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Arctic Air: Episode 2 Recap

By KyleWith on January 19, 2012 in Reviews, Videos

I’m just not sure about Arctic Air on CBC yet! I really think my uncertainty comes from the fact I want the show to show the real Yellowknife, the real north. They wont do that though, that just wouldn’t make for good TV.

My video is rather harsh in the sense I pick apart most of this episode, but there is one part I was really not sure about. You will be able to guess when you watch it.

I did get a reality check after making this video when a friend pointed out the CBC show Republic of Doyle. I have never seen a full episode of that show, but it is based in St. John’s over on the east coast and apparently is also unrealistic. Which makes sense, this is TV after all.

I do hope next weeks episode is better and I have a better approach to watching it. What are you thoughts on the second episode?

Comments { 2 }

Arctic Air: Episode 1 Recap

By KyleWith on January 13, 2012 in Reviews, Videos

Last year I made recap videos for the CBC reality show Village on a Diet, so this year I thought I’d try my hand at Arctic Air. Just short 5 minute video of me sharing my thoughts on the past episode.

I don’t have cable tv at the moment, so I am unable to watch the show when it airs. I was able to watch it the morning after though through CBC’s website.

In the video I discuss my full thoughts on the show. Although re-watching it I feel I was a little harsh. I did like the episode a lot and felt it portrayed Yellowknife correctly, the little it showed. I think the show will be great for “northern promotion” although I think Ice Pilots does something similar already.

NWT Tourism is also hoping it strikes the right cords with viewers and prompts them to considering visiting the NWT. So much so that they partnered up with the show, and aired its new commercial during the premier. They have also launched a Facebook Page to feature us northerners, so no matter where I am or what I am doing, I think you should check it out so see what the NWT has going on.

Also like I mention in the video head over to Sophisticated Pulp and read the great write-up on the show there, from another northern perspective.

I’ll be back next week, but tell me what you though of Episode 1!

Comments { 0 }

My Jeep Wrangle Sahara after one month

By KyleWith on December 12, 2011 in Journal, Reviews

It has been just over one month since I rolled off the lot with my brand new 2011 Jeep Wrangle Sahara and it has been a fun ride. For those who don’t know, I bought this new Jeep after coming to realization I wanted something dependable on the highway and something that, if it broke, it would mostly likely be covered by warranty.

I bought my Jeep from Derrick Dodge after scouring different vehicles and dealerships all across Edmonton. I commend my Sales Rep, Trevor, because I know I’m a difficult customer when trying to get the initial sale. I’ll be honest and say I don’t trust sales people. Most of the time I know the exact product I want, I don’t need to be sold on things, but I’m also really cheap. Part of me feels as though I probably went to far with asking for a better deal, but the other part of me knows that they wouldn’t sell it to me if they weren’t getting something from it.

The Jeep is a stick shift and I feel like I’m 16yrs old again. It being standard did probably help the price, which I’m glad. I did learn to drive on a Suzuki Samurai and my first truck was a stick shift 1993 Ford F150, but it has been awhile. I find the one thing I don’t think I learned completely was downshifting, I’m working hard to master that. I’m also a little rusty on the highway and hills. Part of this is most likely because I’m not as familiar with the Jeep yet, soon it should be fine.

The Jeep handles well in the winter conditions and I absolutely love the ground clearance. However I’m not a big fan of the traction-control; I learned to drive in icy conditions, I know how to correct the vehicle if the backend slides sideways. When that happens though, in the Jeep, and I go to correct it by steering the other way, suddenly the vehicle backs off the throttle and tries to correct it itself. Annoying.

I was also concerned that the Jeep might not stay heated very well, since the roof is removable fiberglass, but I was wrong. The Jeep takes 5 minutes to start blowing hot air and I generally have to turn it down. Although I’m not sure how well it heats up the rear of the Jeep, since there is no heat directed back there.

Overall I’m very happy with this Jeep and don’t think I could get anything similar for what I paid. I have yet to have any problems with it and hope I don’t in the foreseeable future.

Comments { 5 }

REVIEW: Sam’s Deli and Bistro

By KyleWith on October 26, 2011 in Food, Reviews

Sam’s Deli and Bistro isn’t horribly different from any other little foodie spot in downtown Victoria, but it made an impression on my. I was looking for a quick bite to eat on the go and they catered to me perfectly.

Sam's Deli & Bistro in Victorua

I walked in not knowing what to expect. I slowly crept up to the counter scouring the giant menus that hung above. As I was looking for something I noticed one of the staff looking at me waiting for me to make my decision. She did not look inpatient, nor did I feel she was rushing me. Once I looked down at her, she asked if had any questions and what would I like. Then it was on.

As soon as I told her I would like the Hot Montreal Smoked Beef sandwich I saw just how fresh these sandwiches were. She asked what type of bread I would like. After replying she reached for a fresh loaf of sour dough. Then of course I made my selection of veggies and even better she asked whether I wanted Mustard or not, which is a no for me. To top it off I watched as she pulled out a slab of moist, steaming hot Montreal Smoked Beef and cut it into thick slices.

The two staff members I encountered while in the shop were both exceptionally friendly and helpful. They both had a conversation with me rather than just getting me what I wanted. They made sure that I was happy and would remember the place. Whether they indented to be this way or not, I appreciated it.

montreal smoked meat sandwich

Now to the sandwich. It was SOOO good. Granted I haven’t had Montreal Smoked Beef in a long time. The sandwich was fresh like I mentioned, bread soft, veg nice and crunchy full of flavour and the beef or so good. Every bite was one I wanted to cherish, but I really do love food. My only concern with this sandwich was it started to fall apart. There seemed to be to much in between the bread and by the time I finish veg was lying in the container.

In all I enjoyed this fresh sandwich and would go back when I am in Victoria and need something quick and on the go.

Comments { 1 }

5 Minutes with Mac OS X Lion

By KyleWith on July 22, 2011 in Reviews, Social Media/Internet

I have spent about 5 minutes with Lion so far. I’m not even on Lion writing this because I left it at the office, but I do quickly want to touch on a couple of the main feature, features which I don’t think I will use all that much.

Launch Pad

This is Apple’s way of making Mac OS X more iOSy, right? The idea is you press a button or the icon and a group of your apps shows up on-screen. This is not going to work for me. I don’t need it, next, boring, useless feature. I really don’t use that many apps when I’m on the computer. Maybe browser, mail, twitter client, marsedit, aperture, itunes, all which fit on my dock. To even go one step further, I have become accustom to using Spotlight to quick launch any app I need. Cmd + Spacebar, enter first 3 letter of app and hit enter (it learns what I want) to open. That process takes me less time than it would with opening Launchpad, finding app and clicking open.

Reverse Scrolling

This is the one feature I don’t really care about. I’m unsure why Apple is trying to reverse our habit of scrolling, maybe because they have some master plan or maybe because Steve Jobs just wanted to change the way we do things. Either way it is not a big burden on me, I simply just scroll up instead of down. I learn the new way, I move on.

Mission Control

Supposedly Mission Control is the combination of Expose, Spaces, All Window Display and a couple other older features together. First off, I have never really used Expose, mainly because I don’t really know what it does and secondly, I use to use Spaces, but found I hated it for some aspects, so I abandon it (I have two massive monitors at work, why do I need spaces). Really the only thing I seem myself using here is the ability to display all the open windows I have, but that is nothing new.

Mac OSX Lion

So those are the three features I briefly used in the 5 minutes I had to try out Lion. There are somethings I still need to check out and report on, like Mail and Full Screen Apps. I have a hunch those two might get used more than the others.

We will see. Have you played with Lion much, what are your thoughts?

Comments { 2 }

REVIEW: Transformers 3 Dark of the Moon

By KyleWith on July 2, 2011 in Reviews, Videos

I still don’t like that name. It doesn’t sound complete and I think there must have been a legal issue. Dark Side of the Moon must have been taken. Nonetheless this here is a guys movie. This is not an epic movie that will blow your mind, unless you include all the Michael Bay’s movie effects.

It is just a good movie to let your mind run wild and enjoy the show. Watch the video, I get more into it.