2014-10-03

Crushed

Candy Crush Saga
The makers of the ubiquitous Candy Crush Saga have been under a fire-storm of late.

Earlier this week King offered a 48hr window with which to purchase an block of time with unlimited lives, so to speak.
Shortly thereafter the connection required to make a purchase (in this case, the Play Store) has been unavailable.

Oh the site is there, it is Google's Play Store, after all.

No, there's been an issue within the game itself.

Thousands (millions?) are posting on both the games Play Store page, and Kings forums about having had their game progress 'erased.'

Now, as a relative newcomer to the game (am only on level 50) and having not invested any of my money on the game... ok, so the game is dead, no big deal. I can't get past level 50 without getting a ride, and I cannot do so as the game will not connect to Play Store.

However, I can certainly 'sympathize' with those who are a level in the 3, 4, 5, or 6 HUNDREDS and lose all progress.

Not good timing given Kings IPO offering.

We shall see what comes of this, until then... Candy Crush Saga is retired.

UPDATE: As of this Friday past, all is right in the world of Candy again.

2014-09-25

Up North Part II

The French River
With a lifelong friend over the past few days up in Noelville, On.

The Hylands are a good bunch of people who willingly choose to have in their home someone who goes out of their way to sabotage their day.

Me.

:l

I give you a slideshow of our goings on, and of the beautiful French and Pickerel Rivers.

Noelville 2014

2014-09-19

Facebook not... Wastebook not

The ubiquitous Facebook logo
What is left to be said of Facebook.

Either through a browser or an app on your phone/tablet/phablet... hundreds of millions spend hours a week on it.

Some spends hours each day (I'LL CRUSH YOUR BLOODY CANDY!!!)

:l

Heck, from April 2007 and on, I usually checked out Facebook on a daily basis.

Let's Face it, Facebook has, in a very short period of time... become ingrained in... created really, a world-wide culture. With simple terms such as Poke me, and Like... (though many feels as I do that Facebook needs a Dislike button), have become everyday terms for, well... over a billion people.

'Gimme a call' has been replaced by "Facebook me".

In one way or another, we're 'all' on Facebook.

And Like any tech or code... it grows, it changes, morphs.
Facebook has certainly seen it's share of change, and not all of it seen as positive by its users.
Poor app launch, ClickBaiting, EdgeRank, PageRank, constant altering of one's Home Page/Timeline, Events, Notes, Places, Lists, malware, porn, Games, Games and more Games.

For a while now Page Managers have been voicing their concerns about Page Views dropping like a stone. Read More...

2014-09-17

Upper and lower case.

I noticed the 'other day'... Loblaws (notice the s) had on sale their Signature Presidents Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie (See image on the right... for a taste) for $2.99.

So of course I grabbed a bag.

For me, keeping chocolate, ice cream... or chocolate ice cream (my Signature being Haagen Dazs... any flavour really, but Haagen Dazs) around my place isn't the wisest of things. Not that I'd go loco on it (well... I might), just that I've found it better/healthier to go out and buy something if I want to satisfy that 'craving."
It's worked out well.

At any rate... I, uh... opened the bag 'as soon' as I got in, and immediately was taken aback!

Something was clearly amiss.

The Presidents Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie was now (for a man the size of me), shrunk... to bite-size proportions.

The Presidents Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie was now a decadent only in name.
It was now a lower case cookie.
A decadent... chocolate chip cookie, but a small one now.

This imposter was in its stead.

Pythons famous Dead Parrot sketch


It has expired and gone to see it's maker!

This... is an ex-cookie!




First Timmy's and now this!

Our Canadian institutions are under attack by mediocrity!

We've lost our cookie... and are about to lose our coffee.

As a native Torontonian I am accustomed (somewhat) to this. I mean no one has seen our hockey team in years.

Peace... For me that's a damn shame.

2014-09-02

What was that again?

Having been physically active over my days (more than what is generally considered 'average'), I am intimately aware of the pain and training discomfort.

I'd certainly done stretching and ab-work over a period of decades.

In what became my daily (well... for the most part daily... k!) regiment, I had been using a coupla (defined as two, or three) yoga poses for years now.

Both focused on my lower back.

My first yoga mat!
It just so happens that I'd been looking into a beginners class with the idea of learning something new that I could incorporate/borrow for my dailies.

It also happened to be the day after I'd had a bbq with Ali and Stirling (henceforth known as u2... or in this case, A&S), and Ali just happened to have a yoga mat that she was in the process of throwing out.

I know right?

I brought it home and decided to become familiar with this strange thing.
Read More...

2014-08-17

Floyd on the beach

Clapton with Waters
Out for a walk today and Floyd comes up on the playlist.
It's sorted by 'old' Floyd and 'new' Floyd (mostly albums in their entirety.)

Listening to the 'new' stuff again brought back some memories.

Having seen Roger Waters before seeing Pink Floyd was a treat really, as sitting in for David Gilmour was non other than Slowhand himself... Eric Clapton.

He certainly brought new blood to the music.

Gotta say I enjoyed the show.

Floyd at the Grandstand
3yrs later I was fortunate enough to see Floyd at the full CNE Grandstand.

Now that was a spectacle!

And, being that it was Floyd that I was going to see, I went fully 'prepared.'

*cough*

I can't recall everyone who was there, but I know that Larry and Bryan were.

They too, were fully prepared.

:l

Like I said... it was Pink Floyd we were going to see.

Now, just check out their set list.

I leave off now with a treat... a cut from the actual show.

Enjoy!



Pink Floyd performing One of These Days at the CNE Grandstand, 23 September 1987

French toast... nonnom

A few months ago I switched from white to whole wheat bread.
Er... it's an age thing.

:l

At any rate... this morning I made french toast. It had been a while and I was curious how the whole wheat would taste. Was I ever surprised! It was simply delicious! When you consider the cinnamon I add, well, that's whole (no pun) new ball game.

Whole wheat and cinnamon... nonmnom.

2014-08-14

'nuff said.

2014-08-12

Ya... but

Robin Williams
July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014

Actor/Comedian Robin Williams took his own life yesterday.

He was but 63 years of age.

He won Emmys, Grammys and an Academy Award.

He had family, children and friends.

He also had money.

Some would say he seemingly had it 'all.'

They would be wrong.

It's been said (and ego aside - and, it IS aside), but, the more intelligent one is the less happy one is. Further... the more alone you are. Read up on it here and here.

It's sad but the vast majority of people are ignorant about mental health issues. Scary given recent 'studies' have shown that a staggering 1in4 people suffer from a mental illness.

A blog posting published today at the guardian is both insightful and disturbing.

It comes out hitting in saying "...to say taking your own life because of such an illness is a ‘selfish’ act does nothing but insult the deceased, potentially cause more harm and reveal a staggering ignorance of mental health problems."

Indeed. Read More...

2014-08-06

4:03am...

Gene Wilder Wisdom
After deciding that I was no longer going to waste my time attempting to fall asleep and pull my ass out of bed... I took a 3-block hike on Queen to the local 24/7 Convenience Store. Sam's maybe? At any rate... a walk along Queen at 04:00 always leads to some new observation. Characters abound Queen and Roncy at this hour.

I greeted each with a hearty "'morning."

And in return I got a strong "Good Morning" (on the way to the store) and a slurred Top o' the day to ya (on the way back.)

As on my way ba-ack... I saw, there in the distance... the Golden Arch's of Mickey Dee's.

How could I not? Even after having breakfaster/dinner the call of the Sausage McMuffin (no egg) (x2) and hash-browns (x2) with a medium 2x milk / 3x sugar, stirred please... was one I could not ignore. Read More...

2014-08-04

My dear friends...

And I say dear friends in all sincerity.

Sadly though... neither measure up to my original. Found on the shore of Lake Ontario in 1985 while at CFB Kingston, it was a thing of beauty..

I know I have a pic of it somewhere... it's just a matter of time that I come across it (right Ali?)
Sanded and shined over... it was with me every move from the age of 22... my marriage/divorce... raising Brad and Ali... camping, you name it, it was with me.

Unfortunately... it is no longer with me.

Oh it's somewhere out there, a find piece of wood is a rare thing to hold.

With that said... the larger 'staff' on the left (measuring no less than 6'6") was with me on my trip out East. Yup... from Trenton, ON to Pubnico, NS... every step of the way.
Hitch-hiking from Ontario out East, me and my tats, the hair... and this 6'6" piece of wood was something to see. I wondered whether I would actually get picked up (turns out... wasn't an issue.)

:l
When I left for Alberta, I left it in the care of Brad.
Take care of it my Son.
*sniff*

:l

The smaller one on the right (measuring a 'mere' 70") was found, again on the shores of Lake Ontario, post Caribana Parade.

It has yet to receive any TLC... but it will.

Because as I said... a fine piece of wood is a rare thing to hold.

Seen around...

Though not licensed internationally, the Tall Ship Kajama can be seen around Lake Ontario.
Kajama

Smoking... (Part 364)

The Evil Tobacco
For a change... I bought coffee instead of tea.

Instant coffee mind you... but coffee nonetheless.

As a life long drinker of Red Rose Orange Pekoe, for me buying coffee was not an easy decision.
Tea needs to be in a porcelain or glass mug, and not a styrofoam or paper cup. This won't happen when you're out of the house. So I have coffee... Mickey Dee's over Timmy's... Timothy's over Mickey Dee's. Fortunately... all three are within walking distance of home.

Sooo... I'm sitting here, having finished a bagel (with sliced cheese), having my coffee, and smoking what is my one of my last cigarettes.
My 'plan' is to take to The Boardwalk this afternoon, burn this 1/2 d00b, and enjoy what I want to be my LAST cigarette.

Should the rain hold off, of course.

Having spent nearly a year in the wilds of Northern Alberta I can say that I was absolutely looking forward to a Toronto summer.

Hasn't happened yet.
One can 'hope', right?

Since the age of 13, smoking has always held a challenge for me. See, I differentiate between the act of smoking and 'smoking' itself. I can enjoy a cigarette, but I do not like smoking. Read More...

2014-07-30

A new little Donovan is on the way...

Now that I am 'allowed' to post this, here it is.
I am so proud to announce that my 'little angel' Alicia and her man Stirling are having a baby!!!

OMG!!!
That would make me... a GRANDFATHER!
OMG!!!
:)

Ali is now 8wks pregnant.
Both soon-to-be parents are ecstatic and are doing well.

Expected date is 11 March 2015... a mere 8 days before Ali's birthday!

Congrats to both!

Love Dad xx


Ali and Stirling

2014-07-26

Well, well, well...

Yes, it's been a while.

With the arrival of spring, I found myself in my new home. But a two minute walk from Sunnyside Beach/Boardwalk... and I've been taking advantage of that on a daily basis.

Sunnyside looking West
Sunnyside looking East
Though the pain is still there each minute of every day... there is 'hope' (there's that word) on the horizon. I've been seeing a doc at a local pain clinic... it's simply a matter of getting the right mix of pain meds. That'll get me through the first few months of exercise, and I can start putting my body back together again.

Stretch... stretch and more stretching!!!

I also have some incredible family news, but... cannot 'share' it as yet.

Stay tuned!

I'll leave you with a little ditty I know...



Enjoy the rest of summer.

2014-04-14

It's that time of year again...

The Stanley Cup
In 2 days time, on April 16, the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.

It is the only time of year where I find myself 'glued' to the 'tube.

The time of year when hopes and dreams unite, and where crushing defeats mean you switch to golf (that right Leafs?)

Yes, for the 8th time in 9 years my beloved Maple Leafs will be golfing instead of playing for The Cup. They have yet to make the playoffs after a full 82 game schedule (since the '05 lockout (the only team, by the way.)

They are among a group of 6 Canadian franchises that did not make the playoffs.

They are the only Original Six team to not have made the grade.

Oh woe is me...

Where are Wendel and Dougie when you need them? Read More...

2014-04-13

The end of an era...

I awoke this morning to news that The Owl's Nest had burned to the ground.

Apparently overnight, and it is suspected that faulty wiring is the cause.

***Please see below for an update***

July 15, 2011
The loss to the community of Pubnico cannot be quantified. I myself had the 'pleasure' of visiting... uh... on a number of occasions. My first night in Nova Scotia was my introduction to what is known as Richard Owl's. I was introduced to and embraced Hold 'Em. It was my first real bootleggers. It was where I made some life-long friends.

It is a place that I will visit again (not simply because my son is a commercial fisherman there, and has a family of his own now), but because it is a place where I felt like it was home. I was adopted as an infant, my origins are Acadian, and my 2yr stay in 2011-2013 was my first real exposure to the French culture. (I don't/won't include my Army experience in Cornwallis... for obvious reasons.)
Read More...

2014-04-12

Have we gone too far... or not far enough?

Stand Alone.
In today's National Post, Rex Murphy writes an op-ed piece on how universities are failing our young, failing society really.

He goes on to suggest that universities have set up intellectual quarantines lest the immature and frightened be made uncomfortable or to feel unwelcome.

He questions whether universities are in fact schools or daycares.

And finishes off his paragraph with Giving into such adolescent whimpering is despicable; giving in to in on a university campus is unforgivable.

I find it hard to disagree with him.

The comments on the Post's Facebook page have fallen into name calling and accusations of Big Oil influencing Murphy.

I kid thee not.

Have we, as a people, really forgotten what it means to educate? What it means to disagree? Have we lost all respect for those simply because someone may have a different opinion that us?

How about this... are we now falling over backwards to avoid disagreement?
Read More...

2014-04-05

Bacon at the AGO

Yesterday was the members preview at the AGO for the BaconMoore exhibit.

It also happened to be the day that Ali and I decided to go to the AGO.

Yes indeed, the day we go to the AGO is the day that bacon is prevalent. How fitting is that?

"Although they were neither friends nor collaborators, painter Francis Bacon (1909-1992) and sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986) were contemporaries who shared an obsession with expressing themes of suffering, struggle and survival in relation to the human body. Both artists survived the Second World War and were subsequently haunted by the conflict, which they represented through manifestations of the body in various states of contortion. Drawing on the artists’ own personal experiences during the London Blitz, the exhibition examines how confinement and angst fostered their extraordinary creativity and unique visions." Read More...

2014-03-31

c'est fini!

Well... almost.

I think a single drop of blood coming off the 'k' or 'n' in Darkness would finish it quite nicely.

Just under 7hrs to complete, including prep-time.

Thanks to Lisa at Adrenaline Tattoo, Queen and University.

2014-03-25

Next up...

Just designed in photoshop... upper back I think.

2014-03-13

mmm... bacon.

Anyone know what this is?

Or what it represents?

Clearly it is a plate... a clean plate at that.

But what was on it is the topic of this post.

What was on it was 6 strips of bacon, 3 eggs sunny side up, and 2 pieces of toast with butter.

Why post a picture of a clean plate then...

Well it's really not about the plate, is it? Read More...