Competition
- It seems as though www.gordprisco.blogspot.com has some competition for blog power at Bond University. Fellow Canadians' Sean, Mike and Ben (Sean and Mike were formerly known as the New Blood) have started up their own site at www.stripesanddots.blogspot.com. With Ben in the picture with the new blood it brings a new element to the equation. The three will no longer be referred to the "new blood" rather we will call them "tainted blood". It's time to step it up a notch with the blogging. Some wouldn't go so far as to compromise their blog in the face of competition...well, this blogger will. That is why I will be bringing a more risque look to the blog (see the picture above). The fact is folks, sex sells...people may not be happy with this direction, but controversy can only help.
- In other news, Palaver is tonight at Bond Uni. Should be a good time to get dressed up and have a good time after another hard week of law.
- In Rock and Roll news, Bon Jovi said this week that he finds the aging ROLLING STONES a musical embarrassment and vows to retire at the right age. Well lookie here Mr Bon Jovi...you were cool for ab out 15 minutes in the late 80's...you had about three cool songs and for those 15 minutes you rocked. When it came to the 16th minute, you should have retired. The Stones today are 50 times what you were at your best. Look at this clip and tell me if Bon Jovi is even half as good...what a loser!
- News from my dad in North Bay (from the local paper) - At approximately 5:30 AM this morning (May 31) Cst. Scott McFarlane of the North Bay Police Service was attempting to guide a young bull moose away from the area of Fisher St. and Chippewa St.
It appears the animal did not take kindly to this gesture and turned and challenged the cruiser. The officer retreated and let the animal move off at its own pace. - More to come...
Cheap Wine and a three day growth....
Who needs to learn about equity and evidence when you come to law school in Australia when you can learn about the ABC's of rock and roll? See above is
Jimmy Barnes of
Cold Chisel fame. What a classic...what a voice...what an entertainer. You can hear it in every breath into that microphone.
While I'm just scratching the surface on Jimmy's fame, I have to give credit to "brother" (aka Brendan Scandrett) for introducing me to this legend a year ago at this time. I wasn't willing to listen much then...but as of recently, Rob Bartrop has cultivated an interest in me that I couldn't ignore. I can't wait to hear the rest of what this legend's got to offer. So far I'm stuck on classics including,
You've got nothing I Want, Khe-Sahn, Flame Trees, Cheap Wine, Saturday Night...
I am sure that my piano lessons with Ms Bryer on Main Street were cheaper than the music lessons I'm receiving today, taking into account my tuition fees. So... with that said, I'll get back to my Business Associations assignment, but maybe I'll have Jimmy help me get me through it.
Once I smoked a Danneman cigar Drove a foreign car Baby that was years ago I left it all behind Had a friend, I heard she died On a needle she was crucified Baby that was years ago I left it all behind for my Cheap wine and a three-day growth Cheap wine and a three-day growth Come-on, come-on, come-on!
Birthday
May 30th is Anita's birthday. Anita is the first person I met on my way to Australia at the Los Angeles airport.
This is a picture of her at another friend's birthday party. Shortly after this photo was taken she threw up on herself in a cab. Let's hope she doesn't repeat that behaviour on her own birthday.
Happy Birthday Anita.
Anita
New movie
I had no idea this was being made. Take a
look at this...still sends shivers.
The chase!
If this is me on the left with a sling on due to a dislocated shoulder...why is the man on the right chasing me?
Complainers
this is what happens when you complain about your picture on www.gordprisco.blogspot.com
This picture will be up for 24 hours.
Random
- Australia, you owe us for this one...
- On Australia's hit TV show "Big Brother", a psychic predicts who is going to be evicted the next week. After the psychic predicts, a goat also points its nose to who it thinks is going to be evicted. The goat has a better prediction record thus far. Moral - don't go to psychics...or if you want to, but a goat.
- a few comments on recent comments - those being comments on my posts: 1) if you want to hear about the Lucentis, they're in house #42 Sailfish cove. I hope they both get eaten by sharks...or...the wild drunk may kill them both...possibly me first though. Next Limo please...2)If you have been banned from this blog there's a reason. Please send $14.50 to unti 99 Sailfish Cove to have the ban lifted 3) My shoulder is healing faster than I expected.
- Palaver is coming up soon (that's some kind of school party), it might even be this week.
- Where can I get my camera fixed?
- Where can I get a decent price on dry-cleaning?
- Should I trade my bike in for a horse?
Jay Botelho - Major League Mouth...Minor League Mind
I'd like to welcome Jay Botelho to www.gordprisco.blogspot.com. A little about Jay...
A self proclaimed baseball expert, Jay is known as GoCanada in the fantasy baseball league. But ask yourselves this...if you were an expert, would you let the computer draft your team for you? Here's the thing, with technology these days, you pick your teams online using a program yahoo has. However, if you don't want to show up because you're at the beach drinking margaritas (and basically you want to rely on luck to win a pool) then you can sign up on the yahoo site and have the computer pick your team. While a good strategy, it begs the question to why he needed to do this? Isn't he an expert? This is where some questions about his self-proclaimed baseball genius arrive.
Jason has cut up many deals that have been made this year in our fantasy pool...mostly some of yours truly...but here's the thing. If I would have listened to him, I would be so much worse off that I wouldn't even be close. In fact, every move I have made has been beneficial thus far. He offered to manage my team for a few weeks to turn it around...but if he would have done that, it would be in absolute ruin. And while if he would have ruined my fantasy team, I could have lived with it....but my concern now is with the young lives of the Bond University Baseball Team. Jason appointed himself manager of the team...and yup, are you thinking what I am? Will the computer manage that team too? If it were to, I'd think the players were in good hands, but sadly, they're not...Jason can't use the computer at Uni Games. There's no internet access. He'll have to put down his margaritas and rely on his own know-how, which clearly isn't much.
I'm trying to warn people...and they seem to be slowly getting the picture, but will it be too late?
This is a developing story, please see the rest of the story in the coming weeks...
a wild week
Well folks, it sure has been a wild one. If you don't already know (which I am sure most of you do) I separated my shoulder on Monday in a wild bike accident. I was chasing a man down who had just stolen an old ladies purse, and I yelled, "hey! you're not stealing some women's purse on my watch!" So I chased after him, caught him, and had a wild punch out. He must have been 7 feet tall. But on my last punch, I knocked him senseless and my arm at the same time.
Ok, so that was a total lie...I fell off my bike at school like an idiot. Luckily Sabrina and Jess were close by and took me to the school Doctor office where I proceeded to pass out. Thanks as well to Dave and Rob for taking me to the Gold Coast hospital. The morphine was great...and it was also nice to get my arm back in its place. It wasn't pleasant having it hang off my body for those couple hours.
Thanks also to all the well wishers by msn, email or phone. Another one of my friends (who has been banned from the blog) even took me to the grocery store - thanks.
Subsequent to my accident, classes this week were sparse.
Last night was some fun though. The new blood (Sean and Mike) along with their roommates Tannis and Ben had a beginning of the semester get together. Marc, Dave, Morgan, Jay (who had his computer pick his fantasy baseball team), Sabrina and I took a taxi to their Ranier Crt residence. The taxi driver was an asshole. He started the metre early while I was putting on my shirt. I mean shit! It takes a cripple a little while longer...Next I'll just call a damn limo, although I hear they're expensive if you take them by yourself.
Anyway, great to see everyone out last night. The Rocket even changed his ways to have a drink or two...or three.
Lindsay and Gia are having a get together Saturday evening in their broadbeach apartment...should be interesting.
In other news, can't believe John Tory made full front page news of the Toronto Star last weekend. Tory is the conservative leader of the opposition in Ontario who will have his hands full in the October 2007 election. But this article shows that the Toronto Star may be behind him? It would be quite odd, considering how shitty a liberal rag it is.
I made a trade in my fantasy league this week. My ace Johan Santana was dealt to DBanators for Vlad Guerrero. Here's hoping his bat will make a difference for my offence. Although, scrap heap players like Brandon Phillips( Cincinnatti 2nd baseman) and Casey Blake (Cleveland 3rd baseman leading the league in hitting) are carrying me while I am slowly climbing my way back the ladder. It's great to be out of last place and hit 3rd last place this week. I'm on my way up.
It is next to impossible to type when you only have one arm...this is taking me forever.
That's all for now.
my day
see here my day yesterday in this 13 second
clipfor now i am recovering...more to come on this developing story.
Thoughts from the past week
- Pub crawl #4 for me was Friday night. Another good time had by all. It was nice to meet all the new kids this semester. Remembering that when I was doing my first degree in University, most of them were in grade 3. I may stop going on crawls...until next semester that is.
- Last Tuesday was a the yearly party at Melbas called drink the pub dry. It didn't quite live up to its name.
- Happy belated birthday to James Payne. Apparently I forgot to wish him Happy Birthday on Wednesday...and especially at midnight of the drink the pub dry evening.
- The DaVinci Code is a great movie. Never mind the critics. Thank you to Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas for their student discount.
- It's a Dog Eat Dog world out there...
- Jason Botelho is a Fantasy Baseball maniac. He used to work for Joe Spina MPP, but is now at Bond Uni with me.
- My dad sent me some info on Barbaro - the horse that was supposed to win the triple crown this year. Sadly, he broke his leg in the Preakness. My Dad has always been into horse racing...he took me to the track for hours and hours as a young child...although, I never remember leaving the car. And when he reuturned, he'd always be running and tell me that, "we gotta get outta here quick." Then one-day we had to move into a trailer park and my mom left him. But dad and I kept going to the track.
- Ok, so that last story was a complete fabrication.
- AL Cy Young prediction - Scott Kazmir . Another fantastic outing by the young lefty from Tampa Bay - 8 innings, 11 k, no earned runs.
Harper, Aussie PM cement close ties
From today's Toronto Star.
May 18, 2006. 05:41 AM
GRAHAM FRASERNATIONAL AFFAIRS WRITER
OTTAWA—He's Stephen Harper's new best friend.
Australian flags are hanging on the lampposts in downtown Ottawa to welcome Australian Prime Minister John Howard — the only foreign leader who Harper got to know before he became Prime Minister.
Last summer, they both attended a meeting in Washington of the International Democratic Union, a conservative gathering, and according to sources, the two men bonded.
Although Howard, 66, is about 20 years older with 14 years in power and four successful elections under his belt, the two men have a "similar outlook, similar policies and similar ideologies," said an official in Ottawa who has watched the careers of both men.
"There is a centre-right alternative approach to governance," the official said, adding "not the harder American version and not the soft European version."
The bond they established last summer has proved to be more than simply personal.
After the Jan. 23 election, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC News reported that Brian Loughnane, the federal director of Howard's Liberal Party, provided informal advice to the Conservatives during the election campaign.
"It's understood he travelled to Canada several times and spoke regularly to Conservative campaign officials," said ABC News reporter Kim Landers.
Loughnane is a friend of Patrick Muttart, one of Harper's advisers and now a special adviser in the Prime Minister's Office. Muttart had made a careful study of Howard's successful 2004 election victory.
"Mr. Harper's campaign was in fact orchestrated in such a way to look like John Howard's campaigns of the last 10 years," said Greg Barns, a former candidate in Howard's party, who is now writing a book comparing politics and society in Canada and Australia. "That is, with an emphasis on tax cuts, with an emphasis on so-called mainstream values, with a tax on so-called elites."
Howard, like Harper, is a blunt-talking conservative whowas an admirer of Britain's Margaret Thatcher and her economic policies of reducing taxes, privatization and cutting the size of government.
Also, like Harper, the Australian leader has remained a clearly conservative leader and a close ally of U.S. President George W. Bush, who sang Howard's praises after a meeting at the White House on Tuesday.
While there may be some mutual political satisfaction in today's meeting, this is not the reason Howard is coming to Ottawa, where he will address the House of Commons today.
"The purpose of the trip is to celebrate the policy similarities of the two countries," Australian High Commissioner Bill Fisher told the Toronto Star.
"Australia and Canada are like twins separated at birth."
Fisher said he is amazed at the similarities he sees almost every day: both are continent-sized federations with a Westminster parliamentary system; both are sparsely populated with populations concentrated in cities; both cling to the southern rim of their countries, with a hostile climate in the north; both deal with problems of isolation and urban concentration; both have indigenous issues; both have natural-resource-rich economies; both have immigration issues and transportation woes.
As a result, Fisher said, there are many practical issues the two leaders can discuss, and exchange notes and ideas about.
"Canada is really the one country in the world where (an Australian prime minister) can do that," he said. "It's a super occasion to compare notes and policy ideas."
Fisher joked there are no problems between the two countries to be fixed or improved by the two leaders.
"There are no problems. No problems," he said, in mock dismay. "I looked and I couldn't find any."
As a result, he said, the relationship is undervalued in both countries.
However, beneath the surface of tranquillity, Canada and Australia work closely on a number of issues, sharing intelligence data and working closely together at the United Nations.
The one significant difference has been in defence policy.
Australia, unlike Canada, has configured its military for combat rather than for peacekeeping — and, with 10 million fewer people, has an armed forces the same size as Canada's.
Under Howard's leadership, Australia sent 1,500 troops into Iraq, while Canada refused to participate in the Iraq war.
The result has had considerable impact on Australia's relationship with its allies.
"Howard killed three birds with one stone," an Asian diplomat observed. "He did George W. Bush a favour, he did (Britain's) Tony Blair a favour by relieving some of the British troops in Basra — and he did Japan a favour by providing security protection for the humanitarian and reconstruction operation that the Japanese had sent to Iraq."
That is the kind of leverage and influence that Harper is trying to achieve by extending Canada's military mission in Afghanistan.
Moooooooooose
My Dad sent me this, I figured considering I don't have much to post at the moment, this will do:
Often difficult to spot, and even harder to avoid, animals on the roadway create a serious driving hazard. If you drive in Northern Ontario, the possibility of meeting nature’s wildlife is present at every turn. In the North East Region in 2005, there were 1,225 collisions involving wildlife on the roadway (deer, moose and bear). Two people were killed in collisions involving moose (Temagami, Wawa).The OPP urge motorists to monitor their speed, particularly at night and avoid over driving the illumination of headlights. Scan the highway ahead as far as possible, with special attention to the fence lines - particularly at dusk and dawn. Roadside signs alert drivers to regular crossing areas but animals can venture from their regular trails and bound out onto the highways unexpectedly. If you see an animal, slow down and be prepared to stop - deer are fast moving and can jump into your path quickly. Although moose appear to be slow, their long stride has them covering great distances in a short period of time. Bears too, can move quickly and bolt into your path. It’s up to motorists to avoid the four-footed hazard.
and I thought I had nothing to give...
Ok, look at this one.
here's the blurb that I borrowed from the web-site that the clip is on. It's fantastic!
Over the weekend, the BBC accidentally mistook a cab driver for tech savvy IT Expert Guy Kewney. The cabbie was waiting in the lobby for a fare when he was swooshed on set, micd up and before he knew it answering questions about the Apple Vs Apple Legal battle. Watch as he gives a face of shock then does his best to go along with it all, hilarious!
click
here and see it
Mother's Day
This is my Mom. Today is Mother's Day. I looked for a definition of exactly what Mother's Day is on the web today. I found this:
Mother's Day is a day for celebrating motherhood and thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this day, and it is a busy time of year for mail in many countries.I'm in law now. Much of legal analysis has to do with interpretation and meaning. In the above passage it says that, "mothers
often receive gifts on this day, and it is a busy time for
mail in
many countries."
Well if I can take a stab at this from a legal approach...it doesn't say mothers
must receive gifts this day. Nor does it say anything that
Australia is one of the
many countries that is included in the busy time for mail, it just says many countries...could be anywhere else?
Ok, so it's a cop-out. Mom, the only thing I can offer today is something that is said at the beginning of the Mother's Day definition - a celebration and a thank you - to you.
My Mom has always stood behind me. She's like that teammate that everyone wishes they had. She'll stand up for you to anyone come hell or high water, even if you're wrong...and in my case, I usually was. I remember the time I was being a shit in grade 7 and had gotten in trouble for something or other. Well, the principle - Mr Wybrow, called her in. I didn't really know it at the time, but did she didn't let him put me down...she stood her ground, and fought my cause - He told me that later. Now....don't get me wrong, she gave me shit when I got home, cause I deserved it...but she stood up for me when it counted. We we're a team. To use a basketball analogy, I'd be the player who wasn't making any shots, wasn't playing great defence, wasn't giving it my all in practice...but she was the star player that kept passing me the ball, fought the coach to keep me in the lineup, and told the media after the game that I was an important part of the team. The perfect teammate.
Mom, I'm far away, and I miss you. I think I'm a better teammate now. I can probably shoot a little better, I try a little harder in practice, and coach would probably want to keep me in the lineup...but it's because of the best teammate I ever had.
Happy Mother's Day Mom.
Love Gord
Fantasy Baseball News and Notes
I've decided to make good use of this blog to talk about my Fantasy Baseball league. Ten of us are in it, and I'm currently in last place - but battling daily with "Oil Can Rocket" (Alex Rivard) for that honour. My nickname in the league started as Borat...was changed to Officer Brinkman...but is now Shithead. It was stay as Shithead until I creep out of the basement for over a week...and even then I may stick with the name.
Anyway, here's my baseball notes...(I know most of you don't care, but then again...do you care about anything I write?).
Randy Johnson Past His Prime? After throwing 92 pitches and two key wild pitches in less than four innings and getting soundly booed against Boston Tuesday, Randy Johnson said he couldn't remember the last time he pitched a good game. Shithead thinks it's time for Johnson to admit he doesn't have it anymore (Owner - "Luch7" - Dave Lucenti).
Chris Shelton - Booming start for the young Tiger. Early home runs had him as one of the top players in the league for the first month. Times have changed. Shelton has gone 5/30 in his last ten games with only one RBI and no home runs. Owner Marc Lucenti (Kirbypuckett34) should have listened and traded him while he was hot.
Hideki Matsui - A player that even Shithead coveted. I was trying to find a way to pry him away from KirbyPuckett34 without looking too obvious I wanted him on my team. Good thing I didn't get him. Matsui broke his wrist and will most likely be out for the season.
Richie Sexson - You dirty piece of garbage! Ranked 39th in the whole league prior to opening day, he's now ranked 549th. Shithead put him on waivers and picked up Tori Hunter, who had a slow start, but is hitting over .500 in his last ten games. Guaranteed Sexson was on the juice...but now feeling the effects of no enhanced power.
Barry Bonds - Garbage. Apparently he's having trouble walking out of the dugout his knees are so bad. GoCanada (Jay Botello) owns him. The former MVP and accused steroid taker will probably never be the same as his Hall of Fame years past.
Jason Bay - Picked in the first round, the Canadian only has 14 RBIs this season. His average is a paltry .252 and he's hitting 6th in the lineup. bad news for the Guru (Matty Lambert).
Nick Swisher - Shithead believes this kid will be top 5 in American League MVP voting this year. Oil Can Rocket's got a player on his hands here.
Jonathon Papelbon - great start to the season by the Red Sox rookie. Closing games with ease for much of the first month, the Blue Jays finally got to him last week. Most experts say he's the real deal - but that was also said about Shelton. It'll be interesting to see whether or not Kirbypuckett34 moves Papelbon with Eric Gagne coming back off the DL soon. Papelbon's value is high but will he make the same mistake that he did with Shelton? Hot streak players may make you look good for a month, but won't win you the pool in the long run. Just too many games in baseball for lucky streaks to count enough.
to be continued...
Golf Day
- Great to be on the course again today. Bob Lucenti (who is probably fleecing some poor soul in Canada right now) was replaced by Rob Bartrop as Marc's partner. The match was somewhat of a sideshow with Bartrop's antics. He was more concerned with if the Arizona Cardinals or the National Football League, would make the playoffs this year rather than with hitting his tee shot down the middle of the fairway. His constant talking may have been a tactic, and again if that was the case, I would refer him and his team member to the Royal and Ancient Rules of Golf and kthe section on etiquette.
- I didn't need to eat a whole bag of M and M's tonight...
- It was also nice to play another head to head match with Marc. Marc usually keeps score, and coming into the 18th hole he told me I was up one in the match. Well, he ended up winning the last hole and I thought we had tied the match...well it's a good thing I took the scorecard home. I discovered an error in Marc's mathematical skills. Turns out I won the match on the 17th hole. Guess I'll have to start keeping score myself after that innocent mistake.
- If you're Canadian and you know who Michael Coren is, read the following Post article...the CBC is pathetic. I hope Stephen Harper straightens things out there.
- Government shouldn't be in the business of owning broadcasting corporations. Know why? Cause they just become politicised and run poorly. Government should only run things that are crucial for the people it serves. The CBC could be sold and run better by someone else. The fact is that government rarely runs things well. I love Don Cherry and Ron Maclean, but taxpayers are paying for their salaries which average around $600,000 each. Make a choice...if you want to have that kind of service then privatise. But if you want a public broadcaster, then let it show amateur sport in Canada and doesn't cost taxpayers an arm and a leg (I know I'm all over the map here, but hopefully you get my point).
- Steve Nash is a great player. Maybe one of the best point guards in history....definitely in the top ten all time.
- Dave Lucenti is working on his golf game. He hit some better shots today, but like his idol David Duval, he may have lost his game altogether.
Further to my last post...
I'd like to talk a little more about Australian music, cause something's really pissing me off (and I don't have much else to think about right now cause I'm on my break from school and I'm a little bored).
There is a clear lack of appreciation for the rock and roll machine that is AC/DC. For example, I went to Melbourne on somewhat of a pilgrimage to find AC/DC lane. Well, to put it mildly, they stuck my heroes, these legends, on some shithole sidestreet . I mean look at the picture, there's garbage bins lining the whole lane.
And one of the things I've always said that Australia is great at doing is celebrating their own. Canadians are sometimes stuck with celebrating what the American's are doing, almost through osmosis. But why not AC/DC?
Rolling Stone Magazine (which is usually a shit magazine) got it right when they said, "Angus Young and AC/DC are almost single handedly responsible for Australian rock & roll today."
In the Australian Recording Industry Association's defence, they did name AC/DC to their
Hall of fame in the first year of the Hall of Fame's existence (1988) along with other Aussie legends Slim Dusty, and legendary producers Vanda and Young (Easybeats fame).
I'm done with this topic...I could write for a year on it. That's the great thing about a blog, you can decide half-way through writing a piece that you're done with that. It's not like I have an editor telling me that I have a deadline, or I have to write about something of relevance.
Great Australian musicians today include Bernard Fanning (originally, and still of Powderfinger fame). Go buy
Odyssey Number 5 or
Vulture Street. And I've always said that
Airbourne will be one of the next great rock bands...they're not very well known outside of Melbourne yet.
Australia also has some legends that deserve respect - Jimmy Barnes of Cold Chisel fame - who was considered to become the new singer of AC/DC after Bon Scott's death in 1980, John Farnham, The Bee Gees, Men at Work, INXS - who would have been one of the best bands ever if not for the death of Michael Hutchince. Midnight Oil was good, but they didn't have enough of a catalogue to be considered great. Same for Silverchair, but they're still going.
that's it.
On a competely unrelated note, this guy does a great job dancing...check it out
here...Hilarious
I should probably post Bobby Knight playin golf again...what a madman.
P.S. - Big David is dead...long live Medium David
Slade
I'm sure you'll all be interested to know that former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade now has his own website that can be found here. Slade was recruited in 1989 by Malcolm Young. He was best known for The Razor's Edge album and AC/DC Live cd and video, where hits like Thunderstruck, Moneytalks and Are You Ready came from. Although Slade stayed until 1995's Ballbreaker album, rumour has it that Phill Rudd replaced the drum tracks for the album. Rudd was AC/DC's original drummer who left the band in 1984.
Anyway, Slade has had quite a career. He has played with some greats including Tom Jones, Jimmy Page and a band called "Toomorrow" which feature a young Olivia Newton John. I'm interested to see whether he answers my email about playing with two of the greatest living guitarists in Angus Young and Jimmy Page or Led Zeppelin fame and what are there strengths and weakness'.
In reading Slades new site, this brought me to my next issue I will deal with today. For some reason I was brought here through a few links - a site listing the 200 most significant Australians. Now...here's the problem...No mention of Angus Young, Malcolm Young, George Young, or anyone with the last name Young for that matter (George Young for those of you that don't know was the founder and lead guitarist in the Easybeats that had the hit Friday on my Mind in the 1960's).
So I looked at the criteria for the inclusion of people which is as follows.
People who are the world's best at something significant. - well AC/DC has the best selling hard rock album in the history of the world, and Rock and Roll is pretty significant in my books. That might suffice here. See also induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
People who have helped us understand or think about who we are - If you can't tell me that when you were at a party, or playing on a sport team, or with your favourite girl and Thunderstruck came on, or You shook Me All night Long, this didn't help you understand who you were? Cmon!!!!
People who have made a significant, lasting difference or impact - meaning that Australia or the world is a different place because of them - well as I've said before, the fifth best selling musical group in North American History, the best selling musical act in Australian history...that's a heap of albums sitting around to not constitute making a difference.
People who have captured the public imagination over a significant period of time - See above
People who have created, invented, inspired or contributed something of long term significance. - Please see Back in Black, Highway To Hell, For Those About to Rock (we salute you), High Voltage, Powerage....I could go on...
People who have achieved something. For most of our history, Australians have admired those who have rolled up their sleeves and done something . - There isn't a band out there that is more hard-working than AC/DC. They're known for giving it all every time they go out on stage. They're not pretentious, they just wanna play Rock and Roll.
Anyway....I'll continue this later...I've got to go to the driving range now.
Saturday Night
Highlights of Saturday night.
- Joined two different groups of friends at Fermented Grape Restaurant. One group included Kiersten and Friends...the other consisted of Rob Bartrop and friends. Quite refreshing to be among Aussie friends.
- Gleeso was also there...in body, not in mind. He appeared at the Fermented Grape quite seemingly out of nowhere. I once saw Gleeso grabbing random drinks off tables and proceeding to chug them down like there were his own. He was quite intoxicated.
- Also quite intoxicated by the time we all made it to the Broadbeach Tavern (aka The Liar's Bar), was Jess (Kristi's friend). I will from now on refer to her as the alcohol vacuum for her ability to make beer disappear. She liked to grab my beer and show her skills at skulling/chugging. I am certain that today she is mastering her skills at throwing up. Or as my tenth-grade history teacher, Mr Alexander, used to put it - "he's talking to chuck on the big white telephone."
- Robert's friend Gennifer was a pleasant addition to the evening. Up from Sydney for a visit, she was supposed to be in detox. By the end of the evening, clearly she was no longer adhering to this.
- The brother's Diot were a no show. Although David was asked for by name by one of the individuals that was out...the question is this...is the story over? or is there more...stay tuned.
- This has nothing to do with Saturday night, but must be seen
- I watched the March of the Penguins. A must see movie.
- Michael Moore's book Stupid White Men is still stupid.
Friday's Musings
- My buddy Keith Richards fell out of a tree. I specifically told him not to climb anymore trees, but did he listen - no! Now they're going to drill into his skull. Well, they're not really going to, but I think the doctor just wanted to see what would happen if he did.
- I see the Toronto Star isn't liking Prime Minister Harper's plan to curb gun crime by lengthening sentences. The Star says this will result in our provincial and federal jails "swelling". Wow, that's terrible! Criminals in jail instead of on the street!
- Coming soon to the blog, movie reviews. I watched The Oyster Farmer and Wolf Creek, both Australian films. Not too bad. Australian films for the most part are pretty good. The Castle is great. But nothing beats the best Canadian film of all time - Strange Brew.
- The name "Big David" is now dead according to Big David...but why Big David?
- Today I biked to the mall. I went from shop to shop looking to see who had the cheapest M and M peanuts. K-Mart was selling 250g bags for $2.48, a savings of 50 cents. I then went to the reject shop to buy some caramel corn - on sale for $1.75. The went to Coles and bought 2 litres of Orange Juice for $2.00 and Linguini for $0.89. great bargains. Orange juice doesn't come in concentrate frozen cans here anywhere. It only comes in plastic bottles.
- My back was sore at the mall, but it's slowly getting better.
- Burger King is called Hungry Jacks in Australia. McDonalds is called McDonalds.
Special Day
Today is my Dad's birthday. Posts will be limited to topics relating to my father. See here in a recent photo, this is my father's "cool" look. The sunglasses represent the rebel lurking inside. Actually, I believe this is a photo from a time that he took us up to the cottage in Marten River on his Harley. Then he made us whipper snip and mow. I really didn't understand that place. We'd rarely go up, and the times we did go we'd spend all day cutting the grass which had grown to about 4 feet high. In fact, if you look at the picture in the right hand corner, you can see the whipper snipper and the 4 mile long extension cord. We could never swim there either...too many leeches - or at least we saw one once...I think?
Doesn't my sister look great in the North Bay T-shirt? And my brother Steve in the speedos...boy did he love those. And how about that red shirt I was wearing - I think my parents put me in bright clothing as a young child because I was so reckless and just in case I ran into the street, I would be easily visible. Yet...it was funny that as I grew older, my parents often put me in gray?
Back to the point - It's my Dad's birthday. The last time I did something this public to celebrate his birthday was in my younger days when I decided to phone the radio station and get them to announce it in the morning...he was non too pleased. That was when I was 12 maybe?
Anyway, hope he doesn't get too mad this time.
Happy Birthday Dad.
This has to be posted again
I can't stop watching
Bobby Knight. Make sure to watch at least until the time he's in the sand trap for the second time.
On another note, and as requested, I will fill everyone in on the golf matches played between my partner Dave Lucenti against Marc and Mr Bob Lucenti (known cheat).
Due to a serious breach of etiquette by Marc and Bob, they have been disqualified from any wins as per rule 33-7 Royal and Ancient Golf Association of St Andrews.
Marc also breached rule 13-2 which states a player may not improve their lie by moving, bending a tree to create a stance. His failure to follow this rule resulted in a breach of rule
9-2(b)(i) giving wrong information about the score when an opponent is obviously proceeding under a Rule involving a penalty and this was observed by his opponent, and thus results in a loss of hole.
As well, Marc and Bob's repeated failure to give correct information about the number of strokes they had taken before the other team took their next stroke breached 9-2(b)(2) which also results in a loss of hole.
Further, Mr Lucenti breached rule 4-4(a) disallowing a player to borrow any club selected for play by any other person playing on the course unless it is his partner under 4-4(b). In this case Bob did this on the majority of holes played. THe penalty for this rule is a loss of a maximum of two holes per match.
In conclusion, Marc and Bob's serious breaches of rules caused them to lose every match played in. Therefore, victorious in Australia is the team of Dave and Gord. Congratulations to us.
Maybe next time our opponents will learn the rules.
Random Observations from www.gordprisco.blogspot.com
- Canadian Federal Budget came out today. Looks good. Based on 5 priorities set out by Prime Minister Harper in the last election. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who I worked with and used to know a bit from my days at Queen's Park, delivered the budget. If there's one guy that believes in tax cuts, it's Flaherty.
- I picked 6th overall in my baseball pool. I chose Johan Santana, pitcher from the Minnesota Twins. He's said to have the best "stuff" in baseball. After a few not so great starts he's heating up. He is currently mowing down the Seattle Mariners nicely. And to think I almost traded him.
- John Daly plays $5,000 slot machines. In Australia, I once played the 2 cent slot machines. But I ended up winning the $640 jackpot. That's all I have to say about that.
- Glad to see the Conservatives gaining ground in Quebec. They now lead the separatist Bloc Quebecois.
- Rudolph Giuliani is considering a run at the White House. John McCain is also considering a run. Either of these individuals would make a great President.
- I put my back out so bad yesterday that I couldn't move. Yet, I battle through a round of golf that saw me birdie the first hole and par the last. I have never had worse spasms in my entire life. To all you kids out there, you can learn something from this...but I'm really not sure what it is.
- The pain in my back is subsiding, but I still can't move much. I guess that's why I am lying on the couch writing a meaningless post to my blog. I really have nothing else to do.
- I am very angry that the Blue Jays lost today. In my estimation, their pitching has to improve if they're going to contend. Somebody other than Chacin and Halladay have to step up.
- Even though I called before the season that I thought Kobe Bryant would be the MVP of the NBA this season, Steve Nash should get the award again - that is also I have to say about this.
So long Ben
How about College Basketball Coach
Bobby Knight teaching us all to play golf. I felt this was a fitting way to send off Mr Bob "Ben Crenshaw" Lucenti From Australia.
Oops, the link didn't work the first time. Thanks to Hodge for pointing this out.
