Air Canada 2008 Delays

Were you a apart of the unfortunate few that got caught in Air Canada's delays this holiday season?

Well, just so you know, you weren't the only one! Bad weather and mechanical failures were the reason behind numerous Air Canada delays this holiday season. This accounted for thousands of passengers being delayed and stranded - many missing the holidays all together.

I was one of those people. So far over 200 complaints were logged at the Consumer Association of Canada, against the airline, and it appears as though more complaints will be filtering in - mine included.

After being yelled at by an Air Canada employee on December 20th, to being stranded at Ft. Lauderdale airport for over 12 hours with little more than a $10 voucher for food and no news on when the airplane would board. We were on a flight that was being routed to Montreal in order to get to Toronto and it was soon discovered that fellow travelers heading to Calgary were rerouted a direct flight to Toronto, in order to spend the night on their way back to Calgary?

How did that brilliant move work out?
Not so well!
Apparently, because when we asked if there was no room on the direct flight. Then when the aircraft size was increased, we weren't kept in mind and some other family were given our seats.
However, I did get a AC customer service rep telling me, "Air Canada, just doesn't care. So good luck." They don't care because every delay costs them millions! HAHAHAHA! I DON'T CARE! I paid for a ticket to go from A to B at the times written. My inconvenience will result in me NEVER flying with that airline again. Simple as that.

Consumers' deserve to have their rights protected. Every flight taken by someone in my family over the past month has been delayed or canceled by Air Canada. This inability to provide a reliable service is an inexcusable coup d'etat! Compounded with Air Canada's inability to provide service to their delayed clients that is both decent and humane. Having elderly sleep on the floor, families ration $10 allowances, providing hotel accommodations discounted (not free), and an emergency reservation line that tells clients that they cannot reserve seats, they MUST stand in line waiting for a representative to show (so much for that hotel stay. Now we wait 3hrs at 1am for an agent to show at no particular time.) - there is no respect for their clients at all! Especially, when you're on hold, waiting for a rep, and a voice over comes on notifying you that if you paid an extra service charge you can get the customer service you would want to get from Air Canada.

WHAT?!?! I HAVE TO PAY FOR GOOD SERVICE NOW!?!
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING!
GO FUCK YOURSELF AIR CANADA!!!

You want to take action, like me? Then let's complain!!!
First off, remember, there are alternative airlines to Air Canada - YOU NEVER HAVE TO FLY WITH THEM AGAIN! British Airways, West Jet, Sunquest, American Airlines, etc.

You can complain!

Consumers' Association of Canada:
http://www.consumer.ca/1506

Canadian Transportation Agency:
http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/plaint/index_e.html

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT:
http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/cta-otc2000/faqs/filing_e.html

Air Canada (You can try, but admittedly their customer service reps say that Air Canada just doesn't care about their consumers.)
http://www.aircanada.com/en/customercare/

Want to read more about the delays and action being taken against Air Canada?

http://www.theprovince.com/story.html?id=1125014

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20081228_224103_25780

http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/293438708884288.php

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081229/air_travel_081229/20081229?hub=Canada

http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=1125638

Morning So Far

So far I had a VW insist on riding my ass from the DVP to Rosedale Valley.
I found a beetle in my bed.
And, the universe tells me that a dude named Effie is a dick.

Better Than LOL Cats

Have you seen ManBabies.com? It apparently was hilarious in 2008, which makes me wonder what the frig I was doing to miss this.

One part awesome. Three parts creepy.

100% entertainment.

Damn that f*cked!
hahahaha

The Royal MILF

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December 10 is "Day without a Gay Day"

If you haven't already heard, December 10th is "Day without a Gay Day" a day when everyone is encouraged to "Call in Gay" to take the day off.

The holiday came about when California passed a controversial law called, "Proposition 8". Proposition 8 made it illegal for same sex couples to be legally wed in the state of California, and existing married couples no longer have their marriage recognized under state law.

While this is a blatant disregard for human rights that stems from Church ruling State, it is a historic decision that has reignited the debate on, "Is same sex marriages, okay?"

The basic matter of fact is that it is unfair to use personal bias to restrict the rights of another human being based upon sexuality, race, creed or colour. Whichever way you slice it, it's still discrimination. What's particularly offensive about Proposition 8, lies in the realm that the religious right was able to get a vote on a matter that seeks to change the American Constitution in favour of their beliefs. By specifying that marriage is a union that solely exists between a man and a woman now means that same sex couples are discriminated against.

Why is this such a hottopic?

First of all, in the USA, the Treaty of Tripoli (1791) ensures that The Bible has no standing in American law. Because it doesn't, no one has the right to impose rules on anyone else simply because they perceive an act to be a moral injuction mandated by the Bible.

What it means for you: So whether you are for or against, you have got to respect that people's human rights are different from your own. Because one day, you might be the victim of a similar ruling, and the precident that you helped to set will negatively impact your own life. Do unto others... blah blah blah.

Why do Gays want to marry?

To have the same rights and protections as everyone else. In the case of death, the right of attourney isn't enough to protect a life partner from a case when a family member wishes to contest a will. This has often resulted in homelessness and other extremely horribly outcomes - even in the best of circumstances.

In case of illness, a hospital has the legal right to connect with estranged family to make decisions on treatment, regardless of the will of the individual's life partner. In some states, hospitals are legally bound to connect with the ill party's estranged family, regardless of the hostility they may express towards their partner or their lifestyle.

If a partner is arrested, the prosecution may call upon their life partner to testify against them in a court of law. This is not allowed for married couples.

Conjugal visits - not allowed for gay partners.

This is no longer a matter of right vs. wrong - it is most clearly wrong! However, this is a matter of allowing loving couples to be recognized under the law without the infringement of church over state.

So on December 10th, did I call in gay for the day? Darn straight I did - I'm mother flipping lesbionic for the next 24 hours! Because no one should be discriminated against because they just want to live their lives with the same rights and privileges as anyone else.

And, there is NOTHING wrong with that!




Many

600th post is a recipe

Holiday season is here, the Christmas party is done, the tree is decorated and the condo looks suitably festive! With that said, one holiday treat asserted itself as the predominant winner of the evening and today I will share that recipe with you:

Mamma KC's Holiday Eggnog
AKA - "If Bailey's made eggnog THIS is what it would taste like"

4 egg yolks
1 full sized tin of evaporated milk
1 tin of sweetened condensed milk
1 tin cream of coconut (the stuff you use to make pina coladas)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1/2 cup of half n' half or milk
OPTIONAL - 1/2 cup of water (incase you need to dilute it)

In a double boiler over medium heat whisk egg yolks and evaporated milk under the mixture thickens. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Remove from heat, pour into a blender with the cream of coconut, spices, vanilla and sweetened condensed milk. Blend for 30 seconds, then pour into a container (I just used a jug).

Now stir in your cream, half n' half (or milk) and the optional water.

Put in the fridge and let it chill over night for the best results OR serve straight away with ice cubes in a bowl with a bottle of spiced rum on the side so people can spike it at will. Now if you put in ice cubes, you may NOT want to add in the water.

Enjoy, Bitches, because this is one hell of a nog.
So serious.

You want to know how to make peppermint schnapps as well? Well, keep on reading, my friend, keep on reading!

1/3 cup sugar
2 cups (500ml) of white corn syrup
2 cups vodka
2 tsp peppermint extract

In a saucepan, heat the sugar and corn syrup until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Add in the vodka and extract pour into a jar you can seal and enjoy.

I made polar bear shots with mine, which you can do as well. You can make your own creme to cacao using the above method in but, instead use cocoa extract instead of peppermint.

Enjoy.

Internet Nostalgia

When I was a kid, there was one computer in the TOSH computer lab that had access to the internet on it. I was on it like white on rice and like always, I found some pretty funny ish.

The very first thing I found that had me rolling in stitches, was this thing called "Santa's Diary". Trying to find it was a bit of a pain, and I thought I should at least try and preserve it just for old times sake!

Enjoy!

                              SANTA'S DIARY
                      Copyright 1992, Dan McLean Jr
                  --------------------------------------
                       Contains some harsh language
                  --------------------------------------

December 21
Dear Diary,
Had one bitch of a day at the workshop today. Tricycle seats are back-ordered 'til January 19 and the Elves are refusing to put my name on the gift tags, so, I had to meet with the workshop union steward to sort everything out. Apparently, they're peeved about the 'Top Ten List' I read on Letterman last week: Top Ten Reasons Santa Decided To Have The Elves Neutered. (Oversensitive Elf Teamsters can be a real pain in the ass, even though that Kennedy-killer Hoffa is pushing up the daisies.) Anyway, at 2:30 I had to show up at a sportscard show for autographs. Upper Deck has just released the 'Holographic Yuletide' set and my agent thought it'd be a good idea for me to put in an appearance. By the time I got home, the Mrs was just finishing dessert and was watching the end of Jeopardy. I was beat. She warmed up what was left of dinner, but even her left-overs are good enough to make me think I'd marry her all over again.

December 22
Dear Diary,
Ran into that rat bastard the Easter Bunny at the liquor store today. As God is my witness, if I ever get the chance, that bunny's gonna be reindeer food before you can say sauté with onions, add rice, and serve. At the liquor store, neither of us said a word, but when he wasn't looking, I slipped a mickey into his pocket and watched a security guard tackle him into the slush after the unwitting hair-brained hare tripped the electronic shoplifting detector on his way out the door. While he was busy trying to talk his way out of it by claiming diplomatic immunity, I broke the side window on his canary-yellow Miata, reached in, and made a call on his cellular ... 1-416-976-OUCH ... 'The Spank Line'. I listened for a minute or two, then just left the handset on the seat and walked away, the girl on the other end still scolding & spanking like a handler backstage at 'Beverly Hills 90210'. All this at $4.99 per minute. Three-quarters of an hour later, as I was loading groceries into the back of my mini-van, he was finally being released from the liquor store. As soon as he spied his car-phone through the broken window of his car he looked for me. I burned rubber outta there. Rat bastard rabbit. All-in-all, a very good day.

December 23
Dear Diary,
Most of the gifts we have parts for are built, and since the company Christmas party is tonight, I sent most of the Elves over to the Legion hall to get the decorations & catering ready. The place looked great and the food was amazing! By about 10:30, there were reindeer prancing around holding mistletoe over their heads, and Elves, blitzed on peach schnapps, dancing on the tables. A couple of them were giggling and passing out copies of Mrs Claus sitting on the photocopier. We all danced & sang, and all was well & good until... that rat bastard, the Easter Bunny, crashed our little soiree with only 3 bottles left in his case of 24. My blood was boiling, but I knew that if I tried to stand up long enough to pummel him, I'd puke. I had to come up with a 'Plan B', not an easy task when you're full of the old Christmas 'spirits', but I managed to come up with one beauty of a little scheme. He was already almost unconscious. He was so bad, in fact, that he was actually singing Christmas carols with us, and calling me his 'old buddy', his arm around me, trying to kiss me on the forehead. It took only two shots of tequila to make him pass out. We leapt/staggered to action. We put a HUGE pot of lukewarm water in the middle of the room and lowered the rabbit into it, being careful not to wake him. Then we looted the caterer
>for some onions, carrots, potatoes & parsley and tossed them in. I put on a big old chef's hat and an apron that said 'Kiss The Cook', and everyone else sat around the pot with plates and cutlery, making like we were going to munch on the little cottontail chump. We managed to stay awake and kept drinking for a couple more hours, waiting for him to wake up, and it was worth the wait. As soon as he started to come around, I slipped some dry ice from the deli tray into the pot. He woke up thinking he was dinner, and vaulted from the pot, screaming like Yoko Ono on bikini-waxing day. During his sprint for the door, he spilled water all over the floor and busted a window, but what the hell, that's what the security deposit is for. Besides, we haven't laughed so hard since we barnstormed right through Rabbi Feldman's synagogue on Yom Kippur. Rat bastard rabbit.

December 24
Dear Diary,
I'm almost ready to leave, and this is probably the only chance I'll get to write today. Most of the Elves are pretty hung over today, but we're all still chuckling over our little prank with our arch-rival last night, and all the last minute stuff is getting done. The tricycle seats that were back-ordered arrived today and that's the final job. We let the reindeer sleep it off today since they've got a long, hard night ahead of them, and Mrs Claus has just gone to wake them up. You know, I don't think she's seen the photocopy of her that's taped to the lunchroom refrigerator. This really has been a good year, even in light of the squabbles between myself and the union. Next to Mrs Claus, the Elves really are my best friends, and I'm pretty sure they feel the same way about me. Along with the reindeer, we're a family, in a twisted sort of a way, and that seems to mean a lot more to us at this time of year. I guess that's what Christmas is all about. After tonight, I think I'll sleep right through to New Year's Eve. We're all invited to a kegger at Elvis Presley's.

Cheap Live Lobster & Parliament on Hold

There is no relationship within the above mentioned title.

Live lobster is selling by far cheaper than ever before! Fishermen are selling at as low as $4 a pound, which could be why T&T supermarkets are selling lobster for $7 a pound this weekend. You betcha I'm buying some!! How can I not? Jilly Beaners are you in??

Secondly, the Governor General has agree to PM Harper's request to suspend Parliament until January. This buys the Conservatives more time to put together an economic plan for the country that doesn't suck and to potentially prove they aren't useless. The suspension prevents a coalition, formed by Liberal leader, Dion, from voting on a non-confidence vote that would have inevitably toppled the Conservative run government.

Why is this so controversial? Harper supporters are pissed, while some Canadians feel confused over a coalition that includes support by the Bloc Québecois (aka - the separatist party). However, look at it this way, the majority of Canada's elected representatives are respecting the rights and wishes of their constituency. Regardless of who, what, when, where and why, they all collectively agree that the leadership provided by Harper's conservatives are not representational of a positive impact on the majority of Canadians.

This isn't the Liberals crying over split milk - this is a serious matter. And one where Canadians should be pleased that our government is being pro-active in respecting the interests of their voters.

My hope is that the Conservatives come back with an effective plan that invigorates the economy and reasserts a unified government. If not, then I stand behind the decision of the majority.

Fix the economy, buy lobsters at a fair price.
We all are happy.

Celebrity Stockings ARE UP!

I may have missed the deadline, but I still got published!

Have I told you how much I adore writing for She Does the City? I feel like such a superstar when people ask what outlets I write for.

"Oh you know, I'm the editor of dine.to, I write for YA Magazine and She Does the City. Just fun stuff."

Then I watch the eyebrows raise.

I gleefully smirk in the depths of my soul... People like my writing and you will too!

Anyway, if you want to check out what P. Diddy and Gloria Steinem got in the stockings this Christmas, head over to She Does the City and enjoy!

I found an assortment of independent designers and local boutiques, like Hatale on Yonge Street that seeks to employ women in Nepal (Gloria Steinem) and Ninja Star push pins from The Drake General Store on far Queen West.

I also included some friends in the mix - like charysse robinson's personal styling package, janet lewis' orangefish.com and Shah Emily Noaman's Bask Boutique.

Day in Pictures

Here's a collection of images from around the world. Hopefully to remind you that there's more to life than simply bickering over politics, complaining about the weather and getting stuck in traffic.

**Yes, there will be a post about the Coalition against the Conservatives - Just not now**







((AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) / December 2, 2008)
A rare positioning of planets Venus (top left) and Jupiter (top right) and the crescent moon of the Earth provides a "smiley" effect that captivated Asia Monday night Dec. 2, 2008.









"Forever Enthralled" Premiered
(ELIZABETH DALZIEL, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A performer dressed in full Peking Opera costume takes part in a press conference for the movie world premier of Director Chen Kaige's new movie "Mei Lanfang" in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Dec. 2.Mei lanfang, English title is "Forever Enthralled". The movie marks top Chinese director Chen Kaige's comeback attempt after his last movie, the epic fantasy movie "The Promise" was panned by critics three years ago.






Foreclosure Squatters
(J PAT CARTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Marie Nadine Pierre holds her baby, Nennon, as she looks out the window of the "people-less" house where she is living in Miami, last week. Pierre is squatting in a bank foreclosed house.










Venus Aligns with the Moon
(DIMITAR DILKOFF, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
This photo taken in Sofia on December 1, shows a slender crescent moon 15-percent illuminated in close proximity Jupiter (small white dot at L) behind the cross of the golden domed Alexander Nevski cathedral. Astronomers refer to this rare phenomenon as an "occultation," taken from the Latin word occultare, which means "to conceal." This eye-catching sight is be visible in complete darkness across much of Eastern Europe.





Hillary Clinton Officially nominated for Secretary of State
(JIM WATSON, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
President elect Barack Obama, flanked by Vice-President elect Joseph Biden (L) and Senator Hillary Clinton at a press conference in Chicago, Illinios, on December 1. Obama nominated his former rival Hillary Clinton to be the next US secretary of state, as he unveiled a raft of cabinet picks.




Golf in High-Altitude Bolivia
(JOAO PADUA, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
Marta Mamani, an aymara indigenous woman, hits a drive during her work break at La Paz Golf Club on November 26. La Paz Golf Club is considered to be the highest one in the world, with courses ranging from 3,277 to 3,342 meters above sea level. Founded in 1912, the Club sits in the upscale district of southern La Paz, and its exclusive facilities receive the local elite.



Flooding in Venice
(ANDREA PATTARO, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
People walk in a street of Venice during floods on December 1. Authorities in the Italian city of Venice issued a flood alert, warning that the sea was due to rise 1.60 meters above its normal level, the highest for 30 years.






Beijing Charity Concert For Quake Disabled Children
(China Photos/Getty Images / November 30, 2008)
Deaf dancers from Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe perform the 'Thousand-hand Goddess of Mercy' during a charity concert held for the disabled children injured in the May 12 Sichuan Earthquake at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China.












Brazilian floods
(TOBIAS MATHIES, EFE / November 27, 2008)
A vehicle is stalled in the flood waters in Brazil. The governor of the Brazilian state of Holy Catarina declared a state of emergency today in the twelve municipalities most affected by the rains that have killed more than to 100 people,






Environment activists
(PAVEL RAHMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS / November 27, 2008)
Members of Bangladesh Kormojibi Nari, or women workers, stage a demonstration wearing masks of the leaders of G-8 nations, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. They demand a drastic cut in emission of green house gases by industrialized nations and compensation to poor nations hit by impacts of climate change.

Can't Read a Deadline

Thankfully, the embarrassing mistake I made in terms of what my deadline actually was for She Does the City turned out in the end. It appears that they didn't realize what a big undertaking the "Celebrity Stockings" feature was going to be so they are posting 5 a day - beginning with Peter Mansbridge, Zooey Deschanel, RuPaul, Dita Von Teese and John Stewart.

So if you're curious as to what will be in their stockings for Christmas, you need to go and check out She Does the City each and everyday as new stockings will be posted regularly.


For me, I've really found some Amazing gifts from online and Toronto-only retailers for the hipster who only wants cool gifts! I think I'm pretty good at this "sourcing ish out" kind of gig.

Last night, I was at a media launch at La Bruschetta - one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city since I went there a few months ago to review it for dine.TO.

Read the review, here

Anyway, La Bruschetta is launching a new Umbrian inspired menu, so last night we dined on Beet Risotto, Insalata Umbria and house cured proscitto, capocollo sausage and aged Friulano.

But their gnocchi is to die for - I have another Italian restaurant review to write up for January, and I tried their gnocchi... I will euphamise it, but my readers need to know, if I don't gush about it, don't expect it to blow your mind. It's not to say I don't respect the craftmanship in the latter, it simply means, I will tell you if it left an impression on me.

If not, then it's just, "eh"

BTW, my Spice Route review, I'm still getting flack over it. I think the world needs to deal with it, I ate some great food there. But, let's be realistic, Spice Route is a fun night out over shared plates - it isn't the answer to a life long quest for the ultimate dining experience.

In Toronto, that is few and far between... why do you think we have so many angry foodies on the loose?