Time for my annual first post of the year on this January 1st. Last night was spent, as usual, at Craig and Cheryl’s where we joined Pat and Denise and the many kids for some good food, drink, and conversation. Pat and Denise brought a very nice dip with some pitas while Cheryl provided a bowtie pasta dish and swedish meatballs from Craig’s mom’s recipe. Mary, as always, brought the baking and I took care of some self-assemble peanut satay tacos with caramelized onions, mint, cilantro, and additional peanut sauce. The beer was Creemore Springs UrBock and Guinness Extra Stout, which was nowhere near close to the amazing Guinness Foreign Extra Stout I was hoping it would resemble.
The last week and a half has been non-stop for me with very little time to rest, and I have to say it was oddly satisfying to sleep in this morning. Odd as I never enjoy sleeping in, but I think I truly needed it. Time to clean up the Christmas mess, get the dishes done, and prepare for Paul’s arrival. We’ll be joining a good chunk of the family in a private box at the ACC tonight for the Leafs/Sabres game courtesy of big tobacco. Yes, this is my second box visit at the ACC in two weeks, and yes, this is my second time seeing these two teams from a private box, the last time being in Buffalo. I’m still trying to decide which of the two team’s jerseys to wear.
So a new year arrives and, although ups and downs presented themselves, I was satisfied with 2008. Did you make any resolutions? Any goals for the new year? Look forward to reading them in comments. I would like to separate our good friend KP Wee for succeeding in reaching some of his dreams of published books, a commendable feat even if he beats himself up over sales figures. There are so many people such as myself with dreams who never quite get up and do it, so I hold people who have the guts to chase something in high esteem. I hope 2009 proves to be a breakthrough year for our author friend.
Thanks to everyone for sticking around, being great virtual friends, and heck, even time-to-time real life baseball and beer friends. ;) For all our little fights and bickering it’s a valuable escape from my day to have some kind folks to argue with over here at OA.
All the best in 2009, friends.
Cheers,
Rick.

Add another notch to my illustrious WWE watching career after a night spent in the Air Canada Club Lounge last night for the WWE Supershow taping of last night’s Raw and this Friday’s SmackDown. It was my first time getting the VIP treatment at the ACC and I have to say it was preferable to SkyDome. Great venue, polite and efficient service, and above average food. I even tried my first Molson Canadian, brewed on-site. It was my first live wrestling show since 2002 when I did the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal circuit, the famous “performance tires” incident. Still my worst driving experience to date.
Anyways, entertaining shows, and fun going with my boss here as he was not accustomed to the ways of the wrestling fan. Toronto is always fun specifically because we do tend to decide when it’s time to heel or face turn someone. Last night it was heels Randy Orton and Chris Jericho receiving the unexpected adulation, while poor CM Punk probably experienced his first round of boos in some time. Good to see the product has been cleaned up a bit, didn’t make it as uncomfortable to be surrounded by pre-teens.
So it’s official, TTC is going to start charging for parking to all commuters in April 2009, Metropass or not. Lots will be set up to handle cash and credit cards. Assuming the rumoured $6 cost remains (they’re attempting to make $4,000,000 in “lost revenue”) that’s about an extra $100 a month, or double the price of the Metropass. Which means I’m going to start driving to work. I can only hope hundreds of others do the same. Interesting to note that when the idea was first floated they attributed maintenance and gas prices as two reasons. As a daily user of the Kipling lot I assure you maintenance is limited as nobody has plowed walkways or parking lots yet, and gas is $0.704 this morning. The article failed to mention greed, suspiciously.
Anyone else notice the shocking coincidence of Rogers, owners of the flailing Sportsnet, refusing to add TSN2 to their channel line-up?
Now Playing
Last.fm Radio – Global Tag: Christmas
Today’s Random Links
My dad wants a hores but my mom says no.
The weirdest teams names in sports.
Greatest. Mustache. Ever.

SNOWMAGEDDON!!!!!!!11 Sweet drive in this morning as the media did an excellent job scaring the crap out of everyone and keeping them at home, so my typical 45-minute drive was 25 minutes instead. When I jumped out at Pape to get my Starbucks I was suddenly met with the early stages of Snowmageddon, and I can see now it’s dark, windy, and snow covered already. Very few people have arrived and I’ve been instructed to make it an early day.
My favourite rag, The Toronto Star, has exposed the wrongdoings of Quami Frederick, recently terminated from a Toronto law firm after it was discovered she had purchased a fake degree to secure the position. Their brief article in Metro yesterday seemed to err on the side of injustice, focusing on Quami’s heavy debt and inability to find a new law job in the coming months. The article did not, however, discuss the injustice of the people who were in debt and unable to find a law job due to Quami’s fraud. I love you, Torstar, you never cease to make me nauseous.
Now Listening
Glenn Kotche – Mobile
Today’s Random Links
6 failed attempts at the Guinness Book of World Records.
51 things you’re not allowed to see on Google Earth.
Monkey takes revenge on trainer – legendary!
Baby Adolf Hitler denied cake.

So if you haven’t seen it yet, and I know the regulars have, Dubya had a couple shoes thrown at him during his last tour of Iraq this past weekend. This, his second visit since he launched his war on terrorism, was seemingly to survey the work and take a little credit before leaving office next month. A “journalist” with apparently as much integrity as a Toronto Star or SUN staffer by the name of Muntadhar al-Zeidi was taking offense to Bush’s work and tossed both his shoes towards the outgoing President. My favourite part of a related article in the morning Metro went like this: “… many Iraqis (are) fed up with the nearly six-year U.S. presence here, but also fearful that their country will fall under Iran’s influence once the Americans leave.” I have a feeling that sentence will hold a lot of importance in a few more years, and perhaps one of us should make a note to come back to it.
Congratulations to the official author of OA, KP Wee, for having 25 copies of his book ‘No Runs, No Wins, No Glory: A Look Back at Tom Candiotti

Not amused. I think anytime the so-called rife-with-error American political system makes ours look good it’s an issue. Now, more than ever, I see the value in fixed election dates of four years, allowing whichever party is in power the opportunity to govern for the people that voted for them.
There’s been significant chat here, as there usually is, and my office actually exploded with conversation out of nowhere yesterday after parliament was placed on temporary hold. A few observations:

• 75% of Canadians are scared of the coalition, and if a vote was held today the Conservatives would win a majority according to poll results on 680News this morning.
  
• Harper was arrogant to try and cut the funding, yes. $30,000,000 won’t get us very far, and in reality, each $2 attributed to a party is a direct result of a vote. Democracy in action. That said, to call it unfair is ridiculous. It is not the fault of the Conservative party that they do better fundraising than the other parties. I likened it yesterday to having allowed Usain Bolt’s competitors at the Olympics a head-start because people knew he was fastest. Fair is equal footing, which is $2 for all or $2 for none.
  
• This is a deeper thought, and an excellent thesis for any University students that may be reading, but the Internet is not a good representation of society. Not in the least. Somehow, some way, no matter how popular the net gets, it’s a liberal medium. If you spent all your time online (which I do) you’d have no reason to suspect the Conservatives would be in line for a majority, nor would you have assumed Obama would have only received 52% of the vote in the US election. It’s interesting.
  
• The Bloclibocrats are not the party for the people, the party everyone voted for, or the one representing the interests of the masses. If they were we’d be a two party system – the Conservatives and the Bloclibocrats. I love an intellectual argument as much as the next guy, but attempting to convince me a vote for the Liberals was a vote for separation is nonsense. This coalition is what it is, an effort to take down the Conservative party. Call it what it is and I promise to hold a lot more respect for you.

All in all I suppose it’s good that people are talking, and we’re all learning a bit more about the electoral system. Curious to see how it shakes out in January as the Liberals have expressed interest in working with the Conservatives to create a mutually agreeable budget, but the hot air balloon in charge of the NDP claims it won’t matter what’s proposed they’ll vote against it.
What I’m really interested in is which party, over the next 4-6 years, will find a charismatic leader in the lines of a Barack Obama, to lead them forward. Canada is much less partisan than the States, and a beloved leader could capture a ton of votes. I can tell you who it’s not.. Baby Trudeau.
Today’s Random Links
A Firefox plug-in that allows you to download items on Amazon.com.
Some of you will recall this happened to me a few years ago.. haha!
The 6 grossest fast food menu items.
Dog trapped in a beer can force field.
Darth Vader does not bowl fair.
Now Playing
Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas