A Bitcoin Windfall

   Just yesterday, I blogged about the Internet currency "Bitcoins", which have really started to take hold. Now, I'll admit I was sceptical about their value, until today.
   It seems a Norwegian man had squirrelled away 24 dollars on the coins in 2009, when they started making their appearance. He then forgot about them, until he heard of the exchange rate on them. Yesterday, one bitcoin was worth over 211 dollars Canadian.
   After a day spent frantically trying to remember his password, his persistence paid off. To the tune of 5 thousand bitcoins, worth 721 THOUSAND dollars. He says he cashed out one-fifth of the coins, and bought a condo in central Oslo, which must have been quite a deal, or it's a very small condo. When we were in Bergen a few years ago, we happened to pass by a real estate agency, and saw an apartment in central Bergen was going for 1 million Kroner. about 200 thousand dollars Canadian.
   As for the bitcoin, as I stated yesterday I'll stay with real cash for a while yet.

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Happy Halloween!

   It is Halloween, and all staff were asked to dress in costume today. Unfortunately, all my stuff is still in Regina, or I would've put more effort into it. For example, I have a leather top hat, and used to have the controller for the PS 2 game "Guitar Hero". I was going to find a curly haired wig and come as "fat Slash".
   I also have some military style shorts, and a safari shirt, pith helmet, goggles and a steam punk "ray gun" we bought a few years ago at the Cathedral Arts Festival in Regina. I was going to dress up as the "Zombie Zapper".
   But with the resources not at hand, I had to compromise. So, I bought a very cheap shirt, tie, 'zombie bite' and the rest and came as a "Hippie-Zombie News Reader". You can't see them, but I'm wearing Jack 'O Lantern specs in that picture.
   That's how NOT to do Halloween, even on a tight time line and budget.
   My niece went the full 9 yards, transforming herself into this:

   And yes, she is terrified of clowns.
   Have a happy and safe Halloween.

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We Are The Champions

   The Boston Red Sox are the World Series Champions for 2013. Not bad for a team that had a miserable season last year. The Beantown Boys have won the whole she-bang 3 timse since 2004, but I doubt any will be as sweet as this one.
   The BoSox took the series 4 games to 2, with a 6-1 win over the Natioal League Champion St. Louis Cardinals. They did it at Fenway Park, for the first time since 1918.
   David Ortiz was named series MVP after going 19 for 25.
   Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox, 2013 World Series Champs.

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Have You Heard Of "Bitcoins" Yet?

   By now, you probably have heard of them. If not, they're the new-ish form of currency, and are traded on-line. Now, the virtual is joining the real world. Sort of. A Vancouver coffee house is the first business in Canada, and the world for that matter, to have a bitcoin ATM installed.
   Bitcoins are virtual currency not controlled by a central bank, like the Bank of Canada. The currency can be transferred through a peer-to-peer network, but users must first set up a digital wallet by scanning their palm on the machine.
   The machine was put into the coffee shop because the owner says bitcoin transactions are more convenient than other forms of payment because transactions are instant and there are no processing fees.
   Not being very well versed in the on-line universe, and not being in I.T, I couldn't tell you exactly how it works, but there are safeguards in place to prevent things like "double-spending".
   The shop is one of 16 in Vancouver that accepts the e-money, but it's the first with an ATM.
   And in case you were wondering what the exchange rate for bitcoins is: $211.73 Canadian. Per coin!
   I'll stay with good, old fashioned real world cash.

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A Scary Night

   As hard as it is to believe in 2013, with instant communication, internet, twitter, facebook, netflix and so on, that an adaptation of HG Wells "War of the Worlds" caused a panic in some parts of the U.S.
   It was 75 years ago today, Orson Welles did a live radio broadcast on the "Mercury Theatre on the Air" for CBS as a lead in to Halloween. What made it so believable was that the first two-thirds of the broadcast was presented as a series of news bulletins, which suggested an invasion from Mars was underway.
   Part of the problem was the fact Mercury Theatre did not run commercials to break up the program, further adding to the "realistic" sound of the broadcast.
   Even though there was a disclaimer supposedly broadcast at the start of the radio play, there were reports of people actually taking to the streets in panic, and (if it's to be believed) at least one death.
   The public response was one of outrage in some cases, with the news-bulletin format being described as cruelly deceptive. Even some public figures at the time joined the outcry over the broadcast. Despite, and perhaps because, of the noteriety, Welles (who later starred in one of the most famous movies ever, Citizen Kane,) fame spread.
   What you have to remember is in 1938, there was no TV, no internet. People got their entertainment from live radio broadcasts. Could it happen again today? I doubt it. With the advent of social media, and home computer use, I think it would be difficult indeed to perpetrate such a thing again.
   Happy Halloween tomorrow!

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Meet The New Bacon

   Not that long ago, bacon was all the rage. From bacon-maple flavoured donuts to beer to air fresheners, there wasn't much not bacon scented or flavoured.
   Until now.
   Birthday cake has taken over from bacon as the "It" flavour, and is appearing in everything from yogurt to popcorn to ice blended tea. Heck, there's even an artificial birthday cake flavour. But food experts say the tastiest is ice cream, because it can contain actual frozen bits of birthday cake. Why so popular? Simply food borne memories of those vanilla cakes you and I had growing up.
   I'm wondering if someone, somewhere isn't working on birthday cake flavoured bacon. Or vice-versa.

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The Eskimo's Look For Help

   The CFL team is going "Mickey Mouse". The franchise has hired the Walt Disney corporation, and not to try and fit ears on the helmets or anything like that.
   In fact the team has hired Disney to assess the fan experience at Commonwealth Stadium. That includes everything. From taking the LRT to the stadium to standing in line waiting to get in, or for a hot-dog or a beverage.
   Why? Simple, really. Team president Len Rhodes wants to ensure fans of the Eskimo's (and there are a LOT out there) have 'state of the art' service. Not just for the league, but every other sport in Canada.
   And for the record, I'm a Rider fan. Or the Stamps if the Riders don't make the Grey Cup game.

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It's Time For A New Tim's

   For the first time in 49 years, Tim Horton's is coming out with a new blend of their coffee. And it's one of my personal favourites: Dark roast. The Canadian coffee and doughnut icon is adding the new blend to keep up with competition like McDonalds and Starbucks.
   It'll be made from 100% Arabica beans, and cost the same as a regular Tim's.
   But don't look for it in Yorkton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Regina or most other cities. Tim's is testing it in 2 markets. London, Ontario and Columbus, Ohio.
   I hope the testing part of this dosen't last long, and the chain rolls it out nation wide soon. Very soon.
   Because this pretty much sums me up before my morning java:

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Food

   I got creative this past weekend, and did up a huge batch of Jambalaya. Not just for my family in Regina, but for me. I'm tired of having pre-cooked, microwavable dinners. And since cooking for one is a waste of time, I decided "what the heck", and went ahead and did it.
   I also brought some to the station, and let morning man Danny Ismond, and mid-day host Tonya Cherry have a taste. The say they loved it.
   Once I remember to copy the recipe, I might share it on this blog. Suffice it to say, it's not a dish you can make on the spur of the moment. There's a lot of prep work needed (in my case, 45 minutes), and it takes a long time to cook, since there are several steps to be followed.
   But the result is yummy, to say the least. I discovered this when we lived in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I was very interested in Cajun cooking, and my wife found a recipe book by Paul Prud'homme, a master chef in New Orleans. I've tweaked the recipe a bit, and it's been a staple of the family since.
   Basically, it's chicken, ham, rice, onion, green pepper, celery, spices, tomato sauce and chicken stock rolled into one.
   As I say, since it takes along time to make a batch, I don't do it oftern.

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Get Ready For The Change

 

   It may be Monday, but it's a good time to start thinking about time. This coming Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m, Daylight Saving Time ends, and people turn their clocks BACK an hour. That means Manitoba will be on the same time as us, and your favourite T.V show will be on an hour earlier.
   We in Saskatchewan don't touch our clocks, even though there have been quite a few attempts to get DST started here, but to no avail. There have been arguments both for and against, with the "nay" sayers suggesting it'll (among other things) foul up milking time for cows. Those who favour the change say it'll give us an extra hour of daylight in the summer, meaning not having to worry about late baseball games etc.
   The argument in Saskatchewan is, if we were to adopt DST, which zone would we go into. In this part of the province, naturally, people favour going with Manitoba. In the western sections, people would like to go with Alberta.
   And that's the heart of the problem. The natural dividing line is the 105th meridian, which bisects Saskatchewan west of Regina.
   A few years back, I asked Premier Brad Wall if the government had any plans to change things. He said at that time "no", meaning our province is one of a very few jurisdictions not to go on Daylight Saving. Bits of Northeastern B.C, Arizona also don't make the twice yearly adjustment. And it's not likely the situation here is going to change either. At least not yet.
   So, while folks in Manitoba and Alberta get an extra hour of sleep this weekend, at least we in Saskatchewan don't lose an hour of sleep when the time comes to change the clocks in spring.

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Be Safe Out There

   That's pretty much the message on this Friday after several collisions in the past 2 days.
   Maybe you got caught in the snarl of traffic in Yorkton last night after a car hit a train at Maple. The RCMP say the accident at that crossing in turn fouled traffic on Maple, Broadway, 7th avenue and Highway 9 for nearly an hour and a half. Damage to the locomotive was minimal, but the car was extensively damaged. A 21 year old was ticketed.
   There were also accidents involving school buses yesterday in Manitoba, and this morning in Alberta.
   10 people had minor injuries in the Manitoba crash south of Portage near Holland Thursday afternoon. There were 7 people on the bus, including 6 students, and 3 in the other vehicle. None needed hospital care.
   North of Calgary, a school bus with 4 students collided with a truck. There were injuries there as well, with some listed as serious. Late word is one child is in critical condition, and was airlifted to hospital.
   And with police forces cracking down on speeders, I had to share this story.

   That's a 2006 Yamaha R-1 Sport bike. Some people call them crotch-rockets. The 1000 cc engine can push the ultra light bike to some impressive speeds. In this case, 299 k/mh. That's what a helmet-camera recorded after a rider tore through traffic on Vancouver Island. The driver, a 26 year old, was acquitted after the judge said positive I.D could not be made, due to the helmet he was wearing. A video taken by the rider was posted on-line, and got 1.7 million hits. And even though the driver was acquitted, he won't get the motorcycle back. Cops seized it, and it will be sold through civil forfeiture. If it hasn't been already.
   Have a safe weekend.

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No Lights In Bredenbury This Chirstmas

   The Grinch isn't behind it, but a lack of volunteers and rising costs are. The town of Bredenbury will not be staging their annual Christmas Light Up in 2013.
   The town won the National Winter Lights competition for communities under 1 thousand in 2001, 2002 and 2005.
   It started with a single street called Candy Cane Lane, and mushroomed into an event that drew visitors from miles around, and is a boost to the local economy.
   But I'm almost willing to bet the lights will be shining again this Christmas. Once word gets out, people in the area, and probably from other regions of Saskatchewan, will be stepping up to help out, one way or another.
   I hope to see a positive response to this in the not very distant future.

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(Photo taken by Carols Photography)

Happy Anniversary To 2 Saskatchewan M.P's.

   Regina-Wascana Liberal M.P Ralph Goodale has hit a milestone in politics. He's served in the Commons for 25 years, meaning a Silver Anniversary. He was first elected to Parliament in 1974, and served to 1979, when he was defeated.
   He left federal politics and became leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party in 1981, stepping down in 1988 to seek the federal nomination for a riding in Regina, which he lost.
   After spending the next 5 years in the private sector, he again ran in 1993 and won as the Liberals got a majority. He's been re-elected ever since. He's held quite a few cabinet posts, including Natural Resource, Agriculture, and later Finance minister.
   His time in Parliament has not been without controversy. In 2005, the RCMP launched a probe into whether details regarding government tax policies relating to income trust funds were leaked from the Finance Minister's office. In 2007, Goodale was cleared of any wrongdoing, but a department official was charged with breech of trust.
   I've known Ralph for 16 years, and have dealt with him numerous times on numerous topics. Mr. Goodale, even when he was finance minister in the Paul Martin government, always made time for either myself or other members of the team in Regina. He also made himself available to be put on the hot-seat on a talk show I hosted for a few years. A poll of his compatriots resulted in his being named the hardest working M.P on the Hill.
   Ralph's name had been bandied about as a possible leadership candidate after the Stephan Dion defeat at the polls. In fact, I was given to understand he'd been taking a crash course in French immersion. But after careful thought, and not a few conversations with his wife Pam, the decision was made against a leadership bid.
   Mr. Goodale is the lone Liberal M.P in Saskatchewan.
   And he's not the only M.P celebrating an anniversary this week.

   Yorkton-Melville Conservative M.P Garry Breitkreuz celebrates 20 years of service. He was first elected in 1993 as a member of the Reform Party, and has been re-elected ever since. While he has no formal position in the cabinet, he is the former Deputy House Leader of the Opposition, Conservative Party Deputy House Leader, Deputy Whip of the Official Opposition, Chief Opposition Whip, and Critic to the Solicitor General. He was also an outspoken critic of the Federal Gun Registry.
   While I have spoken with Mr. Breitkreuz in the past, I don't know him as well as Mr. Goodale. But having moved to Yorkton, I'm sure I'll have the pleasure of getting to know him just as well in the future.
   Happy Anniversary Mr Breitkreuz and Mr. Goodale.

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Fighting Back

   Two of the Senators caught up in allegations of making inappropriate expense claims are fighting back. Senator Pamela Wallin (above) made an impassioned speech in the Red Chamber as Senators debate whether or not to suspend her, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau without pay. Brazeau will not, apparently, address his colleagues as he has a medical problem.
   But both Senators Duffy and Wallin came out swinging in their own defence this week. Wallin, who some pundits have dubbed "The Queen of Wadena", accuses fellow Senators Carolyn Stewart Olsen and Marjory LeBreton of leaking information about her to the media. She also said she will not resign, and that her spirit is unbroken. She added her reputation is in tatters by vendetta's involving confidantes of the Prime Minister. Several of her Conservative colleagues broke into applause when she'd finished, with one saying due process must be done.
   Senator Mike Duffy pleaded his case Tuesday, with allegations that the Prime Minister's Office cleared his expenses, something Prime Minister Stephen Harper denies. The P.M also counter-charged that Duffy was playing the "victim card", because he was ordered to pay back the alleged inappropriate expenses. A Liberal motion would see the matter put over to a committee for further study.
   How long that could take is anyone's guess.

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Facebook May Have To Change This

   The worlds largest social network may indeed have to do a re-think after lifting a ban on gruesome videos of beheadings on their site. Needless to say, reaction has been swift and negative, and Facebook has already come out saying that violent videos were only allowed if they were presented as news or held up as atrocities to be condemned. A Facebook statement goes on to say that since some people object to graphic video of this nature, they are working to give people additional control over the content they see. This may include warning them in advance that the image they are about to see contains graphic content.
   Normally, I keep my thoughts and comments on items to myself, and just give the facts. Well, in this case, I'm going to break my own, self imposed rule.
   I see no circumstance where a violent, gruesome, disgusting and despicable act like taking a video of a beheading and posting it on any on-line site constitutes news. As for such an action being an atrocity to be condemned, I feel any beheading should be condemned, as they are all atrocities.
   I also think it won't be too long before Facebook revisits their decision to lift the ban, and re-impose it. At least I hope not.

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The Fall Session Starts

   It's back to work today for Saskatchewan MLA's as the fall sitting of the Legislature gets underway with the Throne Speech outlining the government's agenda for the coming weeks. Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield will read the speech this afternoon, amid pomp and ceremony.
  I've covered enough of these in my career to know throne speeches are simply roadmaps of where the government wants to go. Don't look for many promises today. That said, though, I am expecting the speech to touch on at least one issue that's cropped up in the past few months, and that's the state of some of Saskatchewan's long term care homes.
   There have been horror stories about how residents went days without being bathed. There were other stories about some seniors sitting in filthy diapers because staff wasn't available to take them to the toilet.
   In a conference call with the media yesterday, opposition NDP leader Cam Broten says such homes will be a target for his party. And Premier Brad Wall also says action is expected sooner, rather than later. In fact, a report on the state of such facilities is expected during the fall session.
   What else can we expect? I'm sure education will be a high priority for both the SaskParty and NDP, as will the economy.
   MLA's will meet in the Chamber for a total of 25 days in this sitting, slated to wrap up December 5th. The budget isn't part of the fall session, but will be read in the spring of next year.
   And even though the SaskParty has an overwhelming majority, it could be an interesting session.

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An Easy Arrest

   I had to share this story I saw on-line about police in Melbourne Florida, who didn't have to work very hard to bust a B and E suspect at a pharmacy. They got an alarm call to the drug store Monday morning, and were looking for the suspect.
   The manhunt was over quickly, when the 28 year old man fell through a hatch in the ceiling, and literally landed right at their feet. Surveillance video checked later shows a man with a flashlight looking for prescription drugs, then switching on the store lights.
   The suspect was apparently on probation at the time.

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I'm Going To Have To Watch My Back

   Especially after the gag I pulled on Danny Ismond, my pal and morning show host.
   During one of our talks this morning, I told him I'd been out doing my weekly shopping, getting food etc for the suite I'm currently living in. That part was actually true. The rest, not so much.
   I told Danny I needed to get my hearing checked, after a conversation I had with the cashier at the store I was in. I said we started chatting, and she asked if I was new to Yorkton, because she hadn't seen me in the store before.
   I said yes, that I've been here about 2 months, after starting a new job. She asked me where I worked, and I told her at GX 94. I also told Danny she perked up a little when she heard that. I also said she asked me what I do. I said I do the news on the morning show. I told Danny she really perked up when I said that.
   Then I told him that she asked what I thought of Danny Ismond. And I told him my response was "not that much, but he's better than his brother Jimmy". To which I said the look on the cashier's face was puzzled. In fact, it almost suggested I loosen my hat band, or try poking a few more holes in my tinfoil hat
   The look on Danny's face was a mix of shock, stunned disbelief, combined with a tinge of disgust and disdain.
   Which is exactly the look I was going for.
   Then I told him I said to the cashier "Oh. Danny Ismond. I thought you said Donny Osmond"

   "Yeah Danny's a great gut. Donny, I never cared for that much".
   Since Danny's got a reputation for being a bit of a prankster, I think I'm going to have to watch my back.

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Thanks A Lot, Gramps!

   We got our first snow yesterday, a taste of what's to come in the next few months. I know an awful lot of people love winter, snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, skating, even ice fishing. With the exception of having done quite a bit of ice fishing 30 plus years ago, I'm not one of them.
   I don't look forward to the biting cold. I don't look forward to shovelling 8 inches of "partly cloudy" from my driveway. I don't look forward to having to wrap myself in so many layers of winter clothes I can barely walk. You've probably noticed by now that I don't really care much for winter. Boy! Am I in the wrong part of the country and/or world!
   It didn't have to be this way, but it is. And I'd like to "thank" both my grandfathers for choosing Canada of all countries to emigrate to. Grampa Wallebeck immigrated in 1907 from the Akershus region of Norway. Just outside Oslo. In January, Oslo's median daytime HIGH is -2. The median LOW is -7. Contrast that with Saskatoon, where the high is -12, and the low -23. But it gets a lot colder than that.
   Granddad, who was 23 at the time, was one of thousands of Scandinavians who came to North America at the start of the 20th Century, eventually settling in Claresholm, Alberta. In a way, I can see why he came, following not a few of his countrymen to a promise of new land and opportunities.
   But for the life of me, I can't understand why Grampa Tydeman came to Canada from Britain. I know very little about him, other than my mother was born in Halkirk, Alberta. What I do know is he had a chance, and an invitation, to join his brother in Australia. But didn't.
   By the way, Sydney, Australia's mean temperature in their winter (July/August) is 17 for a high, and 8 for a low.
   Thanks a lot Gramps!

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Tragedy For A Small Town

   Rapid City, Manitoba has lost their town office and fire hall. A fire broke out there early Monday, Manitoba time, and did extensive damage to the structure. At this point, the cause of the fire, where it actually started and just how extensive the damage is isn't know.
   The town has (as of the last census) about 420 residents, so this will come as a blow to the whole community.
   I've been trying to get hold of someone to talk about this, but so far to no avail.
   The Office of the Manitoba Fire Commissioner will be helping investigate.
   Hopefully, I'll have more later.

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Driving Highway 10 Is Now Safer

   And just in time for Rider fans to make the jaunt to the Queen City for tomorrow's home game against B.C.
   Saskatchewan Highways says 4 sets of passing lanes between Fort Qu'Appelle and Balgonie have been almost completed, and they're now open. The lanes cover a 16 km stretch of the highway. As well, 30 km of highway 10 was repaved.
   There's still work to do, notably on the shoulders and downslopes. And there's still another coat of asphalt to put down. That'll happen next year, but it still means drivers will have to watch out for workers, and slow to 60 in the Orange Zones.
   Personally, I couldn't be happier about it. This will make my weekly trip between Yorkton and Regina quite a bit easier and safer.

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The Deal Is Sealed

   It took 4 years of hard-fought negotiation, and there are still hurdles to clear, but a major trade deal has been signed between Canada and the European Union. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and E.U Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso put pen to paper, and signed the bottom line.
   And even before the ink on the historic document dried, critics are already decrying it. Ontario, for instance, says the pharmaceutical industry in that province will suffer. Several provinces worry about what the deal could mean to higher drug costs to them and consumers. Some dairy farmers say with European cheese now being allowed into Canada, they will suffer. Part of the deal will allow roughly twice as much cheese into our country
   The Prime Minister thinks otherwise. Mr. Harper says with a potential marker of half a billion people for things like Canadian beef and pork, more than 12 billion dollars in trade is possible. He also says there could be job creation in the 80 to 100 thousand range. Not right away, mind you, but in the not distant future.
   As mentioned, there are still a few hurdles to clear. For example, all 28 European Union States need to ratify it, and there are other aspects of the deal which could take 2 more years to implement. And the majority of what the document details will not be released. At least, not yet.
   The biggest question is, of course, whether or not the deal will be a net benefit for our country. Not being a politician, or anyone who negotiated the deal, I really can't say. But on balance, it seems to me at least that having a trade deal done with the E.U is better than not having one.

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More Sports Talk

   Just about 2 weeks ago, I blogged about the start of the NHL season, and wondered if a team from today could beat a team from 1963 using the old uniforms, equipment, arena etc. My heart said the 1960's team, but my head said 2013. Why? Training regimens are much better, and players are fitter.
   But that sparked a conversation between myself and several co-workers. We were wondering which professional sport has remained "purest", meaning with the least technical advances. Those with the most improvements include North American football, which has seen better helmets, padding, turf and even balls in the past 50 years. Golf has seen a huge improvement, with carbon fibre shafts, titanium heads, better shoes and spikes and even improved golf balls. Even basketball has seen better gear, with new shoes, court boards and net backstops.
   We then talked (at great length) about which sport has had the least "enhancements". European football (soccer, as it's called here) has seen new boots and balls, but that's about it. Tennis has new rackets and shoes, but that's about it. But the professional sport we agreed had the least technical advances is baseball. Bats and balls have changed very little over 50 years, and about the only advances have been in protection and shoes.
   The sport that's had the most technical advances: Motor racing. Look at the developments in both NASCAR and Formula 1. Safety alone has improved vastly. The cars are better. Heck, even the technical advances have been brought to our daily drive. My little Mitsubishi Lancer has front end crumple zones. A direct result of safety improvements in racing. Tires, brakes and suspension are all much better now than 50 years ago. Even things like flappy paddle gear shifters have been taken from F-1 cars. Not to mention carbon fibre bodies etc.
   So, next time you get behind the wheel to take in a hockey, football, soccer, golf, tennis, basketball or baseball game, give a nod to the people who've made our vehicles safer.

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A Dying Landmark

   They dot the landscape everywhere, and are as familiar in small towns everywhere as the local hotel. They're also the second social hub in many communities after the hotel. The local ice rink, also known as "The Barn".
   The problem with these old venues, more than a few modelled after the Quonset Hut, is they are coming to the end of their usable life span. Quite a few communities would love to get a new facility for hockey, curling and other events, but it's the cost holding them back. That means a lot are disappearing from the landscape.
   But not in 2 Saskatchewan communities. Wynyard council recently picked a spot for a new arena, which will cost between 6 and 8 million dollars. And in Bredenbury, the local rink should be repaired and back in service in January after a heavy snow load this spring saw a partial roof collapse. The lack of an arena has been an economic blow to Bredenbury, since they rent it out.
   It really is sad to see these facilities waste away. I have very fond memories of the Peace River Curling Club, where, 34 years ago, I curled 4 nights a week. The sound of the old corn broom smacking the ice, the frenzied shouts of "hurry hard" from skips trying to make themselves heard over the boom of the broom.
   The closure of a lot of the rinks also means hardship for local, town based hockey players and teams, who now have to travel quite a distance to play.
   Unfortunately, given the economic times and the cost of replacements, more of these will likely fall by the wayside.

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Parliament Is Back

   And it opened yesterday with the Speech from the Throne. Having covered politics for quite a few years, I know all too well the speech is just a roadmap for the government in power, federally or provincially. What's in the speech isn't always acted on, even though the party in power tries very hard to get bills passed to carry through on the contents.
   And I hope this federal government will get to follow through on several issues that I as a consumer, along with not just a few others, would like to see.
   One deals with cable and satellite TV carriers. It would let us pick and choose what services and or channels WE want to see. Not having to get a bundle of 3, 4 or 5 because the one we want is included in that package. Of course, there are fears the companies will find a way around it and charge us more. I don't think the CRTC, Canada's broadcast regulator, will let that happen.
   Another plus for me is having cell phone companies reduce smartphone roaming charges. As anyone who's out of their regular coverage area will attest, they can and do add up.
   The third item is, admittedly, not quite as big as the other 2. The government wants companies to quit charging for issuing service bills on paper. The cell company I'm with (and no, I won't say which) charges me roughly 2 dollars each month per bill I'm sent. Why do I even get paper bills when everything is available on-line? That's easy to answer, and with one word. Security. I know companies, whether it's electric, gas, phone etc all have systems and security to prevent hacking. But it still happens. And that's why I still prefer getting paper bills, and paying them at a teller's kiosk in my bank. Not on-line. Call me old-fashioned, but until e-banking and bill payments are 100% secure, I'll keep doing it that way.

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Cat Wine

   My friend and morning show host Danny had an interesting post on our facebook page today. Apparently, there's a company in Japan marketing cat wine. Don't worry pet owners, there's no alcohol in this.
   It does include juice from Cabernet grapes, and gets it's "kick" from catnip. Nyan Nyan Nouveau costs about $4 for a bottle, and the company is only producing a thousand of them.
   Nyan Nyan, by the way, supposedly means "meow meow".
   And if the picture below is an indication, it might be a good idea to start Kitty A.A for fluffy:

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A Major Funding Step Forward For Parkland College

   The Saskatchewan Government has announced 10 million dollars for the Parkland College to help build a new Trade and Technology Centre.
    In making the announcement, Premier Brad Wall says this will increase the number of graduates in highly skilled areas, and allow Yorkton area students to study closer to home.
   The 25 hundred square meter facility will graduate 360 more students per year, and will go to tender next month.
   Parkland Regional College has raised over $8 million dollars through their Capital Campaign
   Wall also announced a 150 thousand dollar provincial matching scholarship donation by the Yorkton Tribal Council to help applicants from the 6 first nations with their education over the next 5 years. Parkland College is awarding $20 thousand of the scholarship this year, $40 thousand in 2014 and $80 thousand in 2015.

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What Do You Do With The Leftovers?

   Thanksgiving has come and gone. A lot of people ate far to much over the weekend (myself included), and even still, as is usually the case, there's a lot of leftover turkey.
   Not at my place, due to the indisposition an enzyme in turkey leaves me with. But before I was stricken (and I love turkey by the way), Thanksgiving, Christmas and even Easter were the 3 times of the year Mom would cook a big bird.
   And aside from the usual sandwiches, she had a whole raft of ideas to stretch the remains of the bird out. The night after the "big meal" was usually turkey, pan fried left over mashed potatoes and gravy. The next night might be turkey a la king or casserole.
   And when there was very little left of the carcass, mom would make turkey soup.
   By the time the bird was finished, no one really wanted to look at a turkey again. Until the next holiday at least.
   I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving

   It is Thanksgiving this long weekend, a time when we try to get together as families, enjoy each others company. And the food. Let's not forget about the food! I still have Pavlovian memories of growing up in Calgary, with Mom getting the turkey ready. And, at least to me when I was young, the long, long wait until the bird was a golden brown outside, and cooked to perfection inside. I remember Dad sharpening the carving knife on the steel (a trick I learned from him), and slicing off portion after portion of the turkey.
   And the mashed potatoes. And the gravy. And the stuffing. And the veggies. Those were truly meals to remember.
   Which, sadly, is about all I can do anymore. Over the years, for some strange reason, I've become sensitive to some enzme in turkey meat, which plays havoc with my digestive system. So, I can't have turkey anymore. and with just myself and my wife left at home, although we do try and bring the kids in, it's a roast chicken instead.
   But it still smells wonderful!
   And let's not forget dessert, either. Pumpkin pie is the traditional favourite to end the heavy meal. But since this is how I believe pumpkin pies are made, I'll skip it:

   I hope you have a safe, happy and delicious Thanksgiving this Monday.

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A Massive Injury For The Toronto Raptors

   Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of basketball, and normally I wouldn't blog about it. Everyone who's ever played a sport knows injury is not only likely, but almost a certainty. The Raptors are no different, but this injury hasn't hit a player. No. This time, it's the team's high flying mascot.
   The Raptor will be sidelined for the entire season, due to a torn Achilles suffered while the Raptors were in Halifax for training camp. Every fan knows mascots are a huge part of any pro sports team. Look at the Riders with Gainer the Gopher. Can you imagine him out for the year? But what sets this one apart is the athletics the guy in the suit gets up to. Look at the picture above for a hint.
   What I can't work out is why there's no back-up. A bench warmer for The Raptor. You'd think the team would have a standby ready to go in case something like this happens.
   Regardless, good luck to the Raptor and the Raptors this season.

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A Canadian Takes The Prize

   82 year old Canadian author Alice Munroe has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. She's the 110th winner in the category, the 13th woman to win the distinction and the first Canadian to do it.
   The Ontario born writer has been recognised several times in the past, most recently winning the Trillium Book Award. Her 3rd.
   The Swedish academy that selects Nobel Literature winners calls her a master of the contemporary short story.
   She'll get the award December 10th at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
   The prizes are named after Alfred Nobel, a chemist who invented dynamite, and owned Swedish arms maker Bofors, and eventually held 350 patents. He set up the prizes in 1895, the year before he died.
   With one notable exception, all the Nobel prizes are awarded at a ceremony in Sweden. The exception is the Peace Prize, which is handed out here:

   That's the city hall in Oslo, Norway, and that's one of the murals on the walls inside the building. I didn't have a picture of the actual venue on hand.
   More Nobel prizes will be announced tomorrow, and again Monday.

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Yes, There's An App For That

   They're everywhere, and for just about anything. Those phone apps that are a "must have" on your hand held device. But here's an app you might not have heard of, and depending where you live, likely won't be able to get.
   In Montana, people will be able to get a roadkill app. Salvaging roadkill for the dinner table becomes legal in that state this month, and officials will allow drivers who accidentally kill big game to print the forms from home.
   Officials also say a bid is out to have an app developed for it.

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Are These Really Making A Comeback?

   Time was not so many years ago, women (and a lot of men) would wrap themselves up in corsets. For women, to give them an hourglass figure. For men to flatten the tummy. In days gone by, they were made of cloth, leather and whale bone for stiffness.
   Now, it's plastic in the cheaper ones, and spring steel in the more expensive varieties. And it seems lacing up in one of these is becoming trendy in L.A. These are worn under medical supervision, and with good reason.
   A plastic surgeon says wearing the devices for hours can contract the ribs and reshape the waist. But some experts also warn they could contract bone and muscle, harming internal organs and causing health problems.
   Personally, I don't think women need artificial enhancements.

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The Fight Against Bullying Continues

   And a small Saskatchewan town is front and centre in the fight. Council in Grenfell have passed and adopted an anti-bullying law, and there are quite a few items on the list. Taunting, name calling, the threat of violence and repeated harassment of others top that list. And police are being given more options for dealing with bullies. That could be a simple "don't do that again" reprimand to possible criminal charges.
   Manitoba's education minister has also taken the wraps off a new program giving schools and parents some new tools as well.
   Nancy Allan says that includes a resource guide to help schools respond to incidents where teens have been affected by a sexual picture or video being shared by peers.
   All this comes as we hear more and more cases of young people who commited suicide because they've been bullied, either in person or on line. Todd Loik of North Battleford took his own life last week, joining an ever growing list.
   Will these new measures stop or even slow down bullying? Time will tell, but I for one hope they do.

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Cures For The Common Cold

   The running nose, the congestion, the sneezing and coughing, the fever. It's getting to that time of year when cold and flu season are ready to strike. And my morning show host Danny is just getting over a bout of hay fever. And because of that, he was looking for something to help with the scratchy throat and stuffiness. Talking with him this morning, there were a few olde fashioned remedies that came to mind.
   Hot honey lemon. It's been a standard for years, and may actually have a benefit. Honey coats the throat, and may provide temporary relief. Then, there are some that are doubtful, to day the least. One my wife suggested did actually seem to help me a few years back. We had some goose grease left from a bird one Thanksgiving, and she warmed some up, slathered it on my chest and wrapped me up.
   Then there's the mustard plaster. I don't know if they work, but apparently they burn like the dickens. My mom used to slather Vicks Vapo-Rub on my chest and put some under my nose when I was a kid. She also used it in a vapouriser for congestion.
   One person suggested Danny try whiskey. While it might not do any good, after a few shots you won't really care.
   Of course, the best advice is stay in bed, drink plenty of fluids and don't go to the office where you can spread it.

The Hunt Continues

   Police in Lethbridge, Alberta have seized the vehicle belonging to Michael Sean Stanley, a wanted, high risk, violent sex offender. As I blogged about last Friday, the 48 year old left Edmonton, and cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet in Lloydminster.
   RCMP in west Central Saskatchewan say they've had 25 reported sightings of Stanley, but all were unconfirmed. In fact, the Mounties say several have been proven to be false. Some of the reports lead them to basically lock down schools in the Kindersley area, along with Beechy.
   The latest unconfirmed sighting in our province was in Saskatoon on Sunday.

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I Love Fall

   It really is my favourite time of year. The spicy smell of the leaves falling from the trees, the crunch when you step on them. It all heralds the change of seasons. It also means the busiest time of year for farmers. Especially this year with the late spring, and some rain which has delayed harvest.
   But harvest is progressing, at least what I've seen commuting between Yorkton and Regina on weekends. While there are still a lot of crops left to take off the field, what I see driving highway 10 every weekend indicates a lot has come off. Again, that's just my view from the highway. I'm sure there's still an awful lot left to combine.
   In fact, when we were at our last "Supper in the Field" event last week near Oakburn, Manitoba, the family indicated they'd need another month of good weather to get their crop off. Of course, the one thing not needed now is more frost. Last Thursday, we did get a heavy frost, bad enough to kill my wife's pumpkins. She did manage to save one, but the other 5 were turned to mush. And these weren't your everyday run of the mill pumpkins either. The skin on these turns a light blue when they ripen. She'd been looking forward to growing them all last winter, and struggled through months when several did sprout, only to fail. But, at least she got one before the frost came.
   Of course, the downside to fall is winter. I'm not exactly what you'd call an "outdoor" kind of guy, even though I enjoyed ice fishing many, many years ago. So when the frigid temperatures and snow do hit, I'll be doing my best to stay warm. I just wish I could hibernate.

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Insomniacs Take Note

   As we all know, there are a lot of speciality TV channels out there, and a lot of "reality" TV shows as well. But in Norway, it's being taken to the extreme. The country's public broadcaster is dedicating 5 hours of air time to a different kind of programming.
   NRK will be showing a 5 hour special of an attempt to break the knitting world record. You read that right: Knitting. And if that's not enough, there will be a 4 hour "pre-game" show of sorts dedicated to how wool from a sheep's back turns into a sweater.
   This isn't the first time NRK has broadcast what we would call mundane events. They've had live coverage of salmon fishing, a 5 day  documentary about a cruise ship, the Nord Norge, and even a fire burning itself out.
   If you were wondering, the current record for non stop knitting belongs to Australia

Local Treasures

   Every city and town has them. Those little "mom and pop" shops that have been open for years. But not everyone knows about them. That's why I sent my friend and morning show host Danny to this little gem in Regina. The Italian Star Deli opened in 1966, and is still being run by the same family.
   What makes it so special is easy to describe: The Giambattistas. Mama Gina still works the counter, but son Carlo runs the show, with his daughter, son and others. Not only does the Regina, Saskatchewan deli have a wonderful array of Italian ingredients and spices, but the family also makes the most wonderful sandwiches in the world. At least the world as I've seen it.
   These are true little treasures, and well worth the effort to track down. I've run into several over the years: The Hoito in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Hitchin' Post in High River and the New Sun cafe in Peace River, both in Alberta.
   So, if you're moving to a new location, or if you haven't fully explored your own home town, do it. It really is well worth the effort.

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An RCMP Advisory

   The man in question is 38 year old Edmonton resident Michael Sean Stanley, and the RCMP believe he may have been seen in Saskatchewan. The Mounties say Stanley is a potentially violent, high risk sex offender who apparently cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet in Lloydminster earlier this week. It was later found on the roof of a business of the city straddling the Alberta/Saskatchewan boundary.
   The RCMP on Thursday initiated a "hold and secure" procedure for schools in Kindersley and area after getting unconfirmed reports that Stanley's SUV with Alberta plates had been seen in the town. The same happened in Lloydminster. Stanley has a long history of sex offences, including taking children from playgrounds.
   The RCMP are cautioning people not to approach Michael Sean Stanley, but to call the local detachment or Crimestoppers.

"Mission Accomplished"..UPDATED

   A few weeks back, an off-hand comment I made on our morning show resulted in a campaign to get "Craig in a Combine" during an event where we take a catered meal to a farmers field and serve it to them.
   Last night was the final night of the fall campaign...and I got my ride in a combine. It was near Oakburn, Manitoba. Not only did I get a ride, but the daugher of the farm owners, David and Helen Sytnyk, even let me take a few swaths of Canola off the field. What an experience. Steering the big machine took a little getting used to, since the rear wheels steer it. I'm used to my little 140 HP sport sedan, not a hulking John Deere with who knows how much horsepower.
   In the cab, you truly don't get a sense you're quite a way off the ground, and once you get used to the controls, it's actually not difficult to operate. For the short amount of time I did. But the farm we went to had been at it until 4:30 in the morning. They stopped for 2 hours sleep, and were back at it again at 6:30. I'll never complain about getting up at 4:00 a.m anymore after that!
   This was my tutor and chauffeur Sammy Sytnyk..Thanks Sammy, even though this isn't the best picture.

   I've managed to get a few more pictures from our "Supper in the Field" event:
   Me getting ready to head out into the field:

   Unloading the Canola Sammy and I picked up: (Mostly Sammy)

   A better picture of myself and my driver/tutor Sammy Sytnyk

 

   All in all, a wonderful evening. Thanks again to David, Helen, Sammy and everyone for helping a city boy get a taste, even a brief one, of farm life.

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Oops!

   Strange things can happen when you're moving house. But this picture from the RCMP has taken that to the extreme. It was on highway 7 near Warman, Saskatchewan when the house slipped off its supports while being transported. The highway was down to one lane while crews worked to get it back on the suports. That took 3 hours.
   There's been no word on how much damage was done to the newly built home.

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NHL Hockey Is Back!

   And for a full season too! After last year's strike/lockout, there will be a full 84 game season, plus the playoffs, which means the season will run for 9 months, until sometime in June. And what better way to kick things off than with an Original 6 match between old rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs won that game, 4-3.
   And as die-hard fans start settling into their favourite couch or chair for the season, I got to wondering about something. Could one of today's teams beat an original 6 member if you could turn the clock back? I was wondering if, say, Anaheim or Phoenix..maybe even Edmonton or Winnipeg, could beat a Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Boston or New York Rangers team from their heyday?
   I know players today are bigger, stronger and have a strict training schedule to keep. But what if, just what if, we could transport them back 50 or so years. What would happen then? Technology has changed the game, with breathable uniforms, carbon fibre sticks and skates. Modern ice technology can micro-control ice surfaces, boards are better. Heck, even arenas have better climate control.
   Turn the clock back 50 years and put today's players in the old wool uniforms. With leather topped steel bladed skates and wooden sticks. Put them in one of the old barns when ice making wasn't as good as it is now. With older boards that bounced the puck back who-knew-where. Where arenas were not climate controlled. Against players who may not have been as fit as they are now, but just as good.
   Who would win? My heart says the 1960's team, since I grew up watching them on the old black and white T.V when we had just 2 channels, and to change it, you had to get out of your chair, walk over and physically change the dial. My head says today's team, even in the old gear, simply due to today's physical conditioning. But I'm sure it would be one heck of an interesting game!

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We Exsist. Really We Do!

   That's the plea folks in Davin, Saskatchewan have made, and the federal government has heard them. The tiny hamlet about 30 minutes outside Regina was declared a ghost town after the 2011 census. News that came as quite a shock to the 49 or so people who still live there.
   That, by the way, is the same number who were living there in the 2006 census. But the Stats Canada figures also showed the town's population fell to zero in the intervening 5 years, meaning Davin was struck off the federal list of communities.
   It seems the census takers simply missed the tiny village. The federal government says they will clear things up. However, the area M.P, Ralph Goodale (L. Regina-Wascana) called the mistake "insulting".
   But it makes you wonder if there are other small hamlets, villages and unincorporated towns with a few residents that were also missed by the census. My guess is there may be a few.

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Premier Wall Tops Them All

   And a new Angus Reid survey seems to back that up. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall did in fact come out tops among his peers when it comes to how satisfied people in their home province are with there premier.
   Mr. Wall got 68% among respondents. B.C's Christie Clark was a very distant 2nd at 44%, while Ontario's Kathleen Wynn was 3rd at 39%.
   Wall's numbers really haven't changed much over the past few years, either. His satisfaction and/or approval rating has consistently been over 65% for as far back as I can remember. And I remember when he wasn't even leader of the SaskParty, which was formed literally months before we returned to Saskatchewan from our stint in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
   The same Angus Reid poll also looked at Opposition leaders, and Saskatchewan's NDP leader Cam Broten was 6th among his peers, with a 38% rating.

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