My world has shrunk, to the dimensions of my postal locker. Given that my possibility for “retail therapy” is now defined by the online commerce model, I depend on regular delivery by Canada Post. Forget rapid; they’re doing their best, what with the best windfall since Eatons and Simpsons.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, media | Comments Off on Waiting on the post | 281 words
Here’s a word that I haven’t used before: perplexion. I checked, and it is a real word, and it is the right word for the moment. Because, you see, I am trying to “wrap my head around” the sudden belief that everything is OK, out there.
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Years from now, when historians wonder how Canada handled the idea of a highly contagious pandemic, I hope they’ll be able to give us a full “two thumbs up”. Or five stars. Or whatever the rating for excellence in the field. Right now, it seems to be cobbled together.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, health, travel | Comments Off on The long winter just gets longer and longer | 279 words
Just had a thought. If the recent call from Mr. Scheer (a soon-to-be forgotten Tory) to scale back on government benefits/largesse is genuine, could we make him a poster boy for that movement? You know, take away the top level salary and free housing; a simple examination of the facts will show that he’s not actually earning his pay, or adding to the collective greatness of Canada. Let him volunteer to make life difficult for others. Don’t pay him.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy | Comments Off on The drone of conservatism | 262 words
This quarantine thing comes with certain side effects. Me, I shop, over and over again, for things I don’t need and (probably) won’t buy. Unless the confinement continues for too long. Then, all bets are off. Elsewhere in the house, all of the hares that hang about have been named. I don’t know how to tell one from the other, but if ever I get a clear sign, I’ll be able to address the situation. By name, I mean.
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Strange times. Today, we paid off the winter snow removal contract. In cash, that had been kept out of circulation for almost a week. I mean, money is dirty. It can carry disease. But if you put the bills into an envelope and then wait for a bit, at least the disease part goes away. I jest, barely. The money was delivered by hand, and bicycle.
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At least my time is free. After spending some minutes perusing the for sale section of my hobby group, I’m bewildered. At what point did your used gear become as valuable as the new article, in a sealed carton with the warranty intact?
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Another sleepless night. I know that I did hear the cuckoo, several times. In between, my brain played through the various ways I could attach PVC piping and small metal rods together, allowing me to mount a new (and yet to be procured) antenna to the side of the house. Somewhere along the way, my recollection of what was already in place proved faulty. When I wandered over there, this afternoon, I realized that engineering done in the fog of insomnia is hardly practical. In the real world, I don’t think they encourage such effort.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, food | Comments Off on Short supply: packaging, not product | 278 words
This stay-at-home life model has some interesting side effects. The price of gasoline has crashed. Webcam views from both the city and the country show an emptiness not seen (before) in my lifetime. Why I even found a decent article that discussed what to do with thousands of commercial airliners that have no place to go. That one is a logistical nightmare.
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I had started to take my access to foreign markets as a given. Until today. I had emailed a small (very small) company in California, to check on the shipping costs for a small antenna. The owner responded within minutes that he couldn’t sell to me, without procuring an export permit. I was tempted to see if he would try the subterfuge of simply sending me what I wanted, as a gift; in return, I would send him a specific amount of money, as a gift. Somehow, I sensed that he took government regulations seriously.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in economy, environment | Comments Off on Remember how good summer vacation used to feel? | 271 words
