Bundle Up

   Old Man Winter just doesn't want to leave us alone. In fact, as of this morning, there are windchill warnings out from eastern Alberta, through Saskatchewan and almost all Manitoba. And values will be in the -50 celsius range tonight and into tomorrow.
   And if that wasn't bad enough, there are also blowing snow warnings out as well. In fact, it seems like we've been in the deep freeze since November, maybe even October, and haven't had a real break since.
   It's pretty bad when the people are looking forward to next week, with highs of -16. That's our normal low for this time of year, and I for one have had enough.
   Old Man Winter: Say "Hello" to my little friend!

   Stay warm!

TTFN

Selfies Now Pose A Health Risk

   And it's especially true among girls. It seems putting your heads together for those self portraits with your BFF could also spread head lice!

   In the States, medico's have noticed an increase in the number of young girls showing up to get treatment for the little pests, which feed on human blood. And 98% of cases are the result of direct contact between peoples heads. Aside from some scratching (which is bad enough in itself) head lice are apparently mostly harmless, posing cosmetic, rather than medical, problems.
   So, after much head-scratching, Danny Ismond, Benny Walchuk and myself put OUR heads together for a 3-way selfie.

   I'm wearing my ugly winter hat, because I practice "safe selfies". LOL! (Which in some cases means Lots Of Lice!)

TTFN

Stop Bullying

   Today is Anti-Bullying Day, and people are encouraged to wear pink to help stop the problem. I wish I had remembered or known. I would've worn pink today, since I was bullied in school.
   Bullying has been around probably as long as the human race, but it's just in the past few years the issue has really come to the forefront of society. And we can thank the advent of social media for it.
   Too often, we hear stories of young people taking their own lives as a result of harassment both on-line and in person. Rehtaeh Parsons is just one example of why bullying must end. The problem is, it's easier said than done. Simply reporting a bully to officials sometimes leads to increased bullying by the same individual.
   Societal changes are needed to not only punish, but to educate bullies. Parents need to play a huge role as well, by (as far as they can) keeping track of their kids social media habits and reporting incidents and offering help to victims.
   We also need to help those who victimize others as well, since in some cases they themselves have been victims of bullying in the past. But again, there are no quick or easy solutions to the problem. I just hope something is done soon, so I don't have to read another report of a teen committing suicide because they were bullied.

TTFN

Childhood Memories

   They come flooding back, most times unbidden, and in hindsight sometimes quite hilariously! The image above is a backyard skating rink, and with the cold weather we've had so far this winter I remember well the one Mom put up for us. Or rather tried to.
   It was way back in 1965 or '66, a year or so before Dad built the garage at our home. My sister and I were tired of having to go to the local community rink and constantly bumping into other kids who (like us) were mostly learning to skate.
   So, one winter's morning, Mom dutifully headed into the back yard and tramped down an area of snow, taking care to build up a ridge around it. Then, she got out the hose and started flooding. But something went wrong with that process, and some of the water managed to escape the enclosure, flooding part of the alley and the gravel pad Dad was going to build the garage on. The result was predictable. We had a skating rink, but it sort of extended into the alley. Almost as predictable was Dad getting home from work that day, looking to park in the back yard, and smashing into the fence instead.
   A 1961 Pontiac doesn't look too good with a white picket fence for a hood ornament.
   Needless to say, that was the end of our skating rink in the back, but to this day I'm still not sure how Mom managed to clear the ice away.

TTFN

Well Done, Canada!

   The 2014 Winter Games wrapped up in Sochi, Russia yesterday, and Canada did do very well. We ended up with 25 medals on the games, one shy of the 26 we got in Vancouver 4 years ago. And wrapping everything up nicely, the men's hockey team took the gold with a 3-0 win over Sweden!
   A big shout out to all our athletes, as well as those from all the countries taking part. While they may not have won a medal,they at least competed for their homeland, which is itself an achievement.
   So, it's on to South Korea for the 2018 games.
   Oh, yeah. One other thing. Friday, I blogged about "the End of the World" as foretold in Norse folklore. Not surprisingly, nothing happened. Just like December 22, 2012. The day after the Mayan calendar predicted the end of times.
   I just can't wait for the next 'prediction'. Hopefully, it'll be just as accurate.

TTFN

The End Of The World Is Nigh

   Well, at least it is according to Viking folklore. And a countdown clock in York, England.
   It seems Nordic legend states the world will end when we get 3 winters in a row with no summer in between. In some parts of the world, that may have happened, heralding an Earth shattering KA-BOOM!
   The clock is counting down the hours, minutes and seconds until Armageddon. Supposedly tomorrow.
   But I rather think this will end up the same as the ancient Mayan prediction that the world would end on December 21, 2012. In other words, not happening.
   I'll be back Monday, but just in case I might try scheduling a little pillage time later today.

TTTM (Ta-Ta Til Monday)

Lost Communications

   The computer. What would we do without it these days? There's so much you can do simply sitting in front of that keyboard and screen. You can e-mail, check your Facebook status, shop, pay bills, do your banking, watch videos and even blog! And mobile hand-held devices have now freed us from being chained to the almighty P.C.
   But it's not all good. There is a downside to technology. People either forget or don't know how to do things we were taught in school all those oh-so many years ago. Simple things. Like writing. Some studies suggest writing will be a thing of the past in the not far off future.
   How many young people today know what this is:

   Let alone be able to fill one out? Yet myself, my parents, and even my kids know what they are, what they're for and how to fill one out.
   My morning man and buddy Danny Ismond said he was at an event not long ago, where a youth was asked to address an envelope for a mail out. And had no idea how to do it.
   If you really want to play with a youngsters mind, sit him/her own in front of one of these and tell them to make a call:

   Chances are, you'd be asked "how do you turn it on?", if not "where's the text function".
   Yes, technology is great. No, I don't want to go back to the "good old days". But I still think (with the exception of the rotary phone) that there's a place for cheques, envelopes and writing.

TTFN

More Winter Games Thoughts

   Had a great chat with my morning man Danny today about the current Winter Games. We heartily congratulated the Canadian women's 3000 meter speed skating relay team on their Silver. And then, just for the sake of a great talk, got off on a tangent.
   Word came down this weekend from organisers that women's hockey would remain a Winter Games sport, despite lop-sided wins by Canada and the U.S (who will square off yet again for first place) through the tournament. And then we proceeded to talk about the men's team, and the fact NHL players likely will not compete in 4 years time in South Korea (although no firm decision has been made as of this post).
   Danny was aghast at the move, but I'm not so sure it's entirely a bad thing. I agree that we should ice the strongest team possible, but would having professional players absent hurt the competition? I think not.
   Don't for a moment think that I'm against Canada doing well (ie: Winning the gold) at the Games. But it seems the whole idea of what they were set up for has gone by the wayside. If my admittedly shaky memory serves, the idea was for amateur athletes to showcase their abilities, not professionals. Yes, it's nice that players like Sid Crosby can compete for the top honor in sport. But I'd rather see young amateurs like Morgan Kilmchuck, Eric Roy or Alex Moodie take part.
   And yes, I'm very familiar with how the former Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia got around the rules banning players getting paid to play by having them instead paid by the Red Army.
   Danny said (and I agreed) that junior hockey is more entertaining to watch (with no offence meant to the NHL). Both levels of players are equally passionate about the game they love, no doubt. But junior hockey seems to have just a little bit more.
   Will this change anything? No. But it sure made for a great talk this morning!

TTFN

Something Thankfully Not Done

   Since I've been in Yorkton, it seems I'm the guy who takes holidays to heart, and gets into the spirit of it all.
   For example, this was Halloween, when I costumed up as the Zombie News Reader:

   Then, there was the time I donned an ugly winter hat. Mostly because I wanted to keep my ears warm, more than anything else:

   And let's not forget Robbie Burns Day, when I donned a kilt and cap, grabbed my sword and got a set of toy bagpipes to help celebrate:

   So, given my apparent penchant for celebrating holidays, I'm sure a few people around work were expecting me to come in this Valentine's Day looking like Cupid:

   Those people will be disappointed. That said, a lot more people will be very thankful I didn't show up in a diaper, with stubby 'wings' on my back and a kiddies bow shooting suction cup tipped arrows.
   There are several reasons I chose not to. Not the least of which is there are laws on the books regarding cruel and unusual punishment, along with torture. Which is what the sight of me trying to look like Cupid would be to anyone with the misfortune of seeing it.
   Another reason is the fact the roof beams in our building would not be able to stand the added load if I managed to rig something to make me 'fly' without a catastrophic failure.
   But take heart! St. Paddy's Day is coming up in March. I wonder how I'd look with a green beard?

TTFN

Something Dumb

   We've all done something dumb. Lock the keys in the car, leave purchases behind or forget to pick something up at the store.
   The "Bonehead of the Day Award" for today goes to yours truly. We had a pretty good winter storm last night, that dropped a good 4 or more inches (10 cm) of snow on the ground. Leaving home for work this morning, and not wanting to get hung up on one of several drifts in my parking lot, I backed the car up a little to far, and didn't cut the wheel over quick enough. With the result that I got stuck, not 10 feet out of my stall. Could I get the car out? No, even though I tried. And there was an hour wait for a tow truck to arrive. An hour I didn't have. So, I took a cab. And when I got to the office, I don't think I could've got in to the parking lot here. A rather large tracked bob-cat was clearing things up.
   The upshot is, the car's still stuck in my lot, hopefully not blocking the ONLY EXIT TO THE STREET too badly. I'm going to see if a couple of the guys I work with might be able to help me push it out. If not, I'll call for a tow truck.
   Winter sucks :(

TTFN

Something Pretty

   It's my wedding anniversary today. Ours, actually. And in all the years we've been married, I don't think I've given my bride anything 'pretty'. Until now. I've given her grief, I've given her worry. I'm fairly sure I've certainly given her more than one reason to walk out the door and never come back. She never did.
   In all our years together, she's followed me wherever I went. We've lived in 6 different communities in 3 provinces. We've moved a total of 10 times. She's never complained. And I've never giver her anything 'pretty'. Until now:

   That little pendant is silver, with a gold spike and a certified Canadian diamond from the Ekati diamond mine, northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She's never asked for anything like it, and I know she never would. But sometimes a man's got to do what a man's got to do.
   Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for supporting me, especially in the many rough times we've been through.
   Thank you for being you. Happy Anniversary, darling.

TTFN

  

Valentine Day Dont's

   Valentine's Day is Friday, and a lot of people will be rushing around trying to find the perfect gift for their loved one. Traditionally, chocolates, flowers and jewelry are the gifts of choice for a guy to give his girl.
   If you're not the "traditional" type, and are looking for something else for your significant other, stay away from the following:
1)..Vacuum cleaners. It should be obvious why not. The message you're sending is that the place is messy, and your partner needs to clean it up.
2)..Stuffed animals. Nothing says "cheap" like a stuffed animal. It could also say you were one of the last minuters, rushing around looking for something, anything, to give.
3)..Gym membership. Your partner might not appreciate the reminder of the extra few pounds they're carrying.
4)..Kitchen appliances. Again, it could mean little or no thought.
5)..A pet. Great, as long as the relationship lasts. But a reminder if the relationship fails. Also not recommended because some people's living arrangement may not include pets.
6)..Television. You might think that 72 inch 3-D LED HDTV is a good idea. Your partner may not.
7)..Gift certificates. Unless it''s for something you can't get locally, see #2 and 4.
8)..A picture of both of you on an item. As with pets, it could be an unkind reminder of a relationship that's failed or on the skids. It could also be used as a missile in the case of the latter.
   Still, anything's better than showing up with nothing!

TTFN

A Successful Snowarama

   Is exactly what the folks at the Saskatchewan Abilities Council are saying about this weekend's event that started in Yorkton. Some 235 riders from across not only the region and province took part, but from around the prairies as well.
   Organizers did say snow conditions weren't the best, but trail groomers were out in full force making sure what was there was rideable.
   Over 135 thousand dollars was raised this year, the 37th Snowarama, making it the 2nd best total so far. The best was last year, when snow and trail conditions were near perfect and 150 thousand dollars was raised.
   All the money goes to help send disabled children to Camp Easter Seal, a fully wheelchair accessible camp at Manitou Lake.
   Congratulations to the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, all the riders in the event, and everyone who pledged money to support a worthwhile cause.

TTFN

Mark McMorris Medals

   Snowboarding sensation (and Saskatchewan's own) Mark McMorris did wind up 3rd in the first ever slopestyle event at the Winter Games this past weekend. Congratulations Mark!
   Of course there will be a very few people out there (myself NOT included) who would take the "what if" line, trying to diminish in some way what seems to me to be a stellar achievement by a young man.
   That "what if" comes after McMorris suffered a broken rib in the X-Games just ahead of the Winter Games, which a very few might say hampered his ability to perform in Russia, possibly costing him a higher place on the podium.
   I take a very different view. The fact that he got 3rd in his sport with a broken rib speaks volumes about the young man's determination. About breaking through what I'm sure was a lot more than a "minor discomfort" of a broken rib. Heck. I'll just come out and say the young man's got guts. That's all. And we should all offer congratulations to him for his effort on the biggest sporting stage in the world.
   He may have placed 3rd on the podium, but to one hell of a lot of people in Saskatchewan, he placed first.

TTFN

Back To Basics

   Going over the last few posts I've put on this blog, I've noticed something disturbing. I've been straying too far afield with a lot of the items, and have not been focusing on what I should be. And that's my own backyard.
   Don't get me wrong, I will still venture further afield now and then, but it's time to get back to my 'core', if I can call it that.
   So today, lets look at some of the doings here closer to home. And we'll start with a worthy fundraising venture happening tomorrow. Snowarama sees snowmobilers ride and raise funds for Camp Easter Seal, set up so kids with disabilities can enjoy what a lot of others take for granted. It's the only wheelchair accessible camp in the province, and tomorrow's ride is hoped to generate 150 thousand dollars in the region. I hope they surpass that goal.
   Another newsworthy item, not just locally, is grain transportation. There was a bumper crop last year, but farmers are having a tough time getting it to market, blaming a backlog in the entire transportation system, but specifically rail companies.
   APAS will be holding a couple of symposiums to get input on what's wrong, and possible ways to fix the problem with 2 meetings this month.
   The information will then be passed to politicians.

TTFN

What's In Your Footlong?

   Fast food giant Subway says they're removing a chemical from their bread that's also used to make yoga mats, synthetic leather and sneaker soles. That's right: Yoga mats, synthetic leather and sneaker soles.
   The chemical (Azodiacarbonamide) has been approved by U.S regulators as a food additive to improve elasticity in dough. And in yoga mats, synthetic leather and sneaker soles. The problem is Azodiacarbonamide is NOT approved as a food additive in many other parts of the world.
   Subway is in the process of converting to a different dough conditioner.
   Food for thought.

TTFN

How Cool Is This!

   That's a map of the internet (courtesy DeviantART), as drawn by Slovakian artist Jay Simons. And if it looks like one of those old time maps of the world, it's supposed to. The picture I've linked won't show you all the details of the map. Like the Map of the World, the Map of the Internet is broken down into "continents" and "countries" based on what the most popular browser is in a given region.
   It also lists the most visited sites (with Google not surprisingly at the top of that list), websites by language, and timelines of both the history of the 'net, and websites. It also has "oceans", including the North and South Connection oceans, and even a Spam Ocean!
   What I'd love to find out is where can I get one? It's look great framed in my man-cave.

TTFN

This Will Never EVER Happen

   The Winter Games start Friday in Russia, as athletes from around the world gather to test their mettle against each other. Just this morning, word came that some of the facilities in the host city are still being worked on. Not anything to do with individual venues, or anything to do with athletes. But some hotels to house guests are still not completed as yet, though construction is going on at a fever pitch.
   This isn't the first time there have been snags at either the Winter or Summer games. And not just physical aspects either. Cost overruns have plagued a few host cities and countries, sometimes years into the future. Go back 4 years to Vancouver, where the event was reportedly more than 100 million dollars over budget. Go back even further to 1976, when the Montreal event, where the deficit was finally paid off in December 2006. To be fair, that was a very extreme case, and most games come in either at, below and, yes, sometimes over budget.
   I've been thinking for years that what's needed is 2 permanent venues for the games. One in Greece for the summer, the other in Switzerland for the winter. Counties sending athletes to either would be required to make a payment of say 100 million dollars to take part, with the funds going to a central reserve to be used for infrastructure, site upgrades and security. There could even be a lottery to determine which country would act as "host" for the event.
   And this will never, EVER, happen.
   The "why" is simple to answer. There's just too much at stake, monetarily and prestige wise. Hosting such events allows countries to showcase to the world what they have to offer, in turn spurring tourism, which (in turn) spurs a huge jump in the economy. Not to mention the huge boost dollar-wise to the host community alone leading up to and during the event.
   That's why going to a permanent site will never EVER happen. But it sure does make for a good thought experiment!

TTFN

35 Years

   I'm not exactly sure of the date, but it was 35 years ago this month I started my career in radio. It was in the small town of Peace River in Northwestern Alberta in February 1979 I clicked on the mic for the very first time as a D.J.
   In a station like that, you get to do just about everything, with the possible exception of sales and commercial copywriting. And that's pretty much what I did for the year and a half I was there. Northern Alberta is a beautiful area, and the town itself had a charm to it as well, being in the Peace River valley.
   After about a year and a half (and getting into the news side of the industry) it was Prince George B.C to work in radio, and anchor the late night TV package for about a year.
   After leaving the Central Interior, I was out of the industry for a few years, but got back in in 1985 in High River, Alberta. From there, it was Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Regina and now Yorkton Saskatchewan.
   Has this industry been good to me? It certainly has. Where else could you work and be able to talk to newsmakers of the day. And ask pointed questions to them? In my time, I've interviewed Premiers in 4 provinces, 2 men who would eventually become Prime Ministers of Canada, celebrities etc.
   But that's not what keeps me coming back morning after morning. It's what a lot of people call the "daily grind". Doing local stories. Talking to local people. That, to me, is what the industry is about. Don't get me wrong. It was a great opportunity to be able to ask Marina Oswald-Porter (widow of JFK assassination suspect Lee Harvey Oswald) a couple of questions some 20 years ago at a symposium. But it's being allowed the opportunity to speak with and tell the stories of local people that drives me.
   I just hope I have another 10 or so years ahead of me.

TTFN

2 Of 4 Rodents Say 6 More Weeks Of Winter

   It was Groundhog Day yesterday, and 2 of 4 prognosticating rodents did, in fact, see their shadows, traditionally meaning another 6 weeks of Winter.
   The Grand-daddy of them all, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, along with Ontario's Wiarton Willie both saw their shadows. However, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam did not. Nor did Alberta's Balzac Billy.
   But since this is only the first week of February, and the Spring equinox is some 6 weeks away, does it really matter? The weather will do what the weather will do regardless of groundhogs. But I must admit, I would certainly welcome an early spring. Especially after being under Polar Vortexes for several months.
   And I still like my idea for Gainer the Gopher, the Saskatchewan Roughrider mascot:

   Have him come out February 2nd, and if he doesn't see his shadow, the Riders will have a winning season. If the sun is shining, have him come out on the shaded side of Mosaic Stadium. That way he still won't see his shadow, meaning a winning season.
   And as far as predicting an early spring goes, this year Gainer would have been the tie-breaker!

TTFN