| IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN LEAVE! |
Sep 17, 2002, 9:10pm
I've made no secret of the fact that I do not like paying half of what I earn a year to various levels of govenrments in this country. With federal taxes, provincial taxes, municipal taxes, sales taxes, user fees, levies, duties, etc etc, the average Canadian works for governments for 188 days a year, or more than half a year. For 177 days a year, the money we make goes into our own pockets.
Now there's talk that the Feds will raise the GST to 10% from it's current 7%.
If that happens. I'm outta here. My sonar will go on active search for a job in the US. Paying 14.5% sales taxes as I currently do on pretty much everything I buy pisses me off to no end. Paying 17.5% premium on pretty much everything I buy, from groceries to a DVD will drive me over the edge. For the current amount of tax monies I pay to the governments, I do not get value for that money. I feel that I get maybe 40%, 50% value for the money the take from me. The rest is, as far as I'm concerned, legalized theft. They are stealing my money through laws and supposed government rights, and mismanaging it, squandering it, and not returning the value of quality of life, responsible government, and minimal services one would expect from giving them more than half your yearly salary. I'm at the edge right now... basically if an offer for a good career from the US came my way, I would take it. But I'm not actively seeking work there at the moment.
Jacking up the GST will push me over the edge. I will not want to be a Canadian any longer, and I will be putting out "I'm available" feelers to everyone I know in the US coffee and web biz. Hell, I'll take a starter barista job, if it's in Oregon.
| Previous Ten Daily Rants |
| Title |
Date |
Comments |
| The continued fallout on auto gratuities |
5:35pm, 08/09 |
3 |
| Final thougths on price gouging, auto gratuities coming soon |
12:50am, 03/04 |
1 |
| The Real Reasons for Olympics Auto Gratuities |
7:20pm, 02/19 |
11 |
| Vancouver Olympics - Nice Prices, Profiteer (gouger) Restaurant Listings |
12:15am, 02/18 |
9 |
| More on Auto Gratuities |
6:45pm, 02/16 |
3 |
| Price Gouging in Vancouver During Olympics (and Price Heroes!) |
12:20am, 02/16 |
25 |
| Ideal Mac (or any pc) netbook.... |
8:05pm, 12/22 |
2 |
| NetMacBook Hackintosh Update |
12:20am, 12/20 |
1 |
| NetMac... er Hackintosh... er NetMacBook. Yeah |
5:20pm, 12/17 |
1 |
| Balance Board Wii Game I'd like to see - Boxing! |
4:00pm, 07/26 |
0 |
|
Mixelania Photos from Algonquin Park
Photos from my trip to Algonquin Park this fall with my Mom and two brothers. War Stories Making Snow for the Fortress
One of the worst jobs I ever had... till I got out. Webiffied Tools I Use
The tools I use to build websites and lead a tech life.
iPod and iTunes Offline iMark's iTunes and iPod isn't iPlaying anything right iNow. Most Recent Songs Fiddlers Green by The Tragically Hip Around The Bend by Pearl Jam Here With Me (Rollo's Chillin' With the Family Mix) by Dido With arms open wide by Creed truffle pigs by Matthew Good Band
In the News
Burundi and Beyond - NY Times
Great article by Peter Meehan - provided some background.
St. Petersburg Times
Side mention in an article about good machines
AP Story on Espresso
Background and information provided
NY Times - Grinders Article
Especially proud of this one - got the reporter to focus on grinders
Globe and Mail
LOL - showing bad reporting, dude says I'm an American-based site!
The Olympian, WA
Talks about my love for the El Sal Siberia Pacamara
Seattle Times - Clover
Interviewed for comments on the Clover brewer
NY Times - How it Works
Background and information for various espresso machines
Time Mag Article
Just a brief mention, article about roasting beans.
NY Times
Front page article about consumers getting into specialty coffee.
Washington Monthly
Quoted reference to what I wrote in an article at CoffeeGeek.
USA Today - Barista Jam
Intereviewed for my thoughts on what the epitome of espresso is.
WSJ Article
The Wall Street Journal has interviewed me 3 times. This is the first time my name got in a story.
Reuters Interview
Interview with Reuters, Jan 2 - this is the USA Today version.
My Other Stuff
CoffeeGeek
Launched Dec 22, 2001, this is THE online community for espresso and coffee fanatics.
CoffeeKid Website
It's all new, as of March, 2002. My personal coffee obsession site.
WebMotif Services
My company's site - needs an update!
Amazon WishList
Hey, if you feel the need to buy me something, check here!
Daily Visits
enGadget
Great gadget site run by the guy who used to do Gizmodo.
Google News
This is how I get my daily news fix.
DPReview Forums`
The most active forums for digital photography online today.
Daily Zen
Need my Daily Zen fix!
Jalopnik
A blog about car stuff. Vroom Vroom.
MoCo Loco
An industrial design blog. Very cool stuff.
Friends and Family Plan
Beata Blog
Beata's got her own blog! She updates it most days.
Riddla on Flickr
Matt Riddle's flickr account, updated regularly
Irdy Photos
Irdy, my friend from Jakharta, on Flickr
Recent Acquisitions
Canon EF 24-105 f4 L Lens
The best lens I've ever owned. Super sharp and quick.
Canon 5D
A full frame dSLR, with luscious colour reproduction.
Alzo Digital Lights
Some amazing florescent cold lights for product photography
Canon Xsi dSLR
Amazing technology and image quality in a tiny package.
Canon 40D
Latest prosumer camera from Canon - a much better upgrade than the 30D
Fujitsu P1610
Great 2.2lb computer that does most of my travel / writing needs
28mm f1.8 Lens
A great lens for closeup work and full picture photography
Foodsaver Advanced
Finally got the right tools for freezing green coffee.
Canon 50mm 1.4
Most amazing lens I've ever owned. Produces stellar photos.
Canon 10-22mm
Super wide angle (full frame fisheye) zoom for my Canon 20D
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