It’s now March, and we’ve collectively not been healthy yet. We are however on the mend, and looking toward March, April, and Spring just around the bend.

Which brings me to my plan. Yes. I has one.

With Alex heading off to the warmer climes of Kelowna, I’ve now got to shoot of my own volition. I don’t have any excuses, or anyone to prod me along. So… plan 1: Shoot more.

Yes, I know I spray a number of bullets around during the year, but not many photos of late. I will change this. Somehow. And more importantly, I’m going to shoot more real photos – not just pictures of my monkeys. (Not that I’ll stop taking pictures of them… just more not of them… you get me?)

Plan 2. With all the health misery, it’s high time I set a goal to fit-up a bit. John and I talked, and we’re going to tackle Mt. Temple in August / September. It will be summit two for him, and while it’s a ‘tourist scramble’ for most – it’s 11,000 feet to me. It will be an amazing view, and to do it – I have to push myself. Hard. I need to drop 35/40 pounds in the next 7 months, and get myself to a point where an 8 hour hike with a 30lb pack is easily accomplished. What do ya think? Have I got it in me?

I hope so. I’m on a mission to take photos up there.

See Mt. Temple here.

We’ll be taking the tourist route, a class I alpine scramble route up the East slopes.

See other climbs at Temple at Canadian Rockies Alpine Guide.

I believe in paying for product that I choose to use, and I don’t wish to pay for product that I don’t want or choose to support.

The CRTC (Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission) has been appointed by the Government of Canada to act as a ‘watchdog’ or ‘overseer’ of Canadian Telecommunication.

Typically, they have been responsible for maintaining ethical standards, Canadian Content standards, and regulating the ‘wild west’ of radio and television offerings. For the most part – they’ve done a fair job in this regard. Though unpopular is a pleasant way to describe some of their decisions – most have been made with the intent of being ‘best’ for Canadians.

The recent drive to ‘regulate’ pricing of INTERNET service however seems to be putting the CRTC at significant odds with the desires of Canadians.

A recent decision by the CRTC to allow bandwidth capping (though the name alone is misleading) has polarized consumers.

Canadian internet services have been provided for many years under a “unlimited (but fair) use, at a prescribed ‘rate’ or ‘speed’ of delivery.

As the speed quotient has increased with high speed delivery options, the providers (Bell, Telus, Rogers, Shaw – whomever) have desired the ability to charge additional fees beyond ‘base’ data quantities.

The result – you can have download speeds of 19 megabits / sec, but if you exceed 25 GB of data a month, you’ll pay X$ per GB more.

Simply put – you are paying for the pipe already – that’s what we are charged for. The ability to pay by data amount, now suggests that these parties are not concerned with throughput (ensuring how many bytes / second you are paying for) but how many bytes (yes… electrical impulses) you are consuming, regardless of the impact to their ability to serve the ‘speed’ you pay for – because your 25 GB served off peak – is virtually UNNOTICED over their network infrastructure.

The CAPS are serving to add financial buffer for oversold peak bandwidth at the providers network head-end, and to protect their bottom line as more Canadians seek and pay for alternative sources of media and content – like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix.

If I pay for a telephone line, I pay for it to be there when I want it, however much I want it. Not for 30 minutes a month, and if I use it more I must pay a hefty ‘overuse’ fee.

I pay to have access to a 19mb DSL line. I expect that when I use it – I’ll have a max throughput of 19mb, a minimum upload of 256k/sec and a minimum download rate of something reasonable – during peak times.

I did not, and do not subscribe to the service on the basis of unwarranted caps on usage however, because my fee covers the cost of the channel I subscribe to.

All of this aside I could perhaps accept a cap on data, with overage charges, if competition (real, honest, healthy competition) existed. Sadly, as the climate of technology in Canada has been defined by government subsidy to the big 3 (4) telecom giants, the ability for ‘new’ players or competitors in the telecom space just isn’t possible in Canada.

Where I am most concerned about this regulatory move is that it sets us (as consumers) up for the next layer of consumer gouging. Usage Based Billing.

Once that language is ingrained, it is only a short hop to telecom / internet providers selling ‘content’, billed at unique rates. Facebook? Why that’s included, but if you use Linked in – it’s .20 cents a megabyte. Need to search? Yahoo is free, because we ‘signed a deal’ with them, but Google is .5 cents a search. Don’t think this is possible? Really? Take a look at smart-phone ‘mobile’ contracts. Social media included in base rates, but ‘web’ access is billed ‘extra’?

Netflix? Oh – that’s 5$ a GB, but for only 22$/Month you can get your TV from us…

This is the fight of Net Neutrality. Pay for the pipe, not the content.

The content is provided by thousands of other companies… they are in competition with each other already. Now, we add a competitive layer that says “No matter how good your product, or offering, or support from your consumers, my Telco didn’t do a deal with you, so you are out a percentage of your subscribers.”

Entrepreneurs take note, because the stifling of product, market and innovation is mere footsteps away.

The ‘Internet’ is not telephone service. It’s not a rental car.

The internet is much more akin to the Radio of the 1920′s – where it was free, available, and required only your commitment to own the hardware to receive it. It was up to content creators to vie for your attention, until television came along. Radio’s evolution to satellite only reinforces that if you want to sell the connection you’d better have a better, or at least competitive product ready and waiting.

So – to Tony Clement, MP – good on you for standing up to the CRTC for Canadian consumers. Good on you for forcing the CRTC to find other ways to support our technology and allow consumers to choose, but please, don’t stop with this one single battle.

We must find a way to ensure that Canadians have their place among the worlds leaders for freedom and availability to service, without the unreasonable costs levied by geographically non-competitive market giants.

For more information:

The Cost of Bandwidth – Canada versus US/UK/JP
OpenMedia.ca’s Stop the Meter Campaign
Strombo on OpenMedia and Metered Internet
CBC Explains UBB

Now – to suggest it’s been a rosy relationship would be silly. Why just last christmas, we had an outage of a few days, which required a call for support. During that call, we found out that we were paying 45$ a month for service they were selling for 14$. After a retro credit, new hardware and a few support issues, we got back online and the world was good.

A few weeks ago, we looked at our satellite bills, phone / internet etc. and decided now was the time to combine. I’ve been unhappy with Shaw Direct satellite for some time, particularly with respect to their programming changes on paid premium stuff. No more. We dumped it because Telus had an offer for us to add TV to our communications package and save us a few bucks (30+) a month, and get us a multi-tv PVR. Great thing if you have kids… seriously.

We called Monday, but it was going to take 4 days to get someone in. Ok… fair enough. Thursday AM they’d call with an ETA.

It was a rough ETA. Sometime between 8am and 4pm. At 3:30 after waiting around ALL day, the Mrs. called Telus. Unimpressed, she threatened to cancel, as the installer called. He arrived at 20 after 4. She grilled him hard. He only got the work order at 2pm though – so hardly his fault, but he wasn’t impressed with a 2pm callout for a 3-5 hour install.

We muddled through, got things installed, and he was out by 6:30.

Now the service, picture, etc. is pretty par for the course. Everything was installed, PVR working, recording – doing what we paid for.

At 8pm – the screen of all of our TV’s went black. Still had the program guide, but no picture. Couldn’t even play back PVR’d stuff – local to the box! What the hell… Browser refresh… nope. No internet.

Ok. I’ve been through this, downstairs, reboot modem. Nada.

Hello Telus support.

For 55 minutes, I worked with “Andy” to switch on / switch off, read back lights, refresh browser pages, dance in voodoo circles, talk to NOC techs, and generally praise Gaia. Nothing. (It was during this period that cycling the power on our ‘new’ modem caused our Alarm system to freak out and go into trouble mode with a failed telco-connection.)

We can get a tech to you on the 23rd he says.

Whuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaat?

I’ve had the service for 2 hours, and you’re telling me I can now not have TV/Network/Web for the weekend?

Do YOU have a 4 year old ‘Andy’?

I escalated, and there was no manager on duty to assist. I was offered an escalation call next day…. that would be tomorrow. So I’m now screwed for at LEAST a day because I upgraded from the competition? Doesn’t that rub ya the wrong way? Sure did me.

Ok. I can live a NIGHT without web (yikes!) but it can be done.

After an hour I hung up the phone pissed off.

At this point, I called @lancetay to tell him what happened. Livid doesn’t even begin to describe my mood…

Still chatting with Lance, and telling him to send a few pointed tweets on my behalf, I refreshed the page on my browser again. I got an error dialog regarding gmail ssl certificates. I’m like – huh? The browser is getting a router screen screaming about bypass due to lack of internet, but I’m getting an SSL dialog?

OK, Cancel, OK, Cancel…. and out of the blue, a page loads on my screen. Power off and power on the PVR again… guess what. Yep. It worked.

So I ask this question: If you sell a product like Telus TV – wouldn’t it make sense to A) Admit to network issues when they exist. and
B) Have processes to test up and downstream instead of a 30 minute ‘which lights are blinking?’ assessment.

Lastly, If I find out that the SSL dialog actually HAD something to do with this – I’m gonna get some black hat boys to hammer telus a new one….

Sadly, takes no skill or experience with a product to sell it. To support it is a whole other story. No matter what you are selling, make sure your customers have an out if there is a problem. THAT will keep them coming back.

This I don’t mind, though there are some interesting effects of this change.

Our ward is losing the residential and industrial sectors to the west of 50th and north of 23rd ave, in addition to the industrial sectors north of the Whitemud. This places us in an interesting position (my own home in particular being the northernmost residents of the ward backing onto the ‘mud). Our ward is changing to a completely residential ward. With the exception of some retail areas, there is virtually no industrial area remaining. It will be interesting to see what priorities are identified in our ward and how they might differ from the past.

Signs have been springing up in our ward already. The new ward system doesn’t come into play until election day October 18, almost 3 months from now, but signs (one sign, many copies) have been up for over a month already.

Vikram Bagga – a local Jeweller has by all appearances thrown his hat into the ring for mayor. Nomination papers are due on September 20, 2010 so to date, assuming our incumbent we have 2 ‘confirmed’ candidates in our ‘neck of the woods’ – Amarjeet Sohi and Mr. Bagga.

One thing is clear. Ward 12 is a very multicultural district with notable Sikh, Hindu, and Islamic populations (as well as Christian, other theist and atheist residents of all colours) and I am concerned that citizens are going to be sending people to city hall based on race and birthplace, not platform.

Let me make this clear so that any potential mudslinging is nipped right up front. My concern is most certainly related to cultural relevance, but is certainly not prejudicial. I proudly put my support behind Mr. Sohi in the last election based on his platform – and I personally see no relevance in race, religion or skin tone as they relate to the issues of a ward in this city. [ED Note: This isn't completely true where crime and education are impacted by cultural makeup. Rather - my point is that to me - any candidate would recognize the cultural needs of their citizens, regardless of skin colour.]

What is my concern? My concern is the number of people supporting Mr. Bagga, when not a single alternative has been announced. These cannot all be associates or family members of Mr. Bagga so if not culturally motivated I wonder where his support is generated.

Regardless of the cultural support Mr. Bagga may be receiving, I do not fault him. He is running for office, and that means getting your support from wherever it stems. I have not met Mr. Bagga formally, though he spends some time with a friend of his that lives a few doors from me. He has knocked on my door asking for my families support this election – but sadly I wasn’t able to speak with him directly to get his position on things that are important to me and my family (because I was tending to the smelly bottom of one of them).

Youth crime, community policing, infrastructure funding, taxation, personal privacy, accessible technology, green space – these are things that matter to me. They also tend to be balance points between candidates. It is hard for me to accept that I’m being asked to support someone who has not yet put forth his concerns, plans and platform against as yet unknown candidates… but more than a few have.

So I ask this question. To those individuals and families currently supporting and promoting Mr. Bagga as an alternative: Why?

I don’t suggest that Mr. Bagga is not capable of the job. Indeed – he’s been in harrier situations than most of us, and has a unique perspective on small business – but just what is it? Because of his experience is he going to focus on small business issues? Policing issues? Where will his time be spent – and will it represent the real issues of you and your family? I only ask because I still don’t know the answer.

Regardless – I do wish Mr. Bagga well. I believe that it is a noble and respectable desire to stand for your community in government to make changes that will positively impact your constituents. But rather than trying to rally votes with signage – why not meet with your community and talk about issues and platform, and how you plan to represent their concerns?

I’ve had enough of this ride, and I’d like to get off now please.

Baby Max is doing great, and now 10 days old, he’s getting used to us and we’re getting used to him. He’s quiet, active, attentive, curious and very much a beautiful little boy.

The whole story is long and not attractive. It’s also not uncommon, but you don’t read about C-Sections like this often, and I want other fathers to understand – you aren’t alone when you feel the things you feel.

Here’s a synopsis of the last 7 days. Inserted are my journal notes tapped into my iPhone along the way…

June 21, 2010

Mom is now 10 days post-partum, and 7 days out of the hospital. What we’ve learned? 3 days is simply not enough time to heal from a caesarian before removing staples.

After their removal on Monday morning last week, Lin suffered some rapid bruising. By 10pm Monday, we experienced the first of what would be a number of discharges of fluid from the incision that had been completely sealed that morning.

4am brought us via ambulance to the hospital after an extensive draining of blood and fluid that pooled on the floor and soaked her bedclothes.

By 7am Tuesday morning, we were home with a diagnosis of ‘Yes, that can happen. Take it easy, keep it clean.”

We had a clear day, and at 10 the next morning when planning to leave for our day-home as a full family, the wound released again, blood and fluid pouring to the floor.

Spending a little more time watching, and less panicking confirmed that the discharge was mostly serum – the bodies fluid media for healing. We dressed as best we could with materials on hand, and we saw no major discharge for the next few days.

Late Thursday, with Lin’s sister up to help us out and balance our sanity, we noticed an odor to the discharge, and concerned about infection planned to get to the doctor again.

Thursday night, 12:41, June 17.

Today I’m scared. Not so much about our longer term situation but about keeping myself together for lin. She’s fragile. She’s saddened that she cannot have the perfect recovery. Saddened that she cannot do what she expected to be able to. Feeelin that her desire to have our second child has had such a negative impact on us.

In reality no such thing has happened. We’ve had a stretch of bad luck during her recovery. Difficult healing isn’t something you can plan for. I know that well make it though the next week, and well get back on the road to well, raising max well as we have Ben.

What scares me is not knowing if I can be strong enough for both of us in the coming days. To keep her spirits up while I feel so overwhelmed with joy and fear. I can’t bear to see her hurting, and yet I know that this is something I have little choice in.

Tomorrow morning she will contact her surgeon, failing a visit with her – Lin will go to emergency with Eliza while I sit at work a wreck, and she’ll wait was LONG as is necessary to get the right treatment, supplies, antibiotics etc, as are required to allow her to heal correctly.

I’m glad my folks aren’t here – because I’d be crying on a shoulder – begging for them to tell me that everything will work out fine – wishing just for a moment that I believed I had the strength to take care of both my sons while holding Lin together.

Friday morning, 10:25, June 18

Lin should be at emergency now. I hope that she’s not waiting too long and I feel exhausted, guilty, and lost. I should be with her at the hospital, and she needs me, but Eliza is with her and I don’t think I’d be much help on the edge of tears.

Check that she just phoned and is still at home. Her doctor is calling her back right now. Hopefully she’ll squeeze in. If it’s emergent she’ll get her into the hospital quickly I hope, or home and on the right meds quickly.

An hour later and her doctor still hasn’t given her an answer. I told her to get to the nuns and get into emerg. Perhaps the gods will smile a litle and they’ll get her to the mat ward but I’m not holding my breath.

I need desperately for someone to say we can fix this. To say yeah man . Shit happens. But don’t worry – well get her better. Instead we keep hearing “look out for” and “watch out for” and “don’t go to the hospital for”.

This is their fault. Rushing out three day caesarians, not providing appropriate cautions and supplies to deal with possible complications.

Now were struggling to stay positive and move forward.

I feel abandoned.

After some lunch now and Lin is at the hospital in chairs waiting for the on-call Doc to look in on her. I want this to be a non-issue; to be sent home with a smile and good news but at the same time I’d love for her to be admitted and assisted to heal properly, letting me care for Ben’s needs – rather than worrying about her.

Doe that make me sound cold? Audra says guilt is useless and to toss it aside. I’m doing what i can and if this is my limit so be it… Work to my limit. So knowing All that – why do I feel so shtty beyond the worry?

Friday Afternoon, 1:45 June 18
Three hour at emergency now. The doctor just got to Lin and were about 30 minutes into this one. I don’t know what result I want. I want wellness however that can be found given the situation.

I still want a shoulder that I’m allowed to cry on. The drive home will have to do.

This time we were told that – and I’m not kidding here – ‘Larger women often get that smell’ from a wound.

Friday Afternoon, 3:30 June 18 2010

Oooooh fumin. Doc on call at the grey nuns was a dick. He suggeted we overreacted because “women of size” often get a smell to the discharge in an abdominal incision… Ok – I get it – the fold of skin that incisions are usually made in tend not to be air-exposed. Yeah – anaerobic – I get it.

I realize these are ER Docs but let’s show a little class. Bedside manner? None.

On the upside, home care is suppposed to contact us and get things settled over the weekend. Lins hip-abdominal pain contnues, but she never had the oppertunity to talk with the asshole about it. Thinking back, we had a similar experience last time. Will confirm with the nurse tomorrow. They tend to know more about healing than doctors anyway.

One more night. One more day. Healing will come…

The ER physician should have his head removed from his ass so that I can place my boot up there. That ‘closed’ incision from Monday now had an angry 1.5 x .75 inch opening where it had been stapled closed. (For the uninformed – the incision is about 8″ long total).

He did however, order home care for the wound – to ensure that it healed correctly, and for the first time in days we had some peace of mind.

Saturday night, June 19 2010

Today was a big day. It was a good day because as a result of Lins visit with the cockbite ER doc we got a visit from a home care nurse. She looked at the incision, made some solid assessments, properly dressed the wound, and gave us the first sound answers yet. We talked about the nautre of recovery, want to expect, supplies should they be needed, a number to call for backup without the need for the er or three hour waits. She gave us the first hope since this began that we could get there. The first hope for and end to this struggle to heal, and the first person to say it’s not bad, and you’ll get there if you’re patient and positive.

That’s not to say my folks and sister haven’t said that – but they aren’t here looking into the two inch opening.

Eliza was invaluable as she gave Lin a soundboard and gave me a feW moments to get out of the house without worrying about Lin alone at home. She told Lin to shut up, and gave her the chance to be down without me seeing it.

I told lin about my guilt and how I was at the end of my rope, not fearful about her long term health but about my ability to be a good father to two, and take care of her without losing my marbles.

We are still trying to sleep, trying to find normal, trying to heal.

Today she ate well again. She slept. She drank. She smiled.

Tonight, max is the fussy one. I hope that he can rest, or it will be a long night….

Our nurses came Saturday and Sunday, cleaning checking and re-dressing, and both days showed improvement in the now open wound.

Sunday night 1:39am, June 20 2010

Today was a good day. Our nurse arrived at 9. Cleaned up the incision and got us squared away for the day. Lins movement was better, and aside from the discomfort of emptying bladder and the stich in the hip – I think there was some progress in her healing.

The incision still looks angry, but today seemed healthier. The open portion wanted to be closed and responded well to cleaning with no bleeding or additional seepage. It looked like a healty cut and was in healing mode.

Aside from a little leak on the dressing the previous day, the nurses efforts as well as a better mental state for both of us resulted in a busy fathers day that saw me getting food on the table, six loads of laundry done, and a clean kitchen counter and sinks, mowed lawn, and low stress. It still looks like a bomb went off in this house, but here is progress.

I may actually sleep soon which is good since I’ve got 5 hours till I have to get Ben ready for the day…

Today is Monday the 21st. Before lunch, Lin had a fever. After some additional hydration, and the nurses visit – her temperature had returned to almost normal. I’m on pins and needles all over again.

Going back in my email – I’ve got hundreds of mails from the system prior to 2007. I’ve reconnected with dozens of friends from elementary, junior and high school – many of whom I was delighted to find. As many more I didn’t care to see again, but I was happy to accept that for the opportunity just to say hello.

I know that very VERY few of those people will be a part of my life moving forward, but it was nice to see where people ended up.

I find that I use facebook most for keeping me connected to my siblings and extended family. Recently I’ve also managed to connect with direct relatives (cousins, seconds and thirds) over the Atlantic in Britain.

At worst – that’s one of the things I cared about the service for. It was exceptional at connecting friends and family, particularly those who don’t see each other regularly.

Along the way however, things changed.

What started out as a mechanism for retaining and engaging social relationships with friends and families became a mechanism for gaming. A mechanism for time wasting, a mechanism for less altruistic endeavors.

That’s fine – to each their own, and I simply didn’t use those features that didn’t appeal to me.

I grew weary of ‘Pokes’ and ‘Likes’ and ‘not-likes’ but more – I grew weary of the ever present ‘Join this page’ and ‘Join this group’ and ‘Attend this event’ requests I started receiving. Mostly from people I hardly knew.

Sure I suffered the ‘build my mafia’ blues. Yes – I too felt like spraying round-up all over Farm-Ville. And BOY do I have a lot of poker chips.

Where facebook started to lose me was more recent than for many of the current exodus.

I’ve never shared anything that I’m concerned about protecting. The insidious changes however mean that anything I share is commodity. When I started visiting websites unrelated to facebook, and saw their name flashing by on the file requests at the bottom of my browser I realized that their reach had passed my comfort zone.

When visiting my favourite hunting site – what business do they have with my facebook page – and what information are they being passed? It became apparent that more than my login status must be flying across the aether.

So I started pulling information out, content out, and used the service as a communication tool.

Last week – I was served the final straw.

I logged in, and was presented with a request to link my interests, hobbies, location, hometown, etc. with ‘Pages’ on the subject. I had ‘Pages’ for Edmonton, and ‘Pages’ for books and ‘Pages’ for hobbies shoved at me. Full of people I don’t know, and don’t associate with.

After I said “fuck you…” and unchecked their offer of appropriate pages, facebook informed me that I couldn’t have those items in my profile without linking to the pages.

In my best “Chris” from family guy – “Whhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt?”

I continued unselected, and sure enough – facebook DELETED all of my hometown, city, hobby, interests etc. from my profile.

Whhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt?

Social connections and relationships are built on the social structure of people.

I’m not dating, and don’t need exposure to thousands of other people who live in EDMONTON or who read William Gibson’s ‘Neuromancer’.

This was the final straw.

Mark Zuckerberg has taken the proverbial shit on my coffee table. Like an unwanted guest at a house party, he’s gotten drunk with power, and taken a shit in my living room. This is the point when most drunken party-assholes get beaten senseless and left in the yard for the morning garbage.

Of course – the analogy isn’t quite right. It’s abundantly clear that facebook.com is Zuckerberg’s living room. So, I left the party, along with thousands of other users. If he wants to abuse and berate his guests and wipe his filth on the walls – so be it – but he’s also watching the paycheques leave as without the data, he has nothing.

My only hope is that as those enlightened users leave, the unaware masses will catch on and make their decisions too.

So on May 21st, I said enough is enough and clicked this link: http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=delete_account

I’ll miss the access to old friends and there are already withdrawal pangs from the changes to routine, but I’ll manage out here in meatspace.

Mr. Zuckerberg seems obsessed with his ‘non-private’ world. He believes that privacy has no place in the new millennium, and I’m happy to tell him he’s nuts.

Seems I’m not the only one who thinks that facebook has outgrown it’s place in the world. Perhaps it’s worth further investigation on your part if you’re still drinking his kool-aid.

When you’ve said goodbye, I’d love to see you on a patio over a beer. If you’re really nice, I might even ‘poke’ you.

Further reading:

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/facebook-users-dont-want-complete-privacy-zuckerberg-20100524-w54g.html?autostart=1

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100521/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc2184

http://gizmodo.com/5530178/top-ten-reasons-you-should-quit-facebook

http://www.mediaite.com/online/new-movement-against-the-site-declares-may-31st-quit-facebook-day/

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Facebook+users+quit+over+privacy/3032677/story.html

http://www.fiftynorth.ca

Damn. Sucked in.

See – I have a unique perspective perhaps.  My wife worked (yes – past tense) for the school for many years, and as a result I tended to disregard it in the grand scheme of things.  In times of economic uncertainly it’s crucial to keep personal and professional development on the horizon, but even better to actively pursue that growth to build personal and professional worth.

Mike and Lenny (Part one: http://macewanblogcamp.ca/mike-lenny-part-1-155/ ) is a lighthearted but effective stab at that very situation.  The ‘less than wonderful’ new roomate in my opinion is the star of the ad (yes – it is an ad…) and points out something – I wonder how much of his helpfulness and subsequent employment is really a little bit of Mac rubbing off?

The contest in question (http://macewanblogcamp.ca/twitter-contest/) seeks bloggers to write the third episode.

I can’t do that.

I can’t do that because as I watched I saw the opportunity for me to go back to school – perhaps even doing it while I continue to be a working Manager, father, flyfisher, blogger, hunter, photographer guy.  How can I possibly write their story, when I have my own to think about?

That to me speaks volumes about Grant MacEwan, and the world of business today in general.  For those so inclined, opportunity is only a suggestion away.

So.  Episode three.  Where do Mike and Lenny go next?  I could suggest something about moving locations to the main campus where Lenny could emcee the next study group in the cafeteria – getting an ‘honorary student’ badge from the gang, only to show them his ‘new’ student ID card.

But in reality, I think it’s simpler than that. It’s not necessary.

The next installment might be as simple as showing a picture of the many students who can study and graduate from a quality program while holding down a job and making a family work.

Maybe like me.

As a CANADIAN – NOT AN AMERICAN I think it’s important to recognize how american policy affects the rest of the world, and we, who are not american need a US president who will make everyone else powerful and take away the rights, freedom, and prosperity from everyday AMERICAN citizens.  You don’t need change, hope, tax relief for the middle class (as you may recall that 24% of the cash in the US is in the pockets of less than 1% of the population) or that other swill (like reform, wage parity, effective health care, or a world stage that doesn’t wince every time the president eats seafood) Obama is offering, you need McCain and his amercian patriotism to spend your money abroad on weak military ventures to protect foreign oil for foreigners, and keep america in debt so that countries like Canada will prosper.  If you vote for McCain you’ll be making US stronger, and keeping yourselves out of touch in the new world economy which is JUST WHAT WE NEED.  A vote for MCCAIN is a vote for the everyone else! (who just happen to outnumber those who live in the US).   Just look at the Canadian dollar folks – a weak america is a strong Canada. Lets keep Canada strong, vote McCain.

Or – You can vote OBAMA and fix your country NOW.

(I mean – I think Palin is hot too – but she’s an idiot, with a narrow minded view of the world, and scares the shit out of me.)

Since my last blog post the Canadian federal election has come and gone, and unsurprisingly there has been virtually no change in Canada’s political landscape, with the exception of moving around a few deck chairs.  The conservative minority government is still a minority, with an official opposition too weak to act decisively in a positive direction for Canada, and a leading party in too weak a position to drive real change.

The Harper government has held to many ‘conservativisms’ but has not crippled us or buried us in scandal yet however so I’ll bide my time before deciding on a real opinion.  There were a lot of us who saw the election as nothing more than an opportunity to hold an election called by the lowest bidder.  Harpers campaign of “You’re better off with Harper” rang dead-on.  No frontrunner emerged from ANY party to truly steal the stage and bring voters out of their cocoons.  In order for a real change I think a few things must change.

1.  Voting should become MANDATORY for all ‘new’ Canadians.  We must get these new members of our ‘Cultural Mosaic’ [ED. Note: @bgrier says I should use the phrase 'Cultural Mozaic' instead of my original 'melting pot' because the 'pot is in the "US and A" Ok... ] out, educated in the issues, and at the polls.  No – I’m not done.  Voting should also be mandatory for all CITIZENS period.  It is NOT acceptable for less than 60% of eligible voters to share the responsibility for 100% of Canadians.  This is ludicrous.  Come on people – this is your COUNTRY.  Act like that means something.

2.  Through Election reform, we must enforce NATIONAL party criteria.  If you can’t run in every riding across this nation, you cannot effectively represent Canadians.  As a party, this only leads to divisive voting and a lack of cohesion.  Yes Monsieur Duceppe – this means you.  Quebec holds 75 of Canada’s 308 electoral ridings.  Quebec has a history of ‘a quest for distinction’ and it’s high time this country functioned as a Nation.  Either the Bloq runs nationally, or they turn their efforts into creating a Nation with a foundation of leadership and solidarity, by running under a national platform and leading the advancement of french culture through their elected representatives, rather than by stymieing the efforts of National parties to lead.

3. Election Reform to produce REAL candidates.  Low voter turnout is often (yes – I’m making a leap here) the result of a lack of charismatic candidates.  Candidates with passion and devotion to the country in which they live.  Candidates with a desire to impart REAL change to a system with real issues.  Candidates with the stones to stand up on the world stage and say THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.   Before Elizabeth May got to stand before this nation she was an unknown, but after the debate public opinion the Blue bloods and the Red bloods seemed to show some notice of her.  Were she a member of a party without a history of granola eating vegans and Greenpeacers – she could have a real shot at influencing positive change for this country.

4. An END to Partisan Bullshit.  When was the last time you saw a Liberal suggest that a Conservative policy would work?  When was the last time Jack Layton said, you know “Mr. Duceppe – You’re right…”?  Why is it that everyone MUST take a viewpoint contrary to the person to their left and right? (Or just your right if we’re talking Green of course.)  It’s time our elected representatives went to work for the people, set a course based on sound economics and moral fundamentals, and got the job done.

I certainly hope for my country’s sake, and my child’s sake that our new(?) government can put down the campaign literature and set a course for the good over the next 4 years (18 months) and put a sound economic plan in place that takes environment, social responsibility and fiscal responsibility as foundations for the future.