Hecho en Mexico and How Stop Signs and Red Lights are Causing Global Warming

Author's Note: I am not against the Mexican people in any way, I commend them for cervesa on cheap import night at my university's bar, as well as the quesadilla -- and tequila of course. The image was just something that came up when I looked up Mexicans. This post does not put down Mexico, but rather put down North American businesses who outsource closer to home.

Hecho en Mexico and How Stop Signs and Red Lights are Causing Global Warming

I remember a time... of course this makes me seem older than I am when I start a post with I remember a time, but I do. And in this time (early 90s maybe very late 80s) My dad and I would go shopping for gym shoes or clothes, or anything for that matter and check the labels (my dad was always a real patriot) We could find clothes made in Canada. If you went into Roots EVERYTHING used to be made in Canada. However, over the years we would have to settle for things made in the USA because some of the facilities in Canada were closing. Remember the "Brain Drain"? When all the educated Canadians would move to the states for a decent job... that doesn't happen anymore. Nowadays they work in call centers, construction and general service. I work cutting grass with 3 out of 4 of us having a University degree, and we cut lawns because we don't want to settle for a call center... whoops off topic there. Anyways... As time went on in this "crisis" Canada was dropped as a manufacturing hub for its own people, replaced by the likes of Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Japan, Peru, I think I even saw one of the "stans" on a tee once. At one time it used to be easy to find more than a handful of products made in Canada. Which I could purchase and wear with pride. Even Roots (The All Canadian Superstore) has basically dropped Canada to manufacture their $45 Tees and $65 Polos. Lately I hear myself saying... "At least its made in Mexico"

Word of the day:

Maquiladora: (mäkelädo´rä ) n. Synonymous with Mexico manufacturing, maquiladoras are Mexican assembly plants that manufacture finished goods for export. Maquiladoras are generally owned by non-Mexican corporations that take advantage of low-cost Mexican labor, advantageous tariff regulations, and close proximity to U.S markets. Maquiladoras are one of Mexico primary sources of foreign exchange.

Onto the lighter side. Fuel prices have gone stupid in the last 6 months, I'd say a 40% increase in my Northern Ontario snake pit town of ravenous "big 3" (Petro Can, Esso, Shell) gas stations. When the average price is hovering at $1.30 ours will be 1.4o The Soo is just raped at the pumps. I worked for P-Can the last day gas was under a dollar, and I will tell you that is a fact that I'm sure my children cant even fathom. I have a car I use every day now, to and from work. Lately when people get in they comment on my crazy driving. They will say "Where are you from, Montreal?" or "Jeez I don't think that light was still yellow once you got to the intersection..." Finally today I had someone say, "You took that corner like a bat out of hell, what are you trying to do, KILL US?!" once I corrected my heavy over steer and got back to my comfortable cruising speed, The Blue Devil is a heavy piece of machinery for a midsized but the V6 gives it some guts. I had to explain-- the reason my driving is poor has nothing to do with my inability to drive, in fact, when gas is reasonably priced I am commended for my regard of the rules. But this is the end of times chum! With these prices I am being the responsible one on the battlefield. I cant afford to buy a Smart Car so I have to use mine wisely. I probably take 2x the distance to reach my cruising speed, careful to not rev too high. So when a yellow approaches or a stop sign or a right hand turn on a red the gas companies have given me no choice but to conserve as much of that forward momentum as possible. I think it requires greater skill to control a 30 km/h hard right than it does to race red light to red light down queen street.

So when you see the Blue Devil coast through a 4 way, or make that gut splattering turn remember that I'm doing the greener thing under the circumstances. Don't blame me, blame BIG OIL and the conflict at the refinery in Madeupistan or worker strike in the oil fields of Fakeladesh

In Response to my Letter to the Editor

Interesting times

So working and living in the far away town of sudbury, I figured "I don't really know anyone so I might just work on some projects and save some money". Then Yegway moved in with me. There goes that idea. I think it's back to mischief and mayhem for this intrepid duo. Good thing he's a law student cause I think we may needs those skills before the summer ends.

letter to mom

I know I know, I'm too skinny and I work out too much. I know you liked it better when I was 180 pounds and 25% bodyfat. You seem to think that it reflected on you ability as a caretaker; that you were a provider in the most literal sense. But the truth is although I may have looked better nourished, I wasn't all that happy. You know I was never that good at hockey, soccer, baseball, tennis, or anything else I have participated in, usually I was among the worst. And I have decided that I do not want to one day be a 55 year old with a heart condition whose greatest achievement in the world of bodies is having lived to 55. With that in mind I really do enjoy running, boxing, skipping, hiking, lifting weights and all that and yes I really do like eating right, avocado is freaking delish with salmon, and peanut butter is a health food how kick ass is that!!!
All this is also why I'm competing in the triathlon, its not so much about the winning, which I will strive for but do not need to feel good about it. Its about doing something that I never could do before, and being that little bit, stronger, faster, more motivated than I have been. I hope from all this I gain some of the ambition, confidence and character that I know you have always prayed your sons possessed. I am more than happy to trade in 30 pounds and 13% bodyfat for these things, especially when you realize that this should be journey of bonding and even pride.

all the love and respect in the world,
your son always,
McKelvie

A Letter to the Editor..

This is something I wrote for my local paper, I don't know whether or not I'll send it in. I doubt anyone wants to read it, or discuss. Its just that there are so many lame, poor grammar letters in that advertising rag we call a paper and I wanted to add my own.

The "Piece" (If you can call it that) is titled

What Came First, The Ignorant Cyclist or the Irate Driver?

I'm not a granola eater, I don't spend my money in the organic food section or go to spin classes, but I do ride my bike to work everyday that it is not raining. Right down Queen.

Since Wellington was closed for whatever repairs (it really doesn't matter) The influx of traffic swelling at the peak times of... well-- daylight hours. I have noticed an utter disregard on the part of both cyclists and motorists that will surely end in a gruesome front page headline.

I don't know who struck first. Whether the cyclists always slunk between the rows of traffic at the Pine, Queen intersection or motorists always cut as close as possible to bicycles. I myself have had daily attempts on my life, a fortysomething woman weaving through traffic like it is an Olympic event. Or a male retiree in his tank of a truck, shooting just off my left shoulder. I see them checking their mirrors, looking to see if they scared me enough to barrel over the curb and onto the sidewalk. As if they are doing a favour for the other motorists. Wiping the road of cyclists! The worst are the 30 year olds, in their shiny cars, barking into their cellphones oblivious to the fact they are actually driving. They don't care, and wouldn't stop, they'd just figure they had hit another Northern Ontario pothole. The law says I have to play this twisted game of frogger everyday to get to work just because I don't want to waste my money on gas in stop and go traffic and municipal government feels the blind eye works best in this situation, content with inadequate arrangements.

I share the road to the extent I am comfortable. There is no need to honk. Of course, on days that the weather is unfavourable I do take my car. And I know how annoying it becomes to travel 18-20 kilometers per hour behind a cyclist taking up the whole of the lane, only to come to a red light and see him slip to the front of the row of cars and go straight through the red signal. That stretch of Queen, from Lake to Gore is a war zone every day of the week, and we still have 5 months to go. Any sort of police presence on the stretch is warranted and necessary. Lets face it, with the thermometer and gas prices going up up up in the coming months so too will blood pressure. Something ominous is mounting. Closed roads are escalating the situation. If both types of road users cannot coexist I fear that the next time my name prints in this paper it may be in the obituaries.

So please motorists slow down.
Cyclists don't take stupid risks.
We have to share the road!

ANDYMAC!!!