I guess that if you know what you like to do, and you study and then find gainful employement in your field, then things will probably work out. I mean, I’ve (sort of ) done that, and half a lifetime later I still find satisfaction. Still some mysteries out there, though.
posted in economy | Comments Off on The number crunchers are satisfied with the game | 309 words
Who was it that said “It ain’t over till it’s over”? (Yogi Berra). Well, he was right. The Grey Cup game has just ended. Somehow, I think that there is one player who wishes he had waited for that little celebration step that put him on the field with the others.
posted in technology | Comments Off on Finally, an authoritative voice | 325 words
Another new version of Linux Mint is up and running at my house. Helena (or version 8 for those who count) is a worthy upgrade to earlier interations, and the installation process is as painless as any I’ve found, even with the special needs of a laptop.
posted in computing, sports | Comments Off on Linux Mint 8 is now in the house | 266 words
There’s something about watching other people play a musical instrument; they make the process seem much easier than it IS. Lately, I’ve been doing my exercises (in futility) on a standard acoustic guitar. The usual: chord sheets, and finger movements and a whole lot of wincing from virgin calluses.
posted in education | Comments Off on My fingers are sore and his are backwards | 256 words
I finally had a look behind the curtain, into the job of clandestine ticket resellers. I much prefer my own employment, thanks anyway. It takes deep pockets (to front for your business), a willingness to answer the phone no matter what else you are scheduled to be doing, a sense of impending deadlines (the show must go on) and a slim chance of actually showing a profit. Of course, those same rules fit just about any business. A tip for those who would like to test this profession: make sure the tickets you want to sell are in your possession. It saves embarrassment.
posted in history | Comments Off on Checking out the views from the past | 284 words
Familiarity breeds contempt. It also fosters the myth that your personal computer is really slow. In fact, given the number of complaints that I receive in any given day, there are nothing but well-known computers trying to turn back time.
posted in computing | Comments Off on Cleaning up the mud | 327 words
Even the young deserve to have their “in the final days”. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve noticed a growing frequency of “Best of Decade” mentions. Odd, I thought. Is there something special about the calendar? And then it came to me: we’re into the nineth year of the Oh-Ohs.
posted in history | Comments Off on Forget trying to enumerate | 276 words
Greed makes the world go round. Keep that in mind, as the government changes the ground rules for how you watch television.
posted in economy, media | Comments Off on The free ride is over, for both parties | 376 words
Good news bears repeating. This weekend, at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the winner in the Traditional Singer of the Year category was Colette Cheverie. I’ve mentioned her work (several times) before; it appears that my opinion is shared.
posted in history | Comments Off on Ebooks and good music | 294 words
The odd risk is good for the spirit. This morning, I decided to go into the city to buy a kilo of our favourite consumer drug (coffee), carefully ground to my exacting standards by Barista. At least, I think that was her name; when you go to the coffee store at fortnight intervals, it’s rare that you establish a first-name rapport. But back to taking a risk. In the old city, cars are not welcome, and finding a parking spot comes down to chance. I spotted a vacant meter on a side street, dropped my coin in the slot and registered no change.
posted in sports | Comments Off on The parking game | 267 words
