Connect with us

Automotive

How to Have a Happy Commute

Published

on

BY: MALIAKA BRYCE

Does your morning commute make you arrive at work feeling angry and frustrated?  When someone wishes you a “Good Morning” is your response “What is so freaking good about it!!” Well, you’re not alone. Numerous studies support the fact that a longer commute – one hour or more, heavy traffic, poor weather conditions and construction delays during your daily commute can lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety and can dramatically reduce overall life satisfaction and happiness.

I personally struggled a great deal for years with my three-hour daily commute to and from work. I constantly complained about the time I was spending in my car and away from my loved ones. Fuming about all other things I could be doing if I wasn’t stuck in traffic. Road rage with the use of phrases like “look at this idiot” was the norm for me.

Common Commuting Solutions: Most studies suggest the same six basics solutions:

  1.  Carpooling
  2.  Moving closer to your job
  3.  Avoid rush hour traffic by working flex hours
  4.  Walking or biking
  5.  Listening to soothing music
  6. Avoiding the office altogether by working from home

All these suggestions are sensible enough but besides carpooling all the other options were not feasible for myself or my family.

My carpooling experience was not good at all. I tried numerous times with a variety of drivers and I quickly discovered that there is nothing more frustrating than when someone ELSE makes you late for work. Then there was the challenge of finding a driver that matched my driving styles. Driving with someone who drove too slow, practiced back set driving or worst drove like a dis-banned race car driver caused me more stress than it was worth in the end.   

My Commute Solution: I thought of quitting my job every day until I changed my mental approach to my commute. At the risk of sounding very “new-aged” or what my girlfriend terms “Whhooo whooo-ish” I must admit that changing my attitude towards my commute was the only thing that worked for me.

Gratitude – Before leaving the house I thought about how lucky I was to have a car and a job in the first place. I gave thanks for the quality roads we have in Canada reflecting on the countries I visited with horribly bumpy roads or no roads at all.

Planning Ahead –  I packed myself enjoyable treats to pop in my mouth on my commute focusing on sweet, natural foods that helped put me in a good mood. Red grapes are still my favourite. I also started using the time to learn Spanish and I listen to audio courses on finance, relationships and other “Whooo whoooish” type courses that I find interesting and the hours just fly by. I arrive at work with new ideas and vigour. After a few weeks, my boss noticed the change in my work performance. (try audible.com for great audio book options).

Being Nice – Play games with the other drivers – waving, smiling or giving the right of way and made an effort to acknowledge my fellow commuters as much as I could.  Often times getting big smiles and waves in return that just made me feel like a better person. The ego boost is incredible and contagious. I walked into work feeling like Mother Theresa.

Give these tips a try for a week and see what happens. Share your positive commute experiences. What are your happy commute tips or suggestions? Share them and let’s make commuting happier for everyone.  DRIVE HAPPIER!

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

407ETR Matters

Exploring environmental racism and its impact on Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities

Published

on

Photo Credit: Drazen Zigic

BY KAHA G.

The Canadian Senate’s recent passage of legislation to address environmental racism marks a significant milestone in Canada’s pursuit of environmental justice. The Environmental Justice Strategy Act requires the government to explore how racial and socio-economic factors influence environmental risks and create a national strategy to address environmental racism. This development has generated widespread celebration among advocates for: social justice, environmental protection, and public health.

To understand the significance of this milestone, it’s essential to know what environmental racism is. Environmental racism refers to the placement of harmful industries and environmental hazards in: Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities, which also have less access to environmental benefits. For a more general definition, the US Environmental Protection Agency defines environmental justice as ensuring all people have equal protection from environmental hazards and equal access to decision-making for a healthy environment.

With that covered, let’s go into the facts. The Environmental Justice Strategy Act requires the Canadian government to explore how racial and socio-economic factors influence environmental risks. It will also create Canada’s first national strategy on environmental racism and environmental justice. This follows a 2020 UN report that highlighted how marginalized groups, especially Indigenous peoples, face unacceptable environmental conditions compared to other Canadians.

Nearly 30 years ago, the United States initiated a similar environmental justice program. Canada’s new law aims to establish equivalent protections. Dr. Ingrid Waldron, a leader in studying environmental racism, stressed that better data collection is essential. She noted that the formal data on environmental racism in Canada is incomplete, leading to a lack of comprehensive understanding of the issue’s severity. According to Dr. Waldron, without proper action, the negative impacts on people’s health and well-being will persist.

Passing the Environmental Justice Strategy Act is a significant step in acknowledging and addressing environmental racism in Canada. The next task is to develop a strategy that reflects the experiences and needs of those most affected. Advocates emphasize the importance of involving these communities in creating effective solutions and call for the government to provide adequate funding for these initiatives.

Bill C-226, which started as Bill C-230, was reintroduced and supported by key political figures, including MP Elizabeth May and Senator Mary Jane McCallum. Its passage was celebrated by several groups, such as: the Canadian Coalition for Environmental and Climate Justice (CCECJ), Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequalities and Community Health Project (The ENRICH Project), Black Environmental Initiative (BEI), Breast Cancer Action Québec (BCAQ), Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), etc.

Before I end this article, I would like to share a quote from one of the group’s reactions to the bill, specifically the Breast Cancer Action Quebec (BCAQ)

“Breast Cancer Action Quebec is thrilled that the Senate has passed the Environmental Justice Strategy Act. And we are even more impressed by the determination of Dr. Ingrid Waldron and her decades long fight to require Canada to formally reckon with its perpetuation of environmental racism. Every day brings examples of corporations egregiously polluting with impunity the air, water and soil of neighboring communities that are most often Indigenous, racialized or low-income. Now Canada will have to map and answer for this treatment.” 

The passage of the Environmental Justice Strategy Act marks a significant milestone in Canada’s pursuit of environmental justice. By acknowledging and addressing environmental racism, Canada can create a healthier and more just environment for all.

Continue Reading

Automotive

Top Caribbean Celebrities and Their Exotic Cars

Published

on

BY: MALIAKA BRYCE

Each quarter I take time out to update my Vision Board – a task that helps me stay focused on achieving my goals. Exotic cars are my weakness and motivator of choice. Dreaming of driving a sexy V12 makes me work a little faster and harder. My latest vision board inspiration comes from four of my favorite Caribbean Celebrities and their dream cars.

  1. Nicki Minaj – Trinidad and Tobago

This island girl owns a few beautiful cars, most of which are bright pink including her Lamborghini Aventador valued at $400,000, and Bentley Continental GT worth $250,000. She was also spotted in a $500,000 Maybach 62S boosting a 12-cylinder twin-turbo engine with an astonishing 604 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque.

Onika Tanya Maraj was born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Jamaica and Queens, New York. The rapper/actress released three platinum-selling albums, Pink Friday, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and The Pinkprint. Her album sales coupled with her various movie roles and stint as an American Idol judge, helped Minaj earn approximately $70 million in her career, according to celebritynetworth.com.

  1. Bob Marley – Jamaican

During his lifetime, Bob Marley owned a number of luxury vehicles including a BMW, Land Rover Defender & Mercedes 500SL.  Nesta Robert Marley was the world ambassador for reggae music and one of Jamaica’s biggest superstar singers, musician and songwriter selling over 25 million records throughout his career. To celebrate Marley’s 70th birthday, Jamaica’s Land Rover dealership and the Marley family fully restored Bob’s classic Land Rover truck to its former glory. The vehicle is now on display at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston Jamaica. The Marley estate is said to be worth over $130 million dollars placing him on Forbes Magazine’ list of the five top-earning dead celebrities.

  1. Wyclef Jean – Haitian

Wyclef owns an exotic car collection of over 37 cars including a $1 million dollar – Mclaren F1 “The fastest car in the world” and the rarest most expensive cars in the world, the Pagani Zonda C12 at $1,400,000.  Wyclef’’s cherry red C12 is one of only three in America. Wyclef Jeanelle Jean is a world famous singer, rapper, musician, actor, and politician. Jean moved to the States from Haiti at the age of nine and rose to fame as a member of the Fugees, winning three Grammy Awards for his work in music. According to People with Money Magazine his property holdings, endorsements, restaurant chain, football team, Vodka, perfume and fashion line puts Wyclef’s net worth over $146 million

  1. Usain Bolt – Jamaican

Bolt is the fastest man alive and the richest runner in the history of track and field and owns a fleet of very fast vehicles including the Nissan GT2 worth over $100,999 custom designed and finished in real gold, Ferrari F30 Spider and a Ferrari 458 valued at over $291,000.00. The Olympic 100m and 200m champion sprinter has endorsements from Puma, Gatorade, Virgin Media, Visa, a best-selling autobiography and commands an appearance fee ranging from $250,000 to $500,000. It is estimated that Usain is worth close to $100 million.

So, keep dreaming big – because if they can do it – so can we… Right?

Continue Reading

Automotive

Three Tips for a Rust-Free Winter

Published

on

BY: MALIAKA BRYCE

This may just be the world’s fastest crash course on rust prevention ever written – well maybe not ever but, by the end of this article you will have learned the basics as it relates to rust on your car and how to handle it.

Rust 101

What is Rust? In simplified terms, when iron meets water and oxygen the result is rust.
Vehicles made with iron based products will eventually show signs of rust. The goal, therefore, is to use protection as a method to extend the life of the vehicle. Most cars will rust in two to three years if unprotected. However, once treated and maintained an average car will show little signs of rust for up to five to six years which happens to be the average length of time most Canadians will keep a vehicle. Preventing rust is important to the potential reselling value of the vehicle and should not be overlooked.

Where Does Rust Start? The paint job is the car’s first line of defense against rust. Once the paint is nicked, scratched or exposed corrosion can start to form in those areas. Rust often forms anywhere two iron parts rub together such as the doors, hinges, etc. The undercarriage of the vehicles is also often prone to rust. Salt, dirt, sand, damp weather, heavy snow, and carbon elements all help to speed up the rate at which the iron will start to rust or corrode.

How to Prevent Rust? These are the three basic steps necessary to increase the life of the vehicle and prevent rust: Keep the car protected/oiled, clean, and dry.

1. Keep it Protected and Oiled: Rust proofing spray/undercoating is currently the most popular method of rust protection used in Canada due to its price point and availability and is recommended for new vehicles. Rust proofing is used in areas that are more visible on the vehicle such as the door, wheel wells, fenders etc. and are available as oils, gels, or waxes that require yearly maintenance. The ceramic application is a new alternative to wax products and is said to be five times stronger than wax and lasts for five years. Undercoating protects the undercarriage of the vehicle or the hidden parts of the car and is often called sealants. There are a variety of brands and price ranges
available for rustproofing and undercoating – additional research is recommended before purchasing a package.
a. Electronic Rust Inhibitors – work well on boats and bridges but have been proven less effective on cars and are often not recommended.
b. Paint protection film products represent the latest in protection technology and are removable, self-healing, stain resistant and often maintenance free.

2. Keep it Clean: It is highly recommended to remove the vehicles dirt, salt and all other elements that increase the corrosion rate of the iron as quickly as possible. Washing all parts of the car including the underbody is necessary to prolong the life of the protection option chosen. Use baking soda and not dish-washing soap.

3. Keep It Dry: Once cleaned, the vehicles must be properly dried and kept out of moisture. Store your vehicles inside when ever possible or use a car tarp or tent to protect from heavy snowfall or rain. Keep water away from your vehicle.

You now know the basics of rust prevention. How many of these suggestions will you adopt in your everyday routine? Do you have other rust proofing ideas? We want to hear from you.

Continue Reading

Trending