Last night, CTV News carried a story about UFOs - specifically, a gathering of pilots, military personnel, and others who seem more credible on the subject than the average person behind a UFO sighting. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to come up with a direct link to the piece (although there's a handful of links off of ctvnews.com).
What intrigued me the most, however - and this may be because I've been brainwashed into being unable to view news coverage without a critical analysis - was the tone of the piece. While coverage of UFO sightings used to make anyone who believed in them seem like nutjobs of the highest order, the CTV reporter seemed to be sending a message of "it still seemed farfetched...but maybe there's something to it".
Now, I could be wrong, but I seem to remember (or at least remember being told) that global warming underwent a similar pattern in mainstream perception...from "crazy theory" to "probably true, but we're still trying not to think about it", to, well, we all know what's happened to it in the last few years.
I'm not advocating the theory that Earth is regularly receiving visitors of extraterrestrial origin, but I am saying that we might only be a few years away from that topic somehow becoming a key public issue.
--Ryan
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
A momentous decision
(Advance warning: this turned into something far more boring than I had originally planned. Unless you are extremely bored and/or worryingly interested in the most boring goings-on of my life imaginable, turn back now.)
Some background for you. In March 2005, I was given an iPod mini for my birthday. Not having really been 'into' music up to this point, it took me nearly a month before I finally decided to load onto it the eighty-one songs that resided on our family's PC. As I discovered my musical tastes, that playlist expanded - passing two hundred songs in late July, and then doubling that by December.
It was in December - just before the Christmas school break - when "Ryan's iPod", as iTunes so affectionately called it, played its last song. As my Accounting teacher assigned the class some work for the rest of the hour, I pulled out the iPod...and nothing happened. It wouldn't play music, it wouldn't start up, I couldn't reset it in any way.
Ryan's iPod had died, the most-played songs from the era in which I eventually discovered my musical taste being "Hey Jealousy", "Radar Love", and a Styx cover of "Summer in the City".
Too late for me to ask for a replacement iPod for Christmas - and, as you will have noticed, exhibiting brand loyalty to the highest degree - I instead realized "Hey! I have all this money I've been saving up and doing nothing with!", and went to e-Bay. I forget the exact price I paid, but a 6GB iPod Mini (My original was 4GB) cost me less than a 2GB iPod Nano was going for retail at the time. Thus, "Ryan's iPod II" was created.
As an aside, I had been given a laptop computer for Christmas, and now had the option of listening to music in my bedroom from that, rather than solely the iPod. However, as I was a stickler for maintaining strict and accurate records of what I listen to, even music through my computer would be filtered through the iPod (to keep all such records in one place).
This worked fine. Then in late 2006, the amount of music I had finally outgrew the amount that could fit on my iPod. Simple solution - only my favourite 6GB of music would wind up on the iPod, the rest would be stored on my computer for no real purpose. This meant the removal over time of a lot of songs I never really listened to anyhow, and anything I had by the Arrogant Worms.
But recently, another problem has beset Ryan's iPod II - for no apparent reason, the play counts of random songs seem to reset from time to time. So now that the one reason I listened to all music through my iPod is gone, I'm going to start listening to music directly from my computer from time to time - mainly when I want more variety.
And what, you ask, is the most played music from this era of Ryan's iPod II? Well, the top ten is pretty nice in my opinion - Werewolves of London, some Rush, some New Pornographers, some Supetramp...and as for the top three...
3) "I Am The Walrus" by Styx, thus keeping in tact my bizarre affinity for Styx performing cover songs.
2) "Under Pressure" by David Bowie and Queen, can't argue with that.
1) "Tonite Is A Wonderful Time" by April Wine, in what I hope is some sort of practical joke. Surely I haven't really listened to this song 20 times more than any other???
--Ryan
Some background for you. In March 2005, I was given an iPod mini for my birthday. Not having really been 'into' music up to this point, it took me nearly a month before I finally decided to load onto it the eighty-one songs that resided on our family's PC. As I discovered my musical tastes, that playlist expanded - passing two hundred songs in late July, and then doubling that by December.
It was in December - just before the Christmas school break - when "Ryan's iPod", as iTunes so affectionately called it, played its last song. As my Accounting teacher assigned the class some work for the rest of the hour, I pulled out the iPod...and nothing happened. It wouldn't play music, it wouldn't start up, I couldn't reset it in any way.
Ryan's iPod had died, the most-played songs from the era in which I eventually discovered my musical taste being "Hey Jealousy", "Radar Love", and a Styx cover of "Summer in the City".
Too late for me to ask for a replacement iPod for Christmas - and, as you will have noticed, exhibiting brand loyalty to the highest degree - I instead realized "Hey! I have all this money I've been saving up and doing nothing with!", and went to e-Bay. I forget the exact price I paid, but a 6GB iPod Mini (My original was 4GB) cost me less than a 2GB iPod Nano was going for retail at the time. Thus, "Ryan's iPod II" was created.
As an aside, I had been given a laptop computer for Christmas, and now had the option of listening to music in my bedroom from that, rather than solely the iPod. However, as I was a stickler for maintaining strict and accurate records of what I listen to, even music through my computer would be filtered through the iPod (to keep all such records in one place).
This worked fine. Then in late 2006, the amount of music I had finally outgrew the amount that could fit on my iPod. Simple solution - only my favourite 6GB of music would wind up on the iPod, the rest would be stored on my computer for no real purpose. This meant the removal over time of a lot of songs I never really listened to anyhow, and anything I had by the Arrogant Worms.
But recently, another problem has beset Ryan's iPod II - for no apparent reason, the play counts of random songs seem to reset from time to time. So now that the one reason I listened to all music through my iPod is gone, I'm going to start listening to music directly from my computer from time to time - mainly when I want more variety.
And what, you ask, is the most played music from this era of Ryan's iPod II? Well, the top ten is pretty nice in my opinion - Werewolves of London, some Rush, some New Pornographers, some Supetramp...and as for the top three...
3) "I Am The Walrus" by Styx, thus keeping in tact my bizarre affinity for Styx performing cover songs.
2) "Under Pressure" by David Bowie and Queen, can't argue with that.
1) "Tonite Is A Wonderful Time" by April Wine, in what I hope is some sort of practical joke. Surely I haven't really listened to this song 20 times more than any other???
--Ryan
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Remembrance Day
Wow! Two posts in one day! Go me!
So, it occurs to us (that is, Ryan and me) that we don't know when Remembrance Day ceremonies occur. Ryan tells me that it's on November 11th, at 11:11 a.m., but I think it takes place just slightly earlier than this. I'd hate to show up ten minutes late, so to investigate I trusted the growth of my Katra to Google.
Google tells me that ceremonies begin at 10:55a.m. Better safe than sorry, I suppose. But when does the moment of silence occur? Surely the ceremony starts slightly earlier than this, but "slightly earlier" could mean either five or sixteen minutes early. We'll try clicking a link on The Royal Canadian Legion website!
So, after a few minutes of forgetting what we were actually looking for... I guess we gave up. We just thought it was funny that veterans get a benefits package including (and as far as we can tell, exclusive to) Speedy Auto Service, AVIS car rental service, and an MBNA credit card.
Well, I hope I make it to the ceremony in time.
But we'll see how that goes.
I can only imagine punctually.
--
Dan
So, it occurs to us (that is, Ryan and me) that we don't know when Remembrance Day ceremonies occur. Ryan tells me that it's on November 11th, at 11:11 a.m., but I think it takes place just slightly earlier than this. I'd hate to show up ten minutes late, so to investigate I trusted the growth of my Katra to Google.
Google tells me that ceremonies begin at 10:55a.m. Better safe than sorry, I suppose. But when does the moment of silence occur? Surely the ceremony starts slightly earlier than this, but "slightly earlier" could mean either five or sixteen minutes early. We'll try clicking a link on The Royal Canadian Legion website!
So, after a few minutes of forgetting what we were actually looking for... I guess we gave up. We just thought it was funny that veterans get a benefits package including (and as far as we can tell, exclusive to) Speedy Auto Service, AVIS car rental service, and an MBNA credit card.
Well, I hope I make it to the ceremony in time.
But we'll see how that goes.
I can only imagine punctually.
--
Dan
Building bombing bingo? Looks like Ringo!
Let me set the record straight here - I have nothing against Ringo Starr. Obviously he is one of the, if not the, best rock drummers of all time, and the All-Starr Band is a great concept.
That said, there's two important aspects about Ringo's music which sets him apart from the other Beatles. For one, it's come out over time that he wasn't really much of a songwriter - most of the songs he sung for the Beatles were written by John Lennon, and his greatest solo hits were penned by George Harrison.
Secondly, not only did he not write his greatest hits, he must have used an obscene amount of studio trickery to get his vocals on those hits to the level they were at. As you can see with this video (taken from a recent All-Starr Band tour)...his live voice really isn't that good.
Oh, and if anyone actually recognizes the title of this post...well, frankly, I won't believe you.
--Ryan
That said, there's two important aspects about Ringo's music which sets him apart from the other Beatles. For one, it's come out over time that he wasn't really much of a songwriter - most of the songs he sung for the Beatles were written by John Lennon, and his greatest solo hits were penned by George Harrison.
Secondly, not only did he not write his greatest hits, he must have used an obscene amount of studio trickery to get his vocals on those hits to the level they were at. As you can see with this video (taken from a recent All-Starr Band tour)...his live voice really isn't that good.
Oh, and if anyone actually recognizes the title of this post...well, frankly, I won't believe you.
--Ryan
The Season
What is it? November tenth? Awesome! You know what that means!
In the Williams, where I now sit enjoying a dark mocha, a tree sits off in the glass conference room, lightly decorated with tinsel and garnishing. This is plenty appropriate, as it is the first snowfall of the year.
But the muzak which I've grown to love so dearly (despite what most people might say), has been replaced by Greensleeves and five... make that six renditions of Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas.
Is it too early for this type of behavior? Nah... We are only gradually moving into the spirit. My mocha is just a mocha. No peppermint shot, no Kahlua, no red and green sprinkles on the whipped cream.
I think we still have time before this season begins to play out.
And when it does, I can only imagine it will be flawlessly.
--
Dan
In the Williams, where I now sit enjoying a dark mocha, a tree sits off in the glass conference room, lightly decorated with tinsel and garnishing. This is plenty appropriate, as it is the first snowfall of the year.
But the muzak which I've grown to love so dearly (despite what most people might say), has been replaced by Greensleeves and five... make that six renditions of Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas.
Is it too early for this type of behavior? Nah... We are only gradually moving into the spirit. My mocha is just a mocha. No peppermint shot, no Kahlua, no red and green sprinkles on the whipped cream.
I think we still have time before this season begins to play out.
And when it does, I can only imagine it will be flawlessly.
--
Dan
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Ball's in your court, CTV
Unless you've been avoiding mass media for the past week, you've surely noticed that a bunch of Hollywood writers are on strike. While this won't affect many of your favourite shows for quite some time, programs which have a very fast writing-to-air turnover - primarily late-night shows - are already into repeats.
This just so happens to include The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, CTV's midnight-to-1 am block. Now, I don't think it's any stretch to say that when your show is based on topical humour...well, it kinda loses a lot of its punch a few weeks or months down the line. This is why, much as I love the show, I can't watch the 22 Minutes repeats on The Comedy Network - some of them are more than ten years old, and there's only so many times you can say "Stockwell Day?!? This must have been when he was relevant! How hilarious!".
But, you ask, what can CTV replace Stewart and Colbert with? Well, I have an answer that may surprise you...actually, it's an idea I'd had for them for quite a while, and was planning to write about eventually - this strike has only expedited matters. It all started back when I found this clip on Youtube. Now, as much of a classic as 'Signs' is, there's no way the Five Man Electrical Band is doing anything more than playing county fairs these days. And as the clip shows, it's not for lack of talent. There are plenty of others out there in the same boat - April Wine, Helix, Tom Cochrane, etc. - bands and singers who were huge in Canada, but never big outside of it, and are now suffering in anonymity.
How to fix this? Simple. At least until the strike is over, replace Stewart and Colbert with your own in-house late night show - similar to Open Mike, only better. Pick a host from somewhere in the vast herd of CTV employees - Jeff Hutcheson, Tino Monte, James Duthie, or someone else - or even reach outside and bring in a Kim Mitchell or Sean Cullen. Maybe even splurge on Norm MacDonald. Have a different band every night to play a couple of their hits, and get a pair of decent guests for each show. You have the studio and the connections - it wouldn't be that expensive to produce, and should the strike go on REALLY long, you might even be able to sell it to an American network.
Most importantly, I'd watch.
--Ryan
This just so happens to include The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, CTV's midnight-to-1 am block. Now, I don't think it's any stretch to say that when your show is based on topical humour...well, it kinda loses a lot of its punch a few weeks or months down the line. This is why, much as I love the show, I can't watch the 22 Minutes repeats on The Comedy Network - some of them are more than ten years old, and there's only so many times you can say "Stockwell Day?!? This must have been when he was relevant! How hilarious!".
But, you ask, what can CTV replace Stewart and Colbert with? Well, I have an answer that may surprise you...actually, it's an idea I'd had for them for quite a while, and was planning to write about eventually - this strike has only expedited matters. It all started back when I found this clip on Youtube. Now, as much of a classic as 'Signs' is, there's no way the Five Man Electrical Band is doing anything more than playing county fairs these days. And as the clip shows, it's not for lack of talent. There are plenty of others out there in the same boat - April Wine, Helix, Tom Cochrane, etc. - bands and singers who were huge in Canada, but never big outside of it, and are now suffering in anonymity.
How to fix this? Simple. At least until the strike is over, replace Stewart and Colbert with your own in-house late night show - similar to Open Mike, only better. Pick a host from somewhere in the vast herd of CTV employees - Jeff Hutcheson, Tino Monte, James Duthie, or someone else - or even reach outside and bring in a Kim Mitchell or Sean Cullen. Maybe even splurge on Norm MacDonald. Have a different band every night to play a couple of their hits, and get a pair of decent guests for each show. You have the studio and the connections - it wouldn't be that expensive to produce, and should the strike go on REALLY long, you might even be able to sell it to an American network.
Most importantly, I'd watch.
--Ryan
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Get Smart Poster
Here below the posters of Get Smart, the upcoming comedy:
(Click on a poster to enlarge it.)
As you may notice Agent 86, aka Agente 86, is famous in Italy too.
;-p
(Click on a poster to enlarge it.)
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As you may notice Agent 86, aka Agente 86, is famous in Italy too.
;-p
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