As self-isolation enters its seventh week, I remain one of the lucky ones because I鈥檓 able to at least go to my
office. Theresa国际传媒 never more than
three in our building at one time and due to its vast size, we can easily spread out.
Our reporters and advertising representatives are working from home.
Obviously, our carriers and drivers are still on the job as newspapers have been deemed an essential service.
For me, working at home is problematic. I need to get into my zone and distinguish between personal/private time and working hours.
I get about twice as much done from the office, especially now that nobody is dropping by and phone calls are minimal.
Some workers, I realize, have no choice and itsa国际传媒 the safest option available.
For people with spouses, kids and pets at home (unless itsa国际传媒 a hamster or goldfish), it must be incredibly challenging because there would be constant distractions. For me, it would be the refrigerator.
As a boss, you have to trust you鈥檙e getting maximum production from your employees because they鈥檙e unsupervised.
But, if you can鈥檛 trust them to work independently, then they shouldn鈥檛 be on your staff to begin with.
I鈥檒l stop complaining. We that are working 鈥 whether from the office or remotely 鈥 are fortunate. I sympathize with those who have found themselves out of work and through no fault of their own. The worst thing about being unemployed is the feeling of helplessness and the uncertainty that comes with it.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌
I鈥檓 a week late, but I thought the 鈥淪tronger Together鈥 concert, featuring Canadian musicians, athletes and personalities was superb, even better than the American counterpart.
The best performance, I thought, was from Aboriginal singer William Prince 鈥 what a voice, what great lyrics.
鈥淟ean on Me鈥 with Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne and friends was cool as was the choir of female physicians singing 鈥淲e Rise Again.鈥
I鈥檓 a quite partial to The Beatles and loved Sarah McLachlansa国际传媒 version of 鈥淏lackbird,鈥 which she first recorded in 2002 for a movie soundtrack.
It was also incredible to see the 鈥淎鈥 list of Canadian athletes and personalities (Chris Hadfield, Mike Myers, Rick Mercer).
As the only negative, I鈥檓 disappointed so many of the songs were abridged to one verse and one chorus. They could have easily expanded the show from 90 minutes to two hours and allowed the great line-up of talent to perform signature songs in their entirety. I want more than two minutes of 鈥淟ife Is a Highway鈥 and 鈥淭akin鈥 Care of Business.鈥
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌
One good thing from self-isolation 鈥 the drive-in movie theatre is making a comeback.
We鈥檙e lucky that Enderby still has one because so many have closed over the years, dating back to when the
VCR came into most homes in the 1980s.
A double feature (sometimes triple on holiday weekends), is by far the best bargain in entertainment. And the drive-in is timeless, not to mention perfect for social distancing, provided the people inside your vehicle all live in the same house.
When I was a kid, my favourite part was when dusk came and everyone became impatient and started honking their horns to signal the start of the movie. (I also loved when the hotdog jumped into the bun and the dancing popcorn during intermission.)
James Miller is managing editor of the Penticton Herald.
