The weather and its effect on the city we live in

I am constantly surprised about people's reaction to the weather in this city. I know by this time in my life I shouldn't be, but I am.

I have lived in Ottawa since 1973. Over those 40 years the weather has varied greatly. Despite the variances, Ottawa, like pretty much the entire country of Canada, has 4 seasons. So in February, one should expect a large snowfall or two.

Yesterday, February 27, 2013, saw a snow filled forecast.

When I saw the big storm being predicted, I went to work prepared. I bus it, so I need to be. Proper footwear, hat, and so on. I had plans after work, so I knew exactly what to expect for my travel time, whether I got picked up or bused it.

The plans ultimately fell through though after a brief, strongly worded debate amongst my friends as to whether or not we should gather. Some of us felt we could go ahead, some didn't.

The media, and many people I spoke to, were making a huge deal about the snow coming down. I've seen worse, and relatively recently. 2008 saw one of the largest snowfalls in my life; I ended up with a snow bank on my property that was almost twice the height of my oldest daughter (I have the photo with her standing in front of it for scale), and yet life went on. Sure there were issues: OC Transpo seemed woefully unprepared, my wife and daughter missed out on a show at Scotiabank Place, it seemed I spent days shovelling.

But life went on. The world didn't come to a screeching halt because some snow came down.

Fast forward 5 years to 2013, and the population has become terrified of "bad" weather. It's too wet, too cold, too humid, too dry, too whatever.

We live in Canada. There's going to be annoying weather every once in a while. Yes, it will be inconvenient. It'll take you longer to get places and it will annoy you.

The question is: Do you let the weather and its effects overcome you, or do you go on in life?

I don't know about you, but I plan on going on.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Hopefully 2013 is better to you than 2012.

'Cause I'll be honest... Seeing my 2012 in the rearview mirror is a good thing...

Some changes in the Google-verse...

First off, it seems Blogspot.com now resolves to Blogspot.ca if you've got a Canadian profile.  Cool.  Problem is, the change pooched up a few things that I only recently discovered.  If you saw a bunch of "a problem occurred" posts or posts resurrecting themselves, it's because of those changes.

All should be well now, because secondly, it seems that Google finally has linked Blogspot/Blogger to Google+.  About time, says I.  If I wanted a blog post to show on Google+, I'd have to copy and paste.  Then because of the dlvr.it account and Feedburner account I have, I'd get duplicates of posts.

If the Blogspot/Blogger connection to Google+ works, then this post should show up.  I'll probably get some duplication as dlvr.it and Feedburner go into action.  If I do, then I'll delete the Feedburner account.

So this is the big test.  Let's see what happens.

Bullying in today's society

I was listening to the news this morning, and I was surprised with the issues surrounding the pending bullying legislation that Ontario wants to pass.

As I listened, I began to formulate the ideas and thoughts for a blog post.

I had issues when I was a kid. I have a last name that kids just can't make fun of enough. I wasn't terribly athletic or smart, so I never really fit in, so I was an easy target sometimes... the person out there in the fringe, as it were.

In any case, I won't go on about my experiences. What I do want you to do is visit my good friend's blog at http://www.squidzone.ca/?p=1214.

He is one of the few people whose opinion I do truly respect, and he has written an excellent piece about this.

I agree with every word he has written. Go read it.

Something I just can't find on the 'net...

... is a "fantasy" poster from the 1980s.

I remember when I was a kid my next-door neighbour had a poster on his wall.  It was a cartoon-like drawing that had numerous different original characters in it (not based on Narnia or Tolkien or anything), all very busy in a market-place or a city, with hills & mountains in the background and characters standing on the hills.

There was a description either on the front or the back of each character you saw in the poster.  Or maybe he had a companion book... I really don't remember.  One description I vaguely remember is about the characters up on the hills: They stand in one place for a long time, they've got long blue robes on with helmets, and no one ever sees their faces.

That's all I remember.

Don't know why I've been thinking of it lately, but I thought if I could find it anywhere, Google would be able to.  But to no avail yet.

If this sounds familar, it would be neat to see the poster and/or book again.

My kids would think this little guy is cute...

... and I know a fellow blogger (and my current Pathfinder gaming group DM) who would like this little guy too.



I know my youngest would get a kick out of it... she's the proud owner of a small plush Cthulhu.  She's 6, by the way ;-)

The time change this weekend...

... means a few things things:

1 - you'll have to adjust your clocks ahead by one hour in the early hours of Sunday morning
2 - you'll have to listen to numerous people complain about how horrible it is loosing that one hour of sleep
3 - you'll have to listen to numerous people tell you how it's a waste of money, effort, that the time change is pointless, etc.

Once you've dealt with #1, you'll probably hear people expound on #2 and #3.

So to those who will do that?  Shaddap.  Don't want to hear it.

So there.

A big chunk of my weekend...

… was spent turning this:
 

into this:
 
Yes, it’s another great Lego super-project, to go along with my X-wing and Super Star Destroyer.  It’s the Imperial Shuttle as seen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

It has two stands (the smaller one can be used when the wings are upright), stands a little over 2 feet tall, and is about 2 feet wide with the wings deployed.  The cockpit/nose section folds down as well to reveal 4 characters inside: two Imperial officers, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

Thanks go to my dad for coming over for a number of hours on Saturday to help build it.  I suspect I’d still be at it…

My next big task is to find a spot to display this, along with the X-wing and Super Star Destroyer.

Even the federal Conservatives wouldn't be that stupid...

... would they?

To actually have a company make (what seems to be) illegal phone calls?

The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion Monday that asks all MPs to help the RCMP and Elections Canada investigate allegations of "robocalls" aimed at discouraging voters in the last election.

There is no doubt that the current Conservative government has done some dumb-ass things.  But to actually do something that could come back on them and put people in jail seems, at least to me, beyond even them.

The entire party (the merged one from the original Progressive Conservatives and the Reform) seems to suffer from  one large inferiority complex.  They are constantly pushing the boundaries as to what is acceptable behaviour in an effort to be more widely accepted.

All this being said, however, I don't like that the opposition parties are automatically assuming that the Conservatives are behind this and that they are covering up illegal activity.  In the end, we have a legal system in this country that requires the accuser(s) prove the person(s) guilty of criminal behaviour.  If that can't be done - if there is no evidence or insufficient evidence proving the Conservatives guilty - then they aren't guilty.

Like it or not, that's the way it is.

Another thought comes to mind as well: if you were knowingly passing on incorrect information, that could possibly lead to legal issues later on, why would you continue?  I find it interesting that the phone operators knew (or at least one of them knew) that the information they were passing on to voters was incorrect, and knew that there would be problems down the road, and knew enough to refer the voters on to Elections Canada.

If I were in a job in which I knew I was doing something that was in all probability wrong (or worse, illegal), I wouldn't do it.  I'd stop and get a new job somewhere else.  I would not, in any way shape or form, pass the buck and say "They told me to do it".

Here's my "How things really are" picture...

I've seen these going around Facebook, so I thought I'd do one for my job.

This is, of course, tongue-in-cheek.  I've got really good clients, and things are going very well.

I just couldn't resist doing one as well.

I think they're making too big a deal...

... about Billy Crystal hosting the Oscars on Sunday.

I've seen the ads promoting it, and his face looks weird.  He's definitely had some work done or something.  Doesn't look natural.

Here's how he looked back in 2000 when he hosted.



Here's what he looks like now.



Sure, a few years have passed and he's older and put on some weight, but there's just something odd about how he looks.  Kind of like Meg Ryan before and after her plastic surgery.

  

It just looks plain weird and unnatural.

Don't know about you, but I have no desire watching a show that rewards superficiality in such grandiose ways.

Today is an important day...

... because, as I posted on Twitter earlier, today is Palindrome day!

21-02-2012.

Reverse those numbers; you'll see what I mean.

That must mean something this year, right?  Given that the world is supposed to end in December?

It's that time of year again...

... when it's time to meet with your Financial Planner and make your RRSP contribution.

Now, if you are lucky enough to have a fully-funded, defined benefit plan, RRSP contributions may not be all that necessary.  However, if you're like me, and you have a defined contribution plan and have to rely on what you put in, make sure you make an appointment soon and update your plan.

It's that whole "you plan to fail if you fail to plan" thing...

Isn't in funny when...

... people expect you to live up to their standards, and yet when you expect them to live up to yours, they brush them off as unimportant or ignore them?

Well, maybe not "funny ha ha" but definitely "funny that annoys the ever-loving crap out of me".

What kind of D&D character am I?

I've been looking for some inspiration to keep me going in my current D&D group.  It's been tough, to be honest.  I took to the 'net to find some, and found this today (http://easydamus.com/character.html):

I Am A: Lawful Neutral Human Sorcerer (5th Level)

Ability Scores:

Strength-11

Dexterity-11

Constitution-12

Intelligence-13

Wisdom-12

Charisma-11


Alignment:
Lawful Neutral A lawful neutral character acts as law, tradition, or a personal code directs him. Order and organization are paramount to him. He may believe in personal order and live by a code or standard, or he may believe in order for all and favor a strong, organized government. Lawful neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you are reliable and honorable without being a zealot. However, lawful neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all freedom, choice, and diversity in society.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Class:
Sorcerers are arcane spellcasters who manipulate magic energy with imagination and talent rather than studious discipline. They have no books, no mentors, no theories just raw power that they direct at will. Sorcerers know fewer spells than wizards do and acquire them more slowly, but they can cast individual spells more often and have no need to prepare their incantations ahead of time. Also unlike wizards, sorcerers cannot specialize in a school of magic. Since sorcerers gain their powers without undergoing the years of rigorous study that wizards go through, they have more time to learn fighting skills and are proficient with simple weapons. Charisma is very important for sorcerers; the higher their value in this ability, the higher the spell level they can cast.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

The Lawful Neutral part doesn't surprise me, but the class choice does. Hmmm... Interesting indeed.

Here are the "detailed results":

Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (21)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15)
Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (25)
True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (17)
Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXX (9)
Chaotic Evil ---- XXX (3)

Law & Chaos:
Law ----- XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXX (9)
Chaos --- XXX (3)

Good & Evil:
Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Evil ---- (0)

Race:
Human ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Dwarf ---- XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Elf ------ XXXX (4)
Gnome ---- XXXXXX (6)
Halfling - XXXX (4)
Half-Elf - XXXXXXXXX (9)
Half-Orc - XXXXXXXX (8)

Class:
Barbarian - (-25)
Bard ------ (-25)
Cleric ---- (0)
Druid ----- (-4)
Fighter --- XX (2)
Monk ------ XX (2)
Paladin --- (-15)
Ranger ---- (-2)
Rogue ----- (-6)
Sorcerer -- XXXXXX (6)
Wizard ---- XXXX (4)

Looks like this is the winter....

... of our discontent.

With apologies to William Shakespeare and his play Richard The Third, it would seem that the winter of 2012 is going to be nasty.

From Environment Canada's Weather Office this afternoon:

Issued : 3:30 PM EST Monday 30 January 2012

Tonight

Increasing cloudiness. Periods of light snow beginning after midnight. Amount 2 cm. Low minus 9.

 

Tuesday

Snow. Amount 5 to 10 cm. Wind east 20 km/h becoming light in the morning. High minus 3.

 

Tuesday night

Snow changing to freezing rain in the evening. Temperature rising to plus 1 by morning.

 

Wednesday

Showers. High plus 5.

Freezing rain and snow? Yeah, I know it's Canada and all, but c'mon...

Have you ever had...

... one of those days when you think "It's going to be one of those days"?  You're thinking this as you ride the bus, cross the parking lot and enter your office, all the while hoping it won't be "one of those days"...

Then you sit at your desk and within a few minutes you realize that it is going to be one of those days?

Yeah, I'll bet you have.

OC Transpo bus and the open door

I thought I had pretty much seen it all over my 30 years of riding on OC Transpo.

Apparently not.

The video says it all (along with the description I added).