I decided I'd include another picture of the apartment building here.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Gasoline Sticker Shock
I was a bit surprised to see that gasoline prices were around $2.00 / gallon when last driving in Washington State. It's tough to compare that to the prices paid here due to the calculations required. First off, the US is probably the only remaining place in the world where people buy by the gallon, so one needs to do a gallon-to-litre conversion. Then, there's the fact the Canadian dollar is worth just 73 cents (at the moment).
I made this Excel spreadsheet where I can plug in the exchange rate and the $US price for a gallon. This helped me to see that the present 91 cents Canadian per litre works out to be approximately $US 2.49 a gallon!
Click here ----> Launch Excel Spreadsheet
I made this Excel spreadsheet where I can plug in the exchange rate and the $US price for a gallon. This helped me to see that the present 91 cents Canadian per litre works out to be approximately $US 2.49 a gallon!
Click here ----> Launch Excel Spreadsheet
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
It More than Sucked!
I thought I'd do a quick run-through with the vacuum cleaner. I finished the bedroom and pushed the machine into the livingroom. Suddenly, the vacuum cleaner exploded! The plastic covering broke and the bag burst. As I fumbled to turn it off, a 2-inch hole spewed the contents of the bag to one side of the living room. The bag was more than half full. Wouldn't you know; it was aimed directly at the computer desk and TV. Things were a mess.
I couldn't very well clean up the minor disaster without a vacuum cleaner. The plastic covering had two broken tabs and there were no new bags in the house. So, I got in the truck, drove a mile to London Drugs, and picked up a new Bissell upright. Although the Dirt Devil model was cheaper it was also the brand that had just caused my current headache. To hell with that! It took the better part of the afternoon getting rid of the grit that had blown everywhere.
Do you know anybody that wants to buy an old, used vacuum cleaner? I guarantee the motor still works well.
Monday, May 03, 2004
What Ever Happened to Sweet Polly?
A blog can be random; but more often than not, there is a thread of logical continuity therein.
I take an idea and run after it as if it were a big stick. This leads us directly to a song. Yesterday's title mentioned a canine so I searched through my music for the more common variation of that term. As well as an album of Three Dog Night music, I passed up perfectly good choices:
.
There is a real musical group called Underdog. This
is not them. This was a Saturday-morning
cartoon from the early 1960's. Television
programming for kids must have come of age
during the years I grew up.
I take an idea and run after it as if it were a big stick. This leads us directly to a song. Yesterday's title mentioned a canine so I searched through my music for the more common variation of that term. As well as an album of Three Dog Night music, I passed up perfectly good choices:
50 Cent ----- 21 Questions (feat. Nate Dogg)
Baha Men ----- Who Let The Dogs Out
Dogs Barking ----- Christmas Carols - Jingle Bells
Elvis Presley ----- Hound Dog
Eric Clapton ----- Hound Dog
George Leach ----- Dizzy Dog
Johnny Cash ----- So Doggone Lonesome
Lobo ----- Me and You and A Dog Named Boo
Noel Coward ----- Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Paul Simon ----- Rene & George Magritte w/ Their Dog After the War
The Beatles ----- Hey Bulldog
The Everly Brothers ----- Bird Dog
.There is a real musical group called Underdog. This
is not them. This was a Saturday-morning
cartoon from the early 1960's. Television
programming for kids must have come of age
during the years I grew up.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Old Dog?
I just started figuring out something new.
I have always had a special knack with personal computers and I have become shockingly aware that not all people do. I work in field of education and have always assumed colleagues see the need and have to abilities to become computer literate. I've often been disappointed.
I chalk up my abilities, that I have come to see as special, to my way of learning. I think people truly successful with personal computers are explorer-type personalities. I have never tried to find a manual or set of instructions in order to learn new software. In order to become proficient, one has to get right in there and get one's hands dirty. It also helps being at ease with a little discomfort; as that is a crucial prerequisite in learning a new way of accomplishing a goal.
Enough said. I have been very slow on the uptake when changing over to Microsoft Outlook.
Years ago, I quickly settled into a routine with Outlook Express. Beginning with the inclusion of access to Hotmail accounts, I have kept a number of them active and accessible through a single interface. You know, I need a teaching-related account, a personal one, and several for specific tasks. I would never have been able to stand working with Hotmail's wretched, online interface but Outlook Express was simple and allowed for more flexible formatting options. In addition, I always archive messages on my computer by copying from various hotmail accounts to local folders. Outlook Express was first to the line in allowing me to put all those accounts and POP/SMPT accounts under a single program.
I functioned under those circumstances for very long time. It was high time that I abandon the Express version and move to the full-fledged, MS Office version. It really does allow for better management of data. Also, I enjoy how Outlook syncs up with my iPaq. I have never really spent much time playing with the calendar function because MY LIFE IS SO SIMPLE. Ditto for upcoming tasks because I ONLY DO EXACTLY WHAT I WANT!
Yet, now's as good a time as any to learn new tricks.
I have always had a special knack with personal computers and I have become shockingly aware that not all people do. I work in field of education and have always assumed colleagues see the need and have to abilities to become computer literate. I've often been disappointed.
I chalk up my abilities, that I have come to see as special, to my way of learning. I think people truly successful with personal computers are explorer-type personalities. I have never tried to find a manual or set of instructions in order to learn new software. In order to become proficient, one has to get right in there and get one's hands dirty. It also helps being at ease with a little discomfort; as that is a crucial prerequisite in learning a new way of accomplishing a goal.
Enough said. I have been very slow on the uptake when changing over to Microsoft Outlook.
Years ago, I quickly settled into a routine with Outlook Express. Beginning with the inclusion of access to Hotmail accounts, I have kept a number of them active and accessible through a single interface. You know, I need a teaching-related account, a personal one, and several for specific tasks. I would never have been able to stand working with Hotmail's wretched, online interface but Outlook Express was simple and allowed for more flexible formatting options. In addition, I always archive messages on my computer by copying from various hotmail accounts to local folders. Outlook Express was first to the line in allowing me to put all those accounts and POP/SMPT accounts under a single program.
I functioned under those circumstances for very long time. It was high time that I abandon the Express version and move to the full-fledged, MS Office version. It really does allow for better management of data. Also, I enjoy how Outlook syncs up with my iPaq. I have never really spent much time playing with the calendar function because MY LIFE IS SO SIMPLE. Ditto for upcoming tasks because I ONLY DO EXACTLY WHAT I WANT!
Yet, now's as good a time as any to learn new tricks.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Burr ... It Was Hot!
Fires that consumed and destroyed whole cities must have been fairly common in those days. In 1898, most of downtown New Westminster burnt to the ground.
One exception was the Burr Block. It's the central building in this photo. Nowadays, it's the Met Hotel and Bar. When on the balcony, I can look down onto the roof of that building (and hear drunken patrons yelling from their back patio). In addition, to the left-hand side of the picture, is the entrance for the Columbia Street SkyTrain station. It's now one of five stops in our city. These apartments provide direct access to that station.
One exception was the Burr Block. It's the central building in this photo. Nowadays, it's the Met Hotel and Bar. When on the balcony, I can look down onto the roof of that building (and hear drunken patrons yelling from their back patio). In addition, to the left-hand side of the picture, is the entrance for the Columbia Street SkyTrain station. It's now one of five stops in our city. These apartments provide direct access to that station.