Ever since Tod Maffin‘s session at Barcamp I’ve been thinking about getting me some silicone. I have a nice, white, pristine MacBook and I need to protect it somehow.

Yesterday at the Apple Store in good ol’ Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, WA I checked out some possible keyboard covers. They were clear or white and cost $29.99 USD. I brought them over to John and he said ya know, we could probably just get that stuff at Future Shop or London Drugs. Well, he was right. I walked into London Drugs this afternoon and found me a silicone cover for $17.99.

Would anyone like to help me out with my silicone issue? I’d really like a cover like John Biehler‘s, I think his is green. Hey John! Where did you get yours? I’d prefer not to buy it online… I’d just like to find a local store that has a simple keyboard (only) cover for the MacBook 13.3″. If anyone can help me out, get me a deal or supply with me one I’d fully promote the heck of out it on my site, thanks!

We’re almost through Season 4 of Rescue Me. I spotted Denis Leary wearing a BC Lions shirt earlier in the season and scooped a screenshot on Episode 11.

We know Leary is a hockey fan and although I’m pretty sure we may never see him in a Canucks jersey, it was kinda neat to catch a local connection on one of our favourite shows.

Season 4 of Rescue Me is now airing in Canada on Showcase, Tuesday nights at 10.

John’s got us in a habit of ‘morning walks’ lately and it’s no secret that one of our favourite places to trek around in the city is Stanley Park. We’re in there at least once a week and have been following its progress since the storms last December when thousands of trees were toppled.

I’ve blogged about the storm and the lack of progress in the restorations although it seems that recently they’ve cleaned up about 98% of trails, making them clear and open for foot traffic again. I don’t think we had to climb up over any fallen logs this morning (or fall off them… ahem) but the Sea Wall is still closed along the North side.

Unfortunately repairs on the Wall are so slow moving that the lack of action is causing parts to crumble, bubble up and deteriorate even more. But where it hurts the most, is over at Prospect Point. This is one of the most popular tourist stops in the Park, probably the City, and it seems as though the Parks Board is catering to that, naturally.

To create space for the parking lot, loggers have clear-cut an area the size of a football field, a move that alarmed one visitor, but will be to the benefit of the park in the long-term [CBC]

After reading the CBC story above I was pretty outraged, but it was only a few hours later that this news story appeared to do some damage control.

They’re not paving Prospect Point and putting up a parking lot.

That’s Vancouver Park Board chair Ian Robertson’s response to a CBC report the scenic, albeit windstorm-ravaged, tourist mecca at the northern tip of Stanley Park was being razed to make way for more parking [The Province]

In the Province article they say the CBC’s story “sensationalized” the scene and that it is not by any means a “clear cut”. When John mentioned going for a walk this morning I suggested we check this out for ourselves.

Unfortunately since it was raining when we left the house I didn’t bring a camera but we did spot the area in question and I have to say, my heart sank. Not as much as when we first surveyed the destruction of the storms but it was pretty close since I know for a fact this was man-made.

The photo above is pre-storm from Google Maps but you can see by the area gridded out in the red, just how large of a cut has been made… for a parking lot. But hey, apparently there’s hope.

…the existing parking lot at Prospect Point will be torn up and replanted with trees once the re-routed roadway and new angled parking are completed… …Even part of the area now being cleared for the roadwork… …will get a replanting. [The Province]

I really don’t know, it seems like for some the storm was a blessing – it gave them the go ahead to mass produce more concrete and space for cars driven by tourist dollars. Sure replanting is great and needed but you know what, I’ll believe all of this ‘for the better of the park’ talk when I see it.

When John told me this morning he heard on the radio that Matthew Good was going to be playing the Molson Brewery I did a double take.

The Molson Brewery? The one in Kits? Near the Burrard Bridge? Matthew Good… at the Brewery? Yeah I’m sure you get the gist. Well it’s true, CFOX is doing another one of their ‘uninvited guest’ concerts, which usually take place in backyards about Metro Vancouver. They invite a bunch of people, have a lil concert and do a broadcast.

Unfortunately reading the “rules and regulations” I am immediately disqualified (and not because I’m not of legal drinking age), which pretty much sucks. I’m still looking forward to seeing how this event unfolds and maybe the terms by which I am disqualified might actually work to my advantage, at least here’s hoping.

In Episode #138 we serve it up Canuck style with a wholesome helping of Canadian content.

What’s Can-Con you ask? Well tune right in while we educate the masses about how broadcasters in Canada are required by law to give Canadian artists and Canadian produced music 35% of their airplay.

We talk about the artists and the MAPL system, all while playing six rockin tracks. Songs are played with permission or found on IODA Promonet or the Podsafe Music Network.

Visit the RadioZoom site for show notes and band links or click here for the mp3 – (Run time 43:57)

I was perusing my one of the newest additions to my blogroll and found this post about the ‘Seven Wonders of Vancouver’.

I just came across a nifty website (one of perhaps many that I am not aware of) that actually showcases the multicultural diversity that we have in Vancouver: The Source newspaper… …I read a piece they wrote on the seven wonders of Vancouver, which (according to a survey cited by author Amelia Pourian) are:
* Stanley Park
* Grouse Mountain
* Robson Street
* The international cuisine
* The sea wall
* Vancouver Art Gallery
* English Bay

Hmmm… This is worth discussing. I personally enjoy Deep Cove enormously (and since Grouse Mountain is considered still Vancouver, my preference is valid!).
[From Raul @ Hummingbird604]

Photo credit: Duane Storey on Flickr

I already commented on Raul’s post about how I can probably see, in some way or another, how those seven things would be highly regarded – all except for Robson Street… seriously.

The original article states: “The seven wonders of Vancouver act as beacons, as well as reminders of Vancouver’s history. It is a history which transcends through the character of these wonders. As Vancouver continues to grow with every passing year and becomes the holding ground for internationally televised events, more tourists flock to the city.” [TheSource]. Yes I see them as beacons for tourists.

Stanley Park, agreed. Grouse Mountain, yes. The cuisine, oh man yes, so yummy. The Sea Wall? Yeah perhaps if they’d get busy fixing it… The VAG? sure, yes. English Bay? Hmm… okay it’s nice, I like to take a walk down there sometimes with my sweetheart but what about the sunsets from Third Beach? Or Sunset Beach? Or Wreck/Pacific Spirit Park?

Wreck beach was actually listed as one of Canada’s wonders in a recent CBC poll, the Seven Wonders of Canada. Even Number 5 Road in Richmond topped the nation’s list for its multiculturalism. Other ‘wonders’ from BC were Cathedral Grove on the island (which is truly amazing), Haida Gwaii, the Spiral Tunnels and the Rockies.

Head over to Raul’s site to leave a comment to discuss or post one below, what do YOU think are the “seven wonders” of Vancouver? Feel free to agree/disagree with anything on the current list or create your own… like Mui Garden in the Robson Market who does in fact ‘probably’ have the best curry in the world.

About 2 years ago when I was chillin in Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, Iowa, I bought some sunglasses. Actually, we bought them from one of those independent mid-mall carts, 2 for $20. Mine finally busted a few weekends ago in Osoyoos and John‘s bit the dust just the other day. Both events have sent us into a frantic search for new shades. Well, I was doing okay wearing an old pair until John looked at me yesterday and commented on how “1992″ my sunglasses were. That was actually the last straw and thus I initiated my sunglass hunt.

Now I’ve written about the magic of the Bay’s jean department downtown but apparently it’s a hot spot for sunglasses as well. I left work sick today and after stopping off at The Bay’s “PharmaMart” to pick up Puffs, DayQuill and a bottle of water I went upstairs to meet John who was milling about downtown and wanted to walk me home. He mentioned getting sunglasses, and since I the DayQuill I had just popped was starting to kick in, I figured a quick detour wouldn’t hurt.

On the main floor, past the fragrances and before you get to the shoes, there’s an entire sunglass department with about 20+ rotating displays. Roots, Fossil, Jones New York, Nine West, Guess, Esprit and everything else under the sun are all on sale. As I’ve said before, it’s not like I care about name brands at all, the key word here is “sale”. All of the glasses are $15 – $50 and everything is 40% off. John’s total was $11 and mine was $18, we walked away all stylin’ for under $30. Sure, they’re no Coral Ridge mall two-fer special, but they’ll do.

If there’s one movie I’ve heard people talking about all summer, that isn’t The Simpsons, it’s Halloween. Why is there so much buzz, is it because people just like scary movies? Well yes, that and this is a Rob Zombie production based on John Carpenter‘s screenplay.

After being committed for 17 years, Michael Myers, now a grown man and still very dangerous, is mistakenly released from the mental institution (where he was committed as a 10 year old) and he immediately returns to Haddonfield, where he wants to find his baby sister, Laurie. Anyone who crosses his path is in mortal danger.[IMDB]

As with the premiere of Rush Hour 3, I have been invited to attend the midnight screening of Halloween at the Rio on Broadway. In the same fashion as the Rush Hour escapade, we’re going to make it a girls night. Of course I’m going to bring the same two girls as last time because I’ve heard them chat and gush about Rob Zombie flicks often – even when we were waiting outside the Rio last month.

The Rio is premiering Halloween tonight, then it will be showing daily at 7:00pm and 9:30pm throughout the next week. I’ll report back after the screening so I can probably share how freaked out I am, whether it be from the movie or the cab ride back downtown.

The Rio is located at 1660 E Broadway. Movie tickets at $8 for first-run shows and $5 on Tuesdays.