THE SILLY SEASON COMES EARLY:

WINNIPEG'S NEW DIRECTIONAL SIGNS:

Government is, of course, a never ending source of silliness, just as it is a never ending source of wonder at its ability to spend money uselessly. The City of Winnipeg, however, seems to have set some sort of benchmark for others to strive towards. Way back in 2003 the city council under then mayor Glen Murray approved $250,000 for a series of "directional signs" ie the usual "tourist helpers". Such things in Winnipeg's case would be like signs with arrows pointing to 'The Forks', 'The MTS Centre', or perhaps 'The Car Theft Capital Museum'. Well first of all the City couldn't seem to find anybody from Winnipeg with the artistic ability to design a sign with words and arrows so they hired Pittsburgh designer Bob Firth. Whoo, there goes some of the money. Then, of course, the City had to consult the hell out of the project. Whooo, there goes more money. Finally, maybe, possibly, God willing some signs are to be erected. The final cost- $943,000 for 101 signs. This comes out to a cost of $9,336.63 per aluminum sign, perhaps some sort of world's record. The story was carried in the local Winnipeg Free Press earlier this week.

Last April Molly featured an article on a performance artist in Toronto who designed several official looking aluminum signs to highlight the plight of the homeless in that City. The story's source is at http://spacing.ca/wire/?p=1723 . Molly bets that he didn't spend $9,336.63 for each of his signs. She bets he didn't spend $1,000 each or even $100 each. Ten bucks per pop may be an overestimate. Too bad the City of Winnipeg didn't hire this guy. It would have saved a lot of money. Almost $10,000 for each aluminum sign. Come on now !

This little item wins the 500 gallon toilet flush award for sheer waste.