Annum Horriblis

Defying all odds, tomorrow will be one year since I (and The Navigator) got back into blogging. And I don't think either of us has missed an assigned day, although we both enjoy being late. 

In terms of our original goal of just keeping in touch with each other, I'd say mission accomplished. I'm very glad that The Navigator insisted on this being a blog and not a video. First, I would have given up on video a few times during this experiment. Plus, it's been very rewarding to dust off old Pilot's World and bring it back to life. I'd forgotten how fun blogging is. 

I'd also forgotten the original motivation to journal my life a bit that Pilot's World offered. It's a regret I've developed over the year - that I didn't keep it up so I have some stories from the last ten years or so recorded. Some of that is in other places on social media, but the blog is such a nice long-form medium. 

And there's so much more to do in the future! 

Looking back on what I've written this year, I've noticed that I have barely talked about the dogs, even though I hang out with them constantly. I've got a handful of posts drafted out for the next few weeks, including returning to the Bronco Game, talking a bit about spirituality and an update about how it is, in fact, gout. 

I'd also like to freshen things up around here a bit, maybe make the place look better. I made a very weak attempt at a new banner logo (up top there) last week, but it's not great. It's just something. 

Overall, very proud to have reached a year, happy that the Navigator has been along for the ride and maybe, just maybe, we can inspire some other old-timers from the heady blogging days of the early 2000's to join us this year! (I'm looking at YOU STEVE). 

Say it Frenchie!

Over the past month, I've taken on a new challenge: I'm learning French. Oui, Je parle en francais.

It actually started as part of the job competition I talked about last week. I thought I could bring some new value to the team by interacting with the French-speaking media when needed. It might not have helped me land that job, but that failure has redoubled my commitment to learn this. Maybe someone else will see the value in having a bilingual communicator. 

So, how am I doing it?

It started off in the way that I think most people would start something like this in 2025, I downloaded an app. I started with CBC's app "Mauril." I started up a few levels since, as I mentioned at the start, I do have some foundation in French. I'm not sure how good it would be for a completely new learner. It's a great "5 minutes a day" type app, but it doesn't do much teaching things like grammar or proper speaking. 

For that, I turned to my library. I was delighted to find that my local library provides free subscriptions to a few paid language learning services. I've started with a service called "Mango". I like how it teaches French, but it's teaching Parisienne French, which sounds very high-society to me. It's very refined and snooty. 

Of course, if you read anything about learning languages, they'll tell you that immersion is the best way to learn. Get all the exposure you can. Well, that's easy to say. Not so easy to execute. I can't exactly drop my life for six months to move to Trois-Rivieres. Or even to Gravelbourg - even if they have excellent mustard. 

But we live so much of our lives on our digital devices, and I CAN change my languages there. It started by changing the language on a few of my favourite games like Balatro and Minecraft. Then I updated the language on my phone, followed by my laptop. Updating your device language is a bit of a shock and has been the hardest to adjust to so far. The option to switch back is always there, and the temptation is strong when you're trying to find something in settings. But I've muddled through for a couple of weeks now. 

One of the more subtle benefits of Mauril isn't in the exercises they do but in the suggestions they make at the end of your lesson. After you've passed your little quiz, it gives you a little daily challenge like, "read out your directions to work in French", "make a recipe in French," or "listen to a podcast in French." It gives you these little daily tasks that you can translate further, immersing yourself without annoying everyone around you. Unless you share your daily calendar with your wife. Then you get snarky questions about who "porter vert" is. 

One of the places I feel most successful in my learning journey is listening to podcasts and the news. It always starts off pretty rough, and I'm only picking up a word or two. But by the end of the podcast, I'm pretty engrossed and understanding most of what's being said. I could have also been listening to the Maple Leafs lose in French - I could probably catch a few games where the Riders play the Alouettes in French this summer, too. 

Back to the resources available at my local library, I downloaded "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas, or as I've downloaded it, "Les trois mousquetaires". The book was originally written in French and I've always wanted to read it as written. I've read the translation a few times. 

And there are many resources I haven't tackled yet either. Duolingo is still out there, as are the other couple of language platforms that the library offers. I've considered finding a pen pal or even a discussion partner online to chat with in French. I'd also like to take on some creative projects in French, maybe write a song or do a Minecraft "let's play." Or maybe yet another blog, but this time in French? I want to find more French music that I like. I'm just dipping my toes in that as well. 

And finally, once my accounts started to realize that I was consuming a lot of French media and making a lot of French searches, my advertising followed. So now I get about 50% of my advertising pushed to me in French as well. 

Overall, I'll say this. I don't think there's been a better time in history to learn a new language on your own. Our connection with devices and technology is so strong that gradually moving all of those systems over to your goal language will begin immersing you. While there are many paid services out there, I've been able to access everything for free so far, with the exception of about $10 I spent at Value Village to buy a French/English dictionary and a grammar book. I don't think I'll need to take on any paid stuff unless I choose to take a French university class or something to legitimize my learning. But that's a goal for 2026, I think. And maybe I'll buy a French rhyming dictionary if I choose to write a song, but there's gonna be a website that does that as well. 

Have you considered learning a new language or strengthening one you know? Do you have resources I didn't list here? What would you do different if the language is a computer language? Do these ideas help you apply any other kind of learning?

Not Into It?

Suppose it's my day to blog but I'm not really in the mood for the fun I had planned. 

Was unsuccessful in the job I was applying on. I got a reasonable consolation gig but it still stings. 

Have a couple weeks off work, had some holiday to use up. Dug into fixing the camper today only to find the cable I'd ordered last summer for it was too small. Shrinkflation indeed. 

I'm mostly just trying to think about how I have time, some gumption and a few resources. I need to keep going and something interesting will happen. 

I have weird ideas for fun things. But I also gotta spend a day fixing a camper only to end up a square one. 

Oh and what was with that Conclave? Leo?  Fourteen no less. Pope Denis would have been one of a kind. Makes a guy wonder when the last year with three Popes was. 

Pilon for Pope - 2025

 The news arrived about two weeks ago: Pope Francis passed away at the ripe old age of 88. After much mourning and chest-beating, the Catholic Church is now finally in a position to pick a new pope. 

I come to you today, as I did about 20 years ago, to share why I think my father, Denis, should be elected to the highest office in the Church when the Cardinals enter the conclave tomorrow. 

Now, we had a lot of fun with the papal election back in 2005, and things got pretty silly. There were Photoshopped photos of Dad with a big ol' Pope hat on, and we all had a good laugh. Even a couple of weeks ago, I put together a song to start the campaign. But I was informed this weekend that it was so unfunny that it didn't even merit comment. 

Ouch. 

But you know what? Maybe there's some truth to that. After all, the Vatican, and the Church in general, are pretty serious institutions. They deal with the very word of God and have influence over the entire planet. Maybe if I took this a little more seriously, the Cardinals would actually pay attention. So we're going to take a more serious and measured approach to this campaign. I present to you, Pilon: Papacy with Panache. 

With a rich, dark green background and golden text in a classic Gothic font, the campaign can't help but grab the attention of even the most serious and devout Catholics. And the promise of a pope with some panache will grab the attention of the progressives in the Church who are looking for someone with some personality. 

So, what changes and promises will Pope Denis bring to the table? I'm glad you asked. 

Here for your review are some of the changes and new rules that Pope Denis will bring to the Catholic Church. 

• The announcement of the new Pope will continue to be done via smoke signal, but it will now involve the Cardinals smoking many fine cigars. 
• The Popemobile will be upgraded to include a humidor and a scotch cabinet. 
• Wherever possible, stonework will be removed from Vatican City and replaced with fine woodworking of teak and walnut. This will make it more environmentally friendly somehow.
• Strict "no losers" rule in the Swiss Guard will be enforced.
• We're moving the immovable ladder. Just over one window. We'll act like we have no idea. 
• Upgrading communion hosts to personal pan pizzas to align better with the Italian roots of the church. 
• Blood of Christ upgrading to Mountain Dew: Code Red. 
• We're going to laminate the Shroud of Turin. Scientists keep showing up trying to do tests, and frankly, they've done enough. 
• Weekly "prophecy parties". We'll bring the Holy Bong of St. Peter out of retirement. 

The Cardinals head into the Conclave tomorrow, so call your Church offices today and make sure the message gets through that the only proper pope is a pontiff with panache. Let's make sure they know who we really want for Pope!