"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."
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- New Westminster,
- British Columbia, CANADA
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Saturday, January 08, 2005
Taken with a Grain of Salt
It sounds like they're really working to make food healthier. Canadian McDonald's Toasted Deli Sandwiches premiered this weekend. Doesn't a New York Reuben sound better than a Big Mac? Let's take a diuretic and a closer look:
Labels: food
Trekking to the Office
It was still on the ground (and roads) on Friday afternoon. Yet, I did want to complete some photocopying at BCIT. I've got a new class that begins at 8:30 on Monday morning and one can never trust that cursed machine! It always chooses to throw a tantrum when a huge queue of harried instructors are waiting.
I didn't know that the institute was closed. What wimps people from this area are! Throw a few centimeters of slush on the street and all civil order breaks down.
It must be said that I actually enjoyed being the only person in the building. Ghost towns aren't all that bad! Think how easy the whole process of teaching would be if it weren't for the students.
Labels: BCIT
Friday, January 07, 2005
What a Difference a Day Makes
Yesterday, I didn't take the truck outside even though there were only about two centimeters of snow.
In order to get up to the the library, I walked. I must tell you that it's about eight blocks uphill, but I felt better for the effort. I could've taken a bus but wanted to enjoy the rare scenery. I had to walk by the New Westminster City Hall, so I took this picture.
Later, on the evening news, it was fun watching how the Lower Mainland's roads turned into a temporary demolition derby. People do not know how to drive in snow here. When idiots are on the highways, I don't like to be.
The latest weather rumor is that as it's going to continue and stay so cold that snow will stay on the ground here for four or five days! I'm sorry to blog about snow; however, it's so rare here that it deserves mention.
In order to get up to the the library, I walked. I must tell you that it's about eight blocks uphill, but I felt better for the effort. I could've taken a bus but wanted to enjoy the rare scenery. I had to walk by the New Westminster City Hall, so I took this picture.
Later, on the evening news, it was fun watching how the Lower Mainland's roads turned into a temporary demolition derby. People do not know how to drive in snow here. When idiots are on the highways, I don't like to be.
The latest weather rumor is that as it's going to continue and stay so cold that snow will stay on the ground here for four or five days! I'm sorry to blog about snow; however, it's so rare here that it deserves mention.
Labels: New Westminster
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Quay - Windows Media Video
My friend, Bret, started an email-a-thon regarding video editting. I mentioned how much better Pinnacle Studio 9 is when compared with Windows MovieMaker. Here, quite literally, is my first attempt with Studio 9. Last spring, I simply walked out of my front door, down to the Quay, and then back via Columbia SkyTrain station. Initially, there are some fireworks shot from my balcony during FraserFest.
I rendered the original on DVD and just tried to output to Windows Media today. Please let me know your success at being able to 'stream' the result which is approximately eight minutes. Were you able to view it? I'd like to request that any reader feel free to email me. (IN THE AFTERNOON, I REDUCED THE FILE SIZE TO 1/4 OF THE ORIGINAL.)
I rendered the original on DVD and just tried to output to Windows Media today. Please let me know your success at being able to 'stream' the result which is approximately eight minutes. Were you able to view it? I'd like to request that any reader feel free to email me. (IN THE AFTERNOON, I REDUCED THE FILE SIZE TO 1/4 OF THE ORIGINAL.)
But Now White?
Although it's still too dark to be sure, it looks as though a dusting of snow has covered the ground during the night!
Labels: weather
When the Sky's Blue, People Aren't.
Yesterday, because the weather was so fine, it seemed very worthwhile stopping for a moment on the way to the supermarket in Coquitlam.
This picture is looking east from the Sapperton Landing Park in New Westminster. The new park was built along the Fraser River as the Millennium SkyTrain line was being constructed. It is a remarkably peaceful area considering how many thousands of commuters pass by overhead on the tracks and beside on a major traffic artery.
This picture is looking east from the Sapperton Landing Park in New Westminster. The new park was built along the Fraser River as the Millennium SkyTrain line was being constructed. It is a remarkably peaceful area considering how many thousands of commuters pass by overhead on the tracks and beside on a major traffic artery.
Labels: Fraser River, New Westminster, transit
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Letting Books 'Run Wild'
I was searching at Technorati for blog articles mentioning New Westminster.
I came across a new concept for me when I learned of BookCrossing. It's a little like geocaching without the GPS. It's a sort of international, book-tracking site. When someone finishes a good book, they label it and let it go free. Each book has an identification number and a description of where it was left. When found, a new guardian signs in and indicates the book is out of action. Then, after being read it can be put out in the wild again. Libraries have always offered free reading but here there's the thrill of the hunt too. I read about it on a blog called, Own Office Joey.
This just shows the various ideas which can be initiated. Who told you the Internet was just about accessing porn?
I came across a new concept for me when I learned of BookCrossing. It's a little like geocaching without the GPS. It's a sort of international, book-tracking site. When someone finishes a good book, they label it and let it go free. Each book has an identification number and a description of where it was left. When found, a new guardian signs in and indicates the book is out of action. Then, after being read it can be put out in the wild again. Libraries have always offered free reading but here there's the thrill of the hunt too. I read about it on a blog called, Own Office Joey.
This just shows the various ideas which can be initiated. Who told you the Internet was just about accessing porn?
Labels: Internet, New Westminster
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
To Get to the Other Side
I have taken lots of pictures of the SkyTrain and Patullo Bridges and there are some contained in this blog.
Here's another bridge. (Click the little picture to open a larger version.) This one was built by New Westminster for 4 million dollars in 1960. It connects our city to Queensborough on Lulu Island and the industrial area of Annacis. It crosses just the north arm of the Fraser. It was formerly a toll bridge, then it was purchased by the Province of BC in 1966. Presently, it's a feeder to Route 91 and to the Alex Fraser Bridge built in 1986.
Right at the moment, there's construction on the Queensborough interchange. It's part of a total $336 million of federal and provincial infrastructure funding agreement for new roads and highways in British Columbia.
Labels: Fraser River, New Westminster, transit
Monday, January 03, 2005
Good Morning, Sunshine!
It rains continuously between October and May in the Southern Mainland of British Columbia; I may have even spread that myth myself.
Yet, pictures don't lie. (Wait, that was already disproved in this blog.) Regardless, the photo to the right shows yesterday's completely blue sky. Furthermore, as I'm typing this, the sun is streaming in the window. I do so hate having to type wearing sunglasses!
It is very nice having a stretch of clear skies in January. When this happens we reluctantly realize the meaning of cold. We might not realize it as profoundly as other places, but this morning the temperature is around -5 C (23 F). I might have to see if I can find my gloves.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Resolve
Perhaps it's some sort of January-resolution thing.
Last January, I received a piece of creative writing from Tim Conklin which was entitled, On the Road to Jhapa.
Suddenly, now that a new January has rolled around, I got a second. A sestina arrived by email out of the blue, so to speak. I shall post it immediately and perhaps he'll send semi-annual contributions here in the future.
Last January, I received a piece of creative writing from Tim Conklin which was entitled, On the Road to Jhapa.
Suddenly, now that a new January has rolled around, I got a second. A sestina arrived by email out of the blue, so to speak. I shall post it immediately and perhaps he'll send semi-annual contributions here in the future.
Labels: Tim
American Airlines 2020 (SEA/ORD)
by Tim Conklin
22 December 2002
22 December 2002
At 35,000 feet we plane
Through the sky. Sun
Piercing windows, splashing
Across many laps.
"Run!" Says I. "Fly
Outside this aluminium tube."
But legs congeal in their tubes,
And sitting, I consider this plain
Sheet before me. Words fly
Outside my brain, piercing as the sun
On many laps.
Liquid light drops splashing.
Flashing on my brain, splashing
Ink flowing through tubes
Lapped
By the page in this metallic plane.
All is a gift from Sun.
Words, paper fly!
Silly fly.
I see spider lurking
In a corner far from Sun.
From his tubes your tube of life
Upon his radial plain symmetric
Your life juice I see him lapping.
Lap juice, spider!
Silly fly gives you words
To spin your plain symmetric.
Life juice splashing
In their tubes.
Energy from the sun.
This fat and shining sun
That feeds, flows on many laps
Is in this pen, this smooth sleek tube
And gives me words, when written fly
Across the page splashing
Their life juice across this yellow paper plain.
If yellow paper lap these words splashing
As we fly in this tube metallic,
May plane, may juicing insect, may poem shine glorious as the fat and shining sun.
Labels: Tim
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