The hazy days of summer are upon us and attention spans are about as short as the skirts on Corydon, so here's a quick blast of observations to start debate over your favourite beverage on your favourite patio:

While I appreciate that the city is installing artistic bike racks on Broadway as part of a beautification project, I've never been hard up for a place to lock my bike (except near the Mondragon), nor have I ever felt the need to lock my property to a work of art. I'd sooner see that money put into a bike lane on Broadway so I don't have to wear a diaper while fearfully cruising its narrow lanes in rush hour.

.I'm positive that those photo-radar cameras are responsible for the sudden increase in people driving well under the speed limit in perfect conditions. If someone has a better explanation for the increased numbers of Sunday drivers, I'd like to hear it, because I'm pretty sure that the cameras are just scaring law-abiding citizens into changing perfectly legal habits.

The coolest people in the city can always be found in the beer tent at any given festival, and I think the atmosphere in the Fringe Fest beer garden is more enjoyable than any of the plays.

As of press time, Duff Roblin is still high in the running for the title of Greatest Manitoban, as awarded by the Winnipeg Free Press and CBC. I wonder if the old guy thinks "I told you so, assholes" every time someone mentions the Floodway. I know I would.

I'm not even going to comment on the pro-choice/pro-life debate surrounding Dr. Henry Morgentaler's induction into the Order of Canada. All I'm going to say is that anyone who goes to jail for his or her beliefs is OK by me, whether I agree with the person or not. I think Randy Bachman might be the more controversial choice for induction. Takin' Care of Business isn't everyone's cup of beer.

For a day of fishing outside the city, you will need a driver's licence, a boating licence and a fishing licence, and don't think Natural Resources officers won't peel out from behind an island to try and catch you illegally sipping a beer while enjoying a day on a near-empty lake. Kind of ruins the phrase "getting away from it all," doesn't it?

This sucks: Winnipeg wins the world Slurpee title for the ninth time in a row only months after a StatsCan survey reveals that 49.6% of Winnipeggers are over their acceptable weight. Coincidence?

The city is thinking about changing its "One Great City" slogan and altering the welcome signs scattered around the Perimeter. "They haven't been maintained and they're falling apart, and they're embarrassing," Mayor Sam Katz said of the signs. Hey, dude - check out our roads.

And I seem to remember Mayor Katz saying something about synchronizing traffic lights during the last mayoral election. I guess that must be harder than it sounds, because I can't hit more than two greens in a row on Broadway, and Portage Avenue is a mess of reds and ambers.

For an event started by hippies, the Winnipeg Folk Festival sure has a hell of a lot of rules. I guess the revolution is now officially over.

Mike Warkentin will debate these issues with you on any patio.