Blind Hatred
I want to start with a statement of fact. I don't watch political commentators on TV, nor do I listen to them on radio. Such commentators, regardless of their political views, are on the air to get ratings. Without ratings, they have no platform. Therefore, I believe, specially during "sweeps week", the shows that would be broadcast are more inflammatory in nature than you would normally find.
That being said, there is no denying that there are places in the world where blind hatred is taught to an entire society, beginning with the children. As a Jew, I have experienced personal persecution during my lifetime. Sometimes, the persecution was the result of child peer pressure ("he's a Jew, it's alright to pick a schoolyard fight with him -- we'll back you up"), sometimes it was the result of "innocent" remarks ("I went to a store to buy something, and I Jewed the guy down a few bucks").
The thing about being brought up with blatant persecution is that you develop a thick skin. You weigh things carefully, trying to determine whether a particular person's actions are the result of ignorance, or hatred. At a recent prayer meeting, a friend of mine asked whether I had seen the Glenn Beck show about Radical Islamic Fundamentalism and the hatred that is taught to their children. I had not seen it, and took some time today to search for a replay on YouTube. I found a video and watched it. It was disturbing. I wanted to post a link to it here, but instead, found another copy of the video with the ability to "embed" the video on a website.
I have chosen to embed that second recording, even though it is not the exact copy I watched. I'm telling you this in case there are problems with the video. If there are, I urge you to go to YouTube and search for "Glenn Beck Exposed". That should result in a suitable video link being delivered. In my original search, I found many show snippets of a few minutes each. There were only two links I found that were at least 40 minutes long (the actual play time, minus commercials).
Here's the embedded link:
Friday, November 17, 2006
Updates
Though each event on its own merits little mention, as a whole, things are moving in a positive direction. Having suffered through a slow October, November is starting out in a positive light, vis-a-vis business. I've had enough service calls during the first two weeks of the month to match the previous two month's revenue (that's not necessarily a major accomplishment, just a fact). I've also been approached to possibly provide a business service that might generate recurring revenue.
Speaking of recurring revenue, I've taken a couple of baby steps forward on one of my pet projects. Having acquired some much-needed research material through ebay, I'm making real progress towards bringing one of my other website ideas to fruition. It might take some time, but I'm hoping things will work out in the end.
On yet another front, I was cruising ebay a couple of weeks ago when I got the crazy idea to check out automobile GPS units. I happened across an auction with less than 1 minute left, and the current price was ridiculously low. I tried to snipe a bid, but by the time I had logged in and done everything necessary, the auction had ended. I was a bit annoyed (though I had no real reason to be), and started looking through some of the other GPS auctions, coming across one that had about 6 minutes remaining.
There was barely enough time to finish reading the product details and place a bid. I won that auction, and three days later took delivery of the GPS unit. It's been an absolutely wonderful toy, helping me navigate to a couple of service calls to obscure side streets that I would have otherwise had to print mapquest details for. I particularly enjoy watching it reroute itself when I purposely make an incorrect turn. With my wife planning to travel out of town this weekend, it will be a perfect navigation companion.
Well, that's about it. You're now up to date!
Though each event on its own merits little mention, as a whole, things are moving in a positive direction. Having suffered through a slow October, November is starting out in a positive light, vis-a-vis business. I've had enough service calls during the first two weeks of the month to match the previous two month's revenue (that's not necessarily a major accomplishment, just a fact). I've also been approached to possibly provide a business service that might generate recurring revenue.
Speaking of recurring revenue, I've taken a couple of baby steps forward on one of my pet projects. Having acquired some much-needed research material through ebay, I'm making real progress towards bringing one of my other website ideas to fruition. It might take some time, but I'm hoping things will work out in the end.
On yet another front, I was cruising ebay a couple of weeks ago when I got the crazy idea to check out automobile GPS units. I happened across an auction with less than 1 minute left, and the current price was ridiculously low. I tried to snipe a bid, but by the time I had logged in and done everything necessary, the auction had ended. I was a bit annoyed (though I had no real reason to be), and started looking through some of the other GPS auctions, coming across one that had about 6 minutes remaining.
There was barely enough time to finish reading the product details and place a bid. I won that auction, and three days later took delivery of the GPS unit. It's been an absolutely wonderful toy, helping me navigate to a couple of service calls to obscure side streets that I would have otherwise had to print mapquest details for. I particularly enjoy watching it reroute itself when I purposely make an incorrect turn. With my wife planning to travel out of town this weekend, it will be a perfect navigation companion.
Well, that's about it. You're now up to date!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
It's over
I guess I'm a bit disappointed there won't be any hoopla this weekend now that the Tigers have lost the World Series. But I'm also happy that television can get back to normal. The playoffs always last too long for my liking.
The one really bad thing for Fox TV is that the ratings for this series were miserable, and since it was a short series to boot, the network is going to lose a lot of money on this year's deal. Oh well...
I guess I'm a bit disappointed there won't be any hoopla this weekend now that the Tigers have lost the World Series. But I'm also happy that television can get back to normal. The playoffs always last too long for my liking.
The one really bad thing for Fox TV is that the ratings for this series were miserable, and since it was a short series to boot, the network is going to lose a lot of money on this year's deal. Oh well...
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Ouch!
Our neighbors in Detroit are stinging from the spanking handed to them in Game 1 of the World Series by upstart St. Louis. All those lovely pictures of the Detroit skyline that you may have seen on the broadcast were taken from across the river - right here in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Hopefully, some time during the series, the people at Fox might turn the cameras the other way and catch a glimpse of our side of the river. Fair is fair...
Our neighbors in Detroit are stinging from the spanking handed to them in Game 1 of the World Series by upstart St. Louis. All those lovely pictures of the Detroit skyline that you may have seen on the broadcast were taken from across the river - right here in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Hopefully, some time during the series, the people at Fox might turn the cameras the other way and catch a glimpse of our side of the river. Fair is fair...
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Baseball Fever
Just across the river, baseball fever is going strong in Detroit. Our cities hosted the Superbowl earlier this year, and now, it's time for a World Series. I'm glad Detroit won their game today, because if they had to play tomorrow, there would be three professional sports teams playing within a 1 mile radius, with the Tigers and Lions occupying adjacent stadiums, and the Red Wings playing at Joe Louis Arena, less than a mile away. Traffic won't be so bad now!
If the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Mets, the World Series will be a rematch of the 1968 Series. That year, Detroit came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Cardinals. Baseball fever is growing.
Go get 'em, Tigers!
Just across the river, baseball fever is going strong in Detroit. Our cities hosted the Superbowl earlier this year, and now, it's time for a World Series. I'm glad Detroit won their game today, because if they had to play tomorrow, there would be three professional sports teams playing within a 1 mile radius, with the Tigers and Lions occupying adjacent stadiums, and the Red Wings playing at Joe Louis Arena, less than a mile away. Traffic won't be so bad now!
If the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Mets, the World Series will be a rematch of the 1968 Series. That year, Detroit came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Cardinals. Baseball fever is growing.
Go get 'em, Tigers!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
An unpopular opinion - on the record
I think the crash of Cory Lidle's plane into a New York building was a suicide. After a horrendous pitching performance in the deciding game of the Detroit / New York playoff series - a performance that allowed 3 runs to be scored by four consecutive hitters in the fifth inning, I think Cory was unable to handle the pressure of facing his teammates and management. Some witnesses to the crash indicated that the plane was acting erratically before the crash. My guess is that Cory was trying to crash the plane, while the instructor accompanying him on the flight was doing all he could to prevent the crash.
Maybe investigators will be able to shed some light on the root cause, but with such a small plane, I'm not sure there is the kind of tracking equipment that would allow such an analysis to be carried out. We'll just have to wait and see.
I think the crash of Cory Lidle's plane into a New York building was a suicide. After a horrendous pitching performance in the deciding game of the Detroit / New York playoff series - a performance that allowed 3 runs to be scored by four consecutive hitters in the fifth inning, I think Cory was unable to handle the pressure of facing his teammates and management. Some witnesses to the crash indicated that the plane was acting erratically before the crash. My guess is that Cory was trying to crash the plane, while the instructor accompanying him on the flight was doing all he could to prevent the crash.
Maybe investigators will be able to shed some light on the root cause, but with such a small plane, I'm not sure there is the kind of tracking equipment that would allow such an analysis to be carried out. We'll just have to wait and see.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Vrroooommm
I'm a Dodge Viper!
You're all about raw power. You're tough, you're loud, and you don't take crap from anyone. Leave finesse to the other cars, the ones eating your dust.
Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Surprise!
Today is my wife's 50th birthday! So to surprise her, we celebrated two days ago. And when I say "we", I mean every relative and friend I could lay my hands on with the short notice required to maintain secrecy. There were twenty-one guests at the party even though invitations had only been issued a maximum of five days before the event. There was even one guest who received an invitation at 12:10PM (guests were to arrive by 12:15, with the party beginning at 12:30). That was because my wife generally spends time with this person on Saturday mornings, and I didn't want any possibility of a leak. When I explained why the invitation was issued so late, the guest acknowledged that the secret might have slipped out.
Anyway, I've included a couple of pictures from the event... one of my wife about 10 minutes after the surprise was sprung (note how she still hasn't recovered), and one picture showing the group of people who gathered to honour my wife on her special day.
Today is my wife's 50th birthday! So to surprise her, we celebrated two days ago. And when I say "we", I mean every relative and friend I could lay my hands on with the short notice required to maintain secrecy. There were twenty-one guests at the party even though invitations had only been issued a maximum of five days before the event. There was even one guest who received an invitation at 12:10PM (guests were to arrive by 12:15, with the party beginning at 12:30). That was because my wife generally spends time with this person on Saturday mornings, and I didn't want any possibility of a leak. When I explained why the invitation was issued so late, the guest acknowledged that the secret might have slipped out.
Anyway, I've included a couple of pictures from the event... one of my wife about 10 minutes after the surprise was sprung (note how she still hasn't recovered), and one picture showing the group of people who gathered to honour my wife on her special day.
 |  |
| Still not recovered from the shock | Both families (and friends) showed up for the occasion |
Need feedback
I have just read that filelodge.com, the site I have been using to host some of the photos on this blog, has become a site that employs questionable tactics to get people to pay for previously-free file hosting.
In my post of August 13th, I have pictures of two houses. Can anyone who reads this blog please leave a comment as to whether you can see these houses directly on my page, or whether you are presented with an ad or link of some kind?
Thank you.
P.S. I have some pictures to post, once I locate a stable picture-hosting site.
I have just read that filelodge.com, the site I have been using to host some of the photos on this blog, has become a site that employs questionable tactics to get people to pay for previously-free file hosting.
In my post of August 13th, I have pictures of two houses. Can anyone who reads this blog please leave a comment as to whether you can see these houses directly on my page, or whether you are presented with an ad or link of some kind?
Thank you.
P.S. I have some pictures to post, once I locate a stable picture-hosting site.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Crocodile Hunter meets his match
While filming a special on dangerous underwater creatures, Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, was fatally stung by a stingray.
Although I always thought he took far too many chances, his programs were always interesting. I'll miss him.
I wonder if they'll ever air the fatal episode. It would be a good reminder to people to respect the dangers of the deep.
While filming a special on dangerous underwater creatures, Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, was fatally stung by a stingray.
Although I always thought he took far too many chances, his programs were always interesting. I'll miss him.
I wonder if they'll ever air the fatal episode. It would be a good reminder to people to respect the dangers of the deep.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Is that funny, or what!
I can think pretty quickly on my feet. Though no rapper, I can bust a rhyme on the fly as well as anyone I know (I don't know any professional rappers), and occasionally, I can come up with a completely original joke. Today was one of those occasions. The kids had come down for the holiday weekend and we all went out to lunch. On the menu was something called Fried Pickles, and my daughter ordered it. When the order arrived, the pickle slices resembled lightly breaded potato wedges. As I looked at them, I turned to my daughter and asked:
"Do you know what they call the breading that surrounds the pickle?"
She looked at me like I was nuts, and said she didn't.
With a smug smile, I replied: "Dill-dough"
Thank you... thank you very much!
I can think pretty quickly on my feet. Though no rapper, I can bust a rhyme on the fly as well as anyone I know (I don't know any professional rappers), and occasionally, I can come up with a completely original joke. Today was one of those occasions. The kids had come down for the holiday weekend and we all went out to lunch. On the menu was something called Fried Pickles, and my daughter ordered it. When the order arrived, the pickle slices resembled lightly breaded potato wedges. As I looked at them, I turned to my daughter and asked:
"Do you know what they call the breading that surrounds the pickle?"
She looked at me like I was nuts, and said she didn't.
With a smug smile, I replied: "Dill-dough"
Thank you... thank you very much!
Friday, September 01, 2006
Nothing happening
I've not been feeling too well lately. My sugar levels have not been too good and it's affecting me profoundly. I'm almost always sleepy, which makes it difficult to concentrate for any length of time on anything I'm trying to accomplish. Consequently, I haven't felt too much like posting to this blog. It may be a while until I do so again.
I've not been feeling too well lately. My sugar levels have not been too good and it's affecting me profoundly. I'm almost always sleepy, which makes it difficult to concentrate for any length of time on anything I'm trying to accomplish. Consequently, I haven't felt too much like posting to this blog. It may be a while until I do so again.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
One degree of separation
A month ago, not many people I know had ever heard of a small town called Kipling, Saskatchewan. It became a recognized destination courtesy of the internet when a guy from Montreal ended up finishing his year-long quest to trade a red paperclip for a house. Now, less than a month later, Kipling has remarkably made it's name back into the headlines. Peter Whitmore, a convicted sex offender holding two young boys hostage, was tracked to a farmhouse near (you guessed it) Kipling, Saskatchewan.
Ain't it a small world!
A month ago, not many people I know had ever heard of a small town called Kipling, Saskatchewan. It became a recognized destination courtesy of the internet when a guy from Montreal ended up finishing his year-long quest to trade a red paperclip for a house. Now, less than a month later, Kipling has remarkably made it's name back into the headlines. Peter Whitmore, a convicted sex offender holding two young boys hostage, was tracked to a farmhouse near (you guessed it) Kipling, Saskatchewan.
 Kyle MacDonald's House (photo by AP Photo / Brad Kearns) |  Farm where Peter Whitmore hid with his two young hostages (Photo by CP / Troy Fleece) |
Ain't it a small world!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
I'm just fine ... thanks for asking
I've been away from my blogging for a while. It's not that I have nothing to say. Just the opposite, actually. I've been so busy, there's almost no time to stop for a breath.
I've spent most of my spare time for the past few years working on a "secret project". Very recently, I was able to overcome the last remaining technical roadblock which was stopping me from offering my product to the marketplace. Since then, I've been slowly unveiling it to a select group of friends and relatives. I don't really want the website associated with this blog, so I'm not assigning a link to the picture. Hope you understand.
I've been away from my blogging for a while. It's not that I have nothing to say. Just the opposite, actually. I've been so busy, there's almost no time to stop for a breath.
I've spent most of my spare time for the past few years working on a "secret project". Very recently, I was able to overcome the last remaining technical roadblock which was stopping me from offering my product to the marketplace. Since then, I've been slowly unveiling it to a select group of friends and relatives. I don't really want the website associated with this blog, so I'm not assigning a link to the picture. Hope you understand.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Your assignment for today
I've got a few websites hosted through a particular free hosting service that, when they are accessible, is fantastic. Totally free, no limit on the number of domains that can be hosted, no banners, great tech support... what could be better. Unfortunately, either their servers are frequently down, or the backbone they're on is not very stable. It seems like load times for my pages is quite slow - and that's when I can reach them at all.
So, for the few people who read this blog on a regular basis (you know who you are), please use the comments to suggest a free hosting company. I don't need (but wouldn't say no to) CGI scripts, databases, etc. For that kind of service, I realize I'd have to pay something. But for HTML pages, images, etc., I think I need to find a more reliable host. There are lots of "free" hosting plans that require the display of a banner. That's not acceptable. I don't want to show any content that is not completely under my control.
Thanks for your suggestions.
I've got a few websites hosted through a particular free hosting service that, when they are accessible, is fantastic. Totally free, no limit on the number of domains that can be hosted, no banners, great tech support... what could be better. Unfortunately, either their servers are frequently down, or the backbone they're on is not very stable. It seems like load times for my pages is quite slow - and that's when I can reach them at all.
So, for the few people who read this blog on a regular basis (you know who you are), please use the comments to suggest a free hosting company. I don't need (but wouldn't say no to) CGI scripts, databases, etc. For that kind of service, I realize I'd have to pay something. But for HTML pages, images, etc., I think I need to find a more reliable host. There are lots of "free" hosting plans that require the display of a banner. That's not acceptable. I don't want to show any content that is not completely under my control.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Amazing progress
I've had the most productive 48 hours, vis-a-vis my baseball project than I've had in any other 2-day period in over four years. I don't know whether the online resources I've recently discovered were always there but lay undiscovered, or whether the baseball gods smiled down on me and provided me with the missing link I've been searching for. I've written a program that has been generating remarkably accurate game predictions more-or-less in real time for the past two baseball seasons, after having back-tested it on historical data from seasons 2000 through 2004. The only stumbling block that has kept me from trying to sell the predictions was a technical issue that just may be solved before the end of this month. I am so excited I can barely contain my enthusiasm. Check out the prior years' "paper betting" results here.
I've had the most productive 48 hours, vis-a-vis my baseball project than I've had in any other 2-day period in over four years. I don't know whether the online resources I've recently discovered were always there but lay undiscovered, or whether the baseball gods smiled down on me and provided me with the missing link I've been searching for. I've written a program that has been generating remarkably accurate game predictions more-or-less in real time for the past two baseball seasons, after having back-tested it on historical data from seasons 2000 through 2004. The only stumbling block that has kept me from trying to sell the predictions was a technical issue that just may be solved before the end of this month. I am so excited I can barely contain my enthusiasm. Check out the prior years' "paper betting" results here.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Dare to dream
There is no idea under the sun that is too stupid to be tried. A year ago tomorrow, a man in Montreal got the idea to trade a RED PAPERCLIP for something more valuable. His goal was modest - to keep trading up, until he finally got a house. Tomorrow, exactly one year after he started his quest, he gets his house. Here's his story.
There is no idea under the sun that is too stupid to be tried. A year ago tomorrow, a man in Montreal got the idea to trade a RED PAPERCLIP for something more valuable. His goal was modest - to keep trading up, until he finally got a house. Tomorrow, exactly one year after he started his quest, he gets his house. Here's his story.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Pirates!
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest debuted this weekend, and we decided to see it on opening weekend. That's usually not a good idea - crowds being what they are - but we went to a matinee during the World Cup Soccer match. This city has a large population of French and Italian citizens, so I was betting that the theatres would be relatively empty. My gamble paid off, and we were able to get good seats for this movie.
I won't talk plot, as I have this thing about giving/receiving spoilers. I'll just say I enjoyed the movie, and look forward to the next installment.
On a loosely related note, it seems like a number of unscrupulous business owners have decided to keep the 1% GST rebate voted by the federal government. Some are blatantly saying they won't return it. Others are claiming that it reflects an increased price to cover increased costs!! Still others (usually restaurants) are simply adding this message to their receipts: "includes 1% mandatory gratuity". In the latter case, I pity the wait staff... since I have a policy of not adding a tip to any bill where I have been charged a mandatory minimum gratuity. I'm curious to know what other people think about this move by retailers. In fact, I'm so interested, I've registered a domain to collect opinions, create a blacklist of offending retailers across the country, and perhaps grant space for complying businesses to advertise their establishments. It's just parked at the moment, but be on the lookout for real content coming soon!
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest debuted this weekend, and we decided to see it on opening weekend. That's usually not a good idea - crowds being what they are - but we went to a matinee during the World Cup Soccer match. This city has a large population of French and Italian citizens, so I was betting that the theatres would be relatively empty. My gamble paid off, and we were able to get good seats for this movie.
I won't talk plot, as I have this thing about giving/receiving spoilers. I'll just say I enjoyed the movie, and look forward to the next installment.
On a loosely related note, it seems like a number of unscrupulous business owners have decided to keep the 1% GST rebate voted by the federal government. Some are blatantly saying they won't return it. Others are claiming that it reflects an increased price to cover increased costs!! Still others (usually restaurants) are simply adding this message to their receipts: "includes 1% mandatory gratuity". In the latter case, I pity the wait staff... since I have a policy of not adding a tip to any bill where I have been charged a mandatory minimum gratuity. I'm curious to know what other people think about this move by retailers. In fact, I'm so interested, I've registered a domain to collect opinions, create a blacklist of offending retailers across the country, and perhaps grant space for complying businesses to advertise their establishments. It's just parked at the moment, but be on the lookout for real content coming soon!