Yay! My blog made it onto Boing Boing! Web users consider this a big honor! No doubt it means an increase in hits as well.
Pixar artisan Ronnie del Carmen also made the site due to an unfortunate incident involving his car.
Thanks for the post Mark!
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Monday, September 5, 2005
Redefined: A Cappella Nintendo Medley
To lighten the mood, check out this fun QuickTime Video link where a group of University students perform 'Redefined: A Cappella Nintendo Medley.'Fans of the original 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System games will especially get a 'kick' out of the...'Link.'
Thanks to Dean for the link!
Saturday, September 3, 2005
In Memory: Kelly Ian McConnell (1968-2005)
The world lost another great human being on Tuesday, August 30.
My cousin, Kelly McConnell, was one of the friendliest souls you could ever meet. Whether you were a family member, long-time friend, or just introduced, you felt genuinely comfortable around him.
I didn't see much of him the last few years, but he would e-mail me occassionally, always trying to make time for me whenever I made the trip down to Calgary. Whether it was a quick get together for a bite to eat, or to invite me to stay the night at his place and chat away into the late evening hours, Kelly would welcome you with a firm handshake, a big smile and hearty laugh, and plenty of stories to tell. Just like his dad.
Kelly and I used to have wide-ranging conversations about outdoor pursuits, technology, historical and even paranormal subjects (a particular fascination we shared), movies and TV, and life in general. There was always something the two of us could find to philosophize about.
Kelly was known to have an affinity for family and friends, all wishing we could see him more often, but he was also a free spirit, constantly roaming around trying to experience all that life has to offer. He lived life the way we all should, pursuing his passions and constantly searching for something new to explore and appreciate about this planet and its people. One could easily look up to his many admirable traits and come away a better person for having met him. I know most of us did.
Kelly, his sisters and mom.
If there's an afterlife, he's sure to be affecting others there the same way and exploring all the crags and creeks it has to offer!
Until we see you again...we'll miss you buddy!
---
The obituary:
It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our dearest Kelly on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at the age of 36. Treasured by his mother Denise; sisters; nephew and niece (Adam and Kara Bunz), along with numerous relatives and a wealth of friends. Predeceased by father Brian (2000). Kelly had a heart like no other and loved spending time with family and friends. He is loved and admired for his devotion to always helping others and genuine interest in getting to know people. He had an affectionate smile, positive outlook and fantastic sense of humor. His enthusiasm and upbeat personality was reflected by his multitude of friends, young and old. He was the humblest guy you could ever know. Simply put, the ornaments of Kelly's life were the friends that gathered there. His awe and wonderment in God's creations was steadfast and never waivered. He had a zest for life and will be remembered for his adventurous spirit from mountain and ice climbing to photography (mountains, glaciers, sunsets, waterfalls) and most recently his passion for motorcycling. Kelly's message to each of us is clear: slow down, relax, listen and love one another without judgement. He never complained or tried to impress others, he just wanted all of us to be happy. The Lord has brought Kelly home to reward him for all his inner riches. Thank you for enriching our lives Kell. May God Bless you and keep you safe and secure in the palm of His hand. We will miss you Kell Kell. XOXOXO. I love you big brother.Prayers will be held at HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME,
1708 - 16 Avenue N.W. (across from the North Hill Shopping Centre)
Monday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church,
640 - 19 Avenue N.W.,
Calgary, Alberta
Tuesday, September 6 at 11:00 a.m.
HERITAGE FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICES
"Heritage Funeral Home"
Telephone: 299-0100.
Published in the Calgary Herald from 9/1/2005 - 9/2/2005.
Update: You can view a Kelly McConnell Flickr photoset I've created at this link.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
5 Men...
I don't know how long this link will be active, but I highly recommend downloading the QuickTime video at the link below...
Brilliant intro for the Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards
As a movie buff, it had me smiling!
Thanks to Dean for the link!
Brilliant intro for the Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards
As a movie buff, it had me smiling!
Thanks to Dean for the link!
Monday, August 22, 2005
Slow and steady...
As I was out running errands on Saturday, I saw what I thought to be man playing with his radio-controlled toy. Sure enough he was out there again on Sunday, only this time I got a better look and it definitely wasn't a toy on the sidewalk...
A nice long sidewalk is the perfect place to stretch the ol' legs.
That's right. It's a man taking his pet tortoise for a walk. Hey, they need exercise too right? A perfect time to do so while we're having beautifully warm temperatures (finally) in Edmonton. I stopped by with my digital camera to talk to owner Jeff Billyard about the fascinating scene and learn more about his pet.
Easily mistaken for a radio-controlled car from a distance.
Jeff, who graciously took a portion of his time (the tortoise wasn't racing away anywhere), told me that 'Franklin' is a 3-year-old African Spur Tortoise (or Geochelone sulcata as it's known in scientific terminology) and that he's cared for Franklin since he was smaller than the palm of his hand. Though, he wasn't a cheap purchase, Jeff and his family consider 'Franklin' to be an excellent value for a pet, who will probably live longer than most of us. Apparently, Tortoises can live an average of 60-80 years, with some living over the ripe age of 100! Astoundingly, he already weighs in at around 25 pounds but can grow up to 200!
Purchased at a city pet store, Franklin is a treasured member of the family, attracting interest from all who see the pair. Jeff said he doesn't mind the company of strangers when he's taking Franklin for a walk, and educates the guests on the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. He finds it relaxing to take Franklin for a walk after a tough day at work.
What some of the local (and puzzled) dogs saw.
Surprisingly, Franklin moves quite fast. Not as speedy as an average dog or cat, but at the pace of a smaller canine. He had already moved forward several feet before my camera had a chance to focus on the hard-shelled creature.
It was also quite amusing to see parents walk by and say "Ohhh, you're the man with the turtle! My son/daughter told me about you!" as if they didn't believe their children.
Owner Jeff Billyard and Franklin.
The tortoise is a herbivore, meaning he eats fruits and vegetables. While Jeff had fed him lettuce and strawberries when I was there, Franklin found the grass and clover patches to his liking, rapidly devouring any tiny, white blossoms.
Stopping for snacks...
...of tasty clover...yummm!
Franklin seems pretty content. Who couldn't love a face with a smile like that?
I got a chance to experience what Franklin's legs felt like and they are quite unique. Though the 'spurs' look rough and sharp, they're actually more like cartilage and feel rigid, yet soft. He has quite a long tongue as well with which he uses to get at vegetation.
I've seen Tortoises and Terrapins before, and even went snorkeling alongside Sea Turtles in the waters of Hawai'i, but this was certainly an interesting sight you don't see in Edmonton, Alberta everyday. A welcome change from the usual four-legged friend! Ironically, I had saved 2 frogs from death by lawnmower earlier. It would seem that reptiles and amphibians were on the universe's order of events for me that day.
You can find more about African Spur Tortoises here and here.
Note: Geochelone sulcata or 'African Spur Tortoise' is often confused with 'African Spur-thigh Tortoise.' From what I've just briefly researched, it seems that using the scientific name helps to distinguish the different reptiles.
Update: I've displayed some of the tortoise photos readers have sent me at this other posting.
A nice long sidewalk is the perfect place to stretch the ol' legs.
That's right. It's a man taking his pet tortoise for a walk. Hey, they need exercise too right? A perfect time to do so while we're having beautifully warm temperatures (finally) in Edmonton. I stopped by with my digital camera to talk to owner Jeff Billyard about the fascinating scene and learn more about his pet.
Easily mistaken for a radio-controlled car from a distance.
Jeff, who graciously took a portion of his time (the tortoise wasn't racing away anywhere), told me that 'Franklin' is a 3-year-old African Spur Tortoise (or Geochelone sulcata as it's known in scientific terminology) and that he's cared for Franklin since he was smaller than the palm of his hand. Though, he wasn't a cheap purchase, Jeff and his family consider 'Franklin' to be an excellent value for a pet, who will probably live longer than most of us. Apparently, Tortoises can live an average of 60-80 years, with some living over the ripe age of 100! Astoundingly, he already weighs in at around 25 pounds but can grow up to 200!
Purchased at a city pet store, Franklin is a treasured member of the family, attracting interest from all who see the pair. Jeff said he doesn't mind the company of strangers when he's taking Franklin for a walk, and educates the guests on the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. He finds it relaxing to take Franklin for a walk after a tough day at work.
What some of the local (and puzzled) dogs saw.
Surprisingly, Franklin moves quite fast. Not as speedy as an average dog or cat, but at the pace of a smaller canine. He had already moved forward several feet before my camera had a chance to focus on the hard-shelled creature.
It was also quite amusing to see parents walk by and say "Ohhh, you're the man with the turtle! My son/daughter told me about you!" as if they didn't believe their children.
Owner Jeff Billyard and Franklin.
The tortoise is a herbivore, meaning he eats fruits and vegetables. While Jeff had fed him lettuce and strawberries when I was there, Franklin found the grass and clover patches to his liking, rapidly devouring any tiny, white blossoms.
Stopping for snacks...
...of tasty clover...yummm!
Franklin seems pretty content. Who couldn't love a face with a smile like that?
I got a chance to experience what Franklin's legs felt like and they are quite unique. Though the 'spurs' look rough and sharp, they're actually more like cartilage and feel rigid, yet soft. He has quite a long tongue as well with which he uses to get at vegetation.
I've seen Tortoises and Terrapins before, and even went snorkeling alongside Sea Turtles in the waters of Hawai'i, but this was certainly an interesting sight you don't see in Edmonton, Alberta everyday. A welcome change from the usual four-legged friend! Ironically, I had saved 2 frogs from death by lawnmower earlier. It would seem that reptiles and amphibians were on the universe's order of events for me that day.
You can find more about African Spur Tortoises here and here.
Note: Geochelone sulcata or 'African Spur Tortoise' is often confused with 'African Spur-thigh Tortoise.' From what I've just briefly researched, it seems that using the scientific name helps to distinguish the different reptiles.
Update: I've displayed some of the tortoise photos readers have sent me at this other posting.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
In Memory: Joe Ranft (1960-2005)
Pixar Animation Studio's Joe Ranft passed away in a tragic car accident last night. Truly sad news. Please see my post at Luxo.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
U-Haul SuperGraphics
I've always been fascinated by the colorful graphics on the side of the U-Haul vehicles. From the vibrant Giant Squid of Newfoundland, to the little green alien of New Mexico, to the Happy Face Spider of Hawai'i, the graphics are an excellent way to keep the U-Haul brand name 'out there'. In my opinion, a very smart marketing move that really hasn't been matched by others. I've also wondered if there was a website with photos of the graphics and today, I finally discovered it.
The U-Haul SuperGraphics website features not only the current series of graphics, but wallpapers, coloring books, and some fun, Macromedia Flash-based subsites. For example, the New Mexico section uses a file folder theme with fairly detailed information about the alleged UFO crash in 1947. Not all states and provinces have current graphics, but you can also find press releases and photos as new ones are unveiled on the website.
The 'Classic SuperGraphics' section is devoted to older vehicle illustrations, and though more simplistic, are definitely worth viewing.
Fun stuff!
