I have previously chronicled the arrival of various pea-brains joining the Idiot Alert Files. Now we can add Jaspal Singh Atwal to the list of the brain-dead filling out membership applications. The inestimable Jaspal ensured himself a position when he filed suit against the Vancouver Sun for "discrediting his reputation". I think he probably feels he can do that all by himself, without their help. Mr. Moron has been convicted of trying to assassinate a visiting Punjabi cabinet minister, and is presently on parole, but he takes exception to the newspaper's printing of the facts. I am sure he would rather they ran a story about what a great guy he really is, you know, something that included a picture of him kissing a baby.
   Stupid idiot.


   While we're talking about joke-of-the-day types, let's give a minute to Janet Jackson. Now there's a woman who's got her priorities straight. With all the worthy causes in the world at the moment, all the situations about which it would be really great for her to throw some celebrity weight around, she recently chose something really meaningful. It seems the little walking ego was in London recently to be interviewed on a morning show. Knowing how important it is for the exactly right water to grace her gullet, she sent some of her favourite Fiji spring water ahead with instructions for it to be refrigerated. Upon arriving, the first thing Little Miss did was insist on having one of her lackeys test the water's temperature with a thermometer. If it wasn't just right, there was no way she was going to go glug-glug. Thank God, it had been chilled to the right temperature.
   Way to go Janet. You definitely know what's important in life.


   One more addition to the files has to go in without her name, since I don't know it, although if I did I would include it in bold, gigantic letters. I encountered her yesterday, while I was walking along Bayview Avenue, heading south on the west side of the street. I was giving sighted guide to a client of the CNIB, who was holding my right arm with their left, and using a white cane with their right hand. The cane is pretty easy to see, but more than that, we had been standing at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green, which it had just done. As we took our first step out, a car approached from my right, wanting to turn right. We had the right-of-way but I never trust solely in that. I always want to see that a car is indeed slowing down and coming to a stop before I step in front of it. Good thing that's my habit, because the idiot behind the wheel just kept coming. She wasn't taking the corner on two wheels, but neither was she stopping. When I made a gesture of surprise and looked at her as thought to question her intent, she literally gave me a big smile and a wave and drove on through.
   Toronto's very own village idiot.
    I have to wonder what she would have done if my friend had been there alone. All that he can do to keep himself safe on crossing an intersection is listen for the sound of the traffic to be going the same as he is, and then step out. Would that moron have hit him? Maybe she would have, but I'm sure she would at least have smiled and waved before she drove away.
   Now you know why I really wish I knew her name. I think everyone should get a chance to know this idiot. After all, she's out there driving the streets that you and yours walk.