The Festival Express
Road signs, revisited
Filed under: Long trips, On the road, Short trips, Stupidity plain and simple
I know I’ve said this before, but entering Ontario via Buffalo and the Peace Bridge is a pain in the ass when you’re trying to cover new ground and there are no signs directing you. The Buffalo side has plenty of signs to point you to the border. The Canadian side continues to be a mystery, and finding your way — especially if you’re new to the area (or visiting after decades of absence – is a royal pain.
The monolithic tourist information center visible across the way was a nice touch, but I never saw a sign pointing towards it from the convoluted road system, either. Thus, I was unable to discover Ontario in the fashion and manner to which, I’m certain, Ontario would desire.
The absence of meaningful directional signs until 20 miles past the border, on some road, is ridiculous. But of course, it’s Ontario the good, isn’t it? Idiots.
Here’s a Wikipedia explanation of concession roads in southern Ontario. After reading it, there is no doubt that southern Ontario has got to have one of the most convoluted and stupid highway naming conventions in North America. And I haven’t even begun to talk about those miniscule white on dark blue county road signs that are hidden on electrical posts and lighting standards. Try following those through a city some day.
Put up a series of meaningful directional signs, you morons. I’d prefer a variety that is plainly visible, of standard dimension and color, and that actually point me in a direction that I choose to proceed. Of course, that’s only me. I’m sure local yokels who never travel out of the valley and other miscreants are quite happy the way it is.
Otherwise, don’t bother — which appears to be the direction that Ontario chooses to follow.
A sea of canola
Canada adds U.S. to torture list
I must admit, I missed this back in January:
In Canada, the United States has joined a notorious group of countries… as a place where foreigners risk torture and abuse, according to a training manual for Canadian diplomats… — washingtonpost.com, Robin Wright and Julie Tate
Other nations on Canada’s list where foreigners risk torture and abuse:
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- China
- Iran
- Afghanistan
Distinguished company, that.
Link to article here.
Let’s make fun of…
Filed under: Long trips, On the road, Stupidity plain and simple
Ontario has, without a doubt, the ugliest and most boring license plates of any jurisdiction in North America.
I crossed the Peace Bridge from Buffalo into Ontario, Canada. No problem with that; however, while trying to find my way north to Toronto, I encountered two road signs: Concession Road North and Concession Road South.
I don’t know about anyone else, but to me, a concession road is a farm road. Now, why on earth would I take a farm road anywhere? Right. I wouldn’t. Unfortunately, the Ontario tourist information building — which I could see! — was across on another farm road, and there was absolutely no signage to direct me to it. I know this to be true, because I tried to get to it.
Twenty miles down a road, I finally discovered a sign with directions for Toronto, London and some other mystery destination.
How these southern Ontario farm boys find their way around their own country is a mystery to me, although, I suppose if one is a local farm boy, he already knows how to get to Toronto for his rub and tug.
How about some signage for the tourist?
Better yet, how about some meaningful directional signs right after one leaves the border station?
French is merely a dialect in France
It is now official.
According to Mario Dumont, leader of an opposition party, the language spoken in France is merely a dialect and not an “official” language in the Province of Quebec because
his children were unable to understand the Parisian dialect used in the French version of Shrek the Third. — globeandmail.com
Unfortunately for M. Dumont, the “dialect” that he fears — whether French or English — will limit for generations the ready participation of Quebec citizens in local and world events. Isolation, whether practiced by language in this case, or formerly by religion, can’t be a good thing in the long run.
Keeping them down on the farm keeps them ignorant. But then, that’s the way — whether it be past or present — Quebec has always liked to keep its citizens.
Link to article here.
Canadian health care is tough!
Oh yes it is!
An 82-year-old man, a recipient of open-heart surgery and breathing oxygen while in his hospital bed, was tasered three times by the ever-omniscient RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) in British Columbia.
…officers resorted to taser use as a last resort, even attempting to knock the knife out of the man’s hand with a food cart.” — RCMP Cpl. Scott Wilson
A freaking food cart? There were two officers in the room. Perhaps it took that many to lift the cart. I would have thought a blanket or a pillow would have been sufficient, but then I’m no RCMP constable. Thank goodness. Because then I’d have to admit to being a big, dumb ox.
Why, you ask? Well, it seems that the 82-year-old heart patient suffering from pneumonia was claiming that there was a dead man in the next bed. The big, dumb oxen — otherwise known as RCMP constables — didn’t even bother to check on the man in the next bed, who was sleeping. Rather, they chose to taser their chosen victim, since pepper spray couldn’t be used for fear of contaminating the entire hospital
Superintendent Jim Begley, head of the Kamloops RCMP, said yesterday that he believes his officers acted properly. — globeandmail.com, Anna Mehler Paperny
It looks to me as though their CO is a big, dumb ox also.
Link to article here.
Recently, at the Vancouver airport, another individual was tasered by oxen, resulting in his death.
Canada, eh? No hand washing allowed
Yet another disgusting and ridiculous ruling by a human rights commission has been shat upon us, this time regarding the washing of hands in a restaurant. It seems that if an employee is unable for whatever reason to wash one’s hands, such employee may still continue to serve and dispense food to customers. Notwithstanding the latest hospital directives for visitors and everyone else to wash their hands to prevent the spread of disease and pestilence, apparently in British Columbia, courtesy of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, one is not required by law to wash their hands while serving food in a restaurant.
So then, apparently this hand-washing fetish that Lister so wisely promoted in the 19th century has become obsolete. Who could have known that a human rights commission and the fount of knowledge contained within its board members could prove so convincingly that hand-washing is not required to prevent the spread of disease?
Link here.
Four horsemen of the Apocalypse
They always get their man. This time, they killed him.
Robert Dziekanski was tasered and died when four RCMP officers were called in to the Vancouver International Airport arrivals area to subdue an unruly individual. He had spent 10 hours there after arriving on his flight, unable to speak English, and seemingly without any airport officials offering assistance of any kind. He was waiting for his mother to pick him up.
Once the officers arrived, Dziekanski put up his hands and turned around, and was tasered, pinned to the ground by four Mounties, and handcuffed. Unfortunately for the horsemen*, the man lost consciousness and died. It appears that they then stood around twiddling their thumbs and refusing him any medical attention whatsoever.
Also unfortunately for the four horsemen, the incident was video-taped by a bystander. It indicates that Dziekanski was never placed under arrest, as well as a host of other infractions perpetrated on him by the officers.
Then too, until the video came to light, the RCMP had a variety of stories prepared and published in the press to paint Mr. Dziekanski in a negative light — all for naught, as was demonstrated by the video.
Not to be outdone by all the bad publicity, Tom Smith of Taser International is interviewed, and comes up with, “Tasers don’t kill people. Tasered people just up and die of other causes.” I paraphrase, of course.
Most pathetic of all is the picture of four able-bodied, trained (they are trained, right?) members of the RCMP standing around with their fingers up their asses waiting for a medical team to arrive, while a man dies in front of them.
Are these guys dummies, clueless, or just plain stupid? It’s my opinion that they’re some of the stupidest sons of bitches to ever join the Mounties.
* Slang for members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Distant memories, fond memories
Today the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum hosted an event to honor Americans who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F.) during World War II.
Canada declared war on September 10, 1939. Before the United States declared war against the Nazis in December 1941, approximately 9,000 Americans joined the RCAF. Of these, about 800 were killed in RCAF service — 379 while serving with Bomber Command.
Canada’s Bomber Command Memorial lists 10,643 names and includes all the Canadians who were killed serving with Bomber Command as well as those of other nationalities who died while serving with the RCAF in Bomber Command.
“They were colorful, those volunteers — professionals and playboys, convicted felons and husbands on the run, idealists and mercenaries, kids seeking adventure, youngsters seeking nothing but an opportunity to fly, middle-aged men looking for work — and to all of them, the RCAF’s need was their golden opportunity.” — Spencer Dunmore, “Wings for Victory”
I listened to some of the “old boys” relate memories of their comrades filled with laughter and joy and resignation. I didn’t hear one say that he wouldn’t do it all again.
In memory of
Flight Sergeant J.A.B.G. (Alf) Galloway, R.C.A.F.
R/69154
March 9, 1942
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