GIMMICKS COMING WITH NEW AUTOS

Bought a new car lately? How long will it take to learn all its many functions? Or are you still working on it?

Your key will open the car door while in a pocket or purse. Leave it there to start the engine.

No gearshift! Push button for D, R, or N.

There’s a sexy digital screen in front of you replacing the old dashboard, and a larger one to the right giving you more stuff.

This screen has all the information about the car. EVERYTHING. I promise it will take weeks to figure out the myriad of things the car can do for you.

Examples: ‘Using the touch screen’, ‘using the home screen’ Then there’s ‘Using the all-menus screen or the spilt screen'. All while driving? Hmm.

There’s one that gives you the sounds of nature. Or how to connect with the Blue tooth device, if you have one.

While driving at night it takes a while to realize you don’t have to touch anything to go from high to low beam when a vehicle comes in the opposite direction. And back again, all by itself.

Author’s comment: I’ve only mentioned a few of the innovations. Window wipers turn on sniffing out an approaching rainstorm. Or when you turn off the engine and open the driver’s door to get out, your seat shifts back on its own, giving more room to swing your legs out. What more could you ask for?

HERE AND ALMOST GONE

I’m not talking about the end of the year - which isn’t far off – but the end of the Canadian football season. It’s come down to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers VS the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Today. Sunday. Depending on where you live across the country. With Hamilton having the hometown advantage.

My only concern, maybe even complaint, is having to wait until six o’clock before they take to the field. And differing times from where you are across the country.

I’d like it better at a 3 PM start, but the Blue Bombers have appropriated that time slot.

What the heck, it’s a game worth watching, The East versus the West. What could be better? Built-in rivalry every year.

I like our Canadian football game compared the U.S. counterpart with four downs to move the ball. We've shaved it to three, which seems a tighter, more exciting game.

The Ticats beat out the Toronto Argonauts this year in the finals to go onto the Big Game. I’m sorry about that, except it’s great to see this game played in Hamilton which gives Hamiltonians more to cheer and jump around about.

If there is any edge in winning, it might go to the Bombers with 12 wins to 3 this season as opposed to 9 to 6 the Tiger Cats.

Author’s comment: With no Argonaut team to cheer for this year, we’ll jump up and down waving our arms while sloshing down beer and munching on barbequed chicken wings whenever a touchdown is scored.