Finally CBC is back on the air - yea! As odd as it seams my fall has been disrupted, for the last few weeks I have gotten up in the morning to lousy radio and I feel disconnected in the mornings. I can't hear Terry on the radio, find out what's going on in the city and in the world and going to work means a constant switch back and forth trying to find something to listen to. Most of the radio in the city is written to be too fluffy light like Q94 and BOB or serious over non-issues like CJOB. They can't find a balance of fun but not stupid like CBC can.
I will be interesting to hear if anything has changed - they were out for a long time and there is bound to be some bad blood between management and staff. When I was a young my father was out of work with CBC for some weeks. It hurt us financially quite badly. I've come to the conclusion that there is very little to be really gained by either strikes or lockouts, both sides loose.
Evan
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
CBC Lockout...Letter to the Editor
Maybe CBC isn't worth its cost, MP says
BILL CURRY Globe and Mail, 8 September 2005
A few years ago I had a pin on my winter jacket- a small 'I (heart)CBC'. I had loads of people approach me and mention it and the most common statement was 'You mean CBC Radio right?' which I had to concede was exactly what I meant. I just couldn’t find a 'I Love CBC Radio' Pin.
CBC Radio is by far the best radio on the air - terrific morning wake up program that is intelligent and fun. Not written so the announcers sound vapid or degrading, the women announcers written as badly stereotyped. The annoying thing is it doesn't matter what channel you're on they’re all the same!
My wife and I are missing our fun afternoons on The Roundup with Tetsuro and getting up with Terry in Winnipeg. Excellent journalism on 'As it Happens', stories by Stuart on Sundays after church from the Vinyl Cafe. These are people we know and love hearing every day. We time our morning by who's on when - sports at 25 past the hour, news on the half. And all of that with NO commercials!
I don't much care about CBC TV; they don't carry much I like really. They might be better off moving to a commercial free, membership based model. Or include them in basic cable - I already pay for a couple of useless channels that I can't get rid of so it's not much different.
Its past time for CBC management to FIX THIS, find a compromise, make it happen - unlock the doors and get CBC back on the air. If you stay off too long, if the tide turns, and politicians can get more public credit for killing the CBC than keeping it alive as a station of BBC re-runs you're finished.
Missing My Radio in Winnipeg
Evan
BILL CURRY Globe and Mail, 8 September 2005
A few years ago I had a pin on my winter jacket- a small 'I (heart)
CBC Radio is by far the best radio on the air - terrific morning wake up program that is intelligent and fun. Not written so the announcers sound vapid or degrading, the women announcers written as badly stereotyped. The annoying thing is it doesn't matter what channel you're on they’re all the same!
My wife and I are missing our fun afternoons on The Roundup with Tetsuro and getting up with Terry in Winnipeg. Excellent journalism on 'As it Happens', stories by Stuart on Sundays after church from the Vinyl Cafe. These are people we know and love hearing every day. We time our morning by who's on when - sports at 25 past the hour, news on the half. And all of that with NO commercials!
I don't much care about CBC TV; they don't carry much I like really. They might be better off moving to a commercial free, membership based model. Or include them in basic cable - I already pay for a couple of useless channels that I can't get rid of so it's not much different.
Its past time for CBC management to FIX THIS, find a compromise, make it happen - unlock the doors and get CBC back on the air. If you stay off too long, if the tide turns, and politicians can get more public credit for killing the CBC than keeping it alive as a station of BBC re-runs you're finished.
Missing My Radio in Winnipeg
Evan
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
New arrival!!! Part 2
Ok,
We were in our own room and setting in, S. was able to use the shower,tub etc. Several times over the next hours and that helped - she didn't want to thow up when in there.
By 6pm S. was exhausted, dehydrated just 'tired of this' and the Dr. Suggested some drugs - we weren't exactly clear it seems on what they would do - they knocked her flat - she slept for 3 hours (I did too actually, in the pull out chair for an hour and a half). By 9 pm we were awake again S. was much farther along and had over a liter of fluid on-board (I had snuck out and found my first real meal in 17 hours as well)
It took 4 hours more but by 12:40 NB was here! Yea - the only thing that was a real surprise was that the umbilical cord broke! (Yes they can break) The cord was around NB's neck - a not unusual situation - and the Dr usually flips it over the head and all is OK - worst case he can clamp it and cut it quick and he was all set for that. Well he pulled on it two or three times and it broke, right close to the belly button. It goes off like a gunshot (it's under high pressure apparently) - blood flashes everywhere, across the Dr., me, S., the room etc. The Dr. had to pinch off what was left as a stub and then clamp off the cord. (He was so embarrassed the next day) After all of that it came out well
Now here's an intriguing series of co-incidences (or not) - I had been moving around the hospital a bit, once to go and get a coke / vending machine stuff and the 2nd time to go and get dinner. Who do I meet each time, but friends - the first one an older gentlemen from our home parish who I like and respect very much who recognized me, encouraged me, shook my hand and sent me back to my laboring wife. The 2nd time a close friend of S. and mine who would be becoming an Anglican deacon two days after NB was born and who will be his godmother. This very logical 5 is going to take both of these as a vote of confidence and 'extra support when needed' in answer to a few prayers!
Living 5 life the the fullest!
We were in our own room and setting in, S. was able to use the shower,tub etc. Several times over the next hours and that helped - she didn't want to thow up when in there.
By 6pm S. was exhausted, dehydrated just 'tired of this' and the Dr. Suggested some drugs - we weren't exactly clear it seems on what they would do - they knocked her flat - she slept for 3 hours (I did too actually, in the pull out chair for an hour and a half). By 9 pm we were awake again S. was much farther along and had over a liter of fluid on-board (I had snuck out and found my first real meal in 17 hours as well)
It took 4 hours more but by 12:40 NB was here! Yea - the only thing that was a real surprise was that the umbilical cord broke! (Yes they can break) The cord was around NB's neck - a not unusual situation - and the Dr usually flips it over the head and all is OK - worst case he can clamp it and cut it quick and he was all set for that. Well he pulled on it two or three times and it broke, right close to the belly button. It goes off like a gunshot (it's under high pressure apparently) - blood flashes everywhere, across the Dr., me, S., the room etc. The Dr. had to pinch off what was left as a stub and then clamp off the cord. (He was so embarrassed the next day) After all of that it came out well
Now here's an intriguing series of co-incidences (or not) - I had been moving around the hospital a bit, once to go and get a coke / vending machine stuff and the 2nd time to go and get dinner. Who do I meet each time, but friends - the first one an older gentlemen from our home parish who I like and respect very much who recognized me, encouraged me, shook my hand and sent me back to my laboring wife. The 2nd time a close friend of S. and mine who would be becoming an Anglican deacon two days after NB was born and who will be his godmother. This very logical 5 is going to take both of these as a vote of confidence and 'extra support when needed' in answer to a few prayers!
Living 5 life the the fullest!
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
New arrival!!!
Wow it's hard to believe that a month has gone buy already and I'm back to work (I took 3 weeks off plus my company gives 3 days automatically. )
Little info on how things went:
We woke up at about 1:30 in the morning with S. Having a contraction - they were about 10-15 minutes apart and we figured we'd have time for a cup of tea and finding out what was on late-night TV.
By 2:00 we were at 2 minutes apart - that was a little quick - we called the Dr. and he said to go into the hospital - we had an interesting run in (including coming up to the railway crossing at 2:45 in the morning with the gates coming down...it was like a bad movie - especially since it was only an engine (no cars) my guess was they wanted coffee at the Tim Hortons next to the tracks. Thankfully they saw us and did whatever they needed to do to get the gates up.
We got to triage and were assessed and not getting very far - S. Was having serial contractions now one on top of the other. Thankfully we had a couple of great nurses helping us, as well we took part in a study that gave us one-on-one access to a nurse for two hours much better. By 6am we were making progress nicely and could stay in the hospital - (if you haven't progressed much they send you home) we get to do the 2nd part of the study in a week (a paper follow-up questionnaire) and see how things went. I've requested a copy of the study when it's published - hey they offered.
Now here's an interesting observation; S. and I thought we were pretty relaxed, comfortable with what was coming - I had read and studied lots and was prepared for a long run myself. Relaxation during labour is very very subtle, while emotionally calm it turns out that physically calm is something else - we had to learn what that meant all over again. The big part of what the nurses helped us with was to learn to relax into the contraction, it's not easy or intuitive. Word of advice - be prepared to ditch what doesn't work, the idea of a 'cleansing breath' at the beginning of the contraction didn't work for us at all, though it had ben emphasized during the classes.
The only thing that was really an ongoing annoyance was nausea - S. was sick every time she did anything but sit in bed, walking, birth ball,standing etc. all made her throw up - no morning sickness during the entire pregnancy and now this.
So we sat around - and by 11am were moved to the LDRP (labor, Delivery, Recover, Postpartum) ward. Neat facility we got our own room, with our own bathroom, nice TV, bed and lots of space.
More to come...
Little info on how things went:
We woke up at about 1:30 in the morning with S. Having a contraction - they were about 10-15 minutes apart and we figured we'd have time for a cup of tea and finding out what was on late-night TV.
By 2:00 we were at 2 minutes apart - that was a little quick - we called the Dr. and he said to go into the hospital - we had an interesting run in (including coming up to the railway crossing at 2:45 in the morning with the gates coming down...it was like a bad movie - especially since it was only an engine (no cars) my guess was they wanted coffee at the Tim Hortons next to the tracks. Thankfully they saw us and did whatever they needed to do to get the gates up.
We got to triage and were assessed and not getting very far - S. Was having serial contractions now one on top of the other. Thankfully we had a couple of great nurses helping us, as well we took part in a study that gave us one-on-one access to a nurse for two hours much better. By 6am we were making progress nicely and could stay in the hospital - (if you haven't progressed much they send you home) we get to do the 2nd part of the study in a week (a paper follow-up questionnaire) and see how things went. I've requested a copy of the study when it's published - hey they offered.
Now here's an interesting observation; S. and I thought we were pretty relaxed, comfortable with what was coming - I had read and studied lots and was prepared for a long run myself. Relaxation during labour is very very subtle, while emotionally calm it turns out that physically calm is something else - we had to learn what that meant all over again. The big part of what the nurses helped us with was to learn to relax into the contraction, it's not easy or intuitive. Word of advice - be prepared to ditch what doesn't work, the idea of a 'cleansing breath' at the beginning of the contraction didn't work for us at all, though it had ben emphasized during the classes.
The only thing that was really an ongoing annoyance was nausea - S. was sick every time she did anything but sit in bed, walking, birth ball,standing etc. all made her throw up - no morning sickness during the entire pregnancy and now this.
So we sat around - and by 11am were moved to the LDRP (labor, Delivery, Recover, Postpartum) ward. Neat facility we got our own room, with our own bathroom, nice TV, bed and lots of space.
More to come...
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
B-8 and Holding...
Waiting isn't my strong suit - I can usually occupy my time with something else but waiting for New Being to appear is getting a little much. S. is in occasional pain and frequent discomfort - that I can do little about, other than massage and cups of tea. The nursery is ready, with all the furniture put together. I've even pre-washed all of the clothing that we had for him (and yes it's a him) and organized the various 'bins' that we have on the shelves.
Now we're just on-hold waiting to go ahead. Sorry no pearls of wisdom, no great predictions just a hope that this process will 'get on with it already'. (due warning - a bored Evan is a dangerous Evan - who knows what project I might become interested in - furnace cleaning - roof fixing (in the rain etc. )
B-8 and counting, guidance is internal...
Ev
Now we're just on-hold waiting to go ahead. Sorry no pearls of wisdom, no great predictions just a hope that this process will 'get on with it already'. (due warning - a bored Evan is a dangerous Evan - who knows what project I might become interested in - furnace cleaning - roof fixing (in the rain etc. )
B-8 and counting, guidance is internal...
Ev
Friday, June 03, 2005
[FUALI-DOT-COM] - Video Game Addict Test
I am 31% Video Game Addict.
I may play video games but they don’t rule my life. Good for me. But I should be careful not to fall in the grasp of the loving glow of the TV or monitor.
Just for Fun!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Re: Children don't need life's bruises, Globe and Mail Andre Picard 2 June 05
See Mr. Picard's article in the Globe and mail at (you might need a subscription...?)
The Globe and Mail: Andr� Picard
Mr Picard, I'm afraid misses the point of his source letter, I agree with the letter writer, kids needs bumps, scrapes and colds, and a little mud and grime never hurt. I'm about to become a parent but S. and I are going to try and allow our kids to get some of those things (at least we're not going to freak out about scraped knees!)
Do we want them seriously hurt? NO, not even close. But I've taught axe and knife safety to Scouts (boys and girls 11-14) for years, no matter what I do, at some point Billy is going to cut his finger, not seriously - I've never had one requiring stitches - but he's going to do it. We teach them to work away from themselves, to carefully sharpen their knives so that they are safely sharp and not unsafely dull and all of the other things we're supposed to do and he's still going to do it. There is no way to make every activity risk free - as a matter of fact I want a little risk there, I want Sally to respect the tool she's working with, to know that it can hurt her and if she's not very carefully, to get a little knick as a life reminder - they rarely do it twice!
I'm not opposed to safe play structures and I insist on helmets for everyone on bikes, kids and adults included. When we're at camp no one goes in the water without a PFD - and I don't care how well you can swim. But, ('nother Scout example) Sally and Timmy will still flip their canoe one day on the lake - they are going to be cold and wet and scared - I can train them in canoe over canoe rescue (which is very difficult indeed in the middle of a windy lake, with your heavy clothes on and your PFD jammed up around your ears) I'll tell them to lash all of their equipment into the canoe and we'll stay together in a group and have an emergency plan. In the end, it's going to happen, and all of the kids who work together to pull Sally and Timmy out of the water, get a fire going quickly, setup their tents and get them dried out will take home life skills that cannot be taught any other way than being at risk - just a little bit.
The stories told around the campfire aren't the happy happy joy joy stories. The ones where we shared a little discomfort and came through. Ten years later we'll still tell the story of getting these two out of the water, how the rain came down and we fought to get the tents up and get everyone dried out and fed.
Evan
The Globe and Mail: Andr� Picard
Mr Picard, I'm afraid misses the point of his source letter, I agree with the letter writer, kids needs bumps, scrapes and colds, and a little mud and grime never hurt. I'm about to become a parent but S. and I are going to try and allow our kids to get some of those things (at least we're not going to freak out about scraped knees!)
Do we want them seriously hurt? NO, not even close. But I've taught axe and knife safety to Scouts (boys and girls 11-14) for years, no matter what I do, at some point Billy is going to cut his finger, not seriously - I've never had one requiring stitches - but he's going to do it. We teach them to work away from themselves, to carefully sharpen their knives so that they are safely sharp and not unsafely dull and all of the other things we're supposed to do and he's still going to do it. There is no way to make every activity risk free - as a matter of fact I want a little risk there, I want Sally to respect the tool she's working with, to know that it can hurt her and if she's not very carefully, to get a little knick as a life reminder - they rarely do it twice!
I'm not opposed to safe play structures and I insist on helmets for everyone on bikes, kids and adults included. When we're at camp no one goes in the water without a PFD - and I don't care how well you can swim. But, ('nother Scout example) Sally and Timmy will still flip their canoe one day on the lake - they are going to be cold and wet and scared - I can train them in canoe over canoe rescue (which is very difficult indeed in the middle of a windy lake, with your heavy clothes on and your PFD jammed up around your ears) I'll tell them to lash all of their equipment into the canoe and we'll stay together in a group and have an emergency plan. In the end, it's going to happen, and all of the kids who work together to pull Sally and Timmy out of the water, get a fire going quickly, setup their tents and get them dried out will take home life skills that cannot be taught any other way than being at risk - just a little bit.
The stories told around the campfire aren't the happy happy joy joy stories. The ones where we shared a little discomfort and came through. Ten years later we'll still tell the story of getting these two out of the water, how the rain came down and we fought to get the tents up and get everyone dried out and fed.
Evan
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
New Being Problems
Well,
It's been an interesting few of months. At the end of December last year I told you about our New Being - our first kid...Well now things have really changed.
This note catches up a lot of time... NB is going to have club feet (feet turned inwards at the ankles) and maybe some affect to his hands. This was discovered during the routine ultrasound checks that everyone goes through.
Needless to say, this was a great shock. We didn't really know how bad things might be (this could have been bad enough to end the pregnancy) or if this was relatively contained and truthful. A horrible place for a 5 to be in as well - I had no knowledge of what was going on, no ability to really find out (though we've been through a battery of tests over the last several months. I was able to access reasonable information off of the web quickly and was rapidly able to become more informed on this specific condition than our GP (Not to put him down, he has been great) besides, I had a mission and a library to work in...
As of now NB remains on schedule for arrival next month, the room is painted, all of his stuff bought (or ordered) and S and I are much more comfortable with the prospect of a little one with casts on both feet and splints on his writs.
Oh and yes, NB is a boy - you wouldn't believe how many people ask you what it is.
More about our wacky pre-natal classes to come.
Ev
It's been an interesting few of months. At the end of December last year I told you about our New Being - our first kid...Well now things have really changed.
This note catches up a lot of time... NB is going to have club feet (feet turned inwards at the ankles) and maybe some affect to his hands. This was discovered during the routine ultrasound checks that everyone goes through.
Needless to say, this was a great shock. We didn't really know how bad things might be (this could have been bad enough to end the pregnancy) or if this was relatively contained and truthful. A horrible place for a 5 to be in as well - I had no knowledge of what was going on, no ability to really find out (though we've been through a battery of tests over the last several months. I was able to access reasonable information off of the web quickly and was rapidly able to become more informed on this specific condition than our GP (Not to put him down, he has been great) besides, I had a mission and a library to work in...
As of now NB remains on schedule for arrival next month, the room is painted, all of his stuff bought (or ordered) and S and I are much more comfortable with the prospect of a little one with casts on both feet and splints on his writs.
Oh and yes, NB is a boy - you wouldn't believe how many people ask you what it is.
More about our wacky pre-natal classes to come.
Ev
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Page Numbers � Solar Flare: Science Fiction News Blog
Ok I may be a geek (computer, Scouting, wargames (table-top and computer) etc. ) but this is just silly, I admire single minded dedication to a topic of study and I really like Harry Potter books but come on folks - isn't worrying about the number of pages / chapters in a book grasping at straws. 'We can't find out anything else about the plot so we'll make the number of pages news?' The book will come out when it comes out.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Page Numbers � Solar Flare: Science Fiction News Blog
Sheesh
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Page Numbers � Solar Flare: Science Fiction News Blog
Sheesh
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
The Globe and Mail: Craig Chandler
The Globe and Mail: Craig Chandler
My Letter to the Editor in response to Mr Chandler's article.
Dear Editor;
Increasingly I'm torn, where do people like me who are socially very liberal turn? For example, I have no problem with early term abortion, distribution of and information on birth control or same-sex marriage. I support immigration to Canada and I am actively and personally concerned about the environment.
On the other hand I'm generally financially conservative for example I support gun control in principal but the gun registry is a waste of money. The amount of money paid to Quebec advertising companies apalls me and the waste canceling and re-issuing the helicopter contract is beyond words. This continues with submarines that leak, or burn.
In the middle of all this I support a strong war-ready military, not a peacekeeper force, though I'm proud of our continued success as peacekeepers. Our soldiers need decent pay, good uniforms and boots - not leaky submarines that waste taxpayers money. (It's tough to lend aid to a foreign country with a submarine) We need to be able to move those soldiers and their equipment anywhere in the world they are needed when they are needed - not two weeks later.
One third of what I make is taken by the government but I think that I've shown that most of that is squandered. We've paid down the deficit and we're working on the debt but I still haven't seen any real tax help.
If I support the Liberals I support further waste. If I support the Conservatives I pick up a set of baggage that I don't want. I'm an active Christian (Anglican) and the growth in the Evangelical movement scares me. I think that Bush is both scary and Nuts, and we were right to stay out of missile defense. I support a strong West - I think that a disproportionate amount of taxpayer money is spent keeping Quebecers 'happy' when in fact they are probably doing just fine really and would most likely be happier if we stopped interfering.
Where do 'middle of the roaders' like me actually turn? I won't support the unions by supporting the NDP and while the Green Party is getting there they aren't yet ready for prime time, but I'm listening to them.
I would suggest that many of my positions more closely resemble the opinions of the majority Canadians than Mr Chandler's article does but no party truly represents me very closely at all.
Let's not follow the American example of polarization to blue and red camps - let's follow the Canadian tradition of attempting to find a socially sensitive middle road.
Evan, Winnipeg
My Letter to the Editor in response to Mr Chandler's article.
Dear Editor;
Increasingly I'm torn, where do people like me who are socially very liberal turn? For example, I have no problem with early term abortion, distribution of and information on birth control or same-sex marriage. I support immigration to Canada and I am actively and personally concerned about the environment.
On the other hand I'm generally financially conservative for example I support gun control in principal but the gun registry is a waste of money. The amount of money paid to Quebec advertising companies apalls me and the waste canceling and re-issuing the helicopter contract is beyond words. This continues with submarines that leak, or burn.
In the middle of all this I support a strong war-ready military, not a peacekeeper force, though I'm proud of our continued success as peacekeepers. Our soldiers need decent pay, good uniforms and boots - not leaky submarines that waste taxpayers money. (It's tough to lend aid to a foreign country with a submarine) We need to be able to move those soldiers and their equipment anywhere in the world they are needed when they are needed - not two weeks later.
One third of what I make is taken by the government but I think that I've shown that most of that is squandered. We've paid down the deficit and we're working on the debt but I still haven't seen any real tax help.
If I support the Liberals I support further waste. If I support the Conservatives I pick up a set of baggage that I don't want. I'm an active Christian (Anglican) and the growth in the Evangelical movement scares me. I think that Bush is both scary and Nuts, and we were right to stay out of missile defense. I support a strong West - I think that a disproportionate amount of taxpayer money is spent keeping Quebecers 'happy' when in fact they are probably doing just fine really and would most likely be happier if we stopped interfering.
Where do 'middle of the roaders' like me actually turn? I won't support the unions by supporting the NDP and while the Green Party is getting there they aren't yet ready for prime time, but I'm listening to them.
I would suggest that many of my positions more closely resemble the opinions of the majority Canadians than Mr Chandler's article does but no party truly represents me very closely at all.
Let's not follow the American example of polarization to blue and red camps - let's follow the Canadian tradition of attempting to find a socially sensitive middle road.
Evan, Winnipeg
Friday, January 07, 2005
Friday Afternoon
Ever have one of those months? I was supposed to go camping this weekend and I'm not going to make it - not because I didn't have time it's just that frankly I don't want to - I have a bunch of stuff to do at home (not even New Being (NB) related actually) and other items that I'd 'like to get to' if I can.
One of the big ones is painting the master bedroom - we've been at that one for a week+ we have one wall and the bathroom left to get done, I've been beat most nights this week (with no real reason to be).
Tonight we're hosting a Murder (no, nothing criminal) a dinner party where guests play the part of characters in the story and together they try and solve the plot. That doesn't start until 7:30 and won't clear up until midnight at least.
Tomorrow I want to try and make an early start - paint the room and hope it has time to dry before I move the furniture back and try and move back in. Then we can clean up the spare bedroom.
All seems horribly mundane doesn't it? It's been a long time since I was able to devote serious consistent time to gaming or other relaxing pursuits, and with NB on the way I doubt that I will anytime soon...
Currently - finishing lunch, writing a new report for my current client, listening to the beeping of the students working on their forklift certification in the room where I'm programming - whew propane exhaust... sheesh.
One of the big ones is painting the master bedroom - we've been at that one for a week+ we have one wall and the bathroom left to get done, I've been beat most nights this week (with no real reason to be).
Tonight we're hosting a Murder (no, nothing criminal) a dinner party where guests play the part of characters in the story and together they try and solve the plot. That doesn't start until 7:30 and won't clear up until midnight at least.
Tomorrow I want to try and make an early start - paint the room and hope it has time to dry before I move the furniture back and try and move back in. Then we can clean up the spare bedroom.
All seems horribly mundane doesn't it? It's been a long time since I was able to devote serious consistent time to gaming or other relaxing pursuits, and with NB on the way I doubt that I will anytime soon...
Currently - finishing lunch, writing a new report for my current client, listening to the beeping of the students working on their forklift certification in the room where I'm programming - whew propane exhaust... sheesh.
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