Not much has changed since the last time I visited the CN Tower 13 years ago.

This month, our proud national needle turned 30, and to celebrate this momentous occasion, they were offering an admission deal: 3 for $30.

See-lai me would never turn down a deal, besides it's a great reason to do something during the day, other than monotonous shopping.

The only thing I remember about my first and second trip up the CN Tower was the elevator ride, probably because it was pretty much is the highlight of the trip. It's always fun to swallow every three seconds just to unplug your ears from the change in air pressure as you rise up to the observation deck. I can't help to feel uneasy on the elevator, especially on the ride down, as the G-forces kick in the first few seconds of the ride.

I was generally disappointed in the visit. Sure, there already isn't really that much to do at the CN Tower, other than observing the city, but that was not the reason for my disappointment. In fact, as a planning junkie, it's always fun to see what landmarks you can spot at such a high distance. Some highlight include spotting the emerging skyline at Yonge and Eglinton and along the Queensway in Etobicoke.

I was disappointed that they've added another restaurant, Horizon's Café, at the Lookout level, which swallowed up a large chuck of the city view to private interests. Surely, it didn't stop us from heading in and taking a look at the view, but it's sad that for the price of admission, we aren't able to view the city in all perspectives without ordering food or without having a guilty conscience.

On the contrary, I have no rants about 360 restaurant. It's on its own dedicated level, and it definitely an attraction worth going to.

Also, I've never had the opportunity to go on the glass floor as a child, because I believe it wasn't yet constructed at the time. This was a disappointment indeed. I didn't know the glass floor only consisted of about 5 by 5 metres in area.

CN Tower needs some better attractions-- perhaps a physics exhibit about the forces of gravity, or the nature of radio waves. I'm also thinking Drop Zone CN-style.

CN Tower: Canada's Wonder of the World - [cntower.ca]

This entry is long overdue. There are many irritating things I have been forced to put up with while taking the TTC, mostly related to etiquette.

Listen up folks, and spread the word. Cooperation will make our transit system a better experience for everyone. Here they are in random order.

1. Keep your music to yourself
There is a person every morning on the 53 Steeles East who must listen to Real McCoy's Runaway, every morning. Over and over.

I would runaway too, just to get that fucking song out of my mind, but I don't want to be late for work.

Mobile music devices are clearly for personal use. Let's all keep it that way, and keep the music down. I loathe the sound of blasting music from people's headphones, especially that static sound.

Yes, buses and trains can be very loud, but do your eardrums and other passengers a favour, and keep it down. If I can hear it, it's too loud!

2. Cell phone irritants
Passengers do not want to know what you did last night, or what you're having for dinner, or what your boyfriend thinks of you. Please keep your cell phone conversations to a minimum. And if you must, please keep a discrete conversation volume. If your caller can't hear you because the bus is too loud, hang up and talk later. If your caller can't hear you, it does not give you permission to speak louder.

3. Be courteous to bus operators
People do not understand how difficult a bus operator's job actually is. Operators always have to be on full alert to:

• ensure all passengers are picked up and dropped off
• ensure the safety of passengers
• ensure the safety of other road users (mind you many are rageful, having to be trailed by a bus)
• ensure people pay their fare
• ...all while driving a large bus

Be nice to the operator, and ensure a smoother and more pleasant ride for everyone. Yes, I understand some operators need to be more "customer-service" minded, but nonetheless, respect them.
Some points to note:

• Don't attack them for forgetting open the rear doors; they're human just like you and me
• Don't make vulgar hand gestures if the bus can't stop at your stop for one reason for another. There is obviously a good reason why he/she cannot pick you up or drop you off (i.e. buses along express routes, bus too full)

4. Board buses and enter escalators in an orderly fashion
I understand that we all need to get to our desired destinations quickly, but please do not push and shove when boarding the bus. Pushing and shoving will only hinder the flow of passengers boarding. Aside from that, using physical force is just not cool. It's quite sad that people give up their civility, just to get a seat on the bus.

The weekday AM and PM peak periods are usually the times when seats on the bus are limited. If you're at a bus terminal and you're really eager to get a seat on the bus, just be rest assured that another bus is coming shortly.

This goes for entering escalators too. We often encounter a big bottleneck at the base of the escalator after leaving a subway train. Be courteous and do not push and shove. There are many occaisions where people have fallen from all the pushing and shoving. I certainly wouldn't like to be stepped on, and I'm sure neither do you.

5. Don't leave newspapers on the train/bus
I know some passengers want to preserve the environment and be courteous by leaving newspapers on the train/bus for other passengers to peruse.

Don't.

This sounds bizarre from the pseudo tree-hugger. Do not leave your Metro's, 24 Hours', Dose's on trains and buses. As you might notice, newspapers that remain on the train/bus just inevitably rest on the train/bus floor. Since no one likes to read stepped-on newspaper, that's where the newsaper rests for the remainder of the day.

Also, newspapers that are found cleanly on transit seats are less likely to be disposed/recycled by "second hand" readers later in the day. You can ask yourself if my statement is true. Thus, break the chain, and bring your newspapers with you when you leave the train/bus.

The fact is, newspapers lingering on the train/bus floor causes safety concerns for subway passengers.

You can still exercise your Captain Planet spirit by placing your newspapers in the new recycling receptacles or in Eucan advertising can's citywide.

6. Mind your backpack
Although it sounds counter-intuitive, never leave your backpack on your back. In crowded trains and buses, place your backpack on your lap when sitting, or on the floor in front of you when standing. This creates a lot more room for passengers, especially during rush hours and better prevents theft. Most importantly, it ensures passengers don't get inadvertently knocked out as you, or the bus, move.

7. Keep for feet to the floor
Let's be courteous and polite Torontonians, don't put for feet up to the other seats. Seats are for sitting. I personally like my ass clean and free of salt stains, thanks.

8. Know your express/rocket routes
Express routes (usually designated with the route suffix "E") usually operate along the same routing as the regular routes but with a reduced number of stops. They have been implemented so as to provide faster trips to those living in the further stretches of bus routes. Do not attack the bus operator for not allowing you to get off [See "Be courteous to bus operators"]. This firmly applies even when the bus has stopped for red lights or congestion.

Express routes are implemented for a logical reason and allowing passengers to get off at non-designated stops essentially defeats the purpose of running them. If you take an express bus, but don't know which stops the bus stops at, simply ask the operator, or check out the route map on most TTC bus stop poles. A yellow circle with the letter "E" indicates where the stops on the route where it will service. See 39 Finch East, 191 Scarborough Centre Rocket, or 192 Highway 27 Rocket, for example.

9. Mind the subway doors
Do not block the subway doors. I have made a comment about this before.

Don't do it.

It's not safe and lacks common sense to stand right where people are eagerly trying to enter the train. If you stand at the doorway, it only causes the loading and unloading process to take longer, and making the trip longer for yourself and others.

If you happen to be standing at the doorway when the train is pulled into a station, either move further into the train or temporarily step out of the train and onto the platform's edge to allow ample room for passengers to exit the train.

Do not charge subway doors. The chimes is not a signal for people to sprint into the train. Subway trains come at least every 5 minutes. Getting squeezed by the subways doors incoveniences the passengers already on board, and makes you look like an idiot.

Don't do it.

10. Walk Left, Stand Right
When using escalators, walk left, stand right. It's very easy: walk left, stand right.

Walk left, stand right. Altogether now: walk left, stand right.

I'm in the cheering mode.

All the boring and ugly drama in this Elexmas campaign has come down to today's truth. I don't have any inspiration to start a long winded entry, but this thestar.com reader, Anton Kuerti, pretty much sums up where I stand in this election.

It is a pity - indeed, a tragedy - that Canadians may choose a government mainly on the basis of the Liberal’s sponsorship scandal . . . To vote for a party with uninformed, fundamentalist, right-wing and in many cases obsessively religious views just to punish the Liberals would be to abandon the progressive, reasonable and caring point of view which most Canadians share, and for which Canada is known and respected throughout the world. It would be a clear case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

There is no heated race at home in Markham-Unionville. I'm quite confident that our riding will be painted red once again (... and in good timing for Chinese New Year), and our John McCallum will have a seat in this next parliament. Sure the Conservative Joe Li has been getting a fair bit of media time in Chinese news media, but I don't feel he stands much of a chance. Although his cultural background is impressive for this community--being born Indian of Chinese descent-- his leadership is tame, and arouses neither communities.

He actually promised at a recent local candidate debate at Market Village to extend a subway line (I assume, Scarborough RT) up McCowan to Highway 7. He needs to stop giving unrealistic goals to impress voters.

Also, his "garbage" immigrant comment was just awful.

Aside from all that, Stephen Harper is just a scary man, who's against cities, against the environment, against our vital social services, against my view of the future of Canada.

Let's just hope the polls aren't true.

Polls remind me of our wonderful Research Methods class. Gotta love that course.

Canada Votes 2006 - Riding Talk: Markham-Unionville - [cbc.ca]

Body Works 2 is the latest exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre that displays real body parts and preserved through a medical process called plastination. These bodies often have their skin ripped and pulled open to reveal the interal organs and how they connect and relate to each other. These bodies are also displayed in abstract poses depicting a wide range of athletes-- figure skaters, pole vaulters, alpine skiier, just to name a few.

I have no photos to show you from the exhibit, since cameras were not allowed to be used. You don't know how disappointed was I was at that. But then again, they are real bodies, and now that I think about it, it might not be such a good idea.

As it is late, I won't bother to go to the details, but I do suggest reading a bravo review from good fellow Planning big brother and friend, Felix. For some weird reason, even though I don't talk or hang out with him too much, I find myself attending the same kind of events and activities. Haha.

We also ventured around the other exhibits at the Science Centre. Although I keep hearing that not much as changed, I really didn't recall many of the exhibits. The only thing that really stuck out of my mind was that static ball that makes your hair stick up, and the "mouse trap" like contraption at the Sports section.

In a Planning aside statement, I have to say that I hate the location of the Science Centre. It's in probably the most transit-infriendly and tourist-infriendly area, at least put it on the transit line for crying out loud. The car lanes at Don Mills and Eglinton totally resembles Hurontario Street in Mississauga. 8 to 9 lanes surrounded by dispersed office towers. Yuck.

Well, at least Square One has a transit terminal.

But back to Body Worlds. If you don't have a weak stomach, I totally suggest you to check out Body Worlds. The exhibit ends February 26.

Random Thoughts and Rants...: Body World 2 @ Ontario Science Centre - [blogspot.com]
Ontario Science Centre: BODY WORLDS 2 - [ontariosciencecentre.ca]

Now that I have returned to the world of co-op employment, there really hasn't been that much to talk about in my predictible life.

Quite bitter, I am, as a matter of fact.

I decided to be a good Catholic boy and attend mass this week, but to my disbelief, our associate pastor, Fr. Huang, has resigned from our parish and will be returning to what I believe to be Taiwan, where he originally resides.

Anyways, I have always sensed some subtle turmoil between the pastoral team ever since we installed a new leading pastor, Fr. Leung. He is a rather strict and incredibly conservative (even more so that what I have expected in a Roman Catholic church).

During the homily today, Fr. Huang, told us the news, and pretty much set everything straight with congregation-- since, according to my parents, there has been some rumours floating around about why exactly he decided to go.

He was completely straightforward, and a bit shocking actually. It was quite incredible for a priest, a Catholic priest, to be so upfront and personal with the congregation. He was always been my favourite priest to attend mass to, just because he always talks about things that are relevant, and are just great to listen to. Sure, he speaks Cantonese with an awful Taiwanese Mandarin accent, which often means I only intake about 60-70% at most of what he's saying, but seriously, he understands people more, he understands that not everyone enjoys the unappealing "lecture-like" homilies that our Catholic faith seems to appreciate.

Anyways, he pretty much said exactly the culprit who instigated his resignation-- the parish's administrative secretary. I was just quite shocked that he actually revealed the person and putting him/her on the spot like that. It seemed so.... un-church-like.

Fr. Huang pretty much said that he did not want this individual has his farewell party, which took place on Friday. However, the individual did indeed show up and Fr. Huang just left. Left his own farewell party.

Seriously, this is a priest, a person who is to lead our congregation towards the ways of the Jesus; and this is exactly the opposite of that. Even though things were racing through my head during the homily, I really admired his honesty and I give him great respect for having the courage the things that he said. Seriously, that is like me telling everyone at the congregation that I'm gay and that I'm going to get married at our parish.

He told us and admitted that what he did was not very "Christian" of him to do; even citing references of Jesus-- but of which story specifically, I don't remember. He mentioned that when someone struck Jesus' left arm, he also gave the man his right arm to be hit. But to Fr. Huang's defence, even Jesus asked his "striker" why he needed to be hit, when he did nothing wrong.

Even in the Church Bulletin was without positive words, citing words like he's "physically and mentally tired" and that leaving would "allow a smoother execution of the daily operations of the parish."

I am really going to miss him as he leaves our parish later this week. Regardless of whoever is "right" or "wrong", I truly commend him for having the courage to speak up and let everyone know. His homily has made me realize that priests are human too, even though we sometimes don't think of them that way-- and that I really admire.

Fr. Huang - [chinesemartyrs.org]

As Shawn, Shima, and Jason already know, I take any chance to take VIVA-- since I just love it too much, and I must show my support.

I met up with my sister tonight after work to take VIVA to further goign on our gluttony ways and eat at First Markham and get my bookstore fix at Chapters.

This is the first time I took VIVA during rush hour, and definitely it is a totally difference experience than my leisure trips on the weekend. Here are some of my trips highlights:

• Finch Station VIVA Guides
• Lots of VIVA Riders(!!!)
• Colour route names is not a good idea
• Video Screens
• Damn Traffic
• Dirty Seats

Finch Station VIVA Guides
YRT/VIVA has hired half a dozen VIVA Guides at the GO-Finch Terminal, just to promote VIVA, ensure that people are aware of the OneRide and MultiRide automated machines, and answer bus route questions.

This is totally what they need, because I continue to witness a lot of people not knowing what VIVA is, and wait for the regular Highway 7 Route, for example. I hope these VIVA Guides spread the good news to the York people.
 

Lots of VIVA Riders(!!!)
This makes me feel quite jolly inside. The VIVA Blue Line (Finch Stn. - Newmarket Terminal) was almost out of seats when I was on it, bearing in mind that the VIVA Blue line uses the extra long 18-metre articulated buses.
 

Colour route names is not a good idea
VIVA Routes are represented by colour: Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple. On VIVA Bus route signs, it lists just that: "VIVA Green," for example.

As much as it is a creative way to distingish "rapid" and "non-rapid" bus routes, what VIVA has neglected is that York Region is a magnet of new immigrants who may not be able to read English well. My former nanny understands that Route 53 is a Steeles Bus, because of what Lindsay Lohan so eloquently said in Mean Girls:

[Math] is the same in every country.

VIVA should either place a complementary number to its routes, or actually depict the colour of the route on its buses.
 

Video Screens
VIVA promised video screens on its buses, and they are slowly being implemented on buses on VIVA Blue. They are affixed high on the wall just behind the bus operator. The screen interface and size is similar to those new colour ONESTOP Network screens on TTC Subway platforms-- with the same CP24 look.

Damn Traffic
One of VIVA's taglines on their website is: Traffic? What Traffic?

Right.

There are a few trouble spots where VIVA seriously comes to a halt: (1) along Yonge Street and (2) around the Beaver Creek "CBD". As much as it is exciting to see medium-rise office towers around Highway 7 and Leslie, the traffic around that area is horrendous-- as everyone is ragingly eager to get their one-occupant car on the 404/407.

We definitely need put the 'rapid' in rapid transit to service this area to make it sustainable. Sure the "Queue Jump Lanes" help a bit but a VIVA dedicated right-of-way will be the icing on the cherry.
 

Dirty Seats
Just after 4 months of operations, the seats are already starting to look kind of dirty. Could you fully blame the passengers though? The seats are coloured moderately-light blue. If my mom saw the seats, she would right off the bat mention how it's so "ng kum woo jo" or "not resistant to dirt." Anyways, becuase some seats on VIVA are positioned face-to-face (a la GO Train), it automatically becomes a footrest for some passengers-- and thus causing this awful brown salt stain.

VIVA Bus Rapid Transit - [wikipedia.org]

Someone lately has been tampering with the integrity of the VIVA Wiki information, and I read about information related to a VIVA White and VIVA Black line to be implemented in future phases along John Street - Denison Street-- among some others. This is completely false, and has since been taken off.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone managed to face reality and return back to your respective work or school places.

Because I certainly am not ready for post-holiday reality. I'm awfully groggy and moody lately-- especially since I have to get up at 7:30 am daily to get to work.

I seriously think my tiredness is because my body is still attempting to digest the food consumed during the two weeks after I returned from Waterloo. I probably ate as much during the holidays as I would in a month in Waterloo.

I'm sure little Baby Jesus is shaking his head at our holiday gluttony.