Shawn Smith’s web ninja life

Surprise Americans, the Canadian Loonie is now worth as much as, if not more than, the U.S. dollar. Bill and I stopped in Sarnia, Ontario (on our way to the Online News Association conference in Toronto) to exchange our money. For every $1 U.S., we received $1.02 Canuck. Holy Crap. I’m poor here.

The taxes are high too. On my way here I spent $20 on a regular McDonald’s extra value meal, a pack of tums and a bottled water. Insane to the membrane!!!!!

Regardless, I’m in Toronto, and I need new shoes.So I got to shopping, and after about two hours in the Toronto mall, I came across these nice brown Nike kicks. What do you think? Only $109.99 ZOMg!11!!oneone!

And that’s not all that’s sticker-shocking. Remember a few years back when the U.S. exchange rate could get you one of those delicious veggie hotdogs for less than a buck? Now, I read $2.50 and weep. But don’t fret, folks. I have a veggie hotdog truck directly outside my room and I will be mowing through them in no time, regardless the price.

Speaking of the room, I’m staying in the Sheratin on Queen St. The hotel is nice, but no free internet. I’m hoping at the conference tomorrow they give us logins so everyone can enjoy free wireless. Otherwise, I will be paying $16 per day for access. Luckily they have a nice small computer area that allows me to at least write.

Check out the view! Nice, huh? It’s nice to be back in Toronto after a year. I should really visit here more often, once my money is worth something again.

I’ll be in Toronto for the next few days attending the Online News Association Conference. I’ve already started blogging about it over at my online journalism blog.

I plan to blog from the event, post photos and video interviews and keep you up to date on the partying over here.

Holla atchya boyeeeezzz and girrrlllzzzzzz

Hey folks,

Today is Blog Action Day, and I’m doing my part by bringing you a story by the Grand Rapids Press about eco-stewards playing a bigger role in the corporate workplace.

The story notes that “green-collar” jobs are growing and many of them have good job security since companies far and wide are facing issues associated with global warming.

If you’re interested, head over to Dream Green Jobs and find if there is a position suitable for you. The site lists what looks like hundreds of jobs - many of them in the Western states.

I wrote a post at New Media Bytes asking if newspapers can cut the story jump to save trees and the planet. Give it a look if you’re feeling green today.

If you want to get religious about your commitment to the environment, join Barack Obama in professing your environmentalist faith. As many think, it will take him or another new president for the U.S. to take urgent action in a “Climate Year.”

What are you doing to help the environment today?

Je voudrais manger un baguette avec toi! Here’s to you Frenchies!

The wolf, a.k.a. Victor Driggs, turned me on to Flight of the Concords, a pretty hilarious web music video duo, who have come out with “Foux Da Fa Fa.” The song pretty much sums up how the PTC and others sound when they talk to Edster and Chucklers.

Take a look, you might learn some French words that will seduce French girls and Fontanges and Vistcontis.

See the video that got me riled up on the wolf’s site: It’s Business Time, Baby

Attention all web publishers: Oct. 15 marks Blog Action Day.

That means, it’s time to come together and blog for your planet. Thousands of bloggers will participate in this global event to reach about 12 million readers, according to CNN Sunday Morning. So why not you?

Wired News says:

Blog Action Day is less about a particular issue than it is about the blogosphere flexing its muscles, with professional help.

What can you do?

This is a chance to find out how much influence bloggers can have if they band together on a single topic and call for change. Will they make a difference?

I got burned up today after seeing a post on journalism think tank Poynter’s website stating it’s my duty as a journalist to buy the print edition of the newspaper to support newspapers’ business model. Heck NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I gave my full response at my online journalism and new media blog. But to some it up, It’s a resounding FORGET-ABOUT-IT!!!!

What do you think? Should your company ask you to buy it’s products to support the business model?