I love to give my opinion even when people don’t want to hear it. This is one outlet where I can say what ever I want without interruption. So what ever pop’s into my head is likely to show up. If I’m not talking to myself, which is a very good possibility, let me know what you think.
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Being born in the early 70's I was lucky enough to be of age to see some of the classic 1970's disaster movies. Most of these movies I watched with my father on television. I have always loved a good disaster movie and that has not diminished over the years. I love watching some of the old trailers touting the all start casts that they have assembled for a movie experience never before seen. Most of the early disaster movies were almost comical in special effects and acting, but that's what gave them their charm. So I decided to make a list of some of my favorite disaster movies.
In no particular order:
Earthquake (1974) This was a fun movie lots of falling buildings and Charlton Heston to boot.
Airport (1970) The first movie was probably the best, but the sequels had their charm.
The Liberal Leadership Convention is in full swing tonight. I have been sitting here watching the speech's of the top five candidates. There has been some very exciting speech's, and some that were not so good. Its very interesting to watch because the winner of tonight's leadership bid is almost guaranteed to be come Prime Minister, maybe not in the next election, but soon. I don't get a say in the matter, but I think that after watching for the last few months that the best person to lead the party and our country is Gerrard Kennedy.
No matter what happens over the next couple of days, it's very nice to see that Liberal party is renewing themselves, and preparing to do battle with Stephen Harper before he undoes 50 years of Liberal accomplishments.
If your interested in learning a bit more here are a few links for you.
I was just looking through some of the books that I have collected over the years and came across The Secret World of OG. This is a children's book written in 1961. I received an updated copy form my Aunt Penny and Uncle Lyle for my 7th birthday, way back in 1979. I'll pause while you do the math..... I don't remember appreciating that much when I first received it, but at some point I picked up the story and fell in love with it. I have enjoyed reading since I was very young. Imagine my surprise last week when I found the book again and realized that it was written by Pierre Berton. Pierre Berton is arguably one of the greatest authors in Canadian history. I think I'm going to read the book again just to evoke some of those old memories. After I googled the book I discoverd that just this past September CBC started airing a cartoon series based on the story.
Everyone has probably seen what happens when you drop a pack of Mentos into a 2L bottle of Diet Coke, by now. a video, funny in places, not so much in others.
This post is probably not going to mean much to a lot of people, but those of you who remember the VOX it will.
The Vox was a dance bar located in Bells Corners. From the outside it looked like a dive, on the inside it was much better. It was probably the first over 21 club opened in the suburbs. That didn't last too long, and then they started letting everyone over 18 in.
I spent a few drunken evenings dancing at that bar.
One of my strongest memories.
It was in 2000 when Sisqo released his song "Thong Song"
Watching the go go dancers up on the risers demonstrate that they were wearing thongs.
Michael Richards apologized again for his racist rant today, on the Reverend Jesse Jackson's radio broadcast. If your not familiar with the controversy click here for an update. There are two things concerning this scandal that I want to talk about. The first thing. It seems quite ironic that Michael Richards first apology was introduced on the David Letterman Show by Jerry Seinfeld. Call me cynical.
I'll wait.
Jerry Seinfeld made something like 250 Million dollars from the original syndication of the Seinfeld series. I wonder why he wanted Michael Richards to apologize on national television.
It's all about money. If people stop watching Seinfeld because of Michael's hate speech, no more residuals for the stars.
The second thing I wanted to talk about is the use of hateful names and expressions.
There are many words that most politically correct people would never dare speak. Not unlike the N-Word used by Michael Richards.
A small aside. I work with a lot of young people (15-20 somethings).
Over the last few years I have witnessed the increase of popularity of the expression "That's so gay".
Most of the people that I work with that have used this comment really don't mean it as an insult to gay people, but just to demonstrate how they don't like something.
Another aside. I no longer feel the need to conceal my sexual orientation in my life. Personal or work.
Here is what I usually do when one of my staff makes this statement and I over hear it.
When I hear someone say "That's so gay" I look at them and in the most serious tone that I can muster I tell them how that I find that personally offensive. I don't really find it that offensive in most cases, because the people saying it don't mean it as an insult directed towards me or other gay people. It is really quite fun to watch their expression when they think that they have insulted me.
Whats the point?
Let me pause and wave my Pride flag high. Even though most people don't mean any harm or disrespect by using this comment, they don't realize the harm that they are truly causing.
Just by the fact of comparing something they don't like or disapprove of to being gay, their disrespecting all gay people.
My mission is to equate saying "That's so gay" to uttering the N-Word.
You have got to try this. Enter your first name and see how accurate it really is. Then do your last name. I couldn't believe how close it was for both Mark and I. Let me know how close your results are to your true personality. Indian Astrology
I love this song, its not new it was on the Donnie Darko soundtrack and used on an episode of CSI. Most recently it was also used in a commercial for a video game called Gears of War. It's a remake form an 80's band Tears for Fears. There is something very haunting about the sound.
Hear is the original Tears for Fears version.
Finally here's the commercial. Its a strange song choice but it works surprisingly well.
Tomorrow is the launch of the Nintendo Wii. I this is the first time since the very first Nintendo launch that I have not pre-ordered the system and being lined up to get in on the first day. I will admit that I'm a video game addict. I blame my addiction on my father.... I still remember when he brought home Intellivision for us. That game system provided hours of entertainment for my family. If it wasn't my Mom and her friends playing backgammon it was my Grandfather and I playing Burger Time. I will be patient and purchase the new Wii after Christmas. ( If Santa doesn't bring it for me...) Here are a couple of video game themed movie clips. The first is the Nintendo Wii game trailer....I'm still drooling.
The second two are about Grand Theft Auto. A game that hasn't even come out for the Nintendo system. My favourite is the Mario interpretation, but the Lego one is a close runner up. If your not a video game fan these will probably be lost to you....sorry.
This song is hot hot hot.....I don't think I'll ever be able to watch the sound of music the same way again. Gwen is living up to her title of the next Madonna. With each album she reinvents herself. Enjoy.
Another short post, but I find it repulsive that this murderer is trying to capitalize on his crimes. He has a new book coming out that details his wife's murder. The Goldman family has started a petition to show there outrage.
Its been a busy start to the week. I'm spending the next two weeks working in a nice little town called Embrun. Helping open a store out there. I'm sure I'll have more to say later in the week. In the meantime here is a interesting picture.
Here are a couple of video's that I stumbled across recently. The first is from Dove. About two years ago Dove started using "normal" women in their commercials to demonstrate that not everyone looks like a supermodel. Here is the newest commercial.
The closing line says it all. No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted.
On a lighter note there is Sony Bravia televisions. I saw the first commercial a few months ago and thought I would share it. The producer took 250,000 multi-coloured superballs and dropped them down a San Francisco street. The results are amazing. Check it out.
Now they had to top it. The latest commercial was a huge undertaking requiring tonnes of paint and hundreds of crew members to pull it off. Before you watch keep in mind that they did not use any computer graphics to make the commercial.
In case you were worried the paint was made mostly of water and completely non-toxic. It was so safe that you could have drunk it. The clean up took five days with sixty people working on it.
I have seen this before but what a better night than tonight to share it with everyone. I did well, I should be around until August 30th, 2069, that gives me about 1,982,000,000 seconds left. By then I'll by 97 and spending another winter in Canada will not be worth it. Check your date and let me know how you make out.
Here is another newer show that I'm hooked on. Mark got me interested in it over the summer. Here in Ottawa its on Showcase. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia revolves around four friends who run a bar in the City of Brotherly Love and have to overcome their relentless self-involvement to make their friendship and business work." according to TV.com. It so much more than that, the show is completely politically incorrect and hilarious. Here are a few random clips from the episode "Dennis and Dee go on welfare". The two siblings end up quitting there jobs and after all kinds of problems end up as "crack addicts"
Finally here is a quick recap of season 1. Season 2 see's the return of Danny DeVito to television and he's a great addition to the cast.
I don't think a lot of people really ever saw Office Space, it came out in 1999 (omg seven years ago already), and grossed about $10 million. It is a warped show with lots of laughs. I think you would call it a cult movie now. It's done fairly well on DVD. If you've seen it here is a funny little clip from youtube.
If your interested here is the original movie trailer. Looks a bit dated already.
Today was the day that Mark and I closed the cottage for another year. Things went fairly smoothly. All that had to be done was, empty the fridge, put the bedding away, and turn off the water. Other than the hail and rain it was pretty easy. We'll see next spring how well things actually went. It's been three years that we have been taking the water out ourselves and each year we have had some problem to fix. The first year was the worst by far, I missed a small valve on the pump, and when we arrived in the spring the pump had split. I think that we have the proper procedure down pat now.
It was a good summer at Black Lake. We spent more time there this year than we have ever before. Lot's of our family and friends came by for a visit. Some didn't make it up this year, but we'll fix that next summer. I find that as I'm getting older that I'm spending more and more time at the lake. I will admit that I didn't really like going when I was younger, but now I find sitting by the water is very relaxing. Most of our time off this past summer was spent working around the cottage. We brought the dog up, who loves the water, and this year we brought up the kitten. Who, other than going into heat, seemed to adapt well to the new surroundings.
The cottage has been in my family for about forty years. My Grandmother purchased the property in the mid sixties because she wanted to be near the water. She grew up in England during a time where there was not much greenery to see. When they reached a point where they could afford to by some waterfront property they did. With the help of my Grandfather, Father, and Uncle they put up a cottage. Since then it's been a family cottage. Over the years the cottage it's self has changed and grown along with our family. I have lot's of great memories of summer's spent at the lake with my family. Some of the nicest were simple things like having coco with my Grandmother while watching Lawrence Welk on the little black and white TV, or learning to play double solitaire with my Grandfather.
It's sad to say goodbye to another season at the lake, but there is always next year to look forward too, when we will make many more new memories.
It sad to think that after five years remains of victims are still be discovered at ground zero. This incompetence is shameful. With more than forty percent of the victims not having any identifiable remains, one would think that the site would have been completely searched. Maybe if some of the billions of dollars spent on punishing the supposed perpetrators in Iraq had been spent here we would not be talking about this five years later. President Bush should be ashamed. Here are some links to the news stories.
I have been on quite a few airplanes over the last few years and I'm one of those people who almost always reads the emergency information in the seat back. These are some very accurate depictions. I thought my mind was in the gutter....thanks Riley glad to see I'm not alone.
