Wedding

Well for those of you who didn't know, I am getting married. Basically you don't know me, if you didn't know that, but I will let it slide this time. The official date is Saturday, ---------. Erin, and I will be tying the knot at ---- in the afternoon at the Mississauga Golf and Country club, with a reception immediately following at the Mississauga Golf and Country club. (yes it is the same location, but people still keep asking what church? And the answer is no church, as we are not active members of a church community it was a family decision that it would be in appropriate to church shop. We do have a United Church minister who is a friend of the family performing the ceremony.)

Anyways, my point to this little blurb is not to tell everyone the details, but direct them to the handy page where I have referenced all the details, that way the people who have been invited (sorry can't invite everyone on the internet) know where to be. So with out further ado please look here for more info.
*edit* details removed*edit*

Here is an idea I can get behind

I just read this article in the Toronto Star about a piece of legislation currently under debate at Queen's Park. This legislation, introduced by Conservative MPP John O'Toole, is an amendment to the Income Tax Act (Presumably of Ontario.) The new legislation calls for an income tax deduction for the use of public transportation for commuters. This I think is a fantastic idea, and not only because it is self serving. I am transit, I live in an area well served by GO Transit and I chose my new house based upon its proximity to transit. I see transit as a way to reduce stress, and reduce pollution. For me I get up, get on the train, and then I have a 40-50 minute ride where I can sleep, read, relax, chat or any number of activities I can't do behind the wheel of a car. When I do have to drive (especially in rush hou) I find that save 40-50 minutes can easily slip to become 60-90 minutes dependent on uncontrollable traffic, and I don't find that time relaxing in the slightest. From an environmental point of view it takes a lot less energy/person to use the transit then cars. Meaning less pollution and less wasted energy.

I think the great part of this legislation is that it will reward those who pollute less, and encourage increased ridership of the transit systems. This will keep our cities and environment cleaner.

So if you are like me and commute to work, and think this is a good idea, I recommend writing your MPP at their office to let them know it is a great idea and you support it. Write your dear premier Dalton McGuinty (address is at the bottom) and let him to know that you think his government should get behind this, and finally write your municipal representative asking them to push the province on this (you will have to figure that address on your own.) I don't think I personally have ever written any of my politician before (except the Minister of Immigration for a school project) so this is kind of unusual for me, but I support this, so I am going to do something about it.

// as the computer geeks might say
if(!solution.memberOf(you))
{
problem.addMember(you);
}

Ham Dog

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Originally uploaded by gcpeart.
Random article about obesity in America, what caught my attention was the food they discribed.
1. Ham Dog

...a hot dog wrapped by a beef patty that's deep fried, covered with chili, cheese and onions and served on a hoagie bun. Oh yeah, it's also topped with a fried egg and two fistfuls of fries.

2. Luther Burger

a bacon-cheeseburger served on a Krispy Kreme doughnut bun

This was my favorite quotation from the article:

"If you choke that down, you might as well find a heart surgeon because you are going to need one."

Up yours MBean technology

Today I diverge from my work my usually chipper self, to give a piece of technology a good middle finger salute. Usually I enjoy a new piece of technology, be it hardware or software, its a new toy with shiny lights and draws me in like a moth to a flame. Software development tool kits, and IBM white papers are no different (yeah I am a gigantic geek.) Today I have hit my braking point, new stuff is only fun when it works, or has a sufficient instruction book to make it work. I am now a bajillion hours invested into IBM dynamic MBeans and have reached such depths of frustration that would make Dante's Journey seem like a swim in a kiddy pool.

So to MBean's and to guy who wrote the white paper but left a key section as "left as an exercise for the reader" I say UP YOURS!

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Went to a great restaruant for Chinese New Year in Waterloo Ontario. Here are the details on it:
Cameron Chinese Restaurant
21 Cameron St. S (at Charles)
Kitchener
519-576-3030

Anyways if you are in KW and looking for a good meal check it out.

Engineers and Statuary

The Toronto Star is doind a series on the statuary that is around town. This peice caught my eye because it was about a famous engineer. There are few enough, and even those that are 'famous' are pretty obscure, so please indulge in the obscure and learn some history.

G

A Programmer and an Engineer

Found this joke at this site, I doubt he is the originator, but it was funny.

A programmer and an Engineer are sitting next to each other on a long flight from Los Angelos to New York. The Programmer leans over to the Engineer and asks if he would like to play a fun game. The Engineer just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.

The Programmer persists and explains that the game is real easy and a lotta fun. He explains, "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5. Then you ask me a question, and if I don't know the answer, I pay you $5."

Again the Engineer politely declines and tries to get to sleep.

The Programmer, now somewhat agitated, says "Ok, if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I'll pay you $50!"

This catches the engineer's attention, and he sees no end to this torment unless he plays, so he agrees to the game. The programmer asks the first question: "What is the distance from the Earth to the moon?"

The engineer doesn't say a word, but simply reaches into his wallet, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the programmer. Now, it's the engineer's turn. He asks the programmer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down on four?"

The programmer looks up at him with a puzzled look. He takes out his laptop computer and searches all of his references. He taps into the Airphone with the modem and searches the net and the library of Congress. Frustrated, he sends e-mail to his coworkers – all to no avail. After about an hour, he wakes the engineer and hands him $50. He politely takes the $50 and turns away to try to get back to sleep.

The programmer, more than a little miffed, shakes the engineer and asks, "Well, so what's the answer?" Without a word, the engineer reaches into his wallet, hands the programmer $5, and turns away to get back to sleep.

150

That is all I will say for now.


Geoffio

Here is just another view of the side oak and railing

Here is the railing all stained and finished, what you I also noticed is the oak along the sides (that goes all the way up) giving a nice framing to the stairs.

Here is the upstairs bathroom cabinates, white witha chocolate top. Very plain, but sharp, and at the moment dusty as all hell.

This is the manufactures default fixture in the great room. We had been led to believe that it would be something much more hidious, instead we get something that is kind of nice. I like it.

This is the pantry

MDF shelves how exciting

Up close where the sink goes. For reference this yummy looking cabinets are maple.

Here is are said cabinets

The double arch in between the kitchen and great room are now framed, you can also so the cabinets are installed in the kitchen.

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