A few days go, when I first tried to download a special ballot application, I noticed that Elections Canada had changed it's website. It seems that no longer can one just download a straight PDF of the special ballot application, a somewhat more complicated process has now been implemented.
First off, one needs to have a recent version of Adobe Reader and not just a generic PDF reader. Then, it seems, one also has to have Java capability. Not surprisingly, even after I downloaded the Elections Canada linked-to version of Adobe Reader I was unable to access the application.
After a few failed attempts I finally got around to calling Elections Canada to ask how I might go about getting a copy of the special ballot application. The answer I basically got was that I could go to a local Elections Canada office and pick up a hard copy of the form. While explaining my problems with the form I was told that "people are having problems with it," suggesting that the problem is much more wide spread than just me. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to ask the employee exactly how widespread the problem is.
But I do wonder how many 'people' are having problems with the form and how many of these 'people' might decided to just forgo voting instead of figuring how to get a copy of the application? Given the time of year that it is, and that many students, in particular, might be discouraged by the more-complicated-than-necessary process I wonder what kind of impact this change will have? Given the low rate of voter turnout that Canada already has we can hardly afford to turn even more people away because of technological constraints.
Oh, and the best part is that this more complicated process just leads one back to a pretty straightforward PDF (maybe the same one I downloaded in 2008?) that has to be manually completed and then printed. Most the the Java based data submission is for naught and could be just as easily completed by the applicant on the final application.
What an incredibly frustrating process this has been, and all I wanted to do was download a PDF.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
You've got to be kidding me
The Chronicle Herald is reporting that several 'deregistered' lobbyists are working for the Conservative campaign and that the Commissioner of Lobbying has suggested that registered lobbyists are prohibited from participating in the campaign. It seems that the latter portion of this story broke a few days ago on the Canadian politics blogs.
The Chronicle Herald quotes Shepherd, in an email to registered lobbyists, as suggesting that
It seems that the same, if not more, problems are likely present when 'deregistered' lobbyists (particularly those who just don't happen to be lobbying at the moment) participate in political campaigns. It should also be noted that all kinds of people who engage in lobbying activities that don't require reporting could also be participating in various political campaigns - there just isn't a good way of knowing.
That a situation could be created where an MP/Minister/Prime Minister feels that they owe their position to the campaign efforts of a particular lobbyist is scary and seems to completely undermine any attempt that has thus far been implemented to regulate lobbying. This loophole seems to provide a way for 'deregistered' lobbyists to have more access to political actors than they would be able to have if they were registered and thus provides a potential incentive to 'deregister' as a way of gaining more access to politicians.
So not only does this practice provide us with more evidence that the effectiveness of the lobbying regime likely quite limited, it also demonstrates that a number of individuals have figured out ways to get close to politicians that aren't obviously in contravention of the lobbying rules.
I guess we can now wait and see whether or not this becomes a big story or if it just blows over. Given the recent Bruce Carson pseudo-lobbying thing it wouldn't surprise me if this got at least a little traction.
The Chronicle Herald quotes Shepherd, in an email to registered lobbyists, as suggesting that
"Working on a political campaign to support the election of a public office holder is, in my opinion, advancing the private interest of that public office holder," she wrote. "A real or apparent conflict of interest can be created when a lobbyist engages in political activities that advance the private interest of a public office holder, while at the same time, or subsequently, seeking to lobby that public office holder."
It seems that the same, if not more, problems are likely present when 'deregistered' lobbyists (particularly those who just don't happen to be lobbying at the moment) participate in political campaigns. It should also be noted that all kinds of people who engage in lobbying activities that don't require reporting could also be participating in various political campaigns - there just isn't a good way of knowing.
That a situation could be created where an MP/Minister/Prime Minister feels that they owe their position to the campaign efforts of a particular lobbyist is scary and seems to completely undermine any attempt that has thus far been implemented to regulate lobbying. This loophole seems to provide a way for 'deregistered' lobbyists to have more access to political actors than they would be able to have if they were registered and thus provides a potential incentive to 'deregister' as a way of gaining more access to politicians.
So not only does this practice provide us with more evidence that the effectiveness of the lobbying regime likely quite limited, it also demonstrates that a number of individuals have figured out ways to get close to politicians that aren't obviously in contravention of the lobbying rules.
I guess we can now wait and see whether or not this becomes a big story or if it just blows over. Given the recent Bruce Carson pseudo-lobbying thing it wouldn't surprise me if this got at least a little traction.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 525
-We had another beautiful day in Halifax.
-I will soon be adding another RUTRTW rim to my tally, but before unrolling the rim I will have to finish my coffee.
-Apparently Harper is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Halifax tomorrow. Of course, that this is to take place isn't particularly clear on the website. What little information I do have seems to suggest that this may be a media only event - a type of event that I think shouldn't exist.
-We will soon be watching the penultimate episode of Republic of Doyle for the season. Hopefully a Doyle Pitch or two will be written during the episode.
-In advance of the laundry price increase that is due to be implemented tomorrow we have all been doing laundry tonight. I think that we have all managed to do as much laundry as possible.
-I will soon be adding another RUTRTW rim to my tally, but before unrolling the rim I will have to finish my coffee.
-Apparently Harper is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Halifax tomorrow. Of course, that this is to take place isn't particularly clear on the website. What little information I do have seems to suggest that this may be a media only event - a type of event that I think shouldn't exist.
-We will soon be watching the penultimate episode of Republic of Doyle for the season. Hopefully a Doyle Pitch or two will be written during the episode.
-In advance of the laundry price increase that is due to be implemented tomorrow we have all been doing laundry tonight. I think that we have all managed to do as much laundry as possible.
A possible new angle on election coverage
Given that in Canada there was just a stink about the proposed removal of the regulatory prohibition on the broadcasting of "any false or misleading news" I wonder if this now well-known clause couldn't be used to some effect.
Wouldn't it be great if sections of Harper's speeches had to be bleeped or cut because of this prohibition? And wouldn't it be even better if it was explained that the reason for their absence was because they were false or misleading?
If we are going to have this incredibly restrictive regulation ('misleading' is a pretty vague word) why don't we at least use it to staunch the flow of actively disseminated misinformation that is coming from so many of Canada's politicians?
Wouldn't it be great if sections of Harper's speeches had to be bleeped or cut because of this prohibition? And wouldn't it be even better if it was explained that the reason for their absence was because they were false or misleading?
If we are going to have this incredibly restrictive regulation ('misleading' is a pretty vague word) why don't we at least use it to staunch the flow of actively disseminated misinformation that is coming from so many of Canada's politicians?
Framing and Media Coverage
How appropriate that just hours after I post about the nature of media and political framing of this election that I happen to hear a great interview about research into the potential impact of such frames and metaphors (what is a frame if not a metaphor?).
[Embedded audio]
I love that while the CBC is allowing their resources to be used as a tool of the parties with little effort to take control of the coverage they are conducting hard hitting investigations into the safety of bean sprouts - the dangers of which have been known for years (and can be found with a simple Google search)
Before I go, I should mention that I have just recently started listening to On the Media (the source of interview mentioned above) and am quickly starting to think of myself as a fan. If you are interested in American media and have a chance you might consider checking it out as a radio show or a podcast or through their website.
[Embedded audio]
I love that while the CBC is allowing their resources to be used as a tool of the parties with little effort to take control of the coverage they are conducting hard hitting investigations into the safety of bean sprouts - the dangers of which have been known for years (and can be found with a simple Google search)
Before I go, I should mention that I have just recently started listening to On the Media (the source of interview mentioned above) and am quickly starting to think of myself as a fan. If you are interested in American media and have a chance you might consider checking it out as a radio show or a podcast or through their website.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Election Coverage
Even before this's Spring's Canadian election campaign officially kicked of a variety of media outlets started framing the campaign as a competition between various parties. While this horse race/game frame makes election coverage easier for media outlets, it is of limited utility for voters, particularly because it focuses on the back and forth of partisan debate and various campaign strategies instead of anything that is actually substantive.
Another problem with much of the media coverage that I have seen since the beginning of this campaign period is that it cedes a huge amount of control to the party holding the event that is being covered. It seems that what is happening is that parties are holding 'events' and inviting journalists and then getting coverage of these events and having some component of their message transmitted to the public as a consequence.
This practice seems particularly important when events are held that are not open to the public and serve as nothing but an excuse for coverage in the coming new cycles. It is particularly troubling that the fact that these are partisan get-togethers, in many cases, is not prominent in the coverage of these events. An observer would not necessarily know that these events were either just for the press or partisans and the press.
The more I think about these events the more I think that the media should consider not covering events that are not open to the public. Something seems wrong about the fact that a party can campaign in a way that is so removed from public scrutiny. Not only does a stacked audience allow a misleading sense of the popularity of the proposals to be presented, but it also allows politicians a way of avoiding engaging with the public about matters of the campaign. How is an active and informed voter really supposed to get a sense of a party leader through nothing more than a snippet in the media coverage of an event?
So I guess my point would be that many media outlets are complicit in creating a style of campaigning that allows politicians to largely avoid speaking to a mass audience. Media outlets are also helping parties get their message out without ever having to present it before voters. If media outlets decided to step up and somewhat collectively agree to not cover such things I think a great service would be done for public discourse in Canada. No longer would newscasts just reiterate the key points of a speech given by a political figure earlier in the day.
Of course this is unlikely to happen. Media outlets will continue to go to party events that present the leader or a candidate in the way that the party wants that person presented because they want to fill space with election coverage. Such a change would also mean that the media would actually have to do a little work when figuring out which events to attend - no longer could they just jump on a campaign bus or plane and file reports from each stop.
Hopefully at least a little of this makes sense.
Another problem with much of the media coverage that I have seen since the beginning of this campaign period is that it cedes a huge amount of control to the party holding the event that is being covered. It seems that what is happening is that parties are holding 'events' and inviting journalists and then getting coverage of these events and having some component of their message transmitted to the public as a consequence.
This practice seems particularly important when events are held that are not open to the public and serve as nothing but an excuse for coverage in the coming new cycles. It is particularly troubling that the fact that these are partisan get-togethers, in many cases, is not prominent in the coverage of these events. An observer would not necessarily know that these events were either just for the press or partisans and the press.
The more I think about these events the more I think that the media should consider not covering events that are not open to the public. Something seems wrong about the fact that a party can campaign in a way that is so removed from public scrutiny. Not only does a stacked audience allow a misleading sense of the popularity of the proposals to be presented, but it also allows politicians a way of avoiding engaging with the public about matters of the campaign. How is an active and informed voter really supposed to get a sense of a party leader through nothing more than a snippet in the media coverage of an event?
So I guess my point would be that many media outlets are complicit in creating a style of campaigning that allows politicians to largely avoid speaking to a mass audience. Media outlets are also helping parties get their message out without ever having to present it before voters. If media outlets decided to step up and somewhat collectively agree to not cover such things I think a great service would be done for public discourse in Canada. No longer would newscasts just reiterate the key points of a speech given by a political figure earlier in the day.
Of course this is unlikely to happen. Media outlets will continue to go to party events that present the leader or a candidate in the way that the party wants that person presented because they want to fill space with election coverage. Such a change would also mean that the media would actually have to do a little work when figuring out which events to attend - no longer could they just jump on a campaign bus or plane and file reports from each stop.
Hopefully at least a little of this makes sense.
A Few Quick Notes 524
-Contrary to what is being reported by Environment Canada, we are actually working our way through another beautiful day in Halifax. Sadly, things are expected to take a turn towards the rain tomorrow.
-I am now down to 4 for 29 on this year's RUTRTW. So even if I pick up a win on my next cup I will average at best (or something like that).
-I went for my first post talk meal today. I am really pleased to have finally been invited to tag along with faculty members and the guest speaker for a post-talk meal. This seems like a strange rite of passage in the world of graduate studies, and I am glad to have finally achieved it. This invitation was particularly good as the speaker in question studies some things that interest me, so it was good to be introduced to her as I will likely be checking out more of her work in the future.
-The election is ongoing but I still haven't heard of any big public rallies that I might be able to attend to hear party leaders or candidates speak. It is almost as though this form of campaigning is a thing of the past. I would have imagined that making speeches to the public might be something that at least a few of the party leaders would be interested in.
-I should get back to transcribing. It would be nice to put in a few hours before getting down to studying, and if I want this to happen I have to get back to transcribing.
-I am now down to 4 for 29 on this year's RUTRTW. So even if I pick up a win on my next cup I will average at best (or something like that).
-I went for my first post talk meal today. I am really pleased to have finally been invited to tag along with faculty members and the guest speaker for a post-talk meal. This seems like a strange rite of passage in the world of graduate studies, and I am glad to have finally achieved it. This invitation was particularly good as the speaker in question studies some things that interest me, so it was good to be introduced to her as I will likely be checking out more of her work in the future.
-The election is ongoing but I still haven't heard of any big public rallies that I might be able to attend to hear party leaders or candidates speak. It is almost as though this form of campaigning is a thing of the past. I would have imagined that making speeches to the public might be something that at least a few of the party leaders would be interested in.
-I should get back to transcribing. It would be nice to put in a few hours before getting down to studying, and if I want this to happen I have to get back to transcribing.
Monday, March 28, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 523
-Though chilly, today has been pretty beautiful. Actually, the light dusting of snow that we received at some point last night really added to the effect and made things look clean and crisp.
-I am now down to 4 for 28 in this year's RUTRTW contest. Things are definitely in the gutter now. At this rate it seems unlikely that I will even break even, let alone do better than average.
-The Canadian election campaign is definitely in full swing. As of yet I haven't heard about any major events in Halifax, though I am sure that they will come up eventually. I guess I would ideally find a way to see at least a few of the party leaders give speeches, though that may be hopeful as I sense that many of these things are for partisan audiences rather than the public (and then broadcast in snippet form on the nightly news).
-Tomorrow I will be heading in to campus for another public lecture. I am really looking forward to the talk as the presenter will likely be addressing a few issues that interest me and that I think are generally under-examined in Canada.
-Now that Ultimate is over for a few weeks I will have to find a way to engage in some physical activity. Maybe I will be able to convince Neil or Jeannette to play some squash with me.
-I am now down to 4 for 28 in this year's RUTRTW contest. Things are definitely in the gutter now. At this rate it seems unlikely that I will even break even, let alone do better than average.
-The Canadian election campaign is definitely in full swing. As of yet I haven't heard about any major events in Halifax, though I am sure that they will come up eventually. I guess I would ideally find a way to see at least a few of the party leaders give speeches, though that may be hopeful as I sense that many of these things are for partisan audiences rather than the public (and then broadcast in snippet form on the nightly news).
-Tomorrow I will be heading in to campus for another public lecture. I am really looking forward to the talk as the presenter will likely be addressing a few issues that interest me and that I think are generally under-examined in Canada.
-Now that Ultimate is over for a few weeks I will have to find a way to engage in some physical activity. Maybe I will be able to convince Neil or Jeannette to play some squash with me.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Twitter and the 2011 election campaign
So, for about the past 36 hours Canada has been in the midst of a federal election campaign. And aside from discussions of the willingness of various parties to enter coalitions with one another other, the topic that I have seen receive the most attention is Twitter use by politicians and staffers. Given the recent surge in the use of of this platform, and that this will be the first Canadian election to have all major party leaders with fully active accounts it seems not entirely surprising that there has been some discussion about the appropriate means of navigating this new landscape
Almost immediately a number of MPs and Cabinet ministers modified their Twitter names to reflect that they no longer MPs (though the Cabinet ministers still are Cabinet ministers). While a number of opposition types have changed their names, the accounts that seem the most important are those of Cabinet ministers, particularly those ministers who have been using their accounts to make policy announcements (in particular people like Tony Clement).
As I noted a few weeks ago, I think that this melding of public and private personas is potentially problematic and could lead to confusion about the status of certain statements. For instance, are we to now think that all of Tony Clement's old tweets are nothing more than partisan rhetoric (as they came from the account that he is now using and are still accessible through this account). Or are I am to somehow know that those old tweets were written by Tony Clement the Minister and these two tweets are being written by Tony Clement the candidate? And even if this distinction is clear currently, will it be so clear to someone who goes back through these tweets at some point in the future to follow political communications?
To some extent this confusion is already evident. Throughout the day CBC's Kady O'Malley has been tweeting about the fact that Harper's verified Twitter account had until Saturday been used as a non-partisan vehicle but has now started to carry partisan messages. After a quick check of old tweets it became clear that this account's first tweets were partisan messages in the run up to the 2008 election. Given the clearly partisan provenance of this account how are we to understand the content during non-election times? Does this account represent Stephen Harper the Prime Minister or Stephen Harper the Conservative Party of Canada leader? Given that the account has been used for both government policy announcements and partisan messages I think that it is fair to be somewhat confused.
I guess I am now hoping that one of the things this election accomplishes is the creation a slightly better understanding of how politicians should engage with social media applications and how we, as members of the public, are able to differentiate between the nature of the statements made by individuals with a variety of different roles and communications platforms. Whether this new understanding comes to fruition or not, I am sure that applications like Twitter will play more of a role than they have in past elections and that this role is only bound to increase as time passes.
Almost immediately a number of MPs and Cabinet ministers modified their Twitter names to reflect that they no longer MPs (though the Cabinet ministers still are Cabinet ministers). While a number of opposition types have changed their names, the accounts that seem the most important are those of Cabinet ministers, particularly those ministers who have been using their accounts to make policy announcements (in particular people like Tony Clement).
As I noted a few weeks ago, I think that this melding of public and private personas is potentially problematic and could lead to confusion about the status of certain statements. For instance, are we to now think that all of Tony Clement's old tweets are nothing more than partisan rhetoric (as they came from the account that he is now using and are still accessible through this account). Or are I am to somehow know that those old tweets were written by Tony Clement the Minister and these two tweets are being written by Tony Clement the candidate? And even if this distinction is clear currently, will it be so clear to someone who goes back through these tweets at some point in the future to follow political communications?
To some extent this confusion is already evident. Throughout the day CBC's Kady O'Malley has been tweeting about the fact that Harper's verified Twitter account had until Saturday been used as a non-partisan vehicle but has now started to carry partisan messages. After a quick check of old tweets it became clear that this account's first tweets were partisan messages in the run up to the 2008 election. Given the clearly partisan provenance of this account how are we to understand the content during non-election times? Does this account represent Stephen Harper the Prime Minister or Stephen Harper the Conservative Party of Canada leader? Given that the account has been used for both government policy announcements and partisan messages I think that it is fair to be somewhat confused.
I guess I am now hoping that one of the things this election accomplishes is the creation a slightly better understanding of how politicians should engage with social media applications and how we, as members of the public, are able to differentiate between the nature of the statements made by individuals with a variety of different roles and communications platforms. Whether this new understanding comes to fruition or not, I am sure that applications like Twitter will play more of a role than they have in past elections and that this role is only bound to increase as time passes.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 522
-Today has been a pretty nice day so far. Actually, it was even almost warm enough that a jacket wasn't necessary. Sadly, we are supposed to head towards snow this evening.
-I am now down to a measly 4 for 27 in this year's RUTRTW contest. This is definitely a disappointing performance.
-We played our final Ultimate game of the season tonight. Not surprisingly we managed to lose. Aside from the uneven score the game was actually pretty fun to play. As I won't be playing in the upcoming Spring leagues I suspect the next time I will be playing is this Summer.
-A few days ago I went to the hospital for a routine x-ray. As usual, I was one of the youngest people in the waiting room.
-It seems that we will soon be facing a 33% increase in our laundry prices. Bummer. Overall we have seen a 60% increase in prices since we moved in a few years ago. Things are definitely not heading in the right direction on this front.
-I had to give a lecture on Thursday. While the lecture was ongoing I couldn't really tell how it was going, for the most part the students seemed pretty non-responsive. Fortunately, two students came up to talk to me after the class about the subjects covered in the lecture. This suggests that at least a few people got something from the experience, which is comforting and pleasing.
-It seems that we are now officially in election mode in Canada. Jeannette, Rebecca, and I watched the confidence vote yesterday and Neil, Rebecca, and I watched the coverage of Harper's trip to Rideau Hall this morning. On our way from Ultimate Jeannette and I spotted re-election signs for Megan Leslie (given that they were re-election signs it is clear that they weren't just left-overs from the last election).
-I am now down to a measly 4 for 27 in this year's RUTRTW contest. This is definitely a disappointing performance.
-We played our final Ultimate game of the season tonight. Not surprisingly we managed to lose. Aside from the uneven score the game was actually pretty fun to play. As I won't be playing in the upcoming Spring leagues I suspect the next time I will be playing is this Summer.
-A few days ago I went to the hospital for a routine x-ray. As usual, I was one of the youngest people in the waiting room.
-It seems that we will soon be facing a 33% increase in our laundry prices. Bummer. Overall we have seen a 60% increase in prices since we moved in a few years ago. Things are definitely not heading in the right direction on this front.
-I had to give a lecture on Thursday. While the lecture was ongoing I couldn't really tell how it was going, for the most part the students seemed pretty non-responsive. Fortunately, two students came up to talk to me after the class about the subjects covered in the lecture. This suggests that at least a few people got something from the experience, which is comforting and pleasing.
-It seems that we are now officially in election mode in Canada. Jeannette, Rebecca, and I watched the confidence vote yesterday and Neil, Rebecca, and I watched the coverage of Harper's trip to Rideau Hall this morning. On our way from Ultimate Jeannette and I spotted re-election signs for Megan Leslie (given that they were re-election signs it is clear that they weren't just left-overs from the last election).
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sadly fitting
How is that a stock/new ticker was added to the Dalhousie management building's (Rowe Building) lobby and I remained unaware of this development?
This sends a pretty strong message about the types of programs that are important to the faculty - mainly that the non-business programs aren't really part of the program. I guess I find this notable as I have started to wonder if 'business education' is really even appropriate at a university? Might there not be a better type of institution to provide this kind of training/education?
Also, why does the Rowe Building lobby smell like yeast?
This sends a pretty strong message about the types of programs that are important to the faculty - mainly that the non-business programs aren't really part of the program. I guess I find this notable as I have started to wonder if 'business education' is really even appropriate at a university? Might there not be a better type of institution to provide this kind of training/education?
Also, why does the Rowe Building lobby smell like yeast?
Monday, March 21, 2011
On the Road: Charlottetown (to Montague) to Halifax
This morning we had a quick breakfast at a national coffee and doughnut chain. All three of us ordered oatmeal and then were somewhat surprised to see that in Charlottetown this, traditionally sweet, breakfast dish was served with little packets of salt and pepper. We suspect that that is how Islanders recognize one another, Islanders are the ones with pepper on their oatmeal.
After breakfast Jeannette and I went out for a 'coastal' drive while my father went to his meeting.
Though our drive wasn't particularly coastal, we did eventually make it to Prim Point and were able to see the Prim Point lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in PEI.
Of course, because it is off season, the lighthouse was not open. The adjacent 'chowder house' was also closed for the season.
Aside from the lighthouse itself, what was particularly striking about this location was how still the water was. This is particularly impressive when you remember that it is sea water that is so still.
[Embedded video]
After driving along the road just inland from the coast from Prim Point to Wood Islands Jeannette and I made our way cross-country to Montague for lunch. Shortly after lunch we made our way back to Charlottetown to meet my father.
After picking my father up we started our trip back to Halifax.
Not surprisingly, we ended up passing Mastodon Ridge (Stewiacke) on our way back.
[Embedded video]
Now that we are back I have had a chance to make an animated gif of our first trip to the Mastodon Ridge area.
I'm exhausted.
After breakfast Jeannette and I went out for a 'coastal' drive while my father went to his meeting.
Though our drive wasn't particularly coastal, we did eventually make it to Prim Point and were able to see the Prim Point lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in PEI.
Of course, because it is off season, the lighthouse was not open. The adjacent 'chowder house' was also closed for the season.
Aside from the lighthouse itself, what was particularly striking about this location was how still the water was. This is particularly impressive when you remember that it is sea water that is so still.
[Embedded video]
After driving along the road just inland from the coast from Prim Point to Wood Islands Jeannette and I made our way cross-country to Montague for lunch. Shortly after lunch we made our way back to Charlottetown to meet my father.
After picking my father up we started our trip back to Halifax.
Not surprisingly, we ended up passing Mastodon Ridge (Stewiacke) on our way back.
[Embedded video]
Now that we are back I have had a chance to make an animated gif of our first trip to the Mastodon Ridge area.
I'm exhausted.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
On the Road: Sackville to Charlottetown
This morning we awoke on the early side of things and soon found ourselves on the road to Dorchester. Before long we were in front of the town hall looking at the World's Largest Sand Piper, a local landmark. Our next stop in Dorchester was their famous penitentiary.
Almost as soon as we pulled into the institution's parking lot we were greeted by a guard in a van who informed us that if we did not have an appointment we were not welcome on the premises. Apparently this jail, unlike some of the others in the Canadian federal jail system, does not have a craft shop selling goods made by the inmates.
After heading back through Dorchester we made our way to Memramcook to look for the Monument Lefebvre. After some hunting around and a little confusion we figure out that the monument was actually a building that it was closed on Sundays in the off season.
Our next goal was to find a local covered bridge. Unfortunately the tourist map we had wasn't very precise so we didn't know exactly where the bridge was or how to get there. After about 30 minutes of searching we eventually encountered a jogger who was able to point us in the right direction.
[Embedded video]
As you have seen, it was something of a dud as far as covered bridges are concerned.
After a return trip to Sackville and a visit to the Mount Allison art gallery we continued along to PEI and Charlottetown. Of course we crossed at the bridge instead of taking the ferry (which we later learned isn't even operating at this time of year).
[Embedded video]
Shortly after arriving in Charlottetown my father and I visited some friend's of his who lived in St. John's in the early 1980s. As they have now lived here for 25 years I though that this couple might be able to recommend a few things for Jeannette and I to do tomorrow while my father is in his meeting. Much to my surprise they couldn't really come up with anything other than visiting some of the local beaches and the comparing them other beaches. Of course, as it is pretty cold outside this sounds a little less fun than it might be in the summer.
For dinner we went out for fish and chips at a local restaurant. What was particularly notable about this restaurant was that they served a variety of fish, including cod, haddock, halibut, and sole.
We are now back in the hotel room and trying to dink around with bluetooth so that all three of us can use our room's single wired internet connection. So far we have two computers up and running but have been unable to link up the third machine.
Almost as soon as we pulled into the institution's parking lot we were greeted by a guard in a van who informed us that if we did not have an appointment we were not welcome on the premises. Apparently this jail, unlike some of the others in the Canadian federal jail system, does not have a craft shop selling goods made by the inmates.
After heading back through Dorchester we made our way to Memramcook to look for the Monument Lefebvre. After some hunting around and a little confusion we figure out that the monument was actually a building that it was closed on Sundays in the off season.
Our next goal was to find a local covered bridge. Unfortunately the tourist map we had wasn't very precise so we didn't know exactly where the bridge was or how to get there. After about 30 minutes of searching we eventually encountered a jogger who was able to point us in the right direction.
[Embedded video]
As you have seen, it was something of a dud as far as covered bridges are concerned.
After a return trip to Sackville and a visit to the Mount Allison art gallery we continued along to PEI and Charlottetown. Of course we crossed at the bridge instead of taking the ferry (which we later learned isn't even operating at this time of year).
[Embedded video]
Shortly after arriving in Charlottetown my father and I visited some friend's of his who lived in St. John's in the early 1980s. As they have now lived here for 25 years I though that this couple might be able to recommend a few things for Jeannette and I to do tomorrow while my father is in his meeting. Much to my surprise they couldn't really come up with anything other than visiting some of the local beaches and the comparing them other beaches. Of course, as it is pretty cold outside this sounds a little less fun than it might be in the summer.
For dinner we went out for fish and chips at a local restaurant. What was particularly notable about this restaurant was that they served a variety of fish, including cod, haddock, halibut, and sole.
We are now back in the hotel room and trying to dink around with bluetooth so that all three of us can use our room's single wired internet connection. So far we have two computers up and running but have been unable to link up the third machine.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
On the Road: Halifax to Sackville
Our weekend road trip started early this morning. Of course, it has been much colder and snowier than any of us would have wanted, oh, and it has been pretty windy as well.
After a quick to the airport to add me as a driver to the rental car agreement we made our way towards Truro. Before reaching Truro we stopped in Stewiacke, the former homeland of giant mastodons. What drew us to the site was the large mastodon statue that was visible for the road. Not surprisingly, we took the opportunity to take a few photos with the mastodon and some of the other touristy items (including a cement Flinstones car).
From Stewiacke we made our way to Truro to watch the 12:20 tidal bore. Much to all of our surprise, the tidal bore turned out to be something of a local attraction (there were 15 cars worth of people there) and of a fair size. If you are in the area it is definitely worth checking out.
[Embedded video]
After the tidal bore we made our way to Margolians, a locally owned department store. While at first I wasn't particularly impressed with the store I soon found that the prices for many of their items were half of what I thought they were. In the end I walked out with a handful of brandname shirts and sweaters for about $10 a piece. Everyone else found great things as well. Actually, we were all so impressed by the experience that we are hoping to head back on our way back from PEI.
We were all pretty impressed with Truro, it was definitely a nice little down.
From Truro we made our way to Parrsboro and the Fundy Geological Museum . After quickly passing through Parrsboro we made our way to the aforementioned museum and checked out a few of the exhibits. The museum employee then gave us a few suggestions about things to see in the region, we were particularly taken by her suggestion that we go gem hunting on a local beach.
Almost as soon as we arrived at the beach we noticed that a car a little further along the beach appeared to have gotten stuck in some loosely packed beach stones. Obviously we decided that it would probably be best if we didn't drive any further and that we should offer to help the guy get unstuck.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at lifting the front of the car with the guy while his ladyfriend gave it some gas we left them to do some digging out while we made our way down the beach to do some gem hunting (it really wasn't as bad as this likely sounds). After limited success gem hunting (none of us knew what we were looking for) we made our way back to the stranded car and helped them put some boards under their front tires. With the boards in place we were finally able get the front tires enough traction that our pushing actually mattered.
After freeing the car from the beach we made our way to Joggins Cove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of some very old fossils. Of course, because it is off season, we weren't actually able to see anything or visit the interpretation centre.
After our failed visit to Joggins Cove we were finally on the final leg of our trip to Sackville. Shortly after checking in at the Marshlands Inn (an inn that once hosted the Queen) we made our way out to find a restaurant for dinner. After dinner we took a brief tour of the town, though managed to see basically everything there was to see (at least those things that you could see by driving by).
The plan for tomorrow is to head to Dorchester to see the world's largest Sand Piper as well as the infamous penitentiary (there should be a museum-type aspect of the prison). We are also hoping to see the Mount Allison Owens Art Gallery, though we will have to check this out on our way back from Dorchester. I guess we will also eventually have to make our way to Charlottetown, which is where we will be spending the night.
After a quick to the airport to add me as a driver to the rental car agreement we made our way towards Truro. Before reaching Truro we stopped in Stewiacke, the former homeland of giant mastodons. What drew us to the site was the large mastodon statue that was visible for the road. Not surprisingly, we took the opportunity to take a few photos with the mastodon and some of the other touristy items (including a cement Flinstones car).
From Stewiacke we made our way to Truro to watch the 12:20 tidal bore. Much to all of our surprise, the tidal bore turned out to be something of a local attraction (there were 15 cars worth of people there) and of a fair size. If you are in the area it is definitely worth checking out.
[Embedded video]
After the tidal bore we made our way to Margolians, a locally owned department store. While at first I wasn't particularly impressed with the store I soon found that the prices for many of their items were half of what I thought they were. In the end I walked out with a handful of brandname shirts and sweaters for about $10 a piece. Everyone else found great things as well. Actually, we were all so impressed by the experience that we are hoping to head back on our way back from PEI.
We were all pretty impressed with Truro, it was definitely a nice little down.
From Truro we made our way to Parrsboro and the Fundy Geological Museum . After quickly passing through Parrsboro we made our way to the aforementioned museum and checked out a few of the exhibits. The museum employee then gave us a few suggestions about things to see in the region, we were particularly taken by her suggestion that we go gem hunting on a local beach.
Almost as soon as we arrived at the beach we noticed that a car a little further along the beach appeared to have gotten stuck in some loosely packed beach stones. Obviously we decided that it would probably be best if we didn't drive any further and that we should offer to help the guy get unstuck.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at lifting the front of the car with the guy while his ladyfriend gave it some gas we left them to do some digging out while we made our way down the beach to do some gem hunting (it really wasn't as bad as this likely sounds). After limited success gem hunting (none of us knew what we were looking for) we made our way back to the stranded car and helped them put some boards under their front tires. With the boards in place we were finally able get the front tires enough traction that our pushing actually mattered.
After freeing the car from the beach we made our way to Joggins Cove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of some very old fossils. Of course, because it is off season, we weren't actually able to see anything or visit the interpretation centre.
After our failed visit to Joggins Cove we were finally on the final leg of our trip to Sackville. Shortly after checking in at the Marshlands Inn (an inn that once hosted the Queen) we made our way out to find a restaurant for dinner. After dinner we took a brief tour of the town, though managed to see basically everything there was to see (at least those things that you could see by driving by).
The plan for tomorrow is to head to Dorchester to see the world's largest Sand Piper as well as the infamous penitentiary (there should be a museum-type aspect of the prison). We are also hoping to see the Mount Allison Owens Art Gallery, though we will have to check this out on our way back from Dorchester. I guess we will also eventually have to make our way to Charlottetown, which is where we will be spending the night.
Friday, March 18, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 521
-Today is a day that the wind has made cold. If we could somehow get rid of this wind it would actually be pretty nice outside.
-I am down to 3 for 19 in this year's RUTRTW contest. I think it is pretty clear that my heart just isn't in it this year. I wouldn't be surprised if I don't even make it to 4 wins before they run out of contest cups.
-I will be heading to New Brunswick and PEI this weekend with Jeannette and my father. On our way to Sackville, which is where we will be spending the first night, the plan is to stop in Truro, which should be something of a bore.
-I guess I should try to do a little more grading.
-I am down to 3 for 19 in this year's RUTRTW contest. I think it is pretty clear that my heart just isn't in it this year. I wouldn't be surprised if I don't even make it to 4 wins before they run out of contest cups.
-I will be heading to New Brunswick and PEI this weekend with Jeannette and my father. On our way to Sackville, which is where we will be spending the first night, the plan is to stop in Truro, which should be something of a bore.
-I guess I should try to do a little more grading.
Lobbying in Canada
On Tuesday the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada spoke at Dalhousie. And while the talk was very poorly attended, I think those of us in attendance got a pretty good sense of the lobbying regime in Canada.
For the most part, the regime was pretty underwhelming and almost seemed designed to provide blatant loopholes to allow for unreported lobbying activities. Notable problems include the requirement that companies only have to register as in-house lobbyists if they conduct a certain quantity of lobbying. Furthermore, certain types of contact, such as unarranged contact, do not have to be reported (bumping into someone in a hall or an after hours phone call can count as unarranged). Another area worth noting relates to the activities of former public office holders. While the appearance is given that these individuals are prohibited from lobbying, that is only the case if they pass a 'significant duties test.' Oh, and the Lobbying Commissioner has very little ability to enforce the Act which, in any event, doesn't prohibit 'private citizens' from communicating with MPs.
To clunkily seque to a recent development, the Bruce Carson/water contract story seems to be a particularly good example of the weakness of the regime. The current lobbying regime does not monitor the lobbying activities of an individual not employed as an in-house lobbyist or a consultant lobbyist, even if person has ties to a company that might benefit from such action.
Anyway, this story will likely provide further ammunition to those claiming that the current lobbying regime is less than effective. Oh, and a may lead to a host of other political ramifications for those involved.
For the most part, the regime was pretty underwhelming and almost seemed designed to provide blatant loopholes to allow for unreported lobbying activities. Notable problems include the requirement that companies only have to register as in-house lobbyists if they conduct a certain quantity of lobbying. Furthermore, certain types of contact, such as unarranged contact, do not have to be reported (bumping into someone in a hall or an after hours phone call can count as unarranged). Another area worth noting relates to the activities of former public office holders. While the appearance is given that these individuals are prohibited from lobbying, that is only the case if they pass a 'significant duties test.' Oh, and the Lobbying Commissioner has very little ability to enforce the Act which, in any event, doesn't prohibit 'private citizens' from communicating with MPs.
To clunkily seque to a recent development, the Bruce Carson/water contract story seems to be a particularly good example of the weakness of the regime. The current lobbying regime does not monitor the lobbying activities of an individual not employed as an in-house lobbyist or a consultant lobbyist, even if person has ties to a company that might benefit from such action.
Anyway, this story will likely provide further ammunition to those claiming that the current lobbying regime is less than effective. Oh, and a may lead to a host of other political ramifications for those involved.
Monday, March 14, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 520
-Much to my surprise, today was incredibly nippy. The wind just had a way of working it's way through my three coats and into my bones. Sadly, it seems that we may be in for some more of the same tomorrow.
-I have dropped to 3 for 16 in this years RUTRTW contest. Apparently I haven't been bringing my A game to the table for about a week. I guess it is about time that I started picking things up, especially if I want to win Neil a car (I am hoping I will get a Karma assist if I try to win for someone other than myself).
-We had our first play-off game in Ultimate this past Saturday. Unfortunate our team managed to lose by four points. That being said, I am not sure if any of us had particularly bad games. I think we just failed to play well as a team. Due to an upcoming trip to sunny PEI I will be missing our game next Saturday.
-I have been regularly following the Guardian's recent post-quake/tsunami live-blogs . I really like the way that they bring together stories and developments. One of the things to which they have pointed me is a series of before and after satellite images that effectively demonstrate the amount of damage experienced by some coastal regions in Japan.
-They seem to have received another shipment of pomelos at one of the local grocery stores. I bought four. I hope to have consumed at least two by the time I go to sleep tonight.
-I have dropped to 3 for 16 in this years RUTRTW contest. Apparently I haven't been bringing my A game to the table for about a week. I guess it is about time that I started picking things up, especially if I want to win Neil a car (I am hoping I will get a Karma assist if I try to win for someone other than myself).
-We had our first play-off game in Ultimate this past Saturday. Unfortunate our team managed to lose by four points. That being said, I am not sure if any of us had particularly bad games. I think we just failed to play well as a team. Due to an upcoming trip to sunny PEI I will be missing our game next Saturday.
-I have been regularly following the Guardian's recent post-quake/tsunami live-blogs . I really like the way that they bring together stories and developments. One of the things to which they have pointed me is a series of before and after satellite images that effectively demonstrate the amount of damage experienced by some coastal regions in Japan.
-They seem to have received another shipment of pomelos at one of the local grocery stores. I bought four. I hope to have consumed at least two by the time I go to sleep tonight.
Big Names on Campus
This afternoon Bob Rae, the Liberal's foreign affairs critic, spoke at Dalhousie. Much to my surprise, Mr. Rae's talk was a generally pleasant experience. For the most part Mr. Rae outlined his cosmopolitan view of the world and how Canada should understand its place in such a world. While I realize there are likely many criticisms of this understanding of the world, it is a view that I find increasingly appealing and worthy of consideration.
When compared to Siobhan Coady and Maxime Bernier, the other two MPs I have heard speak recently, Mr. Rae definitely wins as most engaging and thoughtful speaker. Actually, of these three Mr. Rae is the only one I might say I have a better opinion of now than I had before the speech. In some ways, Mr. Rae also seemed to be the only one of the three to really have a good sense of what he was talking about. The other two didn't seem to have as a strong a grasp on their material.
Tomorrow Dalhousie will be treated to a presentation Karen E. Shepherd, Canada's Commissioner of Lobbying. I am curious to see what she will have to say and if her appearance on campus draws much of a crowd (I hope it doesn't draw too much of a crowd as the room they have booked isn't particularly large).
The ability of the university (and King's) to draw speakers of this nature, as well as people like Rex Murphy and John Ralston Saul (among others), is one of the few ways in which Dalhousie outshines Memorial, the university I was fortunate enough to attend for my undergraduate degree. That Memorial wasn't regularly able to bring in speakers of this nature always frustrated me. How can one have a full education if they don't get a chance to hear some of the influential thinkers (understood in the broadest of terms) of their time?
When compared to Siobhan Coady and Maxime Bernier, the other two MPs I have heard speak recently, Mr. Rae definitely wins as most engaging and thoughtful speaker. Actually, of these three Mr. Rae is the only one I might say I have a better opinion of now than I had before the speech. In some ways, Mr. Rae also seemed to be the only one of the three to really have a good sense of what he was talking about. The other two didn't seem to have as a strong a grasp on their material.
Tomorrow Dalhousie will be treated to a presentation Karen E. Shepherd, Canada's Commissioner of Lobbying. I am curious to see what she will have to say and if her appearance on campus draws much of a crowd (I hope it doesn't draw too much of a crowd as the room they have booked isn't particularly large).
The ability of the university (and King's) to draw speakers of this nature, as well as people like Rex Murphy and John Ralston Saul (among others), is one of the few ways in which Dalhousie outshines Memorial, the university I was fortunate enough to attend for my undergraduate degree. That Memorial wasn't regularly able to bring in speakers of this nature always frustrated me. How can one have a full education if they don't get a chance to hear some of the influential thinkers (understood in the broadest of terms) of their time?
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Are elections really that onerous?
Just a few minutes ago I was listening to this morning's episode of CBC's The House, a radio show/podcast about Canadian politics, when I heard Tom Lukiwski, Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader, suggest that Canadians don't want an election.
For years I have wondered about this oft-repeated claim. Do Canadians really find elections elections distasteful? Is listening to coverage of an election and seeing election signs so troubling that Canadians would rather not experience an election at all? Maybe most troubling is that those making this claim almost never provide evidence to support their position, it is simply stated as though it is an obvious truth.
I find this claim troubling on two fronts. Firstly, elections in Canada aren't a big imposition for the average person. Aside from slightly different news coverage and a few more signs, I am not sure how most Canadians actually impacted by the process of holding an election (election outcomes are a slightly different story). Secondly, given that very few Canadians actually take the time to vote (about 59% in the last election) it seems fair to say that for many people elections don't even impose a significant time burden on much of the population (the same could even be said for most of those people who do take the time to vote). So what is it the cause of the supposed animus towards elections?
That being said, I also wonder if there is a difference of opinion about the desirability of elections between those who vote and those who don't. Off the top of my head I can't think of too many voters that I know who are too upset by the prospect of more voting. Actually, some of these voters quite like the idea of being able to exercise their right to vote more than once every four years. If this is the case and we have such low rates of participation is it really fair to speak about 'Canadians' as a whole and not disaggregate those who won't participate no matter how infrequently elections are held?
Maybe, and this seems the likely answer to the riddle, when politicians say that Canadians don't want an election what they actually mean is "We don't want an election." Unlike the average voter in a Canadian election, politicians and political parties do face substantial burdens because of elections. Not only do they have to campaign and fundraise, many of these people also face the possibility of losing their jobs. Calling an election a year before necessary is a non-trivial matter, in some cases it could means hundreds of thousands of dollars in future pension earnings, or a loss of control of the legislative agenda.
Anyway, though I don't expect to settle any of this definitively here, I guess I just wish that in the future when politicians make such claims that the journalists present would request that they provide evidence to support their claims, or otherwise justify them. As it stands now far too many politicians are allowed to get away with making this questionable claim on a relatively regular basis.
For years I have wondered about this oft-repeated claim. Do Canadians really find elections elections distasteful? Is listening to coverage of an election and seeing election signs so troubling that Canadians would rather not experience an election at all? Maybe most troubling is that those making this claim almost never provide evidence to support their position, it is simply stated as though it is an obvious truth.
I find this claim troubling on two fronts. Firstly, elections in Canada aren't a big imposition for the average person. Aside from slightly different news coverage and a few more signs, I am not sure how most Canadians actually impacted by the process of holding an election (election outcomes are a slightly different story). Secondly, given that very few Canadians actually take the time to vote (about 59% in the last election) it seems fair to say that for many people elections don't even impose a significant time burden on much of the population (the same could even be said for most of those people who do take the time to vote). So what is it the cause of the supposed animus towards elections?
That being said, I also wonder if there is a difference of opinion about the desirability of elections between those who vote and those who don't. Off the top of my head I can't think of too many voters that I know who are too upset by the prospect of more voting. Actually, some of these voters quite like the idea of being able to exercise their right to vote more than once every four years. If this is the case and we have such low rates of participation is it really fair to speak about 'Canadians' as a whole and not disaggregate those who won't participate no matter how infrequently elections are held?
Maybe, and this seems the likely answer to the riddle, when politicians say that Canadians don't want an election what they actually mean is "We don't want an election." Unlike the average voter in a Canadian election, politicians and political parties do face substantial burdens because of elections. Not only do they have to campaign and fundraise, many of these people also face the possibility of losing their jobs. Calling an election a year before necessary is a non-trivial matter, in some cases it could means hundreds of thousands of dollars in future pension earnings, or a loss of control of the legislative agenda.
Anyway, though I don't expect to settle any of this definitively here, I guess I just wish that in the future when politicians make such claims that the journalists present would request that they provide evidence to support their claims, or otherwise justify them. As it stands now far too many politicians are allowed to get away with making this questionable claim on a relatively regular basis.
A Few Quick Notes 519
-At the moment is experiencing an intermittently heavy rainfall. The only good news is that it is not too cold, actually it is almost 10 degrees outside.
-I am gathering that today is the day we 'spring forward,' but I have absolutely no idea what time it is right now. I feel that clocks in our apartment might be displaying three different hours. The worst part is that it is surely the latest of the three times.
-Last night we were able to watch Gushue play Stoughton in the first play-off game of this year's brier. Of course this means that we were able to see the measure for 1 in the tenth and Gushue horrible shot in 11 to set Stoughton up for the win. Bummer.
-Yesterday I finally made it to the library to pick up my prize for placing third in the library video contest. As some of you have guessed, the bracelet flash drive that I mentioned yesterday was part of the prize, the rest of the prize was a re-usable cloth bag. Of course, while we were picking up my prize Jeannette and I entered a raffle and Jeannette ended up winning the same two items and a $15 credit that can be used towards things like photocopying or on-campus food.
-I think I am now 3 for 14 in this year's RUTRTW contest. Yesterday's 0 for 3 run didn't do much to help my record.
-I am gathering that today is the day we 'spring forward,' but I have absolutely no idea what time it is right now. I feel that clocks in our apartment might be displaying three different hours. The worst part is that it is surely the latest of the three times.
-Last night we were able to watch Gushue play Stoughton in the first play-off game of this year's brier. Of course this means that we were able to see the measure for 1 in the tenth and Gushue horrible shot in 11 to set Stoughton up for the win. Bummer.
-Yesterday I finally made it to the library to pick up my prize for placing third in the library video contest. As some of you have guessed, the bracelet flash drive that I mentioned yesterday was part of the prize, the rest of the prize was a re-usable cloth bag. Of course, while we were picking up my prize Jeannette and I entered a raffle and Jeannette ended up winning the same two items and a $15 credit that can be used towards things like photocopying or on-campus food.
-I think I am now 3 for 14 in this year's RUTRTW contest. Yesterday's 0 for 3 run didn't do much to help my record.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Perfect gift
Because it was recently my mother's birthday I have been thinking about things that might make appropriate gifts for her. Today I think I came across the perfect gift for my father to give my mother - a rubber flash drive bracelet.
One of these would be perfect because it would combine my father's favourite thing to give (flash drives) with my mother's favourite thing to get (jewelry). And, in this case, the funds would go to support a good cause. Who doesn't win in this scenario?
Plus, who wouldn't want one of these puppies? These things are so hot right now that I almost burned my wrist while I was wearing it earlier today (or maybe that was just the rubber burn that it caused when I was putting my sweater on)
The only thing that might make it better is if it said "Savestrong" instead of "Dalhousie Libraries."
One of these would be perfect because it would combine my father's favourite thing to give (flash drives) with my mother's favourite thing to get (jewelry). And, in this case, the funds would go to support a good cause. Who doesn't win in this scenario?
Plus, who wouldn't want one of these puppies? These things are so hot right now that I almost burned my wrist while I was wearing it earlier today (or maybe that was just the rubber burn that it caused when I was putting my sweater on)
The only thing that might make it better is if it said "Savestrong" instead of "Dalhousie Libraries."
I heard you were looking for a job
Maybe being a meat wrapper won't be the most fulfilling job in the world, but at least you will know that you aren't a night baker.
Or is this ad actually just for one job, that of a 'meat wrapper and night baker'?
Or is this ad actually just for one job, that of a 'meat wrapper and night baker'?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Fun stuff on the interwebs
A few days ago I became aware of International Coffee Organization, an IGO dedicated to the coffee trade. Not only does this organization involve itself in the international coffee trade, it also provides all kinds of information about the coffee and the coffee industry. If you are a coffee drinker they likely have information that is is worth checking out.
Just this afternoon I became aware of the fact that the Canadian government, though Public Works and Government Services Canada, operates an online auction site through which all kinds of goods are sold. While they claim vehicle sales are what they are best known for, they currently have a wide range of women's undergarments and designer apparel available for purchase. Oh, and they also have a Rolex and some jewellery for sale, along with surplus military attire. This
And because they are in the midst of their annual MaxFunDrive I should probably encourage everyone to check out the great free content that is available through Maximumfun.org. In particular, mainly because I haven't mentioned it here before, I should direct your attention to their newest podcast, Judge John Hodgman. Except as they relate to matters of style, Hodgman's 'rulings' are always insightful, eloquent, and persuasive.
Update: Shortly after I finished this post I saw that my friend Nicole posted about the fact that Life's photo archive is now available through Google. Anyway, this is another "Fun stuff on the interwebs" that I recently discovered and that I think is worth checking out.
Just this afternoon I became aware of the fact that the Canadian government, though Public Works and Government Services Canada, operates an online auction site through which all kinds of goods are sold. While they claim vehicle sales are what they are best known for, they currently have a wide range of women's undergarments and designer apparel available for purchase. Oh, and they also have a Rolex and some jewellery for sale, along with surplus military attire. This
And because they are in the midst of their annual MaxFunDrive I should probably encourage everyone to check out the great free content that is available through Maximumfun.org. In particular, mainly because I haven't mentioned it here before, I should direct your attention to their newest podcast, Judge John Hodgman. Except as they relate to matters of style, Hodgman's 'rulings' are always insightful, eloquent, and persuasive.
Update: Shortly after I finished this post I saw that my friend Nicole posted about the fact that Life's photo archive is now available through Google. Anyway, this is another "Fun stuff on the interwebs" that I recently discovered and that I think is worth checking out.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Victory
Apparently I took third place in the Dal Library's Love the Library video contest.
Apparently I have won a prize, though as of right now I don't know exactly what the prize is.
Anyway, if you are interested in seeing my 'award winning' film it is located below for your viewing pleasure.
[Embedded video]
Apparently I have won a prize, though as of right now I don't know exactly what the prize is.
Anyway, if you are interested in seeing my 'award winning' film it is located below for your viewing pleasure.
[Embedded video]
A Few Quick Notes 518
-Today, though occasionally windy, has been pretty nice so far. Presently it is sunny and near zero. As far as I know we should have similar weather for the next few hours at least, and maybe even tomorrow.
-My RUTRTW record for this year has now slipped to 2 to 10, which is fine but not particularly praise worthy. I think my problem is that I have not been consistently using my rim-roller.
-This year's Brier has been strangely distracting. Yesterday I was drawn into watching the entirety of the Newfoundland vs. Alberta game and this morning I suckered into watching some of the Nova Scotia vs. Alberta game. The worst part is that I will surely be tempted to watch a few more of the Newfoundland games before the whole thing is over.
-Rebecca's brother, who has been visiting for the past few days, will be heading home tonight, though not before we feed him a few pancakes.
Now that I think about it, I shouldn't have been so foolish to consume the entire package of discount blackberries I purchased this morning, I could have saved a few for pancakes. Woops.
-Given the aforementioned distraction that is the Brier, I should probably not allow myself to be too distracted by this blog and get back to work.
-My RUTRTW record for this year has now slipped to 2 to 10, which is fine but not particularly praise worthy. I think my problem is that I have not been consistently using my rim-roller.
-This year's Brier has been strangely distracting. Yesterday I was drawn into watching the entirety of the Newfoundland vs. Alberta game and this morning I suckered into watching some of the Nova Scotia vs. Alberta game. The worst part is that I will surely be tempted to watch a few more of the Newfoundland games before the whole thing is over.
-Rebecca's brother, who has been visiting for the past few days, will be heading home tonight, though not before we feed him a few pancakes.
Now that I think about it, I shouldn't have been so foolish to consume the entire package of discount blackberries I purchased this morning, I could have saved a few for pancakes. Woops.
-Given the aforementioned distraction that is the Brier, I should probably not allow myself to be too distracted by this blog and get back to work.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 517
-After several days of subzero temperatures we had a surprisingly warm day today. Somehow we managed to make it up to a high of 9 degrees, though this did come with a little rain.
-My RUTRTW is record is now 2 to 8. While this isn't great, I am comfortably above average.
-We watched some of the Brier coverage today. Newfoundland managed to win a close game this afternoon with a double by Gushue in the 11th. It seems that Newfoundland isn't doing quite as well in the match that is currently underway against BC.
-I prepared a big batch of wiener schnitzel this evening. I was pretty satisfied with the results.
-Somehow I allowed myself to be talking into preparing a batch of cupcakes this evening. Though I haven't yet sampled one I get the sense that they are edible.
-My RUTRTW is record is now 2 to 8. While this isn't great, I am comfortably above average.
-We watched some of the Brier coverage today. Newfoundland managed to win a close game this afternoon with a double by Gushue in the 11th. It seems that Newfoundland isn't doing quite as well in the match that is currently underway against BC.
-I prepared a big batch of wiener schnitzel this evening. I was pretty satisfied with the results.
-Somehow I allowed myself to be talking into preparing a batch of cupcakes this evening. Though I haven't yet sampled one I get the sense that they are edible.
At least I wasn't off the mark
It seem that my recent post about the similarities between the names Raquel Welch and Raquel Walsh wasn't far off the mark. Through the grapevine/power of the internets a former acquaintance of Ms. Walsh has confirmed that the name was given in honour of Ms. Welch.
Though I have joked around with friends about bad baby names, I am surprised that people would actually go as far as giving their child a pseudo-homophone as a name, particularly when that child is likely to fail to live up to the well-known traits of the person after whom they are being named.
Maybe what is even more impressive than the fact that one person was named in this way is that it appears that this is actually quite a common name among the Walshs of the internet. Last night Jeannette discovered that there are all kinds of Raquel Walshs on Facebook, so many that figuring out who our Raquel Walsh is was not worth the effort.
Though I have joked around with friends about bad baby names, I am surprised that people would actually go as far as giving their child a pseudo-homophone as a name, particularly when that child is likely to fail to live up to the well-known traits of the person after whom they are being named.
Maybe what is even more impressive than the fact that one person was named in this way is that it appears that this is actually quite a common name among the Walshs of the internet. Last night Jeannette discovered that there are all kinds of Raquel Walshs on Facebook, so many that figuring out who our Raquel Walsh is was not worth the effort.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Closet, but not cigarillo
I have recently seen a few pieces of incorrectly addressed mail for a person named Raquel Walsh. Seeing this name makes me laugh to myself as I can't help but think of the similar sounding name Raquel Welch. I have to imagine that Ms. Walsh's parents were thinking about Ms. Welch when they named their daughter, or that were the type of people who were so out of it that they inadvertently gave their daughter a name that sounds similar to the name of a 1960s and 1970s sex symbol. Anyway, I find this much more amusing than it likely is to most other people.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Hasn't aged
I recently watched this 1952 National Film Board film and was impressed at how little it had aged in the 59 years since it was made.
[Embedded video]
The National Film Board makes much of their back catalogue available online for free. Maybe even more surprising to me is that they also make available much of their collection of stock footage. Their site is worth checking out if any of these things interest you.
[Embedded video]
The National Film Board makes much of their back catalogue available online for free. Maybe even more surprising to me is that they also make available much of their collection of stock footage. Their site is worth checking out if any of these things interest you.
So this happened last night
It seems as though someone was stabbed next to Dal last night. The location of the stabbing is about 1.5 kilometers from where we live is on one of the routes I take to get to school. Bummer.
The only comforting fact is that the suspect was known to the victim. For some reason I seem to find such things more comforting than others do.
What I find particularly ironic about this is that just last night I was having a conversation about violent crime in Halifax. Little did we know that within a few hours of our conversation one of Halifax's most gruesome crimes of the year to date would be committed within just a handful of hours. Maybe this place is a little more violent than I give it credit for being.
The only comforting fact is that the suspect was known to the victim. For some reason I seem to find such things more comforting than others do.
What I find particularly ironic about this is that just last night I was having a conversation about violent crime in Halifax. Little did we know that within a few hours of our conversation one of Halifax's most gruesome crimes of the year to date would be committed within just a handful of hours. Maybe this place is a little more violent than I give it credit for being.
A Few Quick Notes 516
-We are back down in the -12 range. After some above freezing temperatures yesterday it means that we have a fair bit of ice.
-A few years ago I sold some of my footage the Montreal hockey riots to an American reality TV show. This morning I received a message from this television show soliciting submissions of videos of pranks. As I don't have any prank videos (and I don't plan on making any) this message won't be of much consequence to me, but I was somewhat taken aback by the description of the types of videos that they were looking for.
-Neil and I have a DAGS meeting tonight. The anticipation is building, or not.
-I guess I should get down to work.
-A few years ago I sold some of my footage the Montreal hockey riots to an American reality TV show. This morning I received a message from this television show soliciting submissions of videos of pranks. As I don't have any prank videos (and I don't plan on making any) this message won't be of much consequence to me, but I was somewhat taken aback by the description of the types of videos that they were looking for.
It’s called Practical Jokers Gone Wild and we are searching for the craziest tricksters who’ve ever turned unsuspecting punks into chumps! We want the kind of devious
masterminds that would dupe a pal into sprinting across a greased floor, trick a buddy
into thinking they’re headed to jail, or slip a slithery eel in the shower with a family
member!
-Neil and I have a DAGS meeting tonight. The anticipation is building, or not.
-I guess I should get down to work.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
That's a wrap
Well, our 3rd annual Montifax Blog-off has come to a conclusion. For the second year in a row I have managed to triumph, though I suspect that if Neil had really been trying in either instance he could have won easily.
Most of you are probably expecting a wrap-up video as have been posted following the two previous contests. As I am not inclined to disappoint our loyal readers here is this year's video:
[Embedded video]
Hope you enjoyed it.
We look forward to your readership during next year's blog-off.
Most of you are probably expecting a wrap-up video as have been posted following the two previous contests. As I am not inclined to disappoint our loyal readers here is this year's video:
[Embedded video]
Hope you enjoyed it.
We look forward to your readership during next year's blog-off.
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