So today is the day the world changes. Barack Obama gets the keys to the White House.
I for one am not buying all this hype. President Obama does not have lightning bolts shooting from his ass nor can he run faster than a speeding bullet. He is just a man. Just a man with ideas. Some will turn out to be good ones, others bad ones. If he survives his first four years, he will get another four. That's all folks. Then he will go on to make millions speaking at conferences and holding seminars. And our tiny insignificant lives will be no better for him having served his term in office.
So President Obama, enjoy your moment in the spotlight and best of luck living up to even half the expectations that have been put on you. If I am proven wrong so be it, I don't claim to be very intelligent, let alone a political expert.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Browsing the Headlines
While on lunch I like to browse the news and today I found a couple headlines on thestar.com that I just couldn't resist commenting on.
"GO predicts normal schedule for afternoon commute"
- translation: riders can expect the usual delays but they will be far shorter, or at least far fewer, than the ones experienced this morning.
"Lincoln will be at heart of Obama's inaugural"
- would inauguration not be a better form than inaugural in this context?
"GO predicts normal schedule for afternoon commute"
- translation: riders can expect the usual delays but they will be far shorter, or at least far fewer, than the ones experienced this morning.
"Lincoln will be at heart of Obama's inaugural"
- would inauguration not be a better form than inaugural in this context?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Answer to My Riddle
I think I have gotten the only guess that I am going to get so here is the much anticipated answer to my riddle:
I am a GO train
(it's mostly green anyhow)
I hope you all, meaning, I hope Stinky T had fun trying to solve my somewhat obscure riddle.
After Christmas Let Down
Several months ago a co-worker came up with a nickname for me and has been using ever since. That is until the new year started.
In early December I decided I needed to figure out a nickname for this person in return. A week went by and I had nothing. A second week went by and I thought I had one, even if I thought it was too Hollywood, but as it turned out, that nickname has been used and tarnished already. So I was left to ponder once again.
I set myself a deadline of Christmas to figure out a nickname for this person, you know, to serve as a kind of present for him. As of now I still have no nickname for him and the lack of creativity on my part has let down my coworker so much that he has stopped using my nickname when we pass in the halls. If only his name was more conducive for just adding a “y” at the end… I don’t think he would have let me get away with something so simple anyhow.
In early December I decided I needed to figure out a nickname for this person in return. A week went by and I had nothing. A second week went by and I thought I had one, even if I thought it was too Hollywood, but as it turned out, that nickname has been used and tarnished already. So I was left to ponder once again.
I set myself a deadline of Christmas to figure out a nickname for this person, you know, to serve as a kind of present for him. As of now I still have no nickname for him and the lack of creativity on my part has let down my coworker so much that he has stopped using my nickname when we pass in the halls. If only his name was more conducive for just adding a “y” at the end… I don’t think he would have let me get away with something so simple anyhow.
What Am I?
I'm in a good mood today so I thought I'd play a little game with y'all: What am I? Everybody knows how to play so good luck (it should not be that hard because I am far from the master riddler, heck even a preschool riddle could stump me).
I am long and green and not very bold,
The rain and the wind make me feel old,
I fear the snow and the cold,
Even sunny weather puts me on hold
What am I?
That's the best I could do but at least I rhymed! The answer will come later but I am sure someone will figure this out.
I am long and green and not very bold,
The rain and the wind make me feel old,
I fear the snow and the cold,
Even sunny weather puts me on hold
What am I?
That's the best I could do but at least I rhymed! The answer will come later but I am sure someone will figure this out.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Time to Work
Well, it's now almost 10:00 on a Monday morning and I have yet to do anything work related. I guess it's time to start even though I have lots of other stuff I can do to waste the day away. Only problem with that is my desk is bare so I guess it's time to start looking for some work to do. This sucks!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
December 2008 Quotes
One of the greatest assets any man or woman can have on entering life's struggle is poverty.
- Richard Bedford Bennett
money is the worst of all contrabands because it commands everything else
- William Jennings Bryan
In a nation with 200 million people, a certain number of deranged people exist.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
I have not seen…any suggested changes that could replace our existing system without entirely eliminating one of the factors in our civilization that has contributed greatly to the progress of the world---that is, individual initiative, coupled with the desire to acheive and succeed.
- Richard Bedford Bennett
It is man alone who brings light to this world. Nature is dark, brooding and cruel. What compassion there is in the earth flows from the sterling heart of man.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
man is more inclined to justify himself, no matter what, than to confess a guilt, admit a wrong, acknowledge a mistake.
- Robin Brockman (The Message)
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
- John Lennon (Imagine)
One science only will one genius fit;
So vast is art, so narrow human wit:
Not only bounded to peculiar arts,
But oft in those confined to single parts.
- Alexander Pope (An Essay on Criticism, Part I)
Be just, and generous when you have the means. Wealth will not take care of itself if not vigilantly cared for.
- John H R Molson
There is nothing dramatic about a mistake not made.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
Men never seemed to understand, or care, when a woman wished to be looked at and when not.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
It takes great courage to love one's true self.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
sooner or later even the worst luck changes.
- Stephen King (Cujo)
…if you're not prepared to defend yourself, then you'd better not do it.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
Love it hard and it will love you back hard. Try to play it easy and ease off and the first thing you know, there you are, on the outside, looking in, wondering what went wrong.
- Pete Rose
A good society is one in which the greatest possible number of persons enjoy the greatest possible amount of happiness.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Man's virtue is…the quality which enables him to 'live well', for living is the soul's function; and to live well is to be happy.
- from The Republic of Plato, translated by Francis MacDonald Cornford
A person has to listen to others. He has to allow himself to be influenced to a certain extent.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
a lasting peace must be 'a peace without victory.
- Woodrow Wilson
The desireableness of a life is to be measured by the amount of interest and not the amount of ease in it.
- George MacDonald
there is a greater chance of success if two roads are open then if either one alone was.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
And he dreamed of another world
In another time
And another place
Where no man
Has to wear a sign
Saying where he's from
Saying what's his race
And he wants us to believe
This world that he sees
- The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (The World That He Sees)
Happy Birthday!
- Frosty the Snowman
Weight goes up or down as it ought. I shouldn't concern myself.
- Isaac Asimov (Foundation's Edge)
it is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time.
- Isaac Asimov (I, Robot)
What counts is the person, not the name.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
Women do not become exhausted...they only exhaust others.
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)
…an intelligent following of custom, or even occasionally an intelligent deviation from custom, is better than a blind and simply mechanical adhesion to it.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Endings always come too fast,
They come too fast but they pass too slow
- Art Garfunkle (All I Know)
- Richard Bedford Bennett
money is the worst of all contrabands because it commands everything else
- William Jennings Bryan
In a nation with 200 million people, a certain number of deranged people exist.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
I have not seen…any suggested changes that could replace our existing system without entirely eliminating one of the factors in our civilization that has contributed greatly to the progress of the world---that is, individual initiative, coupled with the desire to acheive and succeed.
- Richard Bedford Bennett
It is man alone who brings light to this world. Nature is dark, brooding and cruel. What compassion there is in the earth flows from the sterling heart of man.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
man is more inclined to justify himself, no matter what, than to confess a guilt, admit a wrong, acknowledge a mistake.
- Robin Brockman (The Message)
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
- John Lennon (Imagine)
One science only will one genius fit;
So vast is art, so narrow human wit:
Not only bounded to peculiar arts,
But oft in those confined to single parts.
- Alexander Pope (An Essay on Criticism, Part I)
Be just, and generous when you have the means. Wealth will not take care of itself if not vigilantly cared for.
- John H R Molson
There is nothing dramatic about a mistake not made.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
Men never seemed to understand, or care, when a woman wished to be looked at and when not.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
It takes great courage to love one's true self.
- Whitley Strieber (Majestic)
sooner or later even the worst luck changes.
- Stephen King (Cujo)
…if you're not prepared to defend yourself, then you'd better not do it.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
Love it hard and it will love you back hard. Try to play it easy and ease off and the first thing you know, there you are, on the outside, looking in, wondering what went wrong.
- Pete Rose
A good society is one in which the greatest possible number of persons enjoy the greatest possible amount of happiness.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Man's virtue is…the quality which enables him to 'live well', for living is the soul's function; and to live well is to be happy.
- from The Republic of Plato, translated by Francis MacDonald Cornford
A person has to listen to others. He has to allow himself to be influenced to a certain extent.
- Robert A Liston (Politics: From Precinct to Presidency)
a lasting peace must be 'a peace without victory.
- Woodrow Wilson
The desireableness of a life is to be measured by the amount of interest and not the amount of ease in it.
- George MacDonald
there is a greater chance of success if two roads are open then if either one alone was.
- Isaac Asimov (Prelude to Foundation)
And he dreamed of another world
In another time
And another place
Where no man
Has to wear a sign
Saying where he's from
Saying what's his race
And he wants us to believe
This world that he sees
- The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (The World That He Sees)
Happy Birthday!
- Frosty the Snowman
Weight goes up or down as it ought. I shouldn't concern myself.
- Isaac Asimov (Foundation's Edge)
it is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time.
- Isaac Asimov (I, Robot)
What counts is the person, not the name.
- Isaac Asimov (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain)
Women do not become exhausted...they only exhaust others.
- Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)
…an intelligent following of custom, or even occasionally an intelligent deviation from custom, is better than a blind and simply mechanical adhesion to it.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Endings always come too fast,
They come too fast but they pass too slow
- Art Garfunkle (All I Know)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Early Christmas Presents
Today I got two early Christmas presents from GO transit. 1. The train was at the station waiting when I got there and ran on time; and 2. the parking lot at the train station was plowed. It is just sad that these two things have become so unexpected. Let's hope they give me a third present and get me home on time.
Despite the great gifts above, I am still waiting for one of my Christmas wishes to come true. Having Pierre McGuire not do the World Junior hockey championship broadcasts. When I hear his broadcasts the phrase 'beating a dead horse' comes to mind as he mentions a useless fact and then reiterates it for another ten minutes. Thankfully televisions come with a mute feature.
Despite the great gifts above, I am still waiting for one of my Christmas wishes to come true. Having Pierre McGuire not do the World Junior hockey championship broadcasts. When I hear his broadcasts the phrase 'beating a dead horse' comes to mind as he mentions a useless fact and then reiterates it for another ten minutes. Thankfully televisions come with a mute feature.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
The Ants Go Marching 2 By 2...
Until they come to a set of doors or stairs that is.
Every day after work, us ants go marching towards Union Station and the train platforms on our way home. We cram through several sets of double doors and even climb some stairs, most with sufficient room for two. Seems like a pretty straight forward exercise doesn't it? Pretty mundane; not worth writing about. I would tend to agree but unfortunately, the double door system is too much for most to comprehend. People avoid the second door like it is death itself and create a needless bottle neck as they force their way through the single door.
When this occurs at the bottom of the stairs I can at least understand because the one door is generally propped open. People are lazy and go for the easiest choice. When this occurs at the top of the stairs, with both doors closed, it just floors me. Take last night for example. I was walking up the stairs with someone on my left as we approached the doors. Both were closed at the time but instead of opening the door on the left, this person chooses the one on the right for some unknown reason. I sure did laugh when this person walked into the door as I reached to open it instead only stopping it's progress. Of course it was unintentional.
My lesson here likely had as much affect on this person as my not slowing down when being cut off walking does to those tripping over my feet.
Every day after work, us ants go marching towards Union Station and the train platforms on our way home. We cram through several sets of double doors and even climb some stairs, most with sufficient room for two. Seems like a pretty straight forward exercise doesn't it? Pretty mundane; not worth writing about. I would tend to agree but unfortunately, the double door system is too much for most to comprehend. People avoid the second door like it is death itself and create a needless bottle neck as they force their way through the single door.
When this occurs at the bottom of the stairs I can at least understand because the one door is generally propped open. People are lazy and go for the easiest choice. When this occurs at the top of the stairs, with both doors closed, it just floors me. Take last night for example. I was walking up the stairs with someone on my left as we approached the doors. Both were closed at the time but instead of opening the door on the left, this person chooses the one on the right for some unknown reason. I sure did laugh when this person walked into the door as I reached to open it instead only stopping it's progress. Of course it was unintentional.
My lesson here likely had as much affect on this person as my not slowing down when being cut off walking does to those tripping over my feet.
Monday, December 01, 2008
November 2008 Quotes
Good looks are cheap in a wealthy country.
- Stephen King (Nona)
It requires a great country and great circumstances to develop great men.
- Charles Hibbert Tupper
The word is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
- Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)
Making something happen in the environment around them gives human beings a sense of competence. That, in turn, gives them pleasure.
- Bob Cullen (Why Golf?)
It is a poor head…that cannot find plausible reason for doing what the heart wants to do.
- William Jennings Bryan
Now, however, I have delayed so long that henceforward I should be afraid that I was committing a fault if, in continuing to deliberate, I expended time which should be devoted to action.
- Rene Descartes (Meditations on First Philosophy)
I thought that my invincible power
would hold the world captive,
leaving me in a freedom undisturbed.
Thus night and day I worked at the chain
with huge fires and cruel hard strokes.
When at last
the work was done,
I found that it held me in its grip
- Rabindranath Tagore
He had gone right through fear and come out the other side in some place cold. Anger was all that kept him warm.
- Robert Jordan (The Great Hunt)
It was beyond wise to enter battle angry. Anger narrowed the vision and made for foolish choices.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
You have a safe guide, an unfailing light, if you remember that faith is better than doubt and love is better than hate.
- Sir Wilfred Laurier
From the meanest creature one departs wiser, richer, more conscious of one's blessings.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the excess, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Weird love’s better than no love at all.
- Stephen King (The Green Mile)
No human instinct is more powerful than the sex drive when it is fully aroused, and its awakening images are emotional tattoos that never leave us.
- Stephen King (Bag of Bones)
…power often grew from others deciding that you already had power, and an appearance of wealth could give that.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
A man’s work is the sweetest thing he owns.
- William W West (Printer’s Measure, Act III)
In the face of danger 'People don't always think or behave the way you might believe they would. - Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)
...anyone who enables another to become powerful, brings about his own ruin.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
…it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
Love didn’t grow very well in a place where there was only fear…
- Stephen King (The Stand)
I guess all it takes to be happy in anything is knowin’ how to walk with your lot, whatever it is, in life.
- Claude Brown (Manchild in the Promised Land)
...'wish' and 'want' trip the feet, but 'is' makes the path smoother.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Without these two balances ('on the one hand' and 'on the other hand'), we cannot think.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)
To make nine important decisions a day, even if only five of them turn out right, was far better than making no decisions at all.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Voume One)
…no matter how often the politicians may proclaim that Canada's economic system spreads abundance among the many, in reality, it creates wealth for the few.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
...exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.
- Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
...in every stratum of society, from the mansion to the gutter, the genuinely innocent were a distinct minority.
- Dean Koontz (Dragon Tears)
Wherever an advance takes place, ultimately all humanity is helped.
- Isaac Asimov (Nemesis)
Character is the real test of manhood. Live within your income, no matter how small it may be. Permanent wealth is maintained and preserved by vigilance and prudence and not by speculation.
- John H R Molson
- Stephen King (Nona)
It requires a great country and great circumstances to develop great men.
- Charles Hibbert Tupper
The word is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
- Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)
Making something happen in the environment around them gives human beings a sense of competence. That, in turn, gives them pleasure.
- Bob Cullen (Why Golf?)
It is a poor head…that cannot find plausible reason for doing what the heart wants to do.
- William Jennings Bryan
Now, however, I have delayed so long that henceforward I should be afraid that I was committing a fault if, in continuing to deliberate, I expended time which should be devoted to action.
- Rene Descartes (Meditations on First Philosophy)
I thought that my invincible power
would hold the world captive,
leaving me in a freedom undisturbed.
Thus night and day I worked at the chain
with huge fires and cruel hard strokes.
When at last
the work was done,
I found that it held me in its grip
- Rabindranath Tagore
He had gone right through fear and come out the other side in some place cold. Anger was all that kept him warm.
- Robert Jordan (The Great Hunt)
It was beyond wise to enter battle angry. Anger narrowed the vision and made for foolish choices.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
You have a safe guide, an unfailing light, if you remember that faith is better than doubt and love is better than hate.
- Sir Wilfred Laurier
From the meanest creature one departs wiser, richer, more conscious of one's blessings.
- Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the excess, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences.
- John Stuart Mill (On Liberty)
Weird love’s better than no love at all.
- Stephen King (The Green Mile)
No human instinct is more powerful than the sex drive when it is fully aroused, and its awakening images are emotional tattoos that never leave us.
- Stephen King (Bag of Bones)
…power often grew from others deciding that you already had power, and an appearance of wealth could give that.
- Robert Jordan (New Spring)
A man’s work is the sweetest thing he owns.
- William W West (Printer’s Measure, Act III)
In the face of danger 'People don't always think or behave the way you might believe they would. - Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)
...anyone who enables another to become powerful, brings about his own ruin.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
…it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved.
- Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
Love didn’t grow very well in a place where there was only fear…
- Stephen King (The Stand)
I guess all it takes to be happy in anything is knowin’ how to walk with your lot, whatever it is, in life.
- Claude Brown (Manchild in the Promised Land)
...'wish' and 'want' trip the feet, but 'is' makes the path smoother.
- Robert Jordan (The Fires of Heaven)
Without these two balances ('on the one hand' and 'on the other hand'), we cannot think.
- Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)
To make nine important decisions a day, even if only five of them turn out right, was far better than making no decisions at all.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Voume One)
…no matter how often the politicians may proclaim that Canada's economic system spreads abundance among the many, in reality, it creates wealth for the few.
- Peter C Newman (The Canadian Establishment: Volume One)
...exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.
- Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
...in every stratum of society, from the mansion to the gutter, the genuinely innocent were a distinct minority.
- Dean Koontz (Dragon Tears)
Wherever an advance takes place, ultimately all humanity is helped.
- Isaac Asimov (Nemesis)
Character is the real test of manhood. Live within your income, no matter how small it may be. Permanent wealth is maintained and preserved by vigilance and prudence and not by speculation.
- John H R Molson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
