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@Judy Zik

You said from "coast to coast," have you been coast to coast? Here in Vancouver, (Canada's 3rd largest metropolitan area) there is none of what you speak of. I live in Vancouver proper, and there are branches from Canada's big 5 + international banks within 5 minutes driving distance from me. Off branded machines are a rare sight, only found in private businesses as the other poster mentioned. In the suburbs such as Coquitlam, Surrey, Richmond; branches for any bank are within 5-15min driving distance. I regularly walk through downtown Vancouver (legitmately urban); bank branches are everywhere, so "However if you take a walk through urban centres..." doesn't hold water.

Canadian banks are very strong financially especially compared to their competitors in this economic landscape. In fact our banks have capitalized on their foreign competitors' weakness and picked up market share internationally, just look at RBC outright buying the Centura bank, TD purchasing Commerce Bank and Banknorth to create TD Bank in the states. TD is aggressively purchasing and consolidating American banks and soon will crack the top 10 largest banking corporations in the US (already in top 20).

@TheLionOfAzzalle

Looks are objective. Personally I think the iPhone lost it's sexiness when the moved to the plastic back. Sure it increased the reception but the plastic just plain feels cheap paired with the fingerprint magnet, potential discolouration and cracking that occurs with the plastic. No thank you.

Take a look at the HTC Desire, critically acclaimed to have one of the best build qualities ever in handset history, way ahead of the 3GS. Who cares if the phone is great looking, if EVERYONE has one, the design becomes bland through over exposure. When a middle aged soccer mom with tacky long nails terrible spray on tans, bleached hair hold it in their hands, it rids all of the sex appeal for me.

I personally like this van, best thing Honda has designed in a while...other than that non-production HSV 10. I sure hope this is an indication for Honda's future design, it's clean, and handsome.

Despite this being a minivan, it's pretty "wagony," which is good, the market doesn't need another CUV look-alike people carrier. Who NEEDS and SUV/CUV? The market needs less Escalades, and more specialized efficient people carriers like this. Although I still prefer a wagon, planning to get a A4 Avant 2.0T.

The Tiguan costs a lot more. Up here in Canada, for some odd reason the VW Tiguan is only a couple thousand cheaper than the larger more well equipped (but hideous) Pilot.

@reader1
Wow, biggest invention of the year. You're a dumbsh*t...that's all I can say, I'm not even going to justify why...because you're too far gone, the brainwashing has gone too deep.

I want you to go do something, go youtube "Micrsoft Courier," watch the demo videos and tell me it's not a better experience in every way.

No one needs a big iPhone with iWork, most blackberrys and Windows Mobile can run Office Mobile, so most 200-300 (with contract) dollar smart phones can also run an office suite. I'm not an Apple hater, but OPEN YOUR EYES, the iPad SUCKS and will fail like the Apple TV, and it's older brother the Newton.

So, you're telling me within the next 6 months, the newest Android Windows Mobile phone will be quicker than this 10inch tablet? Qualcomm is set to release 1.5ghz dual core chips within 2010, and yet apple chose a CPU which is no more powerful than a Snapdragon?

I'm not an Apple fanboy, but even I'm disappointed by this tablet. And what's with no MBP upgrades? Core 2 Duos are outdated now!

@M3
I agree with you. I'm not doubting Apple or P.A. Semi's ability but they are a smaller department with less R&D funds with less at stake then ARM manufacturers such as, Nvidia, Samsung, Qualcomm,etc, and non-ARM based manufacturers such as Intel, AMD all of which have giant R&D departments with huge budgets and a lot of money at stake. I just can't believe a small department of Apple made up of a relatively small number of engineers has any more brains or is any more innovative then the infinitely larger collective number of engineers in the same field. I could be wrong, they could have stumbled across something and created something superior. But at the probability is not in Apple's favour and at the moment this analyst seems to be full of hot air.

You sir; is the very epitome of why I can no longer buy an Audi. They're fine cars, the look good, have nice interiors, good build quality, decent reliability (still behind Lexus, Cadillac though), decent resale value (still behind leaders of Acura, Lexus), etc, a million reasons to buy. But the largest one is or are people like you, one word describes you:....wait for it...."douche."

You with your popped up collar multiple layered polo shirt, sun glasses, spiked up hair, and overall douchey driving etiquette, ie. not signalling to change lanes, going way over the speed limit, not leaving enough room for a person backing out of a parking stall when YOU are waiting for THEIR spot. I hate people like you, you have forever ruined the colour " white" for cars, you have ruined BMW for us, and now you are ruining Audi, its people like you that have pushed the innovation for 5mph crash bumpers, introduction of common sense laws like "No SMSing while driving," and of course artificial tanning creams.

And no, i am not a Lexus fanboy, i am not loyal to one brand or country, i judge cars by their individual merits, and don't have preconceptions based on the little logo on the trunk.

Wow, that sounds pretty awesome. The Japanese Supercar revolution is looking pretty good, GT-R, now this.

Hey, Honda, TAKE A LOOK AT TOYOTA, your CHIEF rival, if they can build a supercar when they are in much hotter water financially, it means YOU COULD DO IT TOO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpMAfsSk7jM&feature=fvw

How can they can a project that was almost finished? Honda has stated that incarnation would have bested the GT-R and the LF-A, when Honda, one of the best engineering companies say they can do it, they can probably deliver. It just confuses me, how they turned a very stable market share grabbing enthusiast pleasing car company in 2004 to what it is today; ugly appliance manufacturing soul less company.

2004: Civic Si, RSX Type S, S2000, NSX. Great looking cars like the 2004 TL.
2009: Civic Si, TL 6 speed are the sportiest cars left and they aren't pretty on the eyes either.

Just fire the American designers in the Torrance design studio, leave the penmanship to the Japanese artists who penned the NSX, S2000, JDM Civic, or the Europeans who penned the new UK only Civic hatch, Euro Accord Tourer. Most importantly, SELL that exact NSX in the youtube video; it pleases the enthusiasts, gives Acura a halo car and some panache to establish them as a Tier 1 luxury company.

Sorry about the tangent, it just angers me that a soulless business first company like Toyota can build and sell something like the LF-A, meanwhile the Japanese company with the most engineering and racing heritage can't even sell a car that is nearly as good.

@Justin

Oh no! Socialist! Food and health care for everyone! The horror. Only people like you, people who has been thoroughly brain washed by American media can make such a ignorant comment. There is nothing wrong with Socialism, its just an alternate political ideology. I'm Canadian, and i know there are ignorant people in Canada as well, but damn, why don't you just fly your republican ass back to Florida if you dislike socialism. To be clear i'm not a communist but i am educated enough to respect other people's ideologies and understand the merits of it.