Phantom 911 Call Brings Police To My Apartment ~ The Sad State of Retail ~ RIP Tim Hague ~ 'The Brick' Is Back!

ENTRY 2

REASONS NUMBER 12, 23, and 44 WHY TRADITIONAL RETAIL IS FAILING


It is no surprise that traditional retail is dying. Radio Shack in the U.S., and Payless Shoes has seen better days. Sears is crumbling, and Target Canada didn't even make it out the gate.

There was a time when I would not even consider using Amazon to buy something. Nope. I stuck with dragging my ass to the mall right up until just three months ago.
That is when things changed.
In the past three months, I went from refusing to buy from Amazon to doing almost half of my shopping through them.   
eBay originally turned me off of online shopping due to delivery times. It is ridiculous to wait up to six weeks for an item to arrive, when I can get it today at the mall.

Amazon changed that with same-day delivery. For a yearly fee, you can join Amazon Prime and get free same-day delivery on most items.   

One of the main annoyances of traditional retail that is turning me off of going into a store is the level of customer service.

Remember when you would walk into a store, and you would get your butt kissed all over the place?
These days, you are lucky that a store employee even acknowledges you.
I have already told you that story about my poor experience with trying to buy a video card from Canada Computers. Two different locations, two different levels of crappy service. I ended up buying the card from Amazon. My first purchase from them.

Recently, trying to buy a set of headphones from The Source, again from two different locations in Toronto. Dufferin Mall, could not get service. Stockyards, with three employees in a completely empty store at the time, could not get service. It seems that store employees seem to find it more important to stand around yapping to each other than to service the customer.
I ended up going to Lime Ridge Mall in Hamilton to get the headphones. Even then, when I first went in there they were busy, so I went for a coffee, and returned later when I was able to get mediocre service.
First of all I asked her if I could use the wireless 900 MHz headphones with a computer. She told me 'no', use Bluetooth for a computer.
That answer is actually correct. 900 MHz headphones will pickup interference from the computer. Bluetooth is also wireless, but operates on a different frequency, and the signal is digital, also making it less likely to pick up interference.
Yay! We got that part right.
However, one of the reasons I needed a salesperson to begin with is the fact that at The Source, you can not remove headphones from the pegboard. They are locked in place.
This is an annoyance to me. It is easier for me just to bring what I want to the desk. I know why they do that. It is to discourage shoplifting. Here is my opinion on that: Fuck shoplifting.
I'm serious. With the state of retail these days, shoplifting is the least of their worries. They need to put more focus on the customer.
Locked pegs are not going to help them when they are out of business.

Continuing with my experience with The Source at Lime Ridge Mall, I saw a power strip with a price tag of $4.88 SAVE $25. 
That is a really good price for a power bar, but guess what? It wasn't $4.88. It was $19.99. 
A huge difference.
Although $19.99 is a more 'reasonable' price for such a product, I don't understand how there can be such a discrepancy. The same system that puts the price into the POS, is the same system that prints the price tags.
The only way that could happen is that there was a mistake, and the store staff did not change the price tag, so the 'mistake' price was still there after it was corrected in the POS.
This is yet another annoyance of mine that happens all to often in traditional retail. How difficult is it to verify that all the prices are correct?

I did end up getting a set of wired headphones, but it is pretty bad that I had to travel to another city to do so. 

I should have just ordered from Amazon.

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PHANTOM 911 CALL BRINGS POLICE TO MY APARTMENT



I was off work for a few days with an infection in my sinuses. 

I started experiencing symptoms on Monday.
I tried to go to a walk-in clinic, but they would not take me, because they were closing.
Okay, let me get this straight, a person could be dying, and you won't take them because it is time to go home?
What a sad state of health care we have.

I ended up having to go to the St. Joseph's Heath Center which was about 20 minutes away.

It was a three-step procedure, and every time I had to explain the symptoms. 
Total time at the hospital: about two and a half hours. Which I have been told is actually not that long. I have heard of waits of up to six hours.
Again, the sad sate of our heath care system.

The doctor gave me a prescription for something called Cephalex. Whatever it is it had better work. It cost $72 for 28 pills.
I have to take four a day for seven days, and get lots of rest.
Although, taking the medicine, even while writing this I am still in a lot of pain.

On Wednesday, the wife went to work, but I stayed home to rest. 

I was sleeping when I heard a loud banging on the door.

I usually don't answer the door, because it is almost always someone asking for money for something or other.
In this case, something told me that I should see who was there.

Keeping in mind that I had been sick, so the apartment was a mess, and I was dressed in an old torn T-shirt and crappy dirty track pants. 

I opened the door to find two police.

I was still very sick from the infection, and my first thought was, "What the hell do you want?"

Police: "Is everything okay, we received a 911 call from here?"

Me: "Ummmm...Yeah. I'm the only one here and I'm not in a critical state."

Police: "Can we take a look?"

Me: "I guess."

The police looked around my entire messy apartment, including all the closets.

Of course they did not find anything, but they are required to do a search when they get such a call.
The police were very nice about it, though.

This brings to mind an important point.
How did the police get sent to an address where there was no way a call could have been placed?
My wife had her smartphone with her at work, mine was turned off to charge, and when nobody is around we keep the home phone unplugged because our furry children like to climb on it, and I have caught them on more than one occasion actually placing a long-distance call. Therefore, on this day like all others, the phone was not connected. 

There was absolutely no way a 911 call could have been placed from anywhere near my apartment.

That means that there is a problem with the entire system.
That is serious.
The 911 system sent the police to the wrong address.
That is a major problem. What if your parents' house was on fire, and your parents died in that fire because 911 sent the fire department to the wrong address?
We have had 911 service in Ontario since 1974. You would think that it would be perfected by now? Especially such an important service.

Really. 
Think about it.

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BACK IN THE RING TO TAKE ANOTHER SWING



It has been almost two months since I have started training with coach Billy at the Xtreme Couture on Kipling Avenue.

He asked me the other day if I have renewed my Boxing Ontario yet.

I told him that I was in the process, and he told me that once it is done I will be put on the roster. 

Wow. That was fast. I must have done something to really impress him. I mean, in general a new coach will not put you on the team after just a month.

I have to say that I do have a couple of guys in mind that I would like to get into the ring and trade with.
A guy from my old gym at Stockyards, and a guy from Kingston.

However, it is too late in the season to renew now. 
I am just going to wait until September and renew for 2018.
I want to improve my conditioning first anyway.

With the exception of this week due to being sick, I have been training three or four times a week. 
My new work schedule makes it difficult to get to the gym as often as I like, but my job is very physical anyway.

As always, you will all be kept up-to-date about my training.

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DON'T BLAME THE COMBAT SPORTS




With the passing of Canadian Tim Hague ARTICLE,I find it important to once again  reiterate what I have always said about combat sports and boxing in particular. 
He did not die because he was involved in a combat sport. 
He died because he was involved in a sport.

Serious injuries can occur while participating in any sport. It does not have to be a combat sport or even a contact sport for that matter.
Remember back a few years when an Olympic bobsledder was killed at a practice run?
The last time I checked bobsled was not a contact sport.

Although it is a terrible thing to happen to someone, all athletes are aware of the dangers of their said sport.

RIP Tim Hague.

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Welcome.

ENTRY 1

INTRODUCTION

Welcome everyone to my new blog, 'Another Brick In the Sprawl'. For everyone joining me who is new, I will introduce myself later. For those who are following me from my now discontinued blog 'Comments From the Blue Corner', thank you for following me over.
My old blog had been running for over five years and had a good following. I had decided to end that blog for several reasons. One being that it had simply run its course and it was time for something new.
That blog focused more on my boxing training, where this one will be a mix of various aspects of my life. 
Although, my boxing career is slowly winding down, I am still quit active within the sport, and my boxing endeavours will still be covered here in the 'Fitness' section.

I live in a very large city, and I work downtown at night as a security guard, so my life definitely does not lack any of its own entertainment.

This blog will be presented in sections, each about a particular aspect of my life.
That includes interesting things that happen at work. It will also include the regular blogging stuff such as opinions, reviews, politics, and the list goes on.
Note the '14+' warning above. Unlike some bloggers who like to edit in order to keep their entries 'family friendly', I don't do that. 
My blog entries are about life, and sometimes life is not family friendly. 
Keep that in mind as you read on in this and future entries.

Unlike my old blog, this one will not have scheduled publications dates. I will publish anytime I have something on my mind. 
That will insure quality, instead of just publishing anything just to make the schedule.

Now, let me introduce myself to my new readers.
My real name is Paul, but I go by my nickname 'The Brick'. There is a long story behind that, and you can read more about it back on my old blog.
I live in Toronto. A city in southern Ontario on the shore of Lake Ontario.
Toronto is the largest city in Canada by population. As per the latest census, the Toronto area is home to more than 3 million people. With the GTHA (Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area) being home to more than 7 million over an 8000 square-kilometer area. That is a population of over 900 per square-kilometer, making this the most densely populated area in Canada.
I really don't belong in a dense-population area, because.... I do not like people. People are a pain in the ass. However, this is where I live and have lived all my live. This is my home, and so I have to make the best of it.

For recreation, I am a boxer, although semi-retired. I still train and spar regularly. Although, I do not compete much any more.
As mentioned earlier, I have a full-time job as a security guard downtown. I work 12-hour night shifts on a 2-on, 2-off, 3-on, 3-off, staggered schedule, meaning different days off every week.
I have been working as a guard going on six years now, and I have worked at many different locations throughout the city. 
Out of all of the places I have worked, I have to say that my current property is the most 'interesting' of all.
It is a property that has been known to have a continuous revolving-door of security guards. It is a 'problem' area and a property with very tight rules. Making it a very stressful situation for 'average' guards.
I, however, am not an 'average' guard. I was sent to that property specifically because of two reasons: I am not afraid of anybody, and I don't take anybody's shit.
Also, I get paid an above-average wage to be there. It is the only way they can get someone to work there.
I work at a property located on the corner of Church Street and Wellesley Street. For those not familiar with the area, that is the heart of Toronto's Gay Village. As a matter-of-fact the property I look after is called the Village Centre.
Two mixed commercial-residential buildings connected underground by a two-level public parking.
One building has a TD Bank as the anchor, and the other has Steamworks. 
The best way to describe Steamworks is that it is a bathhouse for gay guys. Figure out the rest yourself.

Working in the Gay Village in itself does have its own set of unique problems.
First of all, although I find myself almost directly in the middle of the political grid, my job does require me to be non-partisan.

Although, I do not fully understand the LGBT lifestyle, I respect that people have the right to make their own choices in life. That is what it is about to live in a free society.
In fact, the gays who live in that area are not the ones who cause the problems. The gays are really not a problem at all. It is the assholes, all lot of whom are visitors. Lots of problems with transients and homeless as well. Most not even from Toronto, or Ontario for that matter.

On my patrols through the nether-regions of the creepy underground parking, I see a plethora of license plates. Quebéc is common. I also see a lot from New York. I have also seen North Carolina, Michigan, and Ohio, but the award for "Farthest Travel To the Gay Village" goes to Florida.

All that being said, that is my introduction to my life.
Now, let's get on with this blog.
The very first ever entry of 'Another Brick In the Sprawl' starts now...........

BRINGING SNOBBINESS TO A WHOLE NEW (FITNESS) LEVEL                              

Xtreme Couture Fitness and Combat Training, 700 Kipling Avenue Toronto

    
On this entry, I will be reviewing Xtreme Couture in the west end of Toronto.

Located on Kipling Avenue at the corner of North Queen Street for the last nine years is a unique fitness facility.
Xtreme Couture Toronto is a fitness club and combat training facility.

Currently, the club offers two levels of membership. There is a fitness membership and a combat membership.

The fitness level membership gives you unlimited access to all of the fitness areas. Equipped with several treadmills, stationary bikes, and cross-training units. In addition, there is a weights area for resistance training with free weights and machines.

The weights area seems to have only very heavy plates and dumbbells. Starting at what appeared to be 20 pounds. That is fine for curls, but is a bit much for shadow boxing. Of course, this area is intended for fitness only, with not a lot of emphasis on combat. However, there should be lighter weights for women.

Due to safety concerns, and probably insurance, anybody with a fitness membership is not allowed in the combat training areas. Even if you want to just hit the bag, it is not allowed. They even go as far as conducting spot-checks to make sure that this rule is enforced. I can't say I blame them. It is a business, and the have to protect themselves.

The other type of membership is a combat membership. 
This type of membership allows access to the entire facility, including all classes.
With a combat membership, you may train in any of five combat disciplines: Boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, grappling, and Brazillian jiu-jitsu. 

The combat areas are quite extensive with a ring, a cage, several striking bags, and practice mats.

Outside of classes, combat members are allowed to use the combat areas on their own as well.

The class sizes are small, and there are frequent options for one-to-one training sessions with the coach and a trainer. 

There is a set of very large locker rooms, equipped with a sauna and shower facilities.
There is also a beverage bar, called the 'lounge', featuring a selection of smoothies, protein-enriched pre-workout fill-ups, and even coffees. 

For an additional fee, towel service is also available.

The club does not operate 24 hours, but is open until 11 PM on most nights.

Employees at the club are very courteous and helpful, always greeting members and guests as they enter.

All that being said, this is not a 'budget' fitness center.
You generally get one try-out, but after you are expected to join. The dues are quite a bit higher for what you would expect to pay, especially in a city where there is a gym on every second corner.
Even their fitness-only memberships are higher than expected, but their combat memberships are quite a bit higher than what you would expect to pay at your regular run-of-the-mill boxing gym for example. I pay three times more for my boxing membership then what I was paying at the Toronto Boxing Academy.

Understanding that Xtreme Couture coaches and trainers give a lot more individual attention to their athletes than what you would get a an 'ordinary' boxing or jiu-jitsu gym.

When I first met one of the managers, I asked him why the fees were so high, and his answer was, "We are the Cadillac of fitness".
I thought that answer was a bit cocky, but then again, he is a manager and probably his job to say that.

Still, there is a slight bit of 'snobbiness' in the air around Xtreme Couture. Maybe not intentional, but I have even found myself feeling the same while in and around the premises. 

It is a very good fitness facility, but there are a lot of very good fitness facilities that do not cost as much to join.
That being said, if you can afford it, I recommend spending the extra to train at Xtreme Couture. Especially at the combat level. The extra attention the coaches give to their fighters is invaluable and well worth the extra money.


OVERALL RATING: 9 / 10 
COMPARISON TO OTHERS OFFERING SAME SERVICES: 8 / 10
AVAILABILITY OF FITNESS EQUIPMENT: 10 / 10
AVAILABILITY OF FREE WEIGHT EQUIPMENT: 7 / 10
CLASS SIZES: 10 / 10 (small)
AVAILABILITY OF COMBAT TRAINING FACILITIES: 10 / 10
COACH-TO-ATHLETE RATIO: 10 / 10 
PRICE: $$$$ (expensive)
PRICE COMPARED TO OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES: 4 / 10

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 STEPPING AWAY FROM THE OBA

For those who followed me from my old blog, you are already aware of my very negative experiences with the Ontario Boxing Association.

To recap, the organization collected a series of fees from me with no intent of delivering the services I paid for. Most notably, Golden Gloves registration. 

This organization operates at a level that I would not call 'professional'. 

I can not discuss the details because this issue is going to court, due to possible fraud involved.

I can, however, inform all of you to stay well away from the OBA. If you are looking for competitive boxing, stick with Boxing Ontario.
It is really a shame since there are a lot of very good boxing gyms that are unfortunately affiliated with the OBA. The Toronto Boxing Academy is one of them. However, I can not longer train there due to the fact that I am simply sick and freaking tired of the OBA's bullshit.

I even told the Toronto Boxing Academy that me leaving was not their fault, but simply that I was tired of dealing with the OBA's lack of communication with their athletes, and their frequent changing of rules without notice.

As a matter-of-fact, I had a confirmed bout on June 10 in Toronto, but because of the OBA crap, I had to back out.

To conclude, OBA affiliated gyms like Toronto Boxing Academy are great places to train, provided that you have no intent on competing. 
As I mentioned earlier, for those wanting to compete, look for a Boxing Ontario affiliate.


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    NOT CLOWNING AROUND



As I mentioned in my introduction, working downtown at night has its challenges...and surprises.

This happened a couple of weeks ago while on routine patrol in the underground parking.

I opened the door to the P1 level lobby, and was completely surprised at the sight my eyes rested upon: A male with his face painted in full clown makeup, pants down to his ankles, squatting and taking a dump right there on the floor.

Now, clowns are already creepy enough, but that sight etched a picture in my mind that is going to be with me for a long time.

Here is a suggestion for the travelling circus: Bring a Porta-Potty.


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