What’s more fun than when John and I sit beside each other, both on the computer and geek out for hours? Well, when John’s at work and Keira comes over and we do the same thing.

Blogathon: Post #23 – Sponsor me to keep going for the Surrey Food Bank

Contributed by Keira-Anne

It’s an art; having your photo taken, that is. Many factors influence the outcome of a photo. The setting, the lighting, the pose, the colours, the photo subjects and any number of crucial camera settings. Every single person has both a “good side” and a “bad side” – even Lisa Turtle. For me, my left side is my good side. Miss 604’s is her right, so this works out exceptionally well when we take photos together. And believe me, that happens often.

Once one has learned their “good side” and how to capture it, the next hurdle to get over is the dreaded double chin. This frequent occurrence typically happens when candid photos are being snapped one after another and usually in group settings. Because of the candid factor, avoiding the double chin is next to impossible. However, like the “good side,” creating a self-awareness is the key to avoiding the majority of double chin moments. “Tilt your head, not your neck,” says Becky.

The double chin effect can manifest itself in full-body shots. In these instances, not only do you need to remain aware of the shape of your face, you’re also at a high risk for unnecessary muffin top or displaced weight. Not many walk around with perfect posture, and it’s simply too easy to just let it all hang out. Key No. 2: stand up straight! The best way to achieve this is in letting your stomach muscles, and not your spine, support the weight of your body.

All of this said, there is one crucial, evil, unrelenting ingredient that will always make or break a picture.

Alcohol.

Last night’s Blogstock 2007 pre-festivities at Steamworks were a prime example. About an hour before our group paid the bill and left, I asked our server how many pitchers of Lion’s Gate Lager we’d ordered so that we could make an informed decision in deciding whether or not to order another pitcher. She told me “I think it’s at two.” We all shrugged and said “sure, bring us another.” The bill came an hour later and we’d actually ordered a total of six pitchers split between five people (Duane stuck to hard liquor). When you mix six pitchers with three ladies, you get copious amounts of photos that, when shown the next day, only produce embarrassment, head shakes and an “oh god.”

Friends don’t let friends drink and snap.

Blogathon: Post #22

John is on location at Mission Raceway today and checking in every now and then. He just sent me this photo with the caption SO LOUD.

There are few sports that make remembering the “old days” as easy to do as drag racing, with its rich tradition and reverence for old cars, and this weekend is the chance for fans to relive the glory days when the Langley Loafers present the 16th Annual Re/Max B.C. Oldtime Drags at Mission Raceway Park. [Mission Raceway]

Careful on the website though, it starts talking to you after a bit. John also wanted to mention that Friday nights at the raceway are “Street Racing Nights”, meant to keep kids off streets and leave the dragging to the raceway.

Blogathon: Post #21

Due to Alanah’s comments about cute animals and how horrible it would be if I blogged about them, I remember this commercial for Lotto Super 7. I went to YouTube and was lucky enough to find it, it makes me laugh.

Blogathon: Post #20

Contributed by Duane Storey

I hate the mail. I hate walking down to get it. I hate how my landlord refuses to change his address and I have to sort his mail too. But most of all, I hate that my mailbox is always full of a bunch of useless flyers, considering I just huck them into the recycling bin as soon as I pull them out.

Photo credit: easternblot on Flickr

I’ve always wondered if there was something that I could do stop Canada Post from spamming my mailbox with flyers. It turns out, there is. All you need to do is place a small red sticker (about the size of a dime) near the front of the mailbox on the bottom. I tried this little trick the other day, not really sure if it was going to work or not. Not only did the mailbox lady not put anymore flyers in the next day, she weeded through everything in my mailbox and removed all the flyers currently in there.

So if you’re like me and simply put all those flyers in the recycling bin, go get a little red sticker and do one more small thing to help the environment.

Blogathon: Post #19

Update: Looks like the CBC picked up this story about… oh.. 6 months later [CBC News] since a campaign has begun to raise awareness for the Red Dot.