Archive for July, 2005
July 31, 2005 at 5:58 pm · Filed under Site Specific
Woo hoo! If you search for eggo waffles via Google my site comes up in 5th place!!! (For today at least)
I found the page on my DreamHost “Control Panel” where I can view my web statistics. It’s very humbling to think that people I don’t know are stumbling across my webpage while searching for “meggo” or “sceliphron” or “black and red rims”. They don’t expect to find this, they are probably looking for useful information. Yet they might follow a link to this page and they might even read a few posts… …might. If I’m reading these stats right, 11.9% of my hits are coming from Isreal. I do not know anybody who lives in Isreal.
I’m being quite amused with this statistics and how I may interpret them. Maybe I will develop some “theories” on why people might visit my site. More later then.
July 29, 2005 at 11:04 pm · Filed under Computers, Mundane, Work
maybe even more
spent the time trying to figure out why a simple piece of java was not compiling. It could not revolve the most rudimentry classes of the JDBC. I just found my problem…just now…laying in my bed because I couldn’t fall asleep before solving it. After all the playing around with classpaths and exploring the directory structure of the Java SDK on a Mac I realized that instead of “import java.sql.*;” I had written “import javax.sql.*;”.
grrr.
July 28, 2005 at 10:52 pm · Filed under Sweet Finds
-{ Hanttula.com }- -{ Presents: The Museum of Food Anomalies� }-
Some of the little faces on this page are soo cute. Reminds me of the Mr. Power Outlet.
July 27, 2005 at 11:49 pm · Filed under I am feeling..., Reflection
Tonight that’s what I’m feeling a bit. Not a loser in the sense of not being accomplished. More of a geek. But not that computer / engineer type geek that is considered pretty cool (by other computer / engineer types??) Just a little awkward, a little trying to hard. I’m wondering how much I’ve tried to hard, been manipulative, been too choosey with my words, rather than purely be myself and say what I’m thinking. That leads me to wonder if I’m better off staying quiet, or if I should speak my mind.
These thoughts are influenced by the reading of many blogs lately. There are specifically two that I have been enjoying:
Stephanie Klein
The Daily Isolate
Both written by really funny, honest, smart women. They say what they are thinking (it seems). They tell of embarrassing moments, obscene moments, they mention names, they state opinions, they joke. It inspires me to write in the same way, but when I try to I stop. I’ll be walking home from school and I will be composing a blog entry in my head but when I finally get to a computer I think, “no that might not be appropriate”. I’m always considering, who might read this page? My mother, a relative, a potential employer, a friend who might wish to correct my story of some event we shared together?
This is why I feel a tiny weeny bit like a loser. I’m a loser in the sense that I’m letting all my worries of what “someone” might think get in the way of really letting people know what I am thinking.
I don’t know if I can change that. I don’t know if I should change that. But I’m thinking about it. I”m thinking that maybe I’m locking certain doors of opinions and feelings and dreams that should be opened. Otherwise when I die (someday) there will be so much that I never shared with people. So much that I may have missed out on because of that.
Did you know that I even pre-wrote this entry in TextPad because I wasn’t sure where it was going? I wanted to keep it in the safety of my personal digital realm before making any decisions on its unleashment. (Yes I also might start to make up more words). I wouldn’t want to say “the wrong thing” and publish that online, no.
Oh boy, getting tired cause it’s late (for me). Will maybe open up tomorrow, for now - sleep.
July 18, 2005 at 7:51 am · Filed under In the News, Reflection
The CTV news covered the story that one of the Vancouver Aquarium Beluga whales, a young one, died yesterday. The cause of his death has not yet been explained and prior to the moment, he was a healthy, happy, almost 3-year-old.
Tuvaq’s death is already making the voices of animal rights activists ring higher. They say that 5 baby whales have died at the aquarium since 1977. They say it is cruel to keep the Belugas in captivity. Much is true to that but I still find myself quite divided. I feel guilty that I go to the aquarium to enjoy watching the Belugas, that our Echology project is based on a webcam used to watch these whales trapped in their tank. On the other hand, I find the Belugas so incredible, so amazing to watch that I would be very sad if they were at the aquarium no longer. I think there are many people in Vancouver who feel that way, a number of them who may have developed relationships with the Belugas. These people may not feel as though the Belugas home at the aquarium is cruel. They may feel the Belugas are part of a family, that they like to be there as much as we do.
It’s really hard to say. I feel really mixed about it. I do know that after watching hours and hours of the Belugas via the webcam, I can say that they always seemed really really happy. Maybe they cannot control the little upward curls at the corner of their mouths so that they portray more sadness for their situation. Maybe I just don’t know what a sad whale looks like. But I’ve felt sadness from animals before so I think it’s something that humans can be in touch with if they open that door. The Beluga whales always seem so happy, so playful.
The attitude of some folk at the aquarium scares me somewhat, complaining about children having to see the dead Beluga:
A crane lifted Tuvaq’s body from the pool — in full view of on looking children, which had some parents muttering there could have been a better time to do it.
This angers me quite a bit. First of all because it would have been obvious what was going on and there is plenty of room for parents to usher their children back into the aquarium. Secondly because it seems as though these parents are avoiding any responsibility in teaching their children the facts of nature - death and all. While the aquarium strives to not just display the creatures, but to make them a family, educate people, and conduct research hoping to benefit the sea life, it’s likely that some people still see the place as entertainment for their children.
I don’t hate kids. I don’t hate their parents. I just wonder at times if zoos and aquariums shouldn’t be adult only. I wondered this during my visit to the San Francisco zoo a year back. The place was littered with screaming, yelling, extremely hyperactive kids. It broke my heart to see that these wise animals received none of the respect they should.
So, I think that maybe it was good for some children to see the passing away of Tuvaq. It may help them understand the facts of nature. It may help them realize that the Begulas are more than a display, but they have souls just like us (I think) and should be treated with the same respect they would treat their friends and family.
July 15, 2005 at 9:26 am · Filed under Dreams
The reflections in this months IEEE Spectrum magazine hit a chord with me. Robert W. Lucky says in his essay “The Dream”:
In this dream, I’m facing a final exam in some course that I’ve never attended, possibly because I had forgotten that I had signed up for it, or possibly because I could never find the room where the course was given. Unlike most other dreams, this one doesn’t just melt away like the morning fog with the rising sun. Instead, it lingers throughout the day, imparting a vague sense of uneasy apprehension.
I have this dream, or a variant, about 4 times a year. In the latest one, I dreamt not just of the final exam, but weeks leading up to that. In the last third of the semester I remember that I have that class. I think that I should go but I’m scared to because the professor will yell “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS???” The class is usually in some unfamiliar subject like environment engineering or engineering safety. Nothing that I can wing.
I understand that this is a fairly common dream. On occasion I’ve asked friends if they’ve had some version of this dream. Based on a minuscule sample, the results of my canvassing have led me to believe that engineers experience this dream more than graduates in other disciplines. It’s a dream that I continue to have about once a year despite the fact thqat it has been many, many years since I was in college. The dream is so real that even now I’m not sure there isn’t some final exam in the next couple of weeks in some course that through all these decades since college I’ve forgotten to attend.
It is oh so true. I am still in school so some mornings after the dream I have to check my registration status (at UBC AND UofR) just to ensure that I am not in any phantom classes. My thought is that these dreams are a product of stress and their benefits are that they keep us on our toes with deadlines and projects. It’s nice to think that I will continuously get these “you don’t want to end up in this situation” for the rest of my life.
July 14, 2005 at 9:25 am · Filed under In the News, Thinking
This article linked by Google news makes me wonder what the future of food production and consumption will be. I am pro-labeling pop cans and bottles with warnings over obesity and cavities. I know too many people who decided to give up their daily trips to 7-11 and noticed a big change in their health and weight. From the article:
Suggested warnings include “US Government recommends that you drink less (non-diet) soda to help prevent weight gain, tooth decay, and other health problems” and “To help protect your waistline and your teeth, consider drinking diet sodas or water.“
What I don’t like about this is that they may still encourage the consumption of diet beverages which may be just as harmful as regular sugared drinks, but without the noticeable physical side effects. I’m not going to rant on about Aspartame, but I am worried about all the millions of people making shifts to diet beverages, drinking the same quantities and thinking that it will solve the problem.
ABA president Susan Neely claimed that asking the FDA to put warning labels on soft drinks, or any food products that contain caloric sweeteners, would be highly patronizing to consumers and open up a whole can of worms. “Where would such a food “hit list” stop?” she asked. “Even skim milk and thousands of other food products could potentially fit into a CSPI labeling scheme because of the sugars contained in those products.”
This is true, although not a good defense I think. But should the labelling stop at soda pop? What about juices and “fruit drink” with high sugar content? What about potato chips and gummy bears and pixie sticks? There are all these products sold not for health but for pleasure and pleasurable some of them are. I admit that I have a soft spot for blackberry twizzlelators and pretty much any kind of chocolate. When I grew up these items were “treats”. Usually they involved extra chores or a long walk to the store. Now that I have grown up, I realize that if left to my own devices I would endulge in these “treats” everyday and many people do. From what I see, they are no longer treats, they have become substitutes for organic, more “real” food.
I hope that the tolerance for tasty chemicals is changed in the future.
July 13, 2005 at 7:58 pm · Filed under Mundane
Tonight I’ve been opposing all my bad habits. This means that after finishing supper (while browsing apartment rental listings on my computer), I got off the computer and did stuff. I’m currently getting NIME video footage on my computer, cleaning up my place, listening to Led Zepplin and getting an area prepped for painting. OK so I am on Waffles right now but that was just because I saw something very amusing.
I read the label of a can of Golden Gel Medium:
WARNING: This product contains a chemical(s) known to the State of California to cause cancer.
So I know this just means that I should avoid eating or inhaling the stuff… …but it’s just weird to see. We spend so much time fearing things that = possible death and we build up these ideas and fears around things like flying and bungee jumping and venomous spiders and water + lightning when we don’t think of all the little things (well most of us don’t, some do).
I love warning labels. My favorite still being the one telling people not to put babies in rubbermaid containers (those large ones you know).
July 13, 2005 at 10:44 am · Filed under Dreams
with your own snoring? I did that this morning. I don’t think that I’m regularily a snorer, but since I’ve had this cold at times I snore even when I’m awake. So anyway, I woke myself up from this movie like dream. It seemed out of a William Gibson novel. I played a character, a man I think, and I at some institute, accessing a matrix or cyber world. In that world there were people after me. I kept on going in though, each time because the time before I forgot something somewhere (ex. my wallet). I escaped (?if that is the right word) the institute near the end of my dream. As I was running away on this really lush green grass I couldn’t breath very well and then I had this snore like ringing in my ears. That’s when I woke up.
July 11, 2005 at 12:20 pm · Filed under Sweet Finds
This post on Gumption made me smile today.
He quotes from the physicians’ office:
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, Champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used
up, totally worn out & screaming ‘WOO HOO - What a ride!’”
July 10, 2005 at 5:07 pm · Filed under Evil Things
sceliphron_laetum1
Or the mud wasp. I did a little research and found this. It is definitely the insect that flew into my apartment this morning. That skinny little waist is its trademark. I’ve never seen one before today and I hope to never see one again. They are just creepy. Though sources say that they are not too aggressive.
July 10, 2005 at 9:48 am · Filed under Evil Things, Experiences, I'm a Nerd
Major freak out this morning. I had just sat down with a bowl of oatmeal and cup of coffee when a large unidentified flying bug came into my apartment through the open window. I’ve never seen such a ghastly looking bug and still am unsure of what it was. I was about 2″ in length, thick like a wasp, and it’s two body segments were quite separated from each other. It’s bottom seemed to hang low as it propelled through the air. Was it a queen? It was huuuuge!
My first instinct was to lock myself in my room and hope that by midday it would go away. Then I realized that my coffee was outside and I was having such a great morning - wouldn’t want to ruin that with a caffeine withdrawal headache. I decided that it cannot hurt me if I wear armour. Here’s what I came up with (to be worn over cat-printed pyjamas):
- a thick bunnyhug with hood up, black in case it is attracted to bright colours
- thick wool socks, again, black
- I need hand protection so I chose a pair of silver fitted costume gloves. At first they seemed silly but then I realized they were the optimal choice. They could be pulled up to my elbows, the material was quite thick, but their fittedness allow for maximum finger movement.
- a black hooded cape made of a meshy transparent material. I donned the hood and wrapped the cape around my face because it just might be the kind of insect that would go for the face.
With all my orifices covered I tiptoed back into the living room. Luckily I saw it right away. I was worried that it would borrow itself somewhere, leaving me uncertain to whether it was gone or was just building a nest an laying eggs all over my apartment.
It was flying near the windows. This was also good. It was a sign that whatever it was, it wanted out. It was not looking to intrude. It was bad because I had to get closer to it to open the blinds, freeing the door way out. I lunged to the blind string a pulled, lunging back into the “safe zone”. It was caught! My plant had its leaves to close to the blinds and on rolling up, they grabbed hold of one leaf. The plant was pulled from its table and was hanging by the blinds. Risking an attack by the bug, I leaped forward again to release the plant. This time the blinds rolled up the whole way. When I settled down again, I realized that a candle holder had also been rolled up with the blind (it had been on the window sill). This would have to do. There was ample room for the insect to realize that the outside world was waiting for it. A few seconds later it flew out the window and it was quite a while before its body finally disappeared in the distance.
July 8, 2005 at 11:56 am · Filed under Experiences, Reflection
Wakaw Sky 1
I’ve been back in Vancouver for a couple of days now. Things are going well, though rainy and sneezy. Reflecting on my visit to Regina, everything went fairly well. Of note:
- had a great girls night at Kim’s place, soaked in the hottub for a couple of much needed hours
- drove up to Wakaw and had a nice visit with my grandmother, Uncle Gary, and Uncle Mike
- floated around the lake on an “Aqua Hammock” in the sun with my sister
- saw some deadly thunder storm and lightning action
- submitted an Echology paper on Sunday night
- had an interview for an internship position in Australia on Monday night
- hung out with Daryl and the guys
- spent a great day with Jemma, we babysat her nephew and he just made my day
- cleaned out some old things from my “ex-bedroom” in Regina
- left
Then last night there was an HCT / NIME Thank you party at Sid’s place. Everything went well and I think a fantastic time was had by all. Today is a little rough but nothing a few more hours of sleep will not repair. Too bad I do not have pictures of the party though :P
