Merry Christmas

   As hard as it is to believe, Christmas is here. It really doesn't seem possible that it's been a year already, but it's true. All our shopping is done, except for a very few last minute food items we need for tomorrow.
   I just want to take the time to wish all of you the very best of the holiday season. I am working on the 26th, Boxing Day, but have next week off. So, Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2016.

TTFN

Winter Arrives

   It officially arrives tonight at 10:48, local time here in Yorkton, but you'd be hard pressed to know it. Yes, there is snow on the ground, and yes, it's getting colder, and yes, the days have been getting shorter. But so far, we've escaped the worst of what w8inter can bring.
   Just this past weekend on a trip to Regina, the only river I cross on my way down was still unfrozen. And it's not a big river, either. A week earlier on a similar trip, there was a good size patch of open water in the lake the river flows into, so you get an idea of how mild it's actually been. Normally at this time of year, everything would be frozen solid. I guess we can thank El Nino for this.
   But it won't last. We will get some bitterly cold weather well before the seasons change in March. Good news I guess for people into ice fishing who put shacks out for the season once ice on the lakes gets thick enough.
   And on the bright side, even though winter starts tonight the days will start getting longer! At least for the next 6 months.
   Happy winter!

TTFN

The New Face Of Terrorism?

   I actually wrote this post yesterday, then deleted it. Why, I'm not really sure. I guess it was because I didn't want to give people ideas about this. But it's out there now, so I decided to give this another try.
   Yesterday, a threat was called in targeting students in the 2nd largest school district in the U.S, the L.A Unified School District. More than 1 thousand schools in an area of 720 square miles cancelled classes affecting 640 thousand students and their parents after someone apparently issued a threat describing an attack with assault rifles. It turned out to be a hoax, as did several copy-cat threats in several other cities, including New York.
   Given recent events in San Bernardino and Paris, authorities acted correctly in safeguarding students and staff. In the post I wrote (and deleted) yesterday, it's my contention that if/when the person(s) responsible are brought to justice, they should face terrorism charges. Not only were the kids, teachers and parents vastly inconvenienced, but the strain put on all law enforcement agencies, no matter how big they are, must have been huge.
   And that's why I believe this incident, and one last week where a threat was called in to Air France forcing a plane to make an unscheduled stop in Montreal, is in fact a new form of terrorism. One where people, companies, law enforcement and others must for the public good take these as serious. It's not as deadly as the attacks in California or Paris were, but just as insidious since authorities MUST take precautionary measures.

TTFN

I Had To Share

   We here at our radio station often trade information with other outlets in the province, notable Regina and Saskatoon.
   I got this from our "partner" in Saskatoon, and simply had to share.

   The lengths some people will go to save their cell phone.

   In Saskatoon last night, a man called 9-1-1 saying he was stuck under the walkway of the Circle Drive South bridge.

   He told first responders he dropped his cell, and used a rope to rappel down from a walkway to get it.

   He got stuck 20 feet down at the base of a column.

   Firefighters sent down a blanket and hand warmers, and crews did manage to pull him out safely and unharmed.

   I've had cell phones for years, and while my wife thinks I obsess over them, I in fact don't. At least not to the point of trying to shimmy down a rope to retrieve it.

   I was never good at rope climbing, even in P.E classes in high school.

TTFN

Christmas Shopping's Done

   In fact, it has been done for a while now. For our now adult "children", it was easy. One is interested in Viking history, and has visited the site of one of the first Norse settlements in North America in Newfoundland. The other, even though he's over 30, wanted the latest incarnation of a video game. Done.
   As mentioned, they were the easy ones. My wife, not so much. I guess I'm lucky. She's not into clothing or shoes or jewelry, so getting her some "bling" was off the list. I asked her several times what she did want this year, to be met with "oh, nothing". (Handy tip: If your significant other says they want 'nothing', do NOT provide such as a gift. Try and find something nice.)
   This year after several requests of "what do you want" were met by "nothing", my wife relented and said buy her a goat. After the quizzical look shot in her direction (she's been asking if we could get one as a pet), she explained. One of the bigger overseas charitable organizations gives donors the opportunity to buy a goat for a family to raise. Not to eat, but for the milk and other potential products which they then sell, benefiting the entire family.
   After her explanation, I got not one, but 2 in her name. I figure since she's been married to this old goat for almost 33 years, why not help a couple of families out by buying them one?
   As for myself...well, I've got a project I never thought I'd undertake. I'll blog about it at a later date.

TTFN

One Down At Least

   It's a project that's literally been sitting on our bedside table for 6 months. I bought a lamp at a store in Saskatoon way back in May. In October, I picked up the internal workings, lamp stem, socket, cord and lightbulbs. Finally, I finished it:

   There was a cost, though. Seems the support stem I bought was brass, and I ended up breaking my (only) hacksaw blade in the process of cutting it down from 12" to 4". And since my thought processes aren't always that good, I had to take the darn thing apart a few times when I realized I neglected to add (in the correct order) things like nuts to tighten the stem down with. But, in the end I persevered, and am quite pleased with the result.
   Next on the "honey-do" list:

   A towel bar in the bathroom that's been hanging like that for 2 years. (I procrastinate quite a bit.) Maybe I'll tackle that this weekend. If I can figure out how to remove it without ripping up the entire wall.

TTFN

Eskies Win!

   For the 14th time in franchise history, the Edmonton Eskimo's ARE the Grey Cup Champions. They beat the Ottawa Redblacks 26-20 in the 103rd edition of the CFL Championship. It's their first cup since 2005.
   As mentioned in the post below, I'm not a huge fan of the Eskies, and was rather hoping to see Ottawa complete their Cinderella season by hoisting the Cup. The Redblacks would have gone from worst in the league last year, to first. But it wasn't to be
   So, congratulations Edmonton! Grey Cup Champions for 2015.

TTFN

It's Grey Cup Weekend!

   For Canadian football fans, Sunday is it. It's the CFL's Superbowl for the league championship, and will be played in Winnipeg. It's also the 103rd Grey Cup, and features 2 teams that last met for the title in 1981.
   The Edmonton Eskimo's

   And Ottawa Redblacks

   The last time they met, Ottawa was known as the Rough Riders. The franchise folded, was brought back as the Ottawa Renegades, folded yet again and finally came back as the Redblacks. In that game, the Eskimo's prevailed, 26-23. The team has won 13 CFL championships, and 5 in a row from 1978-82.
   I'm from the west. I was born and raised in Alberta, and have spent 20 of my almost 35 years in broadcasting in Saskatchewan (which might explain why I'm a Roughriders fan), and normally, I would root for the western rep in the "big game".
   But not this year. This year I'm pulling for Ottawa. Why? Why "turn my back" on the region? Ottawa had the worst record in the CFL last season, but vaulted to the top of the eastern conference this year. I'd like to see them cap it off with this:

(Taken 4 years ago when I was in Regina)
   But whoever wins, I hope it's a good game. At least it won't be bitterly cold.

TTFN

Happy Thanksgiving

   To my American viewers, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful day, and a very enjoyable meal.

TTFN

Holiday Shopping Season Starts

   Tomorrow, Thursday Nov 26, is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. The 27th is Black Friday, the semi-official start to the holiday shopping season. It's the day where massive deals on just about anything are available at stores across our Southern neighbor.
   And that means crowds of people will be camping out, hoping to be the first in line for the deals. Unfortunately, it also means there will no doubt be problems in some stores. In years past, we've heard of people being crushed against the doors as they want to be first off the mark. There have been assaults. There have been instances where people have literally ripped an item from someone's hand in the feeding frenzy that is Black Friday. There have also been instances where people have been shot. And instances where they have been killed.
   We in Canada are not immune to Black Friday. In fact stores here have been stocking up ahead of the event. But it didn't use to be. Canada eschewed B.F in the past. We used to save our shopping frenzy for the day after Christmas, called "Boxing Day". People still do up here, although I can think of better things to do with my time than camping out when it's -37C without the windchill hoping to grab one of a limited number of whatever is available.
   But, in the States, it's an annual tradition, and, as mentioned, kicks off the holiday spending spree. We've managed to get all our Christmas shopping done and paid for already. With one or 2 items still on the check list.
   And since tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S, I'd like to wish my American viewers a happy one, filled with turkey and all the trimmings. And a reminder, this is how I believe pumpkin pie is made:

TTFN

I Must Be In The Minority

   The hype and hoopla has started over the next instalment of the Star Wars saga, which will hit the big screens later this year. And at the risk of being castigated and drawing irate fire over this, I will admit I am not a fan. Which puts me in the minority.
   It's true that when the very first of the original Star Wars trilogy came out, I went to see it in the theatre. When the 2nd movie came out, I again went to see it, but walked out about half-way through because I found it boring. The 3rd and all subsequent parts of the trilogy I never bothered to see, nor will I.
   Why? I guess I just found the movies a little over-done. More like a 1950's Western set in outer space. And then, there's the "realism" factor. It wasn't the space machines they were piloting I found hard to believe. And the "Death Star" was (and I'll be honest here) quite something. But it was the explosions, engine noise etc which you can't hear in space, along with a big part of the plot, that drove me out. I get the fact that space battles without explosions might be seen as boring by the vast majority of movie-goers. But not me. I guess I was "spoiled" by another classic sci-fi movie: 2001 A Space Odyssey, where there was no sound in the space shots. Which actually heightened some of the drama of that movie.
   But, again, I'm in the minority. The latest Star Wars flick will, no doubt, be a huge box-office blockbuster, and merchandise will fly off the shelves. It's started to already. And I'm sure lots and lots of fans will be standing in queues for the midnight premier of the film as well.
   I will say one thing about the producers of the movie, and give them a huge "thumbs up". They held a special screening of the movie for a fan with terminal cancer. That man died just days afterwards. That shows an awful lot of class in my books.
   If you are a fan, I hope this movie not only lives up to, but surpasses your expectations. But I just can't be bothered.

TTFN

Some Thoughts About Paris

   As the world knows, attackers claiming to be with the Islamic State group hit several locations in Paris on Friday, leaving 129 people dead, and scores injured. The attackers struck a concert venue, where most of the carnage took place, along with several other sites, including a soccer stadium. French authorities are warning of the potential for more such attacks.
   The City of Light has been darkened. At least for now.
   France has retaliated by hitting with "massive airstrikes" ISIL's de-facto capital in Syria. French police have also cracked down, raiding 150 locations in the country. Belgian police made half a dozen arrests in the wake of the Paris attack, and it's said Turkish authorities managed to stop a Paris style attack in Istanbul.
   Needless to say the reaction to these events by the majority of world leaders has been condemnation.
   And there's already been an apparent backlash attack here in Canada. In Ontario, police say a mosque was deliberately torched, but they also say there's nothing to link it to the Paris attacks. Sadly, I have a sinking feeling that we may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg. Already, the internet's buzzing with negative comments about Syrian refugees being allowed to resettle in other countries, including Canada.
   True, one of the Paris attackers did have a Syrian passport on him. But it could have been a forgery. It could also have been the real deal. But now, all potential refugees are being treated with suspicion. And although there may be a few malcontents, let's remember the reason they've become refugees. It's due to ISIL.
   Even Pope Francis has spoken out about the attack in a call to a Catholic radio station in Rome. He said basically that the attacks in Paris, and the air strikes against ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq show that this is how World War 3 will be fought. Sadly, I think he may be right.

TTFN

Pause And Remember

   Tomorrow is November 11th, Remembrance Day in Canada, the U.K and many other Commonwealth countries. It's also Veterans Day in the United States. In Canada at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we should all pause for at least 1 minute to pay silent tribute to all those who gave the supreme sacrifice in all wars by laying down their lives for our freedom.
   And it doesn't mean just World War I and World War II either. We should be paying tribute and respect to all fallen members of all branches of the Canadian Forces killed in combat, or who died from wounds they suffered.
   I'm a child of a World War II veteran. Dad went in to France 6 weeks after D-Day in 1944. He was 19 at the time. He was also wounded, and was left temporarily blinded for 6 weeks. He also had 9 surgeries in the months and years after the war. So it's no wonder I pay close attention to Remembrance Day, and observe 2 minutes of silence.
   I'm also proud to say my sons also mark the occasion, as do my niece and nephew. It's a tradition I plan on continuing for many more years to come, especially since the Greatest Generation are now succumbing to old age, and are passing away.
   But we should also not forget those killed in Korea, Afghanistan and other conflicts either. Their sacrifice is just as great.

TTFN

I've Been Honoured Again

   Twice, in fact. Every year, GX94's Tonya Cherry puts together a cookbook made up of local people's recipes. Proceeds from the sale of the books goes to charities in the town they're sold in. Last year, I had a recipe for what was one of my favourite cocktails (a Manhattan) included.
   This year, I feel fortunate to have 2 included. One is for my chicken or turkey a-la king, which is a great way to recycle those leftovers.
   The second was for a family favourite, Cajun hamburgers which, as the name suggests, means hamburgers seasoned with Cajun spices, onion, celery and green peppers.
   I wish I'd know the cookbooks were available to staff today, I'd gladly put the 8 dollar cost down for a copy. But, I've got until 2:00 tomorrow to do it. And I'll probably be first in line when the office opens at 8:00 to secure mine.

TTFN

Priorities

   I'll admit it. I'm old fashioned. I like the natural flow of things, one into the other. The natural flow. That's why I, and a lot of people, are somewhat discouraged by an early start to Christmas displays.
   I took this in a big box retailer the last time I was in Regina

   That was the middle of October, and yes, it's the store's tree display. I worked in retail many, many years ago, and I know about seasonal change and the need to push stock. But do we really need to have Christmas displays set up before Halloween?
   I've got nothing against Christmas, but it seems stores are starting to set things up earlier and earlier. The main thing I and a lot of my contemporaries are having trouble with is the fact all this started well ahead of Remembrance Day

   November 11th to be exact. One week from today. Again, I know the retail cycle. I know the upcoming season is the biggest one on the calendar for stores. But I also feel that we need to honour those service people who fell defending us so we can celebrate the Christmas season. Especially since we're in the midst of the 100th anniversary of World War I, and the 97th anniversary of the end of the "War To End All Wars".
   So, to me it seems like our priorities are being a little misplaced. Celebrate Christmas, by all means. I plan on shopping in my local stores. But can we not wait until November 12th or the "big push"?
   Sorry if this turned into a rant.

TTFN..And if you live in Canada, wear a poppy.

Here It Comes

   Yep! The old snow shovel. And that means just one thing, doesn't it? We're in for snow. In fact, the forecast calls for between 5 and 10 c.m (2-4 inches) tomorrow into Wednesday as a Colorado Low slams through the region.
   And this time, it might just be my fault. You see, I had the winter tires put on my car this past weekend. It's a good thing I did it when I did. The shop I use to change my tires over (and store them until the next change of seasons) was booking into the middle of this month, as everyone else also gears up for winter.
  If there is a bright side, and I'm desperately looking for one, it's the fact that I only have about 10 feet of sidewalk to clear. Our place in Regina had a 100 foot long driveway, which, along with other sidewalks, usually took me 45 minutes or more to clear. And that's using a snowblower.
   So, much as I don't like winter, I'm ready for it. Here's hoping the forecast of milder weather comes true!

TTFN

It's Halloween Again

   And in years past, I've come as a Zombie news reader, and last year as an Aussie from the outback (complete with Lobster, not shrimp, on a Barbie, didgeridoo, "beer" and corked hat).
   This year, I've changed things up again, and came as a Zombie killer

   The "rifle" in question sends out a green zombie-zapping ray, which disintegrates them. The goggles and pith helmet are safety precautions, because it can get messy. Note the brain attached to my chair as an example. The skull necklace is there 'cause I like it
   After much internal debate, I decided my characters name this year would be Zombie Zapper Topershaw. But since that's a mouthful, just call me ZZ Top for short.
   And yes, I am already planning for next year!

TTFN, and Happy Halloween

Been Sick

   I hate being sick. Especially when I get the flu. Colds are bad enough, but there's been a very nasty bug going 'round recently. It hit my poor wife Saturday, and kept her in bed through to Tuesday. Which is the day I started getting ill.
   Normally, I try to "tough it out", but I was feeling so ill that I had no choice but to "pull the pin" just after 8:00 Tuesday morning. The rest of that day and yesterday have been lost somewhere in some kind of fog. I really don't remember much about either day, so I  must've been sick.
   Not only was I an idiot for coming in to work Tuesday, but I also likely put my co-workers at risk of getting whatever it was I had. But in this industry, playing hurt isn't unusual. I've seen many of my fellow staffers come in with bad colds, and even the flu. Just so long as they can talk! When it hits the voice, you can't work. Such was the case with me. I started getting hoarse Tuesday morning, along with being achy, queezy etc.
   But I'm back today, and while I feel 100% better than the past couple of days, I'm still not 100%. And damn! I hate being sick.

TTFN

I'm Ready

   Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, but that's not stopping staff here at the radio station from getting dressed up next Friday.
   We're encouraged to get into the Halloween "spirit" every year by either coming to work in costume or donning it once we get to the office. There are exceptions, of course. Anyone who will be out in the public has the option of dressing 'normally'. But by and large, we all get geared up for it.
   In the past, my get-ups have been a zombie news reader

   Which was a last minute thing I just literally threw together. That was 2013, and just about 6 weeks after I started here.
   Last year, I had time to prepare. In fact, I started thinking about what I was going to do about a year in advance. I came as an Aussie

   Complete with a didgeridoo I even learned how to play (even though I can't do the circular breathing needed to play well), a 'corked' outback hat, a beer, which was non-alcoholic, "lobster on a Barbie" (I couldn't find a shrimp) and even some Halloween treats I referred to as 'bush tucker', which I handed out to staff.
   This year, I'm going in a different direction. I'm not going to say anything which might give my costume/character away, other than to say I'll be wearing one of these

   A pith helmet. Don't ask why I've got one, I don't really know myself, but it's going to be a very integral part of my costume. And music lovers can take solace in this: I will NOT be playing an instrument this year. Probably. Maybe. We'll see when all is revealed next Friday.

TTFN

I Did NOT See This Coming

   And many other political watchers didn't either. Canadians went to the polls last night, and voted for change. And rather than elect a minority Conservative, Liberal or NDP government, they went with a Liberal majority under Justin Trudeau

   Mr. Trudeau's Liberals won a majority, and not with the 170 seats needed. They swept up 184 seats in total. It marks the return of a Trudeau to 24 Sussex Drive, some 35 years after his late father Pierre was Prime Minister of Canada. It also marked the first time in Canadian political history that a party in 3rd place in the Commons vaulted to form government in just 4 years.
   It also marked the end of the Conservative Party of Canada's grip on power under Stephan Harper

   The Conservatives went from 159 seats at dissolution in August to 99. And while Mr. Harper easily kept his seat in Calgary, he resigned as leader of the party shortly after it's electoral defeat.
   But the biggest losers last night were the NDP under Tom Mulcair

      The NDP were on the cusp of becoming the first NDP government in Canadian history. Voters, particularly in Quebec where they had a break-through in 2011, rejected them. The party had 95 seats going in to the election, 56 in Quebec. They were left with 44 after the ballots were cast, going from official opposition to 3rd party status in the process. Mr. Mulcair was re-elected
   Rounding things out: The Bloc Quebecois increased their seat count from 2 to 10, but leader Gilles Duceppe lost his riding. And Green party leader Elizabeth May was successful in her re-election bid, but the party held just the 1 seat.
   To say the winds of change were blowing Monday, October 19, 2015 is an understatement. It was a hurricane that devastated 2 political parties, and brought the Liberals back to power.
   Now it will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks as Mr. Trudeau picks his cabinet, and the Conservatives look for a new leader.
   Finally, I'd like to congratulate all the winning candidates last night, regardless of political stripe. It takes a real sense of civic duty and a belief that you can change things for the better to run for public office, and suffer the barbs from your opponents both political and in society generally, because there are always some who are unhappy with any outcome. Thank you for your service to your community, your region and your country.

TTFN

I Voted

   Actually, both my wife and I cast ballots at an advance poll in Yorkton Thanksgiving Monday. And the polling place was a bit busier than I anticipated, given the low turnout in the last federal election in 2011.
   And we had a problem. Not with the ballot, or the people staffing the polling station we voted at. It was our voter registration cards. Our names were correct, but our address wasn't. The card gave our correct address, but instead of "way", the card said "street" (there are 2 roads with the same name in Yorkton, one 'way', the other 'street'), which caused some confusion. A quick trip to a different kiosk, and a change of address form later, and we did our civic duty.
   This isn't the first time the difference between "street" and "way" has caused problems, either. We're in a fairly new development (about 2 years old), and it wasn't until this year we even got a street sign. In fact, the road we're on apparently hasn't been mapped yet. It's certainly not on Google Map (when I use G.M to search destinations, it still comes up as "street"), and apparently not on any city map either. So, we've had "issues" like even getting a taxi, since our road isn't recognized.
   But rather than blame Elections Canada for the foul-up, I'm blaming myself. We assumed the information on our voter card was correct, and never glanced at it. Not even when we were standing in line waiting at the advance polling station. Had we done so, we would have caught the error, and done the change of information first. Not that it added much time to our wait.
   And it seems we weren't the only ones casting an early ballot. Elections Canada says for the first 3 days of advance polling, 2.4 million Canadians voted, with 767 thousand Sunday alone. Monday's numbers were not available at the time I posted this.
   Election day is next Monday, the 19th.

TTFN

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

   The Thanksgiving long weekend is once again upon us in Canada, as people will be preparing a gigantic meal with all the trimmings. An awful lot of folks will also be traveling home to see family and friends in what's likely the last snow-free long weekend of the year.
   Our family will be no different. Our "kids" will be coming up for a visit (and a home-cooked meal). But, as I believe I've stated in the past, we won't be tucking into a turkey this weekend. There's an enzyme in turkey that plays havoc with my digestive tract, and does lots of very unpleasant things. So, we'll forgo the gobbler, and just roast a couple of chickens instead. That still means stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy etc.
   As for dessert, my wife will probably make a nice apple pie, rather than pumpkin. She'd prefer pumpkin, but I can't stand the stuff, and firmly believe that this is how such oies are actually made:

   Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian viewers!

TTFN

I'm Glad It's Just An App

   GX94's Danny Ismond was 'celebrating' "Bald and Free" day by taking pictures of as many staff members as possible with a "bald app" he downloaded to his phone. That's what I'd look like with a "skullet" (minus the fringe that the app didn't manage to hide), not that I'd ever do that look.
   The response was, to me, a little surprising from listeners who clicked on our facebook page and app. One person responded by saying "bald suited me", while another said maybe I should go with it.
   I will categorically state here and now that I will not become a "chrome dome" by my own actions. If my hair falls out of it's own accord, so be it. Otherwise, forget about it. In fact, the last haircut I got was a little short for my liking. But at least it'll grow back.

TTFN

An Early Winter?

   My wife and I just happened to glance out of our kitchen window at the right time this past weekend to see someone in a pick-up, hauling a snowmobile down the street. And that got us wondering if we're in for an early winter.
   Already, there's been snow in Alberta, with our old hometown Calgary getting a big dump. And while we've had a little frost here, no sign of snow. And hopefully (at least from our perspective) it's still a long, long way off.
   We know the only way to avoid winter altogether is go to the tropics. Finances dictate we'll be staying very close to home. Again.
   And a few of the weather services we have in Canada also indicate a mild winter, with average snowfall.
   But, thanks to my co-worker Danny Ismond, our fears may have been allayed. At least for now. Danny pointed out (probably 100% rightly so) that the person must have just bought the machine, or had it serviced, and was simply transporting it home.
   But it was still a bit of a shock seeing it this early in the fall!
   Ah, well. Winter's going to hit no matter how much we wish it wouldn't. and for all those who have a snowmobile, safe and happy sledding this year!

TTFN

We Can See Outside Again

   That was my view for just over a month, as new windows were being installed in the building we work in. It's a process that has taken just over 4 weeks from when they removed the old, dirty, grimy, streaked ones. A few delays due to wrong size windows being ordered (or so I was told), we finally have them in.

   No more guessing what the weather's like. No more having to run down a hall or 2 to find out (even though I need the exercise). Just clear, clean vision. Until they start to weather on the outside, at any rate.
   So far, no one in the newsroom has started a pool to see when the first bird will hit them!

TTFN

Here's Something You Don't See Everyday

   That is indeed a goat, and yes, it is inside a building. But not just any building. The goat (I think I'll dub him "Billy") somehow got into a Tim Horton's location in Martensville, north of Saskatoon.
   RCMP were called to deal with the intruder, and showing they have a sense of humour, this is what they posted on their facebook page about the incident:

Early Sunday morning two Warman RCMP members were called to a business for a disturbance. There was a stubborn goat refusing to leave the establishment. The employees would ask him to leave and walk him outside, but he would just turn around and come back in through the automatic doors.
The members believed he was just cold and he decided to lie down and wanted to sleep in the entrance. He was “arrested” and escorted into the police vehicle. He was very unhappy with this so the members decided to take him home instead of to holding cells at the detachment.
After knocking on every farm house north of Martensville, members were not able to locate his house. Members contacted Animal control, but learned that they typically don’t deal with goats.
Members transported the goat to an animal hospital until his owners could be located. We are happy to report that the goat is safe and sound back with his owners after his adventurous night out on the town.

   It wasn't stated if the goat was after a maple dip and double-double.

TTFN

Out Of This World

   It literally is. Scientists say they've found very good (if not conclusive) evidence that liquid water still flows on Mars. They'd known for a long time there was water ice at the poles, but they now say they've got evidence that, at least in the "summer months" on the Red Planet, there is salt water flowing down certain slopes.
   For science and planetary buffs, this is huge. It means Mars could have, and maybe still does, harbour life of some kind, even microscopic. It's also going to rev up interest in a manned mission. Why is important? Water is the key to life as we know it. Without water, no life (as we know it), even on the cellular or microscopic level.
   I'm still waiting for someone to give definitive proof Marvin the Martian exists and is till looking for his Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator.

 TTFN

Patiently Waiting

   That's been the view from any of the windows in our newsroom for the past 3 weeks. No one broke in, and no one jumped out. Which is a good thing, since we're on the top floor of our building. We share space with several provincial departments, including the courthouse, and a decision was made to have all the windows replaced. Ours just happen to be among the last.
   As a time-saving measure, the contractors decided to remove the old glass and do whatever they had to do to the frames to get them ready for the new windows. And that's apparently where the problem cropped up.
   Anyone who's had a home renovation project done knows there are snafu's and delays getting material in a timely manner. The same thing has happened here. Something went wrong somewhere down the line, pushing back what was supposed to have been a 2 week project into 3. So far.
   And not only has it meant a simple lack of being able to look out the window. There have been quite a few times, when the wind is from the right direction, you can actually hear it howling through the plywood. There were a couple of days that if you closed your eyes you'd almost think you were in a blizzard.
   Then, there's the cooler air. We're out of summer now, and the colder air does find it's way into the office. It hasn't been so cold we need to put on a jacket, but that's just a matter of time. Other adverse weather has not yet posed a problem. Rain has not made it into the building. But it was damp enough this morning for you to actually smell the wood.
   Hopefully the new windows will arrive next week, and the crew can get them installed. I'd hate to have to wait until the first snowfall before it gets done.
   It should be noted as well that I am not complaining. The newsroom we had in Regina was smack-dab in the middle of the building, and we had NO windows at all.

TTFN

The Federal Election Campaign Just Got Interesting

   A guy in Ontario has come up with the cereal boxes above, poking fun at the 3 main party leaders vying for our votes on October 19th, and they'll be available for purchase on line Monday. Unfortunately, there was no link or web address included in the story I saw. Or how many will be available.
   Jamie Christian came up with the idea, and used his own savings to have them made up. The question begging to be asked is: Why? Why spend your hard-earned cash on what will be a novelty? His answer is simple: To bring some fun to the campaign.
   There's one big problem, though. None of the boxes will actually have any cereal in them. Christian says something will be "stuffed" in them, but not exactly what.
   Given the creativity (and publicity) behind the Mulcair's Lucky Charms, Harper Squares and Trudeau O's boxes, it's something even a jaded old political watcher like myself would buy. I just hope he's got a good run, because I think demand will be heavy for these.

TTFN

A Sombre Day

   Hard as it is to believe, today marks the 14th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks in New York, Washington D.C and a field in Pennsylvania where one attack ended after passengers stopped the terrorists before they could reach their target. This is one of several images burned into the mind of anyone who watched in horror those events unfold September 11, 2001.
   I vividly remember that Tuesday morning. We were living in Regina, and I'd just got home from taking my wife to work. I had the coffee going, and was sitting down to watch CNN when I saw the first tower engulfed in smoke and flames. Then the second tower and Pentagon were hit, and of course 3 World Trade Centre towers ended up falling that day. In all, more than 3 thousand people were killed.
   I was so gob-smacked by what was going on, I never even thought to call the newsroom at the station I was working for to see if they needed me to come in early. Needless to say, it was frantic when I did get in. We weren't an "all-news" station, but we were giving updates every 15 minutes, and breaking in to programming with urgent items.
   It was one of those events you will remember as long as you live, watching it unfold right there in front of you. I've lived through several (but nowhere near as many as a lot of other people) starting in 1963 with the Kennedy assassination. Then there was the death of John Lennon in 1980. The Challenger explosion in 1986. And the list goes on.
   On this date, take a moment to remember the lives of those who were killed on this day 14 years ago, including first responders like the firefighters who rushed to the scene in New York City that fateful day.

TTFN

A Historic Reign

   It was Wednesday, September 9th 2015 Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history. at 63 years 7 months, she surpassed her great-grandmother Victoria to reach the milestone. She's over 89 now, and ascended to the throne when she was just 25, so it has been a remarkable reign for her. she's starting to show her age a bit now, but continues with her hectic schedules.
   She's had 12 prime ministers, some who weren't even born when she became Queen on the death of her father George VI in 1952.
   I won't get into the long history of her life and achievements here, that's what things like Google and Wiki are for. I will say I came very close to actually meeting her in 1973 when she paid a visit to Canada to help mark the 100th anniversary of the RCMP. I was part of the honour guard that greeted her in Calgary. Had I been one rank higher, I would've met her. I wasn't and therefore didn't, but I'm still a supporter of the Monarchy, and Her Majesty.
  
TTFN, and God Save the Queen!

I've Been Given The All Clear

   About 6 weeks or so ago, I had a health scare. And while I'm not going to get into it on this forum, it was bad enough for me to go to the emergency department at our local hospital to get checked out. It also resulted in my going for tests that required me to return to hospital for a visit to the day surgery department.
   It also left me in limbo for more than 2 weeks waiting to hear the results.
   Yesterday, I got them, and I am fortunate. The results showed I do not have cancer, a possibility that had weighed on my mind ever since my visits. I was also told I'll need to go back for another screening in a few years. I have to admit that I feel very lucky indeed, since there is a history of cancer in my family, and have lost a few members to the disease. And I've also lost a few friends to cancer.
   And while I got the diagnosis I was hoping for, more than a few people get the dreaded news. To those fighting it, keep up the fight. And lets all keep working to try and make cancer extinct.

TTFN

Happy Labour Day

   It is the Labour Day long weekend. It's also the day set aside to celebrate the achievements of workers, and the fight for an 8 hour workday.
   It's a happy-sad weekend. Happy, because it's a long weekend, and sad because it's the last "warm weather" long weekend until Victoria Day next year. And, as if we needed it, it's a reminder (along with cooling temperatures and shorter days) that winter is coming.
   An awful lot of people will be heading into the great outdoors one last extended weekend, grabbing the last rays of summer sunshine. If you're lucky enough to get any. The forecast for Yorkton is calling for cloud, possible showers and cooler temperatures. Not that it matters to me. I won't be heading anywhere this weekend for a couple of reasons. One: There's enough idiots on the road on long weekends, so I'm keeping one off the road. And Two: Ironically enough, my wife has to work Labour Day Monday.
   If you get the weekend off, I hope it's a good one for you!

TTFN (at least until Tuesday)

Purged!

   Normally, I don't venture into the world of sports on this platform. I'm not knowledgeable enough to converse well on the subject, and usually leave such things to sports guru's like our own Benny Walchuk. Today, as a fan, I'm making an exception.
   Last night, the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders fired both head coach Corey Chamblin and general manager Brendan Taman after the team has gone winless through 9 games so far this season. I'm not sticking up for either by saying this, but a lot of the reason the team has gone oh-for is down to injury. Both first line quarterbacks were sidelined early in the season, and the team was left with a lot of rookies trying to pick up the slack. I'm not offering up excuses, but simply stating facts.
   Still, the buck must stop somewhere, and in this case it was the doors of Taman and Chamblin. It must be remembered, however, that both men were with the team when they won their 4th Grey Cup championship in 2013, and on home-field to boot.
   The past is just that. The past. To say the team has struggled this year is an understatement. To say both the players and fans are frustrated with the winless season is an understatement. To say both are looking for wins in the last half of the season is, again, an understatement.
   I guess I'm a glass-half-full sort of person when it comes to the Riders. There's still half the season left, and if they win everything from this week on, they'll at least be at 9 and 9 and .500 on the season. And might still have a shot at the playoffs. Is that likely? Realistically, no. Will they go winless for the season? No. The annual Labour Day Classic is this Sunday when the Riders host Winnipeg. It'd be a great time to start a win streak.

TTFN

Hello, It's Me Again

   After a couple of weeks of much needed down-time, I AM back. I didn't accomplish a whole lot during my vacation, and in fact got lazy, sleeping in until 6:00 AM. I did get re-acquainted with my couch, which now bears a deep scar in the spot I sat in for the past 2 weeks.
   Aside from doing a few chores around the house, about the only thing I did do was take a quick trip to Regina to re-stock some supplies. And grab a sandwich from the Italian Star Deli, of course.
   But you know what? It feels kinda good to be back at work. Truth be told, I was actually getting a little bored during my vacation. Probably from wearing a new groove in my couch! But, since my wife and I could not coordinate time-off this year, "getting away from it all" was simply not on the cards.
   And now that I'm back, I'm looking forward to what will be my 3rd run of fall "Supper in the Field" excursions. And a chance to redeem myself on attendance at those events. They actually got underway last Wednesday, when I was on vacation. That means I missed 3 in a row, including the last 2 of the spring Suppers.
   And hopefully, once again, we'll get "Craig in a Combine", which has turned into an annual event.

TTFN

Down Time

   It is that time of year yet again. Time for me to vanish for a couple of weeks and recharge the batteries as we get set for the fall. I'm going to be away from noon today until August 31st, taking some "well deserved time off" as they say.
   I won't be able to go anywhere this summer for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is my wife and I couldn't get time off together for the 3rd year in a row. That puts a huge crimp in any plans. Another fly in the ointment is I've got a couple of important appointments coming up over the next week, and can't miss any of them.
   That doesn't mean I won't take a day trip or 2, maybe even get a little fishing in (if I can find a good spot). But other that that, I'm simply going to relax and sleep in until 6:00 in the morning. Which for me is a luxury, since I'm usually up before 4:00 AM. I'm looking forward to that.

TTFN

Hot, Hot, Hot

   That pretty much sums up what we're expecting across a wide swath of Saskatchewan and Manitoba as temperatures get into the mid 30's today and Friday. In fact, it could get to 35 C Friday (that's a scorching 95 F) before settling down to a mild 21 C on Sunday.
   When it gets that hot, it's best to try and stay indoors to avoid heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. We're lucky. We had central air conditioning put in last year, so keeping cool for us won't be a big problem. But for those who don't have A/C, it's going to be a very hot slog. Just putting out fans doesn't seem to help much, and hitting a local lake will again provide only temporary relief.
   I'm thinking of making a nice, cold batch of Gazpacho (chilled tomato soup) to last us a few days.
   Of course, in 6 months we'll be looking back on these hot temperatures, wishing they'd make a come-back.

TTFN

I've Hit The "In Between" Stage

   I've made no secret of the fact I've been trying to lose weight recently. By simply not having snacks washed down with syrupy sodas, I've dumped 10 pounds so far (but still have 20 to go before I hot my self-declared target). But that's now presenting a problem. I'm at that "awkward stage" when it comes to clothes. I'm getting too thin for the size I'm in now, and still too fat for the next size down.
   I've been getting suggestions on my facebook page about his to best deal with this "problem". They range anywhere from getting a smaller belt for my pants (which I've already done), to suspenders to just punching another hole in my existing belt.
   That's all fine when it comes to the pants. But shirts are also a problem. The size I've had to buy are starting to hang on me like a sail, while the next size down is still a little tight (especially around the old gut).
   The 3rd conundrum is this. Do I spend a whack-load of money getting new clothes now, as I continue losing weight, or do I wait till I hit my "target". I'm thinking I'll have to get some new duds soon, particularly pants, since pretty near everything is starting to look droopy on me.
   I guess this is a nice problem to have, rather than going the other way and having to buy larger clothes. Which I have had to to in the past.

TTFN

Off To The Races

   The Prime Minister did as expected over the long weekend, and visited the Governor General to dissolve parliament and set October 19th as the date for the federal election. In doing so, Stephen Harper also set the length of the campaign at 11 weeks, the longest campaign since the 1920's, and much longer than the usual 37 day race for our vote.
   The decision to fire the starting pistol 6 weeks early is drawing some negative reaction. The cost of a traditional 37 day campaign is about 375 million dollars. A lot of pundits are saying the additional 6 weeks will add 300 to 400 million to the total. all of which is funded by taxpayers.
   It is going to be an interesting run up to October 19th, with all 3 main party leaders hitting the trail running. Liberal Justin Trudeau was in the Tory stronghold of Calgary, where the party hasn't elected an M.P from that party since 1968, the year his father won federally.
   Alberta is going to be an interesting place to watch over the coming weeks, especially after the NDP in that province swept the ruling Tories out after 41 years in power. I'm sure that's going to be very much on the mind of Mr. Harper and federal NDP leader Tom Mulcair. In the last election, Harper only landed in Calgary, where his home riding is, on election night. It's been that much a Tory stronghold over the years.
   My home province of Saskatchewan is also going to be interesting to see. There are 14 ridings, and all but one were held by the Tories. That is Regina-Wascana, which has been held by Liberal Ralph Goodale for years.
   The NDP hasn't had a seat in Saskatchewan since 2004, but will be looking to build on the success in Alberta, and recent polls putting Mulcair in the lead among major party leaders. Of course, as any politician will tell you, the only poll that matters is the one on voting day.
   Still, it's going to be an interesting few weeks.

TTFN

A Long Weekend Ahead

   And by the look of things, the Civic Holiday weekend will be a warm and sunny one. At least in my part of the world. We're looking at mainly sunny skies, and highs in the mid to upper 20's. There's a very slim chance we could get a shower Sunday.
   And while a lot of people will be heading to lakes and parks in our area, I think I'll be staying close to home this year. Some yard work still needs to be done, and highways will be busy. But at least I've got the weekend off as we end July and start August.
   I hope (if you get Monday off) your weekend is a good one. Back Tuesday.

TTFN