Friday, February 24, 2006

Back in the saddle again

Ya, ya, it's been a while. So sue me.
My boy Miceail is growing himself a beard, at the ripe old age of 27. He said it's about time, and plans to "keep it low and lined."
I managed to get a picture of his new facial hair, and here it is.
Well, at least it's how he'll probably look ...

I haven't been blogging much the past week or so, though I have been reading plenty of em... Plenty of interesting stuff, like Tonya Harding Erotic Slasher Horror Fiction (which I won't link to, because it's nauseating. Just trust me on this), a collection of really expensive shoes, and how Barbie's soulmate has gone totally metrosexual.
Ahh, the joys of the internet.
It's all I have to do these days, besides riding my ass off at Big White. We got a foot and a half of snow yesterday, and I woke up to sunny clear skies this morning. So, of course, I pressed snooze and promptly missed the entire day. Yeeaayyuh.
Then again, Telus called me to tell me that they were returning my security deposit from my cell phone - from nine years ago. But it's an extra $250 in my pocket, so it's Grey Goose and cran for me tonight!
Anyways, I'm about to step out the door and head to Rose's, so I bid you adieu.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Just in case you missed it...

... This is why I love the Daily Show so much.

Because Dick Chaney shot a 78-year-old man in the face.
Because Dick Chaney shot a 78-year-old man in the face.
Because Dick Chaney shot a 78-year-old man in the face.
Because Dick Chaney shot a 78-year-old man in the face.
Did I mention that Dick Chaney shot a 78-year-old man in the face?

Just because it's Black History month


I thought I'd add a little story about a black man making history.
Shani Davis became the first black man to win an individual award in a Winter Olympics on Saturday. Apparently, the organizers were so surprised, they gave him a teddy bear instead of a gold medal. Kidding.
But still, it's a big accomplishment. I guess Bryant Gumbel will have to eat his words.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Separated at birth


It's so eeeeerie


Conan O’Brien wants sauna inspector job for help re-electing

Finns’ president


HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — U.S. TV talk show host Conan O’Brien, who endorsed the re-election of Finnish President Tarja Halonen with mock ad campaigns because if his supposed resemblance to her, expects to be rewarded with a cabinet position as a sauna inspector.
Hundreds of fans welcomed O’Brien on Saturday to a freezing Helsinki — the capital of the land of the saunas — two weeks after Halonen, 62, secured a second six-year term as Finland’s first female president.
After arriving at the airport, the quirky, self-deprecating NBC network host said he will ask “Tarja” for a cabinet position when he meets her Feb. 14.
“In my country, when someone is instrumental in helping someone get elected it’s customary for the president to give that person a cabinet or ministerial position,” O’Brien said in the airport’s VIP lounge.
“I’d like to be the inspector of saunas, mostly women’s saunas,” he said.
Organizers said some 2,000 fans waited for hours in freezing temperatures to catch a glimpse of the TV host who has become unusually popular in the country of five million on the northern fringes of Europe.
O’Brien has joked his show is highly popular in Finland because of his resemblance to the fair-skinned, red-haired Halonen. Last year, he caused a political stir for endorsing her during her campaign, broadcasting mock ads promoting her and attacking her opponents.
“Why do I support Tarja Halonen? Because she’s got the total package: a dynamic personality, a quick mind and most importantly — my good looks,” the comedian said.
Late Night with Conan O’Brien airs five days a week on SUBTV, a Finnish cable channel, with a few days delay. And every time he mentions Finland or Halonen, local news media report it prominently.
The waiting fans at the airport were not disappointed. They roared and screamed when he stepped outside.
A soldier in uniform said: “The army loves him.”
“He lightens our lives in the evenings quite a bit,” said Cpl. Mattias Ronnberg, an 18-year-old conscript.
“I’ve been particularly taken by his Tarja quips,” said Heidi Ojalammi, 25, from Helsinki.
“If you look really close, you could imagine that they look similar,” she said with a laugh.
After his Tuesday meeting at the presidential palace with Halonen, O’Brien is scheduled to receive a TV award for being “the most surprising and entertaining TV personality in Finland.”
He said he might also visit Arctic Lapland, some 800 kilometres north of the capital, with his accompanying camera crew.
Finland will become just another stamp in O’Brien’s passport: he has filmed past segments in Canada, Ireland, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Western Canada FEVER

I took some pics at the annual basketball tournament at Kelowna secondary last weekend, a rare chance for me to flex my photographic muscles and cover something OTHER than hockey or curling.
Gawd, I hate the winter sometimes...
As a side note, my men's league team is No. 1... Anj's is No. 2... Not that I'm rubbing it in, or anything ... ;)




This is the kid that won: six-foot-five grade 10 forward Mangisto Arop from Ross Sheppard in Edmonton. He pulled a one-footed, double-pump, Jordanesque dunk from the free-throw line, complete with wagging tongue. It was tight...




A good ol' grain-fed farmboy from Sheldon-Williams in Regina, Lance Kruger, came second in the contest. The ol' alley-oop-whip-the-shirt-off dunk was a crowd-pleaser. At least with the girls...




Kruger jumps like Vince, finishes like Frederick Wiess with a clank off the iron. Looked good for a minute, though...




Kealey McDonald, one of the lone B.C. boys in the tournament. Repped the host school OK, but wasn't at Mangisto's level.




Can't remember what Arop did here, but it was pretty impressive. Right after the contest, I put down the camera, cleaned off my birkenstocks, and showed these young punks how to throw down. Really.

It's all over

I haven't commented on the Super Bowl much these days, except to say that I was right. Sooo... for all you Seahawks fans... this video is for YOU!

Saturday, February 04, 2006

"Super" Personalities

People, pilsner and a mammoth plasma screen TV . . . That’s all you need for a Super Bowl Party.
At least, it’s enough for purists like me.
But sadly, the last football game of the year seems to get taken over by the hype, the hangers-on, and the football hacks. You know, the same people who think a fleaflicker is a brand of pet deodorant.
Most of my Super Bowl memories are a little fuzzy, since I usually spend the three hours drinking heavily, trying to erase the pain of my team (the Oakland Raiders) not being in the Big Game, again. Or, if they did make it, drinking heavily to erase the pain of them being dismantled by a coach that looks like a demonic children’s doll.
But I digress . . .
While I was part of the group sloppily singing fight songs in the corner, here’s 10 other personalities you might find at any given Super Bowl party.
1. The person who asks “why do you get seven points for a touchdown and three for a kick?”
First of all, Mr. Football Guru, it’s six points for a touchdown, and they get another point for kicking the little oblong thing through the sticks afterwards. As for the disparity between scoring plays, well, that’s just to confuse YOU.
2. The “Real” Mr. Football Guru. “Well, the Steelers are first and 10 from their five, and they always like to run their double-reverse, half-back option in these situations.”
Hold up there, Mr. Madden. Can we leave the predictions to those people who don’t base their predictions on a video game?
3. The Iron Chef. “Try my chili. TRY it. It’s great. C’mon, try it. Eat it. . . . it’s good.”
The guy, or girl, who annoyingly insists on everyone trying their contribution to the party. I have to say, tasting a meat product that tastes like sawdust is something everyone should do once.
4. The grouchy oldtimer who always compares today’s teams to the past.
The Daily Courier’s own Doyle Potenteau would be a prime example. He’s always complaining how the ’85 Bears or ’42 Rams would have killed these marshmallow pussies of the current NFL. He usually starts sentences with the words “These punks . . . “
5. The jersey guy.
The dude who shows up in the one football jersey he owns, usually from a team that hasn’t made the Super Bowl. I’ve been this guy on more than one occasion.
6. Old Yeller. Usually someone who has made a bet on the game, and works himself into such a frenzy yelling at the TV that he makes everyone else in the room uncomfortable.
He needs to be shot. I’ve been this guy on more than one occasion.
7. Al Bundy Reincarnated.
Anytime someone scores, he reminds everyone how he scored five touchdowns in one game back in high school. He doesn’t mention that it was a co-ed flag football league.
8. The Future Al Bundy
Usually someone’s kid. Usually, someone’s slightly overweight kid, because football is the one sport where a fat, out of shape tub of goo can become a millionaire athlete. But it rarely happens, and they usually end up reminiscing about their days playing midget football.
9. Beer Bong Dudes.
There’s always a trio of guys playing drinking games, taking shots whenever the announcer says things like “first down,” or “incomplete pass.” They’re usually passed out by the second quarter and don’t bother people much after
that.
10. The Real Footballer.
Can be British, Scottish, German, Welsh or Brazillian. Basically, from anywhere outside North America. And they always remind us, in whatever funny accent they speak in, that “American” football is only the second-most popular football in the world.
That may be true, but right now, it’s the most popular football in the room. So pipe down unless you want a bowl of sawdust dumped down your shirt.
And with that, enjoy the game.