TomTom – not quite ready for Vancouver

As I was trying desperately to make it to dinner on time in Vancouver, I turned on my trusty TomTom GO 910 and plotted my way to Banana Leaf restaurant….

First mistake – not listen to my co-worker when he said it’s at 3005 W Broadway in Kitsiliano.  That was 5:55pm.

Second mistake – allowing TomTom to use its point of interest list to send me to the 850 W Broadway. At this point, I have already parked my car, paid $4 worth of parking to find out I went to the WRONG restaurant. Timecheck: 6:30pm

Third mistake – allowing TomTom to guide me to 3005 W Broadway in Kitsiliano!  In TomTom’s brilliance, it decided that 3005 W Broadway = 3005 Broadway = 3005 Broadway E.  That’s about 6000 house numbers away from the restaurant, and about 2 minute from the Burnaby office (that I originated from).  Frustrated and mad, I check the clock, 6:55pm.  I reluctuntly called my collegue at the restaurant, embrassed, and said I will pick them up at the restaurant to the hotel instead of eating with them.

Finally… punching 3005 Broadway E. in Kitsiliano took me to the restaurant I wanted.  Timecheck: 7:40pm.  Did I bother to pay for parking until 8pm?  Nope… nor did I care enough to do so.

Lesson of the day – trust your instinct and your friends while driving in Vancouver.  Unlike the commercial, I am not going to ask “TomTom, where’s W Broadway” again!

(TomTom will be getting a nasto-gram from me very very soon…  this isn’t the first bad direction I got)

There should be a fine against parents buying kids Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

During Christmas time, Jana and I decided to buy PlayStation 2 just so we can play Guitar Hero 2.  Of course I bought it for more than just that reason – I love the Final Fantasy series!  I decided to go to the not-so-local (and super busy) EB Games at Yorkdale last Sunday to pick up Final Fantasy X.  In my long line-up, there was a kid – probably 12 to 14 years old, with her mother, lining up to buy Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

For those who don’t know what GTA:SA is, this game is the only game rated Adults Only by the ESRB rating, and apparently retailers will get fine $5,000 for selling adults only game to a minor.  So of course when the kid ask for the game and pay for it, the first salesperson warns the parents that this is for adults only and inform them of the possible game play (have sex with hookers to get money).  The mom wanted more clarification, so the second salesperson comes and first read the back of the ESRB warning to the mom, then proceeds to tell her the more explicit details.  Remember – there are at least 10 people lining up to pay for items, plus another 20 people in this crammed store, listening to the events unfolding!  The mom caved to the kid’s wishes and bought the game anyway!

I am sorry – there should be a law against irresponsible parents buying violent, adult video game for kids.  As if we don’t have enough shootings out there, we now have to contend with kids wanting sex with hookers and stealing cars before the age of 16?!  While I am not here to pass judgement on the mom who decided to expose the kid to this kind of video game, but if we fine the retailers for selling the game, smokes, or porn to kids under 18, the parents should be fined for explicitly allowing the kid to play the game, knowing full well the consequences of his/her actions.