General

Because every post deserves a category these posts could be about anything and everything.

  • Please Don’t End Me

    Today, I was Googling myself to see what others were writing about me and one of the first things I read was the following tweet.

    Edit: Updated Link: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/human_rights-droits_homme/child_marriage-mariages_enfants.aspx?lang=eng

    When I first read it I was a little afraid that my country had enough of me and were all out to get me. Then I read a little more on the issue. It was really shocking to me to learn that my initials are also the acronym for Child, Early and Forced Marriage. According to the Government of Canada the following stats are true:

    • Every year, it is estimated that 15 million girls—some as young as five years old—are forced into marriage.
    • Over 700 million women alive today were married as children.
    • One in every three girls in the developing world is married by the age of 18. One in nine marries before the age of 15.
    • Complications in childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in the developing world.

    I really agree with the 10,000 tweets on the issue that this is something that everyone should know about and work towards putting an immediate end to. If you want to read more on the issue there are good links on the bottom of the government’s webpage on the issue

  • Hamlet: The Notes

    Last night I went to see this show from Saint John Theatre Company’s Canadian Series at the BMO Theatre.

    It was honestly an hour and half of almost non-stop laughs with well fitting serious moments. I really enjoyed how this is not the typical show that you go to see, but interactive with the audience and slightly fluid.

    There is another performance tonight that you just have to see. You don’t even need to know the Hamlet story to enjoy it, although if you do it is equally enjoyable.

    https://www.facebook.com/events/497438537089005/

  • S’more Oreo Cookies

    Today I went to Wal-Mart to buy some clothes and decided to reward myself with a pack of cookies. I had 4 of them and then I must have blacked out because the next time I went to look at the bag there was only 2 of twenty left.

    That made me sad.

    So I ate the last two.

  • John Frees (1951-2014)

    It is with sadness the family announces the passing of John Percy Herman Frees, loving husband to the late Barbara (Blount) Frees, which occurred on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born 1951 in Dalhousie, he was the son of the late Robert and Emma (Donahue) Frees. John had a wonderful sense of humour and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his precious granddaughter Lexxis. He is survived by his sons Paul Frees, Ryan Frees (Crystal Wright) and Charles Frees-Melvin; daughter Rosa Frees-Melvin; granddaughter Lexxis Wright; brothers Jerry Frees, Elwood Frees, Max Frees, Bobby Frees, Bruce Frees, Perry Frees; sisters Isabelle Hobbs, Tina MacDonald, Holly Saunders, Sally Frees, Judy Dundon, Jill Blount, Kim Frees; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Wilbur Frees, Carl Frees and Aubrey Frees.

    Following cremation, visitation will be held at Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424) on Saturday, December 20, 2014, from 3-7 p.m. By request, there will be no funeral service.

    Charitable donations may be made in John’s memory to the following organizations:

    • Canadian Diabetes Association (NB) 
    • The Joshua Group 
  • Fundy Fringe Festival Memory

    Fundy Fringe Festival Memory

    FFF Sign at SJAC

    This year I had the privilege of volunteering at the Fundy Fringe Festival for mine and its second year.

    I only managed to see 9 of the 15 performances but was very impressed with the variety and quality of the performances.

    The experience was incredible not only to meet the other performers and volunteer but the general community that supported the artists.

    On the last day of the festival, there was one experience that really stood out. I went to the Queen’s Square Market to get my Sunday morning croissant with chocolate gnash from Le Boulangerie Français prior to my final shift. There was this elderly woman sitting by herself on the bench and asked me what I thought of different shows.

    It turned out that this woman was visiting the city specifically for the festival and has lived in Vancouver before no living outside Toronto. She was not a big fan of the comedy shows and was looking for something darker.  After suggesting William Ellis’ Dirty Work she said that was exactly the type of show she was looking for. We then continued to chat for a good 20 minutes about her travels and the various theatre she has seen over her years which was an impressive amount.

  • The End of “here”

    I have seen that the weekly local newspaper here magazine is now no more. Here is my little story of that zine.

    We go back to March of 2004 the one and only time that I had visited the office of here. I went up all the stairs in the Miller Britain building on Princess Street. I do not recall who I met in the office at the time, but this was the first place that I dropped off my press release to in person after I had filed my papers in my run for Mayor. The guy asked me a few questions, then I left.

    A few days after I received a call from one of the reporters. The were going to do a cover story on young candidates in that election for which there was eleven of us. They wanted to have a group picture and we arranged to all meet-up in front of Photography Flewwelling and taken by Tim Pfinder on a ladder. I remember the day was overcast and there was a very cold April wind.

    So that is my story/memory of how I ended up on the cover of Here Magazine. Of the group Jay Young-Chang was the only one to get elected that time, and Donnie Snook was also in that photo sou would get elected in the following election.

  • A Cheezy Post

    A Cheezy Post

    Today I went to the local grocery store and wanted to try a new cheese. I decided on the Mango Ginger flavoured White Stilton cheese. I only got a small block because you never know with unknown cheeses if you will like them. I brought it home and unwrapped the plastic wrapping and placed it on my tongue and let it set.

    OMG! The flavour was incredible! It was not to strong or mild and had the nice mango and ginger flavour, and crumbled in my mouth since it has a low moisture.

    It was so good that I had a flavour blackout an when I came too again the whole block was gone. It gets a 4.5/5 from me.

  • The Divorce Movie Review

    Last night I attended the premier test screening of the locally produced full length film The Divorce. It stars many people who I have come to know over the past few years. Before I continue, we should pause for a moment to see the below trailer.

    I went into it with the expectation of some of the other local films. It did start slow, but the story was funny, sad, suspenseful, and touching at the same time. Although this movie has aspects of other movies, what it does not have is shallow characters. Though the ingenious storytelling by Rob Parsons and the great acting there is not a character that this movie does not have you rooting for. The story also progresses nicely and leaves you not looking at your watch very much. (I only checked mine once, and it was at 8:46pm).

    This movie, considering that I see about 100 movies in theatres per year, is right there alongside “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” as my top 200 movies. 4.5/5 stars!

  • Something is wrong with me just finished the book in 3 days. #notareader

    Something is wrong with me just finished the book in 3 days. #notareader

    Something is wrong with me just finished the book in 3 days. #notareader
    Something is wrong with me just finished the book in 3 days. #notareader

  • Parkway Mall (Review)

    During the golden era of malls this was one of the finest in Saint John. Now it hosts very few places for shopping. A collage and call centre take up most of the building but there are still a few stores and restaurants.

    212 McAllister Drive
    Saint John, NB E2J 2S5

    This Review was originally posted on Yelp, in 2019 I deleted my Yelp account and moved the reviews here.

  • 2014 Academy Award Predictions

    Best Picture (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: 12 Years a Slave

    Best Actor in a Leading Role (Miss)
    Prediction: Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
    Winner: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

    Best Actress in a Leading Role (Miss)
    Prediction: Judi Dench (Philomena)
    Winner: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

    Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Miss)
    Prediction: Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
    Winner: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

    Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Miss)
    Prediction: Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
    Winner: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)

    Best Animated Feature (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: Frozen (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho)

    Best Cinematography (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: Gravity (Emmanuel Lubezki)

    Best Costume Design (Miss)
    Prediction: 12 Years a Slave (Patricia Norris)
    Winner: The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin)

    Best Directing (Miss)
    Prediction: The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)
    Winner: Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón)

    Best Documentary Feature (Miss)
    Prediction: The Square (Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer)
    Winner: 20 Feet from Stardom (Nominees to be determined)

    Best Documentary Short (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life (Malcolm Clarke, Nicholas Reed)

    Best Film Editing (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger)

    Best Foreign Language Film (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: The Great Beauty (Italy)

    Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: Dallas Buyers Club (Adruitha Lee, Robin Mathews)

    Best Original Score (Miss)
    Prediction: The Book Thief (John Williams)
    Winner: Gravity (Steven Price)

    Best Original Song (Miss)
    Prediction: The Moon Song – Her
    Winner: Let It Go – Frozen

    Best Production Design (Miss)
    Prediction: 12 Years a Slave (Adam Stockhausen, Alice Baker)
    Winner: The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn)

    Best Animated Short Film (Miss)
    Prediction: Get a Horse! (Lauren MacMullan, Dorothy McKim)
    Winner: Mr. Hublot (Laurent Witz, Alexandre Espigares)

    Best Live Action Short Film (Predicted)
    Prediction and Winner: Helium (Anders Walter, Kim Magnusson)

    Best Sound Editing (Miss)
    Prediction: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Brent Burge, Chris Ward)
    Winner: Gravity (Glenn Freemantle)

    Best Sound Mixing (Miss)
    Prediction: Captain Phillips (Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith, Chris Munro)
    Winner: Gravity (Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, Chris Munro)

    Best Visual Effects (Miss)
    Prediction: Star Trek Into Darkness (Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann, Burt Dalton)
    Winner: Gravity (Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk, Neil Corbould)

    Best Adapted Screenplay (Miss)
    Prediction: Philomena (Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope)
    Winner: 12 Years a Slave (John Ridley)

    Best Original Screenplay (Miss)
    Prediction: Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen)
    Winner: Her (Spike Jonze)

  • More Christmas Foods that Need to Die

    After my last article I decided to review a few more items to see it there was something that could top the last two atrocities. Guess what! I found them.

    First on the list is Soy Wonderful Noël Nog. This was thicker than the Almond version but had a very bad after taste. In addition after only a week it congealed into a tick lumpy mass of disappointment. Much similar to the beverage version of lumps of coal in the stocking.

    The second item was the Gingerbread Man Peeps. These little gems were not only disappointing but the taste like regular Peeps with only a small hint of Gingerbread.

    Though I did find a few positive items this time. The first is a local gem Mrs. Dunster’s Candy Cane coated donut bites. These like many other Mrs. Dunster’s products was simply to die for.

    The next item that is amazing is from Starbucks. The Cranberry Bliss Bar is an amazing choice to compliment any coffee but the Gingerbread Latte is the best compliment to it.

    From Tim Horton’s the biggest disappointment is the Gingerbread Muffin it almost makes you gag from the over strong spice that burns your mouth as you try to eat it.

  • The Two Festive Items So Wrong It Could Ruin Christmas.

    The Two Festive Items So Wrong It Could Ruin Christmas.

    image

    Why yes folks now that Hallowe’en is over and Remembrance Day is soon to be forgotten, it is now the season that is supposed to bring the sparkle in every little child’s eye. Like most good things that are once good and holy bring out the worst in those that try to modernize and monetize classics.

    In this post I am going to focus on food items that are not only symbolic to the festive season, but flavours that you would not think could go wrong. Let’s start with the first item egg nog. This is my favourite holiday drink and each year the shelves are filled with thick, over sweetened, dairy goodness. That has its own still enjoyable light alternative. Warmed with rum and nutmeg makes a nice snack on the early winter night. If you think that they could not ruin that you would be very very wrong.

    This is where Earth’s Own comes to town with their Almond Fresh Nöel Nog. This festive joy comes in at 100 calories per 250mL serving. That assumes that you can actually stomach this. This tastes like almond milk with the hint of sweetness and nog  spices but is thin and there is not even a think of some type of egg substitute. For this the makers all deserve a lump of coal in their stockings.

    Then comes the next item. What one item is unmistakably the cookie of Christmas? It would be the Gingerbread Man or any other gingerbread cookie item or piece of house, etc. How could anyone ruin this you say? While let’s leave that feat to Nabisco and their gingerbread flavour Oreo cookies. This could have been good but the gingerbread filling was overpowered by the vanilla cookies leaving only a wee pit of festive flavour left. This could have been so much better with a gingerbread cookie and white mint filling. Therefore Nabisco a lump of coal goes to your stocking too.

    Leave a comment, what do you think is the worst commercialization of a food/drink for the holidays this season?

  • Alcohol and Chocolate Free September

    Hello everyone!

    Just a quick post today and the first of many more. I have seemed to get out of my slump from the past two years and have been trying new things.

    On the fitness side of things the summer has been very non-structured and I have been eating in moderation a little bit of everything,

    My goal for September is going to be no alcohol or chocolate.

    The first is going to be difficult as I have a German beer stein that I have been wanting to christen on the first day of Oktoberfest on September 21st but I will delay it as Oktoberfest is still going on in Munich until October 6th.

  • PPP Water

    I went to a public town hall tonight that was very interesting. It very well compared the argument for not going down a public private partnership. Though it was very lacking in facts of how a 3P could be beneficial to the community to make an informed discussion.

    My point of the argument is this. Why is Saint John water in the upper quartile range of Canadian Households. Added to the argument the property taxes are in the upper range as well though that can be explained in some fashion by the lower than average property values. The cost of water cannot.

    Saint John needs solutions. To dismiss an idea without a solution is long past the point of helpful.

    Here are some useful facts:
    1. The pipes are too big and designed for the city Saint John hoped to be.
    2. Our water quality though not terrible is not the standard it should be.
    3. The city is stuck with agreements that do not really expire and are almost impossible to renegotiate.
    4. Most of the expenditures of this city are fixed and beyond even councils control.

    The only solution I have would be to have the province dissolve the 228 year old Corporation of the City of Saint John and nullify any contract and start over with a new municipality.

  • Academy Awards 2013 Predictions

    Here are my 2013 predictions. The pool I have this year gives 1 point for 2nd guess and 2 points for 1st guess. The person with the most points wins. These are not based on who i like best but who i think did the best job in the film they were nominated for.

    BEST PICTURE
    1. Lincoln
    2. Les Misérables
    Missed: Argo

    Actor in a Leading Role
    1. Denzel Washington – Flight
    2. Hugh Jackman – Les Misérables
    Missed: Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln

    Actor in a Supporting Role
    1. Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained
    2. Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln

    Actress in a Leading Role
    1. Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
    2. Emmanuelle Riva – Amour

    Actress in a Supporting Role
    1. Jacki Weaver – Silver Linings Playbook
    2. Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables

    Animated Feature Film
    1. Brave
    2. Wreck-It Ralph

    CINEMATOGRAPHY
    1. Life of Pi
    2. Skyfall

    COSTUME DESIGN
    1. Snow White and the Huntsman
    2. Mirror Mirror
    Miss: Anna Karenina

    DIRECTING
    1. Silver Linings Playbook
    2. Lincoln
    Missed: Life of Pi

    Documentary Feature
    1. The Invisible War
    2. 5 Broken Cameras
    Missed: Searching for Sugar Man

    Documentary Short Subject
    1. Inocente
    2. Mondays at Racine

    Film Editing
    1. Lincoln
    2. Silver Linings Playbook
    Missed: Argo

    Foreign Language Film
    1. Amour – Austria
    2. A Royal Affair – Denmark

    Makeup and Hairstyling
    1. Hitchcock
    2. Les Misérables

    Music (Original Score)
    1. Lincoln – John Williams
    2. Life of Pi – Mychael Dansa

    Music (Original Song)
    1. Everybody Needs A Best Friend – Ted
    2. Suddenly – Les Misérables
    Missed: SkyFall – SkyFall

    Production Design
    1. Les Misérables
    2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    Missed: Lincoln

    Short Film (Animated)
    1. Fresh Guacamole
    2. Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare”
    Missed: Paperman

    Short Film (Live Action)
    1. Curfew
    2. Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)

    Sound Editing
    1. Argo
    2. Life of Pi
    Missed: Zero Dark Thirty and SkyFall

    Sound Mixing
    1. Les Misérables
    2. Lincoln

    VISUAL EFFECTS
    1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    2. Snow White and the Huntsman
    Missed: Life of Pi

    Adapted Screenplay
    1. Beasts of the Southern Wild
    2. Silver Linings Playbook
    Missed: Argo

    Original Screenplay
    1. Moonrise Kingdom
    2. Flight
    Missed: Django Unchained

    1st Pick Count: 8/24 – 2nd Pick Count: 3/24 – Miss Count: 13/24 – Points Count: 19/48

  • A Warm Fire

    A Warm Fire

    A Piece of Firewood
    A Piece of Firewood

    The inspiration of this post comes from this block of wood. Since it is so cold outside today i decided to light my wood stove. However this block would not fit in the door. I tried to split it with an hatchet. No Luck. Then I tried with a bigger axe. No Luck. I spent about 20 minutes trying to chip a bit off so it would fit. Keep in mind this it maple which is really hard. In the end I gave up. Though I am going to say in this case I was not defeated, I just decided that this is just going to be a better bonfire piece of wood for summer. Marshmallows anyone?

  • Google Translate Songs

    I found this video on YouTube today it is a parody of “Call Me Maybe” with bad but not terrible lyrics. Then from there, I found a Fresh Prince version that went through all 64 Google Translate options, and back to English. I then thought about what would it look like if Farewell to Nova Scotia lyrics were translated to all 64 languages and this was the result.

    Chorus:
    Vita Nova Beach.
    A bronze tart Residues.
    Be careful, because the salt.
    Or hate it?

    evening prayer
    Sufficient trees and birds.
    but the
    But I do not do it for more information.

    Chorus

    There is no need for me to go abroad.
    This was intention to friend.
    appropriate
    Children / workout.

    Chorus

    Note that the drums.
    Lord of the universe.
    If Scotland can Hey, Michael.
    to

    Chorus

    she
    Interior dimensions.
    However I know.
    Black holes and valleys from other women.

    Chorus x2

    As you can see it is quite humorous. Now I can’t perform well enough to make my own video, but if someone does let me know and I’ll link to it.

  • GlymmMan Box December 2012

    GlymmMan Box December 2012

    GlymmMan December 2012My December GlymmMan box arrived on Christmas Eve. There was not as much in it as there were in past months. There were 6 items, the 7th item was replaced with a $20 gift card. The missing item as Joico Ice Spike which I would probably not have used anyway.

    Most of the items were from a brand êshave a 15g bottle of pre-shave oil, a 30g container of shaving cream, and a 30g container of after shave cream. Then from Lys Parisien Professionnel, there was a 60ml bottle of moisturizing shampoo and, balm (Argan Oil conditioner). Then there was 2 2ml O2 Anti-ageing treatment.

    In my last post on the issue, I had promised to give feedback on the items in the box. The Atelier Cologne was really good and I still have some left. The Vitamine & Sea Mineral Clay Mask smelled truly terrible I never finished that. The Bentaberry G-1 moisturizing Face cream made my skin feel much better. The Evolvh UltraShine Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner was some of the best I have ever used. The John Allan’s Slick Water made shaving better. The La Fresh Body Soother stung very badly when it got in my eyes in the rain. Finally the Vasanti BrightenUP! was good but was very rough and made my skin red.

  • Happy Holidays!

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