A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

No, I am not repeating myself.

There's a brand-new implementation of the Windows Update site. (Click the screenshot to check it out now.) It's in place in preparation for Monday's general, online release of the Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Microsoft maintains that it's all about improved security. A simple patch this is certainly not; for, there are enough changes to qualify this release as a version upgrade. Depending on your configuration, it might be anywhere between 70 and 230 megabytes.

Automatic updates are on and I've got lots of bandwidth to spare ... so let'r rip, boys!

Labels: Windows

This morning my class took the final examination.

After the test, which lasted for a maximum of three hours, we walked out to the courtyard by SE41. The picnic table provided a great place for a class picture. It was a sunny day. What you can't tell by looking at the photo is that it was nearly 30C (85F) degrees.

I didn't know it'd take much time to get my web materials ready. Being away from a computer for several months will make the upcoming trip more of a vacation. However in preparation, I've had to make notices and change file locations. (Darn, as my home PC will be turned off for the first time ever, I cannot leave web materials running from here!)

As an example, I needed to write a notice at the Virtual Sunapee Reunion, a site which I've been running for more years than I care to count!

<--- Click Here

Labels: New Hampshire, Sunapee

For those of you who've not been to Vancouver, I've got to provide a link to Stanley Park so you can get a better idea of what it is. We have so much to thank for Victorian-era public planning that set aside this land. How wonderful to have such a huge refuge in the middle of the city!



Yesterday the gang met for a picnic dinner, marched around some trails, and eventually returned by the seawall. We didn't make it back to the Point in time for the sounding of the 9 o'clock cannon. The Lions Gate Bridge provides a backdrop in this photo.

Click here ---> Three Larger Photos from Yesterday

Labels: Stanley Park, Tim, Vancouver

I have two types of blog visitors. First, there are friends and relatives who stop by because I encourage, cajole, or pester them. On the other hand, a larger number of visitors come in through seach engines. Actually, I should say though Google as it's the source of about 98% of the guests who land here via keywords.

Blog pages tend to have a variety of material posted on a single page. Therefore, the results can be somewhat misleading. For example, I may have written about my friend once being a Peace Corp volunteer on Monday, then on Friday I may say that I went to Seattle for a meeting. If a web searcher types "Peace Corp Volunteers from Seattle" they may hit that page; however, they will probably not find the results they were looking for.

Here's a list of 20 searches from the past few days:

Google: "sorry to make this request so late

Google: paddlewheeler new westminster pictures

Google: norman gray hct

Google: zip.ca ottawa

Google: olympic peninsula in-line skating

Google: blog sunapee

Google: picture of the law courts building in Vancouver

Google: 25th high school reunion

Google: aerosmith sunapee house pictures where is it

Google: canadian litre vs u.s. gallon

Google: Zip.ca phone number

Google: badger garburators

Google: aerosmith photos may 20, 2004

Google: fintas apartment images

Google: Webshots toilet

Google: pictures taken with DCR-HC40

Google: sri lanka Dj's

Google: McDonald's We do it all jingle

Yahoo: swiffer commericals

Google: "Hurricane Freda" + "Vancouver"

Google: Skytrain pda

Labels: Flickr, lists

Posted by: Dennis S Hurd / 6:59 AM 0 comments

A student assignment which will reside on the Internet is worthy of extra attention. At least that is the idea which I tried to stress. You are invited to see the results of my theory by clicking on the copy of the screenshot to the right. The instructions are also provided below to give you a better idea of the required work.

BACKGROUND

The Internet and the World Wide Web offer the opportunity to publish information for a global audience. Whatever text is on your final word processing file will be directly entered on the site. I will not fix any errors, so be sure that the writing is fit for the world to see!

ASSIGNMENT

We will take individual student photos. You are to write personal text to accompany the photographs. It must be written in a style which demonstrates appropriate skills taught during COMM 004 and should be representative of best quality work for each student. This term you must include a graphic which is appropriate and informational. This assignment is due on Monday, August 9, 2004.

1) You may write your rough draft on regular paper or print it and bring it in to be checked during our class breaks in prior weeks.

2) This final copy of this assignment is to be handed in on a removable, computer diskette. If you need to borrow a spare diskette, then please contact me in advance.

MARKING FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT

Is approximately 250 to 400 words

Includes linking words, and ‘fluent’ sentence constructions.

Contains clear introductory sentences and paragraph structures.

Has easy-to-see, overall organization

Presents personal views and interesting ideas.

Includes a type of graphic learned in COMM 004.

Labels: Internet, students

Posted by: Dennis S Hurd / 7:14 AM 0 comments

We followed the first year of HBO's Six Feet Under on a Canadian satellite channel. Recently, we noticed that the second year was released on DVD. (The show's in its fourth season now.) You can say what you will about 'classic TV' but some of the programming being created today is truely impressive.

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Hey guys,

Sure, we should plan an escape for tomorrow. Do we want to stay close or go far? Close might simply include going to Burnaby. First, we could do Burnaby Mountain Park, then bring a picnic to eat at Barnet Marine Park. There's swimming there if the weather is nice but it's saltwater!

On the otherhand, an 1.5 hour drive might be to Mt. Baker.

Of course there's always Stanley Park for a picnic! What are your ideas?

== Dennis

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Labels: relaxing

Now, my geocache hidden across the river has been discovered twenty-seven times. Actually, my friend Joel found it a few weeks back with my help and GPS, but he is not yet a member on the www.geocaching.com website.) By scrolling down the linked page, you can read the most recent of the 26 comments found there.

Click here ---> GCJQVV Tannery Park

Labels: GPS, Joel