Cheers & Jeers
Jeers: to having to restate the obvious. Last week, the Corner Brook RNC issued a news release says “Motorists are reminded: when merging onto roadways always yield the right of way to on-coming traffic. Before proceeding to turn right at a red light; make a complete stop and yield right of way to motorists with the green light. Pay particular attention to posted signage including: ‘No Left Turn’ ‘Stop’ and ‘Do Not Enter.’ Yield right of way to pedestrians at marked crosswalks. Use extra care and caution in school zones and adjust speeds accordingly. Stop for school buses that have red lights flashing and are in the process of loading and unloading students.” All of these are basic rules of the road, and if you took your driving test and ignored any of them, you’d fail — outright. And yet some of us apparently still have to be reminded… If any of those “reminders” are news to you, just hand in your licence.
Jeers: to still not reaching peak pumpkin spice. Yes, it’s that time of the year again, that time when you say “Good gourd! Is there pumpkin spice in everything?” Try this: “The Pumpkin Spice run is our fall multi-distance race. Held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the unique Panther Island Pavilion park in Fort Worth, this race will give you a chance to celebrate the season and get some great selfies.” Or this: “Pumpkin spice Brulee Oolong Tea – fill your cup with fall flavor!” pumpkin spice Kahlua: “Featuring the seasonal twist of natural pumpkin and delicious autumnal spices blended with 100 per cent Arabica coffee and sugarcane rum.” Pumpkin spice chocolates – pumpkin spice gum and potato chips and even pumpkin spice dog treats. Yoghurt. Cheerios. Deodorant. You can even buy a tinned spray pump to add pumpkin spice to anything that doesn’t have enough. How about a teen body spray? You could just call it “Jack” — “Jack ‘O Lantern”!
Cheers: to beers. Every time you turn around, there’s another craft brewery propping up somewhere in this province. The latest options heading through the provincial permitting system right now? A Bay Roberts microbrewery being set up by the Baccalieu Trail Brewing Company, and a seasonal microbrewery in Port au Port East with the handle the Secret Cove Microbrewery. There’s a huge variation of options for making different, interesting and new beers, and what could be better than fresh local suds made right in your home town? Bring it on.
Jeers: to strange oceans guests. Right whales inexplicably now breeding and feeding in the wrong places. Striped bass in Labrador rivers. Now, at least two cases of Pacific Pink salmon turning up in rivers in Labrador as well. Snapper, grouper, tilefish and black sea bass all moving north up the Atlantic coast. Lobster grounds changing. Ocean temperatures warming. But hey, there are still those who claim that, when it comes to climate change, there’s nothing to see here. Sigh.