Another un-needed law?

Common sense apparently does not exist in Ontario.

Ontario has taken steps to enact a law banning the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while behind the wheel.

Now, you might think I would be in favour of a law making our highways safer.

I am.

But this isn't the right law.

Police services would now have a new nuisance call, Cell Call In Progress. (It would be ranked with Stupidity in Progress)

This law would affect many people. Many service trucks have mobile display terminals (MDT's), as do taxi's, Trucker's have two way radios and C.B.'s

Ambulances come with both radio's and MDT's, with a patient in the back the driver must break the law to operate either.

Every Police Officer has three devices: radio, MDT and cell phone. In order to enforce the law they must break it.

The argument for them is that they have special training in the safe use of these devices. Whose to say that a regular driver can't have special training? Truckers have to take a course to achieve a 'Z' endorsement for air brakes.

I had an argument several years ago with a Driver Trainer on an advanced course I was on. His argument was to ban all cell usage while driving. My argument was that my hands free cell phone was the same as having a conversation with someone sitting beside me. A little later he was telling us of a trucker he saw tailgating a small car, and how he called him on the CB to point out the error of his ways. I raised my hand and asked him, "Did you pull over and stop so you could safely operate the radio?" He went silent for a moment and then replied" It's not the same."

He was cornering the wrong guy.

I spent eight years in the Army, one of my qualifications being Driver Instructor, and eight years driving taxi. My radio was both my income and my lifeline.

My reply to him, "A radio requires you to take your hand off the wheel to hold the microphone, my hands free cell lets me keep both hands on the wheel."

He changed the subject.

I am all in favour of making our roads safer...I once slapped the windshield of a cell phone distracted driver with a stop paddle. (sidebar...the Traffic Safety Course now states thou shalt not slap the windshield of a cell phone distracted driver with a stop paddle)

I'm not endorsing cell calls on handsets or texting while driving I'm just saying this isn't the right law.

The right law already exists.

It's called Careless Driving and it reads:

Careless driving

130. Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition his or her licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 130.

(Source: E-LAWS)

Next week, in a continuing effort to protect us from ourselves, the Government plans to introduce a bill banning running with scissors.

DJW

It's TV time again

Ok, call me weird. (I know, that's a given)

I'm excited that one of my favorite TV shows is getting ready for it's season premier.

No, it's not Monday Night Football, or Hockey Night in Canada.

Are you ready for this?

It's Canada's Worst Driver 4!

For those who are uninitiated, each year, 8 bad drivers from across Canada are nominated to 'compete' for the title of the worst driver in the country. They are all brought to a secret location, given expert driving instruction, and then put through a series of driving skills tests. The most improved driver every episode gets their license returned to them and sent back out on the road. They are critiqued by a series of experts including my favorite, now retired OPP Sgt Cam Woolley.

If you've never seen it, give it a view and see if you recognize any habits, or anyone you may know.
It has a brother show called Canada's Worst Handyman, hosted by the same sarcastic guy, Andrew Younghusband.

I'm happy to say I've never been nominated for either show.

Interesting coincidence; CWD4 dovetails with the end of the NASCAR season, and wraps up near Daytona time in February.

I can watch for bended metal all year round now.

DJW

Election Results

Stephen Harper has won another minority.

Being the only male in a house with three women, I know how he feels.

Sometimes I think I'm in charge too.

DJW

The Inn at Christie's Mill

My Darling Bride and I had the pleasure to stay at a Muskoka Resort this weekend. Made even more of a pleasure as it was all paid for, by someone else!

The Inn at Christie's Mill is a luxury resort spa, plunked right on the waters edge at Port Severn, Ontario, the gateway to the Muskoka's and the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Now, my experiences with resort/spas has been limited to a conference center in Mississauga annually for work related events, but this was different.

The view from the room this time did not include the 401 or office towers and the approach lights for Pearson.

This was far different.

Our view overlooking the harbour would only have been more perfect if it hadn't been cloudy.

The room itself was as big as our living/dining room combined. It's only lacking was a side table to put beside the chairs while watching the fireplace.

The bed was best described as oversized. It seemed bigger than our king bed at home, perhaps because you needed a stool to get in it. It was quite comfy, even if we were sleeping in different postal codes.

The bathroom was bigger than my first apartment, complete with his and hers sinks, a tricked out water closet and a Jacuzzi tub with a heat lamp. The bath fixtures were Kohler, complete with a fully height adjustable shower massage with three settings: soothing, massage and 'marry me.'

The dining room was very something. I can't quite find the right words.

Maybe rustic elegance.

It was built in a circular pattern to invoke the feeling of the working parts of an old grist mill. Lots of stone and wood, which I like. Of course I had to sit there and analyze its construction.

Again, a spectacular view overlooking the water and an island.

The dining was Chef prepared, with the emphasis being on the preparation and presentation. You had all your major food groups represented, steak, lamb, pork, veal, chicken and seafood. I shied away from the steak, as it was advertised as a 9 ounce, and that would have been an appetizer for me. I selected the veal with pasta, and it was grand. The pasta was done in a garlic butter and Parmesan sauce that tasted as if I had made it. My Darling Bride chose the pork tenderloin and veggies. The loin was tender and tasty, but the veggies were more arranged than served. I guess I'm not cultured enough for the fine dining experience (or the prices). Dessert for me was a 'Chocolate Disaster' of ice cream, ground up brownie and chocolate sauce served in a champagne glass. M.D.B. had the blueberry crumble, served in a coffee cup with ice cream and ornately drizzled with chocolate and caramel.

We did not partake in the spa part of the spa, as bookings did not jive with our schedule, but we did peek into the area. The pool was smallish, and the hot tub smaller, but with the Jacuzzi in the room, it wasn't needed.

If I had to find complaint about the experience, its that the resort's layout is very strung out, and someone with mobility problems would find it tedious to get around.

The other complaint: that we couldn't stay longer.

Thanks to Thing 2 for the life experience getaway, and to Thing 1 for the spending cash. Luvya both.

If you get the chance, we can now recommend The Inn at Christie's Mill.

DJW

Todays Lesson Is...

...Make sure you know who you are talking to.

Last week I was given a job at work, laying out a sewer in Oakville. Nothing unusual about that, it's part of what I do. As an addendum to this task, I was asked to hand out notices to area residents and businesses about the upcoming construction. That task is usually reserved for the inspector.

Well, circumstances intervened and the letters didn't get delivered. No sweat, I thought, the inspector could deliver them when he made his initial pre-construction survey of the site. I gave the letters to the inspector and explained that I hadn't had time to deliver them, and pointed out that it was part of his job anyway. He was non-plussed by this.

The next morning I answer my phone and get this, "Why didn't you deliver the letters?"

No hello, good morning, or, "Hi it's Fred."

Just, "Why didn't you deliver the letters?"

I pointed out that I had told him yesterday why not, and he carried on. The conversation quickly escalated into a yelling match and I finished the call with,"Why don't you get off your lazy a** and do it yourself! HAVE A GOOD DAY!" and I snapped my phone shut.

After calming down for a few minutes, I decided to call my boss and let him know about this. I left him a voicemail saying, "Joe, its DJ. I just had a run in with Fred. Give me a call."

A few minutes later, Joe calls back. I started to explain when he cut in, "I didn't appreciate being hung up on."

Silence

"That was YOU? It sounded like Fred!"

"I have a cold."

After I delivered the letters I bought my boss some cold medicine.

The lesson: make sure you know who you are talking to before you tell them to, "HAVE A GOOD DAY!"

DJW

Lawyers...who needs them?

A piece in The Hamilton Spectator goes to show some of the problems with our legal and justice system.

Seems a lawyer thinks a decision should be overturned because the Crown can't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client was acting carelessly before he struck a cyclist and killed him over two years ago.

Never mind that he had another careless driving charge two months later.

Never mind that he had amassed fourteen thousand dollars in fines in the last ten years.

His client is not guilty, because no one was there to see the accident, therefore the cyclist may have swerved in front of the truck.

Never mind that victim was a competitive cyclist who would be well in control of his bike.

Never mind that the victim's family has suffered the same tragedy as if he had killed on duty.

Read the story here.

Why is this guy still driving?

Why is this guy not in jail?

The reason that I could never be a lawyer is that I could never find it in my morals to defend someone like this.

To quote Shakespeare , "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."
(2 Henry VI, 4.2.59)

DJW