# The CanaDoper Café, 2013 edition. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736 "2013-01-01T03:29:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 86
**Author:** ![The\_Lurker\_Above](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Lurker\_Above](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lurker_Above)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1701 "2013-07-10T04:20:59Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > From [this article](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/07/09/transport-canada-rules-lac-megantic_n_3569228.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-politics) in the Huffington Post, > Really? It’s too bad the legal system can’t really run on a ‘just don’t be a complete idiot’ rule. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1702 "2013-07-10T04:22:04Z")
> [@The\_Lurker\_Above](#): > > It’s too bad the legal system can’t really run on a ‘just don’t be a complete idiot’ rule. Then what would all the lawyers do? (Knowing full well that there are a bunch of lawyers in this thread. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1703 "2013-07-10T04:28:35Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Then what would all the lawyers do? (Knowing full well that there are a bunch of lawyers in this thread. 🙂 ) Spend their time arguing on what a ‘complete idiot’ actually is and if the actions of the person(s) qualified as such. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1704 "2013-07-10T05:04:12Z")
Well, even if there’s no prohibition per se, their negligence would likely open up an enormous action in court. And all the oil spilling into the river may trigger criminal consequences. So the fact that they may not be busted under Train Law seems besides the point. And yes. The law is complicated so that lawyers can make a killing, and hire us law students. I’m all for revisiting Hammurabbi’s code! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1705 "2013-07-10T06:32:28Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Then what would all the lawyers do? (Knowing full well that there are a bunch of lawyers in this thread. 🙂 ) Well, given that today was a beautiful day in southern Alberta, perhaps some golf? (No, I was at work. Sadly, a few clients lately have learned the hard way about the “just don’t be a complete idiot” rule.) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1706 "2013-07-10T11:19:26Z")
An interesting anecdote from Monday’s storm in Toronto - I just saw my wheelbarrow in the back yard, and it’s full to the point of overflowing. The thing is, I used it on Sunday night, so I know it was empty. It rained enough to fill a wheelbarrow that was out in the open. Rolling power outs, lots of ruined basements and flooded cars, but we came through all right. Of course, we had the example of Calgary to live up to. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1707 "2013-07-10T13:34:29Z")
Now, living downtown, who do you think would be safe in a flood? 2nd floor and higher condo dwellers right? Not so! [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhHTvwXy4gc) youtube video was shot by a couple trying to find a way out of downtown and near to the end it shows condo dwellers bailing out their balconies. They had sealed bottoms and the water was so high it was spilling into the doors. I sent a link to my daughter thinking she would laugh - apparently she and her roommate spent the evening bailing their balcony so was not amused. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1708 "2013-07-10T15:53:51Z")
[Extreme rainfall the new norm?](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/news-video/extreme-rainfall-the-new-norm-says-climate-change-expert/article13101322/#dashboard/follows/) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1709 "2013-07-10T16:25:12Z")
Yeah, except for last year when extreme [drought](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_North_American_drought) was the new norm. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1710 "2013-07-10T16:28:55Z")
So basically, extremes are the new norm. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1711 "2013-07-10T16:39:06Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > So basically, extremes are the new norm. DINGDINGDING! We have a winner! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1712 "2013-07-10T16:50:07Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > So basically, extremes are the new norm. If you rephrase that as ‘greater variability is the new norm’, maybe so. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1713 "2013-07-10T17:31:00Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m gonna say, there probably should be. > > Or, as Jim says, that falls under the same category as, “The City of Calgary has no right to inspect the rail bridges that run through Calgary.” I.E. the railroads are kind of a law unto themselves. It’s not that they’re a law into themselves. They are under federal regulation, since they are an inter-provincial transportation agency, which falls under federal jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1714 "2013-07-10T17:32:59Z")
> [@The\_Lurker\_Above](#): > > It’s too bad the legal system can’t really run on a ‘just don’t be a complete idiot’ rule. Or even “Don’t be a jerk.” We know from experience that a simple rule like that works well and never triggers any disputes about its meaning or application. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1715 "2013-07-10T17:41:04Z")
Update on the GO train episode: “I am so sick of these M\*\*\*\*\* F\*\*\*\*\*\*\* snakes on this M\*\*\*\*\*\*\* F\*\*\*\*\*\*\* train!” > **[SNAKE! On A Train!](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/snake-on-a-toronto-train-flooded-go-train-gets-surprise-passeng_n_3566900)** > > SNAKE! On A Train! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1716 "2013-07-11T00:19:03Z")
And surprisingly, a truly lovely evening with the outrigger crew paddling about on Superior, with break for snacks out past the break wall and a band in the park playing upon our return. Doesn’t get much better. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1717 "2013-07-11T05:15:22Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Update on the GO train episode: “I am so sick of these M\*\*\*\*\* F\*\*\*\*\*\*\* snakes on this M\*\*\*\*\*\*\* F\*\*\*\*\*\*\* train!” > > [Snake On A Toronto Train: Flooded GO Train Gets Surprise Passenger | HuffPost News](http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/3566900) Hah - that was almost exactly what I said when I saw a similar video! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1718 "2013-07-11T05:19:02Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > And surprisingly, a truly lovely evening with the outrigger crew paddling about on Superior, with break for snacks out past the break wall and a band in the park playing upon our return. Doesn’t get much better. We spent a truly lovely evening watching a baseball game and then going for ice cream cones that we ate outside as the sun was starting to go down. It doesn’t get much better than that, either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1719 "2013-07-11T06:19:06Z")
Well, the latest count for the catastrophe in Lac-Mégantic tonight is 20 dead confirmed, and as many as 40 others still missing. The blast levelled the historical downtown sector of a lovely village, population 6,000, where everyone knows everyone. My brother and his family live there, and they are all safe. Pure luck, because the music café they usually hang out in has been erased from the surface of the earth by the chain of explosions caused by the derailment of a 73-tanker train carrying crude oil. The explosions were like mushroom crowds. Cafes and bars were filled with people enjoying a pleasant summer night Terrifying images, but I think this short clip, with English subtitles, for anyone who cares to see it, gives one a good idea of what they experienced around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRb3JHsiqfA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRb3JHsiqfA) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736/1720 "2013-07-11T09:46:02Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > Cafes and bars were filled with people enjoying a pleasant summer night Terrifying images, but I think this short clip, with English subtitles, for anyone who cares to see it, gives one a good idea of what they experienced around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRb3JHsiqfA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRb3JHsiqfA) There weren’t any English subtitles. It didn’t need any. Mon Dieu. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736.md?page=85) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadoper-cafe-2013-edition/645736.md?page=87)