Sunday, July 27, 2008

from the "fakin' it" dept.

The disappearance of Steve Fossett has been quite the little mystery. Fossett was flying alone over the Nevada desert when he vanished. An extensive search didn't find Fossett or his plane, but, oddly, searchers did find SIX other planes that had disappeared over the years. SIX!

Well, now come word from the highly respected News of the World that the adventurer may have faked his own death.

Gadling has their version of the story [here]. And the original NOTW story is [here].

Who needs the Sunday New York Times when there are stories like this floating around on the internets?

Cheers!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

from the "pulled in many directions" dept.

I'm moving again, though it's not far.

From Vancouver to Deep Cove. Just 30 minutes away by car if there are no jumpers on the bridge. I swear suicides are more common than eagles 'round these parts.

"The best place on earth," indeed.

I'll be in the mountain and water surrounded confines of Deep Cove until the end of next week. Then I move back downtown to a fancy condo for an entire month of housesitting.

The only thing I have to figure out is what to do with my car, and what to do with the rest of my life.

As usual, there are plenty of irons cooking away in the fire. But none seem to be ready. I'm holding out hope that my current contract will be extended despite taking two weeks off in September. But if there is nothing solid in that department by the end of July, I'm going to make some plans that don't include living here.

Also, I intend to sniff around for similar promo work while in Halifax. As mentioned before, I am pretty much done with Vancouver. It's nice and all, but doesn't have much of a soul. Whereas the other coast is all soul, but it lacks world-class-city-ness. And I bet there isn't an abundance of cheap, good sushi like there is here.

Decisions, decisions.

Cheers!

Monday, July 21, 2008

from the "signs of the times - part 2" dept.

from the "signs of the times - part 1" dept.

from the "please don't make me watch it" dept.

The original commenters have (finally!) discovered the internets!

From Gawker:

Statler and Waldorf were the original bloggers. Or no, wait, the original commenters? They were the cranky old Jewish men who sat in the balcony and heckled The Muppet Show. Now, for some reason, there are viral Muppet videos on YouTube...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

from the "the future is later" dept.

Surprise! The solution to the energy crisis is buried beneath our feet. No, not CHUDs. COAL!



Cheers!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

from the "missed it by that much" dept.

So. I didn't get the gig.

What gig?

Working as a television producer for NATO.

But I came close: In fact, I was number two. And, if the person who did get the job decides to bail for whatever reason, it's mine.

I'm not holding my breath.

But the NATO folks were encouraging. And told me to keep at it.

I will.

So what does the future have in store?

Well, my CBC contract is drawing to a close and it looks like it won't be extended. In the meantime I have a two week break in Halifax (to celebrate the 20th anniversary launch of MITV/Global Maritimes) and Winnipeg (to clean up a basement). Fun!

After that? I'm not sure.

I'll likely be able to cobble together work from here and there to make a fulltime job.

Or the successful NATO candidate will bail.

Or I'll just go back to Africa. Or Belize.

Time will tell...

Cheers!

from the "cheat sheet" dept.

To clarify:



Cheers!

from the "fame's a bitch" dept.


The folks at the epically funny virtual scandal sheet Gawker present their 2008 Wasted 20 list. Let the head shaking begin.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

from the "iCount" dept.

Feist appeared on Sesame Street recently to sing about the wonders of counting. And count she does: monsters, penguins and other assorted muppets.

Another reason why Sesame Street is the coolest kids show EVER!



[h/t John Gushue's Dot Dot Dot]

from the "and now, the weather" dept.

English comedian Bill Bailey examines the modern news theme:



Cheers!

from the "try my product, please" dept.

The Video Professor helps John McCain become more tech savvy:



[h/t Crooks and Liars]

Sunday, July 13, 2008

from the "what's up" dept.

A few things have been percolating away in the background, so here's an update:

BOOKED: I'm off on a cross-Canada adventure beginning August 30. First to Halifax to mark the 20th anniversary of MITV (Global Maritimes). And then a stopover in Winnipeg on my way back. Looking forward to both destinations...

WORK: I don't know how much I should say in a public forum such as this... but what I can say is that my current contract is up at the end of August and may not be renewed. That could push life in an interesting direction.

I've got a phone interview Monday with a big organization that could see me leaving Canada for a year. No details yet -- but this is a huge opportunity and would put me back on the path to Freedom 55.

There are some African options as well. My hunch is that I won't be living in Vancouver too much longer.

FITNESS: Man, it's hard to stay fit. Or even partially fit. Or even morbidly obese. I've been cranking out the K's on my bike (80-100/wk) and eating very well and I just hover around the same weight. It sucks... but I guess eventually something has to happen. We'll see...

SUMMER: After all the cold and rain and cold rain of June, summer has arrived on the Lower Mainland. Day after day of blue skies and temperatures in the mid-20s. It's almost enough to have me liking Vancouver again (we're having a little disagreement these days). And being out on the bike has been a nice way to enjoy the sum-sum-summertime.

That's it for now. More news in the coming days...

Cheers!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

from the "iDon't get it" dept.

So... the second generation iPhone is out and everyone is all atwitter. Personally I think it's too expensive. Not just the iPhone but the three-year contract. Gimme an iPod Touch and a plain-Jane mobile any day.

But, more importantly... will it blend?



Mmm... 3G iSmoke!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

from the "tune of the day" dept.

Another tune that reminds me of the mighty East... and has turned into a bit of a mantra...


B52's
Roam

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

from the "lack of focus" dept.

For lunch today I went for a walk.

Now that summer has finally arrived, I've been using my midday break from work to wander the streets of downtown Vancouver (and get $2.50 sushi).

Lately I've been down on Vancouver and I suppose I'm trying to like the city better -- to rediscover what I loved about it initially. And figure out why, after 11 years, I'm tired of it.

There's a lot to love about the place:

Mountains. Check.
Moderate climate. Check.
Ocean. Check.

But something's missing. And I'm not quite sure what that is. Even a passing vehicle playing Love Shack wasn't enough to rekindle my love of a city I've grown bored with.

Who would have thought?

Maybe it was that year in Africa. Maybe I crave daily adventure. I'm not sure.

This recent bout of deep thought has brought about a strong desire to head to the East Coast. 14 years after a painful departure, it still tugs.

And now, thanks to my Aeroplan account, I've just booked a flight to the east. I've also pulled the secret Aeroplan trick: Fly from Vancouver to Halifax, with a long layover in Winnipeg. Two destinations for the price of one. In business class.

Which bring us to the Tune of the Day... something Irish that takes me right back to my time in Halifax.

It's corny, but when I hear it I think of great times and great people. Something I didn't really appreciate at the time... And now, almost a decade and a half later, I find myself wishing I had lingered there just a little bit longer...


The Cranberries
Linger

Friday, July 04, 2008

from the "tune of the day" dept.

Ah, memories of Africa. I didn't get to Senegal, but I wish I had:



Amadou et Mariam
Senegal Fast Food

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

from the "double trouble" dept.

July 1 is doubly special for me: It marks both Canada Day and Ghana Republic Day. Two nations that have had a rather large impact on me...



Cheers!