Nov 20 2024 - Succumbing to Black Friday

 

This is the first year that I've noticed the Black Friday ads justify themselves so far in advance of the actual Black Friday.  It works as it gets my attention. Then I wonder the worst case scenario.  Will it ever end? Will it continue after American Thanksgiving has come and gone?  I wonder these things.  It has already been successful in turning all of November into Black Friday month for Canadian shoppers. Maybe it will drift into December, too. Black Friday in Canada is "a significant cultural and retail event that kickstarts the holiday shopping season, reshaping the way Canadians shop and interact with retailers"  Really? That appears to be an opinion-piece statement.  It has lots off advertisements, so I guess that's the real purpose.   All the articles seem to be this way - they all have lots of ads on the best gifts and best deals.    So I took a look through what the National Post wants you to click through to.  It is HERE.   It is very entertaining. The site is lifehacks.com  and these are crazy things like a smart ring, the vital flex core (military method to lose weight). VI shift revolutionary glasses, fluffy zen pillow, the Ramona fire blanket (You see in ads everywhere)...   Wait there's one for me:  the pocket hose copper bullet - step up your gardening game!  And another that got my attention - see below the picture of a dog and a little four-wheeled vehicle.  It is a robot dog walker.  Can you see Millie dragging it along as she chases leaves?   Maybe it delivers parcels and walks the dog.

Here's my Black Friday picture.  Graffiti on a wall.

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Nov 19 2024 - EVs vs gasoline cars

 

Norway is the first country to have more fully electric cars than gas cars.   "Norway has long been a standout, with the highest level of EV market share of any country and an aspiration to end sales of new gas cars by 2025. And now, sometime in September 2024, Norway will have more electric cars on its roads than petrol-only vehicles, according to an analysis of Norwegian government data. It set another world record with 94% EV new car market share in August." We are behind by far in Canada.  The transition to EVs is targeted for 2035 in Canada.  In the chart showing all-electric vehicle share, Norway is at the top and Canada is in the bottom 3rd - below the global average of 11 percent - we're at 8 percent and the U.S. is 7 percent. And Ontario is at 6 percent - below the Canadian average.   I expect Norway has already made the shift to EV Repair Shops.  So the experiences can transport over here when we finally get there.   "How many parts are in EV vs ICE? There are only around 20 moving parts in an electric engine, compared with nearly 2,000 in an ICE (internal combustion engine), so your EV will need a lot less maintenance." One article says that as a ballpark figure only, you can expect to pay $4,600 less in repair and maintenance costs over the lifetime of an EV compared to petrol, or $947 less a year. The estimate of repair costs from accidents are considered to be higher.

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Nov 18 2024 - How does a hot dog get to be gourmet?

 

Didn't I read about a Michelin restaurant with gourmet hot dogs?  Or did I dream it?  I am cynical about hot dogs.   Even the google questions in People also ask contribute to cynicism:  Is there such a thing as a gourmet hot dog? Why do Costco hotdogs taste so good? How to upscale a hotdog? What are the most expensive hot dogs? Let's answer the last question:  "This $169 haute dog now holds the "world's most expensive" title. This hot dog from Tokyo Dog in Seattle rings up at $169.00 -- That's one haute dog. It's the most expensive, in fact, according to Guinness World Records, which crowned Tokyo Dog with the world title.  Here's the description:" It is a 12-inch smoked cheese bratwurst topped wit butter-teriyaki grilled onions, maitake mushrooms, wagyu beef, foie gras, shaved black truffles, caviar and Japanese mayo on a brioche bun." I remain skeptical.  The descriptions focus on the toppings and not the bratwurst sausage. We could just eat the yummy toppings and have a wonderful dish.   I go in search of the most famous gourmet bratwurst by looking for the Michelin Guide recommendations. There's Bratwursthäusle in Nuremberg, with the label "best in the world."  Besides the Michelin Guide our own PBS travel host Rick Steves recommends it.  The second is Zum Gulden Stern, again with a Michelin Guide recommendation.  One still wonders as the pictures show a rather boring plate of bare sausages and sauerkraut.  Not the sort of Michelin dish one would expect. Where are those yummy toppings?   We did get an answer to how hot dogs achieve gourmet, didn't we?  Make them expensive. Here's a picture that matches the topic.  This was at the Hawk Watch quite a few years ago and this is a picture of the reflections in the side of the french fry wagon.  I bet some hot dogs came along with the fries that day!

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Nov 17 2025 - Pitfalls vs Fidget Toys

 

There are lots of pitfalls on the internet.  But the word itself - pitfall.  This sounds medieval - falling into a pit.  Perhaps a barbaric punishment.  But no - it is mid-14th century - concealed hole into which a person or animal may fall unawares.  And then another definition is added - a hidden danger or concealed source of disaster. This picture was at the bottom of the definition.   It is much more interesting than 5 pitfalls of something or other.  It says three people bought this for $8.00 in the last 24 hours - on Etsy.  Rock Head Fidget Toy - so creepy we need to find out about it.

There's more - a fidget slug and bowl - no Rock head there.  "These fidget slugs are super cute and super wiggly! They make a slight sound when you move their plastic joints. Each fidget slug is rainbow and may have slight variations in the color of its joints and head. Slugs are 7.5 inches and weigh 8.8 grams." In fact there are a lot more toys like this.   "Fidget toys have surged in popularity not just as trendy gadgets, but also as essential tools that cater to a variety of needs. At their core, these toys are designed to help individuals channel restless energy, improve concentration, and reduce anxiety. "For many, the repetitive motion or tactile stimulation of a fidget toy can serve as a grounding mechanism, helping them stay present in the moment. This is particularly beneficial for children and adults with conditions like ADHD, where maintaining focus can be a challenge." There are all kinds - the fidget marble maze, fidget poppers, fidget spinner, fidget chair band, wobble cushion - a new version of worry beads which have existed for a long time.   And the success?   "The study suggests that while fidget toys might help reduce symptoms of hyperactivity when first introduced, this behavioral effect fades as the novelty wears off. And this relatively small behavioral benefit is outweighed by the devices' significant detrimental effects on attention." Sounds like a Christmas Day present.  Keep everyone busy for a few hours. Here's a new colour rendition of the pretty Sweet Autumn Clematis seed heads in Autumn.

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Nov 16 2024 - Ookpik Returns

 

I bought a winter coat and the brand is Ookpik.  I haven't seen the name Ookpik since the late 1960s.  The definition says it is a popular Inuit handicraft toy.  The description is:  a small souvenir owl with a large head and eyes, a beak and small black talons.  It was chosen as the Canadian symbol at one of the international trade shows in the 1960s.  It had a lot of popularity for a while. This picture shows the original that Jeannie Snowball created in 1965.  Doesn't it look creepy now.  Supposedly it has inquisitive eyes.  I remember these were for sale in the Canadian boutique at the Niagara Falls Skylon shop when I worked there.  I've put these out of mind.  They can be purchased on Etsy - looks like an Etsy kind of thing.

So I was wondering how it was that a coat brand would be named Ookpik. The Ookpik brand describes its relationship to the Canadian north mythology: "Founded in 2011 by Sylvain Roy, Ookpik has soared the skies of reputation, becoming a symbol of quality and reliability in North America and beyond. Our winter parkas and down jackets are the whispers of the Canadian winds, the warmth of the embracing snow, distributed across Canada, the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Europe, shining in over 450 points of sale." Who would guess that a coat could have such Romantic appeal and that the howling winds of winter become the "whispers of the Canadian winter winds."  There's no "warmth of embracing snow" in my mental synapses.  And our picture today is an abstract of the Sony Centre from a few years ago - it is reflected in a metal sculpture.

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