Okay, I'm a little behind...

• November 28, 2007

I’m getting around to the classics eventually. We got The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester last week and I’m just past half-way through. One of the themes the main character Reich uses (to avoid telepaths) is a catchy song.  “What’s the most persistent tune you ever wrote?” “Persistent?” “you know what I mean. Like those advertising jingles you can’t get out of your head.” “Oh. Pepsis, we call ‘em.” “Why? Read More

Normal People

• November 24, 2007

Normal people have dreams. I have dreams about SPAM counts. Read More

Computerized translators - NOW.

• November 21, 2007

As the world knows by now, there was a very unfortunate death at the Vancouver airport involving a Polish immigrant to Canada who was tasered. The details are abundant enough I don’t think I have the stomach to go through it. I’m a dog’s breakfast as far as my heritage goes - a cur of Europe and proud to call myself Canadian. I’m happy to welcome anyone to this country who is willing to be proud of both their own heritage and the citizenship of Canada equally, and who is willing to make this country and the world a better place. Read More

Colossus loses code-cracking race!

• November 18, 2007

Oh my ghod! This is horrible! Run for the hills, we’re all in grave danger. The newfangled machine called Colossus - surely to rise up and be master of us all before our deaths at it’s iron grip - has turned out to be less than the saviour we expected it to become. Indeed, it’s 2000 and more valves once heralded as humanity’s best hope for peace has resulted in actually being dim-witted and slow. Read More

Colossally cool..

• November 17, 2007

I just don’t have words for how insanely awesomely cool this is. Just read it from the BBC, ja? Colossus Cracks Codes Once More. Read More

Deal!

• October 30, 2007

We’re coming up on Halloween, and if you know me, you know what I’m thinking about.. Get a poppy. Wear a poppy. It’s time to start right now. From the St. Catherines Standard, talking about donations to the Poppy Fund. “We’re not selling them. If you don’t have any money, we’ll gladly give you one,” she [Frankie Cowan, poppy chairwoman for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138 in St. Catharines] said. Read More

I, for one, welcome our Leopard overlords.

• October 27, 2007

So I’m feeling like death warmed over. I’m stressed up, I’m overtired It hasn’t been a great week. I go pick up the kids and we go out to dinner. A fantastic dinner, Happy Hill Restaurant is one of those wonderful gems for good Chinese food in Calgary. Afterwords, well, we were really close to Westworld Computers. It’s almost like I planned it or something. I drove by, and there were about a dozen hearty souls lined up ahead of time. Read More

My Lady-love is so sweet...

• October 21, 2007

How wonderful is my Lady-love? She makes me smile, even when she’s sick. She’s smart when I’m wrong. She’s cheery when I’m grumpy. She’s charming when I’m snotty. She’s well-versed in the finest of books, films and music where I’m a mere babe in comparison. I’m so very, very happy whilst I’m with her, and I miss her when I’m away. And I would never, EVER consider dissing her in my blog. Read More

The Last Storytelling.

• October 20, 2007

I’m from a family of story tellers. Structuring thoughts into stories is something I remember from generations on both sides of my family. I assume this is something that happens in all families. The passing of lore, of shared memory, of myth and fact and family dinner stories. You know. The good stuff. One of the things I remember from growing up is that I wasn’t allowed to watch a lot of superhero-type shows. Read More

Happy Turkey Day!

• October 8, 2007

Many years ago, that adorable little fuzz monkey changed my life. He sent me a batch of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 tapes hosted by Adam West in a Turkey Day Triumvera. To celebrate Thanksgiving, I force my Lady-Love to watch an episode of MST3k with me. This year, the feature d’jour was Space Mutiny, a South African flick of space an action and mutiny, I guess. Enjoy the writeup of Mike and the bots, or better yet, enjoy the real thing. Read More