I have been quite reticent this year, not one to pump out content for the sake of it, if I have something to share, I share it.
Christmas has been a good this year and I'm thankful to have a great family and friends in my life. It wasn't the easiest December, I was in a bit of a funk, not "bah humbug!" more an upper case meh. Of course it didn't help it looked like an extended November minus the daylight in Southern Ontario, it felt like nothing was going right in a couple of different areas.
Getting back into the running groove helps courtesy Nike Plus, the most ruthless electronic personal trainer out there. So far I did 15.55 km this week and this will keep me on track and I need all the endorphins I can get.
The other thing that brought me joy was handing off some prints to my friend Anne from a family portrait shoot with her partner Glenn and their son I did back in the fall. Those prints in turn became christmas presents in their extended family. From what I found out, the prints were a hint in the Headon and Barley clans.
I'm still single and this holiday season it bothered me, there's still stuff I can't really talk about needless to say I took some control. No I'm not going back to online or speed dating, you could not pay me enough. I recruited an old friend Shelagh I have known off and on 31 years to be matchmaker. I trust her emotional intelligence and judgement, granted she's going through her second divorce but that's a story for another time. Anyway, Shelagh did two set ups resulting in happy marriages. Not bad from where I'm sitting.
What I did was give her an open deadline and my FB feed and account along with blogs be research material. Getting set up is one option for me, I am not out there actively looking but open to something magical happening. My friend Anne, the one I did the portrait session with, thinks someone is going to cross my path and sweep me off my feet. Now do I already know this woman or is someone new, Anne did not elaborate. Shelagh thinks the same way, sometime in 2012 someone special will cross paths with me and change everything.
Until that day comes I have a lot of cleaning house to do on the personal front to get ready.
Professionally, I am stepping up my job search a bit. The North American economy is stepping it's game a little bit provided events outside don't get in a way of cautious optimism.
So 2012, I'm ready for you.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The End of the Common Online Experience
I found this TED video in my Facebook Feed from my friend David Headon and it got me thinking, are we seeing the end of the collective online experience. With that I'm worried on two fronts, professionally it's bad enough to craft a message to break through the digital noise. A new problem I'm not sure even search engine optimization can address, your key message in your communications campaign might get lost courtesy algorithms used by Facebook and Google that will tailor your online experiences exclusively to the users preferences and online behaviour when it comes to searches.
On a personal level I'm a little scared at the loss of the common online experience, my searches will yield different results compared to yours courtesy my web use on any given subject. Thing is I don't know what the outcome will be with such a subtle shift with searches.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Fun with Online Dating NOT!
Hi, can I take your picture?
About me: Healthy Early 40 something gentleman working in PR and marketing with a passion for fine art photography, the sporting life, great outdoors, laughter, good company and intellectual pursuits.
Seeking that elusive practical chemistry with:
An attractive, intelligent, athletic, woman(30-42) with a creative bent, a sense of humour, loves skiing, hiking, running, exploring the hidden gems of Toronto neighbourhoods, dining out, and to be my co-pilot on road trips (bonus points if you can drive stick).
For dating and possibly more if the chemistry is right.
Here's how it works, it's easy: We meet for coffee and we'll see what happens from there.
I just pulled the plug on my Match.com account this morning, after a couple of months I was just not meeting the right woman for me and had enough. I gave online dating a second try back in January to widen my dating pool and to move on from a personal situation I am not comfortable sharing here.
I wound up connecting with 18 women online and met six face to face for coffee/drinks over the course of the winter and early spring. They were all nice, smart and attractive women but the chemistry was just not there. Of all of them, only two dates were curious about what I was really into.
It was not a total loss as I learned something very valuable, my next girlfriend/partner must have an artistic/creative bent, preferably with a passion for photography. I already have a professional network if I want to speak PR and communications, that’s easy. In my personal life, my creative outlet is what gets my motor running and I want to share that with someone who is speaking the same language I am, can bounce ideas off of and collaborate on personal projects.
Oh don’t forget chemistry. Even if you have the personal CV but the chemistry is not there, sorry it’s just not going to work; I learned that lesson the hard way.
I don’t know what’s going to happen next, I just want to lay low for a while and work on myself for a while. I Could use another lost weekend in the Beaches, no, make it a month.
About me: Healthy Early 40 something gentleman working in PR and marketing with a passion for fine art photography, the sporting life, great outdoors, laughter, good company and intellectual pursuits.
Seeking that elusive practical chemistry with:
An attractive, intelligent, athletic, woman(30-42) with a creative bent, a sense of humour, loves skiing, hiking, running, exploring the hidden gems of Toronto neighbourhoods, dining out, and to be my co-pilot on road trips (bonus points if you can drive stick).
For dating and possibly more if the chemistry is right.
Here's how it works, it's easy: We meet for coffee and we'll see what happens from there.
I just pulled the plug on my Match.com account this morning, after a couple of months I was just not meeting the right woman for me and had enough. I gave online dating a second try back in January to widen my dating pool and to move on from a personal situation I am not comfortable sharing here.
I wound up connecting with 18 women online and met six face to face for coffee/drinks over the course of the winter and early spring. They were all nice, smart and attractive women but the chemistry was just not there. Of all of them, only two dates were curious about what I was really into.
It was not a total loss as I learned something very valuable, my next girlfriend/partner must have an artistic/creative bent, preferably with a passion for photography. I already have a professional network if I want to speak PR and communications, that’s easy. In my personal life, my creative outlet is what gets my motor running and I want to share that with someone who is speaking the same language I am, can bounce ideas off of and collaborate on personal projects.
Oh don’t forget chemistry. Even if you have the personal CV but the chemistry is not there, sorry it’s just not going to work; I learned that lesson the hard way.
I don’t know what’s going to happen next, I just want to lay low for a while and work on myself for a while. I Could use another lost weekend in the Beaches, no, make it a month.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Interview on TV Cogeco
I had a last minute interview on TV Cogeco earlier this month regarding Capture Oakville 2011. Usually I media train the Oakville Camera Club president however this time out she was was quite sick with a nasty cold. I stepped in at the last minute with an hour of self media training and did well considering the short time frame.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Printed in today's Oakville Beaver
RE: Arts Funding in the 2011 Municipal Budget.
To the Editor,
As a board member of the Oakville Camera Club, it is my sincerest hope that funding for the Arts Council and the grants is left alone in the 2011 municipal budget. Looking at the big picture, municipal funding of the arts brings a multi-fold return on investment which in turn means more tax revenue for the town of Oakville.
To refer the October 2008 article Harnessing the Power of the Arts: Capitalizing on the Economic Power of the Creative Industry from the International City Management Association newsletter, all three levels of American Government spend less than $4 billion USD per year on arts investment in form of grants yet reaping nearly $30 billion USD in revenue for all three levels of Government. That’s a seven to one return on investment.
The other argument I’m putting forth against cutting arts funding (Arts Council and grant program) is that while yes, it would save some money in a tough year but it will diminish community involvement. It also sends a rather mixed message with the finishing touches put on the QE Park Community Centre which has a significant arts programming component to the facility, yet funding to groups who will be tenants get cut.
It’s sad this issue gets re-visited every couple of years at budget time. I appreciate the tough choices our councilors have to make. Times are tough for municipalities even with ones in decent shape like the Town of Oakville and allocating scarce tax dollars for competing priorities is a task not taken lightly.
Regards
William Smith, Vice President
Oakville Camera Club
Oakvillecameraclub.com
RE: Arts Funding in the 2011 Municipal Budget.
To the Editor,
As a board member of the Oakville Camera Club, it is my sincerest hope that funding for the Arts Council and the grants is left alone in the 2011 municipal budget. Looking at the big picture, municipal funding of the arts brings a multi-fold return on investment which in turn means more tax revenue for the town of Oakville.
To refer the October 2008 article Harnessing the Power of the Arts: Capitalizing on the Economic Power of the Creative Industry from the International City Management Association newsletter, all three levels of American Government spend less than $4 billion USD per year on arts investment in form of grants yet reaping nearly $30 billion USD in revenue for all three levels of Government. That’s a seven to one return on investment.
The other argument I’m putting forth against cutting arts funding (Arts Council and grant program) is that while yes, it would save some money in a tough year but it will diminish community involvement. It also sends a rather mixed message with the finishing touches put on the QE Park Community Centre which has a significant arts programming component to the facility, yet funding to groups who will be tenants get cut.
It’s sad this issue gets re-visited every couple of years at budget time. I appreciate the tough choices our councilors have to make. Times are tough for municipalities even with ones in decent shape like the Town of Oakville and allocating scarce tax dollars for competing priorities is a task not taken lightly.
Regards
William Smith, Vice President
Oakville Camera Club
Oakvillecameraclub.com
Thursday, February 10, 2011
On Running
I am big on personal fitness and over the past few months I have been on a running kick for my cardio. Of course due to winter, I’m on a treadmill, bit of a wuss when it comes to the bitter cold. I can handle it skiing, running, not so sure.
It began with a 5km running clinic two years ago and I got back into it over the Christmas Holidays while working out at the local Y. I was neglecting my cardio and I felt it, especially with the sleepless nights and feeling sluggish.
Some people find solace in religion or the bottom of a scotch bottle. I find it through putting one foot in front of the other at 5.5 mph, making sure my stride is quiet, shoulders relaxed, my gaze straight ahead and I land on the balls of my feet, not my heel. One foot after another, mindful of technique, just like weight training, bad form just invites injury. Sounds Zen but it works for me.
Being focused on my stride and breathing, running helps me deal with all the crap that life insists throwing my way and I feel clarity when I’m done.
So for now it's 20-25km per week and I plan to go further when my endurance gets better.
Here's a TED talk by Christopher McDougall why humans run.
It began with a 5km running clinic two years ago and I got back into it over the Christmas Holidays while working out at the local Y. I was neglecting my cardio and I felt it, especially with the sleepless nights and feeling sluggish.
Some people find solace in religion or the bottom of a scotch bottle. I find it through putting one foot in front of the other at 5.5 mph, making sure my stride is quiet, shoulders relaxed, my gaze straight ahead and I land on the balls of my feet, not my heel. One foot after another, mindful of technique, just like weight training, bad form just invites injury. Sounds Zen but it works for me.
Being focused on my stride and breathing, running helps me deal with all the crap that life insists throwing my way and I feel clarity when I’m done.
So for now it's 20-25km per week and I plan to go further when my endurance gets better.
Here's a TED talk by Christopher McDougall why humans run.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thoughts on my New Toy: The iPhone 4
I picked up my first smart phone just before Christmas, an iPhone 4 and I love. I had some Fido Dollars burning a hole in my loyalty program and my plan was due for renewal and it made sense to take the plunge.
In my quest for a smart phone I had three choices within the Fido stable, the Blackberry Curve, Android represented by the Acer Liquid and of course iPhone. The Fido product team chose not to carry the new Torch so that fell platform fell out of contention right away.
With my research I developed a high respect for both Android and iPhone handsets, however the Apple product won out. The Acer Liquid, a powerful piece of technology was cursed with cheap and cheerful materials plus I wanted something that can survive the harsh rigours of everyday living.
The transaction at my local Fido kiosk in Oakville Place was painless and the customer service reps were great. I even kept my long grandfathered City Fido unlimited talk time plan adding on a one Gigabyte data plan and see how that works for me.
So living with an iPhone is nice, I found the touch screen keyboard easy to adapt to, much easier than I thought, though I’m still prone to the rare typo courtesy a misplaced thumb. The big pull is all the apps in the iPhone Store and I’m slowly exploring (suggestions welcome).
The only challenge if you can call it that, I lost a couple of columns on Tweetdeck compared to my laptop, I think I’ll live.
I'm happy with my choice. It could have been different if Fido offered more Android phones in their lineup.
In my quest for a smart phone I had three choices within the Fido stable, the Blackberry Curve, Android represented by the Acer Liquid and of course iPhone. The Fido product team chose not to carry the new Torch so that fell platform fell out of contention right away.
With my research I developed a high respect for both Android and iPhone handsets, however the Apple product won out. The Acer Liquid, a powerful piece of technology was cursed with cheap and cheerful materials plus I wanted something that can survive the harsh rigours of everyday living.
The transaction at my local Fido kiosk in Oakville Place was painless and the customer service reps were great. I even kept my long grandfathered City Fido unlimited talk time plan adding on a one Gigabyte data plan and see how that works for me.
So living with an iPhone is nice, I found the touch screen keyboard easy to adapt to, much easier than I thought, though I’m still prone to the rare typo courtesy a misplaced thumb. The big pull is all the apps in the iPhone Store and I’m slowly exploring (suggestions welcome).
The only challenge if you can call it that, I lost a couple of columns on Tweetdeck compared to my laptop, I think I’ll live.
I'm happy with my choice. It could have been different if Fido offered more Android phones in their lineup.
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