Found via Digg.com, I just checked out this live webcam pointing at a Bald Eagle nest and it is tres cool.  The webcam is located on Hornby Island and is broadcasting all the time.  I found a few articles about the nest and how the camera got to be there.

When Doug Carrick retired to Hornby Island, he found a new hobby.

Eagle watching.

Over the past 17 years, he has been keeping track of the goings on at every nest on the island, but there is one nest in particular that has his, and now the world’s, full attention.

In a tree across the road from his home, there is a nest. When he first started watching it, he asked the owners of the property if he could put a closed circuit camera near the nest. The neighbours said no, so Doug continued to watch the birds from a distance.

Then the property changed hands, and Doug asked the new owners if he could put a closed circuit camera close to the nest. This time, the new neighbours said yes. So Doug went about making sure he had all the right paperwork from the proper government agencies, and set up a camera.

He watched the nest for years, and made some video tapes. It was when one of those tapes was being shown that he made a connection with David Hancock, a raptor lover, biologist, an expert on eagles and owner of Hancock House Publishing, which specializes in books about raptors. A closed circuit camera was just a first step, Hancock provided the dollars and the know how to upgrade the camera to a web-cam.

The Inter-nest - gafaw.

Our Canadian heritage is losing some locations.

Jerry Zucker has approached some of Canada's largest retailers in an attempt to unload about 80 underperforming
Hudson's Bay Co. stores, but he isn't talking to key rival
Wal-Mart Canada Corp., industry sources say.

They say Mr. Zucker is circulating a “secret” list of sites to major retailers including grocers Sobeys Inc. and Metro Inc., which owns A&P and Dominion; Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd.; Winners Corp.; and Staples Inc.

“It's the worst-kept secret I've ever heard,” said one source who is familiar with the situation.

Nevertheless, Mr. Zucker is staying clear of Wal-Mart, which has played its part in HBC's decline over the past decade, sources said. It was unclear whether  Loblaw Cos. Ltd. has been courted, although one source suggested it's possible.

Loblaw is becoming a bigger competitor to HBC. The grocer is building massive discount superstores with a wide assortment of food and general merchandise.

It makes me sad that we have lost the Hudson's Bay Company to another non-Canadian owner, but I suppose business is business.  Although, it doesn't mean I have to like it.

Hmmm.  I just noticed this 30 minute video of a show called "Heat Vision and Jack".  It is a pilot made for a potential Fox television show from 1999.  I don't see how this never got made by Fox.  It fits right in with their "let's make Bantha poodo" mission statement.  Of course, Fox could have dropped more money on a certain show that I like, cough, Firefly, cough, Firefly.

I have been doing a lot of research about video on the Internet and how video bloggers can benefit from various storage solutions and how Google Video and YouTube.com are changing how video is viewed and shared on the Internet.   Thus, I found this little gem that is getting some press here and there.  Google Idol is the "no line up" way of getting to show off your "lip sync talent".  Some of the performances are quite hilarious to watch.  I would check it out. 

Some of these newer uses of older technologies (can we chant "mashup"?) and newer web magic are providing people with new ways to express their creativity and share it with others.  What normally may have been a home made video sitting around and collecting dust in someone's basement are now "direct-to-net" video releases.  Of course, there is the question of copyright.  I think Google Idol may get into some hot water over the songs they have used (although, it is the people making the videos that might be on the hook for that).

Check it out, Google Idol.  The newest way to show off and try to get famous.

Looking For Vancouver Karate SchoolI am looking for a karate dojo.  Due to the popularity of our business, I have become a desk potato and hope to get back into some exercise-related activity to ward off the pitfalls of dying at my desk. 

But, I know nothing of the "karate scene" in Vancouver and am curious if anyone out there knows of any respectable dojo.  I am looking for something in the downtown Vancouver and Mount Pleasant areas.  I am also primarly interested in the Shotokan style, although, I am open to others - since, well, I am no expert in any style.

Why karate?  Many years back I attended a great school in Victoria and enjoyed it very much.  It is the one activity I wish I had continued doing.  As puberty hit, looking at girls took over my underdeveloped male brain and I lost interest.  At the time, I thought karate wasn't "cool enough".  I had climbed the ranks and was half way to a black belt.  How silly teens can be.

I did a quick Internet search and found:

Fighting Art (who look like the Karate Kid movie thugs)

But, are there any you can think of?  If you know of any, I am all ears to hear about them.

For those of you who enjoyed the planes from the Tom Cruise flick, Top Gun, there is some sad news this month: the F-14 Tomcat is in the final months of deployment.  As of the end of 2006, the only place to see an F-14 will be in aviation museums.  Yet, it seems the plane's replacement, will not be the ever debated F-22 Raptors.  It looks like the F-18 Super Hornet (that is the CF-18 to us Canadians) will take over the F-14 roll. 

This is just one of those times where a person is able to see time pass.  Most often, we tend not to notice the passage of time all that well.  Holiday's pass, days and weekends go by - but there isn't a daily "recognition of moments".  Thus, today, I see a moment of my past (those brief days of loving the F-14 and wanting to fly them) slip by.

I did a quick search and found a decent tribute video for the F-14 Tomcat.  I raise a glass to you, Tomcat.

Happy Birthday to me...
Happy Birthday to me...
Happy Birthday dear me...
Happy Birthday to me...

Yes, it is now my birthday.  Maybe I should get to bed.