Man About Canton: It’s Time to Regulate Headlights

DID YOU KNOW …

According to Osram Sylvania, one of the largest headlight makers in the world (they are right here in Massachusetts), they are now making the average halogen highlight 40 to 70 percent brighter today than 20 years ago. However, in comparison, the bluish-tinged, high-intensity discharge lights found on higher-end cars are more than 400 percent brighter than headlights from the early 1990s.

MAC and many other senior drivers have real issues with headlight glare and getting blinded by those super-strong headlights. An eye doctor told MAC that “older drivers see a brighter light because their eyes are more sensitive than someone in their 20s or 30s. They also have a higher incidence of cataracts, glaucoma, and weakened retinas, all leading to more problems driving at night.” According to a spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal government is studying ways to reduce headlight glare, particularly for older drivers. The sooner the better; MAC hates it when a large car or truck pulls up behind him with their high intensity headlights shining through the rear window, projecting a blinding reflection via the car’s rear-view mirror. It’s time to regulate headlights.

If you are flying out of Boston, MAC recommends you leave your car at the Logan Express lot in Braintree. The Mass Port Authority has cut the daily rate of its satellite lots from $11 to $7. Moreover, as of March 1, the maximum daily charge at the central garage at Logan Airport will increase from $24 to $27. Mass Port officials say the new prices are necessary to encourage people to park in remote lots as passenger numbers continue to rise. Logan Airport hit a record high of 28.9 million travelers in 2011.

Canton recently received some good news from the Patrick Administration. For the first time in four years, Massachusetts cities and towns will have its state aid kept at a level number from last year. Revenues have stabilized, so local aid has stabilized, at least for this year.

Canton selectmen are considering changes in the health insurance plans offered to town employees. The recently enacted municipal health care law allows towns to have a major impact on setting insurance costs. Nine communities have already used the law to save more than $30 million.

There is a new cable show in town, “The Superintendent’s Corner,” starring Canton Superintendent of Schools Jeff Granatino. The monthly show is recorded and directed by Canton High School students from the class of CHS teacher Ed McDonough.

Governor Deval Patrick’s Administration is proposing a boost in the cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack and eliminating a tax deduction for losing lottery tickets — this in addition to his proposed sugar and soda tax.

You wonder where the MBTA Board of Directors is coming from. They are looking to cut services or raise fares, but recently they banned alcohol advertising on all trains and buses, which had brought in over $1.5 million in revenue for the cash-strapped T. The ban goes into effect on July 1. The Boston Herald, in its editorial, said it is “absolutely the dumbest move they have ever made.”

The state Human Resources Division has set Saturday, April 28, as the date for the municipal service firefighter exam. Applicants can apply online at www.mass.gov/civilservice for the exam or call 617-878-9750.

In 2010, passenger car sales in China reached nearly 14 million, well above the nearly 12 million sold in the United States. It has been estimated that in five or ten years, the China car market will be bigger than the United States and Europe together.

Workers at Disney’s U.S. theme parks in Florida and California will be allowed to grow beards and goatees for the first time ever. Facial hair was prohibited on theme park workers when founder Walt Disney opened Disneyland in California in the mid 1950s. Mustaches were allowed in 2000.

Over the past 14 weeks, Apple raked in profits of $13 billion. Someone is making a lot of money out there.

On the flip side, the U.S. Post Office lost $5.1 billion last year, mostly due to a decline in revenue for first class mail.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history — Spades: King David; Clubs: Alexander the Great; Hearts: Charlemagne; Diamonds: Julius Caesar … and now you know the rest of the story.

Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn, and you will.

Finally, MAC apologized to current Board of Health member and Canton Housing Authority candidate Paul Alfano last week for incorrectly assuming that he had made his decision to run for the vacant seat on the CHA after hearing that Dr. Richard Levrault was planning to challenge him for a seat on the BOH — an assertion Alfano denies. Although MAC stands by his apology, two high-ranking Canton politicians reminded MAC this week that it was “widely known” in Canton political circles that Levrault was going to run for the BOH long before Alfano announced his decision — which is why MAC incorrectly assumed what he did.

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on Feb 22 2012. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.