Sunday 27 May 2012
Saturday 26 May 2012
Open Letter to Dog Owners
Hi Dog Owner's of King West,
I know as a rule you are not interested in the rights of your taxpaying neighbours. I have no scientific proof, but my own observation tells me that dog owners are not as nice as non-dog owners like me. As a general rule of thumb, I'm probably nicer than you are. I actually care about the rights and private property of others. I respect the right of people to use and enjoy public property, such as parks, and their exclusive rights to their own private property.
I'm going to ask you nicely to not have your mutt urinate and defecate on my lawn. The photos below were taken from my condo balcony. Along with a bunch of other people, some dog owners, I own that narrow piece of grass along King St West in Toronto. I don't care if most of you, not all, pick up after your dog. Take a look at the photos, you're killing my lawn. It is all I have! It is the only land I own.
I don't like your fur kids. I think they smell bad and are impolite. I don't want them wrecking my lawn. It is bad enough that you have hijacked the local parks for the exclusive use of you and your fur children. Leave me my small patch of grass.
The City of Toronto spent thousands of tax dollars to construct an off-leash enclosure in Stanley Park. This fairly large park is a block from my condo. But that is not good enough for you self-centred dog lovers. You insist on using the entire park for your exclusive use, as an off-leash tract of land. Non-dog owners? You don't get a park. You can't even use your privately owned strip of grass, because that is our dog's toilet.
Two large off leash dogs were following their owner this week, who was riding a bike. One of the dogs took a massive dump on my land. The dog owner never even turned around.
Dog owners are very defencive, they are needy and feel entitled. In my opinion you are selfish pricks.
I know as a rule you are not interested in the rights of your taxpaying neighbours. I have no scientific proof, but my own observation tells me that dog owners are not as nice as non-dog owners like me. As a general rule of thumb, I'm probably nicer than you are. I actually care about the rights and private property of others. I respect the right of people to use and enjoy public property, such as parks, and their exclusive rights to their own private property.
I'm going to ask you nicely to not have your mutt urinate and defecate on my lawn. The photos below were taken from my condo balcony. Along with a bunch of other people, some dog owners, I own that narrow piece of grass along King St West in Toronto. I don't care if most of you, not all, pick up after your dog. Take a look at the photos, you're killing my lawn. It is all I have! It is the only land I own.
I don't like your fur kids. I think they smell bad and are impolite. I don't want them wrecking my lawn. It is bad enough that you have hijacked the local parks for the exclusive use of you and your fur children. Leave me my small patch of grass.
The City of Toronto spent thousands of tax dollars to construct an off-leash enclosure in Stanley Park. This fairly large park is a block from my condo. But that is not good enough for you self-centred dog lovers. You insist on using the entire park for your exclusive use, as an off-leash tract of land. Non-dog owners? You don't get a park. You can't even use your privately owned strip of grass, because that is our dog's toilet.
Two large off leash dogs were following their owner this week, who was riding a bike. One of the dogs took a massive dump on my land. The dog owner never even turned around.
Dog owners are very defencive, they are needy and feel entitled. In my opinion you are selfish pricks.
Thursday 24 May 2012
Toronto FC BMO Field
I attended the Canadian Championship soccer game between Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps. The one photo below shows a Vancouver player writhing on the ground like an Italian soccer player after a love tap from TFC. This resulted in a red card. Toronto FC won their 4th straight championship.
I want to talk about the in-game experience. As a 6th year seasons ticket holder I'm amazed at how TFC continues to punch their fewer remaining fans in the face time and again. The latest disgrace is the removal of tables in the beer garden. TFC loves to crap all over their fans. You no longer have a table to rest your beer.
I downgraded my seats this year, but this will be my last go around. When ownership gives you the finger year after year, it is time to jump ship. They have succeeded in killing the golden goose.
It is like they have meetings to figure out how do we piss off and mistreat our fans even more? We put a pathetic team on the field, set records for on-field futility, so lets also wreck the in-game fan experience.
I want to talk about the in-game experience. As a 6th year seasons ticket holder I'm amazed at how TFC continues to punch their fewer remaining fans in the face time and again. The latest disgrace is the removal of tables in the beer garden. TFC loves to crap all over their fans. You no longer have a table to rest your beer.
I downgraded my seats this year, but this will be my last go around. When ownership gives you the finger year after year, it is time to jump ship. They have succeeded in killing the golden goose.
It is like they have meetings to figure out how do we piss off and mistreat our fans even more? We put a pathetic team on the field, set records for on-field futility, so lets also wreck the in-game fan experience.
Monday 21 May 2012
Sunday 20 May 2012
Origin King St East
I am always trying to find good restaurants in the downtown Toronto core. I read very good reviews about Origin on King St East. I asked Donut girl to assist me in reviewing Origin for lunch.
We ordered the devilled eggs and tostones, with guacamole as starters. The tostones were exceptional. I could have ordered them as a main course. I'm not sure why the Colombian born Donut Girl has trouble pronouncing guacamole, but that is a subject for another blog entry.
For the main we both ordered the hamburger, as seen below. This burger is very tasty. I note that is was ranked the 13th best burger in a recent Toronto Life issue. This is not a bad rank, in a subjective poll, as T.O. is teaming with fancy burger joints. The chef highlights the meat, without adding much in the way of toppings. This may have cost a few ranking points. The salted bun was a nice touch.
I'm not big on dessert, but this was a review and denying Donut Girl dessert would be cruel. Ana ordered Dulce de leche, once again her pronunciation may have been off. I had the hot chocolate cake. The Dulce was apparently excellent. My cake was so so. I don't think desserts are their speciality.
Overall another excellent restaurant in the King East strip, near St. Lawrence Market. This area has several great restaurants, in century old buildings. As a King West resident, this is quite a concession.
I tried to get Donut Girls sister to try it out, but she insisted on the down market Shoeless Joes, on King West no less. No review to follow.
We ordered the devilled eggs and tostones, with guacamole as starters. The tostones were exceptional. I could have ordered them as a main course. I'm not sure why the Colombian born Donut Girl has trouble pronouncing guacamole, but that is a subject for another blog entry.
For the main we both ordered the hamburger, as seen below. This burger is very tasty. I note that is was ranked the 13th best burger in a recent Toronto Life issue. This is not a bad rank, in a subjective poll, as T.O. is teaming with fancy burger joints. The chef highlights the meat, without adding much in the way of toppings. This may have cost a few ranking points. The salted bun was a nice touch.
I'm not big on dessert, but this was a review and denying Donut Girl dessert would be cruel. Ana ordered Dulce de leche, once again her pronunciation may have been off. I had the hot chocolate cake. The Dulce was apparently excellent. My cake was so so. I don't think desserts are their speciality.
Overall another excellent restaurant in the King East strip, near St. Lawrence Market. This area has several great restaurants, in century old buildings. As a King West resident, this is quite a concession.
I tried to get Donut Girls sister to try it out, but she insisted on the down market Shoeless Joes, on King West no less. No review to follow.
Wednesday 16 May 2012
This & That
I had a complaint that the women in my cartoons all had dark hair. Seriously!
The Ginger cartoon below was drawn in response. The complaint lady lives in England, has ginger hair and has been to at least one British prison. Maybe more than one.
People are slowly finding their way to my new blog.
"The Mate" resident Aussie, is not happy about how I draw his hair. Maybe he should talk to his parents. I'm not happy that I have dodgy skin, I suck it up and carry on.
The Doors in my office still haven't learned to use their doors. I'm hoping they find my blog and see themselves, how we see them.
Our Vancouver lawyers are in town this week. I hope they don't run a foul of by-Law Boy. Welcome to T.O., leave your money and not your carbon footprint. By-Law Boy says "put your trash in the bin".
The Ginger cartoon below was drawn in response. The complaint lady lives in England, has ginger hair and has been to at least one British prison. Maybe more than one.
People are slowly finding their way to my new blog.
"The Mate" resident Aussie, is not happy about how I draw his hair. Maybe he should talk to his parents. I'm not happy that I have dodgy skin, I suck it up and carry on.
The Doors in my office still haven't learned to use their doors. I'm hoping they find my blog and see themselves, how we see them.
Our Vancouver lawyers are in town this week. I hope they don't run a foul of by-Law Boy. Welcome to T.O., leave your money and not your carbon footprint. By-Law Boy says "put your trash in the bin".
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Adam "No Fun" Vaughan
Downtown Toronto city councillor Adam "Sourpuss" Vaughan is determined to suck the life out of the core of the city. His latest target is a potential Toronto casino. Vaughan is a left-wing urban politician, who wants to drag us back into the prohibition days. He wants to stamp out the Entertainment District, shut down bars, patios and any place where people seem to be enjoying themselves.
Vaughan would be a perfect fit for rural Orange Ontario, but unfortunately he represents the core of Canada's largest city.
A Vegas style casino is exactly what downtown Toronto needs, a new tourist attraction. Putting a casino in the CNE grounds would not wipe out Ma and Pa businesses as Vaughan claims, because there is no retail at the CNE.
Vaughan is a tight ass that is against everything and anything. I can't figure out if the extreme right, or extreme left wing represents the most conservative social values? Remember that moron Joe Pantalone wanted to ban patios in his neighbourhood, at all joints except the one owned by his buddy?
Angry Adam should loosen up and stop trying to inflict his strict old-fashioned values on the rest of us.
Vaughan would be a perfect fit for rural Orange Ontario, but unfortunately he represents the core of Canada's largest city.
A Vegas style casino is exactly what downtown Toronto needs, a new tourist attraction. Putting a casino in the CNE grounds would not wipe out Ma and Pa businesses as Vaughan claims, because there is no retail at the CNE.
Vaughan is a tight ass that is against everything and anything. I can't figure out if the extreme right, or extreme left wing represents the most conservative social values? Remember that moron Joe Pantalone wanted to ban patios in his neighbourhood, at all joints except the one owned by his buddy?
Angry Adam should loosen up and stop trying to inflict his strict old-fashioned values on the rest of us.
Monday 14 May 2012
Catholic Nuns & Priests Biafran War
I read probably the most interesting article I will ever read from Peter Worthington, the extreme right-wing writer from the Toronto Sun. Worthington was one of the Sun's founders and is a veteran of the Korean War.
Worthington is well travelled as a foreign correspondent. He spent time covering the Biafran War in Nigeria (1967 to 1970). The South Eastern part of the country, Biafra, broke away from Nigeria. I was born in Nigeria and my family left the country prior to this war.
I don't pretend to know a lot about the Biafran conflict, other than the British boundary for Nigeria, made sense only to the British. The Brits were knee deep in this conflict, as were other Euro countries, over vast oil reserves in the Biafran territory. Many of the issues that cause wars in the 21st century were present in the Biafran War, oil and Muslim v. Christian conflicts.
Worthington's article concentrated on the bravery of nuns in the conflict zone. Many refused to leave the country and insisted on helping the poor. My uncle, who is a Catholic priest, also remained in country during the war, as did many of his colleagues.
Worthington points out that American nuns are busy doing good work for the poor and sick in America. The Catholic hierarchy is trying to crack down on the nuns, as their agenda consists almost entirely on the abortion issue. No other issue matters to the leaders of the Catholic Church. This is a legacy of the far right John Paul II. He was Pope for so long that he stacked the College of Cardinals with like-minded, extreme right-wingers.
What is heartening about the story is that the nuns refuse to be pushed around by the church leaders. What remains good about the church can be found in the tireless work of these nuns, working with the most weak and infirm of society. They provide a sharp contrast to the paedophile scandals that church leaders tried to sweep under the rug.
Worthington, who normally sides with the elite leadership, saw their great work first hand in a conflict zone. He was clearly moved and sides with the nuns in their never ending battle with the all male leadership of their beloved church.
Worthington is well travelled as a foreign correspondent. He spent time covering the Biafran War in Nigeria (1967 to 1970). The South Eastern part of the country, Biafra, broke away from Nigeria. I was born in Nigeria and my family left the country prior to this war.
I don't pretend to know a lot about the Biafran conflict, other than the British boundary for Nigeria, made sense only to the British. The Brits were knee deep in this conflict, as were other Euro countries, over vast oil reserves in the Biafran territory. Many of the issues that cause wars in the 21st century were present in the Biafran War, oil and Muslim v. Christian conflicts.
Worthington's article concentrated on the bravery of nuns in the conflict zone. Many refused to leave the country and insisted on helping the poor. My uncle, who is a Catholic priest, also remained in country during the war, as did many of his colleagues.
Worthington points out that American nuns are busy doing good work for the poor and sick in America. The Catholic hierarchy is trying to crack down on the nuns, as their agenda consists almost entirely on the abortion issue. No other issue matters to the leaders of the Catholic Church. This is a legacy of the far right John Paul II. He was Pope for so long that he stacked the College of Cardinals with like-minded, extreme right-wingers.
What is heartening about the story is that the nuns refuse to be pushed around by the church leaders. What remains good about the church can be found in the tireless work of these nuns, working with the most weak and infirm of society. They provide a sharp contrast to the paedophile scandals that church leaders tried to sweep under the rug.
Worthington, who normally sides with the elite leadership, saw their great work first hand in a conflict zone. He was clearly moved and sides with the nuns in their never ending battle with the all male leadership of their beloved church.
Tuesday 8 May 2012
The Doors v. The Cubes
My co-worker of 16-years The Mate, our resident Aussie, and I are cubicle warriors. We refer to management as The Doors, due to their offices. The Mate and I have been around long enough to have earned double-wide cubes.
As the elite of The Cubes, we are the middlemen between lessor cubes and The Doors. Our company has seen fit to hire more and more Doors, pushing The Mate and I into less desirable Real Estate. We lost our window views and they have squeezed our double-wides into a cube-and-a-half. More of a XL cube than a double-wide.
My biggest complaint about The Doors, other than their sketchy job descriptions, is when they see fit to leave their doors open. I'm not sure who they are talking to on the other end of the phone line, but I can tell you the other party is not getting in a word edge wise.
I figure by the time The Doors decide to replace The Mate and I with younger, less expensive models, we will be working out of the broom closet. It is like the movie Office Space without the humour.
As the elite of The Cubes, we are the middlemen between lessor cubes and The Doors. Our company has seen fit to hire more and more Doors, pushing The Mate and I into less desirable Real Estate. We lost our window views and they have squeezed our double-wides into a cube-and-a-half. More of a XL cube than a double-wide.
My biggest complaint about The Doors, other than their sketchy job descriptions, is when they see fit to leave their doors open. I'm not sure who they are talking to on the other end of the phone line, but I can tell you the other party is not getting in a word edge wise.
I figure by the time The Doors decide to replace The Mate and I with younger, less expensive models, we will be working out of the broom closet. It is like the movie Office Space without the humour.
Sunday 6 May 2012
Toronto FC
I was a season ticket holder for the first 5-seasons of the Toronto FC MLS soccer team. The team failed to make the playoffs each and every year. After last season I refused to renew my tickets and received several phone calls from team officials, promising that the team had turned the corner and was headed to the playoffs this season.
In the end I purchased a half-season of cheap end zone tickets which I share. Instead of a $2,000 investment I pay $300.
TFC have lost an MLS record 8-games to start the 2012 season. The worst franchise in MLS history is off to a pathetic start. The club is the laughing stock of the entire league. Run by MLSE, the worst ownership group in North American sport. They own teams in the NHL, NBA and MLS. None of their teams have made the playoffs in years.
Toronto FC regularly sold-out all of the BMO Field's 20,000 seats. At one time there were over 10,000 people on a waiting list to buy seasons tickets. All of that has gone. The losing seasons have resulted in the waiting list disappearing and non-renewals of existing seat holders. Next season I expect that close to 50% of ticket holders will not renew. MLSE destroyed soccer in Toronto.
MLS League Commissioner, Dan Garber, should consider stepping in and having the league run the franchise, until the team can be sold to a responsible party. Years ago the NBA took over the Cleavland Cavaliers and more recently the NHL took over the Phoenix Coyotes. If Dan Garber cares about soccer in Toronto, he should step in and take control of the team.
You know a team has lost the city when people stop talking about them. The casual fan has walked away and only the diehards remain. TFC has slipped to the Toronto Argos level of indifference to the average sports fan in the region. I don't believe the excitement will ever return.
Not only have MLSE run an incompetent franchise, they have constantly removed the off field fun aspects of attending a game. They covered up the beer garden, enforced stricter alcohol rules each season. Not because of unruly fans. They have an almost temperance attitude about alcohol consumption. The in- game experience has deteriorated each season. They killed the excitement and presented an awful on-field product, in a way that MLSE is famous for.
In the end I purchased a half-season of cheap end zone tickets which I share. Instead of a $2,000 investment I pay $300.
TFC have lost an MLS record 8-games to start the 2012 season. The worst franchise in MLS history is off to a pathetic start. The club is the laughing stock of the entire league. Run by MLSE, the worst ownership group in North American sport. They own teams in the NHL, NBA and MLS. None of their teams have made the playoffs in years.
Toronto FC regularly sold-out all of the BMO Field's 20,000 seats. At one time there were over 10,000 people on a waiting list to buy seasons tickets. All of that has gone. The losing seasons have resulted in the waiting list disappearing and non-renewals of existing seat holders. Next season I expect that close to 50% of ticket holders will not renew. MLSE destroyed soccer in Toronto.
MLS League Commissioner, Dan Garber, should consider stepping in and having the league run the franchise, until the team can be sold to a responsible party. Years ago the NBA took over the Cleavland Cavaliers and more recently the NHL took over the Phoenix Coyotes. If Dan Garber cares about soccer in Toronto, he should step in and take control of the team.
You know a team has lost the city when people stop talking about them. The casual fan has walked away and only the diehards remain. TFC has slipped to the Toronto Argos level of indifference to the average sports fan in the region. I don't believe the excitement will ever return.
Not only have MLSE run an incompetent franchise, they have constantly removed the off field fun aspects of attending a game. They covered up the beer garden, enforced stricter alcohol rules each season. Not because of unruly fans. They have an almost temperance attitude about alcohol consumption. The in- game experience has deteriorated each season. They killed the excitement and presented an awful on-field product, in a way that MLSE is famous for.
Canadian Human Rights Museum
Last week I was in Winnipeg on a business trip. I made a side trip to visit the Canadian Human Rights Museum (CHRM) currently under construction.
I honestly thought the only redeeming quality of this fiasco of a museum was the architecture, considering pre-construction renderings. You will note from the photo I took that building is an eyesore. This monumental taxpayers gift to the giant ego of Izzy Asper is a complete disgrace.
Stephen Harper's decision to fund this museum, forever, is bordering on an act of cruelty to the taxpayer. What's more the people of Winnipeg that I spoke to, have no fondness to this glorified Holocaust museum. They changed the focus of the museum to obtain more government funding.
Incidentally North America has over 30 Holocaust museums. Incredible when you consider that the neither the victims, or perpetrators of the crime, came from North America. I will be labeled an Anti-Semite for stating the obvious. I have the utmost respect for the Jewish community in Canada, that punch above their weight in philanthropy and community service.
The CHRM is still grossly underfunded and the Asper's are begging for additional government funding. This edifice will go down as one of the greatest white elephants in Canadian construction history. Right up there with Montreal's Mirabel Airport and Olympic stadium.
Next time the Asper family have a dream, I'm begging them to keep it to themselves.
I honestly thought the only redeeming quality of this fiasco of a museum was the architecture, considering pre-construction renderings. You will note from the photo I took that building is an eyesore. This monumental taxpayers gift to the giant ego of Izzy Asper is a complete disgrace.
Stephen Harper's decision to fund this museum, forever, is bordering on an act of cruelty to the taxpayer. What's more the people of Winnipeg that I spoke to, have no fondness to this glorified Holocaust museum. They changed the focus of the museum to obtain more government funding.
Incidentally North America has over 30 Holocaust museums. Incredible when you consider that the neither the victims, or perpetrators of the crime, came from North America. I will be labeled an Anti-Semite for stating the obvious. I have the utmost respect for the Jewish community in Canada, that punch above their weight in philanthropy and community service.
The CHRM is still grossly underfunded and the Asper's are begging for additional government funding. This edifice will go down as one of the greatest white elephants in Canadian construction history. Right up there with Montreal's Mirabel Airport and Olympic stadium.
Next time the Asper family have a dream, I'm begging them to keep it to themselves.
New Blog
Due to complaints about the ability to download on my old site, I have created a new Blog. I believe the problem was that I had too much content in the HubPages site. HubPages specialises in multiple shorter entries.
It appears that this Blog site will allow for much more content to be downloaded.
I look forward to posting on this new site. I have just completed about 3-weeks of continuous travel, mostly for work and will have a lot to say about the state of Canada and our political leaders.
It appears that this Blog site will allow for much more content to be downloaded.
I look forward to posting on this new site. I have just completed about 3-weeks of continuous travel, mostly for work and will have a lot to say about the state of Canada and our political leaders.
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