Not Fit for Fishwrap

Today we venture into the topic of the newspaper. Love / hate / disdain.

In our domestic arrangement, we have the paper delivered Fri / Sat / Sun. M pays b/c I won't.
I deem the paper to be an extremely biased, history of local / world events. Usually, the items are a day old and sometimes older.
At best the writer quotes from a source. However, the tendency is for the piece to have an angle or spin ( to catch the readers attention).
Our T.O. Star is liberally biased.Its called a national newspaper, as compared to papers from say Vancouver / Montreal / Moncton. No wonder they hate T.O. in those places. I would.
OK. Fri and Sun there is a cryptic by Caroline Andrews, a T.O. based professor. I fold and separate each cryptic and photocopy the cryptic and spend the next few days solving the riddles of CA. I do this religiously. Much to the delight and chagrin of M. Why delight, b/c she can count on me to go out of my way to buy the paper Fri or Sun.  chagrin, b/c she then gets to listen to me wail and gnash ( wail, as in the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem - she says it is very close to the same sound )

In the movie the " Shipping News " by Lasse Hallstrom, the heroine, Wavy Prowse ( Julianne Moore ) refers to the local paper as " not fit for fishwrap " which is of course, where the hero Quoyle ( Kevin Spacey )just won a job. BTW, what a role for Cate Blanchett ( she gets to be a lady of low morale fibre and she doesn't eat cereal either ).
I also view the TV new shows in the same vein, maybe a little more current but not by much.
My personal chosen method is to scan the headlines and pictures - read a line or two and then listen to our CBC ( Canadian Broadcasting Corp ). Programs such as " As It Happens " interview the main characters in the story be they politicians or builders or complainants.
Is there spin ? You bet. But the involvees spin not the reporters. Is it confusing, you bet. esp. politicians, what a load of cod whallop ( thats from the Shipping News , aussi). 
The difference, I ferret out the truth or something resembling the truth - not the reporter.
OK. you had to bear w/ me through this rant ( or did you skim and scan ) - well M hears it regularly.
One example, when Poland was fighting for independence back in 80 something ( 1980, I mean ) the CBC on " As It Happens " got Lech Walesa on the phone, talk about a viewpoint.
well ,they do this all the time. Thats news.

I'm sitting in the convenience ( thats an euphemism ) typing away. So, I'm not a total luddite b/c this would not have been possible even 20 yrs ago.
My left leg is asleep.  gotta go

P.S - I could barely stand

Huh ?

Sidney Crosby the hockey player is going to be offered 104 Mil $ to play for the Pitt Penguins til he's a ripe old 30 something.

" Debbie " dumped a boatload of rain on the Tampa area. now, this is the same place where the water resevoirs were at historic lows for the last several years.  Watch, I'm going to read how the resevoirs over-flowed.

what did you learn to-day

Yesterday, spent the daylight hours - blowing down the Otonabee. We were out fishing. the wind was an elemental - 35 KpH and we hid from the wind the whole day, or tried. This wind was the prevailing N -  NW kind, but turned up a notch.  We did well, considering.
maybe, 6 fish. My spinnerbait was the # 1 performer in the morning.
I'm not a spinnerbait fisher. I use a baitcast outfit. There is definitely a feel for spBt fishing. I don't have it but am getting better.
This AM out alone and the spinnerbait did it again. As well, my fall back position is a straight worm or stick plastic allowed to fall, connected.

I'm on the laptop sitting on the deck at QMH, watching the Ottonabee go by. We have a steel roof at QMH. reception for our dial up 3.5 G Rocket Stick is peripatetic. So, I said go outside. Bingo - bango. W/ out the steel roof interference the reception is lightning quick - go figure ( no interference , good reception. ) Dah.

of course, in winter 5 C is kinda cool to be out typing. Never mind the ice.

OK  I'm bass fishing again, a true rite of summer and me.

Update 2012  7- 21.  Wind from the north
                                  Wise fisher goes not forth
                                  Wind from the east
                                  Not fit for man or beast
                                  Wind from the west
                                  Fishing the best
                                  Wind from the south
                                  Blows the bait in the fishes mouth

old fishing verses

On the Otonabee a S or SW wind is usually the sign of a storm.
But before a storm the cold wind sweeps down the river from the north

Age-ism

Our social agenda, included a 50 th BD surprise party. Oh, to see 50 again, such famous laments abound.
Apparently, I've put on weight. Oh, surprise there.  When we returned from Merry Ol', none of my shorts would fit. Now ,I can wear them all.  However, I guess that I'm chunky looking. Oh, great - oldish and chunky.  Hope M, is into oldish and chunky... doesn't have much choice I guess.

The back forty ( sq. yds not acres ) is spruced up - or Dogwood-ed down, since we trimmed the silver leaf dogwoods right down.  for instance, I'd noticed that the pines behind the doggies were twisting their apices to get more sun. Now those tips are pointing straight up. This type of growth is positive phototropism. ah, my bio-education was not a total loss.

The Realm Medical

A comprehensive look at me, and medical related issues.

1. Knees. Left - pronounced crepitation and occasional numbness of the lower leg.
Right - will lock up and upon some maneuvering will unlock. As of this past week, swollen and stiff ( my leg, my leg,  got it )

2.Kidney - There is a large chance that I pass or have kidney crystals. Reliable testimony has confirmed that I couldn't be passing kidney stones b/c I don't know how really painful stones are. Well, what I do have is plenty painful enough.

3.G.E.R.D. - gastro-esophageal reflux disease. I have a hiatus hernia. Therefore, there is a better than good chance that stomach acid can creep up and cause some discomfort.

4.Back, lower - some weakness and general discomfort on occassion. Caused by not bending my knees picking up a boat.

5.Upper back - between the shoulder blades, a knot or pinch occurs from time to time.

6.Shoulder / upper back pain / neck - I have a C6 - 7 nerve situation , where the foramen opening for a C6/7 nerve is slightly blocked, pinching or disturbing the nerve.

7. Allergies - I use to get hayfever in the fall. This condition has disappeared w/ age.
however, there is no doubt that I have some sensitivity to allergens like grass, plants in general and insect bites / antigens.

8.Eyes - Blepahritis - which is a blanket term for conditions where the eye's protective liquid coating is deficient. This means as in my case too little tearing esp. when I do not blink e.g. at night.

How about you ???

Current Events

For better than 1/2 the world great happenings in Poland/ Ukraine. Euro 2012 is on.
They are playing football for the chmpionship of Europe. Yes ,England are still in the running, heading for the 1/4 finals. W/ controversy.
England was leading 1 - 0 over Ukraine. The ball was cleared off the English line ( goal line ) by a defender J. Terry. On TV replay it appears that the ball crossed the line or a goal occurred against England. The referee ruled no goal ( there is no official camera replay ). The decision stood and Ukraine is out. the CBC sports analyst commented that a camera replay would have cleared the issue. He further stated that the goal scorer was off-side ( no official camera there either ). So, in essence one error erased another. Justice, indeed.  On telling my barber about what I heard, Tony says " he was on-side by 2 feet " , meaning the Ukraine player.
Ah, the beautiful game.
Heck, anyone could ref a soccer game. Blow the whistle, 1/2 the crowd says your wrong the other 1/2 say your right. The problem is they " shoot refreees, don't they ". In many parts of the world, the ref rules for the home side so that he can leave the stadium.

Rumour has it, that in a famous American football  game involving the Pittsburgh Steelers at home, such an incident occurred.
The play was called the " immaculate reception " Pitts was losing w/ time running out. A pass was tipped and a racing Franco Harris scooped up the ball inches from the ground and raced to score.
there was replay. The film was reviewed and after some agonizing moments, touchdown, Steelers win.
|The controversy was whether a Steeler had, as well as the opposing player touched the ball, this extra touch  would have negated the touchdown. In the telling of this story, some sports writers claimed that an unknown fact was responsible for the decision.
Before, making his final call, the ref apparently asked the head of police security, " how many officers can you get as an escort for me ". The reply was some small number and not enough to satisfy the worried ref. His call " touchdown " in front of the home crowd.  true or ................

Here in T.O., we will set records for temperature, We're having a heat wave. Warm and sticky and we're not talking cinnamon buns either.

Drilled again

Some men attract gorgeous women. That's how I met M ( of course ).
However, I seem to be a focal point for any insect that bites or drills you.
Horseflies, deerflies yep, doesn't matter.
To-day, I received a visit from a deerfly (??) or something that causes swelling. Ten minutes after the bite, my ear lobe is like a second nose and growing. I iced for twenty minutes before the heat and throbbing went away. Apparently, it is still swollen but it doesn't hurt.
This phenomenon is not scientifically proven.
You can feel safe though around me. If it bites or sucks, it goes for me. Long sleeve shirts and pants are a must.  Lee Valley ( outdoor supply co. ) sells deerfly strips that stick on the back of a hat. My record is eight deerflies stuck on the strip ( double side sticky ). Yesterday, there were 7 glued to the strip.

I'm still trying not to scratch a bite from last week that's on my wrist, you know below the cuff of the long sleeve shirt and above where the insect OFF was applied.

What else do I attract, 7 th day adventists, credit card salespeople and wasps ( the bug kind ).

Your own Medicine

I'm icing both knees and giving therapeutic advice to a friend. irony or what. Now to be fair, I did stop running and switched to the  elliptical training.
My advice was a) total rest first, to heal b) go softer / slower / shorter when your legs (knees ) hurt. And give up running b/c running is not for everyone.
I've heard repeatedly, that running is natural. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Most ( read 70 % ) of runners have improper running technique. The list of inconsistencies is ten or so items long. From foot strike to daily practise  and stretching. No, running or the running motion is only natural in that people can do it. Not do it right. So, the reality is over time, all the faults are multiplied and give the resultant physical problems. 
All right, all right, yeah you'd love taking advice from me. I tried, I try.

Went to see the " ADvengers " this moniker is from the Ohio blog follower contingent. Well done. Way more humourous than I could ever imagine. R. Downey Jr was tolerable even likable.  Loki makes an excellent villain.
Capt America comes across a little plain but heroic... who woulda thunk. Scarlett Johannsen as the " Black " Widow was subdued and interesting.
The neighbours here in Suburbia were kind enough to take me as " one of the kids " no doubt. Quite a learning experience. I discovered what a " dill shaker " is. do you know ? Hows many Skittles can a teenager consume ? A lot.

Well, the knees are only marginally sore and or swollen... no hills for me this week, the grass can grow unmolested for another month, on the hill. I don't know what degree the slope is on the hill but 25 sounds about right. I'm very poor at guesstimating...
my favourite line is " you could put a quart of water in a gallon bucket, and I'd guess the volume wrong by a quart ".

OK Roger, over and out

In Real Life

We are watching the " real 'Master and Commander ' ". A comparison of the movie w/ true historical fact. The role of movie Jack Aubrey ( Russell Crowe ) was loosely based on Thomas Cochrane, a Scottish naval officer. apparently Peter Weir, the director stopped reading the exploits of Cochrane, lest he get too fanciful for the movie.
There was an actual model for the " Acheron " the French super ship  ( cannon balls bouncing off the sides )that plagues the heroes on the HMS Surprise ( Br. Navy ). Yep, Ol'Ironsides , the USS Constitution is the real Acheron. The Constitution gained her reputation during the War of 1812. However, the American backers of the film, wouldn't be expected to allow the US Navy w/ a superior ship to lose to a gallant Br warship. Threfore, the enemies become the Fr and the Br.

Nik Wallenda crossed the Niagara Gorge on a 5 cm tightwire. Of course, the Canadian Customs officers greeted him on arrival on the Canadian side " Sir, are you carrying any live plant or animal material ? " Kidding ... they just asked to see his passport.  Wallenda was tethered to the tightwire. Wallenda didn't want the distraction... the sponsors didn't want an instant " You Tube " viral hit if anything went wrong.

I played poker twice Thur / Fri and performed a miracle, in that I won twice. Not much, in winnings but the groups are totally different. So its very difficult to adjust to the two groups.

The counter for ther blog, says that this is post 212. Right now the last remaining goal is to make it 300. Fallen by the wayside ?  

1. two sentence blogging was first to go. 
2. No personal references, yep , gone.
3. To post at least every day, missing a day occasionally, well that is gone too.
4. Readership following to reach 10. no, not ten anything, just ten.  I could be at 2, maybe.

Update 2012 7 - 21
" In real life I'm stuck with the same old formula
Me and my mono-phonic symphony, six string orchestra "

from the Smothers Brothers, ' Six String Orchestra '

Oh well

So, another expectation bites the dust. I was planning on blogging regularly, as in ' don't miss more than 3 days in a row. Ooops. That one's gone.

Weather has certainly stabilized in S On. We did have a muggy Sun / Mon but then the weather cooled right off, w/ sun and breezy days.
QMH ( the cottage ) had some minor trim and clean up. Eavestrough and walkway de-weeding was in order. The final step in finishing exterior tidy up. Got out fishing, twice and 1 walleye co-operated. Yep, cleaned and bagged.

In a nutshell

Fri night is usually, " Vinyl Tap "on CBC ( you can access VT on Sirius 159 ).
The show was " Acoustically Inclined " an all guitar show. The names of note were all well known, except for maybe Lenny Breau and Michael Hedges. Fabulous virtuosos, both of them. I won a Lenny Breau album ( yep, vinyl ) when I was 17. Didn't have a clue who he was.
Listened and said " Oops " missed this guy somehow. Surprise, he wasn't a surprise to Canadian musicians.
Lennon and McCartney, Neil Young, Rod Stewart etc all got air time.
For instance, some history came out. When the record label needed to highlight a single for Rod Stewart ( pre - singles time ) the rep and Rod chose " Reason to Believe ". Driving to the airport, the rep called home and said they had an agreement. The CEO asked what was the flip side. The rep called Rod and since Rod didn't care , the rep chose a Stewart composition " Maggie Mae ". Well, you guessed it " Reason... " got air for two weeks and then a DJ flipped the disc over and magic.

The big surprise for me, The Gypsy Kings. I'm buying a GK CD, soon.
The GKs are really Gypsy types or Romani ( if you are PC ), actual Romani and caravan people. Apparently, they pass out guitars and you learn to play, right hand/ left handed everyone learns to play righty. If you guessed they are flamboyant and wild, you are correct. 
There was info on 6 and 12 string guitars and different types, Gibsons and Martins , oh yeah "Whoosh " time. Randy covered " boominess " etc. , whoosh.
Currently watching the DVD " Green Lantern " again, the Universe and sector 2814 are safe and Blake Lively is a dish.

BtB

BtB is " ban the plastic bag ". In science BtB is an acronym for bromthymol blue. I digress.
FYI - for about 4 - 5 yrs now T.O. has had a by-law that required stores to sell plastic bags at 5 cents each. The aim was to reduce the use of plastic. We would ostensibibly carry our own bags into the store or buy a carry all as they say over the pond.

Well, the five cent issue per bag was raised and the city council decided that no plastic bags could be provided by a store. The new rule starts on something 2013. We are on the cutting edge of ....... I give. I understand plastic is ubiquitous and long lasting in a bio-degradable sense. In fact bio-degradable is exactly what most plastic is not.
Therefore if there is a sudden glut of cheap carry bags in your neck of the woods , this surplus would originate in T.O.
Of course, we Ontarians will adapt, adjust and move on.

My thoughts are definitely turning to fishing.
B/c I fish in the winter for 6 weeks, normally I don't have the fire in the belly syndrome 'til around now. As well , my aim has been to finish up chores around QMH before I turn to recreation on the water. Further this season was delayed by the trip to UK and the subsequent clean / trim and sweep of the past two weeks.

FYI - I own a bass boat. Yep, the kind that goes roaring around in fishing tournaments on TV. To see this boat go to www. stratos.com and click on model 176 XT
I have been told that I am a tournament fisherman that doesn't fish tournaments. This sobriquet is either a massive insult or a political way of down-playing the mania that I display.
Part of this mania is the result of the realization that I'm not particularly, good at much. I would say my talents lean toward organizing tools rather than employing tools.

I do putter and can reasonably fix things. E.g. this week the gas trimmer was acting up.
The trimmer would idle ( roughly ) and on pressing the trigger would cut out. Two hours later, I have the trimmer to the point where it will not cut out but spins in idle. This spinning in idle is not safe. Thus, next step is stop the spin in idle.

However, it does seem that I spend an inordinante amount of time re-inventing the wheel.  That is what I call some of my tinkering.
I sort of take a structure and then try to re-use the object.

In my mind, is the task of making a wheel barrow or garden truck out of wheels lying around QMH and home. I could buy a garden truck / barrow for about 89 $ made of plastic.
However, " the struggle is the glory " you know my favourite line from the " Ghost and the Darkness " ( see previous posts on movies - or ask and I'll explain the origin ).

Another example, involved the bass boat cover. For two years , I had the bass boat kept at a marina in the water. Exposed to the elements, the boat would fill w/ water. To wit, I had an automatic bilge pump installed. The system would kick on if more than 2 " of water was in the hold.
I decided that I needed a cover for the boat. my neighbours had a V - hull fishing boat w/ a snap on cover, perfect. I had no snaps and no way or place to affix the cover.
At a local garden / tool outlet called Lee Valley, I purchased tarp grips that are re-usable. I bought a boat cover and used the grips to grab the edges of the cover. To keep the cover taut ( so rain would run off ), I further filled plastic torpedo bottles w/ water and suspended the bottle over the boat gunwales attached to the grips by these handy little Lee Valley bottle caps w/ hooks. Some tinkering was required to force the water to run from the middle of the boat to the edges and off the cover.

Later, a fellow boater saw the contraption and told the marina owners that it was a waste of effort that I went through. The owners Deb and John told the man that the system that I used was the only one that they had ever seen that worked, consistently. YES, felt so good. Now if you could have heard the swearing that went on during the trial period, that would be something different.

I suppose its not really bragging if you do it and it works. In many ways, I feel like the Thomas Edison quote when he failed repeatedly to find a filament for the light bulbs that he was inventing. " I have not failed, I have discovered one thousand ways not to make a light bulb ".

So come see the garden trolley... maybe.

Thoughts on the " better way "

Our transit system ( Toronto Transit Commission ) is nick-named the " better way " or red rocket. Yesterday, I took notice of an ad for Via Rail ( the train system in Canada ).

In the UK, it seemed that people did use the rail system to commute and " pop out " for the day or part of a day. A 45 min trip, probably cost 2 - 3 Pd return ( I'm guessing here ) Prices do vary by time of day and day of the week.
We must factor in the petrol costs but I think it is a cultural phenomenon. Historically, the Brits used the train as a major transportation service. Of course , at certain stations and / or depots the Brit rail system interacts w/ the London Underground. 
For instance, at Kings Cross Stn, our departure point for the trip N to Edinburgh,travellers came off the underground and boarded a train headed out and away from London.
The train to Edinburgh had service by coffee cart and a food car ( liquor too ). I suppose it was comfortable but I found the motion of the train slightly unsettling. M claimed if I could read or be distracted, the trip would have been better.
We have in the past taken the commuter GO train downtown or the subway ( which is more usual ). This method is sporadic b/c it matches our trips downtown which is also sporadic.

Fishing news ( no, you dont't have a choice )
Yesterday, evening, off the dock I was drop-shotting and caught a walleye. A keeper fish which was immediately dispatched, sliced and diced. OK, I conked him and filleted the boy right away. The idea is clean'em fast and wash them well. Up at the abode, a quick rinse w/ salt ( slime removal and de-smelling, at least thats the theory ) and bingo-bango in the freezer. some of my fishing buds', take home the fish in buckets and clean the fish at home. I suppose not everyone has the luxury of a) facilities to clean at the dock b) the leisure time to clean on the spot.

How is drop-shotting different from normal fishing. The weight is below the hook and platic bait. The method suits a) deeper water b) concentrations of fish  c) a more subtle approach b/c the bait stays in one spot and jiggles. the latter would be explained as keeping the bait in the strike zone. so far this season, 3 bass and 1 walleye and a bunch of little stuff have gone for the drop-shot technique.

News in the News

Ray Bradbury passed away. I will not wax gushing comments on his writing. Good stuff.

Gonorrhea, the organism may become immune to drugs. Potentially, leaving no treatment.

watched the Queen's Jubilee concert, VG. The Brits do the pomp and circumference stuff as no other nation. Technically, a marvel of production. Six hundred techs to put on the show.

So, I'm fishing - again - mostly dipping around the dock and taking it easy. this AM slipped out for an hour or so on the boat. 6 bass, one smallmouth was 3 lb easily. One keeper walleye which is now designated " supper " along w/ real Kraft Dinner from the box.

Its sick, I know but we get the craving for KD every once and a while. I hope that the yellow dye #1 in KD is high in fibre b/c KD sure is high in salt.

As well the deerflies found me out on the water. one bite on the wrist looks like a horse kicked me - well not that big, but it is swollen.

QMH, is shaping up but still some basic cutting back is needed.

let There Be light

Time to tame the beasties. For 3 - 4 years, I have been planting, silver leaf dogwoods. SLDs are 1/2 bush , 1/2 tree. SLDs are supposed to top out at 10 ft or so. The SLDs have found a home in our backyard. Seven of them have discovered a place to grow, BIG. For two days, I have been trimming them back and clipping undergrowth. As after a haircut, the yard is neater and more light is getting through to the ground.

The trees have been trimmed a little, for the same reason.

Be careful what you wish for. Originally, I wanted green things to grow and spread so we didn't need to tend flowers and such. M thinks the SLDs are out of control. I think Job 1 is accomplished. So, we trimmed them back.
Friends have asked how we get them to grow b/c they are having trouble getting them to start.

Well, they killed someone else downtown yesterday, and 7 wounded at our Eaton's Centre.

The Queen's Jubilee celebration on the Thames was on TV this AM. Pomp and all that. Very English.  They did a great job.

Musically, I have you-tubed ( it's a verb, now as in " google" something) Richie Havens for two days. great sound by that man.

Gary Glitter

Gary who ???. His hit song ' Rock and Roll, Part 2 " is the tune they play at arenas to get the crowd going. Most people probably call it " Hey " b/c that is the only lyric anyone notices. Actually, the band and Gary do sing " rock and roll " but they basically drown themselves out

" Its Just a Little Crush " by Jennifer Paige is another, monster hit from a simple, simple song.
Don't say you don't learn arcania here.

Well,  down below ( the U.S. as opposed to Down Under, of course ) a Mormon is running for president. Obama ads are now coming across the border. We'd still vote Obama, up here.

Oh and our PM is having a make - over, his handlers are creating a new warm Stephen Harper. Family man and compassionate hubby guy, baloney.

The Queen has been on the throne longer than about 20 countries have existed. I have no proof but I bet that I'd lose the " over - under " wager in Vegas.
They're breaking out the bunting in " Merry Ol' Engrand " this week end.

I forgot to tell you that there are no garbage cans on the streets in downtown London. Bombs and all, of course.

Toronto got flooded yesterday, as the sewer water poured out of the man-holes and down the stairs.

Admit it when you're wrong ....

I didn't understand why we needed the camera everywhere we went in  " jolly Ol' Engrand "
Looking back now at the pictures, I was wrong. The photos are evocative. I've sorted them and stored separate files of some 80 pictures. I hope that we'll still feel the same , years on.
Mostly, I prefer people pictures. Scenery, well is scenery. Most places look pretty good. And really panoramic vistas ( do these words mean the same ?? ) can never be captured in their essence.
As well, I guess that I do organize photos more than most others, I think.
being a little paranoid. I ,periodically, " burn " CD s of each sorted file but also keep a thumb drive with all the photos. This system is double redundant.

Oh, yes. M's relatives were a little put out w/ the term " burn ".  " Why can't people say copy to disc " I don't know. I'm not particularly tech savvy but I burn CDs.

Sing it Barbra ( Streisand ) " Memories light the corners of my mind .... of the way we were "