Thursday, January 31, 2008
Pay more to live in the same shithole!
Why has the cost of housing gone up so much in this city? The price of houses has doubled in the past few years but no other signs of prosperity otherwise. … no new stores, no BMWs clogging the streets, no new companies investing here. Just more expensive homes, suburban sprawl on the outskirts of the city, and more Walmarts. Not what I’d call REAL signs of wealth. People are just as poor here as ever so someone please tell me: where is the money driving up the price of real estate coming from? Are all the farmers selling their combines on Ebay and moving into town to be closer to Walmart? And better yet, why hasn’t the government done anything about rent controls? What a bloody joke! The land of socialism and they can’t even pass a tenancy act that protects people from getting evicted from $250 a month rent increases….
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
My Riverfront Landing Rant
In any other city, the riverfront landing area would have been developed ten years ago and the money garnered used to pay for much needed infrastructure development. The land is located right downtown, it's on prime waterfront, and it's worth a fortune. But oh, how I overestimate this place. Here, they wait until the last couple years to start development (okay great, the land is worth more now… ka-CHING!)…. but then what do they do? Put in two theatres and turn the rest into park. They should have sold this prime real estate to developers and put in some high rises and MADE SOME MONEY… maybe even build some condos to alleviate the rental housing shortage. Hell they could have built some low income apartments there with partial proceeds. How on earth they managed to think up the idea of putting the Galaxy theatre where they did is beyond me. They might as well have put a fricking Walmart in there. Then again, they probably tried.
Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re going to say: big buildings aren’t as pretty as parks. Well, no one seems to notice that there already ARE huge parks on each side of the riverfront property AND across the river. But what about the theatre you say? What about the local arts scene? Well in case you’ve never been to a theatre, it involves being INSIDE so it doesn’t really matter where it is. Call me crazy but it’s a little hard to enjoy the riverfront view when you’re looking at a stage or screen, surrounded by concrete walls. The fact is: the land could have been better utilized. PERIOD.
City Hall does nothing but bitch about how little money they have… Gee, I wonder why? Maybe it’s because they don’t know a damn thing about urban planning and development. They think that the only place to get money is to nickel and dime residents to death. They missed the boat on this one folks. I hope everyone enjoys the kiddie waterpark but do try to ignore the crater sized potholes, no parking spaces, and crumbling streets on the way there.
Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re going to say: big buildings aren’t as pretty as parks. Well, no one seems to notice that there already ARE huge parks on each side of the riverfront property AND across the river. But what about the theatre you say? What about the local arts scene? Well in case you’ve never been to a theatre, it involves being INSIDE so it doesn’t really matter where it is. Call me crazy but it’s a little hard to enjoy the riverfront view when you’re looking at a stage or screen, surrounded by concrete walls. The fact is: the land could have been better utilized. PERIOD.
City Hall does nothing but bitch about how little money they have… Gee, I wonder why? Maybe it’s because they don’t know a damn thing about urban planning and development. They think that the only place to get money is to nickel and dime residents to death. They missed the boat on this one folks. I hope everyone enjoys the kiddie waterpark but do try to ignore the crater sized potholes, no parking spaces, and crumbling streets on the way there.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Kent Austin Screws Saskatchewan AGAIN!
So Mr Austin is leaving south for the good life in the NCAA…. Someone please tell me why everyone is NOT upset over this? I saw people wishing him luck on TV when they heard the news. Don’t people remember that this is the SECOND time Austin screwed the Riders fans over? This guy is like one of those dapper old men who comes into a retirement home, bangs all the old ladies, and leaves the next day with all their money. Well, Austin never fooled me, probably because I HATED the Riders when he did it the first time as their QB and I HATE them still today. And not just because Eric Tillman looks like a Chiapet... or one of those brushes you clean your shoes with before hitting the curling rink. Probably that’s how he got the GM job here. People liked him a lot but couldn’t quite explain why…. But I digress..... I thought Saskatchewan people knew their history. Apparently not! I suppose that this means that if I come back to Saskatchewan in twenty years’ time people will remember me as the person who invented the internet.
RECALL WALL’s SIDEBURNS!
Am I seeing things? Did Brad Wall grow back his sideburns? Jesus Christ, I thought he got rid of them once and for all for the election. Probably why he got elected. Now they’re back? This is worse than an unkept election promise. Who does he think he is? Jason Priestly from 90210? Hey Brad: you’re an adult now and it’s time to let it go. The other premiers are already laughing at you for your goofy pin stripe gangster suits. Don’t feed the flames!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Privatize SaskTransit NOW!
I am not a proponent of privatization as a general rule but Sask Transit should be privatized NOW. It’s the only way to remedy what is possibly the worst run crown corporation I have ever seen.
The busses are empty all the time, the busses are old and dilapidated, and they run so infrequently the service is a joke. They jack up the prices by more than anywhere else I have seen at one time. And what the hell do they put in those bus cushions? Don Acheson’s back hair? God those seats are uncomfortable. I swear Sask Transit doesn’t want you to ride the bus. The downtown bus exchange is the poorest and most dangerous one I have ever seen—it’s like dodgeball trying to catch a bus but not get run over! The company can’t even sell advertising on the busses to companies. Last time I rode the bus, they had one company with the same advertisement plastered about ten times in the inside of the bus. And there was space for other advertisers still left! Plus, the other signs inside the busses—there’s about a million telling riders what to NOT do, like crucial things like don’t spit sunflower shells in the bus—look like they were written by a fifth grader and are full of typos and grammatical errors.
I can tell this is a horrible company to work for too. Most drivers are a miserable bunch of unhelpful bastards. Drivers don’t stop for you and will often hassle people over anything no matter how small. They won’t wait for you if you want on and they’re about to leave. I’ve seen drivers yelling at pedestrians crossing the street, pedestrians who have the right of way! The bus driver didn’t bother to see if anyone was crossing the street before making a left turn and then blamed a pedestrian for his own ignorance. One time I saw a bus miss a turn and try to back up in the middle of the street… he drove right into a car behind him. These transit drivers are a bloody hazard! Don’t believe me? Last year transit drivers made the news when one driver ran over someone downtown and another was involved in a major collision on Clarence. I guess these guys missed the part of driving lesson where they tell you to check both ways before stepping on the gas.
Sask Transit management should visit ANY other metropolitan center in Canada to see how public transit should be run.
The busses are empty all the time, the busses are old and dilapidated, and they run so infrequently the service is a joke. They jack up the prices by more than anywhere else I have seen at one time. And what the hell do they put in those bus cushions? Don Acheson’s back hair? God those seats are uncomfortable. I swear Sask Transit doesn’t want you to ride the bus. The downtown bus exchange is the poorest and most dangerous one I have ever seen—it’s like dodgeball trying to catch a bus but not get run over! The company can’t even sell advertising on the busses to companies. Last time I rode the bus, they had one company with the same advertisement plastered about ten times in the inside of the bus. And there was space for other advertisers still left! Plus, the other signs inside the busses—there’s about a million telling riders what to NOT do, like crucial things like don’t spit sunflower shells in the bus—look like they were written by a fifth grader and are full of typos and grammatical errors.
I can tell this is a horrible company to work for too. Most drivers are a miserable bunch of unhelpful bastards. Drivers don’t stop for you and will often hassle people over anything no matter how small. They won’t wait for you if you want on and they’re about to leave. I’ve seen drivers yelling at pedestrians crossing the street, pedestrians who have the right of way! The bus driver didn’t bother to see if anyone was crossing the street before making a left turn and then blamed a pedestrian for his own ignorance. One time I saw a bus miss a turn and try to back up in the middle of the street… he drove right into a car behind him. These transit drivers are a bloody hazard! Don’t believe me? Last year transit drivers made the news when one driver ran over someone downtown and another was involved in a major collision on Clarence. I guess these guys missed the part of driving lesson where they tell you to check both ways before stepping on the gas.
Sask Transit management should visit ANY other metropolitan center in Canada to see how public transit should be run.
Why I hate Saskatoon
People in Saskatoon seem to think that their city is better than Regina. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black--Saskatoon easily is as bit a shithole as Regina. Here's why:
1) Everyone drives slower than the retired.
2) Clueless drivers that don’t respect pedestrians, crosswalks, and even traffic lights.
3) Downtown has no real attractions and is dead… all the time.
4) No downtown nightlife.
5) People think Tim Hortons has “good” coffee.
6) They elect people like MP Maurice Vellacot…. year in year out. And then complain about the conservatism of Sask Party MLAs.
7) Home to some of the highest crime rates in Canada.
8) Maybe 3 good restaurants in a sized city that should have 20-30.
9) Can’t sustain a downtown grocery store open but can keep 3 Walmarts PACKED.
10) No gas stations (sorry, the 20th and Idylewild one doesn’t count).
11) There are no public beaches in a city with a river running through it.
12) River swimming is not allowed, due to hydrophobia than actual danger.
13) Road construction projects take weeks, sometimes months, to undertake… where in other cities it would take days.
14) No sidewalks on the busiest part of Circle Drive North.
15) People are incredibly poor tippers… when they tip at all.
16) Pubs and restaurants never cut off or give the boot to drunk patrons… they are allowed to cause as much trouble as they like.
17) Has the slowest service in restaurants anywhere.
18) Frumpily dressed people everywhere.
19) No tourism industry whatsoever.... seeing a Manitoba license plate is even rare.
20) Drop in medical clinics are always backed up and you can wait 2-3 hours to see a doctor in the “Home of Healthcare.”
21) Few signs that private entrepreneurship is encouraged.
22) Excess TV time devoted to farm and crop reports when agriculture makes up less than 10% of the provincial economy.
23) Newscasts devoid of any real newsworthy content.
24) Newscasters dress and look like 80s prom nightmares.
25) Some city streets aren’t swept to clean up road dirt in the spring until… summer.
26) Crappy, expensive to ride public transit system that shuts down too early/runs too infrequently.
27) People frown on public transit as ‘for the poor people who can’t afford a car.”
28) Junk Pontiac Sunfires…. everywhere.
29) No signs of logical civic planning… i.e. they let large lots of downtown real estate sit unused for years (i.e. the old King George Hotel and put a big ugly movie theatre on prime downtown near-waterfront property.
30) The WORST public bus system EVER – people think the bus is for poor people.
31) When the city bus drivers aren’t busy driving over people, they are just plain rude.
32) Crappy roads and potholes that go without repair.
33) Unsynchronized traffic lights on main roads in the city.
34) No bike lanes anywhere…. even though the city has one of the highest number of bike commuters in Canada.
35) Crappy, apathetic service at oh so many retail shops.
36) They can’t think of a better name for historical Victoria Bridge than to call it the “Traffic Bridge.”
37) Poor city planning i.e. traffic lights, crosswalks in poor locations.
38) Insufficient number of garbage cans and maintenance in main areas….as a result, street festivals (i.e. The Fringe) are garbagefests.
39) Overweight people everywhere… and junk food/candy vending machines galore.
40) Drunk driving seems acceptable to many, and the police never have roadblocks to stop them either.
41) You have to pay to park in the Midtown Mall lot… they charge you to go to the mall to spend your money.
42) the malls SUCK—people think the Gap is high end fashion.
43) Native culture is seen as a problem and not celebrated as in other parts of Canada.
44) There is public support for a lobby group sympathetic to the cops that killed Stonechild.
45) Few boutique shops… instead, tons of big ugly box stores.
46) The Star Phoenix is a rag.
47) You can count the number of ethnic food import shops on one hand… sorry, Cheese Warehouse just doesn’t cut it.
48) No specialty wine shops… and shitty liquor store selection.
49) Road lines always need repainting.
50) No rent controls for the home of socialism.
51) People don’t pick up after their dogs—spring should be called shit melt.
52) They charge people to get a pet license for their cats and dogs but never enforce it.
53) All the city firework displays (Canada Day, the Ex) are incredibly lame.
54) City Hall does nothing about the 20th St. problem.
55) The mayor is stupid enough to make racist comments in front of Indians at the First Nations University… and still gets elected by a landslide.
Yes, I am MOVING out of province!
1) Everyone drives slower than the retired.
2) Clueless drivers that don’t respect pedestrians, crosswalks, and even traffic lights.
3) Downtown has no real attractions and is dead… all the time.
4) No downtown nightlife.
5) People think Tim Hortons has “good” coffee.
6) They elect people like MP Maurice Vellacot…. year in year out. And then complain about the conservatism of Sask Party MLAs.
7) Home to some of the highest crime rates in Canada.
8) Maybe 3 good restaurants in a sized city that should have 20-30.
9) Can’t sustain a downtown grocery store open but can keep 3 Walmarts PACKED.
10) No gas stations (sorry, the 20th and Idylewild one doesn’t count).
11) There are no public beaches in a city with a river running through it.
12) River swimming is not allowed, due to hydrophobia than actual danger.
13) Road construction projects take weeks, sometimes months, to undertake… where in other cities it would take days.
14) No sidewalks on the busiest part of Circle Drive North.
15) People are incredibly poor tippers… when they tip at all.
16) Pubs and restaurants never cut off or give the boot to drunk patrons… they are allowed to cause as much trouble as they like.
17) Has the slowest service in restaurants anywhere.
18) Frumpily dressed people everywhere.
19) No tourism industry whatsoever.... seeing a Manitoba license plate is even rare.
20) Drop in medical clinics are always backed up and you can wait 2-3 hours to see a doctor in the “Home of Healthcare.”
21) Few signs that private entrepreneurship is encouraged.
22) Excess TV time devoted to farm and crop reports when agriculture makes up less than 10% of the provincial economy.
23) Newscasts devoid of any real newsworthy content.
24) Newscasters dress and look like 80s prom nightmares.
25) Some city streets aren’t swept to clean up road dirt in the spring until… summer.
26) Crappy, expensive to ride public transit system that shuts down too early/runs too infrequently.
27) People frown on public transit as ‘for the poor people who can’t afford a car.”
28) Junk Pontiac Sunfires…. everywhere.
29) No signs of logical civic planning… i.e. they let large lots of downtown real estate sit unused for years (i.e. the old King George Hotel and put a big ugly movie theatre on prime downtown near-waterfront property.
30) The WORST public bus system EVER – people think the bus is for poor people.
31) When the city bus drivers aren’t busy driving over people, they are just plain rude.
32) Crappy roads and potholes that go without repair.
33) Unsynchronized traffic lights on main roads in the city.
34) No bike lanes anywhere…. even though the city has one of the highest number of bike commuters in Canada.
35) Crappy, apathetic service at oh so many retail shops.
36) They can’t think of a better name for historical Victoria Bridge than to call it the “Traffic Bridge.”
37) Poor city planning i.e. traffic lights, crosswalks in poor locations.
38) Insufficient number of garbage cans and maintenance in main areas….as a result, street festivals (i.e. The Fringe) are garbagefests.
39) Overweight people everywhere… and junk food/candy vending machines galore.
40) Drunk driving seems acceptable to many, and the police never have roadblocks to stop them either.
41) You have to pay to park in the Midtown Mall lot… they charge you to go to the mall to spend your money.
42) the malls SUCK—people think the Gap is high end fashion.
43) Native culture is seen as a problem and not celebrated as in other parts of Canada.
44) There is public support for a lobby group sympathetic to the cops that killed Stonechild.
45) Few boutique shops… instead, tons of big ugly box stores.
46) The Star Phoenix is a rag.
47) You can count the number of ethnic food import shops on one hand… sorry, Cheese Warehouse just doesn’t cut it.
48) No specialty wine shops… and shitty liquor store selection.
49) Road lines always need repainting.
50) No rent controls for the home of socialism.
51) People don’t pick up after their dogs—spring should be called shit melt.
52) They charge people to get a pet license for their cats and dogs but never enforce it.
53) All the city firework displays (Canada Day, the Ex) are incredibly lame.
54) City Hall does nothing about the 20th St. problem.
55) The mayor is stupid enough to make racist comments in front of Indians at the First Nations University… and still gets elected by a landslide.
Yes, I am MOVING out of province!
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