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Uncategorized

“Manscaping 101”

It’s a New Blog!

“Manscaping 101″ banner

My friend and b5media co-worker Tris Hussey has started a new blog on the b5 network titled Manscaping 101, a blog devoted to men’s grooming. So far, he’s posted articles on shaving to saving money on razors to styling your hair to cologne to the standard definition of “manscaping” (that is, grooming “below the equator”). Manscaping 101 promises to be a good read for the modern gentleman who cares about his appearance without having to go to ridiculously metrosexual lengths. Go check it out!

“Hair removal” scene from “The 40 Year-Old Virgin”

Bonus Material

Scene from the “South Park” episode, “South Park is Gay”

For your amusement, here’s the South Park episode South Park is Gay, the one in which the entire town falls victim to the metrosexual craze, which turns out to be a plot to take over the world.

Categories
Uncategorized

Just a Quick Plug for VidKing

VidKing

VidKing, the celebrity gossip and news video site, is the project on which I’m working that’s also the most visible to the outside world (a lot of other items on my plate are still in the “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you” category). There are new videos put on the site all the time, so it’s always fresh. If you like celebrity gossip and are looking for some brain candy to enjoy on your lunch or coffee break, go give VidKing a look!

Categories
Toronto (a.k.a. Accordion City)

Walking Up “Roncey”

While walking up Roncesvalles Avenue to pick up my bike from the shop, I decided to take some pictures along the way. I posted my favourites in this Flickr set; you can also see the photos in the slideshow below:


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Categories
It Happened to Me

CPAP Cost Breakdown

I’ve received a lot of email resulting from my CPAP article. Many emails asked me about the costs of a CPAP machine. I’m only too happy to provide a breakdown for the curious.

When reading the table below, please keep in mind that it covers only the cost of the machine and a service plan; you need to be titrated (that is, have the CPAP’s pressure calibrated specifically for you) at a sleep lab. Depending on where you live, this may or may not cost you more. If you buy a unit with a humidifier, there’s also the regular expense of distilled water, which is relatively cheap.

Item Amount
Fisher and Paykel HC604 SleepStyle CPAP system (comes with Acclaim 2 basic CPAP mask) $1040
Mirage Activa Nasal CPAP mask $200
ThermoSmart heated CPAP tubing kit $200
Advacare’s five-year clinical support plan (includes consultations, telephone support, pressure changes, machine verification, loaner equipment for use during repairs, machine downloads if applicable $50
Subtotal 1 $1490
Ontario healthcare plan’s “Assistive Devices” coverage – $780
Subtotal 2 $710
Expected reimbursement from b5media’s rather nice employee benefits plan from Empire Life (100% of the cost of the mask and accessories per benefit period; up to $2000 for the CPAP machine per 60 months) – $710
Total $bubkes
(That’s “zero”)
Categories
Uncategorized

Andrew McCallum Updates

Andrew McCallumSome updates on Andrew McCallum, taken from his brother David’s notes in Facebook (for more on Andrew, see here and here):

Thursday, April 10, afternoon — Coasting

No change to speak of, today. Andrew’s nurses and doctors are trying to deal with a fever and keep his temperature at a safe level.

It occurred to me that I may have been a little overzealous with the “thumbs up” news. Andrew is by no means in the clear yet, and I was told that the thumbs up was really just him raising a thumb on command while still being out. This is great news, but he still has a long way to go. Please keep the prayers coming.

I got the CDs playing to him today, and will print out more of your wonderful comments for him. I’m having trouble keeping up with all of you!

Thursday, April 10, late afternoon — Infection

Andrew’s developed an infection in one of his lungs and is now being dosed with antibiotics. You smokers out there, take note: the nurses tell me that smokers are more likely to develop infections in their lungs in critical care, and infections are serious problems in this state.

So, why don’t some of you target your prayers to his lungs, and the rest of you keep focussing on his head? Let’s make sure all of him’s covered.

We seem to have amassed a large group of people who are all directing positive energy towards Andrew, and it’s a very lovely thing. I also realise that there are many others out there also in need of positive energy, and I think Andrew would love to be able to make use of this situation to help others. I can’t ask him, of course, but he’s an upstanding chap and I’ll just assume on his behalf.

If anyone out there has someone in need of prayers and good energy, please post about them on the discussion thread that I’ve started so we can all send some good vibes their way. All of you sending positive energy out, please add these people to your prayers.

Friday, April 11, noon — Stabilizing

This morning, Andrew gave another raised thumb to the nurse, but it apparently wasn’t repeated. She suggested that this may be because he is simply exhausted. Still, we’re taking comfort in this gesture.

He also has a fever that they’re treating, and this too is apparently improving. Little steps for Andrew.

I updated the group description because it was a few days out of date.

A photo collage is being organised for Andrew. If you’d like to contribute, please see the discussion thread about it (which will be created, if it hasn’t already been).

Please keep your prayers coming, and tell your loved ones that you love them.

I’ve done my share of sitting in a hospital, hoping that a family member will recover, so my heart goes out to the McCallum family. Stay strong, folks.

Categories
funny

Not the Most Effective Deterrent

Sign outside a church: “Skateboarders will be baptized”.
Photo courtesy of Miss Fipi Lele.

You should see what happens to the altar boys!

Categories
Accordion, Instrument of the Gods Toronto (a.k.a. Accordion City)

The OTHER Accordion Guy

Ronen Segall with his accordion, seen through the front window of a restaurant.
Photo by Richard Lautens, Toronto Star.

I’m not the only accordion guy in town, and I’m glad to see some younger folks taking up the instrument. Here’s an excerpt from a Toronto Star article titled Squeezing Life Into His ‘Hood:

Ronen Segall uses his bright red accordion to inject life into his Huntley St. home near Bloor and Sherbourne Sts.

The 25-year-old is an information technology employee by day, but come the weekend he’s an accordion-squeezing entertainer. French favourites are always a crowd pleaser, he finds.

Segall played the piano for years but he was looking for a more portable way to share his love of music. He picked up his 48 bass-button piano accordion in Kensington Market about a year and a half ago.

He admits it takes a sense of humour to walk the streets with an accordion. But he is a social guy.

“I like talking with people. I think this breaks the ice.”

Segall can be hired to play events but doesn’t play for money on the street.

To earn cash as a busker, you need to crank out the show tunes, he explains, and he prefers songs from movies such as Amelie and the Oscar-winning tune “Falling Slowly” from the film Once.

Segall likes to play music on a stone bench in front of his home. “I think it adds a nice atmosphere to the street.” When he plays it’s common for people to stop, start a conversation and occasionally dance. “Old folks love to dance,” and a French tune is almost guaranteed to get them stepping, Segall says.

You can catch Ronen at the corner of Bloor and Brunswick on weekends or at Crêpes A GoGo in Yorkville. I salute him with a filet mignon on a flaming sword for his keeping the accordion alive!

[Thanks to vinyl demon for pointing me to this story!]