Saturday stuff

So what does one do on a Saturday morning when you wake up at 6am for no apparent reason?

• Made coffee

• Watched the news - California is on fire again

• Watched the best of the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival (with quick view to the fires on CNN)

• Did a load of dishes

• Fed the cat

• Did more dishes

• Fed the cat again - according to him I didn't get it right the first time

• Did the last load of dishes - I got real lazy the past two days. Yeah, the kitchen was a treat

• Kicked the now content cat out of my chair so I could check my email - got bit in the process

• Woke up the wife

• Stood in the middle of the house wondering how to waste time. Ahah! Video games! 

See ya.

Tis the season for sales to suck

We're hot and heavy into the Christmas advertising season. I should be working 50-60 hours a week right now. I'm not. This week I logged 45. Sales suck. Advertisers are scared stupid and they are reflecting that with us. The sales reps are freaking out because they can't get the numbers they need for budget, the boss is freaking out because the sales reps are freaking out. I'm freaking out because all this means late copy - building large ads sold too close to press time for comfort. 

The shitty economy has hit our little world.

This week, my parent company announced that it would reduce its Canadian workforce by 5% - 560 people. I thought we were going to dodge the bullet, at least for now, the business of media in all it's capacities seams reasonably safe in turmoil - people still watch TV, use the internet, read newspapers (although not as much anymore). Ad revenue is still there because retailers big and small in times of economic uncertainty only cut back if they're stupid. This is true - studies have indicated that those who cut the marketing budget first are more likely to fall victim first. Don't ask me to quote a source, it's just something I read last week somewhere, maybe CNN, I don't know, but it's not the first time I've heard that. I've also seen that trend first hand after spending almost 15 years doing this for a living.

Retailers want to advertise now - they have to sell they're crap. They have to grab the consumer at the busiest time of year and MAKE them buy their stuff. They have to convince consumers to change their minds. My business is just the catalyst. We provide the vehicle for retailers to beg and plead with those lucky enough to still have jobs to spend their money in their store.

Wonder how it's working so far.

The advertisers in our little corner of the consumer universe are not dumb. They see the benefit of this tactic and use it to their advantage; every time the economy swings around they are still there for us, some using the same ad for the gift guide they've used for years, "just repeat what I did last year, it seemed to work". We love these guys - so easy to please and so eager for the season, regardless of how difficult it may seem, to bring on the inevitable onslaught of last minute gift hounds. They know the drill, they've seen this before and will again. Every year, they will greet our sales reps with the enthusiasm of one who has not seen a good friend in years. They will buy an ad. Here's the problem - that ad only costs them $100, once a year. 

The big guys aren't biting. The GM ads, Ford ads, Zehrs and Sobeys, furniture stores, appliance and electronics stores, major retailers such as Wal-Mart or Zellers, after market car stores, and more. The big guys aren't spending. The little guys are.  So here's the breakdown; small boutiques with reeeaaaallllly expensive stuff are advertising and doing well, the big ones with tons of cash and reasonably priced consumer products that people migrate to in hard times due to the prices, are not.

Years ago when the big box revolution started smaller stores feared being driven out. Nay nay - they're the ones staying open!  Who knows for how long, but for now they're open and providing jobs and tax base, offering quality goods, even with higher prices. Now, if we can just find people who still have jobs to buy the stuff. There's still money in this town, these guys know it, and want it. They aren't giving up yet.

If there are people here in the backwater of Canada who are willing to keep it going in tough times, why can't we get on board with that attitude? It's a monumental problem happening now, but most of it was caused by fear and speculation. Yes, there were stupid business transactions that we will collectively pay for for years, but fear is causing most of the poor sales. People just don't want to spend what they fear they will not have in another few months. This fear has grown into a plague that threatens to consume our economy entirely if we don't buck the trend. This won't fix the mess, but it will give us the confidence we need to carry on, the consumer influence we need to keep the mom and pop shops open, keep the tire shops putting tires on cars, etc. etc. Let's face it - we all need tires, groceries, washing machines, drinking glasses, birthday gifts for neighbour's kids, etc. We still need to buy things. Even when the jobs have gone, the need will still be there. We have evolved into a consumer goods driven society and that isn't changing anytime soon. 

If this attitude is here on the small end of the scale, we can as a society drive it up to the higher end. We can reverse the trend by not being afraid anymore. We can create jobs to replace the ones that have been lost - sure, they may not pay $40 / hour to put a bolt on a firewall, but it's a start, and that's what we need - a new start.

Maybe this mess was a self-fulfilling prophesy. 

Maybe it was bound to happen by the shear fact that we have become a self-indulgent greedy society of entitlement. We have become what we keep telling our kids not to be and it threatens us all. Maybe we are the only ones who can fix it. 

The 560 who lost their jobs yesterday can't yet. More statistics, more people wondering how to buy Christmas presents. More people who have become victims of fear.

Mom.

You were there at the start of it all.

You were the first to see me.

You were there when I first walked,

when I spoke my first word, 

when I went to school.

You were there when I first rode my bike,

and comforted me the first time I fell off it.

You were there when I got good marks from Mr. Marks,

You were there when Mr. Boughner failed me.

You showed me how to learn and grow,

You showed me how to be me. 

When I headed to camp the first time, you encouraged me,

When I called home the first time you said you missed me.

When I needed to take a driving test, you loaned your car to me,

When I got engaged, you cried for me.

You made my wife's dress, 

You helped us pay for the day, 

You made it worthwhile.

You helped us when we were down, 

And humoured us when the time was right.

We were there when you heard the news.

We were there when you felt like life wasn't fair at all.

We were there when you had your surgery,

And we held your hand when the chemo made the days harder to bear.

We never could really get used to the wig, 

But eventually it just became another part of you. 

We were there when you became weaker.

We walked with you to keep your spirits up.

We were there to help you plan,

Because that's the kind of person you were, nothing left to chance.

We were there when you died.

We were in the room asking you to be free. 

We were there when you took flight, 

And that night we drank a toast to you. 

A silent tribute to the one who kept us grounded.

We were there when your friends honoured you. 

We heard the words and they still resound to this day in our hearts.

We were there at the wake, when all sorrow was put aside and your life was celebrated.

Now you are here again,

Watching over us. 

Forever.

Good dreams mom.

Edith Faith Evangeline McCombs Wilson

April 10, 1942 - November 13, 2002

Remember Them

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent. 

The war to end all wars was over.

This post is a tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in almost 200 years on conflict in Canada, as well as our forefathers from wars prior to Confederation.

As a retired serviceman I have a special place in my heart for those who gave of themselves. Our freedom is your sacrifice. 

It is also to my dad - An RAF Lancaster pilot in WWII. Your stories still inspire me. 

The list of honours is long, but please read on - 

the memories of those places and the people who fought remain in the forefront of our memories and the memories of generations who will never know a veteran.

War of 1812

1,600 Killed, 3,679 wounded
Technically, Canada did not exist yet, these are British casualties. However, these men were the fathers of our present country.

Niagara
Lundy's Lane
Fort Erie
Battle of Queenston Heights
Battle of Fort George
Chrysler's Farm
Battle of the Thames
Battle of the Longwoods

Battle of Queenston Heights

Fenian Raids 1866-1870

Eccles Hill

Trout River

North West Rebellion, 1885

North West Canada, 1885

Fish Creek, “Batoche",

North West Canada, 1885

Saskatchewan

South African War

(The Boer War)

1899-1902

224 Casualties
South Africa
Paardeberg

The Boer War Memorial in Jackson Park, Windsor, Ontario Dedicated to the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal Canadian Dragoons.

The Great European War (WWI)

66,655 Killed, 174,000 wounded, 2,818 POWs

Ghosts of Vimy Ridge depicts ghosts of the Canadian Corps on Vimy Ridge surrounding the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Oil on canvas, 138 x 270.2 cm. Source Canadian House of Commons Collection, (AN: O-4714). 1931 William Longstaff

Action of St. Eloi, 1915
Gravenstafel Ridge, 1915
St. Julien, 1915
Frezenberg Ridge, 1915
Bellewaarde Ridge, 1915
Festubert, 1915
The Battle of Loos, 1915
Action of Bois Grenier, 1915
Actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, 1915
Actions of St. Eloi Craters, 1915
Second Action of Givenchy Ridge, 1915
Mount Sorrel, 1916
the Somme, 1916
Battle of Albert, 1916
Battle of Bezantin Ridge, 1916
Attack at Fromelles (On the Aubers Ridge), 1916
Attacks on High Wood, 1916
Battle of Pozieres Ridge, 1916
Battle of Guillemont, 1916
Battle of Ginchy, 1916
Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 1916
Battle of Thiepval RidgeBattle of le Transloy Ridge, 1916
Battle of The Ancre Heights, 1916
Battle of Ancre, 1916
German Retreat to Hindenburg Line (14 March - 5 April, 1917)
The Battles of Arras, 1917

The Vimy Ridge Memorial in Vimy France.

This magnificent memorial is actually Canadian sovereign territory.

Battle of Vimy Ridge, 1917

It is widely noted that the Battle of Vimy Ridge gave Canadians their identity, and from this point forward, Canada would be a nation, not a colony of Great Britain.

Second Battle of the Scarpe, 1917
Attack on la Coulotte, 1917
Battle of Arleux, 1917
Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917
Hill 70, 1917
Messines, 1917
Pilckem Ridge, 1917
Lange Marck, 1917
Menin Road Ridge, 1917
Polygon Wood, 1917
Broodseinde, 1917
Poelcapelle, 1917
Passchendaele, 1917
Second Battle of Passchendaele, 1917
Cambrai, 1917
The Tank Attack, 1917
The German Counter Attacks, 1917
The First Battles of the Somme, 1918
St. Quentin, 1918
Actions at the Somme Crossings, 1918
First Battle of Bapaume, 1918
Rosieres, 1918
First Battle of Arras, 1918
the Arve, 1918
The Capture of Hamel, 1918
The Battles of Lys, 1918
Estaires, 1918
Messines, 1918
First Defence of Givenchy, 1918
Loss of Hill 63, 1918
Bailleul, 1918
Defence of Neuve Eglise, 1918
First Battle of Kemmel Ridge, 1918
Action of la Becque, 1918
Amiens, 1918
Actions round Damery, 1918
The Second Battles of Arras, 1918
the Scarpe, 1918
the Drocourt-Queant Line, 1918
the Hindenburg Line, 1918
Canal du Nord, 1918
St. Quentin Canal, 1918
the Beaurevoir Line, 1918
The Second Battle of Cambrai, 1918
The Second Battle of Ypres, 1918
Valenciennes, 1918
the Sambre, 1918
Passage of the Grande Honnelle, 1918
Capture of Mons, 1918

MACEDONIA, 1915-1917
DARDENELLES, 1915-1916
EGYPT AND PALESTINE, 1916, 1918
NORTH WEST PERSIA AND THE CASPIAN, 1918-1919
Russia, 1918-1919

WORLD WAR II
42,041 Killed, 54,414 wounded, 9,364 POWs

Canadian Troops advance into Ortona, Christmas 1943

A still from the only video taken at Juno Beach, Normandy, France, June 6, 1944. This shot is one of the first visuals of the invasion of Europe sent back to the people at home.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA 1941-42

Hong Kong, 1941
NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1940-42
Dieppe, 1942
SICILY, 1943
Adrano
Grammichele
Piazza Armerina
Valguarnera
Assoro
Leonforte
Agira
Catenanuovo
Regalbuto
Centuripe
Troina Valley
Pursuit to Messina
ITALY 1943-45
Landing at Reggio
Potenza
Motta Montecorvino
Motta San Marco
Gambatesa
Campobasso
Baranello
Colle d’Anchise
Torella
THE SANGRO, 1943
The Moro
San Leonardo
The Gully
Casa Berardi
Ortona
Villa Grande
San Nicola – San Tommaso
Point 59 or Torre Mucchia
MONTE CAMINO, 1943
Monte La Difensa – Monte La Remetanca
Monte Majo, 1944
ANZIO, 1944
CASSINO II, 1944
Gustav Line
Sant' Angelo in Teodice
Pignataro
LIRI VALLEY, 1944
Hitler Line
Aquino
Melfa Crossing
Ceprano
Torrice Crossroads
ROME, 1944
Advance to the Tiber, 1944
TRASIMENE LINE, 1944
Sanfatucchio
Gabbiano
AREZZO, 1944
Tuori
ADVANCE TO FLORENCE, 1944
Cerrone
GOTHIC LINE, 1944
Monteciccardo
Montecchio
Point 204 or Pozzo Alto Ridge
Monte Luro
Borgo Santa Maria
Tomba di Pesaro
CORIANO, 1944
LAMONE CROSSING, 1944
Misano Ridge
RIMINI LINE, 1944
San Martino – San Lorenzo
San Fortunato
Casale
Sant’ Angelo in Salute
Bulgaria Village
Cesena
Pisciatello
Savio Bridgehead
Capture of Revenna
Naviglio Canal
Fosso Vecchio
Fosso Munio
Conventello – Comacchio
Granarolo
Marradi
Monte di Castelnuovo
Monte Casalino
Monte Ceco
Monte La Pieve
Monte Spaduro
Monte San Bartolo

NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45
SOUTHERN FRANCE, 1944
NORMANDY LANDING, 1944
Merville Battery, 1944
Authie, 1944
Putot-es-Bessin, 1944
Bretteville – l’Orgueilleuse, 1944
THE ODON, 1944
CAEN, 1944
Carpiquet, 1944
The Orne or The Orne (Buron)
BOURGEBUS RIDGE, 1944
Faubourg de Vaucelles, 1944
St. Andre-sur-Orne, 1944
Maltot, 1944
Verrieres Ridge – Tilly-la-Campagne, 1944
FALAISE, 1944
Falaise Road, 1944
Quesnay Wood, 1944
Clair Tizon, 1944
The Laison, 1944
Chambois, 1944
St. Lambert-sur-Dives, 1944
Dives Crossing, 1944
Foret de la Londe, 1944
The Seine, 1944
Moerbrugge, 1944
Dunkirk, 1944
La Havre, 1944
Boulogne, 1944
Calais, 1944
Moerkerke, 1944
Wynegham, 1944
Antwerp – Turnhout Canal, 1944 
THE SCHELDT, 1944
Leopold Canal, 1944
Woensdrecht, 1944
Savojaarde Plant, 1944
Breskens Pocket, 1944
South Beveland, 194d
Walcheren Causeway, 1944
The Lower Mass, 1944
Kapelsche Veer, 1944
The Roer, 1945
THE RHINELAND, 1945
The Reichswald
Waal Flats
Cleve
Moyland Wood
Goch-Calcar Road
The Hochwald
Xanten
Veen
THE RHINE, 1945
Emmerich – Hoch Elten
Twente Canal
Zutphen
Deventer
Arnhem, 1945
Groningen
Friesoythe
Apeldoorn
Ijsselmeer
Kusten Canal
Leer
Delfzijl Pocket
Bad Zwischanahn
Oldenburg

THE KOREAN WAR 1950-1953

516 Killed, 1,567 wounded, 33 POWs
Pusan, 1950
Naktong Bridgehead, 1950
Songju, 1950
Sariwon, 1950
Yongyu, 1950
Chongju, 1950
Pakchon, 1950
Chong Chon I, 1950
Chong Chon II, 1950
Yongwon-NI, 1950
Hungnam, 1950
Uijongbu, 1951
Seoul, 1951
Chung Chung-Dong, 1951
Chuam-Ni, 1951
Hill 327, 1951
Hill 419, 1951
Maehwa-San, 1951
Kapyong-chon, 1951
The Imjin, 1951
Kapyong, 1951
Chail-Li, 1951
Kowang-San, 1951
Maryang-San, 1951
Hill 227 I, 1951
Hill 227 II, 1951
Hill 355, 1952
The Hook, 1952
Pochon-Ni, 1953
The Hook, 1953
The Samichon,1953

VIETNAM 1959-1975
It is estimated that 3,500-4,000 Canadians served in various U.S.A. Forces in South East Asia. It is also estimated that 100-145 died or were MIA (bodies never recovered). Canadian casualties are included in the USA totals.

PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS SINCE 1949
212 Casualties
This is not a complete list of Canadian Peacekeeping Operations, just those with casualties.

The Canadian Peacekeepers Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario

INDIA AND PAKISTAN (UNMOGIP 1949 - 1979)
KOREA (JULY 1953 - 1955)
KOREA (UNCMAC 1956 - 1978)
MIDDLE EAST - GOLAN HEIGHTS & LEBANON
(UNTSO 1948 - present)
INDO-CHINA (ICSC 1954 -1973)
EGYPT (UNEF 1956 -1967)
BELGIAN CONGO (ONUC 1960 - 1964)
CYPRUS (UNFICYP 1964 - present)
MIDDLE EAST (UNEFME 1973 - 1979)
VIETNAM (ICSC - 1973)
GOLAN HEIGHTS (UNDOF 1974 - 2006)
LEBANON (UNIFIL 1978 - present)
MIDDLE EAST - EGYPT/SAINI
MULTINATIONAL FORCE & OBSERVERS (MFO 1986- present)
CAMBODIA (UNTAC 1992 - 1995)
YUGOSLAVIA (UNPROFOR 1992 - 1995)
SOMALIA (UNITAF 1992 - 1993)
RWANDA (UNAMIR 1994 - 1995)
YUGOSLAVIA (IFOR 1996 - 1997)
HAITI (UNSMIH 1996 - 1997)
BOSNIA/HERZGOVINA (former YUGOSLAVIA) (SFOR 1997 - present)
KOSOVO (KFOR 1998 - present)
HAITI (MINUSTAH 2004 - present)

AFGHANISTAN (2002 - 2006) The War On Terrorism
AFGHANISTAN (ISAF 2006 - present)

Canadian tanks head out to patrol their area of responsibility near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

To date 99 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in the service of the Canadian Forces in the region.

Sources

regimentalrogue.com
www.canadiansoldiers.com
www.members.shaw.ca/kcic1/peacekeepers.html

Note: Honours in red denote major battles or fronts.

Not yet

Just looked outside - It's snowing.

Shit.

That is all.