Sometimes the government makes laws that most of us think should already be in place. In particular I'm talking about a bill before the Ontario legislature that regulates roadside zoo's. We've all driven past them. I've never taken the kids in. We've gone to African Lion Safari but these little zoo's just never looked right. I always figured that all zoo's had to meet some regulations but I was wrong. Right now laws only apply to native wildlife. There are no regulations for keeping tigers, lions or monkeys. Liberal MPP David Zimmer introduced a bill that requires and enforces licensing and inspection of privately owned zoos, as well as training qualifications for operators and staff. Bill 154, The Regulation of Zoos Act, also requires adequate standards of care for the animals and safety for the public. Here are some of the regulations of the new act:

16. (1) A person who operates and maintains a zoo shall ensure that each animal in the zoo receives, in accordance with the prescribed standards, care appropriate to the species and the animal's individual needs, including, but not limited to,

(a) the provision of an appropriate diet and potable drinking water at all times;

(b) the provision of space sufficient to allow for the expression of species-typical behaviours, movement and exercise;

(c) the provision of appropriate substrates, shelter, privacy, furnishings and environmental enrichment;

(d) the provision of a physical environment that satisfies the full range of biological and behavioral needs, whether at the licensee's premises or away from them;

(e) the provision of an appropriate social environment; and

(f) the provision of appropriate veterinary care.

It seems to me that these new laws are just common sense but some roadside zoo keepers are not even trained in how to care for exotic animals or domestic ones for that matter. Here's an online petition.
More info

Dave

I live in a small town. I was born in a city, Hamilton to be exact. Hamilton if you don't know is one of the dirtiest cities in Canada. The steel mills and other industries have ruined what once must have been a beautiful place. I do miss living there, the hustle and bustle. I don't think I'll go back tho. The dangers of the city are huge. If you lived in the suburbs of Hamilton you wouldn't know about the darker side of the city. I grew up in a nice part of the city. It wasn't till I was older and living on my own did I realize how nasty it is. Chrissy and I moved into an apartment near downtown. Hookers and drug dealers were on the corners all the time. We used to have a dog, Sasha, Every night around 11 I'd take Sasha out for a walk and we'd see the hookers dancing on the corners, they'd pet Sasha. When I took her out for her morning walk, around 6 or 7 they'd still be out there but they wouldn't be dancing. Sasha got no attention in the morning, the girls looked half dead by then. I wonder and worry about these girls still. I imagine they have parents and friends who love them or maybe not. I just wish they'd see that they are better than a cracked out hooker. Chrissy and I argued about legalizing prostitution. I say legalize it.

Last week 2 guys were killed a block away from where we lived. The news said they were killed over a spilled drink. Most of the upper class can't figure out how or why this would happen. It doesn't surprise me. I knew guys who are like this. They are animals. They have no respect for anyone. I've known some crazy guys who would hit first and ask questions later. Most of these guys were unpredictable until you understood the rules they live by. Most of these random crazy acts of violence are fueled by drugs.

Dave

I never thought I'd be something anyone would be proud of so I feel little shame in not being successful. Some people spend most of their lives being depressed because they had so many plans and nothing worked out. When I was a kid I played in the dirt all the time. I've worked at a few factories and hated them. Even when I was driving a forklift I was unhappy. Just being stuck inside bores me, plus the bullshit of having to work beside people that are lazy and stupid is a drain. When I was 14 I started working on a dairy farm. For the next 4 yrs I worked there every weekend and all summer. The physical work was back breaking, I had to have a hernia operation at 16, but I loved it. If you've never put hay in a barn you haven't lived. Up in the barn on a hot day the temp. is twice what it is outside. The bales drop every minute and you have to scramble to get them in place before the next one drops. I loved that job and would do it again if I could. For the last 3 yrs. I've been working for a landscaper. Most of the work is physical. I enjoy it like I enjoyed the farm. Problem is not enough money and the asshole I work for puts no value in employee's. So I'm at a crossroads. If I take a factory job that brings in more money, my enjoyment goes way down. If I stay doing what I'm doing than my family will never have the things we want. I see a definite opening for me to start my own business but the risk scares me. I never thought I could own and operate a business. My current boss doesn't have the ability to exploit the market around us. He can't see how much bigger his company could be. I do. So you can see my problem. If I stay a labourer then everything stays the same, I get to play in the dirt with heavy equipment and push my body as hard and as far as I can. If I start my own company I can still work hard but I have to also work smart. I see the potential of my own company. I know the prices, costs and profit of the business and its potential is huge. I'm not talking about becoming a millionaire, but making enough to be comfortable and make it easier for my kids to not have to use their bodies to make money. I only have a few months to decide what to do. I wanted to make a go of it last year but never had the nuts too. I hope this year I can clear my head and do what I need to.

A friend of mine just bought his first computer. Bill is completely computer illiterate, using a dvd player was a stretch. Bill called me the other day to come over and show him how to use it. I went over Friday night. He bought a laptop, I don't know the specs. His wireless provider sent someone over to help him hook it up. The rep hooked the wireless up and told Bill "you're online" Bill didn't have a clue what to do. On Friday I went over and showed him how to connect to the internet and open up explorer. I set his homepage to Google and gave him a quick lesson on surfing. When I left he was sitting on the couch watching Floyd on you tube. I called him on Sunday to see how things went and he said that by the time I got home Fri. the computer went crazy and he was too embarrassed to call me. I went over today and went over everything again. The computer did go crazy, I don't know why but whenever he opened explorer from his tool bar, windows would start popping up like crazy. I deleted the shortcut and opened a new one, no problems. He asked if I could come over every weekend to show him something new. Its hard to explain to someone with no internet experience what the internet is. Especially a 40 year old laborer with no education, or knowledge of the world wide web. I'm going to enjoy watching him discover the internet. In our house the computer is as important as the microwave. For 3 years I've tried to convince my boss to get a computer but he won't. He asks me to check "your internet thingy" all the time. He'll call me and read me an address from a magazine. I try to explain that with the internet he wouldn't need magazines but he won't budge. I think everyone should have internet access.

Dave

Ishmael Beah

Last night on the daily show Jon Stewart interviewed Ishmael Beah. Ishmael was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa. At the age of thirteen, his life was interrupted by a civil war that claimed his family. He was forced to become a child solider for three years. In 1996, he was disarmed and taken out of the army by a United Nations sponsored program. He now resides in the United States where he is a senior at the United Nations high school in New York. He wrote a book "Long way Gone" I wish I could fight like him. I imagine everyday is a battle for this guy. I need to harness my internal strength like Ishmael. http://www.bookwrapcentral.com/authors/ishmaelbeah.htm If you click on the book cover you will hear interviews with him. I'm not one to buy books but I think I'll buy this one. I'm sure there are many others like him and I hope the message they preach will be heard.

Dave

An open letter to Chrissy,

When we said I do 9 years ago we never thought it would be this hard. We thought we'd get married and it would all fall in place. 11 years ago I picked you up from school, you were wearing that skirt.GRRRRR!!! We spent a very romantic night in the station wagon:) In almost 11 years my love for you has only grown stronger. I regret many decisions that I have made but not the one to be with you and have our family. Both of our kids were your ideas....thank you, you were right they are awesome. The purpose of my blog will be to try and connect with you on another level. I also hope that by communicating my plans and dreams in a public way will help me achieve them. One day in the future this blog and our lives will be turned into a movie. The happy ending will see us still together.

Love Dave