Birds of Pray

Air Canada Restructuring

Who or What Caused Tim Hortons Drive-thru Problems? Tim's, Customers, Laziness, City Hall, or the Combo?

There's quite a brew-ha-ha this week over coffee traffic snarls. What's the cause and where's the solution? Maybe it's a little from column A, a little from column B. TV reports can't cover every driver but a few did admit to the preference of waiting in the car rather than parking, and walking in. Though it is not always possible to predict how successful a business or franchise will be, a Tim's franchise is probably going to have them lining up morning, noon and night. One can foresee potential problems.It seems everyone has to have a morning jolt.     Click picture to enlarge

The Conception Bay South example of extending the drive-thru lane further away from the main street seems to have solved the vexing accident-causing stressor over there. Any expense for extra land required would not likely take long to recover, after all, it is Tim Hortons. Too bad the extra long drive-thrus were not part of this type of business development policy years before. Restaurants like Tim's will get away with what is legal.

In the meantime, they can do their bit to solve the problem by, for example, limiting the drive-thru to just drinks? It will likely speed things along.

In the long-run, food businesses with drive-thrus will have to do what works for everyone, extend the length of those lanes. It's kind of amazing how people put up with it, waiting patiently for that coffee or breakfast in one rush hour crawl, only to frantically enter another back on the main streets. Either there is something addictive about the coffee, or the daily communal, single-file gathering itself, is perhaps a comfort before facing the reality of the day.

As consumers we are part of the problem and solution.

NL has Surefire Plan to Boost Tourism

What, you say, could bring more tourists to our province? There is one certain answer, set up a Tim Horton's franchise. The first trial of this new plan is being tested at Signal Hill, and there are plans to set up similar attractions at rural and isolated but beautiful places in the province. Advertising will be cost effective - it will mainly be by word of mouth and by aroma.Click to enlarge
There are critics though, The Daily Telegraph has condemned the idea saying that some other restaurant should be put on historic sites like Signal Hill, like Mr. Submarine, where they sell less fattening food. The Telegraph makes a great point - a healthier restaurant would send a better message to tourists.

Holy Redeemer! Is that Danny Williams in the Iceberg?

This mysterious iceberg miraculously appeared in Flatrock over the weekend. People were amazed to see a familiar face in it only 100's of feet from the Grotto. The appearance of this berg coincided with some long-awaited sunshine, and brought a sense of hope and joy with it. Some say it's a sign of a higher power.(click for larger view)

At one point when the sun began to hide behind a cloud, you could almost see the man in the ice frowning on the potential overcast. It may have been the lighting and shadows, but he was having none of that.(click for larger view)

It was indeed a rare and unusual spectacle to behold as hundreds of lucky sightseers were in their glory looking upon the divine sight. It reminded many of the famous Virgin Mary iceberg that made an appearance in the Narrows of St. John's in 1905. God only knows where such heavenly sights will make their next premier.