Check out this article:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/28032007/3/world-san-francisco-bans-plastic-grocery-bags.html
When I was in university I lived with someone that was taking Environmental Science. She introduced me to the idea of taking a knapsack to the grocery store to avoid using plastic bags. Since then it is very rare that I get a bag at any store (I always try to have a bag with me so that I do not have to get any new ones). These plastic bags are extremely bad for the environment and I am so happy to see that they are starting to be banned.
I know my local grocery store is beginning to sell the cloth bags (which are awesome for veggies and fruit that I don't want to throw into the knapsack).
If you haven't already made the switch from plastic, please do so. The environment needs your help.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Left Handed Mouse
I'm right-handed, but I use a left-handed mouse. I hardly ever use a mouse so it really doesn't matter to me what hand I use for the mouse at my computer. I was having a problem with my right wrist a couple of years ago, so I switched.
This was all well and good for the most part. The only problems I really had were when someone had to remote to my computer or a techie had to stop by and do something. It was actually pretty funny.
This was until I couldn't sort columns in the software application I use all day. I thought it was a bug in a new version of the software. But, it was working for everyone else in the office, but not for me. I reinstalled, changed computers, nothing was working.
On a whim I decided to try switching my mouse buttons back to being right-handed. Low and behold that worked. It wasn't that the opposite buttons had to be pushed, it was that the options didn't work at all if the mouse was set up left-handed. Talk about bad programming. And once again the helpdesk couldn't help me, I had to figure the problem out by myself. Note to self: left-handed people are discriminated against by programmers :). Don't get me started on colour-blindness and software.
This was all well and good for the most part. The only problems I really had were when someone had to remote to my computer or a techie had to stop by and do something. It was actually pretty funny.
This was until I couldn't sort columns in the software application I use all day. I thought it was a bug in a new version of the software. But, it was working for everyone else in the office, but not for me. I reinstalled, changed computers, nothing was working.
On a whim I decided to try switching my mouse buttons back to being right-handed. Low and behold that worked. It wasn't that the opposite buttons had to be pushed, it was that the options didn't work at all if the mouse was set up left-handed. Talk about bad programming. And once again the helpdesk couldn't help me, I had to figure the problem out by myself. Note to self: left-handed people are discriminated against by programmers :). Don't get me started on colour-blindness and software.
Attack of the Sevens
After reading Julia's (and her sister's) blog, I have decided to tag myself for the Sevens.
Seven Things to Do Before I Die:
Just like Julia and her sister, I don't know.
Seven Things to Do Before I Die:
- See a ballet at the Bolshoi
- Learn to speak French
- Sail around the world
- Hike to base camp at Everest
- Visit the pyramids
- Actually jump out of a plane
- Go diving in the Caribbean
- Speak French fluently
- Reach the top shelf
- Sleep through the night
- Train my cats to not scratch the couch
- Swim by myself (stupid fear of water)
- Read Huckleberry Finn
- A slapshot
- My condo
- It's where my parents met
- It's where I was born
- It's close to Toronto, but I wish I was in Toronto
- Other than my condo, really there isn't anything that attracts me to Mississauga
- Moron
- People are Stupid
- Buffy is not a dumb show
- Placenta Head Stop Scratching the Couch
- Placenta Head why do you have to be so bad?
- Wicked
- Boys are Stupid
- Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- The Sarantine Mosaic by Guy Gavriel Kay
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
- It by Stephen King
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- Star Wars: A New Hope
- Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Shag
- Slap Shot
- Pretty In Pink
- Gone With the Wind
- Bullit
Just like Julia and her sister, I don't know.
- Michelle and Andrew
- Jason - Gollum
- Jamie
- Marn and Paul
- Julia has already done her seven
- Lisa, if she ever gets her blog up and running
- I don't think I know seven people with blogs.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Alcohol and tobacco more dangerous than illegal drugs, study shows
So, I saw this article on the web today. Very similar to things Jason (my brother) and I have discussed in the past. Stupid governments. Eric Schlosser made some similar points in his essay 'Reefer Madness' (he also wrote Fast Food Nation).
By Maria Cheng
LONDON (AP) - Alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than illegal drugs like marijuana or Ecstasy, according to a new British study.
In research published Friday in The Lancet magazine, Professor David Nutt of Britain's Bristol University and colleagues proposed a new framework for the classification of harmful substances, based on the actual risks posed to society. Their ranking listed alcohol and tobacco among the top 10 most dangerous substances.
Nutt and colleagues used three factors to determine the harm associated with any drug: the physical harm to the user, the drug's potential for addiction, and the impact on society of drug use. The researchers asked two groups of experts - psychiatrists specializing in addiction and legal or police officials with scientific or medical expertise - to assign scores to 20 different drugs, including heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, amphetamines, and LSD.
Nutt and his colleagues then calculated the drugs' overall rankings. In the end, the experts agreed with each other - but not with the existing British classification of dangerous substances.
Heroin and cocaine were ranked most dangerous, followed by barbiturates and street methadone. Alcohol was the fifth-most harmful drug and tobacco the ninth most harmful. Cannabis came in 11th, and near the bottom of the list was Ecstasy.
According to existing British drug policy, alcohol and tobacco are legal, while cannabis and Ecstasy are both illegal. Previous reports, including a study from a parliamentary committee last year, have questioned the scientific rationale for Britain's drug classification system.
"The current drug system is ill thought-out and arbitrary," said Nutt, referring to the United Kingdom's practice of assigning drugs to three distinct divisions, ostensibly based on the drugs' potential for harm. "The exclusion of alcohol and tobacco from the Misuse of Drugs Act is, from a scientific perspective, arbitrary," write Nutt and his colleagues in The Lancet.
Tobacco causes 40 per cent of all hospital illnesses, while alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. The substances also harm society in other ways, damaging families and occupying police services.
Nutt hopes that their paper will provoke debate within the UK and beyond about how drugs - including socially acceptable drugs such as alcohol - should be regulated. While different countries use different markers to classify dangerous drugs, none use a system like the one proposed by Nutt's study, which he hopes could serve as a framework for international authorities.
"This is a landmark paper," said Dr. Leslie Iversen, professor of pharmacology at Oxford University. Iversen was not connected to the research. "It is the first real step towards an evidence-based classification of drugs," said Iversen. He added that based on the paper's results, alcohol and tobacco could not reasonably be excluded.
"The rankings also suggest the need for better regulation of the more harmful drugs that are currently legal, i.e. tobacco and alcohol," wrote Wayne Hall, of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, in an accompanying Lancet commentary. Hall was not involved with Nutt's paper.
While experts agreed that criminalizing alcohol and tobacco would be challenging, they said that governments should review the penalties imposed for drug abuse and try to make them more reflective of the actual risks and damages involved.
Nutt called for more education so that people were aware of the risks of various drugs. "All drugs are dangerous," said Nutt. "Even the ones people know and love and use every day."
By Maria Cheng
LONDON (AP) - Alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than illegal drugs like marijuana or Ecstasy, according to a new British study.
In research published Friday in The Lancet magazine, Professor David Nutt of Britain's Bristol University and colleagues proposed a new framework for the classification of harmful substances, based on the actual risks posed to society. Their ranking listed alcohol and tobacco among the top 10 most dangerous substances.
Nutt and colleagues used three factors to determine the harm associated with any drug: the physical harm to the user, the drug's potential for addiction, and the impact on society of drug use. The researchers asked two groups of experts - psychiatrists specializing in addiction and legal or police officials with scientific or medical expertise - to assign scores to 20 different drugs, including heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, amphetamines, and LSD.
Nutt and his colleagues then calculated the drugs' overall rankings. In the end, the experts agreed with each other - but not with the existing British classification of dangerous substances.
Heroin and cocaine were ranked most dangerous, followed by barbiturates and street methadone. Alcohol was the fifth-most harmful drug and tobacco the ninth most harmful. Cannabis came in 11th, and near the bottom of the list was Ecstasy.
According to existing British drug policy, alcohol and tobacco are legal, while cannabis and Ecstasy are both illegal. Previous reports, including a study from a parliamentary committee last year, have questioned the scientific rationale for Britain's drug classification system.
"The current drug system is ill thought-out and arbitrary," said Nutt, referring to the United Kingdom's practice of assigning drugs to three distinct divisions, ostensibly based on the drugs' potential for harm. "The exclusion of alcohol and tobacco from the Misuse of Drugs Act is, from a scientific perspective, arbitrary," write Nutt and his colleagues in The Lancet.
Tobacco causes 40 per cent of all hospital illnesses, while alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. The substances also harm society in other ways, damaging families and occupying police services.
Nutt hopes that their paper will provoke debate within the UK and beyond about how drugs - including socially acceptable drugs such as alcohol - should be regulated. While different countries use different markers to classify dangerous drugs, none use a system like the one proposed by Nutt's study, which he hopes could serve as a framework for international authorities.
"This is a landmark paper," said Dr. Leslie Iversen, professor of pharmacology at Oxford University. Iversen was not connected to the research. "It is the first real step towards an evidence-based classification of drugs," said Iversen. He added that based on the paper's results, alcohol and tobacco could not reasonably be excluded.
"The rankings also suggest the need for better regulation of the more harmful drugs that are currently legal, i.e. tobacco and alcohol," wrote Wayne Hall, of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, in an accompanying Lancet commentary. Hall was not involved with Nutt's paper.
While experts agreed that criminalizing alcohol and tobacco would be challenging, they said that governments should review the penalties imposed for drug abuse and try to make them more reflective of the actual risks and damages involved.
Nutt called for more education so that people were aware of the risks of various drugs. "All drugs are dangerous," said Nutt. "Even the ones people know and love and use every day."
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Air Hockey
I am so excited, I just bought an air hockey table. It isn't a super snazzy one. It cost me $60 and I'm pretty sure it is straight out of the 70's. Someone at work had posted it on the associate for sale board. I went and took a look at it last night and bought it. I didn't think about how I would get it home. It's way too big to travel in the mini. But, luckily, Julia has an SUV (they do come in handy once in awhile) and she is willing to take a trip to the Falls with me to pick it up. We will have dinner, go check out the falls and pick up my air hockey table. Hopefully Christi's husband Mike will be able to help us carry it upstairs to my condo.
When I was little (probably six or so, yes, I know, I'm still little), my dad's friend, Dick, had an awesome games room. It had a ping pong table, pool table, shuffleboard, poker table and an air hockey table. It was one of my favourite places as a kid. Jason and I would spend hours playing the different games. Well, we were not allowed to go near the pool table (and we never cared about the poker table). For some reason I think there was one other game in the room (in between the shuffleboard and the pool table), but I can't remember. From that moment on I always wanted my own air hockey table.
I'm going to get rid of my futon and make the back bedroom a games room. It already has a dart board. I may also take down the wallpaper and paint. I want to put up some of my movie posters and Beatles paraphenalia. I'm really excited. Now that I have my awesome new floors I think it will be great. Maybe people will actually come and visit me. Of course, with air hockey I can play by myself. I just have to close up the one goal and I'm set to go. I'm sure the cats will sit up near the table and try to steal the puck.
Since the reno, I've decided to get rid of my rattan chair and my futon. I am also thinking about selling the dining room table. Now that I will have an air hockey table I could be like Joey and Chandler and just put a board on top if I ever have people over to eat at the table. I suspect it will get a lot more use than the table I currently have.
When I was little (probably six or so, yes, I know, I'm still little), my dad's friend, Dick, had an awesome games room. It had a ping pong table, pool table, shuffleboard, poker table and an air hockey table. It was one of my favourite places as a kid. Jason and I would spend hours playing the different games. Well, we were not allowed to go near the pool table (and we never cared about the poker table). For some reason I think there was one other game in the room (in between the shuffleboard and the pool table), but I can't remember. From that moment on I always wanted my own air hockey table.
I'm going to get rid of my futon and make the back bedroom a games room. It already has a dart board. I may also take down the wallpaper and paint. I want to put up some of my movie posters and Beatles paraphenalia. I'm really excited. Now that I have my awesome new floors I think it will be great. Maybe people will actually come and visit me. Of course, with air hockey I can play by myself. I just have to close up the one goal and I'm set to go. I'm sure the cats will sit up near the table and try to steal the puck.
Since the reno, I've decided to get rid of my rattan chair and my futon. I am also thinking about selling the dining room table. Now that I will have an air hockey table I could be like Joey and Chandler and just put a board on top if I ever have people over to eat at the table. I suspect it will get a lot more use than the table I currently have.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
More Pennies
Well, actually, one penny. I keep finding pennies near the change rooms at the casino. I guess everyone cares about their changes, except pennies (probably because we don't have any slots that take pennies).
Last night I watched Memoirs of a Geisha. I read the book a number of years ago. I thought it was an excellent read except for the ending. The ending came out of no where. It made no sense that she ended up with the guy that she did. In the movie, probably because they have to get through everything quickly, it made more sense that she ended up with the guy. The movie was so long, though. Other than the dance sequence (with the snow), I really wasn't that impressed with movie. It wasn't that there was anything wrong per se, but it certainly wasn't as mesmorizing as I found the book.
I did begin watching 'The United States of Leland' last night (had to go to bed before the end). Can I just say that I love Ryan Gosling? Now, he doesn't look as good in this as he did in Murder by Numbers and The Notebook, but he is very intriguing in this movie.
Last night I watched Memoirs of a Geisha. I read the book a number of years ago. I thought it was an excellent read except for the ending. The ending came out of no where. It made no sense that she ended up with the guy that she did. In the movie, probably because they have to get through everything quickly, it made more sense that she ended up with the guy. The movie was so long, though. Other than the dance sequence (with the snow), I really wasn't that impressed with movie. It wasn't that there was anything wrong per se, but it certainly wasn't as mesmorizing as I found the book.
I did begin watching 'The United States of Leland' last night (had to go to bed before the end). Can I just say that I love Ryan Gosling? Now, he doesn't look as good in this as he did in Murder by Numbers and The Notebook, but he is very intriguing in this movie.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Test the Nation IQ
Last night CBC had a special called 'Test the Nation' to determine the nation's average IQ. I taped the show, but decided to take the test online. While taking the test I knew I had at least three questions wrong (as soon as I clicked on the button, I knew I was wrong), but online it did not allow you to change your answer.
My average on the different sections was 10 out of 12 correct. The average IQ is between 90 and 100. I have taken a couple of other online IQ tests and I normally end up with around 115. But, on this test I ended up with 124. Which puts me in the top 8% of Canadians. Woo hoo. But, I'm not a genius. Genius level is over 130 :( (I want to be smarter). My lowest section score I am unhappy to say was 9/12 in the logic section. I'm super annoyed, since I do think of myself as a pretty logical person. Maybe I shouldn't have had a beer before taking the test.
Check out the test:
http://www.cbc.ca/testthenation/takethetest/
On the website they also have some 'fun facts' on IQ. One of the not so 'fun facts': Women with a higher IQ are 40% less likely to marry.
My average on the different sections was 10 out of 12 correct. The average IQ is between 90 and 100. I have taken a couple of other online IQ tests and I normally end up with around 115. But, on this test I ended up with 124. Which puts me in the top 8% of Canadians. Woo hoo. But, I'm not a genius. Genius level is over 130 :( (I want to be smarter). My lowest section score I am unhappy to say was 9/12 in the logic section. I'm super annoyed, since I do think of myself as a pretty logical person. Maybe I shouldn't have had a beer before taking the test.
Check out the test:
http://www.cbc.ca/testthenation/takethetest/
On the website they also have some 'fun facts' on IQ. One of the not so 'fun facts': Women with a higher IQ are 40% less likely to marry.
Weekend Roundup
Another St. Paddy's Day has come and gone. I was unable to stay as long as last year. I drank one too Harp's, I think. Julia got me home just after 6pm (I think). I had a great time, as always. But, we didn't have as big of a group throughout the day, so I think that had me drinking more. I was not well at around midnight (when I woke up from sleeping on the couch). Wicked headache in the morning, but advil cleared that up right away.
I wish I had of been able to stay longer. I didn't really get to enjoy the band and I do love that band (I bought a CD this year so that I can at least listen to them once in awhile).
Julia, Kevin, Karen and I made it to the pub for just after 11am. Kevin was complaining about why we had to be there so early. He just doesn't understand our love of St. Paddy.
Friday night I ended up staying at work until around 8pm and came outside to a ton of snow. Being in the basement all day you just don't know what it is like outside, at all. It took me two hours to get home. I was so tired, but had a ton to do. I didn't get to sleep until around 4am and had to be up for everyone to meet at my place prior to heading over to the pub. Why do I do this all the time?
Sunday I vegged on the couch and finished watching the third season of Sex and the City, along with the third season of The X-Files. I can't wait to get season 4 of the X-Files. I never watched this religiously, it is much better when watched in order.
I also watched A History of Violence. I don't know why it took me so long to watch this movie. It has Viggo (ah, Aragorn) and Lisa told me it was excellent (she saw it at the Toronto Film Festival, I believe). It was a great film. I highly recommend it!
I also finished reading 'Long Way Round'. I really want to see the TV show, now. I can't wait to get the motorcycle out this spring (I've already seen two bikes out on the QEW) and hit the road. I don't think I would ever be keen to ride through Mongolia, but I would love to travel there.
Last night was our final hockey game of the season. I played pretty well, I made a couple of good passes and picked up a rebound, but didn't put enought weight behind my shot. The summer season starts in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. I really need to get out there and be more active this year.
I wish I had of been able to stay longer. I didn't really get to enjoy the band and I do love that band (I bought a CD this year so that I can at least listen to them once in awhile).
Julia, Kevin, Karen and I made it to the pub for just after 11am. Kevin was complaining about why we had to be there so early. He just doesn't understand our love of St. Paddy.
Friday night I ended up staying at work until around 8pm and came outside to a ton of snow. Being in the basement all day you just don't know what it is like outside, at all. It took me two hours to get home. I was so tired, but had a ton to do. I didn't get to sleep until around 4am and had to be up for everyone to meet at my place prior to heading over to the pub. Why do I do this all the time?
Sunday I vegged on the couch and finished watching the third season of Sex and the City, along with the third season of The X-Files. I can't wait to get season 4 of the X-Files. I never watched this religiously, it is much better when watched in order.
I also watched A History of Violence. I don't know why it took me so long to watch this movie. It has Viggo (ah, Aragorn) and Lisa told me it was excellent (she saw it at the Toronto Film Festival, I believe). It was a great film. I highly recommend it!
I also finished reading 'Long Way Round'. I really want to see the TV show, now. I can't wait to get the motorcycle out this spring (I've already seen two bikes out on the QEW) and hit the road. I don't think I would ever be keen to ride through Mongolia, but I would love to travel there.
Last night was our final hockey game of the season. I played pretty well, I made a couple of good passes and picked up a rebound, but didn't put enought weight behind my shot. The summer season starts in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. I really need to get out there and be more active this year.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Star Sighting
I had my first star sighting at the casino today. Englebert Humperdinck! He is performing two shows at the casino this weekend. He was being led around the basement of the casino this afternoon. Of course, it didn't register who it was until I had already passed them.
What I am most excited about after this sighting, is that Gary Sinise is going to be at the casino at the end of the month with his Lt. Dan Band. I kind of want to go. Who knows, I may still go by myself. Maybe I will get to see him in the hall. I would definitely have to stop and get his picture. He is damn sexy.
Lisa, Sandra and I have tickets to see Jon Stewart in June (very cool). And I just found out that Huey Lewis and The News will be here in June as well. When I was in Grade 8 (I believe) my dad took us to see Huey at the CNE Stadium. It was awesome (except for when dad got knocked out by flying addding machine paper - one minute he was standing next to me dancing and next he was on the ground bleeding from his head, it was rather scary). Huey is an awesome entertainer. Tickets are at most $50, well worth it and it is during the week, so I could just stay after work (hopefully get a comped room and work late / early).
On the change challenge front, I found another penny after the sighting of Englebert.
What I am most excited about after this sighting, is that Gary Sinise is going to be at the casino at the end of the month with his Lt. Dan Band. I kind of want to go. Who knows, I may still go by myself. Maybe I will get to see him in the hall. I would definitely have to stop and get his picture. He is damn sexy.
Lisa, Sandra and I have tickets to see Jon Stewart in June (very cool). And I just found out that Huey Lewis and The News will be here in June as well. When I was in Grade 8 (I believe) my dad took us to see Huey at the CNE Stadium. It was awesome (except for when dad got knocked out by flying addding machine paper - one minute he was standing next to me dancing and next he was on the ground bleeding from his head, it was rather scary). Huey is an awesome entertainer. Tickets are at most $50, well worth it and it is during the week, so I could just stay after work (hopefully get a comped room and work late / early).
On the change challenge front, I found another penny after the sighting of Englebert.
Change Lost
I had been keeping track of my found change on Julia's blog, but all of my comments were lost when she updated her blog site. So, I can't remember how much change I found and where. From now on I will definitely keep those details here.
So, originally I had found 3 cents while walking around the mall with Julia.
I found a dime outside of the women's change room at the casino.
Yesterday I found a penny on the floor of the jewellery store I was at (really shouldn't people in a jewellery store have better change falling out of their pockets?).
I found a penny on the floor of the mall.
Unfortunately, that is all I can remember today. Hopefully I will find more tomorrow at the pub. I'm falling behind.
So, originally I had found 3 cents while walking around the mall with Julia.
I found a dime outside of the women's change room at the casino.
Yesterday I found a penny on the floor of the jewellery store I was at (really shouldn't people in a jewellery store have better change falling out of their pockets?).
I found a penny on the floor of the mall.
Unfortunately, that is all I can remember today. Hopefully I will find more tomorrow at the pub. I'm falling behind.
Happy St. Paddy's Day
I know it is a day early, but since I will be too busy drinking green beer tomorrow, I figured I would need to be proactive in my well wishes.
Julia, Tim, Karen, Kevin and I (among others being brought along) will be hanging out at Failte once again this year. I think this is the 4th year in a row that we will be hanging out at the best Irish pub in Mississauga. Once again 'Kitchen Party' will be providing the entertainment. They are an awesome Celtic band from out east (I can't remember which province). The Irish dancers will also be there again this year kicking up their hills. I would love to take Irish dance lessons.
I believe we are planning to get in line around 10:30 am (pub opens at 11). We've never been on a Saturday for St. Paddy's Day. Normally we all take the day (or afternoon) off from work and spend the afternoon there and the line up gets really crazy starting at 4pm. We have no idea what to expect for tomorrow. Julia will be at the chiropractor around 9:30 and will provide us with updates on the lineup then. It kind of reminds me of the Bombshelter on St. Paddy's Day (especially if it was a Wednesday). No one went to Wednesday classes if it was March 17th. I know one year I was meeting Lisa in line at the half way mark of my night class and the instructor asked us all what we were doing there, why weren't we in line at the Bomber. I think I picked up my books and left right then.
I am going to have to pace myself tomorrow, a number of people that are not able to join us have asked us to have pints for them. That's alot of extra pints on top of my whole Guinness routine (Guinness, Black and Tan, Harp, etc, I have to sample all of the Guinness family offerings on St. Paddy's Day).
Julia, Tim, Karen, Kevin and I (among others being brought along) will be hanging out at Failte once again this year. I think this is the 4th year in a row that we will be hanging out at the best Irish pub in Mississauga. Once again 'Kitchen Party' will be providing the entertainment. They are an awesome Celtic band from out east (I can't remember which province). The Irish dancers will also be there again this year kicking up their hills. I would love to take Irish dance lessons.
I believe we are planning to get in line around 10:30 am (pub opens at 11). We've never been on a Saturday for St. Paddy's Day. Normally we all take the day (or afternoon) off from work and spend the afternoon there and the line up gets really crazy starting at 4pm. We have no idea what to expect for tomorrow. Julia will be at the chiropractor around 9:30 and will provide us with updates on the lineup then. It kind of reminds me of the Bombshelter on St. Paddy's Day (especially if it was a Wednesday). No one went to Wednesday classes if it was March 17th. I know one year I was meeting Lisa in line at the half way mark of my night class and the instructor asked us all what we were doing there, why weren't we in line at the Bomber. I think I picked up my books and left right then.
I am going to have to pace myself tomorrow, a number of people that are not able to join us have asked us to have pints for them. That's alot of extra pints on top of my whole Guinness routine (Guinness, Black and Tan, Harp, etc, I have to sample all of the Guinness family offerings on St. Paddy's Day).
It is also Canada's National Kissing Day, so go out there and Kiss Someone!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Snowmobile Accident
One of the women that I used to play lacrosse with was killed this weekend while snowmobiling in Manitoba. I didn't know her very well, but I knew exactly who it was when I heard the news. She was always laughing and looked to be having a lot of fun out on the field whether she was reffing or playing.
She was unable to negotiate a turn and struck a tree and died from internal injuries. For those of you that do snowmobile, please be careful. I know it is the end of the season, but please remember for next year.
She was unable to negotiate a turn and struck a tree and died from internal injuries. For those of you that do snowmobile, please be careful. I know it is the end of the season, but please remember for next year.
Happy Pi Day
That's right, it is Pi Day (3.14), so at 1:59 pm celebrate that wonderful value of Pi!
This link gives you some ideas on how to celebrate:
http://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-Pi-Day
I am rather disappointed that there was not a Waterloo Math event this year. Maybe they kept me off the invite list. I do tend to drink to much on Pi day. But, they normally invite me back to handle the pool tournament :(
Well, since the mathies in pink are not here to celebrate, I will just have to celebrate on my own. Damn, I forgot to wear my pink tie earrings today. I wonder how I can celebrate at aquafit tonight, any suggestions? I wonder if I will be able to convince Tara and Christi to come over for a Pi day drink and maybe a slice of pie after aquafit (I guess that would defeat the purpose of aquafit, though).
Have fun and remember to sing Happy Birthday Albert (as today is also Albert Einstein's birthday).
Another website all about Pi: http://www.piday.org/index.php
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Perils of Being Short
As many of you know, I am under 5 feet tall. For the most part I have come to terms with my shortness. I actually like being short most of the time. I can laugh at the fact that I am short and have fun with it.
I had forgotten one of the annoyances of being short: offices. By the time I had left ESI I had forgotten all of the problems I had at the beginning of my work there. Not problems with work, or people. No, I'm talking about problems with my desk and my chair. Did you know that most desks and chairs are made for people over 5 feet tall? Probably never thought about it, did you? Well, they are.
At ESI I had my desk lowered (it confused many people when they tried to sit on it), had to have the arms taken off of my chair (not always an easy task) and required a foot rest so that my feet weren't always dangling. But, after four years I was comfortable at my desk.
Now, I've had to start all over again. I'm at a desk that can not be lowered. I had a 'management' chair, which apparently everyone wanted. But, the chair could not be raised high enough so that I could sit comfortably at my desk. So, I switched it with another chair, but I could only remove one of the arm rests and it didn't slide on carpet at all. Plus, the depth of the seat was too long for my short legs and I couldn't with my back against the back rest. So, I found a new chair. This one appears to go high enough, the arms were super easy to remove and I can sit with my back against the back rest. I feel like Goldilocks.
I had forgotten one of the annoyances of being short: offices. By the time I had left ESI I had forgotten all of the problems I had at the beginning of my work there. Not problems with work, or people. No, I'm talking about problems with my desk and my chair. Did you know that most desks and chairs are made for people over 5 feet tall? Probably never thought about it, did you? Well, they are.
At ESI I had my desk lowered (it confused many people when they tried to sit on it), had to have the arms taken off of my chair (not always an easy task) and required a foot rest so that my feet weren't always dangling. But, after four years I was comfortable at my desk.
Now, I've had to start all over again. I'm at a desk that can not be lowered. I had a 'management' chair, which apparently everyone wanted. But, the chair could not be raised high enough so that I could sit comfortably at my desk. So, I switched it with another chair, but I could only remove one of the arm rests and it didn't slide on carpet at all. Plus, the depth of the seat was too long for my short legs and I couldn't with my back against the back rest. So, I found a new chair. This one appears to go high enough, the arms were super easy to remove and I can sit with my back against the back rest. I feel like Goldilocks.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Best Investment
I had a meeting today to go over the project I'm working on. One of the guys in the meeting said that this was the best investment he had seen in awhile. Woo hoo. It is nice to hear that I'm doing a good job and will make people's jobs easier.
I had a 12 hour day yesterday. It was great. Yes, this is what I thrive on. Maybe I'm not suffering from depression, I'm just suffering from boredom. I was up early yesterday and today. I haven't had a 12 hour day since I was working at Nortel or when I did my first Heat implementation at ESI. I was missing that feeling when a project is ramping up and there are so many things to get done in a short period of time.
I am super tired today, though. The cats woke me up at 4am. Placenta Head has some how figured out how to scratch the couch with his new plastic claws. I swear he is going to give me a stroke or a heart attack.
I had a 12 hour day yesterday. It was great. Yes, this is what I thrive on. Maybe I'm not suffering from depression, I'm just suffering from boredom. I was up early yesterday and today. I haven't had a 12 hour day since I was working at Nortel or when I did my first Heat implementation at ESI. I was missing that feeling when a project is ramping up and there are so many things to get done in a short period of time.
I am super tired today, though. The cats woke me up at 4am. Placenta Head has some how figured out how to scratch the couch with his new plastic claws. I swear he is going to give me a stroke or a heart attack.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Random Movie Quote
I just found a cool website: The Movie Quote Generator. http://thesurrealist.co.uk/movie.php
I entered the word Wookie and it came back with: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my wookie. Prepare to die!"
I could spend all day on this site.
I entered the word Wookie and it came back with: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my wookie. Prepare to die!"
I could spend all day on this site.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Change, etc
So, on the change challenge I found 3 pennies today. Of course, I was with Julia and she found 12 cents. She is totally going to kick my ass on this challenge.
Julia and I had a nice lunch at Moxie's today. She is also the first person, besides my dad, to see my beautiful new floor. The apt is starting to get back to normal. I have a ton of stuff to give to goodwill. I really shouldn't be allowed to buy things.
I watched the BBC miniseries 'Pride and Prejudice' today. It was so good. Now, I know I had heard it was really good, but I was very impressed. Of course, the mother and Lydia were even more annoying on the screen than they were in the book. I really hate stupid people and stupid women even more. I was screaming at the tv for them to shut up. I'm now watching Jeopardy, yeah smart people.
Julia and I had a nice lunch at Moxie's today. She is also the first person, besides my dad, to see my beautiful new floor. The apt is starting to get back to normal. I have a ton of stuff to give to goodwill. I really shouldn't be allowed to buy things.
I watched the BBC miniseries 'Pride and Prejudice' today. It was so good. Now, I know I had heard it was really good, but I was very impressed. Of course, the mother and Lydia were even more annoying on the screen than they were in the book. I really hate stupid people and stupid women even more. I was screaming at the tv for them to shut up. I'm now watching Jeopardy, yeah smart people.
I Hate Microsoft
I finally took a look at my friend Marn's blog. She has a 'cute kid moment of the day' part to each of her posts. It is so cute. It's great to hear how they are doing.
But, what annoyed me was that I wanted to post a comment to her blog. Not easy, it took me over 25 mins and it erased what I wrote three times. Now, I'm not sure how much of that was the microsoft site and how much was stupid firefox browser (I hate that my brother put this as my default, as much as I'm not a fan of microsoft, explorer is way more keyboard friendly). So, Marn's blog site wouldn't let me leave a comment unless I signed up with an account (apparently you can not leave an anonymous comment). Then it wouldn't let me remove the web link that it set up for me. I would have put this website in, but no, it had to be a microsoft blog link. So stupid!
But, what annoyed me was that I wanted to post a comment to her blog. Not easy, it took me over 25 mins and it erased what I wrote three times. Now, I'm not sure how much of that was the microsoft site and how much was stupid firefox browser (I hate that my brother put this as my default, as much as I'm not a fan of microsoft, explorer is way more keyboard friendly). So, Marn's blog site wouldn't let me leave a comment unless I signed up with an account (apparently you can not leave an anonymous comment). Then it wouldn't let me remove the web link that it set up for me. I would have put this website in, but no, it had to be a microsoft blog link. So stupid!
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