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Vancouver
Items pertaining specifically to my fair city. |
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August 22, 2003 |
Beer afficianado Ryan wrote me an email about Black Bear Ale, brewed in BC with a similar logo to my barefoot. While searching for the ale, I stumbled upon the exhaustive Beer Advocate (I see that Storm King Stout is in first place--an American beer? Must have to do with user demographics).
Ryan also attended Vancouver's first flash mob, which I discussed a while back.
9:10:04 AM
Vancouver
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My Irish friend Christine apparently saw a documentary on cryptococcal disease last night. Apparently:
Cryptococcal disease is a rare fungal infection that can affect the lungs and nervous system. In some cases, the infection can lead to swelling of the lining of the brain. The infection is caused by exposure to the spores of the cryptococcus fungus and can be successfully treated with anti-fungal medication.
Apparently the fungus is found in rotten or hollow Douglas Fir and Red Alder trees, which are abundant on the west coast of Canada. That's funny, I spent most of my childhood destroying rotten trees in the forest behind my house, and I never got infected.
I mention this mostly to torture my sister Imogene, who is deathly afraid of obscure, exotic diseases.
9:03:00 AM
Science Vancouver
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August 20, 2003 |
I've started writing a technology column for the Yaletown View. It's a nascent bi-weekly neighbourhood magazine that covers the usual mix of cuisine, entertainment, sex, etc. Despite the fact that Yaletown is something of a nerdistan, I'm going to keep the writing pretty lightweight and (where possible) humourous. I've written for the Web for so long, it's a little strange to have permanent deadlines and to see your work on the deadtree stuff.
My first column is on finding wireless access. The issue it's in comes out tomorrow, but you can get a preview here. Let me know if you've got any requests or ideas for columns.
10:29:29 AM
Internet Technology Vancouver
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August 19, 2003 |
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All right, Vancouver readers, I'm putting you to work. We're hosting an event next month for, I don't know, 60 people, and we need a caterer. We're just looking for appetizers here, not a dinner service. Here's everything I currently know about choosing a caterer:
<click me>
See my problem? Google can come to the rescue, but I'm looking for recommendations for local service providers. Leave a comment if you know anybody good. |
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10:38:06 AM
Mixed Bag Vancouver
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August 18, 2003 |
Because my schmoozing skills always need honing, Todd and I are going to Techvibes tomorrow night. Local geeks, come join in our monthly bacchanal! In truth, this event is as far as you can get from a bacchanal without a whiteboard and a conference system.
12:39:53 PM
Technology Vancouver
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August 17, 2003 |
I'm not under the impression that the world needs or wants to see my photos. That said, there are probably a few friends and family who want to see this, that or the other photo. Plus, I just got a digital camera, so that means I'm going to have a lot more photos to manage. So, I've set up a little album system on my site. Recent additions are photos of:
Todd (unknowingly) introduced me to the simple, free and effective JAlbum. It does just what I want an album generator to do: automagically create some non-hideous pages to host my photos.
2:28:29 PM
Photography Vancouver
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August 14, 2003 |
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August 10, 2003 |
This is a study in how a meme works. An idea moves into a population (namely, Vancouverites) through a viral model--through a whole bunch of carriers. I mentioned this flash mob thing last week on Vancouver Webloggers. At the same time, somebody starts a Yahoo group on the subject. Then the Vancouver Province, that reactionary rag, apparently runs a front page story (no link available at the moment).
6:44:29 PM
Internet The Commons Vancouver
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You remember the insults that strike home. I never remember anybody telling me I was slow, or unathletic or clumsy. I was all of these things, but they didn’t matter to me. I do remember Charles ‘Chuck’ Chung, though. Chuck was a sometimes-bully, sometimes-defender who I grew up with. In about grade six, I remember him razzing me about being a nerd. ‘Why don’t you haul that computer outside into the sunlight?’
That comment stayed with me. Why? Because deep down I knew he was right. I was spending too much time with the computer, and not enough time out in the world. Because I knew, even at that point that my early geekdom meant a difficult adolescence. In truth, my teenage years were pretty trauma free, and by grade 12 I had eclipsed my nerdiness. My high school was distinctly upper-middle class, so everyone recognized that sooner or later, the smart would inherit the earth.
I’m writing this on 15 inches of glorious titanium from a park bench on the Vancouver seawall in the dying light of a beautiful summer evening. The gulls cry overhead. I glance up and see boats jockeying for position for tonight’s fireworks. Chuck, I have indeed lugged my computer into the sun, and it’s a good thing. Yours was sound advice.
In adulthood, I’ve always suspected that Charles, with his penchant for tight demin and pseudo-cruelty, was gay. I haven’t heard from him in years, but I’d be pleased to learn that he was, say, running a cupcake shop in the West End.
6:26:59 PM
Vancouver
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