Archive for the ‘Misc. Stuff’ Category

Chatty Chatty Bang Bang

cellphone I have long had the dream that if I won the lottery, one of the many shenanigans I would pull would be to buy a cell phone blocker. I’d love to deploy that thing at work when some lazy coworkers decide that texting is more important than working. I am not sure of the legality of this in Canada, but I presume it is likely frowned upon as it is in the USA.

I loved the ending to the following article outlining the consequences of having a cell phone jammer, and some proposed consequences for being a cell phone jerk.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/texas-beauty-schools-cell-phone-jammer-leads-to-25k-fine.ars

My favourite part:

“Ironically, in both Texas and Florida it is legal to openly carry firearms into a Starbucks, say. But not a phone jammer. So when the cell phone at the next table erupts into The William Tell Overture and its owner bellows, “HELLO? HEY! YEAH, IN A STARBUCKS! IT’S RAINING HERE! SO WHERE’RE YOU?” pulling out the jammer is not an option. It’s the firearm or nothing. This may not be good public policy.”

Then again, maybe it IS good public policy?

Happy Canada Day!

canadianflag

Conundrum solved

penguinslogo In my previous post I outlined why I root for the team that beat my team. This year I had a hockey conundrum in that there might be a scenario in the Stanley Cup Finals that this team, the Chicago Blackhawks, might go up against my alternate favourite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. I also cheer for the Steelers, somewhat arbitrarily at this point I guess, maybe there is something about Pittsburgh, I don’t know. At any rate, the Blackhawks quickly were decimated by the evil Detroit Redwings and that part of this was over.

So it all came down to Pittsburgh or yet again I’d have another NHL playoffs with nothing to show for it but disappointment. Then Pittsburgh decided to lose the first two games of the best of 7. 0-2 in a series does not look good.

From there on though, it was all good. A very nice game 7 win by the Penguins over the dastardly Wings and I am able to say that at least one of the teams I root for did very well this year. If only it had been the Canucks. 🙁 At least they can probably beat the Penguins on the golf course at this point.

A Hockey Conundrum

canuckslogo My Canucks are out of the playoffs. Again. Actually, a minor miracle that they even made it this year, with expectations at the beginning being rather lackluster. However, they had a great year, and made it the 2nd round of the playoffs. Won their division. Had their first 4 game sweep in a best of 7 series. Now they are golfing. Sad.

So what now? I often root for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I don’t know why, but this is only after there are few teams left, then I will go for the flightless birds. Always liked Lemieux, and now we have Crosby. However, this might potentially lead me to my hockey conundrum of this years’ playoffs. I generally want to see the team that beat my team, in this case the Chicago Blackhawks, do well. Why? Why would I not seek revenge for the playoff death of my most favored team? Well, which would you rather have… the team that beat your team embarrassed and sacked from the next round, or have them win the whole thing? Who would you rather have had beat your team? A team that tanks soon after or the team that proves they really were quite good and wins the whole thing? Thus, I find myself wishing the Blackhawks well. For now.

What we do have now is the potential for the Blackhawks and the Penguins to meet in the Stanley Cup final. There is the conundrum. Root for the Penguins or the team that beat my team. I have yet to determine which is stronger. Regardless, if that scenario does appear, I can happily dance on the graves of the ill deserving Carolina Hurricanes (its not called an end zone Carolina fans!). Detroit, always strong, well, time to let someone else have it eh?

No, not the brand of flour

I saw a license plate the other day in North Vancouver that read: URPOOR
It was on a Maserati.

In the dirt next to the plate someone had written: Robin Hood knows where you live.

I liked that.

Canadian Coin ESPIONAGE!!!

Im a bit late to the spy party… but WOW. Just wow.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270413,00.html

Happy New Year

Photographer Kyle Cassidy posted this on his blog and invited others to do the same. I thought it was well worth it – Auld Lang Syne on a SAW? The singing makes it worth it though. Recorded on a Fisher Price Pixelvision toy video camera no less.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvGkT_Gi7D8&e

Oh and Happy New Year

Why can't we have ads this bad here?

Impressive. When I am in power some people may not be allowed to breed…

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/lists/bad-local-tv-ads-121209

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

– John McCrae (1915)

Windows XP, the musical

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsU3B0W3TMs&feature=player_embedded