as to why. :(