I might care about Dancing with the Stars less than I care about American Idol, and that’s okay, because everyone likes to watch different TV shows, right? But Dancing with the Stars is everywhere. It’s not just on the TV, it’s on the news, in the newspaper and on my computer. People at work and on the subway are discussing Dancing with the Stars with such excitement, filling my mind with protests of Brandy’s recent unexpected departure and knocking out perfectly good memories from Full House. Was it cut-it-out or cut-that-out? I don’t know anymore. All I know is that Brandy should still be dancing. I don’t care if she is or not, but I know it.

Look, I don’t discuss each and every episode of Parker Lewis Can’t Lose anymore, do I? I don’t care about the has-beens and b-list “stars” learning how to dance, getting kicked off, then crying. Why does the rest of the world care? WHY!?!

By the way, how’s Monica doing? I can’t think of Brandy without thinking of Monica.

This is a excerpt from an article I found on the internet referring to Brandy getting the boot: “If you’ve been looking for proof that life is unfair, here you go!”

There are innocent children dying of starvation, being killed unnecessarily in wars, or sold into slave labor, and yet it is Brandy’s shocking dismissal from Dancing with the Stars that provides you with the proof you needed that life is unfair? Dear God. Bernie Mack is rolling over in his grave.

Don’t people realize there are perfectly good reruns of The Wonder Years or Boy Meets World to be found? YES! The Savage brothers can still be seen on TV if you look hard enough. Did you know Spike TV is airing Married with Children? I think you can even find boxed sets of Caroline in the City or Suddenly Susan and believe it or not, they’re probably on sale. WOW!

Yup, I’ve certainly watched some not so good TV. I once watched a season of Big Brother and The Real World. Idiotic.  I still watch some crap and probably always will. So with that in mind, keep watching Dancing with the Stars. I’m still not going to give a shit, but I just wanted to tell someone, although you most likely don’t give a shit about me not giving a shit.  But hey, can we still be friends? Swing by my place and we can watch a couple episodes of Blossom and drink some chocolate milk.

I went to see Bad Religion and The Bouncing Souls last night at the Kool Haus in Toronto.  Bad Religion has been playing for longer than I’ve been alive. They’re The Rolling Stones of punk rock. Yet, even after 30 years, Dr. Greg Graffin (46 years old on November 6th, 2010) and Bad Religion still have the ability to cause a venue full of young and past their prime punks to punch the sky in rhythm. I’m almost certain I suffered some serious damage to my hearing. If you haven’t already, check out their new album, The Dissent of Man.

I took some video, but the sound quality is absolutely horrible. I’m fist shakingly disappointed about that. Keep your distance.

The Bouncing Souls were also pretty fantastic, although the sound wasn’t great (no sound check perhaps). I loved their set list.

My only issue about the evening was that Bad Religion didn’t play Dearly Beloved. I’m over it though, really. I’m barely computer punching mad and I only sent one all-caps email to the band. Just one…the opening line of my email (of course): DEARLY BELOVED…

While I waited outside of the Skydome (aka Rogers Centre) yesterday to watch the Blue Jays face the division rival New York Yankees, I threw my hands up in the air (as I’m known to do sometimes) and I said, “A. O. Gotta let go,” and then I stated, with no shortage of gusto, “I wanna celebrate and live my life,” and then added, “A.O. Baby, let’s go.” A beat seemed to rise from the streets, a mic was thrust into my hands, a crowd surrounded me, and I sang dammit, oh and we danced, oh yes. It was a moment only Ferris Bueller (or maybe Parker Lewis) could have pulled off. That’s how I remember it anyway.

The story you might hear from others (all hogwash), was that a man in low cut red shorts, white tank top, yellow headband and a beautiful fake mustache with a brief speech, grabbed the attention of the crowd. Behind him, from a white van parked next to the curb, music began to play. The song was Taio Cruz’s Dynamite. A choreographed dance ensued. Choose which version you want to believe.

These Flash Mobs are a truly a great idea and a lot of fun to randomly witness. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying a group of people dancing in a public setting with no other reason than to entertain and surprise others. So if anyone from that Flash Mob reads this, thanks a lot. You rock. Also, I’d also like you to pay attention at 1:21 of this video, because you can see the greatest jacket on the planet belonging to the gentleman in the black cap in the foreground.

On field Flash Mob?

In the 8th inning, a choreographed dance deprived Bautista, gets another at bat and kabooms another homerun into left field giving the Jays a 3-2 lead and eventually, a victory on a beautiful, dance filled night.

Bautista hits second homerun of the game, and league leading 40th this season.

]]> http://corruptcamel.com/2010/08/flash-mob-flashes-skydome-aka-rogers-centre/feed/ 14 http://corruptcamel.com/2010/08/6-not-so-obvious-reasons-beerfest-is-amazing/ http://corruptcamel.com/2010/08/6-not-so-obvious-reasons-beerfest-is-amazing/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:14:31 +0000 C. Camel http://corruptcamel.com/?p=2004 Now, you shouldn’t need six reasons to go to Toronto’s Beer Festival when it’s a festival dedicated to drinking beer. Beerfest hosts 100s, if not millions of international and local breweries who want to get you drunk off your ass and have their way with you. On top of that, there are plenty of great food vendors and music acts, but those are the obvious reasons. Here are 6 more not so obvious reasons you shouldn’t miss Toronto’s Annual Beer Festival.

REASON #1: HOT GIRLS DANCING ON A TRUCK: Who doesn't like hot girls dancing on trucks, really? Sure, their bottoms look like they're from 1950, but hey, most of my underwear is from the 1930s, so it's cool. Vintage underwear is in.

REASON #2: SATAN'S SAUSAGE. At one point in your life you've pondered the idea of wrapping your mouth around Satan's Sausage and you probably thought it would run you more than $5! What a steal.

REASON #3: PEOPLE DRESSED RIDICULOUSLY. How odd is it that these guys are wearing the same thing you wore to work today? Crazy, I know. Beerfest is full of people dressed in hilarious outfits. It's cosplay for alcoholics.

REASON #4. SANTA AND A DONKEY DRINKING BEER. Tell me it hasn't crossed your mind that there would be nothing cooler than drinking beer with Santa Claus and a dude in a donkey costume. You can't. Another check mark on the bucket list.

REASON #5: TORONTO IS KIND OF PRETTY SOMETIMES. Not unlike your Mom, after plenty of beers, Toronto isn't too bad looking.

REASON #6: THIS GUY IS AWESOME! (Ignore my awful camera work, please. I had a couple-few beers).

The FIFA 2010 World Cup of Soccer is upon us and everyone is flying their flags and sporting their team’s colors. So the question is, who are you rooting for? For those of you who don’t care, there’s an option for you on there too.

Remember the question isn’t who do you think is going to win, it’s who do you WANT to win (Please retweet this link or post it on your Facebook page using the buttons below. Let’s see which country has the best following).

To vote, select your answer, then click the “vote” button at the bottom of the poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Anyone claiming Ovechkin's hit on Campbell wasn't from behind: you're wrong.

In mid-December I asked the question, is Ovechkin a hero or a villain? I didn’t know the answer yet, but what I did know was I wasn’t happy about his dirty play (see article here). Ovechkin, once loved by hockey fans everywhere, has now taken his reputation and mopped up a very messy toilet with it. Remember the toilet after Mexican night that one time?

When Ovi entered the league his superstar talent and high octane style made him a hero, but it’s becoming clearer that Ovechkin is a villain. He’s no better than Skeletor and at best, is on par with Megatron and Gargamel. I will not question his talent. He is one of the best players the NHL has ever seen, but he’s becoming less likable every day. I’m starting to think Rosie O’Donnell has more redeemable qualities. Don’t worry Ovi, I still like you better than Hitler.

Below, I provide two more examples of his douchebaggery.

After team Russia was thumped out of the Vancouver Olympics by Team Canada, this is how Ovechkin greeted his fans.

On March 14th, Ovechkin was kicked out for the game for this vicious hit from behind on Chicago Defenseman, Brian Campbell.

One might call Ovi, the Perfect Criminal (Ovi appears in this Russian music video at 3:50).

As my beard grew, so too did Team Canada's chemistry.

After team Canada beat the bratwurst out of Germany in the qualification round, I knew the Canadian Olympic hockey team had a tough road ahead.  The mighty Russians, who we were supposed to meet in the finals, were instead met in the quarters. One of the two titans would be going home without a medal. This was supposed to be a game for the ages. I knew hockey of this caliber only comes around every 4 years and if the NHL doesn’t commit to the next Olympics, it might never be back again.  So I started sending some text messages and spreading the word prior to each game that regardless of who joins me, I’m hitting up bars for the remaining 3 games.  Not surprisingly, a large contingent of fans wearing (and bleeding) red and white jumped on board.

After the Canadians sent the Russians back home to cry over a few bottles of delicious premium vodka, a correlation became clear: this was the first time my beard and I had supported the team in public. I didn’t have a beard in Canada’s gold medal winning 2002, or the disappointing 2006 Olympics. The 2002 team had Mario Lemieux, the 2006 team didn’t. A reasonable conclusion was that my beard was replacing the leadership not present in the absence of Mario Lemieux. It only makes sense. There was too much evidence supporting the beard theory. I knew Team Canada and my beard’s fate were entwined.

Canadian heroes: Yzerman, Iginla ... my beard.

So Russia was done, but I knew the Russian team had been overrated, it was the fast Americans with stellar goaltending, who were the real challenge and I wasn’t sure my beard and I were ready for them. So from that point forward I pleaded with my face, “Please beard, grow…Before it’s too late. Canada needs this. The Olympics needs this. The planet needs this.”

When Team USA beat Team Canada a week prior to the gold medal game, Team Canada’s defense, like my beard, had holes in it. From that day forward I committed to growing my beard 24 hours a day. Even in my sleep I urged the hairs to be thicker and stronger. A couple days after beating the Russians, we took out Slovakia. The stage was set for a rematch between the USA and my beard and Team Canada.

As my beard grew, so too did Team Canada’s chemistry. The weak spots in my beard disappeared, just as the weak spots in Canada’s game disappeared. Coincidence?  On the day of the gold medal game, my beard claimed there’s no such thing. Did team Canada’s grit wear down the opposing team’s defenses or was it my grizzly beard? Did Sidney Crosby score the OT goal or did my beard? You won’t read about this on ESPN.com or TSN.ca, because the media wants to tell you a different, fabricated story. Shhhh…We know the truth, but my beard will let Sid take the credit, because it’s better for Canadian hockey.

With the Olympics over, the Canadian hockey team adorned in gold, my beard’s work was done, and thus, was retired. My baby face restored. But underneath that baby face a new beard lies, hibernating, waiting to carry the hopes of Canadians on its hairy shoulders for the 2014 Olympics. Thanks be to beard. Amen.

Canada may never know how it came to be, but what's important is that we won.

I’ve heard a lot of criticism of this year’s Olympic games and can’t deny there have been issues. Being a Canadian, I’ve been quick to defend my country, but more recently I’ve decided to take a more objective look at the games. Here are some facts.

The death of the Georgian luger before opening ceremonies was tragic. Let’s leave the fact at that and any questions about the track’s speed and the Georgian’s inexperience to the experts. We may never know.

The hydraulics failure during the opening ceremonies was embarrassing. Despite what many thought was a moving ceremony, the focus seemed to be on the hydraulics failure that left one arm of the Olympic cauldron stuck in the ground.

There’s an ugly chain link fence surrounding the Olympic cauldron. Spectators would like to get closer for better pictures.

Bad weather has caused delays, cancellations, and dangerous conditions on some courses throughout the Olympics. Many are criticizing the IOC for picking a city with such mild winters.

Biathlon officials and organizers made several mistakes. They held some athletes too long and released some too early at the events starting line.

Now, before we start defending the games or dubbing them the worst ever, let’s take a quick look at some other Olympic disasters and see how they match up against Vancouver.

1972 Munich Summer Olympics - The Munich Massacre.  “Five Arab terrorists wearing track suits climbed the six and 1/2 foot fence surrounding the Olympic Village in Munich, Germany. Once inside, they were met by three others who had gained entrance with credentials. Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five terrorists, and a German policeman were dead” (Source). This is a brief synopsis. Please check out articles for more details.

1976 Montreal Summer Olympics -  “The Olympics were a financial disaster for Montreal, as the city faced debts for 30 years after the Games had finished. The Quebec provincial government took over construction when it became evident in 1975 that work had fallen far behind schedule; work was still under way just weeks before the opening date, and the tower was not built. Mayor Jean Drapeau had confidently predicted in 1970 that “the Olympics can no more have a deficit than a man can have a baby”, but the debt racked up to a billion dollars that the Quebec government mandated the city pay in full” (Source). On top of that, Canada, the host country, finished with five silver and six bronze medals. This was the first time that the host country of the Summer Games won no gold medals. At the time of writing this, Canada has 2 gold medals.

1976 Denver Winter Olympics – Didn’t know Denver hosted the Olympics? That’s because they didn’t. The games were originally awarded to Denver in May 1970, but a 300 percent rise in costs and worries about environmental impact led to Colorado voters’ rejection in November 7, 1972, by a 3 to 2 margin, of a $5 million bond issue to finance the games with public funds. The Olympics ended up being in Innsbruck, Austria.

1980 Moscow Summer Olympics – 65 Countries and regions took part in the US led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games. With half the world not present, it hardly seems like an Olympics worth caring about.  For more info on the boycott click here.

1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics - “McDonald’s ran a promotion entitled “When the U.S. Wins, You Win” where customers scratched off a ticket and if the U.S. won that event then they would be given a free menu item: a Big Mac for a gold medal, an order of french fries for a silver medal, and a Coca-Cola for a bronze medal. The promotion became a near financial disaster due to the Soviet boycott which led to the U.S. winning far more Olympic medals than expected. This promotion was parodied in the The Simpsons episode where Krusty Burger runs a similar offer” (Source). This boycott was significantly smaller than the 1980 boycott, but it certainly eliminated some stiff competition for the US.

1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics – “The Atlanta Olympics were marred by the Centennial Olympic Park bombing on July 27. This bombing killed spectator Alice Hawthorne and wounded 111 others, and caused the death of Melih Uzunyol by heart attack.”

“A report prepared by European Olympic officials was critical of Atlanta’s performance in several key issues, including the level of crowding in the Olympic Village, the quality of available food, the accessibility and convenience of transportation, and the Games’ general atmosphere of commercialism. The opening ceremony, featuring 500 cheerleaders and 30 pickup trucks, was also “garish” by some observers and considered questionable in taste by many foreign visitors” (Source).

These are some of the Olympics tragedies and mishaps I’ve come across during my research. I’ve also noticed that small issues tend to be forgotten, but the large ones remain. It seems every snag during the Olympics raises the question, “Is this the worst Olympics ever?” Personally, I’m enjoying every minute of it and think people should stop being so pessimistic, but I thought I’d see what everyone else thought.

If you’re having trouble voting, just post your vote in the comments section and I’ll add it manually.