Up in Ontario

Open Brackets closes shop

The online word of blogs and webaphenelia today courses a little less interesting.

Gail Armstrong has ceased to write Open Brackets. And I just discovered it now because in my feed reader I had been saving her posts for a time when I could appreciate them, properly.

A fine, human mind has left us. To wit, examples: Flights of fancy and The evils of boredom.

I will miss her writing and the character it hinted at.

Made to Break author on CBC Radio tomorrow

Tomorrow on CBC Radio One's afternoon program BC Almanac at 1:30 pm (PST), Giles Slade will be a guest. Giles is the writer of Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America and a friend of the Up in Ontario editorial staff.

BC Almanac styles itself as call in show, so if you're available and inspired to do more than just listen, then be sure to call in. In Vancouver (604) 669-3733 or toll free 1-800-825-5950.

In the meantime, please reuse and recycle this holiday season. The following links may be of some service if you or someone you know expects to get something gadgetish.

• Environment Canada's electronics recycling program outline
• Electronics Product Stewardship Canada
• Natural Resources Canada: Office of Energy Efficiency and ENERGY STAR
• RBRC: Call2Recycle
• University of Victoria: Environmental Indicators
• Apple Computers: Electronic Recycling
• Dell Computers: Recycling
• Hewlett-Packard: Return & Recycling
• Bell Mobility: Recycle, Reuse, Redial
• Fido: Handset and battery recycling or disposal
• Rogers Wireless: Phones for Food
• Telus Mobility: Return & Recycle

Thanks to Anne for the links.

Salmon Tales Wild Apparel: t-shirts and creepers

My friend Aileen makes some neat-o-keen original silk-screened tees and creepers. And she sells them to good folks like you, too. Have a look at her advert below and consider something a little different for Christmas this year.

Ordering Details

T-shirts are from American Apparel. There's no tax. Shipping costs extra. For orders, Aileen needs you to specify design and size. Photos available of most designs, if you'd like to see 'em.

Toddler T images (as above):

• "Butter-fly"


• "dandi-lion"


• "shrimp"


• "jelly"


• "wild"


• "star"

Adult T images (as above):

• machine salmon "keep salmon wild"


• machine salmon "factory farm fresh"


• 70's lady "Just add color"

Documentary of Winnipeg's Slurpee obsession

File this under Too Good to be True, a documentary filmmaker is seeking out Winnipeg's Slurpee obsessed.

Winnipeggers' fixation with Slurpees — the sweet, slushy ice-based drink consumed in such large quantities here that 7-Eleven has made the city "Slurpee capital of the world" — has inspired an American filmmaker to make a documentary about it.

Alex Perez, a 23-year-old North Carolina filmmaker, will come to Winnipeg from Dec. 16 to 21 to shoot his documentary.

"Being a fan of Slurpees myself, I found out that Winnipeg was the 'Slurpee capital' and thought that would make a great idea for a film," he said Tuesday. "And it kind of snowballed from there, you could say."

My friend, LD, must be the leading candidate for a starring role. His Slurpee dedication is hearty and fierce. His Super Big Grip cup has the miles to prove it.

Slurpees play an important social role in Winnipeg. I remember countless times picking people up to go for a Slurpee in the summer. After you finish playing shinny on the outdoor rinks you hit the 'Sev (7-Eleven) for a Slurpee. When you're working outside on a hot summer day, nothing says relief like a large brown Slurpee.

Every Christmas Eve for years my brother and I would head to 7-Eleven for a Slurpee and black licorice, and we'd play Star Wars pinball. By then we were pretty good at the game, could shoot the death star, and a few credits lasted about half an hour. It was late and the streets were pretty much empty of cars when we left, 7-Eleven the only place open.

5 things you might not know about me

Using my subtle powers of deflection, I'll answer a tag for AdHack, that do-it-yourself advertising community that I'm working on, over here. The substance of the tag? Five things you don't know about me (from Monique).

1. I have had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee three times. I first hurt it playing football and the first two surgeries were diagnostic and to correct the injury, in that order. Then this past summer I hurt it again doing some training and had to have it 'scoped in September.
2. I believe that people should clean their own homes. I have nothing against cleaning services. Some of my best friends have cleaning services. But they're not for me. I think you should choose to take care of yourself. I know, no one wants to clean the bathroom. But the bathroom has to get cleaned. You make the mess, you clean the mess.
3. I almost cut off the index finger on my left hand working at a table saw at a summer job in university. Next time we see each other, have a look at the divot in the finger that remains.
4. My middle name is Robert, which makes me a Jim Bob, if you're into diminuatives.
5. I have a secret ability to nickname people. Hang around long enough and you'll get nicknamed.

In honour of my friend Crazy Craig, I'm going to stay it in this game of tag. Craig used to get tagged and someone would call out, 'You're it!' and he'd smile and say, 'Yup, I'm it.'

I nicknamed him Max, for no reason. He and his wife are expecting at the end of January. They'll be calling their son Max.

Max Dunn. It sounds like a super hero.