The Random Thoughts Thread

[T3G]

20 minutes ago, RevEleven said:

I think you all should put on a pair of gloves and duke it out.

Wasn't that serious... maybe next time I need to place a laughing emoji.

[Downsview 108]

1 hour ago, PCC Guy said:

Wasn't that serious... maybe next time I need to place a laughing emoji.

It was a joke.

Anyway in school we were taught to put the comma before "and" but either way is acceptable. We were also taught not to begin a sentence with "and" but it's still done. If you read a book like "Elements of Style" by EB White and William Strunk you'll see the difference in syntax from that era and now. Language evolves (or devolves).

[T3G]

24 minutes ago, RevEleven said:

It was a joke.

My apologies, I'm really bad at discerning someone's tone over text chat.

25 minutes ago, RevEleven said:

Anyway in school we were taught to put the comma before "and" but either way is acceptable. We were also taught not to begin a sentence with "and" but it's still done. If you read a book like "Elements of Style" by EB White and William Strunk you'll see the difference in syntax from that era and now. Language evolves (or devolves).

I don't remember most of what we were taught in school, with the exception of not starting sentences with "but" or "or". In fact, until today I had no opinions on the usage of the comma - guess it has to immediately jump out at you.

To be fair, most of what I was editing isn't illegible without the comma, but I don't know. I think that even in the best case scenario it just makes the text look haphazardly put together. When I see Oxford commas being used it just seems more professionally done to me. I'm not sure what journalists are supposed to do in the event that omitting an Oxford comma directly changes the meaning of the sentence.

[captaintrolley]

4 minutes ago, PCC Guy said:

I don't remember most of what we were taught in school, with the exception of not starting sentences with "but" or "or". In fact, until today I had no opinions on the usage of the comma - guess it has to immediately jump out at you.

However, you can start a sentence with 'However' and achieve the same result as starting it with 'But'. And, it sounds good too.

[Doppelkupplung]

4 hours ago, PCC Guy said:

how was your day?

Oh you know, just stressing over my MAT135 calc test this Friday. Should be a blast. 

The averages for the previous 3 tests have been 52, 47 and 50 respectively. Prof has been implying that we've all been collectively getting stupider through the year. I don't disagree, my mind has been deep-fried. 

Started with 1500, and now we're down to like 300. Welcome to U of T, where academic assault is served free of charge (bout the only thing that is free of charge at UofT if I may...).

3 hours ago, RevEleven said:

I think you all should put on a pair of gloves and duke it out.

Or to use a more Canadian saying: "drop the gloves bud"

1 hour ago, captaintrolley said:

However, you can start a sentence with 'However' and achieve the same result as starting it with 'But'. And, it sounds good too.

Not entirely related, but I've been making good use of moreover, furthermore, in addition etc. Good filler stuff (I know I know).

[Downsview 108]

1 hour ago, PCC Guy said:

My apologies, I'm really bad at discerning someone's tone over text chat.

I don't remember most of what we were taught in school, with the exception of not starting sentences with "but" or "or". In fact, until today I had no opinions on the usage of the comma - guess it has to immediately jump out at you.

To be fair, most of what I was editing isn't illegible without the comma, but I don't know. I think that even in the best case scenario it just makes the text look haphazardly put together. When I see Oxford commas being used it just seems more professionally done to me. I'm not sure what journalists are supposed to do in the event that omitting an Oxford comma directly changes the meaning of the sentence.

I don't think it changes the meaning as much as just the pauses in between thoughts. I also remember in school we were taught to put a comma before quotes. A habit I still do today. Lol.

[Doppelkupplung]

There are so many shit audioclips of buses out there these days, its so annoying. Can't find a single decent one. Always something wrong, ranging from yappy people, HVAC, obnoxiously loud AC, relaxed driver, crappy engine; always something. 

Life-threatening problems, I know. 

[WMATAC40LF]

1 hour ago, Doppelkupplung said:

Oh you know, just stressing over my MAT135 calc test this Friday. Should be a blast. 

The averages for the previous 3 tests have been 52, 47 and 50 respectively. Prof has been implying that we've all been collectively getting stupider through the year. I don't disagree, my mind has been deep-fried. 

Started with 1500, and now we're down to like 300. Welcome to U of T, where academic assault is served free of charge (bout the only thing that is free of charge at UofT if I may...).

I took MAT135 at UTSG last semester. You're lucky you have that many tests. We only had one midterm, and a final with a 50ish average that was worth half of our grade (and the professor refused to curve it). A lot of people were screwed over by that, but luckily I was not.  

[Doppelkupplung]

1 minute ago, WMATAC40LF said:

I took MAT135 at UTSG last semester. You're lucky you have that many tests. We only had one midterm, and a final with a 50ish average that was worth half of our grade (and the professor refused to curve it). A lot of people were screwed over by that, but luckily I was not.  

Dude its a f*ckfest. 

They never curve 135. 

[OC Transpo/STO Fan]

Why are there more video clips of OC Transpo Fishbowls than there are for the 1991-1992 Orion Vs? 

It would have been nice to see a video of an Orion V taking off...

[Guest]

10 hours ago, OC Transpo/STO Fan said:

Why are there more video clips of OC Transpo Fishbowls than there are for the 1991-1992 Orion Vs? 

It would have been nice to see a video of an Orion V taking off...

Because the Fishbowls were iconic buses of North America and they were in better shape than the 1991-02 Orion Vs.

[FutureHeartsJunkie]

This was originally posted on the "WTF thread" but I've decided to share it here (for better visibility and being noticable):

A couple of weeks ago, I was on a Lyft ride from my workplace to the Kennedy subway station (ICYW, Lyft debuted in Canada with Toronto as it's debut city outside of the USA back in December 2017 - and this is to compete with Uber).I was then greeted with a driver with a supposedly 5-star rating. Although my initial pickup went without a hitch, nearly two minutes after I got in - the Lyft driver asks me to deviate (draw away) from my intended (and suggested) destination on the app. That's where the argument started. For the full five minutes, I sternly told him that go to my destination, but he refused.

Later down the road, there was a traffic jam coupled with an accident along the way. Judging by the driver's bossy actions on what he sees up ahead, he prematurely terminates my ride (halfway to my destination). He attempted to drive along the accident scene, nearly hitting one of the cops that were blocking traffic. I was very traumatized on how the Lyft driver treated me but eventually I made it to my destination. By recounting this, he literally don't understand on why I'm saying. He literally assumes that my native language isn't English nor the fact that I have a disability.

I then decided to hail an Uber from the Kennedy station to the Scarborough Town Centre. This time I got a different reception. I told the Uber driver what had happened with my negative experience with Lyft and he felt sorry on what had happened for me. 

Nearly 24 hours after the Lyft incident, I then reported the matter with Lyft's Critical Response Team (CRT). I would have reported it sooner, but I just had that "constant craving" (k.d. Lang reference, anyone?) to report the matter. As a result on what I had discussed with them, I got not only one ride credit, but two ride credits (totalling about $40CDN - One was $25 by telephoning Lyft's CRT, the other was about $15CDN reporting on their website) for my next Lyft ride. Sadly, I've decided to lapse those as I haven't gone back on Lyft ever since the unfortunate incident.

If it could happen to me on dealing with ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft (and just like that song by Blue Rodeo), "It could happen to you...."

[captaintrolley]

Snow is melting, good time to find coins around bus stops and parking meters

[Doppelkupplung]

1 hour ago, captaintrolley said:

Snow is melting, 

NOOOOOO

I'm not happy with this years snowfall. Its been quite frankly pathetic, at least in the GTA. I was praying for like 100cm (everyone wants my head, yes), but its not happening. No snow up north in Collingwood either, so skiing has been done on pretty much artificial stuff. 

 Season started off well, but chickened out later on. I'm still have my hopes up for one last major snowfall before we call it a day...

[captaintrolley]

16 minutes ago, Doppelkupplung said:

I'm not happy with this years snowfall.

I'm not happy with it either. One snowfall is one too many. I loved snow in my youth, and maybe even up to about 35 years ago. I've seen enough and had enough of it now, TYVM.

[Doppelkupplung]

54 minutes ago, captaintrolley said:

I'm not happy with it either. One snowfall is one too many. I loved snow in my youth, and maybe even up to about 35 years ago. I've seen enough and had enough of it now, TYVM.

I suppose since I'm younger I have more of a soft spot for it. Also because I enjoy winter sports. And maybe also because I'm a December baby. 

Moar snow!

All my friends want to kill me and feed me to the wolves. One more big snowfall and I'll shut up til November. 

[T3G]

10 hours ago, captaintrolley said:

I'm not happy with it either. One snowfall is one too many. I loved snow in my youth, and maybe even up to about 35 years ago. I've seen enough and had enough of it now, TYVM.

Snow is ok when you're not the one to clean it. For that reason, a light sprinkling, enough to cover all the grass, is pleasant enough, but anything beyond that? No thanks.

[OC Transpo/STO Fan]

40 minutes ago, PCC Guy said:

Snow is ok when you're not the one to clean it. For that reason, a light sprinkling, enough to cover all the grass, is pleasant enough, but anything beyond that? No thanks.

The good thing is that the school buses get cancelled and you don't have to go to school! Yes please.

The downside is that if you're in high school, exams get delayed by a day because of the snow. The last exam will end up the day before the new semester unless you have a last period class that doesn't require an exam. You'll go for your exam, then the first day of the new semester is the next day.

 

 

 

[T3G]

What's a "snow day"?

Wait till you get to college. Classes will run come hell or high water.

[Doppelkupplung]

I don't understand why people hate the snow. Sure it makes things a bit dicey here and there, but if you actually stop and take a moment to enjoy it, you'll see what I mean. Like, have you ever experienced the utter silence during a snowfall? Its beautiful, seriously. 

And for us GTA citizens, we only see it so many times a year, so you may as well enjoy. No need to look at it from a negative aspect; otherwise you just come across as complaining all the time. 

And yes, while I'm young and immature and inexperienced (and have yet to have "binned it"), snow driving is hella fun. I love the challenge. Because there is no need to crawl when there is a dusting of snow. 

16 minutes ago, PCC Guy said:

What's a "snow day"?

Wait till you get to college. Classes will run come hell or high water.

If the world was ending, my math lecture would still be on. 

[Guest]

My Grandmother passed away last week and I have fond memories of her and me taking the bus together on OC Transpo Route 8 either to the Museum of Civilization or to the Rideau Centre. She would keep me company on the bus and we would just have fun browsing around the mall or the museum we have good times to together.

The 8 had a good variety of buses running on that route everything from a GM/MCI/NovaBus Classic, a New Flyer D40, an Orion V and you would occasionally get an Orion-Ikarus even though it wasn't that big of high ridership route like the 2, 7, 85 or 95.

Funny one time we took the bus to go back home and we both we're exiting from a MCI Classic (Grey Line Scheme) and we both exited from separate doors my door swung open just fine but Grandma's door didn't open and the bus pulled away and I was all my myself and I was asking the neighbours for help but then she came running home and I was relieved.

She even dubbed our bus "The Number 8 Bus"

RIP Grandma you will be missed!

 

[captaintrolley]

When you're older and your knees are not spring chickens any more, snow is not fun.  Nice to look at, but not fun.

[Doppelkupplung]

Guess I'll have to wait and see cap'n

[OC Transpo/STO Fan]

I'm already on my last day of March Break. I love March Break except for one thing: It goes by too quickly!

[Doppelkupplung]

I found an IG account that needs a crispy smack in the face