It’s not hard to imagine life in a Wile E. Coyote world; after all, we’ve watched him work at catching trying to catch his prey for years and years on TV. Well, the same mental spirit that dreams up devices for our friend over at Acme Inc. is alive and well, if a report I caught this afternoon on Discovery Channel is any indication.
posted in media | Comments Off on It’s still doggone funny | 328 words
My life in a second language world gives personal relevance to the quote from Steve Martin – Those French, they’ve got a different word for everything.” Every day, I get to puzzle my way to the top of the pile, and the next day start all over again. Sisyphus is my idol.
posted in economy | Comments Off on A different word for everything | 357 words
Have no doubt, I am a child of the Space Age, in a way that my own children will never be. From the earliest reports of Sputnik, explained by my youngest uncle, through the Mercury years, to Gemini, to Apollo, “To Infinity and beyond”. Buzz Lightyear would be a close personal friend, if I was five again.
posted in history, media | Comments Off on Countdown | 321 words
Another long evening, running a problematic videoconference that had no audio, so I patched a phone line into the room and ran a bi-modal until about halfway through when we added another caller to the audio conference from a local hospital. All this to allow debate on how much would be an appropriate allocation for newspaper advertisements to attract new clientele, if the need arose. At least the catered supper was good, if interrupted by technical needs.
posted in Wx | Comments Off on Getting home before frostbite sets in | 343 words
The bountiful harvest is on its way east. I noticed, from my bus “window on the world” that the colourful Alberta Grain cars are moving in the port region again. Just think, each contains about 90 tonnes of “what the world wants”, and there are hundreds of them in neat rows, waiting their turn.
posted in economy | Comments Off on The grain trains are back | 287 words
I’m on training, today and tomorrow. With a gang of happy go lucky administrators from our schools. We’re preparing the way for a new regime of paper pushing.
posted in computing | Comments Off on Training for the data mines | 206 words
Nothing lasts forever (except diamonds, and even those can be crushed into dust with enough pressure). I come from a line of “keep it working” people, so I have a fair share of older devices around the house. However, spreading that technique into the workplace isn’t as appreciated as it might be.
posted in environment | Comments Off on A measure of progress | 264 words
Imagine how my great-great-grandfather would feel, if he were to suddenly ‘rise up from the dead and start dancing around. In passing, my uncle has told us far too many times how just such a thing had happened, but we all put it down to tall tales and spirits. Anyhow, imagine if John, new in town from Tipperary, were to come into downtown Elmira in the next few days. I suspect he’d have to say that it doesn’t look quite the same.
posted in environment, history | Comments Off on Doesn’t look quite the same | 332 words
There, I said it. Today we rested. Nothing else. No reason to get excited; it doesn’t cost much and when there is no pressing reason to get out and about, one should take advantage.
posted in media | Comments Off on Sunday is a day of rest | 179 words
Somehow, the parallel between a very recent leadership campaign and a marathon is startling. Too many runners on a bridge to nowhere. Lots of coverage at every corner, waiting for someone to trip or spill the refreshment table. All the runners filled with a desire to win and a protestation that they are there for the others, as team members.
posted in politics | Comments Off on The race is over; let the race begin | 178 words
