How I’m not voting tomorrow in Ontario

This is how you do it.

Thanks but no thanksThe deputy returning officer at your poll hands you your ballot and you hand it back. You can, if you wish, say “I decline” while doing this, but there is no requirement for any declaration, oral or written, under the Ontario Election Act. The DRO will write “declined” on the ballot, preserve it for the returning officer and note in the poll record that the elector — you — declined to vote.

via Ontario election 2014: How to vote for ‘none of the above’ — without spoiling your ballot | National Post.

Stay home mom!

This is a good news story, despite the alleged economic reasons for doing so.

American mothers are reversing a historical trend and increasingly staying home, a change driven by demographic, societal and economic forces, including the worst recession in seven decades.

“The majority of mothers would like to be in the workplace,” said D’Vera Cohn, lead author of the report, which used a variety of census and survey data. “There may be a ceiling to how much stay-at-home motherhood can increase.”

I highly doubt the majority of mothers would rather go work a slave job. This isn’t what I’ve heard from women I know.

via More moms staying home, reversing a modern family trend | Toronto Star.

Figuring out my water bill

Here in my area of Toronto, water rates are rising 9%/year. To quickly figure out how long it will take for my bill to double, I look to the rule of 72.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_72

Therefore it will take 72/9 or approximately 8 years to double.

What a scam! The area I am in does not have 100 year old pipes like some older downtown areas. So why am I paying these insane doubling rates? Where is this money going? Are they spending all of it?

Stunt driving law bigger than you think

This is an eye opener — jackrabbit left turns are considered stunt driving – wow!

Q: What exactly constitutes a “stunt” under the Stunt Driving law?Eric Lai replies:Ontario Regulation 455/07 defines actions subject to on-the-spot licence and vehicle seizure for one week under S. 172 HTA. Upon conviction, drivers face a fine of anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, up to six months imprisonment and licence suspension of up to two years on subsequent conviction, up to 10 years.

“Stunt” includes:

  • Motorcycle “wheelies” or driving any vehicle in a manner which indicates an intention to lift some or all of the tires from the road surface.
  • Intentional skidding when turning (includes ”drifting”).
  • Intentionally causing a vehicle to spin or circle without control (i.e. “doing donuts”).
  • Side-by-side driving where a vehicle occupies an oncoming lane for longer than needed for passing.
  •   Have person in trunk.
  •   Driver not in driver seat of moving vehicle.
  •   Drive at 50 km/h or more over the posted limit.
  •   Driving without due care and attention, without reasonable consideration for other road users or in a manner that may endanger others by: intentionally preventing another vehicle from passing; unnecessarily slowing or stopping in order to cut off or interfere with the movement of another vehicle; or driving, without justification, as close as possible to another vehicle, person or fixed object.
  •   Jumping a circular green light to make a left turn before straight-through oncoming traffic, which has the right of way, has begun to proceed (from being stopped at the preceding red light).

via Stunt driving law encompasses more than you might think – Wheels.ca.

Line up your tow

Make sure you line up a towing company BEFORE you have a problem – especially on the 401. Great article to read if you ever travel the 401 in Toronto (and who doesn’t).

As rush hour approaches on Canada’s busiest highway, the forces of the towing industry assemble. Customized Vulcan Intruders and V-8-powered Ratlers rumble into position near the on-ramps, taking up their stations like carrion birds circling above the Serengeti during migration season.

via Highway robbery: Pirates are costing Ontario drivers billions – The Globe and Mail.