Home

Alberta's New Logo

Details

Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Images

Published: 27 February 2020

Hits: 1263

Saw this making the rounds on the internet, today's tempest in a Teacup. The energy company named is denying that it's them, which is perfect, because if it isn't the Conservatives can grab it and make it the new Alberta Logo.

I'm not sure what all the outrage is about, really. It is that offensive, to be sure, but it's only that offensive because it's true. Maybe if Alberta could get away from the memory of easy money it could find it's way forward, but not under this government...

Hospitality done right

Details

Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Restaurants & Cafes

Published: 27 February 2020

Hits: 1469

The Keg, Downtown Calgary

Now - having a couple of posts ago recounted a friend's ordeal I'll compare it with my own application to the Keg Downtown. Typically I avoid chains, preferring the quality and uniqueness of owner/operated restaurants, but beggars can't be choosers and if I had to move up in a restaurant my research indicated that The Keg treats it's management pretty well.

So I pop in and drop off a resume. The hostess takes it and invites me to complete an application. This, I find generally, a bit repetitive, but I understand they need it for their paperwork, and so I sit on a bench and fill it in, then return to the front desk to submit it. 

The hostess is on the phone, a well groomed/dressed young waiter takes over and receives my resume, asks me to wait a moment while he finds a manager. The manager introduces himself, walks me into a quiet corner, sits down, reviews my resume. Well dressed as well, perhaps half my age. It's short, there's nothing to ask, my experience and qualifications are apparent, he'll pass it on, thanks me for my interest.

Now - simple things, small things, the smallest of attentions paid by the people you're "prospectively" going to work with/for. Done right, and it's remarkable - because - in all the places I've applied - so seldom has it been done right, and I appreciate it. Maybe 5 minutes of their time, yet not the complete devaluation of your interest that most other employers dismiss you with.

Compare this to Joey Tomatoes. 

The Keg. Hospitality done right.

Which recounts one other good story in Calgary - I applied once to a job in Bridgeland, locally famous (now defunct I believe) Italian Trattoria. The hostess took the resume to the owner, who returned and walked me upstairs to his office. Now, I didn't know the owner, only his reputation, which was formidable (think of the last Italian place I worked at), yet he was hospitable, offered me coffee, then apologized - he wasn't hiring at the moment, but then took the time to get on the phone and call a few other Italian restaurants he knew of in the neighborhood to see if they were looking. 

Again, Hospitality done right. You notice it because in Calgary - and the world at large, in general, - it isn't.

El Topo

Details

Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Film

Published: 27 February 2020

Hits: 1336

Been meaning to re-watch this forever, Alejandro Jodorowsky's famous "Acid Western", so started it last night and got about a quarter into it. A few early second impressions.

First of all, his innate and intuitive understanding of symbolism. What works for the scene. If you've not seen the film I'll warn you - it's written almost entirely in the language of symbolism, and has to be interpreted as such. And - if you take it on those terms, it's a masterpiece. If you don't - well, maybe don't see it. 

So I arrive at the scene where our hero is dealing with "The General" - no spoilers - but - the obvious and apparent solution to many of today's political struggles is foreshadowed here, and by that I'm thinking of a certain President Trump as the General. 

Anyways, it just struck me, The resemblance between the General and the President, and I'll come back to this when I've finished the film, there's a fair bit of it left to watch, but - like "The Wailing" - so many of our problems are so simple - and expedient - to solve, only we're afraid of dealing to others the same treatment they're only too comfortable dealing to us.