"I find myself 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 sincere greetings to guests who stumble here by accident too."
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- Phone: 604.524.6197
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Saturday, November 08, 2003
Madness in 3-D
All right, I've given up on my XBOX's Voodoo Vince. I cannot even defeat the wild, wrench-throwing gas pumps. I will just have to scour the Internet for cheats.
To me a driving game was staying between 'reflectors' in the pong-era gaming console.
Yesterday, I rented Midtown Madness 3 at Roger's Video. Graphics have sure come a long way, baby. One drives around in actual Washington, DC or Paris, France. There are pedestrians walking around carrying packages. There are also street signs, and many other vehicles. Most of the other cars use their turn signals. The trees blow in the breeze. I even spotted graffiti on a mail box.
Before I begin to cruise around I can pick the time of day which affects shadows and lighting. I can also decide if it's raining or not. Perhaps more importantly I can choose the vehicle. Do I feel like driving a taxi or a dump truck today? Maybe after I get better at staying in the road, I will compete with the software to deliver a pizza before my competition. However, that old Cadillac drives like a floating barge.
My only reservation about this might be letting teenagers at it as there's apparently no incentive not to mow over everything in one's path! How about a controller that administers appropriate electric shocks?
To me a driving game was staying between 'reflectors' in the pong-era gaming console.
Yesterday, I rented Midtown Madness 3 at Roger's Video. Graphics have sure come a long way, baby. One drives around in actual Washington, DC or Paris, France. There are pedestrians walking around carrying packages. There are also street signs, and many other vehicles. Most of the other cars use their turn signals. The trees blow in the breeze. I even spotted graffiti on a mail box.
Before I begin to cruise around I can pick the time of day which affects shadows and lighting. I can also decide if it's raining or not. Perhaps more importantly I can choose the vehicle. Do I feel like driving a taxi or a dump truck today? Maybe after I get better at staying in the road, I will compete with the software to deliver a pizza before my competition. However, that old Cadillac drives like a floating barge.
My only reservation about this might be letting teenagers at it as there's apparently no incentive not to mow over everything in one's path! How about a controller that administers appropriate electric shocks?
Friday, November 07, 2003
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Hurd
To: Dennis Hurd
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 2:28 PM
Subject: automotive tech. assistance
forgot to answer a question you asked !!!
i change spark plugs every year, or 12000, you save fuel this way,,!
oil changes every 2000. of course i change it myself ... my cost ... oil and filter $6.50. the red pickup had 185000 when i sold it ... no oil consumption even then!!
love, dad
----- Message Answer -----
I always change oil every 3,000. I guess I don't change spark plugs often enough. The Ranger's only a 2.3L - 4 cylinder but one of the goofy type with 8 plugs! The engine is slightly under-powered (if one was actually carrying much of a load). I have to go down two gears into 3rd when going up some of the long mountainous inclines out in BC. But the thing is great on gas. When doing Interstate at 65-70, I can get between 28 and 32 mpg.
Hum you did 185,000 miles? Let's see my truck is 7 years old and only has 54,000 .. so I'm good to go for another 18 years! Oh good! ---smile---
From: Richard Hurd
To: Dennis Hurd
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 2:28 PM
Subject: automotive tech. assistance
forgot to answer a question you asked !!!
i change spark plugs every year, or 12000, you save fuel this way,,!
oil changes every 2000. of course i change it myself ... my cost ... oil and filter $6.50. the red pickup had 185000 when i sold it ... no oil consumption even then!!
love, dad
----- Message Answer -----
I always change oil every 3,000. I guess I don't change spark plugs often enough. The Ranger's only a 2.3L - 4 cylinder but one of the goofy type with 8 plugs! The engine is slightly under-powered (if one was actually carrying much of a load). I have to go down two gears into 3rd when going up some of the long mountainous inclines out in BC. But the thing is great on gas. When doing Interstate at 65-70, I can get between 28 and 32 mpg.
Hum you did 185,000 miles? Let's see my truck is 7 years old and only has 54,000 .. so I'm good to go for another 18 years! Oh good! ---smile---
Labels: maintenance, Q4_2003, Ranger
Thursday, November 06, 2003
An easy introduction: How Blogs Work.
Movies Galore
What a busy month for new movie releases! The studios want a piece of the lucrative holiday market, I guess. I have a hard time remembering to use all the Blockbuster coupons and those e-coupons from competing, Roger's Video. Additionally, with the satellite DVR, there's hardly enough time to keep up with the six channels of Movie Central.
Labels: movies (Page 1), Q4_2003
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
New Westminster Quay
The quay is a type of open market where food is sold. There are also specialty shops such as galleries. It is on the New Westminster Waterfront and was developed at the same time as many condo and high-rise residences in the area. It's a convenient walk from the apartment.
Labels: food, New Westminster (Page 1), Q4_2003, Quay
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
A 'Morning Person'?
Yesterday's class went well. It must've been quite a while since I've taught afternoons as I'd forgotten about rush hour! This class finishes at 5:00 and during this time of year that means by the time I drive home, it's dark!
Labels: Q4_2003
Monday, November 03, 2003
Back to School!
I taught this summer, so vacation time came a bit late for me this year. I'll include a picture of the class that finished in August. I start with brand-new students this afternoon.
Labels: BCIT (Page 1), Q4_2003, students
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Tf = (9/5)*Tc+32
With November has come winter temperatures. It's been nearly freezing at night which corresponds to zero on thermometers here. (The U.S. freezes at 32 degrees.) I can think in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, but for some strange reason, I've never been able to convert without a calculator.
It's time to start wondering if we'll see much snow in New Westminster this year. Last winter I don't think downtown had any! It's rather an exciting surprise when it does happen.
Snow's fun. Here's Jay standing in some near Mt. Washington over on Victoria Island. We took a BC Ferries CirclePac trip last spring. The skiing season was over but neither of us ski anyway.
It's time to start wondering if we'll see much snow in New Westminster this year. Last winter I don't think downtown had any! It's rather an exciting surprise when it does happen.
Snow's fun. Here's Jay standing in some near Mt. Washington over on Victoria Island. We took a BC Ferries CirclePac trip last spring. The skiing season was over but neither of us ski anyway.
Labels: BC Ferries, British Columbia, Q4_2003, road trip, Vancouver Island, weather
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