I’m not a trained hostage negotiator, and unfortunately, as of late, this fact is putting me at a disadvantage at certain big box stores. I feel quite unprepared when my purchases are “kidnapped” at the cash register until I offer an answer to their charitable donation request as the ransom to get them back. I go into retail stores to …
How smart are we if we continue to agree to pay for smart meters?
In my last column I expressed my opposition to the PUC’s application to recover smart meter costs from us through an increase in our delivery charges. Not surprisingly, Brian Curran, president and CEO of PUC, wasn’t a big fan of my column. Curran replied in a letter in which he let people know that smart electrical meters were mandated by …
We didn’t ask for smart meters, so why tap us for cash?
The PUC wants to increase delivery charges starting May 1, “to reflect the recovery of costs for deployed smart meters.” Did we ask for those meters? Are they of any benefit to us? No and no. Last Thursday’s paper had a very large ad: “Notice of application for an electricity distribution rate change – PUC Distribution Inc.” If approved, the …
Derail provincial government’s plan to kill train travel
Why are so many decisions being made that may seem positive in the short-term (at least to some), but could well have horrific long-term consequences? Take what’s going on with rail transportation in Ontario, where the government wants to close passenger rail lines to smaller communities across the province for a lack of a business case. When is the last …
Time is not on our side with Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time is one of those common practices that seems to defy common sense, but yet, no one does anything about it except complain. Daylight Saving Time (DST) refers to moving clocks forward one hour in the spring and back again in the fall. Depending where you are reading this, you may or may not be subject to this …
It’s called Fat Tuesday for reason — beware the foodoo
People ask, “Where did you go? What did you see?” when I returned from New Orleans. I blurt out a few destinations, but run out of words quickly. If only they’d ask, “What did you eat?” Then I’d have all kinds of stories. I’ll pretend you’ve asked. My first succulent stop was a Po’ Boy. Take a slightly crusty French …
Cancer rears it’s ugly head: Blog is raw, funny and informative
I check my email more often than I need to because, for me, it’s like buying a lottery ticket — there’s hope in it every time. If I get a soulful message from my better-half I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. The very name of some of my friends and relatives in my inbox makes me positively giddy. My …
Arm yourself with knowledge before you become the next scam victim
In my last column, I warned readers about a somewhat convincing scam where someone cold-calls you to help “fix” your computer. I worried that it might trick less savvy citizens into giving out their personal information and/or credit card numbers to supposed Microsoft or Windows staff, and I wanted to warn readers to protect themselves and their friends. Yet, I …
It’s not rude to hang up on someone who is trying to steal from you
For months now, friends have been telling me about a telephone scam in which supposed Microsoft people call to help them fix their computers. Not until last week, did I get the call. I played along, and actually found some of what they said mildly believable, so I decided to warn you of what they say, what they want, and …
Quiet the clutter: sell it, donate it, change it or recycle it
Over the holidays I spent many a peaceful night admiring the Christmas tree lights in the dark, once the house was quiet. Now, with opened presents stacked under the tree in the daylight, all I can think is, “What’s that noise?” The noise is coming from the presents under the tree, it’s coming from the pile of papers on the …