Least Popular Holiday Songs

A recent Top 10 List on the Late Show with David Letterman brought us the Top 10 Least Favourite Holiday Songs.

Here they are now for you to enjoy!

God Bless Us Everyone

I think I say this every year but, "Where has the time gone?"

To find ourselves on the brink of another Christmas is something I just can't come to grips with as it feels like the year only just begun. However I guess it's true, as you get older, the years just fly by and roll one into another. I suppose all we can do is make the most of the present and not worry about the past or fear the future.

This has been my busiest year on the blog with more posts than ever before. I hope to keep that pace next year but only time will tell.

As this is such a busy time of year, I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all of my family, friends and blog visitors all the best for a Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year in 2009.

Have a safe holiday season.

Christmas Long Ago
A Christmas Poem by Jo Geis

Frosty days and ice-still nights,
Fir trees trimmed with tiny lights,
Sound of sleigh bells in the snow,
That was Christmas long ago.

Tykes on sleds and shouts of glee,
Icy-window filigree,
Sugarplums and candle glow,
Part of Christmas long ago.

Footsteps stealthy on the stair,
Sweet-voiced carols in the air,
Stocking hanging in a row,
Tell of Christmas long ago.

Starry nights so still and blue,
Good friends calling out to you,
Life, so fact, will always slow...
For dreams of Christmas long ago.

Heroes Return Home

This afternoon on a cold December day, I joined thousands of my fellow Canadians between Trenton, Ontario and Toronto, as we showed our support and said thank you to the latest three Canadian soldiers to die in Afghanistan.

The vantage point I chose was in Trenton at the on-ramp to Highway 401 which is also now known as the Highway of Heroes in honour of the fighting men and women who have given their lives in defense of our country.

The mood was somber and friendly. The consensus of those I spoke with was that we hope we'll never have to do this again, but should the need arise, we will be there to show our support.

Here are a few quick photos I took as the procession went by. You can click on the photos to see them larger.

Memorable Body Checks

It's hockey season and I'm sick of hearing about Steve Avery and his brain-dead antics.

Instead, lets sit back and enjoy some of my favourite NHL Body Checks of all time. No insightful commentary or analysis from me. I'll let my choices or rather the actions on the ice speak for themselves.

Enjoy!

April 2008 - Corey Sarich nails Patrick Marleau


Dion Phaneuf launches Denis Hamel


Scott Stevens concusses Eric Lindros


2006 NHL Playoffs
Brian Campbell destroys R.J. Umberger

Highway of Heroes Too Busy

It's never the right time to hear about the passing of our Canadian soldiers but it's always harder to learn of this news at this time of year.

Three more Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, bringing the total lost to 103 since the mission began six years ago.

These loses never become any easier and the families of those lost have an even tougher reality to deal with.

Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton, Pte. John Michael Roy Curwin and Pte. Justin Peter Jones, based at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick, were killed by a roadside bomb (IED) in the morning as they were responding to reports people were planting a suspicious object west of Kandahar city.

I hope to make it down to the local base where the bodies of these men will be flown to for a repatriation ceremony prior to making their way along the Highway of Heroes to Toronto.

I have seen far too many soldiers return home in this fashion but I can only hope that these will be the last to return this way.

I do, however, feel a sense of pride when I see the number of average Canadians who come out to pay their respects to the soldiers and their families at this time of tragedy. Along the entire route from the base in Trenton all the way to Toronto, people line the highway and stand quietly on the bridges to show their respect and to say thank you for giving their lives in defence of their country.

I was recently surprised to see an American television network news program do a story on the Highway of Heroes. This NBC report took place on Veterans Day / Remembrance Day.

Holiday Ho Hum

I'm having a heck of a time trying to get into the holiday spirit this year.

Why I'm not feeling jolly is a mystery to me. Perhaps it's just the fact that it doesn't feel like Christmas yet. It's plenty cold enough and we've already had snow but I can't come to grips with the fact that it's mid-December already.

I've finished half of my Christmas shopping and still have a few more gifts to buy. Actually, I'll have to come up with some ideas before I make any more purchases before the 25th.

Of course having to take my car into the shop to replace my second windshield in less than a year has me feeling somewhat humbugish.

I think what I need is some holiday punch and some musical holiday tunes to put me in the mood.

So, here are a couple of my favourite Christmas tunes to jump start my cheer and for you to enjoy as well.

Merry Christmas Baby by Bruce Springsteen


The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole

I Need A Wunder Boner

I don't fish but if I did, you can bet I'd have to have one of these.

And if I did, all my friends would want to get their hands on my Wunder Boner.

Super Bowl a Super Ripoff

I've never attended an NFL game in person before. I've been to several CFL games in Toronto in the past and they were fun but I’ve always wanted to sit in the stands and experience an NFL battle.

I have come to the conclusion, however, that the Super Bowl is not the game I should go to for my first experience. Don’t get me wrong…I’d love to go to the Championship Game but there’s no way I can justify spending that kind of money.

This season the Super Bowl is being held in Tampa, Florida at Raymond James Stadium on February 1st. As it so happens, I’m going to be in the Tampa area at that time and figured, “Hey…why not look into getting some tickets?” Needless to say I wasn’t looking very long.

The cheapest seats available cost $2,137 for one ticket in the nosebleed section of the end zone. By comparison, the most expensive ticket around mid-field lower level would set me back $6,364 per ticket. Of course…this is in U.S. funds and doesn’t take into account the exchange rate.

I may be a fan, I may like football and I may be a lot of other things but insane isn’t one of them. Obviously I won’t be attending the game but will probably just watch it on my brother’s TV instead.

I understand it’s the game of the year and the league and the city of Tampa want to make as much money from the event as possible but the prices mean there’s no way any average working person who’s a fan could possibly afford to attend the game. The Super Bowl is only for the elite fan with money to burn or the wannabes who don’t even watch football but will attend just to keep up appearances. Celebrities come to mind.

Curiosity also forced me to look at the prices to attend just a regular season game in any NFL city. I picked Washington and Cincinnati for no particular reason.

My faith was restored to some degree. In Washington, the cheapest tickets were $112 while the most expensive ran around $570 at field level. Sure they aren’t cheap either but at least an average guy could probably afford to attend a game or two.

If you live in Cincinnati, you might want to go to a few more games during the season. The cheapest seats available were $12. No…that isn’t an error, at least not on my part. Twelve bucks gets you a seat in Paul Brown Stadium. The most expensive seats were around $250.

So after doing this little bit of research, I’ve come to this conclusion. If I’m going to attend my first NFL game it will likely be during the regular season. That is, of course, unless someone reads this and wants to take pity on me and buy me a couple of tickets to Super Bowl XLIII. I’m not opposed to accepting charity.

Also, don't feel too bad for me...I'm going to attend a Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens NHL game while I'm there instead. That only cost $100 per ticket.

Obama Victory Means Disaster

I actually thought the election of Barrack Obama was a good thing at first. It was good for African Americans who witnessed something that they thought might never happen. Plus it's probably a good thing for the United States and their relationship with the rest of the world.

The last eight years Bush in the Oval Office have put a major strain on relations and the overall view of the world towards the U.S. has taken a severe beating. I think and hope Obama will do a lot to reach out to the world and welcome old friends once again. The U.S. was becoming like that relative you only want to see when you have to instead of your favourite Uncle who always made you feel good and safe.

Of course my only real worry when I witnessed history that election night was how long until the Earth faces extinction or disaster. If my years of watching movies and television have taught me anything, it's that when a black man becomes the President of the United States of America, it is soon followed by either a terrorist attack or an asteroid racing toward the planet intent on killing us all.

The President on the TV show 24 had to deal with a nuclear bomb. The President on the movie The Fifth Element had an alien life form ready to destroy the earth and of course the most famous example has to be Morgan Freeman as the President in the movie Deep Impact where two comets threaten to kill all life on the planet when they hit. It's not a great track record.

I certainly don't think anything like this will happen but the signs are starting to appear. Just last week a giant 10 tonne meteor raced across the skies of Saskatchewan and Alberta. This event was witnessed by thousands of people and a few dozen Prairie Dogs.

Is this a coincidence...or is this only the beginning.


Here is actual dashcam footage from a Police cruiser of the recent meteor.

Kenny MacLean Found Dead

I was shocked to learn this morning that one of my favourite Canadian musical performers had passed away over the weekend. Kenny MacLean was 52.

For many of my readers you may not recognize the name or remember his music but I grew up listening to him, both as a solo artist and with his 80's band mates in Platinum Blonde. Their music was part of the soundtrack to my youth.

MacLean had just released his third solo album last Friday at a club in Toronto where he had been joined by Mark Holmes, former lead singer of Platinum Blonde.

It is being reported that MacLean's sister Pamela had been unable to contact the musician. She went to his studio and apartment on Yonge Street and had the landlord let her in. She found MacLean collapsed in the bathroom with the tap running. He also had a home in the city.

The cause of death is not yet known, but police say they are not treating MacLean's death as suspicious.

I remember fondly the music of Platinum Blonde with hits like Standing in the Dark, Crying Over You and It Doesn't Really Matter. MacLean also spent time in another band called the Deserters. His solo success also produced some memorable songs as well. Here he is during an appearance on the French music video station Musique Plus singing his hit, "Don't Look Back".

Beam Me Up in 2009

I don't usually get too excited about upcoming movie releases. Rarely do I actually go to the theatre to watch a movie when it's first released. Today I usually wait until they're released on DVD before I'll see a movie I think I'll enjoy.

When I was younger I would go to more movies because it was something to do with your friends. I payed to see a lot of crappy flicks when I was a kid. A few that come to mind are Iron Eagle, Gremlins and Spaceballs. OK...Spaceballs wasn't great but it was damn funny.

It's so rare for me to visit a theatre to see a movie on the big screen that I have only been to two movies in the last five years. In 2003 I went on Boxing Day to see The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and in 2007 I went to see Bruce Willis in Live Free or Die Hard.

As for what's in theatre's now or in the near future, there's only one movie I'd like to see and that's the latest James Bond thriller, Quantum of Solace. However odds are good I'll wait for it to come out on DVD as well.

As for movies that will be released in 2009, there are two right now that have me thinking I might actually spend the money to see them on the big screen. The first one is Tranformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen which is due out in June.

The other one surprises even myself since I've only been a casual fan of the TV series or the previous movies but this one looks interesting and could be quite entertaining.

I'm talking of course about Star Trek. The movie will chronicle the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members. It looks to be full of action and will likely look better on a big screen. I'm not a Trekie but I think I would enjoy it. It's due out in May of 2009.

For a sneak peek of Star Trek...have a look at this movie trailer.

California Wildfires Devastating

Every year we seem to hear about the fires in California that ravage hillsides and communities burning everything in their path. It is horrible.

According to fire officials, Firefighters will need at least until midweek to get control of wildfires that have destroyed more than 700 homes in Southern California.

High winds have fanned blazes from Santa Barbara to Anaheim since Thursday, scorching an estimated 35,000 acres of land. The largest of three fires, the Freeway Complex fire, had set ablaze nearly 24,000 acres in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties.

Most of the damage was in Orange County, in the Los Angeles suburbs of Anaheim and Yorba Linda, where more than 100 homes were destroyed.

A friend of mine (Chad) through hockey comes from Yorba Linda and I got word from him yesterday that his parent's home was one of those destroyed by the fire. I certainly send my thoughts and prayers to his family and hope they can recover as quickly as possible.

Here is a photo showing before and after the fire swept through their neighbourhood. I can't imagine how sick they must feel but I'm sure they're all happy to be alive and able to rebuild.

Click on photo for a bigger view

90 Years of Remembering

On Tuesday morning I woke up early on a day off and decided to get mobile and head down to the local Cenotaph for the Remembrance Day service.

I was glad I did. I always support our troops and I certainly appreciate the sacrifices made by those who fought to defend our freedoms but I rarely have had the opportunity to attend the service in person.

Despite the cool November weather the attendance was great.

I hope where ever you were you took a minute to reflect, respect and remember.

I snapped some photos while I was there. Just click on the photos if you'd like to see them larger.

Photos Copyright © 2008 Mark Kennedy. All rights reserved.

Memories of Bob & Doug

Won't you join me as we travel back to the 1980's and the phenomenon that helped to define Canadians and how the rest of the world viewed us.

When was the last time you called someone a "Hoser" or told them to "Take Off Eh"?

Of course we have Bob and Doug McKenzie of SCTV to thank for this.

Even today when I visit the United States and someone I meet finds out I'm a Canadian they call me a hoser. Of course, we aren't really like Bob and Doug but they weren't all wrong either. There is some truth to their sketch comedy.

To see a video CBC feature that was done during the peak of the "Great White North" revolution, click here.

Take A Moment To Remember

Tuesday is Remembrance Day here in Canada.

I hope you've been wearing your poppy.

It is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918.

While any relatives of mine who served have passed away I do have a family friend who is nearly 90 years old and served in WWII. He doesn't speak about the war often but from time to time he will speak of some memories of that time.

Of course there have been many conflicts involving Canadians and the continue to fight and die for their country today in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

Take a moment to remember them at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Here is a video by Terry Kelly that you have most likely watched before but it's always worth watching again.

Where Have I Been?

I want to apologize to my loyal readers who make it a point to stop by a few times a week just to see what I've been thinking.

I haven't had an update in a while and there's two reasons for that.

1. I have been busy with other stuff in my life.
2. I just haven't had anything to complain or talk about lately.

I could talk about the historic election results south of the border in the United States but if you're like me, you were sick of all the election talk long before Obama was announced as the winner. It's not that I don't recognize the significance of the event. I've just moved beyond it already.

I spent more time on Tuesday night watching the American election coverage than I did the night of our own Canadian election. Honestly...our election is incredibly boring compared to the U.S. election. The Canadian government could learn a lot from the Americans when it comes to getting the people excited about politics.

Lets be honest, our leaders are about as charismatic as a pile of manure. They're like some of the Dwarfs from Snow White.

Lets see...Prime Minister Harper (Conservatives) would be "Borey" for his monotone voice and ability to kill the enthusiasm in all who come in conatact with him.

I'd call Stéphane Dion (Liberals) "Whiney" as his skill and ability to blame everyone else but himself for his parties failures is quite impressive.

Jack Layton (NDP)could only be named "Dorky" because lets face it...he's a dorky looking guy who does a great job of picking on everyone else but can't produce any good problem solving ideas of his own.

Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois) is an easy one..."Snotty". It must be tough trying to run the party for Quebec Nationalists with a 2X4 jammed up your anus all the time. However you can bet that René Lévesque would be proud of the Canada hating jackass. I'd tell him the same thing that I'd tell any immigrants to Canada...if you don't like the way things are done here and you don't want to live by our rules and beliefs...then don't let the airplane door hit you in the butt as you leave to find another country to live in. Actually...I probably wouldn't be that polite.

Finally there's Elizabeth May (Green Party). I won't give her a name since her party is a complete joke any way.

For some reason I just find the American political system more interesting. I realize the Canadian system is all about history as well as it is based on the British system. However, nobody said that was any good either.

Although I didn't support Barrack Obama and his party I don't have anything against the man and I think he'll likely do about as good a job as McCain would have. Lets face it, neither one of them would have had a tough act to follow.

Ontario Cell Phone Ban

It might be free of charge to call 911 on your cell phone but don't get caught doing it while your car is in motion, or you could be the one facing charges.

Ever since the first cell phone was used by motorists in Ontario the controversy and debate over their use has been a hot topic. Does talking on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle make you a worse driver and a hazard on the roads? I can't believe I'm going to say this but "yes it does".

Now let me explain that. I have been a regular user of my cell phone while driving since I first bought a cell phone some 12 + years ago. I have not had an accident. I have not caused an accident and I have not come close to being in an accident.

Maybe I've just been lucky but I honestly think what I stated in my blog post of March 10, 2007 still rings true today. People who are good drivers can operate a motor vehicle and converse on a cell phone at the same time. A bad driver is just made that much worse when they're talking on the phone or doing something other than paying attention to the road.

In case you hadn't heard, the Liberal government at Queen's Park will be introducing a long sought bill to ban not only cell phone use behind the wheel in Ontario, but all electronic distractions in your car.

The bill will be introduced at 1:45pm next Tuesday (Oct. 28/08).

It's not clear yet exactly what will be in the legislation, expected to be brought out for first reading by Transport Minister Jim Bradley, but there are reports it will prohibit all use of phones, BlackBerrys and GPS devices by drivers in this province, with the possible exception of hand's-free devices.

It appears the law will only apply to those behind the wheel and not passengers in the front or back seat.

If this becomes a law I will comply...but the Liberals (who I voted for last election) will not get another vote from me ever. Are they going to pay for the new $140 earpiece so I can still use my phone? I highly doubt it. That's right though, you'll still be able to talk on the phone...just not with the phone in your hand up to your ear. You'll be able to use one of those goofy looking in your ear dohickey's.

Don't get me wrong. I think it's a smart idea for drivers to not talk on the phone while driving but why should I be penalized for no reason. I haven't had a problem driving and talking. In fact, I've come closer to getting into a fender bender by trying to change the radio.

If it's a matter of pubic safety, then I'm all for it but why stop at cell phones and other hand held electronics. Lets stop all stupidity behind the wheel. Make the law cover drivers eating food or drinking beverages. How about women checking their make-up or applying lipstick. Why not ban talking to any of the passengers in the vehicle. That can be a distraction as well.

I am sick of the government meddling in my life and telling me what I can and can't do. It may be a good idea but this penalizes me when I haven't done anything wrong. My MPP has done nothing for me and while I like Lou Rinaldi as a person, I can no longer support him or his party of choice. I am a Liberal supporter no more!

So, while I'm driving my way to the electronics store to by a new hands-free Jawbone, I think I'll call Lou to tell him what I think of his boss Dalton.

Go McCain & Palin

You know, I'm usually not a very political person...especially when it comes to the politics of the United States.

But when you consider how much the policies and economy of the U.S. effect Canada and the rest of the world for that matter, I can't help but have some interest.

I don't have a vote but if I did it would go for McCain. I think Obama is a nice guy but that hardly qualifies you to be President of the the most powerful nation on the planet. I don't like Hillary Clinton either but there's no way she'd allow herself or the U.S. to be pushed around or bullied. To be quite honest...she's a hard-assed bitch. She was definitely the better choice to run for President but once again her party screwed up and it will likely cost them come election day. Or at least I hope it will cost them.

McCain may be getting on in years but there's a lot of fight and experience in him and he's ready to take his rightful spot in the White House. If you're worried that he might die and Palin would take over...have no fear. Look how long Cheney has lasted.

Another thing that kind of bothers me and I think hurts Obama's chances is when celebrities come out in support of him and do stupid things that only make themselves look like fools and help convince undecided voters to vote for McCain.

One such celebrity is Hayden Panettiere who stars on the television program "Heroes". When a bonehead such as her thinks Obama is the choice and does something like this to show her support...I think I'd be trying to distance myself from it as quickly as possible.

Caution...this video contains foul language. (the F-bomb in particular)

If you say so Hayden....now why don't you go save another dolphin and disappear for a long time.

Skateboarders Are Smart

Alright, I'll admit that Tony Hawk is a pretty nice guy and has made a great living as the world's oldest teenager riding around and competing on his skateboard. He's 40 by the way.

But for every guy who makes it as a professional skateboarder (I can't believe that's a profession) there's five hundred thousand losers wearing baggy underwear showing pants, sideways hats and talking like they're from a different race contributing nothing to society except broken curbs and graffiti covered skate parks.

Nine times out of ten you can probably look at their parents and shake your head slowly while thinking..."it all makes sense".

Here now for your enjoyment is yet another leader of tomorrow wasting his life while at the same time doing us all a favour by guaranteeing he won't be able to produce any offspring of his own. If I didn't know any better I'd say God was trying to send this boy a message.

Could You Repeat That Joe?

I'm not a super political person but I like to keep an eye on what's happening stay informed.

Now that the Canadian Federal election is over and millions of dollars was spent to basically end up with the same results prior to the election, I can spend a bit more time following the final weeks of the United States campaigns.

I've never been a fan of George W. Bush and I don't have any problems revealing that. He is America's biggest embarrassment in modern day history if not longer. I don't blame the Republican Party for everything and I think Bush was unfortunate to be President during a very troubling period of world history. The point is, he wasn't the man for the job that was placed in front of him.

John McCain is NOT Bush and I believe McCain is the best choice to be the next President. He probably could have made a better choice for a running mate but if Sarah Palin did take on the role of Commander and Chief, she couldn't do any worse than Bush. If you can put aside that choice and look objectively at his credentials, he is the most qualified person and has the backbone to not only lead but protect the people of the U.S. As a neighbour and fellow NATO country, I would feel much safer with McCain in power.

Barack Obama is not the man for the job this time around. I think he could be an excellent President one day but he needs more experience before that happens. As for his running mate, Joe Biden had proven in the past he should think before he speaks.

The most glaring example has to be when he recollected his fellow Americans watched FDR on television during the 1929 stock market crash. Of course the Biden family must have been the only one's in the world with a television at that time.

Oh sure, a few blunders here and there isn't a big deal and to be honest, Biden is a better choice than Palin but what fun is it when you can't make fun of politicians and the people in power. It makes us feel better.

Here is one of my favourite Joe Biden blunders. He really should lean to count.

Remembering Hinterland

If you're Canadian and over the age of 30, chances are at some point growing up you've seen the Hinterland Who's Who commercials on TV from the Canadian Wildlife Service and Environment Canada.

These informative vignettes first appeared in the early 1960's and educated Canadians on nature and the wildlife that inhabits our great nation. They brought native wildlife into living rooms using excellent film footage and simple narration. They became, and remain, an enduring part of Canadian culture.

As a kid, I don't think I appreciated them as much as I do now. Back then I hated school and these informational commercials came off as more teaching in the comfort of my own home. I didn't want to learn anything on "my time".

But now, I enjoy hearing the lonely flute of the background music and the nostalgia of those pieces. They take me back to a simpler time.

They were a great way to learn about nature and the wildlife that resides within our borders. If you'd like to view some of the old and newer videos, click on the link above to visit their website and check out their media gallery.

Here's one I came across online to remind you of the way they used to be.


And here's a spoof that someone put together based on these old public service announcements. It's kind of funny.

Happy Thanksgiving Fellow Canucks

I was going to sit here and type out some of the reasons I have to be thankful this holiday but decided I'd spare you of all that crap.

Everyone in my family is healthy, as far as I know, and that's about all we can ask for. Actually, a longer summer would be nice.

Suffice to say things could be a lot worse and they can always be better. I'm right there in the middle and meaty part of the "giving thanks" curve.

As long as the turkey is cooked, the potatoes are mashed, the gravy isn't lumpy and the vegetables aren't al dente I'll be happy. If I can push myself away from the table, roll my big butt into the living room to the comfy chair, undo my pants and watch some TV, it will be a great day.

Of course the sad news is I'm working the entire weekend which is good and bad.
Good: because I can always use the hours and the money.
Bad: because it's another long weekend where the weather is great, I could have been golfing and seeing friends and just enjoying life a little.

Oh well, there's always next weekend. My luck; it will probably rain.

Any way, Happy Thanksgiving everyone and don't forget to vote on Tuesday in the Federal Election. As I always say...if you don't vote, you can't complain.

Ah Wunnerful Ah Wunnerful

A recent Saturday Night Live sketch sparked a memory for me that I'm sure many people my age or perhaps a bit older might have experienced.

As a child my parents would load my brother and I into the car almost every weekend and we'd make the short 40 minute trip to my Grandparents house. It was a great place for a kid to have fun getting into mischief. Today they are both gone but the house is still there with new owners and it has been turned into a Bed and Breakfast.

My memories are quite vivid though. It was a rather large house on several acres of land. There was an old barn, a large vegetable garden, an old chicken coup with only the foundation remaining. There was a makeshift swing hanging from a pear tree in the middle of the circular gravel driveway that we used to swing on. The property was littered with large trees and I think some were walnut.

The house sat along Highway 2 and across the road was a small stream where my brother and I would catch speckled trout. My grandfather used to sell dew worms by the dozen to fisherman and he had an old Coca-Cola cooler he'd keep them in. In the evenings we'd place orange paper over the ends of our flashlights and after dark we'd walk around the yard picking worms to be sold.

With such a big garden, the whole family would work in it by planting and harvesting the vegetables. I used to enjoy using the rototiller to chew up the ground. Digging up the potatoes was fun but I can remember getting in trouble when I got a little too close with the pitchfork and speared the odd spud.

Any way, back to what got me to thinking about all of this. On Saturday nights, I believe, after supper my Grandfather had to watch his favourite show. We'd all gather in front of the T.V. and before long we'd hear the unmistakable sounds of The Lawrence Welk Show.

There he'd be with his conductors baton in his hand; wearing an ugly blue 70's suit with an audience full of seniors ready to enjoy some of "their" champagne music. Myron Floren would perform on his accordion, Bobby and Cissy would dance a number or two, the Lennon Sisters would harmonize together, Dick Dale would swing on his saxophone or sing a song and Norma Zimmer's soprano voice never failed.

I'm not going to lie, it wasn't my favourite music or entertainment but it brought the whole family together and certainly left its mark on me.

So what got me to thinking about all of this? Have a look at the video below. Perhaps I have a strange sense of humour but I laughed out loud watching it.

The "Juice" Gets Squeezed

I guess the "real killers" can relax because "The Juice" won't be able to look for them anymore.

It took 13 years to the exact day of his acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, but a jury finally got one right and O.J. Simpson is going to prison.

Simpson was found guilty of all 12 counts in the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas, Nevada, casino hotel last year.

The jury of nine men and three women, none of them African-American, began deliberations Friday after hearing from 22 witnesses over 12 days of testimony. Chief among the witnesses were seven of the nine people inside Room 1203 of the Palace Station Hotel and Casino for the September 13, 2007 confrontation. Prosecutors alleged that the men, led by Simpson, burst into the room, flashed a gun and threatened the memorabilia dealers.

The men then filled two pillowcases with Simpson trinkets, signed Pete Rose baseballs and Joe Montana lithographs. Simpson's defense attorneys maintained their client was merely trying to retrieve personal photographs and other mementos that belonged to him.

How much time he'll get has yet to be determined as sentencing is scheduled for December 5th. It likely won't be enough though.

Anyone who followed the murder trial in 1995 and felt Simpson should have been found guilty of that crime will no doubt feel some vindication. Sadly, although he most likely did commit those murders, the complete screw-up by the L.A. Police and the racism of one particular officer must have put enough doubt in the minds of the jurors of that trial that they had to acquit him

I know my jaw drops to the floor every time I watch this video.

R.I.P. Reggie

The world lost an acting legend earlier today when we learned that Paul Newman had passed away after losing a long battle with cancer at the age of 83.

His career was second to none. Newman was nominated 10 times for an Academy Award and finally took one home for best-actor for The Color of Money in 1986 and he also received two honorary Oscars.

As a leading man he starred in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and his love of racing was well known as a part owner of his own race team. He was also an avid driver himself.

I think he enjoyed playing the anti-hero — most notably, in Cool Hand Luke (1967), where he starred as a man who refuses to conform to life in a rural prison, in Butch Cassidy (1969), in which he played an outlaw, and in The Sting (1973), playing a con man.

The very first movie I can recall seeing him in was the 1974 disaster film, The Towering Inferno.

The list of his movies is amazing and you can view them by visiting his page on the Internet Movie Database.

From his brand of Newman's Own line of salad dressings, pasta sauces and salsa created in 1982 to his contributions to the fight against cancer and helping people to fight drug addiction he did it all.

Of course the role I will always remember him for was as Player-Coach Reggie Dunlop in what I consider to be not only the best hockey movie but the best sports movie of all time...Slap Shot (1977). It is a classic.

Here now for you to enjoy is a clip from that movie where Coach Dunlop finally gives the Hanson Brothers their shot to play for the Charlestown Chiefs. This clip is rated PG.

Embarrassed By CFL

I love football and in particular I loved playing football in high school.

I would have loved to continue playing after Grade 13 but I went to a College that didn't have the game. Sadly in Canada it's only the Universities that have football programs.

I will admit I enjoyed playing the Canadian game much more than I do watching it on T.V. It just isn't as much fun when you aren't banging bodies yourself.

But since my "glory years" are behind me, all I have is my memories and the weekly games on television to keep me entertained.

I honestly believe the Canadian game is better than the NFL but our friends south of the border know how to hype it up. Three downs is always tougher than four. I don't know how they can't get a first down every time they're on offense. But this isn't about debating which game is better or worse.

The one thing that has always bothered me regardless of which league I'm watching is the idiots who score a touchdown and have to do some crazy dance or one act play to celebrate. I can remember when you used to get a penalty just for spiking the football. Now it has just gone overboard with players jumping into the stands, wiping and burping the ball like a baby, doing a dance or pretending to pose for the imaginary camera your teammate is holding. It's a joke.

Maybe I'm bitter because I never scored a TD. I just sacrificed my body to make sure some other candy ass running back or receiver could get the glory.

This brings me to the latest incident that rekindled my disdain for these showboating boneheads. I was embarrassed when I saw this during a recent Canadian Football League game. The only thing that helped me to stomach some of it was that most of these guys (4 out of 5 I think) are American. It's time to play Duck, Duck, Goose.

It's Official: I'm An Uncle

I am pleased to report that I am officially an Uncle as of 2:38pm this afternoon.

Congratulations to my brother Scott and Sister-in-law Erin on the birth of their first child.

Noah Wilmot arrived in Sarasota, Florida and weighes 8 pounds 2 ounces.

Both mother and son are doing fine. The new Dad sounded a bit frazzled over the phone though.

Grandpa Wilmot and Grandma Joan were thrilled with the news of the arrival of their first Grandchild.

SNL Season Opening Sketch

I have been a fan of Saturday Night Live for a long time. I suppose it goes all the way back to the Not Ready For Prime Time Players, although I was just a young lad then.

Any way, another season of the late night comedy sketch show kicked off on Saturday night with Michael Phelps as the guest host. Although the show on the whole wasn't as humourous as it could have been, the opening sketch was pretty funny.

Here's that sketch.

Clip of the Week - September 15/08

As I'm typing this, the remnants of Hurricane Ike, now Tropical Depression Ike, is making its way across my area. It's just the edge of the remaining storm here and the worst weather is to the north of me.

The storm produced strong winds, high storm surge and plenty of flooding and damage along its path. Many lives were lost as a result of it as well.

Some strong winds and heavy rain are most likely what we'll see here in Ontario.

The storm wasn't without its humourous moments. Here are two videos for you to view.

The first shows one idiot dealing with the storm in his own funny, albeit stupid manner. The second video gives a good indication of just how strong the winds were associated with this system.

Clip of the Week - September 8/08

This Thursday marks the 7th Anniversary of one of the most horrific and unbelievable days of my generation.

Like the generations before me, I've seen wars and acts of hatred toward our fellow man but I think the attack of September 11, 2001 was a clear reminder of how much hatred really exists in this world.

I'm sure many people would like to forget that day and move on, hoping that something like that will never happen again or perhaps pretend that it never happened in the first place. I think that is the worst thing we can do.

Although evil acts like this may be beyond our control, we need to always be aware that someone or some group is always out there thinking of ways to attack freedom and take innocent lives.

I will always remember that day, what I was thinking and how I felt as those cowards took the lives of thousands of innocent people who's only mistake was to begin their day like everyone else in a free society.

Below you will find a few clips of a documentary of the day which interviews the Mayor of New York and used amateur video that every day citizens took. I realize you may not want to watch all of it, or any for that matter but I think it's important not to forget what took place. If you are easily upset then I want to make it clear that some images will be difficult for you to view. There is also strong language that may be found offensive but certainly captures the emotions of this emotional day.


Part One


Part Two


Part 3


Part 4

Canadian Hero: Terry Fox

The 27th annual Terry Fox Run takes place in Canada on Sunday September 14th.

Terry Fox became a National hero in 1980 when he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean to begin his Marathon of Hope. I was 12 years old when his dream of running across Canada and raising $1 for every Canadian began. Terry was running to raise money to fight cancer and to help with research to one day find a cure.

Although Terry died before finishing his cross-country journey, his message was received loud and clear. At first Canadians responded by raising $3.5 million during the first run in 1981. Since then, the dream grew and the run is held all over the world and over $400 million has been raised for cancer research.

Terry may be gone but he touched us all and he left his mark on. In a world that isn't always perfect, Terry's dream and the efforts that followed remind us that there is a lot of good left in us all.

I don't know if anything is taught about Terry in Canadian schools today but it should be. Here is a brief and inspirational video about Terry's story.

Intense Summer Storms

Summer Storm 1
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

I feel sorry for those people dealing with hurricane season down south but they aren't the only one's dealing with some crazy weather this summer.

The summer of 2008 in my neck of the woods will go down as being one of the wettest summers ever.

Add to that the fact that we've had more intense thunderstorms than I can ever recall, it has been one wild summer season.

On average I'd say we might see two or three strong storms each summer with intense lightning. This year it seems almost every time we've had a storm roll though, which has been very frequent, it has brought intense lightning and heavy rain.

The storms we've had here in Ontario remind me of the type that blow in off the Gulf of Mexico when I'm visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Florida. The only difference is the storms down there don't last long. The thunderstorms here have lasted anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

One night I was at work and I sat and watched intense lightning striking the ground in all directions. Needless to say it was a tad unsettling.

The good news though is that the summer is almost over and the storms should be gone soon. Actually, I'd rather keep summer around and let the storms go on their own.

The downside to all of the rain we've had is I've never had to cut the lawn so much in my life and if the precipitation continues once the cold weather arrives....it could make for a very snowy winter.

Does anyone have a snow blower I could borrow?

1980's - Best Decade Fer Sure

The years 1980 to 1989 were by far the most radical years for almost everything gnarly. The decades that followed gagged me with a spoon. The 80's were bad (meaning good) while the 90's and 2000's were just plain groody.

OK, I'll cool it on the 80's speak for now since many of you would probably just be lost if I kept it up. The language of the 80's had a life of its own and was quite colourful to say the least. Words and sayings like "Tubular", "Bodacious", "Hoser", "Like, oh my God", "That's the Ticket","Psyche" and "Totally Awesome" were being used in every day conversations. I have to admit I used them all quite often back in the day.

I consider myself quite lucky to have been a teenager during the 80's as it was truly the greatest decade I've experienced so far for so many reasons.

NEWS
The 80's had its share of news events both good and bad as well. Among the most memorable for me were:
- Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope and his passing - 1980
- Mount St. Helen's Volcano eruption - 1980
- John Lennon being killed - 1980
- Attempted Assasination of Ronald Reagan - 1981
- The death of John Belushi - 1982
- The Live Aid Concert - 1985
- Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion - 1986
- Nuclear Accident at Chernobyl - 1986
- The Berlin Wall falls - 1989
- Tanks in Tiananmen Square - 1989

There were countless other moments but these stand out to me. Here's video of the attempt on Ronald Reagan's life.


MUSIC
When it comes to music, your efforts to convince me otherwise will fail as the 80's were by far the best decade for tunes. I really don't even know where to start. Some of the best artists and groups that excelled in the 80's were around prior to then but their popularity soared during this time. Bands and artists like Pink Floyd, Queen, Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Journey, AC/DC, Billy Joel, Elton John, Michael Jackson and The Police were already established but flourished with huge hits.

The bands and individuals that came along in the 80's created the soundtrack for my youth. To this day I still love U2 and they are by far my favourite band of all time. Other great hit makers that I loved included Prince & The Revolution, Madonna, Phil Collins, The Cure, The Cult, The Smiths, Howard Jones, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Motley Crue

When it came to names of bands, they didn't come any better or stranger than a-ha, Alphaville, Bananarama, Flock of Seagulls, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Kajagoogoo, Men At Work, Psychedelic Furs, Scritti Politti, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, Nik Kershaw, and Wang Chung. The 80's music is still as popular today as it was back then.

Of course one big change was how we listened to music. Today's it's mp3's, CD's and digital files. Back then I spent my money on records, 45's and cassettes to hear the songs I loved.

One of my favourite videos from the 80's came from the band a-ha and the song Take On Me. Here's that video.


MOVIES
When it comes to 80's cinema, I'm going to steer clear of the "Chick Flicks" and "Artsy Fartsy" type movies. For me, a trip to the theatre in the 80's was about seeing what I liked as a teen and being entertained. In later years I learned to like many other movies from the decade but at the time my favourite movies from the 80's included:
- Some Kind of Wonderful, Sixteen Candles, E.T., The Sure Thing, The Star Wars movies (Empire and Jedi), Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Cannonball Run, Goonies, Gremlins, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Better Off Dead, The Breakfast Club, The Karate Kid, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Footloose, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Batman, Ghostbusters and Back to the Future to name a few.

There were some great movie quotes from the 80's as well. Who can forget:
- "We're gonna need some new FBI guys I guess." - Die Hard
- "Wax on, wax off." - Karate Kid
- "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." - Apocolypse Now
- "Wait til they get a load of me." - Batman
- "I spent seven years in high school, I'm no dummy." - Better Off Dead
- "Listen...you smell something?" - Ghostbusters
- "Does Barry Manilow know you stole his wardrobe?" - Breakfast Club
- "I'll be back." - Terminator
- "They're here." - Poltergeist
- "Yippe-ki-yay Mother****er." - Die Hard

Here's an original movie trailer from 1985 for The Breakfast Club.


FADS / FASHIONS & GAMES
The 80's had it's own distinct style to match the awesomeness of the decade. Is that a word?

Who can forget the leg warmers the girls wore over their jeans, Swatch Watches, Rubik's Cube, Guys with one earring (guilty as charged), Neon everything, Spandex, Mullets and Rat tails, Dungeons and Dragons, Arcades with games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, Valley Girl Talk, wearing your collar up, feathered hair, 20-Minute Workout, Boat Shoes, Break Dancing, Atari video games, Rollerskating Rinks, Sleeveless Shirts, Sony Walkmans, Pop Rocks, Ghetto Blasters, Ghost Hunting at haunted houses and Moonwalking.

TELEVISION
Finally, I spent countless hours parked in front of the T.V. working on my couch potato physique and watching some of the best and worst sitcoms and shows the networks could produce. M*A*S*H was by far my favourite in the early years. Others that I never missed included WKRP in Cincinnati, Mork & Mindy, The A-Team, The Love Boat, WWF Wrestling, BJ and the Bear, Battlestar Galactica, The Cosby Show, CHiPs, Fantasy Island, Family Ties, Fame, Dukes of Hazzard, That's Incredible, Welcome Back Kotter, Wonder Years, Laverne & Shirley, Charlie's Angels and The Incredible Hulk. I'm sure there were many others but I can't list them all.

Here's the opening theme to The Love Boat. I love the guest stars.


The 80's were an awesome decade to grow up in and to experience and it was the perfect decade for me. I look back fondly on those 10 years and although I like to look ahead to the future, it's nice to have my memories to remember the past.