Olympics, Viagra, Comments

So now Olympic athletes may be using Viagra to enhance their performance outside of the bedroom. But I have nothing pressing to say about the article.

Usually I'm all about avoiding the user comments on the news at cbc.ca. Typically they are filled with some kind of weird moral outrage or uninformed ranting, etc. This time, when I was there, all of the visible comments were of the comical one line variety:

neverend wrote:
Posted 2008/06/27at 3:30 PM ET

looks like runners will no longer win races by a nose.....


Chris wrote:
Posted 2008/06/27at 3:31 PM ET

Check out the Google ads on the right! ->

Chris wrote:
Posted 2008/06/27at 3:30 PM ET

I can see runners taking Viagra to shave a few inches off their time...

PunkahJr wrote:
Posted 2008/06/27at 3:36 PM ET

Hands off my baton!
Mikethespike wrote:
Posted 2008/06/27at 4:06 PM ET

It couldn't be good for swimmers in the Iron-Man event. Their rudder would drag in the weeds.


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Approaching Canada Day

I've been away recently (Ottawa, Toronto, Saratoga Springs NY) for meetings and Dave Matthews Band concerts - a real mixed bag of activities. I'm sure pictures will follow soon, but for now, let us prepare for the long weekend (or long weekend interrupted by work on Monday for others) and Canada's very special day by perusing the Polls On Canada.


The polls have revealed that we Canadians revere Pierre Trudeau, the maple leaf, and the Canadarm with universal gusto. I have to agree and am pleased to see it.

The article includes the top picks for Canada's defining person, event, place, symbol and accomplishment and a little about the breakdown of responses by region.


Happy early Canada Day!

Crisis In BC

On Wednesday, in the House of Commons, members of Parliament formally apologised for the Canadian Government's part in establishing and funding Indian Residential Schools. It was a historic event that most people in my office took the time to watch happen live on CPAC.

But more importantly, this news item came out on the same day. The cold, wet Spring we've been suffering through is threatening our pot crops! If the weather doesn't perk up soon, the price we'll pay for product will increase - and that's just not cool. In the Far West, we're not interested in paying what the saps to the East and South do. Let's start stockpiling!

Cuts Like A Knife

First CBC starts allowing comments on their news site and now they are scrapping a Saturday night Holy Canadian tradition. I've always been an ardent supporter of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, but they are really starting to piss me off.

As of now, CBC has decided to stop using Canada's "second national anthem" during Hockey Night in Canada. It's true, they're really doing this. The iconic "dunt- da-dunt- da-dunt" that accompanies our most hallowed television broadcasts will not be heard again.

"CBC has announced the corporation is moving in a "new direction.""

What are they going to do? Use some old Rush song? Try and attract new viewers with a rocking techno vibe? We're talking about Hockey Night in Canada for crying out loud! It's an institution in this country! The unmistakable song they are axing is instantly recognizable and provokes many unique memories and emotions for each person who hears it. Maybe (perhaps sadly) more so than O Canada does. Remember those CBC montages of people on the street singing the song for the camera? And I've heard many NHL players refer to Hockey Night in Canada and its theme song from their childhood memories. There is a reason for that.


Will massive protest change CBC's mind?

No, this is not inconsequential. Yes, it is important. This is a part of our culture.

"Hockey Night in Canada is a television broadcast of National Hockey League games in Canada, produced by CBC Sports. Hockey Night consistently remains one of the highest-rated programs on Canadian television. It is also the world's oldest sports-related television program still on the air." -Wikipedia

Even during the 2004-2005 NHL lockout where no games were played, "CBC replaced Hockey Night in Canada with a triple-feature of movies...However, as a reminder to viewers that Saturday night was supposed to be Hockey Night, Ron MacLean hosted the movies from various hockey venues throughout Canada, under the title Movie Night in Canada. Ron would mention some facts about the film and talk hockey during the commercial breaks. The venues were usually those of CHL teams." (also from Wikipedia)

This show is so much a part of our blood, that even when there is no hockey being played, we still need our Hockey Night in Canada.

Please CBC, don't take away our aural fixation.






CBC's Article (the bastards!)

The best song you can name: How better to get Canadians to stand and sing than with an anthem about hockey?