To-day's Comments

More killings. No questioning. Yet another school shooting the U.S. This time, in an Oregon elementary school, a teenager killed a teacher and three pupils.  Amid the grief, there's no report of anyone asking questions about  the "right to bear arms."  Why is that?

The unabated violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has resulted one Palestinian shot by Israeli soldiers, the setting of fires to homes, olive trees and cars. Between last January and August, 1,600  such attacks have been reported.  This once "Service-to-Israel" volunteer  does not believe the on-going harm is not approved,  if not provoked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Ontario government refuses to disclose a once-promised report on gambling addiction. In the fiscal year 2024-2025, Ontarians wagered more that $82.7 billion with the government netting nearly $3 billion.  Preliminary data for 2025-2026 fiscal tear and the first quarter of 2026-2027show more that a 25 percent increase on those totals.  What is the provincial government hiding?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grocery Store Revisited

 

Time was that when you entered a grocery store you approached a counter. A clerk, usually a young man,  greeted you and asked what you like today. As you read your list, said clerk went about the store gathering your needed items. He totaled your purchases, placed your money in a cash register and gave you the change, a receipt and a thank you. He placed your purchases in paper bags.

You then headed for the meat counter. If you wanted a half a pound of hamburger, that's the exact amount the clerk gave you. If you wanted a roast of a certain weight, and none that size was in the counter, he asked the butcher to cut one of approximately the required size, And after all this the grocer made a profit.

The stores expanded. You did the gathering of your groceries using a wicker basket, then  with a cart. Meat came pre-packaged. If only pounds of hamburger were in the self-serve display, or none at all, pity. Take it or leave whatever an anonymous person offers you.  On the decreasing number of cases where a meat counter exists, the prohibitive prices invite you to return to the prepackaged section. 

You placed your purchases in your cart and joined the line at the checkout. The cashier rang up the cost while an assistant, both traditionally young women,  placed your purchases in paper, later in plastic, bags and still later, imitation cloth bags. The grocer made a still greater profit.

The cashier's assistant has disappeared. You package your purchases not with bags supplied by the grocer, but your own. Or the cashier will sell you one or two on which the grocer makes an indecently high profit. If you place the bags you brought on the conveyor belt, the cashier throws them to the far end of the belt to let you know that’s your job.

The system will next require you to register by inserting your credit card in a device at the entrance. There will be a charge for that service.  Cashiers obsolete.  As soon as you place your purchase in the cart, it is registered and charged against your credit card. The grocer's profit will be immoral.