Wrath of Lamb July 30/10

I don't usually like getting emails with dumb riddles or jokes, or lists and stuff, but I got one awhile ago that I thought was kinda interesting. It was about the hardest English word for people who are learning our language to grasp the meaning of.

The word is 'Up'.

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or the opposite of down, but in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, why is someone UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends, we brighten UP a room, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen... then lock UP the house. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. 

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special. And this is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! In a regular dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, think UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

I'll wrap it UP...

Wrath of Lamb July 29/10

So, I got a little upset yesterday when Dylan said he had never heard of Ansel Adams. He's a famous American photographer who took alot of black and white pictures of nature, back in the day. I thought it was ridiculous that someone wouldn't know who Ansel Adams was. Well, we went around the station here and did a poll, and it turns out Dylan's not alone.

Of the 21 people we asked, 5 knew who Ansel Adams was, and 16 had no idea. Wow. So, I conceded defeat to Dylan, like the big man that I am. But it still bothers me that so many people are clueless to cultural history.

I bet more people could name three Lady Gaga songs, than three famous Renaissance painters. People watch Big Brother without any idea who George Orwell is. And they think Fellini is a type of pasta.

Maybe this is the old guy in me talking, but what are we teaching the kids in school these days?

Wrath of Lamb July 28/10

So, this weekend is the BC Day long weekend. A lot of people will be camping, or bar-b-queing with some beers in their backyard, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the holiday. I think everyone should take a moment to really reflect on just how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful and interesting part of the world. There are about 4-million people living in BC, most of them on the southwest coast. We are home to rainforests, deserts, world class skiing, fishing, mountain climbing, surfing and hundreds of amazing lakes, rivers and streams.

The best marijuana in the world is grown in BC, and some of the best wine is produced here too. We have more than our share of mythical beasts... including the Ogopogo lake monster, the Cadboro-saurus and Bigfoot.... this might be closely linked to the fact that we grow the best marijuana in the world.

We are home to more than 40 different ethnic groups, speaking more than 30 languages. So, be proud to live in such a beautiful and diverse place. Trust me, when people visit here from other parts of the world, they are completely blown away that somewhere like this even exists. So, make a toast to BC this weekend and be proud to be a British Columbian.

Wrath of Lamb July 26/10

Today is Mick Jagger's birthday. The man is 67 years old. I know this is a modern rock station, but it's important to remember where the roots of rock n roll came from. And the Rolling Stones are most definitely a major influence on a lot of what you hear today. If you're one of the uninitiated, it's important to know that the Stones are much much more than 'Satisfaction' and 'Start Me Up'. Over the past 45 years or so, the band has released more than two dozen studio albums, 90 singles and many live and bootleg albums. Let's be honest, nothing past about 1982 is worth listening to, but if you delve deep into their older work, you'll find they produced some really amazing music back in the day. I suggest you check out a couple different albums. 'Exile on Main Street' is a classic, down and dirty rock album, while 'Some Girls' is just awesome from start to finish. And the song 'Memory Motel' off the Black and Blue album is one of the best songs ever recorded in my opinion. So, happy birthday Mick Jagger... you're one of the biggies.

Wrath of Lamb July 23/10

The Tour De France finishes on Sunday, and I just wanted to say Go Ryder Go. Ryder Hesjedal is 8th place overall right now, and continues to gain ground every stage of the race. He has quickly turned into a Canadian sports hero, and he's from right here in beautiful Victoria. He's on his way to delivering the best performance by a Canadian at the Tour since 1988, when Steve Bauer finished fourth overall.

Pretty impressive. It's pretty amazing the talent that has come from our sleepy little Island town. We produced Steve Nash, one of the best basketball players in the world. And constantly see world class musicians, actors and artists coming out of our city. Nelly Furtado, Hot Hot Heat, Atom Egoyan, David Foster, Emily Carr... the list goes on. Must be something in the water.

So, I encourage everyone to cheer on Ryder Hesjedal this weekend as he makes his way to the finish line at the Tour De France. Another amazing Victorian.

Wrath of Lamb July 22/10

I want to talk about the double rainbow guy. Most of you have probably seen the video by now... it's shot by a crazy hippie guy who sees a double rainbow while he's camping at Yosemite Park in the US. He is more than just a little excited about the whole thing... This guy is REALLY into the double rainbow, he even starts crying and keeps saying 'What does this MEAN??!!!', like it's some message of good fortune from God or something.

It seems like maybe this guy is enjoying some organic alternative reality. And by that, I mean the dude is completely blasted on muggers. But this video has gone seriously viral... at last count there were about six and a half million views. There's even parodies and songs popping up...

The enthusiastic guy who shot the video is Paul Vasquez, also known as 'Hungry Bear'. He's been on talk shows, he's become an internet superstar, he's hired an agent, and he has his own website now where you can buy double rainbow merchandise. This crazy hippie guy from California has become rich and famous...

And you know what?

THAT'S what the double rainbow meant!

Whoa.