14. January 2009 by admin.

Well, gang, we’ve reached that time of the year when fashion goes out the window and warm clothes must prevail.  As a Tunnel Bus rider during the next couple of weeks, you need to be prepared for just about any type of weather — cold and snow.  After all, it is NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) season.  For the uninformed, this means potential delays in crossing the border, especially in the afternoon.

So, let’s talk about the necessary requirements to wait for the afternoon bus in 5 F above weather with 20 mile-an-hour winds.  Just like your mother told you, dress in layers.  Long underwear, t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, shirts, sweaters, two or three pairs of socks (one wool), gloves, scarf, and of course, fur hat for those of us that are focilely changed.  One more word of caution.  Important tip:  Always go to the bathroom first.  It’s difficult to remove all those close in an emergency!

Posted in Weather, Rules | 1 Comment »

6. January 2009 by admin.

This story goes way back!  It is a true story!

One summer afternoon, a passenger paying his fare asked if it was safe to travel through the Tunnel.  They expressed serious concerns for their safety and told the driver that they could not swim should anything happen.  The driver said, don’t worry about it, for your protection your sit cushion can be used as a flotation device.  That seemed to settle the nerves of the concerned traveler.  The best part of the story is the next person (a regular rider) was surprised to hear this and didn’t know that the bus was equiped with such features. 

Certainly Transit Windsor is concerned about our safety but let me repeat, there are NO floatation devices or life preservers on the Tunnel Bus.

Sometimes people ask some wild questions when entering the Bus.  I close with this one:

 ”Does this Bus go to downtown Canada?” 

If you’re not familiar with Canadian geography, you can brush up on it on Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada. 

If you’re every in “downtown Canada” please let me know, perhaps we can have lunch at one of my favorite Lebanese restaurants.

Posted in Tunnel, Flotation Device | 1 Comment »

5. January 2009 by admin.

Happy New Year, gang!  We’re off to a great start for the year.  Today was the first day back after the holidays for most of us and we were greeted to a big ‘ol back up at the border this morning.  For some of our riders, the fun began before the bus ride itself.  With a new month, it’s time for a new bus pass.  Such a simple procedure to purchase a pass but it often takes so long with Transit Windsor.  Often times in the morning, there is only one person selling passes.   Since the month began with a holiday and it’s time for students to renew their semester passes, you get a big line up.  Fortunately, I thought about my new pass last week so that I could avoid that problem.  It’s not something that I always do, but I have been caught in big September line up!  So I guess I learned my lesson!

However, upon reaching US Customs this morning, after clearing we were all handed a “Number 1″ card.  It made me feel so great, that I told the officer receiving the card that I felt like a number 1 today.  What a great way to start off the year!  He looked at me like I was some kind of idiot — which I did to make the whole procedure look stupid.  Boy, I can’t wait for the new Homeland Security USA television show to begin tomorrow night!  Maybe we’ll see some of the ridiculous things that average citizens have to go through on a daily basis.  Well, thinking about it, maybe not!  More to come on Homeland Security USA tomorrow.

Happy New Year everyone!

Posted in Transit Windsor, US Customs | 1 Comment »

31. December 2008 by admin.

In today’s Windsor Star, there is a very interesting opinion titled, “The Border: Rekindling the Spirit of Norad.”  I find it very appropriate to close out the year 2008.  It’s time to look forward — with the financial collapse earlier in the year and auto sector melt-down, and of course the ever worsening border problems, it’s time to find a viable solution.  (http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/border/1129685/story.html)

The time has come for Prime Minister Harper and President-Elect Obama to sit down and resolve the border issues.  Since 9-11 the US Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Immigration have not been able to solve the border issues.  In fact, it is estimated that $9.3 billion a year is lost by US and Canadian trucking industries.  $9.3 BILLION! 

Former Canadian ambassador to the US Michael Kergin and the Canadian International Counsel (CIC) are urging our leaders to re-invent what President Franklin Roosevelt and PM William Lyon Mackenzie King did some 60 years ago with Norad.  The time is right to develop a Permanent Joint Border Commission that would be the equivalent of Norad.  Perhaps in these difficult economic times on both sides of the border, a border solution is blooming.  Kergin’s report can be found at: http://www.igloo.org/canadianinternational/download/research/workinggro/borderissu/cicborders

This morning as I was listening to NPR and hearing about how blogs might be the next generation of grassroots campaigning for social change, I thought how important this particular issue is not only to me since I cross the border daily but for the folks of Windsor and Essex County and the Detroit Metropolitan area.  This border is problematic for both sides.  In fact, it extends well beyond Ontario and Michigan and other states and provinces on the border.  It effects everyone in both Canada and the US by disrupting trade and commerce.  In a major global economic slow down, we need to look at ways of improving and streamlining our process.  Having a “Norad” approach, a joint border commission would be an excellent start. 

So maybe 2009, we’ll see this blog develop into a grassroots organization of promoting border issues and more important solutions!

I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year!  I look forward to the challenges of the New Year! 

Posted in Border Solution | 1 Comment »

17. December 2008 by admin.

Let’s face it, there are just times when you want to have your own space and not really engage in conversation on the Bus.  Everyone has days like that or there is just someone that you don’t want to talk with.  It’s ok, don’t worry about it. 

 Here’s a little secret that’s proven to work on the Bus.  If someone sits next to you and you really would prefer them to go elsewhere, a simple cough and conversation with them about how awful you feel goes a long way.  If they are not sick, they will quickly get up and find another seat.  It’s got a proven track record. 

Posted in characteristics | 1 Comment »

16. December 2008 by admin.

I’m not sure how I really feel about this.  One morning last week while I was commuting to work, I disembarked the Tunnel Bus and entered the US Immigration Office.  I was one of the first persons off the Bus and noticed the Immigration Officer was working on his computer.  This particular computer monitor was stationed so that incoming passengers could see the screen.  Most of the time, the computer screen has a screen on top of it so that no one other than the operator immediately in front of the screen can read it.  However, this day, the screen was off.  As I approached the officer, I could see he was busy surfing Google.  I’m really not sure what he was looking up, nor do I really care.  But I am concerned that US Customs and Immigration Officers have time to Google while working.  There have been plenty of times when I have waited long periods of time to cross the border and now I have to wonder, were the officers on Google and therefore delaying my entry?  If that’s not enough, without the protective screen, personal information about the person being screened is displayed on screen for all remaining passengers to see. 

 I’ll end to day the way I started, I’m sure how I feel about Customs and Immigration Officers have time to Google during the morning rush hour?  If you’ve had to wait to cross the border into Detroit, would you expect the delay to be an officer Googling?  I certainly wouldn’t think that but now I might!

Posted in US Customs | 1 Comment »

15. December 2008 by admin.

Please write to President Bush today!!!  Tell him that the auto companies need his help now.  If not, we will all face an uncertain future.  Send comments to:  comments@whitehouse.gov

Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »

15. December 2008 by admin.

Today’s Detroit News ran an article on millionaire Matty Moroun the owner of the Ambassador Bridge.  He is not well liked in Windsor for purchasing up West-end homes by the bridge and other waterfront property along the Detroit River to protect his cash-cow, The Ambassador Bridge.

Upon learning about one of America’s richest, President George W. Bush (the one that almost got head in the head with a shoe) responded, “Why don’t I know this guy?  If I did, I probably would have carried Michigan.”  I don’t think so!!

Read about how this one man can control the commerce of two nations.   The article can be found at the following address:  http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081215/BIZ/812150328.

Posted in Ambassador Bridge | 3 Comments »

12. December 2008 by admin.

Today, I took the Crosstown #2 bus to downtown Windsor.  I noticed that many of the passengers were texting.  So I started to figure that my ride on the Crosstown was 3 to 4 times longer in distance than my Tunnel Bus ride but the time spent on the Tunnel Bus might be 3 to 4 times longer.  Wouldn’t it make sense to have WiFi on the Bus so that commuters could get caught up on e-mail and web browsing?  I would certainly appreciate it.  Might help make the time go by faster or not have to enter the political debates which sometimes take place on the morning ride.

Just a thought.  Wi-Fi on the Tunnel Bus!

Posted in Wi-Fi, technology | 1 Comment »

11. December 2008 by admin.

Move over Cops, in January, 2009 ABC will be airing a 13-part “cops-like” show, “Homeland Security USA.”  Featuring none other than Homeland Security personnel, US Customs, Immigration, Border Patrol and airport screeners.  I really hope they show up at the Tunnel one morning to film.  Let’s get the television crew to film just how rude and arrogant some of the officers are.  Maybe they look through someone’s lunch and find an orange or roast beef sandwich.  I just wonder if they’ll have to take a number to leave?

Check out ABC’s web site at: http://abc.go.com/primetime/homelandsecurity/index?pn=index

Posted in Television, US Customs | 1 Comment »