I rolled out of bed this morn and broke my G string. I must confess it was a highly disappointing experience, especially considering I just restrung two weeks ago.
August 20, 2005
G-string
I rolled out of bed this morn and broke my G string. I must confess it was a highly disappointing experience, especially considering I just restrung two weeks ago.
August 19, 2005
Vacation!
As of 3pm today, I am done my work-term and free from the chains of the University until mid September when shit will of course pile on in full force again. But in the mean time...rest, relaxation and retardation!
The plan is to head up to Algonquin on Wednesday morning, hopefully just miss the end of T-dot rush hour taking 401 to 400. I may yet decide to make a scenic backroad journey out of it though, what's life without a little adventure right? Besides that, and hittin the beach one day, I have absolutely nothing (except a nagging work report or two...) to do for the next 4 weeks, and I'm lovin it.
I went over to MBlog yesterday and found a subtle 'For Sale' link. Curious I checked it out, and found a sweet ass Fender stack (actually 4 of them) that he's selling at what seems the right price to me, especially considering I've been lookin at gettin a new amp for a while. I however didn't save as much money as I'd have liked this term, and the likely shipping prices scare me. I also think a 4x12 cabinet might be a bit overkill, but things like this, especially from collectible perspective tend to not lose their value, particularly Fender gear. You can always step into a music shop and find an old Fender amp at almost the same price as the brand new stuff. I'm waiting for a reply on the shipping, but I could in the next few days end up making another one of those headshaker purchases. Anyone wanna make donations to the Aaron Fund?
The plan is to head up to Algonquin on Wednesday morning, hopefully just miss the end of T-dot rush hour taking 401 to 400. I may yet decide to make a scenic backroad journey out of it though, what's life without a little adventure right? Besides that, and hittin the beach one day, I have absolutely nothing (except a nagging work report or two...) to do for the next 4 weeks, and I'm lovin it.
I went over to MBlog yesterday and found a subtle 'For Sale' link. Curious I checked it out, and found a sweet ass Fender stack (actually 4 of them) that he's selling at what seems the right price to me, especially considering I've been lookin at gettin a new amp for a while. I however didn't save as much money as I'd have liked this term, and the likely shipping prices scare me. I also think a 4x12 cabinet might be a bit overkill, but things like this, especially from collectible perspective tend to not lose their value, particularly Fender gear. You can always step into a music shop and find an old Fender amp at almost the same price as the brand new stuff. I'm waiting for a reply on the shipping, but I could in the next few days end up making another one of those headshaker purchases. Anyone wanna make donations to the Aaron Fund?
August 18, 2005
Iraq's Marshlands
Yesterday I had the opportunity to sit in on a seminar put on by biologists studying the marshlands in Iraq. These marshlands exist around the juncture of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq and western Iran, and were once home to a large variety of organisms, and people living off the natural life there. When a group of people from the marshlands and surrounding area rebelled in the 90's, Saddam Hussein ordered the area drained, in the process killing off nearly all the life in the area and displacing a number of of people.
In the past couple years since the removal of Saddam Hussein, the marshlands have been reflooded, but the return of the original diversity, and overall natural productivity is still taking time. The biologists yesterday related studies carried out throughout the midst of the ceaseless military activity there, and comparisons to pre-flooding conditions. Most accounts described the recovery of the diversity, that is, the number of species found, at 60-80%, and in some cases up to 100%, based just on appearances of unique species. However, in terms of total biomass, that is the size and number of organisms present, full recovery is apparently still a long way off.
One of the underlying hindrances to the recovery, that wasn't readily divulged by the speakers, is that of the human impact in the area. Because of the displacement of so many peoples, and the lack of work, people are forced into hunting and fishing more than they would normally in an effort to survive, greatly retarding the rate of recovery. These biologists so dedicated to their cause that they carry out these studies in the midst of war, are torn between the survival of their own people, and the recovery of what were once one of the most diverse marshlands on the planet.
More information on the history and revitalization efforts is available:
Crimes of War
Iraq Marshlands Restoration Program
In the past couple years since the removal of Saddam Hussein, the marshlands have been reflooded, but the return of the original diversity, and overall natural productivity is still taking time. The biologists yesterday related studies carried out throughout the midst of the ceaseless military activity there, and comparisons to pre-flooding conditions. Most accounts described the recovery of the diversity, that is, the number of species found, at 60-80%, and in some cases up to 100%, based just on appearances of unique species. However, in terms of total biomass, that is the size and number of organisms present, full recovery is apparently still a long way off.
One of the underlying hindrances to the recovery, that wasn't readily divulged by the speakers, is that of the human impact in the area. Because of the displacement of so many peoples, and the lack of work, people are forced into hunting and fishing more than they would normally in an effort to survive, greatly retarding the rate of recovery. These biologists so dedicated to their cause that they carry out these studies in the midst of war, are torn between the survival of their own people, and the recovery of what were once one of the most diverse marshlands on the planet.
More information on the history and revitalization efforts is available:
Crimes of War
Iraq Marshlands Restoration Program
August 14, 2005
August 13, 2005
N,op,Q
Iran this week resumed work in nuclear power generation under UN supervision although of course the usual parties want to keep them from doing so under the threat of weapon production from the resulting fission products. Bush, while facing attacks on home soil on the justifications for sending America's kids to war, stated this week that "all options are on the table". If I'm not mistaken, that was the exact same stance the Bush administration took prior to unilaterally deciding to waltz in for a 2 year and running hodown.
Any pre-schooler could point out to you that the difference between Iran and Iraq is an 'op'. And being as Bush often comes off about as cavalier, unreasonable and illogical as a preschooler, I think we can all guess what may come next. However the international community has already started voicing its warnings, including Gerhard Schroeder opening his campaign for re-election in the fall (from BBC):
If the last time around was any indication, the stance of other nations doesn't mean much anyways, and not many options seem apparent for restraining the U.S. in whatever they decide will be their way of policing the world. The further decreased reputation that the States would garner in the world eye would be the only apparent reprimand if they did choose military action again. On the positive note, with how apparently drawn out military resources are already, a lot of those kids wouldn't be stuck in Iraq anymore, they'd get a nice new change of scenery. Hang a right at the lights, and head one country to the east. You might wanna make sure you have a full tank of gas before you roll out though...
Any pre-schooler could point out to you that the difference between Iran and Iraq is an 'op'. And being as Bush often comes off about as cavalier, unreasonable and illogical as a preschooler, I think we can all guess what may come next. However the international community has already started voicing its warnings, including Gerhard Schroeder opening his campaign for re-election in the fall (from BBC):
Mr Schroeder directly challenged Mr Bush's comment that "all options are on the table" over the Iran crisis.
"Let's take the military option off the table. We have seen it doesn't work," Mr Schroeder told Social Democrats at the rally in Hanover, to rapturous applause from the crowd.
If the last time around was any indication, the stance of other nations doesn't mean much anyways, and not many options seem apparent for restraining the U.S. in whatever they decide will be their way of policing the world. The further decreased reputation that the States would garner in the world eye would be the only apparent reprimand if they did choose military action again. On the positive note, with how apparently drawn out military resources are already, a lot of those kids wouldn't be stuck in Iraq anymore, they'd get a nice new change of scenery. Hang a right at the lights, and head one country to the east. You might wanna make sure you have a full tank of gas before you roll out though...
August 10, 2005
Countdowns
As of right now I have 50 hours of time to put in at my co-op placement before I am done the term. Its also 2 weeks til I head to Algonquin for a few days of fishin, drinkin and grillin in the wilderness...out of the back of my van. And unfortunately 4 and a half weeks til I'm back in classes. That doesn't leave me as much time to chill in between as I'd like, so I started gettin some shit in order today. In the process I found this:
I used to have it hanging on a bulletin board by my dart board, but it got put away for renovations at some point. Its funny sometimes the things you find when cleaning up that you completely forgot about, or had thought gone forever. Its probably mostly a function of being a packrat at times, but hey, it still gave me a chuckle.
I think what my room is still lacking post renovation is aformentioned bulletin board. I should stick one up to pin all my old memorabilia (tickets, pictures, pennants etc.) to. Yet another item for the long agenda of shit that needs to get done before I just use it as a distraction from studying and assignments once classes light up again.
Consider this my (not so) public statement of my intention to buckle the fuck down this term.
I used to have it hanging on a bulletin board by my dart board, but it got put away for renovations at some point. Its funny sometimes the things you find when cleaning up that you completely forgot about, or had thought gone forever. Its probably mostly a function of being a packrat at times, but hey, it still gave me a chuckle.
I think what my room is still lacking post renovation is aformentioned bulletin board. I should stick one up to pin all my old memorabilia (tickets, pictures, pennants etc.) to. Yet another item for the long agenda of shit that needs to get done before I just use it as a distraction from studying and assignments once classes light up again.
Consider this my (not so) public statement of my intention to buckle the fuck down this term.
August 07, 2005
August 04, 2005
Splat!
I've hit a wall. I've got a two and a half weeks til I'm done work at my co-op placement, and I should be feeling like I'm in the home stretch and energized, but its quite the opposite right now, and I'm really finding it a chore to go in and put in my hours. To be fair, I haven't been particularly energetic at home either, I think it might finally be the heat getting to me, but I just feel tired lately.
The past three evenings I've come home and grabbed at least 2 hours sleep, waking up to catch the end of the Jays game and some latenight talkshows, and then crashin again for the night, resulting in probably 9-10 hours of sleep a day.
I shouldn't need that much sleep, and infact feel like ass after those evening naps cause I know I should have done something productive. I don't however think its a sickness or anything, just a lack of drive right now. Hopefully vacation time will serve to recoup me a bit.
I remember most of highschool I used to stay up to watch Kilborn every night til 1:30, and usually channel surf for an hour or so after that, and be awake again at 6:30 to drag my ass in to school. I functioned as well on 4-5 hours sleep as I feel I do on 8-10, but if I try doing that now I am a zombie. I miss youth, and smashing through those walls.
The Jays winning the first 2 games of their series against the White Sox, and the player movement in the NHL has kept me entertained while awake this week. The Avs got hit pretty hard with not being able to re-sign Adam Foote, and Peter Forsberg, who I believe is the best player in the game, but are still in good shape with the Sakic, Hejduk, Tanguay and Blake core. The Philadelphia Flyers are looking particularly dangerous now. Its also nice to see the formerly cash strapped Canadian teams pull in some good players in the capped environment. The balance of talent in the league already seems to have been evened out some, hopefully making for some exciting play in the upcoming season.
Bud Selig should take a good look now as the commissioner of the only remaining uncapped pro sport in North America. In football and basketball you already see teams going worst to first on a regular basis, and lots of turnover in the teams present in the playoffs. Major league baseball fans on the other hand get to look forward to seeing Boston, New York and Atlanta EVERY year, and while a testament to being able to pull in good players, its also more a representation of how much money you can spend on a ball team. Granted there are big spenders out there like the Dodgers who have been far less than regular attendees of the postseason, and surprise teams like the Angels of a couple years ago, but mostly you can go into any season and predict at least 6 of the 8 playoff teams. Something needs to be done to even things out, or obviously the rich teams are gonna keep pulling more fan support and getting richer while the poor have less and less chance at the playoffs.
The past three evenings I've come home and grabbed at least 2 hours sleep, waking up to catch the end of the Jays game and some latenight talkshows, and then crashin again for the night, resulting in probably 9-10 hours of sleep a day.
I shouldn't need that much sleep, and infact feel like ass after those evening naps cause I know I should have done something productive. I don't however think its a sickness or anything, just a lack of drive right now. Hopefully vacation time will serve to recoup me a bit.
I remember most of highschool I used to stay up to watch Kilborn every night til 1:30, and usually channel surf for an hour or so after that, and be awake again at 6:30 to drag my ass in to school. I functioned as well on 4-5 hours sleep as I feel I do on 8-10, but if I try doing that now I am a zombie. I miss youth, and smashing through those walls.
The Jays winning the first 2 games of their series against the White Sox, and the player movement in the NHL has kept me entertained while awake this week. The Avs got hit pretty hard with not being able to re-sign Adam Foote, and Peter Forsberg, who I believe is the best player in the game, but are still in good shape with the Sakic, Hejduk, Tanguay and Blake core. The Philadelphia Flyers are looking particularly dangerous now. Its also nice to see the formerly cash strapped Canadian teams pull in some good players in the capped environment. The balance of talent in the league already seems to have been evened out some, hopefully making for some exciting play in the upcoming season.
Bud Selig should take a good look now as the commissioner of the only remaining uncapped pro sport in North America. In football and basketball you already see teams going worst to first on a regular basis, and lots of turnover in the teams present in the playoffs. Major league baseball fans on the other hand get to look forward to seeing Boston, New York and Atlanta EVERY year, and while a testament to being able to pull in good players, its also more a representation of how much money you can spend on a ball team. Granted there are big spenders out there like the Dodgers who have been far less than regular attendees of the postseason, and surprise teams like the Angels of a couple years ago, but mostly you can go into any season and predict at least 6 of the 8 playoff teams. Something needs to be done to even things out, or obviously the rich teams are gonna keep pulling more fan support and getting richer while the poor have less and less chance at the playoffs.
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