I have had a rough time of it as of late.
First, there was the weekend of -50 C wind chills. Then I took my car into the repair shop and now it's sitting there waiting to get its transmission fixed. So I've ended up more or less grounded, reduced to staying inside at home.
In the past, this would mean one thing: I would turn on the TV and sit there for hours on end.
But I find my tolerance for TV to be low. Maybe it's all the stupid reality shows. Maybe it's the infomercials. In any case, I find I get fidgety easily these days in front of the TV. I'd get bored, then I'd switch to something else and get bored all over again.
Inevitably I'll turn on the iPad in frustration. Now, a lot of people hail the iPad as this great invention to send emails and text people and so on. But let's face facts, people. The real reason people use the iPad is to watch TV.
Some people use it for Netflix. Others will use it stream episodes of their favourite shows. As for me, I use it to watch the news, live, as it happens from all across the globe.
The best part is seeing how all these local channels will cover their crises. A good example of that has been the continuing coverage of the Ukraine.
I found some feeds of Ukrainian all-news channels on the Internet. Their cameras were camped out in Independence Square in Kiev, covering the protests live.
The fires would be burning and people would stand up there and give speeches, and while I couldn't understand a word they were saying, they sure seemed upset.
The activities of the Russians in the Crimea have been a big story during the crisis. I've been trying to get news on the situation from the Russian state-run "RT" news channel, which broadcasts in English.
They were running the live feed from Independence Square near the bottom of their screen for a while. But an even bigger story has been the reaction of their own anchors to the situation.
I notice some of them have gotten fed up toeing the Russian government line and are venting their frustration live on the air. One host, Abby Martin, blasted Russia for their actions in the Ukraine live on her show. Another, Liz Wahl, quit her anchor job live on TV, denouncing the "whitewashing" of President Putin's actions. I really ought to tune into RT more often. You never know who will spout off next.
Another channel available online is CCTV, the state-owned channel from China. They seem to be running several international stories as of late, but didn't seem to have coverage of a domestic story of great importance.
That story is of the smog and pollution that has made life miserable for people there lately. People are wearing masks and are basically choking in the streets. It's awful!
But CCTV News didn't have much coverage of that when I tuned in. They did, however, have coverage of crazed dictator Kim Jong-un from North Korea and his missile tests. It's nice to see they aren't ignoring that story.
Some of you may think all this international news has little to do with our daily lives in the Battlefords, but it does. The news about the Ukraine impacts on all those of Ukrainian descent here. As for Kim Jong-un, his missile antics might be of interest to any local baseball players who might be in South Korea this coming season.
As for China, I understand some of you might sign up with the local Chamber for a China trip in September. When you go, be sure to pack the oxygen masks.
Personally, I have family connections to South Africa, so I find news out of there interesting and important.
In fact, I visited Pretoria years ago. News insomniacs surely know that is the scene for the live coverage of the sensational Oscar Pistorius murder trial right now.
That's the former "blade runner" Olympian accused of the cold-blooded murder of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
The South African courts have allowed television cameras in to cover the trial, so the live feeds from SABC and other channels have all been going full blast. Still, I find it a hassle to stay awake to watch the trial in the middle of the night, just as it was a hassle watching the Winter Olympics in the middle of the night.
So far I haven't tuned into the coverage of any of the unrest in Venezuela, though there are no shortage of Venezuelan channels to choose from. Instead, I tuned into the Brazilian TV for their coverage of "Carnaval" down there.
Let me tell you, Brazilians know how to party, and it sure looks warmer down there than here. The women in the streets were wearing the skimpiest clothing, and the Brazilian TV channels featured no shortage of beer ads.
The impression I got watching that is Brazil is "Mexico on steroids" - 10 times the party atmosphere and about as much liquor.
Now here is a question I have. Why isn't the local Chamber organizing any trips to Brazil?
Brazil looks like fun. For one thing, it's hot and there are miles of beaches. Plus, you might even get to see the rainforests and the "Christ the Redeemer" statue. Think about it Chamber: Brazil should be the next stop after China.
All these live streams are a reminder that there is a big world out there. Thanks to modern technology, it keeps shrinking every day.
