Hot Wheels Article In Calgary Herald

Thanks to mikeH at Hit the Post for this link.

A little article on Hot Wheels in the Calgary Herald. It focuses mainly on the Colour Shifters line. Hot Wheels = flames...Calgary = Flames.

To answer mikeH, I worked on three of the Colour Shifters. I forgot their names, but it is the dinosaur, wasp, and dog. I just modeled them, they were designed by others. Also, I worked on about 75% of the 2010 Basic Car Line, including the one pictured in the article. There are two cars that I 'designed' (as well as modeled) in the 2010 line, the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 and, of course, the 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.

Douche Bags With Douche Tags

Back in January of 2008, I wrote an entry about bluetooth headsets. Today, I found this:

Recoil - Selected

I ordered this a few months ago, I guess in March. I received it about 2-3 weeks ago. Guess what, it is still in the box, in the shrink wrap. Good thing I found some pictures of it here. Otherwise, I may never know what it looks like. Packaging was designed by Un.titled.

“Un.titled were approached by Alan Wilder in the Spring of 2009, tasked with designing a record sleeve for his latest LP ‘Selected’ a 25 year retrospective of his Recoil project. The initial brief was to design artwork for a standard single CD jewelcase and special edition two CD set, incorporating elements from his existing artwork but giving the album an identity all of its own. A year on and we had not only designed two CD editions but two special edition boxsets, an iPhone App, European tour posters and photography of his live set in Berlin.

We always intended the project to have a raw, grimy edge offset with a clean typographic language. To achieve this we conducted a number of photographic experiments bringing together projected imagery, physical typography and found objects. The imagery represents each track featured on the album, with elements that would be identifiable to avid Recoil fans and abstract enough to ensure that Selected was an entirely new entity. The dark and textural imagery we created became the perfect accompaniment to the brooding, occasionally unsettling nature of his music.

“It was satisfying to find people who knew Recoil well and who were not only flexible and confident enough to incorporate the visual ideas from all the existing albums, but also skillful enough from that to create something new, fresh and recognisable at the same time. Not an easy brief. The designers at un.titled managed to do just that. Their team worked tirelessly and yet sympathetically until all parties were happy.” Alan Wilder – Recoil”

I also still have the Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe Box Set sealed. Actually, I have not even removed it from the shipping box...which is inside an unopened shipping bag. Yeah, I said bag.

Looks kinda the same, but from different designers. Maybe someday, I will open them.

My "Highlight Reel" Goal - Part III

Well, not goal...but three goals and an assist. HAT TRICK and an assist! Yeah, four points...in a 6-4 loss. Girlvaughn told me I needed to score more goals.

The first of four points was an assist in the first period. I got a shot on goal, luckily someone got the rebound. That goalie was huge, hard to get around.

First goal was a semi-breakaway down the left wing, first period. Faked the forehand, went around the goalie and lifted the backhand just under the cross bar. Second goal was on the power play in the second period. I was dancing around the net, near the goal line Saw the puck drop in front of me and shot it backhand at the goal. The puck deflected of goaltender's arm and tricked in.

Between all this the other team scored a few goals. I had a couple of good shots...on the goaltender, one hit him in the face. I think I had two other breakaways. On one, I tried the Forsberg move, but lost the puck.



Third goal came in the third period. A goal a period, not bad. We were already down 6-3, with a few minutes left. I was standing in the slot, puck came to me and without looking, I took the shot. Saw the puck just make it under the goalie's arm. In the end, we lost the game.

There you go. Statistically (is that a word?), the best game I have played. Hat trick, baby! It is all down hill from here.

Theoren Fleury...The Play

Thanks to mikeH at hit the post for this info.

Apparently, there is a play in the works about the life of Theoren Fleury.

Alberta Theatre Projects is in the early stages of developing Don't Quit Before the Miracle.

The play was written by Kristie McLellan Day, who worked with Fleury on his autobiography Playing With Fire.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2010/06/18/fleury-play-alberta.html#ixzz0re36CZqR

Like Mike said, I may have to make a trip up to Calgary just to see the play. Better yet, I should try to make it up for the Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium.

Thanks again, Mike...for the link, and being one of three people that read my lame blog.

Violator Tattoo

I was looking through my ThinkGeek catalog and I noticed this:


Oh, no. Not the tie. The tattoo. There are very few people that will overlook the tie, which is cool, and look right at the tattoo, which is way cooler.

Not only is it the image of Depeche Mode's Violator album cover, it is the ALBUM cover. I am talking about twelve inch vinyl, not the CD cover.

Here is the CD cover:


Image of vinyl cover:


Unfortunately, most people know the CD version as the 'official' cover. Few know that the original cover is the vinyl cover. Back in the day, it was also on the cassette tap cover as well as on the long box for the CD in its original release in 1990.

I almost want to purchase the tie, just because the hipster-emo boy is sporting said ink.

I Killed A Bird

While riding this morning, I killed a bird. There was a group of us and we were just picking up speed, going down a hill. I noticed a bird, looked like a hawk, bombing down. It was coming in from my left. The bird looked like it would just land short of my line. But, it just kept gliding. Either the bird did not see that there was an obstruction or just could no change course, it just wanted to land right then and there.

For a second, I thought it would make it under my bike. That would have been one heck of a landing. I felt a bump. Not a 'hard bump', but a 'soft bump'. Unfortunately, I hit him with my back tire and I guess a bit with my left crank arm. In the picture above, you can see feathers on one of my spokes, on the crank arm, and a little on the chainstay.

The rider behind me saw my tire hit the bird and said that it was laid out. I did not get a chance to look back as I was going kinda fast and picking up speed. Poor bird, I think it committed suicide.

Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanly Cup Champions

Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in six games to win the Stanley Cup. Yeah, I called it. I kinda picked them to win (at least make the final) in the beginning of the season. Let it also be known that I picked Johnathan Toews in the Olympic and Stanley Cup Playoff pools this year. He won the Conn Smythe as MVP of the playoffs...and gold in Vancouver.


So, the Hossa Curse is lifted and the Touching-the-Conference-Trophy Curse is reinstated. Also the EA curse has been lifted as NHL10 cover boy/mouthpiece boy, Patrick Kane (I refuse to call him "Pat Kane" or "Patty Kane") scores the overtime winner in the least exciting Cup winning goal in Playoff history.


Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks in ending their 49 year drought between Cups. Toronto now officially has the longest drought (since 1967).

I Love Tom Cruise...No Really, I Do.

2010 Stanley Cup Finals

Awesome! Just what I wanted...well, almost. The Sharks are gone, which means I can relax and watch the finals without a care who wins, as both teams have earned their spot in the finals. A look at the match up

(2) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Philadelphia Flyers

Chicago - Last final was in 1992, when they were defeated in four games to Mario and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last time they won the cup was in 1961. That was a long time ago, the longest drought between Cups at 49 years. These guys have the best chance of the two teams. They man handled the Sharks, in four games.

Now the crazy factors. Captain Johnathan Toews did not touch the Clarance Campbell Cup. Usually that is a good sign...but, they have the Hossa Curse. This will be the third straight year Hossa makes it to the final, he lost the last two seasons. Will the curse continue to haunt the team that signed Hossa?

Philadelphia - Last final was in 1997. They were also ousted in four straight games in the finals. Eric Lindros' best chance to become a 'legend', the Red Wings brought out the broom that spring. The last time they won the Cup was in 1975, 35 years. The Flyers were the last team to make it to the playoff this year as they clinched in the final game of the season...in a shootout. Just solidifies the theory of 'make in into the playoffs and anything can happen'. Would be quite the story if they win it all.

The crazy factors for the Flyers. Captain Mike Richards lifted and carried the Prince of Wales Trophy. Wait, I just thought of something...the last three years (Pittsburgh in 2008 and 2009, and Philadelphia in 2010) the Wales trophy stayed in Pennsylvania.

My lame prediction. First, the Conn Smythe. Philadelphia's goaltender Michael Leighton has a good chance, if the Flyers win...or in Flyer tradition, he could win it Hextall Style. Also, Chris Pronger is playing like Chris Pronger. For Chicago, Captain Johnathan Toews is the leading scorer of the playoffs, so far. Dustin Byfuglien has shown his Mr. Clutch in the playoffs. Any of these four can win the Conn Smythe.

As for the Cup, Hossa Curse is lifted and trophy curse is reinstated as Chicago wins it in six.

Although, it would be damn funny if Hossa three-peats in the final as a loser, again.