"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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Saturday, April 01, 2006
The Future of Books
I was tweaking my notebook computer making sure it was charged up. While looking over the hard disk, I found some e-books that were for my iPaq's version of MS Reader. They are classics and I got them for free on the net but never actually read them on the small LCD. Since the 14.1" screen is larger I installed the PC version on the Gateway.Then, I looked around the Net a bit more. I remembered the Project Gutenberg from long ago. It's great to see it is not only still there but thriving. What a worthy cause! Imagine, the sheer number of books zipping around the Internet. I found the PDF format quite easy to adjust and read.
I didn't see last year's movie version of Pride and Prejudice. Should I download that for reading or is it a woman's novel?
Labels: Internet
Friday, March 31, 2006
Old Picture and Old Friends
I went to high school on the far side of this continent with Joel and Bret. In the grand scheme of things it has turned out rather strange that we've all ended up living so far away but still within 200 miles of each other. We don't really get a chance to meet up very often, but it has been known to happen. The photo above was taken during the summer of 1997. How could that possibly be nine years ago? At last, we will be meeting up again in Sequim, WA over the weekend.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Seasons Add 'Seasoning to Life'
Some folks state there really aren't four seasons out here in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. They go on to say there is just a rainy season and that other month of the year.
I've lived without seasonal changes for I worked in the Persian Gulf for about fifteen years. So, by comparison, I enjoy the change of the seasons here. Of course it gets depressing when it's dark at 4:00 pm during winters. Then ever-so-slowly, spring triumphantly arrives and makes everything seem worthwhile.
People need a little down in order to enjoy a high. I've heard pharmaceutical anti-depressants do take the edge off the low points but at the sacrifice of those up moments. An unchanging plateau surely isn't any way to live.
I've lived without seasonal changes for I worked in the Persian Gulf for about fifteen years. So, by comparison, I enjoy the change of the seasons here. Of course it gets depressing when it's dark at 4:00 pm during winters. Then ever-so-slowly, spring triumphantly arrives and makes everything seem worthwhile.
People need a little down in order to enjoy a high. I've heard pharmaceutical anti-depressants do take the edge off the low points but at the sacrifice of those up moments. An unchanging plateau surely isn't any way to live.
Labels: feelings, flora and fauna
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
It's All Relative
It takes time to learn about time. In childhood development, these are the concepts that occur when a kid is four:
"Throughout the year, some children may still be developing their sense of time through their participation in daily activities (e.g., knows the basic sequence of the day). By the end of this year, children should understand daily time concepts like "morning," "afternoon," "night," "earlier," "later," and "soon."Figuring out time is a continuing process though. I remembered that my mother died twenty-five years ago this week. I find it amazing to consider that she'd be in her 60's now. I shall always think of her as a young woman. She was never even as old as I am now.Children should also be able to identify basic concepts associated with night/day and seasons, but may still confuse "yesterday," "today," and "tomorrow." During the first half of this year, some children can recite the days of the week and seasons, but cannot tell time. Some children this age also recognize that a specific time is associated with certain events (e.g., favorite TV show comes on at 4:00). The average child understands these things during the second half of this year. Finally, during the second half of this year, some children will have developed a strong sense of time and will know when events close to them take place. They will know the days of the week, the months, and the seasons, but will still be learning how to tell time." - from PBS Parents
Labels: Mother
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
A Boy and His Dog
I always watch the local British Columbia CTV evening news at 6:00. Today, most of the news was preempted by a news event. Channel 9 hasn't even had its helicopter for very many years.
In the red box which I added there is a boy and his dog in peril. Luckily a companion called the North Shore Fire and Rescue. Although it took 40 minutes of air-time, I didn't mind watching the successful rescue. I am not sure how I would've felt about live TV if they'd gone tumbling over the side.
In the red box which I added there is a boy and his dog in peril. Luckily a companion called the North Shore Fire and Rescue. Although it took 40 minutes of air-time, I didn't mind watching the successful rescue. I am not sure how I would've felt about live TV if they'd gone tumbling over the side.
Labels: sharing
No Oil Shortage
I turned in my grade reports yesterday. That simple act provided me with joy for I'm free for the rest of the week. I'm very happy.Little things make me happy nowadays. Perhaps, it's just a general type of satisfaction that comes during this time in life. You know, I'm just as apt to tune into a TV program on PBS as one of FOX. I've feathered my nest long enough so that I could survive for a while on interest alone. I quite literally have clothes which are older than some of the adult students in my classes.
Who would have thought that I would still need to buy acne medicine in this millennium. Thirty years ago, I lived on the hope that my oily skin was just a passing stage ...
Labels: feelings
Monday, March 27, 2006
TV News in Singhalese
Yes, I'll start correcting those final exams shortly. Just because I teach doesn't mean things get completed any sooner than back when I was on the other side of those assignments.
Last evening, we were half planning whether we should go back to visit Sri Lanka this fall. The 2004 visit worked out well. See the entire blogged trip by week: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09.
I did discover that things from there are continually getting closer to here. Previously, I mentioned access to both classical and pop Sri Lankan music on the web. Yesterday, I also discovered a site on which to get television news. It's not the most robust file, but the picture gives a clue as to the action. Unfortunately, it's not the most stunning newcasts and it generally just follows government personalities. Still, it's nice that the Net can carry this along to New Westminster, BC.
Last evening, we were half planning whether we should go back to visit Sri Lanka this fall. The 2004 visit worked out well. See the entire blogged trip by week: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09.
I did discover that things from there are continually getting closer to here. Previously, I mentioned access to both classical and pop Sri Lankan music on the web. Yesterday, I also discovered a site on which to get television news. It's not the most robust file, but the picture gives a clue as to the action. Unfortunately, it's not the most stunning newcasts and it generally just follows government personalities. Still, it's nice that the Net can carry this along to New Westminster, BC.
Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, television
Sunday, March 26, 2006
A Capital Idea
I typed OTTAWA into the search box found to the right under my photo and address. Some entries showed up but they were just references to postal addresses. There was no evidence that we travelled there twice. I figured that I should add this picture of the Canadian Parliament taken in November of 1998. We had flown into Montreal and visited Quebec City as well as Ottawa.
You'll never get much out of my eJournal and images if you just stop by and occasionally read an entry. There are now literally hundreds and hundreds of comments. Try a search to see if you can locate something you're interested in.
You'll never get much out of my eJournal and images if you just stop by and occasionally read an entry. There are now literally hundreds and hundreds of comments. Try a search to see if you can locate something you're interested in.
Locate additional information at the my eJournal and images blog site.