Many folk are wondering how we will handle Halloween this year. As decorations appear everywhere throughout the neighbourhood, it is looking more and more like folk are going to celebrate. Guidance has been promised by both the municipal and provincial governments. My grandkids want to go out trick and treating but their mother has doubts. "Mom's overly protective," according to the kids.
It's flu shot time. Our doctor put two shots of high dose flu vaccine with four times as many antigens than a regular flu shot aside for us, Many believe the more complex flu shot is a better option for seniors.Why? In a word COVID-19.
And speaking of COVID-19. The nurses giving the shots parked themselves in the lot outside the doctor's office and gave the shots to those arriving for the shots while they were still sitting in their cars. This was done to eliminate having patients from all over the area packed into a small waiting room.
A vaccine for the present corona virus cannot come soon enough.
It is amazing how quickly traffic backs up and how long the lines extend back from the site of an accident. Roads like Wonderland Road South are especially bad as there are no other streets to carry the traffic thanks to the presence of the river.
I wish I could say this happens rarely but it happens all too often. It was promised that the red-light cameras would cut the number of accidents at Wonderland Road South at Springbank Drive but one wonders if they cameras have performed as promised.
The London intersections with the highest number of accidents are monitored by red-light cameras. Run the light and receive a ticket in the mail. Was this accident caused by a car running a red? No idea. But clearly this intersection just suffered another accident despite the presence of the cameras.
I've wondered if the cameras can, at times, cause accidents. I admit that when there are cameras mounted around an intersection, I find my self somewhat distracted. I'm thinking about cameras and not driving. When I googled this question I discovered many researchers believe that red light cameras may not make intersections safer.
Scientific American reports that fear of fines may fuel more sudden stops and rear-end collisions.
When I was a boy there were tall television broadcasting towers all over the province. Every TV had a pair of rabbit ears sitting on top to pick the television signal out of the air. It was not uncommon to jump up, go to the television and turn the rabbit ears to improve the reception, lessen the "snow." Often it was not possible to get completely rid of the snow, especially if the channel was a distant one.
I've noticed these towers are disappearing. One of the towers in town, there were two, had its top chopped and its height reduced. The other tower is still standing on the edge of town but its presence is under pressure.
When I started thinking about this, I googled the topic and discovered a piece posing the question: Will Television Disappear in the Years to Come? According to the linked article many rural Americans have seen most or all their over-the-air stations disappear."
Television, paid for by advertising, pulled for free from the air has been minimalized by the advent of cable. I can see the day the towers, left with no use, will be removed. The sight of these towers will be relegated to memory along with other sights once so common. Need an example? Think of the smoke on the horizon left by a passing coal burning steam engine.
Many species of sumac boast striking red-leaf displays in the fall but some sumac turn bright yellow and others a deep but rich orange. Every fall, I watch for the moment the sumac changes. I find the brilliantly coloured stands breath taking.
