This blog's been dormant for a while, but I'm currently updating the software, and who knows, maybe I'll actually post something.
Yoda 'n' me
Originally uploaded by Dano.
Hiking in Birds Hill park with my new favourite backpack/friend.
Well, they finally got around to making my birthday a holiday. And I know just what I want:
Update: Ask and receive ye shall. Pictures soon post I will.
I recently spent a week in New York, just wandering around, visiting museums, eating delicious food, and taking lotsa photos. Here are some of them.
The City of Winnipeg's heritage building list includes articles on the history of each building, which are quite interesting. I just learned the Hammond building, where I used to work, was famous for its free hats, and was gutted in a 1923 fire. Unfortunately, my apartment building isn't quite historical enough to make the cut.
Here are some winter-themed desktops from my photos, in a variety of screen resolutions. On Windows, just right click and "set as desktop". On Mac, download the picture then set it as your desktop in System Preferences. If you don't know your resolution you probably have 1024 x 768. If you have a widescreen, get the 1600 x 1200 one and hope it crops nicely.
800 x 600 | 1024 x 768 | 1280 x 1024 | 1600 x 1200
800 x 600 | 1024 x 768 | 1280 x 1024 | 1600 x 1200
I noticed recently one of the feedback stats on the stationary bikes at the YMCA is something called METs, and I had no idea what it meant. Apparently, and MET is a "metabolic equivalent". One MET is the amount of energy you use just sitting quietly. Walking is 2.5 METs. That is, it uses 2.5 times as much energy as sitting around. Playing raquetball uses 12 METs.
Now that I know this unit exists, I thinking I'm going to be estimating my METs constantly. As I sit her typing, I'm using 2.3 METs (assuming it's the same as playing the piano). I'm about to walk home which should bump it up to about 3.3 METs. Then I have to make cookies. Maybe 2.5 METs? And so forth.
It's strange that I didn't already know this (or maybe it's one of those factoids that I've known and forgotten), but in the film version of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dave Bowman never says "My God, it's full of stars!" I was sure he did. I couldn't understand why IMDB didn't consider it a memorable quote. Other web pages confirmed it was not in the movie, and I just verified it for myself, watching the DVD. Bowman's last line in the movie (assuming heavy breathing is not a line) is "I'd like to hear it HAL, sing it for me", which is cleverly reminiscent of Casablanca. Kubrick may have felt the line unnecessary, as he clearly demonstrates it's full of stars with his trippy slit scan effects.
The source of my confusion: The "stars" line is the last thing Bowman says in Arthur C. Clarke's 2001 novel, which I did read, and the line is repeated several times in the sequel (novel and film) 2010: The Year We Make Contact.