A Gentleman's Domain

Thursday Thirteen #34

Well now, thinking musically, I thought I’d offer you…

Thirteen Songs At Random From My iPod

Oh, hang on. I don’t own an iPod, and have no plans to get one (though I think I still have a Walkman somewhere, in my study closet).   So, ditching that idea, I’ll fall back on the subject of DVDs.  A few weeks ago I listed DVDs of TV shows from my collection.  This week I present movies.  As before, the buy-it links will take you to Region One DVDs.

 Thirteen MOVIE DVDs From My Collection

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A Blogrush Question

When I visit other blogs, especially those of my fellow Thursday Thirteeners, I notice a variety of badges, pictures and widgets that adorn other people’s side panels.  Some are decorative, others announce some belief or other, and others provide links to other sites.  One that I have seen a lot of recently, so it is obviously spreading fast, is the Blogrush widget.  I have been thinking of putting one of these in my own side panel, but before I do that, I’d just like to ask those of you who already have it what your impressions are.  Does it do you any good, or is it just  one more item to download before your page opens properly?  Any comments, anyone?

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Thursday Thirteen #33

And another challenge from a fellow TTer.  Even though he and I most probably disagree on a number of important issues, I always enjoy a visit to Dane Bramage, and I bet you will too.  Check him out.  A few weeks ago he challenged me to find thirteen books on my shelves with titles of six words or more.  Five or more would have been much easier, but no – he said six or more, so six or more it had to be.  These are what I came up with…

 Thirteen Books With Titles Of Six Words Or More

Mythbusting!

This posting is mainly for Canadian bloggers.  The rest of you, please chat among yourselves till the next posting. But to my Canuck friends I say:  I live in Florida, I shop locally.  See what I’ve got?

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Thursday Thirteen #32

A few weeks ago, after I had posted a book list as my TT, I was challenged by Kathy at Ritty Rats, who asked if I could do a TT of books with cities and states in their titles.  I couldn’t.  But, I told her, if I could make it cities, states and countries, giving the thing an international gloss and not sticking just to the USA, I could probably manage it.  I had a shuffle round my shelves and here is the result…

13 Books With Cities, States or Countries in Their Titles

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One Shakes Ones Head.......

...in disbelief.  Just in case you thought there were limits to human stupidity, have a look at this.  Honestly, does he deserve any sympathy?

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A Tortuous Matter

I have posted something, which I hope is not uninteresting, at another site that you might care to read.  If so, please just follow me and click this way.

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Thursday Thirteen #31

My 100th posting.  Who'd a thunk it! Anyway, a peek at my DVD collection this week.  I picked thirteen more or less at random but…. I made sure they were all DVDs of TV shows.  I’ll do movies another week. The "Buy it here" links will link you to Region One DVDs for sale.  They will only play in North America or on multi-regional DVD players.  That whole region thing is a rip off!

Thirteen Items From My DVD Collection

The 2007 Weblog Awards

Voting is now underway for  The 2007 Weblog Award for funniest blog.  If you haven’t yet taken part, I would like to suggest that you check out Jon Swift, a very amusing satirical blogger, and, if you like him, to vote for him.  The voting for this award is taking place here.   Thank you.

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Hometown Meme

I have been tagged by Wylie for the Hometown meme

I have to answer the questions about my hometown. ONLY ONE answer for each of the questions. No ties!

Well, let’s see now.  I have had four hometowns in my life so far.    I won’t write about London, because there is so much choice there I’d be hard pressed to give just one answer per question. And I won’t reply about my current hometown, or the one I left to cross the pond to be here. So, I’ll answer these questions about a city where I spent five of the best years of my life, in my younger days, namely Toronto, or “South of Wylie” as it could also be called.   Bear in mind, I was there some years ago, and things may have changed, but anyway here are my answers.

Best Place to Eat:   Fran’s, at Yonge and St.Clair.   This is one outlet of a Toronto chain, but easily my favourite one.  I used to go there a lot, and it was where I used to meet up with my friends.  Good, dependable food in a comfortable surrounding.  That’s all I ask for. Fran’s serves award-winning coffee, or so the cover of the menu tells us.  I once asked a waitress if I could see the award.  With amazing politeness, she said that she didn’t know where it was, but since they had won it in 1949 they had probably put it in storage ages ago.   There is also a great steak place on Yonge Street, south of Carlton, which I went to the last three times I was in Toronto (1998, 2000 and 2001). I would have nominated that as my first choice but I can’t remember what it is called.  Tom’s Restaurant, on the Danforth at Woodbine, long since closed down, was where I first tasted souvlaki. It was delicious.

Best Shopping Mall:  The Eaton Centre, of course!  Even if there is no more Eatons, the huge mall bearing its name is still there.  I can’t tell you how many hours I spent there over the years.  As an added bonus, it is just across Dundas Street from  The World’s Biggest Bookstore, which was its name and an accurate description of it.

Famous Landmark:   The CN Tower.  It has to be.  The world’s tallest free standing structure.  It is this which identifies the skyline as Toronto’s, and is well known worldwide.

Best Tourism Attraction:   I was a resident, if a temporary one, not a tourist, so I didn’t go sightseeing, but I’d nominate Ontario Place.  It is a remarkable leisure park, actually in Toronto, some of it on reclaimed land in lake Ontario, and famous for its trademark geodesic dome.  Lots to do, lots to see.

Place for the Kids:   Oh, I don’t know.  I was never there with kids, so I never bothered to think about what they can get up to.  I expect there’s probably a zoo or something, where they can go look at goats, but I really haven’t a clue.  I shall skip this question.

Popular Outdoor Activity:   Which I take to mean an outdoor activity popular with me, and that was to cross by ferry to Centre island on a nice summer’s day and stroll about, popping into a café here or there for a coffee, sitting on the grass to read a book, staring out over Lake Ontario, and generally relaxing and not exerting myself in any way.

Breathtaking Views:   It has to be the view from the top of the CN Tower.  If you're lucky enough to be up there on a clear day, you can see for a huge distance.  Just push your way through all the little groups of people saying “Oh look, that must be Oakville” and start snapping away with your camera. You’ll be glad you did.

Only found in TORONTO:    Union Station.  I became very fond of this place over the years.   For one reason and anther, I was often there.   I loved the stilted recorded announcements that were preceded by a musical jangle. :CN’s…. train…..  number…. 4…. 6…. 2…..  will be departing from track….  three in…. five….  minutes.    All….  Aboard!”   and the inevitable daily announcement that the Super Continental from Vancouver would be arriving several hours later than scheduled.   The high ceiling of the main hall, with provincial flags all along one side, was a work of art.  I suppose it has all changed now {sigh}.

I won’t actually tag anyone, so we don’t have this meme expanding exponentially across the Internet at a factor of five, but if anyone wants to have a go, please do.

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