-Though a little warmer today, for the past few days we have been waking up to rather frigid temperatures (in the -35 to -40 with wind chill range). Fortunately, these temperatures have decreased rather dramatically as the days have progressed and, typically, by evening we're up to a comfortable -20ish.
-I'm 1/4 in this year's Roll Up the Rim to Win competition. I suspect my only entries will be those I purchased while either traveling to and from Edmonton or while I was in Edmonton. I'll be surprised if I even get a chance to move up to 1/5.
-With ever lengthening days it has been a treat to walk to and from work in full light this past week. Of course, paired with the cold temperatures we've been having, the full sun and bright skies have been a little dissonant.
-Over the past few days Jeannette and I have been somewhat obsessively watching Orphan Black, a show staring Regina native Tatiana Maslany (who also happens to have been in the Newfoundland-filmed movie Grown Up Movie Star alongside one of Kirsten's school friends). Of course, because there aren't all that many episodes currently in existence this will necessarily be a short-lived obsession.
-I'm thinking about trying to drag Jeannette out for a walk along the creek/river today. Aside from the somewhat cool temperatures, it's a perfect day.
Cameron - 14
Neil - 0
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Collect all 10
Finally, after more than a 30 year hunt, I managed to visit all 10 Canadian provincial capitals. Maybe surprisingly, Edmonton was my white whale - remaining just out of reach for years and years.
Because I was in Edmonton for work purposes in the Winter I didn't really see much of the city, though I did make it over to the legislature and I was able to take a few trips on the city's public transit system.
I was quite pleased that my hotel room for the final night of my stay even had a view of the legislative building.
Cameron - 13
Neil - 0
Because I was in Edmonton for work purposes in the Winter I didn't really see much of the city, though I did make it over to the legislature and I was able to take a few trips on the city's public transit system.
I was quite pleased that my hotel room for the final night of my stay even had a view of the legislative building.
Cameron - 13
Neil - 0
Sunday, February 15, 2015
The calm after the storm
Just before dinner last night, and just after the snow had stopped falling, I went out to do a quick first round of shovelling. I focused on the sidewalk in front of our house and the sidewalk in front of our two adjacent neighbours (and their respective front walks). Amazingly, though this is the largest snow I've yet seen in Regina, I was able to take care of this all in about 20-30 minutes. Despite the wind chill of about -35, when I came in my shirt and jacket were soaked with sweat.
Early this afternoon Jeannette and I went out to tackle the rest of the shovelling. After quickly tidying the sidewalks of snow that blew in over night we tacked the driveway and then the side and back of the house. Thanks to teamwork we were able to take care of all of our outstanding shovelling quite quickly.
Unfortunately, though some ploughing has occurred - even on our street - many of the streets are almost impassible. I learned this the hard way while making a post-shovelling trip to the grocery store for cinnamon roll supplies (a treat promised to Jeannette as thanks for her shovelling assistance/we earned it). Hopefully in the relatively near future they'll be able to hit a few more streets - it's definitely needed.
Cameron - 12
Neil - 0
Early this afternoon Jeannette and I went out to tackle the rest of the shovelling. After quickly tidying the sidewalks of snow that blew in over night we tacked the driveway and then the side and back of the house. Thanks to teamwork we were able to take care of all of our outstanding shovelling quite quickly.
Unfortunately, though some ploughing has occurred - even on our street - many of the streets are almost impassible. I learned this the hard way while making a post-shovelling trip to the grocery store for cinnamon roll supplies (a treat promised to Jeannette as thanks for her shovelling assistance/we earned it). Hopefully in the relatively near future they'll be able to hit a few more streets - it's definitely needed.
Cameron - 12
Neil - 0
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Definitely a storm
I rather prematurely doubted the severity of today's forecast storm.
Soon after my post things really began to pick up.
[Embedded video]
Of course, just as things were picking up we had to head out for my optometry appointment (and a trip to the local Asian grocery store).
Not only was the blowing snow really quite good at reducing visibility, but the cold temperatures (almost -40 with the windchill) and high humidity (about 80%) were causing cars' windows to frost up in a most impressive fashion. I've never experienced anything quite like it.
Normally, when it's this cold the major upside is low humidity (including a low risk of snow). Somehow, we've managed to get everything today.
[Embedded video]
[Embedded video]
Fortunately, the snowing is supposed to stop in a few hours. I guess once it does I will have to head out and take care of some shovelling. Yum!
Cameron - 11
Neil - 0
Soon after my post things really began to pick up.
[Embedded video]
Of course, just as things were picking up we had to head out for my optometry appointment (and a trip to the local Asian grocery store).
Not only was the blowing snow really quite good at reducing visibility, but the cold temperatures (almost -40 with the windchill) and high humidity (about 80%) were causing cars' windows to frost up in a most impressive fashion. I've never experienced anything quite like it.
Normally, when it's this cold the major upside is low humidity (including a low risk of snow). Somehow, we've managed to get everything today.
[Embedded video]
[Embedded video]
Fortunately, the snowing is supposed to stop in a few hours. I guess once it does I will have to head out and take care of some shovelling. Yum!
Cameron - 11
Neil - 0
New phone day
Yesterday, after almost three years of the same phones, Jeannette and I upgraded our cell phones.
Initially, I was thinking that for this upgrade iteration I would switch to an Android phone (not that I am altogether an Android fan). Thanks to Jeannette's desire to maintain the same brand, a desire on my part that we have the same hardware, an appreciation of the advantages of now changing systems, and lower than expected prices we ended up with much newer version of the same type of phone we already have.
Now that we're about 15 hours into our new phones and most of the key settings have been selected I think it is safe to say that we are both happy with the function of our new machines. Of course, I'm not necessarily as pleased with technological/legal/moral implications of this decision. Maybe in two years time (or more - if the hardware lasts/continues to be functional) I'll finally move away from this technology provider?
But, damn, they've done a very good job of making that a difficult decision to make.
Cameron - 10
Neil - 0
Initially, I was thinking that for this upgrade iteration I would switch to an Android phone (not that I am altogether an Android fan). Thanks to Jeannette's desire to maintain the same brand, a desire on my part that we have the same hardware, an appreciation of the advantages of now changing systems, and lower than expected prices we ended up with much newer version of the same type of phone we already have.
Now that we're about 15 hours into our new phones and most of the key settings have been selected I think it is safe to say that we are both happy with the function of our new machines. Of course, I'm not necessarily as pleased with technological/legal/moral implications of this decision. Maybe in two years time (or more - if the hardware lasts/continues to be functional) I'll finally move away from this technology provider?
But, damn, they've done a very good job of making that a difficult decision to make.
Cameron - 10
Neil - 0
Big bad snow storm?
So, for the first time this winter in Regina we've been warned that a snow storm may be on our way. Of course, I thought it was supposed to start hours ago and presently it's just begun to snow lightly - so I'm not altogether what this says about the impact of the forecast storm. Is it just a little late?
Of course, one of the things I find funny about this storm is that it is supposed to bring with it 10-15 cm of snow. In other parts of the country this quantity of snow would hardly be worth noticing - particularly during a winter when the eastern portion of the continent has been hit repeatedly with more substantial blasts.
To be a little fairer to this region, even a relatively small amount of snow and wind can make driving, particularly highway driving, quite dangerous. As there is almost nothing to stop snow from blowing once clear streets and highways can instantly, or so it seems, have snow patches that might impact the trajectory of one's vehicle. Even days after a snowfall light and fluffy snow can be blown around in ways that are problematic for drivers.
What makes this storm particularly notable, though, is that it is supposed to be taking place while it is relatively cold (-21ish and with a windchill of -37ish). Normally when it is this cold we don't get all that much snow - and we certainly don't have snowstorms in these conditions.
I guess we will just have to wait and see if the storm does materialize.
Cameron - 9
Neil - 0
Of course, one of the things I find funny about this storm is that it is supposed to bring with it 10-15 cm of snow. In other parts of the country this quantity of snow would hardly be worth noticing - particularly during a winter when the eastern portion of the continent has been hit repeatedly with more substantial blasts.
To be a little fairer to this region, even a relatively small amount of snow and wind can make driving, particularly highway driving, quite dangerous. As there is almost nothing to stop snow from blowing once clear streets and highways can instantly, or so it seems, have snow patches that might impact the trajectory of one's vehicle. Even days after a snowfall light and fluffy snow can be blown around in ways that are problematic for drivers.
What makes this storm particularly notable, though, is that it is supposed to be taking place while it is relatively cold (-21ish and with a windchill of -37ish). Normally when it is this cold we don't get all that much snow - and we certainly don't have snowstorms in these conditions.
I guess we will just have to wait and see if the storm does materialize.
Cameron - 9
Neil - 0
Sunday, February 08, 2015
A Few Quick Notes 619
-We're currently in the midst of a light snow shower. Assuming all goes as planned, I'll probably head out in a few minutes to do a little light shovelling. Of course, depending on the length of this snow shower I may or may not have to head out later tonight to do a little final tidying.
-Fortunately, we've not had all that much snow this winter. And what snow we did have earlier in the winter was reduced dramatically by a warm stretch we had a few weeks ago.
-The Pet Roombaing has continued unabated. And as I've previously reported, each session results in far more hair and dust than seems reasonable given the frequency with which the machine is run. Gross.
-A few days ago Jeannette and I bought about a pound of strawberries. We consumed them in a single sitting last night as the fruit component of a chocolate fondue session. Once we ran out of fruit I switched to crackers (we wouldn't want to waste perfectly good chocolate, would we?).
-At the New Year's Eve party we attended one of the attending families brought a chocolate fountain with them. While the theory is quite similar to chocolate fondue, to get the right consistency for the 'fountain' effect they had to add quite a bit of vegetable oil to the pounds of melted chocolate. It was probably quite good that I saw the prep stage as I think I am quite unlikely to ever take part in any chocolate fountain activities in the future (not that I'd ever taken part in the past - but now I have a good reason).
-At some point I going to have to figure out what we're going to have for dinner. B'ys, it just never ends.
-Hope you're enjoying your blog-off content spurt.
Cameron - 8
Neil - 0
-Fortunately, we've not had all that much snow this winter. And what snow we did have earlier in the winter was reduced dramatically by a warm stretch we had a few weeks ago.
-The Pet Roombaing has continued unabated. And as I've previously reported, each session results in far more hair and dust than seems reasonable given the frequency with which the machine is run. Gross.
-A few days ago Jeannette and I bought about a pound of strawberries. We consumed them in a single sitting last night as the fruit component of a chocolate fondue session. Once we ran out of fruit I switched to crackers (we wouldn't want to waste perfectly good chocolate, would we?).
-At the New Year's Eve party we attended one of the attending families brought a chocolate fountain with them. While the theory is quite similar to chocolate fondue, to get the right consistency for the 'fountain' effect they had to add quite a bit of vegetable oil to the pounds of melted chocolate. It was probably quite good that I saw the prep stage as I think I am quite unlikely to ever take part in any chocolate fountain activities in the future (not that I'd ever taken part in the past - but now I have a good reason).
-At some point I going to have to figure out what we're going to have for dinner. B'ys, it just never ends.
-Hope you're enjoying your blog-off content spurt.
Cameron - 8
Neil - 0
An easy way to spend an evening
Several years ago I received a dollar store laser pointer as Christmas or Easter stocking-stuffer type gift. Since receiving this item I haven't had a reason to use it so I have kept it in its original packing and moved it from residence to residence waiting for a justification to open it.
For some reason, though I've long known that laser pointers are the toy equivalent of catnip for cats, I didn't ever think to open it and use it with our cats.
Finally, last night I opened it up and immediately was able to confirm that our cats, like so many other cats, love following the little red dot around the floor and walls. They go crazy for it.
Of course, I was mindful enough to snag a few hot vids of the action.
[Embedded video]
After a break so that the exhausted kitties could rest, they were happy to be back for more.
[Embedded video]
And more.
[Embedded video]
And even more (unfilmed) this morning.
Cameron - 7
Neil - 0
For some reason, though I've long known that laser pointers are the toy equivalent of catnip for cats, I didn't ever think to open it and use it with our cats.
Finally, last night I opened it up and immediately was able to confirm that our cats, like so many other cats, love following the little red dot around the floor and walls. They go crazy for it.
Of course, I was mindful enough to snag a few hot vids of the action.
[Embedded video]
After a break so that the exhausted kitties could rest, they were happy to be back for more.
[Embedded video]
And more.
[Embedded video]
And even more (unfilmed) this morning.
Cameron - 7
Neil - 0
Saturday, February 07, 2015
To Kill a Mockingbird is available for free?
Last night, after Jeannette returned home from her monthly book club meeting she mentioned that she was thinking about reading To Kill a Mocking Bird and Anna Karenina . She was particularly interested in reading these books as as ebooks. I gave her a few suggestions about legal sources for both books and she set off to find them.
After only a few minutes I was surprised when she said she'd found and downloaded both books. Given the publication date of Anna Karenina I wasn't surprised that this book was easily accessible. On the other hand, given that the author of To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee, is still alive and that the book is still very much still subject to copyright (and has only been available as an ebook since 2014 after a legal battle about copyright) I found it quite surprising when Jeannette said she found it available as an ebook on the Internet Archive, a site that typically seems to be quite vigilant about only posting materials that are either out of copyright or posted with the permission of the rights holders.
I guess it's possible that this was posted without the approval of Ms. Lee or the publishers and it will be removed shortly? Of course, given the news about a new sequel/prequel to the book I suspect there has been renewed interest in the title and that such an easily available source would have been brought to the attention of the publishers and the Internet Archive - so the continued existence of this version of the book (now more than 12 hours after we first found it) is baffling. According to the Internet Archive's statistics the book has been downloaded more than 34 000 times as of the writing of this post.
Do you think if I check back on this item tomorrow it will still be there?
Could this version of the ebook possibly be approved by the rights holders, a thought I am only willing to consider because of the high regard in which the Internet Archive is generally held?
Cameron - 6
Neil - 0
After only a few minutes I was surprised when she said she'd found and downloaded both books. Given the publication date of Anna Karenina I wasn't surprised that this book was easily accessible. On the other hand, given that the author of To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee, is still alive and that the book is still very much still subject to copyright (and has only been available as an ebook since 2014 after a legal battle about copyright) I found it quite surprising when Jeannette said she found it available as an ebook on the Internet Archive, a site that typically seems to be quite vigilant about only posting materials that are either out of copyright or posted with the permission of the rights holders.
I guess it's possible that this was posted without the approval of Ms. Lee or the publishers and it will be removed shortly? Of course, given the news about a new sequel/prequel to the book I suspect there has been renewed interest in the title and that such an easily available source would have been brought to the attention of the publishers and the Internet Archive - so the continued existence of this version of the book (now more than 12 hours after we first found it) is baffling. According to the Internet Archive's statistics the book has been downloaded more than 34 000 times as of the writing of this post.
Do you think if I check back on this item tomorrow it will still be there?
Could this version of the ebook possibly be approved by the rights holders, a thought I am only willing to consider because of the high regard in which the Internet Archive is generally held?
Cameron - 6
Neil - 0
Glasses fix
For about 20 years I have been wearing glasses. For almost 20 years glasses have been sliding down my nose and falling off of my face. This has been the case with every pair of glasses I've owned (strip on sports goggles excepted). It's been infuriating (though, still, I've never even considered contact lenses).
Though I'm not sure that it's actually the case, the problem seems to have gotten much worse with my current pair of glasses. I think a conservative estimate might be that I adjust my glasses on my face hundreds of times a day. In many cases the adjustment may constitute catching and repositioning my glasses as they literally fall from my face while engaged in low-impact tasks like dish washing. Even just sitting a desk typing may be enough to dislodge my glasses.
According to experts in the field (AKA opticians I've consulted) it is possible to have glasses that don't fall off of one's face constantly. Apparently it's all in how the glasses are fitted. I'm not sure how much I believe this.
Recently, in the hundred plus adjustments a day era, I mentioned this problem to Jeannette. She responded by telling me about some rubber attachments her brother used to use.
Before long I found similar products online for a very reasonable price and decided to give them a shot.
Though I'm not sure that it's actually the case, the problem seems to have gotten much worse with my current pair of glasses. I think a conservative estimate might be that I adjust my glasses on my face hundreds of times a day. In many cases the adjustment may constitute catching and repositioning my glasses as they literally fall from my face while engaged in low-impact tasks like dish washing. Even just sitting a desk typing may be enough to dislodge my glasses.
According to experts in the field (AKA opticians I've consulted) it is possible to have glasses that don't fall off of one's face constantly. Apparently it's all in how the glasses are fitted. I'm not sure how much I believe this.
Recently, in the hundred plus adjustments a day era, I mentioned this problem to Jeannette. She responded by telling me about some rubber attachments her brother used to use.
Before long I found similar products online for a very reasonable price and decided to give them a shot.
I've now had my new rubber attachments in place for the past 2.5 days. One thing that is immediately apparent is that my glasses are not falling from my face - which is exactly what I hoped. Unfortunately, now that my glasses are always almost strapped on to my head via my ears I've begun to feel the attachments rubbing behind my ears. Hopefully after a few days of regular use this will no longer be an issue. In any event, I'm inclined to think that a some behind-the-ear discomfort might be worth not having to adjust my glasses hundreds of times a day.
Cameron - 5
Neil - 0
It never ends (but at least we now have something shiny)
The previous owners of our house, the adult son and daughter of the previous resident, were very much unlike people one is often warned about when buying a house. They were both quite open about the work it would take to maintain the house as well as many of the problems they knew to exist - and they definitely didn't sugar-coat anything. One of the things they mentioned, and that we've since been able to confirm, is that the people they hired to re-enamel the bathtub didn't do a very good job.
Soon after we moved in the new coating began to peel from the side of the tube. As is common with these things, the area began to grow and grow. Eventually a second location began to peel. Eventually, each bath would lead to several square inches of peeling.
It became clear that a new re-surfacing was in our future. Of course, given the life-span of the last refinishing I wasn't too keen on rushing into another round if it was not going to even last 2 years.
Fortunately, we learned that the previous re-surfacing was done by a fly-by-night operator and not the main re-surfacing company in Regina. The main company in Regina has a reputation for good workmanship and has resurfaced the bathtubs of friends in the neighbourhood.
So yesterday, after 2 years of an ever worsening bathtub we had it resurfaced again. Amazingly, the whole process - including stripping - only takes the better part of a work day. So now that we've let it dry overnight we should be ready to use it at any point today.
I can't wait to test it out later today.
Cameron - 4
Neil - 0
Hot Podcast Cameo
A few weeks ago while listening to Backstory, a great American history podcast/radio show, I the against-character decision to provide requested listener feedback. In this case, they were looking for advertising styles that they could use to create mock-up ads in the same style for the show. I suggested the mid-20th century tobacco that featured advice from medical professionals about the benefits of smoking.
Much to my surprise, I was contacted by the show to say that they were hoping to go with my suggestion. The only bummer is that they were hoping that I could call in to leave the suggestion as a phone message (I'd previously submitted the idea textually).
Somewhat begrudgingly, and with much uptalk and hesitancy, I left the requested message outlining my idea.
When I heard the show last week I was quite impressed with the segment that preceded my mocked up ad - it was about one of the individuals most responsible for this type of advertising. I like to think that my suggestion not only lead to the mocked up ad, but also in the entire preceding segment. I guess I could try and ask the producers of the show - but why risk it?
Anyway I recommend not only the episode in which I make an appearance, but the show generally - it is very well done (my only real frustration with the show is that a friend who applied for one of their producer positions was not hired). I particularly looking forward to listening to this week's show about women in the workplace (as one of the stories is about the 'Rosies' - a in which my grandmother is a relatively proud and active member).
Cameron - 3
Neil - 0
Much to my surprise, I was contacted by the show to say that they were hoping to go with my suggestion. The only bummer is that they were hoping that I could call in to leave the suggestion as a phone message (I'd previously submitted the idea textually).
Somewhat begrudgingly, and with much uptalk and hesitancy, I left the requested message outlining my idea.
When I heard the show last week I was quite impressed with the segment that preceded my mocked up ad - it was about one of the individuals most responsible for this type of advertising. I like to think that my suggestion not only lead to the mocked up ad, but also in the entire preceding segment. I guess I could try and ask the producers of the show - but why risk it?
Anyway I recommend not only the episode in which I make an appearance, but the show generally - it is very well done (my only real frustration with the show is that a friend who applied for one of their producer positions was not hired). I particularly looking forward to listening to this week's show about women in the workplace (as one of the stories is about the 'Rosies' - a in which my grandmother is a relatively proud and active member).
Cameron - 3
Neil - 0
Sunday, February 01, 2015
And before I forget
Today marks the start of another year's annual blog-off (seemingly the one month of the year when I make a semi-concerted effort to post semi-regularly).
Because I'm feeling particularly generous this year I'll give Neil a 15 points to 1 advantage per post. So each time I post I get a single point and each time Neil posts he'll get 15 points. Maybe this will be skewed enough in his favour that I might get a handful of posts out of him?
Cameron - 2
Neil - 0
Because I'm feeling particularly generous this year I'll give Neil a 15 points to 1 advantage per post. So each time I post I get a single point and each time Neil posts he'll get 15 points. Maybe this will be skewed enough in his favour that I might get a handful of posts out of him?
Cameron - 2
Neil - 0
Overdue updates
Wow, I've really let the various collections of links on this blog slide. Some of them have been dead and I continued to let them stay. Others had long over-stayed their welcome and had also been allowed to stay (I think that you didn't really need this blog to find the The Guardian's website).
For some reason a few years ago I added a widget that was supposed to import my hot YouTube vids and allow them to be viewed on this site. In retrospect I don't know if it ever worked properly, but I know that as of this morning it was really not working. It has also been removed.
I'm not sure that I'm yet inclined to dink with the relatively overall look of this blog. While it's nothing flashy (and likely reeks of 2006) I don't think it's yet bad enough to merit a change.
Anyway, surely only the loyalist of loyal readers would be in a position to notice any of these changes and I suspect that my irregular posting has all but ensured that there aren't very many of you left. For those of you that still remain, I hope you like the changes.
Cameron - 1
Neil - 0
For some reason a few years ago I added a widget that was supposed to import my hot YouTube vids and allow them to be viewed on this site. In retrospect I don't know if it ever worked properly, but I know that as of this morning it was really not working. It has also been removed.
I'm not sure that I'm yet inclined to dink with the relatively overall look of this blog. While it's nothing flashy (and likely reeks of 2006) I don't think it's yet bad enough to merit a change.
Anyway, surely only the loyalist of loyal readers would be in a position to notice any of these changes and I suspect that my irregular posting has all but ensured that there aren't very many of you left. For those of you that still remain, I hope you like the changes.
Cameron - 1
Neil - 0
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