Mission Impossible in LieMAX

I went to see the new Mission Impossible movie last night with my friend Josh in IMAX. The movie itself was very good and I enjoyed it thoroughly, as I have pretty much all the Mission Impossible movies (except the awful 2). But I just don't see the big deal with these new IMAX screens they have now at Empire Theatres. It's in a renovated regular theatre, and the screen is pretty much the same size as normal (albeit curved). Now, the picture was great, but it's not like I think that the regular theatre has a bad picture... basically, if the theatre didn't tell me it was IMAX, I would never have known. So, bottom line, no reason to spend more money for this LieMAX experience (I did not come up with that term, I just really liked it).

Fortunately for me, I didn't spend anything, since I was using a free pass I got when a movie I went to in the summer had technical difficulties. So, no harm to me. But if it's my own money, no way will I go to IMAX.

NHL Realignment: I Called It!

According to this article, it'll be 4 conferences, with teams playing teams outside their conference twice (home and away). The top 4 teams from each conference would make the playoffs. The only difference between my suggestion and this is that inter-conference playoffs only happen after round 2, so there's only 1 team per conference left. Also, the teams composing the conferences is different (but I was never stuck on them anyway).

I draw your attention to my post from July 14 of this year.

The best idea the NHL has ever had, and it came from me.

New Music from Big Wreck!

One of my favourite bands, Big Wreck, has gotten back to making new music. I had heard about it this summer, when Ian Thornley was featured in the LCBO magazine for some reason, but it had slipped my mind until I caught their new song "Albatross" on satellite radio a few days ago. I gave it a few listens when I got home and I absolutely love it! I bought the single off of iTunes and added it to my BBM Music profile. Apparently, the new album will be out in the new year and I'm really looking forward to it now.

Not that we've been completely without the Big Wreck style of music since they disbanded in 2002, since Thornley's new band Thornley carried on with a similar sound over their 2 albums, but getting back to the old name with the addition of the Big Wreck guitarist is a nice touch. Side note: I read that the Big Wreck guitarist, Brian Doherty, has been living and teaching guitar in Camlachie. That was kinda cool to find out.

Anyway, add me to your BBM Music friend list to check out the song. Or just go buy it. I'm really happy with the sound of the song... big sweeping guitar melodies that is a signature of the Big Wreck/Thornley sound.

The Muppets

I went to see The Muppets in the theatre this weekend. I usually don't go opening weekends, but I was going to see a show anyway and it was the one I most wanted to see. I had high expectations going into it, and I'm so happy to say that it did not disappoint me in any way. I was so very funny and did the Muppets characters great justice.

While this movie is definitely family friendly (as evidenced by the G rating), adults will get as much (maybe more) enjoyment out of this movie. In fact, when I went on Saturday night, I didn't actually see any kids in the audience. To be fair, it was the late show (9:40pm), so they could have been in the earlier showing.

Do yourself a favour and see this movie. Compared to anything else out there, this one deserves your money. Definately the best movie I've seen in 2011. Although, to be honest, I don't always remember every movie I've seen. I should go back and make a list.

Millennium Force = Barometre of Success

I went to Cedar Point on the last weekend of October this year. It was also the last weekend it was open. They had their Halloweekend thing going on, which I had never been to. I had a great time going with a friend of mine, and enjoyed the haunted houses and walkthroughs they had set up along with, of course, the rides. However, it wasn't all super good. I didn't ride 2 of my favourite coasters, the Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, as it seems I've on the high side of my perpetual yo-yo diet that I seem to have been on for the past, I don't know... 5 years? This even after I went (and rode on everything) back in June of this year. This is a pretty depressing feeling for me, and my second biggest motivator to losing weight. But even a whole month and a half of a heads up for this trip couldn't get me to smarten up and eat right.

I'm at a loss right now of how to get back on the weight loss train in a significant way. I've done it twice before (with less than permanent results, obviously) and maybe the third time will be the charm, as they say. However, it seems I can't bring myself to do this right now for some reason.

Just a bit of a whiny post. Don't mind me.

Recommend A Beer

This may surprise you, but I don't have a favourite beer. It used to be Alexander Keith's back when I first started drinking, but lately, while it's still a good beer, it tends to give me headaches. So, I've been avoiding it a little more. Here are a few others that I've been trying and liking lately:

• Sleeman Original Draft - It's pretty good, but has that distinct Sleeman taste that prevents me from having too much of it.
• Waterloo Dark - It's a dark beer that tastes like a light beer. Again, a similar problem to Sleeman in that there's a bit of a taste that stops me from drinking it too much. Although, it's much less pronounced than other Brick beers.
• Miller Genuine Draft - Here's a beer that there's nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either.
• Heineken - I got back on this after coming home from Holland this summer. But oddly, it tastes much better over there. In fact, it tastes glorious over there. Why can't that make it's way across the ocean? That and it's hideously overpriced in Ontario.
• Mill Street Organic - I don't really know what it means by "organic", but it tastes all right. If it means that it has no preservatives (which has been suggested as the cause of beer headaches), then I'm all for that.

I'd appreciate any other suggestions you may have.

Thing That Frustrates Me

Why is it when a website has problems loading videos, it never seems to have trouble loading the advertisement beforehand?

Parisian Redemption

A week or two ago I received a letter with the return address originating from "Prefecture de Police" in Paris. First of all, I only saw it because I was about to throw it into the recycling with the mass of flyers I get every week and it slipped out. I just pointed that out to note the stupid amount of printed advertising I get now is ridiculous (but I suppose it keeps Canada Post in business). Back to the letter...

So, I was pretty excited when I saw the envelope, since it really could only be about my wallet that was stolen in the Paris Metro. Upon opening it, I found that it was written in french only (understandable) but I could read enough of it to tell that they indeed have my wallet, I had 3 months to claim it and it would cost me 10 Euros to do so.

Upon translating it online, I further read that I had to claim it in person (or have someone claim it in person for me) instead of doing it by mail as I had hoped. Here's the letter for anyone interested in reading the original french version.

I had cancelled all my cards lost and had replacements either in hand or on the way, so there wasn't anything of importance left to claim. So, of course, I'm not going back to Paris just to claim the wallet. However, I can't help but really want to get my hands back on my wallet, and the awesome sense of closure it would bring.

I don't suppose anyone I know is going to Paris by November, are they? I half-jokingly posted this question to the usual social networks, but to no avail. Since my blog has a much greater readership of people I know than Facebook, I figured I'd ask here.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I just got back on Thursday from a 10 day trip to Holland and Paris with my siblings. Here are the highlights:

Holland was cool. Besides catching up with relatives that I haven't seen in 8 years, we went to Amsterdam and did the Heineken Experience, walked through the red light district, visited a coffee shop and ate at KFC. Also, a trip to Zeeland and Utrecht along with some laid back days in Veenendaal playing Rummikub and Toepen. It was also good to eat some patat met, bitterballen and soused herring.

The Paris experience was mixed at best for me. We did a lot of walking, saw the Eiffel Tower, did a River Seine tour, saw a concert in Notre Dame, saw the Catacombs and Sacre Cœur. Paris was very busy (granted it was a weekend in August) and wait times were just all kinds of stupid. Also there were scammers and sellers of cheap knockoff souvenirs everywhere. But the lasting memory for me might just be that I was pick-pocketed in the Metro on our way back to the airport. So, I've had to replace all my credit cards, bank card, driver's licence and health card. So far I've only got 2 of my 3 credit cards back and it'll be a few weeks before I have a real driver's licence and health card in my hands again. The lost money isn't so bad as the hassel. But the worst part is knowing that some creep in the subway had me marked out as a target. One can only learn from the experience.

I've put a set of pictures up on Flickr, which has more photos than the ones I put on Google+ and Facebook. So check that out if you want.

Summer Vacation

In a couple hours, I'll be heading out of here on the first real summer vacation (other than camping, cottages and Cedar Points) I've gone on in 8 years. Coincidentally, I'll be heading to the same place I went 8 years ago... The Netherlands. Also, we'll be doing a short weekend trip down to Paris. I'm going with my sister and brother, which will be a first as well.

We don't have any plans yet besides our flights, accommodations and visiting with relatives, so we'll see what we get up to.

This is also the exact type of trip that I bought my PlayBook for, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it holds up. I've got it loaded up with the final 2 episodes of Games of Thrones and the first season of Fringe. I also got a bunch of podcasts loaded up and I'm bringing a book, so I'll keep myself entertained on the flight, which I should be sleeping on. Departure at 2305.

NHL Realignment Idea For 2012

With Winnipeg replacing Atlanta in the NHL next year and playing this season in the Southeast division, realignment for the 2012-13 season is a necessity. I think that the NHL should take this opportunity to not just realign the divisions and conferences, but to really restructure the league in a way that will encourage local rivalries and ensure that the 2 best teams are playing each other for the Stanley Cup.I had a brainstorm today of what that could look like and was kind of impressed with myself and how it worked, I had to share it.

First of all, forget 3 divisions in 2 conferences. That's gone. In fact, conferences are gone altogether. In this structure, there will be 4 independent divisions (2 with 7 teams and 2 with 8 teams). To keep the current 82 game schedule, each team will play the teams in the other divisions twice (1 home and 1 away) and play teams within their own division either 5 or 6 times, depending on if they're in a 7 or 8 team division. For teams within the 7 team division, it's simple: play each team in your division 6 times. For teams within the 8 team division, it's a bit more complicated: you have to have to imaginarily split the division in half (play teams within your half 6 times and the other 4 teams 5 times). That will work out to 82 games in total, half home and half away. Go ahead and do the math... I'll wait.

The top 4 teams in each division will make the playoffs. The first round will be played intradivision (1 vs 4, 2 vs 3). After the first round, the remaining 8 teams will be ranked according to their regular season points and then 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, and so on, reseeding after each round, as the playoffs do now. Finally, 2 teams are left that are from any division... even the same.

Pros for this concept:

• More games vs local rivals during the regular season
• Guaranteed first round matchup vs divisional rival
• The best 2 teams in the league can meet up in the Stanley Cup Final, even if they are in the same division.  This will enable possible finals like: Montreal vs Toronto, Detroit vs Chicago, Edmonton vs Calgary, New York vs Boston, LA vs Anaheim or even the epic Tampa vs Florida.
• Games against out-of-division teams are perfectly balanced for all teams in the league

Cons for this concept:

• What do you do with the conference championship trophies? Since the ridiculously superstitious players never seems to want to touch it anyway, you could just stop awarding it and keep it in the Hall of Fame.  Or my idea is that you just designate one semifinal to be the Campbell series and the other the Prince of Wales series... doesn't have to be east or west.

Here's a possible new divisional alignment:

West Division	South Division
Vancouver	Florida
Calgary	Tampa Bay
Edmonton	Nashville
San Jose	Dallas
Los Angeles	Carolina
Anaheim	Colorado
Phoenix	St. Louis

East Division	North Division
Boston	Montreal
New York Rangers	Ottawa
New York Islanders	Toronto
Buffalo	Detroit
New Jersey	Chicago
Pittsburgh	Columbus
Philadelphia	Minnesota
Washington	Winnipeg

Anyway, that's my bright idea. I can dream, can't I?

Google+

I've been trying out the latest and greatest in social networking over the past few days: Google+.  Seems to me to be a mix of Facebook (in terms of functionality: statuses, sharing photos, videos, links, etc.) and Twitter (in terms of following people and people following you).  Also, once set up, it seems pretty simple on being able to share certain things with only certain people.

Right now, it seems to be invite only, but it also seems that there are unlimited invites. So, if you want to try it out, let me know and I'll send an invite your way.

I can't describe what it's like better than the following xkcd comic:

Update: I suppose I should put a link to my Google+ profile, if you'd like to add me.

Good Riddance Apartment Living

You may have heard most of this if you followed my Twitter/Facebook feeds for the past 2 weeks, but since it's over now, I'll summarize: Three and a half weeks after moving out of my apartment my former superintendents sent me an email asking for money. Their claim was as follows:

• The apartment was left in a mess
• They had to spend "many hours each day" for a week to clean it up for the next tenant
• They don't get paid to clean
• They assumed I was too busy with my move and work, so didn't bother to contact me until then
• They thought the (4 year old) oven was too dirty, so decided to just replace it

For that, they said people usually give them $150 - $200 to do the clean up for them.  Also, they forwarded an invoice from a carpet cleaning company for $136, saying it was a little extra because it was "heavily soiled".  The last part was the best: saying the invoice can be paid by cheque, but the cleaning part... they preferred cash.

So, I called bullshit on them.

First off, my apartment was not in total disarray when I left.  While perhaps not squeaky clean and the cupboards and fridge needed a wipedown, it certainly didn't require "many hours each day" to clean.  I didn't take a photo log of everything when I moved out, just one as memento, but you can see what state I left my living room in at least.

I know... horrible, right?

Anyway, my other beef was with the carpet cleaning.  I said that if it needed to be done, then I could have done it myself for $30 instead of just throwing an invoice at me.  They said they don't let tenants do their own carpet cleaning, because we ruin them.  My thinking is that if it's a requirement for all move outs, and they won't let us do it ourselves, then hold some of the deposit money back.  Simple.

My biggest beef was mostly about the timing of it.  I handed over the keys to the apartment a full 24 hour earlier than I had to.  They could have taken a look inside and asked me to do some stuff while I was still legally the tenant.  To throw this on me three and a half weeks later, after I had long forgotten about my move, was just too much for me.  The time to go over move out expectation was during the last week of May, not the last week of June.  The fact is, I probably would have been fine with what they were asking, if it was explained to me beforehand and I was given fair time to take care of it.  Basically, it was a lack of respect (along with gratuitous demands for money) that was the core of this whole thing.

One last thing I brought up was what a complete waste to throw out a perfectly working oven because it was deemed too dirty on the inside.  They've obviously never heard of Easy-Off.  The whole thing makes me wonder if they didn't bother to clean, then how could they have spent "many hours each day" for a week?  I called them out on that.

So, after I ripped into them with a reply email, they wrote back.  They threw all the blame back in my direction, but in the end they said to not worry about it anymore and that they were over it.  So basically, they attempted to save face and tried to look like they took the high road.  Oh, I was so tempted to write one more letter back to them, because I still disagreed with nearly everything they said, but the bottom line was that they weren't pursuing money anymore... So I got what I wanted, and to drag it out any more wouldn't be worth anything (except being a little therapeutic for me).

And now I never have to deal with Equitable Life and Beacon Tower again.

Calling All Botanists

Anyone have any idea what these plants are (the three stalks with the pointy leaves)?

They're popping up everywhere in my yards. I'm just not sure if they're friend or foe.

My Garage Smells Like An Ashtray

Since moving in, I noticed that my garage smells a little off. I chalked it up to it being a garage and how it had probably stored things that wouldn't matter if they smelled. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what smell it was. However, the inside of my car is starting to pick up on the smell, and now when I get into it when out somewhere, I can distinctly smell cigarettes.

This is unfortunate, since I definitely plan to keep my car in the garage. However, I have to get rid of the smell. Problem is that there's no one source of the smell... it's probably just seeped into the walls over long periods of exposure.

Does anyone know how to get rid of a smell like this? All I can think of is to leave the window and doors open as much as possible, but I can't do that all the time as it's an invitation to steal my stuff.

Cedar Point 2011a

This weekend I had the pleasure to introduce a few people to one of the best things in the world: Cedar Point. This was the earliest in the season I've ever been and was rewarded with some pretty light crowds, especially on Sunday. Monday was a bit busier, and besides some school groups getting in a late year trip in, I can't explain why really. We used Saturday and Tuesday as travel days.

We stayed at the on-site Hotel Breakers, which really is by far the best way to do it. A bit of extra money per night gets you so much convenience, especially traveling with a baby.

Also, we lucked out incredibly with the weather. It was mid-20's for both days in the park and when we got up this morning to leave, it was a pouring thunderstorm. The nice weather also let us take advantage of the water park.

Some stats: 5 rides on Maverick (within the first hour and a half of park opening on Monday); 3 on Millennium Force and Magnum XL-200; 2 on Top Thrill Dragster, Power Tower, Disaster Transport and Iron Dragon; 1 on Raptor, Mean Streak, Blue Streak, Gemini, Sky Hawk and Wicked Twister. Unfortunately, the new Wind Seeker wasn't ready yet.

Now enjoy a photo from the Millennium Force line at dusk.

So Long Apartment

I haven't seen my apartment this empty since I moved into it.

Yesterday I handed in my keys at the apartment and there's no looking back. Now I have to go through all these boxes and find my stuff again. It took me 2 days to find my new prescription sunglasses. Really, who boxes things in the Xbox box?

Final Painting Results

Here's what my basement looks like after a two-coat painting session yesterday.

I went with a less brown colour and more grey... and a little lighter than I had originally thought.

Springtime Slurpee

Coke at 7-Eleven on King St at Wellington in Kitchener this afternoon.

Now that was good Slurpee.

All Good Stories Must Have An Ending

One of my favourite shows on right now, Chuck, just got renewed for a 13 episode fifth season, which will be its last. This is only good news, as far as I'm concerned, even though it means the end of Chuck after this coming Fall.

I fully believe that a show that tells a larger story over the course of its run (as opposed to an episodic type show in which each episode is self contained and doesn't require any significant previous knowledge) needs a proper ending to be considered a good story as a whole. Think of Lost, and if it was cancelled before the writers could wrap things up. Despite of whether you liked the series finale, at least they were able to wrap up most of the million loose ends they created.

For the past 2 years, Chuck has survived by receiving an initial renewal of 13 episodes and then getting an additional 9 episodes added on to that mid-season. This has forced the writers to create 4 different episodes that has enough closure to be considered a series finale, but enough left unresolved to be a season finale cliffhanger. I think it's made the stories over the last 2 years seem forced.

Now with the knowledge that the show will end after 13 more episodes, I hope they can write a great close to the series and therefore, make it complete.

Painting Opinions Solicited

So, I've decided that one of the things I'm going to do first with my new house is to paint the basement room. This room will function as my main TV room... a pseudo home theatre room. Right now, it's painted yellow and the walls have a few scuff marks. Here's how it looks now...

My thought is that a home theatre should have a darker colour, both because it'll reflect less light from the TV and because a darker room will seem cozier. Using an online room painter, here's my first go at what direction I should take...

Any opinions or suggestions on what to do here?

I Bought A House. No, Seriously This Time.

Some of you may have heard, some maybe not as I haven't made an official online announcement yet (until now), but I finally bought a house. For real this time. I wanted to avoid the situation from last time and waited until I had the keys in my hands before getting all announcy on everyone.

I got the keys on Monday.

It's in the Forest Hills area of Kitchener, near Fisher-Hallman & Hwy 7/8. I'll be avoiding a privacy faux-pas by not giving the exact address on le blog here, but I'll be sending out a mass email announcing the new address and phone number situation. Moving day looks to be May 28th as I have the apartment until the end of the month, so I'm just going to take my time with it. Oh, and I have moving favours that I can totally call in now... for real this time. Thou art truly forewarned now.

No Election Is A Waste

I just got back from casting my ballot in this, the 41st Canadian General Election. After starting out very boring (for lack of a better word), the campaign got really crazy really quickly. Now, I'm certainly not a fan of Jack Layton (this video/article shows why I'll never vote for a party led by him, petty as it may be), but I hold out great hope by the poll numbers the NDP has gotten in Quebec, especially since it seems to be mostly at the expense of the Bloq Quebecois. The sooner they're out of the federal election scene, the better.

One of the argument that was thrown around early on was the idea that this election was unnecessary and a waste, usually (and understandably) by Conservative supporters. My counter-argument is that no election is a waste, especially this one. This was the longest serving minority parliament in Canadian history, which seems to suggest that our political parties are adjusting to the new reality of minorities. If an election wasn't called now, it would be in a few month or a year at most. So, the expense of an election would just be spent then. Of course, over time, more money will be spent than if elections were held every 3 to 5 years. But it would maybe be one or 2 elections extra over 20 years and in the grand scheme of federal budgets, would be a drop in the bucket.

I love elections, but mostly election night. Despite if who I want to win actually does, seeing the numbers roll in and the seat counters at the bottom of the screen is just some sort of nerd crack to me.

Enjoy election day everybody.

Round 2 Pick-a-roo

I went 5 for 8 last round. Let's do better this time.

Washington over Tampa in 6
Boston over Philadelphia in 7
Nashville over Vancouver in 6
Detroit over San Jose in 5

New Blog Design

What do you think of the new look? Downside is that I lost nearly all the comments on my posts. But I wasn't going to pay a third-party for the service (that was free when I originally signed up 7 years ago) when I can just revert to the default commenting system, which is mostly as good for my purposes anyway. So, I just had to suck it up and do it.

Round One Picks 2011

Just getting my picks down on virtual paper before the playoffs start.

Washington over New York in 6
Philadelphia over Buffalo in 5
Boston over Montreal in 5
Tampa Bay over Pittsburgh in 6

Chicago over Vancouver in 6
Los Angeles over San Jose in 7
Detroit over Phoenix in 6
Anaheim over Nashville in 6

Blue Jays 2011

Here's a great video essay by Stephen Brunt that Sportsnet played before the Jays' home opener last night.

I Love Elections, But...

I'm having a hard time getting excited for this recently announced federal election. Even though despite what the Conservatives say, I don't think this is an unnecessary election... I don't consider any election unnecessary. However, with the polls where they are, it's hard to imagine an outcome that looks significantly different from what we already have. Listening to all the leaders and their parties' representatives just emphasizes how little they take voters seriously. Their talking points are irrelevant if not outright fabrications of their opponents' stance on issues. The media, being lazy and hungry for stirring any sort of controversy, just blindly run with whatever unimportant angle the parties feed them.

Locally, the Liberals have nominated the two candidates who lost last election, who both first came into office during the Liberals' hey-day in the 90's. These lazy nominations of uninspiring candidates turn me off nearly completely from voting for them. It always seems to be the same old politics and nothing ever changes.

Following Steven Harper (@pmharper) and Michael Ignatieff (@M_Ignatieff) on Twitter is simultaneously hilarious and frustrating at how out of touch and partisan these two are.

Hey Harper, where's Senate reform?

Pros vs Cons: Telephone Edition

So, I'm seriously thinking of ditching my land line in favour of using my cell phone more. Has anyone done this sucessfully? I'm making a list of pros and cons.

Pro: Save about $50 a month
Con: Call quality isn't as good on a cell
Pro: Use the minutes on my cell which often go very unused
Con: Have to keep my cell near me whenever I'm at home
Pro: Still have my office VoIP line available with its included long distance
Con: I'll have to list my cell number as my actual number, increasing the likelyhood of telemarketers
Pro: I get my choice of toppings
Con: The toppings contain potassium benzoate

Any others?

Dear UPS

I don't mind that you leave my package with the superintendent of my building. But at least try to see if I'm home first. Thank You.

Dear Tim Hortons

Please stop serving your "Steeped Tea" so hot that I have to wait 15 minutes for it to cool down enough for it to not burn the inside of my mouth. When I get a beverage to go, I want to drink it now... that's why I got it. I understand the argument that you want to keep it at a drinkably warm temperature for longer. But if I have to wait for it to cool down, that wait time is not drinkable time.

Didn't McDonald's have a lawsuit about the temperature of their coffee a few years back? One of these days I'm going to bring a thermometer with me.

Want To Know What's Weird?

I think I've had the same salt and pepper shakers... with the same salt and pepper in them, for the past 7 years. And they aren't big ones either. They're those little novelty ones with the logo of a hockey team on them. I guess I don't salt up that much.

Guitar Hero Done. Rock Band "Wins"?

On Wednesday, Activision announced that there were going to be no more Guitar Hero games. A couple items come to mind as I think this over...

First, although it's no secret, the music game industry isn't selling as well as it did at it's peak a year or so ago. There certainly is an element of novelty with these games, and there isn't always a compelling reason to buy the latest and greatest iteration of the game, if you already have it. The big problem with Guitar Hero is that they were churning out a couple of games every year... it was just way too much.

Second, this is good news for Rock Band and fans of Rock Band, in the end. Although they still have to deal with the general downturn in interest in their genre, they now have de facto free reign over the best music out there. As someone who placed his bets on the Rock Band side of things, I'm pretty excited about what this could bring in terms of content in the next little while.

Having two companies making basically the same game over the last few years has definitely spurred on innovation. First, it was the addition of drums and vocals, then vocal harmonies, then keyboards and real guitars. We may not have gotten to this point without the competition. But how much further do we want the genre to progress? In terms of instruments, I think they've maxed out. No real value will be added with a sousaphone.

Big Brothers' Curling Fundraiser

Hey guys, it's that time of year again. I'm in the Big Brother's of Sarnia-Lambton Curl For Kids Bonspeil. I've had a stretch of successful fundraising over the last few years, and if you've donated, I thank you for that. If you'd like to make a donation for the fundraiser this year, click here to go to my fundraising page. There you can make a donation by credit card (and get a tax receipt emailed to you almost immediately) or you can let me know if you'd like to make an offline donation via cheque or cash.

This year's 'speil is March 5. I'm not sure, but I think we may be undefeated in all our years so far. Or maybe we lost once, I can't remember. There's not really any keeping track of those things.

Anyway, thanks once again.

A Little Slow On The Uptake, But I Get It Now

An unusual number of people were independently suggesting that I use my new domain to have the address m[at]brouwer[dot]ca I just thought people were hung up on the one letter shortness of it. But now I see that if you say the @, it become m at... or Matt. Clever people you are and not a bad idea. The only problem I see with it is that I would verbalize that address as "Matt Brouwer dot See Eh", it would be more like "Em at Brouwer dot See Eh".

So yeah... good idea. Doesn't quite work for me though.

And yes, I freely admit it took me too long to realize what everyone was getting at.

Best Purchase Ever!

Say hello to the new owner of the domain name brouwer.ca!

Nowadays, one of the most useful things you can have on the internet is a domain of your very own. It can be your personal online identity. Of course, each domain can only be owned by one person at a time, so pretty much every premium domain name is gone... including personal names. For example, my arch nemisis/coolest guy I've never met has the domain mattbrouwer.com, and that's something I can never get now.

A few months ago I decided that I should have my own domain. Knowing that my name dot com is gone, I looked at other alternatives. There still is mattbrouwer.ca out there, but I got thinking that having an address that reads matt@mattbrouwer was kind of redundant. So, taking a longshot, I looked up the domains brouwer.com and brouwer.ca... both of which were registered, and had been for a long time (1997 for the .com and 2001 for the .ca). However, brouwer.ca was listed as coming up for expiry in about a week from when I was looking. I thought "wow, that would be cool if it was left to expire". Unfortunately, when the expiry date came, the whois listing showed that it had been renewed. That just started my journey of leaning how domains work.

Turns out that there's a grace period after expiry to give the previous owner a chance to renew, and to someone on the outside, it looks like it was renewed. Thinking it was gone and wanting to register at least something, I snagged the domain saxwithmatt.com in the meantime. However, on a whim about a week or 2 ago, I decided to check the status of brouwer.ca again. This time it was listed as "to be deleted" or something similar. So, I waited until expiry (hoping a domain reseller didn't get to it first) and was able to snatch it up. All for $15 per year.

Now I have my ideal email address. Of course, it just forwards to my current gmail account for now, so either address will work the same. It's just going to be so much easier (and cooler in a geeky kind of way) to be able to tell people what my email address now is.

Any Brouwers out there want an email address?

A Few Cruise Photos

For those that are interested, here are some photos I took while on the cruise last week.



It was a great trip, once again. Warm weather... not hot though. The only hitch was that we weren't able to tender into Grand Cayman due to sea conditions on one day.