Funniest Video of 2011

I've watched my fair share of videos over the year but this one is by far the funniest one I've come across. I honestly laughed so hard watching this I was in tears.

Now you should know that I'm a huge hockey fan and unlike a lot of other people (mostly tree-huggers) I am a fan of Don Cherry. I agree with 95% of what he has to say regarding the game and his support of the Canadian military is second to none. The troops love Don! He's a colourful, outspoken hockey commentator on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and a former NHL Coach of the Year. He also has a style of his own.

Having said that, I'm sure even Don would get a big charge out of this video which is very well done. I have to admit, when I watched this edition of Coaches Corner recently, I also thought Don was trying to play us a tune.

An ad will pop up on the video, just click on the "X" to get rid of it. Enjoy!

Bring On Those Gifts!

With the big day only a few sleeps away I wanted to take a quick moment to wish all of my regular blog visitors, family, friends and anyone else who just happens to stumble across my little corner of the internet all the best for a safe and festive holiday season.

I love receiving gifts as much as the next guy but as I've gotten older I've learned to appreciate family more and spending time with the people I love is now the most important thing. I won't get to spend this special time of year with all of my family as some are just too far away to make it home or have other plans but hopefully we'll be together again soon.

Life is too short to take family for granted and if you don't enjoy the time you have with them now, you might regret it later in life.

So to everyone and especially my family and close friends I hope you have the Merriest of Christmas' and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Now...someone pass me a holiday beverage.

2011 Viral Videos

I'm sure many of you may have seen these videos already but I just had to share them in case you didn't. There have been a lot of videos that went viral this year and these are just a few of my favourites. I hope you enjoy them.

This first video is so typical and could easily happen to my parents or any senior citizens for that matter. Here this sweet couple sits in front of a computer trying to figure out how to take a picture with the webcam all the while they're actually capturing the whole moment on video. Take a look.




Going back to the 2011 Super Bowl, this was one of the few ads that gave me a good chuckle. And being a Star Wars fan probably didn't hurt either. Here we see a kid trying to use "The Force" to move or start things around the house. He's shocked when it finally works.




And finally, how could you not get a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart when two elderly former CFL football players (Angelo Mosca & Joe Kapp) got together at an event during Grey Cup week in Vancouver. Apparently these two never forgot how much they hated each other back when they played. Well, they settled it this time.




So there you have it. Just a few of the thousands of videos that went viral this past year. Hope you enjoyed them. I can't wait to see what 2012 brings us.

Goodbye Jacques

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to wake up this morning and hear that the Montreal Canadiens had fired coach Jacques Martin. As any life long Habs fan will tell you, when the team is struggling, we all take on the roll of the teams General Manager and try to assess what needs to be done to get the team on track and winning once again. It sucks to see anyone lose their job but this one was a long time coming.

After making it to the Conference Final just two seasons ago, the team saw a first round exit in the playoffs last season and so far they're struggling to stay around the .500 mark this year and time is quickly running out to make up ground and secure another playoff spot.

This isn't the Toronto Maple Leafs I'm talking about where missing the playoffs is not only tolerated but in recent history...expected. In Montreal where hockey is a religion for the fans of Le Canadiens, missing the playoffs is not something that they'll stand for and certainly won't put up with quietly.

So to no surprise over recent weeks the call for a change at the Head Coaching position has been gaining strength. Montreal fans are the most knowledgeable in the NHL and when they see something is wrong, odds are good the owners of the team and GM know it as well.

Now I'm not going to sit here and say that Jacques Martin was the only reason for Montreal's lackluster start to the season. His style of coaching and plan of attack was never well received in Montreal even when the team was doing well. The team has always succeeded when they used their superior speed and skill rather than trying to out muscle their opponents. Under Martin as of late, that game style disappeared. Instead of running and gunning they were sitting back and protecting leads. OK, let me rephrase that. They were trying to protect leads but doing a bloody awful job of it.

As I mentioned, Martin was only part of the problem and as witnessed tonight, the other problems were painfully obvious. Horrible decisions while in possession of the puck have been a trademark of the Habs of late. Giveaways in the defensive zone have become common place and those turnovers have more often than not found their way into the back of the net.

The power-play continues to be abysmal although it's hoped that the addition of Tomas Kaberle will help to turn that around and I think it has had an effect already.

The next big move the team needs to make is to fire the current GM Pierre Gauthier who has done very little to improve a deteriorating situation. I honestly think his days are numbered unless he can swing a deal to improve the teams offensive output and poor showing in the standings.

That brings us to what I think is the biggest elephant in the Montreal dressing room. The goal scorers aren't scoring. Where has Michael Cammalleri's pin point accuracy gone? I'm a big fan of Cammy's but this season he's looking more like Scott Gomez than the pint sized powerhouse we've seen in recent years. I'm sure he'd be the first one to admit that. By the way, how is Gomez even a part of this team still? He should have been gone at the end of last season.

As far as I'm concerned, if I was the GM there's only about 10 players or so on the roster that I'd keep and the rest should be trade bait. We have some good promising young talent but aside from Plekanec, Pacioretty, Cole, Subban, Cammalleri, Desharnais, Moen, Weber, Georges, Gil, Kaberle and Price, any of the rest could be shipped elsewhere to bring in some better talent.

I know I'm dreaming but at this point I have to dream because the reality of the situation is tough for this Habs fan deal with. At this point I'm just about ready to see them start Youppi at left wing.

Subway Romance

I'm a healthy (for the most part) early 40's male who still has sexual urges and desires but I can't imagine ever being this drunk or this horny. 

I've had some major drunken moments in my past that have seen me pass out and fall down in some rather odd and at times precarious spots. I should add, these awkward and sometimes embarrassing moments took place during my late teens and early twenties. It's not only that I've matured but to be honest, I just got sick and tired of feeling, well, sick and tired the day after my drunken episodes.

What got me on to this subject was what I heard about recently and perhaps you saw the story as well. A couple was charged with engaging in a lewd act on a Toronto subway after another passenger complained he saw them having sex. The two were seen by other passengers, one of whom captured a video of the episode and posted it on a website that includes "uncut" material.

It was about 2:30am on a Sunday morning when the two were spotted on a train and one passenger went so far as to push the yellow emergency stop strip. You'd think this might have caused the two stinking-drunk lovebirds to end their subterranean session of bumping uglys, but it didn't. They exited the train and dropped down on the station platform where they continued to polish the floor tiles.

It took about 14 minutes for the cops to arrive, which was plenty of time for them to complete the task. I don't think I would have been able to finish that quickly with all of those eyes starring at me. Too much pressure to perform. So I have to give the young man a little credit for that I suppose. Not to mention, if they were as intoxicated as reported, I'm surprised he was able to get the job done at all.

Of course Toronto Transit was quick to frown upon this type of action with it being such a public place. I will say one thing, the TTC has always encouraged people to "Ride the Rocket". Perhaps this couple took it a bit too literally. I guess charges weren't the only thing laid that night.

OK, I better stop now.

My 2011 Christmas Wish List

It’s just not possible that we're coming to the end of another year. Sadly I have not kept up with my blog this year as much as I would have liked. Call it lack of creative juices if you like. Honestly, I think I’ll blame it on Twitter. That darned thing has become a mini blog for me as I share my thoughts on a daily basis there. If you’re on Twitter, feel free to follow me at bundyman and you’ll see more of my uncensored thoughts...along with a lot of Montreal Canadiens chatter.

But that’s not what this is about. As I have done the last couple of years, it is time once again for me to sit down and compile my annual list of items I would love to have on my Christmas Wish List. If past years are any indication, Santa obviously doesn’t have enough room in his sack for most things.


Traditionally the Bundy Wish List has included items of a more unrealistic or even humourous nature. These gifts range from a slight possibility of receiving to no chance in hell of seeing under my tree. It’s more of a “Not in Your Wildest Dreams Christmas List”. Of course there are a few which could legitimately find their way into my possession and in fact some on past lists have...just not the really really expensive items.

So, let’s have some fun shall we?

Western Digital Hard Drive - 2TB
Cost: $210


iPad 2 - 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G
Cost: $849


Photoshop CS5 (Mac)
Cost: $800


Nik Software Plugins Suite
Cost: $600


Apple Time Capsule - 2TB
Cost: $300


Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro Lens
Cost: $1000


Nikon 600mm f4.0 VR II Telephoto Lens
Cost: $11000


Bose Lifestyle V35 Home Entertainment System
Cost: $3800


Sharp AQUOS 80" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV
Cost: $5000


Win $50 Million Lotto Max Jackpot
Cost: Price of a Ticket


Rendezvous with Blake Lively & Alice Eve
Cost: A Guy Can Dream Right?


2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sports
Cost: $2.5 Million


2012 Bentley Continental GT
Cost: $200 000


Lakefront Home in Canada
Cost: $2.5 Million est.


Waterfront Home in Florida
Cost: $4 Million est.

So there you go. Not everything made the list but I only have so much time and room to post it.

Of course, these are just things and the most important items are having a healthy and happy family and good friends. No price tag could be put on them.

I hope all of your Christmas Wishes come true and may you have a Merry Christmas.

November Walk

Autumn Forest
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

I've been having some major computer problems lately and have been majorly frustrated so I had to do something to get my mind off it.

So yesterday I decided to grab my camera and head to my favourite Provincial Park to get some exercise and snap a few frames.

It was a gorgeous day for November with clear and sunny skies and a comfortable 8 degrees. It was a little cooler next to Lake Ontario out in the open by the water but back in the woods out of the light winds it was much more pleasant. My hands were a little chilly but overall it was spectacular.

Lots of geese, swans and ducks were spotted in the marsh although once they saw me they moved away quickly which meant no photos. That's OK, I have plenty of images of swans and don't need anymore unless they're doing something other than floating.

Walking near Jobe's Trail I ventured off the beaten path and captured some images of the leaf covered forest floor. Here you can see one of my images which also includes a fallen birch tree covered in moss. I gave the final image sort of a soft dreamy effect.

I had to take advantage of this great weather while I could because there's been plenty of snow all around us the last couple of weeks and it's only a matter of time before everything turns to white. Of course that can produce some nice images as well, provided my camera doesn't freeze.

Little Balls For Cancer

Mark, Lyle, Andy and Bundy strike a pose

For the eleventh straight year I recently took part in the Terry Fox Golf Tournament and although we remained dry, everyone had a bad hair day thanks to the gusty winds.

The forecast heading into the day was calling for wind gusts up to 80 km/h, rain and cool temperatures. Luckily we only saw a few brief drops of the wet stuff and thanks to being dressed for the day it wasn't all that chilly after all. However the winds didn't disappoint which made for some tricky club selections.

OK, the truth is we usually try to win the tournament as I think we've won it at least four times in the past but there were a couple of teams that may have brought in a few ringers which meant our chances were very slim. But other than bragging rights, the real reason we play is to raise money for the cause...cancer research.

Well, we didn't win. In fact we struggled all day long in the best ball game and eventually finished at one over par. It's the first time in eleven years that we didn't have a single birdie the entire round. We weren't the only team to struggle.

It was amazing how many times we'd hit what appeared to be an excellent tee shot only to have the wind swallow the ball up and drop it or move it no where near the trajectory should have taken it. Mother Nature had our number and all we could do was keep our hats from blowing off and shake our heads in disbelief.

For the second year in a row our team consisted of Mark Adams, Lyle Williams, Andy Koetstra and myself. We had a lot of laughs as we struggled along and over $8000 was raised for the cause. I don't know if they'll be having the tournament next October but if they are, you can bet we'll be there again.

They Seem Smaller

Flying Tackle
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

This past week I finally had a chance to get up to my old high school and check out some football action. Of course the last time I had the shoulder pads on was in October or November of 1986. Ya, I know I'm old(er).

Of course I brought my camera along with me to see if I could grab some shots of the action and I did.

I was hoping to see the senior football game as it's usually a bit better for photographing but it was the early game and by the time I got there after work, the junior team was already playing.

One thing I noticed right away was how small the players were. Some were really small compared to the others. I don't remember our team being that small when I was that age but maybe they were. I do know our senior team was much bigger. In fact, I think our offensive line (myself included) averaged about 240 pounds. We were a force to be reckoned with for sure.

Football was the only reason I went back to school for Grade 13 and a fifth year on the gridiron. I was quite emotional after the final game came to an end. The tears were flowing, partly because I knew I'd never play again and also because on the second play of the game I pulled my groin muscle and finished the game in agony. There was no way I was coming out of the game. The coach used a whole roll of tape around my thigh to help minimize the pain but it didn't do a whole lot.

I was quite some time recovering from that injury but looking back I know I made the right choice. I would have regretted leaving the game and watching from the sideline. Some great memories from those days.

Camping Season Ends

Enjoying The Sunset
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

On the final night of their camping season, I visited my parents at their trailer by Lake Ontario. Of course I was promised a tasty roast beef meal so I couldn't say no to that.

After supper I packed mom and dad into the car and took them for a drive through the park. Our hope was to see some deer but sadly there weren't any to be found. Thanks to the cull of the deer in the park a few years back, the numbers continue to be quite low and sightings are very rare compared to past years. Don't get me started on that though or we'll be here a long time.

Any-who, on the way back to the campsite and our last campfire of the season, the sun had set and left an amazing orange glow on the horizon. The sky was almost entirely void of clouds which normally wouldn't be my choice when it comes to photographing a sunset but I couldn't resist.

The folks got out of the car while I was snapping some shots and walked over to the shoreline. I moved in behind them and managed to capture a few images of them silhouetted against the orange horizon. I thought this one looked particularly good.

Come Closer, I Won't Bite

Come Closer, I Won't Bite
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

I was driving on my way to my parents trailer for supper last night when I spotted this sucker slowly inching across the road.

Where he was coming from I have no idea but his destination was the marsh. At the rate he was going, he still had a lengthy trip ahead of him.

I pulled my car over to the side of the road and grabbed my camera. Several other cars slowed down to have a look and a few other folks got out and joined me for a look and this prehistoric looking fella.

This was one of the many images I captured of this snapping turtle. They're a fairly common site around these parts but I'd never actually stopped to photograph one. Usually I'm just trying to avoid hitting them and doing damage to the bottom of my car.

And Boom Goes The Dynamite

I had a quality sports moment last night. They don't happen nearly as often as they used to for me.

Wednesday night is my usual golf night. Normally in the summer it's Men's League but that came to an end for this year a few weeks back.

I debated whether or not to go as the weather was not looking good. Rain was on the way but I figured I'd take a chance we'd get the round in.

We were playing a best ball scramble with about 16 guys or so. My foursome included Jim Conley, Dave Reid and Tom St.Denis. We started on hole one and we parred it. My tee shot wasn't horrible but we didn't use it.

Next we moved over to the second tee and waited for the group ahead of us to putt out and vacate the green. Dave had the first crack at it and didn't give us much to work with.

Nobody else wanted to go next so I walked over and tee'd my ball up. I went through my usual pre-shot routine tugging on the shoulders of my shirt and adjusting my hat. I never take a practice swing on tee shots.

I settled the club in behind my Calaway Diablo ball and quickly started my back swing. I was using a nine iron for a bit more distance as I've been getting a lot of loft on my tee shots this year.

Down my club came with full force as I contacted the ball sweetly in the centre of the club face. As expected it was launched on a lofty flight and a good trajectory towards not only the green but the pin as well.

I bent over to pick up my tee and lost site of the ball momentarily. The guys liked what they saw as the ball fell towards the earth and I stood up and located the ball just before it contacted the green about two feet right of the hole.

The ball took a short hop left and then began to roll gently toward the cup. I stood there in disbelief as I watched the ball disappear into the jar.

The guys let out a roar and I'm sure I was grinning from ear to ear as they gave me high-fives in celebration. Tom and Jim didn't even bother teeing off.

After taking the trip to the green, I made my way across the dance floor and using my divot tool I fixed my ball mark. I then gazed into the cup and spotted my Calaway resting comfortably in the bottom of the hole.

I reached in and pulled it out and safely tucked the ball away. I was done using that ball forever. I will eventually be given a plaque to commemorate the occasion and will affix the ball to it for a keepsake.

This was my second ever ace and although the first one was special, this one made me happier as I was able to witness the ball going into the cup. My first ace came on an elevated green and it wasn't until I got to the green and couldn't find my ball that we checked the hole.

It was one of those moments all golfers dream of and I enjoyed every minute of it. I just hope it isn't another eight years until I get my next one.

Corn Field Sunset

Corn Field Sunset
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

Once again I've been just too darn busy to write anything serious lately despite plenty of interesting subjects.

Jack Layton's passing, Hurricane Irene or the recent storm right here in Ontario that spawned tornadoes and lit up the sky better than any Canada Day fireworks display.

But as always I usually have my camera with me when I'm out and about and on this particular night I was driving home from the trailer and watching the sky. The place where I thought I'd be able to get some nice sunset photos didn't really provide anything special.

However, as I was driving past this corn field the clouds in the distance were an amazing orange colour and I thought the tall corn in the foreground might make for an interesting silhouette against the sky. I thought the final result was worth sharing with you.

Lightning Strikes Twice

Lightning Strikes Twice
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

I have been trying for a very long time to get some photos of lightning that don't suck. It finally happened for me on Saturday night.

Sitting by the campfire at Presqu'ile Park along Lake Ontario we watched during dusk as the storm rolled down the lake. Although we could see lightning, it was too far away to photograph.

Finally the storm got a bit closer and the group decided to head for our respective trailers and call it a night.

My night was just beginning as I set up shop under the awning with my trusty tripod and Nikon. Just as I was ready to start shooting, the lightning had moved off. I figured I had missed my chance.

I decided to change my focus to the light rays coming down from the cloud covered full moon. Some of those shots turned out pretty good but I was till disappointed I didn't get my elusive storm photos.

All of a sudden there was a flash in front of me and a crack of thunder. Holy crap, another storm front was moving in and I had another chance. I didn't waste the opportunity.

I managed to get four or five impressive shots of the lightning as it struck the lake and near the lake shore. I was a very happy photographer.

In this particular image you can see the lightning has broken into two separate strikes from one bolt.

On a night when I figured my camera would stay in the car, an unexpected opportunity popped up and I was glad I had the tools handy to get the job done.

Presqu'ile Lighthouse

Presqu'ile Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

With all the bad stuff happening in the world right now, it's nice to be able to get away for a bit and escape the madness.

Since I'm not one to bury my head in the sand, it's much easier to grab my camera and head out and forget mine and the world's troubles by getting creative.

Here is another recent photo I shot of the Presqu'ile Provincial Park Lighthouse at the point of the peninsula where Lake Ontario meets Brighton Bay. I liked the natural framing of the trees and the cool looking clouds which I thought helped to make the image more interesting.

I also thought the image looked better in black and white.

Milky Way Lake

Milky Way Lake
Originally uploaded by *Bundy*

I'm enjoying some time away from work right now and one of the things I don't have time for when I'm working is my photo hobby.

So I'm trying out some different things with my new Nikon D7000. One of the reasons I bought the new camera was for it's ability to take better long exposure photos and shoot images at higher ISO's with less noise. Those of you who dabble in photography will know what I mean. It's a pretty big deal.

Anyway, I had a clear night at the trailer next to Lake Ontario the other night so I popped my camera onto a tripod and started experimenting and this was one of the resulting images.

In the photo you can see the lake and the orange / yellow glow of the lights of Rochester, New York reflecting off the clouds. You can also see the Milky Way and a whole pile of stars. At the top of the image you can also see two lines crossing in the night sky. Those are actually satellites that are orbiting the earth that happened to be going by.

It's experimenting like this that leads to interesting results and what I enjoy about my photography hobby.

Top Big Brother Babes

Watching television in the summer time was anything but interesting for many years. Your options were reruns, sports (which is OK but no hockey) and maybe some old movies. At least, those were the only things that interested me.

But back in 2000 the summer television viewing became a bit more interesting, provided you enjoyed watching Reality TV. Some will argue whether there is such a thing as reality TV as many skeptics feel most of these shows are ultimately scripted or at the very least influenced by the producers of the programs. Personally I could care less. I watch shows like this to be entertained so it makes no difference how they're produced.

In the year 2000, North America was introduced to Big Brother. The show is based on a group of strangers, known as HouseGuests, living together twenty-four hours a day in the "Big Brother" house, isolated from the outside world but under constant surveillance with no privacy for three months.

Like Survivor, another of my favourite reality shows, one major point of interest for the viewers is the inclusion of some attractive participants. Over the years there have been some very pretty ladies to enter the Big Brother house.

I give you now my own personal Top 15 Babes of Big Brother from Season one all the way to Season 13. You may not agree with the order or you may feel someone is missing that deserves to be on the list. Keep in mind, this is MY list and reflects my own views. Here we go!

Top 15 Babes of Big Brother (U.S.)

Number 15
Jean Jordan - Season 1

Number 14
Natalie Cunial - Season 9

Number 13
Amy Crews Ouellette - Season 3

Number 12
Lisa Donahue - Season 3

Number 11
Laura Crosby - Season 11

Number 10
April Dowling - Season 10

Number 9
Danielle Donato - Season 8

Number 8
Janelle Pierzina - Season 6

Number 7
Jen Diturno - Season 9

Number 6
Porsche Briggs - Season 13

Number 5
Jessica Hughbanks - Season 8

Number 4
Michelle Maradie - Season 4

Number 3
Jordan Lloyd - Season 11

Number 2
Britney Haynes - Season 12

Number 1
Cassi Colvin - Season 13

There you go! My choices for Top Babes of Big Brother up to and including Season 13. I know there are a lot of other lovely ladies who could have made your list but you can always leave a comment and share your opinions.

The Final Shuttle Launch

STS-135 Atlantis Prelaunch (201107070015HQ)
Originally uploaded by nasa hq photo

Being a huge fan of the American Space Shuttle program I will be sad to see the final vehicle lift-off this Friday (weather permitting).

I have followed the program from the very beginning and ridden along with the high's and lows. It will be the end of an amazing era and I'm happy I was around to see it.

My hope is that when Atlantis completes STS-135 I will once again in my lifetime see NASA continue manned space flight in the future.

The American economy is not as strong as it once was so I can understand cuts being made but when you consider all of the amazing advancements that have come from efforts to get man into space, it has certainly been an expensive although necessary success.

I wish a safe and exciting flight to the final Space Shuttle Program astronauts.

144 Years Young

Where has the time gone? Seems like only yesterday we were canoeing through the uncharted lakes and rivers of this vast and beautiful country discovering all of the magnificence it had to offer.

Now here we are celebrating the 144th birthday of this spectacular nation.

From sea to sea to sea we take pride in so many things truly Canadian. From our abundant fresh water lakes and rivers to our unsurpassed scenery, Canada has become a beacon of hope and destination for so many around the world.

Canada is known for many things but the one thing I hear most often from foreigners visiting our homeland is how friendly and polite we are. That is something to be proud of.

The Maple Leaf red and white flag is a symbol of peace and friendliness which is probably why so many people use it when traveling to let others know where we're from. I've even know Americans who have used it to avoid problems.

Canadians are starting to recognize more and more how lucky we truly are to live where we do. And it makes me
proud to see more people waiving the Canadian flag with pride. It's OK to be patriotic and show it. It's not rude or arrogant to flash the red and white as a sign that you are a proud Canadian.

So on this Canada Day, let's see the pride in our nation displayed in excess and show the world what we already know. Canada is the best country on this planet.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Nothing Routine

I sit here reading one of the Toronto newspapers and the headline reads "Routine stop for speeding vehicle turns deadly".

Somehow I can't imagine that any traffic stop would ever be considered routine anymore after what transpired to take the life of York Region Police Constable Garrett Styles on Tuesday morning.

Reading the transcripts of his radio chatter with dispatch while he was pinned under the van driven by a 15 year old he had only moments before pulled over for speeding are heart wrenching.

Pleading for help and in pain with his life slipping away while at the same time showing concern for the person and his passengers who will eventually claim his life with their actions, shows an officer willing to do his duty up to his final breath. Such a heroic and inspirational act by the 32 year old cop and father of two.

What happened?

Somehow the boy panicked and tried to drive away. Styles apparently tried to reach for the keys and got hung up and was dragged about 300 metres before the van entered a field and rolled on top of the officer.

Pinned at the waist he was able to radio a 10-33 for officer needs emergency assistance.

Despite all efforts to get to the scene, extricate him and administer medical attention, Styles was pronounced dead just over an hour later.

The 15 year old driver has been charged with first degree murder and no amount of punishment will be enough in my mind. He made some very bad choices starting with taking the vehicle in the first place and his nightmare is only just beginning.

The same can also be said for the family of Const. Styles who have lost a son, a husband and a father to another senseless and completely avoidable tragedy. Actions have consequences and sadly most people don't realize that until it's too late.

People Eating Tasty Animals

If you're a person who chooses to not eat meat I respect your choice and won't protest your decision. But why do some of these holier than thou individuals feel the need to force their personal choices on others?

The choice these individuals make to not barbecue a tender and juicy piece of steak is fine for them but don't think for a second that the scare tactics of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) will persuade me to put down my fork and A1 Sauce. It's not going to happen.

I don't care how a cow finds its way to the butcher. I just want to know how much it's going to cost to sink my teeth into its fleshy goodness.

We "Meatatarians" aren't stupid. We know all about the slaughter houses and how the process works. We just don't give a rats ass provided it results in succulent mouth watering medium rare flavour.

I stopped respecting PETA several years back when they were throwing blood or red paint on fur coats. The real final straw was when they compared the beheading of a Canadian bus passenger to what happens to an animal. The day my life or the lives of other humans, including those PETA members becomes less important than a pig or cow is the day I will lose all faith in humanity.

Yes I respect their opinion but I don't have to agree with it and never will. Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy a salad from time to time but usually right before my Prime Rib shows up all bloody on a plate in front of me.

So you PETA folks can continue to wrap yourselves in plastic and cover yourselves in red paint to try and prove a point but when you're done, feel free to meet me at the Keg for a thick T-Bone.

Wild Weather

I never put much stock into the idea that the world would end in 2012 as the Mayans predicted but judging by the weather this Spring in the U.S. and just this week here in Ontario, I may need to rethink things.

This has been the wettest Spring I can remember and although I don't have the evidence to prove it, it could be the wettest in recorded history.

Lots of rain in itself isn't too bad but it has made life miserable for farmers whose fields were too wet for planting. By the time August rolls around, I'll be hankering for some corn on the cob so it better start growing soon.

Flooding has also been a major problem this year both north and south of the border. Quebec and Manitoba have had many damaging and life impacting floods. When you can waterski down your street, that's a problem.

Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms have also been disastrous in many communities with wide spread devastation wiping out entire communities. The twister in Joplin was by far the worst to date. I can't imagine what that must have been like for those who survived.

Just this past Wednesday we had severe thunderstorms go across the province. That was scary enough.

I was golfing that evening when within a matter of minutes a black ominous cloud moved in. I knew it wasn't going to be good. We had just teed off on our 13th hole of the round when the horn went at the clubhouse telling us to get off the course and seek shelter.

Like the idiot I am at times, I decided to go get my ball from the green and grab the balls of the other guys. By the time we reached the green with the cart, the sun was gone and the blackness had arrived. I picked up my ball just as the wind came up and I could see small branches and tree limbs breaking off and blowing towards me.

I ran as fast as I could back to the cart and we started towards the clubhouse dodging downed branches along the way. As we reached the bridge by the 17th hole a down burst of wind blew through the trees behind the green. We sat there and watched as a pine tree snapped off part way up like a toothpick and smashed onto the green below.

Seeing only that brief amount of natures fury reminded me just how helpless you can feel in situations like that. Once we felt a brief lull in the wind we drove as fast as we could among the trees and made it back just as the intense lightning started.

Looking up in the parking lot, several of us noticed the clouds which looked like nothing we'd ever seen before as they rotated much like you'd see prior to a tornado. It was humbling to witness this firsthand. Everyone was fine but a little on edge.

While I'm sure the world will be around for at least a few years yet, experiences like this certainly have left some doubts in my mind.

News Oddities For May

It's time for more news of the weird and wacky with comments by me thrown in for good measure.

Despite the bold prediction by a California preacher who foresaw the world's end would take place this past Saturday at 6pm, Harold Camping has now revised his apocalyptic prophecy, saying he had a slight miscalculation and was actually off by five months. He now says the Earth actually will be obliterated on Oct. 21 of this year. Camping, who predicted that 200 million Christians would be taken to heaven Saturday before global cataclysm struck the planet, said that he felt so terrible when his doomsday message did not come true that he left home and took refuge in a motel with his wife. His independent ministry, Family Radio International, spent millions — some of it from donations made by followers — on more than 5,000 billboards and 20 recreational vehicles plastered with the Judgment Day message.

**He probably left home for fear that the brain dead morons who believed him and gave away all of their money and possessions were going to track him down and make sure he saw his maker. Come on, lets be honest. Do you really think God would end the world before Oprah's final show had a chance to be aired?**


The infamous black bears of Christina Lake, B.C., appear to be weaning themselves off dog food, according to the man who once fed them $100 worth of kibbles a day. Allen Piche pleaded guilty in March to feeding the two dozen wild black bears on his property. He'll be sentenced in the fall but in the meantime was ordered by the B.C. Conservation Society to stop the practice, which had been going on for years. Police discovered the docile bears when they raided a marijuana grow operation on Piche's property last August. Initially, there was speculation the bears were guarding the marijuana, but Piche denied that was the case.

**Police became suspicious about the marijuana when they found the bears wearing tie-died Grateful Dead t-shirts and suffering from a serious case of the munchies.**


OK, I never promise my comments will be funny.

Going To Pumps Gives Me Gas

I'm at the point right now where I keep a little white flag in my car just in case I need to surrender. Every time I go to the gas station to fill up the tank, I get a bit closer to waiving that flag while yelling, "I give up!"

Like most Canadians, I can't take much more of this gouging and the unnecessary price hikes. But is that really what's happening?

It amazes me how easily the price can jump up six to ten cents at one time but rarely does it ever drop by large amounts. Actually, I know of one gas station where it does that several times a day. They just boost the price up on their own during peak hours of traffic and then drop it back down at the slower times. No price fixing there (sarcasm).

I realize other countries have it even worse than we do but I live here so this is what I have to deal with and complain about. Today gas in parts of Ontario topped $1.40 per litre. That's about $5.30 per gallon. A year ago at this time we were paying roughly 96.9 cents per litre.

What really grinds my gears is that the price of crude oil didn't even rise, so what is the reason for screwing the Canadian public other than greed?

The usual response of people when asked about the rising prices is, "what can I do about it? I need the gas to get to work to make money to feed myself and my family so we're forced to pay whatever they want to charge us." And that response is exactly what the big oil and gas companies want to hear. It's music to their ears as they roll around in their billions of dollars in profits.

Whenever these companies are confronted by the media, they concoct any number of excuses to justify the increases which drives the commodity up on the markets. The latest is that flooding along the Mississippi River in the U.S. could slow gasoline deliveries and possibly disrupt production. Are you kidding me? What a line of bullshit. When did they start raising prices based on something that "might" happen and "might" cause a problem? Not only that, but the gas that's already in the tanks under the gas station magically got more expensive since it was delivered? That's impressive!

The last time we saw prices like this was in 2008 when a barrel of oil cost $140. The price today is around $100 per barrel. What gives? Sounds like profit taking to me and the rich getting richer while average Canadians continue to see more money leaving their wallets than they can earn.

Is the Canadian government out of touch? The MP's all claim to hear our complaints yet nothing ever gets done about it. It's not even about the party in charge. All parties that have been in power have watched this happen year after year. When it comes right down to it, it would seem the government can do nothing but perhaps lower the tax on gas.

Understandably the price of gas will rise in the Spring as more people are driving more often and the demand for gas becomes greater. This will help to drive the price up even higher. Also, we pay more taxes on gas in Canada which if removed would bring our prices down to about the same price as our American neighbours are paying. Of course, that would mean less money for our government to send to other countries as aid. But don't get me started on that right now. I'd love to see Canada take just five years of not providing financial help to other countries to see what we could do with all that money right here.

Ultimately what will happen is the gas prices will continue to rise while the demands are high and Canadians will continue to bitch and complain but in the end, that's about all we can do...and I do it well.

Show Me The Money

Why are people so cheap?

This is the question I have found myself asking a few times over the last year or two and it kind of annoys me.

Sure, I don't like to throw away money but if I really like something and want to have one to keep for myself or know I'll enjoy having a certain item, I'll spend the money to get whatever it is.

Other people it seems, only truly want something if they can get it for free.

OK, here's what I'm talking about.

As many of you know I enjoy photography as mostly a hobby. There's something about it that gives me enjoyment and makes me happy. I don't know if it's the thrill of seeing something you've captured in an image or the work that goes into a finished product but I get a kick out of it.

From time to time I have sold the odd image of mine. I don't have a business and I certainly don't advertise but there have been some friends and people who have appreciated my efforts enough to want to have a copy of my work for their very own. I'm all too happy to oblige them, but at a cost.

You see, while it is a hobby, it's still time consuming and a lot of effort goes into producing a final image that you might see.

A typical shoot might last anywhere from one to four hours, depending on what I'm photographing. Could be less, could be more. That is just the first part of the process.

Next I have to go through the hundreds of images I shot on a particular subject and pick out the images I like the best. Of those, I may select only two or three photos that I really like. Next comes the editing process. In the old days this would be done in a darkroom with stinky chemicals and could take hours or days to achieve the final result you're looking for. Today, with the computers and software available, this process happens much quicker and easier but is still very time consuming.

On one image I could spend an hour or more playing with the exposure, curves, contrast, colour, white balance, layers, etc...you get my point. The image isn't done at the moment you push the shutter release button on the camera. There's a lot of time and effort that is spent in front of a computer screen tweaking things to my liking.

People only see the finished product and probably don't have a clue how much time is spent on each individual image. Not to mention the thousands of dollars I had to spend on photographic equipment and software. It's an expensive hobby.

So now that you have an idea of the work that goes into a completed image, maybe you can understand why I might be a little bothered when someone who wants a copy of one of my photos thinks I'll just give it away for free.

I don't charge a lot for my work but apparently to some people they don't think paying for a photo that they really like is worth it. That's fine with me, but don't let me catch you with a copy of one of my images obtained through other means or we'll be talking in front of a judge.

I do appreciate those who have purchased my work in the past. It's nice to know they like what I do so much that they're willing to pay for it. The money is nice but the pride I feel when others enjoy what I do is even better.

Recently I had an inquiry about one of my photos which had actually won a contest in the past. They asked if they could have the full resolution image file of the photo so they could go and have a print made themselves. Ahhhh...I don't think so. I never give out my images for others to do with as they please. No photographer with any sense of pride in what they do gives away their work or shares their image files.

They wanted the image to hang in their building which I had no problem with but when I sent them a list showing the cost for the different available sizes for the image...well, lets just say the conversation has come to an abrupt end so far. Who knows, maybe I'll still hear from them but I'm afraid they're not getting anything for free. I'd rather the image sits on my hard drive until I die than diminish my worth and my work by giving it away.

Am I wrong? Isn't my time and effort worth $25 - $100? I think it is.