"I feel I'm incredibly fascinating and this blog bears witness to that simple fact. Friends, from far and wide, are often pestered to keep abreast of my life and opinions. I offer my most sincere greetings to random visitors as well."
- 49 12.284N 122 54.408W
- New Westminster,
- British Columbia, CANADA
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Saturday, October 18, 2003
metroPlanet
I got several notes regarding yesterday's picture. I wondered if I could find more information about the Skytrain on the net. I did. Find Columbia Station on the system map as that's where this apartment is. Here's a link:
metroPlanet > America > Canada > British Columbia > Vancouver - Skytrain [Link Expired]
And here's what Don said in response to the link:
. . . I now know what I will do as a retiree. Go from city to city spending days, weeks or months riding their Metro systems. Just think of all the people I could chat to, used clothing stores and cheap out-of-the-way restaurants I could find.
Like my aunt and uncle, who had never been anywhere, woke up one morning and decided to drive to the Pacific Ocean and left home two hours later and returned two months later. And they did something similar each summer for the next ten years. No particular plan. Just started driving. And took normal roads and ended up in out-of-the-way places and visited things like the world's largest hub cap collection. And they met dozens of people and then the ensuing years would go and visit these people. For example, they were sitting in a restaurant in some place (let's say Humboldt, Nebraska) and struck up a conversation with another retired couple who were on their way to visit their daughter in some place (let's say Fargo, North Dakota), so my Aunt and Uncle decided to follow them and by the time they arrived, they had become friends enough to be invited over several times to the daughter's house. These people were from (let's say Northern Oklahoma), so the following year, my Aunt and Uncle drove to Oklahoma to visit these people. And the four of them drove to the Grand Canyon.
Many times they slept in their old car at a rest area, (one time their old car died and they bought an even older car to finish the trip), sponge-bathed in the restroom, set up a gas cylinder out of the trunk of the car at a picnic table and made breakfast, and off they went. Most of the time they bought baloney, hot dogs and beans and tuna fish, etc. in local grocery stores and made lunch and/or dinner and ate in the car or beside the road. About every third afternoon they'd check into a motel for 12 hours to rest up and replenish and take baths and do laundry. They'd be on the road for two months and stay only about 20 nights in motels and eat about 30 meals in restaurants. They'd come home after 2 months with some of their social security checks, of $600 a month combined, left over! With a car full of memorabilia and scrap book full of post cards and napkins and motel brochures and things like a stone from the Grand Canyon or a tulip bulb or clipping from somebody's flower bed or an old mayonnaise jar of water from Salt Lake or the Mississippi River. And each year they'd start earlier and come back later; no Winnebago, not even AAA. And each week they'd make a person-to-person call to themselves to one of their children back home to let them know they were OK. The first year they didn't even do that. They just sent post cards.
metroPlanet > America > Canada > British Columbia > Vancouver - Skytrain [Link Expired]
And here's what Don said in response to the link:
. . . I now know what I will do as a retiree. Go from city to city spending days, weeks or months riding their Metro systems. Just think of all the people I could chat to, used clothing stores and cheap out-of-the-way restaurants I could find.
Like my aunt and uncle, who had never been anywhere, woke up one morning and decided to drive to the Pacific Ocean and left home two hours later and returned two months later. And they did something similar each summer for the next ten years. No particular plan. Just started driving. And took normal roads and ended up in out-of-the-way places and visited things like the world's largest hub cap collection. And they met dozens of people and then the ensuing years would go and visit these people. For example, they were sitting in a restaurant in some place (let's say Humboldt, Nebraska) and struck up a conversation with another retired couple who were on their way to visit their daughter in some place (let's say Fargo, North Dakota), so my Aunt and Uncle decided to follow them and by the time they arrived, they had become friends enough to be invited over several times to the daughter's house. These people were from (let's say Northern Oklahoma), so the following year, my Aunt and Uncle drove to Oklahoma to visit these people. And the four of them drove to the Grand Canyon.
Many times they slept in their old car at a rest area, (one time their old car died and they bought an even older car to finish the trip), sponge-bathed in the restroom, set up a gas cylinder out of the trunk of the car at a picnic table and made breakfast, and off they went. Most of the time they bought baloney, hot dogs and beans and tuna fish, etc. in local grocery stores and made lunch and/or dinner and ate in the car or beside the road. About every third afternoon they'd check into a motel for 12 hours to rest up and replenish and take baths and do laundry. They'd be on the road for two months and stay only about 20 nights in motels and eat about 30 meals in restaurants. They'd come home after 2 months with some of their social security checks, of $600 a month combined, left over! With a car full of memorabilia and scrap book full of post cards and napkins and motel brochures and things like a stone from the Grand Canyon or a tulip bulb or clipping from somebody's flower bed or an old mayonnaise jar of water from Salt Lake or the Mississippi River. And each year they'd start earlier and come back later; no Winnebago, not even AAA. And each week they'd make a person-to-person call to themselves to one of their children back home to let them know they were OK. The first year they didn't even do that. They just sent post cards.
Friday, October 17, 2003
Nature's seeking equilibrium. We had a drought this summer and now there are record rainfall amounts. Flooding is occurring. The local evening news is all about the soggy situation!
Skytrain
This apartment is about twelve miles from downtown Vancouver. I never drive there however, as it's easier to hop on the Skytrain [link expired]. I'm proof that people will use public transit if it's easier or faster than driving. The Columbia Street Station adjoins our building so getting downtown is a no-brainer --- it's both easier and faster than driving. (It's also cheaper than paying for parking!)
Here's a night picture of an 'old' Skytrain car.
Here's a night picture of an 'old' Skytrain car.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Viewing Habits
Personal Video Recorder Schedule
Here are the TV shows recorded on the hard disk each week. Do you think 25 hours per week excessive? Remember, when I zap commericals it's reduced to only 18.5 hours of programming.)
Here are the TV shows recorded on the hard disk each week. Do you think 25 hours per week excessive? Remember, when I zap commericals it's reduced to only 18.5 hours of programming.)
Labels: PVR, television
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Sir Graham vs. Vince
I remember the original King's Quest on the computer that's pictured in yesterday's entry. I was amazed when I first saw it. As one moved the little stick man to the edge of the screen with the keyboard's arrow keys, new pages appeared.
On Thanksgiving, I bought an XBOX. I'm working through an adventure game called Voodoo Vince. I am again amazed. Now, I'm using a game controller to move a highly-defined, burlap, animated character. He exists in an expansive, 360-degree, 3-dimensional world with lighting and textures.
On Thanksgiving, I bought an XBOX. I'm working through an adventure game called Voodoo Vince. I am again amazed. Now, I'm using a game controller to move a highly-defined, burlap, animated character. He exists in an expansive, 360-degree, 3-dimensional world with lighting and textures.
Labels: games
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Champions?
What does it mean when the media is using songs from my youth for blatant consumerism? It must be I'm getting old. I know well the music of twenty-five years ago that's creeping into lots of today's TV advertisements.
I think it's cute that Devo's tune is now Swiffer It.
Yet there are limits. I really don't think Queen's, We Are The Champions, should be pushing Viagra!
It rather makes we wonder what product 50 cent will be selling in 2028!
Speaking of old: Here's my first 8086/DOS machine. (We used to say IBM clone.) It had two 5 1/4" floppy disks and a CGA monitor. The picture was taken in my BOQ in Taif, Saudi Arabia in 1986 when I taught at the Army Ordnance Corp.
I think it's cute that Devo's tune is now Swiffer It.
Yet there are limits. I really don't think Queen's, We Are The Champions, should be pushing Viagra!
It rather makes we wonder what product 50 cent will be selling in 2028!
Speaking of old: Here's my first 8086/DOS machine. (We used to say IBM clone.) It had two 5 1/4" floppy disks and a CGA monitor. The picture was taken in my BOQ in Taif, Saudi Arabia in 1986 when I taught at the Army Ordnance Corp.
Labels: Hardware, music, Saudi Arabia
Monday, October 13, 2003
Sunday, October 12, 2003
It's All Greek To Me
I caught a move, entitled Summer Lovers, on TV last night. It was showing on a channel we get called Drive-In Classics. I remember it on VHS tape copied from Laser Disc when we worked in the 1980's in Saudi Arabia.
It has Daryl Hannah (who was frightfully young) and a French gal (who died in a car accident in 1989).
Some reviewers call it an exploitation flick but I think it captures a time and the fascination when visiting a new place. The music is retro and fun. Overall, the movie has held up well for being over 20 years old.
It has Daryl Hannah (who was frightfully young) and a French gal (who died in a car accident in 1989).Some reviewers call it an exploitation flick but I think it captures a time and the fascination when visiting a new place. The music is retro and fun. Overall, the movie has held up well for being over 20 years old.
Labels: movies, Saudi Arabia
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