Death to the leaf blower!
I had a close encounter with a leaf blower the other day, and it caused me to almost become murderous. So unfortunately, my rant cannot be short and (bitter) sweet because I’m really pissed-off and full of hot air.
One of the most useless pieces of crap ever ‘invented’ was the leaf blower. Maybe if it were a vacuum cleaner type tool I’d tolerate the noise and the gas fumes better. The leaf blower is pure evil and I cannot believe that it ever was allowed to make its way into existence.
I did some checking with City By-Laws and was utterly outraged by the fact that my good friends and neighbours in the West End are totally exempt by the disturbance of this monstrosity and my good friends and neighbours everywhere else in Vancouver have to put-up with this atrosity.
Los Angeles has banned gas-powered leaf blowers! Why can’t we be as good as them!
1. It is an instrument of severe health and environmental risks – noise & air pollution, especially to those people with allergies, breathing problems and/or sensitive ears.
2. It is a weapon of assault to the earth and any living thing in the path of the hurricane-like blasts of air.
3. It is an aid to minor vandalism by disposing debris on other people’s property – even if that property belongs to the City.
4. It is a fraudulent device by deceiving one into believing that some kind of clean-up is being done when, in fact, the wind might blow in the other direction and litter the space that was cleared five minutes ago.
5. It is a cause of major annoyance and irritation which can cause psychological stress in people leading them to anger, and the dangers that anger might lead to.
In other words, the use of this thing should be deemed illegal as it is (in all intents and purposes) a criminal activity. And anybody or group of people who allow this “landscaping practice” to happen are aiders and abettors to this criminal act.
Police and the army should use leaf blowers in their arsenal as a crowd-control detractor. I can imagine that this weapon might even be more effective than tear gas. Then the police could add ear plugs to their face masks, carry these leaf blowers and gear to add to their armour and look and sound and blast away just as ferociously as beasts in sci-fi movies.
–Irate Rabid Ranter
Pitbull not to blame for attack
Re: “No place for pitbulls in the city”, Rant/Rave, July 2, 2015.
Well, it should warm the cockles of your heart to learn it wasn’t a pitbull, but rather an “unleashed four-year-old male American bulldog-mastiff cross” who had an incident with another animal one month prior, and was supposed to be leashed and muzzled at all times when in public.
It is extremely unfortunate the irresponsible and negligent owner who is responsible for their aggressive animal couldn’t be bothered to even put a collar around it’s neck, let alone a leash and also tried to leave the scene. If you really think that level of behaviour is legion and therefore acceptable, well, I’m glad I don’t live in Yaletown. Despicable and yes, definitely punishable behaviour by the owner of a bulldog/mastiff cross.
–Jenables
Don’t fence me in
What’s with the Park Board erecting the blue fences on Beach and Denman 12 days (at time of writing) before the first bangs of the fireworks will be heard? I’m sure the thousands of tourists will be thrilled sending pictures home of the Laughing Men and the city’s floriculture designs surrounded by these monstrosities.
–William Muller
• All rants and raves are the opinion of the individual and do not reflect the opinions of Westender. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and brevity, so please keep it short and (bitter)sweet. Email your rant or rave to [email protected]
