Went to the strip club and back in the trunk of a car and didn't die

The worst part of taxes in Ontario (not entirely sure about the rest of Canada) is that not everything is taxed the same amount. Some items are exempt from the provincial tax, some from the federal, some from both... Some even have their own special taxes (I believe beer and gas fall under this category, though I never buy either one). Unless you actually know what you're doing, it gets really confusing.

 

I found out those tickets my sister bought were actually ticket packages for all 3 Leafs games this weekend. 3 hockey games in 3 days. Should make for a great weekend.

Isn't eating out at restaurants in Europe generally more expensive though?

Yeah, of the internet hasn't lied to me many places in Europe actually include a server's fee into the cost of your meal, basically tip. Only issue is that Americans and those with a tipping culture have ruined this somewhat so that they now expect a tip on top of thst. (Listening to CBC radio has paid off! :P)

The worst part of taxes in Ontario (not entirely sure about the rest of Canada) is that not everything is taxed the same amount. Some items are exempt from the provincial tax, some from the federal, some from both... Some even have their own special taxes (I believe beer and gas fall under this category, though I never buy either one). Unless you actually know what you're doing, it gets really confusing.

 

I found out those tickets my sister bought were actually ticket packages for all 3 Leafs games this weekend. 3 hockey games in 3 days. Should make for a great weekend.

Basically for items with a special tax (alcohol, tabacco and gas) if it is run the same way as in Nova Scotia the special tax for these items is usually included in the price although sales tax may not.

 

Along with that, if it is similar to Nova Scotia, any items deemed "essentials" don't have sales tax. Meaning that most groceries and food don't have tax applied, although that is more sketchy as some things such as candy and chips don't fall under it.

 

Writing this out has made me realise how complicated they have made the tax culture.

The trio is complete. The final person from my Uni studying here for the year has finally arrived and we're neighbours.

We're not actually friends but we're not enemies either. He just hates my boyfriend for some unexplained reason. 

 

Today is an international welcome day I dont think I can be bothered but I'll go because a) opportunity to meet people, and b) will pick up interesting info of course

and c) potentially an opportunity for free food esp as nowhere is really open today

 

Setting up the bank account tomorrow. Got another bottle of vodka to use up so potentially drinking tomorrow night, don't know yet. I sleep like a baby over here.

There was a plank under my bed making it really hard but it feels fantastic now that I've got rid of it.

Google is so helpful - trying to figure out if the supermarket is open today because I was planning to buy food, and it says the hours in addition to telling me that the hours may differ due to it being Labor Day. Really, Sherlock? :P

 

Basically for items with a special tax (alcohol, tabacco and gas) if it is run the same way as in Nova Scotia the special tax for these items is usually included in the price although sales tax may not.

 

Along with that, if it is similar to Nova Scotia, any items deemed "essentials" don't have sales tax. Meaning that most groceries and food don't have tax applied, although that is more sketchy as some things such as candy and chips don't fall under it.

 

Writing this out has made me realise how complicated they have made the tax culture.

 

I know gas has all taxes included in its listed price here. I also know grocery items are not taxed, but I'm not sure what else is deemed essential. So at the very least, those 2 things are the same. Alcohol and tobacco might be as well, but I don't know for sure because I've never needed to.

 

If a restaurant meal is less than $4 you don't pay provincial tax on it here. If you buy alcohol in a restaurant, you pay 13% provincial tax instead of the usual 8% (on top of the federal tax, of course).

 

It really is more complicated than it needs to be.

A restaurant meal for less than $4?! That doesn't buy breadsticks here...

Sometimes you can order a side for $2.50

 

Basically for items with a special tax (alcohol, tabacco and gas) if it is run the same way as in Nova Scotia the special tax for these items is usually included in the price although sales tax may not.

 

Along with that, if it is similar to Nova Scotia, any items deemed "essentials" don't have sales tax. Meaning that most groceries and food don't have tax applied, although that is more sketchy as some things such as candy and chips don't fall under it.

 

Writing this out has made me realise how complicated they have made the tax culture.

I know gas has all taxes included in its listed price here. I also know grocery items are not taxed, but I'm not sure what else is deemed essential. So at the very least, those 2 things are the same. Alcohol and tobacco might be as well, but I don't know for sure because I've never needed to.

 

If a restaurant meal is less than $4 you don't pay provincial tax on it here. If you buy alcohol in a restaurant, you pay 13% provincial tax instead of the usual 8% (on top of the federal tax, of course).

 

It really is more complicated than it needs to be.

 

Not sure what province you're in, but in Ontario the HST (federal and provincial) is 13%. You pay that on all restaurant meals.

Sometimes you can order a side for $2.50

 

 

Or a la carte items.

Didn't they change the law (either provincially for Nova Scotia or Federally, I don't know which) so that all taxes have to be included in all listed prices now? You know, like a sane, non pants-on-head-crazy country that yells 'surprise!' when you reach the checkout and everything is 14% more expensive than you thought? I mean, I know people who live in this country got used to it, but I agree with the visitors that it was actually really stupid, and I'm glad it got changed.

 

Of course, the corner store near where I live used to just not put prices on anything at all, so you always got a surprise  :-D

 

 

Got some decluttering done today. It boggles the mind how one accumulates worthless things over the years, and how hard it is to keep things neat and tidy when you just have too much worthless stuff. Should have done it before the city made the garbage rules an impenetrable wall of crazy and inconvenience, but what can you do.

 

Not sure what province you're in, but in Ontario the HST (federal and provincial) is 13%. You pay that on all restaurant meals.

 

Only if you spend more than $4. If the meal is less than that then the provincial portion of the HST is removed. They call it HST but still apply it the same way as ever. They calculate both separate and then apply the GST followed by the PST. If the cost with the GST is $4 or less, they void the PST. Technically the PST/GST split doesn't exist anymore, but it still does in calculations.

 

I am in Ontario, by the way.

 

Also, Randox, I think that might be a Nova Scotia thing. It doesn't work like that in Ontario at present. I kind of hope it does in the future, though. Also, the corner store near me does that a lot, too.

Didn't they change the law (either provincially for Nova Scotia or Federally, I don't know which) so that all taxes have to be included in all listed prices now? You know, like a sane, non pants-on-head-crazy country that yells 'surprise!' when you reach the checkout and everything is 14% more expensive than you thought? I mean, I know people who live in this country got used to it, but I agree with the visitors that it was actually really stupid, and I'm glad it got changed.

 

Of course, the corner store near where I live used to just not put prices on anything at all, so you always got a surprise  :-D

 

 

Got some decluttering done today. It boggles the mind how one accumulates worthless things over the years, and how hard it is to keep things neat and tidy when you just have too much worthless stuff. Should have done it before the city made the garbage rules an impenetrable wall of crazy and inconvenience, but what can you do.

I've never seen that here.

 

 

 

Not sure what province you're in, but in Ontario the HST (federal and provincial) is 13%. You pay that on all restaurant meals.

Only if you spend more than $4. If the meal is less than that then the provincial portion of the HST is removed. They call it HST but still apply it the same way as ever. They calculate both separate and then apply the GST followed by the PST. If the cost with the GST is $4 or less, they void the PST. Technically the PST/GST split doesn't exist anymore, but it still does in calculations.

 

I am in Ontario, by the way.

 

Also, Randox, I think that might be a Nova Scotia thing. It doesn't work like that in Ontario at present. I kind of hope it does in the future, though. Also, the corner store near me does that a lot, too.

 

Interesting. I guess I've never spent less than $4 in a restaurant. I should try it sometime...

I only learned about it because a nearby pizza place does 2 slices and a drink for $3.81 + tax and it comes out to $4 even. Somebody in line in front of me asked them about it and that was what they said.

I can confirm this as someone who works at Tim Hortons with bills hovering regularly around the $4 mark. It's something I have to explain regularly to customers.

 

In other news, does anyone else feel like they've fallen behind their peers their own age sometimes?

Fallen behind in what way? Intellectually? Professionally? Socially?

Fallen behind in what way? Intellectually? Professionally? Socially?

I suppose you can say a mixture.

Some times I feel that way, but then I realize that in our early 20s that the spectrum of what the is the norm is so broad that I stop worrying about it. I have friends that are my age with great full-time jobs and great social lives. I also have friends who are just getting out of being in jail for 9 months for assault and battery with no jobs and no professional development.

 

 

I'd honestly just wait a few more years before you try to make an assessment when things are a little more standardized, but in the meantime, continue to try to grow in those areas where you feel lacking.

Basically what Major said. I had friends drop out of college to take full time 6-figure positions and I've had friends pop out kids way too early. Some have their own house, some still smoke weed in their parents basement. The 19-30 age range has a vast diversity in social positioning. Just do your best

I can confirm this as someone who works at Tim Hortons with bills hovering regularly around the $4 mark. It's something I have to explain regularly to customers.

 

In other news, does anyone else feel like they've fallen behind their peers their own age sometimes?

When did you start posting here again? And of course, nice to see you.

 

Moved back into my own place. Feels good, though I still have a bit of work to do. Also, picking up a new monitor tomorrow, so I'll finally have that 3rd screen I've been wanting. Not sure what the arrangement is going to be yet since they wont all fit on my desk. The idea was to mount the new one above the current main screen, but it might be too tall (would be looking up at it). Ah well, I'm sure I'll figure something out.

 

I'm with Dash. There is a huge spectrum in the 20's. I suppose something to be mindful of, but not life or death if you seem to be drifting a bit I think. At least, not for most people.

Not exactly today, but this weekend I found myself at another reptile expo. There was a guy there with a baby wallaby that was really cute among other neato stuff like massive tortoises and crocodiles.

 

Today I finally got around to making an enclosure for a C. Cyaneopubescens I bought this weekend. (it is about 1/2" legspan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the B. Smithi I bought two weeks ago....

 

 

 

Are snails viable pets in terrariums? How dirty are they?

 

I mean, I'd prefer a tarantula. But come on, the cuteness is too much:

 

 

(Now imagine this snail being 7000 feet long [and proportionate girth], eating humans... Awww. In any case, I'd keep my snail away from caesium-137, but just imagine if a snail absorbed some... a dehydrated, undead, giant, radioactive snail, essentially a sluglike eldritch abomination... the stuff of nightmares).

Today I learned snails have retractable antenna...

Today I learned snails have retractable antenna...

Snails have a lot of really cool things

They would be a lot more work than a tarantula, but tarantulas are basically pet rocks so that doesn't say much.

 

You'd probably have to clean the enclosure every few weeks and turn over the substrate every month or two. You also have to have cross ventilation (aka large vents in the sides of the enclosure) because it requires a high humidity but will die if the air gets stagnant very. So yeah, you could keep them if you wanted to, but I vote tarantula as well. =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Arceus

 

They're eyestalks. If you touch them, they'll pull them back in to their body.