Just Enough Makeup In the World

I felt like a cosmetic guitar Frankenstein when I smoothed out the wood filler with my putty knife and long straight-edge. But in less than a day, my repair work had cured and it was time to hit it with my sander. "Have 6o grit, will travel," I always say. The dust this produced was incredible and I could only do it outside lest I get lost in a dusty fog in my own basement.

One small point of concern was filling in the holes where the control knobs were once located. The guitar's owner wants to put a full time pickup inside the body and will no longer need the controls in this location. I glued a small block of wood underneath so this first round of putty would not fall through the holes.

You can see how extensive the damage was from the sanded areas. This will be smoothed out further over the long weekend. If you glimpse in the background of the first photo, you can see the headstock is already cleaned up and sanded smooth.

The Disaster DIY guitar project has turned a corner. It was a scary job at first, but everything is working out as planned.

No Turning Back Now...

The guitar restore project was sidelined the past few weekends due to cool weather (and a blown water heater that I had to replace), but now it's all systems go.

Fair weather is important in order for me to do this work out in the garage. The chemical solution I need to strip the paint is temperature sensitive and has undesirable fumes. The sanding process is also, well, in one word, messy. Nonetheless, this past weekend was very productive and the guitar body is now stripped down and ready for wood filler.

The paint stripper did its job as you can see from the bubbled orange paint. I took a palm sander to smooth out any stubborn areas to avoid using additional chemicals. All this revealed the many burn marks that were carved into the wood from the disc grinder. It's hard to believe the wood was not completely ground away -- though in some places it did come close. I will need a smaller sander to get into the crook of the horns, but it will be a good investment for any future woodworking projects.

I love the shape of this guitar and I look forward to seeing it look healthy again.

Get Googley

Insight can come from many directions. It can come from experience, observation, or understanding. It also comes from the knowledge of others.

I'm reading a book called, Everything I Know About Marketing I Learned From Google by Aaron Goldman. I don't know if I would go so far as to say it's fascinating, but it's definitely enlightening.

In the book, Goldman looks at 20 specific tactics Google uses to make it one of the most successful companies – and most popular noun/verb combo – on Earth. Ever.

Halfway through the book, Google's lodestar and its importance are explained. It gets shrunk down to one four-letter word. Data.

Google bases every decision on data. If no statistical evidence is presented to support a business direction, the decision is basically a hunch involving too much risk and a road not taken. One story goes that Google even tested 41 shades of blue for its toolbar before choosing the right shade.

A large part of the public relations profession is data collection, measurement, and analysis. If these necessary steps are not taken, we are essentially throwing darts into the night sky aiming for Orion's belt. While Google may takes this practice to the nth degree, you can't argue with the results.

Personally, I like Google's shade of blue.

Mistakes Were Made...

I like a project, particularly one that involves woodworking. So, I couldn't resist when a friend of mine asked me to take a look at his guitar to see if it could be fixed.

Seems he got a bit creative and wanted to give one of his guitars a new look. As you can see here, it ended up badly. The guitar is an electric acoustic Kramer that used to be white. Before this happened, I had played it a few times. It's a decent little guitar.

I can't shake the feeling like I'm a doctor hovering over a patient with a defibrillator, not quite sure if my next move will bring the patient back to life.

I'll post images of my work along the way as I prepare the neck and body for a new finish. I'm already recommending a return to white with a smart black pinstripe around the edges. Purfling is out of the question as it's not worth the time and expense; some areas of the body are ground down to such an extent it would be very difficult to carve a groove.

But I like a challenge. It's a great opportunity to learn something new. 

On Writing

I consider myself a professional intermediate good writer. But Maybe I'm a better writer than I think because most people I know say I'm too modest.

But this isn't about me. It's about writing and personal deadlines.

One thing is for sure, If you're a writer, your readers will enjoy less headaches if you stick to follow three simple rules:

1. Stay clear - Stick to one idea, finish it, and move on. If your point wanders, that is what your reader's mind is doing. How long will you keep his attention?

2. Be concise - Less words = more time your reader has for things far more productive. Like maybe their own writing. Extra words are indicated by strikethroughs on editors' desks or the, "red pen of discourage."

3. Don't over think - By over-analyzing, you are prone to fall into the errors of points 1 and 2.

A fourth point could be this: proofread, proofread, proofread again. This never fails to point out the silly errors you can't believe were missed.

This can be a humbling experience, but it will make you a far better writer.

Note: No words or egos were harmed in the application of these strikethroughs.

Pearl Jam and a Festival In the Sun

I like the feeling of reminiscence - the good reminders though, of course. All my memories, emotions, and imageries race back as I fondly remember my days of youth and exuberance. This was no more perfectly felt than in the summer of 1993 when I witnessed one of the greatest bands of all time perform at a small motorsport park in Gimli, Manitoba. The band was Pearl Jam and even then they didn't know how big they would become.

I am reminded of this weekend of nearly 19 years ago as I watch Cameron Crowe's documentary, Pearl Jam Twenty.

I was first introduced to Pearl Jam's sound through a friend in 1992. Back then, I hung out with a fairly musically talented, tight-knit group of guys. We learned from our idols and listened to many different styles of music: classic rock, psychedelic, jazz, metal, pop, even Herb Alpert on occasion. One wintry afternoon, one of the guys popped by, excited about a new band he'd discovered. He brought with him a copy of Pearl Jam's, Ten. One by one, we were all blown away at this newly-categorized Seattle sound. Ten was thought-provoking and full of passion and energy; lyrically brilliant, outstanding musicianship.

As I watched, Pearl Jam Twenty, the raucous days of my early twenties reminded me of my first outdoor festival, 1993's Sunfest. Pearl Jam was the height of the weekend for me and thousands of others as the band exploded its sound over the wild and muddy crowd that Saturday night. The energy was beyond anything I have felt since. My legs were sore the next day from bouncing in the crowd for the majority of the show (the pile of shoes and sandals lost in the mud that night were piled over three feet high the next morning). Sunfest was my Woodstock.

To get an idea of what Pearl Jam was like that night, someone with excellent foresight has uploaded several live videos to YouTube (here's the set-list from that night as well).

I was very touched by the honesty in, Pearl Jam Twenty. The documentary footage is amazing, and the interviews are candid and personal. Most revealing and touching was the homage paid to the relationships that led to the ultimate formation of Pearl Jam, most apparent in the remembering of Andrew Wood and the group Mother Love Bone. I'm a fan of Mother Love Bone, Green River, and Soundgarden, and it was interesting to see in Pearl Jam Twenty how these amazing musical talents worked together at the time.

I look forward for Crowe, or another suitable documentarian, to map the evolution of Soundgarden in a documentary soon. A definite must-see for me.

P.S. I saw Pearl Jam at the MTS Centre this past fall. They were amazing, but nothing will ever top the first impression I had of them on that muddy and wild Saturday night in 1993. Eddie Vedder is brilliant as a solo artist and I'm glad the group has been able to stay together. Bands can easily drift apart when a member takes a solo career path.

(note: not a Sunfest shot, but typical of Eddie's stage antics during shows in the '90's)

The WHS, Mary, and Me.

It's been so long since my last post (where I left off my announcement of finding a new job) that it almost feels anti-climatic. That being said, the excitement for my new job continues and I couldn't be happier.

As of November 21, I've become the Communications and Community Outreach Coordinator for The Winnipeg Humane Society. This is a role I could never have imagined for myself, as quite honestly, I didn't know the need existed. As part of the Communications department, my job is to seek out opportunities to help raise the profile of The WHS and promote its programs and services. Event planning makes up the bulk of what I currently do in an effort to get our message "out to the people." The most positive result I can achieve is to increase pet adoption and to help create a better understanding of how pets can integrate and fulfill our lives.

As with many non-profits, it's necessary to take on as much responsibility as can be handled. But when you believe in a group of people as much as I believe in the people and mission at The WHS, I know I will work hard to do whatever I can to help improve the lives of all the animals in our care. There are so many good people doing good work here I feel I can't offer anything less.

One thing I've learned about my past history of volunteering, working, and interning at The WHS is that it doesn't take long before the urge to adopt a pet becomes too much to ignore. Hence, the latest addition to Heidi's and my "fur family." Tulip was a two-month old stray kitten when she was brought into the shelter. She was brought in without litter-mates, and it's anyone's guess to who her mother is.

A house, but not a home...

Maybe it was the spirit of giving that came upon us, but Heidi and I decided one evening in early December that rather than buy a Christmas gift for each other, we would adopt a kitten. The next day, I walked through the cat condo's at the shelter and peered inside each room. If you've ever adopted a pet, you don't know which animal you will choose until you see it (they're all so damn cute to begin with). I had a good hunch which kitten we would like as soon as I looked into Tulip's room. I snapped a photo with my iPhone and messaged it to Heidi.

Someone is too sleepy to say "Hi", I texted.
Awww. Just bring her home already...Please!!! Heidi replied.

The next day I brought our pet carrier to work and I did exactly that. But I left the responsibility of renaming the kitten to Heidi. She didn't know what name she would choose, but on her drive to the shelter to pick up our little bundle, Heidi decided on a perfect name. As the kitten was a Christmas gift to us both, what could be a better name than Mary, as in "Mary" Christmas.

Mary, ready for her "close up."

On December 8, Mary joined our lives and those of our other pets: Foxy and Babe (dogs), Bob and Sophia (cats), and Jimmy (cockatiel). The dogs endure Mary's constant play mode pretty well, and Bob, our eldest cat, is teaching Mary what appears to be proper judo technique. I've already trimmed Mary's claws as she's yet to realize the pain she induces when she uses them. It's dramatically cut down on the amount of retaliation that goes on between our parent animals. All in all, Mary has been with us less than a month and it's hard to consider a life without her.

With six pets, we're pretty much at our limit and feeding time is pretty chaotic. Needless to say, Heidi and I typically feed the animals first in order to eat in relative peace.

It's our only option. The animals clearly outnumber us two to one.

Here's a few more photos of Mary I hope you'll enjoy!

What's with the flash, Jack?

Now thatsa' lotta meatball!!
(meatball removed after photo)

There's like, noooo Dr. Suess on this shelf...

Change Is Good

Sometimes I have to stop for a second to remind myself how much my life has changed in the past few years. You'll know what I mean if you follow my blog with any regularity (if not, feel free to click back among my 90 posts or so). And yet again, another change is coming my way.

I'm starting a new job in a little over a week. The crazy part is that I've barely got my feet wet in the role I am leaving, but I know my new position will fit like a comfy sweater. I get to return to a great group of people and an organization that is close to my heart.

I have several people to thank for the opportunities I've had these past four months. Topping the list is my current employer, Prophet Business Group Ltd. Before I was chosen as their Communications and Marketing Specialist, the two partners in this company had the foresight and willingness to shape the chosen candidate for the role. They knew there was risk involved if things didn't work out, but realized the reward if it did.

Part of their winning strategy was to enlist top-notch communications and public relations strategist, Adam Dooley of Dooley Communications, to mentor me in the early stages. From my first day at Prophet, Adam has provided focus and direction to my work and I've accomplished a lot in a short period of time. The work I have done with Adam's guidance has benefitted my employer and me personally. He's been a fantastic mentor and a true professional.  

I owe a great deal of thanks to Randy Wozny and Diane Lee Sousa at Prophet for allowing me to begin my career with them. Prophet is filled with an excellent team of energetic and professional software consultants and network services personnel to which there is no comparison in Winnipeg. Prophet will only continue to grow and prosper under the guidance of these two people as it moves forward. They have been very understanding of my decision to leave and happy to know where I am headed next.

Note: I have been guilted into baking them a batch of buns which I am taking to work tomorrow; a small price to pay to help dull the unpleasant news (food is a great bridge-builder), in my opinion.

It's never an easy decision to leave a place where you are welcome and your work is appreciated. It took a lot of soul-searching to decide to leave a solid company and a great group of people. But after a late-evening discussion with Heidi, and a hastily prepared résumé, I took a chance earlier this month to seek a job that is better suited to my interests. I'm very excited to get started and to let you know where it is once it's been officially declared. I am bringing the same energy and willingness to learn to my new employer that has brought me to where I am today.

Stay tuned to find out where I'm headed once I've dipped my toe in the water.  ;)

A Garden of Memory

As I get older I've come to realize that I've made an unconscious effort to recreate parts of my childhood. I'm not cavorting around the house re-enacting scenes from the Empire Strikes Back with my Star Wars toys or anything (possibly fun to do, but caught outside the presence of a niece or nephew is a sign to call in professional help), but I'm building specific past-times into my life that my parents once held domain. I change my own motor oil in my car, I bake bread using my mom's old bread pans, and I plant flowers and vegetables, for example.

Above is a picture taken in 2007 of my garden when I lived in Winnipeg. This little strip garden allowed me to grow tomatoes, carrots, peas (trained to climb sticks and fishing line to reduce sprawl), beans, radishes, garlic, and marigolds – to help keep out pests. I also had two 24x36 inch wood crates in which I planted basil, oregano, thyme, and chives.

And these were just the edible portions of my little green thumb.

I took a lot of pride in them as I had planted each from seed. I set up lights in my basement for the seedlings to take root, and by June, I'd have planted the seedlings into the ground. I was always fascinated to see my plants at their full growth stages by the end of summer. They tasted fantastic, and familiar. Not familiar in the way foods should taste. That's the least we can ask for, especially if we get them from a grocery store. But these foods evoked memories in me that I had forgotten.

As long as I can remember my family has grown a garden. The garden we had as kids was about 15x30 metres in size and it grew a lot of food. We also had a separate potato patch at my grandmother's double that size. It was a lot of work, but when the whole family contributed, well, you've heard the saying, "many hands make light work." We probably had the energy to do the work because we ate healthy. My mom still grows a garden, but on a smaller scale. As she has gotten older, I asked her once if she still has the energy to plant a garden. I recall she laughed and said something to the effect of, "I don't know what I would do with myself if I didn't have one."

I always get a weird, transportive feeling when I eat fresh vegetables from a garden. I especially love carrots straight out of the ground. I pull out a carrot, brush the dirt off, run water out of a hose to wash it, and take a bite. The flavour sends me back several decades every time, even more decades as I get older. I recall my dad used to laughingly call me "Bugs" when he saw me do this (what parent didn't). It's one memory I will always keep close to my heart.

The home in which I live does not have an appropriate area in the yard to grow vegetables. I also have dogs now and they likely would, by no fault of their own, be curious enough and haphazard enough to destroy it. This year, my wife's uncle down the street tilled an area of his lawn for my wife and I to use. I planted a few things, but most importantly, several rows of carrots. When the time came to eat a fresh carrot out of the ground, I pulled it from the earth, cleaned it off, took a bite, and was immediately sent back to my youth.

The taste of memory makes me smile every time.

The Gravity of Apple

Finally, at 5:30 p.m., August 24, 2010, I looked into my hands with tired eyes at my iPhone 4. I had just completed a marathon wait of over eight hours to own this treasured device.

I know, crazy, right? But I was one of hundreds who came every day to Winnipeg's Apple Store just to have a chance (yes, a chance) of owning an iPhone 4. Apple stores across the world easily ran out of iPhone's before they did customers. By the time I was guided into the store to get mine, there were only about a dozen iPhone's remaining for the day. The only memories I have of waiting in line for anything before this was for rock concert tickets in the early 1990's before the advent of online ticket sales.

For me, this best describes the emotion Steve Jobs intentionally/unintentionally created for his products. They are rock stars, and if you owned anything Apple, you were part of a kinship that stretched across the entire planet. This kinship was never more strongly felt than with Steve Jobs' death on October 5, 2011.

I first heard the sad news on that harbinger of Breaking News, Twitter. I tapped into my feed to blithely scan the days events to see @glendaollero, a former college classmate, simply express, "Oh, Steve. :((("

The world had known that Steve had resigned from Apple as its CEO six weeks earlier due to his health. I felt the worst had occurred, and sadly, I was right. Steve had lost his valiant fight with cancer. I immediately switched the television to CNN. Reports and tributes poured in from millions of people who thought of Steve like he was the beloved uncle they never had time to spend with. People created memorials at the news and lit candles, left flowers, cards, and yes, apples, at Apple stores in cities all over the world.

Through the devices Steve created, many of us felt connected to his vision. Steve was a technological rebel whose innovations rose above (I think) even his own expectations. Apple's product reputation is built on the premise that, "they simply work." By merely adding electricity to an Apple device, it lived up to your expectations within minutes.

A caveat. I've only ever owned Apple computers, but it's for the reason that I just described above. By simply adding electricity, Apple devices have given me, and millions of others, years of virtually stress-free computing (the one time I thought my iMac had died, it had become unplugged). None of my Apple products have ever failed to a point of repair. Reliable software updates and product improvements have made this a reality, and the only Apple product I no longer use is my first, bubble-shaped, iMac G3. I no longer use it because it was stolen years ago during a break-in. Thieves typically have a sharp eye for quality.

Thomas Edison designed inventions that captured electricity and improved the lives of hundreds of millions in the process. Steve Jobs captured the same innovation at Apple and seized the interest and imagination of the entire world.

@RIPSteveJobs  1955-2011

  

A Good Man From My Hometown

Guy Vanderhaeghe moved away from our hometown the year before I was born. Unfortunately for me, I did not discover Guy's writing until my early 30's. Over four decades later, I met him in person last night.

The first novel that I read of Guy's was, The Last Crossing. This work is a trademark of what he does so well: weaving the history of the Canadian west into compelling and engaging fiction. It had been a long time since a book had energized my imagination, and Guy's writing reminded me of the fantastic story-telling that I had been missing for so long.

I soon picked up, The Englishman's Boy, and I was delighted several years later when the Creative Writing class I was enrolled in would study the novel as part of Red River College's Creative Communications program. The Englishman's Boy was equally as enjoyable as my first introduction to Guy's work, but I wanted more works from this eminent author.

That time has arrived.

Guy visited Winnipeg as part of THIN AIR, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival. If the reading he gave from A Good Man last night is any indication, Guy's new novel is another brilliant example of character development and excellent visual storytelling.

I bought A Good Man during last night's THIN AIR festivities and walked across the stage to ask Guy to sign my copy. I shook his hand and introduced myself.

"We share the distinction of coming from the same hometown," I said.
"Oh, really? What's your last name?" Guy answered.
"Berg," I replied, "B-E-R-G." I sometimes do this as my surname comes out sounding like, "bird."
"Hmm, I don't know that one," Guy replied, "But I left town in 1968. It's changed since then."

I was nervous as hell to talk to this man whose writing I admired so much. I was tongue-tied a couple of times, but we talked for a minute or so before I realized the line of people behind me patiently waiting to talk to Guy as well. I was caught off-guard when he asked how I would like my copy of his book dedicated. I hadn't thought that far ahead. He wrote, "To Greg. Best wishes, Guy Vanderhaeghe."

I told Guy that his writing had re-sparked my interest in reading many years ago – an interest I thought I had lost. Guy, in polite form, thanked me for the compliment. I said that I was very excited to read his latest work, and I shook his hand again and returned to my seat. I opened his book and began to read. A Good Man immediately sucked me in and I read several passages until the intermission ended.

As I write this, Guy is on a plane to Toronto in support of, A Good Man. Guy, it was an honour to meet you. Best of luck on your tour and I'm positive your latest novel is headed for great success.

A Story Written In Fire

As fires go, it could have been much, much worse.

Last Tuesday night my wife and I were alerted by a neighbour that sparks were hitting the exterior of our home. Several trees had grown into the hydro wires outside our back yard, and the branches (with help from the incessant rain) were causing the current to come off the wire.

I went outside into our backyard to get a better sense of the danger. The night air smelled like a campfire. The gusting north wind was pushing sparks and tree embers against the side and roof of our home. I called 911, and within five minutes the street was filled with members of Selkirk's Volunteer Fire Department. The tree burned in two places as the fire crew soaked the branches with water from their truck. The fire was out. The immediate danger had passed.

A member of Manitoba Hydro entered our back yard and did his best to assess the damage with his flashlight. It was cold, wet, windy, and dark. The time and weather conditions prevented immediate action. But at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, three members of Manitoba Hydro were in our back yard formulating a plan. There was little to no room for their equipment to trim away the offending branches, so a decision was made to hire an arborist with the proper tools to get the job done.

On Thursday morning, the scream of chainsaws and cracking of tree limbs filled the morning air. Around mid-afternoon, the job and clean-up was complete. There would be no repeat of what we saw 36 hours earlier.

My wife and I thank our neighbour, Holly, who alerted us to the fire. We extend our sincerest thanks to the Selkirk Volunteer Fire Department who dealt with this fire before it got out of hand. Their professionalism is not lost in their volunteer capacity. Many thanks to Alan from Manitoba Hydro who oversaw the tree removal work from start to finish. He understood our concerns for further complications, and because of his attention, Alan and his colleagues at Manitoba Hydro fixed the problem in the timeliest and safest manner possible.

Selkirk's local professionals did an excellent job, but I hope my wife and I don't need them again any time soon. If we do, I know we can rely on them.

The Long Road Home

Driving home from work today I listened to an excerpt from Sidney Crosby's press conference held this afternoon in Pittsburgh. With the NHL hockey season soon sputtering to life, there was no shortage of commentary if one of hockey's greatest talents would return to the ice for the 2011-2012 NHL season.

I'm sure were it not for the clicking of camera shutters, you could have heard a pin drop as "Sid the Kid" opened his mouth to speak, and as he did, Sidney put to rest months of speculation to one of the most storied cases of a sports-related concussion; and it's far from over. It wasn't what hockey fans were hoping to hear, but it was a message that would only be believed if it came from the source.

Sidney Crosby won't be taking to the ice with his Pittsburgh Penguins this NHL season. Flanked by his doctor and the team's GM, Crosby revealed that he needs time for a complete recovery before he can confidently return saying, "I think it's important to get back to where I need to be. And if not, we've seen it many times, you'll get re-occurring issues and I definitely want to stay away from that."

One moment in the conference stood out for me the most. After Crosby provided an update of his condition, he gave the public a small dose of what it needed to hear. Crosby advocated for education of concussions and the frequency of which head hits occur in his game saying, "We've got to make steps to help avoid them."

Canadians love hockey. The game has a unifying effect. But if in the manner of which it is played it removes our best and most exciting talent, the point of the game will soon be lost. We raise some of our youth to excel in sports to their highest degree and then turn a blind eye to what should be tearfully obvious rules to implement. Of the two hits that have taken Crosby out of the game (for now), neither was likely intended to have the effect that they did. But intentional or not, smashing an opponent's face against a half inch thick piece of plexi-glass, or blind-siding a player in the head at center ice in a national game must stop. Anything that could be done to make hockey less of a contact sport should be encouraged and embraced. It needs to happen as soon as possible in order to move up through the younger generations, otherwise the talent we try to nurture will not be seen as athletes but simple entertainment.

There will always be a public thirst for press conferences that draw attention to the athletes we idolize for their achievements. Let's hope in a future not far from now that any new attention can focus on accomplishments, not status updates to what should have been a preventable body injury.

RRC: Two Years After, First Day for Some

I couldn't help but smile today as I thought of the new batch of Cre-comms filing into Princess Street classrooms for their first day of studies at Red River College. They may not know it yet, but they're about to have the best two years of their young lives.

I chose Public Relations for my major in my second year of Creative Communications, and one of the last exercises I was given was a speech writing assignment. The speech was on a school-related topic, and I wrote it for a classmate who read it aloud in front of the class. The topic was on helpful tips a Cre-comm graduate might give to a group of first year students. Themes in the speech touched on time management skills, being a parent while attending school, personal motivation, a social life (or lack thereof), and getting the most out of what RRC has to offer.

One theme that stood out for me the most as I wrote the speech was the type of people you will meet. Your instructors, college staff, and classmates are about to become a big part of your life from now on, but always know that the challenges you will encounter are shared challenges. All of your instructors want what is best for you, and they will teach you the best way they know how in order for you to succeed. The person sitting beside you in class will know exactly what you're going through because they are experiencing the same challenges with you. I would say "good luck," but it's not about luck. Help each other, work hard, and all of you will do well. No question about it.

I know it sounds cliché to say, but I don't know how else to say it.

Except this.

Enjoy your time. The next two years will speed by. The crazy thing is, no matter how hard it becomes, you will miss it once it's all said and done.

I am, A Man Without a Facebook

I am what most would call a late adopter. Up until last week, I still had not seen, The Social Network. Even though the movie came home with many awards at the time, I was left with the thought that the movie was just OK. Even more strange to some, I still resist the urge to create a Facebook profile on the 750 million strong social network site. I must admit, the urge is not a very strong one.

Don't get me wrong, Facebook has brought millions of people together and its prominence and acceptance counts for something. It is a force for good in the world even amidst all the controversy. I simply have many other things that I enjoy doing, and maintaining another personal social media presence is not a high priority. That being said, I look forward to joining Google+ once the door is open to all, and I think Twitter is simply awesome. Social media is only going to grow upward as the desire to express ourselves grows more and more.

Many people ponder as to how this may affect us in the future. One of the worries is that person to person social skills are being supplanted by this new technology, and you would have to be living on the fringes of civilization to not notice: we provide updates to our whereabouts when we drive (in the face of law), we allow ourselves to be interrupted anyplace or time, or we walk down the sidewalk in a trance staring at a 2.5 inch screen, to name a few. There are many examples of poor social media behaviour without even mentioning adultery, though that is a big one.

It's not fair to entirely demonize social media. It's here to stay and if properly used it is a major force for good in the world. Just this morning, I came across a study that showed virtual conversations can help people with autism improve their social abilities. I sometimes wish positive stories such as this gained more attention in mainstream media so that the listening public might hear about them more.

All of this really started today as I came across a funny – and very well-produced – schtick that is a humorous take on a Mel Gibson film called, The Man Without a Face. If you only click on one of the links in this post, click here to see it. And no, I was not consulted for any advice during the production of this film.

Just in case you were wondering.

Obama Tweets Into a Brick Wall

Two days ago, in an effort to encourage a resolution of the US debt crisis, US President Barack Obama tweeted out to his followers, "ask them (Republican Congressmen) to support a bipartisan solution to the debt crisis." Using an #compromise hashtag, Obama hoped to energize Twitter-handy Americans to send out a message of cooperation to their congressmen hopelessly in deadlock over the debt crisis.

The result? Obama lost over 36,000 followers. Who knew politics could be so divisive...

Of Obama's more than 9 million followers I suppose this is merely a drop in the bucket, but if I lost 36,000 of anything I would still analyze why it happened and try to avoid it from happening again. But more than anything, I feel this latest debacle south of the border is more proof of the divide between Americans.

As I've learned that the US has raised its debt limit 78 times since 1960, I had to wonder why it's a big deal. By borrowing more money, the US would secure its AAA bond rating, but, of course, the decision would raise its debt higher. Since 2002, the debt limit has gone from $6.4 trillion to what it is now (page 14). To be fair, $14 trillion dollars is an unfathomable amount of money compared to the speck in the universe of money I will ever make in my lifetime. But being militarily involved overseas fighting two wars since Sept. 11 has accounted for nearly $1.3 trillion of US debt alone. That's a good chunk of change right there, but not the only issue the US has been forced to deal with in recent years. The mortgage crisis gave the US economy a permanent bruise, entitlements are on the rise as baby-boomers retire, and no one can foresee a complete US pull from the middle east any time soon.

The last thing President Obama wants to do is borrow more money. This crisis is political brinksmanship to make Obama look like he can't get anything done. As electioneering for the 2012 presidential election is already sputtering to life (the election is only 15 months away after all), the Republicans are simply looking to kick more sand in Obama's face.

It's a bitter pill to swallow, and they do it simply because they can.

As of this morning, there appears to be progress. There's only two days left to agree on a plan, but there had better be a solution before the stock markets in Asia open for business a few hours from now and especially before North American stock markets open on Monday morning. If the stock sell-offs late last week were any indication, beware the Ides of August could become a mantra.

Out With the Old, In With the New

One of my favourite things to do in the summer is cycling. In an earlier post, I showed you how my interest for cycling began at an early age with my little three-wheeler, Thistle. Even as an adult, I take every opportunity to go for a quick spin to get a breath of fresh air or work out a few cobwebs in my brain.

I'm a bit of a stickler for how my bike and I interact. Once I plant myself onto my seat, I need to feel secure in how all of the parts operate. I have to feel connected to it. So, when I realized about a week ago that I finally needed a new pair of shoes for cycling, I decided to go a different route and install a set of clipless pedals.

I quickly discovered that there are many different types of clipless pedal available. In the past, I've been a bit hesitant to have my foot locked to my bike. One of the real fears is that in a moment of surprise or panic I won't be able to quickly "un-clip" from the pedal. When this happens, gravity takes over and a rider will plunk to terra-firma and onto his or her side. In the least, it's embarrassing; at worst, a rider can fall into harm's way. When I built my bike over a decade ago, I chickened out and opted for a nylon strap toe clip for my pedal (though I still managed to fall over on at least two occasions during that learning curve).

So far, I love my new Shimano pedals. I've rolled out with them about four times now, and I will put them to the test again this afternoon at Birds Hill Provincial Park. As an added measure of safety, the tech who installed them on my bike at Bikes & Beyond–a store I would recommend to any cyclist (excellent customer service)–set up the tension on the pedal to unclip on the easiest setting. As my comfort level improves, I can tighten the tension on the pedal to hold my shoe tighter and thus eliminate any accidental un-clipping from my bike–this were to happen at all, it would only be on the upstroke as this adds to the downward force on the crank as I pull up on my shoe thus enhancing the mechanical advantage.

That was far too technical. I hope it made sense and I got it right.

So, if you're thinking about an upgrade to your current ride, I highly recommend this one. The only issue I've had so far was that I found more trouble getting my shoe into the clip than getting out of it. A reverse problem that likely won't find me laying on my side because I couldn't clip out of my pedal in time.

Ride safe (if you're so inclined), and enjoy your summer!

It's not Science Fiction, It's Just Flash CS5

So, as I boldly prepare to begin my new career on July 11, I've been keeping myself busy with non-profit volunteer work for The Winnipeg Humane Society and iDE Canada. I recently completed a 2'x4' banner for iDE that will be on display at Birds Hill Park during the Winnipeg Folk Festival. It's bright red with a cornucopia of images inside the outline of a treadle pump. If you're at the WFF, check it out. It turned out really well and iDE's staff appreciated the effort.

The project that I'm working on for The WHS has put me in unchartered territory (not TerriTori). As far back as last February, I offered to put together a cat spay and neuter video for the animal shelter. The Director of Communications & Public Affairs was happy to accept my offer, and she left me with an open deadline for its completion. One thing that slightly scared me about our discussion was when I asked her what type of content might be of the most help. One of the first sentences that came from her mouth was, "maybe something with a little animation."

Eek. It wasn't essential, but I like to give people what they ask for whenever possible.

Creative Communications taught me many things, but animation is not part of the program. If a student is so inclined, he or she can certainly use it in a project, but CreComm involves other essentials. But if CreComm has taught me anything, it was to be resourceful and maintain a desire to learn.

This is my first Adobe Flash CS5 effort (and I know there is better work out there), but I think The WHS will enjoy the end result. All of the more active scenes in the animation are complete, but now I am working to resolve a few "artifacting" issues that have cropped up when I export to QuickTime. As usual, the Internet has been my unfailing tutor during this experience; I couldn't have done it without you O' Knower of All Things! All I have left to compile are a few "call to action" scenes about how The WHS' Spay and Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) is there to help cat owners.

Above is a screenshot from one of the scenes in, "Spay and Neuter Is Better Sooner." I have yet to add audio, but my music choice will be excerpts from Rossini's "The Barber of Seville." Narration will (hopefully) be supplied by my niece. Failing that, I'll offer any 9-12 year old kid ten bucks and a milkshake to read the copy whilst I record it for use in the animation. :)

When The WHS chooses a proper time to include my little nugget on its website, I'll tweet the link for you to check it out. Until then, take care, and happy Canada Day!

Food, Our Future, and Dessert

I take food for granted. The majority of people in the developed world likely do as well. Our next meal is as close as our kitchen refrigerator or a trip to a restaurant. If you are fortunate enough to receive a regular paycheque it's relatively easy to sustain yourself. In many cases the food you have consumed has traveled a great distance to enter your mouth. In Canada, it's easy to note that much of our fruit throughout the year comes from places on the other side of the continent or even the globe. It may not be long before this becomes the exception and not the rule.

There are expected to be 7 billion people on planet Earth in 2012; by 2050, over 9.2 billion. As many people in the world already subsist on very little to eat, humanity is going to need a lot more food, and fast.

A few weeks ago, I discovered what I consider a very sensible situation analysis regarding the subject of food scarcity and sustainable agriculture. The paper quite clearly explains our current situation but offers no single solution. This is no cop-out. World food production is an enormous subject to assess and there are unique challenges in each region. Those who are quick to dismiss GM-modified foods take note: they will find a place at our table if food production is to double in the next few decades. This research is incomplete, but it is a necessary avenue to explore. Science has enriched our lives in the past and we cannot discount its efforts, though any developments and discoveries must be closely monitored.

Due to the efforts of philanthropy, lending financial assistance to people in under-developed countries in order to develop local food production has also been met with success. This will hopefully increase in popularity. But climate change will be a wild card in all of this. If worldwide droughts and floods continue–or increase in regularity–as populations increase, the difficulties we feel today will worse in the future.

It's an easy argument that Canadians are eating more than our bodies need. The average adult needs about 2,000 calories per day in order to be healthy. I took this simple online calculator and it determined that I am consuming approximately 2600 calories per day for my current weight. I'm overweight for my height and age, so it suggested a minimum of 500 calories less per day in order to begin to reduce body fat. This was not an entire surprise, but knowing that excess food consumption is a factor in contributing to food scarcity, I have a new way of looking at things. It's almost prophetic.

Entrée's should be treated just like dessert. Small–if at all–for the sake of us all.

Finding Niche-land

Two years ago I chose to enrol in one of the most respected programs that Winnipeg has to offer. And as of last evening, I hold in my hand a hard-fought piece of paper that officially declares my achievement in Red River College's Creative Communications program. In the past month I've seen several online comments from my classmates about our impending graduation. We've worked tremendously hard. It's a bittersweet time, but for many of us a new reality begins and we are faced with one of the biggest questions in our lives. Where do we want to work?

I, and as I learned of many of my classmates, have a wide range of interests. We may not yet feel that the world is our oyster–more like freshly-hatched newborn turtles scrambling to the safety of the ocean–but we must never forget that we've been taught well, and with a little self-reflection we will find an area of interest where we will excel. In CreComm, I chose from a course list that reflected my own interests and what I felt would provide the most value to my future employer. I chose Public Relations as my major, but on top of the required courses such as Journalism, Advertising, Media Production, and Oral Presentation, I chose:

*electronic desktop publishing

*image editing

*advanced website design

*non-profit communications

*freelance business management

*television documentary production

*photography

*and to top it off, a 200-page sci-fantasy novel

So how well will my course decisions deliver work to me overall? It ultimately depends on where I focus my energy and how I pursue my plan for employment.

My strongest interests are in food and music. Before I entered CreComm, I came very close to entering RRC's Culinary Arts program such is my love for food. I am always cruising the web looking for new ways to prepare food, and I am not afraid to try something different in the kitchen. I've learned to play a wide variety of stringed instruments and I even took cello instruction for three years before I entered college. I am eager to spend more time doing these things I love, and my plan is to focus my career efforts in one of these areas. In the coming weeks I will be visiting companies and organizations that fall into my sphere of interest. It's an exciting time for me and for those I will approach; I have a lot to offer.

My official RRC transcript arrived in the mail a short while ago. Seeing how well I had performed validated my efforts and performance in a program that, at times, can foster a love-hate relationship. But always when the dust settled, the former emotion held true. I look forward to finding the right employer for me. I've worked for many years in other jobs, but the past two years in college have re-molded me for something more purposeful. The same is for all of 2011's graduating class of which I am a part of. Our talents will find the niche for what suits us best.