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

This is true only if a picture is really worth a thousand words. You can read through blog entries from our Sri Lankan vacation by looking in this site's archive vault for September and October. Nearly every day has an associated photo for viewing.

That is fine but it is a bit difficult to see all the photos at once. Therefore, I worked to make a one-shot viewing gallery. It contains the exact same pictures, it's just a wee bit easier to view 'em quickly.

Previous Blog Photos from the Sri Lankan Trip

Personally, I feel the text is important too. Blog entries from October 10th through 16th are online now. It's taking me a long time to get everything typed in. That's okay though as it's proving to be a nice way of reviewing the 2-month journey. Here's the link to the most recently completed week.

Labels: Flickr, Sri Lanka 2004

No, the title wasn't offering comment on why, on his official visit, Bush is heading to Halifax rather than addressing the Canadian Parliament. You see, I just ordered my new vision enhancement tools. I've been wearing glasses since Grade 4, so after thirty-five years ya'd think it would all seem quite familiar. They have progressive lenses and will take a few days to make. Frighteningly, the optometrist said it may take several months to learn how to use them.

Oh my! $517 (US$440) plus $60 (US$51) for the exam. I guess I should thank my father for buying my first dozen or so pair.

Labels: glasses

Since when did everybody start writing so small? I've recently been having trouble correcting my students' assignments. Rather than attribute this to changes in penmanship, I have finally decided to acknowledge the proper culprit --- namely, 45 year old eyes.

I have an eye appointment at 9:30 this morning. As well as updating the 7-year old prescription, I shall get proper bifocals.

Labels: glasses

I wouldn't make a very good street person.

In a blog entry yesterday evening, I mentioned that it was raining. As I was driving home, I was very pleased with myself and the world. Everything appeared shiny as the street, tail, and shop lights all reflected on the dark pavement. Drivers seems one degree less hostile and a smidgen more forgiving than usual. The rhythm of the wipers created music that seemed choreographed to the activities outside. The heater was warming the interior of the truck and I felt comfortable and safe.

To our US Friends:

Labels: driving, maintenance, relaxing, Vancouver, weather

From year to year, I tend to forget.

It's been raining for nearly 24 hours straight. Water pelting the window actually woke me up in the middle of last night. It continued to rain all day. It's not been a light mist; it has poured. When coming home from work at 5:00 pm, the wiper blades were operating at nearly full speed. Glug .. glug.

I love Vancouver!

Labels: Fraser River, weather

fluorine

"... Everyone enjoyed the movie, Polar Express. Our school had done the story as a play some years ago. I was a little bothered at one point when the characters broke into song, in what had not appeared to be a musical up top that point. The computer animation is definitely a new "best" and seeing humans animated so real was a bit disturbing. Last movie that I saw there was the Matrix. Canada will always be where I go to see breakthrough movie technology!"

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I will look forward to seeing that movie. Ebert talked about it perhaps becoming a 'Christmas-time classic'. Other critics have said it's a bit 'creepy' which is probably not the best adjective with which to market a Christmas movie. At what age group do you think it's aimed?

Oh, regarding earlier attempts at human animation, did you ever see Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within ? It's science fiction with a Japanese anime undercurrent. It is now over three years old, but I thought the characters were quite convincing even then.

In the future we'll be able to 'bring back' dead actors, or perhaps make 'a star' out of anybody. Hum .. would I be willing to pay extra bucks to see a movie where I had a leading role? My avatar is uploaded to the studio and a personalized print of the movie is sent back to me ... watch out Brad Pitt!

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Labels: Christmas, futurecast, Joel, movies, sci-fi

Over the weekend, some high school students from Easton, Washington visted the area. They arrived by train from Seattle and stayed in downtown Vancouver for two nights. They participated in some local activities. While in the area, Joel Thomas brought them out for a visit to New Westminster too. The SkyTrain makes access easy and quick. They came up to this apartment and visited here for a little while.

Labels: Joel, New Westminster, Seattle

Don't get me wrong: I think Google's great.

There are times, however, when we want to know what people are talking about right now. All blogs aren't as introspective as this one, but there certainly are torrents of personal information floating around the Internet. Traditional search engines just don't assist people to get at it in any meaningful way. Now some services have stepped up promising to fulfill this need. They try to directly index 'blog talk'.

Technorati: Boardwalk Casino

Want to see if anyone else mentioned Boardwalk and Casino this weekend? To see if it is in the buzz, click the link above.

Labels: software

Labels: New Westminster, Quay