Sun and Sand

Yesterday was yet again another fine day. Perfect weather for the area made it a great day to be off from work, pack a lunch, and head down Marine Drive toward Wreck Beach. We rediscovered the fact the trails are steep but the hike rewarding. It is amazingly close to an urban center, but you'd never know!

New Westminster Public Library

During most of that decade and a half working the Gulf region, I was fortunate to work for organizations that either had a private or educational library. Still, at present, I am so very grateful for my city library. A place where any resident can come for reading and a/v materials is so worthy of funding. I love libraries. They combine my respect for education with a love of collecting. If I wanted to begin a new career ...

To read about the history of our library, please click this link.


Property taxes are due in a couple of days. We've already
paid and don't mind anting up for useful services such as our
excellent little, municipal library.

Blame for the Broken Blog

This site was 'down' for over 40 hours. To find out why, read below:

Blame Others

We are aware of the problem with your domain and are working to resolve it at this time. The problem is not specific to your domain, and it appears that a network connection was broken over the weekend when Telus was in transfering more lines and connections to our new offices. The problem should be resolved shortly, and we ask those affected to please check their service again this afternoon in a few hours, or tommorow morning. THis service interruption was not intentional, especially when we were not in the office, and it will be resolved as fast as possible. If you have any other questions, please let me know.

Thanks,
Jordan

Gotoecom.com Internet & Marketing Ltd
#210-5066 Kingsway Street
Burnaby, BC, V5H 2E7, Canada.

If you're Canadian, then go ...

V-O-T-E!

See No Evil ...

You probably take it for granted: you can surf anywhere you want. You can decide what is suitable information to read and study. I'm posting this graphics file today, just to remind you that such liberties are not universal. In some places, others decide which web sites are appropriate and which aren't. Here's an example:

"We apologize the site you are attempting to visit has been blocked due to its content being inconsistent with the religious, cultural, political and moral values of the United Arab Emirates."

I guess the universal, free-flow of ideas must be very threatening to undemocratic and unelected regimes of that region. There cannot be learning, spiritual growth, or development of values where there's censorship. By the way, the site blocked by this message is simply orkut[LINK EXPIRED].

Maps, Maps, and More Maps!

Click the screenshot --->

Ever since I can remember, I've been interested in maps. (And this new month-long love fest with GPSing is probably an outgrowth of that.) I picked up Microsoft Streets and Trips. It's a primarily North American product and I didn't have many expectations about its capabilities.

Consequently, after installing it, I've decided it is quite amazing! One can start by seeing the whole continent and then zoom right into street-level. There's also a lot of data including the location of landmarks and even individual businesses. How great it would be on a traveling-salesman's, notebook computer. One can even investigate the next few Interstate exits to find which has the right fast food restaurant.

Pocket Streets software is included in the package too. It is fairly useful and a new reason to bring along my aging Compaq iPAQ. Oh, and damn, if I spend another $60 for a specialized cable, I can plug both the iPAQ and my GPS into the truck's cigarette lighter. Then I could see exactly where I am, in real time, on the PocketPC. How come I cannot find hobbies which are free?

N49 11.990 - W122 54.683 (WGS84)

As Britney once said, "Oops, I did it again!"
This time, however, I hid a micro.
New Westminster Quay - Coin Cache


The New Westminster Quay Public Market is on the Fraser River.

Online 'Social Networking'

www.theage.com.au
Secret Societies
By Mike Barton
May 22, 2004

You've probably never had to ask whether your best mate since kindergarten is your 'real' friend. You just know - mates are mates. If there were ever any doubts, your friendship lasted the fight for the same girl and that trip around Europe together.

With the invitation-only social networking website, orkut, you're asked to look at what friendship really means online. Say no to the final question during sign-up asking whether your invite was from a 'real' friend and you'll miss out on orkut's promise of 'social bliss'."

a) This seems like an interesting topic. [Article's link has expired]
b) I'm an Internet social climber. Quick, send me an orkut invitation right now.

New Mail

Get 'em while they're hot! I possess more Google Mail invitations than I can possibly give out. If you want one (or two), just write. I will ask for nothing but your undying respect and admiration. What a small price to pay, eh?

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.

Tannery Park Geocache

I hid it. They found it first. Visit Tannery Park #GCJQVV on geocaching.com.

Log Date: 6/21/2004

First to find! We also made another find in the park, the infamous Chico and the Mrs! Since we started we have seen there clever stickers at each cache we found so it was nice to see them in person. They were quite friendly and offered some cache hunting tips for us rookies. They also told us that it is not very often you get the privelege of being the first to find a cache.That made the find a little more exciting for us. Thanks! for the chat Chico and the Mrs. maybe we will meet again in some obscure spot.

The park was nice I didn't even know it was there. To our suprise when we got to the park there were two cute bunnies munching on grass. I got nice and close to take a picture. We also walked down a trail, and at the riverfront we saw a beaver swim out of its lodge.

=== The Douglas Clan

No Sweat

I feel a tiny bit anxious now. It's 28C (82F) outside at the moment and the sky is still cloudless.

Because days like this are rarer than hens' teeth, there's a certain amount of guilt from not being outside. I did walk a block to drop off a DVD in a mailbox, but I perspired. I have a personal aversion to that ...

Getting Shorter!

Yesterday was the longest day of the year as seen on the screen of my Garmin GPS.

I guess it's all downhill from here. There were 16 hours and 14 minutes of daylight between the local sunrise and sunset.

(Maybe I should've tried to take a picture rather than putting the device on the scanner!)

Electronic Black Holes: Delayed Responses

Businesses and organizations need to practice a little email etiquette. (I even have a few friends who could learn a thing or two.) Upon arrival, an immediate message should be returned acknowledging receipt. It should state either the expected response or reference when a subsequent response will be forthcoming. Here's one for which I've been waiting for nearly a week ...

From: Dennis Sylvester Hurd
To: Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 15:45:24 -0700
Subject: Re: from Sri Lanka High Commission/ Ottawa

To: Consular Services, SL High Commission, Ottawa
Thank you for your help and previous email. I am aware that 30-day
visitor visas can be obtained at the airport. However, as stated in
my previous messages, we wish to spend about 60 days there. We've
purchased tickets which show we will arrive on September 2nd and will
depart on October 26th. This is more than the 30 days. As we expect
to travel extensively, it may not be convenient to return to Colombo
in the middle of our journey for visa renewal. It would certainly be
excellent if we were to have the necessary visas in our passport
before our departure.

The following paragraph is taken from your web site

http://www.srilankahcottawa.org:

=======================================

Visa for Tourists

Canadian Tourists visiting Sri Lanka will be given visas free of
charge valid up to 30 days at the port of entry. They should have
valid Passports, return air tickets and funds for the stay at the rate
of C$30.00 per day, per person. Those wishing to stay longer should
either obtain a prior visa from this High Commission or, having
entered Sri Lanka with free 30 day visa at the airport, get it
extended on payment of the fee of C$75.00 at the Department of
Immigration and Emigration, Colombo.

========================================

As we wish to stay longer, I would like to know if it is possible to
'obtain a prior visa from this High Commission". I certainly hope
that you can provide additional details which will make our vacation
successful and enjoyable.

Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter.

More Reflections

I cannot argue with the superb weather. I'm just sitting on the balcony. Even though it's 8:30 pm, it's bright and sunny and still in the mid 20's Celsius.

What a perfect day to watch the barges, nesting gulls chasing a bald eagle, and the snow on top of Mt. Baker reflecting a pinkish hue. Oh, I nearly forgot to mention; there's pleasure in sipping an extremely cold Labatt's Wildcat.

Let's Be Trite: Time Flies!

Age is a funny thing, eh? One of my grandmothers complained about getting old for years and years. I, however, think the process of growing more mature is interesting and certainly better than the alternative.

Why am I writing of these things?

The first prompt was the news of a retirement. In fifth grade, my class was the first taught by a new teacher in town, Mr. Ken Greenbaum. He had a great impact on many of us and he's going to be retiring next week. He was a teacher who encouraged us to develop a love of learning, and I'd like to thank him for that! Have I been alive for someone's complete career? One additional factor is that I turn 45 years old next month. These are probably why I'm suddenly interested in how we count off calendar years.

Hide & Seek

The weather has been wonderful for the last few days. It was quite hot yesterday and all things were pointing to summer! It seems like a perfect time for doing anything outdoors. And to help GPS geocaching enthusiasts, I was readying a couple of caches.


Damn, it IS better to give than to receive!

Or Create a Way Out

In the last entry, I suggested broadening one's browser horizons. In addition, I believe that if a person can't find what one wants on the net, one should create it. By clicking the screen shot below, you'll open a draft copy of some personally-produced materials:


[TEACHING MATERIALS CREATED FOR THE WEB: Link Expired]

Dig Yourself Out of Your Net Rut

I tried to explain to my students how fortunate they are to be studying English with access to the Internet. I attempted to explain how it used to be impossible to find appropriate materials to read and study without paying a lot of extra money for books. They take it all for granted, but my mind still boggles at the the sheer volume of English-language information at our fingertips nowadays.

My present class still seemed a trifle confused at the prospect of homework which was merely to bring in some study materials on conditionals. They were scratching their heads as to where to find something like that without running to buy some 'official' grammar books.

Both young and old need to remember that the world wide web is more than just those dozen sites they frequent. Open a web browser and venture away from the tried and true. Here, dear students .. is something I found by typing only ESL and conditionals into Google.

eMaps

I've been yackin' about Global Positioning Systems for a week now, so I promise to soon give it a rest. I did want one last opportunity to show how topographic and recreational mapping is going digital too. The Backroad Mapbooks, a great staple for the local BC outdoor scene, are now being adapted as electronic editions. I would be interested in seeing how easy it is to draw a route on the PC and download the tracking data to my Garmin.

Let's see my birthday is next month? Jay?


During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, tens of
thousands of people will be passing by Shannon
Falls on the way to Whistler BC.

... and Back!

I went via 12th Street and Kingsway. I came back a different way and did discover that it was farther using Canada Way and 8th Street. Here are some stats on my return trip:

Total Trip Length -- 11.9 km

Moving Time -- 18:12

Time Stopped -- 04:08 (traffic lights)

Max Speed -- 71.8 km/h

Moving Average Speed -- 37.5 km/h

Overall Average Speed -- 30.7 km/h

GPSing to BCIT ...

It's too early to say much this morning. It's a workday. Ah hem, actually it will be a work morning. (Why else would my new geocaching ID be Takeiteasy?)

The GPS seems to keep good satellite connections from the truck's dash. There are warnings about the dangers of letting one sit on an automotive dashboard without proper restraints. I suppose on a sharp turn, it could fly right out of an open window.

I'll try taking a couple of readings at the main, BCIT campus. I will then be able search the web for any geocaches in the area.

If there aren't, maybe it's time for me to create a few?

The quest of this morning was fun, so I decided to drag along Jay on my second attempt.

Only Five Minutes Away

I've made mention of this park before in the blog. (To see those pictures, just search for Tipperary Park in the right-hand side column below my face and contact information.)

Today, I'm including another as I plan to find a geocache which is hiding very near our apartment. Imagine, I spent considerable time there but was totally unaware there were things called geocaches. In caching terms, I was a muggle!


To see if I'm successful, click the only link in the text above.
Then check the comments. I'll be "takeiteasy" on geocaching.com.

Pinpoint

Where do YOU live? I reside at:

N 49° 12.282 W 122° 54.399 (WGS84)

Navigating the Rockies

My new Garmin eTrex Legend is on its first trip even before it's out of the package. To save a bit of cash, yesterday afternoon, I ordered my unit from Calgary, Alberta. Quicker than FedEx or Purolator, it's travelling by Greyhound Courier. Here are some example screens I found on the Internet.

High-Tech Treasure Hunting

How'd people with a propensity toward odd hobbies meet up before the Internet? My research on GPS over the past few days has led to my discovery of the geocaching.

Click here ----> Geocaching FAQs

People can invent nearly unlimited diversions if provided with enough free time. Put global positioning systems in the hands of enough people and they'll create a new hobbyist game!

There are literally hundreds of geocaches running in BC and from what I gather all over the world. The traditional cache is kept in a secret yet interesting location which may make for a nice outing. The location's coordinates are listed on the web site by the cache's creator. Visitors can begin the new quest. Upon discovering the cache, a finder writes his name in a logbook. A small and inconsequential item can be taken as long as another is left behind for a future discoverer.

Example here ----> Rivers Trail One

Miser, Me

I drove in the rain to the Queensborough Wal-mart to look at one. I am such a careful shopper that I knew what the price could be. They were selling it $22 over what I reckoned was a good value. Consequently, I'm blogging this entry rather than experimenting with a new toy. Damn.

Did We Discuss Remuneration? :-)

From: Sally Edwards
To: me

The genie has soooooo much power! I signed up to get a gmail account a
while back, but am delighted to get in first and have my chosen name

(same as my hotmail).

Thanks, Dennis. Glad I checked your blog today!

Sal xx

What's So Great?

I love Google mail because I've learned to see email as 'conversations', I can apply labels to messages rather than fighting with folders, and I actually enjoy the useful advertising.

Within 49 Feet of You!

I had heard about the Global Positioning System (GPS) in a vague sort of way. There were a few stay neurons which seemed to connect it with the idea of military aircraft. There was also a flicker of Daragh's posh BMW which manages to yell, "Turn right at the next light." Yet, it was yesterday's blog entry which piqued my curiosity. Along side those pictures of exotic places and faces, there were cute, handheld GPS units.

I truly do not need another device. I mean, I just had to buy those two little FRS walkie-talkies and never ever could think of a time to use 'em. Or there's my iPAQ which sits unused for frighteningly long periods of time. I'm sure that in my daily, urban existence, there's little need to precisely know my longitude and latitude.

Still, there is something extremely techie ... and consequently very intriguing about this technology. Imagine, 24 satellites circling the earth so I can literally know where I stand! I might try to say that it's just an extension of my early interest in map skills but really I think it has more to do with the fact the little devices run on batteries. I am very grateful for lithium. (Of course, I mean the electrical storage medium; not the medication.)

Alas, there are so many models and even different brands. I'd probably not be satisfied without the ability to download maps, would I? I guess GPS really means 'Gotta Purchase Soon'.

I've Got the Power

If you'd like me to send you an invitation for a Google mail account, please contact me. Just like a genie, I can grant three wishes.

Within 49 Miles of You!

Great Communicator

I was overseas during most of the 80's. Despite the fact people may have questioned Reagan's policies, I guess no one is disputing that he made Americans feel good about themselves. Maybe looking back twenty years always improves a reflection.

Yet, if you were having a barbeque on the back patio, wouldn't you have enjoyed having the Gipper stop by? I certainly couldn't say the same for the present holder of the Oval Office. In the end, that says a great deal.

Fly Me to the Moon

I was working to convert an old camcorder tape to a digital computer file. I was editting, adding titles, and getting rid of poorly-shot scenes. The final production is about 45 minutes in length.

I saved the video as a 2 gigabyte MPEG file.

Imagine, standard floppy disks hold just 1.4 megabytes of data. How much would 1400 floppy disks cost?

In 2000, we flew into Ft. Lauderdale but drove down to Key West and up to Orlando. (Here's a captured image when we were in the Kennedy Space Center.)

Life Storage Capsules

I had put various seeds in an empty glass on the microwave. They sat
long enough to dry out well, so I put several pumpkin seeds into a tiny
little pot and put it on the balcony. These are false blossoms but I really
don't want to be a farmer anyway.

Jet Airliner

[File removed]

After reading yesterday's entry, I thought I
should include a song. First, 'spreading
tiny wings and flying away' made me think
of Ann Murray. But we'll not be leaving
snow on this trip, so I settled on, this
Steve Miller Band classic.

Early Birds

In all our years of flying, I don't think we've ever booked more than a month in advance. Yet today, we pulled out some plastic for air tickets to Sri Lanka in the autumn. The departure date is not until August 30th. It's possible to fly either direction -- through the Middle East -- or Asia to get to Colombo. As it's so far, we figure on staying for a couple of months. We're taking Singapore Airlines and we'll do a stopover on our return at the end of October.

Up in the Air

There was a time when I used an orange-hued, monochrome monitor. In those days, an unmoving image, if left on for many hours, would burn the tube's phosphors. To prevent this, screensavers were born.

Today, there is absolutely no reason for a screensaver on my LCD. I haven't really collected that type of program since the days of Windows 3.0 and Berkley System's Afterdark with Flying Toasters.


Yet I just downloaded this! I'd been checking to see if my Air Canada airmiles would be accepted on Singapore Airlines. They are, in fact, both Star Alliance Partner members. The screenshot above is a screen saver which tracks the one-thousand partner flights that are in the air at any moment. It shows the earth and parts currently in light and in darkness. Little swarms of aircraft flow across the globe. I'll probably never actually keep it running, but it is interesting.

I Believe in Short Reviews

We finally went to the new, epic film yesterday. Perhaps Rome wasn't built in a day, but it sure felt like one while watching 'em destroy Troy.

Busting Out All Over

Being a student and instructor for so many years, I find there is more of a September to June orientation to years than a typical January to December. Until living in Vancouver and working by contract, the month of June had always been a time of change or travel. I thought I should return to a Microsoft Word file called myhistory.doc and I was able to put together a listing of previous Junes.

1980 - End of junior year at Keene State College. Worked at Harbor Gameroom.
1981 - Finished Bachelors at Keene. Worked at Dorr Woolen Mill and HGR.
1982 - Completed first year of Teaching in Kuwait and flew home through Amsterdam.
1983 - Finished at Al-Bayan. Spent summer as waiter at Indian Cave Lodge, Sunapee NH.
1984 - Flew home from U of WA and returned to Indian Cave as Front Desk Person.
1985 - Working in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Took a land vacation to Kobar and Bahrain.
1986 - Was playing with first IBM compatible computer at Taif Ordnanace Corp.
1987 - Flew to NH / WA for a vacaction from Taif.
1988 - Now at Saudi Navy in Dammam. Getting ready for a trip to Sri Lanka / Maldives.
1989 - Moved from first apartment in Bahrain to a compound at Al-Hamala Beach.
1990 - Still at the Bahrain Defense Force and had recently moved to Juffair flat.
1991 - Heard from HCT in Dubai. Worked part-time at Pitman Language School, Manama.
1992 - Completed 1st year at Higher Colleges of Tech. Ready for summer in Indonesia.
1993 - Got college's Teacher of Year. To NH to attend my father’s wedding to step mom.
1994 - Finished 3rd year at HCT. Getting ready to tour India for the summer.
1995 - I have no record of what happened in June of this year!
1996 - Quit at the Higher Colleges and arrived in Canada.
1997 - Working at Pitman Business College in Vancouver, BC.
1998 - 3rd Class at BC Institute of Technology. Moving to newly purchased apartment.
1999 - Teaching 7th Class at BCIT.
2000 - Took at BC Road trip for 12 days and 3000 miles.
2001 - Left for a 7-week road trip from Vancouver to St. John, Newfoundland and back.
2002 - Another local road trip: Vancouver Island / Sunshine Coast.
2003 - Teaching 18th Class at BCIT
2004 - Blogging this!