Every once in awhile when I'm watching a television show, and my mind thinks ahead and figures out how it's going to end, it makes me remember my dad. My memories of him have pride attached. Like a good son, I looked up to him, and respected how smart he was, and how he could solve any problem with a home made solution. In retrospect, neither of...
I found myself watching another episode of an old show I'm not proud to admit to; Whodunnit. As is often the case, I find myself thinking about TV on two or more different levels. I can enjoy a show for it's plot, or acting, or other ideas. I often explain my multi-level thinking to others, as if I am my own DVD commentary. I think about the...
I went to my favourite Toronto burger place for lunch today, and got a surprise. Their fabulous Big Guy 7oz juicy burger was now being advertised as Gluten Free. You'd have to be living under a rock these days not to know the term. "Gluten Free" seems to be the big new diet fad, with great controversy. Like so many diet options, I have happily...
For the first time ever, a magician won America's big summer talent show; America's Got Talent. Judge Howard Stern has been campaigning for more than three years on his morning Sirius Satellite radio show for America to vote more for variety acts than singers. Like me, he is disturbed that a gigantic talent show featuring lots of acts in a wide...
A few summers ago, during the slow summer season when hardly anything new is on TV, I started binge watching The Highlander series every day on one of those obscure higher package cable channels. I have always been a fan of time travel stories, and although immortals are not technically the same as time travellers, the similarity in story was...
I'm watching the premier episode of Scorpion as I write this. http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2419510784/tt3514324?ref_=tt_ov_I It's a federal agent crime drama where the lead characters are a group of super smart, uniquely talented under 30 year old nerds, recruited by an old, wrinkle face, loud fed. I've just hit pause part way though, so I don't...
It's new TV week. I sat down this evening to watch and review the new network TV show about Mrs. Clinton called Madam Secretary. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3501074/ It's probably not really about Hilary although the main star looks a lot like a younger version of Mrs. Clinton, complete with a similar, but not identical hair style. I think we...
I've been watching more YouTube videos than regular television this summer. Tonight I was watching a two part episode of the educational video series; Vertasium. In week one, he showed a number of science physics things. The one I'm writing about first, was the sequence where a a magnet is used to pull a piece of cereal around in a bowl of water....
I found myself at a charity yard sale this weekend with time to spare. Usually I don't pay too much attention to weekend sales in yards and driveways. They've never held much interest for me although I do know, for many people, they're a weekend highlight. I can breeze through a yard sale in under 3 minutes usually. I I just don't need to spend...
Sometimes, educational TV takes a different approach. It teaches us important life lessons, and helps us socialize. There is a TV show on every night that I strongly recommend everyone watches. Each episode is only 15 minutes, but the lessons it delivers is essential to a person's pop culture education. Robot Chicken is an amazing tool. It is a...
I've always liked my writing style. It's sort of like the way I talk. It is something I do that I'm proud of, and there are not so many things in my life like that. However, I also don't seem to be able to do anything serious with it. I made a pledge to write a blog post every day, and failed. I missed multiple days, and even skipped a few of my...
Sometimes, I feel guilty over laughing at comedy. A lot of it is mean. The mean stuff often makes me laugh, despite the understanding that a real person is the butt of the joke. Comedy often attacks real people. I believe there is a law that lets them rip apart politicians with comedy, and celebrities have always been fair game it seems. Late...
In general, strangers don't talk to each other. Few ever strike up a random conversation with me. It almost never happens, so I am never sure how they react when I start one with them. It's funny, because in my life, I have trouble starting conversations with people. I am seldom the ice breaker at a party. I'm much happier when you start the...
You go first. No, YOU go first. I think one of the greatest rules of success, is to be second. Smart people let somebody else go first. Leaders must be followers first. This week, Apple made their newsworthy announcement for the new Apple iPhones, finally giving in to the public demand, and releasing a bigger version of the iPhone. Immediately,...
A new idea is exciting. It actually feels good. +1 Pleasure points. As I was thinking new thoughts the other day, I was able to actually feel the good feeling and sensation that comes with a new idea. Learning something new - at any age is good, and figuring it out on your own is even better. I can actually feel it. When I learn a new fact, I am...
The other day on Facebook, I was reading a thread on the news feed of one of my American friends from youth. We've known each other since our teens, but I've never been super close. He posts a fair number of political messages, and I am never whether he is posting in full seriousness, or in jest. I don't know many people in my life who are far on...
For many of you, the last time you took a daytime nap may have been in kindergarten, when nap time was enforced. That's too bad. Once we hit grade 1, we are encouraged to make it through the day in one continuous state of awake. In fact, napping at school is not acceptable behaviour at all, for students or teachers. You can actually be fired for...
When I first started my Giveit100.com project in January of 2014, it was a great motivator of creativity and energy at a time in my life when I needed it. Through the process of making 100 consecutive 10 second videis everyday, with follow up YouTube videos, I found a purpose, and a new community if fruends/fans. SShortly after that, I created a...
Fro some reason, we North Americans tend to like our long weekends to favour Monday, rather than Fridays. Somehow it seems like a longer holiday when we get an extra day AFTER Sunday, rather than taking Friday off and going back to work on a Monday. I suppose some luxury livers often take the Friday off too, and enjoy a 4 day weekend, but the...