Wow! September's Gone!

   And it seems to have gone in a flash. And it was an eventful month, as well. This month saw the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II, the discovery after more than 100 years of one of the ships in the ill-fated Franklin expedition to the Arctic and the start of work on the new Saskatchewan Children's Hospital.
   On a more personal note, September also marked the 2nd time we got "Craig in a Combine" in the fall Supper in the Field events hosted by our station. I'm hoping to make it an annual event. It also marks 15 years I've been tobacco free. And if that wasn't enough, it's been just over a year since I started work here at GX94.
   And that last one is to me the most important of them all. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I work with a fantastic group of people, doing a job I absolutely love to do. Not very many people can say that, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work here. I also hope to be here for many more years to come.
   Tomorrow marks the start of October. which means I've got a month to learn how to play a difficult musical instrument for Halloween.

TTFN

A Milestone In Health Care

   That's one conceptual design of what the new Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan will look like. It was a historic day in Saskatoon yesterday, as shovels finally hit the ground on the 176 bed facility, due to be completed in 2017. There had been delays as the design for the hospital was tweaked and improved, but work is now under way.
   As you can well imagine, facilities like this don't come cheap. The projected total is some 250 million dollars, 235 million of which is coming from the province. But it's not just the physical building that has to be paid for. There's specialized equipment designed for children. That's also going to cost millions.
   And that's why the Children's Health Foundation has been fundraising for years. When I worked in Regina, our radio stations would dedicate 3 solid days (later reduced to 2) for a Radiothon, helping to raise the needed funds. And our stations weren't the only ones either.
   When the hospital is finally built, equipped and opened in 2017, it will leave just one province in Canada, Prince Edward Island, as the only one without a children's hospital. When it's opened in 2017, it will mean parents and children will no longer have to travel out of province for specialized care. When it's opened in 2017, it will also mean kids will be treated in a more child friendly atmosphere. Hospitals are scary places for kids at the best of times, but having one in our province dedicated to their needs will help immensely. I just hope there's room at the site for expansion should the need for that arise.

TTFN

Success...Again

   Last year during GX94's "Supper in the Field", I got to drive a combine. Last night at the farm of Randy and Kelly Nieckar in Rama, I got to do it again. It wasn't a long trip, just a quick rip through 2 swaths of wheat, but at least I got to drive one of these monsters again.
   And yes, it was just as big a blast as the first time on the final fall supper in the field of 2013 at the farm of David and Helen Sytnyk near Oakburn, Manitoba.
   One added benefit this year was GX94 overnight/weekend announcer Nikki White getting her first chance to drive one. I honestly don't know who was more excited about the opportunity to do it. I do know there was a high 10 between us when we got out of the machines.
   Would I do it again? How about tomorrow, if I got the chance. I think I mentioned back in October of last year that it was great to be able to pull a few swathes off over half an hour or so. Doing it for 8, 10, 12 or even 14 hours a day might get a little tedious.
   Thanks to Randy and Kelly Nieckar for their hospitality, and the chance to get "Craig in a Combine". I'm thinking this could turn into an annual event.

TTFN

A Milestone

   This is kind of a special day for me. It was 15 years ago today, September 24, 1999, my wife and I quit smoking. I have not had one puff, let alone a cigarette, since. I did, however, catch my wife sneaking a smoke a few times after we quit.
  And even though I've been off them this long, the legacy of a pack and a half a day habit for more than 25 years remains with me. I have what used to be called in the olden days "smokers cough". Which is another term for what's now called COPD. We used to call it emphysema. I was diagnosed with the start of that 25 years ago, but it took another decade to finally kick the habit. It was not easy. I'd tried several times, unsuccessfully, to quit. We finally used the patch, and even with that it was a hard row to hoe. 15 years later, I still have that nagging cough which is (and I'll be honest here) disgusting to have to listen to. And no, I won't get into detail.
   And in just a few months, I'll be celebrating 10 years since I quit drinking. That was also not an easy thing to accomplish, but between the 2, I'd say getting off tobacco was far the hardest.
   After all these years, you'd think the cravings would die down, and to a point, they have. But even to this day. there are times I'd like nothing better than to sit on my porch with a box of Cuban cigars:

   And a bottle of Gibson's 18 year old Finest Rare Canadian Whiskey:

   And just enjoy a warm fall evening.

TTFN

Do Not Try This At Home

   There's a new hoax spreading like wildfire across social media, and it's costing people who shelled out hundreds of dollars for the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus dearly. It's being claimed the iOS 8 update will allow iPhone and Pad owners to re-energize their battery without using a charger.
   Supposedly, all you have to do is put your valuable device in your microwave for 60 or 70 seconds, and the battery will be charged. The alleged feature is called the "Wave", which it's claimed becomes active when you update the latest iOS version.
   I suppose it had to happen. Someone out there is playing on peoples gullibility, and it's costing them the loss of their device, and the price to replace it. According to one item I saw, there's a graphic with Apple fonts, colors etc being used to dupe people into believing it's a real communication from the tech giant.
   It isn't. Microwaving your phone will result in nothing more than the image above. A cooked, useless device you will now have to pay for again.
   If you have the latest iPhone or Pad, DO NOT TRY THIS.

TTFN

Fall Arrives

   Get ready for the change in seasons. Fall officially arrives tonight at 8:29 Saskatchewan time, meaning exactly 12 hours of daylight. At least at the equator.
   It also means the slow slide toward winter, with the days getting shorter, the nights longer and the temperatures colder. However, this week it's going to feel more like summer than fall in the Yorkton area. We're looking at temperatures in the mid 20's today, and up to almost 30 by the weekend. And that's great news for farmers still hoping to get their crops off the ground.
   I'm just wondering if I'll need the air conditioner this week.

TTFN

The United Kingdom Will Remain United

   It was a historic vote in Scotland, as people flocked to the polls to decide whether or not to sever a 307 year old union with Britain, and become independent again.
   When all the votes were tallied, the "No" side had 55%, the "Yes" forced 45. It means, at least for now, the status quo will continue. Or will it? The simple fact there was a referendum, and the fact 45% of Scots favour a split could well mean a re-alignment of the relationship between the 2 countries. In fact, the surge in support of the "Yes" faction in the weeks ahead of the vote has already seen a pledge to grant more powers to Scotland.
   And the "Yes" side has not ruled out another referendum in the future, although will be years, if not decades, away.
   I decided to celebrate by donning the kilt, even though I'm not "officially" Scots:

TTFN

One Of Those Days

   We've all had those kinds of days. You get up and go to work, and everything seems to either collapse on you or simply go wrong at the wrong time. I was having "one of those days" up until about 7:30 this morning:

   The morning man from our sister station Fox FM went on a quest this morning. Will Alexander wanted to know who, at 7:00 a.m, would sell him a cheeseburger.
   He found a place. One of our local A & W restaurants was more than happy to cook and sell him enough cheeseburgers to not only feed himself, but Fox FM morning news guru Craig Read and myself. What a guy!
   All of a sudden, my lousy morning turned right around when I DID has cheezeburger.
   Thanks Will.

TTFN
  

A Big Decision

   Voters in Scotland are casting ballots today on whether or not they want independence from England, effectively breaking up the United Kingdom after a 307 year union. Turnout this morning was reported heavy, with recent polls suggesting the result is simply too close to call.
   If the "Yes" side were to prevail, it will still take months before the split goes into effect, with Scottish Independence Day set for March 24, 2016. If the "No" side wins, not much will change. Should "Yes" win, Scottish officials say the monarchy would be retained, given the Royal Family's extremely close ties with the country.
   There will still be lots of details to hammer out if the split is approved. There's the small matter or money, for example. If "Yes" wins, they'll no longer be using the British Pound, and will most likely go with a Scottish one instead. In fact, there are a whole lot of things that'll need to happen between now and March 24, 2016. If the "Yes" side wins.
   If the "No" side prevails, it should be business as usual.
   We'll know the answer long before I get a chance to blog about it again tomorrow.

TTFN

Happy Birthday, Riley King

   Riley B "BB" King is 89 years old today. One of the mainstays of the blues, King is also one of the main reasons that genre of music continues to be popular. He's also been listed as an influence on quite a few guitar players, and continues to influence others as well.
   His style is unique, and to my ears very rich and easy to listen to. As for his voice: The word "powerful" comes to mind. We saw him when he was in Regina a few years back. and even at age 85 he was great. Age may have slowed his fingers a bit, but that voice belting out those tunes was incredible!
   He's recorded with some of the other greatest musicians in the world, including Eric Clapton, Bobby Blue, Willie Nelson and others. King lists Frank Sinatra as his favorite singer, and T-Bone Walker as his main influence for playing.
   Happy 89th BB.

TTFN

This Seems A Little Obvious

   I believe I said this last year, but I love the fall. The crunch of leaves when you walk through them, and the spicy smell in the air. I don't even mind it getting cooler (so long as we don't get snowfalls like they had in Calgary recently). You can really tell this time of year that fall is in the air.
   Which is why something I saw on the Weather Network recently kind of took me by surprise. They did a one minute segment on "The Top 5 Signs of Fall". I'm not making any of these up either. Number 5: Frost. According to the reporter, frost "generally happens overnight when the temperature dips down to the freezing mark". 4: Geese. "We see them hanging around all summer, and then one day you look up in the sky and there they are, flying as far south as Florida." 3: Shorter days. "We all notice it when the sun starts setting earlier and earlier each night, and eventually we're eating dinner in the dark." 2: Hurricanes, with September being the busiest month for tropical storms. And the number 1 sign Fall is rapidly approaching: The leaves start changing colour.
  I'm sorry if this sounds a little cynical, but unless you've just moved here from a part of the world where seasons don't change, these are all self evident. Even obvious.
   And if you were wondering, fall officially arrives September 23rd.

TTFN

Happy Monday

   I'm so glad and lucky to work where I work. And have the wonderful wife I've been married to for 31 years. This morning, I brought in one of her scratch-built chocolate cakes for the gang to enjoy (which they did).
   I also used the occasion to break out one of the many hats I have in my collection. This one just happens to be a steam-punk leather top-hat I bought at a shop in Saskatoon about 2 years ago. The goggles were a Christmas gift from my son and daughter in law.
   You can't see it, but there are 3 gears on the front of the hat, and I downloaded the tag the Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland fame had on his. Again, you can't see it, but it's 10/6. And no, I haven't got a clue what that's supposed to mean.
   The recipe for the cake is a closely guarded secret, but I can tell you it's one my wife's had for more than 30 plus years. And it's scrumptious! The cake is moist, the icing is sweet enough to hurt your teeth (which is a good thing).
   Thanks darling from the rest of the crew and myself.

TTFN

What Were You Doing 13 Years Ago Today?

   13 years. It's easy to say, and seems to have passed literally in the blink of an eye. But one day that fall also seemed to drag on for an eternity. I had taken my wife to work that Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, and was sitting down having a coffee before heading to work myself. I flicked on CNN, and to my astonishment, heard a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Like so many other people early that morning, I thought it was a terrible accident. Then came the news the second tower was hit, along with the Pentagon in Washington DC. And a 4th plane had crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
   Needless to say, I was shocked, especially when the realization dawned on me that the U.S was under attack.
   I also remember being glued to the TV watching as the twin towers fell (plus a 3rd damaged in the attacks), and the chaos that ensued in both New York and Washington. In fact, I was so engrossed in what was happening that, and I hate to admit this even though it's true, it never dawned on me at the time to call the radio station I was working for and see if they needed me to come in early.
   Those of us who were watching at the time will remember how the rest of that day unfolded. The horrible realization that thousands of people had been killed or injured. The grounding of all air traffic over the U.S and to some extent parts of Canada as well. And the long road back from that bleak day, which continues even 13 years later.
   The events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 still reverberate even today. The war on terror continues. The fight against extremism continues. And even though the mastermind of that horrible day, Osama bin Laden, was hunted down and killed in May 2011, the threat continues.
   On this 13th anniversary, as on others, we should all pause and remember the tragic events that day and pay tribute to the men, women and children who were killed in New York, Washington and that field in Pennsylvania. I know I will.

TTFN

Glad I'm Not In Calgary

   And this photo an old junior high school buddy posted on facebook is pretty much self-explanatory. Not only did parts of Alberta get buried by 5, 10 or 15 cm of snow yesterday, but a heavy snowfall warning is in place again today. The good news is this will all melt rapidly, but it's still a mess.
   Snow in September in Calgary isn't a freakish occurrence, but it's not unheard of. There was one year when I was growing up there it snowed not only in September, but August, July, June and May. In fact, we had snow in every single month of that year. We even got pictures of our backyard, and you could see tree branches bent right to the ground. We had to knock the snow off to keep them from snapping.
   And while Old Man Winter has made an unwelcome early visit, let's not forget Calgary does get a reprieve in the form of warm Chinook winds in the winter. Example: Our wedding day in mid-February, 1983. It was about 15 Celsius, there was no snow, we didn't need winter coats and the roads were bone dry.
   So they do get a mixed blessing there, for sure.
   I just hope they keep all the Alberta Clippers safely moored for a while yet, and don't let those storm systems sail eastward.
   And thanks Keith for sharing the picture.

TTFN

Found! After More Than A Century

   It seems one of the ships used by Sir John Franklin in his ill-fated expedition to find the Northwest Passage in Canada's arctic has been found. Franklin and 2 ships set out in May 1845.
   The expedition over-wintered in 1845-46, but got trapped in the ice a few months later, and never sailed again. A note found on an island says Franklin died there in June 1847, but his grave was never found.
   The news comes a day after a team of archeologists found a tiny fragment from the expedition which they say is the first Franklin artifact found in modern times. Which of the 2 ships they ound was not said, but regardless, it is a piece of Canadian history. Whether or not it helps solve they mystery remains unclear.

TTFN

Winter Is Coming

   And I'm glad I don't live in Alberta anymore. Those red blobs are areas where there's a snowfall warning in effect with up to 5 cm expected. The grey areas are special weather statements, advising about the possibility of the first significant snowfall event of the year. In addition to Alberta, far northeastern B.C is also under a snowfall warning, with 10 cm, or 4 inches, possible.
   We here in Saskatchewan are getting off relatively lucky. There's a chance of frost later this week in more western areas, but so far nothing in the Yorkton region. Which is more than fine with me. I'm literally still recovering from last winter, with the brutally cold "polar vortexes" we had. And all the snow. One shoulder still hurts from shoveling it (and pushing the car out of where I got it stuck), so as far as I'm concerned, Alberta and B.C: You can keep the snow.
   As they say in the TV series "Game of Thrones": Winter is coming. I'd just like to see it delayed until November, as would a lot of farmers still waiting to get their fall combining started. But since we won't likely see a late winter, we can always hope it won't be as vicious as last years.

TTFN

You're Toast!

   Well, you can be if you've got 75 bucks U.S, a high quality picture of yourself and a week or so to wait.
   A company in Vermont uses a high tech plasma cutter to make plates with the image burned on them, which then go into the toaster. Which then toasts bread with the image right there. The idea itself isn't new. In fact, the Vermont Novelty Toaster Company got rolling 4 years ago with Jesus toast, after people began claiming to have seen His image on their breakfast food.
   The next logical step was to marry the technology with the "selfie" trend, and viola! Selfie toast. Apparently, you can have one image per bread slot, so a "his and her" design is do-able. But there's one huge point here. The images can't be changed, unless you want to fork over another 75 beans for another toaster. That means you can't take any picture and use it, which is probably just as well. It means no "compromising" toast first thing in the morning, and no downloading images of your boss to put the bite on him or her. It also means your toaster can't be "hacked" and images stolen and downloaded to the 'net.
   Will I buy one? The short answer is "no". I've got better things to spend 75 dollars on. That, and the fact I rarely even have toast.

TTFN

And A Great Time Was Had By All

   By now, you'll know I try to get in as many GX94 "Supper in the Field" events as I can (even though I was on vacation last week, and missed it). And with very few exceptions, all have been wonderful. Last nights, however, has raised the benchmark quite high.
   It was a long trip from Yorkton to Wapella and back to the farm of David and Marilyn Klinger, but it was worth the long day and drive. They were among the rare breed of repeat winners in the event, with their first going back at least (so I've been told) 15 years.
   Great hosts, and a very good group of friends were all at the supper, but Marilyn was probably the 'star' of the evening.
   You could tell she was super excited about having the GX94 crew in her home. And while both her and her husband were appreciative of the gifts from all the sponsors on board, there was one item she badly wanted that wasn't part of the prize pack.
   Working at a radio station, we all get gear with the logo on it, and a golf shirt Agriculture Director Rod McDonald wore caught her fancy. After quite a bit of cajoling, she managed to negotiate a trade to get it. Rod literally gave her the shirt off his back, in exchange for one with a Saskatchewan Roughrider logo on it:

   The problem is, Rod is a Winnipeg Blue Bombers fan!
   I just can't wait to see what happens next week! Hopefully, the rain will end and crops dry out so I can drive a combine like I did last year.

TTFN

Lest We Forget

   2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning or World War I. But it's also the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II. It was September 1st, 1939 Nazi forces invaded Poland. Two days later, France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. Canada's declaration of war came a week after that, on September 10th.
   By the time the war finally ended 6 years later with the surrender of the Japanese military in September, 1945, 45,400 Canadian military personnel had laid down their lives. In total, between 60 and 85 million military and civilian deaths were recorded.
   The cost in military deaths for Canada in both wars ranges between 102 and 112 thousand. 150 thousand more were wounded in World War I, and another 60 thousand or more in World War II. Not including Newfoundland, which didn't join Canada until 1949. There were 1204 deaths in World War I, with the numbers from World War II included in British casualties It's those soldiers, sailors and airmen we should all pause to remember each November 11th at 11:00 a.m.

TTFN

Hacked!

   Jennifer Lawrence has become the latest celebrity to have her phone hacked, and nude pictures of her downloaded onto the internet. Quite rightly, she's upset about it, and the FBI is investigating to see who hacked her phone over the weekend. She claims the images were stolen, and downloading them onto the 'net is a violation of privacy. I happen to agree with her, but I also don't have much sympathy. In this day and age, even someone as technologically inept as myself knows that what you have on your device could (and in this case did) become a target for hackers. Especially when you're someone famous.
   So, what's to be done? In cases like Ms. Lawrence, find the perpetrator, lay charges and hope for a conviction. As for better security on personal devices, it's been said hackers are always one step ahead, so even with better security it's still a matter of time before someone gets hacked.
   But there's also a better, more self controlled way of avoiding such an unpleasant experience. Simply stop taking and storing compromising pictures of yourself to begin with! With hack attacks becoming more frequent, you'd think that would be self evident.

TTFN.

Back In The Saddle Again

   It's true. I'm back. I had a wonderful vacation, took a couple of day trips to Regina, and accomplished what I set out to do way back on August 15th. Which was relax. I also got lazy, not getting up until 6:00 a.m almost every day. I'm usually up about 3:45 when I'm working.
   I also managed to injure my right knee in a rather stupid and pointless accident at home which, for the sake of brevity, I will not get into. Suffice it to say I was hobbling for a few days, putting undue pressure on my left knee, which has also sprung a bit. Compounding everything is the fact there's 15 stairs to climb between our living room and bedroom. Ouch!
   And I'll be honest here. As great as it was to get away for more than 2 weeks, it's also nice to be back at work. I think I've stated in this blog before that I'm fortunate in that I have a job I enjoy, making me very lucky. A lot of people have jobs they loathe.
   I'm also looking forward to the fall sessions of "Supper in the Field", even though my attendance record is not perfect anymore. I missed the first event last Wednesday. But hey! I was on vacation, and there are still 5 more to go in the fall session. I'm hoping to get into a combine again. Maybe even a swather!
   Anyway, it's great to be back and blogging again!

TTFN.