Fitness Trackers: Fitbit Surge vs. Jawbone Up3

Well I have whined here before about being desk-ridden all day and having no way to accurately track how active I am and how effective my workouts are, today my complaint is about all the websites advertising their latest fitness trackers that have not been released yet.

This rant has been a long time coming, I have been looking for the ideal fitness tracker for quite some time now and I have refused to buy one without a continuous heart-rate monitor. I am now keen on idea of having multi-sport functionality as well. I have been unable to find one that I like the look of that has all the specs I want until now. Now, I am torn between two. The holding top-spot in my brain is the Jawbone Up3 and competing for that precious real estate is the Fitbit Surge. 

Yesterday I had my credit card out, ready to make the big purchase to no avail. Literally, there were none available online.

Now I want your feedback, which would you pick? Is there a fitness monitor that I am missing that has a sleek, functional look with all the advanced features on the market right now?

Honestly, I am pretty hung up on the Jawbone Up3 but it is missing the display function that the Fitbit Surge has (making it a little less useful). Also, after downloading and playing with the apps for both trackers I am more impressed with the Fitbit app. 

Do you have a fitness monitor? What is your preference and why?

Help a sista out! J

For more on the Fitbit Surge click here. For more one the Jawbone Up3 click here.

The Goat's Daily Dose of Weird: June 20, 2014- Sex At The World Cup

It has been a while since I shared a “Daily Dose of Weird” radio break. With all the changes things have been really busy! Today’s topic is red hot, the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. By all accounts the 2014 World Cup is the sexiest tournament ever (not really sure why that matters but it has been constantly brought up). Yesterday I discussed the HUGE demand for the unofficial World Cup condom on sale exclusively in Brazil, today the topic was about the sexual activity the players are allowed (or not allowed) to partake in.

For the full read about the Brazilian unofficial/official World Cup condoms from makers (ironically named) Prudence click here.

Like I say in my radio break I think it is way more ridiculous to have a grey area in your team’s sexual policy for World Cup. Yes or no, one or the other; I think the grey area will just get people in trouble and it is confusing. Also, Brazil we get it you are not normally vanilla in-bed but to have to say no acrobatic sex, is that necessary?  What does that even mean? Also, who is enforcing these “rules” and who would be a big enough jerk to taddle? For Time’s look at what teams can take part in bedroom behavior and to what extent click here. 

Mountain Middays - Daily Dose of Weird May 08, 2014- A Jurassic Baseball Pitch

Being a 90s kid I have a soft spot for dinosaurs.

It seems like the early 90s and dinosaurs go hand-in-hand. From Jurassic Park and all the crappy side merchandise that came out trying to make an easy buck around the dino-craze, to being in elementary school and learning about dinosaurs while they were hot and trendy; to me the 90s scream dinosaurs and always get my attention.  I’m not even going to get into Land Before Time…

Maybe this was not the case to people who were fully-grown during the 90s, but I’m betting I’m not the only kid who remembers the early 90s this way.

Anyways the other day my Daily Dose of Weird focused on the San Diego Padres hosting the Kansas City Royals at Petco Park. This game had a very unique ceremonial first pitch that you can catch here.

Yes, that is a baby tyrannosaurus and it is huge.  The smart stunt was planned to promote the Walking With Dinosaurs live arena show that is touring North America. Yes, as a child of the 90s I am weirdly intrigued by dinosaurs so I have seen the movie version of  Walking With Dinosaurs.

The aptly named “Baby-T” did a damn good job tossing out the first pitch from its mouth but it did not help the home team win. The Padres fell 8-0 to the Royals.

https://soundcloud.com/stream

Jay Onrait's “Anchorboy: True Tales From the World of Sportscasting”

Jay Onrait’s book “Anchorboy: True Tales From the World of Sportscasting” is one of the best books I have read in along time.

I am a huge Jay and Dan fan, I actually read the book a couple months ago and wanted to re-read it before I posted about it. I had been anticipating the release of “Anchorboy” before it was released because of all chitchatting about it on the “Jay and Dan Podcast”. I read the book in about a day, the chapters are very short and you don't want to stop reading Jay's story once you start. 

It has taken me so long to post about "Anchorboy" because I had loaned this book out to other people and finally just got it back. My boyfriend then read it in two days (he couldn't put it down) and then I finally got a chance to read it. It is that good.

The book lives up to all the promotion; it is hilarious. I'm not going to give away any of the stories because they are so good you really should buy the book. I have a couple and it has also been my go-to gift lately for pretty much any guy in my family. 

As a broadcasting nerd myself I really relate to Jay’s idea that everyone in our industry truly is nerdy in one-way or another. We all have a thing. It was my favourite thing he talked about in the book. 

I'm not normally a fan of potty talk. I actually usually hate discussions about poop. Jay talks about doody lots. Be warned. He actually makes horribly gross situations hilarious. 

One note: I wouldn't read this book in public places. I was in hysterics throughout the book and would have been pretty embarrassed to have anyone see my laughter tears. It totally would have messed up my mascara.

At this point I feel like I know both Jay and Dan. After listening to every episode of the original Podcast on our last drive across Canada last year and continuing to listen and watch whatever we can from them, I think things would get weird if I ran into them. In a weird way I hope I never work with them only for that reason.

If you are American and a fan of Fox Sports Live you need to read this book to get a little history about our national treasures Jay and Dan. If you are Canadian (like I am) this book is a reminder of an amazing period of sportscasting here in Canada and a sad reminder of what we are missing out on.

Read it, love it and tell me what you think!

Click here to checkout the Jay and Dan Podcast. 

**Again, a big THANK YOU to Jay and Dan. Without Sportscentre I would have missed going to so many morning classes during university. You guys gave me a reason to haul my ass out of bed.

My First Derby Bout

I moved to the Kootenays in July, from pretty much my first day here people have been telling me all about roller derby. Growing up in Nova Scotia derby was not even on my radar, I didn’t even know that we have derby (I have been told we do). People hear I used to play competitive rugby and hockey and then tell me about derby.

I finally made it out to my first roller derby bout on Saturday night (yes, I had a busy Saturday) when the Kootenay Kannibelles host Fernie’s Avalanche City Roller Girls.

Now I will be completely honest with you, I had no idea what was going on at first (I couldn’t even tell which team was which). But, as the match went on I started to understand it. Getting to see the Kootenays best play for my first game was a treat, after a few minutes it clicked and I totally understood what was going on.

What really surprised me was how many people were at Selkirk College to watch the bout, I have never seen so many people at a woman’s sporting event! Well, other than the Women’s World Championship of Hockey in Halifax. I am so impressed by the turnout to watch derby, way to go Kootenay folk for supporting female sports!

Tofind out more about derby in the West Kootenays click here.

Tofind out more about derby in Canada in general click here.

Viral Video: Friday Roundup

Ooops.

Two blogs in a row talking about the Calgary Flames, this one is unintentional it just happened to pop up on my Twitter feed and I thought I would reflect on it. At the Flames game on Saturday night my boyfriend and I dished about which player we would not like to meet in a fight. We talk about random things all the time, this was not as odd to us as it may seem to you; his answer? Jiri Hudler.

Now, I have no desire to fight anyone. I am as soft as a marshmallow. So my answer was that any of them would beat me. Now, I am not sure the same could be said about basketball. I am pretty bad but Mr. Hudler takes it to a new level in this viral video from NBC Sportsnet. The Lakers and the Flames are both visitingPhilly and have to share the venue, as the 700 level details in this article.

Hockey gear is like second skin to anyone who plays the game, so I am not accepting that his gear made him that much worse than he would have been without it. My favourite part was the high-five, Jiri don’t care… I think he’d even high-five Tom Brady if he was around.

On second thought, I would not want to fight or play anyone in basketball. One v. one, I would get wrecked. I am horrible at both things. Especially when I get laughing, onto the next viral video from the Toronto Zoo; it is adorable.

I am a sucka. I love this panda’s response to the snow. It was the icing on the cake of my Friday. Jenny Fines and I both had a giggle and “awwweeee” moment when this popped up on our screen today.

There you are… two fresh viral videos and one not so fresh video of Tom Brady that is still good for a laugh.

Oh, almost forgot the latest round of Jimmy Kimmel's 'Celebrities Read Mean Tweets', it is not as funny as some of the others but it is still worth a watch! 

Happy Friday!

Viral Video: 400-Pound High School Running Back

I would hate to be called ‘the fridge’ but this kid really should be embracing the nickname. Tony Picard is ahigh school senior and at 6’5 and 400lbs he is a running back that is every other team’s nightmare. Yes, young Tony Picard already is larger than the Chicago Bear’s William ‘Refrigerator’ Perry who weighed in at 355lbs while playing pro football. Picard has not decided on a college yet, but will be helping lead his high school from Yakima, Washington to the State Finals.

Big boy, eh?

Sunday Funday: CFL Semi-Finals and Going 1-1 in the NFL

My Sunday’s are spent puttering around my little apartment cleaning up a week’s worth of untidiness and

baking a little snack to help sweeten up the week. I never really sit and watch things (except for American Horror Story, that is my current television obsession) especially football, but I love having a little background noise on around the house so I am not left to think about doing more than a total surface clean of the apartment. Who needs anything more than Lysol wipes, having all those other cleaning products under the sink is enough right?

Anyways, during yesterday’s marathon football viewing party I was fortunate enough to catch this lovely Seahawk’s moment, part of Seattle’s 41-20 crushing of the Minnesota Vikings. We ended up going 1-2 on the day, I am a Seahawks fan so I went to bed half happy last night. The Stamps lost their Western Final match up the Roughriders (urg!) 13 to 35, if you have ever listened to ‘Sport Shorts’ you know exactly how I feel about the Saskatchewan Roughriders. And, my boyfriend’s team, Kansas City took their first ‘L’ of the season against Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos 17-27.

Better to start a losing streak now than later in the season, right?

Until next Sunday I am just going to watch this on repeat… go Seahawks!

Full day results from the NFL:

Sunday, November 17
Jets 14 Final Bills 37	Ravens 20 Final Bears 23
Browns 20 Final Bengals 41	Lions 27 Final Steelers 37
Raiders 28 Final Texans 23	Cardinals 27 Final Jaguars 14
Redskins 16 Final Eagles 24	Falcons 28 Final Buccaneers 41
Chargers 16 Final Dolphins 20	Packers 13 Final Giants 27
Vikings 20 Final Seahawks 41	49ers 20 Final Saints 23
Chiefs 17 Final Broncos 27

Tonight’s Monday night game kicks off at 5:40 with the Patriots visiting Bank of America Stadium and the Panthers.

And from the CFL:

Tiger-Cats	36	Final
Argonauts	24

Roughriders	35	Final
Stampeders	13

*Thanks google for the scoreboards!