On November 30th, 2006, CBC English Tv announced that the full 60-minutes of local newscast would be reinstated as of February 2007.
Hoorray!
OK, so now they need to fill that other 30 minutes again. I just had an idea.
In Winnipeg there are only two or three people re-publishing the archives of CBWT ... newsclips from 24Hours, local station IDs and promos, and putting them on YouTube.
It would be nice if CBWT dug out their own (original) copies of its archive and started to digitize them and also put them onto YouTube or the CBC Manitoba site. There's probably stuff in there prior to consumer video recorders that would be classified as gems.
And if they featured some of this archival material, at least once a week, on 24Hours and equivalent supper hour news programs across Canada, they'd make our country a better place. The CBC does republish archival material that is of national nature, but they just haven't had the time or resources to work on the local end of things.
Anyways, hoping someone at CBWT (CBC Manitoba) will read this over and consider ...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.
12.24.2006
12.02.2006
24Hours is baaaack!
On November 30th, after 6 loooooong years, after Robbie Rabinovitch's last few months as President of the CBC, after his pal Mr. Stursburg is going to (possibly) follow him out the door, we hear that they are going to put back the full 60 minutes of locally produced news in each region.
Burn in Hell , Canada Now!
So the return of the full hour means that most likely the highly respected and loved name for the Winnipeg 'cast will remain -- 24Hours.
Anyways, three cheers for CBC Television.
11.29.2006
got subway?
Last week Premier Gary Doer announced in his throne speech for the 2006-07 Legislative Session that he intends on spending $4 Billion for maintenance and expansion of rural highways, and another $4 Billion to construct a hydro dam called Conawappa, which was cancelled when the other Gary (Filmon) took power in 1990.
So Premier Gary, where is the $4 Billion for an underground (mass transit) subway for Winnipeg? Huh?
So Premier Gary, where is the $4 Billion for an underground (mass transit) subway for Winnipeg? Huh?
10.17.2006
Marianne Cerilli
A few weeks ago, very near to the time when the Mayoral candidates deadline to register, my friend came to me and requested that I sign Marianne Cerilli's petition to run for Mayor in this years civic election.
I signed.
What a mistake that was.
I don't know much about Ms. Cerilli ... she is a former NDP MLA from 1990 to 2003 in the Raddisson area.
This friend, whom I've admired for his writings for the past twenty years, and this other person who also is a regular writer are supporting Marianne's campaign.
The first guy says, "Jim, we convinced Marianne of the need for light rail in Winnipeg."
That says it all doesn't it. This person is normally in favour of subways for Winnipeg and also has a pretty good sense of who is for and who is against rail rapid transit in Winnipeg. But I guess if you carry the "labour" card around this town, well that somehow manages to trump the other values.
Why would I support a politician who says they were "convinced" of the value of rapid transit by another person, when indeed it is common sense that if you understand the dynamics of living in a big city and how to make it work properly you shouldn't have to be "convinced" of its value, it should just naturally become part of your urbanist values, right?
Not for Marianne and her minions though.
Secondly, and this has seemed to compromise my values when it comes to gender issues.
See Marianne refers to herself as an "eco-feminist". What is that you say? Well I'm more concerned about the feminist part. There are two kinds of feminists:
So while I did sign her campaign nomination paper, based on the usually good judgement of my transit friend, I think he missed the mark this time.
I have absolutely no plans to vote for Ms. Cerilli on October 25th. None. Nada.
I may choose to vote for Sam Katz this time because at least Mayor Sam took the initiative in late 2004/early 2005 to sample light rail transit in other cities. He didn't need to be convinced of this. He had also been quoted several times in the local media that he prefers LRT over BRT.
So there you have it. I think that Marianne is just leading these men around by the nose and that she is using them to further her
What Marianne also stands for is also to sustain the poverty industry here in Winnipeg. She has worked with, or supports or is in favour of the Social Planning Council. They are part of the problem, not the solution.
Further reading:
The Black Rod
I signed.
What a mistake that was.
I don't know much about Ms. Cerilli ... she is a former NDP MLA from 1990 to 2003 in the Raddisson area.
This friend, whom I've admired for his writings for the past twenty years, and this other person who also is a regular writer are supporting Marianne's campaign.
The first guy says, "Jim, we convinced Marianne of the need for light rail in Winnipeg."
That says it all doesn't it. This person is normally in favour of subways for Winnipeg and also has a pretty good sense of who is for and who is against rail rapid transit in Winnipeg. But I guess if you carry the "labour" card around this town, well that somehow manages to trump the other values.
Why would I support a politician who says they were "convinced" of the value of rapid transit by another person, when indeed it is common sense that if you understand the dynamics of living in a big city and how to make it work properly you shouldn't have to be "convinced" of its value, it should just naturally become part of your urbanist values, right?
Not for Marianne and her minions though.
Secondly, and this has seemed to compromise my values when it comes to gender issues.
See Marianne refers to herself as an "eco-feminist". What is that you say? Well I'm more concerned about the feminist part. There are two kinds of feminists:
- Eqality or Egaliarian
- Gender
So while I did sign her campaign nomination paper, based on the usually good judgement of my transit friend, I think he missed the mark this time.
I have absolutely no plans to vote for Ms. Cerilli on October 25th. None. Nada.
I may choose to vote for Sam Katz this time because at least Mayor Sam took the initiative in late 2004/early 2005 to sample light rail transit in other cities. He didn't need to be convinced of this. He had also been quoted several times in the local media that he prefers LRT over BRT.
So there you have it. I think that Marianne is just leading these men around by the nose and that she is using them to further her
What Marianne also stands for is also to sustain the poverty industry here in Winnipeg. She has worked with, or supports or is in favour of the Social Planning Council. They are part of the problem, not the solution.
Further reading:
The Black Rod
8.27.2006
Who are they writing for?
I am puzzled over happenings at the Winnipeg Free Press. I'm wondering just who they are writing to when they create their version of the daily newspaper.
I like a newspaper to carry lots of local stories, and am interested in local politics and that.
But when I buy the weekend paper, because I have more time on my hands to do more casual reading, I prefer to have a paper like you see in other cities like Toronto, New York, etc... These are huge papers, filled with background stories of what's happening in their area and trends around the world.
But when I open the Freep, I find I flip from page to page, not finding anything to hold my interest to want to read that article.
I just want to know.... when they prepare the paper every day, who do they 'see' as their reader? It surely doesn't seem to be someone like myself.
More on this issue in further blog writings...
I like a newspaper to carry lots of local stories, and am interested in local politics and that.
But when I buy the weekend paper, because I have more time on my hands to do more casual reading, I prefer to have a paper like you see in other cities like Toronto, New York, etc... These are huge papers, filled with background stories of what's happening in their area and trends around the world.
But when I open the Freep, I find I flip from page to page, not finding anything to hold my interest to want to read that article.
I just want to know.... when they prepare the paper every day, who do they 'see' as their reader? It surely doesn't seem to be someone like myself.
More on this issue in further blog writings...
7.27.2006
St. Iggy's 9 p.m. Group
What is happening to the 9 p.m. singing group at St. Ignatius Church here in Winnipeg?
They used to be sooooo goood, so soulful, like a direct connection to heaven.
Now, after 30 years, they sing with most of the group not even there.
There used to be a drummer, a guitarist, a bass guitarist. Now we're lucky if we get the bass guitar guy, whom I love when he used play those jazzy riffs back in 1991.
Are they just losing the interest, or like, what's wrong? I wish I could fix it. If there's no drummer, then try and find a replacement. It really does make a difference.
This past weekend Jeff Doerr (the keyboardist) and his wife (singer) were gone, probably on vacation somewhere. But it wasn't that much better during the winter months.
The oomph is missing. The drums are missing, like when they sing the Our Father prayer ... (one, two, three) "Our Father, Who Art in Heaven" (boom) "Hallowed be Thy Name" (boom).
There were just the jazzy bassist and one of the singers. I had to help provide backing vocals, from the pew, because there weren't any others singing it.
And the relatives were wondering WHY Jim doesn't like going to St. Iggy's anymore, which I've been doing on a regular basis since 1982. That's one of the reasons.
They used to be sooooo goood, so soulful, like a direct connection to heaven.
Now, after 30 years, they sing with most of the group not even there.
There used to be a drummer, a guitarist, a bass guitarist. Now we're lucky if we get the bass guitar guy, whom I love when he used play those jazzy riffs back in 1991.
Are they just losing the interest, or like, what's wrong? I wish I could fix it. If there's no drummer, then try and find a replacement. It really does make a difference.
This past weekend Jeff Doerr (the keyboardist) and his wife (singer) were gone, probably on vacation somewhere. But it wasn't that much better during the winter months.
The oomph is missing. The drums are missing, like when they sing the Our Father prayer ... (one, two, three) "Our Father, Who Art in Heaven" (boom) "Hallowed be Thy Name" (boom).
There were just the jazzy bassist and one of the singers. I had to help provide backing vocals, from the pew, because there weren't any others singing it.
And the relatives were wondering WHY Jim doesn't like going to St. Iggy's anymore, which I've been doing on a regular basis since 1982. That's one of the reasons.
What happened to Classiness?
See this ABBA video from 1982, then compare this to the pop culture of today with its cell phones, trashy music videos, and reality tv:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8jqAEoogHw
I'm old enough to remember those good old days of the 1980s when Winnipeg had two department stores downtown -- Eaton's and The Bay.
This video signifies for me a certain classiness that is so missing in today's culture. To some it may seem like ABBA is acting "arrogant" or whatever, but you compare that to the crap that's put out today and it just doesn't.
You see, people like to emulate the celebrities, they kind of show the way to style and therefore create culture.
In this music video, Head Over Heels, members of the group go on a shopping trip downtown. They are dressed well and shop at the nice stores. There is no discount/bargain shops in sight.
When I was living through 1982 this is in a way my feelings in that year, it was kinda like an artsy kind of year, symphony music, and all that stuff, but nice pop music, like the Jazz from Joe Jackson's Breaking Us In Two. That song I somehow associated with morning delivery of the Winnipeg Sun -- I used to be a carrier for them at the time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8jqAEoogHw
I'm old enough to remember those good old days of the 1980s when Winnipeg had two department stores downtown -- Eaton's and The Bay.
This video signifies for me a certain classiness that is so missing in today's culture. To some it may seem like ABBA is acting "arrogant" or whatever, but you compare that to the crap that's put out today and it just doesn't.
You see, people like to emulate the celebrities, they kind of show the way to style and therefore create culture.
In this music video, Head Over Heels, members of the group go on a shopping trip downtown. They are dressed well and shop at the nice stores. There is no discount/bargain shops in sight.
When I was living through 1982 this is in a way my feelings in that year, it was kinda like an artsy kind of year, symphony music, and all that stuff, but nice pop music, like the Jazz from Joe Jackson's Breaking Us In Two. That song I somehow associated with morning delivery of the Winnipeg Sun -- I used to be a carrier for them at the time.
7.25.2006
Social Planning Council Hindering Winnipeg Growth
There is a group in Winnipeg that's been around since 1919, the Social Planning Council. It's current leader is Wayne Helgason, an aboriginal.
I feel that this group is part of the problem of why Winnipeg has been growing its underclass sinc about 1987 and the skilled middle-class has been leaving since about 1990.
What has the SPC ever done to improve Winnipeg for everyone? I think they've just helped to expand the underclass here.
If Winnipeg is to grow into a large metropolis on the scale of other cities like Minneapolis Minnesota, Toronto Ontario, or Chicago Illinois, we seriously need to either:
I feel that this group is part of the problem of why Winnipeg has been growing its underclass sinc about 1987 and the skilled middle-class has been leaving since about 1990.
What has the SPC ever done to improve Winnipeg for everyone? I think they've just helped to expand the underclass here.
If Winnipeg is to grow into a large metropolis on the scale of other cities like Minneapolis Minnesota, Toronto Ontario, or Chicago Illinois, we seriously need to either:
- Re-examine the leadership of this organization
- Get rid of the SPC itself
7.13.2006
I got my MTV today
I was sitting watching tv this evening flicking the channels, and WGN of them had the Smallville Superman-related show in the IPG list. So I watched a few minutes of that.
Then after the commercial it switched to WGN-DT2, which was showing THETUBE, a "real" music video channel, started in 2005 by one of the co-founders of MTV back in August of 1981.
WOW!
True to its slogan All Music, it plays absolutely no commercials, and no reality crap. Just music videos from the past 6 decades.
Unfortunately I don't have an HDTv set yet and so this was just an error that one of the ExpressVu technicians did or maybe WGN shows this program now in the summer.
In any way, I was really happy with this program. MuchMusic has lost their way. They don't need 4 different Much* channels. We just need one that plays music videos and concerts the way it used to be back in the 1980s.
7.12.2006
OneMedia in Canada
In the Christian bible, in the New Testament section there are stories about one day everything on this planet being owned by Satan. Everything. In Canada, we're a step closer to that awful day.
Last November (2005) Allan Waters, who built the CHUMCity empire (CityTv, MuchMusic, Bravo!, CHUM Radio, etc...) died. His relative (son or younger brother) was named as the successor owner of the company.
Now today, not eight months later, we hear CHUMCity being bought up by Canada's largest private media company, Bell Globemedia (CTV, BellExpressVu, CKY, CFTO, Discovery Channel Canada, ROBTv, the Globe and Mail, etc...).
Winnipeg has CityTv (nee 13MTN, nee A-Channel Winnipeg), which in the "friendly" takeover annoncement has decided to cancel all further local newscasts until further notice.
I have to ask this question. How does this deal better serve the Canadian citizen when it comes to local programming (news)?
I hope the CRTC will look closely and scrutinize every detail of this, and force Bell Globemedia to sell off more of its holdings than just the ones they agree to (A-Channel, ACCESS Alberta).
I'd like them to sell of CityTv Winnipeg because we already have a Bell station here -- CKY (CTV). We don't need two stations owned by the same company. Even though they promise to keep the newsrooms separate, I don't have enough trust in things like this. Certainly one of the stations would be the poorer in terms of news resources.
For example, prior to this merger, CKY primarily focuses on provincial government news and local crime stories. For years their newscasts began with the words "Police". Ever since CHMI went on the air though, they've focused on local issues, and were more likely to cover City Hall.
And what of my favourite local news anchor, Glen Kirby, who was cut from the staff today due to the merger agreement? There is an opening for news anchor though at CBWT (CBC Winnipeg) because my least favourite news anchor, Krista Erickson, has married and left Winnipeg for Ottawa (good riddance Krista). So this would be a great opportunity for CBWT to hire Glen as anchor of the CBC Local News at Six here. I already sent an e-mail to John at the station. Hope something can be worked out.
Another question: It's been several hours since Bell Globemedia announced it wants to purchase CHUMCity for $1.7 Billion. Why hasn't there been a news report about it on CBC Newsworld? They're too busy covering the endless conflict in the Middle East, that's why. (sigh)
Last November (2005) Allan Waters, who built the CHUMCity empire (CityTv, MuchMusic, Bravo!, CHUM Radio, etc...) died. His relative (son or younger brother) was named as the successor owner of the company.
Now today, not eight months later, we hear CHUMCity being bought up by Canada's largest private media company, Bell Globemedia (CTV, BellExpressVu, CKY, CFTO, Discovery Channel Canada, ROBTv, the Globe and Mail, etc...).
Winnipeg has CityTv (nee 13MTN, nee A-Channel Winnipeg), which in the "friendly" takeover annoncement has decided to cancel all further local newscasts until further notice.
I have to ask this question. How does this deal better serve the Canadian citizen when it comes to local programming (news)?
I hope the CRTC will look closely and scrutinize every detail of this, and force Bell Globemedia to sell off more of its holdings than just the ones they agree to (A-Channel, ACCESS Alberta).
I'd like them to sell of CityTv Winnipeg because we already have a Bell station here -- CKY (CTV). We don't need two stations owned by the same company. Even though they promise to keep the newsrooms separate, I don't have enough trust in things like this. Certainly one of the stations would be the poorer in terms of news resources.
For example, prior to this merger, CKY primarily focuses on provincial government news and local crime stories. For years their newscasts began with the words "Police". Ever since CHMI went on the air though, they've focused on local issues, and were more likely to cover City Hall.
And what of my favourite local news anchor, Glen Kirby, who was cut from the staff today due to the merger agreement? There is an opening for news anchor though at CBWT (CBC Winnipeg) because my least favourite news anchor, Krista Erickson, has married and left Winnipeg for Ottawa (good riddance Krista). So this would be a great opportunity for CBWT to hire Glen as anchor of the CBC Local News at Six here. I already sent an e-mail to John at the station. Hope something can be worked out.
Another question: It's been several hours since Bell Globemedia announced it wants to purchase CHUMCity for $1.7 Billion. Why hasn't there been a news report about it on CBC Newsworld? They're too busy covering the endless conflict in the Middle East, that's why. (sigh)
6.08.2006
CNN HeadlineNews
I remember a time when the news networks actually carried news reporting, not the news commentary so prevalent today. Those were the days I look fondly to. Will they ever return?
5.24.2006
TRUWinnipeg Endorsements
Urban renewal group TRUWinnipeg.org, has its first endorsements:
The "rock" is being pushed closer to the subway.
The "rock" is being pushed closer to the subway.
5.02.2006
Church @ King St., Toronto - southward view
Whenever I'm in Toronto I stay at the HI Hostel on Church St. because I pay $27 instead of the insane price of $150/night.
This is the view southward, when I get out of the Hostel building and turn right.
This is the view southward, when I get out of the Hostel building and turn right.
25 The Esplanade Luxury Apartment, Toronto
I love this building everytime I see it when I'm in Toronto.
But the cost of living there would be $1600/mo. Too much for my current budget.
But the cost of living there would be $1600/mo. Too much for my current budget.
3.18.2006
DirectCD
When creating MP3 CDs to play on various players, do not use the DirectCD format, as I found that it won't play at all on some players.
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