GOOD DAY/ BAD DAY AS I SEE IT: CANADIAN TIRE, A CANADIAN DISAPPOINTMENT

GOOD DAY/ BAD DAY AS I SEE IT: CANADIAN TIRE, A CANADIAN DISAPPOINTMENT: CANADIAN TIRE A CANADIAN DISAPPOINTMENT I've shopped at Canadian Tire since I was about 15 years old. I'm 53 now. As a loyal custo...

CANADIAN TIRE, A CANADIAN DISAPPOINTMENT

CANADIAN TIRE

A CANADIAN DISAPPOINTMENT

I've shopped at Canadian Tire since I was about 15 years old. I'm 53 now. As a loyal customer for that many years, you're bound to see many changes. Canadian Tire hasn't changed much as far as their merchandise goes.  I had a very bad experience years ago trying to get my car fixed there. I took it in for a brake job and they suddenly and inexplicably found my brake lines had water in them and needed to be replaced. This was a complete scam perpetuated by C.T.  That was the last time I ever took a vehicle there for repair.

Haven't really had anything to complain about otherwise until today.

DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT BUY A BICYCLE FROM CANADIAN TIRE.  I bought a Schwinn bike there last week and just got to put it through it's paces this weekend.  It's a 21 speed mountain bike and it performed like a piece of shit. Note that Schwinn bikes are now made in China and shipped here to be assembled. At least 3 of the gears do not work at all. All the other gears rattle like a tin can and they didn't even have the courtesy to tighten the handlebars tight enough so they even worked loose while riding.  By the time I got home from this ride. I was ready to spit black blood and decided to take it back and get a refund so that I could buy a real bike.

Well guess what ? Partially my fault because I didn't read their return policy on bikes. But they do not take pre-assembled bikes back at all.  They will fix it,  but no return.

This means if you buy it and walk out the door with it, ride it across the parking lot and discover it has a bent wheel or anything including you don't like it at all and want to return it and buy a different bike, you are screwed. If I had known this before, I would have never purchased a bike there.

This policy is highly unfair as the only way you can know if a bike will suit your needs is to ride it.  So basically, I would think long and hard before ever purchasing a bike from Canadian Tire.  Personally, I would never again. I'm also thinking pretty strongly about boycotting this store altogether.  An outside company puts these bikes together in the store consisting of a punch of pimply faced kids that haven't a frigging clue what they are doing as far as bike building goes.

So now I'm going to get my bike fixed that's not even a week old and there is no way to return it , even though I am totally dissatisfied with it.

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DO HAVE A GREAT DAY AND PURCHASE BIKES FROM ANYWHERE BUT CANADIAN TIRE

JEFF R HILTON

SESAME GINGER AND GARLIC BLACKENED PRAWN BAKE

SESAME GINGER AND GARLIC BLACKENED PRAWN BAKE

Created exclusively by : Jeff R Hilton

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This recipe is a 5 star * dish and a hearty meal in itself.

Ingredients :

DESIRED AMOUNT OF PRAWNS, DEFROSTED, DE-VEINED AND TAILS CUT OFF.

2 CUPS OF LONG GRAIN RICE.

10 FRESH WHITE MUSHROOMS SLICED.

3 TBSP. FRESH MINCED GARLIC.

14 MINI GRAPE TOMATOES CUT IN HALF.

SESAME GINGER MARINADE.

FRESH GROUND PEPPER TO TASTE.

STEAK SPICE,  LIBERAL AMOUNT.

SEA SALT CRYSTALS, HALF HANDFUL.

OLIVE OIL.

BUTTER.

MONTERREY JACK CHEESE,  GRATED

PARMIGIANA REGGIANO CHEESE, GRATED

PUT PREPARED PRAWNS INTO A BOWL AND COVER WITH MARINADE AND ADD SPICES.  LET MARINADE FOR APPROX. 2 TO 4 HOURS REFRIGERATED.

IN A WOK,  POUR OLIVE OIL TO BARELY COVER WOK BOTTOM.

ADD A KNOB OF BUTTER AND SOME MINCED GARLIC AND HEAT TO MEDIUM HOT.

ADD MUSHROOMS AND STIR CONSTANTLY UNTIL THEY ARE ALMOST BROWN, DO NOT OVERCOOK.  REMOVE AND SET ASIDE.

NOW WOK TOMATO HALVES ON MEDIUM HIGH HEAT WITH CUT SIDES DOWN 1ST UNTIL SLIGHTLY BLACKENED THEN STIR GENTLY FOR 5 MORE MINUTES,  REMOVE AND SET ASIDE.

DRAIN MARINATED PRAWNS INTO A BOWL SAVING MARINADE FOR LATER.

NOW ADD A LITTLE MORE OLIVE OIL AND MINCED GARLIC TO WOK AND WOK PRAWNS ON HIGH HEAT UNTIL SLIGHTLY BLACKENED STIRRING CONSTANTLY.

POUR 1 CUP OF PREPARED RICE EACH INTO TWO SEPARATE SINGLE SERVE OVEN SAFE DISHES ( PYREX ).

TOP THESE BOWLS WITH EQUAL AMOUNTS OF PRAWNS, MUSHROOMS, TOMATOES, PLACING ON TOP OF RICE.

POUR SAVED MARINADE EQUALLY OVER THE TWO BOWLS CONTENTS.

SPRINKLE WITH GRATED CHEESES OVER TOP.

PLACE BOWLS ON BAKING TRAY AND BAKE AT 350 FOR 20 MINUTES.

AFTER 20 MINUTES MOVE BOWLS UP A RACK AND BROIL FOR 6 MINUTES OR UNTIL CHEESES BROWN.

SERVE AND ENJOY !

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DO HAVE A GREAT DAY

AND A GREAT MEAL TO END IT

JEFF R HILTON

INTERNET GOD'S

INTERNET GOD'S

Written by : J.R. Hilton

Strange how quickly success can change someones ideals, beliefs and lead them to start playing God,  making decisions that affect peoples lives in adverse ways.  It's the old story of whoever has the gold makes the rules. Two of the best examples of this are actually Facebook and Google.

I decided I was going to make a new page on Facebook called Remember,  which was to be about war veterans and the wars they fought. Just another reminder that we should never forget the horrors of war. Upon posting a picture of concentration camp prisoners being liberated during the end of WWII by the allies, I was immediately suspended from posting anything on Facebook for 2 days and 22 hours as punishment. It could have been that these survivors had no clothes on to speak of although it wasn't a closeup shot. This is how they were found and liberated.  It's called reality.

When I see some of the blatantly verbal diarrhea and degrading materials posted on Facebook, I have to wonder about my posting running afoul of Facebook's so called protocol.  Yes it's likely that this was all done by bots,  which is more than a little scary as someone had to program them.   This teaches me that freedom of speech only applies if you own all the gold and if the owners of the platform you speak from are in total agreement with what your message projects.

When social media like Facebook and other providers of internet services start thinking they actually own the internet and make the rules,  then there's a huge problem that needs to be addressed as well as a few people that could use a dressing down and a reality check.  The exception is, if someone is using these platforms to promote hatred, child pornography or human trafficking, then by all means,  seek out these individuals and prosecute them, by any means necessary. Don't punish someone for trying to keep the ugly truths of war buried in the past.  These are my thoughts, what are yours ?

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AND KEEP FREEDOM OF SPEECH ALIVE

Jeffrey R Hilton

   

Spring Into Rejuvenation

Photo by J Hilton

SPRING INTO REJUVENATION

Written by : Jeff R Hilton

Spring can never come fast enough for me,  and when it finally arrives, I like to wrest every drop of it's rejuvenating revitalizing properties I can from it.  By now the vagaries and eccentricities of winter are wearing thin and I long to drink up the warm sunshine and see it reflect on every mountain I can lay my eyes on in the Canadian Rockies.  It lifts me up and inspires me.  Makes me feel reborn again in a way only spring can.

Spring is both,  new life and old life revitalized.  Paradise is not lost,  it's all around you,  and waiting for your perusal.  Natures constant eye candy does more for the soul than anything else I can think of.  It beckons you to join in and get saturated in it's splendor.  Spring brings with it a highly positive energy that we can easily absorb and tap into. It's a new season in a new year.  The hillsides begin to green up
as the melt water flows.  Avalanches groan and grate down the mountains in the back country as ice gives way to spring sun.

Photo By J Hilton

  

So I took a little trip to the mountains for the weekend and it was much needed. Without going into detail,  my stress level has been pretty high lately and I couldn't wait to get out of the city.  It did me a world of good and while I know that certain important things to me are still out of my control,  I think I can deal with them better now as all my stress vanished quite quickly as soon as I got there.  There being the town of Canmore Alberta Canada.  It's grown substantially since my last visit but it's still an awesome place to stay and a great jumping off point for a multitude of outdoor pursuits.


Just exploring with camera in hand,  a little shop browsing and a few pleasant dining out experiences and I'm ready to fight the good fight again for what's right and proper.  Giving up on anything should never be an option.  Here below is a picture of what adventure looks like.

Photo By J Hilton

  

Get out and enjoy the great outdoors whenever you can.
It's great for body mind and soul.  Challenge yourself and vow to try at least one new thing this summer.  Chances are good that you'll be glad you did.

DO HAVE A GOOD DAY

AND EXPLORE OUTDOOR

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Jeffrey R Hilton

  

Don't Be Sucked In By Proactiv

Don't Be Sucked In By Proactive

Written by : Jeff R Hilton

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This is not a topic I would normally be concerned about, but when I see how much money this company is raking in at the expense of others unaware,  and read the horror stories behind the product and the company, I cannot help but to get involved.  This product contains Benzoyl Peroxide,  which any sensible person would know is harmful to skin with various reactions from redness, dryness,  burning sensation,  itching,  and  peeling.  One also becomes sensitive to sunlight with use.  

There are people that are using this product with reportedly good results,  but there are a lot more people that get the reactions mentioned.  These Dr.'s Rodan and Fields are more interested in your credit card number and your money than they are about vanishing acne.  There are vast amounts of complaints circulating regarding this product.  Their customer service is apparently an absolute nightmare for consumers and double and even triple billing is frequent when ordering online.

Since they are also setup in every mall along with constant commercials on television, they are raking in millions under what to me is false pretenses and misleading advertising.  At the end of the day,  it's up to you to decide but beware of these warnings and know there are better and safer remedies for acne.  I would encourage you to check out the internet feedback on this subject before you decide.  As always,  it's consumer beware and don't believe all you hear and see.  Hope this was helpful !

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DO HAVE A GOOD DAY

 AND A CLEAR COMPLEXION

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Jeff R Hilton

  

POLITICAL CIRCUS SHOWTIME

POLITICAL CIRCUS SHOWTIME

Written by : J.Hilton

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Well, it's my favorite time of year.  Elections both in the U.S.A. and in Canada.  It's my favorite time because it's really only now that we get to see the sorry lineup of candidates complete with desperation and more stupid ideas and campaign promises that are often swept right off the map upon entering office.  We get to see firsthand, how little some candidates are in touch with the pulse of the populace and for us citizens that have the ability to see through some of the thin veiled shallowness and incompetence that dares to think they are a good candidate and we won't notice or mind getting duped, or mind that accountability isn't important ;  Screw you !  We know what we want,  and since there is presently no such a political party or politician,  we have to resort to voting for the lesser of the evils.

Getting this right matters greatly to our future and there's still way too many people that just sit on there ass and don't vote.  These are often the same people that complain the loudest when they realize who's running the country now and what the implications of that are.  And often, it's not pretty.  We've got a party in Canada that promises $300.00 to vote for them.  The Wild Rose Party.  Many people will probably jump on the $300 without even knowing what this party stands for.  Sad that !  

Then we have the present Progressive Conservative Government that fought such a long hard road to power,  finally usurping the Liberals and then totally losing touch with Canadians over the last few years. Their big promise is that they will open more family health clinics and more schools.   What !  You blew it big time!  We are presently in the midst of many schools closing and they want to build more now. The track record of the PC's in power is less than pathetic.  Prepare for your departure.

The NDP party of Canada has some good and reasonably sound promises that don't sound too far fetched, but I'm not totally convinced.

The Liberals,  Who cares or even believes anything they say.  This party is clearly for people that can't think for themselves or notice when a politicians hand is in their back pocket.  A long record of no accountability and screwing Canadians for their money every chance they got. A rich party for rich people to get richer at the cost of people of lesser status.  Need I say more ?

As for the U.S. election selections,  What can you say really You have Obama in office and I'm not convinced that he can bring the changes the U.S.  so desperately needs right now,  but I'm a lot more less convinced that Romney could successfully run a car dealership much less a country.  Ron Paul is the man for the job, but you Americans think you know better and in your desperation to get rid of Obama,  you are overlooking a truly great and capable leader.    Corruption runs so deep in American government that honesty and accountability have no place in office and until this corruption is pulled out roots and all, Americans shall continue to pay the price of turning a blind eye.  

Get out there and vote. It does matter and there's almost nothing more patriotic whether you are Canadian or American. Vote !  Your future well being is at stake. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own views and intended to educate,  enlighten and motivate only.  Thanks for coming out !

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AND EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE

Jeff R Hilton