At a staff meeting yesterday, a colleague mentioned that another municipal department will be experimenting with creating a Facebook page to communicate with residents. Twitter is also being considered.
Great. Wonderful. It's about time. Welcome to the 21st century.
Thing is, my employer ("the City") blocks Facebook on the corporate intranet. Yes, those outside the corporation will be able to access the City's Facebook page, I will not be able to.
So on one hand, someone somewhere sees the value in Facebook in disseminating information. On the other hand, someone somewhere sees no value in allowing employees access to that information.
So much for 'empowering employees'.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Let The Market Decide
Today, CTV Inc. announced that it will not be renewing the licence of TV stations in Windsor and Wingham. The Globe and Mail story notes includes the following quote from Paul Sparkes, CTVglobe's executive vice-president of corporate affairs:
"The traditional economic model for Canadian television is broken"
The traditional economic model is not broken. It's dead. Instead of innovating and moving forward, old media wants to sit on their laurels and have the government 'save' their business model - or at least change it in a way that creates by force a new stream of revenue.
Interestingly, the consumer is completely ignored. Why does the CRTC exist?
"The traditional economic model for Canadian television is broken"
The traditional economic model is not broken. It's dead. Instead of innovating and moving forward, old media wants to sit on their laurels and have the government 'save' their business model - or at least change it in a way that creates by force a new stream of revenue.
Interestingly, the consumer is completely ignored. Why does the CRTC exist?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Battlestar Galactica
Four more episodes left.
On one hand, I'm happy with the fact that the show is coming to an end on its own terms. Nothing like a show hanging on (ER, X-Files) with no end in sight. Coronation Street is one thing, but most shows need to have a beginning, a middle and an end.
On the other hand, once Battlestar Galactica is over, I'll have to find a new show to replace it. I'll have to check out some of the TV series available via TMN On Demand and HBO On Demand. I just finished watching the third (and hopefully final) season of Brotherhood. Maybe I'll watch Oz again. Who knows?
On one hand, I'm happy with the fact that the show is coming to an end on its own terms. Nothing like a show hanging on (ER, X-Files) with no end in sight. Coronation Street is one thing, but most shows need to have a beginning, a middle and an end.
On the other hand, once Battlestar Galactica is over, I'll have to find a new show to replace it. I'll have to check out some of the TV series available via TMN On Demand and HBO On Demand. I just finished watching the third (and hopefully final) season of Brotherhood. Maybe I'll watch Oz again. Who knows?
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Snowblowers and Lawnmowers
Okay, I have to admit that the volume of snow this season has pushed me to buy a snowblower. I've done the research and picked the Toro Power Clear 421Q single stage snowblower.
Think I could find one in the past two months in Southern Ontario? Not one. We don't have any direct sell retailers in Canada. I may have to rely on contacts in the US to find one.
Walk into Home Depot, Lowes, Canadian Tire or Home Hardware and you will likely see a growing display of lawnmowers. Lawnmowers? Who is buying lawnmowers in February when there is still a foot or two of snow? Do people get the urge to buy a lawnmower when the snow is falling? And if they do buy one, it's just going to sit there for two or more months.
One a random online forum, I read someone who was also looking for the 421Q. Seems some retailers in the Toronto area sold out in August. Do they mean August as is in hot, hazy and humid summer month August? This reminds of the receiving the Sears winter catalog in June.
I just don't get it. Why can't I buy a snowblower during the seasons known as Fall and Winter? And who would be buying a lawnmower in February?
Think I could find one in the past two months in Southern Ontario? Not one. We don't have any direct sell retailers in Canada. I may have to rely on contacts in the US to find one.
Walk into Home Depot, Lowes, Canadian Tire or Home Hardware and you will likely see a growing display of lawnmowers. Lawnmowers? Who is buying lawnmowers in February when there is still a foot or two of snow? Do people get the urge to buy a lawnmower when the snow is falling? And if they do buy one, it's just going to sit there for two or more months.
One a random online forum, I read someone who was also looking for the 421Q. Seems some retailers in the Toronto area sold out in August. Do they mean August as is in hot, hazy and humid summer month August? This reminds of the receiving the Sears winter catalog in June.
I just don't get it. Why can't I buy a snowblower during the seasons known as Fall and Winter? And who would be buying a lawnmower in February?
Monday, February 02, 2009
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