1) Puddles in the street were frozen this morning.
2) I'm wearing gloves.
3) The Rideau Canal is being drained. Can the Beaver Tail huts be far behind?
4) All the leaves fell off my ash tree today (I'm not kidding - they were all there this morning)
5) It snowed yesterday.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Quote of the Day
"The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be."
B. Ramaling Raju
Chairman, Satyam Computer Services. India.
B. Ramaling Raju
Chairman, Satyam Computer Services. India.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Ottawa Folk Festival 2009
We spent 2 1/2 days last weekend at the Ottawa Folk Festival and had an exceptional time. This was our second year attending and we had the same problem as last year - too much good music all at the same time. Which show to choose?
Friday night we attended concerts by The Sadies, Victoria Vox, Vishten, Kinnie Starr, Amy Millan (solo but part of Stars and Broken Social Scene) and Stephen Page (formerly of the Barenaked Ladies).
Saturday night headliners were the Arrogant Worms, James Hill and Anne Davison, the Good Lovelies and Bruce Cockburn.
Sunday night headliners for us were the Good Lovelies and Friends (Charlotte Cornfield, Tall Trees and Digging Roots), David Ross Macdonald and Joel Plaskett. Unfortunately we were too tired for the last concert of the evening and missed Idy Oulo from Cameroon.
One of the special features of the Festival is workshops held during the day where a number of artists come together to perform their songs. Usually the workshops have themes. Most of the time, the artists perform in turn after a brief intro of how their song relates to the theme. However some of the other artists will frequently "jam" with the others, resulting in some amazing moments.
Workshops on Saturday were Double Bill (Tall Trees and Victoria Vox), Three (Joel Plaskett, David Ross Macdonald and Catriona Sturton - sans Joel who was stuck in New York and was replaced by John ??? on guitar) and Favourite Colours (The Sadies, Amy Millan and Charlotte Cornfield). I also attended an afternoon concert by Mr. Something Something, a great band from Toronto and a show by That 1 Guy that turned into a show by That 1 Girl when Mishirangi had to fill in. Another case of performance anxiety when That 1 Guy's instrument didn't clear Customs in time for the show.
The other special feature of the Festival is the Cross-Cultural Artist Collaboration. These are a series of concerts where the performers get together before the Festival opens to select, practice and play a few pieces. They also write a new piece of music. Different groups perform a series of concerts with 10 or 15 performers per show. 
This concert culminated with the musicians marching off the stage and playing on the centre of the Dance Tent dance floor, to great cheering from the audience.
This concert culminated with the musicians marching off the stage and playing on the centre of the Dance Tent dance floor, to great cheering from the audience. Sundays workshops that I attended were African Roots (Jah Youssaf, Abdoulayne Kone and Lewis Melville), Flowing with the Go (Anne Davison, Linsey Wellman, That 1 Guy and Robbie Anderman) and Outstanding In Their Field ( gardener Ed Lawrence, Charlotte Cornfield, The Arrogant Worms, Digging Roots, Stewed Roots and Tall Trees).
Of particular note was the Songs From The Road workshop with Bruce Cockburn, Stephen Page, Joel Plaskett and Ana Miura.
Songs from the Road drew such a crowd as to totally overwhelm the Hill Stage! It could easily have been a Main Stage show.
Victoria Vox is a vivacious and fun ukelele musician from Maryland with a nice collection of well-crafted songs. She was busy playing a number of shows throughout the weekend and could often be seen watching other shows. My wife and I had a nice chat and learned where she honed her French skills, used on two of her great songs. She also produces her own tongue-in-cheek (pun intended) his and hers underwear collection featuring ukeleles! See them at her website http://www.victoriavox.com/!
The Flowing with the Go workshop was one of the best displays of musicianship I have seen. The concert began with That 1 Guy starting a very mid-eastern piece reminiscent of tracks from Peter Gabriel's Passion (Soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ) and the remaining artists improvised along. Here is a somewhat choppy sideways clip of the end of the piece (I must remember to keep the camera horizontal when filming video!) You can get a sense of the song in the dying notes. The remaining pieces from each of the other musicians were equally amazing.
Trevor Pool got my pick as an up-and-coming musician to watch. During the Good Lovelies and Friends show, Trevor was improvising on the guitar along with a Stewed Roots song as if he had played it all his life.
Finally, Bruce Cockburn was amazing as always on his own and improvising along during his Sunday workshop. Here he is signing an autograph for a young fan (my son).
One very unique aspect of the festival is that the stars are all wonderfully approachable and accessible. We had nice chats with Victoria Vox and David Ross Macdonald as they were walking on the Festival grounds and had CD signings, autographs and picture with Bruce Cockburn, Joel Plaskett, James Hill and Ana Miura. All were friendly and were genuinely pleased to talk with us. Compare that to other festivals where security guards usher the stars from their bus to the stage and back again.
Of particular note was the Songs From The Road workshop with Bruce Cockburn, Stephen Page, Joel Plaskett and Ana Miura.
Songs from the Road drew such a crowd as to totally overwhelm the Hill Stage! It could easily have been a Main Stage show.
The afternoon concert was a rip roaring show by The Woodchoppers Association featuring Jah Youssaf and Abdoulayne Kone.
The highlights of the weekend were Victoria Vox, the Flowing with the Go workshop, Bruce Cockburn and Trevor Pool of Tall Trees:
One very unique aspect of the festival is that the stars are all wonderfully approachable and accessible. We had nice chats with Victoria Vox and David Ross Macdonald as they were walking on the Festival grounds and had CD signings, autographs and picture with Bruce Cockburn, Joel Plaskett, James Hill and Ana Miura. All were friendly and were genuinely pleased to talk with us. Compare that to other festivals where security guards usher the stars from their bus to the stage and back again.
The festival also featured a number of kid-friendly activities such as an instrument "petting zoo", with more different stringed instruments than I have ever seen and a number of workshops. My kids attended a tin whistle workshop as well as a blued harp or harmonica workshop where they got to keep their instruments courtesy of the Ottawa Folklore Centre. Ukelele building was also available this year.
I would like to thank the Festival organizers for putting on such a wonderful event this year. It was a very well run, fantastically family-oriented, friendly and intimate without any of the drunken roudiness of the other summer festival closer to town.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Bring On The Surveillance State!
I know that our Privacy Commissioner is very concerned about the use of closed-circuit TV (CCTV) for monitoring the public due to privacy concerns, but I have recently been convinced that public safety trumps the right to privacy.
About two weeks ago, we awoke in the middle of the night to a deep booming sound which repeated four times before falling silent, sort of like the goblin drums in Khazad-dûm (aka the Mines of Moria - LOTR). The noise shook the house itself and sounded like someone trying to kick in a door. I ran out to check on our house and our neighbour's but there was no sign of anyone or anything. However when I ventured around the corner of the street, I noticed that the glass in our bus shelter had been shattered. The booming sound came from the blows on the glass.
This past weekend 5 bus shelters on Orleans Boulevard were smashed in a similar manner.
Also on the same stretch of road last week, a teenager street racing, hit the curb on a curve in the road at estimated speeds of 100 km/hr, hit newspaper boxes and sent them flying through another bus shelter, hit a set of group mailboxes before finally hitting a concrete barrier with the car, sending shards flying through the back yard of the house behind the barrier. Fortunately no one was in the yard at the time. The driver and his passenger also lived to tell the tale. So much for Darwin.
We frequently hear cars racing down the "main drag" outside our house which has a posted speed limit of 40km/hr in the middle of the night. Frequently you can tell that they haven't stopped for the stop sign on the nearby corner.
Perhaps it is time with this kind of rampant lawlessness, to use surveillance to identify the villains and to protect the public and taxpayer from the costs.
About two weeks ago, we awoke in the middle of the night to a deep booming sound which repeated four times before falling silent, sort of like the goblin drums in Khazad-dûm (aka the Mines of Moria - LOTR). The noise shook the house itself and sounded like someone trying to kick in a door. I ran out to check on our house and our neighbour's but there was no sign of anyone or anything. However when I ventured around the corner of the street, I noticed that the glass in our bus shelter had been shattered. The booming sound came from the blows on the glass.
This past weekend 5 bus shelters on Orleans Boulevard were smashed in a similar manner.
Also on the same stretch of road last week, a teenager street racing, hit the curb on a curve in the road at estimated speeds of 100 km/hr, hit newspaper boxes and sent them flying through another bus shelter, hit a set of group mailboxes before finally hitting a concrete barrier with the car, sending shards flying through the back yard of the house behind the barrier. Fortunately no one was in the yard at the time. The driver and his passenger also lived to tell the tale. So much for Darwin.
We frequently hear cars racing down the "main drag" outside our house which has a posted speed limit of 40km/hr in the middle of the night. Frequently you can tell that they haven't stopped for the stop sign on the nearby corner.
Perhaps it is time with this kind of rampant lawlessness, to use surveillance to identify the villains and to protect the public and taxpayer from the costs.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Define "normal"
I occassionally think that I am not the most normal person in the world, but upon some reflection, for example, looking at the tabloids, I come to the conclusion that I am reasonably well adjusted.
In the spirit of that thought, a quote of the day:
"I am not strange, I am just not normal."
Salvador Dali
In the spirit of that thought, a quote of the day:
"I am not strange, I am just not normal."
Salvador Dali
And On Your Right, Turkeys.
I've had three serious turkey sightings in the last two weeks, including in some unexpected places.
First sighting was two weeks ago riding the express bus downtown to work. Behind Hurdman Transit station there is a large area of green space and along the edge of the bike path, there - a turkey.
Another big sighting on highway 416 near Oxford Station Road. I saw a group of turkeys numbering 10-16 foraging in a field.
A group of turkeys is evidently called a flock, a brood, a bale or a rafter of turkeys.
Finally a week ago, on the way home, (on the express bus again!) I saw three turkeys in the ditch near the Montreal Road exit of the 174. There is a large swath of woods and fields and I frequently see deer there, but this was the second sighting within urban boundaries.
What I think is interesting is how rapidly they have rebuilt their population since being reintroduced in Eastern Ontario in the late 1980's and how they have migrated into and adapted to urban areas.
First sighting was two weeks ago riding the express bus downtown to work. Behind Hurdman Transit station there is a large area of green space and along the edge of the bike path, there - a turkey.
Another big sighting on highway 416 near Oxford Station Road. I saw a group of turkeys numbering 10-16 foraging in a field.
A group of turkeys is evidently called a flock, a brood, a bale or a rafter of turkeys.
Finally a week ago, on the way home, (on the express bus again!) I saw three turkeys in the ditch near the Montreal Road exit of the 174. There is a large swath of woods and fields and I frequently see deer there, but this was the second sighting within urban boundaries.
What I think is interesting is how rapidly they have rebuilt their population since being reintroduced in Eastern Ontario in the late 1980's and how they have migrated into and adapted to urban areas.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
National Treasures
I got to see two national treasures over the past few days.
I just returned from two days of camping in the Gatineau Park , with the family, up at Lac Philippe. In the days B.C. (before children), we used to spend a fair bit of time up there, hiking, biking and skiing so it was a nice re-introduction. I always forget what a treasure the Gatineau Park is!
Saturday night we had a raccoon (raton laveur in French or as I like to call them, with their mask, a raton voleur) visit the campsite despite me sitting 15 feet away in front of the camp fire. He or she had a good sniff around our cooking gear, cooler and food bin before sauntering off, disappointed.
On Sunday morning, we did an 11km hike past Lac Renaud, Lac Taylor and up to the scenic lookout, then back.
After a swim, we did a hike to Lusk Caves and went spelunking in the two caves. The caves are quite amazing and easy to explore, just bring good flashlights or headlamps.
Monday, we headed home in time to get unpacked, washed and fed, before heading out to see Stuart McLean of CBC’s Vinyl Café perform a live show in Gatineau. This was our third trip to see Stuart, having been to his Christmas shows the last 2 years.
Stuart is truly a national treasure and if you are not familiar with him, you should tune into his show on CBC Radio, via the Internet or Sirius satellite radio. See http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/listen.php for more details.
Stuart’s show is a throwback to the golden days of radio when the story was as important as how you told it (or so I’m led to believe – I’m not that old). Vinyl Café also prides itself in showcasing wonderful new Canadian musicians and has introduced us in the past to great acts like Dala, Roxanne Potvin and Danny Michel.
Two weeks ago, Stuart did a show on the Via Rail train, the Canadian, which crosses Canada, telling fantastic tales about our country, Canadians and the railroad. A podcast of the show should be available on the CBC's web site for a few more weeks if you missed it. It was a very poignant episode with Canada Day just 2 weeks away at the time.
Monday’s live show was split into two segments that will be separate radio episodes. One segment featured a monologue about the Canadian Museum of Civilization, designed by architect Douglas Cardinal, the wonderful Canada Hall and exhibits such as the totem collection. Stuart’s tour of the Houses of Parliament uncovered hidden treasures in the Library of Parliament for another segment and two wonderful, new Dave and Morley stories were unveiled (I’ll never look at rusting hulks of cars in the woods in the same way, Stuart!). Finally the show featured great performances first by Ottawa’s Andrea Simms-Karp and then by Hawksley Workman.
Another great show! Thanks, Stuart!
I just returned from two days of camping in the Gatineau Park , with the family, up at Lac Philippe. In the days B.C. (before children), we used to spend a fair bit of time up there, hiking, biking and skiing so it was a nice re-introduction. I always forget what a treasure the Gatineau Park is!Saturday night we had a raccoon (raton laveur in French or as I like to call them, with their mask, a raton voleur) visit the campsite despite me sitting 15 feet away in front of the camp fire. He or she had a good sniff around our cooking gear, cooler and food bin before sauntering off, disappointed.
On Sunday morning, we did an 11km hike past Lac Renaud, Lac Taylor and up to the scenic lookout, then back.After a swim, we did a hike to Lusk Caves and went spelunking in the two caves. The caves are quite amazing and easy to explore, just bring good flashlights or headlamps.
Monday, we headed home in time to get unpacked, washed and fed, before heading out to see Stuart McLean of CBC’s Vinyl Café perform a live show in Gatineau. This was our third trip to see Stuart, having been to his Christmas shows the last 2 years.
Stuart is truly a national treasure and if you are not familiar with him, you should tune into his show on CBC Radio, via the Internet or Sirius satellite radio. See http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/listen.php for more details.
Stuart’s show is a throwback to the golden days of radio when the story was as important as how you told it (or so I’m led to believe – I’m not that old). Vinyl Café also prides itself in showcasing wonderful new Canadian musicians and has introduced us in the past to great acts like Dala, Roxanne Potvin and Danny Michel.
Two weeks ago, Stuart did a show on the Via Rail train, the Canadian, which crosses Canada, telling fantastic tales about our country, Canadians and the railroad. A podcast of the show should be available on the CBC's web site for a few more weeks if you missed it. It was a very poignant episode with Canada Day just 2 weeks away at the time.
Monday’s live show was split into two segments that will be separate radio episodes. One segment featured a monologue about the Canadian Museum of Civilization, designed by architect Douglas Cardinal, the wonderful Canada Hall and exhibits such as the totem collection. Stuart’s tour of the Houses of Parliament uncovered hidden treasures in the Library of Parliament for another segment and two wonderful, new Dave and Morley stories were unveiled (I’ll never look at rusting hulks of cars in the woods in the same way, Stuart!). Finally the show featured great performances first by Ottawa’s Andrea Simms-Karp and then by Hawksley Workman.
Another great show! Thanks, Stuart!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Storage lockers
Driving by Wendover yesterday (or as the Cowboy Fringants sing, Ste. Cecile de Wendover), we saw a man beside a storage locker that was stacked solid with stuff.
He was kicking the wall of stuff trying to get the door shut.
The great irony was that he probably removed it from the garage of his house!
Now people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. My garage is equally messy, and yes, I barely have room for the van sometimes, but it was amusing.
He was kicking the wall of stuff trying to get the door shut.
The great irony was that he probably removed it from the garage of his house!
Now people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. My garage is equally messy, and yes, I barely have room for the van sometimes, but it was amusing.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Hotels blow it with their HVAC
I've never met a hotel HVAC system that I liked. HVAC is short for heating, ventilating and air conditioning in case you were wondering.
Most motels have those units on an outside wall that offers heating or cooling with 3 fan speeds: loud, louder and 747 taking off. Unfortunately if you try using any of these settings and try to sleep you will soon get frustrated and turn it off. In summer this has the effect of becoming stiflingly hot in an hour or two. In winter, it soon becomes frigid.
Hotels generally have the units in the ceiling which are quieter but also seem incapable of regulating the temperature.
In April, we spent a couple of nights in the Delta Centre-ville in Montreal with the family. As hotels go, it was fine, but, like all hotels, the heating and air conditioning system was lacking. The Delta was better than most in that it didn't feature one of those horrible, through the wall systems that make so much noise but, over 3 days and 2 nights, I never did find a comfortable temperature despite flipping the thermostat between 18 and 24 degrees C. Either it was too cool with the fan on or too hot with it off.
I spent 8 nights at a new Holiday Inn Express in Antwerp (Antwerpen ou Anvers) Belgium two weeks ago and had the same problem so I resorted to leaving the window open. However the traffic and pedestrian noise (polite term for drunks on the sidewalk) was so irritating that I had to close the window and try just the HVAC, but again, no joy in finding a temperature below 24 degrees celsius. To add to the irritation, in Europe you have to put your room key in a slot by the door to turn on the lights and HVAC, so the moment you leave your room, the HVAC shuts off. Now presumably, you could insert some other piece of plastic, like a maxed-out credit card in the slot and leave it there but I didn't think of it at the time.
Thinking more about it, I realize that hotel rooms are like camping in a tent. You are either too hot or too cold, but the sheets, mattresses and towels are usually better.
Most motels have those units on an outside wall that offers heating or cooling with 3 fan speeds: loud, louder and 747 taking off. Unfortunately if you try using any of these settings and try to sleep you will soon get frustrated and turn it off. In summer this has the effect of becoming stiflingly hot in an hour or two. In winter, it soon becomes frigid.
Hotels generally have the units in the ceiling which are quieter but also seem incapable of regulating the temperature.
In April, we spent a couple of nights in the Delta Centre-ville in Montreal with the family. As hotels go, it was fine, but, like all hotels, the heating and air conditioning system was lacking. The Delta was better than most in that it didn't feature one of those horrible, through the wall systems that make so much noise but, over 3 days and 2 nights, I never did find a comfortable temperature despite flipping the thermostat between 18 and 24 degrees C. Either it was too cool with the fan on or too hot with it off.
I spent 8 nights at a new Holiday Inn Express in Antwerp (Antwerpen ou Anvers) Belgium two weeks ago and had the same problem so I resorted to leaving the window open. However the traffic and pedestrian noise (polite term for drunks on the sidewalk) was so irritating that I had to close the window and try just the HVAC, but again, no joy in finding a temperature below 24 degrees celsius. To add to the irritation, in Europe you have to put your room key in a slot by the door to turn on the lights and HVAC, so the moment you leave your room, the HVAC shuts off. Now presumably, you could insert some other piece of plastic, like a maxed-out credit card in the slot and leave it there but I didn't think of it at the time.
Thinking more about it, I realize that hotel rooms are like camping in a tent. You are either too hot or too cold, but the sheets, mattresses and towels are usually better.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thought du jour
"A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group."
- Russell H. Ewing
- Russell H. Ewing
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Best Thing About Being Middle-Aged
So my family, friends and collegues have heard me complaining about getting older and in particular, needing reading glasses for the first time a year ago.
This complaining was often followed by very little sympathy, particularly from those who have worn glasses most of their lives.
However, today I found something to be grateful and happy about being "middle-aged".
I had my annual physical today and my new doctor, probably to her relief as much as mine, told me I am too old for testicular cancer and too young for prostate and colon cancer, thereby eliminating the need for either invasive examination!
Hooray for middle age!
This complaining was often followed by very little sympathy, particularly from those who have worn glasses most of their lives.
However, today I found something to be grateful and happy about being "middle-aged".
I had my annual physical today and my new doctor, probably to her relief as much as mine, told me I am too old for testicular cancer and too young for prostate and colon cancer, thereby eliminating the need for either invasive examination!
Hooray for middle age!
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Google April Fool's Joke or Birth of Skynet?
Did anyone else notice what I hope was a Google April Fools Day joke?
Before it disappears, go to Google Images and see CADIE, the Cognitive Autoheuristic Distributed-Intelligence Entity.
CADIE, Sarah Connor is probably coming for you right now!
Before it disappears, go to Google Images and see CADIE, the Cognitive Autoheuristic Distributed-Intelligence Entity.
CADIE, Sarah Connor is probably coming for you right now!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
2008: The Year of Music
I know it is rather late to do a New Year's recap of the past year, but here goes any (its my blog and I'll recap if I want to, recap if I want to...).
2008 was a spectacular year for me and live music. I saw an incredible amount of live music for the first time in many years.
February Winterlude: Joel Plaskett & the Emergency
2008 was a spectacular year for me and live music. I saw an incredible amount of live music for the first time in many years.
February Winterlude: Joel Plaskett & the Emergency
March:Evita (not so great)
May (Tulip Festival): The Mighty Popo
June (Ottawa Jazz Festival): Salif Keita, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
July (Canada Day on Parliament Hill): Blue Rodeo
July Cisco Ottawa BluesFest: Matt Mays and El Torpedo, Secret Machines, Fiftymen, The Tragically Hip, Sean Kingston, Wintersleep, Orchestra Baobab, Feist, The Cooper Brothers, Matthew Good Band, James Taylor, Jully Black, Jason Collett, Most Serene Republic, Stars, Kathleen Edwards, 3 Days Grace, Mighty Popo, Crash Parallel, Plain White T's, Akon, Wyclif Jean, Anders Osborne, Sam Roberts Band, Donna Summer and many others.August (The Ottawa Folk Festival): Ana Miura, Sarah Harmer, Catherine MacLellan, Lynn Miles, Wil, Dala, James Hill, The Duhks, The D Rangers and others.
September, Cirque du Soleil Corteo (featured some amazing music!)
November: Stars at the Bronson Centre
December: Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe Christmas with Dala at the National Arts Centre.Saturday, March 21, 2009
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Favourite quotes, part ???
Ooh! Two posts in one day - how prolific of me!
Another amusing quote I came across this week.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is."
- Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut
Another amusing quote I came across this week.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is."
- Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut
Down, down, DOW
Heard on David Letterman's monologue this week:
"The Dow Jones hit 6000.
Do you know what that means?
No?
Neither do I."
"The Dow Jones hit 6000.
Do you know what that means?
No?
Neither do I."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Biggest Threat to Windows Security
I discovered this quite by accident yesterday. The biggest threat to your computer's security is Microsoft itself! This is probably not a surprise to any IT professionals.
My work PC was upgraded to Windows XP Professional last year. (Whoo Hoo!)Our IT department usually works under the premise of You can be secure or you can get work done. Actually, I'm just kidding. We do normally get work done and are reasonably secure, but as a user, I can't do much to personalize my desktop or computing environment.
After the new "deploy", I could no longer put my cheerful seasonal pictures on my desktop as a background. For example, one that I posted in my blog in November 2006 http://creative-wryting.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html. You can guess the symbolism!
While I was rummaging around Microsoft Office 2003 Tools and the Microsoft Office Picture Manager, I came across this and a number of other photos I had used before. If you right-click on an image in the Picture Manage, once of the options is to Set as Desktop Background.
Clicking on this, and, lo and behold, my favourite picture now appeared on my desktop!
Therefore despite the best efforts of our IT, Microsoft over-rode their restrictions!
My work PC was upgraded to Windows XP Professional last year. (Whoo Hoo!)Our IT department usually works under the premise of You can be secure or you can get work done. Actually, I'm just kidding. We do normally get work done and are reasonably secure, but as a user, I can't do much to personalize my desktop or computing environment.
After the new "deploy", I could no longer put my cheerful seasonal pictures on my desktop as a background. For example, one that I posted in my blog in November 2006 http://creative-wryting.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html. You can guess the symbolism!
While I was rummaging around Microsoft Office 2003 Tools and the Microsoft Office Picture Manager, I came across this and a number of other photos I had used before. If you right-click on an image in the Picture Manage, once of the options is to Set as Desktop Background.
Clicking on this, and, lo and behold, my favourite picture now appeared on my desktop!
Therefore despite the best efforts of our IT, Microsoft over-rode their restrictions!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Let's Not Meet By Accident! (My top complaints about Ottawa drivers)
So far this winter, it has been a challenging time for drivers in Ottawa, what with the increased volume on the road as a result of the transit strike and bone-chilling temperatures and black ice.
I list here my biggest complaints about Ottawa drivers.
Clean the snow off your car!
I don't just mean your front windshield! I mean your entire car; roof, hood, trunk, all windows, front bumper and especially all your lights. How many times have you seen a car with just the front window cleared off with the windshield wipers? You'd think it would be obvious that clearing it all off increases how well you can see around you. Cleaning off your roof ensures you don't create a mini blizzard for cars behind you. Also have you ever had a big slab of ice come off a car in front of you? I have. A couple of years ago on the 417, a slab of ice came off a delivery truck, right at my windshield. Fortunately, the only damage was a broken windshield wiper. Scared the crap out of me because I could do nothing to avoid it with the traffic on the road. It was one of those slo-motion moments...Ooooohhhh cccrrraaapppp!!!!!
I should also mention this is a all-season rule because spring and fall frosts and heavy dews can block your vision and can be just as difficult to clear off. Not only that, but unless your windows are warm, they seem to recondense on your windows so a block later you can't see again, sort of a wind chill kind of effect.
Stop on the friggin' stop line!
The stop line. You know, that white line painted on the road at an intersection? It is set back from the intersection to allow pedestrians to cross. With winter snow banks, I know it can be hard to see if you stop at the stop line, but try stopping there and then creeping forward. Also a good idea when intersections are icy as they have been recently to not go racing up to the stop line and expect that your all-season tires will stop you on a dime.
Frankly, I've been scared too many times by cars careening into the road from side streets when they ignore this rule. Last year I almost hit a car that slid into the road from a side street. The only saving grace was no traffic in the lane beside me. Same last night for a car in front of me.
Don't confuse the adequate space between me and the car ahead of me as an invitation to change into my lane!
My driver ed instructor Mr. Panter, taught me to respect the 3 second rule, and leave lots of space between me and the car in front of me, so don't confuse that with an opening for a lane change. When you do, neither of us is respecting the 3 second rule.
Not so close, I hardly know you.
I always thought this bumper sticker was cute. That and "If you can read this bumper sticker, you are too close". See the previous comment for more explanation.
Get off your cell phone and drive!
How many times have you seen cars turning at intersections, making lane changes or even more concentration-demanding driving maneuvres and the driver is on a cell phone?
Pilots have a saying about what takes precedence while flying: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. If you recently heard the cockpit communications from US Air pilot Chesley (Sully) Sullenburger, you would see this in action. He was busy flying a plane with no engines instead of giving blow-by-blow accounts to the tower or passengers.
So be a "Sully" and put away that cell phone for those moments when you aren't flying or navigating and can safely communicate.
I list here my biggest complaints about Ottawa drivers.
Clean the snow off your car!
I don't just mean your front windshield! I mean your entire car; roof, hood, trunk, all windows, front bumper and especially all your lights. How many times have you seen a car with just the front window cleared off with the windshield wipers? You'd think it would be obvious that clearing it all off increases how well you can see around you. Cleaning off your roof ensures you don't create a mini blizzard for cars behind you. Also have you ever had a big slab of ice come off a car in front of you? I have. A couple of years ago on the 417, a slab of ice came off a delivery truck, right at my windshield. Fortunately, the only damage was a broken windshield wiper. Scared the crap out of me because I could do nothing to avoid it with the traffic on the road. It was one of those slo-motion moments...Ooooohhhh cccrrraaapppp!!!!!
I should also mention this is a all-season rule because spring and fall frosts and heavy dews can block your vision and can be just as difficult to clear off. Not only that, but unless your windows are warm, they seem to recondense on your windows so a block later you can't see again, sort of a wind chill kind of effect.
Stop on the friggin' stop line!
The stop line. You know, that white line painted on the road at an intersection? It is set back from the intersection to allow pedestrians to cross. With winter snow banks, I know it can be hard to see if you stop at the stop line, but try stopping there and then creeping forward. Also a good idea when intersections are icy as they have been recently to not go racing up to the stop line and expect that your all-season tires will stop you on a dime.
Frankly, I've been scared too many times by cars careening into the road from side streets when they ignore this rule. Last year I almost hit a car that slid into the road from a side street. The only saving grace was no traffic in the lane beside me. Same last night for a car in front of me.
Don't confuse the adequate space between me and the car ahead of me as an invitation to change into my lane!
My driver ed instructor Mr. Panter, taught me to respect the 3 second rule, and leave lots of space between me and the car in front of me, so don't confuse that with an opening for a lane change. When you do, neither of us is respecting the 3 second rule.
Not so close, I hardly know you.
I always thought this bumper sticker was cute. That and "If you can read this bumper sticker, you are too close". See the previous comment for more explanation.
Get off your cell phone and drive!
How many times have you seen cars turning at intersections, making lane changes or even more concentration-demanding driving maneuvres and the driver is on a cell phone?
Pilots have a saying about what takes precedence while flying: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. If you recently heard the cockpit communications from US Air pilot Chesley (Sully) Sullenburger, you would see this in action. He was busy flying a plane with no engines instead of giving blow-by-blow accounts to the tower or passengers.
So be a "Sully" and put away that cell phone for those moments when you aren't flying or navigating and can safely communicate.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Quote of the Day
My quote of the day for yesterday, January 5th, was:
This, of course, does not apply to Auto-wa (Ottawa), still under the grips of a transit strike, where buses have not been seen on the roads since December 9th!
George Courtauld
This, of course, does not apply to Auto-wa (Ottawa), still under the grips of a transit strike, where buses have not been seen on the roads since December 9th!
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