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

This fall, it'll already be time to renew my passport. Happily, I don't have to start the process at the moment. Beginning from Tuesday, the rules for air travel into the United States will require a passport, and this means the Canadian offices are hopping. In a year it will be required even for travel by road. This sort of puts an end to the long-held belief about having the longest undefended border in the world, eh?

I remember being able to do a large part of the application process online in 2002. So, I looked around government sites and rediscovered epass Canada. If one takes the time to fill out everything on your computer, the completed application form can be printed on a local printer. Then, one just drops off or sends in the form and supporting documents at the nearest passport office.

I also found out that the epass can be used for services on the Canada Revenue Agency. There is further security as they needed to send me an additional code for their site. It allows residents to check on previous tax returns as well make changes to some personal data.

Labels: Canada, government, passport, YouTube

Of course, there's a lot less excitement upon the release of a new operating system nowadays. A great many computer users now spend most of their PC time at Internet sites. Why should I care about great new OS enhancements for photos when I already store and sort 3K of them online?



Still, you've got to give Microsoft credit for improved marketing savvy. Although XP Pro sounded a little geeky, Vista Ultimate rings clearer. Who wouldn't want to strive for the ultimate in anything?

Labels: Windows

Television has evolved into a screen for the playback of digital files. Currently, I collect them via satellite in real time and store on hard disk. I am sure that in the not-so-distant future, they will be available on demand from a network. As long as the bandwidth is sufficient and the local storage space large enough, my future programming will most likely be shuffled around just like I do with present-day digital photographs.

Labels: futurecast, television

Good morning. I'm a little angry at the moment, although I was quite proud of myself just a few minutes ago.

Here's why I'm angry:

I want to print out a document but cannot. Even though it is simply black and white text, my HP DeskJet won't print it as my colour cartridge has run out. I seldom print anything so I figure the ink has more likely dried up than been used up. Additionally, I'm annoyed because the price for the 3-colour ink is about half the price of a whole new printer.

Here's why I was proud:

Although I don't have to get the midterm examination ready until the end of next week, I've already crafted it. For a few semesters I followed the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." This time I was ready to re-create the examination. It's good to go back and review previously-administered exams. I was able to copy and paste old questions into today's new copy. So, not only have I prepared well in advance, I've created a fine new version.

Labels: Hardware

I need to see some green.

The white on the ground here was pretty for about a day and a half. It is unusual to see it sticking on the ground here. The uniqueness of the white scenery has lost its luster quickly. Now, I am ready for a deluge of typical January rain. Even though there was an additional dusting of snow last night, I want it all to melt. I am ready for the green winter grass of a typical Lower Mainland winter.

Until that happens, I can look at the photo above taken last fall in Sri Lanka. This ambrella fruit tree is near the driveway at Jay's house. I miss green.

Labels: weather

Although, I know that we'll be making a trip back east for a week in February, I cannot buy the tickets yet. I'd rather not wait until the last minute, as suddenly a week before departure, most flights on Expedia tend to rise by at least twenty percent.

My father's blood pressure is finally under control and he'll probably be leaving Dartmouth Hospital for a rehab hospital. The confusion is where that might be. There are a number of good stroke-care facilities around New England but many are quite full. I expect the closest to be in Concord or Manchester, NH. These are thirty to fifty miles away. Boston is around a hundred. There was even some talk about a program for my father in Albany, NY which is at least three hours away.

Until this key information is available, I cannot know which airport would make the most sense. I have to admit though, after living out west, all highway distances back there look tiny.

Labels: travel planning

Last week, I uploaded my 3000th photo to Flickr. Most are just digital debris from my camera in my valiant attempt at my Daily Picture Parade. There are recent trips and a number of scans from pre-digital days too. One would have to be a very interested to in searching in order to make use of the Flickr tags.

There is an easier way to waste a few minutes, if you're so inclined. My SixPics page loads random photos from the Flickr collection. The photos are represented by small thumbnails. If you mouse over you will see the title of the photo. If you click, you'll be taken to the photo's real page. Just selecting reload in your browser will bring up another six. Keep trying; it's sometimes surprising to see what shows up. Here are some examples:

Screen One
1) The British Parliament 2) Monoragula, Sri Lanka 3)Uptown New Westminster 4) Veddah Village, Sri Lanka 5) This Apartment Building 6) Gulf Islands from a BC Ferry.

Screen Two
1)Ivy 2) Cactus in Blodel Conservatory 3) Princess Di Memorial Fountain 4)Brussels, Belgium 5) Beach Cow 6) Columbia Street

Screen Three
1) Frankfurt, Germany 2) View from Empire State Building 3) Trincomalee, Sri Lanka 4) Kin's Vegetable Market 5) Kathmandu Temple 6) Students in Dubai.

Labels: Daily Picture Parade, Flickr