The Up Side Of Technology

Calgary Foundation - Community Knowledge Centre
Martha Cohen Theatre 2012

Pictured: CBC Radio "Calgary Eye Opener" host David Gray

I have no defense when it comes to Mrs. That Dan Guy rolling her eyes back in her head when it comes to technology, and my immediate desire to get my hands on the latest and greatest device. I am almost always keen to get my grubby paws on the latest and greatest gadget.

However, here's where that is now about to pay off for me. And it's also how my writing life and new day job with the Canadian Diabetes Association, a non-profit, are converging to convince me I've been on the right (or "write") track all along!

Launching an incredible new initiative based on a beta test program in Toronto, The Calgary Foundation brought in 4 remarkable speakers to talk to a new resource for non-profits, linking them creatively with philanthropists, media and their ultimate consumers. All around the power of "story" - that link between the head and the heart that engages the intended audience.

David Gray from CBC in particular was illuminating, and sparked today's blog for me, as I may not have even been aware that by staying on top of my craft, I am now prepared to reap the benefits of being ready to embrace this new reality. By his estimate, most media will be accessed by smart-phones by 2015 - three years from now! And video, which I am now converting to will be the anchor, replacing (for the most part) traditional TV and traditional newspapers.

I'm not even doing his presentation any sort of justice, but the overall impact of his topic along with the other three speakers made for a powerful reminder that the times they are a changin' - and if anyone wants to be there when the dusts settles, they had better be prepared.

Honey - I need a new gadget!!

Chow for now...

Did Somebody Step On A Duck?

There's some feathers on the road outside - I don't really want to look too close....

Chow for now.

I Caramba!

Eye Caramba??

I'll be honest, my Spanish is a little rusty - one of those guesses has to be right, though?

What other way could there be of spelling i-Caramba??

Heh Heh Heh...never thought about Steve Jobs' versions until just a moment ago - it's an Apple exclamation!

Chow for now...

Help! I can't find my computer!!

Oh. Wait a minute - this is like when your eyeglasses are on the top of your head, and you think they might be elsewhere.

Obviously, the typing confirms that the computer is just like those aforementioned eyeglasses - it was on the top of my head all along!

Carry on!

Chow for now....

It's Alive (or just live...)

My interview with humorist and playwright Chris McKerracher!

http://thatdanguy.libsyn.com/webpage

Enjoy!

2 For 1

Check back later today - I intend (come Hades or high water) to have my latest podcast loaded and ready to be listened to.

Facebook apparently has an app that will allow listeners that have problems for the podcast site to access it as well. If only I could access it first...

Technology - if it doesn't kill you, it sure takes a substantial piece out of you...

Check back later today!

Chow (for now)...

Chicken Scratch

(posted by weekend guest blogger Charlie Chicken...)

Howdy hoomans!

In case ya missed tha SNL seesuned finale reesently, I'm postin' ma brief cameo above.

Me an sum clown that couldn't get his one line right - an it wuz a still photo!!

BUK-AAAAWK!!!!

Az fer Mister Will Ferrell - watch yer hands...watch yer hands!

You know wut I'm talkin' about...

BUK-AAAAWK!!!!

Cluck fer now.

Vehicles: Repair Them, Or Shoot Them?

Bringing my car in for some rather extensive work this morning. I expected just a simple fix when I brought it in last week, but discovered that my luck with vehicles wasn't about to bring about a simple solution.

Now, I have several hours of work being done, and another repair shop owner out searching for a new boat or trailer to use while out camping this summer.

The only camping WE'LL be able to do will be waiting by the toaster in the mornings, as we await the single piece of moldy bread we'll be sharing until we recoup from a mortal blow to our bank account.

Not that I begrudge these trained experts. I just wish they could learn not to do a jig while I'm still there recovering from the bad news...

Chow for now!

Plantar Fasciitis

After trying for some time to ignore a nagging pain in my heel, I went to a podiatrist the other day. And that's where I learned that I'm suffering from Plantar Fasciitis.

Which turns out NOT to be a giant foot wart, NOR a brand of commercially sold peanuts.

It's a painful condition that affects a muscle or ligament or some other such internal organism that no longer works like it used to. I worried before learning this that my heel bone had hollowed out, or that I has somehow massively bruised my heel. Neither of those scenarios were true.

Plantar Fasciitis is actually one of the most common foot problems that doctors diagnose, which makes me wonder why they didn't all get together decades ago and come up with a more impressive name for the condition. Like, Lock-Heel. Or Achilles Underfoot. Hoof-Hurt??

At any rate, lame name or not, I am now trying some preliminary treatment which includes Mrs. That Dan Guy massaging my feet before I get out of bed in the morning. She has yet to embrace peeling my grapes, but I'll keep working on that...

Chow for now!

A Tribute To Spam(mers)

Here's an older column of mine, retooled for my monthly real estate column, live online right now.

But still generic enough for any audience, if you've ever received a spam email from online half-wit criminals trying to pry money from your hands:

http://www.remonline.com/home/?p=12171

Enjoy!

Chow for now!

Technology - And Why Does It Hate Me So?

Still can't get my printer reconnected to my Mac. I have no idea why this superior electronic device won't allow such a simple operation. I could understand if it was my Vista PC - but not my Mac!

I am beginning to understand why ancient civilizations were so leery of technology.

They must have known personal computers were ultimately just over the horizon of their flat, unsophisticated world.

Ah, to be part of that wonderful era!!

Chow for now.

H-O-L-I-D-A-Y!

Yippee!

Today is a holiday - although I still have a crapload of writing tasks to try and wrap around, including but not even remotely limited to:

* trying to get my goddam printer reconnected to my laptop without having my brain explode all over the walls in the process...

* trying to get my main website finally back up and running, without having my brain explode all over the  walls in the process...

* trying to get through my stacks of newspapers that I am so far behind on that I am now at risk of becoming a feature on "Extreme Hoarders".

* Pitching - I've got more pitching to do than a Blue Jays mound jockey trying to preserve a one run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning...

* Reading - in addition to my newspapers, of which there may be more here in the house right now than there are grains of salt in my cupboard - I have a raft of reading to get through - one of which will be necessary to get a review and interview done for.

* World Peace. Hey, you think beauty pageant contenders are the only people concerned about solutions to bring about world peace??

So there you have it - the tip of my obligations iceberg.

Perhaps a nap to mull this all over....

Chow for now!

Sunny Day. Sunny, Sunny Day...

That's all I've got, really.

It is sunny and lovely outside today.

And, as everyone knows, the sun is not actually a giant LED light created by GE - it is a fiery ball of skin-crispening radiation that will eventually consume the Earth and most of our galaxy in a fiery inferno of armageddon.

Before that happens though, I might take a walk...

Chow for now!

Chicken Scratch

(Posted by weekend sun worshipper Charlie "Tan-O-Matic" Chicken...)

Who took this piktchur?? What sorta clown can't focus a camera nowadays? Call Trump - that jackasss needs ta be fired!!!

BUK-AAAAWK!!!!

Yessir, ole Chuck here, tryin' ta lay down a pre-tan! Summer's comin' , an I mean ta be glisteny fer tha chicks!

BUK-AAAAWK!!!!

Course, I can't eggsackly afford a real tannin' studio, so I came up with a comb-promize - Banjo Boy's desk lamp. Slopped on some Crisco, and I kin literally feel tha poultry bumps bakin' !!

BUK-AAAAWK!!!!

Uhhh...literally.....

MEDIC!!!!!!!

BUK-AAAAWK!!!!

Sum wun call a ambalance!!

Cluck fer now.......

Those Relentless Elevens...

And the photo above, snapped during the early part of a recent episode of "Touch" is why we LOOOOVE the show. It almost always speaks to the numbers we can't seem to escape.

Thankfully it has been renewed for another season. The episode this picture was grabbed from was exceptional.

Chow for now!

Blogger Has A New Look!

Well, it may have a new look behind the scenes, but thankfully the  old look remains when you get to this point.

That screaming headline could also be referring to other bloggers though. Perhaps a prominent blogger has gotten a haircut, had some new tatts laid down, or maybe even had gender reassignment surgery. I just presumed that BLOGGER HAS A NEW LOOK referred to the actual program itself, which does look new.

Behind the scenes...

Chow for now!

Clam!

Hmmm....

I think I meant to say "calm"...

No need to get all rowdy with "clams" at the top of my virtual lungs. Especially if I really had intended calm.

Chow for now.

And now, the end is near...

Ahhh - do you hear that??

The birds are chirping more cheerily, the sun is shining more brightly, and the wind is whispering sweet nothings in my ears. Hey - knock it off, Wind - that's downright freaky!

Yes, after threatening to do this in the past, we are now on a 30-day countdown to switch from the crap-chute internet and cable provider we've had for what feels like decades - a company that no longer gives a rat's patootie about their customers. Or at least gives that impression by how they treat the ones they have left.

So, we are clearing off our PVR, testing the email address we'll be forwarding on to friends and family, and planning the celebrations for when we call them to pull the plug, literally.

Sometimes you just have to let go...

Chow for now!

A Morning Rhyme

"Morning Has Broken, All Over The Place,
Need More Coffee, To Open Them Eyes In My Face.


Sitting Here Staring At Lame TV News,
Who Am I Kidding - Shoulda Hit "Snooze"...


Monday Mornin', Wakin' Up Is A B....,
Why Oh Why Wasn't I Born Rich???"

Thang Q.....

Chow for now.

The Platters/The Inkspots

The Platters

The Inkspots

Stoney Nakoda Resort

The Sunday Morning "What-The-Heck-Were-We-Doing-In-Stoney-Nakoda" Entertainment Review:

The Platters, with The Inkspots

As these things typically happen for us, our lives intersected with a delightful event last night - as we were in the audience for a performance by The Platters (pictured above) and The Inkspots (2nd pic).

Stoney Nakoda Resort is yet another of Alberta's Stage West Hospitality properties, and the house was packed for these two legendary groups - young and old alike I should mention. At one point a young couple in their twenties were grinning ear to ear after meeting members of one of the bands, and I noticed a CD in one of their hands. Both of these groups had their biggest successes back in the FORTIES(!) and 1950's - but so many of each of their catalogues continue to get airplay and are often rerecorded by contemporary artists. Enduring music acts to say the least!

Of course, if any of the original members were or are still alive, they'd be in their mid-hundreds - so both of these groups are composed of newer singers committed to keeping the sounds of these artists alive - and as I mentioned earlier - to an entirely appreciative audience. 

The Inkspots for example - lush vocals, wonderful audience interaction, and without a doubt true to the spirit of the original act. I can't say whether or not they were one of the first recording acts to have spoken portions in their songs, but it was truly cool to see that in action last night. Slick in fact. They also catered to a wider age group with some interesting covers - one with a vocalist walking through the audience without a microphone, yet still heard throughout the showroom, belting out Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock N Roll"...

Both The Inkspots and The Platters stretched their wings with songs that showed off their vocal skill sets, but the hoots and cheers logically followed with each of the monster hits the groups are best known for. For The Platters, those vocals - man, I wish I could show a little bit of the (teensy) video I shot from my phone.

Well, why not?

Oh yeah - the copyright disclaimer - well, maybe another time. Let me assure you though, the vocals were absolutely pristine. 

In a couple of poignant moments unrelated to the songs themselves, members of both bands confided recent losses of their mothers. This just before today - where we would typically say something like:

"Happy Mother's Day"

Chow for now...