Everyone one at the office was pretty excited last Friday when, early on in our morning, someone realised that the Google homepage had a playable version of Pacman embedded in it's logo. And this week, as if answering the question asked in offices around the world, a study came out revealing that the average visitor to Google stayed 36 seconds longer to play the game at least briefly. I can say that I was above that average but quickly won the game and realized you could not proceed past level 2. More importantly I only played while waiting for a conference call to start, I swear. I'm sure there were some real champs. All told, thanks to the huge volume of Google searchers, the study estimates that a total of 4.8 million hours were lost (in the U.S.). I think I would have been wasting my time some other way so I don't think The Man should blame Google.
On Thursday before game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final in Montreal the CBC gloriously paid tribut to Montreal's most famous team and my favourite Montreal rocker, Sam Roberts. The song was fairly apt for them heading home down 2-0 to the Flyers before heading back to Montreal for game 3. The team responded and dominated the Flyers. No question that home ice mattered in that one. Not so much on Saturday when the Habs were dominated right back. And now the song is really apt. The team has daunting ahead and it doesn't look good but, having said that, they've faced these odds before and that is, after all, why they play the games.
Allons-y Boys!
I hope I'm not playing Brother Down after the game tonight!
This picture will make me smile for a long time:I only wish they would have made the caption Lucky Dick instead of this generic line. Good for Dick anyways!
On Sunday I attended St. Thomas' Spring Convocation to see my cousin Emily graduate (on time - congrats Em!). It was a beautiful ceremony in a beautiful setting. The grads convinced the adminstration to hold it outside and, St. Thomas being a good Catholic school, the Gods co-operated.The commencement speach was given by one of Fredericton's favourite daughters, author Sheree Fitch. Her speech was predictibly wonderful; partially rhyming and totally sincere. She spoke about the opportunity that abounds in the world the news grads were about to step into. She spoke so well that she even had this dreamer dreaming of changing the world. IT really was a great message. That's what made the post I read the next day on Deadspin all the funnier. If you don't want to read the whole thing here is Drew's take; in reality most grads are just happy to be done and the 'dream big/make a difference' message from every commencement speaker is lost on all but a few grads. Everyone else is thinking these things: MALE STUDENTS 1) Get rich by doing as little work as humanly possible 2) Fuck as many attractive women as possible 3) Drink 4) Get married only when forced 5) Raise children who can make you rich if you yourself cannot
FEMALE STUDENTS 1) Get rich by doing as little work as humanly possible 2) Marry someone who will fertilize you with attractive babies 3) Own a home so spacious and tastefully appointed that all your friends feel like dogshit any time they enter it
The accuracy is uncanny. It certainly made me giggle. He then goes on to talk about what those few people that actually have the will to make a difference and dream big should be dreaming/differing. Good stuff. My dream is that someone would invent a toothpaste dispenser that does not get gummed up. 35 years on this earth and they are getting progressively worse. But I digress...
Today is mother's day and although I didn't get to see my mom I did get to see my wonderful Godmother Nancy. Mom knows that no matter what my age Nancy will be watching out for me. I did get to speak to mom and she was in Charlottetown enjoying the day with her mother so she was still enjoying the day despite both of ther kids being on the mainland. I think mom knows how I feel but just in case she doesn't - Mom, I think you are the best. That's all.
So speaking of the best - this year's Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival is the 20th and it's looking like it might just be the best ever. In addition to previously announced headliners like Gregg Allman, John Hiatt, Johnny Lang and Big Sugar (playing with the Trews) and smaller but equally amazing bands like DJ Champion and Elliot Brood, the festival just announced Australian roots/reggae artist Xavier Rudd is coming as well. What the hell, the more the merrier. Not sure how I'm going to see it all but here's to trying.
Our boy Jebb 'the big dumb dog' Sinclair has been home for the past 10 days, fresh from a winter spent in Wales honing his craft (and also playing some rugby - j/k). During his time home he did some 'giving back' in the form of a few coaching clinics at the local high schools. I assumed that this was some kind of community service sentence but he assured me otherwise. He did a great job with the kids and made them believe that if a big oaf from Nasonworth can play for Canada, they can too! Check out the article from the Gleaner.
Our little dog is all grows up. Nevertheless a dog is a dog:
I would not have posted this if the Habs had lost today. But they did and they are going back to Montreal tied 1-1 in their series with Sid the Kid and the Penguins. The atmosphere in Montreal this week will be electric. I can't wait to hear the crowd at the Bell Center before game 3. It does feel a little like '93 no matter where the chips fall.
The chorus is a little weak but the rap is actually pretty sweet - IMHO.
This is like fingernails on a chalkboard for any non-Habs fan.
Everyone one at the office was pretty excited last Friday when, early on in our morning, someone realised that the Google homepage had a playable version of Pacman embedded in it's logo. And this week, as if answering the question asked in offices around the world, a study came out revealing that the average visitor to Google stayed 36 seconds longer to play the game at least briefly. I can say that I was above that average but quickly won the game and realized you could not proceed past level 2. More importantly I only played while waiting for a conference call to start, I swear. I'm sure there were some real champs. All told, thanks to the huge volume of Google searchers, the study estimates that a total of 4.8 million hours were lost (in the U.S.). I think I would have been wasting my time some other way so I don't think The Man should blame Google. 
