The Omnifarium

"Not A Lot Goin' On"

Category: Television
Fri, 25 Mar 2005, 16:39

That great staple of American network television, the "SitCom", is almost dead. The last great sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond, is nearing the end of its run, and the big networks are struggling to find new sitcoms of the same caliber. But in Canada, one of the most popular TV shows is a sitcom. Corner Gas began in January 2004, and throughout its first season never had a viewing audience smaller than a million! The show has recently been renewed for its third season, and continues to provide fresh and immensely entertaining television viewing.

I must admit that when I first flipped over to Corner Gas, I thought it was boring, and I quickly continued my channel surfing. I returned to the show, but this time, I paid attention from start to finish. I was hooked! Like the best shows produced by Canucks, this one requires you to pay attention. And unlike most other sitcoms, this is a show where individual episodes remain enjoyable even on multiple, consecutive viewings.

Set in the middle of nowhere, in a small town in rural Saskatchewan, Corner Gas is the result of comedian Brent Butt imagining what his life would have been like had he not left Saskatchewan. Butt plays Brent Leroy, the proprietor of the only gas station in town, and chili dog afficionado. Lacey runs the adjoining cafe. She moved to Dog River from Toronto, and desperately wants to be accepted by the community. Brett's best friend, Hank, is your typical hoser, but is remarkably erudite when he talks about fishing, much to the chagrine of the police officers, Davis and Karen. Wanda is probably the most educated person in town, but working at the gas station is her dream job. Rounding out the regular cast are Brett's parents Oscar and Emma. Oscar can usually be counted on to mess things up, but fortunately, Emma is there to put Oscar back in line.

What makes the show so good? Lots of factors come together. First, the writing is intelligent and sharp. Second, Brent Butt has managed to maintain creative control over all aspects of the shows production. Finally, the characters in the show are largely very normal, very believable people. The situations are likewise very ordinary. But somehow, things gradually get out of hand over the course of each twenty minute episode.

What's my favorite Corner Gas moment? That's hard to decide. Perhaps it was how they humiliated the visiting stand-up comic who had stolen one of Brent's best stories. Or perhaps it was the world's biggest hoe. Or when the police questioned Lacey's ex-fiancé in a less than adequate interrogation room. (She dumped him by phoning and leaving a message with his parents!)

We already have the Season One DVD's, and I fully expect to add the later seasons to our collection when they become available.

Hans

path: /Television | permanent link to this entry

Terri Schiavo is Dead

Category: Politics
Thu, 24 Mar 2005, 19:33

Terri Schiavo died 15 years ago. Or at least her brain died then. Through unnatural intervention, doctors have kept her body alive for the past 15 years. But now, pretty much all avenues of legal and political challenge to keep Terri's body alive have been exhausted, and her feeding tube has been removed. Her body will likely die in the next few days. We offer our sincere sympathies to those who truly love Terri in their loss.

The real tragedy, however, is the fact that her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, have yet to come to terms with their daughter's death. Supported by self-serving politicians (mainly Republicans) and dogmatic, uncaring religious leaders, they stubbornly cling to the pathetic notion that somehow Terri can be brought back to life. (As Terri's husband Michael pointed out, even if a cure were magically developed, you can't grow back a brain.) Moral and political leaders with their own "pro-life" agenda are letting the Schindlers down, badly. Right now, they need proper support more than ever to accept the inevitable.

Sadly, I suspect the madness will not end with the physical death of Terri. I fully expect that the Schindlers' bitterness will drive them to pursue further legal action against Terri's husband, making a sad situation even more tragic.

There's an additional odd twist to the story. One neurologist recently suggested that perhaps Terri still has some minimal consciousness left. If that were true, then what kind of personal hell has she had to endure for the past 15 years? Aware of her situation, but unable to move or speak? And if in pain, with no way of asking for much needed relief?

Hans

path: /Politics | permanent link to this entry

2005 Toronto Model Railway Show

Category: Trains
Sun, 20 Mar 2005, 14:21

Every year, the Toronto and York Division of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association put on a model railway show. This years show was the 30th annual, and probably the last. To say this years show was a disappointment is to actually redefine the word "disappointment". In the future, dictionaries may well include a picture of this train show alongside the definition of the word "disappointment".

Without having taken any written notes, I can easily describe pretty much all of the show. At one end of the school were the video room and a room with no more than a dozen vendors. At the other end was a room with fewer than half a dozen model railroading clubs. Here is a complete list of the clubs with layouts: The Toronto "N" Scale club. That's it! No H0 layouts. No 00 layouts. No S, 0, or Z layouts!

Is this a reflection of lack of a diminishing interest in trains among the population? No, I don't think so. Other local shows are still well attended. The last Christmas Train Show (at the International Center) was very well attended. And other shows in much smaller nearby cities, like Whitby and Port Hope, are still popular.

Past years have seen superb Toronto Model Railway Shows. We can only hope that the show organizers can bring back at least some of the shows former glory in the future. But it's my guess that we won't see a 31st annual show.

Hans

path: /Trains | permanent link to this entry

My First 300 Game

Category: Bowling
Thu, 10 Mar 2005, 20:49

Occasionally, some significant moment becomes indelibly lodged into your memory. For me, such times include my wedding day, the birth of my daughter, and the evening I bowled my first game over 300.

In my league, my average puts me roughly a third of the way down from the best bowlers, who bowl just above 200. During the winter of 2003, I'd been doing relatively well. It was near the end of the season, and I had pushed my average up to 175.

The first game that evening was fine, seven points above my average. But the second game started inauspiciously. I threw my first ball and fell headlong into the lane. I struggled with the next few frames, and then someone suggested I fix the problem with my left shoe. After roughing up the leather sole with a wire brush, I resumed bowling and started doing well again. Well enough to reach my average in spite of the four lackluster opening frames.

My streak continued into the third game, and after eight frames I was sitting at 225. I was already pleased with that and expected a finish around 250. Ninth frame, strike. Tenth frame, another strike followed by a turkey. At that point, unknown to me at the time, I had already reached 299 with one ball left. I only needed one pin down to get past 300. My final ball left one corner pin standing for an additional 13 points, giving me with a total of 312.

I don't know what I did right that evening, and I'm very grateful no one pointed out to me how close I was getting to 300. I don't deal well with pressure, and knowing I had to avoid a gutter ball would have been the surest way to guarantee throwing into the gutter.

Hans

path: /Bowling | permanent link to this entry

Fleischmann 2005

Category: Trains
Tue, 08 Mar 2005, 19:06

I've never understood why Epoch I (1875-1920) isn't more popular among the modellers of German railroads. After all, who can resist the more colorful locomotives and rolling stock, especially Prussian passenger coaches with different colors for the four classes? But as it is, Epoch I fans have fewer choices than the modellers of later Epochs. I suppose one advantage is that the Epoch I fan can buy as much as he wants without getting broke.

Among the mainstream German model train manufacturers (Fleischmann, Trix/Märklin and Roco), Epoch I items are normally confined to limited editions. And so, purchases for the year generally have to be planned in advance, shortly after the new releases for the year are announced in time for the Nürnberg Toy Fair. For 2005, Roco and Trix/Märklin offerings lack luster. But Fleischmann can usually be counted on to offer some nice Epoch I items, and this year is no exception.

This years limited edition set is the "Goods Train with Passenger Accomodation of the Royal Prussian Railway Company". If that sounds familiar, it should. That was also the title of the 1998 limited edition set. Like the 1998 set, the 2005 set is also pulled by a Prussian T9. By the Fleischmann new items flyer, there are some nice pieces in the 2005 set. But I was really hoping for a pure freight set. There hasn't been a full Epoch I freight set in Fleischmann's lineup since 1996! Since Fleischmann is producing a new model of the T10 (in a DRG version), and since new locomotives are often featured in the following years limited edition set, and since the T10 was used for commuter service, we may not again see a pure freight set in Epoch I colors until 2007!

Anyways, I'm not disappointed with what Fleischmann is offering the Epoch I fan this year. Last year, Fleischmann sold new versions of DRG G02, VOI, and Ni wagons, and predictably, these are featured in KPEV colors this year. They're also offering a red and green post/baggage van, a three axle passenger coach (3rd and 4th class brown and grey), a tanker, a cradle truck, and a three axle reefer.

What will I be ordering? All items are tempting, except the cradle truck. Also, I'm not sure I really need another passenger coach. On the other hand, I really can't resist anything with three axles. The items I think I have to have are the G02 van, the reefer, and the tanker. Also, I really wouldn't mind another small tank locomotive on my layout.

Bottom line: If my 2005 model train buying were limited to pages 14 and 15 of the Fleischmann new items flyer, I would not be disappointed.

Hans

path: /Trains | permanent link to this entry

Read Tom Harpur

Category: Religion
Sat, 05 Mar 2005, 21:08

For about the past twenty years, I've been a semi-regular reader of Tom Harpur's column in the Toronto Star. Harpur has had a varied career, ranging from Anglican priest to religion editor of the Star to author. Although I didn't always agree with him, I always found his articles insightful and thought provoking. Generally, he was on the progressive side of Christianity. Occasionally, when reading his articles, I would think: "He's going to say it!". But then he'd always return back to the comfort of conventional Christianity.

That changed a couple of years ago. In his weekly column, he started down a progressive course where the destination was obvious (at least to me). The difference was that this time, there was no going back. After a few weeks of preparation, he finally came out and said it. He proclaimed the fact that Jesus was a myth.

For me, that fact was not news. Previously, I had read The Jesus Mysteries by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy. This is a popular and very readable treatment of the first few centuries of the Common Era, and how the myth of Jesus turned into "fact". Even earlier, I had read a couple of (less-readable) books by G.A. Wells on the same theme. Harpur (and Freke and Gandy) argue that although Jesus was just one of around 18 ancient mythical hero god figures, there is still great power in the meanings behind the stories.

Tom Harpur's analysis differed in that, although he repudiated one of the central tenets of convential Christianity, the discovery actually strengthened his faith! He explained further in his book "The Pagan Christ". In that book, he doesn't attempt to offer a complete argument. Rather, he encourages his readers to research the issue themselves, while discussing his own personal and immensely positive reactions to his discoveries.

For me, a liberal, atheist, Unitarian and secular humanist, Harpur's views have given me a new appreciation of Christianity and its true roots. "The Pagan Christ" should be required reading for anyone proclaiming an interest in Jesus.

Hans

path: /Religion | permanent link to this entry

Support Minority Marriage Rights

Category: Politics
Thu, 03 Mar 2005, 22:33

For the past while in Canada, one issue has captured the public interest. It's a big issue, and it's hard to know where to start in discussing it. I'll probably need more than one blog entry to properly cover all of its aspects.

Should the members of one particular minority group be denied the right to marry?

Let's ask some different questions: Should Canadians of Japanese descent be rounded up and confined to internment camps? Should Chinese immigrants be required to pay a hefty "head tax" for the privilege of entering Canada? Should women who date men of a different race be institutionalized? Should Catholics be denied the right to vote? These questions are clearly ridiculous, now. But at one time or other in Canada's history, the answer to each of these questions was "yes".

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enacted to ensure that such flagrant denials of basic human rights never happen again in this country. The issue currently under debate involves the right of same-sex couples to marry. Already, courts in seven provinces and territories have interpreted the Charter as giving this minority the right to marry. Now, it's up to the federal parliament to pass legislation to bring Canada's laws in line. (The Ontario legislature has already done so for provincial statutes.)

Inexplicably, some federal politicians don't agree that all minority groups should have equal marriage rights, and plan to vote against the proposed legislation. But it's not the place of elected officials to decide the issue. It's already been decided by various courts throughout the country. One reason we have a Charter (and courts to enforce it) is to protect minorities from the whims of the majority.

If it's acceptable for politicians to debate about and vote on the rights of one minority, what's the next minority group to have its rights debated and voted on? How would you feel if the government told you that you couldn't marry the one you love?

One final thing to consider: Do you love your spouse? I know how much I love my wife and how much my marriage means to me. Is it right that marriage be denied from other loving couples?

Hans

path: /Politics | permanent link to this entry

Of Lambs and Lions

Tue, 01 Mar 2005, 22:03

If the old adage is true, then this March must surely go out like a lamb. The snow storm was originally predicted to be much worse, but March this year still came in like a lion, with a dumping of fresh, soggy snow.

Since I already took two days off work this winter due to snow, I felt I had to go to work today in spite of the snow. Normally, my drive to work takes around 35 minutes, but today it took me twice as long. Much of the extra time was spent crawling along Lawrence Avenue east of McCowan. Although the grade is gentle along that stretch, and most cars could easily handle the conditions, a few drivers were spinning their wheels making things difficult for the rest of us.

Now then, for the benefit of those unfamiliar with winter driving in Canada, here's a pop quiz. When your wheels are spinning on a slippery road, do you: (a) step on the gas to make the wheels spin faster? or (b) ease up on the gas and let the wheels slow down until they can get some traction? Hopefully this morning, a few drivers on Lawrence Avenue learned a useful practical lesson about driving at this time of the year.

One more thing I witnessed this morning. Around 8AM while driving northbound on Birchmount, I had to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing. But idiot drivers on the southbound lanes kept going in spite of the risk of getting a stiff fine and six demerit points. If that wasn't bad enough, one of the crazy drivers ignoring the flashing lights was driving another school bus. (sigh)

Hans

path: /Toronto | permanent link to this entry