Like any good adventure, it begins early in the morning. Too early in the morning if you ask me; however, that’s the way it is. Beth and I got up around 4am, got ready then headed to the Saint John airport. Everything went smoothly until it came to leaving. We sat on the airplane for about 30 minutes before someone asked what was going on. The stewardess lets us know they are working on it. This is exactly what you want to hear before the airplane takes off. Turns out there was a hydraulic problem with the door Luckly, they didn’t risk it and canceled the flight. So we had to speed walk back to the Air Canada counter to get another flight. We got there quick enough to make the flight to Montreal. We got on that plane just before it took off!

The highlight of this flight was the airplane magazine I was reading. Someone wrote with a red pen “This is Sparta” over every person on the pages. They also had things like “This IS Sparta” when looking at places, and “These are Spartans” when there was a group of people. It cracked me up, but Beth didn’t really appreciate it.

Once in Montreal, we ran around looking for the next gate as we now had to fly to Edmonton. The bad news was that the next flight from Edmonton to Fort McMurray involved at least a seven hour stay in Edmonton. Not what we wanted, but it was that or not getting there that day. We had a chance to get a bite to eat before leaving on the next flight. This one was long, four hours, and we didn’t get seats together. So I sat between two random people and watched Wild Hogs and Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me. Eventually, we arrived in Edmonton. Five minutes later a flight to Fort McMurray was boarding. We asked to fly standby on this and were lucky enough to get on and seats together! So instead of a long wait at the airport all day, we were able to get into Fort McMurray only a few hours later then we had originally planned.

The downside? Our luggage was left behind in Saint John on that plane. We had to make a claim here and luckly they just called (the next morning), so we will hopefully be getting it soon! Hurray, change of clothes!

So what is Fort McMurray like? Let me help explain with a top five list.

How you know your in Fort McMurray:

1. It’s dry and there is dust everywhere.
2. Trucks outnumber people and cars by a factor of twenty to one.
3. Stores close early because they can’t find people to work.
4. Drunk drivers roam the streets at 10am.
5. Getting a Tim Hortons coffee in the morning lineup takes an hour!

The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny is a song written by Lemon Demon. When the flash version was released it became an instant hit! Check it out:

Lyrics from the website:

Old Godzilla was hopping around
Tokyo City like a big playground
when suddenly Batman burst from the shade
and hit Godzilla with a Batgrenade
Godzilla got pissed and began to attack
but didn’t expect to be blocked by Shaq
who proceeded to open up a can of Shaq Fu
when Aaron Carter came out of the blue

and he started beating up Shaquille O’Neal
then they both got flattened by the Batmobile
but before it could make it back to the Batcave
Abraham Lincoln popped out of his grave
and took an AK47 out from under his hat
and blew Batman away with a rat-a-tat-tat
but he ran out of bullets and he ran away
because Optimus Prime came to save the day

this is the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny
good guys, bad guys, and explosions as far as the eye can see
and only one will survive, I wonder who it will be
this is the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny

Godzilla took a bite out of Optimus Prime
like Scruff McGruff took a bite out of crime
and then Shaq came back covered in a tire track
but Jackie Chan jumped out and landed on his back
and Batman was injured, and trying to get steady
when Abraham Lincoln came back with a machete
but suddenly something caught his leg and he tripped
Indiana Jones took him out with his whip

then he saw Godzilla sneaking up from behind
and he reached for his gun which he just couldn’t find
’cause Batman stole it and he shot and he missed
and Jackie Chan deflected it with his fist
then he jumped in the air and did a summersault
while Abraham Lincoln tried to pole vault
onto Optimus Prime, but they collided in the air
then they both got hit by a Care Bear Stare, oooh

this is the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny
good guys, bad guys, and explosions as far as the eye can see
and only one will survive, I wonder who it will be
this is the Ultimate Showdown…

angels sang out in immaculate chorus
down from the heavens descended Chuck Norris
who deliver a kick which could shatter bones
into the crotch of Indiana Jones
who fell over on the ground, writhing in pain
as Batman changed back into Bruce Wayne
but Chuck saw through his clever disguise
and he crushed Batman’s head in between his thighs

then Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White and
“Monty Python and the Holy Grail”’s Black Knight and
Benito Mussolini and The Blue Meanie and
Cowboy Curtis and Jambi the Genie
Robocop, the Terminator, Captain Kirk, and Darth Vader
Lo Pan, Superman, every single Power Ranger
Bill S. Preston and Theodore Logan,
Spock, The Rock, Doc Ock, and Hulk Hogan
all came out of no where lightning fast
and they kicked Chuck Norris in his cowboy ass
it was the bloodiest battle the world ever saw
with civilians looking on total awe

and the fight raged on for a century
many lives were claimed, but eventually
the champion stood, the rest saw their better:
Mr. Rogers in a bloodstained sweater

this is the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny
good guys, bad guys, and explosions as far as the eye can see
and only one will survive, I wonder who it will be
this is the Ultimate Showdown…
this is the Ultimate Showdown…
this is the Ultimate Showdown…
of Ultimate Destiny

Finally, we can feel safe when flying! As many of you know all too well, there are many threats we face when flying. Threats such as: terrorists, explosives, crying children, and long lines. One threat that had previously gone under the radar was the threat we face from pets on airplanes. The best example I can possibly provide is the “based on a true story” movie, Snakes on a Plane. The plot consisted of snakes escaping from the luggage area and killing everyone aboard the plane. I can only assume this is why pets have been added to Canada’s no-fly list.

Seriously now, the CBC has a story explaining what is going on. As of next month, animals will no longer be allowed aboard any Air Canada flights. While the airline barred pets from aircraft cabins last September (due to concerns from passengers with allergies), the restriction now applies to the baggage compartment as well. So whats the reason for this ban? The airline says it is due to security restrictions that cause people to check in more luggage. The airlines spokesmen says “It really comes down to a question of carrying bags for the vast majority of our customers or carrying pets for a small number of our customers.” He also said, “Animals in the hold actually reduce the amount of space we have for luggage because you’ve got to leave an area for ventilation or oxygen and as well they require extra handling.”

My thoughts? I think people should be allowed to bring their pets on the flights. I think that if they do then they would have to use that as part of their allocated luggage room. If they go over, then allow them to pay a fee to bring it. I think an outright ban is just plain stupid. What do you think? Some people are suggesting that the ban is due to the death of a pet dog on board a flight in January 2004. The dog was being stored in the cargo area and suffered carbon monoxide poisining. the airline says it wasn’t responsible.

Obviously, keeping pets in a confined area used for storing cargo makes sense right??

I thought I’d post some Saint John videos I’ve seen lately!

CSI Saint John:

Tourism Saint John video:

Saint John Cruise video:

Train headed to the refinery (this one is just plain AWESOME):

That’s right. I thought it was pretty funny when I first read it here. The story explains that the party is sponsoring a stock car in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series to win over the estimated one in five Canadians who counts himself or herself as a NASCAR fan. The most interesting point was that one in five Canadian are NASCAR fans! I never figured it was so popular here. Then again it shouldn’t surprise me as NASCAR has grown to become the second-most popular professional sport in terms of television ratings inside the U.S., ranking behind only the National Football League. Internationally, NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries. It holds 17 of the top 20 attended sporting events in the U.S., and has 75 million fans who purchase over $3 billion in annual licensed product sales. Pretty crazy eh?

According to the driver, Pierre Bourque, NASCAR provides a “terrific medium” to spread the party brand as Canadians switch from traditional sources of information, such as newspapers and television, into the rapid-fire digital age. The driver also says that it sent a message that the face and speed of Canadian political advertising is changing. I really believe they are on to something new with advertising and politics. Today, television and radio only reach so many people. Moving to new areas and keeping up on technology is where you will pick up voters in this day and age. I think it’s a really interesting idea, but I’m still unsure of how many people will go out and vote Conservative after seeing this. Then again, I don’t watch NASCAR, so I can’t really say that for sure!

The car will display the Conservative logo for two more races, first in Edmonton on July 20-22, then in Trois Rivires, Que., from Aug 17-19. Hopefully they will have better luck with the car though. The Dodge Charger finished 13th overall, but ran into engine problems after reaching as high as the fifth position.

http://www.cbc.ca. According to the CBC, they are Canada’s News, Money, Sports, Health, Technology & Science, Consumer Life, Arts, and Kids Information Source. Wow, that’s a lot of words, so how does that reflect their site’s redesign? Not very well. Why? A lot of pretty pictures now makes it less functional then before. They expect me to have to scroll just to see the news? You have to be joking. Well, this isn’t April 1st and this looks like it’s here to stay. Seriously, try finding the news in this new layout (it’s in the tiny text at the bottom of the page):

Let’s start with the basics. The whole reason I visit the site is to get the latest news! Now the first thing that I see when I bring up the site are ads for their television and radio programs. I have to look at enough billboard ads on my way to work, the last thing I want to see on my news site are more ads! That’s in addition to all the banner ads they normally have. I usually don’t have to deal with them when using Firefox and AdBlock Plus, but now they put the weather in a box at the top of the page beside a large banner ad. The ad is blocked, but the weather remains and leaves a big chunk of whitespace on my screen. They should design the site expecting some people to be blocking ads so that when they don’t show it, it doesn’t throw off all of the content.

Another really annoying fact is that is does not function the same in Firefox. Try it out, load up the site and try clicking on the 1,2,3,4, or the 5 and see what happens. Nothing. Is it so hard to ask that people design a site that works in the major browsers? I don’t care if it doesn’t look the same in IE, but it should at least function the same!

So what do you think? Let them know by leaving your comments here. They will change when enough people complain!

We have had our first cruise ship in already this year, back on June 5th, but there are many more on the way. This year they are expecting to have more then 138,000 visitors! Check out the latest schedule from the Saint John Port Authority here.

Also, check out this website they put together for people interested in taking a cruise. I like it! They have a lot of great content including a nice photo gallery. Even if your not looking to take a cruise, it’s worth checking out to appreciate why people like to visit here. My favorite is the list they created:

Top 10 Reasons Why Cruise Lines Call on Saint John

10. Convenience for Guests - Ships can dock at Pugsley A/B, right downtown with a covered cruise terminal for dispatching tours and the colourful Market Slip within a glimpse from the gangway! There are no line-ups for shuttle buses or lengthy waits for tenders from Pugsley A/B. Guests step off the gangway and into the heart of Uptown Saint John!

9. We Roll Out the Red Carpet! - A warm smile and friendly greeting is waiting for each one of our thousands of guests! Our award-winning Meet and Greet committee is waiting for your guests, armed with maps, information, and a rose for each lady and pin for each gentleman!

8. Our True Colours Shine Through! - Your guests will be greeted by colourful displays with flags, banners, painted murals, and flower gardens, creating a wonderful atmosphere around the cruise terminal. This first impression of our city will make your guests yearn to discover more!

7. Saint John is the Fun, Friendly, Fundy City! - Guests frequently comment on the friendliness of our local people, the cleanliness of our streets, and how comfortable and safe they feel as they explore our city. In fact, our tour guides were nominated as “friendliest” in the “Rest of the World” Category by Cruise Dreamworld Destinations (March 2003).

6. Shore Excursions for Every Age and Interest! - Our Saint John-based Tour Operators understand that shore excursions are an extension of the on-board experience, and have developed a wide range of unique shore excursions to ensure there are tours available for every age and interest.

5. Tour Operators that are the Best in the Business! - Our Saint John-based tour operators have been working with cruise lines since the first calls on Saint John over a decade ago. They can ensure high-quality guides and transportation, smooth tour dispatches, and memorable Saint John experiences!

4. So Much to Sea and Do! - The charming Old City Market, Horse and Trolley Rides past quaint Victorian architecture, the fascinating New Brunswick Museum, and a variety of Bay of Fundy experiences are just a small sample of guest favourites!

3. And It’s Easy to Explore! - For the guests who wish to explore on their own, almost all of Saint John’s top attractions are located within easy walking distance of Pugsley A/B. Other sites, such as the Reversing Falls Rapids or the Carleton Martello Tower, are a short and easily-accessible taxi ride away.

2. Your Crew Will Love Us Too! - In Saint John, we recognize that a ship’s crew is just as important as its guests, and we want to ensure that their Saint John experiences are just as memorable. For that reason, we have organized soccer games with local teams for crew members.

And the number one reason why Cruise Ships should call on Saint John:

1. Your Guests Will Love You! - Our surveys have shown that over 55% of guests plan on returning to Saint John either by cruise ship or by land. And from the comments we’ve received about guests coming back to visit longer, buy summer homes, and even establish businesses, guests always remember the cruise line that first brought them to Saint John! Furthermore, they are quick to spread the news about their cruise and travel with that cruise line again!

Like many people, I was sad to see Corey and Trevor missing from the seventh season of the Trailer Park Boys. They were my favorite characters on the show! Finally, thanks to Andrew for sending me the link, I have found out why they are missing and what caused them to leave! Trevor, played by Michael Jackson, has written to explain the changes to the show since the first season and what lead to their departure. See the original message here!

edit: it has been brought to my attention that some of what i originally wrote was insulting to my fellow cast mates and that was never my intention when i wrote this bog. i agree with this and i have decided to edit my blog and take out the offensive material. i’m sorry to those people that i offended. i love you guys. i’m leaving in the part about the sandwiches because i think it’s funny.

most people know that i don’t really like to talk about TPB and i really don’t. in my mind it’s in the past and it isn’t worth talking about. recently, i’ve had a lot of TPB fans message me and ask what happened and why i’m not on the show anymore and that it isn’t the same without cory and trevor. this is flattering but it wasn’t my intention when i decided to leave the show. i can’t answer all the questions that i get and TPB isn’t something i like to talk about but i will give a summary of what happened and why i left the show. this is going to be the truth and probably not what a lot of people want to hear and i don’t mean to sling shit at certain people but sometimes it has to be done. if you enjoy the show i hope you continue to enjoy it.

Season 1

the first season of TPB was really fun and i felt we were doing something really creative and it felt like a group effort. a lot of the scenes were improv’d and i don’t remember even seeing a script during the first season. during this time we were getting paid scale which is the lowest the producer’s were allowed to pay us and still have it be a union show (ACTRA). this was fair as we really didn’t have any acting experience and i don’t think anybody thought the show would be successful. season 1 bombed and the ratings were low and i don’t think anybody really understood what we were trying to do with the show. i remember a superfan from ottawa organized a party at a bar here in halifax and the only people that showed up to it was the entire cast of the show and this one superfan and his girlfriend. it was humiliating but really funny at the same time. luckily for us Showcase didn’t have a lot of shows and they played the episodes over and over and over. eventually people took notice and the fans spread the show by word of mouth. this didn’t have anything to do with marketing or business plans or focus groups. we all owe everything we have from this first group of TPB fans. i think we were all amazed when we were informed that we would be shooting a second season. it was weird because a lot of the production staff and an awesome lady named judy seemed to get let go before season 2. i’m not really sure why this happened but it seemed kind of shitty. i bet mike volpe and barrie dunn would know something about this.

Season 2

clattenburg wanted me to have a mullet for season 2 and i’m not sure why i let him talk me into this but i did. i also somehow signed on to be a grip for this season. the show had a new woman named karen wentzell who might have worked with barrie dunn at CBC. i had to go in and meet her and do my deal memo for the grip gig and she made me an insanely low offer and pretended not to know what kit rental was. for those that don’t know kit rental is what you get paid to rent your own equipment to a production. normally a show would have a gaffer and a key grip and anywhere from 3 to 5 grips and 3 to 5 electricians. i understood that TPB was low budget and didn’t need a huge crew but they didn’t have any electrics and i was the only grip. i don’t know a lot about electricity and they had me running extension cords all over the trailer park and eventually the breaker would blow and it would somehow be my job to figure it out. the camera dept. had 1 guy who held the camera when it wasn’t being used, a guy who operated the camera and a guy who held the slate. the lighting department had me running around like a nut. eventually they let me bring in raddie dave to help me but this was no way to work. eventually i told barrie dunn that it isn’t my fault they don’t know the difference between a grip and an electric and that what they were doing was dangerous and i took my tools and went home. i had worked on a lot of movies and this thing was a fucking joke. working as an actor on season 2 was ok and we were still getting paid scale and i think that is fair as the show still wasn’t very popular. bubbles played a much larger role in season 2 but he was still a great character. i’m so proud of the first 2 seasons of the show. i really think we were doing something special and for the most part it was a lot of fun. i wish the show would have ended here. what a legacy we would have had. oh well.

Will it blend? That is the question! Today I am writing in the hopes of informing you on the importance of the phrase. Basically, I’m tired of saying, “but, does it blend?” and having all of my friend look at me strangely. So with the help of BlendTec, I wish you bring you all up to speed!

This phrase actually originated from a viral video campaign from BlendTec to promote the power of their blenders. These videos featured the company’s founder, Tom Dickson, blending random things to show off the power of the blender! This lead to people using the term, “Will It Blend?” at every opportunity.

Here is an example: My friend says to me, “Hey, this movie is really good!”, to which I will reply, “but, does it blend?”. This is the best way to inject the term into your everyday vocabulary. Remember, constantly saying it will make it more popular.

Here are some videos from BlendTec:


Video Camera:

Annoying Valentine Gift:

Coke and Chicken:

Rake Handle:

Here is the story from Reuters:

You can stop staring hopefully at that phone, Bono. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not be calling. The Irish rock star turned poverty activist met U.S. President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of a Group of Eight summit but was told Harper was too busy to talk to him. Harper, a somewhat wooden figure regularly mocked for his lack of flair, told reporters Thursday that meeting Bono was not a priority.

“I’ve got to say that meeting celebrities isn’t kind of my shtick, that was the shtick of the previous guy,” said Harper in a dig at his Liberal predecessor Paul Martin, who met Bono regularly.

“I hope we do it at some point but my principle focus in public policies is not kind of to meet celebrities,” added the prime minister, a Conservative. Activists say Canada is trying to block a deal to ensure that western nations live up to promises to boost aid to Africa. For the record, though, Harper said he liked the music of Bono’s band U2.

My take - Harper should be meeting with world leaders while he has the opportunity. Meeting with Bono is a waste of time and only encourages him. Bono is doing nothing more then self-promotion while continuing to be a hypocrite. How is it hypocritical you ask? Let me give an example.

Bono wants countries to increase aid to poor African countries. Where does this money come from? Believe it or not, Countries donate this money using tax dollars! That’s right, you and I are being taxed and some of that goes into foreign aid. So, how could Bono possible be hypocritical here? Well, what do you do when your music publishing company is based in Ireland and you think taxes are high? Simple. You move the business to the Netherlands. Now his business will pay only half the taxes as before, and none of it to Ireland, who is expected to increase their foreign aid contributions!

That’s right, Bono expects Ireland to pay more, as long as he doesn’t have to contribute. Here’s an interesting figure: As Africa is the continent Bono expresses most concern about, he ought to listen to what the African Union says, Tax dodging by foreign companies costs it $150 billion a year - three times what it receives in aid! Think about it.

So the next time you think the Prime Minister is doing a bad thing by not meeting with a celebrity, ask yourself one question. What has that person actually done to make a difference themselves? I think you’ll find they generally talk the talk, but at the end of the day they horde their millions of dollars and make us tax payers come up with the difference!