Keyboard Cat For Kids (It Had To Happen Sooner Or Later)

I wouldn't put it past a toy company to make these.

In case you don't remember the cute but now admittedly annoying meme:


Of course, he's nowhere near as cool as JazzCatJay!

Clearly, I can see you're nuts!

Pining For Newfoundland

One of my fav pics from the trip!

I was in Newfoundland a few years ago. Great place, love it. I mean LOVE it and the people lived up to their reputation: down to earth, generous, all of that. Today I was thinking upon that experience and how I would very much like to live in a more rustic area, where the people have that salt-of-the-earth way about them, where it's really still OK to not lock your doors (even though you should anyway). Big city life offers so much but takes away much as well. Spending a summer's afternoon on the porch, the scent of pine and whispers through the trees overhead, a glass of lemonade, my gal and I each reading a book and enjoying each others company, stealing a smile and perhaps a kiss every so often, then as evening sets in the BBQ fires up and the meal followed by a little nip of scotch by the bonfire, the two of us cuddled up in a blanket, the stars above held in flickering suspension.

Oh, yeah, back to Newfoundland.

Google Maps 8-bit for NES

Here's a cute little gem from the round of April Fool's Day pranks making the rounds. Google usually have a few doozies and this is my fav this year. Not only is it full of 8-bit awesome, they use a lot of imaging and sound effects from my favourite NES game: Dragon Warrior. Enjoy.

The Voyageurs

I'm something of a Canadian history buff and have a special taste for the Voyageurs and the fur trade. I even wrote a couple of songs about it back in the day. Enjoy this short film from the National Film Board.

In Memory Of A Distant Friend

I learned tonight that an old friend has passed on.

It's something of a shock when you learn that someone you know and how had even a minor impact on your life is no longer with us and tonight is certainly a night for such a shock. According to the news I received, there's still an investigation going on, so I don't wish to jump to conclusions or read too much into the news I do have, but by all accounts he took his own life.

Arthur was the bass player for a group called Girl From Saskatoon, who were from Norway and I'd always found it cool that they'd pick a band name based on both a Johnny Cash song and a place from the province where I was born. Arthur came to visit me a few short years back when I was living in a house just off Bank Street. We'd had BBQs, drank scotch, smoked cigarettes, and made music a dominant topic of discussion. He was your classic Norwegian: tall, blonde, funny, opinionated, talented, and quite outspoken. Many late nights were spent in the yard enjoying a puff, a snort, and chatting about things both worldly and artistic. He'd crash on my couch and he was so tall, he'd take up the entire long end of the thing, his big Norse feet hanging off the edge in a deep, drunken slumber. Of course, he'd be up before everyone, already rolling a cig while the rest of us were just waking up and starting the day. I remember the visit before that when we were at a New year's Eve dinner together in Gatineau...the two of us outside drunk as hell on single malt and reveling in the winter chill. He felt like he was at home and he was the only other person I've met who could drink as much Glenfiddich as me and still remain standing at the end of the night and belting out a tune.

Arthur and I lost touch in the last while but we left an impression on each other and I'll always think fondly on our time together and value his insight and his humor. Perhaps had I known him a little better I may not be quite as shocked at the news but then again we can't necessarily predict these events and try as we might, we can't always understand it.

Cheers, Arthur. You were a good man.

What's In A Name?

It’s weird being named Fred. Nobody seems to be named Fred anymore, it’s like one of those old names that was popular in the 50’s. Think of all of the Freds that you could name right now, at least the famous ones. We Freds are a dying breed and sooner or later it'll be relegated to the history books. So let us take a moment to recognize the Freds that we know and remember what a kick-ass name it really is.

An Engrossing Dinner Conversation Topic

If ye be a person born with a cast iron stomach, proceed, else turn back from whence ye came. No, really, I'm going to be talking about my man-parts here. If you know me, you'll know me as Mr. TMI. For the rest of you, I applaud your valor.