Will Kelly's Blog

When 911 doesn’t answer

williampkelly — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:18:23 +0000

At a very young age, most children are taught to call 911 in case they have an emergency. Children are also taught that 911 will respond to that call. But what happens if no one responds? What do you do if the person on the other line doesn’t care?
Four desperate travellers called 911 after their car got stuck on a back road in northern Saskatchewan. They were coming from Prince Albert to Loon Lake when they took a wrong turn resulting in the car getting stuck in mud and water on a logging road.
Nothing was ever done in response to their call.
It is reported that the stranded travellers tried to call 911 three times, got through once, only to have their call rerouted to an RCMP operational communication centre where it was answered by a civilian dispatcher. It is unknown if anything was done in response to this call.
One of the travellers, 18 year-old Kerri Canepotatoe, set off by foot on a 60 km journey to find help for her fellow travellers who stayed in the car.
Canepotatoe died of exposure, and it was the discovery of her body that set off the search for the rest of the group, Canepotatoe’s cousin and her cousin’s two children.
A week after the call was made to 911 rescuers searched by air and spotted the car. It took over two hours for all-terrain vehicles to reach the car. The travellers were brought to hospital and were considered to be in stable condition.
If it took over two hours for all-terrain vehicles to reach them, imagine what poor Kerri Canepotatoe had to go through on her search for safety. Not exactly a walk in the park.
The real issue here is that a young woman died because a 911 call was not answered or dealt with properly. Nobody truly knows if a tow truck or a Mountie was sent to the car; nobody knows what happened. Where is the communication here?
The police’s system should have a complete log of calls answered and calls that were dealt with. Now some calls will obviously be of a higher priority then others but all calls need to be taken seriously and followed through.
If someone were to call 911 because of a heart attack but it “wasn’t clear” if an ambulance was sent out, there would and should be an uproar among society.
Who do we have to blame for Canepotatoe’s death? Who didn’t do their job? Who allowed the death of a young woman and the potential harm or death of three others? When someone has the responsibility of answering 911 calls, they should have the proper training to deal with situations like this.
Clearly when the travellers called 911 asking for help, they weren’t simply stranded at the side of a busy highway. The fact that the person who took the call had the audacity to not ensure the safety of these people should put the entire extent training of every person within this occupation into question. Yes, there are different ways to deal with every situation, but it is quite obvious that this particular person did not know what to do. This person did not do their job because they did not ensure the safety of four people when they were in dire need of help.
There was no reason for Canepotatoe to die. Who will suffer next when the next 911 operator doesn’t want to do their job?

2010 NFL Draft to be one of the most exciting in years

williampkelly — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:01:40 +0000

On April 22, 2010, the NFL draft will begin with the first round being drafted in a prime-time time slot. The draft will continue over the next two days, which is the first time that the NFL draft will span three days. But that is not the reason football fans will be glued to their televisions. The reason is the same every year, to see how their teams management decides to draft. What they do on that day can make or break a team in the years to come (see the Detroit Lions).

This year, the St. Louis Rams have the first overall draft pick and everyone is waiting to see what they do. Their choice effects every other teams draft board and unlike previous years, no one is sure what they are going to do.

Most analysts agree that they have four options on draft day. The most talked about is talking Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford first overall. Most teams and analysts think that he is the real deal and will go on to become a starting NFL quarterback for years to come. But do the Rams think that? If they have doubts, do they really want to invest a huge amount of money on a contract with him? He would be the most exciting pick for the Ram’s dwindling fan base, but the Ram’s also need to stop losing as soon as possible.

A big question is if the Rams want to pick up a guy who most likely won’t start the season right away or go with a player who can make an immediate impact. If they do play Bradford right away, it would put a massive amount of pressure on a young player who has only just come back from shoulder surgery. It’s more than likely that he would spend a lot of time on his back because there are no weapons to get the ball to in the attack. Other than running-back Steven Jackson, there is not a top attacking threat on the team. With Donnie Avery the number one receiver, options are slim. The offensive line also gave up 40 sacks last year. It would be risky to put such a valuable player under fire right away. Some players can handle it, like Mark Sanchez or Mathew Stafford but others have struggled and may never recover like JaMarcus Russell and Jason Campbell. Confidence is key at the quarterback position.

Defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh are two other options who look set to go straight into the starting line-up. Suh had a great college career where he won almost every defensive award he could last year and was a runner up for the Heisman trophy. He is big, strong, powerful and quick… But most of all, he never stops working. He seems like a guaranteed top class player. McCoy had a good college career, but it wasn’t as standout as Suh’s. What has impressed scouts is his build and athletic ability. He had a very good NFL scouting combine and looks certain to be able to make the jump up to the NFL. He also is a player with a huge motor. With both of these guys looking like sure fire bets to be good NFL players, the Rams can’t be faulted for taking the safe route.

If the Rams do go that route, there is the option of taking Colt McCoy in the second round. The Texas quarterback is the has the best win ratio of any quarterback to ever play NCAA Football. He won’t be able to start right away, but he brings a great winning attitude and leadership to a team that hasn’t had much success lately. He lacks a big arm, but is very accurate and athletic.

Of course, the Rams also have the option of trying to trade away their number one pick. With a host of teams allegedly interested in picking up Bradford, the pick become high coveted. There have been rumours of Pittsburgh being keen to move up to trade Ben Roethlisberger for the chance to pick up Bradford. But they are just rumours. The Rams aren’t apparently interested in having a player with the image problem and the baggage that Roethlisberger now has. Trading down would allow the Rams to gain more picks which they are desperate need off. There are so many problem areas in the team that the more quality picks they get, the better.

Whether St. Louis picks up Bradford, Suh, McCoy or trades down, it will still be a tough season for the Rams. One thing is for sure, the organization can’t afford any missteps.

The MLS needs to look out for the little guy

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:08:16 +0000

Many of the points made in Jason de Vos’ blog post “MLS salary cap unlikely to go up considerably” are very valid. The MLS looks like it is a very strong point in its existence. It has more recognisability in North America and around the world, now more than ever. Teams are continuingly being added to the league and since Toronto FC, they have a good formula to work from.

The contract negotiations between the players union and the MLS have a few key areas and sticking points. The one major point that should be addressed though, is the minimum cap like Jason de Vos said in his article.

There are stories of young MLS players who make $18,000 a year, which is about the same as if they had a job at Subway or McDonalds. They have to take the bus to practice, live with roommates and catch rides to home games with fellow players. Not exactly the fantastic life you associate with professional sport in North America.

I agree with what Jason DeVos said about the MLS cap going up a small amount. The salary cap has been very affective in keeping the league financially viable. There is enough space in the cap to keep the best players in the league already. A small raise will allow to the league to grow but to not let it get out of control. The MLS will always have the shadow of NASL behind it to remind it how out of control a professional league can get.

The cap does not have to go up considerably in order for wages to become at least a bit fairer for some of the smaller earners. If some of the young players who are earning close to minimum wage had their contracts upgraded to a comfortable point, they would be able to focus on playing. That would benefit their team by creating more competition. Players will not worry if they are wasting their time playing in the MLS, and they will just focus on improving.

Of course, the gulf in paycheques between David Beckham and most of his team mates will always be there, but the issue stops being a big problem if everyone is afforded a comfortable living. The difference 30-50 thousand dollars a year compared to 18 thousand dollars a year is huge; especially if you are making sure your body is always in top physical condition.

It isn’t easy to be a professional athlete. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication in order to make it at the top level. The best players are always going to go and play in Europe to test themselves at the highest level but the MLS will only get better through steady development and raising the bottom line of talent in the league. There is always that old saying ‘You are only as strong as your weakest link’, and if the MLS doesn’t give the weakest links the opportunity to improve, then the league will never truly grow.

Drivers are aware of the texting ban, but is it helping?

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:37:02 +0000

With the new cell phone ban in place across Ontario, some drivers are complying with the law while others are becoming better at concealing their phones from plain sight.

The Toronto Star reports, that after a 3-month grace period of giving out warnings to drivers breaking the province’s recent distracted driver law, the OPP has charged 470 drivers during the first official month of the ban. They have also issued 468 warnings. These numbers do not include charges and warnings from local police.

Drivers across Ontario are banned from the use of iPods, cell phones, and all other devices with electronic screens while operating a motor vehicle. If caught, drivers can face a fine of up to $155.

Although police are reportedly noticing more people complying with the new law, they are also noticing people making a greater effort to conceal their phones. Instead of holding cell phones at wheel-level, they are holding them much lower so they are less visible.

In one way the result of the ban is seemingly effective, with less people being distracted by their phones. Although there is no real evidence that suggests that the roads are safer because of the ban, Constable Graham Williamson states that there is “‘anecdotal evidence of safer roads because drivers disobeying the law usually see a police cruiser first and put their phones away.”

The ban does appear to be a good idea and people seem to be getting the message that the police are closely monitoring this. However, what is the difference between pressing a button on a cell phone to answer an incoming call and switching between radio stations? Similarly, pressing a button on an earpiece, or scrolling through your menu to put your call on speakerphone still ties up hands momentarily.

There is also the issue with people focusing on hiding their devices from the view of police. By holding electronic devices at a low level, the driver takes even more focus off of the road. This can make these devices even more dangerous than they were in the first place. People need to use common sense while driving or the roads will become increasingly dangerous.

Understandably, having both hands free is important, hence the coveted earpiece, but if this law is really about not being distracted, should radios, cup holders, and even standard cars be discontinued? All of these things tie up hands, if even for a moment, but with the rational of the OPP, anything that distracts hands from the wheel can be destructive.

The danger isn’t just a lack of having both hands on the wheel; it is the distraction of talking on the phone. This does not change whether you have an earpiece in or not. And if talking on the phone can be harmful, wouldn’t singing to the radio or talking to someone else in the vehicle be equally detrimental?

There are distractions and dangers no matter where you go and what you do. There is no way to fully avoid distractions in a vehicle, although the OPP is attempting this feat. The no-distraction law is only getting rid of one distraction. What next?

Children are becoming pawns in divorce cases

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:20:41 +0000

Child abduction is becoming a big problem in divorce cases. These parents need to understand that kidnapping their children is never the best option for their kids. It’s not even a good option.

In 2008 alone, 300 children we abducted by a parent. One case recently came up in the Toronto Star on March 7^th. The story involves Christopher and Alex Watkin who have been missing for one year after being abducted by their mother.

Stephen Watkins and his ex-wife Edyta had two sons together. After three years of marriage the couple separated and were awarded joint custody, but stayed mostly with their mother. After a constant fight on Watkin’s part for his rightful visitations, primary custody was given to him. Edyta had access to her children every other weekend.

Both parents accused the other of abusing the boys.

It is unfortunate that parents turn children into victims of divorce. Instead of being civil and making the already upsetting divorce neutral and easy for children, parents will often use their children as pawns against the other parent. How is a child supposed to feel loved when they cannot trust their parents? It becomes a constant game of he-said, she-said. And to think, these people are the adults.

Watkin’s sons attended weekend Polish speaking classes on their mother’s request because she is a Poland native. One day, they didn’t show up for school on Monday.

There was speculation that the abduction was planned; Edyta claimed that she did not have the boys’ passports, she did not have an address, and her financial circumstances were unclear.

Watkins, however, has taken the high road by opting not to paint a bad picture of his ex-wife.

If only more divorcees had this attitude. It is time to take the selfishness out of separations when there are children involved; divorcees should actually consider their children instead of pretending to while taking jabs at the other party. It is awful that people actually get gratification out of doing things like this. Unless it is a dangerous or unhealthy relationship, no child should ever be taken away from a parent.

Being abducted does not translate into being loved. All the lies that children are told about why they need to leave with their abductor, eventually will cause big problems for the children. One day, the children will find out that they have been raised on lies and they will develop serious trust issues.

Taking a child from a loving parent does not solve anything. If anything, it makes the situation much worse. Sure, everything is fine until you get caught and then the day comes the abductor will never see their children again. Ironic, isn’t it? Someone tries to keep their children from the other parent, but then because of the crimes they committed, they are actually the ones who will be kept from their children.

No one knows where Edyta has taken her children, and all Watkins can do is wait. Wait for a sighting of his children, wait for their safe return, and wait to be a father again.

Canadian players have the chance to prove themselves this year

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:46:57 +0000

On march 3^rd, Nigel Reed wrote a column for CBC.ca titled “A big year ahead for Canadian soccer” and he could not be more right. This is a year full of promise for Canadian soccer with the Argentina friendly a head for the men’s team and Stephen Harts first full year in charge of the team. On the women’s side, head coach Carolina Morace needs to keep getting the women moving forward to qualify for the 2011 Women’s World Cup. Nigel Reed was spot on with his analysis of how important this year will be.

The one point that should be made aware of, is how big a year it is for many Canadian players.

Julian DeGuzman will be entering his first full season as a Toronto FC player and will have a clean slate to build his status with the team. This year he won’t have contract negotiations to think about or worry about his future. He will be able to continue his preseason training and hit the ground running for this new season under new head coach Preki. This season is filled with great expectations for Toronto FC and for DeGuzman from the fans.

Young players like Junior Hoilett, David Edgar, Massih Wassey and Simeon Jackson all have big years ahead of them. This is a big year for them with either their club, their career or for the National team.

David Edgar faces another relegation battle in the English Premier League, this time with Burnley. He will have to fight to get into the team for every game because the coach Brian Laws will only pick the hungriest players to battle for EPL survival. If he can prove himself, then a starting spot will almost be guaranteed next season. That would be great for his career, but he needs to force himself into the Canadian National team this year in order to be a key player in the future.

Junior Hoilett has been making appearances for Blackburn Rovers all year and is proving to be a star on the rise in their team. With Blackburn sitting comfortably in 12^th place in the EPL, his chances to play in the first team will go up. His manager Sam Allardyce will want to make sure his feet stay on the ground, but will surely want to give him plenty of opportunities to develop. Season he might even be given the chance to fight for a starting spot in every game for Blackburn. With Benni McCarthy and Franco DiSanto gone and Jason Roberts getting up there in age, a starting spot could be his. He should also expect a senior call up for the National team in the summer as well.

Massih Wassey also faces similar battles in his career. If he can continue playing For Schalke 04’s second team, then he will continue to progress and hopefully break into a very good first team. After playing his first senior game with Canada against Jamaica, he could become a key figure in the National team in years to come.

Canada’s Player of the Year for 2009, Simeon Jackson, has continued his form from last year and currently has 14 goals in 30 games this season. With a goal ratio like that, bigger clubs will always be circling. This summer could be a big one for Jackson. He is highly rated and could make a move to a bigger club this summer. He has already been linked with clubs like Aston Villa in the past but a Championship club might be a better bet for his development. There are not many Premier League clubs that buy players from two divisions bellow. Jackson will also certainly be a part of all the Canadian friendly matches this year.

Canadian soccer fans can expect big things for all of our teams and players this year. This could be the year when Canadian soccer really flourishes.

Proof that double-checking is a good idea, especially for the police

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:44:09 +0000

Two police officers have made a very serious mistake. One that will not be forgotten for a long time and one they will regret for even longer.

As a result, a Vancouver man is suing the municipality of Delta, B.C. after being mistakenly beaten and arrested by police.

CTV News reports that two Vancouver police officers arrested and beat Yao Wei Wu while investigating accusations of domestic violence. The officers admittedly knocked on the wrong door and proceeded to drag Wu out of his home, beat, and arrest him.

One would think that before beating and arresting a man, police would make sure that they had the right man or even the right address. It sounds like something straight out of Reno 911.

As a result of the mistaken identity, Wu suffered lacerations and bruises to his legs, face, and torso, which also left one eye swollen shut. Aren’t police supposed arrest men who do things like that? Not to mention, to an innocent man.

In Wu’s statement of claim with the B.C. Supreme Court, he states that the conduct of the officers amounted to “gross negligence and malicious and wilful misconduct.” That sounds like it fits the bill.

Police are supposed to make cities and communities safer for everyone. How are actions like these supposed to make people feel safe? What right do officers have to beat a man, whether he is innocent or not? Yes, sometimes guilty people deserve a beating, but should police officers really be the ones to deliver?

Vancouver’s Chief Constable Jim Chi has since apologized to Wu in person; however, no charges have been laid against either of the two officers. Ironically, it is the Delta Police Department themselves that are investigating the case. This seems to present quite the bias; if it were anybody but two officers, charges would be laid, no questions asked.

Just because you are a police officer does not make you any less of a criminal for beating an innocent man. People go to jail for assault every day, and rightfully so.

The Wu family is not giving up. They are filing a civil suit and feel that the officers are receiving preferential treatment because of their jobs. Jobs which they should no longer have.

If a demolition expert blew up the wrong building, he wouldn’t have a job to go to the next day.

It is very hard not to see his point. If these men were not police officers, charges would have been laid weeks ago. The fact that this innocent man can not feel that justice is being served means that the police department is not doing their job. It is unsettling that these men are getting away with what they did.

Neither Wu, nor his wife has returned to work since the incident. In an attempt to support Wu while he recovers from his injuries, a community relief fund has been put in place and has raise over $7000.

Hopefully justice will be served and this community will be able to trust its police officers once again.

Put Ronaldo on the plane for South Africa

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:40:54 +0000

Tim Vickery’s blog “Brazil’s Ronaldo will be sorely missed” for CBC.ca brings up a harsh reality. That reality is this World Cup may be without the gap-tooth grin of Ronaldo. He is one of the World Cups greatest performers of all time and has been a member of the Brazil squad for the past four World Cups. He might have put on weight and his career might have been slowed down by injuries, but his brilliance will never fade. If he can stay healthy and perform at a high level for his club team, than he should be on the plane to South Africa.

Ronaldo would never make the Brazilian squad as a starting member of the team at this point in his career, but he could be a valuable asset to the team coming off the bench. His goal poaching abilities and his experience would mean that he could offer Brazil an intriguing option off the bench.

Luis Fabiano is a far better striker now then Ronaldo because he still has his legs and plays consistently at a higher level. Luis Fabiano has started the majority of the qualifying campaign for the World Cup as well. Surpassing him for the top spot would be a mountain to high to climb at this point for Ronaldo.

Another ineffective game from Adriano shows that there is room for Ronaldo to break into the team. Maybe just as a replacement to Luis Fabiano or as a super sub if Brazil are a goal down in the final minutes. Adriano’s problems with partying and alcohol has been widely publicised over the years. His return to Brazil to play club soccer is a direct result of his unprofessional habits.

Ronaldo might suffer from an ego but Adriano is certainly guilty of that same claim. It does not make sense to leave Ronaldihlio and Ronaldo out of the Brazil team because of their egos and their party nature.

Ronaldo has always risen to the occasion when he was on the field. He has the most goals in World Cup history with 16. He is the first player to score at least three goals in three different World Cups. His last three goals all came at a time when fans were calling for Ronaldo to sit on the bench because he was overweight. Despite that he still managed to be one of Brazil’s most productive players. He has the natural ability to put the ball into the back of the net no matter what shape he is in. The Brazilian team has enough players with flair, athleticism and creativity to provide Ronaldo with goal opportunities, and that’s all he needs.

Realistically, the chances of Ronaldo being picked for the World Cup squad are slim. But, if he can prove that he is fit and sharp in the three months leading up to the World Cup in South Africa, then he should be given the chance for one more run at glory.

Let’s face it, a World Cup without Ronaldo just won’t be the same.

Goodbye Carl Robinson, you will be missed in Toronto

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:11:53 +0000

The loyal supporters of Toronto FC will surely be disappointed to hear the news that Carl Robinson has been released from this year’s roster. CBC is reporting that he has been released and will be attending a trial with the New York Red Bulls. Carl Robinson is a crowd favourite and one of the original members of TFC. There will most likely be an outcry from the fans but this move was surely made for the betterment of the team. Being the team player that he is, hopefully Robinson will understand and look back at Toronto with great memories.

With Carl being one of the original members of TFC and the fact that he has always been one of the most talented, this move will free up valuable cap space to bring in a few more players before the beginning of the season. His $300,000 salary is at the top end of MLS cap. That space could be filled with at least 2 solid MLS players.; players which Toronto could use at this point in time.

If Toronto FC can use that cap room to bring in a proven MLS forward, winger or central defender then this was a good move. Getting two of the three would be much better though. Proven goal-scorer does not mean a 20-goals-a-season type player, because that would surely eat up all the cap room. It means a player who can get 10-12 and put pressure on the forwards who are already there.

Chad Barrett is always going to work hard but he needs to find the back of the net more often if he wants to stay in the side. Having someone who can put in 10 goals will hopefully push him for top spot and will give cover when he is out of form. Ali Gerba did not find his feet last year and still could be quite an effective forward, but he looked out of shape. Again, he needs competition to push him to be fit and sharp. O’Brian White might just be the player to do this now that he will have a full preseason to get ready, but he is unproven so far.

Defence has the same issue. There just needs to be more competition and cover. Will the team be able to get through the season if Garcia or Attakora are out with injury for a long period?

As for a winger, well that is a position that doesn’t have competition or cover. There isn’t anyone to play as an out an out winger. The team would benefit from having a few players to bring width to their play, even if it would be just for certain games. Toronto’s head coach Preki, surely wouldn’t mind having a few players who can run at defenders, hug the sidelines and shoot in crosses.

Clearly after preseason, there is not room for another high priced holding midfielder. The club already has Julian DeGuzman to fill the high priced defensive midfielder and Robinson’s protégé Sam Cronin looked very good last year. With those two in the ranks to cover the middle of the park, there isn’t a need for Robinson.

When it comes to the fans though, it doesn’t matter how many defensive midfielders there are, there will only ever be one Carl Robinson. He will go down in the history of the club with Jim Brennan and Danny Dichio. A place he deserves.

Don’t look for Internet babies to give you love

williampkelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:09:28 +0000

The internet has revolutionized countless things; banking, dating, communication, and…raising a baby?

A South Korean couple were arrested for neglecting their three-month-old daughter to care for a virtual child online. They let their real child starve to death. How have people gotten so out of touch with the real world?

This couple spent anywhere from four to six hours every day at an internet cafe playing numerous games, one of which was “Prius Online”; a game where you nurture a virtual child. The couple named theirs “Anima.” Somewhere in between the constant gaming, the couple would find time to feed their real child one measly bottle per day. Not exactly the best way to prioritize your time when you are raising a child.

It is sad and repulsive that an internet game can be so consuming that this couple could actually commit hours every day to feed and care for a virtual child, but could only give a living human being one bottle a day. Not to mention that the 41-year-old father and his 25-year-old wife are both jobless. They clearly had all the time in the world to give attention and nutrition to their child.

Their priorities seem to be skewed, don’t they? Play internet game first, feed real baby later. Ironically, they met each other online.

The thing that brought them together, ultimately destroyed their lives by consuming their thoughts and concentration to the point of their helpless infant’s death.

After an all night binge of playing the online game, the couple returned home to find their daughter dead. The couple went into hiding at a relative’s home after a police autopsy report revealed that the baby was malnourished for a long period of time.

The girl spent one month in an incubator after being born prematurely, weighing five pounds.

People seem to have their reservations about the internet. It is easy to get thrown into the virtual online world of gaming to the point where it consumes one’s every waking breathe. This is dangerous, especially when people start to get alienated, and babies start starving to death.

The fact that this couple found a virtual child more interesting and appealing than their living, breathing, daughter is truly disgusting. The virtual child is just that; fake, unreal, and not alive. A real child gives so much more than a computer program. A real child laughs, cries, feels and grows. In the end it will give an unconditional love for its entire life, if it is treated right. A computer could never do that.

Their choice is like living in a tropical paradise, but preferring to stay inside and look at a picture of it instead. This couple had a real baby at home; one with human emotions and feelings. All that a virtual child can give you are emoticons.

Onlin games like Cafeworld and Farmville can be fun past times on downtime, but they should never cut into people getting out and living their own lives.

People need to grow up and follow the laws of society. It is too easy to live in a virtual world where there are no repercussions. If your baby dies in the game, you can just start over. There is no restart button in the real world.