no news is good news...

'nuff said.

guns guns guns...

After 34 years of being fascinated with firearms I finally took the test that will allow me the pleasure. I can't remember the last time I took a test. The whole process was quite exciting indeed!

The studying...

The sweating...

The thrill of the hunt...

The practical...(pump, hinge, bolt)

The result!

I may have done well on the test but the guy doing the testing, Matt, broke out with an occasional smirk. Most likely thinking something like "this guy studied hard but I bet he can't shoot worth shit...". He's probably right...I'm all book knowledge, no street smarts. But at least I've done my heritage proud...and I can finally put my grubby paws on my great grand-dad's gun! (note that it's a larger calibre than Ryan's which is only fair as he only got 98%).

eject before disconnecting

I recently read an article about the relative cost of the new ipod nano [ok...just a non sequitur...it seems that some omniscient, inescapable spell checker subtly underlines all words you type with a light, dashed red line. Included in the universe of badly spelled words is the word 'ipod'...it leads me to wonder if this 'feature' on a Mac will underline 'ipod' and if it's just passive aggressive vengeance on the part of Microsoft XP...anyway] in different countries. A variation on PPP...or purchasing power parity. Known as the 'ipod index'...read about it here...I'm too lazy to paraphrase. Other methods are talked about here. Anyhow...what I deem to be the triple point of economic feasibility + technological expectation + 'ipod index' has happened for me and thus I have bought an ipod. As magical as that perfect spot where an element is both a liquid, solid, and a gas at the same time, or some may say 'the perfect storm', I found my self in the store, with the money, with the will to buy...I should really call it the quadruple point because the ensuing endorphins are pretty special too. As is my mommy-bear instinct to protect my new little gadget. I could go on, like any Apple product owner, about how cute it is, how it's so well proportioned and is so easy to use, and how even the packaging is round and pleasant to rub all over your body. But I won't. I'll eject now, and disconnect.

those crazy Finns

My Finnish friend Henkka kindly gave me a picture of his family beer storage. And apparently they don't need to actually refrigerate it because they buy it cold and they'll finish it off before it cools.

curses....curses....

OK. Every time I need to adjust the temperature in a refrigerator I see a dial like this one. I don't understand it. What does it mean? My fridge was bordering on freezing and I don't want my beer to crystalize so I don't want it to get any colder. Do I:

• a)rotate the dial in the direction of the arrow...making the dial go from '3' to '2' in hopes that it gets a little warmer.


• b)move the dial so the number on the left (presumably 4) comes into view because that's where the arrow points.

I guess intuitively a higher number means warmer from our experience with thermometers but the dial sort of indicates to move it left whereby decreasing the numerical value. I don't want to ruin my beer...what should I do?



my version...if I made a fridge, would be a little different...

going crazy

...or should i say nuts.

for those of you who haven't done the walnut thing...you have no idea what work is. It's like a cross between tree planting and doing laundry by hand. it sucks.

But the rewards are great. I'm thinking of cheap ways to automate the process...ideas include a power-washer, concrete mixer, and cheap imported labour.

nature n@rd

k, I can't use 'nerd'...it's taken. But Nature Nerd has inspired me to take more nature pics...

telus...reloaded

oh boy. so about an hour and a half on the phone....finally the connection is working. remarkably simple really. somehow this fellow Ray in the Philippines was able to make my modem work in about 10 seconds (after being on hold for a loooong time)...then Melvin in Montreal was able to get me to connect to it wirelessly...it being 'pornden'...Erin's new wireless network. Ray and Melvin, I love you. Telus, you suck.

telus

here's a little diddy that attempts to illustrate my recent experience with a new internet connection. I thought I knew something about computers and stuff...I guess not. At one point I remember whipping out my knife and stabbing the boxes that the modem came in while on the floor cursing. Erin looked over from behind the counter and calmly asked if what I was experiencing was hormonal and if I needed anything from her that would make me feel better.

breakfast of champions

yummy. fast. easy.

the big shitty

So I'm in Vancouver ...fighting traffic and doing shoulder checks like a ninja all the way to the office. The area where I work isn't the most up-scale but does not in any way rival the reputation of 'East Van'. Seeing this little medical instrument on the ground next to my parking spot sure brings home the reality of drug use. My first instinct was to pick it up, fill it with water, and run into the office squirting my employees with it. But, alas, I didn't. I'm glad to know...or at least I think I'm glad to know that I'm still immature at heart.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay classy.