Addictive...

This game is fun and challenging, plus it is addictive. Click below and give it a try...

Dumb question?

When you go shopping do you ever get sick of being asked the question "Did you find everything you were looking for?" when you get to the checkout? I generally just answer, "Yes, thanks," because I can't be bothered.

Today Pamela and I were in the line-up at our local Zellers when the lady in front of said that she hadn't found everything and mentioned something from the flyer that she hadn't been able to find. Not being used to this answer (or so it seemed) the cashier just said "Oh" and shrugged her shoulders. At this moment a wry smile passed Pamela's face...

When our turn came Pamela emphatically said, "No." Then, without giving the cashier an opportunity, she went on to ask the cashier why she even asked the question.

The reply, "Because I'm trained to."

Not willing to let it go Pamela pressed on to explain that she meant "what is the purpose of the question".

The cashier replied that she didn't have a clue. Customer service?!? That was pretty much the end of things. We paid for our stuff and headed for home.

I'll probably just continue to say that I found what I needed and not put too much stress on the cashier's already taxed mind.

Ho! Ho! Ho! (again)

Just under a month to go now. Friday night was the Santa Claus parade in Elliot Lake. almost a perfect night - but no snow! Our little angel is in the first picture and you may recognise the wise person in the second one. No parade would be complete without the guy in the third picture.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

First day of kettles was today. Only a month or so to go. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Free Album

This has been available free since September 1, but I only found out about it tonight. The controversial Derek Webb has made his 'Mockingbird' album available for free download. It's a great album - so download it now! Click the above picture to go to the download page.

Here is why he has offered it free:

"i love music. i have grown up with music as a close confidant. and i believe in the power of music to move people. there's something remarkable about the way a melody can soften someone to a new idea.

"as an artist (and often an agitator), this is something i am keenly aware of. my most recent record 'mockingbird' deals with many sensitive issues including poverty, war, and the basic ethics by which we live and deal with others. but i found that music has been an exceptional means by which to get this potentially difficult conversation going. and this is certainly an important moment for dialogue amongst people who disagree about how to best love and take care of people, to get into the nuances of the issues.

"one of the things that excites me most about the future of our business is how easy it is becoming to deliver music to people who want to hear it. i heard a story once about keith green caring so much that people were able to hear and engage with his music that he gave it away for free, which was a very difficult and expensive thing to do at that time. it's actually never been as simple as it is today to connect music with music fans. and i want people to have a chance to listen to mockingbird and engage in the conversation.

"so this is why, on september 1st, we're launching freederekwebb.com, a place where anyone can go online and not just hear but actually download, keep, and share 'mockingbird' completely for free. In addition, freederekwebb.com will give you an opportunity to invite your friends to download 'mockingbird' in order to get them in on the conversation as well.

"we hope this bold campaign will provide a jumping off point for conversations about all of these issues, and communicate my commitment to playing my part in starting them. so please help us spread the word: on september 1st, 'mockingbird' will be set free!"

Enough to make me sick!

I sat down to watch the Manchester United vs Celtic match today in the hope of seeing a loss for the Parkhead team. Alas it was not to be and I discovered that 12 years away and I still can't stomach them winning anything. Not only was Saha missing the penalty hard to take, but the brilliantly taken Celtic goal was just too much, especially as the free-kick was given for a gold-medal worthy dive (i.e. it definitely wasn't a foul). Oh well, at least I won't have to read about it all in the papers tomorrow.

U218

Out today...
This was released today. I tried to get the deluxe version (with the live DVD) in Elliot Lake today, but to no avail. Hopefully I'll be able to get it when I go to Sudbury next week. I settled for the DVD today instead.

Remember

The Hour - one of the best shows on TV!

'The Hour' with George Stroumboulopoulos has been back for a few weeks now. For the first time the show is now on the CBC network as well as CBC Newsworld. So far he's had some great guests, including Viggo Mortensen, Alice Cooper, Ricky Williams, the Killers, and many others. If you are able to, check it out. If not, at least check out the website, where many of the interviews are archived.

Of course, George's biggest flaw is that he is a Habs fan. The following video shows what happened when he came up against the mighty Leafs...

Another missed concert...

This has been the year of missed concerts. I haven't made it to any yet so far this year and the clock is running out. Next week I will miss MuteMath in Toronto. Their new album came out at the end of September and I hope to have that soon. Anyway, here is 'Peculiar People' (live). Hope you enjoy it...