Category Archive: Zeitgeist

Merry Christmas - my fire log video

Posted by Mike Klassen on December 25, 2011

Computer screens and now high-definition TV screens are made warm by this odd fascination we have with watching a fireplace burn. We don't have a fireplace (we had one removed from our house last year), however, our friends do. As they hosted us last week I decided to shoot my own yule log iPhone video.

It's mercifully short at only 47 seconds – so enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!

Tagged: fire log, shaw tv

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Happy Hanukkah!

Posted by Mike Klassen on December 20, 2011

Happy Hanukkah to all of my fabulous Jewish friends

Today (December 20th) is the first day of Hanukkah in this year's calendar. To all of my Jewish friends, and the many new friends from the Jewish community I've made over the past year, Happy Hanukkah! A simple explanation of this holiday comes from the Washington Post:

“Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BCE after the Temple had been profaned by the Hellenistic Emperor Antiochus IV.
At the time of the rededication, there was just one day’s worth of pure oil left that was needed to keep the Temple menorah burning. But tradition says a great miracle happened: It lasted for eight days.
Each year, Jews light candles in their hanukkiot (Hanukkah menorahs) to symbolize the miracle. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is placed in the menorah. On each successive night, another candle is added. By the last night of Hanukkah, eight candles are glowing brightly in celebration of this beautiful festival.

To those who know me and my family, you know that we like to have fun. So here is a heavy metal version of The Dreidel Song featuring me, Stacey & Sophie produced with the help of Jib-Jab, as my more fun Hanukkah greeting. See it embedded below...

Continue reading "Happy Hanukkah!" »

Tagged: happy hanukkah, jib-jab

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Shana Tova Umetukah

Posted by Mike Klassen on September 29, 2011

"A Good and Sweet Year" – photo: WikiCommons

Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, began last evening and is celebrated by gatherings of family and friends. Traditional foods to mark the occasion include apples, honey & wine, all symbols of the harvest. "Shana Tova Umetukah!" (a good and sweet new year) to all my friends celebrating this important holiday.

Read from Vancouver Sun: Shofar ends spiritual slumber on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur

Tagged: harvest, jewish new year, rosh hashanah, wine

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Will you support my bid for a Vancouver city council seat?

Posted by Mike Klassen on May 3, 2011

I'd like to ask for your help in helping me to secure a city council nomination for the Vancouver NPA on June 4th, 2011.

In order to do so you, or a friend or family member who is entitled to vote in Vancouver's upcoming civic election would have to become a member of the NPA.

The deadline to become a member is this Wednesday, May 4th.

You can easily sign-up online at: www.npavancouver.ca/member

The fee is only $10, and up to four members of a household can purchase memberships through one credit card or cheque payment.

As you can probably guess, I'm pretty passionate about our city. I think that I bring the listening skills and thoughtful approach that we're so often looking for in our political leaders. I can only bring forward the important issues facing our city with your help.

Please read a speech that I recently gave to friends, family and the media as I announced some of the reasons why I am running to represent you at Vancouver City Hall. You can download a PDF copy here.

You can also visit my campaign website at klassenforvancouver.com, follow me @MikeKlassen on Twitter, and "Like" my candidate page at Facebook.com/klassenforvancouver.

To receive occasional campaign update emails, click here to sign up.

Feel free to email me at mike@klassenforvancouver.com if you have questions.

Thanks very much!

Mike Klassen

Tagged: city council campaign, city-making, community building, neighbourhoods, vancouver, vancouver city hall

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An out of the ordinary evening with the Foo Fighters

Posted by Mike Klassen on April 14, 2011

The Foo Fighters' Back and Forth documentary will delight more than just hard core fans

It was a rare mid-week night out for me and Stacey. Even more rare because we went to a giant-ass Cineplex to catch a movie. Are forty-something parents supposed to do this kind of thing? We bought a pair of tickets to see Back and Forth, the terrific documentary on the life of the Foo Fighters. It was the first time I think I've been to a satellite broacast of a movie, although I know that this kind of show is commonplace with big wrestling and ultimate fights.

The documentary was a pretty good tale of the band's 17-year history. You heard from all members of the band, both current and past musicians, on their part in the big world of Mr. Grohl. You don't get a lot of dirt on these guys, with the exception of the description of drummer Taylor Hawkins' drug addiction. What you do get is a real flavour for the thrill Grohl and his band members feel creating their big rock sound.

Dave Grohl is like so many kids from North American suburbs raised on records. He worships bands like Queen and Led Zeppelin, but maintains a close connection to the American hardcore post-punk sound. One of the best moments in the film is when he invites Bob Mould, a music legend known for his work with Hüsker Du and Sugar, as well as lately as the composer of The Daily Show intro. Mould is a powerhouse figure but his scene cutting some vocals with Grohl is as low key as a neighbour dropping by to borrow a skill saw. Grohl can hardly contain his inner fanboy during it.

Stacey and I were particularly thrilled to see footage from the very first Foos' tour in 1995 in support of Grohl's cassette demo debut. They played the Commodore Ballroom in support of headliner Mike Watt, who was riding high on a hit titled Against the 70s sung by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. It's a killer song and Vedder had his own f**k band in the evening's line-up called Hovercraft. Vedder played the drums, and didn't sing a note that evening back in September 1995, if I recall correctly. It was a bummer as Vedder really added to Watts' song.

Continue reading "An out of the ordinary evening with the Foo Fighters" »

Tagged: bob mould, commodore ballroom, dave grohl, documentary, foo fighters, kurt cobain, music west, nirvana, rock gods, seattle

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Signs of Spring 2011

Posted by Mike Klassen on April 5, 2011

East 39th Avenue & Victoria Drive last weekend. Hope for spring's arrival yet

Count me among Vancouverites who are craving a little more warmth and sun than Mother Nature has provided B.C.'s south coast already this year. It was a lovely out for at least part of last weekend, and I had my camera while out running some errands. While standing to take a shot of the cherry blossoms a cyclist darted across through the lane. It turned out to be a good moment to capture during this otherwise cool and dreary weather.

By clicking the above shot you can see a larger version of it.

Tagged: cherry blossoms, cycling, east vancouver, photography, spring 2011

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Catching up: my recent 24 Hours columns, plus two interviews

Posted by Mike Klassen on December 18, 2009

Sometimes things get away on you...

It's been a very busy 2009 and I've enjoyed joining in on a public dialogue on a number of issues through CityCaucus.com, and as well the half-dozen or so columns I've written so far for Vancouver's 24 Hours Newspaper. Here are links to a couple of the most recent columns:

I've also done 2 interviews lately, both focused on a "year-end look" at City Hall politics. My friend Jonathon Narvey re-kickstarted his podcast with this interview.

Another friend who as it happens lives in my neighbourhood, the accomplished Joseph Planta of TheCommentary.ca, did this recent interview with me. Joe's got some other great interviews that I really need to take the time to listen to.

Tagged: 24 hours, interviews, jonathon narvey, joseph planta, podcasts

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My hernia operation: just another Canadian health care story

Posted by Mike Klassen on December 3, 2009

Burnaby Hospital, in the heart of Metro Vancouver. Photo: Vancouver Sun

I don't usually share personal details on my blog, but I don't mind telling those who will read this about my recent experience of using our Canadian health care system. I should point out that calling it "Canadian" is a bit of a misnomer, as health budgets are managed by provinces. However, the Canada Health Act is federal legislation, and it dictates how provinces (like British Columbia, or B.C., where I live) distribute health care to all Canadians.

I've heard of health care stories in the USA where people are stuck covering large bills for insurance and treatment. I've also heard of insurance companies altering their terms of coverage after people get sick. I've read testimonials of people who are destitute because they got sick and were stuck with large costs. Some lost their ability to earn a living because of these illnesses, and lose homes and valued possessions trying to pay their bills. How commonplace this is I cannot say.

Here's my experience, with as much detail as I can recall.

One morning just under a couple of months ago I noticed a lump in my groin. It was not sore, but big enough standing up that it bulged out of my lower abdomen about the size of an apple sliced in half. It was not a good day for me after I noticed this, as I feared the worse.

I rang my family doctor, but as it turns out he was on one of his rare vacation breaks. I was anxious enough that I felt that I should check it right away, so I attended a local clinic that evening. When I arrived about 7:30pm I was told that the waiting list was full, but I could check another clinic which they called to check for me. There was no wait at the other clinic, so I drove about 10 minutes to the second clinic.

I waited about five minutes in the lobby, then was told I could wait inside one of the patient rooms. In there I sat about 25 minutes. The doctor came in, had a look and told me that I had a hernia. At the time he suggested that I could wait for my family doctor to return from vacation, and get a referral for a surgeon then. I left the clinic that evening with a big load off my mind.

When I arrived home I had a message to call the clinic back. Some of the anxiety crept back in at that point. The doctor told me upon reflection that he didn't want to take any chances, and that I should go to emergency to have it checked out. In rare cases hernia's can result in twisted bowels, and cause more damage inside.

Continue reading "My hernia operation: just another Canadian health care story" »

Tagged: bc medical card, british columbia, burnaby hospital, canada, canadian health care, general anesthetic, inguinal hernia, medical care, surgery

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