Our mayor who weighs 320 # was just released from hospital. Apparently, all of T.O. was waiting to see when he'd be released. Huh, news to me , as if I care.
Big money, as in cash reserves, is leaving or has left Europe. We're talking Shell oil and manufacturing concerns that have or will ship their cash reserves from European banks ( or the countries where that money was earned )to safer business environments. So, the bailouts will need to be bigger to cover the missing back up funds. This sounds like a Machiavellian plot. Hell, it is a Machiavellian plot. The world is screwed - duh, like we didn't know that. Big corporations dominate finance - another duh, of course. Time to segue away from this discussion.
Good news - ??????????????
The rain is back and soaking into the ground. We'll get 2 days minimum of water. This irrigation is much needed here. Farmers were looking at big losses and still are, even with this latest downpour.
Lawyers get scammed. YES couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys. Premise - potential client asks the lawyer to retrieve money owing
from a debtor. Debtor agrees to pay and sends a check. The lawyer pays out the money and the check bounces. There are some other nuances but that's it basically.
Q: What do you call ten thousand lawyers chained to-gether at the bottom of the ocean ?
A: a good start
BTW - all this is true, sort of, I got it from the newspaper. Which means in 10 days they'll publish a correction, stating they mucked up some details.
In light of the mass shooting in Co., a German sounding psychiatrist, noting the accused person's lack of presence of Facebook determined that we could have predicted the disaster by realizing the accused was cut off from the real world re: social networking.
Crikey man, I'm doomed. This blog is my social media and I got 2 readers - maybe 3, no 2 for sure.
I would think real,actual, warm blooded people should count first and I've got at least 2 friends, maybe 3, no 2 for sure.
I'm doomed.
Fishing report. The largemouth bass were big, not plentiful, I got pictures.
However, I've developed the habit of wearing a powder blue fishing shirt ( big pockets, sun collar and seen in many photos where the dude is trying to look like a fisherman ) and a blue bandanna ( wicks away moisture ) and a brown cap ( it reads STRATOS, the name of the boat company ).
The pictures are mostly taken, heck, all taken, in the boat, using the self-timer, camera on the front seat. I release 95 % of the bass. The upshot is all the photos are starting to look alike - you know oriental fisherman dressed in blue, holding big fish - well, sometimes.
Those bass are going to have to change their facial expression or scale colour - sheesh its that same green-brown all the time.
I always feel anyone can catch one bass - the experts can find many. I'm still catching them 1 or 2 at a time.
The loon colony was out again, the birds, the birds. I found a cool spot to waste 2 hours with a little breeze on Wed night. Tried 3 different lures and the oldest and least used produced a fish. The lure is called a Jitterbug by Arbogast.
Both these names are legendary in fishing. the 'bug' imitates a frog gurgling its way across the water. Do frogs gurgle ? , well apparently, bass think so. The action is phenomenal. Gurgle, gurgle ( a few more ) and then a huge splash and the line goes taut. normally, the bass inhale lures on the surface as only largemouth can do. I'm mean its the ' suck zone ' they take it all.
I mention the 'bug ' b/c it got # 1 spot in the greatest all time bass lures, this was on YouTube videos. A friend and I commented that it was such an old lure the pollster or pollees must be ancient. I mean there must be 40 or 50 new lures every year.
Hence, the attempt to ' bug' my way into a fish - that worked- once. Yep, once. 3 casts and bingo ! Then another 50 casts and nada.
Now to dig out all the other winners in the best lure poll, and they're all oldies too !
And of course, I've got them somewhere.
There is the old saying " The fisherman who dies with the most tackle - wins "
trust me - I'm in the running.
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Monday, 6 August 2012
Commercials that make you go......
GAG ME w/ a SPOON.
All tampon ads
Wilford Brimley hawking oatmeal - anything
I can imagine Huey Lewis doing those hearing aid commercials
I can flash to Paul Simon fronting ads for guaranteed life insurance
for M its the ' Juicy fruit ' ad w/ 3 men trapped on a life raft
Movie reviews cont'd.
" the Scorpion King " starring the Rock. There is a babe, Kelly Hu.
Nomadic assasin seeks revenge for a betrayal and loss of the last of his tribe. The babe is a sorceress and wears glittery bras and loin clothes , yep, eye candy.
Pluses, action and humour ( esp. via the Rock and Michael Clark Duncan )
Minuses - well lets not go there, after all I paid good money for it at Deja Vu
I'm watching it or watched it twice - once w/ the director's commentary. Normally, these commentaries are really self serving promos.
Russell , the director , does a decent job of outlining the shooting of the tSK.
Another good commentary is for " Second Hand Lions ". SHL stars Robert Duvall and Michael Caine and really --------------- as a young man thrust upon the ' uncles ' by Mom ( Kyra Sedgewick ).
The uncles are a mystery, having returned after a long absence and w/ money - bags of money.
The boy has been fostered out to rleatives and agencies so that Mom can live a freer life.
The boy and uncles bond and in the end get to stay to-gether.
A stellar performance by everyone, no blood, no sex and only the lion is naked.
All tampon ads
Wilford Brimley hawking oatmeal - anything
I can imagine Huey Lewis doing those hearing aid commercials
I can flash to Paul Simon fronting ads for guaranteed life insurance
for M its the ' Juicy fruit ' ad w/ 3 men trapped on a life raft
Movie reviews cont'd.
" the Scorpion King " starring the Rock. There is a babe, Kelly Hu.
Nomadic assasin seeks revenge for a betrayal and loss of the last of his tribe. The babe is a sorceress and wears glittery bras and loin clothes , yep, eye candy.
Pluses, action and humour ( esp. via the Rock and Michael Clark Duncan )
Minuses - well lets not go there, after all I paid good money for it at Deja Vu
I'm watching it or watched it twice - once w/ the director's commentary. Normally, these commentaries are really self serving promos.
Russell , the director , does a decent job of outlining the shooting of the tSK.
Another good commentary is for " Second Hand Lions ". SHL stars Robert Duvall and Michael Caine and really --------------- as a young man thrust upon the ' uncles ' by Mom ( Kyra Sedgewick ).
The uncles are a mystery, having returned after a long absence and w/ money - bags of money.
The boy has been fostered out to rleatives and agencies so that Mom can live a freer life.
The boy and uncles bond and in the end get to stay to-gether.
A stellar performance by everyone, no blood, no sex and only the lion is naked.
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Now, how do you feel ??
Canada won a GOLD medal, at the Olympics. the event, trampoline, yes, they have judges scores for this event.
However, I want to point something out. The 2 Canadian girls were 1 and 2 with two competitors left, both Chinese. The 1 st Chinese tramper got 2 nd place, dropping the 2 nd Canadian to 3 rd place.
The final Chinese girl was a world champion, it didn't look good. She did a great routine and then fell on the dismount. There was a pause as the score was calculated. the Chinese girl posted enough to take 2nd place.
The reaction from the announcer ' they gave her second place '. everyone knew what had happened. Later, he tried to explain the decision with a bunch of gobel-de-gook. What a farce in judging. The judges couldn't take the possible heat from the Chinese and folded. Am I Olympic-cynical ? yep.
We got drowned here last night, buckets of rain came down. Thunder and lightning for hours. To-day is overcast and rain is probable. temp is moderate 80 F.
This is a ' Bank holiday ' in English terms. A nationwide long week-end in Canadian terms. I guess we don't care if the banks get a holiday. The mid-point of the summer. Here in S, On at least far southern On. Our summer is marked by long week ends. The start of the CNE ( Canadian National Exhibition ) is the death knell for summer. the ' Ex' starts something like the 17 th of Aug.
At one time 20 yrs ago, the CNE was big stuff. Attendance at the Ex was in the 3 - 4 million range at least. Everyone had to go at least once. Now, maybe , I'm older and less keen but overall attendance is good if it hits 1 1/2 mill. They've added a casino and tried to up-tech the amusements. I haven't been in 27 years. I mean we've been married 25 and haven't gone.
Actually, its a standing joke in our house, 'this year we'll go to the Ex '.
For me, the Food Building was the highlight and I look like the FB was king.
I remember, $ 1 got you a bag filled w/ Nielson's chocolate or something and it would take you 3 days to eat it. Irony was the Neilson's plant was 1 street away and they sold seconds at the side door.
For 50 cents, you got a hotdog ( Shopsy's, a real big name in deli food ) and a drink ' honeydew ' orange , WOW , honeydew - couldn't wait. You realize honeydew is sugar water and orange dye #2, its probably a carcinogen.
They sold baby donuts, Tiny Tim, a dozen for $60 cents. We spent the day w/ white sugar circling our mouths.
I guess, this reminiscing, just gets worse from now on.
One good thing, the fishing is as good as I ever remember. And I'm having fun. This fun comes at expense, we maintain 2 homes basically - and of course - you know we drive back and forth between the 2 places. We are commuters and we don't work.
I get a boathouse and marine railway. I slip out for a morning fish and again at night. This pattern is a luxury for most boat owners or fisherman. and I get to do this multi-times a week.
However, I want to point something out. The 2 Canadian girls were 1 and 2 with two competitors left, both Chinese. The 1 st Chinese tramper got 2 nd place, dropping the 2 nd Canadian to 3 rd place.
The final Chinese girl was a world champion, it didn't look good. She did a great routine and then fell on the dismount. There was a pause as the score was calculated. the Chinese girl posted enough to take 2nd place.
The reaction from the announcer ' they gave her second place '. everyone knew what had happened. Later, he tried to explain the decision with a bunch of gobel-de-gook. What a farce in judging. The judges couldn't take the possible heat from the Chinese and folded. Am I Olympic-cynical ? yep.
We got drowned here last night, buckets of rain came down. Thunder and lightning for hours. To-day is overcast and rain is probable. temp is moderate 80 F.
This is a ' Bank holiday ' in English terms. A nationwide long week-end in Canadian terms. I guess we don't care if the banks get a holiday. The mid-point of the summer. Here in S, On at least far southern On. Our summer is marked by long week ends. The start of the CNE ( Canadian National Exhibition ) is the death knell for summer. the ' Ex' starts something like the 17 th of Aug.
At one time 20 yrs ago, the CNE was big stuff. Attendance at the Ex was in the 3 - 4 million range at least. Everyone had to go at least once. Now, maybe , I'm older and less keen but overall attendance is good if it hits 1 1/2 mill. They've added a casino and tried to up-tech the amusements. I haven't been in 27 years. I mean we've been married 25 and haven't gone.
Actually, its a standing joke in our house, 'this year we'll go to the Ex '.
For me, the Food Building was the highlight and I look like the FB was king.
I remember, $ 1 got you a bag filled w/ Nielson's chocolate or something and it would take you 3 days to eat it. Irony was the Neilson's plant was 1 street away and they sold seconds at the side door.
For 50 cents, you got a hotdog ( Shopsy's, a real big name in deli food ) and a drink ' honeydew ' orange , WOW , honeydew - couldn't wait. You realize honeydew is sugar water and orange dye #2, its probably a carcinogen.
They sold baby donuts, Tiny Tim, a dozen for $60 cents. We spent the day w/ white sugar circling our mouths.
I guess, this reminiscing, just gets worse from now on.
One good thing, the fishing is as good as I ever remember. And I'm having fun. This fun comes at expense, we maintain 2 homes basically - and of course - you know we drive back and forth between the 2 places. We are commuters and we don't work.
I get a boathouse and marine railway. I slip out for a morning fish and again at night. This pattern is a luxury for most boat owners or fisherman. and I get to do this multi-times a week.
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Tramp ( polin ) ing
Watching more Olympics, trampoline in particular was highlighted. Yep, they judge this one too. At least the track portion has started. The shotput was on the most.
We're warm and sticky, HH. This summer is supposed to be normal or average, and this year is the same as 2011. I don't recall that summer being so hot. It might be the dryness but the humidity is high. David Phillips of Env Canada once said people get used to a certain set of conditions and forget that over the long term our weather trends up or down. for instance, he mentioned S. On folks don't remember what a normal winter is b/c have been a little warmer over the last ten years.
This info makes me feel a little better about my memory from when I was young - er. I seem to recall more snow ( snowbanks over my head etc) and cold. Phillips said S. Ontarians aren't prepared for a normal winter in terms of clothing or car preparations ( tires, batteries etc ).
This ' normal ' is averaged over a long time but you'd think we would have some inkling of what is ' normal ' - I guess I'm thinking summers might be the same. Now, it doesn't help that I don't do well in the heat. Before I was married, my little bungalow went without A/C which means that I did without A/C also. But I was younger and tougher ( and too cheap ).
QMH has no A/C but we run for home when HH gets bad.
Fishing friends stay out all day in the summer, I just melt out there. I remember my brother when he was in Fla for the first time. for 2 days , he was outside 8 h a day.
Well, on day 3, he was inside staying cool and watered. You could be sitting beside him and feel the heat coming off his body. His pores looked like puncture holes in a piece of cheese.
He got smarter as a result.
I wear long sleeves and light sweats while fishing, yep, it gets warm, but that sun is no one's friend. Hat and bandana, too.
We're warm and sticky, HH. This summer is supposed to be normal or average, and this year is the same as 2011. I don't recall that summer being so hot. It might be the dryness but the humidity is high. David Phillips of Env Canada once said people get used to a certain set of conditions and forget that over the long term our weather trends up or down. for instance, he mentioned S. On folks don't remember what a normal winter is b/c have been a little warmer over the last ten years.
This info makes me feel a little better about my memory from when I was young - er. I seem to recall more snow ( snowbanks over my head etc) and cold. Phillips said S. Ontarians aren't prepared for a normal winter in terms of clothing or car preparations ( tires, batteries etc ).
This ' normal ' is averaged over a long time but you'd think we would have some inkling of what is ' normal ' - I guess I'm thinking summers might be the same. Now, it doesn't help that I don't do well in the heat. Before I was married, my little bungalow went without A/C which means that I did without A/C also. But I was younger and tougher ( and too cheap ).
QMH has no A/C but we run for home when HH gets bad.
Fishing friends stay out all day in the summer, I just melt out there. I remember my brother when he was in Fla for the first time. for 2 days , he was outside 8 h a day.
Well, on day 3, he was inside staying cool and watered. You could be sitting beside him and feel the heat coming off his body. His pores looked like puncture holes in a piece of cheese.
He got smarter as a result.
I wear long sleeves and light sweats while fishing, yep, it gets warm, but that sun is no one's friend. Hat and bandana, too.
Friday, 3 August 2012
the Olympic sideshow
Having travelled the ' tube ' in London , in May, we were very aware of the chaos and congestion possible w/ the advent of the Olympic throngs. The latest, poop, says the Olympics arrived - but no one was home.
Pre-warned , it seems, the bulk of London, scampered and found somewhere else to be. The upshot, business is down 33 to 40 %. The warnings via the government and media, sunk in. While business is hot near the venues, the core of the city got abandoned.
Last night, I vented on the Olympics. My contention, backed by the CTV announcer ( who might never work again for expressing herself ), was that events where judging took place should be eliminated from the Olympics. In gymnastics, the point system is so arcane, the colour commentators don't want to explain the system.
I further said that the olympic motto " higher, stronger ,faster " never said anything about ' pointi-er or goali-er ". So, all the sports that use judges or go over or into a net would be shelved. The comeback was that the some popular sports, would be gone , along with 40 % of the pro-athletes as well.
' What will fill the void ' I was asked. Tell people what the rules are, and sports will pop up.
To wit, I'm watching to-day and in the Velodrome, a new bicycle competition is on. Called Kieran, its a 6 person joggle for first place around the oval. Surprise, in Japan, its a pro sport with leagues. Described as Ski - X on bikes, its loudly cheered and exciting. The only judging is if you punch someone out.
Are my ideas extreme - you bet. However, faced w/ a point system, that can't be explained simply and the ever present motive to cheat, I think this is a no brainer. There are world championships for all sports. For the Oympics, your sport should be motivated by ' higher, stronger, faster ' not your make-up or your friends '. The athletes wear make-up for synchronized swimming - make-up in the pool !
In my world, things are copacetic or as in 'Last of the Mohicans ' - ' Another year passes, How is it with you, Uncas ? -- the Father of life is good '. There is no point system in our house - well not one that I can explain easily .
Did I mention ' Jonah Hex ' a movie based on Marvel comics. A civil war vet. is blessed (?) with the ability to talk to the dead. Jonah has a scar and a vendetta against the man who killed his family. The bad guy is Quenton ( John Malkovich, a great villain ). Jonah succeeds the U.S. is saved - again.
I was ellipticing and watching the mayhem and theatrics of JH. the girl is real cute and loves JH b/c he is so upfront. " Thats all I can give you girl ". A line that I never tried but it sure works for JH.
Pre-warned , it seems, the bulk of London, scampered and found somewhere else to be. The upshot, business is down 33 to 40 %. The warnings via the government and media, sunk in. While business is hot near the venues, the core of the city got abandoned.
Last night, I vented on the Olympics. My contention, backed by the CTV announcer ( who might never work again for expressing herself ), was that events where judging took place should be eliminated from the Olympics. In gymnastics, the point system is so arcane, the colour commentators don't want to explain the system.
I further said that the olympic motto " higher, stronger ,faster " never said anything about ' pointi-er or goali-er ". So, all the sports that use judges or go over or into a net would be shelved. The comeback was that the some popular sports, would be gone , along with 40 % of the pro-athletes as well.
' What will fill the void ' I was asked. Tell people what the rules are, and sports will pop up.
To wit, I'm watching to-day and in the Velodrome, a new bicycle competition is on. Called Kieran, its a 6 person joggle for first place around the oval. Surprise, in Japan, its a pro sport with leagues. Described as Ski - X on bikes, its loudly cheered and exciting. The only judging is if you punch someone out.
Are my ideas extreme - you bet. However, faced w/ a point system, that can't be explained simply and the ever present motive to cheat, I think this is a no brainer. There are world championships for all sports. For the Oympics, your sport should be motivated by ' higher, stronger, faster ' not your make-up or your friends '. The athletes wear make-up for synchronized swimming - make-up in the pool !
In my world, things are copacetic or as in 'Last of the Mohicans ' - ' Another year passes, How is it with you, Uncas ? -- the Father of life is good '. There is no point system in our house - well not one that I can explain easily .
Did I mention ' Jonah Hex ' a movie based on Marvel comics. A civil war vet. is blessed (?) with the ability to talk to the dead. Jonah has a scar and a vendetta against the man who killed his family. The bad guy is Quenton ( John Malkovich, a great villain ). Jonah succeeds the U.S. is saved - again.
I was ellipticing and watching the mayhem and theatrics of JH. the girl is real cute and loves JH b/c he is so upfront. " Thats all I can give you girl ". A line that I never tried but it sure works for JH.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
MMR
MMR - more movie reviews, I always hope the acronym will make you curious as to the body of the post - does it work ?
' Season of the Witch ' w/ Nicolas Cage ( nee Coppola ) and Ron Perlman. Two discouraged knights at the time of the Crusades are coerced into delivering a witch to a distant monastery. This movie has demons and possession with a little twist at the end. SotW got lousy reviews. Entertaining 6 / 10. Informative 4 / 10 , another side to NC 7 / 10. I bought SotW at the used DVD place. I lost money.
' War Inc ' pulls us back to my favourite movie topic. John Cusack doing John Cusack. A parody of the U.S. war effort in the Middle East. The focus is the corporate infringement in the region's politics and the arms build up. If you've seen ' Grosse Pointe Blank ' WI is a farcical repeat. Joan Cusack gets to be a assistant to her brother ( as in GPB ). The love interest is Hillary Duff ( of who we're not sure ) and Marisa Tomei gets to flirt w/ JC, a mercenary developing a heart, maybe. Used DVD, thank god. I'm out a little here, too.
" Thief of Time " the cheapest of the lot. I pulled even here. ToT is a Masterpiece Theatre American series program. The plot hinges on the archeology and underground business that takes place in and around the four corners region of the U.S. w/ the focus on the Navajo reserve and the native police force.
Starring Wes Studi and Adam Beach as the police and Graham Greene as an enterprising native w/ a dubious reputation. Tantoo Cardinal gets a little peek of a cameo. Overall, you feel as though somebody went through a lot to produce this story. Occasionally, the acting seems a little wooden or static but its got a little pop too.
' The Wrestler ' , yep , its about a wrestler near the end of his career. Actually, past the end of his career. Mickey O'Rourke plays Randy the " Ram " Robinson a legend in the wrestling world. Marisa Tomei is the love interest or not love interest. You get to see MT perform naked, thats not why I bought this DVD. MO does an OK job generating empathy and appreciation for his career and his relationship w/ fans and acquaintances. You don't need to be wrestling fan to watch this but it helps ( I guess ). I think you can get disallusioned as you watch the story unfold, not so much by the facade of the wretling game but life in general. MT looks good naked.
Overall, not a good set of purchases. However, going through the stacks at Deja Vu, I'm reminded my purchases aren't that bad. you should see some of the tiles that I skip through.
I forgot that I was going to buy ' John Carter on Mars ' , there must be some of those that got turned in. You got it , JCoM was a block buster bomb.
' Season of the Witch ' w/ Nicolas Cage ( nee Coppola ) and Ron Perlman. Two discouraged knights at the time of the Crusades are coerced into delivering a witch to a distant monastery. This movie has demons and possession with a little twist at the end. SotW got lousy reviews. Entertaining 6 / 10. Informative 4 / 10 , another side to NC 7 / 10. I bought SotW at the used DVD place. I lost money.
' War Inc ' pulls us back to my favourite movie topic. John Cusack doing John Cusack. A parody of the U.S. war effort in the Middle East. The focus is the corporate infringement in the region's politics and the arms build up. If you've seen ' Grosse Pointe Blank ' WI is a farcical repeat. Joan Cusack gets to be a assistant to her brother ( as in GPB ). The love interest is Hillary Duff ( of who we're not sure ) and Marisa Tomei gets to flirt w/ JC, a mercenary developing a heart, maybe. Used DVD, thank god. I'm out a little here, too.
" Thief of Time " the cheapest of the lot. I pulled even here. ToT is a Masterpiece Theatre American series program. The plot hinges on the archeology and underground business that takes place in and around the four corners region of the U.S. w/ the focus on the Navajo reserve and the native police force.
Starring Wes Studi and Adam Beach as the police and Graham Greene as an enterprising native w/ a dubious reputation. Tantoo Cardinal gets a little peek of a cameo. Overall, you feel as though somebody went through a lot to produce this story. Occasionally, the acting seems a little wooden or static but its got a little pop too.
' The Wrestler ' , yep , its about a wrestler near the end of his career. Actually, past the end of his career. Mickey O'Rourke plays Randy the " Ram " Robinson a legend in the wrestling world. Marisa Tomei is the love interest or not love interest. You get to see MT perform naked, thats not why I bought this DVD. MO does an OK job generating empathy and appreciation for his career and his relationship w/ fans and acquaintances. You don't need to be wrestling fan to watch this but it helps ( I guess ). I think you can get disallusioned as you watch the story unfold, not so much by the facade of the wretling game but life in general. MT looks good naked.
Overall, not a good set of purchases. However, going through the stacks at Deja Vu, I'm reminded my purchases aren't that bad. you should see some of the tiles that I skip through.
I forgot that I was going to buy ' John Carter on Mars ' , there must be some of those that got turned in. You got it , JCoM was a block buster bomb.
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
In the news
The next Olympic event, could be - wait - competitive ' pole dancing '. Apparently, there is huge fan base, usually centered around those arenas featuring liquor and loud pumping music.
In Canada, the Olympic time joke was, we feel sorry for the Americans - all they can win is gold . We're on 5 bronze and 1 silver.We are trying not to hog the medals.
Gore Vidal died, William F. Buckley is rolling over. 2 authors / 2 days.
My fav. fishing bud, is taking me to dimsum ( he can order in Chinese ). Then we go ' joy shopping ' ( sort of like, joy riding, more expensive but safer ).
I updated, the blog entry from yesterday, am I sore, is rice white ? Wow, that is one strong post.
In Canada, the Olympic time joke was, we feel sorry for the Americans - all they can win is gold . We're on 5 bronze and 1 silver.We are trying not to hog the medals.
Gore Vidal died, William F. Buckley is rolling over. 2 authors / 2 days.
My fav. fishing bud, is taking me to dimsum ( he can order in Chinese ). Then we go ' joy shopping ' ( sort of like, joy riding, more expensive but safer ).
I updated, the blog entry from yesterday, am I sore, is rice white ? Wow, that is one strong post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)