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  • My musical inclination’s temporary vacation.

    written by

    james

    Growing up, I always had a sort of obsession, if you will, with various types of music–mostly listening, but later on, playing. It started with the piano, and as I got out of highschool and finished college, it started graduating more towards the guitar–I blame my uncle, who could probably at least bullshit his way through a song on the thing if you let him. I’d planned to keep at both, but then life sort of happened. I ended up working, and fairly long hours at that–not that I’m complaining or anything; the paychecks were awesome. The down side? It left not a whole lot of time for keeping up with either instrument. So, that kind of gradually fell by the wayside. Then I moved back here, became borderline broke, and subsequently unable to pick it back up again. Oh, I still halfway dabble at the piano every so often, but nothing quite like I used to–took too long to decide to get back to dabbling, I guess.

    I’ve always had a good ear for music, even when I wasn’t actively participating in lessons–I did all my learning by ear, for example. Because of that, I’ve sort of developed an ability, much to the dismay of the few people I know who can actually sing well, to virtually deconstruct a song and pick up on things that, well, may or may not benefit from some improvement. I still have that ability, even though it’s been a few years since I’ve actively put it to some semblence of use. So, I haven’t completely lost my inclination towards music, even if it hasn’t exactly been at the forefront for quite some time. It’s sort of been on temporary, but indefinite, vacation. That vacation will probably be as indefinite as my inability to aford to pick it back up again. Or until I can find some variation of the free equivalent. Whichever. It’s nice, though, to still be able to pick up on details of a song I’m listening to even if I couldn’t immediately run over to the piano, or the guitar, and play the whole damn thing back–not yet, anyway. There’s still hope for my return yet if that’s the case. Now, if I could just figure out where this singing ability people tell me I have has run off to.

  • Those crazy Apple fans.

    written by

    james

    We knew back in January we’d be getting bombarded with any and all things iPad. I knew back in January I didn’t want it. At all. What I didn’t know, and probably should have–it’s Apple, after all, is that people would go absolutely crazy over getting one. As in, camping out overnight just to be the first to get one. Well, at least they’re getting free coffee. But still, all this attention for what amounts to a glorified iPod. What’s next? Folks willing–or brave–enough to stand in line for a glorified cell phone? Oh, wait. Never mind. Hey, at least the line to buy yourself a netbook’s nice and short. Anyone wanna join me?

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  • In which mom becomes this year’s April fools casualty.

    written by

    james

    I’m the family geek. Which, really, has its positives as well as its rather irritating negatives. And sometimes, it’s neither positive nor negative–just six or seven different kinds of hillarious. Take Friday morning, for example. We’re sitting down for breakfast, and mom brought up an announcement by Google that said they were officially changing their name to Topeka. The announcement, apparently, made headlines.

    I didn’t quite have the heart, even after I’d managed to stop laughing, to tell her she’d just been had a day late. But, eventually, I did. She still thought, at least for a few minutes anyway, that it was actually going to be their official name as of–conveniently–April first, the poor girl. In thirty seconds, I summarized the background for Google’s latest of April fool’s jokes. Then got treated to a rare event–I do believe she actually looked like she’d just been handed a 3-dollar bill for a minute.

    I’ve been trying for 26 years to pull one over on my mother. Google did it in 24 hours. And all it had to do was make the news. Now, if I’d just waited a day or two longer before breaking the bad news to her… nah, that would be *too* mean. Maybe next year.

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  • Maple Leafs 4, Sabres 2.

    written by

    james

    How often does this happen? After pretty much getting owned, rather solidly, all season by the boys across the border, we actually showed up and put on a pretty good show of not getting swept for the season. And this against a goaltender that pretty much stoned us every chance he got–which was every game except the one on thursday. Which, by the way, I was forced to miss on account of my parents not getting Leafs TV, on which it was apparently broadcast, and me being required to house sit for the evening, but that’s neither here nor there. We played a team literally a game away from locking up the division. And we didn’t get spanked. Now, if only that meant we’d be in the playoffs. But, can’t have everything. Now reserving spots on local golf courses. Maple Leafs get in half price–provided they can nail the Canadians. Deal? Hey, I tried.

    Last time

    For the second consecutive meeting between the two teams, this one back in January, we got our butts kicked. Not by much, but enough that it was painful. Of course, not nearly as painful as the realization that the team just plain wasn’t going to get a whole lot better this year, but still. On the bright side, I like the look of the Sabres on the losing end of a game for a change. Say, can we do that again, boys? Might make next season a little more fun.

  • Okay, Bluejays, let’s play ball!

    written by

    james

    It’s the start of April. The official start of spring for any sports fan. And, the official start of the 2010 baseball season. There’s a crap ton of young bats turning loose on this team, and even more waiting in the wings. Will we make the playoffs this year? Not a clue. I’d be happy with doing better than last season, personally. And to welcome in the 2010 baseball season, as only a Jays fan can, have a theme song in video format. Okay, Bluejays, let’s play ball. And win something.

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  • A random stroke of sort of Google luck.

    written by

    james

    My open letter to Ontario’s premier has earned me currently the 20th ranked spot in a Google search for ontario government minimum wage. Apparently, the highest position I’ve achieved with this post is 5. Will I get back up there, or is it out for good? I are curious.

    In barely related news, Ontario’s government has still yet to get back to me. I’m waiting, Dalton…

  • Popular posts (March, 2010).

    written by

    james

    Surprisingly, it’s been a fairly inactive/unproductive month. Very few jobs to look for, in spite of the whole theory that says the economy’s bouncing back, but plenty of time to spend with the girlfriend, the nephew, my now eliminated hockey team, and everyone else. I’ve even gotten a tiny bit political in my recently discovered free time. Here’s what folks found interesting in the month past, according to Google Analytics.

    • Convergys closes this month. Earlier in March, the city offered to help catch the employees that company threw under the bus. I wrote about it, and wondered why we didn’t see that kind of help when Dell went sideways. I still wonder.
    • The Ontario Disability Support Program, or ODSP, is right now the difference between my unemployed and apparently unhireable ass being in this apartment and on the street. In its current state, it’s not much of a difference. I called out the premier over it, to which I got a rather indifferent shrug of an email. I promptly called him again. Will it warrant another shrug?
    • My second letter was only sent a few days ago, in response to this small handout being given to us by the ministry of social services. combine that with the few taxes, user fees etc we’re getting thrown at us of late, and you can probably see the direction the math’s heading.
    • Folks are still taking an interest in the results of February’s olympics. Specificly, in Canada’s ice dancing gold metal. Yeah, I didn’t know ice dancing was an olympic sport either. Or that we had anyone competing in it. Shows what I know.
    • I’ve always believed the world’s got way too much time on its hands. Or at least, too many timezones. One seems like a good number, at least to me. I made my case for it, but no one’s listening yet. Well, except Russia, who’s already killed two of its zones.

    Yeah, this blog’s about as random as it gets. From politics, to sports, to random gripes about timezones. But, hey, someone keeps reading it besides me. Now, maybe I can get more than a shrug out of Dalton McGuinty this month. Anyone taking bets?

  • Braille display technology, meet the mainstream.

    written by

    james

    As a blind person, I tend to associate with a fair few others in similar situations. Among them, one of the things that crops up every now and again is, “I’d get a braille display, if it would read more than one line of bloody text.”. Which is, rightfully, a valid criticism–I, personally, find it a hundred times faster/easier to just have the computer talk to me than to try and read, for example, some of the news articles I plan to link to on one of today’s braille displays. Fortunately, for folks who happen to be fans of using braille display technology, someone’s looking out for you.

    Researchers from North Carolina State University now say they have devised a display that would allow visually challenged users to read a full page at a time — and at a much lower cost than existing displays.

    “We have developed a low-cost, compact, full-page braille display that is fast and can be used in PDAs, cellphones and even GPS systems,” says Dr. Peichun Yang, one of the researchers working on the project, who is himself blind.

    Braille display tech, meet the mainstream. Next stop, maybe? Quite possibly inside your cell phone. That is, if it ever gets beyond the experimental/theoretical stage. Either way, though, it’s this kinda stuff that keeps me interested in all things geeky. Hey, if you’re blind, this is geeky. Work with me here.

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  • Thrashers 3, Maple Leafs 2.

    written by

    james

    Okay, all you non-Leafs fans can say it. As of now, Toronto is officially mathematically eliminated. Not that anyone who’s actually been following the team expected it to be any different. Lord knows since about January or so I haven’t been. And Tuesday’s game? Well, that pretty much underlines why. We played halfway decently. The only thing that didn’t happen is the goaltender didn’t manage to stand on his head. And nearing halfway through the third period, we pretty much got screwed. It wasn’t for lack of trying, though–we all but threw ourselves at the net, especially in the last minute or so of the game after emptying ours. And we still couldn’t force an overtime.

    Last time

    Different night, different story. This one did get forced into overtime. And we actually managed, though I still have no idea how, to land the two points. Ah well, we had a few years of making the playoffs. It’s only fair we have a few where we don’t. See you on the golf course, boys. And don’t worry; I’m sure Ottawa and Montreal will be right behind you.

  • OC Transpo drivers bitch about calling stops, no one really cares.

    written by

    james

    Drivers of Ottawa’s bus system say punishments for not calling stops, which have so far been restricted to suspensions of between 1 and 5 days, are unfair. They blame all the usual excuses–people not taking into account driver distractions, such as other customers talking to them, or needing to keep an eye on trafic, for the lack of stop callage. Because, you know, it’s just not possible to have the customer shut up for 30 seconds while he announces the next stop. Meanwhile, OC Transpo’s been fined already, after multiple warnings to call out stops–at least the major ones. You’d think after the first few, they’d start to learn. My money’s on folks getting fired before this fixes itself. At least, I hope to God someone does. Preferably, the next moron to decide it’d be easier/better/faster to just, well, forget to call the stop. Speaking as someone who’s missed a fair few stops because the driver “forgot”, I kind of suspect it’s gonna take at least that much.

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