"I feel I'm incredibly fascinating and this blog bears witness to that simple fact. Friends, from far and wide, are often pestered to keep abreast of my life and opinions. I offer my most sincere greetings to random visitors as well."
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Thursday, November 08, 2007
How Much Longer?
Any single entry in this blog may not explain me very well. You might not even be able tell much from a single week. What I'm hoping for is more of a long-term 
endeavor. If I keep up this habit long enough, a more complete picture will emerge from the words and photos.
I've said similar things many times before. A few years back I even likened it to the infinite monkey theorem.
I find having this growing database of Dennis available personally interesting. For example, through the search feature, I can check to see how frequently I use specific linguistic terms. I can add information about my past in a totally random manner but still have them appear on the same page through labels. Lastly, I can even check to see what I wrote on a specific day during any of the past four years. What about November 8th?
endeavor. If I keep up this habit long enough, a more complete picture will emerge from the words and photos.I've said similar things many times before. A few years back I even likened it to the infinite monkey theorem.
I find having this growing database of Dennis available personally interesting. For example, through the search feature, I can check to see how frequently I use specific linguistic terms. I can add information about my past in a totally random manner but still have them appear on the same page through labels. Lastly, I can even check to see what I wrote on a specific day during any of the past four years. What about November 8th?
2003 - Commented about a newly purchased XBOX.
2004 - Advised that all recent, Sri Lankan trip blog entries added.
2005 - Provided a picture of new, BCIT students.
2006 - Mentioned how grass stays green here.
Friday, October 20, 2006
The HDMI / DVI Blues
Okay, I'm dating myself but I can remember TVs in real walnut cabinets, some with shuttered doors. Oh come on, even the Brady's had one in their paneled playroom. Don't you remember? It used to sit on the shag carpeting. What was that all about? Was it like saying, "I own furniture but I won't admit to watching television?"
Regardless, one could expect the trusty old RCA or Zenith to last twenty odd years. If something did go wrong there were always local repairmen. These were weird, little guys who lived in houses stuffed with wire and vacuum tubes. The smell of solder filled the air. If they'd been born later they might've become computer geeks.
There wasn't much coming down the pipeline. TV technology was static. So, in those days a trained monkey could've bought a new TV set. It was simply a matter of choosing a size and brand.
Today, one needs a degree in electronics and a few months of study time to figure out which screen to buy. Let's say you've ruled out all types of projection systems. Alright, do you want flat-screen Plasma or LCD? You've decided that LCD is the way to go. Now what resolution? Is 1366 x 768P enough? Should you wait for true 1050P? How quickly will the prices tumble?
It's not really like I have an option of choosing when to jump in. I'm already very sick of looking at the spare 19-inch tube from the bedroom. The old, dead Hitachi is still against the wall in the corner. We've not gotten around to tossing it yet.
Where's that monkey?
Regardless, one could expect the trusty old RCA or Zenith to last twenty odd years. If something did go wrong there were always local repairmen. These were weird, little guys who lived in houses stuffed with wire and vacuum tubes. The smell of solder filled the air. If they'd been born later they might've become computer geeks.
There wasn't much coming down the pipeline. TV technology was static. So, in those days a trained monkey could've bought a new TV set. It was simply a matter of choosing a size and brand. Today, one needs a degree in electronics and a few months of study time to figure out which screen to buy. Let's say you've ruled out all types of projection systems. Alright, do you want flat-screen Plasma or LCD? You've decided that LCD is the way to go. Now what resolution? Is 1366 x 768P enough? Should you wait for true 1050P? How quickly will the prices tumble?
It's not really like I have an option of choosing when to jump in. I'm already very sick of looking at the spare 19-inch tube from the bedroom. The old, dead Hitachi is still against the wall in the corner. We've not gotten around to tossing it yet.
Where's that monkey?
Labels: complaints, monkeys, television
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Today’s Diary Entry
This was our last day in Nugegoda.
We decided that I could pick up a few Sri Lankan souvenirs from Laksala. I’ve discussed the government-run handicraft sales organisation before. It’s still the easiest place to do complete souvenir shopping. It’s also nice to know that some of the funds will actually benefit the people who made them. I wanted to pick up something for my secretary at work. After all she is ‘fish-sitting’ for five weeks. We also needed to buy something to give ex-colleagues from Dubai. Bill and Leone left a decade ago when we did. They’ve been raising the kids in Hong Kong. Since we’re spending a week there .. yikes .. next week, we plan on seeing them. Even though the coconut shell monkeys were sold out, there was a cute, fat coconut elephant that needed a home. We have enough travel junk but at $1.60 it was one of those things I couldn’t afford not to buy.
When in the Fort area, we developed some digital photos. Earlier in the morning, we sat and looked though the directory on the Gateway and found 78 ‘people pictures’ to give to folks here. I burned them to a little CD for transport. The prints were SR 15 each and they were ready to pick up after Laksala and lunch.
We ate at the Pagoda restaurant which is something of an institution here. It has been there for quite a while. It’s not the cheapest but is reasonably priced so office workers eat there. Duran Duran (Do you remember them?) filmed part of a music video inside in the 1980’s when on location in Sri Lanka. Mongolian grill was a speciality today and I’m sure I smelled like it on the way back to Nugegoda in Bus 137. We hit the roads just when some schools let out; therefore, the trip took over an hour.
It’s warmer here than out among the coconut trees in Minuwangoda. I’m typing this in the yard. Jay’s showing a DVD of last year’s Euro-trip to the others. Lal’s house presently has one floor, so the sun bakes the roof/ceiling. Jay’s eldest sister, though, has created a living space that looks like an art gallery. It is beautiful.
We decided that I could pick up a few Sri Lankan souvenirs from Laksala. I’ve discussed the government-run handicraft sales organisation before. It’s still the easiest place to do complete souvenir shopping. It’s also nice to know that some of the funds will actually benefit the people who made them. I wanted to pick up something for my secretary at work. After all she is ‘fish-sitting’ for five weeks. We also needed to buy something to give ex-colleagues from Dubai. Bill and Leone left a decade ago when we did. They’ve been raising the kids in Hong Kong. Since we’re spending a week there .. yikes .. next week, we plan on seeing them. Even though the coconut shell monkeys were sold out, there was a cute, fat coconut elephant that needed a home. We have enough travel junk but at $1.60 it was one of those things I couldn’t afford not to buy.When in the Fort area, we developed some digital photos. Earlier in the morning, we sat and looked though the directory on the Gateway and found 78 ‘people pictures’ to give to folks here. I burned them to a little CD for transport. The prints were SR 15 each and they were ready to pick up after Laksala and lunch.
We ate at the Pagoda restaurant which is something of an institution here. It has been there for quite a while. It’s not the cheapest but is reasonably priced so office workers eat there. Duran Duran (Do you remember them?) filmed part of a music video inside in the 1980’s when on location in Sri Lanka. Mongolian grill was a speciality today and I’m sure I smelled like it on the way back to Nugegoda in Bus 137. We hit the roads just when some schools let out; therefore, the trip took over an hour.
It’s warmer here than out among the coconut trees in Minuwangoda. I’m typing this in the yard. Jay’s showing a DVD of last year’s Euro-trip to the others. Lal’s house presently has one floor, so the sun bakes the roof/ceiling. Jay’s eldest sister, though, has created a living space that looks like an art gallery. It is beautiful.
Labels: monkeys, souvenirs, Sri Lanka 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
All Babies Are Cute
I was checking photos that I've uploaded to Flickr. They've been viewed a total of 8,800 times and this particular one is the 19th most popular.
Taken in 2004, the baby and mother monkey were not in a zoo. There were at the Dambulla Rock Temple in Sri Lanka. The caves are a short walk up a mountain and in back of a more recently-built temple.
Taken in 2004, the baby and mother monkey were not in a zoo. There were at the Dambulla Rock Temple in Sri Lanka. The caves are a short walk up a mountain and in back of a more recently-built temple.
Labels: Flickr, monkeys, Sri Lanka 2004, temple
Friday, February 25, 2005
Monkeys and Typewriters
Blogging fits my style. Right now, I have a blank screen before me. I'd never find the energy to plan an accurate autobiography; nor would I have the patience to labour over extended paragraphs filled with colourful details.
It took a while before the world-wide-web 'became' the Internet in the minds of its users. A web browser started as just one 'application' in an infant Internet. The speed in which people embraced it is rather amazing. When was the last time you heard someone talking about logging on to a gopher server?
The largest excitement of browsing in HTML initially was in the 'links'. In theory it would be possible to write extended non-linear prose with multiple branching. Had there ever existed a type of story-telling without beginning or end? At first it was all about text; media showed up quite late in the game.
Each day when I'm faced with an empty eJournal entry, I willingly contribute to a large, randomly-organized database. The use of pinpoint searches and linking will allow me to add structure later. I will be able to craft a future message by dipping into a well of personal, online materials.
Until then, to make meaning of any of this, you'll have to follow along day by day.
It took a while before the world-wide-web 'became' the Internet in the minds of its users. A web browser started as just one 'application' in an infant Internet. The speed in which people embraced it is rather amazing. When was the last time you heard someone talking about logging on to a gopher server?
The largest excitement of browsing in HTML initially was in the 'links'. In theory it would be possible to write extended non-linear prose with multiple branching. Had there ever existed a type of story-telling without beginning or end? At first it was all about text; media showed up quite late in the game.
Each day when I'm faced with an empty eJournal entry, I willingly contribute to a large, randomly-organized database. The use of pinpoint searches and linking will allow me to add structure later. I will be able to craft a future message by dipping into a well of personal, online materials.
Until then, to make meaning of any of this, you'll have to follow along day by day.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
The Truth about Sea-Monkeys
Reading blogs can make one so . . . worldly and wise.
I'd pretty much forgotten about the generally unsuccessful stewardship over my sea-monkeys. What a brilliant marketing scheme! Those little shrimp have been wiggling around in tanks for 45 years. Now, of course, they've got their own online storefront.
I'd pretty much forgotten about the generally unsuccessful stewardship over my sea-monkeys. What a brilliant marketing scheme! Those little shrimp have been wiggling around in tanks for 45 years. Now, of course, they've got their own online storefront.
Labels: monkeys
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
An Infinite Number of Monkeys
Damn it; I've got determination! I set a goal to blog every day, so come hell or high water there'll be something. I started on Labour Day of last year, and with 2004 being a leap year, I calculate that this is my 297th day of blogging.
There might not be much rhyme nor reason to the content of this blog. I haven't taken the time to ensure that all facets of my life get recorded.
Yet, I reckon if I keep doing this long enough, then eventually a representative collection of words and pictures will prevail. I am still convinced that a type of clarity will emerge if enough random information is collected. My fascination with a particular topic might color the blog for a while and I've not been one to sit down with an intent to inform or entertain. Over the long haul, however, my true essence will be distilled in text right here.
You're most welcome to continue along on the trip.
There might not be much rhyme nor reason to the content of this blog. I haven't taken the time to ensure that all facets of my life get recorded.
Yet, I reckon if I keep doing this long enough, then eventually a representative collection of words and pictures will prevail. I am still convinced that a type of clarity will emerge if enough random information is collected. My fascination with a particular topic might color the blog for a while and I've not been one to sit down with an intent to inform or entertain. Over the long haul, however, my true essence will be distilled in text right here.
You're most welcome to continue along on the trip.
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Welcoming the Monkey
HEY
FAT
CHOY!
* * * * *
HAPPY
CHINESE
NEW YEAR!
Locate additional information at the my eJournal and images blog site.