http://www.kix106online.com

Well, we’ve been glued to the tube. Those are Olympic rings around our eyes. But we’re still waiting…

Don’t count Canada out yet.

That’s the message from Canadian Olympic Committee president Michael Chambers. He says some of the early medal hopes in Beijing may not have worked out — but he says Canada is a “second-half team.

‘‘Before the Games, the committee predicted a top-16 finish in the medal standings. Former Olympic swim champ for Canada, Alex Baumann, says he believes Canadian athletes shouldn’t be at the Games just to participate and that “happy to be here”  doesn’t cut it.Let’s hope Canada mines some metal soon…gold, silver, bronze. But let’s be honest - until this American juggernaut Michael Phelps towels himself dry once and for all, would anybody notice?

Everyone agrees that was a spectacular opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday….watched by an estimated 15% of the world’s population, including over 800 million people in China.  At times, the images were so awesome it was hard to believe what we were seeing…or hearing, as the case may be. Apparently,  lip-synching was part of the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing. That pretty little girl with a pixie smile who sang “Ode to the Motherland” during the ceremony  was actually lip-synching. Lin Miaoke’s performance Friday night was an immediate hit.  However it wasn’t her voice that wowed audiences at the National Stadium.  It was really the voice of seven-year-old Yang Peiyi.  But she wasn’t pretty enough — according to the ceremony’s chief music director, who told Beijing radio a member of China’s Politburo asked for the last-minute change.  Chen Qigang says “The audience will understand that it’s in the national interest.”  A photo of Peiyi posted today on popular Chinese website shows a smiling girl with bangs and crooked teeth…what’s wrong with that? 

That wasn’t the only change Beijing made as it aimed for a perfect start to the Summer Games.  There are reports some footage of the fireworks exploding across China’s capital during the ceremony was digitally inserted into T-V coverage.  Apparently there were concerns not all of the 29 blasts could be captured on camera.

So, a real splash of Hollywood has touched this summer’s Olympics.  As for little Yang Peiyi, thanks for your wonderful voice and inspired performance…and welcome to show business!

The Bluebird Cafe is a happening spot in Nashville where musicians and songwriters gather.

They may be highly accomplished, or just starting out in the business, but it’s a great venue to

make connections with like-minded talented individuals.  And for a songwriter, it’s also a good

opportunity to showcase the new material you’ve been working on.

It’s usually quite interesting to hear a songwriter perform their tunes that have become

big hits for other recording artists. Here’s an example: Victoria Banks, a Muskoka-raised

songwriter now living in Nashville, who has written for Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Gretchen Wilson,

Sara Evans (”Saints and Angels”) and many others.  Here she performs the latest hit on her resume,

Jessica Simpson’s  “Come On Over”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH2Ew6LxLc4

It’s time for the annual August Civic Holiday weekend, which is a great summer break. It’s just that nobody can agree on what to call it. Here’s what the holiday Monday is called across the country:

British Columbia - BC Day

Alberta - Heritage Day

Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan Day

Manitoba - Civic Holiday

Ontario - a variety of things, depending on the municipality -John Galt Day in Guelph, Founder’s Day in Brantford,  Simcoe Day in Toronto (although a survey showed only 16% of Torontonians knew that.),  McLaughlin Day in Oshawa, and many more.

Nova Scotia and P.E.I. - Natal Day

Nunavut and N.W.T. - Civic Holiday

And just to prove that this is truly not a federal statutory holiday, it’s no day off  for the residents of Newfoundland, Quebec or Yukon Territory.

So whatever you want to call it…have a fantastic long summer weekend.

But a special salute to those who do have to work on Monday…you’ll have plenty of company!

The Davis household welcomes a new four-legged member this week…we’re dogsitting for a few days, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Kenzie. Having stayed with us before, she has no trouble making herself comfortable immediately. Yesterday she stretched out on the sunny front porch and watched me mow the lawn. That can’t be much fun…it would be infinitely more fun if I could watch a dog mow the lawn instead. But dogs aren’t really that much help when it comes down to it, at least with physical chores. With very few exceptions, a dog won’t help you move furniture or take out the trash. Their big thing is being there for emotional support, and we appreciate that.

Since I’m in the animal-caring frame of mind, I thought you might find some of these tips from Family Circle magazine useful to help your pooch get the most out the dog days of summer, without getting into any calamities.

–  A hot-weather hazard: Burned footpads from walking across sun-baked sand or asphalt, or jumping against a hot grill to grab a burger.   The fix: Don’t let your dog loose while you’re barbecuing and on hot days, don’t walk him on the beach or black pavement, except early or late in the day. Signs of a burn include limping, paw-licking, and cracked or blistered footpads. The treatment: Apply a cool, wet compress to the injury, then cover with burn ointment, and wrap it in gauze.  

–  Another hot-weather pet hazard: Poisonous plants. Pets gnaw on plants and tulips can cause heart problems in dogs, and lilies can cause kidney failure in cats. So, plant nontoxic vegetation in your yard, like violets, orchids and daisies. Also, beware of fertilizers and lawn chemicals. If the bag says “kills weeds” or “kills insects,” it can also poison your pet. If you notice signs of poisoning - like vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and tremors - take him to the vet ASAP.

–  Yet another: 30+ degree weather. Hot temperatures raise a pet’s risk for heatstroke, which can lead to brain damage - or even death - within 15 minutes. To stay safe: Keep him inside at midday. Constantly refill his bowl with cool water and if he wants to play outside at high noon, hose his belly down every few minutes - there’s less fur on the stomach, so he’ll cool down faster. Also, never leave a dog in the car.  Within 10 minutes, the temperature can reach over 55  degrees, enough to cause heatstroke or permanent brain damage. If you think your dog may have heatstroke, bring him into an air-conditioned room. Then, give him a bowl of cool water, pour water on his belly and legs, and call your vet, NOW.

–  Don’t forget water hazards, like drowning. Some dogs overdo the swimming and splashing, and are too tired to get out of the water. The fix: Don’t leave your dog alone around water! If you take him swimming or boating, put a life jacket on him, and make him rest every few minutes. If your dog is struggling to stay afloat, hook his collar with a pole, grab a raft he can crawl onto, and pull him to safety.  

Make sure your dog has a happy and safe summer, and he’ll reward you by helping you rake the leaves this fall…yeah sure.

At this point of a soggy summer in southern Ontario, I’d settle for a sunny day on the beach at Pinery Provincial Park near Grand Bend. However, for those willing to travel further afield here are the top destination choices in North America and the rest of the world, according to a reader survey in Travel & Leisure magazine.

The list was topped by New York for the eighth consecutive year, followed by San Francisco, Chicago, Charleston, South Carolina, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Next were three Canadian cities (yeah!), Quebec City, Montreal and Vancouver, with Savannah, Georgia ninth on the list (way to go Savannah – first time on the list!) and the British Columbia city of Victoria at No. 10.

Among world cities, Bangkok was named No. 1, followed by Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Sydney, Florence, Cuzco (that would be in Peru), Rome, New York, Istanbul, and San Francisco.

Top hotel on the U.S. and Canada list was Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana. The One & Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas took top spot for Caribbean lodgings (I’m thinking both of these places might be expensive).

On the world’s best islands list, the Galapagos was No. 1 (gotta love those big turtles!), while Vieques, Puerto Rico, was named best island in the Caribbean. And heads up, maritimer Bill Hart: Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island topped the island list for the U.S. and Canada.

All of the above destinations sound fascinating and life-enriching. Considering my current time and budget restraints (curse those home repair projects!), a day at the beach at Pinery still looks pretty appealing. Now if only the sky would clear…

The new Batman adventure “The Dark Knight” will probably have one of the biggest opening weekends in box-office history. But it’s also having an influence in another corner: the late actor Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker is so compelling, his character is high on the list of  Moviefone’s Best Movie Villains of all time! Here’s a complete list of the top 25 menacing scene-stealers: 

1. Lord Voldemort - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2. Darth Vader - Star Wars

3. Wicked Witch of the West - The Wizard of Oz

4. Hannibal Lecter - The Silence of the Lambs

5. Joker - The Dark Knight

 6. Goldfinger - Goldfinger

7. Anton Chigurh - No Country for Old Men

8. Hans Gruber - Die Hard

9. Max Cady - Cape Fear

10. Queen - Sleeping Beauty

11. Harry Powell - Night of the Hunter

12. Michael Myers - Halloween

13. Freddy Krueger - A Nightmare on Elm St

14. Mrs Iselin - The Manchurian Candidate

15. Tom Powers - Public Enemy

16. Annie Wilkes - Misery

17. Dr Christian Szell - Marathon Man

18. T-1000 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day

19. Joan Crawford - Mommie Dearest

20. Lex Luthor - Superman

21. Alonzo Harris - Training Day

22. Cruella DeVille - 101 Dalmations

23. Frank Booth - Blue Velvet

24. Khan Noonien Singh - Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

25. Agent Smith - The Matrix

Feel free to come up with a few of your own personal faves!

Hey sports fans…this week is the annual Sports Cliché Week, and we’re giving it 110 per cent to bring you some of the best we’ve heard…see how many you recognize from following your favourite sports on radio and TV.

After the game with the winning team..

 I’m really proud of the way our guys hung in there.

We were really on our game.

 We came to play.

 We brought our A-game.

 We knew what we had to do and went out and did it.

We proved we’re the better team.

We’re happy we could pull this one out at the end.

 We feel fortunate.

We knew this would be no cakewalk.

 This was a confidence booster.

We’re going to use this win as a building block.

 We’re not going to rest on our laurels.

 We finally got the monkey off our backs.

Everyone counted us out before the season started.

It was a total team effort.

 I’m happy I could make a contribution.

 We made our own breaks.

We weren’t going to just roll over.

 This team has overcome a lot of adversity.

This team shows a lot of character.

 Pre-game, Post-game and Halftime analysis…

 A tie is like kissing your sister.

You win as a team, you lose as a team.

Turnovers will be the key.

The intangibles will be the key.

Statistics can be misleading.

Statistics tell the whole story.

 That’s the key statistic.

That’s the key to the game.

 This is always a tough place to play.

We’ve got the league’s best offense against the league’s best defense — something’s got to give.

These two teams don’t like each other.

 There’s no love lost between these two teams.

 There’s bad blood between these two teams.

 It’s gonna be a war out there.

 It’s going to be a battle of the titans.

 It’s going to be a battle of epic proportions.

This is a game for the ages.

This is a pivotal game for them.

They’re coming off a heartbreaking loss.

 This game is for the bragging rights.

 They’re the sentimental favorites.

He gets the most out of his players.

 On any given day any team is capable of beating another team.

 They need to turn up the intensity.

They have to go out and take care of business.

 They have to rise to the occasion.

They can’t take these guys lightly.

They have to come together as a team.

They have to believe in themselves.

 They must control the tempo of the game.

They should stick to the fundamentals.

 They have to eliminate the mental mistakes.

They must capitalize on their opportunities.

They have to pull out all the stops.

 They’re playing the role of spoilers.

They went 80 yards in the ensuing possession. (Game analysis rarely uses the simple words `next’ or `following’. Announcers strongly prefer `ensuing’ to sound more scholarly)

The game was a lot closer than the final score indicates.

It’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback.

You can come up with your own clichés as you watch the Buffalo Bills play the Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL pre-season action at the Rogers Centre on  August 14. Transportation included. Pick up a bonus entry code at TA Appliances, Cambridge Toyota, Sussman’s of Arthur, or Glenbriar Home Hardware.

These are the dog days of summer, and sometimes on a hot, sticky day it’s easy find yourself  slumping over your desk at work, nodding off  because the humidity has zapped all of your energy (presuming you had some when you arrived at work). Here are a few, if unusual, ways to give yourself a quick little boost of energy! 

1.  Sniff a lemon!  Or, if the idea of sticking your nose into a lemon isn’t terribly appealing to you, try a piece of lemon candy.

 2.  Blink!  Experts say that those of us who spend hours at a time staring at a computer screen tend to blink about 1/3 less, which can lead to drier eyes, which in turn, can make you feel a little “slumpy”!

 3.  Let loose with a big old yawn!  Yes- it’s your body’s natural way to bring a little more oxygen into your blood- so do not stifle it!

 4.  Turn on a fan!  Cooler air, especially in your face, sends those “stay sharp” signals to your brain. You might look a little strange, with a lemon hanging off your nose, and a fan in front of your face, blinking while you yawn, but you will absolutely be the most energetic person in the room (ok, maybe you’ll be the only person in the room at that point…),

There’s nothing quite like enjoying live country music

outdoors on a warm summer day. With that in mind, here’s a selection

of fine Canadian country artists who’ll be visiting our part of Ontario

this summer. They’d appreciate seeing you there!  

Julian Austin…July 5 Stratford Dance For HOPE

Gord Bamford…July 26 Fergus Truck Show

             July 27 Mohawk Raceway

Jason Blaine …July 11 Holstein Rodeo

              August 31 Paris Fairgrounds

George Canyon…August 10 St.Mary’s Stonetown Jam

Doc Walker…August 2 Kleinburg Rhinestone Country Fest

Jessie Farrell…August 10 St.Mary’s Stonetown Jam 

The Higgins….July4 Kitchener Dallas Nightclub

             July 6 Mohawk Raceway Casino

Aaron Lines…July 27 Fergus Truck Show

            August 31 Paris Fairgrounds

Charlie Major…August 9 St.Mary’s Stonetown Jam

Aaron Pritchett…July 26 Fergus Truck Show               

Johnny Reid…August 7 Fergus Scottish Festival

            August 9 St.Mary’s Stonetown Jam

Alex J. Robinson…July 27 Fergus Truck Show

Shane Yellowbird…July 11 Holstein Rodeo

http://www.stonetownjam.com/

http://www.holsteinrodeo.com/