Our egos...

...our self-being, will kill us all. I can't imagine starting any war without the word "i".

recent views:
BLOOD in BLOOD out
Hotel Rawanda

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Kent |

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Kent | Record £53m stolen in depot raid: "Raiders involved in Britain's biggest cash robbery got away with £53,116,760 in cash from the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent Police have revealed."

Engaging The Voice Of Youth

Engaging The Voice Of Youth

The Templeton

The Templeton
Originally uploaded by Soli.

The header ;)

The Templeton!

I finally got their site done. Comments? Suggestions?

The Templeton : www.thethempleton.com : thetempleton.blogspot.com

Duhhn Tuuun

Right...

Letterman made fun of some band the same way; he was actually reading their CD cover (something like singing "from apples to tangerines, i love fruits, they keep lean". He was less than impressed.) This is funny.

Hm. Why?

I return from my meditation on the 19th of March, aka, St. Irish Day "Par"-ain't-in-my-dictionar-ade... nice little test? From heaven to hell in a day? Something to look forward to? Something to forgo?

Something fer sure...

FDISK

12am last night; i think i'm ready; do it.

bye bye microsoft. well, still got me a complete install of Visual Studio 2005 with SQL and the likes, but open office, mozilla... ya know - actually, the list:

windows xp, open office

firefox (with various ext), thunderbird (with various ext incl. iCal calendar)

vs.net 2005, sql 2005, php 5.1.2, apache 2.0.55, mySQL 5.0..18

itunes, winamp, media monkey, euPod

google pack

network stumbler, virtual pc

AC3 Fliter, Ad-Ware, Alt-Tab Swticher ,Beyond Compare, Bit Torrent
CuteFTP, DivX, HP Scanner, iScrobbler, MS AntiSpyware, Plaxo, WinZip,
WinRAR, Tweak UI

Atmospheric Circulation

This is awesome:

Atmospheric Circulation

La Nuit Électronik, 3ème Édition

This may be the event of choice for after BOA this Saturday (i.e. my birthday party):

La Nuit Électronik, 3ème Édition

Police, Crown draw drug line

This should be interesting:
Vancouver Police, Crown draw drug line

Insp. Bob Rolls, who is in charge of District 2, the northeast section of the city that includes the Downtown Eastside, announced a new enforcement program against public drug use.

"There's no other city in North America that would put up with this," he said.

"We don't allow this for consuming alcohol, yet we allow it for cocaine and heroin. This doesn't make sense."

There will be zero tolerance for crack cocaine smoking or intravenous drug injections in public, he said, noting officers have arrested five people since the crackdown began at the end of last week.

word: agitprop

someone used this word over the weekend and i had to ask what it meant:

agitprop \AJ-it-prop\, noun:
Propaganda, especially pro-communist political propaganda disseminated through literature, drama, music, or art.

word: titivate

titivate \TIT-uh-vayt\, transitive and intransitive verb:
To smarten up; to spruce up.

Old

Old post I'm glad I read:

Getting there...

Job Shytes

I appreciate context and relativity, but wow is it ever a repetitive task to apply for jobs online. This idea of the “Who are you?” online profile deal is becoming a small but growing waste of time. Over and over:

Subscribe, name, address, position, salary, username, etc… between the jobs, the blogs, the logs, the hogs…

Suggestion: use a unique identifier, like a SIN or something, and create a base non proprietary open-source secure, um, passport that might minimize this constant and ever growing redundancy. I realize that MS tried; shall we try again (but get it right?).

word: terse

Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): ters·er; ters·est
Etymology: Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of tergEre to wipe off

1 : smoothly elegant : POLISHED
2 : devoid of superfluity (a terse summary); also : SHORT, BRUSQUE
synonym see CONCISE
- terse·ly adverb
- terse·ness noun

Hot/Cool

"Your're hot"

"I'm not hot... I'm just cool."

"You're hot 'cause you're cool!"

lol.

Vipassana

Offically booked for Vipassana: March 8th - 19th at the
QUEBEC VIPASSANA CENTRE

Everybody Knows

Everybody Knows
by Leonard Cohen

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows that the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight is fixed
the poor stay poor and the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows that the boat is sinking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody's got this broken feeling
Like their Momma or there dog just died
Everybody's hands are in their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
and a long stem rose
Everybody knows

...

Everybody knows
Everybody knows
that's how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows that its now or never
Everybody knows that its me or you
Everybody knows that you live forever
When you had a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old black Joe still pickin' cotton
for ribbons and bows
Everybody knows you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you been faithful
Give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you been discrete
So many people you had to meet
without your clothes
and Everybody knows

...

Everybody knows
Everybody knows
that's how it goes
and Everybody knows

Last of...

(alternate title "LaVigne/LaVile")

I've seen some nasty shit in my time. I've taken most it in stride and with the ability to understand what I was seeing. Even when the towers fell in NYC, as devastated as I was, I still had some frame of reference. The event was within an extreme but understandable scope of human nature.

Last night, I met someone outside of my scope of reasonable understanding.

Last night, I was ill. I was so repulsed that it hurt my gut - physically. I was literally heaving. I have never in my whole life been brought to a gag reflex by individual’s behavior. I didn't even think it was possiblity for me.

I feel (a little)...

...less innocent
...less naïve
...less open

I will not let this bleed into my general optimism regarding the human condition and how I’d like to live my life.

I will not let last night destroy the last of… my faith in… real passion; real love… for what is real and true, in life and in love; respect for ourselves.

Hope it was fun for you… good luck with that.

Me @ 7 maybe?

Me @ 7 maybe?
Originally uploaded by Soli.

found this in a drawer... lol.

If I could give my 7 year old self some advice...

hm...

pondering...

(Several hours later)...

Don't let the status quo intimidate you. There is no one right answer.

Car Sharing

I will try to not own a car, but: Car Sharing

HipHip

...hooray? Don't really care, but I just broke 100+ in that there cluster map deally (see Blogorati in the sidebar)... kinda cool. 1000+ here i come...

Roger's Tele-pain-in-my-ass

RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNTTT - but later... b/c I’m going to wait and see how this REPEATING PROBLEM gets solved THIS TIME. Been back since Dec... Roger's FUCKED UP every bill (i.e. 3)... must be hard running a company professionally, well, I'll ask them when they actually GET THERE!!!!!

Two rants in as many weeks. What to do? Everything myself can't be the answer...

I swear... the way I do business is going to change at a fundamental level, especially when dealing with service based industries.

It is 3:23pm. I was assured a call within 48 hours (after being informed that "her" manager doesn't take calls - pause... "So what do I do?" I asked. "My manager can call you". Anne (employee number 730 3462), why did I have to ask? Why is this need to solve a minor problem greeted by with fragmented information, insolence, and a complete lack of coherence?

Let's see it Roger's.

P.S. If a client types rogers.com (plus click for Consumer/Business) into a browser, he/she gets redirected to shoprogers.com – do I need to draw this audacity out for anyone?

Ok. much calmer… last rant ever (I wish)!

BLUETAKE

These are cool... more GD crap in the pile but: Bluetooth Hi-Fi Sports Headphone Kit

PHP

ok. so unless i get "the call" I want from this seemingly endless foray into "hurry up and wait", I am taking on PHP and open source... 2 steps at a time...

O'Reilly?

Tire dears

For the first time since i got my iPod, my ears are tired before the battery. YEAH! Any podcast favs someone wants to recommend? I'm currently subscribed to 30+ podcasts totally 8+ gig. My absolute number one favorite:

CBC Radio 3

Clic Clak Dadatak

My dad took me to see his operation today (my first time) - a massive dried and frozen food goods warehouse. I met his entire staff. I haven’t been my dad’s son, at least not in that way, in a long time. He asked me to shave before we left the house. Funny.

protag

How can you not love it (at least a little)?

Burn baby

What should I torch after watching this?




nothing!

jebus.

m.e.t.r.i.c.

gots me a ticket (+1 for the friend who actually GOT THEM!!! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!).

offically a party now... takers?

Leo's Lyrics

A little cleaner: Leo's Lyrics

Minilyrics

This is really cool. Works quite well...

Minilyrics

Valuntynz

Freewill Astrology borrowed me this:

I love you between shadow and soul. I love you as the plant that hasn't bloomed yet, and carries hidden within itself the light of flowers. I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. Because of you, the dense fragrance that rises from the earth lives in my body, rioting with hunger for the eternity of our victorious kisses. - [Pablo Neruda]

i hunger for you "without knowing how, or when, or from where" - or who...

...another v day without knowing you... ;) a bientot j'espere.

BYOB - eco-chic reusable shopping bags

These friends of mine started this company out in BC; Bring Your Own Bag. I really want to help them push things forward, so I’ve included the link under the "Links" sections of this blog.

Please help by buying a bag. It is small local businesses like these that need our attention and support if we are going to make a tangible and sustainable difference in the way things are getting done.

Capitalism can work better (or at least more sustainably) if we:

Buy local
Buy whole
Buy at real value (vs. economic manifestations of perceived value)
Buy what we need vs. what we want and want and want...

...and maybe look good doing it ;)

Thanks to Liz and Jenny for making it happen.

Let me know if I can help.

Imperial

Metric is coming!!!! Anybody who wants to come, or more importantly, take me (as a birthday present maybe? Tickets cost money I don't have... grr), here is the link for tickets.

I can cook a delicious dinner beforehand as a way of saying "please do it!" ;)

Imam

While listening to CJAD Talk Radio, an Imam (the prayer leader of a mosque) said something like:

"If you want to create a real change, fill the Mosques instead of the streets"

Certainly better than burning things... let’s try to not criticize but to empathize with "the oppressed". I was raised a Muslim – now I am a Christewslimuddha – for me, it’s all about…

KARMA: the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence.

TRANSMIGRATION: to pass at death from one body or being to another.

I’ve transmigrated, in a sense, from one self-being to another. I hope to continue…

So the point here is to treat disrespect with respect, angry with empathy, violence with peace – to lead by example…

La BIOTA

This is cool. They claim to have produced a plastic bottle that can decompose in 80 days (carbon credits may be required). Requires validation:

BIOTA

word: substrate

Main Entry: sub·strate
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin substratum

1: SUBSTRATUM
2: the base on which an organism lives <the soil is the substrate of most seed plants>
3: a substance acted upon (as by an enzyme)

STCUM: RANT RANT RANT RANT

I am a very easy going person (some might disagree b/c I get all serious when it happens to matter, but whatever), so understand that this really did piss me off. Last night, I made $20 DJing. Good. Needed the cash, but also needed to travel +30KM to get back home (at 1am).

I get on the bus and ask the bus driver if a connecting bus was still going to be running at 1am. He said yes. I got off the bus at the connection terminal still +15KM away for my destination. The bus I was on (the second to last of the night) left the terminal. I walked over to the connecting bus stop only to find out it stopped running at 11pm. SOB!

I don’t know everything. I easily admit that. When being asked for directions, I say that I don’t know if that is that case. Did this bus driver make an error, try his best, or just not care to give me the information I needed to get home. It ended up costing me a $20 cab ride (FYI: 20 seconds in a Montreal taxi @ 100km/h = $1 or $3 a minute). SOB!

Anyway, buddy, driver dear, if ya don’t know, don’t share. I woulda stayed on yer 12:50 211 leaving Lionel Grioux bus heading West on Thursday the 9th of February, 2006. STCUM STCUM! If you made a mistake, ok, peace, but know that I could have made a few phone calls from the bus that would’ve saved me the frustration, money, and time. Next time, I will. STCUM!

Let me add that had I not gotten paid for my night’s work, I would’ve been waking up a few 9 to 5ers to get a lift. Good thing this only affected one person for one day!

It was suggested that I should’ve asked in French; ignoring that b/c I want to esstee.

The truth is out there.

Kafein

Kafein
Originally uploaded by Soli.

Wow. Just met with ISF (Ile-Sans-Fil). Good times. Now, I am DJing, while posting, using ISF - just took the picture too... this is nuts. I love it.

Anybody want to recommend a sleeping aid b/c I've lost the intent ;)

Warehauser

My time in that warehouse last month gave me some long lost perspective on my need to constantly be doing… it’s so past time for my first Vipassana visit.

So here are the more or less idle thoughts that flowed through my head while I attached ionizers and popped filters into fan blades (I took notes in the warehouse and now need them somewhere accessible, so this is more for me the anyone else):

Create C# eCommerce sample (meeting someone tomorrow to look at best practices)

Rock Koton (or RocKoton - band name derived from how I was feeling)

Resentment can cause me to act tough – donwannabe acting.

I had been trying to control my feelings by forcing closure(s) – the (s) means that I failed repeatedly but continued to slam that door closed harder each time... retrospectively foolish.

Explore my zodiac

Text messaging and I are not good bedfellows – I am to tech to invite it into the palm of my hand.

Review the 4 (more on this later)

Create/get involved with non-profits.

Travel professionally

Post lyrics to "How many roads..." – not done yet.

Visit CBC Radio 3 website

"If you always get what you want, you might just find, you’ll never get what you need" – [Iwro Tethis] (Ok. gonna say this only once. This is my decided pseudonym "I worte this" – or – Iwro Tethis)

Make music more scientific (i.e. open your eyes and learn from others)

Register @ Concordia (working on it)

Loose The Simpsons (still working on it)

Send goodies to BC (still need to a job b4 this can happen)

QUIT SMOKING

tonight's lineup

Come together (beatles)
Dead or alive (bjovi)
Sweet child of mine (gnr)

GONE!

Gone KK.O.K.ING!

Oppknock!

Opportunity knocks... Technobrati (that's for jenn!) has linked me up with an opportunity to get what needs to get done, done.

Tonight, learning.

Tomorrow, DJ interview and then L’Utopic for what should be a wicked little rendezvous with Ile-Sans-Fil.

By Friday, new architecture job?

On vera et on continue...

breathe...

Microsoft [gumsnet] - Montreal Feb 7th, 2006

Heading to this tonight (@ 4:07):

Le projet LinQ (anglais) 2006-02-07

Ted Neward is an independent consultant specializing in high-scale enterprise systems, working with clients ranging in size from Fortune 500 corporations to small 10-person shops. He is an authority in Java and .NET technologies, particularly in the areas of Java/.NET integration (both in-process and via integration tools like Web services), back-end enterprise software systems, and virtual machine/execution engine plumbing. He is the author or co-author of several books, including Effective Enterprise Java, C# In a Nutshell, SSCLI Essentials, Server-Based Java Programming, and a contributor to several technology journals. Ted is also a Microsoft MVP for Architecture, BEA Technical Director, INETA speaker, DevelopMentor trainer, frequent conference speaker, and a member of various JSRs. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, two sons, two cats, and eight PCs. Reach him at ted@tedneward.com or visit blogs.tedneward.com.

BMW

4:07 bus to be somewhere for 6:00. jebus.

i will not own a car. i will make my time on public transit productive towards that end.

podcasts and a new battery. giddy up.

old skool!

looks like i may just be fortunate enough to get that shift or two a week i was hoping for. my application for that DJ gig did not fall into idle hands. maybe they'll let me get a small event together a la art show/live band/tech something. Ile sans fils is what took me there. maybe i'll just spin...

i have a meeting them (him) this week.

flickrGraph search: solman@umbrela.com

flickrGraph search: solman@umbrela.com

this is neat.

Stewie from Global TV Website

First Zelda Ad - Google Video

wow. i think i remember? don't want to remember?

First Zelda Ad - Google Video

Leaving on a jet plane?

pending good word regarding the prospective job (knock on good) - all signs point me towards an airport, YVR bound; just a visit; half business/half pleasure; 3-7 days; leave empty, return packing; take care of my bike: Phase 1 (4 phases to this “bike” deal, ending with me riding back East, or Phase 4 ;) - and of course some payback and presents.

Karma hasn’t come to find and remind me about “how things went down” because I remember. I actually get excited thinking about… making it up? Giving it back? Lending a hand? Just making it so… fun.

gonna eat so much fish... so much... some, and then some more.

Lithium (Li-Ion) vs. Lithium Polymer (LiPo)

I just wanted a new battery for my iPod, ended up learning a little about polymer.

Lithium ion battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lithium ion polymer battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frame 1

Frame 1
Originally uploaded by Soli.

Me: You guys look bored. Drink this.
Guy 1: But we're working.

Frame 2

Frame 2
Originally uploaded by Soli.

Guy 2: Go look.
Guy 1: Maybe he's right?

Frame 3

Frame 3
Originally uploaded by Soli.

Guy 1: Gonna puke... get off me homo.
Guy 2: Need a light. Need a light.

Frame 4

Frame 4
Originally uploaded by Soli.

Guy 1:
Guy 2:

Blogsposee

So, the job interview went really well, at least in my opinion. I get an answer next week.

Interesting thing tho… he did mention this here said whatzama hmm_uhoh blog.

He suggested that I not just - put it out there. Hm. Hm. Not sure about this one, but I will say that someone, as result of my munsterpiece, had to vouch for my, um, sanity?

So, I know it’s there. I know that some will find it should they try even a little. It’s not that I don’t care, because I really do, but I’m not that concerned about it “messing things up”. I actually think it means to "make things better".

I can pretend. I can hide. I can talk the talk. I can lie. I can wear a tie (and I did; nice blue one with orange stripes – he wore a cool t-shirt with a logo that I thought I’d remember – and he needed a haircut more than I did - nice - long live da fro yo! It will survive!).

I can... I will be me.

"I am what I am"

I am…

... not perfect; learning
... not playing; committed
... not the sum of just a few parts; whole.
... not a moment; eternity.

... us; us is I.
... always seeking change; changing.

Just in case: How to read this blog.

Book of...

...JOB interview tomorrow; today.

Wish there was soft voice in my ear telling me I'M THE BEST as I lay my nervous ass to sleep.

I thought about Vancouver all day today. Not sure why; maybe I'm hungry? Maybe that octopus video? Maybe that octopus video made me hungry? lol.

mmmmmmmmm 8pus... with a big bowl of wakame. 2 pcs of Saba (a.k.a. ~100 grams in BC). miso to start. maybe a veg tempura. maybe a just a yam tempura. green tea. let's add a bowl of spinach gomae. ok. last thing... 2 uni. done.

Giant Octopus Attack

wow. found this Giant Octopus Attack. [video]

Read FASTER!!!!

devhood
devhood
c-sharpcorner
borland
dofactory

Pisces Horoscope for week of February 2, 2006

Verticle Oracle card Pisces (February 19-March 20)

"We are what we pretend to be," wrote author Kurt Vonnegut, "so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." This is excellent advice to keep at the forefront of your awareness during the coming weeks, Pisces. Here's how I interpret his statement: There's not necessarily anything wrong with playing a role if that role is in alignment with your highest values. In fact, to make believe that you are the person you want to be is an excellent strategy for actually becoming the person you want to be.

Freewill Astrology

Oddly enough

To my continuing surprise, I am simply not welcomed in my family’s house. i won't present details becuase I'm not taking it personally, but... this negative energy is killing me softly. Strangers have been kinder and more patient with me during this arduous time in my life. So, here is the surprising list of the things I am going to do if I get this job:

1) Forgot about it, but had to squeeze this into the number one slot because “happy feet = happy legs” or whatever, so: DUNHAM WAFFLE STOMPERS
2) This is most amazing to me, but like lighting, I am securing my own space – outta here, not because I want to or need to, but because they need me to.
3) Internet connection
4) Secure MTL debt load
5) Secure BC debt load
6) TASCAM US-122
7) Audio-Technica AT2020
8) My remaining stuff from BC.
9) Enough money to fly out to BC, buy dinner for 30 people, snowboard x number of times, Grouse Grind, and ride my bike back.

Seeing an osteopath path tomorrow...

Osteopaths primarily work through the neuro-musculo-skeletal system, mostly on muscles and joints, and pay special attention to how the internal organs affect, and are affected by, that system. Relevant psychological and social factors also form part of the diagnosis. Another important principle of osteopathy is that the body has its own self-healing mechanisms, which can be utilised as part of the treatment.

Next stages

Detox:95%
MetalStability:80%
Desire:110%
Health:30% (of desired)
Vices:80%

Next? Hm... vice adjustment.

My list is... longer than the average. I’m tough, but getting old. Time to adjust, so, job interview, then - adjust. The goal? Nothing more than daily practices; do yoga; eat right; don’t smoke; detoxify; don’t deprecate; floss; less oil – daily.

Whatever – let’s push things forward.

Between rocks

I’ve been between rocks are hard places before. And most of the time, I just intrinsically know what to do. I assumed this innate knowledge was not a fleeting property of my being, but doubt seeps in, and doubt can destroy notions of innateness; faith.

I’m losing faith, but it ain’t altogether a bad thing. I think a more realistic and compromising approach is required in cases, and I want to be able to think that way.

Ideal(ism)s are perspective; maps and metadata; patterns; compromising patterns.

Addicted to oil? No.

Addicted to being right; addicted to ourselves; addicted to our perspective ideals.

In my opinion, the most serious addictions are often about what one wants and less about how one gets it.

Days slip

Days are slipping past me, not because I’m letting them; they just are.

Everything is “happening”; good. I got a job interview Friday; good cash; good opportunity.

When I lived in BC, I felt my body; my food. I was aware of it; of its grandeur. It was fit; real; hard. It was hard from me wanting it to be and from my life making it so; fatigue and hunger make you hard. My core muscles were hard. I felt it.

Yoga too.

But now, after sitting in the cold, at a desk, missing sunsets, I can feel my core soften. The inner strength is fading. I need to move – my body again.

I can feel my soul soften too. This needs attention.

I don’t sing songs anymore... :(

Tweak

I’ve been tweaking the blog so much that I’m forgetting to actually make any substantial posts. I guess that’s a point in itself. What’s really substantial? It’s all good, no?

Added:

Show/Hide dealy in the sidebar
Blogorati Stuff
Top 10s
Search

Worked on:

VB to become C# Service that will convert ATOM feeds into Word and PDF docs. Nothing fancy, just helps with the resume.

Cleaned up my template.

Not sure why this is all so important to me. Just a feeling that I’ll need it soon or something like that.