Is it politically correct to use the term firefighter?

How about using "fire douser" or "fire squelcher"? "Fire smotherer"? Oooo, "fire snuffer"!?

In today's CTV News story, Canadians shrugging off CBC lockout: poll a CBC spokesman said:

Still, a CBC spokesman touted the early Decima poll results as proof that the replacement program mix of re-runs, news from Britain and heavy doses of the Antiques Roadshow is working.

"We want to get back to business as usual and put the programming on the air that people expect from us," said Jason MacDonald in an interview.

"But we've managed to mount a schedule that still provides Canadians with the kind of relevant programming that's of interest to them."

Really?!? Is the spokesman saying that programs purchased from overseas are an adequate replacement for CBC domestic programming? Hmmm. So instead of paying salaries, pensions, facilities, broadcast rights, etc. the CBC could theoretically save a lot of money by buying foreign programs. Interesting.

Just thinking out loud.

Today's Local Weather Was: Cloudy but no rain as promised, til late in the afternoon.

Think there's a connection between these two stories from today?

Federal piggy bank swelling

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal piggy bank is swelling with strong early revenues, as Ottawa's surplus so far is already larger than Finance Minister Ralph Goodale projected for the entire year.

Newly released figures show that in the first three months of fiscal 2005-06, Ottawa recorded a surplus of $4.8 billion - including a $1.7-billion surplus in June alone.

---

Challenger took PM to fundraiser

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Paul Martin used the government's Challenger jet to attend a $5,000-a-head fundraiser dinner in Oakville, Ont., this year, documents show.

The March 30 fundraiser was at the $3-million home of Ajay Virmani, the owner of Starjet, a high end charter airline.

Nah. It couldn't be that simple could it?

So, can I ask just exactly how many years has the federales been overtaxing the taxpayer running a multi-billion dollar surplus?

Today's Local Weather Was: Surprisingly cool.

First 24 and now Battlestar Galactica. I can understand Space Channel's reason for airing season two of BSG starting in January 2006 (U.S.-only Sci Fi Channel is airing the first ten episodes now and the last ten episodes in January while Space Channel will air all twenty without interruption) but...

...that four frakking months from now!!!

While I've brought up '24', did you know its CanCon continues to increase with inclusion of Peter Wingfield and Geraint Wyn Davies?

Which leads to me to - what Canadian-made TV shows to I watch? Hmmm. Trailer Park Boys. Puppets Who Kill. Any other recommendations? Oh, please don't mention Corner Gas or Robson Arms. I've tried watching them and they are...well, I tried.

Today's Local Weather Was: Warm would be an understatement.

Call me a technophobe but why do I have the feeling that following Benny the Cab is a bad idea?

Using in-car satellite navigation on unfamiliar roads, in bad weather or in heavy traffic can be a bore. But soon it could be as simple as following the car ahead, if a patent filed recently by Microsoft takes off.

Instead of studying an on-screen map or listening to spoken instructions, the system lets a driver pursue a cartoon car projected onto the windscreen in front of them. The navigation system checks a car’s location and calculates a route in the usual way, but the driver follows the ghost car as if it were the leader of a convoy.

The on-screen car could also convey traffic and weather information by changing colour or size. And its ghostly cartoon character should make it sufficiently distinguishable from real cars and traffic as seen through the windscreen, the patent says.

Now, never mind the thought of Windows Automotive operating system getting more pervasive but wouldn't this lead to tunnel vision?

Today's Local Weather Was: Cool.

Google Maps has now integrated the street maps with the satellite maps. Cool!

Today's Local Weather Was: Cooler than yesterday.

VJ Day. A day to celebrate the end of the Imperial Japanese 'liberation' of my birthplace. A day to remember those who fought Japanese colonialism. A day to remember those who survived the brutality of Japanese hospitality.

A day to honour freedom.

Here's a story of Force 136 by Veterans Affairs.

Today's Local Weather Was: Didja know its summer?