On the Road – Tight Sleepers, Kernel Dumps, Phone Addicts and More
May 24, 2022
Highlights and lowlights from yesterday’s visit to the universe’s center:
1. We’re still in this ditch because we’ve been doing a little too much “cooperating” with our governments . . .
2. How about a shout out to those health care workers who have been ruthlessly fired for refusing poison injections?
3. Displays of sisterly love on a sidewalk . . .
4. Someone fast asleep across from the bus stop at Fairview Mall . . .
5. There were two others on the bus who were also asleep for most of the ride to Burlington. One of them made sure to put his mask on before nodding off. Apparently he thinks that viruses spread easier when you are asleep.
6. The Masked Sleeper was the only one who availed himself of the new seat belts now available on GO buses.
7. At the Beamsville stop was a bunch of unattended ebikes from Scooter Share. They all looked to be in good shape and hadn’t been vandalized. This is not the Old Country, chapter 7,651.
8. The McDonald’s at Beamsville had a sign out front promoting their new BBQ and Buffalo dips. Why would you want to dip a buffalo?
9. Passengers at the Burlington GO station wondering when the next train was coming were instead treated to the details of a Linux kernel dump along with a long list of the system’s kernel modules. Whereas Metrolinx uses Windows on its displays inside the buses, they use a Linux system for the boards giving the train schedules.
10. The train schedules mattered not to a couple of dudes at the Burlington GO station who were passed out. One of them had a two-liter pack of Tropicana juice under his feet.
11. Free comb and bike lock at the Burlington GO station:
12. Once again, Metrolinx is not above spending large amounts of our money for the sole purpose of patting themselves on the back . . .
13. Please keep right and follow Julia . . .
14. Or just let the law of natural selection run its course . . .
15. If you’re in this group, don’t you feel pretty stupid right about now?
16. Rachel the Joker . . .
17. Seated near me on the train was a couple who had doused themselves in some sort of cologne or body wash. Tip: You aren’t supposed to use the entire bottle. Just like with Brylcreem, a little dab will do ya.
18. Uh, why is this important?
19. Whereas all the other trains leave Union without much fanfare, Metrolinx has staff running around the concourse screaming to announce the pending departure of the Niagara Falls train. Said train is up on the boards just like all the others and a simple announcement could do the job.
20. Inside the washroom in the Bay Concourse was someone listening some loud tunes while taking a dump.
21. Video of the walk to the TTC streetcar:
22. Our governments sure haven’t shown much respect for human rights over the past two-plus years . . .
23. I found it odd that so many waited eight minutes for a streetcar, then piled off at the Queens Quay station, which is less than a five-minute walk from Union. It’s not as though Queens Quay is a major transfer point.
24. Because some artists are more equal than others . . .
25. Spotted on Queens Quay was someone toting a bag with “I love all the cats” on it.
26. Spotted on Spadina was Strange Love, a self-described mood enhancing cafe.
27. Walkthrough of Graffiti Alley, located south of Queen Street and west of Spadina:
28. Can’t see the forests’s for the trees’s . . .
29. Those sleepy guys on the bus and in the station were off in “dreameland” . . .
30. Walkthroughs of Spadina Avenue and Kensington Market:
31. The King . . .
32. While taking a bit of a break sitting next to the King, someone wearing a black T-shirt with “Bold Brave Brazen” all over the back with his blond hair tied up in a pig tail was standing and staring up at the chin-up bars for several minutes before mustering up the strength to finally lift himself up several times. He repeated this cycle a couple of times before I moved on.
33. As this spectacle was unfolding, someone came around with a dog that took a dump in the grass. Its owner reached down to pick up the mess. This is not the Old Country, chapter 7,652.
34. What difference does it make if your piano teacher is an anarchist?
35. Perhaps their chickens come from slaughterhouses that have adopted the Muhummad Ali approach . . .
36. Food for thought . . .
37. For the sake of their customers, I hope they do reflexology better than they spell . . .
38. The Lucky Moose on Dundas Street . . .
39. Is this really how you want to be remembered?
40. The salmon that’s on the menu wasn’t so lucky . . .
41. Gathered outside on Dundas Street was a group wearing vests from the Special Olympics and each of them was wearing a mask. If you really think you need a mask on while outdoors, you might be eligible to compete in the Special Olympics.
42. Not far from this scene was someone wearing a T-shirt with the slogan, “Mother Earth doesn’t need saving, we do.”
43. Scenes at Yonge-Dundas Square:
44. Other scenes at Yonge-Dundas Square, along with my predictable reaction to the respective messages . . .
45. Outside Eaton Center was a scruffy bum standing alongside his bike that was parked in front of a garbage bin. On the rear of the bike was a sign that read, “Stove safety: Line up to save a home.” Despite the holiday, there were plenty of people around, but, not surprisingly, no one was lining up to get safety tips from him.
46. Inside Eaton Center was a guy wearing an Argos cap. I was probably the only one in the place that recognized the logo.
47. Passing by me in the food court was an older guy with a big glob of snot hanging on the tip of his nose just waiting to drip down. How appetizing.
48. Seated in the food court were four 20-somethings sitting around a table eating while preoccupied with their phones. Nearby was another guy with one hand texting on his phone while trying to pick up a piece of toast with his other hand. Later, an older gentleman was walking out of the washroom with his head down and both hands on his phone. Give. It. A. Rest.
49. Also in the food court was a guy in a black hoodie with his head down on a table catching a few winks. Several minutes later, he sprang to his feet and took off like a shot as if he had to be somewhere fast.
50. While in the washroom, some guy was busy admiring himself in front of the mirror blocking access to the only working soap dispenser.
51. The Eggspectation location just outside Eaton Center seemed to be particularly popular, especially with a couple that was making out on the patio.
52. Walking around Nathan Phillips Square:
53. In the coming years, we may very well see monuments like this erected to honor the victims of our current government’s tyranny . . .
53a. As Roman Baber so aptly put it, no Canadian should have to live in fear of his own government.
54. When passing the corner of Queen and Yonge, a bum held out an empty Tim Hortons cup at me. Part of me was inclined to spit in it.
55. Spread sustainability. And plywood.
56. Walkthrough of the new Union Station bus terminal:
57. In another egregious breach of Metrolinx policy, the customer service ambassador on my return trip failed to give us her name.
58. Throughout my travels on the day, the muffled announcements on both GO and the TTC that masks remain “mandatory” sounded like they were made by someone wearing a mask or speaking into a microphone covered by a mask.
59. Spotted from the train in Burlington was a guy in a parking lot washing his car while someone was stretched out in a nearby easy chair watching him.
60. Also spotted in Burlington was a trailer with “RIP Doom. You’ll be missed.” written on it.
61. The view from my window seat as the train made its way around the lake:
62. Despite the longer walk home, I appreciated the express train directly to St. Catharines. It beats having to transfer to the milk-run bus at Burlington.
63. Real estate opportunity in Western Hill . . .
64. On the way home, many cars had their windows open and tops down with rap music blaring. I just don’t get rap. Just like I don’t get fireworks.
65. Free meal from Wendy’s . . .
66. Spotted on the sidewalk on Niagara Street were two small black birds engaged in a fight to the death. Drops of blood were nearby. But when I came by, they broke it up and flew away.
67. Don’t bother using the sidewalk. Just wheel your cart on a busy roadway near an on-ramp to one of Canada’s biggest freeways.
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