I had the game for 3 hours and I ruined It

of course steph helped.

How are you supposed to post without a photo?

So welcome to the land of Another birthday. Im not old, the gypsy's mistress is old. I am beautiful. There should be a tradition. When ever a young man reaches an age where he is alone in his existance save for those he finds essential, his birthday should be marked thusly:
1- His best friend should show up and not ask a single question during the festivities. (Check)
2- His love should offer him everthing he need in was of indulgences of a nonesexual nature (check)
3- His grandmother should knit him mittens. (check)
4- He should have a pint, and probably some bourbon (check)
5- Yegway should call and claim he is not nailing some arbitrary young lady named at random (check)

e.g.


Thus has been my birthday, and it wasn't what I expected but it has been by far the most satifying acknowledgement I could ever imagine.

Mc

My Inexcusable Absence

As I read what seems like the nth case of people that for some strange reason drifted together and then tore each other apart. People clearly not destined to be together but who still gave it the college try. I am depressed to miss my friend's aluminum anniversary. I have no one to blame but myself for this atrocious error in Friendship but here is my excuse. I am a procrastinator. This is usually only a problem. In that the week before exams I'm really stressed as I learn an entire course load of materials in a matter of days. All well and good generally if you can stand the late nights, the thousands of pages and the taste of over-caffeinated beverages. Unfortunately, my habit always arises around the end of November and start of December and Mid-April. The problem you see with the Mid-April cram session is that it coincides with Easter and my mother's birthday. I am usually okay with just calling my mother and wishing her well and saying I won't be home for Easter. So one crisis averted. The Novdec however is a problem as two of my best friends chose rather inconveniently to be born during exam / study time. Now, I cannot really blame them for the consequences of their birth. I mean an argument could be made for being premature or late but this is tenuous at best. I had always been able to celebrate their birthdays in the past because high school did not require much studying and then I could always take a day off at home to wish them well. More recently I had a distance argument. To travel to the Soo from London via Greyhound is a truly gruelling trek. If you intend to make it you will need noise cancelling headphones a new 14 hour playlist (pack batteries as required), money for the minimum four food stops, roughly 175 dollars, infiinite patience for the guy passed out on your shoulder, a flask of alcohol just in case the situation deteriorates any further, a mild head cold to avoid smelling the air, and a moderate sense of when things are going south on the bus. After I had laid out that I would love to come see my friends and that I would never use school as a reason to not enjoy the pleasure of their company I would state the greyhound defence. Until this year, this was very effective and then an odd thing happened. McKelvie you see had big city dreams, he needed the bright lights and he moved to Toronto. Now, the Toronto to London trip by any means of transportation in any weather is at most 3 hours. It is usually 2 and it is thankfully, usually express. I really have no excuse not to go to Toronto to visit him at this point. I have in fact been to visit a certain doctor candidate already this year.
So as his birthday approaches McKelvie mentions that AndyMac and Paco are also coming up to celebrate and it happens to be our 10th year of being a group of friends and wouldn't I love to come. Now, here's the sticky thing I said no. It was totally unjustifiable! School will always be here I suppose no matter how much your tuition is but memories with all your friends become more fleeting as the years go on. So I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely appologize for my absence and as an act of contrition when I return home to Sault Ste. Marie the first round is on me. I am also open to negotiations on Christmas Presents (bribery) for my horrendous actions.

Sidenote: The only other defence I could think of was that our exchange student from New Zealand pointed out that they do not have school over November and December...and therefore it is an instiutionalized problem with the Canadian School System that is really to blame.

Yours very truly,

Yegway

Dial Z

It is no surprise that I am a big fan of video games, even less of a surprise that zombies are near my favourite video game fodder. The list would go,

1.) Nazis

2.) Zombies

3.) Commies

4.) Aliens

5.) Terrorists

So when I started seeing commercials for Left 4 Dead, I knew I was going to enjoy the game no matter the story or lame character back stories. Shortly before the games release the trailers showed a 4 person squad pitted against a zombie hoard to a tune by Elbow, (Grounds for Divorce if you want to download.) I must've watched that commercial about a hundred times, in fact I'm listening to it right now, to keep it fresh in my mind as I write.

Zombies: Check

4 Player Co-Op: Check

Apocalypse: Check

Its the Zombie Apocalypse. Bring Friends.

When I finally got to play this game. Giddy for a holiday game that delivered (I was still regretting my Gears 2 purchase... Actually I still am) I was so happy with the result. The crappy back stories... gone!

Bill - Grizzled Nam Vet

Francis - Biker

Louis - African American, suit type

Zoey - Beautiful girl obsessed with healing team mates and a deadly accurate shot with the hunting rifle

The use of stock characters doesn't hurt the game play in any way. The premise behind their interactions was already established in movies that any fan of the genre knows. The game itself is divided into 4 sections which are basically movies complete with cheesy horror genre tag lines.

No Mercy.

Death Toll.

Dead Air.

Blood Harvest.

In one of my favourite moments in the game, the finale of Blood Harvest takes place in a house that almost mirrors the farmhouse from Night of the Living Dead. I felt that I knew where everything was and what I should be reinforcing for the coming hoards. It shows an attention to detail that only Valve could offer. The co op game play is superb, the AI stand ins are intelligent but won't steal all the kills. This may be one of my favourite games for 360 this year, and most certainly the best game using co operative play to it's true potential.

4 Thumbs out of 3

Who would win in a fight?

If he passes his post fight drug test, fine. If he is naturally the size of 2 regular men, fine. But to count Lesnar within the same weight class as Randy Couture is far and beyond the most insane thing I have ever heard. The UFC has, since it's rebranding, refers to itself as a pioneer of true organized Mixed Martial Arts. The organization faced it's first fully public oversight on Saturday November 15. Randy Couture came into the heavyweight championship fight a suspected 65 pounds lighter than Lesnar. Every division has a very tight weight range. but past heavyweight there is nothing... There should be a new class, an unlimited or superheavyweight. Because "dump truck" here should not be fighting in the same ring as Couture. (I was wondering if Lesnar had a nickname like the rest, I couldn't find one, so he's now Brock "Dump Truck" Lesnar)

It all reminds me way too much of Kimbo, and I am not seeing the same kind of outlashing from fans. Elite XC's decision to put a money maker to the top of the pile because of other organization celebrity over the sport's legitimate contenders was scorned across the sports world. Those matches were called a farce, and just above a circus sideshow. There are legitimate fighters who may now never have the chance to test themselves against the legend Couture because, as joe rogan called him "This barely human freak" has just become the belt holding champion of the UFC heavyweight division.

The purpose of division in the sport originally was to bring credibility. As long as a wrestler-turned-wrestling actor(wwe)-turned-heavyweight holds the belt the Heavyweight bouts within the UFC will be nothing but a money making farce.

Thank you Dana for kicking the UFC back 10 years.

Jackals in Wolf's Clothing

Near record highs in temperature brought me out to something I'd never thought I would attend, a college tuition fee rally. anyone who has read my september post And Here Come the Pretzels would know my general position on the subject. I was just overjoyed at the response that a University the size of Algoma would have a turn out like they did. However I'm not entirely sure I was banking on the police arresting someone for just walking on the road. Just a couple of pigs, Sault Ste. Marie's Police force is known for their corruption and "big bully" attitude. (one is currently on suspension for a suspected link to a cocaine bust in the city) Enjoy these handfull of shots from the afternoon. What better way to spend a warm day than outside.

Yes they DID!

I am simply pleased at this point. Another day I will dissect to the point of nausea, now it is too late in the evening, I'm going to watch Obama's speech and hit the hay.

God, does that make me some kind of nerd?

Canadian Election night I didn't pack it in until everything was decided, I'm sure this blog will get a post as soon as the yanks are done voting too. That makes me a political nerd of some kind doesn't it?!

Remember MAC 2012

something good

"Thank you mario but our princess is in another castle" by the mountain goats off their most recent EP is I would dare say the greatest homage to fungal midgets ever

so give it a listen already... come on do it... It has a glockenspiel

Fearmongers, and Loathing them in Sault Ste. Marie

It just wasn't the same. Year after year I have loved Halloween. I remember going trick or treating with my sister when she was still in a stroller. I remember the first year I was allowed to go without my parents. Hell I'm pretty sure I remember some years going out alone. (at least until I found some friends) The past several years, while still dressing up, I have positioned myself as candy-giver-outer. While my multi hyphened title offered me some fun, handing out candy to the wee fries and those teen girls who dress in their brother's St Mary's football jerseys. This past year I was disappointed.

My house, which used to get upwards of 60 kids has faded from its former glory. This past Halloween we only got 17 children, only 5 of which were of true "trick or treating age" The rest were highschool kids, the ones I used to hate. But now they are the last ones really keeping the spirit of Halloween alive. Getting scared to death running through the dark and spooky areas near my house hoping for some candy and maybe to steal a pumpkin. While I never stole a pumpkin, I always tried to spook myself out, one year we even cut through the scary park in the Flatmate's neighbourhood.

While I love to think about the past and get all nostalgic I cant help but draw conclusions concerning the very low number of kids. It all goes back to what has been happening at St. Patrick's elementary school. My cousin, in grade 7, has gone there since he was small, in the last several years the PTA or whoever has been restricting the games that can be played at recess. I asked him what they do at recess and he said, "Well, we can't play tag, we can't play baseball, we can't play soccer, we can't play foot--"

"Wait what?! why not?" He explained to me that they are dangerous sports and to watch out for safety they can't let us run around and do stuff. "So, what do you guys do?"

"I don't know, walk around..." These Gen Xer's children are getting the short end of the stick. We played tackle football in our schoolyard and only once did anyone ever get hurt. And this was only just over a decade ago. Of course I'm going to sound like a monster if I come out and say that a spanking now and again keeps a kid in line better than "time out". Violent crime committed by children is on the rise, no doubt partially due to improper child raising behaviour.

I think Royal Tannenbaum said it best when he exclaimed "You keep those kids cooped up -- you've gotta breed some recklessness into them!" I'm not recommending beating your children or not caring where they are or what they are doing, but parents should let them go out on Halloween, I can almost guarantee that the world isn't nearly as bad as CNN leads you to believe. Let kids be kids. I can only hope that the baby boomer's grandchildren can breathe new life into a holiday so cherished by the boomers and their children.

A Very Low QualityTeaser

Fox Cancels King of the Hill

I could not believe this when I heard it. Its too tragic to save for a long post. I just couldn't fathom what I was reading on yahoo tonight... King of the Hill was still on the air to begin with?! How many episodes can a series sustain on a father disappointed in his wimpy overweight son? Too bad, now that its canceled it will be picked up by TV Tropolis and will air more per week than it currently does in an entire season. Remember when Sitoons used to be funny?

The concerns

Things that do concern me at the moment. (A list)
1- My inability to fall asleep in this building. I hate to admit this but the only thing that is marginally working is yoga, and I fail to take it seriously enough for it to work well.
2-The re-0ccuring dream I have been having when I do fall asleep. I do love my femme dearly but that doesn't keep the strangers from asking me if I remember when we won the "best kiss" award and my dream-self knows that these strangers and I have never kissed, yet part of me remembers exactly what it was like.
3- Headphones. I need a new pair of winter ear coverers. (no longer a concern see below)
4-My broken lens, stupid nikon.
5- that I gained 8lbs in 8 days while visiting my parents last week.
6- The photography assignment that is due on thursday, well I suppose some super long exposures of my sleepy campus will have to do.
7- That the convience store on the corner is out of sugar free energy drink of all varieties and flavours.
8- The only pages that load on my res network right now are blogger (hence the blogging) and those hosted on it (too bad I need to access an off server link)
9- Why no song on my computer suites my mood at the moment
10- an Interview I may or may not have later this week

Things that should concern me but do not
1- The economy
2- Politics (both foriegn and domestic, with the exception of the middle east)

I suppose my apathy is the last socially acceptable form of optimism...

mc

"What's a Recession?"

A Monday morning, pre-work, breakfast yielded the question, as I walked out the door, hopeful for work today I said back to my dad. "A depression is the end of the consumer existence, so I guess a recession would be the the very edge."

I found myself thinking as I arrived home from work 3 hours early (the weather is a nasty factor in my line) That the old adage, no news is good news, would be greatly appreciated by just about all earthlings. The only ones still making money are the greedy pigs that are forcing the market up and down while the rest of us just hang on. The Laissez-Faire attitude that every man can make a buck on their own is rearing its uglier head as the situations gravely worsen in the marketplace. The Bull (s#!t) market has driven down the price of nearly everything. The pantie waists in Toronto (little new york) are going crazier than the American markets did today, I suspect that the Conservative doctrine of complete reliance on the American market may be the only reason. The Canadian dollar falling as it is should not be happening, I do not see the grand plan of this seemingly constructed freefall.

I'm sure McKelvie would have a word or two of contradiction on the matter which I would welcome, he's more into the business than I am. I guess my only role in all of this is to watch the boomer's investments evaporate, watch the price of necessities go through the roof and continue to watch my dollar disintegrate in my hand.

In answer to the question... To me, that is a recession. I do not believe we are on the edge of recession, we're swimming in the cesspool and the greedheads are watching us slowly sink.

An attempt at a whatsit

I got this more right off the bat which is pretty damn good for me... I love the North, seriously go there... go north young man go north

Mc

Scareds Hitless

I was thinking about these "boston death bombs" the other day, I looked them up and... 8 other cities had these viral ads in them... Now why didn't the other 8 cities panic and close roads, highways and bridges? Hmm?

Voting is...

I have an idea for reforming elections... since geography is a decently arbitrary way of segmenting the populous, why dont we segment the population but demographic. Age, Sex, Religion, sexual preference, height, wieght, dietary habits, favorite sports team... all make more sense for a representative government than geography...

So as a white, male, agnostic, 18-25yr old, who is 5'11, 145-160lbs, who digs chicks, the habs and spicy foods, there should be someone representing me... cause steve herpes, short french, and the horseshoe certainly do not represent or care about my interests or concerns in the slightest...
give me some one who maybe shares a bit of commonality with my existance and Ill be happy to vote for them... Give me 4 people who share a bit of my life and I will gladly pick the one who speaks to me the most...

Or failing that maybe everyone under the age of 40 doesn't have enough invested (both as capital as well as in time) in this nation to have a fully formed opinion... Im sure many people believe that... in which case why the hell should I have to vote

Mc out

You Can tell alot about a man from the Stuff on His iPod

Albums (left to right)

Kinnie Starr - Anything (Single)
MC5 - Back In The USA
Donovan - Barabajagal
Eddie Cochran - The Best of Eddie Cochran
Sweet - The Best of Sweet
The Talking Heads - The Best of The Talking Heads (Remastered)
Outkast - Big Boi and Dre Present... Outkast
Old Crow Medicine Show - Big Iron World
Tom Waits - Blue Valentine
Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home
The Racounteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
Various Artists - Brushfire Records 3 Pack EP
? and the Mysterians - Cameo Parkway 1957-1967
Rose Melberg - Cast Away the Clouds
Charlie Daniels - Super Hits

Now what does that tell you about me? I don't know... But I did hear that that Infinite Playlist movie got the good reviews in the local paper which actually blew me away. Too bad that kid in it is such an incredible wimp, I wish he were more than a one trick pony, Arrested Development, Juno, Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Always the exact same character! I'm gonna hafta hit up this movie before T-givin' and give up my own nostalgic review.

Jesus Saves, and goes by the name Carey Price

Complete With Visual Supplementation

In my tiny Northern Ontario community I have a chance to spend my working days driving all over the city I have seen the signs for our Oct. 14th election and I know who is trying the hardest, because he is also the person who struck first. His election signs were up before the election had been called. And his signs outnumber his competition nearly 3:2 The size and clarity of the print are top drawer. I am speaking about Cameron Ross, Conservative. He is trying hardest because the PCs (or whatever they go as now... Torries? That'll do) Need to secure this election to ensure they can continue their pseudo republican take over of the unique Canadian voice.

I heard on the news yesterday that a group of young people in universities across the country are urging people to vote for anyone but the conservative party. Reminding me of McKelvie's Dad's words of wisdom "Remember boys, when you head to the polls don't forget the ABCs of Northern Ontario politics -- Anything But Conservatives." This statement holds true, not only to the Northern Ontarian but also to the Artist/Performer/Musicians of Canada who are sick of being classified as bums and whiners. The Teachers of the country would also take note that according to the Conservative party they are over-inflated babysitters who have no rights over their salaries or any other activity going on in the school. In fact, unless you are a Canadian Republican, a banking exec, live in Toronto, or a big business owner in Canada, the Conservative government has nothing for you.

I like to look also at the leadership of a party during federal elections because it will be the face I have to look at as the "face" of Canada. I didn't like Harper from the start, he reminds me of the grown up version of that kid in high school who you and your friends always said looked most likely to be caught in some kiddie porn ring. He just puts me the wrong way.

I did however also have significant problems with the Liberal's choice of leadership last time around. I think the majority of people would agree that Canada's most unique voice on the world stage was Trudeau, since his son was not yet heavily involved with the Liberals he could not be the party leader (next time around fingers crossed) The liberals had to choose between the pantie waisted Stephen Dion and the true "Canadien" hero Ken Dryden. Like the Democrats in the states last time around choosing John Kerry, the Liberals sent a lamb to the slaughter. At least Dryden had experience serving his country by defeating communism. He was the goalie for God's sake Canada's last line of defence from the Soviets

Instead they chose that goofy soft spoken guy who has more in common with Dennis the Menace's dad than a potential Canadian Prime Minister. (see below)

Finally the Liberal candidate for my neck of the woods doesn't even live in my neck of the woods. I waited for 2 weeks for a candidate from the Liberal party and it looks like they have thrown in the towel.

Vote Green, Vote NDP, Vote Marxist Leninist, Vote for the Liberals if you must. But keep Northern Ontario out of the clutches of the money grubbing, fear mongering Conservative hands.

If conservatives win in my riding I will eat a 4 decker Fillet O Fish sandwich. with every condiment available at pita pit

by the razor's amber glow

Seems to me that I know quite a few follows who have allowed their femmes to at one point or another to shave them. I find this abhorrent... seriously. I admit occasionally during my never ending pursuit of a smooth Stipian pate I let the girl friend clean up behind the ears should I miss a spot, but never would I allow her to shave my face for any reason other than a servere medical episode. Shaving is, and I shit you not on this, the most intimate things a man does for to himself save... cough cough... the occasion internet love. Its a willing rejection of our primitive animalistic natures, a comprimise with civility. If you are going to let your femme clean off the millenia's worth of hunting from your face, you are giving up what should be an intimate moment with your ancestors who decided that maybe they could rise above living in caves, and create empires, sell insurance or whatever/whoever you think came before you. So for the love of god keep the razor in your on hands, your girlfriend/lover/whoever, doesn't need to be the one to make your compromise, unless you think you also dont need balls cause Im sure they would take them too if you offered.

The only exception to this theory is if you go to a barber, but he had best be atlest 65yrs old. And its allowable because a barber is as much a confessor as a razorguider and your ancestors will appriciate that you atleast would only compromise them with absolution...

McKelvie

Hurray

big shout out to fall, I love you, your scarves and support of sweaterdom....
by far the best time of year...

sweaters heck yes

McKelvie

And here come the Pretzels!

I can just imagine the angry phone call I am going to get from across the province for this one, but It is something that has been weighing on my mind for the last year or so. As my (first) degree program was coming to a close this notion began to creep up.

At the time I was working at a gas station (the name has been mentioned in a previous post) And at this gas station during the summer months I was working with Yegway (Degree in Economics, working on Doctor of Law) My manager was McKelvie (2 classes shy of a BA History Degree) The Fighter's Girlfriend (Degree in something, working on second) and Myself (2 classes shy of a BFA) The four of us were doing the lowest of service jobs outside of a "McJob" making minimum wage and serving the Gen Xers who barely made it out of highschool. I figured that maybe I'd do like the Boomers and get in at the Steel Plant, but for a 3rd straight time I didn't even get an interview call (seems the double dippers who are making $50 an hour need to keep working, and working enough overtime that 2 generations later there is fundamentally a hiring freeze, only if you know someone would they even look at your resume, alas, topics for another post)

When my school had ended and my Job hunt came up fruitless I reverted to a job I had several years ago, The Supercuts of Lawn Care. I graduated from University while I was working cutting grass. I make a decent wage for the amount of work I do, which is quite a bit compared to what some people do, ("1 hour on 1 hour off" The dream schedule of the steel plant) Upon the receiving of my degree I questioned some of my co-workers and this is when my depressing revelation set in. My partner had a degree, the other crew, all three of them had or were over 50% completed degrees, two men on the spray crews also had degrees. I was surrounded by the quintessential over-educated-under-employed workforce of my generation. This is not a summer job for the majority of them either. They just , for the most part, couldn't stand employment at a call center.

I feel as if I were lied to in highschool, they said I would need a university degree to go anywhere in life, I think they should have specified that I would need multiple degrees. The surplus of qualified teachers in our little town is becoming... absurd. Employers aren't hiring these people because they are "going to leave in a few months" the sad truth, without available teaching positions, or even supply positions (chalk another one for the double dipping baby boomers) They are going to be stuck working at call centres and grocery stores for quite some time.

McKelvie's girlfriend is working on degree #2, as is McKelvie himself, Yegway, and a broad selection of my friends and associates. It seems he with the most letters behind his name wins. As for the button, I don't really believe tuition fees should rise -- scratch that, maybe I do. I think that if everyone, and their little brother can get a university degree it kind of nullifies the need for University, it would make more sense to make it grade 13-16, at least then the government wouldn't be criticised for "leaving kids behind" Double tuition fees, TRIPLE IT! at least then I would kind of believe that the last 10 years (including grade 9-OAC) was worth something. Give me a piece of paper I can be proud of, something that actually does qualify me over the next guy.

One of the greatest jokes of University was...

Q-"So what are you gonna do after you get your degree and finish school?"

A-"I dunno, go to teacher's college?"

Now that the truth is becoming more widespread I'm sure it will go like this...

Q-"So what are you gonna do after you get your degree and finish school?"

A-"Oh I can't finish school yet, I'm going to hafta get another degree! 4 years and I'm only qualified on the fry cooker"

This year I'm gonna work, next year... nose back to the grindstone, Degree #2. Journalism? maybe... or Design. As far as employers are concerned it doesn't matter what it's in, He who has the most... WINS!

Andymac BFA

Another Classic Giant

Yesterday, another great actor left us. I very much enjoyed Cool Hand Luke, as most people claim. I also loved Hud and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. As well, I don't think there is someone alive who has seen Cars that didn't enjoy Doc Hudson. Newman will be remembered with his excellent parts in some very memorable movies. I know his name will always be up there in the list of great actors. But personally, I am wondering if our current crop of academy award winners will stand the test of time and become more than just good actors and rise in the ranks of film legends. Tom Cruise had a great career until the last couple of years. Acting against a green screen for Spielberg's War of the Worlds, coupled with his Scientology brainwashing fried his chances. Brad Pitt is a good actor that could have been a lot stronger if he continued to make films like 12 Monkeys, Se7en, Kalifornia and Interview with a Vampire instead the tabloids have turned him into a pretty boy clown. Sadly the only actor I can think of that may have a serious and complete body of work is D Day Lewis, and I have hated every movie I have watched him in. Crappy Buzz.

My thoughts and prayers go to Newman's friends and family. A great actor has been lost. Rest in Peace.

Andymac

the college life

question...

why am I all tanked up on iceberg vodka at the moment?

answer...

cause the only person around to drink with is frencher than I....

so will some sucker duck come visit me soon cause Im tired of making pesto and girly drinks in a blender... I am willing to do unholy things for a pint of guiness and a cigar

McKelvie for the win

The Force Unleashed

This is what happens when force unleashed is sold out

wonderland

I must agree, now was it a zellers or a walmart... either way it was pure gold.

So anyone wanna come visit and go to wonderland on saturday, I'm trying to pass off a ticket that is an extra to my needs

What's YOUR favourite episode of Dawson's Creek?

That HMV store opened sometime in August. Finally I can find music and movies again in the mall closer to my house. Since hurricane season started I have had no relief in fuelling the Blue Devil. "Hyper-Miler" is the Yahoo Buzz word for my condition. Although I have yet to turn the car off and coast at any point. My condition is not yet severe.

I remember back in the day, when we used to go for those walks to Mac's for slushies and Doritos and in that stupid mindset we would play up the dramas in our own lives as to relate them with television... or videogames. McKelvie's basement was the heart and his N64 was the nerves of those "creek times" days. (making that wrestling game some sort of higher brain function?) Remember when summer break actually meant break? That show, The Mac & McKelvie Power Hour! featuring Yegs, Cnev, Paco, and Goodsie. We had season premiers. The mid-season hiatus crisis, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials all played into the teen years. Ripping off teen dramas was kind of our thing. In response to Christmukka we had Festivo. A spinoff happened at the beginning of the 2007 season.

We saw McKelvie move in with the Flatmate and watched the drama and dishes mount. (not so much with the drama) But just like all teen shows, the college years get awkward as the characters no longer look the age they are supposed to play. even though they clearly are. Those events that seemed so monumental in highschool slowly fade into the day to day as loans, rent, gas, groceries and drug store trips become the norm.

The season premier of Mac & McKelvie started not at the first day of the school year. The execs took a gamble on the pilot episode which aired nearly mid season. McKelvie's Birthday, Nov 30th started the program.

SPOILER ALERT!

August 2008 the last episode ran. The spinoff and original had one program. McKelvie and Mac walked behind a run down mall, thinking more to themselves than talking to each other, slushies replaced by energy drinks (to reflect the buying trends of a changing demographic) some words were exchanged that were of no real consequence but spoke to the optimistic future of the players. I could see a montage of footage, Cnev working his way to the west coast with his girlfriend. Yegs, preparing for another year making himself smarter than the rest of us, me on my Labour Day camping trip with Flatmate and the girls. Paco setting out to live in that HoJo and McKelvie in a slow mo hand held shot encircling him (a la Joey season end of DC) and we can see he's finally escaped the cold clutches of Northern Ontario... Southern Ontario here we come. The whole thing fades. And everyone continues on with their lives. Which would bring us pretty much up to now.

Gotta remember that first episode though, no snow yet as I recall. McKelvie lighting the wrong end of his last cigarette, trying to make himself cool. Command and Conquer might have been the build up of the Fictional Characters. But if Cnev hadn't called McKelvie and had him break his leg falling up the stairs I may not have been friends with the kid. and McKelvie couldn't have a power hour all on his own.

That would have been Nov 30th 1998, making this Nov 30th 2008 the ten year "aluminum anniversary" I don't know where the series wrap party is being held but it is going to be huge! 10 years older...





p.s.
My favourite episode of the creek is the one where Joey and Pacey end up locked in the store overnight.

Them crazy college kids

Sad state of affairs I must say when my girlfriend didn't believe that I'm 6 years older than most first years in my group... she also wishes to deny that I am turning that gruesome age later this year. But thats ok, So quick catch up, going to all my classes, looking for a job, talking baseball with the roommate, he's alright, likes ska music and baseball so thats something alright. hmmmm, going to wonderland on saturday and Ill be sure to take a photo or two to posterize.... Also I dare say that I am taking yet another first year photography class and all the assignment requirements are the same as that musely professor of mine have given repeatedly. alright folks that about wraps this post up Ill toss up those photos of wonderland so keep your eyes peeled...

and dear andymac: why you ducking me yo? (thats my college vernacular) you seem to have a knack for missing my calls

and hang in there Cnev your still better looking than Yegs

I don't normally do this but...

I stumbled on this song, lo-fi with a touch of Lou Reed and a surf riff. Japanese Motors - Single Fins & Safety Pins. This song deserves more than an honourable mention in the Mixtape thingy. Coors Light, the B side on the EP is a more... early Iggy pop sound with a distorted Strokes type voice. Also enjoyable. Blow the socks off your hipster friends for at least a week with this one.

Keeping in Touch

Well I hope everyone is having a better start to this fall than I am. You know in the movies how everytime the plane's engines go out they pull up like 10 feet off the ground? Well that was me the first week, I got refused entry to the thesis program, then i got refused entry into a class but managed to talk my way into it. The year started out with the plan of ending in a four year chemistry degree. Throw in about a week of confusion, depression, distorientation, anger, sadness, basically the whole spectrum of human emotion while on the ragged edge of a panic attack and we arrive at the new plan. A three year chemistry degree with a minor in biology and a minor in classical studies. Not what I was hoping for but it's a degree non the less. I can't say I'm suprised though, it's my record and choices that brought me to this point but I would just like to say that a certain someone slipped through the system without all the required credits and graduated last year so they decided to crack down pretty hard this year on students who don't meet requirements. I'll see you all when I come back for a visit.

Hives of scum and villany

Well this isn't so much a post but a request for posts from my correspondents in the field. Here I am, the air is getting colder and all I'm doing is working 40 hours a week, coming home and watching the creek, or cheech and chong or terminator. So, your assignments, foreign correspondents. Is to include one picture of your situation, or one corresponding to your situation, and write a paragraph about your first week. McKelvie, who is your roommate, what's it like living with Degrassi the next generation? C Nev, are things same old same old without Jay? Yegway, are you REALLY going to be a doctor in two more years?

Those are your assignments, I'll do something soon too. We might as well use this website to keep in touch.

Cheers
ANDYMAC!!

space crabs

dear george lucas if you really want to make me suffer just give me crabs, or a take a dump on all my favorite childhood toys, I think you've messed with star wars enough though, as has its fans, and maybe its about time you stop "forcing yourself" on its now mangled corpse.

that is my review of that star wars cartoony thing

Sometimes I let sleeping dogs lie, and sometimes...

Ok, usually I am pretty pissed with our liberal justice system. I swear in the process of trying to save all these criminals from segregation once they return to society the bleeding hearts are going to let the world burn. I'm sure all lifetime criminals (the ones who started stealing candy in elementary school who are now boosting cars and robbing banks) Laugh at our embarrassing "Justice System". I hate the Young offenders act! it is a waste of ink and paper, a 14 year old knows what it is to take a life. But anyways to get to my point. This stabbing/decapitation/corpse carving on the greyhound bus in Manitoba really shook me. They say the dude did it all robot like and that he showed no emotion. I immediately assumed that he probably had some sort of mental problem. Then they said, once they barricaded him inside that he went back to the victim to remove the head and show it to the people watching from outside! THIS! is where this is no mere mental rampage, to show off like that Li would have had to know full well he had ended a life. Then once dropping the severed head on the bus floor returned to the body to cut some more lines into him. It seems pretty damn clear to me that he knew full well what he was doing last night. I think in this scenario a lot more people would agree with me that a 10 foot piece of rope is a lot more effective than 3 meals a day and a roof over your head for 7 years of some laughable "life" sentence. Then this monster is going to be right back on a Greyhound.

(*last paragraph, suggested brutal punishment, removed*)

frustrated with life in general

So since no one seems to want to post i'll just go off on one of my random rants/digressions. The roomate is posing questions such as "Should I bang a girl i work with on a daily basis?" to which I reply "Sure, you'll head back to London in a few weeks anyways.". but of course he has issues with sleeping with random girls so he's cockblocking himself, which makes mine and others opinions on the matter moot. Then i'm missing the routine and privacy and the friends of school and res. can't wait for school to start. then there's a job at which i'm smarter then 90% of the people i work with and just feel that i could make that place so much more efficient. Of course this all culminates at the inevitable gf issues which start with my procrastination and somehow the argument becomes all about her worrying about my future and how's she's some sort of victim in all this. I for one don't understand it and she's all shocked and hurt that i'm feeling angry and hurt by some of the stuff she said. so being the passive person that i am, i just shut down and don't wanna talk about it because it'll start a bad fight but she's mad at this so i'm in a no win sitch. oh well, i'm gonna get drunk and deal i guess.

taking a moment

why must family guy still be on tv... thats a jeer

Coming Soon

Drafting Transports, and other energy saving tips from the desk of Andymac

The S is for Sucks, Cracking Hollywood's "Lacklusters" See what I did There?!

WALL-E, Hero of socialist labour, and other agendas hidden in the children's film

There can be only none! How Sealab 2021 saved my life.

Pod Six is Jerks!

Hecho en Mexico and How Stop Signs and Red Lights are Causing Global Warming

Author's Note: I am not against the Mexican people in any way, I commend them for cervesa on cheap import night at my university's bar, as well as the quesadilla -- and tequila of course. The image was just something that came up when I looked up Mexicans. This post does not put down Mexico, but rather put down North American businesses who outsource closer to home.

Hecho en Mexico and How Stop Signs and Red Lights are Causing Global Warming

I remember a time... of course this makes me seem older than I am when I start a post with I remember a time, but I do. And in this time (early 90s maybe very late 80s) My dad and I would go shopping for gym shoes or clothes, or anything for that matter and check the labels (my dad was always a real patriot) We could find clothes made in Canada. If you went into Roots EVERYTHING used to be made in Canada. However, over the years we would have to settle for things made in the USA because some of the facilities in Canada were closing. Remember the "Brain Drain"? When all the educated Canadians would move to the states for a decent job... that doesn't happen anymore. Nowadays they work in call centers, construction and general service. I work cutting grass with 3 out of 4 of us having a University degree, and we cut lawns because we don't want to settle for a call center... whoops off topic there. Anyways... As time went on in this "crisis" Canada was dropped as a manufacturing hub for its own people, replaced by the likes of Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Japan, Peru, I think I even saw one of the "stans" on a tee once. At one time it used to be easy to find more than a handful of products made in Canada. Which I could purchase and wear with pride. Even Roots (The All Canadian Superstore) has basically dropped Canada to manufacture their $45 Tees and $65 Polos. Lately I hear myself saying... "At least its made in Mexico"

Word of the day:

Maquiladora: (mäkelädo´rä ) n. Synonymous with Mexico manufacturing, maquiladoras are Mexican assembly plants that manufacture finished goods for export. Maquiladoras are generally owned by non-Mexican corporations that take advantage of low-cost Mexican labor, advantageous tariff regulations, and close proximity to U.S markets. Maquiladoras are one of Mexico primary sources of foreign exchange.

Onto the lighter side. Fuel prices have gone stupid in the last 6 months, I'd say a 40% increase in my Northern Ontario snake pit town of ravenous "big 3" (Petro Can, Esso, Shell) gas stations. When the average price is hovering at $1.30 ours will be 1.4o The Soo is just raped at the pumps. I worked for P-Can the last day gas was under a dollar, and I will tell you that is a fact that I'm sure my children cant even fathom. I have a car I use every day now, to and from work. Lately when people get in they comment on my crazy driving. They will say "Where are you from, Montreal?" or "Jeez I don't think that light was still yellow once you got to the intersection..." Finally today I had someone say, "You took that corner like a bat out of hell, what are you trying to do, KILL US?!" once I corrected my heavy over steer and got back to my comfortable cruising speed, The Blue Devil is a heavy piece of machinery for a midsized but the V6 gives it some guts. I had to explain-- the reason my driving is poor has nothing to do with my inability to drive, in fact, when gas is reasonably priced I am commended for my regard of the rules. But this is the end of times chum! With these prices I am being the responsible one on the battlefield. I cant afford to buy a Smart Car so I have to use mine wisely. I probably take 2x the distance to reach my cruising speed, careful to not rev too high. So when a yellow approaches or a stop sign or a right hand turn on a red the gas companies have given me no choice but to conserve as much of that forward momentum as possible. I think it requires greater skill to control a 30 km/h hard right than it does to race red light to red light down queen street.

So when you see the Blue Devil coast through a 4 way, or make that gut splattering turn remember that I'm doing the greener thing under the circumstances. Don't blame me, blame BIG OIL and the conflict at the refinery in Madeupistan or worker strike in the oil fields of Fakeladesh

In Response to my Letter to the Editor

Interesting times

So working and living in the far away town of sudbury, I figured "I don't really know anyone so I might just work on some projects and save some money". Then Yegway moved in with me. There goes that idea. I think it's back to mischief and mayhem for this intrepid duo. Good thing he's a law student cause I think we may needs those skills before the summer ends.

letter to mom

I know I know, I'm too skinny and I work out too much. I know you liked it better when I was 180 pounds and 25% bodyfat. You seem to think that it reflected on you ability as a caretaker; that you were a provider in the most literal sense. But the truth is although I may have looked better nourished, I wasn't all that happy. You know I was never that good at hockey, soccer, baseball, tennis, or anything else I have participated in, usually I was among the worst. And I have decided that I do not want to one day be a 55 year old with a heart condition whose greatest achievement in the world of bodies is having lived to 55. With that in mind I really do enjoy running, boxing, skipping, hiking, lifting weights and all that and yes I really do like eating right, avocado is freaking delish with salmon, and peanut butter is a health food how kick ass is that!!!
All this is also why I'm competing in the triathlon, its not so much about the winning, which I will strive for but do not need to feel good about it. Its about doing something that I never could do before, and being that little bit, stronger, faster, more motivated than I have been. I hope from all this I gain some of the ambition, confidence and character that I know you have always prayed your sons possessed. I am more than happy to trade in 30 pounds and 13% bodyfat for these things, especially when you realize that this should be journey of bonding and even pride.

all the love and respect in the world,
your son always,
McKelvie

A Letter to the Editor..

This is something I wrote for my local paper, I don't know whether or not I'll send it in. I doubt anyone wants to read it, or discuss. Its just that there are so many lame, poor grammar letters in that advertising rag we call a paper and I wanted to add my own.

The "Piece" (If you can call it that) is titled

What Came First, The Ignorant Cyclist or the Irate Driver?

I'm not a granola eater, I don't spend my money in the organic food section or go to spin classes, but I do ride my bike to work everyday that it is not raining. Right down Queen.

Since Wellington was closed for whatever repairs (it really doesn't matter) The influx of traffic swelling at the peak times of... well-- daylight hours. I have noticed an utter disregard on the part of both cyclists and motorists that will surely end in a gruesome front page headline.

I don't know who struck first. Whether the cyclists always slunk between the rows of traffic at the Pine, Queen intersection or motorists always cut as close as possible to bicycles. I myself have had daily attempts on my life, a fortysomething woman weaving through traffic like it is an Olympic event. Or a male retiree in his tank of a truck, shooting just off my left shoulder. I see them checking their mirrors, looking to see if they scared me enough to barrel over the curb and onto the sidewalk. As if they are doing a favour for the other motorists. Wiping the road of cyclists! The worst are the 30 year olds, in their shiny cars, barking into their cellphones oblivious to the fact they are actually driving. They don't care, and wouldn't stop, they'd just figure they had hit another Northern Ontario pothole. The law says I have to play this twisted game of frogger everyday to get to work just because I don't want to waste my money on gas in stop and go traffic and municipal government feels the blind eye works best in this situation, content with inadequate arrangements.

I share the road to the extent I am comfortable. There is no need to honk. Of course, on days that the weather is unfavourable I do take my car. And I know how annoying it becomes to travel 18-20 kilometers per hour behind a cyclist taking up the whole of the lane, only to come to a red light and see him slip to the front of the row of cars and go straight through the red signal. That stretch of Queen, from Lake to Gore is a war zone every day of the week, and we still have 5 months to go. Any sort of police presence on the stretch is warranted and necessary. Lets face it, with the thermometer and gas prices going up up up in the coming months so too will blood pressure. Something ominous is mounting. Closed roads are escalating the situation. If both types of road users cannot coexist I fear that the next time my name prints in this paper it may be in the obituaries.

So please motorists slow down.
Cyclists don't take stupid risks.
We have to share the road!

ANDYMAC!!!

End of the innocence

So as you may know I am recently a year older but certainly not a year wiser. So now that I'm 24, I have to figure out what the so much more is and where my life is headed. I suppose everyone has to do this from time to time and adjust on the fly. It could be argued that 24 is well after the age of innocence. Maybe 16 with your licence or 18 with military service, voting, gambling and pornography or 19 for alcohol, or 21 for cheap alcohol but 24 always seemed to demarcate the end for me. It is the cusp of adulthood (at least to us post gen x) until this point we are mostly still in school. Some still plugging away at our four year degrees. Some finding a new direction partway down stream. Some working on their masters or doctorate or professional degree. At 25 however most programs are finished that's 7 years from high school or at least 6 for us who had the joy of OAC and now this summer represents the last 'summer job'. As my old man once again pressures me to look for said summer job, I realize that this last part time excuse to make a dime to pay a tenth of the cost of schooling that I may ever have. After this year, I'm done with school altogether and I have to think about a career. To be quite honest I'm scared shitless with the prospect of a career. I feel like my youth has been stolen from me. Like that crystal on my hand can not possibly have turned colours yet. That surely, I, have a few more years left in the old tank before becoming a corporate drone, but alas, no. This is my last year for irresponsibility and my job being about occupying time and not being an occupation. Even the insurance industry recognizes this age as the penultimate change in our responsibility quotient by lowering our insurance rates. Soon for me it'll all be about car payments, mortgages, property taxes, suits, ties, business meetings, clients, living healthy, marriage, pets, children, decor, and the nameless other horrors of adult life. I'll start to look back at age 24 and under as the good ole days and remark on how little I actually did at school / summer jobs and how much simpler life was. I'll not stay up as late or party as hard and I'll start to complain about music being too loud, haircuts being too long, service being too slow, steak being too well cooked, and how much more difficult it was when I was growing up (As my dreams are slowly crushed by the oppressive weight of my responsibilities). So I think that it is now that I must seize the day and I invite you in the blogosphere to add me by suggesting worthwhile activities to remember fondly when I'm stuck behind a desk trying to fill out my TPS report including a cover letter.
P.S. I appreciated the math in AndyMac's last post and in the summer no less a time when math is almost strictly related to how many beers now come in a 'pack'. I have seen the same article and shopped the price and there is no way they met the number unless some sales were unreported (listing only NA sales for example but including European sales in the calculation) or some people were over charged (God forbid little Johnny had to go to that clerk at the local store because Walmart were not allowing him to buy a rated M game). Anyways hats off to the good Cyphering AndyMac!

Grand Theft Record

I'm not one to put a game down that has paid it's dues. Lord knows the GTA franchise has seen dark days. But being a fan of the X Box and Wii while being totally opposed to all things Sony I just had to look into a unique hiccup in GTA IV. Well not actually in the game... just claims Take 2 has made since the proposed bid from gaming giant Electronic Arts. I just read on Yahoo News that Grand theft auto made $500,000,000 on 6,000,000 units. A quick check of the calculator would reveal that this means that each unit cost $83.33 before taxes and cost of production. I have not purchased it, nor will I, I couldn't sit through a whole game stealing cars and killing hookers, not my style. I bet those who did buy it didn't pay 90ish dollars tho. The price at any retailer in Canada and the US is 59.99 which would put the net sales to $359,940,000 a much lower figure than they boast. I'm sure $500,000,000 has helped put the shares out of EA's reach but it still seems dishonest. To have actually made that much they would have to have sold 8,334,722.something. I do not dispute the fact that it is the biggest release in video game history, I just wish they wouldn't pad the numbers.

Was it just us or...

Did something seem awry in that Montreal - Philly game? I am still not clear on all these rules about allowing goals and disallowing goals, but seems to me, in a hockey game, where the object is to use your hockey stick to pass, handle and score on the nets on opposite sides of the rink's surface that using your hand to redirect a shot which changes the momentum of the game seems fishy.

It seems to me that the league has for quite some time opposed the advancement of the Habs. Even listening to the announcers on CBC, you'd think they would naturally root for the Canadian team in a game, not so. The Montreal Canadiens are the outcasts of the Canadian teams. Toronto has lost by such severe scores to the likes of the Florida Panthers but still they are cheered by the announcers. Its a shame that a team from Quebec does not receive the same kind of respect. Toronto is still sore about being losers for the last 40 years, but still.

I am not French Canadian and I like the Habs, the fans agressively defend their team. Much more than I can say for several other hockey teams. When tampa won the cup a couple years back, was anyone watching? Even Detroit fans are diminishing. Maybe they should put in a new rule, In order for a city to have a hockey team there must be a certain average recorded snowfall. Yanks in the southern states don't care about hockey, they are too busy cooking roadkill and playing banjos to worry.

As for that goal "Richards got credit for his fourth goal of the playoffs when he put up his left hand as Umberger’s shot sailed past him and Price. A video review upheld the goal.
'I tried to catch it and luckily my hand-eye is terrible,' Richards said. 'It went right off my shoulder and then I turned around for the rebound and it went in the net. That was the break we needed, I think.' " To credit Richards with the goal is a great insult to hockey and especially the die hard fans of Montreal. On one hand, the league is saying that, dumb luck on the part of Richards that he was standing where he was, pilon in front of the net and Umberger's shot bounced off him, in which case why don't they credit goalies with points when the puck hits their pads and go in. OR on the other hand, the league is spitting in the face of Montreal in saying that even though the puck was redirected consiously, therefore an illegal goal, but we hate you so much that we'll allow it anyways. I have this message for the wigs in Toronto (***explitave deleted)

Pushing down the garbage

Appologies and love all,

myself and the andymac have both been working new labour intensive jobs for the last week and have been lazy pieces of lazy in the evenings, so posts have suffered, but I do so pledge that there shall be posts galour once we get back with the payback, huack

The Next Level For Love

So to catch everyone up on the situation. McKelvie and I were working together today and I was talking about relations with my girlfriend (not unheard of) and he looks at me and asks "So did you give her the holocaust?". To which I replied "What's that?" and he says "I don't know but it sounds like an awesome sex move."
Now we came up with some theories and ideas of what this sex move/position/activity would actually be and came up with some funny stuff. So now we ask you, the reading public to help us out. Help us design "The Holocaust" by sending us your ideas and senarios either as comments here or you can send them to frink5@shaw.ca. We're not out to change the world and chances are this will NEVER be tried ever so let your imaginations run wild and make it interesting. Some ideas we threw out was that it should be a crime against humanity and that bonus points would be awarded for the police or the U.N. getting involved or just throwing on a gas mask. And to appease the P.E.T.A. people no animals can be harmed either during the creative process or during the act itself.

Home

Home is where we feel comfortable, surrounded by the familiar experiences of our youth. So once again sitting around with McKelvie and the Flatmate, watching the Habs win and just talking about things that could never be true. During an internet search for pictures of a certain aspect of anime we come across something very disturbing and funny. Lets just say an octopus was involved. This then led to the classic Cnev interpretation/fantasy that left us all hurting with laughter and vomit. Our souls were hurt by this experience but it was one of those things that lets me know that i'm home, contact me for further details if you're interested.

Pre and ProBiotics?!

I've had my ear to the ground for a while, just soaking in all the "Healthy" "Bio" "Vitality" "Plus" food commercials on television. It must be some of that lingering run off of the baby boomers, but please, I see the word healthy, and I hear tasteless. I think maybe I am supposed to be buying into these commercials... nope... not quite working... sorry.

"Singles" chocolate bars and those mini 100 calorie cans of pop. For the 30 something women that these products are trying to appeal to, I have 2 words-- Self Control. I know the companies are still trying to make money while the witch hunt scrambles for another enemy in the post Super Size Me world of healthier ways of doing as little as possible to get fed. I know companies are lowering those net weights and raising those prices as the healthy alternative to the Mr. 2 Big chocolate bars.

Even the Mr. 2 Big bars have gotten smaller, I remember buying one from my buddies little sister as part of a fund raiser and that chocolate bar being as long as my arm. Now they are just barely more than a Mr. Big from 7 years ago. As packages get smaller and inflation becomes greater the only people who are getting hosed are the chumps that are willing to pay 50% more for 30% of the original product.

Here is where the whole healthy foods thing takes its unexpected turn for me personally. I am a big fan of yogurt. Always have been, of course if someone would have told me it was healthy when I was younger I may not have, but anyways. I like yogurt. I read in a David Suzuki book a long time ago that there are good bacteria in yogurt, and cheeses, and cottage cheese, sour cream and such. But thats what we called them. Good Bacterias. As a kid I considered myself a conqueror of worlds with every spoonfull of living organisms. They were just little squiggly guys with sour looks on their faces.
Then this commercial comes along, I cant remember which brand of fad yogurt it was. (Trail Mix of the Double Ots) But there it was, "Now with PROBIOTIC cultures", probiotics something that I knew was in the yogurt all along was fatefully discovered by marketing relations and branded Probiotic to make it sound scientifically infused, this term preferred over the older, less appealing, "good bacteria". Then I see another commercial, and this one has been nagging on my brain for some time. 2 thirtysomethings standing in their posh yoga clothes and the girl in yellow mentions that not only does Yoplait YO+ have Probiotic (Good bacterium) but also prebiotic cultures... PRE?! wha? pre usually means before. So this yogurt, to put in terms everyone can understand... including me. contains material that will become life, like a primordial ooze, or possibly eggs? Wait a minute, didn't I see this episode of Futurama? Where fry eats the egg salad sandwhich out of the truckstop bathroom? And then all the parasites take over his body...

Im not insane I pledge

4th night in a row of insane dreams, last night I was pitted in a deadly game of wits against yegway, who in the end I ninja'd up good with a 2X4 because it seemed easiest...

so yeggy hurry up and come north for a visit

A dream in 10 words

Pirates, dragons eye in ceiling, world largest newt, coke bible... thats how a dream should be, maybe I should stupid taking supplements right before bed

Victory is Exit 4

At this exact moment I would dare say I would be willing to sell my soul and possibly even the roommates soul for a fine cigar and a tumbler of Scotch of the not too peaty maybe slightly vanilla-ish on the finish. I would also like to wrestler a polar bear, and perhaps sleep in for a whole day. Now why the hell must so many delicious and fun things be anti- good life style choices. I will say this however, there is nothing better that really pushing yourself in a work out, or dropping 5 pounds, or getting a compliment because of said hard work from someone unexpected... All that said of course, I would gladly sell my soul for that tumbler and cigar... Talisker D.E. is a sexy sexy drink

To Point B

I started to think about the fad drinks I’ve been sucked into over the past 23 years of product consuming. Since the day that I realized that my favourite flavour was a synthetic blend of chemicals (Blue Raspberry) I’ve been on the lookout for a real new flavour. Those highschool years were very confusing times. I would dare say that the energy drink came of age while I was at the peak age of impulse spending. I still remember what I said when the Gypsy asked me what Snapple fire tasted like, and I replied, “like thorns” but still I drank it. Until they discontinued the Snapple elements, I drank it. There was of course also the SoBe plague, there must’ve been something addictive in that stuff. I still don’t know how I paid $3 for chocolate milk that contained no chocolate… or milk!
I remember my all time favourite fad flavour, went by the name Pepsi Blue. I drank that stuff till my lips were purple. Holiday Spice Pepsi, actually pretty good, the 99 cent price tag made it all the better. Code Red Mountain Dew, I didn’t really like it, but I drank it anyways. Mr. Pibb, Dr Pepper’s only true competition in the totally awesome non root beer category. Yoohoo, more non chocolatey non milky simulated beverage product. Vitamin Water, my advice is RUN! Except for the pomegranate blueberry, Tasting like the blue part of blue fish candies. Finally – Coke Plus, in which I reach my point. Or at least A point, since the beginning of time (apparently) man has been searching for a supplement for milk, which comes in a carbonated sugar water beverage with simulated cola bean flavour. This I think could be the epitome of Carbonated Beverages, it truly has all the positive properties of milk. Which is downright scary. But the battle couldn’t end here, trapped between $4 energy drinks and simulated cola milk lay a true niche, one that will be filled for the first time since, what, The 50’s?

Now now now, the word has come down through the wire that Red Bull is currently producing a cola, to be released sometime in the near future. This cola will contain all natural extracts from both the kola bean, and the coca leaf (the raw material for the manufacture of cocaine) Coke claims to use a decocaineized extract. But Redbull’s website claims all natural. No real word yet on this. But Redbull and Cola, sure Redbull may have legal drugs in their drinks. But Canada was the only country producing a drink with balls!

A Modest Proposal part I

Behold! This summer's livestrong-esque fad, Tees made of garbage. Coke is teaming up with Walmart to recycle hundreds of millions of coke bottles into kick ass tees with not so terrible phrases on them, "Rehash your Trash". I think I might have to get one just to see what it feels like, now if they can start making t shirts out of Pino's bags, then we'd be getting somewhere! At no frills and food basics you have to pay for the bags, I guess thats why we see less of them than Pino's. This is kinda a step in the right direction, as long as they don't feel like you are wearing a scour pad or a tent. I can't see it being that breathable, I'll look for one next time I'm across

Thanks to Steph for the tip

The force behind windows XP

OMG, if you're running XP there's a secret program hidden in your dos by the windows programers.
1 - go to run in your start menu
2 - type in cmd
3 - enter
4 - when the dos promt comes up type - telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl
5 - then hit enter and watch the best movie ever
do it

Boxers do it... harder, longer, faster, everythinger

Got on the scale this morning... the numbers look pretty good. The good mojo however from weighing in at 148lbs, is well tempered today. Last night I ventured down to ye ol' boxing club. Basically got my ass kicked again and again and again by their cardio-ocity. But I like to think I didn't completely shame myself. I answer every bell that I could (I think I missed one bacause I was learning to wrap my hands) and when the bell stopped ringing I went a couple more rounds, I decided to run a shuttle run with some of the boxers, I did alright finished 3rd out of 5 so at least I outlasted 2 of them. I even threw in some weights at the end because although I was already exhausted I had that feeling of unstoppableness that I get when I've really pushed myself. Now all this is really awesome, with one exception. Rolling out of bed this morning felt like as if I was gut shot, this morning every muscle in my body hates me, and I am glad I have nothing to do today but relax... but it will all be worth it if I manage to answer that first bell tomorrow night.

If anyone would like directions to the Sault's local boxing gym just send me a message and Ill get you all the info you need....

Behold the wonder of flaming ammunition!

Design 2, with pitch ball loaded. I will be working on my 1/4 scale model starting on Friday, once my exams are done.

If mario lived with a pony

for talent press 1 at the tone

What can I say, I have always had a thing for talented girls. And have been particularly blessed to have crossed paths with many (including that gorgeous, ambitious, much smarter than me, one who currently puts up with my quirks) talented young women. I have twice dated young ladies who have shamed me photographically with the awesomeness. It was even easier to out do me for the young lady from the University of Toronto who had more music in one finger that my feeble fists could pound out in my entire life. Most shockingly I have even been out eccentricized in the fields of spirituality, in fact it was a young lady who convinced me that perhaps dragons really do exist, based wholly in their place in common ancestral memory. With all this in mind I would like to encourage you all to take a look at the webcomic and graphic design work of the very talented Jenny Romanchuk who I have had the sincere pleasure of having had coffee with once or twice. The comic is full of zombielicious goodness and her graphic design work is the stuff of jealousy...

peace

The band - the weight

I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity to head down to London, On on a Monday night much less come onto the campus of the University of Western Ontario. Well, if you ever get the chance I suggest you try to relive my night tonight. I entered a fantasy hockey pool and drafted my team at the Wave and then moved down to the Spoke. It was 2.75 pint night on domestics and additionally I had 450 dollars hanging in the balance. I also had the pleasure of hearing a Western staple in Rick McGhee. It proved the perfect background music too a classic NCAA final. You see I was relying on Kansas pulling out a W and all seemed on course when they were up by five at half...but alas in the second half they fell behind by as much as 9 and then a miracle happened. After cutting the lead to two points Kansas fouled Memphis. The first free throw shooter missed both shots but still I thought my pool was lost when Memphis grabbed the rebound...but after a quick foul Memphis conspired to go 1/2 from the line leaving the game open with ten seconds left. And up steps Mario Chalmers and hits a fade away three point bucket with a man draped all over his face. Needless to say the game went to overtime Kansas won and I got drunk...capping off a perfect night and netting me 450 dollars in the process. Oh and I also won my regular season fantasy hockey pool.
Now all I need to do is buy a lottery ticket and bet on the Arsenal-Liverpool game...
Well peace out from down south and until next time remember sports betting can pay your liquor bill through university / college....but if by your team winning your muscular friend loses it's best not to go to his apartment and gloat...
- Yiggles supporting a black eye reporting