tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827108473636328582024-03-13T17:17:50.016-07:00Ken SymesSo what is Ken Symes up to on the Internet?Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-12594362629908580962014-01-29T19:22:00.001-08:002014-01-29T19:36:06.597-08:00Eric Church, are you sure about Tom & Jerry?<p>Country music stations have been reporting that country music singer Eric Church has banned the old Tom & Jerry cartoons from his house. Yeah, I know that sounds strange and certainly not newsworthy, but, seriously, this is the kind of thing that they talk about on country music stations. It’s a big deal that the country singer behind the song “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tGHyNpOQL0" target="_blank">Sinners Like Me</a>” has banned Tom & Jerry in his house.</p><iframe height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Dpzxsb41_RE?start=32" frameborder="0" width="480" allowfullscreen></iframe> <p>Eric Church says, “I love Tom and Jerry, right? And what you don’t realize when you watch Tom and Jerry… with your 2-year-old and you see Tom take an axe and try to hit Jerry, and Jerry blow up Tom, you don’t understand, he doesn’t get it.” <p>“So then all of the sudden, Boone’s pulling my hair, slapping me, hitting Katherine,” the singer adds. “And I’m trying to figure out (how) in one week I’ve lost control of this child.” <p>Really? Then the radio station adds, “After tracing back their activities, Church and his wife realized something: Boone learned those behaviors from ‘Tom and Jerry.’” <p>OK, point taken, but, listen up, Eric. I’m a few years ahead of you in this whole fatherhood thing. When you and I were kids and we watched Tom & Jerry every morning before we went to school and guess what? We didn’t go around slapping kids, hitting the teacher or running with an axe to try to hit our parents. Chill, man. Explain it to the boy. Maybe listening to good ole Tom sing a mighty fine country song will help you chill. What a classic! Here’s to Tom & Jerry.</p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:34188e6f-de13-49b9-944d-e8b364bdecec" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">IceRocket Tags: <a href="http://blogs.icerocket.com/search?q=EricChurch" rel="tag">EricChurch</a>,<a href="http://blogs.icerocket.com/search?q=TomandJerry" rel="tag">TomandJerry</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-83523091542998916152014-01-19T17:17:00.001-08:002014-01-19T17:17:36.204-08:00Countdown to Roll Up the Rim to Win!<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P1v7He6l6fQ/Utx5KA3WybI/AAAAAAAAJWY/XbjMVME44LU/s1600-h/rollup%25255B37%25255D.jpg"><img title="rollup" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="rollup" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v9uIZSlrwTk/Utx5LKs3KFI/AAAAAAAAJWg/Gh3A3fc-KKY/rollup_thumb%25255B35%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="216"></a>There’s less than a month to go now until you’ll join me in drinking the most Tim Hortons coffee we’ll drink all year. Yep, <em>Roll Up the Rim to Win</em> returns on February 17th. Maybe I’ll actually win something more than a donut this year. So, remember, if you buy me a coffee, the prize is still mine, right?</p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:62184484-728f-4c3d-a637-07f9d7269872" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TimHortons" rel="tag">TimHortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/coffee" rel="tag">coffee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/KenSymes" rel="tag">KenSymes</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-68000375358041517052011-03-22T13:11:00.001-07:002011-03-22T13:11:09.352-07:00Coffee, chocolate and Canada<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NV-jHrFI6ZQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="525" height="424" allowfullscreen></iframe> <p> If you have my kind of luck with Tim Hortons Roll-up-the-Rim, you might be happy to find out that Country Style will give you a free coffee for your “Please Play Again” rim tab. But only for this week. And only a medium coffee. Only one per day.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYkCV3WpkgI/AAAAAAAAEHs/t6Pyf4sfDiY/s1600-h/sorry-try-again-country-style%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="sorry-try-again-country-style" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="259" alt="sorry-try-again-country-style" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYkCWW5L3jI/AAAAAAAAEHw/i0u8m_4l510/sorry-try-again-country-style_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="252" align="left" border="0"></a> And only at participating locations. It’s actually a brilliant marketing strategy because they can actually get Timmies customers like me into their coffee shop instead. I’m going to look for one on my way to work tonight. But they are totally undermining the campaign with all the stupid conditions. Why only for one week? Why only a medium? Why only one per day? They could not afford to pay for the buzz that would be generated if they just got the word out that you can redeem your Timmies “Play Again” for a free coffee. If they had kept it simple they would’ve gotten a great response. Instead they’ve taken a good idea and pretty much ruined it. Sure, I’m going to try it out today because I’m a cheapskate.</p> <p>You’ll want to think twice before having a chocolate donut or chocolate bar with your coffee. You won’t believe what I’ve been finding out about the dark side of chocolate. 15,000 slaves work in the cocoa jungles of Ivory Coast.<a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2011/03/giving-up-chocolate-for-lent.html" target="_blank"><img title="Mars Caramel" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="166" alt="Mars Caramel" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYkCWmPh5JI/AAAAAAAAEH0/Xdu4fcNntuI/Mars%20Caramel%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" align="right" border="0"></a> These are child slaves trafficked from other countries, especially poverty-stricken Burkino Faso. They are part of the 200,000 children who work in cocoa production in Ivory Coast. They work with dangerous tools, for long hours and without pay. Most of these children will never go to school. Without their labour, we couldn’t enjoy our Mars, Snickers and Kit Kats. I think it’s time for Christians to stand up to the chocolate companies and call for reform, now. Please check out my blog posts or at least the video documentary I’ve included. <br><strong><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2011/03/giving-up-chocolate-for-lent.html" target="_blank">Giving up chocolate for Lent, maybe for life by Ken Symes</a> <br><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-should-we-respond-to-bitter-truth.html" target="_blank">How should we respond to the bitter truth about chocolate? by Ken Symes</a></strong></p> <p>Finally, it’s a crazy mixed up week in Canadian politics. It looks as though the House of Commons is going to find the government to be in contempt of Parliament. Serious breach of protocol and it would be the first time it’s ever happened. Plus the budget. Plus all the election speculation. <a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-ezekiel-bulver-assumes-youre-wrong.html" target="_blank"><img title="Baird sick with anger" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="248" alt="Baird sick with anger" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYkCXIxmnOI/AAAAAAAAEH4/RM7cro_KSp4/Baird%20sick%20with%20anger%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" align="right" border="0"></a> One thing is certain: House Leader John Baird is the perfect illustration for Ezekiel Bulver and Bulverism. If you’ve never read C.S. Lewis describing Ezekiel Bulver and Bulverism, you’ll want to check out the readings this week at <em>Mere C.S. Lewis</em>. Basically, Ezekiel Bulver does not really engage in true constructive argument or debate. In fact, he ruins debate. Instead of countering your points, Bulver attacks your personally, makes fun of you, tries to show everyone why YOU must be wrong. But Bulver never actually refutes your ideas. Lewis is concerned that Bulver represents the end of public discourse. A while ago I chose John Baird to be a poster representation of Ezekiel Bulver. And has he ever been true to form ever since I chose him! Yesterday as Michael Ignatieff calls the government to account for its contempt of Parliament, Bulver’s response, I mean, Baird’s response was to question how Ignatieff could know what he was talking about since he lived outside of the country?!? No courage. No counterpoint. No attempt to prove his opponent wrong, just plain character assassination. 1 for Bulver, 0 for Canada. Check out: <strong><a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-ezekiel-bulver-assumes-youre-wrong.html" target="_blank">Why Ezekiel Bulver assumes you’re wrong by C.S. Lewis</a></strong>. </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9e1be718-0275-4c87-a1f9-a639ceb6045e" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/John+Baird" rel="tag">John Baird</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ezekiel+Bulver" rel="tag">Ezekiel Bulver</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/C.S.+Lewis" rel="tag">C.S. Lewis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate" rel="tag">chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/slavery" rel="tag">slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lent" rel="tag">Lent</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Michael+Ignatieff" rel="tag">Michael Ignatieff</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kit+Kat" rel="tag">Kit Kat</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Snickers" rel="tag">Snickers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mars" rel="tag">Mars</a></div><strong></p></strong> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-6222814116223081772011-03-17T07:40:00.001-07:002011-03-17T07:40:22.322-07:00St. Patrick’s Day: Shake and Pray<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdN4i2qzI/AAAAAAAAEGI/XMAvJl55CjY/s1600-h/mcdonalds-shamrock-shake%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="mcdonalds-shamrock-shake" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="248" alt="mcdonalds-shamrock-shake" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdOQIIDNI/AAAAAAAAEGM/DUC3FLwb_hA/mcdonalds-shamrock-shake_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" align="right" border="0"></a> Happy St. Patrick’s Day! How do you celebrate? My ancestry is Scottish, but this won’t stop me from wearing some green and enjoying Shamrock shakes with my sons today! I was in a McDonalds yesterday where the manager was taking down all the signs advertising the Shamrock shake. When I protested that it was only March 16 and he couldn’t do that, he explained they were all out of the mix. I protested all the more! How scandalous is that! Hopefully the luck of the Irish is with us today as we try to select a more worthy, a more loyally Irish <strong><font color="#008000">Mc</font></strong>Donalds!</p> <p>From the legacy of St. Patrick’s mission to Ireland, we have received a great prayer.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdOxaMGPI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/cB4Su8XUZfU/s1600-h/Prayer%20of%20St.%20Patrick%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Prayer of St. Patrick" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="135" alt="Prayer of St. Patrick" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdPRLAJAI/AAAAAAAAEGU/jN2R1MEN2Ks/Prayer%20of%20St.%20Patrick_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="550" border="0"></a> </p> <p></p> <p> <dl> <dd><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdPx0e2CI/AAAAAAAAEGY/mteTGwG4FAo/s1600-h/shamrock%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="shamrock" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="100" alt="shamrock" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdQHVUfaI/AAAAAAAAEGc/IafL6AtCVQE/shamrock_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="101" align="right" border="0"></a>I arise today <dd>Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, <dd>Through the belief in the threeness, <dd>Through confession of the oneness <dd>Of the Creator of Creation. </dd></dl> <dl> <dd>I arise today <dd>Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism, <dd>Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial, <dd>Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension, <dd>Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom. </dd></dl> <dl> <dd>I arise today <dd>Through the strength of the love of Cherubim, <dd>In obedience of angels, <dd>In the service of archangels, <dd>In hope of resurrection to meet with reward, <dd>In prayers of patriarchs, <dd>In predictions of prophets, <dd>In preaching of apostles, <dd>In faith of confessors, <dd>In innocence of holy virgins, <dd>In deeds of righteous men. </dd></dl> <dl> <dd><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdSPm_cuI/AAAAAAAAEGg/DG4OcfqqAwM/s1600-h/Carlingford%20Lough%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="Carlingford Lough" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="204" alt="Carlingford Lough" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdS4NGC_I/AAAAAAAAEGk/N6svH40FUHI/Carlingford%20Lough_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" align="right" border="0"></a> I arise today <dd>Through the strength of heaven: <dd>Light of sun, <dd>Radiance of moon, <dd>Splendor of fire, <dd>Speed of lightning, <dd>Swiftness of wind, <dd>Depth of sea, <dd>Stability of earth, <dd>Firmness of rock. </dd></dl> <dl> <dd><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdTdcpLrI/AAAAAAAAEGo/DxzDYo570cc/s1600-h/ireland%20Rostrevor%20cross%5B18%5D.jpg"><img title="ireland Rostrevor cross" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="276" alt="ireland Rostrevor cross" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdT6JX0mI/AAAAAAAAEGs/mMtxXZJS-LI/ireland%20Rostrevor%20cross_thumb%5B14%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" align="right" border="0"></a> I arise today <dd>Through God's strength to pilot me: <dd>God's might to uphold me, <dd>God's wisdom to guide me, <dd>God's eye to look before me, <dd>God's ear to hear me, <dd>God's word to speak for me, <dd>God's hand to guard me, <dd>God's way to lie before me, <dd>God's shield to protect me, <dd>God's host to save me <dd>From snares of devils, <dd>From temptations of vices, <dd>From everyone who shall wish me ill, <dd>Afar and anear, <dd>Alone and in multitude. </dd></dl> <dl> <dd>I summon today all these powers between me and those evils, <dd>Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, <dd>Against incantations of false prophets, <dd>Against black laws of pagandom <dd>Against false laws of heretics, <dd>Against craft of idolatry, <dd>Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, <dd>Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. </dd></dl> <dl> <dd>Christ to shield me today <dd>Against poison, against burning, <dd>Against drowning, against wounding, <dd>So that there may come to me abundance of reward. </dd></dl> <dl> <dd>Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, <dd>Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, <dd>Christ on my right, Christ on my left, <dd>Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, <dd>Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, <dd>Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, <dd>Christ in every eye that sees me, <dd>Christ in every ear that hears me. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdPx0e2CI/AAAAAAAAEGY/mteTGwG4FAo/s1600-h/shamrock%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="shamrock" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="100" alt="shamrock" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdQHVUfaI/AAAAAAAAEGc/IafL6AtCVQE/shamrock_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="101" align="right" border="0"></a></dd></dl> <dl> <dd>I arise today <dd>Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, <dd>Through belief in the threeness, <dd>Through confession of the oneness, <dd>Of the Creator of Creation. </dd></dl></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdUfhuVZI/AAAAAAAAEGw/v1_VjplWMho/s1600-h/WesternBrookPondGrosMorne-Newfoundland-Lewis%5B14%5D.jpg"><img title="WesternBrookPondGrosMorne-Newfoundland-Lewis" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="355" alt="WesternBrookPondGrosMorne-Newfoundland-Lewis" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TYIdUw95WSI/AAAAAAAAEG0/TqJOg2wrrdc/WesternBrookPondGrosMorne-Newfoundland-Lewis_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="529" border="0"></a> </p> <p><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5457978750_2f1472a379_m.jpg" align="left" border="0"> The Church of Ireland breaks the fast and sombre mood of Lent in order to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick This year, I gave up chocolate for Lent, but for a reason that might surprise you. Last Easter, I discovered that 200,000 children labour in the cocoa jungle of Côte d'Ivoire to produce the Kit Kats, Hersheys and Mars bars we enjoy so much. And 12,000 of those children have been trafficked from other West African countries into slavery. During Lent this year, I want to work through a Christian response to this bitter truth about chocolate. I’m looking for help, for Christians who would think, pray, discuss and discern with me what we should do to act redemptively. Want to join the discussion?</p> <p><strong><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2011/03/giving-up-chocolate-for-lent.html" target="_blank">Giving up chocolate for Lent, maybe for life by Ken Symes</a></strong></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2793f049-d974-4eca-837c-b0da72fd75eb" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/St.+Patrick's+Day" rel="tag">St. Patrick's Day</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/St.+Patrick's+Breastplate" rel="tag">St. Patrick's Breastplate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Shamrock+Shake" rel="tag">Shamrock Shake</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/shamrock" rel="tag">shamrock</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rostrevor+Cross" rel="tag">Rostrevor Cross</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/McDonalds" rel="tag">McDonalds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kit+Kat" rel="tag">Kit Kat</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hershey" rel="tag">Hershey</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mars+bar" rel="tag">Mars bar</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-17558540083372846972011-03-01T06:21:00.001-08:002011-03-01T06:24:05.205-08:00The King’s Speech: some personal reaction<p>I was very happy to see <em>The King’s Speech</em> win four Oscars on Sunday night—well deserved. This movie was unique in its plot and character development. I very much enjoyed seeing it in the theatre; a welcome contrast to the action movies I typically view with my friends. <em>The King’s Speech</em> told an important story, was historically accurate and showed one man’s journey to deal with a serious stuttering problem and improve himself.</p> <p>To a lesser degree, I too grew up with a stuttering problem. I know that experience of getting hung up and unable to continue or just bouncing on one sound. Perhaps growing up as an only child helped as I don’t recall very much ridicule. Thankfully, I largely grew out of the problem. Though as I say that, I wonder if it’s true. I’ve done a lot of public speaking, but I always prepare my speeches orally—I only put down on paper what ’m already comfortable speaking. And I think through my words carefully before speaking even in one-on-one conversation. If I get ahead my mental preparation sometimes I stutter a bit and sometimes I feel myself getting locked up, totally stuck. In any case, I’m so used to living with it today that it’s not really an impediment to me. [Hmm, just realized I would rephrase that last clause if this were a speech—too many ‘m’ sounds at the end.]</p> <p>I’m sure many other people personally identified with <em>The King’s Speech</em>. One of them is Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly. Global did a great job of profiling Kelly and the Nova Scotia version of the movie, what could be called “The Mayor’s Speech.” Thankfully somehow uploaded this report to youtube and I was able to find it. Very cool story.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FO3Bk4zaTo4?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="480" height="390" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p>If you are questioning the historically accuracy of <em>The King’s Speech</em>, CBC did an excellent mini-documentary showing it’s accuracy: “<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/The_National/1233408557/ID=1817063809" target="_blank">When the King Spoke</a>.”</p> <p>And CBC also did a report on “<em><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/The_National/1233408557/ID=1822864507" target="_blank">The King’s Other Speech</a>,”</em> an international Commonwealth address that King George VI made from Winnipeg, three months before the speech that climaxed the movie and engaged the Commonwealth to stop Nazi Germany.</p> <p>To see more of what Ken Symes is doing on the Internet, check out <a href="https://www.google.com/profiles/103978181902096218598" target="_blank">Ken Symes Google Profile</a>.</p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2e805c81-2ff5-46a3-967f-e5ee55bdf595" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+King's+Speech" rel="tag">The King's Speech</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Peter+Kelly" rel="tag">Peter Kelly</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Halifax+mayor" rel="tag">Halifax mayor</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+Mayor's+Speech" rel="tag">The Mayor's Speech</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-74245893658488057862011-02-26T13:26:00.001-08:002011-02-26T13:26:22.385-08:00Wayne Gretzky, still great for blogging<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TWlv-NOD6xI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/n_8WMg9ISyY/s1600-h/Gretzky-Olympic%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Gretzky-Olympic" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="248" alt="Gretzky-Olympic" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TWlv_PLRPjI/AAAAAAAAEAU/SRSAvciBWqE/Gretzky-Olympic_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" align="right" border="0"></a>During the pre-race show before last Sunday’s Daytona 500, I was surprised to see Wayne Gretzky among the accomplished athletes who were praising Jimmie Johnson for his accomplishment – he’s won the NASCAR Championship for five years in a row, thus totally dominating his sport. Wayne Gretzky said that Jimmy Johnson is “truly The Great One.”!</p> <p>And then this week Wayne Gretzky showed up to surprise one of his more famous fans, Justin Bieber, and they played air hockey! You won’t believe the final score, definitely not what you would expect from The Great One.</p> <p>I’m glad he’s out there, helping to promote the recent blog post I wrote about him ;) Gretzky recently turned 50 and I used that occasion to consider whether we spend more time looking back at the good ole days or if we hope that the best is yet to come – a true Biblical principle. You can check it out at my Samaritan XP blog – <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2011/01/wayne-gretzky-celebrates-50th-birthday.html" target="_blank">Ken Symes on Wayne Gretzky’s birthday and the best is yet to come!</a> Or if you’d prefer, here’s the video footage of Gretzky surprising Justin Bieber.</p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ym6WDsZWZT4?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="480" height="390" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:febe53f9-4fd3-4d72-aa8f-4156ef4fe12b" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Justin+Bieber" rel="tag">Justin Bieber</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wayne+Gretzky" rel="tag">Wayne Gretzky</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Samaritan+XP+blog" rel="tag">Samaritan XP blog</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-24717180901363786932011-01-14T13:28:00.001-08:002011-02-19T00:02:28.646-08:00Snopes on Symes: Is this really Ken Symes?<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTDAAAl1ZOI/AAAAAAAADYs/gnWv5gb1hqE/s1600-h/googling%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="googling" border="0" height="179" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTDAAoLadvI/AAAAAAAADYw/W_2TzkvY3bA/googling_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;" title="googling" width="237" /></a> <i><a href="http://www.google.com/profiles/103978181902096218598" target="_blank">Google Ken Symes</a></i> and you’ll find many websites, blogs and articles, but how many of these Ken Symes links actually have anything to do with me? Let’s find out, starting with “Rev. Ken Symes.” [Doing “snopes” on my doppelgangers was so interesting I launched a website to explore them: <a href="http://www.snopes.kensymes.com/" target="_blank">Snopes on Ken Symes</a>]<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are those links for <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Rev. Ken Symes</b></span> or <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Pastor Kenneth Symes</b></span> related to me?<br />
</span></span> <br />
<br />
“Rev. Ken Symes shares Biblical proof that true Christians do not go through ANY of the great tribulation as described in the Book of Revelation,”<br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6l_pVziI/AAAAAAAADY0/sSH0aJdF-tA/s1600-h/rapture%5B12%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="rapture" border="0" height="154" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6mBtvgAI/AAAAAAAADZA/BS73NpekPYc/rapture_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="rapture" width="205" /></a>according to an audio recording at Blog Talk Radio, describing a recording titled <a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=21&ved=0CBcQFjAAOBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2Fflwi%2F2009%2F07%2F19%2Fpre-tribulation-rapture-ill-prove-it&ei=p6owTd30BoWosQOtzcTNBQ&usg=AFQjCNGMkx17AO8yFzCqYuq9oNKDL0mNIg" target="_blank">Pre-Tribulation Rapture: BIBLE PROOF by KEN SYMES</a>. The description goes on to say, “Rev. Symes has great expertise re: Bible prophecy, especially as it relates to Israel. As National Field Representative with <a href="http://www.jewishawareness.org/" target="_blank">Jewish Awareness Ministries</a> with decades of full-time ministry experience you will be blessed by the wisdom and balanced Bible teaching that Rev. Symes brings to the table.”<br />
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In addition to not wanting anyone to be left behind when the rapture occurs, Rev. Kenneth Symes is author of <a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=WWsJ_UoUFlgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ken+symes&source=bl&ots=qO1xUjXuBs&sig=dDrqxXU49-0F_AW9FjII5N0jMqY&hl=en&ei=3qgwTeu0OYyisAO2ofS7BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEkQ6AEwCDhG#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank"><i>Jews, Gentiles and the Church Age</i></a><i>. “</i>Today there is much confusion among Christians as to the place which God has given to the Jew in this present age of Grace,” claims Symes. He explains, “The Roman Catholic Church has traditionally taught that Jews are now cast off by God.” Kenneth Symes, wanting to set Christians straight on this says, “Today, we must recognize a special responsibility to carry the gospel to the Jew while also including the Gentile.”<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6mhZQN2I/AAAAAAAADZE/UzYqzomgWC0/s1600-h/israel-flag%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="israel-flag" border="0" height="154" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6nICaZII/AAAAAAAADZI/SMqv5MXGtwA/israel-flag_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="israel-flag" width="205" /></a> In this same article titled “<a href="http://www.jewishawareness.org/jewish-missions-and-the-great-commission/" target="_blank">Jewish Missions and The Great Commission</a>,” Symes explains: “God said to Abraham, regarding his seed: ‘<i>I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee’</i> (Genesis 12:3). To share the gospel with the Jew is to receive a special blessing. How can we better bless the Jew than to share with him the gospel or curse him than by withholding the gospel from him?<br />
<br />
What’s fascinating is that this idea is prominent on the <a href="http://www.jewishawareness.org/" target="_blank">Jewish Awareness Ministries</a> website right alongside another idea which might not see compatible: “Jewish Awareness Ministries is an advocate for the nation of Israel. We believe God has established Israel as a nation today in fulfillment of His promises (Ezek. 37:8; Isaiah 11:10-12)… Genesis 12:3, “I will bless them that bless thee…”, makes it incumbent that we support Israel’s right to be in the land of Israel as a nation. We believe Israel has a right to the land biblically, but, also, they have a legal and moral right to be a nation today in the land of Israel.” Fascinating, isn’t it? I thought Genesis 12:3 meant we were supposed to preach the Christian message to Jews, but now it means bless the Jewish nation of Israel. Hmm, something doesn’t seem compatible here…<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So are links for <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Rev. Ken Symes</b></span> or <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Pastor Kenneth Symes</b></span> related to me?<br />
</span></span><span style="color: #0080c0; font-size: large;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6nc4OK4I/AAAAAAAADZM/6NDRiT0jTCU/s1600-h/red%5B5%5D.gif"><img align="left" alt="red" border="0" height="36" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6noU7zbI/AAAAAAAADZQ/K0givLn6xjM/red_thumb%5B3%5D.gif?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="red" width="36" /></a></span><span style="color: #0080c0; font-size: large;">FALSE</span><br />
<br />
I am <span style="color: red;"><b>NOT</b></span> <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Rev. Ken Symes</b></span> <span style="color: red;"><b>NOR</b></span> am I <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Pastor Kenneth Symes</b></span> . Links to such religious styles of the name are <span style="color: red;"><b>NOT</b></span> me, just plain <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b><a href="http://www.google.com/profiles/103978181902096218598" target="_blank">Ken Symes</a></b></span> . I am <span style="color: red;"><b>NOT</b></span> a Reverend minister <span style="color: red;"><b>NOR</b></span> am I pastor, but I am a Christian and I do attend church (sometimes). In fact, truth be known, I even went to seminary and I have a Master of Divinity in addition to previous degrees in theology and philosophy—so I’m quite an egghead, for sure. I do blog about Christians intersecting with our culture at <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Samaritan XP</a>, but I am a news media analyst, <span style="color: red;"><b>NOT</b></span> a pastor.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTJcyqXHjoI/AAAAAAAADag/eTwt_hcXSDk/s1600-h/bush-left-behind%5B12%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="bush-left-behind" border="0" height="146" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTJczfVyCKI/AAAAAAAADao/S9ZYkbh4dEo/bush-left-behind_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="bush-left-behind" width="118" /></a> I don’t go around preaching about “the rapture” and trying to scare people into fearing they may be left behind. I do not believe that the guy above is able to offer “BIBLE PROOF” for the rapture because it lacks a Scriptural basis and no Christians believed in such a crazy thing for the first 19 centuries of the church! It may sell a lot of books today which threaten that we will be <i>Left Behind</i>, but it is not an historical Christian teaching. I am always suspicious when Christians today start believing in concepts and biblical interpretations which the ancient and historical church did not know anything about.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6n_LBo4I/AAAAAAAADas/yz1lMmJ4IT4/s1600-h/geo-bush-Israeli-flag%5B7%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="geo-bush-Israeli-flag" border="0" height="147" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTF6oHikN-I/AAAAAAAADaw/Cd2b4l6mTWw/geo-bush-Israeli-flag_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="geo-bush-Israeli-flag" width="118" /></a>Unlike <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Kenneth Symes</b></span>, I am opposed to believing that modern day Israel is some special fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Christians that rally the U.S. to support Israel no matter what worry me. Sarah Palin and George Bush would probably like the above-mentioned <span style="color: #0080c0;"><b>Pastor Ken Symes</b></span> far more than they would like. I’m more inclined to agree with Jimmy Carter and say it’s time to put an end to apartheid in Israel. Calling for the blessing of a nation which commits such atrocities to an impoverished people group in their midst should be unconscionable to Christians, in my opinion.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTJc0DRbGHI/AAAAAAAADa8/56aktvGDde0/s1600-h/simpsons-bart-bush-2%5B6%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="simpsons-bart-bush-2" border="0" height="136" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTJc08SCJpI/AAAAAAAADbA/asHgh_kAXjk/simpsons-bart-bush-2_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="simpsons-bart-bush-2" width="179" /></a> However, the “Ken Symes” comments you may find all over the Internet about The Simpsons not being Catholic were posted by me, not the Reverend. Yes, they are religious, but I do comment on that kind of stuff, just not on being “left behind” or blessing Israel. In this case, a newspaper from the Vatican City recently suggested that Homer and Bart Simpson were Roman Catholic! They certainly are not. So I left comments at some of these articles:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://ology.com/life-and-money/vatican-declares-homer-simpson-true-catholic" target="_blank">Vatican declares Homer Simpson true Catholic</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/10/the-simpsons-are-catholics-at-heart-vatican-newspaper-says-14113" target="_blank">The Simpsons are Catholics at heart Vatican newspaper says</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://catholicism.about.com/b/2010/10/19/is-homer-simpson-a-catholic.htm" target="_blank">Is Homer Simpson a Catholic?</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20101022/tanja-cilia/sour-doh-catholics" target="_blank">Sour D'oh Catholics?</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/18/doh-vatican-declares-bart-and-homer-simpson-catholic/" target="_blank">D'oh! Vatican declares Bart and Homer Simpson Catholic</a></li>
</ul>Now I left comments at these articles (and more) because I was hoping people might actually click on my link and come read my response to the Vatican newspaper claim: <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/10/homer-simpson-is-not-catholic-nor.html" target="_blank">Homer Simpson is not Catholic nor Anglican, but he just might be an average American Christian</a>. You can find it at my <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Samaritan XP</a> blog. I think you’ll find it to be an interesting read.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTJc2F1zScI/AAAAAAAADbE/58L-eYTgDI0/s1600-h/Lisa%20for%20President%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Lisa for President" border="0" height="234" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TTJc2rif7iI/AAAAAAAADbI/2FOeQXnKVwQ/Lisa%20for%20President_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="Lisa for President" width="179" /></a> I also got permission to re-post this excellent script I read at a British website all about the Christian faith; it was called <a href="http://www.rejesus.co.uk/blog/post/conversations_with_jesus_in_this_episode_jesus_meets_lisa_simpson/" target="_blank">Conversations with Jesus: In this episode, Jesus meets Lisa Simpson</a>. I re-posted it with some neat pics, simply as <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/10/jesus-meets-lisa-simpson.html" target="_blank">Jesus meets Lisa Simpson</a>. The first time I read it I was convinced that it was really an episode of <i>The Simpsons—</i>it’s actually that good! I’ve been wanting to write a follow-up. What would Lisa Simpson believe the priorities for a Christian President would be? Somehow, I doubt she would agree with George W. Bush or Sarah Palin. Unfortunately, I haven’t written it yet. You can check out the <a href="http://www.google.com/profiles/103978181902096218598" target="_blank">Ken Symes Google Profile</a> to find out more about me and what links truly link to my stuff. Or you can follow <a href="http://twitter.com/kensymes" target="_blank">Ken Symes on Twitter</a> or find <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kensymes7" target="_blank">Ken Symes on Facebook</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ad32d338-caad-41e7-9d85-bc8ea121fb62" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rev.+Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Rev. Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kenneth+Symes" rel="tag">Kenneth Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pastor+Kenneth+Symes" rel="tag">Pastor Kenneth Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes+Google+Profile" rel="tag">Ken Symes Google Profile</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Samaritan+XP+blog" rel="tag">Samaritan XP blog</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jesus+meets+Lisa+Simpson" rel="tag">Jesus meets Lisa Simpson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pro-Israel" rel="tag">pro-Israel</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/rapture" rel="tag">rapture</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/left+behind" rel="tag">left behind</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/George+W.+Bush" rel="tag">George W. Bush</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sarah+Palin" rel="tag">Sarah Palin</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kenneth+Wayne+Symes" rel="tag">Kenneth Wayne Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lisa+Simpson" rel="tag">Lisa Simpson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kenneth+G.+Symes" rel="tag">Kenneth G. Symes</a></div>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-81973951439619139752010-12-24T19:14:00.001-08:002011-01-11T13:12:59.076-08:00Not quite old Ebenezer<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vHAC5WTLcg" target="_blank"><img title="Rudolph and Santa Claus" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="98" alt="Rudolph and Santa Claus" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRVhhC8CbPI/AAAAAAAADF8/xrF4sW0fxes/rudolph%5B15%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="100" align="left" border="0"></a> Christmas Eve… a night for pondering GREAT mysteries, like how can eight reindeer pull a sleigh through the air and land so precisely<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRVhhhUVSdI/AAAAAAAADGA/lJNzNwjxm1E/s1600-h/Jesus%20%26%20Mary%5B11%5D.jpg"><img title="Jesus & Mary" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="175" alt="Jesus & Mary" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRVhiOXfg_I/AAAAAAAADGE/SolHz7JoCjk/Jesus%20%26%20Mary_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="131" align="right" border="0"></a> on every housetop? That’s nine reindeer with Rudolph—and just what makes his nose glow? And what has made Santa Claus so endearing to all the Christian children, yes Christian children of the world (look it up—Santa mostly visits only the nations that are or were Christian!)? Yes, these are the mysteries of Xmas, but Christmas mysteries are even more profound: How did God become a human baby boy born on Christmas Eve? The Ancient of Days became an infant! What did the shepherds think of the spectacular angelic choir? Did Mary understand the uniqueness of the child she carried?<br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRVhisSYuCI/AAAAAAAADGI/jGqMAFxj3MQ/s1600-h/cntower-xmas%5B10%5D.jpg"><img title="CN Tower lit up for Christmas" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="206" alt="CN Tower lit up for Christmas" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRVhi19zptI/AAAAAAAADGM/cec9FfOLs3Y/cntower-xmas_thumb%5B13%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="82" align="left" border="0"></a> Leave it to me to go from the sublime to the slick! What’s up with Tim Hortons’ holiday mugs this year? I love these holiday mugs! They are always a great gift for those who already have everything you could think to buy them. Every year it’s a new mug, so you can always do repeats ;) This year is a very nice Canadian mug with great Canadian scenes, but it’s only available in 9 not all 10 provinces! So have you heard about this controversy already? The Canadian scenes mug was apparently “too Canadian” for Quebec, so Tim Hortons dropped the CN Tower and other Canadian icons on the mug for Quebec and picked up the Chateau Frontenac other other Quebec icons.<a href="http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20101125/bonhomme-quebec-101125/" target="_blank"><img title="Prime Minister Harper getting the boot from Bonhomme?" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="159" alt="Prime Minister Harper getting the boot from Bonhomme?" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TRVhjEO_vGI/AAAAAAAADGs/9MTYFlB8QDI/800_cp_bonhomme_harper_101125%5B28%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" align="right" border="0"></a> Maybe it’s just marketing and an attempt to cash in on Quebec, but it seemed a little odd for our national coffee chain to market a national holiday mug and also a Quebec holiday mug. What do you think about Tim Hortons’ strategy? Let me know and please be sure to watch the video… it’s close to being the first video on the Ken Symes’ YouTube channel to get over 2000 views :) </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TSzH2DLTUEI/AAAAAAAADVU/pBrELE9Wt6o/s1600-h/novideo%5B6%5D.png"><img title="novideo" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="225" alt="novideo" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TSzH2q1B_FI/AAAAAAAADVY/QWtqvZ8fIjM/novideo_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="400" border="0"></a> </p> <p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2b02081b-dd7a-4fdf-8474-173220519796" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Christmas" rel="tag">Christmas</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Tim Hortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Quebec" rel="tag">Quebec</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rudolph" rel="tag">Rudolph</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Santa+Claus+parade" rel="tag">Santa Claus parade</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Iqaluit" rel="tag">Iqaluit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Xmas" rel="tag">Xmas</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a></div></p> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-83654450343624720352010-12-12T17:14:00.001-08:002011-01-12T13:01:49.122-08:00Canada’s Winter Wonderland: Double Double<p>Winter has come on real strong in Alberta, the Maritimes and parts of Ontario with unusually high amounts of snow. In less than a week, London received over 74cm, Alliston 83cm and an incredible 177cm in Lucan, Ontario! Oddly enough, most of the Greater Toronto Area didn’t receive hardly any snow, we were just surrounded by it. In the following video news clip, I was impressed by this very Canadian way of contrasting the amount of snow in Alliston versus the Durham region, east of Toronto, where I live. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TS4WtpKVijI/AAAAAAAADWA/ZnfoRrXavW8/s1600-h/novideo%5B4%5D.png"><img title="novideo" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="225" alt="novideo" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TS4WufpfuwI/AAAAAAAADWE/nBk2_sDjQvw/novideo_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="400" border="0"></a> </p> <p>It’s going to be a better winter in the far north of Canada. Tim Hortons opened its first stores in our northernmost territory, Nunavut.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmnFC31lEnk" target="_blank"><img title="IQALUIT: DECEMBER 3, 2010 -- IQALUIT TIMMIE'S -- Inukshuk and Michael use a traditional ulu knife to cut the ribbon and open the Iqaluit Timmie’s locations while flanked by Tim Hortons and North West Company management, associated charity heads and other dignitaries." style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="254" alt="IQALUIT: DECEMBER 3, 2010 -- IQALUIT TIMMIE'S -- Inukshuk and Michael use a traditional ulu knife to cut the ribbon and open the Iqaluit Timmie’s locations while flanked by Tim Hortons and North West Company management, associated charity heads and other dignitaries." src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TQc2P9OF_8I/AAAAAAAADAI/m9nAZ8lPft8/Nunavut%20Tim%20Hortons.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" align="left" border="0"></a> Now Tim Hortons is in all 13 provinces and territories of Canada. </p> <p>With Winter comes Christmas and for some that means stress, disappointment and grief. At <a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mere C.S. Lewis</a>, I’ve been running <a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Grief%20Observed" target="_blank">quotes from his book A Grief Observed</a><i></i>. I’ll be resuming the quotes from that book this week. I expanded one of these C.S. Lewis quotes with some of my own thoughts at <a href="http://www.samaritanxp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Samartian XP</a>, <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/12/as-empty-as-monday-morning-church.html" target="_blank">As empty as a Monday morning church: the grieving heart</a>. I tried to find as much cheer and delight as I can throughout the season.</p> <p>Did you already hear about what happened to poor Rudolph? A couple of weekends ago, during a Christmas parade in Virginia, a mega balloon Rudolph got taken out my a red light! Enjoy this great video with a Canadian humour track, and please don’t miss the irony of Rudolph being taken out by a red light!<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h2FHu50XzG4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h2FHu50XzG4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:dbcd9985-238d-4327-b082-c5ee4f7be6c2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Tim Hortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rudolph" rel="tag">Rudolph</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Iqaluit" rel="tag">Iqaluit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nunavut" rel="tag">Nunavut</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/winter" rel="tag">winter</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/snow" rel="tag">snow</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/double+double" rel="tag">double double</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rudolph+parade+balloon" rel="tag">Rudolph parade balloon</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Santa+Claus+parade" rel="tag">Santa Claus parade</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Iqaluit+Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Iqaluit Tim Hortons</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-54685570073198081782010-12-03T13:46:00.001-08:002011-01-11T13:36:45.671-08:00Ken Symes’ true coffee confession<p>I don’t sleep much these days. I NEED coffee. Sometimes I’m desperate for coffee. I gotta have it and I gotta love it. I’m as Canadian as can be so, of course, I drink Tim Hortons coffee (double double, even!). But I must confess to everyone now: sometimes I even drink McDonalds coffee—and like it! </p> <p>McDonalds coffee appeals to my inner Scotsman. It costs LESS money, tastes good, and they’ll give me a muffin for only 20 cents with my coffee that costs LESS than a Timmies! Wow! What a great deal! But then, they went further… their coffee was FREE for the last couple weeks! Yes, FREE coffee! How could I resist? Barely seen Timmies for two weeks now, except for the occasional opportunity to get a donut for 49 cents with my coffee.</p> <p>Too many donuts and muffins. Gotta get back to just coffee…</p><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CCRC2F_q1rc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CCRC2F_q1rc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> <h4> </h4> <h4>Blogs Update</h4> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPllPFAxRzI/AAAAAAAAC8k/utnpOuMSXEI/s1600-h/vintage-royal-bank-of-canada-metal-calendar%5B9%5D.jpg"><img title="vintage-royal-bank-of-canada-metal-calendar" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="86" alt="vintage-royal-bank-of-canada-metal-calendar" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPllPaG1nLI/AAAAAAAAC8o/H6_1qeW2HQE/vintage-royal-bank-of-canada-metal-calendar_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="66" align="left" border="0"></a></p> <p>Wow! I’m loving the great reaction I got to <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/11/sunday-law-church-and-shopping-in.html" target="_blank">my blog post on PEI</a> scrapping their remaining restrictions on Sunday openings of stores. I used the story as an opportunity to explore the meaning of Sabbath, rest, the significance of Sunday and the challenge for Christians to live Christianly <em>every</em>day. I’d still love to have more people weigh in on that discussion.</p> <p><a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/2010/12/heart-used-to-be-full-of-faith-now-it.html" target="_blank"><img title="Monday Morning Church" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="134" alt="Monday Morning Church" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPllPuNDtxI/AAAAAAAAC8s/41Yb2etHvw4/Monday%20Morning%20Church%5B14%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="179" align="left" border="0"></a> But my favourite blog posting this week was one I did at <em><a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mere C.S. Lewis</a></em>, matching up a great music video by Alan Jackson called <em>Monday Morning Church</em> with a reading by Lewis from his book <em>A Grief Observed.</em> Both the song and the reading present a husband grieving over the death of his wife. I was amazed by how well the two mediums blended and personally felt the impact multiplied by reviewing them together. As Lewis says later in the book, “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you” (<em>A Grief Observed</em>, 20-21).<br><a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/2010/12/heart-used-to-be-full-of-faith-now-it.html" target="_blank">Heart used to be full of faith, now it only hurts</a></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:92e8a5eb-ce37-46bc-bca4-33cbff83713d" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Tim Hortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/McDonalds" rel="tag">McDonalds</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/coffee" rel="tag">coffee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PEI" rel="tag">PEI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/C.S.+Lewis" rel="tag">C.S. Lewis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PEI+Sunday+shopping" rel="tag">PEI Sunday shopping</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PEI+Sunday+law" rel="tag">PEI Sunday law</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Alan+Jackson" rel="tag">Alan Jackson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Monday+Morning+Church" rel="tag">Monday Morning Church</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mere+C.S.+Lewis" rel="tag">Mere C.S. Lewis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/double+double" rel="tag">double double</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-89850137320758826072010-11-30T13:14:00.001-08:002011-01-12T12:51:53.226-08:00No stopping the good folks of the Maritimes (at Tim Hortons, on Sundays, with Blackberrys!)<p><b>Ken Symes</b> (<i>Media Analyst, Maritimes News</i>) Yes, it’s my job—that’s why you’ll see me mentioning so many stories from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in my blog posts and writing. Here at KenSymes.com, in addition to journalling and mentioning the other things I’m publishing on the Internet, I thought I might also blog about Tim Hortons which is certainly something I love. You’ll see I’ve already made several posts about Timmies, but the truth is I’ve been overwhelmed! In Canada, Tim Hortons is ALWAYS in the news. There’s more Tim Hortons news than I’ll ever have time to blog about! Last week, the big news was how Tim Hortons was finally going to accept Interac and I love how they covered this story in Charlottetown, PEI.</p> <p><img title="novideo" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="225" alt="novideo" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TS4UaIWiVnI/AAAAAAAADV8/IHYBgjpTSEM/novideo_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="400" border="0"></p> <p>The even bigger story from PEI which I just blogged about involves the debate about Sunday shopping versus church and rest. (Check it out: <b><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/11/sunday-law-church-and-shopping-in.html" target="_blank">Sunday law, church and shopping in PEI by Ken Symes</a></b><i></i>.) Prince Edward Island was the last province in Canada to still have legislated restriction on Sundays, in this case preventing retail businesses from opening. A while ago, they allowed stores to open on Sundays for the four weeks before Christmas.<a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/11/sunday-law-church-and-shopping-in.html" target="_blank"><img title="PEI flag" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="167" alt="PEI flag" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPVpQWrgKqI/AAAAAAAAC5o/ebqAwq_RbU4/PEI%20flag%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" align="left" border="0"></a> Then, they became concerned about the tourist season which is one of the province’s biggest economic drivers, so they decided to allow stores to open on Sundays from Victoria Day to Christmas Eve (almost 8 months of the year). Last week, Olive Crane, the Leader of the Opposition, introduced a private member’s bill to scrap this last remaining restriction on Sunday and just leave it up to stores to decide for themselves whether to be open or closed.<br>This is when the real drama began. The following narrative is clipped from the CBC’s article, “<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/11/26/pei-sunday-shopping-god-584.html" target="_blank">God smote opposition leader, minister suggests</a>.” <br></p> <blockquote>Following an appearance on CBC Television's <i>Compass</i> Monday, Crane slipped on the television set, injuring her ankle and wrist. Transportation Minister Ron MacKinley brought up the incident during the debate on the bill Thursday. <br>"I'm not what you call a saint, but I believe in God and I believe in [doing] the best I can do. You were at CBC pushing Sunday shopping, were you not? On TV?" he asked Crane. "Right after that interview what happened?"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnkMYGpeyQg" target="_blank"><img title="Olive Crane, PEI Leader of PC Opposition" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="382" alt="Olive Crane, PEI Leader of PC Opposition" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPVpQ09Kf-I/AAAAAAAAC6E/9vbq9EES5pk/Olive%20Crane%20PEI%20Leader%20of%20PC%20Opposition%5B25%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="197" align="right" border="0"></a> <br>"We had a bit of an accident," Crane responded. <br>"Does that not tell you something?" said MacKinley. <br>"Like what?" said Crane. <br>"Like the Lord works in mysterious ways, and maybe you should start worrying what's going on here? We are going all the time, we're getting farther and farther away, whether it's prayers in the schools or whatever it is," said MacKinley. <br>The minister wrapped up his arguments on the bill soon after. <br>Premier Robert Ghiz allowed a free vote on the bill. It came to a tie, which was broken in favour of passage by the Speaker.</blockquote>I’ve posted the video of this drama as well: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnkMYGpeyQg" target="_blank">PEI Sunday shopping law</a>. Bottom line for me: There’s a far better Christian response to this changing of law regarding Sundays. My blog post is an attempt to work towards giving a better Christian response than the one offered by Transport Minister Ron MacKinley: <b><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/11/sunday-law-church-and-shopping-in.html" target="_blank">Sunday law, church and shopping in PEI by Ken Symes</a></b>. <br>This is certainly not the first time I’ve blogged about a news story coming out of the Maritimes. I’m going to list a few of them. I’ll start with my favourite Maritime blog post; it was about a pastor with a great idea. <br><b><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/09/blessing-for-your-blackberry-iphone.html" target="_blank"><img title="ew083110technology.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="155" alt="ew083110technology.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPVpRFeol9I/AAAAAAAAC5w/c6_AXQ2CcXk/Copy%20of%20rev-lisa-vaughan-blackberry-laptop%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" align="left" border="0"> Blessing for your Blackberry, iPhone, netbook, etc.</a></b> Rev. Lisa Vaughn invited Blackberry addicts, iPhone worshippers and users of other gadgets to bring them to church on Labour Day weekend for a special blessing, that owners might use these devices for good, life-giving communication. If you visit the blog post, you’ll find that I included a link to a video where you might follow along and pray a blessing for your smartphone, etc. <br><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/search/label/Jack%20Chick" target="_blank"><b><img title="Reading-a-Jack-Chick-tract" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="142" alt="Reading-a-Jack-Chick-tract" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPVpRibEz8I/AAAAAAAAC50/vbK7pBiD53M/Reading-a-Jack-Chick-tract%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" align="left" border="0"> The boy who is telling his friends about Jesus and how Jack Chick has made a mess of it</b></a> This boy in Halifax, Nova Scotia was excited about his faith in Christ. He was eager to tell his friends at school about his faith, but the school told him to stop. Why? His parents had armed him with Jack Chick tracts: violent, scary, not suitable for children. It had been a while since I’d read a Chick tract and I was surprised by what I found in them. <br><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/08/are-we-sure-that-islam-is-religion-of.html" target="_blank"><img title="Copy of tripoli-jail" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="178" alt="Copy of tripoli-jail" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPVpSLLV5hI/AAAAAAAAC54/LvpA1s3vVJ8/Copy%20of%20tripoli-jail%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" align="left" border="0"></a> I also blogged about the incredible story of Don Symes (no relation to me, I don’t think so at least), a Canadian from Terrence Bay, Nova Scotia. Working internationally for an oil company, Don ended up spending 56 days in a Libyan jail for he crime he didn’t commit. Very likely when a Pakistani co-worker accused Symes and two other men of assaulting him, his word was taken over that of Don Symes and his co-accused since they were non-Muslim, even though their alibi was solid. According to sharia law, the testimony of a Muslim far outweighs anything said by a kafir. My post is not at all meant to stir up any hatred or ill will, but rather to question the notion that all religions are equal. I raised the question, <b><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/08/are-we-sure-that-islam-is-religion-of.html" target="_blank">Are we sure that Islam is a “religion of peace”?</a></b> <br><a href="http://www.kensymes.com/2010/11/how-to-cross-without-bridge.html" target="_blank"><img title="Temporary-Bridge" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="304" alt="Temporary-Bridge" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TPVpTpAtuFI/AAAAAAAAC58/fZvpsrvvN0o/Temporary-Bridge%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="404" align="left" border="0"></a>Finally, my tour of Maritime stories I’ve blogged about wouldn’t be the same without my post on <b><a href="http://www.kensymes.com/2010/11/how-to-cross-without-bridge.html" target="_blank">The Bridges of Yarmouth County</a></b> ;)<br>Yep, a bridge on top of the bridge that they’re not sure about—makes these people feel safe but I think they’re missing something here…<br><br><i><b>BONUS<br></b></i>For some of these stories which made the news and were posted elsewhere on the Internet, you can find me making comments. There were many great articles on the Blessing of Blackberrys. I love how everyone tried to get creative with the title:<br> <ul> <li><a href="http://blogs.marketwatch.com/canada/2010/09/06/blessed-are-the-blackberrys-grace-for-gadgets/" target="_blank">Blessed are the Blackberrys: Grace given for gadgets</a> <i>with comment by Ken Symes</i><i> </i> <li><i>From Computer Weekly: </i><a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/it-downtime-blog/2010/09/blessed-be-the-smartphones-in.html" target="_blank">Blessed be the smartphones in Nova Scotia</a> <i>with Ken Symes leaving the only comment</i> <li><a href="http://www.techeye.net/mobile/priest-blesses-electronic-gizmos" target="_blank">Priest bless electronic gizmos</a> – a rather non-technical title from <i>TechEYE.net</i> but <i>Ken Symes leaves them a good idea</i> <li><i>and finally, </i><a href="http://www.geektown.ca/2010/09/get-your-blackberry-laptop-blessed-at-nova-scotia-church.html" target="_blank">Get your Blackberry or laptop blessed at Nova Scotia Church</a> <i>with a bit of a defence by Ken Symes</i></li></ul>With regard to <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/search/label/Jack%20Chick" target="_blank"><b>The boy who is telling his friends about Jesus and how Jack Chick has made a mess of it</b></a>, I also found many web articles on Jack Chick tracts:<br> <ul> <li><a href="http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/new-jack-chick-comic-for-halloween/" target="_blank">New Jack Chick Comic for Hallowe’en</a> – you bet Ken Symes left a comment! <li><a href="http://blog.echurchwebsites.org.uk/2010/10/21/banish-dark-side-halloween-frightened-christians/" target="_blank">Banish Dark Side of Halloween Say Frightened Christians</a> was actually a pretty good article so you’ll find that Ken Symes offered support for it. <li><a href="http://jackchick.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/chick-tract-review-somebody-goofed-2/" target="_blank">Chick Tract Review: Somebody Goofed</a> – This was the original or white version of the tract Ken Symes reviewed in the blog posting. The later or black version was called <i>Oops!</i></li></ul>That’s just a sampling. I’ve found it very beneficial to comment on related blogs and articles after I post to my blog.<br> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:b9c3cfa2-8137-40b6-8702-06be5f585df2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Samaritan+XP" rel="tag">Samaritan XP</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Don+Symes" rel="tag">Don Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Olive+Crane" rel="tag">Olive Crane</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ron+MacKinley" rel="tag">Ron MacKinley</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PEI" rel="tag">PEI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sunday+law" rel="tag">Sunday law</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sunday+shopping" rel="tag">Sunday shopping</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jack+Chick+tracts" rel="tag">Jack Chick tracts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prince+Edward+Island" rel="tag">Prince Edward Island</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nova+Scotia" rel="tag">Nova Scotia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Tim Hortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Charlottetown" rel="tag">Charlottetown</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rev+Lisa+Vaughn" rel="tag">Rev Lisa Vaughn</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/blackberry" rel="tag">blackberry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/smartphones" rel="tag">smartphones</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/iPhone" rel="tag">iPhone</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Yarmouth+County" rel="tag">Yarmouth County</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-39362749210427013682010-11-23T01:05:00.001-08:002010-11-23T01:13:16.392-08:00Tim Hortons coffee: Not just for Conservatives!<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOuD26WDWiI/AAAAAAAACx0/IrEa-eDhEp0/s1600-h/Stephen%20Harper%20cooling%20his%20Tim%20Hortons%20Hot%20Chocolate%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes a sip of his hot chocolate while visiting a Tim Horton's in Oakville, Ontario on Wednesday September 23, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="230" alt="Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes a sip of his hot chocolate while visiting a Tim Horton's in Oakville, Ontario on Wednesday September 23, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOuD3rj5VrI/AAAAAAAACx4/q8Y8fLHQYBE/Stephen%20Harper%20cooling%20his%20Tim%20Hortons%20Hot%20Chocolate_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="170" align="left" border="0"></a> I was worried when I started reading an article in <em>The Globe and Mail </em>titled, “<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/does-the-tim-hortons-crowd-really-vote-tory/article1807714/" target="_blank">Does the Tim Hortons crowd really vote Tory?</a>” Eric Grenier begins the article claiming that, “The Tim Hortons crowd is a blue collar bunch. They like their taxes low, the government out of their face and their leaders the kind you could have over for a beer. And, of course, they vote Conservative. Right?” Here, Ken Symes is thinking, “There is nothing <em>right</em> about this!”</p> <p>Thankfully, “Analysis shows one’s double-double desire has no bearing on party preference”! And what an analysis it was! I found the article to be fascinating and the research done to support it to be very intriguing.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOuD4T0PPJI/AAAAAAAACzE/NALgm1lHpag/s1600-h/Tim%20Hortons%20Analysis%20by%20Riding%5B24%5D.jpg"><img title="Print" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="460" alt="Print" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOuD44s5PDI/AAAAAAAACzI/pRRV6QVYD2I/Tim%20Hortons%20Analysis%20by%20Riding_thumb%5B26%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="535" border="0"></a> </p> <p>“Polls have shown there is absolutely nothing that connects coffee preference to political ideology. The relevant poll conducted by Harris-Decima in 2009 showed that the proportion of Liberal, New Democratic, and Conservative voters who preferred Tim Hortons to Starbucks were virtually identical for each party.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOuD5o0Cq9I/AAAAAAAACyo/NwnT1QhZqs0/s1600-h/Condi%20Rice%20Peter%20MacKay%20Tim%20Hortons%20coffee%5B9%5D.jpg"><img title="Canadian (Conservative) Defence Minister Peter MacKay on a Tim Hortons coffee break with US (Republican) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pictou, Nova Scotia, 2006" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="271" alt="Canadian (Conservative) Defence Minister Peter MacKay on a Tim Hortons coffee break with US (Republican) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pictou, Nova Scotia, 2006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOuD6GAZ9sI/AAAAAAAACy0/Ya3f4rrhInY/Condi%20Rice%20Peter%20MacKay%20Tim%20Hortons%20coffee_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" align="right" border="0"></a> Let me share a great quote with you that I heard this week from a Republican campaign spokesperson. In the state of New York, the 60th District, Niagara County, they are still re-counting ballots on a very close race that could unseat the incumbent Democratic Senator, but, in fact, the Republican candidate is actually a registered Democrat who happens to have the support of the Republican and independent voters. Anyhow, Doug Curella, a spokesperson from that guy’s campaign said, <strong>“I’ve had more cups of Tim Horton’s coffee than I’ve had hours of sleep!”</strong> Oh, I know that feeling!</p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c0472fa4-4b56-44ae-8111-834a550d5787" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Tim Hortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cofee" rel="tag">cofee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/double+double" rel="tag">double double</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Stephen+Harper" rel="tag">Stephen Harper</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Peter+MacKay" rel="tag">Peter MacKay</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Condoleeza+Rice" rel="tag">Condoleeza Rice</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Condi+Rice" rel="tag">Condi Rice</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nova+Scotia" rel="tag">Nova Scotia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Conservative" rel="tag">Conservative</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Republican" rel="tag">Republican</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Liberal" rel="tag">Liberal</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Starbucks" rel="tag">Starbucks</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Doug+Curella" rel="tag">Doug Curella</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Eric+Grenier" rel="tag">Eric Grenier</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-21863918815543546302010-11-18T09:35:00.001-08:002011-01-11T13:31:40.876-08:00Tim Hortons and Canada’s Wheel of Fortune<p>49¢ donuts are back at Tim Hortons. Purchase any size coffee (or some other beverage!?!) and you can get your choice of a donut for only 49¢. Yes, the <strong><em>Tempt Ken Symes with a Donut </em></strong>campaign has returned! This is way too tempting! I try so hard to stick to just the coffee, well, just the double double coffee. Why must they tempt me? And such a great ad too! The Wheel of Donuts is the most clever Canadianization of an American icon (ie. <a href="http://www.kensymes.com/2010/11/ive-got-good-feeling-about-this.html" target="_blank">Wheel of Fortune</a>) ever!</p><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sdhgDjZZWHM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sdhgDjZZWHM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> <p>P.S. Back in September Macleans ran the article “<a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/07/extra-large-trouble-trouble/" target="_blank">Tim Hortons’ extra-large trouble trouble</a>” which was all about how store owner Archibald Jollymore and other store owners were bringing a $1.95-billion class action lawsuit against Paul D. House (President) and Tim Hortons. The store owners claim that Tim Hortons is making them pay increasingly more for their donuts and thus eating into their profit margins. The group of store owners are largely loyal to former Tim Hortons President Ron Joyce and opposed to the overall approach of current Tim Hortons President Paul House. Even though the court hearing was scheduled for November, I have been unable to find out any new information on the case. Makes me think that Tim Hortons has settled out of court to make it go away. After all they were going to expose the secret that “Always Fresh” does not mean what you think it means. See <a href="http://www.kensymes.com/2010/11/tim-hortons-double-double-trouble.html" target="_blank">my previous post</a>.</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:32472d3e-d913-49ec-bdda-e3463d6012df" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Tim Hortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/donut" rel="tag">donut</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wheel+of+Fortune" rel="tag">Wheel of Fortune</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/double+double" rel="tag">double double</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/donuts" rel="tag">donuts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/coffee" rel="tag">coffee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-19499873759827223182010-11-17T01:29:00.001-08:002010-11-23T01:13:16.393-08:00Craving for Turkish Delight<p>I could not make it through tonight’s shift at work. I was just so tired. And then I began to crave chocolate. More specifically, chocolate over that jelly-goodness called Turkish Delight.</p> <p><a href="http://www.candyrageous.com/2008/10/big-turk/" target="_blank"><img title="Nestle's Big Turk Turkish Delight" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="309" alt="Nestle's Big Turk Turkish Delight" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOOgglVzvVI/AAAAAAAACsg/McM6f_lxzlQ/Big%20Turk%20Turkish%20Delight%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" border="0"></a><br>A couple weeks ago, I composed three blog posts about Turkish Delight—the real stuff which is a wee bit different than the Nestle candy bar edition. These posts were for one of the blogs I run called <em><a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Mere C.S. Lewis</a></em>. I spent that week working through quotes from <em>The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. </em>In that novel, one of the four children, Edmund loves Turkish Delight and this becomes his downfall.</p> <p>There is a theory about Lewis’s <em>Chronicles of Narnia</em>—that each of the seven books presents one of the seven deadly sins. C.S. Lewis scholar Don King argues that,</p> <blockquote> <p>Edmund Pevensie, personifies gluttony, the sin of excessively using things in themselves legitimate, normally associated with the appetite, and, in effect, making one's belly the god he serves (Phil. 3:19).<a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/search?q=turkish+delight"><img title="Jadis tempts Edmund by appealng to his gluttony, giving him his favourite candy, Turkish Delight and promsing him even more!" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="170" alt="Jadis tempts Edmund by appealng to his gluttony, giving him his favourite candy, Turkish Delight and promsing him even more!" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOOghY6OfNI/AAAAAAAACsk/reXB7V_uJkQ/narnia-turkish-delight-temptation%5B14%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" align="right" border="0"></a> Jadis, the White Witch, exploits Edmund's weakness when she meets him in a snowy woods, offering him a warm drink and Turkish Delight, his favourite candy. From the first bite, he is hooked, for each "piece was sweet and light to the very centre and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious." As she pumps him for information regarding his brother and sisters, he readily replies, driven by an insatiable hunger for more and more Turkish Delight: "At first Edmund tried to remember that it is rude to speak with one's mouth full, but soon he forgot about this and thought only of trying to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate, the more he wanted to eat, and he never asked himself why the Queen should be so inquisitive" (32; all references to the Narnia stories are from the Collier edition, 1970).</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOOgiJWs8bI/AAAAAAAACso/rsa6FqpuaaU/s1600-h/turkish-delight%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Some real Turkish Delight, no chocolate ;)" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="153" alt="Some real Turkish Delight, no chocolate ;)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOOgiwlGGNI/AAAAAAAACss/7gvrktxL_II/turkish-delight_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0"></a> You can see these quotes in more detail and illustrated at my C.S. Lewis blog: <a href="http://merecslewis.blogspot.com/search?q=turkish+delight" target="_blank">Turkish Delight posts at Mere C.S. Lewis</a>. Or if you would like to see Don King’s full essay, it is titled <a href="http://cslewis.drzeus.net/papers/7sins.html" target="_blank">Narnia and the Seven Deadly Sins</a>. For my own part, I’m continue to work away at clipping quotes from the Narnia books as we countdown to the new movie <em>Voyage of the Dawn Treader</em>, in just 22 days! </p> <p>While I have not written about the seven deadly sins in connection to <em>The Chronicles of Narnia</em>, I have, by the way, written about them in connection with… <em>Gilligan’s Island!</em> Seriously, it looks to me that each of the seven castaways on Gilligan’s Island was cast to represent one of the seven deadly sins. Many people have written about this and posted their ideas on the Internet—they are mostly wrong. Often it is claimed that the Skipper is the one who is guilty of gluttony, but this is based on the rather simplistic observation that he is a bit fatter than the others. Here’s the deal: the sin of gluttony is about an insatiable appetite; it is about living for the belly.<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/gilligans-island-seven-deadly-sins" target="_blank"><img title="Gilligan" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="252" alt="Gilligan" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TOOgjAaBTyI/AAAAAAAACsw/-IVHPPImhTU/gilligans-island-gilligan3%5B13%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" align="right" border="0"></a> Everyone on the island expects Gilligan to serve them. The Howells offer him money to do things, but that doesn’t motivate him. The Skipper orders him or gets angry at him. Ginger uses her sexual power to convince Gilligan to do whatever she wants, sometimes merely the promise of a kiss will do it. Of course, even that spell is broken on Gilligan when Mary Ann comes along offering Gilligan a coconut cream pie. For that creamy pie, he will do anything. And when Gilligan is doing it for Mary Ann’s pie, nothing can break him of that spell—he would do anything for that pie and that is what makes him guilty of gluttony. You can check out Gilligan and the rest of the seven deadly sins and castaways at my Squidoo lens: <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/gilligans-island-seven-deadly-sins" target="_blank">Gilligan's Island and the Seven Deadly Sins by Ken Symes</a>.</p> <p>It’s after 4am… I guess I made it through the night shift! Thanks to Turkish Delight and the mere temptation to gluttony rather than the full blown gluttonous lifestyle. I’ll be sure to stop thinking about <em>Big Turks</em> now and not eat another one this week, at least for this week ;) <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:c84d462d-9b76-4248-99b7-1fc7ecc4d7d2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Turkish+Delight" rel="tag">Turkish Delight</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Big+Turk" rel="tag">Big Turk</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/gluttony" rel="tag">gluttony</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Seven+Deadly+Sins" rel="tag">Seven Deadly Sins</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/C.S.+Lewis" rel="tag">C.S. Lewis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gilligan's+Island" rel="tag">Gilligan's Island</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gilligan" rel="tag">Gilligan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/turks" rel="tag">turks</a></div></p> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-9509175883994655812010-11-16T01:15:00.001-08:002011-01-12T13:06:36.375-08:00How to cross without the bridge<p>Last week, during heavy rain, the people of Quinan, Nova Scotia were evacuated from their homes. Five days later, they were allowed to return home to visit, but there were concerns about the only bridge leading into their community. I am even more concerned about the solution to this problem!<br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TS4X06HFOFI/AAAAAAAADWI/95Dil7nDdSs/s1600-h/Temporary-Bridge%5B5%5D.png"><img title="Temporary-Bridge" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="323" alt="Temporary-Bridge" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TS4X22HTEvI/AAAAAAAADWM/p4SvSaOmJTs/Temporary-Bridge_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="429" border="0"></a><br>One powerful approach to sharing the gospel is an illustration called The Bridge, but we may be guilty of assuming that this bridge will hold more weight than it can, even though it’s been flooded over by postmodernism. It may be time to learn how to share the cross without the bridge. A while ago, at Samaritan XP, I reviewed The Bridge and showed a new approach to sharing the Christian faith. See what you think: <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2008/10/bridge-to-nowhere.html" target="_blank">The Bridge to Nowhere by Ken Symes</a>.</p> <p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f92820bd-a7b4-4c4e-bcc1-cadf33c6a7ec" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bridge" rel="tag">bridge</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Yarmouth+County" rel="tag">Yarmouth County</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Quinan" rel="tag">Quinan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+Bridge" rel="tag">The Bridge</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/gospel" rel="tag">gospel</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/evangelism" rel="tag">evangelism</a></div></p> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-36965928590606270722010-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:002011-01-11T13:20:07.290-08:00I’ve got a good feeling about this!<p>It’s always amazing to see someone do what looks like it would be impossible. In this case, <em>Wheel of Fortune</em> contestant Caitlin Burke solves a puzzle long before anyone else would think it possible! Long before! How about after just one letter on a 7-word puzzle? Now that’s amazing! Look at the reaction of the guy to the left!</p><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5NqpvHtARrM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5NqpvHtARrM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> <p>After all those years of watching this show to try to connect with my father who loved it, it’s cool to tune in one more time via a youtube viral video just to see someone do a solve in what looks like an impossibly soon situation. Sorry Dad, it won’t be your son, Ken Symes, doing the miracle solve on Wheel of Fortune, instead it’s a friendly outgoing New York girl, Caitlin Burke. Way to go, Caitlin! I’ve got a good feeling about this!<br>P.S. The <em>New York Post</em> did a nice follow-up interview if you’d like to know more: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwBNUauCnE&feature=related" target="_blank">‘Wheely’ Fortunate</a>.<br></p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f28bb35b-23d1-4461-bc2a-743036641f48" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wheel+of+Fortune" rel="tag">Wheel of Fortune</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Caitlin+Burke" rel="tag">Caitlin Burke</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pat+Sajak" rel="tag">Pat Sajak</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/I've+got+a+good+feeling+about+this" rel="tag">I've got a good feeling about this</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/1+letter+solve" rel="tag">1 letter solve</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-68686735838981786162010-11-11T06:45:00.001-08:002010-11-16T07:03:19.837-08:00Remembrance Day<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNwBcoZk-wI/AAAAAAAACho/z_o_oLTEVpQ/s1600-h/DDay-veteran-returns-to-Normandy%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="This is not my father, John Symes, who, unfortunately never had the experience of this D-Day veteran who returned to Normandy to remember. Hopefully, one day, I will go." style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="326" alt="This is not my father, John Symes, who, unfortunately never had the experience of this D-Day veteran who returned to Normandy to remember. Hopefully, one day, I will go." src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNwBdC-WpfI/AAAAAAAAChs/gZP6UBQm37Y/DDay-veteran-returns-to-Normandy_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" border="0"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNwBdrzHzWI/AAAAAAAAChg/Jcc8GpbLT04/s1600-h/remembrance-day-poppy%5B32%5D.jpg"><img title="remembrance-day-poppy" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="155" alt="remembrance-day-poppy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNwBeL8mmHI/AAAAAAAAChk/hk7ZGczaGVA/remembrance-day-poppy_thumb%5B30%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="126" align="left" border="0"></a> My father, John Symes (1915—2001), was a WWII veteran, serving with the First Hussars as a gunner on board a tank which landed on the shore of Normandy on D-Day. He continued in battle for eight days when he was shot through the abdomen. Thanks to the heroic effort of a fellow soldier, Dad was rescued from the battlefield and his life saved. His brother, George Symes, continued in battle for another seven days and then his tank ran over a landmine. Uncle George miraculously also survived and on the long boat ride home from England, the brothers were reunited.</p> <p>He never talked much about it. I’m sure his life was never the same after it. My older brother, James Symes, was born in Ontario while my father trained in England. I am grateful that in his later years, he and my mother adopted me. On Remembrance Day, my thoughts weigh heavy on me, contemplating the sacrifices made by my dad and his generation for us. God bless the memories of John Symes and George Symes, real heroes.</p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3dba09b1-a463-49d3-ac4d-39a98987df46" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Remembrance+Day" rel="tag">Remembrance Day</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/WWII+veteran" rel="tag">WWII veteran</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/John+Symes" rel="tag">John Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/First+Hussars" rel="tag">First Hussars</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/George+Symes" rel="tag">George Symes</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-482710847363632858.post-44649894313499210912010-11-06T20:51:00.001-07:002011-01-11T13:25:39.040-08:00Tim Hortons’ double double trouble trouble<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNYiLY646VI/AAAAAAAACrs/ucHO5fPQBg4/s1600-h/Tim-Horton%5B10%5D.jpg"><img title="Tim Horton in Toronto Maple Leafs uniform" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="278" alt="Tim Horton in Toronto Maple Leafs uniform" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNYiLqNrggI/AAAAAAAACrw/lThQypz7Vto/Tim-Horton_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" align="right" border="0"></a> If I hadn’t been born <i>Ken Symes</i>, I might like to have been <i>Tim Horton</i>! Sure growing up having fun playing hockey would have been great as would becoming a superstar Canadian hockey player, but imagine starting a coffee shop which becomes iconic to a nation! Now that is super cool!<br>So what trouble is Tim Hortons in? In spite of their claim “Always Fresh,” Tim Hortons donuts are, in fact, prepared in advance, frozen shipped out to all the branches where they cook them the last 5% in a special convection oven before dressing them up. Here’s the trouble. Some store owners are frustrated that the price of these pre-made donuts keeps going up. They are certain that their profits were much higher when the donuts really were “always fresh,” back when each store baked their own. They’re also certain that the donuts used to be bigger. A group of these store owners are suing the corporation and an Ontario court has ruled to allow this lawsuit to go forward in November.<br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNYiMI8bjvI/AAAAAAAACr4/Iz8Zp44x2Ms/s1600-h/Tim-Deal-Single-Donut%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="Ken Symes' favourite: Tim Hortons Double Double and Sour Cream Glazed Donut" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="146" alt="Ken Symes' favourite: Tim Hortons Double Double and Sour Cream Glazed Donut" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TNYiMjk5DWI/AAAAAAAACr8/3y5butkezfU/Tim-Deal-Single-Donut_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="115" align="left" border="0"></a>The trouble for Tim’s will be the disclosures of profit margins which may happen during the court proceedings this month. And it’s double trouble because many Canadians don’t even realize that the donuts are not really made fresh in each store. Watch the news this month for more details—I know I’ll be watching. The hockey thing never really worked out for Ken Symes nor did the coffee franchise thing so these days I work as a news media analyst who enjoys a good coffee and donut from Timmy’s :)<br><br>P.S. For more details on the lawsuit, here’s a great clip from CBC News.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TSzKz_G5vNI/AAAAAAAADVc/SyS5x-q_SAU/s1600-h/novideo%5B4%5D.png"><img title="novideo" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="225" alt="novideo" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TSzK0Q4i-BI/AAAAAAAADVg/u8-5jfvPAks/novideo_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="400" border="0"></a> <br></p> <p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:d4386e6b-d7fd-47f0-933e-67e00c41c9af" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons" rel="tag">Tim Hortons</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/double+double" rel="tag">double double</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Horton" rel="tag">Tim Horton</a></div></p> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0