"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, July 17, 2004
More Excuses for Fun
In New Westminster, we do love our summers. The FraserFest 2004 gets underway this weekend. Things actually got started last evening with fireworks over the river. Tonight, too, will see more of them and other entertainment and activities will run straight through Sunday.
Labels: fireworks
Friday, July 16, 2004
Our Part in "I, Robot"
It's somewhat of a sport searching for scenery from the British Columbia's Lower Mainland in Hollywood movies. Because there's a talented production staff and a cheap Canadian dollar, many more movies are filmed around here than you'd first guess.
One of these blockbuster movies is being released today. I, Robot was not only shot in the area, but right here in our neighbourhood! As first mentioned in this blog nearly nine months ago, Will Smith and cast were down on Front Street. That location was transformed into the part of the city where the lead detective lives.
You can visit a page containing the archived, October 23rd entry of this blog.
Front Street is a truck route running next to the Fraser River and
the railroad tracks. A half kilometer stretch is covered by a
public parkade. It's also the home to many antique stores. In the
photo, note the SkyTrain on the bridge mentioned earlier this week.
One of these blockbuster movies is being released today. I, Robot was not only shot in the area, but right here in our neighbourhood! As first mentioned in this blog nearly nine months ago, Will Smith and cast were down on Front Street. That location was transformed into the part of the city where the lead detective lives.
You can visit a page containing the archived, October 23rd entry of this blog.
Front Street is a truck route running next to the Fraser River and
the railroad tracks. A half kilometer stretch is covered by a
public parkade. It's also the home to many antique stores. In the
photo, note the SkyTrain on the bridge mentioned earlier this week.
Labels: Fraser River, transit
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Crank CALL
CRANK Call
I know. We all have our own opinions and quirky, little pet peeves.
For example, I could never really understand the need for power windows in an automobile. I mean if one is really too weak to crank a handle in a 4 inch, circular motion, then obviously, one should not be behind the wheel! Why do people demand an electric-powered solution for a task as simple as that? Then, those same folks have to buy a gym membership because they get no exercise. Silly, eh?
Oh, as long as we're on the topic of car glass: What ever happened to those little pivoting side windows ahead of the main part that rolls up and down. It seems as if car manufactures abandoned them a long time ago. I don't even know what they are called; yet, I do think they were convenient when one wanted just a bit of fresh air. Were they called vent windows? Whatever their name, they didn't even require cranking ...
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Double Crossing
I find something inspiring about two of the Fraser River crossings in New Westminster. I am not quite sure why I'm so fascinated with them. It might be a respect for engineering or civil design. I've taken a few pictures of the Patullo & SkyTrain Bridges. The Patullo, built in 1937, is presently undergoing some renovation. It carries cars and trucks whereas the SkyTrain bridge is a transit-only crossing completed in 1990. The SkyTrain bridge can be seen from my balcony, but this picture was taken from the Brownsville Bar Waterfront Park on the Surrey side of the river.
"It is not best to swap horses while crossing the river." --Abraham Lincoln (18091865)
"It is not best to swap horses while crossing the river." --Abraham Lincoln (18091865)
Labels: Fraser River, Surrey, transit
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Lucky Charms
In the mists of the past, elders carried totems with them during a journey. A leather pouch with draw-string may have been worn around the neck. Into this, new items from the quest could be added.
Today, I was free and thought I'd enjoy the fine weather by taking a walk uptown. I didn't have a pouch so I had to decide which charm (now called device) to bring along. Should I take my cell phone, PDA, GPS, or digital camera?
The city is putting in new sidewalks on Fourth Street and I want you to see why I do need a pouch. The item to the right is a piece of old brick. One hundred years ago, the entire street was paved with them. Just like a meaningful trinket found on a journey, I couldn't pass it up! Now, what am I going to do with a piece of century-old pavement?
Labels: camera
Defending Evil
Alternate title: Stop Whining and Compute Like a Grown Up!
Computers and I have been around for a long time. Sometimes looking back is a poignant reminder of how far we've come and how quickly we've arrived here. It's relatively easy to focus on the technical aspects over the years but there is a complete set of emotional aspects too. The hateful relationship that many have with the Microsoft Corporation has never been on the forefront of my concerns. Despite news of near constant litigation, bashing them is hardly on my radar screen. In fact, I have always loved Microsoft for their monopolistic tendencies, lack of groundbreaking innovation, and poor O.S. security.
MONOPOLISTIC TENDENCIES: People bitch and complain, but let's thank the Almighty for Microsoft's ability to create standards. One can hardly imagine how difficult it would be driving a car if there wasn't a continuity between models and brands. For example, I am extremely grateful that Ford Motor Company, the Koreans at Hyundai, and even high-gear, Ferrari engineers have all adopted the right foot as being the universal way to accelerate. (Where this leaves left-footed individuals, I've not a clue!) But software does not follow the rules of tired, old industries. Think what you will, but the main reason why software is cheaper and more productive than ever is because of the fact Redmond has the power to unite. If they don't have a technology in-house, they either make a gentlemen's agreement or gobble up those who do. Remember, it's not an obscene thing that they often have the power to stamp out competing standards!
LACK OF INNOVATION: Being a company which provides cutting edge trends has never been a Microsoft forte. Yet they do pull together various technologies and eventually plop them into Windows. One may not be too concerned that a Firewire connection to their PC is possible until they buy a new digital device that needs one. Then, it's an enormous relief for Mr. Average Joe to discover he need only plug in the cable. Microsoft almost never creates the idea, they just wait a while and then push in and make it universal. The realm of Microsoft's all-embracing, monopolistic arms means that areas (you've not yet discovered you need) are slowly and silently being added to your software's foundations.
POOR SOFTWARE SECURITY: The most recent complaints against the company involve a condemnation for a lack of PC security. I have a well-formed theory which defines most of those pundits as acting like chickens with their heads' cut off. They seem to quote each other and stir up fear and loathing but do not correctly blame the source of the trouble. Let me explain something by the way of an example: The fact that one can send an executable program file or script by attaching to an email is a feature. The fact that idiots write virus programs and that stupid people run them is not an inherent security issue. The fact that Outlook now must default to not allowing file attachments, says far more about protecting people from themselves than a grand concept of security. It's nice to plug a hole but we have to remember that we are in reality just removing some of the programs' connectivity. For God sakes man, buy a yearly subscription to McAfee! A few bad apples with evil on their minds can turn any connection between computers into a liability. So, security-de-jour boils down to an exercise in building ways to prevent connections and events from occurring. There's a great deal of perception involved; we could be a great deal more 'secure' if we gave up any access to the Internet. However, although that's ultimate security, it doesn't sound like a solution in which I'd like to participate ...
All this said, I should probably just cover my ears and wait for the Windows XP SP2 release in August.
Computers and I have been around for a long time. Sometimes looking back is a poignant reminder of how far we've come and how quickly we've arrived here. It's relatively easy to focus on the technical aspects over the years but there is a complete set of emotional aspects too. The hateful relationship that many have with the Microsoft Corporation has never been on the forefront of my concerns. Despite news of near constant litigation, bashing them is hardly on my radar screen. In fact, I have always loved Microsoft for their monopolistic tendencies, lack of groundbreaking innovation, and poor O.S. security.
MONOPOLISTIC TENDENCIES: People bitch and complain, but let's thank the Almighty for Microsoft's ability to create standards. One can hardly imagine how difficult it would be driving a car if there wasn't a continuity between models and brands. For example, I am extremely grateful that Ford Motor Company, the Koreans at Hyundai, and even high-gear, Ferrari engineers have all adopted the right foot as being the universal way to accelerate. (Where this leaves left-footed individuals, I've not a clue!) But software does not follow the rules of tired, old industries. Think what you will, but the main reason why software is cheaper and more productive than ever is because of the fact Redmond has the power to unite. If they don't have a technology in-house, they either make a gentlemen's agreement or gobble up those who do. Remember, it's not an obscene thing that they often have the power to stamp out competing standards!
LACK OF INNOVATION: Being a company which provides cutting edge trends has never been a Microsoft forte. Yet they do pull together various technologies and eventually plop them into Windows. One may not be too concerned that a Firewire connection to their PC is possible until they buy a new digital device that needs one. Then, it's an enormous relief for Mr. Average Joe to discover he need only plug in the cable. Microsoft almost never creates the idea, they just wait a while and then push in and make it universal. The realm of Microsoft's all-embracing, monopolistic arms means that areas (you've not yet discovered you need) are slowly and silently being added to your software's foundations.
POOR SOFTWARE SECURITY: The most recent complaints against the company involve a condemnation for a lack of PC security. I have a well-formed theory which defines most of those pundits as acting like chickens with their heads' cut off. They seem to quote each other and stir up fear and loathing but do not correctly blame the source of the trouble. Let me explain something by the way of an example: The fact that one can send an executable program file or script by attaching to an email is a feature. The fact that idiots write virus programs and that stupid people run them is not an inherent security issue. The fact that Outlook now must default to not allowing file attachments, says far more about protecting people from themselves than a grand concept of security. It's nice to plug a hole but we have to remember that we are in reality just removing some of the programs' connectivity. For God sakes man, buy a yearly subscription to McAfee! A few bad apples with evil on their minds can turn any connection between computers into a liability. So, security-de-jour boils down to an exercise in building ways to prevent connections and events from occurring. There's a great deal of perception involved; we could be a great deal more 'secure' if we gave up any access to the Internet. However, although that's ultimate security, it doesn't sound like a solution in which I'd like to participate ...
All this said, I should probably just cover my ears and wait for the Windows XP SP2 release in August.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Pass It On
It's so interesting seeing a new blogger take flight.
(I may have used that phrase as this 10th-floor apartment overlooks the rooftops of several buildings. As during every July, there are a couple of seagulls raising their young'uns. The two, little, brown guys are just starting to run around and flap their stubby, little wings in anticipation of becoming air-worthy.)
What I had started to say is that I received a very nice email from a reader who has just started the blogging habit. (Or should that be curse and addiction?) She even mentioned this blog in hers ... so I just HAD TO say something nice in return.
Please give MEDIEVAL LADY a read!
(I may have used that phrase as this 10th-floor apartment overlooks the rooftops of several buildings. As during every July, there are a couple of seagulls raising their young'uns. The two, little, brown guys are just starting to run around and flap their stubby, little wings in anticipation of becoming air-worthy.)
What I had started to say is that I received a very nice email from a reader who has just started the blogging habit. (Or should that be curse and addiction?) She even mentioned this blog in hers ... so I just HAD TO say something nice in return.
Please give MEDIEVAL LADY a read!
Thousands Visit New West.
Yesterday, the weather turned nice after a shaky start. What a full day! A trip down crowded Columbia Street in New Westminster provided many interesting sights. The Royal City Show & Shine has become quite an annual event! Next, we enjoyed a paddle-wheeler cruise up the Fraser until three o'clock. After that, guests came for dinner!
Labels: cars, New Westminster
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Tropical Islands
The other day at work, Christine, our administrative assistant, asked whether I'd be contracting a course in the fall. I mentioned that I was planning to go to Sri Lanka and that if fact we already had our tickets. She seemed really interested about the Maldives. The islands are relative close to Sri Lanka and, as mentioned last Wednesday, we travelled there in April of 1988.
The country is made up of 26 atolls with nearly 1200 islands! (Fewer than 200 of them are inhabited though.) As the airport is even a separate island, one needs a water taxi just to get to the capital city. We spent time on both Helengeli and the capital city of Male'.
The country is made up of 26 atolls with nearly 1200 islands! (Fewer than 200 of them are inhabited though.) As the airport is even a separate island, one needs a water taxi just to get to the capital city. We spent time on both Helengeli and the capital city of Male'.
Labels: world
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