Toronto Coffee Fun

So yesterday Murray, Sean, Greg and myself went on a Coffee Shop crawl in Toronto.  Our goal was to visit 10 shops across the city.  We drove to Kipling and all got TTC day passes for the day.

It was great fun and we learned two important things: 1) the human body can only take 4-5 cups of good strong coffee/espresso over a 5 hour period and 2) Toronto is big.

We managed to get to 6 coffee shops.  By the end, Sean and I (the primary coffee drinkers) were not feeling like ourselves.

The following is our rating of each coffee shop (Atmosphere, Selection, Quality, Coffee Design, Value):

• Crema A=7.5 S=8 Q=7.3 CD=8.5 V=6 Overall 7.5
• Manic A=7 S=6.5 Q=8.5 CD=7 V=6.5 Overall 7
• Dark Horse A=9.5 S=7.5 Q=9 CD=9 V=8 Overall 8.5
• Bisogno A=8.5 S=6 Q=8 CD=8.5 V=8.5 Overall 8
• F’Coffee A=5 S=6.5 Q=8 CD=3 V=7 Overall 6
• Mercury A=6 S=6 Q=9 CD=8 V=6.5 Overall 7

When we do this again we will alternate coffee drinkers at each shop to increase stamina and also bring video camera for documenting.

Flickr set of my photos of the day.

PAulm

A is for Aardvark

The aardvark, also known as the anteater and antbear, is the premier animal of the animal kingdom.  Both in alphabetical order and historical prevalence.

While the aardvark has been commonly defamed for its poor and confusing spelling, its continued affect on the greater human race is unmistakable.  Few can question the consequences of the current aardvark free market network.  The greater supply of ants and confidence to eat those ants are both in recession trends.  Many pensions and industries are reeling from either the overabundance of ants or lack there of.  The balance of the supply and demand of ants and aardvarks is currently unstable at best, tragic at worst.

Historically speaking aardvarks were crucial to the first World War.  Both in the lone aardvark that sparked the initial conflict and the frequent use of the word in spelling bees against the Germans thus insuring victory.  Aardvarks are the silent ant eating victors of the war.

They are animals.  Specially CIA trained sea operatives?  Masked animal cyclops?  All that is known for sure is that the people who call use the term antbear are crazy.  Aardvarks are in no way like bears.

PAulm

Attack of the Snow

So apparently we are all going to die today.  Or Sunday.  Or Tuesday or Wednesday.  Since we are getting snow those days.  So much snow that Environment Canada calls it snow-mageddon.  Who knew that the end of the world would be cold and icy?  I had always envisioned it as hot and fiery.

Well, I guess we should say goodbye then.  Or we could plow and shovel.  Like we do for all the other snow we get.  I would like to see the “phraseology meter” at Environment Canada.

• 0-1cm = “Light dusting”
• 1-5cm = “Light snow”
• 5-10cm = “Snow”
• 10-20cm = “Heavy Snow”
• 20-30cm = “More Snow Than You Can Shake a Stick At”
• 30-40cm = “Snow-mageddon”
• 40cm + = “Impossible, the universe has imploded at this point”

I’m beginning to think that the peoples at Environment Canada live in some tropical paradise, like Vancouver or Victoria.  Whilst 30cm of snow is substantial, I doubt it equates to the end of the world.

Have fun in Snow-megeddon.

PAulm

Update: Apparently someone at Environment Canada realised that snow-megeddon was a bad phrase and now the official release says “..Dreams of a white Christmas becoming reality..”  Not apycoliptic sounding at all.

Night Blur Series

So tonight I decided to take my camera out and drive around downtown Galt.  All of my attempts at taking normal night shots turned out relatively useless.  So I switched to see if I could get some cool blurry shots on purpose.  This is the result.

After the jump you can see a select few.  Otherwise the entire set is on my flickr.

Good Music, Good Music Ideas

I have recently found some good music.  They are as follows.

• Thenewno2.  I heard them first whilst playing one of their songs on Rock Band.  The song was interesting enough to check out.  Once adequately checked out I proceeded to acquire the album.  Turns out most of the album is pretty good too.  The wiki says that one of the main band members is the son of George Harrison.  Interesting.
• Ludovico Einaudi.  I heard this first whilst watching Top Gear.  There was only a few seconds of a song but enough to perk my interest.  I hunted down the song list of the episode and then found the rest of the album.  This is somewhat of a departure from my usual music (if I have a usual music).  It would fit into the category of classical with much piano and majestic sounding stuff.

Here is two tastes of Einaudi.  All I could find on Youtube of Thenewno2 was Rock Band recordings, not the best presentation of them.

PAulm

Mashed Linux with Gravy

Good news.  The most important advancement in Human society has occurred.  Someone installed Linux on a potato. An earlier attempt to install Linux on everything met with limited success.

Soon the potatoes in our homes will not only be delicious but also efficient, powerful and customizable.

Perhaps Microsoft will respond with a VE (vegetable edition) Windows.  What happens when a potato crashes?

PAulm

Serious? Another Election?

Apparently the Opposition Parties are all not going to support the Coversative Economic Update.  The normal thing to happen then is for another election.

But seriously?  We just had an election…and that was useless.  I can’t believe the Liberals will be willing to go to the polls while they choose a new leader.

So there must be other options.  Perhaps the Liberals will do what they did last time.  Just not show up to vote, thus allowing the motion to pass without technically voting for it.  Or the more intriguing option of a coalition government.  We in Canada have traditionally not cared for these (because of our majority government history) but elsewhere in the world this has proven effective.  Could the Liberals and NDP form the government?  Or better: The Liberals, NDP and Bloc?  The Bloc in government…that would be weird (for those who don’t know the Bloc is a Separatist Party).

So what do you think will happen?  Unlike the election this poll is open to all nationalities.

PAulm

Desert Bus For Hope 2: Bus Harder

Remember the insane Desert Bus For Hope event last year?  Presumably because LoadingReadyRun enjoys pain (and supporting Child’s Play) they are at it again.  Playing a game that is designed to be boring for 104 hours straight (last year).

As of this writing they are already committed to play for 70 hours and the event has yet to start.  The basic premise is that the more people donate the longer LoadingReadyRun has to play.  So two goals are accomplished: 1) Donating to Charity and 2) Perpetuating Pain and Suffering on Others.

And to boot you can watch all the pain and suffering!  Live streaming of the event will be available, complete with chatting and such.  I can only see one flaw in this plan.  They are letting Bill drive again this year…has no one learned the lessons of yesteryear?  Bill crashed the bus 3 times!  It’s just not safe.

They start the torture this Friday.

Some Linkage:

• LoadingReadyRun
• Desert Bus for Hope
• An Article about this year’s event

PAulm

this and other distances – stolen from Glen

1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
“All We Are” by Fischerspooner

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
“An Ordinary Day” by Bent

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
“Annihilating Rhythm” by Peace681

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
“Cover” by Kosheen

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
“Eyes Wide Open” by Goo Goo Dolls

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
“Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll” by The Killers

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
“Taking Me Away” by The Tea Party

WHAT IS 2+2?
“Lucking and Unhappy” by Air

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
“God Moving Over the Face of the Waters” by Moby

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
“What Else Is There” by Royskopp

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
“Weighty Ghost” by Wintersleep

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
“Extra Kings” by The Avalanches

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
“Fear” by In Flight Safety

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
“Absolution” by Neo

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
“Song for Shelter” by Fatboy Slim

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
“The Way It Is” by The Stokes

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
“Annie Waits” by Ben Folds

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
“Pop Music Is Not a Crime” by Freezepop

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
“Everyone’s a Junkie” by Our Lady Peace

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
“Forever Indebted” by Shout Out Out Out Out

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
“Real” by William Shatner

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
“Just Desserts” by Chumbawamba

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
“Nightvision” by Daft Punk

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
“What R We Stealing’” by David Holmes

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
“Waiting To Die” by Zero 7

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
“Turn To Stone” by Electric Light Orchestra

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
“Black Belt” by Teddybears

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
“green cactas” by i, cactas

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
“A Rush of Blood to the Head” by Coldplay

WHAT WILL YOU RE-POST THIS AS?
“This and Other Distances” by Hexes and Ohs

To bail out or not to bail out

So the American and Canadian governments are deciding whether or not to bail out the formerly Big Three car makers.  On the side of the car companies they say that it is just a short term hiccup and that if they were allowed to fail then the North American economy will fail with them.  On the side of the people who oppose such action they say that there is no guarantee that the bail out will save them and that this will start a chain reaction of bailing out every company that asks (if they can prove that they’re failure will hurt the national economy…which is a lot of companies).  They complain that this is not allowing the proper corrective measures of the market.

Fact check:  If they fail, there will be significant pain.  I hear consistently that for each one car job there is 7.5 supporting/spin off jobs.  However, bankruptcy does not mean that the companies completely disappear.  It means that they are restructured and very likely will live again.  But this process is not without signigicant pain.

So what do you think? (note: this is very scientific)

PAulm