After what seemed like an eternity (2 or 3 weeks), my pc is finally back to normal, or better.
While I do work with computers every day, I don't care much for the "bleeding edge" of the technology. I tend to keep using computers long past their expiry date, long after they have acquired that stale aura - the aura that PC gamers and Best Buy salespeople recognize as the sour stench of the undead pc.
Soon after I upgraded from my old Tungsten W to a new Treo 650, I discovered that the Treo's desktop software would not run under Windows 98 (yes, I was also clinging tenaciously to that outdated operating system, reluctant to change or rebuild the system which have served me well since September of 2000, when I bought it at London Drugs in Kerrisdale. Basically, I don't do the whole change thing often or very well).
So, in order to use my Treo and other USB stuff like my MP3 player with my PC, I had to bite the bullet and upgrade to Windows 2000. Of course, this isn't a real big deal except that I hadn't done it before, and didn't want to be kept away from my various online obsessions for very long. There never seems to be enough time in the evenings to do "maintenance" on my beloved old tool (or my PC), but after backing up everything I could think of to CD, and with the help and advice of more knowledgeable friends (thanks Victor - www.lccsonline.com), the deed was finally done.
Now, my beloved Treo (nicknamed "The Precious") can talk to my somewhat senior-citizen computer, which has now received a new face and a new lease on life. My hands feel like they are finally untied. Is that weird? One normally doesn't need a hand to gaze lovingly into their own navel. :)
Related Past Posts:
http://ejohnlove.blogspot.com/2004/05/ah-sweet-smell-of-success-or-my-pc-is.html
http://ejohnlove.blogspot.com/2004/03/woman-removes-windowstm-finds-herself.html
August 31, 2006
August 20, 2006
White Whiskers - a sad old man?
After a few days without a shave, I can see white whiskers sparkling on my cheeks. Truth be known, at 45, I'm grey as an old man. My temples are pure white, Reed Richards style, and I'm more salt than pepper across the top of my head too. My chest hair is going white. WTF. When I was a kid, I felt more mature than my years, felt more mature than my friends, and longed for the day when I could be my own independent person, and have my own life.
I get my hair coloured by a pro every month of so, and the only painting I do anymore is to apply "Just for Men" to my beard. Only my hairdresser (bless her) knows for sure.
It's funny how white whiskers on my own face kind of spook me. I just want to scrape them off. It's been a couple of days since I last shaved, and much longer since I dyed my hair or beard.
The white hairs make me think of my Dad. All my life he'd been silver-haired. I remember being a little boy, and getting "whisker burns" from him when I'd kiss him goodnight. I'd lean in to kiss him on the cheek, and he'd suddenly, sneakily scrub his rough face into mine and say "whisker burn", and we'd both laugh.
At other times, his unshaven white whiskers would signal that the weekend had come, or some other time when his appearance didn't matter to him so much, or if he'd been drinking or just didn't give a damn.
Sometimes those white whiskers were a hint that he wasn't at his best, that perhaps I should be careful or cautious around him - that maybe he'd be angry, drunk, or lose his temper or maybe he'd be feeling sad or regretful. It usually made me a bit uneasy whenever he'd let himself go in little ways like that. Now I understand that it can't be easy to carry an emotional burden or an addiction with nobody your own age to unload on.
Grey and white are the colours of old age, and reminders of the finiteness of life, and of my genetic heritage (my Mum went grey early in life as well). For each of us, the clock is ticking.
I'm not overly obsessed with my looks or appearance, and I don't have a ginormous ego or anything, but I will adjust my image, and try to keep some aspects of my persona - little secrets - under my control. Then, when I'm ready to look like an old man, like my old man, I will let it happen...
I get my hair coloured by a pro every month of so, and the only painting I do anymore is to apply "Just for Men" to my beard. Only my hairdresser (bless her) knows for sure.
It's funny how white whiskers on my own face kind of spook me. I just want to scrape them off. It's been a couple of days since I last shaved, and much longer since I dyed my hair or beard.
The white hairs make me think of my Dad. All my life he'd been silver-haired. I remember being a little boy, and getting "whisker burns" from him when I'd kiss him goodnight. I'd lean in to kiss him on the cheek, and he'd suddenly, sneakily scrub his rough face into mine and say "whisker burn", and we'd both laugh.
At other times, his unshaven white whiskers would signal that the weekend had come, or some other time when his appearance didn't matter to him so much, or if he'd been drinking or just didn't give a damn.
Sometimes those white whiskers were a hint that he wasn't at his best, that perhaps I should be careful or cautious around him - that maybe he'd be angry, drunk, or lose his temper or maybe he'd be feeling sad or regretful. It usually made me a bit uneasy whenever he'd let himself go in little ways like that. Now I understand that it can't be easy to carry an emotional burden or an addiction with nobody your own age to unload on.
Grey and white are the colours of old age, and reminders of the finiteness of life, and of my genetic heritage (my Mum went grey early in life as well). For each of us, the clock is ticking.
I'm not overly obsessed with my looks or appearance, and I don't have a ginormous ego or anything, but I will adjust my image, and try to keep some aspects of my persona - little secrets - under my control. Then, when I'm ready to look like an old man, like my old man, I will let it happen...
June 23, 2006
Bagnell Family Sues Vancouver Police and Taser Int'l over Death
"Taser International Inc, the maker of the X26 Tasers used on Bagnell, is named in the lawsuit, along with the Vancouver Police Department, police Chief Jamie Graham and five other Vancouver police officers.
"The statement of claim, filed Thursday, said two police officers repeatedly shot Robert Wayne Bagnell, who was unarmed and represented no threat to anyone, with two weapons manufactured by the defendant Taser International.
"The lawsuit accuses the police department of unlawful acts and gross negligence for failing to train its officer in the use of the Taser."
A Tribute to Robert Wayne Bagnell - Links to Related Pages
June 08, 2006
Coroner’s Inquest into the Death of Mr. Robert Bagnell Scheduled for September 2006
Republished from A Tribute to Robert Wayne Bagnell:
Jun 05, 2006: Coroner’s Inquest into the Death of Mr. Robert Bagnell Scheduled for September 2006
"VANCOUVER – The British Columbia Coroners Service will conduct a Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Mr. Robert Bagnell. Mr. Bagnell died while police were attempting to remove him from a common bathroom in a hotel at 1390 Granville Street, in Vancouver, on June 23, 2004.
The inquest will be held at the Coroners Court in Burnaby commencing at 0930 hours on September 5, 2006, and is expected to last several days.
This inquest will allow for the public presentation of all relevant evidence relating to Mr. Bagnell’s death. Coroner Stephen Fonseca and a five-person jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses in order to determine the facts surrounding the death. The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future.
Contact: Stephen Fonseca Coroner
Office of the Chief Coroner
604 660-7753"
May 15, 2006
The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail
In anticipation of the upcoming movie, I've read "Da Vinci Code".
If the book or movie get people thinking about their spiritual beliefs and spur open and reasonable discussions about it, then I think it can be quite useful. Certainly the Christian church is smart enough to leverage pop culture to fill seats on Sunday or in their Alpha courses. "Passion of the Christ" was extremely useful to them for that, although I expect that "The Da Vinci Code" won't be quite as useful, since its story is complicated and multi-layered and not of a kind that is easy to refocus into a positive message for Christian beliefs. Brown's book essentially makes the Catholic Church the big bad guy, responsible for completely re-spinning Christ to suit their own needs.)
There is a lot of criticism of Brown's novel. I have recently read a book (one of the "Rough Guide" series) that flatly denies the claims of Pierre Plantard and says that all of his "Priory of Sion" evidence is fake. Indeed, Mr. Plantard (who passed away in 2000) seems to have very little credibility, and likely no connection whatsoever to the fabled Meringovian royal bloodline, counter to his claims and manufactured documents, much of which influenced the research of Leigh and Baigent in their 1983 book, Holy Bood Holy Grail. Their book was in fact a major inspiration for Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code".
The possibility of Jesus Christ being a mortal - a human - leader, is appealing and makes total sense to me. I've never been much on mysticism or things like life after death. However, human history proves we have a fascination with the supernatureal - with the idea of beings with powers and levels of existence greater than our own. Like children, we may look for their to be a greater authority to guide us or lead into our future. Our sense of "faith" tells some of us that this must exist, and that we can touch it and depend upon it. As an individual, I have never felt this way. I see that humans lead other humans around, for a variety of selfless or selfish reasons. My experience says that the mysterious is just something we couldn't explain when we saw it. To me, it does not mean that it can never be expained or cannot be understood by humans.
The authors of "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" also wrote a book about the discovery, interpretation and politics linked to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Generally, I agree with their (and other researchers') claims that biblical revisions have occurred throughout history to suit the political/social needs of various rulers or of the Christian Church.
For what it's worth, I think "A History of God" by former Nun Karen Armstrong, is also an *excellent* overview of the historical development of "God" as interpreted by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
If the book or movie get people thinking about their spiritual beliefs and spur open and reasonable discussions about it, then I think it can be quite useful. Certainly the Christian church is smart enough to leverage pop culture to fill seats on Sunday or in their Alpha courses. "Passion of the Christ" was extremely useful to them for that, although I expect that "The Da Vinci Code" won't be quite as useful, since its story is complicated and multi-layered and not of a kind that is easy to refocus into a positive message for Christian beliefs. Brown's book essentially makes the Catholic Church the big bad guy, responsible for completely re-spinning Christ to suit their own needs.)
There is a lot of criticism of Brown's novel. I have recently read a book (one of the "Rough Guide" series) that flatly denies the claims of Pierre Plantard and says that all of his "Priory of Sion" evidence is fake. Indeed, Mr. Plantard (who passed away in 2000) seems to have very little credibility, and likely no connection whatsoever to the fabled Meringovian royal bloodline, counter to his claims and manufactured documents, much of which influenced the research of Leigh and Baigent in their 1983 book, Holy Bood Holy Grail. Their book was in fact a major inspiration for Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code".
The possibility of Jesus Christ being a mortal - a human - leader, is appealing and makes total sense to me. I've never been much on mysticism or things like life after death. However, human history proves we have a fascination with the supernatureal - with the idea of beings with powers and levels of existence greater than our own. Like children, we may look for their to be a greater authority to guide us or lead into our future. Our sense of "faith" tells some of us that this must exist, and that we can touch it and depend upon it. As an individual, I have never felt this way. I see that humans lead other humans around, for a variety of selfless or selfish reasons. My experience says that the mysterious is just something we couldn't explain when we saw it. To me, it does not mean that it can never be expained or cannot be understood by humans.
The authors of "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" also wrote a book about the discovery, interpretation and politics linked to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Generally, I agree with their (and other researchers') claims that biblical revisions have occurred throughout history to suit the political/social needs of various rulers or of the Christian Church.
For what it's worth, I think "A History of God" by former Nun Karen Armstrong, is also an *excellent* overview of the historical development of "God" as interpreted by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
April 24, 2006
"Batman: Year 100" by Paul Pope and Jose Villarubia
I have been reviewing Paul Pope's excellent series, "Batman: Year 100". These are published on PopMatters.com
Batman: Year 100 #1 of 4 - PopMatters Comic Book Review
Batman: Year 100 #2 of 4 - PopMatters Comic Book Review
Batman: Year 100 #3 of 4 - PopMatters Comic Book Review
Batman: Year 100 #4 of 4 - PopMatters Comic Book Review
April 20, 2006
What about all those addicts and homeless people?
During lunch with coworkers today, the woman to my left said that a lot of crime could be attributed to less Welfare support, which contributes to addicts tendency to do crime. She said that if they could get Welfare, they'd be less likely to steal. She mentioned that many of them are mentally ill, and can't get medicine or don't take it when they should.
The fellow to my right said that all thieves should have their hands cut off.
Another coworker added that the beggars he sees on Hastings Street everyday probably make more money than him every day, and that they're probably too lazy or apathetic to get a job.
After a while of listening to this debate, I felt stymied - trapped in between these extreme views.
I pictured one of one of my oldest friends who has struggled with multiple substance addictions for years now. I thought of my parents who abused themselves with alcohol and ruined their lives and jeopardized mine. I thought of my dear sister, who worked her way out of the Welfare cycle and into a career that could support her family. I thought of some of the guys I've met on the downtown streets over the past three years: Curtis, Keith, and Dean. They are not a threat to me, and honest as far as I can tell. I thought of Bob Bagnell, who, to me, represents someone who was lost in addictions but tried to get his health and his future back on track. In spite of how he died, I believe that Bob did succeed completely because he had started to gain physical and spiritual health and new hope.
I tried to say that it's not realistic to stereotype Welfare recipients as lazy, or drug addicts as thieves, anymore than it would be realistic for me to ignore the fact that these stereotypes exist for a reason. I don't think I got the words out right, because here I am writing about it.
Rightly or wrongly, a few conclusions come to my mind from all this:
Maybe what the rest of us can try to provide is a little more understanding and compassion.
The fellow to my right said that all thieves should have their hands cut off.
Another coworker added that the beggars he sees on Hastings Street everyday probably make more money than him every day, and that they're probably too lazy or apathetic to get a job.
After a while of listening to this debate, I felt stymied - trapped in between these extreme views.
I pictured one of one of my oldest friends who has struggled with multiple substance addictions for years now. I thought of my parents who abused themselves with alcohol and ruined their lives and jeopardized mine. I thought of my dear sister, who worked her way out of the Welfare cycle and into a career that could support her family. I thought of some of the guys I've met on the downtown streets over the past three years: Curtis, Keith, and Dean. They are not a threat to me, and honest as far as I can tell. I thought of Bob Bagnell, who, to me, represents someone who was lost in addictions but tried to get his health and his future back on track. In spite of how he died, I believe that Bob did succeed completely because he had started to gain physical and spiritual health and new hope.
I tried to say that it's not realistic to stereotype Welfare recipients as lazy, or drug addicts as thieves, anymore than it would be realistic for me to ignore the fact that these stereotypes exist for a reason. I don't think I got the words out right, because here I am writing about it.
Rightly or wrongly, a few conclusions come to my mind from all this:
- Everybody has their own story, and their own reasons for why they are where they are. I think stereotypes are a convenient substitute for people who don't have (or don't want) actual first-hand experience.
- I think some people understandably resent those whom they see as a drain on society, but they may also be a bit afraid of what they don't understand. I consider it dehumanizing to label and presume about people if you don't try to learn a little something about their background or some of the factors of their situation.
- Finally, in my city, we do have more people than ever suffering well beneath the poverty line. Our municipal, provincial and federal governments should provide them with a more effective social service and education.
Maybe what the rest of us can try to provide is a little more understanding and compassion.
April 15, 2006
A Tiger Too Sweet
Tiger, one of my two cats, has diabetes. This was comfirmed recently by our veteranarian, the excellent Dr. Emily.
I used to call Tiger "Tubby Tee", since he was kind of fat until the last year or two, when we noticed his trimness rivalling that if his brother "skinny Sylvester".
Apparently, diabetes is not uncommon in cats. Noticeable weight loss and increased need for food and water are symptoms, and Grace noticed them first and pegged them as indicators of diabetes. A blood test confirmed it, and a blood glucose test showed Tiger's blood sugar at 23. The vet said she wants to see him down between 9 and 13.
So, starting tomorrow, our beloved boy starts getting an insulin injection once a day. Oy - I'm going to have to do it, but it doesn't seem very difficult or complicated at all. I just have to pinch the loose skin at the back of his neck, and inject just one cc with a syringe - a tiny amount.
His blood sugar level must also be measured to see how the insulin is affecting him. Grace has diabetes too, and must test her blood everyday, using a little blood glucose meter that you can buy at any drugstore. It's the same process for Tiger, except that instead of using the little spring-loaded lancet widget to quickly pierce the skin and squeeze out a drop of blood, I must find a little vein in his ear, and prick it manually with a little needle. It looks quite easy to do, and Tiger seems not to notice it very much (thank god, said the atheist). The lttle insulin injections must be done daily, but the blood tests won't need to be done too often.
I gave Tee a practice poke at the vet's office and he didn't seem to even feel it (thank god, said the atheist again).
So, tomorrow, the daily insulin regime starts. Next Saturday, we must check Tiger's blood sugar level every two hours, and record it on a chart. At the end of each week, we must give the results to theVet, who'll decide to raise or lower the insulin dosage depending on trend in Tiger's blood sugar levels.
I used to call Tiger "Tubby Tee", since he was kind of fat until the last year or two, when we noticed his trimness rivalling that if his brother "skinny Sylvester".
Apparently, diabetes is not uncommon in cats. Noticeable weight loss and increased need for food and water are symptoms, and Grace noticed them first and pegged them as indicators of diabetes. A blood test confirmed it, and a blood glucose test showed Tiger's blood sugar at 23. The vet said she wants to see him down between 9 and 13.
So, starting tomorrow, our beloved boy starts getting an insulin injection once a day. Oy - I'm going to have to do it, but it doesn't seem very difficult or complicated at all. I just have to pinch the loose skin at the back of his neck, and inject just one cc with a syringe - a tiny amount.
His blood sugar level must also be measured to see how the insulin is affecting him. Grace has diabetes too, and must test her blood everyday, using a little blood glucose meter that you can buy at any drugstore. It's the same process for Tiger, except that instead of using the little spring-loaded lancet widget to quickly pierce the skin and squeeze out a drop of blood, I must find a little vein in his ear, and prick it manually with a little needle. It looks quite easy to do, and Tiger seems not to notice it very much (thank god, said the atheist). The lttle insulin injections must be done daily, but the blood tests won't need to be done too often.
I gave Tee a practice poke at the vet's office and he didn't seem to even feel it (thank god, said the atheist again).
So, tomorrow, the daily insulin regime starts. Next Saturday, we must check Tiger's blood sugar level every two hours, and record it on a chart. At the end of each week, we must give the results to theVet, who'll decide to raise or lower the insulin dosage depending on trend in Tiger's blood sugar levels.
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