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

It finally feels like the beginning of summer! As well as a nice mixture of sun and clouds, there's the definite feeling of knowing this is the Canada Day long weekend. June this year was a bit of a washout and way too cool.

In addition, this, being the last weekend in June, means the bed had to be flipped today. It's rotated on New Years and flipped for the summer. Does this really make a mattress last longer, he wonders.

Lastly, on a person note, I feel better because I just bought two pairs of pants. Actually, I got one pair of jeans and another pair suitable for work. Buying clothes doesn't usually affect my mood but in this case it did. The last time, probably last summer, I bought ones with a size 42 waist. In fact I'll probably have to part with eleven pairs of that size. Nowadays, they all look a bit baggy around the middle when I belt them on. So, today, I got 38's. That's still a long ways to go to my eventual goal of again wearing size 34, but still reason enough to feel an accomplishment of sorts.

I'm on no drastic weight loss diet. I just choose smaller portion sizes at every meal. I figure that it took years to add the extra pounds; therefore, there's no panicked rush to get it off. It sure takes more work to loose than maintain! Since last October, I've been losing a bit better than my goal of one kilogram a month. At this rate I'll be working on this until the autumn of 2008. That's okay just as long as I get some positive feedback once in a while. Perhaps, I'll be able to buy some new pants with a waist size of 36 by the end of this year.

Labels: Canada Day, Q2_2007, weight loss

Pretty cheap, eh?

Labels: Mediaplayer, Q2_2007

I know that I sometimes temporarily fall in love with some new gadget or another. If you search through this blog, you'll find all kinds of entries about my Garmin GPS and geocaching. I cannot remember the last time I turned it on. That just proves I sort of fall out of love with gadgets too.

Right now, I'm enamoured with my Creative Zen.



I believe what I want to say involves the economic concept of marginal utility. The 'simplified to death' explanation is that people want a bang for their buck. For example, suppose folks have some extra cash to spend. This means they'd analyse the ways they could spend it and choose the item or service which could provide them with the greatest pleasure.

I sometimes decide on an extra purchase by how much I feel it will impact my life. I underestimated this one! The $120 I spend on the 4 GB mp3 player has already changed my life. I'd pretty much forgotten about radio. Although a Canadian resident for eleven years this week, I had never spent any time listening to CBC Radio. Now thanks to the convenience of podcasts, I'm listening to that medium through podcasts. I've subscribed to all sorts of things. This really has redefined my world. I know I could've listened to streaming audio from all over the world, but I didn't. Now science and technology podcasts from Digital Planet come automatically to my player from BBC England. NPR broadcasts turn up on the little screen. Even a weekly file of Andy Rooney slides through the USB cable into the player.

I outgrew old radio long ago. Now, I'm getting reacquainted with new radio.

Labels: Creative Zen, money, podcasts, Q2_2007

I wonder if the student who left this in NE 1 is angry he misplaced it.

Labels: BCIT, Q2_2007

I've been writing a blog entry every day for so many years that they demonstrate a sort of ebb and flow. My recent entries seem very diary-type while I sometimes get into different routines. At times I can be very technical, quite observant, or somewhat fanciful.

Whatever the output, I'm likely to be more verbose when I'm less busy with work or outside interests. This seems rather strange because when there are lots of things going on, less ends up archived. For example, I've had a dentist appointment, bank business, a nice class, and loads of errands today. My entry here, however, will require a photo to be substantial ...


There were far fewer people in the mall this morning
when I went for my 8:30 appointment for a dental filling.

Labels: blogging, dentist, errands, Q2_2007, Royal City Mall

I have a headache and I've still got another 50 minutes of class. Fortunately, the hard part of the evening class is already out of the way. It's been a tough day as I met up with my new COMM 0004 group from 1pm to 4pm. They seem pleasant enough but there are close to 22 in the room. That's not impossible, but I've been spoiled by having small classes earlier in the spring. Just think of how I'll feel when I must correct assignments!

Don't you just hate people who blog about their work? I mean, wouldn't it be better if I were to type in a joke instead? It's too bad that I never have a joke to tell whether in person or online! I hear some, laugh at a few, and promptly forget 'em all.

Labels: Q2_2007

I didn't really get it. Of course, I followed the world's infatuation with the iPod. I even collected and digitized a lot of music but that was mostly because my computer outputs DTS or Dolby Digital directly into my home theatre system. I have surely embraced the convenience of instant searches and the implementation of music management in recent versions of MS Media Player.

I guess I never thought that wearing around silly little wires made much sense. For you see, I greatly enjoy silence. Right here, I've said many a time that I enjoy looking out the window when on the SkyTrain and simply thinking. My truck doesn't even have a radio.

In order to use my time more effectively though, I finally purchased joined the rest of the world. I picked up a 4 GB Creative Zen. I cannot imagine living without and I haven't even had it for 24 hours yet. I just went down for my daily immersion in the this building's hot tub. While there I listened to half of the most recent NPR's Car Talk podcast. Those fellows have been on the air since the 80's and still cause me to chuckle. The brothers' accents usually remind me people I heard when growing up.

Labels: Creative Zen, podcasts, Q2_2007

I rather think of audio books as cassette tapes for people who have a long, boring, daily commute. I can still be so eighties.

Today, on this rainy morning, after returning from weekly grocery shopping, I explored something new for me: digital audio books. I had briefly played with free classic audio books years ago when I used my ancient iPAQ. I just never made much time for listening. Today, however, I accidental stumbled on real offerings though my public library. Many British Columbia libraries have banded together and are implementing new opportunities.



The system is quite interesting as one really checks out the digital files by using one's library card. It's due back in 14 days and due to Microsoft digital rights management, it will expire. There's software that needs to be downloaded for each computer by Overdrive. That company seems to be positioning itself well for a future in all aspects of digital media.

There's now 60-minutes of survival Czech playing. It'll probably be of little help when we spend a few days in Prague but gosh! Maybe I have to cave in and pick up a $50 mp3 player!

Labels: library, Net apps, Q2_2007

The weekend is on its way. Earlier in the month, we thought we might head to Salt Spring Island. After all, we thought, the weather is bound to improve as we get closer to the end of June. It really hasn't. Sunday is due to be a complete washout; therefore, we decided not to make a three day weekend at this time. I begin with a new class on Monday and work only two of the next five Fridays. Jay can take a sick day when the weather on a future weekend promises sunshine.

I don't think we've been over to Vancouver Island yet this year. Last year we cruised through Victoria on a Holland American cruise from San Diego. I think the last time we were on a ship of BC Ferries was after Christmas in 2005. The fares and cost of vehicle seem too expensive to just pop over for a quick unplanned journey!

Labels: BC Ferries, British Columbia, Q2_2007, Vancouver Island, weather

Earlier in the afternoon, I was positive I was going to leave a voice clip as a blog entry today. After all, my evening students do it as a part of class every evening that we meet. I was going to relate how wonderful it was to have a free Thursday.

Being between Intensive classes, I was completely free and it felt wonderful. I went uptown to the library and walked around London Drugs half dreaming about buying a new camera. I escaped without doing so and made it home happily.

Now that I know we're, for sure, going into Munich and Central Europe as a vacation in the autumn, I found and pulled out The Sound of Music from my vast DVD collection. It's funny how I remember most parts of it up to the intermission but the end seemed all new to me. How could I have understood all the historical implications when I was a babe and saw the film before? Even as a young adult I don't think I understood where Austria was. Now I'm assured that as long as we've got the time, we'll have to get to Salzburg, although it's all a tad Hollywood in the movie.



I've simply got to 'do re mi' down the same steps as seen in the film, even if I cannot carry a tune in a bucket. How nice of ancient Ms. Fisher to have told me to stand in the back of the choir and just mouth the words so I wouldn't bother the real singers. That was most probably in sixth grade but, oh, how far we carry the scars of youth!

(I still have a place near my ankle where hair doesn't grow because I tried to stamp out a 'combustion-able' mixture of gas and baking soda which we created for a junior high-school science fair volcano exhibit. Thank you Mitch Latva, my partner. Didn't we also do something on the effects of music on mice? I got stuck playing Hawaiian music to my sleeping white lab mouse whereas your rock'n roll critter kept biting through its wire cage?)

Labels: Eurotrip 2007, movie musical, Q2_2007, Salzburg, travel planning

I'm teaching my evening class tonight. Although, I had no other work, I didn't really enjoy my day because I was aware I had to go to the campus later. That seems rather silly but I really relish having days with absolutely no appointments.

I have really put in a lot of hours already in 2007. Mind you, it's not nearly as much as the average person works but I take my job much more seriously than I have to. I cannot stand putting in anything less than my best effort. These statements seem a bit strange to me as I always considered myself the jovial, liaise faire sort.

I just found a small insight in these comments though. I understand something important about myself. As I expect near perfection in myself, I have no respect for others who cannot do likewise. Maybe that's too much to ask. For example, just because I'm smart, should I hold the rest of the population to similar standards? Clearly, that's not possible.

Labels: Q2_2007, relaxing

How powerful blogging can be! I complained yesterday about the weather; therefore today we were gifted with a gorgeous one. This is a week between my regular, intensive courses and I had no obligations.

Well, I wasn't completely free. I mentioned in this blog that nearly a year ago I got annoyed at the service provided at my dentist's office. We hadn't been for a mouth check since then, so it was high time for the initial checkup with a new dentist today. Jay took a personal day. Between the two of us, we were in Belmont Dental in the Royal City Centre Mall between 8:30 and 11:45 this morning.



As the weather is beautiful, you'd think I'd have a great photo from this day to include here. Actually, the shot above is a previously unpublished picture from 2002. At the end of January that year, I bought my first digital camera. The reason I had access to it today is because I backed up my photo collection to a duel-layer DVD. Almost everything including some scans fit into 8.5 GB.

I threw away all my old discs that contained bits and pieces of the archived copies. My actions must be the equivalent of spring cleaning now that we have just about run out of it.

I am anxious to fill up another DVD. Look out Flickr!

Labels: dentist, digital camera, Q2_2007

Blogging about the weather is probably the ultimate way of showing that one has nothing pressing to share. It's an easy topic just as mentioning the weather is probably a safe way to begin a conversation with a stranger.

Wait, that might not be the case everywhere. I guess it can be commented on here because of the fact it varies. When I worked in some of the countries in the Persian Gulf, there was seldom any need to catch the weather forecast. In fact, I even assumed that getting a job in the meteorological department must've been due to having connections and knowing someone with influence. The nightly weather on television could frequently be the same, word for word, for months at a stretch. After all, the weather was often simply hot or very hot.

I wish that were the case here at the present. I think it's been an awful June. We're still running the gas fireplace at night. The grey and cold have seemed more like the middle of a normal February. I'm not complaining but I'd welcome the chance to use a little rub-on sunscreen.

Labels: Q2_2007, weather

Those new platters, mentioned yesterday, for electronic bits are spinning nicely. Likewise, I ran round and round today organizing old computer files. I still have electronic files and documents with DOS timestamps of 1986. I used to write letters with a word processor. Moreover, I worked overseas so letter-writing was an art I frequently practiced. I have lots of Wordstar and WordPerfect files.

Today, I copied old data from archived compact discs. I put the digital debris onto a duel layer DVD. It's sad that over twenty years of my digital existence don't even fill it up. Oh well, I suppose I learned how to hit the delete key early on. Here's proof that some twenty-year old recycled ASCII characters can be born again. I wrote this to high school friends and their baby daughter who then lived in Washington State. Actually, they still do. I got a letter from Lynne today explaining how they just graduated off their son. He wasn't born at the time of this letter!

---

May 20, 1987

Siyanco SOCP
Box # 168
APO, New York 09017

Dear Whitney, Lynne, & Joel,

Hey, I've been patiently waiting at my mailbox for two freekin' months! I don't blame you Whitney; it's not easy work being a baby. Lynne, you're also excused; mothers don't have a "breeze" either. But what about the funkin' hairy face? What's his excuse? (Gads, that was not a very nice way to open a letter.) Please allow me to start again.

Hello, everyone. I haven't heard from you lately, but that's certainly all right because I know how busy you all are. I hope that everything's, like, ‘mega’ in Kent, Washington. Additionally, I hope that your yard is now dry and the bird of paradise frequently flies there!

Well, for whatever it's worth, here's the latest. I don't really know which end's up! "So, what's new?", I hear them murmur. "Go suck eggs," I retort. No, no. Here's the story:

Today was my last day of work until June 27, 1987. I'm on vacation. Yippee, you yuppies! However, I won't leave for America for five more days. My company bought the ticket and it's like, JEDDAH - NEW YORK next Tuesday. I'll be flying up to Lebanon, NH that same day. My ticket does show NYC to Seattle on Monday June 8th. Let me find the flight number ... (it's here somewhere) … (I really should clean my desk) ... OK, here we are! ... It's CONTINENTAL 467. Wow, it appears to arrive at 10:00 pm. I didn't know it came in that late.

Now it's time for the warning. The Surgeon General has announced, “Planning vacations in advance has shown a positive correlation with an incidence of cancer in tests with laboratory animals." So this schedule is subject to change. I have a tip on a great teaching job in Orlando, Florida. It is possible, be it however small, that I might spend several days there. That could mean a whole new travel itinerary. But of course, you'll be the first to know.

Regardless of the exact time, please be sure to make the necessary preparation:

1. Stock the fridge with all kinds of beer.
2. Clean your underwear.
3. Be ready to welcome me with open arms.

All seriousness aside, I'm really looking forward to seeing you all. And I'll call you from NH to let you know exactly when it's "goin' down". Until then, best of health.

With love,

---

Labels: file archives, Joel, Q2_2007, Saudi Arabia, travel planning

I'm no stranger to improvements in computer technology having been involved with personal computers since the 1980's. The first hard drive that I purchased was a 30 MB Seagate and the one I bought yesterday was 500 GB. The first drive would hold about two dozen of today's digital photos. Nowadays, a half terabyte doesn't seem excessive at all. The newly purchased drive will just be used for storing my personal data. Having put that storage space in an external enclosure, I'll have a bit more flexibility.

Labels: hard disk, Q2_2007

I sometimes wonder if the words in my eJournal and images really end up being a representative repository of my thoughts and ideas. After all, on an ordinary day, we all have a deluge of ideas during waking hours. Well, I surely do, and although it may prove suspect, I'd like to think that most of those around me spend at least part of their days with their brains engaged. So, why might these blog entries not capture the spirit of my thoughts for a day?

First, I believe one major impediment to a more balanced expression of ideas is that I still have to be at a keyboard when entering data. I simply do not spend the majority of my day near a PC; therefore, I might not be able to capture the good ones when they're available.

Then, there's the very complex process of sorting and deciding what to say. Of the millions of possible ideas I could express, most simply don't fit well into a box of typed text. Perhaps some of my thoughts today have never even made it into language form.

Also, many of my ideas might have been fleeting. Others may have lacked coherence. I cannot think of an appropriate term for the smaller material of which thoughts are composed. Let's call them atoms. I would venture that the single atoms of thought, do not a blog entry make.

Lastly, on some days, and today may just be an example, I may simply not have any useful thoughts or ideas to share.

Labels: blogging, feelings, Q2_2007, sharing

I checked out the DVD of Minority Report (2002) from the library today when I was returning some travel guides. I like how future technology is presented in the film in a way that doesn't jump and shout about its very presence.

Today was just another day, but some aspects of it wouldn't have been common or even possible when I was in college. For example, I started the day after an old-fashioned coffee by answering an email message from the YMCA in Munich, Germany. It'd been typed in Europe a few hours before while I was asleep. They confirmed reservations for a stay with them during a planned autumn trip. Before eating lunch, I entered some students marks online from home. Later, during my afternoon class, half of my students had oral presentations. Some talked about their researched topic while showing PowerPoint slides on an enormous screen in the front of the room. The images and text danced around the screen in a colourful yet effective manner. After getting home, I threw the previously-mentioned DVD into my computer's disc drive and copied the movie onto a round, duel-layer DVD disk. I found it difficult to think that I had finished college by a few years before the use of consumer video tape became widespread. Oh, and my day's not quite yet over.

How the things we take for granted have changed. Yet we've adopted so well, the world surely doesn't seem very Jetson-like.

Labels: futurecast, Q2_2007, technology

I didn't upload this photo today as it was already posted here. Is that really coming up on being two years ago? Although I'd been blogging for over twenty months at that time, I did not have a place for just sharing photos. In fact it was this trip, and wanting to share it with others, which prompted me to investigate photo sharing websites. This was when I found Flickr. That was over 3,300 photos ago. I've never looked back ... well, until today!

Labels: Flickr, Okanagan, Q2_2007

It's funny how simple, ten-second jobs can sometimes end up taking more time than anticipated.

On the way home from college today, I stopped in London Drugs to pick up a cheap, one-kilogram, plastic container of Folgers coffee. When passing the aisle with the light bulbs I noted a 42-watt compact florescent. It'd be better to have a bulb in the living room lamp that could throw out the equivalent of a 150-watt incandescent bulb, I reckoned. So, I bought one.

Upon arriving home, I discovered the new light source was physically too large to fit! The opening between the metal bars that held the shade was insufficient in size. I almost thought of returning the bulb when I saw that the bedroom lamp had a much larger shade assembly. Consequently, I spent at least an hour taking both lamps entirely apart in order to switch components. During this time, the load in the washer ended, the rice finished cooking, and I wanted to eat dinner.

The picture to the right shows that I was successful but I wanted to title today's entry: 'How many Dennises does it take to change a light bulb?'

Labels: errands, Q2_2007

How did they get such a bad name? It might come from the literary folks, but somehow the term itself has become a horrible insult. I don't how well I can briefly explain, but I wish to pay my respect to movie clichés.

The name, itself, isn't universal and perhaps I'm trying to defend a whole different beast. I'm not trying to cast a positive light on what the standard definition always terms as hackneyed. Instead, I'm supporting what www.imdb.com more accurately refers to as movie connections. These shortcuts involve learned responses and are not universally or even 'generationally' understood. Rather, they involve exposure to the original subject matter. Rather than being banal, they show specialized knowledge.

In certain situations, the writers, actors, or directors may purposely choose to access a shortcut to previous themes. First, a musical score can certainly fit under this category. A specific sequence can elicit an entire psychological reaction in a few, short notes. Or secondly, a filmmaker might simply pay tribute to a former master. Imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery. Lastly, even camera angles and cuts can purposefully mimic an understood genre.

The reason I'm writing this is because I noticed a clichéd shot in the most recent Pirates of the Caribbean. Toward the end of At World's End, there was a swap among the six main characters. Three meet and swaggered down a deserted spit of sand for the confrontation. The facial closeups were right out of an old spaghetti western.

Long live movie clichés!

Labels: movies, Q2_2007

Less than two month ago, I first mentioned the idea of another journey to Europe this autumn. Rather than the starting in Amsterdam, we have already bought tickets to fly into Munich, Germany.

(See the beginning blog entry for the Eurotrip 2005, by starting at September 8th and reading toward the top of the pages! You may also view a 135-photo Flickr slideshow.)

From Bavaria, I think we'll be heading eastward. We need to select small regions to explore as we go for only three weeks at a time. So, this September/October, we'll see some of Central Europe. The last statement looked strange to me. Not many years ago the countries of our planned visit were referred to as being in Eastern Europe, weren't they?

We have loads of time to research and plan a itinerary. However, ever since squinting at black and white television in the 1960's, I've had an unusual curiosity with the original home of Zsa Zsa Gabor. Here's feminine beauty that pre-dates her by at least a year and a half.

Labels: Eurotrip 2007, Q2_2007, travel planning

In 1979, I was a sophomore in college. Although only a few hundred miles from Manhattan, little Keene New Hampshire was a world or two away. I didn't see the movie then but The Warriors is now a guilty pleasure.

The film has such a ... well ... indie feel. It also is so analog. I'm coining that term here to mean, 'non-networked'. I mean there were no cell phones for God's sake. If you introduce Verison thirty years hence, the whole premise of the movie falls apart. It really was a simpler time. And the NY subway was rough, scary, and had graffiti. It kinda makes one nostalgic for the good old days!

Labels: analog, movies, New Hampshire, Q2_2007, technology

We're supposed to remember the beauty of the free enterprise system is that consumers vote with their cash. Over the long haul, companies that make the better products and adapt well to changing customers' needs should not only survive but thrive.

Sometimes, I wonder how this theory relates to customer loyalty. For example, when it comes to photographic equipment, I've become loyal to Olympus. The only reason, I suppose, is it was the brand of my first digital camera. I was very happy with my experience with my D40 so when I wanted to go to a higher-resolution, I chose an SP-350. At that time, a year and a half ago, I was most interested in staying with a compact choice. I haven't outgrown the 8 megapixels but I do think I will soon be ready to move to something with interchangeable lenses.

That's why it is so opportune that Olympus has just come out with two new models. It takes a few months for discounts to take effect, unfortunately. How can I not be excited about this product though?

Labels: digital camera, Q2_2007, review, technology

For decades, I've been doing school work on my home computer, but only recently have I been doing the reverse. I am logged onto the BCIT network now.

I first bought a $300 Radio Shack TRS-80 in 1980. I don't think that I would've even dreamed there'd be so much hardware on the planet in just two and a half decades. Bill talked about having one of these suckers on every desk, but it's obvious we surpassed that goal. How many personal computers are there per capita in North America? (That's a question I can probably answer in a matter of minutes after I exit www.blogger.com and get to a search engine.)

It is time again for my library exercise. I'm down in the COMPUTER COMMONS. I take every class for an hour-long project in the library on the Burnaby campus. As I generally teach 5-week, intensive courses, I find myself here nearly every month. I do like the atmosphere in libraries.

A few of my Communications students would never set foot in this building were it not for this assignment. At this point in my course, we hit materials that emphasize the use of comparative structures. They are here to observe a location that meets some criteria for successful studying. In this week's assignment, they will compare their notes written here with those from another studying location.

Labels: BCIT, library, Q2_2007, students

I probably won't finish this entry until after I get home. However, as I have an extra minute or two here in the computer lab, I thought I could, at least, get a head start. Now comes the difficult part ... figuring out what to say!

These extra hours will seem nice when the paychecks roll in. It's actually a pleasure to work with these students while focusing on listening / speaking skills. The courses I usually teach are predominately aimed at improving writing stills. The added advantage of working with computers makes the class interesting too. They work with video and audio files and create voice clips during every class. The lab has flat screen monitors and is easily configured for group work too. It's clearly a unique and useful opportunity.

Unfortunately, I see the additional cash as found money as I wasn't counting on it. So, it seems as if I'm obligated to go out and blow it on something I might otherwise not. Should I buy a digital SLR camera?

Labels: BCIT, computer lab, digital camera, Q2_2007

Tonight, I would sit on the balcony and watch the occasional tree trunk float past, but it's too cool outside. For months we've known the rivers here would eventually flood. The snow pack during the winter reached record levels. There should be no surprise that as it melts, the majority runs towards the ocean.

The mighty Fraser River cuts through 1,400 kilometers of British Columbia. It also runs right by where we live. By the time the Fraser gets to New Westminster though, it's pretty much tamed and channeled by dikes and other containment. Also, even the basement of this building is many meters above the maximum crest possible and we're on the tenth floor.

Even though my feet have little chance of getting wet, it's interesting keeping up with the developments of the flood watch. Oops, there goes another one-hundred foot tree floating by ...

Labels: Fraser River, New Westminster, Q2_2007

Is life a bowl of cherries? On occasion, there has to be some answer that involves it being in the pits, don't you think? It's Monday and lately they've seemed quite manic. How come life now mimics a 1980's, big-hair, pop song title?



Things are so much greyer and more depressing than during the past weekend. It just can't be my own little bad mood, as my afternoon class was clearly in the dumps too. Rather than the worsening weather maybe it's the fact many people associate this time of year with finishing up academic pursuits. I'm sure we feel that we're nowhere near the end of anything today. In reality, I'm only at the midway point in both classes I'm teaching at the present time.

I guess I wanted to let it be known that I don't always blog about how gloriously happy I am. The blog is not full of kittens and cotton candy. I can still go all philosophical, if not postal, on you though.

Without the downs, the ups wouldn't actually be up, would they?

Labels: BCIT, Q2_2007

It was good to take the day to get a little re-acquainted with downtown Vancouver. Although, we live about a half-hour SkyTrain ride to the city core, I was not able to pinpoint the exact last time I ventured there. Living beside the Columbia Station can be noisy but the convenience of being able to pop out in the middle of Vancouver far outweighs any negatives.

What a fantastic day to walk around the temperature being in the high 20's Centigrade!

The construction on the expansion of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre was impressive as the last time the action involved just driving pilings.

We hadn't been to the Waterfront on a weekend to see any of the ships plying the 2007 Alaska cruise season. There was a Holland America on the south side of Canada Place and an Norwegian Cruise Line on the other. Also, out in the port terminal, there was a Celebrity ship.

We walked about a large part of the city. Yaletown is surely growing. In fact things have changed so much since we immigrated here.

I bet that many people who lazed around the beaches today are going home red today.

Labels: cruise, Q2_2007, SkyTrain, transit, Vancouver

I've always felt that happiness must reside internally. It doesn't quite seem right to me that external circumstances should affect one's emotional state. Of course, that is a blatant oversimplification for our interaction with the world is how we experience it.

External forces affect our habits. For example, the weather is great today just as it was yesterday. I was extremely happy to not have to go into work. I walked uptown soaking up the extra sunshine along we way. Being out with no obligations seemed joyful. I will always have a hard time understanding people who get bored when they've time off from their jobs. Life without a schedule is the way it was intended to be, I believe.

Furthermore, many people have trouble being in the moment nowadays. Technology has made it easy to exist in a constant somewhere else. Take all the people immersed in some other reality as they go about life. If I were to pull out the iPods' earbuds and switch off the cell phones, two thirds of the people on public transit would immediately go into a panic. Rather than attempting to be in some other zone, maybe it would be healthier just to look around and experience the here there.

Labels: feelings, Q2_2007, relaxing, SkyTrain, technology, telephone

Quick, name something you've done every one of the last seven hundred days! Okay, there are the obvious things like brushing one's teeth and eating lunch. I can, however, add something different to that list of basic trivialities.

I've taken photographs to document my most recent 700 days. They may not be stunning, but they're a hell of a way for me to remember things I've done.

Labels: briefcase, Daily Picture Parade, Flickr, Q2_2007

There was a time when I used to catch up on some reading while giving an exam. Today, I'm in the lab and my students have an additional 25 minutes to work on their midterm examinations. This type of intense writing can make anyone tired and I can see by their expressions that the work is taking its toll.

Today, while they've been busy I've been creating some teaching materials. Actually, I've been viewing segments from How It's Made and making a short comprehension worksheet to go with each one. If you look at the sample, you'll see it doesn't look as if it'd be taxing to create. After doing a few though, I'm wondering what expression is on my face.

Labels: BCIT, Q2_2007

On rare occasions, I face this screen with a touch of writer's block. It's not that I don't have anything to say, as I have an opinion on just about everything. It's also not as if I have run out of personal experiences; I don't plan on doing that for quite some time.

Some days, I am truly too occupied with other things. For example, I spent the morning correcting assignments, the afternoon with one class, and will spend the evening with another. All the while, the best weather of the year occurred outside the buildings in which I was holed up.

Many regular classes at BCIT are finished. I think I've only run across one other group in the entire NE 1 building. It's a bit spooky seeing empty corridors. It's weird hearing one's footstep echo down the halls. It's nice to know, however, that some people are probably out there enjoying the balmy temperatures and abundant sunshine.

Labels: BCIT, blogging, Q2_2007

There's hardly a thing that feels better: I'm sitting with my notebook on my lap in the recliner and the balcony sliding door is wide open.

I have been very aware of spring's arrival this year. I charted the progress by what I had to wear when going out the door. The thick jacket changed to a thinner one several weeks ago. Then a week or so back, the jacket stayed in the closet. For a few days, I wore both a t-shirt and a short-sleeved shirt. Last week, I once skipped the t-shirt. Although, I've not left the house without any shirt, it promises to be that type of weather tomorrow.

It was so nice today, it's ironic, if not a little criminal, that I taught in a windowless classroom all afternoon. On the way home, however, as if a sign of consolation, I was aware of the many birds singing in the trees. I was driving with the side window down. I sort of wonder why they're all so silent all winter. They truly seemed happy and that made me feel the same way.


Everything looks better with a little green to cover up things around
the edges.

Labels: New Westminster, Q2_2007, SkyTrain, weather

Today was one of those days with 6.5 hours in the classroom. That gives little time to formulate a good entry for the blog. I thought I just might add an idea of how using technology while teaching may affect copyright.

I'd suggest that good teachers have always brought the real world into their classrooms. Photocopiers made it easy to carry in a relevant snippet from the day's newspaper. Using authentic materials is not only easy but often quite effective.

Now, I am able to copy segments from science programs while watching them on TV. The capture card in my PC is directly connected to an output on the satellite receiver. After getting a number of clips, I have copied to various DVDs for quick, in-class listening comprehension exercises. Now, with our robust computer network at BCIT, I can easily post streaming video segments to the class storage. These could be made available in the Institute's labs or even from a home computer.

There are many educationally sound things I can do. What I'm unsure of is the legality of many of those actions.

Labels: BCIT, Q2_2007

I really like living in downtown New Westminster. We can't imagine being happier in any other suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia. We feel the sense of community and are sitting in the exact geographical center of the Lower Mainland. Things seem as if they're growing and moving.



On Flickr I created a group named, New Westminster, BC (The Royal City). Apparently other people have digital photos that highlight the subject. Sixty-three others have joined me in uploading photos of New West. In fact, all combined there are now over a thousand of them!

Labels: Flickr, Hayack, New Westminster, parade, Q2_2007

Our city's Hyack Festival Parade was today. Now it's billed as The Largest International Parade in Western Canada.

There were something in the neighbourhood of 136 entries this year. That made it several hours long. As usual the 'Seafair Pirates' pulled up the rear exploding their cannon in shock waves that made poodles tremble in fear.

While the parade was en route though, I was thinking how people, similar to crows, like shiny objects. The local students did a fine job but there is certainly something 'showy' about the visitors. Many high school marching bands were up from the US. This video shows a group of Californian students.

With all the flash, I couldn't help but think of the music from the musical Chicago. Then, with a strange twist of fate, a few minutes ago, I watched the song mentioned in the title in HD. The 2002 movie version is on NBC tonight!

Labels: camcorder, Hayack, HDTV, movie musical, movies, New Westminster, parade, Q2_2007, YouTube

I check through my site's visitor information. This data includes queries entered through search engines. I've come to the sad conclusion that nowadays most visits to my eJournal and images occur due to image searches. I guess there's little reason to labour over word choice or turn of phrase.

So, here's looking at you, kid.

Labels: blogging, movies, Q2_2007, stars

On a day that I should be celebrating the fine weather that has blown in, I spent much too much time at my PC. At the moment, there's an extra keyboard I borrowed from work which is plugged into my PC.

It all started quite early in the morning when I was going to start converting useful mpeg clips for use at BCIT. I wanted to reduce them to a manageable size for use on the net storage drives on the institute's servers.

First, I noticed that my DVD recorder drives weren't showing up under COMPUTER on Vista. Eventually, I decided this was because I had recently removed old Adeptec software from my computer. Originally, this was used for DVD or CD recordings years ago, but I had kept a part of those programs installed so that I could continue to use the labeling software only. After installing Win Vista Business I received a device driver error due to the ancient software that was affecting my DVD drives. I installed it.

Since I uninstalled the software, I hadn't notice that my drives were no longer functioning. So thankfully, when I noticed this morning, www.technet.com pointed out CODE 19 as a known problem. So, I tried editing the registry to remove the offending lines. Unfortunately, when trying to reboot, my PC wouldn't start.

The new-fangled Vista solution asked me to put my installation disk in my drives. Even after playing with the BIOS, I could not get the original Vista disk to boot. The only remaining option involved making a selection to install to a previously known working point.

It took me a long time to realize that because I have a wireless keyboard and mouse that I could not make a selection on the screen. Those devices only become available after Windows loads. That is the reason that I found it necessary to 'borrow' a work keyboard.

Whatever the consequences, I'm writing this on the home PC, so that says something about my ability to troubleshoot a computer problem ...

Labels: Hardware, Q2_2007, Windows

Today, I completed teaching my COMM 0004 class at 5:00. I am now on the other side of the campus in my office. In a few minutes, I will walk into NE1 for an evening COMM 0030/31 class. It takes place in a computer lab as we are able to use the equipment for listening and recording speech. There are several software programs specifically designed for pronunciation practice. In addition, we also save and store audio clips about the topics we are reviewing. There's net storage for every class at the Institute. It can be accessed with student ID and password directly from any computer lab or via a browser gateway from any Internet computer.

Labels: BCIT, computer lab, Q2_2007, technology

Wouldn't you know! The sunshine is now streaming in the windows and it's going to be 18C degrees today. All those drenched people who tried to start summer over the long weekend have an opportunity to dry out, I guess.

It's a tad hard to concentrate on classwork knowing the weather's so nice beyond the window sash. My current group just started last week. If the first assignments are any indication, they have quite well-developed skills. The group is very small with just thirteen students and this seems nice as I've taught some terms that are double this size. They do demand a lot of attention though. I don't mind that. After all, my attention is what they're paying for. Still, it is amazing how tired four hours of class can make me. It's not physical rather I get tired from answering all the questions and trying to stay one step ahead of them.

I look back on my own time on the desk side of the classroom, and wonder what teachers thought of the various groups in which I learned. It's hard to believe how the quality of one's educational experiences are affected by those around one. It works for both the better and worse, I suspect.

Labels: BCIT, Q2_2007, weather

When we went over to this Surrey park this morning, it was still cloudy. This scene is looking back at downtown New Westminster across the Fraser River. Our building is the second tower from the right.



By the time we went to Richmond in the afternoon it had even become sunny. Thanks for Victoria Day dinner, folks. It does seem a little cold out for nearly the end of May, doesn't it?

Labels: Fraser River, New Westminster, Q2_2007, Surrey, weather

The fireworks were easy to watch from the balcony last night. It really doesn't feel like it this morning, but this weekend is considered the beginning of the summer season here. To celebrate, we are in the middle of a three-day weekend as tomorrow is Victoria Day.

In fact, both this and next weekend are a time of special events in our little city. New Westminster's Hyack Festival has begin and will continue through the end of next weekend which coincides with the Memorial Day weekend in the USA. In fact, a highlight, the International Parade, will take place on the 26th. In that event, many local and British Columbia high school marching bands as well as many from US states participate. The parade is on the local festival circuit. Floats and beauty queens arrive as representatives from summer events such as the Apple Blossom Parade in Wenatchee or the Puyallup parade in Washington State.

I certainly endorse the whole concept of summer! It is a nice feeling to see trees full of green leaves, people wearing fewer clothes, and dusk arriving well after eight at night!

Labels: balcony, camcorder, fireworks, Fraser River, Hayack, New Westminster, Q2_2007, YouTube

There are two ways to be rich. One is to make more ... while the other to want less. I recently saw this on a poster, in Los Angeles, CA no less.


I feel as though I've always been cautious with cash. The only time in my life I ever borrowed money was to go to college and, fortunately, student loans have very reasonable interest rates. Of course, working abroad when right out of college did not force me to live a normal lifestyle. I mean I paid off those college loans quickly with cash from my work in Saudi Arabia. In addition, my current, eleven year old, pickup truck, although purchased new, was paid for with traveller's cheques. Even the apartment from which I'm typing this blog was 'cash on the barrel head'. I just shake my head in amazement at just how much most people have paid for the privilege of borrowing money! I don't need to make much considering how much I've saved.

Even with the small things, I tend to scrimp. This whole new global warming paranoia has at least shined a spotlight on society's excessive consumption. Let's face it most people buy way too much crap. It's nice that my choices can now be discussed as being green ones.

Today, though I went to buy new batteries for our cordless house phone. The price ranged from $16 to $21 for those wrapped, three-battery packs. Then I saw that the entire new Sanyo cordless telephone was just $19. So, of course, I'm throwing away the old but perfectly usable one. I remember doing the exact same thing about three years ago. Sometimes, it just ain't easy being green. Wait, didn't Kermit, the frog, already say that?

Labels: money, opinions, Q2_2007, Saudi Arabia, technology, telephone

During last week in LA, we ended up at the Hollywood Walk of Fame many times as it was just two stops up on the Red Line.

It was rather interesting both day and night. Not only for the stars in the sidewalk but because of the people traversing them.

I don't know how the guy in the Darth Vader outfit was able to stand out in the heat of the day. The 'fat-period' Elvis stayed stubbornly close to the Chinese Theatre. Marilyn Monroe was perfect down to the birthmark. But I would've found it rather creepy actually chatting to any of them, much less pay them money to be in a photo. Perhaps, that's my loss.

I also struggled to find a star I wanted to stand near. It just seemed like it should be a star from old Hollywood. I walked right over many favourites without a single desire to pose near their stars. This star caught my attention though. All About Eve was probably the first film I watched with the sole intent of seeing Bette Davis. Now, that we are witness to international, super-CGI big budget eye candy like the present Superman III, I long for films which actually had memorable dialog. After all, being able to deliver the line, "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night," has got to be reason enough to be given a sidewalk star.

Labels: Hollywood, Los Angeles, movies, Q2_2007, stars

I like taking something ten years old and being able to modify it for use in this blog. In this case a photo from a trip to Victoria in the summer of 1997 has become an entry.

Labels: BC Ferries, British Columbia, Q2_2007, scanned, Vancouver Island