Digital Detox Week Part Two

My week without technology was fairly easy I believe. I think this was due to the fact that a) I work six days a week and b) I don't use technology as much as the average person does in a day. My daily activities changed relatively little. I read, worked out, did laundry, phoned my mom, biked, went for coffee, baked, wrote letters for Amnesty and cleaned - a pretty standard week.

Nonetheless I did come to some realizations through out my tech-free time. I found that I used technology most at transition points in my day - after work, after supper, and prior to bed. Instead I had time to reflect on my day rather than be distracted by television or the computer. Radio also became a good friend during these times. I would listen to the community station while working out, then switched to CBC while eating supper. It reinforced my love for radio as a medium. It is very enjoyable and educational. The appeal of Facebook became a topic floating through my mind. Although it can serve as a great networking tool it can also be the cause of great procrastination. A few times during the week I wanted to check email and Facebook but I believe this was merely out of curiousity. Finally, I went to bed on time every single night.

I'm not sure I could have gone longer than a week. Not that I am a tech-hungry individual, but as with most of our society I have become accustomed to the freedom and convenience technology offers. However I believe it is important to strike a balance with technology. How much do you let technology control your life and how much are you in check with your use of technology? Or have you ever thought of it? It is simply a matter of willpower and what you want from life. Doing versus watching others. We watch actors on television "achieving" dreams or reading on Facebook of others' accomplishments. We should be keeping ourselves busy doing what is important to us and our goals.

Digital Detox Week

Between April 19th and 25th I will be unplugging myself from the digital world. As part of Adbusters' Digital Detox Campaign I will refrain from using my cell phone, computer, iPod, and television. Cold turkey! While I know I can do it, I believe a week without technology will be somewhat of a shock seeing as I often take it for granted. I will make notes throughout the experiment and blog about my experience after. I have a list of activities to keep myself occupied and bring myself back to nature and the simple things in life. I am very excited for this challenge and hope that you too will participate. The folks at Adbusters advise us to "take a week to cut back on digital stimulation as much as you can. The goal is not to dwell on the pitfalls of our electronic devices but to reflect on ourselves." Stay tuned for my sure to be insightful blog!

"Men have become the tools of their tools."
- Henry David Thoreau

Rain showers my spirit and waters my soul.
- Emily Logan Decens

Some people dislike rain. I believe their main reasons for their dislike are that it is cold, wet, and dreary. I, however, find rain salubrious. I love the smell and feel of rain. Rain is refreshing and renewing - whether it is a gentle, soft rain falling on a spring day or an intense, thrashing downpour on a humid summer evening. Water and its movement have healing powers. So don your raincoat, grab your umbrella, get outside, and jump in a puddle or two.

Earth Hour

The WWF's annual Earth Hour is scheduled for this Saturday at 8:30pm local time. They estimate that over a billion people will participate this year! I love the idea of Earth Hour, the awareness it brings, and the creativity of event planners. Here are what some of the two hundred and eighty Canadian cities signed up have scheduled:

Calgary is having a "We Should Know Each Other" party. Toronto is entertaining citizens with a free family evening with arts, crafts, street performers, face painters and a huge music concert. In Banff the astronomy club is holding a star gazing and story telling event. Powell River, BC has a free skate and swim for its citizens. An acoustic music night is organized for St. John's. Victoria is hosting an Earth Hour bike ride. Downtown Edmonton will be full of jugglers, magicians, singers, and bannock baking.

And in Regina...we are turning off the lights at city hall, Taylor Field, and rinks, parks, and rec centres. To me this is simply a token effort. A lot of cities have prepared earth and family friendly events to give citizens something to do that evening. Why doesn't our city? Reginans get to sit at home for Earth Hour. Not that appealing to most people and the result is a very minimal change in our power consumption. I guess a letter to city hall is in order. Please write to your city counselor or the mayor about this issue.

"...when the world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful"

squish...slop...squish...slop...squish...slop...

I remember you. When was the last time I stopped to play with you? It has been so long. Feeling you slide and slosh and splatter beneath my feet. My boots would sink in so far I could barely move. Giving in to your powerful hold. Raising my foot up to experience the resistance. Wiggling around attempting to escape your grasp...not that I wanted to. Or there were the times when my foot would come right out of my boot. Hop hop hop, rollicking round on one foot performing the mud jig. Whoa don't fall in! Careful don't get your sock dirty! Ah my foot is back in; time to explore some more.

mush...mire...muck...

Biathlon March 2010

Last weekend I embarked on a biathlon; two days of skiing and shooting (pictures that is). Escaping the city around 4:30 my brother Shawn and I headed to Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Along the way we made note of any potential photogenic scenes - a low pasture with horses and a setting sun, a lone church just off the highway, and several deteriorating farmyards and communities.

After a low key evening and a restful sleep at our hotel we hit Duck Mountain Ski Area around 10:30. The weather was beautiful and after our first run we began taking off layers of clothing. Being late in the season the slopes were not crowded. Following a couple runs down the easy slopes I moved on to a few intermediate hills. I watched jealously as nine and ten year old children whooshed pass me on snowboards and skis. Later I attempted Hangover, an aptly named suicide run. Near the bottom I noticed three children taking a break building a snowman off to the side. The temperature had risen to 3 Celsius by mid-afternoon. As a result, the runs were becoming somewhat slushy and less enjoyable. Around 5pm we headed to Kamsack for supper and to scope out the town. We declined Avatar which was playing at the theatre and cursed ourselves for not packing swimming trunks for the hotel pool. Instead we planned our photo trip for the next day.

I am by no means an expert photographer, but I love documenting and capturing history in pictures. It is thrilling to research and ponder about old farms, ghost towns, and interesting places.

We were up and on the road by 9am on Sunday. On the drive we noticed an animal moving in the shallow ditch. On our right maybe thirty feet away was a wolf. Wish I had taken a picture! I noticed another out further in the field.


We were excited for our first photo stop, an abandoned farm on the way to Kamsack. We had to hike our way into the farmyard, but it was worth it. It consisted of sheds, a house, a hall-like building, and a couple other unidentifiable (and inaccessible)
structures. We spent a good hour there.
We traveled down the road for brunch in Kamsack where we received the most excellent service from a nine-year old host. It was then off to Veregin, home to a Doukhabour Prayer House, an elevator, and a couple old buildings on main street. Nine miles east we stopped in Mikado which had an old post office, general store, and church.

Canora proved to be a
quaint and bustling town
with a number of Ukrainian
churches. South of Canora was
Gorlitz, a one street hamlet with
about ten houses (half of which
were abandoned) and a church.
In a couple years this will be a
ghost town photographer's goldmine. A few miles past Yorkton was Otthon Church. Built in 1950 it didn't have the potential we had previous thought it did. A short detour northwest on highway 15 revealed the tiny hamlet of Birmingham with only three or four houses, but still occupied.

Just beyond Melville we ran into fog thwarting our photo hunting excursion. Nonetheless we had a great time and captured some superb pics. I can't wait for the next outing!

Feel free to recommend any ghost towns or neat areas of Saskatchewan under comments.

Own the Podium

The Canadian Olympic Committee's overly ambitious and unrealistic* "Own the Podium" program has failed. Despite Canada not finishing first in medal standings we still have a lot to be proud of.

While we currently have nine medals, Canada has 18 athletes who finished in the top five of their events. That makes 27 Olympians placing in the top five. I believe that this is a great achievement. In addition, this does not give credit to the accomplishments of athletes in contests between Olympics. (i.e. World Cups). We must also remember we have strong contenders in a medal events still to come - curling, hockey (Women's anyway), and speed skating. Another point infrequently mentioned is that since the 1988 Olympics Canada's position in the medal standings has improved with each Olympics:

1988 - 5 medals; 13th
1992 - 7 medals; 9th
1994 - 13 medals; 7th
1998 - 15 medals; 4th
2002 - 17 medals; 4th
2006 - 24 medals; 3rd

Being an Olympic athlete requires a tremendous amount of determination, focus, dedication, and diligence. Our athletes train day after day, year after year, and sometimes we are quick to scrutinize as we watch lazily from our couch. They should be commended for representing Canada and giving it their all.

GO CANADA GO!!


*Since the start of the winter Olympics in 1924 only four host countries have ranked first in medals standings. The Swiss held a three-way time for first with Sweden and Norway at the 1948 Olympics.