PEIBlogs Aggregator

PEIInfo.ca: NASCAR THUNDER (1 Words)

2008-08-27T23:08:18Z

http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/daytona/home.do?link=Daytona_2008/hometoda...

Erin's Pub: This poet is from PEI ...

2008-08-27T22:08:34Z

So You Say

It is all in the mind, you say, and has
nothing to do with happiness. The coming of cold,
the coming of heat, the mind has all the time in the world.
You take my arm and say something will happen,
something unusual for which we were always prepared,
like the sun arriving after a day in Asia,
like the moon departing after a night with us.

- Mark Strand

EdTechTalk (Dave Cormier): Conversations-Show 6-2008-08-24

2008-08-27T21:08:55Z

This week the show focused on starting the school year. We discussed what folks do when planning for the year and what routines and procedures are important to establish with students. We also shared what we might do differently in the upcoming school year and any new projects or ideas we are thinking about.

Chat Log

Erin's Pub: Diary of a Lapsed Blogger

2008-08-27T21:08:30Z

Sometimes, I am a creature of habit. Sometimes, I fall out of habit. This seems to be, in of itself, a habit...

Writing is one of those things which I seem to wander to and from depending upon mood, timing, laziness, etc. Vacation doesn't help -- somehow, the computer was not where I wanted to be while I was back in PEI last week and, somehow, I couldn't get myself back to staring at a computer too long except when required, like at work (which is different). And, sometimes, there is just TOO MUCH to write about.

But then I got a couple readers telling me, in person for that matter, that they hadn't seen my blog. And reminding me, more than once, of this fact. Who know that my regular old writing could be habit forming for anyone else? Go figure!

The running/fitness thing, incidentally, I have not fallen away from. This is something I want to keep up, long term. There are just too many positive ways in which this will pan out in the long run (sorry to pun), and I do love the natural old adrenaline/serotonin boost that comes with sustained exercise.

Here are, in point form, highlights from a week and a half of running, etc. (yes, I have to condense -- none of these are in order of import, only in order of recollection):

** Suddenly, for my second and shortest run on PEI, Mike wanted to come with me. Sensei had told me, before I started this program, that I would want a buddy but I shrugged it off. I can be a solitary kind of person by habit, and this is a habit that isn't always the best thing for me at all times. It felt wonderful to have Mike with me, just to talk with along the way and to pace me and to pep talk as well. The experience made me feel much more motivated to push. He has come on many runs since, including the long one on Saturday (12 min walk, 15 min run, 15 min walk). He keeps up just fine (well, with me, that isn't tough).

** Michael's quote: "When you hit the wall, you've just got to jump over it".

** I've talked before on here about not carrying anything iPod-like (if I had one), and trying to remain "mindful" and alert to the actual environment, sights and sounds of the route, yadda yadda, as I go. Getting into longer runs, however, I get sick of my own consciousness and thoughts pretty fast. I think listening to music would, in fact, be a lovely soundtrack to the running. I'm one of those people who craves, or even "needs" music all the time anyway, and it certainly is an outside "voice" or track that I could align my focus with so I don't find myself stuck on time elapsed, or any soreness, or things which hamper my concentration on the actual goal. I suspect none of this passage makes any sense to anyone but me.

** I tried my mom's treadmill one day while back home, for a mid-sized interval (walk for five, run for ten, walk for 10). I loved it, and it felt "easier". Again, some of that was the music I had playing on the stereo... but some of that was the fact that something else was keeping track of the pace, time and miles elapsed. Not something I want to get into the habit of because my 5K in 2.5 weeks will be outdoors, and conditions on a treadmill do not equate with the realities of an actual run outdoors. For example, when the ground is physically moving at a certain speed, this rather keeps the feet forcibly moving unless you press a switch or jump/fall off. Outdoors, I must keep my own feet moving by my own stimulus.

** I think I will have to get a bicycle again. I had too much fun on my old mountain bike back in PEI, just like old days. I love it and I've missed it dearly.

** I was so happy to run/walk/bicycle back in Stanhope, PEI. Never mind that it is my childhood home and full of emotional memory for me -- it is simply a beautiful place, and the trail/boardwalk which wraps around the Covehead Bay and connects to the National Park bike trail is perfect. In fact, being wistful is precisely why I've avoided writing in the past tense.

** So, this is week six. I'll try harder to keep at this part of the program.

PEIInfo.ca: A health care question (95 Words)

2008-08-27T21:08:15Z

here is a question that I really don't know the answer for...

here in Canada we have a system of health care that is accessible to all (flawed as it may or may not be).. I know that basically tax payers pay for this yes?forgive me if this sounds dumb, rude or whatever... what about when you draw EI or "welfare" cheques... do you still pay into the health care plan? meaning do they take money off of those cheques still as you would loose money off of a pay cheque from an employer?...

PEIInfo.ca: Finally!!!! (15 Words)

2008-08-27T21:08:15Z

First exhibition home game is Sunday. I'm very excited for the season ahead! :D...

PEIInfo.ca: Ritz Commercial (57 Words)

2008-08-27T21:08:15Z

The newer one - with the little ditty - "If I am not married by 23..." etc.

Does anyone know if this is a real song? Who it is by?

I find it kind of catchy and cute - but am not having much luck finding the whole song.

Ta
Phil...

PEIInfo.ca: Suggestions please (127 Words)

2008-08-27T21:08:15Z

I have another computer here that I didn't have any antivirus stuff on.....so after reading some threads here I decided to download AVG. But, I made the mistake of downloading the stuff where it asked for $$. So I went back and installed AVG-free. But now I keep getting these pages popping up telling me that my computer may be infected....that I should download this other stuff. I can't get it to disappear....it just keeps popping up. The only way I can even minimize it on my screen is to hit the "windows key plus D". But it ends up popping up again.

I also downloaded Ad-Aware after that.

Any idea what I arsed up? *sigh*...

PEIInfo.ca: Walt Wingfield (39 Words)

2008-08-27T21:08:15Z

Does anyone else watch this show? Weds on Bravo at 9pm.

I love it - it reminds me so much of some of the people I grew up around the farm in the early '60's.

Phil...

Whimfield-Modern Pre-Industrial Living: Dear Blog, How Many Times Can I Ignore You? Let Me Count the Ways

2008-08-27T20:08:12Z

Argh!!!! I’ve been ignoring you lately, beloved Whimfield, because I’m trying to be a writer! Oh, you know, I’m not trying to be a novelist or anything; I just want to be someone who writes little articles for a few yen/drachmae/gilders. Yesterday I could be seen dancing across the unmowed grass, singing “I’m the greatest writer in the [...]

Erin's Pub: Makes sense

2008-08-27T20:08:16Z

Dr. Irving Oyle's Guide to Good Health

1. Eat when you are hungry.
2. Sleep when you are tired.
3. When nature calls, answer.
4. When it's cold, go inside.
5. Don't think of anything else while making love.

- Irving Oyle
The New American Medicine Show

Spector's Fox Sports Blog (Lyle Richardson): Sakic Returns To The Avalanche.

2008-08-27T20:08:00Z

After keeping NHL fans guessing for months as to his future plans, Joe Sakic made it official on Wednesday, re-signing a one-year, $6 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

It’ll be Sakic’s twentieth NHL season, all spent with the same franchise which he’s captained since1992-93.

This could be one of the more trying seasons for the Avalanche, as they are no longer considered among the league’s elite teams and are no longer a lock for a playoff berth.

The knock against the Avs heading into this season is they lack capable goaltending and while there are some promising youngsters on the roster will be relying on aging veterans to carry the load.

Sakic would be considered among that last group as he attempts to bounce back from a trying season where injuries limited him to only 44 games, although he did manage 40 points, nearly a point-per-game performance.

The Avs captain had one of the best seasons of his career in 2006-07 with 102 points, and if he can return healthy and regain that high-scoring form the Avalanche’s chances of making the playoffs could significantly improve.

But “Burnaby Joe” can’t carry the load by himself, and he’ll need help from a supporting cast of aging talent (Ryan Smyth, Milan Hejduk, Darcy Tucker) and promising youth (Paul Statsny, Marek Svatos, Wojtek Wolski) to get the job done.

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justpictureit: Seaweed

2008-08-27T20:08:09Z

Click to Play: Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart - Rufus Wainwright Drawing Board - Danny Schmidt I got sand on my shoes on An Island Walk so you don't have to.

PEIInfo.ca: Pellet Stoves (31 Words)

2008-08-27T20:08:17Z

I am thinking about getting a pettet stove. If anyone owns one, do they like it or is it a lot of work to maintain. Tell me what you think.....thanks...

The Cairns Blog (John Cairns): DAY THREE HANDED OVER TO THE CLINTONS (AGAIN)

2008-08-27T20:08:00Z

It's Day Three of our live blogging of this booooring snoozer of a Democratic National Convention in Denver. It's hard to stay awake through these dull, monotone speeches, it really is.

Well, Barack Obama has finally gone over the top; he was nominated officially as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States. The roll call took a bit longer than what people expected. They got up all the way to the "N"s before New Mexico yielded to Illinois, who yielded to New York, where Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton asked for the rules to be suspended and Obama to be nominated by acclamation. And so that was that.

You know, it would have been far more exciting a moment if this had been a contested convention and Obama had won on a truly contested roll call. We would have seen people celebrating, and crying, and all the emotion with Obama hugging his supporters and the rest of it, and people jumping up and down and holding up their fingers in "V for victory" signs.

That's what real conventions ought to be about. Not this scripted Kumbaya-party-unity stuff. This was pretty "meh" stuff today on the floor.

Obama isn't helping himself any with his plans for a concert-style outdoor speech in front of a circular seating arrangement at Invesco Field Thursday night. It's so grandiose a setup that it's inviting criticism that Obama is an "inflated celebrity" and that his ego is way too big.

That's tomorrow's news, though. Tonight, still at the hockey arena, it's back to being a boring scripted show. We get Vice-Presidential nominee Joe Biden and the star attraction of the night: William Jefferson "Big help to the ticket" Clinton.

You get the feeling ex-President Clinton is going to be a loose cannon up there tonight?! Holy moley, this is a disaster waiting to happen. I gotta say this: it's been a pretty dismal week for Obama. We've had two days straight of Clintons hogging the spotlight. Obama, meanwhile, is getting very little attention of his own so far. You get the impression that he isn't commanding the spotlight of this thing all to himself. It's either the Clintons, or these bigshot entertainers getting all the attention. All that needs to happen is for John McCain to announce his running mate on Thursday afternoon. That would cap off a perfect week, not.

As for what's going on right now, I see Melissa Etheridge is up there singing and all I will say about that is it's about time the entertainers showed up; they've kept a low profile up until now. Still, I was watching CBS News' webcast after Tuesday night and saw Katie Couric chatting it up with Morgan Fairchild and then with these WWE wrestlers.

Personally, I think these Dems are better off keeping the Hollywood bigshots far, far away, because quite frankly I think a lot of people see these big actors and musicians as a bunch of elitists. They are no help in the heartland, where Obama needs to score votes.

That is all for now. Now the bad news: it looks like I am going to be out of commission reporting the news tomorrow night, so I doubt very much I will be around for the big Obama speech to rant and rave about it. I do expect, though, to give my own wrapup thoughts about it later tomorrow night right here, after the big speech is over. So keep it here at the CAIRNS BLOG for more convention coverage and assorted rants.

Robert Paterson's Weblog: Listeria - The Health Regs Drive out the small and the local - Wonder why?

2008-08-27T19:08:16Z

All over Canada, small food processors are being shut down. Why? Because they cannot afford to install the Health Regulatory Environment that is now being demanded. This is all part of a deliberate process. The large producers have the money...

PEI Disability Alert: Volunteers aren't second class

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

Letters to the Editor
August 27, 2008

Premier Robert Ghiz

Free advice is worth every penny. The Province of PEI pays the volunteers on its review committees nothing but tea and sandwiches. They value the volunteers’ opinions even less.

On the other hand it hands out hundreds of thousands of dollars to consultants to run the review committees. Guess whose opinions matter more to Premier Ghiz? Exactly, it’s the paid consultants.

The Minister’s Advisory Committee on Disability was formed to deal with the recommendations of the Baker Report. Baker made over 27 recommendations to improve the DSP back in 2003.

The Advisory Committee had goodwill but no budget. No one was paid for their time hence their time was worthless. The Government paid no attention to the few reports issued by the Advisory Committee.

Minister Doug Currie

Fast forward to 2007. The Liberals form the Disability Services Review Committee to advise how the DSP should be reformed. Disability Alert nagged them for a year to do it.

There were 11 unpaid volunteers sitting on the committee to re-invent the Baker Report. How important was their advice? Probably not very much because Minister Currie didn’t want to pay them anything.

However, Currie did pay Myrtle Jenkins-Smith $100,000 to organize the committee, book the government board room, and order the sandwiches.

Myrtle Jenkins Smith

Hmm, whose advice will Currie listen to? Actually it works the other way around. Jenkins Smith is there to keep the SRC from issuing a report that will embarrass the government.

Jenkins Smith is a high placed Currie election worker. She has Currie’s ear. At the Christmas Party for his riding, Currie spent half the time in a conversation with Jenkins-Smith. Then and there our goose was cooked. Score 100 points for patronage appointment and zero points for disability reform. (italicized portion from original letter)

The government is fooling Islanders into believing their volunteer work on committees is important.

Free advice, worth every penny.

Everyone is waiting for the report and Currie’s actions. We’re probably going to be disappointed since this was a set-up.

Stephen Pate, PEI Disability Alert
Charlottetown, PE

The Journal-Pioneer (News): After-hours partying prompts concerns of increased vandalism

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

SUMMERSIDE — Some late-night loitering at a city park could be causing residents some headaches and restless nights.

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Canada Games ballfield to become a reality

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

O’LEARY — The Community of O’Leary is getting some federal and provincial assistance in building new recreation facilities.

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Despite closure, Island is still seeing some tuna action

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

ALBERTON – Tuna business continues at Island wharfs even though the fishery is currently closed to Prince Edward Island fishers.

The Journal-Pioneer (Sports): Dumont, MacKay earn driving wins in women's series KG Affair takes top class

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

SUMMERSIDE -- Carole Dumont and Tammy MacKay were the winning drivers in the Mildred Williams Memorial International Women's Driving Series events at Summerside Raceway on Wednesday night.

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Future of tuna fishery could be bleak: Frenette: Critical meetings in Morocco

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

CHARLOTTETOWN – The fate of the Island’s bluefin tuna fishery could be hanging on a tenterhook.

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Inherit the wind: City looks at regulations

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

SUMMERSIDE – As the city of Summerside enters the wind turbine era, civic officials find themselves in uncharted waters on regulating the alternate energy source.

The Journal-Pioneer (Editorials): Listeria hysteria

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

What’s in your sandwich? It’s a question Canadians are asking in the wake of listeria contamination at a Toronto Maple Leaf plant and 12 deaths linked to the bacteria.

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Sale in works for Oran's Anglo-Tignish property

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

ANGLO-TIGNISH — The Oran Group has a sale in the works for the Founders Lane property in Anglo-Tignish.

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Theft earns Summerside man 45 days in prison

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

SUMMERSIDE — Stealing two bottles of rum has earned a city man an extra 45 days in a federal prison.

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Things really looking up

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

Things really looking up

The Journal-Pioneer (News): Western Hospital's emergency room closed for 24 hours

2008-08-27T18:08:00Z

ALBERTON – Western Hospital’s emergency department will be closed for 24 hours, beginning at 8 a.

The Hallway: DrupalSN joins Russia in recognizing Abkhazian independence

2008-08-27T17:08:00Z

I just signed up for an account at the new site DrupalSN.com, a Drupal-based social networking site for Drupal developers, and I was pretty impressed to see how quickly the site had moved to recognize the independence of that bit of dirt between Russia and Georgia named Abkhazia.

My trivia-nerd self is very interested in the fact that if more bodies do recognize Abkhazia that it will gain the fame of being alphabetically the first country in every list. Expect inflated numbers of internet users from there thanks to me picking it when signing up for sites I don't want to have my personal info. I scrolled down and saw they have South Ossetia, too. I should create an account and pretend to be from Georgia and do some trolling, on such a brand new site it would surely get some attention.

As for the site itself, it looks like it has some potential for showing off some of the social features of Drupal, hopefully they will share their tips on making it look nice and smooth and not hacked together like a lot of drupal sites seem to be, with way too many modules and rough edges around the themes. Maybe they could build a module for partial matching of user names that's smoother than drupal's current implementation that only lets you search by username and not real name.

I've been doing a lot of work in Drupal lately both on my own and for my new job, so I'll be keeping pretty close tabs on the latest developments in the Drupal world, crossing my fingers that some of the more annoying parts of it get ironed out.

PEIInfo.ca: Set of Ladies right-handed Golf Clubs & Bag (29 Words)

2008-08-27T16:08:11Z

For Sale - Set of Ladies right-handed Golf Clubs & Bag
3-9 Irons + 1,3,5 Woods + P Wedge include golf bag.

asking $140.00

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