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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: June 17th, 2023

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  • In Ontario, they are in fixed places and signage is required ahead of their position. Heck, they are on google maps. Unless you are driving on an empty road, you will know where they are when suddenly everyone slows down, then speeds up again about 20 seconds later. Quebec, on the other hand, is more like Calgary. They do have signs as well, but they move the little vans around. They are pretty conspicuous though, so easy to spot. I wonder if there is any data on their efficacy by deployment. Or maybe it just depends on the individual. I know one guy who got tagged doing 60ish three times in a week in the same spot because he never noticed the new camera, the giant flash, or the fact that they’d arbitrarily changed the speed limit from 60 to 50 three years prior. Maybe they’re just plain effective on that type of person.








  • For sure, most use oil or propane as a primary heat source when gas isn’t available. But those rely on both expensive fossil fuel and electricity to run, so a backup that doesn’t depend on either is handy, especially with all these once in a century storms we get every year now. Wood makes for a cheap, effective backup. Used to be so common in housing too. Now we just get gas furnaces and gas fireplaces for show. Still, I wouldn’t go out of my way to get a woodstove. I agree that a backup generator is plenty for most situations. But if you have an older home with a fireplace, keep a half cord around and make sure the chimney is clean.


  • As you reach city limits in a lot of cities, it is increasingly likely that you will no longer find gas lines, city water, or sewers. Having a backup heat source is pretty comforting. Much like you, I used to rely on just gas with a generator for backup, but I’ve experienced frozen gas mains, so I like having a woodstove and a couple cords of wood to burn as a backup source of heat. Plus it’s very cozy on damp, cold days, and nicer than the fireplace channel on Christmas.