Sorry, Kevin isn't riding a moped, or on a ferris wheel, or....
Meanwhile, my friend and former colleague Kevin Steel has been inspired by fireworks to post a song that you may enjoy. He writes and posts lots of songs that you may listen to.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Teenage fallout queens!
French teens on ferris wheels!
A lip-synching Bobby Vee on a moped!
Filmmaker and movie archivist Dennis Nyback has a fabulous video compilation of Scopitones for sale. He also has a small introduction to these French/American music videos of the 1960s on his website, which will soon be updated.
French teens on ferris wheels!
A lip-synching Bobby Vee on a moped!
Filmmaker and movie archivist Dennis Nyback has a fabulous video compilation of Scopitones for sale. He also has a small introduction to these French/American music videos of the 1960s on his website, which will soon be updated.
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
The Truth Is Out There
An interesting site about that alleged UFO crash in New Mexico in 1947:The Roswell Files
"A Crashed Flying Saucer? An Alien base at Area 51? The story of the Roswell UFO Incident has it all- the Majestic-12 government conspiracy, alien bodies, cover-ups, a missing nurse... the stuff of legends. But like all popular legends, there are as many versions as there are Storytellers. The Truth about Roswell may be "out there", but is has been shrouded by faulty memories, hoaxes- and sometimes, deliberate lies...."
An interesting site about that alleged UFO crash in New Mexico in 1947:The Roswell Files
"A Crashed Flying Saucer? An Alien base at Area 51? The story of the Roswell UFO Incident has it all- the Majestic-12 government conspiracy, alien bodies, cover-ups, a missing nurse... the stuff of legends. But like all popular legends, there are as many versions as there are Storytellers. The Truth about Roswell may be "out there", but is has been shrouded by faulty memories, hoaxes- and sometimes, deliberate lies...."
I know who the meanest man in the world is...
Here's a small Seattle P-I feature from last year on J.P. Patches if my earlier post piqued your curiosity.
Here's a small Seattle P-I feature from last year on J.P. Patches if my earlier post piqued your curiosity.
Desperate enough for church
Peter MacKay is not known as the most religious of Canada's right-leaning politicians, but one of his offhand remarks when he announced today that he wasn't running for the leadership of Canada's new "unite-the-right" party is worth a brief comment.
The Canadian Press story reads in part:
MacKay, who plans to run in the next election, acknowledged the year has taken its toll.
Widespread consultation with past and present supporters - including an assessment of his ability to raise the cash for another leadership run - led him to a decision that was more head than heart, said MacKay.
"I did a lot of soul-searching. I even went to church last Sunday - and believe me, I still have a soul," he joked. "Some of you may think otherwise.".
"I even went to church last Sunday" Well, don't put yourself out Mr. MacKay.
This is evidence that Canadian politics is, for better or worse, much different than American politics. U.S. politicians are comfortable with the idea of faith influencing one's political beliefs. Canadian politicians, like Mr. MacKay, often seem to see church-going as a refuge of the silly or desperate.
From a social conservative perspective, there are many things that need fixing in this country other than our tax rates. However, years of skittish politicians and dinosaur doll wielding pundits have intimidated moral conservatives into political silence.
If Canadian social conservatives are wise, we will start to form think tanks, magazines and newsletters to give our politicians reasons to assume that church going is something wise politicians can consider doing. Namely, that people of faith don't leave their brains at the doors of their houses of worship and can pass on some useful insights based on timeless morality.
Given all that is morally wrong with Canada's politics, perhaps a little desperation is in order.
Peter MacKay is not known as the most religious of Canada's right-leaning politicians, but one of his offhand remarks when he announced today that he wasn't running for the leadership of Canada's new "unite-the-right" party is worth a brief comment.
The Canadian Press story reads in part:
MacKay, who plans to run in the next election, acknowledged the year has taken its toll.
Widespread consultation with past and present supporters - including an assessment of his ability to raise the cash for another leadership run - led him to a decision that was more head than heart, said MacKay.
"I did a lot of soul-searching. I even went to church last Sunday - and believe me, I still have a soul," he joked. "Some of you may think otherwise.".
"I even went to church last Sunday" Well, don't put yourself out Mr. MacKay.
This is evidence that Canadian politics is, for better or worse, much different than American politics. U.S. politicians are comfortable with the idea of faith influencing one's political beliefs. Canadian politicians, like Mr. MacKay, often seem to see church-going as a refuge of the silly or desperate.
From a social conservative perspective, there are many things that need fixing in this country other than our tax rates. However, years of skittish politicians and dinosaur doll wielding pundits have intimidated moral conservatives into political silence.
If Canadian social conservatives are wise, we will start to form think tanks, magazines and newsletters to give our politicians reasons to assume that church going is something wise politicians can consider doing. Namely, that people of faith don't leave their brains at the doors of their houses of worship and can pass on some useful insights based on timeless morality.
Given all that is morally wrong with Canada's politics, perhaps a little desperation is in order.
Monday, January 12, 2004
Bend over. Repeat as necessary
Some internet fellow has discovered an otherwise normal man who has invented The World's Only Ass-Kicking Machine.
Thanks Raven.
Some internet fellow has discovered an otherwise normal man who has invented The World's Only Ass-Kicking Machine.
Thanks Raven.
"Now I'm wondering if the best music is actually produced by ugly people...
....music used to be the important thing in the music industry. Not so anymore. This is one reason why there is so much bad music out there these days. You don't have to write your own songs or even have a decent voice. Just a great body. Now I'm wondering if the best music is actually produced by ugly people....
--Kelly Jane Torrance notes that even in country music, only the beautiful get to sing.
....music used to be the important thing in the music industry. Not so anymore. This is one reason why there is so much bad music out there these days. You don't have to write your own songs or even have a decent voice. Just a great body. Now I'm wondering if the best music is actually produced by ugly people....
--Kelly Jane Torrance notes that even in country music, only the beautiful get to sing.
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Greatest Australian cars ever. Not
The Lightburn Zeta should have won this newspaper poll of Australia's lamest cars, but it did not for some reason...
The Lightburn Zeta should have won this newspaper poll of Australia's lamest cars, but it did not for some reason...
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Take and read
Kathy Shaidle writes a fave blog of mine that you will enjoy if you don't listen to Ian Paisley records. Good stuff.
Kathy Shaidle writes a fave blog of mine that you will enjoy if you don't listen to Ian Paisley records. Good stuff.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
The Canadian Mountain Kangaroo
Fans of the Canadian Wildlife Service's famous Hinterland Who's Who commercials about canadian wildlife will be pleased to know two things.
New commercials are being made. (I've linked to the old commercials, which are now online, but you can go "home" to see the new ones.)
Also, the CWS has a sense of humour and has posted spoofs of the Hinterland Who's Who spots here.
Fans of the Canadian Wildlife Service's famous Hinterland Who's Who commercials about canadian wildlife will be pleased to know two things.
New commercials are being made. (I've linked to the old commercials, which are now online, but you can go "home" to see the new ones.)
Also, the CWS has a sense of humour and has posted spoofs of the Hinterland Who's Who spots here.
Report replacement update
A message from Ezra Levant that I'm passing on
"Today [January 6] I was interviewed about the Western Standard magazine on Don Newman's national TV show, "Politics".
You can watch the six-minute segment by clicking on the following link, and then clicking on the Tuesday afternoon segment. Scroll ahead 40 minutes.
link "
A message from Ezra Levant that I'm passing on
"Today [January 6] I was interviewed about the Western Standard magazine on Don Newman's national TV show, "Politics".
You can watch the six-minute segment by clicking on the following link, and then clicking on the Tuesday afternoon segment. Scroll ahead 40 minutes.
link "
Monday, January 05, 2004
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Site of the Day
"Crank Dot Net is devoted to presenting Web sites by and about cranks, crankism, crankishness, and crankosity. All cranks, all the time.
Every day at midnight, a new Crank o' the Day is chosen!"
Almost as fun as BidBoy sometimes. Lots of interesting stuff for fansof crankdom...and as the only person who flipped throught the copy of The Spotlight that was sent by a misguided subscriber to the B.C. Report newsroom, I am a good judge of that sort of thing. :)
"Crank Dot Net is devoted to presenting Web sites by and about cranks, crankism, crankishness, and crankosity. All cranks, all the time.
Every day at midnight, a new Crank o' the Day is chosen!"
Almost as fun as BidBoy sometimes. Lots of interesting stuff for fansof crankdom...and as the only person who flipped throught the copy of The Spotlight that was sent by a misguided subscriber to the B.C. Report newsroom, I am a good judge of that sort of thing. :)
Thursday, January 01, 2004
And the football gods smiled
About a third into his column, Tuesday Morning Quarterback theorizes that the "life-after-death" experience implies, logically, that God exists.
About a third into his column, Tuesday Morning Quarterback theorizes that the "life-after-death" experience implies, logically, that God exists.
The second meanest man in the world
Happy New Year!
My friend Kevin Michael Grace sends the Byfields (our former employer) to Coventry in this post. Let's hope this is a happier year than last for all the Report-niks.
On a happier note...for Christmas, my grandmother gave me a biography of Chris Wedes, also known as J. P. Patches, a much beloved Seattle morning TV childrens show host for many years. Lots of behind the scenes stuff, including notes on Bob Newman, who played the 17 other characters on the show. Oddly enough, I remember thinking as a little kid that Boris S. Wort--the "second meanest man in the world" was the second funniest character on the show.
Due to the many years I spent faithfully watching the show on the family TV set before hopping the back fence to go to school, my mother remembers more about the J.P Patches program than I do.
The book's author helpfully includes links to other kids shows that ran on Seattle TV stations from the 1950s to 1970's:
Brakeman Bill
Stan Boreson, who wielded a mean accordion.
and Don McCune, aka Captain Puget.
He also reccomends this online guide to Seattle pop culture.
Happy New Year!
My friend Kevin Michael Grace sends the Byfields (our former employer) to Coventry in this post. Let's hope this is a happier year than last for all the Report-niks.
On a happier note...for Christmas, my grandmother gave me a biography of Chris Wedes, also known as J. P. Patches, a much beloved Seattle morning TV childrens show host for many years. Lots of behind the scenes stuff, including notes on Bob Newman, who played the 17 other characters on the show. Oddly enough, I remember thinking as a little kid that Boris S. Wort--the "second meanest man in the world" was the second funniest character on the show.
Due to the many years I spent faithfully watching the show on the family TV set before hopping the back fence to go to school, my mother remembers more about the J.P Patches program than I do.
The book's author helpfully includes links to other kids shows that ran on Seattle TV stations from the 1950s to 1970's:
Brakeman Bill
Stan Boreson, who wielded a mean accordion.
and Don McCune, aka Captain Puget.
He also reccomends this online guide to Seattle pop culture.