Gas Price Rant #9 Hosed at the Pump · Friday March 14, 2008 by colin newell
One for the “I did not know that…” books.
Did you know that when you buy gas for your car and pay at the pump with your ATM, Debit or Credit-Card, the Gas station company puts a Hold on a portion of your line of credit?
What this means is – The gas company blocks out a portion of your line of credit so they know they will actually get paid for the gas you bought.
Ok. Sounds fair so far I guess. But how much of your money are they holding on to anyway? $10? $20? $30? $50?
Wait for it. Are you sitting down? They hold $100 or more!
If you are strapped for cash, you can actually buy $7 worth of gas from your gas station, cross the street to the grocery store and have your credit or debit card denied when you buy food – because the already greedy gut gas companies have put a hold on your money.
Outraged? You should be!
The gas companies say that they are just protecting themselves…
Of course, in 2008, you would think that the software (or hardware) does not exist to allow the gas companies to hold a small amount of money on your credit or debit for a few moments until your transaction is complete – (truth is – it does and many gas stations hold this amount for a few minutes til after you have replaced the gas nozzle in its holder…) And yet many, if not most, of them keep your buying power on hold for upwards of 24 hours! Why?
So you know – this is a common practice for car rental companies and hotels… and not surprisingly. But gas stations? Why?
Canadian Theocracy Chapter 1 · Wednesday March 5, 2008 by colin newell
The Stephen Harper minority Conservative government has drafted guidelines that would allow it to pull financial aid for any film or television show that it deems offensive or not in the public’s best interest.
The proposed changes to the Income Tax Act would allow the Heritage Minister to deny tax credits to projects deemed offensive, effectively killing the productions.
Morality experts from Heritage Canada and the Department of Justice will determine which shows or films pass the test.
Woo!
Game shows, news, sports, and reality television are already excluded from access to the tax credits. So, the proposed prohibition would cover a range of material, such as anything explicitly sexual nature, excessively violent or without educational value.
Ouch!
So whose idea was this anyway?
Apparently a well-known evangelical crusader is taking credit for the federal government’s desire to cut tax credits to TV and film productions that contain sex and violence or lack moral fiber.
One Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition, said his lobbying efforts included discussions with Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, and “numerous” meetings with officials in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Oh joy!
“We’re thankful that someone’s finally listening,” he said yesterday. “It’s fitting with conservative values, and I think that’s why Canadians voted for a Conservative government.”
Christian Conservative values?
Now, the last time I checked, Christian Conservative Values (C.C.V’s) seemed to exist in small pockets in Alberta and British Columbia – home to book burnings and other scary behaviors…
And to be precise, we have a Conservative minority government…
Which means… more or less… than the Christian Conservatives, in Canada at least, exist at generally safe levels for the rest of us – meaning few…
Thank you God.
The big time · Friday February 8, 2008 by colin newell
Not sure how this happened…
But somehow we cracked the CBC Radio 3 New Canadian Top 50.
Must be some mistake.
That said. Click on the above image for the full experience.
Heck – being on the same webpage as Cher must deserve some kind of award, Juno or recognition…
Have you bought our CD yet?
Only about 500 left of our first pressing.
bleat
Amy Winehouse speaks · Friday January 25, 2008 by colin newell
Amy Winehouse sez I should drink Decaf…
and I say No, No, No!
Yea. That is my thought of the day.
Victoria realty expressions explained - part 2 · Wednesday January 9, 2008 by colin newell
The Calgary Herald reads… “A Victoria real estate agent is in a U.S. jail charged with assaulting two male flight attendants after they refused him more alcohol on a flight to Miami, forcing the pilot to divert the flight to Denver.
Russell William Petrie, 30, is also charged with “unlawful sexual contact” for slapping a woman on the buttocks when she walked past his seat, according to an FBI affidavit.”
“Petrie is to appear in Colorado district court today. He faces up to 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine for “interference with flight attendants” and a maximum two years and a $250,000 fine on the sexual contact count.”
Which leads us to our second chapter on Victoria Real-estate expressions…
- Nice Bones. This house is solidly built and with 250,000 dollars or so and ten years of reno, should fix up nicely.
- Shagadelic. A suitable crash pad for you and your dozen college buddies.
- Mile High Club. Spectacular views of… the Gate House.
- Bunk mate. You will need a rich room mate to pay the mortgage on this place.
- The Big House. 12 Small bedrooms, 12 small bathrooms, 1 giant living room and free weights in the Activity Yard.
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