Things I noticed in Toronto

1) Commercials in North America are quite out-of-control. You get to a point where television programs last for five minutes or less, before a seven-minute commercial block kicks in. You get to a point where radio shows end fifteen (15!) minutes before the top of the hour. And of course the landscape is littered with billboards, signs and whatnot. However you do get to keep track of the good commercials though. Kudos to American Express with the "Andy Roddick in a plane" commercial. And I have a soft spot for the Bud Light spot as well.

2) Funny how effective people are the ones who focus on the goal, while happy people are the ones who enjoy the journey. Even funnier is that books about these subjects share the same shelf in every large bookstore in Canada.

3) How come I speak better English than most food court baristas? Watusay? kreemanzugr?

4) A Honda on fire smokes great. You can see it from miles away, a big black cloud hanging over the freeway. I bet a barbecue of that size could feed 50.

Jet overruns runway in Toronto, burns

CNN.com - Jet overruns runway in Toronto, burns - Aug 2, 2005

damn... for once I'd like to go on vacation without getting reminded of worrisome issues like this... that's not too much to ask, is it?

Things I noticed in London

1. Adverts in London Underground are way more humorous than most commercials over here. The most recent ad slogan for Green King India Pale Ale (or IPA) beer is the following:

"So much for British generosity. They've given us a sport no one understands, trains that don't run, and a beer we can't drink"

Honourable mention must go to the faction called "Elite Designers Against Ikea".

2a. Signs in London Underground:

"Drunk behaviour was the cause of 400 injuries and 1 fatality last year"
"Not minding the gap between station and train was the cause of 500 injuries and 5 fatalities"

So you're best off being drunk then!

Perhaps the London Underground should not pay so much attention to alcohol, and pay more to fix the gaps...

2b. Another sign in London Underground (one week after the London Tube attacks):

"Over 100 unattended bags were found this past week."

Suddenly a whole lot starts to make sense...

London Tube

Near attacks in London Tube

You'd think that after 7/7 and today's events there would be enough signs to reconsider going to London this weekend... still as it stands I'm still flying off.

But - *morbid thought alert* - if I am not to return, I am going to kick some ass.