More Photo's

Here is just Christmas stuff leading up to, but not including actually christmas day. I will add photo's to the album once they are on my computer and they will update here automagically.

Some Photo House Keeping

So here are a few of the latest galleries, enjoy!

Geekdads: Here Be Gingerbread Dragons

A festively delicious dragon that may even entice Trogdar into cannibalism

read more | digg story

Aunt Jenn's Rocking Moose

November!

Reading with Mommy

Not my fight, and not my words,

but I wish it was, and I wish they were...

Molly Wood, co-host of CNET's Buzz Out Loud and of general internet fame wrote an amazing piece in her blog about Prop 8 in California. She made her point so eloquently, that if you found that nail with a how ever many angel's dancing upon it, that her hammer would have stuck the nail head true, and not the angel's. Which is a strange metaphor in light of the source of most of the hate that fueled the inception of Prop 8 in the first place. If you vote in California, please vote NO on prop 8, please!

Channeling the Old Admerial

It's a trap!

Thanksgiving at the Cottage

Laughing

From The Desk of His Royal Cuteness

Mr Apatosaur, if you would please take this memo down.

Memo to Mrs. Sophie Giraffe, a Mr Leo the Taggie Lion may be on the Prowl

Do Not Call

Hey folks, just a heads up the Canadian DO NOT CALL registry is up and running, I've already put my number in, but it should cut down on your telemarketer calls significantly!

You have to register a number every 3 years, and political parties, charities, and a few other groups are exempt.

enjoy.


On the topic of Do Not Call, telemarketers and others who call between 8:30 - 9:30 have to come over and put the baby to bed!

Some Perspective on Height

September Pictures

What I'm up to

Not with standing I can't tell you what I do at work (at least not in a public forum like this,) I also am disinclined to say what I am doing on my commute. I will go so far as to say I am working on an iPhone app, and it is really coming together. I know my memory management techniques leave much to be desired, but I'm learning and refactoring as I go. I'm getting used to using the initFromNib concept to properly integrate with Interface Builder, so my UI is getting stronger. If I could get a cert from Apple, I think my app would be ready for release by Mid October. Come on Apple, take my $99 dollars and let me into the inner circle of developers for iPhone/iTouch.

Speaking of Apple products...

My new phone should be here today, my new iPhone, glee.

Oh as for my project for the device, I will be hosting it here.

That is your only clue.

Yesterday

Yesterday I was disgusted by politics, I'm far from over joyed today, but I'm certainly less disgusted. With Elizabeth May's inclusion into the debate I think we give the Green Party the final step of legitimate that it has been seeking. May has a style and character I admire, she is principled and she speaks of a kind of government I can accept one where everyone comes to the table to contribute. Each politician should represent first there constituents before there party, and the good of Canada overall. They should be willing to work together and seek compromise and good governance, and they need to work without the conceit that there ideas are superlatives and their foes ideas utter crap. Together the sum of our parliament could be greater then the squabbling mass of detritus we are currently living with.

Anyways, good job Ms. May, and good luck in the debate, as they say, be careful what you wish for...

For those of you concearned about the Large Hadron Collider

This site has been set up to track the current status of the world.

For more on the LHC:

Oh, Pluto, Why Won't the Leave You Be

More Irreverence: Evolutionists Flock To Darwin-Shaped Wall Stain

This requires more comment, just back from lunch time walk and talk with coworkers, when I stumbled upon this in my feeds. I think the reflection, all be it sarcastic, is wonderful. If only I had some grilled cheese right now it would be ideal.Digg Said: A steady stream of devoted evolutionists continued to gather in this small Tennessee town today to witness what many believe is an image of Charles Darwin—author of The Origin Of Species and founder of the modern evolutionary movement—made manifest on a concrete wall in downtown Dayton.

read more | digg story

More Stolen Content: The Ultimate Procrastination Flowchart [PIC]

From Digg:I didn't create this but damn its pretty close to what I do online sometimes.

read more | digg story

Stolen News: Your Quarter-Pounder Just Might Have Come From a Cloned Cow

From Digg:Meat and milk from the offspring of cloned animals may already be part of the U.S. food supply, the Food and Drug Administration announced this week. While the cloning process is too expensive (about $20,000 per animal) to justify creating clones that will be turned into hamburgers, some ranchers have cloned animals with desirable...

read more | digg story

Instead of providing real content

I've opted for some irreverence...

Sorry I haven't fixed up the rotation on these images yet, but if I didn't post I was in trouble....

Hulkamania

Bryan and the Mobile

Um if you click the link you should get a better quality version...

Some Baby Pictures

Loki inspecting the invader:

Don't call child services on us, we know there is a bug problem, and we are working on it:

The rest of the images can be seen here

Visiting

Bryan had a visit with his Great Nana, and Great Aunt Val, I have pictures of people looking good, and pictures of Bryan looking good, but none in the same picture :)

Maü!

Feist on Sesame Street

Well with the Barenaked ladies with their kids album, why shouldn't Fiest get in on some of that action.

Bryan's First... Air Guitar Power Ballad

it may actually have been a rock anthem, or it was just a yawn, tough to tell in these early days:

Re: Announcement? Announcement!

The picture should make things clear... but just to be sure.  No this isn't a draft, I just didn't delete my clever "this is a draft" line.

I'm tired :)

On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 10:21 AM, Geoffrey Peart <gcpeart@araska.org> wrote:

This is a draft, if this is sent before I delete this it isn't real.
Friends and Family, I like to introduce you all to Bryan Emrys Stephen Peart, born , weighing 9 lbs 11 ounces, 4.4 kg for metric folk like me.

Bryan was born July 16th at 12:12 am beating the Dr to the hospital by a couple of minutes.

Erin and Bryan are doing great and will be staying at Milton Hospital for a couple of days before returning home.  If you would like to visit, the hospital allows visitors between 11 am - 2 pm and 4 pm - 8 pm daily, but we will arrange to have some vistors in the coming weeks, so do not feel obligated to storm the hospital.  She is in room 110 in the maternity ward at moment, but this may change if a private room become available.

Thank you all for your friendship and support, we are really excited and overwhelmed, please excuse stock emails like this and vacant responses on the phone as a sign of this.

Geoffrey, Erin, and Bryan

ps I hope I got everyone, if I have forgotten to include someone please feel free to forward this, and excuse me for just being a little tired.

--
-----------------------------------------------
Geoffrey Cameron Peart
gcpeart@araska.org
http://www.araska.org
McMaster Engineering '03
Software Engineering

<wittyRemark/>

--
-----------------------------------------------
Geoffrey Cameron Peart
gcpeart@araska.org
http://www.araska.org
McMaster Engineering '03
Software Engineering

<wittyRemark/>

Announcement? Announcement!

This is a draft, if this is sent before I delete this it isn't real.
Friends and Family, I like to introduce you all to Bryan Emrys Stephen Peart, born , weighing 9 lbs 11 ounces, 4.4 kg for metric folk like me.

Bryan was born July 16th at 12:12 am beating the Dr to the hospital by a couple of minutes.

Erin and Bryan are doing great and will be staying at Milton Hospital for a couple of days before returning home.  If you would like to visit, the hospital allows visitors between 11 am - 2 pm and 4 pm - 8 pm daily, but we will arrange to have some vistors in the coming weeks, so do not feel obligated to storm the hospital.  She is in room 110 in the maternity ward at moment, but this may change if a private room become available.

Thank you all for your friendship and support, we are really excited and overwhelmed, please excuse stock emails like this and vacant responses on the phone as a sign of this.

Geoffrey, Erin, and Bryan

ps I hope I got everyone, if I have forgotten to include someone please feel free to forward this, and excuse me for just being a little tired.

Finishing Touches

Well the baby is holding on till the last minute, so we figure he must be waiting for the room to be finished, so we added some finishing touches:



I tried to upload the whole album, but something is acting funny, so you only get Candace's awesome painting for now.

Thanks soon to be Aunt Candace!

ps got it to work:

Definition of a hero...

Just wow, this cop really did an act of heroism, no if and or buts. I appreciate how the article doesn't pad or elaborate as it isn't needed.

Out for a ride

Up early this morning and did a great ride out along side road 15 all the way to Highway 25. It is one heck of an elevation change, but a great 40 k. I need to practice it a few more times, as I think any route building up to my 100k is going to have to include some big hills. On the up side, or more correctly on the downside, once you climb the damn thing, you get to go weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee all the way down the other side. A definite plus, and the reason why I finally, officially, broke 60 km/h.

Other ride stats, um, 40.5 km, at a pace of 26.5 km/h (still trying to bring that up.

In other embarrassing bike related news I now wear a "bib-short" instead of just a bike short. It is basically a bike short with suspenders instead of an elastic waste. Much more comfortable, much more ridiculous looking.

Cheers

g

Free Agent

Well I'm to, to, to something to directly call everyone, and I'm sure I will talk to you all within minutes of you reading this, so I will get the nasty details out of the way, and you can always call me and say hey. So I was laid off today from my company today. It really sucks, but what you going to do. The blow has been softened with a reasonable package, and well, some time off :)

It looks like I will have the time to be around after the baby was born, and will probably target to get back to work early August, but really nothing is decided, I'm just trying to get my head around it. I knew when I left the bank that this was a risk, and our CEO did give a nebulous presentation recently that implied things weren't rosy and here is the repercussions.

Upset, sure, but almost more that I won't see the completion of the current project, then anything. I was really into it, and now poof. Well that is the news, I don't have any more details then that yet.

g

Biking Report

Beeeeep beepdp beep beeeeep beepdp beeeeep

This just in...

Biked in this morning, this time I didn't get lost,  in my 56.4 km journey.  Nice max of 52.3 km/h, and an average of 25.8 km/h.  Met some stopped to help one guy with a flat, but he was okay, but my stopping synced me up with another rider, I think he said his name was John.  We chatted about random junk, but it was nice to talk to someone, especially since my iPod was out of music (long NDA related story.)

My bike is now past 500 km, go bike!  I think it needs a tune up, I've shaken it down a fair bit.  Riding home will be... interesting :)

Ciao

The Completion of Fort Tomato

So last few weeks have been really busy, with training and fundraising, and then riding in the H&S Ride for Heart, in the midst of all that I have been trying to get my damn tomato's in the ground before I kill them from neglect. Thus was begun the planter to end all planters, the planter so immense (relative to my back yard) that planter doesn't encompass its true nature. This box of mythic dirt capacity is properly known as F O R T T O M A T O!

Erin and I have been in that garden all day Saturday, and all day Sunday (the weekend of the ride) when I wasn't riding, (40+k on Saturday, and 50k on Sunday.) Two full days of busting sod, and leveling the earth, combined with lumber hauling and cutting amounted to the meager completion shown here:



For the rest of the week, working until the hush of night, and the politeness of hammer would allow layer upon layer was added until completion of the structure on Thursday. Each night as dusk settled in the brood would arise from the tall grasses, the humming wings, the stinging proboscis*, and the itching welts. All the furies of the mosquito plague.



Next began the trial of a billion grains of earth also known as dirt lugging... Over 2000L of soil was poured down the gullet of Fort Tomato, and still it cried out for more. Four additional dirt runs beyond the initial dirt delivery were executed to fill the gaping maw, again night began to settle, but with the noise of hammering gone, planting began. Erin, who had not been idle, far from it, had finished planing the rest of the garden by now, and turned her hand to fortress. With each plant came two mosquito bites. When it was done, it was GLORIOUS!



Thus ends this tale, but not the legend of the fort. Journey back this way come high Summer and we will speak of, the harvest.

*may not be technically accurate for Mosquitos

Wild Kitchen Chickens!

Beware of the wild chickens.

Erin's Fear

Coming soon

Big wrap up post is in the works, just not something I can rip off quickly, so here is a stub to let you know that I am in the processes of writing a bigger post wrapping up all the fundraising and riding.

g

Ride-Appetizer

Well we are down to it, the ride is tomorrow and donations are up to 1070. I think they will crawl a little bit higher as the last of the donations come in, but a big thanks to everyone who contributed. Now it is time for me to do my part, so tomorrow morning bright and early (around 5:30 AM) I will head down town to get my ride on.

Just to make sure I was up to it, Kevin took me out riding North of Milton for a nice ride-appetizer, about 40k, with some fierce winds for the first 20 or some, we climbed some good hills and it was good, we only mustered an average of 24 km/h, but seriously, strong head winds up hill for the first half.... It was a tough 24 km/h.

Anyways time to get some rest, my bike needs one too, as it has rolled over 400 km since I got it in early May!

Cheers

g

Coming up quick

Well we are coming up on the ride soon, we had one ride last night about 16km, and another one tonight before the big show. I want to thank everyone who is following my ramblings for participating and donating. We have raised over $700 and I hope to see that climb in these final days before the ride. Please think of me out on the DVP while you are all still in bed Sunday morning.


Thanks!

Geoff

More comic goodness

XKCD is just really great at capturing that inexplainable essence of the thing, and today was no exception.

Every Damn Morning:

Past the Post and Keep on Going

Well last night I had a nice 16 km ride, at a good pace, just keeping limber and strong, with out pushing it. I also broke $500 in collected donations (some are in cash that haven't gone up yet.) To celebrate reaching my goal, I moved the goal post. So $1000 here we come. I know a lot of donations are pending from folks who want to give, but are busy, don't worry I'm an annoying person and I will hound you all week. :)

So please, donate here, before I get to you :P

The World of Chemistry

This is pretty funny, and accurate... a true learning experience.

As promised

Here is Erin and I at our Anniversary Dinner. This year, in breaking tradition, we went to Harrop's which is a restaurant and art gallery here in Milton. We had a really nice time, and we did some remembering of our Italy trip, to make sure we still did remember. It was just over a year ago when Erin shuttled off for Sicily to start what would be a fantastic trip.

For our anniversary Erin got me a brand new cordless drill that I had be coveting, and even managed to pull some sneakiness in getting it right under my nose. I used said drill to hang a bird feeder in our yard that I got for Erin, we would like to let it be known within the bird community that we now have a fine selection of feed for you and that cats will be kept inside for your protection.

I have a picture to post from the shower that Erin's aunt mailed us, so expect that soonish.

Picture Placeholder

I have a picture to post from our Anniversary (May 21 for those who don't recall) but I don't have the camera, the card reader and myself all in one location, so it will have to wait, I just don't want to forget, so note to self... post picture :)

Weekly Update

Well it was a bit of a crazy week, so I'm sorry the posting wasn't a bit more regular, I got my big ride into my twitter feed. So there was probably a little bike ride somewhere last week, but the big one was Friday. Friday morning I got up at 5 AM and road to work, yes all the way to work. The ride turned out to be 63.8 km. It should have been more like 55, but I got lost twice, and took the scenic route. The ride took me 2h 25 minutes, and I think my top speed was 49.5, so that makes my average speed around 25-26 km/h.

The lesson learned in this whole shenanigan, is 1) don't bike on a Friday (end of day traffic and taking computer's home for the weekend suck more.) 2) Just stick to the main roads, the waterfront trail is designed as a scenic thing that locals might use for short walks, and not to be ridden from end to end. It is discontinuous, circuitous, and dead-endy (or at least for bikes in certain areas.) Otherwise the ride was awesome, I showed up at the office at the same time as my train would normally pull in, so while still on my ride high I buzzed everyone and walking to work and gave them a hard time.

I wasn't nearly as sore as I thought I might be, stiff, but manageable. The ride home wasn't, in fact Erin picked me up from Oakville, I probably could have done it, but I'm glad I didn't. One way on the first go is more then enough thank you.

The only other ride I did this weekend was a nice jaunt with Erin on Sunday morning before our class. It was such a beautiful weekend, a shame we were inside for most of it, but we stole what we could of it.

The bike's Odometer is now some where over 300 km, I won't break 500 before the ride, but that is neither here nor there. As for donations, I think the totally pledged amount is over 500 now, but not the website amount which is at $470. So as we pass 500, the next number is 1000, I don't see any reason to stop once I meet my preliminary goal, as I really do believe in the Heart&Stroke Foundation.
so...
Thanks so much everyone!

Ride is less then a week away, so training will ease off as I don't want to start the ride sore, but I will keep you all in the loop as we countdown the days.

Bob and Sher's Pig Rescue

From Bob and Sher'...

Erin and I visited her Uncle Bob and Aunt Sherry's new place in Arthur this weekend. Aside from our particular joy and getting 118.9 for gas, we also had a really good time visiting with family. Bob and Sher are a bit more unorthodox with their farm up there offering a Pig Rescue for abused and abandoned pet pigs (in just searching the web I realized there is an important 3rd class of surrendered pigs from people who can no longer care for them for personal health reasons.)

Anyways, it was a really cool visit, and in honesty what they are doing might be a little unorthodox, but they are really happy and doing something good, so good on them.

BYO-Spinning Class

So I did spinning today at the gym, sort of... I showed up at the gym with only my spinning clothes, including my cycling shoes, and hip spinning shorts (yeah bike shorts are just stupid looking.) When I'm told the spinning teacher is sick (this girl seriously needed to take a week off and get better, I just wish I had more notice.) Anyways sans gym teacher, and all gussied up for spinning, I said forget this, and just hopped on the spinning bike by myself. So I did some pretend hill climbing, and some sprinting, and I tried but was too embarrassed to shout encouragement at myself. In any respect I managed a respectable spinning class by myself, and I'm glad too, once again an evening not worthy of biking (grrr) maybe I'm getting fussy.

Instead I reseeded the front lawn, and watered both lawns.

Cheers

Late Bike Update

Ooookay, so my computer did go battery while I was out riding, but I think it worked out okay, so here are the details for last Friday:
36.8 km
Avg: 26.3 km/h
Peak: 49.5 km/h

My total for the week was:
78.2 km

Donations are up to 315 posted, and an additional 50 pledged. We are almost there everyone, so please folks who are waiting to the end, the end is nigh!

On the Rain Slick Precipice of Wednesday

So in the months of not paying attention this game has slowly crawled forth from the primordial code to it's immanent release date. I can't wait, especially with the triple threat digital download to PC/Mac/360 all on one day (and I think but am not sure one price gets you all three.)

In the mean time, Biofilm and Super Smash Brothers will have to distract me, oh yeah, and biking, babies, and work.


Anyways I shall see you all on the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness, cheerio!

Last week update will be late

Hey all, I don't have an update for last week yet because I forgot to post about my friday ride. Last week was maybe a touch disappointing from a ride perspective, but the weather was unforgiving. I can deal with most stuff, including the rain I cycled out into last week, but I think I only got out the twice. Sadly gusting winds are my kryptonite, especially when combined with cold. So I will get that update in tonight, but don't let that stop you from donating.

This One is For Grandma, Who is Doing Better then the Purple Ninja

Red Herring North America Winners 2008 Announced

Well we are all really stoked around here as QuickPlay made it into Red Herring's 2008 Top 100 Tech Startups. Don't know the exact demographic breakdown, but if we aren't the only Canadian's in the lot, we are certainly one of a very small percentage. Business is starting to feel very very good around here, although one can't help but wonder if being on a list like Red Herring's doesn't now put us on the shopping list of the Fortune 500 Tech companies, for good or ill. Still I hear our CEO is still on cloud nine.

Reseeding

Lawn is getting the royal reseeding treatment in the front and back, this week (well the front isn't there yet,) and this weekend I may dig the new beds, we are really expanding the beds in the back with the new fence. We need to move the tomato bed to more sun, so while we are at it we are just going to go bed CrAzY!

Sloshy

No not some terribly hip non-heavy metal band, but to the state of my shoes, last night I rode out into that slop or a rain storm. The rain wasn't so bad as to blow me around, or get in my eyes, so I figured what the heck. So I headed out for a brisk 26.4 km, peak 47.1 km/h and an average of 24.75 km/h. I did end up completely soaked, except for my shirt which by some miracle of of plastination (not the creepy body worlds kind) stayed more or less dry, and my shoes were small lakes. My hope is that the shoes which are designed to wick sweat dry without issue, and I also toweled the mud and grime of the bike as best I could to make sure nothing jams up. I don't think I will be in a hurry to do that again, but I thought I would give it a try at least once. Needed to know I could ride in the rain, incase it rains on June 1st while I am riding in the Heart&Stroke Ride for Heart.

The JUSTIN BAILEY Conspiracy

OMFG! This is just freaking hilarious. Props to WWdN: In Exile for passing the buzz.

Little Sprint

Last night I didn't get out until about 8:30, and that was after both a heavy dinner and a lot of gardening. So the sun was down and it was chilly in my shorts and a t-shirt, but I did manage to keep warm by just going faster. I tried to keep an average speed of about 30 km/h but I think the real number was closer to ~28.3 km/h or so. I kind of hit a wall (figuratively) out there, and in keeping it closer to home there were more lights slowing me down. So In total a fast 15 km to start the training week. Today I spin at the gym.

Week in Review

Well lets see, last week I rode about 135 km (almost a century (over 7 days))  all though the lion's share was in that single big ride.  

As fundraising goes we went from 170 to 295,  we are leaping and bounding towards that goal of 500, and I hope to be there soon.  If there is anyone who wants to make a cash donation, please let me know, I've prepared a little donation sheet so I can gather your information for tax return purposes.  Just let me know if that is the case, otherwise you can still donate at the link.

G

Baby Shower Mark 1

Well yesterday was a busy busy day, I know I worked all morning on clean up, but nothing looks all that clean, fencing sure is abusive on a backyard and house.  I did manage to take back all the extra lumber and swap various other pieces, and run a million other little errands, but it culminated in me having a snack literally in the shower before dashing off to join Erin at her Baby shower.  

Seriously... I ate pizza while taking a shower....  madness...

The shower was exceptionally nice, Erin's grandmother hosted it at her building (where they have a number of rooms you can book,) and her Aunt helped organize it.  All the ladies came out and showered us with baby gifts (I guess that is why they call it a baby shower, but seriously wow!)  At the moment I am playing with the little tikes bath tub shark as it cracks me up a little.

So thanks to all who organized, and attended, 'Morgan' is going to love all his great new things, just as soon as he arrives.  Please don't be alarmed if he shows his appreciation by quietly sitting, or spitting up.

I will get some pictures from Val and post them when I can.

Bah, Gah, Fah, Mah Legs Are Hurting

Well that was one [Epic Ride] by the numbers 55.2 km, pace 24.5 km/h, max speed 59.8 km/h.  Now I will spare the physics of it, but I I think if you look at my leading pedal tow coming forward while the bike was traveling at that velocity, and I think you will agree that the leading toe, relative to the ground was probably going in excess of 60 km/h.

Now I'd like to point out that this is in excess of my last ride by a fair margin, and in excess of what is required for the Heart&Stroke Ride For Heart so yeah, but now I'm tired, very very tired.  Really who puts a town called Lowville at the bottom of a really big hill, really!

Pedal Clips Have Ruined Me

Last night was a take it easy night, Erin and I went out together, and I used my Hybrid not my road bike. It made for a bit of a recovery day for my poor abused legs. Unfortunately, it turns out I have become used to my pedal clips on my road bike, so for the first 10 minutes out on my hybrid I was flailing my legs like a maniac. In the end I sorted them out, but with out the clips holding my feet in place I looked the part of the idiot. As for number we road about 12.5 km, I don't have a computer on that bike, so I don't know our speed/pace.

We followed up with some curry/roti, I may have (in a gesture of bravado) spiced my face off, I will check again in the mirror after morning coffee to verify that I still have a face, but jebus was my curry hot!

What Happened to Moxy Früvous?

Every once in a while I cruise the music store looking to see if Moxy Früvous is still writing music, and as far as I could tell they vanished... Until today when naively listening to Q on CBC Radio 1. Well it turns out that Jian Ghomeshi one of the singer/song writer/instrumental's of Früvous is the Host of Q, which I have been listening to and enjoying for month's. He is also released his own debut solo CD. Wiki provides the remainder of the details on where the rest of them went.

Poetry Corner / Quacks Like an Anti-Duck

So I've been trying out all sorts of new music recently, some of it comes from CBC, which has the unique habit of playing random music from artists you've never heard of before. Sometimes you get crazy things like Chinese hip-hop, Bollywood Country, or whale songs. Other times it is more mundane, traditional, world music. Sometimes it is just lesser known bands, or indy music, and sometimes it is just a the latest from an established Canadian artist, because CBC supports her own. You get like tops 1-2 songs an hour nestled between news and programs. So it really is a surprise, and once in a while I hear something that just clicks, like Regina Spektor. I think I may have mentioned her before, but I'm given her a second mention for a few reasons, one is that I like the music, two I've started hearing her on more mainstream stations (yeah I heard something for once that became popular after I liked it, :) and three because her Wikipedia article has me confused, but I will explain that in a second.

So here is a bit of her poetry, a lyric from her most popular single, and the one that caught my ear, I was reminded of it by Erin, who picked up on it herself as a great sentiment.

No, this is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again

- Regina Spektor, On the Radio

So her Wiki, before I get to her Wiki a little more rambling, we watched Juno a few weeks ago, great movie by the by, and one of the notable features of it is a great sound track. So compelled by the sound I went out and grabbed both the sound track, and the album by the artist who really represents 50% or more of the it by herself. That being Kimya Dawson.

So where does this all come together, well I've recently come to the conclusion that the majority of the music I like actually falls into the genre basket of "Folk." So as I come to understand that music style I said to myself, wow these two new artists I am listening to they totally sound like folk, I bet that is why I like them.

So I looked them up, first one, then the other, as I had guessed they were both of a similar genre, but not folk, they were bum bum bummmmm Anti-folk... You know that old saying if you look like a duck, and quack like a duck... Well as far as I can tell (and music snobs can correct me) but anti-folk is really just folk artists who got turned down for being to boarder line folk from some of the more prominent venues, probably for actually just not being of big enough name yet. So they just said fine, if we're not folk enough for you, then now we are anti-folk, and TADA a new genre was born.

So my ear might not be able to divine the secret minutia of the sub-genre's, but I will say that be they ducks, or anti-ducks, folk or anti-folk, I still like the sound...

Called on account of rain

My ride today was cut short by a peel of thunder, and some light rain, I only managed 34.9 km, with an average pace of about 42 km/h. Which seems high.... I guess I made good time on the route home, or my computer is lying to me.

...

Or my math is wrong, rechecked it, 25 km/h. That is better, and more consistent with past experience. Could have done another 5 easy, but better inside and dry, then outside and hit by thunder...

Red Herring Names QuickPlay Media a Finalist For the Red Herring North America 100 2008

Not sure if I can release this, but it is public and on our site, and I thought it was kind of awesome, so legal if I'm not allowed to post this, ask me and I will take it down, but you will forgive me for thinking QuickPlay is pretty cool.

Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Red Herring Names QuickPlay Media a Finalist For the Red Herring North America 100 2008

Award Recognizes the 100 “Most Promising” Companies Driving the Future of Technology

San Francisco, CA— April 15, 2008

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Red Herring today announced that QuickPlay Media, the leader in mobile TV and video solutions, has been named a finalist for the Red Herring 100 Award, a selection of the 100 most innovative private technology companies based in North America.

The Red Herring editorial board diligently surveyed the entrepreneurial
scene throughout the North American region and identified the top 200 out of more than 800 closely evaluated companies that are leading the next wave of innovation.

“We empower leading brands such as Alltel, XM, Bell and Research in Motion to bring quality rich media content to their customers,” said Wayne Purboo, president and CEO of QuickPlay Media. “Our success comes from simplifying all aspects of the management and distribution of this content, with flexible technology that scales with the increasingly sophisticated demands of customers. Being selected as a finalist for the Red Herring 100 is an honor, and we appreciate the recognition of our market, and QuickPlay’s approach within that market.”

The 100 winning companies will be announced at the Red Herring North America event. The CEOs of the winning startups will present their innovative ideas and technologies to an audience of leading entrepreneurs, financiers and corporate strategists at the event in San Jose, California, on May 12-14 at the Fairmont. This year’s Red Herring 100 North America event marks the 11th anniversary of the Red Herring 100 Awards. In celebration, the event will feature keynote addresses from legendary VC investors and CEOs of leading Internet, information and communications companies. Register online at: http://herringevents.com/northamerica08/index.html.

About QuickPlay Media
QuickPlay Media provides content management and distribution solutions for mobile television and video services. The QuickPlay OpenVideo™ platform offers maximum flexibility and streamlined application integration for mobile operators, media companies and technology partners. The platform powers mobile video services for 13 major mobile operators in North America and Europe, providing both live and on-demand content from more than 150 different media companies. OpenVideo works in many different mobile content ecosystems, seamlessly operating with major search, advertising, billing and user interface frameworks. QuickPlay Media Inc. has offices in Toronto, San Francisco and London. For complete information, please visit www.quickplay.com.

About Red Herring
Red Herring is a global media company which unites the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service, technology newsletters and major events for technology leaders around the globe. Red Herring provides an insider’s access to the global innovation economy, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy. More information about Red Herring is available on the Internet at www.redherring.com.

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For more information, please contact:

QuickPlay Media Inc.
Christi Dean
fama PR
(617) 758-4153
quickplay@famapr.com

Red Herring
Anam Alpenia
Red Herring, Inc.
650-428-2900
aalpenia@redherring.com

Crowd Sourcing

Okay, not a big a crowd as the typical crowd sourced question, but I'm trying to find a widget or a piece of Java Script, that even if I have to manually update it, shows a progress bar to the fund raising goal for the Heart&Stroke Ride. I'd love it if Kintara/H&S F had such a badge, but seems like no dice, so it will have to be something I manually update. I've found a few, but they are attached to actually fund raising, like chipin, and I don't like the idea of people paypaling me money first, just seems redonkulous when there already is a great donation webpage. So crowd, ideas?

Spinning results in, nor yarn produced.

Do you find these constant updates reminding you about the Heart&Stroke Ride for Heart a bit tedious?

Tough luck, because they are going to keep coming.

I did my Tuesday spinning class today, after last nights time in the saddle I didn't think my butt would survive, and the first 5 minutes of class were a little touch and go, but I settled into it, and got it done. Spinning, not the knitting variety, is different from cycling, as much as a tread mill is from running. You work the same muscles, but in a controlled way. In some respect it lets you concentrate less on the rocks on the road, and more on technique. I'm doing my best to compensate for my left leg, which keeps lifting a bit high tightening up my calf muscle. Just have to keep mentally shouting at my heel, "down, down, DOWN!" We're working on it...

Anyways, I'm starting to recover from my rides faster, I still want to hit 40km by end of week, so lets get'r done (especially as it looks like another wet weekend.

Lost in the Wilderness

So I was out and about on my bike last night trying to get some training km in, when I got a touch lost. I was never truly lost, but there are some less then bike friendly roads I like to avoid, like highway 25, which I was forced on to last night after making a wrong turn. A turn I made after distinctly asking for directions and clearly being miss informed. In the end I managed to make it home no worse for ware and with an extra km or two under the belt. In total I went about 33 km, with an average pace of about 25 kph. Not to shabby, and well on my way to the Ride for Heart.

Today is spinning, and tomorrow I will push for 35-40 km.

Lunar Surface, Here I Come

Apature Po

Loki found himself a friend in science, a companion if you will.

Fencing

Well this weekend the fences finally went up, and was it messy! Saturday started out soggy, but steadily got worse throughout the day. Trevor and Chris were able to get the auguring going while I marked holes and toted supplies to and fro. The supply toting upset Loki who found himself spending irregular amounts of time locked behind what ever door was convenient. The holes went in so smoothly that we were able to take the augur back early for a refund, and never needed the clam shell digging scoop. At this point we were all lightly wet, but okay.

We started work on the cement at this point, and things started to slow down/go down hill. The raid started picking up, and it fouled the bags the cement was in resulting in no less then 2 bags broken and strewn about. A fair bit of dirt was added as aggregate to our mix. We also made some alignment mistakes that resulted in the last post on the first side needed to be hand dug out extra (note that I already returned the augur and hand digger at this point.)

By the time we got started on the second side all the holes were completely flooded and we used the fish tank draining kit to suck clear them out. We also ran a foul of strange forces for the next two posts, and one of them ended up out of kilter. The third post in we were positively soaked, we had to drain the hole again and were fighting gusting winds. As we started to pour, the raid came down like a hammer. As we set his post, we realized that the skies had opened there fury upon us, and we were sodden to the bone. We collected up the tools that react poorly to water (including the plugged in extension cord sitting in the pool of water,) and fled to higher ground. 7/8 was all that was getting done, and no one was upset about that. We capped off Saturday with a team pitcher at Boston Pizza, (where they made Erin sit with a glass of beer that she wasn't drinking because of the "rules") and then Iron Man, which was amazing!

With the posts in place, Sunday went noticeably smoother. We started a little later as people recovered, and did a supply run to replace the ruined cement. We got the last post in and moved on to stringers and and slats. The day really just happened, we were certainly busy all day, but no major snags, and it all just came together. Our neighbors, Jodi and Nick, were out and did a great job, I dare say that Jodi's hammering became noticeably proficient and confident over the day as she nailed in nearly half the slats herself. Alex, my brother, also was out all weekend, through rain and shine, and showed he might just have the makings of an engineer in him. He wielded tools with skill, and without the need for direction and really helped get things done. Erin entertained Emma and Katie all Saturday, as well as running endless errands, keeping us fed, entertaining a parade of visitors, and swung a few hammer throws herself. Although she failed at knot tying.

The traditional blood sacrifice was provided by Trevor who cut on a big splinter, and Nick who took a chunk of wood to the hand after it got kicked by the saw. The finished job looks fantastic. Here are some image highlights, and you can see the rest over at picasa.

Ride Update

So here is the update for last week.

The total raised so far is $170, $120 of which was donated last week.

My riding hasn't been quite as awesome as the donations, I've ridden a total of 45 km last week, as well as a spinning session, but fencing prevented weekend riding.

Please keep the donations coming in, and we will hit that total goal in no time.

Same as the first, but more baby soothing....

I'm not sure what the message is

I think they are saying buy this car, it is roomy, and can fit lots of people... Or they are saying buy this car and get fed to monster dogs, but soccer monsters...

Die-hard knitters prepare for sock battle

By Claire Sibonney TORONTO (Reuters Life!) - There may be nothing scary about socks, but a cut-throat competition involving hundreds of furiously fast knitters with pointy needles is enough to send even accomplished enthusiasts' pulse racing. Sock...So I saw this on Reuters, and decided I'd post it to digg, and then blog my digg just to double dip the internet (I don't even know w I mean, I think it was easier to click digg this, then blog this, then to actually blog it.) Anyways kind of cool Assassins meets sock knitting. If I wasn't knitting other stuff right now I would jump in, but I think I'd probably get taken down before I could complete my first pair. Cool concept, maybe I will check it out next year.

read more | digg story

Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart Training Update

Okay so two bigger rides on the new bike so far, last night I broke 20 km, took about 50 minutes, so about an avg of 25 km/h, but in reality is was about 20 km/h out into a killer wind, and 40 km/h back with a tail wind and a leg cramp.

I'm ramping up faster then my body can take it right now, I may ride again today making it 4 days in a row, or I may just take a day off. Can't decide, because I know tomorrow is out as I need to not be dead for Saturday, as using an auger is killer hard.

Heart and Stroke Ride For Heart Donation Update

Well Trevor jumped the gun and is in there with a first donation before we kicked off. The total is at $50 / 500, that is 10% of the way!

Becel Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart, Toronto 2008 Fundraising Kickoff

Good morning all, well this is the official kick off to my fund raising campaign for the Becel Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart.

For those of you who don't want to read my ramblings and just jump straight to donations, I won't stop you, you can click here.

I'm going to start this post with H&S's boiler plate on why they think you should donate, then I am going to tell you why I'm riding.

I am writing you to ask for your support for a worthy cause that is very close to my heart. I am participating in the Becel Heart&Stroke Ride for Heart on Sunday, June 1, 2008 and I am trying to raise funds to support breakthrough medical advances, social change and health education.

With your help the Heart and Stroke Foundation can continue to lead the way in protecting the health of millions of Canadians at risk of heart disease and stroke - today, and for generations to come.

Your donation means life to others. With generous donations like yours, the Foundation has achieved:
- Treating and preventing cardiac arrest in children
- Improving prevention and management of high blood pressure
- Fighting to eliminate trans fats from processed foods

Can I please count on your support? Your donation funds results that change lives.

1. Now for my reasons, and I have a couple, some are altruistic and some more selfish. I think the most obviously selfish is that as a Caucasian, young adult, overweight (that isn't the technical term but I'm not talking to the BMI calculator today,) male I'm know I'm in one of the higher risk groups for heart disease. Not withstanding the known family history, and likely hood that the only thing separating me from being in that highest risk group is age, which has an inexorable passage that will place me there soon. So what does that mean? Well as I am fortunate enough to not live in a warzone, or third world nation, the most likely thing to "get me" is heart disease, and so I've decided to take the fight to heart disease. The number one way is whipping my poor body into shape, and the second is through research into life saving treatments through the Heart and Stroke foundation. I figure if we can press this war on a few more fronts we can win this war!

3. Now pure self preservation isn't my only reason for supporting this cause, nor should your own personal self preservation be the only reason, although it is a good reason. A few others include, research, treatments, technology and facilities partially funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation have saved, or extended the life of many people you know and love. In like 10 seconds I came up with a list of five people who I know, and have been the beneficiary of not dieing, and I didn't even try very hard to come up with those names. I'm sure I could hit 25 people if I just thought about it, and I bet all of you could as well. I think beyond being thankful for these people, they are a testament to the efficacy and value of the donations to the Heart and Stroke foundation.

3. Another reason, that is more for me then for you, but I still think is a good point, is that the Heart and Stoke Ride for Heart really helps in two ways, the first is obviously through donations to support H&S Foundation, but the other is reminding folks that one of the best ways to stay healthy is to participate in some activity. Not everyone needs to cycle 50 km to reap the benefits of a active lifestyle, but as fund raising events go, very few actually will have a direct benefit to their very cause like this one, as every participant will be healthier for it, and hopefully the seething mass of people being healthy will catch on to their friends and family and they will all be better off.

4. It is not morally ambiguous, by which I mean, there is no reason to not donate to the Heart and Stroke foundation, no one I know can look me in the eyes and say heart disease isn't a real health issue, and that research and treatment isn't a good thing. (If you do say that to my face, and can keep a straight face, then I worry about you.) This is a donation that will make a change, and you can unequivocally feel good about.

5. Okay, this one is more for you guys then me, but if you like to make me suffer you have to donate. I'm going out there this year to do the 50 km ride, that is double last years. I'm doing it, because I can, and because Erin can't ride, so I'm going to ride for her. Next year though, I'm going to have to decide if I am going to ride 50 km, or the more aggressive 75 km. So here is the deal... If you guys want me to do 75 km next year, then you have to break the the $500 donation goal this year. This is low hanging fruit, we did it last year, with only 3 days notice, so this year I expect you to blow it out of the water.


So there you go 5 reasons:
1. Save your self
2. Save your loved ones
3. Get Healthy
4. Feel good about it
5. Make Geoff Suffer!

Can't argue with those reasons now can you?

So this is the link for the third time: LINK

Get those donations coming in, I will of course email you all with an email similar to this, and I will post my training and donation status up until the race.

Feel free to extort your coworkers and friends as well :)

Geoff

Something

Just sharing a good story from the interwebs, a story that isn't about anything bad or miserable, kind of refreshing actually.

Weekend

The weekend may be the physical end of the week, but unlike the normal winding down of things that may occur during a workweek, my weekends are just crammed full to popping with stuff. This one was no different.

Saturday was hectic, I started early at Re-My Sport picking up my new bike. The fitting process was intense, I'm not sure what I thought the fitting would be like, but it turned into an effort of attempting to get mm precision in leg extension, drop, leg extension, and cleat alignment. There were lasers! Honestly, it could have been bs and I still would have been impressed. I have learned one important lesson this year, and that is, don't shop for Bike's in April. The overall bike shopping experience wasn't what I had hopped for, and what directed my purchasing decision was the level of personal service at Re-My. The bikes in my price range are all very similar and choice often comes down to a personal fit/comfort level. So I needed to ride some bikes, and Re-My was the only place able to make time for me to do that. It still took longer then I would have hoped, but I was given attention as a customer, and that was a decidcing factor.

Once the bike was built, fit and loaded, I headed home for a ride before the day started. I never really made it home. I got diverted on route to take some measurements for my parents deck stairs, at which point I was near to Trevor's where I had intended to pick him up, so I just said forget it to driving home first and threw my new wheels on the road. Before I knew it I was whipping past Plum Tree Park PS, and having a ball! The bike was awesome, it felt great under me, I had control, speed, stability, and SPEED! Before I knew it I had covered 10km, in about a half an hour. I even broke the speed limit (in a 40 zone...)

I wrapped up my ride at Trevor's where I surveyed with him his Dad's fence so I could get a full understanding of fence elements for my own estimates. We then headed back to Milton where we measured up my backyard and calculated out the lumber needed for the fence. As if on queue lunch arrived in the form of Pizza from Erin, who hurriedly gobbled some for her and "Morgan" before running off to continue her own busy day.

Trevor and I headed over to Rona and ordered up a pile of material bordering on excessive, and opting for delivery over take home. I'm sure I would have eaten more then 30$ in gas if I had gone back and forth the 8-10 times that would have been required. Note to self, need a friend with a van or truck, chastise friend for killing environment between hauling trips.

We then headed over to Kevin's place. Kevin had invited the "boys" from McMaster, we were down a few for medical reasons, I will spare you the gory details that I was not spared from. So it was Kevin, Brad, Rod, Trevor and I, and we just had a cool day. We played some Rock Band (turns out Kevin can sing... frightening...) went for some Go Karting, and then some drinking, followed by BBQ and Hockey Night in Canada.

It was, too say the least, a very very busy day, but good.

The rest of the weekend involved a little less frantic shopping, riding bikes, and chilling out, and as the next weekend seems closer to this one (as it has taken me days to write this post,) I will close off here.

Cheers.

Zomg Blogging

Yeah, just a warning, I am, and remain, a lazy blogger, so this recent burst may have to hold you for a few days at the very least.

Cheers :)

New Bike!

So after much trying, shopping, reading, and maybe less testing, I bought a new road bike. Last years biking success was so great that this year I wanted to kick it up a notch, so I got a shmancy new road bike to take to the streets with. I hit a lot of bike shops, at perhaps the busiest time of the year, but it turns out after much research many of the bikes are very similar, and you just need to find the right feel in your component/price range. To do that you just need a sales person to give an iota of a damn about you and take some time and put you on a bike. So while I have been a stanch supporter of my local store, but this time around they just were too busy to give me any sort of time, so instead I went to a different local store, ReMy Sport in Streetsville.

In the end I went with the Giant Bicycles - OCR 1 which is a great "Sport Road Bike." It road really great, and I'm looking forward to picking it up next weekend, and going zooming about.

Kitchen Disaster

We painted the kitchen this weekend, a project that has been needed for an age or two... My question, philosophically, is why do kitchens have some many edges!!! It took longer to tape then it did paint, and the painting wasn't exactly easy either...

Anyways I don't have finished shots, and honestly it is hard to capture how clean the walls look without sharing how nasty they were before, but believe me it is nicer, instead I share these images of the ruin wrought upon our house by painting.

Grandpa's 86th Birthday

Another quick post, these are pictures from the David Duncan House from last week where we celebrated grandpa's 86th. If you are wondering the colour is salmon, or perhaps mango, not pink, I was given assurances...

New Office

Well it is two weeks now in the new office, and we have really settled in. They built some more private offices enclosing some of the openness, but for guys whose job it is to be on the phone and meet with clients it makes sense. We are all getting used to the space, including the smaller shared bathroom, but really the complaints are minimal compared to the old space. I think as a company we took a great step when we moved here, it was a step up, and a maturation that helps everyone refocus and realize how great we are doing. We can't stop to rest on our laurels, but should consider the new office to be a reward for success, and a space to grow into for the future (we really are far from capacity (which is nice for a change.)

Anyways here are just some random camera snaps from move in day.

Moving out

Another image dump, here is our last day at the old office. Place is starting to look a little spartan as we are packing and moving everything.

If you look back through the blog at the first images, the place was a lot less built, that whole back section was a gutted monstrosity. It has come a long way.

The board room table has been reduced to a shadow of its former glory. The table actually got taken early to get refinished, it was in a sad state after years of the roof leaking on it.




Here was the view from my desk, I always was partial to the chainmail stair curtain, but it doesn't photo well.

Just some more picutres

When I started the photo dump I thought from the thumbnail that I (or erin) had grabbed a shot of the chair with the chair back, but I was wrong it is just the wall graphics (still unhung.) But here you go, updated shots of the nursery now including crib.

Fun Optical Glow?

Okay, this isn't a deep and thoughtful post, just a WTF

I need a new mouse for the office, so I'm cruising Staples, when I see this mouse. In its feature section I see the following:

Fun optical glow - no mouse ball

Seriously... Seriously? I don't even know, are we selling mice in the 1990's again?

I'm reminded of Radio Shack's Ad "This mouse is so big it is a rat"

Not the Weekend I was Expecting

But good none the less,

Friday started as an attempt to get together with Trevor and the three of us go out for dinner and a movie. It never actually made it past the meet with Trevor part, which ended in a impromptu pub night in downtown. Trevor had already wrangled up a bunch of RBC'rs some I knew, and a few new ones, and what started as a pint, just kept going through two live performers and many many rounds. As per usual Erin laughed at me in the morning, apparently I am quite the proliferate thumb typist when out on the town. Anyways, it made for a late, but pleasant night, Trevor and his gang drink there often enough that they are now friends with the first act, who actually owns what is supposed to be a pretty hip indie music place of his own. Since I have a brain like a sieve I can't remember the name of the place, but it is 'cool.' We were supposed to end up there, but didn't.

Saturday was a take two on Friday, but before we got that far TWO of my friends gave birth whilst I was deep in slumber. Chris and Emma (Chris being that trouble maker Trevor's brother) welcomed into the world young miss Katie, who was in quite the hurry decided that 4 hours was more then enough warning of her intent to join us outside, to actually being here. Mom and baby are now how and doing well, although understandable tired.

Another friend relatively new friend Pierre and his wife (whom I actually haven't met yet,) welcomed Annabelle, who was actually in less of a hurry, and had happily grown to 12lbs 4oz... Pierre's wife is in a bit of discomfort, but recovering.

Both were born in the wee wee hours of the morn.

So with babies on the brain Erin and I did our own registry at Baby's R Us, I'd link it, but I can't seem too do so, but if you can in theory, when it is working, look up the registry under Erin's name. We then visited Chris and Emma at the hospital, Emma was out finally getting some rest, and Chris was masterfully handling the baby, I promise Emma, he caught her on the first bounce. :P )

We then did meet up with Trevor for the dinner and a movie, dinner being at our house, with a side of some board games, and chillen in the dark for earth hour, followed by that new gambling flick 21. Not the best casino movie ever made, but pretty good, the lead actor whose name slips my mind but was also in Across the Universe is pretty good, and someone to keep an eye on. Now maybe it was the haze of a busy day, and late prior night, but I have to concede missing the triple cross at the end which Erin had guessed would happen. So one point for Erin on the predictometer, I think that narrows my lead to only infinity - 1. :p

Sunday was more subdue, Erin is feeling better and now back to the gym, while I helped with the groceries. We then ran around did some errands and chores, then ended at Erin's parents for a nice dinner, and a show-and-tell on the many ongoing projects for 'Morgan's' room.

So not what I was expecting, but good.