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Journal (The Ember Update)

Wednesday, August 13

Vancouver tips?

I've been busy unpacking this week. I continue to be excited about decorating my new digs … things are coming together. A new pattern seems to be emerging, one where I stay up 'til 2:00 or 3:00 AM doing my own thing. I think if I had no other considerations I could maintain such a schedule easily.

Rash and I are meeting in Vancouver at the end of the month (a birthday treat). I've gotten a few pointers on cool things to do there from a couple friends:

• Snack on a cream-filled Bearclaw (I'm only familiar with the cinnamon sugar type)
• Dine at a First Nation restaurant called Liliget Feast House (reservations recommended)
• Rent a Segway

I'm looking for more suggestions. If you know of something worth seeing in or around Vancouver, please email me and let me know. Thanks!

As It Happens

Late last night I was listening to Canadian radio's As It Happens. I normally don't care for the show's hosts (with voices reminiscent of chain smokers), but last night Mary Lou Finlay was absent and her male substitute made the show bearable, even asking some interesting questions of his interviewees (e.g., "We know that humans like to listen to dolphin sounds. Are there any human sounds dolphins seem to like?"). In the past I've been turned off by the inane inquiries sometimes made by Finlay and co-host Barbara Budd. I swear I once heard one ask a guest something like, "Were you upset when your daughter disappeared?" … Duh.

Anyway, through last night's snow I learned that the US government has a new tactic for persecuting pacifists. The US Treasury Department is charging protesters who have defied the ban on travel to Iraq $10,000 for the offense, with no appeal process. These protesters have had their due process rights suspended. Ryan Clancy, a human shield, is one of those charged. Since he's refusing to pay, the penalty they're now threatening is 12 years jail time and a $1,000,000 fine. As Clancy pointed out,

"It seems incongruous. Here we are trying to liberate and provide freedom to the citizens of Iraq, but we're preventing our own citizens from going over and seeing the situation first hand."

On another note, the show reported that sales for downloadable mobile phone ringtones have been up, and are actually making companies a profit, a boost to the music industry. Sales of ringtones this year are expected to increase 60%, and will surpass sales of CD singles (somebody must buy those). The current top downloads were from a bunch of groups I'd never heard of. I'm getting old. The stuff they sampled on the radio sounded like bad MIDIs and others with awful production values, but maybe there's an investment opportunity in this field. If only I could determine where one would invest to take advantage of the situation!

The previously referenced piece on Dolphin Calls reported that the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation in Ireland now offers to pipe the sound of Bottlenose dolphins to British Vodafone mobile phone users, via a dedicated number. So if you're a customer you can get some relief during rush-hour … just dial in to distract yourself from the unpleasant ringtone on your neighbor's phone. :o)

Wednesday, August 6

Bold and italic are the male and female of typeface emphasis.

My Attic

This past weekend I packed up and moved again (many thanks for the help, Jonathan and Speaker!). This makes my 7th move since 1998.

I'm already loving my new attic space, which Janet generously painted to my specifications. I'm going to make it my first ever carefully decorated room-of-my-own. My current plan is for one end to be my studio, the other my lounge. I've already made my bed every morning, so who knows, maybe I can avoid my past pitfalls of piles and clutter. I feel hopeful. Janet doesn't have a TV and neither do I (if you don't count the one I left in CA with Rash), which satisfies one of my biggest criteria for a housemate.

The next thing I have to tackle is my habit of daydreaming for long periods upon awakening. I waste hours in the morning, and once I have a new studio easel (I lost two in the flood) I hope to wake and create before work. We'll see …

Indianapolis

While I didn't take photos at GenCon, I did take pictures of interesting sights around the Convention Center. From my limited experience I found Indianapolis to be an unexpectedly attractive city. Here are a few pics that link to my Indianapolis travelogue.

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