That’s a big reason why I volunteered to work yesterday. Who the hell wants a Wednesday off? I’ll take my stat on a Friday or Monday for a nice long weekend. Besides, it was a very quiet day. Half of our client base was off for the day. Looking forward to tomorrow when the other half of our clients will be taking their day.
Re: politicians and the Calgary Stampede… Anyone else notice that the Conservative leader had a black Stetson hat and the Liberal and NDP leaders had white hats? 
In Calgary, it is traditional that visitors wear white hats. Trudeau and Mulcair, not being Albertans, are expected to wear white hats. Harper, coming from Calgary, can wear whatever colour hat he pleases. Calgary is not a cartoon, where Good Guys wear white hats, and Bad Guys wear black hats.
Hell, I’m an Albertan, and I own more than a few cowboy hats–none of which are white.
Off to Midland on Monday. I’m taking the scenic route as I’ve not been through that part of Ontario before. Tuesday I’ll take many pictures of tanks at the Base Bordon Military Museum, then go to a concert by my favourite musical group, Steeleye Span. Wednesday back home via a different scenic route.
If you have the time, check out Sainte-Marie among the Hurons.
I hope to be able to squeeze in at least a quick visit.
I’m having a Facebook discussion with a friend in Toronto.
She’s is curious what the rest of us think about the Pan Am games. I told her we don’t give a shit, which is what my friends and I seem to think in Ottawa, and the media is rather standoffish too. Perhaps I’m wrong, but what do Canucks from across the country think about the Pan Am games? Do you care? Do you even know what they’re about?
I was aware of it, but am not following it. Put me down for a “meh”, although I realize the importance of it to some athletes and to some folks who want to promote The Big Smoke.
The only comment I’ve heard about the Pan Am Games is mild annoyance that some lanes on the freeway have been temporarily converted to HOV lanes.
I thought about getting tickets to an event, but when I checked the web site they were pretty vague on what you would actually be watching. For instance, you could get a ticket for beach volleyball starting at 9:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m., but there was no comment about which countries you’d be watching or if it would be men or women or both.
Maybe I’ll see what kind of events there are for the Para Pan Am Games.
EDIT: Generally speaking, I have the same level of disinterest for the Commonwealth Games and the Canada Summer Games.
Canada Summer Games? I’ve never heard of them?
http://www.canadagames.ca/content/home.asp
To be honest, I probably wouldn’t have heard of them either except they were in Saskatoon in 1989 (and the Canada Winter Games were in S’toon in 1971, for which they built “Mount” Blackstrap ski hill, a.k.a. the Pimple on the Prairie).
Yeah, I’d never heard of the Canada Summer Games either.
They were here in Regina ten years ago. I ended up doing the announcing for some wrestling matches en français when the regular announcer couldn’t make it one afternoon.
Brazilian cycling team caught cycling on a highway in Toronto.
When I arrived at my local sports bar tonight for Sunday Night Baseball, they were showing Canada-Brazil soccer. Friendly Neighbourhood Barman was more than happy to switch it over to the Cardinals-Pirates baseball game for me. The Pan-Am games highlights were on after the baseball game–that was enough for all of us.
I announce pro wrestling here in Lethbridge, but not in French. Still, it gives me a chance to use my voice in a way that local courts would not permit. 
The Pan Am Games mascot this year is Pachi, the fugly porcupine. As you know, porcupines are famous for their bright colours and athleticism which makes them the perfect mascot.
Plenty of Pachi merchandise is still available in the Pan Am Games store!
Man. That is so funny. It sounds like something out of an SCTV skit.
Pan back to Guy Caballero…
Creating a web link to the official Games site without written permission is forbidden.
Having those jerks hauled into court would be entertaining.
I missed the CBC discussion, but I would like to add two points:
- as a Manitoban, I believe CBC Radio is extremely important, even more so when you include Radio Canada to the Francophone community
BUT
- I worked at CBC Radio in Winnipeg for a time on contract. It was incredibly boring, with not much to do. When my contract expired, they offered to renew it, I told them not to, instead cancel the position and keep a tech around (they were laying off techs everywhere). I explained, in detail, how the position was irrelevant and unnecessary.
They thanked me for my time and hired someone else into my former position.
Visited and spent several hours. Very interesting with much of the original complex re-created on the original foundations and helpful and informed staff in period dress in most of the buildings. Thanks for the suggestion, Muffin!