100 things in 100 days - number 34

34. I love teaching.

It might be related to the fact that I love an audience, but I really do love to explain stuff to people. It all started back in the military, while I was attending a rather in depth technology course. The class just wasn't getting a certain concept and I tuned out the instructor to see if I could figure it out on my own. I could and then volunteered to show the class just how simple the concepts could be (on our own time - my last desire was to make the instructor look bad). That's when I knew. I have a knack for simplifying complex topics, distilling them into something people can understand. And I love using analogies. I taught in the military for more than 7 years (that's me in 1987 in front of the classroom). Once I retired from the military, I got a job teaching technology for 3 years and currently teach on the side for Chinook Learning Services, not to mention that I develop and deliver training as part of my current day job.

Maybe it's in the genes, because my sister Heidi is a teacher too.

Too much information I guess

Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there.

Last night I tried to turn Dar... umm................ never mind.

Do you smell something burning?

Go Senators!

Wow, I can't believe I'm saying that. At least I'm not having to chant - Go Leafs! That would be beyond brutal.

Yeah Buffalo, I know you did great this year, but Stanley has to come back to Canada.

Excerpt from a dog's blog

• 8:00 am - Dog food! My favourite thing!
• 8:15am - Went outside to pee. My favourite thing!
• 8:30 am - A walk in the park! My favourite thing!
• 9:45 am - A car ride! My favourite thing!
• 11:30 am - Got petted! My favourite thing!
• 12:00 pm - Lunch! My favourite thing!
• 1:00 pm - Played with the cat! My favourite thing!
• 1:15 pm - Wagged my tail! My favourite thing!
• 5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favourite thing!
• 7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favourite thing!
• 8:00 pm - Watched TV with people! My favourite thing!
• 10:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing!

Where is it - Edition 22

Maybe I need to post the next edition of 'Where is it?' before Jim and Pam catch their breath. This time, you'll get a bigger picture if you click on the picture in the post.

Name the city. Good luck.

From the 'you can find anything on the net' file:

This gets annoying in approximately 10.2 seconds. Give or take.....

At least it eventually stops. Until you hit refresh that is.

100 things in 100 days - number 35

35. Pink Floyd is my favourite band. Dark Side of the Moon is my album of all time.

I was a late bloomer when it came to music, insomuch as I never owned any music until after I left home to join the military. But once my collection started, not only did I get into the current artists of the day, but I began a pilgrimage to the musical past that I missed out as a teen. The band that made the biggest connection with me was the Floyd. I already knew about the song Money - who didn't? The time it became a hit my friend Claude Tellier's older sister Sandy was listening to the 45rpm single and I had a (secret) crush on her. But I never really paid much attention to Pink Floyd until I was introduced to their whole albums. Starting with The Wall and working my way back in time. Now I own 12 of their albums and 3 DVDs.

If they ever invent time travel, my first trip will be to go back to Abbey Road Studios from June 1972 to January 1973 to watch the lads record and mix the album Dark Side of the Moon.

My very first lolcat!

My own private jukebox... anywhere there's an internet connection!

The jury is still out on this service, but it does have potential. Lately, I signed up with MediaMax. For free you get online storage for your files, pictures, but more importantly (for me), music. I've always wanted to have access to my music from another internet connection and now I can have it. I am limited to download capacity per month, but if I need more, I can just pay for it. This is OK by me. It means that while I'm at work or on the road, if I'm jonesing for a little Feist, I can log in and start playing. No having to carry any extra devices around (other than my laptop).

It's gonna take a while to get my entire mp3 collection uploaded (I had 2254 at last count), but I've got the time.

Episode 21 of Great White North II is up

In episode 21, the hosers talk about the tradition of Canadian ceremonial drumming.

Look it up on Hoserpedia if you don't believe me, eh. Is it dumb? Of course. You wouldn't expect anything less from us, right?

Video.ca link .

My new motivational poster

You like?

Copyright is so broken right now....

You know, I'm getting really pissed about the way big companies are trying to screw little people with their our lawyers will make mincemeat out of you - because we can tactics.

Here's yet another fine example. A pub in the UK (the Tan Hill Inn) has an item on its menu called the Family Feast. It's only available on Christmas, but KFC decided this was copyright infringement and sent a law firm after them to cease and desist. Come on!

I don't think companies should be allowed to trademark or copyright English words out of context. If you want to protect Family Feast, you should only be able to protect it with your company name in front of it (or part of it in some fashion). Did you know that the folks running the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010 are trying to convince the Canadian government to pass legislation that would protect the words winter, gold, silver, bronze, sponsor, Vancouver, Whistler, 2010, tenth, medals, and games from businesses who would try to fraudulently associate themselves with the Olympics. Give me a break! Nobody should be allowed to claim the rights to simple words. You want to protect The Olympics? Fine. But use your heads people.

It turns out that KFC backed down from their demand, but how many of you wanna bet it's because of the growing backlash and publicity?

100 things in 100 days - number 40, 39, 37 & 36

40. Furthest west I've been is Victoria BC, Canada.

Well, after a closer look at Google Maps, I need to change that to Courtney, BC.

39. Furthest south I've been is Los Angeles.

More specifically, Dana Point. What a beautiful part of the US that area is.

37. Furthest east is the former East German border.

36. The furthest north I've been is Alert, NWT, Canada.

I could tell you more, but then I'd have to kill you, as the saying goes. But I'll let Wikipedia tell you about it.

I have no idea what happened to 38........

Maybe it's time to buy that hybrid.....

I've been seeing American news stories about the record price of gasoline down there.

If it makes you feel any better, the price of gas in Vancouver (the most expensive major city in Canada) is $1.23CAD per litre, which equates to $4.20USD per US gallon.

I've heard talk that by August, we could see prices at $1.30 or more. Wanna talk about gouging?

Forget FCUK, this will turn more heads

I'm as sensitive to profanity as the next person, but there's a time and a place, eh? Forgive me, but these shirts for the ladies just had me cracking up. They look all dainty and innocent until you get up close, then the real message is legible. Samples:

• You suck
• I don't play nice
• Insatiable little thing
• I really need a f#@*ing coffee
• I hate children

.... and it just gets more lowbrow from there. I know these shirts aren't for everyone, but to those who would dare wear them, I salute you.

Get them 'nothing' without feeling guilty about it...

Wondering what to get the person who has everything? How about nothing?

If you're so bold, a wonderfully packaged bunch of nothing costs about $10.

Air included for free.

100 things in 100 days - number 41

41. I try not to judge people based on what others say.

Just as I wouldn't want you to judge me based on the opinions of others, I try not to form an opinion of the folks I meet until I get to know them. For one thing, it's the fair thing to do. Second, the best judge of someone's character is.... well... you - not someone else.

So don't worry, I paid no heed to what everyone said about you..... I like you anyway.

"Something must've spooked 'em..."

Big Train is the new Monty Python. At least that's what I've heard.

Based on this clip, Jockeys, I think I'd like to see more.

Wiki nuthin'!

Surely you've heard of Wikipedia. But what about Uncyclopedia? It's the anti-Wikipedia, where baseless entries are encouraged, even respected. Their best feature is the random page option on the left side. If you need a good laugh, this is a great place to start.

Then there's Wookieepedia, where all knowledge about the Star Wars universe is kept.

100 things in 100 days - number 42

42. I'm afraid of heights.

And yet I love the view from high places. Yeah - I'm an enigma. Let's be clear though, my fear is not so overpowering that it would stop me from going up the CN Tower (at 1122 feet). The observation deck of the tower has a glass floor in spots (as seen in this picture). It's freaky.

So my fear is essentially limited to falling from a height I guess. Moving on.....

Are we there yet?

The latest NASA video trumpeting the coming return to the moon. It's like the worst movie trailer ever made. The music is far too dramatic to suit the mission.

Imagine watching a trailer like this for a movie that's due out in....................... 2018!

Bob & Doug special update

I've updated the original post about our inclusion in the subject special.

It's not good news........... but we now know when it will air.

100 things in 100 days - number 43

43. Best ice cream I ever had: peanut butter and vanilla at Seaside Heights NJ.

This ice cream was beyond special. It was a succulent vanilla ice cream with the smoothest, creamiest, thickest ribbon of peanut butter running through it ever. I mean this had the same consistency as peanut butter from a jar it was that smooth. I have never seen anything like it in 30 years.

Pity. I wonder if they still sell it there?

The boys are back.......

If you're a fan of the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap, you're going to love this. The guys are reuniting to support Live Earth.

Warning - this 15 minute video is currently only being hosted by MSN Video and you know what that means. Shitty performance. So be patient.

Dudes!

Star Dudes. It's Star Wars with a "Dudes" treatment.

Sad and hungry

One of my favourite places to escape to for a quality lunch has closed its doors, I'm guessing permanently. The Golden Acre Deli (5010 4 Street NW) was a favourite among many of my colleagues and probably saw us visit on average once a week.

They made great sandwiches on a variety of home-made breads. I always got either the egg salad on multi grain or the ham and cheese on their signature cheese bun. They also had home-made potato and pasta salads and one of my colleagues subsisted on their carrot cake.

Sadly, they've been closed since early April but they were supposed to re-open by the end of April. They have not. This sucks........

Always one of my faves...

Q. How many people with A.D.D. does it take to change a lightbulb?

A. Wanna play frisbee?

Is that legal?

If there was a contest for the best ping pong point ever scored......... methinks this would be a contender.

We're all about the car culture, right? So.........

Remember the drive-in restaurant? They used to be all the rage in the 60s and 70s. For those of you that never saw one, they're like a drive thru except that you park and they bring the food to your car on a tray that mounts on top of your door (with the window down). Stereotypically (at least in the US), it was girls in mini-skirts wearing roller skates. I remember going to one as a kid. The last one I ever saw was in Kingston Ontario in the early 80s, but it closed soon after I moved there if it wasn't closed already.

Has anyone seen a drive-in restaurant lately? Am I the only one who thinks the time is ripe for them to make a comeback?

100 things in 100 days - number 44

44. Born and raised in and around Montreal.

C'est vrai! Born in the Montreal district of St. Laurent, moved to Laval-des-Rapides when I was around 3 and finally out to the suburban community of Deux Montagnes (or Two Mountains as it was known back then). Growing up in a small town right outside was ideal. We had a beach, cheap real estate, lots of green space - heck we had freakin' woods man! My high school was small and friendly by most standards. Getting into downtown Montreal wasn't difficult. We lived at the end of a suburban train line, we had a few freeways and there were buses too. It just wasn't cheap.

Montreal. What a fun city it is. Awesome summer festivals. The underground city (access to over 1600 shops along 32 kilometres of tunnels) and fantastic subway (le Metro). European flair. Leading edge fashion. Great food (the smoked meat sandwiches and bagels are a religious experience). Legendary hockey. A mountain park in the center of the city with great views. A leading symphony Orchestra. The home of Cirque du Soleil. The Canadian Grand Prix and Formula One racing. The busiest commercial street in Canada (Sainte Catherine). Vieux-Montreal is like being in Europe.

Famous people to come from Montreal:

• Melissa Auf Der Maur, rock musician (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins)
• Leonard Cohen, poet and singer
• Elisha Cuthbert, actress
• Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, inventors of Trivial Pursuit
• Oscar Peterson, jazz pianist
• Mordecai Richler, writer
• William Shatner, Hollywood actor
• The Trudeau men
• Gino Vannelli, singer/songwriter
• Martha & Rufus Wainwright, singer/songwriter