Religion VS Politics?

Posted by Derek J.Sowa | Posted in , | Posted on 11:38 PM

What 's worse? Religion or Politics? I'm sure it's a debate that could rage on for years too come. Recently in the headlines we have religion shown in the most vial way imaginable. On prime time television we talk about green sex, and in the real world our politicians talk about sexual orientation for preschoolers. Now just what in hell is wrong with this picture?

First of all, Religion is the biggest sham of all. For the believers, something to behold! For the non believers, nothing more than a good book! Imagine today the world without Religion?  Would poverty still exist? Would the young still starve? The poor suffer? I think not! If we took just a fraction of what the church takes in, and used it wisely to feed the homeless and the hungry, I believe the world would be a much better place for all mankind! The greed and corruption that has surrounded religion today has changed the future for all. Judgment Day is near!

 As for the media, well one only has to watch a little late night television to see what really has transpired. From the good ol' days of Black and White, to the late night sex talks which perhaps is why our Government wants to teach sexual orientation in first grade! What the hell is up with that? Man, ...have they got me confused! Should I call in and tell them where I dropped off my used condom, or should I go back to preschool, as perhaps I've missed something? ... I Never did get that lecture on Lesbians or Gays when I went to school yet now they want to tell them as soon as the hit the classroom. I can see why there is such an outcry and why our Governments sudden rethinking!! Just who is running this country of ours anyways?

When it comes to Religion VS Politics, In my eye... there is no lesser evil! Mankind would excel at a much quicker pace without either of them. In the end, all we stand to inherit from the for-mentioned is more grief and more suffering. Eventually, the it will be the end of all mankind.

 The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe.
Albert Einstein, Telegram, 24 May 1946
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

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The Mechanical Melanie

Posted by Derek J.Sowa | Posted in | Posted on 1:54 AM

Press 1 to talk to nobody, press 2 to talk to nobody again, or press 3 to return to the first nobody.
As a Pay as you Go subscriber with Rogers Mobility, the other day I had purchased some $40.00 worth of airtime for my mobile phone which I use as both my home and business number. Having almost depleted my airtime, I was anxious to top up my balance as I was awaiting a few important calls. After dialling the required *611 which is primarily used for obtaining your account balance or toping your airtime, I was greeted with the standard mechanical message, `Welcome to Rogers, my name Melanie’ followed by the numerous options available.

‘To add money to your account, please press one’, which I promptly obeyed. This was followed by Melanie asking for a 10 digit wireless number, which at this point had me totally confused as I had never been asked for this number with my previous experiences in topping up my account. Usually you are asked for your four digit pin number to verify your account information. Having thought I had made an error in dialling, I hung up and went through the process once more receiving the same response from the mechanical Melanie. This time however, I decided to stay with Melanie awhile longer in hopes of her being able to direct me to a ‘real person’, all to no avail. After listening to the numerous options which seem to lead me nowhere, I was becoming quite frustrated with the whole simple process and decided to turn to the web for support remembering that I had topped up my account previously this way.

Once I was able to find the page where one would normally sign in, I was further frustrated upon finding that the whole process of signing in to the website was becoming nothing more than a pain. After several unsuccessful attempts to login and becoming a little `pissed’ at the whole ordeal, I decided to call Rogers directly. To my surprise, there was Melanie again, although this time she did have a few more options which I was forced to listen to before returning me to the main menu to start all over again. Having about exhausted my patience at this point, I decided to call their support number and after listening to Melanie yet again, I was more than relieved to finally be able to get through to some real person. I quickly explained my situation to the technical representative and was somewhat relieved to be talking to someone other than Melanie. As the representative was about to direct me to someone who would be able to help me update my account… my phone when dead. I had exhausted the few remaining minutes I had talking to the mechanical Melanie… Now I was ‘PISSED’…

Needless to say, I had by then just about given up. The mechanical Melanie had tried my patience and won. After attempting a few more calls on the mechanical merry-go-round, not to mention the endless minutes I was forced to hold, it was time to admit defeat. Two to three hours after my first attempt, I was still unable to update my account with the forty dollars I had purchased previously in the day. I called Rogers again for the final time, and after waiting for some time was told that they were experiencing difficulties with their wireless network and that it should return to normal within the hour. After offering to credit my account with ten dollars for my hardships which I promptly refused, only wanting the use of my phone returned, I hung up more than a little ‘pissed’ with the whole ordeal. For the next few hours when I dialled *611 I was greeted with the message… ‘Welcome to Rogers… We’re sorry we are experiencing technical difficulties and are unable to update your account at this time. Please check back later!’

Just why is it they did not play this mechanical message the moment they discovered a problem with their network? And why is it these days that the consumer is always put on hold or left talking to the mechanical Melanie. As one should have noticed, this mechanical madness is becoming more and more of a norm with all big corporations who are more than willing not to answer any of our questions or concerns yet have no problems digging deep into our pockets.

My wish is that the next time one of these big corporations’ calls looking to collect on their account they may hear the same mechanical message… ‘Welcome, if you’re looking for payment Press 1, If you need assistance… go back to the main menu’.

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I Am Canadian...

Posted by Derek J.Sowa | Posted in | Posted on 1:40 AM


"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us".  ~ Alexander Graham Bell
For those of us that are, or consider ourselves truly Canadian, I'm sure it's a question we ponder time and time again at some point in our lives. Just what are these values we have held so dear for so many years and why is it we now find them to be eroding away?
At the young age of 47, and as a recently separated father of two, I have much to be 'pissed' about! The feeling of having lost my place in this great country of ours has been years in the making. However, in this day and age I feel as if I am not alone. What brings us to this point is not always clear, yet I sense that more and more Canadian’s like myself are finding much to be 'pissed' about. One only has to pick up the local newspaper, watch or listen to the local TV and radio stations to know what it feels like to be 'pissed'. A great many of us feel it at election time, showing it by refusing to vote. (Not good if we want or expect change!) A lot of us feel it on the job as much of our pay is quickly swallowed up in taxes or worse yet, we are replaced by lower wage earners as companies try to compete and survive n a global market. We feel it at the pumps... at the grocers... in the malls and in the schools. No matter where we may look we can always find something to be 'pissed' about.

What's got me so 'pissed'? Well, currently there are a number of reasons, but first and foremost is something that started a few years back. What took me years in the making was more or less stolen from me if for nothing more than greed. A couple of years back I had worked hard in my free time to develop an informational website pertaining to Canada. After taking a few years to develop and complete this site fully, this non-profit site was to give people a better understanding of Canada. Filled with historical information on the land and its people, it was my intention to share this site with those who may never have the chance to experience the kind of life we as Canadians take for granted. It was also to be a starting point for those new to Canada, visiting or otherwise, to find the information needed to make the best of their time here. The site itself contained some 450 pages of Canadian content, with well over 5000+ external links to other great Canadian content.

Originally hosted in the US, it was my intention to move the site to a local hosting company within Canada. I searched for a new domain name, Trulycanadian.ca, and found that it was available. I then contacted a few local web hosting service providers inquiring about their webhosting packages and the cost associated with such plans. Having had a conversation with someone from Webnames.ca located in British Columbia to which I voluntarily gave statistical information about the site, I hoped that I had now found a new home for my website. Awaiting feedback from a few other providers I had contacted, I told the gentleman at Webnames.ca that I would contact him within a few days with regards to the hosting package and the registration of my intended domain. Two days later when I had went to register the Trulycanadian.ca domain; I found that it had been purchased by Webnames.ca, intent on resale. Yeah… I was ‘pissed’ to say the least! I quickly researched on the CIRA website on how to dispute domain names in question, and found that it could become quite costly, leaving me little choice but to wait and hope that Webnames.ca may relinquish their hold on my intended domain. Well, it’s been a number of years since, and the domain Trulycanadian.ca is still undeveloped awaiting resale.

So ‘pissed’ is a way of saying it mildly… My intentions for this new site are not quite clear just as yet; however it will give me the opportunity to once again continue my work. My old website, “Yzowl’s Truly Canadian Links and Information” will find a home while I continue work to refine and develop it further. With regards to the ‘Truly Pissed Canadian’ website, my hopes are to be able to share here what really “pisses” us off! As the blog develops further, I hope to be able to bring you live comments and stories from other Canadians and speak more with you about what makes Canadians ‘pissed’! Perhaps one voice can make a difference…

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