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Canadian publisher Raincoast Books has just revealed the book jacket images for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the 7th and final book in the series.
Can’t wait for it to come out on July 21st – not only for the story but because it guarantees me at least 3 days of Rob reading, rather than watching TV, in bed (woo-hoo!!!).
By the way, is it just me or is Harry looking really… manly on this cover?
(Click on image to enlarge)
Ok so it wasn’t technically the first time, if you count a field trip to C.O.P when I was eight. Somehow, being left behind with the dorkiest kid in school to practice “snakey turns” while everyone else was promoted to the chairlift was humiliating enough to keep me away from all things ski-related for 21 years.
Last Sunday, I figured it was about time to get over that. Correction – actually, Rob figured it was time for me to get over it (I was quite happy in my non-ski state, thank you very much) and <sigh> I love him enough to make a total fool of myself if that’s what it took to get him to finally be quiet about it. So I took the plunge and we went to Grouse Mountain.
And, surprise of surprises, I didn’t suck HALF as bad as I expected.
Friends and family, behold a video to prove that yes, I really did actually stand upright while sliding down a hill on two skinny little boards.
Note: that was the first run of the day… I actually gained quite a bit of finesse by my third run. Well, except for the moment when I did a face plant and gave myself whip-lash, but hey, no biggie.
More pictures here.
Today I was saddened to stumble upon the news that Harmony Airways was going out of business.
You know, it really is a crying shame that certain bullies (and there are a couple) keep elbowing out younger, fresher, growing airlines out of the Canadian skies. What’s the matter guys? Scared of a little competition??
My heart goes out for the Harmony employees. At least they got a couple weeks’ notice – when Jetsgo, the airline I worked for for more than two years, went out of business in 2005, I heard about it from my co-worker via a phone call at 3am (that went like this: “hey, I’m in my car on the way to the office, is there anything you want me to get for you before the security guards get there and we can’t get to our desks?“), and she only found out because she was a manager in the call centre, and one of her employees on the late shift had phoned her after the president walked in at midnight and told them to stop taking calls. After a night of frantic phone calls to other employees and friends, I finally went in at 7 in the morning, only to be greeted by guards at the door and reporters on the steps.
And at least they didn’t leave their travelers stranded.
It’s really too bad. So much for democracy in the Canadian marketplace.
P.S. CanJet, what the hell happened to you?? So much promise, and you also bowed out of the game to become a charter-only company. Sigh. At least your employees got to keep their jobs.
Oh. My. God.
I haven’t been this impressed by a marketing campaign since… well… actually, I can’t remember if I have ever been this impressed. I happened upon Great Pockets by Henry Needle and Sons via a site (my secret source for fun web destinations… I’d tell ya, but then I’d have to kill ya…) which described it as:
I don’t know any shoplifters, but if I did, I’d recommend this tailor to them. He specializes in pants with extraordinarly large pockets. Check out the site and you’ll see just how large. I think you could smuggle a bowling ball in one of these creations.
Intrigued (as you must be), I followed the link to an utterly charming and entertaining flash video of a little white-haired tailor who I’d wish I knew in real life. His accent and facial expressions are so engaging, he had me hooked from his very first “Ah, good day to you and welcome to my store”. I double-dog-dare you to watch it and not be tempted to follow along with the story line and click when you’re asked to click.
I don’t want to ruin it for you, but let me just say: this is by far the most creative (and sneakiest) way I’ve ever been snagged to engage in a marketing campaign that had very little to do with the actual product it was intended to promote (hint: you have to follow it to the end and select “No thanks”). But, I LOVED it.
Go check it out – I promise you’ll be impressed… even if you’re not a marketer at heart.
I got this by email from a friend of mine and though I’d seen it before, I thought I’d share as it is kind of funny and goes nicely with my recent musings on the difference between Canadians and Americans.
Supposedly these are actual questions about Canada that were posted on an International Tourism Website. Real or not, they are amusing and the answers are even better.
Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and
watch them die.
Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you’ve been drinking.
Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto-can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it’s only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.
Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden)
A: So it’s true what they say about Swedes.
Q: Are there any ATM’s (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (England)
A: What, did your last slave die?
Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North…oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.
Q: Which direction is North in Canada? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees Contact us when you get here and we’ll
send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-t ri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is…oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany)
A: No, WE don’t stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It’s a
kind of big horse with horns. (USA )
A: It’s called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.
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