Keith's Big Score Part 2

Last weekend was Thanksgiving in the US and Friday was the biggest shopping day of the year also known as Black Friday. My sister went down to Kalispell to get in on some the crazy deals. Deals so good old ladies get trampled! It did happen I saw it on the news.

Anyway, I sent her a list of important stuff to get for me...cereal and Diet Pepsi! I asked her to get me a bunch of cereals and some Diet Pepsi flavors that aren't available here in Canada. Check out my haul.


You used to be able to get those kinds of cereal here in the old days, but not anymore. I guess the Canadian Food Inspection Agency put a stop to that as we don't need anymore super sugary cereals. My sister said all the kids cereals down there is all sugary crap, no wonder all the kids down there are getting fat.

For dinner I had some Bamm-Bamm Berry Pebbles (not pictured). I wasn't bad, it was very fruity, you can really smell it. I have this image of my innards turning all pink, yellow, and green as it gets digested. Yummy! I remember Pebbles used to be round shaped, but now it's in flake form. Looking at the picture on the box I was expecting Frosted Flake sized flakes, but these flakes were puny. The crumbs at the bottom of the Frosted Flakes box are about the size of the Pebbles flakes.

I was disappointed she couldn't find any Diet Pepsi Max. It's an energy drink soda with ginseng and more caffeine. Hey, it's got ginseng and that sounds kinda healthy. My parents are going down this weekend and they'll gonna look again. I needs my ginseng! And more caffeine!

In other food news I picked up a bag of Old Dutch's Crispy Bacon flavor chips. I got them because I wasn't sure how they could pull off the "crispy" flavor. It tasted slightly more bacon-y than regular bacon chips, but I can't say it tasted crispy.

Keith's Big Score!

This Tuesday saw the release of Live Free or Die Hard on DVD, so I picked the two disc version. The DVD offers you the option to watch the theatrical or the unrated version of the movie. Is there really a difference between the two? In the unrated version McClane gets to drop a few more f-bombs and that's the way it should've been. I read a review that said the unrated version also was bloodier, but I didn't notice any difference in the violence. The movie should've had a R rating to begin with. The original Die Hard had more violence, more swearing, and was more exciting. Don't mess for the formula!

I was out today and had no plans at all to buy anything, but I ended up buying Bender's Big Score! We were at Wal-Mart and they had it out for sale even though the official release date isn't until Nov. 27th. It was nice watching it again, since there hasn't been a new episode for a few years now. If you're a fan of the show, then you'll like the movie and I won't much more than that. I was a bit disappointed that Zap Branigan didn't get more screen time, but the Hanakah Zombie made up for it.

The DVD is packaged in a digipak style case and when the envelope style case slides out it has a lenticular Bender on it. My biggest problem is with the way the disc sits in case, it actually just slides in a slot. If not firmly pushed in place it could easily slide out, and if pushed in too hard it could scratch the disc. Not cool!

Oh, snow!

I just went outside to take out the garbage and there was snow on the ground! Say it ain't so! I was out this afternoon and it was cool, but at least it was sunny. Now there is a thin layer of snow on the ground. It didn't seem to be snowing at the time I went outside, so that's a good thing. There will probably be like a 100 car pile up on Deerfoot tomorrow morning, there usually is the first significant snowfall of the year. I'm glad I don't have to drive that anymore. I did get my winter tires put on when I was back in Cranbrook.

The snow and cold weather also reminds me of another thing I need to do...buy a jacket! I've been wearing a plain old hoodie so far, but it gets like -30C I don't think that'll cut it. I also need a haircut, but if I get it short like I always do, I'll get brain freeze literally.

And sticking with the Transformers Soundwave mp3 player, check this out. It's an Optimus Prime iPod docking station. The trailer hold the speakers and iPod, while Optimus can remain attached to the trailer or separate and transform him to robot mode.

I know it's not a very interesting post, but it's all I got right now.

I did it!

After neglecting my Wii for almost two months now I fired it up tonight and finally finished Super Paper Mario. I was on the second last level of the final chapter, but I was running out of restorative items and I kept dying. I managed to scrape through and finish the game, but it's not over! Now the main game is done it unlocks the Pit of 100 Trials or better yet two of them which are supposed to be harder than the actually game itself. I'm scared!

I guess I should move onto Resident Evil 4 as I'm getting close to finishing that one as well. The stupid suits of armor keep chopping me up and it's annoying. I wish I had a Game Genie.

COOLEST THING EVER!!!

You are looking at a Transformers Soundwave mp3 player made by Takara and quite possible one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It even plays mp3s in both cassette player mode AND robot mode! It needs a 1GB (a 2GB card won't work) SD card as it has no internal memory, but the card goes in the cassette deck. It is pretty expensive as it's only availabe in Japan and comes in the classic blue version and a white variant version.

As if that wasn't cool enough you can also Frenzy and Rumble head phones!


These are really cool, but looking on eBay the cheapest I saw was $65 which may sound cheap, but the shipping is $65. I saw some guy selling a set of the blue Soundwave, white Soundwave and the Frenzy and Rumble headphones for $254. Holy crap. I bought a scratch ticket today and if I win this is so going to be mine.

OVERDRIVE ACCELERATE!

Question: "Am I too old to watch Power Rangers?"
Answer: "Most Definitely!"

But I do anyway and I like it! For Logan's birthday I bought Volume 1 of Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive which I then copied at my sister's so I could check it out. All the shows over the years are pretty much the same with the rangers fighting the bad guys using vehicles that combine to form a giant robot. The FX have improved from looking really nice to still looking cheesy. For a half hour kids show it looks pretty cool, plus has some huge fiery explosions. Kids love explosions!

The Power Rangers shows are borrowed from the Super Sentai ("team") Japanese shows and then new footage with new actors is shot and re-edited to make the Americanized version. Operation Overdrive was originally Boukenger in Japan. I read that the fight scenes in the American show are actually better than the Japanese version. The fights are really good and feature some nice use of wires for jumping and flipping. It's all pretty fast paced and fairly entertaining, plus the Pink Overdrive Ranger is crazy cute. I haven't really seen any of the other PR shows much after the classic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but I wouldn't checking them out.

Here are bunch of screen caps I quickly did. Look at the explosions!

Black Overdrive Ranger with his giant hammer, the Overdrive Slammer.

Pink Overdrive Ranger flippin' out

Rider Kick! Oops, wrong show!

Fire is pretty.

Giant robot!

Does this pose make me look cool?

Rose, the pink ranger.

Ah, fighting, weird monsters, giant monsters fighting giant robots and explosions. I could watch it all day long. More Pink Ranger goodness with a couple shots from the transformation scene because I'm not only a geek, but a lonely geek.

Deal of the day

I made my trip to Phoenix Comics today to see what new comics came out on Wednesday. I got the new Buffy and Astonishing X-Men plus some other goodies. Over in the section between Phoenix and Meloydia there are a bunch of toys and tons of $1 comics. In the toys there was a box of VHS tapes and some DVDs from which I got the above movies.

I got the X-Files movie, X-Men United, Street Fighter V2, and the Arnuld combo of Eraser/Collateral Damage for the low low price of $1.95 each. That is cheaper than renting! For some reason whoever brought them in took them out of the original cases and taped up the cover sleeve with masking tape with the movie instead. Kinda dumb, but whatever. The tape peeled right off the Street Fighter sleeve, but I wasn't so lucky with the Arnuld double feature. Hey, it was only $1.95 so I don't really care about the sleeve anyway because it's going straight in the DVD binder after I watch it.

I bought the X-Files movie because I've been meaning to get it for a long time to replace my VHS copy. I haven't watched this in so long, so it will also be nice to see again. If you have been meaning to get this on DVD...DON'T! After almost ten years since the first movie they have actually begun filming the X-Files sequel. Hopefully, it will be well received since everybody has since forgotten about the X-Files, David Duchovny, and Gillian Anderson. I believe I read it will even be out this summer, so there will definitely be a re-release of the first movie in some double disc collector's edition. It's how they make $$$.

I also bought some magazine called Otaku USA which I've never heard of before. It's about anime, comics, and the likes and comes with a free DVD with three different anime episodes. Until I got home I thought it was an issue of Newtype USA which is basically the exact same thing, a magazine about Japanese anime, comics, toys and comes with a free DVD. I was one the bargain side of the store, so it was only $1 and I bought pretty much because the DVD had an episode of the orginal B&W Astro Boy cartoon on it.

That is all!

Canadian Destroyer!

Rather than bore you with something lame I did or saw, I'll entertain you with a video clip. It's off You Tube, so the quality isn't very good. It's from TNA Wrestling and has Petey Williams performing his finishing move, the Canadian Destroyer, on Chris Sabin. It is sweet!

The Next Generation

Last post, I talked about Giant Tiger and the junk I bought there. Cam got his cool new toy I bought him there, so now I can show everybody else.


It is the next generation gaming console known as the PZ3. It's funny because it looks just like a PS3 just smaller, even the controller modelled after the PS style controller. I'm sure that is all just coincidence. Running on a three AA batteries, the PZ3 doesn't even require it to be hooked to a TV as it has it's own screen that pops out from the side. You also don't need to worry about buying games as the PZ3 only plays one game. The one I got Cam plays Formula 1, but you can get Street Fighter, some Tetris style game, a Submarine one and many more! It is a considerable deal at only $9.98! Everyone will be wanting one this Christmas!

Cam made it Calgary even though it snowed and we decided to show him a good time by sitting around in front of the TV playing XBox 360. Cam is such a nice guy he bought pizza and we ordered it off the internet! It's crazy I know, but it totally worked! We have lived here for a while now and not once have we ever ordered take out, so we didn't even have any menus for pizza places. We dragged Cam to Phoenix and stopped at a Pizza 73 on the way and grabbed a menu. When we got back and decided what pizza we wanted Cam went online and ordered our pizzas from Pizza 73. It was super easy and got here pretty fast. I think I'll do it again sometime. Maybe I'll try Domino's next time.

More CBK + a fix

When I was packing up to go home to Cranbrook it all went so smoothly I knew I was forgetting something. I couldn't figure out what I was missing, but I had the essentials so that was it. Just as I driving into Cranbrook I finally remembered what I what I forgot! I had a couple comic books and a colouring book to unload on Logan and I had a few LPs I was going to take back. Oh well, next trip for sure. Then when I came home I forgot my Gillette Fusion razor there! Oh no, now I have to use my old Mach 3 razor. Only 3 three blades is like so primitive.

When I was in Cranbrook I had to clear my busy schedule to check out the new store that is taking the town by storm, Giant Tiger. What? The name is weird, yet pretty cool. Giant Tiger is a Canadian department store chain that is similar to other small town staple stores like Fields or Saans. Cranbrook actually had both of those stores at one time or another plus a Woolworths, Red Apple, and Bargain Shop. Let's see if Giant Tiger can stick it out.

It's located in what's left of the Cranbrook Mall. The stores isn't all that big and it has a confusing lay out. They have a little bit of everything, clothes, general merchandise and food. For some reason all the clothes aren't together, the womens/kids clothes are on one side of the store and mens is in the opposite corner. When they had an item they don't have a large selection of it, maybe like one shelf. Even for food, the cereal section was like 5 different cereals, but bonus was that they had some weird cereal I've never seen before with Looney Toons characters on it. I bought a box with the Tazmanian Devil on it for Cody which was basically just frosted flakes, they also had a Tweety rice krispie box too. The clothes are no name cheapie brands, but some of it didn't look too bad. $4 for a plain t-shirt is pretty cheap.

I even spent some money in there as I felt I should for some reason. I Cody the Tazmanian Devil cereal and I got myself the Terror of MechaGodzilla DVD for $4.99. I also got something for Cam S. that is too cool for words. I would post a picture, but he might see it and that would ruin the whole surprise. He's coming here on Sunday, so after he gets to see it then you all can too.

For more info on Giant Tiger you can check out their website. Find a location near you! Cranbrook is their only location in BC though. Overall the store gets a passing grade, even if it's hard to find stuff, but the mascot is funny looking and I like him.

When I was back I also went to Pages and CD Plus. I always hit these places when I'm back and always end up buying something there. I guess I feel some need to support local businesses especially Pages. At Pages I bought this Frank Cho Illustrator artbook which is out of print and goes for $45 on eBay, so that was a nice deal. CD Plus actually has a decent selection for a small town store. I've found stuff there that I haven't been able to find in Calgary. When I was talking to Cam on Sunday night I was telling him about the new Fatboy Slim mix and how I haven't seen it at any stores in Calgary. The next day I go to CD Plus and they have it! But I didn't buy it! They also have a nice section of used CD/DVDs, that is where I got my Probot CD. I've seen other cooler CDs in there too which makes me wonder about the people buying cool stuff only to get rid of it. Even their DVDs are cool with a section for Tartan DVDs which are Asian horror type movies. I haven't seen any of those titles for sale in Calgary. Next time anybody is back in Cranbrook be sure to check out CD Plus you might find something good.

The fix is in! Mike e-mailed me to let me know that you couldn't post anonymous comments, you had to be member. I thought I set it up so you could when I set up the account, but I guess not. But you can now! Thanks for the tip Mike.

Tales of Cranbrook

Okay, here is a quick update on Cranbrook...not much! Well that's not totally true. I was back from Sunday to Wednesday. My brother and his two buddies were there because they were in Kimberley building a house. The whole time I was there, none of them had a shower except my brother on Wednesday morning. Showers are free, so take as many as you want! I guess that's the norm in Greenwood.

I saw my sister, Matt, Logan and Avery. Avery is just like six months old, so he just sorta crawls around and that's about it. Logan went as Scooby-Doo for Halloween and the costume looked pretty good. He wasn't going to say "Trick or Treat", but "Rick or Reat!" because that's Scooby style.

After driving from my parents house to town (and back) a few times I noticed the amount of deer on the roads is insanely dangerously. It's a slalom course of kamikaze deer both ways and they are actually on the roads all the way from the house up until city limits. It's an epidemic! I came literally inches away from hitting a deer, it was too close. There were four deer eating our lawn on Tuesday and Aspen won't even bother chasing them away anymore because they just come right back. We live out of town, so that is expected. My sister's neighbor was downtown at the CIBC bank Wednesday morning at like 8:30am and she got out of her car and then was run down by a deer! Deer vs human collision! Everyone will have to start packing rifles to fend off crazed deer. Since all the deer are hanging around town, that means all the predator types are coming into town too. A cougar killed a horse in Jim Smith on the weekend. All I gotta say is...DAMN GLOBAL WARMING! WE ARE DOOMED!

More tomorrow!