Have you ever wondered how a weird sounding street name gets its controversial name? Here’s one street name that sounds more suprising than funny – OMB Folly. If you check your Thesaurus, it could also read OMB Stupidity 😆
Here’s the story. You can call it funny, childish or even pedestrian but one thing is evident – there is never a dull moment in municipal politics 🙂 A developer applied for a permit to delevop a 36 unit townhouse complex which the city councillors rejected after review because it did not meet their zoning objectives. In this part of the world, suburban planning is taken very seriously. The developers then forked out the $50,000 appeal fee and brought the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), a quasi-judicial tribunal that presides over appeals for requests rejected by the city council. The OMB reversed the council’s decision and granted the developer the permit to construct. The council was aghast with the decision and exacted a silly revenge by cynically proposing the new street that leads to the subdivision as OMB Folly, somewhat of a sardonic reminder of the OMB’s purported flawed decision. Well, so far no one budged an inch to protest the name, neither the OMB nor the developer. A TV survey suggests that people even find the name rather cool and trendy 🙂 The name gets a second review for final clearance before the end of the month. I just love it when politicians turn silly. We shall see 🙂
PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
One of our business partners sent me a one-liner email the other day to counter my impatience. It read :
“Please 
with me. I am working on your RFQ (Request For Quotation).
SWELL DATE
It’s a long weekend so I went to the nearby lake to catch some fresh air but took my camera with me and here’s what I found – lovebirds having the whole island for themselves 🙂 In my book, this beats dinner at a nice restaurant. What do you say ? Can any date be better than this ?
MORE PICTURES
BRIDGES
This is not the bridge to nowhere 🙂 but the bridge to the hill that enabled me to take the photo of the lovebirds on their island. The bridge is actually part of a great biking trail that stretches for many kilometers along the lake, going eastward. The weather today albeit fall-ish was sunny and warmer in the afternoon.
Taken at the Toronto Island park at dusk. The park lights were lit as the sky was slowly turning dark. People were starting to leave the island, heading towards the terminal to catch a ferry to the city. The last boat leaves around 11pm, plenty of time for people to bum around the island.
TRAIN TRACKS – TORONTO UNION STATION
Filed under: Human Interest, Personal |
The Warped Zone 
ganda naman ng mga pix… I’m now starting to think that I want to work abroad in 2-3 years time. I don’t plan to immigrate, just want to do it for experience… =)
i like the bear picture. ang cute at aliw 🙂
and the date. you’re right, that would really be sweet. pag may gumawa saken nyan.. wala lang.. ang saya. hahaha ;p
romantic. is that really an island or a sandbar? at least they have all for themselves
Yup, nothing beats a romantic picnic by the lake. I wonder though, what happens when one of them needs to go to the bathroom, hehe. 😀
Re street names: at least politicians there don’t make it a habit of naming a street after their “Illustrious” parent or grandparent…
so that how we get funny street names 🙂
That’s so sweet ! I see they biked to the place. Maybe they had a picnic 🙂
Jeff – thanks 🙂 Sure, go ahead with your plan. Living in another country is a great experience – makes one understand more his mother country for one.
Tin – I’m not sure if the bear stands for he wants to hug me 🙂
Hmmm, hindi mo itinuloy…. ano ang mangyayari ? hahaha 😆
Tutubi – yep, it is indeed romantic. Yes, it is a sandbar but by definition, it is an island too because it was surrounded by water, albeit shallow hehe 🙂
Snglguy – this area is park of a conservation park, at a mouth of a river so there are toilet facilities available 🙂
If none, the wilderness abounds in the area anyways hehe 🙂
Here street names honor luminaries – sports celebs, artists and leaders but still subject to the voting of the city and provincial officials. Fortunately there are no political dynasties here 😯
Irrealis – goes to show politicians can behave like kids sometimes 🙂
Quiet and peaceful indeed. I like it too.The water is very shallow so the bikes can run through them. Don’t see any picnic baskets though 🙂
That was really a swell date. Which affirms that the best things in life are free and frill-less.
Annamanila – this is what you may call an environmentally friendly or “green date” – hehe 🙂
Very crafty street name it had become indeed and had gotten so much interesting. Talk about getting boomeranged.
In our jurisdiction, lawmakers keep on changing street names that at one point it had become the most number of law passed. At times, street names change so fast that the public is just taken so confused and exasperated, especially when the old names sounded far grander and eloquent than the new ones.
Major Tom – talk about being very productive legislators – changing street names every so often! hahaha 🙂
Well, I remember Eddie Ilarde, a famous talk show host /announcer who became a politician sposoring a bill to change the Philippine’s name to Maharlika.
Darn, with all the problems the country faces for decades, perhaps it’s time to change it’s name ! What do you say? 🙂
hahaha. here in Manila, they should change EDSA to “Very Heavy Traffice Highway” or Commonwealth Avenue in QC, which has the most no of vehicular accidents year in and year out, to “Killer Avenue” 😀
that suggestion to change the country’s name reminds me of Imelda’s quote:
“Yes, I would have changed the country’s name. Why should this country carry the name of a Spanish king who died of syphilis?”– quoted in Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2007.
Hahaha!
swell date, indeed. love your photo 😀
Barry – Killer Avenue would have made it to Ripleys and the Guiness hehe 🙂
I guess Imelda had the point. Maybe our country was supposed to be called “Syphilippines” hahaha
Nell – thanks 🙂 Hmmm.. I might just have to do this..hehe… After all this place is just walking distance , a good 15 min walk from my house 🙂
wow. and they have the place all for themselves? (except the papparazzi) great sets of photos. nice job.
wow your photos are amazing!
a very nice place indeed to have a date….gusto ko rin 😉
Anyway re the bear, perhaps I should make the same thing with some of my business letters to the chefs who are always so impatient (but yeah I know where they are coming from). I mean they need to lighten up a little hehe
Lawstude – thanks.. and the paparazzi was atop of a hill taking pics 🙂
Prinsesa – thanks 🙂
Verns – gusto mo ring may private island he 😉 Yep, go ahead. It lightened me up a bit so I guess it worked 🙂
The bear looks tired in that pic used in the one-line e-mail (LOL).
Wow…that’s a cool place to have a date!
You’re fast becoming a photo blogger, BW. 🙂
that’s an outdoors-lovers dream date. it’s mine too. ganda ng setting.
Jayred – you have very keen eyes. Yep, looks like the bear had just been on a 100 meter dash running away from a bowhunter hehe 🙂
I’m not yet determined to have a photo blog – might join Litratong Pinoy but still thinking 🙂
Ewok – methinks you’re an avid outdoor person 🙂
Funny coz I might just recreate this scene with me and my wife and have a friend shoot it and create a more serious photo. The place is just walking distance from my home 🙂
Hahaha That was a funny story. However, I think you’re right in that the developer may get the last laugh out of it. OMB Folly is indeed a cool name. 😀
That’s a pretty island with a nice bike trail too. Could indeed be quite a romantic setting. Hmmm…. 😀
$50 grand for an appeal? That’s serious money. No wonder why the tribunal approved it. Shows that sometimes our politicians can be cry babies 😦
Nice and relaxing setting near the lake. The train track shot is also nice. Black and white inside and colored outside. Great blend.
Panaderos – no one seems to care about the crazy street name it seems. Let it be as long as the business deal was completed. You can’t win ’em all 🙂
Natez1 – good point. Do you think these guys have conscience at all? We’ll never know. The world of politics is so complex that the rules aren’t readily understood by the ordinary guy 😯
Thanks. Took the pic on a lazy weekend afternoon, with not much people around at the station.
Very romantic, indeed. Love it 🙂
As for street names, I recently joined a contingent that oppose the changing of our street names whose sole purpose is to glorify the fabulously-rich or has-been politicians.
Cheers!
Eric
Eric – thanks. Good for you to join a movement against these people who just want to wipe out our history for their vanity and selfish interests 😦
Hey, what’s up with the new photo blog? BTW it looks slick – congrats 🙂
Hmmmm… I hate to say it… maybe a date in bed? 😉
Sidney – you got me there ! LOL 🙂
Please bear with me nyahahaha! I’ll make a greeting card out of that!
That picture of the lake is beautiful, and yeah, so romantic. I’d love to have a date like that, but my guy won’t be able to appreciate all that mushiness. He’d probably say “So, what are we going to do here?”
Kat – a greeting card – sounds cool 😎
hehe..well, it would be your turn to be creative to make your guy like it ! 🙂
hahaha… ill definitely laugh if ill receive that email. might as well try doing it. LOL.
i love bridges because they are picturesque.
Wow, there’s a lake near your place? You’re so lucky. That photo of the lake is gorgeous!
Hi, BW! I’m back to blogging mode, and it’s really nice visiting your site again. Oh, I have a lot of catching up to do. 🙂
Dong – now you’re planning to send one to someone eh? 😉
Rhodora – welcome back to the blog world !
Yes, the lake ( Lake Ontario) is walking distance from my place. The lovebirds are actually in a sandbar 🙂 that separates the lake from the mouth of the river. The area is now a conservation park where people can observe birds and do some canoeing at the river.
There is also beach area where people can swim in summer 🙂
what a great shot and a lovely place! yes, i do agree that this is better than \dinner in some fancy restaurant. 🙂
thanks for the visit. 🙂
by the way,love your new blog. 🙂
Ipanema – thanks.. what if your young admirer invites you to this place ? Just kidding 😆 All the best to your new life 🙂
wow!i love the photos..
Cliffnotes – Thanks 🙂
I love the swell date. Sharing some very special moments with your partner on an Island surrounded by lush greenery and pristine beach, that’s an ultimate date for me. 🙂
You sure they are lovebirds? I seem to be seeing two individuals bickering over a piece of stale sandwich. Hehe.
Asian Traveler – same here. Such atmosphere is an awesome prelude to a much more interesting day 🙂
Abaniko – hehe.. or maybe a meeting to settle an LQ 🙂