I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Bren-2007

The closest Target to me is an hour away .. and I didn't enjoy it when I went there. 

leggo

Yes, can't find them anywhere. Superstore is usually pretty good for bringing in products that customers request. They told me they can't get them. What's up with that? Are they poisonous or something?

Edited to answer blue: deep fried yummy simulated onion rings. Taste completely different from the generic onion rings we get here.

Alpal

Well, I don't want to offend you but I think they taste like they're poisonous.

leggo

No offence taken, they are my munchie weakness!

Medigal

Ok let's get one thing straight.  Walmarts is for office supplies, hardware, medications and OTC items in drugstore.  I have to agree I would not buy my clothes, shoes etc. there.  Even my undies have to come from Sears.  I go "highline" when it comes to underwear!  I had hoped to one day to get rich enough to use Victoria Secrets for private items but don't think I am going to achieve that in this lifetime.  I leave VS for my DD to shop at.  She could start a museum with the items she has from there!  But I have to admit even tho I am in to saving money, certain things I don't buy at Walmarts and clothes are a no no.  I get my better dresses etc. from K-Marts!!

leggo

LOL tupelo. When the package arrives someone in the house always announces "your plastic coated onion rings are here!"

bluedahlia

I get my Dolce Gusto coffee at Walmart, and toiletries.

Beesie

shokk, there are two reasons (that I can think of off the top of my head) why prices in Canada are higher.

First is that we have 1/10th the population of the U.S. but we are spread out over a larger land mass. What that means is that getting raw ingredients, packaging materials and finished product from place to place is significantly more expensive on a per unit basis.  If the U.S. needs 100,000 of some item, Canada needs only 10,000.  Yet it still has to be produced and shipped.  So our production is less efficient because manufacturers can't get the same bulk discounts for raw ingredients as American manufacturers.  Additionally production lines have high set up and start up costs but then run cheaply - but in Canada production lines only run 1/10th the length of time as production lines in the U.S. so the per unit cost of production is significantly higher in Canada. The fixed costs of production have to be spread over 1/10th the number of units of product. Think about how much more expensive that is.  Once the product is produced, it has to be shipped. Full truckloads is way less expensive that LTL (less than truckloads) but with small quantities, it's harder to fill a truck.  So shipping is more expensive. Because Canada is so large and because production is so expensive, Canadian manufacturers have to play a balancing act between producing in more locations - but having even smaller production runs - versus shipping product long distances.

The second reason is exchange.  The Canadian dollar is at parity with the U.S. dollar right now, but 18 mths to 2 years ago, it was more in the range of 0.80 to 0.85 vs. the U.S. dollar.  So that means that any products imported from the U.S., or brought over from another country for sale in both the U.S. and Canada, would automatically have been priced approx. 20% higher in Canada. As the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar has crept up, companies have not been that eager or quick to adjust their pricing to reflect the strength of the Canadian dollar.  On the one hand that's wrong but on the other hand, the change in the exchange rate might not actually be fully reflected in the costs that the manufacturer has, depending on when they made the product and whether they bought Canadian dollar futures.  There also is a hesitancy to reduce prices to reflect parity of the Canadian dollar if there is any uncertainty that the dollar will remain at parity (which it's predicted to do for a while but the simple fact is that nobody really knows).

That's why Canadian products cost more.  Healthcare has nothing to do with it.  It's not Canadian companies that pay for our "free" government run healthcare.  It's Canadian taxpayers who pay for, which of course means that it's not really free.

When I lived in the U.S. I never shopped at Walmart.  Target was my store of choice.  Finally Target are coming to Canada! 

BarbaraA

We have Aldi's here. Love them.

Bren-2007

I'm hungry .. what's everyone having for dinner?  And is anybody close enough to bring me some!

Bren

Bren-2007

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/17/wisconsin-protests-scott-walker-police_n_824697.html

Democratic law makers flee Wisconsin capital.

Wisconsin Democrats on Thursday fled the statehouse in an effort to prevent legislators from reaching a quorum and passing a bill put forth by Gov. Scott Walker (R), which would cripple the collective bargaining rights of public unions.

Their flight further heightened the drama that has surrounded the Wisconsin statehouse this week. On Wednesday there were an estimated 30,000 peacefully rallying in front of the state capitol building, and on Thursday that number is expected to be even higher.

Madison public schools are closed for the second day running, as teachers call in sick and students walk out.

Wisconsin is a stronghold of the labor movement -- the birthplace of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, one of the nation's largest labor unions -- with a long history of successful battles for workers' rights. This is part of the reason the pushback to Walker's bill has been so strong. It's also why, if the bill does pass, the precedent it sets for other conservative governors looking to go after collective bargaining rights is so powerful.

bluedahlia

Chicken, rappini and baked potatoe.

1Athena1

I say they are joining Egypt and Bahrain in a fight for rights.:-)

rosemary-b

Chicken asparagus and baked potato

Alpal

Roast chicken, dressing, baked apples and green beans. T'givng dinner on a small scale!

konakat

Haagen Dazs Carmel Cone Explosion.  Comfort food.  Everyone's else's dinner sounds delicious.

Anonymous

I think the democrats in Wisconsin are chicken.

Bren-2007

I want what you all are having, including the ice cream.  I had a bunch of fresh raw carrots and they did not hit the spot.  I wish Tim was home, he would cook something for me.  wahhh.

Bren

rosemary-b

No konakat your dinner is best. After my healthy dinner I am scrounging around trying to find sweets

AnneW

Here in Boulder, we have several whole Foods, Sprouts, Sunflower Market, and Alfalfa's/Wild Oats (which was taken over "hostilely" to same by Whole Foods.) And what do I want most of all?? Trader Joe's!!

But, until Colorado can get out of the dark ages with it's liquour laws, we won't get a TJ's. I can live without 2 buck Chuck, but I do miss my TJs. (CO law says only one store of a chain can sell wine. So, the rich Denver district Whole Foods gets to sell wine, not our Boulder store. Same with Cost Plus, Safeway, etc. So archaic.)

No Walmart close, so I never shop there. No need to when there's a Target in every town.

Dinner? Well, first I'm drinking my concoction that I call "Mountain Mojo" (cuz if this stuff doesn't get ya going, nothing will!) A mix of Absolut Ruby Red, Patron Citronage, Pomegrante liqour, Pom concentrate, and the juice of a lime. Shake it up, throw it in the freezer. Could turn me into an alcoholic--I start REALLY looking forward to it about 5 pm! Oh, then sauteed zucchini, tomatoes, black beans, basil served over rice. Comfort food. All I need is another Duke basketball game to make it a perfect evening!

Shirley, what do you think the dems in Wisc should do?

And, how do you feel about a government shut-down, come March 4? I say, bring it on, Mr. Boehner!

Bren-2007

Yay .. another Duke fan!  Anne .. your drink sounds divine .. and so does the comfort food!

Bren

crazy4carrots

Spinach and ricotta canneloni and spring salad here, with homemade oatmeal cookie (or maybe 2) and a white wine spritzer -- I'm celebrating with an all-clear from my onc today!

bluedahlia

I still have lots of chocolates............gonna hit them later. 

Bren-2007

Fabulous news Linda!! I'm so happy you got the all clear!  I want to come up and have dinner with you and Blue, then go by Kona's for dessert.

Tim just called and got so mad cause I'm not eating properly.  I told him it was his fault.  That fell flat! ha!

Bren

Anonymous

My onc's at Duke, but we are Carolina fans.  My DH used to love to wear his Carolina cap when i was having chemo.  We had a valet park the car because DH had a soft boot on and it was a bit much for him to walk.  Anyway, many of the young men who parked the cars would give him kuddos.  Of course Carolina is just a few miles from Duke.  They could have been Carolina students.

As far as the government shut-down....whatever.  What do people NOT understand?  We do not have money.  Do I need to post that UTube where the union worker was rubbing her fingers together and disgustingly saying "where's the money............?"  Yes sir.  She wants our taxes to go toward her pay.  The sad part is....her union dues are going to campaigns.  Why do you think the dems are out of town.  No, it's not for the good of THE PEOPLE.  It's for their own freaking good.

But, they've been found.  According to the video I watch, the reporter said they were probably leaving again...going into hiding....LMBO!

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/116390569.html  

Democrats Who Left State are Located  

MADISON - Democratic State Senators who protested the budget repair bill by leaving the state have been found.

The lawmakers are in the Best Western Clock Tower Resort in Rockford Illinois.

bluedahlia

Congrats Linda!  Always nice to hear good news.

bluedahlia

Bren, you are welcome here anytime!

konakat

Congratulations Linda!!

The dancing chicken is cute!

Anonymous

BTW, I'm not a snob.  I love to buy things from Walmart...groceries are MANY times much cheaper.  And, hey, sometimes I find a few tee's I like...or house slippers.  Children clothes are sometimes cute.

ananda8

I won't shop at Walmart but I understand why people who need to get the lowest price possible do shop there.  I would rather pay a little more and support our local "mom and pop" stores.