The Dumb Car

Yes the Smart Car is cute and different and its a cool novelty. I've never driven one, it very well may be a hoot to drive.

But for the life of me I can't understand why anyone would buy one.

It only can transport two people and has very little luggage space, is underpowered and expensive.

If they offered this car for $10,000 or less I could understand someone buying one for a third vehicle, something to zip around a high density traffic town or city to run an errand. Or Pizza Restaurants using it as a delivery vehicle.

But the absolute lowest price for a Fortwo, as they call it is $16,700! And I hardly think anyone buys the base model.

What else can you get for that money? Lots!

How about the Toyota Yaris, a real car with back seats and 46 more horsepower. And it costs $3000 less than the Smart Car. You can buy a lot of gas for $3000. In fact the fuel economy of the Fortwo is not a lot better than the Yaris. City 4.6 l/100km for the Fortwo vs. 6.9 l/100km for the Yaris.

Even a better alternative is the Honda Fit. Not only do you get over twice the Horsepower (40 vs. 109) you also get 603 litres of cargo space vs. the Dumb Car's 260. Oh and you can transport 4 people instead of 2. Oh, and you pay $2000 LESS for that privilege.

There are lots of competitive products out there by Hyundai, Nissan, Kia, Suzuki, but you get the point.

So lets sum up.

When you buy the Dumb Car you get:

1. An anemic engine with less than half the power of the alternatives.
2. The ability to transport two people vs. four or more.
3. Two to three times LESS the Cargo carrying capability.
4. Costing thousand of dollars MORE for the above.
5. All of the above for a meagre fuel saving as the only advantage.

You bought a Smart Car and are now regretting it?

Yep, you sure are DUMB!

Thanks Darryl!

For being such an idiot. Only an idiot would hire the mentally unstable Mike Keenan

It's really unbelievable that, with all the good young coaches out there with fresh new ideas, the Flames hire someone who is a proven loser like Mike Keenan.

Eight consecutive losing years as coach. Now that's performance!

When the Canucks hired Keenan in the late '90's there were even groans back then and that was not long after Keenan was lucky enough to win the Stanley Cup with the Rangers.

He proved himself to be the loser he is with the Canucks and went on in subsequent years to reinforce that reputation.

The players will HATE him and they will not perform for him, not in the long term anyway.

Regardless, the Flames pain is the Canucks gain.

Thanks Darryl

Visit Nelson, British Columbia!

If you want a really, really cool place to visit I urge you to spend at least a day in Nelson!

My wife and I just got back from an overnight trip there. I've passed through many times before but this time we stayed and did some exploring.

What a fantastic little town! Amazing architecture and some of the nicest heritage homes I've ever seen.

Big leafy trees on all the streets and a peaceful quiet community.

And the best thing about Nelson is this: It's probably the largest "hippy" community in Canada.

I swear when you walk around the area just up the hill from downtown, you'd think you were back in the '60's.

And many of the shops Downtown reflect the "hippy" culture of the granola eating, tree hugging, and peace loving flower children of the past. You can often smell incense in the air or maybe see and hear a young troubador strumming an acoustic guitar on a back yard porch.

It's just great to be able to escape our right-wing conservative world even for just a couple days.

Map

Only In America

My job dropped when I read this almost unbelievable story about a Georgia (US) 17 yr old teenager convicted and sentenced to 10 YEARS IN PRISON for engaging consensual oral sex with a 15 year old girl.

Hello?! Isn't that called normal teenage behaviour up here, or anywhere else?

As the story states, he has been finally released after spending two freaking years in prison for what probably 50% of the high school kids are doing every Saturday night.

Where is the Sanity?

Would this happen in Canada? No way. So for those morons out there who look up to the American Justice System with envy and honour, well how would you like your young son to be treated in this way?
And these people are the Leaders of the Free World?

God help us all.

Linux Anyone?

A while ago I posted Mac vs. PC where I wrote of, like so many others have, the Mac OS being so superior to Windows.

But what if you don't have a Mac Machine but still hate Bill Gates' crummy software?

How bout Ubuntu?

When you download this software, you get the Linux platform, an open source OS geared for usability rather than profit taking.

To be honest I haven't explored much of it yet, just did some web browsing, but apparently its got all the software a normal household would need for everyday tasks.

And it's FREE!

Note: That downloaded file worked on one of my machines but not the other, not sure why.
If it doesn't boot up properly on you maching try this download:

http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/minefield.html

Surrey Protestors As Creepy As Paul Callow

In a classic case of NIMBYism, Surrey BC residents are trying to harass convicted Rapist Paul Callow into leaving town.

I don't know about you but this kind of semi Vigilantism that is going on in front of Callows' sister's house is giving me the creeps.

Callow is a Creep that served 20 years in prison for knife point rapes of women in the Toronto area.

However he did the crime and did the time and now has and should have the same rights as everyone else. Whether you agree with that or not, the law says that's the way it is.

So these protesters or harassers or whatever you want to call them are barking up the wrong tree. They should bring their protests to the Legislative Buildings where laws can be changed to either put this man back in prison or at least restrict his access to the public.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for Paul Callow but I do feel much for his sister. She is doing her family duty by taking care of her brother. It's something you know she would rather not be doing.

I wouldn't want Paul Callow living next to me either, but you have to respect his right to do so.

Callow might as well stay where he is since this kind of protest is likely to occur wherever he goes. At least he has his sister there to lend some kind of support/restraint.

The authorities say Callow is very likely to re-offend, I have little doubt that he will.

I'm all for public protests against laws, traditions, policies or economic situations that need to be changed. People have a right and an obligation to do that.

I'm also all for the personal civil rights of an individual, especially in his own home.

Whether you like it or not, Callow has paid for his crimes and now has the same rights as everyone else.

The police don't allow Protesters to demonstrate in front of Gordon Campbell's house, and they shouldn't allow these people to demonstrate in front of Paul Callows either.

It's a mob mentality and it's just plain Creepy.

The Conservative Cancer

There is a Cancer in our Society but, thankfully, it's a mild form and can be treated if not entirely cured. It comes and goes in waves of about 10 year cycles.

We in North America are currently in the middle of a pretty intensive outbreak.

But treatments, in the form of logical and sane reason, are beginning to have their affect.

Of course the Cancer I am talking about is "conservatism", a nice euphemism for narrow minded backward thinking based on anger and fear.

Is it just me or does it seem that the wealthier a Society becomes the more conservative they become?

Greed takes over and fear that the wealth accumulated will be taken from them by simple minded "liberals" who have the audacity to want to spread this wealth around a bit.

So they close ranks, draw inward and try their best to preserve the Status Quo at least and at best, to turn back the hands of time to the 50's, the Glorious Decade of rampant conservatism.

Their money and influence are substantial enough to control news agencies, politicians and world events. They are trying their best to control the World Wide Web.

Do I hate or fear these People? Not at all. Because there is one quality that all conservatives have: The unique ability to self-destruct.

As I have stated in a previous Post, I believe the world, by default, is always improving.

We take two steps forward when the liberals have the influence and one step backward when the conservative outbreaks occur.

But overall, we are always moving ahead.

Our Society will never be cured of this disease and some outbreaks will be worse than others. Fear and Hate, the two leading symptoms of this Plague have to be tolerated for these short periods until we, the public, grow weary of them.

I'm pretty confident that the liberal symptoms of Love and Hope will soon predominate once again.

Best Place on Earth?

Lately I've been noticing these license plates around town. it depicts British Columbia's latest slogan that's been around for a few years, "The Best Place On Earth".

This replaces the old slogan, "Supernatural British Columbia".

Cynics will say it's just government propaganda to brainwash the voting public into accepting BC as a wonderful place (where the Government should be retained), and it may very well be.

But I really believe it's true. I am not an extensive traveller, I've been to Europe and throughout many States, and the normal Tourist Hot Spots of the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii (which is the Best Place on Earth for three weeks or less).

But I've never seen anywhere I would rather live than here. Australia and New Zealand I think are really nice and places I would love to visit. But they are so freaking far away and off the beaten path.

Occasionally I like to take the Mustang out for a run down Highway 33 to Rock creek, or Highway 6 from Lumby to Needles, or a trip up the twisty road to Mable Lake.

And sometimes when I do that, when the weather is fine and the traffic light and I'm cruising topless through the hill and mountain forests I wonder: "Where else on this Earth can you do this?

I'm sure there are other places such as in areas of the western US, Scandinavia, other places. But to be able to drive for hours on what seems to be your own personal highway through such beautiful scenery is a pleasure not to be taken for granted.

And it's then that I really believe this IS the best place on earth.

I think that's one reason why the Whiners and Complainers and Blamers really bother me.

There will always be those that really enjoy blaming and whining about the Justice System, the Education System, the Welfare System, the Health Care System, the Government in general, the Police, the liberals, the conservatives, Industry, the NDP, the Bloc Quebecoise, the Feminists, and anyone else they can think of to justify their unhappiness.

This unfortunate Group of Whiners seem unable to see much beyond their own neighborhoods and circle of acquaintances.

They have no idea how fortunate they are to be privileged enough to live in this land, The Best Place On Earth.

Ok So Tell Me What Really Happened

There seems to be a bone of contention about the events that led to Grant De Patie's death.

The media presented the story as a Gas and Dash incident. In my mind that means a driver commences to leave the gas station, putting his car in motion, without paying.

This CBC website states

Last year, a gas station attendant in Maple Ridge was dragged to his death after trying to stop a car that took off without paying.

What is meant by "trying to stop"? To me it means running after the car in motion either trying to get a plate number or trying to physically intercept the vehicle.

Some people say he was backed over deliberately.

Yet in this report "Bernard said the youth veered out of the gas station to get away and hit De Patie". Implying he was moving in a forward direction and the hit on de Patie was not intentional.

So what is it? What really happened? A couple of readers crudely took me to task for writing that De Patie chased after Pratt trying to intercept him after he realised the Gas and Dash incident.

This is an assumption that one would take if one listens to the way it was presented in the media.

This is only important because it leads to my point that employees (unless they are trained security officers) have no business in intercepting or interfering with an illegal activity taking place in their workplace other than to inform those that are trained.

Now, as far as the comments I have received regarding my post Leave Justice To Professionals

It's disappointing to know that people of such low levels of ability are reading it.

When someone stoops to name calling and verbal abuse and veiled threats, all under the safe umbrella of anonymity, it really takes all validity and credibility out of their argument.

If you want to disagree with me, I have no problem with that. But if you are going to present an alternate view please express it like an adult and not a 10 year old.

Thanks For The Comments!

Reena Virk


A couple (so far) of nice people have taken issue with my post: Leave Justice To The Professionals.

So Nice, So Lovely and So Classy!
Thanks for that.

The simple fact is that bad things happen to every family and if they haven't happened yet they are bound to sometime in the future.

Everyone is a "victim" of some kind of perceived injustice at one time or another. I honestly can't see how giving Pratt a 10, 15 or 20 year sentence is going to help the de Patie family, other than to satisfy a need for revenge, which as I have stated before, we can all understand.

So let's take another recent case. Let's examine the case of Reena Virk. The details of which can be found here.

This case dragged on for quite a while, seven years! The Virk Family endured two mistrials until Kelly Ellard was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In this case Reena was murdered in cold blood by individuals who had the sole purpose of causing her grievous bodily harm.

But for me the most outstanding aspect of this case was the reaction of Reena's parents, who frequently were approached by the news media.

If any parents had a right to be bitter and hateful towards the Justice System it was these people. Having to endure the two mistrials and knowing that there young daughter was brutalized and bludgeoned to death by people who actually realised what they were doing to her. People who were tying every legal loophole to be exonerated.

As I recall throughout the trials, the Virks refused to blast our Justice System. They refused to demonstrate hatred towards Kelly Ellard and in fact, forgave her.

I have the utmost admiration for them. They will survive the death of their daughter because of one reason. They learned how to forgive.

I have no pretensions of knowing what the De Patie Family are going through. I hope they can find a way to get past this, I really do.

Leave Justice to the Professionals

Grant De Patie

Based on some feedback (no matter how rudely delivered) I am still editing this post in an effort to find out exactly what motivated Pratt to run over de Patie.


The De Patie family were once again on the Global news earlier this week berating the Canadian Justice System.

On March 8, 2005 their son, Grant, was dragged to death under the stolen car driven by then 16 yr old Darnell K. Pratt.

Details can be found here, and here.

Of course there is the obligatory knee jerk reactionary lynch mob mentality here.

I really feel bad for the family of this young man but bad decisions lead to bad consequences.

It was a very bad decision that led a very drunk Mr. Pratt to steal $12 worth of gas
from the station that Grant worked.

It may have been a bad decision on Grant's part to try and stop him.

Here is an another version of the events, obtained from a web site:

The youth and his friend stole a car, punched a screw driver into the ignition and started it. The 17-year-old estimates he had consumed about 20 beers by the time he got behind the wheel of the stolen car and entered the gas station where de Patie was working.

Court was told that de Patie saw the screw driver in the ignition. Apparently the killer suspected de Patie was going to call the police.
Bernard said the youth veered out of the gas station to get away and hit de Patie, trapping him under the carriage of the vehicle.

I find this scenario highly unlikely. The media made a big deal about the theft of $12 worth of gas. If you go along with this scenario, the theft of the gas had not even occurred. It also refutes the assumption that Pratt put his car in reverse and backed over Pratt.


However I have edited out events that turned out not to be proven facts. That being that Pratt in some way chased after and tried to intercept Pratt.

Pratt was initially sentenced to 9 years in prison and later reduced to 7. The De Patie Family was disappointed in what they considered to be too short a sentence and became bitter with the further reduction.

It's really all about revenge isn't it? Read my post on The R Word.

I'm really getting fed up with people whining about the justice system. It's like when your team loses and you do nothing but complain about the officiating.

We have the finest justice system in the world, if you don't believe that take a look around and see whats going on in other countries. Our judges have seen and heard it all before. Their goal is not to satisfy the immediate family but to satisfy society in general, now and in the long term.

It seems to me that 9 years in jail is a long time, 7 years in jail is a long time.

Pratt was a screwed up kid when this awful tragedy occurred and you can bet your life he will come out of jail 10 times worse.

As far as knowing what actually occurred during the events that led to De Paite's death, well who knows for sure.

Regardless of whatever really happened my thoughts on this subject remain unchanged.

I work in a retail environment and theft occurs there. And I won't lift one finger to stop it. Because:

1. It's not my job to apprehend would be criminals.
2. Theft is a cost of doing business and that cost is applied to the mark up of every item and service.
3. Protecting someone else's money is not worth so much as a scratch on my skin.

This is the message the news media should be presenting to the public, not cries of injustice from a bitter family denied revenge.

Young men between the ages of 16 and 25 have a hard time getting their brains to catch up with their testosterone.

That's why the military drafts/recruits them to be soldiers, because they are too stupid to know better.

Think back to the time when you were in that age range and all the stupid things you did. I cringe at some of my past actions from that time period, I was just lucky nothing bad happened.


Only trained security people should be chasing after thieves and every employer should be required to tell their staff in writing that they are NOT to pursue shoplifters or anyone else engaged in illegal activity.

It's just not worth it.

I now have three comments to this post.

It's disappointing to know that people of such low levels of ability are reading it.

When someone stoops to name calling and verbal abuse and veiled threats, all under the safe umbrella of anonymity, it really takes all validity and credibility out of their argument.

If you want to disagree with me, I have no problem with that. But if you are going to present an alternate view please express it like an adult and not a 10 year old.

Due to the low maturity level of the comments I have, for the time being anyway, comment availability is restricted.