It don't matter that you got not alot, So what

The Office, the winner of this year's emmy for best comedy, premiered its third season this week with what may have been the most uncomfortable 22 minutes of television I have ever seen in my life. The show had me cringing and laughing all the way through. The episode has Michael Scott finding out that one of his employees is gay. Now any other normal person would handle this in stride, but not Michael. No, he decides he is gonna put his own little spin on things and in the process outs Oscar. It is amazing how this guy doesn't get anything. And yet this is the genius of the show.

Anyway after outing Oscar, Michael decides he is gonna fix things, first by trying to hug Oscar and then by kissing him. The most spectacular about all this is that the rest of the office just sits there watching Michael do these things. I'm still laughing.

The episode was great and the season is off to a great start.

I give it a 5 out of 5 backpacks.

This is the first of what may become a regular feature of the Bearded Backpacker that I like to call 'The Reviews.'

And with this being the first I'll share another opinion of entertainment with you.

Mon ami Amanda was in the city this weekend to celebrate some religious holiday and so had a chance to hang out with her and we decided to check out a film.

Along the way we picked up to stragglers to join us at the movies and this made selecting a film a bit difficult. We could not get unanimous approval amongst the four of us for any of the following, 'The Last Kiss', 'The Gridiron Gang' or 'Talladega Nights.' However a surprise to me was that everyone was up for seeing 'You, Me and Dupree.' It was a fine choice. Owen Wilson, and that thing he calls a nose, Matt Dillon and Kate Hudson all gave hilarious and touching moments and left us all laughing, except for Rebecca, who thought a nap would be more appropriate. Anyway I loved it, it was really fun and the hockey helmet was a nice touch for Wilson. I laugh alot.

Anyway I wrote something much better about these two, except the computer conspired against me and I lost the genius before saving. Damn you KHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway enjoy my thoughts and maybe you too will tune into 'The Office' or check out "You. Me and Dupree.'

"The Reviews' have been a Quinn Marten Production.

Do you know do you know do you know just how I feel?

So I thought about writing something about how ridiculous I think the New York Islanders signing of Rick Dipietro is, but why waste our time.

I'd rather talk to you about a much more important issue. The fall of the Sunday Rec Plus B Swingers in the Championship Game on Sunday September 10th. It was a great day for co-ed slo-pitch. The sun was out and temperature decent. We played the Commandos, a team we lost to by one run during the regular season in the bottom of the Seventh. The cruel mistress of fate would cast a similar spell on us in the Big Game. We did our best to win that game and I may have even had my best hitting performance of the season. Took me long enough. Yet the glory of victory was not to be ours as we again lost by one in the bottom of the 7th.

All the time, it was...we really, finally did it!! You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God...damn you all to hell! "






















So this loss brings my record in championship games to a dismal 3 and 7. Not good.

Ah well winning isn't everything. Who I'm kidding? Its the only thing!

But seriously we will all be better for the experience.

Anyway I would love to write more, but '2103: The Deadly Wake' is on Encore Avenue and it looks too good to miss.

Long long time ago

Wow. I can't believe it's been 5 years since I began my career as a media monitor. The date was September 10, 2001, that was the day I first began listening and writing about the news. I have to admit that I really do like my job a lot even though many people don't understand it or others find it boring. I guess I am an infophile and having a job where I am getting bombarded with new information everyday is really pretty darn exciting.

So it was 5 years ago that I entered the 10th floor office of Bowdens Media Intelligence in downtown Ottawa. It was a pretty uneventful day that I remember very little of, because as you may know things were gonna get a lot more exciting on my second day, what with September 11th and all. I think it was probably very beneficial to have such a major news event take place on the second day of a monitoring job. Anything that would follow that event would seem like child's play. It could also have made the job seem more mundane and dull and let me tell you those moments exist, but I guess its my love for information that just keeps me coming back each each and every day.

When I was studying history and political science at Carleton University or radio broadcasting at Algonquin College there was never a time that I thought wow I could get paid to just sit in front of a tv or radio and write what's going on . But the job actually exists.

The time I have spent as a media monitor has led to some of the best friendships I have ever known and maybe that is why I like the job so much. There have been some tough times during my time with the company, but my friends have always been there to help things along.

I spent my first 4 and half years with Bowdens working in Ottawa and the job finally allowed me to meet some quality people in the city that I know will be friends for life. There is of course Mo who has been one of the most important people in my life to date. She has been a tremendous friend and has tried to help me from the first day. There is also Rob, who without his influence I may have never been able to enjoy as many Ottawa Senators games as did last season. Who else is there? Of course I cannot forget Em. She is a wonderful friend who always gives me a reason to smile. There are a few others in that office who are great people and I'm glad I had a chance to get to know them. Mitch, Lan, G-Money, The Mats, Marlene, Murial and Mel are some of the interesting characters I had a chance to meet during those halcion days. What's with everyone having an M in their name anyway?

Of course the good times in Ottawa did come to an end and I headed west to check out how the playas in Calgary roll when it comes to media monitoring. Well let me tell you these cats are whacked. There is a great group of people in the office out here. The atmosphere in the office is very positive and I hope that I will form the same bonds I had in Ottawa out here.

Well I just wanted to reflect a bit on my anniversary. 5 years is a long time, but it has been a good time.

I want to dedicate this post to Rob, Mona and Emilie, the Bowdens co-workers who made my time at that place so much easier.

You all rock

I'd like to end this post with a song

What would you do if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me.
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song,
And I’ll try not to sing out of key.
I get by with a little help from my friends,
I get high with a little help from my friends,
I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends.
What do I do when my love is away.
(Does it worry you to be alone)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you’re on your own)
No I get by with a little help from my friends,
I get high with a little help from my friends,Oh,
I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends.
Do you need anybody,I need somebody to love.
Could it be anybodyI want somebody to love.
Would you believe in love at first sight,
Yes I’m certain that it happens all the time.
What do you see hen you turn out the light,
I can’t tell you, but I know it’s mine.
Oh I get by with alittle help from my friends.
I get high with a little help from my friends,
Oh I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends.
Do you need anybody,I just need somebody to love,
Could it be anybody,I want somebody to love.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mm I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends,
Oh I get high with a little help from my friends,
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends.

Thanks a lot! You've been a great crowd!

How Long... How long must we sing this song?

Again I have decided to take some time to reflect and collect my thoughts before releasing another post. I find myself with a number of ideas, but when it comes time to write out my thoughts I have not the energy or the wisdom to put it down.

I prefer to philosophize my ideas and figure if they make any sense to me, but usually they don't so I might as well just write some things out.

So I saw something that to me was just genius. You may have already seen it, but if not make sure you get down to youtube to check out George W. singing the U2 classic, 'Sunday Bloody Sunday.'

It's truly amazing the editing done to make this work. It rocks.

Anyway it is this song that makes me want to write something, but what. I no longer have any real adventures to speak of, what with the end of summer and the baseball season. I will be going for the Sunday Rec Plus "B' title this weekend. I look to play well and have fun and for that occasion I have had my haircut. I want to look good for the team photo and I wouldn't mind if my hat would stay on during a game.

I don't want to worry any of my fans who like my longer hair, I have not shaved my head, but I have gone above the ears so hopefully you will still like me the way I am. Its amazing how much our hair can come to identify us, either to ourselves or to others. There was a time I did not get my hair cut too short because I was worried it would change the way some people thought about me or maybe I just thought I looked good with it. It's like the whole beard thing. I love having it and it has become a part of me and anyone who says to get rid of it I will tell them;

THE BEARD STAYS YOU GO!!!

But is that really a bright idea? I mean, choosing my facial hair over a relationship, I say yes, because you should never have to change who you are unless you are a complete ass. I don't think I'm there yet. I could be wrong. Nahhhhh!

Anyway what was my point?

So I want to recommend something else that I have found really funny, it may be some of the best cartoon writing I have seen since
'The Tick.'

The show of which I speak is 'The Venture Bros.' It is a more adult spin on the Johnny Quest cartoons you may have heard of. It's the story of a scientist, his two sons and their super strong body guard voiced by Patrick Warburton. The show has me laughing out loud rolling on the floor. It's ridiculous, the stories, the villains and the whole idea. I don't think I could do it justice in an explanation, but check it out if you can. It's on Monday nights on Teletoon at 10:30 pm.

So those were my picks of the week and I hope you do your best to check them out because they are the bomb y'all.

Well I guess that is all I have to say for now, but I promise I will update everyone on the results of tomorrow's Softball tilt.

Gooooooooooooooo SWINGERS!!!!!!!