Online Version
Issue #910
Including:

From Russ
From Lorne
The Ontarion

Hi All,

I’ll start off with this link to another video (some of you have seen it) in the series that the gondola has been putting out there to keep the connection going….
Pass-holder perspective.

Now, the charging system incentive program that I didn’t have space for last week…..

Both the BC government and BC Hydro have come out with a small incentive aimed at getting people to install home chargers where they live. I can’t help but be suspicious as to WHY they want to do this because we all know that as soon as electricity consumption starts to climb, so will the rates charged for said resource. Anyway, adds on TV have been touting the charger incentives, stating that between the two there is $700 worth of rebates available for anyone having a home charger installed. Now the catch…. While anyone can purchase a qualifying charger and install it themselves, the in-home charging system must be approved, inspected and certified. There simply are no Hydro inspectors in most areas of BC to do the inspection. There is only 1 inspector in the whole Lower Mainland which is why that big wind generator on top of Grouse Mnt that was put there to impress the world for the 2010 Olympics is still not on line, it has never been certified because there is no one available to inspect it. But I was curious. BC Homesmart, the part of BC Hydro that is pushing for the installation of chargers, has a web site with all sorts of info and a page where you can fill out a form in order to have them start the process of having a charger installed. They take your info and pass it on to one of their ‘red star’ contractors ‘in your area’. Around here, the way around having no inspectors is to have contractors who ‘qualify’ to inspect their own work, not just BC Hydro but plumbers, gas fitters and so on. Works fine if the contractors are honest and if they don’t start farming out the work to less competent people. We have a horror story about a plumbing and gas installer working at the house of a friend of ours, but, I digress….

Out of curiosity, I filled out the web form without really expecting any kind of reply because contractors around her never reply, they don’t seem to want anyone’s business. Much to my surprise I got an Email back the next day saying they had forwarded my info to 2 qualifying electrical companies in my area and I should hear from both within 2 days regarding costing and installation information. The following day I heard from one of the companies, stating that while yes, they are based in Squamish, they only do work in Whistler and therefor cannot help us. (Thats common, many contractors here will only work in Whistler where they do not have to give quotes and can charge anything they think they can get away with). Two weeks then went by, so, not being able to not poke my fingers through the cage so to speak, and not really expecting any reply again, I recontacted Powersmart BC. Much to my surprise they got back to me within the hour stating shock and frustration that their ‘red star’ contractors weren’t interested in doing the work, they are after all on the ‘preferred’ list. They went on to say they’d find contractors that were interested. The next day I got an Email from an electrical company in Vancouver who would be happy to supply and install and inspect a charging system. I filled out their form, answering all their questions and included the needed pictures of our electrical panel etc. A day later they sent a quote.

Now, I must state we are not in the market for a E V at this point in time but our next car could very likely be electric and aside from cost there is no down side to having a charger legally installed in our garage. So, I went ahead and excepted their quote. A couple of days later the local company that hadn’t bothered to reply got back to us, I guess Powersmart must have rattled their cage but by then it was too late. Besides, I had run the quote past another friend who owns a plumbing and heating and electrical company on the North Shore and he said the quote looked good. I knew from previous discussions that his company does not come up to Squamish, seems to be a trend, no?

Once the Vancouver based electrical contractor had an installation date they made the appointment and bright and early on the appointed day their EV charging system installer pulled onto our driveway. Two hours later a nice new JuiceBox Pro 40 charger was installed. Interestingly, I could have done the whole thing myself and saved the cost of having an electrician do the work but like stated, getting it inspected would have been impossible. The biggest hassle was getting the charging station to talk to our iPhones but after several attempts I was able to pair the unit to our home WiFi network so our phones could be used (when or even should, the time come) to use the unit remotely if we so desired. The app for phones etc is used to remotely start, stop, monitor, schedule and so on although charging could just as easily be done by simply plugging and unplugging the included cord, a procedure you obviously have to do anyway.

So, should we ever become EV drivers, we are ready with a cool looking device hanging on the wall of our garage.

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And now for another link to another song, this time a song from way back about 1936 or so. I’m not even sure why I know this song but for some reason I do and it was kind of fun recording it although life would be so much better if I actually had proper recording facilities. But I don’t so you’ll have to put up with the results as per usual.

Save The Last Dance For Me

doug

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From Russ

Roadkill - Would you eat it?

UGH! That’s the first thought that comes to mind; because we’ve all seen what happens to an animal or bird when it has been hit on a highway by a motor vehicle; smashed, blood and guts strewn upon the roadway; flies and maggots enjoying lunch; until another vehicle or a crow, seagull, turkey vulture, or skunk appears; then the carcass itself soon disappears (which is a good thing). Certainly, no human being would eat such a roadkill specimen!

But,

Some roadkill is a sought-after commodity; e.g., taxidermy; meat to feed a fox, dog or other flesh-eating animal. A deer hit and killed by a motorist (if not too badly damaged) can provide a lot of venison for his/her family if the driver follows proper safety procedures and obeys the law.

Modern Farmer US magazine argues eating roadkill is not only sensible, but eminently ethical. These animals weren’t raised to be ‘dinner’ – the killing was simply accidental.

Roadkill is said to have many benefits, including being void of artificial hormones and chemicals found in the meat at your local grocery store.

If even a third of the 1.23 million deer killed each year could be salvaged, it would amount to about 20 million pounds of free-range venison.

I don’t have to mention here, that if the deer you’ve just hit has been smashed-up pretty bad (e.g., other vehicles have also hit or run over the animal) it would not be safe to eat.

Note: If you are a ‘scavenger’ and find a deer beside the road, obviously dead, you are lucky to be an ‘Ontarian’, as you can take possession, and keep pretty much ‘any’ roadkill you find, as long as you report to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. This allows you to legally consume the meat (but not to sell it).

Note: Reporting (or Registration) can be a time-consuming procedure (e.g. a week or more)so let’s hope you have refrigeration available!

Hey guys, if you’re going to pick up for consumption a deer carcass from the roadside, better check to see how long it’s been dead. Look for clear eyes and the presence of fleas. If you notice ‘bluebottle flies’ around it – you’re too late, there will already be fly eggs and maggots in the meat.

WARNING:

Always cook roadkill thoroughly to kill off any pathogens (e.g., diseases) or parasites carried in the meat.

I ask you again; Would you eat venison from a road-killed deer? Is it safe? It all depends on TIME, TEMPERATURE, and apparent CONDITION of the animal.

Time: You have a maximum of 4.5 to 5 hours to gut; prepare, and refrigerate the meat (in cool weather), otherwise; within 30 minutes of the animal’s death. Unless you’re an experienced butcher, DON’T try to gut and prepare a deer!

The Guelph Agricultural College says: “Remember, the carcass has not been ‘inspected’ and it may contain harmful bacteria; deer tics; or the animal may even have rabies. The issue of eating roadkill is a “risky business”. During my research for this column, I found that in some jurisdictions (not in Canada, but in some US states), roadkill is classed as “HAZARDOUS MATERIAL”, and it is illegal for anyone to take possession of same – the carcass must be DESTROYED – tossed into landfill and buried. Again, in some jurisdictions including here in Ont./Can;

“You killed a deer (no matter how), and you are going to keep it, you must purchase a ‘deer tag’, (same as any licensed hunter)”. Registration is required, expect to pay from $30 to $60 for one deer.

Based on what happened when my son hit and killed a deer in Kincardine, Ont., he didn’t see the deer, but the male driver following when they had both pulled off the highway, shouted,

“You got a deer! I think it’s a doe – can I have it?”

And another driver behind him shouted;

“Can I carve off a chunk of it? I have my knives with me in the car!”

But the driver who made first request denied the “chunk” request.

“I called the police – they’re on their way” explained my son.

“I’ll wait for them before taking the deer” replied the ‘witness’.

A female cop arrived, took all the necessary info. and said,

“This is the 4th deer killed on this stretch of highway in the last 48 hours– you are not to blame” said she. What did the law say about who gets legal ‘possession’ of the carcass? In this case, because the driver who killed the deer didn’t want it, and ‘gave it away’, there was no mention of ‘deer tags’ or Registration. In fact the cop was only too happy to let someone remove the dead animal from the highway property.

“Just get it out of here” said she.

Conclusion: If you are going to eat road-killed deer, you do so at your own risk; and as a general rule around Bruce County if you hit and kill a deer and your vehicle is still ‘driveable’, PICK UP YOUR PRIZE AND RUN!!

Note: The list of material searched for writing this article is available upon request.

PS: I’ve often gone deer hunting, but never harmed a deer.

Your old Uncle Russ.

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From Lorne

Last evening, Halloween, only one person dropped by for trick or treat. And that was great granddaughter, Viv. The weather was really nasty, so that came as no surprise. Out of the hospital for the moment having been confined 9 days late September and 5 days in October plus twice in emergency. During that time I have learned a lot about hospital protocol. For example, the specialist, usually a doctor has final as to what lies in ones future like hanging around or getting out of here. And how the mug, some call it a urinal, when placed on ones all purpose small eating tray, is placed on the flat side, it means 'I'm empty'. but when it is stood on it's bottom, that means 'I'm ready to be emptied' I did not know any of this as recently as August. A hospital is certainly a place to learn something new. Still can legally drive, but have been instructed not to until one month following the final procedure. Said event planned for about the middle of this month.

Lorne

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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everyone and belated Happy Halloween!

It’s actually Halloween Night when I’m sitting here composing this week’s Ontarion. I’m thinking of the many reports on the news about Halloween and how the weather will be affecting the little Trick or Treaters that will either be soaked to the skin or will be staying indoors to avoid getting caught in the predicted heavy storm. Southern Ontario is supposed to get hit with very heavy winds and up to 70 mm of rain during this Halloween Eve. I hope the predictors are wrong for the sake of the kiddies that will be looking forward to a fun evening in their well though out costumes. It’s now 8:15pm and we’ve only seen a sparse number of kids on the street brave enough to be out tonight. The City of Montreal has actually postponed their Halloween Eve until tomorrow night due to the extreme weather that’s supposed to hit their area as well. Here in KW the rain is not too heavy yet but is steady and the wind has yet to pick up to any heavy degree. I hope it holds off until later when most of the kids are safe in their homes counting and sampling their collections of goodies.

Even the fire halls in KW are open to the kiddies due to the predicted heavy weather. The Firefighters are giving out candy treats as well as small flashing red lights that can be attached to the costumes of the kids for visibility safety reasons. What a good idea this is! When I was on the Fire Department we didn’t get involved with the giving of candy treats. In the thirty years I was on duty we sat at the ready in case of the many prankster’s fires that were usually set! We would invariably be responding to several set fires most years. For sure, we would be out to the small berg of Erbsville sometimes three and four times on Halloween Night since it was a favourite spot for the pranksters to set fires in the middle of the road. Since it was a rural area the troublemakers could set the fires in the middle of the road and then hide in the fields that surrounded the edge of town to watch the action as we responded to and extinguished the fires! It was usually a pile of wood and sometimes even old car tires burning in the roadway. The tires were a favourite because they would burn furiously and put off huge plumes of black smoke. I guess the brats got a big kick out of the mess their rubber fires made as well as the work it created for the firefighters! The unfortunate part of it all was that while we were busy attending the prank fires, someone that really needed our help could have been in serious trouble not to mention the possible loss of life! I don’t know if the modern fire services are still experiencing such pranks at this time of year but at least nowadays there are more fire stations with larger numbers of staff to handle the problems that can be caused by these thoughtless troublemakers! Maybe since the weather is putting a damper on the evening the fire starters won’t be able to light a match in the rain! At least that’s one good aspect of the rainy evening!

When I think back on the Halloween evenings when I was a kid (back in the 50’s) I remember the costumes we used to wear. My Sister and brother and I wore the same costumes every year for several years. My mother and my aunt Rita got together and with their sewing talents made up six amazing clown costumes complete with frilly collars around the necks as well as pointy hats that matched the costumes. These costumes were of course made up of bright multi-coloured panels from head to toe. They made six of these costumes because there were six kids that wore them each year. There were three kids in our family and three cousins in my aunt Rita’s family. Aunt Rita had three boys about the same ages as the two boys and one girl in our family. The costumes were made up of red, blue and yellow cloth and we had to step into them through the neck hole which had a large opening that closed with draw strings once we had them pulled up to our necks. They were great and were light in nature so they were not hot to wear all evening. I think we went out trick or treating until we were about 13 years old or so! That was about the maximum age of kids enjoying Halloween back in the 50’s and early 60’s. I remember it being a lot of fun but the only drawback to the bag of candy back then were the sticky “Candy Kisses” that a lot of people gave out! I never did eat many of them since I personally didn’t like the taste of them. I think they were supposed to taste like pumpkins since they were orange in colour. I always thought they tasted like wax. My favourite candies were the liquorices and the little chocolate bars. We always encouraged my mother to give out the little chocolate bars so that once Halloween was over we could have the leftover bars in our lunches for school! A definite method to our madness! LOL!

I can actually hear some of the older kids outside our office window yelling about something to one another. They sound like they are too old to be trick or treating but who knows, maybe the older kids these days still go out to gather bags of goodies just like the younger ones! Whatever, as long as they are not out trouble making! Speaking of trouble making, last night was “Doorbell Night” which is traditionally a prank evening before Halloween! I don’t think the young teenagers of today even bother keeping up that tradition anymore. We used to do a lot of doorbell ringing and door knocking when I was a young teen. It was exciting to ring someone’s doorbell or knock on their door and run and hide to watch the people answer the door and curse at the empty porch! LOL! There was one neighbour of ours that was a particular grump and every year we would do the dog poop in the paper bag on fire on his porch trick and watch his action from behind the house across the street! LOL! He actually fell for it the first couple of times we did it and would stamp the fire out for a shoe full of poop! Once he got wise to our prink he kept a shovel handy to scoop the bag off the porch into a tin can beside the door! So, the next year we lit the paper in the tin can on fire! LOL! It’s a wonder I was ever allowed to become a firefighter when I think of being involved with such pranks! If he was still alive, I’d be tempted to go to him now and apologize for my part in such acts! Oh well, it was all just fun back then and I guess I got my comeuppance by having to respond to the fire related Halloween pranks when I was on the fire department! What comes around goes around they always say! Thank goodness nothing serious ever came of the paper bag pranks of which I speak!

Hopefully this Halloween will be an uneventful one danger-wise and there will be nothing for the news people to report! I hope everyone enjoys a HAPPY Halloween!

Speaking of the snow that we are supposed to get for the first time this fall on Friday evening, I’d better get busy and install my snow tires. I’ll be happy to do so if I’m able to lift the heavy tires and wheels that must go on the Jeep again for winter. I have a new set of snow tires on the rims that I purchased last winter so they are still in “new” condition. They should last me at least another four or five winter seasons! Hopefully we’ll get another nice warmish day that will allow me to change the tires in my driveway and not during a snowstorm! Serves me right for leaving this task so long! Oh well, I’ll get them on somehow even if I have to take them to a tire shop and pay someone to install them!

That’s about all I have for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report!

Bye for now … Greg!

PS: Something To Think About>
If you haven’t already got your snow tires on your vehicle, get busy and install them on the next nice day!

PPS: Carole and I wish Lorne a speedy recovery and the best of health after his upcoming surgery!
Take care Lorne and keep in touch with the Squamidian!

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