Courier Post---is it always worth using online shopping and 'courier services?

No Doubt some of you have seen the clips of a NZ courier driver and his mates, 'handling goods' to be delivered, some of which were clearly labelled, 'Fragile,' being chucked and kicked around. The response was one of anger and derision of the Courier Post service. Hopefully, it was an isolated incident, but people did put up online the results of the same service and it did not make for 'pretty reading!' There is another aspect to shopping online. That in itself is an easy experience but it is the delivery that can be frustrating, leaving one with a sense of, 'Why did I bother!' Yes they 'try to deliver the parcel, but hey---do we have to stay around in order to sign for it? I usually do not mind if they just leave it on the deck, but I hear that the 'sender is often the one who demands the 'sign for' service. That means one has to be around to do this and who is going to know when they are coming? Sure---you can 'track' that the goods are in transit, but that is a very inexact science. They do not have the time or the will to say that they are near your house. The 'window delivery slot,' can be many hours. I wonder if it would simply be more efficient of one's time, to just go to the shops and get your 'stuff' in person. OH well-- where is that courier driver? Thank goodness, the items are 'soft clothes, that don't mind being chucked around. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Mexico is about to sell the 'Crown Jewels!'

It is sad to see yet another country go down the pathway that New Zealand and many other countries have journeyed. I mean the 'let's sell our State Assets in order to get our economy on a better footing,' brigade. That often equates to a narrow group of investors becoming even richer while the people at the bottom get nothing. It also transfers important, strategic assets into the hands of 'oligarchs' and friends of the government. Such processes are little short of corruption and do not in the long run make any difference to the economic performance of the country. Now, Mexico is joining this 'elite club' of countries that sell off assets that belong to the people. Sure there are issues in the Mexican economy, not the least being the battle between the 'drug lords' and the Mexican people. Sometimes it looks like those at the top, in government are part of the problem, certainly at the regional level. In the future, Mexico will regret having sold these important assets and it will join the list of nations who have passed much of their wealth into the hands of a small group of internationally connected groups. Governments are becoming 'less so' and the elites are gradually concentrating wealth and power to the point that they supersede the power of 'Governments. Maybe it is time for the 'worm to turn!