February 28th, 2010
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I’ve got Olympic fever, and the only prescription is more hockey. Who would have predicted the Canadians would overpower the Russians in the manner they did. They dominated the Russians in every facet of the game. Sure, they were fortunate Nabokov fought the puck for 2 periods, but that doesn’t discount their drive and determination. Simply put, Canada wanted the win more than the Russians, and it showed. Players who have been goats for the majority of the tournament- I’m looking at you Corey Perry- redeemed themselves in the eyes of the country with their grit and effort. It was a pleasure to watch, to be sure.
Looking forward to tonight’s game against the Slovaks, I think we have a good opportunity to reach the gold medal final. However, the Slovaks should not be underestimated (just ask Sweden and Russia). They are riding a hot goaltender, and the tournament’s best power play and penalty kill, not to mention a beast in Chara on the backend. Their top two lines are chockablock with genuine NHL stars who will surely fight with more determination than the Russians did on Wednesday. With that said, we should beat them soundly, however now is not the time to rest on our laurels. I expect a fast-paced physical game, with Crosby finally breaking out to prove he is Captain Canada (with apologies to Ryan Smyth). Go Canada, go!
While the Olympics are fairly ubiquitous at the moment, I have been trying to keep up with my new sci-fi obsession, spurred by watching Moon last month. The most recent film I watched was “Sunshine”, a scientifically unsound movie, but entertaining nonetheless. Next on the docket is Blade Runner. Exciting stuff.
Anyway, I’m off to watch the USA/Finland game (already 6-0 US in the first). Hope everyone enjoys the upcoming weekend.
Later days,
Corey
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February 11th, 2010
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First of all, congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for their decisive Super Bowl victory this past Sunday. Whether one prefers the CFL to the NFL, or indeed dislikes football all together, it cannot be denied that this victory is a huge one for the city of New Orleans. In many ways the New Orleans Saints represent the collective spirit of a city decimated by Hurricane Katrina some five years ago: determined, optimistic, and hopeful. A feel good story from a city that has known nothing but tragedy for so long; I only wish I could be there to celebrate the early Mardi Gras!
But rather than celebrate Mardi Gras, I will be celebrating reading week which is quickly approaching. I already have a few errands/activities planned: a visit to the dentist on Wednesday, working on a lab, and a conference on local food security. I’m really looking forward to the latter, having attended it last year. It is a two day conference that covers a vast array of topics revolving around food security primarily in Manitoba, but the tenets can be applied virtually anywhere. I plan to attend the following sessions: “what’s happening on the local scene”, “organic crop production research”, and “canola: the many flavours of yellow”. There is also a plenary on potato politics in Manitoba that promises to be interesting. The University’s own Steph McLachlan is giving a talk about food justice on Saturday (entitled Local AND Just!), which I suspect will be engaging and inspiring. The conference takes place February 19th and 20th at the University of Winnipeg, and will run students $35 for one day, or $60 for both. Food security and politics affect us all, so if you have nothing else going on I recommend attending.
Lastly, and of less importance, I have to make mention of the Montreal Canadiens’ victory over the league’s best Washington Capitals last night (primarily because my best friend’s favourite team happens to be the Caps). Halte là! Halte là! les Canadiens sont là! Ole, ole, ole, ole! Hope everyone has a fun and productive reading week!
Later days,
Corey
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February 5th, 2010
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A quick follow up from last week’s blog…the social was fantastic. Turns out my reservations were misplaced. I had a great time, saw some friends I had not seen since high school, and almost won two NFL jerseys in the silent auction (Peyton Manning and Drew Brees). I feel relieved having crossed this life hurdle without any major scratches to report.
Speaking of the NFL, this Sunday is arguably the year’s most anticipated sporting event, save for the NHL playoffs. I was hoping for a Colts/Vikings final, but no one can argue that the city of New Orleans deserves this positive moment in the spotlight. I will be donning my almost-existent Manning jersey, however, while I gorge on the usual football Sunday grub: nachos and salsa, chips, etc.
On the school front, things are beginning to heat up once again. I have a group project due at the end of March, however we are reaching the critical stage where some deliverables must be completed in the near future. Luckily I am in a group that believes in weekly meetings and meeting deadlines, so any stress regarding the project will be allayed. Our original subject matter has been slightly augmented, so in some respects we’ve had to start from step one. But again, given the work ethic of the group I’m not panicked.
Anyway, have to run. Places to be, people to see, etc. Hope everyone has a good weekend.
Later days,
Corey
Band of the week: Wintersleep. I was just introduced to this band last week by a friend with ample music knowledge. Favourite tunes are Laser Beams and Miasmal Smoke & The Yellow Bellied Freaks. Check out the latter by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpKWJMLq-0g
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January 29th, 2010
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There are certain events that everyone experiences throughout the progression from youth to adulthood: graduating high school, attending university, moving out. One that I am about to experience for the first time this weekend is a wedding social for two of my close friends from high school. While it will no doubt be a fun evening, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m becoming an adult. I still recollect conversations from high school in which the majority of participants adamantly stated that marriage was not in the cards. Fast forward some seven years later and I know of four different couples that are engaged, two of those set to tie the knot this summer. Marriage isn’t the issue, but what is symbolizes makes me queasy. Marriage is something that parents do! Granted I am overreacting, but this adult transition has been made more acute by pending career choices. This moment in time feels like a pivotal one; I need to make the correct choices in order to put myself on an acceptable trajectory.
At this moment I find myself in a bit of a quandary, in so far as I cannot definitively say what I want to “do” when I get older. I’ve bounced around from focus area to focus area, each seemingly more viable than the last. I think at this point I am a hindrance to myself; I don’t want to make the tough decisions because I understand the implications.
On the school front, I currently find myself in the late January doldrums. I don’t have any assignments or tests on the horizon, which is making it somewhat difficult to avoid complacency. One of my classes, Research Methods in Geography, is statistics heavy (a subject matter that makes my brain hurt). Therefore complacency isn’t really an option. So I will continue to plug away, reading my textbook and the like, until the rush of assignments hits later in February.
Hope everyone is enjoying his or her second semester!
Later days,
Corey
Movie of the week: I thought I’d change things up a bit, being a new year and all. This week I watched Moon on blu-ray, directed by David Bowie’s son Duncan Jones. I had no previous information regarding the subject matter- boy was I pleasantly surprised. It is a sci-fi psychological thriller that takes place, as the name suggests, on the moon. There isn’t much more I can say without ruining the plot. Go out and rent it if you’ve got nothing else to do this weekend. Follow the link to watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twuScTcDP_Q. Enjoy!
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January 11th, 2010
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2009 was an interesting year, to be sure. Although it was bookended by university, my experiences went far beyond classes and lectures. Most notably, my co-op placement with Manitoba Conservation over the summer months provided me with many valuable lessons that I will carry forward indefinitely.
I was hired in May of 2009 as an “assistant parks planner”, which essentially meant I would be dabbling in many projects. Working under the tutelage of Ken Schykulski and Cathy Hummelt, I was introduced to many concepts relating directly to parks, and in a broader sense to the environmental sector. My major projects included the development of a poster series for the Canadian Heritage River System; the creation of a canoe route directive; and researching and summarizing information regarding dark sky preserves. While the work was both interesting and challenging, the bulk of my experience was procured through “field trips”. Every week I was privileged to attend at least one outing, however there was one that most deserves to be highlighted.
In June, I was asked to take part in a caribou collaring expedition in Grass River Provincial Park. Having never worked with wildlife, I was saddled with a fair amount of trepidation. However, I could not let the opportunity pass so I agreed to take part. Following the 7.5-hour drive, we met our colleagues with whom we’d spend the next 5 days “roughing it”. It turns out that roughing it wasn’t so bad- a village was essentially erected, including a food and dining tent fit for royalty. But I digress. After meeting the crew, we spent the first evening getting to know one another and discussing the game plan for the following morning.
Following an early wake-up call and quick breakfast, we headed out in three boats to chase caribou calving on the myriad islands in the park. Each person was assigned one of three roles: boat driver, caribou lassoer, or island pusher. Given my lack of experience, I was assigned the latter. The size of the island dictated the number of pushers; the larger islands required six or seven, while one or two could handle the smaller islands. The first day was challenging because we weren’t sure what to expect, coupled with uncompromising weather. We did not catch any caribou the first day, however our fortunes quickly changed the following morning.
Waking up to pleasant weather, there was a buzz around camp that was unmistakable: we were going to collar at least one caribou. We set off and almost immediately did so. At the time I wasn’t pushing islands, so I was asked to assist in holding the caribou down as the collar was placed around its neck. This took the effort of several individuals, so my meager strength was not pushed to its limit (thankfully). Being in the presence of a woodland caribou was an experience I will not soon forget, especially given that so few will ever come face to face with the magnificent creature. Over the duration of the week, we ended up successfully collaring four caribou.
If I were to develop a list of top experiences in my lifetime, my trip to Grass River would easily find itself near the top. It was life changing, and something I won’t soon forget! (Below you can see some pictures from the trip)
Later days,
Corey
Band of the week: Of Montreal. I was obsessed with Of Montreal for several months back in 2006. Their music is multi-layered, and oftentimes quite strange but in a good way. One of my favourite tunes is called Oslo in the Summertime, found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Resc4sOBLHY. Enjoy!
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December 22nd, 2009
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There is nothing quite like the sound of the collective breath released by thousands of stressed out, exhausted university students. No matter how much work, how seemingly impossible the tasks at hand appear, once you put your pen down for the final time it all seems worth it. Freedom! Freedom from textbooks, essays, labs, and exams. My personal “freedom” commenced Tuesday night at 8:00 pm, although I did not fully absorb it until the next afternoon. The end of exams, and therefore studying, always leaves a strange void- what will I do with my new found free time?
Easy: Lord of the Rings marathon. Nine hours of epic movie watching is precisely what my mind requires. I just finished The Fellowship of the Ring- just as good as the first time I saw it. Tomorrow afternoon I will watch The Two Tours, and conclude with The Return of the King Wednesday.
Other than LOTR, I suspect I will spend the majority of my time reading and watching the Juniors. After a 6-2 drubbing of Sweden last night, Canada looks poised to exceed the standards they are expected to meet. The excitement of the Juniors easily trumps xmas in my household- one of my earliest memories is watching team Canada surrounded by family. Eh! O’Canada go! Brutal cheer
With that, this semester is a wrap! Thanks for sharing it with me- see you in January.
Happy holidays,
Corey
Band of the week: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Seems only fitting given the time of year. Enjoy.
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December 3rd, 2009
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Rather than talk about the myriad assignments and exams staring me in the face, I am going to take this opportunity to travel to my happy place. The following is a list, in no particular order, of things that prevent me from boarding the next plane to…anywhere but here:
• The Montreal Canadiens, recently crowned “the closest thing to Canada’s hockey team”. Although this season has been particularly difficult to watch, owing to the team’s mediocre start (12-13-2), I still wait in eager anticipation for each game that is televised. I have more than a few friends who have grown to hate Canadiens due to my incessant Ole, ole, ole, ole! chants. Halte la, halte la, halte la, les Canadiens, sont la!
• Multigrain bagels toasted with peanut butter: self-explanatory.
• The animals residing in my house, totaling three all together (two cats and a dog). They remind me of little people, and I treat them thusly. *Note: the dog and cats must be separated for my pooch is a particularly cantankerous variety of terrier. This has been exacerbated through time- he is now twelve and crankier than ever.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I am a bit of a gamer, I confess.
• Formatting reports. Yes, I am a nerd. My enjoyment for formatting was increased yesterday thanks to some tips offered by a fellow student. For example, did you know that you can add a caption to a picture, rather than creating a separate textbox for the purposes of labeling? Spellbinding, to be sure.
• Music in all its forms, save for country (my apologies).
• Popcorn made on the stove, with copious amounts of salt and pepper.
• My friends, but I am beginning to forget their faces due to exams.
• Books, assuming they are not preceded by the word “text”.
• The show Dexter. I don’t watch a lot of T.V., but I am sure to never miss an episode of Dexter.
• December 16th (the day after my exams conclude).
There you have it, a comprehensive and somewhat trivial list of things that keep me on the happier end of the stress spectrum.
Band of the week: Kraak and Smaak. Check out their hipster video for Squeeze Me (you won’t be disappointed).
Later days,
Corey
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November 19th, 2009
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If you’re ever interested in my current state of mind, look no further than my bedroom: its cleanliness, or lack thereof, tends to reflect my internal state of being. The more disorganized it becomes, the more overwhelmed I begin to feel. Or perhaps the more overwhelmed I feel, the more disorganized my room becomes. I haven’t ruminated on the subject long enough to figure out which is more accurate; what I do know is I haven’t seen my bedroom floor since sometime in early October. I have contemplated cleaning it; in fact I went so far as to hang my clean clothes up in the closet a couple weeks ago. This tends to happen every November when schoolwork begins to increase in volume. To better explain, I’ve created the following formulas:
1. Studying for an exam = Messy desk
2. Studying for an exam + working on a lab = Messy desk + unmade bed
3. Studying for multiple exams + working on a lab + two group projects = Messy desk + unmade bed + floor buried by various loose papers + clothing piles on floor + textbooks strewn about
Without question, the most applicable formula at the moment is the third. The worst part is I know I won’t focus any attention on mitigating the mess until December 16th (my last exam). Should I feel the need to reward myself with several lazy days, that date might be pushed back until the 19th. Accordingly, I will live amongst the academic flotsam and jetsam, clothing piles and messy bed for a period of thirty additional days. Oy!
Moustache update: While I was diligently tending to it for the first two weeks of Movember, i.e. trimming and the like, I’ve since decided to let it grow caveman/80’s-velour-tracksuit-and-tinted-glasses style. This afternoon a friend saw it while on her cell phone, initiating laughter infused with mockery. I certainly can’t blame her!
Band of the week: Traveling Wilburys, comprised of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan. My introduction to the Traveling Wilburys occurred at age 11 in my family’s 1996 Chevrolet Grand Prix. My favourite tunes include Handle with Care and End of the Line.
Later days,
Corey
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November 12th, 2009
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Ever since my first year of school I have heard horror stories about group projects. Between logistics and “the one bad apple”, it was predetermined in my mind that any sign of “group project” on a syllabus would be the downfall of my semester. With that said, imagine my initial reaction to the TWO group projects assigned this semester.
Project 1: A research project on the feasibility of light rail transit in Winnipeg.
Rapid transit has been a topic of high importance in the city of Winnipeg for some time now. While I’ve heard quite a bit about rapid transit since coming to university, my understanding still remained cursory at best. With this project I hope to broaden my understanding, as it is sure to remain a hot button topic. The other component of any group project, of course, is the members one is working with. Fortunately I have two friends in the course who are dependable; therefore right off the hop I was ensured that at least 50% of the group would be reliable. The other half of our group is equally upstanding, so it appears I dodged a bullet re bad apples.
Project 2: Managing canoe routes in the Manitoba Provincial Parks system
This project is especially interesting to me because it ties into a summer project I worked on at my co-op placement with Manitoba Conservation. Essentially the project focuses on management of canoe routes, specifically relating to a management framework called the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS). I’ve never been outdoors inclined, if you will, but this project opened my eyes to the vast experiences the outdoors has to offer. Similar to my first project, the members of my group are reliable, thereby making me rethink my biases against group projects.
I suppose the lesson learned is that everyone has different experiences; it is better to enter into a situation open minded, rather than lugging around burdensome preconceived notions everywhere you go.
Band of the week: Muse. Fresh off a newly released album (“The Resistance”), Muse has unexpectedly thrust itself into my musical sphere. They’ve been my brother’s favourite band for quite some time now, but I hadn’t given them a proper listen prior to this album. My favourite song is ‘I Belong to You / Mon Coeur S’ouvre A Ta Voix”. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMQuOkQyezU
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November 6th, 2009
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Yes, you read correctly: Movember. A combination of moustache and November, Movember allows men everywhere to sport an upper lip coat without shame or embarrassment. While on the face of it Movember may seem juvenile (to some), the cause is actually rooted in altruism: “Movember is an annual, month-long celebration of the moustache, highlighting men’s health issues - specifically prostate cancer”. Beginning November 1st, I will be donning a (less than full) moustache much to the enjoyment/horror of those around me. I will keep you posted on any complications that should arise. For more information, check out my Movember team page: http://ca.movember.com/mospace/234443/
On the school front, this week was particularly challenging owing to a midterm exam and lab that was far more time consuming than I had originally anticipated. Having just completed my midterm earlier this morning, I am currently filled with a feeling of true bliss. While I enjoy studying as much as the next person, knowing my evening will be sans notes and textbooks is most agreeable. My next exam isn’t until the 8th of December, which could be problematic since I often suffer from acute complacency. Rather than worry about that, I will simply enjoy this brief moment of respite.
Song of the week: Suffragette City by David Bowie. Heard this song while sitting in Degrees (side-note: I love the recent renovations) this morning and was immediately reminded of a camping trip I took the year subsequent to high school graduation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLnPd7lzT4g Enjoy!
Later days,
Corey
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