Archive

Archive for the ‘GregPike.ca’ Category

A sad day for Ultimate players – Walter Frederick Morrison passes away

February 12th, 2010

Not many people knows his name but Walter Frederick Morrison was the creator of the popular Frisbee disc.

Walter Fred Morrison - inventor of the frisbee

Walter Fred Morrison - inventor of the Frisbee

60 years ago this man threw around a pie plate that has since become an important part of our lives.

Today he has passed away.

Without Fred Ultimate (Frisbee) would not exist, a sport that has been a huge part of my life for the past eight years.

Thank you Fred.

From Argue With Everyone: Frisbee Inventor Walter Frederick Morrison Dies Aged 90

GregPike.ca, Heroes, Interest , ,

Heinz uses ketchup packet idea created by Joe and I

February 5th, 2010

Ketchup PacketA few years ago my friend Joe Coffey and I sat down to eat some fries from the Ziggies van in Churchill Square and a mountain of ketchup packets.

When we were applying the ketchup we exchanged our annoyances with the design of standard ketchup packets.

Firstly, the packets never contains the right amount of ketchup. You always find yourself opening multiple packets.

Second, they always make a mess. You have to squeeze the ketchup through the rip in the corner. It’s hard not to get ketchup on your fingers.

We thought surely there must be a better design.

The biggest problem is affordability. Restaurants are not going to pay extra for a ketchup packet that is larger and cleaner. The current design is very efficient.

Joe and I thought of many options but narrowed it down to one perfect design. We shared it with a few people in the industry and it garnered a little excitement.

Unfortunately it ended there. We didn’t persue it any further.

Recently Heinz released a new ketchup packet design. It’s more or less the same design Joe and I created with some minor differences. Here is their new design:

Heinz introduces new ketchup packets

To read more, check out Heinz Ketchup Packet Makeover

GregPike.ca, Rants, Service ,

Incredible Tauntaun Halloween Costume

November 30th, 2009

I try and avoid being too liberal with presenting people as GregPike.ca Heroes, but this guy just struck all the right chords for me.

Tauntaun Halloween Costume (Star Wars)

The costume is a Rebel scout from the planet Hoth riding a tauntaun. It’s pretty flawless.

What’s more incredible is the process that was used to create this costume.

Tauntaun Halloween Costume Head

Tauntaun Halloween Costume Skeleton

Tauntaun Halloween Costume Leg

Check out this costume as the tauntaun is moving.

From Geekologie: WOW: Amazingly Amazing Tauntaun Costume

GregPike.ca, Heroes ,

GregPike.ca Posts

November 20th, 2009

Sorry I have not been around to post much lately. If I haven’t been bedridden with H1N1 I’ve been working, packing to move, renovating, or otherwise occupying my time away from my computer.

I don’t expect posts to really pick up anytime soon as the process of moving is time consuming, especially with so few days left before I am out. I will try to squeeze a couple posts in however.

GregPike.ca

The Boy Who Wanted Too Much

September 11th, 2009

MissyToday my family brought our 10 year old cat, Missy, to the vet. We had the impression she was in pain and recently she started to pee in various places around the house.

As soon as a veterinarian saw her he told dad there was something wrong and he would tell she had a tumor before he even opened her up, it was that big. It’s sad, but she died on the operating table.

In high school when she was young I thought to myself that she was that perfect size where she’s old enough to cuddle (and not a ball of energy) but small enough that she was still a cute kitten. The following poem struck me.

I post this in memory of Missy.

The Boy Who Wanted Too Much

He begged
and he pled
and he did things as such
To get a new kitty
The Boy Who Wanted Too Much

After owning a cat
for almost two and a half months
the boy thought to himself:

“I like my kitty
he is perfect in size
I wish him no bigger
else him I’ll despise”

And just like that
with the blink of an eye
appeared his fairy godmother
with some loose ends to tie

“It’s a wish that you want
and a wish you shall get
What I do for you now
please do not forget.”

“I’ll remember what you do
Fairy Godmother dear.
I think you already
for coming to hear.”

“Oh do not thank me
Thank the heavens above
It is they who have sent me
to comfort and love…

But let’s get back to business!
And back to your cries.
You wish on your cat
to not change in size”

Ali-zee, Ali-zoo
And an Ala-kazeer
With the flick of her wrist
She had gone, disappeared.

The boy looked around once
Noticed something was strange
He thought about moving
but his posture would not change.

“God damn that old hag!”
said the boy with a tut.
“She has frozen all time
I cannot get up!”

The boy wanted to cry
but a tear would not form
“Now that time is all stopped
I wish I hadn’t been born.”

But this time, the fairy godmother,
she did not reply.
But the cat wasn’t growing
so she did not lie.

GregPike.ca

The world’s only wooden skyscraper in Russia

August 21st, 2009

In Arkhangelsk, Russia, a man known as Nikolai Sutyagin has built a homemade skyscraper out of his house.

Wooden Skyscraper in Russia

During Perestroyka he inherited some money and with that he started to build his dream home. He hired an architect who planned the first two floors.

From there he spent the next fifteen years building his house upwards. Right now it soars high over the city with thirteen floors. It is the taller structure in the city looking down on even the tallest cement buildings.

Some people in the city love it; others are afraid for their homes and for their skyline.

Either way, this is one interestingly ambitious project.

From CommonGate: Homemade Wooden Skyscraper
From Picdict: Wooden Skyscraper

Heroes, Wacky ,

JK Wedding Entrance Dance followed by the JK Divorce Entrance Dance

August 4th, 2009

Everyone has seen the JK Wedding Dance by now. If you haven’t, you should.

Now there is a JK Divorce Dance. This is very cool. Hats off to Jill and Kevin. You are now officially Greg Pike Heroes.

Congratulations Jill and Kevin and good luck!

Heroes, Wacky ,

Slight Absense

July 20th, 2009

Sorry I haven’t blogged much in the past week. What with guest-blogging with Signal Blog and being coaught in bed with a fever for three days I haven’t had much chance for writing for GregPike.ca.

Let’s see if we can’t change that this week.

GregPike.ca

Canadian Dave Carroll Sticks it to United Airlines – Sings “United Breaks Guitars”

July 13th, 2009

Dave Carroll has stepped into the ranks of a very special collection of people who are GregPike.ca Heroes.

In the spring of 2008 he was traveling via United Airlines and his guitar was broke in transit. After a year of bickering with United’s customer service representatives (and getting no where) he decided to write a catchy tune describing his misfortune with the world.

After producing the video and becoming famous for it, United finally offered to pay for his guitar (and get rid of all the bad publicity swelling around this video), but it was too late. He wasn’t interested in being bought. Taylor Guitars on the other hand sent Dave some free merchandise and posted online about how to take care of you guitar while you travel.

Now Dave is working on a followup song about United. This should be good.

Heroes

Moonball Theme

July 2nd, 2009

The Moonball theme for this year has been selected.

Moonball is a birthday party that my friend Ange and I host every year to celebrate our close birthdays. It’s a house party with a dance club-like dance floor and a free shooter bar.

The theme for this year is Fairtales!

We will be decorating to a Fairytales theme and some people will be dressed in costumes for the theme.

GregPike.ca