Sudden Seismic Shift

Well, I still work for my pimp but I'm being put on a new "corner" / client soon... The start date is April 11.

Gah! We don't like massive, work-related change here at CC but have learned how to face it. This is probably good news since the gig is a high-profile challenge, and with some cool people, including a former colleague. Right now, though, it is an adjustment.

Motorin' through MO to MS

This weekend involved a fun road-trip to Memphis! The itinerary included two (2) stops at Lambert's, a down-home, country restaurant that serves up famous fixin's and is a landmark in the area.

It was cool to be back "down south" -- my first jaunt was with Jennifer a few years back. (There is a still a guy who does a stunning number of cartwheels and somersaults down the famous Beale street).

'Tis too late to recap right now... but everything was great and the weather was spectacular. 73 F at 10:30 pm on Sunday night (!)

Closin' the Place Down on a Friday Night

No, I didn't close down a dive-bar: I closed the gym.

A very rare Friday night workout... no fanfare, no witty blog narrative, no applause.

I ran 15 miles. This is the furthest I've ever run, and it's a big deal (for me).

The funny thing is that I knew all week I was going to do it, on Friday night. There was no doubt... I think this was due to the psychology of breaking the dreaded 11 mile (treadmill) block a couple of weeks ago.

Birthdays

A happy bday-weekend shout-out to the inimitable Eric B who is leading a posse to Sin City... Here's a poker quote for the tables in Vegas: "quit your whining and help me stack these chips"

And a happy bday-weekend to our guy Bry! BryGuy is solely responsible for my visits to Paris & Amsterdam, and co-responsible for the Big Island last year. He's a master co-ordinator/party logician and has the patience of a saint for those of us that aren't...

The Day The Solos Died

It's funny how music & film from the high school days eventually gets sorted out, over time, into various categories ranging from total embarrassment to the sublime.

This guy, Randy Rhoads, was sublime. He died in a tragic plane crash 25 years ago this week and is still a major influence on guitarists (including my brother-in-law and I: one of our first Christmases together was spent downloading Randy stuff). Yes, yes, we can roll our eyes: he played for Ozzy Osbourne. But if you were to pick the best, most influential guitarists of the 1980s, he would be right there with Eddie Van Halen, and yet Randy died in 1982.

Eddie was an (awesome) grinning pixie, with tons of flash and funk. Randy was more studious and cerebral: he doped up standard rock with a heavy influence of classical theory. Though it became an overblown parody, the virtuoso, neo-classical rock of the 1980s spawned from Randy's 2 studio albums. Legions of guitarists read up on weird, esoteric scales and theory, just to emulate his style. (Two of my favorite current guitarists, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, have enormous respect for Rhoads and knowingly hint at his style on occasion.)

And yet no one could touch him. It is a sports-stadium cliche' now but listen closely to Crazy Train next time you hear it on radio. It's a great rock song with a solo that is quite inspired and yet was meticulously crafted. It's a composition onto itself.

The doubly sad fact for the rock community was that Randy was a quiet, super-nice guy. His dad died young and he supported his mom and family by teaching guitar at her music store. He wrote an instrumental, Dee, in her name (yes, it is in the key of D).

American pie, indeed.

ps. I don't like the weird shrine/religious overtones of visiting a rock-star's grave but when I was at BryGuy's in California, I was well-aware that I was only about 100 miles from the gravesite and the little music store. I'd like to visit one day.

Captaineers

It is well-documented that the Captaineers here at CC HQ are working 24x7 (or at least 8x5) to keep you coming back.

A fascinating bonus is that my tech blog keeps the Captaineers engaged as well. I have given a lot of thought lately to social engineering and the marketing of an online brand.

We, at CC, don't have time to implement all of the great ideas, so here are some freebies... Veritable crumbs from the table for y'all to fight over.

(1) Imagine a blog where author test-drives a different car every weekend. (Minor news: Herbie's heat gauge spiked over the weekend. No coolant = radiator/tube failure)

(2) If only I were younger: a blog where a guy talks to a new girl every day (at bar, grocery store, library, etc) and reports back. Actually, Wired reported that a shy nerd starting blogging about meeting a girl on the subway during their daily commute. The blog became a nationwide sensation. (Yes, he asked her out and she said yes.)

(3) Exposure dot com: some of the entry ideas (for CC and the tech) are so good, that perhaps they should be blogs in their own right. This could be big: one author, many blogs. Very cool.....

Geeks Gone Mild

I'm not 100% sure that I have found my "calling" in computer science, but it is a damn good gig. Here's proof:

1. If I won the big lottery, I wouldn't quit my job in the forseeable future.

2. I have spent almost every waking hour since noon Friday couped up in a hotel with other Java geeks, listening to higher-ranking geeks. And loved it... 5th year in a row for this conference.

Weirdness from Physics

I'm not a big follower of the emerging (and seemingly vast) taxonomy of sub-atomic particles, but this caught my eye.

From Wired (emphasis added):

One of the zanier notions in the world of quantum mechanics is that a pair of subatomic particles can sometimes (ed: when?) become "entangled". This means that the fate of one instantly affects the other, no matter how far apart they are. It's such a bizarre phenomenon that Einstein dissed the idea in the 1930s as "spooky action at a distance".

But it turns out that the universe is spooky after all. In 1997, scientists separated a pair of entangled photons by shooting them through fiber-optic cables to two villages 6 miles apart. Tipping one into a particular quantum state forced the other into the opposite state at a rate that is 7 million times faster than the speed of light. Of course, according to relativity, nothing travels faster than the speed of light -- not even info between particles.

Even the best theories to explain how entanglement gets around this problem seem preposterous. Ultimately, the answer is bound to be unnerving: according to a famous doctrine called Bell's Inequality, for entanglement to square with relativity, either we have no free will or reality is an illusion.

(Ed: Though perhaps it will explain why paper is strongest at the perforations)

Lyric Appreciation #2

Oh Celine Dion, you soft-rock my world
Won't you please be mine Celine
I would do anything, if you'd be my girl
Oh, be my girl Celine
I sent you cards and letters, but you don't respond
You play hard to get, but my heart goes on and on (and on and on)
I just wanna say, je aimerez
And i can see your house from my van

-- Celine Dion, The Arrogant Worms

(a soft, acoustic ballad by a band now available on iTunes!!!)

The Corporate Gamble

Our hero participates in a standup meeting, with staff ranging from peons to top-brass. Many have worked long hours, and look disheveled. Deadlines are slipping; bugs are found; inter-departmental relations are strained.

As the group leader wraps up the dire situation, our hero sees opportunity:

"Well, there is good news," he says as the group turns toward him.

"I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico."

Blog 1 Pain 0 (OT)

Our hero steps off the treadmill, panting, and hobbles toward the fountain.

Over 2 hours before, he set out to run "long": a slow, endurance run. Today there would be no swim, no racing against others on nearby treads.

Now, he stands at a crossroad. On the one hand, he has just completed mile 11, tying a personal best for indoor distance. He has tied this record several times, but has never been able to surpass it. On the other hand, all is not well: strange knee cramps at mile 8 were the first symptom in a serious decline of running enjoyment. While other exercisers happily chatted, our hero descended into his own personal hell, running a mile at a time, then stopping to drink and stretch. With each additional mile, the onset of pain began ever sooner.

He bites his lip as he debates the situation. "Injury is completely unacceptable, but where is the line between sore and injured? And yet things gets are getting pretty freaky on that thing.", he muses.

Finally, he steps back on the treadmill and revs up the speed. His thighs feel like jelly, and now the dreaded "chills" have come to visit.

He grimaces and through gritted teeth, mutters, "well, it'll make a good blog entry".

Result: 12 miles and new indoor PR for distance.

Laundry Experiment

I finally performed one of the last, great (if obvious) physics experiments, and am expecting to score a publication in a leading academic journal.

I put a lone sock into a dryer and stood watch over the appliance for 40 minutes, chatting casually with the other tenants of the apartment.

When the machine whirred to stop, I opened the door: empty. From a nearby room, the theme to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" played in the background. In the lint trap, a tiny tumbleweed wafted into the air and onto the floor.

I'm still working out the equations (Rich, send your phone number)...

Attack-Cat Returns!

Chicago, the feral feline who generally approaches like a streak of black lightning, is alive and well. I was getting worried after the cold snaps of January and February. I don't know what the little bugger is doing but he is clearly resourceful.

And vocal. Friday night, I was walking in my parking lot and heard the familiar mournful howl. I sometimes suspect that Chicago is a "she" and in heat (seriously). Maybe the fiesty fireball imprinted on me as a kitten, and is doomed to some vain, unrequited love. That would be a perfect reversal of my high-school years.

Anyway, I brought out the good stuff -- a tin of Fancy Feast (salmon). Chicago was skittish at first but as I backed away, the power of seafood took over.

Lyric Appreciation #1

I guess I should've known
By the way you parked your car sideways
That it wouldn't last

-- Prince, Little Red Corvette

Feelin' the Bang

Was at work Sunday, Monday until 1 am, and Tuesday until 8 pm.

I once read that for an Islander, there is no greater compliment than to be called a "good worker". No doubt this harkens back to the days of fishing and farming.

True that, whether it be running the "cook crew" at a lobster plant, or displaying Japanese characters correctly on a computer.

CC

CC Skunkworks: New Themes

At CC, our staff remain committed to innovation and design. During long workouts and meetings, we dream up new ways to slake your thirst for all things "Captain". Hell, we write blog entries on Friday nights.

Keen, longtime readers know that there are certain recurring themes: the Calvin-n-Hobbes triathlon reviews, the rare poems, and Chicago-The-Attack-Cat's escapades.

Here's some more ideas that our "Captaineers" are dreaming up:

-- More polls! The ring poll was a smashing success. The only surprise here is that it took 14 months to do one (polling in bars is a 2nd career).

-- The Picasso book has inspired a new "Enigmatic Art Theme". This will be a post with some work of art, with nary any text and no comments. Intended to present an edgy side of CC, the interpretation will be left to you, dear reader. (This is in stark contrast to issues of politics and taste, where your opinion will be left to me.) There has already been one such posting on this theme. Are these personal comments? Political comments? Who knows?

-- The Confessional: stay tuned for the occasional blog entry where a previously unspoken thought/fear/hope is revealed...

-- The Reality Romance: for some reason, this one may be to much for CC dot com. We are entertaining the thought of documenting interaction with a potential new flame. It gives me the creeps to post such things, for a variety of reasons, but this could be a big lode of material.

As always, feedback is welcome, though possibly ignored or corrected! Please use these themes for your own blogs... they are a good way to inspire entries.

To the Critics: Bring It to the Gym

Lately, and yet again last night, I have received several greetings from people where the first thing they say is "OMG you are so thin". With ultra-short hair these days (compared to the long mane of yore), some people even speculate that I'm on chemo. What a pleasant way to catch up with someone.

I also regularly receive unsolicited dieting and hydration advice with respect to working out.

I realize that most of these comments come from those who care, but I assure you that if you plucked a random person from a bar and compared our respective health or fitness levels: chances are good that I win.

I generally have an open-offer to anyone -- who thinks I'm weak or sickly -- to come to the gym and work out with me. We'll have a good old time.... :-)

26.2 in the City of Angels

Good luck to BryGuy, his bro (aka Kevster), and his Dad (aka Hilario)... They are walking the LA Marathon this weekend.

If you think that walking a marathon is just like a bad day at the mall with your girlfriend, think again: it's wicked. I did it last year and though it was a lot of fun (due to our gang), by mile 20, I thought the tendons in my feet were pulling away from the bone.

It is still the largest event I've been in yet: thousands and thousands of people. Really great event.

Give 'em hell, BryGuy!

Random Poll

Is there any circumstance where a 30ish woman can wear a ring on her left ring-finger and yet not be married/attached? Not a classic big ol' diamond ring, necessarily -- just a ring.

Let's assume that she's not Batwoman. Actually, as I start to anticipate the answers from the "peanut gallery", I'm beginning to question the wisdom of this poll. Not that the finest blog on the web doesn't have the finest readership, but many of you frighten me.

Go Canada #2

I recently watched a concert video of Rush. They were playing in Frankfurt, Germany. When he addressed the crowd, Geddy Lee said "hello Frankfurt! Let me try this on you..." and then gave a warm welcome in German that sounded well-practiced and authentic.

One got the feeling that they learn the language of most of their host countries. Along with the Barenaked Ladies (who can charm a crowd like nobody's business), they made me proud to be from the Motherland.

Go Canada #1

There have been a zillion computer languages since the 1950s, but there are relatively few Hall Of Fame languages. There are even fewer Monumentally Important languages.

I will argue that there are 3 languages that are absolutely monumental: Cobol, C, and Java. (Let the flame wars begin!)

Java was invented by a Canadian, who recently received major recognition: the Order of Canada. Many thanks to Fred for passing along the link (from the CBC no less!)

A Good Day in a Good Life

8 am -- swam 2000 meters (1.6 miles)

10:30 am -- piano class. Choked on Danny Boy, rocked Loch Lomond.

12:30 pm -- library, lunch, nap

2:30 pm -- rare 2nd trip to gym. Ran 7 miles

4:30 pm -- read blogs and write this entry

5 pm -- catch up on magazines/taped political news

7:30 pm -- spend time with dear friend and his bro

Loch Lomond

I've quietly started taking piano lessons again with my beloved, crazy teacher (aka Elton Ron). I'm almost back to where I was in March of 2005. (I essentially took the summer off due to triathlon and other pursuits, which explains my sheepish silence on one of my purportedly "favorite" hobbies).

This story isn't new, but it's a favorite. A couple of years ago in class, ol' Ron cranked out a little number from book 2. I had never heard of it before: Loch Lomond. As he played it, it struck me as being amazingly familiar to the Scot/Celtic tunes from back home. As usual, he made the piano sing blissfully, but there was just something about this particular day. It was also a new key for me (Eb major). I nearly teared up at the way he played the piece. The melody was gorgeous and the arrangement used deep, resonant chords way down low.

I quickly skipped ahead in the book to learn the tune. It was wicked arrangement but I got it in about 2 weeks. Delighted, I wrote to some people back home about my discovery of this "new" song. My Mom replied to the email saying that she was very familiar with the tune: it was a favorite of my grandfather.

I still love cranking it out. It uses a Scot pentatonic scale that gives it the distinctive melody, and I still love, love, love Eb major. I have always thought that the "brightness" and "darkness" of individual keys was just beyond my sensabilities but I have come to understand some of the keys (e.g. C major, G major, and now Eb major). It is a wonderfully warm key.

Review: Picasso's War

What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who has only eyes? Far from it: he is also a political being, constantly aware of the heartbreaking, the passionate, the delightful... How could it be possible to feel no interest in other people? No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.
-- Pablo Picasso (paraphrased from 1945)

Picasso's War is the story of the 1937 bombing of Gernika, Spain. The attack was executed by nascent Nazi Germany, as a "dry run" of blitzkrieg, on behalf of Franco's rebel forces. There was no advance warning; the Nazis bombed and strafed the defenseless city into ruins in 3 hours. Hundreds of men, women, and children perished.

In particular, the book describes a painting by Picasso -- a rare political statement created in direct response to the attack. Though subject to mixed reviews at its opening in Paris, the work became a legend throughout Spain and, eventually, throughout the world. The Japanese (Hiroshima), Vietnamese (My Lai), and Americans (NYC) all claim a certain kinship with the sentiment.

Based on the strength of Beethoven's Hair, I have bought this book as a gift for friends. I think it is tremendously important work, and I'm grateful to have read it (*whispers* though Beethoven's Hair was more interesting on the whole). Definitely a must-read, but perhaps through the library.

Russell Martin

Russell Martin is another excellent nonfiction writer. He picks the most unusual topics: he has a book dedicated to a painting and another devoted to the story behind a lock of Beethoven's Hair.

Miss Gila gave me Beethoven's Hair as a gift sometime back. Delightful book, though perhaps not as "important" the next entry.

Good cops, Bad cops, and Vanity

I once heard an excellent description of Bugs Bunny versus Daffy Duck. The secure, happy-go-lucky Bugs was the one you wanted to be; the vain, petty Daffy was the one you feared you were.

Once I opened my eyes to this "good cop/bad cop" duality, it becomes apparent everywhere in pop culture:

-- Bugs and Daffy, as mentioned
-- Hawkeye and Major Frank Burns on MASH
-- Jerry and George Constanza on Seinfeld
-- Jim and Dwight on The Office

and the list goes on. This isn't a list of mere rivals: they are actually psychological archetypes who represent polar opposites on a spectrum of personality "attractiveness". Jim could not be more comfortable in his skin: he is smiley, affable; one senses that he doesn't startle easily. Dwight is wound up tighter than an underwater Swiss watch, and lusts for power and status.

An interesting tie-in to the recent book review (A Mind of Its Own): not only do I identify with the laidback member of these duos, I have actually fancied that I _look_ like some of these guys. I still have a cowboy hat that is a direct knockoff from Hawkeye's; Jim's antics and status in The Office is highly reminiscent to me of my previous regime at "the library company".

And yet, when I look in the mirror and am honest about it, I don't think I especially look like them at all. The vain brain strikes again.

CC

ps. With the exception of Burns, I love, love, love the bad cop in all the duos above. Daffy is awesome. George killed me far more than Kramer ever did. And Dwight is simply divine: there is one show where he dons a volunteer deputy-sheriff outfit so that he can interrogate the staff over drug-testing, due to a half-smoked joint that was found in the parking lot. I haven't actually laughed-out-loud so much in years. He's in an conference room, towering over a petite woman and yells "Your ass is on the line, mister... My ass is on the line!"

I don't want to be like those characters but they are wonderfully ridiculous.

Blast from the Past

Oh, YouTube, how I love thee! Let me count the ways.... Twelve. Yes, indeed, 12 ways.

Click here for a blast from the past on Sesame Street

Props to Jess (aka JLC, artiste) for the link...

Looking back, who knew that we grew up on hardcore bop jazz and funk!

DVD Junkie: Season 2

We be feelin' quite unwell at CC HQ lately, but found time to devour most of Season 2 of The Office.

For years now, I haven't understood watching fiction shows and certainly not Netflix/Tivo etc. I remain on guard against the "cult of Tivo" but having just watched four episodes of said program (from Netflix) and one full commentary, I have clearly ceded the shoreline to the Dark Side.

I blame BryGuy. You are on notice, sir!

Some thoughts (other than the usual plot-spoilers):

-- The theme song has gotta go. I like it as an instrumental though.
-- Less time spent on Michael the manager, please!
-- Of course, Jim and Pam have the most interesting interactions, but I love, love, love Jim and Dwight. Dwight is a Hall of Fame character and an excellent actor, against a backdrop of fantastic actors. Even as I write this, I'm not sure I can say he's my favorite.
-- So many plotlines and shots are fresh... They will hint at something or just get to it without a major song-and-dance. E.g. on Halloween, the staff shows up for work in costume. The manager chides the co-ordinators for not decorating. One woman says
that they had put up all kind of stuff. The shot goes to an ultra-brief flashback of the night before, where the cleaning crew dispassionately vacuum up a bunch of cobwebs. Genius but doubly-so because of the brevity.

I'm hooked.

..................................................................

Tri Results

Gah... what a day. I feel like I have been hit by a bus. I thought I had trained for the 1st tri but man today was a rough day. "Feeling the bang" indeed.

The results are in! I was 9th out of 28. But poignantly, I was 5th out of 6 in my agegroup with 2 dudes finishing within 15 seconds ahead of me. There are no words for the remorse of not pushing it a bit more. Grrr. It will irk me for days to come.

I forgot to mention that the dreaded Jim G was not in this contest. He's more into run-mode to get ready for the StL marathon.

Sunday Services

Our hero rises before daybreak and travels to the temple.

He is warmly greeted by the congregation. After the introductions, the group bows their head. Introspectively, they reflect on peace, on sin, on suffering. In fact, they suffer. Humbled, many completely accept the Original Sin and other trespasses.

After the service, in the glorious light of day, there is relief and merriment. The members of the congregation break bread together, and warmly exude the manifestations of their reflections, and yet somehow cannot fully express their experience, their soul-searching. It is a peaceful time.

A triathlon is not only a sporting event: it is a church.

Indoor Tri

The first tri of the season is Sunday! The swim is at 6:50 am which is pretty crazy, considering I have to be at the Chesterfield JCC 45 minutes prior to the swim. Gah!

I have to start to think about "packing" soon. Some advantages of an indoor:

-- no need for sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
-- no need for bike, pump, helmet, gloves

And, as I say every year, the major downside:

-- placing the treadmill on the back of the car

Car Talk

At a gas station, I noticed a guy filling a shiny, black Mini Cooper S. He was about 60, presumably traveling with his wife, and didn't look especially happy.

I wasn't feeling gregarious, but finally decided to stray over and hazard a "how do you like your ride?".

Well. The guy lit up into a broad smile and went on for 5 full minutes about his pride and joy. He was delighted to chat about the ride quality, the 17-inch wheels, the acceleration -- you name it. As our respective pumps shut off, he thanked me profusely for showing interest. His enthusiasm was great (and contagious).

I had forgotten one of my observations as a "street psychologist" -- everyone loves to talk about their ride.

Book Review: Thunderstruck

Every so often there is a book that makes me re-realize that TV is a scam, and spurs me to devour the author's oeuvre. This is one.

'Tis a pop history that weaves a murder mystery with the early days of wireless communication. To quote the Esquire review, "So good, you ask yourself how you could not know this already." Highly recommended.

Many thanks to my Uncle Jim and Aunt Barb who gave it to me for Christmas, probably on the recommendation of my sister (whose recommendations over the last few years have been stunning).

Nous Bloggons 2

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?

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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!

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.

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.

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...

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.

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....

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.

A New Blog In The Family

Wow.... There's a new blog on the web.

Introducing: my sister's blog!

Check it out...

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...

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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?!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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) !

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?

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!

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?

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

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...

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").

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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 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?

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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....

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.

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?"

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

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

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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?

Today

Wikipedia is a fantastic online encyclopedia, written by its user-community. It even has entries for particular days, though why anyone would want to write about a day is kind of weird.

See today

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.

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.