It's been a while since we've spent some quality time together... so when these lapses in blogging occur, it's time to haul out the old stalwart of blogging tools -- The List.

- A mentor of mine once told me "move like you're going somewhere."  She is one of the smartest people I've ever known... and it's her advice I impart to the drivers of Saskatoon.  Really folks... it's a long weekend, we know your brains are in park... but seriously.  If you've decided to put the key in the ignition and put your hands on the wheel -- move like you're going somewhere.  It's not a hard idea to comprehend.  Saskatoon drivers are quite possibly the worst in this province for lack of attention, lack of motivation, and lack of general road knowledge.  Looking for a good book to read on your week off?  Try the driver's training handbook.  You might learn something.

- I finally got an iPhone.  It is like a tiny piece of awesome in my hands -- and is everything I hoped for.  Just for the record, the plan I decided to go with was the My5 Canada-Wide (450 anytime minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends, and unlimited calling and texting to any 5 numbers in the great white north).  I bundled that with the $30 data plan (6GB of traffic) for the grand total of $70 a month.  Not a bad plan, really... and I'm surprised how little data transfer the phone uses.  Hmmm... I might be noshing on some crow after all.

- This weekend, I sat with my dad and we watched CPAC.  Yep... the Cable Public Affairs Channel.  (We're nerds for this stuff.)  It was another great episode of democracy inaction (yes, that is the conjoined word and not a typo) as the Standing Committee on Information, Privacy and Ethics grilled Marc Mayrand, Canada's Chief Electoral Officer.  At issue was the way the Conservatives conducted themselves during the 2006 federal election campaign.

By far, the star of the session was Nepean-Carleton Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre.  If I ever needed to find someone who tell a five year old there's no such thing as unicorns, this is the guy.  Pompous, self-serving, and overtly self referential... he's THAT GUY in the bar.  He's THAT GUY in your fantasy football draft night.  He's THAT GUY at the wedding.  Mr. Poilievre -- you, sir, are *stellar*.

It really is sad that debate can go on for over an hour on a motion that doesn't really accomplish anything.  And we wonder why real business never gets done in Ottawa.

- Speaking of Ottawa... I was in the nation's capital fleetingly for a couple of days last week.  If you've never been there, you have to go.  It is a gorgeous city filled with friendly folks.

- For those of you who say you'd never travel to "that part of the country" (and in general to the folks who've lately been bashing Ontario and Quebec) -- you're not real Canadians.  Real Canadians explore this country.  Real Canadians care about other parts of the country.  If you don't, you're just a myopic fool.  When you stand back and look at our attitudes in the west, you can understand where the sentiment of "...we'll take the rest" comes from.

- Of note from the Ontario file... they're now running ads on TV for retraining programs for folks who've lost their jobs.  Reality check : there is a recession bubbling up in that part of the country.  Not everyone can move west to get a new job.  Not everyone can work in the oil patch.  Something's gotta give...

- Yet another sign I'm growing up.  The Vans Warped Tour makes its inaugural tour stop in Saskatoon this week.  I'd love channel my inner punk and go... but I've got a mountain of work on my desk.  Sigh... to be young and foolish...

That's it.

Have a good week.

John Himpe is Program Director of News Talk Radio in Sasakatchewan Saskatchewan.