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  • Maple Leafs 3, Islanders 2.

    written by

    james

    I don’t know how it happened. I’m not even totally sure it did. We actually didn’t suck last night. Well, we weren’t playing like a team that deserves a playoff spot, what with blowing a 2-goal lead in the third only to scrape out a winner at the 16 minute mark, but we didn’t suck. And hell, even Blake managed something he hasn’t done in like forever–put in his third in a week. We’d of shut them out if it hadn’t been for Tavares. Hell, even Toskala played his new usual consistent game. Which makes me wonder if he’s been doping or something. We’ll see if Ron Wilson goes with Joey McDonald tonight against Boston. Ah hell, it’s Boston. If it’s anything like the last Boston game I’ll just skip watching it.

    Last Time

    They had no problem with icing us 4 3 about 2 weeks ago. Conveniently, or perhaps not, Toskala started that game too–and didn’t last long. Don’t look now, but comparing performances, I might be inclined to say he’s improved since then. Might be. But we’ll still have to see. Good lord I hope our actual number 1 comes back.

  • Mike makes the news for simply doing what he loves.

    written by

    james

    I’ve been following Toronto Mike since probably early-ish in 2007, when I randomly stumbled on one of his many articles relating to our mutually admired and at the same time hated hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was cruising Technoradi–yes, that was back when it was actually good–and his just happened to be one of the blogs I read a bit of. I loved the fact he had absolutely no problem with making his opinion known in no uncertain terms, and most of his readers respected that whether they agreed with it or not.

    A short 2 or 3 years later, and Mike’s gone from your average local everyday blogger to a Toronto and area sellebrity. Why? Because he tends to be a lot more straightforward, and a lot more involved, with certain aspects of the news–often times before the more mainstream sources of the news even give a story half a paragraph on page 25 of the paper. Folks see him as a semi-official news source. A journalist without the restrictions of CBC, CTV etc. It’s easy to see how he sees himself. It’s the same as he saw himself 3 years ago, and the same as I see him now–just a Toronto area blogger with a passion for things that generate a lot of interest. Like the craptasticness of our hockey team, or what’s going on with his two favourite local radio personalities post-firing from what, I can only assume, is still his favourite radio station.

    Mike, whether your perception of what you do changes or not, I hope you and your writing style never do. If there were more blogs, and bloggers, like yours, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with them all. Keep it up. You, sir, deserve your sellebrity.

    ,

  • The next great Canadian FAQ.

    written by

    james

    I’ll freely admit, a lot of these answers are still hillarious as hell, and I’ve seen this come across my inbox a few times. The sad part is, even before we were ready to play host to the 2010 olympic games, while I was doing work at Dell, I actually got some of these questions. Yes, I know, I laughed too.

    Now that Vancouver is hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking. Believe it or not these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website.

    Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!

    Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow?
    ( England )

    A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

    Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? ( USA )

    A: Depends on how much you’ve been drinking.

    Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto – can I follow the Railroad tracks? ( Sweden )

    A: Sure, it’s only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

    Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada ? ( Sweden )

    A: So it’s true what they say about Swedes.

    Q: Are there any ATM’s (cash machines) in Canada ? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto , Vancouver , Edmonton and Halifax ? ( England
    )

    A: No, but you’d better bring a few extra furs for trading purposes.

    Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada ? ( USA
    )

    A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe Ca-na-da is that big country to your North…oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.

    Q: Which direction is North in Canada ? ( USA )

    A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees Contact us when you get here and we’ll send the rest of the directions.

    Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada ? ( England )

    A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

    Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? ( USA )

    A: Aus-t ri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is…oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary , straight after the hippo races.
    Come naked.

    Q: Do you have perfume in Canada ? ( Germany )

    A: No, WE don’t stink.

    Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada ? ( USA )

    A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

    Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? ( Italy )

    A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

    Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada ? ( USA )

    A: Only at Thanksgiving.

    Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? ( Germany )

    A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.

    Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada , but I forget its name. It’s a kind of big horse with horns. ( USA )

    A: It’s called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

    Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )

    A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

    Who do we contact to get this officially documented?

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  • An open letter to DreamHost.

    written by

    james

    Dear DH,

    I happened to be up during the night for unrelated reasons, and just so happened to be walking past the computer to take care of a thing or two. In so doing, I couldn’t help but notice the tell-tail signs of a severe breakage not entirely unlike one we here at the geek in training household experienced last week. And about 3 or 4 times before that. Your website was toast, my blog was toast, email was toast, your network was probably toast.

    Now, don’t get me wrong, I know first hand shit happens. Networks will take a dive. Hardware goes bork, and all manner of hell breaks loose. But 5 times at least in a month? And after you released yet another fluffy newsletter escentially saying these kinds of problems should be behind us? Not cool, DH. So uncool. You’re driving me closer and closer to the point of actually wanting to endure the required brain damage to actually configure, fire up, and test, before using, a web and email solution powered by the unmanaged VPS’s over at Linode. I’d really rather not, you understand. But if you keep leaving me no choice, I’m gonna have to split. My network at home stays up longer than you folks have this month. Now, please, by all means, fix your shit for good. Moving this much crap over to another server, even one managed by me, will be a bitch. Do not force me to do so. You really do not want to force me to do so.

    No love,
    Me.

    PS: Your overly perky and way too optimistic newsletter could use some work. I only bought it for about a minute and a half. And wanted a refund when your network crapped again.

    , ,

  • Maple Leafs 5, Thrashers 2.

    written by

    james

    Well, I guess we didn’t suck. I mean, we weren’t overly insanely great, but… we didn’t suck. And the team managed to put a few in the net without Kessel needing to play mister almost hat trick again. Hell, even Toskala almost made me forget why it is we shoved him over the cliff and back to the minors. I mean, we *were* playing Atlanta, who probably shouldn’t even be allowed a hockey team, but still. Considering our record against Carolina of all things, this is something to consider noteworthy. We play again on Wednesday, and goddammit we’d better not suck then either. Hear that, Toskala?

  • There was a weekend. I had it.

    written by

    james

    And, not surprising in the least, it was a fun one. It started on Friday evening, when Jessica, Julie, her husband and I headed out for a bit of their last minute Christmas shopping. Of course, mine was, historically, finished before December. Afterwards, supper was had at the local Cracker Barel–there’s something to be said for random get togethers with awesome food and things of a mock-worthy nature. We didn’t end up getting home until closer to 10:00 or so, and by then I think we were both sort of contemplating falling over.

    Saturday was largely spent around the apartment. Jessica had her last clinnic of the year, and as usual, owned the hell out of it. We sat around afterwards, talking and grabbing supper. I started actually reading the “In Death” series by J.D. Rob, which she pretty well already read most of. Pondering getting hammered, or at least tipsy, we decided to take a random walk up to the booze store about half an hour before it closed. Of course, as Murphy would have it, by the time we got back we were a little more tired than we expected we’d be so only ended up having a shot, then doing the vodka and coke thing.

    A large part of Sunday was spent with Julie and her husband again, going out for breakfast where yet more random bouts of hillarity took place. Was starting to think maybe the folks at the restaurant we chose to occupy were wondering exactly how insane we all were. And I think we’d of been more than happy to tell them if they’d ask. There was a wallmart trip, an interesting time with our shopping assistant during said wallmart trip–certain individuals just should not be doiong work in the customer service field. We came back here, put shit away, invented supper, and called it a relaxing evening. There was a crap ton of conversation involved all weekend, and random antics with interesting and humourous qualities at the expense of others who had the misfortune of not actually getting to be there. But, that’s half the fun.

    It’s a little more than 2 weeks until Jess graduates, and a little more than 3 before we kick it up back to the right side of the border. If things keep going the way they’ve been the last few weeks, I may have to have someone tap me on the shoulder to remind me my time’s nearly up. But until then, well, there will be plenty more random acts of insanity. Possibly illegal, definitely barely legal, and more asuredly laugh-inducing. As for right now… off to see a girl about a well-spent evening. Or… something along those lines.

    Also: One of these days, I’m coming up with a Rochester category. Just not right now.

    , , ,

  • Bruins 7, Maple Leafs 2.

    written by

    james

    Uh. Someone tell me what happened? I ended up missing that game–something for another entry, and they apparently decided they weren’t going to play on Saturday. I’d cry, but I’m pretty well numb to the pain by now. We kicked ass. Twice. Should have been three times. And then we got stomped. I’m not opposed to trend setting, but let’s set a positive one hmm? They’re playing the Thrashers tonight. Right now, actually. I hope to God we don’t suck.

  • Maple Leafs 6, Blue Jackets 3.

    written by

    james

    Alright, who replaced my hockey team while I wasn’t looking? I swear everyone but Kessel has been substituted for people who can play–and that only because Kessel doesn’t need to be substituted. The guy in net *looked* like our back-up goalie, but he played like a certain young man now on injury reserve for the next week and a half. And some guy named Blake actually managed to put two in the back of the Columbus net while I wasn’t looking. Oh, and, er, what was that? Was that a near hat trick? Not for the other guys? Clearly, we like playing in Columbus. Now if only we liked playing in Toronto.

  • They sure don’t do Christmas like we do Christmas.

    written by

    james

    About 2 weeks ago now, I packed up my things and got me on a bus across the border to Rochester. The plan, which is coming to fruition ever so slowly, was to be here for Jessica’s graduation, as well as her birthday, plus the already passed thanksgiving, and then bring her back with me for Christmas at home. While I was down here, I thought we’d do a thing or two here to maybe enjoy the holiday festivities a little, since starting about this Sunday or so, we’ll both have the time to do so.

    So I looked up my trusty goog, and did some poking. At the same time I was dooing that, there was a small band playing Christmas music almost directly outside my window. They only played a few songs, but it definitely helped a fair bit to set the mood. Add to that, a few horses pulling wagons made their way past the building. My googling took me straight to the cause.

    Sixteenth Annual
    PARK AVENUE
    HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
    Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
    5 to 9 p.m.

    Well now. That might have been interesting to see. The description is perhaps vaguely similar to the Park Avenue Festival held here every August or so, with businesses demonstrating what they have to offer while playing host to various forms of entertainment. Certainly not something I’m used to seeing in December.

    Folks here in Rochester do love their festivals. Every couple months you catch wind of one it seems like. Pembroke’s the same way to a point, but the rules rewrite themselves come December. Where Rochester has all kinds of live performances, theater, and other activities, back home it’s all about the parade. Petawawa had one in mid-November. Pembroke had one a week or two later. There were like 3 or 4 in Ottawa throughout the course of the month, and probably into December. Toronto usually has a huge one. You usually can’t turn a corner without either running into one or seeing an ad for one. This festival something’s not what I’m used to, but admittedly, it’s a fairly nice change–I rather enjoyed being able to open my window, listen to them playing, and not have to stand there to do it.

    They sure don’t do Christmas like we do Christmas. But they don’t do it too bad either.

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  • Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m an RSS junky.

    written by

    james

    I have RSS feeds for damn near everything I’m interested in. Some of them, though admittedly not all of them–yet, anyway–are on Twitter, which makes keeping up on most of my interests just that much easier. I’d probably have an RSS feed for all my RSS feeds if I thought it’d be practical to do so. In fact, some of the links posted here came from those very feeds.

    What I don’t have, though–again, not yet–is a way to access those same RSS feeds from damn near anywhere. Right now, all my feeds are being downloaded on my computer at home, where they’ll stay until I get back there at December’s end.

    Don’t get me wrong, I like the setup, it just doesn’t quite do the job when I’m somewhere where I can’t easily get back a few hours later to see them. For example, when I’m in Rochester, where my computer’s several hundred kilometers away. I’ve tried a few of the more centralized services–Bloglines, Google Reader to name a few–but they all seem to overcomplicate something that doesn’t need to be.

    I don’t need favourite entries. I don’t need 5 or 6 “share this” links. I don’t need synchronization with my phone, Outlook, and whatever else it’ll let you connect to it. I can find that locally, in the form of TwInbox from TechHit. Now, let’s see if I can find it remotely. TechHit, I can see an opportunity in your future if you’re up for it.

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