RIM

[parsley]

Astute observation Sask.

Don't be wooed by the little Pres O's main street talk...goin' and huntin' and talkin'

No G's.

He'll tack on G's to cell phone roaming, and winter homes and airport fees...etc.

They will become protectionist, looking after their own, (Note the RIM thread) and tax foreign ownership hard.
Pars

[parsley]

They won't tax US citizens as hard as foreigners, will they?

http://www.redstate.com/jeff_emanuel/2010/11/05/looming-obama-tax-increases-will-hit-working-americans-right-where-it-hurts-most/

[joedales]

Hi Parsley,
I think this indicates how the smart phone is becoming a mobile computer platform...Dell had to get into the game sooner or later. RIM is going to have a lot of new competition...it should be good for consumers.
I hope you are well, take care,
Joe

[parsley]

Dell is Texas based, so no surprise they will cut out a Canadian company if possible. Beingst the Triple A supreme techy that you are, you will respond when Google/Android beckons you. LOL

Farming has glued itself to mobility, and it is such an asset. I checked out AV computer threads, but they are few.

BUT the biggest positive, albeit not obvious, is that finally, the occupation of lonliness, (one farmer seeding all afternoon, with just a sandwich and radio to break the monotony),is connected to the outside world, to family, to a level playing field on data and info.

Send my best to your family, Joe. I'm working on my series of novels. Pars

[charliep]

Not related to the RIM but I note the current crop of teen agers. From
observation from friends, it is easier to connect with teenagers and 20
somethings via a text than a phone or even heavan forbid a face to
face conversation. The new trends/newest technology is impacting
businesses but perhaps society even more. Even so still shopping for a
technology that gives me better and lighter internet access on the road
based on my definition of needs. The technology and changes Joe
highlights is making life interesting/decisions harder.

[oneoff]

Mastercard and Visa also charge you big time to exchange from one currency to another. Its just as bad as your local bank or Credit Union on small amounts.
The whole point is that just about everybody pays about 2.5% above the exchange rate to get another countries coin of the realm. You can even get caught cashing a US cheque to get Canadian money; and once again paying to get some US dollars. From my experience; thats the real world for the average consumer. Don't worry; I know that the few smart people have had ways around these rip offs for years. Still its true that the ordinary consumer has a maxed out set of credit cards and not $20,000 to $50,000 of spare cash.
You'd see my points if you could grasp the plight of cash strapped and debt burdened persons that outnumber the financially savy persons.
As far as not buying US money at this time; why wouldn't you cover any current US purchases by prudently minimizing exchange rate fees. The Canadian government has deliberately knocked the props out from under a near par dollar about 4 times in the last year. It sure wouldn't suprise me if it happens another time or twenty. When the Republicans get more strength in government; the "industry" will try to make it look like their recovery is inevitable.
I agree that the US economy is on the ropes on many fronts; but they are still an elephant; and even sick ones should be treated with respect and watched closely.

[fjlip]

12C today, 10C colder than Swift. NO global f'ing warming in NE Sk. Snow banks, water, just sickening to look at. Was in Regina on weekend, felt like SUMMER! Lucky you if you're NOT here.

[oneoff]

Oh!
I am told that exchange rates and fees across the line are commonly even higher than we are used to in Canada. Impulse buying and then trying to barter a good conversion exchange rate (including the fee for the transaction) is liable to be easier said than done.
You try wiring money (or equivalant) on a moments notice when you don't have money on hand in that same institution and the first time you do it you will wonder what else can go wrong.
Sure there are ways around everything; and when everyone knows exactly how the international money system should work there should be no problems. But the clerk in Menards or the machinery salesman; and even their supervisors aren't bank managers or better.
Still it is well worth learning the lessons to buy whole classes of merchandize at about 20% to 50% discounts.
And no there isn't duty on anything produced in the US or Mexico (except supply managed commodities; clothing and some other exceptions you run into once in a while.) Their US customs also seems to be on a kick to thwart export of US ammo; strategic computer software and whatever else they might be worried would contribute to their insecurities. Best to avoid those classes of goods; no matter what your intentions. US customs can (AND DO) their own searches just before you get to the Canadian customs offices. Best to keep yor nose clean.

[parsley]

RBC offers a free service for US money orders, each one under $9,999. No fees if you have a certain kind of account.

Buy the money order with Can$ and the money order is made out in US dollars.

We use it all the time. Pars

[oneoff]

Of course I forget liquor and cigarettes. They aren't necessities anyway.... are they?
Saskfarmer... Do the math on credit cards and their day rates and tell me if there isn't als about 2.5% extra owed by you for their exchange rate fee. And no; that is on top of the merchant's fee which we are all paying in the price of the merchant's goods.
Opening an account in a US bank is problematic in some ways. You need a social security number and our SIN (Social Insurance Number) isn't what they want. Without US identification they won't give you their credit card; but you can get a debit card. Along with a US shipping address for your eBay (etc. ) purchase; you can get a confirmed shipping address with Paypal; and then you're home free to be your own importer of personal goods into Canada. Canada customs frowns (but usually not too hard for relatively small and infrequent imports) on "business importing". Then you're in the realm of brokers (or some extra paperwork on your own part); a business numbers; codes etc. Its best to check and double check everything prior to the actual deal; because there are some things that you would never think are prohibited because of the most implausable logic (eg. daytime running lights on vehicles that could be turned on by the vehicles computer to turn it into a hearse if you were so inclined. Problem is that the vehicle also knows it was not destined for Canada and thus this function can never be activated). Similarly for anti theft functions that only applied to Canadian produced vehicles (initially at least).
And yes; farming is considered as a business by Canada Customs. Go figure
Still programs like "Own use import" were very refreshing in their day. Too refreshing to keep.