Roundup

-Somebody please stop allowing Amy Winehouse to perform. She is a bad example for kids. I would rather have Tila Tequila teach the youth than Wino. Well at least don't let her perform at a celebration for Nelson Mandella .

-Hate Steven Carell, love The Office. Three more years.

-Good read on corporations we love and hate.

Virgin Music Festival 2008 - Calgary

Large gathering of people, open field, 2 stages, good times.

The 2 day event featured Stone Temple Pilots and The Tragically Hip as the headliners.

Sunday featured acts: Constantines, Stars, City & Colour, Matt Good, The New Pornographers, and others.

I can honestly say that The Hip put on an amazing show. Not to take anything away from the other performers but the atmosphere during their show was something I have never before experienced. People of all ages mixed together in a huge crowd singing and dancing (and crowd surfing). Everyone was very packed together, but still remained relatively pleasant.

Other highlights from the festival include:

- Bison Ribs & Smokies (the lean red meat) 8/10

- People dressed as bushes

- $7 Beers...(not even good beer, it was Canadian)

The fact that the Sunday line-up was All-Canadian made the event even more memorable.

Wave at... Herman Dune

Herman Dune - I wish that I could see you soon

Behind the scenes version

Are we really that different?

C: You're all fat, SUV driving, gun toting maniacs!

A: You live in igloos, eat fish blubber, copy everything we do and would be nothing without us!

Yes, the debate rages on as to which country is superior.

It's hard to miss these days, the internet allows anyone capable of typing the ability to voice their opinion anonymously.

We've all heard the overused and mostly fabricated stero-types about both nations.

It's funny though, in most facets of life Canada and U.S.A are pretty much identical.

There are minor differences in Government, Politics, customs and Laws, not to mention the US is about 10 times larger than Canada population wise.

You can find much larger regional differences state to state and province to province in both nations.

We both consume similar products, speak the same language (for the most part), and enjoy the same form of entertainment.

Still though, the little differences seem to drive us apart.

Go on any internet site where the debate is taking place and you'll see past/present events and issues are brought up as if the average Canadian/American has/had any control over that.

Yes, people of both nations have the right to vote for their leader and while Canadians love to bring up the fact that the majority of the earth dislikes George W. Bush and his war in Iraq, the truth is in a land of 300 Million People + your vote doesn't go very far.

I believe that is one of the main reasons so many people choose to forego voting, in both countries.

Getting off topic here, but basically what i'm trying to say is that i'm amused by the supposed incredible difference so many people have been so kind to point out between our neighbouring nations when we are so similar in various aspects.

You may have a different opinion, but really are we all that different?

Kid sues Dad, cements future as brat

Having been grounded a few times as a youngster, I don't think taking my dad to court ever crossed my mind.

A 12 year old Quebec girl has taken her dad to court for punishing her after she posted innappropriate pictures of herself on the internet (see Miley Cyrus). I don't know who I feel worse for, the dad who no longer has the power to discipline his kid or the Quebec tax payers, who had to fund such a farce ( and its subsequent appeal by the father).

Link

Wave at... Maplewood Lane

Maplewood Lane - The Colour and the Gold

A letter to Organic Food

Dear Organic Food,

I do not know if you are worth the trouble. Are you really that much better for me?

From what i've read it seems like you are better for the environment as compared to conventional farming, especially considering you don't use any pesticides.

I've also heard you tend to taste better, are more nutritious, and contain more anti-oxidants than normal produce.

You have become more readily available to the average consumer in the last while, or so I hear.

These things I have heard or read, the only thing that I do know for sure is that you are more expensive than normal food.

So, the cheap side of me ponders this question: Are you really worth the trouble?

It happens to me...

The internet has changed me.

With a click of a mouse, I can access information that was usually reserved for people educated in that field. I love it and I hate it. I can now easily access any type of information at any time of the day, but it has made me pass other peoples thoughts and ideas off as my I own. It has made me believe I am smarter than I actually am.

I am not a doctor, no matter how much webmd I read.
I am not a journalist, no matter how much I blog.
I am not a political commentator, no matter how much I read.
I am not an expert in business, no matter how much I "borrow" from other people's work.

I am no expert, knowledge is truly a dangerous thing.

Wave at... Joel Plaskett Emergency

Joel Plaskett Emergency - Fashionable People

Pick up the bottle

Back onto the bottle issue.

Remember a couple of years ago, when Nalgene bottles were "the shit"?

Well now after all the BPA/Polycarbonate hoop-la Nalgene is actually shit, being pulled from store shelves and having tons of dead stock.

Although the research is really inconclusive, it is enough to create a panic with the public. As easy as we were initially sucked into the hype that "Nalgene is cool", we are now just as easily swayed by the reports that "Nalgene is unsafe".

We can look to Dr. Suzuki for some advice on this issue. He mentioned bottled water is very bad for the environment, and more than likely contains BPA and shouldn't be re-used.

Looking into alternatives, I found that stainless steel and BPA free lighter/softer plastics were the most popular options.

Most people really liked their Nalgene bottles, they were durable, didn't taste of anything and were well made. Proper research of Polycarbonates before their introduction could have really helped consumers out, but would that have been the best business decision?

Radio 3

As Canadians, we sometimes have a tendency to under appreciate the many wonderful institutions we have in this country. One of my current favorites is CBC Radio 3. Check it out, it highlights so many great Canadian artist.

http://radio3.cbc.ca/

Wave at... Laura Veirs

Laura Veirs - Don't Lose Yourself

It happens to me... Drunk Stumble

You know that guy.

The one who can't walk straight after a few too many.

You've either been him, seen him or dated him.

He's going somewhere, that's obvious.

Whether or not he knows where he's going is the real question.

This brings me to question whether drunk stumbling is really any safer than drunk driving?

Don't get me wrong I am completely against drunk driving, but couldn't a drunk stumbler idly stroll into the middle of an intersection and cause a 4 car pile up, or worse?

It's possible, and until drunk stumbling is prosecuted to the same extent as drunk driving I will never feel safe on the road.

People have told me that when you are so drunk that you can no longer walk straight, you still have some underlying functions working in your brain/body.

You know to walk on the sidewalk (normally).

You know to inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.

You know to avoid objects/people in your path.

So why aren't you able to walk in a straight line?

Is it your eyesight, balance, or motor functions?

Sure I could look it up online, but i'd rather come to my own conclusions.

I think the small amount of brain power/energy that you have left is being used to make sure you remain alive by breathing, and helping with body temperature. Therefore you aren't able to correctly balance yourself, or see straight and begin to stumble.

Basically, drunk stumblers need our help. If you see someone drunk stumbling help them get to a bus shelter or under a tree and sleep it off.

Thanks for reading.

Wave at... Smoosh

Smoosh - Find a way

It happens to me... Open your eyes

You come home from a rigorous physical workout and decide what better than some carbs to appease your unforgiving stomach.

Sauce added to spaghetti, set to high for a minute and... beep... beep... beep

Open the door, remove the bowl, and... smash!

I wouldn't be angry if you said you were upset.

Not only do you break the bowl and ruin perfectly good food, but you also dump half of the fairly hot pasta + sauce on your foot.

Nice going pickle dick.

It's one of those frustrating situations where you wish you could have taken that extra second of precaution or preparation to ensure success.

Patience is an important virtue, it's also a difficult virtue to control/master.

I'm sure this kind of thing happens to everyone, but it's always funnier when it happens to someone famous, like Michael Scott burning his foot on the George Foreman grill (Office reference for those newbies).

"I like to wake up to the smell of bacon".

Wave at... the Submarines

The Submarines - You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie

Drop the bottle

"Imagine a water bottle filled a quarter of the way up with oil. That's about how much oil was needed to produce the bottle."
-David Suzuki

LINK

Think about it.