Proposal for the Internet

When a user inputs the English word 'loose', every web page should provide links to the definitions of loose and lose, with a firm statement like 'For the love of the rest of the English speaking world, make sure you are using the correct word'. Some example responses to an online article about the maker of Lego:

• How does a company that makes plastic bricks loose over 200 million in one year?
• ... kids loose interest around age 10-12 if not before.
• So, it's no surprise that LEGO looses ground.

How on Earth can so many people get it wrong? Grrr.

Evil Smells

One problem of living alone is that you forget to do some of the little things. Like taking out the garbage; it's such a small amount anyway, you don't really feel like bothering. Right? Until it's a leftover yoghurt container. Or a leftover 4L milk container. Or both at the same time...

I'm going to light a scented candle now, to drive out those evil spirits smells...

Blow-up Man

Yes, well...

He fits in a car's glove box, appears at a flick of a switch and when a woman has finished using him, she can just pull the plug and he deflates.

He is the "Buddy on Demand", a blow-up man with the aim of making solo female motorists feel less nervous about driving at night.

Research by the inflatable friend's creator, insurer Sheilas' Wheels, shows 82 per cent of women feel safer with someone sitting in the car beside them and nearly a half do not like driving alone in the dark.

"We're not saying that an inflatable man is the only answer but we do hope it will give women extra confidence and make journeys in the dark less fearful," Jacky Brown, spokeswoman for Sheilas' Wheels, said.

- from abc.net.au

Bike Accident

There was yet another bicycle accident on Gilford St. This time it involved a car; pretty scary. A guy and girl were riding a tandem bike downhill. Seems that they ran a stop sign on Gilford St and were either clipped or very narrowly missed by a car driving along Robson St. Sad to say it but:

1. I do have 100% sympathy for the cyclists - they were very close to being seriously hurt or killed.
2. I don't believe it was the drivers fault.

What was interesting was the nearby calls from from neighours of "You're driving a lethal weapon!", "Cyclists always have right of way" and "People live around here". There seemed to be this odd consensus that the driver was immediately at fault, and that the cyclists were doing nothing wrong.

I've been a cyclist for a few years now and choose to ride in traffic. Any cyclist should know you are a vehicle and are subject to the same rules. You indicate, you stop at stop signs, you obey the rules as best you can within the limits of your vehicle. You even obey the speed limit. Act like a vehicle and you might gain respect from the cars around you. Act like a vehicle that is invisible and you'll be the safest you can be.

There is a general concept that drivers are at fault when they hit pedestrians. This I agree with, and it can be extended to slow moving or stationary cyclists. But a driver cannot be expected to look out for cyclists zipping through a stop-sign; they're just too damned fast.

Just had to get that off my chest. As I said, I have 100% sympathy for the cyclists, but if they're on the road they have to act like vehicles.

Chocolate Moo

In direct contrast to the old-fashioned ethos of the previous post: I don't own my own cow, I do actually buy milk. I only mention this because last night I bought 4L of chocolate milk. 24 hours later and there is only 2L left. I like chocolate milk. Sue me. :P :)

The Case Against Microwaves

When I moved in, I had the option to go and buy a microwave. It seems the sensible thing to do, seeing as I live on my own and it makes it really easy to have quick meals.

This is exactly the reason I didn't get a microwave - so I don't have a long succession of meat pies or cup-a-noodle soups. It's starting to pay off now. I'm finding it easy to just fry some pork or steam some fresh veges, slap it on rice or bread, and have a 'proper' meal. And I save a hell of a lot of space where the microwave was. It's a great spot for sauces, marinades and basics like bread. :)

The Igloo Is Melting

Just kidding, but yes, we actually have warm weather here in Vancouver. It was around 30c today, and it's meant to top that tomorrow. One thing you do notice is this: less Canadians ride to work on a hot day. Seems they can't handle the heat. :)

Planes, Plains and Mountains

On a recent flight I snapped this photo of the mountains near Vancouver. It's not too great a photo - it looks a lot more impressive in person, and that smog is almost non-existent. Just for some contrast, I also snapped the kind of landscape you find beyond in the interor, where it is dead flat. I don't recall seeing this kind of flatness even in Australia.

Basin Coordinates

Last little bit of wooden stuff from Ikea. I got tired of a bathroom that wouldn't just stay organised (I am, by default, very lazy and messy). So I got just a little creative. This is actually a simple wooden separated box, but I added some washed river stones as a bed in the smaller part, and got some matching other bits and pieces. Feels nicer in the morning. Encourages me to actually shave.

Perhaps life will soon feel 'settled' enough that I can start thesis work again. I think I'm just more sensitive to my environment when I'm alone.

My Own Little Body Shop

I got myself a membership for Body Shop here in Canada. Gives me 10% off, various bonuses on my birthday, etc. It made sense as I'm starting out in Canada and had to buy a fair few of these kinds of products, and they do make nice stuff. I now have quite a collection, and this isn't all of it - just what I have in the shower. It's something that helps me get going each day.

And yes, this shows the true purpose of my 'airfoil' from the previous post. :)

Ikea Experience - Part 3

This weekend I decided I was tired of crappy sheets and insufficient knick-knacks. So I went to Ikea again (hence my sudden need to post Part 2 of the Ikea Experience).

It's quite a trek really. I ride to downtown, catch the SkyTrain to Braid (40+ minutes), then ride to Ikea. I bought some new sheets, and then some boxes, and then some other bits and pieces. Ended up absolutely stuffing my panier bags full of stuff that I bought; looks like a sad attempt at improving my aerodynamics. :)

Ikea Experience - Part 2

I never got around to writing the rest of my Ikea experience. The rest of my experiences at Ikea haven't been so bad. After all of my bedroom furniture was delivered, I found that one key item had been forgotten. Was a slight mixup with the people at the home delivery section - they thought I'd taken it, but I'd left it with them.

I called Ikea, got connected to Montreal, who bounced me back to the complaints department (funnily enough, located in Vancouver). I spoke to a woman who was friendly enough, but wasn't sure that Ikea could get the part to me for a couple of days. Until this:

1. Her: You live on Robson St?
2. Me: Yep.
3. Her: What's the nearest cross-street?
4. Me: Um, nearest major one is Denman St.
5. Her: I live right near you. I'll bring it home from work.

Turned out that she lives in the sister building of mine (ie. same design, just next door), and she was just moving in to Vancouver, like I was. What were the odds?

Little Oddities

Something I was, er, quite surprised to see:

Carestation Medical Clinic - Walk-ins Welcome

Ironically, on the same bus was an Asian guy with an incredibly deep voice chatting on his phone. He was funny to listen to, with all the "f***en eh, yeah" and "that's right" for 30 minutes straight. A real Mr Cool Dude.