Blogger Photos and Flickr

Well, I realize that it hs taken me long enough to do this, but the last three entries were supposed to have pictures in them. I tried to insert the pictures using the image uploader that is built into Blogger, but that didn't work too well so I am going to re-save all of the entries again (well, it is only these last three) after uploading the images that I wanted to use to Flickr and doing it the old fashion way.

Not sure if the problems with the image uploader in Blogger were an isolated thing or not, but it has convinced me to continue to use Flickr nonetheless.

Tags: Flickr, Blogger, blog, blogging, blogs

The Beach

The Beach
Originally uploaded by mkb_nf.

Well, today is our second last day at the beach. We (Lisa and I) have been down here in St. Augustine for the week with my parents, who are down visiting for two weeks (a half week on either side of our week in Florida). It has been nice and relaxing, spending time our lying down and reading at the beach or pool, walking up and down the beach with Lisa or the old man, swimming in the pool, and just generally touristing.

We spent yesterday in St. Augustine itself, we went and climbed the lighthouse, walked around the old Spanish fort and the downtown, saw the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the United States, and again just generally relaxed.

Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by mkb_nf.

A week without Internet access has been interesting as well. I am finding that I am disconnected with things, like I can't check my e-mail every ten-fiften minutes (which I'm sure is hindering my dissertation student journal collection), chat on IM, check the hockey scores or the news back home in Newfoundland - I feel so uninformed. But it has bee a great way to really relax too, as I haven't had to get things done. I haven't had to respond to e-mail or send out things, spend hours of my day just reading things online.

I say it has been nice and relaxing now, but I'm sure that when I return to the 500-700 messages in my inbox (as I get 75-100 daily) I will be singing a different tune. But for now, it is good.

In any regard, the plan for Saturday is an early departure for the six plus hour drive home. I think we'll also try and stop at some of the Atlantic islands in southern Georgia - just to see them and such, maybe scout them out for a future visit (a possible anniversary trip at the end of June - although we are aso talking about Miami and the Keys, along with a return to Gatlinburg, or a possible trip to Phoenix or Las Vegas).

Tags: spring break, St. Augustine, Florida, Flickr

The Habs, Or More Appropriately the Hab Nots

Montreal Canadiens logo
Originally uploaded by mkb_nf.

So, I've had the opportunity to see like three hockey games since I have been on vacation. I've seen them on television, as opposed to in the rink, but I've seen them nonetheless. The coverage of the Tampa Bay Lighting seems to be much better than that of the Atlanta Thrashers. Granted, if Atlanta were the defending Stanley Cup Champions, I imagine interest and fan based for them would be much greater, which would result in more coverage.

Anyway, as many of you know I'm a Montreal Canadiens fan. The first game I watched this week, I got some of the highlights of Montreal (also called the Habs) beating the New York Rangers and moving into seventh place in the Eastern Conference ahead of Tampa Bay by one point. Two nights later they played Tampa in Montreal.

What a horrible game - at least for a Habs fan! I mean I have coached atom teams and female teams that could have played a better game. Talk about flat, with no jump in their step, no hunger for the puck! And some of the players, how the brass for the Habs can even believe that Kovalev is worth the millions that they are paying him, I have no idea. Yes he does score some goals, usually in spurts (and when he isn't out hurt)- but he is the biggest floater on the ice, can't play defense at all and turns the puck over to the other team one out of every three times he touches the puck (usually when he is the last man back or right at his own blue line).

With the trading deadline passed, we are stuck with him for the remainder of the season. I don't see why the Habs didn't use his goal scoring ability, and the fact that he finally isn't injured, and ty and go out and get a solid defensemen or a moe consistent goal scorer. But the Habs lost to Tampa Bay and that means that they slide back into the last playoff spot in the East, one point behind Tampa Bay again.

Tags: hockey, Montreal Canadiens, Flickr

Oh Canada

World Baseball Classic logo
Originally uploaded by mkb_nf.

Well, while neither the Canadians or the Americans could do much with the ice hockey during the Olympics, it does appear that Canada can best the Americans in their own arena. Last week during the World Baseball Classic, Canada took an 8 to nothing lead into the top of the fifth inning.

Unfortunately I had to stop watching at that point, as I had to drive into Atlanta to pick up my parents for their two week visit. In any regard, Canada did hold out and take the Americans 8 to 6. Imagine, a bunch of "has been"s and "never will be"s from Canada beating the Americans at their own national past time... I guess this is payback for the Canadian loss to the United States in the World Junior Hockey Championships three or four years ago (a tournament that Canada has really dominated over the years - including being on a three year winning streak coming into this December).

The best thing of the whole event was the Canadian pitcher that completed the first four innings (and I'm not sure how long he lasted after that). This kid had been playing single A ball last year and his pro club (i.e., Baltimore) had slated him to pitch in AA this year, yet for four innings he was able to take the best hitters from the United States and keep them to three hits and only one base on balls. Talk about the game of a lifetime for this kid.

Granted, because of an American victory later in the tournament, the Canadians didn't get out of pool play, so no crossover action for them. But, as I said before, beating the United States at their own national past time, that's something worth tipping your hats to them for.

Tags: World Baseball Classic, Team Canada, Flickr

Blogging on Vacation

Well, I'm a week without Internet access. Which is kind of frustrating, as there are a number of wireless networks in range, but they are either not strong enough for me to stay connected to the web for more than a few seconds at a time or are password protected.

So, I have taken to blogging in Notepad - which I will post when I return with the date and time signature indicating when it was originally written. This will probably mean that I post numerous entries at the same time, but that's okay as well.

Hopefully San Francisco has been access when we travel in April for AERA.

Tags: blog, blogging, blogs

Going On Break

Please note that I will not have Internet access for the next seven days, starting tomorrow. So there will be no updates to this space for at least seven days after today.

Tags: blog, blogging, blogs

How Would You Describe Me?

I got this one from my wife (see Tell me about myself!!! at Lisa's Blog)

All you have to do is follow the link below and click five or six (and ONLY five or six) of the words that you feel best describes me:

http://kevan.org/johari?name=MichaelKBarbour

Let's see what we come up with....

Are You A Mink?

So, I'm watching the last ten minutes of American Idol last night. I don't normally watch the show, with the exception of the first few episodes because I love to watch the train wrecks that audition. But my wife watches the show and I had finished up my work for the evening and went out to join her.

If you want a run down of what actually happened in the show, you should check out Ann Althouse's review of "American Idol" -- the last 8 women. But anyway, the last singer was this cute little thing Kellie Pickler - from her little video montage she appears to be this sweet little country girl who loves her dog and comes across as your typical playful, yet dumb blonde. Well, at the end of her performance, Simon tells her "Kellie, you're what's known as a naughty little minx," and later "I kind of prefer you to last year's winner." She confusingly asks Simon, or anyone else who would answer, "What's a minx?" But it gets better, as Seacrest is given Kellie her send off and reminding us of the telephone number for her, as serious as a judge, she yells into the mic "I'm a mink!" Seacrest did correct her, after laughing first, which I think was the reaction of anyone watching it.

Outside of the train wrecks at the beginning of each season, my truly favourite Idol moment... "I'm a mink!"

Tags: minx, Kellie Pickler, Amerian Idol

Countries I Have Visited

Another one, thanks to Bitch. Ph.D. (see Where I'm from)...



Create your own visited countries map or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Not quite as many or as colourful as my US map (54% of the states as compared to 2% of the countries). Too bad they don't have one for Canada and its provinces.

Tags: travel, maps, countries

States that I Have Visited

Thanks to Bitch. Ph.D. for this one (see Where I'm from)...



Create your own visited states map or check out these Google Hacks.

Tags: travel, maps, states, United States