The Guilty Taxpayers

The Guilty Taxpayers

Crime, Economy, Life, Life in Vancouver, Observations, Politics, Rants
While making my way to work in 2011 along Powell Street in downtown Vancouver I was given a pamphlet while waiting at a traffic light. The guy who approached me as I sat at the light mumbled something about 'Save the downtown Eastside' as he presented his informative missive. The title read 'BOYCOTT! Pantages/Sequel 138 - Condo$ are Destroying Our Low-Income Community'. This is asking the working, contributing taxpayer to support their quest to maintain the tattered, depressing hell-hole that is our downtown Eastside. Let's save the slums, the misery, the abject poverty and the legions of drug-addled, homeless people wandering into traffic. Vancouver's downtown Eastside eats the city from within, spreading its filth and drug addiction through violence and crime, affecting the lives of all that live and work…
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Taking away my favourite things – Discontinued products I miss

Taking away my favourite things – Discontinued products I miss

Food, Observations, Rants
First it was malt-flavoured Muffets, then Pond's skin cream, then Alberto VO5 Conditioning Hairdressing (no longer in stores but still available online for now) and the final indignity, Bick's Zesty Onion Relish. These are just a few of my favourite products that are no longer sold. Why are some items picked for annihilation and other lesser products remain on store shelved for generations (Aqua Velva!!) even though they're of lesser quality and are absolute crap? I have no idea how or why but I looked into the demise of a few of my favourites and this is here's what I discovered. Quaker Malt Muffets - My perennial favourite as a child, these awesome circles of morning breakfast goodness (known commonly as 'round shredded wheat') were discontinued due to weak sales.…
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Our Pathetic Healthcare System

Our Pathetic Healthcare System

Health, Life in Vancouver, Rants
I'm running out of options. I've been getting progressively more ill over the last 8 years and can't find anyone to help. As a last resort I decided to try one of our controversial 'private' healthcare clinics, one of a small selection of medical hired guns located in downtown Vancouver. I selected False Creek Healthcare Centre, made an appointment. I also walked out before seeing a doctor and giving them the opportunity to charge me their one hour 'consultation fee' of $450. Here's the note I sent to Falsecreek Medical after walking out of my appointment: I walked out of my appointment today, Monday June 1 at 415pm and here is the reason why... I made the appointment last week and was instructed to arrive 15 minutes early to fill…
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