oH 23 — Friday, April 9, 1999 - North Shore News north shore news lari WRITING this weekly traffic colums: is extremely hard work. When I grow weary I throw on a pair of track pants, turn on the television and think to myself “What's the point?” Recently, while in one of these funks, I watched a U.S newsmagazine show which aired a choughtful segment on the hazards of driving with a glare in one’s cye. Basically stated, the piece pointed out the fact that the almighty sun has a nasty way of hitting drivers smack dab in the eye, effectively blind- ing them for a brief period. Worse, reflection of sun- shine on one’s dashboard has a mirroring effect on the inside of a car’s windshield which can.obscure from view things like tykes on trikes. In that fervent way of investigative reporters intent on shocking the American public, the Woodward . wannabe first made clear the cold hard facts then stoically set about looking for some- one te blame; perhaps some- one to sue. Since God is pretty much untouchable — and unwilling to appear on camera at any rate — blaming the Creator for making the sun too damn bright was pretty much out, Next, on the list of patsies was the auto manufacturer. That’s right, those sleazy cor- porate giants like Ford and Chrysler. For decades they’ve conspired to use piain old # AUTO Don't he bl | ng ire: signals un-polarized glass in each and every motor vehicle that comes off the assembly fine. Jerks, To make matters worse, those same corporate swine have been secretly swindling the American public by mak- “Lay curses on the sun until you’re blue in the face — but slow down! Stop, even!” ing cars more attractive. Slceker and sexier are the cars these days, with windshields cocked at a lower angle for the ‘Sake of aerodynamics and si . Unfortunately, the stylish slope in a windshield also necessitates a deeper dash- board. That dashboard, in tum, has a way of catching the suai just so and reflecting back to the windscreen, thereby causing that dreaded mirror effect. Apparently the general manger of General psec coos JEEP OWNERS Compiete mechanical & electrical repairs by factory trained technician i MPEX AUTOMOTIVE 71335 Pemberton Ave. Tel: 985-6237 Visit our web site: inded by evance Motors couldn’t care less because he refused requests for an interview on the mat- ter. The hard hitting news mag also took 2 quick swipe at the autocratic companies which, with blatant disregard for con- sequence, develop, market and sell products designed to promote a shiny gloss to that same ill-designed, reflective dashboard. W-’re talking Armor-All-like products here, folks, those milky synthetic juices that gives lustre and shine to the otherwise drab vinyl in our cars. They make your viny! shiny — just like a mirror! How much longer did they expect to get away with that! Sadly, the award winning news program could only dedicate 10 minutes to this weighty subject, though one inferred a deep desire to spend an hour or two grilling CEOs, tasking politicians and lending 2 sympathetic car to tykes with mangled trikes. Alas, time to go to commer- cial... What really wowed me with ihis particular piece was not the reporter’s uncanny ability to get to the heart of an issue, dissect it, then regurgitate it as something ai! America should fear, but the amazing ability of high pro- file TV news shows to coim- pletely miss the poias — if there even is onc. The seg- ment ended with “a word of caution: Don’t make your See Blinded page 43 yrames.bs-symeaticg.colmporautchmpe auto htt EB Introducing the all-new 4-Door VIFAIRA. 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