How music changed my life..

Apres Les Breastfeeders, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

This is long.. but frankly, I haven't been a fan of music for that long, usually we like music at a fairly young age. However for me, I didn't start to like music until around 1998, at the age of 13. I never had been a fan of music prior to that mainly because we only had farmervision and my parents didn't really ever listen to the radio.

The first band I ever became a fan of was Sloan, their hit Money City Maniacs was dominating the charts in Canada. I loved how it sounded, starting off with that alarm. Who knew this song would be one of many that changed my life.

Fast forward a year to 1999, Lenny Kravitz has a mega-success (and a grammy) with his cover of American Woman, this song would change my life. I didn't realize that this song by Mr Kravitz was actually originally a song by a group from Winnipeg! I became a big fan of the Guess Who almost immediately. I even watched the Guess Who's first concert in almost 20 years live on TV while they were playing at the Pan Am Games closing ceremonies.

The Guess Who changed my life. I was able to branch out my musical tastes, from there I became a fan of Neil Young, Big Sugar, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Trooper, and from there.. it exploded.

At this time, I was a numismatist.. an expert on coin collecting, and no I will not buy that penny off of you for a dollar. I still more than you ever will about it. I even published SEVERAL articles, and even won awards for it.. but when I started to discover music.. I had no more time for numismatics.

Over time I became bigger fan of music, I saw the Guess Who, Alice Cooper, and a few other bands over time.. but since I lived at the farm.. I couldn't really go to concerts. When I finally got to university, I was going on regular trips to Winnipeg just so I could see a live show!

I discovered a website called CBC Radio 3 back in June 2003, I found out the site thanks through Macromedia (now Adobe) profiling the site as their site of the month. I was a fan of their combination of stories plus with untapped Canadian music. That's where I first heard the Weakerthans. How would I have known that this site would have changed my life alot?

Well this site CBC Radio 3 started podcasting a weekly music program once a week back in spring of 2005, I listened since the same week it first came out.. although I'm many many many months behind as it is. Thanks to CBC Radio 3, I was able to branch out my tastes even more. From there I discovered bands such as Novillero, The New Pornographers, Weakerthans (as I said before) and Stars.

In 2006 I took a "French Music" course in university, we learned the music of Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg (featuring Bridgette Bardot for many songs), and Quebec legend Robert Charlebois, we were expected to know what the songs were about, the theme, etc. This is where I developed an interest in French music, and honestly.. I like to think I'm an expert at some of it. I became a HUGE fan of the Quebec scene.

I went to Quebec City for the first time in 2006, they have a concert festival there every year called the Festival d'été (Summer Festival), the fest features big name acts to local up and coming acts. One of the bands on the list was called "Les Dales Hawerchuk", I nearly peed myself laughing when I saw that. However only weeks later I discovered bande à part. I became a huge fan of not only that band, but also Les Trois Accords, Les Breastfeeders, and many others.

I've written many reviews, blogged alot, taken alot of photos, met many bands, been interviewed through CBC and through other mediums about music. I've been told that I need to get into the music industry. Maybe one day.. maybe one day.

Music is in my soul, its in my blood, I have made more friends though music than I ever have through politics clubs or though university courses. I've even met people randomly at concerts (such as Le B!)

I am so greatful that music has influenced my life, it's that one thing that has always been there. Whether I'm homesick in Quebec City to facing a breakup to being bored driving down the Trans Canada heading back to Pipestone.

I'm thankful for the friends I have met thanks to music, some of them are musicians themselves. I have made alot of connections, I have gotten alot of great opportunities thanks to music. One day I hope to meet Mr Grant Lawrence and Mr R3-30 in person, as I've heard their voices on the interweb, on CBC Radio 2, and through podcasts for many many years, they seem like a member of the family to me, since I hear them so often.

I heart music, whether it's music in joual to music in three different languages (ala We Are Wolves/Nous Sommes Loups). Vive la musique!

5 Reasons why I Love/Hate concerts!

Oh Garbage Tree, Oh Garbage Tree, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

At a concert, it can be a very enjoyable time, or a very aweful time, depending on the music, around the environment, etc. So here's 10 reasons why I love concerts and hate concerts.

LOVE

1. When a band/musician you love is playing all your favourite tunes, it's always an enjoyable time, you sing every song word for word, have the best time in the world.
2. When bands have autograph sessions, it gets much of the audience talking after the show. I find that a band cares about their fans if they have an autograph session or stick around for a bit after the show.
3. Say if you're in a different community, but at a packed venue, almost always you will be with people who are just as big of fans of the musician as yourself! I remember one time being at a Les Dales Hawerchuk concert in Quebec City and this guy walks up to me.... all because I had a Winnipeg Jets t-shirt on! We discussed hockey and music for easily 10 minutes, really cool guy!
4. Merch! For me, I try to make a habit of getting a tshirt or poster after the show. It gives me a memory of the show. But for me, I rarely ever wear a merch tshirt because I just want to remember the night!
5. Encores! One of my favourite parts of a show. At almost every gig, it's expected of a band to play an encore. It's always fun, whether the band plays a few new songs or the hits, people always an encore. 
6. Bonus: I LOVE live music. As Neil Young said on "Union Man:" live music is better, bumper stickers should be issued!

HATE

1. Alcohol. I love drinking a beer at a venue, but most of the time when people drink at a concert, there's going to be people who make an ass of themselves, they're not there to see the music, they're there to get plastered! At one concert I was at, this 50 some year old lady was trying to get up to the front of the stage and she was wasted a bit too much, she spilled half her cooler all over my clothes. At times I wish it was a dry event, but then again, I do love beer.
2. People who budge in line/crowd. Whether you're waiting for the concert venue to open up, in line to get a beer/merch or just near the front of the crowd watching the concert. I hate when people push their way through, say if you are in a very snug spot as it is, then a pair of drunken buffoons come on by pushing you so they can get up closer. Alot of the time they'll yell at the stage with "play x song" (lots of times its not even a song the band plays!)
3. Merch prices! $50 for a t-shirt is a bit overkill. The most I ever paid for a t-shirt was $65 at a concert I paid $200 for a ticket to go see! I love cheap merch. $10-15 CDs and $20-30 t-shirts are always good! For cheap merch, I have seen tour posters sell from one dollar to twenty!
4. Bands that are asses to the audience. Dude! We're there to have a good time! Don't treat us like you don't want to be there! If someone's throwing alcohol at you or whatnot, you have a reason to be grouchy (that's another thing: here in Brandon: every concert I go to there's always one person who tries to throw alcohol at the bands).
5. Concerts on Sundays. Personally I have never been a fan of concerts on Sundays, particularly here in Brandon or in Winnipeg. I don't have an actual source of transportation so it's difficult for me to usually get to a concert. Any other day of the week it's better. Oh and Greyhound made me miss an hour of the Weakerthans before. Why? The last bus of the evening leaves at 11:30PM, while the concert is going on until midnight. So I have to leave at exactly 11PM so I won't miss the bus. But I just paid $30 to see that concert? Anywho, screw Greyhound! I hope they pull out of Manitoba for good.

Stuff Cody Hates - October 22, 2009

United Army S_rplus Sales, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Here we go!

• Maple Bugs - they are some of the nastiest looking bugs ever known! They roam around areas with Manitoba Maple trees in the trillions, ugly, disgusting and they like to go on you.
• My "apartment" - Where I live, it's more like a dorm, you get your own room, but shared kitchen, living room and bathrooms. With this, this one guy, let's call him smelly, tends to watch TV 20 hours a day. He sits in the same chair each time too, a beigish Laz-e-boy. Well since he moved in, it's now brown. He never showers, so ya, you can see why he's named smelly. Other room mates like to bug you when you're eating. Personally, I prefer to eat my dinner in peace rather than people asking me a million questions. Same goes with watching the newest episodes of The Office. Leave me the F alone! Oh and my landlords are always around. The male landlord always sits on the couch, mainly because he's avoiding his wife (the other landlord), cuz she's um... annoying as fuck? He always changes the channels on you when you just leave the room for a minute, and steals your spot.
• Winter. I hate winter.
• Not finding a job - seriously, I'm sick of it. My resumé looks awesome too.
• Twitter - It's annoying. I also hate trends, especially the whole Balloon Boy/Kanye trends. Also, please stop with the fake death reports. Thank you.
• The single life - While it's nice to be single for the first time since I was living in Quebec City, I do miss the comfort of having a sweetheart by your side, who likes to cuddle, and do whatever the fuck in the world, always interested in what you have to say. No job and no girlfriend make things worse than just no job. Boo urns.
• The Simpsons since 1999 or so, seriously. Fire the Simpsons staff please, the writers are AWEFUL. Also while you're at it, fire the entire SNL staff, with exception of a few people. MacGruber can stay. Also why the F did NBC replace My Name is Earl with Weekend Update: Thursday Edition?

Stuff Cody Likes - October 20, 2009

Subway steak sub, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Time again for another installment of shit that I like!

• Subway Steak Subs - The steak sub in the photo looks rancid or whatever, but Subway's Steak (or Steak n Cheese) sub they have in Canada is DELICIOUS! It's my alltime favourite Subway sub (even more than their limited time Parmesan Chicken Sub). I like it on an Italian (H)erb and Cheese bun, and with a drooling of their Barbecue sauce. It's a treat I love to spoil myself with. When I lived in Québec, I treated myself to this delight once a week. They have this sub in the US too, but personally.. it's aweful. First off.. they don't have BBQ sauce in the US.. cmon! Subway's BBQ sauce is sweet with a nice kick of spiciness! The one I had was FULL of meat (good), but the meat tasted very very salty (bad). Plus they put ketchup on the sub instead (bad). While I love ketchup with beef, it made the sub aweful. So next time you go to a Subway (in Canada of course), try their Steak sub!
• Samuel Adams beer - Usually I'm not a fan of American beers, but Sam Adams beers rock. I like their Wheat Ale and their Summer Ale the most, mmmm! Now if only they would bring it up to Manitoba/Canada!
• Weeds - Awesome TV show!

My photo of the day

Prairie sunset, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I wish Manitoba still got cool looking sunsets like this.. this late in the year, but since Manitoba is on its way to having a very long winter, with too much snow. So it's gloomy, cold, and boring out. Plus the sunsets only last a very short period of time. Oh summer, how I miss thee!

Obsession with mobile technology!

Rogers Blackberry Pearl 8120 phone, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Back in 2005 I worked for a call centre here in Brandon. I dealt with customer service (billing/tech support/sales) with a cellphone carrier in the US. While working there, I developed an interest in cellphones. Back then I had a Motorola C350 cellphone on Rogers. It was middle of the road for when I got it. It had text messaging/internet web capabilities. Plus back when I bought it, it was one of the only colour screen phones back then. Little did I know I would become obsessed with cellphones only months later.

Since I had an alright paying job at the call centre, I decided to buy a new phone. Something with power, something I can use to take pix on the go or whatnot. I bought a Motorola V635. The phone was a boring flip, but it was a nice phone for back then.. this was when the RAZR was starting to become HUGE.  It took decent quality pictures for back then, it had a 512mb memory card, and I could use my own ringtones!

In 2007 I upgraded to a HTC TyTn, which was a smartphone that had touchscreen capabilites. Finally.. I got my first PDA phone! I listened to alot of internet radio on it, such as CBC Radio 3. The camera was crap but I didn't care.. since I had a nice shiny new camera anyways. It was neat how I could customize the phone to my liking. It felt like a mini-computer! But the problem was.. Windows Mobile is a memory hog! The phone itself was aweful. I had to close multiple programs manually just so I could send a TEXT or make a phone call! I got sick of that phone soon later.

Then last year.. I got an iPhone 3G.. oh boy, it changed my life! It allowed me to finally use internet on the road, wherever I was, whether I'm on the Trans Canada near Portage la Prairie, or on the couch watching a TV show! it was an amazing device! I have never had a phone that was attached to me THAT MUCH in my life! I loved the ability to listen to web radio, send emails, listen to music, watch youtube, all without hassle! It cost me an arm and a leg, but it was worth it! I was planning on unlocking it so I could use it in the US under T-Mobile.. but my luck changed.. the phone DIED, it wouldn't make phone calls, it wouldn't access the internet. It was now a glorified iPod. Sure enough I called Rogers and they replaced it for free within 2 weeks!

Around the same time, I won a Blackberry Pearl from Rogers! This isn't your regular Blackberry Pearl candybar smart phone. Unlike almost all other Blackberries.. it had WIFI capability. This meant I could now use my phone on the farm just by using wifi. There's no GSM (Rogers) service at my parents farm, so whenever I wanted to make a call/text at the farm.. I was out of luck! The blackberry helped immensely. I made calls without having to go outside (to try to get SOME service), and text with ease.

Out of all the phones I owned, the only one I really enjoyed using was the iPhone. It's simple to use, very straight forward, and I have applications to customize it to my liking! So I can easily post photos to flickr while on the road, or as I said before, listen to internet radio! I found the Blackberry just slow and not really accommodating for the user. The TyTn loved to lock up every other minute, plus Windows Mobile is the worst mobile OS I have ever used. SO SLOW! Plus Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile is the greatest joke for an internet browser, ever! The Moto phones were good.. for someone who doesn't really ever use a phone. But if I was to use a Moto now, it would be too boring for me. I like to use the full internet whenever I want to, instead of WAP websites.. websites on WAP are just BORING! I'll always cherish my iPhone since it helped me when I was lost in a different city, it kept me in touch with my family while living in Quebec without internet, and it allows me to carry less devices while I'm on a walk. Now I no longer need to carry a cellphone AND an iPhone with me when going for a walk! It rocks! But now, I want to use the iPhone for more, I want to tether it to my computer.. only problem is that Brandon and Manitoba has only EDGE data outside of Winnipeg.. so the only speeds you get are dialup speeds! Very very slow :(

But what will be my next phone? Who knows, probably the successor the the iPhone 3GS. I would love to try out a Google Android device next, but personally.. I'd still be much happier with an iPhone either way. If I ever get sick of iPhones, I do know that I will never go back to Windows Mobile.. horrible OS. I feel sorry for those who have Windows Mobile phones that only have a touch screen.. those are hell to type on! Windows Mobile sure doesn't seem like an OS that should be in the toucheable market.

Coolest/nicest musicians I have met

Sam Roberts et moi - Brandon, Manitoba, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I'm sure most of us have met *SOME* of our favourite musicians before, even if it was a minor local celebrity. Sometimes the musician turns out to be a real a-hole, or is actually the nicest and coolest musician/band you have ever met. We've all been there, done that.

Well I'm a shy guy, not sure why, just am. So it's hard to walk up to random musicians after concerts. Well a musician will usually take time out of their busy schedule to chat with you for a few minutes. So here are the coolest/nicest musicians I have met.

• Sam Roberts, down right the most friendly musician I have ever met. He's the image of the classic hoser rocker, he's polite, friendly, and sings about what he cares about. He was a really cool guy. Not only that, he has a photographic memory.
• Dan Mangan, he was eerily alot alike Roberts, very friendly. Always had a smile on his face, and always kept a conversation going with who he was talking with. This guy is going to go far. I bugged him more than my share during the WCMA weekend a month ago, but he was very cool the whole time.
• Novillero/The Waking Eyes, the two friendliest bands I've met. the guys in both bands are so friendly. By the way, if you're in Winnipeg.. you MUST go to Lo Pub, it's the best place in all of Manitoba!
• April Wine, wow, they are very friendly. Canadian icons, and even when they are insanely tired after a long concert, they chat it up with the audience for a few minutes before heading the road. They know how to rock a crowd!
• The Wheat Pool, I bumped into them everywhere I went during WCMA time, had a conversation with them quite a bit. They were very friendly and they love their hockey! They just can't believe that Ron Hextall is in fact, from Brandon! Go Wheat Kings!
  

MY Top 20 Last.FM artists

Stand Tall, Bannatyne, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

So here's what you do, go to your Last.FM profile and list the top 20 artists you listen to, and how many plays each artist has gotten! Simple as that. Here's my list, feel free to comment.

1) The Guess Who - 28 plays
2) Jean Leloup - 21 plays
3) Big Sugar - 13 plays
4) Vulgaires Machins - 12 plays
5) Xavier Caféïne - 12 plays
6) Pierre Lapointe - 12 plays
7) Tricot Machine - 11 plays
8) Cummings & Bachman - 10 plays
9) Les Trois Accords - 10 plays
10) Mononc'Serge - 10 plays
11) Les Breastfeeders - 9 plays
12) Yann Perreau - 9 plays
13) Fred Fortin - 9 plays
14) Daniel Boucher - 8 plays
15) The Constantines - 8 plays
16) Robert Charlebois - 8 plays
17) Joel Plaskett - 8 plays
18) Les Dales Hawerchuk - 8 plays
19) Ariane Moffat - 7 plays
20) Malajube - 7 plays

Stuff Cody Dislikes - October 12, 2009

Camp bonfire, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

So everyone here in Manitoba apparently likes to 1) Camp, 2) Hunt and 3) Fish. Especially the fine Manitoban women (sarcastic). I actually don't mind camping.. but as for Huntin' or Fishin'.. I refuse to do either. I may be from the country, but I'm not entirely a redneck. Lots of friends of mine who are female want guys who like that sort of stuff too. I'm glad I'm taken by someone who isn't a girl who likes any of that stuff lol. But you'll never see me fishing or hunting, mainly because that's the "city guy" in me. Also, I hate country music.

25 things you probably didn't know about me..

moi-même avec une bière! Myself with a beer as a baby, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Well everyone usually does these sort of surveys from time to time, so why not me? I'm bored so here we gooooo!

1. When I was in highschool, I used to publish quite a few articles for numismatic magazines. For those who don't know what numismatics is, it's basically coin collecting. So yeah, I wrote articles about coins and paper money. Okay, I was a nerd, so what!
2. Not only did I like coins and paper money, I briefly liked stamps too.. but that was just too busy to handle. So many stamps, so little time. I love the artwork on our money, the history, the quality. My oldest coin is well over 2000 years old!
3. While still on this topic, I got second place in a nation-wide contest with the Bank of Canada for an essay on paper money. I should've been first place but you can't win them all.
4. When I was young, I thought I was going to be 1) A farmer.. I really did think I was going to be a farmer because it used to be a very prosperous job, and I wanted to be like my dad. 2) A weatherman.. I was obsessed with the weather, whenever the weather report was on TV, I had to watch it in full, the rest of the news I didn't give a rats ass about. 3) A train conductor.. I still have an appreciation for trains for some reason, but I thought I'd be a train conductor, going across the prairies, honking the horn late at night, waving at little kids. I was supposed to be picked up on a train when I was little, but that never happened but it wouldve been cool if I could've gotten a ride in a cabin.
5. I graduated with a degree in politics. When I started developing my interest in politics was around 1993 when the Federal election took place. I was watching it in full (but I don't remember it much), and I remember becoming a big fan of Royal Canadian Air Farce thanks to it. I thought Jean Charest was the coolest guy ever. I watched the 1995 Quebec referendum in full too. Oh ya.. did you know that Jean Charest was on Just For Laughs playing a stage director on one skit?
6. When I was 4 years old a picture of me was on Skiddle Bits, which was a show on CTV aimed for kids, everyone my age was on it. It was my birthday, so Joey (the host) said happy birthday from my mom and dad and puppies and whatnot. I had it on tape until about 13ish years ago when my mom taped over it because she wanted to tape Pocahontas.
7. I'm kind of surprised I like beer, mainly because I told myself I wouldn't drink. Well somehow I ended up drinking anyways. When I was 18, I couldn't stand more than a beer or two per month, but now.. I have such pompous beer tastes now. I'm too snooty to drink crap.
8. I'm very shy... way too shy, but most people know that. I get too shy to walk up to random people, just thinking about it makes my heart beat fast and I get all shakey. If it's a musician I enjoy, it's sometimes even worse. At the WCMA afterparty, there was a famous music producer who I wanted to say hi, but thanks to me being too scared, I never got the courage to walk up to him.
9. I really have no idea where I want to be in life, I always dream I'll have an amazing house, big HDTV, and a bar in the bedroom with custom built keg compartments, and special glasses for each different type of beer!
10. For employment, I want a job I love. I want to travel the world, but at the same time I want a job that doesn't bring very difficult obstacles. I would love to have a job in the music industry, but I don't know.. at the same time I want an amazing paying job where I don't have to worry about budgetting over every little thing.
11. Until I was 12 years old, my parents had FarmerVision, FOUR channels. CKND (Global), CKY (CTV), CKX (now defunct CBC) and Radio-Canada. I don't know how I was able to live that amount of my life on that little amount of TV, especially since most TV was crap even back then.
12. Speaking of FarmerVision, my parents had dialup internet until 2 years ago. Yes DIALUP INTERNET! 28.8k internet. Why does everyone expect everyone to have highspeed internet in even this day and age? Cable companies, phone companies, ISPs just refuse to provide service to rural areas. My parents now have highspeed internet. It's awesome, I'm watching a movie and on my laptop's wireless network. It rocks!
13. I'm starting to run out of ideas.. but oh ya.. I have very very short term memory.. mainly if I'm talking about a topic.
14. My topics tend to get very off topic, I'm just random minded, and I have to say what's on my mind, or else I forget what I wanted to say.
15. I'm a nice guy, and I don't like to interrupt people. But what pisses me off to no end is when people interrupt me.. it happens all the time, from EVERYONE, I just act all calm. I guess it's cuz I'm just too nice and not a loud mouth
16. I'm actually a scared guy when walking on the street, when people pass by, I always get scared that they're going to assault me or some shit. Others think I might look like an asshole, but I'm not. But in Brandon it's SO normal to see people yelling obscenities while walking on the street, or if people pass you by while listening to an iPod.. people here are assholes, think theyre funny. One time I even got physically assaulted. Pushed, punched, shoved by some wannabe gangsters, who were probably a combined weight of 175lbs.
17. Even though I'm on Twitter quite a bit, I personally HATE Twitter.. alot. The only reason why I signed up to Twitter in the first place was as an experiment.. an experiment that went right (I suppose). I've met some cool people on there! But I still find it weird walking up to a person going "aren't you so-and-so on Twitter?"
18. I think about the past way too much, in particular highschool and first year of University... sometimes I wonder how I could've changed my life
19. Right now I don't know where I want to be. I'm sick of applying for jobs. I'm unemployed, everyone who I talk to gets all creeped out when I say I don't have a job. But when you apply for 30 different jobs at different places.. and not even get a call back.. it sucks. This city sucks, this province sucks, this economy sucks.
20. I hate most TV commercials, and I'm actually very vocal about it to the point that I yell at the TV when I see an aweful commercial. I yell at the TV whenever I see Brand Power/Zoot Review commercials. The Brand Power lady is ANNOYING and has ugly hair!
21. I am a loner.. I have always been. I'm just used to it. I'm not used to making friends, real friends. Whenever I do anything, unless if I have plans.. I always sit by myself. At a concert or a bar I'll sit at my own table, on my own, even if theres people I vaguely know there. I personally don't like interrupting people, and I don't like inviting myself over to tables. I dream of having friends that go "hey Cody, we're going to the pub, you HAVE to come, be there or else!"
22. I have bad luck with electronics, I really do! I've owned my share of phones, two laptops, and who knows how many gadgets, bad luck with most of them. I've had to get my iPhone replaced after it fried after 11 months of ownership. Both of my laptops had issues.. and I had to return a laptop the day after buying it all because it was JUNK! I've had cameras that were pieces of crap and took aweful photos, even expensive cameras :(
23. Until the weekend of my 18th birthday, I had never been on a plane. To my parents, a vacation is going two hours away in Minot, North Dakota, or to Winnipeg! However, months after I graduated highschool, they went on a vacation to Las Vegas.. yet they never took me on a trip to anywhere different.. nor have they ever (still). My parents used to go on vacations every year to places like Jamaica and Mexico, but as soon as I was born, of course not anymore! Ha.. but now they go on a vacation again every year, they're going to Colombia next year. Due to not getting to travel when I was younger, I have a huge desire to travel the globe. I dream of going to Australia, rural France & Belgium, South America, etc.
24. I have only been to two NHL games in my life. First one being Winnipeg Jets vs Florida Panthers.. that was such a horrible game.. both teams stunk but the Jets did well. The second was The Jets vs New Jersey Devils.. the season after the Devils won the cup. Winnipeg won something like 5-3. It was a great game, even though we had the highest nosebleed row in the rink!
25. I've always wanted to meet: Nardwuar the Human Serviette since seeing him on Much Music in the 90s, he's always an entertaining individual, as well as Burton Cummings/Randy Bachman, Neil Young and Trailer Park Boys.
    

Stuff Cody HATES! October 10, 2009

First prairie snowfall of 2009, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Sure, I like stuff.. just like most normal people, but of course I also dislike.. or just plain HATE stuff! Here we go..

• SNOW!!! I freaking HATE snow.. well it's not snow what I hate most.. I mostly hate winters. Here in Manitoba, we get winters with temperatures or windchills of as low as -50 degrees CELCIUS (-59F). It's horrible. I like snow, it can be pretty.. but Manitoban winters are not for amateurs, or for normal people, or for immigrants, or for people who like being outdoors. I want to see a winter where the coldest day is.. let's say.. -30C including windchill. But here in Manitoba, -40C winters are the norm. Yesterday we had our first snowfall of the year, usually the first snowfall happens around Halloween.. it's just too early! Also, there's no end in sight, it's supposed to be around -5 to +2C for the next week or so.. boo urns to this, boo urns indeed!
• Bud Light Lime, Moosehead Light Lime, Big Rock Light Lime, Russell Light Lime, Molson's Miller Chill, etc.. you already know my opinion on this. Stupid idea, overpriced, but the guy who thought up the idea must be rolling in money about now. But since this is Canada, I'm surprised that nobody has marketed the Beer + Clamato beer yet. Here on the prairies, people tend to drink either pilsners, light beers or mix clamato with their beer. It's a tradition. I know lots of rednecks who go down to the US just so they can stock up on their Bud/Bud Light Cheldas.
• Most TV shows.. I love watching TV but most shows suck now days. Either the shows are reality/dance-or-sing-or-act-or-grow-a-mustache-and-get-judged or they are crime/law/hospital based. I miss comedies.. whatever happened to comedies? Did they die in the 20th century? I love my comedies, from My Name is Earl to The Office to Trailer Park Boys (sadly 2/3 of those are now off the air).
• Winter. I. Hate. Winter. Oh wait.. I already said that.
• Price of beer.. it's such a rip off now days. Well, it always has. $21 for a case of domestic swill? That's aweful! You can get a case of the same stuff in the US for $10. Sure the beer will be watered down.. but its still cheaper.
• People stealing my pictures off of Flickr. Okay.. so I love Flickr and sharing my photos there. The whole reason why I put my photos there is to share with everyone. I'm FINE with people leaching the image and using it for Forum discussions, cuz personally.. I do that too. But I hate it when people take my images off of Flickr, then host it on their website. I'm not a professional or anything, but it kinda makes me feel bleh. I hope one day I don't see a photo of mine getting spread around the internet to the point where sites are putting their watermarks all over them. I'd be peeved if that happened. I don't know why it bothers me, it just does.
• Trolls, Grammar nazis, douchebags, etc on forums. They suck too.
• Rogers EDGE.. it's so very very slow. Try using an iPhone over EDGE at 5PM on a Friday, it's near impossible. My hometown, Brandon is one of the largest communities in all of Canada that does not have 3G HSDPA coverage, every other city 40K+ in Canada seems to have 3G, what's taking so long Rogers? By the time I move out of Manitoba, 3G will FINALLY arrive.
• Finding a job.. I'm sick and tired of looking for a job, I've applied anywhere and everywhere. Sure, I will NOT apply at grocery stores, (fast food) restaurants, telemarketers, or at the hog slaughtering plant.. but I should still be able to get a reasonable job in this day and age. I applied at dozens, and dozens and dozens of jobs since February, I'm still unemployed. This recession sucks. Being a graduate with a double major in Political Science and French seemed like I would find a job EASILY, it's been far from easy. I've applied all over this country, I'm willing to MOVE just so I can find a job. Apparently I'm not even qualified to work a desk job, considering I've worked many desk jobs all my life, even worked in exclusively French before.
• 3 Year Cellphone contracts.. they suck. On the upside, check out these ads by Wind Mobile, I seriously hope they will turn around the Canadian Cellphone industry: LINKY LINKY!!
• Politics.. sure, I'm a politics graduate, and I'm a director of a local riding association for a political party, but I'm SICK of politics, the backstabbing, the bullshit, the constant fighting, the constant rumours of elections, hypocratic politicians (or in Harper's case Harpercratic). I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the Neo-Cons constantly attacking their opposition through TV ads, and also through tax payer paid MP newsletters, while the Liberals keep pushing for an election, even though the Cons will win anyways, possibly with a Majority now. Stéphane Dion could have been a great leader, but he never was able to because he wasn't able to stand up for himself. Before he was leader, I knew he was going to be leader of the Liberals, he's a very very smart man.. but I guess it just wasn't his time. Politics is sickening. I'd rather see Justin Trudeau leading the Liberals, Kiefer Sutherland leading the NDP, and anyone-but Ben Mulroney leading the Cons (he's another guy I can't stand).

That's about it for today

My Friend on "Bud Light Lime"

BEER! BEER! BEER! It's always time for BEER!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

it fucking tastes like some kind of lime scented cleaning product

So true, so sad! Drink real beer, if you desperately want lime in your beer..
1) get a lime at the grocery store
2) cut it up
3) squirt juice in your beer
4) put in your beer (optional)
5) drink

Yeesh!

Stuff Cody Likes - October 8, 2009

View of Brandon, Manitoba, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Well today's "Stuff Cody Likes" will be about one thing, and one thing only. Music!

Well I'm a big fan of songs about citys, towns, municipalities, points of interest. The song "Runnin' Back to Saskatoon" on Live at the Paramount by The Guess Who is one of Canada's most celebrated songs about places that Canada has ever seen. Since then, there have been songs about almost all over Canada, from small town, Saskatchewan to big town, Ontario!

Here in my "hometown" Brandon, Manitoba (well I'm from a farm near Pipestone, Manitoba) there have been a few songs written about the community over the years. Musician Rick Neufeld (famous for the song Moody Manitoba Morning) wrote a song called Souris River, featuring Burton Cummings, Garry Peterson and Bill Wallace of The Guess Who accompanying him. Some suggest The Hundredth Meridian by The Tragically Hip could possibly be about Brandon, since Brandon is ON the 100th meridian.

But.. let's not get ahead of ourselves. I believe it's time for a new song about Brandon. Brandon is  small town atmosphere that meets big city desires. People from Brandon feel like the unappreciated child where the attention-needing Winnipeg gets all the praise and glory. People have never heard of Brandon, but yet.. if they have ever taken the Trans Canada Highway across the prairies, they've been to Brandon. This is a community that is forgotten by musicians, they never tour here, but they sure stop here often enough for gas or to stretch their legs. However, Brandon is an amazing underrated community that is proud of its past, proud of its present and proud of its diversity. People in Brandon apparently are some of the biggest volunteers in this nation. If any event needs volunteers, people young and old will always volunteer, even if they do not know what the event even is.

We take pride on being a hockey town, having one of the best music departments at a university in Canada, and for being able to drive from one end of the city to the other in fifteen minutes, and that even includes during the construction of a new 4-lane bridge!

A few years ago the cast of Royal Canadian Air Farce came to Brandon for a season finale for their show. Throughout the show they poked fun of Brandon, like having a skit from "CSI Brandon", where a major crime is where a police officer has to ticket a car. Us Brandonites can always take a joke, because we know we may not be a big town, but there's always a bright side to anything.

Air Farce also did a skit where Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman (not the real guys, unfortunately) were on the "Noon Show" on CKX TV (our beloved television station that shut down as of last friday), and they sung a song about Brandon titled "Brandon, in the middle of it all!". (Video can be seen here: LINK)

So what I would love to see is a song about Brandon, we may be overlooked by travellers who travel east to west, west to east, and by musicians when they tour Canada.. but in the end, "Brandon is in the middle of it all!" Now if only Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings would sing about this town!

First mobile blog entry

Let me see if this works, this is my first mobile blog entry. I love
to get work done on the go, so if this works, then cool!
À bientôt!

Hoppy Beer Day!

Humulus Ludicrous' beer head.. Hoppy Beer Day!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Hoppy Beer Day everybody!

So today is Hoppy Beer Day for me, as will be many other days. While I'm trying to stay beer-free for a month (that's clearly failed), I've definitely limited my consumption in the last week..

Anywho.. After reading about the beer Humulous Ludicrous being the 10th best beer in Canada according to RateBeer.com, I just had to try it, with being a Manitoban and all. But since it's only a seasonal beer, I had to wait until it was in production.

So now it's October (2009) and I bought a few bottles, one for trying out now, and one for having at a special time.

So I finally tried it.. first thing I noticed.. Half Pints wasn't kidding about it being hoppy, for the aroma, the hoppiness isn't overpowering, but definitely something very noticeable, it also has a nice hint of sweetness to it too. It has a nice dark coppery colour to it. As for taste, HOPPY HOPPY HOPPY.. or as I call it Hoppy beer day! The hoppiness is very evident, it also has a bit of a "nuttiness" taste to it too, but all in all, it is similar to their staple beer Little Scrapper India Pale Ale, well this beer is an IPA an all as well, but just 8% instead of 5-6%

For $4.50 (pre tax), it's a bit expensive, but it's a very limited brewed beer, so it comes down to "why not?" more than anything. I'll definitely buy it again. Especially since I love to support Half Pints as they are a local company for me! Sure beats the usual prairie pilsner style beers!

Also, check out the photos!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/codyrl/tags/humulus/

Stuff Cody Likes - October 1, 2009

Ketchup chips.. not just for Canadians anymore!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Well there's already sites about stuff "people like", so why not do my own, since I'm traditionally pickier than every other person on the planet it seems, plus people seem to comment about it day in, day out!

• Ketchup Chips.. ZOMG.. when I buy a big bag of Ketchup Chips (by Old Dutch), I always end up pigging out, I have to eat the *WHOLE* bag in one sitting, it's aweful. I can't *JUST* eat one or two chips, I have to eat the whole thing. Ketchup chips are heavenly, a mixture of greasy potato and ketchup "salt". What's weird is no ketchup chip tastes ANYTHING like ketchup. Every time I try to get American friends to try Ketchup chips, they give me the cringe of death, thinking it's the worst idea for a snack, ever.. but deep fried Mars bars are "okay?" Seriously, try them, ketchup chips rock! They're even now available in the Midwest USA.
  

• Beavertails.. basically fried/baked dough pounded to look like a beaver tail, then various toppings such as cinnamon sugar, nutella, and candies are spread all over the dough. It is an amazing treat. They really need to bring an outlet or two in Manitoba someday, great alternative to mini donuts. I saw an American variety of the Beaver Tail in the US at a state fair in the summer, it was called an elephant ear, it was alright but NOT a Beaver Tail.
  

• Half Pints beer.. the BEST beer company in Western Canada.. and also the first beer company on the prairies to cater to the beer snob like myself, one of their beers is even rated 10th best beer in Canada by Ratebeer.com! Their brewery DOES NOT make the traditional prairie pilsener style beers.. since that's overdone, they try something different instead. The brewery has really taken off in the last year or two, well what do you expect for a brewery that makes GOOD local beer! I even saw one guy buying about a dozen bottles of one of their beers, that sells for $4.50 (pre-tax) PER BOTTLE! Talk about loyalty towards a beer company!
  

• My iPhone.. what's not to love about it? I can keep in contact with any/all of my friends and family 24 hours a day (not that it's a good thing or anything), I can check information on the internet asap, watch YouTube videos and blog if I wanted to.

• Lastly.. sleep, who doesn't love a nice long sleep on a comfortable bed? That's where I'm heading now, à bientôt!