Spammers, Magas and Convoys

I take great enjoyment in finding out what my blog friends are up to. I live life vicariously through others, and enjoy their travels. Aside from that, I like to read their thoughts and opinions, especially if it makes me think. Some bloggers don't allow one to disagree, that is a shame. I appreciate the value in gathering thoughts, digesting what has happened, and organizing one's thinking. Too many people are influenced by confirmation bias, whereby they only accept that which confirms their opinion.

Then there are the crazies

I read some things about MAGAs that explains some of their behaviour. When you have no capital, no assets and no status, the only thing you have left is your status in society by being white. Trump spits on various minority groups, women, the disabled, and BIPOC groups. That makes his MAGAs feel better. Martha Acuna: social capital is all MAGAs have. Poor white people buy into this rhetoric. They believe the conspiracy theories, and the ignorance and lies.

There is a deep-seated, racist, misogynistic, attitude in the courts, as well. Blaming the victim, charging women with having an abortion, even after they miscarry. These aren't rich white people, they are victims of incest and abuse, in poverty, who receive judgements by the upper class judiciary who do not understand their lives. There are 400,000 children in foster care in the US.

Women don't even know they are pregnant until about 6 weeks. Even if the pregnancy isn't viable, and if the mother's life is at stake, many religions see this act as positive. 

Rep. Mary Miller actually stated, after Roe V. Wade was overturned, 'the historic victory for white life in the Supreme Court'. This is the truth those without funds, those who most need this healthcare, those with ectopic pregnancies, women carrying a dead fetus, or  raped by someone and do not have healthcare. I listened to a podcast at 3 a.m., and I was shocked. 

Canada Day is July 1st!

Talk about crazies! We are anticipating potential chaos on Canada Day in Ottawa. Traditionally it is a fun concert with bands, speeches, celebrations. 

JB went into town and spotted this. It was parked in town. The drag on your car is enormous, costing you precious gas money. 

flagged car from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

OK, thanks for reading and letting me rant and vent! I feel better. I know nothing changes, but we should be so grateful living on this continent. 

The distance between rich and poor widens. Be kind. Listen. 

Dalhousie Lake

Off we went for another drive. I'd had some chest pains in the night, from high blood pressure, insomnia for several hours, a cat fight that woke me up. Thankfully, my client cancelled the next morning.
What a great way to depressurize, as long as I kill all that mind chatter in my head!


Pulling up to the train track, we were all excited. JB likes trains. Then the lights went off, the arms lifted. No train. We approached the track.


Nothing to the right. 

A stopped train to our left. Yikes.


We carried on, up to Kiwi Gardens. They were having a delivery. Whew! This was a masterful job. I thought he was in the ditch.


I look at all that sand in the quarry, and can feel it between my toes.


We made it. We saw the Chinese food on the menu, in both Chinese characters and English, and weren't sure what was up. What we didn't know is that after being for sale for 3 years, it was sold to an Asian man who, until a year ago, only spoke Mandarin. I love this country!
It's a big complex, with motor homes, and cabins.
We had chicken fingers, which were moist and yummy. They have buffets on the weekend. Of the three couples there, two were from Perth. We should have had some Chinese food!


Just to tease me This butterfly landed right beside me, on the ground, then flew away. I only managed to use three of my Monarch stickers.


It's a lovely lake, the river dekes under the bridge. Very shallow. There were some mergansers preening.

Train and truck collision in Perth, Ontario

The truck was moved about 800m along the track

The OPP’s Lanark Detachment Commander Derek Needham reported a train and truck incident just after 3:30 this morning.

The train hit the dump truck at the Wilson St. crossing (near Foodsmiths), then dragged it past Drummond St, before coming to a rest near Isabella, behind the hospital. The driver of the dump truck suffered minor injuries, likely a quick trip. Fortunately, no one on board the train was hurt.

This is the train crossing before the incident

It is amazing how such an incident can shut down a town. Traffic was rerouted, and streets were closed. Long, heavy trucks in the middle of the town couldn't turn easily, taking up both lanes in the middle of this old town.

There is no quick route around, traffic had to go along
Christie Lake Rd. - something like 6 km trip!

With both Drummond and Wilson Streets closed, traffic was rerouted along Glen Tay. Quite the detour for my grocery trip!

Gore St. & a transport truck
- do you think we need a ring road?

Wilson St. closed at Sunset Blvd.

Cleaning up on Wilson at Foodsmiths

 The traffic was heavy along the detour route. Happily, it was all cleared up  before noon.

Perth to send delegation to MP Reid to discuss rail safety

Published on January 15, 2014 by Maureen Pegg

Boldt, who is chair of protective services, wants to talk to Reid about measures that can be taken to improve rail safety in the town and throughout the country.

Fire Chief Steve Fournier says 22 trains pass through Perth each day. On Dec. 23, the next train passing through town after the accident, had 82 cars loaded with crude oil.

Nearly finished clean-up

Lots working, evidence photos?

Mather St. blocked towards Wilson

Glen Tay Rd. crossing

Debris at Drummond & the train track

Lots of debris off of Drummond St.

Debris at Drummond St.

Lots of traffic as Drummond opened up around 10 a.m.

Stephanie Gray ‏@stephgray88
pic.twitter.com/Msn6chJxsp

One person commented:

I have no idea how this accident happened, however, there are 2 recent incidents to consider. On Dec 16, 2013 at approx. 6:00 p.m. and on Nov. 4, 2013 at approx. 10:50 p.m. the signals were flashing and the barriers were down at both crossings on Wilson St and Drummond St but there were NO trains. In both cases, cars were cautiously winding their way around the barriers. I was at both of these situations and was in a car that went around the barriers. I know that the Nov.incident lasted at least 20 minutes and that the Dec. incident at least 15 minutes and perhaps longer. There was no one from the police or fire sevices in either case. On the night of Nov. 4, I phoned the police at about 11:00 p.m. and was advised that they were aware of the problem and that they had been in touch with the railway but were not otherwise involved.

Everyone was treating it like a 3-way stop
or no one would have moved!

Ditch diggin!

Bambi and I watched!

The video is here!
Apparently, they have to keep the water flowing along the ditch to prevent it from seeping under the road and causing damage.
The backhoe driver operated it as if it was a set of tweezers!

I pick up garbage several time a year!

Please slow down, people.
Somebody out there loves you, or your victim.