Rick Mercer Report: Canadian Government Explained

The Rick Mercer report is a satirical Canadian television comedy series which airs on CBC Television. During the constitutional crisis Mercer explained how Canadian Government works, "Everything you wanted to know about Canadian Government but were too afraid to ask". Here it is:

Bored on a Sunny Day Set to Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr. Blue Sky"

Since I've been back I haven't had really much to do. It's been a relief to be done (temporarily) with essays, and exams and deadlines. However, there can sometimes be too much free time. There were a few days where I was pretty bored. Then I stumbled upon a video a friend made...about being bored on a sunny day...and I thought I needed to share. The music is Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr. Blue Sky". Enjoy.

The US and Canadian Postal Services: Running Running Low on Cash

With today's economic downturn, the USPS raising postage fees today and considering cutting its Saturday service. But in Canada, with roughly a tenth the population as the U.S. spread out over 138,000 square miles more than the US, there are recently released recommendations by an outside review headed by Mount Allison President Robert Campbell that urges Canada Post to consider drastically increasing fees and cutting home delivery service...which many Americans take for granted but is provided to less than half of Canadians.

Outside review suggests Canada Post drop door-to-door delivery
Last Updated: Saturday, May 2, 2009 | 8:10 AM ET Comments253Recommend95
The Canadian Press
An outside review done for the federal government suggests Canada Post should think about dropping door-to-door mail delivery as one way to address the corporation's "uncertain'' financial future.

The review, chaired by Mount Allison University president Robert Campbell, says Canada Post needs more than $3 billion over the next seven years to modernize equipment.

The 182-page report says that while door-to-door mail delivery is convenient for those who receive it, the high cost is paid for by all postal users, including those whose mail is delivered more efficiently to community mailboxes.

The review says the volume of letter mail is dropping by at least one per cent annually as more and more Canadians switch to email and other internet-based communications.

To strengthen Canada Post's balance sheet, the review recommends the first-class postage rate be boosted by up to seven cents over two years.

Although the report calls for a cut in Canada Post's labour costs, the 54,000-member Canadian Union of Postal Workers says a review of labour deals would be "a threat to the collective agreements.''

Appendix A:
Biographies of the Advisory Panel Members

See this link for the full report.

Donating Blood at Children's Hospital Boston

This summer in Boston I'll be donating blood (platelets) most likely at Children's Hospital near the Fenway. I've been donating for years and think it's one of the most meaningful donations a person can make.

It costs nothing and a whole blood donation can take as little as thirty minutes.

Absolutely Bawston

Below is a pretty corny video from Northeastern University about Boston. I found it a few weeks ago when I was trying to demonstrate the accent I'll have when I get back to Mount Allison in September. The way Mayor Thomas M. Menino speaks is the best example of the stereotypical strong Boston accent I've come across. Here's the video:

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

I've been keeping informed of the global economic downturn and I've watched the coverage of implosion of AIG and other big American banks.I'd understood the basics of the credit freeze, but Jonathan Jarvis's video simplifies the mess into a clear and concise video of some of the main causes of the crisis. Here it is:

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.