We planned to go out for brunch today. Well, that was the plan but by the time Fondy was ready, we were far past brunch and well into lunch territory. Rather than go the dim sum route or head over to Feenie’s for braised short rib sandwiches, we decided to try something a little different…

Since my father was a diabetic, the prospect that the disease ran in my family was something that would give me pause now and again. Never during dinner of course, and certainly not while I was eating my double desserts, but lying in bed some nights I would wonder. Could I develop it? Was I…

Pursuant to yesterday’s entry regarding the Network Upfronts and their new fall line-ups, one of the interesting things I failed to mention was Cavemen, the new comedy series spun off from the Geico ad campaign of the same name. The commercials were very funny but will the concept prove just as funny as a t.v.…

The 2007 Network Upfronts took place this week with ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and the CW unveiling their new Fall line-ups. Gone are some old favorites like The O.C., Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, and The King of Queens, and some not so favorites like In Case of Emergency, Smith, and Identity. There were a few…

The other night, I went to Gastropod, the winner of the 18th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Award for Best New Fine Dining. It also made a strong showing in Urban Diner’s Worst Restaurant Name poll (in this case, yielding the prize to the far more deserving Whineo’s). And, I dare suspect, that if they were…

A couple of weeks ago, I made a list of the top ten shows that influenced me growing up. Now if I were to come up with a list of the shows that have greatest influence on me today, one would easily top the list. Road Tasted, which airs on The Food Network, is hosted…

I heard their approach - sprightly, cacophonous; foreboding - and immediately had the silent alarm go off in my head. Kids!Kids!Kids! I was on my feet, swinging around the desk and hopping over my camera bag to get to the door. Just in time. It clicked shut just as they rounded the corner, shouting and…

I apologize for today’s late entry but it was a busy day capped by a big t.v. night: I’m the three hour Survivor finale followed by what I believe was the fourth to last episode of The Sopranos. Spoilers to follow so if you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading….NOW!Well, maybe not now exactly…

If Lost and Gilligan’s Island have taught us anything, it’s that being stranded on a deserted island doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. Amidst the adventure, exploration, and occasional crazed gorilla or polar bear, there is also opportunity for some downtime activities like ping pong, musical theater, and, I can only assume, watching dvd’s.…

Whenever people would ask me: “Joe, when did you first start writing creatively?”, I’d always hearken back to the dreadful little horror and science fiction stories I used to pen in fourth grade. But, upon further reflection, I realize now that my artistic spirit was awakened even earlier. Truth is I started spinning inventive little…

Lawren walks into the writer’s room carrying an enormous book and sporting an equally enormous grin. Everyone’s eyes light up. They know it’s a package for me. And they know exactly what it contains. I dive into the sea of packing peanuts, tossing aside the ice packs, and fish out the prize - or prizes…

The other day, I caught up on the Hugo nominees for Best Short Story. Yesterday, I checked out the stories in the running for Best Novelette. Paolo Bacigalupi does a masterful job of conveying the sense of utter despair that pervades his protagonist’s world in Yellow Card Man. Michael Flynn’s Dawn, Sunset and the Colours…

Given my hectic schedule of late, my recent dinners have consisted of take-out, delivery, and the occasional home-cooked meal. Not that I’m complaining. Sometimes, baked chicken wings and double quarter pounders with cheese are a welcome change of pace. But until the day Fondy starts making Toulouse sausage-stuffed game hen on a regular basis, or…

As most of you probably already know, Stargate SG-1’s 200th episode has been nominated for a Hugo Award in the category of Best Dramatic Presentation Short Form, up against a Battlestar Galactica and about a half-dozen episodes of Dr. Who. While checking out the various other categories, I noticed that a number of the nominees…

Someone I know attended a seminar the other day, one of those self-empowerment love-ins where attendees are exhorted to: a) tap the hitherto unexploited reservoir of energy hidden deep inside them and, b) oh, by the way, purchase oodles of instructional books, CD’s, and t-shirts. Whenever I hear about these How to Live Your Life…