If the high school driver that was clocked doing 105 km/h in a school zone last week is found to be guilty then I think it should be a real long while before that youngster ever gets behind a wheel of a vehicle again. We've all been young and we've all done dumb things while driving. However, school zones are really unpredictable as far as what a driver could see. There are an abundance of pedestrians, as well as other inexperienced drivers to be on the lookout for. Going 105 is inexcusable. If that's not enough, there was another teenager clocked at 89 km/h the very next day. Is this a pattern? Hopefully police tighten up even further in those areas of the city.
I heard a story from my old stompin' grounds in Brandon where the traffic lights on Richmond and 18th Street (that's a very busy intersection for those that are not aware) had been out for quite some time. Traffic enforcement officials were called and the reply was, "Yes, we are aware. We have received hundreds of calls and we've informed the city." Shouldn't police maybe go and direct traffic though? I think that's a lot safer than hanging out south of Brandon scooping up vehicles who tend to be just a little slow getting to 50 km/h when entering the city from the highway. Let's hope that's the exception as opposed to the norm around our area.
At the start of the CFL season, I proclaimed to be a believer in Darian Durant. I still am, but he's testing my faith. I also said if Durant can't get it done this year with the weapons that have been added at receiver as well as the reinforcements on the offensive line, then it will be time to admit defeat and start over. Well, the Riders are struggling on offense and I am hearing whispers of a bad line, receivers not getting open, the team isn't good without Kory Sheets, etc. Those are all excuses. There is plenty of talent here and one injury should not derail an entire season. The Riders have won two straight, but I can't say I'm back on the bandwagon.
There are two sides to every story and while the death of a two year old boy at the hands of a male guardian is tragic, sick, disgusting, and unexplainable; I have difficulty summoning sympathy for Minnesota Viking running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson's two-year-old son was, senselessly, murdered late last week and Peterson was back playing football within a couple of days. I guess we all deal with grief in different ways, but call me a skeptic. Peterson had only met the child after the beating took place. He also didn't know until three months ago that he had fathered the child with a woman living in South Dakota. I'm not sure of the emotional attachment. The focus should be on the mom, who has to be a wreck knowing her boyfriend is responsible for the death of her baby. It should also be on why this man, who has a history of domestic violence, was in the lives of the mother and son. I'm assuming Peterson has financial means to look after the mother and child if that had been an issue.
In another two sides to every story, I decided to look into the two Canadian man who had been jailed in Egypt without being charged, only to be released due to pressure from our federal government late last week. Well, as it turns out the two men are political activists and, therefore, it's not a stretch to connect the dots here. They were arrested at a riot. I say if you leave our country and engage in anything that another country deems questionable, then you are on your own. But, for some reason Canada likes to take up a crusade for people who aren't likely to ever be thankful. One of them, had to be removed by security guards the last time he came into contact with a cabinet minister. He was screaming and became uncontrollable, so police arrested him. The other guy was part of the 'flotilla' that tried to break the Israeli naval blockade of the terrorist group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip. The message should be clear. You go to another country and put your nose in their business, then Canada can't be responsible what happens to you regardless of how fair or unfair we may feel it is.
Human beings are an interesting species. I was out selling Girl Guide cookies with my daughter last week and, by all means, we don't expect every person that opens the door to buy one and we don't even expect everyone to open their door. However, I do find that it is rude if a little girl knocks on your door while you are talking on your cell phone and you turn around to see who is knocking on your door and then give no indication as to whether you are coming to the door or not to be an act of ignorance. A simple motion with your head would have been acceptable, although I still don't think I would vote for you in an election.
Nice person mentions this week to: Ryan Duthie, Darrell Halarewich, Marty Sveinbjornson, Mike Kardynal, and Sandra Nordin.
