Job Hunt

It has been several years, 17 in fact, since I had to job hunt. The industry moves from Autocad to Revit and my employer did not. A clear lack of vision. Now jobs are harder to find because everybody wants Revit. I will be taking Revit at Seneca because I cannot afford to be handicapped in skill by my last employer. From what I've seen Revit is superior, but it is also quite different. Autocad may still be required for greater details, but Revit in 3D sells clients. That's what your employer wants, clients buying your service. It is very logical. Whoever my next employer is, I hope they understand that.

Remembering Nelson Mandela

I find too many people dwell on the past. While fighting against Apartheid, Mandela and the ANC did use violence. Apartheid used it on them as well. It was a highly oppressive regime. When the judge decided Mandela should be jailed, and not hung, he changed history. 27 years he served his sentence. Brian Mulroney helped instigate his release. He had to convince many people. F.W. DeKlerk had to do his part to help end Apartheid. Mandela forgave his captors and brought peace to his nation. He should be remembered for this. That should be his legacy. Not that he was jailed as a terrorist. That was Apartheid's view of his actions. Should we accept that regime's view? I think not. We are lucky enough to have lived in this time to witness this great leader. We are sorrowful for the loss of him as a man. He will continue to inspire leaders in death.

Rob Ford the Angel in a Devil Costume

In 2010 Rob Ford won the election to be Mayor of Toronto with over 40% of the vote. Stop The Gravy Train That's how he got in. He was always frugal. Annual expense claims for council were in several thousands, while he'd spend 48 on stamps. The last time I lived in Toronto, from 1997-2000, he was my councilor. I believe at the time, people complained about the Mayor then And I may have suggested Ford on the radio On CFRB 1010 This may have been 2000 era. Ten years later without living in Toronto, seeing him win as Mayor was not a shock. Obviously since his win And various court actions to remove him None of which have succeeded He has had a growing list of "issues" Being in a Drunken Stupor (often) Being in a Drunken Stupor On Crack (reportedly more than once, admitted only once) Has bought Illegal Drugs (Many have, if Marijuana is still classified as such) Has consumed copious amounts of Alcohol (again many do) Has operated a motor vehicle inebriated (not defending this, but again not alone) Has yelled about killing a guy while inebriated (many have done this, context unknown for him) Has had several meetings/dealings with drug dealers (many do, but not from position of Mayor) I am a very safety conscious, non smoking, non illegal drug user. I am against using a phone in car, while not on blue-tooth. (Ford has admitted this, and been witnessed) I am against operating a vehicle while inebriated. (Ford has admitted this, and been witnessed) The fact remains, that he has never been charged. That fact alone, means his dwindling fan base will continue to support him. Until much of his late admissions, I may have, had I lived in Toronto, but I don't. Who else can stop the Gravy Train? We don't know, but the public wants a guy who can. The public that insists he is it, will ignore all fact, speculation, and late night talk show banter. The majority of people that actually care about the man, and not his failings, want him to seek help. Much of council, which have been thorns in his agenda, are at least sympathetic to his disease. Alcoholism is a disease, and his drug use may stem from it. I'm no expert, so you'd have to ask one. He remains the fiscally responsible Mayor, that failed to fix himself, instead of the City he loves. Now that most of his executive powers are gone, we must rely on his current Deputy Mayor to see the agenda through. Subways, subways, subways. No tax, a small tax, a bigger tax. State of infrastructure sadly demands cash from somewhere, or subways, will be bike paths, and sewers will turn downtown into a lake. He hasn't wasted billions of tax dollars like the Ontario Liberals did, but they will be re-elected, and he won't. Their new leader, unelected as leader at present, still has a higher approval than her competition despite blowing tax money. Rob had the good intentions of an Angel, so save the City from it's own expenses. His activities with the criminal element has put the Devil Costume on, and he will not live it down. Get help Rob. Real help. Diet, Rehab, Fitness, and likely a few Lawyers. You may never be Mayor again, but you can become a man again. Don't kill him off.

Improving Gridlock

The only way to improve gridlock

Is education

The only people that cause gridlock

Lack brain function

Traffic moves in more than one direction

Stop using your ego to define

Your lack of geometry skill

If you cannot cross it

Do not block it

If you do not fit

Don't be a twit

Green does not mean go

It means proceed IF and WHEN the way is CLEAR

If its NOT clear it is NOT when you proceed

Politicians don't get this

Only logical people get this

People that never block an intersection

Do not require that education

They have it

The others need it

Go get it

This will solve ALL gridlock

Widening and adding lanes only increases

The idiots who will plug it up

Here's a clue

Side streets are not parking spaces

Off ramps are not parking spaces

Major intersections are not parking spaces

Crosswalks are not parking spaces.

If people would use a brain

They would never block an opposing lane.

Send this to all your politicians promising and end to gridlock

I'm sure they wouldn't understand it

GTHA Transit

 

Below is a letter I sent to all Three Provincial leaders, the Mayors of Hamilton, Vaughan, and Mississauga, Councillor Doug Ford, (as direct email to his brother the Mayor is not available (web form only))and other transit related individuals.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qwj470xcrmiqeap/ozUQSXmUZS

Only 2 files, 1 powerpoint, 1 xcel chart. Surely this should be less confusing for you to take the time to ponder.

I have incorporated all (I think) of Metrolinx's plans (though they are very poorly described).
I have added my own future concepts, mostly for Vaughan as that is where I reside.

GT-Trains concept was a recent find, scheduling could be its biggest obstacle, but just like the Go train expansion I suggest, all the tracks are there, it is just platforms/stations required. Since exact budgetary info on train stops is nowhere to be found, I consider all new stops as $20,000,000.

For $50 billion or $34 billion or less if budget numbers make any sense, the severe lack of detailed plans and information by Metrolinx is highly disturbing. Most of my information is from Wikipedia and Transit City graphics.

Yes, money can be found from efficiencies. Stop saying it can't. The LCBO just handed the government $1.7 billion of a $4.9 billion profit. It was also stated that current gas tax money to province came in at $2 billion. CAA wants it to fix roads, but it all deserves to go to transit, and not expected to be pulled from our pockets.

Metrolinx tools: tax,tax,tax,tax,tax,levy,surcharge,tax,userfee,tax, tax.

Ontario government budget $127 billion, far more than past government budgets thanks to HST transfer. If $2 billion a year can not be found out of $127 billion a year, they are flat out lying to our face. Over 40,000 employees make over $100,000 a year, to manage people who manage other people who manage more people. WASTE! Fixable waste.

I ran for municipal office for $0. I got over 5000 votes.

It isn't hard to stop spending, if you have a massive $127 billion budget to work from. Find that $2 billion a year, it can be done. Run a tighter ship.

The above letter was sent on June 19 2013, to date, no response from anyone.
I have applied to work for Metrolinx from an ad posted in the NRU newsletter today.

 

I think $50 billion or more deserves more information.

New City Mascot??

I will call him DVP Donny

This groundhog lives in this patch of highway grass median c/w hydro towers on Don Valley Parkway south of Eglinton Avenue in Toronto

Not sure what he lives on besides grass and flowers, but I see him a lot here.

Traffic is usually slow here, so views are very likely.

Say Hi to Donny.

Street View

DVP Donny

His Home

Roaming the median

Overhead satellite map

Opinions are never Law

There are many things which create and mold opinions
Religion is one
There are many pro-religion, and seemingly more anti-religion
Government is one
Obviously whoever we elect, or anyone else elects, is always a dissappointment, but get re-elected anyway
On this topic, birth certificate authenticity has been a public opinion matter
Natural disasters seem to invoke opinions about the above two topics
God has brought his wrath upon the heathens, or Government has not provided safety to its people
Let's be serious here
Weather to a great extent is entirely created by the planet itself, perhaps industry alters things a little, sending various chemical compounds in the air for which the atmosphere is likely to react a bit, but I doubt one nuclear plant or coal plant created a pile of tornadoes to wipe out a large portion of a state. God if you believe in one did not say, death to rednecks, tornadoes headed to teach you a lesson. Government did not say, hey we have some high tech weather control methods which can prevent tornadoes but we decided not to use them.
They happened. Period.
Rednecks looking for birth certificates were not the cause either.
Pray if you pray, or hope if you don't, for aid and relief to those who lost families, homes, and friends. Many suffered, you'd want help if it was you.
Donate to Red Cross if you have the ability, or squeeze your wallet if you don't think you can.
Again, I am stating an opinion, surely to be disagreed by someone.
That does not make that someone ignorant, uneducated, or heartless, but in some opinions it could.
There are other topics that create opinions
Tv shows, and humour
Many love specific shows, be it drama, comedy, or reality based, many hate the same shows.
Shows like LOST created real divisions between fans and anti-fans
Humour is very personal
If you write it, it is funny to you, whether others get it or not
Having the opportunity to find others who get you is rewarding
When people of opinions that you are not funny
Would rather spread their hate for you
Than consider it as purely opinion
That's when opinions cross the line
That's when opinions become hate
And not a difference of opinion
We aren't shoving ours down your throat
Why feel the need to shove yours down everyone else's
If you don't like it
Leave it at that
Saying because you don't, means nobody else can
Is a clear indication you have an inferiority complex
You create a need to hate in order to validate your lack of self-esteem
What you need is help
Hate mongering eats you
It may hurt your target more in the beginning
Being a target has not been ideal for me
That hate constitutes bullying
Whether it is face to face or via cyberspace
Bullying is not and never shall be acceptable
Learn to accept other opinions
Learn you cannot enforce yours upon others
Learn that whether you think you are right
Others may find you wrong
I'm sure many find me wrong in this post
That's their opinion
Valid or misinformed
They possess the right to have one
As do I
This is mine
Like it or not
It's an opinion
Not a law
So yours isn't either

Signals, More than just an inconvenience

Clearly the majority of motorists I see
Belong to a slect group of people not required
To tell you where they are going or what they are doing
Because a turn signal is SOOOOOOOOO HAAAAAAAARRRDDD to operate
To me, in my logical mind
No signal of a lane means no signal to the brain
And yes most that refuse, or can't be bothered to signal
Refuse to believe there is such a thing as left and right
Only a path their ignorant self is headed
Today in Montreal a vehicle in front of me in the left turn lane
Not signalling with a 2nd left turn lane to our right
Complete with 18 wheeler truck also headed left with a signal
turned left but drifted directly in front of the 18 wheeler
like it didn't exist or wasn't turning
It's a special kind of ignorance required to be this stupid
To be so ignorant to not even see other vehicles using the same road
And think you are entitled to lanes you don't deserve
That I cannot respect
Signals are not an inconvenience
They are the law
The law of Logic
People which confuse right and left do not understand law of Logic
Its too much work to think