Nike SB Purple Safari

The Nike SB Purple Safari Dunk is probably one of the most flamboyant sneakers I have ever bought.  Anyone I show them off to thinks they’re ugly and feminine.  The varsity purple and semi-cheetah print is a real eyesore.  The last person I showed them to even went so far as saying they look like something Justin Beaver (yeah I know I spelt it wrong) would wear.  And yet I still bought them.  I think there comes a point in every collectors life when they ask themselves; am I buying these because I like them or because of the brand?

Luckily I don’t have to stress over this question very often because I shop at outlets and buying something on clearance will always keep me satisfied.  Yes, I’ll admit it I don’t think they’re one of my favourite sneakers and I probably did buy them because they were Nike SB’s (I would have passed on them if they were regular Dunks).  Yet I’m happy I own them because they are Nike SB’s.  To me, SB Dunks are the best shoes ever made.  They are incredibly comfortable on my feet, and they look amazing when I wear them.  Simply put; they represent a signature of quality from Nike.

While I don’t usually wear flashy sneakers like this, the Purple Safari Dunks still have many qualities that I admire.  The varsity purple suede is the first thing I must talk about.  It is this bright color that changes tones depending on the light source that shines on it.  In a brightly lit room it is illuminating and in a dark room the tone is mute and becomes a pastel purple.  Then there is the leather toe box and sides that use the cheetah print.  Up close it is very interesting to see because it looks almost lased on.  My only complaint about the use of this leather is that the shoe doesn’t provide any air holes on the toe box for breathability.

The Purple Safari SB’s were released around February 2011.  They featured Nike’s new and improved version of the Dunk.  While I usually hate change in classic sneakers, this is an upgrade that I really welcome from Nike.  Supposedly the sneakers were inspired from the TV show ‘Eastbound and Down’, which feature Kenny Powers who owns a Jet Ski with a similar colorway to the Dunks.  Hopefully Nike SB will continue this trend and make more TV inspired shoes; I’m thinking Dexter, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos just to name a few.

Nike SB:

http://www.nikeskateboarding.com

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uht5jUw1iiI

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

I love Christmas.  I dive in deep into the whole spirit of the season, and make the most of the holiday.  I enjoy the snow (from inside), the food, the lights and decorations, the music, and especially the TV shows and movies.  I make it a tradition each year to watch certain TV shows and movies about Christmas.  High on that list each year is a Charlie Brown Christmas special.  I have been watching it since I was a child, and continue to watch it.  For me, it just isn’t Christmas without these shows.  They bring me comfort by bringing back a lot of old memories.  Needless to say I am a fan of the Peanuts cartoons.

Earlier this month I was walking through my local mall and I was fortunate enough to find this amazing Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  It is an exact replica of the tree shown in the cartoon.  I was excited because I always felt sad for the weakling.  A good TV show or movie has this power to get you emotionally attached to its characters.  They can make you cry, smile or even hate certain characters.  Charles M. Schulz made me feel sorry for the tree, and yes, even cry joyfully when in the end all the children gather around Charlie Brown and start singing Christmas carols.

The tree comes packaged in a triangular prism box, and includes; the tree, a wooden stand, a blanket, red ornamental bulb, and batteries.  The wooden stand blew me away because it includes a music box that plays the Charlie Brown theme.  The stand also has a very cute Snoopy drawing that is stamped on.    With the memories that I share with this cartoon, this tree is a welcomed addition to my Christmas collection.

Peanuts:

http://www.peanuts.com

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSXDc5OQw3U

Playstation 3

One of my favourite stores to shop at is Shoppers Drug Mart.  Since the late 90’s it started a points program that lets you collect points to get free stuff.  Though it is a pharmacy, it also sells a lot more different kinds of items besides medicine, such as food (bread, milk, eggs), make-up for women, electronics (cameras), and seasonal items.  I usually plan a trip there on certain days when they give you more points for your purchases (20x’s the points).  The point of this blog post is that within a year I had enough points to get a free PS3. 

Now, I haven’t played games in years (only very causally).  However this year I did make an attempt to play because I bought a Nintendo DS.  I take the subway a lot, so I needed something to do on the train besides fall asleep, or read a boring book.  The DS became the perfect boredom-breaker for me because I was able to play easy and quick games such as Lego Batman, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, and of course all the Mario games.  Then when the opportunity presented itself this month for me to get a PS3 for free, I jumped at the chance.  I am excited I got it because I will finally have a Blu-Ray player, and also be able to play all the new games I have been hearing about for years.  Of course the first game I want to play is Batman.

Sony Playstation:

http://us.playstation.com

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNbKJkaeEt8