During my 20-plus-year career in IT in Winnipeg, I held many roles. Programmer. Database administrator. Network administrator. System administrator. Web developer. I wore many hats and learned new skills through experience. I was a permanent employee, a term employee and a contractor.But despite the many technical issues that came my way, nothing challenged me as much as dealing with the wide variety of colleagues and employers who I crossed paths with.Many of those colleag...

It is often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. But after butting our heads against a brick wall a few times, most people will figure out soon enough that something isn't right.David Coleman, however, is not "most people."In this stranger-than-fiction true story, Coleman plucks an email address out of thin air and begins using it to sign up with hundreds of online dating sites, create bank account...

Sixth grader Thomas Gaines is sick all the time. But when he receives a magical book, with a key on a woven cord that he can wear as a pendant, Thomas is transported to a different world where he is healthy and strong.The world is the kingdom of Uwd—pronounced "ood," like something an owl would say—and it's ruled by a good king named Adon who gives Thomas an important mission. A large, gray dog accompanies Thomas through many dangers, and with guidance from his magical book and his...

In the spring and summer of 1995, Winnipeggers rallied like never before to save their hometown team. But in the end, despite heroic efforts, it all fell apart, leaving the Jets to embark upon one final lame-duck season before flying the coop. Relive the ups and downs of the 1995-96 season through the eyes and ears of Jets historian Curtis Walker, who shares his insight into the fateful "Season to Remember" and the agony of being a fan of a poorly run small-market team.

The key is a crossroad, the book is a door,His wonders to behold.Your destiny, Franklin, is something moreThan tricks and games and gold…So begins the book given to a boy named Franklin Higgenbotham Fields. When reading aloud the poem while a key carved from stone hangs as a pendant over his heart, Frankie travels to a different world—a place called Uwd."It sounds like something an owl would say. Ood. Ood," another boy says. But the birds and animals Fr...

Many employees face challenges in their day-to-day jobs. But too often the biggest challenges involve dealing with weird co-workers, bad bosses and companies that seemingly go miles out of their way to stifle productivity and construct barriers as formidable as the Berlin Wall to keep the best and brightest out of their organizations.Read some of the zaniest on-the-job stories and go along on the interview circuit in Wild and Wacky Workplaces, where the truth is often stranger than...

The enemies of good King Adon of Uwd have regathered in greater strength for a final battle for the kingdom. The rebellion is led by Tumah, who calls herself a queen, and Zanah, whose dark magic enables him to change into forms as diverse as a dragon and a panther.With the armies of Zanah and Tumah coming against the King's followers, the heroes from Earth—Uncle Frank, Thomas, and Gracie—return to defend the true King's followers and, they hope, rescue some in rebellion against him...

Given a second chance at the NHL after an absence of nearly two decades, hockey fans in Atlanta immediately embraced the expansion Thrashers, named after the state bird.Ownership problems had plagued the Flames, Atlanta's original NHL franchise, and had played a major role in the team's eventual departure for Calgary in 1980. But there would be no such worries this time around. With the backing of local media mogul Ted Turner, the Thrashers were poised to establish themselves as a ...

Fifth grader Franklin Higgenbotham Fields is a prankster. But sometimes he goes too far.Frankie receives a magical book as a gift, with a key that hangs as a pendant over his heart, and he's transported to a different world—the kingdom of Uwd. It's pronounced "ood," like something an owl would say, and it's ruled by a good king named Adon whose deep magic helps Frankie overcome far more than his impulse for pranks.King Adon has a special role for Frankie in the battles for ...

Sixth grader Gracie Beck is a talented musician, but after her dad dies all seems lost for her and her mom.Then Gracie receives a magical songbook with only one song in it, and many blank pages, along with a key on a cord she can wear as a necklace. Wearing the key over her heart, she plays the song from her book and is transported to Uwd. There she encounters the good king of the land, who charges her with carrying his music to the farthest reaches of his kingdom. As a companion h...

Ride along on a weekend bus trip through southern Manitoba, eastern North Dakota and into Minnesota as the author shares his many experiences from traveling between Winnipeg and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.The 450-mile trek to the southeast is an all-too-familiar rite of passage for many Winnipeggers, who regularly flock to the Twin Cities to shop, watch sporting events and enjoy the many attractions the region has to offer.

In Tales from the Dog Pound, hockey historian Curtis Walker chronicles the Canadian junior hockey fan experience as he follows the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara IceDogs from his vantage point up in the corner of the brand-new Meridian Center in downtown St. Catharines.As he shares many of his off-color observations in the stands and of the topsy-turvy fortunes of the team and its players, he contrasts them with those from his decades of experience following teams in the pro ranks...