Bad day ? Go Home !

I could not resist this fine motivational poster.

Check out FireLocator

This is what has kept me busy for the last little while.
Its a project aimed at providing California residents information on wildfires.

http://firelocator.net

Happy Halloween !

Go Train Downunder

As I sat waiting for the 6.35 to leave Lincolnville at 7.08 I found this educational poster from downunder. Doesn't this look like "The best way ?".

Lincolnville Works !

We're pretty happy with Lincolnville. Its easy to get to, the parking is adequate (so far) and the convenience of losing that ridiculous bus ride from Mt Joy through Stouffville is awesome. So we have two additional suggestions.

Its a really long way from the train to the bus and vice versa since we have to walk right around the end of the train. Perhaps there is a good solution for that.

While we don't need a booth there for tickets, it sure would be great to at least be able to buy 10 ride tickets there since its no longer easy to get to Stouffville to buy them.

Any other thoughts ?

The Official update on Lincolnville

Olympic Musings

This spot will feature behind-the-scenes happenings at the Beijing Olympics.


This is the main screen at the Kazakhstan Media Centre in Beijing. Borat was nowhere to be seen. However, one of our intrepid reporters recently spotted him playing "pull my finger" with members of the US swim team.

Warning - Toilet Humour

I've seen folks visit those GO Train washrooms with some temerity. What's wrong with them ? I've never been in one but I've seen folks come out of them grimacing. Perhaps this is the the problem ?

BBQ Season !

'Tis the season of the BBQ and in the spirit of the conversation we recently had on the GO Train about men and BBQs smaller than the meat they are cooking, I thought this might be a worthy target.
This is a real burger. You can get one for your very own here. This colon buster costs $23.95 and contains two whole tomatoes and half a head of lettuce.

Underpass at Unionville

This diligent engineer has been working hard on the problems with progress at the famous Unionville underpass. You may recall this scintillating research on the purpose of the constructions.
And how long really does it take to dig a big hole ? Your humble servant has it all worked out. Next time we need a big hole, all we need to do is get one of these.



Apparently it doesn't move that fast (1/3 mile per hour) but even at that rate we'd have the hole dug in a day. Fling a few tracks down and away we go.

I guess it would look a bit like this crossing the road there at Unionville.

Speed Bumps in German

After the problems I have had with people not respecting the speed limits in my home town, this fine video discovered by Leigh made me laugh right out loud.

A.P.B. for Reefee....

Well, it looks like Reefee has disappeared...

Last time we heard from him, he was embarking on a wild adventure which involved a day of death defying stunts and acrobatics on an iron horse ( aka motorcycle ).

There are rumours that he has been bitten by the bike bug, and has joined a motorcycle gang. We just hope that he gets his fill and comes back to reality soon.

Remember, Reefee may be a very friendly looking guy, but now he may be dangerous since his walk on the wild side!

The tree that stopped the train

So this morning all the Lakeshore and Stouffville trains were delayed. Of course the conductor didn't tell us what was going on until we'd already been quite delayed but some of us were on the web and found out that there were heavy delays caused by a tree that fell across the rails just west of Danforth.

But where is the tree ? We looked this morning and again this afternoon and nobody could find it. You'd think a tree big enough to stop a GO train would leave a trace, right ? So diligent bloggers that we are, we immediately mounted a search for the trunk of doom. We took a vote and decided this must have been the culprit.

Winners of the - I look like my dog contest

http://www.flyaboveall.com/dogs.htm

The Animator Series

If you've not seen the web movies of the little stick figure retaliating with fury against his environment, here's one of them to enjoy :

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

Movie Review - Iron Man

This is a classic story of a spoiled rich brat that gets a big slap of reality. Fortunately, this one involves a lot of weapons, a lot of action, and a lot of humor.

A move like this can only really be done justice by an actor that is truly suited for the part of the hero. Robert Downey Jr. is just that actor, and he pulls this one off in spades! No other actor could have done this justice.

As the movie progresses, the rich brat realizes the error is his ways, and he starts to fix his mistakes. Just a note here, when you are a brat, you make little mistakes, when you are an extremely rich brat, your mistakes are much, much bigger. Needless to say, he has a lot of mistakes to fix.

When you go to see this movie, don't be in a hurry to leave during the credits. There is a little surprise at the end of the credits.

Enjoy the movie, and save the bathroom breaks until after the credits have finished.

The Mars Landing - a story in pictures

This fascinating picture shows just how the Phoenix landed. The story is here. The picture is from the Mars orbiter showing the Phoenix, her heat shield, and the parachute.

The Phoenix has landed

The University of Arizona leads the Phoenix expedition to Mars which landed yesterday. The early pictures are really impressive. See here.

Things that annoy Canadians

When I saw this result from a very recent Angus Reid survey, I thought of the protest posted here in our very own blog. How would you vote as a GO transit user ?

Movies for a wet weekend

The weather forecast was for a damp weekend so I thought about movies. These are my favourite comedy movies :

Best Science Fiction Comedies

1. Galaxy Quest
2. Tank Girl
3. Mars Attacks!
4. Men in Black
   

Best Fantasy Comedies

1. The Princess Bride
2. Stardust

Best Period Comedies

1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
2. Blazing Saddles
3. The General
4. Duck Soup

Best Horror Comedies

1. Young Frankenstein
2. Shaun of the Dead

Best Animated Comedies

1. Finding Nemo
2. Shrek
3. Alvin and the Chipmunks

Best Drama Comedies

1. Airplane!
2. The Man Who Knew Too Little
3. The Gods Must be Crazy
4. The Naked Gun
5. Hot Shots
6. The Return of the Pink Panther

So which ones did I miss ?

Teamwork

Thought that some of you might be able to relate to this based on what you see outside the GO train Window, or more likely at work..

GO Train Drivers wanted !

We've just discovered that Bombardier is hiring GO Train drivers (actually they're called operators). Here's the video :

Ping Pong Cannon

A previous post showed an elastic band gun worthy of Rambo, The Terminator or Sigourney Weaver (Aliens). Not so dramatic but quite obviously great fun, this is a 5 minute build for sure. Enjoy !

One less washroom in Toronto

This is not an April Fool's joke. For many months, the afternoon GO train riders have been watching a "Johnny on the Spot", mobile toilet, "bog sled" or porta potty that has progressively been tilting further and further towards the precipice of a building lot excavation. We can now report as of the 1st of April that it has finally tumbled into the hole and is lying on its side. Whoever had 1st April 2008 in the pool had the right poop. So to speak.

Redneck Jacuzzi

Since we're on a bit of a roll with the redneck theme I thought this might be right for the season.

Dress Code on the GO

As the warm weather approaches and a recession looms, GO riders will have a dilemma on their hands. What to wear during those stifling days in July without a considerable outlay of valuable resources?

Well, a new fashion trend is hitting the pork rind circuit. It combines backwoods frugality with trailer park elegance. The Redneck Tank Top is the new darling of Nashville fashion houses.

Look for it at participating GO stations and tractor pulls.

Tell them Bubba sent you.

To all the Leaf fans on the GO train - Don’t lose hope

Need to exercise your dog ?

I think this splendid invention might just serve the purpose.

A simple fun joke.

I thought it might be time for a joke !

A dog walks into a butcher shop with a purse strapped around his neck. He walks up to the meat case and calmly sits there until it's his turn to be waited on. A man, who was already in the butcher shop, finished his purchase and noticed the dog. The butcher leaned over the counter and asked the dog what it wanted today. The dog put its paw on the glass case in front of the ground beef, and the butcher asked, 'How many pounds?' The dog barked twice, so the butcher made a package of two pounds ground beef. He then asked, "Anything else?" The dog pointed to the pork chops, and the butcher asked, "How many?" The dog barked four times, and the butcher made up a package of four pork chops. The dog then walked around behind the counter, so the butcher could get at the purse. The butcher took out the appropriate amount of money and tied two packages of meat around the dog's neck. The man, who had been watching all of this, decided to follow the dog. It walked for several blocks and then walked up to a house where it began to scratch the door to be let in. As the owner opened the door, the man said to the owner, "That's a really smart dog you have there". The owner said, "He's not really all that smart. This is the second time this week he forgot his key."

GO Fare increase on March 15, 2008

Starting Saturday, March 15, GO Transit’s fares will increase. This is needed to cover our rising operating costs, as well as new train and bus services we have introduced.

An adult single-ride ticket (one-way) will now be 15 cents more. All other fares will also rise, with multi-ride pass and child, senior, student, and group ticket prices calculated according to our usual discount rates.

GO Transit has not increased fares in the past two years. Compared to driving, GO service is still a good value for our customers.

For more information about new fares, please contact us or ask your station attendant. New fares can be found using our website's Fare calculator.

For GO info: 416 869-3200 Toronto local calling area1 888 GET ON GO (438-6646) long distance, toll free1 800 387-3652 TTY teletypewriters onlywww.gotransit.com

Accessories for the Redneck Mansion

Some suggested accessories for the mansion, like some guard dogs, Mailbox & a swimming pool.

Redneck Mansion

One of our members found this gem. I thought it was too good not to publish.

Sleeping on the GO - Simple Solutions to Complex Problems

I am amazed at the growing number of passengers who doze off on the train and magically wake up seconds before the train reaches their destination. The last time I did this, I was around 15 and on a bus and .. well you know how this story ended - there was a lot of backtracking involved.

Anyway I felt a need to help fellow go passengers who possess this magic.
Humans are not really designed to sleep while seated, and as such one problem that has traumatized all GO-snoozers is how to keep a steady head while having a well deserved snooze on the way to work, or on the ride back home (and at work too).

I started looking for solutions, and as it turns out the Japanese have solved this (surprise!) using something as simple as a toilet plunger.

Research shows that the design not only keeps your head steady, it also keeps your mind out of the toilet while you sleep and dream...

Mentos and Diet Coke

During tonight's ride we discovered some folk were unaware of the exciting things you can do with Diet Coke and Mentos. There may be even more impressive demonstrations on the web but personally, I think this one is pretty hard to beat.

Snow. In Toronto. In February.

The snow has started. Who would have thought it ? Snow in February in Toronto ... This video says it all.

Shakespeare, underwear and Windows XP

"Is this Vista I see before me ?" So the latest deal struck on the 6.42am from Stouffville amidst a flurry of Shakespeare quotes from Bob and yours truly was a year's supply of underwear in exchange for the removal of Windows Vista and installation of Windows XP in its stead. Can anybody say "Out damned spot" ?

Unionville Track Modifications

We've been speculating about what fine things are being built by GO at the massive constructions just south of Unionville. Well a good deal of careful searching on the web has revealed what is REALLY being built there. Awesome. GO for it !

GOing to the 2008 Auto Show ?

I made up a quick Flickr slide show here. We made it a fun by looking for the ugliest car, the biggest truck, the best colour, the neatest accessories ... you get the picture (pun intended).

GO petition

We found this petition this morning and thought you might like to take a look at it : http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/go_on_time/

Please note the instructions at the bottom - you don't need to donate.

The Oblivious Queue Jumpers

It never ceases to amaze me at the arrogance of some of our fellow Stouffville GO train riders.

As we all know, people who take the GO train regularly line up where they know their door to the train will stop, and an orderly queue is created every day to board the train. On a regular basis there will be one or two people who will arrive just as the train arrives, and they will proceed to walk right to the front of the line, oblivious of the dozens of people that have been waiting patiently to board the train. Now it has been brought to my attention of a few situations where people have been reminded that there is a line, and they don't seem to care.

This is where we need to suggest a "deterrant" for ignorance or a lack of manners. I would suggest the following list of possiblities:

1. A classic such as a pie in the face. ( making it shaving cream so they can't actually enjoy it )

2. Send Bruno out to "introduce" them to the end of the line.

3. A dousing of water followed by a bucket of baby powder. ( stick it to them )

4. Give them the best seat in the house, duct taped to the front of the train.

If you have any other suggestions for encourage people to use their manners, please contribute!

The Ultimate Elastic Band Gun

As a kid we all built rubber band guns. Go on admit it - you stretched a band over a ruler and shot somebody with it right ? And didn't you imagine you were Rambo and the Terminator all rolled into one ? So how about this masterpiece ?

Snow fun

Last night we had tickets to see the play "Twelve Angry Men" downtown. And it snowed. So of course we caught the GO bus downtown. That's when the fun started.

Let me take this space to give due kudos to our driver Kathleen who was awesome. Now we're into "awards" season I think we need an award for exceptional performance for GO. "Exceptional GO Performance Award" (EGPA) might work ? So Kathleen gets our first EGPA. Her bus 2208 slipped and slid all over the place. Even the slightest of gradients started to look like we'd need Sherpas and oxygen. We ground up the hill from Unionville to the 407 ramp at 2-3 cm a second. We had to watch features on the ground to be sure we were moving but driver Kathleen never gave up. Great spirit, awesome customer service and indomitable attitude earn her the first ever EGPA. Nice job.

Movie Review for the Oscars - No Country for Old Men

Spoiler Alert !

I saw "No Country for Old Men" last night.

1. No car chase. -10 points
2. No aliens. -8 points
3. Romance. -6 points
4. Nobody cried (although one looked like she might). 2 points
5. The villain wins. -20 points
6. Two dogs die. -20 points But they're pit bulls so OK, lets go with -10 points.

The story rocks along with lots of graphic gratuitous violence until about 20 minutes from the end when it turns into introspective contemplation of the human condition. Or in other words time wasting, boring crap. Up until those closing 20 minutes I thought it was just a fairly ordinary movie. But with -52 points on the "butt scale" and probably the worst movie ending I've ever seen in a cinema, I'd say its guaranteed an Oscar. Its crap and I would advise everybody to avoid it at all costs.

There is one plus. The villain was probably the most evil, convincing, gratuitously violent screen villains I've ever seen. He'll haunt you for weeks once you've seen him in action. That guy probably should get an Oscar (so of course he won't).

The Oscars are coming

My 6 criteria for the ideal movie are :

1. Must have a car chase.
2. Aliens are an asset.
3. No romance crap.
4. Anybody even looks like they might cry should be smacked upside the head.
   
5. The villain has to be beaten to a bloody pulp at the end of the movie.
   
6. Dogs are always welcome but no dog deaths are allowed.

So obviously I'm not the ideal person to predict the Oscar results. The statistics substantiate the suspicion. The only way I could have scored lower last year was if I'd not filled in the form. But that's OK. We're all going to fill in the forms and I'm going to lose. If you'd like to join in the fun, there is a form here.

Maybe you'd like to boast your prowess by posting the accuracy of your predictions here ?

Remember - you can never come last. I have that position booked.

We were just talking about this advertisement

Rick Goes To: Stouffville

Well produced video showing our trip.

When people annoy you ...

Sometimes when you are angry with someone, it helps to sit down and think about the problem.

Feeling Down ?

I'm staring at todays "24 Hours" where it says today is the most depressing day of the year. Oh really ? We've made up a top ten list for the year's most depressing day. What ten reasons do we have to be joyous today ?

10. Achmed the Dead Terrorist
9. We have heat in the carriage
8. The train window isn't leaking
7. We can't wait to fill out the GO Train survey
6. We didn't stop at Danforth
5. The ugliness of the GO corridor is hidden under soft beautiful snow.
4. We think the Green Creeper is fitted with happy lights
3. George Bush only has a year left
2. The train hasn't broken down yet
1. Its happy Friday for two of us.

Slow GO ?

Is it my imagination of are these trains just getting slower and slower ? The train has a dedicated line right ? Its not like there are lots of slow drivers in front of the train. So how come the GO Bus can actually do the run to Union faster than the train ? So lets use this post to take volunteers. I'll be the conductor. We'll use the bullet train rules. You have exactly 30 seconds of open door time then you're either on the train, off the train or a lot thinner and longer than you used to be. We have a volunteer to drive. He'll have three speeds. Dead stop, flat out or even faster. And lets lose a few stations. We'll hang big signs on the side of the train "Isn't the TTC the better way ?" or "Ride the Red Rocket not the Green Creeper".

How's that working for you so far ?

Welcome to our blog

This is the first posting from a group of friends who choose to ride the Stouffville GO Transit line in Toronto together. We decided we wanted a place to communally share our thoughts, comments, pictures, laughs and friendship. And this is it !
In case you are wondering, this is the transit system that brought us together.