We recorded this podcast as a proof of concept demo. We did this before planning the untimely demise of our protagonists. Take this as a look at what it would be like if Tim and Tino were still missing buses on campus in present day. Also, Tino is a film major. Again. That's two times too many.
TRANSCRIPT AND RESEARCH NOTES
Narrator: You are listening to YU Missed the Bus with your hosts Tim and Tino. Today’s episode will be a whirlwind through the 2010s. Our episode begins with Tim and Tino discussing the foundation of the new York University Busway on April 27th, 2009.
TINO: Tim, I gotta tell ya – I am so excited about the new York University Busway because my 196 from Downsview is going to take it, it’s going to get me to school so much faster – I am ecstatic!
TIM: I guess it’s pretty cool but aren’t they finishing the subway soon or at least they’re supposed to be? Why would they invest more money in a bussing system?
TINO: I guess you’re kind of right but I mean, your Viva could start taking that Busway too like the Viva Orange
TIM: I guess but still…it doesn’t make sense to me to spend that much money on a bussing system that is going to be obsolete according to them by 2015
TINO: ….but the 196 can go soooo much faster!
Source: Based on a Toronto Transit Commission report detailing the changes to come to the TTC with the advent and use of the Busway. http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2009/Apr_27_2009/Supplementary_Reports/York_University_Busw.pdf
Narrator: Hmm, interesting observation Tino. Lets check in with our hosts on January 26th 2011
TIM: Remember that conversation we had about the expressway for the buses in like 2009?
TINO: Yeah I recall it, I remember it like it was yesterday!!!
TIM: Well you were right because the Viva Orange is apparently going to start using that Busway.
TINO: Oh right. Yeah I remember saying that one. Score one for Tino, I wish I could apply it to some tutorial participation marks.
Source: This YorkRegion.com article tells of the YRT Viva Orange’s move to the Busway http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/1449442-viva-orange-could-move-to-ttc-express-lane/
Narrator: File this December 13th 2013 conversation into the massive folder marked “Subway Delays”
TIM: So you know how there is supposed to be a new Black Creek (Pioneer Village) subway station?
TINO: Yeah, the one that is way too close to the one that is already (being built at) York?
TIM: I know, right? But apparently, they’re only 30% done when they should be 70% done
TINO: Oh my gosh! Why don’t they just concentrate all their efforts into the York subway station?
TIM: I mean that would make TOO MUCH SENSE man! But apparently they have been having troubles with the construction team and the contract isn’t enough for them now so I don’t know, hopefully they figure it out.
TINO: What a mess! Well, at least my kids will enjoy it.
Source: The Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2013/12/13/ttc_hits_snag_with_contractor_at_new_spadina_station.html
TRANSCRIPT AND RESEARCH NOTES
Narrator: You are listening to YU Missed the Bus with your hosts Tim and Tino. Today’s episode will be a whirlwind through the 2010s. Our episode begins with Tim and Tino discussing the foundation of the new York University Busway on April 27th, 2009.
TINO: Tim, I gotta tell ya – I am so excited about the new York University Busway because my 196 from Downsview is going to take it, it’s going to get me to school so much faster – I am ecstatic!
TIM: I guess it’s pretty cool but aren’t they finishing the subway soon or at least they’re supposed to be? Why would they invest more money in a bussing system?
TINO: I guess you’re kind of right but I mean, your Viva could start taking that Busway too like the Viva Orange
TIM: I guess but still…it doesn’t make sense to me to spend that much money on a bussing system that is going to be obsolete according to them by 2015
TINO: ….but the 196 can go soooo much faster!
Source: Based on a Toronto Transit Commission report detailing the changes to come to the TTC with the advent and use of the Busway. http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2009/Apr_27_2009/Supplementary_Reports/York_University_Busw.pdf
Narrator: Hmm, interesting observation Tino. Lets check in with our hosts on January 26th 2011
TIM: Remember that conversation we had about the expressway for the buses in like 2009?
TINO: Yeah I recall it, I remember it like it was yesterday!!!
TIM: Well you were right because the Viva Orange is apparently going to start using that Busway.
TINO: Oh right. Yeah I remember saying that one. Score one for Tino, I wish I could apply it to some tutorial participation marks.
Source: This YorkRegion.com article tells of the YRT Viva Orange’s move to the Busway http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/1449442-viva-orange-could-move-to-ttc-express-lane/
Narrator: File this December 13th 2013 conversation into the massive folder marked “Subway Delays”
TIM: So you know how there is supposed to be a new Black Creek (Pioneer Village) subway station?
TINO: Yeah, the one that is way too close to the one that is already (being built at) York?
TIM: I know, right? But apparently, they’re only 30% done when they should be 70% done
TINO: Oh my gosh! Why don’t they just concentrate all their efforts into the York subway station?
TIM: I mean that would make TOO MUCH SENSE man! But apparently they have been having troubles with the construction team and the contract isn’t enough for them now so I don’t know, hopefully they figure it out.
TINO: What a mess! Well, at least my kids will enjoy it.
Source: The Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2013/12/13/ttc_hits_snag_with_contractor_at_new_spadina_station.html
Narrator: Ha, Tino having kids. What would he feed them? Free popcorn from the religion clubs in Central Square? Anyways, this next conversation occurred just a couple days later on December 20th 2013
TIM: Tino, have you heard about the new Presto Card?
TINO: Pesto card? Is that some sort of gift card that I can use on spices and herbs?
TIM: No, no, no “Presto” card!
TINO: Oh yeah! The Presto card.
TIM: Yeah, you know the one that lets you tap instead of using TTC tokens and all that? It’s really great.
TINO: Yes, I’ve heard of that and I have used that at the subway stations
TIM: Well apparently they want to add them to more subway stations and let you use them on the buses and streetcars. We already have it at the YRT and the Viva and man I gotta tell you, it’s a lot easier than fishing out a million and one coins.
TINO: Man, I wish I had that tap life. It seems so simple and convenient. But is there any reason why they are pushing to roll it out now?
TIM: I hear they want to get it done in time before the Pan Am Games and I mean, I can’t think of a better reason to do it.
TINO: Yeah hopefully that speeds it up because I am jealous of that tap life. I’m sick of the coins, I want to be tapping!
TIM: All I’m saying is….there is a reason they call (Vaughan) “the city above Toronto”
TINO: Haha, I’ll tap into that!
Source: Based on a small snippet in the Globe and Mail that can be accessed on this link to the Proquest Pages of the Past Globe and Mail archive below: Moore, Oliver. 2013. Stintz wants to speed up rollout of presto smart-card system. The Globe and Mail, Dec 20, 2013.
http://ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1469685327?accountid=15182
Narrator: On March 17th 2015 as much of York U’s contract faculty was on strike, they took to the picket lines to protest for lower tuition costs, higher salaries and more job security. This greatly impacted York U transit and Tim and Tino were – of course – there to witness it.
TIM: So I was on the Viva this morning and it didn’t bring me all the way into campus. I think it dropped me off at Sentinel Road? I can’t remember because I was late to class so I didn’t really pay attention
TINO: Was that because of the picket lines?
TIM: Yeah I think so. I have heard nothing but bad news coming from those picket lines.
TINO: Yeah I was watching a video yesterday on Facebook and it showed all these cars honking at the picketers. People were hurling insults at them, swearing, and someone even said he was going to come back later to shoot them – that’s crazy!
TIM: I know, right? These people are fighting for lower tuitions for us. We should at least respect them let alone don’t start honking and swearing at them
TINO: Exactly, how can we show solidarity for a worthy cause by acting so stupid? These people are out there standing in the cold – have some respect, have some humanity, you know?
TIM: They’re fighting for us. It is not like they are fighting for some random, foreign cause. They are fighting for lower tuitions. I feel like if there’s any cause that students at York can get behind it is that one
.
Source: National Post article which includes the video mentioned by Tino. http://news.nationalpost.com/news/heated-clashes-on-york-university-picket-line-captured-on-video-as-classes-resume-despite-labour-dispute
Narrator: Good point there Tim, good point. Next up, on January 15th 2016, CBC News posted an article that was a humiliating hit to the never-ending construction of the Toronto subway at York University.
TIM: So Tino, you are not going to believe what I heard this morning
TINO: What did you hear, Tim?
TIM: You know the subway that was (at one time projected) to be opened at the end of this year?
TINO: Yes.
TIM: Well for one, it was delayed until 2017. So I mean, getting “York’d”, whatever…
TINO: Alright, alright, and…?
TIM: I heard more importantly that it’s 400 million dollars overbudget!
TINO: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? You can’t be serious, Tim! 400 million dollars overbudget? If my math is correct, and it might not be because I’m a film major but if my math is correct, does that mean that it was originally pegged at 2.6 billion but now it has ballooned to just under 3.2 billion?
TIM: Something like that, yeah. And I heard that the overcost is going to be charged on the municipalities
TINO: Which municipalities are those?
TIM: That would be York (Region) and Toronto.
TINO: Wow, just where me and you live. So it is like we are splitting the cost 50/50
TIM: Of course we are man. If anyone knows how to york you its definitely gotta be York
TINO: Ohhhh yes.
Source: CBC News. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/spadina-subway-cost-1.3404472
Narrator: Wow, what a mess indeed. On April 26th 2016, Hollywood came to York University.
TINO: Yo Tim, you will never guess what happened to me this morning
TIM: Why what happened to you this morning?
TINO: So I’m on the 196 from Downsview Station, I’m heading to York and the bus JUST STOPS before it even gets to campus and the driver says “there’s been a delay, I’m stopping here, everybody out”. And I got a class in Vari Hall so I’m used to (the bus) going right in front of Vari Hall and it definitely didn’t. So, I go into Vari Hall and there’s a huge green screen, a bunch of cacophony – I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t even know if I have class at this point. So, I go to Tim Hortons for a nice Double Double and there’s a guy in line and he definitely didn’t know how to “Tim Hortons”. He was trying to order a tall “frappucino” at Tim Hortons. Can you believe that? Can you believe this guy?
TIM: A tall “frap”? What the heck? I mean (not knowing) a Double Double maybe but like, is he from the States or something?
TINO: Turns out, he was from the States and he was also starring in the film. So I hear him say “tall frap” and I say “hey buddy, learn how to ‘Tim Hortons” and he turns around and says “sorry, I’m not from around here”. Do you know who that was?
TIM: Uhhh, I have no idea. Who?
TINO: It was Matt Damon.
TIM: Are you kidding me…
TINO: The actor. Matt Damon.
TIM: What? No way.
TINO: So I felt really bad so I said to him “it’s not your fault”, “it’s not your fault”…
TIM: Good Will Hunting. Are you kidding me!
TINO: No. I said that to him. But it turns out they are filming a movie in Vari Hall called Downsizing starring Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Kristen Wiig and Alec Baldwin and its stated for a December 25th 2017 release. You know what the movie is about?
TIM: What is it about?
TINO: It is about a guy and he’s walking around and everything is bigger than him. Sort of like your first day on campus when you were a freshman.
TIM: Eh, I mean yeah I could see that.
Sources: The primary source we used is from a blogger who attended the filming that day in front of Vari Hall. He has taken pictures and posted them on his blog as proof he was there: https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2171816369396386104
Also, we used a secondary article by the Brampton Guardian that confirmed this fact:
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/whatson-story/6737453-yes-that-was-hollywood-star-matt-damon-you-saw-hanging-around-town/
The Matt Damon movie reference was to the movie starring himself as well as Robin Williams, Good WIll Hunting. It is from the climax of the film. Here is a clip if you would like the context:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtkST5-ZFHw
Narrator: Dear commuters, do not fret. The delay of a bus – or rather – the short stopping of a bus could mean the chance encounter with a celebrity.
Narrator: Our final check in with Tim and Tino occurs on October 28th 2016 where Tino is upset by a TTC Ticket Hike
TIM: Tino why are you so angry? You’re spilling your pad Thai everywhere!
TINO: Aghhhhahh Tim, I picked up the Excalibur this morning and on the front page I quote the article said “Riders are left in the dust of their missed buses while TTC prices rise”. They’re going to up the TTC cost for a ticket by 25 cents. Can you believe that?
TIM: I mean I can actually. The VIVA used to be three dollars, now it is up to 3.50. What’s next? 4 dollars (to tap with) Presto?
TINO: Geeze I’m sitting here and the prices keep going up. There is pad Thai all over my Excalibur and I gotta tell ya Tim, I am REAL pissed off!
TIM: I can see it. You wouldn’t normally spill your pad Thai That’s ten dollars a box!
TINO: TEN DOLLARS A BOX? 25 CENTS A TICKET? AHHH! I FEEL AS THOUGH I’VE BEEN LEFT IN THE DUST!
Source: The Excalibur article that Tino spilled Thai Express all over: http://www.excal.on.ca/riders-dust-missed-busses-ttc/