Beer Not Kids

Gotta dig that Rick Mercer. He doesn't even blink when they move his show, Rick Mercer's Monday Report, to Tuesdays over the summer after the CBC strike (show is now just called the RMR). Now he mocks the first major ruckus of our Canadian election by creating the Beer Not Kids petition (which actually has more signatures that the real petition by Rona Ambrose).

For those that don't catch the show even tho it's on three times a week, should check out the show's website or his blog. It's not always about politics, but very Canadian. For those that stay up late or have a PVR, make sure to catch another Report show, The Colbert Report (note the T's are silent), which is a brilliant spinoff of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

iPod mini gone

So by the time I get around to writing an blog on my iPod mini, you can't even buy one of these anymore. But back in mid-April, I took the plunge and got a green 6 GB one. Ordered it off the Apple website so I was able to get it personalize with "Who's Down With OPP?" and my email address (in case I ever misplaced it and whoever found would actually try to return it to me rather than keeping it). I remember following the tracking order as the shipment started from Shanghai, China and then to Alaska, Texas, and Toronto before finally reaching Calgary.

The iPod is definitely a great music experience. With playlists, I can whip up mixes in no time. I'm able to transfer all my MP3s and CDs and even buy some exculsive singles off iTunes with ease. I can listen to it while I play the drums. The interface is quite simple, but I find that it does what I need. I am disappointed with the music gaps between songs, especially when I listening to a DJ/dance set like the stuff by 2 Many DJs. A simple buffering mechanism would take care of that... I went for an iPod that's smaller in both size and storage space as I usually listen to new stuff all the time, but even with the mini I do find that I keep some singles lying around (like Europe's Final Countdown). I have had to reset the mini a few times and after half a year's near constant use I do notice that I have to charge more often Don't know if I would get the new iPod for it's video capability. The screen is about the same sized LCD on my new digital camera, but it is definitely thinner than even the mini.

What's an iPod without the accessories? Getting a radio FM transmitter also allows it to be used in the car, which is great when I'm driving around all day. I got a transparent cover over the screen and got a glow-in-the-dark radiation logo to protect the wheel cover. No need to get a case yet...

Vegas Baby!

Managed to pull over another Vegas trip. Yes, that makes it three times this year if you are keeping track. There was a big group of us with representation from San Diego, Toronto, and London, England in addition to Calgary. Stayed at a great timeshare condo right off the Strip by the MGM Grand. Didn't do that much gambling (I think I'm even for the year), enjoyed a few good meals and was able to catch Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity at NYNY and a preview of the broadway play Avenue Q at the Wynn. Will post some pictures sometime.

Summer Movies

No theme this time (unless someone else can think of one):

• Batman Begins - an apropos title for relaunching a great movie series tarnish by Joel Schumacher despite the all-star casting.

• Wedding Crashers - Hilarous moments but the ending dragged down. Will still pick up the DVD tho.

• The Longest Yard - Ok, predictable but still Adam Sandler funny. Chris Rock rules!

Caught up on an old one too:

• Final Destination 2 - didn't pay to see this... but I'm just a fan of Ali Larter since Varsity Blues and her Dawson's Creek days (don't ask me about what Katie Holmes DVDs I have)

Concerts

I always enjoy going to live shows and it seems the planets all aligned for the past month as I went to four of them, held at various venues across town:

• David Usher: Club gig at the Whiskey. Played a lot of stuff from his upcoming album, so the crowd wasn't able to get into it and he never played anything from his old band, Moist. Did somehow insert the chorus from the Bloodhound Gang's Bad Touch as he sang his latest single, Love Will Save the Day.
• The Killlers: With only one album in tow, they played a few new tunes, which hopefully they'll put on their next record. Cool to see them on SNL and then in person a few weeks later! I even recognized the redecorated synthizer. Drummer was cool, which got me thinking about picking this up as a hobby. Cause it's all about being cool, right? :-p
  
• Snow Patrol: Finally caught a show at the new Mac Hall Ballroom on campus. This guys did not disappoint. Sounded great live, got a new fav concert tshirt, and a good crowd too.
  
• Green Day: They do put on a great show, I still remember the last time I saw them @ Edgefest. Both times, we got up pretty close into the mosh pit which got pretty crazy. They even picked people from the crowd to play all the band's part. The guitarist got to keep the guitar and the drummer got to stage dive. He went feet first (insane?!?) and landed right in front of me. Security was a mess which cause us to miss the first few tunes.
  

So I'm all done for shows for now. Missed out on the Rolling Stones tickets. For $350, I should have bough t a pair just so I can scalp them. Could have paid for the next batch of concerts...

PS. Sorry it took so long... Took awhile to get the pics off my mobile phone. Got tons of things I need to blog about, so hopefully I can get them off my chest soon. Later, O.