Month: December 2007

Ah..the holiday spirit is approaching fast! I had my sociology exam last night which went well solely because the professor gave us example essay questions and indicated that she would choose two of them for the exam. That saved my ass because the multiple choice were out of this world. As in, she doesn’t choose her questions from her lecture points, she chooses them from the textbook! I find this frustrating as I’m typing a mile a minute on my laptop to capture everything she says and in the end, all you need to do is memorize the textbook (which is no easy feat!). Plus there are questions that are obscure like “According to a statistic regarding population, what was the 3rd largest minority?”. What the heck? Do I have to memorize every graph in the book? Argh. Anyhow, I’m hoping it went fine.

It’s the last day at work before the holidays and I’ve already received a few gifts. I got a great Guinness Beer gift set from my manager and I also got a Christmas Trivia game from Krista. There are 1200 questions so I think that in 120 years we can use the entire set if I have a Christmas party every year!

I have to pick up some more things tonight because I haven’t had that much time to shop and I will have to pack up the car tonight with things to keep me interested over the holidays. Up on the chopping block is bringing my guitar and recording equipment home, borrowing Eric’s Lord of the Rings set to watch and bringing some movies that I think Dad would be interested in. I also am going to get Dad to teach me how to play Crib again. Haven’t played in years!

Not looking forward to driving this weekend…rain all the way. I can only imagine what that will mean in this weather. Slush and lots of windshield washer. Guh.

Other than that, there isn’t TOO much lined up for the holidays which is fine by me. Christmas Eve at the church and a gathering afterwards, I think there is a night at the Legion tomorrow night, maybe there will be another wings and beer night at the Losiers and I will probably spend New Years Eve over at Vero’s.

I will try and update the blog but who knows? Holidays are kind of nice to let go of that sort of thing…

Here‘s some reading for you concerning Charlie Brown’s Christmas.

Whoa! Just heard word that the province of Quebec has made it mandatory for cars to have winter tires between November – April.

That is quite the ruling. Does residents get a tax break from that? Will the tire shops jack up their prices because it is now mandatory?

Here’s an interesting statistic from this Globe and Mail article.

“Currently, 90 per cent of Quebec drivers switch to winter tires. But Minister of Transportation Julie Boulet wanted to make snow tires compulsory, even though buying them will represent an additional cost for some owners.”

That’s quite a high percentage. I never realized it could be that high. So then I’m wondering, why the heck are they making it mandatory if 90% of the population does so anyhow?

Here’s another stat worthy of discussion:
“Last year, 717 people died as a result of accidents on the province’s roads.”

Questions (from my critical thinking mind):
– Of those 717, how many were snow-on-the-road related accidents?
– How many of those snow-on-the-road related accidents involved vehicles without snow tires?

I would think that if 90% of the population has snow tires, chances are, even if the 717 were involved in snow-on-the-road accidents, some of the cars had snow tires.

What I’m getting at is that I don’t think the statistics help the case for a mandatory snow tire policy. Now, if they said it was voluntary but you got a rebate from the Quebec government, maybe the number would creep up past the 90% mark. But 90% is a heck of a lot and in many circles is deemed a good average.

I don’t even know if 717 people dying due to provincial road accidents is higher compared to other provinces or if it’s in line with the average. I stand by my original question as to how many of these deaths are winter-tire related.

Maybe I’m just commenting because I don’t feel I need snow tires, but people who buy them anyhow are ADAMANT that they are needed and call me foolish for not doing so.

On a related note (I’m sure I’ll get flack for this comment), I wonder how many accidents are caused because people think if they have snow tires, they can go about their merry day and drive like it’s the summer in the middle of the winter? I’m sure there are a few.

Anyhow, in the end, considering there’s only 10% of the population in Quebec that don’t buy winter tires, it’s a small percentage who will have their say but will get drowned out by the all the others who buy winter tires anyhow. I’m going to mark in my calendar to take a look at the province wide road deaths a year from after the ruling is implemented.

Another interesting point was the banning of hand held cellular phones while driving which is going to go into effect on January 1. I guess I agree with it…I’ve noticed some drivers in the past who are merging into my lane when they shouldn’t and I wonder why they are doing that and then I notice they are on their cellphone. However, I’ve been there and done it, and don’t feel that it hinders my driving but that may be my ignorance speaking and it would be interesting to take a driving test while talking on a cellular phone to see how reaction time is diminished. In the end, I don’t think it’s a BAD idea and it doesn’t cost anyone money to not talk on phone while driving. Quick! Sell some hands free sets in Quebec for the Christmas season!

***update*** So our friend pollcrazy left this comment:
” What about the insurance industry not covering your claim because you didn’t have snow tires on?”. This intrigued me as I had never heard of this happening but heck, you never know with insurance companies. So I decided to go straight to the source and emailed my insurance supervisor and she said that it simply wasn’t true. Now in pollcrazy’s defense, perhaps his insurance company has a different clause, or perhaps he has friends that this has happened to or has seen investigative reports on this type of thing. Heck, we’ve all heard horror stories about insurance companies not processing your claims. At the very least, I have received a Christmas present from pollcrazy in the fact that I now have an email from my insurance company saying not having snow tires won’t affect my claim if something does happen. Yay!

Day 9 rolls in…egads…we are close to Christmas! I wasn’t even thinking about how close Christmas actually was until I noticed the date on my watch yesterday. I hope that everyone is done their Christmas shopping so they can relax and enjoy a good book. I have my final exam tonight and tomorrow will be a whirlwind of last minute shopping, packing and dropping off gifts. If you see an amazing looking gift on your doorstep on Saturday morning, it was from me.

Katie sent in her Christmas thoughts and she gave me a variety of pictures to choose from. I definitely wanted to put up the cowboy picture but I also thought a Santa hat may do it justice. You can decide which one you like better. Also, she sent in what can only be described as something she picked up after a ride in the Delorean.

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?
My favourite thing is probably giving gifts, whether it’s something that puts a smile on your face, or inviting friends over to enjoy a meal, or giving to charity. It’s such a good time of year, I sometimes have a hard time reigning myself in.

What’s your least favorite thing about Christmas?
Hmmmm…I don’t have a lot of least favourite things. Maybe getting up super early? Also the crowds whether in the stores/malls or the crowded living rooms.

What’s better? The Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Why?
Okay, I’m sorry, I have to go on a bit of a rant here. If you guys think that the best Christmas movies out there are the two choices listed above, boy are you missing out. The best Christmas movie, by FAR, is One Magic Christmas. There’s tons of humour, some sappiness, some scrooginess, heartbreak, hope and of course Santa!!! And the two cutest kids (brother and sister) ever. Oh, and did I mention that it’s Canadian. This doesn’t tell you much http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089731/ but you must believe (ahem, perhaps a recurring theme in the movie) in what I say. Oh, and a very very young Sarah Polley makes an appearance. [Palmer’s Note – I am definitely going to take a look at this film over the holidays! I am intrigued.]

What’s your favorite drink during the holiday season?
Got to agree with the mimosa’s Christmas morning.

What should Vero get Palmer for Christmas?
For some reason, I still think love is enough.

We are living in the land of ‘I need my music now and there is a way of achieving that!’. Case in point, hot off of their 2007 tour, the Smashing Pumpkins went into the studio and cut four acoustic tracks which will be released on January 2. This is quite the quick turnaround. In the yesteryear, we would have had to wait until 2011. Not anymore!

They will release this EP on iTunes in the US, but everywhere else gets a sweet physical copy. I am stoked by this because…I like my physical copy. It’s nice to pop it into the car stereo. It’s also nice to have as a backup in case my hard drive dies. Don’t know how I feel about the digital realm yet in terms of purchases.

Anyhow, I am excited for this new EP and I hope that it brings forth new methods of distribution for the Pumpkins. They are toying around with how to get their music out there when they feel it’s hot and not wait until they have an album worth of material. We can see clearly that the entire industry has went back to a single-driven world (well, did it ever really leave?) where you used to buy your 45s with your new favourite song.

If you have been living under a rock (or do not have a Music World in your town), you should know that each week they increase their discounts on merchandise leading up to the January 15 closing date.

I am treating myself to some deals as I won’t be around a store during the holiday break. Mainly I’m catching up on some killer albums that I have downloaded but never got around to purchasing. Like Metric’s new album and Silversun Pickups.

While out shopping this holiday season, go here before anywhere else. You never know if you’ll find a better deal.

I was talking to Mom yesterday and she mentioned how they were in Timmins yesterday (1.5 hours away) and picked a turkey up on the trip because it’s hard to get a turkey in Kapuskasing.

What the heck? Turns out that there is only one grocery store left in Kapuskasing. So it’s hard to keep turkeys in stock! I was talking to Krista about it this morning and we were wondering how many turkeys are needed? Let’s say Kapuskasing is 10,000 people, are there 5,000 turkeys needed?

I think what they need to do is just get a tractor trailer full of them and advertise that they will be selling on a Saturday morning! Actually, Mom said that they have quite a few coming in through the week but they are always gone by the time she gets there! I find that incredible. I don’t know if it’s the case of simple supply and demand, or of lack of food shipping management. I’m going to assume supply and demand considering they have a truck coming in three times a week.

Anyhow, if someone else is missing a turkey, simply send me some money for postage and I’ll send one your way!

iplaying: Hey Jude – The Beatles (Past Masters Volume 2)

Nice!

Read here.

Not only is the Hobbit going to eventually be produced, but the one and only Peter Jackson will be executive producing it!

I must admit that I am stoked as I was afraid of someone else touching the masterpiece of Middle-Earth.

What’s interesting to hear about is a potential sequel to the Hobbit. Now, I don’t know much about Tolkien’s writings but I do know that there are a slew of works that were released that are random backstories from the universe that never saw a proper release while he was alive. So maybe there is a form of sequel that came out awhile ago in one of those books? I have read The Silmarillion (which was amazing once you really got into it) but that was based in the past. So if anyone has any info as to what the story of the sequel could be, that would be swell.

Here’s a survey by our very own Dish! I lend a hand once in awhile on her site as my alter-ego Doctor Robert. Trish definitely has the holiday spirit in her at all times of the year (not unlike our friend Katie whose survey I just received and it’s fab!) and she has warm fuzzy red socks to lend out at any time (as seen in the photo of me in the Christmas Rocks photo shoot.). If you ask nicely, Trish may be able to hook you up with her Christmas Rocks album for the holidays.

Without further wait…

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
Well Palmer, as you know, I do love cheesy Christmas music. A few of my very favourites include “Ay Ay Ay, It’s Christmas” by Ricky Martin, “Mele Kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby, “Last Christmas” by Wham and, of course, “What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb)” by the Intergalactic Droid Choir.

Also, Christmas would not be Christmas if I didn’t get to harass my older sister by hiding “festivities” (i.e. really tacky fake glow-in-the-dark icicles) around her room.

What’s your least favourite thing about Christmas?
The irate shoppers who cut you off in the parking lot of the mall, push you out of their way in the stores when you are trying to look at things and even rip items from your hands because they have no taste themselves and need to rely on perfect strangers to pick out gifts for their loved ones.

What’s better? The Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Why?
National Lampoon’s definitely has a place in my heart. You really just can’t beat the Griswold family’s Christmas lights or the toboggan scene. I also enjoy the look on the grandfather’s face when he yells “Squirrel!” and the line “We’re at the threshold of hell!” used when everything about Christmas has gone horribly awry.

What’s your favourite drink during the holiday season?
Slushy punch because it is fruity and delicious, and it contains the equivalent of my body weight in sugar (recipe available upon request).

What should Vero get Palmer for Christmas?
A Red Hots 2 Minute Hot Dog Cooker (http://evilsmurfette.blogspot.com/2007/09/every-so-often-someone-gives-gift-so.html) so he will stop borrowing mine already! (And some warm cozy socks for the same reason.)

Mike’s sister writes in her Christmas survey but adds some amazing photos. Not only is she showing off the best Christmas sweater at the Christmas Party of ’06, but she found two reindeer at the Kapuskasing Festival of Lights who were in an interesting position.

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?
Being surrounded by friends and family

What’s your least favorite thing about Christmas?
How hectic it is trying to cram a years worth of family dinners and
catching up with old friends into one week

What’s better? The Christmas Story or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Why?
National Lampoon’s even though I find it incredibly frustrating to
watch, the poor guy can’t catch a break

What’s your favorite drink during the holiday season?
Mimosa’s (Cheap Champagne and OJ) on Christmas morning

What should Vero get Palmer for Christmas?
I have to agree with Nanny on this one, after all wasn’t Palmer the one preaching anti consumerism and marketing ploys…

[Palmer’s Note: I kind of feel bad on this one as Sam was up shopping for stuff for her wedding a few months ago and I went on some tirade (tyrade?) about how weddings are full of marketing ploys and then I felt bad afterwards. Sorry Samantha!]

Who knew I started a trend 3 years ago?

Read here.

More updates to come soon enough…Christmas party when some people can send me some photos, neighbour’s house burning (!!!), a gas leak, an exam, and fun times were had all weekend long.

I’ll leave you in suspense.