BT Edmonton Blogs

"That there's an RV, Clark."

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation might be the greatest Christmas movie ever made. Much like granny’s festive fruitcake, every individual element (from the disastrous to the heart-warming) comes together to create a masterpiece you can really sink your teeth into. Who could ever forget the totally toasted turkey? Or the slipperiest saucer sled ride in recorded history? From the combustible Christmas tree (home to a squirrel) to the spectacular standard against which all residential light displays will forever be compared, Christmas Vacation introduced the concept of “Going Griswold” around the holidays.

The chemistry of a Hollywood Christmas classic is hardly formulaic. Sometimes, it’s the monumental collapse of a Christmas dinner (and subsequent duck disaster) that makes a movie memorable. Other times, it’s a display of seasonal (or secret) sentiment that really draws us in. History shows you don’t always need Santa Claus involved to crown a Christmas movie a classic. Something as “everyday” as a pizza delivery (”Keep the change, ya filthy animal”), a cab ride or a trip to the bank can make a movie special.

I have a few Christmas movies shortlisted. They’re the ones I watch every year. One takes me back to my earliest memories at Grandma and Grandpa’s place. Another reminds me of the fun we’d have as a family picking out our Christmas tree every December. One more recent addition to my list combines the childlike wonderment at the thought of the North Pole with spectacular present day special effects.

Really, though, as far as I’m concerned, none of these movies come close to challenging Christmas Vacation for top spot. I mean, how do you beat Clark Griswold’s classic rant when his Christmas bonus fails to meet expectations? Everybody can relate to stress hitting a whole new setting as the days tick down to December 25th. Maybe it’s the numerous reflections of drunk uncles real life that explains why so many millions can follow along with the movie word for word.

Every family has a true, movie-worthy holiday story. Whether it’s triumph or tragedy, a disaster or a dream come true, it seems everyone can tell at least one “you had to be there to believe it” tale. We want to hear yours! Share it by leaving a comment here on my blog and you’ll be entered to win a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation prize pack courtesy of www.RetroFestive.ca (you’ve got to check out their leg lamps from A Christmas Story).

The prize pack includes four of those legendary moose mugs (sip your homemade egg nog in style!), a moose mug punch bowl and Christmas tree ornaments, a Walley World Marty Moose toque, an official Christmas Vacation attacking squirrel and the Ultimate Collector’s Edition 20th Anniversary edition DVD. We’ll choose our winner on Wednesday, December 21 at noon so the (sold out) moose mugs have a home in time for Christmas Eve.

From all of us here at Breakfast Television, may your Christmas be a movie-worthy one…in a good way!

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Hey Jack - where's your winter coat?

No it’s not Bugs Bunny – it is Jack the hare, as in Jackrabbit.    Sighting courtesy of Murray:  “This is a white tailed jackrabbit that was just across the street.   I had to laugh when a Labrador retriever tried to catch the speedster.   When big-ears “opened up” the dog just stopped .. most likely wondering “what the heck was that!”   Jacks can go as fast as  64 km/hr (40 mph) and jump more than 4 metres (15 ft).

DID YOU KNOW?    Jackrabbits are hares.    Their back legs and ears are larger than rabbits.    They got their name because of their ears.    Some people used to refer to them as ”jackass rabbits” (Donkeys – aka Asses have very large ears).    It is written that Mark Twain brought the name to fame when he used it in his book ‘Roughing It’.    The name was later shortened to jackrabbit.

THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN THOSE GREAT OUTDOORS TAKE YOUR CAMERA AND TAKE A PICTURE.    “CONNECT WITH US” AND WATCH FOR YOUR PHOTO ON BT AND THIS VERY BLOG.    OPERATORS ARE STANDING BY!

I had no idea what to expect from The Amazing Kreskin before his appearance on Breakfast Television. The magician is a legend to be sure – dozens of appearances on The Tonight Show, more than 100 (!) appearances with Regis Philbin and global recognition as the world’s foremost mentalist.

Would he be able to read my mind? If so, could he tell that I’m just a wee bit cynical about the whole “mind reading” thing? Would he embarrass me by exposing my innermost thoughts? Or even worse, would the whole thing fall flat if Kreskin drew blanks?

You can check out my first segment with the man known by some as the Nostradamus of the 21st Century by clicking here but it was our second segment together that really blew my mind. I swear on my Grandfather’s grave I had no idea what was coming. I certainly had no hunches, clues or hints provided to me along the way. What you’ll see in the video below is my legitimate reaction to something that still has me scratching my head…

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Goats who stare at men

Hello to Chocolate and Goldie, and Norah and Jes.    Norah and Jes are the humans and not featured in this photo.    They are however, the owners and operators of Aagaard Farms & market garden just outside of Brandon, Manitoba:  ”The goats follow Farmer Man (Jes) everywhere!   When he doesn’t keep a close eye on them they amuse themselves.   The back of our house is built into a little hill, so they’ve figured out that they can jump onto the roof of the root cellar and then onto the back of the house!”    Learn more about their community supported agriculture - here:  http://www.aagaardfarms.ca/ 

DID YOU KNOW?    Farmer’s Markets are good for producers, good for the local economy and for the consumers.    In Edmonton, people can shop at a Farmers’ market 12 months of the year.    Saturdays you can buy fresh and local at the downtown market in the atrium of City Hall or support the producers in Old Strathcona.

THERE IS A FRESH AIR PHOTO OUT THERE FOR YOU – JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.    SNAP, SEND IT TO US – AND WATCH FOR IT ON BT AND THIS VERY BLOG!

The deep south drama “The Help” leads the nominations for the “Screen Actors Guild Awards”.

The adaptation of the best-selling novel was nominated for “Best Ensemble Cast” along with the silent film “The Artist”, the wedding comedy “Bridesmaids”, the family drama “The Descendants” and the romantic fantasy “Midnight in Paris”.

Among the best-actress contenders are Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, Tilda Swinton, and Michelle Williams.

In the best actor category: Demian Bichir, George Clooney, Leonardio Dicaprio, Jean Dujardin, and Brad Pitt.

I haven’t even covered the television nominations so head to this site for the full list.

Hasta Manania!

Colleen captures the sun sinking into the Sea of Cortez at Puerto Penasco, Mexico:  “ We were there for 9 days with daytime highs between 35 and 40 – hot, hot, hot!   It was a ritual to be on the beach at 6:10 and watch the sunset until about 6:35 pm.   I took the picture from a restaurant balcony while dining and drinking lime margaritas.    Puerto Penasco is also known as Rocky Point”.

DID YOU KNOW?      Puerto Peñasco is in the Mexican state of Sonora and is located on the small strip of land that joins the peninsula of Baja California with the rest of Mexico.    Puerto Peñasco is often called “Rocky Point” in English, and has been nicknamed “Arizona’s beach” because it is the coast closest to the major cities of Phoenix and Tucson, and many Arizonans spend weekends here.    In fact, it is about 100 km from the Arizona border, and 350 km from Phoenix.

Puerto Penasco

GO AHEAD, BRING OUT YOUR PHOTO ALBUM.    WE ARE THE ONES WHO ‘WANT’ TO SEE YOUR VACATION PICTURES.    FRESH AIR PHOTOS AIR EACH MORNING AT 7:10 ON EDMONTON’S FAVORITE MORNING SHOW AND LIVE FOREVER ON THIS BLOG.    UPLOAD YOUR PICTURE TODAY!

Photo courtesy Edmonton Journal

My pal Dave “Willy” Willberg is a B.C. Lions fan. Don’t hold it against him. The guy absolutely loves CFL football (and knows it well). I asked the Estevan Lifestyles scribe for his thoughts on the recent trade that sent QB Ricky Ray to Toronto in exchange for QB Steven Jyles, K Grant Shaw and a 2nd-overall selection in the 2012 CFL Canadian College Draft. His response is below. As you’ll see, he doesn’t exhibit the same disgust as some local columnists have but he’s just as surprised by Eskimos GM Eric Tillman’s move.

What do you think about the deal? Leave a comment here and have your say!

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I don’t like the deal for Edmonton. For my money, Ricky Ray was the best player in the league last year. If not for the glut of injuries to his receivers in mid-season, Ricky Ray would have flirted with 6,000 yards passing. And keep in mind he did that with a wonky offensive line. I’m not a Steven Jyles fan. I don’t think he’s consistent enough to be a legit No. 1. It’s great for him that Edmonton has all those weapons at receiver and in the backfield. But Jyles still isn’t good enough to be a starting quarterback.

If they can find an excellent offensive lineman with the No. 2 pick in the draft, then that’ll take away some of the sting from this trade. The Eskimos weren’t going to take the next step without a rebuild on the o-line. But in the end, Edmonton traded a Hall-of-Fame quarterback for a back-up quarterback, a kicker and a first round pick.

You know I’m a big Eric Tillman fan. I think he’s been the best GM in the league for two decades. He has three rings. And he emphasizes Canadian talent more than anyone in the league. But I thought he’d get a much better return for a star pivot who just had one of his best seasons.