Where are the Real Deals on Boxing Day?

People lining up in front of a well-known fashion chain only for a regular 25% off "sales event..." Shoppers thinking they are getting their bang for the buck by falling into the common "buy one get 2nd at 50% off" gimmicks... Throngs of desperate souls filling major electronic stores reaping anything they could find in sight, which brought me to the memories of brainless zombies purchasing Nortel stocks before the explosion of the all-mighty tech bubble in 2001 (the satisfaction of having a breath of fresh air was comparable to getting a 20 karat diamond ring)...

These were the common sights when I visited Coquitlam Centre on Boxing Day. I simply couldn't imagine what it was like in Metrotown, Robson Street, or Richmond Centre. Perhaps we should rename today into "The Day of the Apocalypse," as the term perfectly described the absolute chaos out there in malls and other major shopping districts.

Who told me to wake up so late this morning at 8:30? All the real deals were gone out within the first 30 minutes after the stores opened its doors (usually between 7-8am). However, increasingly stores are acting like scrooges in terms of boxing day sales as years progressed. I was able to land myself some items during the late 90s, but I was shut out from getting anything on Boxing Day for the past four years... and counting. This year was no exception.

Oh well, enough with the ranting. I should start packing for the return trip to Toronto.

Before I resign from my faithful laptop, here is a nice little music video on NBC's Saturday Night Live featuring Justin Timberlake (which is the number one video for the past two weeks after it was uploaded onto Youtube)...

Back in Vancouver... with a Stomach Flu

What else can I say? Even though I had the flu shot two weeks ago when I was still in Toronto*, unfortunately I am not immune to stomach flu (it has been bugging me since I first had my annual flu shot 5 years ago -- after getting hit with the bug every Christmas). I even vomited this morning after drinking two cups of water, and was sleeping for most of the day. This means the end of my plan of heading out to take pictures in Downtown Vancouver and Spanish Banks this week.

*It was free to all students and faculty at York, but we had to be guinea pigs for nursing students so they can practice poking needles at people. Thankfully my shot was as painless as it could be.

The Nintendo 64 Kid and Macrohard's Voice Wreck-cognition

First video:



Even though this is half a year old (not to mention about the console itself), but I still find the video to be very funny...

Meanwhile, is this the reason why Macrohard delayed the launch of Windows Vista?



Even Bill Gates fell victim to the Blue Screen of Death when promoting Windows 98 in Chicago ages ago.

Prince Charles Plants Tree... and Himself, While Ignatieff Pulls a Bush

First of all, looks like our dear old Prince Charles is trying to plant himself into the dirt of Sierra Leone, hoping to grow a crown out of his head. (Pic taken by AFP - found in today's Toronto Star, A15)

On the other hand, Canadian Liberal leader candidate Michael Ignatieff needs to know how to pose in front of camera before the next vote. Haven't we seen enough of the following pic? (Pic above taken by CP, while the pic below is obviously photoshopped)

If Quebec Becomes a Nation, then What About Leafs Nation?

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE URBAN VOYEUR BLOG, PLEASE GO TO: http://theurbanvoyeur.blogspot.com

Yes the people of Leafs Nation have "suffered" long enough under a series of ill-managed regimes in the past few decades and discriminatory policies by Gary Bettman and the NHL in NYC. Therefore it makes sense that if Quebec is categorized as a "nation" by Steven Harper's Conservatives, then the hordes of Leafs fans too should receive the same designation...

Unfortunately, that would be the last thing to pursue by any ruling federal government in Ottawa, or else the rest of Canada would certainly want to separate from Southern Ontario (East of London and West of Kingston). This is not to mention that hockey in the rest of the Great White North coast to coast went through a golden age (the addition of Canadian NHL franchises between 1970 and 1992 [Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Quebec], the Habs dynasty in the 70s, and the emergence of Flames and Oilers as hockey powers in the 80s).

This issue was raised in today's Toronto Star, with an editoral cartoon followed by an inexhaustive list of unique Canadian/"ethnic" cultures that could be categorized as individual "nations" as well. The cartoon can be found here. Sadly, I wasn't able to find the link to the related news article on Toronto Star's website.

May this person be able to proudly wear the jersey for eternity!