1. Another addition to the blog family... This one from Kendall, a cousin from The Island, and a bit of a kindred spirit, only weirder and far more of an entrepeneur.
I have often thought that K could launch a "prior art" lawsuit against Seinfeld for the Kramer character. Growing up, we had our own young "Cosmo" long before that TV show.
Check it out here
2. Speaking of blogs, there is a major absence in cyberspace. BryGuy is planning a New Year's Eve wedding (which I think is brilliant) and is an uncle (again -- congrats to the fam!). But where's the blog, the portal to his universe?
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Prescient of the United States
Long time readers will remember that in Vegas, July 2006, I picked the St Louis Cardinals to win the World Series.
I made 2 other bets that weekend, with BryGuy's bookie tutelage, in July 2006. One was for the Indianapolis Colts to win the Superbowl.
Though these weren't for big money, they do allow me to claim "Sports Prognosticator of the Year".
More proof positive that if my dear readers need help with their sports gambling, investment strategies, career planning, or personal lives: just turn to the Captain. We have you covered.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
January Book Review
A Mind of its Own is a non-fiction work about psychology -- particularly how the brain is spectacularly emotional and vain, to the point that it behaves in its own interests. The audience is the layperson, but there are zillions of references to scholarly works. The writing style is delightful: laidback, yet compelling, and with wonderful wit.
The gist is that many people tend to:
Bend statistics and logic towards reasoning that favours themselves
Abandon strong moral beliefs under certain (yet reasonable) circumstances
React in accordance to learned racial/gender stereotypes before the conscious mind has a chance to vote on the reaction
As one example, note that I wrote "many people" above. Chances are, you read the above list and thought "yes it is sad that so many people are guilty of that. Thank God my friends and I are educated and moved past that reptilian phase". Well, that very thinking is exactly what the book is about. The author argues that everyone has these behaviours, on a deep fundamental level. It is our burden to spot these traits and have the conscious brain override them.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Restaurant Recommendation
If you are in St Louis, go to Queen of Sheba at Olive and Kingsland. The cuisine is east-African food, and it's great stuff.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Hallelujah
A double Hallelujah today:
First, it isn't January! yes! Happy February, and happy birthday to our dear Ms Traci, dog (and Canadian) rescuer.
And second, 2-3 weeks of surprisingly intense writing/researching have come to fruition. Check out the byline on the latest posting on this website. I'm can't say (yet) that I'm happy with the results but I am definitely happy that the article is written.
The funny thing is, it's not especially long or detailed, and it was considerable work. One is reminded of the quote by Twain, "My apologies for the length of this letter -- I don't have time to make it brief".
First, it isn't January! yes! Happy February, and happy birthday to our dear Ms Traci, dog (and Canadian) rescuer.
And second, 2-3 weeks of surprisingly intense writing/researching have come to fruition. Check out the byline on the latest posting on this website. I'm can't say (yet) that I'm happy with the results but I am definitely happy that the article is written.
The funny thing is, it's not especially long or detailed, and it was considerable work. One is reminded of the quote by Twain, "My apologies for the length of this letter -- I don't have time to make it brief".
Monday, January 29, 2007
Phraseology, eh?
From the back of a Clearly Canadian mineral-water bottle. The example actually made me laugh out-loud.
Give'er n. 1: Canadian colloquialism indicating a desire for something to be put into action. e.g. "Just pop the clutch and give'er"
I miss home sometimes.
Give'er n. 1: Canadian colloquialism indicating a desire for something to be put into action. e.g. "Just pop the clutch and give'er"
I miss home sometimes.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Resolution 1 January 0
One of my (unstated) goals was to start a technical blog. This is a semi-pro endeavour and a far cry from the chaos and mayhem here at CC HQ.
Like most fields, there are computer science blogs that have become "must-read" websites for us in the discipline. Though many of the authors also write books, the blogs have elevated some of them to rock-star status. That goal is a bit lofty for me, but it would be nice if I was eventually quoted/linked by one of the premier sites.
Longtime readers know that I have transformed the art of mainstream blogging, but do I have "game" when it comes to tech writing? We'll see. If you are interested (and you may not be for long), it is called Code To Joy.
CC
ps. January has been trying to hold me back all month, hence the score. Take this you wretched month! Ha HA!
Like most fields, there are computer science blogs that have become "must-read" websites for us in the discipline. Though many of the authors also write books, the blogs have elevated some of them to rock-star status. That goal is a bit lofty for me, but it would be nice if I was eventually quoted/linked by one of the premier sites.
Longtime readers know that I have transformed the art of mainstream blogging, but do I have "game" when it comes to tech writing? We'll see. If you are interested (and you may not be for long), it is called Code To Joy.
CC
ps. January has been trying to hold me back all month, hence the score. Take this you wretched month! Ha HA!
And The Winner Is...
Enrique won a split-decision last night! His opponent was slightly taller and heavier but after a tentative start, Enrique came right at him, reminiscent of Roberto Duran's old style. Enrique was more disciplined than Duran, though, and only rarely hinted at a wide-open brawl.
His opponent had a large cheering contingent but we tried to make up for it. By the end of it, I felt that Enrique had won but naturally there was a bias. But in the end, after 3 rounds, by a 2-1 decision: E in the blue corner! I think the dissenting judge was in fact the other guy's sister.
Congrats! It was a great night.... Enrique came out to see friends and family afterwards and he was (understandably) stoked. I wonder if he slept last night.
His opponent had a large cheering contingent but we tried to make up for it. By the end of it, I felt that Enrique had won but naturally there was a bias. But in the end, after 3 rounds, by a 2-1 decision: E in the blue corner! I think the dissenting judge was in fact the other guy's sister.
Congrats! It was a great night.... Enrique came out to see friends and family afterwards and he was (understandably) stoked. I wonder if he slept last night.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Tying the Knot
There's a lot of wedding action going on lately....
Today is my folks' anniversary. Happy Anniversary!
January 26 is quite a day. Some icons have been born on this day, including Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Van Halen, and (in my world) Mozart. (Mozart was probably Jan 27 but time was such an in-exact science back then, eh?). Three dudes who are synonymous with their craft.
Today is my folks' anniversary. Happy Anniversary!
January 26 is quite a day. Some icons have been born on this day, including Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Van Halen, and (in my world) Mozart. (Mozart was probably Jan 27 but time was such an in-exact science back then, eh?). Three dudes who are synonymous with their craft.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Another Brick in the Wall
I just realized that the first indoor tri is in 2 weeks or so. Gah!
I picked the "long" course so that I would train more. Unfortunately, I feel into a time-warp so it's crammin' time.... I haven't been on a bike in 4 months!
Tonight I did a brick -- a tri term for a bike-run workout. No one knows the word origin for sure, but it is believed that the "br" comes from "bike-run" and that "brick" is fitting because it's a "hard" workout.
8.25 miles on the bike and a 5 mile run. Not fast, but not bad either...
I picked the "long" course so that I would train more. Unfortunately, I feel into a time-warp so it's crammin' time.... I haven't been on a bike in 4 months!
Tonight I did a brick -- a tri term for a bike-run workout. No one knows the word origin for sure, but it is believed that the "br" comes from "bike-run" and that "brick" is fitting because it's a "hard" workout.
8.25 miles on the bike and a 5 mile run. Not fast, but not bad either...
Monday, January 22, 2007
Smackdown (Corrected)
Editor's note: the match this weekend is in fact a Muay Thai (kickboxing) bout, not MMA. If boxing is checkers, then Muay Thai is Backgammon.
If y'all know Enrique here in StL, then listen up: he's in a martial-art match this weekend! This is finally it: a real bout (not an exhibition).
For those who don't know, MMA (aka UFC) is basically a combination of kick-boxing, wrestling, and a variety of marital arts. As one wag put it: MMA is chess to boxing's checkers. (Though violent it has moments of true beauty and surprising sportsmanship. Unlike boxing, there is no shame in calling "uncle" when in a submission hold -- esp. considering your arm or leg is about to be broken.)
Everyone who knows Enrique knows that he is passionate about training. He's a student, a teacher, a gent, a warrior, and not bloody likely to see me in the octagon against him.
Email me (or him) for details...
And for Enrique, I wish him Wensei-Wabe-Wanabi: will it, wage it, win it.
If y'all know Enrique here in StL, then listen up: he's in a martial-art match this weekend! This is finally it: a real bout (not an exhibition).
For those who don't know, MMA (aka UFC) is basically a combination of kick-boxing, wrestling, and a variety of marital arts. As one wag put it: MMA is chess to boxing's checkers. (Though violent it has moments of true beauty and surprising sportsmanship. Unlike boxing, there is no shame in calling "uncle" when in a submission hold -- esp. considering your arm or leg is about to be broken.)
Everyone who knows Enrique knows that he is passionate about training. He's a student, a teacher, a gent, a warrior, and not bloody likely to see me in the octagon against him.
Email me (or him) for details...
And for Enrique, I wish him Wensei-Wabe-Wanabi: will it, wage it, win it.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
2007's Stock Is Going Up
Here's the ingredients for a great weekend:
-- a fun lunch with Jennifer/JAK at House of India, with a random run-in with BryGuy and KimPossible
-- a big 3-0 bday bash at The Melting Pot (fondue place) with Jess/Judgie and her crew, with the soundtrack of the evening being the 1980s hit "Final Countdown"
-- a wonderful brunch with Fred, Stacey, and the ever-adorable Liv
-- monstrous progress on a writing assignment for work
-- add some gym and piano to taste, sprinkle heat and car electricity on top
2007 is getting better....
-- a fun lunch with Jennifer/JAK at House of India, with a random run-in with BryGuy and KimPossible
-- a big 3-0 bday bash at The Melting Pot (fondue place) with Jess/Judgie and her crew, with the soundtrack of the evening being the 1980s hit "Final Countdown"
-- a wonderful brunch with Fred, Stacey, and the ever-adorable Liv
-- monstrous progress on a writing assignment for work
-- add some gym and piano to taste, sprinkle heat and car electricity on top
2007 is getting better....
Till Laser-Removal Do Us Part
I'm a fan of various ways that people get married and esp. how marriage proposals are made. There are often great stories in such moments.
I heard one about a friend-of-a-friend on Friday: the guy, a tattoo-artist, had a tattoo done on his arm. Yes, you guessed it: "will you marry me?". He unveiled it at a romantic dinner. Quite a gamble, n'est-ce-pas?
She said "yes". No word yet on whether they will ask the guests to RSVP with ink of their own. Though I think he should get "She said yes" on his other arm.
I heard one about a friend-of-a-friend on Friday: the guy, a tattoo-artist, had a tattoo done on his arm. Yes, you guessed it: "will you marry me?". He unveiled it at a romantic dinner. Quite a gamble, n'est-ce-pas?
She said "yes". No word yet on whether they will ask the guests to RSVP with ink of their own. Though I think he should get "She said yes" on his other arm.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Back in Black
Herbie (the car) has had the battery replaced, and the maintenance crew at the apartment changed the thermostat, so we return to our usual level of webcasting excellence here at CC HQ, basking in a balmy 68 F.
I have taken on a writing assignment for work, which is not making much progress, due to the delays of real life. This is the source for much of the stress latent in the other posting. But once I make some headway (tonight?!), and get a few good workouts in at the gym, life will be Grand once more.
Many thanks to Traci who has been fantastic through all this...
I have taken on a writing assignment for work, which is not making much progress, due to the delays of real life. This is the source for much of the stress latent in the other posting. But once I make some headway (tonight?!), and get a few good workouts in at the gym, life will be Grand once more.
Many thanks to Traci who has been fantastic through all this...
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Impulsive Reflection on 2007
Our hero writes again from Traci's, who is drafting a lease and rental agreement (and duly so).
Woke up Tuesday am... apartment had power but it was 53 F.
Car wouldn't start. Taxi to work.
Mercifully, the car started later in the afternoon, but the apt was 45 F. That's about 7 C.
2007 had better start getting a whole lot better for me and others, or I'm returning to last year. I will spare readers profanity but this was not a fun day.
Woke up Tuesday am... apartment had power but it was 53 F.
Car wouldn't start. Taxi to work.
Mercifully, the car started later in the afternoon, but the apt was 45 F. That's about 7 C.
2007 had better start getting a whole lot better for me and others, or I'm returning to last year. I will spare readers profanity but this was not a fun day.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Dean K revisited
This dispatch is from CC HQ, where there is light and it's 68 F....
I've written on Dean Karnazes in the past. He's a freak. He did 50 marathons in 50 days in the fall of '06, starting with Missouri's own Lewis & Clark (which was walked by many friends).
I knew that he eats everything when he runs (cheeseburgers, pizza, sundaes), but I didn't know that he keeps a super-strict diet when not on the road/trail. It makes perfect sense though: this is how he stays buff and, especially, enhances positive-reinforcement for running. Imagine eating salad for 2 days and knowing that you can eat junk once you hit the road. Brilliant... No wonder he runs for so long.
I've written on Dean Karnazes in the past. He's a freak. He did 50 marathons in 50 days in the fall of '06, starting with Missouri's own Lewis & Clark (which was walked by many friends).
I knew that he eats everything when he runs (cheeseburgers, pizza, sundaes), but I didn't know that he keeps a super-strict diet when not on the road/trail. It makes perfect sense though: this is how he stays buff and, especially, enhances positive-reinforcement for running. Imagine eating salad for 2 days and knowing that you can eat junk once you hit the road. Brilliant... No wonder he runs for so long.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
On The Road Again
Your humble cyber-scriber writes from T-Dog's yet again. No, it isn't car trouble: it's a power outage back at CC HQ. The timing is not great, but I'm grateful (greatful?) to be sharing home and hearth with Traci.
peace out from Olivette
CC
peace out from Olivette
CC
Random Holiday Memories #1
Some random thoughts...
My friend Phil and I go back until about 2 years old. He and his lovely wife, Tanya, have a child, Erika, who I met while back home. It's pretty wild to see an old chum enter a whole new stage of life.... esp. since I am happily frozen (spiritually, emotionally, grammatically) in 1988!
My cousin, Richard, is the Indiana Jones of the family. He has been to Korea, Britain, Greece, and, in 2006, Egypt. He regaled us with stories of his adventures. Double-the-fun: he's a high-school teacher and his trip are often as chaperone, which amps the hijinx factor.
Biggest regret: not hearing my bro-in-law, Dave, play guitar. He's very good. Though we had a fun day at Christmas.
My friend Phil and I go back until about 2 years old. He and his lovely wife, Tanya, have a child, Erika, who I met while back home. It's pretty wild to see an old chum enter a whole new stage of life.... esp. since I am happily frozen (spiritually, emotionally, grammatically) in 1988!
My cousin, Richard, is the Indiana Jones of the family. He has been to Korea, Britain, Greece, and, in 2006, Egypt. He regaled us with stories of his adventures. Double-the-fun: he's a high-school teacher and his trip are often as chaperone, which amps the hijinx factor.
Biggest regret: not hearing my bro-in-law, Dave, play guitar. He's very good. Though we had a fun day at Christmas.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Seinfeld, Live
I saw Jerry Seinfeld at The Fabulous Fox Theatre last night. It was overpriced and we sat in the nosebleeds, and yet it was completely worth it. Hilarious.... A true master at work. Though I do think George Carlin should get a residual royalty check (Carlin's act pioneered "everyday things", I think....).
CC
ps. A downer at the end of the night was more car woes... I think a frozen starter/solenoid or possibly a old battery that doesn't have enough chutpzah to turn a cold engine. gah! Writing this blog entry at T-Dog's Bed and Breakfast
CC
ps. A downer at the end of the night was more car woes... I think a frozen starter/solenoid or possibly a old battery that doesn't have enough chutpzah to turn a cold engine. gah! Writing this blog entry at T-Dog's Bed and Breakfast
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Announcing micro-posts
The Canadian news magazine, Maclean's, did a complete redesign last year. One new feature is the apostro-leaf. The apostrophe in the title is a maple leaf; they claim that each month it will be different.
Using that as inspiration, this blog announces the micro-post: a rotating tagline as the title. As more and more people set their home page to be this blog, it is becoming a portal to the Internet. With the "micro-post", people can enjoy a little news blurb more often, quenching their thirst for CC updates. An added bonus: the micro-post will change at a random schedule: who knows when the next bite will show up?!
Using that as inspiration, this blog announces the micro-post: a rotating tagline as the title. As more and more people set their home page to be this blog, it is becoming a portal to the Internet. With the "micro-post", people can enjoy a little news blurb more often, quenching their thirst for CC updates. An added bonus: the micro-post will change at a random schedule: who knows when the next bite will show up?!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
It's Knot Magic
Here is an interesting article: ancient Incan strings/ropes may have been a form of writing.
Quoteth:
Yet, if centuries of scholarship are to be believed, the Inca, whose rule began 2,000 years after Homer, never figured out how to write. It's an enigma known as the Inca paradox, and for nearly 500 years it has stood as one of the great historical puzzles of the Americas. But now a Harvard anthropologist named Gary Urton may be close to untangling the mystery.
Quoteth:
Yet, if centuries of scholarship are to be believed, the Inca, whose rule began 2,000 years after Homer, never figured out how to write. It's an enigma known as the Inca paradox, and for nearly 500 years it has stood as one of the great historical puzzles of the Americas. But now a Harvard anthropologist named Gary Urton may be close to untangling the mystery.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Cupid Went Down To Georgia
Some dear friends had a much better New Year's than I...
BryGuy and his delightful flame, Ms C, went down to balmy Georgia, and came back all smiles. They are gettin' hitched! Rejoice!!!!! This is fantastic news.
BryGuy and his delightful flame, Ms C, went down to balmy Georgia, and came back all smiles. They are gettin' hitched! Rejoice!!!!! This is fantastic news.
I Fold
I have uninstalled an "online poker" game from my computer. It was a game to play the ubiquitous Texas Hold Em on the net (for fake money).
This is very good news for me, blog fans, and the other players online, who might start winning again.
CC
ps. I whole-heartedly recommend spontaneous, impulsive un-installation of software. Think about your time-killer, then delete it!
This is very good news for me, blog fans, and the other players online, who might start winning again.
CC
ps. I whole-heartedly recommend spontaneous, impulsive un-installation of software. Think about your time-killer, then delete it!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Year of the Captain
Due to illness, I have been remiss in writing about goals for 2007.
However, now, as I look around, it's just you and I in this giant ballroom. The faux-resolutioners are gone. There's nothing here but a mess of plates and wine glasses; streamers and balloons lay scattered on the floor; a tattered "Happy 2007" banner hangs awkwardly from the ceiling. You can hear echoes reverberating through the place as the band packs their equipment onto the bus.
Since the poseurs are gone, let's get serious, shall we? None of these "I'd like to lose weight" vagueries. No "I might volunteer for some non-determined charitable cause". Let's get down with some serious accountability and realism.
Here are mine:
-- Finish the 1/2 Ironman triathlon in Mattoon, IL, Sept 07
-- Complete a full marathon without walking
-- Figure out how to post "What I'm Reading" on blogspot and keep it active: at least a book a month (on top of tech books and the zillion magazines)
-- Learn at least one song (on piano) a month. No longer than a week straight without playing.
-- Get back to Europe and/or Paris.
and yours? They don't have to be anything like mine: just share 'em!
C.C.
ps. Bonus points if I do the 1/3 Ironman tri in Aug 07 and then the 1/2. I think I can do the 1/3 but both fitness goals listed above are definitely outside my comfort-zone. And yet possibly achievable. We'll see.
However, now, as I look around, it's just you and I in this giant ballroom. The faux-resolutioners are gone. There's nothing here but a mess of plates and wine glasses; streamers and balloons lay scattered on the floor; a tattered "Happy 2007" banner hangs awkwardly from the ceiling. You can hear echoes reverberating through the place as the band packs their equipment onto the bus.
Since the poseurs are gone, let's get serious, shall we? None of these "I'd like to lose weight" vagueries. No "I might volunteer for some non-determined charitable cause". Let's get down with some serious accountability and realism.
Here are mine:
-- Finish the 1/2 Ironman triathlon in Mattoon, IL, Sept 07
-- Complete a full marathon without walking
-- Figure out how to post "What I'm Reading" on blogspot and keep it active: at least a book a month (on top of tech books and the zillion magazines)
-- Learn at least one song (on piano) a month. No longer than a week straight without playing.
-- Get back to Europe and/or Paris.
and yours? They don't have to be anything like mine: just share 'em!
C.C.
ps. Bonus points if I do the 1/3 Ironman tri in Aug 07 and then the 1/2. I think I can do the 1/3 but both fitness goals listed above are definitely outside my comfort-zone. And yet possibly achievable. We'll see.
Three-peat
Pro sports can differ greatly in finding the "Next One" -- the next prodigy. Football's talent pool is college; baseball's pool is Latin America.
Hockey's talent tool is comprised of "the junior leagues": amateur leagues for kids of ages 17-19 (roughly). This is real hockey: testosterone-fueled offense and, at times, intense "discussions" with the gloves off.
The biggest stage for these kids is the World Junior Championships. Canada is almost always in the finals, but the late 1990s, we lost our way, often losing to Russia (very bad) and once to the USA (much, much worse).
But universe is starting to correct itself, and 2007 is starting off right... Canada won its 3rd straight championship on Friday (over Russia, no less) !
Hockey's talent tool is comprised of "the junior leagues": amateur leagues for kids of ages 17-19 (roughly). This is real hockey: testosterone-fueled offense and, at times, intense "discussions" with the gloves off.
The biggest stage for these kids is the World Junior Championships. Canada is almost always in the finals, but the late 1990s, we lost our way, often losing to Russia (very bad) and once to the USA (much, much worse).
But universe is starting to correct itself, and 2007 is starting off right... Canada won its 3rd straight championship on Friday (over Russia, no less) !
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Comparing Bricks and Clicks
I went to Blockbuster this weekend.
They carry season 2 of The Office but not season 1. Strike.
I rented season 2 only to find out that there are only a few episodes per disc. Strike (ok, against me for thinking that they put entire seasons on one disc).
I could have gone to their website, but instead tried Netflix. I tried searching for 5 titles, getting increasingly esoteric from my art-house days (has anyone seen Tous Les Matins Du Monde -- anyone, anyone?). They had all of 'em.
Strike. See ya Blockbuster!?! I never thought I would subscribe to Netflix but this was impressive.... I also saw a spot on them on 60 Minutes -- the power of pseudo-advertising?
They carry season 2 of The Office but not season 1. Strike.
I rented season 2 only to find out that there are only a few episodes per disc. Strike (ok, against me for thinking that they put entire seasons on one disc).
I could have gone to their website, but instead tried Netflix. I tried searching for 5 titles, getting increasingly esoteric from my art-house days (has anyone seen Tous Les Matins Du Monde -- anyone, anyone?). They had all of 'em.
Strike. See ya Blockbuster!?! I never thought I would subscribe to Netflix but this was impressive.... I also saw a spot on them on 60 Minutes -- the power of pseudo-advertising?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Original Arch-Rival
It was a great marketing campaign back home. Generally, people were very responsive to the CaptainCanuck brand -- I coerced some to even set their browser defaults to be the blog. Everything was going great... Part of me couldn't wait to get to StL in 07 and write. After all, I have fans in 2 countries who would be turning to me for guidance in the new year: resolutions, fitness tips, philosophy -- you name it.
Then the cold, and then the flu, and now the malaise. I'm in a colossal struggle with a foe far worse than the nefarious Jim G. It is a virulent strain of complacency. Though I feel much better and am reasonably rested, I am hacking/coughing constantly and couldn't care less about writing, exercise, or music. Not good.
This is how is starts... Sickness is a great excuse for a few days but then the days turn into a week and then it is just a "bad month". I always straighten the course after a couple of months but there's too much at stake for a layoff like that this time....
So I sat at the keyboard (piano) tonight and just played something: anything. Just fun stuff. And I sit here now writing a blog entry. Neither profound, nor amusing, but something.
And in so doing I have just driven my elbow into complacency's gut, in an attempt to free myself from its grip.
This weekend: the gym, the resolutions, and a new blog. The CC brand catapaults into the new year!
Then the cold, and then the flu, and now the malaise. I'm in a colossal struggle with a foe far worse than the nefarious Jim G. It is a virulent strain of complacency. Though I feel much better and am reasonably rested, I am hacking/coughing constantly and couldn't care less about writing, exercise, or music. Not good.
This is how is starts... Sickness is a great excuse for a few days but then the days turn into a week and then it is just a "bad month". I always straighten the course after a couple of months but there's too much at stake for a layoff like that this time....
So I sat at the keyboard (piano) tonight and just played something: anything. Just fun stuff. And I sit here now writing a blog entry. Neither profound, nor amusing, but something.
And in so doing I have just driven my elbow into complacency's gut, in an attempt to free myself from its grip.
This weekend: the gym, the resolutions, and a new blog. The CC brand catapaults into the new year!
Monday, January 01, 2007
The Proverbial Blank Slate
It was good to be home and good to be back. Sadly a wicked combo of cold/flu made the trip iffy, but no worries in Zee Grand Schemen....
I had hoped to write about the new year, both from a personal standpoint, and for the future of the blog. Alas, today's not the day for that.
Happy New Year! We all have a giant, blank canvas in front of us with tons of fingerpaint... What will we draw this year?
I had hoped to write about the new year, both from a personal standpoint, and for the future of the blog. Alas, today's not the day for that.
Happy New Year! We all have a giant, blank canvas in front of us with tons of fingerpaint... What will we draw this year?
Back in the USSA
(sung to the tune of the Beatles song)
Flew in from Charlottetown BOAC
Didn't get to bed last night.
On the way a paperbag was on my knee,
man, I had a dreadful flight.
I'm back in the USSA
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Been away so long I hardly new the place
Gee I have to clean my home.
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case,
Honey I'll lie here and groan.
I'm back in the USSA
Flew in from Charlottetown BOAC
Didn't get to bed last night.
On the way a paperbag was on my knee,
man, I had a dreadful flight.
I'm back in the USSA
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Been away so long I hardly new the place
Gee I have to clean my home.
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case,
Honey I'll lie here and groan.
I'm back in the USSA
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Captain Canuck 2007
Our hero gently tings his fork against the wine glass. Family and friends, dining at the festive Christmas dinner table, pause with anticipation; he stands for his big announcement:
"I want to proudly unveil plans for a new, subscription-based blog that highlights the adventures of Captain Canuck. This blog would build on the current offering with all-new anecdotes, video files (in collaboration with YouTube), message alerts with the latest news about CC, and a modest monthly fee. Some of the proceeds might go to World Vision (to help those in need in Africa)! "
Our hero flees the room, shielding his head from the deluge of dinner rolls that rain down.
"I have to find a different focus group", he sighs...
"I want to proudly unveil plans for a new, subscription-based blog that highlights the adventures of Captain Canuck. This blog would build on the current offering with all-new anecdotes, video files (in collaboration with YouTube), message alerts with the latest news about CC, and a modest monthly fee. Some of the proceeds might go to World Vision (to help those in need in Africa)! "
Our hero flees the room, shielding his head from the deluge of dinner rolls that rain down.
"I have to find a different focus group", he sighs...
Brother, can you spare some time? (on your tread)
To mitigate the caloric onslaught of the holidays, I brought home some workout attire. I have been beg/borrow/stealing workouts everywhere, esp. at the new CARI complex at UPEI which is fantastic.
So far: 2000 m swim , 13 miles run, over 3 days.
An unexpected bonus is that I have re-discovered the importance of doing normal stuff on extended trips. It really reduces the "culture shock" and being immersed in a different world (even if it is the venerated "home home").
So far: 2000 m swim , 13 miles run, over 3 days.
An unexpected bonus is that I have re-discovered the importance of doing normal stuff on extended trips. It really reduces the "culture shock" and being immersed in a different world (even if it is the venerated "home home").
iPod Newbie
Does anyone (e.g. Binky) know if the iPod Shuffle has an accessory to play it through speakers/stereo? Just curious... Of course the iPod has tons of 'em but I'm not sure about the shuffle.
Gift Cage-Match
This is a tale of 2 gifts that I received from my immediate family.
In the left corner, it's the iPod Shuffle. This tiny micro-player is my first entry into the next generation of media players. I have long been hooked on the musical crack of iTunes, but now I can get a fix on the fly. There is even potential that ol' Herbie (the car) will be catapaulted into the 21st century (via an adapter).
In the right corner, it's World Vision Canada. Binky, my sister, and others have been giving gifts to needy families in the 3rd world. A family in Africa received a rooster and 2 hens in my name. Very cool indeed....
And so the showdown comes down to benevolent charity versus hip marketing. It seems like a lock, but if anyone can out-hip social justice, it's Steve Jobs, wearing black. Zounds! The contest looks like it will end in an uneasy draw, save for the fact that the rooster, being the beneficiary of an aviary menage-a-trois, tips the scales.... Rejoice!
World Vision 1 Apple 0
In the left corner, it's the iPod Shuffle. This tiny micro-player is my first entry into the next generation of media players. I have long been hooked on the musical crack of iTunes, but now I can get a fix on the fly. There is even potential that ol' Herbie (the car) will be catapaulted into the 21st century (via an adapter).
In the right corner, it's World Vision Canada. Binky, my sister, and others have been giving gifts to needy families in the 3rd world. A family in Africa received a rooster and 2 hens in my name. Very cool indeed....
And so the showdown comes down to benevolent charity versus hip marketing. It seems like a lock, but if anyone can out-hip social justice, it's Steve Jobs, wearing black. Zounds! The contest looks like it will end in an uneasy draw, save for the fact that the rooster, being the beneficiary of an aviary menage-a-trois, tips the scales.... Rejoice!
World Vision 1 Apple 0
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Year in Review #3
Random Highlights of 2006
-- Hawaii. Esp. sitting in a car with 3 dear friends, listening to the waves crash into the volcanic rock at twilight. Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah playing on the stereo. It was something to be near the ocean (i.e. home) and yet not, listening to a familiar song (and yet not).
-- Summer. An evening in the middle of Missouri. Booze, guns, 4-wheelers. Bombing along a dark country road on the 4-wheeler with my Bobbi McGee, a blonde bombshell, holding on to me for dear life. The summer was one of those that they write songs about. It will always seem 10 times longer than it really was. A la Calvin and Hobbes: the days were just packed.
-- Career. Finally changing employers! Jump!
-- Fitness. As is well-documented, catching my arch-rival on the run after overcoming a 20-minute deficit in the longest tri to-date. It was my own modest Olympic gold.
-- Music. It is cheesy but I learned a gorgeous arrangement of "Danny Boy" in the spring on keys, before abandoning the instrument for the summer adventure. Often, the old die-hard tunes are that way for good reason.
-- Hawaii. Esp. sitting in a car with 3 dear friends, listening to the waves crash into the volcanic rock at twilight. Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah playing on the stereo. It was something to be near the ocean (i.e. home) and yet not, listening to a familiar song (and yet not).
-- Summer. An evening in the middle of Missouri. Booze, guns, 4-wheelers. Bombing along a dark country road on the 4-wheeler with my Bobbi McGee, a blonde bombshell, holding on to me for dear life. The summer was one of those that they write songs about. It will always seem 10 times longer than it really was. A la Calvin and Hobbes: the days were just packed.
-- Career. Finally changing employers! Jump!
-- Fitness. As is well-documented, catching my arch-rival on the run after overcoming a 20-minute deficit in the longest tri to-date. It was my own modest Olympic gold.
-- Music. It is cheesy but I learned a gorgeous arrangement of "Danny Boy" in the spring on keys, before abandoning the instrument for the summer adventure. Often, the old die-hard tunes are that way for good reason.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Upon Further Review
Doug Greene 1 Bing Crosby 0
Original here
ps. Mrs Stacey voted for Angels We Have Heard On High -- 'twas the last carol sung at our service.
Original here
ps. Mrs Stacey voted for Angels We Have Heard On High -- 'twas the last carol sung at our service.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Travel Observations
-- All women in Chicago wear a black, 3/4-length winter coat. Personal style is manifested via fabric selection: sleek leather, suede, wool, etc.
-- If the creationists want evidence that humans evolved from primates, here it is: watch a group of people de-board an aircraft.
-- Montreal's airport could really use some clocks, and perhaps baggage-handlers who made the big leap to walking erect. (You can make up your own jokes here).
-- It's good to be home! It won't be a white Christmas this year, but c'est la vie, n'est-ce-pas?
-- If the creationists want evidence that humans evolved from primates, here it is: watch a group of people de-board an aircraft.
-- Montreal's airport could really use some clocks, and perhaps baggage-handlers who made the big leap to walking erect. (You can make up your own jokes here).
-- It's good to be home! It won't be a white Christmas this year, but c'est la vie, n'est-ce-pas?
Friday, December 22, 2006
A Hallucenogenic Christmas
I wrote a blog entry about "Christmas in the Trenches" but I'm not in an "earnest" mood. So:
I believed in Santa until I was 12, long after the other kids cynically huffed on their cigarettes and laughed mirthlessly at the bitter revelation.
My belief was mostly predicated on the fact that on Christmas Eve, when I was 5, I awoke late at night and, beside myself with excitement, I looked out my bedroom window. I swear, I saw him in the sky, just like in the poem.
It is not clear if I had drunk from the wrong punch bowl that evening, or if Mom had perhaps dropped some acid while I was in the womb. Maybe I was having a "rite of passage" vision, like the Iroquois. I don't know, but I saw him...
And to be honest, I'm still not convinced it's a scam. Though from the excerpt below I wonder if he uses cocaine.
Excerpteth:
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
I'm outta here... The next dispatch will be from The Island. Have a peaceful holiday, everyone.
I believed in Santa until I was 12, long after the other kids cynically huffed on their cigarettes and laughed mirthlessly at the bitter revelation.
My belief was mostly predicated on the fact that on Christmas Eve, when I was 5, I awoke late at night and, beside myself with excitement, I looked out my bedroom window. I swear, I saw him in the sky, just like in the poem.
It is not clear if I had drunk from the wrong punch bowl that evening, or if Mom had perhaps dropped some acid while I was in the womb. Maybe I was having a "rite of passage" vision, like the Iroquois. I don't know, but I saw him...
And to be honest, I'm still not convinced it's a scam. Though from the excerpt below I wonder if he uses cocaine.
Excerpteth:
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
I'm outta here... The next dispatch will be from The Island. Have a peaceful holiday, everyone.
Loss
I don't think it is my place to blog on this, and yet I can't write without acknowledging it.
The Island lost a good man this week. He will be missed.
I could blog a dandy story that I will remember forever, but it feels wrong. Many of you have heard it.
The Island lost a good man this week. He will be missed.
I could blog a dandy story that I will remember forever, but it feels wrong. Many of you have heard it.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Confessions of A Pirate
I found a tune called "He's A Pirate" on iTunes from the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack. I listen to it way more than I should -- I have it on repeat while I shave lately (!).
It's a heroic, orchestral piece, in a bombastic, "classical" style, but this is not great art -- it's total popcorn (and yet you or I should try and write something as good), but I've come to realize how big the music was for those Pirate movies.
It also has me re-evaluating my stance of not listening to music when working out or competing. The absolute highlight of the year from a physical standpoint was overcoming a 20 minute headstart by my arch-rival during the Lake StL tri. This tune would have been perfectuoso when he came into view on the road ahead during the run.
My delusions of grandeur probably would have caught fire and I would have just burned up on the spot.
It's a heroic, orchestral piece, in a bombastic, "classical" style, but this is not great art -- it's total popcorn (and yet you or I should try and write something as good), but I've come to realize how big the music was for those Pirate movies.
It also has me re-evaluating my stance of not listening to music when working out or competing. The absolute highlight of the year from a physical standpoint was overcoming a 20 minute headstart by my arch-rival during the Lake StL tri. This tune would have been perfectuoso when he came into view on the road ahead during the run.
My delusions of grandeur probably would have caught fire and I would have just burned up on the spot.
Monday, December 18, 2006
It's Beginning To Sound Like Christmas
Binky has a lovely post about favorite Christmas carols.
Here are some of mine... It's hard to pick because so many of them are brilliant.
4. The Little Drummer Boy. I remember watching some animated TV special when I was 7 and this song choked me up before I even knew what "choked up" was. Naturally the best version is with Bing Crosby and David Bowie.
3. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. Berlin was fantastic and this tune is the one for being away from family. I've been away a couple of times and it is so true that "i'll be there in my dreams". I generally don't have sad Christmas's when away, because I just think of all the great ones.
2. O Holy Night. You haven't lived until you come out to the late (11 pm!) Christmas Eve service at a small church back on PEI, and see the soloist (Doug Green) do this one up right. More than once, when he nails it, I have whispered, breathlessly, to myself that it was worth the entire trip home.
1. Christmas in Killarney. I can't believe this is #1. My sister and I used to play an ancient LP called Merry Christmas (NOT White Christmas) by Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters. One side was devotional; the other side was secular. Many tunes had that big band sound. Two of them were so cheesy that I wonder if they were written especially for the album: Mele Kalikimaka (a Hawaiian romp) and Christmas in Killarney, an Irish wannabe. Both are incredibly cheesy but C in K is delightful.
and yours?
Here are some of mine... It's hard to pick because so many of them are brilliant.
4. The Little Drummer Boy. I remember watching some animated TV special when I was 7 and this song choked me up before I even knew what "choked up" was. Naturally the best version is with Bing Crosby and David Bowie.
3. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. Berlin was fantastic and this tune is the one for being away from family. I've been away a couple of times and it is so true that "i'll be there in my dreams". I generally don't have sad Christmas's when away, because I just think of all the great ones.
2. O Holy Night. You haven't lived until you come out to the late (11 pm!) Christmas Eve service at a small church back on PEI, and see the soloist (Doug Green) do this one up right. More than once, when he nails it, I have whispered, breathlessly, to myself that it was worth the entire trip home.
1. Christmas in Killarney. I can't believe this is #1. My sister and I used to play an ancient LP called Merry Christmas (NOT White Christmas) by Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters. One side was devotional; the other side was secular. Many tunes had that big band sound. Two of them were so cheesy that I wonder if they were written especially for the album: Mele Kalikimaka (a Hawaiian romp) and Christmas in Killarney, an Irish wannabe. Both are incredibly cheesy but C in K is delightful.
and yours?
Happy Hanukkah
A belated Happy Hanukkah to everyone! My friends J and Stef hosted their annual "party of the year" / Hanukkah party which was a blast and also a great way to introduce newbies like me to the holiday tradition.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Year in Review #2
I'm not done just yet, but here are the year's numbers.
Swim: 45.8 miles (74 km)
Bike: 520 miles (837 km)
Run: 332.4 miles (535 km)
Walk: 52.4 miles (84 km)
Total: 950.6 miles (1520 km)
It's been a great year...
Swim: 45.8 miles (74 km)
Bike: 520 miles (837 km)
Run: 332.4 miles (535 km)
Walk: 52.4 miles (84 km)
Total: 950.6 miles (1520 km)
It's been a great year...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Attack Cat Returns
I came home this evening to see a black, feral furball on the steps: Chicago is well!
I had been very worried recently, especially after the ice storm.
He's bigger: probably a year old now. And I think he has a food source because he's not as scrawny as he was before. Though he was still very vocal about getting some chow.
I had been very worried recently, especially after the ice storm.
He's bigger: probably a year old now. And I think he has a food source because he's not as scrawny as he was before. Though he was still very vocal about getting some chow.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Year In Review #1
I've been blogging for about a year.
Some thoughts:
-- The top two comments from people, in conversation, regarding the blog are (1) it is all about the author and (2) there's not enough about the author
-- I didn't know what my writing style would be like. Looking back, I don't write diary entries, "Happy Birthday Bob!" messages (except a vague message on my own birthday), or much about my personal life. Hardly a mention of sex, politics, or religion -- no wonder my numbers are dwindling.
-- Blogs are perhaps best-suited for those who live far away. They can get details that one would never think to mention in conversation. It's hard to summarize 9 triathlons over Christmas dinner.
-- A lot of people hate blogs and find them to be quite self-centered and impersonal: an online, cut-n-paste form letter to the masses. I'm thinking of sending them a direct email announcing my new subscription service for 2007 -- for just $14.95 a month, you can get all the CaptainCanuck news straight to your mailbox! I can make jokes like this here because they won't read this blog.
Some thoughts:
-- The top two comments from people, in conversation, regarding the blog are (1) it is all about the author and (2) there's not enough about the author
-- I didn't know what my writing style would be like. Looking back, I don't write diary entries, "Happy Birthday Bob!" messages (except a vague message on my own birthday), or much about my personal life. Hardly a mention of sex, politics, or religion -- no wonder my numbers are dwindling.
-- Blogs are perhaps best-suited for those who live far away. They can get details that one would never think to mention in conversation. It's hard to summarize 9 triathlons over Christmas dinner.
-- A lot of people hate blogs and find them to be quite self-centered and impersonal: an online, cut-n-paste form letter to the masses. I'm thinking of sending them a direct email announcing my new subscription service for 2007 -- for just $14.95 a month, you can get all the CaptainCanuck news straight to your mailbox! I can make jokes like this here because they won't read this blog.
Home
I can't believe I'm going home in less than 2 weeks! A lot to do beforehand, but looking forward to it, of course.
It's been a great year but a long one. The years where I get home more than once a year are easier.
It's been a great year but a long one. The years where I get home more than once a year are easier.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Things Are Not Always As They Seem #34
In the NBC special on the Hawaii Ironman, one competitor was a military guy who lost a leg in action.
Near the end of the show, they showed the climax of his ordeal with a scene of him crossing the finish line. It was about 11 pm at night. The man had been racing, with an artificial leg, since dawn. A large crowd of people stood, in drizzling rain, at the finish-line, which was lit up like a beacon in the night.
The man crossed the finished line triumphantly and wept. He went over to his family on the sideline. One woman had a garbage bag over her. As the man went to her first, it was clearly his wife. I noticed that she didn't embrace him but rather stiltingly leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
I swore at the TV. I couldn't believe she wasn't more jubiliant -- this guy had served his country, suffered greatly, and then pulls off an Ironman. "Can't you hug the guy, you cold-hearted...... ??"
Then someone else gingerly lifted the garbage bag from her. She held up a 12-month-old baby for her hero to kiss. She had been standing out there for hours, protecting the little triathlete from the rain.
I teared up. LOL. My apologies to her. That's a tough family.
Near the end of the show, they showed the climax of his ordeal with a scene of him crossing the finish line. It was about 11 pm at night. The man had been racing, with an artificial leg, since dawn. A large crowd of people stood, in drizzling rain, at the finish-line, which was lit up like a beacon in the night.
The man crossed the finished line triumphantly and wept. He went over to his family on the sideline. One woman had a garbage bag over her. As the man went to her first, it was clearly his wife. I noticed that she didn't embrace him but rather stiltingly leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
I swore at the TV. I couldn't believe she wasn't more jubiliant -- this guy had served his country, suffered greatly, and then pulls off an Ironman. "Can't you hug the guy, you cold-hearted...... ??"
Then someone else gingerly lifted the garbage bag from her. She held up a 12-month-old baby for her hero to kiss. She had been standing out there for hours, protecting the little triathlete from the rain.
I teared up. LOL. My apologies to her. That's a tough family.
Exercising Religiously
Yesterday, NBC had a 1-hour recap of the latest Hawaii Ironman. It was awesome in many ways, especially since I visited The Promised Land earlier this year.
One of the human-interest stories was a Catholic nun in her 70s, who completed the Ironman yet again. She finished with one minute to spare (if you don't do it in 17 hours, then it doesn't count).
Let's recap exactly what she did:
-- 2.4 mile swim in open water
-- 112 mile bike on a course with notorious headwinds
-- as a nightcap, a run called "a marathon" (26.2 miles)
You might think that if a woman in her 70s can do this, then it is just a matter of training -- you put in the hours and just pull this off. That is absolutely false. This is a tremendous achievement. That lady sure has more chutzpah / guts than I have, and I've been in the trenches.
Quoteth:
Sister Madonna Buder was introduced to running at the age of 48. A priest spoke to her praising the power of exercise. He described running as a "panacea with the power to cure depression [and] harmonize the mind, body and soul." Buder, full of inspiration, put on some hand-me-down shorts and went out to find the runner's high.
From this article
One of the human-interest stories was a Catholic nun in her 70s, who completed the Ironman yet again. She finished with one minute to spare (if you don't do it in 17 hours, then it doesn't count).
Let's recap exactly what she did:
-- 2.4 mile swim in open water
-- 112 mile bike on a course with notorious headwinds
-- as a nightcap, a run called "a marathon" (26.2 miles)
You might think that if a woman in her 70s can do this, then it is just a matter of training -- you put in the hours and just pull this off. That is absolutely false. This is a tremendous achievement. That lady sure has more chutzpah / guts than I have, and I've been in the trenches.
Quoteth:
Sister Madonna Buder was introduced to running at the age of 48. A priest spoke to her praising the power of exercise. He described running as a "panacea with the power to cure depression [and] harmonize the mind, body and soul." Buder, full of inspiration, put on some hand-me-down shorts and went out to find the runner's high.
From this article
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Another Idea
Incredibly, there are still 60,000 people without power in St Louis. It has been 6 days, and there have been several fatalities due to fires and especially carbon-monoxide poisoning.
I don't know what to do about CO, but I have had it with fires due to unattended candles. Can't someone invent this:
The Candle Attender: a container that holds candles. It might look like a small oven that a child would play with. It has heat-sensors that monitors a constant-amount of heat -- if the heat level rises dramatically (after lighting), then it squawks very loudly and might even douse the immediate area with water.
I'm not an engineer, but you get the idea... Maybe the thing could have a lot of reflecive surfaces which would make it desirable from an aesthetic standpoint.
I don't know what to do about CO, but I have had it with fires due to unattended candles. Can't someone invent this:
The Candle Attender: a container that holds candles. It might look like a small oven that a child would play with. It has heat-sensors that monitors a constant-amount of heat -- if the heat level rises dramatically (after lighting), then it squawks very loudly and might even douse the immediate area with water.
I'm not an engineer, but you get the idea... Maybe the thing could have a lot of reflecive surfaces which would make it desirable from an aesthetic standpoint.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Case For North America: Exhibit 1
From 60 Minutes segment on NetFlix: the documentary Hotel Rwanda is the #5 movie rental at the company, above the mainstream smash, Wedding Crashers.
Pretty cool....
Pretty cool....
Case Against North America: Exhibit A
There is a commercial where a blonde with a southern accent is peddling high-def TV and says "My movie is broadcast in 10DHG-XYZ. I totally don't know what that is, but I want it."
*sigh* All too true. Too bad they don't broadcast in tolerance and enlightenment.
*sigh* All too true. Too bad they don't broadcast in tolerance and enlightenment.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
GoCartus Maximus
"Perfect...", he growls sardonically. Our hero, CC, grits his teeth and, leaning forward to check side-mirrors, downshifts his intrepid explorer, Herbie, into 2nd gear. Ahead, a truck has slowed down, threatening to rob precious momentum needed to make the next hill.
This is no place for a Mazda Miata. It is a dark, stormy day on a treacherous, snowy mountain route in the northern Alps. However, our hero has only 20 minutes left before reaching the rendez-vous with an international team of special forces. Together, they will smuggle medicine and toys into a impoverished country ruled by a malevolent dictator.
He feathers the gas, but the tires break free... Yikes! He quickly corrects the fishtail and glides into 3rd gear, lowering the torque of the engine, and closes the gap on the lumbering lorry. Herbie's engine growls softly against the constant frappe of sleet hitting the windshield.
Moments later, our hero wipes the sweat from his brow and makes a final turn onto a backroad. The road is covered with ice and snow, but looks passable. The car drifts elegantly onto the road. So close now, and with no traffic, the dynamic duo of man and machine speed up slightly to navigate on the snow.
But ahead there is a small intersection... it is becoming clear that nothing has traversed this area since the last snowfall: more than a foot of snow in a small drift, spanning 8 feet. Zounds! In a split-second, our hero calculates the odds, curses his vehicle's low-clearance, and guns the engine. "Hold on, Herb..." he mutters.
The car fishtails slightly like a cat swishing its tail before the chase. At 30 mph, the car lunges ahead ploughing into the snow. In a split-second, the front of the car catches the drift, and veers to the left; the rear-end kicks out violently, and the duo come to a sudden stop. Busted.
Minutes later, our hero plods into the rendezvous, and clops up the stairs. The ramshackle building is filled with office cubes. He pokes his head around one cube. "Commander Eric, can you help me get my car off the road?"
"Sure..." Eric replies, grabbing his coat. As they march toward the snowy spectacle, Eric looks up, puzzled -- "did you call me Commander?"
This is no place for a Mazda Miata. It is a dark, stormy day on a treacherous, snowy mountain route in the northern Alps. However, our hero has only 20 minutes left before reaching the rendez-vous with an international team of special forces. Together, they will smuggle medicine and toys into a impoverished country ruled by a malevolent dictator.
He feathers the gas, but the tires break free... Yikes! He quickly corrects the fishtail and glides into 3rd gear, lowering the torque of the engine, and closes the gap on the lumbering lorry. Herbie's engine growls softly against the constant frappe of sleet hitting the windshield.
Moments later, our hero wipes the sweat from his brow and makes a final turn onto a backroad. The road is covered with ice and snow, but looks passable. The car drifts elegantly onto the road. So close now, and with no traffic, the dynamic duo of man and machine speed up slightly to navigate on the snow.
But ahead there is a small intersection... it is becoming clear that nothing has traversed this area since the last snowfall: more than a foot of snow in a small drift, spanning 8 feet. Zounds! In a split-second, our hero calculates the odds, curses his vehicle's low-clearance, and guns the engine. "Hold on, Herb..." he mutters.
The car fishtails slightly like a cat swishing its tail before the chase. At 30 mph, the car lunges ahead ploughing into the snow. In a split-second, the front of the car catches the drift, and veers to the left; the rear-end kicks out violently, and the duo come to a sudden stop. Busted.
Minutes later, our hero plods into the rendezvous, and clops up the stairs. The ramshackle building is filled with office cubes. He pokes his head around one cube. "Commander Eric, can you help me get my car off the road?"
"Sure..." Eric replies, grabbing his coat. As they march toward the snowy spectacle, Eric looks up, puzzled -- "did you call me Commander?"
Now is the Winter of our Discontent
We've had a bit of a storm here in StL. I'm always biased that "real" storms happen back home but I'll grant that this one was pretty good.
I don't know the stats but a lot of freezing rain/ice and then an uncharacteristic dump of snow. The biggest news for the area is that power is out again for many residents -- this just after a PR fiasco in July when a thunderstorm left the power company scrambling. Though true sympathy goes towards the families who are trying to cope, I am sympathetic to the power company in that one can only fix things _so_ fast. (I am less sympathetic toward their enormous profit margins and rate hikes).
Some thoughts:
-- I love how winter brings people together. I have had more spontaneous conversations in the last 2 days than the last 2 months. I shovelled out a guy's car and may have found a new compadre to hit the bars with.
-- I have also been the frequent recipient of kindness, thanks to a go-cart/Miata named Herbie. Not good... I also managed to punch a small hole in the top in a fit of ice-clearing enthusiasm/rage. Really not good.
-- When I first got my car, it had mud-snow tires on it. I think that gave me a false sense of security for winter -- the car was great in the snow. Alas, those tires are long gone
I don't know the stats but a lot of freezing rain/ice and then an uncharacteristic dump of snow. The biggest news for the area is that power is out again for many residents -- this just after a PR fiasco in July when a thunderstorm left the power company scrambling. Though true sympathy goes towards the families who are trying to cope, I am sympathetic to the power company in that one can only fix things _so_ fast. (I am less sympathetic toward their enormous profit margins and rate hikes).
Some thoughts:
-- I love how winter brings people together. I have had more spontaneous conversations in the last 2 days than the last 2 months. I shovelled out a guy's car and may have found a new compadre to hit the bars with.
-- I have also been the frequent recipient of kindness, thanks to a go-cart/Miata named Herbie. Not good... I also managed to punch a small hole in the top in a fit of ice-clearing enthusiasm/rage. Really not good.
-- When I first got my car, it had mud-snow tires on it. I think that gave me a false sense of security for winter -- the car was great in the snow. Alas, those tires are long gone
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Power of Primates
I saw this on PBS: a show about researching animal emotions, particularly gratitude.
Four chimps were in captivity at a psych lab for 13 years. For all of their lives, they lived inside, in four "rooms" surrounded by chicken wire. Their trainer, using hand-signs, told them that they would soon be moving to a new place (a giant, well-funded outdoor playground). They were shown this new habitat one evening (from behind glass), and stayed one last night in temporary cages.
With the daylight, the doors opened and with the trainers looking on, the chimps were free to emerge into the great outdoor compound. The trainers fully expected them to dash outside and begin playing.
Instead, they crept tentatively through the door, checking out the new digs. Gradually, they hooted and hollered with glee, but before enjoying the new environs with abandon, two of the chimps retreated to the glass behind them, and kissed their trainers before scampering off into the playground.
Wow. This is a reality show worth watching.
Quoteth:
"We patronize them [other animals] for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the sense we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of earth." -- Leah Krubitzer
"Except pitbulls." -- Captain
Four chimps were in captivity at a psych lab for 13 years. For all of their lives, they lived inside, in four "rooms" surrounded by chicken wire. Their trainer, using hand-signs, told them that they would soon be moving to a new place (a giant, well-funded outdoor playground). They were shown this new habitat one evening (from behind glass), and stayed one last night in temporary cages.
With the daylight, the doors opened and with the trainers looking on, the chimps were free to emerge into the great outdoor compound. The trainers fully expected them to dash outside and begin playing.
Instead, they crept tentatively through the door, checking out the new digs. Gradually, they hooted and hollered with glee, but before enjoying the new environs with abandon, two of the chimps retreated to the glass behind them, and kissed their trainers before scampering off into the playground.
Wow. This is a reality show worth watching.
Quoteth:
"We patronize them [other animals] for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the sense we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of earth." -- Leah Krubitzer
"Except pitbulls." -- Captain
A Day in The Life With an Arch-Rival
Time taken by arch-rival during his T-day 5K: an eternity
Time spent at work today contemplating the gym: 8.5 hours
Time spent at gym running 7 miles: 1 hour
Excusing oneself from subsequent swim due to bleeding toes: Priceless
Feeling good about toasting said rival in the next series: Even better
Time spent at work today contemplating the gym: 8.5 hours
Time spent at gym running 7 miles: 1 hour
Excusing oneself from subsequent swim due to bleeding toes: Priceless
Feeling good about toasting said rival in the next series: Even better
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The Stat Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree
I had a Hall of Fame swim (for distance) at the gym today. My annual mileage numbers are piling up, but they are overshadowed by my Dad.
Check this out: on the bicycle, he's cranked out 4,300 kms in 2006. That's 2,700 miles and it's just crazy. He has bike-commuted 100+ days this year. (I'm at 500+ miles this year, which is still dwarfed even with the "Tri Defense").
Outstanding!
(*) The "Tri Defense" is a term I just coined whereby triathletes can always excuse themselves from various athletic comparisons, rightly or wrongly, because they do 3 sports. This will probably be a blog entry.
Check this out: on the bicycle, he's cranked out 4,300 kms in 2006. That's 2,700 miles and it's just crazy. He has bike-commuted 100+ days this year. (I'm at 500+ miles this year, which is still dwarfed even with the "Tri Defense").
Outstanding!
(*) The "Tri Defense" is a term I just coined whereby triathletes can always excuse themselves from various athletic comparisons, rightly or wrongly, because they do 3 sports. This will probably be a blog entry.
Gettin' off the Pharm
Quoteth:
Since 1999, the 52-year-old family doctor has been treating diabetic patients in Lawrence, Kansas, with an approach that was abandoned by most physicians in the 1930s. Worse, this Depression-era remedy is the opposite of the current guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association, a nonprofit organization that spent nearly $51 million on research in 2005, and so should know a thing or two about how to handle diabetes.
There's no question that Dr. Vernon is trouble -- but for whom? Not her patients, that's for certain. They just won't stay sick. People walk into her office afflicted with type-2 diabetes and, by every objective medical measurement, walk out cured. There's $51 million that says that isn't supposed to happen, not in a clinic in Kansas, and definitely not as a result of cleaning out the refrigerator.
From a Men's Health article on a common-sense treatment for diabetes (lower blood sugar via diet). For some reason, the new Google tools on Blogspot is messing up links, so go to MensHealth and search for "diabetes" (the title is The Cure For Diabetes).
Since 1999, the 52-year-old family doctor has been treating diabetic patients in Lawrence, Kansas, with an approach that was abandoned by most physicians in the 1930s. Worse, this Depression-era remedy is the opposite of the current guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association, a nonprofit organization that spent nearly $51 million on research in 2005, and so should know a thing or two about how to handle diabetes.
There's no question that Dr. Vernon is trouble -- but for whom? Not her patients, that's for certain. They just won't stay sick. People walk into her office afflicted with type-2 diabetes and, by every objective medical measurement, walk out cured. There's $51 million that says that isn't supposed to happen, not in a clinic in Kansas, and definitely not as a result of cleaning out the refrigerator.
From a Men's Health article on a common-sense treatment for diabetes (lower blood sugar via diet). For some reason, the new Google tools on Blogspot is messing up links, so go to MensHealth and search for "diabetes" (the title is The Cure For Diabetes).
Friday, November 24, 2006
T-day
I spent Thanksgiving at BryGuy's folks.... A great time, with enough people to crew a battleship and enough food to sink one.
Many games were played... And I finally saw "The Office" which has been recommended to me by a lot of people. Now I know why.... Terrific show.
Many games were played... And I finally saw "The Office" which has been recommended to me by a lot of people. Now I know why.... Terrific show.
Diplomacy 1 Rage 0
On Wednesday night, the neighbours let the dogs out onto the deck (aka my roof) circa 12:30 am.
I almost went up and knocked on the door in a rage. I almost blogged some fairly profane and unfair generalities about dog owners. But I let it go...
On Thursday, I decided to leave a little note, at their door, explaining the situation and the architecture of the building. It should be pretty obvious, but the neighbours are a guy and girl in their early 20's and, like their pitbull, they don't seem to be the shiny-est pennies in the fountain.
I went out for a lovely T-day excursion, and then returned to my apt. There was a note left in my door. Dialogue! Would it be friendly?
It was. The girl wrote a profuse apology. Nice.... I'm glad I took action in a polite way.
I almost went up and knocked on the door in a rage. I almost blogged some fairly profane and unfair generalities about dog owners. But I let it go...
On Thursday, I decided to leave a little note, at their door, explaining the situation and the architecture of the building. It should be pretty obvious, but the neighbours are a guy and girl in their early 20's and, like their pitbull, they don't seem to be the shiny-est pennies in the fountain.
I went out for a lovely T-day excursion, and then returned to my apt. There was a note left in my door. Dialogue! Would it be friendly?
It was. The girl wrote a profuse apology. Nice.... I'm glad I took action in a polite way.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Ringtone Revolution
Sometimes, you just know something is going to happen. I had a feeling back in the 1980s that the Japanese motorbike manufacturers would start doing Harley knock-offs. Now, they are everywhere. I knew this before the bike makers knew it.
I have another idea. I'm writing quickly now because Microsoft is getting close and nipping at my heels. Their new iPod wannabe, the Zune, can "squirt" songs. The idea is that if 2 people with Zunes are in close proximity, that Person A can send a song to Person B using wireless capability (with a short message). My guess is that this will be buggy in practice but the idea is excellent.
My idea is "collective ringtones". And it will be very annoying. Here's the scenario:
-- Person A gets a call on their cell
-- Before ringing the cell checks the immediate vicinity for other people on the same network. If someone is found, then it sends a message to Person B's phone.
-- Person A's cell goes off, perhaps with "Shave and a haircut"
-- Person B's cell goes off with "two bits!"
Great.... Movies and the symphony will never be the same (yet again).
Remember, you heard it here first.
I have another idea. I'm writing quickly now because Microsoft is getting close and nipping at my heels. Their new iPod wannabe, the Zune, can "squirt" songs. The idea is that if 2 people with Zunes are in close proximity, that Person A can send a song to Person B using wireless capability (with a short message). My guess is that this will be buggy in practice but the idea is excellent.
My idea is "collective ringtones". And it will be very annoying. Here's the scenario:
-- Person A gets a call on their cell
-- Before ringing the cell checks the immediate vicinity for other people on the same network. If someone is found, then it sends a message to Person B's phone.
-- Person A's cell goes off, perhaps with "Shave and a haircut"
-- Person B's cell goes off with "two bits!"
Great.... Movies and the symphony will never be the same (yet again).
Remember, you heard it here first.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
To America:
Happy Thanksgiving! This is one holiday that is much different than in Canada: the sentiment is the same, but not only are the times different but the scale is much different. It is a huge holiday down here and a uniquely American experience.
I hope everyone has safe travels, good times with fam and friends, and lots of Tums.
To Canada:
Happy Thursday! Joyeux jeudi!
Happy Thanksgiving! This is one holiday that is much different than in Canada: the sentiment is the same, but not only are the times different but the scale is much different. It is a huge holiday down here and a uniquely American experience.
I hope everyone has safe travels, good times with fam and friends, and lots of Tums.
To Canada:
Happy Thursday! Joyeux jeudi!
Nose to the Grindstone
For a month now, at my new gig, I have not done personal email, blogging, or surfed extracurricular websites.
It has been fascinating...
(a) I'm _way_ more productive
(b) I have no idea what is going on in the world (and I watch a lot of news)
(c) I actually login to Yahoo and have several messages waiting
(d) I have to hammer out messages in the early AM
It has been fascinating...
(a) I'm _way_ more productive
(b) I have no idea what is going on in the world (and I watch a lot of news)
(c) I actually login to Yahoo and have several messages waiting
(d) I have to hammer out messages in the early AM
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
A different perspective
Everyone knows that Michael Richards (aka Kramer) went on a bizarre, racial tirade at a comedy club.
Talk-radio is filled with questions about whether "we" should accept his apology, or if it was racially motivated. (Here's a hint: it was).
But here's the real story, and it is sort of uplifting:
Imagine that you could go back in time to the early 1960s and tell Dr Martin Luther King that in 2006, a guy is caught spewing bigotry onstage in front of 200 people, including an "n-word", which became censored 10 years before. Video of the episode is posted on a vast linkage of computers, and the man has no choice but to apologize on national TV to try, lamely, to save his career.
That's kinda cool... The dream is not here, but things have changed for the better, no?
Talk-radio is filled with questions about whether "we" should accept his apology, or if it was racially motivated. (Here's a hint: it was).
But here's the real story, and it is sort of uplifting:
Imagine that you could go back in time to the early 1960s and tell Dr Martin Luther King that in 2006, a guy is caught spewing bigotry onstage in front of 200 people, including an "n-word", which became censored 10 years before. Video of the episode is posted on a vast linkage of computers, and the man has no choice but to apologize on national TV to try, lamely, to save his career.
That's kinda cool... The dream is not here, but things have changed for the better, no?
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
3 word poems
Here's a game spawned by Rosie's 3 word poems. Go through A-Z as fast as you can a la stream of consciousness. For example,
Adam aimed angrily. Bear bites beautifully. Canada collapsed crazily. Deer dashed dangerously. Ernie earned earnestly. Fox fought fruitlessly. Gaza grew grossly. Huey halted hilariously. Iraq invaded irately. Jack jumped joyfully. Karen kicked knackeredly. Love loves lustfully. Mike microwaves meekly. Nancy nattered negatively. Oliver oomphed overtly. Patrick pounced prematurely. Quarks quake quarterly. Roof rumbled roughly. Steve shimmied stealthily. Texas turned timidly. Ursula usurped, usually. Veal vindicated victoriously. Wealth wounds wearily. Xerox x-rays xenophobically. You yell yearningly. Zipper zips zealously.
That took 14 minutes! Gah! But I was trying to be sorta poetic.
Adam aimed angrily. Bear bites beautifully. Canada collapsed crazily. Deer dashed dangerously. Ernie earned earnestly. Fox fought fruitlessly. Gaza grew grossly. Huey halted hilariously. Iraq invaded irately. Jack jumped joyfully. Karen kicked knackeredly. Love loves lustfully. Mike microwaves meekly. Nancy nattered negatively. Oliver oomphed overtly. Patrick pounced prematurely. Quarks quake quarterly. Roof rumbled roughly. Steve shimmied stealthily. Texas turned timidly. Ursula usurped, usually. Veal vindicated victoriously. Wealth wounds wearily. Xerox x-rays xenophobically. You yell yearningly. Zipper zips zealously.
That took 14 minutes! Gah! But I was trying to be sorta poetic.
Word play
I haven't had much time to think, but Rosie's comment was good motivation to give it a shot.
Here are some of my 6 word stories:
Sept 10 2001-- doc's appt tomorrow
Mrs President, Mr Winphrey line two...
Laser detects souls seared in crematorium.
Waiter, are these locusts truly organic?
French Ayatollah pledges to rebuild Paris.
For sale: swine kidneys, never used.
Here are some of my 6 word stories:
Sept 10 2001-- doc's appt tomorrow
Mrs President, Mr Winphrey line two...
Laser detects souls seared in crematorium.
Waiter, are these locusts truly organic?
French Ayatollah pledges to rebuild Paris.
For sale: swine kidneys, never used.
Monday, November 13, 2006
The McGurk Effect
Here is a neat phenomenon from a neat book
It is called The McGurk Effect (see it here)
It is a video of a guy saying "ba ba" with an audio layover of him saying "ga ga". Our brains do reconciliation of visual and audio input before it gets to the language center, and the two incongruent inputs merge to form "da da", which is the closest thing that our brain can figure out. This is way lower than consciousness (Miss G could help us out here): we have no choice in the matter!
For St Louisans, McGurk's is a popular Scottish bar, so I suppose a secondary effect would be that everyone sounds like this after a few too many pints of Guiness.
It is called The McGurk Effect (see it here)
It is a video of a guy saying "ba ba" with an audio layover of him saying "ga ga". Our brains do reconciliation of visual and audio input before it gets to the language center, and the two incongruent inputs merge to form "da da", which is the closest thing that our brain can figure out. This is way lower than consciousness (Miss G could help us out here): we have no choice in the matter!
For St Louisans, McGurk's is a popular Scottish bar, so I suppose a secondary effect would be that everyone sounds like this after a few too many pints of Guiness.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Six Word Stories
Here are some "stories in six words", as solicited and printed by Wired magazine. Mostly sci-fi....
Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: civilization collapses. -- Richard Powers
The baby's blood type? Human, mostly. -- Orson Scott Card
Kirby had never eaten toes before. -- Kevin Smith
It's behind you! Hurry before it -- Rockne S O'Bannon
Epitath: foolish humans, never escaped Earth. -- Vernor Virge
Longed for him. Got him. Sh-t. -- Margaret Atwood
Internet "wakes up" ? Ridicu -- [no carrier] -- Charles Stross
and yours? (Mine on the way... I don't mean your favorites but rather your own writing. Captain Canuck assigns homework!)
Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: civilization collapses. -- Richard Powers
The baby's blood type? Human, mostly. -- Orson Scott Card
Kirby had never eaten toes before. -- Kevin Smith
It's behind you! Hurry before it -- Rockne S O'Bannon
Epitath: foolish humans, never escaped Earth. -- Vernor Virge
Longed for him. Got him. Sh-t. -- Margaret Atwood
Internet "wakes up" ? Ridicu -- [no carrier] -- Charles Stross
and yours? (Mine on the way... I don't mean your favorites but rather your own writing. Captain Canuck assigns homework!)
In Flanders Fields
Quoteth:
Each November, Poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population. Since 1921, the Poppy has stood as a symbol of Remembrance, our visual pledge to never forget all those Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations. The Poppy also stands internationally as a “symbol of collective reminiscence”, as other countries have also adopted its image to honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
From this site
The poem, from Dec 1915:
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae
Thursday, November 09, 2006
RIP
How sad... I didn't even know Ed Bradley was ill.
He was my favorite on 60 Minutes. Folksy, brilliant, and had style.
He was my favorite on 60 Minutes. Folksy, brilliant, and had style.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Milestone
My car, Herbie, hit 200,000 miles! It had about 54,000 when I got it a decade ago.
Ol' Herb is limping along these days with several ailments, but he is still fun and a smile-maker on a warm day, or at 6000 rpm in 2nd gear. Nice going, bud. Thanks for the rides.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Saturday, November 04, 2006
I'm Captain, and I approved this message
The upcoming week is gonna be a doozy on the political front:
1. My Dad is running for councillor in a municipal election on Monday, back on The Island. He has been deputy-mayor but took some time off after an unsuccessful bid for mayor. Good luck!
2. Missouri is going to have a good-ol' smackdown on Tuesday. The main issues are a constitutional amendment (versus a law!) on stem-cell research and another proposition that would raise tobacco taxes to the national average. The stem-cell issue is hotly contested indeed.
3. Naturally, the US is having the Congressional and Senate elections on Tuesday. It will be interesting.... I don't think voting machines will be hacked but I do pity the poll-workers who have to deal with the problems. I hope I'm wrong but I think it might be chaos in a lot of areas.
1. My Dad is running for councillor in a municipal election on Monday, back on The Island. He has been deputy-mayor but took some time off after an unsuccessful bid for mayor. Good luck!
2. Missouri is going to have a good-ol' smackdown on Tuesday. The main issues are a constitutional amendment (versus a law!) on stem-cell research and another proposition that would raise tobacco taxes to the national average. The stem-cell issue is hotly contested indeed.
3. Naturally, the US is having the Congressional and Senate elections on Tuesday. It will be interesting.... I don't think voting machines will be hacked but I do pity the poll-workers who have to deal with the problems. I hope I'm wrong but I think it might be chaos in a lot of areas.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
StL Film Festival
Rejoice! It is that time of year again: the international film festival is here in St Louis.
Check it out
Check it out
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Happy Halloween!
Well, I decided that Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates (movies) had hit mainstream, especially when Matt Lauer of the Today Show dressed up as Capt Jack on the morning of Halloween.
With the new gig, and generally some stress in life, I decided to go to a party with a mimimalist approach this year: go easy and go lame.
I went with a toy snake and a pedestrian bagel on a plate. The theme was:
Snakes on a Plain Bagel!
It bombed, as expected. One person appreciated it. One. Kinda touching, actually
With the new gig, and generally some stress in life, I decided to go to a party with a mimimalist approach this year: go easy and go lame.
I went with a toy snake and a pedestrian bagel on a plate. The theme was:
Snakes on a Plain Bagel!
It bombed, as expected. One person appreciated it. One. Kinda touching, actually
Monday, October 30, 2006
The Curator Went Down to Georgia
I saw this on Charlie Rose... Le Louvre in Paris is doing a major partnership with a museum in Atlanta over the next 3 years. Think of an exhibition on steroids...
Quoteth:
Louvre Atlanta is the fruit of a groundbreaking alliance the High has created with the venerated Paris museum and will bring an array of artworks from the Paris palace's vaunted collection to Atlanta over the next three years.
See an article
ps. The episode of Charlie Rose may be available through his website and Google Video
Quoteth:
Louvre Atlanta is the fruit of a groundbreaking alliance the High has created with the venerated Paris museum and will bring an array of artworks from the Paris palace's vaunted collection to Atlanta over the next three years.
See an article
ps. The episode of Charlie Rose may be available through his website and Google Video
The Gig
The new job is going ok... Here's some niceties:
1. The commute is trivial
2. People are friendly
3. The workplace is very multicultural
4. The cafeteria is subsidized for $3 a day: i.e. you can eat free if you keep it under 5. Note that the parent company is French. No word on "wine days" or "the new 30 hour work week"
6. My team lead reminds me of my beloved Aunt Millie, which is high praise indeed
There are downsides: mostly that the place is right out of the movie, Office Space, but c'est la vie!
1. The commute is trivial
2. People are friendly
3. The workplace is very multicultural
4. The cafeteria is subsidized for $3 a day: i.e. you can eat free if you keep it under 5. Note that the parent company is French. No word on "wine days" or "the new 30 hour work week"
6. My team lead reminds me of my beloved Aunt Millie, which is high praise indeed
There are downsides: mostly that the place is right out of the movie, Office Space, but c'est la vie!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
New Neighbours
I have been hearing some significant noises on the deck above me.
I was concerned that the raccoons were back (gah!). However, from the "thumps", I knew that if it was raccoons, then they had gained a lot of weight. Plus the noises seemed to be sync'ed to the opening/closing of the patio door.
Yesterday, I received confirmation: someone came to the door, asking if I would fetch a toy for his dogs, as it had fallen onto my deck.
I was happy to retrieve it. I was grateful that there weren't raccoons above me, and, hey, I like dogs as much as the next person. As I was on the deck, I asked the guy what breed he had. He said, "Pitbulls".
I looked up toward the deck above me. There stood two big, mean junkyard dogs who looked very territorial and not happy to see me down there.
Great.
Now, some 24 hours later, I can't believe how often those dogs are out on the deck, which is, essentially, my ceiling. It doesn't bother me as much as the raccoons (who lived inside the deck), but as I type here, there is a constant thumping of 2 large dogs playing.
Dog lovers, fair warning: there may be significant ranting on this blog in the days to come. Sadly, these rants will not be aimed at the dogs, per se, but rather their owners (or a small minority of them, at least).
I have been asked if I'm a "dog person". I'm not. I like dogs, and dearly loved some particular dogs from childhood (RIP, Brawley), but I'm definitely not a dog person. In fact, I don't understand most dog people (much like people don't understand triathletes -- there is nothing "wrong" with either dog people or triathletes, but.....)
ps. There is a chance that these dogs are just visiting. I couldn't tell from the conversation. One hopes....
pps. It is now 12:15 am. I heard the patio door swish open, then a dog running around, then another swish. Surely, SURELY, they aren't letting the dogs pee on the deck?!? Man, I don't want another jihad/holy war with this apartment
I was concerned that the raccoons were back (gah!). However, from the "thumps", I knew that if it was raccoons, then they had gained a lot of weight. Plus the noises seemed to be sync'ed to the opening/closing of the patio door.
Yesterday, I received confirmation: someone came to the door, asking if I would fetch a toy for his dogs, as it had fallen onto my deck.
I was happy to retrieve it. I was grateful that there weren't raccoons above me, and, hey, I like dogs as much as the next person. As I was on the deck, I asked the guy what breed he had. He said, "Pitbulls".
I looked up toward the deck above me. There stood two big, mean junkyard dogs who looked very territorial and not happy to see me down there.
Great.
Now, some 24 hours later, I can't believe how often those dogs are out on the deck, which is, essentially, my ceiling. It doesn't bother me as much as the raccoons (who lived inside the deck), but as I type here, there is a constant thumping of 2 large dogs playing.
Dog lovers, fair warning: there may be significant ranting on this blog in the days to come. Sadly, these rants will not be aimed at the dogs, per se, but rather their owners (or a small minority of them, at least).
I have been asked if I'm a "dog person". I'm not. I like dogs, and dearly loved some particular dogs from childhood (RIP, Brawley), but I'm definitely not a dog person. In fact, I don't understand most dog people (much like people don't understand triathletes -- there is nothing "wrong" with either dog people or triathletes, but.....)
ps. There is a chance that these dogs are just visiting. I couldn't tell from the conversation. One hopes....
pps. It is now 12:15 am. I heard the patio door swish open, then a dog running around, then another swish. Surely, SURELY, they aren't letting the dogs pee on the deck?!? Man, I don't want another jihad/holy war with this apartment
Parade
It is a lovely day in StL -- sunny and 70 F. The St Louis Cardinals are on parade through the streets downtown.
Some notes:
-- The Cardinals have won their 10th championship, 2nd only to the mighty Yankees (26) See a list here.
-- Tony LaRussa joins Sparky Anderson as the only managers to win the WS from both sides (American and National Leagues).
-- One radio reporter said he was stopped in traffic, downtown, when the final game was in the 9th inning. As the Cardinal closer struck out the last banner to win the Series, people ignored the lights, jumped out of their cars, and started embracing.
-- The only time I have seen that was similar was when I lived in Ottawa in 1993, and Toronto won their 2nd WS. People were embracing strangers even though Ottawa is 5 hours away from Toronto.
Some notes:
-- The Cardinals have won their 10th championship, 2nd only to the mighty Yankees (26) See a list here.
-- Tony LaRussa joins Sparky Anderson as the only managers to win the WS from both sides (American and National Leagues).
-- One radio reporter said he was stopped in traffic, downtown, when the final game was in the 9th inning. As the Cardinal closer struck out the last banner to win the Series, people ignored the lights, jumped out of their cars, and started embracing.
-- The only time I have seen that was similar was when I lived in Ottawa in 1993, and Toronto won their 2nd WS. People were embracing strangers even though Ottawa is 5 hours away from Toronto.
Friday, October 27, 2006
The Experts Are Idiots! Cards win! Cards win!
What a fantastic playoff run!
Very few people in this town gave the Redbirds a chance when they fell backwards into the post-season way back in the early fall... But people in this town started to believe as each team fell -- except for the baseball pundits.
A bonus -- I found this bet from Vegas last night. It is a bet, placed on July 5 that the Cards would win the "World" Series. I was too nervous to blog it last night, but it was a nice find! BryGuy has a similar ticket (neither will pay big money but it's a nice touch).
ps. I didn't think the Cards would win when the post-season started. I was just happy that Houston didn't beat us out for the division. But I had been to about 6 games in the new ball park so it was awesome to see the big win on TV, here in StL
pps. "The Experts are idiots" is from a sign spotted on TV during game 5.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Mazel Tov!
This was a big weekend for a circle of friends.... Stef and J had their respective "farewell single-hood" bashes on Friday night and tied the knot on Sunday evening.
I'm awaiting the inevitable flow of pics but for now:
1. The bachelor party was a hoot! We went to a high-end indoor go-kart track which was fantastic. Yours truly posted one of the faster laps but sadly not the fastest lap (which is driving our hero crazy). If you are in the area, check it out here. Also, if you are a serious carnivore, then check out Cafe Brasil
2. The ceremony was lovely. Everyone looked fantastic but the groom and esp. the bride stole the show. The service incorporated many friends and family with a charismatic Rabbi and thoughtful inserts that explained the events as they pertained to Judaic tradition. Afterwards, everyone was festive with dances, speeches, and merriment.
I'm awaiting the inevitable flow of pics but for now:
1. The bachelor party was a hoot! We went to a high-end indoor go-kart track which was fantastic. Yours truly posted one of the faster laps but sadly not the fastest lap (which is driving our hero crazy). If you are in the area, check it out here. Also, if you are a serious carnivore, then check out Cafe Brasil
2. The ceremony was lovely. Everyone looked fantastic but the groom and esp. the bride stole the show. The service incorporated many friends and family with a charismatic Rabbi and thoughtful inserts that explained the events as they pertained to Judaic tradition. Afterwards, everyone was festive with dances, speeches, and merriment.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Ode to Yadier
O, Yadier Molina!
The cheers from the cantina!
The Mets are your senorita,
gracias, Yadier Molina!
M.
ps. Yadier is the catcher for the StL Cardinals and will definitely not have to wait in line at any fine restaurant in this town. Along with Suppan and Wainwright, pitching aces.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Redbird Fever
The town is electric with the roller-coaster ride of the St Louis Cardinals! The team snuck into the playoffs, avoiding an epic collapse (magic number of 5 with 12 games apiece between the Cards and Astros). After a surprise victory against San Diego, they now lead the Mets 3 games to 2 and are a win away from the World Series.
Monday, October 16, 2006
New Gig Redux
I should have mentioned earlier that my new gig is still in the same town, doing pretty much the same thing. I will be a consultant now though which means I am pimped out to various clients. Interestingly, I will be joining many alumni from my current gig (though not at the first client site).
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Nobel Peace Prize
I saw a delightful news report on the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a semi-accurate summary, an economic professor had the idea of a bank that lended "micro-loans" to the poor, in Bangladesh. It has been a major success for everyone involved. Some particulars:
-- The typical loan is $100
-- The usual borrower is a married female trying to pull her family from poverty
-- The default percentage is an astounding 2%, though the percentage of borrowers who improve their lot is approximately 50%
-- The phenomena is affecting social change for woman as they have more influence in the decision-making of the household
Very cool stuff... especially that the Nobel committee recognized the effort. Several pundits have noted that this grassroots effort is much more successful than any number of international-aid agencies.
In a semi-accurate summary, an economic professor had the idea of a bank that lended "micro-loans" to the poor, in Bangladesh. It has been a major success for everyone involved. Some particulars:
-- The typical loan is $100
-- The usual borrower is a married female trying to pull her family from poverty
-- The default percentage is an astounding 2%, though the percentage of borrowers who improve their lot is approximately 50%
-- The phenomena is affecting social change for woman as they have more influence in the decision-making of the household
Very cool stuff... especially that the Nobel committee recognized the effort. Several pundits have noted that this grassroots effort is much more successful than any number of international-aid agencies.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Can I Have A Witness
by Alex St John, columnist in CPU magazine. Emphasis added.
Excerpeth:
Windows’ blue screen of death was annoying, but at least it was unpretentious. They improved on this in Windows XP, with a new dialog that gave you some false sense of control over your computer’s doomed state.
This dialog contained a much subtler set of insults to the user, but at least its creators had the decency to apologize before offering to run their spyware on your computer and pretending that you might be smart enough to make heads or tails out of the error report they were offering to send themselves. The presence of two buttons gave you the pleasant illusion that you had some choice in the situation. It did a good job of making you feel a little guilty for being annoyed with them if you were unwilling to help them out with the problem by hitting the Send Error Report button. I suspect that Microsoft hired a team of psychologists to help them design this dialog.
Excerpeth:
Windows’ blue screen of death was annoying, but at least it was unpretentious. They improved on this in Windows XP, with a new dialog that gave you some false sense of control over your computer’s doomed state.
This dialog contained a much subtler set of insults to the user, but at least its creators had the decency to apologize before offering to run their spyware on your computer and pretending that you might be smart enough to make heads or tails out of the error report they were offering to send themselves. The presence of two buttons gave you the pleasant illusion that you had some choice in the situation. It did a good job of making you feel a little guilty for being annoyed with them if you were unwilling to help them out with the problem by hitting the Send Error Report button. I suspect that Microsoft hired a team of psychologists to help them design this dialog.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Na Na Naa Na, Hey Hey Goodbye
Canadians are very familiar with a song that fans of the Montreal Canadiens sing when a victory is at hand.
I am singing it today: I have given 2 weeks notice at my current employer.
It is a bittersweet farewell, though: 7+ years and a lot of personal growth, fun times, and memories. Sadly, many of the people are gone now.
I am singing it today: I have given 2 weeks notice at my current employer.
It is a bittersweet farewell, though: 7+ years and a lot of personal growth, fun times, and memories. Sadly, many of the people are gone now.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
For Back Home
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
From Wikipedia:
The first and original Thanksgiving comes from Canada. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest.
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Canada. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving, and the first Thanksgiving to have taken place in North America. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay. (which is close to environs of Jennifer at North of Nain)
From Wikipedia:
The first and original Thanksgiving comes from Canada. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest.
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Canada. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving, and the first Thanksgiving to have taken place in North America. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay. (which is close to environs of Jennifer at North of Nain)
Monday, October 02, 2006
Crazy Train
Mental wounds, not healing: Driving me insane.
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train. -- Ozzy Osbourne
It's a gorgeous, warm late summer day out in a pastoral rural area. As one gazes along the horizon, the bucolic stillness of the corn fields is disturbed by a dust-devil twisting along a country road. Near its path, trees sway, corn stalks fold, birds flee....
Our hero bears down on the pedals of his trusty steed, Blackbird. True to proper form, he glides the pedals back and forth a la Nordic skiing, rather than the "bangers and mash" style of stomping on the downstroke. His elbows touch; his arms tucked in tight to the aerobars. With gritty grin, he leans into the upcoming turn, oblivious to the stop-sign bending in the wind.
It is the RecPlex triathlon; the last event of the season. He leads his nemesis, the dreaded Jim G, by several minutes. Even though his arch-rival had a 1 minute headstart, our hero came out of Transition 1 ahead. Jim G was spotted panting heavily at the turn-around of the bike, about 4 miles back.
Suddenly, our hero slows involuntarily. His jaw slackens. Schisse! The white planks of a railroad crossing are folding down, like the arms of some obstinate, foreboding giant. Red lights flash, bells clang. A train! Blackbird glides to a stop with about 4 other dismayed cyclists.
It's bad news: in many triathlons, trains are just a way of life. The judges cannot and will not account for their delay, no matter how unfair. Our hero looks back down the road. No sign of Jim G. Dozens of railcars streak by. 1 minute, 2 minutes... How many cars can be on a single train?
After an eternity, the giant unfolds his arms and a dozen cyclists dart out from the gate like the Kentucky Derby. In no time, they are back up to speed... But at what cost?
Much later... our hero spritely bounces along the park trail. About 1/4 mile to go. All is well: Jim G has not resurfaced, and if only one can press on, then one might break the 2 hour barrier, even with the wretched train delay. Focus!
And finally, with arms extended, our hero reaches the triumphant end of the race, the 2006 rivalry, and the season. Possibly as fit as ever, he crosses the line, with arms extended: 1 hour 59.04 seconds.
It's been a fine year. 9 triathlons. Countless miles. CC 2 Jim G 1. Bring on the pizza.....
ps. Last year, the same event pre-Blackbird (on Butterscotch), the time was 2:22
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train. -- Ozzy Osbourne
It's a gorgeous, warm late summer day out in a pastoral rural area. As one gazes along the horizon, the bucolic stillness of the corn fields is disturbed by a dust-devil twisting along a country road. Near its path, trees sway, corn stalks fold, birds flee....
Our hero bears down on the pedals of his trusty steed, Blackbird. True to proper form, he glides the pedals back and forth a la Nordic skiing, rather than the "bangers and mash" style of stomping on the downstroke. His elbows touch; his arms tucked in tight to the aerobars. With gritty grin, he leans into the upcoming turn, oblivious to the stop-sign bending in the wind.
It is the RecPlex triathlon; the last event of the season. He leads his nemesis, the dreaded Jim G, by several minutes. Even though his arch-rival had a 1 minute headstart, our hero came out of Transition 1 ahead. Jim G was spotted panting heavily at the turn-around of the bike, about 4 miles back.
Suddenly, our hero slows involuntarily. His jaw slackens. Schisse! The white planks of a railroad crossing are folding down, like the arms of some obstinate, foreboding giant. Red lights flash, bells clang. A train! Blackbird glides to a stop with about 4 other dismayed cyclists.
It's bad news: in many triathlons, trains are just a way of life. The judges cannot and will not account for their delay, no matter how unfair. Our hero looks back down the road. No sign of Jim G. Dozens of railcars streak by. 1 minute, 2 minutes... How many cars can be on a single train?
After an eternity, the giant unfolds his arms and a dozen cyclists dart out from the gate like the Kentucky Derby. In no time, they are back up to speed... But at what cost?
Much later... our hero spritely bounces along the park trail. About 1/4 mile to go. All is well: Jim G has not resurfaced, and if only one can press on, then one might break the 2 hour barrier, even with the wretched train delay. Focus!
And finally, with arms extended, our hero reaches the triumphant end of the race, the 2006 rivalry, and the season. Possibly as fit as ever, he crosses the line, with arms extended: 1 hour 59.04 seconds.
It's been a fine year. 9 triathlons. Countless miles. CC 2 Jim G 1. Bring on the pizza.....
ps. Last year, the same event pre-Blackbird (on Butterscotch), the time was 2:22
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Best of StL
The Riverfront Times has posted the Best of StLouis 2006. Very fun reading for the locals
Stay tuned to this blog channel for my own "Best of..." in the coming days/weeks
Stay tuned to this blog channel for my own "Best of..." in the coming days/weeks
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Number Nine / Numero Neuf
Another tri on Sunday... This will be #9 for the year.
This is the fall RecPlex... And the deciding 3rd round in "Jim G vs CC 2006". The score this year is knotted at 1 apiece.
Jim G has been pretty busy with his new gig and continues to claim that he has not been training. We'll see. I'm not sure I'm as fit as I was for Lake StL but I feel pretty good.
I feel _very_ good about the swim time: 9:10 am. Woo-hoo! Now that is a reasonable time to start a race.
This is the fall RecPlex... And the deciding 3rd round in "Jim G vs CC 2006". The score this year is knotted at 1 apiece.
Jim G has been pretty busy with his new gig and continues to claim that he has not been training. We'll see. I'm not sure I'm as fit as I was for Lake StL but I feel pretty good.
I feel _very_ good about the swim time: 9:10 am. Woo-hoo! Now that is a reasonable time to start a race.
So far, so good
In the first half of 2006, the stats:
swim X meters
bike Y miles
run Z miles
From July to date, the totals:
swim 98% of X
bike 130% of Y
run 80% of Z
Not bad... April and May were rough months for fitness, so that explains part of it.
swim X meters
bike Y miles
run Z miles
From July to date, the totals:
swim 98% of X
bike 130% of Y
run 80% of Z
Not bad... April and May were rough months for fitness, so that explains part of it.
Lemp Mansion
Some friends went out the other night for a murder mystery dinner theatre at the Lemp Mansion.
What a hoot! A good meal and a great story put on by some fine actors. We all dressed up to fit the theme: the Roaring 1920s.
All 40 diners received roles, though about 6 received bigger roles. I was one, and ultimately was deemed "The Killer", which may have been:
(a) to fit the plot
(b) a nod toward any improv ability (they didn't know I have taken classes)
(c) the diner with the worst onion breath
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Lewis & Clark
Congrats to several friends who ran/walked the 1/2 marathon at Lewis & Clark! I was part of the "cheering contigent" which was fun.
A neat sidebar was that Dean Karnazes, ultramarathoner and general freak, was there to do the marathon. It is his first in a series of 50 in 50 days. Pretty crazy but if you know his book/60 Minutes segment, you know it is sort of par-for-the-course.
He is a good showman and knows how to do a gimmick. The gimmick this time was that he and his wife renewed their vows during the race (with a Running Reverend, no less).
See Fleet Feet and his blog
A neat sidebar was that Dean Karnazes, ultramarathoner and general freak, was there to do the marathon. It is his first in a series of 50 in 50 days. Pretty crazy but if you know his book/60 Minutes segment, you know it is sort of par-for-the-course.
He is a good showman and knows how to do a gimmick. The gimmick this time was that he and his wife renewed their vows during the race (with a Running Reverend, no less).
See Fleet Feet and his blog
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Here comes that funny feeling again
Partly due to the realization that most companies act like sociopaths (see previous post), I have started to sniff around for other opportunities in my current locale.
It's exhilirating yet nerve-wracking. I generally disdain the "fear of change" feeling; but that irreverent dismissal is a _lot_ easier when the stakes are low.
Going to see a weird, un-reviewed movie is one thing; a new gig/lifestyle is quite another.
It's exhilirating yet nerve-wracking. I generally disdain the "fear of change" feeling; but that irreverent dismissal is a _lot_ easier when the stakes are low.
Going to see a weird, un-reviewed movie is one thing; a new gig/lifestyle is quite another.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The Crowd Rushes By
Zounds! I am suddenly in 6th place in the FleetFeet tri series.
I was expecting Bob K, Nancy K, and some others to take over, but Luke H has come out of nowhere. That guy did extremely well last year (562 out of 600) but hadn't posted any results.
Ah well.... it was fun while it lasted.
I'll have to return to destroying Jim G.
I was expecting Bob K, Nancy K, and some others to take over, but Luke H has come out of nowhere. That guy did extremely well last year (562 out of 600) but hadn't posted any results.
Ah well.... it was fun while it lasted.
I'll have to return to destroying Jim G.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Quote of the Day
"We are all Americans! ...how can we not feel profound solidarity with the United States..." -- Le Monde editorial, Paris, France, Sept 12, 2001.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
2 Kids, A Fish, and now A Cat
She's back! My cousin is blogging on her adventures. This and Binky are the only blogs from home (so far) and massively important.
A key theme: my 2nd cousins, Action Girl (aka L) and Super Girl (aka J), whose photos adorn my office door and whose lives have happened since I came to the US (that freaks me out). Also, my cousin teaches at the same elementary school that I attended. The legendary West Kent. (I often tell people I was more of a Renaissance Man at age 10 then I will ever be now.). Finally, the "hubby" is a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame inlaw. Like my sister, my cousin chose well and I have 2 friends in the family.
A key theme: my 2nd cousins, Action Girl (aka L) and Super Girl (aka J), whose photos adorn my office door and whose lives have happened since I came to the US (that freaks me out). Also, my cousin teaches at the same elementary school that I attended. The legendary West Kent. (I often tell people I was more of a Renaissance Man at age 10 then I will ever be now.). Finally, the "hubby" is a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame inlaw. Like my sister, my cousin chose well and I have 2 friends in the family.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Eye of the Tiger
Our hero, part man, part tiger, is aboard his trusty steed, Blackbird. The feline-equine combination race along the jungle path at blistering speeds. The tiger is on the hunt, with his senses perfectly attuned to his environment: eyes furtively darting for movement, his keen nose scours the air for the scent of prey, whiskers on edge.
It is the Lake St Louis triathlon. No mere swim, bike, run in the park, this is about redemption.
To this point all is well. The swim was longer than anticipated (tigers don't like water). Blackbird, for once, has been in a great mood. Now, our hero glides into T2, the transition from bike to run.
He quickly changes gear, and then pounces toward the exit area. He does not detect the rabbit named Jim G, who started 20 minutes beforehand, a sizable lead. Yet, some sixth sense gives him hope. He licks his lips and wipes away the sweat.
He notices that he is still wearing his bike gloves, and zounds! he has forgotten to don his race # for the run.
A rare gaffe: he turns around and heads back to T2. An abomination... It costs him 1 and 3/4 minutes.
35 minutes later, the tiger ambles along the jungle with a renewed sense of urgency, driven by his costly mistake. He may or may not have made up the time, but things are going well. The sun beats down on the rolling of hills of the affluent suburb.
Scanning the field for prey, his eyes lock onto white: a man in a white t-shirt. With a heart-rate monitor. Short, reddish hair, and a stiff, military amble.
It's him!! Incredibly, the joyous adrenalin of spotting prey sends the tiger into pure bliss. His tail flickers back and forth. His eyes widen. Again he smacks his chops.
This is going to be good. But what to do? Does he toy with his prey? Does he wait and stalk?
He decides to pounce, and before long, he strides up alongside of the rabbit. Like many animals in this situation, the rabbit has glazed eyes: fear, and an overwhelming sense that it is over. Nature has compassionately administered a powerful sedative for what is to come.
The two exchange pleasantries, as though they are not mortal enemies. They run together for a moment, and again the decision: does the tiger "hang" with the rabbit for a bit? Or does he push on, striving for total domination?
He chooses the latter. He strides past the rabbit, looking back on occasion to prevent an unlikely comeback.
It is a good day: CC 1 Jim G 1, 2006. Redemption. Domination.
ps. In fairness, Jim G had a fairly significant, though brief, bike wreck. To his credit, he generously claims that it did not affect the outcome.
It is the Lake St Louis triathlon. No mere swim, bike, run in the park, this is about redemption.
To this point all is well. The swim was longer than anticipated (tigers don't like water). Blackbird, for once, has been in a great mood. Now, our hero glides into T2, the transition from bike to run.
He quickly changes gear, and then pounces toward the exit area. He does not detect the rabbit named Jim G, who started 20 minutes beforehand, a sizable lead. Yet, some sixth sense gives him hope. He licks his lips and wipes away the sweat.
He notices that he is still wearing his bike gloves, and zounds! he has forgotten to don his race # for the run.
A rare gaffe: he turns around and heads back to T2. An abomination... It costs him 1 and 3/4 minutes.
35 minutes later, the tiger ambles along the jungle with a renewed sense of urgency, driven by his costly mistake. He may or may not have made up the time, but things are going well. The sun beats down on the rolling of hills of the affluent suburb.
Scanning the field for prey, his eyes lock onto white: a man in a white t-shirt. With a heart-rate monitor. Short, reddish hair, and a stiff, military amble.
It's him!! Incredibly, the joyous adrenalin of spotting prey sends the tiger into pure bliss. His tail flickers back and forth. His eyes widen. Again he smacks his chops.
This is going to be good. But what to do? Does he toy with his prey? Does he wait and stalk?
He decides to pounce, and before long, he strides up alongside of the rabbit. Like many animals in this situation, the rabbit has glazed eyes: fear, and an overwhelming sense that it is over. Nature has compassionately administered a powerful sedative for what is to come.
The two exchange pleasantries, as though they are not mortal enemies. They run together for a moment, and again the decision: does the tiger "hang" with the rabbit for a bit? Or does he push on, striving for total domination?
He chooses the latter. He strides past the rabbit, looking back on occasion to prevent an unlikely comeback.
It is a good day: CC 1 Jim G 1, 2006. Redemption. Domination.
ps. In fairness, Jim G had a fairly significant, though brief, bike wreck. To his credit, he generously claims that it did not affect the outcome.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Thrashing like Piranhas
This TV commercial is a delightful spoof of a triathlon lake swim, which is notoriously abusive.
If you don't have sound, the guy says "My name is John Doe. I'm a triathlete training for the swim. I like my training to simulate the race conditions as closely as possible".
If you don't have sound, the guy says "My name is John Doe. I'm a triathlete training for the swim. I like my training to simulate the race conditions as closely as possible".
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