July 2006
The 150 Experiences Meme
Posted by on Monday, July 31, 2006 in - 3 comments
Most me-me's suck but this one from the new Blork! is actually slightly interesting. My answers are all below the fold so click on if you have absolutlely nothing else to do. I apparently have not travelled widely enough and have not put myself in a position of recreational life threatening danger …
Ben's big day. Which Ben? This Ben.
Posted by on Monday, July 31, 2006
When Are You More There Than Here?
Posted by on Monday, July 31, 2006 in - 3 comments
When have you moved? • When you first sleep in the new place even thoug there is plenty still to shift?When the phone, cable and internet are all fixed up?When you leave for work from there and not here?The fridge magnet move. • It is looking like #4 more and more.
MLB Trade Day
Posted by on Monday, July 31, 2006 in - 3 comments
"Oh please don't replace me with Tavarez..." • This is the day. This is the day that the Red Sox will have to show that they have the umph to keep up with the Yankees as a franchise, as business people. Sure we are half a game up. But last nights embarassing game shows what is needed: long …
The Illusion of Internet Intermediation
Posted by on Monday, July 31, 2006 in - 6 comments
The BBC has printed a short essay by Michael Geist, Ottawa law professor and cyber-dreamer [Ed.: that is unkind] of some renown. Unconvincingly, it is based on an alarmingly obvious inclusion of a useful premise of convenience - in this case the "internet intermediary" - which is not founded in …
Orange
Posted by on Sunday, July 30, 2006 in - 1 comment
CFL Suffocation
Posted by on Sunday, July 30, 2006 in - 6 comments
Suffocate? That is a bit odd, a bit much - especially for a 19-9 game. More like a lambasting or even a knee-capping if you ask me. Maybe a piano wiring.
Compact Living
Posted by on Saturday, July 29, 2006 in - 1 comment
Ahh, the suburbs. The nice visitors agreed it is a nice place. And it is. Tree out front. A little landscapery out back. In fact, I have to get some fiskars¹ to get the place a little in order. Lawn is good. A lawn you can lay on and stare at a patch of sky framed by trees and shingled roof-tops …
Friday Chat For A Moving Day
Posted by on Friday, July 28, 2006 in - 33 comments
A big day around here. Once again we will have mortgaged ourselves but I have prepared myself and now feel fully empowered - or at least around 3 pm will - to scream about property rights and being a tax payer and all that. Except for the fact that the Cooles family is not through the wall of the …
The Best Prime Minister We Never Had
Posted by on Thursday, July 27, 2006 in - 9 comments
Ah, the dog days of summer. The no news days and blogging stat drop days. Time to bake up a great poll like CalgaryGrit has. Vote daily here. I am packing the ballot box with everything from Red Tories to venerable socialists. I suppose some of you are now going to neutralize my franchise with …
Geography Quiz
Posted by on Thursday, July 27, 2006 in - 7 comments
Guess where in the world this quotation refers to: • “ • "I'm fed up with being abused by governments bending the rules or just avoiding the law entirely. They've abused their powers and they've done it simply to attempt to keep themselves in power." • ” • Hint: • “"The issue has …
John's Pal's Tastes
Posted by on Thursday, July 27, 2006 in - leave a comment
CW4BillT at John of Argghhh!'s Castle Argghhh has heard the call of the wild meme and responded. It is all interesting an eccentric until #12: • “12. --absolute favorite foods (soooooo chickish!): • a. Coffee. *Good* coffee. Not that megachain-overpriced-dishwater. • b. Turkey, stuffed with …
The Cost Of Efficiency
Posted by on Thursday, July 27, 2006 in - 8 comments
This from the BBC is interesting: • “More than 95% of e-mail is junk, be it spam, error messages or viruses, report mail monitoring firms. Analysis of the contents of millions of e-mails has revealed that less than 4% is legitimate traffic. Further work has shown that most of this junk mail is …
One Canadian-Lebanese evacuation story. And another. Anthony Bourdain's evacuation from Beirut. Family reality v. safety.
Posted by on Thursday, July 27, 2006
Gary's Pots On Main Street..Sorta
Posted by on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 in - 2 comments
An update from Gary who has made a commercial break-through in Ithaca: • “I am lucky enough to be featured in the window of CognoscenTea, West State St, Ithaca, NY. Below are a couple pictures (and I will send a 2nd email with ordering/shopping info and pics). It is a nice display both inside …
Rob Moves Past The Tipping Point
Posted by on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 in - 4 comments
Rob has written something very interesting and has packed in his faith that a tipping point is coming. I suppose my first inclination to find this interesting is based on the fact that I have never been a tipping-pointer or a dichotomist. The world and human participation in it is too complex. But …
Western Swing
Posted by on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 in - 3 comments
When the Red Sox play the AL West it is worse than interleague. First, they appear able to lose against the AL West. Second, when they do lose it happens at 2 am EST so you have wasted an evening and gotten a rotten sleep thrown in for good measure. • By the way - and milking the double entendre …
Fat Boy, Brunswick, Maine
Posted by on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 in - leave a comment
This place is a must see while in southern Maine. Right by the Brunswick submarine hunter base. Car service. Haddock sandwich and a wild blueberry western frappe - which is pretty much a milkshake in Canadian parlance. Somewhere I have a picture of the much better older road sign. Somewhere I have …
Depressing Statistics
Posted by on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 in - 20 comments
From the BBC and its Editor's Blog (formerly and futurely known as an Editorial Page): • Around 30 to 40 people are killed every day in the current Israel/Lebanon conflict.About 100 people are killed every day in the violence in Iraq.And 1,200 people are killed every day in the war in the Congo …
Sansone's Restaurant, Malone, New York
Posted by on Monday, July 24, 2006 in - leave a comment
Sometimes a place is a good place not because it is surprising, rare or new but because it represents a sort of joint well. For my money, the Lucky Inn in Pembroke was a classic Canadian-Chinese buffet. Similarly, Pizza Rodini of the Truro of my youth was the best greasy circle of za. • This is …
A Question From A Blogger
Posted by on Monday, July 24, 2006 in - leave a comment
Shelly of the blog Generation Exhausted gave me a shout by email today and asked the following: • “Are you...Canadian? The parent of a teen who blogs? • I'd love to dish with you about the good, the bad and the ugly for an article I'm working on. Drop me an email if you're interested! (oh, and …
Buckley blasts Bush. The ABA blasts Bush.
Posted by on Monday, July 24, 2006
Less Is Different Because Of The Internet Than Claimed
Posted by on Monday, July 24, 2006 in - 3 comments
A book must be out somewhere because there are interviews about the Long Tail all over the place. The Long Tail refers to a graph and that point on a graph where many different things are happening so rather than describing an spike in activity, it is showing an extended diversity. Someone has …
The Next Sport
Posted by on Monday, July 24, 2006 in - 2 comments
Just as our fixation with the internet despite its failings is evidence that we are controlled by little people in spaceships who arbitrarily manipulate our lives for their pleasure, so too is the fact that as the New York Collegiate Baseball League winds down for another year, so then starts the …
The First Last Of The Season
Posted by on Sunday, July 23, 2006 in - 8 comments
It is sad but even on the 23rd of July there are signs of the end of the summer and today was one of them - the last weekend home game for the Watertown Wizards. It was a 2-1 loss to the Rochester Royals but a pretty good game at under 2 hours. The first six innings were a blur of a pitcher's duel …
Ahhh...No Spam Today...But One Big Slug
Posted by on Saturday, July 22, 2006 in - 16 comments
So nice to wake to an absence of irritation. I was so used to it. • So anyway, last week at portland's we did the Mentos trick. You take a 2 litre bootle of pop, drop in 5 Mentos and three second later the pop bottle / soda bottle erupts and shoots in its entirety out the bottle top. It is quite …
Friday Chat On The Run
Posted by on Friday, July 21, 2006 in - 19 comments
Woke up way too late and had to deal with my friend Manual Spammo. What poor • lives these saps must lead to have to cut and past their way now through the • handy dandy "are you human" quiz before each comment is posted. Looks like it • took longer to post than delete. That is a gain …
Posted by on Thursday, July 20, 2006
Make Your Own Cause
Posted by on Thursday, July 20, 2006 in - 3 comments
In an effort to advance the cause of supporting supporting, has anyone thought of Ribbon 2.0 where everyone makes up the content of their own magnetic cause ribbons making for a cacophony of causes and claims confusing the drivers of America? Maybe if there were more rounded edges the link to the …
Kept Under Wraps?
Posted by on Thursday, July 20, 2006 in - 3 comments
This is either a huge political mistake by the PMO or an apology from the Globe and Mail just itching to be made: • “The perception of inaction was exacerbated by the lack of information flowing last week about Canadian efforts to organize a response. In fact, Foreign Affairs staff realized last …
The Blogdrums
Posted by on Thursday, July 20, 2006 in - 14 comments
Blogs and doldrums - get it? I think everyone went on vacation...or computers seized or something. Sooner or later the guys spamming for viagara are going to even pack up. You know, making up words with blog in it was a blast in 2003. The other day I went to check out whether anyone was using the …
Brian Of Kosovo
Posted by on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 in - 1 comment
Once we at GX40 HQ airlifted borscht and jerky to Iraq for Brian, the blogging paralegal of nearby Fort Drum. Now Brian has transformed his career and his is an army TV journalist heading out for Kosovo after an apparently confusing stay in Fort Benning, Georgia: • “There is a lot of waiting …
Lester Then Paplebon
Posted by on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 in - 2 comments
Google images acting as an ouija board • Even though it was against Kansas City, you have to like the fact that a 22 year old had an eight inning one-hitter for the Red Sox before handing over to another guy born in the 80's who then earned his 28th save in a 1-0 win. • This is a good year for …
Popham Beach, Maine
Posted by on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 in - 1 comment
Ukulele World
Posted by on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 in - 3 comments
There are many worlds and this is one of them.
Mountain Sun Market & Cafe, Warrensburg, New York
Posted by on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 in - leave a comment
The Adirondack chairs out front are double-wides • In a continuing part of my writing which ought to be called "What I ate on my summer vacation" once again I took flash photos of my food, in this case yesterday's breakfast at the Mountain Sun Market and Cafe in Warrensburg, New York, just north …
One Israeli's View
Posted by on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 in - 13 comments
There is a very good and well written op-ed piece in the NYT this morning: • “Now that "just like in the old days" keeps echoing in my mind, and I suddenly see this whole conflict with Lebanon in a completely different light. Thinking back, trying to recreate my conversations with worried …
Back From Maine
Posted by on Monday, July 17, 2006 in - 4 comments
Home. • You know what is neat? Going into a brew pub you really like and wrote about over a year ago and finding that very review up on the wall in the hallway to the bathrooms, that's what neat is. • Some doubts as to whether I'd bother going to the Tiki hotel in Lake George NY again but it …
The Road Beckons
Posted by on Saturday, July 15, 2006 in - 2 comments
Where is it? A or B? I am hoping for B. • My only plan is for the Seashore Trolley Museum • before we turn inland on #9 for a three-day doddle home. • New food fact of the day? Beale Street • BBQ has a bulk take-away menu. Ten bucks for a pound of pulled pork is the • deal of the century …
Friday Chat From Maine
Posted by on Friday, July 14, 2006 in - 25 comments
It's been a good week here on the coast. Kids have been in a day camp for the • first time. Might be the last. You spend your holiday answering to the needs and • demands of teen councillors. What is wrong with that picture? Besides, getting • them on the bus is too early. Why can't day camp …
One Size Too Small?
Posted by on Thursday, July 13, 2006 in - 2 comments
I saw this bike on the BBC "In Pictures" site. I cannot conceive of how anyone but a child could handle this bike. Looks like riding on a bar stool...if the thing were made of popsicle sticks. And why design something I can't use? Being big, it would be nice to be included in these things. That is …
Another Constitutional Thing For Steve
Posted by on Thursday, July 13, 2006 in - 27 comments
It appears Steve Harper is willing to go political with our constitution for some reason: • “"In the coming months, we will strike a judicial inquiry into the collapse of the Fraser River salmon fishery and oppose racially divided fisheries programs," wrote the prime minister. Non-aboriginal …
All Star
Posted by on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 in - 18 comments
Name a better All Star line-up. You can't • What a game. Likely the best All Star Game I've ever seen. To see it, we walked through treed streets, listening to kids calling their nighty-nights on a warm night and gathered at the sort of neighbourhood bar that would never pass any Canadian …
Wee Giftie From The Flea
Posted by on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 in - leave a comment
After yesterday's dreary content up until the blue bums, it appears that I seem to need need to shake things up and what better than with a bit of hot Flea-sourced content with a kilty twist, like this bit Dr. F sent by email. I am not sure if there is a pulp fiction cover generator out there but …
Two Timing Gary
Posted by on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 in - 3 comments
Gary appears to be needing a little bloggy action on the side. I don't know how to feel...I just don't know how to feel...
iPoddy Disutility
Posted by on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 in - 6 comments
We have been comparing notes on satellite radios, podcasting and other innovations and have come to the conclusion that the $7.99 radio that receives simple broadcast in AM/FM is still the superior technology. Why? Surprise without a bill. • First surprise. What is so wrong with experiencing the …
Still With The Zizou
Posted by on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 in - 4 comments
It is funny reading this morning in the Canadian papers more going on about Zidane's headbutt and the need to have it explained by scientists...the science of the headbutt looks like this: • “"Just because somebody acts aggressively doesn't always mean that they've lost it," Glassman said …
Our Motto
Posted by on Monday, July 10, 2006 in - 9 comments
I had a sense. I knew we were lacking plenty that our new rural overlords could give us and that was good. We need that. I knew we didn't know ourselves and needed their help. But now everyone is getting into the act and I need to keep things straight. But it is good that I learn that our motto is …
Italia! Italia!! Italia!!!
Posted by on Sunday, July 9, 2006 in - 6 comments
What happens when Zizou is enraged... • From the BBC's live text game coverage: • “What's going on here? Zinedine Zidane has lost it. He has headbutted Marco Materazzi in the chest. The Italians are furious and rightly so as Marco Materazzi lies on the pitch” • In 1982 - when Italy last won …
You Learn Something New Every Day
Posted by on Sunday, July 9, 2006 in - 4 comments
From Mike on from Johnny G., all I can tell you is the flames were four feet high. The bacon was still good, though.
Air America
Posted by on Sunday, July 9, 2006 in - 3 comments
Despite all the doom and gloom spouted when it started over two years ago, it is good yet odd to hear Air America is still on the radio. Good because if you ever actually listen to the pervasive right wing radio of Rush Limbaugh and the legion of mimicking phonies in the US you quickly realize …
My Special Assignment and Bill Bragg
Posted by on Saturday, July 8, 2006 in - 3 comments
This is today's task. This and finding a wild blueberry western frappe at Brunswick...or Bath...can't remember...at Fat Boy Drive-In. Then poking a stich at rocks to see if there are crabs underneath. Then maybe another wild blueberry western frappe. I don't know why they are western …
Made It To Portland But Only Just
Posted by on Friday, July 7, 2006 in - leave a comment
We were doing very well on the New England meander - until Portsmouth NH that is where the melt down of the brain of a six year old hit epic proportions. I heard a noise I had not heard before, shaped in the sound of the word "MEANIE!!!" • For some reason all I thought of was the movie Sophie's …
Holiday Day Chat
Posted by on Thursday, July 6, 2006 in - 21 comments
I don't think the lights are going out while the special assignment is on but you never know. This post may have to hold you for a while. There are ice creams to eat, roads to drive and mini-putts to putt. So what is going on? • France and Italy? Who would have thought it. Every time I sort of …
And Now A Word From Our Potter
Posted by on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 in - 8 comments
I am quite pleased to have the only blog with its own Potter Laureate, Gary Rith. [Ed.: click that link for a picture of a tea pot.] Recently there has been some interested talk in knowing more about his work. So Gary sent along this: • “Alan says I should really have everything together before …
NCYO's New Look
Posted by on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 in - leave a comment
There are few blogs that really look as good as they can look but recently NYCO has undergone an upgrade which is visually attractive, well designed and functionally useful. This might leads one to suppose that I am praising its usability but I hate that word-like thing. • Anyway, even through …
World Cup Chat: Italy's In
Posted by on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 in - 8 comments
Are the three last teams in all surprises? They shouldn't be but we get so used to the same old same old and Italy is mired in a sea of corruption...a sea of corruption...which is one place not to rent a cottage near I suppose...yet they win. No, I would have not thought it would go this way and …
Attacking Posidon
Posted by on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 in - 9 comments
From a distance it looks funny, a tin pot mad dictator in a rage sending missiles into the sea. What to do with North Korea? You get the sense that if there was any intervention millions would drink the purple kool-aid as soon as the loud speakers told them and exactly in time with the nukes …
Flip-Flop Fashion
Posted by on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 in - 17 comments
A quick review of the photos at the BBC from men's fashion week in Paris confirms I am both a slob and that I am apparently the better for it. But it is important to note that flip-flops are apparently in. I think, were I to be presented with a flip-flip wearer on casual day at work that might be …
Celebrity Fitba
Posted by on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 in - 1 comment
An excellent observation in John Doyle's column in the Globe this morning on the relationship of the fans with the now disintegrating former World Cup playing English team: • “...for a second, I thought I was imagining things, thanks to my usual four hours sleep. I thought I saw, among the …
The Flea On <i>Superman Returns</i>
Posted by on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 in - leave a comment
Even though I do not go to movies, buy pop music, like Australian celebrities or support English soccer I read the Flea daily because he is a great writer. The sort of writer that you would not expect to find in these parts given how the place has left itself go over the years. Over the long …
US Route 2
Posted by on Monday, July 3, 2006 in - 8 comments
A central part of Maritimers' trail of tears. • If it were not for my impending holidays I would be disgusted with myself for doing things like getting a haircut on a hot summer day off. But things being what they are, it is critical preparation...as critical as ensuring there is a vast array of …
2006 Sports Pool Update...A Winner Is Declared!
Posted by on Monday, July 3, 2006 - 10 comments
Remind me again why in April you think a pool that lasts in to summer is a good idea? Noteworthy notes: • #1 - People that picked Staal and Stillman did well in the Stanley Cup Finals did very well. Rob wins the NHL portion and a drastically undervalued hockey card for 159 points. Recount …
Has Canadian Blogging Now Jumped The Shark?
Posted by on Monday, July 3, 2006 in - 2 comments
If my recent and suprisingly active culling of a national blogroll of a thick layer of deadwood was not proof enough, here is the killer. After only about eight years of the collapsing alternate world out there being populated by the nerd, the CBC has joined the 'sphere with its own blog. And …
Missing Quotation Marks
Posted by on Monday, July 3, 2006 in - 16 comments
Speaking of nutty notions and a few days late for my list of things I love about Canada...where the heck are the quotation marks in the CBC headline below?!? This should have been: "Excess" Competition "Worries" Festival Vendors. But you know it really means: Uninteresting Vendors Shocked at …
A Great New Conspiracy!
Posted by on Monday, July 3, 2006 in - 1 comment
Nothing like waking up a little later than ususal on a holiday in lieu. See, Canada Day was a Saturday so now something between 37% and 68% of Canadians get Monday off. What better conditions for a nutbar of an idea to be floated in the news so that we can all sit around on lawn chaise-lounges …
Little Falls First Game
Posted by on Sunday, July 2, 2006 in - 1 comment
A doozie of a couple of games at the Watertown fairground yesterday. We watched the first half of the doubleheader which the Wizards won 3-2 on a walk off triple after starting the inning down 1-2 to the Little Falls Diamond Miners. A homerun and an error or two changed that and it was nice to …
Man Of The Match?
Posted by on Saturday, July 1, 2006 in - 5 comments
Or perhaps the gonad of the match. Owen Hargreaves and Ashley Cole appear after 90 minutes to be the only England players who did not have extra chips with breakfast. Good game.
Things I Love About Canada
Posted by on Saturday, July 1, 2006 in - 16 comments
Wow. I am sure glad that my folks got to this place. And not just cause Europe (and Grannie, too!) turned out to be socialists! But because Canada is really great as our celebrations on July 1st...celebrate. Here is my list about what I really like about Canada - you add yours: • Paddle to the …
