I noticed a couple of things while I was out and about this week-end.
I was in Walmart on Friday buying a couple of items. It wasn't going to take long to find what I needed and get to the cashier. As I walked past the 10 items or less line I noted it was very long. It was the setup where you have one line that leads into six tills. The line up was out the area reserved for the line and down the isle for about 30 feet. I thought that this was typical Walmart as I have often spent twice as much time waiting to pay as I do finding the items I require.
It took me about five or six minutes to find the items I wanted and return to the check-out. When I returned (warning I am about to say something nice about Walmart.) the excessive line had been cleared away. I spent about two minutes in line, payed for my goods, and left.
I have often not had good things to say about Walmart. I find a lot of what they do to be poor, but in this case on this day they exceeded my expectation and should be commended.
Today I was buying some groceries in Sobey's. I ended up in line to pay for my groceries. The lady in front of me had some reusable bags for her groceries. I admit we should reduce the amount of plastic we use, especially for a one time use item. By the time she had each piece of meat wrapped, and her rotisserie chicken put in separate bags, and some stuff she was picking up for a friend bagged separately, I'm pretty sure she used as many bags as if she had not brought her reusable. bags.
I believe we should try to do good for the environment. I'm sure she though she was. However, if you look at it critically she really didn't make a difference today.
When you look at the world around you, it is amazing what you may notice.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Use Your Turn Signals
Winnipeg traffic has been rather dense this week. I have also noted another round of complaints about Winnipeg drivers. The two are probably linked. It is nothing special to consider the heavier the traffic the more people's poor driving is highlighted. As bumper to bumper rush hour traffic crawls through downtown Winnipeg, inconsiderate driving becomes very obvious.
There are the usual candidates, not using your turn signal, pulling up to block someone who does use their turn signal, not looking to see if the lane is clear, and not making room for someone as they try to change lanes. In addition there is the generally erratic driving.
Why do Winnipeg drivers seem to be so bad?
I think there may be a couple of reasons.
It is always winter in Winnipeg and the streets are often covered in snow so you just have to drive where you think the lane is.
The streets are old and curvy. Often the lanes are not really big enough to drive properly.
There is no requirement for formal driving training in Manitoba, and it is not too difficult to pass a Manitoba driving test in a small town.
I'm sure there are more reasons. I really think it is really disheartening to have to deal with Winnipeg drivers. There are other places with bad drivers and I'm sure that people there have the same complaints.
Fortunately it is rather easy to have good drivers. Drive courteously, and safely. Unfortunately buy in on this idea seems to be nearly impossible to get.
There are the usual candidates, not using your turn signal, pulling up to block someone who does use their turn signal, not looking to see if the lane is clear, and not making room for someone as they try to change lanes. In addition there is the generally erratic driving.
Why do Winnipeg drivers seem to be so bad?
I think there may be a couple of reasons.
It is always winter in Winnipeg and the streets are often covered in snow so you just have to drive where you think the lane is.
The streets are old and curvy. Often the lanes are not really big enough to drive properly.
There is no requirement for formal driving training in Manitoba, and it is not too difficult to pass a Manitoba driving test in a small town.
I'm sure there are more reasons. I really think it is really disheartening to have to deal with Winnipeg drivers. There are other places with bad drivers and I'm sure that people there have the same complaints.
Fortunately it is rather easy to have good drivers. Drive courteously, and safely. Unfortunately buy in on this idea seems to be nearly impossible to get.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
In The Gym
I was at the gym today. This is nothing unusual, I normally go after work on Wednesdays. I did my normal routine. Once again nothing unusual. I don't seen to find the time to exercise a lot during the summer. The schedule I keep seems to get in the way of a regular workout regime. With the onset of fall I am back to a regular schedule.
My regular trips to the gym to lift heavy objects repeatedly and climb stairs to nowhere seems to be making a difference. I seem to managing stress better again. I am in no way perfect but I seem to be more optimistic and my mind seems to be clearer. I seem to be seeing the way to solutions better. I am sure the exercise is helping.
It is well know and widely accepted that exercise can help people manage stress. I'm sure this is not the only activity that can help. Everyone needs to find and do what helps them with managing stress.
If you can manage your stress better, your quality of life will improve. Enjoying life is contagious. It can spread if people are willing to let it and work to manage their stress.
We all have stressors in our life. Money, work, family, friends, and even the weather can build up. If you do not find what releases the stress, your life can become rather unpleasant.
Find out how to manage your stress, and do it. Life is way too short to not enjoy it.
My regular trips to the gym to lift heavy objects repeatedly and climb stairs to nowhere seems to be making a difference. I seem to managing stress better again. I am in no way perfect but I seem to be more optimistic and my mind seems to be clearer. I seem to be seeing the way to solutions better. I am sure the exercise is helping.
It is well know and widely accepted that exercise can help people manage stress. I'm sure this is not the only activity that can help. Everyone needs to find and do what helps them with managing stress.
If you can manage your stress better, your quality of life will improve. Enjoying life is contagious. It can spread if people are willing to let it and work to manage their stress.
We all have stressors in our life. Money, work, family, friends, and even the weather can build up. If you do not find what releases the stress, your life can become rather unpleasant.
Find out how to manage your stress, and do it. Life is way too short to not enjoy it.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Drinks on a Patio
The idea of having drinks on a patio is not unto itself spectacular. Sitting out on a warm evening enjoying a tasty beverage is considered to be a pastime by many. Having drinks on a patio in Winnipeg in late September without needing a jacket of any type, that is nearly unheard of.
I have to put the experience into the category of the 'unexpected good thing.'
We all have unexpected good things in our life from time to time. You know all the moments that you really don't expect to happen but do. They can make your day,week, month, or year. They are what keep us going between the expected good things.
The expected good things are important. These are the events we wait for, sometimes for a long time, that we know will be good. It can carry you for a long time knowing that an expected good thing is coming, but it is the unexpected good thing that gives us the shot in the arm that keeps us going.
Often overlooked, the unexpected good thing, makes life fun and unpredictable just like drinks on a patio in Winnipeg late in September.
I have to put the experience into the category of the 'unexpected good thing.'
We all have unexpected good things in our life from time to time. You know all the moments that you really don't expect to happen but do. They can make your day,week, month, or year. They are what keep us going between the expected good things.
The expected good things are important. These are the events we wait for, sometimes for a long time, that we know will be good. It can carry you for a long time knowing that an expected good thing is coming, but it is the unexpected good thing that gives us the shot in the arm that keeps us going.
Often overlooked, the unexpected good thing, makes life fun and unpredictable just like drinks on a patio in Winnipeg late in September.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
That Was Rather Epic
Last night I saw the quintessential Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. This was the seventh time I have seen them. They always put on a great show but this concert something amazing. Gord Downey didn't pay the guitar very much which, for most fans of the band feel, makes him much more entertaining.
I have been to many rock shows over the years and seen most of the biggest bands in the world. Last nights amazing experience had me thinking about what were the best rock show experiences I have ever had. These are not necessarily the best shows but the best moments that stand out from the rest.
Here are my Top 10 Rock Show Moments:
10. The encore of Nashville Pussy at the Zoo in Winnipeg. They were joined on stage by the opening act Priestess and rocked the AC/DC classic 'You Shook Me All Night Long' to a level you wouldn't believe.
9. U2 in the Winnipeg Stadium in June of 1997. I had bad seats a long way from the stage but watched Bono, not on the big screen but looking directly at him mesmerized for the entire, over the top, show.
8. Airbourne at the Garrick Centre in Winnipeg August of 2008. I saw a great show by them a few months before but this venue was a bit bigger and right before the last song of the main set the lead singer shouted to the crowd, "If you have some weed you better smoke it, if you have a beer you better drink it, and if you have a girl you better fuck her in the bathroom, cuz this is 'Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast!"
7. Motorhead at the Burton Cummings theatre in Winnipeg in Jun of 2000. After the godfathers of rock and the inspiration to nearly every hard rock and metal band had played about 4 really loud songs, Lemmy said, "Do you want it louder? we can fucken turn it up you know!" and they did.
6. KISS at the Winnipeg Arena during the Flood of 97. Glam rock gods at their best during a rather stressful and uncertain times. Paul Stanley acknowledged the flood situation and they were definitely the hottest band in the world that night.
5. Aerosmith with Lenny Kravitz in the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. On the anniversary of John Lennon's death Kravitz put on a great show before the crowd did the wave between acts and Aerosmith opened their show with 'Helter Skelter.' There was also a moment of silence for Lennon. An occurrence you would never have would expected at a rock show but it was honoured and made sense.
4. AC/DC in Fargo ND January 2009. A road trip to a different country to see one of the few big bands I had never seen. 8 people staying in 2 rooms in a dive hotel, an epic cab ride to the Fargodome, and a concert that will blow your mind. There are few experiences of any kind that would top that.
3. The Tragically Hip last night at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. I have seen them 7 times now. I have been closer, the shows have been bigger but last night, Gord Downey and his band mates were more entertaining than I have seen from them ever. They even spoke about the time they were fired from their first gig in Winnipeg. I used to work with a guy who was at that fateful night at the Diamond Club, a long time ago.
2. Foo Fighters in the MTS Centre March 2007. I had seen them before and it was great but this show was special. They played a long time. Dave Grohl was engaging and fun. While on the general admission floor my buddy Dave turned to me and said, "Brent we are going to the front, this is why you work out all the time!"
1. AC/DC in Winnipeg August 2009. Seeing them for the second time on the same tour was amazing. Better seats, perfect weather and the band brought it. I was seated right near the centre of the field and could look around at all the people at the show. I also ran into Kris Fingas who I went to grade school with and had not seen for a very long time.
So that's my list. There were shows that the show was great but didn't have the extra to make it really stand out and besides it is hard to pick when you have seen so much. There live music experience is about a shared experience, it can pick up you spirits and move you. It will leave memories that will be cherished for a long time and stories you will tell your grandchildren.
I have been to many rock shows over the years and seen most of the biggest bands in the world. Last nights amazing experience had me thinking about what were the best rock show experiences I have ever had. These are not necessarily the best shows but the best moments that stand out from the rest.
Here are my Top 10 Rock Show Moments:
10. The encore of Nashville Pussy at the Zoo in Winnipeg. They were joined on stage by the opening act Priestess and rocked the AC/DC classic 'You Shook Me All Night Long' to a level you wouldn't believe.
9. U2 in the Winnipeg Stadium in June of 1997. I had bad seats a long way from the stage but watched Bono, not on the big screen but looking directly at him mesmerized for the entire, over the top, show.
8. Airbourne at the Garrick Centre in Winnipeg August of 2008. I saw a great show by them a few months before but this venue was a bit bigger and right before the last song of the main set the lead singer shouted to the crowd, "If you have some weed you better smoke it, if you have a beer you better drink it, and if you have a girl you better fuck her in the bathroom, cuz this is 'Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast!"
7. Motorhead at the Burton Cummings theatre in Winnipeg in Jun of 2000. After the godfathers of rock and the inspiration to nearly every hard rock and metal band had played about 4 really loud songs, Lemmy said, "Do you want it louder? we can fucken turn it up you know!" and they did.
6. KISS at the Winnipeg Arena during the Flood of 97. Glam rock gods at their best during a rather stressful and uncertain times. Paul Stanley acknowledged the flood situation and they were definitely the hottest band in the world that night.
5. Aerosmith with Lenny Kravitz in the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. On the anniversary of John Lennon's death Kravitz put on a great show before the crowd did the wave between acts and Aerosmith opened their show with 'Helter Skelter.' There was also a moment of silence for Lennon. An occurrence you would never have would expected at a rock show but it was honoured and made sense.
4. AC/DC in Fargo ND January 2009. A road trip to a different country to see one of the few big bands I had never seen. 8 people staying in 2 rooms in a dive hotel, an epic cab ride to the Fargodome, and a concert that will blow your mind. There are few experiences of any kind that would top that.
3. The Tragically Hip last night at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. I have seen them 7 times now. I have been closer, the shows have been bigger but last night, Gord Downey and his band mates were more entertaining than I have seen from them ever. They even spoke about the time they were fired from their first gig in Winnipeg. I used to work with a guy who was at that fateful night at the Diamond Club, a long time ago.
2. Foo Fighters in the MTS Centre March 2007. I had seen them before and it was great but this show was special. They played a long time. Dave Grohl was engaging and fun. While on the general admission floor my buddy Dave turned to me and said, "Brent we are going to the front, this is why you work out all the time!"
1. AC/DC in Winnipeg August 2009. Seeing them for the second time on the same tour was amazing. Better seats, perfect weather and the band brought it. I was seated right near the centre of the field and could look around at all the people at the show. I also ran into Kris Fingas who I went to grade school with and had not seen for a very long time.
So that's my list. There were shows that the show was great but didn't have the extra to make it really stand out and besides it is hard to pick when you have seen so much. There live music experience is about a shared experience, it can pick up you spirits and move you. It will leave memories that will be cherished for a long time and stories you will tell your grandchildren.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Maybe We Really Are What We Eat
I will start by saying I know I do not have a perfect diet.
I was in the grocery store today. As I was walking in, there was a woman who walked in just before me who appeared to put a lot of time and effort into living healthy. I took a look and carried on with my shopping. About half way through my shopping excursion our paths crossed again. Her cart was full of fresh vegetables, with a few other items. It became vary obvious she eats a very healthy diet.
This whole moment made me look around at several other shoppers to see if their appearance matches their food. It seemed to be rather consistent.
In a past life, I used to be a manager in a grocery store. Part of running a store is to observe what types of food were in peoples shopping carts. There is definitely a correlation, especially at the extremes. There were people who were so out of shape they were leaning on their carts to make it to the checkout. Their carts were full of processed garbage. In contrast the people who had carts or baskets full of lean cuts of meat, vegetables, and healthy beverages seemed to travel though the store with ease.
The one unfortunate thing I noticed is most people did not have as healthy food as I did, and like I said at the beginning, I know I do not have the perfect diet.
I was in the grocery store today. As I was walking in, there was a woman who walked in just before me who appeared to put a lot of time and effort into living healthy. I took a look and carried on with my shopping. About half way through my shopping excursion our paths crossed again. Her cart was full of fresh vegetables, with a few other items. It became vary obvious she eats a very healthy diet.
This whole moment made me look around at several other shoppers to see if their appearance matches their food. It seemed to be rather consistent.
In a past life, I used to be a manager in a grocery store. Part of running a store is to observe what types of food were in peoples shopping carts. There is definitely a correlation, especially at the extremes. There were people who were so out of shape they were leaning on their carts to make it to the checkout. Their carts were full of processed garbage. In contrast the people who had carts or baskets full of lean cuts of meat, vegetables, and healthy beverages seemed to travel though the store with ease.
The one unfortunate thing I noticed is most people did not have as healthy food as I did, and like I said at the beginning, I know I do not have the perfect diet.
Monday, September 7, 2009
It's Labout Day Again
Labour Day signals a lot of things to people. If you are a student it means you are about to start school. If you are fashion conscious it means you stop wearing white. It is often considered the end of summer. However, if you are a fan of Canadian football it means its time to party like a rock star.
Labour Day week-end is the second biggest time in the Canadian Football League season. If you ask some people it is bigger than the Grey Cup. It is full of rivalry, tradition, beer, cheering, fun, taunting, winning, and losing. Ultimately the week-end is about getting together with friends and family to watch football. People travel to different cities and make it a big event. Many Labour Day week-ends are carried out in a booze induced fog, and it seems perfectly normal.
I think this epic event is a reflection of what we find important, being around people you like. When you look past everything else, it is a reason for people to get together. It is a reason to have pride in your team and city. It is a reason to have fun.
The timing of Labour Day helps. It is right before students go back to school. It is easy for a lot of people to make time for it. People are not away on vacation. They can make it to the event. People plan their summer around Labour Day.
It's Labour Day again, and like always I had enough fun to last a long time.
Labour Day week-end is the second biggest time in the Canadian Football League season. If you ask some people it is bigger than the Grey Cup. It is full of rivalry, tradition, beer, cheering, fun, taunting, winning, and losing. Ultimately the week-end is about getting together with friends and family to watch football. People travel to different cities and make it a big event. Many Labour Day week-ends are carried out in a booze induced fog, and it seems perfectly normal.
I think this epic event is a reflection of what we find important, being around people you like. When you look past everything else, it is a reason for people to get together. It is a reason to have pride in your team and city. It is a reason to have fun.
The timing of Labour Day helps. It is right before students go back to school. It is easy for a lot of people to make time for it. People are not away on vacation. They can make it to the event. People plan their summer around Labour Day.
It's Labour Day again, and like always I had enough fun to last a long time.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Harvest Time
I went for a drive in the country today. Primarily south west of Winnipeg. I don't go out that way very often as I have no particular reason to go there. I have no aversion to the area just not much of a reason to be there.
Harvest is in full swing out there. I do not profess to be an expert on agriculture but since I grew up in a farming community, I know a bit. Maybe just enough to be dangerous. I would never attempt to farm with my current level of knowledge.
I did notice a few things as I drove through the Manitoba countryside.
A lot of the crops looked rather short. About two-thirds the height that I am accustomed to seeing.
In fields that were cut, the swaths looked small. It may be related to a lot of the crops being short.
There was a fair amount of inconsistency from field to field. Some were being straight cut while the next one looked like it was cut while it was a bit green.
The last point is a bit of a concern for me. The Manitoba economy is well diversified but does rely on agriculture to a point. If there is significant inconsistency between producers then there will be significant inconsistency between returns for producers. The ones that did well are probably going to do very well, the ones that did not do well, may be in a world of hurt.
As much as a lot of people look at farming as a way of life it really must be approached like a business, especially if you are going to provide for people who depend on you by farming. I hope most farmers do. The inconsistency I observed within a few miles of each other, several times over leaves me concerned that some producers may be forced to give up at this point.
I don't know if corporate farming is the answer, but possibly it may be in some situations. I don't know if family farming is the answer either as one family bearing all the risk of bad weather, disease, and pests is wise in every case. There is insurance, however it is really designed to limp you to the next year and who wants to limp from year to year.
Farming has changed since my parents grew up on farms. There is no way to go back to the way it was and I don't know if we want to. Farming has progressed and stagnated at the same time. We need to produce food. We need to be efficient while we do it, so we can provide a fair and reasonable living to the people who produce food.
We also need food to be affordable so everyone can afford to eat a basic balanced diet. This could be in conflict with the quality of life for the producers. We could have a $5 loaf of bread and very comfortable grain farmers, but I don't think that's the solution.
Industries come, go and change with time. There are parts of food production that cannot change. The food must grow. It must be harvested. Much of it is very dependant on the weather. Weather contributes to risk. Risk predicts failure. Food production cannot fail. So we are stuck in a interesting loop.
South west of Winnipeg the harvest is in full swing. From what I saw some will do well and others will not. Is this how we choose to produce food?
Harvest is in full swing out there. I do not profess to be an expert on agriculture but since I grew up in a farming community, I know a bit. Maybe just enough to be dangerous. I would never attempt to farm with my current level of knowledge.
I did notice a few things as I drove through the Manitoba countryside.
A lot of the crops looked rather short. About two-thirds the height that I am accustomed to seeing.
In fields that were cut, the swaths looked small. It may be related to a lot of the crops being short.
There was a fair amount of inconsistency from field to field. Some were being straight cut while the next one looked like it was cut while it was a bit green.
The last point is a bit of a concern for me. The Manitoba economy is well diversified but does rely on agriculture to a point. If there is significant inconsistency between producers then there will be significant inconsistency between returns for producers. The ones that did well are probably going to do very well, the ones that did not do well, may be in a world of hurt.
As much as a lot of people look at farming as a way of life it really must be approached like a business, especially if you are going to provide for people who depend on you by farming. I hope most farmers do. The inconsistency I observed within a few miles of each other, several times over leaves me concerned that some producers may be forced to give up at this point.
I don't know if corporate farming is the answer, but possibly it may be in some situations. I don't know if family farming is the answer either as one family bearing all the risk of bad weather, disease, and pests is wise in every case. There is insurance, however it is really designed to limp you to the next year and who wants to limp from year to year.
Farming has changed since my parents grew up on farms. There is no way to go back to the way it was and I don't know if we want to. Farming has progressed and stagnated at the same time. We need to produce food. We need to be efficient while we do it, so we can provide a fair and reasonable living to the people who produce food.
We also need food to be affordable so everyone can afford to eat a basic balanced diet. This could be in conflict with the quality of life for the producers. We could have a $5 loaf of bread and very comfortable grain farmers, but I don't think that's the solution.
Industries come, go and change with time. There are parts of food production that cannot change. The food must grow. It must be harvested. Much of it is very dependant on the weather. Weather contributes to risk. Risk predicts failure. Food production cannot fail. So we are stuck in a interesting loop.
South west of Winnipeg the harvest is in full swing. From what I saw some will do well and others will not. Is this how we choose to produce food?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Tumbleweed
I was in a shopping mall in a rather affluent part of Winnipeg today. There were almost no customers in there. I understand that 5:15 pm on Tuesday September 1st is not the biggest shopping day of the year but nearly all the stores had no one buying in them.
They, whoever they are, are saying this recession is over and we are on the long road to recovery. I have never seen sales this sluggish in my adult life. The lowest of the low was not as weak as things appeared today.
When I think back to my entry level economics class I remember that economics is the study of human behavior in the face of scarcity and money is a means of exchange. Thinking about this not much acquiring behaviour was happening and money exchanging.
This worries me. Winnipeg faired quite well during the recent economic down turn, but it seems that it has slowly caught up with some of the harder hit areas of the country. There just seems to be less going on. We may be slowly and innoculously slipping into a worse state. The only way to turn around an economy is to spend money, increase tranactions by both value and frequency. I think everyone is sitting back and letting others fix the economy. I am tending toward saving. It seems right to take care of myself, but it doesn't help stimulate things.
I realize things will not be as hot as they were for a long time and there are parts of the country that are in much worse state than Winnipeg, but it makes me worry.
The mall seemed rather empty, I hope it was an anomoly, but I don't get that feeling.
They, whoever they are, are saying this recession is over and we are on the long road to recovery. I have never seen sales this sluggish in my adult life. The lowest of the low was not as weak as things appeared today.
When I think back to my entry level economics class I remember that economics is the study of human behavior in the face of scarcity and money is a means of exchange. Thinking about this not much acquiring behaviour was happening and money exchanging.
This worries me. Winnipeg faired quite well during the recent economic down turn, but it seems that it has slowly caught up with some of the harder hit areas of the country. There just seems to be less going on. We may be slowly and innoculously slipping into a worse state. The only way to turn around an economy is to spend money, increase tranactions by both value and frequency. I think everyone is sitting back and letting others fix the economy. I am tending toward saving. It seems right to take care of myself, but it doesn't help stimulate things.
I realize things will not be as hot as they were for a long time and there are parts of the country that are in much worse state than Winnipeg, but it makes me worry.
The mall seemed rather empty, I hope it was an anomoly, but I don't get that feeling.
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