The Wovel? You have to be kidding me!

As an Internet savvy shopper I'm subscribed to my share of retail store newsletters. One of this is Home Depot. In the latest email there was an advertisement for the Wovel.
What is the Wovel you ask? Why a shovel on a wheel of course! It is advertised as "The world's safest snow shovel. It's fast. It's safe. It's easy. Outperforms snow blowers without the expense, fumes, maintenance, or noise."
I thought it was a joke at first based on the picture, it looks completely ridiculous, but alas Home Depot feels they are going to sell these -- at $149.95 a pop!

It seems there is some strong precedence for it as well. Time magazine awarded it a Best Invention of 2006 with Popular Mechanics giving it an Editor's Choice award.

You judge for yourself. Would you buy one?

The Wovel

Gears of War Ad

In the continuing spirit of supporting advertising, the latest ad that has caught my attention is for an upcoming XBOX 360 (video game console) game entitled Gears of War.
It's interesting to pair such a violent game with a ballad but for some reason it works (at least to me). Check it out on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL7edUTDVv4

Moving sidewalks does not equal an opportunity to be lazy!

So I'm at the airport the other day (Toronto) and something tweaked a pet peeve of mine -- Laziness!
Friends know that while I can be lazy at times, overall I don't think I'm that lazy when it comes to walking places, using stairs, etc. I've always been a proponent of taking the stairs at work as opposed to the elevator. My whole rationale being that I am going to climb those stairs while I still have the health to do so.
Back to the airport. Todays airports are quite massive and the newer Terminal 1 at Pearson (Toronto) is no exception. Because of the great distances you may need to travel between gates or parking garages, the airport authority has installed moving sidewalks. (Notice I didn't say sideSTANDs).
The extension to my pet peeve is people who walk briskly to these moving sidewalks and then proceed to stand on them. Compound that with people who block the entire sidewalk with their luggage. If you are going to be lazy, at least do it to the side so people can get by.
And you wonder why almost 60% of our population is overweight (36.1% are overweight, 23.1% are obese!)

My invention - silent pop can

For those who have seen the movie Garden State can probably relate this post to silent Velcro. They can at least appreciate the financial potential of such an invention.
What I am proposing is somehow inventing a silent pop can. How many times have you been in a school lecture, a business meeting, a movie theatre and have been distracted by someone opening a pop can. Why can't someone invent a can that opens silently?
I have a free weekend coming up - I'll see what I can do.

Wish me luck!

Canadian produced TV - I found a winner (Dragons' Den)

While it doesn't compare to my current favourite TV show, Lost, it is impressing me. CBC has a new program entitled "Dragons' Den" that allows entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to prospective investors in order to get further investment funding. There are some pretty cut-throat comments but under that are some strong business fundamentals. If you have a business background, or an interest in business I would recommend taking a look. Enjoy!

Check it out:
http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/

Guys and washroom...

So there is an unwritten rule that when a guy goes to the washroom and there are three urinals, you take one of the end ones so that the next guy coming in can have the other end one and you have a buffer zone between each of you. I don't know why exactly that is, whether for peeking reasons, for spraying reasons, or for talking reasons. Whatever the reason, that is the unwritten rule and I abide by it.
So I'm in the washroom today and while the above rule wasn't broken, something just as bad happened. I was doing my business at the urinal when a co-worker came in. He said hi in passing and proceeded to a stall. Being polite I said hi back not expecting a conversation to start! You can almost manage a urinal conversation (although it really shouldn't happen), but a urinal and a stall conversation? Never! You just can't do that with the other "noises" that may happen when you are in a stall - and they happened today! People, there are doors on stalls for a reason. Please keep all conversations to yourself and whatever noises you create. We'll catch up outside the washroom, thanks.

A salute to my German readers

David Hasselhoff has done a remake of the classic 1975 song Jump in My Car by the Australian band the Ted Mulry Gang.

Be prepared to laugh.

For those who don't know, David is huge in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. In fact, David was the best selling artist of 1989 in Germany.

You have to demand respect when you are quoted as saying “There are many dying children out there whose last wish is to meet me.”

BTW - Listen to the song. Are the girls saying "I know your gay" or "I know your game" ???

David Hasselhoff's Video

Making of David's Video

Original Ted Mulry Gang Video

Is everything made in China?

So I'm enjoying the Rogers Cup Masters Tennis Series in Toronto on the weekend and noticed that the plastic hair clip that the lady in front of me was wearing had a "made in China" stickers.
Normally that wouldn't raise an eye brow in today's society but it made me think. Where do they make the stickers that tell you where the product was made? In keeping with globalization and focusing on your core competency, there should be a powerhouse in the world who makes those stickers. Is that China? I am wondering if the 'made in China' stickers are in fact made in India....hrm....

New Neighbourhood? Get a dog!

I just celebrated my first year anniversary in my new house. No, I didn't throw a party for myself or cook myself a nice dinner but it has been a year. I've noticed that I really don't know a heck of a lot of people in my neighbourhood. Sure I know my immediate neighbours and directly across the street but beyond that people seem to be content with keeping to themselves.
I had the fortune of dog-sitting this weekend and came to the conclusion that if you really want to be known in the neighbourhood, get a large dog. My friends dog is a Great Dane (130 lbs and probably 4 1/2 feet tall). It's amazing how many people talk to you when you walk a dog like this. And for those who are staring in pure terror, it's a great ice-breaker to say hi to them.
So if you are new to a neighbourhood or just want to meet some people, get a dog and go for walks. You'll be making friends in no time!