Happy New Year, readers, from My Friend P and C. We hope that you all have a good one and that all your resolutions are fulfilled.

On the topic of resolutions you know having been suckered in the last three days of the old year, I told My Friend P that one sure resolution was that I would not be suckered during 2008. No, I did not invest in any mathematical-based-get-rich-scheme - my tolerance for risk is too low for me consider such a thing.

I got suckered at one of the home-and-garden-type stores on the Saturday before New Year's Day. My mom has a most frightening allergic reaction to the sting of wasps so as I strolled down the corridors of this store I was struck by this package that screamed at me.:

"The Original Waspinator" was what I spotted and of course my interest was piqued.

It said Waspinator so I did not have to ask whether this was anti-wasp device. I moved closer and I was quite right. Oh no, I thought, Christmas had passed but surely Mom would appreciate such a completely interactive, purposeful and useful gift as a Waspinator.

It says: "No pesticides, Nothing to clean, No mess - it is not a 'Wasp trap'. I thought this sounds interesting. But then I looked very closely at what was in the transparent bag and got slightly suspicious. Since I could not open it I bought two at $200+ a piece and took them home.

Territorial nature

Confronted with the name alone Special F declared that the thing was a hoax and it could not work if it had no chemicals or pesticides. "How does it work," he questioned. Well there it was on the back, "It is based on the territorial nature of wasps - they think that the original Waspinator is an enemy nest and fly away". Well this further annoyed special F.

I took the thing out of the plastic and seriously it is just a dark grey small draw string bag with Waspinator written on the top. I wonder whether it is the writing that would scare away the wasps? Well it is supposed to work in 10 to 15 minutes and we hung it right below some wasp nests on the eaves of the house to see it do its trick. Well the wasps were there hours after and the day after.

Ready I was to take the fraud product back to the store when I noticed an asterick italicised in fine print. It read: "There are many species of wasps worldwide and the Original Waspinator may not work for some types of wasps." Now isn't that just the most all-encompassing disclaimer you have ever heard?

Yes, I was suckered. But I have since taken down the bag which I think will do very well to take small snacks to work or maybe even an at-home-makeup bag!

2008: I resolve to be NOT suckered. You should too. That's right, don't vote if there is another election this year.

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