Posts by John Wright

Challenges Overcome Comments Off on Challenges Overcome

Challenges Overcome

Receiving a request to do a drone ‘shoot’ at a new locale is always a challenge.  We received a call from a seasoned, and very astute real estate agent who found us on the web.  The issue as many UAV pilots know, is what form of certification do you have? In our case we had successfully migrated to the highest level of certification with Transport Canada which is ‘Complex Restricted’ and further, we were awarded ‘blanket coverage’ for all the Muskoka Lakes Region.  For those not aware, blanket coverage can only be gained once Transport Canada feels that you have had enough successful and safe flights for business in specific locations, for specific dates, that they will give you broad access to an area for a much longer period of time. So…. in this case the request came to do a shoot on Sparrow Lake which was not in our specified area of legal work.  So quickly we put together, yet another application, sent it in to Transport Canada and were pleased to receive a quick turnaround on approval. Next, we had to co-ordinate the weather with the agent and the property owner, ensuring all aspects of the visuals would be in place.  In this case, the owners were...

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A Message for Radio Announcers Comments Off on A Message for Radio Announcers

A Message for Radio Announcers

For the most part, being a lifelong Radio guy, you get pretty close to the trees, and sometimes the forest disappears.  This might be one of those samples, but darn it all, I care about the way our children, and grandchildren are growing up! Back up, back up Johnny, “What are ya gettin at?  Just talkin, tellin a story.  Thanks for hangin with me today, and payin attention!” Have you ever heard sentence structured like this on Radio?  Do you even notice anymore?  I hope you do.  Let me say, it’s tantamount to a Radio announcer with a megaphone pointed right at me, when they speak like this. Drives me to distraction. It’s just SLANG to me to drop the G.  The use of this kind of diatribe is intended to be all fuzzy and warm, feeling like, part of the family.  Let snuggle up, “cause it’s happenin”! It sounds awful.  I hate it, and I don’t hate much.  Most importantly, I think it sends the wrong message to our children growing up, who listen to Radio.  God only knows how many youngsters listen to Radio anymore with digital this and that everywhere displayed in front of them.  I do suspect, many mornings over breakfast, and afternoons in the...

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My Moose Comments Off on My Moose

My Moose

We have lived in Muskoka for eleven years now.  As many folks know, I worked for the Haliburton Broadcasting Group which owns all the Moose FM Radio Stations.  The Moose itself, it quite iconic in Muskoka and generally in the north.  Oddly enough, I have never actually seen a Moose up close and personal.  Most folks in this district have, but not…me. So recently, as this winter was winding down, I decided to take the canvas door cover off our boathouse entrance, to open things up a bit, all the while dreaming of getting the boat back in the water.  Extracting this canvas tarp is tricky.  Picture me hanging off the back of our 22 foot Chris Craft, sitting on the swim platform dangling about five feet off the ice with a drill in my hand, carefully removing the strapping (support pieces) that holds the canvas in place. My cel phone rings.  I pretty well always have it with me, in case of accident or generally accessibility.  It is my darling wife.  “Where are you?” tone rather excited.  “I’m hanging off the back of the boat”, I replied.  She blasts in to my ear: “There’s a Moose right beside the cottage!  It’s heading to the parking lot!  Where’s the...

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Muskoka Adventure or World Class Event? Comments Off on Muskoka Adventure or World Class Event?

Muskoka Adventure or World Class Event?

I read a very amusing and informative article in the Globe And Mail recently, about fishing which prompted this note.  More about that, down the page. As a young lad enjoying the privilege of summer holidays in #Muskoka, I loved to get out in my little boat ( with a 10 Johnston on the back) and run about chasing waves.  Later, I was chasing girls, but often, it was all about chasing fish. Early, many mornings, I’d hop in my boat and run up to visit with Mrs. Cunningham (now Purk’s Place) by the amazing Bala Water Falls that tumble down into the Moon River.  Here I’d purchase my allotment of worms, so I could attempt to trick a bass or two into my boat with the help of a net-at-the-ready. Fishing at the middle train bridge on Bala Bay was, and still is a key location.  With three entry points for the water to stream from Lake Muskoka proper, into Bala Bay, the constant current, the train trestle concrete abutments, and the disintegrating cribs are an attraction for what many believe is, pound for pound, the world’s best, fresh water fighting fish: the small mouth bass. Fast forward forty plus years.  Now I take great pleasure in taking...

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Go Genie Go Comments Off on Go Genie Go

Go Genie Go

Today folks in #Muskoka, Canadians, and tennis fans around the world, can send our message to #GenieBouchard in #Australia, as she goes to the next level: the quarter finals of the Aussi Open on Tuesday. A tough battle to be sure against #MariaSharapova. Did I know today is Australia Day?  I must confess I did not.  The official national day of Australia is celebrated annually on January 26, marking the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site, by Governor Arthur Phillip, but I digress… As my family, friends and many of my associates know, I have been working towards being ‘compliant’ as a (UAV) Drone Pilot.  Both my Co-pilot and I took Ground School a few years back, so, that has helped this process – big time.  Recently, #TransportCanada has, rightly so, altered the law(s) to ensure that drone pilots who are utilizing their crafts for business, are certified and insured.  It’s an onerous process, but it’s worth the effort to get certified. Which brings me back to Genie Bouchard.  Last spring and summer a lot of folks sprained their ankles getting on the Genie bandwagon.  All good...

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