The Unknown Studio

OK, let’s see a show of hands for people that have made a resolution, or even had the idea that they want to make fitness a priority in the coming year. That’s right, pretty much everyone has a hand in the air right now. I can’t say that I will suggest anything you haven’t heard before, but maybe I will.

Many people want to sign up with a gym in January. You see these people on tours or signing papers at member’s services every year. This can be an excellent option. A gym offers you variety and a social environment. Some have pools, climbing walls, squash courts, group classes, or multi-purpose gymnasiums. Still, the most important factor in selecting a gym is location, location, location. Will you be more likely to go to the gym before work, during your lunch break or after work? Depending on when you plan to go, that should help you select a location. I’m able to go to the gym in the morning or after work. If I go home first, I’m not likely to get up and go to the gym, and I know that. So, my facility is on my way home from work. You need to be honest with yourself, or you may struggle with your goals. Most people who go first thing in the morning find the most sucess making this a habit and putting their time in. If its done first thing in the morning, when life throws a wrench in your plan on unexpected plans come up later in the day it doesn’t interfere with your workout plans.

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Popularity: 13% [?]

There’s been something of a debate buzzing as to whether or not city councillors in Edmonton should tweet during council meetings. In a recent article on CBC.ca, Councillor Kerry Diotte was quoted as saying:

“This is a good way to keep the public informed directly and I’ve had a really good response to it.”

I think the councillor is correct — there’s a definitely value to receiving key council information directly from the city, and in real time. However, in the context of one of the last council meetings, Diotte wasn’t occasionally firing out a tweet about interesting discussion items. It was more like he was live-tweeting the council meeting. Live-tweeting a public meeting is not — and should not be — the province of an elected official. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 25% [?]

In theory, the most efficient method to get to work and school.

Well boys and girls, let me tell you a story. The City of Calgary, a place full of cowboy hats, wranglers and on clear days a beautiful view of the mountains also had a fairly successful public transit system. Thousands of people would take both the LRT and busses to get them to their shopping, jobs or schools. The system was not fool proof or weather proof, but it wasn’t horrible.

You know what happened next boys and girls? The Calgary City Council decided that it would be a good idea to charge LRT passengers a $3 daily fee to park their cars in the LRT parking lots. This fee was to be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Why would they do this? The council decided that this was the only way to ensure the safety of the vehicles and passengers, the only way to pay for the increased security that was needed.

The city of Edmonton is a similar city. There are still wranglers and some cowboy hats, but definitely more liberal and artsy fartsy people and no mountain view whether the sky is cloudy or not. A park and ride fee was suggested to the Edmonton City council, but for some reason, this council saw the extra fee as unnecessary or just a bad idea overall.

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Popularity: 22% [?]

Ah promises. You know I love em. But I’m always skeptical of construction completion dates when it comes to infrastructure projects. I don’t care which order of government is the lead on the project, it almost never comes in on time or on budget. And as a note, I should say my experience in private sector capital work is the same. On-time and on-budget sounds nice, but the phrase is the exclusive province of marketers and communications types.

But, like in this video where Samwise Gamgee nearly dies trying to prove some stupid point about keeping promises to wizards — ’cause they’ll fuck you up — another promise is being kept, albeit somewhat late, by the City of Edmonton. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 16% [?]

A year ago, Adam and I gave a thoughtful look at some of the classic Christmas movies that make the very cockles  of our hearts glow with warmth. We shared our memories of the wonderful, quirky and funny films that fill our holiday season with joy and laughter.

And you bastards complained and complained about all the movies we didn’t put on the list.

So in the spirit of – not the season – but of you being totally unpleasable, we return to our semi-regular Watch This feature with more of the holiday movies Adam and I both love.

And, hopefully, your cold, black hearts will be sated with our choices this year. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 22% [?]

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of our second season, our annual Christmas Special, which actually marks the half-way point in our season.

This very special episode, we look back on the year 2010 — not as harsh a mistress as one might think. We exchange gifts, we talk Christmas, we have a few very special segments, and we even interview the gentleman who named this very podcast “The Unknown Studio.”

Our guest, Daryl Hooke, once strangled a cat with handcuffs. We’re totally serious. It was all in misguided and good fun, though. He also works with a crew of amazing volunteers on 630 CHED’s Santa’s Anonymous. Give a listen to hear his hilarious Christmas stories!

Here’s the show breakdown:

0:00: Intro “It’s almost Christmas!”
7:18: The Unknown Studio Year in Review
24:28: Sex Talk with the Traveling Tickle Trunk
27:07: More Year In Review and a Look To The Future
42:40: The Unknown Studio Gift Exchange
48:02: A Christmas Story with Scott Lilwall
58:14: Scott Bourgeois Dramatic reading of a highly descriptive and logical “T’Was the Night Before Christmas”
1:04:15: Interview with Daryl Hooke from 630 CHED’s Santa’s Anonymous
1:29:00: Fast Fifteen with Daryl Hooke

Let us know what you thought, everyone! Do you love us? Hate us? TELL US!

The Unknown Studio is a proud member of the League of Extraordinary Media.

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EDMONTON JOURNAL STILL SPONSORS THE UNKNOWN STUDIO
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It’s true! After so much joking and tongue-in-cheek referrals to Edmonton’s newspaper of record on our show, the Edmonton Journal decided to put their money where our mouths are, by sponsoring the Unknown Studio this month!
We’re helping EJ to promote their new iPad app. If you have any comments about the new app, let us know and we’ll pass it along!
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Popularity: 16% [?]

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