National Downshifting Week

Probably should be "International Downshifting Week" by now.

21st to 27th April 2007 is National Downshifting Week. Click the button below to see how you can take part.

A Week Off

We are taking a week off podcasting (again) and so there will be no podcast until next weekend.

Following on from last week's immigration rant on the podcast, Jerry and Gemma on their Passive Solar Living blog highlighted a change to the Provincial Nominee Program which may provide hope for graduates of Nova Scotia colleges.

"In 2006-2007 - We will continue to expand the program by implementing another stream – an international graduates’ category – which would allow international students, who have graduated from Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions and who have related employment, apply for permanent residency."

Full details on their blog here

If you are stuck for something to listen to, we recommend you try (if you haven't already):

Geek.Farm.Life
Or The Now Show, BBC Newspod, and From our Own Correspondent all from the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Speak to you next week.

Take care,

Matt and AJ
xxxx

Budget Week

Yes its budget time in the UK and Canada (Federal budget here was on Monday).

Last year I was in the Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) on budget day, meeting government ministers, a guest of our Member of Parliament and his wife, sat in the visitors gallery of the House of Commons and Lords, lunch in Portcullis House, traveling to London by First Class train.

This year I have taken AJ to college, taken the dog for a walk and this afternoon I am training on the new checkout system at work - so a bit of a change.

Do I miss it? Yes, a little bit.

Do I regret the move? Not for one minute!

Podcast 54

Right click the orange podcast logo above and "save file as" or "save target as" to download (25mb) or right click here for dialup version at 8.3mb.

> Oak tree down – rotten down one side – need to buy a chainsaw now.

> Spring - thawing. Winter storm last night.

> March break

> Job news - AJ

> Woody woodpecker – a pileated woodpecker

> Geek of the Week – new podcast from www.acountrylife.com coming soon

> Census – population drop in rural Nova Scotia - turns into a rant about immigration and how NS should fast track immigration to the rural parts of Nova Scotia. New Brunswick has a better provincial nominee program for entrepreneurs.

> Trying to reduce clear cutting – satellite images showing forestry in NS – on the news showed our house from the air – well the general area.

> Need sustainable woodland management

> Jerry and Gemma – good luck with their house building plans – starting very soon. Blogging it.

> Google Sketch Up



> Still some windows and doors to add

> AJ has bought some books

> Smaller file size – mono for dialup – thanks Daniel

Bad Things
AJ - bored with snow
Matt – work – had its moments this week

Good things
AJ - Dylan
Matt – broadband again

Chad Hatcher and Classified

Podcast 53

Right click the orange podcast logo above and "save file as" or "save target as" to download (20.4mb) or right click here for 40k dialup version at 10.2mb.

> Take 2

> First podcast in satellite digital broadband
- Frees the phone line - its faster - but not as fast as we had in the UK.
- Digging post hole in a snow storm and minus 15 degree windchill - pick axe
- Trying to keep concrete warm

> AJ has enjoyed using Youtube and Google Earth

> Podcasts
- The Now Show – very very funny – very middle class and our generation. 22 minutes. Political satire – we love it.
Catching up on –
- Geek.Farm.Life
- Daily Source Code
- Canadian Podcast Buffet

We will try different quality settings on our dialup version - this week 40k - feedback is appreciated.

> BBC 30 things which have changed in the UK

> AJ looks at trucks – and gets told that an older truck costing less really costs more than a 2007 brand new model. Some people's trucks must be worth more than their houses.

> Been here for 2 clock changes

> An email with a yarn about yarn - kind offer from a knitter

> Frappr update and shoutout - read fast not like Clement Freud being ponderous on Just a Minute.

Bad Things
Matt - more weather moans - the snow and the Jeep sliding one way and then the next
AJ - icicles on eyelashes

Good things
AJ - March break
Matt – higher speed internet

Ground Station Alpha

This is ground control to Major Tom.. our internet is now routed via satellite to get us off the dreaded dialup. Its a big dish but hasn't pulled over the post we dug in during -15 degree windchill and snow storm last week.

The connection is certainly faster than dialup but not super fast like the 2mb DSL (broadband down the phone line) we had in the UK.

We have a "no contract" payment plan which although more expensive for set up means if other options become available we can move to cheaper alternatives quickly.

Podcast 52

Right click the orange podcast logo above and "save file as" or "save target as" to download (8.54mb)

Storm

Post

Visitors

Eclipse







The Now Show

Lovely email from Paula – listened to all our podcasts – torture!

Full week of course

Gimpyness update

Bad Things
AJ - snow storm
Matt - snow storm

Good things
AJ - tea
Matt – sunshine and moonlight