The Transparency

Buyer Beware

2018-07-07T14:39:00.002-04:00

If you are a gardener and the quality of your soil matters to you, beware of what you are buying.

Much of the "SOIL" that is being sold in bags in garden centres is composted material that contains garbage. GROUND UP GARBAGE.

Oh, and the "MANURE" you think you're buying to fertilize your veggie plants? It is primarily "COMPOST" (read: ground up yard waste and kitchen garbage collected curb side mixed with all kinds of refuse that people couldn't be bothered to put into a garbage bag along with some trees that have been put through a chipper.)

Here is a small sampling of what was found in bags of "MANURE". That's right, ALL kinds of plastic. Pieces of soft and hard plastic of various types and colours.

Heart to Heart

2018-05-22T18:06:00.002-04:00

How can I consider anyone else?

There's nobody with whom I'd rather set up house.

You set my synapses ablaze,

with cunning words in lofty phrase

My heart skips like double dutch,

tightly held in your warm clutch

Snuggled in deep, closing the distance,

heart to hearts on the phone for instance

Though we've made no promises,

guilty I feel in the arms of any other Thomases.

Instructions.......instruWHAT?

2018-05-06T18:18:00.002-04:00

My understanding of instructions is that they are meant to direct and give information to a person who is attempting to complete a task.

I'm not sure I'm any further ahead with these instructions....

MayGoInTheBag Part 2

2018-04-15T13:47:00.000-04:00

When the rack was removed from the machine, it was found that there were more plastic parts missing that had disintegrated.

More part numbers to find...

Would you expect to find parts of your dishwasher disintegrating after only a year of use?

Maytag? How about.....MayGoInTheBag!?!?

2018-04-14T14:00:00.000-04:00

Some months ago I noticed a little piece of what seemed to be plastic in the bottom of the dishwasher. First thought was that something ended up in the dishwasher accidentally. More recently, I've found several more pieces that look just like this:

Upon inspection of the dishwasher, I found that the brackets that adjust the height of the upper rack are falling apart.

This dishwasher was brand new 1.25 years ago and this model was NOT the bottom of the line at the time of purchase.
This bracket has a whole strip of plastic missing along the metal, vertical support running through the middle of it:

The rack is now leaning forward and the contents of the rack have a tendency to slide toward the front.

Because the parts and labour warranty was for only one year, Maytag is willing to supply us with new brackets at no charge but we are responsible for paying $145.77 for the service call.

I was kindly reminded by Maytag that I could have purchased their extended warranty. When I asked if this is an indication that they expect the machine to start falling apart after a year, I was told, "No we don't expect it to fall apart, it's for peace of mind." Pardon?? Peace of mind that if something falls apart I've already paid for it rather than for paying for it now?

When I suggested they could just send me the parts (and this after describing to them exactly where the problem was in the dishwasher), they tell me I will have to go online and look at the parts list and tell them the part number for the parts that need replacing. Sounds simple, right? Well, in the parts list, you don't see the bracket as shown above. On the parts page you are shown all the disassembled parts of the bracket as well as other machine parts so you have to first identify which parts belong to the bracket.

Four Thick Walls

2018-04-04T22:00:00.000-04:00

Four thick walls of propaganda, built by those with gold in their veins.
The wolf in sheep's attire wears wool with blood stains.

The squeeze is felt as the structure closes in, ignorance encamps 'round the periphery, the flood of media waves swamp the guards that stave off iniquity.

The sacred is diluted into mundane, adding to the indifference of the insane.

Keeping the blind down in passive submission,
soaking them to saturation in falsehoods and misinformation.
Bowing to the strong yet invisible arm of manipulation.

Bound by the knots of hidden agendas,
the suffering grows with insomnia and sin-sick vendettas.

Weary from fighting to keep payments on track,
knuckling under to the elites' injection of a rusty tack.

Distracted by frightening sights on the screen.
diverting minds from the schemes that are painted pretty and cunningly "green".

Pouring out myths from their decanters of sweet deception,

garnering allegiance from the misled masses with perfection.

Daily defeated by the lie that excess is a need,
flawlessly convinced that you can have it all while drowning in greed.

Losing a sense of community, driven to stressful distraction - gaining nothing more than fecal impaction.

Paving over the garden of life-giving fruit with near-sighted self-reliance, arrogantly erecting metal imposters, hoping to outwit nature's unwieldly defiance.

Depleted by selfish ambition and carnal drives, heeding warnings only after the loss of lives.

Floundering in the murky sea of prosperity, relying on the law of attraction, attraction of frightful infraction.

So focused on the goal, unable to see the deep, wavy cracks in the foundation until depression, guilt and discouragement birth indignation.

Heading toward societal implosion, catapulted by blurred lines and nondescript categories.
Catching whispers of politically correct indecencies.

Costumed plots gnawing at the platform of all that is faithful and true, tearing apart families causing pain undue.

Growing their pride branches high and wide, thinking they have nothing more to hide.
Patting themselves richly on the back even though our nation is far from intact.

Rejecting the principles that undergirded this great and beckoning country, naively denying the Maker of all and sundry.

Reaching for the shiny objects floating at the surface while lacking discernment to exhume what is at the root.......this world is in dire need of a reboot.

The Breakfast Table

2017-05-06T22:05:00.003-04:00

The placemat lies lonely in place,

wishing to see a second face.

The sun eats away at the fog of dawn

making clear the way for the dew-walk of the fawn.

The morning delights of the butterfly and bird,

the skipping of stones, sliced water barely heard.

Drip, drop, crackle, drip,

the coffee aroma hastens the first awakening sip.

Steam from the toaster, the table is set,

the currant and strawberry jams placing their bet..

The lion-like faces of the colourful pansies

decorate the room with the raw life that one fancies.

The literary piece awaits the turning of pages,

offering escape into a world of past ages........

The Face of Insidious Darkness

2016-05-29T11:26:00.002-04:00

My name is depression, invader of minds,

proudly producing plan-strangling vines.

I sow seeds of guilt, doubt and fear,

procrastinating in everything, even the dropping of a tear.

Discouragement is my claim to fame, I wrote the Ugly Game

I might get dressed but it won't be pretty, make-up and accessories look at me with pity.

My occupation is destruction with a phD in lies

feeding into a rapid, emotional demise.

I'm irritable at best, showing passion in anger,

leave me alone and I increase in languor.

I live in isolation, keeping friends with anxiety,

I hurry to do nothing, nothing without worry.

I paint pictures of impossibilities,

giving much thought to relational atrocities.

Evading sleep unless it's in a bed of nightmares knee deep,

heavy-hearted, leaving one only to weep.

I am rich in loss and clothed in sadness,

ever reminded of fossilized gladness.

Chewing on the past, the flavour is gone,

just as stuck with each new dawn.

I'm left in the dark, far from the light

for if people see me, they run with all their might.

I sneak into places I haven't been invited,

feeling esteemed when grief is ignited.

Rejection is the crown I wear

having no reserve to help others bear:

Failure

Autumn Stroll

2015-11-14T17:27:00.007-05:00

Sitting here in the evening glow,
parents with tired little ones in tow.

Watching geese gently on the peaceful water glide,
lovers strolling arm in arm matching each others' warming stride.

Feeling the chill of winter's breath,

tucking chin into the collar's depth.

The floating of the golden leaves as they swim,

falling, tumbling, dancing to the wind's every whim.

Thoughts of hot chocolate and the heat of a fire,
cozy, relaxing to the melodies of the guitar or lyre.

2015-11-06T10:06:00.002-05:00

I WILL NOT FORGET

I will not forget the peer pressure, the orders, the force that tore you from your wife and your unborn child.

I will not forget the deafening blasts that left you abandoned in a sea of movement and gestures, unable to hear commands or warnings to save your life.
I will not forget your frustration in not being able to end the war with words rather than with arms.

I will not forget the internal unrest, the cognitive dissonance that comes with wanting to fight for freedom yet not wanting to kill.......to kill a treasured member of God's creation, someone's father, brother, son......

I will not forget the intense loneliness you endured in the cold, damp trenches, separated from all that is warm, lovely and familiar.

I will not forget the loss you suffered when your comrades met an abhorrent, premature death beside and in front of you.

I will not forget your sleepless nights, staring into the darkness asking WHY?

I will not forget the trauma and helplessness that you suffered seeing your countrymen and team mates slaughtered beside you, crying out in agony for relief, for help, for another chance at life.

I will not forget the hunger that burned in your stomach which quickly faded to nothing when you smelled the sickening stench of burning flesh.

I will not forget the birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals that you missed.

I will not forget the paralyzing fear that made your boots 40lbs heavier, your mouth dry, your eyes vacant and your voice evaporate.

I will not forget your return to a flattened home, feeling like you don't belong in this world that has collapsed.

I will not forget the shadow of self loathing for having killed a man in the prime of his life who was begging for mercy, wanting nothing more than to just......live.

I will not forget the grief of losing a limb that you wrestled with as you learned a new, laborious way of dressing yourself.

I will not forget your numbed, empty heart that left you feeling incapable of love.

I will not forget the frantic, suffocating and merciless death that is drowning at sea.

I will not forget your loss of freedom to gain freedom for others.

I will not forget your loss of independence that left you feeling like less of a man.

I will not forget the waste of life.

I will not forget the fear of being caught with the 'wrong' uniform on.

I will not forget the fatigue of pushing physical limits just to survive, to see the sun rise again.

I will not forget your dreams and aspirations that were trampled by boots and tanks.

I will not forget your fever and the torment of hallucinations.

I will not forget your tears, the tears you would never have shown at home but now rush down your cheeks; tears of heart-piercing grief and brokenness.

I will not forget the blast that left your beautiful face forever disfigured because of your selfless act to rescue a fellow man.

I will not forget the torment of recurring nightmares filled with frighteningly destructive scenes, reliving each shot, each scream.

I will not forget the astounding sacrifice.

I will remember to do my part in keeping history from repeating itself.

I will remember to say no to the evil that drives greed, pride, and all things that lead to war.

I will remember to say THANK YOU.

I will remember to say, "God keep our land, glorious and free."

I WILL REMEMBER

Blindfolded Baking

2015-03-28T17:06:00.000-04:00

Looks innocent, doesn't it?

Pure Vanilla Extract apparently means there is vanilla extract along with Propylene Glycol in here

Propylene glycol (PG) is a colorless and odorless liquid chemical used for decades in a wide array of applications. A synthetic substance produced in industrial quantities, it is a relatively simple organic compound that has the chemical formula C3H8O2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers PG as non-toxic in small amounts; however, large doses can cause seizures in humans and kidney and liver damage in animals.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5013190_what-propylene-glycol.html

ropylene glycol (PG) is a colorless and odorless liquid chemical used for decades in a wide array of applications. A synthetic substance produced in industrial quantities, it is a relatively simple organic compound that has the chemical formula C3H8O2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers PG as non-toxic in small amounts; however, large doses can cause seizures in humans and kidney and liver damage in animals.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5013190_what-propylene-glycol.html

Would you have expected this ingredient to be in vanilla extract? Is it a good thing to be ingesting?

More on Propylene Glycol

What is your conclusion?

The Non-User-Friendly Vapourizer

2015-03-23T20:08:00.001-04:00

This is the one.

The opening in the base of the apparatus is not the easiest to access if you're filling the vapourizer from a non-swan-neck faucet.

The opening is about 3 inches in diameter, not large enough for just any adult's hand to enter for cleaning and drying purposes. A smaller hand can fit, if forced, but not without enduring scraping of the skin by the rough edge of the hard plastic. It doesn't even empty easily if held upside down and shaken back and forth.

And yet, point #6 on the list of care instructions reads: Clean and dry unit thoroughly prior to storage.

If you're perplexed as to how to clean and dry the unit and you think that maybe you've overlooked something in the manual, and in doubting your problem-solving skills decide to call customer service for cleaning instructions because surely they'll know..........................don't bother....they don't.

Maybe you can put it outside on a windy day and maybe it will be dry by the next time you need it........if , of course, it doesn't blow away.......but if it did blow away......maybe it would be for the best....

FARMERS-R-US

2015-01-15T21:28:00.001-05:00

You know you live with farmers when you find this sitting on a window sill.................

The Leprechaun

2015-01-12T11:26:00.004-05:00

A slow, drawn out goodbye

Smile fades

Sullen face can't deny, sadness

Sadness builds towers of emotion

Gestures beguile

Head spinning with thoughts of devotion

Devotion, vocabulary not found in your lexicon

Are you any more trustworthy than a leprechaun?

Aliens!!

2015-01-10T14:07:00.003-05:00

One morning I awoke to find this interesting configuration in the yard. Looking at it one might think, "ALIENS!"

Upon closer inspection I noticed some highly suspicious yet classifiable tracks in the snow leading away from the geometric art and concluded that the interesting design WAS left by an ALIEN.... an alien mouse.

If the subject of aliens interests you, check out Alien Intrusion

SPARED

2015-01-05T08:41:00.003-05:00

On the second last day of 2014 I was spared from electric shock and a house fire.

Before getting into bed I noticed that the extension cord which was situated on the highly flammable carpet beside my bed, and used daily, looked like this:

oh...and did I mention there were SPARKS shooting out of it??? I'm thankful that I discovered it with my eyes and not with my hand and that I was home and able to disconnect it from the power source.

This extension cord has been effectively taken out of service.

Papyrophobia

2014-12-19T16:15:00.001-05:00

Many sticker stamps seem to have papyrophobia.....like this one that arrived in the mail today...

Lick 'n' stick stamps seem to be superior in their adhering capabilities.

SUPER HERO BANANAS

2014-12-16T09:43:00.003-05:00

So let me get this straight.......tasting the banana empowers me to do good?

Labels Are For Reading, RIGHT?

2014-12-15T16:17:00.001-05:00

So...it's FUEL......and a you're saying it MAY catch fire?

Make a Wish!

2014-12-08T18:21:00.003-05:00

A wishbone, or as some call it in the British Isles, "a merrythought" is a bone overlying the breastbone of fowl, typically the chicken and the turkey. In some places it is customary to remove this bone intact when carving the bird. It is then well-dried until it is brittle.

The wishbone is then given to two people, oftentimes children, who face each other while each pulling one end until it breaks, each one making a wish while doing so. The person who ends up with the longest piece of the wishbone will supposedly have their wish come true. If the wishbone breaks evenly, it is said that the wishes of both contestants will come true.

How To Care For Your Azalea

2014-12-06T09:33:00.001-05:00

This one left me scratching my head........

The First Aid Kit: When Instructions Matter

2014-12-05T14:05:00.001-05:00

So.....I'm to do what??

This Makes My Brain Cells Ache

2014-12-01T18:42:00.002-05:00

Can someone please explain this 'logic' to me??

City Sightings

2014-11-28T11:07:00.002-05:00

Have you ever seen a stranger and wondered what their story is? THIS was one such moment for me.....

The t-shirt reads:
Queer
Jewish
Hippie
Shrink

But then I wondered....is he conducting a social experiment?

Have Bike, Will Transport

2014-11-13T20:59:00.001-05:00

Today I saw this, and thought....way to go, man!

Firstly, he saved that pumpkin from going to waste. Secondly, he's using what he's got to transport the pumpkin in a rather unique way. The old, but faithful, adage holds true.... where there's a will, there's a way!

Good on ya, pumpkin salvage man! I hope you're enjoying some right tasty pie or soul-warming soup right about now!