Vern's Place

Toronto Zoo Tundra Trek VIP

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Last night T and I got to visit the Grand opening (Before the Public) VIP event at the Toronto Zoo for the newly designed Tundra Trek adventure area. This is where you will find many of Canada's Northern Animals; The Polar Bear, the Arctic Wolf and Fox, Reindeer and the Snowy Owl.
Here are a few of the Pics I snapped on my blackberry (hence the poor quality) and a link to the rest of the set.

Arctic Wolf:	Male Polar Bear Inukshuk:
Female Polar Bear - Nikita (Not shown) and Aurora:

Head to the Zoo and check out this new exhibit - it's worth the visit.

Weekend Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Good for April 3, 4 and 5, 2009.

Weekend adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:26:00 +0000

This weekend I had a bit of an adventure, something a little outside my normal comfort zone. Those of you that know me well know I'm a technical person not a handy person so... here goes with my adventure...

I was told a couple months ago I needed new back breaks on my car, but I wasn't ready to pay for them - just wasn't ready with the money at the time. So I saved up and made arrangements with my Father in-law to do the work ourselves at his work's shop - two year ago we he replaced the front breaks on the car ~~together~~. So he did me a big favour, he ordered all the right parts and had them waiting for us, all I had to do was get the car there and bring the checkbook, or so I thought...

We started with putting the car up on the power lift and focused on the left wheel. I've always been interested in how cars work and how things like breaks operate so I was asking lots of questions... What's that? How does this work? Did these really need to be replaced? Honestly the first break looked ok to me, still lots of life in them. We went ahead anyway as they was close enough to finished that it should be done. So we worked to replace; the caliper, the rotor and the break pads. Who knew there were so many little pieces, bolts, grease and RUST! Yeah rust - blah - I bet if you check your own breaks I'm sure you'll see rust everywhere (especially if you live anywhere they salt the roads in the winter) - it ok though, completely normal. About an hour later the left side was all done. Looks good eh?

After all the learning and understanding of the nuances from the left side we started on the right break. This was defiantly the problem side, the side with the bad tire too (but that is a different story). The right break pad side was done, like almost unsafe done... almost metal on metal - which is bad. So we made quick work on this break taking it apart and replacing it quick, like 30 minutes quick - half the time of the first break.

All in all it felt good to get dirty and experience this for a second time... I think I could do this myself next time - it would probably take me a bit longer alone, but having done this twice now I think I could do it. Pending I had all the air guns, wrenches, ratchets and needed tools that is.

I'm amazed that the engineers designing these cars are able to make something that looks so complicated, initiative and easy to take apart and reassemble.

Site Redesign

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:40:00 +0000

I'm working on a full redesign for this site, and I'm not exactly sure what it'll end up being yet... I'm also planning on blogging here again - planning for at least a weekly post maybe more.

For now check out my other sites and see what I'm up to... Big plans for 2009.

Happy New Years all! and sorry for the absence here...

Another Year older...

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Well it finally happened I turned 30... I guess it was inevitable ;) but it's not a bad thing as I see it just another day in the life. It's hard to believe though all the things that have happened to me in the last decade - 20 seems so long ago and 40 doesn't seem like its gonna slow down getting here - where does the time go?!

In the last decade here are a few highlights from my life;

Graduated College - Computer Science Information Technology
I got married
I bought a car and
I bought a house
I have 1 nephew and 2 nieces
I have 4 pets, and still miss Ash (RIP kitty)
Worked for 5 different companies but only had 3 interviews
- I've been through 4 acquisitions and one layoff
I'm executive at my Job (we are hiring BTW)
I sit on the board of Directors for 2 Not for profits
I write for 8 blogs - and own three of them (EmailKarma.net, NextGen Player, COTERC Blog, Sunbird Spa, Deliverability.com, OneDegree, CAUCE, and this one)
I've been a source in several publications (too many to list) but many of them are found in my delicious account
Have spoken at several Marketing and Client Events (most recently the CMA and MAGNET 2008)
I received my certification as an Certified Information Privacy Professional/Canada (CIPP/C)

So as you can see I have been really busy over the last 10 years, many smaller less important things have also happen to me that are not on the list for reasons of brevity. Unless I win big in the 649 (yeah right) I don't think I'll be slowing down any time soon, so feel free to drop me and note, jump on the wagon and join my in this wild ride 'We call Life'

I'm a winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:28:00 +0000

And mom said video games would never get me anywhere! HA!

Two posts from yours truly on a recient event I attended where I was able to compete and win for a charity of my choosing... Winning on behalf of COTERC was my one and only option (have I mentioned COTERC before? - more below). Surprisingly I was able to pull it off coming out on top of an eight person bracketed challenge to win.

I wrote more about this here and here, posted some picture of the event here.

About the COTERC reference... a couple months back I got introduced to a fantastic organization; the Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation, where I applied and was accepted as the Marketing Director for the organization. I suggest you check them out and send a membership or two or three there way.

New addition to the Family

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:40:00 +0000

Yesterday I became an Uncle again for the third time... The second from my side of the family.

My sister and Brother-in Law had a baby girl at 8:38 am on 06/17/2008.

Weight; 8lbs 3oz.
Name: Evelyn Maude Prosper

Here is one of the first photo's:

New Blog: NextGen Player

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:06:00 +0000

Check out my next Video Game blog, co-founded with my buddy Paul from work - aka: LeetBeatMeat, with a few other writers that we frequently game with.

Xbox Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:48:00 +0000

Ok so i started to let my xbox blog again... it's been a while - since the RROD actually...

Lets see how this goes.

NEWS ALERT: TRANSCONTINENTAL ACQUIRES THINDATA INC.

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:07:00 +0000

In Work News:

TRANSCONTINENTAL ACQUIRES THINDATA INC (Release).

Montreal, March 11, 2008 – Transcontinental Inc. today announced the acquisition of ThinData Inc., Canada's leading permission-based email marketing services firm. This partnering of industry leaders will shape the next evolution of marketing – bringing the best of print and direct marketing together with the power and speed of electronic marketing.

ThinData's offering fits perfectly with Transcontinental's value-added services growth strategy which includes expanding its premedia, database management, direct marketing and analytics and e-marketing capabilities to deliver unique solutions to its clients and its media properties.

Full Release available.

Gamers Strike back...

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:27:00 +0000

Chris Garrett explains how the response from the global community to your actions can have a very large and unexpected results.

If you need some additional background on this please see my "Kudos to EA" post from last week.

Kudos to EA

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:09:00 +0000

It's being reporting that EA is not taking the latest reports from Fox News laying down... and that they have stepped up and taken the time to respond publicly to the inaccurate reports on the game MASS EFFECT. Read EA's response here and the news report here.

A Fox News segment aired on Jan 21, 2008 featured a brief debate, available at GamePolitics, between talk show host and video game journalist, where Mass Effect was described as "porn disguised as a video game"... Now I've played and recently finished, something that Fox News hosts admits to never even playing, and the story line in question is not even as risque as the soaps my wife watches or the Teen shows shown on the Fox Network.

GO EA - don't back down - more Gaming companies should step up and take on false reporting like this.

Baby Polar Bear

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:47:00 +0000

Germany's Nuremberg zoo welcomed a baby Polar Bear to the world this month.

See the Pictures on Canoe.ca.

Golden Compass Daemon Chooser

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:12:00 +0000

Playing along with Kate - from My Name Is Kate - I have taken the Golden Compass Daemon Chooser. Here is my Daemon... do you think its right?

After answering the 5 questions on this daemon, it may stay the same or change... It if changes be sure to leave a comment on the change. The "next" button wasn't appearing for me either (kate noted this - maybe it's a firefox thing) appearing for me. It should be on the bottom right where there is the tiny little whoosh of brown. You should be able to click there to move the questionnaire along.

First Daemon: Kyana - Mouse - Modest, humble, spontaneous, responsible and sociable.

Never lost

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:37:00 +0000

Google Maps for mobile has recently updated to Version 2.0. On the Mobile Blog they talk about these new features.

Watch the video on YouTube:

It works like a charm, found me within 1800 feet...

The latest craze - j/k

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:21:00 +0000

Good for a laugh - this was sent to my by a co-worker (If only it were true...)

CaseCamp 6 - Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:17:00 +0000

Last night was CaseCamp 6 here in Toronto a great night of networking and Case studies.

Presentations were given by:

The Globeandmail.com focused on the launch and expansion of their "Join the Conversation" program where users can comment on almost every article published to their website. Sounds like some good thought and some cool ideas are going into this product.

Vortex Mobile gave a great case study on Mobile Marketing for Levis during the Virgin Fest Toronto. The over all outcome did not distract from email marketing campaigns which actually makes the idea a great companion program.

Treehugger .com's Lloyd Alter gave a great overview of building an online community and the growing pains of a grass roots organization of 4 people to a global program with 30+ writers and a recient purchase from Discovery

Will Pate, also presented and talked about being a Brand and Community Evangelist. Providing insight into being part of the discussion and monitoring your global brand. Tips; Be Real - people can spot a fake, Be involved - respond in minutes not days or weeks, Be Positive - Negativity only lowers the view point of the average view.

Get out to a CaseCamp event if you can - they are great for meeting people and you may just learn something.

Originally posted on EmailKarma - CaseCamp 6 - Toronto

San Diego County Fires Map

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:14:00 +0000

With the use of Google Maps you can track the California Fires (link ot San Diego County Fires) and stay up to date on the latest developments.

A full list is available here

a fitting picture for today

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:18:00 +0000

cool blogger tool

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:55:00 +0000

Check out Blogger Play - Stream of real time picture uploads by blogger users:

http://play.blogger.com/

It's here - It's here!!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:57:00 +0000

Halo 3 finally arrived in the mail... Now the only thing is to find the time to play it... Maybe This weekend I'll get around to it.

Halo 3

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:40:00 +0000

My Pre-order is done - now I'm just awaiting the actual delivery... I'm not ready to stand in line at Midnight for the official release...

Read about Halo-mania! Here.

Roughly 500 retailers across Canada will be throwing open their doors at midnight tonight to begin selling Microsoft's mega-hyped sci-fi shooter Halo 3, which the software giant expects to become not only the biggest game for its Xbox 360 console, but one of the fastest-selling entertainment products of the year, period.

Article By: STEVE TILLEY - Sun Media - Mon, September 24, 2007

Monday!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:20:00 +0000

Ever have one of those days - LOL

Courtesy of: http://icanhascheezburger.com: an dats when i new

Do you read it?

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:13:00 +0000

I can't remember the last time I read a phone book or looked something up inside of one. That is what I use my PC/Laptop/Blackberry for, instant paperless search. Plus you find other things about your intended search; customer reviews, product issues, discounts/coupons... you name it.

Here is a great post from Michael Garrity over at OneDegree regarding the amount of waste generated by the Paper (phone book) industry: Taking Accountability for our Marketing “Footprint”.

Some of the more interesting facts (from article):

Paper manufacturing is the third largest user of fossil fuels worldwide and the single largest industrial use of water per pound of finished product.
Approximately 5% of the resources used to produce paper are contained in the final product, the other 95% are discarded during the production process
The production of one ton of paper consumes the same amount of energy as one ton of steel.
30% of all trees logged in the US are intended for the paper industry.
B&W toner contains at least 6 different substances that are listed as hazardous and toxic.

Are you doing your part to reduce your environmental foot print?

Indigo PhotoBook

noreply@blogger.com (Matt V - Mvern78) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:16:00 +0000

Check out this cool new service from Indigo, the PhotoBook.

Give it a try these are really great gift ideas for people that might be hard to buy for.