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).