2002/12/20

Bah humbug!

I'm taking some time off over Christmas, so you shan't see many updates here until the new year -- so I bid you all a wonderful holiday and a happy new year!
15:57 |

2002/12/19

Interesting Shift article aruges that so-called independant web journalism won't find it's true calling/success w/o good content and a good narrative -- it's just not enough for Joe Blow to splatter up a weblog and start sounding off.

The above article suggests that the web has ended up like every other mass medium. The summons to me how, indeed, the web seems to be a rather boring medium at times, and very self contained. Happenings in the real -- physical -- world get filtered into the web through legitimate or trusted on-line sources, then these stories get talked about by on-line communities, substantiating claims w/ links, links, and more links. It's by this literal act of hyper linking that the web begins to feel cyclic and self-contained b/c it becomes self-referential.

One would think that with the array of digital recording aids -- cameras, scanners, video and sound capture, etc. -- available, it would be easy to continually add substantiated content from the real world into the web's discussions of real world events; but by the simultaneous availability of digital editing tools, the legitamcy of said content is often questioned.

After a while, the web just seems a place all it's own, w/ little pertinance to the world directly around us. Stories and whatnot regarding worlds far-away seem just as distant as when viewed on tv. So much for "connecting the world."

Perhaps this is old news, but it's been colouring my 'web experience' as of late.

. . . steps off soapbox.
10:13 |

2002/12/17

A gluttonous weekend. Fellow Nortel intern, and dEb's friend, Leila, came to town this past weekend. It was a tour de food as we met up w/ old friends/colleauges for dinner after dinner. dEb's xmas work party was at the Corel Centre, where we watched the game from the comforts of a corporate box -- I have to say that watching hockey from a comfy couch surrounded by free food and drink was actually quite enjoyable ;)

During the past week or so, everyone around me has been sick, and now I'm feeling sick, too. Not that I'm blaming anyone, I'm just sharing the mundane details.
16:42 |

2002/12/13

Say this 10 times fast:
The fraction varies with the day of the year in a manner such that the period of time selected for each day is longer when the daytime is shorter and the nighttime longer and is shorter when the daytime is longer and the nighttime shorter.
From US3916183.

. . . and the propane smell returns. I just smelled it in the hall, so I know I'm not crazy . . . but I am a little worried, now.
16:24 |

2002/12/12

Too funny (from this article):
Think about Madonna sitting on the toilet. This seems at least possible, courtesy of Madonna's occasional transaction with the media, in which she manipulates them and they manipulate her, revealing an agreed-upon "real" side, letting us in on an idea of her life as it is lived. Now imagine Michael Jackson sitting on the toilet: This seems so much less likely that it nudges toward the implausible, at least not without personal physicians, or animals to console him, or a supportive visit from Liz Taylor or Macaulay Culkin or a trusted spiritual adviser. Something mildly disastrous awaits Michael Jackson at every moment, and even the simplest processes become somehow unlikely. A spaceship lands behind the mansion and one of his minions rushes to meet it, carrying a small, vacuum-sealed plastic bag with the carefully inspected, chemically treated fecal matter of Michael Jackson, and then the spaceship flies away. _This_ you'd believe.

Chicken fingers + mash + veg = loafy, mellow me.

. . . I always find it hard to work on Thursdays.
17:53 |

2002/12/11

Mary Hansen of Stereolab died the other day in a cycling accident. That sucks; I've been digging Stereolab since I started hangin' out at the Christie Tavern, and that first track from the Emperor Tomato Ketchup album is a nostalgic staple from the days of the Different Drum.
17:39 |

Well, it's probably too late this year, but next Christmas, I'm gonna find me an aluminum Chrismas tree -- my parents still have a colour wheel kicking around somewhere . . . This is the kind of stuff I needed a few weeks ago to get me in the spirit! Should you spot a reproduction -- the vintage originals are quite expensive -- do let me know! I'm just lookin' for something small, say two or three feet high
13:22 |

2002/12/10

Oh yeah, I also did some Christmas shopping. My third major trip out to the stores. I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. The Christmas spirit just hasn't sunk in, yet. It feels more like a time of forced giving than anything else. Usually I come around and start to dig the season, but no such luck so far . . .
17:50 |

A fun weekend. Tasha opened up her place to Christmas shenanigans on Friday evening. Gallery 101's annual fundraiser, 101 Frames, was the main event on Saturday evening, where a piece I donated sold! (see previous entry here) As well, dEb sold a photograph she donated! We were quite beside ourselves. The event itself was pretty fun, too. The gallery was packed, and there were many works to enjoy and bid on. I actually met quite a few people from my immediate neighborhood, so it was a good night of networking, as well. A lazy Sunday quickly turned into a lazy Sunday evening, though dEb and I did manage a visit out to the Ulmann's for their annual gift show.

Nostalgic Dilbert . . . sort of.
17:38 |

2002/12/05

I just completed an interview for a project being conducted by the Carleton School of Business. The project is a study on career and life transistions, and how the two are related. I'll be interested to see the results. The interview was an open format, the main question being, how did you get to where you are now? I decided to begin w/ the conclusion of high school, when I had to start making 'serious' choices, regarding university and such. I talked about school, and interning, returning to school, and finally getting the job I have now. Along the way, the interviewer intervened to acquire details of each particular transistion (high-school-to-university, university-to-internship, etc.). Having finished the interview, I imagine that other candidates will probably enjoy it, since people generally like talking about themselves, and here's an opportunity to do so for nearly an hour!

In patent news, the Harvard mouse is not patentable in Canada. Decision here. Not what I was expecting, considering the United States, Europe, and Japan have long-ago allowed the patent in question.

Last night I saw 'Far From Heaven,' a meloncholy period piece set in the '50's. Check it out.
13:32 |

2002/12/04

Now, I'm certainly not one to condone bombing, but I have to admit I like the aftermath that resulted when bombs were found in Ikea stores overseas:
All ten IKEA stores in the Netherlands will remain shut today after two bombs were found at the Amsterdam and Sliedrecht outlets.
17:18 |

2002/12/03

This morning I was entertained by a guy who jumped off the bus, and ran to the street. He then ran across the street, then continued to run down the street. Was he late? Was he cold? His white breath puffing out of him like a steam engine made me laugh; one arm flailing while the other clinging to a shoulder bag. It was just funny.

Tattooing robot, controlled by a Palm Pilot. Hilarious.
17:04 |

2002/12/02

Consumed a lot of media this weekend. I read 'Skipping Christmas' by John Grisham. It was pretty funny -- a nice, light, seasonal read. Saw 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding;' funny. Saw 'Monster's Ball'; weird. Saw 'Mr. Deeds;' silly.

Also braved the cold to nab a few geocaches (i, ii, iii).
16:16 |

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