Personal Blog of Adrian Barnes from Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, Canada

An Owed To The Spelling Check

Adrian — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:39:42 +0000

I recently took a “Writing it Right” course at Memorial University where the following poem was handed out to illustrate limitations with Microsoft’s spell-check functionality; I found it amusing:

I have a spelling checker.
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished in it’s weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.
A checker is a bless sing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.
Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed to bee a joule
The checker poured o’er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.
Be fore a veiling checkers
Hour spelling mite decline,
And if were lacks or have a laps,
We wood be maid to wine.
Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know faults with in my cite,
Of none eye am a wear.
Now spelling does knot phase me,
It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped words fare as hear.
To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud.
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.
Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays
Such soft ware for pea seas,
And why I brake in two averse
By righting wants too pleas.

Christmas Spirit

Adrian — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:22:56 +0000

The other night, Natalie saw a TV commercial which profiled children who are less fortunate than she is. She retreated to her room, returning a few times to confirm how to spell a few words (we didn’t know what she was working on). When she finally emerged 10 minutes later, she had the below envelope filled with change from her piggy bank. A good reminder of true Christmas Spirit…

Chappo: Plastique Universe EP

Adrian — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:39:05 +0000

Most have probably not heard of Chappo but chances are you have subconsciously enjoyed the lead song (Come Home) off their Plastique Universe EP as it’s the backing song for Apple’s iPhone 4 commercials. Great, allbeit small, assortment of songs.

Broken Bells: Broken Bells

Adrian — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:30:52 +0000

Broken Bells are an American rock band composed of Danger Mouse and James Mercer (lead vocalist and guitarist for The Shins). Their collaborative efforts on their self-titled debut album has produced a beautifully unique collection of ten songs. Embedding The High Road and The Ghost Inside below.

Kings Of Leon: Come Around Sundown

Adrian — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:32:12 +0000

King of Leon’s latest single (Radioactive) off their forthcoming album (Come Around Sundown) which is coming out (in North America) on October 19, 2010.

Feeding Ducks: The Musical

Adrian — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:29:02 +0000

The moment started innocently enough, Natalie and I going to Bowring Park to hit the playground and feed the ducks. Growing up in a house full of testosterone (I have three brothers), it’s easy to forget the subtle differences between how tasks are approached by the fairer gender. For example, “feed the ducks” to Natalie was apparently interpreted as: Pretend you’re in a low-budget Judy Garland musical where the lead character mumbles off-tune, defies authority, has a life and death experience and likes to scold wildlife. Executed to perfection…

U2: Every Breaking Wave

Adrian — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:56:48 +0000

U2 performing their new song Every Breaking Wave during their 2nd 360° Tour concert in Helsinki, Finland, Olympic Stadium on August 21, 2010. Lyrics at the bottom of this post:

Every breaking wave
On the shore
Tells the next one there’ll be one more
Every gambler knows
That to lose
Is what you’re really there for
Somewhere else, fearlessness
Now I’m speaking to an answer phone
Every silent leaf
On the breeze
Winter wouldn’t leave it alone
Ay hey now
Ay hey now
I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
To be somebody
To need someone
Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy
Every shipwrecked soul
Knows what it is
To live without intimacy
I thought I heard the master’s voice
It’s hard to listen while you preach
Like every broken wave
On the shore
This world’s as far as I can reach
Ay hey now
Ay hey now
I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
Got to be somebody
To need someone
The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin
And you know
My heart is
The same place yours has been
We know
The fear of winning
Should we end before we begin
The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin
You know
My heart is
The same place yours has been
We know
The fear of winning
Should we end before we begin

Voice of Encouragement

Adrian — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:11:57 +0000

When the circus clown dropped one of the balls he was juggling. Natalie, stands up and shouts (with as much sincerity as a 6 year-old can):

“That’s OK! We still think you’re doing a great job!”

Natalie Covering Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier”

Adrian — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:12:07 +0000

Natalie doing her rendition of the Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier” with diva outburst mastered when she false-starts (“darn it!”). Hard to believe she’s still looking for a record deal.

War Memorial

Adrian — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:55:11 +0000

Upon driving by a new war memorial being constructed near our home.

Natalie: “Mom, is that where the dead soldiers are going to be?”
Lisa: “No Natalie, it’s a memorial for the dead soldiers. There won’t be any bodies buried there.”
Natalie: *pause*
Natalie: “Oh…just heads?”