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

Microsoft's Windows Defender is well worth the time of installation simply for the ability to edit programs loaded during Windows start up. It appears to be the major consolidation of spyware and security programs. It will surely be part of the Windows Vista when the current beta finishes next year. Get Defender now for free.

Labels: Windows

The fireplace is switched on. I'm thankful for the ease of using natural gas but who'd have thought it'd be necessary in June? Those April showers were supposed to be bringing flowers this month. Actually in Raincouver, the November-December-January-February-March-and-April showers should've subsided, I'd have thought.

Global warming is supposed to cause great variations in weather. Thanks for turning scientist, Al Gore. I'm fairly technical and consider myself scientific in nature too but I have a hard time believing in all the hype about how we're screwing up the planet. The trendy scientists cite facts; however, I feel we're a bit short on observational data. The last few hundred years are a drop in proverbial bucket on a global timescale.

My skepticism is reinforced when I recall my years as an undergraduate student in the late 70's. The predictions at the time were that there'd be absolutely no petroleum left on the planet by this decade. We were all absolutely sure there'd not be a drop left. Guess what, there still appears to be as much as we can guzzle as long as we're willing to pay dearly for it ...

Labels: opinions, technology

Yesterday at work, I wanted to show a colleague where I lived and the view from my balcony. Flickr was, of course, the obvious solution. In the matter of a few seconds I was able to type in a tag to call up example photos including this large panorama shot. It dawned on my that I do so like my balcony. In fact it was probably a contributing factor to having chosen this apartment.

Yesterday evening when I preparing some of this text, I sat on the balcony with my laptop. Wireless reception is always good, but then it should be as the router is about five feet away! The tug boats were pulling vast quantities of lumber upriver. The breeze was a bit cool though. I noticed that even my Gateway's Windows background was a widescreen shot from the balcony. Since I apparently can't seem to get enough of the view, I took another:

Labels: balcony

My personal political viewpoint favours individually-motivated charity work over the belief that governments should be responsible for all social improvement and development. I know from experience that the larger a project is, the less likely it is to be responsive or responsible.

Last spring, we began sponsorship of a World Vision kid. I think it's the perfect situation as one can see an immediate impact for an individual child. I mentioned it right here in the blog. I included a letter written to him at that time. Then, in subsequent entries, I posted the artwork of an elephant and a village that he had drawn.

Yesterday, we got the official World Vision report card for the kid. I scanned the photo that was included with the information. Maybe, it'll be possible to visit him on a future overseas trip.

On the Canadian World Vision site there are hundreds of other children waiting. How about giving it some thought?

Labels: World Vision

Okay, it's hardly treason, but this morning I do feel a bit like I've run away from something important.

I've mentioned the word, library in no less than 26 unique weeks of my eJournal and images archives. I've often bragged about my municipal library as being the first in British Columbia. I have made mention of numerous books, CDs, and DVDs I've borrowed there. I've even taken a number of pictures of the New Westminster Public Library.

Yesterday, on the way home from BCIT, I stopped at the Edmonds branch of the Burnaby Public Library. It is easy to pull off and park there. I am eligible to use it as a long-time resident of a city in the InterLINK system. Rather than abandoning my local, little library, I should consider I'm just gaining another card for my wallet ...

Labels: library

I saw the following report about the plight of US automakers. Ford and GM actually lost money on each car sold in North America.

I guess I'm helping the industry by not buying. I will have had my Ranger for ten years next month. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I cannot see myself buying a replacement vehicle for at least another decade.

According to the Harbour Report ...

"Detroit still trails Japanese automakers in profit per vehicle. Nissan, Toyota and Honda each earned a pretax margin of more than $1,200 on every vehicle sold in North America. Chrysler earned $223, while Ford lost $590 and GM lost $2,496 on each vehicle sold in 2005. The figures reflect differences in health-care and pension costs, and expenses associated with cash rebates and financing incentives."

Labels: driving, Ranger

I took me longer to get them online than it did to take 'em.

Back in May, I did complete some blog entries during the trip. We headed down to Seatac airport to catch an Alaskan Airways flight to San Diego. During our three night stay, we accidentally visited Mexico for a few hours. We did the zoo, too. Then we got on our the Holland America ms Veendam for a five night coastal trip to Vancouver. We spent a half day in Seattle and a whole day in Victoria, BC. The eight-night journey went without a hitch.

To individually select from the more than 90 photos, use this option. Or, if you'd rather run through a slideshow of all the photos, just click here.

Labels: British Columbia, cruise, places, Seattle