“Stop Harper” protest more ungrateful than effective
June 6th, 2011 | Comments (1)
When I heard the story of a page bringing in and displaying a sign that said “Stop Harper.” My first reaction was disbelief. Then I moved onto ungrateful and that hasn’t changed. Is our country perfect? No. Will it ever be perfect? No, it won’t be, but despite that, we are so very lucky to live in Canada that attacks in parliament such as Friday’s incident really bug me. The challenges in other countries where people are living and dying for democracy is beyond what we have ever had to live with here, so to suggest that our governments, whatever their colour, are similar simply belittles the seriousness of those international situations.
I’m curious if this woman has truly spent anytime trying to affect change in a real and meaningful way. One of her concerns was the environment and so I’m curious as to how much effort she puts into everyday to recycling, composting or trying to improve programs in communities that have little or limited recycling. Does she walk the walk or is she simply someone who gets their kicks out of thumbing the establishment?
Yes, we have the right to free speech and freedom of religion and freedom to walk down the street on any given day without the fear of extreme violence, and on a day when we should remember those who fought and sacrificed 67 years ago on D-Day, doesn’t it seem like such a move as we saw on Friday in Parliament makes a mockery of the true reason for the sacrifice of those soldiers?
Student’s videos should be taken seriously, but it’s time to resolve the issue and move on
June 3rd, 2011 | Comments (0)
A student suspended over a series of animated videos posted outside of school and deemed concerning to the Durham District School Board. Police take a look at the videos and find there to be no criminality to the material. The student involved and other students at the Whitby High School talk about the incident and claim their freedom of expression is being violated.
Having watched a couple of the videos I can safely say they don’t appeal to me and are what I would say fairly typical teenage angst and expression. Where the problem comes in, is that this particular teen has lost or doesn’t fully understand the context in which school boards and police must deal with such information. In 1999, the Columbine high school shooting happened with the Taber, Alberta shooting a week later and since then there have been incidents that we’d rather not see again in any other school. Given that history, Ontario and other provinces have put police officers in schools and instituted a number of protocols in an effort to create safe environment. So while it may seem a bit over the top to some, I’m personally quite alright with a better safe than sorry attitude when it comes to schools.
That being said with police finding no criminality, I also believe the school board has a responsibility to act in a timely manner to see the issue resolved. Perhaps it can be a successful lesson learned on both sides.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson.
Texting and driving can be deadly; put down the phone
June 1st, 2011 | Comments (0)
I’d like to think the tragic story of an 18 year old losing his life because he was texting and driving will have an impact on the general public. But the cynical me knows that it won’t have the widespread and lasting punch it should.
Just days after losing their son, Damon, in such a crash his mom and dad are pleading with people to put down their phones and concentrate on the road. It’s a message the OPP has been trying to drive home as well. For the past several months it seems there could always be a story on distracted driving. But despite the warnings, the threat of a 155 dollar fine, serious injury or even death in a crash, we can’t seem to keep our fingers away from the keypad and on the steering wheel. So here we have the death of a young man, his parents and younger brother speaking out, putting their grief on the line in the hopes that someone will remember their brother and son when they go to pick up the phone and send a text message while behind the wheel.
So the next time you think you have something important to text, remember this young man, 18 years old, he’d just signed up for full time military service and had his whole life ahead of him. His mistake cost him his life. You still have a choice, don’t let the same thing happen to you.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson.
Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather, we know it can’t last
May 30th, 2011 | Comments (0)
I think we’re finally on the other side of winter. It’s only taken almost 6 months! We definitely didn’t have the kind of spring we’re used to that’s for sure. Funny how grumpy we can get towards our weather prognosticators, especially when the weather is not to our liking, it’s too cold, it’s too rainy, and why isn’t it warm by now? All valid, particularly when you think back to last year and the beautiful spring we had. However, talking, or grumping about the weather is a pretty Canadian thing to do.
I did an interview with an Environment Canada meteorologist at the beginning of this month and he told me that we’d have at least another 2 ½ – 3 weeks of wet and cool weather to contend with before we turned the corner. He was right! I feel they get the short end of the stick, and so its for that reason that I mention that interview. The weather guy was actually right, because here we are with two days, maybe three of hot muggy weather ahead of us. Yup, from furnace weather on Friday, straight into air conditioner season by Monday. I say enjoy it and I don’t want to hear one person complain, but then again maybe we just can’t help ourselves.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson.
Chain gangs an out-of-the-box idea that might just have some merit
May 27th, 2011 | Comments (0)
Bring in the chain gang! It’s the latest platform tease from Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservatives. Am I opposed to it? Nope, not at all. Why not have prisoners doing manual labour as part of re-paying their debt to society? It shouldn’t be an issue if the program is properly monitored and handled. In fact, it could be a very successful program for both sides. Perhaps it will help inmates turn a corner and appreciate the value of a hard days work and working with society as opposed to against the general rules we follow. The Progressive Conservatives have explained that those on the line will not be pedophiles, which is definitely a condition that makes me feel even more comfortable.
I will say it’s an interesting campaign topic veering away from the deficit, healthcare, and electricity prices. But then maybe a chain gang program can help with a few of those. The deficit, if we’re not paying provincial workers then we’re saving money and perhaps there will be less strain on the health care system from the prison system if inmates are healthier, both physically and mentally. I think this provincial election campaign is going to be very interesting especially if we continue to see some outside the box thinking from our politicians about how to better use resources and work within the system.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson.
“Funwrecker” comes around on some of the new liquor laws
May 25th, 2011 | Comments (0)
I’ll admit the term “funwrecker” has been used to describe me. Usually it’s affectionate and mostly because I tend to be the voice of reason, the person who suggests that perhaps it’s time to shutdown the festivities. So my immediate reaction to Ontario deciding to loosen up liquor laws produced visions of wild drink fests with uncontrollable adults going crazy and children trying to corral adults who are walking through festivals with drink in hand. In other words, the world of sometimes out of hand beer tents brought front and centre to what are, in most cases, family outings. However, I may have been hasty in my thoughts of beer tent anarchy. Perhaps, allowing adults to peruse festivals and fairs with beer in hand may actually encourage less drinking or at best more responsible drinking. If they can drink and walk, it may be a better situation than having to sit in one section of the event and simply drink. Whereas a person may have 3 or 4 in the beer tent, not wanting to wait in the long lineups that can occur, they may decide to have two or even just one if they can go walkabout.
Putting on my “funwrecker” hat again I don’t know how extending the hours for weddings and charity events will have the same effect, but I am willing to listen. So let’s raise a glass and toast a safe and responsible summer to everyone.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson.
Missing: common sense, as 911 callers don’t stick around
May 20th, 2011 | Comments (0)
Earlier this week, there was a news story about Toronto police searching for a little boy who was seen crying in a mid-town neighbourhood. Police were tweeting that they received 9-1-1 calls from motorists driving by but when they showed up no such little boy was found. In the end the situation turned out alright with the boy who was 8 years old being located at his school.
But as it was unfolding, I couldn’t help but wonder why the callers to 9-1-1 didn’t stick around to guide police to the boy. Is that the kind of world we live in? Where there is no interest in doing more than call police and leave the scene, even though there was a young child involved? I’m glad they called 9-1-1, don’t get me wrong, but why not hang around until police showed up so they could be pointed in the right direction and perhaps locate the child quicker? Or maybe stay on the phone with 9-1-1 and follow the boy?
The only reason I can think of that a person wouldn’t stick around, is that they were afraid of being a suspect in the case or being accused of trying to harm the child. Sadly, I can understand that, it’s not always easy being a Good Samaritan. However, that being said, it would be nice to see a little thing called common sense prevail, especially when a child is involved.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson.
Can’t wait for GO to go further east
May 18th, 2011 | Comments (0)
I can’t wait until it’s our turn to push the big green switch on a new-to-us GO Train track to Bowmanville. Seeing the announcements come down Tuesday about service to Kitchener-Waterloo and expansion in Richmond Hill made me a little antsy. So far environmental assessments have been done, the public comment period has passed and now it’s a waiting game as the province reviews all the submissions and the EA report. The saying patience is a virtue is so true in this case because east-enders have been on tenterhooks for years.
One thing that is for certain is that service to Bowmanville is not just a wish, a hope or a pipe dream, it’s a necessity. Appealing housing prices and good clean communities have brought people out to the east-end of the GTA in droves in recent years. And if you drive the 401 into Toronto it doesn’t take much to understand why improved rail service can only be a good thing.
If you want people to take public transit it has to be convenient and easy, though finding a seat on the GO during the rush can be somewhat rare. For now we must wait to hear the rumble of the GO Train through east Oshawa and into Clarington and Bowmanville. And even though the wait will be well worth it, it is still a project that is long overdue.
Drive safely… we’re all counting on it
May 16th, 2011 | Comments (0)
In our house before anyone drives off they’ll usually hear me say “drive safely. ” In fact, I say it so much that even my 3 year old daughter says it to people leaving. It’s cute to hear her say it and makes them laugh but it’s a serious message.
Sure we can put our social media devices down and out of sight, we can choose to pull over and eat that hamburger and fries, and we can choose to put our make up on in the morning in front of our bathroom mirror, but unfortunately we can’t turn off our brains from thinking about the list of chores we have to do when we get home, or the disagreement we had at work, with a friend, or spouse. There in lies the problem, distracted driving will always be a road hazard. However, that being said it doesn’t mean we should simply throw caution to the wind. It means we should be even more vigilant and aware that not focusing on the road can have serious consequences.
I also think that part of being safe behind the wheel also means courteous driving – paying attention to the drivers around you, moving into another lane, if safe do so, to allow other motorists to get on the highway, if you’re having a crappy day, turn it around, let somebody in front of you or don’t block the driveway to the store. Everyone is trying to get somewhere and we all want that to happen safely. It’s hard to remember that sometimes when pressed for time or annoyed by another driver, but that’s when it’s time to take a deep breath and just relax and as I always say drive safely.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson.
Government needs to be ready to have a heavy hand on gas prices
May 13th, 2011 | Comments (0)
A parliamentary committee? That’s the best the government can do to help us find answers and a way to solve the fluctuating gas prices? The timeline is supposed to be weeks but I’m a bit skeptical on how fast a parliamentary committee can actually move.
I can’t wait to watch and listen as the oil executives defend the exorbitant price of gas and see no reason to change anything. If what’s happening at similar hearings in the US is any indication then we can expect to hear arrogance and entitlement seeping through in their voices while the little guys (us) suffer at their hands. When your company makes billions in profits it just seems greedy to keep going back to the well.
But then we’re strapped aren’t we? If we must drive, then we must buy gas, fuel efficiency aside, it’s always seemed a bit fishy to me that the great minds of Canada, the US and beyond can’t come up with a solution that can keep companies profitable but not keep the average person running on empty.
Right now gas in the states costs about a dollar Canadian. If there is any time when Canada should be on par with the US this is it. Why is our gas 30 plus cents more? I’m sure we’ll get a convoluted answer from the oil industry execs. To them I have one reminder there was another industry that felt the wrath of the public over their attitude and that was the auto industry — once deemed untouchable, we find out that they were quite the opposite. I firmly believe in karma and the high times can only last so long. I just hope for us, the average motorist, those high times at our expense are almost over.
To me it’s elementary … I’m Sandra Watson
Don’t lose the message — it’s about breast cancer
May 11th, 2011 | Comments (0)
It’s not the cause that is the problem, there’s nothing wrong with promoting an awareness of breast cancer, that is unless the words don’t suit the location. There’s no love for the “I love boobies” slogan at several Durham area high schools. I get the board’s position about having some control of what students wear to school. But I also think that on a case by case basis this is one with exception. The language of our society is changing where as the word “boobies” might have caused an uproar a decade ago, that’s not the case today.
I love seeing students engage themselves in an issue. For a generation that is often maligned in the negative; to see them using their language and enthusiasm to get behind a cause that is close to the hearts of so many is uplifting. I hate to see that sort of spirit crushed at the doorstep. The slogan has been come very popular in recent months with t-shirts bearing similar wording being sold at the recent opening of the Heather Griffith Breast Assessment Clinic. Originally, it’s from a campaign in the US that focuses on youth and bringing them into the conversation on breast cancer. It’s a serious message with a light hearted twist that has people talking.
Given that there is some background information that I hope these students understand, such as how much of the money goes to breast cancer research, or knowing the statistics on breast cancer will ensure they know exactly what they’re fighting for. Also important in this situation is the recognition that with freedom of expression; there should also be willingness for compromise on both sides.
To me it’s elementary… I’m Sandra Watson
Elections Canada needs to embrace the national conversation
May 9th, 2011 | Comments (0)
It’s a whole new world we live in with Facebook and Twitter getting news and information out at lightening speed. The federal election last week was a test run that in terms of effectively using social media, failed miserably. A ban was put in place by Elections Canada that no one will tweet the results of polls until all polls were closed. Noble in thought, they obviously want to keep the results as pure as possible; however, a Twitter ban is completely unreasonable in this day age. It’s how people communicate. To shy away from finding an effective use of Twitter is to disengage so many people from the voting process.
I don’t think allowing people to Tweet results or put them on their Facebook page is going to dramatically change how they would vote. Most people have made up their minds by the time they head to the polling station.
Besides if I can legally still call someone in a different time zone and tell them the results how is that any different? Are the powers that be concerned about how large the Twitter communication can be? But isn’t that a positive? In fact the more people are talking about the election and its results day of, I would think that would only encourage people to vote and in that there is nothing negative. Social media is a part of our world, let’s embrace it, get involved with the national conversation.
To me it’s elementary…I’m Sandra Watson