RHETORICAL SOUNDOFF

Tiempo a Moverse en mis Buenos Amigos

2007-12-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

After several years of blogging here at Google's BLOGSPOT, I have decided to go to "brave new worlds" and join on with Wordpress.

Google's BLOGSPOT has served me well, and I have enjoyed the various changes made to this program over the past few years, however Wordpress offers so much more in this type of growing medium.

Please come and join me at my new blogging home:

http://gregorywest.wordpress.com/

Thanks so much for being here with me, I have enjoyed the comments and emails...See you over at Rhetorical Soundoff - Wordpress.

gregorx

gone canoe tripping

2007-07-22T09:29:00.000-04:00

gone canoing...

back in the fall for a full update and a possible photo/story book, historical log or whatever! haha

Bookmark your Google calendars to come back here for the full story of my summer adventures...

previews:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15549&l=
3cefc&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;id=592267164

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=
15542&l=16892&id=592267164

http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mchanley@rogers.com/album?.dir=
/a3f0re2&.src=ph&.tok=phP37EHBjqoXX1P8

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=trippingcanoe

All pics:
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=592267164

It's That Time Again

2007-05-05T19:00:00.001-04:00

The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the wilds of Algonquin are calling once again...

Yes, I cannot wait. Soon I set out for another wilderness canoe trip into the interior of Algonquin. This time we are headed for Cache Lake where we will put-in. After several portages and various lakes we will set up camp. From there we intend to venture out into many of the surrounding waterways and fish for lake trout.

A full write, with pics, will be the order of the day when we return.

For now, here is a link to a solo trip I did last September on the Saugeen River:

I uploaded photos to Facebook of the Saugeen River solo trip I did...Go here to view them all: http://www.facebook.com

This Cache Lake trip is the first of 9 canoe trips I have planned for this year and I am looking forward in logging all these trips into book form when the weather turns in late fall...But enough talk about that weather...Each of these canoe trips will be published first here at http://gregorywest.blogspot.com - "stay tuned" as they say...

Hitler Resurrected?

2007-03-25T07:49:00.000-04:00

WEST SHOULD STAY IN EAST...
at least for now.

Are we to believe that any Nation that defies the United Nations is against the rest of the world's peace and harmony?

I think so.

Iranian Government defies the UN's request for Iran to back-off on the arms race, or rather the gathering of uranium. Here is what Iran told the United Nations...And you can sort out your own thoughts:

"The world must know and it does that even the harshest political and economic sanctions or other threats are far too weak to coerce the Iranian nation to retreat from their legal and legitimate demands...Suspension is neither an option nor a solution." (Globe and Mail 070325)

Gas Shortage Easing???

2007-03-07T13:58:00.000-05:00

Gas Companies = BS

Esso says that the "GAS SHORTAGE" is coming to an end. That's nice.

Why is it that these manipulators of our way-of-life can act similar to Highwaymen of days gone by?

Each long weekend in the summer one can count on the gas pricing to be hiked up, as during mother and father days, Christmas, Easter and whenever these thieves feel like adding to their profit coffers?

It is time the Government began to regulate these crooks, similar to the stock exchange, and the Canadian Wheat Board etc.

I say, "NO MORE RIPPING OFF THE PUBLIC" - Why do we NOT boycott ESSO?

Do we have such short memories as to what they did to their employees several years back? Hint: They escorted them off the property, without notice, by outside security forces, and told them they no longer had a job and that ESSO was keeping their pensions.

Imagine that. I for one will NEVER buy ESSO gas for that sole reason, but what about a boycott against Prime Minister Harper for not stepping in and correcting this very wrong by these conglomerated manipulators?

PRETTY MUCH: "Absolutely"

2007-01-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

TERMS / JARGON THAT SHOULD CARRY TERRIBLE PENALTIES IF USED:

ABSOLUTELY
folks
at the end of the day
pretty much
fabulous
whatever
cool (died in the 60's)
ums and aahs (CBC Radio Hosts are getting worse)

Today, keep your ears open and simply listen to how many times those around you use the word: "absolutely". Even on CBC Radio? Pitty!

After a while it will drive you crazy. Expecially when you know that "pretty much" of the time it is used in the wrong context and utilized by mere habit of trying to fit in and be cool.

Do you know who makes them keep on saying to jargon words and terms? Advertisers. Yes, those business people whose job it is to make sure you pay attention to their ads on TV and radio...How is the best way, by making funny ads and using popular "junk" words and phrases that are ever-so-popular.

Am a right?

"Pretty much" or "Absolutely" you dare say? (do not forget to count em today)

It was not that long ago that the masses were using the jargon phrase for almost everything: pretty much. But after a while that began to sound somewhat whimpish and now the worn-out trend is to use the term "absolutely" for everything under the sun, moon, and stars.

Oh yes, "folks" (another one I can do without), do not forget that one that us used by ALL EXPERTS ALIVE: "...at the end of the day...". Give us a break PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! We believe you are intelligent; so, please stop advertising the fact by trying to sound "pretty much" or "absolutely" like the last expert before you.

"The firm, a branch of staffing agency Robert Half International Inc., recently polled 250 advertising and marketing executives about phrases that might have seemed clever back in the day, but are stale and annoying now." Globe and Mail

Here are some of the things "they" say to avoid:
“Paradigm shift,” grates on the executives' nerves, as does “critical mass.”

When words and phrases become overused, “they can lose their impact and appear clichéd,” said Dave Willmer, executive director of The Creative Group.

“Direct, concrete statements typically are the most powerful and persuasive. When professionals find their communications laden with buzzwords, they should consider how they might convey their thoughts more clearly,”

So, please, do us all a favour and LOSE THE JARGON and don't be cool LOL...Oh, and yes, I almost forgot one: FABULOUS. Please, please, please, lose that one. It sounds "like", well know you, pretty much absolutely horrible. [cartoon credit]

Rhetorical War With a Trucker

2007-01-09T22:15:00.000-05:00

Here is another "LETTER TO THE EDITOR" in the Sarnia Observer newspaper. I had to follow-up on the comments made and comments omitted by the Trucker:

Take our highways back from truckers
Editorial - Tuesday, January 09, 2007 Updated @ 4:12:47 PM

Sir: Re: Letter to the editor from Inwood trucker Roger Bahro ("Report bad drivers when you see them," The Observer, Dec. 23, 2006), replying to my letter of Dec. 15, 2006 ("Regulate the speed of transport trucks")

As Roger points out, "The State of Michigan has changed their speed limit for trucks from 55 mph to 60 mph." Roger failed to mention that speed is 10 miles-per-hour less than auto traffic who can legally travel at 70 mph.

This keeps the truckers well below the speed of other vehicles and in the righthand lane. This is a much safer method of moving traffic on heavily travelled highways. It also keeps the truckers from cutting out and cutting off other vehicles and blocking the passing lanes, especially on hills.

Sarnia-Lambton MPP Caroline Di Cocco responded to my initial letter of complaint concerning speeding truckers:

"Dear Gregory West:

Thank you for taking time to provide your perspective on the issue of transport truck speeds. Yes, I travel regularly on the 401 and 402. And, yes, I too note the speed of trucks. The advice you provide is valuable and I will take the liberty to speak to the Minster of Transportation regarding your e-mail.

Your views and comments are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Caroline"

Maybe, someday, we will get back our highways from the truckers and have an enjoyable ride from Sarnia to Toronto and not have to endure the nightmarish journey facing one today.

Gregory West

RE: "Regulate Truck Speed on Ontario Highways"

2007-01-05T19:18:00.001-05:00

Editor's Note: TOPIC: Trucks drive too fast and hog the passing lanes!

This is an ongoing issue/blog and a "Letter-to-the-Editor" in the Sarnia, Observer newspaper. Just in, an email from our Provincial MP who says she will personally speak with the Minister of Transport.

Caroline Di Cocco
MPP-CO

Dear Gregory West,

Thank you for taking time to provide your perspective on the issue of
transport truck speeds. Yes I travel regularly on the 401 and 402. And
yes I too note the speed of trucks. The advice you provide is valuable
and I will take the liberty to speak to the Minster of Transportation
regarding your email.

Your views and comments are appreciated.

Sincerely,
Caroline

BLOG LINKS:

Truckers too fast and dangerous.

Legislate truckers is the only way for safe highways.

NEWSPAPER LINK:

Sarnia Observer

So, sit back and watch the show. Does the "little guy" win for safer highways, or do the "big boys" dominate our elected officials? Safety first, I hope.

BEWARE of Christmas PowerPoint

2006-12-29T22:18:00.000-05:00

Christmas computers may never be the same. This warning is a must-take-heed one.

E-mails may bring Christmas PowerPoint
with a surprise for the New Year

A PowerPoint file is circulating this season that drops and executes two malicious programs embedded in it. The innocent Christmas-themed PPT slideshow named Christmas+Blessing-4.ppt may be familiar to many of you. It has previously made the rounds and is just a decoy for the embedded malware.

This exploit was patched as early as March 14, 2006 (see Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-012 at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-012.mspx). But how many of you have installed that patch?

It's a shame and sad truth that we need to guard ourselves against PowerPoint data files, which should be totally safe. But if your systems aren't fully patched and you don't have the most up-to-date virus definitions, this Christmas blessing can infect you for the New Year.

Other seasonal virus exploits are hiding in attachments called:

# Christmas.exe
# Christmas_Puzzle.exe

These exploits may be found at: http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/archive-122006.html#00001058

I hope your computer is protected against these bad things and that your New Year starts out as a happy one!

NOTE: The above was made available by Orange County IBM PC Users' Group

"Here's To RESOLUTENESSES" 2007

2006-12-29T21:17:00.001-05:00

"Firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination.

Something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making.

A decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner."

One supposes, as one grows along life's pathway, to be resolute one night a year can be somewhat fun and exciting. Of course we all know that most resolutions, like many rules, are made, then broken not too far off in the distant future, although, akin to a bad present, it is "the thought that counts", or so the euphemism goes.

One year ago I determined a list of ten reslutions to be had for 2006:

Quit my job tomorrow and take life easy.
Write more...maybe a new novel - fiction this time?
More canoe trips. Get more active in Scouting.
More camping excursions and research expeditions.
Develop better and deeper computer skills (Linux).
Snorkle in the southern islands.
Read 18th C. novels and continue English studies.
Volunteer at the Imperial Theatre.
Rejoin Toastmasters International again.
Selective TV viewing only and no commercial radio.

The only resolution, from above, I did not accomplish, is resolution number 2; although this is a high priority for 2007 - I plan on one full short story a month in 2007.
The entire 2006 New Year's Blog is posted here
Do you have a resolution to be made?

The Top Ten NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS for this year are:

Spend More Time with Family & Friends
Fit in Fitness
Tame the Bulge
Quit Smoking
Enjoy Life More
Quit Drinking
Get Out of Debt
Learn Something New
Help Others
Get Organized

Looking over these resolutions, I have accomplished most of the items.

Much of our time is spent with familiy and friends.
We go to the gym 3 days per week and take the dog for 2 walks each day.
We have cut out junk food, boxed food, and mainly eat fruit, fish and vegetables.
Quit almost 10 years ago.
Quit job one year ago and am REALLY enjoying life MORE, REALLY haha.
Quit 9 years ago.
Did that before I quit working with my "FIVE YEAR PLAN".
Working on an English degree.
Volunteer with several entities within Lambton County.
Well, this one definitely needs work and herein lies my 2007 Resolution: PLANNING.
A left-over from 2006 for 2007 is to write fiction: short stories.

RE: "Regulate Truck Speed on Ontario Highways"

2006-12-23T13:31:00.001-05:00

This is a response from my recent Letter to the Editor in the Sarnia Observer...Please see my previous Blog about regulating these cowboy truck drivers...It is obvious this reader is a blinded trucker...He must not travel on the 400 series Hwys in Ontario...Especially 401 and 402 and the 400.

Report bad drivers when you see them Editorial - Saturday, December 23, 2006 @ 09:00

Sir: Re: Letter to the editor from Gregory West, "Regulate the speed of transport trucks" (The Observer, Dec. 15, 2006)

Please get your facts straight. The State of Michigan has changed their speed limit for trucks from 55 mph to 60 mph.

When you encountered these so called "out-of-control" trucks, did you get their plate number and the name of the company they work for and report them to the proper authorities?

I'm not saying there aren't some truck drivers out there that speed and break the rules, but not all of us are like that. The majority of the "professional" truck drivers out there encounter the same problems you talk about, whether it's other trucks or cars. Let's face it, there are a lot of bad drivers on the road. If we report them as we see them, it's a start. It's not going to rid us of all the bad drivers, but we can try, one by one, if that's what it takes.

By the way, our government is already looking into the possibility of installing speed limiters in trucks and setting the limits at 115 kmh (approx. 65 mph).

Roger Bahro

Inwood

Regulate Truck Speed on Ontario Highways

2006-12-08T10:21:00.001-05:00

PLEASE WRITE
YOUR MPP TODAY

AND COMPLAIN

IT IS YOUR RIGHT

My personal Email to my MPP for Sarnia, Ontario:

Caroline Di Cocco
Ontario MPP
First Sarnia Place
201 Front Street North
Suite 407
Sarnia, Ontario
N7T 7T9

Tel: 519-337-0051
Fax: 519-337-3246
E-Mail: cdicocco.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Hello Caroline,

As a forty year veteran of highway 401 and 402 driving, I have to ask
why Ontario still allows transport trucks to travel at the accepted
highway speed of 120 kph?

As one who works in Toronto, you must see this horrendous driving act
on the 402 and 401 of aggressive transport truck drivers who
constantly run over the speed limit and block traffic for miles when
they constantly attempt to pass other vehicles on hills.

All of this causes preventable accidents.

In Michigan State the Americans have legislated their trucks to travel
no faster than 80 kph, a speed that is constantly patrolled by the
police. It certainly makes for a much safer drive and a pleasant
drive.

We need safer highways. Regulating the speed to 80 kph, for transport
trucks, is a positive move towards making Ontario highways a very much
safer place to travel.

Due to the past and recent accidents on the 402 and 401, caused by
aggressive speeding transport trucks passing vehicles that choose to
travel the regulated speed limits, is the Liberal Government looking
into the unsafe state of our major highways due to the
"out-of-control" truck transport drivers?

Sincerely,

Gregory West

-----------------------------
Here are some facts to review:

A crash between two transport trucks early Thursday morning
on Highway 401 has left one man dead and slowed traffic on one
of the country's busiest highways.
For full report: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html
?id=3f025a6c-b4af-49f6-8c27-c197a2c04ca2&k=52752

There are so many stories about the horrendous highway hazards
caused by racing, raging, out-of-control transport drivers, who have
taken complete control over all lanes on our highways, that we do not
have enough time to list most of them. However, why not take a
moment and complain...?

Again, it is our right to write our Elected Officials, so why not? It is easy...
Here is the Email addresses you need:

EMAIL ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS OF ONTARIO LEGISLATURE:
http://olaap.ontla.on.ca/mpp/daCurRdg.do?locale=en&ord=RDG_NAME

Business Trends Magazine

2006-11-30T13:12:00.000-05:00

Well, I have finally done it.

After almost two years of writing a Technical column in Business Trends Magazine, I have decided to take a sabbatical from this posting. Last month I did not submit an article as I was in transit as my thoughts were going back and forth: "should I or should I not?"

I am currently doing an extensive study into fiction writing, my forever love, with my eyes on short-story writings.

So, if you happen to see a slant from my normal "non"-fictional verse of prose to stangely and factionally fiction, don't worry, it does not mean that I have completely lost it; it does mean that I am practicing here haha.

To keep the record straight, I did really enjoy my writing time at the Trends magazine, however it is time to move on to something else. I am not closing the door, however, to non-fiction writing, or writing for magazines, I am simply exploring new universes within my own.

Lambton Library - Our Little Gem

2006-11-06T19:08:00.000-05:00

God Bless Public Libraries

Obtaining a degree, part-time, is not an easy or cheap task, especially for one who is retired on a fixed income and so busy that there is barely enough time in a day to sleep.

I for one am an English student at Athabasca University, however I have taken a sabatical for this semester to conquer other areas of life. But I am still wanting to keep abreast of the studies and keep up on the readings within my future courses.

Today, I went to the English department's website at Athabasca and looked up the books required for: ENGLISH 381 - Creative Writing in Prose. This is a (six month) short story fiction writing course wherein you study 80 short stories. The books required are:

Scholes, Robert and Rosemary Sullivan, eds. 1994. Elements of Fiction: An Anthology. Toronto: Oxford University Press.

Hodgins, Jack. 1993. A Passion for Narrative: A Guide for Writing Fiction. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.

Can you imagine, the Anthology was in at the Sarnia Library and the writing guide is available in Watford Library. So, I scored one book to take home, while the other is on order.

I said to the librarian, "I was sure you would not have these books as they are university books." She said that even they surprise themselves sometimes with the availability of some books.

Hats off and three cheers for the librarians at the Sarnia Library.

Lockdown in Sector 4

2006-11-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

ARRESTED BY GOOGLE?

Google, google, google...I use googlealmosteverything.

Google has: email, blogging, apps, and too many more toys to mention, and in the near future it is rumoured that Google will have its' own operating system online. That's right, they are going to give ole Bill Gates' company, Microsoft, a run for their money against the new MS system: Vista.

But is this "all-in-one-barrel" a good thing?

Today I found out a major flaw in Google's email program: gmail. For no reason I am now in a "Lockdown Sector 4" position. In plain English: My damn email program has been taken prisoner by google aliens for "up to 24 hours" they say.

Of course, there is no reason stated why my email program is frozen in googleland, and I am left to search within google's search engine for answers to why I cannot access my email for "up to 24 hours".

I feel like the kid who has been sent down to the principal's office and not told the reason for this punishment. If you have been-there-done-that with gmail, you are all-too-familiar with Google's notice:

"Our system has detected abnormal usuage of your Gmail account. As a result, we have temporarily disabled access to this account.

It will take between one minute and 24 hours for you to regain access, depending on the behaviour our system detected."

So, is there a moral to this tale, or is this just one of those "Big Brother" moments wherein They do not want us to be on the "in"?

Fortunately, I have my email (gmail) backed up in MS Outlook. All my gmail is redirected to the Outlook program where I can access all my mail off-line and file as I see fit.

So, gmail you had better get this sector 4 problem repaired soon...Or else...At least we still have other email options if we so choose. But to be honest, I dread the thought of heading back to using Sympatico for my email server..."Don't Look Back Jack."
____________________________________________________________________

EXTRA - EXTRA - EXTRA ... Read All About It:

Hey, my congrats to gmail techs.

Not only did they reply in a very fast manner, my email is back in action.

Here is how Google explains the "Lockdown in Sector 4" issue:

"The Google Team to me More options 09:22 (3 hours ago) Thank you for your report. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience. For your security, we may temporarily disable access to your account if our system detects abnormal usage. Abnormal usage includes, but is not limited to:

- Receiving, deleting, or popping out large amounts of mail (via POP) in a short period of time - Sending a large number of undeliverable messages (messages that bounce back) - Using third party file-sharing or storing software, or software that automatically logs in to your account and that is not supported by Gmail - Multiple instances of your Gmail account opened - Browser-related issues. Please note that if you find your browser continually reloading while attempting to access your inbox, it is likely a browser issue, and it may be necessary to clear your browser's cache and cookies.

If you feel that access to this account should not have been disabled, please respond to the following questions:

1. What task were you performing when you were locked out? (ex: downloading messages via POP, logging in, sending an email, downloading an attachment, etc.)
2. What specific error messages are you receiving? Please include the exact code or text of the message.
3. With which Gmail username are you encountering this issue?
4. Which of the following Gmail features do you use, if any? If POP, which client do you use in conjunction with Gmail? POP, auto-forwarding, or Gmail's Notifier
5. Which security software or applications are installed on your computer?

6. Which browser extensions are you using?
7. Has access to your account been disabled before this occurrence? If so, when, for how long, and with which error message?
8. Did you recently send a message to a large number of invalid addresses or send more than 500 addresses? If you'd like to learn more about best practices for sending a large amount of mail through Gmail, please visit: http://www.google.com/gmail/help/bulk_mail.html.

Upon receiving all the above information, we'll investigate the issue further."

MY Days 061030 - Stories

2006-10-30T10:52:00.000-05:00

In the Beginning...My Short Stories' Series

Stardate: 061030

After many years of writing, dry and laborious boring technical and critically logically text, it is time for me to begin a lifelong dream of creative writing: SHORT STORY WRITING.

After spending many years writing on labour issues, politics, and such, as well as writing a regular column in Business Trends covering computer-related issues, I have decided to focus my writings on FICTION.

These short stories will all be entitled: MY Days (followed by a number that represents the day the story was created). It is somewhat borrowed from the Star Trek concept of "Stardate", of which I still love to hear that voice announce: Stardate 17724...It announces we are to embark on another exciting mission.

My mission is to write about everyday happenings, about normal and abnormal humans found in their regular and irregular routines. The donut shop (not Tims of course, another story), the gym, the library, the hockey rink, the soccer court at the college, home turf, the park and my dog Sam, meetings, church, the grocery store, the mall, and of course our industrious drivers in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada haha.

I have some favourite short story writers: Kristjana Gunnars, Alice Munroe, and Annie Dillard for starters, whom have given me some interesting insight to the world of imagination and organization therein. So, if you recognize a flavour here and there, these writers are thanked forevermore for their untouched and unmatched genius.

How to begin?

Dillard says it is easy, you begin with a word: "Words lead to other words and down the garden path. You adjust the paints' values and hues not to the world, not to the vision, but to the rest of the paint. The materials are stubborn and rigid; push is always coming to shove. You can fly - you can fly higher than you ever though possible - but you can never get off the page" (The Writing Life, Dillard, Annie: p57).

Where to begin?

Annie comes to my rescue once more: "Why do you never find anything written about that idiosyncratic thought you avert to, about your fascination with something no one else understands? Because it is up to you. There is something you find interesting, for a reason hard to explain. It is hard to explain because you have never read it on any page; there you begin" (The Writing Life, Dillard, Annie: p67).

Why?

Dillard talks about painters who paints because of a love of paint; therefore it can be said that a writer writes because of a "love of words". There are so many living and dead stories to be told and they do not even know it, yet.

On a cold wintry afternoon, when it is too horrible to venture outside and your cable is down, why not sift through, at the righthand column (Previous Blogs) of the many blog entries of RHETORICAL SOUNDOFF and find a MY Day to get lost within...?

And of course, if you feel the need to write a word or two yourself, why not email me a couple to share your thoughts on MY Day (s) - prospector16@gmail.com

greg

The Son-In-Law

2006-10-29T13:28:00.000-05:00

gotcha
gary!!!

LOL

How many father-in-laws would brag about their son-in-laws having a different twist in life?

Maybe it is not his fault that Gary is this way inclined, or declined as it were.

I wonder what Gary's two sons, my grandkids, do when they see this blog :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN lol

The Farmer's Calendar

2006-10-14T21:47:00.000-04:00

SNOW IN EARLY OCTOBER?

What gives, shorts, t-shirts, and sandles one day; thinsulate the next?

According to the Farmer's Almanac for 2006-7 the Ontario weather is "expected to have near normal winter temperatures with somewhat drier winter conditions". Of course they cover themselves with a backup statement: "This is not to say this area won't be without its cold spells and significant snowfalls...". Gibberish I dare say!

This picture on the left, taken early Friday afternoon, is our backyard with SNOW...An omen for what is to come? The mess below is City TV news coverage of the mess in Fort Erie, cause by this premature disasterous snow storm. Nature's statement correcting the Almanac?

And what can be said of how Fort Erie got hit?

I do hope for one thing this winter - The Farmer's Almanac is wrong in their predition of a "drier" winter.

As newly joined members of the Lambton Outdoor Club, my wife and I are planning to venture upon many cross-country ski trips this season...We want snow and snow that stays, not melts and freezes, but deep white fluffy stuff that remains.

Stay tuned for more on the ski trips, however I bet the story of my recent 50 mile solo canoe trip on the Saugeen River appears here as the weather gets colder. I saved some of my warmer tales for the colder hours.

Imbue

2006-10-11T09:12:00.000-04:00

If you have ever had the opportunity to sit in on a Toastmasters International meeting, you will know that each meeting has a theme and a "Word-of-the-Day"...And if you have not had the chance to see a Toastmasters' meeting in operation, you owe it to yourself to go to one this week.

There are many reasons for which to have these two items set forth for the members utilize within their speeches. However, the one I like to evolve with, especially when I am the acting Toastmaster, is to incorporate the WOD (word of the day) and blend it into the meeting's theme.

For example, I am the Toastmaster at the Hospitable Toastmasters meeting in Sarnia, Ontario today. The WOD is "imbue", picked by our Grammarian. I am hoping that our Table Topics Master will also join in on this project and set forth to utilize, inspire, and create topics that can help us all attain a better understanding of public speaking.

But more importantly, while I was researching the word "imbue" and some quotes that could help us understand its proper meaning and to therefore put the word into a proper context of meaning, I came across this quote:

"Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern reslove. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind." -- Leonardo da Vinci, Notebooks

Ah, to be inbued...and receive: "Inspiration & Influence" at its finest.

Summer's End - A New Beginning?

2006-09-22T05:35:00.000-04:00

Fall season is a colour time for most as the leaves begin their yearly ritual of turning from their summer-green into an explosion of rainbow washed colours.

Fall season for many is also a time that signals ideas and projects that have been put on the burner for the past four months. Some people view this time of year more of a change in lifestyle that does our actual New Years Eve. My view of fall is a sign that it is my time to begin all my winter-long projects, the ones that are mostly done inside (except my Nordic ski trips and winter camping), and complete some long projected plans that were staved off due to time restraints.

This year is my "Year of the Book", the year I begin my serious research into my past. I intend to join SCUG's genealogy (www.scug.ca) group to help with this project.

The project is to research my ancestors from about 1822 in Ireland and follow their travels to Canada and eventually to Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. I will be seeking the help from our Mormon research lab here in Sarnia, and as well I intend to return to Parry Sound next year (Kilbear Camp) and from their travel back and forth to Parry Sound for extensive snooping.

The concept of my book will be part fiction, as much of the past is only an educated guess at best for most people, and factual research backed by whatever data and pictures I can dig up.

I am dreaming, thinking that this is my winter project, as I can easily foresee this venture could go on and on and on...And it is in this regard I intend to segment the data into eras, such as:

Irish potato famine
massive Irish immigration patterns
hardships of early Canadian settlers of the mid to late 1800s
life in Canada for migrants and the land grant offers
history of Parry Sound
actual lives of the Fish family in Parry Sound 1900-1949
and life after Parry Sound...

So, this fall, if you happen to be reading this Blog and know some little tid bit I could use, please email me at: prospector16@gmail.com

2006 Summer Institute for Teachers/ORCA Flatwater Instructor's Course

2006-08-29T09:36:00.000-04:00

WE DID IT

After a long and tedious week of 13-14 hour days, a group of us students completed and successfully passed the ORCA Flatwater Canoe Instructor's Course at Silent Lake, Ontario.

The pre-course began with the usual organization of campsites, equipment, instructors, car-pooling options, payment, menu, and the course intinary/schedule.

Flatwater ABCD skills were honed to near perfection:

Monday: tandem skills, lesson planning, learning styles, theory 1, 2, 3, 4
Tuesday: tandem skills, intro to solo, tandem lessons, theory 4, 5, 6, 7
Wednesday: solo with stopping, windy weather paddling, theory
Thursday: solo with landings, solo lessons
Friday: practice/evaluations, canoe dance, final exam

Each morning we were on the water at 7 am sharp, and with the usual breaks, we were off the water at 9 pm each night. By mid-week we learned about muscles we could never have imagined owning, or rather, pains we could never had imagined, but it was through a sense of camaraderie that we kept one another going and going until each one of us made the grade as certified Flatwater Instructors.

The entire course was held at Silent Lake Provincial Park, a wilderness park located 80 kms north of Peterborough, Ontario. The lake held true to its name, except for a mid-week wind storm that caught us all by surprise, however we all made it back and the event was referred to regularly as a reference to serious problems that come up without warning.

We were fortunate to have three instructors: Phil, Alan, and Jennifer, all of whom came from various backgrounds and worked hard to bring us students up to the level that is required for Instructors. There was ample time for one-on-one instruction, especially when a student was struggling with a certain move or stroke.

At the onset of the course, Phil, the lead instructor, warned us he was going to take us past the "limit" of the course requirements, and settle us back down to the level needed for a pass. He did not waver from this announcement for a minute. Many of us, mid-week, had thoughts we might not make the grade; the going was extremely tough and tiresome, however the end result was paid; we worked hard, studied hard, and as a result, we are all registered and certified: ORCA Flatwater Canoe Instructors.

Far beyond the certification and the acquiring of the specific skills, we also developed a keen sense of team work and friendship during this grueling week-long course. When one of us fell short, others were quickly there to pick us up and get us back on track.

It is a time I shall never forget, the hard work, the team work, the amazing sense of camaraderie, and the ever-present forbearance of the three instructors who have the patience of Job.

A True Sense Of Teamwork

Extra special thanks to Carolyn of the Canadian Canoe Museum

"A FEW GOOD HUMANS"

2006-08-27T14:07:00.000-04:00

"LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD SOLDIERS"...an ad in the Toronto Star?

As meek and somewhat friendly as the title appears, the subliminal message is very loud and clear: "Uncle Stephen Wants You!"

We can all agree that the American soldier has dominated the press, long since the Vietnam era up to and almost including Afghanistan, however, sadly, Canadian soldiers are coming home in boxes from that same area and are now making headline news on most Canadian television networks at suppertime.

So, what exactly is the "big deal"?

In the past, we have seen some Canadian military exhibits and reviewed them with a "ho-hum" and moved on to the the other exhibits without much thought. Today, the Canadian military is out to attract new recruits in most major cities. The exhibit now is the size of a "football field near the Princess Gates" (Canadian National Exhibition), and as reported in the Star, it "is more than just a public relations pitch".

Let's face ti, the display is a great demonstration of military might, while a Leopard C2 tank has a 12 foot banner draped across the side wherein the public can sign messages to the active Canadian soldiers overseas.

Hey, it would be legal for the new recruits to carry guns, they would also belong to a unit (gang), and they would not take up our valuable resourses of the local police departments here at home.

But why the real push for military might expansion? You're guess is as good as anyone's, although bare in mind that Prime Minister Harper (Uncle Bob) did not visit the troops overseas for a vacation, there was a subliminal message here, just as there is with the title: LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD SOLDIERS.

Editor's Note: This blog was submitted to the Editor of the Toronto Star, August 27, 2006. I wonder if they will reprint?

60 = 40

2006-08-21T09:44:00.000-04:00

We Are Not Going to AGE

Of course, we are going to fight the aging process with all we have.

The first of the Baby Boomers, the "ole Hippies" of the 60's, are now reaching the ripe old age of sixty, an age once thought to be VERY OLD, but today that concept is changing.

For instance, take a look at your grandparents, the ones who lived through a couple of wars and the Great Depression of the 30's. When they reached age sixty they were old. Why? They simply allowed themselves to become physically and mentally OLD. They allowed themselves to fit the "mold" of an old person, sitting around just waiting for their time to die. "The times, they are a changin." Thank God...

In fact, former US President Clinton just turned sixty on Saturday and says that "sixty was no dream", he added, "I hate it, it's true...For most of my working life, I was the youngest person doing whatever I was doing, then one day I woke up and I was the oldest person in the room." Routers - Friday August 18, 2006

As I turned fifty-five this past spring, I know how Clinton feels, yet instead of "hating it" I love it...I now have a chance to do the things I was never able to do before due to time restrictions. I know this is my time, a time to begin to live my newly created life of freedom of choice.

The global population is aging at an ever increasing rate due to people now living longer. The Canadian Government report on aging demonstrates that in "In 2001, one Canadian in five will have reached the age of 65." The Canadian study finds the life expectancy different that one in the US, wherein the Canadian "Life expectancy is expected to continue to grow, albeit more slowly, reaching 81 years for men and 86 years for women in 2041".

Being fifty-five in 2006, it is unlikely I will live to see if the above comes true, however I plan on giving my survival rate a fight.

According to Dr. Michael Brickley, an APA Fellow and Board Certified Psycholigist with more than 30 years of clinical experience, the secret to living longer is "70% is mental and lifestyle" and the other is "30% of longevity is genetic." Dr. Brickey says that the way to "effect your health" is "Your Anti Aging ABCs (Attitudes, Beliefs, and Coping)".

Of course, living a healthy lifestyle through eating the proper foods and exercising on a regular basis puts you on the right course to living a healthy and long life, so why is it that with all this informaiton people are getting fatter by the minute? For most, that question does not require an answer.

Although, there are many factors that contribute to one living a better life. Quitting work early and doing the things that you never had time for in the past is one way of continuing your health and reducing stress. But remember, if you do quit work and join in the the "Freedom 55" concept of lifestyle YOU MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO FILL IN THE TIME or you will simply wither away and fast.

All-too-often we hear of those who retire and are "bored" within a very short time. They did not do any planning prior to quitting work, and quite possibly did not have much of an outside life in connection with hobbies and special activities such as volunteering. The almighty buck prevailed over their lives.

I have the fortunate experience of planning my retirement for many years and I always looked forward to the day when I did not have to work for a living. There is a time to work and a time to play; my time to play has finally come about, playing one day at a time.

Today, 60 can be 40, but only if you want it to be.

Thank God.

Canoe the Ausable River, Ontario

2006-08-02T08:03:00.000-04:00

Note: Click on all pictures to enlarge...

Driving east from Sarnia, Ontario 56 kilometers, along Lakeshore Road that turns into Hwy 21, you reach the bridge over the Ausable River. Do not go over the bridge. Instead take the first street (Northville Cr.) north and enter the first driveway (less than a stone's throw from Hwy 21). Here you are entering the Ausable River put-in:
THEDFORD CONSERVATION AREA -
THE AUSABLE/BAYFIELD CONSERVATION AUTHORITY.

There is a portage of 110 metres that takes you to an embankment, made out of tires set into the side for easy stepping). Note there is not very much room at the bank of the river to put-in; you must watch out for a couple of rocks that are in the way. There is just enough room to slide your canoe into the river.

Once in the river you can head east to reach the Old Ausable River that winds its way into the Attawandaron Scout Reserve and continues on into the Pinery Provincial Park.

I put-in at 1305 hours and headed northward towards the Old Ausable section of the river. If you kept going northward you would eventually end up in Lake Huron, a few miles ahead. The first building you will see is a homemade white lighthouse-looking structure, located on the west bank. I stopped on the east side across from this structure at 1325-1340 hrs. for lunch.

After lunch I headed northward again and at 1350 hours I hit the cut of the river that turns eastward into the Scout camp and the Pinery park. The water level in this part of the river is about 1/2 metre to a metre deep and there is heavy vegetation in the water that makes for a slow paddle. But "slow" is the operative word of the day in this passage. Taking your time, keep an eye for hawks, snapping turtles, a beaver dam in the making, and lots of small fish schooling around the canoe. If you are lucky you will encounter some deer along the way. Rare sightings of eagles have been noted.

Going over the beaver dam in the making is a challenge as the water is barely navagatible being inches deep, however if you make a run at it you will easily slide over the obstruction. I did some poling along the way which added to my adventure and gave me some extra time to glide along and watch out for wild life on the banks. This section of the river twists and winds its way through the two parks and allows for magnificent scenery on either side. Hugh sand banks, topped with various trees and vegetation are found first on the trip and soon you are entering a heavily forested area. There are many spots to stop and get out for a hike along the many trails that have been carved out by others who have made this trip.

At 1415, knowing I had to get home soon, I stopped and turned the canoe around, all the while noting that I will be back another time to go further along this route. The point where I turned around there was a large dead tree stump to the right that cannot be missed. I am not sure how far I was along the Old Ausable section that since I did not have a topo with me, however I sense that I was about a mile and a half into the old section of the river.

One negative note that must be stated is the fools who are on power boats and jet skis. I passed four boats and two jet skis. Only one boat went slow, all the others thought it was neat to go full throttle and swamp the canoeist. It is too bad these types of boaters are out there; the problem goes further when these humans take to the wheel on the highway drive home with the same attitude towards others...Enough said, you know what I am saying.

On the way back towards the put-in spot I spotted a group of hawks sun tanning themselves on the huge sand dunes; the very same dunes that our Beavers hiked up from the river last year.

So, if you are looking to a nice paddle this is the route. I would suggest starting out early in the day, take lots of water, sunscreen, and a jug of deet for the trip up the Old Ausable. A topo map is on my list, as I am interested in the history of this river and certainly would like to know where I am going and where I have been.

Getting back to nature is healthy for everyone!

Please email me if you have had any adventures up the Old Ausable: prospector16@gmail.com

Cyprus Lake - Bruce National Park

2006-08-01T09:50:00.000-04:00

Almost Wilderness Camping

Once again we headed up to the Bruce National Park and camped at Cyprus Lake. If you have never camped at a National Park, you should pencil it in for your next adventure. Why?

Peace and quiet is foremost on the list, however naturalization is side-by-side this and it is the closest you will get to nature with having other humans around to contend with and co-inhabit the park. This park lacks the amenities of home, such as: hot water, showers, electricity, all the things that keep humans from realizing the true things in life, such as living with nature. Having said that, traveling with a family, especially younger children, toys must be brought along such as bicycles. For the older kids a couple of canoes cannot hurt. And for the dog, well he just loves his new life jacket and the banana treats.

Canoeing/fishing is best done in the early morning or at dusk due to the westerly winds, however for those who like a medium challenge you can canoe to the west end of the lake. There you will find a channel that winds its way from Cyprus Lake to Cameron Lake, a place where they say the fishing is good and you can find other human habitats such as monstrous cottages and motor boats etc. Warning: channel is very low (less than 1/2 metre) but navagatible. Bug spray is a must and be on the lookout for busy beavers and snapping turtles, as well as the infamous huge dragon flies that simply buzz by checking you out from time to time. Black bears are in this park so it would be an idea to carry bear spray or mace as an extra precaution. Polling your canoe is a good idea in some parts of this channel; it is a nice change from the J-strokes, Canadian stroke, or Indian strokes, all of which are almost impossible to do in this channel.

The water in Cyprus Lake is nicely warm and great for swimming, unlike over at the east side of the park at the Grottos, Georgian Bay is VERY cold to swim in this year. In Cyprus Lake you must beware of the crayfish, bloodsuckers (leaches are about 3 to 4 inches long, nice and fat this year), and unfortunately, there are broken bear bottles from the human inhabitants that could care less about other humans and nature. Therefore, watershoes are a must while walking in the lake. Of course, even in Algonquin's interior I found the same problem...Maybe we should look to restricting some of the human species? Just a thought...

There is a walkway that goes around Cyprus Lake and makes for an excellent hike. Hiking boots are recommended due the various ground covers such as tree roots popping out from the rocky ground cover, rocky pathways (especially at the Grottos on the Georgian Bay side), and wet mud that has yet to dry due to the rains and the thick forest areas. An excellent way to pass a morning or afternoon.

Of course, the infamous attraction of this park is the Grottos (rock caves) on the eastern side of the park. Huge rock formations leftover from the glacial movements are the feature attraction. Again, humans ignore the warning signs about diving off the very steep cliffs, but still it sure looks like fun. The underwater caves are only for the very good swimmers, as once you dive down about 12 feet you then have to swim quite a fair distance under the huge rock to get from the cave to Georgian Bay. The visibility is amazing, yet it is still quite a feat to accomplish...So, beware of this swim. I did it last year, without fins, and just barely made it out to the other side. This year I decided not to do the dive, even though I had my dive gear; the water was just tooooo cold.

For added entertainment, the park provides "Program of Activities" each night at the amphitheatre. There is a different show for each night of the week, including demonstrations on: bears, rattlesnakes, shipwrecks & shorelines, and much more. This is worth the walk to the west end of the park along the Cyprus Lake pathway, especially for children and adults who are not hooked on TV commercials, the 8 second clip attention keepers, and various other techniques that keep those minds glued to the tube...Another blog for another time..."The Small Attention of the Attention Span"...haha.

It is nice to see youth of all ages having fun without the technological conveniences tagging along. Although, some adults seemed to enjoy themselves as well, without the amenities of home. I for one, could easily spend a few weeks in this park and not miss the amenities, however I must admit I would wonder from time-to-time how many emails have come in on my system and would yearn a tad for a peek at my RSS reader...Just a peek! Although, there is nothing like netting a frog, or a water snake, or crayfish and after studying them you simple let them go back into their habitat, especially watching children playing at the shoreline with simple gadget such as a net.

But then there is some wood to chop for tonight's fire, some water to collect for the supper dishes, and a huddle to see what trail we will check out for tomorrow's hike. But wait, do we have enough worms for the morning canoe/fishing trip?

There is nothing like getting back into nature, far away from the hustle and bustle of the infamous "ratrace".

IL-Weather Reports - How Come?

2006-07-25T00:25:00.000-04:00

Cyprus Lake, Ontario, Canada at Dusk

Have you planned a trip lately? If you have, you have probably looked to the weather reports to figure into some of your planning for the adventure. If you do not go outside of your normal box and only check one source for your information you may just find the weather report is wrong.

But do not fret...Even if you have checked more than one weather information source you will be even worse off.

Why?

Well, we have planned a camping trip to Cyprus Lake at the Bruce National Park for the past six months. Just in the past few days we have began to check out the weather reports online...Boy what an miss-adventure this has become.

The facts are simply that the more sites you check out for weather reports online, the more confusing the reports become. Some say rain, some say thunderstorms, some say that there is only a 70% of no rain, others say 60% chance of rain, and some have promised mostly sunshine and hot humid weather.

If you check out the weather network you will be told that this Wednesday there is a 40% chance of rain with possible thunderstorms.

If you check out the Environment Canada Weather site you will see that there is a 20% increase in your chances of rain; it raises the bar to announce that there is a 60% chance of showers or thunderstorms.

The weather people remind me of computer companies who also give out different ways of giving the customers the same thing. For instance, take digital cameras. Sony has its own memory sticks, whereby Cannon offers SD cards to hold your favourite pictures. Why the difference?

I am sure there is a different reason for varying weather reports compared to varying data cards, but does anyone know for sure? I have to believe someone does, but it is not made public. In the case of cameras it is war. They fight to strive for your dollar, whereby the weather is supposed to be a free service and should be regulated by the Federal government...But it is not adhered to.

Sure, they can blame the various wind change directional aspect of weather reporting problems, but how come there is a variance in two weather reports for the very same day?

If anyone has the answer please email me and enlighten me.

For me, the real reason for knowing the correct weather report (if there is such an animal) is for how we pack. Does the tent and tarps go on top for easy access with our rain suits kept in the front seats? Or do we simply pack the heavy stuff first and adorn our bathing suits and not worry about where the rain suits are stashed?

I watched both Global News weather report and City TV's weather report just an hour ago. Yep, you guessed it - two different weather reports. Unbelievable, literally speaking of course!

Lake Huron - Bayfield

2006-07-23T22:24:00.001-04:00

Heaven at It's Best

Ever wonder how much it takes for one to be mystified by something as simple as waves rolling in and out, the sun fading fast behind some ominous cumulous clouds, and sail boats afar from shore, carelessly floating off into the distant sunset?

Not much, is the answer.

Above is the infamous sunset off the coast of Lake Huron, Bayfield Ontario. A place where we have called our "second home". A place where traffic jams, long Walmart lineups, congested contaminated junk food joints, and frustrated freaked out humans are non-existant...Only peace and quiet, a place of a sanctity of sanity.

God Bless all these sacred spots on this planet, as they are becoming ever-so-few...

Tripping Along The Saugeen - Flatwater ABCD Course

2006-07-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

More Canoe Courses & Training...

Eric Williams is the Flatwater Instructor and he is also the past President (1992-1999) of the Ontario Recreational Canoe Association (ORCA). Eric was also the President of Canoe Ontario (competitive paddling associations 1999-2001) and the President of the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association (2001-2005).

This is at Denny's Dam, south side of the Saugeen River in Southampton, Ontario.

This is the third ORCA course I have taken, the last being trippingg Level 1 in the interior of Algonquin Park.

The Flatwater course the prerequisite for the Flatwater Instructor's course that I am taking next month through the Canadian Canoe Museum and ORCA. This certification will allow me to teach Flatwater ABCD courses...If I pass the course that is I hope to teach Scouts the basics of canoeing.

I must say that Eric Williams is an amazing person, a "been-there-done-that" guy who has to be prodded a bit to talk about his accomplishments in canoeing. But more importantly, Eric is one of the best instructors I have come across. He has the patience of Job and takes time to explain each and every new stroke that is introduced. He keeps you at it until you successfully accomplish the feat of making the canoe go and do what you want.

Here is Eric demonstrating an outside landing at Denny's Dam...It is not as easy as he makes it look...Trust me!

This is the last point of exit on the Saugeen River, prior to going over the dam, through the rapids and out into Lake Huron at Southampton, Ontario.

Here, you can see students practicing box strokes, prys and draws, encircling the square formed by four buoys placed evenly apart to form a square box.

The idea is to take the canoe around this box without turning the canoe around. You must go sidewards, backwards, forward and then sidewards to complete the task.

Oh yes, do not forget about fighting the mild current and breezes while figuring your next stroke and how much of a draw or pry you must use...sculling draws and prys work great but the regular draws and prys at a far outreach certainly help in fighting the elements.

The Saugeen River is a great place for anyone who wants to tryout canoe tripping down a moving river. It offers rapids, wide sections with islands to canoe about, and several canoe campgrounds along the way.

The river is 102 kilometers, starting at Hanover and ending at Southampton, Ontario.

Next month I plan to make this 60 mile river trip, solo, and I expect to complete the trip in four days. Right now I am in the planning stages, planning food, mapping, and weather reports. This mission will help towards getting the prerequiste for the Canoe Tripping Level II next spring...

But before this happens I will be off to Cyprus Lake, at the Bruce National Park to camp for a week and of course practice up my skills for the Flatwater Instructor's course next month.

After Cyprus I am off to Kilbear Park, north of Nobel, Ontario and have a site booked right on the shores of Georgian Bay...a great canoe site for sure...Then it is off to Peterborough area for the one-week Instructor's course in Flatwater Canoeing. This course is held at Silent Lake.

Right now, I am off to Sarnia Bay for some practice this afternoon...Then off to Bayfield River for more practice...And of course some fishing!

Hot Hot Hot

2006-07-12T23:54:00.000-04:00

And here I was worried about rain this weekend and now the good news is it will be sunny. However, there are warnings of high heat reaching in the 40 degree celcius feeling.

Don't get me wrong I love the heat, hate cold weather, and look forward to this weekend.

I will be on the Saugeen River taking my ORCA Flatwater ABCD certification training. This means at least 8 hours on Saturday and Sunday in a canoe, on my knees and in the direct sun.

To be honest, I am looking forward to this course and where it will take me...my Flatwater Instructor's certification this August. As usual, pictures and rhetoric will follow next week, so stay tuned for the best is yet to come.

Right now I must cut this short as I have to pack up and get ready...But remember, stay tuned and check in next week for the scoop on Flatwater canoe certification in extreme heat.

I AM Really Free Now & NOT BORED!!!

2006-06-27T09:41:00.000-04:00

"Bordedom" is a term for which I cannot find a definition, or at least it does not reside within my lifestyle.

This week concludes a very busy time and now I settle into a more relaxed phase of retirement, well at least for the next two months. My volunteer duties are suspended for the summer - YEA!!!

Oh, don't get me wrong, I love all the things I am involoved in, such as:

Editor, Sarnia Computer User's Group
Webmaster for Central United Church, Scouts, and Toastmasters.
Computer Tech & Box Office - Imperial Oil Centre for the Performing Arts

Although, I will continue writing my technology column for Business Trends magazine, as this is an all-year-long committment.

This summer I have planned several trips, canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking, reading, writing, and simply enjoying the fact that I do not work for CN Rail anymore (CN Rail is for another Blog, especially now since June 8, 2006 the company has restricted all employees from taking retirement at age 55 and forcing them to work another 10 years till 65 - a move to kill off many of the older workers to beef up the pension plan? I planned my ESCAPE for five long years, and managed to take my commuted value and run. Like I said, another day I will write about this horrifying subject, maybe - maybe not. Maybe it is just time to move on and forget about that horrible place called CN Rail - good idea!

One thing I do plan to attempt is the art of hacking into computers. No, I am not interesting in getting someone's bank account, or debit card numbers. I am simply interested in the Wifi connections and the safety therein.

Since I use my Wifi connection while out-of-town (most weeks now), one of my concerns is how safe is my laptop and its information in wireless cafes? I am also interested in the "how-to" of hacking wireless systems.

My first move is downloading a program called: NetStumbler. I can see many people cringing right now as they read this, however the question remains: Is using a Wifi connection that is broadcasted to the public areas legal? Is it ok to use a broadcasted Wifi connection that you can easily connect to, because the owner of that system has chosen to not secure his/her wireless system?

"It's a gray area," said Paul Stamp, an analyst at the technology consultants Forester Research. "By not restricting access it could be argued that your're implicitly making that available." (source CNN)

Obviously, those who do not concern themselves of security, it is quite possible that they are simply allowing visitors like me to free use of their Wifi connections as a "good neighbour" gesture?

I am not a computer cop. I am not a thief either, and I do not intend to use this information in any way that will compromise anyones data. I merely want to learn how the bad guys hack into wireless systems so I can better prepare my own systems. And I will use open Wifi accesses.

Of course, I must admit, this subject does interest me from a James Bond type of aspect. George Orwell is smiling.

I will report on my findings this summer...all the easy Wifi hotspots I come across and I intend to write an article about the necessity of securing your Wifi signal, unless of course you are of the "good neighbour" type who simply offer Wifi to anyone who may be seeking such a service.

NOTE: If you do not want anyone using your wireless computer system SECURE IT.

If you do not know how to do this, do a Google search on your Wifi router, look it up in the Help section of your wireless router, or call the 1-800 number provided by the company from which you purchased your wireless router. If not, well, BEWARE.

Gimme A Break!

2006-06-23T01:10:00.000-04:00

They say that many, too many, people who retire find themselves bored after the first three months of retirement. In fact, there are hundreds of reports questioning people's plans, not financial, but their psychological plans.

Recently, I read a statement whereby it asked:

"What are you doing after work? Canadians are retiring earlier than ever and can expect to live an average of thirteen years in good health following retirement. While good financial planning is key to a comfortable retirement, the move away from the world of work also requires emotional planning to ensure a smooth transition."

This seems to be a true statement. I had so many people ask me "what are you ever going to do with your time?" Or they say, "You'll be back to work in no time because you will be bored." Those people are probably similar to those who, in a study by the Conference Board of Canada found, "that one-third of all Canadians have trouble adjusting to retirement." That is sad!

The report found that the main reason for this "dissatisfaction" is "boredom." They do not have the daily routine that work provided and that "many people find themselves feeling alone and disengaged from their usual social circle."

Surprising as well is the fact that most people plan for their financial future, however they spend very little, if any, time planning what they intend to do with their new found extra time. The report suggests that people should plan what they will do after they leave the workforce:

"The best thing to do is to think of retirement as a new opportunity. The average person spends more than 40 hours a week at work. You now have an extra eight hours per day to pursue your own interests, such as returning to school, traveling the world, volunteering for a favourite cause, starting a new hobby, or even moving to a place you've always wanted to live."

Getting back to my title of this Blog, I should mention that I now need a break from my breakaway from the workforce. I have been retired for almost seven months now and have been extremely busy doing volunteer work at Sarnia's Imperial Theatre working in the Box Office and computer repairs, as well I am the Webmaster for 3 non-profit groups (see my links in the sidebar), editor of the Sarnia Computer Group, and also I write a regular column on computers for Business Trends magazine. I am a Scout leader and an avid canoeist and camper.

The last on the above list will be acted on in one week. As I am taking a break from all my activities. You see, my groups I belong to close for the summer and next week is the "last of the Mohicans".

My summer plans include several canoe trips, camping, fishing, spending lots of time at my trailer, reading, writing, watching my Grandsons baseball games, and of course banging away on my computer.

So, as you may have guessed, I do not fall in the category of the "bored" pensioners, but I do need a break, a time to slow down and just appreciate the fact that I do not work anymore...At least I do not work for money haha.

Algonquin: Canoe Tripping Level 1

2006-06-19T11:31:00.000-04:00

ORCA Canoe Tripping Level 1 Certification

- A SUCCESS!!! -

I know, it has been quit some time since my last Blog, however I have been very busy. The dust still has not settled and the waves are still rolling as they should.

This Blog is not my trip log (will be posted at a later date), it is a rhetorical message of sorts, a thought out loud if I may.

The picture says it all, nothing more, nothing less.

Many people ask, "Why would you ever want to go there with all the bugs, wild animals, and nothing to do?"

I simply shake my head, and then I attempt to explain the Algonquin interrior. The beauty, the peace and tranquility, it is all there.

Although, if this picture does not make you languish a contemplation for a canoe trip, well nothing will I suppose.

Last month we completed our final segment of the ORCA Canoe Tripping Level 1 certification in Algonquin. Our trip began at Lake Magnetawan and continued the first day into Ralph Bice Lake (which can be treacherous) where we set up camp. The above picture is a view from the south/east side of the our camp; it is a site to behold forever.

Here before this great rock, Dale and Brian, two other students of the course, are heading south/east on Daisy Lake to explore, after we set up camp on an island at the west end of Daisy. Some of these rocks in Algonuin are amongst the oldest rocks on the planet, leftovers from the PreCambrian Shield.

Yes, the bugs were plentiful, the temperature was rising, and the portage was a long, long, training session. But when it was said and done, we only remember the team work and developed friendships that got us over the rough terrain, safe and sound.

We learned alot about ourselves during this trek, an adventure never to be forgotton any too soon.

This portage is 1450 meters long. We did it is planned segments, the same ones we practiced in our classroom setting this past winter. Although the trail was much different than inside a nice, comfortable classroom. Careful was the word of the day, safety was of the utmost, and we hiked in pairs not only ensuring safety but developing friendships.

This portage is between Ralph Bice And Daisy lakes.

Of course, canoe tripping is not all bugs, heat, heavy lifts, and long exhausting hikes. It is also about relaxing, taking time out for lunch, and enjoying important things life has to offer; canoe tripping is far removed from the conrete world we surround ourselves each day. You could almost say that "Heaven is a canoe trip" and you would not be too far off the mark.

Hang in there, a complete canoe log is forthcoming...as soon as I find the time.

Canoe Tripping Course Level I - ORCA

2006-04-30T19:33:00.000-04:00

ORCA CANOE TRIPPING LEVEL I COURSE

For anyone who is planning on canoeing the waters of Ontario this summer in a canoe, safety should be your utmost priority. And if you are planning an interrior canoe trip, such as one into Algonquin's interrior, give some thought to training.

The following are pictures of an ORCA Canoe Tripping Level I course I had the opportunity to attend this past winter in London, Ontario. The course included 4 separate training sessions, a pool session, and the canoe trip:

Classroom Sessions:

Introduction - Canoe Resources - Navigation (including maps and compass) - Knots and Lashings.
Canoeing First Aid - Including First Aid Kit - Hypothermia - Prevention & Treatment - Trip Planning - Portaging Techniques.
Food & Menu Planning - Weather Interpretation - Environmental Concerns - Canoe Heritage.
Canoe Construction & Design - Canoe Tripping Gear - Clothing & Personal Items - Tools and Repair Kits - Packing - Fires & Stoves.

Pool Session:
- Swimming and Treading
- Retrieving a Swamped Canoe Canoe
- Over Rescue
- Self Rescue
- Line Toss.

Trip Content:
- Canoeing Skills Review & Testing
- Communications
- Portaging Skills
- Camping Skills
- Leadership

Testing Location: Algonquin Park Interrior - Magnetawan Lake entrance #4.

Lugging canoes into a downtown London High School on Front St. This pool is used regularly for canoe training so not many passerbys gave us a second look.

The canoe barely made it down the hallway and the sharp left turn into the pool area. One more inch of canoe and we would have been practicing in this hallway.

A quick pose for the camera before getting into the swim gear and tackling the long awaited tests in the pool. The swim test was four lengths with a life jacket adorned. It sounds easy enough...try it some time...I would have rather done it without the jacket...much easier.

Here ORCA Instructors, Al and Scott demonstrate a canoe rescue. Later, everyone had to do this technique.

It is easier than it looks. But then again this was nice, calm, warm, waters with nobody screaming for their lives and rapids hurling around, smashing both human and canoe against jagged rocks.

Here is the infamous Canoe Over Rescue that you probably have heard about, or even had the opportunity to tackle. Every canoeist should know this technique.

Getting the victim back inside the canoe is easy here in this calm pool, however it can be quite dangerous in rough waters. Every person must work as a team in order to achieve a successful rescue.

It's that last hurtle that is the tough one...getting back inside the canoe, safe and sound is the goal.

The Algonquin Interior Trip
COMING SOON.

FULL REPORT HERE...SOON, I PROMISE...

Work - a 4-letter word.

2006-04-10T09:07:00.000-04:00

Four months ago I quit work.

I do not fancy the term "retired",
as that is not what I did.
The fact is that I actually quit working.
This decision came from five years of planning,
a choice I do not regret for one moment.

Statistics show that many people today will work after retirement. In fact, "Merrill Lynch reports that THE NEW RETIREMENT SURVEY builds on the conventional wisdom that many baby boomers are not interested in pursuing a traditional retirement of leisure."

The survey reveals 76% of the baby boomers retiring "intend to keep working and earning in retirement" and the scary part is that they will keep working until age 64 "and then launch into an entirely new job or career." WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO "FREEDOM 55"? "Only 17% of the baby boomers in the survey reported that they hope to never work again for pay."

What is going on here?

Not to harp on this amazing report, but I must point out one more fact of this account: "IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY." So, this begs the question: Why would anyone want to continue working when they can do the things in life they only once dreamed of doing? One last statistic, a sad one at that: "While 37% of the baby boomers in the survey indicate that continued earnings is a very important reason they intend to keep working, 67% assert that continued mental stimulation and challenge is what will motivate them to stay in the game."

Ah, old George Orwell, my hero, is rolling over in his grave, cursing at this euphemism: "game". Work is not a game; work is work, and after 1/3 of a century at the game, one must believe the "game" over.

Professor and writer, Nancy Schlossberg, has written extensively about baby boomers and retirement. Her observations are interesting. In fact, she points out that many boomers will "not be willing to give up the money, the power, and the prestige." Schlossberg goes on to point out that "they [boomers] don't take stock of their psychological resources" and that " they didn't realize what was at stake when they left their jobs...They didn't think about things like how to structure their lives, their time, and how they might matter to others."

Today, I am involved, probably a little too much, but that will soon change and there is no room for WORK. One day a week I volunteer at the Imperial Theatre for the performing Arts. I meet new people every day and get to talk about the various plays, something I enjoy. Computers take up a large part of my life these days, as I am the Editor of the Sarnia Computer Users' Group and earning my Linux+ Certification at Lambton College. I also write a regular column, for Business Trends magazine, entitled: TECH TRENDS, that covers various computer-related issues. I am also working on an English degree from Athabasca University, a challenge I took up five years back.

I suppose the word got out that I used to do Webpage design and now I am the webmaster for Hospitable Toastmasters, Central United Church, and assistant webmaster for Sarnia Scouting (where I am also an active member in all three).

But my real interest today, especially with the warmer weather upon us, is the outdoors.

As a child, I almost grew up in campgrounds. We would camp most of the summers in the various Ontario Provincial Parks. My father would drive us up on a Friday and return to work for Monday. Each week he would make the trek, leaving my mother, my sister, and me camping throughout the week. I never gave this much thought as over the years it became the norm for us in the summer months. Camping is ingrained in my blood today.

In one of my English courses we had a reading called: Once More To The Lake, a short story by E.B. White about a young boy's remembrance of his childhood camping experiences, now looking back as an adult. Today, I am living my "once more to the lake" trip.

This past winter I have been taking courses in London, Ontario to earn my ORCA certification for Canoe Tripping level I. Next month we head off into Algonquin's interior to complete the final stage and testing for this certification. Later next month I am enrolled to earn my Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification from Wildmed Associates. This is a four day course, a very extensive one that will help me in my future goal: ORCA Flatwater Instructor. But before that goal is realized, I will be taking my Flatwater ABCD certification in July at the Saugeen River, and then in August I head off to Haliburton for a one-week course: Flatwater Instructor Certification.

Why?

The reason is two-fold. The first one is my love for the outdoors and canoeing. In fact, two days ago my wife bought me my second canoe for my birthday, a 16' Prospector by Nova Craft...My dream canoe is now realized. And now I will canoe alongside of my two grandkids, instructing them to become the best they can be and more so to teach them how to really enjoy the true and important issues in life: nature.

The second reason for getting my Flatwater Instructor's Certification is to offer a low-cost training and certification to the Scouts in Sarnia. There is no such training available now, and one has to travel outside of the area for the courses...Not to mention the expensive costs associated with this training. My hope is to be able to offer this training a certification to the Scouts at cost. The cost being the registration through ORCA.

It is my giving something back that backs my reasoning, something that I am able to do that others may not.

As for that 4-letter word creeping into my life...Well, I planned well to be JUST TOO BUSY!

Morbid Fear - Public Speaking

2006-03-27T01:37:00.000-05:00

Don't you think it a tad strange that most people have a fear of speaking before a group of people, even people whom the speaker knows quite well?

Public speaking is much like dancing in public. People who are unsure of what they are doing feel somewhat self-conscious about the given act; thus an inner fear is created and stagnates any attempts for success.

Fear is expressed by most public speakers when they are first beginning their long journey in learning the techniques set down by groups such as Toastmasters International. For instance, I recently came across a statement made in www.onthehush.com a forum about public speaking wherein a member related his fears: "I absolutely loathe public speaking. I have given many, many speeches, it doesn't matter how well I know the material, my heart still beats like it is about to come through my chest." Do these words ring a bell?

My daughter expressed that she could not even get up before a crowd and simply state her name; her "legs would give out," she said.

She too is not alone. In fact, this past weekend Scott McKay, the Toastmaster for the Area 10 Speech Contests, held in Sarnia, Ontario stated that he remembers a time when he was in a contest giving a speech and part way through his speech he froze. Of course he picked it up and finished his speech. But Scott explained the reason this happened was that he had memorized his speech. He learned a valuable lesson and now he gives speeches with guidelines to help him along and does not rely on a word-for-word printout of the entire speech.

As one moves along through the fearful stages of public speaking, somewhere along the way one picks up confidence, although this does not happen overnight.

In fact, losing the fear and gaining confidence only comes with time well spent practicing. In a recent article posted by Toastmasters International in their magazine to members, Dena Harris, CTM, "Speak every chance you get." Harris goes on to say that "You must believe in your speaking abilities before you'll convince others to see you as a speaker."

Sigmund Freud blamed our fear of public speaking on his theory of "infantile behaviour" in that we were born naked and helpless, thus we feel this sense of dread when we are exposed in public, a sense of panic sets in.

Although, Alfred Alder, the Austrian psychiatrist has a different approach to this dilemma, wherein he believed there existed in us all an "inferiority complex" we "present" our being before others, "we stand." "We empower them, but at the same time we disempower ourselves. We elevate them as we lower our sense of self. This projection leaves us feeling uneasy, uncanny, and vulnerable" (John Robert Columbo, porchlight.ca).

According to a 2001 Gallup poll "40% of adults have a fear of public speaking. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said that at a funeral, most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy" (www.changethatrightnow.com).

For those who want to rid themselves of this morbid fear of speaking in public, many suggest that you join a local Toastmasters club and learn away your fear.

Check out: http://hospitable.freetoasthost.com for a great Toastmasters club where you will learn the art of public speaking and lose that morbid fear forever.

http://hospitable.freetoasthost.com

BORN AGAIN

2006-03-23T08:02:00.000-05:00

In 1941 E.B. White wrote a short story, ten years before my birth, that set the stage for my philosophy on life, or the importance therein:

"One summer, along about 1904, my father rented a camp on a lake in Maine and took us all there for the month of August. We all got ringworm from some kittens and had to rub Pond's Extract on our arms and legs night and morning, and my father rolled over in a canoe with all his clothes on; but outside of that the vacation was a success and from then on none of us ever thought there was any place in the world like that lake in Maine."

Therein lies my philosophy for the rest of my days on this planet. In fact, I have planned this same scene for the background of the rest of my life.

In January this year I quit my job and have no plans to work for money anymore. I planned my escape for many years and with some sound financial planning I expect to live a comfortable life, a life filled with the real things that actually count...such as E.B. White's one more trip to the lake.

I am sure that when someone is hooked up to machines, and on their last legs of life's journey, the last thing they remember is the job they held...no, it is precious memories of days gone by...

Today, I can appreciate how Atlas finally felt when he "shrugged". My albatross (job) has been removed and I am "BORN AGAIN". A chance to really live the way I have always dreamed life should be lived, free and unharnessed.

Today I am much busier than I was when I had a job, in fact there is not a day, a night, an hour where there is not something that has to be accomplished and/or planned. I am living one-day-at-a-time, yet also looking to the future.

Another goal I have for this summer is to obtain my ORCA Certifications in canoeing as an Instructor, thus I will be able to teach, not only canoe skills to the youth, but also some important life skills, the real things that matter in life and give them an opportunity to take E.B. White's trip "Once More To The Lake."

'Truthiness' - More Linguistic Ruination

2006-01-07T07:52:00.000-05:00

There are three words I cannot tolerate hearing; similarily, my mind cringes like when an old school teacher runs her fingernails across a slate chalkboard to gain attention with a class full of numbskulls.

Like.

Whatever.

Absolutely.

Before I explain the whys and wherefores of my dilemma, I present a brief historical overview, up to, and including the present linguistics contained within today's society.

In 1962 the radio air waves in North America brought us a new sound called: The Mersey Beat, music from England. The band was an unknown entity called: The Beatles and everyone complained the spelling was wrong. Parents across the land became very concerned about how their teenagers and younger children were hoarding around the radios, screaming for their new-found in-thing: The Beatles.

I remember my mother saying, after I asked for one of those pure leather "Beatle caps", that this music, this band, and these crazy styles are all a "passing fad". That statement was made round-about 1964.

Today, we are facing another change in style and in music: RAP. I will not make the error that my mother made over 40 years ago, but I only will pray that this music is only a "passing fad" and that it will simply just go away; it is for two reasons I say this.

Rap lyrics and stylistic projectionisms promote a movement that is against the morals that this society has been founded upon.

Rap lyrics and its condensations against police, women, and immoralistic projections in general, promote hatred and helps lead young people to a life of crime, drugs, and jail or death.

Rap - rap - rap - pleeze go a way - and - don' - cum bak - an nudder - d a y!

Here is my lingual problem that, not only what Rap music produces but society in general, the problem is that the media and the manufacturing sector are climbing on this linguistic nightmare, thus creating a society that not only cannot read properly, or for that matter they do not read at all, they cannot speak the "King's English", and for all intense and purposes: they "don't give a shit".

Do you know what the "King's English" is and what it stands for? Probably not eh...Maybe you do...

Getting back on track here, to explain the words above: "Like" and "Absolutely".

A note of subjection: These three words are used by lazy orators. People whose minds have become benumbed due to an insensitive lack of exercising of their cranium innards. Both words are used as filler in conversation when it actually hurts the cells when forced to think. However, these words have become such common place that as a University student says that when these words are not used in a sentence, "it would sound weird [without them]".

LIKE: This word was used in the 1930's as in jazz sessions that proposed a slang that was used by the lower classes, the ignorant ones of proper English language. To be cool, the upper classes grabbed onto this word, trying to sound "cool" and of course the word has now regenerated and has become the norm for today's conversations. In fact, if you do not use this word, well, obviously you do not fit it, you are not "cool" man!

But the most important factor of the use of this word "like" that bothers me is that it is used by people who do not think...They do not fulfill their part of a conversation: "It is like, you know." They change the subject here and now we are lost, as they are, forever. For God's sake, please complete a thought, if at all possible.

WHATEVER: Whenever I hear someone saying this I just want to smack them out of "whatever" characterization they are attempting to portray. Is it that they simply do not give an damn about something? Fine, but at least explain the WHY or WHY NOT? This word is used for "social significance", a term used for one to feel they "fit-in" with their peers. Sad.

Again, as with the usage of "LIKE", this word connotes a negativity, but more importantly, it generates the message that this person either does not know any more on the current topic at hand, or that they could not care less about the topic at all and simply want to move along, verbally speaking of course.

ABSOLUTELY: Media people are abusing this word by the second. Someone says something, and quit possibly the listener knows nothing about the subject, but to seem knowledgeable without the having to explain why, they simply insert the term: "Absolutely" and everyone is supposed to think that this person knows it all and we move on to another topic. All-in-all, nobody is finishing a conversation...At the very least the listeners are not contributing, only acknowledging that they know it "Absolutely".

basically, people do not take the time to explain themselves anymore. Is it a fact that they do not have the ability to do so? Or is it simply that they are too rushed to think? Or is a matter of pure ignorance, a lack of education through reading good literary novels?

I do know that George Orwell is turning over in his grave as I write this Blog.

Do yourself a favour and read Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" and see just how the movers and shakers manipulate our minds.

Working Out

2006-01-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

Now that I am without a job, I am able to schedule my life in a more organized fashion. This includes my irregular workouts. Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays are my days...my time at the gym, at least that is the current schedule I am now working on.

I was surprised today when I walked through the doors and signed in at Ironworks Gym...I expected the place to be packed with born again resolutionists who made that faithful oath on New Years Eve to drop some lbs. Hell, I even downloaded an extra tech-podcast on my MP3 player to help pass the wait time for the treadmill and other machines I frequently use.

Not today!

The place was just as it normally is without any people with resolutions to break down the road. When I worked out at the YMCA you could tell the season by the wait times:

January: Full

Februrary: Still full, but slowly the crowds disapated down.

March: Not so full anymore. In fact, most of the big ones were long gone.

April: If the weather was a nice spring-like day, the place was near empty.

May - June - July - August and even a tad into September: Only the diehards.

October: Numbers up due to crappy weather and guilt from summer barbeques.

November: Stable.

December: The closer to xmas, the less heads bobbing on the treadmills.

But today at Ironworks, my gym of choice, I was astonished to see bascially the regular crowd working out, albeit a few students with nothing else to do but hang out and look macho.

For me, my macho days have long since surpassed and now it is a matter of staying healthy and hopefully I too can stick to my planned schedule of 3 days a week...

Although the seasons may be different at the Y, but of course that will change in over a short time soon...Resolutionists usually fail and go back to their old ways once again.

Let's face facts, according to a recent reality check, in the USA "only 8 percent saig they always achieve their resolutions...and the trend decreases with age...".

But does the size? You be the judge...

There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel

2006-01-02T16:02:00.002-05:00

Yes, I finally did it today;
I quit my job.

Somehow, in a way, I have felt as one in Folsom awaiting parole, a prisoner within a job, a job that had long since become an albatross to personal freedom. Now, and forever, I am free to do what I want and when I want.

Of course the feelings have not hit home yet, as I still await a phone to ring from work, but that will eventually pass, probably by suppertime.

Quitting was relatively easy. I had planned this day, back and forth, over and over, in my mind for the past 4.5 years - my escape plan.

I walked into CN Rail, armed with form: CN92, already filled out, except for the line awaiting a witness, and saw manager Don Shank, the same guy who was helping me attempt to get information (over a time frame of 6 months) information on the CN pension plan that was never sent to me, and said: "I quit."

Don Shank looked up from his chair and said "what?" I simply handed him the form and my bag containing my CN paraphemalia. He didn't take the time to check the contents, all he asked, " have you talked to the right people?" I informed him that I have spoken to many over the past several years and this is my decision. He wished me luck and off I went through the gates of hell and into the outside towards my freedom.

Do not get me wrong here, CN was a good company to work for before the infrastructure was taken away from Canadians and became Americanized by "Straw Boss Bullies". Of course, I am not alone in this opinion, in fact, CTV's W5 television program did a special report a few years back on CN and ranked the company the "second worst company to work for in Canada." Or something close to that. Since Westray Mines were ranked number one and have since gone under with their mangers locked up in jail, well I would suppose that CN has now earned the ranking of the top worst company for the way they treat employees, according to W5 that is.

Ok, enough said about that company, although I would like to state that for the most part the guys I worked with over the years were the best, but it is my time to depart and I only wish that the ones who remain the best of luck and I wish they will eventually stand up for their rights and say "NO MORE" to the abusive management therein...Now, I do solemnly promise never to bother mentioning them again...Good riddance I dare say! LOL

After being "self-paroled" today, I went to Lambton College and registered for another course, this time for a computer course: CompTIA Linux+, leading to certification. I won't go into technical details as you can easily pickup that stuff on my TECH TRENDS Blog. Or at Sarnia Computer Users' Group, where I am an executive member and editor.

Keep coming back to this site, I will be writing my various adventures and sightings within the human race...Ever wonder why we are referred to as a "race"?

RESOLUTIONS - we all make em!

2006-01-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

My Personal Goals for 2006

Quit my job tomorrow and take life easy.
Write more...maybe a new novel - fiction this time?
More canoe trips. Get more active in Scouting.
More camping excursions and research expeditions.
Develop better and deeper computer skills (Linux).
Snorkle in the southern islands.
Read 18th C. novels and continue English studies.
Volunteer at the Imperial Theatre.
Rejoin Toastmasters International again.
Selective TV viewing only and no commercial radio.

They say that life is short and in the spectrum of things within a geological sense of time, they (actually it was Henri Frederic Amiel 1821-1881) are correct in that statement. I plan to use my time wisely, never a dull moment will nudge up against me as it does with those who complain of personal boredom.

Tomorrow I will be jobless; it is "the first day of the rest of my life," a day to celebrate as each day comes as a blessing, a day to live life to its fullest...something that many never seem to grasp the handle of. This Blog is a part of my tomorrows, my todays, and my forevers; it is my life's beacon that shall shine upon my daily doings, my plans, and my ambitions; as a wise man will make more opportunites than he finds - Francis Bacon.

TECH TRENDS

2006-01-01T01:02:00.000-05:00

TECH TRENDS

Check out Gregory's new computer Blog, covering technical trends such as: What's new in computers, the latest virus warnings, Microsoft issues, Linux operating systems, and Open Source products...Plus tons of boo boos that we deal with every day in the world of computers and the Internet.

A Real Christmas Tree

2005-12-15T11:16:00.002-05:00

Sorry, I just could not resist just one more of these rants...and to think, I even am including this from an email that is circulating around Cyberspace. Acknowledging these emails is not my regular habit, but this subject is one I truely believe upon.

Here goes...

THIS IS A CHRISTMAS TREE...
It is not a Hanukkah bush,
it is not an Allah plant,
it is not a Holiday hedge.

IT IS A CHRISTMAS TREE. Say it...CHRISTmas, CHRISTmas, CHRISTmas.

Yes. CHRISTmas - CHRIST MASS, celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ.

May God Bless those who are affended by this particular Blog...however I will not appologize and I will not wish you "Happy Holidays".

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

X Marks BULLCRAP Vote

2005-12-14T23:08:00.005-05:00

More and more, it is fastly becoming difficult to decide which party is good for me. Reason: "believability, or unbelievingly".

To believe is to conceive, conceptualize, and or gestate how the leaders will hold true on the day after.

Martin promises the world on a plate to Canadians, from beefing up the military, health care improvements, and better day care. But can we believe him? Especially with the black cloud still hovering over him with the "Sponsorship Scandel". He was the Finance Minister during this time period and it is difficult to swallow that Martin, a top member of the "Old Boys Club", did not know any crocked dealings...not even one? Come on eh!

Happer talks from both sides of his face. Eight years ago, Harper praised "American conservative values, disparge[d] Canada as a "welfare state" and [said] the jobless aren't worried because they have generous benefits, could provide fresh ammunition to his critics." Today, during this election campaign, Harper has flip-flopped, as he has "attempted to distinguish himself from Bush Republicans since the election campaign began. Which Harper are we to believe? However, it must be noted that Harper does have a bag of goodie handouts, including getting rid of the GST, not supporting gay marriages, and helping seniors with a tax break on their private pension investments. Not bad, only if you can believe him.

Layton, the leader of the NDP says that "This election si an opportunity to settle the account between the citizens of Canada and the Liberaly Party...But after they've received what they deserve, what then?" Layton lays out his promises:

Taking power out of the hands of lobbyists;

Making key appointments on merit, not on political connections;

Improving freedom-of-information legislation;

Implementing strong whistleblower legislation;

Making MPs accountable to their electors when the switch parties by having by-elections when changing parties;

Improving accountability in financing leadership campaigns;

Changing Canada's federal electoral system to a mixed system combining constituency votes with proportional representation.

Wow, what a list Jack!

But, really, what the heck does Joe Blow give a howling hoot about the above rhetoric, we need real issues that the average citizen can grab and hang onto, a voting issue for the average person, not a list of stuff that is aimed towards the heads of unions and the heads of campaign fund raising; Jack, we need a list that affects the working person in Canada, and the working person who is not working.

Jack echoes the others, stating that "Quite simply, we committed to try and get something done in this Parliament for people." What is that Jack, pray tell? Here he sounds as the others: "That's what we've done. We proposed what we believe are tood ideas - on ehtics, the environment, pension protection, employment insurance." Boy, Jack sure knows that the 10 million Canadian Baby Boomers are beginning to retire in mass, and he is on board the band wagon.

The bottom line, the Old Boy's Club has certainly done its demographic homework, but I am still skeptical, more so than ever before. This is the first election whereby I am still undecided...I do hope I do not remain on the fence, especially in this extreme winter wonderland. Come boys, give me something I can grab, something I can really believe, and something that will make me stand up and scream my vote for your party.

Twas the Night Before a Political Correct Holiday

2005-12-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

You Have Heard It All, by now...

BUT, wait, listen to this message ONLY if you believe in: CLICK THE LIST:

ELVES
SANTA
FREEDOM
CHRISTMAS
NON-DICTATORSHIP
MULTICULTURALISM GONE BAD

Please click on the above link, you deserve to see the "Rest of the Story".
"...and to all, a good night."

Rated for all ages, races, and of course SANTA.

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

2005-12-08T23:59:00.002-05:00

The Final Ride
Has Come and Gone

As I look outside my window tonight I see the weatherman's report is a good one. Ten centimeters of the white stuff is to fall by morning. The snow is coming down as if a winter postcard has come alive, offering a Christmas a chance to become as it should, a white one.

This decision I make is one that has been planned for the past, almost five years and one that was not to happen until the New Year of 2006, however I look to the outside now, hesitating for only a moment to reflect on a 34 year career with CN Rail - a very long and testing time, especially the past few years with the Americanized management style infiltrating our lives, and now I see only freedom, the same sensation a prisoner must feel on the eve of his release from a lifetime behind bars.

As I write, the snow is forever falling so gently upon the ground, white and beautiful - I can see that now.

Yes, of course there were some very good times, great guys to work with for the most part, and tons of old memories from long ago. But this is all in the past now, as I move on to my new life...a life that holds no bars. Freedom is now my order of the day, days to do as I please, the things I have only dreamed of doing are now at my beckoning quest. An ideal come true; it is a paragon of my new reality and one that will follow me into my new future. No one knows of what the future may hold, one can only dream to make things come true...

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
- Shakespeare-Hamlet

As does "the wind sets into the shoulder of your sail," at times, I too am set to move on, and with my final decision to end what has been a part of my life for so many, many, long years, and start anew. Tomorrow, I intend to resign from CN Rail, and with CN form 92 in hand, one which I have carried in my coat pocket for the past while, the same offers freedom, I will walk out from that place with a great sense of relief that I am not tied to CN Rail anymore. Tomorrow has now come, the clock has ticked itself past twelve, and I fear not the phone ringing oh so loudly anymore.

The resignation form itself is typical of CN Rail, a paradigm of an epitome of heartlessness; it is stark and to the point, standing without feeling of a distinct resolution of fact...after the name rank and serial number comes the wording: "Voluntarily resign from the service of the Canadian National Railway Company"...strange wording for which the CEO, Hunter Harrison has told employees they are not to use the word "Canadian" when conducting company business, but that is not my concern anymore...the battle is now over and the sun shines brightly overhead. No, my concerns of railway issues are history, one that is best left behind like dust in the wind.

Where life leads me now is subject to imagination and vision wherein I will take time out to reflect and project my life. I look forward, with a smile, to the "First Day of the Rest of My Life". and I thank God I have made it this far, as many I have known did not.

Now I can truly say, without thought: Carpe Diem.

Adios y buena suerte a todos usted Railroaders, ha sido una experiencia no pronto olvidado, y mi dios bendice...

greg

RAILWAY WORKER'S PENSION CHOICES

2005-12-08T09:13:00.000-05:00

"Believe nothing,
no matter where you read it,
or who said it,
no matter if I have said it,
unless it agrees with
your own reason and
your own common sense."
Budda (536 B.C. - 483 B.C.)

To Do or Not To Do

Known Fact: You will not live forever LOL.

Yes of course, the security of a company pension plan is a nice blanket, especially if you live for many years and the plan keeps its head above water. Although, some plans, such as is mine, do not cover medical health benefits, therefore there is not much incentive to stay in the plan, other than the proverbial warm blanket that goes cold once you and your spouse die, and the money reverts back to your employer who as had money with your money, even while doling out your monthly pension cheque.

BUYER BEWARE: Upon retirement members are required to either buy into a restricted group health care plan or search one out for themselves. If you die, 40% to 50% of YOUR money vanishes and your spouse and estate never does see that money, it goes back into the company pension plan pot. If both you and your spouse die, well the money is pro-rated of course to the person's age of 65. This all can become very complicated and you should seek out professional advice, several different opinions is a good idea.

But, what about someone who does not want to belong to the company pension plan and wants their money to continue long after they are gone? Say, a person who does not want the company to reap the benefits of a lifelong savings by employees who have faithfully contributed to the pension plan. Here lies a gold mine of wealth...figure it out.

If a company has a pension plan that is stable and obviously making money, how is it that they can pay out a monthly cheque to pensioners and still make money? The answer is simple: THEY MAKE MONEY ON YOUR MONEY, otherwise they would not be still in the business of doling out monthly cheques, now would they?

One thing to remember is that you have the legal right to know how much money your personal investing into the pension plan is generating...that is the commuted value. If you find the people handling your pension money giving you a difficult time in forwarding your requested numbers, remember that you have the legal right to request the same and simply state this in their infamous VOICE MAIL system.

Here are a few points to ponder when making plans to decide whether to stay with the company pension plan or run with your money:

Book Early: For many, it is a good idea at age 50 to start a "Five-Year-Plan". Send a written request to the company handling your pension money for the "Commuted Value" and in this request specify a specific date of termination. For instance, say you turn 50 in January...request a termination date account for June, a six month inquiry. At age 51 do the same, and so on until you finally make up your mind which way you are going to travel. This will show you the numbers in a continual growth rate, considering the interest rates do not go through the roof!!!

Request Also: When sending in your request for your commuted value, ask also that it be accompanied by a summary calculation page that gives you sufficient information that would allow your financial adviser to confirm the calculated result. The summary would identify the parameters in the calculation, including the assumed final average earnings, years of service, the interest rate assumptions (net of any assumed inflation indexing), the early retirement age that was assumed to be most favourable and the corresponding early retirement reduction factors (less than the points), the unisex mortality ratio, spousal information, etc. - In other words: DO NOT DO THIS BY YOURSELF - GET PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, separate from the company and/or the pension plan holder.

Even though you quit work, you still have 3 doors of opportunity, providing you are past the age of 54 and six months. You can opt to have your money stay with the pension plan holder until you decide exactly what you are going to do, and in this timeframe they have to pay you interest on your money...you can decide still, not to take your commuted value, but simply go with the company pension plan - again seek outside advice beforehand.

The best case scenario is when your spouse has a pension plan, enough money to pay the monthly bills, and you watch your funds grow...or if you still want to work, as many people this day and age do not want to really retire, they simply are sick of the work they are doing, or they realize that the huge money in the commuted value is best set at investment growth, while they have another income source.

First and foremost, make sure that you can try and be totally free of debt, whether you are going on the company plan or venturing off with your own money.

And finally, remember that when you get your money you will be taxed on the "upfront" amount (usually apprx. 25% of the total) and this money will take about 6 to 8 weeks to arrive in your bank account. So, if you are planning to work another job you might want to consider quitting at least 2 months prior to an end of a year and pay the tax therein for that year and be free for the following year at a much lower tax rate. Again, seek advice.

One other note of mention here, is that over the past 4 1/2 years of requesting these numbers, in the past few months I have personally found the pension plan holder to be very difficult to get any information. They all seem to have switched to a very high tech VOICE MAIL, wherein they usually do not answer. So, it will take a lot of persistence on your part to wrangle the numbers out from them...do not give up, and do not rely on what your co-worker says he/she received...everyone is different in this game, everyone's numbers are different due to the nature of the beast. Remember, your best plan of attack is to plan your retirement early...
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." (Benjamin Franklin)

Good luck out there, which ever way you may travel...
...and beware of those Carp Diemers!!!

RipOffs

2005-12-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows it is happening...But Do You?

It involves those shoppers who take extreme advantage of the 30-day return policy most stores carry. For instance, two couples are going on a car trip with two vehicles. The one couple purchases an expensive set of walkie-talkies and away the go. They gab between the two vehicles all the way to Florida and back, noting how well the gadgets work. Upon return to their home town they stop by the store and return the said walkie-talkies stating some lame excuse for not wanting the product. Sound familiar?

But there is another type of scam that goes bad for the customer, at least for the first customer, yet good for the observant customer who follows behind. Have you ever seen someone checking out the old phone booth coin slots just by chance to catch someone's leftover change? I know, phone booths have become passe with the advent of cell phones, but my point is worth reading further...

According to a Zher's employee, one who wishes to remain annonomous, said "you would not believe the number of people who leave their cash behind and never return for it."

"It happens every day", she said.

Here is the scoop...you scan your groceries, pay by debit or credit card and the machine nicely asks you if you want any extra cash...many say "sure" and push the button for an extra $20, $40, $60 or more. The machine then tells them to get their receipt and take their bags. The shopper, for the most part in a mad rush, grabs the bags and kids and heads on out from the store, dumps the bags into the truck of their car, and drives home and puts away the groceries...what is wrong with this picture?

The customer forgot to grab their cash from the bottom slot of the machine, yet an observant shopper next in line scoops up the cash and smiles.

"Have a nice day eh?"

A Microsoft SCAM?

2005-12-01T11:28:00.000-05:00

Monopoly Microsoft Attacks Again

Let's face it, goggle is gaining ground by the minute with new and FREE programs, Firefox browser is OUTDOING Microsoft Destroyer browser by miles, and the Outsourcing people are giving us FREE programs that are the same as the programs Microsoft offers at extremely high prices.

So, what does this all add up to?

PATCHES AND MORE PATCHES...

We cannot turn our computers on without some sort of horrendous hazard warning from Microsoft telling us we must download the recent patch or else face computer doom. Well, I for one am sick and tired of all this hoopla for Microsoft, especially considering the mere fact that Mircrosoft is soon to release its new operating system: VISTA, one that is supposed to end all hacker attacks.

And if you believe this, well how about some land in New Orleans?

PCWorld posted a warning notice yesterday that explains how Microsoft has failed us again. We all know that Microsoft only issues their patches on Tuesdays...However this new situation where hackers have "posted a sample of code that could be used to attack a Windows machine that has not been updated with the most recent Microsoft security patches" (PCWorld.com).

If you think about it, Microsoft could be the hacker here, forcing people into believing that in their best computer efforts, the all new VISTA is a must have...For this guy I am switching over to Linux next week and I will report my progress.

I am joining the millions out there, including IBM, Ontario School Board, and hundreds of companies who have made the switch from Micromesssoft products to a completely free and proven most efficient system: Linux.

$9.99 per Litre of Gas?

2005-11-28T18:44:00.000-05:00

"Cleans As You Drive"

Cleans what, your pocket book?

Today, some of the gas stations in Sarnia, Ontario made some adjustments to their signs that announce the price of gasoline - they added an extra digit holder on the left side...this will now enable these thieves to run the price of gas right up to almost ten dollars per litre, before having to make bigger signs.

If you notice, people now are saying how low the gas is that it dropped below the eighty cent mark...my God.

I suppose, when the gas gougers upped the price to almost a buck-fifty last summer, this under eighty looks good to most.

Why did they drop the price? It is a wait and see about what is going to happen with the election.
If you notice, back when the gas prices were extreme, there was much talk about a concerted effort by these companies to play with the rates...then there was talk about a gas inquiry by the Federal Government. Now, we hear nothing, just watch the boys fix the signs and make room for one extra digit to clean out pocket books out.

My Tide is Now A Changin

2005-11-28T08:53:00.002-05:00

"There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold"

"FREEDOM 55"

Nice ring to that eh? Catchy? You bet, but how many people actually realize this situation wherein a person can quit their day job and move on to something that is of an interest in their lives and not something that simply brings home the bread?

Today, I am fortuante to be in that position, one that may take me to a brand new career - something maybe adventurous - a "Brave New World" maybe?

Yes, after all these years of "moiling for gold" in the workplace, I have decided to hang up my hat and to "stop and smell the roses".

In today's world, people who have been working and paying into a company pension for the past 30 to 35 years now have two doors of opportunity facing them. Door number one is taking the company pension plan and settling into a life of retirement - a sometimes comfortable option. Door number two is similar, however this involves the individual to take out their "commuted value" monies from the pension plan and managing it without the company's hands in on the pie. In fact, with a company plan, if both you and your spouse die, so does that money...well not really, the money goes back into the company's pension pockets. Door number two allows for your hard earned bucks to be given to your estate plans, thus the money is kept with your family and not with the corporate pension fund.

In my fifties now, I have decided to move along with my life, discarding a life-long career and exchanging it for something anew...Some wise advice states that while making this new move you should avoid the "I wish I had or had not..." statements we sometimes catch ourselves making. This is a time to move on and determine what it is that you wish to do with your brand new life.

I must admit, at this stage of the game it is not about money any more - those days have hard passed me by, thank God. Today, is the first day of the rest of my life, or so it is said. Where this new venture takes me, I am looking for things that are fun, exciting, interesting and of course somewhat of a challenge to learn new things, and of course to "stop and smell the roses", carp diem!

Sex Sells Grey Cup

2005-11-26T09:14:00.001-05:00

The "Old Grey Cup(s)"
Gets a Makeover

Who would ever think that Pamela Anderson would usurp the Tragically Hip and the Guess Who?

In an effort to attract new (male) viewers to the Canadian football shows, the media folk have hired the lovely and sexy Pamela Anderson as the Grey Cup Parade's official Marshall.

So, is it SEX, or is it the quality of the game, or a mix of both, that should promote this event. It is a shame that events such as these need an injected thrill. Why cannot they maintain audiences on their own merit?

I am sure we haven't seen the last of this act...it is only just beginning...a football reality show in the making?

Time will tell...and so will the media, tomorrow. No wonder millions have tuned out their TVs in the past several years...Yet, our students still cannot pass the literacy testing; that is left for another blog some other time.

One thing for certain, at the various bars and house parties, the side comments will be worth the price of admission...If you are into that act.

The War of Gangs and Guns

2005-11-25T08:59:00.002-05:00

How many gun shots do we need to hear ring past our heads before a gun shot becomes one too many?

We hear gun shots killing school children on the streets of Toronto, we hear gun shots killing people on the steps of God's Churches, and we hear the constant shots from drive-by-killers, but do we hear how and when this dauntless crime will cease and desist? Maybe now we have a chance to round up these cowardly killers...

On Wednesday night, this week, a nurse was driving home along the QEW at Hwy 10 near Mississauga, with her 27 year old daughter, to celebrate her homecoming. Slowing to merge into the traffic they saw a man, bleeding from the stomach and with blood covering his jeans. The man was screaming for motorists to stop and help, but none did, except the nurse and her daughter. It appeared the man was shot in the left arm, the left leg, the left knee, and the left foot.

He also suffered injuries from his escape from a moving car on the highway. While the nurse was applying emergency aid to the gunshot victim, the police and ambulance people were at the scene. The police say that the nurse risked her and her daughter's lives, however the nurse said this was not the first time she had dealt with gunshot victims.

How much of this can the public put up with before demanding action by the Toronto Mayor? The time has come for Mayor David Miller to get out from behind his desk and act.

KILLERS BEWARE!!!

Taken from the depths of Hollywood's archives, Toronto has now hired Inspector David McLeod, (shown above) a veteran who has worked several elite positions with the Toronto Police, and now vows to rid the the streets of Toronto of guns and gang violence.

About time...

But this will only work if the red tape is cut, the politically correct sit back and turn the Simpsons back on and eat their pizzas in the safety of their living rooms and let this cop do the job of cleaning up Toronto. If not, well Mayor David Miller might as well call a special awards night for gang leaders and hand them over the keys to the city...and wait for the riots we see in France open up in Toronto.

Inspector David McLeod comes loaded with experience and know-how to round up these creeps. God let him do his job. Good luck out there Sir!

VOTE FOR A FATLESS SOCIETY?

2005-11-22T14:40:00.001-05:00

...and just when we thought the FAT WARS were being won?

Would you join a gym and actually use the facility if you were given a tax incentive to do so? It appears our provincial Premier Dalton has outright rejected this suggestion from his own Ontario Health Promotion Minister who plans public hearings this January "on using tax breaks to encourage physical fitness" (Toronto Star 051122).

The Health Promotion Minister says he likes the idea of "using a carrot instead of a stick" to get people trimmed down to a proper size. The Health Minister says "that anything the government can do to encourage people to become fit, the better."

Great idea, but is it a reality? Will people actually go and workout, even with the "carrot" dangling, or will they simply chew up the carrot and head on over to Walmart's candy department instead, and still reap the taxi writeoff? Judging from the aisles in Walmart (where one cannot pass another due to the size of the Walmart patrons overall), we do sympathize with the Health Minister, but can also side with Dalton, who sees this as an exercise in futility.

Never mind the inconvenience in blocked Walmart aisles, how about the poor thin segment of the travelling public? Think about it...Been on a bus lately? The scene:

It is rush hour, the people are pushing and shoving, waiting as the express bus roars to a stop and everyone fights to get on board. But wait, the damn line is halted, nobody can figure out why. The line should be moving quickly, everyone wants to get home, don't they?

Sure they do, but wait a minute...look inside, there be the problem. There in the very middle of the bus is a fat lady stuck in the centre aisle who cannot fit into a seat, she stands stubbornly with a look that would kill, and nobody is challenging her to move to the back of the bus. All the damn seats are near empty as nobody can inch past this woman. It appears she is getting off at the very next stop and isn't risking getting jammed into the back and thus missing her stop.

"Ya right," you say? Well, obviously you have not travelled on a rush hour bus lately.

It appears these "fat" people have their own society in the USA now and attend many conventions wherein their complaints of having to pay for two airline seats are aired...but what about the damn bus? Shouldn't they have to pay for all those empty seats that are unoccupied, simply because you and I have no access to them due to the lady in the middle of the bus?

Don't believe me...check out the Fat Convention: http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=95000976
and see for yourself, the rights you may just lose out on, never mind their useless tax writeoff that you and I will end up paying for in the long run.

Never mind the incentives that will turn out to be just another fat joke, how about getting these people their own means of public transportation, a bus that will be politically and environmentally friendly for these humungous folk? An alternative method???????

Vote for faster, fatter, freer transports now!

City of $arnia in Trouble?

2005-11-22T09:31:00.000-05:00

The City of Sarnia Motions
to
Rid One Firehall For Cash

Councillor Kelch has motioned to sell one of Sarnia's Firehalls in an attempt to get some desparately needed funding. As well, Sarnia Council discussed the aspect of selling off CN lands on the river for even more cash.

So, what is really going on in Sarnia?

To the non-political animal, the average bear in Sarnia would assume that the City has no money. How did we get in this jam? What will it cost the average homeowner to get us back on track? How many businesses would disappear if Sarnia raised taxes to a higher level?

These questions remain to be answered, and in the meantime we just hold our breaths...

Three cheers for the fire department management who are against selling a fire department...can you imagine, selling safety for moola...shame on you City Council.

Come on Mayor Mike Bradley, you can legislate a better one than this, we hope?

How about keeping the Palliative Care Unit, how about fixing a few roads in town, how about chasing the cops from Tim Hortons, how about unboarding the downtown core and bring the businesses back, how about an all-out-war against the terrible drivers in Sarnia, and how about bringing us back our jobs from those gas plants that came here, raped the benefits and took off? How about managing the City of Sarnia Mr. Mayor?

GOOD NEWS - Literally Speaking - "I'm Back"

2005-11-21T22:48:00.000-05:00

The good news is that with the latest change in editors at the Sarnia Sun and Business Trends magazine, a home for my TECH TRENDS, a computer-related column. My column is going to continue being published each month in Business Trends magazine.

My thanks goes out to Gord Bowes, Managing Editor, Chatham and Sarnia Sun papers for contacting me and asking if I would be interested in continuing writing for the magazine...of course I said yes.

It is a great experience and pleasure to write for this organization. But the best part of all is knowing that somewhere, somehow, the column may just help someone learn a little bit more about the highly confusing world of technology.

So, the "GOOD NEWS" is that TECH TRENDS column will be published in the December issue of Business Trends - "WiFi - Millions Are Doing It, But Is It Safe?" A great topic, given the prospects of many people who are looking to buy that second computer system for Christmas and connect a home wireless network.

Any questions regarding this column, I can be reached at editor@scug.ca

Workers Slipped A Pernicious Package

2005-11-21T18:20:00.001-05:00

Horrendous News
From Oshawa
MASSIVE CUTS

We see 3900 plus jobs are going, going, and very likely, to be resurected in a 3rd. world country?

GM announced a 30,000 worker, International Layoff. But when you really do the actual math, what this company proposes to do to North America is displace close to 210,000 workers - putting these people on the street without a family income.

The "Paul Harvey version" of the story is that for one auto worker job there are 7 spinoff jobs outside GM who will also face job losses.

But does the blame lie with GM's CEO Wagoner who masterminded these job cuts, or should we look to Buz Hargrove, the leader of the CAW who negoitiated the latest contract...shouldn't he have seen this coming? Certainly there were rumoured abound within the auto industry, now these rumours have surfaced as read facts, facts that are much more devasting that first believed.

Maria Kehagias, a GM worker said "Merry Christmas you know? It's very upsetting. This [Oshawa] will be a ghost town, it will be another Flint Michigan."

For those of us who sit back on our couches, watching this news unfold, we simply say, "Isn't that terrible." All the while we secretly are thankful it isn't happening to us.

The issue affects us all - we need to start complaining to our MPs and MPPs about the unfair trade agreement between the Eastern Europe countries and Canada...why does China allow 2/3 less Canadian made vehicles into their country than Canada allows of their products?

Questions such as this should necessitate answers from our politicians, postulated answers that are followed by existant action to stop this incredible injustice to the Canadian workforce.

Toronto Needs Angels - THE HELLS ANGELs

2005-11-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

THE TIME HAS COME
TO HIRE THE BEST

With almost 70 different shootings in the city of Toronto, we are becoming the Wild Wild West of North Amercia. In fact the killers in this city have no shame, morals, or even self care; yesterday, at a church funeral service for a 17 year old shooting victim, mourners witnessed a friend of the victim shot in plain view, in public and on the door steps of the church...

The cops have surely lost the gun battle.

It is high time to bring in the experts to help clean up this town, it is vigilante time, it is revenge time, it is time for all citizens to have their city back and in one PEACE.

So, what should Mayor David Miller and Police Chief Bill Blair do? Simple, hire the pros - THE HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE GANG...ones who are well versed in killing and rounding up people who have made prior offences a serious issue with the motorcycle club.

According the Vancouver Sun, the Hells Angels "maintain a fearsome reputation in the criminal underworld." Canada has more Hells Angels members per capita than any other country so why not ask for their help...they are involved in other crimes and they would love the opportunity to round up these "driveby" scumbags who cowardly drive up, shoot and then quickly disappear, vanish like a scared aninmal in the night.

Corporate Bullies: Looks Good On Them

2005-11-18T09:57:00.000-05:00

The Corporate Tide has Ebbed Out

From coast to coast, workers are slowly getting back a sense of justice in the workplace. Companies are now in a huge jam and they have to change their tactics in order to retain or even have a chance of getting a worker.

From Railways to Home Depots in Canada, hundreds of companies now fear a severe worker shortage.

So, what exactly does this mean for you and I, the common worker or the unemployed worker or the layed off worker, or our children's futures?

Lets look at the job scene out there today. Headlines are glowing with loud reports such as Alberta's "non-stop expansion in the oilsands have oil and gas companies trying to determine whether they'll have enough staff to take advantage of the upcoming work...". And in northern Ontario we find that "Skilled trades people are scarce in Sudbury" and that they are already talking of either "begging" people to work there, or they are going to consider "outsourcing abroad" for workers to come to Sudbury and work. Already thousands of retail stores cannot get people to work (students cover the evening shifts) during the daytime hours.

One interesting concept is with Home Depot who support the Canadian Association of Retired Persons and claim that "We all know it's tough out there," said Susan Riduy, an assistant manager for Home Depot. "If we attract seniors we will. And we'll do whatever we have to retain them, because they are very valuable." No kidding Susan, since there are more than 33,000 seniors now working in Alberta and the numbers are expected to rocket.

In fact, housing projects and major construction work is looking at a stalemate in the construction sector with companies such as Deltera and Tridel Builder's Inc. who say "There are lots of red flags on the horizon." Building plans are being put on hold in fear of not being able to complete a job due to the lack of workers.

The ironic thing about all this is that these mega corporations have known for years there would be a shortage of workers once the 21st. century took off - the baby boomers are retiring in record numbers and the companies have failed to hire workers, bleeding the older workers for every ounce of their daily blood. In fact, CANAC warned the two major Canadian Railways, eight years ago, they would be facing an extreme worker-shortage.

Is this Payback time for some? Will the "double-dippers", the returning retired workers to the workforce return with a different attitude - You bet! Companies have their tails between their legs and are now forced to treat people like humans and in fact, they may even have to think about putting their proverbial "Straw Bosses" in the closet for the next decade or so...how about laying these meenies off and give them a taste of what it is like to devastate and ravage a family by removing a regular paychegue? Torchure them for a change, "an eye for an eye" you might wish...

But not all companies are or have been meenies. There is an old labour relations saying: "The only reason a company has a union is due to its own poor management". This is good food for thought.

A common goal must be to get everyone working, a highly set aim it is, but a great one whereas accomplishment can be, if everyone works in towards this goal in unity and fairness to all, including the meenies!

The Cordless Wars

2005-11-16T08:04:00.000-05:00

802.11(a,b,g) vs: 2.4GHz
LET THE GAMES BEGIN...

Time To Cut The Cords?

With Xmas coming around the corner, people are contemplating "cutting the perverbial cord" and buying into wireless technology, be it, chordless phones or WiFi cordless computers, the ole advertising adage applies: BUYER BEWARE!!!.

Remember when: You and your "special one" used to fight over whose turn it was to watch either the Gilmore Girls or Monday Night Football? We all know who won, but that doesn't matter here. What matters is that the guy ended up running to Walmart and picking out another coloured TV for either the basement or the garage for his new viewing area. It was a radical approach to marital bliss.

Today, the bliss is stressed out once again...the misses gabs on the cordless phone and cuts off "his" wireless laptop. The problem: the two technologies, cordless phones and wireless routers operate on similar frequencies and of course the #$#% phone cuts off the computer. Hell, why didn't the inventors of this technology design it the other way around?

So, what to do?

Does the guy run out to Walmart and buy what? The simple solution here would be for the guy to adorn his Greb Workboots, leather palmed worked gloves, safety goggles and his local Cable Company uniform he had stolen off the Cable Guys Truck last summer while it was parked at the neighbours house so he could cut into the cable and get his wife free access to the Gilmore Girls...thus keeping he happy...and then, he goes into the garage, beside his Walmart TV, he picks up his trusty Canadian Tire wire cutters and now finds himself ready for this current mission to repair the problem of the war between the phone and the laptop.

Yes folks he does do it..."Just Do It" they say, so he did...he cut the proverbial chord and now has free and uninterupted access to his WiFi networks without cutting off the Godforsaken Gilmore Girls, however the phone never rang twice.

Where Are They Now?

2005-11-15T14:37:00.000-05:00

Remember, just a few months ago, were you one of those who were constantly complaining about the heat?

You probably prayed for cooler weather!

Well you certainly had your prayers granted. This weather is vain-cutting stimuli.

For those of you who did complain about our lovely humidity, and are now finding you have nothing to complain about, try this:

"For a given combination of temperature and wind speed, the wind chill index corresponds roughly to the temperature that one would feel in a very light wind. For example, a temperature of -25C and a wind speed of 20 km/h give a wind chill index of -37. This means that, with a wind of 20 km/h and a temperature of -25C, one would feel as if it were -37C in a very light wind."

You know who you are, come on and come out of the weather closet and admit you were a weather whiner...shame on you. Hopefully, next summer, you will keep quiet and enjoy it whilst it lastith.

Come you humidity haters, get off the couch and go outside and enjoy this lovely cold, damp, crappy weather - you deserve it!

Vacations Are Becoming Dangerous Entities

2005-11-15T12:57:00.000-05:00

After booking a vacation to the Dominican for 2006, we found out, by chance, from our family doctor that we need to have 3 injections - two before the trip and one upon arrival home.

I remember travelling to Africa and having to have a shot before we left, but now a shot for the Dominican? The last two times we travelled to the Dominican there was no need for a needle or pills. Why this time???

Apparently, over 50 million travellors head to third world countries on vacation each year and the risks of disease is rising. Nice thought eh?

So, I am off to the drug store to pickup my Twinrix needles today, and contemplate ingredients from a suggested vacation survival list:

Sunblock (not necessary, I do tanning prior to - go directly from plane to ocean).
Topical Disinfectants (sounds scary).
Thermometer (I already know it will be damn hot!).
Antifungal Foot Power (gross!!!).
Hydrocorisone Cream For Rashes (my god!!!).
Pepto - Bismol for the craps - (a must have haha).

Apparently, they claim the almost 50% of travel travelers get diarrhea and hundreds of Canadians get Hep A or B from these countries. Makes you wonder? But the report did specify Quebec people - maybe they should post the warnings in other languages and lower the rate of infections?

They did not include gas masks...I wonder why not? Especially considering all that spicy food! LOL

Down With "The All New Martha"

2005-11-12T19:14:00.000-05:00

Anyone who has been tagged with a small bag of pot, caught driving with just one too many beers under their belt, or any other minor infraction may find themselves in a tight knot when trying to enter from Canada to the USA. The American Customs Agency has very strict rules and regulations for immigrants crossing the border into their country.

In fact, you probably won't get in, especially if you did small jail time for the aforementioned infractions. But what about lovely Martha Stewart? How come she comes up to Canada with our arms opened wide, the red carpet treatment and without a glitch?

Martha, the ex convict, told Fortune magazine what she learned in prison was that she "really could not be destroyed" from her cell in what has been dubbed as "Camp Cupcake", a federal prison where she was treated like royalty.

The question all Canadians should be asking is how "The All New Martha" managed to cross our border, as a known criminal, and why the humungous rant about Martha's visit to Novia Scotia? There should have been ravaging protests coast to coast demanding Martha stay home! But no, we welcomed her, more so, that the President of the United States. Canadians have lost it.

Hell, even Shania Twain was seen making poutine with ole Martha...and that is news? The real headlines should have read:

"MARTHA STEWART
TAKEN AWAY IN CHAINS
AT CANADIAN BORDER
AND SENT BACK HOME"

Christmas (are we still allowed to use that term for the 25th.?) shopping today in London, Ontario we walked into the Sears store, a great Canadian institution and guess what the very first thing we ran into was...yep, Martha. Well, not actually herself, but her great display of goods for sale...and there were people actually buying the goods. I wonder if any of those goods were smuggled?

May God bless Canada ... whoops, sorry, I remember now in Canada, to be "politically correct", we must not mention God and we must not demean "The All New Martha". I say, God should damn Martha forever and ever Amen, and while He is at it, give us back OUR Canada!

Road RAGE

2005-11-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

In 1953 Arthur C. Clarke wrote: "Expedition to Earth", a novel wherein it is stated that "rules were made to be broken" and ever since we have been using this to commit "white crimes" or innocents that are not really harmful, and for the most part are sometimes funny. I wonder if Bill Clinton ever used this term? We "won't go there" will we haha.

I know I mention vehicle maladroitness (shitty drivers) all-too-often, but I must mention one more of my pet peeves about the soccer moms in vans, and any others who have an in-frangible opinion that they are "king of the road", in that the law does not apply to them when they are in a rush, which is 99% of their road time.

TAILGATING is a quite common occurrence these days.

Picture this: You are driving along, watching out that you do not go much over the posted speed limit, watching out for kids darting out from between parked cars, looking to the right and left while passing through intersections, and keeping an eye on the road before you, when all of a sudden you see an image in your rear view mirror..."MY GOD," you scream out, "ANOTHER VAN MOM."

Immediately I go into my insidious mode, to counteract this pernicious driver.

No, I do not give her the infamous finger, or mouth the "F-word" in the rear-view mirror; I do not even allow her to know that I know that she is right on my ass. I mean, one could not even put a match stick between the bumpers. Nope, I refuse to give out the satisfaction that she holds a place on this planet.

Alright, I know you ask, "What do you do?"

To keep matters simple hear, I use my unproblamatic approach to this all-too-common occurrence of aggressive driving...I go into my "senior citizen driver's mode."

I simply begin to slow down, slowly, looking from side to side, letting the Van Mom think I am paying no attention to the "rules of the road" whatsoever. In fact, the slower I go the faster she goes, well at least her pulse begins to bounce. Now my entertainment leads off with a fabulous picture of the Van Mom in my rear-view-mirror pounding her steering wheel, mouthing some very clear words that even a small child recognizes from any school yard.

The Van Mom, caught in this terrible dilemma of a quandary particlular to one being in a mad rush. She cuts fast to the right, attempting to pass this old man ahead of her, but the old man is slowly drifting across the lane, now straddling both lanes as he views the city workers patting down the hot tar on the other side. Keep in mind that one still cannot get a tissue paper between our two bumpers and I have yet to acknowlege the Van Mom. Her face has changed, screwed up and violet in colour, and I can even envision steam seeping from those two things on either side of her head.

My God, the Van Mom now sees that we are slowly approaching down on a green traffic light ahead...she ultimately fears the red, in that she will have to stop and chew her newly done nails, as she pounds the steering wheeling in anticipation of running that next light...she contemplates running up the curb and taking a chance with taking the sidewalk route to circumvent the ole man ahead...she comes to her senses as a group of seniors are stolling along the sidewalk, gently inching their walkers, enjoying the flowers on the side of the road...the Van Mom missed the flowers and fell back in behind the ole man who was now parked at the yellow light, pretending to caution on the side of safety and wait for the next green, fit-to-be-tied.

The light turns greeen, the Van Mom roars to the left, screeching with only two wheels, and the ole man wonders if the Van Mom will ever get to her destination, on time and alive.

ALPHA and OMEGA

2005-11-09T21:46:00.001-05:00

"YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE"

Ever wonder who comes up with these sayings? So many of us use these dandies each and every day; for the most part, without thought, these blurbs come rumbling out in a sense of protesting our worldliness.

But how many of us really pay attention to these time-held-wonders of thought? Not too many...

Ever hear of a man named: Adam Marshall? Of course you haven't! Adam is the man who blurbed out the infamous saying about living for today, as tomorrow may not ever come about.

In fact, the exact saying he made is: "You only live once; but if you live it right, once is enough."

As I get ready for pension, over the next few months, I have been contemplating many things - the fact that I will be entering the world of "fixed incomes" and the fear of someday maybe having to go back to work. We all think of these issues sooner or later. Planning for retirement is a full time thought as one gets closer to the exit date.

This winter I planned not to take a vacation, not to use any vacation time, so I could exit sooner and have that much more money for retirement; given the contemplations of taking the grand kids to Disney this spring - the cost therein etc. and etc.

My sister called last week and notified us she is getting married in the Dominican Republic early next year and that if we were interested we were more than welcome to attend the do.

Mind whirling, I could not decide. Save for retirement or do as Adam says and live for today...

We leave early in the new year for Punta Cana to a Five Star resort to attend my little sister's wedding...to hell with tomorrow!

It is said that there is "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted" (Ecclesiastes: 3.2). It is my time to live life to its' fullest...Reservations are a done deal!!!

You Are Not Really Still Using Internet Destroyer Are You?

2005-11-06T22:28:00.000-05:00

Internet Destroyer (explorer) is now passe.

Why would anyone profess or confess to using this terrible program. It is slow, unsafe, and highly restrictive. In fact, earlier this year Homeland Security, in the USA, ordered all and any computers that are of a government nature to STOP using Internet Explorer as a browser.

So this begs the question: What else is there? This is a common question due to the mere fact that most people do not like change. You get a new computer and unfortunately it comes fully equipped with this product from Micoverysoft Inc.

You get used to these products and fear changing something that, not only you have become aquainted with, but have not ventured far from any Microsoft products. In the past, MS was ok and stood the test of its time, however now time has changed, the Internet has changed and with change comes a better, faster, and much safer browser: FIREFOX.

And believe it or not, now firefox comes with even faster speeds (the first version beat MS IE speed by far).

An add-on called Fasterfirefox has been around for a while, but now it is even faster.

If this speed is still not fast enough you can hack your own Firefox browser and jack up the download speeds to 40% faster.

How?

It takes only 3 minutes of your time...and it is really easy. Go here:
http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/understandyourbrowser/ht/firefox.htm

Have fun and come back and comment here about your faster speeds...bookmark this blog for more on Firefox...

Train Wrecks

2005-11-06T08:35:00.000-05:00

Is this the coming norm in Canada?

Federal Transport Minister, Jean Lapierre seems worried about rail safety in Canada.

In fact, he states he is "concerned about CN's overall safety performance and [has] written to senior officials at CN to express those concerns."

The Transport Minister gave a "clear" mandate to CN officials that "if corrective actions aren't taken by the company I could call a public inquiry into CN's operations." (www.globeandmail.com).

A Transport Canada safety audit on railway operations is to be released possibly in December to the public.

The Canadian Government is concerned about rail safety of late, with the all-too-numerous train wrecks "and could order a public inquiry into its [CN Rail] operations." (routers.com).

The Federal Transport Minister also said "We are finding all sorts of problems and we hope they get corrected fast." (routers.com).

This will be an interesting watch for sure!

Fortunate One

2005-11-01T11:32:00.000-05:00

"Who'll stop the rain?"

Whenever I hear those words I want to stand up and protest something, I want to scream for change, I want to lay down and simply stop the atrocities, the heinousnesses of the world. Of course, it is quite possible that kids today, listening to this ole song, really think only of a super weather man dressed up and able to leap tall storm clouds in a single bounce, but we who lived through the sixties know much better. We know agent oranges.

Almost forty years ago, John Fogerty, the main songwriter for Creedence Clearwater Revival, wrote the everlasting songs: "Proud Mary", "Who'll Stop The Rain", and of course "Fortunate Son". These songs have been the focus of years of legal battles wherein Fogerty was ripped off from his royalties by Fantasy Records.

Today, John is finally getting back at the record company and Fantasy Records is sold to Concord Music Group, a company who has invited Fogerty back with an upcoming live DVD and new studio songs. For Fogerty things are turning around, this new company is even extending some of his old rightful royalties back in his name.

However, I wonder if today's society is ready for a Fogerty return, or rather a return to hearing protest songs.

Today, we get to listen to rappers instructing our young kids on the street, how to kill cops and that rape is a good thing and that bucking societies rules and regulations is a good thing.

Today's society has become extremely passive, unlike back in the sixties where we protested with music and peaceful demonstrations against the Vietnam War and human rights. Oh yes, we hear soft declamations out there decrying human rights and stopping Bush and his great wars, but are we really immune to the devestations we see each day?

We watch the news and hear that 10,000 were killed in an earthquake in India, we actually see car bombings killing bus loads of civilians and then the station quickly turns to a tampex or viagara ad and we take another bite of our creamy chocolate dessert and sip our designer coffee - no feelings, only a brief discussion about how great the drug viagara is for those old folk, no mention or discussion about world crisis, especially ones a million miles away.

So who will stop the rain? You?

How About Really Retiring?

2005-10-31T09:38:00.000-05:00

Why Do
People Retire
Then Work?

Statistics show that most people when they retire, after only 3 months, are bored. Why is this so?

I have been involved with pension planning for over 20 years, being involved in the union movement, and have come to learn that some people give thoughts to their retirement via RSSPs and other income generating sources, but fail to give any thoughts as to what they will fill the 40+ hr week with when it is gone.

Since most people do not do any volunteer work when they are working, again statistics show that those same people are more than likely not to do volunteer work when they retire. Instead, they work.

Keeping busy while in retirement is a key to a healthy and successful retirement. Although, most people leave their retirement planning until the 3 month segment after they are home alone and bored. Since they never did anything other than work, oh we cannot count golfing unless you live in Florida and have no family, we are talking here about outside activities that involve developing new interests and activities.

Hobbies are a great activity to utilize when retired, however again many people did not find the time, while working, to develop any hobbies and then when they retire there hobby activities usuall peter out due to lack of interest or BOREDUMB.

There are many websites on retirement, such as:
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/diversityresources/a/retirement.htm

The sad part is that now over 66% of Americans will have to keep on working after retirement just to maintain their lifestyles. Sad eh? How long will these dedicated workers live? How and when do they EVER expect to appreciate retirement and simply "smell the roses"? Probably too late for sure.

The above mentioned website goes on to say that those people who have planned their retirement have no need or desire to go back to work,as these people planned out their retirement earlier on, well before reaching the infamous "Freedom 55".

To get an enriched lifestyle through volunteering, in the USA they have a website that matches your skills and likes to a particular volunteer job. http://www.volunteermatch.org

So there really is no excuse for those of us who are reading for our "Freedom 55" getaway. The real roadblock is one of two things, improper planning and greed. Can you imagine a person who gets a pension and pays income tax on that money, then goes out and grabs a minimum wage job. Think about it, after taxes that person is working for about $4 per hour, less gas, food and hassles. Great retirement eh?

Stats Canada report says that "life is better after retirement and those that planned for it by developing hobbies and participating in various activties were most likely to find retirement enjoyable." So why work after working?

In 2002 more than 300,000 Canadians, over the age of 65, worked. Sad eh?

I work for CN Rail and find that most who retire do work thereafter, usually at a minimum wage job. Is it for the money? Maybe greed plays a part for these retirees, having been chasing the buck for the "better" part of their lives and cannot shut it off, or is it that their job was their life...take that away and they have nothing...to do except go back to work.

I for one will not be one of those - no way - no how, not me man. FREEDOM 55 for this guy all the way! Unless, the right thing comes my way ;)

Rabinovitch Out

2005-09-26T18:34:00.000-04:00

Rabinovitch Out

Any CBC radio listener will agree, this man has to go. CBC locked out workers for many reasons, but the truth be told, outsourcing is probably the main ingredient for this craziness by a mis-managed CBC.

From cbcontheline.ca the following explains the irony that any fool can easy see through, even most politician on Parliament Hill:

When the CBC boss was asked if he would like a "short-term contract" he replied, "sure".

The irony here is that when his contract was up for renewal he renegotiated it from a two year contract to a three year contract. Giving himself a longer term.

Time to rid the country of the CBC corruption of managers and bring back our lifeline to reality - CBC Radio.

One other sad issue is the fact that most politicians hid during their summer vacations, deciding not to speak out on any opinion regarding the country's loss of a national radio, however now they are back in session and in the limelight, well guess what, the CBC lockout is now, all-of-a-sudden, an issue. Lights, camera, and action?

CBC management should be fired, and held responsible for the million plus dollars a day that they seem to be not accountable for over the past forty days plus. What has happened to the regular million dollar a day funding to the CBC to cover the regular programming costs and the wages of over 5,000 CBC workers?

Martha warmed up the cell, maybe some of these CBC corps could cool their heels there as well. Although, maybe jail is too good for Rabinovich and his gang of theives. Maybe a stink on the sidewalk would do wonders for these corporate neanderthals of the the media world.

greg

Writing Block Cure

2005-09-22T20:46:00.000-04:00

After nearly five years of study at Athabasca University, an English degree at that, I am still pursuing this endeavor to the end...if there is one. Writing technology articles is not my real forte, however it is becoming increasingly interesting and it is an amazing learning experience.

Of course I would love to fulfill my lifelong dream, ever since that Journalism course in Toronto at Centennial College, of writing a fiction novel. Sure, I have a draft manuscript, thousands of notes on other ideas, and even a good murder/mystery plot at hand, however, I just do not have the time to sit down on a daily basis and pound out the pages. Now I write tech stuff.

So, tech articles seems to fill the literary gap I have a yearning for these past years.

As Editor for SCUG Report, I mostly cut and paste, size and resize, chase people for articles, and of course write the odd thing myself. For me, this is a simple matter of time, yet I do enjoy this function immensely.

Another writing project I have on hand is my technology column in Business Trends magazine. Each month I have to research tons of data and come up with some article that not only makes sense, but is technically correct. These two things are a challenge.

First of all, who am I writing for, or rather who is the audience that reads this stuff? This is important, as I cannot write about a Linux system bio, when most people are hammering away on Microhoweversoft Exploring software. How do I know that what I write is for the "average" user, a term my editor used when I got hired.

Ah ha! My wife. Yes, she is quite literate in writing, and illiterate in computers. So, she is the perfect candidate for editing my columns. I do not have to worry as when she reads them, basically she is reading similar to how the "average user" would read the articles. If she has not a clue as to what is being said, well then its back to the "drawing board" again to rewrite the article to make more sense.

"Writing", it is said, "is a very lonely occupation."

No kidding. You read alone to get your research fine-tuned, you draft your article alone, in an effort to get a final copy...But the fun part is banging ideas off other computer geeks...This is where the real learning takes place.

Once I connect with these geeks, ideas flow and finally I come away with tons of new ideas, writer block gone and back in the grove once more.

Tech writing is certainly not Hamlet's cousin, however I do have some other ideas on the back burner - an outdoor, backpacking, canoe book? Who knows...maybe Hemmingway will give me a nod in the right direction soon.
www.scug.ca

Sarnia Drops the Anchor

2005-09-21T21:28:00.000-04:00

Where Did Our
Cultural Aspect Go?

The ocean-going ship, The CV Columbus stopped at Sarnia today, but the passengers did not disembark to view our city. It seems there is nothing here for them, other than strip joints, donut shops, and other junk food joints. Sad...

In fact, last summer the ship docked at Sarnia and dozens of crew members ventured around our downtown, however it was a Monday and not much was opened...they were not impressed. I wonder what they thought about all the shops that were boarded up due to the Walmart/Canadian Tire and Lambton Mall taking all the business out into the subburbs? Why is it that Sarnia promotes hockey and rock concerts, yet drops the anchor on the Arts and Cultural issues. We need more of the liberal arts programs, more culture less of the redneck attitude!

This ship is not going to stop in Sarnia anymore. In fact, the last time it stopped last year, ""dozens of the crew members took their few hours off duty to walk to the downtown core [Sarnia]. The wanted to shop but it was a Monday and nothing was open, Columbus said, "So they weren't too happy."" (Sarnia Observer 050917).

The sad thing is that nobody was around the ship, other than "Tourism Sarnia-Lambon intends to man an information table near the ship to hand out brochures and maps." (Sarnia Observer 050917)

Isn't that great. I wonder if they setup their both near the security fence and guard? How come Sarnia does not have a promotional plan in place, other than a table and chair and a few maps?

The entire situation here is a disgrace. May I suggest you write your local Council-person. If you can find one that cares. We need more culture in the Sarnia society, not more strip bars, bingo halls, hockey rinks, or tattoo shops.
Unboard the downtown now.

After a while the Police boat left and thus the only human aspect other than the lonely security guard who was pacing back and forth behind the security fence, probably out of shear boredom.