Reshingling of part of my roof went well. I did not fall off. Dirty yes, but it had to be done.

Sucking out the insulation in my attic was traumatic due to cause. The house was much colder at night. Still, I feel better than the cellulose insulation is not gone. Cellulose insulation is a fire hazard and is pretty combustible. Though it will not dramatically burst into flame it will smolder for hours until it reaches wood, which it will set on fire. Why is this type of insulation still being sold I do not know. We replaced our cellulose insulation with blown in fibreglass.

An empty attic space allowed me to repair the vapour barrier. Over 30 years ago, builders were not too particular about ensuring your attic vapour barrier was sealed. There were rips all over, places not sealed. I used sheathing tape, aka Tuck tape, to seal up ajoining sections of vapour barrier, repair ripped sections, and replaced a section. Ideally I wanted to spray foam the vapour barrier, but a quote from Insta-Insulation came in at ~$4,000 (Walltite Eco), way over my budget. Spray foam would have been the best. Steve Maxwell recommends Tiger Foam. I will consider this next time, but they do not have pickup locations in East Toronto.

Vent stacks were not sealed. These were sealed with spray foam. Mice openings were found and also sealed with spray foam. I walked the perimeter of the house and found many small openings, which I sealed with spray foam.

Most annoying of all is that I discovered that my two bathroom fans were venting into the attic. Both fans were venting into a galvanized pipe, which went somewhere and was covered with insulation. Once the insulation was gone it was clear than the original installers simply jammed the galvanized pipe into the eave as best they could and left it like that. Unfortunately they did not cut the soffit plywood and no soffit venting was done. As the home owner some 35 years after the fact, I had to again get up on my roof, remove the eavestrough and fascia, remove the existing aluminum siding used as soffit, find the exhaust pipes, cut the soffit plywood, install 90° elbows, buy and cut vented soffit, merge the vented soffit into the original aluminum siding used as soffit, then reinstall everything back to original. The new vented soffit material needed to be bent in order to seamlessly hook into the old aluminum siding. I also added styrofoam baffles throughout the attic space. I did learn a lot doing this but it was still a lot of work that I did not intend to do. I have the satisfaction now that my fans are venting to the outside. My neighbour confirms that his fans are venting into his attic.

There is more attic venting I can do, but at a cost. I have three soffit vents in my aluminum siding soffit. Only one has the soffit plywood cut and is venting to the outside. The other two are sealed tight. The deception is maddening. The fix would be to remove my downspouts and eavestrough, remove all the fascia, remove the aluminum siding soffit, cut holes into the soffit plywood, add new aluminum soffit vents, then reinstall everything back to original. The problem is that the new aluminum soffit is much longer than the old aluminum siding soffit. Replacing a couple of panels in the middle of a 25′ run and then ensuring that the end pieces seamlessly fit, as original, is quite difficult. Retrofitting this back to original so that it looks like nothing was changed is quite a challenge. While I like challenges, I pick them with care and only when they bias to my benefit.

Crawling around my attic I find a pot light near my front door. It was the original one that came with the house. Rated at 150 watts, there was cellulose insulation all around it. I find out that this fixture is safe provided there is no insulation covering it, but without insulation and vapour barrier, in the winter hot air from the house enters the attic, melts snow from the roof, which then refreezes causing an ice dam. I have been pondering why I have been having small ice dams for over 5 years, and I believe I have found the source.

The original pot light, being 35 years old, was not rated for contact with insulation. I do not think they had this standard back in the day. A new, IC (insulation contact) rated pot light was purchased for $17CAD. A building code rated vapour barrier of thick blue plastic was also purchased for $8CAD. These costs are small. Installation would be more difficult. The old Halo brand pot light was made of thick steel and is well made. The 4 nails holding it to the rafters would not come out, so I had to cut the nails with a dremel. The new Halo brand pot light installed easily, and the electrical 3 wire connection was a very simple push in type. Halo makes some good stuff.

Installation of the pot light vapour barrier was much harder. The vapour barrier looks like a plastic box with the top open. It must be cut and tuck taped into place, around the rafters and pot light. Doing this taping took me about 3 times more time than installing the pot light. Eventually I was done. The insulation guys covered it with pink blown in fiberglass, as it was intended. The pot light is now air tight and insulated. There will be no hot or cold air infiltration from my living space into the attic, thereby eliminating my ice dam problem. I will see this winter.

With all the work I have done this month, the house hardly looks any different. All my work was behind the scenes and hidden. The original builder skipped corners where the home buyer could not see. I suppose this is common in the building industry. A building inspector cannot see every little detail. I do wonder about the integrity of the workers, who skipped steps and cheated the original home owner, and all subsequent home owners. I did learn a lot more about the systems that run my house.

One can only control your own actions. I would never cut corners on a job, even if I knew the owner would not see it. Eventually someone finds out you cheated them, and sooner or later you will be found out. Do the best job you can, because the end result will shine through.

Here in Canada, your average citizen cannot buy a gun. Guns are restricted to police and gun club members, who need to be registered. Guns are either stolen from gun collectors, or are smuggled in from the US in exchange for drugs. Gangs use guns to terrorize the public or other competing gangs.

Chung Hing is our local Chinese grocer. They have 6 cashiers. On a typical Sunday afternoon they would have three open. While it would not be crowded, it would be busy. In the past there has been trouble with black thieves armed with guns in the same plaza. Surprising this is not, but brazen it was. Chung Hing is not a high value target. They do have close circuit surveillance cameras that surround the store as well as show inside the store.

No one was hurt, so there will be no mention about this in the news. Still, many, including my family, are traumatized. Such brazen acts to hurt others breed ill will against the local black community, and with good reason. We continue to be wary and we have good reason. These gangs need to be stopped and thrown into jail.

Scarborough LRT vs Subway station map, Toronto, Canada

Confusing is the watchword for the Scarborough LRT. Metrolinx, the provincial organization with the mandate for regional transit has put in a plan called “Transit City”, and has allocated funding for a Light Rapid Transit, or LRT on Sheppard Avenue East. Environmental assessments, financial funding, purchase of rolling stock has been completed and construction work on the line has already started. In comes Rob Ford, the new Toronto mayor, who wants to put a subway on Sheppard instead. All the Transit City plans, decades in the making, are put on hold. Major Ford’s vision is to have the Sheppard line funded by the private sector, based on increased densities, namely condominium development, along the Sheppard line. Today I have no clarity on what will or should happen. There is a vacuum of information on the current plans for the Scarborough LRT.

On the pro side of the LRT is that existing densities on Sheppard East are just minimally sufficient for an LRT, but sorely low for justifying a subway line. I cannot see how any logical analysis can create the densities sufficient for a subway within 10 years. That being said, I am sure that when the Yonge subway was being built this issue was the same. But the Yonge subway was built and Toronto benefited from it with rapid expansion. Today the Yonge corridor and its subway are over capacity.

A Scarbrough subway built today will actually serve less people than an LRT. This is because the subway stops will be further apart and the subway turns south at Kennedy Road, cutting off the rest of Scarborough East. This subway route covers less than one third the LRT route. On top of this there are significantly less subway stops than LRT stops, so riders between Victoria Park and Kennedy would have to walk it to the closest subway stop. There are a lot of people who take transit east of Kennedy Road that would need to rely on a bus to get to Kennedy North (Kennedy/Sheppard) subway station. That being said, densities east of Kennedy are lower than densities between Victoria Park and Kennedy. On the plus side, when they get to the subway it would be faster to travel to the Yonge line.

Unfortunately for all Scarborough residents, no matter what solution is implemented, be it LRT or subway, residents who travel to the Yonge line will be met by an overcrowded Yonge Subway traveling south in the morning, and north in the evening. This bottleneck will still not be alleviated by either solution.

What I like about the subway solution is that it is visionary. It does away with the analysis paralysis and says, with no doubt in anyone’s mind, that Toronto East will not only thrive, but grow very quickly, and the subway will usher in this rapid growth. I believe this vision from Mayor Ford will prevail. This can only be beneficial for all of Toronto.

Subways would be faster, reducing travel time significantly. They are impervious to Canadian winters and snow. They are significantly more reliable than buses or LRTs. Cars and trucks cannot crash into them, slowing the morning commute. A subway extension from Don Mills station to Kennedy would greatly increase the now very underutilized “Stub”way from Yonge to Don Mills station, the stubway that goes nowhere. These are the obvious benefits.

Visionary also describes the way Rob Ford would partner with private companies to build and pay for the Scarborough subway. Toronto has never done public-private financing like this on a large basis. Sure you hear this verbiage in many cases, but few projects have succeeded. Private business partnering with the TTC would force the TTC and the City of Toronto into a much more financially progressive mindset that they lack today. This can only be a good thing. The TTC squanders valuable land opportunities that they own, forcing yearly increases at the fare boxes. Look no further than the progressive MRT in Hong Kong for an innovative transit operator that doubles as one of HK’s largest land developer. The TTC owns valuable land, so why are they not developing on it?

For those of us that live near Sheppard Avenue East a subway will mean years of inconvenience, a lack of subway stations and increased financial pressure on the TTC, but visionary this project is.

I support the Scarborough subway.

Addendum April 2 2011: Provincial funding backs the Eglington Crosstown Subway, leaving the Sheppard line to be fully funded by the City, to the tune of $4B. Where the City of Toronto will get their funding is unknown. Shining new transit reality is a dream lost

Will the Sheppard subway extension ever get built?

This girl is a sticker on the road, but if you inadvertently run over her you were not paying attention to your driving. Pay more attention to the road.

Speeding through school zones is an ongoing and madening traffic issue in Toronto, Canada. Every year the police, accompanied by children stop speeders near their schools, but it seems nothing changes. Everyone agrees that speeding through a school zone in very dangerous for kids, but drivers are too self absorbed and arrogant to change their behaviour. Preventable.ca is running a small test in West Vancouver where they adhere a sticker of a child on the road. From far away the sticker looks like a little girl fetching a ball. This is to remind drivers in a school zone to pay attention to the road in order to keep kids safe. It is a small test, but well worth trying. I think preventable.ca for their effort in improving road safety for children in BC, but hope that they will also reach out to Toronto.

I often cannot believe how selfish people can become once they get into a car. This is particularly so when people speed through a school zone. The excuses of “I did not see her” are inexcusable when young lives are at stake. As far as I can see, no educational method has worked that will slow down drivers. Preventable.ca has come up with an innovative method that should be tried to determine its effectiveness. Sure there are always improvements one can make in an experiment, but I am surprised at the negativity I see on their site as well as in other newspapers.

To be clear, this is not a child on the road, only a sticker that creates an optical illusion of a child. No children were harmed in this experiment. The stickers were placed in a school zone, where they can remind errant drivers to slow down. The sticker seems lifelike from the photos, and should jar drivers out of their robotic stupor of autopilot, and therefore inattentional blindness, difficult to do but necessary if we value the safety of our children.

Negative feedback abounds, so I will attempt a rebuttal.

• Q: These illusions may surprise drivers, who will slam on the brakes, and lose concentration of their surroundings. Drivers may swerve, causing a possible crash.
  A: These stickers are posted in a school zone, which is max 30kph in BC and 40kph in Ontario. Drivers should be going very slowly, paying attention to their surroundings and expecting children. If a driver is surprised by the image, they are not paying sufficient attention to their driving or they are driving much too quickly. At 40kph this image will appear slowly and it will be readily evident that this is not a real child.

• Q: These stickers will condition drivers to run over children.
  A: I think you give drivers too little credit. In all cases drivers should not take any image for granted and therefore should slow down and be prepared to stop for kids, image or not. If you are traveling through a school zone at the proper speed then this will not be an issue. If desensitization becomes an issue, when the stickers wear out they should be removed. Stickers should then be placed in a different school zone.

• Q: Putting the child image further down the road near a crosswalk may lead to running the crosswalk and potentially hurting those that are crossing.
  A: While this may be true, when we drive we see and deal with much environmental stimulus on a daily basis. A crosswalk and a child crossing the road nearby is a very realistic scenario and should not “overstimulate” a driver. If the driver is going at the proper speed limit, through a school zone, the driver should expect children at the crosswalk as well as trying to cross the road not at a crosswalk. In all cases the driver should be aware of their surroundings and drive safely. This will not be an issue at 40kph.

• Q: Once drivers recognize the image the benefits will be negligible.
  A: This is possibly true but is also an acknowledgment that the campaign has worked. The image and their locations can be changed.

No doubt that many of the above concerns are valid if the driver is not expecting kids in the vicinity and the driver is driving at much higher rates of speed. This is not true in a school zone, where the speed limit is 40kph and kids are in the vicinity. While further study and monitoring of this experiment is required, overall I like the intent of these stickers. They have the potential to bring school zone safety into the news and educate drivers. With this campaign and rigorous police enforcement we can all hope that the safety in school zones will markedly increase.

Up close, this is the girl image. If you drive at a safe speed in a school zone there will be no problems seeing her in time.

This program, which is large in scale, cannot come cheaply. Funding must come from somewhere. What is odd about this program is the little information available about the leaders and sponsors of this program. When sending your child to day camp it is always important to research the leaders, so you know who are minding your kids. Odd is the fact that there is very little sent to parents and near nothing about them on the internet. This omission is not necessarily indicative of a bad omen, just an oddity in this age of online information. These sponsors are: Boys 2 Men Institute (B2M), TDSB Focus on Youth and the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC).

The program seems to be run by the Boys 2 Men Institute. I can only find 2 references to this name on the web. The first reference describes a youth development program, but does not indicate country or other location. I cannot really say that this web page is even connected to the youth All Day Sports Camp that is run in Scarborough.

The Boys 2 Men Institute has been developed to challenge the current image, perception and low expectations for at-risk males grade 3 through grade 12.

… B2M Institute chapters promote the principles of Pride, Dignity and Respect. The Boys 2 Men Institute will comprise a detailed curriculum that affords at-risk (all) students the opportunity to get extra support, volunteer in their community, gain social skills, improve self-esteem and learn about proper nutrition.

This web page is not linked for further information, is undated and there is no contact information. Of course there is no web site for this group.

The second link is from the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC), which mentions the Boys 2 Men program, but without description nor link. At least I can verify that the Cabbagetown youth Centre does exist in Toronto, Canada. There is a phone number and contact information. Here’s the reference:

I invite you to take some time to visit CYC’s site – read about our successes like our Performing Arts Program and our Summer Camp and Youth and After-Four programs; CYC’s involvement in programming across the City to help youth through the Boys 2 Men Institute; our fundraising successes and challenges and so much more!

In the Programs section of the CYC there is mention of an All Day Sports Camp:

The All Day Sports Camp is a non-competitive activity program. The philosophy of the camp is to expose children to a wide variety of sports and to develop fundamental physical movement skills, while they gain an appreciation for personal fitness through the joy of activity. A variety of activities are offered, including; cooperative games, ball hockey, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis and recreational swim. Children are asked to bring their own healthy lunch and two snacks daily; however, CYC can provide lunch for those who otherwise cannot. Special features include weekly off site trips and an end of year BBQ for the whole camp.

Surely this must be the camp held in Scarborough, though there is no mention of the camp’s location. The camp description does not mention anything about the Boys 2 Men Institute. Perchance I must triangulate logic: The CYC holds an All Day Sports Camp. The CYC has involvement with the Boys 2 Men Institute, therefore the Boys 2 Men Institute is managing the CYC All Day Sports Youth Camp in Scarborough. Then again, maybe this logic is simply incorrect.

The third sponsor, the Toronto District School Board, is much clearer. Their Focus on Youth Toronto (FOYT) program provides free summer school space to certain child and youth based organizations:

The objective of Focus on Youth Toronto is to enhance high quality summer program opportunities for children and youth in Toronto’s urban inner city areas by offering free use of school space for organized community-based programs, and by providing employment opportunities and leadership activities for the youth of these communities. The FOYT program for the second year will promote learning through play, healthy lifestyle and positive self-image for children and youth of these communities, and that this will have a positive impact on student achievement and well-being during the school year.

Of course the TDSB site does not mention the Cabbagetown Youth Centre nor the Boys 2 Men Institute. Maybe I am asking too much?

This is not to say that these programs are suspect in any way. They are legitimate programs. I have verified through real world experience that this summer camp exists and is well run. The youth are great with kids and the kids are treated well and have fun. The program runs out of a TDSB high school, in complete cooperation with TDSB staff. The kids get to use the high school equipment such as balls, gym and pool. I merely question the lack of information about these programs to parents. Am I the only parent that seeks questions about the organization that is taking care of my child for the summer? I hope not.

Then again maybe publishing the program on the internet is simply not a high priority for these grassroots organizations. Still, if you are doing such good work for the youth and kids of Toronto, publishing something might be a good idea.

If you have any further information about Boys 2 Men or the All Day Sports Camp please leave a comment and fill me in. I will be more than happy to update this document to the relevant links. Clear communication on the internet can only be good for all concerned. Transparency is simpler to achieve if all parties are public and well known.To those that work in the All Day Sports Camp, whomever you are, you’re doing a great job. Keep up the good work.

Note: I’ve found an article about B2M from 2008 that provides more information. A possible link to the program is Hugh Keane, Camp Director.

Note at End of Summer 2010: My Little Weed had a great time and sang high praises for the camp and group leaders. Other kids who attended the camp were also happy with the experience. Impressive was the food at lunch, which was tasty and plentiful. Good on you all for providing such a great experience.

Addendum June 24 2011: sponsors include The Village, Boys 2 Men, TDSB Focus on Youth, Cabbagetown Youth Centre. L’Amoreaux Collegiate and Sir Robert Borden. HK 7396-653-614 hkeane44theatsigngmail, July 04-Aug 19 2011, 09:00-16:00.

Honey Bee on Shasta daisy 1, Toronto, Canada

Honey Bee feeding on Shasta daisy 2, Toronto, Canada

Honey Bee on Shasta daisy 3, Toronto, Canada

Honey Bee on Shasta daisy 4, Toronto, Canada

Canada Day, July 01, 2010, Honey Bee feeds on a Shasta daisy in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Police in riot gear, ready to intimidate and more at the Toronto G20

Toronto Police grab a women by the throat, College and Yonge, Toronto G20

Anyone should be able to walk around downtown Toronto and feel safe. Our city is actually safe and feels safe. Add police in riot gear on every downtown street corner, as is the case in Toronto today, and you feel the intimidation. The police have the power to beat you to a pulp for disagreeing with what they say, and be damned with the law. Of course Canadians are not used to a Toronto in a siege mentality, where the police rule, and rightly so.

The last time I was in such a situation was in Beijing, China, during and after the Tiananmen Square incident. Army personnel were on every street corner, guns in hand. Of course there is no law to protect Chinese citizens, so army and police can ask anyone for ID, search , beat up and arrest whomever they choose. It was unnerving and caused me a great deal of personal stress. If you’ve never experienced this environment I assure you that it is creepy. You live in a state of terror. I never would have thought that a change into a police state could so easily happen to Toronto, but I am proved wrong.

Toronto riot police with shields, meant to intimidate, Toronto G20

Ontario politicians had secretly passed a law that allows police to ask for ID and information about a person, to search whomever within 5 metres of the restricted area of the G20 summit, and to arrest anyone who does not comply. There was no public consultation. Even though activist lawyers were in daily contact with police, the police did not disclose this new law. The Toronto police also did not disclose this to the city of Toronto politicians. It all unfolded yesterday when the act was put into play by the arrest of a protester. This surprised the City of Toronto politicians, the public and protesters. The reason the law was kept secret is because it would most certainly be challenged because it is unconstitutional. The enacted law is illegal.

Toronto Police intimidate G20 protesters

Further to the fact that the law was passed secretly without public debate, and that it will be ruled unconstitutional, is the fact that the police abuse the law by asking for ID, searching and arresting people far from the “within 5 metres of the G20 summit site” at Allan Gardens. The law was also used against protesters 3 kilometers away from the G20 site. Even the letter of the law is not adhered to by police. When later challenged in court I am sure that no police officer will face disciplinary action for breaking the law. This is true in China and will be proved to be true here in Toronto.

Toronto riot police look on as fire department put out a burning police car

Protesters are legally allowed in Canada. It is not only legal but welcome. We here in Canada pride ourselves in our ability to see all viewpoints of an issue, and if you strongly feel the need to shout out, then do so. You may parade through the streets and shout as loud as you want, carry banners and placards stating your issue. Here in Canada we may not agree with your opinion but will gladly allow you to voice it. By allowing police the ability to ask for ID, to search and arrest protesters is a direct infringement on our ability to speak our mind. It is un-Canadian and unconstitutional.

Toronto riot police intimidate as a protester taunts them

Ironic is the fact that Canada invites more than 20 heads of state to our lovely city, only to change our city into a police state, intimidate Torontonians, to take away our right to speak freely and to flout the laws of the land. Is this the message Canada wants to send to the world? Leaders of the world, welcome to Canada. For you we will turn our country into a police state. How can Canada criticize other countries for their human rights records when for a small summit our government also does the same?

Toronto riot police push protesters back

As you visit our city this weekend note that Toronto is a vastly different place, both physically and politically. Torontonians are not used to intimidation by police in vast numbers, sporting riot gear, beating their shields with batons, live weapons and devices that cause pain in your ears, possibly causing permanent hearing damage. We do not appreciate police snipers on rooftops, with their high powered scopes ready to kill. We do not appreciate armed police on horseback, ready to stomp protesters to death. Photos of downtown Toronto show the absence of people, specifically Torontonians.

Toronto riot police face peaceful protesters

Frankly I am ashamed that the Canadian government could turn Toronto into a police state so easily and quickly. We should cherish democracy and our ability to freely speak out. These ideals have been trounced at the G20.

I’ve tracked down the actual Public Works Protection Act as well as the specifics that cover the G20, and for the life of me cannot see how the police can lawfully use this to search and arrest people from merely walking around the security perimeter.

Powers of guard or peace officer

3.A guard or peace officer,

(a) may require any person entering or attempting to enter any public work or any approach thereto to furnish his or her name and address, to identify himself or herself and to state the purpose for which he or she desires to enter the public work, in writing or otherwise;

(b) may search, without warrant, any person entering or attempting to enter a public work or a vehicle in the charge or under the control of any such person or which has recently been or is suspected of having been in the charge or under the control of any such person or in which any such person is a passenger; and

(c) may refuse permission to any person to enter a public work and use such force as is necessary to prevent any such person from so entering. R.S.O. 1990, c. P.55, s. 3.

Toronto riot police on horseback

The law applies to “any person entering or attempting to enter any public work or any approach thereto”. To me that sounds like an entrance way. If you are not near this entrance, for example walking by the perimeter fence, then how can you be searched and arrested? Further the law is very specific as to the affected locations. How is it that the police can use this law at Queen’s Park or Allan Gardens. Both these parks are a couple of kilometers away from the stated protected locations.

The law’s first victim, Dave Vasey was quoted:

Vasey said he was exploring the G20 security perimeter with a friend when they were stopped by police and asked for identification.

There was no mention of Vasey trying to enter the secure area nor being anywhere near an entrance. I do not see how the police can use this act to arrest someone for walking beside the perimeter. All I see is abuse of the law by police, unlawful and unsubstantiated search and arrest by police.

There are some great quotes coming out of recent articles that reaffirms my belief in the rule of law here in Canada. It further highlights the contradictions with mass arrests by Toronto Police this weekend.

“It doesn’t cast our country in a very good light, that we would go to such drastic measures to suppress basic civil liberties, like the right to protest,” said Paul Burstein, president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.

“It isn’t just the invasiveness of the power that is so troubling, but that it was done in secret so that by the time we can do something about, it will have run its course,” he said.

“We are trying to present this image of peacekeepers and all that . . . but here we are, we turn ourselves into a police state to host the world. It’s embarrassing.”

“Usually major powers and restrictions on our rights are not brought into law through a regulation,” said Diab [professor Robert Diab, of Capilano University in British Columbia]. “They are usually debated in a legislature and debated on in an open and transparent fashion,” he said.

…In addition, this is not consistent with the rule of law in Canada. We don’t make laws secretly and we don’t arrest and detain people for laws that were made secretly. These are police state tactics.

Links:
No arrests made under G20 rule change, Ontario says
First ‘secret law’ arrestee plans Charter challenge: The titles of these two news articles are contradictory. One person was arrested using the law.

There is some sense to this strategy. By riding 20-30kph over the speed limit and the flow of traffic the rider can be in greater control of the riding environment. Tailgaters are completely eliminated, as the rider is riding at above the average flow of traffic. The rider lane split when appropriate, and passes cars with speed and precision, thereby avoiding illegal lane changes, being boxed in, being stuck behind slow traffic or large SUVs, buses, and increasing overall visibility. Bikes are much more maneuverable than cars and aggressive cautious exploits this advantage.

Many riders use this strategy and claim it increases their level of safety. I do believe aggressive cautious does have its benefits. There are, however, also many negatives.

First and foremost, an aggressive cautious strategy is without a doubt illegal. You are speeding way above the flow of traffic. This increased speed also means increased force if and when you have a crash, thereby increasing the likelihood that the rider will have more serious injuries. The most dangerous aspect of this strategy is that in the eyes of the rider it legitimizes their need to ride at speed. “I speed because it is safer, riding at the speed limit is dangerous”. Increased speed means less time to react to the same threat as compared to riding at the speed limit.

While 20-30kph over might be sufficient on a city road, on the highway this strategy uses 50kph over. Here in Ontario, going 50kph over and getting caught by the police is considered “street racing”, resulting in immediate loss of bike and license for 7 days, as well as the charge of street racing. Many riders that use the aggressive cautious strategy now complain that they are Ok with getting a +50kph over ticket as the cost of riding safer, but the immediate loss of bike and license for 7 days, and associated costs are too high for them. Their solution: run from the police. Toronto Police rarely chase other vehicles when the speeds get too high, because of the risks to the speeder, the public and to law enforcement. The aggressive cautious strategy also exploits this fact.

While a reasonably sane person would question the decision to do +50kph in the first place, some riders opt to run at speeds well in excess of this. Some riders even state that the “real” speed limit on Ontario highways is 130kph, and therefore they need to increase their speed to 180kph for safe riding. They believe that +80kph is a better ceiling limit rather than the current +50kph.

The aggressive cautious strategy can also annoy other vehicular traffic. Speeding, lane splitting, aggressive lane changes and such can alarm other drivers. The aggressive cautious strategy is low on “share the road”, and more in tuned to the motorcycle rider playing a variant of the old video game frogger. By annoying other drivers, future riders that these drivers encounter may suffer their wrath. Is ti really worthwhile to possibly endanger fellow riders with this strategy.

There is no one way to reduce the risks of riding a motorcycle. By reading traffic, trying to predict and avoid potential hazards and riding cautiously these risks can be reduced but not eliminated. Riding at the speed limit put the rider in the flow of other cages, but also reduces the speed and therefore the intensity of the crash impact. It’s also easier and faster to slow down when you are going slower to begin with. How about sharing the road with other people and follow the rules of the road. Do not excessively speed, do not attract the attention of the police, do not run from the police. When a potential risk presents itself, slow down and prepare to stop.

One of the most common and dangerous threats to any motorcyclist is the left hand turner. This occurs especially at traffic intersections but can also occur on side streets and one way streets. The aggressive cautious strategy only increases the risk of this threat. By slowing down and being prepared to stop, the risk of serious injury is reduced. Increased speed does not reduce this risk.

The most interesting aspect of the aggressive cautious strategy is the paucity of the cautious component. It seems like a contradiction of terms. While we cannot control how other riders ride, if you ride fast, get caught and are charged with “street racing”, have your ride and license confiscated, then get onto an internet forum and find out how to beat the charge, surely you are missing the stated premise of the aggressive cautious strategy: increased motorcycle safety.

The aggressive cautious riding strategy seems to have some advantages, but overall it is sub-optimal for overall motorcycle safety. There is no magic bullet here: slow down, read traffic, follow the rules of the road, avoid hazards and ride responsibly.

GM-Segway concept electric vehicle

Here’s a really cool concept vehicle that could go a long way in reducing our dependence on oil. The GM-Segway concept vehicle is small, light and efficient. It’s electric powered. The absence of a sunroof would make it an interesting cross between a car and a motorcycle.

___It will probably be illegal on Ontario roads. Look, no huge front bumper, so will not withstand crash tests. The front bumper looks like a piece of bent sheet metal.

___We from Ontario are over regulated and not a little. As the world moves forward we are denied new electric vehicles due to our over-cautious safety laws. It is not that all our vehicles are as safe as your full size Buick or Town car. We also have motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and bicycles that ply our streets. We even have electric bicycles. None of them have front bumpers that need to pass a safety crash test. They all take the same risks car drivers do when driving on our streets. Why is it that two wheeled vehicles are Ok on Ontario roads but not small electric vehicles?

The ZENN (zero emissions, no noise) electric car is roughly the size of a Mini-Cooper, ~ $14,000.

___What happened to the personal choice of Canadians? Europe and Asia are very used to high gas prices and have changed accordingly to embrace smaller vehicles. They have so many more small cars than in North America, but also have a strong 2 wheeled tradition as well. I cannot say that most Canadians would embrace the small electric car market, but we now do not even have the choice.

___There is no question that small electric vehicles are not powerful enough to safely drive on a highway, but then again this is true for mopeds, small scooters and small motorcycles. These vehicles are therefore licensed differently. A small electric car can be similarly licensed.

___Interestingly, Canada already has two electric vehicle manufacturers, yet neither can legally sell cars in Ontario. It is sad in a way, when your home country is not broad minded enough to accept your own vehicle. Zenn and Dynasty have a rough road ahead in Ontario, and I wish them well. Maybe the Ontario government would rather wait for the offerings comping out of China?

This is not Chung Hing, but has the same feel. Photo by Don Qua

While it might seem unfair to compare a local Chinese grocer to the large big box chains, our shopping experience spans both, so I feel I should review both. Chung Hing, or in Mandarin, Zhong Xing, is our local Chinese grocer. While it is an average sized Chinese grocer, it seems to serve our needs well. Trip Review: Chung Hing: A.

___Chung Hing Supermarket, Kennedy/Finch, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Objective: Minced pork, regular weekly shopping.

Chung Hing is decidedly lowbrow. Shopping carts are castoffs from all and sundry grocers, with no company logos printed on any carts. Carts are of various sizes and colours. The store is low budget, but is very popular with locals and can be quite crowded. The floor is at times uneven but serviceable

The butcher counter has 3 live butchers that will bag whatever meat you wish, provided you speak Chinese. Any type of Chinese will do. We usually get a whole chicken from them, but also buy minced pork, whole hunks of beef, pork bones and whatever else. The butchers usually give you more than you ask or, so if your pot cannot fit 5 lbs of pork, you better ask for 4 and you’ll get 4.7 lbs. They are nice butchers. The fresh fish counter is right beside them.

Vegetables and fruit are usually quite fresh, although at times one must be careful if the price of the fruit is low. This may mean that the fruit is past due and soft. I’ve often bought firm fruit only to find it was previously frozen or close to it, brought it home only to find it was mushy. Caveat Emptor. If you are not sure, don’t chance it, no matter how low the price. This store will open clamshells of strawberries and blueberries and repack them with somewhat fresher produce. They like to package ginger into 3 lb plastic bags but price ginger per lb, so we open these bags and take only what we need, which is certainly less than 3 lbs.

On this shopping day all the veggies and fruit were fresh. Fuji apples were $0.99/lb, matching the big box stores, but fresh. Florida oranges were $0.49/lb, a reasonable price considering it is out of season. From the time this store has opened the layout has not changed, so we were very familiar with the layout. This store consistently beats the big box stores on bananas, at $0.59/lb, $0.10 below the competition. The quality is also fresh. Grapes were also great at $0.99/lb

Other purchases ranged from frozen basa fillets, soya milk, to Chinese sausage were right on the money. All prices are clearly marked and products well displayed.

This is where we buy our phone cards we use to call China. The store always gives us a recommendation. If people are having a problem with a brand of card, the store will quickly switch. They recommended the Nengda Tong card, 274 minutes for $4.50 to anywhere in China. That’s $0.016/minute, cheaper than most Bell calling cards to Canada. We line up at the checkout with the phone cards and add one to our bill. No trouble at all.

It is this kind of friendly service and product knowledge, coupled with fresh produce and low prices that we find appealing. Though you cannot brag that this shop is fancy in any way, we’re not eating here, so we don’t mind.

___Experience Rating: A. We came in with our grocery list, found everything with no difficulties. All produce was clearly marked and priced. No issues with carts or negotiating around obstacles in stores. Checkout is very fast and non-eventful. You’re out the door in a hurry. While 95% of patrons are Chinese, you will see the odd Indian, European or black families shopping there. I’ve never seen them have any problems purchasing food, and frequently see them return. Still, while most signs are bilingual, invariably all products are geared towards a Chinese clientele.