Meaning of Life

While returning from the London store one day I had the kind of experience you really don't want to have, but is a test of your person! That incident was a very serious car accident....directly in front of me!

Yep, I was about 10 to 12 car lengths behind a cargo truck. We were slowing down coming into Arva and then all of a sudden smoking squealing tires, the truck falls forward, the rolls onto its side! I begin to make my move to avoid hitting him as he is now firmly on his side sliding in the lane I was in plus heading into oncoming traffic. But just as I make the move to avoid him I realize that in front of the truck was another car! He had hit it as he rolled onto his side. Now, I was trying to avoid this sideways sliding truck and the now moving from the middle lane towards the shoulder of the road... seriously damaged! I did manage to miss the truck, miss the other car, drive into the shallow ditch on side of the road and back onto the shoulder and come to a stop! Whew, very very close, but I am ok, so is my car!

But not so much for the other 2 participants!

Now, most other folks, and I do mean 99.9% of the cars in the area simply continued on their way! But I jumped out and immediately ran to the Jetta- the young woman inside was obviously in shock, most likely had some kind of neck or back injury but was no in immediate danger. I managed to convince her to stay in her car. Ironically, she was merely yards away from home when she was hit from behind!

I then ran to the truck! It was leaking diesel, engine running and as I approached it occurred to me- get the engine off, get the driver out! Luckily, the driver popped out of the window, but before he climbed out I yelled at him to shut off the truck! No need for an explosion eh!

Well, as I and one other lady that finally stopped waited for OPP and fire and ambulance, we realized just how close to a very serious situation this had come! I could have been hit or hit the truck as it rolled: I could have hit the Jetta as it rolled out in front of me; I could have lost control and rolled in the ditch; I could have been burned by a fire from the leaking diesel and running engine; the lady in the Jetta could have been much more seriously hurt; the truck driver could have been more seriously hurt! Luckily, none of these alternatives came to be!

Why am I sharing this- well, its good therapy. Life is already chaotic and already has challenges. So called good Christians out for revenge instead of restoration; folks without compassion passing by accidents; recklessness instead of control. All things I have seen recently and yet the universe chose for me not to be hurt in this accident, chose me to be there to help strangers, chose me to be in the right place at the right time. For all of the eventual outcomes of this situation, I thank the universe. Maybe the meaning in all this is to be more aware, more compassionate, restore instead of revenge, help others and smile. Dwelling, looking for an eye to replace an eye, attacking and being spiteful are simply a waste of time. Changing the world and helping others- I think that's the way to go.

Summer of Fear-for the Rich at least!

Well, the newspapers, radio and tv news folks are at it again- working to convince all of us that the economy is in free fall collaspe and we should all move the fallout shelters!

Sure, the stock markets are sucking right now; sure, we're not generating jobs as fast as the last post recession period; sure our average incomes aren't moving up as much as we'd like; sure our debt loads are climbing more than we'd like them to.......BUT, we are seeing improvements!

Jobless figures are getting better- they ain't great, but they're moving the right way.

GDP is trending the right way in Canada and many other countries on the planet.

Overall confidence is improving.

So why the panic. Well first of all, panic and fear sells! Second, the panic is coming from a small group,that being brokers, large house investors and the wealthy. Why, cuz, a drop in stock values means that their balance sheets aren't as pretty today as they were yesterday. Lets be honest, the average person isn't investing in stocks. So, when companies lose 2, 4, 10% of the paper value, most of us aren't hurt by it. Unless big corp does what it does best when this happens, lay off the little folks to save money for investors.

So, to recap:
Sky is not falling
Rich are getting hurt by stock drops
Corporations need to have faith and ethics and not lay off folks to save money, especially when most of these same companies are sitting on huge cash reserves and still making money aka- RIM, APPLE, any oil or gas company and many others (did you know APPLE has more cash than the US government?).


Stay calm, carry on! Don't get sucked into the press void of depression and panic. Be your own advisor.

Talk Show Radio Hosts..

I listen to a couple of local radio talk shows once and awhile if I'm in the car in the mornings for any reason. My chosen stations tend to be Am570 out of Kitchener, AM980 out of London and AM900 out of Hamilton. I started listening years ago when I spent a lot of time driving and needed something besides music to push the day along.

For the most part, I enjoy AM570 and AM900. Same goes for AM980, but right now, the 9 to 11 host has me well confused and frustrated.... I have to admit of late I worry that the host has found the path of most twists, turns and flip flops one can travel!

I know that for the most part he's a right winger, with views that often border on Reform Party mantra-and some of that I'm ok with. But where I get confused is when he chooses to both suck and blow on topics. Here's the most recent example I listened too the other day.

He was discussing the dreaded 'bag tag' garbage system. He started off with the same unproven complaints I have heard in many cities where they have adopted the system: people will dump garbage, people will steal tags, why should I pay more than my neighbour, it's my right to dump garbage at will, why should we have to be taxed for something thats been 'free' for ever, the price increase from the flat rate tax system is too drastic, unfair and will hurt everybody, why should people with bigger households or the rich pay more for garbage removal. All the same stuff I've heard in Meaford, Guelph, Barrie, Strathroy, Stratford-all proven to be false. But while he's complaining about a fiscal plan to adjust the tax system to a more user based plan, just as he advocates for many other items, he suddenly doesn't like this plan cuz he'll have to pay more for his garbage! Well duh!

Heres the London deal- currently, each address is paying $55.00/yr for garbage removal, regardless of how much of a mountain they toss out each collection period. Yes, there is a blue box program! But under a tag system, you would have the $55.00 taken off the tax bill (yes, every city I've lived in really did take it off), and then you buy tags at $1.50 or more per bag to put on the curb. Yes, if you put out more than 26 bags a year your costs go up. But, if you use say 22 bags a year, look your costs go down! What the.... Yep, down if you watch your waste line!

The bottom line with bag tag systems is this- is normally is a direct funding for a cities waste management plan and landfill. Removes the cost from the general revenues/expenses. It gives you an incentive to reduce your garbage, increase recycling, watch your purchasing choices, demand that your retail shops give you less garbage or wrapping or boxes or waste to take home thus making it your problem. All the other concerns, well look around- people toss garbage now, people steal from other people now and your taxes will go up in the future. But at least you can have some say or control on 1 small piece of that puzzle.

So, Mr AM980 morning talk show guy- you wanted fiscal responsibility in city hall, you wanted reduced taxes, you call for a pay health care system- well you get the garbage version of this if you go bag tag- and you asked for it when you voted for financial restraint. Can't suck and blow my friend.