The Fifith Estate, on CBC, is presenting a documentary about the dichotomy between what we see in wildlife documentaries and what actually takes place when the camera isn’t rolling. No big surprises here; the public wants to see what is shown, and we accept that animals are imperfect actors. Much like politicians.
posted in politics | Comments Off on Wildlife documentaries in the political world | 305 words
For the last two afternoons, I’ve been relistening to a CD I purchased this summer. Around here, there’s lots of music, and little time to actually listen without a dozen other sound sources vying for attention; all part of living in a close-knit social system. This one is a keeper. Each time around on the music box, it sounds better.
posted in music | Comments Off on Hours before dawn | 270 words
This was a free day. In a break with tradition, I opted to use a weekday for the things I wanted to do, or a close facsimile thereof; there was no plan, so there were no unmet expectations. It makes it so much easier to consider things in a positive light.
posted in technology | Comments Off on New oil in an old van | 349 words
I’m not alone in my frustration with impolite motorists. As a pedestrian, I take my life in my hand around here, when I check both ways, cross in the middle of a marked pedestrian path with traffic lights in my favour. In other words, there is no safe way to cross the street unless you are accompanied by a squirrel or in the presence of the police.
posted in education | Comments Off on Drivers with no intelligence | 355 words
Remember how you weren’t allow to throw stones at other students, back in elementary school? Actually, pretty much throughout the educational process, but especially in the early grades where you were kept in close proximity to others, and the skill of dodging projectiles hadn’t been fine-tuned. Anyhow, there may have been a good reason.
posted in humour | Comments Off on Sticks may be safer than stones | 296 words
Let the record show that despite my best efforts, winter has returned to the area. My procedural devices, such as installing a weather observation station, refusing to shortcut the lawn and dressing inappropriately for the weather did not keep the first snowfall of the season at bay. I shall have to develop other, more effective techniques for the future. We didn’t get the big storm that the weather channel promised, either.
posted in Wx | Comments Off on Change of scenery | 278 words
When you’ve gone to a beautiful beach, the simple act of taking your garbage back home with you is one of the base rules of being a good citizen. For a corporate citizen, this act should go “in spades”. Think of the term as an analogy, not an absolute. One of Canada’s top corporate citizens doesn’t play by these simple rules. I’ll not name John Q. Citizen, but he owns the majority of one of the Maritime provinces.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Come collect your belongings | 305 words
Is it noisy where you work? Unless you spend your days in an old school boiler factory, complete with sledge hammers and rivet teams, probably your days are spent in an environment that allows conversation with your coworkers. Ditto for play time, where the sound level is perhaps a bit elevated, but you can handle the pain.
posted in media, technology | Comments Off on Good coverage | 263 words
The university football season is officially over, and the steamroller has done its job. The Université Laval Rouge et Or have had a perfect season. No defeats, no serious injuries, no scandals. Just good football, all the way to another Canadian championship.
posted in media | Comments Off on Resulting in a perfect season | 298 words
My sense of detachment from “my politicians” approaches absolute. Even though I first voted over half a lifetime ago, I’ve never been in the same room as a federal or provincial prime minister, or within hailing distance of anyone wearing the ceremonial chains of municipal governance. My votes are cast into a black hole. Sadly, all I have to serve as proof of the existence of politicians is a tax bill and the associated ache.
posted in politics | Comments Off on In the flesh and at my door | 258 words
