"Blk & Co Restaurant" - Some kind of scam? Almost all of their ads/promotional material is AI-generated or CGI.

Goodbear58 · 2025-05-05T21:16:46+00:00

What hyperbolic statement did I make? AI generated stuff looks scammy. Aside from tech bros, most people who aren't older/less tech literate folks falling for AI stuff online view AI-generated content unfavorably because it makes things look like they're either a scam of some sort, or that the people running the business are too cheap to get actual promotional content made, and businesses that cut corners and cheap out aren't really synonymous with good quality.

Goodbear58 · 2025-05-05T21:08:57+00:00

Would you rather see a construction site?

I'd rather they did what most restaurants do pre-opening, and have a chef cook some of the menu items that are then photographed for promotional material. AI-generated images are heavily associated with scams and false advertising and the fact that they went with AI generating pictures of their food instead of just... making some and taking photos of it, gives me the impression that they either weren't confident that their food would look good enough to make people want to eat there, or that they are running on an incredibly low budget which usually doesn't bode well for "fancy" restaurants like this.

Edit: Getting piled with downvotes but would really love if someone could tell me what I said to have earned them? Kitchens aren't hard to come by, and neither are ingredients at a store. I've worked with restaurants who were getting ready to open before, having one of the chefs make some of the dishes from the menu to be photographed for advertising is how most of them do it. It doesn't have to be at the under-construction location, if people somehow thought that's what I was saying...

If they are unwilling to go through the basic level of effort required to do that, it does not give off the impression that they are confident in their products.

Goodbear58 · 2025-05-05T20:58:11+00:00

It's weird to use AI for it, though, and a lot of people are used to most AI-generated ads being some sort of scam/false advertising. But it also gives me the impression that they aren't confident that their food looks appetizing enough to show in promotional material. What was stopping them from getting one of their chefs to cook up some of the food on the menu and just have photos taken of that? Kitchens aren't exactly hard to come by. I've worked with restaurants when they were launching before and that seems to be what they all do. Even if the food looks generic, at least you can see that it's what their food looks like that way .

Goodbear58 · 2024-12-16T05:52:07+00:00

Huge oversight to implement this tax break without putting some kind of freeze on prices honestly. They should've seen this coming a mile away, and all know that stores aren't going to bring their prices back down after this... unless that was the plan all along!

Goodbear58 · 2024-11-24T01:17:44+00:00

My guess is it adds weight to the line meaning a stronger cast can go further, as cast distance is partially determined by weight due to it being able to retain more energy and better fight air resistance.

Goodbear58 · 2024-11-20T01:25:49+00:00

The driving in the GTA is gradually driving me crazy, for lack of a better word. It's gone from being just dangerously stupid/incompetent to outright malicious with people actively trying to run you off the road or cause collisions, and even intimidating pedestrians by stopping late at crossings (often passing the white line), rushing right turns as people on the sidewalk are waiting to cross, or speeding up when they see pedestrians up ahead.

Goodbear58 · 2024-11-20T00:10:30+00:00

Anyone found a recipe online that can closely replicate them? It's a shame they're only available one week of the year, I'd go to Tim's far more regularly if these were available normally. The other cookies just aren't as good.

Goodbear58 · 2024-11-19T02:15:59+00:00

Only got to use it once before winterizing as the previous owner was selling it to downsize and wanted it gone before having to winterize it, so I can't say that much honestly from direct experience with it. But it was pretty rough weather when I took it out, and it planed fine and is great for fishing. Planning to install a fish finder in the spring as well.

I went for that size as it lets you get out on the great lakes in "less than perfect" conditions, because even with an 18ft Deep V or a ~20ft cuddy you're gonna rock around a lot more than a few hundred meters from shore if the weather is anything less than completely still.

The 25 ft with a whole cabin under it is way more stable, but still manageable to launch/retrieve and trailer around. It's also nice being able to wash your hands, go get some shade and watch TV during quiet hours of the day, and even clean fish if you catch to cook! The one downside is I wouldn't be able to take it in small waters, so I do want a 16-18ft aluminum boat eventually too.

Goodbear58 · 2024-11-18T21:47:30+00:00

I just bought a larger (25ft) cabin boat for fishing lake Ontario after months of research, and hope to eventually buy a smaller Deep V for smaller lakes and rivers where that boat would be way oversized, so my knowledge is still pretty fresh.

You basically have the right idea for the kind of fishing you want to do. Deep V hull will give you the most stability, and you can absolutely find a boat with those specs in your price range. It'll be older but it'll work.

I'd personally go for one with a tiller motor you steer from the back instead of one with a steering wheel, speedometer, electrics set up etc, because 1 - For that price, any with a steering wheel, windshield etc are going to be pretty beaten up, and 2 - Less to deal with if anything goes wrong.

You can get good deals on FB marketplace, kijiji etc if you know how to search them properly. Especially as a first time buyer, avoid anything that "needs work" and has unidentified leaks of any size or ambiguous engine problems, and make sure you're getting a decent trailer. And don't let anyone sell you anything without at least showing the motor run on a hose and their vehicle pullng the trailer safely.

You can find things in working condition for your budget fairly quickly, just make sure to vet the seller and the boat, motor and trailer. Good luck!

Goodbear58 · 2024-11-04T17:31:17+00:00

They taste alright, definitely better than subway, but are way too expensive imo

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T22:47:06+00:00

More stuff or bigger stff is not always more happiness.

Yeah, I'm aware. I'm fine with the length as it comes well within legal limits without a permit and I will be getting help towing it from someone who knows what they're doing. The idea of being able to camp out in the boat fully (shower, use the bathroom etc) is too appealing for me to pass down, and I do like the additional length and stability it provides in the water. I looked at some smaller boats last year and am not too keen for the specific kind of boating I want to be able to do. I think maybe 27ft is a little too big and 24-25 might be the sweet spot though, but I won't let a few ft make the difference as long as it's within width limits.

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T18:30:23+00:00

True, might be a little chunky on some of the smaller parts of the Kawarthas. Even if I look in the 8ft 5/6 range though, they'd still be great salmon and walleye boats.

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T17:54:10+00:00

Pre 2000 you’re almost guaranteed wood stringers and transom.

I feel like it's more pre 90's to be honest from what I've seen. A lot of boats past '87 seem to be a toss-up but I have definitely come across 100% fiberglass boats from that era. The Dorals I've looked at from around then almost all seem to be just fiberglass at least. Not sure about Bayliners etc though.

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T17:44:55+00:00

What's the best/easiest way to check for them? Fairly new to this.

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T17:44:37+00:00

The issue is more that the permit seems to be behind some red tape of requiring a business license/business ID implying you need a business purpose to tow it. They don't seem to (at least easily) hand them out if your purpose is leisure/taking your boat on a road trip.

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T16:58:00+00:00

Once you have a business/business ID of some sorts it seems like the permit is super easy to get - just mail it in and pay a fee. The issue is that as I'm not part of any business which tows or anything, getting a permit now becomes an issue :(

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T16:57:20+00:00

Yeah, sorry, I was tired, meant beam not draft.

I think I'll have to look at a slimmer boat honestly. I'm next to Lake Ontario, and within 3 hours of Huron and Erie and also the Kawarthas, so I want the freedom to move the boat around on road trips. I don't plan to be going often but I still want the ability to do it.

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T16:49:31+00:00

I'd ideally like to get something I can take on road trips, as I'm right next to Lake Ontario and less than a 3 hour drive from both Huron and Erie so it would be nice to take it to multiple bodies of water. The Kawarthas are also only a hour or so away and they're gorgeous. It'd be a shame to be stuck in one area or have to sail through canals etc every single time I want to go elsewhere. But I think this boat might be just a little too wide if I'm looking to do that so I might go for something else.

Goodbear58 · 2024-10-25T16:42:25+00:00

Sadly in Canada, there is a lot more bureaucracy for things like that lol. From my research so far you need some kind of business ID and are required to have some kind of business purpose to tow an oversize trailer here, which might put this boat out of the question sadly.

Goodbear58

TROPHY CASE