The Adventures 2011 Friday December 30, 2011

Oh hello there. You probably thought I had forgotten about playing another edition of The Adventures. I know, I know, I’ve been out of it for a while

So without further delay, welcome to the sixth edition of The Adventures Post! As with the past 6 years, The Adventures Post is where I lists the cities I’ve spent one or more nights in over the past year. The idea is completely stolen borrowed from kottke.org and has been a bit of a staple on the old c.t.overdrive.

And yes, I understand that flaunting the cities I’ve traveled to is a bit egotistical, as I know travel is something of a luxury for many. But it’s also a good way to look at the year in retrospective. And for once, my Adventures are actually quite lame this year, which only goes to show the ebb and flow of travel.

• Calgary, AB
• Arlington, VA/Washington, DC
• Topsail, NC
• Raliegh, NC
• Arlington, VA/Washington, DC
• Ottawa, ON
• Back to Arlington, VA
• Calgary, AB

Needless to say, although relatively quiet on the adventures front, 2011 was an interesting year. In our new adopted second home, we survived Thundersnow, A mini-snowpocalypse, an Earthquake, and a Hurricane. We also had the pleasure of being in Washington when the news that Osama Bin Laden was killed broke, saw the Egyptian, Tunsian and Lybian revolutions unfold, watched three congressional dramas push the US to the brink, watched Anthony Weiner torpedoed his career by tweeting his weiner and witnessed the Occupy Wall Street movement explode right in our own backyard. It’s been an incredible year and easily one that I’ll never forget.

But 2012 calls kids and more changes are in store for the overdrives… onwards and upwards.

Categories: The-Adventures, the-dc, The Inane, The Political World, The World

Random Thoughts For Taking The Cake With County Carnies Friday September 16, 2011

Earlier this summer, the city of Arlington held it’s annual county fair.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Arlington area, this probably sounds quite normal. For those of you who know of the Arlington area, this concept is quite comical.

It was essentially an inner city fair. It had rides, deep fried Oreos, local politicians (I met a real live Republican Politician… He frightened me), piglet races, a series of rides, and of course CARNIES. But not just any kind of carnies, you’re east-coast carny variety. Let’s just say, Conklin carnies have nothing on creepy east-coast carnies.

Anyways, it also made me yearn for the majesty that is the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede.

First – I’m not sure who they got to do the voice over for this game, but it really does sound like they found a hobbit from underneath the bridges of county Kerry.

Anyways, I digress. The games is called Oil Rush: A Naval Strategy Game and the concept is sort of a Command & Conquer type game, but you goal is to battle for control of the World’s Off Shore oil platforms and production. Just please don’t show this to GreenPeace about this one.

The funniest thing is that for the past 40 years the great Gerry has been working on Offshore Oil rigs across this great world he’s never mentioned anything about all out warfare. Sure my dad has told me stories of exploding oil rigs, knife fights, fist fights and… wait a second…

Second- This could be one of the few moments, where I will disagree with The Weakerthans leader singer, John K. Samson. Yes, we all know that the Jets new logo is somewhat controversial, but I’m still not buying the whole vibe that it’s a recruitment tool for a political secret military agenda.

I grew up watching hundreds of hours of World War Two documentaries and I have always loved the RAF/CRAF imagery. In my opinion it’s simple and beautiful design aesthetic and one that really transfers over to an NHL logo. And considering the team was handcuffed with the Jets name by the Winnipeg faithful, I really don’t think this was some altruistic military coup (and that’s coming from someone who is definitely not a fan of Prime Minister Stephen Harper). Anyone who has followed the developments in Winnipeg will tell you that the owners didn’t even

So why can’t a logo just be a classy homage to Manitoba’s cherished military history? And if we’re gonna get our knickers in a twist regarding the combination of sporting teams and military names, why don’t we go after The Columbus Blue Jackets, The Toronto Maple Leafs or The Brampton Battalion (which in all fairness is one of the sharpest uniforms in the Hockey world).

end rant

Third – This gem comes from Poploser and is quite possibly the single most surreal story about a baseball game of all time. It involves Kevin Costner, Jose Canseco, an entire team trade and pitchers playing in the outfield

Fielders hitting coach Pete LaCock, a former Cub who has seen many strange things, took over as interim manager. He put all listed pitchers in positional spots for the game. Non-pitchers pitched. To even out the playing field, Scorpions player-manager Jose Canseco did the same. He also named himself starting pitcher.

Fourth – I’ve always been a huge Ray Emery fan, even when he foolishly painted Mike Tyson on his goalie mask, so if you want to read a remarkable story take a gander at this article from the Sporting News on Ray’s incredible recover from a potentially career ending surgery.

Once it collapses, you’re done, Ruch said. It was a critical time for him. He could have played on that season with the Flyers and it would have collapsed and that would have been it. … The solution wasn’t any more pleasant. The corrective surgery replaces the dead bone with living bone — in this case, bone from the middle section of Emery’s fibula. Surgery meant the removal of dead bone from Emery’s hip and the extraction of healthy bone from his leg. It also involves cutting through muscle just to get to the femur.

It’s absolutely incredible that this guy is even still able to walk, let alone play Hockey at the world’s most competitive level. I guess the whole fighter imagery, is kinda fitting.

Fifth – Nothing makes me happier than to see karma come back to bite Groupon in the arse.

Sixth – So wait, the video for Kanye West and Jay-Z’s Otis was shot by Spike Jonze… Oh yeah, I need to change my pantaloons. (via. XOXOjes)

Seventh – Wait a second. On second thought, strike that last thought out… That wasn’t nearly as cool as this typographical rendition of Jay-z & Kanye’s N###as in Paris by Joseph Maruca. (It also helps that it actually includes the snippets from Blades of Glory) [NSFW]

Seventh – Some one with a lot of time on their hands has gone and converted all 30 NHL teams in to European Football jerseys. The results are pretty interesting, some are questionable at best, but a few are pretty sharp. To be honest, I’d love to see these Flyers jerseys in real life.

Eighth – You know what’s better than making fun of Neo-Nazis… tricking Neo-Nazis. Which is exactly what this local activist group in Germany did with these innovative T-shirts that revealed a secret slogan after being washed.

Ninth – I’m gonna steal a line from Jay Dorn, who provided the original link, but the news of Jack White teaming up with the Insane Posse just means that the guy really doesn’t give a damn of what anyone thinks of him anymore.

Insane Clown Posse – Leck Mich Im Arsch by Third Man Records

Tenth – Now this is good, ex-Blackhawks superstar and NHL loudmouth Jeremy Roenick reenacting the famous NHL94 scene from Swingers. (Again via. poploser)

Vince Vaughn would be proud.

Eleventh – The Legend of Zelda’s Link… as an 8-Bit Model Breakaway package.

Twelfth – And last but not least, for all you Washington Redskins fans… or the two of you I do know, here is the legendary sexy Rex Grossman article. [NSFW]… That’s right it’s sexy Rex… sexy, sexy Rex.

Categories: the-dc, The-Random, The Blogosphere, The Flames, The Football, The HomeLand, The Humourous, The Music, The Ravens, The Redskins, The VideoGames, The World

Ten Years Later Sunday September 11, 2011

Ten years ago, I probably never thought I would write a post like this. At the time when the attacks occurred I was just a naive 21 year old student at the University of Calgary. Like everyone in North America, I watched in horror as the events unfolded. I sat there in awe as the news reports of the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington rolled in. I worried for my dad flying back from Saudi and I thought for all the poor souls who’s lives were lost earlier that day.

Analysts of the time described this moment as one my generation and generations below us would never forget. They said that it would change the world. It would be a defining moment akin to Kennedy’s assassination and the Cuban missile crisis. As a young adult, who although somewhat knowledgeable of the world was still pretty young and fresh, it was hard not to be somewhat skeptical. I’d seen tanks roll by my old childhood apartment in Kuwait during the Gulf War. My parents had told me of the bombings in Ireland & England during the troubles and my dad had subjected me to hours of documentary footage of World War II. At the time, I was somewhat numb to the concept of war, but I had never really lived through a real all encompassing war. Would this really change things? Would it really destroy our collective innocence?

I was wrong. It changed everything.

Ten years later, I sit in Arlington mere blocks away from the Pentagon Memorial and under the shadows of the flight path – it is impossible to escape some sort of emotion. The streets near our apartment are quiet this morning and there is an eery feeling that occurs when a plane passes overhead heading towards Reagan Airport.

As a Canadian living in DC, it can feel almost voyeuristic to be in this city during this time. I’ll never know the pain of people who lost loved ones or saw the damage first hand. But the events of 9/11 have changed every aspect of our society. Everyone’s lives have been changed. I now have family members who have served in Afghanistan. We’ve met great friends in DC who were deployed overseas. And our work as a couple has been indirectly influenced by the events of that day. Without question there is a different shadow looming over our lives now, one that didn’t exist in the early days of the 2000s. As I look back now those days feel naively innocent in comparison to what life is like now.

So, some ten years later, I will take time today to pay my respects – to think of everyone who have lost their lives on that day and during the years following and to think of how life has changed.

Categories: The-Southern-Neighbours, the-dc,

Life in The District Wednesday May 4, 2011

One of the things I have tried and ultimately failed at doing since moving to Washington, is to explain how absurd and surreal this city is. Whenever we have visitors it’s the warning I always give them and there is an overwhelming agreement that this city is unreal by the end of their stay.

Now nothing explains this feeling, more than how the events of Sunday unfolded.

So my wife and I had the cool opportunity to take in the Sweetlife Festival, an all day music and food showcase put on by a local salad chain. That in itself was memorable and fun. We got to see Girl Talk, Lupe Fiasco and The Strokes in this amazing outdoor venue – while mocking all the Hipsters in DC and enjoying some delicious gluten free cupcakes. That in itself was a DC moment … as we like to call them.

To get there we had to rent a car, as the Merrieweather pavilion is a quick 40 minute drive (or 3 state) drive from our humble home. On the trip home, at about 10 o’clock, we drove past Chinatown and the Verizon center to watch as hundreds of disappointed caps fans stumbled out into the streets. We got stuck in traffic for a bit and finally arrived at our apartment, unpacked our rental car and started to unwind.

Minutes later Twitter exploded.

News that Osama bin Laden had leaked.

At first it didn’t really sink in. It was sorta like okay, that’s cool. But moments later people started cheer and erupting into jubilation, things finally started to sink. We turned on CNN and watch President Obama address the nation from the White House, a handful of miles away from our quite little apartment and a place we had just passed on our way home.

At that point it all started to come together, here we were two Canadians sitting at one of the epi-centers of this memorable event. The Pentagon, which we pass on a weekly basis as it’s also where we get groceries, was packed with activity. The White House, which we had just driven by had transformed in to an impromptu celebration, with George Washington undergrads flowing on to the streets from their dorm rooms. (Most of these kids have never really understood a world with out Osama. They’ve spent 50% of their lives living with the fear and anger towards this man – hence the Sugar Ray-esque party vibe).

And as we sat there, we just sat in silence, thinking of how surreal this all was.

It’s one thing to have these moments in a different city or a foreign country to reflect on what happened. Hell, I remember the morning I woke up before class to watch the Second Tower fall. It was surreal and crazy, but there was still a bit of detachment. But to have these moments unravel around you at locations that you use as references for grocerie stores or as favorite coffee shops, is unimaginably different.

Frankly, It’s odd.

It’s been an incredible time to live in this city. We’ve seen a Tea Party rally, the John Stewart rally, the rise of a revolutionary Middles East, a near full on Government shutdown and we’ve had the opportunity to meet some illustrious people – including former heads of state (i.e. The Honorable Brian Mulroney). Well to be honest, my wife has, I really only hang out at Baseball stadiums.

Either way, this city is an experience and it’s one that’s indescribable. In a city where so much happens, it was more than just another simple Sunday.

It was one of those where were you moments.

Categories: the-dc, The-Inane,

Randon Thoughts For Some GMU School Pride Friday February 25, 2011

It’s not really a secret, but my wife attends George Mason University. It’s a pretty obscure school which is dwarfed by it’s more famous neighbors – Georgetown, George Washington, Howard and The University of Maryland. It’s primarily known for one of the most incredible runs in the NCAA Basketball tournament history.

But maybe, just maybe, in the future, the school might be known for something else… like the world’s most intense Pep Band. Check out the band dropping a RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE MIX of Killing of the Name Of and Bulls on Parade.

I hate band music, but this is pretty killer. (P.S. Even Bill Murray thinks this band is wicked)

(P.S. Major street cred to the flute player in red just absolutely giving it. You rock on Sister!)

First – BTTLES + JUNE 6TH + NEW RCRD RELEASE = EPIC.

Second – You can thank Mr. Bailing Bucket – Rhett Soveran for this amazing link. It’s called Attack of the Pink Armadillo... It’s Japanese… It also doesn’t make sense… But it’s WEEEIRD.

Third – Know what QR codes are? You might not, but I’m sure you’ve seen them and you’ve probably had to ask why they exist? Well, Cam Hoff from Flipp.ca has a fantastic post on QR Codes and how they can help your business… Like this one.

Fourth – One day maybe after leaving Washington, I’ll leaving DC I’ll stop posting interesting political commentary… probably not.

Anyways, here’s an interesting theoretical opinion piece to see if Iraq would have over thrown Saddam after the sweeping revolutionary changes going on in the Middle East. Got to say I’m not entirely sure I agree with his sentiments, but it’s an interesting thinking point nonetheless.

Fifth – New company iPad – check. A new iPad app that lets you make your own beats? Oh! Hell yes

Sixth – Yes, Virginia it is iPhone Eboyz-Wallpaper madness day

Categories: the-dc, The-Random, The Blogosphere, The Humourous, The Inane, The Music, The Pop-Culture, The Twitter-verse, The World