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Out with the old; in with the new. It’s December 31st, the last day of 2011 and the last time we will see this year. Tomorrow, it’s a brand new day slash year or it’s "Oh my God, here we go again!" Ha! Is the glass half full or is the glass half empty? Then again, one jokester told me that the problem was that the glass was twice as big as necessary. Now think about that one. We go from a philosophical discussion about optimism and pessimism and end up with the conclusion it’s merely a question about engineering.
The Lotteries
Who’s ending 2011 on a high note? According to the lottery web site (Western Canada Lottery Corporation), a lucky ticket purchased in Ontario is the winner of the fifty million dollar jackpot (Count’em! Five with seven zeros!). How do you like them apples? (Wikipedia) That’s a lot of apples.
Tonight, December 31, we all get one last chance at the brass ring with the Lotto 6/49 which has a grand prize of $21 million. Good luck to all of you… although I hope it’s me.
New Year’s Eve 2012
Pop the cork. Blow your noisemaker. Let’s party like it’s 1999, ah, 2011. City TV is once again playing host to their annual shindig in Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto which will be simultaneously broadcast on CityTV. Guests include Backstreet Boy Howie D, Karl Wolf, JRDN, Neverest, Aleesia, Anjulie and the cast of American Idiot. If you can’t get downtown or you can’t get to a TV, CityTV is still going to allow you to stay connected through an app for the iPad and the iPhone. Check out details on the CityTV web site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGbK_H1O8PI
Movies
If, and just if, you haven’t been out to the movies yet this holiday, let me throw in my take on the few I’ve seen over the past while.
I enjoyed the spy movie Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy but I warn you this isn’t what you think a spy movie is. This isn’t your whiz bang explosions, car chases, special gadgets James Bond or Mission Impossible spy movie. No, this is a more realistic take on what real spies are probably like and here we have a 1973 mystery that may have more to do with Agatha Christie (mysteries) than Ian Fleming (author of James Bond).
Like a blockbuster thrill ride? Hey, which adrenaline junkie doesn’t? I can think of nothing better than Mission:Impossible Ghost Protocol but you must see it at the IMAX. A six story screen and a 12,000 watt sound system just pushes this one over the top. Tom Cruise is back with the IMF team with some spectacular stunts. Plot? Who cares? Lay out the premise then just go, go, go with action galore. In IMAX, the scenes of this movie just blew me away with a clarity of image and a richness of colour which was just wow. This is heart-stopping, eye-popping cinematic candy at its best.
Another entertainment treat is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Good acting, good story and good filming. I love bullet time and like the first Sherlock Holmes movie, we have some terrific scenes which make use of this cinematic technique made famous by The Matrix.
A couple of days ago the much anticipated The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo opened and I am happy to report that it was worth the wait. The actress Rooney Mara does an unbelievable job of bringing the main character Lisbeth Salander to life, a character who is dark, brooding and very, very troubled but oh so fascinating to watch. A little violent at times and a little depraved, this is a terrific murder mystery which will keep you enthralled for a couple of hours.
I saw The Descendants a couple of weeks ago. The film is terrific and George Clooney is terrific. It is both funny and sad. Click to read my review as I would definitely advise you to put this on your list of films to see during the holidays.
Other Things to Do
The National Ballet of Canada is putting on its annual presentation of the Nutcracker. You’ve never seen it? Everyone has to go at least once in their life; it’s a holiday classic. Playing until January 3rd.
Casa Loma is playing host to some family fun through to January 8. (Casa Loma seasonal events)
Professor Wick’s Magical Castle
Out of the Factory Fantastic comes a spectacular parade of impossibilities-a wonderful blend of mechanical wizardry, music and comedy delivered by an outlandish cast of “steam punk” characters. This magic show hosted by Lawrence Larouche is an interactive theatrical presentation that transports the audience into a world in which logic and disbelief are willingly suspended.
The School of Wizardry
The Casa Loma Conservatory will be a School of Wizardry this holiday season lead by Professor Pepper. The audience will be kept on their toes with bits of magic between juggling and balancing acts, and will have a chance to perform their own magic tricks.
Various Toronto museums have special Christmas holiday events planned for the whole family. The lights, decorations along with food, sweets and a hot glass of cider are just part of the festivities. Fort York will be showing the kids how to make "historical" gingerbread cookies from December 27th to the 31st. In this hands-on workshop, kids will use period cooking utensils and tools to sift flour, crush cinnamon, cloves or allspice and grate nutmeg and ginger as they prepare an 1800s gingerbread recipe. The cookies will be baked over the open hearth fire.
Good luck to all of you in your world. See you around the pages of Oye! Times.
6/49: Sat, Dec 31: $21 million
Lotto 6/49: One chance in 13,983,816
Lotto Max: Fri Jan 6: $16 million (2 MaxMillions)
Lotto Max: One chance in 28,633,528
All the latest winning numbers
You can visit the Lotto web site and check out all the latest winning numbers including Poker, 49, Lottario, Keno, Pick 4, Pick 3 and Payday. Of course, all the Encore numbers can be found there as well.
Click HERE to read more from William Belle
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