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

I started something new to go along with this blog at the beginning of July. I have made it a habit to post a digital photo each and every day. At the bottom of my email messages, I even provide a link to my most current of the set with the words: "Experience My Day Through a Photo".

This daily record stays a bit more concrete than the text of blog entries. After all whether taken in the apartment or on a trip, the photograph shows something that I actually did or saw on that particular day. So, why don't you look over half of my 2005? Oh, I shall not forget to offer you the best wishes for the start of a new year.

You may wish to add this link to your favourites as it will always showcase the most recent photos first.

Labels: Flickr, Q4_2005

This morning Lynne and Whit headed for home. I had given them my New Westminster visitor-parking permit. Our street has restricted parking and cars staying for more than a few hours must have a permit hanging from the rear-view mirror and visible through the windshield.



As we were out all of yesterday, we didn't even check the car. Today as they were leaving, we noticed two parking tickets on the vehicle. The infraction was for "parking within 1.5 metres of a driveway". What is this?

I've lived in the building for seven years and never witnessed this type of ticket. Care is always taken not to block the circular driveway, as handicapped people require close access to the doorway. Additionally, delivery men need to be able to pull in. For these reasons, we are very aware of vehicle placement. There are no lines on our side of the street which would indicate the apparently new restrictions. This 'extra' required space will cut down on the number of cars that fit in front of the building!

I have seen a cute little SmartCar owned by the New Westminster Engineering Department's Parking Services. It appears as if in order to pay for it, the Engineering Department is enforcing rules that are both silly and impractical. In fact to try to fit in the parallel spaces, drivers are going to be blocking the street for much more time while squeezing into the downsized area.

Lastly, if the $40 tickets aren't contested or paid within about five weeks then they're increased to $70! What type of business is allowed to function with such obvious bullying tactics? I dare say it'd be illegal. Shame on New Westminster's Parking Services.

Labels: Joel, New Westminster, Q4_2005

Today was eventful. Whit was being dreadlocked from noon to 4 pm, while Lynne and I walked the length and breadth of downtown Vancouver. We did tapas for dinner and got back to New Westminster after nine.

Labels: Joel, New Westminster, Q4_2005

I'm a little late in getting this posted. I did want to encode this television advertisement from Telus.

Telus is now the default local telephone company here. Great changes continue in the telecommunications industry. When we first applied for a phone line, we dealt with BC Tel. That company merged with Alberta Tel to create the newer company. Of course now there's tons of competition for local service, not to mention mobile, long-distance, and broadband Internet.

I didn't research to see who's doing the ads for Telus, but what a brilliant scheme! For a few years the company has been promoting itself with animals. Add out-of-date music with low residuals and they've got the perfect campaign. Animals are cheap, cute, and very memorable.

(Click the hippo, in order to load a 28-second Christmas spot that had everybody humming.)

Labels: Christmas, Q4_2005, telephone, television

There's no better way to make one feel great about living in this part of British Columbia than a beautiful ferry ride over to Victoria. We had fair weather with the big storm not coming until we were sound asleep at the Dominion Hotel.

Going and coming completely by public transit proved easy and relaxing, not to mention cheaper. As hordes of people were finishing up their Christmas days off, there were tremendous crowds returning to the Mainland this afternoon. If we had driven, we would have been stuck in a three-ferry wait. Yet, there's always room for foot passengers! We got back a number of hours earlier by taking buses on either side of the 1.5-hour ferry run.

Labels: BC Ferries, British Columbia, Q4_2005, Vancouver Island

In Canada, today is Boxing Day. It's the ultimate, post-Christmas, sales extravaganza. So successful in fact, it has changed people's gift-buying habits. Many Canadians hold off their purchases until the sales start.

However, due to the fact there's nothing that we really want that we haven't already purchased, we will not be waiting in queue for a store to open. Rather, we've decided to take a trip over to the Island.

We should be onboard the 10:00 Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay run. For a bit more adventure, we're not driving over this time. For the first time, we will discover if it's easy to connect up using public transit. If you happen by this blog before our departure time, you'll be able to see how many vehicles are waiting in this live webcam. (Just reload your screen to update.)

We'll stay for one night and should be back by Tuesday evening. Perhaps, I'll leave my notebook computer at home this time. I can write the entry for that day after we get back.

Labels: BC Ferries, Christmas, Q4_2005, Vancouver Island, webcam

Labels: Christmas, New Hampshire, Q4_2005

It's nice to have been blogging long enough to have created certain traditions. This is the third year that I've linked to this homemade e-card on my site. The photo is of the Rocky Mountains and was taken when we once returned from Calgary by Greyhound.


Click this banner to view the photo, see falling snow, and hear a midi tune.

Labels: Alberta, Canada, Q4_2005

There's a big sign on a local church that suggests we put Christ back in Christmas. First, maybe we could take a little look into its history and origins. Unfortunately, the Bible doesn't mention a date for Jesus's birth but spring would've been a more likely season. Shepherds generally wouldn't be out herding in the middle of winter.

Early Christians focused on Easter and did not celebrate the birth at all. Eventually, the church got around to creating Christmas in the fourth century. Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan winter festivals. If you can't beat 'em then join them. Although celebration of the Feast of the Nativity had reached Egypt by 432, the folks in Scandinavia weren't observing it until the eighth century. More recently, due to Puritan forces, celebrating Christmas was outlawed in England and some of the American colonies in the 17th century.

Yet, we have now instituted and accepted this as a Christian holiday. And frankly, I'm a bit tired of the politically-correct proclamation of Season's Greetings. In the local stores, I could only find cute winter decorations and Santa Claus ornaments. I vowed that if I ever saw a creche for sale that I'd buy it. I did, so I did.

Labels: Christmas, Q4_2005

I had to read it as an adolescent but didn't have the necessary background to make sense of it. Now, an 11.5 mm disc can hold it, Henry Fonda and all!

During this time of year we see more than our fill of cute, little snowmen and jolly Santas; therefore, this movie ought to be required viewing. In this era of perceived automatic entitlements, this film ought to be required viewing. Nowadays when we think that only modern technology has anything useful to say, this 65-year-old cinema classic ought to be required viewing.


I got the DVD of The Grapes of Wrath at the library and watched
it yesterday afternoon.

Labels: movies, Q4_2005

There was something a little sad about seeing the out-of-season,
kiddie section of Queen's Park yesterday.

I had to get out and try to take some pictures with my new camera. Unfortunately, the weather wouldn't cooperate. I wasn't out for long as the ground was soggy and I hadn't put on good shoes. It started pouring and I was completely alone in Queen's Park. During the summer the kid's water slide is busy. It's right near the seasonal petting zoo. But on a rainy December day it looked empty and forlorn. No children's voices could be heard.

On a similarly creepy vain for the holidays, guess what show was on CBC the other evening? Rudolph is pretty cute. The program as a whole, though, is weird and slightly warped. Even Burl Ive's soothing voice really doesn't make the jerky animation and silly story palatable. Yet, I stayed glued to the television just as I probably had for many of the years since it was created in 1964.

Labels: digital camera, Q4_2005, Queen's Park, television

One grandfather died when my mom was a girl. My father's father passed away when I was three or four years old. Yet, I did grow up knowing both grandmothers.

My maternal grandmother, whom we called Nana, worked as a telephone operator for years. She was affected by the technological development of Ma Bell. First, she worked locally. Then, she had to travel to the next town for work. Finally, over her time with the one-time monopoly, she ended up commuting quite a distance from Sunapee, New Hampshire. These changes occurred because of the development and regional addition of call-switching equipment.

This photo and small article were part of an in-house publication at a time close to her retirement. She was working in Claremont, New Hampshire in 1969. As well as Nana and a very scary Santa, I am in the photo with my sister, a cousin, and a neighbour girl. You may click the image to load a very hefty PDF copy of it.

Labels: grandmothers, New Hampshire, Q4_2005, Sunapee

I figured out why I've always been a huge fan of Windows-based computers; namely, it is because I like mucking around with things. Even as a kid, I loved ripping the back off an appliance. Usually, everything went back together successfully although occasionally with a few fewer pieces.

For some reason, I can never help but check the current firmware in my peripherals. For instance, I noted that my D-Link wireless router had an update several months beyond what I was running. Of course, although everything was working well, I just had to throw away the existing configuration. After a few hours, I ended up rolling back to my original setup. I could get my notebook to connect but it wasn't able to obtain a valid IP.

The exercise although futile was mildly interesting. I renamed my wireless network WindTalker. So clever, eh?

Labels: Q4_2005

I'm adding a greater number of entries about Christmas than in the past two years of blogging. This is partly due to the fact I take many more digital photos than in the past. It took me a while to get to the point where I snap something every day and copy to Flickr. There are now over 1200 pictures available there. If you aren't marked as a friend or family member there will be slightly fewer.


Scenes worthy of an image are everywhere. This is our City Hall.

Labels: Christmas, Flickr, Q4_2005

We're in the middle of an election campaign again. It's not on a set schedule; this one's because the opposition forced a non-confidence vote in the Parliament. It should be easy to get excited about national politics here as even the unity of the country comes up as an important discussion on such occasions.

Last night, four party leaders were on the platform (and TV) although the actual voting won't occur until January 23rd. On the previous night the debate was in French but last night it was in English. The format of last night's event seemed constrained as questions came for ordinary voters who were videotaped and each leader was allowed a very specific time limit. Still, what surprised me most was how I knew all the answers before they slipped from the mouths of Paul Martin, Stephen Harper, Jack Layton, and Gilles Duceppe. There were no real surprises. It's a shame we don't vote directly for the Prime Minister. Actually though, none espouses my exact combination of ideas and ideals for Canada's future. At least it'll be after Christmas until much more politicking occurs.

I've always maintained that I'd never blog about politics. What a silly promise!

Labels: Canada, government, Q4_2005

I just sent an email to a high school classmate whom I've only met a few times since graduation in 1977. I was mentioning how nice it is to be in Canada with the Christmas season approaching.

Even when working in the Persian Gulf, I was always able to celebrate December 25th. In Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates people were always respectful of the holiday. The toughest place was Saudi Arabia. I heard rumours that Christian Filipinos were arrested and flogged for just selling Christmas cards. It's hard to know if this actually happened or if it was just one of many local urban myths. Most things don't make it into the newspapers so information via rumours is a way of life.

Public places, such as shopping malls, cannot put up decorations that show any other than the state religion in Saudi Arabia. Yet, much of expat life takes place in housing compounds where people reside. In the confines of these secret areas people can do just about whatever they desire.

Click the graphic to load a PDF copy of a publication that I made for a Christmas program when teaching at the Saudi Royal Navy in Dammam.

Labels: Christmas, Q4_2005, Saudi Arabia

There is absolutely nothing better than having time off. I can understand why individuals requiring money punch a time clock; however, I cannot fathom why some people I know go to work merely to keep busy. I think hobbies can be a full-time vocation.

In recent times, I've been struggling to become more movie literate. There's so much film history to catch up on. There are quite literally tens of thousands of hours to be witnessed. What is it called when a modern work references past works? It happens all the time on film and without basic knowledge of the original, one is left without a clear understanding.



Some bits of Hollywood are so important as to define who we are. Storytelling, after all, compresses the randomness of life into small, digestible pieces. The odd thing for me is that they can be saved so well. I am so thankful for DVDs as any living room can now be an art-house theatre. In the flick above, Marilyn is approachable although she sung the tune a half dozen years before my birth. How can one appreciate Moulin Rouge (2001) having never seen Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)?

Labels: movie musical, movies, Q4_2005, stars

I think that I've been nice this year. However I must admit, that's what I thought last year. In 2004 I was pretty disappointed in Santa when I got nothing from him. At least if he had left a lump of coal, I would have considered it an acknowledgement. I'm refusing to leave myself vulnerable this Christmas.

In fact, the other evening, I ordered myself a new camera from www.BestBuy.ca. I am now waiting for delivery. They had an additional 10% reduction on all digital camera prices for a customer appreciation sale. The thing was, I would've had to go to a Best Buy store between 6 and 9 pm last Sunday evening. As we were planning to hit a movie theatre, I was able to get the same deal online. Yet, waiting for the package to arrive from Mississauga is a bit irksome.

My current, trusty-little beast will turn four years old in January. The Olympus D-40 has been a great little camera. I've not really outgrown its 4.0 megapixels which were quite cutting-edge back when most cameras were around 2.1. Still, I am looking forward to leaping to 8.0 with the new camera. It is not unlike my present camera but will sport lots of updates and improvements. At least the device's menus should seem familiar. One reason I really wanted the SP-350 is because it takes two ordinary AA batteries. My present D-40 does too, so I've got a ton of rechargable NiMHs. I've been on vacations when it's hard to schedule a charge, but ordinary 'penlight' batteries work and are for sale everywhere!

Labels: Christmas, digital camera, Q4_2005

Tragically, they lost most photos in a house fire. Yet Joel's found a few that were spared. He was able to send me this photo of Cedrick. My Christmas gift to them was a World Vision donation of a goat in their name.

I'd suggest that it's not too late to think of someone else as the holidays approach. Their web site proposes that it is Canada's most meaningful gift catalogue. It is most assuredly available at your local World Vision site too.

Got your ducks, yet?

Labels: Christmas, Q4_2005, World Vision

As a kid, I remember old guys, namely my father, say that listening to radio drama was better than television viewing because one had to use one's imagination.



Yesterday evening we went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe with friends. The technology involved in movie-making seems to dramatically improve from year to year. Each Christmas, with a rash of new releases, we are witness to new, ground-breaking feats.

To me Narnia proved that if human minds can imagine a scene then it can now be realistically portrayed on screen. I have to admit the new horizons offered are addictive and compelling; however, movie special effects of the past were fun primarily because one could tell they were fake. At risk of sounding like one of those old guys, maybe 'old skool' was better because one had to use one's imagination.

Labels: movies, Q4_2005

It was here for 2003 only. Yet, people still search and arrive at the blog in anticipation. You know, I've always been one to bow to pressure.



Click the player to hear the 4:48-minute song by Bob and Doug McKenzie. It's a Canuk-inspired version of the 12-Days of Christmas. Oh, by the way, a toque has become the Canadian term for a knit, pull-over, winter stocking cap for one's head. (This Windows Media Player file requires a broadband connection.)

Labels: Christmas, Q4_2005

My city began with a population explosion. In a single year, 1858, more than twenty thousand men came through this area, primarily from San Francisco, seeking Fraser River gold. The term Gold Rush was pretty accurate! The Hudson Bay Company was overwhelmed in trying to keep law and order. This concerned the British Government too. So, the Hudson Bay Company's charter to British Columbia was rescinded and the land became a British Colony.

Colonel Richard Moody and a corps of Royal Engineers were quickly sent to build a new capital. Colonel Moody chose a location on high ground next to the Fraser River, right before the river branches into the north and south arms. The city was founded to oversee the hordes of new immigrants and to prevent the area from becoming a territory of the United States. This area would be easily protected.



There was a dispute as to what to call the new capital. An appeal was sent to Queen Victoria and she named it after her favourite part of London. New Westminster is still known as the Royal City because of this. In 1866, it briefly kept its title when the British Colonies of Vancouver and Victoria were united. However, Victoria was made capital in 1868.

Labels: British Columbia, government, New Westminster, Q4_2005

---

Dammam, Saudi Arabia
December 9, 1988

Dear Dad,

I suppose I owe you a letter. I guess that little Christmas Newsletter would not count as a personal note. As I think I scribbled on the back, I shall be leaving Dammam soon. I am going to take up teaching for the Bahraini Defense Force in January. All this is coming about very quickly. (And I haven't signed their contract yet.)

But in a matter of several short weeks, I am flying to Bahrain (a twenty minute flight). This occurs on Wednesday December 28th after I get through with work. How's that for working up to the last minute? Actually, my official contract expired today. The navy uses the Hijra (Moslem) calendar which is 11 days shorter than our Gregorian one. But I gave my thirty day notice on December first, and offered to work the additional two weeks. That thousand dollars will buy a video deck, TV and assorted apartment furnishings. And the time frame worked out well, as it will give me a bit more than a week between jobs.

In Bahrain, I won't be living on military quarters. Instead, they give a monthly housing allowance. So, this will be only the second time in my life that I've hunted for my own dwelling. I am rather excited about the idea of getting out into the "real world" again. These military contracts in Saudi do not offer you the chance to make any of your own decisions. Transportation, food, housing and even spare-time activities are limited to the military's whims. But soon, I'll be forced into the cold reality of self determination.

The pay in Bahrain is about $400/month less than I am earning here. But money is not my most pressing concern now that I've paid every debt. I am more interested in professional advancement and job satisfaction, neither of which are possible at this Navy institute. You might not believe how screwed up things can be here. In the last year class sizes have doubled, and staff has halved. The supervisor is a super weirdo and mentally unbalanced. And my teaching duties have been mainly an attempt to keep tired cadets awake throughout the morning. It has its moments of fun, but it's a whole lot less enjoyable than a year ago.

Bahrain is considered the "Pearl of the Gulf" for a number of reasons. They have a much more open society there. Passport and immigration laws are not as strict and one can enter and leave as often as one wishes. Christian churches are prevalent and attended. There is no prohibition on things such a liquor, pork, or movie theaters. Women even drive cars, travel unveiled, and hold down jobs. I am looking forward to escaping from this crazy job situation to enter a place where life is less controlled.

I don't know my address yet, but I will send it along as soon as I do know it. In case of emergency, I suppose I could be contracted at the Bahrain offices of General Dynamics. You could dial overseas direct to: (966) 530-023 or (966) 530-024. Remember the day starts and finishes eight hours earlier than it does for you. And Thursday and Fridays are our weekends here.

I hope things are O.K. for you. Have you had the chance to play with the snow plow yet. Winter should be coming along nicely now and the wood stove might need stoking right now! If you find the need to write, my mail will be forwarded to Bahrain for several months, so don't use that as an excuse. Behave and stay well.

Your son,

---

Labels: file archives, Q4_2005, Saudi Arabia

In yesterday's entry I mentioned Bret. He's on the right in this well-worn photo of the famous trio that ran the Harbor Gameroom during summers from college. (See a previous blog entry.) This photo has been hanging around before. In fact, one very small and very old copy sits on my regular eResume Site's youth page. I recently scanned it again so that I could upload a copy to Flickr. It deserves to be re-digitized as the image will be 25 years old next spring.

By the way, this entry's title is a foggy reference to a beer-marketing campaign. It was probably aimed just at college males. There were hundreds of free posters with a buxom babe with several large, full mugs. I can't remember the company but I recall the posters being on many dormroom walls.

Labels: beer and wine, Bret, Joel, Q4_2005, The Harbor Gameroom

I got a Christmas card from Bret yesterday. It did remind me to get one out to him. Bret is an old friend. In fact, we lived a bicycle ride away in my hometown of Sunapee, NH. We attended all grades in a class with around 30 others. So, it is rather strange that we're still nearly neighbours. Bret and family live in Seattle. It'd be a long bike ride, but it doesn't take much time to get there driving down I-5.

Bret reads this blog sometimes. He synchs up daily with AvantGo. In his card, he mentioned something about me teaching English to the world via this venue. I must admit that task is my chosen career but it's entirely accidental if it occurs in this forum.

Exactly why have I been writing so religiously here for so long? I write my eJournal and images for personal reasons. I like being able to add a few ideas to this catalogue of Dennis. It's really not for others although I'd not be tempted to keep it up without the theoretically possibility of sharing with others. I am absolutely sure I'm so fantastic that even the most mundane aspects of my life are worthy of world-wide attention.

Labels: Bret, Christmas, Q4_2005, Seattle

On the weekend, we went to see the film, Rent (2005).

Having never gone to the stage version, we were not well-versed on the plot. The reviewers do say the movie grabs the 'essence' of the play and successfully adds street and outdoor scenes. Some of the music was familiar, of course.

I'm partial to film where people break into song and successfully replace movement and tons of dialog with music. Still, I was surprised how dated the movie seemed. After all it was less than a decade ago that it premiered on Broadway. Those '525,600 minutes' have only passed about 16 times since the play's inception.

Yet, I was oddly reminded of Jesus Christ Superstar (1973). The ideas and action seemed idealistic but from a slightly different epoch. It really was a different time, I guess. New York was different. The views on AIDS were different. Even, the hair styles were different.

Still, the best performances are supposedly to be timeless. I'll have to view Rent again after a suitable stretch of time.

Labels: movie musical, movies, Q4_2005

I was searching tags on Flickr and discovered something I'd never thought of before. The dates of the majority of my collection are skewed towards summer. It is rather logical that most of my pictures would've been shot in June, July and August. After all, that might be the time of the more outings and trips. Also, those are the days when the sky can actually be seen.



I guess I've noticed this as it's was so dark recently. In fact when home, I have kept the apartment lights on even in the middle of the day. All these clouds result in far fewer outdoor-photo opportunities.

Labels: Flickr, Q4_2005

These are results for the personality test found at the December 3rd entry. If you've not choosen a graphic, skip to that page to choose your favourite graphic. Then, you may return here to find the assessment.

(1) Introspective
Sensitive / Reflective
You come to grips more frequently and thoroughly with yourself and your environment than do most people. You detest superficiality; you'd rather be alone than have to suffer through small talk. But your relationships with your friends are highly intensive, which gives you the inner tranquility and harmony that you need in order to feel good. However it is no problem for you to be alone for extended periods of time, without becoming bored.

(2) Independent
Unconventional / Unfettered
You demand a free and unattached life for yourself that allows you to determine your own course. You have an artistic bend in your work or leisure activities. Your urge for freedom sometimes causes you to do exactly the opposite of what expected of you. Your lifestyle is highly individualistic. You would never blindly imitate what is "in"; on the contrary, you seek to live according to your own ideas and convictions, even if this means swimming against the tide.

(3) Dynamic
Active / Extroverted
You are quite willing to accept certain risks and to make a strong committment in exchange for interesting and varied work. Routine, in contrast, tends to have a paralyzing effect on you. What you like most is to be able to play an active role in events. In doing so, your initiative is highly pronounced.

(4) Down to Earth
Well-Balanced / Harmonious
You value a natural style and love that which is uncomplicated. People admire you because you have both feet planted firmly on the ground and they can depend on you. You give those who are close to you security and space. You are perceived as being warm and human. You reject everything that is garish and trite. You tend to be skeptical toward the whims of fashion trends. For you, clothing has to be practical and unobtrusively elegant.

(5) Professional
Pragmatic / Self-Assured
You take charge of your life, and place less faith in your luck and more in your own deeds. You solve problems in a practical, uncomplicated manner. You take a realistic view of the things in your daily life and tackle them without wavering. You are given a great deal of responsibility at work, because people know that you can be depended upon. Your pronounced strength of will projects your self-assurance to others. You are never fully satisfied until you have accomplished your ideas.

(6) Peaceful
Discreet / Non-Aggressive
You are easy-going yet discreet. You make friends effortlessly, yet enjoy your privacy and independence. You like to get away from it all and be alone from time to time to contemplate the meaning of life and enjoy yourself. You need space, so you escape to beautiful hideaways, but you are not a loner. You are at peace with yourself and the world, and you appreciate life and what this world has to offer.

(7) Carefree
Playful / Cheerful
You love a free and spontaneous life. And you attempt to enjoy it to the fullest, in accordance with the motto: "You only live once. You are very curious and open about everything new; you thrive on change. Nothing is worse than when you feel tied down. You experience your environment as being versatile and always good for a surprise.

(8) Romantic
Dreamy / Emotional
You are a very sensitive person. You refuse to view things only from a sober, rational standpoint. What your feelings tell you is just as important to you. In fact, you feel it is important to have dreams in life, too. You reject people who scorn romanticism and are guided only by rationality. You refuse to let anything confine the rich variety of your moods and emotions.


(9) Analytical
Trustworthy / Self-Assured
Your momentary sensitivity represents that which is of high quality and durable. Consequently, you like to surround yourself with little "gems," which you discover wherever they are overlooked by others. Thus, culture plays a special role in your life. You have found your own personal style, which is elegant and exclusive, free from the whims of fashion. Your ideal, upon which you base your life, is cultured pleasure. You value a certain level of culture on the part of the people with whom you associate.

Labels: Q4_2005, sharing

A former student sent me this as an email attachment a number of years ago. The document was in Chinese and English and I am not sure of the origin of this test. The MS Word file said to select the shape below that appeals to you the most.


1)   2)  3) 

4)  5)  6) 

7)  8)  9) 

It continued by saying: "These shapes were developed by a psychologist. They have been tested worldwide, over a period of several years. As we received feedback from our research, we carefully adjusted the color and/or form of each shape, then tested again, until we were left with a highly successful set of shapes. These represent nine basic personality types."

To find the results, click here to go the entry of December 4th on another page.

Labels: Q4_2005, sharing

It's wet and spitting snow outside. On a day such as this, it's nice to think about the warm, green days of summer. Here's Jay in Portland, Oregon.

Labels: Portland, Q4_2005, road trip, weather

Just like yesterday, I get an opportunity to hear 8-10 minute oral presentations today. When I teach COMM 0004, I have my class research a real business in the Vancouver area and present their findings. They must use primary research by creating questions and arranging for an interview. They`re encouraged to pick up brochures and other written materials too.

The preparation includes formulating an introduction, organizing the speech, producing useful transparencies, and pulling all the discussed points together with a meaningful summary. The usefulness of this work crosses all language skills and proves useful when planning good technical writing.

I am seldom disappointed with the results. There are always many new and interesting presentations. I'm lucky to have a job where I get paid to learn new things!

Labels: BCIT (Page 1), Q4_2005, students

Last night was the annual strata council meeting for this building complex. This is when condo owners get to vote on the following year's budget and any changes to rules. This year it was my turn to attend and I'm totally convinced that people don't function well in meetings.

It took us two, complete hours to agree:

that $12,000 be moved from one contingency account to a reserve fund. No new money was spent; it was just changing from one pocket to another. Three cheers for accounting procedures.

we'll add a bylaw to charge $100 as a move-in fee to defray maintenance cost on repair to wall scratches, painting, and elevator maintenance.

that seven candidates who offered to sit on council could serve in seven vacant positions.

Just think, in this amount of lost time, I could've cleaned the house or started work on the great, Canadian novel.

Labels: government, Q4_2005

The photo below shows the near-permanent standstill of traffic on the major artery into Vancouver. This was taken on the TransCanadian Highway while heading down the hill in Surrey towards the Port Mann Bridge. The bridge should absolutely be'twinned' to allow increased traffic flow.



Vancouverites without cars try, quite successfully, to keep the area 'under-highwayed'. I can't believe in such an environmentally-conscious city, citizen's cannot fathom that we shouldn't keep cars lined up and idling on a major highway. When traffic isn't moving, every car is getting zero kilometers per liter. British Columbia is poised to be Canada's gateway to Asia; however, without proper highway infrastructure the economy is choked. We can't move items east when nothing's moving at all.

Labels: opinions, Q4_2005, Surrey

Blog entries aren't written as direct contact with a known person. I'm sure that even friends and family often forget to keep up. Having the text on a web server makes it accessible but not necessarily accessed. It reminds me of that age-old question: If a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody around to hear it, does it really make a sound?

Out of the blue, last week, I got a polite message from Mr. Dusan Vondracek in Slovakia. He encouraged me by saying, "Your work helps me to discover far-away region and it helps me to learn English too. So I can say I combine pleasantness with usefulness. I wish you patience by this unpaid work." Upon thanking him via email, he wrote a few particulars about his life.

I answered, "I like how this technology can be used in ways which help people understand each other better. It can all be reduced to ones and zeros, but it has provided new ways for people to interact. These people would have had no previous way to impact each other ... in the past."

Labels: email, Q4_2005

Digital photography is a powerful technology. It's more than just switching from chemically-based processes. A digital picture is essentially free to shoot. What this means is people no longer have to shoot on special occasions only.

It's not only possible but feasible to shoot images every day. I've been doing this and sharing them since July 1st in 'My Daily Picture Parade'. Some may think, yeah ... but why take a picture of the contents of a dishwasher? I'll put it down to the intoxicating effects of 'external memory'. I wish I had photographs of all plates and bowls I've owned in my life.

Nothing, when it comes to me, is too unimportant to have a visual record of. In fact, the value of personal images only seems to increase as years pass.

Labels: Daily Picture Parade, Q4_2005

This Windows Media Video clip should've been added here earlier in the week but I had to re-attach the wires to my computer. It was a fairly simple process. I long for the day when I'll say, "Computer. Capture that one-minute, CTV clip of the apartment fire in our building and add it as an entry in my blog." Someday.

Labels: Hardware, New Westminster, Q4_2005, YouTube

It feels as though we were waiting a long time for the mist to disappear.



Just yesterday, the environment cleared a bit and this morning seems even more fog-free. I can see the other side of the river from the window. But damn ... I'm so fickle. I already miss it.

The week of fog made everything seem comfortable and close. During these times just sticking around the house feels wonderful. I rank the recent fog in the same category as a strong nor'-east'a snow storm along the North-American Atlantic coastline or a good shamal dust-storm in the Persian Gulf.

Labels: Q4_2005, weather

This year, I have decided the television show I just can't do without is Grey's Anatomy set in Seattle. Might it be that I have an unnatural infatuation for Canadian actress Sandra Oh? Anyway, the show's not your typical medical drama.

Labels: Q4_2005, Seattle, television

Fire is a basic element. I blogged about the cinematic quest for it in an entry in October. Being able to control fire is a major cornerstone of civilization and proof of man's evolution.

Still, beyond the primitive fascination, there must be a universal destructive relationship between man's dwellings and fire. Fires where people live are an important part of history both recent and ancient. For example many cities including this one have completely burnt down in the past. In New Westminster, it occurred in 1898.

Technology brings new more flammable materials yet provides the means to extinguish them with new fire-fighting apparatus. I saw some the other night. This building's alarm system is a miracle of sorts, controlling elevator access and fans as well as just the warning siren. The night of the apartment fire, indicator lights in lobby access panels were flashing in a colourful display one would expect at NASA's mission control.

Labels: New Westminster, Q4_2005

The entries are a bit late today as I was in bed. I was robbed of a several hours of sleep last night due to a fire in this building. At around 2:15 the alarm sounded. I could smell smoke only after getting up and opening the doorway to the corridor. Of course during an alarm one must exit using one of the duel stairwells. The futher down one went, the smokier it became. I had to hold my breath.

Outside we met across the street. It was easy to see the fire burning in the apartment right above the main entrance. The flames caused the window to shatter and then consumed items near it in a wall of orange. Firetrucks and police cars lined Carnarvon Street. Emergency services provided several Translink busses for residents to stay warm in. When vacating, warmth wasn't a perquisite for clothing choice.

They got the fire doused quickly but, of course, the firemen had to check out the situation. We weren't allowed in the building. After about two hours they allowed all those on floors 3 and above to return. Special arrangements for accommodation were made for those living near the fire and for those with kids or breathing problems.

Everything was handled smoothly and without undue stress. The ventilation of the building has already removed most of the smoke smell. I just got up, but I will check to see if I can take a picture later.

Labels: New Westminster, Q4_2005

Lately, you might have a little trouble seeing something even if it's quite near. There's been constant fog since last week. When I went to class at 12:30 yesterday, it wasn't too bad. I took the picture when I got there.

The fog grew thicker though. It was especially dense yesterday evening. When I was driving back from BCIT at 5:30, I had to take it easy. Few other drivers seemed to be doing so.

The fog made me feel a tiny bit strange. I wasn't scared but the whole world did seem unusual. Perhaps mysterious is the best adjective I could use to describe what it accomplished. It made even the well-known seem vague and unique. It brought deceptiveness. I could have been led to believe that nearly anything was lying around the next corner.

Labels: BCIT (Page 1), Q4_2005, weather

You'd never find them when driving around. They blend in too well with the commercial environment of ethnic restaurants and businesses along Fraser Street in Vancouver.



Although in British Columbia over nine and a half years, we'd never gone shopping expressly for Sri Lankan food products. Yesterday, we found three, main grocery shops on Fraser Street in Vancouver, BC. These small markets carry otherwise-impossible-to-find items which are manufactured and exported from the island. We returned with a cache of goodies that I've not eaten since several months in Sri Lanka in the fall of 2004.

Labels: food, Q4_2005

I was looking at the links of how visitors arrive here. I found that I'm interesting and important. Here's Feedster's blurb:

Each month, Feedster brings you a list of 500 of the most interesting and important blogs. Enjoy browsing to see what people are reading, to find feeds that will bring topics of interest to you on a regular basis, and to discover new voices in the Blogosphere.

The honour is quite gratifying. I'm ahead of thousands and thousands of other blogs at their list's number ... 396 .

Labels: Q4_2005

I feel as though I've had some thought-provoking entries this week.

At this point in time, it goes without saying, there will be something new posted each day; however, I've never vouched for the quality of the results. After a couple of years of not missing a single day, I'm surely not going to start now. Doing something so awful would be tantamount to going back to smoking cigarettes. (Can you believe that I have no clue as to the date, or even the year, I quit that nasty habit?)

Anyway, I've been recently dogged with what professional authors might claim is writers' block. To solve this, I must step back and look at the taunting, blank entry window for its amazing potential. It could hold a fresh new idea, it might contain a well-organized insight, or it may even become stunning poetry.

Or, I could simply write all about not being able to write about much of anything.

Labels: blogging, Q4_2005

There's not a single toll booth between here and Tijuana.

US Interstate 5 is a very important chunk of asphalt. Although it's probably not environmentally-correct to admit, I love being able to roar through Seattle during non-peak hours. It reminds me of a video game.


This photo was taken on our way back from a summer trip to Portland, OR.

Labels: Portland, Q4_2005, Seattle

I'm not sure if information will ever be completely free, but it certainly has become more accessible nowadays. I've ranted and raved about my workplace's web portal many times in this blog. At BCIT, I use the automatically-generated course page extensively. I just revel in the fact I can pester students both day and night with messages, bulletins, and file attachments.

The portal also brings together information from different systems at the Institute. For example, last evening at nearly 9:00 pm, I was able to enter scheduling to see if my usual computer lab was available earlier in the afternoon today. I wanted to re-schedule as I'm giving the midterm exam! I could've checked any room on campus on any particular day in the future. This information used to be harder to obtain and would have required requests sent to special staff. I certainly wouldn't have been able to get hold of that data after work hours.

The