Darlene and I went to see Annie Lennox and Sting in concert last night. It was the Annie part of the show I was looking forward to the most - she was great. She actually got back on stage during Sting's bit and helped him out with 'We'll be together'. It was her very first time to Calgary and I think the crowd gave her a warm welcome. I hope she comes back and gives us a show where she is the headliner.
No monthly fees, no equipment to install
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Monday, October 11, 2004
Out with the old....
Darlene and I were a little later than we wanted buying our first house. It was mostly our own fault. We never imagined we could afford a house of our own while I was in the military and moving around. But since 1998, we've had our little piece of paradise and it is only becoming clear to me now what that commitment entails. It boils down to this: Nothing that originally belonged to the house can stay. Our mission (as it turns out) is to replace everything that came with the house. Every piece, every colour, every accessory - the whole enchilada.
It started innocently enough. The previous owners left us with no washer, dryer, stove or fridge and a crappy dishwasher. Done, done, done, done and done. All new stuff. Next (and I know I'm forgetting stuff - it's not my plan) was painting the walls in our master bedroom (it was horrid), then the guest bedroom and the den. The hot water heater was the next thing to go (too small and not functioning well). Sink and taps in the kitchen (stainless steel out - black ceramic and brushed aluminum in). All drawer and cupboard handles. Repaint the walls in the hallway, the reading room (it's really a dining room, but we've transformed it into a room suitable for lounging, what with all the windows and skylight). Now the main bathroom is getting a paint job, new toilet, new lino and towelbars, with new lighting coming any time now.
Will it ever end? Probably not until every original feature of the house is gone. I've already had a glance at pictures of the house we moved into back in 1998 and this is not that house. You have been warned - this will happen to you too. Right now, Darlene's standing in the doorway of the workshop looking very intently at something.......oh jeez! Gotta run!
It started innocently enough. The previous owners left us with no washer, dryer, stove or fridge and a crappy dishwasher. Done, done, done, done and done. All new stuff. Next (and I know I'm forgetting stuff - it's not my plan) was painting the walls in our master bedroom (it was horrid), then the guest bedroom and the den. The hot water heater was the next thing to go (too small and not functioning well). Sink and taps in the kitchen (stainless steel out - black ceramic and brushed aluminum in). All drawer and cupboard handles. Repaint the walls in the hallway, the reading room (it's really a dining room, but we've transformed it into a room suitable for lounging, what with all the windows and skylight). Now the main bathroom is getting a paint job, new toilet, new lino and towelbars, with new lighting coming any time now.
Will it ever end? Probably not until every original feature of the house is gone. I've already had a glance at pictures of the house we moved into back in 1998 and this is not that house. You have been warned - this will happen to you too. Right now, Darlene's standing in the doorway of the workshop looking very intently at something.......oh jeez! Gotta run!
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Shake your head
You know what really gets my goat? I live in a neighbourhood that complains about drivers short-cutting through it to get to the area north of us (which has a big mall, etc.). Meanwhile, the main road you would take to go to this same area north of us has a small impediment - to turn onto it, you have to fight oncoming traffic due to the lack of a left turn signal at this major intersection. During afternoon rush-hour, this traffic is practically non-stop.
The City's answer? Their studies have shown that not many people turn at that intersection, so a left turn signal is not needed. Of course not many people turn at that intersection dopey - they all drive through our neighbourhood! Ever heard of the old "path of least resistance" rule?
The City's answer? Their studies have shown that not many people turn at that intersection, so a left turn signal is not needed. Of course not many people turn at that intersection dopey - they all drive through our neighbourhood! Ever heard of the old "path of least resistance" rule?
Holy crime stats Batman!
Here's something to consider:
Number of murders in the US (1999) - 12,658
Number of murders in Canada (2000) - 489
Number of murders in Chicago (2003) - 599
Number of murders in Toronto (2003) - 65
(inspired by Bacon and Eh's)
Number of murders in the US (1999) - 12,658
Number of murders in Canada (2000) - 489
Number of murders in Chicago (2003) - 599
Number of murders in Toronto (2003) - 65
(inspired by Bacon and Eh's)
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Wish you were here...
Remember the Beatles' "When I'm 64"? Well, if John were still alive, he would be 64 today.
We miss you John...
We miss you John...
Friday, October 08, 2004
I'm out of the closet
I'm a Liberal. That's right - and I live in Calgary Alberta. Horror of horrors! Now, I have to admit, I was not born and raised here. In fact I grew up as a minority in my own province - I am a Quebec-bred Anglophone. That may help you to understand why I am a Liberal. Unlike many of my Anglophone brethren, I did not run to Ontario or Alberta in a panic in the late 70's when the Parti Quebecois came into power. I ended up in Alberta courtesy of your Department of National Defense, sent in as a spy from Eastern Canada. But seriously, I love it out here save for the day long drive to get anywhere by car. Spare me that Edmonton is only 3 hours away - it's really not worth the drive (sorry Edmonton).
But back to my original topic. I'm a Liberal and I'm proud of it. My minority government in Ottawa needs all the support it can get in the coming days, weeks, months - whatever. And I'm not alone. There's another blog "from the mind of one of the few Liberals in Calgary who haven't been hunted down and driven out of town yet". I feel your pain and you are not alone.
But back to my original topic. I'm a Liberal and I'm proud of it. My minority government in Ottawa needs all the support it can get in the coming days, weeks, months - whatever. And I'm not alone. There's another blog "from the mind of one of the few Liberals in Calgary who haven't been hunted down and driven out of town yet". I feel your pain and you are not alone.
Top 20 weird celebrity kid names
1. Moon Unit (Frank and Gail Zappa)
2. Fifi Trixibelle (Paula Yates and Bob Geldof)
3. Satchel (Mia Farrow and Woody Allen)
4. Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin)
5. Daisy Boo (Julia and Jamie Oliver)
6. Rumer (Demi Moore and Bruce Willis)
7. Peaches (Paula Yates and Bob Geldof)
8. River (Arlyn and John Phoenix)
9. Rocco (Madonna and Guy Ritchie)
10. Nell Marmalade (Helen Baxendale and David Eliot)
11. Maddox (adopted by Angelina Jolie)
12. Tiger Lily Heavenly Hirani (Paula Yates and Michael Hutchence)
13. Dweezil (Frank/Gail Zappa)
14. Brooklyn (Victoria/David Beckham)
15. Eugenie (Sarah Ferguson/Prince Andrew)
16. Zowie (Angie and David Bowie)
17. Rolan (Gloria Jones and Marc Bolan)
18. Phoenix Chi (Mel C and Jimmy Gulzar)
19. Coco (Courtney Cox and David Arquette)
20. Romeo (Victoria and David Beckham)
2. Fifi Trixibelle (Paula Yates and Bob Geldof)
3. Satchel (Mia Farrow and Woody Allen)
4. Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin)
5. Daisy Boo (Julia and Jamie Oliver)
6. Rumer (Demi Moore and Bruce Willis)
7. Peaches (Paula Yates and Bob Geldof)
8. River (Arlyn and John Phoenix)
9. Rocco (Madonna and Guy Ritchie)
10. Nell Marmalade (Helen Baxendale and David Eliot)
11. Maddox (adopted by Angelina Jolie)
12. Tiger Lily Heavenly Hirani (Paula Yates and Michael Hutchence)
13. Dweezil (Frank/Gail Zappa)
14. Brooklyn (Victoria/David Beckham)
15. Eugenie (Sarah Ferguson/Prince Andrew)
16. Zowie (Angie and David Bowie)
17. Rolan (Gloria Jones and Marc Bolan)
18. Phoenix Chi (Mel C and Jimmy Gulzar)
19. Coco (Courtney Cox and David Arquette)
20. Romeo (Victoria and David Beckham)
Don't believe everything you read
Well, it's everywhere. On big-ass posters at work, on the news, commercials - you just can't get away from it. "Flu season is coming!"
Only if you want it to my friends........only if you want it to......
Only if you want it to my friends........only if you want it to......
I see your spam and raise you 3 hurricanes..
Apparently, spam traffic eased off significantly on the days of and immediately following the last 3 hurricanes, when they hit Florida. [church lady voice]Hmmmmm.........is God angry with the naughty spammers?
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Out of the mouths of babes
How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
They are yelling at the same kids - Derrick, age 8
They are yelling at the same kids - Derrick, age 8
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Thank heaven for 7-11
One of the numerous things I'm thankful for:
The free flavoured creamers for your coffee at 7-11.
The free flavoured creamers for your coffee at 7-11.
Get a clue Dick
Here's what happens when you refer to a resource you don't understand:
During the debate, Vice President Cheney urged viewers to go to "factcheck.com," which he claimed would back up some of his assertions. But he meant "factcheck.org". Factcheck.com is a totally different site and the owners have made it so if you visit it, you'll be forwarded to George Soros website, which is highly critical of the Bush administration. To make matters worse, Fox News made the same mis-quote in one of their articles. No wait - it gets better. The owner of "factcheck.info" offers:
I own the domain factcheck.info, for reasons I can't remember. I don't have time to do anything with it, or any ideas really. But if you do, and your idea is malicious, contact me and I'll give the factcheck.info domain to you.
Lesson: All those web address thingies don't all end in dot com.
During the debate, Vice President Cheney urged viewers to go to "factcheck.com," which he claimed would back up some of his assertions. But he meant "factcheck.org". Factcheck.com is a totally different site and the owners have made it so if you visit it, you'll be forwarded to George Soros website, which is highly critical of the Bush administration. To make matters worse, Fox News made the same mis-quote in one of their articles. No wait - it gets better. The owner of "factcheck.info" offers:
I own the domain factcheck.info, for reasons I can't remember. I don't have time to do anything with it, or any ideas really. But if you do, and your idea is malicious, contact me and I'll give the factcheck.info domain to you.
Lesson: All those web address thingies don't all end in dot com.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
So many ways to use AMA
I guess we really got a good deal on those British subs, eh?
"AMA? We need a tow about 370 klicks off the coast of Scotland.........yeah, that's right - well, it's a sub actually...........yeah, that's right........HMCS Chicoutimi.............yes, I'll hold........."
Update:
Since this post was written, a sailor from the HMCS Chicoutimi has passed away. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends.
"AMA? We need a tow about 370 klicks off the coast of Scotland.........yeah, that's right - well, it's a sub actually...........yeah, that's right........HMCS Chicoutimi.............yes, I'll hold........."
Update:
Since this post was written, a sailor from the HMCS Chicoutimi has passed away. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends.
Puppet sex gets NC-17 rating
The boys behind South Park are at it again. "Team America: World Police" is the latest from Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The MPAA wants to slap an NC-17 rating because of a puppet sex scene in the movie. By the way, the puppets have no genitalia. I predict this movie will separate a lot of young men from their money.......just a hunch.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Well blow me down!
The gauntlet's been thrown. Quebec just announced they are building 8 wind farms by 2012 that will produce 1000 megawatts of electricity, versus Alberta's current paltry 201 megawatts. Are we gonna take that Ralph? We've got some of the windiest spots in the country! Come on dude, let's build wind farms capable of 2000 megawatts! Then we could sell more natural gas to those greedy Americans...
Incredibly, Quebec's future 1000 megawatt farm will still only contribute 3% to the province's needs. Denmark gets 16% of its power from wind, Germany 6%.
Incredibly, Quebec's future 1000 megawatt farm will still only contribute 3% to the province's needs. Denmark gets 16% of its power from wind, Germany 6%.
As decided by whom exactly?
I just stumbled across the Rolling Stone Magazine's top 500 albums of all time list. They put Dark Side of the Moon at #43. I guess there's just no accounting for taste. Wish You Were Here was #209. That's just dumb. The Sun Sessions (Elvis Presley) was #11. Who are you kidding?
I just remembered why I don't read Rolling Stone anymore....
I just remembered why I don't read Rolling Stone anymore....
Something I'd appreciate
It's times like this that I wish I could get to Toronto fast and cheap. There's an outfit called 'Classic Albums Live' that gather some of the best singers and musicians and perform classic rock albums live - cut for cut, note for note. Apparently, they're quite good. I would love to see them do Dark Side of the Moon...
Thanks to Jeff for telling me about this.
Thanks to Jeff for telling me about this.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
200 things to do
Yeah, it's another list. I've bolded the things I've actually done.
01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree(an old growth tree no less)
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped(never gonna happen)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise(on top of Mount Royal!)
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg(less than 500km from the North Pole)
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby’s diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states (or all 10 provinces)
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan (but I want to dammit!)
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it.
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog (this could never happen - there's no secrets here)
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight (how about never?)
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have (no such thing IMO)
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage (Karaoke - so sue me)
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music (does singing count? then yes)
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your political representative
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. …more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane (only on my PC)
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone’s heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle (3 of 'em)
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (rocket launcher and machine gun too)
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than states or provinces
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor(for our own test tube baby attempt)
170. Eaten sushi(and will never again)
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them (Army mess hall actually)
183. …and gotten 86′ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions.
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested
01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree(an old growth tree no less)
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped(never gonna happen)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise(on top of Mount Royal!)
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg(less than 500km from the North Pole)
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby’s diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states (or all 10 provinces)
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan (but I want to dammit!)
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it.
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog (this could never happen - there's no secrets here)
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight (how about never?)
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have (no such thing IMO)
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage (Karaoke - so sue me)
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music (does singing count? then yes)
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your political representative
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. …more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane (only on my PC)
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone’s heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle (3 of 'em)
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (rocket launcher and machine gun too)
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than states or provinces
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor(for our own test tube baby attempt)
170. Eaten sushi(and will never again)
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them (Army mess hall actually)
183. …and gotten 86′ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions.
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested
Long distance love affair
Message to the owner(s) of Romano's Macaroni Grill:
Open a restaurant in Calgary for crying out loud! These trips to the US just to eat at one are getting a bit much...
Open a restaurant in Calgary for crying out loud! These trips to the US just to eat at one are getting a bit much...
Message to Bronco Dave
Dave Bronconnier, our illustrious mayor seems to be going into this next municipal election unopposed by any high-profile challengers. So many have come to the conclusion that he will win again. Well, Dave - here's a wish list of things I'd like to see accomplished soon:
1. Let's get the rest of this ring road underway, huh? Maybe before the non-existent 'urban sprawl' extends past the ring road's proposed location? Oh too late...
2. Why did the LRT extension in the northwest stop at Dalhousie? How about we push it all the way out to Crowfoot and beyond. But let's do it now, rather than 20 years down the road.
3. Speaking of LRT extensions, what about our residents in the Northeast? They must be steamed by now - no extension in sight and no immediate plans to put the line anywhere near the airport. How short-sighted is that?
4. If you haven't figured it out by now, you are wasting large amounts of tax dollars paving the major arteries (like the Trans Canada Highway) with asphalt instead of concrete. The ruts that have formed on some of these streets from all the truck traffic is almost enough to prevent me from changing lanes...
5. I think it's time to consider a bold new direction for LRT traffic in the downtown core - up. After all, one of the major stumbling blocks to increasing the frequency and length of trains through the network is the bottleneck of the downtown core. Why LRT doesn't get priority over vehicle traffic is beyond me. But the obvious solution is to elevate the lines to the Plus 15 level. Oh my god! What a concept, eh? Put the stations at the same level as the walkways that connect most of the downtown buildings together! No more interference by traffic, so now you can add more trains.
Geez, I'm in the wrong frickin' job...
1. Let's get the rest of this ring road underway, huh? Maybe before the non-existent 'urban sprawl' extends past the ring road's proposed location? Oh too late...
2. Why did the LRT extension in the northwest stop at Dalhousie? How about we push it all the way out to Crowfoot and beyond. But let's do it now, rather than 20 years down the road.
3. Speaking of LRT extensions, what about our residents in the Northeast? They must be steamed by now - no extension in sight and no immediate plans to put the line anywhere near the airport. How short-sighted is that?
4. If you haven't figured it out by now, you are wasting large amounts of tax dollars paving the major arteries (like the Trans Canada Highway) with asphalt instead of concrete. The ruts that have formed on some of these streets from all the truck traffic is almost enough to prevent me from changing lanes...
5. I think it's time to consider a bold new direction for LRT traffic in the downtown core - up. After all, one of the major stumbling blocks to increasing the frequency and length of trains through the network is the bottleneck of the downtown core. Why LRT doesn't get priority over vehicle traffic is beyond me. But the obvious solution is to elevate the lines to the Plus 15 level. Oh my god! What a concept, eh? Put the stations at the same level as the walkways that connect most of the downtown buildings together! No more interference by traffic, so now you can add more trains.
Geez, I'm in the wrong frickin' job...
Calgary is sprawl-free
I know this is old news, but I was just reflecting on some of our urban issues and recalled a city official claiming that Calgary was not suffering from urban sprawl.
OK, here are the facts: Calgary's population density (number of residents per square kilometre) in 2001 was 187 - that's 951,396 people living in 5083 sq km. In comparison, Toronto's density is 793 - 4.7 million living in 5900 sq km. Montreal's is 847 - 3.4 million living in 4000 sq km. In a list of 30 Metropolitan areas in Canada, we ranked 5th in population and 14th in population density. But we don't have urban sprawl...
OK, here are the facts: Calgary's population density (number of residents per square kilometre) in 2001 was 187 - that's 951,396 people living in 5083 sq km. In comparison, Toronto's density is 793 - 4.7 million living in 5900 sq km. Montreal's is 847 - 3.4 million living in 4000 sq km. In a list of 30 Metropolitan areas in Canada, we ranked 5th in population and 14th in population density. But we don't have urban sprawl...
Friday, October 01, 2004
Strangerhood!
If you've heard of red vs. blue, then you already know what machinima is. If you don't know what machinima is, it's a method of animation where people make short length films using videogame engines for the animation instead of drawing by hand or using traditional computer animation.
Well, you can only do so much with the Halo game engine. So thankfully, these people decided to give The Sims 2 a try as the basis for a new set of animations, called Strangerhood. If the preview is any indication, this is going to be very entertaining...
Fooled ya!
Some families like to play practical jokes amongst themselves, but especially on non-family members, or those newly integrated into the family - like brothers or sisters-in-law. Well, Darlene's family is no different and they have a rather clever way to have some fun at the newcomer's or visitor's expense. Darlene's brothers and sister are particularly skilled at using their imaginations to concoct quite amazing stories. These stories sound rather implausible at first, but seem to become validated by the fact that each family member chimes in with their own piece of the story. In the end, you're left wondering how the story can possibly be true. In time you find out it isn't true at all. But you are left puzzled at how everyone present seemed to know details of the story enough to contribute a part of it. As it turns out, they just used their imaginations. So how did they know the story being delivered by the first family member was just that - a story? Did they rehearse? No - the trick is in the family secret word. Darlene's family all have an agreed-upon secret word that instantly identifies that the story being told is a tall tale. In this case the word is blanket (it's not really, but if I told you the real word, I wouldn't be able to fool you with any of my own fake stories). The trick is to start the story and try to fit the secret word into the tale early on, so as to signal the others that you're just playing a game for the amazement of the uninitiated. Once the family members have heard the secret word, they are now clued into the fact and can begin to craft their own contribution to the story when their opportunity arises. It's fun for the people who are in on it - and quite baffling for others. Darlene's family have crafted some amazing stories over the years and had most people convinced the events really happened.
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