If People Would Just Drive the Speed Limit Down Main Street, There Would be World Peace

Many years ago when I was still living with my parents, I was returning to town after a long drive. I really needed a bathroom stop but I decided to hold it until I get home. It was a Sunday afternoon and traffic in downtown Russell Manitoba would be quite light or possibly non-existent. As I left the highway and started down Main Street I caught up to a car going about 25 km/h, half the posted speed limit. There were only two cars on all of Main Street. Myself and the other car. The other car did not speed up. My bladder felt like it was about to rupture. When we finally got to my turn off I raced the rest of the way, home. I ran into the bathroom and relieved myself. When I came out my parents asked why I was rushing. I replied, "If people would just drive the speed limit down Main Street there would be world peace." I continued to rant about this point for several minutes.

There is more truth to this than may first meed the eye.

I realize that even if everyone drives the speed limit down Main Street in Russell Manitoba it will probably not have an effect on North Korea's nuclear testing program. But, if you look deeper at the idea the principle may have an effect on the world as we know it.

I was not insisting the other driver speed or break any other traffic law. I was only asking the other driver to make it easier for me to arrive home quicker. It would have been a significant gain for me without any drawback for the other driver. The other car would not be a danger to any other car on Main Street since we were the only two.

Too often people, groups, organizations, or nations do what they do without consideration for the full impact of their actions. Generally their response is it was within the rules so it can be done. They were not concerned how their actions affected others.

I realize no one is perfect and it is nearly impossible to act in a manner that will please everyone all the time however, if we take the time to consider the consequences of our actions and adjust our behaviours if we see they are not well received, the world will be a little bit more tolerable for a lot more people.

It is not the entire answer but it should make the world a happier place, which is a step towards world peace.

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

I have been rather busy as of late. There has been a lot of work travel and it continues today. It must be a good thing as it indicates things are getting done.

I think I have about a year's worth of work to do each year. However, it is not evenly spread over the course of the year. There are times I have too much on the go and times I really don't have a lot to do.

When I was growing up, when asked, "How was your day?" My father would answer steady. As one item is handled another pops up. I think steady would be nice. You would be constantly productive and not on overload at times.

This may all just be how I am perceiving things. There is a possibility that I am not as busy as I think I am and I am not as un-busy as I think I am.

You could make the argument to use the slow times to catch up on the things that don't get proper attention during the busy times. I do this as much as possible, however many deadlines have long since passed before the slow times arrive.

Deadlines are one of the key drivers of this whole issue. I was told a long time ago, "As long as you make your deadlines you can pretty much get away with anything." I'm not looking to get away with anything but it does provide a certain amount of flexibility and autonomy when you routinely make your deadlines. It is even more helpful if things are in early. This approach adds to the busy times. Taking the approach that it will be done will put additional stressors on the situation but the outcome is worth the effort.

I recently discovered a band out of Kentucky called Cage the Elephant. One of their lyrics goes "Well there ain't no rest for the wicked until we close our eyes for good." There are times I feel that way but there are also times I'm sitting on my thumbs.

The Suburbs

Over the week-end I was out in the suburbs. It was a birthday party for the youngest kid of good friends of mine. There were grandparents there along with friends and neighbours.

I live in a downtown apartment. I really like the lifestyle. Many things are handy and there is always some action, good or bad.

I have to admit, I really enjoyed my time in the suburbs. We BBQ'ed. We played badminton. We had beer. We had a fire. It was laid back.

I saw for the first time in a long time why so many people choose to live this way. There was a sense of community. All the kids could run free. Pets were everywhere. I saw some true happiness. It was refreshing.

I may be a bit of an urban dweller, but I also like what the suburbs has to offer.

Fore!

Golf is a solitary game. Only you are are responsible for the results. That is probably the challenge that draws myself and so many other people to take up the sport.

I am not a bad golfer but I am not a great golfer either.

Today I golfed my first round of the year. Being the smart guy that I am I chose a course that did not have a lot of trees on it, to assure myself that I would not be stomping through the bush all morning.

I was not planning on a 30 knot wind. It was brutal. It didn't matter how hard you hit the ball it didn't seem to go anywhere. Every hole seemed to play into the wind. The aforementioned wind would blow you off the ball. You had to take into account the wind when you were putting.

It was extremely challenging. I didn't play very well but I seem to want to go back for more.

I want to try and do better the next time. That challenge is one of the things that keeps me coming back. There is a group of people that will try to improve at things they are not always good at. Not everyone is like that. Some people avoid what they are not good at.

If you want to be great you have to take on challenges.

Hopefully next time the wind will be under 15 knots.

The Wait

I don't wait very well.

As exciting as the future often looks I find it difficult to wait for things to come. I, like most people am waiting for a few thing. I'm waiting for the summer training period to begin. I am waiting to hear about a job opportunity. I am waiting to hear if I get to carry the Olympic Torch.

It is difficult to wait to hear on any of this.

I don't think I'm impatient but I may be. It could be my fatal fault. I do find I often press to complete things. This can be unwise at times but I like to be able to say 'I got it done.' I like the feeling of accomplishment.

I don't like the feeling of waiting. It wears on me. If time is the only thing preventing me from knowing, I don't do so well.

Unfortunately, from time to time all we can do is wait.

I don't know if I can embrace waiting, but I can try to accept it.

I guess only time will tell how i do with waiting.

Go Team!

The NHL playoffs are well underway and quite exciting. There have been some excellent games and series, sparking a lot of debate and discussion. These are the things of great bar room stories.

It is rather amazing if you consider how invested we are in sports.

We argue for hours about who was the best of all time, who is the best right now, what our team has to do to get or stay on top.

We build opulent stadiums and arenas to play the games. We buy merchandise. We go to sports bars. We travel to other cities to see our teams play.

We are invested in sport.

Why?

It's won't stop world hunger. It won't stop the fighting in Afghanistan. It won't fix deteriorating roads.

Why? Sport brings community together. It gives all of us a common conversation to have. It provides us with a common goal. It makes us feel like we belong.

There is nothing like being in the stands when a great moment happens.

I was there when Teemu Selanne scored his first playoff hat trick. I was there when Milt Stegall broke the touchdown record.

I will have these memories with me forever.

I feel part of something bigger because of my love of sport. I always have something to talk to my friends and strangers about.

We must embrace sport. We must live it. We must be part.

Go Team!

It's Times Like These

As I was driving home from the gym today I noticed that everyone around me was enjoying the amazing weather Winnipeg was blessed with today. It was about 20 degrees Celsius and very light winds with a few clouds in the sky.

Nearly everyone driving had their windows down, sunroof open ad music playing. There were lots of people jogging, cycling, walking and rollerblading. One guy nearly twisted his head off when two girls rode past him on their bicycles. I don't blame him. It was clear that they took care of themselves. There were lots of motorcycles on the road.

Winnipeg has come out of its winter coma. The city has energy. I can feel a pulse and the return of life.

Problems seem manageable. Almost everyone around me has renewed optimism. This is a great feeling as we have risen from the frozen depths of winter to once again live life.

I think Dave Grohl said it best. "It's times like these we learn to live again."

10,000

A couple of days ago the TSX climbed over 10,000 points again. It closed a bit below yesterday, but has once again moved above again.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is just over 8,500.

Shortly after the last Canadian federal election the opposition wanted to overthrow the newly and duly elected government because they were not doing enough about the failing economy.

There is no doubt things have slowed down. Some parts of Canada have been hit harder than others, however it seems that the recovery is swift here. Considering our frame of reference is probably skewed as things were so hot for a while we are really not in truly terrible shape.

Things could be better. I know people who have lost their job. It is unfortunate.

It appears the sitting government was right. Canada was in a strong position to ride out the economic downturn. How could they have been right. Well the Prime Minister is an economist. That may have something to do with it.

If you compare to our neighbours to the south, we look like we are recovering on steroids.

We have not seen the end of this slump. There will be some more pain before things get better. If you really look, things in Canada are moving and usually in the right direction.

Even the opposition is moving in the right direction, they have replaced their leader. However, he did think the sky was falling, but I think it was just his leadership platform.

A Comb in the 'Fro

As I was driving home from work today I noticed a gentleman driving in the car next to me had a comb in his 'Fro. I was a bit surprised by that. You tend not to see that sort of thing these days. It made me think of a couple of things.

The '80's are really coming back.

Good for this guy, he is expressing himself.

He has embraced change. He has attempted something new. I applaud him.

Too often here in North America we are encouraged to conform and be the same. This suppression of creativity forces us to do the same things the same way. This makes change very difficult as we become pre-conditioned to keep it the same.

Although it can be scary there is a need for change in certain situation.

Organizations need to change as resources and needs change.

People need to change as age and needs change.

If we stifle individuality and push people to all be the same, it is very difficult to incite change.

Maybe, we all should put 'a comb in our 'fro.'

Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation is Lazy

I don't wish to speak ill of anyone. You really have to fail to get blasted by me. MPIC has achieved this level with me.

I admit I made an error in this whole episode, however MPIC made no effort when I asked them for help.

Here's the story.

I renewed my driver's license about a week before it was due to ensure that I didn't accidentally expire. However, the new certificate was not valid until the old one expired so the agent told me to keep both until the old one expired.

So last week-end I was in Thunder Bay Ontario. I had a rental car booked to help me get around. I walked up to the Enterprise counter and handed over my credit card and driver's license. It turns out I accidentally threw out the valid driver's license and kept the expired one.

I pulled out my iPhone and looked up the number to MPIC. I gave them a call and asked if there was some way they could fax the rental agency confirmation that I do in fact have a driver's license.

They would not help me.

They didn't even ask for my name or driver's license number to confirm I even have a license.

I still had a valid photo part of my driver's license.

They didn't make an effort.

It may have been because it was Friday afternoon. That is not an excuse. They are there to serve the drivers of Manitoba.

Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation is Lazy!