Monthly Archives: October 2008

Imagine a world where you could actually trust the internet.  Actually trust that companies are who they say they are.  That you can enter in your personal information such as credit card numbers without fear of having your identity stolen.  That your computer and the people who use it are safe.
Almost everything I do on the internet would be different.  I’d buy more, do more, open more emails, and have a little less fear of what my kids are doing on the computer.  Comodo has been working diligently on that.  Their products, like firewall, are definitely a step in the right direction.  
What about those sites that promise free downloads or free software?  Once you get down to it, you realize that free isn’t always free.  Comodo has a line of free products.  And their free actually means free.  It even says it just like that on their site Free (means free)Products.  Check it out here.
Free software that could make users more confident in a Trusted Internet.  That’s definitely a great idea that many people would be interested in.  Everyone is interested in keeping their children safe, their home safe, their family members safe.  One thing that is often neglected is PC safety.  These other more important worries drown out some of the smaller worries.  Since PC’s are used in so many ways in the home by all family members, these larger interests are actually protected as well when your PC is protected.  I cannot wait to see the trusted internet idea turn into a reality.  They are definitely coming closer!

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It seems like the time of year that everyone is going somewhere. A bunch of Mark’s family is going to New York for his Grandmother’s 100th birthday. Yeah, that’s right 100! And a bunch of my girlfriends are heading down to Las Vegas to catch the Madonna show. If I were them I’d get a las vegas strip map.
When I went down there to get married to my first husband, we wandered way off the strip after we got totally lost. We were looking for the Elvis Chapel but ended up in major gang territory. We got lucky and one of the drug dealers with a gun decided to take pity on us and escort us back to the strip. I think that I really owe that guy — although maybe if I’d gotten shot, I wouldn’t have married such a doofus! Oh well, live and learn. I just wish we were travelling somewhere too. I start to feel a little stagnant when I’m at home too long. Travelling to the grocery store is a big deal for me right now though so I guess I should stick close to home. Continue reading →

The feds recently announced that they had foiled a plan by two neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate Barak Obama as well as to kill or injure 88 others.
Now knowing how many crazies there are out there, I can not really say that surprises me. It was bound to happen (and sadly is likely to happen again). What really did surprise me was how much the suspect looks just like Britney Spears last year after she shaved her head. Coincidence? Maybe… You be the judge.
Also, is it just me or is the tough guy with the Nazi tattoo and the big gun is also wearing more lipstick than Britney?

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Lately I’ve become really interested in how some artists are turning one person’s trash into another person’s treasure.  I’ve written 8 articles so far on this concept and will surely write more.  The idea of turning garbage into an art medium is so creative that you cannot help but fall in love with the idea even if you aren’t artistically inclined yourself.  In a world that seems to be overflowing with garbage, this idea of a sustainable source of artistic material has come of age.  Check out the links below if you want to see some pics of what I mean!
Artistic Recycling: Five Interesting Maps
How does society view the object that it throws away in comparison to the object it treasures? Upcycling is changing people’s minds and hearts when they stop to reconsider what is “garbage”.
Artistic Recycling: Incredible Upcycled Dresses
This is the sixth article in my “Artistic Recycling” series, which highlights creative ways to reuse what most people would throw away and transform it into objects of great value. This article features paper dresses of Susan Stockwell. Continue reading →

We watched the Amazing Race last night, like we usually do. I love to see all the fabulous destinations that they travel to. Last night, they went to Cambodia and had to race through a Buddhist temple looking for a special echo chamber to find their clue. The architecture was absolutely amazing and the look at Cambodian life was very touching. It’s amazing how we can be sitting around talking about getting our toddler a digital camera while children on the other side of the world who are no less cute, smart, worthy, friendly, etc. are literally starving to death. It makes you realize how bizarre the world is, how unfair it is and how you really need to do something.
World Vision has this amazing gift guide where you can actually do something. They proclaim themselves to be Canada’s most meaningful Christmas gifts. You can buy anything from a baby piglet for $40 to a dairy cow for $600. They have wonderful gift ideas for teachers and educators on your Christmas list too — brand new textbooks to teach an entire classroom for $30 or even a backpack and school supplies for a child in need in Canada for $25. Some people on my list will definitely be getting some of these gifts, along with some more materialistic ones. Check it out at www.worldvision.ca Continue reading →

It’s that time of year again when everyone is starting to make their Christmas lists in the family. I hope to have some stuff for the kids at least posted shortly in case anyone wants to get a jump start on their shopping. The malls are already packed every weekend. One thing for sure that I know is on Paula’s wish list is some new Kohler faucets. All of the faucets on the upper two level of our house are the cheapest ones that they could buy. Our house was built by one of those people who just builds houses and flips them so the choices they made on finishes are not ideal. She loves the kitchen and hard wood floor but the carpet and especially faucets have got to go! Kohler makes about the best faucets available on the market and she really loves all their bathroom design software that’s available on line.
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Emma has only one princess movie, Snow White. She loves it and has to watch it with her stuffed snow white. She is constantly getting me to turn it on and then leaving the room. I’m probably watching it more than she is. It’s one of my favourites even though it’s totally sexist. Snow White is a classic that is unchangeable. So what if it makes her want to clean — that’s good news for me!

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Swiss Army is famous for their gadget knives. Every man from their teenage years to their golden years owns one. They’re famous for their quality and ingenuity. But who knew that Swiss Army Victorinox carried more than knives? They’ve got a whole line of men’s and women’s apparel, cutlery, timepieces, pocket tools and Swiss Army luggage. I knew about the luggage only because Kris had a Swiss Army backpack for school one year. The quality of it, like the knives, was great. I’m thinking about getting Christopher the rescue tool for Christmas — it has a seat belt cutter, glass shatterer and a bottle opener in case he has time to stop the rescue for a beer! Continue reading →

Mark registered Emma for a winter session of ballet! I’m super excited for the class to start. I took baby ballet when I was a kid too and kept it up until I was about 8 or 9. Emma loves dancing like a ballerina around the house already so I can’t imagine what she’ll be like when her class actually starts. She’ll be almost as excited as me, I hope! Don’t worry, we’ll post lots of pictures!!!

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There are some really cool new watches out there including ones on electronic paper that bend around your wrist or have bluetooth or Linux compatability. All of these watches that I’ve mentioned, believe it or not, are Seiko watches. They’re not just your average low end watch anymore but come in a huge array of designs and emerging technologies. They literally have everything you can imagine and then some. Watches aren’t just for telling time anymore.

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