For The Connoisseur
30 October 2008 - 07:34.
Obviously, I spend too much time surfing the interwebz in the morning, cause I keep finding all sorts of funny and strange shit.
Today's candidate is brought to you by the wine growers of California, and more specifically their marketing and packaging people. It seems that the people in Portugal have somehow restricted the use of the name '
Port' as it relates to dessert wines. I can't find much serious on the web, but I'm presuming it's much the same as how the
Champagne-region growers in France lobbied to have the word 'champagne' restricted to wines coming form that specific region.
So faced with the conundrum of being producers of a dessert wine, but unable to call it "port", this one winery's marketing people had a brainstorm...
check it out here.
Another One Gone
27 October 2008 - 17:50.
Technology comes, and technology goes.
Today we mourn the passing of one of our dear friends, the VCR.
JVC was the last company to produce these things, of which nearly a billion have been sold over the years. As of today, the standalone VCR will rank right up there with the Dodo, the sabertooth, and the sober English soccer hooligan.
Fear not though... you can still buy a VCR/DVD combo machine. Or you could just join the rest of us in the 21st century and just turf the tape altogether.
Your choice. We won't judge. Really.
Beginning Of The End
23 October 2008 - 23:23.
I can see
this article leading others to believe that they may succeed with comparable tactics. Especially in overly litigious countries like the States.
Once the practise of filing suit becomes rampant, will that mean the end of eBay? For myself, I rely on feedback to help gauge whether or not a particular seller is worth the risk. If feedback can be "forced" to disappear through threats of legal action, then where's the sense of reassurance that the buyer hopes to achieve? Lack of confidence will inevitably lead to a lack of buyers, methinks.
These Are A Few....
23 October 2008 - 06:28.
Really... what red-blooded Canadian man (and many women for that matter) doesn't like both hokey and sex?
Vibrators? Hockey? Giant inflatable penises? I mean, they're each good things in their own right.
So when you can combine both of them? Sheer bliss. Check out the
story at Puck Daddy (mostly SFW). Apparently there's also a video on YouTube, but as of this writing that esteemed site seems to be having issues. (Has anyone else noticed lately that Google seems to be having more and more issues?)
Don't Like It
14 October 2008 - 19:12.
Today, I won't tell you that you should have voted. You're grownups. You know you should, and if you don't, then you lose the right to bitch about the government. I think it's in the constitution or something.
However, I will tell you that I saw the TSN opening to their coverage of the NHL a few minutes ago. Complete with the Hockey Night In Canada theme song. What a fucking joke. The opening looked like it was 3/4 ripped out of a video game. The players *looked animated. The timing with the music was off, and the imagery lacked even the vaguest sense of grandeur, the very least of which is due to that song.
When CTV bought the rights to the song, I expected that they'd show it more respect. That they would pay homage to it by creating a montage that was worthy of what the tune means to Canadians. In my opinion, they failed miserably.
...On A Jet Plane...
13 October 2008 - 11:45.
I don't usually talk about work stuff on here, for a reason. I like to keep work and personal lives fairly distinct and separate. But I've gotta tell you about this networking thing I went to last week. It was hosted by EVA Air, a Taiwan-based carrier, and was held at YVR. And it was arguably one of the coolest things I've done since joining the Vancouver Board of Trade.
We "checked in" and were actually given security badges from YVR, and were escorted to the VIP lounge. You know that fancy room with the big chairs, the buffet, and all the goodies that you normally with membership and a slew of business-class tickets? Yeah. That one. Lots of food (free) all the booze you can drink (also free), and a great view of the ramp.
I should probably mention that since I grew up in an airline family, I've been around aircraft and airports all my life. For fear of sounding immodest, I've probably flown more miles already than most people will ever do in their entire lifetime. I heart aircraft, and I heart flying. Tell me I'm going on a flight and watch me turn into a really big kid.
So for me the real highlight wasn't the food or the view or the VIP lounge. It was the fact that they let us run wild on the Boeing 777-300ER for an hour or so. Yes boys and girls, we got to play on an airplane for a while, including some un-supervised cockpit access (as in, able to push the button that said "main eng. fuel" with no one to stop me). I don't know if you can tell in the picture they took (after the jump), but I was feeling like a kid in a candy store.
Oh, and if you're flying to S.E. Asia, consider EVA Air. They have some neat features on their aircraft.
But wait! There's more!
Media Disparity
10 October 2008 - 22:12.
My friend
Lance in Seattle blogged about a findings of an investigation against the U.S. Republican veep candidate, Sarah Palin.
Being Canadian, I of course turned to CBC news to read about the article. And my browser home page also gets a feed from the Beeb, so I read their version of things as well. Both pretty similar. Then I saw the feed coming from CNN. And out of curiosity I went to the Fox News page to read their take on things.
Holy mother of God am I ever glad I have Internet access. The disparity between CNN and FOX versions of the story is stunning. CNN, being largely pro-Democrat, is utterly lambasting Palin. Conversely, FOX being the Republican-controlled outlet that they are, are downplaying the report, and focusing instead on the ambiguities of the report, and the role played by Palin's husband.
It really makes me glad that we have the CBC actually. While they're certainly not the perfect media outlet, they've never really seemed to take sides (except where Don Cherry is concerned of course), and tend to be even less likely to choose where politics is concerned - they'll slag all parties with equal ruthlessness, most times. And the BBC is even better.
If you want to compare notes for yourself, the BBC article is
here
FOX news is
here
CNN is
here
Polling The Electorate
08 October 2008 - 15:26.
Another deep heavy question to help you get through Humpday... I'm interested in hearing the thoughts of everyone EXCEPT the person with whom I was discussing it today... I know your views
Is ours a penal system or a justice system? Does the Canadian court system offer justice, or is designed for punishment purposes? Why do you think so? Is there a better model out there?
I Protest!
05 October 2008 - 17:35.
There was a protest on Oak St. in Vancouver this afternoon (Sunday) that went from Vancouver General all the way up to Women's and Children's hospital. Perhaps not surprisingly, the demonstration was an anti-abortion thing (W&C gets protesters all the time). Both sidewalks were lined all the way with people carry placards denouncing abortion, promoting adoption etc etc etc. I'm sure you've all seen the message.
I have no problem with their right to protest. I have no problem with their right to try to promote their views to others. And they were neither impeding traffic nor pedestrians. They have their opinion and they're entitled to the right to promote it, even as I'm entitled to agree with them, or not, as I see fit.
What I have a problem with is that there were small children taking part as well as adults. Kids that appeared to be somewhere in the 7-10 y.o. range were standing alongside adults (presumably their parents) holding signs that said "Abortion Kills Children". I find it personally unconscionable that a parent would do that to their kid. I understand that as a parent you're going to instill your views on to your children, and heavily influence their ethos, morals, and behaviour; that's part of your JOB as a parent. But to send them outside in this situation? How many of those kids could mount a credible defence of the morality of the position they're taking? How many of those kids have been fully briefed on both sides of the argument?
Since I'm not a bio-daddy, I'm very much interested in hearing from you folks on this one. Is it right? Is it wrong? Why?
It's Already Happening
04 October 2008 - 09:19.
I was in a drug store the other day (Thursday to be exact). And guess what I saw?
Christmas decorations. Mother-fucking Christmas decorations. On October 2nd.
Are you serious?!? We haven't even gotten close to Halloween, and you're putting out the bloody lights and decorations? Give me a break.
So my question to you is.... how early is too early for Christmas decs?
More Hockey
02 October 2008 - 09:21.
Sure, it's only the pre-season. But with the Canuckleheads being 5-0, one stat comes to mind... Last year they scored 2.18 (or some such) goals per game on average. So far this training camp they're at 3.6 per game. And they're more exciting to watch, not just because of bulging twine. They're playing a more open style, but a long run.
Mats who?