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

"It's my party, and I'll blog what I want to."

And if you're actually old enough to know the song being referenced, then chances are, you may not be even slightly interested in today's topic. None of my friends and acquaintances could give a hoot. Cut me a little slack for my weekend entries, will you? I want to talk tech, turkey.

I've been following the HD-DVD vs Blu-ray format war with relish since getting the wide-screen television. So far, of course, the only high definition programming I've seen on it is via Bell ExpressVu's satellite channels. Known for their highly-compressed offerings, these oases of clarity began my uncontrollable addiction to HD. The standard up-converting DVD player can only show what's actually present on the discs. Although this is slightly better than standard TV, it cannot be compared to the quality of a real HD signal.

Back when regular DVD players appeared, I was willing to pay premium to be an early adopter as the road to the quick demise of video tape was obvious. But this time around Toshiba and Sony are reenacting the classic VHS/Beta battle.

Many pundits out there blogging about this today probably never actually owned a Betamax machine as I did. In the mid-1980's our contracting company shipped programming through diplomatic pouch to the military camp where I worked. It was a no-brainer choice. Either watch Beta tapes or watch what was on Saudi Arabian television. It wasn't due to technical merits that the other format won. In fact Beta was superior and the tapes smaller. Being a winner had more to do with the available Hollywood programming on offer.

Once again here we go. Right here, I mentioned the battle between HD-DVD and Blu-ray in my 2008 resolutions. My default browser page is set to Google news, where I personalized a section to keep me up-to-date on the daily developments.

So, it's a bit of a mixed blessing that Sony's Blu-ray format has been prematurely heralded winner of this race. All the pronouncements involve Warner Bros. decision on Friday to abandon neutrality and support only Blu-ray from the spring. They are the biggest distributor and because they are joining the likes of Disney, this consortium is estimated to make up 70% of titles released. (At this time, Paramount and Universal still have exclusivity agreements for the other format.) This is said to have turned the tide in favour of Sony this time around.

Of course I haven't even hinted at the numerous others with stakes in this battle. They range from the electronics and computer manufacturers to Microsoft. Additionally, folks like Blockbuster and retailers like Target have all taken sides.

So, the whole things is still a great big mess. It's extremely unfortunate that back in 2005, the two camps couldn't have foreseen this turmoil and agreed upon a common standard. Those involved may have had less potential to make a fortune but would've also avoided completely losing out in this war. In the end, whatever the outcome, it seems like it is primarily consumers who have been given a raw deal.

Labels: HDTV, opinions, television

There must be something about having fifty staring one in the face that makes a guy a little more health conscience. Well, the big five-oh doesn't really threaten for another year and a half, but it's only recently that I've taken any sort of interest in my physical health. I guess when one is in one's twenties or thirties, it'd be a waste of time considering such details. In fact, I used to be of the opinion that a human heart only had so many beats in it. I surely wasn't about to waste any of mine on frivolous exercise.

Now that I'm only half way through losing fifty pounds of excess weight, I can see the importance of burning a few calories as well as just consuming fewer. I am still not one who's going to step inside a gym anytime soon. Yet, I have taken to walking a bit.



In this city, just walking uptown is cardio lite. It makes all the more sense now that I pack some useful podcasts into my Zen and grab my camera. The podcasts keep my brain involved in learning about new topics. My camera forces me to really pay attention to my surroundings. Finding something to shoot inside the ordinary and familiar keeps me involved in looking at the form, colour, and composition. The results can be pleasing but as I tell my classes, "It's the process, not the product, that really counts."

Labels: New Westminster, opinions, weight loss

Not going into the Institute has offered a welcomed break over the holidays. I am almost totally recharged for classes which begin next week. I taught a great deal in 2007 and look forward to cutting back on the number of hours this year.

On Monday, I'll start teaching for just four afternoons per week. My COMM 0004 course will run for five weeks from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. I like having enough seniority to be pretty sure of the classes I'll get. Now all I have to do is convince BCIT Parking to provide me a space close to my office and teaching locations.

Labels: BCIT

Today, the Canada Post delivery lady brought several items about which I could blog. First, the 2008 Property Assessment arrived right on time for the new year. I tend to think of the apartment as a place to live and not as an investment. I have to admit the one-year increase of over 14.5% is sufficiently better than those boring, old GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificates). As we're not planning on making any property ownership changes in the forseeable future, the assessment is of little significance. Actually, the assessed value does determine my property taxes. So, my fingers are crossed that everybody else in our city got assessments with equal or greater levels of increase.



The other envelope provided a better visual for my eJournal and images. It contained a letter from our World Vision kid. I've talked about him in the blog in the past. In fact, there is an entry from the day we met him on September 6, 2006 when visiting Sri Lanka. The World Vision staff wrote out the note in Sinhalese and provided the English translation too. As Isuru grows older, his messages grow more complex.

Labels: money, World Vision

I looked in my eJournal and images for last year's New Year resolutions. I guess, I didn't make any last year. That's hardly surprising considering how near perfect I already am. By chance, I did find these created two years ago for 2006:

Travel to Bella Coola, BC.

Begin new work-related projects at BCIT.

Sign up for an adult education course.

Explore Costa Rica.

Keep up on my blogging and Flickr'ing.

Begin using Windows Vista.

Watch a wide-screen TV at home.

Play local travel guide for my father.

Continue to let our savings accounts grow.

View all unwatched movies from AFI's 100 list.

Paint some of the apartment.

Take more outdoor, scenic hikes.

Donate some time to charitable causes.

I seems as though I didn't get much of the list accomplished the year it was created. Let's see if I was able to cross off any of those in 2007.

1) I've still not been to Bella Coola, BC.
2) I taught several new courses last year but worked far too much.
3) I took no courses.
4) Costa Rica is still an unfinished dream. (Yet in 2007 we were out of the country for five weeks and did visit Central Europe for three of them.)
5) Blogging and Flickr'ing continue unabated.
6) I am typing on a new computer which is running Vista.
7) I've been completely in high-def. for more than a year.
8) My father's stroke and subsequent life choices have prevented him from getting out here.
9) I have a sufficient cash to retire abet extremely frugally.
10) Movie selection continues well beyond the current ten blockbuster releases.
11) Haven't done much in the apartment.
12) I sure walk around more but lean more towards urban outings nowadays.
13) I've not donated time, but we now regularly donate cash to charities.

Can I think of any new things to add to the list in 2008?

I've added Mach Picchu and all-of-Italy to the international travel destinations list.

The bathroom sink replacement is on the maintenance chart.

I want to select Bluray or HD-DVD as a format choice for HD player.

I've gone from 235 to 205 lbs but 185 would be better!

Labels: blogging, lists

Labels: New Westminster

I don't know why it's taking me so long to get our Eurotrip 2007 photos online. It really doesn't take much actual work to upload files to Flickr, so I can't think of a good reason for my continuing procrastination.



I did post photos from several days in Bratislava in the Slovak Republic. We were there for the nights of September 22nd and 23rd. In the photo, I'm sitting on lawn at the Bojnice Castle.

Labels: Bratislava, Flickr