Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Toronto Zoo
My Toronto Zoo pass expires this month. I am not renewing it. I have had one for four years. The only good thing I can say about having one is that if we got to the Zoo and it was a madhouse, we could always turn around and come back another day without feeling the pressure to stay.
The Zoo is not cheap. It costs $8 to park and then (if you’re unlucky enough not to get a close spot to the entrance), you haul yourself to the entrance to pay another $20 per adult (age 13+) and $12 per child. You have to ask for a map if you want to know where you’re going once you’re in there (they are not offered to you nor are there any to pick up once you get in) and then you’re in with acres of land to trek to see (if you’re lucky) a few animals. Oh, you also have to pay for anything “fun” once you’re in on top of what you paid to get in (the Zoomobile [$7/person], camel rides, pony rides, etc. [$6/person]). And let’s not even talk about the price of food in there (many moons ago there used to be a McDonald’s which was affordable - apparently that was a bad idea).
You’d think with all the money it costs to get in a do things, the Zoo would be top notch. Ha!!! The place is as rundown as it can be. According to the Zoomobile tour guide, this is called “letting nature take its course”. Uh-huh. This is called “let’s spend the money on anything but the Zoo”. My eldest daughter’s class adopted a snow leopard last year (the Zoo is big on people “adopting” their animals - more money!). The day after they adopted it, the Zoo sent an E-mail to their teacher, telling her that the 2 year old leopard had died. Did they get their money back? No. Wonder what happened to it? They certainly didn’t get a shot at another, more robust, animal.
Like I said, I’ve had a pass for four years. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen certain animals in the Zoo during those four years (and we went fairly often - to get our moneys worth out of the pass, not for the love of the Zoo). This year, we were invited (being Members) to a “sneak peek” of the stingray exhibit. Guess what? It cost money to get into! No mention of that in the invitation. Of course, being a Member, I paid a whopping dollar less per person than Joe Average, but still. All we did was stand there and look at the rays (since the deaths of the rays in Alberta, no one’s allowed to touch them anymore). I saw larger rays in Florida for free. In their own habitat! Imagine that.
The entire Americas section is under construction. Does anyone know that? Of course not. There’s no mention of it anywhere in the Zoo. Poor people are slogging around to the back of the Zoo (which takes quite a while to get to since it’s laid out so crazily) only to find that there are no animals. Lots of machinery, though. You’d think they could put up a sign at the entrance telling people not to bother going back there. I suppose that would take some money which they don’t seem to like using (at least for Zoo purposes).
I am not renewing my pass. Sorry Toronto Zoo. You just don’t utilize yourself well enough to deserve my money anymore. If we feel the need to see some animals, we’ll go to the Bowmanville Zoo. It’s not large, but it makes up in size for the proximity and number of animals. They deserve my hard earned money (plus they do a show that you don’t have to pay for!). Gotta love that.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Global cooling in Niagara Falls
I really wish global warming would kick in again, because damn it was cold in Niagara Falls. Second time I’ve been there at this time of year when it’s been close to freezing with the wind.
That said, we were prepared and went to a great waterpark off the strip. If you have small kids, then this is a great place to go that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Mandatory training
Instead of picking on the truckers, most of whom are professional, accident free drivers, I think it’s time to bring in mandatory driver training for all first time (driving) licence holders.
It just might prevent tragedies like this.
A family friend of two young women involved in a fatal car crash that claimed three lives in central Ontario said she’s “heartbroken” by the unexpected loss of the pair who babysat her son the day before they died.
Driving a vehicle is just not taken seriously by most four wheelers.
Doing u-turns in front of tractor trailers at night on empty country roads is clearly the result of inattention and inexperience.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Top cop makes his own collar
This is why I always liked Fantino.
A driver who blew past an unmarked OPP cruiser on Hwy. 401, in a car allegedly loaded with illegal drugs, got the surprise of his life this week when he found himself face to face with the province’s top cop.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Election post-mortem
Finally, an assessment I can agree with.
Nobody expected John Tory to lead the charge for a new conservatism in Ontario. He never said he would. Instead, being a good moderate Conservative of the old Red Tory school, he played the game according to the old rules: Don’t rock the boat,
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
No sign on my lawn
Even though I voted conservative, I think it’s an easy call that the Libs in Ontario will have an even bigger majority, and Johnny won’t even win his own seat.
The old adage, governments are voted out, not in, holds true. Dalton took a page out of John Chretien’s page, and has done almost nothing (except break promises).
By being invisible, people can ignore government and continue making money. Therefore, my next prediction, a record low turnout, is another easy call.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Failure of our government
Here’s one Ontario taxpayer who must be questioning those who he pays taxes to.
16 mins to a fire in an urban area? That’s acceptable?Pickering Fire Deputy Chief Simon Almond said the fire department got a call at 7:22 p.m. and were on the scene at 7:36 p.m., with two pumpers, two tankers, a command vehicle, and 18 firefighters in tow.
“That would be our normal response to that type of call,” he said.
What the story doesn’t say, and I can’t find a link online, is that the man was driven to Rochester, NY, 4 hours away - since the local air ambulance was unavailable.
No burn unit bed in Ontario, or for that matter, Quebec. No ambulance to fly him quickly to a bed to recover or even perhaps survive.
Welcome to third world health care.
God forgive if it was a bus full of burned people. Then what?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Why I like Fantino
How can you not like the guy?
Would you still try to weasel your way out of a speeding ticket if it was the OPP commissioner standing outside your car?
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Get them out
When is the government going to get out of the electricity production business? They obviously can’t get it right.
Hot days ahead and a desire to keep cool could spell trouble for the province’s electricity system.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Failure is not an option
Meet the building blocks of our future.
“No wonder kids come to school thinking they’re getting a free ride. There’s some sense that you just can’t fail,” said Pighin. “We hand out credits like tic tacs.”
Time for the pendulum to swing back, don’t you think?
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Caledonia and Terrorism in Canada
If this is true, well, it’s depressing the lawlessness that is occuring under Dalton M.
I will speak to you of things that I have direct knowledge on, things I have seen with my own eyes and things that I can provide you with accurate and multi person corroborated. These are not embellished and for the most part have been unreported in the media, they have been reported to the OPP however even as a police officer I do not believe in their willingness or capability to investigate and apprehend those responsible.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Chamberlain award
Quick, would someone please hand the appeasement award of the year to McSquinty now?
OPP cede control to 6 nations police
Move over, Dalton...I want to stick my head in the sand...in shame.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Not the government
The government is going big trying to promote their “smartgrowth” plans, trying to lead people into small, compact boxes, living on top of each other.
The Star is even saying people don’t like suburbia any more.
I mean, who wants to live in a big house, with lots of yard space, on a street without much traffic, drive in a nice car, listening to your music as loudly as you want, without smelly, often rude bodies around you? Wouldn’t you rather live in a building with 500 other people, on a bus route, that may or may not come on time, on a busy street too dangerous for your kids to play on?
Give the socialists credit: they never give up telling people what they want.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Gig’s up
McSquinty says he’s really mad now, and if the natives stay unrestful, he’ll be, well, really really mad.
Damn I miss Mike. When do you think Dalton’s going to grow a dick and do something?
Blizzard wants him to call in the army.
Monday, June 12, 2006
The rest of the story
Perhaps this is the true story behind the Caledonia “native unrest”.
The OPP are looking for several people with regards to violence at the Caledonia stand-off involving the Six Nations Reserve.
Follow the money or the girl - and you will always get your answer.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Above the law
More evidence that there are two tiers of laws in Ontario: none for Indians, all for the rest of us.
Two news cameramen were assaulted by protesters today, prompting Premier Dalton McGuinty to condemn the latest violence at the site of an aboriginal occupation in Caledonia, Ont.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The difference
I miss the (old) Mike.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Anarchy rules
Anytime you want to see what anarchy is like, just cast your eyes over to a native protest.
At several points, dozens of protestors from both sides tangled in fistfights and shoving matches as hapless OPP officers struggled to break up the fights and keep the two sides apart. As they shoved screaming protestors away from each other shouts and insults filled the air.
Imagine living in a province where police have no authority over enforcing the law, thanks to endless political interference. No need to imagine, we have it here in Ontario thanks to Ipperwash.
When the police are afraid, YOU need to be afraid.
What’s the attraction?
I never understood people that camp, especially in this weekend’s weather.
I also never understood those that swim and fish in this weather, when the downside is death.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Go directly to Sick Kids
Here’s a story that proves that if you have a sick kid and live in the GTA, you should head directly down to the place that fixes children best. I can personally attest to this.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
The problem with CVA
I liked most of what the CSR did back in the Harris days, but CVSA wasn’t one of them. Here’s why:
While Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin’s report has accurately and precisely identified many of the problems with MPAC, the real problem lies outside his mandate; and that is current value assessment (CVA).
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Let Darwin do his job
I’d probably feel differently if it was one of my relatives who drove off the road and drowned, but really, how far are we to go to save people from their own stupidity and negligence?
Sgt. Steve Wilson scratches his head in amazement. Despite more than a month of intense media scrutiny in the wake of the drowning deaths of a mother and child whose car slid into an icy canal near Bradford, motorists continue to zoom along the winding and narrow Canal Rd. at high speeds.
Thursday, December 8, 2005
Power-less
Once more, another report making any normal person fearful of Ontario’s power future.
Ontario’s decision to close all of its coal plants will leave electricity supply so tight that every new generation project must be completed on time in the next two years to avoid power shortages, sources said today.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Why I like Mike
Thank you, inquiry, for reminding me why I liked Mike Harris so much.
Mike Harris angrily told senior Cabinet Ministers and two police officers, “I want the f------ Indians out of the park,” a public inquiry heard today.
The bombshell came on the second day
It’s too bad we won’t see him anytime soon on the political scene.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Reasonable speeds
Why can’t we do this here?
State Police have stepped up efforts to make sure speeds on major roads and expressways are reasonable. The result: In the last few months, two sections of metro Detroit freeways have had speed limits raised: