[Jimby]

This is a really good thing for Calgary:

http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Customer+Service+and+Communications/What+We+Do/Corporate+Communications/CityTalk+eNews/August+25+2009/Coming+to+the+rescue+spay+and+neuter+clinic+opens.htm


Coming to the rescue: spay & neuter clinic grand opening
Animal & Bylaw Services is celebrating the grand opening of the Animal Services Centre Clinic on Wednesday, August 26. The goal of the clinic is to help reduce the number of stray and unwanted cats and dogs in Calgary.

How will it achieve this lofty goal? Through two fronts.

First, the clinic aims to reduce the amount of time cats and dogs sit in the City's shelter waiting for adoption. Initially, the clinic will be used to perform spay or neuter and other minor surgeries on pets available for adoption to help make them more adoptable.

Second, the new clinic will help reduce the number of pets that end up in the shelter in the first place by making spay and neuter surgeries more accessible. Starting in early 2010, Animal & Bylaw Services will provide a free spay and neuter service to low income Calgarians.

The clinic's already making a difference.

It was operational effective July 6, and the first surgery recipient was an adorable dog named Bugsy – she was soon adopted by a loving family.

All of the costs associated with operating the clinic come from cat licensing revenue, which fulfills a promise made to Calgarians to help address the cat overpopulation problem.

The clinic is adjoined to the current Animal Services Centre located at 2201 Portland St. S.E. It'll be the first clinic in Alberta that's operated by a municipal agency with the full support of the veterinarian community.

[Ramsayfarian]

This is a really good thing for Calgary:

...Second, the new clinic will help reduce the number of pets that end up in the shelter in the first place by making spay and neuter surgeries more accessible. Starting in early 2010, Animal & Bylaw Services will <b>provide a free spay and neuter service to low income Calgarians.</b>



That's a bit harsh, just because they're poor doesn't mean we should take away their knackers. Maybe we can just limit them to 2 only having 2 kids.

[Jimby]

might as well get the whole family done at the same time!

[Vascilli]

Okay my friend hit a concrete pole in his parents SUV (Toyota Highlander) and the front right fender has a nice big dent in it, and the grill is a bit loose too. Anybody know a good auto shop that can repair it for a reasonable price?

[lubicon]

This is a really good thing for Calgary:

http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Customer+Service+and+Communications/What+We+Do/Corporate+Communications/CityTalk+eNews/August+25+2009/Coming+to+the+rescue+spay+and+neuter+clinic+opens.htm


Coming to the rescue: spay & neuter clinic grand opening
Animal & Bylaw Services is celebrating the grand opening of the Animal Services Centre Clinic on Wednesday, August 26. The goal of the clinic is to help reduce the number of stray and unwanted cats and dogs in Calgary.

How will it achieve this lofty goal? Through two fronts.

First, the clinic aims to reduce the amount of time cats and dogs sit in the City's shelter waiting for adoption. Initially, the clinic will be used to perform spay or neuter and other minor surgeries on pets available for adoption to help make them more adoptable.

Second, the new clinic will help reduce the number of pets that end up in the shelter in the first place by making spay and neuter surgeries more accessible. Starting in early 2010, Animal & Bylaw Services will provide a free spay and neuter service to low income Calgarians.

The clinic's already making a difference.

It was operational effective July 6, and the first surgery recipient was an adorable dog named Bugsy – she was soon adopted by a loving family.

All of the costs associated with operating the clinic come from cat licensing revenue, which fulfills a promise made to Calgarians to help address the cat overpopulation problem.

The clinic is adjoined to the current Animal Services Centre located at 2201 Portland St. S.E. It'll be the first clinic in Alberta that's operated by a municipal agency with the full support of the veterinarian community.

Notwishstanding Ramsayfarians comment :) , I went to the open house for the new U of C Veterinarian School's Skills Clinic. Very impressive building BTW. One of the peopel said that they would be working in conjunction with the City to offer spay/neutering services. I wonder if that will be tied in to this announcement in some way? Makes sense to me.

[jeffwhit]

Did anyone see this cool new Android phone from Motorola called Calgary?

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/04/29/calgary-to-be-motorolas-first-android-phone-more-news-on-moto/

Even Old Man Freeweed could get on board with this.

[Wooster]

I wonder how it got that name? Pretty odd.

[Ramsayfarian]

Did anyone see this cool new Android phone from Motorola called Calgary?

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/04/29/calgary-to-be-motorolas-first-android-phone-more-news-on-moto/

Even Old Man Freeweed could get on board with this.

Very strange name for a phone.

[freeweed]

Even Old Man Freeweed could get on board with this.

Sadly, as an oldschool touch typist I need a tactile keyboard with real buttons to really get 'er done - that keyboard reminds me of the insipid Razr keypad: fine for poking a number in but dreadful for actual typing.

I will admit the Android platform makes me drool a little. I'm also very pleased to see a ton of touchscreen phones with full slideout keyboards lately - my Crackberry is "cold, dead hands" until I'm guaranteed a full QWERTY keyboard. Obviously I'm not the only one who realizes people actually can't type worth shit on an iPhone. For relative values of shit; some people are just as fast on an iPhone as they are on a keyboard, but that speaks less about the iPhone interface being any good and more about the typist ;)

[Bigtime]

So does this mean we are a World Class city now? ;)

Someone go post this in the Canada section, I sure don't see a Toronto phone anywhere! :haha:

[Ramsayfarian]

My favourite Android App. The entertainment industry collectively had a coronary when they saw this video. The music might not be to everyone's taste, so I suggest muting it as you don't need sound.

h05KrEjHW6g

[sauril]

Neat - I know that uTorrent had their app rejected from the iPhone store.

d/l music and movies over the cell networks won't be happening for a long while though. (I know that's not what's happening here, but still)

[Innersoul1]

Did anyone get down to the World Skills Comp? I took my grade nine class down yesterday. I thought it was a really amazing event. If you haven't had a chance tomorrow would be the perfect day to check it out!

Lots of foreign eye Candy.

[Wooster]

Ha ha. Yes!

Campaign launched to make Stephen Colbert premier of Alberta and rename province "Colberta"

By Stephen Hunt, Calgary Herald September 10, 2009

CALGARY - Alberta has never been shy about launching political movements. We gave birth to Social Credit. We founded the Reform party. We planted the seeds that have became the budding Wild Rose party.

All of that may have only been the prelude for the rise of the Colberta Nation.

In the world according to Colberta.com, it would be out with Ed Stelmach, Norman Kwong and all things French (Leduc would become The Duc), and in with Stephen Colbert, he of Comedy Central faux-Fox News fame, who would become a kind of non-aligned provincial leader for life.

“It is time for The Colbert Nation to rise up and request . . . no, demand, that the province of Alberta be turned over to the leadership of Colbert, who can rule the new state of Colberta with an iron fist, an unyielding gut, and balls of steel,” says the website, which also includes a number of Colb-mandments (Article Five: “Nickelback has got to go. We hear Saskatchewan may be interested.”)

The Colberta Nation, at this stage of the game, is actually a one-man movement: 23-year-old aspiring writer Dan Zinman, who created it by himself, but hopes, in the tradition of a lot of 21st century political visionaries, to spread his Colberta dream via Twitter.

So far, Zinman has been pretty low-key on the Colberta nation-building, contacting only a few select media outlets, in addition to every Member of Parliament and whoever discovers it online (at www.colberta.com).

He is holding off on contacting Colbert himself until he has some actual Albertans behind his scheme. You see, there’s one catch: Zinman is from Toronto. He has never actually been to Alberta.

“One thing led to another, and now the Twitter page is starting to pick up some steam,” says Zinman. “A lot of people seem to be responding from Calgary and Edmonton and even Lethbridge, Medicine Hat. There’s some buzz around. People like it. It’s starting to get around.”

Is he concerned we might not welcome another Eastern do-gooder trying to tell us how to run our provincial business?

“Well, I do worry about that somewhat, yes,” Zinman says. “And if it is any consolation, I am something of a Flames fan. (The) Leafs come first of course, but when it comes to the western conference, I take them.”


shunt@theherald.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Stephen+Colbert+premier/1980824/story.html

[You Need A Thneed]

A picture I took of a kiddie ride at Sunridge Mall:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/g_major7/IMG00355.jpg

[Ayreonaut]

:haha:

Um, so I'm not really familiar with liquor stores in the city. Could anyone tell me where I would find the widest selection of beer? I know where to go in Vernon, but now I need to find somewhere here. I've only checked the one at the Superstore in Shawnessy and they've got next to nothing.

[mersar]

:haha:

Um, so I'm not really familiar with liquor stores in the city. Could anyone tell me where I would find the widest selection of beer? I know where to go in Vernon, but now I need to find somewhere here. I've only checked the one at the Superstore in Shawnessy and they've got next to nothing.

We were talking about this a while back, check out Co-op's liquor stores at some locations, or maybe some of Crowfoot Liquor stores (which are all over the city, like a dozen stores)

[jeffwhit]

:haha:

Um, so I'm not really familiar with liquor stores in the city. Could anyone tell me where I would find the widest selection of beer? I know where to go in Vernon, but now I need to find somewhere here. I've only checked the one at the Superstore in Shawnessy and they've got next to nothing.

Since you're in Turner Valley, just go to Willow Park Wine and Spirits - arguably the best store anyway, it's at Mcloed and Anderson, basically, in Willow park Village (north of Southcentre mall.) If you still need more, Kensington Win Market, and either Dalhousie or Symon's Valley (which isas far as yu could possibly go in Calgary) Co-ops. If I were you I wouldn't much bother going past Willow Park Though.

[Ayreonaut]

Damn, and I was at Southcentre yesterday to get a new lens.

Thanks.

[Innersoul1]

Anyone going to the Tragically Hip tonight?

[Ramsayfarian]

When labour is cheap you don't need a swingstage.

HHVQLIyJ5Gg

[Bigtime]

Wasn't the Burj supposed to have some fancy schmancy robotic window cleaning system?

[You Need A Thneed]

When labour is cheap you don't need a swingstage.

HHVQLIyJ5Gg

The window washing equipment that comes out the side of the Burj Dubai is pretty cool. Those sets of stainless steel bars that go around the building aren't merely aesthetic. The window washing hoists move around on them.

[Ayreonaut]

Well Willow Park had a decent beer selection, I still haven't been able to find Leffe Brown in Canada. I was able to find Leffe Blonde and Chimay, so in the end it was still a successful trip.

[You Need A Thneed]

Wasn't the Burj supposed to have some fancy schmancy robotic window cleaning system?

Picture from the Burj Dabai Thread:



A "real" BMU in its storage:

http://www.quetschluft.de/dubai2/3001791_sz.jpg

[Ramsayfarian]

I can't find the Skiing/Snowboarding thread for the life of me, so I'm posting this here:

http://vimeo.com/6581009

[Ayreonaut]

That thread's still on the first page of the AB & BC section.

[Ramsayfarian]

That thread's still on the first page of the AB & BC section.

Thanks, I was just looking under SSP:Local Calgary

[Bigtime]

I was just browsing the 'Members List' for SSP and I see that I am #95 for post count.

Notable YYC forumers ahead of me:

-The Chemist
-Ayreonaut
-Mersar
-Surrealplaces
-Calgarian
-Wooster
-Boris2k7

[Ayreonaut]

But of those forumers, I post the least in the Calgary section. Not that I don't read it almost daily, but living in TV, I don't really have much to contribute. So I must thank those of you that are able to get downtown regularly and keep us updated. I was able to walk around downtown the other day and was able to see several projects in person which was definitely a day filled with awesomeness. I was down there again today but didn't get to walk around much, only taking one picture of Centennial.

[Ramsayfarian]

When I was 14, I was spending my time making throwing stars in shop class. Not making a difference like William here:

arD374MFk4w

Once I get whatever is making my eyes water out, I'm going to order "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind", which is William's story.

[Vascilli]

When I was 14, I was spending my time making throwing stars in shop class. Not making a difference like William here:


When I was fourteen my school didn't have shop. (Or any CTS, for that matter) :hell:

Does anybody know a good place to get business cards printed? (Something cheap, too) I was shooting pictures at Eau Claire during the Calgary Earth Charter Summit (A friend of mine was performing) and some guy asked if I had a card. (Apparently I had quite a presence? :shrug:) Of course I didn't, and sheepishly said no. He gave me his and told me to send him an email. I don't really know what he's up to, but I figure I'd rather not be caught in a situation like that any longer. All I need are some black and white one-sided cards on paper that isn't shit.

[Slug]

Just don't hang around when the mouth breathers decide to buff their throwing stars-- They needed pliers to pull one out of the concrete wall. I kinda miss the welding bay burger grill off too :)

[ksnaden]

When I was fourteen my school didn't have shop. (Or any CTS, for that matter) :hell:

Does anybody know a good place to get business cards printed? (Something cheap, too) I was shooting pictures at Eau Claire during the Calgary Earth Charter Summit (A friend of mine was performing) and some guy asked if I had a card. (Apparently I had quite a presence? :shrug:) Of course I didn't, and sheepishly said no. He gave me his and told me to send him an email. I don't really know what he's up to, but I figure I'd rather not be caught in a situation like that any longer. All I need are some black and white one-sided cards on paper that isn't shit.

Maybe go on flickr and make some awesome moo cards? I like handing those out.

[Ayreonaut]

I've got a question for you guys. For Christmas this year, I'm planning on having a few of my pictures from Europe made into puzzles for gifts. Does anyone know where in Calgary I could get this done?

[mersar]

Not sure of anywhere in Calgary, theres a number of places online that do that type of thing though.

[Ayreonaut]

Yeah, I was thinking I might have to go that route.

[Boris2k7]

I think this fits under water cooler, but I've started a new blog which I hope I can use to talk about planning, design, architecture, and local issues. I needed something that was just MINE to use as a soapbox of sorts. And this isn't really a repeat of Calgary Urban either. I've linked our food connoisseur's blog already, hopefully with his approval, and I'd be happy to link any of your blogs. As well, I'd enjoy any insights on issues I'm talking about, though I would note that on my blog I am Dictator.

[Wentworth]

I've got a question for you guys. For Christmas this year, I'm planning on having a few of my pictures from Europe made into puzzles for gifts. Does anyone know where in Calgary I could get this done?

You can get this done through the Walmart photocenter, it gets sub'ed out to an out-of-town vendor. I'm sure most of the other big chain photolabs have the same.

[Ayreonaut]

Great, thanks. I'll give that a shot.

[Ramsayfarian]

Any mac fans here?

Check out the new iMac, 27" of must have.
http://www.apple.com/ca/imac/

[Bigtime]

So who here is putting up Christmas lights?

Yesterday night I put up the first string along the top of my balcony railing. I'm thinking of having some hanging down behind the glass also.

I'm also toying with the idea of wrapping a string around the column in our condo also.

Here is a pic of our "Christmas Tree" last year with the balcony lights in the background (they are big bright white ones for this year):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3057188071_297a696313_b.jpg

[Ayreonaut]

Dude, it's not even Halloween! ;)

Actually I'll probably get up on the roof when I get home, before it gets icy.

[Bigtime]

Dude, it's not even Halloween! ;)

Actually I'll probably get up on the roof when I get home, before it gets icy.

I know I know! I haven't turned them on, just getting them installed when it is nicer out is easier (that wind can get mighty cold 26 floors up!).

I was cleaning out our storage unit last night, and it just made sense to bring the lights up and start setting them up at the same time.

I probably won't turn the lights on until mid-November. Although I can already see two balconies over at Bromley Square that have them on!

[lubicon]

I'll be putting ours up next warm weekend we get, but they don't get turned on until December 1. I've noticed a few houses over the past few weeks that DO have them on at night, and no, they are not haloween lights. I also noticed yesterday morning that some of the balconies on the 5 West towers have theirs on too.

It's way too early.

[You Need A Thneed]

apparently, some Sikhs have turned on lights for Diwali (sp?) There were 6 or 7 houses near mine that had lights on.

[freeweed]

Dude, it's not even Halloween! ;)

Hey, I found a shop in Banff that sells Xmas decorations in JULY!!

The horror!

Sorry, the griping about "it's too early for Xmas blah" has always baffled me. Like there's some set schedule when it's "OK" to start selling/displaying Xmas stuff. :rolleyes:

Personally, I'm going green this year and not putting up vanity lights. ie: I'm being lazy. :haha:

[Innersoul1]

Any mac fans here?

Check out the new iMac, 27" of must have.
http://www.apple.com/ca/imac/

I just wet myself! I am officially in love!

[Ramsayfarian]

I just wet myself! I am officially in love!

There's an app for that.

[Bigtime]

There's an app for that.

:haha: :tup:

[Rusty van Reddick]

Any mac fans here?

Check out the new iMac, 27" of must have.
http://www.apple.com/ca/imac/

Love it, but sad to see still no blu-ray.

[Ramsayfarian]

Love it, but sad to see still no blu-ray.

If it's to keep the cost down, they should have at least offered blu-ray as an upgrade option.

[Rusty van Reddick]

If it's to keep the cost down, they should have at least offered blu-ray as an upgrade option.

My understanding is that there are issues b/t Apple and the OEM (Sony?), so no blu-ray on any apple product :-(

[Policy Wonk]

The word from Jobs is "Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt."

[Ramsayfarian]

The word from Jobs is "Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt."

I googled Steve Jobs + blu ray and found this article:
http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/14/jobs-says-no-blu-ray-again

In a Q&A session after the launch of Apple’s new notebooks today, Steve Jobs called Sony’s Blu-ray a “bag of hurt” and stated that licensing the standard for Blu-ray hardware and software is currently too complex. Jobs then remarked that Apple is waiting for Blu-ray to “take off in the marketplace.”

However, the company was quick to point out that it supports HD video -- as long as it's not on a disc. Speaking after Jobs, Phil Schiller, Apple's vice president of marketing, noted iTunes already has the "best" HD movie and TV options. Apple has spent years developing products that incorporate streaming media, such as Apple TV and iTunes libraries.

Schiller’s comment highlights how Apple defines the “best” in entertainment. It's not the technical particulars relating to screen resolution and sound, but rather the immediate ease and accessibility of the content. Apple TV’s HD quality is certainly not equal to Blu-ray, but Apple clearly would rather its customers have access to cheap and accessible HD content of slightly lower quality, rather than the physical media model, which delivers higher-quality pictures but comes with several disadvantages -- namely, higher cost and limited selection.

Posters on professional video forums have complained in the past about Apple's lack of support for the industry standard in HD physical media, but posters on general entertainment tech forums today seemed indifferent to the lack of Blu-ray drives on the new Macs. Blu-ray hardware and software support have been conspicuously absent from Apple’s MacBook Pro and MacPro lines as well as OS X and Final Cut Pro, even though Apple originally “supported” the format three years ago

[Ramsayfarian]

My understanding is that there are issues b/t Apple and the OEM (Sony?), so no blu-ray on any apple product :-(

If you really want Blu Ray on your iMac there are after market drives available. Personally, while it would be a nice to have, I can live without it.

[freeweed]

On a piddly 27" screen, regular DVD has more than enough resolution to keep your eyeballs saturated.

And blu-ray is the spawn of the DRM devil anyway.

[Blader]

On a piddly 27" screen, regular DVD has more than enough resolution to keep your eyeballs saturated.

And blu-ray is the spawn of the DRM devil anyway.

And other issues aside DRM is the main reason why I won't buy Sony.

[Vascilli]

If anybody would like some free, homegrown music, may I refer you to Holy Yetti's brand new EP launched by yours truly just twelve minutes ago, Holy Yetti Live at Cantos Music Room. It's a free download, so don't feel guilty that you're stealing from some poor saps just trying to get by. (Free money is encouraged nonetheless) Audio is at 320kbps, but was recorded in the extremely loud Music Room by a lowly Zoom H4 with the internal microphones, so quality is lower than it could be. Get it below.

http://www.filedropper.com/holyyettiliveatcantosmusicroom

And check out their Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/holyyetti) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Holy-Yetti/113441179707) pages too.

[Innersoul1]

Crazy video taken from the tip of the spire at the Burj Dubai. INSANE!

oWVLzVhnYE0

[Ayreonaut]

Holy shit! I would never go up there. The top floor would be high enough.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[Innersoul1]

^I would. You only live once.

That guy should have dropped a penny.

The penny would probably make glass of the dubai sand below. :D

[Bigtime]

Your up early this morning Innersoul, just practicing for when the baby comes?

[Innersoul1]

Your up early this morning Innersoul, just practicing for when the baby comes?

Ha, it would seem that way. But alas, report cards have to be submitted tomorrow. So, I was up early working on that.

[Ramsayfarian]

Crazy video taken from the tip of the spire at the Burj Dubai. INSANE!



That made me feel a bit woozy. I had a chuckle at the graffiti inside the spire. Not even the highest man made structure is safe from those damn taggers.

[Vascilli]

Yesterday was the worst day for me to bring my camera, but not a memory card. I really wanted to test the weather sealing on it.

[Vascilli]

This is a bit of a stretch, but I'll try here anyways.

If anybody here has a swath of land somewhere around Calgary, and has .22LR, 12 ga, rifles and a few more, and can shoot those rifles on that land, I would really appreciate if they could help me do my Physics IB Group IV project. I plan on testing the upper limits of the impact resistance of various safety glasses. All that needs to be done is to blow the bits out of three different types of glasses with each type of rifle. (I can bring a pellet gun) I will pay for ammo.

[McMahon]

Quickie question here...

My stepdaughter wants a framed b/w picture for Christmas. She's not too into architecture but wants something of the Eiffel Tower/NYC type stuff. Anyone know a place in Calgary who sells them?

Cheers!

[MarkL]

Any poster store in a mall. Market Mall has one.

[Aegis]

Would anyone be interested in creating a public advocacy group in opposition to the Calgary Parking Authority?

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[Aegis]

^On what basis?

On the basis that they provide a sub-par quality of service to Calgarians and are consistently advocating a rate far above market. Effectively they are behaving as a monopoly when they are supposed to be operating as a regulator.

For example: There have been a few occaisions where I have paid for parking via Park Plus, only to receive a cryptic error message that doesn't leave me confident that my payment was processed. When I try again, the same message results. I have called Calgary Parking authority several times to confirm if in fact I have paid, and if so, how many times I was charged. In all cases, the "administrator" does not call me back, and CPA staff would not provide their name and business contact information. I'm unable to get the same customer service that other city departments provide, or businesses for that matter.

I have observed on many occaisions, CPA officers parking illegally in the Beltline in order to monitor vehicles or issue tickets. (Ie: parking in a handicapped zone, or parking 1 M from a stopsign, offences that would get any one of us a ticket.)

I tried using their park-plus phone system, and it does not allow the user to pay for a partial "parking session". Ie: if you have input a zone that allows 2 hour parking, the system automatically debits you for the full 2 hours, you don;t have the option of selecting 1 hour or 10 minutes, like you would at the machine. The only motivation for this is to get extra revenue, I reckon.

And, at the end of the day - they are supposed to serve the citizens of Calgary, not the other way around! If a group were formed to critique their procedures and make them more customer-friendly, that would benefit all Calgarians, I think.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[Ramsayfarian]

I hate the CPA. However with regards to using a phone with park plus all you have to do is call them again when you're leaving and they end that parking session. Works like a charm.


On the basis that they provide a sub-par quality of service to Calgarians and are consistently advocating a rate far above market. Effectively they are behaving as a monopoly when they are supposed to be operating as a regulator.

For example: There have been a few occaisions where I have paid for parking via Park Plus, only to receive a cryptic error message that doesn't leave me confident that my payment was processed. When I try again, the same message results. I have called Calgary Parking authority several times to confirm if in fact I have paid, and if so, how many times I was charged. In all cases, the "administrator" does not call me back, and CPA staff would not provide their name and business contact information. I'm unable to get the same customer service that other city departments provide, or businesses for that matter.

I have observed on many occaisions, CPA officers parking illegally in the Beltline in order to monitor vehicles or issue tickets. (Ie: parking in a handicapped zone, or parking 1 M from a stopsign, offences that would get any one of us a ticket.)

I tried using their park-plus phone system, and it does not allow the user to pay for a partial "parking session". Ie: if you have input a zone that allows 2 hour parking, the system automatically debits you for the full 2 hours, you don;t have the option of selecting 1 hour or 10 minutes, like you would at the machine. The only motivation for this is to get extra revenue, I reckon.

And, at the end of the day - they are supposed to serve the citizens of Calgary, not the other way around! If a group were formed to critique their procedures and make them more customer-friendly, that would benefit all Calgarians, I think.

[Ayreonaut]

Was at a Christmas party at the Sheraton tonight. Damn this city looks good right now! I took a detour through Inglewood on my way home too, and it's looking fantastic as well.

I've said it before and will say it again, Winter is far and away my favourite season.

I'm just so happy to be back in the city for a bit.

[Ramsayfarian]

Never thought I'd ever say this, but I want to work at this Subway.




Fresh bread will soon be baking high above ground zero.


A Subway sandwich shop is hoisted by crane onto the rising steel frame of the Freedom Tower,...
(AP)
The new World Trade Center got its first restaurant Wednesday — a sandwich shop at the top of the Freedom Tower under construction.

As the sun rose over the site of the Sept. 11 attack, a lift on a hydraulic jack hoisted the Subway restaurant up the signature skyscraper that marks the rebirth of the trade center's 16 acres. The shipping containers-turned-eatery will open in January and keep moving up as the tower is built to 105 floors.

That was about the height of Windows on the World, a dining institution atop one of the original twin towers with a panoramic view of New York and its harbor.

The Freedom Tower, which has five floors so far, is scheduled to be finished by 2013.

Meals will be offered high in the sky for efficiency; to get food from street level, hundreds of ironworkers now use an elevator and must also climb.

"This amenity will save time by allowing construction workers to stay in the tower throughout their shift rather than having to go all the way up and down," said Candace McAdams, spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that owns the World Trade Center site.

A full Subway menu will be served, including the trademark $5 foot-long hero.

Richard Schragger, who owns the Freedom Tower franchise, said he'll also offer extras no other Subway has: hot dogs, hamburgers and New York's famed pretzels.


Like other franchises of the Milford, Conn.-based company, this one will bake its own bread daily — higher and higher above ground zero. As the tower grows, the lift will "jump" to the next new floor along with the restaurant, at a rate of one story about every week or two, engineers estimate.

On Wednesday, nine bright yellow containers, each bearing an American flag, were lifted to the tower's fifth floor. There, they'll be stacked on a hydraulically powered platform near two cranes at the building's core. The resulting three-level structure will house a kitchen with refrigeration, an eating area and storage and trash, with a compost unit to recycle waste.
Joseph Allegretti, a Subway field manager, acknowledges this restaurant gives the company spectacular advertising.

"But it's also a great opportunity to be a part of history," he said.

The fast-food chain was subcontracted by DCM Erectors, which fabricates and installs all of the tower's structural steel. Among nine bidders, Subway was the only one that did not demand a guarantee of profit, said Bill Grutta, DCM's vice president of operations.

"They came back with an offer to do this at cost, and if there's a loss, we'll subsidize it," Grutta said, adding, "We're not looking to make money on the food, just to accommodate the ironworkers."


The workers have only one 30-minute break, and as the tower rises, it could take as much as 45 minutes to get down, and the same to return.

"How would they get lunch?" asked Grutta.

Subway is not quite Windows on the World. But workers will have a view that keeps improving when they sit to dine atop One World Trade Center, the tower's future address.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=9409446

[Vascilli]

Happy new year's, everyone. I hope to hear what you all did to celebrate. Turns out I'm going to someone's house and eat. Couldn't be better.. (Well, maybe with bacon)

[WIGS]

Happy New Year!

[Innersoul1]

Hey Happy New Year Everyone! All the best to all of you and yours in 2010!

Here is a little treat. Those of you who follow the Burj Dubai thread on SSP may be familiar with Imre who shoots some amazing photos! Don't know what his story is but he has connections that allow him some serious all access to the Burj. Here is his latest!

VrGsS2IQqAg

[lubicon]

Happy new year's, everyone. I hope to hear what you all did to celebrate. Turns out I'm going to someone's house and eat. Couldn't be better.. (Well, maybe with bacon)

Took advantage of free parking and free transit. Took the family to the Flames-Oilers game. Not much of a game for the Battle of Alberta and my Oilers lost :( but at least some of the fans were classy enough to compliment me on my old style 'heritage' Oilers jersey I was wearing. Bonus was my son getting a game puck from one of the officials after the game.

Then home by 10:30, rang in the New Year and promptly went to bed. Family life:)

[jeffwhit]

The crazy lady across the street was littering everyone's mailbox with this gem today. Had to share.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_05XmSc-wMJE/S102GqO0pFI/AAAAAAAABbg/pRNULNdje_Q/s800/crazy%20letter.jpg

As an aside she parks three cars on the street regularly.

[frinkprof]

Nevermind.

[Vascilli]

I don't get how her little campaign can do anything, those that want to have secondary suites will ignore it, and those that don't already agree, and wouldn't be making 2 storey garage apartments anyhow.

I hope her neighbours build up their residences as much as possible.

[DizzyEdge]

So.... in the States, Domino's pizza has come out with all new pizzas while at the same time using their ad campaign to acknowledge that their old pizza was garbage which tasted bad.... yet in Canada they're still selling the old pizza... anyone else find this funny? Why would anyone in Canada ever order another Domino's pizza again while the US branch pretty much is basing their entire ad campaign on the fact that what the Canadian branch is still selling is terrible :haha:

[Ayreonaut]

Ugh, apparently Palin's coming to town in March. Can't she go rouge it up somewhere else?

[Bigtime]

Ugh, apparently Palin's coming to town in March. Can't she go rouge it up somewhere else?

Barf!

The Herald article has some great comments on it!

[Ayreonaut]

What's worse, the reason I know about it is because a Facebook acquaintance (went to elementary with him, haven't talked in years) is stoked about it. :sly:

[Bigtime]

What's worse, the reason I know about it is because a Facebook acquaintance (went to elementary with him, haven't talked in years) is stoked about it. :sly:

Well that is reason enough to un-friend them! :haha:

[Ayreonaut]

Yeah really. He's one of those people that adds everyone he's ever met, so he wouldn't notice anyway as I'm just one of about 2500.

[Bigtime]

Yeah really. He's one of those people that adds everyone he's ever met, so he wouldn't notice anyway as I'm just one of about 2500.

I've had a few like that also. The amazing thing is they somehow sense when you have de-friended them, and they go and start sending friend requests again. Why add me if you aren't going to communicate with me? I ponder the same question before I go and send a friend request to someone else.

[Ayreonaut]

And this guy is an aspiring politician, but I have a feeling he'll be a waffler. He is a fan of Trudeau, Mulroney, Harper, Obama, Palin, Reagan... :haha:

[Ramsayfarian]

First Bush now Palin. I'm starting to think that maybe we are a city of rednecks.

An side. I had to call Direct Energy's customer service desk last night and the customer rep's voice sounded like it was being put through autotune. Towards the end of the call, I asked him where he was located. He replied the Philippines. My guess is that they're modulating the voices of their call centre people so they don't sound like they're foreigners.

I wouldn't mind this outsourcing so much if they passed the savings on to the consumer instead us lowering costs to increase value for their shareholders.

[freeweed]

I wouldn't mind this outsourcing so much if they passed the savings on to the consumer instead us lowering costs to increase value for their shareholders.

Or more commonly, increase executive bonuses.

I don't have a ton of money in stocks directly, but I at least wouldn't mind if my mutual funds saw greater growth when stuff gets offshored. Instead, most of the "savings" goes into some exec's bonus for "cutting costs".

[Ramsayfarian]

Or more commonly, increase executive bonuses.

I don't have a ton of money in stocks directly, but I at least wouldn't mind if my mutual funds saw greater growth when stuff gets offshored. Instead, most of the "savings" goes into some exec's bonus for "cutting costs".

Anything but pass it on to the little guy. I'm really having a hard time why people just accept the privatization of profits and the socialization of debt.

[kw5150]

Anything but pass it on to the little guy. I'm really having a hard time why people just accept the privatization of profits and the socialization of debt.


Whos says we accept it? It may interest you to know that almost everyone talks about it. We walked by a couple the other day and they were talking about some big company stealing from the little guy and "when is it going to stop". It was actaully really funny because we were talking about the same thing as we walked by the couple.

[kw5150]

Does anyone know if they are going to relocate the farmers market out of ramsey? When I shopping for food or produce I really cant stand the smell of the bonnybrook and other indutrial warehouses out there. What else makes it stink like that? If that facility ever wants to do better, they need a new location. Better yet, if those indu

Can someone tell me what else makes it smell so bad down there? Maybe those places need a new home instead of the farmers market moving. Obviously it would be hard to relocate bonnybrook, but that would be awesome for all those communities down there.

[Ramsayfarian]

Whos says we accept it? It may interest you to know that almost everyone talks about it. We walked by a couple the other day and they were talking about some big company stealing from the little guy and "when is it going to stop". It was actaully really funny because we were talking about the same thing as we walked by the couple.

Other than talking about it, what else are people doing?

[Ramsayfarian]

Does anyone know if they are going to relocate the farmers market out of ramsey? When I shopping for food or produce I really cant stand the smell of the bonnybrook and other indutrial warehouses out there. What else makes it stink like that? If that facility ever wants to do better, they need a new location. Better yet, if those indu

Can someone tell me what else makes it smell so bad down there? Maybe those places need a new home instead of the farmers market moving. Obviously it would be hard to relocate bonnybrook, but that would be awesome for all those communities down there.

It could be the yeast plant on Blackfoot, I think the market is too far away for it to be Lilydale. The only place I've been able to smell Lilydale from is the parking lot of the Shamrock. Not sure if there's any other smell generating buildings in that area. Could be the actual building after all it used to be a slaughter house.

The market seems to be doing fairly well where it is. So I doubt if they are plans to move it. The market's business might be impacted once they move the Currie Barracks' Market to Blackfoot trail.

[kw5150]

Other than talking about it, what else are people doing?

Shift puchasing habits. I dont know, it is a hard one.

I have stopped going to restaurants right now that keep bumping up the prices on everything and passing it down to the consumer.

I voice my opinion on businesses that burn people.........

It is really hard to help change or do something drastic in this economy. Everything is linked and Ceo's (and shareholders) are always looking at profit and not necessarily producing quality products.

I also contribute by not being a selfish person in my everyday life.

Am I even on topic here? haha