Having som serious traffic to this blog/site today. Think it’s some kind of bot. Still, nice… I guess.

Some action here in the neighbourhood today:
At around 1130h I sat and watched the TV. The men’s relay in Biathlon had just started. (Any excuse to get out of studying.) All of a sudden major fog rolled in. Major fog! And, really fast. I said to Camilla: Major fog is rolling in, come look. She did not come look. So I though; fog like this don’t come around very often. (This is not San Francisco; where they apparently have loads of fog.) So, I’d better take a picture of it. I went out on the balcony and then realized that it wasn’t fog. The smell was what gave it away. It was fire smoke. A balcony on the building next to ours was on fire. No one dies or anything but loads of smoke, a foul smell and material damage.

Pe 2 decembrie 2009 debutează un nou sezon din Cupa Mondială, cu etapa programată la Oestersund, în Suedia. Acest sezon este cu atât mai important, cu cât în luna februarie se vor desfăşura Jocurile Olimpice de Iarnă de la Vancouver, iar fiecare dintre sportivii angrenaţi în acest spectacol are ca principal scop obţinerea unui rezultat cât mai bun în Canada.

Astfel, competiţiile din cadrul Cupei Mondiale capătă o importanţă aparte. Şi în acest an, la feminin, sportivele din Germania şi Rusia au cele mai mari şanse la câştigarea globurilor de cristal, dar şi la medaliile de la Jocurile Olimpice. Lor li se mai alătură competitoare din Suedia, Norvegia, Franta şi chiar, România !

1.Kati Wilhelm, Germania

• 3 medalii de aur la JO: pursuit Torino 2006, sprint Salt Lake City 2002, stafeta Salt Lake City 2002;
• 3 medalii de argint la JO: mass start Torino 2006, stafeta Torino 2006, pursuit Salt Lake City 2002;
• 5 medalii de aur la CM: individual Peyongchang 2009, sprint Peyongchang 2009, stafeta Oestersund 2008, stafeta Antholz 2007, sprint Pokljuka 2001;
• 4 medalii de argint la CM: stafeta Peyongchang 2009, pursuit Peyongchang 2009, stafeta Hochfilzen 2005, stafeta Pokljuka 2001;
• 4 medalii de bronz la CM: mass staet Antholz 2007, stafeta mixt Khanty-Mansiysk 2005, stafeta Oberhof 2004, stafeta Khanty-Mansiysk 2003;
• 25 de victorii în Cupa Mondială şi 50 de podiumuri;
• câştigătoare a 6 globuri mici de cristal : sprint 2004-2005, sprint 2005-2006, pursuit 2005-2006, pursuit 2006-2007, mass start 2006-2007, pursuit 2008-2009 ;
• câştigătoarea marelui gol de cristal în sezonul 2005-2006 ;

2.Magdalena Neuner, Germania

• 6 titluri mondiale: sprint 2007 Antholz, pursuit 2007 Antholz, ştafetă 2007 Antholtz, mass start 2008 Ostersund, ştafetă 2008 Ostersund, ştefată mixt 2008 Ostersund;
• 1 medalie de argint la CM: ştafetă 2009 Pyongchang;
• câştigătoare a Cupei Mondiale în sezonul 2007-2008 ;
• câştigătoare a globului de cristal la individual în sezonul 2008-2009 ;
• câştigătoare a globului de cristal la sprint şi mass start în sezonul 2007-2008 ;
• 14 victorii în Cupa Mondiala şi 22 de podiumuri ;

3.Andrea Henkel, Germania

• 2 medalii de aur la JO : individual Salt Lake City 2002, ştafetă Salt Lake City 2002;
• 1 medalie de argint la JO: ştafetă Torino 2006;
• 6 medalii de aur la CM : individual Hochfilzen 2005, ştafetă Antholz 2007, mass start Antholz 2007, ştafetă Ostersund 2008, sprint  Ostersund 2008, pursuit Ostersund 2008 ;
• 4 medalii de argint la CM: ştafetă Oslo 2000, ştafetă Pokljuka 2001, ştafetă Hochfilzen 2005, ştafetă Pyeongchang 2009;
• 1 medalie de bronz la CM: ştafetă mixt Pyeongchang 2009 ;
• 25 de victorii în Cupa Mondială şi 22 de podiumuri ;
• câştigătoarea Cupei Mondiale în sezonul 2006-2007 şi a globului de cristal pentru individual, în acelasi sezon ;

4.Martina Beck, Germania

• 3 titluri de vicecampioană olimpică : individual Torino 2006, pursuit Torino 2006, ştafetă Torino 2006 ;
• 3 medalii de aur la CM : pursuit Khanty-Mansiysk 2003, ştafetă Antholz 2007, ştafetă Ostersund 2008 ;
• 5 medalii de argint la CM : mass start Pokljuka 2001, pursuit Oberhof 2004, mass start Antholz 2007, individual Ostersund 2008, ştafetă  Pyeongchang 2009 ;
• 4 medalii de bronz la CM: ştafetă Khanty-Mansiysk 2003, ştafetă Oberhof 2004, sprint Oberhof 2004, individual Antholz 2007;
• 13 victorii în Cupa Mondială;
• câştigătoarea Cupei Mondiale în sezonul 2002-2003;
• deţinătoare a 2 globuri de cristal: pursuit 2002-2003, individual 2007-2008;

5.Olga Zaitseva, Rusia

• 1 medalie de aur la JO: ştafetă Torino 2006;
• 3 titluri mondiale : ştafetă Hochfilzen 2005, ştafetă Pyeongchang 2009, mass start 2009 ;
• 2 medalii de argint la CM: ştafetă mixt Khanty-Mansiysk 2004, ştafetă Hochfilzen 2005;
• 3 medalii de bronz la CM: pursuit Hochfilzen 2005, pursuit Pyeongchang 2009, sprint Pyeongchang 2009 ;
• cea mai bună clasare in Cupa Mondială : locul 4 în sezonul 2004-2005 ;
• 6 victorii în Cupa Mondială ;

6.Svetlana Sleptsova, Rusia

• 1 medalie de aur la CM : ştafetă Pyeongchang 2009 ;
• 1 medalie de bronz la CM : ştafetă mixt Ostersund 2008 ;
• cea mai bună clasare în Cupa Mondială : pozitia 8 in sezonul 2007-2008 ;
• 4 victorii în Cupa Mondială şi 5 podiumuri ;

7.Helena Jonsson, Suedia

• 2 medalii de aur la CM: stafeta mixt Antholz 2007, pursuit Pyeongchang 2009;
• 1 medalie de argint la CM: stafeta mixta Pyeongchang 2009;
• 1 medalie de bonz la CM:mass start Pyeongchang 2009;
• 6 victorii in Cupa Mondiala si 10 clasari pe podium;
• detinatoarea marelui glob de cristal din sezonul anterior;
• castigatoarea globurilor de cristal: sprint 2008-2009, mass start 2008-2009;
  

8.Tora Berger, Norvegia

• 2 titluri de vicecampioana mondiala: stafeta mixt Pokljuka 2006, mass start Ostersund 2008;
• 3 medalii de bronz la CM: stafeta mixt Antholz 2007, stafeta Antholz 2007, individual Pyeongchang 2009;
• cea mai buna clasare in Cupa Mondiala: locul 3 in sezonul 2008-2009;
• 4 victorii in Cupa Mondiala si 6 clasari pe podium;

9.Eva Tofalvi, Romania

• cea mai buna clasare la CM: locul 6, individual Pokljuka 2001; locul 7, individual Pyeongchang 2009, locul 8, stafeta Pyeongchang 2009;
• locul 2 in Cupa Mondiala, la individual in sezonul 2008-2009;
• locul 11, la total, in sezonul 2008-2009;
• 1 victorie in cadrul etapei de Cupa Mondiala Hochfilzen(2008-2009), la individual si 10 clasari in top 10;

După 7 luni în care sportivii s-au antrenat şi au concurat “pe iarba”, în acest week-end s-a deschis în mod oficial sezonul competiţional la biathlon, cu prima etapă din cadrul Cupei Continentale, de la Idre(Suedia).

Pentru competitorii care participă în mod regulat în Cupa Mondială, această etapă a reprezentat un bun prilej de verificare înaintea startului de la jumatatea săptămânii viitoare.

În prima zi de concurs, s-au desfăşurat probele de sprint, atât la feminin, cât şi la masculin. Germania şi Norvegia şi-au împarţit cele două poziţii fruntaşe. Astfel, Frode Andersen (NOR) s-a impus la masculin, întrecându-l pe ocupantul locului al doilea, Daniel Bohm (GER) cu 0.2 secunde. Pe ultima treaptă a podiumului a urcat compatriotul lui Bohm, Daniel Graf, singurul dintre cei trei sportivi care a reuşit o tragere curată după cele 2 treceri prin poligon.

În competiţia feminină, Juliane Doll (GER) a reuşit să le întreacă pe slovaca Anastasiya Kuzmina şi pe reprezentanta din Ucraina, Lilia Vaygina-Efremova, obţinând astfel primele 60 de puncte. Spre deosebire de câştigătoare, celelalte două ocupante ale podiumului au efectutat câte un tur suplimentar.

Reprezentanţii României au obţinut rezultate mai degrabă modeste, nereuşind să se intre în primii 20 de sportivi.La feminin, Mihaela Purdea s-a clasat pe locul 28 cu 3 tururi de penalizare, fiind urmată de:

48.Alexandra Stoian(2 tururi)

52.Reka Ferencz(1 tur)

54.Dana Plotogea(4 tururi)

63.Emoke Szocs(3 tururi)

73.Luminita Piscoran (2 tururi)

În competiţia rezervată băieţilor, Roland Gerbacea, cu 3 ţinte ratate, a încheiat concursul pe locul 103, în timp ce Ştefan Gavrilă o ocupat poziţia 141, cu 8 tururi de penalizare.

(Poza este preluata de aici)

Am 2. Dezember geht sie endlich los: Die neue Weltcup-Saison im Biathlon. Der Auftakt ist im schwedischen Östersund, wo jeweils Einzel, Sprint und Staffel gestartet werden.

Der Deutsche Skiverband kann vor allem auf erprobtes Personal zugreifen:

Aufgebot Damen:
Kati Wilhelm
Andrea Henkel
Magdalena Neuner
Martina Beck
Simone Hauswald

Aufgebot Herren:
Michael Greis
Michael Rösch
Alexander Wolf
Andreas Birnbacher
Arnd Peiffer
Christoph Stephan
Christoph Knie
Simon Schrempp

Biathlon live erleben

This is what Rosalva, my girlfriend, and I were for Halloween. If you don’t get it, it’s not because it’s a bad costume, it’s because you suck.

Okay so we’re John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Me being Yoko of course. We won some gift certificates with those costumes!

The day after we did a ‘biathlon’ (triathlon without swimming) in the mud. It’s called muddy buddy. I highly encourage it people who can’t swim like me. It’s so much more fun for someone like me. Oh, it’s also in the mud, hence, muddy buddy.

I am unbelievably sore. Everywhere. Everything hurts. I don’t like it.

Biathlon Weltcup 2009 und 2010

Biathlon Weltcup Östersund 2.-6.12.2009

Biathlon Weltcup Hochfilzen 10.-13.12.2009

Biathlon-World-Team-Challenge auf Schalke ca. 29.12.2009

Biathlon Weltcup Oberhof 6.-10.1.2010

Biathlon Weltcup Ruhpolding 13.-17.1.2010

Biathlon Weltcup Antholz 20.-24.1.2010

alle buchbar mit Hotelübernachtung und Tickets in www.ajako.de

Biathlon is a physically and mentally demanding winter sport. The worlds best biathletes were asked  to explain how they specialize in marksmanship and cross-country skiing.

Learn to cross country ski: focus on free skate with this new video by CANSI instuctor Keith Nicol.

As a CANSI Level 1 instructor, I have always appreciated Keith’s instructional methodology to X-C skiing. The observations and instruction of a professional goes a long way to improving our ski technique. As a former competitor in Biathlon, I learned more in one year from my coach than I did the previous ten years. That speaks volumes – as I am self-taught in many areas of my life.

Now that things are a bit more settled between the “BC-Canada” or as it’s worked out separate BC and Canada Pavilion’s it is easier to say what is happening.  British Columbia and Canada have done joint pavilions for Torino 2006 and Beijing 2008 but it’s been unclear until yesterday what the plan was for Vancouver 2010.

Robson Square - before the renovations. Photo by @Tripleman.

BC will be taking over a sizeable chunk of downtown Vancouver!!  Currently the BC Showcase occupies the eastern edge of the lower Plaza of Robson Square, and the 2010 Commerce Centre a portion of the western side.  UBC also occupies the western side of the lower plaza.  UBC’s space will be converted into the International Media Centre for unaccredited media during the games, bringing in journalists and reporters from all over the world.  The main focus of these venues are for business and media respectively, and so, not generally for public consumption.  Not to fear, there is a lot that will be open to everyone.

Still in the lower plaza – one of the stand out venues will be the GE Ice Plaza!  (I will endeavour to stop by and take a current picture sans ice tomorrow!).  The GE Ice Plaza will be a free skating rink open to the public.  It is bigger than it has been before and is chilled by GE technology, to allow ice from November to April!  It’s already a beautiful space, with new clear glass domes and nifty blue LED lights.  It will look amazing come winter!

What else will be open to the public?  Well, Robson Square will be busy!!  By what I’ve heard, BC is planning on outfitting the fourth floor of the Vancouver Art Gallery with multi-media and interactive displays about BC!  This will invite people into our beautiful gallery and to learn about our wonderful province!  There will also be shows and entertainment throughout Robson Square, including in the Georgia Street Plaza, to the north of the Vancouver Art Gallery (the countdown clock is located here!).

I think there will be a lot going on at the BC Pavilion and I’ll definitely be reporting it as I hear more concrete plans.  (Want an absolute rumour???  I’ve heard that there are at least thoughts floating around about a “zip-line” from the Courthouse along the south edge of Robson Square to the Vancouver Art Gallery on the northern edge… Sign me up, it would be wicked to zip across Robson Square!!  Just don’t hold me to the rumour ).

__________________________________________________________

CTV had a wonderful report on the 6pm news tonight about a BC athlete.  Her name is Megan Tandy and her goal is to represent Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics as a competitor in Biathlon.  It sounds as if I’d better discuss biathlon one of these nights as Megan mentioned during her interview that many people expect that biathlon is a sport composed of two of the three triathlon sports (swimming, running and biking) instead of the combined winter sports of cross-country skiing and shooting.  Imagine cross-country skiing your butt off and then having to hold still enough for accurate shots at targets!  Your breathing will be enough to make this difficult, let alone the adrenlin!

Megan said during her interview that biathlon is quite foreign to Canadians, most of us don’t have much experience with it.  And, because of that it can be hard for biathletes in Canada to secure funding to help them train and compete.  But our Canadian Women’s Biathlon Team has found a wonderful way to fundraise and to generate interest in their sport.  This may not be for everyone (apparently some of their coaches are a bit less than comfortable) but the Women’s Biathlon Team has put out a calendar!!  Bold Beautiful Biathlon is a 14-month calendar (2009 + January and February 2010) that is raising money for our Women’s Biathlon Team.  Their goal is two-fold: first their “goal is to empower and women and girls by expressing the beauty of a healthy, athletic body” and second “net proceeds will go directly towards funding our expenses leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games”.  These women are beautiful, brave, hard-working and driven.  It would be great if you’d give them your support!  Calendars are only $10 + shipping (hmm… just tried to order one for myself but it’s not working, I will investigate if they have any calendars left, but please donate anyway if you’d like to support the team!! That part is working!).  Megan’s comment about the calendar and why she supported doing it “It’s not about being skinny or having nail polish.”  It really is about healthy and athletic women who would like to encourage other women and girls to pursue their sport or at least their dedication to sport!

Bold Beautiful Biathlon calendar fundraiser

___________________________________________________________

Let me know if there is an Olympic or Paralympic topic/event/athlete/anything related that you’d like to know more about and I’ll do my best to get you an answer.  If you have a friend that may be interested in reading more, please pass the address on to them!  I am always keen to hear from readers!

Thank you!  Merci!

The people who meander through the middle of a crowded mall, airport or movie theater and just STOP in the middle of the stream, looking around with confused faces, oblivious to the human traffic piling up behind them. Bonus points if they run over toes with strollers or suitcases.

The biathlon. Does anyone except Jason Bourne need to ski cross-country while shooting a rifle?

Becoming a proctologist. The money must be great.

Why Subway puts oil and vinegar all over their subs, then gives you one napkin.

Parents who constantly holler at their kids for being kids—i.e. curious, talkative, busy. Start saving now for their therapy.

Those ducks people dress up and place outside their front doors.

Joining “causes” on Facebook. Am I missing the way this is helping?

Pastors who think it’s a good idea to have their son as associate pastor, wife as women’s ministry director, daughter as children’s director, etc……and the elders who allow it.

Why the ice cream truck in my neighborhood played “Silent Night” all summer.

Beauty pageants.

Beauty pageants for girls under 18.

Beauty pageants for girls under 8.

More here.

Aug. 23, 2009
14th Annual Bellefaire JCB
Grunt Girl Racing

Left to right: Jen Woods, Stacy Rhea, Brooke Starkoff, Paula Bielfelt ,
Andrea Chisnell, Trisha McNamara, Melissa Degaetano and Laura  Dobson

 Rain clouds mixed with a light drizzle didn’t deter Grunt Girl Racing from participating in the
14th  Annual Bellefaire JCB Biathlon and walk, Sunday, Aug. 23 in Shaker Heights. 

The girls did a great job Sunday. Andrea Chisnell,  Laura Dobson and Brooke Starkoff took second in their age groups
and Kim and her running partner also placed.
 

Above: Kim, Paula and Laura

Next on the race agenda: 
Summit Tour of Metro Parks, Sept. 5.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
4040 Riverview Road, Peninsula

STOMP is one of the largest cycling events in Northeast Ohio. Registration includes light breakfast, Fun Stops,
SAG support, lunch and live music.

Some of the Grunt Girls will be riding the 25-mile route, others will ride the 63-mile route, and there is a 10-mile route available too.

If you want to ride as one  of the Grunt Girls, let us know and we will bring a
T-shirt for you to purchase. Black dryfit: $20, yellow, Soybu (organic material) $25

Enjoy Travel and Tour comfy bus

 

On Saturday July 18th I had the pleasure of spending the day with some other media types as we toured the Olympic venues in Whistler, BC.   When I say we toured the Olympic venues I don’t mean we drove by and took a couple of pictures from 1000 feet away.  I mean we stood on ski jumping platforms at the Whistler Olympic Park where the athletes are going to be standing on in February.  I was at the top of the Sliding Centre Track where the bobsled, skeleton and luge competitors will make their decent down and hope to reach speeds of 150 km/hr.  I shot a rifle at the biathlon rifle on the official range and went 5 for 5 with my targets.  This all encompassing tour was put together by the great people at Enjoy Tour and Travel.

They picked us up at a downtown hotel and after a not so quick stop at the Squamish Tim Hortons (just for a little extra Canadiana) we headed for the Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley.  This venue will be the host to the cross country, biathalon, ski jumping and Nordic combined for both 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.  It is the first Olympic venue to host all of the nordic sports in one spot.

We took a ski lift up to the top of the jumping area.  I have to say a ski lift ride in the middle of summer is still pretty but it doesn’t have the same feel to it.  Once the first snow falls on this area and the place is covered in white I’m sure it will look absolutely breathtaking .

ski lift

 

 

those skis are LONG

As you can see jumping skis are quite a bit longer than average ones. 

 Our VANOC tour guide was 6′ 7.   

 

and.... go!

 This is where they separate the men from the men who aren’t dumb enough to risk their lives for a sport.  They can reach speeds of 96 km/hr and jumping distances of 140 metres.  No thanks! 

 

 Next we headed over to the biathlon track.  This is one of those events that makes people scratch their heads.  What do cross country skiing and target shooting have in common? Other than a scene in a James Bond movie, probably nothing. 

biathlon rifle range

 The only reason the group was excited about this part of the tour was because we could shoot a rifle. 

there's nothing like holding a gun

 5 for 5

 

5 up

 I’m like Al-Qaeda accurate.  What, too soon?

5 down

See Mom, all those hours of Nintendo Duck Hunt paid off.  I could’ve represented the Philippines as an Olympic bi-athlete.  What a waste! 

After a quick stop for a fantastic lunch at Monk’s Grill in the Village it’s off to the Whistler Sliding Centre.

If you’ve ever thought you life wasn’t dangerous enough here’s some sports that can spice it up a bit.  The Whistler Sliding Centre is home to the 2 or 4 man Bobsleigh, Skeleton and single and double Luge events.  All three go down the same track only at different starting points on it.  I’m sure everyone is familiar with the Bobsled.  Skeleton and Luge are similar sports.  The biggest difference I found was that Luge you lay on your back and Skeleton you lay on your stomach.  According to our VANOC guide the Skeleton was first invented by someone who took spare parts from a bobsleigh and decided go down the run.  It didn’t have brakes back then and it still doesn’t.  They might want to reconsider that fact cause I think popularity in this event might increase if they decide to add a brake.

The Luge is in the front and the Skeleton is the back one.  In Skeleton because you’re on your stomach your chin is only a few inches from the ice.  This had to be been created after a stupid bet and a few too many hot buttered rums.

I definitely came away from this trip with a new respect for these Olympic events.  Also, knowing these venues have a long term plan for other major events and training for future Olympians make me feel like this was an investment and not just a spending spree.  For those who are daring the Bobsleigh will be open to the public after the Olympics and for a fee you can ride down the track with an Olympic calibre driver.  Thank you to Tanis Sullivan from Pure PR and Troy Opper and his crew from Enjoy Tour and Travel for a great day.  I encourage everyone to check out the Whistler Olympic tour before the venues are closed to the public starting in September.

Sliding Centre finish line

Whistler's Reservoir Dogs

at the top of the sliding centre

future bobsleigh Olympian Andrew Hawksworth

H-TWO-O Biathlon Challenge 2009 was held last Saturday 18 July 2009 Morning at Nanyang Polytechnic. The challenge consist of a 400m swim at the swimming pool and a 4km run around the polytechnic. Registration fees is $20 and will be donated to Jamiyah Children’s Home.

Finishing Point

Finishing Point At The Stadium.

Swim Course

One End Of The Pool Is 2.2m Deep. Getting Off From The Pool After The Swim Course Is A Challenge.

Running Shoe

My Running Shoe.

Every Finisher Is A Champion

Me After The Challenge Feeling Great ! !

Volume 040: 23 Years of Fighting the Good Fight

Last week I leveled up to a 23 university student and I think my stat adjustments were -1 youth and +1 experience. The usual trade off of course. It was a quiet week at first (minus the craziness of good, chocolate explosion cake anyone?) and then yesterday was insane with St. Jacobs excursion, softball in waterloo park, and then an evening of music and sharing at a friend’s place.

Thinking back on the past year, I do another annual assessment of what I realized, what I concluded, and what “eureka moments” I had since the last summer. Since people found my rapid fire thoughts easier to comprehend, I will still to that format for now and easier to coordinate my thoughts:

1. There is still no Final Fantasy music when you level up!
2. Blue Jays keep bringing up rookies who win their first game up, why don’t they call up a new rookie pitcher for every game of the season? (Yeah I know, call up limits, no bottomless supply of rookie pitchers, MLB rules, etc.)
3. I’m already hearing from hockey news how the Habs are going to kill the Leafs 20-0 on opening night. What are they smoking?
4. The Fans First Coke Zero Leafs game is back, trying to get tickets again.
5. Toronto FC is currently the only Toronto based sports franchise that currently does not have a subpar .500 record, our best team is an expansion, oh man
6. Everyone is excited about the iPhone 3G now that there’s a legitimate exit to get out of the data plan (does Fido have the exit plan too?) and makes it cheaper
7. I just used the $5 starbucks card on one drink, only 3 cents left, can’t even buy 5-cent candy, (doh!)
8. Looks like I will be heading back to Ikea for more furnishings, trip #15 in the past 14 months (yes you read that right)
9. It is tough to work with a laptop that only has a 60 GB hard drive
10. Apple complaining to Microsoft about the Mac killer ads because it’s hurting their sales, that’s competitive market, too bad
11. Every time I go home to the GTA for a break from school, or long weekend, or end of exams, someone I know gets engaged/married. The current streak is now 8 trips in a row someone got hitched when I came back.
12. I finally bought hockey tape and re-taped my hockey stick for the first time in four seasons
13. This the first summer I can remember in a while where there were more cool days than hot days
14. Visited Lego land at St. Jacob’s outlet mall, there are no Lego sets for anyone over the age of 16 (how come nobody considers making Lego for older populations? that’s an untapped market for you business people!)
15. Ikea does not count as mature Lego sets because you don’t take apart your furniture and build it into a flying dragon (or do you? hehe)
16. St. Jacob’s feels so commercialized now, and prices went up, it’s not the same as the last time I went
17. More folks bringing pets to St. Jacob’s, must be a bigger trend now
18. Futureshop and Bestbuy are dropping prices on Apple laptops, which before they never dropped them. Must be the next generation lineup kicking them out.
19. The more the Toronto garbage strike lingers, the more it reminds me of two bitter kids in the schoolyard refusing to yield and all the other kids in the playground telling them both to grow up.
20. With the above point mentioned, I understand why mom want was so eager to move out of the Toronto city limits and into the outer GTA
21. I still can’t rent a car in Ontario (too young)
22. Apparently there’s a Pokemon revival in Waterloo, I still don’t get what’s the hype surrounding it
23. Speaking of Anime, I don’t get what is so cool about Anime, it’s just animated cartoons from Japanese artists, it’s not like they are the ONLY artists in the world
24. Got softball practice yesterday, getting ready for the annual Fellowship Cup tournament
25. Changing your own car oil is not as easy or as safe as other people put it
26. We lost our playoff hockey game. Every game is tough and it just reminds me how out of shape I am and I got to step up in the offseason to do better
27. Congratulations to a sister who recently got engaged, I’m glad she found someone to settle with
28. Congratulations to a colleague from high school getting engaged, I haven’t heard from him in ages
29. One of our brothers introduced a song “You’re Beautiful” by Phil Wickham, one of the more uplifting and beautiful songs I have heard during music worship
30. Is everyone getting fatigued from all those Harry Potter movies yet? If this keeps, he may as well introduced himself as “Potter, Harry Potter.”
31. I may be looking in to trading this laptop for a newer one. If anyone has any suggestions, give me a shout.
32. I’m not a laptop person, I’m usually a desktop user.
33. Despite Bell Mobility lowering their system access fee, I still pay the older, higher one because I’m still stuck in the old contract. Great to be Canadian eh?
34. I’m in the middle of watching season 13 for the Simpsons, my reactions have switched from “HAHA” to “What the heck?!”
35. Got to the love the description for Biathlon, the “Norwegian Drive-by shooting”
36. I’m starting to wonder if some crazy rebels are going to ruin the Olympic experience for tourists in Vancouver, another hit to Canada’s reputation
37. Canada has never won a Gold medal on Canadian soil, we’re too nice to win in our own home eh?
38. If Canadians freak out if we don’t win a medal in the first 6 six of the Olympics Games in the summer, how bad will it be in the winter?
39. Definition of Fail: Canada obtains less than 13 medals in the Vancouver Games, the lowest count in the past 5 Winter Olympics (including 2010 itself)
40. Definition of “just keeping the standard”: Canada obtaining between 13 to 24 medals at the Vancouver Games
41. Definition of “success”: Canada gains 25 or more medals (and at least one Gold medal)
42. First time in history two Canadian astronauts in the space station, sadly most of you don’t know it, those who do feel “meh”
43. I just downloaded skype, unfortunately there’s no one to talk to at the moment
44. Weird gas prices, one gas station in Waterloo has 84 cents, I drive to the next block, another station at 86, drive another it’s at 90 cents. Such a huge disparity in two blocks, wowza
45. Don’t make a flying RV out of Lego
46. People on campus are adjusting their laptop purchase to correlate with the Starcraft 2 launch, very interesting
47. I have seen only one person carry a Fujitsu laptop on campus
48. I just learned from youtube that Steven Spielberg had a cameo in Blues Brothers (1982)
49. The 40th anniversary of the Moon Landing is on July 20, I’m sure all those conspiracy theorists will have a field day reminding all of us it’s a lie
50. There is always next term for hockey eh?

That’s all I can think of for now. Take care and do not punch the cow.

Huntz

I got a chance to listen to the new Dave Matthews Album yesterday while I was getting some work done.  It’s a darker side of Dave than I’m used to.  The critics loved it which scares me (anything Hollywood says is good is never a good thing).  Personally, I liked it on a different level but I still don’t think they will ever be what they used to.  Sad. (P.S. Dave is doing a live concert on Hulu.  Even more proof Hulu is taking over the world.)

I started reading Transforming Discipleship (again, I didn’t finish it the first time around) by Greg Ogden.  I have a few friends who have already read the book.  It’s good to hear their take on the concept of discipleship as I walk through Greg’s concepts myself.  It’s an interesting book with some good application.  We’ll see where it goes.

I checked off completing the Highland Biathlon from my personal growth plan on Memorial Day.  I finished 78th overall (16th in my age division) with a time of 1 hour, 34 minutes, and 43 seconds (4:44 mile pace).  I wanted to finish under an hour and a half but the conditions were rough.  I’ll take it for my first biathlon!

I started “Spring Cleaning” 2009 a few days ago.  This year I am working a the theme of “simplification of life”.  In other words I am giving away everything I don’t use or don’t need anymore.  So far I have thrown out two full garbage bags, given a full car load to Goodwill, and had two fires outside that were the size of our small sheds.  Life’s awesome when you live simple but man does it take some work.

What’s new with you?

-jordan

În cea de-a doua zi din cadrul primei etape a Cupei Continentale s-au desfăşurat probele de sprint, la masculin şi feminin. Dacă în prima zi nu au apărut surprize în ceea ce priveşte numele câştigătorilor, nu acelaşi lucru se poate spune şi despre câştigătorii de astăzi.

Astfel, în competiţia masculină, Klemen Bauer,din Slovacia a reuşit să tragă de două ori perfect şi a trecut primul linia de sosire. La 5.9 secunde l-a urmat ocupantul primei poziţii de la sprint, norvegianul Frode Andresen care nu a efectuat niciun tur suplimentar! Nevoit să parcurgă 150 m în plus, Daniel Bohm (GER) s-a clasat pe ultima treaptă a podiumului.

Cei doi reprezentanţi ai României, Roland Gerbacea, cu 2 tururi de penalizare, a încheiat concursul pe poziţia 65, în timp ce Ştefan Gavrilă care a tras de 6 ori alături a terminat pe locul 94.

În concursul feminin, pe podium au urcat 2 reprezentante ale Germaniei şi una din Rusia. Cea care s-a impus a fost Sabrina Bochholz, nemţoaica trăgând perfect la ambele treceri prin poligon. Compatrioata sa, Juliane Doll, cu un tur suplimentar, s-a clasat pe locul 3, fiind depăşită de rusoaica Olga Vilukhina, ocupanta poziţiei secunde.

În top 10 au intrat şi 2 dintre sportivele din România. Cu câte un tur de penalizare fiecare, Mihaela Purdea a trecut linia de sosire a noua, fiind urmată de Dana Plotogea.  Pe locul 33 a încheiat Reka Ferencz care a tras perfect la ambele trageri, Emoke Szocs, cu 300 m suplimentari a ocupat locul 37. A cincea reprezentantă a României, Alexandra Stoian a fost nevoită să facă 6 tururi suplimentare şi a trecut linia de sosire a 57-a, iar Luminiţa Piscoran a 60-a.

(Poză preluată de aici)