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Yesterday I got a great joke in my email from a colleague. Then I was talking to Patricia and she said she got the same joke, but from a different source. I have thought about these occurences more and more with the advent of email. I believe that we are connected closer than we think.

My theory: That we are connected via the Internet in within six degrees of someone.
My findings so far: Many times have I received the same joke from two different sources that I don’t feel are connected (other than knowing myself). So where does the connection between them lie?
My experiment: I want to develop some kind of email to go out and see if it comes back to me. For example, I would send it out to all my contacts. It would have my information on it. It would ask that if you know me AND you didn’t get this email from me personally, to send it back to me, and send it out to everyone you know. I haven’t ironed out the details of what could be flawed with this logic (and of course, the lack of willing participants to forward on this email for this silly little experiment). I would assume that in the second degree, I woudl receive many emails. Such as friends and family members that have met me but I don’t have their email information. What would be interesting is once it gets past the third degree. I want to see how far of a connection can be linked to me. Come full circle.

On a side note, I have a great story from Christiane. Christiane appeared in a news segment when she was a child. They were just interviewing random kids about some topic. So, one day this video comes out of the closet for the family to watch as well as her new husband (or husband to be…I can’t recall when this story actually takes place.) So they are watching this video and lo and behold, Christiane appears and everyone has a good laugh. They keep watching and all of sudden Christiane’s husband says “Hey! That’s me on the video!”. Sure enough, he also appeared on the video on a separate interview at the same event. Please note that Christiane and him did not meet until quite a while later than when they were elementary school. They did not even go to the same school. This event was something going on that all the Ottawa area elementary schools visited. Bizarre.

So they bring the video to Christiane’s sisters place to show her and they are thinking this is the craziest thing ever. Until Christiane’s sister’s husband walks into the room and says “Hey, that’s me on the video!”. Sure enough, he pops out of nowhere, makes a funny face on the camera and walks on.

Three totally unrelated chidren living 50 kms away from each other, going to separate elementary schools, attend an event and all end up on a news segment…later on in life, they are all connected.

Whoa.

update: This post was split into shorter posts so the comments may refer to some wonkiness.

When I first moved into the new house, I noticed that there are a slew of rabbits around the area. At first I thought they were the neighbour’s, but it turns out that they have migrated here from the field which has now become home of a mini-mall.

At first, I was not impressed with these rabbits, especially considering one had managed to burrow its way underneath one of the patio stones in the walkway.

All jokes aside about letting it grow bigger and having some wabbit stew, I never noticed the rabbit for a few months.

I get out of my car after a grueling mid-term tonight in Communications class (Boo!) and lo and behold, a white rabbit munching on something two feet away from me, shivering because the temperature is dropping fast (heard it’s going to snow tomorrow. Oh joy.). I can’t help feel bad for this rabbit! What do rabbits do in the winter? Do they hibernate? Is there a humane society for rabbits that I can deliver this one to? Someone help me! I am starting to feel guilty and now the thoughts are pushing towards having a haven in my garage for these creatures of the woods. This is five minutes after exiting my vehicle…I bet when I read this tomorrow I’ll be thinking “What the heck man? It’s only a freakin’ rabbit.”

nowplaying: You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison by My Chemical Romance. So far, MCR is decent. Mike suggested I get into them. They are coming to Ottawa soon. If I like what I hear, maybe I’ll go to the show. I also read on Netphoria that they are comparable to my most beloved band in the world. So far, I don’t think so, but it’s not bad either.

What’s going on in my iPod right now?

U2.

It’s all about U2.

I’m slowly getting excited. I brought myself up from disappoitment months ago when I wasn’t able to get tickets to the show.

Now I’m slowly creeping back up.

Tonight: Have a mid-term in my Intro to Mass Communications class. How do I feel about that? Well, it’s multiple choice/true/false questions. Normally that is fine, but I am not a fan of memorizing dates and places and people’s name. “What year was television first introduced in Canada?” “Who sent the first radio broadcast?”

I am hoping that the teacher doesn’t dwell on names and dates, but more on the principles taught in the course. So far, he is a pretty kick ass professor. Best I’ve ever had. He’s even realizes that we won’t retain much from his class, but he feels that if we remember ONE THING that he taught for the rest of our lives, it’s worth it. I agree.

nowplaying: Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2

So I forgot to add my favourite part about Saturday night at Patty Boland’s. As soon as I walk through the door I stumble into my good friend Krista leaving the place. She has this incredulous look on her face of “What the heck is going on here?!”

I talked to her on Monday and we all had a good laugh about my great outfit on Saturday night.

I’m sending out a thanks to Krista since she has done two cool things in the past while for me:

• Helped me with my constant painting questions. If anyone needs any help with their interior decorating, Krista is the person to help you. She’s a virtuoso!
• Having a killer party at her place a few weeks ago. Sadly enough, this was the night after the Collective Soul concert so I was still feeling pretty rough. Anyhow, there was some great nacho dip being made (I’m assuming by her) that I shall have to steal the recipe for. Granted, I won’t even bother making it, but it’s good to have in case I break down and having the craving for it. I must admit that I was shocked to see Krista’s pad seem so…NORMAL! Here she’s going on about interior decorating and whatnot so I’m thinking I will be walking into the most eclectic living space in the world, but no. The walls are white. Krista, what are you waiting for?
• Hey, I know you read this blog, where are the pictures from that night?

I’m thinking I should have more of these posts where I talk about friends and family so they can say “Hey! I made it onto the blog!”

In other news, I’m looking into this whole $40 M prize for the 6/49 draw on Wednesday.

Would $40 M ruin my life? I’ll let you know. 😉

update: Alright, so I noticed James’ comment asking how the money would ruin one’s life. I’m not denying that I would have a kickass life afterwards, but it’s where you get into the whole “Do I give money to my friends?” issue. If I had a wad of cash to spend, I would most likely want to give a little back to my friends…pay off their house, buy them an island, whatever. But once you go down that route, it’s all or nothing. You either figure out EVERY SINGLE PERSON that would be offended if they didn’t get some cash coming their way, or else you don’t bother so you don’t piss off anyone.

Example: I pay off James’ house. But not Matt’s.
Well, Matt is now pissed. Matt will question what kind of friend I am to him. Chances are, that would strain our friendship.
Maybe I’m overanalyzing this a whole lot. Let’s be honest…I would have a few years to think about this problem while I am on an island somewhere playing old Sierra computer games. Hello Daventry!

Am I ever glad that I’m living in Ottawa and not Pittsburgh – soon to be Zombie Haven.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/41676

Also, if you’re in Toronto, check this out!
http://www.torontozombiewalk.com/

Links graciously taken from The Wolfshack.

Monday morning. Studying for a mid-term. My throat is itchy on the bus. Can the day start off any worse?

Get to work. My cell phone rings. There’s only one reason why it would do that in the morning.

Joelle: CALL BOBFM! WE JUST WON THE U2 TICKETS! I’M RUNNING RIGHT NOW!!!
Translation: I can only imagine that Joelle was either on her way to work to get to a phone, or on duty (she works as a teacher).
Joelle entered into a contest to the local radio station, BobFM so that we can win U2 tickets. Supply the radio station with two names and then once a day they will call out those two names. If the two people call within 9 minutes, they win tickets to see U2 at the Corel Centre as well as a pre-party called the Bono-Bash with free drinks and food. Also, on Friday, they were giving these tickets out every hour from 8 until 6 in which Trish GRACIOUSLY accepted the duty of listening to the radio all day long in case my name was called. I was in a meeting for most of the morning and was unable to listen to BobFM. Let it be stated here for her valiant efforts, she shall be rewarded with a supper at St. Hubert’s.

Background: U2 is coming to town. I was on Ticketmaster at 10:00 AM the day of the sale. Three hours later, never got through the system and never got tickets. I was not impressed.

Back to the Present:
I call BobFM. I’m so frantic that I misdial the number 4 times. Take a breath dude.
BobFM: Good morning, BobFM!
Me: Hi, this is Palmer calling in for the U2 contest.
BFM: What’s your phone number?
Me: 555-5555 (for all the Internet folk reading this blog)
BFM: Hold on.

(listening)
BFM: Alright, we have someone on the line for the U2 contest. Joelle are you there?
Joelle: Yes! I’m so excited!
BFM: Great. So we’re still waiting to hear from Palmer. Do you know where he is?
Joelle: No, I just called him. Maybe he’s on his cellphone?
BFM: Maybe it dropped the connection or something.
Me: WHAT THE HECK MAN!? I AM RIGHT HERE! HELLO, CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!

At this moment I grab the other phone to call in, maybe they don’t know that I’m on the line.
Turns out they were just fooling around with Joelle.
BFM: Hey look who it is! Palmer!
Me: Hey, how’s it going?

All the ramblings of congrats go on about this and they ask what our fave U2 songs are where I’m totally drawing a blank and say ‘Elevation’ which is a crappy tune, but oh well, what can I do? I’m on edge here. For the record, Streets is the best song ever.

So there you have it. On November 25th, Joelle and I are hitting up a pre-party with food and drinks, and then watching the U2 CONCERT!!!! I AM PUMPED!

Guess who just won a trip package to go see an exclusive show in Toronto?!

Awww yeah! On November 6, I’ll be taking a bus down to Toronto along with Vero, catching a show of Our Lady Peace at Massey Hall and staying at the Bond Hotel! I’m so pumped! Our Lady Peace haven’t even toured Canada yet in support of their new album.

AWESOME.

I can’t believe my luck with OLP in the past…so far, I’ve got to see them at a soundcheck thanks to Amanda, do a concert review for the official website (which included tix to the show) and I believe I may have won tix to another show that I remember.

AWESOME!

From ChartAttack

“Well, more accurately, it appears Jeff Martin is calling it quits. According to a statement, Martin is working on finishing a solo record and will tour in support of the finished product. The singer is ready to shift his focus to himself.”

I must admit I’m a saddened by this news. I’ve followed The Tea Party ever since Edges of Twilight.

The article makes it sound like Jeff Martin is going to just do his own thing…maybe there is hope that The Tea Party will come back together eventually (and not end up like David Usher and Moist).

Picture Yourself…leaving work. Walking down the escalator. Your music in your ears. Then you see some people start to run. You know what it means. There’s a bus about to leave!

I squint my eyes to see what number bus is leaving. Yep, it’s the 27. The one I want after a hard day of work. I take a couple steps down the escalator but then realize it is futile.

But something stirs in me. It’s the music. What’s the ONE SONG in the universe that can move a man to do more than he thinks he can?

Eye of the Tiger. Coming from my iPod magically.

I start to sprint. I run. I dodge people left and right with my goal in sight. Then the guitars come into the song.

DUHN. DUHN DUHN DUHN.

I make it to the bus. I DID IT!

I laugh at myself at the absurdity of it all, but in my mind I can only envision one person.

Paul Duffy doing pushups every time he hears this song. Whether it’s at a wedding, a dance, a funeral. He will do the pushups.

I never had respect for Paul Duffy. Until now.