Ten Reasons to be excited about the 2012 Blue Jays

Even though my beloved Toronto Blue Jays finished their season at .500 yesterday, I am already excited for next year and here's why:

1. Jose Bautista.

I don't think this needs further explanation, but I'll say it anyway: the man is an All-Star. He's a leader with the bat, on the field and in the clubhouse. He plays hard every day which makes him fun to watch. He should be this year's AL MVP. Period. He also proved that 2010 wasn't a fluke, which means 2012 will be just as good- I can't wait to see him bat third at the home opener on April 9th.

2. Brett Lawrie

He's young, he's exciting and he's Canadian. What more could Canada's only major league baseball franchise ask for? Besides his heroics with the bat and remarkably improved play at third, what I most enjoy about Lawrie is the fact that in every Jays walk-off victory since he joined the club, he is the first guy congratulating the guy who did it (assuming it wasn't him). He's as happy for his teammate as he would be for himself. That attitude is good and best of all, it's infectious. All we need to do is wrap his hands in bubble paper when he's not playing and we'll get to see him for all 162 in 2012.

3. Alex Anthopoulos

Whether you think he's a Ninja, a Jedi, or the Silent Assassin, the Jays' young GM is the real deal. No one can guess his next move, but I guarantee you it will involve trading for some other club's best player in exchange for a bag of baseballs and leaving them feeling like they just made the best deal ever. This means anything could happen in the off-season, making the lead-up to 2012 very exciting.

4. Ricky Romero

Now, way back when we drafted Romero, Jays Nation was irked that we took him and not Troy Tulowitzki. And for a while, maybe they had a point, but I always believed, deep down that just because Tulowitzki turned out to be pretty good, that didn't mean Ricky couldn't be good as well. This year, Romero had a breakout year. He is clearly the ace of our staff and has embraced that role. But for a few bad breaks, his record could have easily been 16-18 wins this year, something I have faith that he will achieve in 2012.

5. JP Arencibia

This year, JP broke the Jays' home runs by a catcher record, guided our young staff through their ups and downs and improved markedly behind the plate. Besides all that, he's embraced Toronto in a way that rarely happens in our city. If you follow JP on Twitter (and really, if you're reading this, you probably do), you know he's gone out of his way to experience Toronto. He's tried the Bixi bikes, loves CMT, attempted to watch local softball games and announces what local restaurants he goes to. Also, he's recently taken to handing out "Stars" hockey-style on Twitter after games. The guy is fun and genuinely cares about the fans. I can't wait to read his insights next year.

6. Brandon Morrow

King of the Strikeouts. His command wasn't picture perfect all year long, but he finished strong and struck out 203 batters this year, making him just the fourth Blue Jays pitcher in history to clear 200 strikeouts in a season. A little work in the off-season will make Morrow and Romero a knockout 1-2 punch in 2012.

7. All the young guys.

The average age of the Jays is 27.2, which puts them among the younger teams in the league. There is nothing but long, bright futures on the horizon for guys like Henderson Alvarez, Kyle Drabek and Travis Snider. And with the potential they displayed in 2011, 2012 could be breakout years for all of them.

8. The new logo

Apparently, the new logo for our Jays has been leaked. Full disclosure: I don't especially care for it. I think the bird looks a little chunky in the cheek and I fear for the font. Honestly, I like the fierce bird we have now. That said, I do agree we could use a little more Canadian-ness in our uniforms. So since it seems that most people do like the "new logo" and are excited about it, if this really turns out to be the one and it attracts more fans back to my team in 2012, I will embrace it and the enthusiasm that comes with it. There is no place like the Rogers Centre (read SkyDome) when it's full- if the new logo helps make that happen, 2012 will be a loud, fun year.

9. The Expanded Playoffs

It's time and it's a miracle Selig figured it out. It'd be better to also dump the divisions so the teams play each other an equal number of times, but baby steps. Assuming all the details get worked out, with two wild cards next year, it increases our odds of getting in.

10. Anything Can Happen

The 2011 Jays proved that they're never out of any game, that any trade can be made and that people in Toronto do care about baseball and how our team does. There's a feeling about this group of young men that anything is possible and we're so close to returning to the glory days. I see Blue Jays tshirts, jerseys and hats everywhere. Anytime they did something interesting, they trended on Twitter for hours. There's a momentum building and I can't wait to see what it brings with it in 2012.

My Canada includes Quebec

Over the weekend, I told myself that if there were no more stories about Nycole Turmel today on Google News, that I would just let it go. But, clearly there were and clearly I can't.

To start, for anyone who hasn't read it yet, I highly suggest reading Michael Taube's "Turmel in the BQ? Big deal" article from the Ottawa Citizen. Taube is Stephen Harper's former speech writer and has written the most sensible piece on the matter to date.

Now, moving onto my particular issues with this whole "scandal."

My first issue is semantics. Articles have constantly referred to Turmel as a "long-time member of the Bloc Québécois". A little over four years is a long time in politics to be sure, but what do we call her as a 20-year member of the NDP? A "Longer-time member?" Remarkably, this hasn't come up.

My next issue is the implication that joining a party is a tacit endorsement of everything to do with said party and is tantamount to swearing a blood oath to them. I need only point back to the election of Ed Stelmach as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in Alberta to prove that this is not the case. In 2006, Mr. Stelmach was elected as the leader and premier of the province and it was widely reported that citizens of Alberta were joining the PC party so they could get the premier they wanted. Many who belonged to other parties were hoping to get a more moderate leader and after casting their votes, had nothing to do with the party ever again. Clearly, people can be motivated for personal reasons to join political parties.

My last issue is the one that concerns me the most for the future of our country. I think most political observers would agree that Stephen Harper has coveted Quebec since his first minority government (and probably even before that). Before the 2011 election, most people would agree that a majority was impossible without Quebec, so logically, Stephen Harper targeted Quebec voters (including having two former BQ members in his cabinet)

I have to wonder, however, where did he think all these hoped-for new Conservatives votes would come from? Some of them would have to have come from former Bloq members for it to have worked out. What would have happened then? Would he have just said "Thanks!" and ignored his new converts for four years? What if one of the converts had decided to become more active in the party? What if he or she even fancied himself or herself leader one day? What then? Would the party have swatted him or her down simply based on his or her previous voting record?

To me, this has an odour of second-class citizenry. It seems to me that what Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are implying is that being a former member of the BQ makes a person less Canadian; that once a member of the BQ, a person can't ever do anything good for our country again; that somehow, "they" aren't good enough for the rest of "us." No matter what you think about the Bloq, that kind of mindset is dangerous.

This bothers me immensely. My Canada includes everyone. My Canada has room for different ideas and values. My Canada lets me change political parties daily if that's what makes me happy.

Who is included in your Canada, Mr. Harper?

Proportional Representation

With the election on Monday, I thought I would post a speech I made for Presentation Skills class this year. It advocates proportional representation. All the facts come from Fair Vote Canada.

How would you feel if you were told that your vote didn’t count in the last election?

For millions of Canadians like you and me, the reality is that this happens every election cycle. How? Through our antiquated vote counting system.

Currently in Canada, we have a “first past the post” voting system. What this means is whichever party has the most seats wins power. However, when we look at the number of votes that are actually cast for members of parliament to win these seats, it becomes very clear very quickly that the number is not a majority. This means your voice and my voice isn’t being heard. 

Consider the following: In the 2008 federal election, 940,000 voters spread across Canada supporting the Green Party didn’t elect anyone, while fewer Conservative voters elected 27 Conservative MPs in Alberta alone. In the Prairies, Conservatives received roughly twice the votes of the Liberals and NDP combined, but took seven times as many seats.  Nationally, the NDP attracted 1.1 million more votes than the Bloc, but the Bloc won 49 seats in Quebec while the NDP won 37 across Canada.

The truth is, the majority of votes cast elect no one. In the last election, a quarter-million Conservative voters in Toronto alone elected no one. In Canada, 7 million votes elected no one. 

The solution is to switch to the voting system already embraced by 80 countries in the world: proportional representation. The goal is to give every voter a voice and create a real representative democracy. The result will be to have representatives from every party, from every province, representing everyone in Canada equally.

There are three kinds of Proportional Representation systems, List, Mixed Member Proportional and Single Transferable. Now, each of these have their pros and cons, but the idea is, if you cast a vote for a Liberal candidate it counts as a vote the Liberal party. Therefore, if at the end of the night, if the Liberals get 25 per cent of the votes, they get 25 per cent of the seats.

Imagine everyone in the House of Commons working together to find solutions, compromising to find a middle ground, creating policy that reflects the needs of all Canadians. No one region will have more value than another- everyone from Victoria to St. John’s will have an equal say. Imagine knowing you are really making a difference.

So what can you do? It’s simple. First, if you haven't already, go vote on Monday! Even though you may not feel that it makes a difference, it does. The federal parties get their funding based on your votes, so if you want to make your party stronger, you need to vote.

If you want to make a real change, write to your local MP to tell them that you want to make your vote count and they need to support legislation that will being proportional representation to Canada. You can also go online for more information. There you can sign the pledge showing your support of proportional representation.

By working together to have all our votes count and have all of our voices heard we can change the way politics is practiced in Canada and never again have to worry if our vote counts.

Top 5 Canadian Democracy Myths

I don't know if it's too many years of the West Wing airing in Canada or people just plain forgetting grade 10 civics, but after watching last night's debate, it seems to me that we need a refresher course on how democracy works in Canada.

Here are my Top 5 Myths about Canadian Democracy:

1. We elect our prime minister. 
False. In spite of what he says, the only people who elected Stephen Harper are the good people in Calgary—Southwest. Harper is merely the leader of the Conservative Party which currently has the most seats in the house of commons. Under the parliamentary system, that means he gets first crack at being Prime Minister, nothing more.  No one ever put an "X" next to his name to make him prime minister.

2. We elect a government. 
False (at least in the way it was used in the debate last night). We elect individual people in ridings who choose to work together in a party. Harper's assertions that Canadians "elected a Conservative government" were patently wrong. We just ended up with more Conservatives than anyone else in 2008. That is not equivalent to casting a vote to make the Conservatives an absolute government.

3. Coalitions are not democracy
False. We're used to power trading hands between the Liberals and Conservatives in this country and that's fine, but the only reason we're used to it is because for most of our history, we've only had two parties. It's only been since 1945 that we have a true third party alternative in the CCF. In other countries, multiple parties are the norm and no one is questioning their democracy.

4.  Minority parliaments don't work
False. They work all the time. We have had 13 of them. In fact, minority parliaments brought Canada some of the things we hold most dear, like health care. But, they only work when parties choose to work together.

5. Elections are a waste of time and money
False. Discussion is always good. Talking about issues is good for our country. Yes, they cost $300 million, but it's not like we take that money and flush it down the toilet. Money spent in elections does go back into the economy. People are paid to work on elections, printing houses are paid to make materials and property owners make money renting out their spaces for election activities.

So, when you go to the polls on May 2, and I know you will, keep these thoughts in mind when you fill in your ballot. Our parliamentary system is counting on it!

A big day for space enthusiasts

Anyone who checked Google today would have noticed a very cool image of a cosmonaut and a rocket ship blasting off. This was a very creative way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic mission as the first human in space. His mission truly changed the course of history. It scared the Americans into action and a mere eight years later, they had landed a man on the Moon.

Today was also the day that NASA announced where the remaining Space Shuttles would retire. Atlantis will stay at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; Endeavour is off to the California Science Center in Los Angeles;  Discovery is going to the Smithsonian; and the test shuttle, Enterprise (yes, it really was named for the Star Trek ship) will be found at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York.

The best part of this for Canadians is that while Atlantis and Discovery are going to be keeping their Canadarms, Endeavour's is coming home. No word yet on where it is going to go, but I think it should go somewhere that Canadians can see it. The Canadarm has played a vital role in dozens of missions  including helping to build the International Space Station, servicing Hubble and is a part of our heritage (I feel a commercial coming on...).

So, where should it go? The Air and Space Museum is a logical choice, but I don't think people really go there. My vote? The 5th floor of the ROM. It's big enough and woefully underutilized. And, people actually go to the ROM! Plus, the Canadarm would look super cool in that crystal.

Stay tuned to see how it all turns out!

Search Engine Optimization and Online PR

My online public relations course at Centennial College has taught me many things. The most important for me was the lesson about Search Engine Optimization.

I learned that it’s one thing to have a message, but it’s quite another to have people find your message online. The Internet is a very busy place and you can easily be overlooked. Being able to program a web page to increase its chances of being found is a skill I know I will use for my entire career. It’s given me confidence that what I will write for a client will actually matter.

Here are the top four things I learned in online PR:

Google’s Keyword Tool

I once heard that Google is the closest thing people have ever known to God. It knows everything! And The Keyword Tool is no different. The Keyword tool allows you to put in a term, any term, and find out with other terms are most strongly associated with it. Keyword also shows the competition for the keyword, so you can pick the best word to describe your product to generate the most interest.

To me, it almost feels like inside information. Google is telling me what people want to know about my product. As PR practitioners, I think this tool is probably one of the most important things we can use. It answers the question, “What are people thinking?” faster than any survey could ever dream of doing.

Description Tags

Before taking this online public relations course, I had no idea that that description tags even existed. I had always assumed that the little “blurbs” under links in Google were just the first few lines of the web page. Knowing now that they are programmable descriptions makes so much more sense! It’s like having another sign out there to direct people onto your page. I also think that if they’re well written, they add credibility to a web page. Description tags show that there are thinking people at the other end of that website, which I think encourages people to click on it.

Navigation

I am an organized person. I like things to be tidy and orderly in my life and on my web pages. I was gratified to learn that Google does too! Search engines like an organized web page and are more likely to find yours if it has a good root page and clear paths to other parts of the site.

Don’t overuse your keyword!

The last, and possibly most important thing I learned is that Google has a personality. It doesn’t like being told the same thing over and over again. In fact, if you repeat yourself too often, it will tune you out. So, going forward, I know to watch my keyword count. I will have one per page and use it sparingly. 

And there you have it, SEO and PR. I’m glad I know it, and enjoyed learning it and I will take it with me to every job I ever have. Thanks CCPR!

Social Media and Class Reunions

A few weeks ago, I got a Facebook invite to the 25th anniversary of my elementary school. The group is currently over 450 people and growing. People are posting old photos and reconnecting online.

When I first got the invite, I wondered if there really is a point to actual reunions anymore? Thanks to Facebook, I know who's married, who has kids, who got fat, who got thin, who moved away and who stayed close to home. I don't even have to show up and my curiosity is satisfied.

Maybe it's because I'm about to graduate and I'm getting all nostalgic, but I think there really is something to actually seeing everyone again, sitting down and swapping stories of old times. Social media only gives us a surface view of life, there isn't context. In my opinion, context matters and you can only get that context from actually talking to someone.

Also, there is definitely something inherently fun in reminiscing face to face. My classmates and I have spent an embarrassing amount of time this year talking about childhood TV shows and toys. None of us knew each other in childhood, but we have these shared experiences that are fun to talk about and share together. Sure, we could post videos on Facebook (and we have), but it's not the same. Watching each others eyes light up when a favourite is remembered is fantastic. I guess you could say that we can "share" on Facebook, but not experience sharing.

So, in September, I will be having fun catching up with my old friends at my reunion. You'll be able to find the photos on Facebook later.

My Life in Computers, Part Five: My iBook and a Barbie Van

I was raised to believe that if you wanted something, you had work hard and earn it. That's how I bought my first laptop. I wasn't allowed to work during high school. To their credit, my parents wanted me to know that school came first. School was how to get ahead in life and that required hard work and focus and a job would detract from that. I was, however, allowed to babysit. So, for five years (because we had OAC back then) I went to school, and on the weekends and during the summer I babysat. I put that money away and I saved. Then, when it came time to start university, I was able to buy my iBook all on my own. My first big, grown up purchase. I was terribly proud of myself.

What I have come to realize, though, is that my financial life lessons started long before this purchase. When I was five, Mattel released this Barbie camping van and I just had to have it. I suppose I felt that while her Corvette was nice, sometimes Barbie just needed more space. So, my sister (age three) and I approached our parents and asked if they would buy it for us.

The answer was no. It wasn't either of our birthdays, nor was it anywhere near Christmas, so, no van for us. However, our parents were open to making a deal. If we worked for it and saved our pennies, when we had enough, they would take us to Kmart and we could buy it for ourselves. 

Deal! For the next few months, my sister and I did chores and put our coins in baby food jars in the kitchen. I don't remember what we did exactly and given our ages, I'm sure it wasn't actually that complicated, but the point is, we worked for it and we could see that we were saving.

Finally, the day came and we had earned enough. We were off to Kmart! But, before we went, my sister and I sat down together and discussed our purchase. We had worked so hard and earned so much, did we really want to spend it? Should we keep saving for something else instead? Together we decided that the van was worth it and so we made the purchase.

It wasn't until years later that we told our parents about this discussion. My dad swears he didn't intend for it to be such a watershed moment for us, but the fact is, it was. My sister was three and she remembers. This is a lesson we learned early in life and I am grateful for it.

People don't get these lessons anymore. I think all I have to do is point to Rebecca Black to make that point. But I don't think the world has changed so much in these 20 odd years to say that the lesson isn't relevant anymore. You're supposed to work hard to get what you want. You shouldn't just be able to buy your way into success. There is value in earning your heart's desire. There's satisfaction in not having things handed over to you.

So, in two weeks I'll be trekking into my grown up life, armed with proper life skills. I don't expect to be an overnight success; I expect to work hard to get what I want. And not only that is entirely all right with me I'm really looking forward to it- just like I did with my iBook and Barbie van.

My Life in Computers, Part Four: The iMac

It's been a while since I did one of these. Clearly I've been a little distracted lately, but never fear, my Mac-owner obsession with my old technology is still going strong.

This is our iMac. Original form, slot loading, second or third generation. When they released these, the the ad campaign was about how cool the colours were and how easy it was to set up and immediately connect to the internet.

Connecting to the internet was the reason we got it. My siblings and I finally convinced our parents that high speed internet was the way to go and a new iMac was required to get us there. Our dad only demanded that we get graphite instead of one of the fun colours, which was reasonable.

There's a lot I could write about with the iMac: My first (and ongoing) battle with my ISP, my confusion about why everyone wanted to "stay connected" through Hi5 or Bebo when we saw each other every day at school anyway, or the time when my brother spilled a can of pop in the keyboard. But, that's not what really sticks out right now about this computer.

Now, I am clearly a big Mac fan. I doubt I'll ever own anything else, but what this iMac has made me think of lately is the fact that while Apple sets technology trends and are definitely ahead of the curve, if you're looking to be a Mac user, wait a couple of generations before getting the product. My iMac is awesome, the generation before it, not so much. It was loud, had a traditional CD drive, and the mouse sucked.

Apple gets big ideas, runs with them and then observes and makes adjustments. Don't get me wrong, it clearly works for them. I mean, they're way ahead in the tablet market with the iPad and like with the iPod, I think it's too late for anyone to catch them. But, like the changes Apple made to the iMac brand, the second iPad has made vast improvements over the first version and it's only going to get better from here.

With Apple, waiting pays off. My iMac still works and I don't think that will change anytime soon.

Register Before You Travel

Watching the stunning Japanese earthquake/tsunami coverage has reminded me of something very important that I think many Canadians aren't aware of.

When the coverage started, I read on the CBC Newsworld crawl that there are just over a thousand Canadians who registered that they are in Japan. Now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that there are over 11,000 Canadians in Japan. Estimating in a time of crisis is not what I think we should be doing.

So, since I know many of my friends like to travel, I wanted to post the link to the online Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA). What is it? Well, simply put, "ROCA is a free service that enables you to sign up and be contacted and assisted by government officials in case of an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or informed about an emergency at home."

It's that simple. They'll come get you if something bad happens. I've signed up for three different vacations, and thankfully, I haven't had to use it, but I think these days, this kind of precaution is invaluable.

It's Chicken Day!

A few weeks ago, Justin Bieber was asked what restaurant he would eat at if he could fly anywhere in the world. The teen star replied he wanted to have a quarter chicken dinner at Swiss Chalet in Canada.

Photo from TheStar.com

The timing of Bieber's quote couldn't have been better for Swiss Chalet and Rogers Cable. Starting tomorrow, Rogers customers will be treated to a 24-hour "fireplace channel"-esque Chicken Channel, featuring two spits of rotating Swiss Chalet Chicken. It will run for 13 weeks on channel 208.

This idea is the brainchild of BBDO Toronto and marks the first time a company has approached a cable company about having a channel devoted to their product. The channel will be largely unbranded, but a promotional code will occasionally pop up and direct watchers to Swiss Chalet's Facebook page to get a deal.

According to Swiss Chalet, the idea is to celebrate rotisserie chicken, the chicken Canadians love. According to me, the idea is brilliant PR. The news release and accompanying YouTube video have done all the work for Swiss Chalet. Every major newspaper has filed a story about it already and I'm sure it will be on the news tomorrow night. Swiss Chalet has garnered the attention of social media, too. People are talking, tweeting and blogging about the Chicken Channel. All Swiss Chalet has to do is show up with chicken on a spit on Monday and they're a winner.

I don't think people will watch all day for all 13 weeks of course, but who isn't going to tune in occasionally to see if they can get a deal? Who doesn't want Swiss Chalet? These are the feelings both companies are banking on, but it's only half the point- Swiss Chalet has done something new and different, got people's attention and got them talking. They will forever be remembered as the first company to try this, whatever the result and that is impressive.

I confess...

I'm enjoying Twitter.

I didn't expect this to happen. I never thought I would be in this position, but here I am. It wormed its way into my internet usage and I think I would actually be sad if I had to give it up.

Now, lest anyone think I have gone overboard on the Twitter Kool-Aid, let me clarify that I still think at least 90 per cent of Twitter is crap, but I realize that just puts it in line with the rest of the Internet.

Over the last two months, I truly have enjoyed the instant and generally random communication with my friends (especially the Tuxedo Mask conversation) and reading the random headlines they come up with (incidentally, I think that Twitter needs a "like" function, but I digress). Also, I've discovered I like posting my own thoughts in 140 characters or less. It's much more me than a blog post.

Photo from cnn.com

What really solidified my new opinion about Twitter, however, was this photo. This photo taught me there is meaning in social media.

I feel that following #Egypt and reporters like Ben Wedeman and Anderson Cooper while they were on the ground during the revolution in Egypt on Twitter connected me to the story in a way I had never experienced before. I knew what was really happening in real time, with no commercial breaks. No talking heads got in the way; it was just the news as people who were there saw it happening literally right before their eyes, all day, every day. 

In online PR class on Thursday, we were shown this CBC news report about how social media helps in times of crisis. Keith Boag sums up how it was used to help Haiti pretty nicely. The truth is, social media has connected us all on a whole new level, and, as the report shows, the possibilities are endless.

So, what's my point? I suppose it's simply that I am happy I get to be a part of it. It's a remarkable medium that has changed global communication permanently. It can simultaneously be frivolous, fun, powerful and revolutionary. That's quite the accomplishment for 140 characters.

My Life in Computers: Part Three, The Powerbook 180

Now this is old school.

My dad brought the Powerbook home from work in 1993. It had a black and white screen, a ball for a mouse and weighed about 7 lbs.

And, as a tribute to how well Apple builds electronics, I want everyone to know that it still works.

When I was a kid and we were up at the cottage in the summer, I would spend hours playing games on the Powerbook. My dad would say I was "dissipating my youth" and try to get me outside, but I was more interested in old Mac games like Solitaire, Oregon Trail and Stunt Copter. 

When I think about it, computers were so much fun right away, it's no wonder that almost 20 years later we want to be able to carry them around in our pockets 24/7.

What's truly remarkable is that even with the enormous leaps forward in technology, we're still playing the same games! Solitaire is ubiquitous, Oregon Trail was just released on Facebook and Stunt Copter is available for download through iTunes. I'm not sure if this means as a culture we need to grow up or if it means that entertainment was perfected in the early 90's, but either way, these little 1-bit games have shaped the way an entire generation sees entertainment.

I think the nostalgia factor of these games if fantastic. It makes my day knowing that that they're available in modern platforms. However, even though they're so much fun and so easy to play, and "Just one more level!" seems like a wonderful excuse, I will do my best to remember that my dad was right- it's still important to play outside.

My Life in Computers: Part Two, The Centris 610

It's funny what people remember.

The Centris 610 was my first real computer. I'll never forget the "Mac" sound it would make when it booted up and dissipating my youth playing classic games like Sim Farm, Sim City, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, Civilization and Myst.

The Centris came home when I was nine and wasn't replaced until I was 16. In fact, it was still working up until 2008. It was the first computer I used to get online using a dial up modem that would inexplicably kick me off the internet every two hours.

When I told my sister I was going to blog about the Centris, her eyes lit up. She has very specific memories about this machine. She vividly remembers going to the Mac Store with our dad to buy it. They picked it up and brought it home. Our dad even let her pick out a game, "Annabel Dream Cat" as she remembers calling it. It was a huge deal. Now, many kids (in this country anyway) are born into homes with computers and, thanks to their proud parents, are on Facebook before they even open their eyes. Then, they grow up with hand-held games that have more processing power than was ever imaginable when the Centris was built. "Bringing the first computer home" just isn't a part of their life experience. Having a computer isn't a big deal. This isn't a complaint, I just like thinking about how far we've come.

I'm a fan of evolution and change and I don't think anything in my life has changed more than the technology I use on a daily basis. That said, if I could, I'd still be using the Centris to play Sim Farm.

Geographic Fandom

In honour of Green Bay's epic victory on Sunday, I decided to write a blog post about my love of sports. I don't actually play any since I am not a very co-ordinated person and I have a messed up knee. The truth is, about the closest I have ever gotten to playing competitively is wearing my "No, I don't play basketball" t-shirt. That said, I do enjoy watching pro and amateur sports.

Watching sporting events has always been a part of family life for us. Every year since before I was born, my aunt and uncle host a Grey Cup party and my family hosts a Super Bowl party. Everyone gets together and there is enough food to feed the entire NFL. These are really fond memories for me, especially from back when my cousins and I were little and would play running pad in the basement together all night.

What really got me interested in sports, however, was when I realized I could use watching the games to my advantage. I have always been a night owl and staying up past my bedtime was a nightly goal for me when I was a kid. One night, I sat with my dad and watched hockey with him. When he started to shuffle me off to bed, I asked a question about the game. That bought me at least half an hour.

It was brilliant. It didn't matter what sport he was watching, there was always something to ask about. "Why did they do that?" "What are the lines on the ice for?" "How come there are four (or three) downs?" The list was endless.

One night, I decided that it was time to pick sides. Toronto wasn't playing, so I asked my dad which team was geographically closest to Toronto to decide who would have my allegiance for the evening. This sparked many an interesting conversation, actually, since my dad had to try to figure out which team was closer to Toronto without the benefit of Google Maps. This carried on for several nights until once night, after my dad answered my question, I gleefully exclaimed, "Go Buffalo!

"No," was my dad's stern reply. "We do not cheer for Buffalo." Apparently there was more to being a fan than geography.

Over the years, I've created my own list of favourite teams in every major professional sport there is (and no, Buffalo teams don't make the cut). Even though I know geography isn't everything, Toronto teams will always have a special place in my heart. Even when they're terrible and it looks like there is no hope.

I'm still asking questions, too, like "Is the ref blind?!" or "Why did he swing at that?!" even though I don't get the answers I want anymore. The point is, though, for me watching games will always be about having fun with my family and friends, staying up too late and eating way too much.

What more could anyone ask for?

My Life in Computers: Part One, The Spelling Starter and an early PR lesson

My life has been changed by web 2.0. What started with signing up for Facebook has expanded to Twitter, TweetDeck and now to a blog.

All these changes started me wondering about how computers became such an integral part of my life. As I thought back, my first memory of working with a computer was my Fisher Price Spelling Starter. I was five and it was my absolute favourite toy. There were nine different activities that taught me to spell and I spent thousands of hours learning.

After at least two years of near-constant use, it finally broke. My mom, being the type of person she is, wrote Fisher Price a letter, thanking them for making such a great toy. A few weeks later, a new Spelling Starter was sitting on my doorstep. No charge. Our warranty long expired. No questions asked.

These days, getting a replacement product from some companies is like pulling teeth. If something is one day past the warranty expiration date, good luck to you. Now that I am a PR student, I have a greater appreciation of how impressive what Fisher Price did for me is. Sure, it was extremely small-scale, but my mom told everyone she knew back then about it. Had it happened in the age of mommy-bloggers today, I am sure the results would have been very positive for the company. My point is, thanks to school and this experience, I've learned that there's always an opportunity to build goodwill with your public that can have long-lasting results.

Plus, it really was a cool toy.

Next time: My Centris 610.