There Are No Geeks and I Must Scream

I'm quite enjoying my new job, but there's one thing I miss: fellow geeks. Sure, there weren't many at the Alberta Liberal Caucus, but at least a handful of my colleagues (Nik, Amanda, John, Ryan, Neil, a few others...) could be counted upon to get my SF and comic book references.

Just the other day our team met briefly to discuss a Hallowe'en costume contest.

"We could go as Transformers," one of my colleagues suggested. "One of us could be Iron Man, or..."

"Wait, wait," I broke in. "That's the Avengers. The Transformers are the Autobots and Decepticons - you know, Optimus Prime, Starscream..."

I trailed off. No, they didn't know. You'd think by now I'd be used to baffled stares and "Wow, is he ever a geek" looks, but I keep forgetting not everyone is as immersed in popular culture as me. Or is obsessed a better word?

Rain of Fire

The last time Sylvia and I celebrated Canada Day I was unemployed. With nothing but time on our hands, we accepted our friend Neil's invitation to spend the long weekend at his cabin in Kenora. 365 days later I'm working two jobs, so Canada Day travel was never in the cards for 2013. It would be pretty hard to top last year's celebrations, anyway - watching fireworks explode over the Lake of the Woods from the perfect vantage point of Neil's boat. Here's one of my favourite fireworks shots from that night.

Farmer Classics Back in Print

I've long been a fan of Phil Farmer, master of the pulp pastiche. My single complaint about Farmer is that some of his older works have been tough to find, but thanks to Titan Books several of those elusive novels are now back in print in handsome new trade paperback editions. I mentioned this fact to my friend Neil some time ago, and I was thinking about him tonight so I figured I'd just show off my growing collection of back-in-print Farmer.

Swag from 2112

Today the postman delivered my Tweets from 2112 prize package - the officially listed grand prize of a new iPod Touch, but also a copy of Robert J. Sawyer's newest book and - the big surprise - a really lovely Canada Writes leather-bound notebook, which, oddly enough, pleases me most of all. While I'm thrilled with the other two prizes, I certainly could have bought them on my own (and in the case of the book, I would have). But the notebook makes a better memento, and I'll use it to outline my entry for next year's Canada Writes short story contest.

Unfortunately, I inadvertently broke my promise to enter this year's contest. Despite Neil's reminder, the due date simply crept up on me and by the time the contest entered my consciousness I was already up to my ears in freelance deadlines. No excuses next year!

It's Canada Writes Time Again

Neil just reminded me that the deadline for the annual Canada Writes short story project is approaching once again. I'm relatively happy with how last year's entry turned out, but of course it wasn't good enough to attract the attention of the judges. I'm not sure what I'll write about this time, but I think I'll try something a little more mainstream and less generic ("generic" in the sense of "based on a genre").

Something about beavers, perhaps...beavers and maple leaves and Mounties...oh, I know - something about the theft of the strategic maple syrup reserve, and the Mounties and beavers who track down the thieves. Perfect.

Cabin on the Lake of the Woods

Recently my friend and ex-boss Neil Mackie invited Sylvia and me to his cabin in Kenora for the Canada Day weekend. Sylvia and I hopped in the car as soon as she was finished work on Friday, and a day later, a couple of hours before darkness fell, we found ourselves driving through several kilometers of bush and winding, heaving gravel roads to discover Neil's cabin on Poplar Bay, part of the massive Lake of the Woods.

Raising the flag on Canada Day is one of Neil's annual rituals, and we arrived in time to see him mount the flag on a sturdy wooden pole.

Our late arrival left us with little time but to enjoy a late dinner prepared by Neil's friends Andre and Maureen and to get settled in our room. But right from the moment of our arrival we knew we were in for a special weekend, for Neil's isolated retreat was welcoming and homey in a way only a lakeside cabin can be.

We spent much of Canada Day on Neil's boat, touring the upper regions of the Lake of the Woods. Neil's cabin is barely visible through the trees; you can see the swimming dock at left.

The property includes a natural cove that provides safe harbour for Neil's fancy boat.

The weather was perfect: low 30s, sunny with just a few clouds and calm waters. Neil is an accomplished pilot and navigator and gave us a thorough tour of the northern part of the lake, bouncing us over the wakes of other watercraft from time to time for fun. We really zipped along, and Sylvia and I were both thrilled by the sights and the ride.

Kenora's proximity makes this part of the Lake of the Woods quite busy. On Canada Day, the lake drew dozens of motorboats, sailboats, water skiers, wake boarders, float planes, jet skis and canoes.

 The MS Kenora provides lake tours to residents and tourists. 

Neil insisted on having me pose in front of Huskie the Muskie.

I didn't catch the name of this fearsome fellow, but whoever painted the boulder did an impressive job.

I'm not a sufficiently expert photographer to convey speed, but perhaps Sylvia's hair and expression will give you a hint of the way we zipped along the waves.

Whoosh!

We docked at Safeway for supplies. While I was picking out potatoes for dinner, Neil and Andre rescued a large Labrador that had fallen into the water. Sylvia was duly impressed.

It's been many years since I rode in the bow of a speeding boat, but I remember the thrill of a boat ride quite warmly. And this time there were even comfy padded seats!

After the midday tour, we took a break to prepare dinner.

My first embarkation onto the boat provided me with some just desserts; it was a complete pratfall. I stumbled into the bow like the proverbial drunken sailor, managing to bark my shin and knee on the camera and Sylvia's cane while also knocking Sylvia in the head. Fortunately I quickly remembered my sea legs and hopped on and off the boat multiple times afterward without incident.

Andre and Maureen paddled around in the canoe for a while.

Neil and I, on the other hand, played my very first game of The Awful Green Things from Outer Space. I have the ad for this in a hundred old comic books, but I'd never laid eyes on the actual game until visiting Neil's cabin. Neil's awful green things quickly overwhelmed my multispecies crew.

After dinner, we embarked again to watch the Canada Day fireworks right up close from the boat. It was a spectacular show, made more so by the dozens of watercraft crowding the bay. For extra safety, we tethered our boat to that of Neil's friend and neighbour.

The fireworks were incredible enough, but the ride back to Neil's cabin was a transcendental pleasure. With the full moon guiding a convoy of speedboats returning home, we bounced over the surface of the lake with the wind in our faces, Neil guiding us through the darkness, following in the wake of his neighbour's boat. It was both exhilarating and peaceful at once, and Sylvia and I merely glanced at each other across the bow from time to time, enjoying a special moment that we knew we'd both treasure forever.

Sylvia and I are both very grateful to Neil for opening his second home to us and showing us the great natural beauty of the Lake of the Woods. It was a short but spectacular journey to one of the world's great treasures.

Interlude in Virden

Sylvia and I have just returned from a whirlwind weekend trip to Kenora, Ontario, where we celebrated Canada Day on the Lake of the Woods with our friend Neil Mackie. On the way to Kenora, we stopped just north of Virden so that I could show Sylvia the old River Valley School (above), and the Etsell farm, which belonged to my maternal grandparents.

River Valley School isn't used as a schoolhouse anymore, but it provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Unfortunately the school was locked when we arrived, but you can view some photos here.

A few minutes after leaving the school, we arrived at the farm. I was shocked to discover that nearly all of the buildings had been razed. I knew that the house had been burned down by arsonists back in 2010, but I wasn't expecting the remaining sheds to be gone as well.

I suppose the current owners bulldozed everything but the one metal granary to prevent further arson. Still, it felt strange to have nothing to show Sylvia but an empty plot of land.

A small pile of rubble is all that remains. It won't take long for nature to erase even these battered remnants.

The old water pump is still there, but it's being engulfed by grass. I'm more grateful than ever that Sean and I visited the farm back in 2009, when all the buildings I remembered from my childhood were still intact.

Happily, another Etsell legacy remains; members of the community continue to steadily improve Salt Lake. It's a beautiful little spot.

Tomorrow: Cabin on the Lake of the Woods.

A Shout-Out to Poplar Bay

I've mentioned my friend Neil's new blog before, but I feel his more recent posts deserve another plug. If you want to learn more about advertising, politics or both, Neil's blog is quickly becoming a must-read.

Unlike my Frankenstein-like hodgepodge of a blog, Neil sticks to a consistent theme; he reviews political ads from around the world. It's refreshing to see Neil bring his thoughtful analysis to bear on attack ads and positive messages alike.

His latest entry is my favourite so far. Just when you thought Republican tactics couldn't get any creepier (or funnier), along come the demon sheep..!

As citizens grow more saturated with advertising, it's becoming increasingly important to learn the tricks and tactics the experts use to shape public opinion. I'm glad Neil has started to provide his insights and I look forward to seeing more posts.

Neil Mackie Deconstructs Political Ads

My friend Neil has started a new blog, one that analyzes political ads. His latest post reviews a Newt Gingrich attack ad on Mitt Romney, with abortion as its thorny centrepiece. As a communications professional, Neil offers some pretty interesting and insightful commentary, and I hope he expands the scope of his analysis beyond the USA. The website is called Greetings from Poplar Bay, and I encourage anyone interested in politics or marketing to check it out.

Canada Writes

My friend Neil Mackie has challenged me to participate in the Canada Writes short story contest. I have agreed to do so, not because I have any illusions about winning, but because I'm fundamentally lazy when it comes to working on my fiction and Neil's challenge provides an impetus. After the winners are announced, I'll post my story here - and Neil's too, if he's interested.

At this point I have no idea what my 1200-1500 word short story will be about. Hopefully I won't completely embarrass myself.

Reimagining Politics Alberta Liberal Party Style

This weekend Sylvia and I drove to Calgary to take part in the Alberta Liberal Party's annual convention, themed "Politics Reimagined." Less than two percent of Canadians belong to a political party, so much of what follows may seem a little arcane. But the decisions made by party members often have consequences that reach far beyond the relatively tiny circle of partisans. I think that's especially true in the case of the changes wrought by Alberta Liberals this weekend, which have made the ALP the most open party in Canada.

Leadership hopeful Bruce Payne gives fellow leadership candidate Raj Sherman a thumbs-up.

The most dramatic change is the creation of a new membership category - the "registered supporter." In other political parties, citizens must become party members and pay membership fees in order to be eligible to vote in leadership races. Not so for the Alberta Liberals! Now any Albertan can vote in our current and future leadership races, without needing to become a member.

I'm quite proud of this innovation, because it recognizes that most Canadians simply aren't comfortable tying themselves to one party or another - probably a reflection of our common desire to get along with as little acrimony as possible. This resolution recognizes that reality, welcoming anyone to participate without requiring anything more than contact information.

Some pundits are already saying that this change is risky, that it leaves the ALP prone to hijacking by hostile interests. But I don't think these fears are terribly troubling. If the Wildrose or the Progressive Conservatives wanted to stir up trouble, they have the funds to buy thousands of memberships; money is no barrier. Furthermore, these kind of shenanigans usually involve hundreds or thousands of people trying to guess who would be the weakest leadership candidate and voting for that person to sabotage the other party come the general election. But who's to say that they'll guess correctly? Perhaps they'll choose someone who really resonates with voters, despite all expectations.

Even if there were any merit to this argument, I think it's worth the risk. And shouldn't democratic principles include the right to vote across a spectrum of contests? I wouldn't mind having a say in the election of the next PC party leader, the next New Democrat Leader, the next Wildrose Leader. If we all had that power, wouldn't we all be prone to picking the best possible choice for each party? That way, no matter which party wins the general election, we wind up with the best possible Premier. I think that possibility might improve turnout considerably!

For more information on the groundbreaking resolutions passed at the convention, I invite you to read ALP Executive Director Corey Hogan's slick booklet explaining the changes. In the meantime, here are some more images from the convention:

Sylvia and I took a break to explore the shopping opportunities at Cross Iron Mills.

Raj Sherman officially launched his leadership campaign at the convention.

...unfortunately his sign started to come loose halfway through his speech. But Raj was unflappable.

Payne campaign director Neil Mackie speaks with MLA Bridget Pastoor as Andrew Fisher drops a photobomb.

Sylvia and Kim enjoy one of the hospitality suites hosted by the leadership candidates.