Picture My World

That is all I can say. Stay tuned.

Update: OK, OK, nothing exciting is going to happen anytime soon. I apologize for posting this tease in the first place.

I’m now regularly cycling to work again and these friendly drivers are going to be the death of me.

One of my biggest pet peeves as a cyclist is the friendly driver. Not the ones that look out for cyclists and don’t hit them. I’m talking about the ones that break traffic laws to do me a “favour”.

Like the guy that was making a left into the Creo driveway as I was coming out and waiting to make my own left across 2 lanes of traffic. He stops and waves me through. So, shaking my head, I start across the street, thinking he’s holding up the traffic behind him (which usually happens when a car turns into the driveway). However, he was a little further back than usual and the cars could pass him on the right. The cars didn’t start passing until I was half-way across the street and committed to the turn — I was in a bad spot. Luckily the passing car stopped for me but it could have gone the other way.

Fledgling crows have blue eyes. Fledgling crows are also so big that their eyes are the only way to tell they are just babies (or “younglings” as George Lucas would write).

You read it here first!

Where did the weekend go?!

This is cute: The Sith Sense. Lord Vader will read your mind. Just ignore the Burger King logo and the BK dude and you can’t even tell it’s part of an ad campaign!

I just got back from a conference in Florida. While baby-unencumbered, I decided to see a movie and picked Star Wars after hearing that it was much better than Lucas’ 2 recent attempts. After seeing it, I’m convinced the majority of reviewers took bribes. Simplistic plot, horrible acting that can only be attributed to even worse dialog, and more. Yes, it’s “darker” but only due to the extra violence (more lightsaber amputations than ever before!) and not because of a clever or deep script. Mr. Cranky, as usual when it comes to bad movies, nails it in his review.

I had set my expectations quite low, hoping the special FX, sound track, and action would pull it through, but it just disappointed in the end. The taxi driver, with his Star Wars philosophical dissertation, proved more entertaining than the film.

Today I drove the Porsche for the last time. It is finally, finally for sale by qualified professionals who sell cars like this all the time. I have mixed feelings, but I’m mostly glad to be rid of it and stop consuming so much gas and money (although I’m sure I did my bit for the economy).

Now it’s time to re-introduce my butt to my bike seat. “Butt, meet seat.”

We’ve decided to find a new home for our two cats. They are slowly driving us crazy and we suspect it’s because the attention they used to receive has been transfered to the girl. Anyway, it was a tough decision but we’ve finally made it after months of internal debate. That’s not the point of this post, though.

I posted the cats’ information on my company’s electronic bulletin board. The next day, one of my coworkers (we work in the same building but not on the same team) posts a vicious rant about the irresponsibility of giving pets up for adoption. She doesn’t mention me by name and claims it’s a general rant after reading a number of similar pet adoption postings, but she does quote from my post a couple of times. Doing so, she manages to insult us on a number of levels — intelligence, parenting, commitment… you name it. Later in the afternoon, I received a phone call from a friend at work who was livid (angrier than me!) about the post.

I’ve refrained from replying publicly or privately so far. The nice guy in me says she didn’t intend this to be a personal attack. She probably just feels strongly about the issue. The not-so-nice guy wants to flame her right back in public.

My livid friend is probably going to send her a private email regarding the post. Maybe others have as well. We’ll see if there’s an apology anytime soon.

I’m back from vacation and feeling guilty about not posting anything lately.

I thought I would write something during vacation, but my brain had other ideas and it basically shut down. I did read [Davita's Harp](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0449911837/104-1354145-2452743?v=glance) by Chaim Potok, the first of his books I’ve read. Wow. I had no idea he was such a great writer and I now need to read more. It is an amazingly *real* depiction of religious life from both inside and outside. It’s also a brilliant book about life itself and it affected my deeply.

I also took a ton of photos in California which I hope to post a smattering of here one of these days. The thing with this DSLR gig is that most photos need post-processing to get them to their best. At least, that’s what I’m reading. It appears point and shoot cameras do a ton of processing inside the camera itself so the resulting photos are sharp and saturated which is what the typical tourist or parent wants. DSLRs allow more creative freedom. So, I’m focusing on learning more about Photoshop so I can *create*!

Otherwise, I’m preparing for a Creo user conference where I’m doing some usability testing and conducting a survey. All last minute prep due to the vacation so things are very busy. I’m still trying to sell the damn car. Our shul is falling apart and I’m trying to care. Typical stuff.

2:30 am. Poke, poke, poke, poke. Kim is trying to wake me up. I grudingly open my eyes and ask, “What’s wrong?” She tells me she just heard a woman screaming at someone to leave her alone. I wake up a little more and hear a scream. It’s quite faint and obviously a block or more away. I pull on my robe and head downstairs to look outside. Nothing.

A few years ago, I would have gone back to sleep. This morning, I picked up the phone and dialed 911.

I described what we heard to the operator who quickly said, “We have units in the area. They are checking it out.” She kept me on the phone while they searched the neighbourhood. I had very little information to offer her even as she asked for all kinds of details including the direction the scream came from. I was out on the porch when the unmarked police car cruised by, spotlight scanning the block. I waved. I felt a great appreciation for the police at that hour we all should have been soundly asleep.

The 911 operator kept me on hold a little longer in case the officers had more questions. Eventually she said they had received another, related call and let me go. I hope that woman’s ok and that my action got help to her a little sooner.

Shula Digs Birds

Originally uploaded by JZip.

Shula and I went to Granville Island today (some quality aba and daughter time) and she couldn’t get enough of the pigeons and seagulls. We chased them with the stroller.

Our car must have a large bullseye painted on it, but every time I search for one I can’t find it.

We’ve had the car back from the shop for less than 2 weeks and, already, someone has taken a screwdriver to the driver’s side door and mangled the crap out of it. I don’t think they got in, but it’s only a matter of time. If they do succeed, hopefully The Club will keep them from taking the car (again).

I’m doing it. I’m really selling the car. And for some reason I feel terrible.

I’ve been trying to figure out why I feel so bad. I was expecting to feel relief on a number of levels. Financially, the car is an unfair burden to place on the family. Personally, I no longer have the time to drive it like its meant to be driven. Globally, it and its 6 cylinder engine are not good for the environment. When I think ahead to being rid of it, I do feel better, so it must be the sale itself.

I know that part of it is the negotiation. I hate negotiations. I take them too personally and cannot make rational decisions. I’m trying to mitigate that by consigning the car and letting professionals handle that aspect. However, there will be some negotiation in determining their fee.

I think I’ve put my finger on the other part of what is troubling me and I am loath to admit it (but I will because it’s more of a comment on society).

I’m worried that people are going to look at the condition of this car as a reflection of me.

There. I said it.

I think it’s sick and I hate the fact that there is so much *meaning* wrapped up in a car. Even if it is a classic. I know I’m not saying anything new here. Our culture over-emphasizes the importance of “stuff” and many of us get caught up in it.

But I didn’t buy the car as a status symbol. I honestly wanted a sports car that I could *drive* (*really* drive) for the sheer pleasure of it. I agonized over the purchase for months to the point of talking to my rabbi about it. I convinced myself my ego had only a small part to play; however, after getting the car I will admit feeling a certain buzz when people ogled it.

Maybe the car has become a status symbol and I’m conflicted over selling it. Maybe I just care too much about what strangers think about me. Or maybe I’m just worried that I won’t get a fair price for the thing and I’m over analyzing all this.

Ah well… I’m sure my seller’s angst will be replaced by buyer’s remorse soon enough. I’ve just ordered one of these.

Life is like driving into the sun:

+ You can’t see too far ahead.
+ Some people pull over and wait for the view to improve.
+ Some people continue on cautiously.
+ Others put on their sunglasses and floor it.

Which person are you?

I’ve been busy getting our finances in order and preparing my tax return. Life just doesn’t get more exciting than this.

I did get to watch a Battlestar Galactica episode today, though. That was fun.

It’s amazing what you find just surfing around. Soferet‘s link to Byronverse led me to a cool looking company called Wondermill which finally led me to Coolsig. A sig for all occasions. Here’s one from the Military section that lept out at me:

A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what’s left of your unit. – the Army’s magazine of preventive maintenance.

More backup stuff. Mark over at MarkTAW recommends SyncBack. It does look quite good, but I’m too lazy to try it. Maybe Scott will test it and report back.

Dave’s blogging.

Kim has visited the local US consulate a couple times to register Shula as an American citizen (sorry, I don’t know if she’s a Republican or Democrat). The consulate has a couple of interesting aspects. 1) US citizens get to butt in at the front of the line and 2) cell phones are not allowed. Kim visited today and witnessed a man complaining to the security guards as they prevented him from entering because he had a cell phone. His exact words were, “What kind of discrimination is this?” It’s **cell phone discrimination**, my friend, and that is how it feels to be a minority. (OK, not really.)

If I was one of the guards I would have looked at the computer screen and said, “Our records tell us you speak too loudly on your phone in public places. We cannot allow you to enter.”

Also interesting is that security will hold your cell phone for you, but only if you are an American citizen. Apparently they have nothing to fear from their own.

WeedAtTarget

Originally uploaded by JZip.

Took a screenshot of this web page a few months ago and wanted to keep a copy before I deleted it off my computer. It’s amazing what you can get at Target!