10 Clownmandments. Yeah, I said it.

So, to all the students from the workshop today:

1. Live In the Present moment With No Fear of Consequence.

2. Accept Yourself Unconditionally. Physically, Emotionally, and Intellectually.

3. Generate Creative Alternatives without judgment.

4. Combine the Innocence of the Child You Were With the Experience of the Older Person you have become.

5. See Everything For the First Time.

6. Express Eveything to the Fullest.

7. Let Your Feelings Go After you Express them.

8. Forget the Meaning of the Word "Mistake".

9. Break Every Rule But Your Own.

10. Live Life always acting from the Heart.

Any questions?

Direct Energy versus... Direct Energy?

The following is a letter I sent to Global TV's "Troubleshooter":

Good Afternoon,

My name is Shawn Pallier, and I am writing you because I would like to help inform the public about a troubling way Direct Energy is conducting business.

In February, I was contacted by a Direct Energy telemarketer. They said that they were giving me the opportunity to put both my gas and electricity on the same bill, seeing that the market had become de-regulated. There was a casual and no-risk, cancel-at-any time offer made, so I took the bait.

I decided I would try their budget program. In mid-April, I was greeted with what I thought was my first bill; A whopping $541.74.

I immediately contacted Direct Energy to let them know I didn't feel this was a very good budget plan. I was hoping they would tell me that this was simply an opening bill, and that future payments would be much smaller. I was still upset, but would have swallowed that. Instead, I was informed my account was closed, and that I would have to settle my "Debits" due to the fact that I was moving on to a different company (I imagine she meant "Debts").

I said that I understood that if I was moving to a different company, that would be fine, but I was staying with Direct Energy and I was simply adding my Electricity. I was then informed that I had, in fact, moved on to a different company: Direct Energy(?).

Turns out that there is a difference between Direct Energy Regulated Services and Direct Energy. Maybe the more savvy bill-payer knows this, but they have the same logo and parent-company. They even have the same letterhead (with a much smaller "Regulated Services" under the bold Direct Energy).

I then had to call Direct Energy (you know, the other Direct Energy... not confusing at all, is it) to ask them to perhaps merge this closing-account payment with the opening of my new account to take away the sting. A supervisor at Direct Energy told me that this would be illegal, seeing that this would be 2 different companies sharing information. The government would never allow that, she said.

Even if it was unintentional (or is it?) I feel Direct Energy (the parent company) should be more responsible than to offer such a deal in February, knowing that anybody on a budget plan would be in debt to Direct Energy at that time. All those winter-months, I was underpaying, but during the spring and summer, I'd be over-paying to compensate. I will not be allowed to do that.

In a frustrated moment, the supervisor admitted to me that this type of marketing is being done to "phase out" Direct Energy Regulated Services. I thank her for confessing on behalf of her company, but I'd appreciate a formal apology and for them to forgive my "closing balance", which they are totally unwilling to cooperate on.

I feel they should forgive the closing balance of anyone who was a victim of this marketing.

I am getting married in a very short time, in early June in fact, and they might feel that this is a small price to pay and that maybe next time I should "know what I'm getting into". But their marketing techniques could mean a lack of funds on what should be the happiest day of my life.

I appreciate the time it took to read this, and look forward to your response.

Regards,

Shawn Pallier