PLAYOFFS?!

Jim Mora: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwq7BYOnDrM

If you have never seen this clip before, watch Jim Mora is one of the most epic press conference rants ever. I will not be going into too much depth to avoid too much contraversy on this topic. This week's Cultural Topic is:

PLAYOFFS
I am an avid sports fan. Sport of choice: NHL Hockey. I have watched an estimated 300 hours of hockey, both live and on TV so far this season. My team: The Calgary Flames. I did the same last year. I managed 6 live games (a personal best) in the 2008-09 regular season – Capitals, Stars, Canucks, Panthers, Blackhawks, Avalanche. Pretty good year. But, the highlight of my hockey watching career? My first playoff game: Game 3 v. Chicago Blackhawks.

The C of Red was fierce last night, my friends. Flames were down two-to-none after dropping two hard-fought battles in Chicago. Newspapers will report that the Flames played a spirited game and overcame adversity on their last chance for survival – only two NHL teams have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, so dropping this one would almost surely dig them a deep grave.

I have never heard or seen a crowd like that at the Saddledome. Yeah, we can get some pretty good crowds out for some pretty exciting times, but nothing compares to the playoffs. I’m not going to ramble on too much. I’ll just let the pictures explain for themselves.
The Flames have made the playoffs now 5 seasons in a row and it has been exciting at the ‘Dome every year. Being able to see it for myself was pretty amazing. So even though he will never read this post, thanks for my uncle for allowing this to happen (despite all of his best efforts trying to convince my cousin otherwise).

The Oilers did not make the playoffs this year. In other playoff news, most analysts are predicting a Western Conference win, despite Boston being really good this year. Vancouver will likely beat St Louis  in the next couple games (they are up 3-0) and that's fine. I am a fan of the Flames, but I'm also a fan of all hockey.  If, however, the Canucks win the Stanley Cup this year, I will not follow hockey 2009-10. You heard it here first.

GO FLAMES GO! 

(Video)

Going Corporate

You may have noticed in the last week or so, a few changes have been made to the site. That’s right, I have mastered the art of HTML programming, made the columns wider and filled out the page to make a fuller looking, easier flowing website layout. I’ve added a site counter and a mini-cowboy clock and newest of all, we are monetized. This week’s cultural topic is:

“NEWS”

Listening to Rex Murphy’s Cross Country Checkup a few weeks back his discussion topic was on the subject of how people get their news. The discussion arose because a number of newspapers have or are in the process of converting their content fully online, which makes traditional newsprint more and more obsolete. What struck me was that blogging is among one of the most common mediums for where the general population is actually getting its news and information. In the end, the jury ruled that sitting down with a newspaper and coffee for a Saturday read is still everybody’s favorite way to take it in. If you ARE online (which you are, obviously) I’ve added some new links down the right side that you just might care about.

My good friend Dale Vaughn has recently written, designed, and released an inspirational audio book that dares you to live for today – with a foreword written by yours truly. [Insert shameless plug here] It’s actually a pretty neat concept. As you are likely aware, Dale and I worked together in London and traveled together in France, Spain and Portugal. Stop Surviving, Start Living delivers a great message to anyone who is interested overcoming barriers that are set out by normal everyday life.

Of course, not everyone can just get up and leave without consequence, can they? The official release of the book was last week and so far many people have learned ways that, in fact, they can – step by step. The website is currently in its earlier stages, but in short time will also feature guest bloggers, podcasts, interviews, and other more interactive tools.

Also newly added links are whereisjoel.com (blog by Joel Jackson) and papersean.com (also put together by Joel) that chronicle the life adventures of Joel’s little friend, Paper Sean. As always, you can check in with the old links too – I know Kate and Sarah are still posting almost daily and I’ve learned through the grapevine that Rizy Fawkes is back in the studio and should have some more great tunes in the next couple of weeks.

So there you have it, we’ve gone corporate. From Dale giving you the tools to get up and get out, to Joel and Paper Sean falling through cracks in the table, this blog has product placement written all over it (literally). Thanks as always for stopping in and if all goes to plan, we’ll be rich in no time.

Capturing the Internet

The internet is a network of globally interconnected computers that allows for information transfer, communication and straight up fun. The most common use of the internet is done on a channel known as the World Wide Web, which allows for interconnectivity through hyperlinks and URLs. But for now, that's all we'll really have to know. This week's edition of things that don't make sense is:

PHOTO SHARING

This week I joined Flickr, the photostreaming website that allegedly all photographers belong to. I took the opportunity to browse my collection of photos from my travels, from my many ski trips and various other exploits around home and in town. I find that looking at other people's photo posts, I'm drawn to doing more artsy composition - macros, abstracts, etc. It's interesting to think differently and see everything in a little different light in order to capture something that most people wouldn't normally look to find. Check it out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36978357@N07/

If this blog post was posted 10 years ago (the fact that blogs were not a prevalent form of communication aside), photo sharing would be going down the store, printing off a roll of photos and driving them over to your friend's house. "Hey, can you order doubles of that picture? I want a copy...."

Of course, film cameras still exist, so I'm not going to discredit the fact that this can still conceivably be something you hear in your day to day musings of the game of life. Comparatively, though, we now have such advanced technology not even the biggest nerds could have imagined it in the 80s. To name a few, high definition scanners, photo quality printers, and of course, digital cameras. 

Digital cameras, for obvious reasons have advanced dramatically since they became mainstream over the last 10 years and obviously there are only more improvements and tweaks to come. This is awesome for all photographers of all levels. Point and shoot cameras were first to be converted to digital technology but as they were before the revolution, SLR cameras have caught up and are more advanced than you could ever imagine. About 6 months ago, Nikon released their D90, near top of the line SLR to compete with Canon's first live-view Rebel XSi, that not only meets the Canon's specs, but also includes high definition VIDEO! The first SLR of it's class to even have video capabilities (previously unseen due to SLR's technology) 

But it's not the fact that people can take photos beyond their normal skill level, it's the fact that if you take a crappy photo you can take it home and completely alter it using photo editing software. I like the fact you can change the white balance or intensify your reds - this just makes your great photo better. I think it's neat that RADICAL changes can be made to photos like making a normal size guy walking down the street 10000 times as big a the other people and standing taller than skyscraper buildings. That's art and art is nice, but don't call it photography anymore. That doesn't make sense.

Nintendo DSi was just recently released with revolutionary Nintendo technology that plans to compete with the likes of the iPhone, PSP and the evenchanging Blackberry series hybrid telecommunication and entertainment consoles. Complete with a 0.3 megapixel camera, photo-editing software, and stylus stylings with computer interchange abilities, the DSi is ALMOST exactly what every kid wants...except the internet. Hey Nintendo, you get that we like taking pictures, but you're missing out on the all important web-communication. Otherwise it doesn't makes sense. Please fix, then call or email me...if you can figure that technology out.

What do you do?

“Ideally, I am looking for a sales-based position in Public Relations with a great product or service to back me up. I have work history in customer service, sales and recruitment. I have enjoyed all positions I have held and would be happy to do grow on the many skills I have developed.” This week's cultural topic is:

UNEMPLOYMENT

I've had some pretty good reasons to write over the last year, I'll admit, but I, like many, got tied up with work, with travel, with vacation. I've officially been out of the country 4 times in this time period and obviously have not stood up to my blogsite's own name. I would like to welcome any readers back to what I will call an INSPIRED post, but realistically it is nothing more than a normal post, just greatly delayed. As it’s been one year minus a month since I last wrote on this site, it has been one month since I have worked for paid money. Of course, with severance and banked vacation, I’m still sitting pretty pretty (qualified redundancy).

“What kind of work are you looking for?” used to be my catch phrase. I would rock that like it was going out of style, and ultimately, it was the be all, end all discriminator on job placements. It’s strange now to be on the other end of that question.

For nearly a year and a half, I worked for Manpower Services. I moved around from Onsite Recruitment to a hybrid role to Staffing Specialist – wherever they needed me, I was there. I’m not going to lie: I was fun. I had a great team, easy-going clients and when I went to work, I was constantly learning. I think that’s really all you can ask for in a job, isn’t it? You have to like what you do. Makes sense. I never missed a scheduled day of work. Never called in sick. On the two days I was late, I was not the only one. This is why I was so surprised when I was called into the boss’s office, given the rundown and handed the letter explaining everything.

“It has nothing to do with your performance and we would be happy to have you back. Thanks for your dedication to the company. We simply can’t sustain the number of staff we currently have at this time.”

I suppose I can take solace in the fact that I was not the only one let go on that day or in weeks leading up. By my approximate calculations, I was one of 8-10 let go in the course of the month of March. Go figure though, a staffing company not properly calculating their STAFF.

Anyway, since then it’s been countless online applications (though countable by looking in the correct desktop folder), phone calls, hours of browsing job sites (with obvious side-tracks), cold-calling (the bane of my existence), networking emails (my network is understandably not as a broad as I would have expected), and of course, an unending consumption of home-made coffee. These have all yielded several phone interviews, one job offer (which I turned down due to non-ideal relocation issues) and overall, one continually unemployed Kai.

Yeah, I applied for EI. Most people say “well, you’re entitled to it, take it.” I never really wanted to, but after I did my first report, I realise why so many people stay on it for so long. It’s so bloody easy. They don’t ask you where you’ve applied. They don’t ask you what you have done to find work. You don’t even have to leave your house to do it. Ease of access? Get out of town. National socialist parties like the NDP make me sick. But that’s a different story for a different day.


Looking back on this post, it kind of looks like I’m just whining and begs the question of why anyone would ever want to read it, but I’m indifferent. What are blogs for but to get ideas off one’s chest? Like I preempted with, not my best post, but a post nonetheless. For good measure I've added some photos.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to further expose you to my writing.

Blame the Europeans

It’s been around since the beginning of time. It’s in the media. We all have one, but some peoples’ are different. Some people follow others and some don’t. Even stupid idiot emo-jerk kids (whose I don’t like) have one…who am I?
This week’s riddler is Kai – and this week’s cultural topic is:

STYLE

Critics and connoisseurs claim that Europeans basically set the stage for the world when it comes to fashion and fashion trends. The hottest designers are Italian and exhibit their masterpieces in Milan, the street with the highest concentration of shoe stores per stretch of road is in London, and among the expensive shopping districts in the world is in Paris. So they must know what they’re doing.

Style is obviously a personal choice. People dress the way they want to dress and chances are if you are in a certain demographic you are more likely to dress one way than another. There are styles you can find at the mall. And since malls are often looked down upon by many-a-shopper, there are styles that you can’t. There are styles you will find on a fashion runway, and there are styles you will find only on the street. Some people like to dress athletically and prefer comfort, and some dress up no matter the occasion. Everyone has to choose their own style If you’re at a loss, of course, you can always visit the GAP to find out what’s new and exciting in the fashionable world of “average”.

Common trends: Lawyers and accountants can most often be found in a suit and tie. Engineers and geologist love their khakis and black leather jackets. Construction workers find themselves in jeans and a t-shirt, maybe sporting a hard hat…but personal protective equipment aside – they will also wear work boots. But that’s at work. It’s outside of work which really shows who’s who… I actually don’t know anyone in the world who doesn’t like jeans and a t-shirt for a lazy day around the house.

The style I have most easily fallen into is one I like to call “farmer”. I never grew up on a farm (or even in the country), I’ve never driven a big truck or hearded cattle. I’ve never owned a really nice cowboy hat (though I do have six or seven). On account of genetic defects known as allergies, I’ve never even properly ridden a horse. But I dress like a farmer/lumberjack/redneck because so do lots of people. Plaid is pretty universally known as a blue-collar design. I don’t have any REAL facts on it, so I won’t pretend anything beyond what I’ve already written, but it’s amazing how many people wear, how many stores supply and how many people accept this style as a reasonable thing to wear around in the streets, in the bar, in your car, on the ski hill…

Personally, I am pretty willing to accept most styles on most people. HOWEVER, one style I just hate is that of the emo. Stupid tight pant. Stupid long bangs that cover only one eye. Stupid hair dyed black. Stupid not working out. Stupid studded belts. Stupid glasses. Stupid impractical converse running shoes. Stupid pretending not to care what others think which is obviously wrong otherwise they wouldn’t dress like total idiot retards… But don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with following others in the way you dress. Emo-style, however, came from California so we can’t blame this one on the Europeans.

But where’s the proof you ask? Well, I now have empirical evidence that proves that styles in Europe are ahead of those in North America. I, Kai Hochhausen, purchased, over one year ago, a pair of sunglasses from a magical clothing chain known only as H&M in London. That pair of sunglasses broke, as a result of wearing them on my shirt neck and on the assumption that they were cheaply made from the beginning, when I was in Spain in the summer. I was devastated. I desperately shopped in every H&M I could find for the rest of my European vacation. But alas, they were nowhere to be found. Two weeks ago, in Calgary, I found that exact pair…one year later, to the month. How does that prove anything?

It doesn’t. Let’s go shopping.