journal features
movie reviews
photo of the day

michael's journal

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

2024

watching Pulp Fiction with my son

2024.03.16, Kokubunji
Over the course of a few nights my son and I managed to watch "Pulp Fiction" on Netflix.

what goes on in southern Kyushu

2024.03.16, Kokubunji
On Reddit, someone posted a map of southern Kyushu and ask what life is like in the region.

my father's final photo

2024.03.16, Kokubunji
my father's final photo My father was a regular photographer

undersea rivers that extend thousands of kilometers

2024.03.14, Kokubunji
I must be watching more science stuff these days on Youtube, because this was recommended for me.

goldfish spawn

2024.03.13, Kokubunji
Two of Emma's goldfish spawned today.

volleyball serve

2024.03.03, Takasaki
This young lady is as tall as I am: 195cm. Collections co

whatchu staring at

2024.03.03, Tokyo
I shot this sparrow by our feeder. Yes, that's the laundry

statue on a hill

2024.03.03, Takasaki
I shot this after emerging from a volleyball game in Takasaki in Gunma prefecture.

Pentax is releasing a new film camera

2024.03.03, Kokubunji
Half-frame vertical frames?

cities in Canada quiz

2024.03.03, Kokubunji
There's a thing on Reddit where people are posting maps from a quiz where you have to name cities and towns in a given region.

planet of bicycles

2024.03.02, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  olympus 9-1

rock outside a temple in Kokubunji

2024.03.01, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.

there must be 38 ways to mis-spell our name

2024.02.24, Kokubunji
Well, it's happened yet again.

the center of Tokyo prefecture

2024.02.24, Kokubunji
I've had a stab at working out where the center of Tokyo prefecture is.

movie review - Godzilla -1.0

2024.02.23, Kokubunji
This is a Gojira movie from Toho, the originators of the genre.

bribing a bent judge to go away

2024.02.22, Kokubunji

smearing the sky with long exposure

2024.02.19, Tokyo
This photo of a university campus at dusk took nearly a sec

deciphering text from a blob of carbon

2024.02.19, Kokubunji
Thanks to Martin for the link!

today's word is 時計

2024.02.17, Kokubunji
Long ago I learned the kanji 時

lost my Suica card

2024.02.15, Kokubunji
I've lost my Suica card.

journal entry 2024.02.12

2024.02.12, Kokubunji
While cleaning the aquarium, something went wrong as I was reassembling the cannister filter and water began to pool on the wooden floor.

clock tower in a sports complex

2024.02.11, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  textures &n

today's word is 写真

2024.02.11, Kokubunji
Part of Mari's name in Japanese is the kanji 真 for "true".

a snowy trek home

2024.02.05, Kokubunji
This is the way I found my bicycle at Nishi-Kokubunji station tonight.

second gear

2024.02.03, Kokubunji
For the past three+ years I've been studying Japanese with a teacher.

farewell, old shirt

2024.02.03, Kokubunji
Today it is with a heavy heart that I mark the passing for a shirt from Eddie Bauer that my mother gave me circa the year 2011 -- or perhaps 2003.

well they said you was high key

2024.02.02, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  urban night

Shibuya intersection at night

2024.02.02, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  color  

antipodes

2024.02.02, Kokubunji
I spotted a post on Reddit about having been to two places on the opposite sides of the planet.

living the Ponzi life

2024.01.26, Kokubunji
Here's an interesting video about the Ponzi scheme we're all living.

not quite diamond Fuji

2024.01.21, Kokubunji
Perhaps diamond .. apartment house? Note the reflection of

playing in the street with dad

2024.01.21, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  kokubunji 2

sunset over Kokubunji with Mt Fuji in the background

2024.01.21, Kokubunji
I shot the sunset from Kokubunji in western Tokyo, with Mt

yup, it smells

2024.01.15, Kokubunji
The car has just a hint of new plastic smell.

Mt Fuji seen through power lines and buildings

2024.01.14, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  cityscapes

sriracha on the streets

2024.01.13, Tokyo
It's a bit expensive but it was a fun. Note the poorly-done

sriracha vending machine

2024.01.13, Kokubunji
I came across a new type of vending machine in Japan.

pixel 7A FTW?

2024.01.13, Kokubunji
I recently bought a new smartphone after more than five years with an aging Nokia 6.

movie review - the rhythm section

2024.01.12, Kokubunji
I came across this odd movie in one of our streaming services and despite its mediocre ratings on IMDB, gave it a chance.

new car (I hope it smells)

2024.01.12, Kokubunji
We've had word we can pick up the car on Sunday.

the kiwi log-splitter

2024.01.08, Tokyo
I came across this interesting log splitter from New Zealan

what happened to GoPro

2024.01.08, Kokubunji
This video suggests that a gigantic payday for a start-up founder early in the story of the start-up's life can kill the company and everything it might have accomplished.

wee flower outside our yard

2024.01.07, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  color  

movie review - For a Few Dollars More

2024.01.03, Kokubunji
This is the sequel to the gritty and seminal "Fistful of Dollars".

photo ratings

2024.01.03, Kokubunji
A few weeks ago, I introduced a photo rating tool on my website.

rays of sun on January one

2024.01.01, Chiba
Collections containing this photo.  photos I lo

first photo of the year

2024.01.01, Chiba
Collections containing this photo.  reflections

twenty-seven years of this journal

2024.01.01, Kokubunji
Today marks the 27th anniversary of this journal of mine.

the motorheads

2024.01.01, Chiba
Today after greeting the new year with a bit of a prayer and then a walk on the beach, we went to a place in Chiba where they have all sorts of survivalist games.

2023

whale-propelled lady

2023.12.31, Chiba
Collections containing this photo.  kamogawa se

total clear-cut

2023.12.31, Chiba
Collections containing this photo.  misty morni

movie rating - Fistful of Dollars

2023.12.29, Kokubunji
This is a movie made in Spain in the 1960s but set in the US-Mexico frontier in the 1890s.

they can stop "Rick and Morty" now

2023.12.18, Kokubunji
They can stop "Rick and Morty" now.

movie review - Elemental

2023.12.17, Fukuoka
I watched this on a flight to Fukuoka today - the flight was barely long enough, and there were irritating pauses near the end, but I think I still pull off a review.

photo ratings are live

2023.12.17, Kokubunji
After many years, I've restored the capability of visitors to this site to rate photos.

hopefully we can be optimistic about Argentina

2023.12.10, Kokubunji
On why the "Mad man" might not be bad news for Argentina.

here's George Jetson

2023.12.09, Kokubunji
Today I learned that in the timeline of "The Jetsons", a TV show from the sixties, the titular lead character George Jetson is estimated to have been born in 2022.

chestnuts no more!

2023.12.09, Kokubunji
There was a chestnut orchard near our home and I'm sad to report it's been pulled out and now it's like it was never there.

learning to "wild whistle"

2023.12.08, Kokubunji
There's a thing you can do with your hands where you make an air-tight space and then blown past a gap between your thumbs to make a sound like an ocarina.

pushing people onto trains

2023.12.08, Kokubunji
They say you no longer see the staff at train stations pushing people onto trains in Tokyo, but you do indeed.

forgetting Japanese grammar

2023.12.07, Kokubunji
Emma helped me with my homework today.

what happened to Theia

2023.12.06, Kokubunji
I do like a rotating model, and this news item prominently features one!

X'mas tree is up

2023.12.03, Kokubunji
I put up the X'mas tree today.

movie review - Annihilation

2023.12.03, Kokubunji
After an extremely long work week, I managed to sit down with a movie for the first time in a while.

delicate colors of a Japanese autumn

2023.12.02, Kamakura
Collections containing this photo.  walls & roc

kamakura

2023.12.02, Kokubunji
Today, I returned to Kamakura -- acting as tour guide for five Dutch visitors sent from my employer's headquarters.

car subscription

2023.11.25, Kokubunji
We've "subscribed to a car".

a watch dial made from a printed circuit board

2023.11.23, Kokubunji
There are some amazingly talented people out there.

of supernovas and extinction events

2023.11.22, Kokubunji
So, it looks like a supernova could have stripped the Earth of its ozone layer 360 million years ago, at the end of the Devonian.

owl light by the door

2023.11.19, Tokyo
This house is a stone's throw from ours. Collections cont

tomare in red and green

2023.11.19, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

the Game of Life

2023.11.18, Kokubunji
We played "The Game of Life" with Yagu, today.

mystery fruit

2023.11.12, Tokyo
We came across these fruit. I'm slowly getting used to seei

tires

2023.11.12, Tokyo
These once-brightly-painted tires had been placed around a

Corolla Fielder

2023.11.11, Kokubunji
I know I've shared photos of this model before, but mmm, Co

movie review - The Killer

2023.11.10, Kokubunji
I needed a break after some very long weeks of late.

why Apple's USB-C cables are worth $120

2023.11.08, Kokubunji
Sometimes, you do get what you pay for.

autumn afternoon in kunitachi

2023.11.05, Tokyo
I hope you like lines and shapes that repeat! I snapped thi

another day on the court

2023.11.05, Kokubunji
The Boy's team had another game today, and again they won.

Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore

2023.11.05, Kokubunji
This summer, one of my fishing buddies told me about this John Prine song.

day of the photo book

2023.11.04, Kokubunji
With an hour-long break to watch an animated flick with Emma, I spent the day today from 05:30 through 22:30 working on this year's photo book.

game day

2023.11.03, Kokubunji
It was a national holiday, today, so naturally the school system booked part of their city-wide tournament on this day.

moon and planet

2023.10.29, Kokubunji
I don't know that I've ever seen an evening sky as clear as the one over Tokyo right now.

my first Karen

2023.10.28, Kokubunji
My wife and daughter walked into a bakery in our area today to find that no fewer than three staff were helping an extremely rude and demanding woman who insisted that she must be served immediately and to her satisfaction and that she didn't have time to wait.

new color scheme

2023.10.23, Kokubunji
This morning I adopted the color scheme of Tokyo's Musashino train line for this website.

The Boy's big tournament

2023.10.22, Kokubunji
We attended a tournament for The Boy's basketball team.

preparing for the fireworks

2023.10.21, Kawasaki
We did a five kilometer walk, mostly along the Tamagawa. Th

I do like a minivelo

2023.10.21, Tokyo
I've never dared park my 100kg+ one of these things but the

The Girl's long walk

2023.10.21, Kokubunji
The Girl and I went to a ravine that a friend told me about a few years ago.

working at the speed of my daughter

2023.10.21, Kokubunji
I discovered a one-liter thing of milk sitting on the counter.

five germaphobes (a joke in haiku)

2023.10.18, Tokyo
five germaphobes enter an elevator cannot touch; won't go

the umbrella man

2023.10.16, Kokubunji
Why conspiracy theories don't work.

why are so many movies not great

2023.10.13, Kokubunji
I watch a fair number of movies, and I have definitely noticed a long degradation in quality and some really mystifying incidents where the CGI was clearly worse than it was twenty years ago.

farewell, old chair

2023.10.12, Kokubunji
My work-from-home chair has packed it in.

and now it seems that life on Earth came from .. space?

2023.10.11, Kokubunji
Here's an interesting idea.

The Game of Life

2023.10.11, Kokubunji
We played The Game of Life today.

if you will wear only one watch

2023.10.10, Kokubunji
This is great advice.

a digital back for any 35mm film camera

2023.10.08, Kokubunji
There's a Kickstarter project that is promoting a digital back for 35mm film camera.

truck lunch

2023.10.07, Kokubunji
Today we attended a truck lunch festival in Tachikawa.

house browsing

2023.10.07, Kokubunji
We looked at a house in Kunitachi, today.

watching Little Miss Sunshine

2023.10.06, Kokubunji
I watched this, a favorite of mine, with my son tonight.

my browser vs Youtube

2023.10.06, Kokubunji
Youtube has recently started complaining about the "ad blocker" that is part of my browser.

shot twice

2023.10.04, Kokubunji
Mari and I went to the local clinic today and got shot twice: for the flu and for COVID.

grooming The Boy

2023.10.03, Kokubunji
I'm slowly convincing The Boy that he should start writing movie reviews.

movie review - Deadstream

2023.10.02, Kokubunji
This is a "found footage" movie about a live streamer who decides to spend a night in a haunted home.

paying for a phone in Canada

2023.10.01, Kokubunji
I've learned - thanks to my Mum - that I'm still paying for the prepaid phone I used for two weeks in BC this summer.

movie review - Belle

2023.10.01, Kokubunji
Tonight for "movie night", my daughter and I watched a Japanese movie inspired by Beauty and the Beast.

movie review - Something in the Dirt

2023.09.30, Kokubunji
This is an interesting story about two neighbors in a small apartment building in Los Angeles who investigate some crazy phenomenon after one of them witnesses some unnatural light the unexplained levitation of household objects.

movie review - The Vault (2022)

2023.09.27, Kokubunji
This is a movie about some dudes who break into the world's most secure vault, which is apparently in Spain.

moody sky in kita-kyushu

2023.09.26, Kita Kyushu
Collections containing this photo.  architectur

what I did at work today

2023.09.25, Fukuoka
I believe this is the third time I've been in the news in Japan.

today, a short speech

2023.09.25, Fukuoka
I'm due to give a short speech at our office's Grand Opening.

fukuoka bridge in the evening

2023.09.24, Fukuoka
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

taking my chances in Fukuoka

2023.09.24, Fukuoka
Missed my son's event at school today because I had to leave town.

movie review - Tremors: Shrieker Island

2023.09.23, Kokubunji
I don't recall having seen any of the Tremors movies except for the first, and I'm surprised to learn that this is the seventh.

where oh where is my mind?

2023.09.22, Kokubunji

movie review - Outside the Wire

2023.09.22, Kokubunji
This is a near-future Sci-Fi movie about a drone pilot who causes the deaths of some marines in a conflict in Ukraine through hitting a military target that was immediately adjacent to their position.

skype credit deactivated

2023.09.22, Kokubunji
I don't know why Microsoft does this, but they periodically notify me that they're going to deactivate my credit on Skype.

sick kid

2023.09.19, Kokubunji
My daughter and I seem to do everything together these days.

movie review - Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse

2023.09.18, Kokubunji
One complaint I have with these Spider-Man movies is that the titles are so similar that you can't tell which is which.

ow my floating in space brain

2023.09.15, Kokubunji

movie review - Prey

2023.09.14, Kokubunji
This is a fun if chronologically distant sequel to the '80s movie Predator.

Canada is changing

2023.09.10, Kokubunji
I note that Canada's first World Cup showing (and first victory over an american team) comes on the 30th anniversary of our last win of a Stanley Cup.

mmmm specialty grocery store

2023.09.09, Kokubunji
Today Mari and I went to an unassuming grocery store that I'm sure we've passed on many occasions without entering.

yesterday's oatmeal, day after day

2023.09.08, Kokubunji
Well, it's Friday.

a message from the government of Canada

2023.09.06, Kokubunji
I was wondering when these guys would get around to Canada.

250 quotes

2023.09.05, Kokubunji
Today I added a quote to my collection and noticed that it was my 250th.

illusionary shadows

2023.09.03, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

sunset over kokubunji

2023.09.03, Tokyo
I was out for an evening bike ride and the sky really came

notes from a novel

2023.09.02, Kokubunji
My brother passed along this rather incredible account of typeset in the Star Trek movies and TV shows.

no charges for dinged door

2023.09.01, Kokubunji
When we were in Hakone last weekend, a young couple was hanging around our car right after we arrived.

Star Wars Pianika

2023.08.28, Kokubunji

sunset over tokyo

2023.08.25, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  golden hour

shooting into the sun

2023.08.25, Tokyo
It's lens flare and no focus. Collections containing this

movie review - Mission: Impossible

2023.08.23, Kokubunji
Once upon a time I watched "Mission Impossible II" and did not like it.

The Most Dangerous Weapon

2023.08.23, Kokubunji

sunset over kokubunji

2023.08.22, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  twilight &n

sulfurous steam venting

2023.08.21, Hakone
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

replenishing the vending machine on a Monday

2023.08.21, Hakone
Collections containing this photo.  people at w

temple basin for ablutions

2023.08.21, Hakone
Collections containing this photo.  simple joys

towering cumulus-nimbus

2023.08.20, Hakone
Collections containing this photo.  hakone japa

the poisoned land

2023.08.20, Hakone
This area was poisoned by whatever gas was coming out of th

fire in Whitehorse and a hurricane heading for Los Angeles

2023.08.19, Kokubunji
El Nino and a hundred million Ford F-150's and here we are.

more trouble for the car guys

2023.08.12, Kokubunji
The other day I shared a link to the woes of the car manufacturing industry as they face unprecedented problems.

matsuri walking

2023.08.05, Kokubunji
At a matsuri, people started a rhythmic dance of sorts with

electric vehicles

2023.08.03, Kokubunji
I noticed this article title "the potential looming auto industry fiasco", and thought it got everything just about right.

movie review - Hidden Strike

2023.08.02, Kokubunji
We thought this flick looked interesting -- I had thought that Jackie Chan had retired.

longest ride of the year

2023.07.30, Kokubunji
Today was another ridiculously hot day, but I decided that rather than spend yet another weekend indoors, I'd hop on my bike and do a dry run for a longish ride I have planned.

passport reform

2023.07.29, Kokubunji
I note that Canada has reformed its passport process.

my father is gone

2023.07.28, Kokubunji
Death, what a bummer.

working under every kind of lag

2023.07.24, Kokubunji
I've recently flown to the Netherlands and to British Columbia and my brain and body seem to be in broad disagreement.

so this is kabuki

2023.07.23, Ojimachi
In a rather jarring change of pace, I found myself in a Kabuki theatre today.

choosing death

2023.07.23, Kokubunji
My brother called to let me know that our father has set a date for his medically assisted death.

home again

2023.07.22, Kokubunji
I know it's not the last time I'll travel by plane this year, but I am glad to be done with it for now.

movie review - Bridge Over the River Kwai

2023.07.20, Salt Spring Island
I was slowly engrossed in this movie after a shaky start in which its clearly dated setting initially had me cringing.

good-bye

2023.07.19, Salt Spring Island
This afternoon, I gave my father a final hug, a final kiss on the cheek, and told him I love him, and then I left.

fishing in campbell river for salmon

2023.07.18, Campbell River
We'd had a good day. Collections containing this photo.&n

an outstanding day for fishing

2023.07.18, Campbell River
We were back on the water this evening, but it wasn't my on

Buttle Lake, BC

2023.07.18, Campbell River
This part of BC is so beautiful, I can barely believe it.

nice fish!

2023.07.16, Campbell River
It was the season open and we were out on the water in Camp

opening day for salmon in 2023

2023.07.15, Campbell River
At 05:30, we hit the water at high tide and headed to the s

of tiny mice and tiny snakes

2023.07.15, Campbell River
While on a hike earlier in the week, I came across a tiny mouse so small that its entire torso and head were no larger than the last digit of my thumb.

meeting of two lakes

2023.07.14, Campbell River
This is where Buttle Lake and Upper Campbell Lake meet, in

movie review - Fool's Gold

2023.07.14, Campbell River
I got in late and decided to burn off what remained of the evening with this movie on Netflix.

baseline from genius of love

2023.07.13, Kokubunji
I love this kind of to-the-point explainer.

movie review - The Edge of Tomorrow

2023.07.13, Campbell River
After a long day's errands, hiking, and fishing, I spotted this underappreciated classic on Netflix and watched it for what must have been the third or fourth time.

beautiful green river

2023.07.12, Campbell River
I suspect this a gorge cut for the hydro power generation p

movie review - The Out-Laws

2023.07.12, Kokubunji
This is a fun movie about a shlep whose fiance isn't close with her parents.

outdoorsy, even

2023.07.12, Campbell River
This morning I took Oma/Opa's PC in for repair and got it booting again.

fly fishing

2023.07.11, Campbell River
I decided to try my hand at fly fishing while I'm in Campbell River.

visiting Opa!

2023.07.10, Campbell River
I'm in Campbell River, BC, for the next two weeks!

a pile of boats

2023.07.09, Salt Spring Island
I guess locals leave the boats around like this between use

float planes in BC

2023.07.08, British Columbia
I was en route from Tokyo to Campbell River, British Columb

movie review - Black Hole

2023.07.08, Salt Spring Island
Tonight I watched this 1979 sci-fi movie with my brother and sister-in-law.

half-dead Stanley Park

2023.07.08, Salt Spring Island
It seems that a good third or more of the trees in Vancouver's Stanley Park are dead.

so this is British Columbia

2023.07.07, Salt Spring Island
I arrived in BC this afternoon.

skirt caught in bicycle

2023.07.07, Kokubunji
This morning I spotted a young woman whose skirt had gotten caught in the rear gear assembly of her bicycle.

it looks like COVID lock-downs were marginally effective

2023.07.05, Kokubunji
Social distancing had more impact on mortality than lock-downs.

Will AI be a force for good

2023.07.03, Kokubunji
In May of this year, Ted Chiang wrote a piece in the New Yorker comparing AI to McKinsey, a consulting firm famous for "extracting shareholder value" by tactically tearing apart functioning companies.

movie review - Nimona

2023.07.01, Kokubunji
This is a movie about a knight whos act of knighthood is sabotaged by a violent act of terrorism that causes him to unwittingly kill the city's monarch.

movie review - Mission: Impossible Fallout

2023.07.01, Kokubunji
This movie is honestly an excellent action film.

movie review - The Adam Project

2023.06.30, Kokubunji
Between jaunts to other continents, I managed to watch this with my kids.

incorrectly secured ssh server

2023.06.28, Kokubunji
Ever since I rebuilt my websites on this AliExpress Celeron server I have apparently been under the false impression that I had blocked password access on SSHd.

world travel

2023.06.26, Kokubunji
I'm in the midst of a busy travel time.

movie review - Galaxy Quest

2023.06.23, Kokubunji
I watched this again with my daughter and I really enjoyed it.

thoughts on Canada from a recent immigrant

2023.06.23, Kokubunji
This fellow's criticisms are sadly accurate.

hello K2

2023.06.23, Karakoram
While flying between Dubai and Tokyo I realized we were fly

sunset over amsterdam

2023.06.22, Amsterdam
Collections containing this photo.  waterways &

surfing in The Hague

2023.06.20, Netherlands
Collections containing this photo.  to the hook

a genuine windmill

2023.06.20, Netherlands
The only times in the past twenty years that I've said "win

cycling by the sea-side

2023.06.20, Hook of Holland
I cycled to Hook of Holland after work.

girl with a pearl earring in person

2023.06.19, The Hague
One of the few things I knew I wanted to see when I was in

so this is The Hague

2023.06.19, Netherlands
Despite the gathering gloom and the advanced hour, I did not get rained upon.

flown around the world

2023.06.19, Amsterdam
I landed in Amsterdam at 13:45 today, having left Tokyo at 18:00 on Saturday.

disclocation

2023.06.18, Dubai
I'm having one of those 21st Century dislocation moments.

movie review - Extraction 2

2023.06.17, Kokubunji
This is a sequel to the interesting Netflix movie "Extraction", which was a straight-up assassin story with enough intelligence and vulnerability to set it apart from the usual fare that I think most of us have been ignoring for decades.

I love rust

2023.06.11, Tokyo
It's one of the reasons I shoot color! Collections contai

movie review - Shooter

2023.06.08, Kokubunji
Once in a while Netflix will recommend an older movie you've never heard of.

movie review - The Edge of Seventeen

2023.06.07, Kokubunji
This is about a teenager who is struggling with life following the death of her father -- an event that's weakened the family to the point of disintegration.

movie review - The Bubble

2023.06.07, Kokubunji
This is a movie about the cast of a series of blockbuster action movies.

wait is Krikket England?

2023.06.07, Kokubunji
Somehow a story line from the Douglas Adams "Hitch-hikers" books popped into my mind this morning.

movie review - Ghostbusters: Afterlife

2023.06.06, Kokubunji
For some reason my daughter and I decided to watch this second modern sequel to the '80s original "Ghostbusters".

movie review - Don't Look Up

2023.06.05, Kokubunji
This is irritatingly close to a good movie.

I don't think they meant daily

2023.05.21, Tokyo
This was, clearly, the dairy section of a Japanese grocery

movie review - White Noise

2023.05.20, Kokubunji
I probably shouldn't be writing a review of this.

How Brexit Unexpectedly Strengthened The EU

2023.05.20, Kokubunji
What a mess!

photo of the day

2023.05.15, Kokubunji
The "photo of the day" feature has been reinstated.

movie review - Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

2023.05.13, Kokubunji
This is an animated flick about a scrawny young dog who dreams of being a samurai.

my colleague thinks I have COVID

2023.05.12, Tokyo
I described my symptoms from Wednesday's hell day to a colleague and he told me that it sounded like COVID.

town hall at work

2023.05.11, Tokyo
I went to the office despite being quite sick yesterday.

in space, AI knows you have no moat

2023.05.06, Kokubunji
It seems that everyone's waking up to the fact that useful AI is here now, and is incredibly easy to build.

home again

2023.05.04, Kokubunji
This morning we left our hotel and made our way back to Naha.

last day on the beach

2023.05.04, Okinawa
last day on the beach It was time for us to return to (comp

a cave in Okinawa

2023.05.03, Okinawa
Collections containing this photo.  okinawa cav

let's check this out

2023.05.03, Okinawa
let's check this out Fatal swimming! Sounds like my kind of

a grotto by the sea

2023.05.03, Okinawa
Today we had a later start, hitting the road at around 10:00.

the marine playground

2023.05.02, Okinawa
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime Our day b

to the aquarium!

2023.05.01, Okinawa
Today, we headed north to the famous aquarium on the north

wandering Naha's sprawling market

2023.04.30, Okinawa
We arrived in Okinawa today for a four-day visit; our firs

crazy cycle

2023.04.22, Kokubunji
From time to time, since I had COVID officially in August, I've had "flu like" days where I feel mildly feverish, exhausted, and headachy.

too cool over too hot

2023.04.25, Kokubunji
It's been strangely cool the past few days.

just call me Beneberg

2023.04.24, Kokubunji
I'm delighted to add yet another mis-spelling of our last name to the pile.

recent photos

2023.04.23, Kokubunji
This past week, I added a new feature to this website.

The Boy ran to his basketball practice

2023.04.23, Kokubunji
I learned this morning that The Boy ran all the way to his school at one point this week.

movie review - Murder Mystery II

2023.04.22, Kokubunji
This is a sequel to 2019's surprisingly good Adam Sandler movie.

Qatar of the Caribbean

2023.04.21, Kokubunji
It's painful to watch Florida turn into a miserable fundamentalist state.

the A.I. dilemma

2023.04.21, Kokubunji
Why it suddenly matters how we roll out artificial intelli

back on the road

2023.04.17, Kokubunji
Today I cycled from Kokubunji to Kichijoji on my way to work.

pen care room at Itoya

2023.04.16, Kokubunji
pen care booth at Itoya This is the room where you can br

Ginza just after a rainstorm

2023.04.16, Kokubunji
just after a rainstorm in GinzaCollections containing this photo.

Tokyo sky after a rainy day

2023.04.16, Kokubunji
end of a rainy day in Tokyo The Girl and I had returned to

was caught in some weather

2023.04.15, Kokubunji
But it was a warm rain.

pets wait in boxes

2023.04.10, Kokubunji
pets wait in boxes I don't know if this was a pet store o

walked to Shinjuku

2023.04.10, Kokubunji
After work today, I walked from Shibuya to Shinjuku, to catch my commuter train.

the blazing colors of spring in Tokyo

2023.04.09, Kokubunji
The spring colors around here are astonishing.

parakeet with a manual lens

2023.04.08, Kokubunji
I got very lucky this morning.

rain over Shibuya, Yoyogi, and Shinjuku

2023.04.07, Kokubunji
It was a rainy day in the inner west side of Tokyo.

a very welcome sign of spring

2023.04.02, Kokubunji
welcome sign of spring Things are sprouting, everywhere.

lovely driveway in my neighborhood

2023.04.02, Kokubunji
These lovely little flowers had come up all over a driveway in our neighborhood.

candid moment for a couple in a park

2023.04.01, Kokubunji
We were in Tonogayato garden (yes again!

koi want to be fed

2023.04.01, Kokubunji
Where's the food at?

where I work

2023.03.31, Kokubunji
I work on the 42nd floor of this building.

a courier in Hachioji

2023.03.28, Kokubunji
A bike courier waiting on his next destination.

batteries are quickly getting good

2023.03.25, Kokubunji
I don't know what's more interesting, the content or the fellows discussing this development.

Indo-Pacific is damp

2023.03.25, Kokubunji
It was so damp today that I had to go to five street-side vending machines before I found one that worked.

GPT-4 shows sparks of "artificial general intelligence"

2023.03.25, Kokubunji
I find it amazing that it works and we don't know why but

raindrops from a bird feeder

2023.03.23, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  simple joys

soaring electricity prices

2023.03.21, Kokubunji
We paid ¥58,000 for electricity in February.

all praise be the pajero mini

2023.03.21, Kokubunji
all praise be the pajero mini I like Japan's many functio

many shoes in a place

2023.03.21, Nagano
Maybe it was the staff in a restaurant or something like t

stalking its prey

2023.03.21, Kokubunji
I think it was hunting small fish.

hanami in the park

2023.03.21, Kokubunji
This is a stitched-together panorama.

tamagawa jousui

2023.03.19, Kokubunji
The 45 kilometer tamagawa irrigation canal passes through K

two hour drivers lesson

2023.03.19, Kokubunji
I had to endure a two hour drivers lecture in Japanese, tod

Tokyo cherry blossoms in late winter

2023.03.19, Kokubunji
It was a glorious scene on a gorgeous day.

to the DMV!

2023.03.19, Kokubunji
Today I managed to renew my driver's license on my own.

drivers update

2023.03.18, Kokubunji
Tomorrow, incredibly, the family will be heading in three different directions by 08:00.

one cms to rule them all

2023.03.15, Kokubunji
I've just noticed that I have continuous recordings of edits to this website's page dating back to this time in 2008.

early morning walk in a hazy valley

2023.03.11, Azumino
Nothing seems to be in focus, but I love it.

clear stream

2023.03.11, Azumino
This has to be the clearest stream I've ever seen.

wasabi farm

2023.03.11, Azumino
It's been a very short trip.

a wall of cloud and rock above Azumino, Japan

2023.03.10, Azumino
The sun was heading down behind the Northern Japanese Alps.

early March and I need a fan

2023.03.07, Kokubunji
It's the end of the first week of March, and I just brought out the fan to cool myself through the afternoon.

when I'm 0o64

2023.03.06, Kokubunji
Later this month, I'm turning 52.

tired daddy is tired

2023.03.05, Kokubunji
I never used to get bags under my eyes. Now they never leav

can't wait for April 12!

2023.03.05, Kokubunji
I'll be sitting a two-hour driver's ed instruction video in Japanese.

a macro ant photo by my daughter

2023.03.04, Kokubunji
I got a ring to reverse-mount an old manual focus lens on Emma's camera.

well-lit greenhouses at night

2023.03.04, Kokubnji
Seems enticing, somehow.

movie review - We Have a Ghost

2023.03.03, Kokubunji
This is a story about a family that moves into a grand old house to discover that it's haunted by the sad ghost of a man with a middle-aged paunch and a combover.

happiness is a new aquarium

2023.03.03, Kokubunji
This is the aquarium I set up for The Girl.

fast train in the suburbs

2023.02.28, Kokubunji
I went out for some "shutter therapy" after another long day.

jewerly out of reach

2023.02.25, Kokubunji
Today we went to a place I'd visited last year to see about getting a new ring fashioned for Mari out of her engagement ring (which she hasn't worn since she noticed it was scratching baby #1) and her late grandmother's ring.

oh, to be ƿerneburg

2023.02.24, Kokubunji
If history had played its cards better, my last name wouldn't be Werneburg, it would be Ƿerneburg.

delicate flower

2023.02.23, Kokubunji
I'm not even sure what color this is.

the purest blue

2023.02.23, Kokubunji
I found this on the back side of a house, perched above a narrow laneway full of passing cyclists.

Chairman daddy's long walk

2023.02.23, Toronto
Today I went for a three hour photography walk around Kokubunji.

gorgeous planter box, Kokubunji

2023.02.18, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.cozy urban scenes s

taco wasa, tachikawa

2023.02.18, Tachikawa
Looks promising!

photo day with my daughter

2023.02.18, Kokubunji
Today I took The Girl into Tachikawa, the nearest large (sub)urban center to our home.

lines at night

2023.02.17, Kokubunji
On the way home tonight, I stopped and shot this view down an out-doors hallway.

talking cat film is extremely good (actually)

2023.02.16, Kokubunji
I have written nearly eight hundred movie reviews and the person who posted this may be one of the few who sees the concept the same way.

sun's rays through a bulb

2023.02.15, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.moods streets of to

movie review - Amélie

2023.02.14, Kokubunji
I last saw this movie about twenty years ago.

two of the Girl's new fish

2023.02.12, Kokubunji
The Girl is the proud fish mama of three sprightly little goldfish.

the lone attendant

2023.02.11, Kokubunji
I wonder what he did to pull garbage duty.

new camera adventure

2023.02.11, Kokubunji
For the past eight years I have been using an Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mk II.

movie review - Avatar, the Way of Water

2023.02.08, Kokubunji
I can hardly call a movie that cost a billion dollars a "lazy cash grab" but this thing had some fundamental story-telling problems and was a confusing mess to watch.

six weeks with a foreign object

2023.02.08, Kokubunji
Ever since the New Year's, when I went fishing on six separate days, I've had what I thought was a minor infection on my finger from briefly hooking myself while out on the water.

swollen fingers grasp for the sky

2023.02.05, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.textures trees & tr

worst app in history

2023.02.05, Kokubunji
To date, the worst applications I have used were: SAP, the

made with love

2023.02.04, Kokubunji
Whoever laid these out, did so with love.

movie review - Troll

2023.02.03, Kokubunji
This is a film about a real Troll waking up and terrorizing Scandinavia.

escalator marilyn monroe

2023.02.02, Kokubunji
I liked the way this young lady's skirt was catching the wi

do this don't do that can't you see the signs

2023.01.29, Kokubunji
And I thought Canada was lousy with signs. Collections co

kleptocurrencies, anyone

2023.01.28, Kokubunji
I watch the Youtube videos of a former hedge fund manager who explains who things like financial scams and Elon Musk work.

human scale

2023.01.27, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.walking around in Ja

frigid basketball "goal"

2023.01.25, Kokubunji
The Boy has a semi-portable basketball net that sits in our driveway.

movie review - Dungeons and Dragons

2023.01.23, Kokubunji
There's a new Dungeons and Dragons movie coming out, and it looks pretty good.

a million words

2023.01.23, Kokubunji
I've written 1,077,939 words on this website.

lucky strike at the lanes

2023.01.22, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.color a lifetime

gone to seed

2023.01.21, Kokubunji
Some spaces in Kokubunji that were productive farms become

The Girl on a swing

2023.01.21, Kokubunji
So fast she can't be photographed.

movie review - Puss in Boots The Last Wish

2023.01.21, Kokubunji
For movie night, we watched this sequel to the "Puss in Boots" spinoff of "Shrek 2", which came out way back in 2004.

farewall, coal industry

2023.01.20, Kokubunji

the hydrogen economy

2023.01.18, Kokubunji
Last year I made a comment on a Youtube video about the problems of hydrogen vehicles.

the young Tokyosiders

2023.01.17, Kokubunji
Not a pretty town, but I can dig it.

strangely pointless pen

2023.01.17, Kokubunji
I had the strange experience today of discovering that the ball point had fallen out of my ballpoint pen.

visitors!

2023.01.16, Kokubunji
We had some friends visiting from Toronto this weekend.

to the circus!

2023.01.15, Kokubunji
Today we went to a 120-year-old circus.

Yodobashi Camera

2023.01.14, Shinjuku
Collections containing this photo.

the red door

2023.01.14, Kokubunji
I wonder why they need the brick when the have the fancy do

200 dollar trout reel let's go

2023.01.14, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.fishing

a day on the road

2023.01.14, Kokubunji
Today I had to go to the clinic to get repeats on my migraine meds and the sleeping pills I some to need to get through the night.

must be plastic day

2023.01.09, Kokubunji
This is my neighborhood garbage depot on "plastics" day.

movie review - Palm Springs

2023.01.09, Kokubunji
This is a movie about a young woman who becomes trapped in a "Groundhog Day" daily time loop.

built me a watch

2023.01.08, Kokubunji
My brother made me a leather watch strap.

the boy and his catch

2023.01.06, Miyazaki
The Boy caught a Bonito! Collections containing this phot

hiding and seeking too hard

2023.01.05, Nichinan, Miyazaki
The kids were playing hide-and-seek today, and it all went too far.

slightly fashy iconography

2023.01.03, Miyazaki
I spotted this car outfit with decals that I thought were m

fixing my fiction

2023.01.02, Nichinan, Miyazaki
I've now used feedback from ChatGPT to brush up the story I ludicrously submitted to a Toronto Star short-story contest twenty years ago*.

movie review - Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

2023.01.01, Kokubunji
This movie's had quite a rave reception and I have to say that I'm not entirely sure why.

movie review - Glass Onion

2023.01.01, Kokubunji
This is a charmless sequel to a very different and original murder mystery.

clear cut over Nichinan Miyazaki

2023.01.01, Nichinan
My son and I tried to recreate a walk from three years prio

bamboo makes for messy forests

2023.01.01, Nichinan
The Boy and I went for quite a hike, today.

2022

1,472 emails in 2022

2022.12.31, Kokubunji
It looks like the steep declines in email over the past few years are no longer possible.

eruption under a dawn cloud-deck

2022.12.30, Kagoshima
Collections containing this photo.  skies  

the volcano is close tonight

2022.12.30, Kagoshima
Welcome to Kagoshima, a city on a drowned "graben"

the kamikaze museum

2022.12.29, Kagoshima City
Collections containing this photo.moods a lifetime

a fishing tale

2022.12.28, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Happy Yuletide!

movie review - Free Guy

2022.12.25, Kokubunji
What can you say about movies you see on airplane equipment?

pre-dawn homes and solar panels

2022.12.25, Nichinan
Collections containing this photo.  exploring M

boy texting by the sea

2022.12.25, Miyazaki
You can take the boy out of the city but you can't take the

movie review - Boyz N The Hood

2022.12.19, Kokubunji
I watched this seminal flick from the '90s with The Boy, today.

veggie stand at night

2022.12.18, Kokubunji
...sailor's delight! Collections containing this photo.&n

movie review - Training Day

2022.12.17, Kokubunji
My son wanted to a see a Denzel Washington movie so you know this was my first thought.

drowning in spam

2022.12.17, Kokubunji
Somewhere out there is a chef named Melissa Werneburg.

15 million surplus deaths in 2020-2021 for some reason

2022.12.15, Kokubunji
Say, do you remember COVID-19?

electric tuk-tuk

2022.12.15, Kokubunji
This morning while taking the garbage to the pick-up site I saw and electric tuk-tuk called a "Fun vehicle".

fireball over a low cloud deck

2022.12.13, Kokubunji
Oh wait, that's the sun. We don't always see it a lot in To

dragon pursues the sun over Tokyo

2022.12.12, Kokubunji
I think I shot this with my Nokia 6.1. Collections contai

shifting colors in an art exhibit

2022.12.11, Yokohama
We went to a performance/art exhibit thing in Yokohama call

driving in Tokyo

2022.12.11, Kokubunji
I've driven in Japan before but never Tokyo.

packing heat

2022.12.11, Kokubunji
We've packed up the used heater that wasn't working properly and have bought a new one in its place.

omotesando in the golden hour

2022.12.10, Omotesando
Collections containing this photo.

tiny eatery

2022.12.10, Kokubunji
This little eatery had been built in a semi-open space conn

downtown with The Girl

2022.12.10, Kokubunji
I took The Girl downtown today.

Internet dudes can ruin anything

2022.12.06, Kokubunji
This morning a Reddit user with a female name and icon posted a photo of a new aquarium that had just been set up on Thursday.

meteorite simulator

2022.12.06, Kokubunji
Who doesn't love blasting the planet with asteroids!

settling an aquarium

2022.12.03, Kokubunji
Sadly, all of Emma's three street-festival goldfish fingerlings are gone.

watching old TV

2022.11.30, Kokubunji
I've been watching "Star Trek Deep Space Nine", lately.

a used heater

2022.11.28, Kokubunji
We bought a new (used) heater and it only works on certain wall sockets and only if you let it heat very gradually.

movie review - Project Power

2022.11.27, Kokubunji
This is a Sci-Fi thing about some genetically-modified humans living in a world that has censured them and placed them under rigid restrictions.

window repairs

2022.11.26, Kokubunji
Thanks to being the parent of a teenager, I now get to learn how much the replacement of a school window costs.

movie review - Bullet Train

2022.11.27, Kokubunji
This action-comedy is so much over-the-top fun that I watched it a second time with my kids within days of my first, solo viewing.

movie review - Slumberland

2022.11.26, Kokubunji
My daughter and I watched the original story about a young girl whose father disappears at sea.

movie review - The Menu

2022.11.20, Kokubunji
I honestly have no idea what the fuss is all about with this movie.

re-arranged the aquarium

2022.11.19, Kokubunji
The Girl and I took some time to re-organize the aquarium.

email from my daughter

2022.11.18, Kokubunji
I had three emails from my daughter this morning.

The Girl has a new aqaurium

2022.11.17, Kokubunji
We went more than two years in this house without an aquarium, ending a run of about fifteen years of continuous aquarium-keeping.

pre-dawn reflection in Fukuoka

2022.11.15, Fukuoka
Collections containing this photo.pre-dawn walking around

movie review - The Curse of Bridge Hollow

2022.11.12, Kokubunji
This is a fun story about a kid who moves to a small town with her parents.

the Aral sea disaster

2022.11.10, Kokubunji
I thought I had a handle on how bad the Aral sea ecological catastrophe really was.

failed derailleur

2022.11.09, Kokubunji
This is how badly the old derailleur failed on my bike. The

pic of a red moon

2022.11.08, Kokubunji
This is my humble photo of the lunar eclipse.

trouble under a red moon

2022.11.08, Kokubunji
I left work early tonight (just past 17:00!

movie review - Wendell & Wild

2022.11.06, Kokubunji
This is an animated story I watched with my ten-year-old daughter for "movie night".

peakaboo with the parasols

2022.11.05, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.landscapes greenery col

movie review - The Man From Toronto

2022.11.04, Kokubunji
This is a movie in which Kevin Hart plays the diminutive comic relief and someone capable of maintaining a scowl plays the heavy.

blue sky at night

2022.10.30, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.skies color simple

China's debatable population

2022.10.30, Kokubunji
I hadn't realized that China's population figures were questioned.

that's a punishment job

2022.10.30, Kokubunji
I was reviewing some old photos and was reminded of an even older event in my life.

what work used to be

2022.10.29, Kokubunji
I recently uncovered these old pics from my time at NikkoCiti.

farewell, Twitter

2022.10.28, Kokubunji
I've been a fairly regular user of the social media site Twitter for the past several years.

movie review - The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

2022.10.25, Kokubunji
This is an infectiously chaotic story about a famous but fading movie star who is invited to the home of a Spanish billionaire for a $1 million project of unknown purpose.

could Brexit have been a mistake

2022.10.25, Kokubunji
I mean, for small businesses apparently yes.

waves breaking in the sky

2022.10.23, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.color skies No contex

well I like tall trucks and I cannot lie

2022.10.23, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.vehicles streets of tok

movie review - The School for Good and Evil

2022.10.22, Kokubunji
This is a film with a star-studded cast and an overly ambitious plot that more than fills out its 2+ plus run-time.

bronze watch

2022.10.22, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.

fixed thumbnail images

2022.10.20, Kokubunji
I've noticed that the thumbnail images on this site have started to become inexplicably uneven in size.

apple vs intel chip performance

2022.10.19, Kokubunji
I watched a Youtube video relating the recent performance

renaming files containing a space from the Linux command line

2022.10.16, Kokubunji
Every year I make a book of photos from the kids' past year.

movie review - The King's Man

2022.10.11, Kokubunji
This is a somehow unappealing prequel to "The Kingsman", a modestly original take on the spy genre.

what dies with us

2022.10.11, Kokubunji
I follow a Reddit thread on Gen-X.

blue hands on a Guanqin watch

2022.10.06, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.watches I put these b

movie review - Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood

2022.10.04, Kokubunji
I spent the first twenty percent of this movie thinking that I was seeing a cartoon prelude to a live action movie.

Germany's Catastrophic Gas Problem

2022.10.03, Kokubunji
The Germans seem to have really made a mess of their energy security.

a day fit for haircuts and curtain shopping

2022.10.02, Kokubunji
It was one of those days.

by all means don't send the king

2022.10.02, Kokubunji
It seems that the new King in the UK (my liege, since I'm Canadian) wanted to go to the next big climate conference.

the inevitable Nordstream murder

2022.10.01, Kokubunji
I watched a run-down of several theories around who blew up the Nordstream natural gas pipelines.

a dinner with my wife

2022.10.01, Kokubunji
Mari and I found a Thai restaurant in Tachikawa and went for dinner without the kids for the first time in so long I don't honestly remember.

commute hell

2022.09.30, Kokubunji
This morning I was out the door at 07:15 determined to ride to Kichijoji, half of my 25km commute and something I used to do routinely.

kept him on the road

2022.09.27, Kokubunji
The Boy was pushing his bike pretty hard and had the chain "fall" (he can't describe it better than that, I think it skipped).

movie review - Wrath of Man

2022.09.25, Kokubunji
This is, like other Guy Ritchie movies, about a gangster in a pinch.

who needs boots or food when fighting on the Steppe

2022.09.25, Kokubunji
This fellow says that the Russians are calling up 300,000 - 1,000,000 men but they might not be able to equip them with .

why me no grammar

2022.09.24, Kokubunji
We met Yagu and went to The Boy's school for an open house today.

writing during a write-off

2022.09.23, Kokubunji
Today's a holiday in Japan but we're completing a cloud migration and I had to follow the team's progress for about five hours.

fast homework

2022.09.22, Kokubunji
I wasn't really able to tackle my homework this past weekend but when I noticed a message from my instructor commending me on always doing my homework I redoubled my effort and got it done with around a minute to spare before our call.

escher would be proud

2022.09.19, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.lines architecture

movie review - Finch

2022.09.18, Kokubunji
This is a sci-fi flick about a man surviving quite alone after some apocalyptic disaster.

must be the season of the super typhoon, yeah

2022.09.18, Kokubunji
Typhoon Manmadol, which is currently making landfall in Kyushu, may be the largest (geographically) in the history of Japan.

movie review - Drifting Home

2022.09.17, Kokubunji
Now I'm not dumb but I can't understand how this story played like fantasy but we're expected to believe that it's real.

happiness is a silent bicycle

2022.09.16, Kokubunji
It's so, so nice to ride a bike where the chain isn't making noise and skipping all over the place.

bicycle repair

2022.09.14, Kokubunji
Recently, Mari's old 650b*-based bike has been having some difficulty.

the COVID gift that keeps on giving

2022.09.13, Kokubunji
It's been a month since I got over the initial bout of COVID and I'm still having days where I feel just like I did: sore throat, headache, wheezing, stuffed up sinuses, can't sleep.

movie review - Everything Everwhere All at Once

2022.09.11, Kokubunji
On the surface, this is a sci-fi movie about a woman in her fifties that is asked by an other-dimension version of her husband to join an epic struggle to save the multiverse.

a new server for the site .. again

2022.09.10, Kokubunji
It's scarcely been 18 months since I last migrated this website to a new server, but I've done it again; with a twist.

Air Canada refund

2022.09.08, Kokubunji
Air Canada still hasn't refunded the money from the ticket they cancelled.

everyone has COVID

2022.09.06, Kokubunji
I've heard of three more people getting COVID in the past few days.

farewell, COVID

2022.09.05, Kokubunji
It looks like I'm finally kicking the after-effects of my bout of COVID.

farewell, old PC

2022.09.04, Kokubunji
Today I took (most of) the systems case to the local community center to dump in an all-metal recycling box.

Twistin' by the .. floor

2022.09.03, Kokubunji
The Girl made her own game of Twister.

hello, lost photos

2022.09.01, Kokubunji
I've recovered my "lost" photos from 2006.

new PC build

2022.08.29, Kokubunji
About 18 months ago I wrote a piece about building an old PC into a modern workstation.

farewall, lost photos

2022.08.28, Kokubunji
On our recent trip to Canada, I tracked down a lot of old backups because I'd discovered at some point in 2021 that I'd deleted the original images from a visit to a bamboo forest in Kyoto.

Frankenstein's PC

2022.08.27, Kokubunji
I bought a new systems case that arrived last night.

ill again

2022.08.26, Kokubunji
When we landed at Narita we finally got to the baggage gate some two hours after touching down.

movie review - The Gray Man

2022.08.24, Kokubunji
This is a spy thriller in which the government aims one of its off-the-books killers at another of their killers.

twelve days late

2022.08.22, Kokubunji
We're back in Japan.

what flies and what does not

2022.08.21, 10,000 meters
I brought many of my old photo backups and some old hard drives.

farewell, Maebh

2022.08.20, Toronto
I took our dear Maebh, the Kia Rondo, to the dealership to hand her over today.

movie review - Day Shift

2022.08.18, Kokubunji
This is a movie about a vampire hunter in Los Angeles.

staying positive

2022.08.12, Toronto
I had another COVID PCR test today and yup, I'm still positive.

and then there is working remotely

2022.08.11, St. Catharines
I started working remotely, today.

lotsa kilometers

2022.08.10, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime vehicles

COVID positive

2022.08.08, St. Catharines
Today I had a positive COVID PCR test.

beaver patrol

2022.08.05, St Catharines
Mari and I went for a walk tonight, from mum's place on Linwell out to the beach at Port Dalhousie, then back over the pedestrian bridge at Royal Henley Park (odd name, I thought).

movie review - Luca

2022.08.04, Kokubunji
This is an unassuming animated movie about a mer-boy/reptile who becomes interested in the humans in a nearby village - which is in sunny rural Italy.

the movers are settled

2022.08.04, St Catharines
We've chosen our movers.

walking and walking

2022.08.02, St Catharines
The Girl and I went for a walk today, first to the water and then back; and then to a nearby shopping mall.

first win: the sofa

2022.08.01, Toronto
When we went to the storage unit to day I picked up my "old" home-built PC from 2018 or 2019, which contains a bunch of parts I want to take home (to Tokyo).

Taipei breakfast

2022.07.31, Kokubunji
The three of us went out early this morning and found a bakery that was open in the neighborhood where we're staying.

to the storage unit!

2022.07.31, Toronto
Today we went to the storage unit in farthest-flung Scarborough.

in Toronto

2022.07.30, Toronto
We're in Toronto.

back for luggage

2022.07.29, St Catharines
We've retrieved our luggage.

movie review - No Time to Die

2022.07.28, Kokubunji
This is the latest Bond flick and it is not good.

survived our travels

2022.07.28, St Catharines
We're at "Grandma's" after quite a trek.

movie review - The Sea Beast

2022.07.23, Kokubunji
Movie night comes to Netflix once again.

happy pi approximation day

2022.07.22, Kokubunji
Celebrating 22/7 (or ~3.

mountain pass

2022.07.18, Kokubunji
Recently I've been rebuilding a study tool for kanji that I accidentally nuked several months ago.

snow in thirty degree weather

2022.07.17, Kokubunji
It was pushing 30°C at ground level, but clearly it was cold enough for snow at ten kilometers or so.

they call them chemtrails

2022.07.17, Kokubunji
Condensation trails, or "contrails" are one of the first things I can remember learning as a child of a glider pilot.

movie review - Venom: Let There Be Carnage

2022.07.09, Kokubunji
In this sequel to "Venom", a sloppy sci-fi/super-hero movie featuring a human and his alien "parasite".

movie review - Guns Akimbo

2022.06.29, Kokubunji
The premise of this movie is that a wastrel winds up with guns surgically grafted to his hands.

end of a Dockers belt

2022.06.28, Kokubunji
On the weekend our family had a water-balloon fight on our street.

movie review - Jumanji: The Next Level

2022.06.25, Kokubunji
This is a sequel to the imaginative and fun, "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle".

me brain lead

2022.06.25, Kokubunji
So it turns out that if you were born in North America between 1966 and 1975, there is a hundred percent certainty that you were exposed to harmful amounts of lead as a child.

35º on June 25

2022.06.25, Kokubunji
It's 5º in Tokyo right now with humidity of 43%.

movie review - Central Intelligence

2022.06.22, Kokubunji
This is a movie in which Kevin Hart plays the diminutive comic relief and someone capable of maintaining a scowl plays the heavy.

movie review - Spiderhead

2022.06.22, Kokubunji
This is an unpleasant little Sci-Fi number that features a number of inmates at a facility who are serving lengthy sentences.

movie review - Pig

2022.06.21, Kokubunji
This is an off-beat movie about a former star chef who now lives in a shack in the hills with his truffle pig.

cut down in my youth

2022.06.20, Kokubunji
A few years ago, my daughter was playing with my shaver.

movie review - Spider-Man No Way Home

2022.06.19, Kokubunji
This movie is what they call "fan service", designed foremost to please people who are really into the material.

the word of the day is 詩

2022.06.18, Kokubunji
On the downside my Japanese reading this weekend is on Yoko Ono.

there is something at the bottom of the sea

2022.06.16, Kokubunji
It's remarkable to me that we can't even find the DNA that could tell us what these are.

movie review - Greenland

2022.06.15, Kokubunji
Apocalypse now!

movie review - Nobody

2022.06.12, Kokubunji
This movie is a near miss.

clothing

2022.06.08, Kokubunji
I watched a Youtube video about the textiles industry.

twenty years of photo CMS

2022.06.07, Kokubunji
I went hunting in my journal and found what I was looking for: record of when I started working on the database-driven photo manager I use.

crow chasing butterfly

2022.05.30, Kokubunji
Today we watched one of The Boy's basketball tournaments.

electric cars

2022.05.28, Kokubunji
I have this growing conviction that electric cars are not the solution to our car problem.

towel day and the living is easy

2022.05.25, Kokubunji
I marked this auspicious day by buying books, but not Douglas Adams.

movie review - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

2022.05.22, Kokubunji
This is a Marvel super-hero movie with enough of a re-skin that it is more watchable than many.

boom town

2022.05.20, Kokubunji
Today there was a persistent rumbling that waxed and waned in volume.

movie review - Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

2022.05.18, Kokubunji
This was a "movie night" movie and despite myself I found it growing on me.

analog computers for artificial intelligence

2022.05.18, Kokubunji
I can barely keep up with these things. I mean, I don't th

five years after a death

2022.05.16, Kokubunji
My friend Kevin Atwood died five years ago.

birth of a nation

2022.05.16, Kokubunji
I hope the author's right that all this suffering and dest

I have learned the prefectures

2022.05.15, Kokubunji
Emma is studying the prefectures of Japan, so I've decided to learn them as well.

movie review - The Addams Family

2022.05.14, Kokubunji
This is an animated remake of the old Addams Family series, movies, and comic strips.

Near Dark

2022.05.10, Kokubunji
This is the tale of a young Texan who falls in with a bunch of vampires.

remind me to never swim again

2022.05.08, Kokubunji

movie review - Falling Down

2022.05.07, Kokubunji
For Movie Night, The Boy and I watched this now thirty-year-old Hollywood flick about a mentally and emotionally disturbed individual who - get this - attempts to walk across Los Angeles.

crapped on by a bird for the twentieth time

2022.05.04, Kawasaki, Japan
It's happened for the first time in nearly three years - hit with shit yet again.

ugh Scotch

2022.04.28, Kokubunji
I bought some Japanese whisky that turned out to be a form of Scotch.

movie review - Ad Astra

2022.04.24, Kokubunji
This is an interesting work of Science Fiction that starts with its main character falling off a sky hook and then follows him to every miserable corner of a future that's at once dystopian but also somewhat grounded and optimistic but not in a Star Trek way.

farewell cameras

2022.04.22, Kokubunji
The household is now down to just two cameras.

movie review - Black Crab

2022.04.17, Kokubunji
This is a tense tale set in a near future Crapsack World where war has broken out between .

modding watches

2022.04.16, Kokubunji
Today I did some work on my watches.

movie review - Turning Red

2022.04.02, Kokubunji
This is a family-friendly animated movie about a girl in Toronto's Chinatown community (the one on Spadina) who discovers that she is heir to a family secret - puberty-onset shape-shifting superpowers.

Toronto real estate trap

2022.04.01, Kokubunji
The average home in Toronto is now $1.

power shortage in Tokyo

2022.03.22, Kokubunji
The power generation company has announced that due to damage sustained in the large earthquake last week, the power plants in the north-east part of Japan are at maximum capacity, with zero spare.

fishing with the boy

2022.03.21, Yokohama
Mari arranged a fishing trip for The Boy and me, as it's a holiday.

large quake in Tokyo

2022.03.17, Kokubunji
There was a large quake tonight, easily the largest I've ever experienced.

movie review - Raya and the Last Dragon

2022.03.15, Kokubunji
This is a particularly good animated kids' movie.

latest watch acquisition

2022.03.08, Kokubunji
For years, while earning barely enough to pay the bills in Toronto, I'd occasionally write about this or that "watch crush".

movie review - A Promising Young Woman

2022.03.03, Kokubunji
This is a movie about a guilty survivor of a horrific incident at a university in which a fellow female student is filmed while being raped to death.

well-wishes for Ukraine from Canada

2022.02.26, Kokubunji
I live halfway around the world but I thought I'd create this token of my well-wishes for the people of Ukraine.

movie review - The Suicide Squad

2022.02.24, Kokubunji
This is a comic book movie based on real comic books that I have actually read*.

movie review - Seventh Son

2022.02.21, Kokubunji
This is a Fantasy story about the seventh son of a seventh son - a supposed marker of great ability as a wizard.

frost-bite

2022.02.15, Kokubunji
I've realized that the house is so cold I've developed frost-bite on my little fingers.

curious polarizer lens

2022.02.13, Kokubunji
I went to work today, downtown.

The Boy has a lucky break

2022.02.11, Kokubunji
The Boy has been accepted to a STEM program at a high school in Toronto.

is this what happened to Star Trek Discovery

2022.02.08, Kokubunji

movie review - What Happened To Monday

2022.02.07, Kokubunji
This is a movie set in a near/alternate future in which GMO's were necessitated by an ecological collapse - humanity was starving.

movie review - Mother/Android

2022.02.01, Kokubunji
This is a frustrating Sci-Fi/thriller flick that doesn't realize it's promise.

goodbye, Google Workspace

2022.01.31, Kokubunji
On the weekend, I received an email from Google that they were cutting my legacy account on Google Workspace.

movie review - Extinct

2022.01.29, Kokubunji
This is a somewhat weird and off-putting animated story about a species of cuddly mammals that have bodies shaped like donuts - replete with the center hole.

running in spot

2022.01.24, Kokubunji
Every day I tackle a couple of items from my to-do list, sit down to work, race through lunch, site down to work again until 19:00 or 20:00, and then face the too-brief evening exhausted.

movie review - How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

2022.01.23, Kokubunji
This is the third in the "How to Train Your Dragon" series of animated movies.

The Boy sits an exam

2022.01.23, Kokubunji
My son had to sit an English-language exam today, so I packed him up and we went to Kichijoji.

movie review - Hilda and the Mountain King

2022.01.22, Kokubunji
This is an animated story of a human girl who wakes up to discover she's become a troll.

accidental scotch

2022.01.22, Kokubunji
I bought some Japanese whisky in the grocery/drug store and it's .

the cold house

2022.01.18, Kokubunji
It's not cold in Tokyo, but the houses sure are.

movie review - A Quiet Place II

2022.01.15, Kokubunji
This is a sequel to a sci-fi thriller in which massive comets have fallen to Earth, spawning alien killing machines as they go.

waiting for an Earthquake

2022.01.14, Kokubunji
I find that any time there's any small shift or movement, I'm waiting to see if it's an Earthquake.

slammed

2022.01.13, Kokubunji
I've only been back to work for 2-3 days and already it's like I never took two weeks off.

crazily late mail

2022.01.12, Kokubunji
Today some Christmas cards arrived in the mail.

movie review - Nightbooks

2022.01.09, Kokubunji
For "movie night" we watched a film about a kid who likes to write scary movies.

movie review - Casino Royale (2006)

2022.01.08, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Today my son and I watched the first of the Bond movies to feature Daniel Craig.

dead turtles in a harbor

2022.01.07, Nichinan, Miyazaki
It will surprise no-one that we went fishing today.

movie review - Goldeneye

2022.01.07, Nichinan, Miyazaki
I watched this Bond flick with my son as part of our ongoing series.

a waterfall in Miyakonojo

2022.01.06, Nichinan, Miyazaki
We traveled to Miyakonojo in the interior of Miyazaki, today, to visit with family.

fishing once more

2022.01.05, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Today Mari drove me and the two Akios down to Kushima, to meet her uncle and board his boat.

third literary agency queried

2022.01.05, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Not having had a response from the second literary agency I reached out to in early December, I've now written to a third about my novel manuscript.

fishing news

2022.01.04, Nichinan, Miyazaki
We took to the water again today, and I tried to catch larger fish rather than loading up on smaller ones as we had last time.

New Year's activities

2022.01.03, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Today we went to a shrine first thing, leaving at 08:00 to beat the rush.

daddy cleans a beach .. sorta

2022.01.02, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Today we headed out for a bit of a trip around the coast, just Mari and I and the kids.

movie review - License to Kill

2022.01.01, Nichinan
Today my son and I watched our fourth James Bond movie, for the fourth actor to take on the role.

Happy new year - the 25th anniversary for this journal

2022.01.01, Nichinan
Well, I can honestly say that 2021 was one of the hardest of my life.

2021

1,573 emails in 2021

2021.12.31, Nichinan, Miyazaki
The collapse of email as a communications medium proceeds at a furious pace.

recharging

2021.12.30, Kokubunji
I can't believe how exhausted I became this year.

movie review - Don't Look Up

2021.12.29, Nichinan, Miyazaki
This is a satire of the handling (or lack there-of) for a dire situation in which two American scientists discover a killer asteroid that's on a collision course with Earth.

movie review - The Spy Who Loved Me

2021.12.29, Kokubunji
This is the third Bond movie that my son and I watched together.

deep sea fishing

2021.12.28, Nichinan
I went fishing with my father-in-law today.

movie review - On Her Majesty's Secret Service

2021.12.21, Kokubunji
This is the second Bond film that I watched with my son.

movie review - Goldfinger

2021.12.20, Kokubunji
I watched this with my almost-thirteen-year-old this morning.

movie review - Gremlins

2021.12.17, Kokubunji
I showed the kids this '80s classic movie tonight.

built a TV stand this morning

2021.12.11, Kokubunji
I built a TV stand this morning.

second query letter sent

2021.12.05, Kokubunji
Not having heard from the first literary agent I reached out to six weeks ago, I've sent a second query to a different agency.

movie review - Green Snake

2021.12.04, Kokubunji
This is a Chinese-produced movie on Netflix that my daughter and I watched for "Movie Night".

today I played "Nihonjin Mitai"

2021.12.04, Kokubunji
A good friend has produced a card game called Nihonjin Mitai.

TV replaced

2021.12.04, Kokubunji
Our TV comes from Hi-Sense, a Chinese manufacturer that's been around for a number of years.

movie review - Anna

2021.12.03, Kokubunji
Burned out after another brutal week at work, I sat in front of Netflix and took a chance on this movie about a beautiful young Russian woman who winds up working for the KGB in the waning days of the USSR.

mid-night earthquake service

2021.12.03, Kokubunji
Yesterday I was woken at 02:00 by a modest earthquake.

my last palindrome date?

2021.12.02, Kokubunji
It's 2021.

shaken at night

2021.12.02, Kokubunji
I was woken at 02:00 by an earthquake.

that jaclyn moriarty

2021.11.27, Kokubunji
I've been reading a book called "The Whispering Wars" to my daughter.

movie review - Zack Snyder's Justice League

2021.11.20, Kokubunji
This movie is four hours long.

movie review - Red Notice

2021.11.19, Toronto
Sometimes, Hollywood will make a movie simply by assembling a leading cast and letting them do their usual shtick.

movie review - The Amazing Spider-Man 2

2021.11.18, Toronto
We watched this one for "movie night", and I realized that I'd somehow never seen this movie.

movie review - Jumper

2021.11.16, Kokubunji
It's been quite some time since I watched this Sci-Fi/thriller.

photo books are en route

2021.11.15, Kokubunji
Every year, I make photo books detailing the kids' lives.

drowning at 2.4º

2021.11.14, Kokubunji
My mum sent this tool, which shows how different cities will look once flooded by the expected rise in sea level over the coming decades.

good e-commerce experience

2021.11.14, Kokubunji
I had an unusually good e-commerce experience with a company called Number Barn that lets you park phone numbers.

new watch

2021.11.13, Kokubunji
I bought an all-silver watch to offset my entirely dark-dial watch collection.

too stupid for a space empire

2021.11.10, Kokubunji
The space adventurism of billionaires gives me solace that humanity is never going to colonize space.

state of the watch collection

2021.11.01, Kokubunji
After receiving a generous watch gift from my brother I'm suddenly a watch collector.

movie review - Dark Shadows

2021.10.30, Kokubunji
This is the story of a vampire who is locked up in a coffin for centuries and then released in our time.

movie review - Army of Thieves

2021.10.30, Kokubunji
Following hot on the heals of "Army of the Dead" comes a prequel about the German safe-cracker.

dinner with a friend

2021.10.22, Kokubunji
I had dinner with a friend tonight for the first time in so long I don't remember.

I love this new Macbook

2021.10.19, Kokubunji
There, I said it.

movie review - Jexi

2021.10.16, Kokubunji
This is an awkward semi-comedy featuring a guy who loses control of his life to an app.

submitted a query letter to a literary agent

2021.10.15, Kokubunji
I've submitted a query letter to a literary agent in the UK regarding my latest novel manuscript.

queried my first agent

2021.10.15, Kokubunji
I got my first query letter out the door with a synopsis and the first three chapters.

fast computer

2021.10.14, Kokubunji
I'm trying to find some reliable numbers of my new Mac's power draw, because I seem to be getting far more use out of a battery charge then I was expected.

long ride to Ibaraki

2021.10.11, Kokubunji
It was a beautiful day today, and the only one in the forecast for my week off that wasn

movie review - Men in Black 3

2021.10.10, Kokubunji
This is by far the best of the Men in Black movies about human cops chasing a bunch of alies around Earth.

movie review - Abominable

2021.10.10, Kokubunji
In this story, a girl finds a yeti cowering on the roof-top of her building.

first new computer in more than a decade

2021.10.09, Kokubunji
I've bought a new laptop for the first time in well over a decade.

quake!

2021.10.07, Kokubunji
We had a great earthquake today, a 6.

here comes a man through the window pane

2021.10.04, Kokubunji
This morning as with most Mondays I got an early start at work at around 07:00.

movie review - Men in Black II

2021.10.03, Kokubunji
This was another "movie night" viewing on Netflix.

108 to 99.8

2021.09.27, Kokubunji
I got a reading of 99.

tried to fix our TV

2021.09.25, Kokubunji
We tried to fix our TV today.

bee-keeping is pretty amazing

2021.09.24, Kokubunji
Lemme just grab a handful of bees real quick.

movie review - 12 Strong

2021.09.23, Kokubunji
This is the telling of a team of US soldiers that went into the Taliban's stronghold in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist strike.

movie review - Pirates of the Caribbean

2021.09.19, Kokubunji
Another semi-lockdown quarantine movie review with the kids.

movie review - Goosebumps (2015)

2021.09.18, Kokubunji
We watched this with the kids.

movie review - The Little Things

2021.09.13, Kokubunji
This is the story of a detective who is sent to his former precinct in Los Angeles to complete some paperwork.

movie review - Kate

2021.09.11, Kokubunji
This is an action pic about an assassin who's been tasked with hitting a yakuza target.

thinner

2021.09.08, Kokubunji
We're going through a bit of a cool spell, so my wrist has become a bit thinner.

movie review - Pets United

2021.09.05, Kokubunji
Once in a while my daughter and I try to watch something for "Movie Night" that turns out to be unwatchable.

movie review - Midway

2021.09.04, Kokubunji
My son and I watched this flick for a school assignment.

movie review - Sweet Girl

2021.08.28, Kokubunji
This is a story about a man and daughter who lose their wife/mother and the father can't shake that his wife was allowed to die due to some mix of medical and pharmacological incompetence and/or conspiracy.

completed the first draft of my novel

2021.08.28, Kokubunji
By finding an hour or so per day I've managed to rewrite a novel from scratch in the course of six weeks or so.

movie review - The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

2021.08.27, Kokubunji
This is an animated movie based on the excellent TV series "The Witcher".

movie review - Penguins of Madagascar: The Movie

2021.08.22, Kokubunji
This is a spy farce starring the penguins from the Madagascar movie which I want to say was fifteen years ago or more.

first draft of latest novel within sight

2021.08.22, Kokubunji
I've completed the plot for the first draft of my rewrite of a novel I first wrote from 1990 - 1994.

movie review - Knives Out

2021.08.15, Kokubunji
This is a whodunnit set in a mansion.

movie review - Vivo

2021.08.14, Kokubunji
In this film, a girl in Miami finds a kinkajou (a rare monkey thing) while on a trip in Cuba.

movie review - Hot Fuzz

2021.08.11, Kokubunji
This is an over-the-top cop-in-trouble movie in the vein of "Bad Boys II".

typhoon season

2021.08.10, Kokubunji
Last year I don't think Tokyo was hit or skirted by any typhoons.

scripting for site management

2021.08.09, Kokubunji
I use scripts to support the content management system that I wrote to create and serve this website.

the new fishing watch

2021.08.06, Kokubunji
I bought a new fishing watch for 2200 yen.

counting flights

2021.08.05, Kokubunji
A couple of weeks ago I was having trouble sleeping and decided to count all the times I'd flown.

movie review - R.I.P.D.

2021.08.04, Kokubunji
Sometimes there are movies that seem to be grown up around the personas of the lead actors.

grapes from our yard

2021.08.04, Kokubunji
Someone planted a single grape vine in our yard.

second vaccination blues

2021.08.01, Kokubunji
Had my second vaccine shot yesterday.

second vaccination

2021.07.31, Kokubunji
I've had my second vaccination, in a small clinic in the neighborhood (Kokubunji).

saw a bat on my street tonight

2021.07.28, Kokubunji
I saw a bat on our street tonight.

journal live once more

2021.07.25, Kokubunji
I've taken my journal live again.

weight loss

2021.07.23, Kokubunji
Just under two months ago, Mari and I switched to a low-carb diet.

maddening TV issues

2021.07.21, Kokubunji
We've been having problems with the sound-bar for our television dropping out all the time.

movie review - Wish Dragon

2021.07.20, Kokubunji
It's about a young fellow who is being raised by a single mother.

Ome is for (river) lovers

2021.07.17, Kokubunji
The rainy season has abruptly ended, and the temperature is north of 30°C every day.

movie review - Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

2021.07.10, Kokubunji
This is a sci-fi action film about a pair of agents for a galaxy-spanning government military force of some kind.

half-vax

2021.07.10, Kokubunji
I got my first vaccination shot today.

movie review - Secret Magic Control Agency

2021.07.03, Kokubunji
This is an animated flick that re-purposes twenty-something Hansel and Gretel as investigators for the society of magicians that maintains order by tracking down missing peoples of all types.

speculative sci-fi

2021.07.03, Kokubunji
I've finally finished a story I started in 2003 about how multi-cellular life got started on Earth, and added it to my little collection of sci-fi.

fiction reboot

2021.06.30, Kokubunji
I've restored some of my fiction to my website.

backup strategy works (for once)

2021.06.29, Kokubunji
Today I discovered that something had gone wrong with the software I wrote to manage my book reviews.

well I've never been to Ome

2021.06.28, Kokubunji
Today I cycled up to a town called Ome in Tokyo's far north-west.

damaged my lawnmower

2021.06.27, Kokubunji
Having this kind of day.

movie review - Rubber

2021.06.24, Kokubunji
This is a movie about a pissed-off semi-sentient car tire that discovers it has psionic abilities.

a day with immigration

2021.06.18, Kokubunji
Today we set out at 08:30 for the pension office.

first migraine in a week

2021.06.15, Kokubunji
Well I made it all of six days with this new drug in my system before taking a cafergot for a migraine.

conversational

2021.06.08, Kokubunji
My Japanese is getting to the point where I can string together actual (spoken) paragraphs now.

two shots in the arm

2021.06.08, Kokubunji
Today I had two shots at a hospital of a drug supposed to prevent migraine for up to a month.

movie review - The Spiderwick Chronicles

2021.05.30, Kokubunji
This is a movie about a trio of siblings that move into a rambling and decrepit home of a deceased relative after the separation of their parents.

the spider-plant incident

2021.05.30, Kokubunji
I'd noticed recently that the little pot into which I'd transplanted my spider-plant seemed oddly full, like the soil was about to overflow the thing.

movie review - The Do-Over

2021.05.29, Kokubunji
This is an Adam Sandler movie.

poorly made watch

2021.05.28, Kokubunji
I made a watch from parts I ordered on Ebay, AliExpress, and Amazon.

movie review - Army of the Dead

2021.05.27, Kokubunji
This is a style-over-substance heist movie set in a fictional Las Vegas that's been over-run with zombies.

movie review - Valley of the Dead

2021.05.22, Kokubunji
Set during the Spanish civil war, this is a zombie movie.

movie review - Heroes Wanted

2021.05.20, Kokubunji
This is a very uneven telling of the assembly of a "B" team of agents to track down a missing nuclear bomb.

movie review - True Memoirs of an International Assassin

2021.05.18, Kokubunji
This is the tale of a novelist who writes spy thrillers.

yes, it must be Monday

2021.05.17, Kokubunji
I managed to nick myself twice with a new razor blade.

movie review - Thunder Force

2021.05.14, Kokubunji
I have a feeling that this movie came together due to someone owing someone a favor because I don't think it was built on an idea per se - or at least not a solid one.

parking a phone number

2021.05.13, Kokubunji
When I moved from Tokyo to Toronto I bought a phone number in Toronto in advance through a small Canadian company.

waning eyesight

2021.05.12, Kokubunji
Over the past couple of mornings I've been going through some of my pics from the past few months.

Kokubunji at dusk

2021.05.09, Kokubunji
Kokubunji at dusk Collections containing this photo.kokubu

movie review - Spider-Man: Far from Home

2021.05.05, Kokubunji
This is a strange version of Spider Man that has no origin story but is basically a kid in the by-now Iron Man's wake.

first night with the window open

2021.05.03, Kokubunji
I slept with the window open last night for the first time this year.

movie review - The Mitchells vs. The Machines

2021.05.02, Kokubunji
This is an animated flick we watched on "movie night".

another quake

2021.05.02, Kokubunji
We had an early morning quake again today.

laying down plastic for rows of produce

2021.05.01, Kokubunji
laying down plastic for rows of produce Collections contai

the family that Casio together

2021.05.01, Kokubunji
I gave The Girl a Casio watch for her birthday.

used things doubling in value

2021.04.29, Kokubunji
In what is surely a sign of a stable economy, my seven year old SARB watch from Seiko is now selling for twice its original retail price - used.

building a watch

2021.04.23, Kokubunji
I'm going to build a watch from parts that I ordered from Ebay in the US and Aliexpress in China.

mowing the lawn every week?

2021.04.18, Kokubunji
And now it seems I have to mow the lawn every week.

a contact by a former employer

2021.04.17, Kokubunji
Today I was contacted by a former employer about the possibility of training their firm on a renewed push on the work we were doing 2-3 years ago.

we forgot a rake

2021.04.11, Kokubunji
So I mowed the lawn in about ten minutes.

our new lawnmower

2021.04.10, Kokubunji
For the first time in 30+ years, I'll be mowing the lawn this weekend.

movie review - I Care a Lot

2021.04.07, Kokubunji
This is a movie about an elderly woman whose life is turned upside down when she's forcibly confined in a nursing home by a crooked self-employed agent who has the legal authority to make self-serving financial decisions.

like books a-flight in the Golden Hour

2021.04.03, Kokubunji
like books a-flight in the Golden Hour Collections contain

the black heart door

2021.04.03, Kokubunji
the black heart door Collections containing this photo.wal

teaching the girl about lines

2021.04.03, Kokubunji
teaching the girl about lines Collections containing this

movie review - Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

2021.04.03, Kokubunji
This is a story of a girl who's drawn into a ghost story.

a park in cherry blossom season

2021.03.29, Kokubunji
a park in cherry blossom season Collections containing thi

prepping for a big one

2021.03.29, Kokubunji
We had another earthquake on Sunday.

a Tokyo front yard in the Golden Hour

2021.03.26, Kawasaki
a Tokyo front yard in the Golden Hour Collections containi

and suddenly it's hot

2021.03.26, Kokubunji
Until just yesterday we were using our space heaters on a daily basis.

welcome to spring, everyone

2021.03.21, Kokubunji
I'm celebrating with a nasal/chest cold, which The Girl brought home early in the week.

life two-thirds gone

2021.03.17, Kokubunji
Hmm, I guess I've burned off two thirds of my life expectancy.

migraine journal

2021.03.16, Kokubunji
I went to see my neurologist again today.

mt fuji across water

2021.03.14, Chiba
mt fuji across water Collections containing this photo.

mt fuji across water

2021.03.13, Chiba
mt fuji across water Collections containing this photo.ski

hello, southern Chiba

2021.03.13, Tateyama
Today we went to a small city in southern Chiba prefecture called Tateyama.

happiness is a new fishing rod

2021.03.10, Kokubunji
Mari's bought me a birthday gift of fishing.

movie review - Ocean's Twelve

2021.03.08, Kokubunji
This is a sequel.

last week's homework

2021.03.08, Kokubunji
For last Tuesday, I had to write something about an interesting experience.

a camera review

2021.03.07, Kokubunji
The camera market is imploding fast.

a year in Japan

2021.03.06, Kokubunji
It's been a year in Japan as of today.

PR status here I come

2021.03.03, Kokubunji
I hope this unverified article is right, because it means I qualify for Japanese Permanent Residency.

so long, LastPass

2021.03.02, Kokubunji
I've been using a password plugin in my browser called LastPass since who knows when.

new camera bag

2021.03.01, Kokubunji
My beloved old camera bag has become faded, worn, stained, and shapeless.

photos deleted 13 years ago

2021.02.25, Kokubunji
I've discovered that I've managed to delete some ~150 or so photos from a 2006 trip to Kyoto with Mari and mum.

movie review - Constantine

2021.02.23, Kokubunji
It's been many years since I was happily surprised by this gritty Angles-and-Demons flick featuring a human who has learned many occult secrets and now spends his unhappy days fighting "Lu"cifer and his minions.

movie review - Gods of Egypt

2021.02.22, Kokubunji
This movie has a promising cast and certainly appears visually stunning, but is let down by an unengaging story in which characters behave without clear motive and no one is really very sympathetic.

checking out houses with my gal

2021.02.20, Kokubunji
After we'd had our bentou, we dragged The Girl into see some open houses that were freshly built in a quiet corner of our neighborhood.

checking out cameras with the girl

2021.02.20, Kokubunji
When my brother and I were small my mum would occasionally ask what kind of gift to get for our dad.

a surprise piano

2021.02.19, Kokubunji
My boss is going back to Europe for failing to deliver on a major risk project.

GPU prices

2021.02.18, Kokubunji
On October 9 I bought a video card for The Boy's PC for ¥28,000.

movie review - Johnny English Strikes Again

2021.02.17, Kokubunji
This is a spy spoof in which Rowan Atkinson plays a dimwitted secret agent of mostly good nature.

an animal is a moving thing

2021.02.16, Kokubunji
Today's word in Japanese is 動物, or doubutsu, or animal.

the square root of first is ash

2021.02.14, Kokubunji
I just learned the word for grey in Japanese; haiiro.

the earthquake

2021.02.13, Kokubunji
We've had several quakes in the near year I've been here.

movie review - Get Smart

2021.02.11, Kokubunji
This is a luke-warm reboot of a TV show from the '60s that lacks a good deal of the charm of the original.

I got lost today

2021.02.11, Kokubunji
I decided, around 15:30 to head west to the Tamagawa to see the river by bike.

in bloom

2021.02.10, Kokubunji
Two weeks ago I was surprised to see plum blossoms in the neighborhood.

movie review - Space Sweepers

2021.02.09, Kokubunji
This is a Korean piece of Sci-Fi that I quite enjoyed.

unseasonably warm street photography

2021.02.06, Kokubunji
Kokubunji isn't exactly a beautiful place but it's lively enough for a tiny city in the middle of 40 million people.

leads for a "vintage" pencil

2021.02.06, Kokubunji
Today Mari and I went for a walk to do some errands.

movie review - Serenity

2021.02.04, Toronto
"Take me out into the black, tell 'em I ain't coming back.

another new server for emuu.net

2021.01.31, Kokubunji
I've long since lost count of the many, many VM's and physical servers upon which I've had emuu.

3° in Tokyo

2021.01.31, Kokubunji
It's 3° outside this morning, which means it's scantly warmer indoors.

movie review - Finding ‘Ohana

2021.01.30, Kokubunji
This is an entertaining film that's basically "The Goonies" in Hawaii plus girls.

the 15 million year pandemic

2021.01.29, Kokubunji
And we think *we* have it rough.

a bird made of cheap Chinese bricks

2021.01.27, Kokubunji
Some of the cheap Chinese lego-like bricks I ordered before X'mas arrived.

abandoned laneway

2021.01.21, Kokubunji
A few blocks from our place is a laneway that's been abandoned.

cold house

2021.01.12, Kokubunji
This new residence of ours is about thirty years old.

movie review - Inside Man

2021.01.11, Kokubunji
The main weakness of Heist movies is being too clever.

movie review - Holmes & Watson

2021.01.11, Kokubunji
As much as I like the stars of this film, I couldn't sit through it to the end.

old PC finally complete

2021.01.10, Kokubunji
Late this summer, we went to a "recycle shop" that Mari had found online.

movie review - The House with a Clock in Its Walls

2021.01.09, Kokubunji
This is a spooky family flick about a boy who goes to stay with his uncle, who is something of a witch.

movie review - Papillon

2021.01.07, Kokubunji
This is a gritty telling of true events in mid-Century France.

sunset on a New Year's Day

2021.01.01, Kokubunji
We went out to see the sunset.

2020

migraine report

2020.12.31, Kokubunji
I was thinking back across the year and realized that I may have gotten through the year without a day lost to a migraine.

the death of email

2020.12.31, Kokubunji
This time last year I recorded a count of the emails I'd received through the year.

these Germans make good toys

2020.12.27, Tokyo
I tweeted to Ravensberger, who made this marble run toy, be

movie review - The Midnight Sky

2020.12.26, Kokubunji
I really wanted to enjoy this movie about a scientist struggling to resolve a global climate crisis while a space mission is returning to the ruined planet.

movie review - We Can Be Heroes

2020.12.26, Kokubunji
Of late, Robert Rodriguez has been making kids movies.

movie review - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

2020.12.25, Kokubunji
This is a musical number about a genius inventor who is ripped off by his apprentice.

starting to feel a lot like X'mas

2020.12.24, Kokubunji
crowded tree Mari's done a stellar job of X'mas as with eve

jupiter and saturn

2020.12.21, Kokubunji
We were treated to an amazing image of the moon, Saturn, and Jupiter all crowded into a single corner of a cloudless sky at dusk, tonight.

movie review - Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

2020.12.20, Kokubunji
This is a Batman spin-off, or perhaps a spin-off of "Suicide Squad", which is a spin-off of Batman.

a trio of heaters

2020.12.20, Kokubunji
Today I bought three heaters.

lego from China

2020.12.19, Kokubunji
The Girl has been playing with Lego a fair bit, but sadly we had to leave most of it in Canada so she's got way more windows than wall pieces and some of her creations have been a bit rickety.

movie review - The Matrix Reloaded

2020.12.13, Kokubunji
I tried showing my kids this flick for "movie night".

movie review - The Vast of Night

2020.12.12, Kokubunji
This film was a recommendation from a friend, and I was completely blown away.

articular disc slipped

2020.12.12, Kokubunji
I had to go to a dentist today because of a persistent problem in my jaw.

out of migraine meds

2020.12.11, Kokubunji
Well I've got three of my migraine capsules left.

cycling by a temple

2020.12.08, Kokubunji
The sun had just come up, and I was out with my camera. You

frosty european cars

2020.12.06, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  kokubunji 2

a touch of frost

2020.12.06, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  kokubunji 2

gate to a temple grounds

2020.12.05, Kokubunji
This is the site of the main temple complex from which 'Kok

movie review - The Martian

2020.12.05, Kokubunji
This is a story about a man stuck on Mars, who must who must survive on science alone.

movie review - Animal Crackers

2020.12.05, Kokubunji
For "Movie Night" my daughter and I watched this one.

cyclist pre-dawn

2020.12.01, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  kokubunji 2

the trouble with pandemics (episode 334)

2020.11.29, Kokubunji
It looks like we have no option to get the photo books to people on time.

my annual fall from my bike

2020.11.29, Kokubunji
We went to Tachikawa today to get me onto a mobile phone service.

movie review - The Goonies

2020.11.28, Kokubunji
This is the '80s classic featuring a bunch of kids who decide to explore a house where they think some evil-doing is afoot.

movie review - The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two

2020.11.27, Kokubunji
Proving once again that there can't be a good movie without a sequel, this is the unnecessary follow-up to the endearing Netflix Christmas Special featuring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus.

hello kitty bank

2020.11.27, Kokubunji
I needed a new bank account, because the Japanese banking system is .

the trouble with mobile phones (II)

2020.11.26, Kokubunji
I didn't get as much done today as I wanted.

fishing in Yamanashi

2020.11.25, Yamanashi
Today I joined the headhunter who placed me at my current gig in a fishing trip.

another busy day

2020.11.24, Kokubunji
Today we set off right away for Fuchu, a city adjacent to Kokubunji.

the trouble with mobile phones

2020.11.23, Kokubunji
One odd wrinkle has come up in our plans to switch to a low-cost phone provider.

crouching photographers at sunset

2020.11.22, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  trees & tru

movie review - The Matrix

2020.11.22, Toronto
This is a classic science fiction movie from twenty years ago, before financial crises, calamitous presidencies, and terrorist strikes at the heart of the global financial industry.

a productive day

2020.11.22, Kokubunji
I've discovered that I've been completely exhausted.

movie review - Over the Moon

2020.11.21, Kokubunji
This is a kids' movie from a Chinese studio that features an ancient tale from that same country of a goddess who winds up stranded on the moon / living in association with the moon.

photo books ready to roll

2020.11.20, Kokubunji
I used some white corrective tape to patch up three mistakes in this year's photo books, which arrived last Sunday.

movie review - Beyond Skyline

2020.11.17, Kokubunji
This is a fun Sci-Fi flick about a cop whose son is becoming a petty crook.

fresh fields

2020.11.15, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  color  

river trek

2020.11.15, Kokubunji
We headed off at 10:30 this morning hoping to reach a place where there's a ravine full of autumn colors, this finally being the season.

a fence post's last stand

2020.11.14, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  kokubunji 2

smashed my beater watch

2020.11.08, Kokubunji
I caught the edge of the glass on my beater watch on a surface while taking The Girl out to the park today.

09:08 in the morning

2020.11.07, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  skies  

movie review - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

2020.11.07, Kokubunji
Today we watched a movie the kids only know from memes.

proxy TV

2020.11.03, Kokubunji
Today I hooked up a small Linux device between the new TV and our even newer Internet connection*.

the grass is riz

2020.11.02, Kokubunji
We've been diligently watering the grass and watching for some sign of life but we were beginning to think it hadn't worked when Mari spotted tiny shoots all over the tiny yard.

concrete and water

2020.11.01, Kokubunji
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

Kokubunji is for lovers

2020.11.01, Kokubunji
This morning I carried on with the work on volume thirteen of the kids' photo books.

making hay in the sunshine

2020.10.25, Kokubunji
Today was a sunny day (queue the day-long migraine) so we decided by around nine in the morning to seed the yard in hopes of growing a lawn.

a day of rest

2020.10.24, Kokubunji
This morning I set off to find a kickstand.

sunset over western Tokyo

2020.10.23, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  skies  

buying a TV

2020.10.20, Kokubunji
Buying a TV has become insanely difficult.

the reservoir is flush

2020.10.18, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

bird feeder

2020.10.18, Kokubunji
This past week the landlord sent some gardeners, who aggressively cut back the cedars and made pollards out of the deciduous trees.

Japanese lesson no. 2

2020.10.13, Kokubunji
I had my second Japanese lesson tonight.

ode to joy

2020.10.11, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  moods  

good news today

2020.10.11, Kokubunji
For the first time in four days, it was not raining incessantly.

prescription reading glasses

2020.10.10, Kokubunji
This morning Mari and I went to Kunitachi, a city in our 'hood with a name that seems to be comprised of bits of the larger cities.

first jaunt on my new-old bike

2020.10.09, Kokubunji
Today after a grueling day and the end of a grueling week*, I was told that Ken had left his umbrella at school and that I'd had to meet him.

sofa and beds

2020.10.07, Kokubunji
We've finally bought a sofa and some bed frames.

movie review - Venom

2020.10.06, Kokubunji
This is a sci-fi/super-hero movie about a disgraced photographer and the alien symbiote that he meets while breaking into a lab owned by a billionaire.

Bering land bridge idea

2020.10.06, Kokubunji
Ken's writing a piece for school on the Bering land bridge.

ants, getcha flying ants

2020.10.05, Kokubunji
Our place is (literally) crawling with what appear to flying ants.

on CEO's and civil wars

2020.09.28, Kokubunji
A friend posted to slack: "Andreas Liris, the CIO of Ma

rebuilding the Tokyobike

2020.09.26, Kokubunji
Mari's old Tokyobike now has a new set of tires and tubes, and a new front axle to replace the one I broke when attempting repairs in Toronto last year.

total aquarium kill

2020.09.25, Kokubunji
Mari's dad had a near total aquarium kill incident.

movie review - Enola Holmes

2020.09.24, Kokubunji
This is an imaginative new story about the young sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, who defies her older brothers by striking out to find their mother, who seems quite fixed on not being found, for reasons unknown.

scary summary of the Canadian economy

2020.09.23, Kokubunji
In an exchange with a friend in Canada who's a lawyer and fo

at the foot of mount Fuji

2020.09.21, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  skies  

shopping for a TV but buying a fire extinguisher

2020.09.19, Kokubunji
Today we went out while Ken was at school.

movie review - Da 5 Bloods

2020.09.18, Kokubunji
Every time I sit in front of a Spike Lee movie, I'm hoping for "Do the Right Thing" or "Malcolm X", and not, say, "She's Gotta Have It" or "School Daze" (which was the first of his works I saw).

yesterday's paper wasps

2020.09.18, Kokubunji
Mari spoke to the landlord about a nest of paper wasps that she'd spotted hanging from our bedroom balcony.

old badge, new coaster

2020.09.16, Kokubunji
I spotted the "badge" from the baseball hat I bought as a memento when on a week-long science trip on the west coast in 1986.

buh-bye beef

2020.09.15, Kokubunji
We're discussing giving up beef.

passport lost no longer

2020.09.14, Kokubunji
My passport went missing for a week during the move, which was a problem because I'd have to register my new address with the government.

revamping an old PC

2020.09.14, Kokubunji
I've mentioned that I bought an old Dell PC for about 15,000 yen (maybe $CA180).

friendly neighborhood

2020.09.13, Kokubunji
On Sunday, we went about introducing ourselves to the immediate neighbors.

weird sleeping

2020.09.08, Kokubunji
We're sleeping in the tatami room until we have beds.

high speed Internet

2020.09.07, Kokubunji
I imagine I'll be laughing at this post some day, but I'm pleased with the high speed of our Internet connection.

Michael's day off

2020.09.07, Kokubunji
Today we had plans to rent a car and do a bunch of housewares shopping.

Sunday, busy Sunday

2020.09.06, Kokubunji
This morning presented some challenges.

new type of home

2020.09.06, Kokubunji
Mari and I have been remarking to each other what a difference this place is already making.

evacuating for typhoon X

2020.09.06, Kokubunji
Mari's parents are evacuating in advance of typhoon X.

cycling between homes

2020.09.05, Kokubunji
Needless to say, as I cycled from home to home this morning, the weather was 32°.

hello, home no. 27

2020.09.05, Kokubunji
As I write this, I'm looking at a pile of 33 boxes from our home in Toronto.

the lease is signed on home no. 27

2020.08.31, Tokyo
Yesterday we signed our lease and forked over a fortune in fees and rent and illegal key money.

mind-bending 7nm chips

2020.08.30, Tokyo
We have to buy The Boy an iPad for his school.

old PC's

2020.08.29, Tokyo
If you buy one of these antique PC's you usually get a vali

movie review - The Sleepover

2020.08.29, Tokyo
We watched this for "movie night".

appliances issue resolved

2020.08.29, Tokyo
Mari had the movers come in to do an estimate today.

recycle shops

2020.08.26, Tokyo
Tonight we went to a "recycle shop", which is the Japanese name for a store carrying used stuff.

a partial bike commute

2020.08.24, Tokyo
Our real estate says we're almost certainly going to get the place in Kokubunji.

to the dentist!

2020.08.23, Tokyo
All of us went to the dentist this week.

furnished!

2020.08.22, Tokyo
Last night we picked up a car share vehicle* and went to a destination in Shibuya to pick up a used IKEA table and chair.

04:00 on Saturday morning

2020.08.22, Tokyo
I woke around 04:00 this morning.

a used table and chairs

2020.08.22, Tokyo
Mari's found a set of tables and chairs for the new house, at 1/4 the new price.

land management

2020.08.20, Tokyo
Mari told me last night that after thirty years, a law prohibiting the consumption of farmland for housing will expire.

Miyakonojo is hot tonight

2020.08.18, Tokyo
Today it was 39.

to the tropopause

2020.08.17, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  color  

advising younger professionals

2020.08.16, Tokyo
After a thread on Reddit, someone sent me this query: Hello

exhaust vent

2020.08.15, Tokyo
Reminds me of the Japanese kanji for "ear": 耳 Collec

a home in the 'burbs

2020.08.15, Tokyo
We've been looking at what it means to have to pay two months' rent in deposit plus one month's rent to the (illegal!

High of 36°C and 70 percent humidity today

2020.08.11, Tokyo
Today was possibly the hottest day of the year.

where they keep the raptors

2020.08.10, Tokyo
We were at a large outdoor playground and spotted .. this.

stairs to nowhere

2020.08.10, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  at my feet

movie review - The Old Guard

2020.08.09, Tokyo
This film is a .

movie review - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

2020.08.09, Tokyo
This is the tale of a young man who learns how to set up a wind-driven pump to bring up ground-water and save his family's farm in a time of drought and conflict in rural Malawi.

Toronto's tech sector

2020.08.09, Tokyo
I saw another gushing article today about "Toronto's booming tech sector" and how its job growth is now greater than that of Silicon Valley.

found a suica card today

2020.08.08, Tokyo
I found Suica card with a recent date on the street.

the school tour

2020.08.07, Tokyo
Mari and The Boy went to the school today for a tour.

phones and banking

2020.08.06, Tokyo
Mari and Ken took off at 09:00 or so to do some banking and to buy some mobile phones.

movie review - NexGen

2020.08.05, Tokyo
For "Movie Night" my daughter and I watched this flick about a robot that's escaped the Evil Clutches of a boy genius who's been driven somewhat mad and then loses control of the AI he's created.

you mean a real architect

2020.08.04, Tokyo
I was talking with my "dotted line" boss in Europe in our regular biweekly call on Monday.

house-renting blues

2020.08.03, Tokyo
We've now lost a couple of homes we'd wanted to rent.

the virus and efficiency

2020.08.02, Tokyo
There's a joke in (seemingly endless) circulation on the Internet about how the virus and associated changes have led to more efficiency at the office.

twenty years of "progress"

2020.08.01, Tokyo
Maybe as a global society we shouldn't have elevated "value extraction" into a religion, so we'd a) have some sense of shared outcomes and b) could be prepared for this.

COVID-19 in the building

2020.07.29, Tokyo
On Sunday my colleagues and I at work were alerted by email that there had been two cases of COVID-19 in our office building.

teaching photography

2020.07.27, Tokyo
The Girl has taught me something about teaching photography, as she learns.

a ball of caterpillar poop

2020.07.26, Tokyo
I've been crapped on by ~twenty birds in my life, but this

rainy season in Shin-Okubo

2020.07.26, Kawasaki
Collections containing this photo.  reflections

green tunnel

2020.07.26, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  lines  

passed a test today

2020.07.26, Tokyo
I sat (and passed) a test on the cloud platform technology we're using at work.

man those CIA exams were hard

2020.07.25, Tokyo
During the chat with my direct boss this past week about my "promotion" some interesting things emerged.

touched by his noodly appendage

2020.07.24, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  rust  

movie review - Triple Frontier

2020.07.23, Tokyo
This is a story of a band of mercenaries and former soldiers who come together to rob a drug lord.

bound for Hachioji

2020.07.23, Tokyo
Today we waited out the (morning) rain and went to Shibuya.

on Pi Approximation day

2020.07.22, Tokyo
I read this poem today.

the kids who missed their dad

2020.07.19, Tokyo
I'd just showed the kids the statue of Hachiko, the faithfu

looking at places

2020.07.19, Tokyo
This weekend we looked at six apartments.

shin-okubo

2020.07.18, Tokyo
It's summer, in the city. Collections containing this pho

one horned, one eyed, flying

2020.07.17, Tokyo
The Girl was at home today with me as The Boy and Mari were off for his entrance interview and exam for a private school.

practice interviews

2020.07.11, Tokyo
This weekend we're working through more prep for Ken's school exam.

early morning coffee run

2020.07.09, Tokyo
I took The Boy out this morning on a pre-work walk.

goodbye RBC credit card

2020.07.07, Tokyo
One of the pleasures of moving out of Canada is dumping your Canadian banks.

Grandma makes a save

2020.07.06, St. Catharines
Grandma's been getting weird texts from some unknown party about "E06" needing a credit card for bill payment.

and they're here!

2020.06.30, Tokyo
Nearly four months after I landed on March 6, the family is here!

the final countdown

2020.06.29, Tokyo
In preparation for the family's arrival, I've been shopping and cleaning.

things are tough back in Toronto

2020.06.28, Tokyo
A friend of mine lost his job in Toronto in early October, just a couple of weeks before I did.

Farewell, Kenilworth

2020.06.28, Tokyo
Mari and the kids are out of our apartment on The Boyilworth.

securing my email

2020.06.26, Tokyo
I'm moving my mail hosting for werneburg.

farewell, Olympus cameras

2020.06.25, Tokyo
Because I unloaded all of my old Minolta and Pentax gear, I only currently own two cameras.

1,000 person Zoom

2020.06.24, Tokyo
Grandma was on a 1,000-person Zoom call today about social and environmental issues.

pulse oximeter at last

2020.06.23, Tokyo
This past Sunday I finally took possession of my pulse oximeter.

spam spam...

2020.06.21, Kawasaki
Collections containing this photo.  walls & roc

happy father's day

2020.06.21, Tokyo
One of the first things you forget about when moving to a new country (or even one where you've lived before) is the holiday schedule.

farewell, home no. 25

2020.06.20, Tokyo
As part of the eternal hiring process for my current job, I had to enumerate all the places I'd lived in my life.

more stress eating

2020.06.19, Kawasaki
I splurged on some peanut butter last night.

sometimes the garden just gets out of control

2020.06.17, Kawasaki
Collections containing this photo.  greenery &n

climbing to home in the evening

2020.06.17, Kawasaki
Collections containing this photo.  architectur

stress eating

2020.06.17, Kawasaki
I woke up to some really bad news this morning (a death).

baking hot

2020.06.12, Kawasaki
It's 31°C and 68% humidity right now.

I (also) would like to learn more Japanese

2020.06.09, Kawasaki
I share my son's interest in learning the language of the country in which we'll be living.

les.net to the rescue

2020.06.07, Kawasaki
When I was heading to Canada nearly ten years ago, I realized that I'd need a Canadian phone number to support my job search.

farewell, 32spokes.org

2020.06.07, Kawasaki
The old 32spokes.

keeping the car

2020.06.06, Kawasaki
Looking at the situation, we've decided that we'd be walking away from too much value in light of the likely difficulty in selling the car for anything like its "normal market value" [sic].

mapping west Tokyo

2020.06.06, Kawasaki
We're hoping to get The Boy into a certain school in the city center, a part of the city where rents are a bit much.

unemployment in Canada

2020.06.05, Kawasaki
Well, as rough as the job is, and as rough as it is to migrate back here rushed and unplanned, it looks like the numbers validate my impression of Canada's fortunes.

the thinnest building in Kawasaki

2020.06.04, Kawasaki
Tiny, even.

not flying home

2020.06.04, Kawasaki
It's official, I'm not flying home to help pack, move, or bring the kids here.

storage

2020.06.03, Kawasaki
I've found an interesting storage company in Scarborough.

goodbye 32 Spokes

2020.06.02, Kawasaki
I'm winding down my activities with "32 Spokes", the cycling safety advocacy group I belonged to for six and a half years.

R0 won't do what you tell it to

2020.06.01, Kawasaki
Just in time, the R0 value in Japan is going up again.

new glasses

2020.05.31, Kawasaki
Today I picked up my new screen-reading glasses an I'm shocked to learn how much better my monitor is than I knew.

fishing and cycling

2020.05.30, Kawasaki
Today I set off fairly early on a shopping mission.

movie review - Silver Linings Playbook

2020.05.23, Tokyo
This is a movie in which a man returns to the house of his parents following an eight month stay in an institution.

our next stop

2020.05.23, Kawasaki
Mari found some temporary accommodation options for when they arrive in early July.

the buried river

2020.05.22, Kawasaki
Near my place in Kawasaki, a river is driven below ground before continuing a short distance later.

TTC transit passes from the late '90s

2020.05.20, Toronto
These are monthly transit passes issued by the TTC in the late '90s.

porting a home phone

2020.05.20, Kawasaki
After writing about the VPN thing the other day, it's occurred to me that we could keep our Toronto phone number simply by bringing the tiny VOIP device and the old handset with us to Tokyo.

re-connecting with a former colleague

2020.05.19, Kawasaki
I've re-connected with a number of former colleagues from my last run at the life insurance firm where I am today.

the trouble with covid, episide 847

2020.05.18, Kawasaki
Several private schools in Japan are barring kids from other countries to enter their intake exams, or simply not having those intake exams.

VPN software

2020.05.17, Kawasaki
One of the irritants about being mid-way between two countries is the way that national boundaries still play a part in some services like telephones and media.

slept on the main floor

2020.05.16, Kawasaki
I woke with a migraine coming on at 04:00, so I moved my bed down to the main floor in order to get some cooler air.

noisy motorcycles

2020.05.16, Kawasaki
I've finally figured out where there are so many delivery motorcycles racing back and forth outside my building all night.

kuji cylendrical water divider

2020.05.14, Kawasaki
There is a place in Kawasaki where they moved the Hirase ri

feral piglets

2020.05.14, Kawasaki
Tonight I went out for a bit of a walk to burn off some stress and to finally mail a letter that I've been trying to send for some time.

movie review - Mission: Impossible - Fallout

2020.05.12, Tokyo
This strangely-named movie is one of the best thriller/action films I've ever seen.

laws of synthetic intelligence

2020.05.11, Kawasaki
I'm thinking of writing some laws of synthetic intelligence into my story.

progress on my novel

2020.05.10, Kawasaki
This weekend I concluded a major edit of the middle third of my old novel project.

a mountain seen during a pandemic

2020.05.08, Kawasaki
Another evening spent walking in Kawasaki while alone durin

feels like California

2020.05.08, Kawasaki
This is a set of condos built into the slope of a hill. It'

hakubishin and me

2020.05.08, Kawasaki
Tonight I was out taking some photos and I ran across a masked palm civet, and introduced species that humans brought with them for some reason during prehistoric times.

thinking about mutation

2020.05.08, Kawasaki
I've been reading about SARS2 mutations.

full moon at night

2020.05.07, the Moon
One night I realized that a full moon had come up over the

tours of Kawasaki

2020.05.07, Kawasaki
So far, I've given three tours of my part of Kawasaki by "zoom.

selling things

2020.05.06, Toronto
We're selling our stuff in advance of the big move to Tokyo.

walking around in Japan

2020.05.05, Kawasaki
I've made a new photo collection.

rocket slide at a park in Fussa

2020.05.02, Kawasaki
I went for a fair bike ride on a friend's son's ride one fi

movie review - Extraction

2020.05.02, Kawasaki
This was a surprisingly good action film about a mercenary who's sent into Bangladesh to extract a kidnapped child.

vroom vroom v-v-v-vroom oom oom vroom v-v-vroom

2020.05.02, Kawasaki
I can hear the sounds of someone playing a tune by gunning the engine of some kind of high-performance motorbike.

sixty-six kilometer ride

2020.05.02, Kawasaki
I hopped on my bike at 13:15 and got off again 32km later.

lockdown self-haircut no 1

2020.05.02, Kawasaki
It's been five weeks since I last cut my hair, so after The Girl's cake singing, I had a shower and put the hair attachment on my beard trimmer.

organic crunchy peanut butter

2020.04.28, Kawasaki
I've been changing my mind about my local grocery store.

a home with stuff

2020.04.28, Kawasaki
Today a number of deliveries happened.

my new charge card

2020.04.27, Kawasaki
It's funny that you could be pleased to do something as trivial as activating and charging a prepaid credit card with funds but given that I had to use Google Translate every step of the way it was something.

the whole enchilada

2020.04.26, Kawasaki
This was the "bathroom sink" in the one-room hovel I rented

movie review - Prospect

2020.04.25, Tokyo
This is a science fiction movie about a future that feels a lot more realistic than Star Trek ever did.

Pandora's wine

2020.04.25, Kawasaki
When this charming millennium was still young there was in Canada a show on TV called "Corner Gas".

non-surgical masks

2020.04.24, Kawasaki
Yesterday I received a package of fifty disposable face masks.

burning disks

2020.04.23, Kawasaki
I've filled five of the 100GB disks with media and other stuff from my Dropbox account.

new weight loss plan

2020.04.22, Kawasaki
In the interests of staying alive, I've been staying indoors every other day (at a minimum).

100GB BD-R

2020.04.21, Kawasaki
I'm giving up my account on "Dropbox", a cloud storage service that's been around for years but has been getting progressively more expensive and in some ways frustrating.

just got paid today

2020.04.20, Kawasaki
Well I just got paid today, got me a pocket full of change.

woke up saying so

2020.04.19, Kawasaki
I woke up from a mid-day nap by happily announcing, "I'm awake!

sudden depression

2020.04.19, Kawasaki
When I spoke with Jon this morning he told me that he's been seeing people living in tents in green spaces about Toronto.

the gas tanks

2020.04.18, Kawasaki
Out for another stroll, I found this place. I could see a c

our angel fish laid eggs

2020.04.18, Kawasaki
Ken sent me a text early on Sunday morning (their time).

off the beaten path

2020.04.16, Kawasaki
I was going for evening strolls and on this occasion I foun

wandering the streets of Kawasaki

2020.04.16, Kawasaki
Tonight I hit the road because I realized I'm gaining a lot of weight.

living "under postponement"

2020.04.14, Kawasaki
Out for a stress walk just now, I noticed the wacky name of the neighborhood on a pole.

Fuji glimpses

2020.04.14, Kawasaki
Years ago when I lived in Sydney it was frequent that you'd see apartment listings featuring the term "harbor views".

John Prine is no more

2020.04.13, Kawasaki
The other day I posted a video by Bonnie Riatt.

a very zoomy easter

2020.04.13, Kawasaki
This morning (my time) I joined the Masterson clan in an Easter video chat on "zoom.

difficult night

2020.04.12, Kawasaki
There has been a noise complaint about my apartment.

rust and railings

2020.04.11, Kawasaki
On the whole, it feels like a somewhat atmospheric place to

the loneliness index

2020.04.11, Kawasaki
It's now been two weeks since I had a face-to-face conversation with anyone.

wandering along rivers

2020.04.11, Kawasaki
Today I went for a bit of a walk.

nothing succeeds like failure

2020.04.10, Kawasaki
At the end of the week I can report than both of the jobs I thought I'd saved have slipped through our fingers.

walking after lunchtime

2020.04.08, Kawasaki
Today I ate leftover rice and lentils with the last of my prefab fish.

first hurdle cleared

2020.04.08, Kawasaki
I've surprised myself by diffusing the situation at work with my staffer who was on Monday evening was talking about going to a lawyer.

lockdown in Toronto

2020.04.07, Toronto
In Ontario right now only one person may leave the house for shopping.

running out of coffee

2020.04.07, Kawasaki
Last night I went out to get some things prior to the impending lock-down of Tokyo.

dissertation getting read

2020.04.06, Kawasaki
One of the websites where I "published" the dissertation for my master's degree reports that that svelte 40,000 words has now been read 700 times.

selling cars

2020.04.06, Kawasaki
We had planned to sell our car this summer.

movie review - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

2020.04.05, Kawasaki
"Badges?

movie review - Green Book

2020.04.05, Tokyo
This is a movie about a tough who works as a door man in the early 1960s.

online board games

2020.04.05, Kawasaki
I played an online board game with one of my colleagues, today.

novelizing once again

2020.04.04, Kawasaki
I spent eight hours working on my old 2000-2008 era novel project.

farewell, Canada

2020.04.03, Kawasaki
Air travel between Japan and Canada is no more.

3km walk

2020.04.03, Kawasaki
Tonight I did the loop through the great big cemetery near my home*.

opticrom in Japan

2020.04.02, Kawasaki
I use eye drops on a fairly regular basis for a couple reasons.

zoom children

2020.04.02, Kawasaki
Almost every morning I get to see the kids.

Internet access restored

2020.04.01, Kawasaki
One of the irritants about this little apartment has been the Internet connectivity.

home schooling

2020.04.01, Kawasaki
Meanwhile in Toronto, the school board has (finally!

tough times

2020.04.01, Kawasaki
I reached out to a friend who just moved to Vancouver with her husband in the Autumn.

farewell March!

2020.03.31, Kawasaki
Well that's the end of a month I'm sure I'll never forget.

what a Monday

2020.03.30, Kawasaki
I reached out to a lawyer friend in the Toronto area today.

sometimes it snows in April

2020.03.29, Kawasaki
Well, late March anyway. Collections containing this phot

wintery fountain in Kawasaki

2020.03.29, Kawasaki
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

snowing for hours

2020.03.29, Kawasaki
Today it snowed a lot.

getting money in Japan

2020.03.29, Kawasaki
I mentioned to Mari that I noticed when getting money at an ATM that the ATM had a currency button.

kiddie-pool lockdown

2020.03.28, Kawasaki
Today Tokyo is on a lock-down lite, as the governor dips our collective toe into the concept of a locked-down Tokyo but without all the pesky stuff about businesses closing.

health insurance card

2020.03.28, Kawasaki
My health insurance card arrived!

happiness is a bunch of indian staples

2020.03.27, Kawasaki
Let the pandemic drag on, I've got my basic protein element

unmasked

2020.03.27, Kawasaki
Tonight after a grueling day I attended a "virtual drinks party" with a bunch of colleagues on our shared text/videoconferencing app, which was nice.

movie review - Sicario

2020.03.26, Tokyo
This is a movie about the state of the "war on drugs", as told from the point of view of an officer from a local law enforcement agency who is drafted following a significant drug bust.

rice and lentils

2020.03.26, Kawasaki
I've got food coming at me from all angles.

word from St. Catharines

2020.03.25, St. Catharines
Grandma reports this experience shopping for groceries in St.

the middle manager's prayer

2020.03.24, Kawasaki
Once upon a time while visiting my dad's office (at which I would later hold some summer jobs) I saw a many-times photocopied sign titled "The Middle Manager's Prayer".

first week working from home

2020.03.23, Kawasaki
Mari had ordered a small desk and a ball chair so that I would have somewhere to sit while living in this little apartment.

laundry in high wind

2020.03.22, Kawasaki
I did some laundry this morning but it was far too windy to keep the stuff on the railing outside so I had to crowd myself in with drying racks all over the ~20 square meters of my apartment.

so this is Akihabara

2020.03.21, Kawasaki
After a bit of a slow start, I went back to Kawasaki's city center and returned my keyboard.

first holiday

2020.03.20, Kawasaki
No sign of the fever today, so I presume that my self-diagnosis of strep throat couldn't have been too far off the mark.

the fever

2020.03.19, Kawasaki
I woke soon after having eventually fallen asleep; maybe at 1:30 or so.

my shoebox apartment

2020.03.18, Kawasaki
I would live in this tiny place until the end of June. Co

taking the long way home

2020.03.18, Kawasaki
I worked from home today.

movie review - Doctor Sleep

2020.03.16, Tokyo
This is the story of what becomes of little Danny from The Shining.

walking in the sun

2020.03.15, Kawasaki
Today I walked for about 4.

sometimes it snows in March

2020.03.14, Kawasaki
Early this morning I ran over to the dry cleaner's and picked up my suit.

COVID19 in Japan

2020.03.13, Kawasaki
If you're wondering, yes there's information on the developing outbreak in Japan.

Tamaplaza

2020.03.13, Kawasaki
I spent the first part of the day puzzling through the ongoing destruction of the global economy.

car crush - corolla fielder

2020.03.12, Kawasaki
There are a few of these about my temporary neighborhood. I

another attempt at an ID card photo

2020.03.12, Kawasaki
I might have used this one. Collections containing this p

slow day

2020.03.12, Kawasaki
Today Mari and I started the day by reviewing our priorities and deciding that there was no rush in finding an apartment.

apartment has WiFi

2020.03.11, Kawasaki
Aha, I've figured out how to use the neutered phone that came with this studio apartment as a WiFi hot-spot.

land of constant paperwork

2020.03.11, Kawasaki
My day started with a trek to "mouth of the gully" to drop off my suit at a dry cleaners.

Tokyo electrified mamachari

2020.03.10, Kawasaki
10/10 for style baby, but maybe minus a hundred for parking

movie review - Ex Machina

2020.03.10, Tokyo
This is an unpleasant movie about a reclusive genius and tech billionaire who has been dabbling in artificial intelligence androids - to make women to keep under his thumb.

moved in (pocket WiFi to the rescue)

2020.03.10, Kawasaki
Bright and early this morning.

a long day (part two)

2020.03.09, Kawasaki
I wrote about all my running around in the city but I left out one exhausting piece.

a long day

2020.03.09, Kawasaki
I woke at three this morning, unable to shake the jetlag.

one thing I forgot

2020.03.09, Kawasaki
I need inserts for new shoes or I get plantar fasciatis tears.

Yes, I've got 130,000 burning a hole in my pocket

2020.03.07, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  watches

house-hunting

2020.03.07, Kawasaki
Today we looked at a house in the city of Setagaya within Tokyo's long border with Kanagawa prefecture.

in Tokyo

2020.03.06, Kawasaki
My day was pretty full.

aquarium care

2020.03.06, Toronto
In my absence, Mari suggested that the kids start tending to the aquarium fish on a daily basis.

rumor and shortage

2020.03.04, Toronto
I'm preparing for tomorrow's trip.

job offer in hand

2020.03.03, Toronto
I woke up today to find that I have my job offer.

transferring phone numbers

2020.03.01, Toronto
When I came back to Canada I used a service offered by a fellow in Manitoba to acquire a number in Toronto's then newish 647 area code.

new shirts

2020.03.01, Toronto
One of the final purchases to get me back in corporate form was a set of shirts for the office.

poor little chime ball

2020.03.01, Toronto
When I was a baby, someone bought a chime ball for my distraction.

the kijiji people

2020.02.29, Toronto
Today I gave away a good chunk of my old film and early digital camera gear.

leaving for Tokyo

2020.02.27, Toronto
We're leaving for Tokyo next week.

movie review - Descendants 3

2020.02.26, Toronto
OK, I've sat through two of these with the kids.

movie review - The Imitation Game

2020.02.26, Tokyo
This is a telling of Alan Turing's contributions to the British war effort in the Second World War.

stealing wages from teachers

2020.02.25, Toronto
As of this morning, the government of the province of Ontario has now paid us $250 in compensation for the strike days that saw our kids at home.

so this is February?

2020.02.24, Toronto
I cycled downtown to pick up a prescription, today.

to the aquarium!

2020.02.23, Toronto
We took the kids to the aquarium today because The Girl had an annual pass that was about to expire.

movie review - The Gentlemen

2020.02.22, Toronto
This is a gangster film from the United Kingdom, cleverly told as recounting of a movie plot being pitched by somebody knee-deep in the story himself.

showed the boy how to shave

2020.02.22, Toronto
Last night at bedtime I showed the boy how to shave, since he needed it.

job offer drafted

2020.02.21, Toronto
Last night I reached out to a number of the headhunters that I'd spoken to during my time in Tokyo over the new year's, mentioning that I was still "working with" NN Life for this gig.

out of date linux nerd

2020.02.20, Toronto
Just telling myself, "You so old, you still use df -lk /volume".

movie review - Dumbo

2020.02.16, Toronto
This is a live-action kids' movie about a fellow who is trying to hang on to his family's circus.

surprise!

2020.02.16, Oakville
This morning we all headed out to get some greeting cards, because in the afternoon we were to pile into poor old salt-stained Méabh and toodled up to Oakville for a surprise birthday party for uncle Scott.

flipped off in Oakville

2020.02.15, St. Catharines
We're in St.

more D&D

2020.02.14, Toronto
Today The Boy's best friend came over and we carried on the long-running Dungeons and Dragons campaign with the two boys and The Girl playing.

Valentine's day lunch

2020.02.13, Toronto
With tomorrow being a PA day, meaning the kids would be home, Mari and I headed out together for a Valentine's day lunch at a Lebanese restaurant in Leslieghville.

taking the bikes for a spin

2020.02.12, Toronto
Today I took the kids outside so that they could take their bikes for spin up and down the street.

jobs in Toronto

2020.02.11, Toronto
While I wait for things to happen in Tokyo, I've been applying for roles in Toronto and the region.

happiness is a new visa

2020.02.11, Toronto
The Boy and I went downtown to pick up my spiffy new spousal visa at the Japanese consulate.

farewell, my brothers in arms

2020.02.10, Toronto
Tonight I got together with a small group from "32 Spokes", the cycling advocacy crowd in our part of town.

laid up this weekend

2020.02.09, Toronto
I've had a fairly strong bug this weekend.

fishing in Ontario in February

2020.02.08, Ontario
One of the kids took a walk away from our ice fishing renta

strike time means entertaining boys

2020.02.06, Toronto
The TDSB teachers are on strike today, so I wound up with four 11-12 year olds playing D&D at our place.

taxes

2020.02.05, Toronto
In preparation for my departure I did our taxes today, though I can't submit them yet.

worlds best boss

2020.02.03, Toronto
After my team and I got sacked from a job, I received this

the slow road to action

2020.02.03, Toronto
I just noticed this in our councilor's latest email blast (from the 31st).

farewell to outerwear

2020.02.03, Toronto
Today one of my preparations for my likely departure was taking my ancient leather jacket and two very old blazers to the Value Village.

it's a new dawn

2020.02.02, Toronto
Every now and then I re-order my website or some part of it.

terrible father

2020.02.01, Toronto
Today I learned that my daughter has somehow not watched Star Wars at nearly eight years old.

goodbye, dungeons and dragons books

2020.01.31, Toronto
In preparation for an expected move to Tokyo, I've just taken the "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons" books that we used in the 80's down to the end of our driveway for someone to pick up.

closed my corporate bank account

2020.01.30, Toronto
I've closed the bank account for my consulting business.

goodbye, former coworkers

2020.01.30, Toronto
Today I went downtown to meet an old colleague for a coffee.

TTC's presto service is nuts

2020.01.29, Toronto
I have to use the TTC tomorrow, and realized that I would have to sort out my payment card.

musings on an economy

2020.01.28, Toronto
Today I met an old colleague downtown for lunch.

god I love cargo bikes

2020.01.27, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  photos I lo

movie review - Running with the Devil

2020.01.25, Miyazaki
This is a downer of a story about a much of mutually antagonistic members of a drug cartel that's imploding over internal strife.

Casio Duro on a tan nylon strap

2020.01.21, Toronto
This the final strap I'd get for my Casio Duro. It was stil

doing things the dad way

2020.01.21, Toronto
When I was young I always marveled at my father's ability to get things done by refusing to make someone else's problem his own.

back in the grey

2020.01.13, Toronto
Touched down in Toronto today.

me, practicing commercial fishing

2020.01.12, Miyazaki
I'd like to think that I'd enjoy commercial fishing but I s

fishing boats at new year

2020.01.12, Miyazaki
Every new year, the locals have some days off. They decorat

my bike, lashed to the ceiling of a garage

2020.01.12, Miyazaki
I bought this bike around 2006, but couldn't bear to have i

movie review - Kingsman: The Secret Service

2020.01.12, Nichinan, Miyazaki
The way this movie was advertised didn't appeal to me, somehow.

wooden train at new year

2020.01.11, Miyazaki
Every new year, the locals in Miyazaki-ken run this wooden

sunrise on the sea

2020.01.10, Miyazaki
Collections containing this photo.  walking aro

our haul

2020.01.09, Miyazaki
Some damn delicious meat on the cleaning rack. Collection

isopod parasites

2020.01.09, Miyazaki
These are a pair of isopod parasites that I found in a fish

the old man and the sea

2020.01.09, Nichinan
I went fishing with my father-in-law on the Philippine Sea today.

interior of an ancient tomb, Miyazaki

2020.01.05, Miyazaki
interior of an ancient tomb, Miyazaki Collections containi

relief map of two burial mounds

2020.01.05, Miyazaki
relief map of two burial mounds Collections containing thi

the tree abides

2020.01.05, Miyazaki
the tree abidesCollections containing this photo.

archeology in Kyushu

2020.01.05, Kyushu
Today we did archeology.

at a fine ryokan in Nichinan

2020.01.04, Miyazaki
at a fine ryokan in Nichinan Collections containing this p

a meeting room in the former home of a samurai

2020.01.04, Miyazaki
a meeting room in the former home of a samurai Collections

today we picked strawberries in January

2020.01.04, Nichinan
Today we picked strawberries.

my old steed

2020.01.03, Tokyo
This is the bike I had made to my measurements when we live

praying at the new year

2020.01.02, Nichinan
Today we went to a shrine to pray, as it's a new year.

a tacked on doorbell

2020.01.01, Miyazaki
a tacked on doorbell Collections containing this photo.Jap

2019

bamboo path in the hills

2019.12.31, Miyazaki
bamboo path in the hills Collections containing this photo

a valley seen from a clear-cut

2019.12.31, Miyazaki
a valley seen from a clear-cut Collections containing this

A small shrine in the hills of Miyazaki

2019.12.31, Miyazaki
A small shrine in the hills of Miyazaki Collections contai

only 8,886 emails this year

2019.12.31, Nichinan, Miyazaki
My multi-annual plan to reduce emails has continued.

two boys and a rocket stove

2019.12.30, Miyazaki
two boys and a rocket stove Collections containing this ph

sampling the rice

2019.12.30, Miyazaki
sampling the rice Collections containing this photo.a life

rice stock for making mochi

2019.12.30, Miyazaki
rice stock for making mochi Collections containing this ph

no climbing to the roof

2019.12.29, Miyazaki
no climbing to the roof Collections containing this photo.

my wife's elementary school

2019.12.29, Miyazaki
my wife's elementary school Collections containing this ph

my wife's old elementary school

2019.12.29, Miyazaki
my wife's old elementary school Collections containing thi

fishing at sunrise

2019.12.28, Miyazaki
fishing at sunrise Collections containing this photo.Japan

a forestry lane on a hill

2019.12.27, Miyazaki
a forestry lane on a hill Collections containing this phot

nichinan is a mill town

2019.12.26, Miyazaki
nichinan is a mill town Collections containing this photo.

wet weather on broken hills

2019.12.26, Miyazaki
wet weather on broken hills Collections containing this ph

a fish restaurant in aitsu, in Nichinan

2019.12.25, Miyazaki
a fish restaurant in aitsu, in Nichinan Collections contai

something in the ground

2019.12.25, Miyazaki
something in the ground Collections containing this photo.

a complex coastline, Nichinan

2019.12.25, Miyazaki
a complex coastline, Nichinan Collections containing this

oh, Fermi and your paradox

2019.12.21, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Two interesting articles on the Fermi paradox state: one, that civilization burns itself out via industrialization-fueled climate change; and two, that ignoring the discussion isn't helping us mature to the point that we can even contemplate moving into the stars.

on a laneway in Tokyo's east side

2019.12.20, Toronto
on a laneway in Tokyo's east side Collections containing t

family-chan!

2019.12.20, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Today I traveled from Tokyo to Miyazaki, where I met Mari and the kids.

another two-fer

2019.12.19, Tokyo
Today was another with two good things.

chiibas

2019.12.18, Tokyo
chiibas Collections containing this photo.cycling in Japan

movie review - The Secret Life of Pets 2

2019.12.18, Tokyo
Well, in for a dime, in for a dollar.

plan of a bike parking garage

2019.12.17, Tokyo
plan of a bike parking garage Collections containing this

the reunion

2019.12.17, Tokyo
Two good things today.

Jeff

2019.12.16, Tokyo
Today I met with an old classmate from Japanese courses way back when I was at NikkoCiti.

movie review - 6 Underground

2019.12.15, Tokyo
This is a choppy heist movie by a director who absolutely nails the stunts and visual wizardry and often struggles to capture natural human interaction.

a canal on Tokyo's east side

2019.12.15, Tokyo
a canal on Tokyo's east side Collections containing this p

ironing board

2019.12.15, Tokyo
Today I decided I'd had enough of the cell-like "hotel room" in which I've been hold up at the surprisingly cheap cost of ¥5000 a night and went on a long walk.

Satoi-san!

2019.12.14, Tokyo
Today I made the trek out to the south-eastern reaches of the Tokyo "ku", to visit an old friend: Satoi-san.

jetlagged!

2019.12.13, Tokyo
I had no meetings arranged today, but did some banking.

stepping back twelve years

2019.12.12, Toronto
Today I met with a fellow Canadian in the lobby of a life insurance firm where I worked when Mari and I were first living together.

an old acquaintance

2019.12.12, Tokyo
This afternoon I met with an old acquaintance - a headhunter I'd met with in the frantic days before I ultimately left Japan in late 2010.

Tokyo sky tree

2019.12.11, Tokyo
Today I visited Tokyo sky tree, doing the tourist thing after a day of meetings yesterday.

movie review - Spider-Man Homecoming

2019.12.10, Toronto
For a second time in as many decades, the Spider-Man movies have now been rebooted; they've started all over again.

first meeting

2019.12.10, Tokyo
First thing I crossed the city center from Kameido to Shinjuku to go to a book store that I knew had English-language map books.

looking for work (in the only right places)

2019.12.09, Tokyo
I flew to Tokyo today to find work here.

cancelling wind turbine projects because reasons

2019.12.07, Tokyo
Ontario's cancelled another wind-turbine project.

smuggling out e-waste

2019.12.04, Toronto
An interesting article in The Verge about how greed drove a "recycling" company to falsify documents in order to conceal that monitors containing mercury were being sent to Hong Kong for dismantling.

we're burning our plastic bottles

2019.12.03, Toronto
You know how you're so good about sorting plastic bottles from non-recyclable trash?

quantum science for a real mind-bend

2019.11.25, Toronto
OK, I had to watch this one twice.

happy Fibonacci day!

2019.11.23, Toronto
For my math nerd friends out there.

same ol' same ol'

2019.11.22, Toronto
Today I rode up to the Bermondsey neighborhood to meet a friend and fellow unemployee.

the entrepreneurs

2019.11.21, Toronto
Today I had a meeting downtown with an entrepreneur who's built a thriving software business; within a couple of years of their start they now have four products in production with different clients.

solid-state batteries are here

2019.11.18, Toronto
In this fascinating video, we learn that solid-state, eco-friendly, stable, and inexpensive batteries are just around the corner--prototypes already exist!

movie review - Murder on The Orient Express

2019.11.15, Toronto
This is a retelling of the classic Agatha Christie movie.

movie review - Die Hard

2019.11.12, Tokyo
My eleven-year-old son and I watched this in the run-up to Christmas.

on asking whether you should really be CEO

2019.11.12, Toronto
A friend in Australia passed on an article in which a corporate board member spilled the beans about the mis-allocation of millions of dollars towards management consultants who provided little value.

gitlab owns an error

2019.10.30, Toronto
Today I received a letter from the CEO of Gitlab about the retraction of a planned service that had worried the user community.

explosion of red, toronto at autumn

2019.10.29, Toronto
explosion of red, toronto at autumn Collections containing

tree reflected in ashbridge's bay

2019.10.29, Toronto
tree reflected in ashbridge's bay Collections containing t

the changing season, toronto's waterfront

2019.10.29, Toronto
the changing season, toronto's waterfront Collections cont

chatting on a misty morning on Toronto's waterfront

2019.10.29, Toronto
chatting on a misty morning on Toronto's waterfront Collec

changing colors along toronto's waterfront

2019.10.29, Toronto
changing colors along toronto's waterfront Collections con

people strolling on a misty morning, toronto

2019.10.29, Toronto
people strolling on a misty morning, toronto Collections c

misty morning on Toronto's waterfront

2019.10.29, Toronto
misty morning on Toronto's waterfront Collections containi

three hearses parked in a bikelane, toronto

2019.10.25, Toronto
three hearses parked in a bikelane, toronto Collections co

movie review - In the Shadow of the Moon

2019.10.16, Toronto
This is, at first glance, a murder investigation.

sequence 8, 13, 19, 26

2019.10.16, Toronto
Today The Boy brought home math homework that was in our opinion way above the grade six level - to provide a formula that can explain the sequence 8, 13, 19, 26.

tall grass blowing in autumn

2019.10.13, St. Catharines
tall grass blowing in autumn Collections containing this p

autumn sunlight through tall grass seeds

2019.10.13, St. Catharines
autumn sunlight through tall grass seeds Collections conta

movie review - Avengers Endgame

2019.10.04, Toronto
What a load of shit.

movie review - Bullet Head

2019.09.29, Toronto
This is an interesting story that feels like an adaptation from a stage production.

movie review - El Camino Christmas

2019.09.28, Toronto
This is a story of a young man who goes out in search of his estranged father.

twenty years of this journal

2019.09.28, Toronto
I just noticed that today is the twentieth anniversary of my web journal as a daily events record, not just movie reviews and the odd news.

won't somebody think of the children

2019.09.27, Toronto
This is where my cycling advocacy stuff is taking me these days.

ate some wheat

2019.09.26, Toronto
On the weekend, I ate some wheat.

movie review - Bumblebee

2019.09.25, Toronto
This past few years sure has produced a lot of prequels and spinoffs.

farewell to summer

2019.09.25, Toronto
My summer went by in a blur of long start-up weeks.

the boy plays piano

2019.09.24, Toronto
Early in the summer, I heard Ken playing early in the mo

movie review - Avengement

2019.09.23, Toronto
I wasn't sure the title of this one is actually a word, but it is!

good-bye websites

2019.09.23, Toronto
Over the weekend I repatriated the last of my websites.

oh, Calgary

2019.09.20, Toronto
I read a story from Calgary in which a resident has been getting endless death-threats because he pointed out that the city's bus drivers are refusing transit tickets printed in French.

humans versus the environment

2019.09.19, Toronto
It seems that the people trying to solve the Fermi paradox are increasingly coming to the conclusion that we're utterly alone in the Universe.

it was thirty years ago this month

2019.09.18, Toronto
I've just realized that it was thirty years ago this month that I returned to Ontario to start my university studies.

rats play hide and seek

2019.09.17, Toronto
So it turns out that rats can play hide and seek.

movie review - Mortal Engines

2019.09.14, Toronto
This is a splashy fun flick set in a future where cities are now mobile affairs, roaming the countryside and taking what they need directly.

what have the Romans ever done for us

2019.09.13, Toronto
Tell us, Boris!

tweeting to Gorbachev

2019.09.12, Toronto
So I wrote a tweet to Mikhail Gorbachev to thank him for getting the USSR through the Chernobyl crisis.

fun times in the US election cycle

2019.09.10, Toronto
I'm constantly amazed at what politics looks like in this brave new millennium.

movie review - Zombieland: Double Tap

2019.09.09, Tokyo
This is the sequel to the only good zombie movie in recent years, "Zombieland", released a full decade earlier.

the holy shopping center

2019.09.09, Toronto
Time was, I was underemployed and adrift.

farewell to sea ice

2019.09.07, Toronto
Well, I guess within another couple of years there won't be ice in the Arctic ocean year round.

reasons to be thankful, UK edition

2019.09.06, Toronto
Watching what's happening in the UK these days certainly gives me pause.

broken ring and post - tell 311

2019.09.05, Toronto
Remember folks, when we see a broken or missing ring-and-post on the street in Toronto, we tell 311.

new contra-flow bike lane

2019.09.03, Toronto
Living in a city where people routinely are struck down in the streets by an out-of-control driving populace, it's nice to see some small signs of progress.

no fish this trip

2019.08.31, Ontario
no fish this trip Collections containing this photo.fishin

fishing beneath the lock

2019.08.31, Port Severn
We followed up on the tip from the camper at the lock and fished below the dam at Port Severn (which is a fish sanctuary in the spring).

the frog-catchers

2019.08.30, Port Severn
Our last full day at the cottage saw autumn-like weather, definitely time for long sleeves.

wind and lots of it

2019.08.29, Port Severn
Well the improved fishing was short-lived.

fishing in the rain

2019.08.27, Port Severn
It rained all day, today.

boats tied up at dawn

2019.08.26, Ontario
boats tied up at dawn Collections containing this photo.mo

paddling on wye marsh

2019.08.26, Port Severn
Today we went paddling on Wye Marsh near Midland.

living the cottage life

2019.08.26, Port Severn
This was us, yesterday.

young angler greets the dawn

2019.08.25, Ontario
young angler greets the dawn Collections containing this p

early fishing

2019.08.25, Port Severn
We headed out early this morning, and while I caught only a single pike it was a beautiful time to be out on the water.

cottage country

2019.08.24, Port Severn
We've arrived.

movie review - Upgrade

2019.08.23, Toronto
This is a near-future science fiction piece in which a car mechanic who loses his wife and the use of his limbs in an assault after his automated car crashes.

that's all folks

2019.08.23, Toronto
It's been a very busy week as I prepare to take the family to a rented cottage for the following week.

interior of a (very) old barn

2019.08.18, Kawartha Lakes
interior of a (very) old barn interior of a (very) old barn

second Paul, second boat

2019.08.18,
Today a fellow named Paul who is not our neighbour but rather the neighbor of a friend in Fenelon Falls took us out on his boat.

movie review - Identity Thief

2019.08.14, Toronto
This is a movie featuring a male lead who always plays mild-mannered sweat-hearts and a female lead who always plays abrasive people with poor judgment and/or socialization.

movie review - Overlord

2019.08.12, Toronto
Somehow, the early PC game "Doom" spawned a genre of movies.

movie review - Bad Times at the El Royale

2019.08.11, Toronto
Where to start.

busy weekend

2019.08.11, Toronto
This weekend we had plans on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon/evening, Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon/evening.

happiness is a warm kettle

2019.08.09, Toronto
What does it say that a hand-me-down electric kettle made our week, this week?

killing things on my bike

2019.08.08, Toronto
I related to a friend how I'd accidentally run over a small snake on my bike, and then nearly hit a dog and he said, "At least you didn't kill a child.

amazing but obvious

2019.08.07, Toronto
Cheers to Cloudflare for taking the amazing but I have to say rather obvious step of taking 8chan off the air.

this cannot possible go skynet I mean wrong

2019.08.06, Toronto
Well, what could possibly go wrong with launching an aware military defence network that can control spy satellites?

a rare get-together with part of my family

2019.08.04, St. Catharines
My brother and his wife are in Ontario for a wedding, so we all got together in St.

when a cyclist drives

2019.08.03, Toronto
Driving in an unfamiliar area, I was shocked to see a terribly-uneven railroad crossing immediately before us.

say, would you reboot the box under the fish tank?

2019.08.01, Toronto
Today proved that there can be times when you text your spouse to ask them to say reboot a computer system inside the aquarium stand, and it's work-related.

what happens to your credit rating when you give up an old credit card

2019.07.29, Toronto
The lore of credit ratings says that maintaining credit accounts for a long time is good, so I've always wondered what happens if you give up an old credit card.

movie review - Descendants 2

2019.07.28, Toronto
When I reviewed the Disney direct-to-whatever movie "Descendants" two weeks ago, my hasty review contained a lie.

Porter's five forces

2019.07.26, Toronto
Today I read a story about Intel's apparently upcoming ouster from Apple's lineup - pretty shocking stuff; remember MBA graduates, Porter's five forces have been established for a long time.

movie review - The Meg

2019.07.25, Toronto
My daughter loves shark attack stuff, so naturally we watched this when the chance came.

46°C in France today

2019.07.25, Toronto
So France and other European countries are setting record temperatures; in these cases I'd like to tell my kids that we did the best we could for the world but we all know that that's a blatant lie.

starting up an old project

2019.07.25, Toronto
I've decided to resume the novel project I set aside eleven+ years ago when my son was born.

riding rental bikes in Toronto

2019.07.24, Toronto
Today I rode a rental bike from Toronto's bike sharing service and thoroughly enjoyed it.

writing loveletters to politicians

2019.07.23, Toronto
Today I wrote to emails of thanks to the Toronto Mayor and the city Councillors that took the lead on the recent spate of directives to make the city's streets safer.

to what could this be referring?

2019.07.22, Toronto
The Late Show had a faux 'Wheel of Fortune' style puzzle tonight, for which I just couldn't pick a single answer.

wildlife, while there is some

2019.07.21, Toronto
So it turns out that Manta Rays can leap right out of the water into the air.

selling my work online

2019.07.20, Toronto
Today I put a manual of policy and procedures on risk management for small non-profits for sale on my "professional" website.

old memories triggered by the weather

2019.07.19, Toronto
The weather today perfectly reminded me of hunting for tadpoles and Oma's cooking, while staying with the old folks on vacation from Calgary 35 years ago.

movie review - Point Blank

2019.07.18, Toronto
This is an implausible tale of a crook who is freed from hospital by a nurse.

bike sharing stations everywhere

2019.07.18, Toronto
I am happy to report that the city's parking authority is in no way fooling around with the bike-sharing project - there are bike stations everywhere, now*.

movie review - Descendants

2019.07.15, Toronto
This is a direct-to-whatever movie from Disney.

not at all a real-estate bubble

2019.07.15, Toronto
Even if you wanted to buy a place in Whitby or Brampton (or Milton!

what does 2475 dollars get you in Toronto

2019.07.13, Toronto
I saw a (badly written) article about new apartment building

movie review - Sabotage

2019.07.12, Toronto
Arnold Schwarzenegger uncharacteristically plays a corrupt DEA agent in this movie of suspected revenge by one of his gang's victims.

happiness is ditching a bank

2019.07.12, Toronto
I closed a credit card account of 18 years standing because of one bad call to a bank; I don't know why banks can't be bothered to solve problems for long-term clients but this just forced me to move more business to my credit union.

switching to v-brakes

2019.07.11, Toronto
I've done some math and it seems that riding a bike for the past eight years has saved me $9,000 in TTC fares.

movie review - Office Space

2019.07.10, Toronto
I watched this again after several years, and I think I've belatedly come to realize that this movie had quite an effect on me when I first saw it twenties years ago.

162cm and growing

2019.07.10, Toronto
My son's above the 98th percentile for height; I was hoping he'd avoid a lifetime of backache and poor shoe selection but no.

that's mr wernebung to you

2019.07.09, Toronto
When I called up the Canadian Red Cross to give them a new credit card number the fellow took down my name as Wernebung; I'm glad that's not how it's spelled.

the Boy's big opportunity

2019.07.02, Toronto
Our son plays tennis, and his club has just asked him to join a new youth program that will see him get a lot of exposure this summer.

in our first parade

2019.07.01, Toronto
Today all four of us rode our bikes in the East York Canada Day parade.

movie review - Asterix - the Secret of the Magic Potion

2019.06.30, Toronto
This is a charming attempt at bringing the Asterix books from many a Boomer and Gen-X childhood to the flat screen.

skunked on the Holland River

2019.06.30, Toronto
We had our fishing trip today.

opportunities to fish

2019.06.28, Toronto
We've rented a cottage for the last week in August, and have also decided to go fishing this weekend.

good news for the Danforth Avenue bike lanes project

2019.06.27, Toronto
Toronto's Infrastructure & Environment Committee has passed resolutions calling for the creation of bike lanes on Danforth Avenue.

movie review - Red Sparrow

2019.06.25, Toronto
This is the tale of a girl from a rough background who is simultaneously a ballerina and maybe also a prostitute or any way seems to be living with a gangster.

paying attention to cyber security

2019.06.25, Toronto
In a discussion on cyber security breaches, someone referenced an incident in Baltimore.

my date with Kevin

2019.06.24, Toronto
For the first time, I met a colleague I'd worked with remotely for four years - he suggested we meet as he was visiting Toronto.

caught in the rain three times in a day

2019.06.20, Toronto
I had to run some errands while at work today, then had a meeting over dinner.

the fridge that ran

2019.06.19, Toronto
Our fridge is eleven years old and won't stop running; no wonder we have an $80 hydro bill every month.

movie review - Murder Mystery

2019.06.18, Toronto
This is a good Adam Sandler movie.

flooded beach like glass

2019.06.18, Toronto
I for one welcome the flooded Woodbine beach - this morning the water was like glass and it reflected gorgeously.

your credit card don't mean nothing to me

2019.06.17, Toronto
Today I tried to add my Visa card to PayPal; I was declined, so I called the bank but was given the run-around.

bells on Danforth

2019.06.15, Toronto
Today I joined hundreds of other cyclists in riding the length of Danforth Avenue from Withrow park in the west to the Oakridge Community Recreation Centre in the east.

lotsa email from my pal Cron Daemon

2019.06.12, Toronto
The Boy was watching me struggle with my inbox, and asked who "Cron Daemon" is and why I didn't spend much time on his email.

movie review - Early Man

2019.06.11, Toronto
Some kids' movies are good enough to grab the whole audience and keep them engrossed.

shred those parking tickets

2019.06.10, Toronto
I saw a truck from one of those document-shredding services with two parking tickets on its windshield; I somehow suspect I know what'll happen to the tickets.

an sd-wan breakthrough

2019.06.07, Toronto
At work, we've made a real breakthrough with the performance of our software.

mercedes CO2 emissions are getting worse

2019.06.06, Toronto
Today I noticed that the average CO2 emissions of the fleet of cars sold by Mercedes actually got worse by 12g/km between 2016 and 2018.

crapped on in June

2019.06.05, Toronto
For the 19th time in my life, I've been crapped on by a bird.

car expenses piling up

2019.05.31, Toronto
It's amazing how quickly the car repair bills pile up when your warranty expires.

more views of a flooded beach

2019.05.30, Toronto
This is the far side of Woodbine beach: the water is receding, but the beach is still swamped.

an exploding star caused us to walk upright?

2019.05.29, Toronto
It's pretty amazing to see what we can work out these days, such as a distant supernova leading to humanity's ancestors walking upright.

flooding on Woodbine beach

2019.05.28, Toronto
Woodbine beach was largely underwater this morning, so I made a panorama pic.

the first bite is the only welcome one

2019.05.27, Toronto
I'll posit that the first mosquito bite of the season is the only welcome one.

Toronto from Leslie Street Spit on a hazy day

2019.05.26, Toronto
Toronto from Leslie Street Spit on a hazy day Collections

a young snake in the weeds

2019.05.26, Toronto
a young snake in the weeds Collections containing this pho

an uber eats driver does something kind

2019.05.25, Toronto
I saw an Uber Eats driver do something kind - she got off her bike to help a blind man cross Bay street.

unnecessary goop

2019.05.23, Toronto
I bought some goop to remove a rubbery-looking streak from the side of our car only to find that the auto shop had removed it for me.

that's it, I'm off to Collision

2019.05.22, Toronto
Joining the boss today at Collision conference here in Toronto - it's a conference for startups and their investors.

our cycling advocacy group took a break and just rode for fun, today

2019.05.21, Toronto
For the first time that I can recall, our cycling advocacy group took a break and just rode for fun, today.

movie review - All the Devil's Men

2019.05.19, Toronto
This is a spy story set in the modern, post-Cold War era.

ran into my eleven year old on the street today for the first time

2019.05.18, Toronto
When I ran into my son on the street today, I realized that it was the first time I'd encountered him acting as independently as he has for the entire school year.

on this day last year a man I don't know died cycling in my neighborhood

2019.05.16, Toronto
Like me, Doug Crosbie was a cyclist and a father.

what I'd look like as a woman

2019.05.14, Toronto
Last night a colleague took a pic of me through some app that slapped a woman's 'do on me and made my features more feminine.

woodbine beach is flooded again

2019.05.13, Toronto
Thanks to high water levels and a few days of east winds, a great deal of Woodbine beach is under water again this year.

movie review - The Green Hornet

2019.05.11, Toronto
Sometimes they make a movie where they just land on a personality and a broad plot line and start rolling the cameras.

a message from the Australien government

2019.05.10, Toronto
A friend sent me this satirical "ad" for the "Australien" government.

movie review - Beyond White Space

2019.05.09, Toronto
This is a sci-fi piece about a crew that hunts space whales!

it seems that Boeing's had a long history of cut corners

2019.05.09, Toronto
Hat tip to Adrian for the link.

movie review - In Order of Disappearance

2019.05.08, Toronto
This is the story of a snow-plow driver from a mountainous area of Scandinavia.

with the kids now 11 and 7 years old, I suddenly noticed the absence of Thomas the tank engine

2019.05.08, Toronto
I suddenly noticed the absence of Thomas the tank engine videos in our home.

kicking caffeine (again) and the headaches have improved

2019.05.07, Toronto
Having recently kicked the caffeinated coffee has had an impact on the incessant migraines I've been suffering this year.

if we allow 2° in global warming 6° is inevitable

2019.05.06, Toronto
According to the short series of videos below, it' inevitable that even a 2° rise in global temperatures, it will give rise to fully 6° in changes.

three months to fix a fender-bender

2019.05.03, Toronto
Between Sonnet insurance and Toronto Honda it's taken 3 months to fix a bumper cover; I now have to actively manage both daily.

the soaking of the year

2019.05.02, Toronto
I can't recall having gotten so wet at such a low temperature as cycling into the wind of last night's rainstorm at 5°.

April freezing rain brings May d'oh

2019.05.01, Toronto
This year in Toronto it appears that April freezing rain showers bring May well not flowers more like almost-freezing rain showers.

games of thrones WTF

2019.04.30, Toronto
I've been watching "Game of Thrones" but I've been struggling to endure the increasingly dilute signal-to-noise ratio as the writers have clearly decided to sprint this "saga" to the finish line.

freezing rain at the end of April

2019.04.30, Toronto
I rode home in freezing rain last night

stolen bike part

2019.04.26, Toronto
I'm not sure why someone would stoop to stealing one of these, but it happened to me this week.

moving sidewalks

2019.04.25, Toronto
I just learned that Billy Gibbons had a band before ZZ Top.

movie review - Mile 22

2019.04.24, Toronto
It's Marky Mark vs Ip Man in a spy story that leans very heavily on violence in an un-named South-East Asian city (it was filmed in Bogota!

the weather has finally changed

2019.04.24, Toronto
I don't know how it's taken so long this year but the weather has finally changed for the better some six months after the first snowfall.

movie review - Going in Style

2019.04.22, Toronto
This is the story of three retirees who decide to pursue a life of crime to pay the bills after they're screwed by the company for which they'd all given a life's labor.

another Easter egg hunt complete

2019.04.22, St. Catharines
Another successful Easter egg hunt this year, the bunny was credited with doing a good job with the eggs

movie review - The Jackal

2019.04.20, Toronto
To catch an international assassin, the police employ an imprisoned IRA agent.

two bikes

2019.04.17, Toronto
How nice it is to take a bike ride with a small child, unsteady perhaps but growing in confidence and excited to explore the world.

scranos weaponized malware

2019.04.16, Toronto
So, this Scranos is a mutable piece of malware with a great deal of capability and it's still just getting warm.

king street pilot is permanent

2019.04.16, Toronto
Every day I cross the center of Toronto's downtown via street only usable by transit, taxis and bikes - not a big idea globally but new to TO.

woe is the speeding Audi

2019.04.13, Toronto
Certain Audi drivers are going to ruin it for everyone.

cycling in freezing rain

2019.04.11, Toronto
The boss called from the western edge of the city with some urgent news.

switching database extensions in PHP

2019.04.07, Toronto
I must be the very last person on Earth to migrate a substantial PHP project from the antique mysql_ functions (which went out with MySQL 5.

hello, michael.werneburg.ca

2019.04.06, Toronto
I've just taken my website to a new domain.

why don't you get a job?

2019.04.06, Toronto
I hope some day when I tell my kids "Why don't you get a j

survey of character strengths

2019.04.05, Toronto
I took an online survey of my character strengths.

big rainbow trout on Toronto's waterfront

2019.04.04, Toronto
As I was riding home tonight I saw one of the regular anglers on our stretch of the waterfront.

movie review - Lockout

2019.04.02, Toronto
This is a movie in which a soldier, having been framed, agrees to travel to a space colony to rescue the daughter of the President of the US or some similar political body.

tweet your way to resolution

2019.04.02, Toronto
Two months ago, we were in a fender-bender.

movie review - The Highwaymen

2019.03.31, Toronto
Sometimes you see a movie whose premise appears to be to assemble certain actors and let them do their thing.

rapa nui statues

2019.03.29, Toronto
So it turns out the famous "Easter island" statues are only found near sources of fresh water.

time for our annual hobbling of the city's transit

2019.03.28, Toronto
Toronto has a long-standing tradition of making plans to do something about its crippled transit system, then scrapping those plans.

happy 80th, dad!

2019.03.27, Toronto
Happy birthday, dad, and thanks for everything!

farewell to my non-profit board

2019.03.26, Toronto
Tonight was my last night of service on the board of directors of Cycle Toronto, an advocacy organization with a vision of a future city that's safe for cyclists.

latest watch crush–frederique constant

2019.03.25, Toronto
Is it a bad sign that your taste in watches ranges from $50 to $900 and you can't afford any of them?

on the killing of muslims at prayer in Christchurch

2019.03.22, Toronto
Some words from a muslim on the killing of muslims at prayer in Christchurch.

cycling advocacy in Beaches-East York

2019.03.21, Toronto
I'm a member of a group of cycling advocates in my home "ward" in Toronto, "Beaches-East York" (catchy, I know).

defeated commuters

2019.03.20, Toronto
Still feeling vindicated in riding my bike to work in some chilly conditions.

cycling on powder, cycling on ice

2019.03.19, Toronto
Second day of cycling for the year, and I've managed to fall.

hanging in my closet

2019.03.19, Toronto
I saw this amusing sign near the office:

first day back in the saddle

2019.03.18, Toronto
Back on my bike, and on day one I missed a major disruption to the subway.

yardworks we like your shovels

2019.03.17, Toronto
We use snow shovels from "Yardworks" - in the interest of product failure analysis, here are some pics of one shovel that broke.

website dropped by google when I switched to https

2019.03.16, Toronto
In September, I switched to SSL on all my websites; doing so killed all the traffic.

movie review - Life

2019.03.15, Toronto
According to my records, I don't have good luck with movies titled "Life".

happy Pi day, everyone

2019.03.14, Toronto
I usually celebrate this day by returning to my bicycle for my commute.

when will this winter end?

2019.03.04, Toronto
I think this pic says it all.

movie review - Prisoners

2019.02.24, Toronto
This is a movie about two girls who are taken from their families and the efforts to bring them back, both by the police and one of the fathers.

everybody loves hypnotoad

2019.02.11, Toronto
If the fine folks who produced the Simpsons and Futurama had nothing more to say on the nature and quality of televisions shows, they need only have said this.

movie review - Polar

2019.02.03, Toronto
This is a grim flick about a semi-retired contract killer who's attempting to live out his life in the woods outside a small town.

coyote on the street tonight

2019.02.01, Toronto
I ran into a coyote on the street tonight.

movie review - John Wick

2019.01.26, Toronto
The Boy wanted to see this flick, so we did.

11,600 emails

2019.01.26, Toronto
In 2017 I received 18,000+ emails (not including work).

watch out, moon!

2019.01.21, Toronto
The rate of major meteorite strikes on the Moon is increasing.

movie review - IO

2019.01.20, Toronto
This is an interesting if challenging film about a lone young lady trying to find a solution to a major environmental catastrophe on a (very) dying planet Earth.

latest watch crush

2019.01.12, Toronto
It's been too long since I posted about my latest watch crush.

tempus fugit

2019.01.11, Toronto
It's been a full month since I posted something to my twenty year old journal.

movie review - Avengers: Infinity War

2019.01.06, Toronto
The kids like super-hero movies, so we're watching a bunch.

movie review - Psychokinesis

2019.01.05, Toronto
This is an uneven movie that grew on me as it went on.

movie review - F.R.E.D.I.

2019.01.05, Toronto
This is a movie about a kid who discovers a robot thing.

still limping

2019.01.04, Toronto
I'm still limping from having (probably) broken a bone in my foot.

CIA no more

2019.01.01, Toronto
Whoopsie, I seem to have forgotten to renew my Certified Internal Auditor designation.

2018

goodbye, 2018

2018.12.31, Toronto
People seemed to behave like 2018 was a bad year, but I think I had a good one.

movie review - A Million Ways to Die in the West

2018.12.29, Toronto
As I was watching this, it began to dawn on me that it was mostly just alternating shots of two people speaking.

movie review - Solo: A Star Wars Story

2018.12.25, Toronto
This is a Star Wars prequel that needless attempts to tell Han Solo's back-story.

testing some network equipment

2018.12.20, Toronto
I am testing these inexpensive devices for a startup. Col

a friend turns fifty

2018.12.19, Toronto
I had a rare get-together with a friend tonight, a few days before his fiftieth birthday.

movie review - The Christmas Chronicles

2018.12.17, Tokyo
This is a charming Christmas story featuring a brother and sister who are spending X'mas eve alone (mum's working; dad's dead).

movie review - Gringo

2018.12.13, Toronto
This is the story of a corporate employee who is sent to Mexico for purposes that aren't quite what it seems.

a live turkey vulture

2018.12.12, Toronto
Today a turkey vulture landed in our back yard; I was able to get the kids to my window to see it take off.

movie review - The Dark Night Rises

2018.12.04, Toronto
This is a thoroughly unpleasant Bat Man movie with an absurd story line even by the standards of Bat Man.

the week that wasn't

2018.11.19, Toronto
November in Toronto, when you can say, "Thank god we carried the sofa down all those stairs before it started snowing".

movie review - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

2018.11.18, Tokyo
This is a series of shorts set in the Wild West of the late 19th Century.

cool text-only weather site

2018.11.08, Toronto
Quite by accident, I discovered a cool weather website that uses no graphics at all.

musical talent

2018.11.03, Toronto
Our ten year old made a song with his iPad that's on par with much of the electronic music you hear today from adults.

the night I was noface

2018.10.31, Toronto
the night I was noface Collections containing this photo.p

broken foot

2018.10.29, Toronto
I think I can confirm after several days of throbbing and inflammation: I've cracked a bone in my toe or foot.

international cluster

2018.10.27, Toronto
For kicks, I've turned my website into a cluster running out of New Jersey and Amsterdam across two hosting companies.

movie review - End of Watch

2018.10.23, Toronto
This is the story of two men who join LA's police force in the time when the city (and continent) are being overrun by the drug trade.

farewell to AWS S3

2018.10.20, Toronto
I've figured out how to cut my spend on hosting my websites from $15 to $6.

seven point seven billion people on one page

2018.10.14, Toronto
I found a representation of all seven point seven people on one page - I had a heck of a time finding myself.

twenty years with my own domains

2018.10.07, Toronto
I registered my first domain - etherlabs dot net - on this date in 1998.

two day retreat

2018.10.05, Toronto
For the past two days, I joined a client's executive team and board on a strategic retreat that started with "What do we do as a company?

no online gaming with nintendo for my son

2018.09.22, Toronto
My son can't play "Splatoon 2" on his Nintendo Switch because he can't find 8 paying members online.

movie review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

2018.09.21, Toronto
This is the grand finale of the "Harry Potter" movies and I think it's only to be seen if you've seen part one.

movie review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

2018.09.20, Toronto
The kids have been watching the "Harry Potter" movies without me because I watched them all once years ago and refused to do so again.

movie review - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

2018.09.18, St. Catharines
This is hands-down the best super-hero movie I've seen.

18,000 emails in 2017

2018.09.18, Toronto
According to my inboxes, I sent or received 18,000 emails in 2017.

1.5 billion seconds old

2018.09.18, Toronto
Some time ago, I noticed that the UNIX epoch had turned 1.

movie review - Next Gen

2018.09.17, Toronto
This is an animated story about an advanced "security" droid and the human girl it befriends.

the long ride

2018.09.17, Toronto
I started a new commute today, some 13+ kilometers across the city center.

movie review - Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie

2018.09.14, Toronto
This is a story about an LA detective who works magic in the field but stumbles in dealing with his own affairs.

movie review - Downsizing

2018.09.12, Toronto
This confounding movie begins (more or less) with a couple's decision to shrink themselves to live in an eco-friendly fashion as miniature humans in a miniature domed habitat.

all is well that ends in baboon urine

2018.09.08, Toronto
We went to "African Lion Safari" today, so naturally the car came back decorated with baboon urine.

replaced the shifters on my bike

2018.09.07, Toronto
Today I took some time out from my job search and non-profit commitments to change the gear shifters on my bike.

let's encrypt for free certificates

2018.09.05, Toronto
I've now put SSL encryption on all four of my websites.

new website for my professional profile

2018.09.04, Toronto
I've made a new website for my professional profile, featuring some case studies.

on execution

2018.09.03, Toronto
Today I read an excellent post on getting things done, by a City of Toronto executive.

daddys flabby belly

2018.09.03, Toronto
This morning our dear daughter re-introduced me to one of her friends: "This is my daddy, and my daddy's flabby belly.

"I loev you daddy keep wrking"

2018.09.01, Toronto
The Girl threw an envelope into the office this morning.

oracle cloud is unavailable

2018.09.01, Toronto
I'm jobsearching, and came across this odd warning when foll

good times and a cupcake

2018.08.31, Toronto
I had the best cupcake of my life today, from a place on Gerrard called the Hype Food Company.

movie review - Train to Busan

2018.08.30, Toronto
This is a clever zombie movie set in Korea.

CIA for five years

2018.08.28, Toronto
It's been five years since I wrapped up a year - and five hundred hours of study - toward the Certified Internal Auditor designation.

chasing the garbage truck

2018.08.28, Toronto
Both of my grandfathers were known to chase down the garbage truck and get something precious back that their wives had thrown away.

website transition is complete

2018.08.27, Toronto
At long last, I've implemented the flattening tool on risktopics.

yonder coming Putin

2018.08.27, Toronto
I wrote a folk song based on "The Midnight Special" about today's political events in the US.

movie review - Valhalla Rising

2018.08.25, Toronto
This is an unrelentingly unpleasant movie in which an unspeaking slave finds freedom when his captors are attacked.

wow YYZ terminal 3

2018.08.25, Toronto
I had the pleasure of picking up a friend at YYZ's terminal 3 today, such a refreshing change from the spacious and beautiful terminal 1!

the kids are home

2018.08.18, Toronto
I can tell the kids are home: I had to wade through Japanese educational toys to get to the bathroom, where the sink was 2/3 full of soap foam.

movie review - The Drop

2018.08.15, Toronto
This is a movie in which a bartender is dragged into the underworld of crime.

on the water at 6:30

2018.08.14, Toronto
I was out on the water at 06:30 again this morning, fishing and watching the sailors, paddle-boarders, and kayakers.

movie review - Sausage Party

2018.08.13, Toronto
This is an animated story about supermarket food products that become aware that they are food stuffs and other disposable products - and then fail to recover from that realization.

our summer of fishing

2018.08.13, Toronto
Last night, I caught my first trout from Canadian waters.

movie review - Superbad

2018.08.12, Toronto
Two high school nerds attempt to throw a party.

crapped on again (yes again)

2018.08.12, Toronto
While fishing, it happened again.

stress and weight gain

2018.08.11, Toronto
I've lost nearly 3kg since a highly stressful contract ended six weeks ago.

movie review - I Kill Giants

2018.08.10, Toronto
This is a story about a teenage girl who's struggling with her emotional load due in part to suffering terrible bullying, witnessing the illness of her mother, and living without her father.

drama on the waterfront

2018.08.10, Toronto
This afternoon I noticed a lot of sirens, and the presence on a number of helicopters.

movie review - Safe House

2018.08.09, Toronto
This is a drama about a raid on a "safe house" maintained by the CIA, and the unlikely pairing for the rest of the story between one of the agents and the Bad Guy he is tasked with protecting.

day of the worm

2018.08.09, Toronto
I got on my bike despite the heat, and put another 15km on my bike doing chores today.

movie review - Extinction

2018.08.07, Toronto
This is a story of Armageddon; peaceful cities of citizens going through their lives in a near-future setting that seems to be getting on pretty well.

survived some flooding

2018.08.07, Toronto
There was flooding in Toronto tonight, and twitter was alive with astonishment; I couldn't help but think of the typhoons.

long point disappointment

2018.08.05, Long Point, Ontario
This morning "grandma" and I drove from Saint Catharines to Long Point on Lake Erie hoping to see the provincial park; we failed.

back from fishing

2018.08.02, Nichinan
After fishing with my father in law (and my late "fishing

How It Ends

2018.08.01, Toronto
This is a movie about a handful of characters weathering the end of the world.

urban cycling

2018.07.31, Toronto
It feels strangely good to be back; it must be the jetlag, which is monumental.

what a difference ten years makes

2018.07.30, in the air
I left the kids with their mother in Japan, today - it's amazing to see how far they've come.

looking for things in the surf

2018.07.29, Miyazaki
looking for things in the surf Collections containing this

one final venture onto the sea

2018.07.28, Nichinan, Miyazaki
It was my final weekend in Japan, and Mari's uncle took us out on the water one last time.

grocery boy and passing train

2018.07.27, Miyazaki
grocery boy and passing train Collections containing this

our fishing spot

2018.07.25, Miyazaki
our fishing spot Collections containing this photo.waterwa

Akio's red snapper

2018.07.25, Miyazaki
Akio's red snapper Collections containing this photo.fishi

fishing with my son

2018.07.25, Miyazaki
fishing with my son Collections containing this photo.fish

my red snapper

2018.07.25, Miyazaki
my red snapper Collections containing this photo.fishing

movie review - Black Panther

2018.07.25, Toronto
The four of us went to see this hugely popular super-hero flick and I have to say I am close to the end of my tolerance for these things.

me and my tilefish

2018.07.24, Miyazaki
me and my tilefish Collections containing this photo.fishi

a good day's haul

2018.07.24, Miyazaki
a good day's haul Collections containing this photo.fishin

back on the water

2018.07.24, Nichinan
Today we went back out on the sea with Hosoda-san for what became the Day of the Snapper.

movie review - Django Unchained

2018.07.23, Toronto
Everyone loves this thing, it's current rating on imdb on 8.

the young violinist

2018.07.22, Miyazaki
the young violinist Collections containing this photo.

k'pow!

2018.07.21, Miyazaki
k'pow! Collections containing this photo.skies decisive mo

a night out for fireworks

2018.07.21, Miyazaki
a night out for fireworks Collections containing this phot

fireworks behind a tall wall

2018.07.21, Miyazaki
fireworks behind a tall wall Collections containing this p

a long day on the go

2018.07.21, Japan
We spent the night in an interesting little hotel that's next to one of the main Japan Rail station in Matsuyama.

Who built the world

2018.07.20, Nichinan
Today our six-year-old daughter asked "Daddy, who built the world?

the architecture of dougo onsen

2018.07.19, Ehime
the architecture of dougo onsen Collections containing thi

dougo onsen in matsuyama

2018.07.19, Ehime
dougo onsen in matsuyama Collections containing this photo

if you're ever in Matsuyama...

2018.07.19, Matsuyama
Tonight I ate pork uterus.

castle in matsuyama

2018.07.18, Ehime
castle in matsuyama Collections containing this photo.arch

the Seto inland sea

2018.07.18, Ehime
the Seto inland sea Collections containing this photo.Ehim

shipyards

2018.07.18, Ehime
shipyards Collections containing this photo.Ehime

keeping desktop applications up to date

2018.07.18, Toronto
I've installed something called Glary Utilities to mind my PC's stability and security.

fukushima a-bomb museum

2018.07.17, Hiroshima
fukushima a-bomb museum Collections containing this photo.

even a nuked watch

2018.07.17, Hiroshima
even a nuked watch Collections containing this photo.moods

cycling at sundown, Hiroshima

2018.07.17, Hiroshima
cycling at sundown, Hiroshima Collections containing this

the old man and the sea

2018.07.13, Miyazaki
the old man and the sea Collections containing this photo.

deep sea fishing

2018.07.13, Toronto
Today I went deep-sea fishing for the first time, and caught some unfamiliar but delicious species.

mystery fish off of Nichinan

2018.07.12, Miyazaki
mystery fish off of Nichinan Collections containing this p

omohata off of Kyushu

2018.07.12, Miyazaki
omohata off of Kyushu Collections containing this photo.fi

sunrise on Nichinan

2018.07.11, Miyazaki
sunrise on Nichinan Collections containing this photo.expl

old canal bridge, Nichinan

2018.07.11, Miyazaki
old canal bridge, Nichinan Collections containing this pho

sunset over Abaratsu

2018.07.11, Miyazaki
sunset over Abaratsu Collections containing this photo.ski

revenge of the swallow

2018.07.09, Miyakonojo, Japan
Perhaps I had it coming when a swallow crapped on me this morning.

rusty glass american flag

2018.07.08, Miyakonojo
Collections containing this photo.  rust   walls

my latest car crush

2018.07.08, Miyazaki
my latest car crush Collections containing this photo.vehi

flooding in Miyazaki

2018.07.08, Miyazaki
flooding in Miyazaki Collections containing this photo.eve

sunrise after the fog lifted

2018.07.08, Miyazaki
sunrise after the fog lifted Collections containing this p

outdoor hallways, Miyakonojo apartment building

2018.07.08, Toronto
outdoor hallways, Miyakonojo apartment building Collection

the boy, fishing in Odoutsu

2018.07.07, Miyazaki
Collections containing this photo.  fishing &nb

fishing boat out of water

2018.07.07, Miyazaki
fishing boat out of water Collections containing this phot

rough skies over tonoura

2018.07.07, Miyazaki
rough skies over tonoura Collections containing this photo

a harbor before a typhoon

2018.07.07, Miyazaki
Collections containing this photo.exploring Miyazaki

typhoon-disturbed sky over harbor

2018.07.07, Miyazaki
typhoon-disturbed sky over harbor Collections containing t

undercarriage of a steam train

2018.07.04, Tokyo
undercarriage of a steam train Collections containing this

disney sea

2018.07.04, Toronto
Today, inevitably, we wound up at Disney Sea.

hello, Ghibli museum

2018.07.02, Tokyo
Today we took the kids to the Ghibli museum, jetlag or no.

hello, Tokyo and your electric vehicles

2018.07.01, Tokyo
Hello, Tokyo, it's been too long - 5 1/2 years!

movie review - Big Game

2018.06.29, Toronto
This is an ambitious movie about a young lad who's sent out to kill a reindeer with a bow and arrow as part of his "becoming a man".

moving on

2018.06.26, Toronto
After a year-long contract that saw 50-55 hour weeks every week, it's time to set aside the labor at last, and take a vacation.

some weird sin

2018.06.24, Toronto
To de-stress, I've been playing the original 1991 version of Civilization.

five years of risktopics.com

2018.06.21, Toronto
I've had this site on the go for five years, now.

black plastic is killing the planet

2018.06.06, Toronto
Wow, it turns out that black plastic is a lot worse for us than I knew.

more bike problems

2018.05.29, Toronto
I blew a tube tonight, it went off like a gunshot.

movie review - Ghost in the Shell

2018.05.26, Toronto
This is a retelling of an animated movie from several years ago, but the story lines deviate considerably.

broke another spoke

2018.05.22, Toronto
For a second time in the past month, I've broken a spoke - these new bike wheels seem to have a problem.

fracking the human being

2018.05.19, Toronto
Discretionary energy is a term used to describe optional effort that an employee might put into their job.

movie review - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

2018.05.09, Toronto
As you can probably tell from the title of this movie, it's a sequel and not a particularly good one.

the broken spoke

2018.05.09, Toronto
A spoke broke on Friday; when I got it fixed, the mechanics told me the problem was "too much weight".

movie review - Beasts of the Southern Wild

2018.05.07, Toronto
This is a telling of the eradication of the culture of the marginal islands in the Gulf along Louisiana.

cold city awakens

2018.05.03, Toronto
cold city awakens Collections containing this photo.street

happiness is a new camera lens

2018.05.03, Toronto
In preparation for our trip this summer, I've bought a lens for my four-thirds system, a Rokinon 12mm.

movie review - Kong Skull Island

2018.04.30, Toronto
This is a re-telling of the King Kong story, but with Brie Larson along for some reason.

movie review - Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle

2018.04.30, Toronto
This is the tale of four high school kids that get swept up in an ancient video game that transports them to an in-game world of high stakes adventure.

happiness is new wheels

2018.04.23, Toronto
I'm back on my three-season bike, and the new wheels make an enormous difference!

time to buy worms

2018.04.21, Toronto
Finally, it's time to buy worms and go fishing!

movie review - A Perfect Getaway

2018.04.20, Toronto
This is a story about three couples who meet while hiking a famous path in a tropical paradise.

movie review - Midnight Run

2018.04.17, Toronto
This is a buddy movie in which a tough bounty hunter and a skittish accountant are thrust together by circumstances.

movie review - The Hitman’s Bodyguard

2018.04.16, Toronto
Once in a while, Hollywood produces a movie where they take some stars and tell them, "Here's the plot outline, improvise.

movie review - The Spy Who Dumped Me

2018.04.15, St. Catharines
A couple of years ago I wrote one of my mini-reviews about "Jupiter Ascending", a Mila Kunis movie that eh, didn't work.

an ice storm and a felled tree

2018.04.15, Toronto
I was just sitting at my desk at home when I heard a great wrenching sound - one of the old hardwoods along the property lines between our places and the next had snapped in twain halfway up, with the crown crashing down where there are usually several cars behind a small apartment building.

movie review - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

2018.04.14, Toronto
We watched this for "Movie night".

privacy at Facebook

2018.04.02, Toronto
The recent flap about the Cambridge Analytica breach at Facebook has people talking about privacy issues pertaining to that website.

reflected sunrise

2018.04.01, Toronto
reflected sunrise Collections containing this photo.walls

my beloved SARB

2018.03.31, Toronto
And of course my beloved fishing watch. Casio Duro C

movie review - My Neighbor Totoro

2018.03.31, Totoro-nto
Despite the many times I've seen this film over the years, I realized with a start today that I've never written one of my capsule reviews for one of my favorite flicks.

top of his class

2018.03.31, Toronto
Ken finished the winter session of his Saturday tennis classes today with a bang.

seven thousand reads for a watch review

2018.03.30, Toronto
A few months ago I wrote a review of a watch - my every day wear, a Seiko SARB 033; it's now been read 7,000 times.

movie review - Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

2018.03.27, Toronto
This is the story of an aging actor who decides on one final big splash.

the breakdown

2018.03.20, Toronto
Cycling to work today, my winter bike brown down: the cassette was spinning freely on the rear axle.

movie review - Wind River

2018.03.19, Toronto
This is a surprisingly excellent story of a wildlife officer who becomes involved in the investigation into the murder of a friend's daughter.

movie review - What We Do in the Shadows

2018.03.17, Toronto
This is a mockumentary/found-footage flick about a house (nest?

crapped on again

2018.03.07, Toronto
I discovered splat of bird crap on my shoe; my sixteenth crapping upon by our flying friends.

the planning fallacy

2018.03.04, Toronto
Today, while pursuing one of my hobbies, I discovered something called the planning fallacy.

movie review - Mute

2018.03.03, Toronto
This is a gangster flick, in which a mute bartender is dragged into the appalling underworld of a sci-fi Crapsack setting.

back on my trusty steed

2018.02.26, Toronto
With the weather suddenly (and suspiciously) nice, I hopped on my bike for work today, grinding rust off the chain and unironing my shirt.

movie review - London Has Fallen

2018.02.24, Toronto
This is an action movie, a follow-up of sorts to another with a similar title and the same bluff lead.

movie review - War Dogs

2018.02.23, Toronto
This is a movie about gun-running during the Bush administration and the massive orgy of mis-allocation of resources across the global "war on terror".

unstrangled at last

2018.02.23, Toronto
After years of substandard home network performance, I've finally taken the plunge and built a proper network at home.

skunked at 4:20

2018.02.19, Toronto
I should have realized that our anticipated ice fishing trip would be a bust when I encountered a skunk in our backyard at 4:20.

movie review - Song of the Sea

2018.02.15, Toronto
This is an animated story of a young boy who lives on a lighthouse with her father and little sister.

Valentine's day vm backup plan

2018.02.14, Toronto
I'm working on a project in which the data set is so sensitive that backups to long-term media

Facebook is troubling

2018.02.12, Toronto
The other day, I realized that my regular use of Facebook as part of my advocating for safe cycling infrastructure in Toronto was having some negative effects.

taking a break from Facebook

2018.02.06, Toronto
And I'm done with Facebook.

movie review - The Vault

2018.01.30, Toronto
This is a Horror movie dressed up as a robbery flick.

three hours of sleep, 11 hour workday

2018.01.29, Toronto
I notice I'm not writing much in this aging journal; maybe it's the three hours of sleep and the 11 hour workday?

movie review - Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters

2018.01.23, Toronto
This anime has the interesting premise of documenting mankind's return Earth some 20,000 years after Godzilla chased them off the planet.

how to look silly – bicycle addition

2018.01.22, Toronto
If I ever cared about my appearance, it's not as I start pushing fifty; this is how to look silly on your bike, in the name of safety.

the frozen shore

2018.01.21, Toronto
the frozen shore Collections containing this photo.toronto

playing at his daughter's adoption anniversary

2018.01.21, Toronto
playing at his daughter's adoption anniversary Collections

Darwinism

2018.01.21, Toronto
Darwinism Collections containing this photo.toronto's wate

movie review - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

2018.01.18, Toronto
This is a movie about a twentyish drop-out who meets a girl with some very strange dating requirements.

replaced the bracelet on my SARB033

2018.01.15, Toronto
This Christmas, I replaced the bracelet on my Seiko SARB033 with a nice leather strap - I think it looks much better, and haven't taken the watch off since.

hand-rolling backups like in the 90s

2018.01.12, Toronto
I've once again found myself hand-making a backup solution when a large organization has proved incapable of deploying a sensible solution.

getting to work in the snow, darkly

2018.01.08, Toronto
The fates just didn't want me getting to the office, today: I woke with a head cold, in a power outage, as the snow sheeted down.

"wrong!"

2018.01.07, Toronto
We were at dinner with friends at their lovely home in Hamilton, when we had to coax The Girl into eating some meat with her meal.

frozen Niagara falls

2018.01.07, Hamilton
We're going to check out the frozen Niagara falls before everything melts again, tomorrow.

movie review - Home Alone 3

2018.01.06, Toronto
So it turns out there's a third of these movies, and tonight that's what we watched.

more nerd news

2018.01.06, St. Catharines
Five years ago, I bought an external USB 3 device - two weeks after I finally have a USB 3 capable system, the external drive has died.

the pay-off

2018.01.05, St. Catharines
I had one of those milestone days today, where months of work on various projects comes together all at once.

coming to the Americas

2018.01.03, Toronto
I think it's really amazing that they're able to use DNA and archaeology to work out the history of ancient peoples with fair confidence these days.

unwelcome news on new year's day

2018.01.01, Toronto
We've just received word that our application for an apartment suitable for our growing family has been denied.

2017

hackintosh no more

2017.12.29, Toronto
So my hackintosh has proven unstable - so much so I broke down and bought a Windows 10 license.

so much for peace

2017.12.28, Toronto
Yesterday I said that all was peaceful in the last work week of the year; I forgot some of the things that have to happen for year's end revenue-recognition purposes.

home again, back to work

2017.12.27, Toronto
The primary benefit of working during the Christmas break is the peace: time for documentation!

Boxing Day in Canada

2017.12.26, Toronto
Working for a US firm, as I am once again, I'm at a loss to explain Boxing Day to Americans.

new strap on SARB 033

2017.12.25, Toronto
new strap on SARB 033 Collections containing this photo.wa

driving in a winter paradise

2017.12.23, St. Catharines
Driving to grandma's house in St Kitts for X'mas we found fresh snow lining the grape vines and tree branches; beautiful.

white Christmas

2017.12.22, Toronto
It snowed overnight, returning the landscape to a wintry white just days before Christmas.

hackintoshy

2017.12.21, Toronto
I've taken the plunge - I'll be installing the OSX license from my now-defunct Mini onto some generic PC gear.

goodbye, mac mini

2017.12.20, Toronto
My mac mini's up and died, and it looks like Apple wants $1,700 for another one - which ain't gunna happen.

movie review - Home Alone 2

2017.12.19, Toronto
We recently showed the kids the movie Home Alone and I stupidly mentioned a sequel.

movie review - Star Wars: Episode VIII

2017.12.19, Toronto
"Uncle Jon" and The Boy and I went downtown to see this.

the longest board meeting

2017.12.19, Toronto
The board meetings that involve the annual operations and budget reviews are always long - but this one was only 2 1/2 hours.

the price of bitcoin

2017.12.18, Toronto
Adrian in Japan sent an interesting link to the writings of a bitcoin skeptic.

those who need closure

2017.12.15, Toronto
From a Youtube video, today I learned that there are two typ

FOOSH goes the cyclist

2017.12.14, Toronto
My mum works in the medical field and shared a slideshow about FOOSH injuries - fell on out-stretched hand.

you may find yourself .. President!

2017.12.13, Toronto
Someone's made a mashup of the Talking Heads with US President Donald Trump - it's disturbingly good.

movie review - Home Alone

2017.12.12, Toronto
We watched this with the kids for "movie night".

latest watch crush

2017.12.12, Toronto
My latest watch crush is thin, square, and digital - but not smart.

snowfall

2017.12.11, Toronto
It seemed, when riding this morning, that I'd timed the switch to the beater perfectly: the city had coated the streets with salt.

happiness is an old bike

2017.12.09, Toronto
I picked up the 25-year-old bike I'm using for the winter, today - I'd forgotten how light it is.

too busy for email

2017.12.08, Toronto
I was so run off my feet at my client site I didn't send a single personal or business email all day.

movie review - Tales of Earthsea

2017.12.07, Toronto
This is a (very rough) adaptation of Ursula K Leguin's novels that spanned decades of the world of Earthsea (as well as taking decades to write).

two hours of budget talks

2017.12.07, Toronto
When you sit on a board of a non-profit, there shall be annual budget reviews, and they shall be long.

Best. Tree. Ever

2017.12.06, Toronto
We skipped the expensive trees we've been getting in the Beaches, and got our best tree to date at a grocery store.

a network outage and a scramble

2017.12.01, Toronto
I had the unusual start to my day of getting to the office to find the network completely out; so I scooped up my laptop and headed home.

a year-end party

2017.11.30, Toronto
Cycle Toronto's staff and board had our Christmas/holidays/etc party tonight, out in the west end.

the neglected fountain pen

2017.11.29, Toronto
During the height of the craziness when I was doing my masters degree, my brother gave me a fountain pen.

black mountain bikes get stolen a lot in Toronto

2017.11.28, Toronto
According to an article that features my cycling advocacy non-profit, it turns out that black mountain bikes are the most stolen bikes in the city.

holy ecological crisis, Bitcoin

2017.11.27, Toronto
Wow, the global Bitcoin system is really a disaster for energy consumption.

beater bike don't go too fast

2017.11.25, Toronto
I patched up everything I could on my beater bike, a 25 year old mountain bike with extended handlebars and seat post.

an interesting day (at the office!)

2017.11.24, Toronto
My colleagues and I spent nearly the entire day working through the next version of a client's product.

movie review - Office Christmas Party

2017.11.23, Toronto
This is a delightful Christmas movie featuring an office Christmas party that gets a tad out of control.

happy Fibonacci day, everyone

2017.11.23, Toronto
It's Fibonacci day, 11/23 - derived from the sequence in the Fibonnaci series where you find each number by adding the two before.

three good things

2017.11.22, Toronto
As part of my ongoing attempts to get my migraines under control, I'm trying to recognize more good things as they happen.

Seiko's spring drive

2017.11.21, Toronto
I've been chatting with a colleague about Seiko's spring drive watches - apparently they use both mechanical and quartz components.

movie review - The House of Small Cubes

2017.11.20, Toronto
This is a perfectly-paced animated short about a rising flood that causes one aging gentlemen to progressively build new stories onto his home.

another long Monday

2017.11.20, Toronto
I'm taking an evening class, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit but it turns my Mondays into 9AM - 9PM affairs.

movie review - Tron

2017.11.18, Toronto
This is my second review of "Tron", some sixteen years after the last time and I presume thirty years after I first saw it.

cycling into strong wind

2017.11.16, Toronto
I rode in against a biting 30kph wind this morning, fallen leaves flapping wetly and low clouds skudding.

it's time to tune up my beater bike

2017.11.15, Toronto
The city salted the streets last week, a reminder that it's time to tune up my beater bike for the winter.

a week of green

2017.11.14, Toronto
Still no change to the migraines, but I'm prepared to stand by the assertion that the green lights are helping me sleep.

DISC analysis

2017.11.13, Toronto
I had one of those DISC personality profiles done through an affiliate of my night school teacher.

the unsafe workplace and the body's response

2017.11.11, Toronto
Simon Sinek gives some interesting insights into how unsafe environments (such as a workplace with infighting) has a deleterious effect on our health through changing the chemical balance of our bodies.

the worm is turning on sexual harassment

2017.11.10, Toronto
It's shocking to see the sexual harassment scandals multiply, some really disappointing stuff is coming to light.

movie review - Land of the Lost

2017.11.09, Toronto
This is a crass and awkward retelling of a classic sci-fi/fantasy story in which people find a lost world of dinosaurs and lizardfolk under the Earth's surface.

day three

2017.11.09, Toronto
I've been on this green-light migraine therapy for only a couple of days but I'm now sure I'm sleeping better.

green medicine

2017.11.07, Toronto
Tonight I am doing a Canadian first: participating in a University of Arizona study into whether green light can prevent migraines.

the perfect paper airplane

2017.11.05, Toronto
the perfect paper airplane Collections containing this pho

10,000km and what do you get

2017.11.04, Toronto
I dropped by Cycle Solutions on Kingston Road to have my rear wheel looked at; they shocked me with the news it was finished.

down the hill and up again

2017.11.03, Toronto
I met a friend for lunch, today - a feat that meant cycling first down and then up the hill to St Clair.

so this is November

2017.11.02, Toronto
It's November in Toronto, and the thick gloom has settled in nicely.

back on the bike, and counting cell-phone drivers

2017.11.01, Toronto
I counted 6 drivers operating their vehicle with a cellphone in hand as I glided past a line of 37 slow-moving cars.

environmental risks in North America

2017.10.27, Toronto
Here's an interesting video on environmental risks in North America - I hadn't known about the solar flares, wow.

green lights for a migraine study

2017.10.26, Toronto
I'm joining a study into whether nightly exposure to green light can help ward off migraines.

no cycling for a while

2017.10.25, Toronto
My latest cold has knocked me out, looks like I won't be cycling for the rest of the week.

turning grey

2017.10.24, Toronto
I met with some colleagues I hadn't seen in six months - they greeted me with, "You're really turning grey!

Monday's count: 3 in 30

2017.10.23, Toronto
As I watch for phone-surfing drivers, I've never noticed someone with a passenger in the car use his phone while driving.

movie review - Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

2017.10.22, Toronto
This is a movie telling of a book I have read to my son.

a glow-in-the-dark bicycle

2017.10.20, Toronto
I've put reflective tape all over my bicycle; see how it glows in the dark.

glow in the dark bike

2017.10.19, Toronto
glow in the dark bike Collections containing this photo.ba

Thursday's count

2017.10.19, Toronto
Cheers to the driver of Ontario BUDHADOG; I've seen him 5 days in the past 2 weeks, never once driving and texting.

we can have nice things

2017.10.18, Toronto
Toronto took another step toward keeping its infamous Bloor cycle lanes, today.

Tuesday's count

2017.10.17, Toronto
Today I counted 5 cell-phone holders as I passed 49 cars - and one person eating with a spoon from a glass bowl.

Friday's count

2017.10.16, Toronto
I counted 6 drivers Friday, in a stretch of 36 cars, who were using their phones - that's more than had a passenger.

a lightweight, secure, fast page view tracker

2017.10.13, Toronto
A year ago, I designed a lightweight, anonymous page-view counter for my website: 75,000 views later I'm sharing with the world.

ISACA article is live

2017.10.12, Toronto
I've had permission from ISACA to re-publish my article, which appeared in ISACA's Journal earlier this year (volume 5, 2017).

the chilly weather is here

2017.10.12, Toronto
Sadly, yesterday was the day that I put away the shorts and rode in my Trailer Park style cool weather track pants.

smart phone, stupid drivers

2017.10.11, Toronto
As I rode past a line of slow-moving cars today, I counted 8 drivers using their phone (out of 46 cars).

still feeling thankful

2017.10.10, Toronto
It wasn't a great day, but there's lots for which to be thankful.

crapped on again

2017.10.09, Toronto
I was crapped on by a bird again, today - for the fifteenth time in my life.

Autumn fairgrounds

2017.10.08, St. Catharines
Autumn fairgrounds Collections containing this photo.shado

basement of an old mill

2017.10.08, St. Catharines
basement of an old mill Collections containing this photo.

at the fair

2017.10.08, Toronto
We attended the Thanksgiving "festival" at Balls Falls.

a dinner alone

2017.10.07, St. Catharines
Mari and I left the kids with Grandma and had a rare dinner out, together.

movie review - Moana

2017.10.06, Tokyo
This is the story of a girl who sets out to save her tiny Polynesian island, which is dying from creeping black plague that infects the food and eventually can be seen in the air.

giving thanks on Thanksgiving

2017.10.06, St. Catharines
It's Thanksgiving in Canada, and our little family certainly

cycling 1,650km to work

2017.10.05, Toronto
By my rough estimate, I've traveled 1,650 km getting to work and back, since I started this summer.

how to disagree

2017.10.04, Toronto
Lots of good material arising from the debates online about some cycle lanes (who'd have guessed!

inventing the jaywalker

2017.10.03, Toronto
Recently, there was some debate on the meaning of 'jaywalking' - a term invented by the auto industry and friends.

a beautiful day for a ride

2017.10.02, Toronto
Yes, it was only 8oC this morning, but the weather was perfect for cycling: calm wind & lotsa sun.

movie review - Pixels

2017.10.01, Toronto
This is an Adam Sandler movie in which he and a (rather excellent support cast of) team fight to save the world from space invaders that have chosen the form of all our favorite '80s video games.

the annual retreat

2017.10.01, Toronto
I spent the day on Toronto's harbor islands, at the annual retreat for the non-profit board on which I sit.

my kingdom for some taurine

2017.09.29, Toronto
It's funny, that with products like Red Bull everywhere, it can be hard to find taurine in pill form for daily control of migraines.

bus tried to block me, today

2017.09.28, Toronto
When I tried to turn left from Woodbine to Cosburne this morning, a TTC driver used his bus to block me.

movie review - Megamind

2017.09.27, Toronto
This is an animated kids movie featuring a super-villain as its central character.

sober is ready when you are

2017.09.27, Toronto
The line is supposed to be "summer is ready when you are", but summer just left, and I always hear "sober is ready when you are".

meeting with old friends

2017.09.26, Toronto
For the first time in nearly a decade, I had dinner with Jon and Charlie, who I've known for 22 and 36 years, respectively.

home made granola

2017.09.25, Toronto
For the second weekend running, I've made some grain-free granola.

a portrait of a family

2017.09.24, Toronto
a portrait of a family Collections containing this photo.p

the Equifax breach

2017.09.23, Toronto
I've gotten questions from a variety of people about the Equifax breach, and what it means to them in terms of potential ID theft.

45km and what do you get

2017.09.23, Toronto
Today I did the ride with Cycle Toronto; 25km with a crowd of a couple of hundred people.

live global map of surface winds

2017.09.20, Toronto
My mum sent along this amazing map of the surface winds on the planet; the visuals and interactivity set a new bar.

my first publication

2017.09.19, Toronto
my first publication Collections containing this photo.

published

2017.09.19, Toronto
ISACA's sent me some copies of the issue of their Journal that includes my article.

my failed ride with the TTC

2017.09.19, Toronto
On Friday, I tried to attend a talk at 08:30 downtown; but the TTC had other ideas.

Tracking Vulnerability Fixes to Production

2017.09.18, Toronto
As an IT auditor at a software company, I discovered that security vulnerabilities in our bespoke product had not been getting released to clients on a timely basis.

end of an exhausting week

2017.09.15, Toronto
It's the end of a week that began with me working past midnight and finished with me abandoning a TTC bus and walking home.

Japanese resolve

2017.09.14, Toronto
The Japanese are being a lot more patient with the North Koreans than I think I could be.

read a great sci-fi book

2017.09.13, Toronto
I've recently read a great sci-fi book titled "All Our Wrong Todays".

happiness is a new classroom

2017.09.12, Toronto
I've pulled the plug on my data science MOOC: the instruction was aimless, and the assignments uneven.

happiness is a new drive train

2017.09.11, Toronto
My 25km daily commute's been rough on my bike; after three years it was time to replace the drive train.

sunflower black and white

2017.09.10, Toronto
sunflower black and white Collections containing this phot

happiness is a new drive train

2017.09.10, Toronto
happiness is a new drive train Collections containing this

that 70's car

2017.09.08, Toronto
I've noticed an increase in the numbers of beige, khaki, and orange cars on the roads recently: it can mean only one thing.

woodbine auto service

2017.09.06, Toronto
woodbine auto service Collections containing this photo.wa

Dropbox nuked my journal photos

2017.09.06, Toronto
Dropbox has decided to turn off public image sharing, even for their paying customers - reducing their value-add but not their price.

40 years of the Voyager spacecraft

2017.09.05, Toronto
From the photos in this article it seems that it was casual Friday when NASA made the golden records sent with the Voyager spacecraft.

fund raising, we're fund raising

2017.09.04, Toronto
My fundraising for the 25km safe streets bicycle ride in Toronto is $75 along, so far - thank you donaters!

pity that Saturn cars are no more

2017.09.03, Toronto
Having had our car struck twice, I have to say I've come to appreciate what Saturn was doing with their polymer cars.

a fundraising ride

2017.09.02, Toronto
I am doing a fundraising ride to promote safe streets in Toronto.

evaluating third party cyber risk

2017.08.31, Toronto
The Investment Industry Association of Canada has issued new guidance on evaluating cyber security readiness in third parties.

well that was quick

2017.08.31, Toronto
So there are leaves blowing in the streets, and I wore a hoodie while cycling to work; it's Autumn!

a scratched car

2017.08.30, Toronto
Our beloved car has been scratched, and I'm thinking of getting it painted - time to source someone to do the work.

yakiniku in Toronto

2017.08.29, Toronto
Mmmm, Japanese "yakiniku" in Toronto.

riding on Woodbine

2017.08.28, Toronto
Today I had the pleasure of riding up the length of the new cycle lane on Woodbine Avenue - a great ride!

the spinners fidget, the wife does not

2017.08.26, Toronto
the spinners fidget, the wife does not Collections contain

two skunks for two anglers

2017.08.26, Toronto
We headed out under calm, clear skies, and attempted to reproduce last week's fishing success despite the un-fishy weather.

light fixture

2017.08.24, Toronto
light fixture Collections containing this photo.architectu

movie reviews - Passengers

2017.08.22, Toronto
This is a Sci-Fi flick about colonists headed for a distant planet.

don valley weather

2017.08.22, Toronto
don valley weather Collections containing this photo.skies

approximately a month late for pi

2017.08.22, Toronto
pi approximation day was 7/22, I've only just thought of it today.

PhD in a box

2017.08.21, Toronto
PhD in a box Collections containing this photo.a lifetime

arrows on the streets of Toronto

2017.08.21, Toronto
I've figured out the small arrows on the streets of Toronto that point from the center of the street to the curbs.

another submitted blog post

2017.08.20, Toronto
I've been asked to submit another guest blog post for my professional work.

a bass from lake Ontario

2017.08.19, Toronto
a bass from lake Ontario Collections containing this photo

GMO salmon in our grocery stores

2017.08.18, Toronto
If you thought that salmon you ate was a natural organism, I hope you don't live in Canada.

fever days

2017.08.17, Toronto
Nothing quite like a fever in the warmest weather of the summer.

sick again - again!

2017.08.15, Toronto
I'm back on antibiotics again, for the fifth time this year.

back in the city, and commuting again

2017.08.14, Toronto
On my first commute through the city today, I saw a mastiff in a bike trailer (designed for kids).

textured stone wall, university campus

2017.08.13, Toronto
textured stone wall, university campus Collections contain

a hallway in late summer

2017.08.13, Toronto
a hallway in late summer Collections containing this photo

overblown window architecture

2017.08.13, Toronto
overblown window architecture Collections containing this

harsh shadows over busy architecture

2017.08.13, Toronto
harsh shadows over busy architecture Collections containin

lost our canoe

2017.08.11, Toronto
I've caused the destruction of our canoe.

petroglyphs park

2017.08.10, Stoney Lake
We went to the Petroglyphs Provincial Park near Stoney Lake, today.

fishing with a teenager at dawn

2017.08.08, Ontario
fishing with a teenager at dawn Collections containing thi

septic tank repaired!

2017.08.08, Stoney Lake
Following a large rainstorm on the weekend, the septic tank at the cottage we're renting seemed to have filled up.

Julia's creek

2017.08.06, Kawartha Lakes
Julia's creek Collections containing this photo.

movie review - Bridge of Spies

2017.08.04, Toronto
This is a Cold War piece about a lawyer who is hired by the US military to negotiate the freedom of a spy who has been captured by the Soviets.

movie review - Jurassic World

2017.08.04, Toronto
My kids love these dinosaur movies, so we watched this - which must be our third this year?

here comes vacation

2017.08.03, Toronto
We're going on vacation and my fourth sinus infection of the year just keeps getting worse.

counting the days

2017.08.02, Toronto
We leave for the rental cottage in 48 hours.

lightning without clouds or rain

2017.08.01, Toronto
July went out with a bang - thunder, that is - under sunny skies without rain.

this Trump mess is becoming distracting

2017.07.31, Toronto
Just how much money does Trump owe these Russian gangsters?

to the park!

2017.07.30, Toronto
We took Ki-kun to Tommy Thompson park for a picnic and some fishing - it was the first time he truly felt that he was in another land.

to the falls!

2017.07.29, Niagara Falls
We took Mari's nephew to Niagara Falls, as one does with visitors to Toronto - but then we did something a bit unusual.

how Russia and Trump fit together

2017.07.29, Toronto
It's always seemed that Trump and the Russian criminal syndicate/rulership had some joint concern driving their actions.

and now, a teenager

2017.07.28, Toronto
Mari's nephew is staying with us for the next three weeks; now we have a 5 year old, a 9 year old, and a 15 year old.

air jamming at a blues festival

2017.07.27, Toronto
air jamming at a blues festival Collections containing thi

the ground beneath me sags

2017.07.27, Toronto
The excavation next door to us seems to be causing subsidence in our yard.

the worst kind of cyclist

2017.07.26, Toronto
Today I encountered the worst kind of cyclist: he passed me in an intersection by ignoring a stop sign.

like busy is a virtue

2017.07.25, Toronto
The job's already gotten busy enough that I'm already pining for the days this Spring when I wasn't working.

three weeks of cycling and I gain 2kg

2017.07.24, Toronto
After three weeks of cycling 23km every day I've actually gained two kilos.

movie review - The Fantastic Mr. Fox

2017.07.23, Toronto
This is a superb animated movie featuring a certain fox that decides it's time to return to old ways of pilfering the odd chicken from the farms in the area.

getting it wrong with R

2017.07.23, Toronto
I'm taking a "MOOC" on Coursera in data science.

back in Toronto and vowing to do better

2017.07.20, Toronto
Having witnessed Ottawa's mature network of cycle lanes, my resolve is doubled to do something about Toronto's unsafe streets.

de-identifying health information

2017.07.19, Toronto
I currently have a contract with a firm that "de-identifies" health information prior to it being shared with third parties such as marketers, drug manufacturers, and researchers.

goodbye, benefits

2017.07.19, Ottawa
It seems my drug benefits plan has expired - who knew my migraine drugs would cost $240!

drinking with PhD's

2017.07.18, Ottawa
Tonight I found myself drinking with four Ph D's and one professor - all substantially younger than me.

Ottawa's got nice cycle lanes

2017.07.17, Ottawa
I am very impressed with Ottawa's cycling infrastructure; separated lanes in green spaces and protected lanes on the streets.

the seat fell off my bike today

2017.07.13, Toronto
The seat fell off my bike as I was crossing a busy street, today.

1.5 billion seconds

2017.07.13, Toronto
Today I noticed something: we've passed through 1.

nearly struck by a truck on Bayview

2017.07.12, Toronto
A pickup driver nearly ended my life on Friday.

movie review - Your Name

2017.07.07, Toronto
This is an engrossing tale about two teens who keep waking up in each other's bodies; one boy, one girl.

movie review - Okja

2017.07.07, Toronto
This is a film about a semi-sentient animal named Okja; she's a genetically modified super-pig, larger and tastier than ever and stationed by an eccentrically-run company with a young girl in Korea.

that's a lot of tracking!

2017.07.07, Toronto
I have this browser plugin that blocks third-party tracker systems from the websites I visit.

good times

2017.07.07, Toronto
I had lunch with two colleagues who lost their jobs the same day I did.

goodbye, greenery and quiet

2017.07.06, Toronto
Be it ever so green and quiet and perfect, my route to my new job isn't going to last.

back to work

2017.07.04, Toronto
Having lost my job in April, I was unexpectedly a part of the family's life again around the house and able to take the kids to school and so on.

the long climb

2017.07.04, Toronto
This is the route I took on my first day at the new job: a lot of climbing over nearly 14km.

movie review - Transformers

2017.06.30, Toronto
If you're going to watch a Transformers movie, let it be this one.

goodbye, first half of 2017

2017.06.30, Toronto
Goodbye, first half of 2017: you took a friend, you took my job, and you thwarted my fishing - here's to the second half.

latest watch crush

2017.06.29, Toronto
She ain't exactly pretty; ain't exactly small: she's my latest watch crush.

gaming Google news

2017.06.27, Toronto
two of four articles are spam?

video conferencing at last

2017.06.27, Toronto
If there was any upside to a two-hour conference call last night, it's that my home Internet seems to have stabilized at last.

Bells on Danforth once again

2017.06.24, Toronto
We lit out at 10 to attend the "Bells on Danforth" ride once again - this time with Mari and both kids.

200 years of the bicycle

2017.06.23, Toronto
The bicycle turns 200 this year, in fact we're only a couple of weeks away from the bicentennial of its first public use.

thank you, AK-88178

2017.06.22, Toronto
Out for a spin today, I had the misfortune of being in a "sharrow" with a driver staring at his cell phone.

privacy in this day and age

2017.06.21, Toronto
Sometimes people get emails that make it clear their personal network is known to various websites or agencies.

welcome, summer of '17

2017.06.21, Toronto
Ye gods, summer is finally here

another record breach

2017.06.20, Toronto
A data analytics company leaked personal information on 200 million voters.

we have no privacy

2017.06.20, Toronto
Sometimes people get emails that make it clear their personal network is known to various websites or agencies.

half a "Chantelle"

2017.06.19, Toronto
I cycled 30km today, but there's a dedicated cyclist on the CT board who cycles 70km a day - I managed nearly half a "Chantelle".

movie review - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2017.06.18, Toronto
This is a film about a boy who joins an unusual household full of bizarre children.

fishing on father's day

2017.06.18, Toronto
The Boy invited me to go fishing today at Tommy Thompson park - where at least the mink catch fish.

poaching tusks in Siberia

2017.06.17, Toronto
Poachers in Siberia are digging up mammoth tusks with pressurized water, making themselves rich but fouling the rivers.

another tattoo used

2017.06.15, Toronto
I've discovered that another of my old tattoo ideas was used by someone out there.

no lice on us

2017.06.15, Toronto
The kids were tested for lice, but there were no lice.

writing an industry standard

2017.06.14, Toronto
The Investment Industry Association of Canada is producing a two-document guide on evaluating cyber risk in their third party (vendor) arrangements.

lice, getcha lice

2017.06.14, Toronto
The school just sent a note telling us 24 children at the school have head lice.

ISACA article accepted

2017.06.13, Toronto
The ISACA article has been accepted.

cruel bunnies

2017.06.13, Toronto
It was nearly the end of me today when a bunny darted out as I was riding, this evening after a non-profit board committee session.

cycling with a snapping turtle

2017.06.12, Toronto
As I was on a 13km ride, I encountered a snapping turtle on a wooded path - it had the trail to itself.

toronto from a canoe

2017.06.11, Toronto
toronto from a canoe Collections containing this photo.tor

movie review - I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore

2017.06.11, Tokyo
This is a movie about a loser name Ruth whose home is robbed.

canoeing and reading

2017.06.11, Toronto
At 6:30 this morning, my friend Richard picked me up for a morning jaunt to Leslie Street Spit from Cherry Beach by canoe.

fixing people's bikes

2017.06.10, Toronto
I spent six hours today fixing kids' bikes at Main Square

fawaffle!

2017.06.08, Toronto
The "fawaffle" truck was at The Kids' fun fair - a falafel sandwich not wrapped in pita but a waffle cone made of falafel.

say, that emperor has no clothes

2017.06.07, Toronto
It's funny how everyone's going around on egg-shells pretending that we don't know that Trump's just a crook.

snuck off for some fishing

2017.06.06, Toronto
I left the apartment before six this morning to do some fishing in Scarborough; it's amazing what the unemployed can do.

total party un-kill

2017.06.04, Toronto
I allowed my son's D&D group to worm their way out of their death-by-riddle from our last session.

my wife can live with me

2017.06.02, Toronto
Mari says that it's been nice having me around the house these past two months - that she thinks we'll retire well together.

that's it, I'm going fishing

2017.06.01, Toronto
I took the morning off for some fishing, but the lake's still funny.

events on Toronto island cancelled due to flooding

2017.05.31, Toronto
Our son was supposed to attend his first camp on the Toronto islands this summer - it's been cancelled due to flooding.

Covey time-management quadrants

2017.05.30, Toronto
Where oh where has the four-quadrant Franklin Covey time management system been, all my life?

goodbye, great barrier reef

2017.05.30, Toronto
So, we've killed the great barrier reef; mission accomplished.

goodbye, May

2017.05.29, Toronto
This was a busy, busy month - a blur of interviews, meetings, phone calls until I got sick and had to take some time to recover.

first family cycle trip

2017.05.28, Toronto
The family took a cycle trip down to Tommy Thompson park today and had a fine time.

this is why I joined Cycle Toronto

2017.05.27, Toronto
A five year old cyclist died this week when he fell into traffic - this is why I joined a cyclists' advocacy group.

is that a bubble bursting

2017.05.26, Toronto
It looks like Toronto's immense housing bubble may finally have burst.

waves on a flooded lake

2017.05.25, Toronto
waves on a flooded lake Collections containing this photo.

the lake has risen up against us

2017.05.25, Toronto
The boy was heroically standing at the brink as the waves came crashing in.

happy towel day, everybody - you'll need it with this rain

2017.05.25, Toronto
Happy towel day, everybody - you'll need it with all this rain.

safe harbor de-identification of health data

2017.05.24, Toronto
The health industry works with a standard called the "Safe Harbor" for de-identifying personal information.

catch of the year

2017.05.24, Toronto
It is with great embarrassment that I've finally caught my first fish of the year in late May.

describing May 2-4 to Americans

2017.05.23, Toronto
How better to describe the Victoria Day weekend to Americans than by its nickname, "May 2-4"?

movie review - Lego Batman Movie

2017.05.21, Toronto
I don't know if this movie was strictly necessary, they covered Lego Batman in sufficient depth in the Lego Movie itself.

Blame!

2017.05.21, Toronto
This is a good anime about a time in the distant future where humanity has been sidelined by its own housing and infrastructure, and now ekes out a marginal existence in the shadow of security systems that refuse to let them sufficiently travel or build to reclaim their world.

we won a three-legged-race

2017.05.20, Toronto
My wife and I won a three-legged-race - I think it was the first I'd ever run.

an ISACA article

2017.05.18, Toronto
Tomorrow's the deadline for the next issue of ISACA's "Journal".

flooding on Toronto's beaches

2017.05.18, Toronto
Lake Ontario was apparently at its highest ever yesterday, May 17 - I've put together a pic of what that looks like in Toronto.

time to regroup

2017.05.17, Toronto
Kevin's death is having an effect on my job search.

goodbye, Kevin Atwood

2017.05.16, Toronto
My musician friend Kevin Atwood has died, as humorous and sweet a fellow as you'll ever meet.

clever driftwood wreath

2017.05.14, Toronto
clever driftwood wreath Collections containing this photo.

snapped my fishing rod

2017.05.13, Toronto
While enjoying a relaxing fishing jaunt, I stupidly broke my fishing rod, for the first time in my life.

five days of pain

2017.05.12, Toronto
I've had a right-side, weather-related migraine for five days.

created a job - for someone else

2017.05.10, Toronto
My habit of introducing people I feel should be working together has paid off in a job created, but for someone else.

the fun is in the doing

2017.05.09, Toronto
Once again, I'd like to quote Kurt Russell: the fun is in the doing, not the talking.

our first fish of the year

2017.05.08, Toronto
The boy caught his first fish of the year, today - a tasty 45cm pike.

fx trading and a positive attitude

2017.05.08, Toronto
Mari says it's common wisdom in the FX trading world that one must keep a positive attitude to place productive trades.

dungeons & dragons total party kill

2017.05.07, Toronto
I played D&D with my son, his two friends, and their father yesterday.

a month of unemployment

2017.05.06, Toronto
It's interesting that some things have changed so much and some so little, being unemployed for a month.

illicit help from the TTC

2017.05.05, Toronto
I had a little help catching the 502 at University and Queen yesterday on my way home.

my mind, mapped

2017.05.05, Toronto
I did a personality test of sorts, and learned I'm an odd duck.

busy as if I had a job

2017.05.03, Toronto
Toronto's become a city of new software ventures in the past few years.

movie review - Nice Guys

2017.05.02, Toronto
I loved this movie.

the only chart that matters

2017.05.02, Toronto
My wife's an economist by training and is now learning to become an FX trader

bird of prey at our window

2017.04.29, Toronto
A bird of prey suddenly arrived on our balcony, diving at a mourning dove.

new season of Archer

2017.04.28, Toronto
"Good news and bad news," I told Mari, "the new season of Archer has started.

tweeting for traffic

2017.04.27, Toronto
If you tweet updates to your website at a certain time of day, you can get a steady increase in traffic.

vice president of a non-profit board

2017.04.26, Toronto
Last night I was nominated to be the Vice President of the board of Cycle Toronto.

so this is a dentist's office

2017.04.25, Toronto
Another benefit of unemployment

movie review - Sing

2017.04.24, Toronto
I wonder if any good movie ever had the word "Sing" in the title.

volunteering at school

2017.04.24, Toronto
Another benefit of having all this free time - I got to volunteer at the school for the visit of a scientist.

networking

2017.04.23, Toronto
An unexpected benefit of being unemployed: I am meeting a lot of people.

my guide on managing third party risk

2017.04.22, Toronto
I've written a guide on managing third party risk, that is, the risk that comes with sharing your data with third parties such as service organizations.

13 years in Toronto

2017.04.21, Toronto
Last month, I passed the sum of 13 years spent living in Toronto.

4ºC and raining

2017.04.20, Toronto
4ºC and freezing rain under 30kph winds; the worst cycling!

PMP for five years

2017.04.19, Toronto
Today is the five year anniversary of my long slog through the PMP exam.

45km of cycling

2017.04.19, Toronto
My various meetings took me downtown twice and to the Danforth: some 45km of cycling in a day.

the boy has figured out the Easter bunny

2017.04.17, Toronto
A friend made a comment about hiding Easter eggs, within earshot of my son; this led to something unexpected.

movie review - Criminal

2017.04.16, Tokyo
This is a strange and violent story about transplanting the memories of a dead spy/soldier into the brain of a death-row prisoner with a neurological condition that means he'll never have empathy and will never deviate from his life of violent disregard for society.

movie review - The Discovery

2017.04.16, Toronto
This movie centers on a small scientific team that's worked out how to prove the existence of the afterlife.

we've overclocked the kids

2017.04.16, Toronto
Trying to figure out what's happened to our kids, today, to make them so hyper and babbly.

metrics that matter

2017.04.15, Toronto
The article I placed on LinkedIn about losing my job has now been read well over 1,000 times.

a migraine in nice weather

2017.04.15, Toronto
As so frequently happens, the weather gets nice and I get a migraine.

it's bigger than it looks

2017.04.14, Toronto
it's bigger than it looks Collections containing this phot

a family day

2017.04.14, St. Catharines
Today we went to St.

moth-eaten suit

2017.04.13, Toronto
The damage to my good suit is irreversible.

720 reads in 48 hours

2017.04.12, Toronto
My previous post (which was cross posted to LinkedIn) regenerated over 700 reads in under two days.

gracious in defeat

2017.04.11, Toronto
Two women colleagues described me as "gracious" today; I don't think that word means what they think it means.

I lost my job

2017.04.10, Toronto
Last Tuesday, I lost my job during a restructuring at PortfolioAid, a compliance solutions firm.

thoughts after six years

2017.04.10, Toronto
I've gathered my thoughts on exiting an executive role at a software firm after six years.

movie review - Jurassic Park III

2017.04.09, Toronto
Well, it had been almost 17 years, so I decided to show the kids this flick for "movie night".

sleepless night

2017.04.07, Toronto
Every other night since my ouster, I've not slept.

today was non-profit day

2017.04.06, Toronto
It's a good thing I didn't have a pesky job to contend with.

time off for good behavior

2017.04.05, Toronto
I was a mid-level executive at employer of the past six years.

cut down in my prime

2017.04.04, Toronto
I lost my job today in a restructuring that saw 4/10 members of the management team gone, among others.

DIY macro is iffy

2017.04.02, Toronto
DIY macro is iffy Collections containing this photo.watche

movie review - The Lost World: Jurassic Park

2017.04.02, Toronto
This is one of the sequels to the stellar Jurassic Park.

precision of apathy

2017.03.31, Toronto
A colleague came by to inform another; "I care about this as much as you do - to the power of minus 100.

movie review - Predestination

2017.03.29, Toronto
This is a movie about a person involved by an agency in fighting certain crimes in the past.

my first NBA game

2017.03.29, Toronto
I attended my first NBA game tonight - we had a great time (watching the local team blow a game-long lead in the fourth quarter).

feeling thankful for a head cold's passing

2017.03.28, Toronto
I think the metaphorical back of this head-cold I've got is broken

farewell, SIRA board

2017.03.27, Toronto
My first term as a non-profit board member ends on March 31.

the message and the medium

2017.03.27, Toronto
A former colleague on the SIRA board published this article to LinkedIn.

How to create a unique minimalist watch brand

2017.03.26, Toronto
Here's a guide to creating your own successful minimalist watch brand.

cold number twelve

2017.03.25, Toronto
I lost exact count around Christmas, but I've got cold ~12 since September building up.

-8°C on the third day of Spring

2017.03.23, Toronto
It's -8°C on the third day of Spring

printer ink costs how much

2017.03.20, Toronto
Ink cartridges for our home printer are so expensive that it's the only thing people have to say about the otherwise decent printer.

simultaneous owl/human blink

2017.03.19, Toronto
simultaneous owl/human blink Collections containing this p

changes to my website

2017.03.18, Toronto
In the past couple of days, I've brought back my book reviews, added a watch review, and made changes to speed up the site.

feeling the spray

2017.03.17, Niagara Peninsula
feeling the spray Collections containing this photo.moods

our day off

2017.03.15, Toronto
Beware the ides of March, your day shall be a bust if depending on the weather forecast

unsubscribing from things

2017.03.13, Toronto
The new year is ten weeks old, and I have unsubscribed from 22 email things.

my father's new watch

2017.03.12, Toronto
I love it when people "buy into" a brand intended for a wildly different demographic - my father's new watch is a great example.

an interesting take on consulting

2017.03.11, Toronto
I've started reading Peter Block's "Flawless Consulting".

my latest watch crush

2017.03.11, Toronto
I like watches, and true to Pisces form, my interests tend to flit about like a butterly in a field of flowers.

settling Australia

2017.03.09, Toronto
It looks like Australia's original settlers lived without mass warfare; an interesting break with the usual pattern of human history.

a good crack at explaining the Vancouver housing bubble

2017.03.08, Toronto
I've come across a really good explanation of the Vancouver housing bubble, from SFU.

never park your bike on Duncan St in Toronto

2017.03.06, Toronto
Never park your bike on Duncan St in Toronto unless you want it destroyed or stripped.

movie review - Ex Machina

2017.03.04, Tokyo
This is a story of a robotics specialist who's sent to the remote residence where his genius/billionaire boss is holed up working on who knows what.

toronto housing is becoming fun

2017.03.03, Toronto
Housing in this city is now in the lofty company of Vancouver, where you can't guess if a listing is a parody.

riding in Toronto's second winter

2017.03.02, Toronto
My ride to work started with a flat that I deemed a slow leak; I pumped it up and took off into 40kph winds at -9.

cloud hosting, not lightning fast

2017.03.01, Toronto
I did some speed testing and discovered that AWS and Google are slow at serving fonts.

blessed but unmotivated

2017.02.28, Toronto
Here's an interesting article outlining all the things Canada's got going for it, and all the nothing we're doing with the opportunity.

the ever-expanding sh*tlist

2017.02.27, Toronto
These are the 64 IP addresses that I current block on my websites.

have I adopted a Michael face?

2017.02.27, Toronto
New research suggests that we adopt a face that reflects our name - I wonder if I've got a Michael face and if so, what does it mean?

movie review - Skiptrace

2017.02.24, Toronto
Someone decided, "Let's put Johnny Knoxville from Jackass in a movie with Jackie Chan.

claiming professional expenses in Canada

2017.02.24, Toronto
In Canada, anyone on the treadmill of maintaining professional designations gets a couple of tax incentives.

no ice fishing this year

2017.02.24, Toronto
Looks like we've lost the rest of the ice fishing season.

never park on Duncan street

2017.02.22, Toronto
never park on Duncan street Collections containing this ph

shuttered to the heavens

2017.02.22, Toronto
shuttered to the heavens Collections containing this photo

helmet cam!

2017.02.22, Toronto
We were watching a hockey game, when we saw a camera angle that we couldn't figure out.

a memorable d&d session

2017.02.21, Toronto
We played d&d on the weekend, and it was a memorable session - turns out they heard "white tower" when I was saying "wight tower".

movie review - Girlfriend's Day

2017.02.18, Toronto
There's a variant of the film noir where the detective is accidental.

happiness is a plowed cycle lane

2017.02.17, Toronto
The city of Toronto's been doing a good job lately of keeping the cycle paths plowed in the dead of winter.

two and half minutes to midnight

2017.02.16, Toronto
Things continue apace - now the doomsday clock's back where it was in the 50's!

replaced a strap on my beater watch

2017.02.15, Toronto
I have a Casio MDV-106 that's been my beater watch since the spring of '14 or so.

now what, America

2017.02.13, Toronto
Hard to imagine that things could get this wacky, this fast, in the US - I feel for my American friends.

court case

2017.02.12, Toronto
On Monday I appeared in a court room for the first time, for the guilty plea of the driver who knocked me off my bike.

goodbye, bank

2017.02.11, Toronto
A certain credit card issuer decided they would issue me a new card, then didn`t, but froze my existing card.

new census data

2017.02.10, Toronto
Oh boy, new census data - and my home town of St Catharines has once again bucked the trend and not show growth.

get cyber safe

2017.02.09, Toronto
The government of Canada has produced some guidance for small-medium enterprises which is a) quite good and b) surprisingly readable.

the flight of the wealthy

2017.02.08, Toronto
It looks like the wealthy are planning on pulling the plug on the US.

movie review - The Last Witch Hunter

2017.02.06, Toronto
This is a Demons-and-Angels bit of Fantasy about an immortal "Witch Hunter" who, in the modern time, gets wrapped up in an effort by (un-Hunted?

goodbye, ecology

2017.02.03, Toronto
So it turns out there are micro-fragments of plastic in the seafood we eat; we now have that stuff in our blood.

so this is kakistocracy

2017.02.02, Toronto
For once, I find myself doing some reading about the character and intent of a US President, with some interesting findings.

migraine summary for 2017

2017.01.31, Toronto
It looks like I lost three days outright to migraines in '17, and had to take strong migraine drugs some 84 other times during the year.

goodbye, January

2017.01.31, Toronto
I foolishly chose to take the TTC to work today; two fares ($6+) to get to work late.

wet weather in January

2017.01.28, Toronto
wet weather in January Collections containing this photo.s

riding in the snow for my son

2017.01.27, Toronto
To get anywhere in downtown Toronto, there is no substitute for a bike.

migraine prophylactics are as bad as the problem

2017.01.26, Toronto
I've said it before and I'll say it again, daily prophylactics for migraine are more trouble than they're worth.

still ukraine, still ukraine

2017.01.25, Toronto
On my son's new globe, some things never change; Crimea is still Ukraine #earworm.

movie review - Office Christmas Party

2017.01.23, Toronto
This movie is about some people trashing their office over the cource of a Christmas party.

movie review - Hotel Transylvania

2017.01.23, Toronto
By all accounts, Adam Sandler is a decent guy who treats people well and there's no denying that he's made his own path.

virtual kidnapping

2017.01.23, Toronto
In addition to CEO fraud emails, now there's virtual kidnapping.

hello, sunshine

2017.01.23, Toronto
It's ten to five, and the sun's just going down; so good to have some sunlight in Toronto!

hello, October's shoes

2017.01.21, Toronto
Mari realized that the shoes we ordered from the US back in October hadn't come; I called the shop, they'd had them for months.

goodbye, Mr Obama

2017.01.20, Toronto
They say you bungled the American empire, Mr Obama; I say good riddance, let the US be a country again.

goodbye, civilization

2017.01.19, Toronto
Farewell, civilization as we've known it.

financial industry vendor management

2017.01.11, Toronto
Today I attended an wealth management industry committee meeting in which we're looking at an industry-wide approach to managing third party risk.

poor Maebh

2017.01.11, Toronto
The storm last night tore a piece off our building that came down and onto our car - I wonder if insurance will cover it.

hello, ETL

2017.01.07, Toronto
Another year, another extract-transform-load project.

goodbye, little aquarium

2017.01.06, Toronto
Friends have taken the smaller of our aquariums - I know it's in good hands with a smart young lad.

movie review - The Lobster

2017.01.04, Toronto
This is an interesting Sci-Fi piece set in a world where people can opt to spend the remainder of their days as an animal of some kind.

ten years with this journal

2017.01.01, Tokyo
I've been keeping this journal for a full decade, now!

goodbye, home phone

2017.01.01, Toronto
We'll be cutting our home phone spend from $28/month + tax to ~ $9/month by going VOIP.

2016

mobile data overage charges

2016.12.30, Toronto
For the past few months, I've been paying $5 - $10 a month for overshooting my cellular data allotment on my mobile phone.

No fishing here

2016.12.25, Toronto
No fishing here Collections containing this photo.fishing

movie review - Star Wars: Episode VII

2016.12.24, Toronto
How better to spend X'mas eve than with a slick continuation of a movie from your childhood?

movie review - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

2016.12.23, Toronto
Which aristocrat will marry which daughter?

movie review - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

2016.12.23, Toronto
This is a "Star Wars" story, telling the tale of the many Bothans that died bringing Princess Leia the plans for the Death Star -- as referenced in the very first "Star Wars" in 1977.

cycling at Christmas

2016.12.23, Toronto
I cycled in to work today; the major trails away from the streets were icy, but the streets were good.

watching TV has changed

2016.12.19, Toronto
Last night I heard the audio for a show through my phone while watching the TV; I felt old.

the frozen driveway

2016.12.18, Toronto
Our steep driveway is covered in ice thanks to a new city policy towards meltwater and rainwater.

slushy alley delivery trucks

2016.12.16, Toronto
slushy alley delivery trucks Collections containing this p

the book I wish I'd had

2016.12.16, Toronto
Ray Pompon's book IT Security Risk Control Management: An Audit Preparation Plan is the one I needed back in 2011 when I first took a service organization through an audit.

latest watch crush

2016.12.13, Toronto
I'm looking at a thin dress watch to slip under my French cuffs.

cycling at minus six

2016.12.09, Toronto
My rear shifter cable was locked up this morning due to the -6°C weather.

the flaming lips sell out

2016.12.06, Toronto
So; the Flaming Lips have lent "Do You Realize" to the latest Transformers movie.

movie review - Home

2016.12.05, Toronto
This animated kids movie is such a frenetic mess that it lost the attention of our four-year-old and we stopped watching it.

movie review - Arrival

2016.12.04, Toronto
Jon and I went to the local cinema to watch this sci-fi flick about first contact with aliens.

movie review - The Red Turtle

2016.11.28, Toronto
This is a story of a man who is shipwrecked on a deserted island.

securing your life

2016.11.22, Toronto
The New York Times recently ran a piece with practical information about protecting your online life.

movie review - Paddington

2016.11.20, Toronto
This is an excellent animated movie about an anthropomorphic, talking bear who decides to travel to London to find a home after being pushed out of his own by an earthquake.

yet another reason to patch

2016.11.18, Toronto
Today I had an illuminating call with our insurance broker and carrier about an exclusion in our errors & omissions insurance pertaining to unlicensed data and software.

here comes fascism!

2016.11.18, Toronto
The Toronto District School Board has circulated an email about escalating racism and hate in the city.

back on my steed

2016.11.17, Toronto
One round trip on the TTC is one round too many for a dedicated cyclist; I don't know how people do it every day.

damaged bike chain

2016.11.16, Toronto
I don't know how I did it, but I managed to bend two links in my bike chain.

the boy's catch one morning

2016.11.13, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  fishing

the fish I caught twice

2016.11.13, Toronto
the fish I caught twice Collections containing this photo.

movie review - Kubo and The Two Strings

2016.11.13, Toronto
This is a lovingly-made animated story about a boy who sets a monstrous spirit loose on the world and must walk the path of his ancestors in order to set things right.

movie review - The Boy and the Beast

2016.11.11, Toronto
This is an animated flick from Japan, about a young boy kidnapped to an alternate world (of ghosts or demons, I want to say?

top hits these past ten days

2016.11.01, Toronto
My website's seen a predictable trickle of traffic lo these past nine - ten days.

woke up braking

2016.10.26, Toronto
I woke myself up reaching for my bike brakes, this morning.

suicidal cyclists

2016.10.25, Toronto
Yesterday I saw a cyclist hanging onto the door handle of an SUV westbound on Richmond Ave at speed.

movie review - The Wolverine

2016.10.24, Toronto
This is yet another super-hero movie.

DNS subdomain discovery

2016.10.24, Toronto
This weekend, I found this interesting little tool called DNS Dumpster.

inching closer to github pages

2016.10.24, Toronto
I will achieve in time, my object all sublime, to move this website to a free platform.

lost cycling glove

2016.10.23, Toronto
An occupational hazard of cycling: losing your gloves.

taking stock

2016.10.20, Toronto
I don't get a lot of feedback on this journal/website project of mine any more.

shaking like a leaf

2016.10.19, Toronto
It turned out that all this confusion about us being "good parents" came from both of us going to see The Girl for her night terrors.

"you guys are good parents"

2016.10.18, Toronto
Our four-year-old surprised me this morning, sticking her head into the washroom and saying, "You guys are good parents.

fintech and information risk

2016.10.17, Toronto
An article appeared in "The Investment Executive" this weekend that highlights information risk in so-called fintech.

movie review - Captain America: The First Avenger

2016.10.14, Toronto
We watched this for "movie night" with the kids.

younger fisherman than fish

2016.10.09, Kawartha Lakes
This looks to be around a ten year old walleye. The boy's o

the fish magnet's first walleye

2016.10.09, Lower Buckhorn Lake
The Boy caught his first walleye tonight.

my first crappie

2016.10.07, Lower Buckhorn Lake
I caught a lovely crappie today, a good-sized and healthy-looking specimen with good "shoulders".

movie review - Ant-Man

2016.10.04, Toronto
Finally, a Super Hero movie I enjoyed.

fare well, beloved Gill

2016.10.04, Toronto
Gill, our 9-10 year old angel fish, has died.

movie review - Hachiko: A Dog's Story

2016.09.30, Toronto
This is the story of Hachiko, the dog who is immortalized with a bronze statue at Tokyo's Shibuya station.

young coyote on kenilworth avenue

2016.09.27, Toronto
young coyote on kenilworth avenue Collections containing t

on failed persons

2016.09.27, Toronto
The Basel definition of operational risk is this: "Oper

coyote incident

2016.09.27, Toronto
Today a coyote came to visit us.

a flat on new tires

2016.09.26, Toronto
The toll from using cheap tires has started: I'd only just had a cycle shop fix my screw-up with my chain (I missed a small guide on one of the derailleur wheels) when I had my first flat in nearly two years.

Kids' sports day

2016.09.25, Toronto
The Boy had his first tennis lesson of the Autumn, today.

new drive train

2016.09.25, Toronto
I changed the cassette and chain on my bike today; a clear case of better late than never.

movie review - John Carter

2016.09.23, Toronto
This is an update of an early science fiction story from a full Century ago.

on reputation and character

2016.09.23, Toronto
It's almost comically unfashionable to talk about things like character and reputation in today's society, but it wasn't always so.

it's been a better week

2016.09.22, Toronto
Bruised ribs or no, it's been a better week.

of trout and bruised ribs

2016.09.20, Toronto
I headed out for a bit of fishing and landed nothing but some bruised ribs.

wed men tells no tales

2016.09.20, Toronto
A friend said he had some tales from his honeymoon.

yup, quite a week

2016.09.16, Toronto
After 3 board committee meetings, 2 grant applications, and an audit, the week ended with my walk-around USB drive dying.

what a perfect day

2016.09.14, Toronto
Summer's nearly over, and I feel that I actually lived it this year, unlike the past 3-4.

what a week, 2016 edition

2016.09.13, Toronto
Missed a day due to illness yesterday; today I discover that my bike tire needs replacing; the bike shop that claimed to have the tires and tubes I wanted had neither; then the watch repair guys break my watch; then I put the new tubes in my new tires, and put those on my bike and noticed that one of the spring arms had broken on my rear brake.

ken's presentation

2016.09.12, Toronto
Ken gave a presentation to his class on the subject of himself.

week not going as planned

2016.09.11, Toronto
Was sick all day with a sinus headache that triggered a migraine.

dangerous and fruitless fishing

2016.09.10, Toronto
The Boy and I were supposed to go fishing, but it rained and I decided to go out at sunset - this was a mistake.

no eth0 after linode moved me to kvm

2016.09.09, Toronto
Linode, my internet hosting provider, urged me to move my VM to a new infrastructure; doing so cost me 14 hours of downtime.

using a fishing map

2016.09.04, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  fishing

as the fog lifts

2016.09.04, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  fishing

debating a cycle lane on the street

2016.08.22, Toronto
Tonight I attended a meeting in my neighborhood to discuss a proposed contra-flow cycle lane.

movie review - Kung Fu Panda 3

2016.08.21, Toronto
The kingdom has never been under greater threat than when a pissed-off water-buffalo with unlimited strength and the ability to command certain wild magic aims to I dunno, take over.

fishing no more

2016.08.21, Toronto
My fishing partner has left me high and dry, now being eight-and-a-half.

movie review - The Edge of Tomorrow

2016.08.18, Toronto
This is a science-fiction piece with a clever premise - one heroic human must re-live a day of battle with an invading alien species every day until he "wins the day" and saves our species.

UGO wallet saves an angler from a fine

2016.08.08, Toronto
A wallet app on my phone saved me from an MNRF fine this weekend.

a girl's first bass

2016.08.07, Ontario
a girl's first bass Collections containing this photo.fish

cry the beloved economy

2016.08.05, Toronto
Canada's balance of trade set a new low today, but it's the historical context that tells the story.

going fishing

2016.08.04, Toronto
Our son is really pretty amazing.

that'll teach us for going to Canadian Tire

2016.08.04, Toronto
We've been having car trouble, but something's gone right at last.

movie review - Spy

2016.08.02, Toronto
I was amazed at how much I enjoyed this comedy about an out-of-shape, middle-aged analyst who is sent into the field to handle a sensitive case of a stolen nuclear weapon.

learning to ride at Arnon's house

2016.07.27, Alberta
My daughter, learning to ride at Arnon's ranch south of Cal

fishing in a river with the kids

2016.07.27, Alberta
fishing in a river with the kids Collections containing th

verdant Alberta

2016.07.27, Alberta
verdant Alberta Collections containing this photo.landscap

lost a trout at the last minute (again)

2016.07.27, a mountain river
I'm cursed when it comes to landing trout in western Canada - today yet another one slipped away from me.

low tide side on the salish sea

2016.07.22, British Columbia
low tide side on the salish sea Collections containing thi

caught the same fish on different days

2016.07.20, Salt Spring Island
I caught a fish last night, then caught it again this morning - I was embarrassed for the fish.

made in england?!

2016.07.19, British Columbia
made in england?! made in england?! Collections containing

small boat, long water

2016.07.19, British Columbia
small boat, long water Collections containing this photo.r

not a small car after all

2016.07.19, British Columbia
not a small car after all Collections containing this phot

a little girl and a little lamb

2016.07.18, British Columbia
a little girl and a little lamb Collections containing thi

wave shaped shoreline

2016.07.17, British Columbia
wave shaped shoreline Collections containing this photo.ro

waves crashing on rocky tidal pools

2016.07.17, British Columbia
waves crashing on rocky tidal pools Collections containing

lonely park bench on a beach

2016.07.17, British Columbia
lonely park bench on a beach Collections containing this p

tidal pools at Botany Bay

2016.07.17, British Columbia
tidal pools at Botany Bay Collections containing this phot

exploring Botany Bay

2016.07.17, British Columbia
exploring Botany Bay Collections containing this photo.roc

coastline at morning

2016.07.15, British Columbia
coastline at morning Collections containing this photo.

salmon lost its head

2016.07.15, British Columbia
salmon lost its head Collections containing this photo.fis

a wake at sunrise

2016.07.15, British Columbia
a wake at sunrise Collections containing this photo.

the boy and his fishing adventure

2016.07.15, British Columbia
the boy and his fishing adventure Collections containing t

movie review - Avengers: Age of Ultron

2016.07.14, Toronto
This is yet another Super Hero movie that my kids were interested in for "movie night".

trout fishing, BC style

2016.07.13, British Columbia
trout fishing, BC style Collections containing this photo.

sea kayaks on freshwater

2016.07.13, British Columbia
sea kayaks on freshwater Collections containing this photo

how to sabotage innovative projects

2016.07.11, Toronto
One of my favorite books on internal control; sorry, the only good book I've ever encountered on internal control is "Intelligent Internal Control and Risk Management" by Matthew Leitch.

hydro bill results

2016.07.05, Toronto
I've had my next electricity bill; my changes resulted in a $22 (13%) savings.

movie review - Nightcrawler

2016.07.03, Toronto
This is a movie about a thief and con-man who pushes into the TV cameraman line of work after witnessing a crew in action.

fishing in the city

2016.07.02, Toronto
It's confirmed, I've found a reliable fishing hole in Toronto.

movie review - Tangled

2016.06.30, Toronto
This is an animated telling of the Rapunzel story with some updates.

no fix for cyber security in our lifetime

2016.06.23, Toronto
An article landed in my inbox today in which an expert from Marsh was quoted as saying, "Cyber as a pervasive risk will likely not be solved in our lifetime.

a boreal owl

2016.06.20, Toronto
We've been hearing owl calls in the night for some weeks now, I think I've identified the species.

June evening in Toronto

2016.06.16, Toronto
June evening in Toronto Collections containing this photo.

fixing the electricity bill

2016.06.13, Toronto
Looks live I've shaved $20 off my monthly electricity bill with just two changes.

a sequel to the passion of the christ

2016.06.10, Toronto
Naturally, Mel Gibson's doubling down on his widely criticized move to bring back the anti-Semetic "The Passion of the Christ" BS from the middle ages.

Trump! Let the fire burn how it will.

2016.06.09, Toronto
Some people are going to vote Trump because they want to see the elites suffer with the rest of us.

movie review - 99 Homes

2016.06.08, Toronto
This is a gripping story about a man who is evicted from his house during the Great Financial Crisis, but through a series of events winds up working for the crooks that had him evicted.

the Endor holocaust

2016.06.08, Toronto
Aw, no.

today – jackhammer plus migraine

2016.06.08, Toronto
Indoors: me, barely hanging on with a right-side migraine.

Maebh with a canoe

2016.05.23, Toronto
Maebh with a canoe Collections containing this photo.a lif

movie review - Dredd

2016.05.23, Tokyo
I wanted an action flick, and this appeared on a streaming service.

three pike night

2016.05.22, Toronto
Of the three pike Ken caught that night, we kept8 only the

two kids and a pike

2016.05.22, Victoria Harbour
two kids and a pike Collections containing this photo.fish

the kids clean a pike

2016.05.22, Toronto
the kids clean a pike Collections containing this photo.fi

gane's law on the passage of data and meaning

2016.05.16, Toronto
Gane's Law: "Any information that must be passed through two levels of management shall be mooted by the voyage, for it shall be diluted and misconstrued.

movie review - Interstellar

2016.05.12, Toronto
This is a sci-fi movie that goes to great lengths to be pro-science and defend humanity's space record and so on but when push comes to shove it veers into mysticism.

killed a squirrel with my bike

2016.05.10, Toronto
I started the day with running down a squirrel with my bike.

a cycle lane on Bloor

2016.05.04, Toronto
Toronto city council has turned a corner, voting to install a cycle lane on the city's main, long, crowded, east-west shopping street.

the high price of civilization

2016.05.04, Toronto
Our electricity bill came to $173 for two months, up $10 because I once left the iron on for 4 hours?

the baby squirrels lived

2016.04.29, Toronto
Last weekend, we discovered a squirrel's nest; we wound up with three baby squirrels in a box.

farewell shopping malls

2016.04.28, Toronto
I learned today that traffic at shopping malls has fallen by 50% since 2008.

is risk management a profession

2016.04.25, Toronto
A risk practitioner vastly senior to me posited the question on LinkedIn whether risk management is even a profession.

the problem of entitlements

2016.04.25, Toronto
Virtually every organization has the problem of managing IT asset entitlements.

squirrels in the storage shed

2016.04.23, Toronto
I was in the storage shed, and spotted some debris atop a box on the top shelf.

the edge method to puzzles

2016.04.23, Toronto
I do believe our almost-four-year old has the hang of the edge method to jigsaw puzzles.

failed your PMP exam?

2016.04.22, Toronto
That sucks.

long dive by a bird of prey

2016.04.22, Toronto
I saw a bird of prey take a long straight dive with its wings folded.

property damage

2016.04.20, Toronto
Something happened to the fences, railing, and steps at the property where we live.

first board meeting

2016.04.19, Toronto
If you're a member of Cycle Toronto, you can rest assured that the board is organized and energetic.

the tower climbers

2016.04.17, Toronto
Our company did a CN Tower climb. I brought my son, who inf

1776 steps in 23:41

2016.04.17, Toronto
Today, I climbed the steps of the CN tower with our eight year old son.

movie review - Jupiter Ascending

2016.04.15, Toronto
As much as I like Mila Kunis and suspect she deserves a break for being on Family Guy for so long, this movie was a troubled project by the (now) sisters that made the "Matrix" movies.

tax refund

2016.04.15, Toronto
It is really annoying to get such a substantial tax return every year; why can't the government remember from year to year that it's over-taxing us by hundreds of dollars a month!

another presentation

2016.04.14, Toronto
I did another presentation, today.

people really do plug in the USB devices they find

2016.04.13, Toronto
In case there was any question: people really do plug in the USB devices they find.

where are all the posts

2016.04.12, Toronto
Some day, I suspect that The Girl is going to ask: when you started this website, you made all kinds of posts.

officially on board

2016.04.12, Toronto
I met with the President of the board of Cycle Toronto for dinner, tonight.

silent attack of the balloons

2016.04.11, Toronto
A friend came by with some helium balloons, which The Girl promptly took to her bedroom.

evaluating a vendor's SOC-2 report

2016.04.11, Toronto
Someone asked me how to evaluate a service organization's SOC-2 report.

back in the saddle

2016.04.10, Toronto
My entire body aches, but I'm back on my bike for the commute.

bike fixed

2016.04.09, Toronto
I've had my bike repaired; happily, I got a small discount for being a member of Cycle Toronto.

the doctor says...

2016.04.08, Toronto
The doc says that I should get back on my bike as soon as the immediate pain is past, as it prevents PTSD.

knocked off my bike by a driver

2016.04.07, Toronto
I was knocked off my bike on the way home today by a driver who then fled the scene.

snow in April

2016.04.06, Toronto
It has now snowed every day since April Fools Day

Googling the quick and the dead

2016.04.05, Toronto
Google autocomplete completes a friend's name with the word "obituary"; he'd also cancelled the phone number I had.

head of state, athlete, billionaire, or drug lord

2016.04.04, Toronto
A headhunter once put it simply as he could: "What's your career trajectory, CEO, COO, or CFO?

no joke

2016.04.01, Toronto
For 04/01, we created a new password policy: whenever any password in the enterprise changed, all must be changed.

SOC-2 versus SIG

2016.03.31, Toronto
My team has been spending some time reviewing the forthcoming SOC-2 control standards.

you spin me right round

2016.03.31, Toronto
Our three year old spontaneously started singing DOA's "You Spin My Right Round" despite our never (never!

beaver patrol

2016.03.30, Toronto
Tonight while fishing (fruitlessly) at the Ashbridge's Bay marina, a large beaver paddled right by in front of me.

gave away a tail light, today

2016.03.29, Toronto
After my first Cycle Toronto board committee meeting, I found a red cycling tail light on the sidewalk.

scanning slides and negatives

2016.03.28, Toronto
Someone asked my advice on how to best scan slides and film.

skunked but loving it

2016.03.27, Port Dalhousie
Had another wonderful day of fishing to no avail, tonight.

governance and board positions

2016.03.22, Toronto
I've joined the board of Cycle Toronto, an advocacy association of city cyclists who are pushing for a safer city in which to ride.

Cycle Toronto's newest board member

2016.03.22, Toronto
To my surprise, I won the election to the board of Cycle Toronto.

first fishing trip to the rouge river

2016.03.19, Toronto
Today we went down to the rouge river to do the first fishing of the year.

scouting fishing locations

2016.03.18, Toronto
I spent half an hour or so on the way home, toodling about the waterfront scouting fishing locations.

business books

2016.03.17, Toronto
Someone asked me today about management books I'd recommend.

migraine care in Toronto

2016.03.16, Toronto
I've just made a doctor's appointment for January 11, 2017.

Toronto vs Silicon Valley

2016.03.15, Toronto
It looks like Toronto's housing is now less affordable than that of Silicon Valley.

first day of fishing

2016.03.13, Toronto
Fished down at the marina again for an hour or so.

laid low

2016.03.11, Toronto
Laid low for two days, in my prime, just barely 45, by my fourth bug this winter.

movie review - The Big Short

2016.03.15, Toronto
This is a dramatic telling of real events that happened during the Great Financial Crisis.

movie review - The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

2016.03.08, Toronto
Well, we got it over with, today.

filthy March cycling

2016.03.08, Toronto
Crowds of cyclists are already out, some two months earlier than they would have 5 years ago

back on the road

2016.03.07, Toronto
First day back on my bike, and I came across two blockages on the Richmond cycle lane and maybe half a dozen on the Adelaide lane.

manual lenses on a modern camera

2016.03.05, Toronto
My birthday gift (to self) was a pair of adapters for my Olympus camera body.

my profile as a cycle toronto board nominee

2016.03.03, Toronto
As a nominee for a position on the board of directors for Cycle Toronto, here's my 'candidate profile'.

case study on advanced persistent threats

2016.03.02, Toronto
In the middle of 2015, I produced an analysis of my employer's readiness regarding risk due to "advanced persistent threats" in the cybersecurity space.

bifocals to read my pill bottle

2016.03.02, Toronto
Just in time for turning 45, I needed my bifocal safety goggles to read a pill bottle today.

crapped on again

2016.02.29, Toronto
Got crapped on by a bird again, today

our neighbor is our neighbor

2016.02.24, Toronto
It turns out that the woman who lives in the apartment downstairs from us works four buildings from me.

hey presto

2016.02.23, Toronto
I've pulled out my Presto card, which I last used when moving back to Canada in 2010, for the TTC.

running for a board position

2016.02.21, Toronto
I've applied to be considered for the board of Cycle Toronto.

management consulting vs internal audit

2016.02.20, Toronto
I've just completed a three day intensive course on management consulting, which covered the twin streams of a) diagnosis and b) change management.

a three-day intensive course on management consulting

2016.02.20, Toronto
Today, I completed one of the most intensive training programs of my life.

flying west with the kids

2016.02.18, Toronto
We've been invited by my father and brother to take a vacation with them this summer.

movie review - The Grand Budapest Hotel

2016.02.17, Toronto
This is a Wes Anderson movie in which a hotelier runs afoul of the "pock-marked fascists" in the years leading up to and including WWII.

concentrated volunteerism

2016.02.17, Toronto
In the past few months, I've dropped three of the professional associations I'd belonged to.

icy shoreline, frozen spray

2016.02.15, Toronto
icy shoreline, frozen spray Collections containing this ph

icy shoreline, lake ontario

2016.02.15, Toronto
icy shoreline, lake ontario Collections containing this ph

standing on a freezing lake

2016.02.15, Toronto
standing on a freezing lake Collections containing this ph

frozen shoreline

2016.02.15, Toronto
frozen shoreline Collections containing this photo.

bucket lined with perch

2016.02.14, Ontario
The two boys caught well over 100 perch today. Collection

major fracture in the ice

2016.02.14, Ontario
major fracture in the ice Collections containing this phot

four fishermen, 150 fish

2016.02.14, Lake Simcoe
Today might be Valentines Day, but two of us spent it on the ice with our sons, not with our brides.

movie review - The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

2016.02.04, Toronto
This is a spy movie in which a new agency is created to tackle special cases on a global basis.

at least five problems with security metrics

2016.02.04, Toronto
Last year, I participated in a panel on "metrics that matter" at RSA.

the risk of false brand identity

2016.01.31, Toronto
A colleague from the CMC posted some thoughts on brand based on one of Seth Godin's periodic utterances.

stay classy Toronto

2016.01.18, Toronto
First thing I saw @ 6:45 this morning was a driver hit a parked car and drive away - stay classy, Toronto.

bifocal safety googles

2016.01.12, Toronto
So it's come to this; I've bought some bifocal safety goggles, so I can see what I'm doing when I'm working with my hands on my (increasingly rare) crafts work.

movie review - Paprika

2016.01.10, Toronto
This is anime with the lid off.

giving a strip of flesh

2016.01.09, Toronto
I awoke at 4 or 5 this morning with another bloody migraine; soon I'd be mopping blood from the floor.

roundabout new year's resolutions

2016.01.08, Toronto
For the new year, a friend has decided to exercise less and pay less attention to his finances.

lifelong friends

2016.01.02, Toronto
lifelong friends Collections containing this photo.a lifet

twenty years with a website

2016.01.01, Toronto
19 years ago today, I brought the first database-driven part of this website online.

2015

storm trooper armed with a skateboard

2015.12.31, Toronto
storm trooper armed with a skateboard Collections containi

have a good winter, bicycle

2015.12.28, Toronto
When they lay down the salt, I put away my bike.

rock and roll, dying of old age

2015.12.28, Toronto
Well, Lemmy's dead.

three with migraines

2015.12.27, St. Catharines
Asians get fewer migraines than other racial groups, and I'm hoping that that will improve my kids' outlook.

merry X'mas!

2015.12.25, St. Catharines
At grandma's in Saint Catharines for Christmas - probably for the last time, as she's planning to leave.

studying contractual and financial risk management

2015.12.14, Toronto
It's true that you get like the people you live with; I've spent a lot of time in the financial industry, and it seems I've picked up a thing or two.

a German santa told me "hajimemashite"

2015.12.12, Toronto
Today a German Santa Claus told me "hajimemashite".

thank you rust

2015.12.09, Toronto
...for all the colors! Collections containing this photo.

on paneling

2015.12.08, Toronto
Tonight I moderated a panel of experts on the role of the board in setting strategy.

moderating a panel

2015.12.08, Toronto
I moderated a panel tonight.

I won a door prize!

2015.12.07, Toronto
For the second time in forty-four years, I won a door prize, tonight.

making christmas tree ornaments

2015.12.06, Toronto
Ken and I went to "Four Cats", a local DIY arts place for kids, and made X'mas ornaments.

natto donburi for breakfast

2015.12.03, Toronto
This has been my breakfast for the past decade. Natto, brow

some cycling lane

2015.12.03, Toronto
This cabbie pulled in behind the ambulance .. and ran acros

movie review - Equalizer

2015.12.02, Toronto
This is a story of retribution via a stranger who comes to town and decides to put things right with his fists.

Vtech data breach

2015.12.01, Toronto
I sent a friend a note about the latest data breach that's in the news: Vtech.

detoured by tragedy

2015.12.01, Toronto
I was unable to cross the Don river at my usual spot due to a police barricade; they'd found a body in the river.

curly wrought iron whatsits, toronto

2015.11.23, Toronto
curly wrought iron whatsits, toronto Collections containin

movie review - Hop

2015.11.22, Toronto
This is a lack-luster animated movie about the son of the Easter Bunny, who decides to move to LA and be in an obnoxious, self-indulgent, and boring movie.

I got the city to change something

2015.11.21, Toronto
I managed to get the city to undo something that was inconveniencing cyclists.

more fun with my camera

2015.11.20, Toronto
I've been taking photos of people who park in cycle lanes; It seems that I'm starting to get known to that community.

rivers are for overpasses

2015.11.19, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  reflections

orange glare at night

2015.11.19, Toronto
...car-focused infrastructure delight! Collections contai

graffiti mystery uncovered

2015.11.19, Toronto
I discovered hidden graffiti with the gain on my digital camera, today.

movie review - This Is Where I Leave You

2015.11.17, Toronto
A friend leant me this, which turned out to be only okay.

five years on the job

2015.11.16, Toronto
I've been at this job for five years, shattering my previous record

farewell stranger

2015.11.15, Toronto
We've wiped out 50% of these creatures in the past 25 years

brown bear and bleached bones

2015.11.15, Toronto
brown bear and bleached bones Collections containing this

C3P0's final repose

2015.11.15, Toronto
C3P0's final repose Collections containing this photo.

migraine educational session

2015.11.14, Toronto
This week, I attended an information session on enduring with migraines, which I've been doing for 40 years.

"checkup"

2015.11.13, Toronto
Our daughter calls this: "Checkup"

the straitjacket

2015.11.13, Toronto
I'm constantly amazed at how difficult it is to break free of the straitjacket of the immediately urgent.

no poppy for remembrance day this year

2015.11.11, Toronto
Oddly, I couldn't find a poppy for sale this year.

what is this rodent

2015.11.10, Toronto
Ken and I came across this former rodent.

nine years on

2015.11.09, Toronto
Turns out, Mari and I forgot about our wedding anniversary again this year.

some home-made fishing lures

2015.11.07, Toronto
The Boy and I have been making wooden fishing lures, and rebuilding some old ones.

hiring for many talents

2015.11.06, Toronto
I've repeatedly been faced with the difficult task of hiring for ambiguous roles where a range of different skills are required.

Milan and me

2015.11.04, Toronto
Me and my long-time colleague Milan. Collections containi

cycling in Toronto, early November

2015.11.04, Toronto
cycling in Toronto, early November Collections containing

yeah, I nailed that mid-term

2015.11.04, Toronto
88%, that'll do.

flickr pool on cars parked in Toronto cycle lanes

2015.11.02, Toronto
Not sure what good this will do, but I've started a flickr pool with pics with cars parked in Toronto's cycle lanes.

toronto cycling in november

2015.11.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  moods  

the boy's home-made lure

2015.11.01, Toronto
the boy's home-made lure Collections containing this photo

rodent skull on leslie street spit

2015.11.01, Toronto
rodent skull on leslie street spit Collections containing

pumpkin pics from Hallowe'en

2015.11.01, Toronto
It's amazing what people can do these days.

angry pumpkin is angry

2015.10.31, Toronto
angry pumpkin is angry Collections containing this photo.e

crap bunny mask with eyes exed out

2015.10.31, Toronto
crap bunny mask with eyes exed out Collections containing

breezed through a test on risk finance

2015.10.28, Toronto
I feel I did rather well on a test on risk financing tonight; in fact I think I over studied.

why ERM versus traditional risk management

2015.10.24, Toronto
I'm studying for a course on risk financing, and have a quibble with an answer "in the book".

thank you very much, Ontario driver BKDV 035

2015.10.22, Toronto
Today's run-in was with a Volkswagen, Ontario license plate BKDV 035.

collided with a taxi on King street today

2015.10.19, Toronto
I was struck by a taxi on King street today.

beautiful autumn reflection

2015.10.18, Toronto
It really can be a beautiful part of the world. Collectio

fishing in a river

2015.10.18, Toronto
For the first time in decades, I fished in a river.

movie review - The Wolverine

2015.10.16, Toronto
In this mean-spirited and gruesomely violent outing, super-"hero" Wolverine spends some time in Japan, hitting the usual wall of culture and language the way the rest of us do, but managing also to get nuked.

agility and risk

2015.10.16, Toronto
Dave Thomas, one of the originators of the "Agile Manifesto", gave a talk in January that explains where the Agile movement has gotten off the rails (no pun intended).

movie review - Big Hero 6

2015.10.12, Toronto
This is an animated movie set in a near-future San Francisco .

mmm, pike for dinner

2015.10.11, Huronia
Collections containing this photo.  fishing

so this is Detroit!

2015.10.09, Detroit
I'm in Detroit for a conference, and had the opportunity of taking a tour around the city center.

collided with a jogger, today

2015.10.06, Toronto
I collided with a jogger, today.

movie review - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

2015.10.02, Toronto
My son's interested in these movies, so we've been slowly seeing them through.

17,500km of cycle-commuting

2015.10.02, Toronto
In the past five years, I've done about 1,750 trips to and from the office.

west is left and right is east

2015.09.28, Toronto
Looking at one of Ken's homework assignments, we saw that he'd correctly divined a pattern in a set of diagrams of blocks that grow by accretion.

the girl tries her hand at fishing

2015.09.27, Ontario
We were at the mouth of the Credit river. Collections con

late summer on lake ontario

2015.09.27, Toronto
late summer on lake ontario Collections containing this ph

the little one fishes in lake ontario

2015.09.27, Toronto
the little one fishes in lake ontario Collections containi

decorate cabbage is decorative

2015.09.27, Toronto
decorate cabbage is decorative Collections containing this

movie review - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

2015.09.27, Toronto
I thoroughly loved this story, based on an old poem, about a day-dreamer who is forced by a crisis at work to embark on a global adventure to track down a very larger than life photographer.

using a cache server to secure WordPress

2015.09.25, Toronto
Securing a website that runs on WordPress can be a challenge.

big data? no thanks

2015.09.21, Toronto
Big data - no thanks!

sunset for fishermen

2015.09.20, Toronto
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing tha

sunset for anglers

2015.09.20, Toronto
As usual, I didn't catch anything. It doesn't matter. Col

perhaps a chain pickerel

2015.09.20, Toronto
perhaps a chain pickerel Collections containing this photo

first fish from lake Ontario

2015.09.20, Toronto
On my fourteenth visits to the marina at Ashbridges Bay park, I landed a damn nice fish.

another blissful night of fruitless fishing in Toronto

2015.09.19, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  twilight &n

cool evening on the Toronto waterfront

2015.09.19, Toronto
cool evening on the Toronto waterfront Collections contain

movie review - The Other Woman

2015.09.14, Toronto
I can't explain how I agreed to see this paint-by-numbers revenge piece about a woman who discovers she is not a girlfriend but the other woman.

a bird struck our window

2015.09.13, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  the quick a

so that's a wood thrush

2015.09.13, Toronto
Today I learned what a wood thrush is, by having a dead bird on our balcony to identify.

a slow start to Toronto fishing

2015.09.07, Toronto
I have gone on eight separate fishing trips around the city, and not caught a thing.

mink on the run, toronto waterfront

2015.09.06, Toronto
mink on the run, toronto waterfront Collections containing

movie review - Mad Max Fury Road

2015.09.01, Toronto
This is a distant sequel to the '80s Mad Max movies, which were guns-and-motorbikes romps through a post-apocalyptic Earth.

the sweet sting of the needle

2015.09.01, Toronto
Ah, the searing kiss of the tattoo needle; how I missed you.

a turtle in lake Ontario

2015.08.31, Toronto
For the first time in my life, I saw a turtle in Lake Ontario this morning as I cycled to work.

canvassing the public for signatures

2015.08.25, Toronto
Spent 80 minutes this evening collecting signatures for a CycleToronto petition.

tall aquarium

2015.08.24, Toronto
We're breaking all the rules: it's tall and it's located ac

happiness is a stable aquarium

2015.08.24, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  a lifetime

ant colony is growing

2015.08.23, Toronto
The queen ant I found is raising a successful colony: there are now babies.

morningside creek, toronto

2015.08.22, Toronto
morningside creek, toronto Collections containing this pho

what the hell, I'll cycle to Markham

2015.08.22, Toronto
I was scratching my head for something to do, today, so I hopped on my bike and went north.

beautiful waste treatment plant

2015.08.21, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

holding up the sky

2015.08.21, Toronto
holding up the sky Collections containing this photo.stree

forecast so wrong, I had to buy a jacket

2015.08.21, Toronto
This morning the weather forecast said high of 29° and sunny, no mention of rain.

movie review - This is the End

2015.08.17, Toronto
This is the telling of a bunch of hot young Hollywood types who are Left Behind when the Rapture comes.

shorn

2015.08.17, Toronto
Today I accidentally shaved off my eyebrows with the assistance of our three year old.

a pike under placid water

2015.08.15, Victoria Harbour
The water was dead calm, so I paddled across the bay to a small island that's littered with fish scales, crab claws, and cormorant crap.

bats over the beaches

2015.08.14, Victoria Harbour
I was nearly home when I came upon some small bats gliding over the street

coffee for the whole office

2015.08.13, Toronto
Today, I'm taking some ice, some condensed milk, some boxes of tea bags, and some tonyo to the office.

lost child

2015.08.12, Toronto
Tonight I helped the woman after me in the queue at the grocery store find her three year old.

a take-up reel for an 8mm film projector

2015.08.11, Toronto
While cleaning out the basement of the family cottage, I found an 8mm projector.

John Cleese laughs at my alma mater

2015.08.10, Toronto
Several months ago, my mum sent me a Michael Enright interview with John Cleese.

landscape in five colors

2015.08.08, Ontario
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

hay is in, sky is blue

2015.08.08, Ontario
hay is in, sky is blue Collections containing this photo.o

rudder and screw of a large ship

2015.08.08, Victoria Harbour
rudder and screw of a large ship Collections containing th

every vacation must end

2015.08.08, Victoria Harbour
After two weeks of fighting with phragmites and hoarded junk (and a certain amount of fishing), it's time to rejoin the fray.

deep water runs slow

2015.08.05, Victoria Harbour
deep water runs slow Collections containing this photo.gre

wye marsh and historical site

2015.08.05, Victoria Harbour
wye marsh and historical site Collections containing this

a bass and a pumpkinseed, being cleaned

2015.08.05, Victoria Harbour
a bass and a pumpkinseed, being cleaned Collections contai

late summer, ontario

2015.08.04, Ontario
late summer, ontario Collections containing this photo.ont

fishing from a dock on the bay at evening

2015.08.04, Victoria Harbour
fishing from a dock on the bay at evening Collections cont

martyr's shrine, ontario

2015.08.04, Victoria Harbour
martyr's shrine, ontario Collections containing this photo

movie review - Maleficent

2015.08.02, Toronto
This is the story of Sleeping Beauty's wicked witch, who it turns out is rather a pained and resentful survivor with a lot riding on her slender shoulders - she's the queen of a fey realm beset on all sides by truly moronic humans, and she has herself been personally betrayed by the one who now sits on the throne.

the other michael werneburg

2015.07.25, Toronto
I've found a few other people with my name, around the world.

helping a fellow cyclist in need

2015.07.24, Toronto
By happy chance I had my usual bike repair kit with me yesterday when I pulled up next to someone who was replacing a flat tube.

movie review - Frozen

2015.07.23, Toronto
This is a story about a princess with special magical abilities that let her control ice and snow.

how profitable are your clients?

2015.07.23, Toronto
It's taken me some doing, but I've sorted out a mechanism for determining the profitability of clients for a software firm.

let's not go blind

2015.07.22, Toronto
Let's all be careful around rural Ontario this summer kids

a trailer hitch for our Rondo

2015.07.21, Toronto
We're adding a trailer hitch to our Kia, so we can take the bikes to the cottage on the weekend.

ten years

2015.07.19, Toronto
Today's the tenth anniversary of our meeting, Mari and me.

On the Ashley Madison list? Blame it on Target

2015.07.18, Toronto
It's occurred to me that if someone's name turns up on the user list at Ashley Madison, they can just blame Target.

for love of Pluto

2015.07.17, Toronto
It's fun to watch the various reactions to the new images coming back from Pluto - especially the emotionally charged ones.

what's algebra

2015.07.15, Toronto
And then one day your first born is suddenly solving ?

woohoo, everyone borrow more!

2015.07.15, Toronto
Phew, the Bank of Canada just lowered interest rates

a pleasant summer

2015.07.15, Toronto
A colleague is in Dubai, where it's 44° today - this morning in Toronto it was 13°.

new shifter cable

2015.07.13, Toronto
Yesterday, I installed my first shifter cable on my bicycle; it went smoothly but I'm still having phantom shifts.

reading and recovering

2015.07.11, Toronto
This weekend, while we tried to nurse our girl back to health, I picked a book on human evolution.

movie review - The Other Guys

2015.07.08, Toronto
This is a buddy-cop movie in which two jerks in the precinct take up an important case following the deaths of the actual stars.

bee in a flower

2015.07.05, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  the quick a

Regal Bikes

2015.07.03, Toronto
I love this brand! Collections containing this photo.&nbs

black and white wall at an alley

2015.07.03, Toronto
black and white wall at an alley Collections containing th

so this is sugar beach

2015.07.03, Toronto
I accidentally discovered "Sugar Beach" today when looking for somewhere to read.

movie review - Book of Life

2015.07.02, Toronto
This is an engaging animated movie set in Mexico -- and its after-life.

a motiv bicycle badge on the street

2015.07.02, Toronto
a motiv bicycle badge on the street Collections containing

old steel and scarred brick under paint

2015.07.02, Toronto
old steel and scarred brick under paint Collections contai

sharp shadows and battered steel

2015.07.02, Toronto
sharp shadows and battered steel Collections containing th

sears free spirit badge on the street

2015.07.02, Toronto
sears free spirit badge on the street Collections containi

battered rusty steel at high sun

2015.07.02, Toronto
battered rusty steel at high sun Collections containing th

plankton develops eyes on its own

2015.07.02, Toronto
Hooray for science - we've discovered a type of Japanese-Canadian plankton that has developed eyes.

fireworks over ashbridges bay

2015.07.01, Toronto
Happy 148th, Canada. Shame it was windy, but it still worke

Canada day fun

2015.07.01, Toronto
We ended the day with a trip to the beach and watched the fireworks.

refreshed website look

2015.07.01, Toronto
I've retooled the site again, reducing the load time from 3½s to ½s.

byblos on duncan street

2015.06.30, Toronto
byblos on duncan street Collections containing this photo.

loading zone, old building

2015.06.30, Toronto
loading zone, old building Collections containing this pho

gallant bicycles

2015.06.30, Toronto
gallant bicycles Collections containing this photo.badges

stepping up to 49mm

2015.06.30, Toronto
Gotta admire a camera store that honors a four year old gift card - thanks, Henrys.

Oh, syphilitic Lousiana

2015.06.29, Toronto
Syphilis, Louisiana - say it ain't so!

flight of the manta ray

2015.06.28, Toronto
flight of the manta ray Collections containing this photo.

swimming among the kelp

2015.06.28, Toronto
swimming among the kelp Collections containing this photo.

I came here to shout at some sharks

2015.06.28, Toronto
I came here to shout at some sharks Collections containing

deadly fish at the aquarium

2015.06.28, Toronto
deadly fish at the aquarium Collections containing this ph

new photos

2015.06.28, Toronto
There is a new collection of photos, here.

poor little rained-on dolls

2015.06.27, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  found objec

bright red door

2015.06.27, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  color  

OpenDNS

2015.06.27, Toronto
In an audit of my employer's cybersecurity stance, I found things to be generally quite good.

proud owner of a new camera

2015.06.26, Toronto
Well, I did it

geography game, and the risk of Kyrgyzstan

2015.06.25, Toronto
I found this online game where you try to put names on countries.

new chain, new cassette

2015.06.24, Toronto
After barely eight months, I'm already on my second chain and cassette.

movie review - Inherent Vice

2015.06.22, Tokyo
This is a tale set in 1970 Los Angeles, in which the stoner element is strong but the old guard elements of society still remain in some force.

so it's decided

2015.06.22, Toronto
Nine years ago, I bought an inexpensive camera expecting to use it for two years.

fixing bikes in the park

2015.06.21, Toronto
This Spring, I took a bike repair course; today I put it to practice by once again repairing people's bikes.

Shakespeare in the park

2015.06.19, Toronto
Tonight I'm taking my son to see "Hamlet" in the park.

that's no way to toss your salad

2015.06.18, Toronto
Today my foot slipped on an escalator stair; my arm went up, throwing my lunch into the air.

pan-am games already getting on my nerves

2015.06.17, Toronto
Today I witnessed a cyclist take a tumble as he navigated some unannounced barriers on our route.

the juggler

2015.06.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  street fest

shooting in a cemetery

2015.06.15, Toronto
I love photography in cemeteries. So many interesting combi

donated some old cameras today

2015.06.15, Toronto
I donated an antique SRT-101 and two X700 bodies and some lenses to a camera shop; they're making a mural.

broken bicycle seat

2015.06.14, Toronto
I seem to weigh too much for this bike seat design! Colle

The Raleigh, Beaches

2015.06.14, Toronto
The Raleigh, Beaches Collections containing this photo.bad

volunteer bike repair

2015.06.13, Toronto
I turned up at a kids cycling event, ready to do some bike repair

"Don't worry, Daddy!"

2015.06.12, Toronto
Tonight while I was bathing our daughter, she saw me fretting about something and said, "Daddy, don't worry!

baby bunnies at dusk

2015.06.12, Toronto
Today's trip home was better than yesterday's - better to the tune of baby bunnies on the cycle path.

took a spill on my bike

2015.06.11, Toronto
Pinched between the ruined tracks and an oversized truck parked on the right, I took a bad bounce off of an uneven concrete rim next to the tracks and went down.

movie review - Star Trek Into Darkness

2015.06.10, Toronto
This 2013 Star Trek movie was such a mess I couldn't sit through the whole thing.

more camera porn

2015.06.10, Toronto
This time it's Sony that's caught my eye, with these fine entries.

a peer to mentor your staff

2015.06.09, Toronto
Another thing about getting older

met an old friend for lunch, today

2015.06.08, Toronto
One of the things about getting older

the first family cycle trip

2015.06.07, Toronto
We cycled over to cherry beach and had a surprisingly chilly picnic.

a busy Saturday in June

2015.06.06, Toronto
This morning I: a. Ironed all my shirts for the week ahead

the old bait and switch

2015.06.03, Toronto
Fell for the old bait and switch last night, this time with a camera company.

cycling in a sports coat

2015.06.02, Toronto
This morning I attended an interesting seminar at MaRS, on the subject of innovation.

you work twelve hours, what do you get

2015.06.01, Toronto
Another day older, and more deeply entangled in discussions around insurance, monte carlo.

i think my daughter is a time traveler

2015.05.30, Toronto
I saw my future daughter as an adult on the street, today.

an explosion of bicycle traffic

2015.05.28, Toronto
The bicycle lanes on Richmond and Adelaide have exploded.

i've finished my bike repair course

2015.05.27, Toronto
I've finished my bike repair course, and it's made a big impact to the way I view my bike when I ride.

systems thinking

2015.05.26, Toronto
I attended a really strong seminar on systems thinking as an approach to change management.

late to bed and early to rise

2015.05.25, Toronto
Starting to think that years of burning the candle at both ends might be taking a toll.

canvassing on Danforth

2015.05.24, Toronto
Today I spent 90 minutes canvassing on Danforth about the cycle lane that we want to build.

lunch with smart people

2015.05.22, Toronto
Today I had lunch with one of those smart people who reflexively starts mentoring during a conversation.

bike repair stations in Toronto

2015.05.21, Toronto
A local brewery is sponsoring free-standing, self-serve bike-repair stations in Toronto.

the common law of business practice

2015.05.20, Toronto
Someone* once said this of choosing a vendor's solution base

repairing a rear wheel

2015.05.20, Toronto
Tonight in our cycle repair class we dismantled the rear wheel; really getting comfortable with this, now.

Detroit, here I come

2015.05.19, Toronto
That's it

another workaday audit

2015.05.18, Toronto
Another visit by our service auditors this week.

a raccoon in crisis

2015.05.15, Toronto
Today's adventure began Jon with asking, "Does that look like a hand to you?

risk assessment in a nutshell

2015.05.14, Toronto
A pithy quote on risk assessment.

a fine mist, backlit by the dawn

2015.05.13, Toronto
I saw a fine mist falling, back-lit by the dawn and adrift on a gentle breeze.

of headwinds and the spring's fresh insects

2015.05.12, Toronto
I arrived at work with a mouth- and mustache-full of this year's crop of bugs.

interviewing means meeting interesting people

2015.05.11, Toronto
I'm interviewing for two jobs right now, it's a golden opportunity to meet some interesting people.

movie review - Gravity

2015.05.09, Toronto
This is a movie about an astronaut who's on a mission when debris strikes the station they're working on, trashing it and the shuttle that brought them.

what a week

2015.05.08, Toronto
Well, it's been a long week, but the family's healthy and whole, so all is well.

here come the bike repairs

2015.05.07, Toronto
As I'd hoped, there will be a full slate of opportunities to volunteer for Cycle Toronto this summer, fixing people's bikes.

tearing apart a bicycle wheel

2015.05.06, Toronto
At my cycle repair class tonight I learned how to dismantle a wheel and repack the bearings.

meeting in a discrete place

2015.05.05, Toronto
I met a friend for drinks tonight at the pub under the Strathcona Hotel.

hiring on LinkedIn

2015.05.04, Toronto
I recently posted two job openings to LinkedIn.

taxes done

2015.05.04, Toronto
I'm always torn about a good-sized tax refund.

warm and pleasant at last

2015.05.01, Toronto
It's been so cool, dreary, and wet for so long that it's gotten hard to remember what sunshine feels like.

strange way to start a resume

2015.04.30, Toronto
Today I read a resume that started with the word "Competencies" misspelled.

more equipment, more

2015.04.29, Toronto
I went to Jacob's hardware for a set of combination wrenches for bike repair today; love that store.

kit flying in the spring

2015.04.28, Toronto
Emma's old enough to hold a kite string, now, so we put her to work.

back on summer tires

2015.04.27, Toronto
I've traded in my knobby 700x35's for some sleek 28's - always a happy surprise to feel the road again.

movie review - Horrible Bosses

2015.04.26, Toronto
This was a fun flick about some guys who decide to strike back against their horrible bosses .

teaching cycle maintenance

2015.04.26, Toronto
I'm only three weeks into my cycle repair course, and I've already missed a class.

family-chan!

2015.04.25, Toronto
And just like that, I'm back to the routine of kids with stomach bugs and meal routines.

my pilgrimage is complete

2015.04.24, Toronto
Someone at RSA called it a pilgrimage that is mandatory but that you only have to do once.

meetings

2015.04.23, Toronto
I skipped another afternoon of "keynotes" to meet with a succession of people.

Torontonians everywhere

2015.04.22, San Francisco
Today I decided that I'd had enough of the "keynotes" and went for another walk with my camera.

over the top in the USA

2015.04.21, San Francisco
The conference officially kicked off today, so naturally the first event was so over the top that it defied belief.

RSA Conference panel

2015.04.20, Toronto
1,200 people showed up for our panel at RSA.

wandering the hills of San Francisco

2015.04.20, San Francisco
After today's session, I went for a walk through Chinatown with my hot pink Minolta XD-11 and some black and white film.

a jet swirling contrails

2015.04.19, San Francisco
As we came over the last range of mountains I spotted another plane coming from the south (left).

heading to San Francisco

2015.04.17, Toronto
In two days, I leave for San Francisco; I'm joining a panel at the sprawling great RSA conference.

movie review - How to Train Your Dragon 2

2015.04.16, Toronto
This is a sequel to an animated movie that united Norsemen and dragons.

another cyber presentation

2015.04.16, Toronto
I was asked to present on information risk at our annual user conference, held today.

running red lights

2015.04.15, Toronto
Today on the way home from my cycle repair class I see nine cars run red lights.

the police use malware to persecute whistleblowers

2015.04.14, Toronto
And in this crap-hill 'verse, the police use malware to persecute whistleblowers.

using malware to persecute whistle-blower

2015.04.14, Toronto
A colleague passed this along.

the McNamara fallacy

2015.04.13, Toronto
It's funny how you're more likely these days to see an economist declaring the system bogus.

preparing to speak at a panel

2015.04.10, Toronto
I've been invited to participate in a panel at the RSA Conference in San Francisco this year.

hiring is tough work

2015.04.09, Toronto
I'm currently hiring for two disparate roles, and it's tough sledding.

first day of cycle repair classes

2015.04.08, Toronto
I took my first class of eight with the TDSB cycle repair program at Central Tech tonight.

an earful of pool water

2015.04.07, Toronto
I was holding The Girl in an indoor pool when she grabbed my head and forcibly squirted a mouthful of water into my ear.

making chocolates with grandma

2015.04.05, Toronto
making chocolates with grandma Collections containing this

on "How to avoid a breach"

2015.04.05, Toronto
I recently saw a LinkedIn post to an article titled, "Data breaches

speaking at this year's RSA Conference

2015.04.02, Toronto
I've been asked to join a panel at this year's RSA Conference in San Francisco.

perspective

2015.04.02, St. Catharines, ON
It took us 3½ hours to drive the 100km to Saint Catharines today, and I was weary and grumbling upon arrival.

movie review - Limitless

2015.04.01, Toronto
This is a movie in which an experimental drug sets a very average fellow free to do great things.

an april fool's .. process manual

2015.04.01, Toronto
This year we issued a bogus process manual at work on "Accessing the stairs" for April Fools Day.

today my employer had a very good day

2015.04.01, Toronto
A competitor has announced a product that competes with something we're doing; it's welcome news.

working my way through my dissertation, still

2015.03.31, Toronto
I've posted another piece of my research findings to my other site, risktopics.

this time with feeling

2015.03.30, Toronto
Back on the bike, again.

the last stand of robin hood

2015.03.29, Toronto
I took the boy to see the farewell performance of "The Heart of Robin Hood" today.

movie review - Thor

2015.03.24, Toronto
This is a super-hero movie based on the Marvel Thor comic books, which I never read.

cutting off your nose

2015.03.23, Toronto
This article suggests that we should no longer use email, because it's not safe.

a Torontonian for one quarter of my life

2015.03.21, Toronto
I've now been here in Toronto for 11 of my 44 years.

family evaporating

2015.03.20, Toronto
I've noticed something: our family's withering away.

Maebh, scratched already

2015.03.15, St. Catharines, ON
We discovered that someone's struck our car and driven away without telling us.

happy Pi day, everyone

2015.03.14, St. Catharines, ON
It's 3/14 again; happy Pi day all you nerds and mathematicians.

first Ethiopian meal

2015.03.13, Toronto
Tonight I met a friend over Ethiopian food; it was the first time for both of (combined age, 84).

two day migraine

2015.03.12, Toronto
I've just been through the first two-day migraine I've had in nearly fifteen years.

winter's back is broken

2015.03.10, Toronto
And on the second day of decent weather, the count of cyclists to our office doubled to two.

back in the saddle, 2015 edition

2015.03.09, Toronto
I've finally ridden to work; a late start this year but it's good to be back on my bike.

a life 55 percent gone

2015.03.08, Toronto
Turned forty-four this week, and for the first birthday in years, I've noticed; I guess I can see fifty coming.

an ear for voices

2015.03.05, Toronto
We were listening to a Beatles song and Ken remarked, "that voice sounds like the singer from 'Monster in Paris'.

this is supposed to be cycling weather

2015.03.03, Toronto
March is usually when I get back on my bike; looks like it's not happening this week.

beyond risk-listing and the ISO31k diagram

2015.03.02, Toronto
Matthew Leitch is a risk management researcher in the UK I've leaned on more than once when I needed guidance.

movie review - The Hangover, Part 3

2015.02.27, Toronto
This is the third in the series of the "The Hangover" movies.

what the SEC thinks about information risk

2015.02.27, Toronto
As a "knowledge worker", it's important to understand how one's output is used.

kei-tra in Canada

2015.02.24, Toronto
I saw an honest-to-goodness Japanese "kei-tra" (kei truck) on Queen street tonight.

counting to and from five

2015.02.22, Toronto
Our little one can reliably count to and even down from five (and up to six).

the TTC breaks a perfect streak

2015.02.18, Toronto
The TTC really slipped up tonight; they let a whole street car full of people get to the Beaches.

ice fishing, 34 below

2015.02.16, Lake Simcoe
Today The Boy and I went ice fishing with Richard and his son.

this website is a decade old, I'll probably end it

2015.02.15, Toronto
Good ol' emuu dot net, my second website, is now ten years and four months old

forgetting my UNIX

2015.02.13, Toronto
I'm slipping; I went to null a file by copying /dev/null to it, and took about five seconds to remember /dev/null.

it looks like "cybersecurity" is here to stay

2015.02.12, Toronto
I'm not wild about the word "cybersecurity".

more on ISACA's certifications

2015.02.11, Toronto
I work in information risk management; there's a bevy of certifications in the field, but grandfathering is a big black eye.

like tobogganing on glass

2015.02.08, Toronto
Last weekend we took the kids tobogganing on a hill where someone would a few days later leave a lot of broken glass.

movie review - Safety Not Guaranteed

2015.02.07, Toronto
This is a quirky science fiction piece about some journalists who decide to check out a weirdo inventor who is working on a time travel device.

Exhaustion

2015.02.05, Toronto
The Girl's almost sleeping through the night, now.

movie review - Oblivion

2015.01.28, Toronto
This is an under-rated science fiction piece about a pair of humans assigned to oversee robotic drones that patrol a quadrant of the dying Earth.

getting some sleep

2015.01.28, Toronto
Emma woke twice last night, and I slept through both events; it's the dawn of a new age.

we're on to something

2015.01.27, Toronto
Our darling daughter didn't sleep through the night - but she didn't demand that we attend to her, either.

now I've seen everything

2015.01.23, Toronto
Today I saw a driver pull up onto the sidewalk to pass a taxi that had stopped with its blinkers going.

our new mayor just obsoleted our car purchase

2015.01.19, Toronto
A month after we break down and buy our first car, TTC improvements and fare reductions occur.

some good points on points-based immigration

2015.01.17, Toronto
Canada's just changed its immigration "points system" to ramp up the import of talented (but cheap!

cybersecurity as a systemic risk in the financial industry

2015.01.15, Toronto
Outsourcing technology service arrangements carry considerable risk to both parties.

movie review - Sideways

2015.01.14, Toronto
I saw this a second time, recently, and felt that some of its shine had worn off.

on having a plan in life

2015.01.14, Toronto
Five year ago, I had the advice from an entrepreneur that to get big things done one should have a life plan.

I'm just too nice

2015.01.12, Toronto
Today I managed to convince my son that his aunt found his uncle in a pre-Internet "catalog of husbands".

my son calls Markham "Mirkwood"

2015.01.11, Toronto
After seeing some of the Tolkien movies, Ken's taken to calling Markham "Mirkwood".

the risk of time sheets incomplete

2015.01.05, Toronto
I work in an industry where records of time spent on distinct projects are required of knowledge workers.

so now it's snow tires

2015.01.03, Toronto
Don't worry about a snowy winter in Toronto this year, I've bought snow tires so it won't snow at all.

2014

it's fun being back in san francisco

2014.12.24, San Francisco
It's an admittedly busy photo, but it's not easy to get a s

movie review - Dallas Buyers Club

2014.12.23, Toronto
This is a movie about a young man in the early days of the AIDS crisis who contracts the disease from a junkie prostitute.

R & D funding

2014.12.23, Toronto
Got a double dose of good news on our R & D funding at work, today.

business lunching

2014.12.18, Toronto
One recent thing I've started doing is meeting new business contacts over a coffee or a meal.

feeling thankful

2014.12.17, Toronto
Tonight I met with a friend whose daughter is recovering from a serious concussion.

I really am becoming middle aged

2014.12.16, Toronto
First it's car shopping, now I'm buying life insurance - no doubt about it, I'm middled aged.

doing it for himself

2014.12.15, Toronto
Ken cooked himself some hotdogs by dicing them up and frying them.

thanks for nothing, mbna

2014.12.15, Toronto
I've been using an MBNA mastercard for quite some time, but they've decided they don't want me anymore.

my son's D&D character has died

2014.12.13, Toronto
Facing an adversary both too strong and too many, The Boy's party was outgunned and simply ran out of luck.

writing with light

2014.12.12, Toronto
writing with light Collections containing this photo.simpl

things have come to a pretty pass

2014.12.10, Toronto
Things have come to a pretty pass when you find yourself crafting a ransom note.

o frabjous day, callooh callay

2014.12.08, Toronto
Today started out with a prescription for antibiotics, but ended with a giant bag of free wooden train stuff.

where are my sarcastic air quotes

2014.12.07, Toronto
Both kids had a fever this weekend; if you haven't dealt with a delirious six year old, you haven't lived!

SIFMA makes the first move

2014.12.05, Toronto
Over the past couple of years, I've been watching for a "guidance note" from one of the regulators on cyber security.

dodging ice patches on my bike

2014.12.04, Toronto
Looks like the wide, rugged tires on my Surly are just the thing for dodging or riding over patches of ice.

movie review - 2001: A Space Odyssey

2014.12.01, Toronto
Before I write this, I'll clarify that I think there's a good chance that the director of this movie faked the original moon landing on behalf of the US government during the Cold War competition with the Soviets.

the day of Christmas trees

2014.12.01, Toronto
I've started compiling a new section of my website dealing with the house rules for dungeons and dragons.

worst day of the year

2014.11.28, Toronto
Take a day that starts with a migraine, then add some grief from a car dealership, an auditor, and a failed hard drive.

no car after all

2014.11.27, Toronto
So it looks like we're not buying a car after all - a supposed problem came up with the warranty, so it's undone.

published with the IRM

2014.11.26, Toronto
The Institute of Risk Management has agreed to publish my dissertation to its membership.

introducing people

2014.11.25, Toronto
One of the advantages of attending network events is that you meet people who make you think.

movie review - The Cabin in the Woods

2014.11.17, Toronto
This is a horror movie within a sci-fi movie about a world-wide effort by humanity to appease the old gods using a systematic approach to sacrifice.

now I own a car

2014.11.15, Toronto
At 43, I now own a car for the first time in my life; nay, it's an SUV, and we can thank parenthood.

mw, interacting with people

2014.11.14, Toronto
Today I managed to do some socializing; such a rare treat in Toronto when you're middle aged.

16,000 days

2014.11.13, Toronto
I've lived 16,000 days.

eight years

2014.11.12, Toronto
Mari and I realized that the eighth anniversary of our wedding ceremony on a beach in Thailand was last week.

another sale for "The Fourth Turning"

2014.11.11, Toronto
I should be on commission for the 1994 book "The Fourth Turning", I keep convincing people to buy a copy.

a day of learning to .. influence

2014.11.08, Toronto
I attended a Cycle Toronto event today, to learn how to be a better advocate for change in the city.

movie review - Monsters University

2014.11.07, Toronto
I bit off more than I could chew with this one, walking away at some point to let me son soldier on while I did some chores.

cycle toronto for a year

2014.11.06, Toronto
It's been a year since I joined Cycle Toronto; I'm marking the event by attending a day long seminar on a weekend.

pedestrian traffic accidents in Toronto

2014.11.05, Toronto
Here's the correlation between hours of darkness in the day and the number of Toronto traffic accidents involving a pedestrian.

how to create a start-up, for real this time

2014.11.03, Toronto
Today I read an article on start-ups by Paul Graham - perhaps the most important I've ever read.

happy eighth anniversary, my wife!

2014.11.01, Toronto
I spent the day with a cold, and we were nursing a sick kid for half the day only for the other one to wind up with a migraine.

Hallowe'en was fun for once

2014.11.01, Toronto
We had a ball last night with the kids for trick-or-treating.

cycling light with a backpack.

2014.10.31, Toronto
I've decided to forgo my pannier and rack, for a while, in favor of a water-proof backpack.

an experiment in risk culture programming

2014.10.30, Toronto
A large part of my duty as a risk manager is to guide the organization

found an anonymous love note on my bike

2014.10.30, Toronto
This morning I discovered that someone had left an anonymous love note on my bike.

the stinging kiss of cold rain – how I've missed you

2014.10.29, Toronto
Had my first taste of a late autumn, low temperature stinging rain tonight.

paid for my damaged bike

2014.10.28, Toronto
Today I received the check for the bike that was destroyed on September 22nd.

Michael Werneburg, MSc

2014.10.27, Toronto
I got a 79% on my dissertation, which I'm told is pretty good for the UK.

my path to a master's degree

2014.10.26, Toronto
I've just completed my master's degree, something that took 2 1/2 years.

first commute on my new bike

2014.10.24, Toronto
With a new bike, you really get what you pay for; my new Surly Cross-check is a thing of beauty.

at last, my new bike

2014.10.23, Toronto
This evening I took possession of my new bike, a Surly Cross-Check with townie handlebars.

four weeks without a bike

2014.10.22, Toronto
Four weeks ago, a movie production company's truck destroyed my bike; it's been quite an adjustment.

Ontario has roads

2014.10.21, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

the dice are trying to kill my son

2014.10.15, Toronto
I've been playing D&D with my young son; I swear the dice are trying to kill his first character.

a risk practitioners uprising

2014.10.10, Toronto
I took a couple of vacation days to go to Minneapolis and join the third annual conference of the Society of Information Risk Analysts, an interesting group of risk practitioners that is putting together what seems to be not exactly a people's uprising but a practitioners' uprising in the information risk management field.

So this is Minneapolis

2014.10.08, Minneapolis
I

500px is our neighbour

2014.10.07, Toronto
I've just discovered that the offices of 500px are half a block away, on our street.

the TTC is not good for my legs

2014.10.06, Toronto
It's now been two weeks since my bike was destroyed, and my legs and hips are constantly sore from lack of exercise.

the day my lies caught up with me

2014.10.05, Toronto
"I'm glad I didn't trust you," my wife said as I walked through the door.

movie review - The Lego Movie

2014.10.04, Toronto
This is a feature-length advertisement for all things Lego, and I found it quite entertaining.

going to Minneapolis

2014.10.02, Toronto
I'm going to join a conference on information risk management in exotic Minneapolis.

success at last with my bike

2014.10.01, Toronto
I've finally had some success with getting my damaged bike replaced; I had to resort to threats.

what happened to my bike

2014.09.30, Toronto
It was hit by a truck during the filming of a Nicholas Cage

no progress on getting my damaged bike replaced

2014.09.30, Toronto
I've placed an order for a new bike, but no one at the movie production company will give me the time of day.

late summer cycle commuter

2014.09.29, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  moods  

bike at the end of its life

2014.09.29, Toronto
bike at the end of its life Collections containing this ph

could this be our first car

2014.09.29, Toronto
It's not much to look at, but this is the type of car we're considering for our growing family.

red sky at night

2014.09.28, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  color  

all-city space horse

2014.09.28, Toronto
While I imagine the "Space horse" might take the award for most strangely named bicycle, it is truly beautiful to behold.

some camera gear is getting really, really good

2014.09.27, Toronto
I would never have guessed, but Sony truly leading innovation in the camera market these days.

a cyclecross frame with townie handlebars

2014.09.26, Toronto
As I get older and stop making sense, one of my highest priorities in choosing a bike is my poor old back.

hot pink camera

2014.09.25, Toronto
I reskinned a favorite camera with pink leatherette.

scared into trying an anti-virus package for my Mac

2014.09.25, Toronto
Every time I go to a cyber-security event, I learn to be scared for safety of my home computers.

movie review - The Princess Bride

2014.09.24, Toronto
This is a movie telling of a story book as read by a grandfather to his grandson who is home sick.

what bike next

2014.09.24, Toronto
So my beloved, but somewhat underweight KHS bike is gone.

and then, in a second, my bike was destroyed

2014.09.23, Toronto
The movie "Pay the Ghost" cost me my bike today when one of their truck drivers crushed it.

the secret of life: dignity and meaning

2014.09.22, Toronto
Today I read a mission statement for life by American author & statesman John Gardner.

fun at "Jungle Cat World"

2014.09.20, Orono, Ontario
We went to bustling Orono, Ontario today and saw some of the world's last remaining 120 Amur leopards.

my odyssey on the TTC

2014.09.19, Toronto
Today I had a truly bizarre trip to work, courtesy of the Toronto Transit Commission.

applying for an award

2014.09.17, Toronto
I'm going to submit an entry for an award competition, based on my work over the past few years.

hot pink Minolta XD-11

2014.09.16, Toronto
I've received the hot pink leather kit I ordered from Japan.

5,000 journal entries

2014.09.15, Toronto
I've now written some five thousand entries in this journal of mine.

a new rangefinder-style camera on the market

2014.09.15, Toronto
Mmmm, the march of progress in camera technology and design.

some monarchs at last

2014.09.14, Toronto
My son and I must have seen a dozen monarch butterflies in the city today as we rode "Bells on Danforth".

80% of the monarch butterflies I've seen this year were road-kill

2014.09.13, Toronto
Eighty percent of the monarch butterflies I've seen this year were roadkill we passed on a four km cycle trip today.

cycling to savings

2014.09.12, Toronto
I figure my bike saved me five TTC fares today; I've now saved over $3,400 in TTC fares in two years with a $700 bike.

holy crap, this is early September

2014.09.11, Toronto
I faced a 30kph headwind heading west into the city this morning, then a biting 15 kph headwind heading east again in the evening.

learning the ropes in marketing

2014.09.10, Toronto
We've been on quite a marketing roll at work, recently.

so it's meritage

2014.09.09, Toronto
Thanks to my mum's expertise, Mari and I have been "bumped out of our wine bracket" and now drink Meritage wines, which are blends that take the various excesses out of the different single-grape type drinks.

staple-studded pole

2014.09.08, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  trees & tru

car ownership

2014.09.08, Toronto
It looks like we might become the last family of four without a car, and finally join the driving set.

[[whinny sound]]

2014.09.06, Toronto
I told Ken, "Stop horsing around!

DaftBlogger once more

2014.09.05, Toronto
Once again, I've written a post about the thrilling world of service audits; incredibly, I keep being invited back.

yet another camera crush

2014.09.05, Toronto
Meanwhile, I've abruptly developed a new camera crush.

beautiful day for outdoors volunteering

2014.09.04, Toronto
All set for that volunteering stint with Cycle Toronto; by which I mean, I know where to be and when.

all moved in

2014.09.03, Toronto
It's nice when you're a niche software provider and you're in a like-minded neighbourhood.

catching the last summer rays in Toronto

2014.09.02, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

gathering dusk in late summer

2014.09.02, Toronto
gathering dusk in late summer Collections containing this

"that's not how it works"

2014.08.31, Toronto
We were watching "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

volunteering

2014.08.29, Toronto
I'm signed up for more volunteering for Cycle Toronto; this time, manning a booth at the last East Lynn market for the season.

moody boardwalk

2014.08.28, Toronto
moody boardwalk Collections containing this photo.toronto'

the two year old does her best marilyn monroe

2014.08.28, Toronto
the two year old does her best marilyn monroe Collections

toronto cycle trail on a misty august morning

2014.08.28, Toronto
toronto cycle trail on a misty august morning Collections

moody lawn behind the beach

2014.08.28, Toronto
moody lawn behind the beach Collections containing this ph

lone sailboat in ashbirdges bay

2014.08.28, Toronto
lone sailboat in ashbirdges bay Collections containing thi

stupidity again today

2014.08.28, Toronto
Today a restauranteur distinguished himself when I tried to pay with a credit card at his cash-only spot; he let me go.

to the science center!

2014.08.27, Toronto
I took the day off due to The Girl's being unwell, and spent the day with The Boy; we went to the science center (naturally).

always on the hottest day of the year

2014.08.26, Toronto
Cycled in a mad rush across the city today, getting to the hospital - it's always on the hottest day of the year.

today I pissed away $45

2014.08.25, Toronto
I mis-heard a quote at a print house: I thought I was spending $16, but it came to $60; aging does not make you wiser.

"not really, dude"

2014.08.24, Toronto
I asked Ken something today, and he told me, "not really dude.

today, the storage unit

2014.08.24, Toronto
Today we really lived it up, clearing out the storage unit for the first time in three and a half years.

men with small moustaches

2014.08.23, Toronto
Tonight Ken asked me, "why do men with small moustaches want to be bald?

a letter to the tooth fairy for his sister

2014.08.22, Toronto
Ken wrote a letter to the tooth fairy today, on behalf of his sister.

feeling rough today

2014.08.22, Toronto
For whatever reason, it wasn't until today that the news of the death of a friend a few weeks ago really hit me.

housing in a bubble

2014.08.21, Toronto
When your kids are too big an noisy for your apartment, but the housing market's gone bubbly, you must ride it out.

and now, a book project

2014.08.20, Toronto
Next up; a book project on how to get a service provider through an audit, to sell to regulated industries.

today they buried a friend

2014.08.19, Toronto
I have a nasty habit of missing out-of-town funerals; so it was again today.

edited star wars movies

2014.08.18, Toronto
At a BBQ, I learned that I'm not the only one who shows his kids the fan edited versions of Star Wars.

twenty years

2014.08.16, Toronto
I've now been working for more than twenty years; I suppose it's better than to toil in obscurity than it is to loaf in obscurity.

disoriented

2014.08.15, Toronto
Hardly know what to do with myself now that I'm not studying and writing for hours a day.

Toronto is nice in Augtober

2014.08.14, Toronto
It was 14ºC this morning, and so cool in the evening that the heat came on in our apartment.

my dissertation is submitted

2014.08.13, Toronto
I've submitted my dissertation; three years of work has come to this final piece in my master's degree.

dear Adobe and Microsoft...

2014.08.12, Toronto
Dear Adobe and Microsoft; I've paid for both your products, I need them to work together -- get on it!

it's the final push

2014.08.11, Toronto
I'm only days away from submitting my dissertation.

you win this round, phragmites!

2014.08.08,
I've fought to a draw with the phragmites at the cottage; after days of work with the scythe, it feels like harvesting than eradication.

August bass at the cottage

2014.08.06, Victoria Harbour
Collections containing this photo.  a lifetime

movie review - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

2014.08.06, Toronto
I showed The Boy this bizarre but lovable movie about a mopey kid who wins a much-sought-after prize to tour a chocolate factory run by a famous recluse.

caught a big bass

2014.08.06,
I've never been a successful fisherman, but today I caught a 43cm/17" bass off the end of the dock.

the fisherman

2014.08.05, Toronto
Ken's been catching fish left and right; at this pace he'll have caught more this week than I had by the age of forty.

it's war!

2014.08.04,
We're at the cottage, and it turns out that the waterfront's become infested with an invasive species called "phragmites".

so they're making another "Mad Max" movie

2014.08.01, Toronto
So they're making another "Mad Max" movie; I just hope it's not another "Prometheus".

yay, here comes ebola

2014.07.31, Toronto
There are more an more articles spreading about an ebola article in western Africa.

movie review - Contagion

2014.07.30, Toronto
This is an interesting piece about some potential ramifications from a pandemic.

another cyclist hit on the streets of Toronto

2014.07.30, Toronto
A cyclist was struck by a car a few blocks from where we live; it turns out that it was our city Councillor.

what I do

2014.07.29, Toronto
Someone on LinkedIn asked why I have the title of "Director of Business Risk & Opportunity", so I wrote it all down.

a long week is over

2014.07.25, Toronto
Never buy an adjustable stem for a bicycle; that bit of advice sent me from pillar to post today until I'd fixed that mistake.

rest in peace, Brian Handy

2014.07.24, Toronto
A friend and mentor has died.

a house on fire

2014.07.23, Toronto
Tonight in the wee hours, we were woken by the sirens of fire engines; a house across the street was aflame.

happy pi approximation day

2014.07.22, Toronto
Happy Pi Approximation Day, fellow nerds; 22/7 = π.

Toronto ferry dock's

2014.07.21, Toronto
Went to see if Ken's cycling gloves were at Toronto ferry's "lost and found"; it turns out that's just a pile of junk on a sidewalk.

movie review - The Master

2014.07.20, Toronto
This is a story of a psychologically damaged veteran of world war two who returns to normal life after a stint in the care of a psychiatric ward.

volunteering to fix bikes

2014.07.19, Toronto
Our volunteer gang would show up to fix bikes at an annual

the curse of camera lustin'

2014.07.18, Toronto
With just 1 income and 2 kids to feed, I'm the rare photographer who is resisting his wife's urging to buy a new camera.

dissertation draft submitted

2014.07.17, Toronto
Tonight I submitted my first complete draft of my dissertation to my supervisor in the UK.

now (zero) days without a cycling accident

2014.07.16, Toronto
I know all the young dudes gotta ride fixies with feet velcro'd in, but fer god's sake wear a helmet.

our halfling daughter

2014.07.15, Toronto
Once again, someone asked Mari, "Oh, she's your daughter?

watches rub off on people

2014.07.15, Toronto
Among the other "watch people" iin our office, one has bought the SARX017 I decided against back in the spring.

flesh-eating bacteria be damned

2014.07.14, Toronto
I had a chat today at lunch time with someone who's recovering from a fight with a flesh-eating bacterium.

slowly, Toronto is becoming cycle-ready

2014.07.10, Toronto
With the new contra-flow cycle lanes, the city is learning that cycling is a solution; no one tell the Mayors!

someone who gets it

2014.07.09, Toronto
When you're lost in the midst of a dissertation, it's enormously helpful to meet someone who understands you.

putin mugs make happy

2014.07.08, Toronto
I bought some his-and-hers coffee mugs with images of Vladimir Putin for my brother and his wife.

feeling thankful for small things

2014.07.07, Toronto
The torrential rain that was coming down all night finally eased up about 1/4 of the way through my cycle commute.

a day of fishing on center island

2014.07.06, Toronto
We spent the day on center island again, this time for a day of fishing.

found by my tiny daughter

2014.07.04, Toronto
As I cycled home tonight, I heard a familiar voice cry "'addy"

why me not think good

2014.07.03, Toronto
In the same book I quoted yesterday, I found this list of common problems with human cognition; it's a doozy.

now I've read everything

2014.07.02, Toronto
I found this excerpt in a business management book, today, and to be honest I believe it completely.

great ball contraption

2014.06.29, Toronto
Some people are really mechanically inclined; no surprise this lego-based "great ball contraption comes from Japan.

to Leslie Spit!

2014.06.28, Toronto
Today was our first visit to Leslie Spit so far this year.

the soaking of the year and a book on executing on strategy

2014.06.25, Toronto
Tonight it was raining so hard on my way home from work that I might as well have been cycling in the shower.

arsenic in the food, and a half-eaten baby

2014.06.24, Toronto
So it turns out that rice from the US, which we've been eating daily for years, contains way more arsenic than it should.

movie review - Coherence

2014.06.23, Toronto
During the passage of a comet, a group of friends have a dinner party.

car wax on a bike

2014.06.23, Toronto
It's not usual that I meet someone who towers over me, but one such giant taught me that you can use car wax on a bike.

ken's new bike

2014.06.22, Toronto
I took Ken up to Cyclepath on Danforth and got him a new bike.

movie review - Riddick

2014.06.21, Toronto
This is the unnecessary third movie in the "Pitch Black" series.

what a perfect day

2014.06.21, Toronto
We spent the day cycling with some friends, down to center island then up its length, then back.

internal control calendar

2014.06.20, Toronto
I had to set up a schedule for internal controls at a small

as a birthday prank we re-did Carol's office

2014.06.20, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  a lifetime  

no more shooting film

2014.06.20, Toronto
The repair shop wants another $60 just to get a quote on my film cameras; I guess I'm done with film photography.

young no longer

2014.06.19, Toronto
There was a time when I was young; I recognize that those days are long over.

a bike lane approved

2014.06.18, Toronto
Cycle Toronto's "32 Spokes" in Ward 32 has managed to get a contra-flow bike lane through the PWIC today.

edits, edits, edits

2014.06.17, Toronto
I'm in the final stretch for my dissertation; the endless edits and rewrites.

cyclist down (on the tracks, naturally)

2014.06.16, Toronto
This morning on the way to work I passed a fellow cyclist who was down on the street, gasping in pain.

learning at the feet of the masters

2014.06.14, Toronto
I had an interesting opportunity to learn from some talented Toronto drivers today; I assume it's a full moon?

give the cyclist a door prize!

2014.06.13, Toronto
I got doored by someone emerging from a taxi, today; I pulled out of it but it's still dangerous and annoying.

walking five kilometers for charity

2014.06.12, Toronto
I was part of a $500,000 fund-raising 5km run today.

movie review - Elysium

2014.06.11, Toronto
I was attracted to this flick originally because I learned that it featured an orbital named Elysium - just like an unpublished novel of mine.

maxalt, a migraine drug as bad as the problem it solves

2014.06.11, Toronto
It's official, I can not take the migraine drug "Maxalt" without developing chest pains and winding up in the hospital.

interesting weather

2014.06.10, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

cycling through a rainy park

2014.06.10, Toronto
cycling through a rainy park Collections containing this p

the rusty ol Kenneth A

2014.06.10, Toronto
the rusty ol Kenneth A Collections containing this photo.t

a foggy beach in the city

2014.06.10, Toronto
a foggy beach in the city Collections containing this phot

ruining film with a shutter problem

2014.06.10, Toronto
I picked up some film today; it looks like I've got shutter problems with both of my beloved old X-700 cameras.

weekend of LEGO

2014.06.09, Toronto
I spent the weekend playing with LEGO with my son.

another year, another AGM

2014.06.05, Toronto
Time flies when you're having fun; and so, I found myself at the annual general meeting of the institute of internal auditors.

3D yoda head for lego minifig

2014.06.04, Toronto
Our friend Michael has made our son a Yoda head for a LEGO minifig on his company's 3D printer; it looked amazing!

I shot the Kenneth A on a difficult day

2014.06.03, Toronto
The stars aligned this morning, I was able to shoot that boat with my son's name.

great people are almost always bad people

2014.06.02, Toronto
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely; great people are almost always bad people.

The Kenneth A

2014.05.30, Toronto
Today I spotted a boat that had my son's name, "Kenneth A"; knew I should have brought a camera.

fondling cameras

2014.05.29, Toronto
I dropped off some film and took the opportunity to fondle a digital camera (behind my film camera's back).

bring coffee or don't come home

2014.05.28, Toronto
No coffee in the home this morning; Mari's look said, "Bring coffee beans tonight, or don't come home.

bikes made in Toronto

2014.05.27, Toronto
I've noticed some new brands of bikes around, of late; it turns out there are two new bike manufacturers in Toronto.

today I "biked to work"

2014.05.26, Toronto
I joined Cycle Toronto's "bike to work" thing today for the first time; it was fun, there were hundreds of cyclists involved.

voting Green

2014.05.26, Toronto
I had no idea who I'd vote for in the Provincial election; happily I've learned that someone I know is standing for the Greens.

happy towel day!!

2014.05.25, Toronto
OK, geeks, it's towel day and I hope you've got your towel with you.

progress on my dissertation

2014.05.24, Toronto
I've made quite a bit of headway with my dissertation, in part by taking a week off of work to throw myself at the thing.

storm shutters maybe

2014.05.22, Toronto
I have to assume the building on the right predates the one

Rob Ford's not all bad

2014.05.20, Toronto
Rob Ford's not all bad; thanks to him, parents are having the "drugs are bad" talk with their kids waaaaay ahead of schedule.

gluten-free beer in Japan

2014.05.18, Toronto
Mari's just discovered that the whole time I was in Japan, there were gluten-free beers available (dammit).

first barbeque of the year

2014.05.17, Toronto
We went to a barbeque today, with tonnes of great food, some wine, and some friends.

dragging out the bikes

2014.05.17, Toronto
This "Spring" has been so cold and wet that we haven't been on a joint bike ride yet.

movie review - Wreck-It Ralph

2014.05.16, Toronto
I watched this with my son for "movie night".

another semi-annual audit complete

2014.05.16, Toronto
We breezed through another semi-annual audit today.

seeing to Niagara

2014.05.15, Toronto
On Sunday we went to the beach and I noticed that I could see a lighthouse on the Niagara shore of the lake.

good-bye "yarsh"

2014.05.14, Toronto
Our daughter's learning to speak using words, so no more waking in the night only to point at a wall and whisper "yarsh".

on coffee and batteries

2014.05.13, Toronto
Some days are full of import; some times you're just happy to remember to buy coffee and batteries.

the year's first sand-castle

2014.05.11, Toronto
We went to the beach, today.

happy mother's day (from cyanide and happiness)

2014.05.09, Toronto
I'll let this speak for itself.

there will always be cheddar in the mouse trap, baby

2014.05.08, Toronto
I've been noticing a lot of anniversaries floating around these days.

movie review - Her

2014.05.07, Toronto
This is a science fiction film about a fellow who falls in love with a synthetic intelligent that's partially resident in his "phone".

yup, it's allergy season

2014.05.07, Toronto
After days of symptoms it's clear - the temperature has hit the double digits (at last) and now it's allergy season.

consuming the blood of the young

2014.05.06, Toronto
So it turns out that we can improve the health and energy levels of the elderly by giving them blood transfusions from younger people.

another new blog post

2014.05.05, Toronto
I've written a blog post that dives into some of the results of my masters dissertation.

may the fourth be with you!

2014.05.04, Toronto
Today we went to the toy store to pick up a scooter for The Boy; incredibly, there was a line up waiting for the store to open.

and now the mosquitos

2014.05.02, Toronto
It's not enough that we're still experiencing March weather in May - now we have to contend with mosquitoes, too.

don't drop the baby!

2014.05.01, Toronto
The other day, I nearly dropped our squirmy little girl on her head; when I caught her, her hair was already touching the floor.

movie review - The Adventures of Tintin

2014.04.30, Toronto
I really enjoyed this animated rendition of the old "Tintin" comic books.

so I guess we'll need a new mayor

2014.04.30, Toronto
At last, we'll finally start to get over the Rob Ford era here in Toronto.

are audit reports all about marketing

2014.04.29, Toronto
I am writing a dissertation on the impacts of implementing an enterprise risk function at service organizations.

the story of my father's arrival in Canada

2014.04.28, Toronto
Here's an account from my father of his arrival in Canada in 1956.

cycling in dress socks

2014.04.28, Toronto
I was so out of it this morning I cycled to work in a pair of dress socks - it must be Monday.

red light at dawn, cyclist's .. delight

2014.04.25, Toronto
I've had a happy experience with "Outdoor Gear Canada", the distributor of the blinking lights I use for cycling.

bigger nerd than ever

2014.04.24, Toronto
I've found a way to be a bigger nerd than ever; using an RFID-proof wallet.

more fun with my dissertation

2014.04.23, Toronto
I've had some interesting results from a survey of technology service providers who had completed a third-party service audit.

return of the cold weather

2014.04.22, Toronto
I grew up in Calgary, so I don't mind winter; but enough of this 3°C and rain!

simpletax.ca to the rescue

2014.04.21, Toronto
I've been back in Canada for three years, but I still haven't gotten used to our complicated tax return system.

progress on my dissertation

2014.04.20, Toronto
As part of my masters dissertation, I surveyed six firms to evaluate their experience with service audits with interesting results.

easter eggs for a toddler

2014.04.20, Toronto
It was The Girl's first Easter egg hunt with her brother, and she was lucky: her brother was a real sweetheart about sharing.

shooting my coworkers

2014.04.18, Toronto
Earlier this week, I lived out the dream of shooting my coworkers.

my annual presentation to our clients

2014.04.16, Toronto
Recently, in reading a book on strategy execution, I found a clear test of why an employer should retain you.

everyone's lived in Japan

2014.04.14, Toronto
While munching on a burger at Queen and Spadina today, I watched the people go by.

movie review - The Secret World of Arriety

2014.04.13, Toronto
This is an animated movie from Japan's Ghibli studio.

having a ball

2014.04.11, Toronto
I've done some of the most interesting stuff of my career this past week.

the ice has finally melted

2014.04.10, Toronto
At last, the winter's ice is finally gone.

more bike repairs

2014.04.08, Toronto
Last year I had a new set of handlebars put on my bike, they're "city bike" style, swept back like a pigeon's wings.

instead of kisses, I get kicks

2014.04.07, Toronto
My daughter kicked me in the throat yesterday for asking for a kiss.

Mari and the kids, gone for a month

2014.04.02, Toronto
Mari and the kids have been in Japan for the past month, and we had our final Skype chat tonight before they'd get on the plane.

a remarkable trip to work

2014.04.01, Toronto
Today as I was riding to work, I came upon a construction site where a giant crane was lifting some concrete barriers into place.

new camera crush – the Fuji XT-1

2014.03.31, Toronto
Today I managed to hold the most recent object of my camera affection, an XT-1 from Fuji.

a wallet in the street at 07:45

2014.03.29, Toronto
As I was rushing across town on my bike this morning I found a wallet lying on the street at Dundas Avenue (at Hastings).

the good thing about a masters degree

2014.03.27, Toronto
When you're an adult student doing a masters dissertation, it seems that having interested responses from authors you're citing can come with the territory.

an icy beard at -12ºC

2014.03.26, Toronto
I've been cycling all week so far, but today was the coldest day I've cycled (possibly ever).

a scarf and a bike at -11º

2014.03.24, Toronto
OK I admit, today's cycling was a bit chilly.

movie review - Back to the Future

2014.03.21, Toronto
I tried showing my son this movie but he didn't get it or think it was at all good.

a loaf in every microwave, and a cyclist in every rainstorm

2014.03.19, Toronto
I've been back on my bike for two days and have already had my first good rain storm.

sunset shadows

2014.03.18, Toronto
In a city over-run with condo construction, the little thin

queen street on a march afternoon

2014.03.18, Toronto
queen street on a march afternoon Collections containing t

beaches in winter

2014.03.18, Toronto
beaches in winter Collections containing this photo.street

cycled to work today

2014.03.18, Toronto
I took the plunge, and cycled to work in -5°C weather on roads that were mostly clear but naturally still somewhat icy.

housing in Canada

2014.03.12, Toronto
The house where my family lived from the time I was nine through eighteen was sold this year.

roofers at 08:00 on a Sunday

2014.03.09, Toronto
Good lord, guys.

emerging from winter on my bike

2014.03.08, Toronto
I rode my bike up to Danforth and Pape to pick up a suit and some shirts.

two more professional blog posts this week

2014.03.07, Toronto
This week I've made two new blog posts.

the 143 is no kind of express bus

2014.03.06, Toronto
There's a supposedly "express" bus that runs from Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood to the downtown.

new beater watch

2014.03.06, Toronto
For quite a while, I found myself torn between a rugged no-worry every day watch and something more expensive.

fleeing the winged sales baboon

2014.03.04, Toronto
Today I rid myself of a bank that doesn't understand its basic function.

so this is forty-three

2014.03.03, Toronto
I have never been told "happy birthday" as often as I was this year.

tobaggen track in our backyard

2014.03.02, Toronto
Say what you will about the constant snow and cold, we've got a pretty good tobaggen track in our backyard right now, with a nice jump and two exciting curves.

new thinking on a watch

2014.03.02, Toronto
Mari and I have decided to get a different "JDM" watch for me in Japan while she's in Japan with the kids over my birthday.

the forty-two-year-old adult boy

2014.02.23, Toronto
The Boy and I went to see the Lego movie for a second time with a coworker of mine.

latest watch crush

2014.02.22, Toronto
I've discovered a website where you can order "Japan Domestic Market" Seiko watches, and found this lovely item.

are risk registers obsolete

2014.02.21, Toronto
I founded the risk management function at PortfolioAid

the high price of cycling in Toronto (weather edition)

2014.02.18, Toronto
the high price of cycling in Toronto (weather edition) the

bike buried by late snowfall

2014.02.18, Toronto
bike buried by late snowfall Collections containing this p

public action

2014.02.18, Toronto
I took The Boy to a public meeting held by the city to look into whether they're going to build the cycle lanes we've been working for.

thinking of watches

2014.02.15, Toronto
I've been thinking of replacing the watch that died on me a couple of years ago

privacy petition

2014.02.11, Toronto
Today I signed a petition about online privacy.

writing dissertation surveys

2014.02.11, Toronto
The next phases of my dissertation is to start polling people.

more blogging

2014.02.09, Toronto
The editor of the blog for which I submitted the article has now asked me to write something for him every month.

movie review - Avatar

2014.02.08, Toronto
This is a science fiction flick set in a considerably-distant future where humanity is combing the stars looking for things to plunder from planets that are already occupied by intelligent species we don't understand.

camera porn from Fuji

2014.02.08, Toronto
Ah, man, the things you see when you have neither the cash nor the time.

movie review - Under The Skin

2014.02.07, Toronto
This is a science fiction story featuring aliens that have come to Earth to harvest men.

gung hay fat choy MacKenzie clan!

2014.02.06, Toronto
At a Chinese New Year's party this past weekend I met someone who, like my mother's family, has connections to the MacKenzies of "Middle River" in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

crikey another storm

2014.02.05, Toronto
Great, another snow storm.

more blogging (ISACA)

2014.02.04, Toronto
A contact at ISACA has agreed to look at what would be a second blog post for their regular feature, "ISACA Now".

business planning

2014.02.04, Toronto
Getting a business plan down on paper is one of those substantial, cathartic affairs.

a guest blog post

2014.02.02, Toronto
Say, my guest blog post on risk & opportunity went live on the 19th.

progress on my dissertation

2014.01.31, Toronto
I've nearly completed the first draft of my literature review.

a bloody snowman

2014.01.30, Toronto
A friend in Tokyo sent me a funny image and story about a raccoon-eating snowman in the US.

buh-bye cafergot

2014.01.29, Toronto
Some great news today: the medication I take for my migraines has been discontinued.

a letter and a bottle

2014.01.28, Toronto
Our downstairs neighbour has to live with every bump and shout and scrape that we produce.

got an old charge reversed

2014.01.27, Toronto
It's been one of those months, where every time I turn around something's gone sideways.

tales too crummy - must be the TTC

2014.01.25, Toronto
I took Ken to a birthday party for a boy who's a day younger than him.

five minutes or forty, TTC

2014.01.24, Toronto
The TTC is under the delusion that street cars come to my stop in the Beaches on a roughly five minute schedule.

PrimeCables won't accept returns on audio-visual electronics

2014.01.23, Toronto
I bought some A/V equipment from a Canadian retailer called PrimeCables.

rush passport!

2014.01.22, Toronto
Just once in my life I'd like to do a passport application without it being a borderline panic.

reading at natural speed

2014.01.21, Toronto
The Toronto school system has a reading system where the kids follow graded levels, A, B, C, etc.

debit card fraud (or is it FUD)

2014.01.20, Toronto
Today I attended a seminar on securing personal data, presented by someone with experience in the credit card world at the highest levels.

TV time, again

2014.01.17, Toronto
So, I have a TV for the first time in 9 1/2 years.

credit card number compromised

2014.01.14, Toronto
Three years ago, someone stole my driver's license details and I had to go through months of getting the resulting fraudulent activity unwound.

still no TV

2014.01.14, Toronto
Having a TV mounting bracket on the wall, but no TV to hang there is a strange situation but that's where we stand.

checks lost in space

2014.01.13, Toronto
Some time back, Mari and I took our son into the branch of our local bank to open an account for him.

risk, opportunity, and the service organization

2014.01.12, Toronto
Specialist information technology services organizations play a substantial role in regulated industries such as finance.

ice and slipping

2014.01.12, Toronto
Two of my coworkers have slipped recently and injured themselves.

movie review - Snowpiercer

2014.01.08, Toronto
This is the tale of inmates of a high-speed train that is circling the Earth on a track spanning a global frozen wasteland.

hanging a TV and a concrete hammer drill

2014.01.05, Toronto
We're still waiting for our TV to arrive, but we have the mounting bracket so I put that up.

comments, I get comments

2014.01.05, Toronto
I've been getting some good comments on my website recently, including my tale of being crapped on by birds and my guide to .

bare footprints in snow

2014.01.04, Toronto
bare footprints in snow Collections containing this photo.

a woman lying in the street, not able to breath

2014.01.04, Toronto
About a month ago, I was arriving at my street at the end of my nightly cycle commute when I noticed a woman lying in the street.

a fight on the subway

2014.01.03, Toronto
I may have stopped a fist-fight on the subway, tonight.

snowfall on new year's day

2014.01.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  moods  

a new year in Toronto

2014.01.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  twilight &n

Harper is a facsist?

2014.01.01, Toronto
They couldn't spell fascist, obviously, but I think the wor

after an ice storm

2014.01.01, Toronto
after an ice storm Collections containing this photo.archi

forest after an ice storm and a thaw

2014.01.01, Toronto
forest after an ice storm and a thaw Collections containin

the last of their kind

2014.01.01, Toronto
the last of their kind Collections containing this photo.

some resolutions

2014.01.01, Toronto
I've decided to renew my decade-lost habit of making new year's resolutions.

2013

a concussion and a new phone

2013.12.30, Toronto
I recently switched to a new mobile provider and at the time turned down the phone they wanted to send me; now I've changed my mind.

home again

2013.12.29, Toronto
We're home, and it's turned bitterly cold.

no snow at all

2013.12.27, St. Catharines
We all brought our parkas and boots and even a sled, but the snow's all melted and it's even moderately sunny - I'm not complaining, but I am overdressed.

Doctor Who has become a mess

2013.12.26, St. Catharines
Doctor Who has become a shadow of the unique and shining thing that it once was.

the work year grinds to a halt on a good note

2013.12.24, Toronto
On this, the last business day of the year, we got some very good news on a project I've been working on since February: a whopping refund from the Canadian Revenue Agency.

how an ice storm kills trees

2013.12.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  snow and ic

ice-coated branches

2013.12.22, Toronto
ice-coated branches Collections containing this photo.snow

second secret bonus level of fatherhood

2013.12.21, Toronto
Today I made The Boy laugh milk through his nose.

owing everything to your forebears

2013.12.17, Toronto
At a staff Christmas party today, the conversation turned to philosophical questions around having kids.

Rod Ramirez, RIP

2013.12.16, Toronto
Good bye, old friend.

movie review - The Incredible Hulk

2013.12.15, Toronto
So, they've rebooted "The Hulk" movies.

movie review - Planes

2013.12.14, Toronto
This is a Pixar movie, but you can scarcely recognize the genius behind "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo" in this abysmal straight-to-DVD release that incredibly somehow makes "Cars" look good.

dissertation's first part complete

2013.12.13, Toronto
I've submitted the proposal and research methodologies portion of my dissertation.

rationalizing our mobile phone services

2013.12.12, Toronto
The bill for our mobile phone services somehow piled up to $85 this month.

contrasty aquarium

2013.12.10, Toronto
It turned out that the 'driftwood' at left had been painted

the secret bonus level of fatherhood

2013.12.03, Toronto
When The Girl was new born and colicky, I spent hours and hours singing every song I could think of to try to pacify her.

political activism

2013.12.02, Toronto
This weekend Ken and I had fun stuffing information pamphlets into mailboxes on a short one-way street in our neighbourhood this weekend.

who knew that imperial measurements could be so fun

2013.12.01, Toronto
Remember, it's three steps to a pace.

purple sky at night

2013.11.30, Toronto
The sunsets here are as good as when I lived in Vancouver.

the ribs of the sky

2013.11.30, Toronto
the ribs of the sky Collections containing this photo.skie

on selecting a professional designation

2013.11.28, Toronto
Here's some interesting guidance I found, from a financial regulator on the concept of professional designations.

movie review - Up

2013.11.27, Toronto
This is an excellent animated kids' movie about an elderly man who is being pressured to give up his home by callous real-estate agents.

an arrest on my street

2013.11.27, Toronto
As I was taking Ken to school this morning I noticed two police officers leading a man in handcuffs to their patrol car.

back on my bike

2013.11.27, Toronto
I was sick on Monday of last week, and wound up missing a whole week of cycling as I rode the TTC.

getting together with friends

2013.11.24, Toronto
We had the happy change of pace today in that we were invited to the home of some friends for dinner.

way to go, Toronto

2013.11.22, Toronto
Which of the following are now gone or going: a) Honest Ed's

an "oldie"

2013.11.17, Toronto
I was in a store this week when an old song came on.

a telco does something kind

2013.11.15, Toronto
Today a telephone/communications company did something decent for perhaps the first time in history.

dancing and singing

2013.11.14, Toronto
The Girl has taken to humming and sub-vocalizing some of the children's songs that she plays from a small toy.

the new MEC logo

2013.11.14, Toronto
a flabby logo for a flabby clientele I work right next to T

my new bike seat

2013.11.13, Toronto
I'm now cycling with a seat without a 'horn'.

what ISACA needs

2013.11.12, Toronto
I belong to an IT governance, audit, and security organization called ISACA.

bouncing on Dundas

2013.11.11, Toronto
Well, it's Monday, following the classic definition; "A sunny day that follows two days of cloud and rain.

more identity theft factors

2013.11.09, Toronto
I didn't leave the house today, choosing instead to divide my time between my dissertation and the data breach / identity theft nonsense.

a new name

2013.11.08, Toronto
Due to my identity records being stolen from the website of a clueless Trust Company, I sought the advice of a lawyer.

saving the day, one latte at a time

2013.11.07, Toronto
When we sat down for breakfast, we realized that we'd both failed to make coffee.

advice on my dissertation

2013.11.06, Toronto
I've heard back from my supervisor.

new seat for sore back

2013.11.05, Toronto
I spoke with a fellow this morning on my ride to work about the unusual seat on his bike.

-5° this morning

2013.11.04, Toronto
What a day to leave the house without a toque or a scarf.

data breach at a Canadian trust company

2013.11.03, Toronto
I was seriously hoping to get some studying done this weekend.

happy November, drivers

2013.11.01, Toronto
Today someone with a mobile device in his lap decided he'd had enough of waiting at the red light and made an abrupt left turn through the intersection, despite the fact that three lanes of one-way traffic were closing in from the right.

scanning in color

2013.10.30, Toronto
I've finally figured something out with my scanner and the software I'm using.

me and "Cycle Toronto"

2013.10.29, Toronto
I've signed up with an organization called "Cycle Toronto", formerly known as the Toronto Cyclist's Union.

the colors of autumn

2013.10.27, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  twilight &n

happy birthday, history

2013.10.26, Toronto
Happy 301st birthday, steam engine.

bad environmental news, good environmental news

2013.10.25, Toronto
First, the not so good news.

back is getting better

2013.10.24, Toronto
My back's on the mend for the first time in roughly fifteen months.

the day I came to work without pants

2013.10.23, Toronto
Today I had to face the fact that I might have a bit too much on my mind.

writing a dissertation proposal

2013.10.22, Toronto
I'm writing my first-ever dissertation proposal at the moment.

special kind of tired

2013.10.21, Toronto
I walked about 1.

jaws closing in

2013.10.20, Toronto
jaws closing in Collections containing this photo.color sh

fifteen years online

2013.10.18, Toronto
Fifteen years and eleven days ago, I registered my first personal Internet domain: etherlabs.

another year's audit in the bag

2013.10.17, Toronto
I'm getting to the point that the auditors spend only four hours on-site to do our SOC-2 audits.

new handlebars just fine

2013.10.15, Toronto
I can't be sure, but I believe that my new handlebars are already helping my back.

back from fishing

2013.10.14, Georgian Bay
Collections containing this photo.  a lifetime

low waters in the Autumn

2013.10.13, Georgian Bay
low waters in the Autumn Collections containing this photo

movie review - Transformers: Dark of The Moon

2013.10.11, Toronto
This is the second sequel to the splashy first from six years ago.

adopting north road handlebars

2013.10.11, Toronto
I'm in physiotherapy for lower back pain that's been plaguing me for over a year.

professionalizing IT security

2013.10.10, Toronto
Nearly a year ago, I came across a well-written piece on the state of the IT security field, and what's wrong with it.

another event, another speaker

2013.10.09, Toronto
This time it was a mutual fund industry event, and the speaker was the Ontario minister of finance.

so it's muscular

2013.10.08, Toronto
Today I learned from my physiotherapist that a long-standing discomfort I've been putting up with is not a side effect of a surgery I had six months ago, but of a lifetime of slothful lazing about in front of computers.

laid up with a migraine

2013.10.05, Toronto
I had the worts migraine of the year today.

a speaker at an industry event

2013.10.04, Toronto
Today I manned a booth at an industry event for Canadian investment brokerages.

seven year itch

2013.10.02, Toronto
Mari and I have been married for nearly seven years.

how long can a rebranding go

2013.10.01, Toronto
We put the finishing touches on a rebranding effort at work, today.

fist-fighting commuters

2013.09.30, Toronto
Recently on the way home from work work I saw two fights erupt on a short stretch of my route.

so the West is getting dumber

2013.09.27, Toronto
Apparently, the population of the west has seen a steady erosion of IQ test results since Victorian times (the late 19th century).

goodbye Monarch butterflies

2013.09.25, Toronto
On a recent trip with Opa, Ken was enthusiastic about seeing some Monarch butterfly caterpillars crawling on some milkweed plants.

movie review - Zero Dark Thirty

2013.09.24, Toronto
This is a fictionalized telling of the capture and execution of Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks.

pen-test successful

2013.09.24, Toronto
We had our annual penetration test last week.

times have changed (school hardening edition)

2013.09.24, Toronto
They've installed upgraded door locks at Ken's school along with buzzer systems and security cameras.

smartphone hell

2013.09.23, Toronto
This video says it all.

tough week (two days in the office edition)

2013.09.19, Toronto
Well I only worked in the office two days this week but it felt long enough.

enrolled

2013.09.17, Toronto
After nineteen years and change, I'm a university student again.

petroglyphs park

2013.09.16, Toronto
Today, Ken, his Opa, and I went to Petroglyphs Provincial Park.

and now, 12º again?

2013.09.14, Toronto
Two days.

first day of physiotherapy

2013.09.13, Toronto
I've started working with a physiotherapist due to the lingering pain in my back and pelvis.

volunteering for what

2013.09.12, Toronto
Because I have so little with which to occupy my time, I'm looking at volunteering for some of the professional associations I belong to.

movie review - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

2013.09.11, Toronto
This is the sequel to the original Transformers movie from 2007, which was entertaining.

and now, 30° plus again?

2013.09.11, Toronto
The weather has gone completely nuts.

$60 brake fix?

2013.09.10, Toronto
And that's enough of paying for bike repairs I should be able to do myself.

accepted to the master's program

2013.09.09, Toronto
I got into the graduate school program in the UK.

fixing the brakes

2013.09.09, Toronto
I didn't get around to fixing my brakes on the weekend, so I switched around the damaged brake arm from the front with one at the rear of the bike (leaving the pads backwards) and set off.

ken gets stung

2013.09.08, Toronto
It's the season for yellowjacket hornets, and even though we all know not to swat the damn things (this causes the hit insect to release fight pheromones, which attracts angry allies), I accidentally knocked one of the things while trying to wave it away.

opa's vengeance is complete

2013.09.07, Toronto
Opa and Oma presented the kids with some gifts last night.

dad's in town

2013.09.06, Toronto
My father and step-mother are in town.

brakes broke

2013.09.06, Toronto
I came out of the office tonight to discover that a component of the front brakes on my bike has broken.

michael werneburg, pmp, cia

2013.09.05, Toronto
Well I passed my CIA exam.

fifteen kids, one car

2013.09.04, Toronto
A car alarm sounded across the street this evening, something I haven't heard in the 21/2 years we've been here.

two days left, possibly one head cold

2013.09.03, Toronto
I feel like I've got a fever coming on.

fishing at sunset

2013.09.02, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  golden hour

two fishermen, five fish

2013.09.02,
Knowing that we were heading out mid-day, I woke Ken early and we headed out on the water by 06:30.

two fishermen, no fish

2013.09.01,
For some reason I got the old row-boat down to the water, put The Boy into it, and dragged him half-way across Sturgeon Bay, rowing into a steady headwind the whole way.

seven kids, six parents

2013.08.30, Toronto
We were outnumbered at a get-together this evening with Elias's family and Manami's family ('round here we identify families by the first name of the first born, for whatever reason

"don't get fatter!"

2013.08.29, Toronto
As I was heading out the door today, my five year old son warned me, "don't get fatter!

going back to school

2013.08.28, Toronto
The results on the daily practice tests I've been doing for the CIA final exam are getting steadily better.

soaking of the year

2013.08.27, Toronto
In each of the two years since I've been back, I've fallen from my bike once and been caught in torrential rain at least once.

chinpunkanpun

2013.08.26, Toronto
There's a word in Japanese, "chimpunkanpun"

pedialyte and tequila

2013.08.25, Toronto
It must be a Sunday afternoon when you're down to mixing tequila with expired children's electrolyte drink.

more blonde in the gene pool

2013.08.23, Toronto
My mum, our family's chief genealogist, has been contacted by someone through ancestry.

stuff getting cheaper (not everything)

2013.08.22, Toronto
In the midst of perpetually increasing costs of living, I've noticed that some things seem to be getting cheaper.

bird shit .. again

2013.08.21, Toronto
For the thirteenth wonderful time in my life, I've been shit on by a bird.

cycling in the morning

2013.08.20, Toronto
I left home before 07:00 this morning, cycling under a red dawn on streets I expected to find a good deal quieter than they in fact turned out to be.

a friend is moving to town

2013.08.19, Toronto
One of my few remaining friends in Japan has decided to leave .

silent communication

2013.08.18, Toronto
In the midst of our dinner, The Boy got up and went to use the toilet.

a BBQ in Lelieville

2013.08.18, Toronto
An old friend (and former boss) had us over for a BBQ today so that our wives and kids could meet.

a five year old's taste in music

2013.08.16, Toronto
So my son likes AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie".

studies .. work .. studies .. work

2013.08.15, Toronto
I've taken up the routine of leaving for the office at around 7 every morning and studying until office hours start.

keep calm shirts

2013.08.14, Toronto
It's funny how these "keep calm.

just call me Wmeburg

2013.08.13, Toronto
Ah, fer cryin' out loud.

movie review - We're the Millers

2013.08.12, Toronto
I enjoyed this movie more than I expected to.

cycling again

2013.08.11, Toronto
This weekend we got Ken out on his little green bike for the first time in quite a while.

movie review - Safe House

2013.08.09, Tokyo
This is a spy/action movie in which one character (played by Ryan Reynolds) is guarding a CIA "safe house" and the other (played by Denzel Washington) is one of the world's most wanted criminals.

meeting an entrepreneur

2013.08.09, Toronto
Today after work I met with a whip-smart fellow who's uncovered a business opportunity and is designing a technology solution.

rescheduled my exam

2013.08.08, Toronto
My practice quiz results still aren't where I need them to be.

goodbye, visitors

2013.08.07, Toronto
We've been spending time with a succession of visitors from overseas since the middle of June.

a day off .. to study

2013.08.06, Toronto
We've got friends in town and I took the day off so that Mari, the kids, and I could get together with them.

more plecostomus

2013.08.05, Toronto
The recent heat wave killed the dwarf plecostomus in my larger aquarium 2-3 weeks ago.

cheery new cherries

2013.08.04, Toronto
Ken and I went to the local pet store today and bought some tiny cherry barbs for the small aquarium.

again with the rain

2013.08.02, Toronto
Toronto I love you, but your weather is bringing me down.

riding with a stool sample

2013.08.01, Toronto
Emma still has some lingering effects from her illness, so I found myself riding through the city with a baby's stool sample to deliver.

fooled by the weather network

2013.07.31, Toronto
For the first time in months, I took the TTC to work today.

4 out of 5 ain't bad

2013.07.29, Toronto
I reckon I've got some four out of five of the skills outlined as "essential" in the line of work I'm moving into.

our girl's first words were a hummed tune

2013.07.28, Toronto
I think The Girl is back to normal.

CIA no. 3 is the hardest

2013.07.27, Toronto
I take back what I said about CIA #2 being difficult.

home from the hospital

2013.07.26, Toronto
And thus ends two and a half days that I'd sooner forget.

balancing work and kids

2013.07.25, Toronto
It's funny, I'm in the midst of studying things like accountability and efficiency, and dropped two and half days of work right in the midst of several projects & initiatives because one of my kids got sick.

orange sky at night

2013.07.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  color  

from 1983 to 1997

2013.07.22, Toronto
The Boy and I have been playing an emulated version of the ~1983 Commodore 64 release of the original "Mario Brothers", the platform game.

kites attacking passersby

2013.07.21, Toronto
kites attacking passersby Collections containing this phot

balmy beach, Toronto

2013.07.21, Toronto
balmy beach, Toronto Collections containing this photo.lif

menacing clouds on a summer night

2013.07.19, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  twilight &n

angry twilight following the storm

2013.07.19, Toronto
angry twilight following the storm Collections containing

after the rainstorm

2013.07.19, Toronto
after the rainstorm Collections containing this photo.skie

mammatus clouds over toronto

2013.07.19, Toronto
mammatus clouds over toronto Collections containing this p

and the weather has broken

2013.07.19, Toronto
For once I got really lucky with the weather.

36º water cooked my fish

2013.07.18, Toronto
I came home to the news tonight that my beloved zebra loach had died.

two more quizzes

2013.07.17, Toronto
Well, not sure what happened today, but I averaged only 63% on my two quizzes.

practice quizzes and nothing but

2013.07.16, Toronto
So I started my day with a practice quiz before work, and ended it with another after work: average score, 90%.

movie review - Avengers

2013.07.15, Tokyo
Everything about the Iron Man character in these marvel movies rubs me the wrong way.

CIA: the final countdown

2013.07.15, Toronto
This time next month, I will have written and passed the final of my exams for the CIA designation.

now it's my turn .. been promoted

2013.07.15, Toronto
I'm the world's newest "Director, Business Risk & Opportunity".

waves and bird in Toronto

2013.07.14, Toronto
The stanchions in the foreground have been there for years

movie review - Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

2013.07.14, Toronto
This is a movie that attempts to tell the tale of the Cabin in the Woods from the point of view of the supposed inbred hillbillies that terrorize the urban teenagers.

LED for the aquarium

2013.07.14, Toronto
The light over my larger aquarium is now so feeble that it's allowing brown algae to grow.

another cousin is wed

2013.07.13, Toronto
I'm quite a bit older than most of my seven cousins, who range in age from about 20 to 28.

on the debilitating smart phones

2013.07.12, Toronto
I think the smart phone is crippling us.

so long, managerial accounting

2013.07.11, Toronto
It's taken a few weeks, but I think I've rounded the corner on the managerial accounting portion of my CIA studies.

migraine with aura

2013.07.10, Toronto
One of my colleagues had laser eye surgery recently.

record rainfall

2013.07.09, Toronto
So we had a bit of a rainfall last night.

wiped out by a migraine

2013.07.08, Toronto
Had an awful day today.

bass dinner

2013.07.07, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  fishing

the proud boy with his first catch

2013.07.07, Georgian Bay
the proud boy with his first catch Collections containing

The Boy, fishing and grinning

2013.07.07, Georgian Bay
The Boy, fishing and grinning Collections containing this

how to avoid being C-3PO

2013.07.07, Toronto
I recently came across a bullet list of the three principle jobs of the risk manager.

water lilies

2013.07.06, Georgian Bay
Collections containing this photo.  waterways

sunrise over low waters

2013.07.06, Georgian Bay
sunrise over low waters Collections containing this photo.

canoe on river under kite nest

2013.07.06, Georgian Bay
canoe on river under kite nest Collections containing this

corn hanging to dry in a longhouse

2013.07.05, Georgian Bay
corn hanging to dry in a longhouse Collections containing

crumbling barn, huronia

2013.07.05, Georgian Bay
crumbling barn, huronia Collections containing this photo.

audit in the summertime

2013.07.04, Toronto
It's funny undergoing a rigorous external audit just as silly season kicks in.

movie review - Watchmen

2013.07.03, Toronto
I won't belabor this: this 2009 film is the most disappointing comic book adaptation I can recall.

my brother's been promoted, too

2013.07.03, Toronto
Congratulations, baby brother.

a friend gets promoted

2013.07.02, Toronto
A lawyer friend has taken a gig that he summed up by saying, "The exposure includes things like potentially testifying to congress.

heya, Canada, happy 145th!

2013.07.01, Toronto
We spent a good deal of the day wandering along the lakeshore park.

pride day with drama and ego

2013.06.30, Toronto
pride day with drama and ego Collections containing this p

hadn't realized that Sabertooth was gay!

2013.06.30, Toronto
hadn't realized that Sabertooth was gay! Collections conta

pride day with love

2013.06.30, Toronto
pride day with love Collections containing this photo.toro

toronto pflag, 2013

2013.06.30, Toronto
toronto pflag, 2013 Collections containing this photo.toro

pride day with fans

2013.06.30, Toronto
pride day with fans Collections containing this photo.toro

movie review - How to Train Your Dragon

2013.06.30, Tokyo
This is an animated movie set in a mythical Earth in which Norsemen of the viking era are at war with dragons.

2013 Toronto pride parade

2013.06.30, Toronto
Today we went to the pride parade on Yonge Street.

reading in the park

2013.06.28, Toronto
Recently, I've had the good fortune to be able to do my CIA reading in the park, next to the lake.

cyclist daddy

2013.06.27, Toronto
Nothing warms my heart like seeing one of my kids using the

when I buy bicycle chain oil, it shall not rain

2013.06.27, Toronto
My bike's been left in the rain so much when locked up at work that the smaller steel nuts and bolts are all orange with rust.

screaming on the street

2013.06.26, Toronto
I had an unexpected experience today that saw me screaming at strangers on the street.

lost a good raincoat today

2013.06.25, Toronto
Through a tale too dull and stupid to tell, I managed to lose a good rain poncho today.

my younger brother is 40 years old

2013.06.24, Toronto
Well, time flies (who knew?

scarborough bluffs, toronto

2013.06.23, Toronto
scarborough bluffs, toronto Collections containing this ph

"bird of prey"

2013.06.23, Toronto
One of the odder first words that our fourteen-month-old daughter uttered, today, was "bird of prey".

northern watersnake

2013.06.22, Toronto
We took in some sights around the Niagara region today.

the falls!

2013.06.21, st. catharines
We took Mari's parents to see the Falls today.

dining without children

2013.06.20, Toronto
On several occasions since The Boy's birth, we've eaten nice meals (cough cough, "without kids") because The Boy was fairly good with sleeping through the late afternoon-evening if we got lucky.

why did it have to be a summer cold

2013.06.19, Toronto
Sinuses throbbing, nagging cough, and sore throat.

the girl with the TARDIS tattoo

2013.06.18, Toronto
I saw a woman at the office today with a tattoo of the TARDIS from Doctor Who.

managerial accounting, here I come

2013.06.17, Toronto
This CIA study is taking me to some interesting places as a more organized version of the here-and-there studies of business concepts that I've been engaged in over the past few years.

rainy father's day

2013.06.16, Toronto
We're heading to Oakville for the traditional family BBQ there for Father's Day.

depressingly good writing

2013.06.14, Toronto
The other day, we saw a display of photography at the museum that was so good I found it depressing: I'm just not progressing in that field at all.

learning to walk

2013.06.13, Toronto
The Girl's grandparents have only been here a day, but The Girl's already benefited.

a PMI event, once a season whether I need it or not

2013.06.13, Toronto
Much to my amazement, I noticed that the PMI event I attended tonight was the first I'd been to in three months.

cramped quarters, lots of love

2013.06.12, Toronto
Mari's parents are in town.

bike fixed – off to meet "Kazu/Jiji"

2013.06.11, Toronto
So it turns out that something like 40cm of that cord that got caught in my rear gear assembly last night in the rain storm was still inside the mechanism, trapped between the gears and the wheel.

free car rental insurance

2013.06.11, Toronto
So it turns out that the new cash-back credit card gives us the car rental insurance waiver benefit without an annual fee.

that was a lot of rain

2013.06.11, Toronto
The weather forecast (when theweathernetwork.

filed a police complaint

2013.06.10, Toronto
Someone heading west-bound on Dundas this morning decided to use the cycle lane to try to overtake other drivers this morning.

Oracle SQL query not like %

2013.06.10, Toronto
I learned something from one of our more clever developers today.

depressingly good photography

2013.06.09, Toronto
Today we went to the ROM to see a photography exhibit.

movie review - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2013.06.08, Toronto
This is a spy - or perhaps, counter-spy - story about a retiree who is called back to active duty to unmask a mole in Britain's intelligence division.

apple gets it right

2013.06.07, Toronto
The other day I wrote about my dissatisfaction with Apple's support for our PC's and other equipment.

funny little thing called linux mint

2013.06.06, Toronto
We have a laptop that's perfect for our five year old to watch DVD's and downloaded stuff.

apple support fails to impress, as usual

2013.06.05, Toronto
We have a Macbook Air.

urgency on the street

2013.06.04, Toronto
urgency on the street Collections containing this photo.a

dodged a $5 bullet

2013.06.04, Toronto
Our son destroyed a brand new library book by tossing it into his backpack with a thermos bottle with the lid still unsealed.

thirty traffic signals, twenty of them red

2013.06.03, Toronto
This morning I had one of those days.

cycling 20k to a child's party

2013.06.02, Toronto
Ken and I put in another 20km round trip today, getting back up to Don Mills.

megafauna, a meteorite, and a doomed civilization

2013.05.31, Toronto
So it turns out that it's possible that a meteorite impact occurred here in North America 13,000 years ago, when the place was still largely covered in ice.

on cash-back credit cards

2013.05.30, Toronto
I was given the advice that a cash-back credit card can save hundreds of dollars on routine purchases.

back to jewelry photography

2013.05.29, Toronto
Once upon a time, I published a guide to photographing jewelry.

the fate of smart kids

2013.05.28, Toronto
Ken plays with a boy down the street who is shunned by all of the other kids because he reads at a high level (at this point, he's a year and a half ahead).

it's a small (webinar) world

2013.05.28, Toronto
Today I attended a webinar, as I frequently do.

Wordpress and nginx

2013.05.27, Toronto
So it turns out that the good folks that produce WordPress have done some naughty hard-coding of $_SERVER variables in their product.

pylons around .. fungus

2013.05.26, Toronto
I'm not really sure what's going on here. Collections con

another fine day at the science center (with our Weehoo)

2013.05.26, Toronto
It was a beautiful day.

movie review - The Place Beyond the Pines

2013.05.23, Toronto
This is a movie about two men with young sons in the same town.

movie review - Prometheus

2013.05.23, Toronto
I really wanted this prequel to the first Alien movie to recapture the dread, world-building, character-driven narrative, and over-all vibe of that original movie.

ball chair no more

2013.05.23, Toronto
Today my ball chair burst.

CIA #3 is going to be difficult

2013.05.22, Toronto
I think I said this about the previous two CIA exams as well, but this third one is going to be a killer.

back in the saddle

2013.05.21, Toronto
After two weeks of TTC due to recovering from a procedure, I am very, very happy to be back on the bike.

if I were 23 again

2013.05.20, Toronto
On an Internet forum, someone asked what advice I'd give my 23-year-old self if I could.

turkey vulture in the Beach(es)

2013.05.20, Toronto
I saw a turkey vulture drifting above the Beaches today.

weehoo and eastern kingbird

2013.05.19, Toronto
Ken and I took to the cycle paths today, heading to Leslie Spit, then up the Don Valley as far as Riverdale Park, then across to home.

thirteen knuckles

2013.05.18, Toronto
So it seems that "13" tattoos are a thing now.

and yet I did nothing

2013.05.17, Toronto
On a stretch of Queen Street East I saw some unhappy things this morning.

soft palette of sunset

2013.05.15, Toronto
soft palette of sunset Collections containing this photo.s

rock, robot rock, bwamamama

2013.05.12, Toronto
Ken can make a reasonable facsimile of the synthesizer sound from this Daft Punk song.

snow, sleet, hail, and "rain, i think"

2013.05.12, Toronto
Today it snowed.

Permian redux

2013.05.12, Toronto
Ken and I watched an interesting video on the great extinction event that brought the Permian (and the entire paleozoic, life's first run on Earth) to an end.

just reading about .. monster trucks

2013.05.03, Toronto
Ken brought home a book from the school library that was about monster trucks.

today, I ate outdoors

2013.05.02, Toronto
Spring comes so slowly to Canadian cities!

the Lockwood secret

2013.04.30, Toronto
Over the past two years, I've noticed west-bound morning commuter cyclists on Queen Street deke off of Queen at Lockwood Road, which is only a block long.

accounting is more interesting than I would have guessed

2013.04.29, Toronto
In preparation for the final exam in my quest for the CIA designation, I'm reading a book on Accounting.

the new bike trailer came through

2013.04.28, Toronto
Ken and I rode to the tip of Leslie Spit today.

the Boy can play (baseball)

2013.04.27, Toronto
I took Ken to the park with the new trailer bike.

three flat tires in no time

2013.04.26, Toronto
On the way home from a PMI event last night one of my bike tires ran flat.

the center of the Earth is aglow

2013.04.25, Toronto
Apparently the center of the Earth is a super-dense ball of solid iron at six thousand degrees.

my love – hate releationship with theweathernetwork.com

2013.04.25, Toronto
Every day I go to a website for lies.

website getting smaller

2013.04.24, Toronto
I've taken all of my family and personal photos offline, leaving only stuff that's more suitable for the general public on this site.

a tale of two countries (or WTF, Amazon!)

2013.04.23, Toronto
I've been looking for a replacement plug for a Thera-band ball chair that I've got.

leveraging a CIA into an MSc

2013.04.22, Toronto
I've found a couple of master degree programs that I can do online in a year using my expected CIA certification to get a waiver on the first two years work in the degree.

bikes, bikes, bikes

2013.04.21, Toronto
After the cold weather had long since settled in this past Autumn, my boss told me that his family had a spare bike (a loaner long forgotten by a now-defunct bike shop) and that I could have it.

crapped on by a bird again (that's twelve)

2013.04.20, Toronto
I pulled out the suede coat that my mother resurrected for me recently with some repairs, and lo and behold, there was a spatter of white birdshit that must have hit me when I was cycling this week, from the looks of things.

April 20th and it's snowing

2013.04.20, Toronto
One could be forgiven for thinking this was Calgary.

PMP for a year

2013.04.19, Toronto
Wow, it's been a year since I wrote the bizarre and tricksy PMP exam.

my bike has brakes again

2013.04.18, Toronto
I've paid someone to reinstall the rear brake on my bike.

movie review - The Amazing Spider-Man

2013.04.17, Tokyo
This movie features a 29-year-old actor playing a seventeen year old, in a retelling of Peter Parker's becoming Spider-Man.

muddy cycling again

2013.04.16, Toronto
Cycling in cold, wet weather tends to keep the fairweather cyclists out of the way, but you sure get muddy.

my friend Geoff - homeowner

2013.04.14, Kawartha Lakes
My friend of twenty years bought a home in the sticks. You

the fourth turning

2013.04.10, Toronto
It took me nearly a year, but I've finished this book at last.

CIA exam no. 2 complete

2013.04.09, Toronto
I passed another CIA exam.

movie review - X-Men: First Class

2013.04.08, Toronto
Only the incredibly self-serious X-Men franchise could start a superhero movie with a scene from a Nazi prison camp.

tall bike

2013.04.07, Toronto
I wonder how many clowns climbed down from this. Collecti

trees and shapes

2013.04.07, Toronto
trees and shapes Collections containing this photo.toronto

goodbye, old city; hello condos

2013.04.07, Toronto
goodbye, old city; hello condos Collections containing thi

young, lonely doctors

2013.04.05, Toronto
It's been one of those weeks.

it is not a race

2013.04.04, Toronto
Now I know I'm getting old.

saddle sore but riding

2013.04.03, Toronto
I have never been this saddle sore.

back on my bike

2013.04.01, Toronto
I rode my bike to work today.

Lego fails us again

2013.03.31, Toronto
After our visit to Legoland, Ken was very keen on Lego and spent quite a bit of time building models from the small kit we bought him at the site.

Toronto's legoland is not worth it

2013.03.29, Toronto
We went to Legoland today.

Toronto produces some stupid politicians

2013.03.27, Toronto
Today wasn't a day of big accomplishments for Toronto-area politicians.

I did a COBIT 5 panel today

2013.03.27, Toronto
Today I participated in a panel on implementing COBIT 5.

pigeon trapped in a window

2013.03.21, Toronto
You know how a fly will get in through an open window and be unable to get out again?

CIA exam no. 2 is a lotta work

2013.03.19, Toronto
I've postponed my second CIA exam by 2 1/2 weeks.

movie review - Source Code

2013.03.15, Toronto
This is a story about a grievously injured soldier who is put into service in a simulation in order to stop a bombing of a train.

old door hinge

2013.03.14, Toronto
old door hinge Collections containing this photo.walls & r

alarm bell, spattered with paint

2013.03.14, Toronto
alarm bell, spattered with paint Collections containing th

zombie monkey carcass

2013.03.14, Toronto
zombie monkey carcass Collections containing this photo.l

vines on a wall, out of season

2013.03.14, Toronto
vines on a wall, out of season Collections containing this

gloomy park in the autumn

2013.03.14, Toronto
gloomy park in the autumn Collections containing this p

my home town and the underground railway

2013.03.10, Toronto
It turns out that my home town was the northern end of the "underground railway", something that my mum has mentioned several times over the years.

movie review - This is Forty

2013.03.07, Toronto
This is a movie about a couple who are dealing with middle age.

a good day, today

2013.03.07, Toronto
Three good things that happened today: We verified that a

lordy, lordy, look who's forty-two

2013.03.04, Toronto
Say, I've turned forty-two.

more new photos

2013.03.03, Toronto
I've started a new chapter in the ongoing photo record of the lives of our kids.

new photos

2013.03.03, Toronto
I've finally got 'round to adding some new photos to the collection from our X'mas and New Year's Eve in Miyazaki.

my gods, I finished a book

2013.03.03, Toronto
Much to my amazement, I've finished reading a book only two months after knocking off two other volumes from my embarrasingly long backlog.

something must going well

2013.03.03, Toronto
I've now been at my current employer longer than I've worked anywhere else.

movie review - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2013.02.25, Toronto
I have no idea how this mess of a movie got released.

To COBIT 5 or not to COBIT 5, that is the question

2013.02.22, Toronto
I have some good news about the adoption of COBIT 5: it has many improvements to the actual implementation of its contents.

code of conduct

2013.02.20, Toronto
Today I wrote my employer's "code of conduct" in a nine-hour stretch.

so much going on...

2013.02.19, Toronto
I've been burning the candle at both ends again for quite a while.

russian meteorite

2013.02.18, Toronto
I just find this footage fascinating.

ball chairs

2013.02.15, Toronto
We used to have ball chairs in the apartment in Tokyo (in fact we had only two real chairs, and one was a highchair for our then-little firstborn.

Valentine's Day is for .. olives

2013.02.14, Toronto
Ken spotted a small candy jar full of the chocolate covered almonds I'd brought home for Mari.

on tesla cars

2013.02.14, Toronto
My boss drives a Tesla Model S electric (luxury) car, and gave me a lift last week.

never trust a photocopier

2013.02.12, Toronto
Here's an interesting video on why you should never trust the all-in-one photocopier/printer in your office.

birthdate all primes

2013.02.10, Toronto
I've just noticed that my birthday is made of primes, taken at the two-digit level.

100 pennies, no problem

2013.02.09, Toronto
Ken had an assignment this weekend that was timed to mark the demise of the Canadian penny: that was, to bring in 100 pennies for a charity.

30cm of snow and getting to work

2013.02.08, Toronto
This morning I had a follow-up dentist appointment at 08:30.

business books by the pound

2013.02.06, Toronto
Recently I've bought a couple of business books and found them to be much lighter & shorter fare than I'd expected.

choosing project management software

2013.02.04, Toronto
I am amazed at the variety of lousy project management software and software-as-a-service that exists today.

movie review - The Hangover, Part 2

2013.02.03, Toronto
This is a sequel to the original Hangover, which was set in Las Vegas.

larger photos on emuu.net

2013.02.02, Toronto
In recognition that the 'net has moved to a 960px standard width for websites, I've adopted that as the new long-side size of the images on emuu.

some photos of Miyazaki

2013.02.02, Toronto
I've finally got some photos scanned from our trip to Miyazaki at the end of 2012.

someone's been using my camera

2013.01.31, Toronto
someone's been using my camera Collections containing this

TTC trifecta

2013.01.30, Toronto
Three wins for the TTC in their efforts to make me late for

snowfall in the city

2013.01.28, Toronto
You'd think that Toronto would be ready in the event of snow, but this morning eveything was chaos.

so this is Saturday

2013.01.26, Toronto
We had a damn busy day, today.

movie review - Crazy, Stupid Love

2013.01.25, Toronto
This is a tale of a couple who divorce after the spark is lost in their marriage.

seeing what we're eating

2013.01.25, Toronto
Today I finally managed to replace the too-dim 25W bulbs on the ceiling fan we installed over our dining table.

take the colleagues bowling

2013.01.24, Toronto
Today we had our Christmas party.

surprise visit (two month old story)

2013.01.23, Toronto
At the beginning of December, I had some fun taking The Girl to visit her mum.

mystery symmetrical anglefish white bumps

2013.01.23, Toronto
For the second time in the past two years, our anglefish developed odd white bumps on the side of its head.

first practice quiz of CIA exam no 2

2013.01.21, Toronto
I've read through the first two chapters of the prep book and have taken the first chapter's test.

stories of career set-backs

2013.01.19, Toronto
At the conference today the keynote speaker was making a point about learning from failure.

"Career Day" at PMI-SOC

2013.01.19, Toronto
This is how I spent my day today.

another new web design

2013.01.18, Toronto
I read a good e-book called "Bootstrapping Design" that made me realize a thing or two about the design of this website and how I might approve it.

frost in my beard

2013.01.17, Toronto
It's now cold enough that cycling to work I get a frosty beard and moustache by the time I'm at the office.

Japanese airlines grounding their 787's

2013.01.16, Toronto
Great, just great: the planes we were flying on in Japan last month have just been grounded due to safety concerns.

armed and dangerous

2013.01.15, Toronto
Cry, the beloved country.

bike brake failed me for the last time

2013.01.15, Toronto
The other night as I was cycling home in cold but dry conditions I hit the one patch of my route that's always a little different.

take it from me, life's a grand ol' time

2013.01.14, Toronto
One of my coworkers came stomping into the office today just as I'd returned to my desk with a wry smile on my face—it looks like we'll be undergoing a new round of struggles with our building management in getting our kitchen sink onclogged yet again.

weather report

2013.01.10, Toronto
On Sunday conditions were perfect for snowmen, we made a bunch of big ones, rolling up the ever-so-slightly wet snow so easily that it left bare patches of green grass.

Oh, Nikola Tesla, will you ever win

2013.01.10, Toronto
Once upon a time, in a job interview, I was asked to describe my hero, and why he was my hero.

website content management systems

2013.01.09, Toronto
So it's decided: out of ten content management systems that I've looked at, WordPress turned out to be the one that best met our needs.

jet lag with kids

2013.01.08, Toronto
Ugh, ten hours of jet lag with two small children.

the snowmen

2013.01.06, Toronto
Wow, just like that* we're back in Toronto.

I drank something that had dead insects in it

2013.01.04, Miyazaki
I drank something that had dead insects in it Collections

frozen cabbage field

2013.01.04, Miyazaki
frozen cabbage field Collections containing this photo.gre

farewell, "calamity year"

2013.01.04, Nichinan, Kyushu
Yesterday we went to a sea-side shrine to observe the new year with prayer and the throwing of small clay balls.

I drank what

2013.01.04, Nichinan, Kyushu
Today we ate at a local restaurant for lunch, a small treat from Mari's mum in honour of our departure.

we almost ate what

2013.01.03, Nichinan, Kyushu
So it turns out that when we were in Takachiho last week, we might well have been served "Japanese giant hornet" (as food that is, not as a means of assassination).

climbed a hill

2013.01.02, Nichinan, Kyushu
The family took a trip out to a place in the sticks that had outdoor tennis courts, to let the boys (aged 4-13) run off some energy.

I wonder where film cameras might have been by now

2013.01.02, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Given all of the technology that's available now, I wonder where film SLR cameras might have gone if there were still a market.

a new favourite place in the neighbourhood

2013.01.02, Nichinan, Miyazaki
There was a deep frost last night, which kept the sleeping room damn cold last night.

movie review - Men in Black

2013.01.01, Toronto
This is a '90s movie about a New York police officer who has a strange encounter with a humanoid with non-human features in a lengthy foot chase after a crime.

rural kyushu seen from a hill-top

2013.01.01, Miyazaki
rural kyushu seen from a hill-top Collections containing t

new year's political message

2013.01.01, Nichinan, Kyushu
There is a grass-roots movement building among Canada's first nations people that is purposefully excluding the aboriginal communities' own political leadership as a matter of strategy in order to focus on achieving results, and to take matters into their own hands.

sunrise over the new year

2013.01.01, Nichinan, Kyushu
In the pre-dawn gloom this morning, we all piled into the cars to travel to the coast to observe the first sun rise of the new year.

Japanese radishes drying in the sun

2013.00.10, Miyazaki
Japanese radishes drying in the sun Collections containing

tall weeds in janaury

2013.00.10, Miyazaki
tall weeds in janaury Collections containing this photo.gr

2012

waterfall in a gorge, Miyazaki

2012.12.31, Miyazaki
Collections containing this photo.

approaching the waterfall

2012.12.32, Miyazaki
approaching the waterfall Collections containing this phot

surveying the countryside

2012.12.32, Miyazaki
surveying the countryside Collections containing this phot

rocks like elephants

2012.12.32, Miyazaki
rocks like elephants Collections containing this photo.exp

rice paddies, black and white

2012.12.32, Miyazaki
rice paddies, black and white Collections containing this

shiitake being grown

2012.12.31, Miyazaki
shiitake being grownCollections containing this photo.

canyon or crevasse?

2012.12.32, Miyazaki
canyon or crevasse? canyon or crevasse? Collections contain

subtropical playground

2012.12.32, Miyazaki
subtropical playground Collections containing this photo.e

three bridges above a gorge

2012.12.31, Miyazaki
This is a satisfying photo despite the uneven exposure from

15k on the year's final day

2012.12.31, Nichinan, Miyazaki
I took my old bike out for a spin this morning, covering about fifteen kilometers from Mari's parents place to the sea then back inland, through a tunnel that cuts through a big rock in the middle of the valley, and then traipsing my way back.

sea of low-lying cloud, Miyakonojo

2012.12.29, Miyazaki
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

see of clouds over rural Japan

2012.12.29, Miyazaki
see of clouds over rural JapanCollections containing this photo.

cloud-filled valley in kyushu

2012.12.29, Miyazaki
cloud-filled valley in kyushu Collections containing this

mountain and moon overlooking a cloud-filled lowland

2012.12.29, Miyazaki
mountain and moon overlooking a cloud-filled lowland Colle

hazy valley, Miyazaki

, Miyazaki
hazy valley, MiyazakiCollections containing this photo.

the sea of clouds

2012.12.29, Miyakonojo, Kyushu
This morning I was picked up by my father-in-law at 06:45 for a trip up a mountain-side to see an effect for which the Japanese use the word 'unkai', meaning a 'sea of clouds'.

undokai over rural miyazaki

2012.12.28, Miyazaki
undokai over rural miyazaki Collections containing this ph

a sea of cloud and a setting moon

2012.12.28, Miyazaki
a sea of cloud and a setting moon Collections containing t

a stormy, almost-bright evening in rural Kyushu

2012.12.28, Miyazaki
a stormy, almost-bright evening in rural Kyushu Collection

facebook account deactivated (again)

2012.12.28, Miyakonojo, Kyushu
I've decided to deactivate my account on Facebook again.

come here son, how does this smell to you...

2012.12.27, Miyakonojo, Kyushu
Children, so many uses.

teaching a photographer

2012.12.27, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki
I love explaining photography stuff to people just getting into the game.

sakura-jima is erupting

2012.12.26, Miyazaki, Kyushu
We returned to Miyakonojo today to the sight of Sakura-jima, Japan's most active volcano, erupting across the sky.

best-ever sushi

2012.12.26, Hyuga, Kyushu
I'm getting like my mother, telling people about a fantastic meal I once had while travelling.

town in a steep valley

2012.12.25, Miyazaki
Collections containing this photo.  exploring M

rail bridge, japan

2012.12.25, Miyazaki
rail bridge, japan Collections containing this photo.explo

intense agriculture, japan

2012.12.25, Miyazaki
intense agriculture, japan Collections containing this pho

rugged terrain, japan

2012.12.25, Miyazaki
rugged terrain, japan Collections containing this photo.ex

paddling in a gorge, miyazaki japan

2012.12.25, Miyazaki
paddling in a gorge, miyazaki japan Collections containing

movie review - Bee Movie

2012.12.25, Toronto
This is an animated movie set in a bee hive.

Takachiho gorge

2012.12.25, Takachiho, Kyushu
Today we travelled with Mari's parents to Takachiho gorge in the north-west corner of Kyushu.

what's this - warm nigiri?

2012.12.24, Miyakonojo, Kyushu
What's going on, Japan?

climbing a hill to nowhere

2012.12.23, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Every year-end that I've visited Mari's parents' place in Nichinan, I've climbed a steep paved road up the side of the western wall of the valley in which the property is situated.

is there a bike shop around here

2012.12.23, Nichinan, Kyushu
Today I went around the town looking for someone to help me get some air in my tires.

so .. that was the apocalypse

2012.12.21, Nichinan, Miyazaki
My flight went well, and then upon arrival in Japan things went somewhat less smoothly.

our Ken, catching a squid

2012.12.20, Miyazaki
our Ken, catching a squid Collections containing this phot

here comes the apocalypse!

2012.12.19, Toronto
Doesn't it just figure that the Mayan apocalypse lands on a Friday!

I'm still thinking about "War Horse"

2012.12.18, Toronto
This time last week I saw the play "War Horse".

coding today

2012.12.17, Toronto
It is amazing what you can do with the web development software libraries that are just sitting around today; in about two literal minutes, I added a "WYSIWYG" editor to the tools that I use to make this website.

Toronto's school board responds to the shooting

2012.12.17, Toronto
The shooting in Connecticut prompted the Toronto District School Board to put around an advisory to parents about advising children during this time.

fishing vessel moored at Nichinan

2012.12.16, Miyazaki
fishing vessel moored at Nichinan Collections containing t

photography hobby on hiatus

2012.12.16, Toronto
I'm looking at buy another used Minolta film camera body.

comments, I get comments

2012.12.16, Toronto
I'm getting more comments to my website these days; it's become a daily thing.

cycling in sleet

2012.12.15, Toronto
One of the hidden benefits of having lived on a foreign coast of the Pacific for five years: I'd forgotten how much freezing rain stings when you're cycling in it.

movie review - Cars

2012.12.14, Tokyo
This is a much-celebrated animated movie from much-celebrated Pixar.

shooting in the US

2012.12.14, Toronto
Another shooting in the US.

movie review - Skyfall

2012.12.13, Tokyo
I get the gritty tone of the recent Bond films.

cycling in the dark

2012.12.13, Toronto
First it was sweater-vests in the office, now this.

-2° and back on my bike

2012.12.12, Toronto
With the exam behind me I'm free of the need for study time on the TTC.

CIA exam 1 complete

2012.12.11, Toronto
I passed.

NHL fans unite!

2012.12.11, Toronto
Some NHL fans are taking matters into their own hands with a counter-strike of their own.

a final quiz

2012.12.10, Toronto
I've taken a final 40-question practice quiz ahead of tomorrow's CIA exam #1.

killed by a prank

2012.12.08, Toronto
When I was younger I was routinely enraged by the things in the news.

no quiet like the absence of children

2012.12.07, Toronto
The apartment was so quiet overnight that I could hear, from my bed, the sound of the aquarium lights coming on in the living room.

the family is on a plane

2012.12.06, Toronto
I put my family on a plane today, they'll be gone to Miyazaki for the next month.

alive again!

2012.12.05, Toronto
I've just been through a really bad three-day patch of fever, nausea, sore everything, and exhaustion.

a meal between Thanksgiving and X'mas

2012.12.02, Toronto
We'd failed to attend family functions both at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so today we split the difference and dropped in to see Scott & Sue, who hosted both of the missed events.

quiz results all over the place—not confident

2012.12.01, St. Catharines
It's been a busy twenty-four hours.

Toronto's politics are disturbingly amateur

2012.11.30, Toronto
So this week we lost our Mayor because it seems he doesn't know how to use of his position in an appropriate way.

don't look now, but I did some coding

2012.11.30, Toronto
Quite some time ago, I did a fair bit of coding.

an AGM and some stretching exercises

2012.11.29, Toronto
Today I voted at an annual general meeting.

progress with my CIA exam

2012.11.28, Toronto
I'm making some fair progress with my CIA exam studies, getting reasonably good marks even in my lowest-scoring sections.

never get off the goddamn streetcar

2012.11.28, Toronto
Today I knew I was in for trouble when I didn't see a streetcar pass the end of my street in the Beaches.

movie review - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2012.11.23, Toronto
Well, this year is turning out be really something.

so it's come to sweater-vests

2012.11.23, Toronto
There was no !

Apple, quit nagging me about iTunes...

2012.11.21, Toronto
I like many things about my Mac Mini, but iTunes sure ain't one of them.

tweaked my bike

2012.11.19, Toronto
I'm not riding my bike on a daily basis these days, having traded fun and liberty for reading on countless slow-lurching public transit vehicles.

santa claus parade

2012.11.18, Toronto
The Santa Claus parade wasn't really enough to hold The Boy's attention this year.

a perfect day for a parade

2012.11.18, Toronto
I took Kenny to see the Santa Claus parade today.

CIA is harder than PMP

2012.11.17, Toronto
I've taken two practice quizzes today for the first CIA exam, from the Gleim resources I bought.

happiness is a clean audit

2012.11.16, Toronto
I've been with my current employer for two years, as of today.

new lenses

2012.11.15, Toronto
I picked up some new lenses for my glasses today.

falling glass cripples city

2012.11.14, Toronto
Tonight I stepped out of the office building to discover that downtown was once again in complete gridlock.

the apartment next to ours

2012.11.13, Toronto
I saw the woman who lives in the apartment in the building next to ours.

Fuji XE-1 envy

2012.11.13, Toronto
I walked to the camera store where I normally develop my film, to drop off a roll.

four streetcars to get home

2012.11.12, Toronto
Due to a combination of short-turns, I used a total of four streetcars to get home tonight.

remembrance day

2012.11.12, Toronto
Ken's school had a remembrance day event today.

what, no linkedin profile

2012.11.12, Toronto
This morning I wanted to look up a fellow who'd made a presentation at an event last week.

learning to read new words

2012.11.11, Toronto
Ken's teacher sent him home with a reader on Friday.

burned out vacuum cleaner

2012.11.11, Toronto
Since Electrolux won't support our vacuum cleaner (we brought a Japanese-bought model to Canada), I've decided to take it apart and see what I could do.

"boys and girls like to help"

2012.11.10, Toronto
The Boy helped me with making pancakes this morning, as he usually does.

pretty in pink

2012.11.08, Toronto
pretty in pink Collections containing this photo.

thanks for the taxi ride, TTC

2012.11.08, Toronto
At the end of a long day, I missed my streetcar by about ten seconds.

500 months old

2012.11.06, Toronto
I've been back in Canada for two years as of next week, minus the time I ducked back to Japan for a month to get my family (our official arrival date was eventually January 4 or so of 2011).

end your television

2012.11.05, Toronto
We don't have a TV at home.

day of the dead

2012.11.04, Toronto
Today we went down to the Harbourfront center (ignoring the unseasonable cold) and enjoyed an introduction to the Mexican "day of the dead".

swimming in water

2012.11.03, Toronto
We've been taking the kids to "swimming lessons" recently.

lots of pedestrian injuries

2012.11.02, Toronto
My renewed streetcar ridership is paying off in that I'm getting plenty of time to study.

on the TTC again

2012.11.01, Toronto
I've relinquished the bicycle in favour of the TTC.

our little butterfly on her first hallowe'en

2012.10.31, Toronto
our little butterfly on her first hallowe'en Collections c

Hallowe'en

2012.10.31, Toronto
We went out briefly tonight for Hallowe'en, The Boy went as a pirate.

oh, Sandy

2012.10.31, Toronto
Now it's just getting tiring.

I feel safe in .. well, the Beaches

2012.10.29, Toronto
Say what you will about the Beaches, it's one of the safest areas in the city - according to this interactive map anyway.

giving me memories

2012.10.28, Toronto
Today I wearily told The Boy, "No, I don't remember the incident you're talking about.

two good presentations

2012.10.25, Toronto
Today I was slated to attend three presentations.

LMT Connection at the X

2012.10.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  events dear

a door to somewhere

2012.10.22, Niagara Peninsula
a door to somewhere Collections containing this photo.wall

ruins on the escarpment

2012.10.22, Niagara Peninsula
ruins on the escarpment Collections containing this photo.

abandoned lot - scarborough

2012.10.22, Toronto
abandoned lot - scarborough Collections containing this ph

autumn comes to toronto

2012.10.22, Toronto
autumn comes to toronto Collections containing this photo.

amazing sand sculpture, 2012 CNE

2012.10.22, Toronto
amazing sand sculpture, 2012 CNE Collections containing th

a beach dotted with castle towers

2012.10.22, Toronto
a beach dotted with catle towersCollections containing this photo.

a fine day to "study" in a cafe

2012.10.22, Toronto
I stopped on the way home to attempt to study for my CIA exam.

long walk in the neighbourhood

2012.10.21, Toronto
We went for a long walk in the neighbourhood today.

another new website design

2012.10.20, Toronto
In keeping with my usual habit, I've once again redesigned the website.

back on Dundas street

2012.10.19, Toronto
I've given up cycling on Queen street in the mornings.

audit dry run

2012.10.18, Toronto
The audit dry run is done for the year.

another year, another spill on my bike

2012.10.17, Toronto
As I did on September 2 last year, I had a spill today while crossing wet streetcar tracks.

Louis CK on being a dad

2012.10.16, Toronto
Once again, the man is right on the mark.

dear diamond taxi of Toronto

2012.10.16, Toronto
As I was cycling to work today I passed one of your taxis, which was stopped at the curb in the right lane on Queen Street east in the Leslieville area.

movie review - Moonrise Kingdom

2012.10.15, Torono
This is a story of two young people falling in love in a tiny island community.

movie review - Seven Psychopaths

2012.10.14, Toronto
This is an amusing story with a great cast about a struggling writer whose unstable and mercurial friend tries to draw him out.

where is the "certification" for CEO

2012.10.12, Toronto
There are so many certifications on the market today, but none are for a senior manager in a large IT department.

audit crunch time

2012.10.11, Toronto
The auditors are due for their dry run on Monday.

learning to snap!

2012.10.10, Toronto
Ken's learning to snap his fingers.

CIA exam no. 1 here I come

2012.10.10, Toronto
I've signed up for the first of my CIA exams.

a happy home for some neons

2012.10.09, Toronto
a happy home for some neons Collections containing this ph

slow, TTC kinda day

2012.10.09, Toronto
Having returned the car before work, I took the subway to the office.

so I said to the tattoo'd bodybuilder...

2012.10.09, Toronto
I dropped off a rental car and subsequently found myself on the subway this morning.

upgraded an aquarium

2012.10.08, Toronto
I've upgraded our little 10 gallon aquarium to a 16 gallon affair that sits in the same footprint but is 60% again taller.

Woodend

2012.10.07, St. Catharines
Today we went for a stroll in the small forest of Woodend conservation area, just outside St.

thanksgiving in Niagara

2012.10.06, St. Catharines
We picked up a car today and did some errands.

hey, remember the NHL

2012.10.05, Toronto
Looks like the NHL is having some sort of strike or lockout or who gives a crap.

CIA exam 1 prep

2012.10.04, Toronto
Well.

OK fine, maybe I'll dabble in an MBA

2012.10.03, Toronto
I've decided that once I'm done with this CIA program I'll knock of the certifications do the MBA program with Heriot-Watt in the UK (distance learning).

my sister-in-law, the artist (take II)

2012.10.02, Toronto
A week ago my sister-in-law sold a painting.

think your Monday morning sucked?

2012.10.01, Toronto
My Monday morning started with the sight of someone being arrested in the parking lot of a convenience store.

movie review - Hot Tob Time Machine

2012.09.29, Toronto
You can probably understand everything you need to know about this movie from the title.

$1600 in TTC fares not spent

2012.09.29, Toronto
My records indicate that I've saved $1600 in TTC fares since late March of 2011 by cycling to work on many days.

he wants to grow up

2012.09.28, Toronto
Kenny is so keen on growing up tall that he's sworn off chocolate milk, taken to eaten broccoli and brown rice, and knows that he shouldn't have too much cola.

one CIA exam down, three to go

2012.09.28, Toronto
I've had confirmation that I'm exempted from the fourth exam in the CIA certification process.

construction outpays technology

2012.09.28, Toronto
Well it's official, the construction industry out-pays the technology field.

my sister-in-law, the artist

2012.09.27, Toronto
My sister-in-law has sold another piece to a visitor to the gallery where she's currently showing.

nazi buddhist relic is a meteorite

2012.09.27, Toronto
I think this story is the reason that the Internet was created.

the new pleco

2012.09.26, Toronto
The new pleco I got for the small aquarium has vanished.

long nights, short days

2012.09.25, Toronto
I'm putting in some long hours at the office today.

incorporating in Canada

2012.09.24, Toronto
I found some amusing guidance on who can serve as a director for federally-incorporated corporations in Canada.

autumn means long johns

2012.09.24, Toronto
Hello Autumn, let's celebrate your return

that 70's boy

2012.09.23, Toronto
Today Ken and I were playing with Lego and he was humming the tune from Star Wars and I thought, "What have I done to this kid?

111.6cm and growing

2012.09.22, Toronto
The boy now towers over his classmates in his weekend Japanese school.

buying and renting a home in Toronto

2012.09.21, Toronto
I've found an article linking to a calculator for a buy-vs-rent comparison in Toronto.

trade show

2012.09.20, Toronto
Today, despite massive exhaustion, I manned a booth at an financial industry annual event.

rushed to the hospital by an EMS under threat

2012.09.19, Toronto
Last night my son had an attack of croup and needed some swift help from my inhaler and (more importantly) the city's EMS to survive.

day in a daze

2012.09.19, Toronto
Being in the emergency ward until 02:30 with a small child that's just had a brush with death leaves you a mess the next day.

movie review - Margin Call

2012.09.18, Toronto
This is a dramatic telling of the implosion of an investment bank during the (totally over) Great Financial Crisis.

more camera porn

2012.09.18, Toronto
My camera-buying days are over for the time being.

they say comfort is the enemy of greatness...

2012.09.17, Toronto
They say comfort is the enemy of greatness.

advice from my father

2012.09.16, Toronto
My father sent some advice on the constant issue of re-training.

on the beach

2012.09.16, Toronto
Today we went to the beach, and someone I wound up working on a sand-castle pretty much solo for about two hours.

a day of study

2012.09.15, Toronto
I've now officially signed up for the CIA course, the die is cast, I'm paid up.

audit season is exhausting

2012.09.14, Toronto
I don't think I've been awake past 21:30 on a single night this week.

keeping warm with a ceiling fan

2012.09.13, Toronto
I hadn't realized that a ceiling fan could be so good for your electricity bill.

movie review - Inside Job

2012.09.12, Toronto
This is a documentary about the great financial crisis, narrated by Matt Damon.

here comes Chika

2012.09.12, Toronto
In one of those weird juxtapositions, our friend Chika from Japan may be joining us, along with her husband, for Thanksgiving dinner in Niagara.

camera porn

2012.09.11, Toronto
Mmmmmm, new camera I can't possibly afford.

who me, MSc

2012.09.10, Toronto
I've stumbled into an interesting option to the MBA route I've been investigating: with my upcoming CIA designation I can do an MSc.

everyone's getting certified

2012.09.09, Toronto
Everywhere I look I see people "upgrading their skills".

a pair of wee neons in a young aquarium

2012.09.08, Toronto
a pair of wee neons in a young aquarium Collections contai

a new start for a tiny pleco

2012.09.08, Toronto
After the great die-off in my larger aquarium last weekend, I'm going to take a month before buying any new fish.

awoke from falling asleep

2012.09.07, Toronto
Woke at two this morning with a headache and went to lie on the sofa with a stomach full of pills.

my CIA induction begins

2012.09.06, Toronto
I've started studying for the CIA designation.

on governance

2012.09.05, Toronto
In the past, in dealing with internal audit, I often wondered at the perceived value-add of the function.

going to Tokyo

2012.09.05, Toronto
Tonight I met with a young fellow who's planning his first dose of overseas living; in Tokyo.

movie review - Despicable Me

2012.09.03, Toronto
This is an animated movie about a villain with minions, a lair, and a mad scientist.

aquarium holocaust and a new plan

2012.09.03, Toronto
I've just been through an aquarium holocaust.

movie review - The Book of Eli

2012.09.02, Toronto
This is a science-fiction story set in a near future dystopia that is looking more and more likely by the day.

To MBA or not to MBA...

2012.08.31, Toronto
Now I'm looking at online MBA and other (e.

photos from a wedding

2012.08.30, Toronto
I've finally managed to get a few pics together from the wedding of Kate and Ben some time ago.

ridiculous rain

2012.08.28, Toronto
It rained so hard last night it sounded like a bunch of people were dancing on the roof.

creeping aquarium ownership

2012.08.27, Toronto
I'm considering replacing our small second aquarium with a substantially larger one.

lost our son, briefly

2012.08.26, Toronto
The boy now rides his bike so well that it seems he thinks he doesn't need our company while away from the home.

oh my god, that new camera

2012.08.25, Toronto
Hey sexy mama, where you been all my life?

so long, MBA idea

2012.08.24, Toronto
Once again, I've looked at doing an MBA.

good at engineering not at relationships

2012.08.23, Toronto
The other day I asked a six year old friend of The Boy the following question: "Your Daddy is older than me.

movies about a crisis

2012.08.23, Toronto
I've now watched two particularly good movies on the financial crisis: "Margin Call" and "Inside Job".

everybody just calm down

2012.08.22, Toronto
Today I had the pleasure of sharing the road with a driver who basically had to have the horn going wherever he went.

taller fish tank

2012.08.21, Toronto
I'm looking at upgrading our little 40 liter aquarium to a 60 liter "tall" variety that would allow us to retain the lid and lamp and filter.

weird bike problem

2012.08.20, Toronto
The problem with my bike seat post constantly sliding down isn't getting any better.

and this is why I shaved

2012.08.18, Toronto
I shaved off my entire mustache and beard because I'd gone halfway and everyone around me told me to finish the job.

a beautiful night

2012.08.16, Toronto
We had a picnic in the back yard of some friends tonight, the weather was spot-on perfect.

LMT Connection

2012.08.15, Toronto
Though we'd seen "LMT Connection" play dozens (and dozens)

mans best friend

2012.08.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  the quick a

a tsunami over toronto

2012.08.15, Toronto
a tsunami over toronto Collections containing this photo.

running on the beach in his cycle garb

2012.08.15, Toronto
running on the beach in his cycle garb Collections contain

apostrophes in email addresses

2012.08.15, Toronto
It turns out that you can put an apostrophe in an email address; I learned this today while corresponding with a client.

movie review - Looper

2012.08.14, Toronto
This is a science-fiction flick in which an assassin kills people sent through a chute from the future.

bicycle thieves

2012.08.14, Toronto
Yesterday I went to the bike shop to have a small bolt repaired.

java certificate issuer database "security"

2012.08.13, Toronto
It turns out that in addition to the other shortcomings of the Java environment, there's essentially no security at all on the way it controls certificate authorities.

emperor tetras play rough

2012.08.12, Toronto
One of the new emperor tetras is now swimming around with a great chunk missing from her stomach.

some new tank mates for our aquarium

2012.08.11, Toronto
I went out with Kenny to buy the lightbulbs for the new ceiling fan we had installed above the dining table.

rrrr, not again!

2012.08.10, Toronto
When shopping today, it was just one stop after another.

...and rained (so I tinkered with a vacuum cleaner)

2012.08.10, Toronto
It rained hard for two hours this morning; if we weren't caught up to the yearly average by yesterday, we are today.

and then it rained

2012.08.09, Toronto
We've had something like 20% of the rain we expected in Ontario this summer; today morning we caught up with the average.

the garden hose

2012.08.08, St. Catharines
I spent a good part of the day chasing my son around the yard with a garden hose - a substantial part of the day indeed.

african lion safari

2012.08.07, St. Catharines
Today we had a fantastic time with the kids at an outdoor zoo that encourages you to drive through various game reserves.

laid up all day (again)

2012.08.06, St. Catharines
I had a migraine that kept me in bed until after five in the afternoon; for once, my mother had a migraine on the same day.

on vacation

2012.08.05, St. Catharines
We're on vacation; Kenny and I spent much of the afternoon chasing each other around Grandma's yard with a water hose.

farewell my german blue rams

2012.08.04, Toronto
My German blue rams have died, much to my dismay.

hot day to be moving

2012.08.04, Toronto
I just met our new downstairs neighbour; it's 33ºC and he's single-handedly moving his stuff into the apartment.

becoming a man again

2012.08.03, Toronto
Our son noticed that my beard is coming in again; he told me, "You're becoming a man again!

vacuum cleaner fun

2012.08.02, Toronto
The Electrolux vacuum cleaner we bought in Japan has stopped working; the local shop says repair is impossible.

delayed flights

2012.08.01, Toronto
We've had such bad weather that everyone heading West has had badly delayed flights.

oh my aching back

2012.07.31, Toronto
Between the new bike and new baby carriage, I'm dealing with a fair bit of back pain these days.

so I'm clean shaved

2012.07.30, Toronto
For the first time since perhaps 2004, I've shaved my beard off.

farewell to the family

2012.07.30, Toronto
After dinner, uncle Ken came for a visit to collect a forgotten pair of sunglasses.

the juicebag self portrait

2012.07.29, Toronto
the juicebag self portrait Collections containing this pho

LMT with friends and family

2012.07.29, Toronto
Today we went to see LMT perform at the Beaches Jazz Festival; it's been over 20 years since we started coming out for this band.

the whole family's around

2012.07.28, Toronto
Everyone's here, my brother, mother, and father.

crapped on by a bird, again

2012.07.28, Toronto
This makes the eleventh time I've been crapped on by a bird.

a wedding in Toronto

2012.07.27, Toronto
My cousin Kate got married today, on the tenth anniversary of their meeting in some high school related activity (in July?

survived a weird cycling error

2012.07.26, Toronto
I cycled to work today in the rain because I have to be home at 16:30 and cannot rely on transit to make that happen.

tracking the TTC

2012.07.25, Toronto
For some reason, the TTC tracks the location of all of its streetcars, but left it to someone else to publish the information in real time.

beautiful picnic

2012.07.24, Toronto
Another perfect summer day, another perfect picnic.

center island picnic - and how to catch seagulls

2012.07.22, Toronto
We met Jon, Manami, Kii-chan, and The Chako at the ferry terminal just before noon, and spent the day at center island.

my glasses fell in the fish tank

2012.07.21, Toronto
my glasses fell in the fish tank Collections containing th

aborted jazz

2012.07.21, Toronto
Today we attempted to take in some jazz at the Beaches Jazz Festival, but Kenny had other plans.

movie review - Madagascar

2012.07.19, Toronto
This is an animated kids movie about a collection of zoo animals that wind up being shipped off to the African island nation of Madagascar.

solving the BYOD riddle

2012.07.19, Toronto
This article presents a policy that allows employees to bring their own mobile devices to work, while at the same time avoiding the security and support issues raised.

jon and manami and little kii

2012.07.19, Toronto
My long-time friend Jon and his family are in town; naturally, I ran into them on the street on the way to work.

comedy of errors - father's day gift indeed

2012.07.18, Toronto
I bought something online that was supposed to be a Father's Day gift - it still hasn't been delivered, a month later.

not so sweet hitch-hiker

2012.07.17, Toronto
As I rounded the final corner on my ride in, today, a young fellow on a bike appeared next to me and said, "Thanks for the ride, bro.

what do they do

2012.07.16, Toronto
On top of the building next to where I work, there is a large patio used by the condo-tenants to lounge around all day.

visiting with old friends

2012.07.15, Toronto
Tonight we visited with some old friends from the first two times I lived in Toronto: Stephanie and Brian.

夏祭り in Toronto

2012.07.14, Toronto
Today we attended a "夏祭

new fish

2012.07.14, Toronto
Today I took Ken out on an expedition to Parliament and Carlton to a pet store for some new fish.

happiness is a new bike

2012.07.12, Toronto
What a difference it makes to ride a new bike; good-bye stiffness in the neck, hello new sore spots in the legs.

new article on bring-your-own-device at work

2012.07.11, Toronto
I've completed the article on the challenge of bringing mobile devices to work that I've been asked to write.

cupcakes and quizzes

2012.07.11, Toronto
I wanted to do some training today, so I used some quizzes and cupcakes.

new photos

2012.07.10, Toronto
I've added a raft of new photos to the site.

two offers, today

2012.07.10, Toronto
Today I was offered two opportunities: to write for an ISACA blog; and to teach in Tunisia.

finally bought a bike

2012.07.09, Toronto
I bought a bike today for about half the price of bringing my "old" bike from Japan.

the fish kill

2012.07.07, Toronto
Just the other day, I was thinking to myself - wow, it may have been six months or more since the last fish death in our aquaria.

hot as the hinges of southern Ontario

2012.07.06, Toronto
We hit a record temperature of 36°C today, and it was humid.

gods

2012.07.05, Toronto
Kenny constantly asks me to draw things for him.

narcissist test

2012.07.05, Toronto
I took a test today to see if I'm a narcissist; turns out I'm devoid of all ego, an empty ghost of a man.

hearing from an old friend

2012.07.05, Toronto
Once upon a time, I wrote something on this site about my early childhood; today I heard from a friend who found his name there.

an old SRT-101 handed down (again)

2012.07.04, Toronto
A Minolta SRT-101 camera that my mother bought for my father in the early 70's was handed down to me in the 90's and is now my son's.

rainy picnic

2012.07.03, Toronto
We had a picnic with Chinese and Korean food in the back yard of some friends, tonight - hiding from darkening rainclouds we did okay.

weight-bearing powerline

2012.07.02, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

walking in a city plagued by condo projects

2012.07.02, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

old road warrior

2012.07.02, Toronto
The TTC has a rolling stock of street cars that are as old

reflections of the street, downtown toronto

2012.07.02, Toronto
reflections of the street, downtown toronto Collections co

clever cat graffiti, toronto

2012.07.02, Toronto
clever cat graffiti, toronto Collections containing this p

the boy's bike is a hit

2012.07.02, Toronto
This weekend I started teaching Kenny how to ride his first pedal-bike; by this evening he was riding unassisted.

an apartment on Craigslist - not so fast

2012.07.02, Toronto
It seems that Craigslist isn't just hookers and bogus sports tickets: scammer rings are now faking apartment ads.

fireworks of every kind

2012.07.01, Toronto
We went to see the fireworks at the beaches tonight.

"nothing is enough"

2012.07.01, Toronto
I saw a woman on Queen street with a shirt that read "nothing is enough".

cranky comments on my website

2012.06.29, Toronto
For some reason, I enjoy the odd cranky comment I get on my website - it lets me know that someone's reading.

spelling

2012.06.28, Toronto
Kenny's abilities with words and numbers are really taking off.

buh-bye Captain Jack's

2012.06.28, Toronto
I never knew anyone to eat at Captain Jack's floating restaurant in Toronto and come away with a happy tale.

working together again

2012.06.27, Toronto
Today I had the odd experience of holding a business meeting with someone I worked with fifteen to seventeen years ago.

cycling with an old chair

2012.06.26, Toronto
Today I cycled several blocks with a 40-year-old chair on the back of my bike.

the green bike is ready

2012.06.26, Toronto
I've finished repainting the bike for Kenny and have re-assembled the thing - it looks pretty damn good I believe.

never enough green paint when you need it

2012.06.25, Toronto
I've nearly painted Kenny's bike, but have hit a snag - the spray can is empty!

the half-green bike

2012.06.24, Toronto
Kenny's new bike is coming along nicely: the first coat of final paint is now half done, and I've replaced the white tires with black ones.

kenny's bike is primed

2012.06.23, Toronto
I finally finished stripping the paint off of the bike I'm rebuilding for Kenny, and have started painting the primer.

Motörhead

2012.06.21, Toronto
I was playing some Motörhead and Kenny said, "i like this music!

PMP reunion lite

2012.06.21, Toronto
For an informal reunion of our sixty plus PMP exam prep class, all of four people turned out - not much has changed in Toronto I guess.

finally got my bike back

2012.06.20, Toronto
After $82 and five days, I'm finally on my bike again.

dogfight at a family barbecue

2012.06.17, Toronto
We had a Father's Day barbecue today, and sadly a dog fight broke out.

bike wearing out

2012.06.15, Toronto
My faithful old bike is wearing out, after only 15 years.

my new Minolta lens

2012.06.13, Toronto
Today I took the time to walk the alleys near my office with my faithful X-700 and my "new" 35mm lens - it's reinvigorating to create.

the paper cranes auxiliary force

2012.06.12, Toronto
Today, recognizing that my wife and I have plenty of time on our hands, I volunteered our help in making paper cranes for a wedding.

so this is the economy

2012.06.11, Toronto
Even if I didn't have a colicky newborn keeping the two of us up half the night the commotion in Europe would be keeping me up.

drums and sunshine

2012.06.10, Toronto
We went to a drumming festival in Woodbine park today; 'twas brillig.

new lens

2012.06.09, Toronto
Despite unhappy past experiences, I bought a used 35mm lens for my old Minolta gear on ebay - it's arrived and it's a winner.

"i have no friends"

2012.06.08, Toronto
The Boy was looking out the window, forlorn, as his sister cried endlessly behind him.

I wanna look like mungo jerry

2012.06.08, Toronto
And here I didn't think that "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry couldn't get any better - and then I saw the video.

more passwords in jeopardy

2012.06.08, Toronto
On Wednesday, someone announced that they'd stolen millions of passwords from LinkedIn; today I had warnings from two more websites.

letting go

2012.06.07, Toronto
Here's the blurb I found on whether investing time in something makes sense.

one more happy birthday...

2012.06.05, Toronto
Today Kenny was forecasting some activities for next year, and said, "one more happy birthday, and i'll be five!

no, 28 is 28

2012.06.05, Toronto
We didn't get the apartment we wanted, so my commute will stay what it is.

28 becomes 16

2012.06.04, Toronto
It took me 28 minutes to cycle to work today, the first time I've timed it in over a year.

pulled pork - it must be Summertime

2012.06.03, Toronto
Well it was only about 20ºC, certainly not summer; but we had summertime food - pulled pork, hot dogs, and beef-on-a-bun.

movie review - Red

2012.06.02, Vancouver
This is a movie about a retired CIA spy who is classified "RED": Retired, Extremely Dangerous.

kamil is in town

2012.06.01, Toronto
Dr Zaniewski, a friend from half a lifetime ago, made it to our place despite my instructions.

no rain last night

2012.05.31, Toronto
We had a forecast for rain last night, but it simply didn't materialize - again.

everyone's busy, all the time

2012.05.28, Toronto
People are so busy these days that making plans is becoming a matter of "What about the third weekend in June?

my good name

2012.05.27, Toronto
Wow, someone's asked me to be a reference in applying for a new venture affecting their livelihood.

professional development

2012.05.26, Toronto
Today I went to a "PMP" related "professional development day" - at $280 I think it might just have been worth the money.

comment-spam

2012.05.25, Toronto
I get a steady trickle of comments on this site; but for every real comment there are two anonymous 'bot spam dumps.

today's spelling words

2012.05.24, Toronto
Today's spelling words are "BANANA" and "BROTHER".

Canada's entry to keystone kops police state

2012.05.24, Toronto
Canada's following it's big brother's lead into an era of amateur police statism; it would be funny if .

my ancestors, the "children of peace"

2012.05.23, Toronto
I see from the historical records that a certain idiosyncrasy runs in the family, and I am pleased.

movie review - Date Night

2012.05.22, Toronto
A bored couple living in New Jersey head to Manhattan for a night on the town in an effort to save their stale marriage.

don't worry about the economy

2012.05.22, Toronto
Gee, these gloom and doom merchants never let up.

the Beaches was crazy today

2012.05.21, Toronto
We tried

to the zoo!

2012.05.20, Toronto
We did our yearly trek to the zoo today as part of our "all about Kenny" weekend - our way of making up for all of the baby focus of late.

Japanese sports day

2012.05.19, Toronto
Sports day is a big event in the Japanese school year, and today we attended such an event in the Beaches.

so this is Mississauga

2012.05.18, Mississauga
Today, for the first time in years, I had reason to visit Mississauga - Toronto's strictly-for-drivers "other half".

"COB" day

2012.05.17, Toronto
Today our firm had what turned into a rather fun test day; everyone stayed home and attempted to work from there.

ah yes, diapers

2012.05.16, Toronto
I'm struggling to get diapers right again.

the fluoride in Toronto's water

2012.05.16, Toronto
I doubt this will surprise the people who know me, but I'm starting to side with the tinfoil hat wingnuts on the fluoridation of water.

that's one yellow sticker for a boy...

2012.05.15, Toronto
Kenny's been earning stickers with happy faces every time he properly uses the toilet for a BM.

focusing and tracking

2012.05.15, Toronto
Well, "First Grandaughter" may have had a wobbly start with her eyes (I was briefly concerned that she could see at all through one eye that was bloody from birth) but she's come a long way already.

Fiat 500

2012.05.15, Toronto
The car rental agency I deal with insists that there's nothing for me this Friday except a Fiat 500 - dang!

toronto housing prices

2012.05.14, Toronto
I looked up some figures and have come to an unsurprising conclusion: Toronto's housing prices are unaffordable.

five old cameras

2012.05.13, St. Catharines
We've been helping the family move my step-grandmother out of her condo and into a seniors residence; I've inherited some cameras.

we've fled the city again

2012.05.11, St. Catharines
Hello, Niagara, always a pleasure - especially with Spring in full bloom and the weather beyond coat warm; ahhh.

found some old photos

2012.05.10, Toronto
From time to time I find a batch of photos that somehow didn't make it to my website; today was one of those days.

soaked on my bike again

2012.05.09, Toronto
Yesterday, they forecast 20mm of rain and we had none; today "isolated showers" meant five hours of heavy rain.

no Olympus OM-D for downtown Toronto

2012.05.08, Toronto
"Downtown Camera" in Toronto "will not be carrying" the Olympus OM-D, due to worries over the financial health of Olympus.

a boy and his baby sister

2012.05.06, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.

movie review - The Shining

2012.05.05, Toronto
This is the story of a family of three who agree to take up the care of an isolated hotel in the mountains during the off season.

a new toy train for my son

2012.05.05, Toronto
The Boy has many of the same "Thomas" trains for his wooden

way to go, TTC

2012.05.05, Toronto
Today at the last minute I learned that my streetcar will be unavailable until October starting tomorrow.

May the Fourth be with you

2012.05.04, Toronto
Well today was Star Wars Day so of course Kenny and I watched Empire Strikes Back.

another sign of aging

2012.05.04, Toronto
Today I had another sign that I'm getting old

jaywalking in Toronto

2012.05.01, Toronto
jaywalking in Toronto Collections containing this photo.st

first canadian in new clothes

2012.05.01, Toronto
first canadian in new clothes Collections containing this

the artist as a forty-one-year-old

2012.04.28, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  a lifetime

cycling in the snow in late April

2012.04.27, Toronto
So we had 25°C in mid-March, and now we're having snow squalls in late April.

thoughts on the PMP exam (2012 edition)

2012.04.26, Toronto
I found the exam pretty tough; here are my thoughts on the experience and advice for exam takers.

pmp = headhunters

2012.04.25, Toronto
For the first time since I've been back in Canada, a headhunter called me.

child benefits in Canada (our government is crazy)

2012.04.25, Toronto
Applying for the child benefit program (a subsidy of $100/child under 6) in Canada is ridiculously difficult.

paying for PC support

2012.04.24, Toronto
It's come to this - I'm paying for someone to look into a wonky laptop.

what do you mean tax return

2012.04.23, Toronto
I've been so busy with the PMP exam that I've neglected the impending April 30 due date on my tax return.

a custom wooden train for my son

2012.04.22, Toronto
Made this unique train for my son's set. The front wheel o

Prince's "Kiss"

2012.04.22, Toronto
I showed Kenny the 80's video "Kiss" by Prince.

if there must be trouble

2012.04.22, Toronto
Thomas Paine said, "If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

next up: hangliding

2012.04.20, Toronto
Now that that exam is out of the way, it's time to follow on a vow I made a decade ago: to try hangliding.

hello, twitter & facebook

2012.04.19, Toronto
Quite some time ago, my twitterfeed account ceased functioning (and then ceased to be).

michael werneburg, pmp

2012.04.19, Toronto
Well, it took four long hours, but I've written my PMP exam and passed.

PMP exam, here I come

2012.04.18, Toronto
I'm up to a 90% on the practice exams, and I've read as much as I physically could tolerate; I'm as ready as I'm going to be.

onward and upward

2012.04.16, Toronto
I'm up to an average of 86% on my practice quizzes for the PMP exam; with the pass/fail at 61% I'm feeling cautiously optimistic.

waterfall at the zoo

2012.04.15, Toronto
waterfall at the zoo Collections containing this photo.sim

movie review - Midnight in Paris

2012.04.15, Toronto
We got about fifteen minutes into this when I realized that I hated everybody in it.

stormtrooper smacks his head

2012.04.15, Toronto
Kenny demanded to see Star Wars again today (I've created a four year year old monster).

socializing again

2012.04.14, Toronto
It's been a while since we had a get-together with friends, but today we hosted a couple and their two boys.

PMP preparation

2012.04.13, Toronto
I managed a 74% on my first go-through of a 409-question sample test in preparation for my PMP exam on Thursday.

another ex-expat

2012.04.12, Toronto
Today by happy chance I met a fellow Canadian who's returned from Japan with a Japanese wife.

ghost uses the phone

2012.04.11, Toronto
I was woken in the wee hours by the sound of the phone being off the hook.

not a real dinosaur

2012.04.10, Toronto
The Easter Bunny brought Kenny a dinosaur egg toy that hatches when the egg is submersed in water.

no wind like a side wind

2012.04.09, Toronto
Had a grueling trek to the office this morning, it took fully ten minutes longer

mmmm, maple syrup

2012.04.06, Woodbridge, Ontario
It's the very end of a particularly early maple syrup season in southern Ontario this weekend, so Grandma took us to see some being made.

adding browser type to CSS

2012.04.05, Toronto
I'm working on a demo system that needs an interface overhaul, and I've found a very helpful trick.

this old bike

2012.04.04, Toronto
Despite having poured $400 into maintaining my old bike and outfitting myself with new panniers etc, I've now saved $500 by cycling.

burning at both ends

2012.04.03, Toronto
My PMP exam is set for the 19th; that's really soon.

sir spam-a-lot

2012.04.02, Toronto
I have a friend who calls me "Sir Spam-a-lot" because of the odd outburst of "spam" on Facebook I cause.

one month on the ttc

2012.04.01, Toronto
In order to study adequately for my PMP exam, I gave up my bike during (most of) March and "rode the rocket".

paycheque and a reference

2012.03.29, Toronto
During a break at one of my final PMP classes, five of us were having a chat about the cycle of moving from job to job.

25ºC to -2ºC

2012.03.27, Toronto
The weather's abruptly changed, with the daily highs falling from 25ºC to the neighbourhood of 8ºC.

you just didn't do it well,

2012.03.26, Toronto
Tonight we were playing with trains when one soaring three-stage bridge came crumbling down.

my Mac Mini gets a solid state hard drive

2012.03.26, Toronto
My wife's Macbook Air is basically the best computer I've ever seen; one of its strengths is its lightning fast hard drive.

that's just little shit

2012.03.25, Toronto
Tonight our son was putting several of his toys into a good-sized cardboard box that he's been using as a "barn", up-ended and covered in dinosaur drawings and his dad's attempts at writing out the set of katakana.

connecting the dots on the environment - psha!

2012.03.25, Toronto
This video explains why it's best not to connect the dots when observing climate change in its many forms.

sad news on the last day of my PMP class

2012.03.24, Toronto
Today was the last day of my PMP class, and it ended with a bit of a sad note.

the sad state of police state photography

2012.03.22, Toronto
So it's come to this: photographers preparing for photo shoots by first checking in with the police.

movie review - Kung Fu Panda 2

2012.03.21, Toronto
The gang from the first installment is back for more in this animated sequel.

old photos

2012.03.21, Toronto
I've added a raft of old photos to the site, some of them dating all the way back to 2010.

tennis in a Canadian winter

2012.03.19, Toronto
So much for the Winter that wasn't: today I saw some people playing tennis.

an old short story, revisited

2012.03.18, Toronto
While debugging an issue on my website this morning, I discovered that the one short story I'd posted to the site was missing.

st. patricks day of the dead

2012.03.17, Toronto
Tonight as I made my way home through a curiously persistent mist, my route was dogged by small groups of stumbling, mumbling zombies.

new website in a week

2012.03.16, Toronto
Some things never change.

$1750 doesn't buy much rental living in Toronto

2012.03.14, Toronto
I'm still amazed at how much rents have climbed in Toronto since I left back in '05.

no class, kajiji folk

2012.03.13, Toronto
I dislike buying things through classified ads, and that did not change this week.

the fetus report

2012.03.12, Toronto
Mari's been to another check-up, and all looks well with the pregnancy.

Mmmm, gluten-free beer that's okay...

2012.03.06, Toronto
For my birthday, I treated myself to the "gourmet" burger place across the street, which turns out to have a gluten free beer.

is that the same sort of thing?

2012.03.05, Toronto
When Kenny noticed that I was transferring a small hard drive from one laptop to another, and saw that the drive being replaced was a different color and size, he studied the two objects for a moment and asked, "is that the same sort of thing?

kenny and the compass

2012.03.02, Toronto
Recently, I've been buying some camping and SHTF/eotwawki preparation gear.

words to live by

2012.03.02, Toronto
Two quotes caught my attention today: Illusions commend the

PR applications and babies

2012.02.27, Toronto
Recently, an immigrant mother with a Canadian citizen husband gave birth in a hotel because she had no medical insurance.

oh PMP, you odd duck

2012.02.25, Toronto
Today at my "project management professional" certification exam prep class, the instructor told us something that amazed me.

so this is sleet

2012.02.24, Toronto
I'd always taken 'sleet' to mean 'freezing rain' but it turns out there's a different kind, and that's what we have today.

toronto model rail society

2012.02.19, Toronto
We went to see a large permanent model train layout today in the "Liberty Village" area.

snowy night in Toronto

2012.02.18, Toronto
snowy night in Toronto Collections containing this photo.s

winter in Toronto

2012.02.18, Toronto
winter in Toronto Collections containing this photo.snow a

the traffic's back

2012.02.18, Toronto
Silly me, the traffic to my website hadn't budged

moving is tough

2012.02.15, Toronto
It seems that the rental market in Toronto's gotten a lot tougher of late.

valentine's day cake

2012.02.14, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  a lifetime

my father-in-law, the photographer

2012.02.14, Toronto
Back in 2006 or maybe 2007, I bought my father-in-law a small point and shoot 6MP camera.

parenting, Beaches style

2012.02.12, Toronto
Once in a while I worry that I don't always do or say the best thing while in parent mode; sometimes I'm reassured.

movie review - The Help

2012.02.11, Toronto
This is a story about some corner of the US south where a young lady grows up in a white household with black servants.

aye caramba

2012.02.11, Toronto
Today Kenny exclaimed, "¡aye caramba!

the memory game

2012.02.10, Toronto
Mari spent the entire afternoon combing through our "intended neighbourhood" looking at streets, schools, and buildings.

emuu.net traffic's collapsed

2012.02.10, Toronto
No doubt about it, traffic to emuu.

near death on the 501 Queen Street E streetcar

2012.02.07, Toronto
The Queen Street streetcar follows a very long route, a distance made worse by cutting right through the worst congestion in the city's centre.

socializing again - and planning to move

2012.02.05, Toronto
We met with some of our new friends and fellow parents-of-small-children in Leslieville/Riverside again today.

chatting with strangers - in Toronto?

2012.02.04, Toronto
It's not often that I find myself approached by chatty strangers in this city, but tonight was an exception.

oh, USS Enterprise, say it ain't so

2012.02.03, Toronto
The Americans have just sailed the USS Enterprise into the Persian Gulf - this strikes me as odd.

pj's with cuffs

2012.02.01, Toronto
Tonight as I was dressing Kenny after our shower, I realized that his latest PJ's have cuffs.

someone dares question Monsanto

2012.01.29, Toronto
It looks like some farmers are taking Monsanto to court.

oh great, it's yakudoshi

2012.01.27, Toronto
I'm now carrying a Japanese good luck symbol around, because I'm soon to turn 41, and in Japan that's very bad news.

(four fingers)

2012.01.26, Toronto
I asked Kenny, "Do you know what tomorrow is?

autumn in Ontario

2012.01.26, Toronto
Shooting film, it's not unusual for me to be editing photos from the season prior.

catching a streetcar

2012.01.25, Toronto
I've been meaning to record a strange event from about two weeks ago: I caught a streetcar by catching up to it on foot.

amazon's support is everything they say it is

2012.01.24, Toronto
The bottom of my Kindle developed a problem where the USB port wasn't seated properly; I called Amazon and they sent me a new one.

movie review - Kick-Ass

2012.01.22, Tokyo
This is the story of a non-super young man who takes it upon himself to become a crime-fighting superhero.

新年快樂

2012.01.22, Toronto
We went to the home of some friends to celebrate the Chinese new year this afternoon.

lying for fun and profit

2012.01.21, Toronto
On Thursday night I asked Kenny if he'd sat on the toilet before going to bed.

Linda Penwarden Jewellery

2012.01.21, Toronto
For Christmas, I bought my wife a pearl bracelet that she really loves.

PMP course progressing

2012.01.21, Toronto
I had my third class in the PMP course today.

what is our currency

2012.01.21, Toronto
Today I came across an interesting explanation of what our currency holdings really are.

movie review - Super 8

2012.01.18, Toronto
This is a low-key Sci-Fi story about some kids who decide that something's up in their mid-western town.

Mari's health card is here!

2012.01.16, Toronto
After a year and two weeks in the country, Mari's health insurance card arrived today, and will be active on the 20th.

back to the museum

2012.01.15, Toronto
It was a sunny gorgeous day, today; naturally, I took Kenny to the museum.

socializing again .. where will this end!

2012.01.14, Toronto
My cousin Kate the actress and her fiancé invited us to a p

...and even sicker

2012.01.12, Toronto
I went back to work yesterday thinking that all was better -- nope!

ugh, sick and feverish

2012.01.10, Toronto
My first cold of the year, and I'm dizzy with fever.

counting to ten

2012.01.08, Toronto
Kenny just counted the wheels on one of his toy trains and got all the way to ten without error.

skating with my family

2012.01.08, Toronto
Mari's pregnant and can't go out on the ice, and I never learned to skate*, but today we took Kenny skating.

what's this .. socializing?

2012.01.06, Toronto
Tonight we met for a potluck dinner with some friends, and friends of theirs.

back online

2012.01.03, Toronto
We've been without home Internet service since the morning of December 23.

new year starts off right

2012.01.02, Toronto
Last night we went to a great Indian restqurant in the Beaches called Delhi Cafe.

welcome 2012

2012.01.01, Toronto
I'm looking forward to 2012, and hopefully a break from the themes of tedium and toil that marked 2011.

2011

must be back in Toronto

2011.12.28, Toronto
I can tell I'm back in the city of Toronto: I made a comment to a woman on an elevator and she completely ignored me.

Santa has been!

2011.12.25, St. Catharines
Kenny's not an early riser, and even the prospect of seeing Santa (or at least new presents) wasn't enough to get him up before nine!

X'mas eve in Niagara

2011.12.24, St. Catharines
We've spent the day in St Catharines at "Grandma's", where a lucky little boy opened some presents.

thank you for making the train tracks, daddy

2011.12.23, St. Catharines
The boy continues to surprise me with his improving English.

the fastest drive across the city .. ever

2011.12.23, St. Catharines
Somehow, today turned out to be the fastest drive I've ever made across the city.

taking care of my health

2011.12.22, Toronto
Turns out that I'm actually doing something right for my health.

teetering on the edge of a migraine

2011.12.21, Toronto
I woke up early with a migraine this morning and couldn't shake it - it was getting progressively worse when I tried a desperate cure.

the audit is in the bag

2011.12.21, Toronto
Our auditors just provided their favourable Section 5970 report on our hosted software solution.

flooded facebook again

2011.12.21, Toronto
I've hooked up my RSS feed to Facebook again, and managed to once again spam everyone there who knows me.

hit by a car, today

2011.12.20, Toronto
If I'm ever going to be again struck by a minivan while cycling, then let it be today's type of low-speed impact.

last minute shopping for X'mas

2011.12.19, Toronto
What do you get for the loving wonderful wife who has everything, when you're X'mas shopping at the last minute?

X'mas at the distillery district

2011.12.16, Toronto
Tonight we met Geoff and Mariko-san at the distillery district to take in the X'mas do that they're hosting.

rss can be dang finicky

2011.12.13, Toronto
It looks like my website's updates aren't getting to Facebook or Twitter again.

movie review - Cowboys & Aliens

2011.12.12, Toronto
This is, as the title suggests, a movie in which aliens trade gunfire with cowboys of the late 19th Century.

one small step for a man, one giant leap for an audit

2011.12.12, Toronto
The denouement is now done - we've negotiated a final draft of the audit report.

our first X'mas tree

2011.12.11, Toronto
We set up a Christmas tree last night, and this morning Kenny woke to find presents under it.

finished my class, got an 86%

2011.12.10, Toronto
Since I graduated from University for the last time, back in 1994, I haven't been back until this year.

what could go wrong, did go wrong

2011.12.08, Toronto
Four blocks from the office, the rear tire on my bike went flat.

so much studying, so little time

2011.12.06, Toronto
I'm not entirely sure what possessed me to go back to University at this stage in my life.

daddy, don't say 'fuck'

2011.12.02, Toronto
We piled into the car with a lot of bags, heading for Grandma's home.

the phantom lunch

2011.12.02, Toronto
An old friend missed a lunch today because his employer's email system badly delayed his inbound mail.

my first X'mas party in four years

2011.12.01, Toronto
I attended my first company X'mas party since 2007, tonight.

30 minute no-show? gotta be the TTC

2011.11.29, Toronto
It was raining pretty steadily this morning, so I decided to take the streetcar to work; stupid move.

entered a photo contest

2011.11.27, Toronto
It wasn't good enough for "1x dot com", but I've submitted a favourite pic to the "Exposure" photo contest by "Artists Wanted".

facebook gets japanese

2011.11.26, Toronto
When I lived in Japan, none of my Japanese friends and coworkers were using Facebook.

Acer, back from the dead

2011.11.25, Toronto
My beloved 2005 Acer laptop died this evening - the optical drive was making funny noises; when I popped it out and in, the system died.

too dark, too soon

2011.11.24, Toronto
I'd forgotten what it's like, living in this city in the Winter - it gets dark so soon!

Acer Iconia 6886

2011.11.22, Toronto
In my Marketing class, we've been asked to evaluate a product from humble PC manufacturer Acer.

new pannier

2011.11.19, Toronto
I've finally replaced the panniers I bought in 2005; rather than get two of the slim ones as I've been using, I bought a single fat one.

cycling in the snow

2011.11.18, Toronto
It's gotten cold early this year, or anyway colder by far than it was last year at this time.

total debt by country - 2011

2011.11.17, Toronto
Now for a bit of good news about the world's largest economies; just kidding.

let the system burn, we need a new one

2011.11.17, Toronto
Our economy and civilization is clearly going through some kind of evolutionary period right now.

unexpected windfall for cycle commuters

2011.11.17, Toronto
I cycle to work, where I have a consulting contract with a client; it turns out that this allows me to discount my cycling costs.

week of TTC cancelled

2011.11.16, Toronto
I couldn't make it work - a week of transit was just too much for me.

week of TTC (day two)

2011.11.15, Toronto
Today's driver actually said, "This is my streetcar!

week of TTC (day one)

2011.11.14, Toronto
My backlog of reading is so severe that I'm taking transit this week instead of riding my bike; today the driver was a "ringer".

movie review - Where The Wild Things Are

2011.11.13, Toronto
This is an ambitious book based on the children's book by the same name.

ammonia spike

2011.11.13, Toronto
It seems that the last time I went about uprooting all the gravel in the tank I may have upset the aquarium's nitrogen cycle.

toronto's new streetcars

2011.11.12, Toronto
We went to see the open house for Toronto's new streetcars.

remembrance day

2011.11.11, Toronto
I managed to remember a moment of silence, today, but that was as far as any observance went; I wish this was a national holiday.

perspective and the electricity bill

2011.11.10, Toronto
I was fretting that our electricity bill is rarely south of $50 for a month; then Mari reminded me that in Tokyo we paid $100 a month!

spread too thin

2011.11.09, Toronto
There's a chance that I've spread myself too thinly this Autumn; I'm passing out before Kenny does in the evening, then waking at 5.

now with advertisements

2011.11.08, Toronto
I've added some new advertisements to emuu.

okay, Reichmann, okay

2011.11.07, Toronto
Yeah yeah yeah, I'm not listening a blah blah blah, can't afford a camera now, not going to look (again).

it's tax time—more belt tightening

2011.11.06, Toronto
I'm an independent IT contractor, and I bill my current client through my incorporated business.

Huh. I'm hungry.

2011.11.05, Toronto
It's now possible to have English conversation of a sort with Kenny.

Mnnnm versus Mooooo

2011.11.05, Toronto
When I sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" for Kenny, I use a cow-like lowing sound "Mnnnnnmmmm".

another book of photos

2011.11.05, Toronto
At each Christmas since Kenny was born, I've been making photo books to commemorate his year.

spotted!

2011.11.04, Toronto
The boss fella spotted me on the way to work today; apparently I zipped by his car on my bike.

"thanks for the lift"

2011.11.03, Toronto
The elevators were on the blink today at the office, and the security guard was manually making them work with a key.

the new austerity program .. in our house

2011.11.02, Toronto
With a second child on the way and no health insurance for my wife, we're going to have some bills.

it's palindrome time!

2011.11.02, Toronto
I just realized that it's another palindrome date.

five year anniversary

2011.11.01, Toronto
It's been five years with my darling Mari-chan: today was the anniversary of the paperwork at the Minato city hall.

a snake eats a mouse in a pet store

2011.10.31, Toronto
a snake eats a mouse in a pet store Collections containing

unique home in Toronto's Beaches neighborhood

2011.10.31, Toronto
unique home in Toronto's Beaches neighborhood Collections

an old ad on an old brick building, downtown Toronto

2011.10.31, Toronto
an old ad on an old brick building, downtown Toronto Colle

Dracula hits the town

2011.10.31, Toronto
Kenny and Mari have discovered "trick or treating".

one year, already!

2011.10.31, Toronto
Tomorrow will be the anniversary of my return to Toronto from Canada; at the time I had no job or home, and was alone.

movie review - Shutter Island

2011.10.30, Toronto
This is a story about two detectives who arrive at a psychiatric hospital on an island.

farewall middle class, we barely knew ye

2011.10.30, Toronto
Been watching some interesting vids of late, that talk about what's going on in our society and why.

didn't bomb the exam after all

2011.10.29, Toronto
So it turns out that I got the highest mark in the class on Thursday's exam.

Anonymous and Shakespeare

2011.10.28, Toronto
I met my friends Geoff and Mariko-san and two of their friends in seeing the movie "Anonymous" tonight.

the only Jew on Duncan street

2011.10.28, Toronto
Today, the "only Jew on Duncan street" came to our rescue.

bombed an exam

2011.10.27, Toronto
I never, ever know what to expect from exams when I've completed them, but being the first student to leave the room can't be good.

my first $1 US coin

2011.10.26, Toronto
Today I noticed a funny looking loony in my carry-around change; turns out it was a $1 coin from the US.

I saw a fox on my street, today

2011.10.25, Toronto
I had a special treat today; I saw a fox on our street, a beautiful thing with luscious fur and a calm bearing.

my year of bad luck

2011.10.24, Toronto
So it turns out that I'm in the middle of a two year run of "bad luck", according to Japanese lore.

manufacturer links to its retailers—at last!

2011.10.23, Toronto
You know, this is such a no-brainer that it really shouldn't have come as a (pleasant) surprise.

small town in a big city

2011.10.21, Toronto
Toronto has always had a certain anonymity to it, once you're away from certain niche populations.

the bench at the escarpment, niagara

2011.10.20, Niagara Peninsula
the bench at the escarpment, niagara Collections containin

waterfall in niagara

2011.10.20, Niagara Peninsula
waterfall in niagara Collections containing this photo.st

old barn, rust and ruin

2011.10.20, Niagara Peninsula
old barn, rust and ruin Collections containing this photo.

free photo book for the iPad

2011.10.20, Toronto
You can now download my photo book for the iPad; and for a short time, it's free.

why Acer should quit the PC business

2011.10.18, Toronto
An assignment in my Marketing course: advise Acer on whether to buy the Hewlett Packard PC division.

steam train in Ontario

2011.10.17, Toronto
steam train in Ontario Collections containing this photo.v

addiction

2011.10.17, Toronto
addiction Collections containing this photo.streets of tor

a big project, winding down

2011.10.17, Toronto
I spent the entire day today working on a single document for the audit; pushing paperwork is basically my entire job now.

one face, many ethnicities

2011.10.15, Toronto
The fellow who sold me my aquarium today guessed that I was of "East European" origin; specifically, he thought maybe Serbian or Czech.

the fish swap (and aquarium creep)

2011.10.15, Toronto
Today I took our thirteen-year-old clown loach to the pet store in exchange for some smaller fish.

iPads with keyboards

2011.10.12, Toronto
In the course I'm taking, I've been watching for signs of iPad use among the ~20 year old students that make up the majority.

the TTC strikes again

2011.10.11, Toronto
It was raining pretty heavily tonight after work, and rain seems to cause delays with the streetcar.

a bully no more

2011.10.11, Toronto
I've taken steps to remove a bully that's been plaguing our lives recently.

a heated holiday

2011.10.10, St. Catharines
We set off for Short Hills provincial park just after lunch today, but never made it.

I want to come back here.

2011.10.09, Toronto
Today, Ken used a couple of phrases he's never before put together.

and now for a feast

2011.10.09, Oakville
I can't recall having had too many feasts prepared by a lawyer-in-waiting, but that's what happened today.

shapely steel, old train car

2011.10.08, Ontario
shapely steel, old train car Collections containing this p

sumach forest, ontario

2011.10.08, Ontario
sumach forest, ontario Collections containing this photo.a

autumn's last gasp of gold

2011.10.08, Niagara Peninsula
autumn's last gasp of gold Collections containing this pho

"what a great day"

2011.10.08, St. Catharines
"Canada is a great country," my wife said, as we hiked through the changing autumn colours.

indian summer

2011.10.07, St. Catharines
It's well over 20ºC, where a week before it was 8ºC

everyone hates charities on the street

2011.10.06, Toronto
So it turns out that I'm not alone in tiring of those people who pester you on the street in the name of charities.

an eight month audit comes to a close

2011.10.05, Toronto
We wrapped up the audit today, an eight month project that's now succeeded.

sunset over bala, ontario

2011.10.04, Toronto
sunset over bala, ontario Collections containing this phot

a few kites

2011.10.04, Toronto
a few kites Collections containing this photo.toronto's wa

touring the changing colours

2011.10.03, Toronto
We hopped into our rental car and drove to Bala today on a tour of the autumn colours.

movie review - Trollhunter

2011.10.02, Toronto
This is a .

a little sad

2011.10.02, Toronto
At the grocery store, I took the shopping cart to the shed in the parking lot.

a visitor from Japan

2011.10.02, Toronto
We're hosting our first visitor from Japan: "aunt" Yaguchi Miwako.

what our son grows up, he wants to be...

2011.10.02, Toronto
When prompted with the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?

a north wind

2011.10.02, Toronto
Our friend Yaguchi-san is visiting; sadly, her visit coincides with an extremely rare north wind and it's currently 10C.

o-kaasan, did you take your pill?

2011.10.01, Toronto
Kenny noticed Mari's bottle of pills on the table and with a certain tone asked her, "o-kaasan, did you take your pill?

are environmentalists working for the saudis

2011.10.01, Toronto
Today I saw an informal talk by a prominent Canadian author/broadcaster/journalist who made several interesting claims.

making changes to this site

2011.09.30, Toronto
I've put a password restriction on this website to make it private.

acer versus hewlett packard

2011.09.29, Toronto
In my marketing course we've been assigned a project to evaluate whether Acer should make a play for HP's PC unit.

"Spot It"

2011.09.28, Toronto
This summer, while taking a ferry trip, we saw a parent playing a card game with a child about Kenny's age.

the eternal audit

2011.09.28, Toronto
Another long day with the auditor, this time eleven hours of systems security, hiring processes, and managing key systems.

movie review - Mary and Max

2011.09.27, Toronto
This is a movie I've returned to several times in my mind since recently seeing it.

you won't like it

2011.09.27, Toronto
The boy's cottoned to my feeble reverse-psychology ploy.

learning to skate

2011.09.27, Toronto
Kenny's going for his introduction to ice skating tomorrow, and needs some equipment.

crossing the streams

2011.09.26, Toronto
Today the bathroom door burst open as it usually does when I'm using the toilet, and Kenny marched in.

an ode to autumn

2011.09.24, Toronto
Day after day, the sky turns grey, and the leaves are crisp again.

the TTC is driving me crazy

2011.09.23, Toronto
Today the streetcar arrived after I'd been waiting for twenty-five minutes - the third such delay in a week.

my first bagel in fifteen years

2011.09.22, Toronto
This morning I ate my first bagel in fifteen years.

32 kilometer doh!

2011.09.20, Toronto
I took The Boy to Fairview Mall to see the Lego store, but the store wasn't yet open

canoeing to the outer harbour

2011.09.18, Toronto
I found myself in a canoe for the first time in years, today.

little nicky's coffee, September 2011

2011.09.17, Toronto
little nicky's coffee, September 2011 Collections containi

not serious but fatal

2011.09.17, Toronto
not serious but fatal Collections containing this photo.st

Beaches kite festival

2011.09.17, Toronto
Beaches kite festival Collections containing this photo.sk

not sure the graffiti's working

2011.09.17, Toronto
not sure the graffiti's working Collections containing thi

an art hack in Toronto

2011.09.17, Toronto
an art hack in Toronto Collections containing this photo.s

kite festival, beaches (toronto)

2011.09.17, Toronto
kite festival, beaches (toronto) kite festival, beaches (to

art on the sidewalk, toronto in september

2011.09.17, Toronto
art on the sidewalk, toronto in september Collections cont

purple cloud deck, blue sky at sunset

2011.09.17, Toronto
purple cloud deck, blue sky at sunset Collections containi

Toronto's Beaches Kite Festival

2011.09.17, Toronto
Toronto's Beaches Kite Festival Collections containing thi

two hours to travel 15 kilometers

2011.09.17, Toronto
It took me two hours to travel about fifteen kilometers today.

chilly cycling

2011.09.16, Toronto
Summer's gone, that's for sure: already I'm cycling to work in my Autumn sweatpants, long since hopeless stained with chain oil.

blue sky at night, photographers delight

2011.09.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  color  

end of a long day at the end of summer

2011.09.15, Toronto
end of a long day at the end of summer Collections contain

scrap scavenger in St. Catharines

2011.09.15, St. Catharines
scrap scavenger in St. Catharines Collections containing t

evening comes to toronto's beaches

2011.09.15, Toronto
evening comes to toronto's beaches Collections containing

the magic building, toronto

2011.09.15, Toronto
the magic building, toronto Collections containing this ph

lovely bokeh for lovely roses in Toronto

2011.09.15, St. Catharines
lovely bokeh for lovely roses in Toronto Collections conta

a tree killed by a bike lock

2011.09.15, St. Catharines
a tree killed by a bike lock Collections containing this p

saying good morning

2011.09.15, Toronto
This morning, Kenny refused to tell me 'o-hayo' (good morning).

my descent into evil

2011.09.15, Toronto
When I started my career, I often butted heads with Marketing types; now I'm training to become one.

$15 electrical engineer

2011.09.15, Toronto
Today on the way to class I spotted a sign posted by an out of work electrical engineer who would accept any work for $15 an hour.

a lost cat and a missing streetcar

2011.09.15, Toronto
As I was heading out the door this morning, I noticed that a cat had somehow gotten on our roof.

midlife crisis mobile blunder

2011.09.11, Toronto
Today I managed to wedge my foot well into my mouth.

car crush photos

2011.09.08, Toronto
Here are some pics of the car under the toppled half of the willow tree that came down during the storm last week.

blowing east and blowing west

2011.09.07, Toronto
I saw something last night I'd never seen before: a bank of low clouds blowing briskly west under a high deck that was hurtling east.

old entrance to the ROM

2011.09.06, Toronto
I have no idea why they decommissioned the old entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum - so much classier than the new one.

back-to-school special on tattoos

2011.09.06, Toronto
I passed a shop advertising "sizzling back-to-school deals!

black and white butterflies everywhere

2011.09.05, Toronto
Butterflies can be maddeningly difficult to photograph - especially when you remember that you're shooting black and white film.

my toronto to pickering cycle trip

2011.09.05, Toronto
This summer I took a cycle trip to lovely PIckering, Ontario; now I have some photos to share.

pics from a play

2011.09.04, Toronto
A few weeks ago I attended a play in Hamilton with my (extended) family.

something's happening here, what it is...

2011.09.03, St. Catharines
We're visiting with grandma today, and the first thing I noticed on her street was the giant heap of household belongings.

visit to a childhood home

2011.09.03, Beamsville, Ontario
Today, on the way to the city of my birth, I visited the farm where I lived as a child.

took a spill on my bike

2011.09.02, Toronto
It's funny; I was involved in several collisions in Tokyo, but all of my bicycle mishaps in Canada have been solo.

pleco no more!

2011.09.01, Toronto
Farewell, friend pleco Collections containing this photo.

disgusting!

2011.09.01, Toronto
Kenny's been saying this for a while, but there are times when he needs to keep his mouth shut.

a death in the community (aquarium)

2011.09.01, Toronto
Somehow, for the first time in my checkered aquarium keeper's career, I've lost a plecostomus.

cn tower, here I come again

2011.09.01, Toronto
Fifteen years ago, I climbed the CN Tower; not having learned my lesson, I'm climbing those stairs again.

"dream of bird shit on my head"

2011.08.31, Toronto
The #2 search that brought people to my website yesterday was "dream of bird shit on my head".

new photos from the streets of Toronto

2011.08.30, Toronto
In early July I encountered a street performance by a troupe of ladies performing atop long flexible poles.

gliding on his balance bike

2011.08.29, Toronto
We have a "balance bike" for Kenny.

a delightful dinner away from .. that sort

2011.08.29, Toronto
We had pricey pizzas for dinner tonight to celebrate my darling wife's "75th" birthday.

the phone goes dead

2011.08.28, Toronto
Curiously, the day we had two three year olds in the apartment was the day our home phone died.

working the Japanese network in Toronto

2011.08.28, Toronto
I went into a card shop for a birthday card for my wife, and found just the thing - in the section for 75 year olds.

swimming and sausages - it's a BBQ

2011.08.27, Newmarket
Today my mum came up from Niagara, and the four of us headed to Newmarket for a family reunion of sorts.

osx lion upgrade fails

2011.08.27, Toronto
Today I upgraded to OSX "Lion" -- then I downgraded again.

images of our summer in Ontario

2011.08.26, Toronto
At long last, I've managed to get some photos of Kenny from this summer on web site.

ice and the great lakes: the plot thickens

2011.08.25, Toronto
So it seems I'm not the only skeptic of the theory that glaciers created the Great Lakes of North America.

a parade of cycling teddy bears, Ontario

2011.08.24, Ontario
a parade of cycling teddy bears, Ontario Collections conta

deep river in northern Ontario

2011.08.24, Ontario
deep river in northern Ontario Collections containing this

emerging mushrooms

2011.08.24, Ontario
emerging mushrooms Collections containing this photo.2011

history's first female courier du bois

2011.08.24, Huronia
history's first female courier du bois history's first fema

I left my bike where?

2011.08.24, Toronto
I left my bike where? I left my bike where? Collections con

live bait in a vending machine

2011.08.24, Ontario
live bait in a vending machine Collections containing this

remembering jack layton

2011.08.24, Toronto
remembering jack layton Collections containing this photo.

farmer's wooden building

2011.08.24, Huronia
farmer's wooden building farmer's wooden building Collectio

color in an overgrown yard, Toronto

2011.08.24, Toronto
color in an overgrown yard, Toronto Collections containing

starting a fire without a flint

2011.08.24, Huronia
starting a fire without a flint Collections containing thi

more fun news from fukushima

2011.08.24, Toronto
Oh no, the Fukushima incident is making me jaded and cynical!

fukushima is still not right

2011.08.22, Toronto
A friend in Tokyo passed on some interesting sites that are collecting news on the ongoing Fukushima nuclear disaster.

car crushed by a tree

2011.08.21, Toronto
As we returned Geoff's tent and other loaners and did some shopping, the clear skies and strong sun gave way to dark clouds.

driven by rain (to a genuine izakaya)

2011.08.20, Toronto
It rained all day at the cottage, so we decided by early afternoon to just head home.

misty morning on Manitoulin's north shore

2011.08.19, Manitoulin
misty morning on Manitoulin's north shore Collections cont

freshwater ferry and an inexplicable hill

2011.08.19,
Today Kenny and I spent the morning playing on the small private beach in front of the "lodge" while Mari packed.

cliff face on Manitoulin

2011.08.18, Manitoulin
cliff face on Manitoulin Collections containing this photo

escarpment cliff face on Manitoulin

2011.08.18, Manitoulin
escarpment cliff face on Manitoulin Collections containing

the freshwater sea and the home of god

2011.08.18, Manitoulin
We're on Manitoulin island, the world's largest freshwater island and in myth the home of Manitou, the creator of the universe.

misty trees on a valley wall, agawa

2011.08.17, Algoma
misty trees on a valley wall, agawa Collections containing

first nations dance demonstration, montreal

2011.08.17, Montreal
first nations dance demonstration, montreal Collections co

windswept trees shot from a train

2011.08.17, Algoma
windswept trees shot from a train Collections containing t

a majestic cathedral, montreal

2011.08.17, Montreal
a majestic cathedral, montreal Collections containing this

a dam, a trellis, and a train

2011.08.17, Algoma
a dam, a trellis, and a train Collections containing this

distinctive steps and sunken first floor

2011.08.17, Montreal
distinctive steps and sunken first floor Collections conta

stone angel on a rooftop over Montreal

2011.08.17, Montreal
stone angel on a rooftop over Montreal Collections contain

the quebec bank established 1818

2011.08.17, Montreal
the quebec bank established 1818 Collections containing th

a crypt in Montreal

2011.08.17, Montreal
a crypt in Montreal Collections containing this photo.2011

inside a magnificent Montreal cathedral

2011.08.17, Montreal
inside a magnificent Montreal cathedral Collections contai

well, it's a big dome

2011.08.17, Montreal
well, it's a big dome Collections containing this photo.20

weather passing over the ottawa river

2011.08.17, Ottawa
weather passing over the ottawa river Collections containi

a moody lake in Northern Ontario

2011.08.17, Algoma
a moody lake in Northern Ontario Collections containing th

in the ogawa canyon

2011.08.17, Algoma
in the ogawa canyon Collections containing this photo.2011

watching the landscape slide by

2011.08.17, Algoma
watching the landscape slide by Collections containing thi

glimpses of Agawa

2011.08.17,
Today we took a train tour north of the Sault to the famous Agawa canyon, a scene of terrific beauty and dramatic vistas etc.

visiting with an old friend

2011.08.16,
I don't have many friends in Canada any more, and yet this year I've visited the homes of two friends I met nearly twenty years ago.

movie review - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2011.08.15, Toronto
Sadly, the ground broken with the previous Harry Potter movies is forgotten in this confused mess.

movie review - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2011.08.14, Toronto
At last, we have a good Harry Potter movie.

the failed colony among the Wendat

2011.08.14,
We visited "Ste Marie among the Huron" today, a remake of the failed French colony that was built 1200 kilometers from Quebec City near the south shore of Lake Huron.

movie review - The Hangover

2011.08.13, Toronto
This is a movie about four friends who head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.

knots in my shoes

2011.08.13, Toronto
In a bit of a hurry this morning to get some things together before we leave on a tour 'round Georgian Bay.

2011 vacation part two begins

2011.08.13,
Tonight we're staying at my late grandfather's cottage in Victoria Harbour, Ontario and we'll be sleeping in a tent.

movie review - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2011.08.12, Toronto
It's at times like these, as I watch movies set in a British private school (which I believe they euphemistically call public schools) that I'm very glad I grew up in Alberta, home of rugged individualism and piss-poor, half-assed schooling.

home again, home again

2011.08.12, Toronto
We got home this evening by train: I am so glad we didn't drive.

movie review - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2011.08.11, Toronto
A friend gave me his Harry Potter movies to watch.

technology museum

2011.08.11, Ottawa
I've been told that there are some 46 museums in Ottawa, and I'm inclined to believe it.

the ottawa contingent

2011.08.10, Ottawa
Today we took the train to Ottawa to visit with my Aunt Maureen and Uncle Ulli.

movie review - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2011.08.09, Toronto
A friend gave me his Harry Potter movies to watch.

stumbling round mount royal

2011.08.09, Montreal
Today we did a fair bit of walking - more even than we wanted.

post-industrial montreal

2011.08.08, Montreal
post-industrial montreal Collections containing this photo

surfing a standing wave on the Saint lawrence

2011.08.08, Montreal
surfing a standing wave on the Saint lawrence Collections

alligators and surfers

2011.08.08, Montreal
Today we got an earlyish start and went to Montreal's "Biodome".

movie review - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2011.08.07, Toronto
A friend gave me his Harry Potter movies to watch.

the old city of montreal

2011.08.07, Montreal
We spent the day in Montreal's old city, today.

so this is Montreal...

2011.08.06, Montreal
We've only been in Montreal for a few hours but it's already struck us as pretty cool; but then attending a lively wedding reception helps.

and now to relax...

2011.08.05, Kingston
We're in Kingston, Ontario.

the jetlagged family

2011.08.04, Toronto
It's kind of fun being the only one in the house not severely jet-lagged; it's like being the designated driver for some drunks.

baksheesh

2011.08.03, Toronto
Did I ever have a strange trip in to work this morning.

meanwhile, in fukushima

2011.08.02, Toronto
Another new record-high radioactivity reading at the stricken Fukushima power plant today, according to NHK.

camping in killarney

2011.08.01, Toronto
I spent most of the day preparing for our upcoming vacation.

"new" lens

2011.07.30, Toronto
An old incident has been resolved at last.

a new abscess

2011.07.29, Toronto
I've now got a new skin abscess on the go.

I am not a software engineer

2011.07.29, Toronto
Someone at work sent me an interesting article decrying the absence of software engineering.

thank god for electric six

2011.07.28, Toronto
My brother and his wife were passing through town on their way to Peru today.

e-bikes, cars, and bicycles

2011.07.27, Toronto
Electric bicycles have joined the traffic on Toronto's streets, and I'm not a fan.

one thing leads to another (how rain causes hunger)

2011.07.26, Toronto
It was raining pretty hard yesterday morning.

doing this and that

2011.07.25, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

my cousin the actress

2011.07.25, Hamilton
An unusual number of Werneburgs gathered in Hamilton to wat

god light at sun down

2011.07.25, Toronto
god light at sun down Collections containing this photo.sk

dancing to the blues on queen street, toronto

2011.07.25, Toronto
dancing to the blues on queen street, toronto Collections

a web of street car powerlines near a rail yard

2011.07.25, Toronto
a web of street car powerlines near a rail yard Collection

a street vendor with kids guitars, beaches blues festival

2011.07.25, Toronto
a street vendor with kids guitars, beaches blues festival

questions, I get questions

2011.07.25, Toronto
One interesting outcome of my attempt at launching a business in Japan is that I'm still getting queries on how it's all done.

sundays are for migraines

2011.07.24, Toronto
Staggered off the couch at around one with a left side headache that felt just like a day-long weather headache.

watching the clothes go 'round

2011.07.23, Toronto
Well it must be Saturday, I've accomplished little other than laundry.

jazz in the beaches

2011.07.22, Toronto
Came home pretty burned out from work, today.

Caribana afterglow

2011.07.21, Toronto
A neighbor and I went to check out the waterfront the day a

cringing in the actor van

2011.07.21, Hamilton
Tonight I did some unusual things.

identity theft, episode I, chapter five

2011.07.20, Toronto
I'm off the hook for the charges and the credit check that came about from the identity theft.

who is that boy

2011.07.19, Toronto
As I was heading out the door this morning my wife called for the first time since they've been gone.

ghost bike

2011.07.18, Toronto
Remembering a fellow cyclist. Collections containing

interesting reflection

2011.07.18, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

old lamp at our place

2011.07.18, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  shadows &nb

wetlands walkway

2011.07.18, Toronto
This is part of the entrance to Rouge River on the border b

train bridge across a ravine

2011.07.18, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  architectur

man made of cardboard

2011.07.18, Toronto
man made of cardboard Collections containing this photo.st

swallows dart above Scarborough bluffs, Toronto

2011.07.18, Toronto
swallows dart above Scarborough bluffs, Toronto Collection

a truck full of corn and melons

2011.07.18, Toronto
a truck full of corn and melons Collections containing thi

the angry junk shop man

2011.07.18, Toronto
the angry junk shop man Collections containing this photo.

Scarborough bluffs in Toronto's east end

2011.07.18, Toronto
Scarborough bluffs in Toronto's east end Collections conta

dark and stormy alleyway

2011.07.18, Toronto
dark and stormy alleyway Collections containing this photo

the smokers' doors

2011.07.18, Toronto
the smokers' doors Collections containing this photo.stree

a sultry river scene in Toronto

2011.07.18, Toronto
a sultry river scene in Toronto Collections containing thi

summertime and the shadows are long

2011.07.18, Toronto
summertime and the shadows are long Collections containing

classic lines and a flame job

2011.07.18, Toronto
classic lines and a flame job Collections containing this

tattoo'd lady waits for the street car

2011.07.18, Toronto
tattoo'd lady waits for the street car Collections contain

a path through a wetland

2011.07.18, Toronto
a path through a wetland Collections containing this photo

wrong again, weathernetwork.ca

2011.07.18, Toronto
I don't know why I bother with Toronto weather reports.

a respected politician has died

2011.07.17, Toronto
a respected politician has died Collections containing thi

break dancing like it's 25 years earlier

2011.07.17, Toronto
break dancing like it's 25 years earlier Collections conta

six hour cycle trip - to Pickering!

2011.07.17, Toronto
Today I set off at nine o'clock with the vague notion of heading east.

being with Toronto but thinking of Montreal

2011.07.16, Toronto
We're planning a trip to Montreal next month, and tonight I went out for some books about that city.

fish rescue fails

2011.07.16, Toronto
One of the wee loaches has died after all.

movie review - The Town

2011.07.15, Toronto
This is an interesting bank heist movie that takes the unusual step of showing you the back-story of the robbers.

I am not a cop

2011.07.15, Toronto
Today two fellows sharing a joint hid the thing from me as I approached on my bike -- taken for a policeman again!

guys night

2011.07.14, Toronto
I had dinner and drinks with my old boss from EDS, who's now at a firm that makes software that my employer sells.

all work and no play

2011.07.13, Toronto
With the family away, I have to fight the urge to just stay at the office all evening.

the new torchwood's here

2011.07.12, Toronto
What a crap day.

a strom has come to chicago

2011.07.11, Chicago
Mari and Kenny didn't make it to Tokyo, today.

living easy

2011.07.10, Toronto
We attempted to do as little as possible today.

I have the same thing

2011.07.09, Toronto
Gotta say, the supposed simplicity of this sentence contains some interesting concepts that the boy clearly gets.

Oh, man. Let's go home.

2011.07.09, Toronto
We went out with Kenny's balance bike again, but he had doubts.

swimming in water (for free)

2011.07.09, Toronto
Today we got out at the crack of noon and went to a swimming pool.

101.4cm

2011.07.08, Toronto
The boy is 101.

aw, man!

2011.07.08, Toronto
In teaching my son the language, I believe I've just made a milestone of sorts.

flower girls on tall stalks

2011.07.08, Toronto
Tonight by happy chance I came across a trio of performance artists swaying on tall stalks in long flower-shaped dresses.

feeding the goats

2011.07.07, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  the quick a

Toronto's beaches in July

2011.07.07, Toronto
Toronto's beaches in July Collections containing this phot

pink scooter with a seat of flowers

2011.07.07, Toronto
pink scooter with a seat of flowers Collections containing

car gone to seed in Kensington market

2011.07.07, Toronto
car gone to seed in Kensington market Collections containi

something wrong with the streetcars today?

2011.07.07, Toronto
something wrong with the streetcars today?

first day of cycling

2011.07.07, Toronto
We took Kenny to Woodbine park to ride his new bike today.

cycling with the boy again (no fatalities)

2011.07.07, Toronto
We took the boy down to the beach with his new balance bike.

tonight I broke the neck of a sparrow

2011.07.06, Toronto
It started out so nicely.

nine thirty

2011.07.05, Toronto
Kenny's learned the meaning of the clock.

fish rescue (not too late)

2011.07.05, Toronto
Both of the tiny skinny fishes are responding well to having been plucked from starvation.

fish rescue (maybe too late)

2011.07.04, Toronto
Two of the young clown loaches in our aquarium have been struggling.

butterflies

2011.07.03, Niagara Falls
This morning we set out to do two things: visit a butterfly conservatory and buy my mother some furniture.

boy riding a tombstone

2011.07.02, St. Catharines
boy riding a tombstone Collections containing this photo.a

butterflies, attracted to a statue

2011.07.02, St. Catharines
butterflies, attracted to a statue Collections containing

water balloons

2011.07.02, St. Catharines
The highlight of the day was the piña col^H^H^H^H playing with a water hose in the back yard.

shadows upon steps

2011.07.01, Toronto
I wonder what exactly is being kept in there. Collections

a space with atmosphere

2011.07.01, Toronto
I came across this scene quite unexpectedly. In a city bein

transport rail old warehouse

2011.07.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

have you ever seen a lady go this way and that way

2011.07.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  ladies perf

old wall with character, montreal

2011.07.01, Toronto
old wall with character, montreal Collections containing t

beaches park, toronto

2011.07.01, Toronto
beaches park, toronto Collections containing this photo.st

off an alley in Toronto

2011.07.01, Toronto
off an alley in Toronto Collections containing this photo.

vase on custom stand in store window

2011.07.01, Toronto
vase on custom stand in store window Collections containin

why am I hungry for chicken's feet?

2011.07.01, Toronto
why am I hungry for chicken's feet? why am I hungry for chi

faster, faster!

2011.07.01, Toronto
We took Kenny down to St.

the long journey

2011.07.01, St. Catharines
Today we celebrated the anniversary of our nation's creation by sitting in traffic for three and a half hours.

aquarium wars continue

2011.06.30, Toronto
I had a scare, recently, with the condition of the Pleco in our fish tank.

it's hard to ever trust again

2011.06.29, Toronto
I've overcome my recent bad experience and have dared to trust again.

comments on my photobook

2011.06.28, Toronto
It turns out that when you ask friends to have a look at something you've made they sometimes respond nicely.

nothing

2011.06.27, Toronto
There was a terrible silence from the living room where I knew Kenny to be.

twelve hour day, and what do you get

2011.06.27, Toronto
I've come to the conclusion that running an audit from start to finish strikes me as a difficult way of making a living.

dawn of the raccoon

2011.06.26, Toronto
This morning I ran into our son's room, seized him and took him to the window to show him a mama raccoon and two kits.

photos from a celebration

2011.06.26, Toronto
Today's set of photos comes from a celebration that took place a mere three weeks ago.

first bike

2011.06.25, Toronto
Kenny's got a new bicycle on the way.

photos from a fundraiser

2011.06.25, Toronto
I've assembled some photos from a fundraiser that we participated in.

movie review - Toy Story 3

2011.06.24, Toronto
When I first saw the original "Toy Story" I wouldn't have guessed that there would be a trilogy or that I'd watch the final one with my three-year-old son.

feeling confident

2011.06.24, Toronto
A while ago I entered a photo book competition.

once more unto the breach, dear friends

2011.06.23, Toronto
Late this afternoon I got word from our auditor.

listen to your bicycle

2011.06.22, Toronto
As previously noted, I'm riding a fifteen year old, third-hand bicycle.

Fukushima and the US Pacific Northwest

2011.06.22, Toronto
All's well that ends with a refutation, and today it's the "35% increase in infant deaths" in the US North West.

MEC to the rescue

2011.06.22, Toronto
Last Thursday, my bike lock smashed into many pieces quite unexpectedly.

the wisdom of three year olds

2011.06.21, Toronto
Tonight at the dinner table I related a story to Mari about a sequence of events at the office that was so predictable a three year old could see it coming.

on occasion I do actually watch TV

2011.06.21, Toronto
Recently Mari and I watched a season of Doctor Who.

what's happening in Fukushima?

2011.06.20, Toronto
I was just passed a new (to me) article on Fukushima.

identity theft, episode I, chapter four

2011.06.20, Toronto
One of the member's of Toronto's 52 division's anti-fraud unit called to follow up on the mobile phone fraud incident from last month.

14 years and what do you get

2011.06.20, Toronto
Yahoo sent me a funny email on the weekend.

headhunters in Japan

2011.06.20, Toronto
For several years, it was possible for foreigners with sub-standard Japanese to make a living in Tokyo working in the financial field.

to the Zoo!

2011.06.19, Toronto
We took Kenny to the Toronto Zoo.

green tree frog in a zoo

2011.06.18, Toronto
green tree frog in a zoo Collections containing this photo

pygmy hippos sweating in the summer sun

2011.06.18, Toronto
pygmy hippos sweating in the summer sun Collections contai

chameleon clashes with my shirt

2011.06.18, Toronto
chameleon clashes with my shirt Collections containing thi

unsure of the benefit for using facebook

2011.06.18, Toronto
I found something interesting on the use of Facebook in Japan.

at a street festival

2011.06.17, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

registered trademark

2011.06.17, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  shadows &nb

indian style chinese cuisine

2011.06.17, Toronto
indian style chinese cuisine Collections containing this p

thirty accountants on a quad-cycle

2011.06.17, Toronto
thirty accountants on a quad-cycle Collections containing

old entrance to the royal ontario museum

2011.06.17, Toronto
old entrance to the royal ontario museum Collections conta

crossing the language barrier

2011.06.17, Toronto
Kenny's English is making the transition.

rental bikes in Toronto

2011.06.17, Toronto
This Spring, rental bikes appeared on the streets.

canada and japan under stress

2011.06.17, Toronto
A friend of mine pointed out a sad comparison between Canada and Japan.

another theft on the TTC

2011.06.16, Toronto
One of my coworkers bought herself a new smart phone yesterday.

movie review - Inception

2011.06.15, Toronto
Once in a while a movie comes along with a big splash and everybody raves about it, but it's actually crap.

oh, this is hockey

2011.06.15, Toronto
Kenny and I watched a bit of the first period of the Stanley Cup® final tonight.

the antics of google

2011.06.15, Toronto
A couple of days ago, Google abruptly cut off the service by which I've been hosting my emuu.

counting the dead in Japan

2011.06.15, Toronto
One of the things that's really struck me about the situation in Japan is the low death count.

free bicycle

2011.06.14, Toronto
It's "free bicycle" day in Toronto.

google screw me again

2011.06.14, Toronto
I had a message from Google this morning telling me that they wanted to transition the account I pay for, to some new infrastructure.

movie review - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2011.06.13, Toronto
This is an incredibly unpleasant movie in which the terrible past of some young women who were abused by their family and the family's circle is explored.

string of migraines

2011.06.13, Toronto
I've been enduring a real string of migraines of late.

spring time is for machetes

2011.06.12, Toronto
Today I hacked at several trees on our property with a machete.

chopsticks pick-pocket

2011.06.12, Toronto
Today we joined our downstairs neighbours in going to a Korean restaurant in the Christie Korea-town.

three old fish

2011.06.11, Toronto
three old fish Collections containing this photo.aquaria

swim-meet, shoes, and failing to rain

2011.06.11, Toronto
Our downstairs neighbours invited us to the swim-meet that their daughters were participating in.

signs and twice reflected light

2011.06.10, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  reflections

old fire station alight

2011.06.10, Toronto
old fire station alight Collections containing this photo.

a field of dandelions

2011.06.10, Toronto
a field of dandelions Collections containing this photo.gr

cycling in the city

2011.06.10, Toronto
Today the weather was just about perfect for cycling.

community bulletin board

2011.06.09, Toronto
In response to a couple of recent incidents, I'm putting together a forum for people in "The Beaches"; a place for communication, basically.

fixing the brakes

2011.06.09, Toronto
I've had some sloppy responses from the front brake on my bike of late.

record heat in toronto

2011.06.08, Toronto
A record day for temperature in Toronto and much of southern Ontario today.

who wears short shorts

2011.06.07, Toronto
The first thing I saw as I cycled away from home today was a teenage girl walking up our street.

the return of doctor who

2011.06.06, Toronto
Tonight I thought to check whether the next season of Doctor Who had started at long, long, last.

USA goes to the moon .. or not

2011.06.05, Toronto
I saw this yesterday on the recommendation of a friend.

have mercy - been waiting for the street car all day

2011.06.04, Toronto
have mercy - been waiting for the street car all day Colle

woodbine and queen street car

2011.06.04, Toronto
woodbine and queen street car Collections containing this

a mullet on a woman on inline skates

2011.06.04, Toronto
a mullet on a woman on inline skates Collections containin

trees in motion

2011.06.04, Toronto
trees in motion Collections containing this photo.skies ph

feet above me

2011.06.04, Toronto
feet above me Collections containing this photo.oddities s

photos of collingwood

2011.06.04, Toronto
I've added some images from our recent visit to the Collingwood area together.

lousy elevator ride

2011.06.03, Toronto
The elevators in our building are notorious for their poor behaviour; today I had my first real taste of their dysfunction.

we Werneburgs are too sweet

2011.06.02, Toronto
Mari's worried that Kenny is too sweet.

doors open toronto, 2011

2011.06.02, Toronto
I've put together some photos from the "Doors Open Toronto" 2011 event.

visitors!

2011.06.01, Toronto
Oma and Opa came for a visit last night, and Kenny was giddy with delight.

I am getting old

2011.06.01, Toronto
Today I took advantage of the suddenly warm weather to do some reading on the balcony outside our 8th floor office.

mutilated child corpse in syria

2011.05.31, Toronto
Today some thugs in the employment of the Syrian government dumped the mutilated body of a thirteen year old at the home of his parents.

identity theft, episode I, chapter three

2011.05.30, Toronto
The identity theft incident is over.

toronto open house, part II

2011.05.29, Toronto
Today we took in another couple of sites in the Doors Open Toronto event.

A and T doors, Corktown Toronto

2011.05.28, Toronto
A and T doors, Corktown Toronto Collections containing thi

water pumping station in art deco

2011.05.28, Toronto
water pumping station in art deco Collections containing t

RC Harris pumping station

2011.05.28, Toronto
RC Harris pumping station Collections containing this phot

stairway to heaven (well, a church, anyway)

2011.05.28, Toronto
stairway to heaven (well, a church, anyway) stairway to hea

RC Harris water filtration plant

2011.05.28, Toronto
RC Harris water filtration plant Collections containing th

someone to watch over corktown

2011.05.28, Toronto
someone to watch over corktown Collections containing this

through a 20mm brightly

2011.05.28, Toronto
through a 20mm brightly Collections containing this photo.

telling the time in the palace of waterworks

2011.05.28, Toronto
telling the time in the palace of waterworks Collections c

old church with atmosphere

2011.05.28, Toronto
old church with atmosphereCollections containing this photo.

sense of space in a small church

2011.05.28, Toronto
sense of space in a small church Collections containing th

toronto open house, part I

2011.05.28, Toronto
Today I joined some fellow photographers from pentaforums.

stupid dogs and what s-h-i-t-t-y spells

2011.05.27, Toronto
You overhear things all the time when you're in a city where people speak loudly (and you understand the language).

identity theft, episode I, chapter two

2011.05.27, Toronto
Virgin Mobile called me back today and confirmed the situation: someone has used my identity to open an account with them.

whatever Calvin Klein

2011.05.26, Toronto
The hostility of the fashion industry warrants commentary.

the escarpment endures

2011.05.26, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

misty CN Tower in Toronto

2011.05.26, Toronto
misty CN Tower in Toronto Collections containing this phot

old ford truck

2011.05.26, Toronto
old ford truck Collections containing this photo.vehicles

a private lane in Ontario

2011.05.26, Ontario
a private lane in Ontario Collections containing this phot

a foggy season in Toronto

2011.05.26, Toronto
a foggy season in Toronto Collections containing this phot

commuting, chatting, or smoking

2011.05.26, Toronto
commuting, chatting, or smoking Collections containing thi

weather looming over Toronto's east end

2011.05.26, Toronto
weather looming over Toronto's east end Collections contai

inside a church, Toronto

2011.05.26, Toronto
inside a church, Toronto Collections containing this photo

commuting in the city

2011.05.26, Toronto
commuting in the city Collections containing this photo.st

a secluded waterfall on the Niagara escarpment

2011.05.26, Ontario
a secluded waterfall on the Niagara escarpment Collections

washing windows

2011.05.26, Toronto
washing windows Collections containing this photo.streets

walking the balance beam, unseeing

2011.05.26, Toronto
walking the balance beam, unseeing Collections containing

the Necropolis

2011.05.26, Toronto
the Necropolis Collections containing this photo.2011 - do

street meat, poor weather

2011.05.26, Toronto
street meat, poor weather Collections containing this phot

identity theft, episode I

2011.05.26, Toronto
I'm the victim of identity theft.

20km in the rain

2011.05.25, Toronto
I was at Yonge and Sheppard and had to get home at Queen and Woodbine.

wow, windows 7 isn't bad

2011.05.25, Toronto
I was using a "Windows Vista" laptop at work.

central ontario in the springtime

2011.05.24, Ontario
central ontario in the springtime Collections containing t

springtime in ontario, never so many dandelions

2011.05.24, Ontario
springtime in ontario, never so many dandelions Collection

waterfall near Owen Sound

2011.05.24, Ontario
waterfall near Owen Sound Collections containing this phot

a ravine in central ontario

2011.05.24, Ontario
a ravine in central ontario Collections containing this ph

vultures and a gorge

2011.05.24, Ontario
vultures and a gorge Collections containing this photo.lan

a good burger joint in Toronto

2011.05.24, Toronto
Today I decided to try the burger joint across the street from the office for the first time.

a creeper on a fence

2011.05.22, Toronto
a creeper on a fence Collections containing this photo.pho

blossoms in grey

2011.05.22, Toronto
blossoms in grey Collections containing this photo.greener

ladder on a service dock

2011.05.22, Toronto
ladder on a service dock Collections containing this photo

threatening weather over Toronto's Beaches

2011.05.22, Toronto
threatening weather over Toronto's Beaches Collections con

water falls of Grey County

2011.05.22, Collingwood
Today we all packed into our rented Civic and toured the sights of the Collingwood area.

a reunion in Ontario

2011.05.21, Collingwood
We drove to Collingwood today to meet Dad and Renate today.

allergy season

2011.05.20, Toronto
One of the good things about the constant rain and fog is that it's been keeping the tree pollen in check.

Toronto, sunny in May

2011.05.19, Toronto
Toronto, sunny in May Collections containing this photo.to

a bridge and a tower

2011.05.19, Toronto
a bridge and a tower Collections containing this photo.tor

seeds that toughed out the winter

2011.05.19, Toronto
seeds that toughed out the winter Collections containing t

I'm your enemy on the toronto harbour ferry

2011.05.19, Toronto
I'm your enemy on the toronto harbour ferry Collections co

kenny, his mum, and his opa standing on the brink

2011.05.19, Toronto
kenny, his mum, and his opa standing on the brink Collecti

finally some progress

2011.05.19, Toronto
We started our attempts at toilet training Kenny quite some time ago.

photos of our first Canadian hanami

2011.05.19, Toronto
I've gotten the photos from our first Canadian hanami (flower blossom party) online at last.

Springtime lunch

2011.05.19, Toronto
I had lunch outdoors today.

living without plastic

2011.05.19, Toronto
A free weekly newspaper in Toronto known for its anxious tone ran one of those stories about the perils of plastic this week.

an orthodox christian speaks out

2011.05.18, Toronto
I was standing astride my bike today, waiting for the light.

snakes, fungi, frogs, and leeches

2011.05.17, Toronto
One of my coworkers in Japan has, like me, returned to his home country.

Toronto – Jamaica – Japan

2011.05.16, Toronto
Last night we had a chat with Mari's family on "MS Skype".

the foggy city

2011.05.15, Toronto
This is my eighth Spring in Toronto.

no need for a hydrant today

2011.05.14, Toronto
no need for a hydrant today Collections containing this ph

a congress of pigeons

2011.05.14, Toronto
a congress of pigeons Collections containing this photo.st

low clouds over toronto's king street

2011.05.14, Toronto
low clouds over toronto's king street Collections containi

short-term rental bikes in Toronto

2011.05.14, Toronto
short-term rental bikes in Toronto Collections containing

buildings, lines, panes, tones (toronto)

2011.05.14, Toronto
buildings, lines, panes, tones (toronto) buildings, lines,

parked bike in the rain

2011.05.14, Toronto
parked bike in the rain Collections containing this photo.

razor granny and digital photography

2011.05.13, Toronto
Today as I cycled up the hill on our street to start my forty-minute cycle commute, the first person I met was a granny on a "razor".

Darth Vader is following me on twitter

2011.05.13, Toronto
Today Twitter sent me this: "Darth Vader (@SithMyDadSay

my cheap car crush

2011.05.12, Toronto
my cheap car crush Collections containing this photo.stree

brocktown in Toronto

2011.05.12, Toronto
brocktown in Toronto Collections containing this photo.str

running wild on ice cream during hanami

2011.05.12, Toronto
running wild on ice cream during hanami Collections contai

hanami in Toronto

2011.05.12, Toronto
Today I left work early and met my wife, son, and mother at High Park in the west end for hanami under cherry trees donated by Japan.

approved as a sponsor

2011.05.10, Toronto
I started the day with one or two things on my mind.

the X-700 is dead

2011.05.09, Toronto
I got my test roll of film back this afternoon.

alone on Toronto's beaches

2011.05.08, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  shadows &nb

staples holding together a telephone pole

2011.05.08, Toronto
staples holding together a telephone pole Collections cont

tourists admiring the balanced rocks

2011.05.08, Toronto
tourists admiring the balanced rocks Collections containin

ladies of the evening .. well late afternoon

2011.05.08, Toronto
ladies of the evening .. well late afternoon Collections c

queen and yonge

2011.05.08, Toronto
queen and yonge Collections containing this photo.streets

seven people, one bicycle

2011.05.08, Toronto
seven people, one bicycle Collections containing this phot

"I love living in Toronto"

2011.05.08, Toronto
This is getting out of hand.

three fishes to calm the waters

2011.05.07, Toronto
Our new aquarium has been cursed by a problem: fin-eating.

buying a Mac laptop?

2011.05.07, Toronto
We're looking for a replacement for Mari's defunct Dell laptop.

old friend, broken

2011.05.06, Toronto
When I was nineteen, my father gave me a Minolta SRT-101 with two lenses and a malfunctioning electrical system.

"rear deflector" to the rescue

2011.05.05, Toronto
Yesterday I bought one of these.

photo-book contest

2011.05.05, Toronto
Today is "boy's day" in Japan, and Mari stayed up til 01:30 last night making cookies shaped like 'koinobori", the fish flags that fly today.

cameraleather.com to the rescue

2011.05.04, Toronto
I like to re-cover my old film cameras in new leather.

scene of a filming

2011.05.03, Toronto
scene of a filming Collections containing this photo.stree

now that's a big turtle (skeleton)

2011.05.03, Toronto
now that's a big turtle (skeleton) now that's a big turtle

light rain my curvy yellow butt

2011.05.03, Toronto
I rode to work today, following a forecast that called for steady but light rain.

movie review - District 9

2011.05.02, Toronto
This is a science fiction story in which humans have since the early 1980's shared the planet with aliens that touched down in South Africa.

a new dawn in Canada

2011.05.02, Toronto
Looks like we've elected a new style of government in Canada.

lost name tag

2011.05.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  found objec

run down, downtown

2011.05.01, Toronto
run down, downtown Collections containing this photo.toron

rainy autumn day in Toronto

2011.05.01, Toronto
rainy autumn day in Toronto Collections containing this ph

waiting atop a mirror

2011.05.01, Toronto
waiting atop a mirror Collections containing this photo.st

passing an urban theater

2011.05.01, Toronto
passing an urban theater Collections containing this photo

a foggy day in toronto (rare, most years)

2011.05.01, Toronto
a foggy day in toronto (rare, most years) a foggy day in to

lost in the clouds

2011.05.01, Toronto
lost in the clouds Collections containing this photo.stree

a rainy day in Toronto

2011.05.01, Toronto
It was a rainy day today, but with a forecast that was accurate for once, we were prepared.

"come on, check it out"

2011.04.30,
Kenny's new request for participation is, "come on, check it out.

oh what a perfect day

2011.04.30, Toronto
It's been a difficult month.

Dundas street east

2011.04.29, Toronto
Dundas street east Collections containing this photo.stree

how late the Spring!

2011.04.29, Toronto
how late the Spring! Collections containing this photo.gre

what the world can learn from Japan

2011.04.29, Toronto
I found an interesting set of observations about what the world could learn from Japan.

slippage in our PR application

2011.04.28, Toronto
I've been watching a certain webpage on the CIC website that shows where my application for Mari's PR approval might sit.

all is well in Japan (almost)

2011.04.28, Toronto
The Canadian government has signalled the all-clear for Canadians in Japan.

golden door off an alley

2011.04.27, Toronto
Someone alert Neil Gaiman. Collections containing this ph

radian girl

2011.04.27, Toronto
radian girl Collections containing this photo.streets of t

an alley behind restaurants

2011.04.27, Toronto
an alley behind restaurants Collections containing this ph

leaving facebook

2011.04.27, Toronto
Facebook went nuts today, taking a bunch of old things from my website and spamming all of my connections with that.

churches in the mist

2011.04.26, Toronto
churches in the mist Collections containing this photo.str

king street west

2011.04.26, Toronto
king street west Collections containing this photo.streets

singing on a ttc streetcar

2011.04.26, Toronto
singing on a ttc streetcar Collections containing this pho

dead netbook and being green

2011.04.26, Toronto
Our netbook packed it in yesterday.

BMW R75

2011.04.25, Toronto
BMW R75 Collections containing this photo.streets of toron

movie review - True Grit

2011.04.25, Toronto
This is a classic Western about a girl who encourages an aging US Marshall too pursue the man who killed her father.

camera returned!

2011.04.25, Toronto
I've got my camera back.

lost my camera

2011.04.24, Toronto
This weekend I rented a car from a sketchy agency that had to its credit only its proximity to my home.

hockey's first goalie mask

2011.04.23, St. Catharines
hockey's first goalie mask Collections containing this pho

another new home for my website

2011.04.21, Toronto
Once again, I've moved my website to a new hosting environment.

november in toronto

2011.04.20, Toronto
november in toronto Collections containing this photo.stre

drowse and read

2011.04.20, Toronto
I read a couple of books to Kenny last night before he (and I) fell asleep.

limited parking for bikes

2011.04.19, Toronto
limited parking for bikes Collections containing this phot

crack this password!

2011.04.19, Toronto
It turns out that the "strong" password I've been using for my email accounts was weaker than the one I use for "everyday" websites.

graffiti in brick, downtown Toronto's west end

2011.04.18, Toronto
graffiti in brick, downtown Toronto's west end Collections

cold hands, warm heart

2011.04.18, Toronto
Somehow, the day has gotten much colder as it's gone on, and I'm now facing a chilly ride home indeed.

movie review - Let The Right One In

2011.04.17, Toronto
This is a vampire movie that's actually good.

raising fund for relief in Japan

2011.04.17, Toronto
Today we joined a DIY fundraiser for Japan.

two events makes daddy something something

2011.04.16, Toronto
This morning we visited the house of some new friends to plan a fundraising affair in support of a school in quake-ravaged NE Japan.

go up to the lab and seeee whats on the slab

2011.04.15, Toronto
I've discovered something interesting about a show we've been showing Kenny.

today I did a bit of math....

2011.04.15, Toronto
It's occurred to me since I've been back that my salary is basically the same as it was in 1999.

return of the cold weather

2011.04.15, Toronto
Just when it was "Spring" and the cycle lane was clogged with traffic, the cool weather has returned.

insert vote here (in garbage bin)

2011.04.14, Toronto
insert vote here (in garbage bin) insert vote here (in garb

cops are on the scene, do you know what it is that I am saying

2011.04.14, Toronto
On the way home today, the streets were packed with cyclists.

and now, a word on dai-ichi

2011.04.14, Toronto
The Canadian embassy put around another advisory today.

yes, my name is Michael Minolta

2011.04.13, Toronto
Today I picked up a beloved old Minolta X-700 from the repair shop.

kenny feeds the fish

2011.04.12, Toronto
Kenny's taken over feeding the fish in our new/old aquarium.

what a way to remember

2011.04.12, Toronto
Sick all day with a migraine again.

upper beaches at twilight

2011.04.11, Toronto
upper beaches at twilight Collections containing this phot

aquarium established

2011.04.11, Toronto
We had a brief visit with the Seabrights out in "Poshawa" and came home with an aquarium.

fundraiser in a bakery

2011.04.10, Toronto
fundraiser in a bakery Collections containing this photo.s

what passes for excitement round here

2011.04.10, Toronto
Mari told me last night that she's getting excited about having an aquarium again.

I for one welcome our new tree overlord

2011.04.09, St. Catharines
Does the shadow match the tree? Something looks eerily off

the spring's first blossoms

2011.04.09, St. Catharines
the spring's first blossoms Collections containing this ph

a pleasant walk in early spring on the lake's edge

2011.04.09, St. Catharines
a pleasant walk in early spring on the lake's edge Collect

new aquarium coming soon

2011.04.09, Toronto
This weekend I'll be drifting around the Golden Horseshoe in an, ulp, minivan.

four hours with the auditors

2011.04.08, Toronto
We've got an audit coming up, and today was the last of several warm-up meetings that are laying the groundwork.

foggy morning in Toronto

2011.04.07, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  moods  

how bikes pay for themselves

2011.04.07, Toronto
When I bought my bike in Tokyo, I spent more than I wanted to.

when does it stop raining in Vancouver

2011.04.07, Toronto
I lived in Vancouver for a year, so I can appreciate this joke.

water gushing endlessly

2011.04.06, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

sponsoring your spouse in Canada

2011.04.06, Toronto
This morning I filed our application for Mari's permanent residency under the "family class".

a wide view of city core

2011.04.05, Toronto
a wide view of city coreCollections containing this photo.

downtown under cool spring skies

2011.04.05, Toronto
downtown under cool spring skies Collections containing th

chicadees at our feeder

2011.04.05, Toronto
At last, our bird feeder saw some use today.

when does graffiti become paint

2011.04.04, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

puddles half light

2011.04.04, Toronto
puddles half light Collections containing this photo.stree

puddles in a winter alley

2011.04.04, Toronto
puddles in a winter alley Collections containing this phot

street scene in east Toronto

2011.04.03, Toronto
street scene in east Toronto Collections containing this p

the hazards of raccoon crap

2011.04.02, Toronto
I cleaned up all of the raccoon clap today, lest the boy wind up getting into it.

three million page views

2011.04.02, Toronto
I've just noticed that this website's gone past the three million page views mark.

no april fool's joke

2011.04.01, Toronto
Sadly, this is not an April Fool's joke.

american money in circulation in Canada

2011.04.01, Toronto
I don't seem to be able to go a week without some American money winding up in my pocket.

long exposure in a convenience store

2011.03.31, Toronto
long exposure in a convenience store Collections containin

fast traffic at dusk in the Beaches

2011.03.31, Toronto
fast traffic at dusk in the Beaches Collections containing

ghost girls at twilight .. in a comvenience store

2011.03.31, Toronto
ghost girls at twilight .. in a comvenience store Collecti

fast traffic on Queen Street, Toronto

2011.03.31, Toronto
fast traffic on Queen Street, Toronto Collections containi

farewell March, 2011 & ghost girls at twilight

2011.03.31, Toronto
So, March is over.

my 2011-2012 commuter

2011.03.30, Toronto
my 2011-2012 commuter Collections containing this photo.ba

99cm tall

2011.03.30, Toronto
I noticed Kenny standing next to the little couch-side laptop table we use.

cycling below zero

2011.03.30, Toronto
I rode my bike to work today.

"freelove rider"

2011.03.29, Toronto
My mother wrote to share some strange news about our family tree this morning.

shadows, snow, and noonday greenery

2011.03.27, Toronto
shadows, snow, and noonday greenery Collections containing

another new site design

2011.03.27, Toronto
The amazon experiment went as expected; I racked up one referral sale in the months since I added their ads to my site.

a home in the hills

2011.03.26, Toronto
a home in the hills Collections containing this photo.arch

earth hour was fun

2011.03.26, Toronto
We observed Earth Hour today, killing all of the lights and computers.

tripadvisor leaked my contact details

2011.03.25, Toronto
I just received notification from TripAdvisor.

two half-cows in Toronto

2011.03.24, Toronto
two half-cows in Toronto Collections containing this photo

self-portrait shadow

2011.03.24, Toronto
self-portrait shadow Collections containing this photo.tor

a good photo day

2011.03.24, Toronto
Yesterday was a fun day for photography.

streetcar on a snowy day

2011.03.23, Toronto
streetcar on a snowy day Collections containing this photo

a poor night for driving

2011.03.23, Toronto
a poor night for driving Collections containing this photo

evening comes to a quiet street

2011.03.23, Toronto
evening comes to a quiet street Collections containing thi

snow returns to Toronto

2011.03.23, Toronto
snow returns to Toronto Collections containing this photo.

too soon for bicycles

2011.03.23, Toronto
too soon for bicycles Collections containing this photo.st

a snowy march over Queen street

2011.03.23, Toronto
a snowy march over Queen street Collections containing thi

the office building where I worked

2011.03.23, Toronto
the office building where I worked Collections containing

a long wait for a long car

2011.03.23, Toronto
a long wait for a long car Collections containing this pho

our phone setup is getting downright weird

2011.03.23, Toronto
Things were so much more simple in the old days.

the bank loses our paperwork

2011.03.22, Toronto
You have to hand it to Japan's bureaucrats - they made be insanely rigid and micromanaging, but they don't tend to screw around.

spring is for songbirds

2011.03.22, Toronto
One of the beauties of Toronto's late-starting Spring is the return of the song-birds.

grey river

2011.03.20, Toronto
The Don in Toronto is certainly capable of flooding. Today

extending my handlebars

2011.03.20, Toronto
extending my handlebars Collections containing this photo.

strumming in the subway

2011.03.20, Toronto
strumming in the subway Collections containing this photo.

this means dog friendly

2011.03.20, Toronto
this means dog friendly Collections containing this photo.

cycling into a 5ºC headwind

2011.03.20, Toronto
Today I picked up an old bike from a friend.

a riot of colorful graffiti in a Toronto alleyway

2011.03.19, Toronto
a riot of colorful graffiti in a Toronto alleyway Collecti

the cat egg

2011.03.19, Toronto
Today we took Kenny to the beach and then along the length of the boardwalk to its western end.

our first visitor from Japan

2011.03.19, Toronto
Today we met with our first visitor from Japan; Miho-san from Mari's recent employer.

crossing the Don river on the rails

2011.03.18, Toronto
crossing the Don river on the rails Collections containing

long photo triptych

2011.03.18, Toronto
I've made a photo journal of sorts for my morning commute down Queen Street to the city center.

the plume from Dai-ichi

2011.03.18, Toronto
Here's a map of the radioactive plume coming from the Dai-ichi plant in Japan.

body language says don't touch

2011.03.17, Toronto
body language says don't touch Collections containing this

an update from Canadian consular services in Japan

2011.03.17, Toronto
I've received another update from the Canadian consular services as follows.

bringing my wife to Canada

2011.03.17, Toronto
I am trying to sponsor my wife for permanent residence in Canada.

saw my first raccoon on the street

2011.03.16, Toronto
It seems so trivial with the things going on in our household and in the world, but I saw my first raccoon since being back.

fukushima power plant in meltdown

2011.03.16, Toronto
It looks like reactor 2 at fukushima must now be in meltdown.

Harvey's

2011.03.15, Toronto
A staple in the lives of Beaches kids. [Edit 2023: Are y

graffiti before condos

2011.03.15, Toronto
I'll take this over tiresome glass towers any time. Colle

queen and spadina, toronto in late winter

2011.03.15, Toronto
queen and spadina, toronto in late winter Collections cont

apartment buildings late march, toronto

2011.03.15, Toronto
apartment buildings late march, toronto Collections contai

medical center, surely

2011.03.15, Toronto
medical center, surely Collections containing this photo.s

movie review - Winter's Bone

2011.03.15, Toronto
This is the story of a girl in an impoverished mountain district who faces the loss of the family home - and the paying woodlot attached.

three thousand years old

2011.03.13, Toronto
three thousand years old Collections containing this photo

the dinosaur fanatic

2011.03.12, Toronto
Today we took Kenny to the Royal Ontario Musuem.

stay away from fukushima

2011.03.12, Toronto
This evening (Toronto time) I've had another update from

terrible news from Fukushima

2011.03.12, Toronto
Mari's been watching the news from Japan all day in a live stream.

have mercy; been waiting for the bus all day

2011.03.11, Toronto
have mercy; been waiting for the bus all day Collections c

tried curling, today, for the first time

2011.03.11, Toronto
Having just reached the tender age of forty, I'm delighted to have just knocked off a long-standing to-do item: try curling.

bad earthquake in Japan

2011.03.11, Toronto
This morning I received a warning of a terrible earthquake i

is it me or the lens

2011.03.09, Toronto
is it me or the lens Collections containing this photo.cam

some new (old) photos

2011.03.09, Toronto
We've added a raft of photos from Mari's Fuji, some dating back to July of last year.

my mac mini's funniest moments

2011.03.09, Toronto
I use a Mac at home (and desperately wish I could use one at work).

kid's programs

2011.03.09, Toronto
Toronto has a comprehensive program for kid's activities, many of which are free for the parents.

the mad condo rush

2011.03.08, Toronto
the mad condo rush Collections containing this photo.archi

new camera leather!

2011.03.08, Toronto
For my birthday, I gave myself a small gift of two new camera leather kits.

the furniture is (mostly) here

2011.03.08, Toronto
Mixed news today on our attempts at getting ourselves settled.

this cupid by tim burton

2011.03.07, Toronto
this cupid by tim burton Collections containing this photo

giant's door in Toronto

2011.03.07, Toronto
giant's door in Toronto Collections containing this photo.

I've been expecting you

2011.03.07, Toronto
I've been expecting you Collections containing this photo.

a fine birthday present for papa...

2011.03.07, Toronto
Today, Kenny has started sitting on the toilet when he needs to poo.

few colours in a Toronto winter

2011.03.06, Toronto
few colours in a Toronto winter Collections containing thi

a phone, a clinic, a bank, and some screws

2011.03.05, Toronto
It was a rainy day spent on the streets of The Beaches doing errands.

patterns of reflected light on brick walls

2011.03.03, Tokyo
patterns of reflected light on brick walls Collections con

money and chicken

2011.03.03, Toronto
Today I met with Mari and Kenny downtown.

kenny meets OHIP

2011.03.02, Toronto
Mari and I had a look at the bills that we've been accumulating for Kenny and decided to start the application for his health care.

like father, like son

2011.03.01, Toronto
For some reason, Kenny had an abscess develop on his skin.

the return of the film scanner

2011.03.01, Toronto
I could take no more.

been waiting for the streetcar all morning

2011.02.28, Toronto
Some years later I would become acquainted with the lady 2n

back in Toronto

2011.02.28, Toronto
back in Toronto Collections containing this photo.streets

twilight over a Toronto streetcar stop

2011.02.28, Toronto
twilight over a Toronto streetcar stop Collections contain

an old muscle car on Queen street

2011.02.28, Toronto
an old muscle car on Queen street Collections containing t

Mixalis Maris

2011.02.27, Toronto
One of the brightest and hardest-working people I've ever m

a rainy Toronto day in late winter

2011.02.27, Toronto
a rainy Toronto day in late winter Collections containing

domestic issue?

2011.02.27, Toronto
domestic issue? domestic issue? Collections containing this

artist's laneway, graffiti zone Toronto

2011.02.27, Toronto
artist's laneway, graffiti zone Toronto Collections contai

rady hair and barber salon

2011.02.27, Toronto
rady hair and barber salon Collections containing this pho

the boy likes snow

2011.02.27, Toronto
There was *yet another* snowfall last night.

snow-covered bleachers

2011.02.26, Toronto
snow-covered bleachers Collections containing this photo.s

migraine and "race"

2011.02.26, Toronto
It looks like race* is a determining factor when it comes to migraine (in addition to gender).

new site design

2011.02.26, Toronto
Don't give me free time.

a nurse's pin and a room full of chairs

2011.02.25, Toronto
Tonight I found an RN's pin on my seat on the eastbound 504 streetcar tonight.

a raccoon in the apartment

2011.02.24, Toronto
Tonight when I got home I noticed the small cat-door that was built into the wall next to the door.

this place is cursed!

2011.02.23, Toronto
On the way to the photo lab today, I noticed a woman coming toward me stoop to pick up something.

the long way to work

2011.02.23, Toronto
The Queen streetcar was diverted north a few blocks to Gerard St.

movie review - Sherlock Holmes

2011.02.20, Toronto
This is a liberal retelling of the classic detective story, by Guy Ritchie.

one miss, two hits

2011.02.20, Hamilton
Today we set out early to do some dreaded shopping.

traffic in a windy city

2011.02.18, Toronto
It took us two hours to get to my mum's place from our place, tonight.

elevator chat

2011.02.18, Toronto
One thing about being back in a land where you have basic fluency.

Wallace and Gromit

2011.02.15, Toronto
Tonight we introduced Kenny to "Wallace and Gromit".

migraine, bloody migraine

2011.02.14, Toronto
Laid up all day with a migraine today.

on the beach

2011.02.12, Toronto
We went to the shore today.

man with an umbrella (in his hair)

2011.02.10, Toronto
Today on the way home from furniture shopping we saw a young fellow with a cocktail umbrella in his hair.

Canada Customs is a mess

2011.02.09, Toronto
Here's a letter I wrote to my member of parliament about my recent experience with Canada Customs.

the dirty city

2011.02.08, Toronto
Kenny's figured out that Toronto is dirty.

movie review - Coraline

2011.02.07, Toronto
This is a stop-motion animated movie done in a perfect style in which two realities are tenuously connected through various cat-flaps in an old house.

a taste of home

2011.02.07, Toronto
Tonight I tried--and failed--to do an organized errand run after work.

snowy laneway in Toronto

2011.02.06, Toronto
snowy laneway in Toronto Collections containing this photo

emergency exit

2011.02.05, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  architectur

snowed in

2011.02.05, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

night time, spadina and richmond in winter

2011.02.05, Toronto
night time, spadina and richmond in winter Collections con

moved!

2011.02.04, Toronto
It's done.

ice hangs from a building downtown Toronto

2011.02.03, Toronto
ice hangs from a building downtown Toronto Collections con

a frosty lattice in February

2011.02.03, Toronto
a frosty lattice in February Collections containing this p

texting among ghosts

2011.02.03, Toronto
texting among ghosts Collections containing this photo.ont

a goa train arrives in a cloud of snow

2011.02.03, Toronto
a goa train arrives in a cloud of snow Collections contain

waiting for a wet streetcar, queen and church

2011.02.03, Toronto
waiting for a wet streetcar, queen and church Collections

customs issue resolved

2011.02.03, Toronto
I had an odd message from our moving company today.

Samuel Washington, RIP

2011.02.02, Toronto
I've just learned that a former colleague died two years ago when I was in deepest, darkest Japan.

having trouble releasing our goods from Customs

2011.02.01, Toronto
Everything's gone pretty well with our move, until now.

balls falls in winter

2011.01.31, Niagara Peninsula
balls falls in winter Collections containing this photo.st

shadows across snow, and old boards crumbling

2011.01.31, Niagara Peninsula
shadows across snow, and old boards crumbling Collections

tobogganing again

2011.01.30, Fonthill, Ontario
Today there was bright sunlight on the snow, so we headed out to see some more of the peninsula.

birthday party

2011.01.29, St. Catharines
Kenny had his first Canadian birthday party, today.

tobogganing is fun

2011.01.29, St. Catharines
Today we took Kenny tobogganing for the first time.

on this, the 27th...

2011.01.27, Toronto
On this, the 27th, I went on a seven-collecting mission.

I don't understand the financial system

2011.01.26, Oakville
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't understand the financial system.

then I did something goofy

2011.01.25, Oakville
The train arrived on time this morning, but the doors refused to open.

metered Internet comes to Canada

2011.01.24, Toronto
Hooray for the government!

Towing the two year old in the snow

2011.01.23, Toronto
Towing the two year old in the snow Collections containing

degrees of evil

2011.01.23, Oakville
Rush Limbaugh, who I think is the American entertainer who gave Canada the nickname "Soviet Canuckistan" has finally come up with another keeper.

my brilliant old idea

2011.01.21, St. Catharines
For the past few months I've been carrying around a small bag that's suited for my netbook and a few A4 file folders.

at the japanese consulate

2011.01.19, Toronto
It looks like getting our Ontario driver's licenses will be easy.

snowball surprise

2011.01.18, Toronto
Whenever I get the chance, these days, I tend to drowse.

"go do laundry"

2011.01.17, Oakville
The Boy and I were playing with his train set when his mum took me away from the play.

broken, cold sunrise

2011.01.17, Oakville
This morning there was a really amazing sunrise, just astonishing.

apartment hunting in Toronto

2011.01.16, Toronto
So far, I've seen some fourteen apartments in Toronto.

runaway

2011.01.15, Burlington
Today we spent the day looking for apartments.

looking for a home

2011.01.15, Toronto
Today we spent the entire day looking at apartments in Toronto.

Alberta clipper

2011.01.14, St. Catharines
We've got a lot of driving to do this weekend.

77 of your contacts....

2011.01.13, Toronto
I had an email from linkedin.

a funeral in January

2011.01.12, St. Catharines
I attended a funeral in St.

after a rainfall in Miyazaki

2011.01.11, Miyazaki
after a rainfall in Miyazaki Collections containing this p

god light over kyusyu

2011.01.11, Miyazaki
god light over kyusyu Collections containing this photo.sk

coyote morning

2011.01.11, Oakville, Ontario
Today was a sunny day, but the morning was unusually dark and grey.

wondermark

2011.01.10, Toronto
For quite some time, I've been reading this brilliant web comics called Wondermark.

an old friend on the train

2011.01.10, Toronto
On Friday I had a happy chance meeting with a friend on the train.

first snow play time

2011.01.09, St. Catharines
Kenny got a snow jacket and mitts from his Oma and Opa for X'mas.

looking for a home

2011.01.09, St. Catharines
We spent a good part of the day looking at online listings, trying to find a place to live.

X'mas in January

2011.01.08, St. Catharines
We had a special X'mas celebration for Kenny today.

niagara weather (snowstorm)

2011.01.08, St. Catharines
Today we had quite a snowstorm.

japanese in niagara

2011.01.08, St. Catharines
When I got to St.

toronto weather (this ain't miyazaki)

2011.01.07, Toronto
This morning I was reminded of an incident last week in Miyakonojo Japan.

jetlag, nytol, and "wake-ups"

2011.01.06, Toronto
At this time of year, Tokyo and Toronto are some ten hours off-set.

welcome back, sorry about your train

2011.01.06, Toronto
Today was my first day commuting back into the city center.

steam vent on the street

2011.01.05, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

an orchard in winter

2011.01.05, Niagara Peninsula
Collections containing this photo.  trees & tru

making mochi with a man and a mallet

2011.01.03, Toronto
making mochi with a man and a mallet Collections containin

flying, again?

2011.01.03, Toronto
Today we flew from Vancouver to Toronto.

spoiled for aquariums

2011.01.02, Vancouver
Today we went to the Vancouver aquarium.

hello, snow

2011.01.01, Vancouver
Today we took Kenny up Grouse Mountain in Vancouver.

hello, Vancouver

2011.01.01, Vancouver
We found Vancouver sunny for a second day.

2010

a snowy arrival atop a BC mountain

2010.12.31, Vancouver
a snowy arrival atop a BC mountain Collections containing

"Opa to Oma, bye-bye"

2010.12.31, Vancouver
The Boy managed to squeeze all three of his grandparent's languages into one sentence today.

fare well, Tokyo

2010.12.31, Vancouver
My time in Tokyo is over.

movie review - Iron Man

2010.12.30, Airplane
I was put off by the trailers for this movie, then more so by the incredible success of it.

monkeys, too many monkeys

2010.12.30, Nichinan, Miyazaki
This morning I climbed the hill near my wife's parents' place.

predawn photography

2010.12.27, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Every year end, when visiting with Mari's family in Miyazaki, I've taken a pre-dawn excursion for photography.

SOB readiness

2010.12.26, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Caught a funny typo in a document I recently created for a client.

a new aquarium

2010.12.25, Nichinan, Miyazaki
We've got a new/old aquarium set up for my father in law just in time for his 70th birthday.

X'mas in Japan

2010.12.24, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki
It's our last X'mas in Japan.

setting sun from a train, behind volcanic cloud

2010.12.23, Miyazaki
setting sun from a train, behind volcanic cloud Collection

twilight in rural miyazaki

2010.12.23, Miyazaki
twilight in rural miyazaki Collections containing this pho

a shrine in a cave

2010.12.22, Nichinan
While touring Nichinan, Miyazaki by bike I came across this

a shrine before Christmas

2010.12.22, Nichinan
Touring Nichinan, Japan, I found this site. Collections c

rock man waiting for the dawn

2010.12.22, Miyazaki
rock man waiting for the dawn Collections containing this

beached in a rive

2010.12.22, Miyazaki
beached in a rive Collections containing this photo.the se

the fish lives

2010.12.22, Nichinan, Miyazaki
So it's not so easy to ship fish via courier after all.

goodbye, home

2010.12.21, Tokyo
It's our last day in Tokyo.

smuggling live fish in japan

2010.12.19, Tokyo
The transport companies in Japan won't ship live fish.

free space gallery?

2010.12.14, Tokyo
free space gallery? free space gallery? Collections contain

final cemetery photo from Japan

2010.12.14, Tokyo
final cemetery photo from Japan Collections containing thi

sound system under the ceiling of a stadium

2010.12.14, Tokyo
sound system under the ceiling of a stadium Collections co

pauding at the end of the day

2010.12.14, Tokyo
pauding at the end of the day Collections containing this

farewell final open space

2010.12.13, Tokyo
farewell final open space Collections containing this phot

north american standard

2010.12.12, Ontario
north american standard Collections containing this photo.

church and vinyard in December

2010.12.12, Niagara Peninsula
church and vinyard in December Collections containing this

survivor bricks

2010.12.12, Toronto
survivor bricks Collections containing this photo.walls &

an old limestone tomb stone in niagara

2010.12.12, Niagara Peninsula
an old limestone tomb stone in niagara Collections contain

shoreline of lake ontario at etobicoke

2010.12.12, Toronto
shoreline of lake ontario at etobicoke Collections contain

beach before freezing

2010.12.12, Ontario
beach before freezing Collections containing this photo.ar

men working on a high billboard

2010.12.12, Toronto
men working on a high billboard Collections containing thi

vega desgagnes in lake ontario

2010.12.12, Ontario
vega desgagnes in lake ontario Collections containing this

much dead family

2010.12.12, Niagara Peninsula
much dead family Collections containing this photo.niagara

a factory in Canada, still operating?

2010.12.12, Ontario
a factory in Canada, still operating? a factory in Canada,

tombstone of my grandparents

2010.12.12, Ontario
tombstone of my grandparents Collections containing this p

cemetery in niagara in the golden hour

2010.12.12, Niagara Peninsula
cemetery in niagara in the golden hour Collections contain

museum of steam and technology

2010.12.12, Ontario
museum of steam and technology Collections containing this

winter comes early to southern ontario

2010.12.12, Toronto
winter comes early to southern ontario Collections contain

I've forgotten how to be a dad

2010.12.11, Tokyo
I've forgotten the routines of being a dad, and I let my wife and son down tonight.

I've forgotten Japanese

2010.12.11, Tokyo
The timing of my return was intended to coincide with a performance at Kenny's day care.

national emblem wilted and discarded

2010.12.10, Tokyo
national emblem wilted and discarded Collections containin

the jolly fisher-pig

2010.12.10, Tokyo
the jolly fisher-pig Collections containing this photo.tok

first earthquake

2010.12.10, Tokyo
I'd only been back in Tokyo for about fifteen hours when I felt my first earthquake.

back in Japan

2010.12.10, Tokyo
So I'm back.

time to fly away

2010.12.09, Toronto
Woke up very ill today.

a presentation

2010.12.08, Toronto
I attended a presentation of my new employer's software for a prospect today.

buying forgiveness

2010.12.06, Toronto
Kenny's not happy with me for being away for so long.

cheeky Metrolinx

2010.12.06, Toronto
My train didn't show up this morning.

street reflections

2010.12.05, Toronto
It's strange to be back in Toronto. The brick and wood are

jobs in Tokyo

2010.12.02, Toronto
Naturally, now that I've left Tokyo (likely for good) I'm getting word of jobs opening up at Citi.

counting a month in Toronto

2010.12.02, Toronto
I've been back in the city for a month now, thought I

frosty sunrise

2010.12.01, Ontario
Collections containing this photo.  snow and ic

new home

2010.12.01, Toronto
How many homes? 20? 25? Collections containing this photo

frosty sunrise

2010.12.01, Ontario
I don't think I'm in Tokyo anymore. Collections containin

Ontario train

2010.12.01, Toronto
Have mercy. Been waiting on the Go all day. Collections c

Prestocard "undercharge" & duplicate payments

2010.12.01, Toronto
My struggles with the transit system continue.

from Japan to Canada

2010.12.01, Toronto
Merry December, everyone!

movie review - The Time Traveler's Wife

2010.11.30, Toronto
This is a superb story about a man who with the ability to travel in time.

bay-adelaide at last!

2010.11.29, Toronto
On Friday I was stunned to see that the first part of the Bay-Adelaide centre has been built.

cycling photo contest

2010.11.28, Oakville
So, I didn't win the cycling-related photo contest I entered.

tronto's broken transit system

2010.11.28, St. Catharines
Getting down to St.

new ink

2010.11.27, St. Catharines
I got a new tattoo, today.

cold day for death

2010.11.27, Burlington
On my way down to St.

baby double decker

2010.11.27, Oakville
The other day as I headed for the bus stop I noticed something odd about the baby carriage that a woman was pushing down the street.

it's cold

2010.11.26, Toronto
Gloomy, this morning.

fights and tights

2010.11.26, Toronto
A superheroes league seems to be advertising in Toronto.

can't win for trying

2010.11.26, Toronto
Today I managed to save some money by doing some leg work.

toque and gloves and scarf

2010.11.24, Toronto
Windy today, and 1°C.

my dinner with Brian

2010.11.23, Toronto
I had dinner with a friend last night.

traffic, bloody traffic

2010.11.23, Toronto
I'm struggling with the train system in Toronto.

nice tie!

2010.11.22, Toronto
In contrast to the commentary I had the other day, today I got a compliment on my tie.

grandparents

2010.11.22, St. Catharines
This weekend my mother and I went looking for the tombstones of our grandparents.

fort meyers, eh

2010.11.22, Toronto
On the Toronto subway system, you see ads for many things.

of electronics

2010.11.21, Toronto
Today I bought my son his first camera.

hick town driving

2010.11.20, St. Catharines
On my way out the door this morning I glanced into a neighbour's truck and saw a beer can in the cup holder.

streets of Toronto

2010.11.19, Toronto
Toronto's streets are so different from Tokyo's!

another startup

2010.11.15, Toronto
Today was hectic.

job search update

2010.11.13, St. Catharines
One job lead is dead, and one may lead to an offer on Monday.

gluten-free pizza in Canada

2010.11.11, Oakville
Tonight Scott and I went out for pizza.

apartment searching in Toronto

2010.11.10, Toronto
Here's a quick list of things that I like about searching for an apartment in Toronto as opposed to Tokyo.

a little modesty...

2010.11.09, Toronto
I went into a business today and was greeted by an attractive young woman with a very tight and low-cut top.

free Kindle and gross commericalism

2010.11.08, Toronto
I've added a banner from Amazon across the top of most of the emuu.

transit in Ontario

2010.11.07, Toronto
Nothing drives home the excellence of the Tokyo transit system like comparing it to that of a North American city.

small wharves in Oakville

2010.11.06, Ontario
small wharves in Oakville Collections containing this phot

Go train in Mimico

2010.11.06, Ontario
Go train in Mimico Collections containing this photo.ontar

final season's scattered remains

2010.11.06, St. Catharines
final season's scattered remains Collections containing th

job search progress

2010.11.06, Toronto
So far, so good.

An oft-patched door

2010.11.04, St. Catharines
An oft-patched door Collections containing this photo.wall

rusty lock, wooden door

2010.11.04, St. Catharines
rusty lock, wooden door Collections containing this photo.

neither here nor there

2010.11.04, St. Catharines
neither here nor there Collections containing this photo.s

old paint on brick

2010.11.04, St. Catharines
old paint on brick Collections containing this photo.st ca

what's that language?

2010.11.03, St. Catharines
Got to the bus stop this morning to catch the train to the city.

credit rating in Canada

2010.11.03, Toronto
Unlike Japan, Canada has a tax-number system.

home again, home again

2010.11.02, St. Catharines
I'm back in the city of my birth.

in Toronto

2010.11.01, Tokyo
I've touched down in Toronto, and immediately notice some differences with my adopted home of Tokyo.

guess which hand?

2010.10.30, Tokyo
Kenny doesn't entirely get the process of asking someone to guess in which hand they're holding something.

photo challenge book

2010.10.29, Tokyo
I've edited and published a photo book containing the work of some fifteen pentax photographers.

no beard

2010.10.28, Tokyo
I have a beard trimmer.

Why you little!

2010.10.25, Tokyo
Being a careful father, I'm raising our boy on a steady diet of The Simpsons.

Yes, we speak English

2010.10.22, Tokyo
A boy at our son's day care was surprised to learn that some Canadians speak English.

why I ride

2010.10.21, Tokyo
waiting in Yokohama Riding for me was about corners taken t

movie review - In the Valley of Elah

2010.10.18, Toronto
This is a movie about an Army veteran who receives word that his son has gone missing from an army base in the US.

China's cyberattacks of Japan

2010.10.18, Tokyo
During September, Japan's telcos came under a vast "cyberattack" involving a distributed denial of service attack.

All the young punks

2010.10.16, Tokyo
All the young punks Collections containing this photo.

flag of .. liberia

2010.10.16, Tokyo
Some friends graciously gave us a denim jacket for Kenny, a hand-me-down from the son.

an example of great customer service

2010.10.16, Tokyo
I have had a really pleasant example of customer service from a software firm.

X marks the waterline

2010.10.15, Tokyo
X marks the waterline Collections containing this photo.

high dynamic range (for Tokyo)

2010.10.15, Tokyo
high dynamic range (for Tokyo) high dynamic range (for Toky

a tale of two Werneburgs

2010.10.15, Tokyo
I've had occasion to have both myself and my son photographed for official purposes, recently.

tough times

2010.10.13, Tokyo
I had a conversation with someone who's seen his business's sales plummet 95% in the past two months.

i am this many old

2010.10.12, Tokyo
i am this many old Collections containing this photo.

journal entry 3335

2010.10.10, Tokyo
I noticed today, on 10/10/10, that I've made 3335 journal posts.

cycle patrol on the old seashore highway

2010.10.10, Tokyo
cycle patrol on the old seashore highway Collections conta

one family, three coloured umbrellas

2010.10.09, Tokyo
one family, three coloured umbrellas Collections containin

fading blossoms as autumn turns to cold rain

2010.10.09, Tokyo
fading blossoms as autumn turns to cold rain Collections c

nihongo jyouzu ni narimashita

2010.10.09, Tokyo
Today I ran into one of my formerJapanese teachers.

one blurry night in tokyo

2010.10.07, Tokyo
one blurry night in tokyo Collections containing this phot

final days in Tokyo

2010.10.07, Tokyo
final days in Tokyo Collections containing this photo.toky

the shy photographer

2010.10.07, Tokyo
the shy photographer Collections containing this photo.lif

a jew in Tokyo

2010.10.07, Tokyo
a jew in Tokyo Collections containing this photo.tokyo 201

knotty wall, tokyo

2010.10.06, Tokyo
knotty wall, tokyo Collections containing this photo.walls

the happy fisherpig

2010.10.06, Tokyo
the happy fisherpig Collections containing this photo.toky

day of the triffids

2010.10.06, Tokyo
day of the triffids Collections containing this photo.toky

The world is getting worse

2010.10.04, Tokyo
I'm at the embassy getting my son's passport updated.

as beautiful as tokyo

2010.10.03, Tokyo
as beautiful as tokyo Collections containing this photo.ar

the ghibli art-deco outdoor toilet

2010.10.03, Tokyo
the ghibli art-deco outdoor toilet Collections containing

best manhole cover ever

2010.10.03, Tokyo
best manhole cover ever Collections containing this photo.

details-old Japanese steam train

2010.10.03, Tokyo
details-old Japanese steam train Collections containing th

ascending to Canada

2010.10.01, Tokyo
ascending to Canada Collections containing this photo.life

politician on a bike in Tokyo

2010.10.01, Tokyo
politician on a bike in Tokyo Collections containing this

movie review - Paranormal Activity

2010.09.30, Tokyo
I'm not usually a fan of horror, but this is a very well done piece with lots of "home video footage" that shows a couple slowly being tormented by a possession.

mister big-balls says 'whatchu starin at'

2010.09.30, Tokyo
mister big-balls says 'whatchu starin at' Collections cont

horsing around on the sofa (another old video)

2010.09.30, Tokyo
Another video from this past April.

kicked square in the eye

2010.09.30, Tokyo
Anyone want a slightly used 2½ year old?

party boat in Shinagawa

2010.09.27, Tokyo
party boat in Shinagawa Collections containing this photo.

three diamond rings

2010.09.27, Tokyo
three diamond rings Collections containing this photo.

a rare photo pic

2010.09.26, Tokyo
a rare photo pic Collections containing this photo.greener

kids in an alley eating sweets

2010.09.26, Tokyo
kids in an alley eating sweets Collections containing this

portrait of a friend

2010.09.25, Tokyo
portrait of a friend Collections containing this photo.por

english ok in Tokyo

2010.09.24, Tokyo
english ok in Tokyo Collections containing this photo.toky

calm canal in Tokyo

2010.09.22, Tokyo
calm canal in Tokyo Collections containing this photo.urba

serene riverside by Shinagawa station

2010.09.22, Tokyo
serene riverside by Shinagawa station Collections containi

outdoors weekend day III

2010.09.22, Tokyo
During Silver week, there are a few holidays.

protesting the world's worst government

2010.09.21, Tokyo
protesting the world's worst government protesting the worl

ominous doorway in Tokyo

2010.09.21, Tokyo
ominous doorway in Tokyo Collections containing this photo

gorgeous plants in black and white

2010.09.20, Miura peninsula
gorgeous plants in black and white Collections containing

my favourite photo .. ever

2010.09.20, Miura peninsula
my favourite photo .. ever Collections containing this pho

wave-worn hole in shoreline rocks

2010.09.20, Miura peninsula
wave-worn hole in shoreline rocks Collections containing t

nails and termites make holes in old wood

2010.09.19, Tokyo
nails and termites make holes in old wood Collections cont

the subtle signs that you shouldn't enter

2010.09.19, Tokyo
the subtle signs that you shouldn't enter Collections cont

the lady Konan (I'm guessing)

2010.09.19, Tokyo
the lady Konan (I'm guessing) the lady Konan (I'm guessing)

outdoors weekend day II

2010.09.19, Tokyo
Today our weekend of living outdoors on the cheap continued.

charting a course through the IT industry

2010.09.19, Tokyo
For many years, the information technology field had major problems to solve.

movie review - Fish Tank

2010.09.18, Tokyo
This is a film set in a low-income urban neighborhood somewhere in the UK.

outdoors weekend day 1

2010.09.18, Tokyo
It's a long weekend in Japan, and the hot weather has finally ended.

oh, leonardo .. selling tyres?

2010.09.17, Tokyo
oh, leonardo .. selling tyres? oh, leonardo .. selling tyre

carved wooden detail at Shibamata Taishakuten

2010.09.17, Tokyo
carved wooden detail at Shibamata Taishakuten Collections

an incense urn at a small shrine

2010.09.17, Tokyo
an incense urn at a small shrine Collections containing th

sunset at an edogawa shrine

2010.09.17, Tokyo
sunset at an edogawa shrine Collections containing this ph

edogawa .. pumping station?

2010.09.17, Tokyo
edogawa .. pumping station? edogawa .. pumping station? Col

in tokyo, rivers are for highways

2010.09.17, Tokyo
in tokyo, rivers are for highways Collections containing t

trains cross the Sumida at sunset

2010.09.17, Tokyo
trains cross the Sumida at sunset Collections containing t

another cycle trip

2010.09.17, Tokyo
I hopped on my bike again today, this time in the opposite direction.

self portrait with infected nose

2010.09.16, Tokyo
self portrait with infected nose Collections containing th

20,000 frames

2010.09.16, Tokyo
Rolled my (DSLR) camera over the frame counter again, which means I've now taken more than 20,000 photos on it.

shinkansen and a cemetery

2010.09.15, Tokyo
shinkansen and a cemetery Collections containing this phot

cycle trip to Yokohama

2010.09.15, Tokyo
I live in Shinagawa.

reaching for the water, yokohama

2010.09.14, Tokyo
reaching for the water, yokohama Collections containing th

crossing eleven tracks on foot

2010.09.14, Yokohama
crossing eleven tracks on foot Collections containing this

now that's polished wood!

2010.09.14, Yokohama
now that's polished wood! now that's polished wood! Collect

sunset at soji-ji

2010.09.14, Yokohama
sunset at soji-ji Collections containing this photo.one da

cemetery on a hill-slope, yokohama

2010.09.14, Yokohama
cemetery on a hill-slope, yokohama Collections containing

reflected trees beneath a driving range

2010.09.14, Yokohama
reflected trees beneath a driving range Collections contai

I don't understand "torankuruumu"

2010.09.14, Yokohama
I don't understand "torankuruumu" I don't understand "toran

friendly if ramshackle home

2010.09.14, Tokyo
friendly if ramshackle home Collections containing this ph

hill-top cemetery

2010.09.14, Yokohama
hill-top cemetery Collections containing this photo.one da

soji-ji temple beaded doorway

2010.09.14, Yokohama
soji-ji temple beaded doorway Collections containing this

waiting in Yokohama

2010.09.14, Yokohama
waiting in Yokohama Collections containing this photo.toky

bridges over bridges

2010.09.14, Yokohama
bridges over bridges Collections containing this photo.one

huge temple, small prayer window

2010.09.14, Yokohama
huge temple, small prayer window Collections containing th

evening lanterns at an izakaya

2010.09.13, Tokyo
evening lanterns at an izakaya Collections containing this

bar lanterns on the tokaidou

2010.09.13, Tokyo
bar lanterns on the tokaidou Collections containing this p

a monk begging for alms

2010.09.13, Tokyo
a monk begging for alms Collections containing this photo.

belting out the jazz in tokyo

2010.09.12, Tokyo
belting out the jazz in tokyo Collections containing this

red sky at morning...

2010.09.12, Tokyo
red sky at morning... Collections containing this photo.sk

b flat bar coasters

2010.09.12, Tokyo
b flat bar coasters Collections containing this photo.

a stranger at the door

2010.09.12, Tokyo
a stranger at the door Collections containing this photo.c

mari's singing coach

2010.09.12, Tokyo
Mari's jazz singing coach is, of course, a singer herself.

express train to hanno

2010.09.11, Tokyo
express train to hanno Collections containing this photo.t

old wall, no mortar

2010.09.11, Tokyo
old wall, no mortar Collections containing this photo.wall

enjoyable all the time

2010.09.11, Tokyo
enjoyable all the time Collections containing this photo.

where on earth is hibarigaoka?

2010.09.11, Tokyo
Today we went out to the country and visited a knife-wielding .

cigarettes, cola, and of course, electronics

2010.09.10, Tokyo
cigarettes, cola, and of course, electronics Collections c

walk this way, gentlemen

2010.09.10, Tokyo
walk this way, gentlemen Collections containing this photo

slow shopping day

2010.09.10, Tokyo
slow shopping day Collections containing this photo.tokyo

shinagawa shrine and guard dog

2010.09.09, Tokyo
shinagawa shrine and guard dog Collections containing this

square logs, round pipes, and other shapes

2010.09.09, Tokyo
square logs, round pipes, and other shapes Collections con

chinese wall?

2010.09.09, Tokyo
chinese wall? chinese wall? Collections containing this pho

don't pee

2010.09.09, Tokyo
don't pee Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2010 wal

who lives in the kitchen cave?

2010.09.09, Tokyo
As I took Kenny into the kitchen to pick up his two toothbrushes this morning, he pointed to the space between the washer-dryer unit and the storage room and said, "Scary" because it was dark.

green is a noun, sunny is a verb

2010.09.09, Tokyo
In the Japanese language, "green" is a noun.

typhoon's peak in Tokyo, 2010.09.08

2010.09.08, Tokyo
typhoon's peak in Tokyo, 2010.09.08 Collections containing

there goes $300

2010.09.08, Tokyo
there goes $300 there goes $300 Collections containing this

typhoon weather on the balcony

2010.09.08, Tokyo
typhoon weather on the balcony Collections containing this

wading through vocabulary

2010.09.08, Tokyo
wading through vocabulary Collections containing this phot

tones in Tokyo

2010.09.08, Tokyo
tones in Tokyo Collections containing this photo.architect

whiney day in Tokyo

2010.09.08, Tokyo
A typhoon came to Tokyo today, possibly the worst weather I've seen in this city.

"D'oh!"

2010.09.08, Tokyo
Responsible parent that I am, I'm raising my boy on a diet of "The Simpsons".

and the weather finally broke

2010.09.08, Tokyo
For six or seven weeks this summer, it's been hot and humid.

dropped my iPhone

2010.09.08, Tokyo
Just not been a run of good luck for me, lately.

toy train bridge

2010.09.07, Tokyo
toy train bridge Collections containing this photo.lines

toy train rails

2010.09.07, Tokyo
toy train rails Collections containing this photo.lines

sunrise over Shinagawa

2010.09.07, Tokyo
sunrise over Shinagawa Collections containing this photo.s

poor man's MBA

2010.09.07, Tokyo
Have had some really good advice of late from someone who's been through the business creation and capital-raising process.

an old photo set

2010.09.07, Tokyo
Once upon a time, in 2003 when the world was a simpler place, I took a trip to Manitoulin island with my mother.

ghosts of Shinagawa

2010.09.07, Tokyo
On my way to Japanese class today, I made some long-exposure shots of the crowd passing in Shinagawa station.

ghosts of Shinagawa

2010.09.06, Tokyo
ghosts of Shinagawa Collections containing this photo.toky

see of ghosts

2010.09.06, Tokyo
see of ghosts Collections containing this photo.experiment

watanabe sensei, my Japanese teacher

2010.09.06, Tokyo
watanabe sensei, my Japanese teacher Collections containin

temples in shin-okuba, tokyo

2010.09.06, Tokyo
temples in shin-okuba, tokyo Collections containing this p

dance troupe

2010.09.05, Tokyo
dance troupe Collections containing this photo.2010 - ami'

parade of tomb stones

2010.09.05, Tokyo
parade of tomb stones Collections containing this photo.to

ami's dance troupe

2010.09.05, Tokyo
Today we went to see Ami's dance troupe perform.

japanese steam train detail

2010.09.04, Japan
japanese steam train detail Collections containing this ph

boarding a steam train

2010.09.04, Tokyo
boarding a steam train Collections containing this photo.2

sleepy train ride home

2010.09.04, Japan
sleepy train ride home Collections containing this photo.2

riding a steam train

2010.09.04, Tokyo
Today we took a fine trip on a steam train.

gate to a temple

2010.09.03, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2010 japan's

swastika dog

2010.09.02, Tokyo
swastika dog Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2010

my arm is healed

2010.09.02, Tokyo
It's great when you've recovered from an unexpected set back, especially a health matter.

she really, really likes it

2010.08.31, Tokyo
Mari came home late in the evening last night and found her belated gift of a photo book waiting for her.

who's birthday?

2010.08.30, Tokyo
In another sign of growing maturity, Kenny got it through his head this weekend that we were not celebrating his birthday but his mum's.

Mari's birthday

2010.08.30, Tokyo
This weekend we celebrated Mari's birthday.

a useful trick in learning Japanese verbs

2010.08.30, Tokyo
Today my Japanese tutor showed me a surprisingly effective matrix trick for learning Japanese.

dolphins are basically just assholes

2010.08.27, Tokyo
dolphins are basically just assholes Collections containin

swirling bubbles in the door

2010.08.26, Tokyo
swirling bubbles in the door Collections containing this p

learning to crawl (with a strobe)

2010.08.23, Tokyo
Having had some success with product photography, I've decided to extend my ability with a strobe to personal photos.

portrait of a Tokyo couple

2010.08.22, Tokyo
portrait of a Tokyo couple Collections containing this pho

tinkering with a strobe outdoors

2010.08.22, Tokyo
tinkering with a strobe outdoors Collections containing th

keiko and sam

2010.08.22, Tokyo
keiko and sam Collections containing this photo.portraitur

Mari performs "The Gift"

2010.08.22, Tokyo
Mari had her fourth performance, in a Jazz club in Akasaka.

Amazon S3 clients for the Mac

2010.08.22, Tokyo
I've gone through all of the apps I could find for Amazon s3 and they've all let me down.

movie review - Kung Fu Panda

2010.08.21, Tokyo
I watched this with The Boy, who seemed to have fun despite being only 2 1/2.

Pentax weekend

2010.08.21, Tokyo
We went to the aquarium down in Yokohama again, our second visit in two months.

the family arrives

2010.08.19, Tokyo
Mari's family has come for a visit.

today my wife saved my life (part three)

2010.08.18, Tokyo
My arm is coming along nicely.

mirror in the bathroom

2010.08.18, Tokyo
On the weekend, a forum I participate in had a "submit your photos" day.

hot weather

2010.08.17, Tokyo
I believe that today is the hottest day of the year to date, for Tokyo.

hooked on video

2010.08.16, Tokyo
Kenny's obsessed with this "Thomas" video I found.

outdoor plumbing?

2010.08.15, Tokyo
outdoor plumbing? outdoor plumbing? Collections containing

worn brick wall

2010.08.15, Tokyo
worn brick wall Collections containing this photo.tokyo 20

the well-worn steps

2010.08.15, Tokyo
the well-worn steps Collections containing this photo.toky

vote for dog in this civic election

2010.08.15, Tokyo
vote for dog in this civic election Collections containing

guarding a temple fiercely

2010.08.15, Tokyo
guarding a temple fiercely Collections containing this pho

my abscess, the day after surgery

2010.08.14, Tokyo
my abscess, the day after surgery Collections containing t

the good ship

2010.08.14, Tokyo
the good ship Collections containing this photo.a lifetim

the boat builders

2010.08.14, Tokyo
Today we took Kenny to an art exhibit that featured a DIY area for playing with some bits and pieces of beach junk.

today my wife saved my life (part two)

2010.08.14, Tokyo
I went back to the hospital this morning as requested.

my abscess before surgery

2010.08.13, Tokyo
my abscess before surgery

today my wife saved my life

2010.08.13, Tokyo
Today I learned that I have a dangerous infection.

another fish lost

2010.08.11, Tokyo
The constant temperature fluctuations are too much for our little 58L tank.

the photographer

2010.08.10, Tokyo
When Mari, Kenny and I went to a digital photography show back in March, I was handed some toy 110 film cameras.

in the death tank

2010.08.08, Tokyo
Time to come clean.

managing "open with" on the Mac

2010.08.08, Tokyo
It's crazy, but in the Mac's OSX there's no way of reliably managing file associations with the applications that open those files.

shaking all over

2010.08.07, Tokyo
As I write this, I'm just overcoming my first-ever head-to-toe case of the willies.

search engine optimization

2010.08.06, Tokyo
We launched our business website with fairly basic SEO readiness.

NikkoCiti X'mas photos

2010.08.04, Tokyo
In 2007, I attended my one and only Japanese 'bounenkai' (year end party).

movie review - Atonement

2010.08.03, Tokyo
This is a story of a young girl who tells stories.

turning your (webserver's) frowns into smiles

2010.07.31, Tokyo
Here's a trick I found suggested in a comment on a site explaining the configuration of some web server software.

giant model train layout

2010.07.30, Tokyo
giant model train layout Collections containing this photo

classic car at the painter's

2010.07.30, Tokyo
classic car at the painter's Collections containing this p

three-wheeled MG

2010.07.30, Tokyo
three-wheeled MG Collections containing this photo.vehicle

our first hacker

2010.07.30, Tokyo
Our website was taken offline by a hacker for about three hours this morning.

a break from the heat

2010.07.30, Tokyo
Finally we've had a break from the heat.

movie review - Moon

2010.07.24, Tokyo
This is an excellent sci-fi piece about a fellow who has a three-year solo work assignment on the "far side" of the moon.

f'n weather

2010.07.24, Tokyo
Canadians like to complain about the weather.

new tracks

2010.07.23, Tokyo
The new track pieces that I picked up have revolutionized our train layouts.

lapsed

2010.07.21, Tokyo
First came the realization that I could no longer drink like I once could.

sleeping in the living room

2010.07.21, Tokyo
Our bedroom has no air conditioner.

hot little fish

2010.07.20, Tokyo
The weather's been uncomfortably hot lately, and one unforeseen problem is that our aquarium is overheating.

temple under midday shadows

2010.07.19, Tokyo
temple under midday shadows Collections containing this ph

thousands of circles of light

2010.07.19, Tokyo
thousands of circles of light Collections containing this

firemen practicings

2010.07.19, Tokyo
firemen practicings Collections containing this photo.toky

five years in Tokyo

2010.07.18, Tokyo
Today marks the fifth anniversary of my original arrival in Tokyo.

man ray

2010.07.17, Tokyo
Today, Joon and I went to the Man Ray exhibit at the National Art Centre.

get back, groupies!

2010.07.16, Tokyo
get back, groupies! Collections containing this photo.

day care video

2010.07.16, Tokyo
Today I went to the day care an hour early to watch a video prepared by the teachers.

an interesting development

2010.07.16, Tokyo
In reaction to my putting my photo book up on this site, I've been asked to help out with a video shoot about the streets of Tokyo.

Edonism

2010.07.16, Tokyo
Last night I went to the premiere screening of the movie Edonism.

selling ethical diamonds in Japan

2010.07.15, Tokyo
As our intern Koki put it, "It seems that usual Japanese do not really know or care about diamond issues.

the photo book is shipping

2010.07.15, Tokyo
Yay, a copy of my photo book has shipped.

petition for change in the Kimberley Process

2010.07.14, Tokyo
I've come across a petition for change in the Kimberley Process.

ethical fashion

2010.07.13, Tokyo
As indicated in the small series of articles I've posted on the subject, I've found "ethical fashion" a tough nut to crack.

ethics in the diamond jewelry business (part three)

2010.07.13, Tokyo
I've finished the trio of articles on ethics in the diamond jewelry business.

get your Japanese idiom and slang....

2010.07.12, Tokyo
The website I use for translations isn't downright insane but it sure is given to certain quirks.

Sundays is for voting

2010.07.10, Tokyo
Like some European countries, Japan confines voting in its federal elections to Sundays.

advertising on them Internets there

2010.07.10, Tokyo
Internet advertising.

walking with dinosaurs

2010.07.09, Tokyo
We took Kenny to Yokohama today to see the "Walking With Dinosaurs" show they're putting on in the arena.

happy Tanabata

2010.07.07, Tokyo
Today is the Japanese star festival, tanabata.

photos from Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

2010.07.06, Tokyo
A couple of weeks ago, some free tickets from Jon and Manami-san got us into the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium down in/near Yokohama.

manipulative little guy

2010.07.05, Tokyo
Kenny's learned to dispense hugs and kisses when he wants something.

the next step -- investors!

2010.07.05, Tokyo
Been doing some interesting work this week.

the day starts with death

2010.07.05, Tokyo
Kenny and I stopped to feed the fish on the way to the day care this morning.

jewelry retail and the iPad (or Apple, what have you done)

2010.07.02, Tokyo
I came to some conclusions about the iPad via an odd source.

another bike collision

2010.07.01, Tokyo
Today I was in a bike accident, again.

turning Anglophone I really think so

2010.07.01, Tokyo
Today I read that Japan's Fast Retailing is switching their internal business language to English.

location based services

2010.06.27, Nichinan, Miyazaki
While studying modern marketing developments, I've come across nothing as bizarre as "location based" shopping.

inflation, debt, and general madness

2010.06.26, Tokyo
This morning during a conversation with my mother I explained my upcoming quest for investors in our business.

science for small children

2010.06.23, Tokyo
I have verified yesterday's results with two further test.

the peak of fuji standing through clouds

2010.06.22, Miyazaki
the peak of fuji standing through clouds Collections conta

bowed but not broken

2010.06.22, Miyazaki
bowed but not broken Collections containing this photo.

movie review - Cloverfield

2010.06.22, Tokyo
This is a sci-fi monster flick in which New York is invaded quite out of the blue by a towering creature dozens of meters tall (if not more) and dripping its young onto the city as it rampages about.

a Brock Univerity professor is going to prison

2010.06.22, Tokyo
One of my University professors is now in prison on a child pornography conviction.

no one said it was beautiful

2010.06.19, Tokyo
no one said it was beautiful Collections containing this p

age of destruction (part two)

2010.06.19, Tokyo
I spent some time with Kenny on building a new train set for him.

smoking in the alley

2010.06.18, Tokyo
smoking in the alley Collections containing this photo.tok

pity about the nicotine habit

2010.06.18, Tokyo
pity about the nicotine habit Collections containing this

investor proposal nears readiness

2010.06.18, Tokyo
Today I completed a draft of an investor proposal.

an eyesore falls

2010.06.18, Tokyo
They're tearing down an eyesore in my neighbourhood.

gorilla snot candy

2010.06.17, Tokyo
gorilla snot candy Collections containing this photo.life

Hakkeijima bay is for (crustacean) lovers

2010.06.17, Kanagawa
Hakkeijima bay is for (crustacean) lovers Hakkeijima bay is

Imo, Daddy! Imo!

2010.06.17, Kanagawa
Imo, Daddy! Imo! Collections containing this photo.the qui

stir-crazy beluga

2010.06.17, Kanagawa
stir-crazy beluga Collections containing this photo.the qu

burger king is inspirational

2010.06.17, Tokyo
Burger King is back in business in Japan.

"feels good"

2010.06.16, Tokyo
One of Kenny's classmates touched my beard today and said that it "feels good".

the age of destruction

2010.06.16, Tokyo
Kenny's started to become destructive.

an interview with the media

2010.06.16, Tokyo
We had our first interview with the media today regarding our little business.

cycling through gotanda

2010.06.15, Tokyo
While cycling to my barber's shop today, I heard the honking of a horn from a car behind me.

西 revisited

2010.06.15, Tokyo
The hilarity of learning kanji!

my Japanese vocabulary is uneven (千羽鶴)

2010.06.14, Tokyo
I find that my Japanese vocabulary is heavily focused around three things.

weird way of getting language exposure

2010.06.12, Tokyo
It turns out that studying Japanese has helped me learn to read Italian.

matsuri

2010.06.11, Tokyo
Today I went to Kenny's day care to participate in a little festival that they put on for the kids.

luxury sales in Japan

2010.06.11, Tokyo
According to this article by Reuters journalist Isabel Reynolds, luxury goods sales fell by ten percent in 2009.

a town in the news

2010.06.10, Tokyo
A small town in Canada is making the news due to the suspicious purchase of a lot of ammonia nitrate.

the iPad in Japan

2010.06.09, Tokyo
I'm not so sure that the iPad's going to be a hit here in Japan.

square hole

2010.06.08, Tokyo
square hole Collections containing this photo.abandoned te

Japanese yardbird

2010.06.08, Tokyo
In English, the (outdated?

yelling at crows (part three)

2010.06.07, Tokyo
The deed is done, the crows are gone.

our start-up is unfolding

2010.06.07, Tokyo
Last week was an interesting one for our little start-up.

a day out with friends

2010.06.05, Tokyo
Last night, Kenny and I went to the festival at the shrine behind our house.

new journal trick

2010.06.05, Tokyo
I've modernized the way that URL's work on my journal.

movie review - Taken

2010.06.04, Tokyo
This is a story about a semi-retired Cold War spy whose daughter is kidnapped along with a friend while traveling in Europe.

Nanaimo syndrome

2010.06.02, Tokyo
At the bank again today (been there three days this week), when I once again ran into The Nanaimo Syndrome.

imageshack and emuu.net

2010.06.01, Tokyo
ImageShack looks like a bad idea.

banking error, Japan style

2010.05.31, Tokyo
Being illiterate sucks.

an epic journey

2010.05.30, Grenfell, Saskachewan
Right now, back in Canada, my mother is moving from Nanaimo BC to St.

the karate PR man

2010.05.29, Tokyo
the karate PR man Collections containing this photo.portra

a barbeque

2010.05.29, Tokyo
Today we went to a barbeque.

yelling at crows (part two)

2010.05.29, Tokyo
The city is going to come to our building and remove the crow's nest.

tokyo bird's nest

2010.05.28, Tokyo
tokyo bird's nest Collections containing this photo.urban

yelling at crows

2010.05.28, Tokyo
Over the past few days I've had problems with a crow.

there's warm and there's warm

2010.05.27, Tokyo
Japanese makes a distinction between a "warm" reception and a "warm" room.

the achievements and failings of the kimberley process

2010.05.26, Tokyo
I've submitted a second piece for the 21st Century Network.

a near miss

2010.05.26, Tokyo
Meanwhile, back in Toronto, a friend witnessed a fatal airplane crash.

happy towel day

2010.05.25, Tokyo
Douglas Adams would be proud.

a hit!

2010.05.25, Tokyo
We've had our first write-up in a jewelry-related Japanese blog.

Amazon service for hosting images

2010.05.23, Tokyo
My photos take up something like three gigs of disk space.

digital black and white

2010.05.23, Yokohama
I've tried an experiment in black and white digital photography.

press release activity

2010.05.22, Tokyo
Response from our press release has been interesting.

my parents are awesome

2010.05.21, Tokyo
There's a blog out there called "My Parents Were Awesome".

movie review - Defiance

2010.05.20, Tokyo
This is a movie about brothers who led a life of crime in the years prior to World War II, only to have leadership thrust upon them when the war comes and their Jewish community is forced to live in the woods.

things are moving at Caritas

2010.05.20, Tokyo
Today we released a new look for our website.

a helping hand

2010.05.17, Tokyo
a helping hand Collections containing this photo.2010 - ro

semai means narrow and I'm looking at you

2010.05.17, Tokyo
semai means narrow and I'm looking at you Collections cont

ethics in the diamond jewelry business

2010.05.17, Tokyo
I've recently started a jewelry business.

"no facebook"

2010.05.17, Tokyo
We went to a barbeque at the home of Romi and Brian, friends who live in the neighbourhood.

playing but not paying

2010.05.15, Tokyo
Today I accidentally smuggled Kenny into a pay-for play area in a shopping mall.

a fine cycle day in May

2010.05.15, Tokyo
Today we went on a day-long cycle outing.

twilight lamps

2010.05.14, Tokyo
twilight lamps Collections containing this photo.tokyo 201

stuck on a stalled train

2010.05.14, Tokyo
stuck on a stalled train Collections containing this photo

god's scoreboard

2010.05.14, Kanagawa
god's scoreboard Collections containing this photo.visitin

standing on a lotus blossom, a small god

2010.05.14, Kanagawa
standing on a lotus blossom, a small god Collections conta

A tale of two kanji

2010.05.14, Tokyo
足 is "ashi" it means foot.

写真のサイクリング

2010.05.13, Tokyo
The weather this spring has been awful.

photos from tottori

2010.05.13, Tokyo
I've updated my pics from Tottori with a few final entries.

update from kamakura

2010.05.12, Tokyo
I've updated the collection of photos from a recent trip to Kamakura.

photos, getcha photos

2010.05.12, Tokyo
I've added a bunch of pics to the website over the past couple of days, and thought I'd brag about them.

the new mashams

2010.05.10, Tokyo
Some seven-eight months ago, our friends the Mashams moved away to Barcelona.

nuked rocks at a shrine to peace

2010.05.09, Tokyo
nuked rocks at a shrine to peace Collections containing th

looking down on shibuya from a height

2010.05.09, Tokyo
looking down on shibuya from a height Collections containi

running under a serene gaze

2010.05.09, Kanagawa
running under a serene gaze Collections containing this ph

Napping on a dead train

2010.05.09, Tokyo
Today we went to a small city called Ofuna to see a large statue of the goddess Kannon.

the musician

2010.05.08, Tokyo
Mari's had her first guitar for only three days.

movie review - Star Trek

2010.05.07, Tokyo
They've "rebooted" Star Trek.

Revisiting Tokyo

2010.05.07, Tokyo
Today I took my brother out on the city to find a gift for his wife.

Dirty brush

2010.05.07, Tokyo
This morning I asked Mari where she keeps a certain tough bath scrub brush.

old building has style

2010.05.06, Tokyo
old building has style Collections containing this photo.t

inner gates in Shinagawa shrine

2010.05.06, Tokyo
inner gates in Shinagawa shrine Collections containing thi

blending into Tokyo

2010.05.06, Tokyo
blending into Tokyo Collections containing this photo.toky

transportation in the world's largest city

2010.05.06, Tokyo
transportation in the world's largest city Collections con

very narrow building in kabuki-cho

2010.05.06, Tokyo
very narrow building in kabuki-cho Collections containing

a dark place in the subway

2010.05.06, Tokyo
a dark place in the subway Collections containing this pho

accounting in the fish market

2010.05.06, Tokyo
accounting in the fish market Collections containing this

linux café: gateway to the open source community

2010.05.06, Tokyo
linux café: gateway to the open source community Collecti

the dry ice factory

2010.05.06, Tokyo
the dry ice factory Collections containing this photo.toky

at forty years age

2010.05.06, Tokyo
at forty years age Collections containing this photo.portr

getting a Japanese haircut

2010.05.06, Tokyo
I took my brother for a haircut today.

aquarium escapee

2010.05.06, Tokyo
Here in Japan, aquarium keepers tend to keep shrimp along with fish.

boy's day

2010.05.05, Tokyo
Today we went to Yurakucho and Ginza.

shinjuku

2010.05.04, Tokyo
For today's portion of Ken's visit, we went to Shinjuku

movie review - In Bruges

2010.05.03, Tokyo
This is a story about some British gangsters.

asakusa and akihabara

2010.05.03, Tokyo
We took Ken up to Asakusa to see the shrine complex, today.

a nice pair I can't touch

2010.05.02, Tokyo
a nice pair I can't touch Collections containing this phot

guitar shopping

2010.05.02, Tokyo
Having been out til 3:30 the night before, we laid low for much of the day, today.

statue of Buddha for some friends

2010.05.01, Tokyo
I carved this statue of Buddha for the wedding of some good

another photo by my son

2010.05.01, Tokyo
another photo by my son Collections containing this photo.

buddha contemplates the many years

2010.05.01, Kamakura
buddha contemplates the many years Collections containing

get on your bikes and ride

2010.05.01, Tokyo
get on your bikes and ride Collections containing this pho

the wedding reception

2010.05.01, Tokyo
Today we went to the Tokyo wedding reception of Jon and Manami-san.

another workaday shrine in Kamakura

2010.04.30, Kamakura
another workaday shrine in Kamakura Collections containing

lantern in a bamboo forest

2010.04.30, Kamakura
lantern in a bamboo forest Collections containing this pho

kamakura by bicycle

2010.04.30, Tokyo
At some point over the interminable Winter, I picked up a rather excellent little guide book for bicycle tours in Kamakura.

spring at last

2010.04.29, Tokyo
The weather suddenly improved dramatically today.

new website trick

2010.04.28, Tokyo
I've been working with an enterprising young man on building the forthcoming Caritas blog for us.

hambabu night in Tokyo

2010.04.28, Tokyo
Mari has another work-related drinks night tonight.

fixes and failures

2010.04.25, Tokyo
We had such a fine day today.

fixed jacket

2010.04.24, Tokyo
The handle tore off the slide of my coat on Thursday.

a home-cooked meal

2010.04.24, Tokyo
Jon's brother Martin and his family have been "stranded" in Tokyo since the volcano's eruption in Iceland.

crowded train

2010.04.23, Tokyo
It finally happened.

an intern!

2010.04.23, Tokyo
No start-up is complete without an intern.

strandees gone

2010.04.23, Tokyo
Three of the four volcano-stranded people are now gone back to Europe.

日本語上手聞きます

2010.04.20, Tokyo
Something semi-miraculous has happened.

stranded in Tokyo

2010.04.20, Tokyo
I now know four groups of travelers hoping to get to Europe who are stranded in Tokyo.

there's no gas like lemon gas

2010.04.18, Tokyo
there's no gas like lemon gas Collections containing this

timely ripped?

2010.04.18, Tokyo
timely ripped? timely ripped? Collections containing this p

No out of mind and out of sight

2010.04.18, Tokyo
No out of mind and out of sight Collections containing thi

whoops I did it again

2010.04.18, Tokyo
When some visitors from Mari's family came for a visit today, I realized that I hadn't published yet more pics from our year-end visit.

so this is Tottori

2010.04.16, Tokyo
Part one of my photos from our three days in Tottori is sorted out.

references

2010.04.16, Tokyo
The Canadian government is polling for advice on the adoption of e-passports such as the ones that the Japanese government issues.

photos of a Japanese wedding

2010.04.16, Tokyo
Our friends Manami and Jon were married last weekend in Tottori.

rare and beautiful birds (homesick)

2010.04.14, Tokyo
As I stood looking out the window and munching on my lunch of brown rice, I noticed three gorgeous birds.

movie review - Zombieland

2010.04.13, Tokyo
When you live in Japan you tend to miss the latest trends in North America.

Japanese idiom strikes again

2010.04.11, Tokyo
At the wedding, Manami-san's sixty-something parents invited us to come over to their house to play, sometime.

fumbling with camera equipment

2010.04.11, Tottori
I fear that I've managed to bugger up quite a lot of the photos of Jon and Manami-san's wedding.

a wedding!

2010.04.11, Tottori
I don't get invited to a lot of weddings.

inagaddadavida

2010.04.10, Tottori
inagaddadavida Collections containing this photo.2010 - ex

abandoned mine in Tottori

2010.04.10, Tottori
abandoned mine in Tottori Collections containing this phot

old tunnel, active rails

2010.04.10, Tottori
old tunnel, active rails Collections containing this photo

odd round abandoned building in Tottori, Japan

2010.04.10, Tottori
odd round abandoned building in Tottori, Japan Collections

the toy museum

2010.04.10, Tokyo
What a fine day Kenny had today.

sight-seeing in Tottori

2010.04.10, Tottori
Tottori is Japan's least populous prefecture, running along the coast of the Sea of Japan a good many klicks from just about everywhere.

The Boy loves sand dunes

2010.04.09, Tottori
We flew to Tottori today.

another flattering portrait

2010.04.09, Tottori
This portrait, drawn by a seven-year-old, is actually not far from my self image!

awful online shops for tall men's clothing

2010.04.07, Tokyo
Once again, I'm heading for online clothing retail.

things are changing

2010.04.07, Tokyo
I had an email exchange with someone in my family about the changes we're witnessing in Canada and Japan.

concrete god

2010.04.05, Tokyo
concrete god Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2010

buddha by the old shopping street

2010.04.05, Tokyo
buddha by the old shopping street Collections containing t

"terrible"

2010.04.04, Tokyo
I showed The Boy a wood carving project that I'm working on.

clash of the Canadian titans

2010.04.03, Tokyo
One of the things I find refreshing about Japan is that it makes Canadian bureaucracy look like a harmless triviality by comparison.

busy week

2010.04.02, Tokyo
In addition to the usual "build" activities I had this week, I had meetings on every day of the week.

a new year dawns

2010.04.01, Tokyo
Just as yesterday was a day of sad goodbyes, so too is today a day for new friends.

March 31 is the cruelest day in Japan

2010.03.31, Tokyo
In Japan, companies tend to shuffle their employees around for the new fiscal year, which starts on April 1.

public relations is tricky, tricky

2010.03.31, Tokyo
Lately I've been tackling the issue of public relations for our little business.

shame on me

2010.03.31, Tokyo
They say, "Fool me once, shame on you.

puzzling toy

2010.03.30, Tokyo
My brother and his wife sent me this awesome toy from Think Geek.

confrontation at the immigration office

2010.03.29, Tokyo
I was at the immigration office getting my spousal visa renewed when another foreigner at the counter had a meltdown.

kenny tries mustard

2010.03.28, Tokyo
Kenny insisted on trying mustard this morning.

a challenging lifestyle

2010.03.28, Tokyo
We went to hanami yesterday, and met with several families all with kids of the same age as our son.

too many two year olds

2010.03.27, Tokyo
We went to hanami today.

a year in the life

2010.03.25, Tokyo
Today is The Boy's first day in the day care class for two year olds.

Go Miyazaki!

2010.03.24, Tokyo
The high school volleyball team that my brother-in-law coaches has fought their way into the national semi-final.

highschool volleyball

2010.03.22, Tokyo
It's time for the national highschool volleyball finals in Japan.

welcome to spring

2010.03.21, Tokyo
It's officially spring, and for once it's noticeable.

scary map of Japan

2010.03.20, Tokyo
I came across a scary map of Japan today.

red means bad earthquake risk

2010.03.18, Tokyo
red means bad earthquake risk Collections containing this

jiji and daddy

2010.03.18, Tokyo
Kenny' maternal grandparents, "Jiji" and "Kazu" are with us again.

Bremen town musicians

2010.03.18, Tokyo
Mari brought home a DVD version of a puppet show telling of "Bremen Town Musicians" the other day.

building a PDF library

2010.03.17, Tokyo
In building my business I do a lot of research.

an ancient house surrounded

2010.03.14, Tokyo
an ancient house surrounded Collections containing this ph

"dinosaur"

2010.03.14, Tokyo
All of a sudden, The Boy's verbal ability has taken a noticeable step forward.

haircut day

2010.03.14, Tokyo
Today my sexy young wife got herself a fetching hairdo.

an old speech

2010.03.13, Tokyo
I was doing some maintenance on my website today and came across the text of the first funeral speech I ever gave.

taxing expat Canadians

2010.03.12, Tokyo
There's a movement in certain conservative circles in Canada to introduce taxation on the global income of expatriate Canadians.

four years in Tokyo

2010.03.11, Tokyo
It's now been for years since I arrived in Japan.

algae

2010.03.09, Tokyo
Everything's been going swimmingly with the fish tank, recently.

toilet flushes and hockey games

2010.03.09, Tokyo
In keeping with my attempts at keeping abreast of events in "the old country", I came across an interesting item from The Big Game.

making a magazine

2010.03.08, Tokyo
Things have come a long way since I made the content management system that I use to run emuu.

commends it to the attendant of

2010.03.07, Tokyo
commends it to the attendant of Collections containing thi

"I don't need Grandma!"

2010.03.06, Tokyo
The Boy wanted to talk to Grandma this morning.

yup .. he's two years old

2010.03.05, Tokyo
Today I spent fifteen minutes fixing the keyboard on Mari's laptop.

turning 39

2010.03.04, Tokyo
Long ago I wrote down my thoughts on turning thirty.

dekita! I did it!

2010.03.03, Tokyo
The Boy let out a proud whoop of "Dekita" today.

amano shrimp

2010.03.02, Tokyo
amano shrimp Collections containing this photo.aquaria

as bad as algae gets

2010.03.02, Tokyo
as bad as algae gets Collections containing this photo.aqu

earthquakes

2010.02.28, Tokyo
Mari and I were stuck at home today because The Boy has a fever.

adjusting to Japanese snack foods

2010.02.27, Tokyo
Japanese snacks are sometimes odd.

staying Canadian

2010.02.26, Tokyo
It's hard to stay Canadian when you've immersed yourself in a vastly alien culture like Japan's.

Tokyo weather report

2010.02.25, Tokyo
It's now suddenly decided to get Spring-like on us again.

the Jensen presentation

2010.02.24, Tokyo
the Jensen presentation Collections containing this photo.

Nate's PechaKucha moment

2010.02.24, Tokyo
Nate Jensen, who did the layout work on our diamond buyer's guide, have a presentation at PechaKucha tonight.

the motorcycle trade

2010.02.23, Tokyo
A curious thing happened today.

ear problems in Japan

2010.02.23, Tokyo
For the first time in my life, I've recently begun having ear infections.

nice wall...

2010.02.20, Tokyo
nice wall... Collections containing this photo.walls & roc

yes boys, she's single

2010.02.20, Tokyo
yes boys, she's single Collections containing this photo.p

yakking and blinking

2010.02.20, Tokyo
yakking and blinking Collections containing this photo.por

don't drink "curiosity cola"

2010.02.20, Tokyo
I tried a Fentiman's "Curiosity Cola" today.

free labour

2010.02.20, Tokyo
I met with another person who imparted some great advice last night.

let it snow...

2010.02.18, Tokyo
Kenny had his first experience with a real snowstorm today.

advice from pros

2010.02.17, Tokyo
Our new website is getting a lot of great feedback.

mobile phone chargers

2010.02.15, Tokyo
In following with my current research into the mobile phone platform, I've come across some bad news.

movie review - Defense of the Realm

2010.02.14, Tokyo
In this Cold War movie, a reporter becomes obsessed with a story following the suspicious death of one of his colleagues following an expose written by the reporter.

looking for an engagement ring?

2010.02.14, Tokyo
If you're looking for an engagement ring in Japan, you can now do your shopping online.

is "urinal training" a term?

2010.02.13, Tokyo
Homer Simpson explained Bart's body to him thusly: "point and shoot".

cards for emergency translation

2010.02.13, Tokyo
When I went to Shanghai, I knew that I'd be buying food in places where people don't speak English or Japanese.

tsukiji is 70 years old

2010.02.11, Tokyo
My favourite fish market just turned 70 years old.

the next big step in potty training

2010.02.10, Tokyo
One of Kenny's sudden recent leaps forward has been the way he uses the potty.

St. Valentine's Day

2010.02.10, Tokyo
In Japan, St.

selling on the mobile phone

2010.02.08, Tokyo
Tonight was my first "mobile monday", a get-together for schmoozing and presentations pertaining to that industry in Tokyo.

language and sex

2010.02.08, Tokyo
Tonight I was offered sex in two neighbourhoods.

browser software

2010.02.07, Tokyo
We're about to launch our new business, which aims to sell diamond engagement rings to the Japanese public solely via the Internet.

movie review - Slumdog Millionaire

2010.02.06, Tokyo
A couple of weeks ago I wrote that I suspected I'd already seen the best film of the year with "Wall-E".

fixing an old, slow Windows PC

2010.02.06, Tokyo
On three occasions recently, I've recommended some software for people struggling with a Windows PC that's become slow with age.

webservers (nerd alert)

2010.02.04, Tokyo
I've been tinkering with the webserver software that enables websites to exist for a long time.

odd behaviour at Kinko's

2010.02.04, Tokyo
I walked into a FedexKinkos today to do some printing.

"shit,"

2010.02.03, Tokyo
While I was preparing to take The Boy to the day care today, I was suddenly aware that he wasn't making any noise.

a message from Google

2010.02.03, Tokyo
Today Google announced that they would no longer support Internet Explorer 6 within Google Apps.

Tokyo weather report

2010.02.02, Tokyo
This January was one of the warmest of my life

trains for kenny and daddy

2010.01.28, Tokyo
The boy likes trains, thank the gods.

fashion in Tokyo

2010.01.28, Tokyo
I'm sure that those who know me don't associate me with fashion.

how old are you, boy?

2010.01.27, Tokyo
We have this game.

pecha kucha

2010.01.27, Tokyo
Tonight I attended my first Pecha Kucha.

movie review - Wall-E

2010.01.26, Tokyo
If a perfect animated movie is possible, this is it.

The Boy yields (for once)

2010.01.25, Tokyo
I was proud of The Boy this morning.

The Boy (nearly) slept through the night!

2010.01.25, Tokyo
For the first time in maybe ten months, or son slept through the night.

Mexican food in Tokyo

2010.01.24, Tokyo
It's difficult to find good Mexican food in Tokyo.

no man's land

2010.01.23, Tokyo
Today we went to "No man's land", an art studio/gallery that's been built into the recently vacated former French embassy in Hiroo.

a busy community tank

2010.01.22, Tokyo
a busy community tank Collections containing this photo.aq

"f*** it!"

2010.01.22, Tokyo
Today The Boy suddenly had a bit of an outburst, and in fact had two really good goes at saying, "f*** it!

Shinagawa street fight

2010.01.22, Tokyo
Twice in Tokyo, I've seen fights happen on the street.

anti-spam routine

2010.01.22, Tokyo
One thing that plagues people who run websites: spam.

changing my name in Japan

2010.01.22, Tokyo
As I've recently mentioned, I feel the time has come to change the katakana spelling of my last name.

"daddy is interesting"

2010.01.21, Tokyo
One of Kenny's classmates pulled her usual stunt when she saw me.

hum a little tune

2010.01.21, Tokyo
This morning The Boy pointed at the little laptop I keep on the dining table and hummed a tune.

new site design

2010.01.21, Tokyo
For years, I made feedback to this website available to all comers.

potty training continues

2010.01.20, Tokyo
Kenny made it through the night without peeing in his diaper.

struggling with a foreign name in Japan

2010.01.20, Tokyo
I've been struggling with a last name that just doesn't work in the Japanese language.

shipping from the US

2010.01.19, Tokyo
Living in Japan, I have difficulty ordering things from the US.

kanji study tools

2010.01.18, Tokyo
I'm juggling a lot of things at the moment.

aquarium update

2010.01.17, Tokyo
The three otocinclus fish that I bought in replacement of Buddy the Pleco have died.

The Boy says...

2010.01.16, Tokyo
Tonight in the bath I asked The Boy, "Who is papa?

reverse public relations

2010.01.16, Tokyo
One thing I started in 2009 was feeding this journal to various outlets like facebook, tumblr, and twitter.

another busy Friday

2010.01.15, Tokyo
Today I did a lot of running around.

our first order

2010.01.14, Tokyo
We ordered a ring from our principal supplier back in December.

cycling weekend

2010.01.12, Tokyo
We spent the weekend on our bikes.

the ballad of Buddy

2010.01.12, Tokyo
This is the ballad of Buddy the plecostomus, a fish I had to give up.

new year, more cycle glitches

2010.01.12, Tokyo
Recently I said to myself, "I haven't had a flat tire on my bike, recently.

won't you play with me?

2010.01.11, Tokyo
The Boy's taken to asking us to play with him.

"cocaine!"

2010.01.10, Tokyo
In the evenings, we give The Boy a small calcium chew.

Nihombashi

2010.01.10, Tokyo
We're setting up our "headquarters" in the Tokyo district of Nihombashi.

too big, too fast

2010.01.09, Tokyo
too big, too fast Collections containing this photo.aquari

train set

2010.01.09, Tokyo
Kenny is not yet two years old, and as such causes a lot of carnage to the toy train set that he loves so much.

what to do with old phones

2010.01.09, Tokyo
We've got about three old phones hanging around the apartment.

fishes

2010.01.09, Tokyo
The aquarium's been stable for several weeks now.

showa neon

2010.01.08, Tokyo
showa neon Collections containing this photo.

sunset over Shinagawa

2010.01.08, Tokyo
sunset over Shinagawa Collections containing this photo.to

under the tracks at yurakucho

2010.01.08, Tokyo
under the tracks at yurakucho Collections containing this

learning to share

2010.01.04, Tokyo
One of The Boy's teachers told us a tale, tonight.

a tale of two banks

2010.01.04, Tokyo
In light of my recent comparison of Japanese airlines, I thought I'd mention an experience with two banks.

frost in soil

2010.01.03, Miyazaki
frost in soil Collections containing this photo.snow and i

hillside garden patch

2010.01.03, Miyazaki
hillside garden patch Collections containing this photo.ex

frost in the morning

2010.01.03, Miyazaki
frost in the morning Collections containing this photo.gre

belief in Japan

2010.01.03, Tokyo
Without knowing a thing about the religion, it would seem I've becom a practising Shintoist.

where have all the good things gone

2010.01.03, Tokyo
When I left my first job in Japan, one of my coworkers gave me a fairwell gift of a small set of toy cars with a jump ramp.

a fine visit

2010.01.02, Tokyo
We're back in Tokyo, but Kenny had a great visit with his cousins.

home again, thanks to ANA

2010.01.02, Tokyo
We flew back to Tokyo today.

happy new year, 2010 - it's palindrome time

2010.01.02, Tokyo
I thought I'd mark the fact that the date is the same backwards and forwards.

movie review - Aliens

2010.01.01, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Well it's New Year's Day, and it's been thirteen years to the day since I started my capsule movie reviews.

a frosty new year and some resolutions reviewed

2010.01.01, Nichinan, Miyazaki
I woke up before the dawn, and realized that I had a chance to photograph the year's first sunrise.

gaijin comic relief

2010.01.01, Nichinan, Miyazaki
We're visiting my wife's family in rural Japan.

2009

well it's over

2009.12.31, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Goodbye, 2009 and the nameless decade.

check mate, Ta-kun!

2009.12.30, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Young ta-kun refuses to wear his toque.

Yawn, was that another eruption

2009.12.30, Miyakonojo, Kyusyu
I was woken this morning at 07:30 by another volcanic boom that rattled the house.

another eruption!

2009.12.29, Miyakonojo, Kyusyu
Again with these volcanic eruptions.

waiting to make mochi

2009.12.28, Miyazaki
waiting to make mochi Collections containing this photo.a

mochi is a family affair

2009.12.28, Miyazaki
mochi is a family affair Collections containing this photo

nearly a housing project

2009.12.28, Miyazaki
nearly a housing project Collections containing this photo

my first volcanic boom

2009.12.28, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Today I heard my first real volcanic explosion.

silence of the pigs (1 of 2)

2009.12.26, Miyazaki
silence of the pigs (1 of 2) silence of the pigs (1 of 2) C

evening comes to rural southern Kyushu

2009.12.26, Miyazaki
evening comes to rural southern Kyushu Collections contain

persimmons drying in the sun

2009.12.26, Miyazaki
persimmons drying in the sun Collections containing this p

silence of the pigs (2 of 2)

2009.12.26, Miyazaki
silence of the pigs (2 of 2) silence of the pigs (2 of 2) C

Why, JAL, why.

2009.12.25, Nichinan, Miyazaki
You can tell that the government is now running Japan Airlines.

stains

2009.12.24, Tokyo
Somehow, we have crayon marks on the wallpaper.

a decade ends

2009.12.23, Tokyo
A decade ends in eight days.

movie review - The Bank Job

2009.12.22, Tokyo
This is a slick telling of an actual bank robbery that occurred in a certain former Imperial capital in Year of Our Lord 1971.

X'mas for Mari

2009.12.22, Tokyo
It occurred to me today that while my wife loves chocolate, she wouldn't have time at X'mas to eat any.

things are tough in Japan

2009.12.21, Tokyo
It's always good to get a neighbour's take on things from time to time.

losing my accent?

2009.12.21, Tokyo
Could I be losing my Canadian accent after a combined total of five years abroad?

"great husband" part two

2009.12.20, Tokyo
So I'm a great husband again.

The Boy got into the bleach

2009.12.19, Tokyo
I had The Boy to myself last night, as Mari was attending a year-end nomikai for some of the local mothers.

more potty progress

2009.12.18, Tokyo
Things had been moving nicely with Kenny's potty training.

earthquakes make for lousy bedfellows

2009.12.18, Tokyo
Last night I was up fairly late working on various projects.

paypal, swing and a miss

2009.12.18, Tokyo
One of the things we're eventually going to do with our business is collect payments via credit card.

The Boy hit his mum

2009.12.17, Tokyo
At dinner tonight our darling little boy hit his mother in the face with a metal spoon.

Apple book printing

2009.12.17, Tokyo
I use a Mac PC at home and it came with this iPhoto software.

day two, another success

2009.12.16, Tokyo
It must seem like lunacy for any non-parent reading this journal, but yes I'm recording my son's progress with potty training.

sunrise over Shinagawa

2009.12.12, Tokyo
This was the sunrise as visible from our balcony this morning.

time for a change, perhaps

2009.12.11, Tokyo
Tonight, Mari and I were looking at the website of a wholesale clearinghouse, checking out products that we might import.

learning Japanese

2009.12.10, Tokyo
I'm going to resume my Japanese language studies.

a Kindle in Japan

2009.12.09, Tokyo
Today I got my mitts on a friend's "Kindle", the Amazon e-reader.

a bit young for shaving

2009.12.03, Tokyo
The other night I was out for dinner with friends/business partners and Mari was taking care of The Boy solo.

vocabulary, 22 months

2009.12.02, Tokyo
The Boy's taken to calling me "Mike" 90% of the time, now.

"goodbye, see you tomorrow" and "singing"

2009.12.02, Tokyo
When I got to the daycare today, the teacher told me that Kenny had spoken a new phrase.

chemtrails over Toronto

2009.12.01, Toronto
I was looking at some pics from a few years ago and notice

the showman

2009.12.01, Tokyo
The Boy's taken to lying to us.

tiny lock

2009.11.30, Tokyo
tiny lock Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009 bad

hidden frogs

2009.11.30, Tokyo
hidden frogs Collections containing this photo.textures wa

the flu

2009.11.30, Tokyo
Nine out of eleven kids in the two-year-olds' class at the day care have the influenza.

no longer "great husband"

2009.11.30, Tokyo
Well as I suspected, it's all over.

pics from a birthday

2009.11.29, Tokyo
We had a bit of a party for Jon's 40th birthday a few weeks ago.

"great husband" again

2009.11.29, Tokyo
When we were first married, Mari would occasionally tell me that I was a "great husband".

mantis laying eggs

2009.11.28, Tokyo
mantis laying eggs Collections containing this photo.event

arakawa clean-up

2009.11.28, Tokyo
arakawa clean-up Collections containing this photo.event -

little girl makes mochi

2009.11.28, Tokyo
little girl makes mochi Collections containing this photo.

graffiti never sleeps

2009.11.28, Tokyo
graffiti never sleeps Collections containing this photo.gr

riverbank surprise

2009.11.28, Tokyo
riverbank surprise Collections containing this photo.event

Arakawa clean-up

2009.11.28, Tokyo
Today we spent most of the day cleaning up a small stretch of the Arakawa, the large river that runs through the eastern side of Tokyo.

daddy's little helper

2009.11.27, Tokyo
This morning my mobile phone chirped to tell me that I'd received an email.

stare into the .. umbrella

2009.11.27, Tokyo
I've learned a thing or two about lighting in this latest round of product photography.

turning Japanese (slowly)

2009.11.27, Tokyo
I seem to be becoming accustomed to having a Japanese wife.

the patient boy

2009.11.26, Tokyo
Tonight I put The Boy through something arduous for a small boy.

kenny's first seat on a plane

2009.11.25, Hong Kong
We got lucky on our return trip to Tokyo today.

back in Tokyo

2009.11.25, Tokyo
Well all good things must come to an end.

future politician?

2009.11.24, Hong Kong
This morning at our dim sum breakfast, Kenny charmed the table full of grannies next to us.

a wedding!

2009.11.24, Hong Kong
This evening we attended the wedding for which we'd come to Hong Kong in the first place.

markets

2009.11.24, Hong Kong
Today we spent the morning in Kowloon.

repulse bay cable car

2009.11.23, Hong Kong
repulse bay cable car Collections containing this photo.ho

fish and turtle

2009.11.23, Hong Kong
fish and turtle Collections containing this photo.hong kon

scared of heights

2009.11.23, Hong Kong
scared of heights Collections containing this photo.hong k

pandas!

2009.11.23, Hong Kong
Today we took The Boy to an amusement park called "Ocean Park" that, naturally, is situated on a hill.

the stroller

2009.11.23, Hong Kong
The Boy has a good stroller.

pandas and old Minolta cameras

2009.11.23, Hong Kong
Today we went to see the Panda at an aquarium.

family and panda

2009.11.22, Hong Kong
family and panda Collections containing this photo.hong ko

Shek O

2009.11.22, Hong Kong
Our first day in Hong Kong was a blustery cool one.

hong kong at night

2009.11.21, Hong Kong
hong kong at night Collections containing this photo.hong

The panda is feeding

2009.11.21, Hong Kong
The panda is feeding Collections containing this photo.hon

young women spinning

2009.11.21, Tokyo
young women spinning Collections containing this photo.tok

Another new city

2009.11.21, Hong Kong
And suddenly we're in tropical China.

what a day

2009.11.20, Tokyo
Sometimes, Friday just adds nothing to what you can get done in a week.

"Gymnastics Day"

2009.11.19, Tokyo
The Boy attended his first Gymnastics Day celebration this year.

problem solving

2009.11.18, Tokyo
This morning, Kenny solved a two-part problem.

"I love you"

2009.11.18, Tokyo
The Boy's learned to say a passable "I love you".

photos of China

2009.11.18, Tokyo
I've finally assembled the photos from our trip to China and posted them to the website.

movie review - Body of Lies

2009.11.17, Tokyo
This is a spy flick set in the Middle East.

dropped my bike .. and son

2009.11.15, Tokyo
I'm still a bit weak from last week's illness, it seems.

riding in Shanghai

2009.11.13, Tokyo
A lot of people haven't asked what it's like to ride on the streets of Shanghai.

new fish

2009.11.12, Tokyo
While I was ill, three more of the shrimp died.

terribly ill

2009.11.11, Tokyo
I was terribly ill from Monday night through to Tuesday night, with a 40ºC fever and a generally awful feeling.

"it's allright to be mean"

2009.11.10, Tokyo
I listen to some music with challenging lyrics for a one year old.

"all gone da yo"

2009.11.08, Tokyo
The Boy informed us this morning that something was now finished.

happy birthday to a friend

2009.11.08, Tokyo
My long-time friend and business partner Jon is turning 40.

dressing

2009.11.07, Tokyo
I sent Kenny to daycare in his PJ's today.

Japanese electrics

2009.11.06, Tokyo
Everyone's familiar with Japanese electronics.

aging

2009.11.06, Tokyo
As I slide toward my 40th birthday, I'm starting to notice age issues again (for the first time since I was in my teens).

more dead shrimp

2009.11.05, Tokyo
In the days following the first death, there have now been three more dead shrimp.

movie review - Pineapple Express

2009.11.04, Tokyo
This is a light-hearted Man In a Hole and Buddy Cop hybrid featuring two stoner anti-heroes who witness a murder and become targets themselves.

crazy day

2009.11.04, Tokyo
I got more done today than I'd hoped.

visitors

2009.11.03, Tokyo
We met with Blake and Violetta at 10:00 this morning under clear and surprisingly cold skies.

pics from the motorbike tour

2009.11.02, Tokyo
I took a lot of photos on the motorbike tour.

Blake's arriving

2009.11.02, Tokyo
Tomorrow morning I'll be meeting with an old colleague who's coming to town.

The aquarium is stable

2009.11.01, Tokyo
Kenny's first aquarium seems to have stabilized.

it's our anniversary

2009.11.01, Tokyo
Three years ago we got married on a beach in Thailand.

shrimp tank

2009.10.31, Tokyo
Hmmm.

goodbye, Mashams (for real)

2009.10.30, Tokyo
Our friends the Mashams came by tonight for their last visit.

home again, home again

2009.10.30, Tokyo
It feels damn strange being back in Tokyo.

the aquarium

2009.10.29, Shanghai
Our last day in this mad city.

what's going on?

2009.10.28, Shanghai
what's going on? what's going on? Collections containing th

eatery, barbershop and flowershop

2009.10.28, Shanghai
eatery, barbershop and flowershop Collections containing t

"ni hao"

2009.10.28, Shanghai
Kenny's learned how to greet people in Chinese.

crickets, fish, and birds

2009.10.28, Shanghai
This morning we failed to find a river tour that could complement the tour we'd already done of the streets.

eight stories up

2009.10.27, Suzhou
eight stories up Collections containing this photo.suzhou,

ghost in the tower

2009.10.27, Suzhou
ghost in the tower Collections containing this photo.suzho

"finished"

2009.10.27, Shanghai
We'd had a long day, and The Boy was exhausted.

canal town

2009.10.27, Shanghai/SuZhou
Today we got out early, heading for the canal town of SuZhou.

chinese school children

2009.10.26, Shanghai
chinese school children Collections containing this photo.

panda's nap time

2009.10.26, Tokyo
panda's nap time Collections containing this photo.shangha

"grandma!"

2009.10.26, Shanghai
As we ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant this morning (a mistake we don't intend to repeat), a woman of about five years older than me was admiring Kenny.

"Mike! Mike!"

2009.10.26, Shanghai
At the encouragement of my dear wife, The Boy has started calling me "Mike".

the zoo!

2009.10.26, Shanghai
Today we went to the zoo to watch a panda sleep.

I guess I married well

2009.10.26, Shanghai
My wife astonished me this morning by telling me that she liked my camera vest.

the french quarter

2009.10.25, Shanghai
the french quarter Collections containing this photo.shang

motorcycle, mama

2009.10.25, Shanghai
motorcycle, mama Collections containing this photo.shangha

dynasty restaurant

2009.10.25, Shanghai
dynasty restaurant Collections containing this photo.shang

mari with a treat

2009.10.25, Shanghai
mari with a treat Collections containing this photo.shangh

the old city

2009.10.25, Shanghai
the old city Collections containing this photo.shanghai, 2

4 pieces for 5 yuan

2009.10.25, Shanghai
4 pieces for 5 yuan Collections containing this photo.shan

Shanghai alley way

2009.10.25, Shanghai
Shanghai alley way Collections containing this photo.shang

Mind Thunderbolt

2009.10.25, Shanghai
Mind Thunderbolt Collections containing this photo.odditie

entry 2500

2009.10.25, Shanghai
I've been writing this journal for more than ten years, now.

adopting in China

2009.10.25, Shanghai
So it seems that adopting a baby in China is still an option.

Shanghai sideways

2009.10.25, Shanghai
We survived our motorcycle tour of Shanghai!

we've arrived

2009.10.24, Shanghai
Now I've ridden in maglev trains on two continents.

gloomy doorway

2009.10.23, Tokyo
gloomy doorway Collections containing this photo.tokyo 200

the 858 cat-and-worms door

2009.10.23, Tokyo
the 858 cat-and-worms door Collections containing this pho

cycling in Tokyo

2009.10.23, Tokyo
Tokyo is by the safest city I've ever cycled in.

on business and busy-ness

2009.10.23, Tokyo
It's hard to imagine that I've got myself simultaneously involved in two start-ups, but that's how things have turned out.

movie review - The Dark Night

2009.10.22, Tokyo
This is a super-hero movie with a crime drama skin.

"beautiful", "gorgeous", and a song

2009.10.22, Tokyo
The Boy can sing!

a business idea is dead

2009.10.22, Tokyo
Looks like one of my business ideas is stillborn.

an old hobby renewed

2009.10.18, Tokyo
It's been several years since I last maintained an aquarium in the home.

balcony spider

2009.10.17, Tokyo
balcony spider Collections containing this photo.the quick

down by the river

2009.10.17, Tokyo
Today we went to the Ara river to the east of Tokyo.

along came a spider...

2009.10.17, Tokyo
We have a lots of mosquitoes around the house.

happy anniversary to us!

2009.10.17, Tokyo
We hit upon the idea of having a getaway "anniversary dinner" while Mari's parents were here.

meetings and a visa

2009.10.16, Tokyo
For some reason, I decided to sandwich in a trip to the Chinese consulate between important business meetings today.

grandparents!

2009.10.15, Tokyo
Kenny's grandparents have come up from Miyazaki for a visit.

family's here!

2009.10.15, Tokyo
Mari's folks are here for a visit.

round two of testing starts today!

2009.10.14, Tokyo
Our little engagement ring business enters a new phase today.

cyyyyycling in the raiiiinnn

2009.10.14, Tokyo
Just getting over a cold, when I get caught in the rain last night.

the zoo!

2009.10.12, Tokyo
Back in the Winter, we went to Ueno zoo and did about half of the place before Kenny fell asleep.

cycling in Autumn

2009.10.11, Tokyo
Today ended with another economics lesson.

ensoku & mamatomo

2009.10.10, Tokyo
Today was the day care's Olympics.

new desk

2009.10.10, Tokyo
Mari's got a new desk for the office/bedroom.

"grandma" and "orange" and "ma-chan"

2009.10.09, Tokyo
Kenny said three words very clearly for the first time today.

shoe incident resolved

2009.10.09, Tokyo
After a few phone calls, the shoe incident is resolved.

movie review - Gran Torino

2009.10.07, Tokyo
This is an interesting movie about a sour old war veteran and his unlikely interaction with a Vietnamese-American youth in his neighborhood following the kid trying to steal the old man's car.

shrine with color

2009.10.07, Tokyo
shrine with color Collections containing this photo.tokyo

who's chopper is this?

2009.10.07, Tokyo
who's chopper is this? who's chopper is this? Collections c

typhoon

2009.10.07, Tokyo
Last night a typhoon made landfall at Tokyo.

wasp takes down dragonfly

2009.10.05, Tokyo
Japan has some nasty insects.

curry day

2009.10.04, Tokyo
We went to the park this morning for a curry cook-oy being hosted by the daycare mother's group.

Gelding Gangster

2009.10.03, Tokyo
"Gelding Gangster" appears to be the name of a band in Tokyo.

why I ride my bike in Tokyo

2009.10.03, Tokyo
This footage explains one of the major reasons I like to take a bike in Tokyo rather than ride the excellent train/subway system.

gelding .. gangster?

2009.10.02, Tokyo
gelding .. gangster? gelding .. gangster? Collections conta

your palanquin awaits

2009.10.02, Tokyo
your palanquin awaits Collections containing this photo.to

phoney

2009.10.02, Tokyo
phoney Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

not impressed

2009.10.02, Tokyo
not impressed Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

giant train map

2009.10.02, Tokyo
giant train map Collections containing this photo.life in

low tunnel

2009.10.02, Tokyo
There's a tunnel that passes beneath the wide set of sidings near Shinagawa train station.

the shoes arrived!

2009.10.02, Tokyo
The shoes and boots arrived today.

the beat goes on...

2009.10.01, Tokyo
When you're a small start-up dealing with gigantic international leaders in the industry, I find it helps to know what you're talking about.

hey, lookit that!

2009.09.30, Tokyo
Kenny's daycare journal today contained an interesting nugget.

Fujisan sunset

2009.09.29, Tokyo
Fujisan sunset Collections containing this photo.skies tok

like boots and ... books

2009.09.29, Tokyo
I've now got quite a range of items winging their way to me from overseas.

"money masters"

2009.09.28, Tokyo
Over the past several days, I've been slowly watching a rather dated but comprehensive video on the role of the Federal Reserve and its ilk.

o-matsuri

2009.09.27, Tokyo
Today we went to a neighbourhood festival.

the king of giraffes

2009.09.26, Tokyo
the king of giraffes Collections containing this photo.tok

our long day

2009.09.26, Tokyo
Mari and I went took Kenny to the daycare this morning for a parent-teacher meeting.

sold a photo!

2009.09.25, Tokyo
Today I put an 11"x14" print in the mail, bound for a former colleague in Australia.

これはバナ(ナ)

2009.09.24, Tokyo
Today The Boy announced "this is a bana(na)" in clear Japanese.

mum's off

2009.09.23, Tokyo
Well, not a long trip this time.

camera-drop park

2009.09.22, Tokyo
Not every visit to the park on the end of the street ends in disastrous dropping of photo equipment or sudden downbursts of rain.

shopping day

2009.09.22, Tokyo
We went to Ginza for a shopping expedition.

coat-hanger crow's nest

2009.09.21, Tokyo
coat-hanger crow's nest Collections containing this photo.

back to the museum

2009.09.21, Tokyo
Today we went to the Edo museum.

little boy, big park

2009.09.20, Tokyo
Today we went to a big park in some distant part of the city.

mamatomo party

2009.09.19, Tokyo
Today we had several families over to say goodbye to Sam, Keiko-san, Ma-chan and Akari-chan.

goodbye, Mashams!

2009.09.19, Tokyo
The Mashams, our good friends and neighbours, are leaving.

it's fun to be fooled

2009.09.18, Tokyo
Today Kenny was joined at the daycare by his grandma!

respect for the elderly day

2009.09.18, Tokyo
Today we through my visiting mother into the deep end.

pulling

2009.09.17, Tokyo
The Boy's started something new.

driver's license

2009.09.17, Tokyo
I've got a Japanese driver's license.

cortisone cream

2009.09.16, Tokyo
Kenny had broken out in a rash yesterday morning.

fishbowl

2009.09.15, Tokyo
fishbowl Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

green, blue, and rust

2009.09.15, Tokyo
green, blue, and rust Collections containing this photo.ar

small dog, long tongue

2009.09.15, Tokyo
small dog, long tongue Collections containing this photo.t

the barrier comes down

2009.09.15, Tokyo
The Boy now has the run of the house.

"Bye-bye Daddy!"

2009.09.15, Tokyo
This is one of his favourite sayings, something he likes to shout out whenever he and I are moving in directions that take us apart.

gaijin at Narita

2009.09.15, Tokyo
My mum's arrived on a short visit.

frozen onion

2009.09.15, Tokyo
We ran out of green onion the other morning, and had to eat our natto donburi without that lovely condiment.

all-day migraine

2009.09.14, Tokyo
I'm something of a weather witch.

the affair is over

2009.09.13, Tokyo
My summer affair has run its course.

kenny likes to draw

2009.09.12, Tokyo
Kenny likes to draw.

ikemen and ikumen

2009.09.12, Tokyo
"Ikemen" a term in (modern) Japanese term for a handsome, attractive man.

movie review - Burn After Reading

2009.09.09, Tokyo
This might have been called "Everything you Wanted to Know About Washington DC But Were Afraid to Find Out".

kissing girls

2009.09.08, Tokyo
When I dropped The Boy off at the daycare this morning one of the first things he did was kiss one of the little girls in his class.

yawn ... another earthquake

2009.09.08, Tokyo
Just had yet another earthquake, a very mild one.

if I were a rich man

2009.09.07, Tokyo
A former coworker asked how it was going, and I told him that I was having one of the best times of my life.

nihombashi

2009.09.05, Tokyo
nihombashi Collections containing this photo.reflections t

bitchin' camero

2009.09.05, Tokyo
Today I saw a left hand drive Camero on the street.

nohongo jouzu

2009.09.05, Tokyo
Today I set out to reset the password on my credit card so that I could make Internet purchases.

is he dead?!

2009.09.04, Tokyo
For the first time this year, our son slept through the night.

the mimic

2009.09.04, Tokyo
Kenny's taken to mimicking me.

another earthquake

2009.09.04, Tokyo
Just a few minutes ago, we had another significant earthquake.

goodbye! have a good day!

2009.09.03, Tokyo
When I drop The Boy off at the daycare, I usually go through a little routine.

blurry family

2009.09.01, Tokyo
blurry family Collections containing this photo.portraitur

o frabjous day!

2009.09.01, Tokyo
I got my little Olympus rangefinder camera back on Sunday.

the people in the computer

2009.08.31, Tokyo
For some time, now, we've been using Skype to call up my mother as well as my brother and his wife to show them The Boy.

the countdown

2009.08.31, Tokyo
It occurred to me this weekend that I'm now only eighteen months out from turning forty.

Monday morning hoorays

2009.08.31, Tokyo
We spent the weekend on family stuff, this weekend, except for an outing by Mari to meet some other local mothers.

typhoon

2009.08.31, Tokyo
A typhoon is descending upon us once again.

exhaust vent

2009.08.29, Tokyo
exhaust vent Collections containing this photo.walls & roc

rust fungi

2009.08.29, Tokyo
rust fungi Collections containing this photo.rust walls &

the missing photos

2009.08.26, Tokyo
I've just added some 650 photos to the website that date back to 2006.

Mari's second performance

2009.08.26, Tokyo
The people hosting the event at which Mari sang on Saturday forbid photography.

riding tandem

2009.08.24, Tokyo
riding tandem Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

Mari the performer

2009.08.23, Tokyo
Last night Mari gave her second-ever performance during a night that ended in the hospital.

my tax dollars at work

2009.08.21, Tokyo
Today as I was cycling back from Shibuya I passed through a large intersection in Gotanda.

humans versus mosquitoes

2009.08.20, Tokyo
The Boy doesn't yet know about swatting mosquitoes.

neverending camera issues

2009.08.19, Tokyo
Much to my dismay my recently-repaired X-700, the camera I dropped, has started leaking light again.

first long bike ride

2009.08.16, Tokyo
This morning, Mari and I took Kenny back over to the park where he can splash around in a fountain.

cicadas

2009.08.16, Tokyo
Tokyo is not exactly a nature lover's paradise.

lots of photos

2009.08.13, Tokyo
I've added dozens and dozens of new photos to the site.

third quake in five days

2009.08.13, Tokyo
We were eating breakfast this morning when there was yet another earthquake.

the new business takes a step forward

2009.08.13, Tokyo
Today my partner and I nominated two acquaintances to do some testing with the website storefront for our business.

ganbatte, Burma

2009.08.12, Tokyo
Recently, there's been a lot of non-Japanese political activity in my neighbourhood.

the second quake

2009.08.11, Tokyo
So it seems that this morning's quake (the second in less than 60 hours) was stronger than I knew.

earthquake

2009.08.10, Tokyo
We had a strong earthquake last night at around 20:30.

aquarium

2009.08.08, Tokyo
Today we went to the aquarium that's run by the city of Shinagawa.

Opa's story

2009.08.08, Tokyo
The barbershop that cut Kenny's hair has posted a photo of our son to their website.

photos from Miyazaki

2009.08.08, Tokyo
I've finally got my photos together from the trip to Miyazaki.

Jesus Body

2009.08.07, Tokyo
There are many things that can mystify a foreigner living in Japan.

carousel

2009.08.05, Tokyo
carousel Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

the ghost dance

2009.08.04, Tokyo
the ghost dance Collections containing this photo.0 street

for the dead

2009.08.04, Tokyo
for the dead Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

movie review - Shoot 'Em Up

2009.08.04, Tokyo
Having recently seen "Children of Men" I was happily surprised to track down another Clive Owen movie at the Tsutaya.

service and complexity

2009.08.04, Tokyo
Twice in the past two weeks, Mari and I have tried and failed to engage the services of different companies.

syndication (signal to noise)

2009.08.04, Tokyo
This little journal of mine is now in syndication.

just gotta be Monday

2009.08.03, Tokyo
This morning I left the house on time with Kenny on my arm.

confidence

2009.08.03, Tokyo
Kenny is slowly becoming more confident with things around him.

today I got caught in the rain three times

2009.08.02, Tokyo
The whole family went out in the rain at around 10:00 this morning in an effort to do various errands before some guests would arrive in the afternoon.

perfectly timed lunch

2009.08.01, Tokyo
Mari is off for a rehearsal today.

camera woes (revisited)

2009.08.01, Tokyo
The repairs done to my Olympus rangefinder were clearly insufficient.

cherish the zombie years

2009.07.31, Tokyo
A friend, reading the blow-by-blow on these, our "zombie" years.

shotengai

2009.07.30, Tokyo
shotengai Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

damn that store room!

2009.07.30, Tokyo
Tonight Mari asked me, "Did you take those [crackers] from the store-room?

banking 'round the world

2009.07.27, Tokyo
I've been using my mother's address as a "Canadian mail stop" for some reason.

replacing Google as search engine in Firefox

2009.07.26, Tokyo
I typically use search by typing in some keywords to the location bar (rather than first going to a search site, or using the dedicated search bar).

movie review - The Bucket List

2009.07.23, Tokyo
This is a movie about two men in the final year of their life.

Google is weirder than I thought

2009.07.23, Tokyo
My buddy Lee and I have discovered something truly bizarre.

some pics

2009.07.22, Tokyo
Last night I scanned some photos of our weekend trip to Miyazaki.

new favourite film

2009.07.22, Tokyo
I think I've found a new favourite colour print film!

"ten", "nine", clip-clop, clip-clop

2009.07.21, Tokyo
Tonight The Boy pointed at a bottle of maple syrop (Mari and I are having pancakes for dinner while he eats fish and vegetables), and made a sound like horses' hooves beating.

understanding Japanese withholding tax

2009.07.21, Tokyo
Tax law is always difficult to understand.

home again, home again

2009.07.20, Tokyo
So we're home again.

the waterslide incident

2009.07.19, Nichinan
We went to the pool in the morning.

favourite house

2009.07.18, Miyazaki
favourite house Collections containing this photo.kyushu e

to the beach!

2009.07.18, Nichinan, Miyazaki
We went to the beach.

Google ain't all that

2009.07.18, Tokyo
At the prompting of a personal correspondance, I'm adding an entry on my thoughts about Google.

a home rebuilt

2009.07.18, Miyakonojo, Kyusyu
Today we flew to Miyazaki, and from there drove to Miyakonojo, the town of my wife's birth.

"I'm through with sleeping on the sidewalk"

2009.07.18, Tokyo
Tonight on the way home from the daycare, Mari and I found a fellow of about our age lying on the sidewalk, unmoving and eyes closed.

the new business

2009.07.15, Tokyo
My business partner and I came to a decision today.

I'm too fun for my hat

2009.07.14, Tokyo
Kenny on July 4 celebrating his new haircut with a new hat to cover it all.

let's get out of here!

2009.07.13, Tokyo
let's get out of here! Collections containing this photo.t

.net frustration

2009.07.13, Tokyo
Once upon a time, when the 'net was young and no-one but techies fiddled about with domain registration, there was but one Internet registrar that everyone had to deal with.

coke-bottle car

2009.07.12, Tokyo
A couple of weeks ago I made Kenny a toy car out of a Coke bottle.

movie review - Knocked Up

2009.07.11, Tokyo
I honestly have no idea what all the buzz is about with this thing.

what a day

2009.07.10, Tokyo
I've had a bit of a wobbly week, and today just capped it off wonderfully.

Prolonged sleeplessness? I've not noticed any effects.

2009.07.08, Tokyo
Here's one that shows what prolonged sleeplessness does to your mind.

new for your iPhone

2009.07.08, Tokyo
Some friends have released a new application for the iPhone.

tour of Shinagawa

2009.07.07, Tokyo
Today I took a free tour of Shinagawa, the city within the Tokyo district in which we live.

my old professor

2009.07.06, Tokyo
One of my University professors was arrested on child pornography charges earlier this year.

Disney

2009.07.05, Tokyo
It was inevitable.

pipes and veneer

2009.07.04, Tokyo
pipes and veneer Collections containing this photo.walls &

placid canal in Tokyo

2009.07.04, Tokyo
placid canal in Tokyo Collections containing this photo.0

parked in a laneway

2009.07.04, Tokyo
parked in a laneway Collections containing this photo.toky

chance encounter

2009.07.04, Tokyo
chance encounter Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2

haircut and shopping

2009.07.04, Tokyo
Our day was spent on Kenny, today.

semi-stolen chair

2009.07.04, Tokyo
We went to a gigantic sale at the TOC outlet building in Gotanda.

an anonymous Tokyo shopping street in all its glory

2009.07.03, Tokyo
an anonymous Tokyo shopping street in all its glory Colle

rainy railing

2009.07.03, Tokyo
rainy railing Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

new glasses

2009.07.03, Tokyo
I picked up my new glasses today, the first new pair in five years or so.

on the spot

2009.07.02, Tokyo
At a celebration today for the demise of our Japanese course, I was asked to make a speech!

zombie attack

2009.07.01, Tokyo
In this journal, I've mention the feeling of living like a zombie.

Canada Day

2009.07.01, Tokyo
Today was Canada Day.

movie review - Beowulf

2009.06.30, Tokyo
This is an animated telling of the 1500+ year-old-epic by the same name.

牛乳/milk

2009.06.30, Tokyo
Today's new word was "gyuunyuu", the Japanese word for 'milk'.

great dentist

2009.06.30, Tokyo
I had a great experience with a visit to the dentist today.

an old acquaintance

2009.06.28, Tokyo
Mari, Kenny and I met up with an old friend from a short contract stint I did in Australia back in "19100".

old Shinagawa houses

2009.06.25, Tokyo
old Shinagawa houses Collections containing this photo.toy

a house with a goldfish moat

2009.06.25, Kawagoe
a house with a goldfish moat Collections containing this p

fashion sewing smell

2009.06.25, Kawagoe
fashion sewing smell Collections containing this photo.200

camera repairs

2009.06.25, Tokyo
I've got the good news from the camera repair shop in Illinois that accepted my old XD-11.

again with the sleep issues

2009.06.24, Tokyo
Last night I went to bed at 23:00, completely exhausted.

the spaces between

2009.06.23, Tokyo
the spaces between Collections containing this photo.tokyo

oni ga soto!

2009.06.23, Kawagoe
oni ga soto! Collections containing this photo.2009 - kawa

four boys and three mums

2009.06.23, Tokyo
four boys and three mums Collections containing this photo

kawagoe's bell tower

2009.06.23, Kawagoe
kawagoe's bell tower Collections containing this photo.200

HIE no more

2009.06.23, Tokyo
I took my last* roll of HIE black and white infrared-sensitive film into Horiuchi this morning for development.

crib's death

2009.06.21, Tokyo
Kenny's been steadily growing too large for his crib, and now the time seems to have come.

bubbles

2009.06.19, Tokyo
Someone gave us a bottle of blowing-bubble mix with a cute little built-in ring that emerges when you squeeze the bottle.

movie review - Stardust

2009.06.18, Tokyo
This is a good fantasy movie about a star that falls to Earth in the form of a young woman.

chocolate covered what

2009.06.16, Tokyo
chocolate covered what Collections containing this photo.o

chocolate covered what?

2009.06.16, Tokyo
Ah, Japan.

easily scared

2009.06.15, Tokyo
Strangely enough, the boy's begun a new thing recently where he scares easily.

Three PC's and one um user

2009.06.15, Tokyo
I bought a Mac Mini.

kenny's long day

2009.06.08, Tokyo
Kenny was left in daddy's care today because Mari had a rare social engagement in the evening.

mikoshi

2009.06.07, Tokyo
Today we went out to join the neighbourhood celebration that's centred around Shinagawa shrine (which is close to our home).

screwing up

2009.06.06, Tokyo
I decided to send one of my Minolta XD bodies off to the US for repairs after being told by one local repair shop they wanted more than $200, and being told by another that my particular camera would be impossible to repair in Japan.

feverish, again

2009.06.05, Tokyo
Kenny hit a high fever of 40C last night.

thank you, government

2009.06.05, Tokyo
The Canadian tax authority sent me an advisory suggesting that they wanted me to call them.

new keyboard

2009.06.04, Tokyo
It's that time again -- I've bought another keyboard.

movie review - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

2009.06.03, Tokyo
This is a tough story about two fuck-up brothers who decide to rob their parents' jewelry store.

weird camera fixes

2009.06.03, Tokyo
Yup, another post about getting my cameras fixed.

vampire baby

2009.06.01, Tokyo
We no longer have time or energy for anything.

portraits of my wife the singer

2009.06.01, Tokyo
I'm not an experienced portrait photographer, but a bit of forthought and a raft of lamps let me pull off some okay portraits of my singer wife for a promotional brochure.

digital black and white

2009.05.29, Tokyo
I ran out of points on my Bic Camera card last week, and told myself that I'd stop shooting film for a while when that happened.

camera repairs

2009.05.29, Tokyo
I got my 35DC back.

if the truck is a'rockin

2009.05.26, Tokyo
Today at the ward office building where I take Japanese lessons, we were taken for a three-part earthquake expo.

rusty nails, old wood

2009.05.25, Tokyo
rusty nails, old wood Collections containing this photo.te

white wedding, smoky shrine

2009.05.25, Tokyo
white wedding, smoky shrine Collections containing this ph

Shinagawa shrine

2009.05.25, Tokyo
Shinagawa shrine Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2

Today is towel day

2009.05.25, Tokyo
To all the other fans of Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books: today is Towel Day!

at my feet

2009.05.24, Tokyo
I've got quite a large collection of photos.

some photos

2009.05.23, Tokyo
I've put some photos of our recent trip to the Izu peninsula in my photo gallery.

crosslighting the way

2009.05.22, Tokyo
crosslighting the way Collections containing this photo.to

standing in shadow

2009.05.22, Tokyo
standing in shadow Collections containing this photo.tokyo

the busy life

2009.05.22, Tokyo
Sometimes I feel that I may be biting off a bit more than I'm supposed to.

marunouchi sunset

2009.05.21, Tokyo
marunouchi sunset Collections containing this photo.tokyo

roly poly fish heads

2009.05.20, Tokyo
At the fish market, I noticed these discarded fish heads. M

someone else's art

2009.05.20, Tokyo
someone else's art Collections containing this photo.2009.

tsukiji morning

2009.05.20, Tokyo
tsukiji morning Collections containing this photo.tokyo 20

binding

2009.05.20, Tokyo
binding Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009 2009.

the market winds down

2009.05.20, Tokyo
the market winds down Collections containing this photo.to

hanging bones

2009.05.20, Tokyo
hanging bones Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

I get by with a little help...

2009.05.19, Tokyo
Today at the daycare, The Boy ran to greet his friend Ma-chan (four years old).

2,500 journal entries

2009.05.18, Toronto
Wow, this journal is getting on.

hack hack hack

2009.05.18, Tokyo
hack hack hack Collections containing this photo.tokyo 200

hook

2009.05.18, Tokyo
hook Collections containing this photo.2009.05 - kamil's v

Mari's video

2009.05.18, Tokyo
With a tip from my pal Nate, I've managed to put together a video of Mari's debut on YouTube.

if I never have a cent...

2009.05.18, Tokyo
Mari's parents arrived in town yesterday for Mari's singing debut.

family!

2009.05.16, Tokyo
One "uncle" departed, but now there are grandparents!

Mari's debut

2009.05.16, Tokyo
Mari is practicing today for tomorrow's singing debut at a show with a dozen other singers (in turn).

dropped camera: the verdict

2009.05.15, Tokyo
A few days ago I mentioned that I'd dropped one of my cameras and that it now was suffering from light leaks.

Kamil's away

2009.05.14, Tokyo
Kamil's on his way back to Thunder Bay.

pipe nest

2009.05.13, Tokyo
pipe nest Collections containing this photo.tokyo clutter

tomb

2009.05.13, Tokyo
tomb Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009 architec

meiji shrine's entrance gate

2009.05.13, Tokyo
meiji shrine's entrance gate Collections containing this p

ocean cave

2009.05.11, Tokyo
ocean cave Collections containing this photo.photos I love

on the Izu peninsula's west coast

2009.05.11, Tokyo
on the Izu peninsula's west coast Collections containing t

stream at sunset

2009.05.11, Tokyo
stream at sunset Collections containing this photo.izu pen

return to Izu

2009.05.11, Izu Peninsula
Jon, Manami-san, Kamil and the family went to the Izu peninsula this weekend to get away from the city and to show Kamil a real Japanese ryokan.

Shibuya sunset

2009.05.10, Tokyo
Shibuya sunset Collections containing this photo.tokyo 200

what's out there?

2009.05.10, Izu Peninsula
what's out there? what's out there? Collections containing

laneway with izakaya

2009.05.10, Tokyo
laneway with izakaya Collections containing this photo.tok

through the dark gate

2009.05.10, Kamakura
through the dark gate Collections containing this photo.20

Sunset over shibuya

2009.05.10, Tokyo
Sunset over shibuya Collections containing this photo.urba

Dr. Zaniewski in Japan

2009.05.10, Tokyo
Dr. Zaniewski in Japan Collections containing this photo.t

movie review - Spider-Man 3

2009.05.10, Tokyo
This year continues its losing streak.

knots and sticks and cracks

2009.05.09, Tokyo
knots and sticks and cracks Collections containing this ph

hang on tight

2009.05.09, Tokyo
hang on tight Collections containing this photo.tokyo subw

scenic old homes

2009.05.09, Tokyo
scenic old homes Collections containing this photo.photos

Yagstravaganza

2009.05.09, Tokyo
Today we held a belated birthday party for Yaguchi-san.

man with tiny dog

2009.05.08, Tokyo
man with tiny dog Collections containing this photo.tokyo

smoky walkway

2009.05.06, Tokyo
smoky walkway Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009

crappy shrine

2009.05.06, Tokyo
We'd planned a picnic for today, but called it off because it was raining hard the day before and then continued to rain off and on throughout the morning.

shinagawa alleyway

2009.05.05, Tokyo
shinagawa alleyway Collections containing this photo.tokyo

Kamil!

2009.05.04, Tokyo
Kamil Zaniewski, my University-era friend who's now a professor in Northern Ontario, has arrived for a visit.

great day in the sunshine

2009.04.29, Tokyo
Today was the first of the holidays that make up "Golden Week" in Japan.

day gods-know-what

2009.04.28, Tokyo
Just when I was about to report that all was well with my long-running bout of pnuemonia, I woke up this morning with a renewed feeling of having a sore throat that extends down into my entire chest.

movie review - 3:10 to Yuma

2009.04.25, Tokyo
I ennoyed this miserably violent Western about a group of men who try to bring a notorious robber to justice.

new design for website

2009.04.25, Tokyo
I've once again tweaked the design of this website last night.

camera drop fallout

2009.04.24, Tokyo
To my dismay, it seems that it's time to say goodbye to another camera -- that's two so far in '09 and three in the past 18 months!

the daycare journal

2009.04.21, Tokyo
I have no idea what city-run daycare is like in Canada, if it even exists.

Japanese lessons again

2009.04.21, Tokyo
I had an entire month off, since I last took Japanese lessons.

a new world

2009.04.18, Tokyo
As of this week, I'm no longer officially employed.

my brave family

2009.04.13, Tokyo
I'm now a house-husband!

day 15: mycaplasma

2009.04.13, Tokyo
So it turns out that in all of the wide world, among countless species of bacteria, we humans have only found one lone species that doesn't have cell walls.

day 14: looking like a dead bug

2009.04.11, Tokyo
For two whole weeks now, I've been wrangling with a cold that just won't go.

losing my language

2009.04.09, Tokyo
At first, it seemed that learning the Japanese language was having no impact on my English skills.

macha

2009.04.08, Tokyo
macha Collections containing this photo.life in Tokyo (200

'ka' is for cat

2009.04.07, Tokyo
While I was singing "Old MacDonald had a farm" using the glove toy that my aunt Laurie gave us, Kenny picked up on one of the words.

one day...

2009.04.07, Tokyo
Once in a while you have one of those days that makes you wonder about how you've arranged your life.

day eight

2009.04.07, Tokyo
It's now day eight of nearly incessant high temperatures (up to 38o) for me, and now my son has had it off and on for at least four-five days (last night reaching a high of 40o).

RocknRolla

2009.04.03, Tokyo
This is a violent gangster movie that gets some stuff quite right and has a glaring error at the core of its plot.

remember, it's a foreign land

2009.03.31, Tokyo
Today I had a real reminder -- as if being illiterate and unable to speak wasn't enough -- that I'm in a foreign land.

public juggling debut

2009.03.30, Tokyo
Today was my public juggling debut.

website maintenance

2009.03.29, Tokyo
This morning I woke at 03:00 and couldn't get back to sleep.

the juggling report

2009.03.27, Tokyo
Today I managed to nearly double my record in continuous juggling, hitting 112 successive catches before fumbling.

rough night

2009.03.26, Tokyo
To prepare for the change in schedule, I'm helping out with tending to Kenny when he cries in the night.

the disappointing emergency

2009.03.26, Tokyo
Last night was an unusual night for us.

changes coming

2009.03.23, Tokyo
This morning I took Kenny out in his stroller to the daycare he'll be attending.

me and PKD

2009.03.22, Tokyo
I had a bizarre dream last night in which I was working in a start-up business setting in which I had a significant leadership role.

camera drop

2009.03.22, Tokyo
Today I took Kenny to the park at the end of the street because it was a beautiful morning.

some sage advice

2009.03.21, Tokyo
I spoke with my mother today about Ken's recent refusal to eat at meal times.

picky eater

2009.03.20, Tokyo
The boy is well and truly a picky eater.

final goodbye

2009.03.20, Tokyo
Those of us who stayed for the end of the intensive Japanese program went for a goodbye at a Yakiniku restaurant in Shibuya.

nobody told me it would be so boring

2009.03.19, Tokyo
nobody told me it would be so boring Collections containin

decision maker

2009.03.19, Tokyo
decision maker Collections containing this photo.life in T

how to succeed in Japanese pronunciation

2009.03.17, Tokyo
My "intensive" Japanese course is coming to its end.

the unfashionable east side

2009.03.16, Tokyo
the unfashionable east side Collections containing this ph

Wow, これいい!

2009.03.16, Tokyo
Today he said, "Wow,

juggling

2009.03.16, Tokyo
I'm getting better at juggling.

Japanglish

2009.03.16, Tokyo
I've just had a disturbing report from Miyazaki.

"これ いい ね"

2009.03.14, Tokyo
Ken can say his first sentence.

kanji guide

2009.03.14, Tokyo
I've completed a compilation of words/usages for over 100 kanji.

finding things

2009.03.13, Tokyo
When it comes to finding things, I've always been .

movie review - Religulous

2009.03.11, Tokyo
I was very disappointed with this film by Bill Maher.

japanese is trending upwards

2009.03.06, Tokyo
I've been asked by my Japanese language school to write a short blurb on their behalf.

the Spiny Urchin returns

2009.03.06, Tokyo
My sister-in-law, Vancouver artists Heidi Van Impe has revived the Spiny Urchin project.

developing film

2009.03.05, Tokyo
I've hit upon a really good film developer in Tokyo.

movie review - Death Proof

2009.03.04, Tokyo
Well, 2009 is not off to a strong start, movie-wise.

juggling balls

2009.03.04, Tokyo
I've come up an idea for a birthday gift this year.

new feature

2009.03.02, Tokyo
Today I've added a new feature: a photo-of-the-day.

Satoi family visit

2009.03.01, Tokyo
The Satoi family came for a visit today.

the gaijin are leaving Tokyo

2009.03.01, Tokyo
Near our previous apartment is an "international" grocery store, one that specializes in sky-high-prices for "foreign" foods.

babysitting

2009.02.28, Tokyo
It's always a pleasure to babysit when Mari's off on errands or doing something like her singing lessons.

talking

2009.02.26, Tokyo
The boy does two new forms of talking.

the big speech

2009.02.26, Tokyo
I took the time to read the text of US President Obama's speech to Congress this evening and I'm a bit confused.

movie review - Revolutionary Road

2009.02.25, Tokyo
I couldn't sit through more than 30 minutes of this movie.

the door opens....

2009.02.25, Tokyo
We've entered another phase in Ken's life.

my checkered driveway

2009.02.24, Tokyo
my checkered driveway Collections containing this photo.te

day care

2009.02.24, Tokyo
Kenny was accepted by the ward government into a ward-run daycare.

drunken minister

2009.02.22, Tokyo
Below is a video of a press conference held by a minister in the Japanese government.

word to Internet Explorer users

2009.02.21, Tokyo
I've modified my website to show a special message to viewers who use out-dated versions of Internet Explorer.

new server

2009.02.17, Tokyo
Once again, this website has moved.

the zoo

2009.02.13, Tokyo
We went to the zoo over in Ueno.

the camera is dead, long live the camera

2009.02.13, Tokyo
Quite suddenly, my beloved primary camera began exhibiting problems late last year.

this website hacked

2009.02.10, Tokyo
Today I learned from a friend that my website has been altered by someone redirecting search engine traffic to a spam website.

crash course

2009.02.10, Tokyo
One of the reasons I moved to Japan a few years ago was my dismay at what humans have made of North America.

weekend recap

2009.02.09, Tokyo
The following is an account of my weekend in Japanese.

ironwrought kanji

2009.02.08, Tokyo
ironwrought kanji Collections containing this photo.walls

casting a long shadow

2009.02.08, Tokyo
casting a long shadow Collections containing this photo.po

no more dining out

2009.02.08, Tokyo
Looks like we won't be going out much, anymore.

Japanese balloons

2009.02.08, Tokyo
The balloons we got Kenny at his birthday party are still going strong, two weeks after the actual party.

last week's trip

2009.02.08, Tokyo
I've got my film back and scanned for last week's trip.

in a high mountain village, a road paved with brick.

2009.02.07, Kyushu
in a high mountain village, a road paved with brick. Colle

a stream trips through a village in the mountains of Japan

2009.02.07, Kyushu
a stream trips through a village in the mountains of Japan

slender waterfall

2009.02.07, Kyushu
slender waterfall Collections containing this photo.kyushu

film photography's next generation

2009.02.07, Tokyo
I've noticed something interesting going on with the user community of a couple of the photography forums that I frequent.

volcano in the mist

2009.02.06, Tokyo
volcano in the mist Collections containing this photo.kyus

spinning child

2009.02.06, Tokyo
spinning child Collections containing this photo.portraitu

Fukuoka at night

2009.02.06, Kyushu
Fukuoka at night Collections containing this photo.reflect

the evening shift

2009.02.05, Tokyo
We've developed a routine for dealing with the complexities of getting Ken fed, bathed and into bed.

a tale of two arimasu

2009.02.05, Tokyo
The Japanese language is a many-barbed thing.

precious days

2009.02.01, Fukuoka
Happy February (this year is already sailing by at a terribly clip).

wind and rain

2009.01.31, Fukuoka
We're in Fukuoka.

language arts

2009.01.30, Fukuoka
We've been wondering when our boy was going to start speaking.

Mari's new classes

2009.01.26, Tokyo
Just as I've started Japanese classes, Mari's resumed some classes, too.

RSS feed

2009.01.25, Tokyo
Over the past few years, many people have asked me to put an RSS feed on this website.

gloomy nishishinjuku

2009.01.21, Tokyo
gloomy nishishinjuku Collections containing this photo.tok

shinjuku spires in the mist

2009.01.21, Tokyo
shinjuku spires in the mist Collections containing this ph

Japanese class

2009.01.20, Tokyo
My first class went well.

the deep end

2009.01.19, Tokyo
Today I followed through on my threat to find a Japanese class.

tiny shrine

2009.01.18, Tokyo
tiny shrine Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2009 j

Shinjuku has a run-down side

2009.01.18, Tokyo
Shinjuku has a run-down side Collections containing this p

nishi shinjuku

2009.01.18, Tokyo
nishi shinjuku Collections containing this photo.tokyo 200

new year's resolutions

2009.01.18, Tokyo
OK, it's taken me a couple of weeks (due to the job situation) but now I can post my new year's resolutions for '09.

cheap film, strong filter, good sunset

2009.01.17, Tokyo
cheap film, strong filter, good sunset Collections contain

infra-red palace grounds

2009.01.16, Tokyo
infra-red palace grounds Collections containing this photo

indoors infrared

2009.01.16, Tokyo
indoors infrared Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2

infra-red luncheon

2009.01.16, Tokyo
infra-red luncheon Collections containing this photo.tokyo

waiting for the light

2009.01.14, Tokyo
waiting for the light Collections containing this photo.to

shadow portrait

2009.01.14, Tokyo
shadow portrait Collections containing this photo.tokyo 20

please do not feed the gulls

2009.01.14, Tokyo
please do not feed the gulls Collections containing this p

walking and reading

2009.01.14, Tokyo
It's amazing, really, how quickly a small child's life evolves.

day care

2009.01.13, Tokyo
We took some time to see two day care centres today.

movie review - The Mummy 3

2009.01.12, Tokyo
Awful.

dust devil

2009.01.12, Tokyo
We were thinking of buying a new vacuum cleaner.

toys, sounds, and vehicles

2009.01.11, Tokyo
I've posted a couple of items in the journal about Ken's reaction to toys.

Japanese lessons

2009.01.11, Tokyo
One of my coworkers came up with an excellent suggestion on Friday.

new camera gear

2009.01.09, Tokyo
This morning I had a dream that I bought a used camera lens sight unseen (I have actually done this, with poor results).

LEGO section

2009.01.08, Tokyo
I've added the first of my recent LEGO set creations to the site in the creations section.

movie review - Tropic Thunder

2009.01.06, Tokyo
I quite enjoyed this bizarre telling of a Vietnam war movie shoot in south-east Asia that swerves into an unintended collision with reality when the core cast is cut adrift in an area controlled by drug gangs.

Nichinan, Miyazaki

2009.01.01, Tokyo
Hello, 2009!

2008

a home, abandoned

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
a home, abandoned Collections containing this photo.abando

rows of gaikon drying on a hill-side

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
rows of gaikon drying on a hill-side Collections containin

grandpa pitches well

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
grandpa pitches well Collections containing this photo.miy

fishing boats, miyazaki japan

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
fishing boats, miyazaki japan Collections containing this

sunrise on a citrus terrace

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
sunrise on a citrus terrace Collections containing this ph

as the sun sets behind a volcanic plume

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
as the sun sets behind a volcanic plume Collections contai

small money for prayers

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
small money for prayers Collections containing this photo.

an old building's last stand

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
an old building's last stand Collections containing this p

sunrise seen from a wooded hill-side

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
sunrise seen from a wooded hill-side Collections containin

self portrait, crumbling house

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
self portrait, crumbling house Collections containing this

eleven months old just getting started

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
eleven months old just getting started Collections contain

my brother-in-law and his sons

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
my brother-in-law and his sons Collections containing this

a patched up building's final deterioration

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
a patched up building's final deterioration Collections co

wagon wheels

2008.12.31, Miyazaki
wagon wheels Collections containing this photo.

year in review

2008.12.31, Nichinan
It's been eleven months.

building a pull-toy

2008.12.30, Tokyo
building a pull-toy Collections containing this photo.

another migraine

2008.12.30, Nichinan, Miyazaki
In bed half the day with a migraine again.

inch-worm

2008.12.29, Nishinan
The inch-worm toy is a success.

another birthday

2008.12.29, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki
Three birthdays in a week!

making mochi

2008.12.28, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki
This morning's festivities began with an extended barbeque and mochi-making party.

growling

2008.12.27, Nichinan
The boy's mastered a variety of meaningful verbal communications.

party like it's 2008

2008.12.27, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki
This morning we did the beach onsen.

forested volcano, japan

2008.12.26, Tokyo
forested volcano, japan Collections containing this photo.

Guided by voices

2008.12.26, Niwashi, Kagoshima
Today we left the family home in Nichinan and struck out for Kagoshima.

Trust me, I'm a licensed semi-professional

2008.12.25, Nichinan, Miyazaki
After my ordeal of the previous days, I was up and around at more or less a normal hour on this day.

Merry F'n X'mas

2008.12.24, Nichinan, Miyazaki
X'mas eve, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for the 8.

hug

2008.12.23, Nichinan
I was sick today, and had to go to the hospital for a saline drip.

Norrundon'twalk

2008.12.23, Nichinan, Miyazaki
On this day I came down with a bout of Norwalk virus or something similar.

The Birthday

2008.12.22, Nichinan, Miyazaki
I'm writing these journal entries after the fact for reasons that will become obvious.

Welcome to winter

2008.12.21, Nichinan, Miyazaki
Well it's winter again.

hanging radishes

2008.12.20, Tokyo
hanging radishes Collections containing this photo.

flying domestic

2008.12.20, Nichinan, Miyazaki
It was a busy morning.

adoring fans

2008.12.19, Tokyo
Cycling home at this time of year the city streets are full of people celebrating.

toy

2008.12.18, Tokyo
As noted previous, I'm making a wooden "inch-worm" pull-toy for my little nephew Ta-kun.

movie review - Hancock

2008.12.16, Toronto
This is a very uneven movie that wanders in and out of different styles and tones.

bachelor life

2008.12.16, Tokyo
Mari and Kenny are in Miyazaki.

movie review - Transporter 3

2008.12.15, Tokyo
All there really is to say about this movie is that it isn't up to the first two in the series.

bad influence

2008.12.13, Tokyo
Joon and I met in Ginza to go to a Malaysian restaurant with Jon and Minami-san.

ginza street crossing

2008.12.12, Tokyo
ginza street crossing Collections containing this photo.to

working woman

2008.12.12, Tokyo
working woman Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2008

high wire cleaners

2008.12.11, Tokyo
high wire cleaners Collections containing this photo.tokyo

the picky eater

2008.12.11, Tokyo
The boy's suddenly become a picky eater.

boys versus girls

2008.12.09, Tokyo
boys versus girls Collections containing this photo.tokyo

mamatomo II

2008.12.07, Tokyo
Today we got together again with the neighbours that Mari's met through the babies-and-mothers centre.

visit with the neighbours

2008.12.07, Tokyo
Today we visited with the neighbours.

no foolin'

2008.12.06, Tokyo
Today I had fun teasing my son with the reflection coming off of the glass face of my watch.

harvest of gold

2008.12.05, Tokyo
harvest of gold Collections containing this photo.greenery

hunting bin Laden

2008.12.05, Tokyo
"Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.

movie review - Quantum of Solace

2008.12.03, Tokyo
First, a note on what this movie is or is not "for the franchise".

reflections in Harumi

2008.12.02, Tokyo
reflections in Harumi Collections containing this photo.to

bad service

2008.12.01, Tokyo
I am blessed.

fatherhood and health

2008.11.30, Tokyo
One thing I hadn't really counted on in becoming a father (among so many others) was the many effects on my health.

JR shadows

2008.11.30, Tokyo
I set off early this morning to go to one of the big camera stores and get some storage binders for my negatives.

helmets for safety

2008.11.30, Tokyo
I know this cyclist who goes about Tokyo without a helmet.

toddler time

2008.11.28, Tokyo
Ken seems to have graduated from baby to toddler.

troubles

2008.11.28, Tokyo
Ah, the economy.

Filipino bus driver

2008.11.26, Manila
Filipino bus driver Collections containing this photo.stre

the escape attempt

2008.11.24, Tokyo
the escape attempt Collections containing this photo.

movie review - Traitor

2008.11.20, Tokyo
This is a smart flick about the "war on terror".

puppetshow

2008.11.19, Tokyo
Kenny saw his first puppetshow today.

website traffic

2008.11.16, Tokyo
Around the time that I last made a journal entry on the subject of traffic to this website, I found that the traffic had started to taper off.

shopping for terebi

2008.11.14, Tokyo
Mari wants to get a television.

LNG barge

2008.11.10, Manila
LNG barge Collections containing this photo.manila sights

bags and suits

2008.11.10, Tokyo
bags and suits Collections containing this photo.

taxi bikes in Manila

2008.11.10, Manila
taxi bikes in Manila Collections containing this photo.

medium format toy camera

2008.11.09, Tokyo
As previous noted, I've recently come into possession of an old (54 year old!

delicate reflection

2008.11.08, Tokyo
delicate reflection Collections containing this photo.arch

Jon's birthday

2008.11.08, Tokyo
It was Jon's 39th birthday party tonight.

street photography in the Philippines

2008.11.07, Manila
Before leaving for the airport this morning, I spent 90 minutes on a trek out to the river that wends its way through Manila's sprawling congested urban space.

A new US president

2008.11.06, Manila
I wasn't going to write on the subject of Barack Obama's election in this journal, but it occurred to me that my offspring might someday want to know where I was and what I felt.

Arnon in Manila

2008.11.05, Manila
Today I met my childhood friend in Manila while he was on a business trip.

let sleeping folk lie

2008.11.04, Tokyo
A couple of weeks ago we went to the sea side to take in the scenery.

04:00, what's up your nose?

2008.10.30, Tokyo
I was woken at about 03:45 this morning by a mosquito.

shameful

2008.10.26, Tokyo
Last Monday my friend Jon was telling me about his recent successes as a cook.

tricked out bike

2008.10.24, Tokyo
After speaking with a coworker who's an avid cyclist, I decided to go to the fine folks at Azabu Cycle about getting my bike modified.

tuberculosis

2008.10.23, Tokyo
I recently learned that I'd possibly been exposed to tuberculosis.

the North Americans

2008.10.22, Tokyo
It's funny.

...the tire trilogy concludes

2008.10.17, Tokyo
I decided to risk riding on the weakened tire one more time, only to get me to the office.

the cycle story continues...

2008.10.16, Tokyo
I went down to the parking area early* this morning and had a look at my twice-flattened front tire.

tires

2008.10.15, Tokyo
Shortly before we left for Vancouver, I told myself, "I've sure been having a run of good luck with the flat tires!

broken bench

2008.10.14, British Columbia
broken bench Collections containing this photo.abandoned p

abandoned structure, BC

2008.10.14, British Columbia
abandoned structure, BC Collections containing this photo.

useful chair

2008.10.14, Tokyo
useful chair Collections containing this photo.portraiture

the child maze

2008.10.14, Tokyo
the child maze Collections containing this photo.

walking at the western edge of the world

2008.10.14, Tokyo
walking at the western edge of the world Collections conta

climax maximum no more

2008.10.14, British Columbia
climax maximum no more Collections containing this photo.t

Autumn sky over Victoria's harbour

2008.10.14, British Columbia
Autumn sky over Victoria's harbour Collections containing

reflected conifers

2008.10.14, British Columbia
reflected conifers Collections containing this photo.green

fence

2008.10.14, Tokyo
fence Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2008

Victoria sheep

2008.10.14, Victoria
Victoria sheep Collections containing this photo.the quick

Victoria's harbour in Autumn

2008.10.14, British Columbia
Victoria's harbour in Autumn Collections containing this p

standing tall and free

2008.10.14, Tokyo
Ken stood up by himself today, with no hand on anything else.

shaking

2008.10.13, Tokyo
The boy has taken to shaking his head.

the crow's nest

2008.10.12, Tokyo
We're back in Tokyo after two weeks in British Columbia.

separated but still similar

2008.10.08, Tokyo
My brother discovered that he and I had bought the same watch.

movie review - Casino Royale (2006)

2008.10.05, Tokyo
They finally made an honest-to-god good James Bond movie.

Oma and Opa

2008.10.04, Tokyo
Kenny got to meet his Oma and Opa last night, at last.

deer

2008.10.02, Tokyo
Vancouver island is the sort of place where bears and deer are a fact of life (along with rarer pumas).

black cat didn't cross my path

2008.10.02, Tokyo
As I joined one of the many major roads on my trip to work today I spotted a black cat that was trying to cross the road.

deer!

2008.10.02, Nanaimo
It was rainy and quite windy today.

the bear!

2008.10.01, Nanaimo
We'd gone to the hatchery with the tip that bears came to the place to catch salmon, but Mari and I were away from the car when a bear did in fact turn up.

seven sweet potatoes

2008.10.01, Nanaimo
We lingered in Tofino until the early afternoon, taking in all the nature.

the rain coast

2008.09.30, Tofino
We made it out to Tofino on the we(s)t coast of Vancouver island today.

the west west coast

2008.09.30, Tofino
We made it out to Tofino on the we(s)t coast of Vancouver island today.

shopping day no. 1

2008.09.29, Vancouver
Heidi works at Mountain Equipment Co-op, and we had a tonne of things on our list to stock up.

we've arrived

2008.09.28, Vancouver
The Boy got to meet his uncle Ken as well as his Aunt Van Impe today.

British Columbia

2008.09.28, Vancouver
Our much-anticipated trip to Canada's west coast has gotten off to a good start.

pronunciation

2008.09.28, Tokyo
Sadly, I learned today that I have the worst Japanese-language pronunciation of any foreigner that my wife knows.

the golden age

2008.09.26, Tokyo
No need to fear if the global economy is falling apart.

93 kilos

2008.09.23, Tokyo
On July 21, I reported that I weighed in at 98kg.

ten years already

2008.09.22, the Internet
It's just occurred to me that the ten-year anniversary of my presence on the Internet is just around the corner.

heel!

2008.09.21, Tokyo
heel! Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2008

Kinnear'd in Kawasaki

2008.09.21, Tokyo
Kinnear'd in Kawasaki Collections containing this photo.to

novel progress

2008.09.20, Tokyo
I've gone through the whole round with my editor on the novel.

new home page

2008.09.18, Tokyo
I've updated my home page for the first time in quite a while.

preparing for the rush

2008.09.16, Tokyo
preparing for the rush Collections containing this photo.t

bites

2008.09.15, Tokyo
Ken barely slept last night, which in turn meant that we barely slept.

pets

2008.09.15, Tokyo
We were walking down a shopping street yesterday and I noticed a pet store.

keyboard repair

2008.09.15, Tokyo
It looks like my new Model M keyboard is permanently damaged.

technogeek wife

2008.09.14, Tokyo
We were in a Yodabashi camera store today.

it's a small world

2008.09.10, Tokyo
Today I learned that one of my coworkers, here in Tokyo, lived in one of the buildings where I lived during my last year in Toronto.

gecko!

2008.09.09, Tokyo
I found a gecko in our bedroom tonight.

keyboard

2008.09.09, Tokyo
For the first time that I can recall, I spilled a big cup of water on myself while at my desk last night.

Game Gene Theory

2008.09.09, Tokyo
"There is no survival of the fittest.

movie review - Little Miss Sunshine

2008.09.05, Tokyo
This is an excellent movie about a family that decides to take their young daughter to a beauty contest in California.

laughing in Japanese

2008.09.02, Tokyo
Today Mari and I went to a local pre-school to 'audition', I suppose.

mastitis

2008.08.30, Miyazaki
Calamity.

luggage conveyor

2008.08.29, Miyazaki
luggage conveyor Collections containing this photo.odditie

photo equipment

2008.08.29, Tokyo
The March before last, my brother surprised me with a gift.

hilly countryside, japan

2008.08.28, Miyazaki
hilly countryside, japan Collections containing this photo

movie review - The Simpsons Movie

2008.08.27, Tokyo
So it's come to this.

boat trip

2008.08.25, Miyazaki
We were invited to take a boat tour of the canals of Nichinan in southern Miyazaki.

cousins!

2008.08.22, Miyazaki
Ken got to meet his cousins again!

aaaaaaah

2008.08.22, Miyazaki
It is so good to get away from the city.

giant pile of waste styrofoam

2008.08.20, Tokyo
giant pile of waste styrofoam Collections containing this

long-running novel

2008.08.17, Tokyo
I have an aunt who's a novelist, like me.

babababababababababa

2008.08.16, Tokyo
Today The Boy said, "bababababababababababababababababababab

hot snow

2008.08.07, Tokyo
Curiously, the weather forecast this morning called for 32oC and light snow.

piano

2008.08.05, Tokyo
I got home tonight, soaked and exhausted from the simple commute home.

fallin'

2008.08.04, Tokyo
Ken had his first fall, today.

heat

2008.08.04, Tokyo
This morning the news report on the radio said that the temperature was about 30oC before 08:00.

greying

2008.07.30, Tokyo
While in a training session yesterday, I found a grey hair on my shoulder.

sound effects

2008.07.27, Tokyo
sound effects Collections containing this photo.

fireworks

2008.07.27, Chiba
We spent the evening in Chiba, visiting with the Satoi family.

Captain Hammer

2008.07.27, Tokyo
My Captain Hammer t-shirt arrived, today.

fireworks

2008.07.25, Tokyo
Today we went to see fireworks for the first time in the boy's life.

cycling in the heat

2008.07.25, Tokyo
It's been hot, recently.

Ilford no more

2008.07.24, Tokyo
My favourite films, Ilford HP5 and FP4, are no longer for sale at Bic Camera.

enschizophreniation and other coined words

2008.07.23, Tokyo
Today I coined the word enschizophreniation in an email advisory 'round the office.

pipes

2008.07.22, Tokyo
pipes Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2008

optics

2008.07.22, Tokyo
optics Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2008

tokyo streets are busy

2008.07.22, Tokyo
tokyo streets are busy Collections containing this photo.t

weight gain

2008.07.21, Tokyo
I stepped on the scales today and learned that I've now gained some 8 kilos since I've been in Japan and am parked at 98kg.

lens swamp!

2008.07.20, Tokyo
Mari found out about a camera fair in Ginza today.

opportunity awaits

2008.07.18, Tokyo
opportunity awaits Collections containing this photo.tokyo

a tale of two hares

2008.07.17, Tokyo
I posted a photo-microstory the other day, and had meant to link it to my journal.

dynamic tension?

2008.07.16, Tokyo
dynamic tension? dynamic tension? Collections containing th

10,000 views

2008.07.16, Tokyo
This iteration of my website is now a year old.

sunset over Harumi bridge

2008.07.09, Tokyo
sunset over Harumi bridge Collections containing this phot

Yurakucho

2008.07.09, Tokyo
Yurakucho Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2008

lost urban

2008.07.09, Tokyo
lost urban Collections containing this photo.at my feet

shadow over Harumi bridge

2008.07.09, Tokyo
shadow over Harumi bridge Collections containing this phot

bonus season

2008.07.09, Tokyo
It's bonus season in Japan.

movie review - 28 Weeks Later

2008.07.07, Tokyo
This is a sequel to the horror movie that brought us "fast zombies".

inchworm

2008.07.02, Tokyo
The boy turned five months old on June 27th.

digressions and puns

2008.07.02, Tokyo
As I see it, digressions are a minor crime against speech.

this vehicle is done to weaken an air conditioner

2008.06.30, Tokyo
this vehicle is done to weaken an air conditioner Collecti

dream wife

2008.06.29, Tokyo
I had a strange dream.

elevator ceiling abstraction

2008.06.27, Tokyo
elevator ceiling abstraction Collections containing this p

the train zips past

2008.06.27, Tokyo
the train zips past Collections containing this photo.toky

work work work

2008.06.27, Tokyo
When I'm working, I get so wrapped up in what I'm doing that I'm generally oblivious to my surrounds and even my general health.

peace on Earth

2008.06.26, Tokyo
I work for the IT department of an investment bank, and often come home wound up and tense.

movie review - Ratatouille

2008.06.25, Tokyo
This is an unlikely movie about a rat that's moved by cuisine.

gotanda got graffiti

2008.06.21, Tokyo
gotanda got graffiti Collections containing this photo.tok

Japanese/Senegalese fusion

2008.06.21, Tokyo
Japanese/Senegalese fusion Collections containing this pho

the mikoshi down the stairs

2008.06.21, Tokyo
the mikoshi down the stairs Collections containing this ph

I fell into your open arms

2008.06.21, Tokyo
I fell into your open arms Collections containing this pho

firefox browser

2008.06.21, Tokyo
On the way to a (rather good) drumming show tonight, I noticed that someone is running ads for the free/open-source Firefox web browser in the Tokyo JR train system.

jeff goldblum again

2008.06.19, Tokyo
Today I was assured by one of my colleagues that "everybody on the floor agrees" that I look like Jeff Goldblum.

rat!

2008.06.18, Tokyo
I saw my first Tokyo rat today.

laundry mistakes

2008.06.16, Tokyo
I got home from the gym on Sunday and stepped into the shower.

slow day

2008.06.15, Tokyo
It is a beautiful day today.

grungy place

2008.06.14, Tokyo
grungy place Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2008

shoulder problems

2008.06.14, Tokyo
shoulder problems Collections containing this photo.tokyo

I'm guarding what.

2008.06.14, Tokyo
I'm guarding what. Collections containing this photo.peopl

The Boy likes women

2008.06.12, Tokyo
During her recent visit, my mother told my wife that when my brother and I were small my dad would fret that she was was kissing us too much, that it would "turn us gay".

movie review - Smokin' Aces

2008.06.11, Tokyo
This is the story of a thoroughly unlikable bit-player in the criminal underworld who's decided to start working with the authorities.

new site is live

2008.06.08, Tokyo
Another year, another new website design.

iPod

2008.06.08, Tokyo
My handy little Samsung MP3 player (a YP-MT6) is a simple affair, with controls that are easy to use and no complications of any kind.

lenses

2008.06.06, Tokyo
Tonight I was pissed off with the world after work, and had to go for a long walk.

semi

2008.06.05, Tokyo
There are these insects in Japan that the locals call semi.

songs, old and new

2008.06.02, Tokyo
There's an old Monty Python song that goes: I've got two le

camera show

2008.06.02, Tokyo
This morning, Mari pointed out that an invitation to a used camera fair had been sitting around in our apartment for quite some time.

email

2008.06.01, Tokyo
I've been blasting off a lot of email in the past year and change.

new keyboard

2008.05.31, Tokyo
I have a fondness for the old IBM keyboards.

fascinating rock shapes, japan

2008.05.30, Miyazaki
fascinating rock shapes, japan Collections containing this

good news

2008.05.30, Tokyo
Tonight I learned that someone I know took my advice after asking an important question last year.

Burma

2008.05.25, Tokyo
I've been attempting to follow the story of the catastrophic cyclone landfall in Burma.

Tokyo street scene in the rain

2008.05.24, Tokyo
Tokyo street scene in the rain Collections containing this

somewhere in Tokyo, through a rainy window

2008.05.24, Tokyo
somewhere in Tokyo, through a rainy window Collections con

sticky, stinky and scratchy

2008.05.23, Tokyo
Just the other day I posted to this journal that the pleasant season was passing.

left in ruin after the quake

2008.05.22, Kobe
left in ruin after the quake Collections containing thi

polished to a shine

2008.05.22, Kobe
polished to a shine Collections containing this photo.kobe

dry ice on teak, II

2008.05.22, Kobe
dry ice on teak, II Collections containing this photo.

Rose Shop Thumb Hole

2008.05.22, Kobe
Rose Shop Thumb Hole Collections containing this photo.kob

dry ice on teak

2008.05.22, Tokyo
dry ice on teak Collections containing this photo.textu

goodbye, favourite season

2008.05.17, Tokyo
That precious time of the year is sliding away.

nurse's visit

2008.05.16, Tokyo
An OB nurse from the clinic came to visit Ken today.

inflation

2008.05.16, Tokyo
I've been reading bits and pieces here and there about inflation creeping into various national economies.

medium format pics

2008.05.14, Tokyo
Here are the pics from that first roll of film.

the results!

2008.05.13, Tokyo
I got back my first roll of 6x6 film shot on the old Ricohflex.

sexy rocks in Miyazaki

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
sexy rocks in Miyazaki Collections containing this photo.a

young rice paddy

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
young rice paddy Collections containing this photo.explori

fractal geology

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
fractal geology Collections containing this photo.at my fe

terraces

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
terraces Collections containing this photo.exploring Miyaz

terrible window designs

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
terrible window designs Collections containing this photo.

onions in the window

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
onions in the window Collections containing this photo.wal

rock forms, Miyazaki coastline

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
rock forms, Miyazaki coastline Collections containing this

lamp and its shadow

2008.05.11, Tokyo
lamp and its shadow Collections containing this photo.

angler on old lava

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
angler on old lava Collections containing this photo.explo

rock forms, Miyazaki coastline

2008.05.11, Miyazaki
rock forms, Miyazaki coastline Collections containing this

movie review - 300

2008.05.11, Tokyo
This is a very stylish and imaginatively-filmed/animated period piece set in antiquity.

the zen gardiner

2008.05.10, Miyazaki
the zen gardiner Collections containing this photo.explori

temporal dissonance

2008.05.10, Tokyo
temporal dissonance Collections containing this photo.

the facehugger

2008.05.10, Miyazaki
the facehugger Collections containing this photo.walls & r

piles of lumber

2008.05.10, Tokyo
piles of lumber Collections containing this photo.

Kyusyu flower store blossoms

2008.05.10, Miyazaki
Kyusyu flower store blossoms Collections containing this p

immature rice in May

2008.05.09, Miyazaki
immature rice in May Collections containing this photo.miy

rice paddies on Kyushu

2008.05.08, Tokyo
rice paddies on Kyushu Collections containing this photo.e

waterfall and fallen logs

2008.05.07, Miyazaki
waterfall and fallen logs Collections containing this phot

suica no more

2008.05.07, Tokyo
Since October of 2005, I've been using a Suica card for transit in Tokyo.

neutral density

2008.05.03, Miyazaki
The neutral density filter has to be the most poorly named in the wide world of photographic filters.

it's all my mum's fault

2008.05.01, Tokyo
Tonight on the way home I bought a cokin filter and the adapter widget for fitting it to my cameras.

just .. sure

2008.04.30, Tokyo
just .. sure Collections containing this photo.

end of a season

2008.04.30, Tokyo
I notice that it's already the end of my favorite part of spring.

oosaki at night

2008.04.29, Tokyo
oosaki at night Collections containing this photo.tokyo 20

new toy

2008.04.29, Tokyo
One thing I realized during our early expeditions with the child: carrying a tripod doesn't mix with carrying child stuff.

floors and doors

2008.04.26, Tokyo
Sometimes I take photos of rather mundane things like whatever is under my feet, or whatever wall or doorway I happen to be passing.

tokyo at night

2008.04.25, Tokyo
I shot this with some cheap color 100 film (Centuria) way out at 400 ISO.

another day, another photo

2008.04.24, Tokyo
Took this about ten days ago.

photo experiment: subway

2008.04.23, Tokyo
I've been working on a new project recently -- a complete reworking of this website.

'you are what you buy'

2008.04.20, Tokyo
There, I finally caught some advertiser cutting to the brutal truth.

movie review - Sunshine

2008.04.17, Tokyo
This is a science fiction story, and a real mixed bag.

movie review - Crank

2008.04.17, Tokyo
Easily one of the worst movies I've seen.

waiting on the light

2008.04.16, unspecified
waiting on the light Collections containing this photo.

gotta get to work

2008.04.16, Tokyo
gotta get to work Collections containing this photo.tok

river in a straightjacket

2008.04.15, unspecified
river in a straightjacket Collections containing this p

forty x forty

2008.04.14, Tokyo
Working for a gigantic bureaucracy is sometimes amusingly predictable (or vice versa).

the new highwire act in Tokyo

2008.04.13, Tokyo
the new highwire act in Tokyo Collections containing this

watching the actors

2008.04.12, Tokyo
watching the actors Collections containing this photo.t

the birds, the birds

2008.04.12, unspecified
the birds, the birds Collections containing this photo.

gimme speed

2008.04.12, unspecified
gimme speed Collections containing this photo.

two species

2008.04.12, Tokyo
two species Collections containing this photo.tokyo 200

taking doggy for a walk

2008.04.12, Tokyo
taking doggy for a walk Collections containing this pho

hanami at a castle moat

2008.04.12, unspecified
hanami at a castle moat Collections containing this pho

the author as a young zombie

2008.04.12, Toronto
the author as a young zombieCollections containing this photo.

Bye-bye grandma 8(

2008.04.12, Tokyo
Dad took Grandma back to the airport today.

training day

2008.04.10, Tokyo
training day Collections containing this photo.tokyo 20

smells + memory

2008.04.08, Tokyo
We've got this new 'all natural' shampoo.

home carved into a rock wall

2008.04.07, Tokyo
home carved into a rock wall Collections containing thi

the assisted tree

2008.04.07, Matsushima
the assisted tree Collections containing this photo.odd

memento day

2008.04.04, Matsushima
Today was another day of firsts.

a gull-ridden tour

2008.04.04, Tokyo
This morning we went on a boat cruise in Matsushima Bay.

sick

2008.04.02, Tokyo
I've been sick a lot recently.

camera gear

2008.04.01, Tokyo
I've been doing a lot of photography recently.

site redesign

2008.03.30, Tokyo
It seems that every six to eighteen months, I redesign this website from scratch for one reason or another.

Tokyo bike seat

2008.03.28, Tokyo
Tokyo bike seat Collections containing this photo.

a profile, you ask

2008.03.27, Tokyo
Someone in the global organization at work wanted me to produce a profile of myself for a newsletter.

health & happiness

2008.03.25, Tokyo
We had quite an experience today, this little family.

the rotten stairs

2008.03.24, Tokyo
the rotten stairs Collections containing this photo.textur

long white wall with crazy tubes

2008.03.24, Tokyo
long white wall with crazy tubes Collections containing th

Rain's not good for suede

2008.03.19, Tokyo
Tonight I made up a song for Ken and Mari as I was hurrying through the rain.

Arthur C. Clarke

2008.03.19, Tokyo
The finest science fiction writer in history is dead.

blah day on the train

2008.03.17, Tokyo
blah day on the train Collections containing this photo

grey day umbrellas

2008.03.17, Tokyo
grey day umbrellas Collections containing this photo.to

yamanote girl

2008.03.17, Tokyo
yamanote girl Collections containing this photo.tokyo s

rain

2008.03.14, Tokyo
It rained nearly all day today.

weather report

2008.03.13, Tokyo
The weather's certainly changed.

commuting in Kita-shinagawa

2008.03.12, Tokyo
commuting in Kita-shinagawa Collections containing this

new tire

2008.03.12, Tokyo
I've finally tired of the flat tires to the point of doing something about it.

Tokyo is hot tonight (for "winter")

2008.03.11, Tokyo
I came home to find a screaming boy and a distraught Mari.

movie review - Children of Men

2008.03.10, Tokyo
This is a sci-fi pick about a world without (human) pregnancies.

happy anniversary to me!

2008.03.09, Tokyo
I'd decided on a birthday gift to myself from my wife, and informed her that I wanted a box of film, specifically Ilford's excellent FP4.

a Michael photo

2008.03.07, Tokyo
a Michael photo Collections containing this photo.photos I

movie review - No Country for Old Men

2008.03.07, Tokyo
I really enjoyed this movie, though it was filled with psychopaths trying to kill each other.

one more for the road (or not)

2008.03.06, Tokyo
I hopped on my bike this morning, raring to get to the office early to catch up for the day I'd missed yesterday.

lamps backlit by the sun

2008.03.04, Tokyo
lamps backlit by the sun Collections containing this photo

always something...

2008.03.04, Tokyo
My grandfather liked to say, "there's always something to keep you humble.

lens swamp

2008.03.02, Tokyo
When helping Jon shop for a new digital SLR camera, yesterday, I noticed an 85mm lens for the Minolta system in a store window.

2,500,000 hits

2008.02.28, Tokyo
Today my website logged its 2.

art in the public pace

2008.02.27, Tokyo
art in the public pace Collections containing this photo.

another(!) flat tire

2008.02.25, Tokyo
The thing with the flat tires is getting out of hand.

migraines

2008.02.24, Tokyo
I get migraines.

movie review - There Will Be Blood

2008.02.23, Tokyo
This is a movie of the early days of the oil industry, depicting a ruthless and power-mad man who effectively loses his humanity in his effort to make a vast fortune and exert his control over everyone and everything around him.

warden training

2008.02.23, Tokyo
Today we did a full day of training at the embassy.

Canadian consular affairs warden program

2008.02.22, Tokyo
So, I'm a member of the Canadian government's warden program in Tokyo.

the barber shop

2008.02.21, Tokyo
the barber shop Collections containing this photo.tokyo

weather report

2008.02.20, Tokyo
The weather in the city has been completely bizarre recently.

diet coke

2008.02.19, Tokyo
So it's starting to look like aspartame may be much worse for the human body even than sugar.

cards and gifts

2008.02.18, Tokyo
I really can't believe how well we've made out with showers of cards and gifts.

again with the flat tires

2008.02.18, Tokyo
I'm enjoying another run of flat tires with my bike, clearly.

windy sculpture in the Marunouchi

2008.02.17, Tokyo
windy sculpture in the Marunouchi Collections containin

gettin' old

2008.02.16, Tokyo
Looking at a recent photo of me, I can't help but notice that I'm looking creased and haggard.

back in the saddle

2008.02.12, Tokyo
I cycled to the office today, and both my bike and I were both a little rusty this morning.

one child

2008.02.08, Tokyo
I've just finished reading a really excellent X'mas gift from my mother, a book titled The World Without Us by Alan Weisman.

movie review - The Fountain

2008.02.07, Tokyo
This is am ambitious story about a man struggling to save his wife from cancer.

the boy's taste in music and governments

2008.02.07, Tokyo
The kid's musical tastes are coming into focus.

camera leather

2008.02.06, Tokyo
I got my third set of new leather from cameraleather.

first day as a dad

2008.01.27, Tokyo
first day as a dad Collections containing this photo.

I'm a dad

2008.01.27, Tokyo
I knew the day was coming, but it's still a staggering bit of news.

Soon, soon

2008.01.26, Tokyo
It's coming any day now.

a prediction

2008.01.25, Tokyo
I've got a prediction.

D'oh!

2008.01.24, Tokyo
Oh, the things you see without a camera.

Tokyo is in tomorrow

2008.01.23, Tokyo
Today it snowed.

Japanese double speak

2008.01.20, Tokyo
It has recently come to my attention that there are considerably more double-words in Japanese than I'd previously known.

movie review - The Nines

2008.01.19, Tokyo
This is a clever science fiction film that tracks three stories that are interwoven in a way that is at first utterly impossible to guess.

bizarre coding error

2008.01.19, Tokyo
This morning I've found a funny coding error in my script that creates this journal.

plastics

2008.01.17, Tokyo
My mother gave me a book for X'mas titled "The World Without Us".

novel, second cut

2008.01.14, Tokyo
I've sent a second cut of my novel to my agent.

black hole lens

2008.01.13, Tokyo
My friend, who's recently bought not one but two cameras, suggested today that a very small black hole should be use as a lens for photography.

smart kid

2008.01.12, Tokyo
Today I met a three-year-old named Reika who can read katakana and hiragana, the two basic syllabaries of the Japanese language.

movie review - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2008.01.07, Tokyo
No.

buh-bye Pentax MX

2008.01.06, Tokyo
I did something today which I've only done twice before.

baby sling

2008.01.03, Tokyo
As part of our meager preparations for the arrival of Ken 4*, we've picked up a sling suitable for infants.

明けましておめでとうございます

2008.01.01, Tokyo
Happy New Year, everyone.

2007

hot colors

2007.12.31, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  greenery &n

tiles of grass

2007.12.31, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  color  

found object

2007.12.31, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  found objec

ayumi hamasaki guilty

2007.12.31, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  vehicles &n

azabu

2007.12.31, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  vehicles &n

swank address

2007.12.31, Tokyo
swank address Collections containing this photo. archite

zozo-ji at sunset - new year's eve

2007.12.31, Tokyo
zojooji at sunset - new year's eveCollections containing this photo.

three dogs in a basket

2007.12.31, Tokyo
three dogs in a basketCollections containing this photo.

architectural element

2007.12.30, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  tokyo 2007

scissors in a window

2007.12.30, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  tokyo 2007

river in the golden hour

2007.12.30, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  waterways &

feeding the birds

2007.12.30, Tokyo
Why did it have to be gulls. Collections containing this

busy traffic cop in tsukiji

2007.12.30, unspecified
busy traffic cop in tsukiji This guy's got his work cut out

a lone cyclist

2007.12.30, Tokyo
a lone cyclistCollections containing this photo.

an early morning

2007.12.30, Tokyo
an early morning As the city awakes. Collections containing

power drinks

2007.12.30, Tokyo
There is an incredible lack of public garbage cans in Tokyo

works of man

2007.12.30, Tokyo
works of man Man should know by now that all of our works ar

abandoned pet clinic

2007.12.30, Tokyo
abandoned pet clinic It never ceases to amaze me how many ab

hit with shit while cycling

2007.12.29, unspecified
hit with shit while cycling I'd just been crapped on by a b

going to school

2007.12.29, Tokyo
going to school This is one of my favorite from 2007. I tak

movie review - Zodiac

2007.12.29, Tokyo
Beware: this is a long movie, and one that seems to pick up its pace from the era in which it's set: the 70's.

movie review - Death at a Funeral

2007.12.26, Tokyo
This English comedy starts out well over the top and just keeps climbing.

Merry X'mas

2007.12.25, Tokyo
My second "X'mas" in Japan.

tag, you're demolished

2007.12.24, unspecified
tag, you're demolished This building was torn down almost i

Tokyo canal reflection

2007.12.22, Tokyo
Tokyo canal reflection Between Tokyo Bay and the inner city

movie review - The Wedding Crashers

2007.12.18, Tokyo
This is a movie about two louts who crash weddings with the intention of meeting women.

movie review - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

2007.12.16, Tokyo
This is one of the last movies we saw in the cinema before our son was born.

photo stats

2007.12.16, Tokyo
I've had quite a few hits to my site over the years.

waist

2007.12.14, Tokyo
Think you're still in shape?

Novel detour

2007.12.12, Tokyo
It's Mari's first day of maternity leave today.

a night at Alhambra

2007.12.09, Tokyo
a night at Alhambra We attended an evening of musical and da

movie review - Layer Cake

2007.12.08, Tokyo
This is a gangster movie.

"we love you"

2007.12.06, Tokyo
Today, not one but two people told me "we love you, Michael".

And now, a word from our sponsors...

2007.12.04, Tokyo
I've been working on a novel for several years.

The Yoda wedding

2007.12.02, Tokyo
Today we attended a wedding reception. Being married off

a night at Alhambra

2007.12.01, Tokyo
a night at Alhambra Collections containing this photo.e

a night at Alhambra

2007.12.01, Tokyo
a night at Alhambra We attended an evening of musical and d

party night in Tokyo

2007.12.01, Tokyo
Today we attended an evening of entertainment w/ a variety

Kawasaki infra-red

2007.12.29, Kawasaki
Kawasaki infra-red This is an indoor shot taken with black

sleep-walking lens purchase

2007.11.28, Tokyo
A Japanese friend of mine bought a lens in total stealth mode.

east-end matsuri

2007.11.25, Tokyo
Today we attended a bit of a festival in the east end. Yo

some days....

2007.11.16, Tokyo
Recently, I was heading into the office for my 'normal' 09:00 (I fairly regularly start at 07:30 as well) and there was the usual crowd hanging around having a smoke.

bike accident

2007.11.15, Tokyo
It finally happened.

movie review - Transformers

2007.11.11, Tokyo
I saw this in the cinema with a couple of friends, for a laugh.

Shizuoka is warm

2007.11.11, Shizuoka
Shizuoka is two prefectures over from the greater Tokyo area.

more good luck from a bird

2007.11.08, Tokyo
Today I had a run of "good luck".

kekkonkinenbi desu

2007.11.07, Tokyo
A year ago today, we did this.

record year

2007.11.01, Tokyo
That was quick.

another goddamn headache

2007.10.22, Tokyo
If you've got migraines, I feel bad for you, son.

EDSの社人の飲み会

2007.10.19, Tokyo
I went to a reunion of former EDS people who had been stationed with the one client where I was on site when I arrived in Japan.

cycling in October

2007.10.15, Tokyo
The weather this autumn has been pretty lousy.

movie review - Capote

2007.10.09, Tokyo
This is the story of Truman Capote, the writer.

Goodbye, Toronto

2007.09.21, Toronto
And our last day is upon us, just like that.

shopping

2007.09.20, Toronto
I can't remember a day of such intense shopping running around.

movie review - Munich

2007.09.19, Tokyo
This is a story assassination during the Cold War era.

packing by day, music by night

2007.09.19, Toronto
We spent the whole day sorting out the stuff in my storage unit.

Georgian bay sunrise

2007.09.18, unspecified
Georgian bay sunrise Collections containing this photo.

back to the city

2007.09.18, Toronto
We headed into town first thing, and did some laundry.

Cruise day

2007.09.17, Victoria Harbour
We got a reasonably early start on the day, and went into town where we did a bit of shopping.

the farm, 2007

2007.09.16, Beamsville
the farm, 2007 Collections containing this photo.2007 f

niagara falls in the morning

2007.09.16, Ontario
niagara falls in the morning Collections containing thi

on lake Ontario

2007.09.16, unspecified
on lake Ontario Collections containing this photo.skies

family day

2007.09.16, Victoria Harbour
We left the Falls this morning for St.

a long day

2007.09.15, Niagara Falls
My mum arrived this morning, and after the usual confusion with trying to reach Jonathan, Mari and I sped off to my aunt Laurie's place.

Jon and Charlie

2007.09.14, Toronto
Jon and Charlie, my close friends. They like beer. Collec

Mmmm, coffee

2007.09.14, Toronto
We found an amazing coffee place on Yonge street just south of Carlton.

Keg Redux

2007.09.13, Toronto
Tonight we all met with Charlie and Andrea and the Chako.

Bloor West Village is cool tonight

2007.09.12, Toronto
Flew into Toronto today, after leaving at some point that my watch says was three hours and my body says was 20ish.

new landlord

2007.09.09, Tokyo
In anticipation of the baby's arrival, we've been looking for a larger apartment.

Typhoon weather

2007.09.06, Tokyo
For the record, typhoon weather is fncking ridiculous.

My father-in-law's new camera

2007.09.03, Tokyo
My father-in-law's camera packed it in.

a snarl of wires

2007.09.02, unspecified
a snarl of wires Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2

new lens

2007.09.02, Tokyo
Mari and I went for a check-up at the clinic again (they seem to be slated for every three or four weeks).

Thank you, Kate

2007.08.31, Tokyo
I had my session with my writing coach tonight.

another goddamn flat

2007.08.24, Tokyo
Tonight on the way home.

another flat

2007.08.23, Tokyo
Two weeks ago I was greeted had a flat tire while heading out to do some errands.

Another day, another d'ohnut

2007.08.22, Tokyo
This morning I got the report on my novel from the writing coach I hired.

$42 flash

2007.08.20, Tokyo
I'm feeling rather pleased with myself.

carving tools, rusty

2007.08.15, Tokyo
I learned a lesson about my new home town, today.

Tokyo at night

2007.08.12, Tokyo
With my handy Pentax *istDS, I took some long-exposure shots of the clouds passing over my neighbourhood in Tokyo.

RDL DVD's

2007.08.12, Tokyo
Today in a store in Gotanda I noticed these, which appear to be 8.

Tokyo is hot today

2007.08.11, Tokyo
今日 とても 

movie review - Sin City

2007.08.07, Tokyo
This is an incessantly unpleasant and sexist movie based on a comic book series from the early '90s.

What a day

2007.08.07, Tokyo
Today a cold I've been dodging for a couple of weeks finally caught up with me and I took the morning off to rest.

Tokyo big sights

2007.08.01, Tokyo
There's a place in Tokyo called "Tokyo Big Sight".

writing coach

2007.07.31, Tokyo
I've taken another step towards getting my novel completed.

my ring is back

2007.07.26, Tokyo
I picked up my ring, and it's like new!

the Japanese language is nuts

2007.07.25, Tokyo
They have a verb for this: "being given a thing to take care of (it)".

movie review - The Bourne Ultimatum

2007.07.24, Tokyo
This is the third of the "Bourne" movies, featuring a former CIA agent who has lost all his memory and despite being hunted by various violent parties is attempting to patch together a new life (and self of identity).

going up?

2007.07.24, Tokyo
At the office, the queues at the elevators are often a hundred people deep in the mornings.

singing in the market

2007.07.21, Tokyo
You want some funny stares in Japan?

Jeffery-san

2007.07.20, unspecified
Jeffery-san Collections containing this photo.japanese

a good day, all in all

2007.07.19, Tokyo
Things were interesting, today.

missing my wedding ring

2007.07.19, Tokyo
On the weekend I took my wedding ring to the shop where we bought it.

I'm back (again)

2007.07.18, Tokyo
Back online.

ki-kun's five-year mission

2007.07.15, unspecified
ki-kun's five-year mission Collections containing this

typhoon!

2007.07.14, Miyazaki
Today we endured the full blast of a tropical typhoon.

cycling in the rain

2007.07.10, Tokyo
A pedestrian wandered in front of me on a bridge, today.

how to find an apartment in Tokyo

2007.06.30, Tokyo
how to find an apartment in Tokyo Collections containing t

among the bikes, a "no bikes" sign

2007.06.30, Tokyo
among the bikes, a "no bikes" sign Collections containing

Barge in the Sumida

2007.06.24, Tokyo
Barge in the Sumida Collections containing this photo.0 st

movie review - Tremors

2007.06.22, Tokyo
I love this film.

building comes alive

2007.06.20, Tokyo
building comes alive Collections containing this photo.arc

yurakucho concourse

2007.06.20, Tokyo
yurakucho concourse Collections containing this photo.toky

shopping street, infrared light

2007.06.20, Tokyo
shopping street, infrared light Collections containing thi

infrared shopping street

2007.06.20, Tokyo
infrared shopping street Collections containing this photo

Roppongi to Roppongi

2007.06.20, Tokyo
Roppongi to Roppongi Collections containing this photo.

underground bicycle parking

2007.06.17, Tokyo
underground bicycle parking Collections containing this ph

yakkin' and passin'

2007.06.16, Tokyo
yakkin' and passin' Collections containing this photo.vehi

I'm gunna be a dad

2007.06.04, Tokyo
Yes, it's one of those images you don't forget. Mari and

two photographers

2007.05.30, Tokyo
two photographers Collections containing this photo.tokyo

cycling into the sun

2007.05.30, Tokyo
cycling into the sun Collections containing this photo.tok

watching the rivals arrive

2007.05.30, unspecified
watching the rivals arrive Collections containing this pho

everybody wants in

2007.05.30, Tokyo
everybody wants in Collections containing this photo.tokyo

the grind

2007.05.24, Tokyo
the grind Collections containing this photo.the quick a

waiting for the parade

2007.05.24, unspecified
waiting for the parade Collections containing this phot

cycling through tsukiji

2007.05.23, Tokyo
On my route to work is a singular piece of real estate.

puppy rentals!

2007.05.12, Tokyo
puppy rentals! Collections containing this photo.tokyo

movie review - The Constant Gardener

2007.05.11, Tokyo
This is a story about one man's quest to find out what really happened to his murdered wife.

Yaguchi-san plans the shot

2007.05.09, Tokyo
Yaguchi-san plans the shot Collections containing this pho

yano-san, bicycle man

2007.05.05, unspecified
yano-san, bicycle man Collections containing this photo.to

warez in Taiwan

2007.05.03, Taiwan
warez in Taiwan Collections containing this photo.taiwan 2

two wheels taiwan

2007.05.03, Taiwan
two wheels taiwan Collections containing this photo.taiwan

birds on a railing

2007.05.03, Tokyo
birds on a railing Collections containing this photo.tokyo

eggs and lots of 'em

2007.05.03, Taiwan
eggs and lots of 'em Collections containing this photo.tai

Azabu station

2007.05.03, Tokyo
Azabu station Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2007

pots at a tea house

2007.05.03, unspecified
pots at a tea house Collections containing this photo.phot

Taiwan is big on small motorcycles

2007.05.03, Taipei
We're in Taipei.

movie review - Sahara

2007.04.23, Tokyo
Back in the Pleistocene, there were adventure books written by a man named Clive Cussler and starring a larger-than-life character called Dirk Pitt (seriously).

a cemetery in Azabu

2007.04.15, unspecified
a cemetery in Azabu Collections containing this photo.t

movie review - Lord of War

2007.04.12, Tokyo
This is a movie about an arms dealer who rides a knife's edge between a successful - and lucrative - career and the legal boundaries of the industry.

busy place

2007.04.05, Tokyo
busy place Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2007

fashion dude waits on a traffic light

2007.04.05, Tokyo
fashion dude waits on a traffic light Collections conta

Tokyo streets

2007.04.05, Tokyo
Tokyo streets Collections containing this photo.

a cycle courier

2007.04.05, Tokyo
a cycle courier Collections containing this photo.tokyo

Shibuya at night.

2007.04.05, Tokyo
Shibuya at night. Collections containing this photo.tok

Tokyo streets

2007.04.05, Tokyo
Tokyo streets Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2

bird on a wire

2007.04.05, Tokyo
bird on a wire Collections containing this photo.tokyo

considering flowers

2007.04.05, Tokyo
considering flowers Collections containing this photo.t

dancing

2007.04.01, Tokyo
dancing Collections containing this photo.0 streets withou

Yoyogi

2007.03.30, Tokyo
Yoyogi Collections containing this photo.2007 - hanami in

tree trunk of madness

2007.03.30, Tokyo
tree trunk of madness Collections containing this photo.tr

yoyogi tourists in a line

2007.03.30, Tokyo
yoyogi tourists in a line Collections containing this phot

mejijingu grounds

2007.03.30, unspecified
mejijingu grounds Collections containing this photo.shadow

Nishi-Shinjuku

2007.03.29, unspecified
Nishi-Shinjuku Collections containing this photo.archit

cleavage in the overpass

2007.03.29, unspecified
cleavage in the overpass Collections containing this ph

tofuya

2007.03.27, Tokyo
tofuya Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2007 portra

a tiny eatery in Shinjuku

2007.03.27, Tokyo
a tiny eatery in Shinjuku Collections containing this phot

construction site

2007.03.25, unspecified
construction site Collections containing this photo.col

Mita 1-chome at night

2007.03.25, Tokyo
Mita 1-chome at night Collections containing this photo.mi

Mita 1-chome at night

2007.03.25, Tokyo
Mita 1-chome at night Collections containing this photo.mi

sunset over tokyo shopping street

2007.03.23, Tokyo
sunset over tokyo shopping street Collections containin

ready for the evening foot traffic

2007.03.22, unspecified
ready for the evening foot traffic Collections containi

waiting for their women

2007.03.21, unspecified
waiting for their women Collections containing this pho

kendo mask

2007.03.20, Tokyo
kendo mask Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2007

Roppongi cycle race

2007.03.19, unspecified
Roppongi cycle race Collections containing this photo.0

movie review - Delicatessen

2007.03.10, Tokyo
I showed Mari this old favorite of mine.

movie review - Idiocracy

2007.03.07, Toronto
I finally got around to seeing this movie (or any movie!

The captain goes to the net

2007.03.04, Tokyo
The captain goes to the net Collections containing this ph

we allow this river to persist

2007.03.01, Tokyo
But we know that in the long run, water wins. Collections

hot potato truck

2007.03.01, Tokyo
I have to imagine that this is a hard way of making a livin

it creeps closer

2007.02.27, Tokyo
I've always been happy with the combination of lines and sh

facade reflected in a facade

2007.02.27, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  reflections

earth mover

2007.02.27, Nagano
I like working vehicles. Collections containing this phot

camera leather store

2007.02.25, Yokohama
Mari took me to a store where they have leather kits for ca

freeze-proofing the street

2007.02.17, Nagano
By keeping the streets wet with onsen water, the people of

river in my neighborhood

2007.02.08, Tokyo
Wow, Tokyo. Just wow. I can't help but imagine that some da

movie review - Primer

2007.02.07, Tokyo
I came across this indie time travel movie quite by chance, and I'm glad I did.

textured tree trunk

2007.02.06, Tokyo
Sometimes, everything comes together very nicely. Collect

preparing for a wedding

2007.02.04, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  a lifetime

jobless in Tokyo

2007.01.31, Tokyo
Today I got a call from my boss.

men and women with hats

2007.01.28, Tokyo
Damn. Collections containing this photo.  portr

pay day

2007.01.19, Tokyo
Today, by my careful calculation, my bicycle has paid for itself.

the young lovers

2007.01.15, unspecified
the young lovers Collections containing this photo.

cilly morning in a small town in Japan

2007.01.12, Nichinan
Collections containing this photo.  landscapes

electric canal

2007.01.11, Tokyo
Have I expressed my fondness for black and white? Collect

kites

2007.01.11, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

where oh where did I take this one

2007.01.09, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  cityscapes

tokyo in january

2007.01.09, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  cityscapes

life uh finds a way

2007.01.09, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.  lines  

Pentax MX

2007.01.08, Tokyo
The f/3.5 28mm lens in this photo is one of my favorite len

there goes the neighborhood - literally

2007.01.02, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.

ten years with this journal

2007.01.01, Tokyo
I've been keeping this journal for a full decade, now!

2006

the newlyweds

2006.12.13, Japan
the newlyweds Collections containing this photo.a lifet

movie review - The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

2006.12.04, Tokyo
This is a heart-breaking story of an itinerant worker who dies in the US.

movie review - Broken Flowers

2006.11.28, Tokyo
This is a movie about a retired founder of a software company* who's single once again after his girlfriend leaves.

bond boat, thailand

2006.11.20, Thailand
bond boat, thailand Collections containing this photo.p

movie review - Robots

2006.11.18, Tokyo
This is an animated flick about a robot who lives in Robot City and wants to be an inventor to make .

our last night in Bangkok

2006.11.11, Thailand
our last night in Bangkok Collections containing this p

bangkok's china town

2006.11.09, Thailand
bangkok's china town Collections containing this photo.

結婚式をしました!

2006.11.07, Phuket
Today Mari and I had our little wedding ceremony on the beach.

gold leaf statues

2006.11.05, Thailand
gold leaf statues Collections containing this photo.hon

fishing boat, Thailand

2006.11.05, Thailand
fishing boat, Thailand Collections containing this phot

movie review - Four Brothers

2006.11.03, Tokyo
This is a movie about four adopted brothers who re-unite to bury their mother who was gunned down in a robbery.

mari and michael in the park, 2006

2006.11.01, Tokyo
mari and michael in the park, 2006 Collections containi

Mari and I got married, today

2006.11.01, Tokyo
I took my girlfiend into the ward office today, and came out with a wife.

the mists of izu

2006.10.29, Izu Peninsula
Collections containing this photo.skies moods izu peninsu

reflected hill

2006.10.28, Izu Peninsula
Good fishing in Nichinan. Collections containing this

another perfect evening in Japan

2006.10.28, Izu Peninsula
Collections containing this photo.landscapes the sea

the daibutsu in kamakura

2006.10.27, Kamakura
I love Kamakura, and I find this giant Buddha amazing. It'

golden temple - Kyoto

2006.10.22, Kyoto
Collections containing this photo.my mother's visit to Ja

a walk in the bamboo

2006.10.22, Kyoto
Collections containing this photo.simple joys moods lines

storefront in Kyoto

2006.10.21, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.textures walls & rocks

movie review - The Island

2006.10.17, Tokyo
This is a sci-fi flick that shifts gears half way through.

movie review - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

2006.10.02, Tokyo
This is an irritating movie with an irritating lead.

Saturday night at Roppongi

2006.10.01, Japan
Saturday night at Roppongi Collections containing this

third time's the charm

2006.09.29, Tokyo
This is the third time I've worked with Jon. Collections

movie review - The Descent

2006.09.23, Tokyo
This is a story about a group of spelunkers who enter a cave system where they are beset by some kind of subterranean race.

Roppongi crossing

2006.09.20, Japan
Roppongi crossing Collections containing this photo.tok

girl taunts lion with orange

2006.09.17, Japan
girl taunts lion with orange Collections containing thi

street festival scene

2006.09.17, Japan
street festival scene Collections containing this photo

movie review - Mr. & Mrs. Smith

2006.09.17, Tokyo
This is a polished and high-speed spy thriller about a husband and wife who are both secretly - and unknown to each other - assassins.

outside Nichinan, in rural Miyazaki

2006.09.04, Miyazaki
outside Nichinan, in rural Miyazaki Collections containing

my gal's new ride

2006.09.24, Tokyo
Tokyo, 2006/09 Collections containing this photo.vehi

movie review - Corpse Bride

2006.09.03, Tokyo
This is a stop-motion animated musical from Tim Burton, and boy does it show.

my Tokyobike

2006.09.23, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.badges and bikes to

Tokyo photographer

2006.09.23, Tokyo
My tribe! Collections containing this photo.portraiture a

feral cat drinks blood

2006.09.01, Japan
feral cat drinks blood Collections containing this phot

gravid sky

2006.09.23, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.skies tokyo, 2006 A

just after I got engaged

2006.09.04, Miyazaki
A final pre-dawn walk near the village of Nichinan. The fi

swimming spot in Nichinan

2006.09.03, Miyazaki
This is a fine place to swim in Nichinan. Yes, you might fe

Mari turns 30

2006.08.29, Japan
Mari turns 30 Collections containing this photo.portrai

boxes for making tofu

2006.08.26, Tokyo
We get our tofu fresh at a place near us that makes it. I a

is this architecture

2006.08.25, Tokyo
...or the absence of architecture? Collections containing

lunch time for salarymen and women

2006.08.25, Tokyo
My colleagues and I buying bento at lunch time. Collect

in Tokyo they buries the rivers with cars

2006.08.23, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.waterways cozy urban sc

getting around Tokyo

2006.08.23, Tokyo
My tribe! Collections containing this photo.streets of Ja

rusty colors by the sea in Izu

2006.08.19, Izu Peninsula
Collections containing this photo.color rust textures fou

movie review - The 40-Year-Old Virgin

2006.08.19, Tokyo
This is an unlikely movie about a guy who somehow remains a virgin until the age of forty.

Izu penninsula

2006.08.19, Izu Peninsula
Some religious doodads (boy, I'm soaking this culture righ

flowers shot in infrarred

2006.08.14, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.playing with light gree

Nikko, infrard black and white

2006.08.05, Japan
Nikko, infrard black and white Collections containing this

shopping street infrared image

2006.08.14, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.photos I love cozy urba

kazan mitai (looks like a volcano)

2006.07.26, Nikko
Collections containing this photo.photos I love waterways

infrared mountains

2006.07.21, unspecified
infrared mountains Collections containing this photo.wa

movie review - King Kong

2006.07.12, Tokyo
We watched this silly re-telling of "King Kong" by Peter Jackson and featuring Jack Black.

movie review - The Brothers Grimm

2006.06.18, Tokyo
This is the story of two charlatans peddling meaningless fixes to small towns after having ginned up some kind of local threat to those towns.

low res party ladies

2006.05.28, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.portraiture a lifetime

movie review - Brokeback Mountain

2006.05.22, Tokyo
This is a movie about two fellows from different backgrounds who hire on as shepherds, tending a flock that's grazing in a high-altitude summer pasture.

things are getting serious

2006.05.07, Tokyo
Things are moving quickly with my girl Mari.

why I don't comb my hair

2006.05.04, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.portraiture a lifetime

a new job

2006.05.01, Tokyo
I've landed a new job.

a swan in the twilight

2006.04.21, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.twilight the quick and

meeting my future inlaws

2006.04.21, Nichinan
Mari's parents. Collections containing this photo.a lifet

monkey beach

2006.04.21, Nichinan
We went to a beach where there is a colony of monkeys Col

tripped up

2006.04.20, Tokyo
Once again, my naïve nature has caught up with me.

watashi wa gaijin desu

2006.04.12, Tokyo
Today I applied for my very first gaijin card.

a recipe

2006.04.10, Tokyo
I have taken to making myself natto donburi every morning for breakfast.

two girls in Shibuya for ¥100

2006.04.05, Japan
One day we took shelter from the rain under an awning in front of a store in Shibuya station.

movie review - Transporter 2

2006.04.01, Tokyo
Kick kick kick, screech, one-liner blam blam blam!

rocks in nichinan's harbor

2006.04.21, Nichinan
Collections containing this photo.

Hiroshima, Japan

2006.03.25, Japan
Hiroshima, JapanCollections containing this photo.

Hiroshima

2006.03.25, Hiroshima
Today is my dad's birthday.

moody sunset over Hiroshima

2006.03.24, Hiroshima
Collections containing this photo.hiroshima 2006/03 j

Gotanda, Tokyo

2006.03.22, Japan
I love these delivery vehicles. This one has an innovative

of drinks and knives

2006.03.12, Tokyo
I went to the office on Friday and learned that I'll be interviewing for my transfer to EDS Japan this coming Tuesday.

in praise of my girl

2006.03.10, Tokyo
Been thinking about everything that Mari's done for me during the exile crisis.

today I moved to Tokyo!

2006.03.08, Tokyo
I've taken the plunge, and among the newest residents in this city of 30+ million.

back in Tokyo

2006.03.05, Tokyo
I am back in Tokyo.

very long-distance relationship

2006.03.04, Vancouver
It's funny, maintaining a relationship with someone on the other side of the Pacific.

movie review - Oldboy

2006.02.25, Tokyo
This is an interesting flick about a man who's kidnapped and held in a room for twenty years.

working in Vancouver

2006.02.12, Vancouver
During the days I'm working in an EDS office downtown, and in the evenings I'm supporting the client in Tokyo.

assembling my own visa

2006.02.06, Vancouver
I'm assembling my own visa for a return to Tokyo.

sky of blue, and sea of blue

2006.01.19, British Columbia
I mean, if you're going to be in exile let it be on Vancou

exiled from japan

2006.01.18, Nanaimo
I am in visa exile, ejected from Japan and staying at my mum's place in Nanaimo.

the boy photographs dad and grand-dad

2006.01.17, Toronto
the boy photographs dad and grand-dad Collections containi

movie review - A History of Violence

2006.01.05, Vancouver
This is an extremely violent gangster flick that starts with a fellow in a small town who's making a living with a greasy spoon.

movie review - Bourne Supremacy

2006.01.02, Toronto
This is a worthy successor to the Bourne Identity, which is a rare enough thing for any sequel, but all the more so given that this one was written without the participation of the late author of the original story.

ejected from Japan

2006.01.02, Vancouver
I flew back to Tokyo with Mari today, but was ejected by the Japanese authorities, who rightly deducted that I was working in Japan on a tourist visa.

2005

an ominous warning

2005.12.27, Vancouver
One of colleagues in Japan tried reaching me through Jon, today.

movie review - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

2005.12.26, Vancouver
Wallace and Gromit holds a special place in my heart.

a visit on a whim

2005.12.23, Vancouver
I decided to visit my family on the west coast on a whim.

derelict building

2005.12.21, Vancouver
The crane tells me this derelict building won't be there fo

vancouver in the twilight

2005.12.21, Vancouver
I once tried to make a life in this city. It's still lovely

ice boats on Ghost Lake

2005.12.20, Calgary
Collections containing this photo.photos I love calgary c

ice sailboat

2005.12.20, Calgary
My father and girlfriend standing on a frozen Ghost Lake. I

subtle colors, tokyo sunset

2005.12.05, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.color golden hour skies

two drumming oni

2005.12.05, Tokyo
In Tokyo, you can run into almost anything Collection

a man and his goose

2005.11.26, the World
a man and his goose Collections containing this photo.toky

tokyo trees in Autumn

2005.11.23, unspecified
tokyo trees in AutumnCollections containing this photo.

fishmonger

2005.11.22, Tokyo
fishmonger Collections containing this photo.portraitur

a man and his duck

2005.11.12, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.the quick and the dead

Akihabara

2005.11.10, unspecified
Akihabara Collections containing this photo.photos I lo

going offline for a while

2005.10.11, n/a
My camera stayed in Toronto because I've been getting less and less predictable results from the old manual body - I suspect that the exposure meter is shot.

Tokyo, again

2005.10.10, Tokyo
I'm back in Tokyo.

illness

2005.10.06, Vancouver
I have left Toronto for Tokyo, again.

movie review - Serenity

2005.10.02, Tokyo
Okay, some disclaimers first.

movie review - Bewitched

2005.10.01, Tokyo
You know how it goes with airline movies.

rainy cycling

2005.09.26, Toronto
Today I got completely soaked cycling into work.

theatre

2005.09.26, Toronto
My girlfriend and I went to a small theatre in the King west area tonight and saw a really good show.

iggy sells out

2005.09.22, Toronto
Much to my dismay, I spotted Iggy Pop in a television commercial last night.

the accountant and the tsunami

2005.09.22, Toronto
I took my corporate income stuff in to an accountant tonight.

bomb threat

2005.09.21, Toronto
Last night on my way home from work, I tried to spend the $50 gift certificate that Sears sent me to make up for the the air conditioning fiasco this summer (when they botched the installation).

socks

2005.09.20, Toronto
Today I am wearing one sock that is navy blue, and one sock that is black.

my actress cousin

2005.09.17, Toronto
Today for lunch I met with my actress cousin, Kate.

movie review - Assault on Precinct 13

2005.09.12, Tokyo
I hate seeing good actors wasted in a dumb movie.

firefox browser

2005.09.10, the 'net
It seems that use of the Firefox browser by visitors to this web site has slowly leveled off at around eight percent (8%) of total traffic, according to the statistics I keep.

business travel

2005.09.09, Toronto
It turns out that my use of the laundry facilities at the hotel in Tokyo was not covered by the travel expense policy.

cycling mishap

2005.09.07, Toronto
Today I had a lousy commute to work.

cycle commute wonder

2005.09.06, Toronto
Today I resumed my usual route to work, cycling through Mount Pleasant Cemetery and down the Moore Park ravine and then along Bayview to Lake Shore Boulevard.

cycling (not)

2005.09.03, Toronto
When I returned to Toronto, I took my bike in for a tune up because I'd noticed that it was acting a little "off" before I'd left for Tokyo.

car rental hell

2005.09.02, Toronto
I'd been hanging on to the scratched rental car so that my girlfriend and I could get out of town for the weekend.

movie review - Constantine

2005.09.01, Tokyo
This is a Christian-themed action flick with Keanu Reaves and Rachel Weisz.

gas and cars

2005.09.01, Toronto
Gasoline is selling for $1.

Toronto's subways

2005.09.01, Toronto
This may sound insane, but I think that Toronto's small subway system is actually more overloaded than Tokyo's.

end of the century

2005.08.31, Tokyo
end of the century Collections containing this photo.tokyo

car rental gone awry

2005.08.31, Toronto
Today I took a day off of work in lieu for the 18 hours trek back from Tokyo.

I like working boats

2005.08.30, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.streets of Japanese cit

by chance, some rowers

2005.08.30, Tokyo
I was walking across a bridge when some rowers emerged. C

Toronto the green

2005.08.30, Toronto
After my time in Tokyo, I really notice just how lush and green Toronto is.

comet Michael

2005.08.29, Toronto
I'mmmmmm back.

after the storm

2005.08.26, Tokyo
Once again, the air is at its clearest following a typhoon.

typhoon two

2005.08.25, Tokyo
I really am getting the full Tokyo experience.

husk of an insect

2005.08.20, Canada
It's Japan! Collections containing this photo.hakone 2005

layers lost in the distance

2005.08.20, Japan
The scheme is almost like a flag. Collections containing

me and Japanese shaved ice

2005.08.20, Tokyo
It's Japan! Collections containing this photo.a lifetime

various working boats in Hamamatsucho

2005.08.15, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.tokyo 2005 people at wo

kamakura daibatsu

2005.08.15, unspecified
kamakura daibatsu Collections containing this photo.kam

what fun, another earthquake

2005.08.15, Tokyo
Today's earthquake one was by far the worst one I've yet

hangover

2005.08.14, Tokyo
The non-hungover bit of today came in the afternoon when I prepared some documents for work.

hot and then not so hot

2005.08.13, Tokyo
Today was a blistering hot day.

two weeks to go

2005.08.12, Tokyo
Today I picked up my first-ever set of prints on CD.

truck lunch

2005.08.11, Tokyo
For lunch the other day, I had a curry lunch that was better than average.

mmmmm sushi

2005.08.10, Tokyo
I was walking home (through Panic crossing, though I remained calm (or as calm as I get, at any rate)) and I thought "where shall I eat dinner"* and thought of the small sushi place near my hotel.

morning photography

2005.08.10, Tokyo
I decided last night that I would finally get my act together and make the stop on the way to work that I've been thinking about for the past two weeks.

shake, rattle and snooze

2005.08.08, Tokyo
Ptth, earthquakes.

Kamakura

2005.08.07, Kamakura, Japan
Today I had my first visit to a Japanese shrine outside of the city, and my first to a site with a giant Buddha statue.

ho hum...

2005.08.06, Tokyo
Here's where you don't want to be when an earthquake strikes (even a small one).

Tokyo is hot tonight

2005.08.05, Tokyo
Today must have been the hottest I've experienced in the city, yet.

slow week

2005.08.04, Tokyo
So, another long day at an end.

long day

2005.08.01, Tokyo
With Jonathan's departure on Friday, today was the first day during which Shan and I were solely responsible for the upkeep of the systems at the client site.

novel work

2005.08.01, Tokyo
I completed the second part of the fourth draft of my novel, today.

shy boy practices english with a foreigner

2005.07.30, Kamakura
This happened while I was in Kamakura. The lad's mother ask

beloved hachiko

2005.07.30, Tokyo
Well, I'm in Tokyo. This is a statue that commemorates a

overwhelmed schoolboy

2005.07.30, Kamakura
This lad's mother had him approach me to practice his Engli

fireworks

2005.07.30, Tokyo
As I write this, I'm sitting on the "limited express" train bound for Yokohama.

shopping in Japan

2005.07.29, Tokyo
Today I was shopping for souvenirs in Shibuya for the gang back home, and wandered into a department store.

plans

2005.07.28, Tokyo
Today at lunch I got one of those surprises where it turns out that coworkers have discovered my website.

another work-a-day earthquake, ho hum

2005.07.28, Tokyo
It is impossible to be blase about earthquakes.

Fujisan

2005.07.27, Tokyo
I never really realized how hazy it is, here, until this morning.

Typhoon

2005.07.25, Tokyo
I've had an earthquake.

shibuya crossing

2005.07.24, Tokyo
The famous intersection in Tokyo where you cross in any of

guard dog detail, Tokyo temple

2005.07.24, unspecified
guard dog detail, Tokyo temple Collections containing t

shinjuku shoulder bump

2005.07.24, Tokyo
I went for a trip through the "Shinjuku" part of town today.

Earthquake!

2005.07.23, Tokyo
I was sitting on a park bench today, watching the Japanese frolic in the tall grass and listening to the rock bands compete.

food

2005.07.22, Tokyo
I've started my day with the supposedly 'acquired taste' of natto, which is made of fermented soy beans.

the... horror

2005.07.21, Tokyo
It was only a matter of time.

life in Tokyo

2005.07.20, Tokyo
I've noticed a thing or two about Tokyo.

gay marriage

2005.07.20, Tokyo
So it seems Canadian homosexuals can marry.

fool!

2005.07.19, Tokyo
Well, I've outdone myself.

day 3 - expectations and surprises

2005.07.18, Tokyo
I've had a few of the experiences I was expecting in Tokyo.

hot day for getting lost

2005.07.18, Tokyo
I haven't been here long, but I've already seen a number of "Tokyo sights", like the old-fashioned small wooden houses, a girl wearing an informal version of a kimono, and drunken young fellow in a suit wearing his tie around his forehead in the prescribed fashion.

so this is Tokyo

2005.07.17, Tokyo
So I'm here.

what a day

2005.07.15, Toronto
I spent pretty much the entire day on the road, running around doing errands.

new web host

2005.07.14, Toronto
I switched this website to a new web host, today.

Tokyo

2005.07.13, Toronto
Okay, it's for real, I'm going to Tokyo.

elderly driving

2005.07.12, Toronto
At lunch time today, I saw something really horrible.

Tokyo (redux)

2005.07.11, Toronto
.

home again (again)

2005.07.10, Toronto
Drove the long trek back into the city under blistering heat.

another weekend, another bear

2005.07.09, Haliburton highlands
Amazingly, we saw a bear on the cottage property this morning.

skinny

2005.07.09, Haliburton highlands
Ah, nothing like bobbing naked in your own private stretch of stream.

back at the cottage

2005.07.08, Haliburton highlands
Today I scooted a bit early and booted it back up to Haliburton to the cottage.

or not Tokyo

2005.07.07, Toronto
Now my employer says "maybe not so much" about Tokyo.

movie review - Training Day

2005.07.06, Toronto
This is a movie about a rookie Los Angeles cop who is thrust headlong into a very unstable situation on his first day on the narcotics squad.

Tokyo

2005.07.05, Toronto
My employers seem to think they might need me to go to Tokyo for some weeks, starting real soon now.

home sweet Toronto

2005.07.05, Toronto
I had my first yelling-at while commuting, today.

home again, dag nabbit

2005.07.04, Toronto
As always, I had to come home again.

photography and the horse fly nation

2005.07.03, Haliburton highlands
I'd forgotten how much fun horse flies can be.

cottage life

2005.07.02, Haliburton highlands
We've settled into the cottage, and life is good.

going away!

2005.07.01, Toronto
Today we're heading off to the Haliburton "highlands".

short story contest

2005.06.30, Toronto
I entered a short story contest back in December.

what a day

2005.06.28, Toronto
Today, I'm having "one of those days".

cycling

2005.06.27, Toronto
I keep track of the hours I work in my own spread sheet at the office.

stories

2005.06.23, Toronto
Tonight we got together with a bunch of friends and family for my girlfriend's 33rd.

happy birthday girlfriend

2005.06.22, Toronto
My girlfriend it's your birthday, happy birthday my girlfriend.

the ravine

2005.06.20, Toronto
Last week the ravine trail that is the most amazing part of my morning cycle commute was blocked off.

tug-of-war

2005.06.19, Toronto
My girlfriend and I went to her company 'family barbeque' at Toronto's harbour islands park.

heat sinking

2005.06.14, Toronto
I have learned something interesting about modern PC CPU cooling.

fedora core 3 and me

2005.06.14, Toronto
On Saturday I installed "FC3" on my PC, as noted in this journal.

nightmarish downpour

2005.06.13, Toronto
I managed to get completely soaked in a titanic thunderstorm on my cycle commute this afternoon.

broken justice in north america

2005.06.13, Toronto
So it seems that Karla Homolka, scourge of St.

movie review - Fantastic Four

2005.06.11, Toronto
This is a silly example of the self-indulgent genre of super-hero movies.

dual-boot

2005.06.11, Toronto
Once again I have a dual boot PC at home.

hot and bothersome

2005.06.08, Toronto
I spent half the night sleeping on the balcony last night.

my office has showers and a bike room

2005.06.06, Toronto
Did I mention that my office has a bike room where you can lock up your commuter vehicle?

what a day

2005.06.04, Toronto
Ah, bitter irony.

overdoing it

2005.06.03, Toronto
I went to the shop where I bought my bike (about 3.

celebratory gorging

2005.06.01, Toronto
Today Andrea got the job offer she wanted, so the four of us went out to the Walker Hill Korean BBQ in Richmond Hill.

novel 4.25

2005.05.31, Toronto
Last night I finished entering the first quarter of my novel's fourth draft.

considerate and informative virus

2005.05.30, Toronto
Today a virus taught me what to do if I'm having a heart attack alone (the answer is to draw deep breaths and to cough).

geoff and mariko

2005.05.29, Toronto
After a day spent with a headache, today I managed to get mobile in time for our having Geoff and Mariko over for dinner.

rocket dryer

2005.05.28, Toronto
Tonight we went out for Geoff C's birthday.

commuting... quickly

2005.05.26, Toronto
Lately, I've been reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and was doing so this morning.

return of the novel

2005.05.24, Toronto
I managed to spend two solid hours on my novel, today.

Girlfriend in the park

2005.05.23, Toronto
Today, after the usual money-spending-spree, my girlfriend and I took a blanket and sat in the park to read.

movie review - Looking for Leonard

2005.05.22, Toronto
This is a film about a collection of thirty-somethings drifting through lonely lives in Montreal.

registering my bike

2005.05.22, Toronto
I've registered my bike with the police.

movie review - Kinsey

2005.05.21, Toronto
This is an impressive little bio-pic about the father of modern sex research, Alfred Kinsey.

more exercising

2005.05.21, Toronto
Now that I'm getting the hang of being on a bike again, I've decided that I can spend a buck or two and get some exercise equipment for the home.

pizza!

2005.05.20, Toronto
Tonight I had pizza in a restaurant for the first time since January of 1998.

movie review - Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

2005.05.19, Toronto
At last, the prequels climb into the realm of the original series.

more cyclin'

2005.05.19, Toronto
Today I took the plunge and zoomed down the mud creek / Moore Park ravine on my commute to work.

birthday for Sailor Yoon

2005.05.18, Toronto
For Charlie's birthday we had dinner at a really good 'pan-asian' place on Eglinton St.

cycling to work

2005.05.18, Toronto
And today I cycled to work for the first time.

new bike

2005.05.16, Toronto
I picked up my new bike this evening, after having it loaded down with mud flaps and panniers and lights.

the new shampoo

2005.05.15, Toronto
About a month ago, my girlfriend got her hair coloured, and it's a lot more blonde now.

more shopping

2005.05.15, Toronto
One thing after getting a job after months of part-time contracting - you have much to shop for.

shopping

2005.05.14, Toronto
Today I picked up an MP3 player for my girlfriend.

new grill

2005.05.14, Toronto
When Jon left for Tokyo last weekend, he left a small thank you note and a gift certificate for "Williams Sonoma", a store I'd only ever set foot in once or twice before.

lunch with the deaf

2005.05.13, Toronto
Today I had an unusual experience.

Dr. Suzuki

2005.05.11, Toronto
Tonight I attended a speech at the AGO by Dr.

shoes

2005.05.10, Toronto
The shoes I bought on Sunday for the office are proving to be revolutionary.

Jon is gone

2005.05.08, Toronto
Jon left this morning at 5:30 to return to Tokyo.

'summer' cold

2005.05.07, Toronto
I have a cold!

employed again

2005.05.06, Toronto
So, it seems I have a job, once again.

dinner with the Macleods

2005.05.04, Toronto
Tonight Jon and I went to Gord's place for dinner.

new watch

2005.05.03, Toronto
Today I decided to splurge, a bit.

absinthe

2005.04.30, Toronto
We met at the Paddock tonight for drinks.

Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2005.04.29, Toronto
Jon and I went to see the movie incarnation of HG2G today.

arm wrestlin'

2005.04.28, Toronto
Much to my amazement, I got into an arm wrestling match this evening at a bar.

interview

2005.04.27, Toronto
Another Wednesday, another interview.

house guest

2005.04.27, Toronto
Jon arrived tonight.

the old Firm

2005.04.26, Toronto
I've come across this.

movie review - Cider House Rules

2005.04.25, Toronto
We saw this movie tonight.

job searching....

2005.04.25, Toronto
As I was climbing out of the shower this morning, my cell phone rang.

parking patrol

2005.04.21, Toronto
Today while donating some old clothing at one of those collection boxes, I happened upon a parking enforcement fellow catching shit from a trio of rich-bitches that he'd just ticketed.

politicians

2005.04.21, Toronto
Tonight our Prime Minister did a Presidential thing, and addressed the populace through a direct, televised statement.

VoIP no more

2005.04.20, Toronto
After weeks of frustrating dead calls*, weird audio effects, interruptions to our network service, and voice quality that is considerably poorer than even Skype can manager, we've decided to pull the metaphoric plug on the Primus VoIP phone service we've been using at home, and are going back to .

a fine day (to be hit on)

2005.04.18, Toronto
Today, the weather was simply awesome.

a death

2005.04.16, Toronto
Today I got word that one of my best friends from my high school days drowned in a diving mishap.

weather

2005.04.12, Toronto
For once, the weather has been stunning for several days in a row.

there's always some reason to tinker with a PC

2005.04.11, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.machines and mechanisms

under construction in Toronto

2005.04.11, Toronto
The city sure is changing. Collections containing this ph

movie review - Napoleon Dynamite

2005.04.11, Toronto
This is a teenage movie that goes way out on a limb and features real teenagers (okay, the actors are a bit older, but my point is that the characters are realistic).

never do this

2005.04.11, Toronto
Today I learned how NOT to clean your television.

moving right along...

2005.04.11, Toronto
Today I managed to secure an interview at a third bank that had expressed interest last week.

sunburnt

2005.04.10, Toronto
After the long crappy dark winter we've had, we've just had three days of sunshine.

church-goin'

2005.04.10, Toronto
Today I attended my first Church thing (I think it was called Mass).

job snafu

2005.04.08, Toronto
Well, I've once again managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

two jobs, what to do

2005.04.07, Toronto
As expected, I now have two job offers to contend with.

job offer

2005.04.06, Toronto
Out of left field, I had an unexpected job offer, today.

two landmarks in one frame

2005.04.05, Toronto
This pic has it all - even streetcar wires! Collections c

Sleeuw is coming

2005.04.05, Toronto
My good friend Jonathan has announced that he's coming down for a visit later in the month.

big sand box

2005.04.03, Toronto
Kids today have such cool stuff to play with.

snow

2005.04.02, Toronto
Well, Spring was nice.

new battery

2005.04.01, Toronto
A couple of weeks ago, after discovering my minidisc player in among the old camera gear I no longer use, I decided to order a new battery.

PC is back

2005.03.31, Toronto
So, my PC is sorted out.

a job offer

2005.03.30, Toronto
I may have a job offer in the works.

frantic PC repairs

2005.03.30, Toronto
My work search is at a halt without a PC, so I made it a priority to get my PC back in shape.

Spring has sprung

2005.03.30, Toronto
This afternoon, I went for a good walk.

accidental stalker

2005.03.23, Toronto
Today I got into one of those unfortunate urban circumstances that happens (and gets made into short movies).

hole in the heart

2005.03.23, Toronto
I went to get my heart checked for a hole between the two halves.

movie review - In Good Company

2005.03.18, Toronto
This is a movie about a senior executive who winds up, through some kind of corporate restructuring, with a boss from a very different corporate culture who's in his late twenties.

brazilian dinner

2005.03.15, Toronto
Tonight we went to a Brazilian restaurant called the Red Violin.

martha stewart is bad ass

2005.03.14, Toronto
Martha Stewart is out of prison, and it turns out that her "net worth" has doubled compared to where it was before 'she went in'.

old job search

2005.03.11, Toronto
I had an insight today into how communications styles have changed in the business world in the past decade.

slavery

2005.03.09, Toronto
Today I found a disgusting article on the Economist.

age and weight gain

2005.03.07, Toronto
Thanks to the chaos of the move, I'm wearing jeans that are six years old today.

weather

2005.03.05, Toronto
We've had a spell of awesome weather.

movie review - Land of the Dead

2005.03.04, Toronto
This is a zombie apocalypse movie from George Romero, who invented the genre.

busy day

2005.03.04, Toronto
As of 15:00, this is what I've done today: 1) called the C

naked by the light of the...monitor

2005.03.03, Toronto
I will start this story by saying that I have an optical computer mouse, which uses a light to determine the mouse's position and how it is being moved.

moved in

2005.03.01, Toronto
We're in the new place.

moving

2005.02.27, Toronto
We move on Tuesday.

autoshow

2005.02.22, Toronto
Today I went to the auto show that's in progress.

lousy drivers

2005.02.22, Toronto
Yesterday I helped a driver out of a snowbank.

travelling without camera

2005.02.21, Toronto
I did it again.

goodbye, uncle Duke

2005.02.21, Toronto
So Hunter S.

NHL (again)

2005.02.20, Toronto
The NHL debacle has reached the point of farce.

movie review - Vera Drake

2005.02.19, Toronto
This is an interesting story about the state of abortion in the UK in the 1950's.

movie going

2005.02.19, Toronto
Tonight we went to see "Vera Drake" at the Regent cinema on Mt.

(bang)

2005.02.16, Toronto
I am getting old.

the wealthy die, too

2005.02.16, Toronto
Today I was passed by a limo-studded funeral procession on Eglinton St that had a substantial police escort.

grey lady down

2005.02.12, Toronto
Today I helped Geoff put together a new network at home because he needed to add a laptop from work to his workspace at home.

blood

2005.02.11, Toronto
Today, for the first time in a very long time (and I mean it's likely been 12+ years at a minimum) I gave blood.

winter in the city

2005.02.08, Toronto
I think she feels the way I do.

tasting room

2005.02.06, Toronto
Today I noticed that the tasting room at the excellent Summerhill LCBO has been dismantled, and a coffee shop has been built in its place.

music

2005.02.03, Toronto
Here are some things I've been listening to, of late.

fourth draft, complete

2005.02.02, Toronto
It took nearly two years, but my fourth draft (third edit, however you want to see it) of my novel is complete.

Detroit as seen from Canada

2005.02.01, Detroit
Collections containing this photo.snow and ice and frost

art frozen into ice

2005.02.01, Toronto
I went to an art exhibit in Nathan Phillips Square today.

some kind of berries in the snow

2005.02.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.snow and ice and frost

eglinton and jane

2005.02.01, Toronto
Part of my long daily commute is a stretch of Eglinton St to the east of Jane St that passes in and out of a meandering valley.

Saturday night in Windsor

2005.01.29, Windsor
This evening, after a day spent visiting with my girlfriend's grandmother and aunt, we all went to see Hotel Rwanda.

visiting with 'gram'

2005.01.29, Windsor
Let me tell you about the rental car we have.

internic

2005.01.28, Toronto
I started dealing with "the Internic" (now 'Network Solutions') about ten years ago when I had to take care of the internet domain of my employer.

TTC chance occurrences

2005.01.26, Toronto
Tonight on the way home from work, I spotted my second cousin Anne on the Bay subway station platform.

the NHL

2005.01.26, Toronto
I see the NHL is back in the news.

on the clock

2005.01.25, Toronto
I'm at Bell Mobility doing a spot of contracting, again.

movie review - Sideways

2005.01.23, Toronto
Wow I liked this movie.

movie review - Shark Tale

2005.01.21, Toronto
This is an animated flick with no fewer than three directors.

a fine day

2005.01.21, Toronto
Today I had a rather good day, aside from my girlfriend's big thing about getting the new job.

a new beginning for TKM

2005.01.21, Toronto
Finally I can tell the story: my girlfriend landed a new job, yesterday.

noisy fans

2005.01.20, Toronto
No doubt about it - the new fans I've added to my PC are hell of loud.

a good day

2005.01.19, Toronto
Today was a good one.

my late grandmother and the length of days

2005.01.18, Toronto
Today would have been the 87th birthday of my late "Oma".

getting batty

2005.01.17, Toronto
Just now, after eating, I announced "so hungry!

movie review - Manchurian Candidate

2005.01.16, Toronto
This movie has the same name and broad plot outline as the original (from 1962) but updates it in several ways with major changes to the story and characters.

SEA program

2005.01.14, Toronto
I've decided not to pursue the self-employment program with the HRSDC.

movie experience

2005.01.13, Toronto
Today, we had an interesting movie experience.

movie review - The Aviator

2005.01.12, Toronto
This is a movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio with a supporting ensemble including Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C.

movie review - Flight of the Phoenix

2005.01.11, Toronto
This is a flick set in the Gobi desert.

headhunting

2005.01.11, Toronto
I met with another headhunter, today.

movie review - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

2005.01.10, Toronto
This movie is an odd one.

movie review - National Treasure

2005.01.09, Toronto
This is a movie about two gangs of treasure seekers who jointly discover that there is a clue to the location of an immense wealth located on the back of the US Declaration of Independence.

lifestyle television and the new sermon

2005.01.08, Toronto
I've decided that lifestyle televion shows have taken the place in modern society once occupied by the weekly sermon in Church.

awash in the dead

2005.01.07, Toronto
Sometimes I regret not being right.

weather and pain

2005.01.06, Toronto
Big snowstorm today.

my baby brother

2005.01.05, Toronto
Ken is here!

movie review - Bourne Identity

2005.01.01, Toronto
This is a tale about a man who is fished out of the sea and revived, only to discover that he's got no memory and no explanation for the bullet holes in his back, the LED naming a numbered bank account that was implanted into his back, or his propensity for languages and violence.

resolve

2005.01.01, Toronto
My resolutions are made for the year.

2004

another year is over

2004.12.31, Toronto
Ah, 2004, I barely new you.

Chako and Charkow

2004.12.30, Toronto
Tonight we had the Chako and Geoff Charkow over for dinner.

movie review - I, Robot

2004.12.28, Toronto
Product placement.

sometimes, I hate being right

2004.12.28, Toronto
When the news of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean first came out, and they were talking about a death toll of 3500, I said to my girlfriend, "These things are never this simple.

movie review - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

2004.12.27, Toronto
When I was leaving the cinema at the end of the third volume of the Lord of the Rings movie, I realized that I'd just witnessed the high point of my movie-going career, and that it would be mostly downhill from there.

tempur mattress

2004.12.26, Toronto
My girlfriend bought me a tempur mattress cover and pillow for Xmas.

movie review - Resident Evil - Apocalypse

2004.12.25, Toronto
Hee hee!

Laurie's for Xmas

2004.12.25, Toronto
Today my girlfriend and I went to Laurie's place for Xmas dinner.

story submitted

2004.12.24, Toronto
I did it.

assault and punishment

2004.12.23, Toronto
So, once again it seems that you can get away with anything if you're a celebrity.

'home'

2004.12.22, Toronto
I met with Anluan tonight at the Artful Dodger - a pub I haven't been to since I lived in the neighbourhood some nine years ago.

long walk in the snow

2004.12.21, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.trees & trunks sn

the octopus

2004.12.21, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.shadows snow and

movie review - Blade Trinity

2004.12.21, Toronto
This is the third in the Blade movies.

solstace

2004.12.21, Toronto
Well, the solstace is finally here.

movie review - Collateral

2004.12.20, Toronto
This charming flick is about a cabbie and the freelance hitman that has him do his driving while on a job.

toronto is cold tonight

2004.12.20, Toronto
It's -22oC tonight, and was damn cold all day.

movie review - Closer

2004.12.19, Toronto
This movie left me flat.

out of touch

2004.12.18, Toronto
Today I got a taste for how much I've aged.

PL-SQL

2004.12.17, Toronto
I met with Sailor Yoon and the girlfriend for a drink or two, this evening, and was interrupted at one point by a bizarre phone call.

new apartment

2004.12.16, Toronto
Looks like we have a new apartment, for March 1.

movie review - the Statement

2004.12.14, Toronto
This is the story of a Frechman who's on the lam.

I'm gonna drink beer!

2004.12.12, Toronto
Today I was in the liquor store, having a look for some beer for the women at tonight's little get together (we men seem to be whisk(e)y drinkers.

liquor store beneath the tracks

2004.12.10, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.streets of Canadia

after the ice storm

2004.12.10, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.shadows photos I

naggin suspicion confirmed

2004.12.10, Toronto
Today I discovered something that I'd been half expecting for some time, now.

unchili

2004.12.09, Toronto
I'm really not at my best at this time of year, I suspect.

puzzles

2004.12.08, Toronto
The subway system has these puzzles that they put up to attract attention to their "What's On?

program applied

2004.12.07, Toronto
I've done it.

movie review - The Delicate Art of Parking

2004.12.06, Toronto
This is a mockumentary about parking attendants.

weather

2004.12.06, Toronto
If Toronto in November is the most depressing place on Earth, Toronto in December can be one of the most aggravating.

goobye Bell Canada

2004.12.05, Toronto
Three weeks ago, our home phone line was switched from Bell to Primus.

caffeine

2004.12.03, Toronto
I think I've found the key to quitting caffeine.

movie review - The Terminal

2004.12.02, Toronto
This is a tale about a fellow who gets trapped in an airport terminal when his passport is stripped from him due to a coup in his homeland.

dining

2004.12.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  streets of

reach for the sky

2004.12.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  moods  

brickworks in black and white

2004.12.01, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  architectur

film grain

2004.12.01, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.twilight playing

the new plan

2004.12.01, Toronto
I spent the afternoon at the old Metro town hall.

goodbye caffeine

2004.11.30, Toronto
Today.

xmas nears

2004.11.28, Toronto
Ah, the Xmas season.

"across the road"

2004.11.27, Toronto
Tonight, my girlfriend and I had a really fine evening out.

the old gang

2004.11.26, Toronto
Tonight I met with the old gang from my time at Star Data.

a friend in Ukraine

2004.11.25, Toronto
I sent an email to a couple of friends from the Ukraine, and it turns out that one of them happens to be back in the 'old country' at the moment.

the situation in Ukraine

2004.11.24, Toronto
I find it interesting that "the West" is so quick to jump into the action in the ongoing Ukrainian situation.

my dinner with Jonathan

2004.11.22, Toronto
Tonight I met with my old friend Jonathan Culp and a number of his activist/media friends at a really good vegetarian "Pan-Asian" place called Bo De Duyen on Spadina Ave.

arrrrrgoooos

2004.11.21, Toronto
Watched the Grey Cup at a bar on Yonge Street called Elsewhere's tonight.

shorn

2004.11.21, Toronto
A shave, a haircut, and this is me.

dundas square

2004.11.20, Toronto
They really are going nuts with 'developing' Dundas Square in Toronto.

chick flick

2004.11.20, Toronto
Saw a hard-core chick-flick today.

gym goin'

2004.11.19, Toronto
My girlfriend has begun a regimen of exercise lately.

movie review - Wonderland

2004.11.18, Toronto
This is a telling of an unpleasant and unfortunately true incident in the early 80's, in which the former porn star John Holmes (played by Val Kilmer) attempted to play two criminal gangs off of one another.

so nothing's changed in Calgary

2004.11.17, Toronto
too brown for Calgary schoolyardsTwo 20-year-olds in Calgary were convicted of beating and urinating on a first-nations fellow who they - and three under-age friends - found sleeping on the streets.

the "greatest Canadian" is cooked

2004.11.15, Toronto
I had a look at the standings for the greatest Canadian 'competition' that the CBC is putting on.

movie review - Before Sunset

2004.11.14, Toronto
I never saw the first part of this story, the early-90's "before sunrise".

movie review - Ju-on

2004.11.13, Toronto
This is the nasty original version of the recent American movie The Grudge.

movie review - The Incredibles

2004.11.12, Toronto
This is an animated movie from the brilliant folks at Pixar.

succor for those in need

2004.11.12, Toronto
Today a 'homeless' fellow on the street barked at me for some help.

my perfect cousin

2004.11.11, Toronto
Today I meet with Kate, my cousin (not to be confused with my g/f Kate*).

remembrance day

2004.11.11, Toronto
So I didn't get to the Remembrance Day ceremony downtown this morning.

job lead fizzles

2004.11.10, Toronto
I didn't get the job I was up for.

ill

2004.11.10, Toronto
I've got a cold.

the return of Blake

2004.11.09, Toronto
Earlier this week I was contacted by a former colleague from my days in Australia.

movie review - Van Helsing

2004.11.08, Toronto
Somewhere in this movie lurked the remains of a more intelligent, better-written movie.

remembering

2004.11.08, Toronto
Today I found an article on canoe.

genius of love

2004.11.08, Toronto
I don't know who this guy was, but he could sure play some fine blues on the harmonica, which he had hooked up to an amp.

Revenge of the Sith

2004.11.07, the
So the first trailer for the sixth Star Wars movie is in the cinemas.

let it snow, let it snow.... oh God

2004.11.05, Toronto
It's snowing, and heavily.

Bush and the Americans

2004.11.04, Toronto
I've had a complete change of heart since Bush won his re-election.

the plot coagulates

2004.11.02, Toronto
I think I'm going to have to call this my "year of the dog".

new business and calling cards

2004.11.02, Toronto
Today I'm pretty pleased with myself.

Dog owner

2004.11.01, Toronto
Tonight I ran into the owners of the Doberman pincer that I watched attack two women and their dogs last Tuesday.

movie review - Dawn of the Dead

2004.10.30, Toronto
This is a solid job at a horror/zombie movie.

movie review - The Grudge

2004.10.29, Toronto
This movie is actually pretty terrifying.

movie review - Shattered Glass

2004.10.29, Toronto
This is the movie that Hayden Christensen needed to redeem himself from his prominent participation in the loathsome Star Wars prequels.

people on the street can be pretty lame

2004.10.29, Toronto
Today as I was wandering about the city looking for a place for Charlie and Andrea, I passed a rather dishevelled individual on the sidewalk.

looking for a home that's not for me

2004.10.28, Toronto
I had a look at some apartments for Charlie and Andrea, today.

how to destroy a rug

2004.10.27, Toronto
Today I invented a new method of destroying a rug.

dog attack

2004.10.26, Toronto
What a fncking day this was.

odd dream

2004.10.26, Toronto
I had a dream last night that a ne'er-do-well buddy and I stole a cement mixer or dumptruck or something.

movie review - Team America: World Police

2004.10.25, Toronto
This movie was one of the greatest disappointments I've had at the cinema since.

interviewing

2004.10.25, Toronto
I went to an interview today with an outfit that needs to augment their consulting business.

apartments

2004.10.25, Toronto
I've been asked to have a look around for apartments for Charlie and Andrea, who will be moving here.

movie review - Shaun of the Dead

2004.10.24, Toronto
This is a priceless zombie semi-spoof featuring a cast of everyday folk whose quiet, dismal existences are interrupted by an outbreak of zombievirus in their neighbourhood.

Minolta, back from the brink

2004.10.23, Toronto
Today, while waiting for a postponed haircut appointment, I walked into a camera store.

my friend Chako was cutting hair in a cut-a-thon

2004.10.20, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime

splashing in Dundas Square

2004.10.20, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.cozy urban scenes

Bell Mobility is big leggy

2004.10.19, Toronto
Today was my last day on the job at Bell Mobility.

the commuting unconscious

2004.10.12, Toronto
I've been taking the bus a lot of late, getting out to the site of the job I'm at for the moment.

CFL, w'hoo!

2004.10.11, Toronto
Today my girlfriend and I went to a CFL game with Scott and Carlos - a Mexican teenager who is staying with Scott and Sue out in Oakville.

movie review - Coffee and Cigarettes

2004.10.10, Toronto
OK, OK, I get it.

em double-u net

2004.10.10, Toronto
I've finally got a new domain up and running.

Back to the cottage

2004.09.25, Midland
Mum is here for Yvonne's 75th birthday party.

the Toronto job market

2004.09.20, Toronto
The job market is heating up in Toronto, it seems.

IKEA, Swedish for 'slow death'

2004.09.18, Toronto
Today, we went to IKEA for a wardrobe for the bedroom and a sofa for the living room.

of bulbs and blinds

2004.09.14, Toronto
I didn't think that the first thing I'd be doing when I got back to civilization would be to buy some lilght bulbs and blinds, but that's exactly what I'm doing.

Home again, home again

2004.09.12, Vancouver
Diggity-dig.

the gathering night

2004.09.10, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.skies 2004 - west

Spiderhouse!

2004.09.08, Vancouver
Ken and Heidi have a home that's in the (surprisingly sunny) basement of a place in West Vancouver.

visiting with family

2004.09.03, Vancouver
I'm in Vancouver!

Whew!

2004.09.02, Halifax
There are some things, even quite trivial things, that can bring about a sense of accomplishment.

snow falling from clouds

2004.09.01, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.halifax in b+w sk

past the play

2004.08.16, Halifax
past the play Collections containing this photo.

auto break-in

2004.08.09, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.events dear boy h

second chance

2004.07.26, everywhere
What's all this about second chances? Collections con

pattern in the brick

2004.07.19, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.walls & rocks sha

are they selecting a new pope

2004.07.15, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime citys

sailboats

2004.07.15, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.vehicles waterway

oil slick, adrift

2004.07.15, Halifax
Today I saw something amazing.

dog plays fetch with dog

2004.07.11, Halifax
The view from my apartmemt includes the commons in "downtown" Halifax.

renewal

2004.07.10, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.the quick and the

new leather on an old camera

2004.07.10, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime cameras

headhunter feed bag

2004.07.08, Halifax
So I was dragged to this little function that a head-hunter put on last night.

big street grin

2004.07.07, Halifax
I said "Good morning" to a dis-shevelled woman on a street corner this morning (not the same one I'd run into a few days before who pointed out my failings as a saviour).

Keane's flip-flop

2004.07.06, Halifax
Keane seems to have changed their mind about the transfer to Toronto.

of back strain and mustaches

2004.07.05, Halifax
Today we were scheduled to go down to Bridgewater to see uncle Horst and aunt Barbara.

Korean-style Greek

2004.07.04, Halifax
This evening my girlfriend and I went over to Charlie's place where he and Andrea made a beautiful Greek dinner.

movie review - Spiderman II

2004.07.03, Halifax
The strongest "comic book" movie ever.

good food makes the world go 'round

2004.07.03, Halifax
This morning my girlfriend and I went to the market.

Going home

2004.07.02, Halifax
My girlfriend's here!

no i can't save the world

2004.06.30, Halifax
Today I was waiting at the corner for some traffic, when the woman standing next to me said something I didn't catch.

downward spiral for my old watch

2004.06.29, Halifax
I took my watch in to the shop once again, annoyed.

wristwatch problems persist!

2004.06.28, Halifax
I took my watch in again.

wristwatch stopped?

2004.06.27, Halifax
Today my watch stopped working for the first time in its fifteen year run.

fixed watch not so .. fixed

2004.06.26, Halifax
On my way to see the movie today, I noticed that the new face on my watch is loose.

george bush and his fart catchers

2004.06.26, Halifax
I saw "Fahrenheit 9/11" with Charlie today.

Signal Hill

2004.06.25, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.nova scotia lands

the fine art of rust

2004.06.25, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.nova scotia textu

plantar fascitis is worse than it sounds

2004.06.25, Halifax
This morning started with one of my colleagues blowing a gasket.

wristwatch fixed!

2004.06.25, Halifax
I got my watch back today.

where I live

2004.06.22, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime archi

signal hill in Halifax

2004.06.22, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.nova scotia lands

putting my watch in someone's hands

2004.06.22, Halifax
The kid I've been dealing with at the watch repair place called to let me know that there were some watch faces in stock and that I could leave my watch with him.

old watch suddenly scratched up

2004.06.21, Halifax
Somehow, I managed to scratch the hell out of the face on my watch.

too .. much .. soccer

2004.06.20, Halifax
For reasons that I still can't explain, I decided to join some of my colleagues in playing a game of soccer this afternoon.

segway spotting

2004.06.20, Halifax
Today, while on a walk in the city, I saw my first "Segway".

filing my negatives (sexy, right?)

2004.06.20, Halifax
I spent the whole evening filing negatives into sleeve-sheets, last night.

organizing my slides

2004.06.19, Halifax
Today I did something I should have done before I started misplacing/losing some of my thousands of negatives and slides.

movie review - Bubba Ho-Tep

2004.06.18, Halifax
This is an outstanding flick featuring in the incomperable Bruce Campbell.

outsourcing halifax

2004.06.18, Halifax
Sailor Yoon tells me that the outsourcing of his employer's IT operation to CGI is looking like a good thing.

shoulda been a comic

2004.06.17, Halifax
Today a coworker in New York who discovered this website asked me if I'd ever tried any improv work.

my girl's moving up

2004.06.15, Halifax
My girlfriend has accepted a new role at her job.

uncool office

2004.06.14, Halifax
It was 28ºC when I got to the office this morning.

movie review - The Chronicles of Riddick

2004.06.11, Halifax
This is a sequel of sorts to the excellent "Pitch Black".

me .. stand-up comedy?

2004.06.11, Halifax
Today, for the first time, I was told that I should do stand-up on the account of my deadpan delivery.

supersize me

2004.06.10, Halifax
Today I watched "Supersize Me".

another lost friend (at the office)

2004.06.09, Halifax
Today I learned that Kevin Atwood has left Keane.

cheapskate employer

2004.06.07, Halifax
Today the air temperature at the office hit 28ºC.

test-driver

2004.06.05, Halifax
Today I test-drove three cars.

gonna have company

2004.06.01, Halifax
Bought some tickets for my girl.

goin' green in nova scotia

2004.05.30, Halifax
Today, for the first time in my life, I decided to stop simply grouching about politics and do something.

movie review - Troy

2004.05.29, Halifax
I ran a horrible risk after seeing this movie.

halifax is a rainy city

2004.05.29, Halifax
Another fine day.

nova scotian home-cooked fries

2004.05.29, Halifax
Today I decided to try my hand at cooking up some sweet potato french fries.

extra treacherous

2004.05.28, Halifax
This week I've been trying to add some physical exercise to my routine.

(oYo) means boobies

2004.05.25, Halifax
Hee hee.

turkish delight on a nova scotia night

2004.05.24, Halifax
I had a really good day, today.

my new Minolta XD

2004.05.23, Halifax
Tonight

my household budget problems

2004.05.23, Halifax
Today I decided to sit down and work out the budget I'm currently living under, and came to some difficult realizations.

movie review - Shrek II

2004.05.22, Halifax
I wasn't a fan of the first Shrek movie.

my way with women

2004.05.21, Halifax
Tonight I was invited to Charlie's place to have dinner with those two and Andrea's friend Stacey.

I like my class at L'Alliance Français

2004.05.19, Halifax
Tonight, another French class.

sharper knives mean better cutting

2004.05.15, Halifax
Today I was given a late Christmas gift.

they call this incident management

2004.05.14, Halifax
After a whole four hours of sleep, I was woken by the pager again at 6:30 this morning.

of calls and flames

2004.05.13, Halifax
Got home at midnight tonight, after spending the evening out with my colleagues.

week in, week out

2004.05.12, Halifax
Another Wednesday, another French lesson (at six).

too tired for hockey

2004.05.11, Halifax
I'm on support this week, so I just made it home in time to see the Flames's second, artful, amazing beautiful goal last night.

four months in, finally met the boss

2004.05.11, Halifax
I met my boss, today.

my cheapskate employer

2004.05.09, Halifax
My girlfriend's gone.

clever sunburn

2004.05.08, Halifax
One more sunny day before my girlfriend is due to leave.

you got a hangover?

2004.05.07, Halifax
This was a slow day.

your father's moustache

2004.05.06, Halifax
I got my monitor back!

outsourcing to IBM

2004.05.05, Halifax
Charlie and the gang in the IT department at Maritime Life got word today of their future.

provincial, but gorgeous

2004.05.05, Bridgewater
Today we took the rental car down to the Ovens, near Bridgewater where my uncle Horst and aunt Barbara live.

more fallout from my move

2004.05.03, Halifax
After a fine weekend of many fun episodes, I awoke this morning to discover that my monitor had packed it in.

trees in the mist

2004.05.01, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.landscapes trees

first growth of spring

2004.05.01, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.moods greenery a

here comes your girl

2004.05.01, Halifax
My girlfriend arrived today!

the vacation starts here

2004.04.30, Halifax
My vacation begins today.

lost luxuries regained

2004.04.28, Halifax
The beard trimmer finally arrived.

a change of pace from this IT life

2004.04.27, Halifax
Tonight I saw The Corporation with Sailor Yoon and his lady.

linux fish

2004.04.26, Halifax
Today I saw one of those fish things on the back of a car.

where do I begin...

2004.04.25, Halifax
Where do I begin.

bit of a disaster, today

2004.04.21, Halifax
This was a bad day on the domestic front.

nineteen kilometers

2004.04.18, Halifax
Today while playing with some software that Charlie had for his GPS unit I learned that my little walk on Easter Friday was actually 19 kilometres long.

movie review - Kill Bill vol 1

2004.04.15, Halifax
This is a movie about a woman who is beaten, shot, and left for dead by a bizarre international gang.

where is my .. minidisc

2004.04.12, Halifax
Today's "Where's My.

movie review - Avalon

2004.04.11, Halifax
This is a bizarre Japanese/Polish collaboration directed by the fellow who directed Ghost in the Shell.

movie review - Kakaider: the Animation

2004.04.10, Halifax
I believe that this was an animated TV series.

walking to Sears

2004.04.10, Halifax
Today I went for another walk to try to pick up some things.

movie review - Quebec-Montreal

2004.04.09, Halifax
This is a Quebecois film about a number of 20- and 30-somethings, all trekking south-west from Quebec to Montreal on the same highway on the same day.

hellboy

2004.04.09, Halifax
Today was a beautiful sunny day, and the first warm day we've had, so I decided to go for a walk.

awards night

2004.04.06, Halifax
I went to an all-hands meeting at work today, where we were given some momentous news that set off a flurry of questions.

Toronto – Halifax

2004.04.04, Halifax
"Home" again.

migraine while traveling

2004.04.03, Paris, ON
What would a visit with my girlfriend be without an awful migraine for company.

getting the shot

2004.04.02, Nova Scotia

so this is Paris

2004.04.02, Paris, ON
I flew to T/O today, and met my girlfriend at the airport.

my place may be a dump

2004.03.28, Halifax
Recently, my apartment's plumbing has been exhibiting some strange behaviour.

the park is broken

2004.03.28, Halifax
Today I went out to breakfast with Charlie, Andrea, and Kerry.

Spring is trying to spring

2004.03.27, Halifax
Spring is trying to make an honest arrival in Nova Scotia.

my egg was printed

2004.03.21, Halifax
Today I noticed something strange on an egg as I prepared my breakfast.

ten hour surprise shift

2004.03.20, Halifax
Today I went into work for what was supposed to be four hours.

on-call is killing me

2004.03.19, Halifax
Tonight I went out for dinner with Charlie after a long and tiring week.

the lurking coworker

2004.03.12, Halifax
Today I had a surprising experience.

may contain nuts

2004.03.09, Halifax
Tonight on the way home from work, I saw one of those hanging yellow diamond signs in the rear window of a minivan.

a fine weekend

2004.03.08, Halifax
I've just had one of the best weekends in memory.

movie review - The Triplets of Belleville

2004.03.07, Halifax
This is an amusing/ghoulish and surreal French animated flick about a grandmother who sets off to rescue her cyclist grandson when he is kidnapped by the wine mafia.

thank God for acrylic

2004.03.06, Halifax
My girlfriend got into town last night, and I have the day off.

movie review - Grave of the Fireflies

2004.03.03, Halifax
This is a delightful little romp about two sibling Japanese children who starve to death in the aftermath of world war two.

muddy dogs and other things

2004.03.03, Halifax
One of my favourite things in the whole wide world happened today.

February was crappy

2004.03.02, Halifax
So.

Halifax harbor

2004.03.01, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.nova scotia the sea

downtime

2004.03.01, Halifax
Good day, sorry for the long absence.

recovering from a 1m snowfall

2004.02.26, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.nova scotia citys

still life?

2004.02.26, Halifax
still life? still life? Collections containing this phot

car full of snow

2004.02.20, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.2004 - the snowstorm

nearly one meter of snow fell

2004.02.20, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.nova scotia 2004

after the ice storm

2004.02.10, everywhere
Collections containing this photo.2004 - the snowstorm

skate and create!

2004.02.05, Halifax
This morning I looked out on the commons and saw that someone had made some art.

a day for results

2004.02.04, Halifax
Today was a bit of a banner day.

uncomfortably hot

2004.02.03, Halifax
The temperature on the little thermometer that I brought into the office two weeks ago hit 28C, this afternoon, and parked there for hours.

the government's girl

2004.02.01, Halifax
the government's girl Collections containing this photo.ph

chhhhhh-glachpt-chhhhh

2004.01.26, Halifax
I was enjoying a plate o' Korean foodcourt 'food' today when a fellow walked by who was clearing his throat.

cold photography

2004.01.25, Halifax
Tonight I saw an ad on TV that had a woman burbling the line "There's something to be said for instant gratification" in a non-ironic fashion.

Firefly - TV's best sci-fi

2004.01.24, Halifax
I spent most of the day, today, watching the full "Firefly" series.

my tattoos get done

2004.01.21, Halifax
Someone got one of my tattoo designs done, and I'm itching to see the results.

let x = well, you know

2004.01.20, Halifax
Amusingly, there were only two of us at Tai Chi tonight.

there's always a worse job

2004.01.19, Halifax
The building where I work is glommed onto a structure that leads to a hotel lobby.

movie review - Big Fish

2004.01.18, Halifax
This is a Tim Burton flick.

haircut on a Sunday, not likely

2004.01.18, Halifax
I attempted to get my hair cut today.

Halifax can be damn cold

2004.01.17, Halifax
Saturday.

shifty news

2004.01.16, Halifax
Today at work I was told I'd be on 'shift' next week.

now we are half

2004.01.15, Halifax
Day two of the new Tai Chi program.

Halifax is damn cold

2004.01.14, Halifax
It was -21oC on my way home from work, and windy enough to make it feel like -42oC.

my shoulder is bloody, for once

2004.01.13, Halifax
Tonight was the first hour-long session at the Tai Chi place.

east coast style Tai Chi

2004.01.12, Halifax
Tonight on the way home from work I stopped in at the "Taoist Tai Chi" building, and asked "What's this all about?

the wan light of a Canadian winter

2004.01.11, Halifax
This morning I continued unpacking.

no... Wild... Turkey

2004.01.10, Halifax
Today I learned something dreadful about Nova Scotia.

and another new job

2004.01.05, Halifax
My first day on the new job.

sea smoke in halifax harbor

2004.01.01, Halifax
For a time, I lived in Halifax. This was how the new year l

another new year, full o' promise

2004.01.01, Halifax
This is two new year's days in a row that I've come through without a hangover.

2003

hooked up!

2003.12.31, Halifax
A day for odds and ends.

my 15th home

2003.12.30, Halifax
I'm here.

lousy movers

2003.12.29, Toronto
Today the movers came and took my stuff away.

movie review - The Dinner Game

2003.12.28, Toronto
This is one of my favourite silly comedies, and it's French.

just about packed

2003.12.28, Toronto
Packing.

gramma gelinas

2003.12.27, Toronto
Today I spent much of the day packing up my apartment.

for tomorrow we pack

2003.12.26, Toronto
The weather was beautiful, today.

partying with a centenarian

2003.12.25, Oakville
My mum and I went out to see the Mastersons in Oakville for Xmas, today.

Xmas loot!

2003.12.25, Toronto
What a haul of Xmas stuff, this year.

george's trains

2003.12.24, Toronto
I got the mirror frame back today and ran over to "George's Trains" to get some paint and small model-style brushes.

new mirror frame

2003.12.23, Toronto
The mirror frame I bought yesterday is now in at a mirror shop just two blocks from my home (I'm going to miss the convenience of this place).

kuda imports

2003.12.22, Toronto
Today my mum and I went shopping for a gift for my girlfriend.

renting out my unit

2003.12.22, Toronto
Today's apartment showing was the first response to the ad I put in the Toronto Star.

cave techies

2003.12.21, Toronto
Another day, another showing of the apartment.

I need a tenant to replace me

2003.12.20, Toronto
Managed to show the apartment today.

lost credit card turned up

2003.12.19, Toronto
Today I had to go back to the computer shop where I'd picked up my PC to retrieve my credit card.

movie review - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

2003.12.18, Toronto
Holy.

return of the king

2003.12.18, Toronto
Lord of the Rings' "The Return of the King" is the most outstanding finale to a trilogy that I have ever seen.

my new PC is here! my new PC is here!

2003.12.18, Toronto
I picked up my new PC today.

park property, thanks for nothing

2003.12.18, Toronto
I got a response to my fax from Halifax.

hrdc blues

2003.12.18, Toronto
This morning I went to the HRDC to see about the program they have for getting self-employed people going.

drinking with lightweights

2003.12.17, Toronto
It's a good thing I got my apartment sorted out yesterday: I had a headache all morning today.

oh park property you scoundrels

2003.12.16, Halifax
Today the weather gradually improved from heavy rain to clear skies.

Halifax weather hell

2003.12.15, Halifax
This morning

perfect hunting weather

2003.12.14, Halifax
I flew into town tonight on Jetsgo

a busy day in t.o.

2003.12.12, Toronto
Whew, a busy day.

saying goodbyes

2003.12.11, Toronto
Today I continued with my preparations to leave town.

another goodbye

2003.12.10, Toronto
Another day in December, another huddle with a friend before I take off for Halifax.

preparing to leave the city

2003.12.09, Toronto
Today, feeling better, I decided to get a start on my to-do list, now that I know I'm off for Halifax.

shingles really sucks!

2003.12.08, Toronto
I spent the entire day in bed today suffering from what was either the shingles or the antivirals I'm taking to fight them.

"that thing on your face is getting bigger"

2003.12.07, Toronto
Over the course of the past two days, a nasty rash has lit up on the side of my face, just down from my ear.

digital passport photography is here

2003.12.06, Toronto
Today was an errands day.

who's that masked man

2003.12.05, Toronto
Over the past few days, I've been feeding my girlfriend's cats.

my perfect cousin

2003.12.04, Ontario
Collections containing this photo.  portraiture

I've got a job in a new city

2003.12.04, Toronto
All of the confusion surrounding the extended hiring process with Keane has been resolved.

another perfect day in Paris

2003.12.03, Ontario
Paris Ontario that is. Collections containing this photo.

me in Paris (Ontario)

2003.12.03, Ontario
Collections containing this photo.portraiture a lifetime

interview with a bank

2003.12.03, Toronto
Also today, I had an interview with the good folks at Morgan Stanley.

how to secure data on an old disk drive by turning it into a maraca

2003.12.03, Toronto
Today I made myself a musical instrument.

how I live

2003.12.01, Toronto
I redid the floors in this place. Ballsy for a renter perha

resume review

2003.11.28, Toronto
I got my resume critiqued by the good people at the federal government's Department of Human Resources 'resource centre' staff today.

job fair

2003.11.27, Toronto
Today I went down to the goverment's human resources centre to see what they have about finding work.

could I be heading to Halifax

2003.11.26, Toronto
The interview with the Morgan Stanley people went swimmingly, today.

a flurry of calls about a job

2003.11.25, Toronto
Today I did get the call I was expecting from Keane.

cat allergies

2003.11.24, Toronto
Today I was expecting a phone call from Keane.

blundering about at thirty two

2003.11.23, Toronto
This must have been the slowest day of the year.

sniping and wining

2003.11.22, Toronto
Tonight was a lot of fun.

babysitting Graydon

2003.11.21, Toronto
Tonight I joined my girlfriend in babysitting her nephew Graydon.

some progress on Halifax

2003.11.21, Toronto
Another day, another contact with my would-be employers in Halifax.

history in the making

2003.11.20, Toronto
Well, more bombings in Turkey.

Halifax might become a reality

2003.11.20, Toronto
Another day, another couple of interviews.

drinking on an empty stomach

2003.11.19, Toronto
The g/f and I had our first squabble, this evening.

first interview for Halifax

2003.11.19, Toronto
Today was the first of two interviews with the software/consulting firm that's hiring for positions in Halifax.

an opportunity in Halifax

2003.11.18, Toronto
This afternoon I attended a job fair for an outfit that is hiring for nearly 40 positions in Halifax (of all places).

toilet plunger as motivator

2003.11.17, Toronto
Tonight I learned that no man races to the dollar store faster than he who seeks a toilet plunger.

movie review - The Good Thief

2003.11.15, Toronto
This is a caper flick starring Nick Nolte.

autumn graveyard

2003.11.14, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  color  

drinking with Russians

2003.11.14, Toronto
This evening I met with Juriy and Paul from Pontis to celebrate Juriy's finding a job at BMO.

dress shirts for an ex-leper

2003.11.14, Toronto
Today was special.

met the girl's family

2003.11.13, Toronto
Tonight I met with my girlfriend's family.

employment insurance won't pay the bills

2003.11.13, Toronto
Today I noticed a deposit into my chequeing account.

movie review - Wrong Turn

2003.11.12, Toronto
Wow.

two undershirt day

2003.11.12, Toronto
You know the kind of day where you decide at 6:30 to have a bit of a nap, so you take off your shirt and discover that you've been wearing two undershirts all day?

movie review - Rabbit-Proof Fence

2003.11.11, Toronto
This is a beautifully-shot, minimally-written telling of the escape by three 'half-caste' aborigine girls from a camp in Western Australia.

Lagos here I come?

2003.11.11, Toronto
One of my job leads turned out to be in Lagos, Nigeria, rather than Dubai, UAE.

trying to trace a smell

2003.11.11, Toronto
Ugh.

etherlabs.net might be homeless

2003.11.10, Toronto
Ken informs me that the continued cost of keeping etherlabs.

blackout strikes again

2003.11.09, Toronto
It seems that Sailor Yoon and my girlfriend's friend Andrea have hit it off.

fncking migraines indeed

2003.11.09, Toronto
After yet another migraine, I finally got going late in the day to head out.

plagued

2003.11.08, Toronto
Another day, another headache.

cool chick bro

2003.11.07, Toronto
I inflicted the guys from the ol' IT gang from my days at Trimark on the girlfriend, tonight.

clusters of headaches

2003.11.07, Toronto
I had my first migraine in months, today.

movie review - 28 Days Later...

2003.11.06, Toronto
There aren't too many movies circulating with two endings on one rental VHS tape.

I'm a perfect fit (e_e)

2003.11.05, Toronto
I had a rather good interview today with a systems hardware retailer here in town that is trying to start up a professional services wing.

an odd trip to Ottawa

2003.11.04, Toronto
The lady is heading off for Ottawa on a strangely uncoordinated jaunt for work.

four Novembers without work

2003.11.04, Toronto
It occurred to me today, as I waited in line at the federal government's Human Resources department's office, that this is my fourth November in a row that I've faced without a job.

Miller time is 22:00?

2003.11.03, Toronto
Tonight I had a couple of strange experiences.

Nova Scotia is nice

2003.11.02, Toronto
Home again, home again, diggity dig.

cougars everywhere

2003.11.01, Halifax
What a day.

so this is the Eastern Passage

2003.10.31, Halifax
We spent the day toodling about the Eastern Passage, today.

bent dominoes

2003.10.30, Halifax
Another slow start to the day, naturally.

Andrea's 30th

2003.10.29, Halifax
Unfortunately, today was Chako's last day.

movie review - Spider

2003.10.28, Toronto
This is an odd film that makes me wonder if there's not a better book out there that tells the same tale.

hello, Baddeck

2003.10.28, Halifax
We checked out the Bell museum in Baddeck this morning, because the weather was really rough.

colorful Nova Scotia

2003.10.27, Baddeck
Our hopes of finding colorful landscapes have been realized - we spent the day driving just ahead of a nasty front that kept us under a mix of sunny and dark skies.

touring the hurricane damage

2003.10.26, Halifax
Chako arrived, today.

hello, Halifax

2003.10.25, Halifax
Charlie's place is immense.

cape breton

2003.10.24, Nova Scotia
Collections containing this photo.trees & trunks landscap

october sky over estuary

2003.10.24, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.skies landscapes

saltwater marsh

2003.10.24, Nova Scotia
saltwater marsh Collections containing this photo.the s

we're in Halifax

2003.10.24, Halifax
We arrived after 11 PM tonight due to delays with Jetsgo.

mixed day with a job interview

2003.10.22, Toronto
Had a rather good day, today.

a new road aflame

2003.10.21, Toronto
This morning while eating breakfast, I noticed a column of smoke rising into the air half a block north of my apartment building.

movie review - The Matrix Reloaded

2003.10.15, Toronto
I avoided this flick while it was at the cinema because of all of the mediocre reviews it was getting and the puzzled, irritated response it was eliciting from people I knew.

movie review - Three Kings

2003.10.14, Toronto
This is an interesting little number set during the closing days of the first Gulf War.

movie review - In the Bedroom

2003.10.13, Toronto
This is an interesting film about a small family in a tiny fishing village in New England.

some job listings again

2003.10.13, Toronto
A number of new leads have turned up through some old work acquaintances.

my cousin's important speech

2003.10.12, Toronto
I went to the family Thanksgiving dinner, today, out in Oakville.

final acupuncture session

2003.10.12, Toronto
I had my final acupuncture session today.

another head cold

2003.10.11, Toronto
One of my Russian/Ukrainian coworkers brought a cold to the office during the week.

this is why there's Wild Turkey

2003.10.09, Toronto
Oh, it must be Thursday.

meeting online

2003.10.08, Toronto
I went to the photo.

cops around in force

2003.10.08, Toronto
There was some commotion around the building as I went home for lunch, today.

happy birthday, Geoff

2003.10.07, Toronto
'Twas Geoff's birthday celebration, tonight.

cold already

2003.10.02, Toronto
Okay.

the job market is dead

2003.10.01, Toronto
Dead.

movie review - About Schmidt

2003.09.29, Toronto
I really can't see what all of the fuss was about with this movie.

movie review - Mad Dog and Glory

2003.09.27, Toronto
There was nothing really wrong with this movie, but it somehow didn't work.

acupuncture

2003.09.27, Toronto
Being something of a masochist, I went for another round of shiatsu.

movie review - Groundhog Day

2003.09.26, Toronto
I rented this one with my mum and my new girlfriend after the g/f and I had gone on at some length to rave about Bill Murray's performance in 'Lost in Translation'.

busy to the last day on this job

2003.09.26, Toronto
It's a funny thing.

nice crisp air

2003.09.25, Toronto
Autumn officially started on the weekend, and it's getting cold.

seing lost in translation

2003.09.24, Toronto
My gal and I met with Geoff and Mariko to see the movie 'Lost in Translation'.

movie review - Lost in Translation

2003.09.23, Toronto
This is one of the best movies I've seen in quite some time.

job searching again is a terrible thing

2003.09.23, Toronto
The job search progresses slowly.

shiatsu soreness now pain

2003.09.22, Toronto
The pain and stiffness from the shiatsu treatment is indescribable.

Halifax is go

2003.09.22, Toronto
The tickets are booked.

post-shiatsu soreness

2003.09.21, Toronto
The shiatsu massage I got yesterday has turned on me.

movie review - Confidence

2003.09.20, Toronto
This is a caper movie with an all-star cast.

a first for me; shiatsu

2003.09.20, Toronto
I went for my first Shiatsu experience today.

Halifax, ho!

2003.09.18, Toronto
My gal and I have this idea.

hello again, Civilization 3

2003.09.15, Toronto
All is lost.

is chair-shopping some kind of line

2003.09.14, Toronto
Today we went chair shopping.

get on with it

2003.09.13, Toronto
It seems that Lee Salem, an apparatchik at Universal Press Syndicate, couldn't be brought to spell out the word 'masterbate' in a recent UPS fatwa against a recent Doonesbury strip, and went with 'm-word'.

tealight fireball

2003.09.13, Toronto
What.

sore back from broken chair

2003.09.11, Toronto
My back is hurting today.

movie review - Wings of Migration

2003.09.10, Toronto
This is a movie about migrating birds.

farewell, orange chair

2003.09.09, Toronto
O, calamity!

liver and onions

2003.09.09, Toronto
I made myself liver and onions last night.

acted when I needn't have

2003.09.08, Toronto
I did something stupid tonight.

the dealers have been evicted

2003.09.08, Toronto
It's true.

birds like musical notes

2003.09.07, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  oddities &n

a cold during summer

2003.09.07, Toronto
Argh, Summer colds.

out of work once more

2003.09.05, Toronto
Amazingly, I got laid off, today.

doing sales calls

2003.09.04, Toronto
I've been making sales calls to ISP's across the country to try to drum up some business.

so I have a girlfriend

2003.09.02, Toronto
What a weekend.

farewell to drug dealers

2003.09.01, Toronto
I suspect that my drug-dealing neighbours may have moved out.

successful date

2003.08.31, Toronto
Waking up next to a new person is always a remarkable thing.

sparrows, so many sparrows

2003.08.30, Toronto
I've noticed this summer that there seem to be a hell of a lot of sparrows around.

swarming flies around .. something

2003.08.30, Toronto
There had been no progress in the condition of the squirrel for a few days.

business development

2003.08.29, Toronto
Had my first success with the new project - contacting ISP's and attempting to drum up new relationships.

movie review - Halloween: Resurrection

2003.08.28, Toronto
At the end of the previous Hallowe'en movie, "H20", Michael's head is convincingly cut off with an axe.

went on a date

2003.08.28, Toronto
Went on a date, tonight.

interrupted a cabbie's piss I guess

2003.08.27, Toronto
Today at lunch I took the building's internal stairs down to the parking lot to head home.

dead squirrel just a bag of bones

2003.08.26, Toronto
I passed The Squirrel again.

looking good

2003.08.26, Toronto
Today I ran into Andrea, one of the gang from the Davisville Physiotherapy outfit where I went routinely for three months back in the Winter.

reading about sales

2003.08.25, Toronto
So now I'm reading a 'sales' book.

squirrel fatality

2003.08.24, Toronto
I noticed a squirrel that had fallen to its demise from a hydro pole, today.

don't take that photo!

2003.08.23, Canada
During a power failure, I was walking all the way up Toront

blackout hikers

2003.08.23, Toronto
blackout hikers Collections containing this photo.toronto

knee-high life-and-death struggle

2003.08.23, Toronto
I saw two sparrows flying low, today.

movie review - S.W.A.T.

2003.08.22, Toronto
This is an action movie featuring a member of the elite SWAT unit who is demoted after his partner injures a hostage during the resolution of a bank robbery.

confronting my drug-dealing neighbor

2003.08.22, Toronto
Tonight after work - the final day of a long, long week that had me on a crash course on sales, of all things - I trudged downtown and picked up a roll of negatives I'd had processed.

the drug dealer next door

2003.08.22, Toronto
This business of living next to a drug dealer is starting to piss me off.

left the US because of Bush

2003.08.21, Toronto
Tonight I went to a dinner put together by some people I encountered on craigslist.

marry someone rich!

2003.08.20, Toronto
On my way to get groceries, today, I past a family that had just emerged from a restaurant.

can't cook lentils with rice

2003.08.19, Toronto
I went to the gym this evening - I usually go in the morning, but with the power outage I hadn't been since Wednesday.

a death at SARS-stock

2003.08.18, Toronto
There's a rumor going 'round that SARS-stock may not have been the care-free event everyone made it out to be.

met a woman with a camera

2003.08.17, Toronto
The power seems to be pretty much stable, today, thankfully.

much in common

2003.08.16, Toronto
This power outage thing's not all that bad.

well the power outage was okay

2003.08.15, Toronto
What next?

another photo meetup

2003.08.13, Toronto
Tonight I went to this month's photo.

my father, step-mother, and uncle

2003.08.11, Ontario
Not too often that this many of us are together! Collecti

Manitoulin vista

2003.08.11, Manitoulin
Manitoulin vista Collections containing this photo.gree

Manitoulin cliff, trees and water

2003.08.11, Manitoulin
Manitoulin cliff, trees and water Collections containin

my 1,000th post

2003.08.11, Toronto
It looks like this is my 1,000th post to this journal of mine.

I'm calling a full moon

2003.08.11, Toronto
I am now going to make an amazing prediction.

waterfall on manitoulin

2003.08.10, Manitoulin
Collections containing this photo.landscapes waterways wa

Manitoulin mist

2003.08.10, Canada
Manitoulin mist Collections containing this photo.manitoul

tiny forest frog

2003.08.10, Ontario
tiny forest frog Collections containing this photo.the qui

movie review - Basic

2003.08.10, Toronto
I'd heard that this was an American take on the Akira Kurosawa flick "Rashomon".

oven mitt in the fridge

2003.08.10, Toronto
Today I noticed that there is an oven mitt in the 'fridge.

warplane museum

2003.08.09, S. Ontario
I spent the day with my dad, my step-mother Renate, and my uncle Wolf.

my dinner with Satan

2003.08.08, Toronto
Last night I attended a send-off at Sneaky Dee's for Jonathan Culp (Satan Macnuggit himself).

performer at Dundas Square

2003.08.06, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  people at w

R is for reach

2003.08.06, Canada
Collections containing this photo.toronto 2003 2003 - tor

C is for creased

2003.08.06, Canada
C is for creased Collections containing this photo.toronto

photo scavenger hunt

2003.08.06, Toronto
The photo scavenger hunt is complete.

the leaky urinal

2003.08.05, Toronto
Today I had the bad luck of 'finding out the hard way' that the urinal at work had developed a leak.

and back to the city

2003.08.04, Toronto
Back to the city.

back to the cottage

2003.08.03, The Cottage
We made our way from Espanola back onto the island, and had a rather good breakfast in Little Current at a greasy spoon full of bikers.

Manitoulin at last

2003.08.02, Espanola, Ontario
Today my mum and I set out at last to do the Manitoulin trip we've been threatening for two years.

working out of debt

2003.08.01, Toronto
I've rounded the corner on my debt.

so we went to SARStock

2003.07.31, Toronto
450,000 people in one spot. And only a modest number of dea

Mariko and Geoff at SARStock

2003.07.31, Toronto
Way, way back in the middle of the crowd at SARStock, Geoff

Mariko and Geoff

2003.07.31, Toronto
Mariko and Geoff Collections containing this photo.2003 -

Sarstock was a blast

2003.07.30, Toronto
I did "Sars-stock".

treading and cycling

2003.07.29, Toronto
At the gym today, I upped my efforts on the treadmill to: 5

count-down to SARS

2003.07.28, Toronto
Two days to the SARS concert (which the Sun referred to on its front page as SARS-stock).

fixed a friend's PC

2003.07.27, Toronto
I managed to get Chako's PC working.

movie review - Pirates of the Caribbean

2003.07.24, Toronto
This is a pirate flick set in the caribbean.

a colorful day

2003.07.21, Toronto
Tonight I left work early to go meet my accountant.

K is for king

2003.07.20, Canada
I asked this transit cop if I could take his photo. He agre

K is for king

2003.07.20, Canada
K is for king Collections containing this photo.toronto 20

muskiebait

2003.07.20, C. Ontario
Today, on the way back from the cottage, we stopped in Bala on the Trent/Severn canal system.

two days sans caffeine

2003.07.20, Toronto
Two whole days.

laying brick

2003.07.19, C. Ontario
Back to the cottage.

Satay by the road

2003.07.18, Toronto
Tonight my mum and I went to dinner to discuss our work woes over Thai food at a place on Bayview called "Satay by the road".

working with a friend's old PC

2003.07.17, Toronto
Tonight I went to Chako's place to try to help with her computer (actually, it's Jonathan's PC, but he's in Japan).

infrared waterfall

2003.07.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  waterfalls

infrared sky over Toronto

2003.07.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  skies

black and white architecture on Queen street

2003.07.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  architectur

a photo trek

2003.07.13, Toronto
Today I went on a photo trek with Katherine from the photo.

that's all garbage

2003.07.12, Toronto
I went down to Henry's today to look at some used lenses.

Toronto is windy y'know?

2003.07.11, Toronto
Having recently spent 2 1/2 years and more out of Toronto, it's interesting to note how windy this city is.

movie review - Terminator 3

2003.07.10, Toronto
Before I get into the movie itself, I want to talk about where I saw it.

SARS benefit here I come

2003.07.09, Toronto
I bought myself a ticket to the SARS benefit concert that's on the 30th.

let's catch an arsonist

2003.07.09, Toronto
I got a note from the building management today stating 'On a recent visit to the building, the Toronto Fire Inspector has advised us that anyone caught tossing cigarettes off their balcony causing a fire .

caffeine withdrawal

2003.07.08, Toronto
I've been going to the gym for about two weeks, now, and I have noticed that I'm having a hell of a time concentrating at work (or at home, but what else is new?

Toronto festival you say

2003.07.06, Toronto
Once back in the city, I returned the car and traipsed north along Yonge Street, watching the 'Toronto Festival' that was in progress.

better than a ford feces

2003.07.06, S. Ontario
At 9:00 or so, I got up and had highway 400 to face.

movie review - The Pianist

2003.07.05, Toronto
This is a movie about a Pianist in Poland named "Spielman" who escapes a Nazi round-up as the Jewish Warsaw ghetto is being dismantled.

a hike

2003.07.05, S. Ontario
Today I was invited out to a barbeque by one of my new coworkers (the newest one).

ring of fire if you know what I mean

2003.07.04, Toronto
Tonight I suffered through the worst 'ring of fire' in my life.

someone's got a grow-op in my apartment

2003.07.02, Toronto
I almost always use the stairs to go up to my apartment, rather than the elevator.

Happy Canada Day!

2003.07.01, Toronto
Happy Canada Day!

Georgia 249-154

2003.06.30, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  vehicles

pride parade in Toronto

2003.06.30, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.gay pride a lifetime

went down to the pride parade

2003.06.29, Toronto
I went down to the Gay Pride parade. So did one or two oth

sense of place - Toronto

2003.06.28, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.architecture lines

Canada flags under First Canadian Place

2003.06.28, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.lines urban night scene

don't let me be mistaken for a jogger

2003.06.27, Toronto
Though I had to work throughout the day, I believe I managed to make the most of the weather today.

my brother is thirty

2003.06.26, Toronto
Today is my little brother's 30th birthday.

movie review - Hulk

2003.06.25, Toronto
This movie has surprising depth, and has a pacing that strikes an excellent note.

nice, soft-spoken gentleman

2003.06.25, Toronto
The nice woman who runs the restaurant between my gym and my place of employment told me today that I was a 'nice, soft-spoken gentleman'.

quitting coffee again

2003.06.24, Toronto
I've decided to quit coffee, again.

ragged day

2003.06.21, Toronto
I went for a long walk, today, after stopping by the office to help move my desk + associated crud there-on to the other room, where the bosses are assembling a 'data centre'.

God bless Minolta!

2003.06.20, Toronto
I bought a new film scanner with some of the proceeds of my 2002 income tax rebate (I'm still waiting on 2000 and 2001).

today I followed a lead

2003.06.18, Toronto
On my desk, when I started my new job recently, was an assortment of clutter from my predecessor.

forced socializing

2003.06.16, Toronto
Charlie missed his flight!

weather over Toronto

2003.06.15, Toronto
Bad weather in the Summer Collections containing this pho

weather over Davisville

2003.06.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  cityscapes

waterfall in Ontario

2003.06.15, Ontario
Collections containing this photo.photos I love waterways

finding nemo

2003.06.14, Toronto
Charlie, the Chako, and I went to see Finding Nemo with one of the Chako's friends, another Japanese girl named Kyoko.

sailor yoon is here

2003.06.13, Toronto
Mr.

meetup.com meeting

2003.06.12, Toronto
Last night I attended a meeting that was arranged via the meetup.

Toronto quarantined by Ukraine

2003.06.11, Toronto
My colleague Yuri from the office - who has been making regular appearances in this journal, recently - discovered today that Ukraine has imposed a quarantine on all people arriving from SARS-afflicted regions.

true talent can't be drunk away

2003.06.10, Toronto
I got some photos back from the party I attended on the weekend.

lots of fun stuff at work

2003.06.09, Toronto
I've been doing some really fascinating stuff at work, of late.

pfff hockey

2003.06.09, Toronto
Well, the Stanley Cup final was on tonight and I couldn't be bothered to watch.

well I hope I was interesting

2003.06.08, Toronto
Last night I went to a house party thrown by my second cousin, Ann.

tiny dog leaps into water

2003.06.07, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  simple joys

brambles

2003.06.07, unspecified
brambles Collections containing this photo.greenery

hello, open BSD

2003.06.07, Toronto
I bought a copy of OpenBSD at the University of Toronto's bookstore.

my brother is around

2003.06.06, Toronto
Ken is in town.

movie review - Scary Movie 2

2003.06.04, Toronto
This movie is spellbinding in its crapulence.

movie review - The Italian Job

2003.06.04, Toronto
I downloaded this, thinking I was getting the new version.

the stress of moving

2003.06.03, Toronto
I have this coworker named Juriy (that's Yuri to English speakers).

ouch this commute

2003.06.02, Toronto
Phew.

collision with a street car

2003.06.01, Toronto
Today I went on a trek down to the lone wind turbine that was set up on Toronto's harbourfront.

movie review - Finding Nemo

2003.05.31, Toronto
This is a fine flick.

one million page requests

2003.05.31, Toronto
The etherlabs.

bring on the Poynter sisters

2003.05.30, Toronto
I believe the Poynter sisters are having something of a renaissance.

no time for a summer friend

2003.05.27, Toronto
Nothing.

red brick wall

2003.05.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  walls & roc

red sky at dawn

2003.05.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  skies  

incomplete headstone

2003.05.22, St. Catharines
This is the headstone of my grandparents. He remarried afte

there are 8,000 trees per person in Canada

2003.05.22, Toronto
It comforts me, knowing we can't obliterate the trees. Try

fat trunk on a skinny graft

2003.05.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  golden hour

it's nuclear not nucular you idiot

2003.05.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime

sunset over Davisville

2003.05.22, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.color skies twilight

die-in

2003.05.22, unspecified
die-in Collections containing this photo.toronto's down

the trivial inconvenience of jack-hammers

2003.05.22, Toronto
I wanna tell you a story about my new apartment building.

yes, me in sales!

2003.05.21, Toronto
I had my first experience in any sort of sales capacity, today.

hello, norovirus

2003.05.20, Toronto
Well, I had some fun on the weekend.

movie review - I Spy

2003.05.19, Toronto
Forget what it's about.

me, in sales?

2003.05.16, Toronto
This may sound hard to believe, but I've bungled into some sales responsibilities at the office.

movie review - X2

2003.05.12, Toronto
This is the second X-men movie.

it's come to this: Saturday night at the DMV

2003.05.11, Toronto
Last night at around 8:00 that I decided I needed to get out of the apartment.

farewell, mini-disc

2003.05.11, Toronto
I bought my mum a DVD player to replace her CD player, which died while I was staying with her.

movie review - Secretary

2003.05.10, Toronto
I didn't really know what to expect from this one.

so you have an ass that's .. juicy?

2003.05.10, Toronto
There is a style these days where young women wear track pants with a word printed across the ass.

today I was called 'sir'

2003.05.09, Toronto
Today, a teenager called me 'sir'.

glossy blue Audi

2003.05.08, Toronto
So I saw this Audi S4 the other day.

a bad cold

2003.05.06, Toronto
It stands to reason that as soon as I'm back at work I'd have my first real cold in over a year.

Thank God for the Home Hardware

2003.05.05, Toronto
Thank God for the Home Hardware.

be careful putting things in storage in Vancouver

2003.05.04, Toronto
Something Happened Inside an Innocuous Plastic Tub.

finances finally turning around

2003.04.30, Toronto
Tonight after work, I did my usual monthly trick of shuffling money around between my line of credit, two bank accounts, and a credit card, but had the pleasure of adding a paycheque to the mix.

can't futon without screws

2003.04.29, Toronto
Arrgh.

a job and a home

2003.04.29, Toronto
Today, at last, the day I've been waiting for.

sore from .. sanding?

2003.04.28, Toronto
I must be out of shape.

second coat on my floor

2003.04.27, Toronto
I went back to do the second coat on the floor of my new place.

today I refinished the floor of my apartment

2003.04.26, Toronto
Today I decided to refinish the floor of my new apartment.

the weather is sorting itself out

2003.04.25, Toronto
The weather seems to have finally stabilized.

the chako is almost a landed immigrant

2003.04.22, Toronto
Tonight I met Chako for dinner.

my stuff is coming

2003.04.22, Toronto
I contacted the driver who's moving my stuff down from Vancouver.

hello, Georgian Highlands

2003.04.21, S. Ontario
We decided to take the car out and explore the eastern edge of the 'Georgian Highlands' today.

lost contact with the road

2003.04.20, Toronto
Driving home from St.

my grandmother's tombstone

2003.04.20, St. Catharines
I went with my mother to St.

movie review - About a Boy

2003.04.14, Toronto
I was a bit leery about this one, but it turned out to be quite worthwhile.

my commute is a breeze

2003.04.14, Toronto
It's just as I imagined, this working-at-a-place-a-block-from-home.

dialed 911 today

2003.04.12, Toronto
On my way to the bank, today, I saw a sudden commotion at Yonge St + St.

my first permanent job in three years

2003.04.11, Toronto
My first day on the job.

I have a job - at long last

2003.04.10, Toronto
I got the details of my employment offer straightened out.

spending again

2003.04.08, Toronto
I managed to get as much done today as I have been doing nothing for the last several months.

offered a job!

2003.04.08, Toronto
I got a call from the folks at Pontis, today.

movie review - Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

2003.04.02, Toronto
This is a supposedly autobiographic story about Chuck Barris, the inventor of the "Dating Game" and the "Gong Show".

poorly attended anti-war rally

2003.03.30, Toronto
I went down to the anti-war demonstration demonstration today.

movie review - Birthday Girl

2003.03.29, Toronto
This is a movie about a quiet Englishman who - after years in a mind-numbing job at a bank, and years of loneliness - decides to send away for a mail-order bride from Russia.

a second interview

2003.03.29, Toronto
Much to my surprise, I found myself in a second job interview at a place only a block from home.

movie review - Dreamcatcher

2003.03.28, Toronto
This is a flick based upon a Stephen King story, and it shows.

brilliant strato-cumulus sky

2003.03.22, Toronto
It's amazing how these JPG's degrade. Collections contain

here's Paul Haskins

2003.03.22, Toronto
I met up with a childhood friend after twenty years. This s

shock and awe

2003.03.22, Canada
This shot was taken at a protest against the Gulf War, in M

clever sky

2003.03.22, Tokyo
Collections containing this photo.skies color

shock and awe

2003.03.22, Canada
shock and awe Collections containing this photo.toronto -

so that gig in northern Ontario

2003.03.17, Toronto
I've decided to apply for the job with the gov't in the northern reaches of the province.

farewell, Charlie

2003.03.16, Toronto
Today, Charlie left for the new gig in Halifax.

ran into Dale Fallon

2003.03.15, Toronto
I ran into Dale Fallon on the street, today, during a walk in the suddenly warm weather.

northern Ontario, here I come?

2003.03.14, Toronto
I've come across an interesting job posting with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

movie review - Bend it Like Beckham

2003.03.12, Toronto
This is a British movie about an Indian-British girl who wants to be a soccer player.

meeting photographers

2003.03.12, Toronto
Tonight I went to a meeting organized through photo.

a cold winter

2003.03.10, Toronto
The cold just won't let up this Winter.

another winter storm

2003.03.08, Toronto
We got caught in yet another storm on the way back into the city.

caught up with Paul Haskins

2003.03.08, Beamsville
After I'd shaken off a hangover, I went with my mum and aunt down to Niagara.

accidentally deleted some journal entries!

2003.03.06, Toronto
Had a bit of trouble with the database.

18 months of unemployment

2003.03.05, Toronto
I think I may have left the IT industry.

Happy 0x20 to me!

2003.03.03, Toronto
Happy 0x20 to me!

my friend has a job

2003.03.03, Toronto
Charlie has accepted the job offer from Maritime Life, and is moving to Halifax!

sunset over Toronto city hall

2003.02.27, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  aquaria &nb

frozen twig in snow

2003.02.27, Canada
frozen twig in snow Collections containing this photo.toro

so firemen smoke

2003.02.23, Toronto
It is cold and blustery today.

thrown out of a cemetery

2003.02.23, Toronto
The city was dumped on last night by rain that turned to sleet and then thick snow.

-19 in Toronto

2003.02.21, Toronto
After yesterday's carelessness, today I had to go buy another toque.

lost a toque while taking photos

2003.02.20, Toronto
The weather was beautiful today.

a cop checks me out during a protest

2003.02.15, Toronto
Today I went down to the demonstration against Gulf War II that was being held in synch with other demonstrations in the rest of the world.

movie review - Daredevil

2003.02.13, Toronto
Let's see how short I can make this review: here goes.

Charlie's off to Halifax

2003.02.12, Toronto
Charlie found work: in Halifax!

a trio of photographers

2003.02.11, Toronto
Charlie, Josee Baillargeon (a colleague from my Trimark days who Charlie met on the street last week) and I - photographers all - met for dinner and drinks at the Bow and Arrow to catch up and show off our photos.

top of the pine to you

2003.02.10, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  skies  

the cold embrace of death

2003.02.10, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.toronto - mt pleasant c

pet rats

2003.02.10, Canada
pet rats Collections containing this photo.toronto - peopl

I like mud creek and I cannot lie

2003.02.05, Toronto
The Sun has been making an on-again, off-again comeback after a surprisingly dull and gloomy Winter.

farewell, space shuttle

2003.02.02, Toronto
Another era, another dead space shuttle.

modding a game

2003.01.31, Toronto
I've been immersing myself in the strange customization tools for Civ 3.

happy reflection

2003.01.29, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  simple joys

red boat, blue ice

2003.01.29, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.vehicles snow and ice a

bonkers cross-talk with Australia

2003.01.21, Toronto
The Australian Tax Office sent me a response to my inquiry from early December as to the status of my application to retrieve my Superannuation funds.

superannuation check

2003.01.20, Toronto
Strangely, I received a check in the mail from the Australian Tax Office, today.

farewell, observatory

2003.01.19, Toronto
Today I learned that the observatory west of Canberra that I visited in 2000 has been completely destroyed by 'bush fires'.

catching up with Kamil

2003.01.18, Toronto
I had a long phone conversation with my old University friend Kamil, today.

you say there are jobs here?

2003.01.17, Toronto
The job search is picking up steam (an expression that in itself is pretty ridiculous, but one that I think I've used before in exactly the same circumstances in this very journal thing).

winter blossom

2003.01.13, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  greenery &n

movie review - Double Whammy

2003.01.13, Toronto
This is a movie that I wanted to like.

job searching is changing and I don't like it

2003.01.12, Toronto
One of my job leads is dead, and it died in a way that I've had to get used to in this shiney new decade with no name.

farewell, VHS

2003.01.07, Toronto
It's now getting hard to find anything other than new releases at the video rental places in VHS.

movie review - Taxi Driver

2003.01.05, Toronto
This is a grim story about a young veteran searching for meaning while struggling with slowly worsening mental health issues.

networking for work is unusual

2003.01.05, Toronto
Networking.

a mild new year's hangover

2003.01.01, Toronto
Well, my hangover's quite mild.

2002

go - stop

2002.12.31, Toronto
Another new year.

movie review - Twilight of the Golds

2002.12.30, Toronto
This is a film starring Jennifer Beals and Brendan Fraser as a sister and brother.

hello, Oakville

2002.12.29, Oakville
We said our farewells and left the Ottawa area bright and early and raced down the length of the MacDonald-Cartier highway to Oakville where the Masterson clan was having an extended get-together.

hello, Osgiliath

2002.12.28, Osgiliath
Today the Ottawa contingent, my mum, and I went to the Museum of Civilization in Hull to see the Bog People exhibit.

a visit in Osgoode

2002.12.27, Osgoode
Today my mum and I rented a car and headed out to the Ottawa-area bedroom community of Osgoode for a visit with my dad's brother Ulli and his family.

from charity to consuming - way to go, Canada

2002.12.26, Toronto
Today I learned that the name Boxing Day comes from the old habit of gathering things for charity into a box and delivering it on this day after Xmas.

a quiet Christmas

2002.12.25, Toronto
Ah, Xmas.

oh boy, herring salad

2002.12.24, Toronto
My mum made Herring Salad from my Oma's old recipe.

don't get your politics on my Tolkein

2002.12.20, Toronto
So tonight I happened to catch part of a panel doing a summary of the year's movies on TV.

writing an article on legislative reform

2002.12.18, Toronto
Well, I woke up this morning with an article in my head waiting to get out.

steel frame building from a hundred years ago

2002.12.12, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.twilight architecture

necessity is the mother of invention and barb wire

2002.12.12, Toronto
I came across this apparent attempt to prevent trespassing

a job interview just around the corner

2002.12.11, Toronto
In other news, I had a job interview today at a place a block away from the apartment.

groceries via transit

2002.12.11, Toronto
Ah, Winter.

movie review - Solaris

2002.12.08, Toronto
This is a sci-fi flick about a psychologist who is called to a distant space research centre to get to the bottom of some recent events.

movie review - Men With Brooms

2002.12.07, Toronto
This movie is as Canadian as they get.

one of a kind

2002.12.07, Toronto
Today mum, Charlie and I went to the One of a Kind Show, again.

to the Rivoli!

2002.12.06, Toronto
Met up with Gord and his gang at the Rivoli.

dolsot bibim bop with friends

2002.12.03, Toronto
I met with John Pak and Charlie today for lunch.

tracking down a phone

2002.12.03, Toronto
Here's an embarrassing admission; I couldn't find the cell phone in the wreckage 'round the apartment today, so I used the land line to phone it and track it down by its ringing.

movie review - Lilo & Stitch

2002.12.01, Toronto
This is by far my favourite Disney pic.

movie review - Treasure Planet

2002.12.01, Toronto
This is a Disney animated flick that takes Treasure Island into space.

no business card, no business

2002.11.30, Toronto
I went with my mum to the One of a Kind show today.

knotty tree is watching you

2002.11.25, Canada
Collections containing this photo.trees & trunks textures

Windows POS in an Apple store

2002.11.24, Toronto
Today Charlie and I wandered into a Apple shop just off of Bay Street.

movie review - Die Another Day

2002.11.23, Toronto
This is actually pretty good.

film scanner!

2002.11.22, Toronto
All is lost.

18 months on unemployment

2002.11.21, Toronto
18 months.

billiards at Ching's house

2002.11.20, Toronto
Tonight, Ken Charlie and I went up to Ching's place somewhere in the northern reaches of the city.

drinking fellowship of the ring

2002.11.17, Toronto
Ken arrived, last night.

movie review - Y Tu Mama Tambien

2002.11.13, Toronto
This is kinky Mexican flick (the English title would be 'And your mother, too') about a 30-something woman and two teenage boys who go on a road trip.

movie review - Brother

2002.11.13, Toronto
This is an American/Japanese gangster flick starring Takeshi Kitano.

photo.net is falling apart

2002.11.12, Toronto
The people at photo.

Charlie photographing the woods

2002.11.11, Canada
We went into one of Toronto's famous ravines for some photo

sewage treatment plant in the Beaches

2002.11.11, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.toronto - architectu

crapped on by a bird again

2002.11.09, Toronto
Just in case I hadn't had enough bird sh*t this year, it happened again.

we walked across the trestle bridge above the DVP

2002.11.08, Toronto
Did something silly today.

footbridge reflection

2002.11.06, Canada
Collections containing this photo.toronto - centre island

I touched the armor

2002.11.06, Toronto
One bright point in the day was the Lord of the Rings exhibit at the Maclauchlin Plane'arium.

just call me whatever-it-is

2002.11.06, Toronto
What a day.

movie review - The Ring

2002.11.05, Toronto
Well, no two ways about it, this is one of the most intense, frightening flicks I've seen in some time.

CN tower reflection

2002.11.04, Canada
The city, as seen from the islands that shelter the harbor.

subway approaches

2002.11.04, Canada
subway approaches Collections containing this photo.vehicl

subway mirror

2002.11.04, Canada
subway mirror Collections containing this photo.reflection

websites are getting good

2002.11.02, Toronto
Hmmm.

movie review - The Eel

2002.11.01, Toronto
This is an odd Japanese film about a fellow who returns early from a midnight fishing trip on a tip from an anonymous letter to find his wife in bed with another man.

ran into a real fox

2002.10.30, Toronto
Went to Centre Island today with Mr.

your resume says senior

2002.10.29, Toronto
Had a job interview today.

webcam booze-up

2002.10.29, Toronto
Last night we had a 'net celebration of Heidi's birthday.

just call my two-fingers

2002.10.28, Toronto
Charlie and I were downtown, so we decided to drop in at Hernando's for lunch.

movie review - Kikujiro no natsu

2002.10.24, Toronto
This is a very odd Japanese film about a boy who sets out to visit his estranged mother.

chilly photography

2002.10.24, Toronto
Got out to the cemetary early this morning to take some pics in the first light.

Angela from Vancouver

2002.10.23, Toronto
Something funny happened at the photo lab, today.

high and low

2002.10.23, Toronto
I dragged Charlie out to see "High and Low" at the Kurosawa/Mifune film festival tonight.

I have my camera

2002.10.23, Toronto
Got my camera back!

the song bird slam dance

2002.10.21, Toronto
This morning I was woken by the sound of song birds slamming into the window.

belated Thanksgiving

2002.10.20, Toronto
We had our (belated) Thanksgiving dinner today.

good ol' whats-her-name

2002.10.18, Toronto
About ten years ago, I was dating a woman whose birthday was today.

me and the anarchists

2002.10.18, Toronto
Today was an unusual one; I attended an Anarchist film screening.

movie review - Hard Eight

2002.10.16, Toronto
This is a movie about a handful of lowlifes who congeal into a family of sorts that I recommend whole-heartedly.

some days are a write-off

2002.10.16, Toronto
Bleah.

my X-700 kit

2002.10.15, Vancouver
My hobbyist/enthusiast photography kit. Collections conta

spotty leaf, yellow and white

2002.10.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  macro photo

gorgeous leaves

2002.10.15, Canada
Collections containing this photo.color greenery

central Ontario in autumn

2002.10.15, Canada
Collections containing this photo.greenery color landscap

that's one way to shore up a tree

2002.10.15, Canada
This is a tree in Mt. Pleasant cemetery. I'm not sure why

a tattoo dedicated to a cat

2002.10.15, Toronto
My brother's got himself a new tattoo.

medium format balloon photography

2002.10.15, Toronto
Today as I was coming home from the camera repair shop, I noticed a blimp-style balloon of maybe 4 metres in length and 1.

found someone to repair my camera

2002.10.15, Toronto
After several hours of floating from one locale to another, I've found someone who'll fix my camera.

movie review - Oscar and Lucinda

2002.10.14, Toronto
This review contains spoilers, be warned.

my camera broke

2002.10.14, Toronto
Calamity!

good weather only comes on weekdays

2002.10.13, Toronto
Just typical; today it's sunny and clear, whereas yesterday - when we were driving among all of the Autumn colours on the Oak Ridges Moraine - it was cloudy and raining.

farewell, woolen blanket

2002.10.12, Toronto
After our adventures in the Kawarthas, we dropped by my ex's place so I could pick up a few things that had wound up in her possession after the dissolution of our engagement.

so this driving a Ford F-150

2002.10.12, Buckhorn
Today Charlie, my mum and I rented a car to head up to the Whetung gallery at the Curve Lake IR near Peterborough.

photography in a cemetery

2002.10.11, Toronto
I woke up to a foggy city this morning, and decided to make a dash into the cemetary to get some pics of tombstones lurking in the mist.

farewell, Keisha

2002.10.11, Toronto
Keisha, beloved and ancient cat to Heidi and Ken, was 'put down' yesterday following a long struggle with cancer.

the insider angle

2002.10.10, Toronto
The job search is continuing to be more eventful down here than in Vancouver.

movie review - Spirited Away

2002.10.07, Toronto
This is a Japanese animated movie of outstanding art work and brilliantly original storytelling.

Catherine is leaving for Montreal

2002.10.07, Toronto
Caught up with Charlie and the Catherine formerly known as Cox this evening at The Unicorn on Eglinton.

Charlie and the Chako

2002.10.07, Toronto
I met with Charlie and Chako for 'brunch' today (at a Thai place).

movie review - High Crimes

2002.10.06, Toronto
This is a movie that drifts from legal drama to thriller as it wanders through the story of a lawyer and her husband (an ex-soldier who turns out to be a wanted war criminal).

a puck in a purse

2002.10.06, Toronto
Okay.

cheese cake based on tofu

2002.10.06, Toronto
My mum made a cheese cake based on tofu and rice flour.

meeting Jonathan Culp

2002.10.06, Toronto
I caught up, briefly, with my old (very old) friend Jonathan Culp, today.

movie review - Reign of Fire

2002.10.05, Toronto
I'm going to go out on a limb and imagine that I'll be one of the few people who enjoyed this one as much as I did.

death of a small green bird

2002.10.04, Toronto
This morning, a small green bird hit the window as I was eating my breakfast.

a dud photography show

2002.10.04, Toronto
Charlie and I went to the International Center out by the airport to check out a photography and digital imaging show.

cool window, warm wall

2002.10.03, Canada
Collections containing this photo.color textures walls &

Toronto in autumn

2002.10.03, Canada
God I love black and white. Collections containing this p

the return of sailor yoon

2002.10.02, Toronto
Mister Yoon arrived this morning, and turned up at my mum's place about noon.

movie review - Gosford Park

2002.09.29, Toronto
This is a comedy that combines class warfare, sex, murder, and satire.

Don't be a hater

2002.09.29, Toronto
Rrrrr!

movie review - The Gift

2002.09.28, Toronto
I seem to see this movie fairly regularly; this is at least the third time.

The homecoming

2002.09.25, Toronto
I went to Sean's place today to view a cut of his movie, the Homecoming.

CBC interested in my caffeine addiction

2002.09.25, Toronto
It seems that my pages on caffeine addiction, uneducated though they are, have caught the attention of the CBC.

three new job leads

2002.09.24, Toronto
A strange day, today.

movie review - The Salton Sea

2002.09.22, Toronto
This is a recent Val Kilmer movie about a man living the speed-freak lifestyle in crummy ol' LA.

turkey vultures circling Toronto

2002.09.22, Toronto
I was at the reference library working on a short story today, when I noticed three turkey vultures circling low over some green space just to the north.

movie review - The Imposters

2002.09.20, Toronto
I've seen this period comedy about two destitute actors (Oliver Platt and Stanley Tucci) on the lam on a cruise ship something like three times.

the shark-tagger

2002.09.19, Toronto
Today I met with Sean Karow from my Trimark days for a coffee.

a job lead with a financial firm

2002.09.18, Toronto
Met with an agency today to tackle a lead with the outfit where one of my step-brothers works.

to the reference library!

2002.09.15, Toronto
It was a cloudy, muggy weekend, so I decided to go to the reference library to work on one of my short stories.

catching up with old colleagues

2002.09.13, Toronto
Met with Tamara Atkin from my Medialinx days for coffee this aft.

movie review - M

2002.09.12, Toronto
This is a creepy German movie about a serial murderer of children.

9/11 on the news

2002.09.10, Toronto
Still sick, though improving.

I've got a cold

2002.09.09, Toronto
A sore throat from the day before turned into a full-on cold today.

movie review - Hong Kong Corrupter

2002.09.08, Toronto
I found this bizarre Chow Yun-Fat movie in the local rental outfit's small (and dwindling) foreign section, and rented it because I thought it would be an interesting taste of mid-90's HK action weirdness.

movie review - The Crimson Rivers

2002.09.08, Toronto
This is a French flick about two detectives (Jean Reno, Vincent Cassel) following two separate crimes (a murder at a University in an isolated town in France's mountainous east, and the break-in of a crypt in a cemetary).

drinking team with a softball problem

2002.09.08, Toronto
The Stiffs, Gord's "drinking team with a softball problem" attended the West Queen Street (Illegal) Softball League's final game and subsequent banquet, today.

Aurora Borealis above a music festival

2002.09.07, Thorold
Today I saw something really unexpected.

again with a driver's license

2002.09.04, Toronto
So, I went to the Ministry of Transportation today, to get my Ontario driver's license going.

movie review - Charlotte Gray

2002.09.02, Toronto
This is a film about a Scottish woman (played by the excellent Cate Blanchett) who becomes a spy in Vichy France during WWII.

familiar Toronto

2002.09.02, Toronto
The city is already starting to feel more familiar.

30,000 islands

2002.09.01, Victoria Harbour
My mum and I headed up to Midland for a tour of the 30,000 islands that she'd done at some point this Summer with her friend Jane.

back to the Smoke

2002.08.31, Toronto
Back in T/O.

my life's in storage, again

2002.08.30, Vancouver
So, my stuff's all back in storage.

movie review - Imposter

2002.08.28, Vancouver
First off, I have to say that I saw this one with my brother and his wife.

the Trimark crowd

2002.08.28, Vancouver
I met with my former Trimark colleague Scott Nelson last night at a pub in Yaletown.

seals hyperventilate

2002.08.27, Vancouver
Tonight, I learned something interesting.

ripples on the waves

2002.08.26, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.waterways reflections

hello, Math Gene

2002.08.26, Vancouver
I found my copy of The Math Gene!

movie review - Triple X

2002.08.25, Vancouver
This one gets points primarily for its send-up of most action flicks of its kind.

farewell, home thirteen

2002.08.24, Vancouver
Boxes.

farewell, BC

2002.08.22, Vancouver
Today was the day I changed my address with all of the various outfits and institutions that know it.

so this is Port Moody

2002.08.21, Vancouver
My dad and I met with Renate out in the boonies today (Pt.

movie review - Dick

2002.08.20, Vancouver
I saw this on TV, but I thought I'd comment anyway because I liked it.

farewell, Pemberton

2002.08.20, Vancouver
My dad and I explored one of the valley roads that leads up from Pemberton in the morning, taking advantage of the Autumn-like weather that's already beginning to take hold in the interior to take some interesting pics.

movie review - The Time Machine

2002.08.19, Vancouver
This is an adaptation of the Sci-Fi novel by the same name, by author HG Wells.

visit with dad

2002.08.19, Pemberton, BC
My dad came 'round today for a two-day photo trip.

a interesting day

2002.08.18, Vancouver
This was a good weekend.

rented some kayaks

2002.08.17, Vancouver
Today we went down to the beach, rented some kayaks, and spent two hours bobbing amongst the wind-driven waves, the motor-driven pleasure craft, and the odd bit of stationary architecture like bridges and rocky promintories (I've always wanted to sneak 'rocky promintory' into my writing, some how).

closing a pub with friends

2002.08.16, Vancouver
Charlie arrived this afternoon, and ah hour later Ken's old University buddy John arrived on a business trip.

the squirrely goth

2002.08.15, Vancouver
Once again, I was reminded today of how it's better to take photos and ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission.

live act on the street

2002.08.14, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.  street fest

everyone is leaving Vancouver

2002.08.14, Vancouver
I've arranged for the movers to come at the end of the month, and a 'mini-storage' cube for my stuff.

movie review - Ravenous

2002.08.12, Vancouver
Upon a second viewing, I have to upgrade my rating on this flick.

side show freak

2002.08.10, Vancouver
Ken and I went down to a bit of a car exhibition in Yaletown this morning.

a last minute job lead

2002.08.09, Vancouver
I had a job interview, today.

first great fireworks photo

2002.08.08, Vancouver
There would be better fireworks photos in the years to come

movie review - The Devil's Backbone

2002.08.08, Vancouver
This is a ghost story set in Spain during that country's 1930s civil war.

twenty years of asthma

2002.08.04, Vancouver
It occurs to me that it's been just about exactly 20 years since I was diagnosed with asthma.

east side

2002.08.03, Vancouver
The east side of this town is always interesting.

movie review - Insomnia

2002.08.01, Vancouver
When I emerged from this one, I was certain that I hadn't slept for six days.

four carved matches

2002.08.01, Vancouver
I made a wonderous discovery, today.

movie review - The Haiku Tunnel

2002.07.26, Vancouver
This is a movie about a temp named Josh who's a wannabe novelist and a bit of a fuckup.

fourteen weeks without elevators

2002.07.26, Vancouver
The elevators in my building are working again.

macro barnacle

2002.07.25, British Columbia
Collections containing this photo.  macro photo

macro wood carving

2002.07.25, British Columbia
I carved this boar from a cedar block intended for keeping

water droplets lensing light

2002.07.25, British Columbia
Collections containing this photo.  color  

macro flower photography

2002.07.25, British Columbia
So beautiful... Collections containing this photo. &

armed police in the streets

2002.07.25, Vancouver
Today I encountered something I've never seen before in Canada; two cops hurrying around the corner toward me with weapons in hand.

movie review - Orgazmo

2002.07.23, Vancouver
This is a movie by Trey Parker of South Park notoriety.

macro shots at Butchart gardens

2002.07.23, Vancouver
We left Nanaimo for Victoria, and toured Butchart gardens, which the women wanted to see, but which I think disappointed.

movie review - The Warrior and the Princess

2002.07.22, Vancouver
This is a movie by the same (German) director as Run, Lola, Run.

feed and drink

2002.07.22, Nanaimo, BC
Today we left bright and early for a two-day trip 'round Vancouver island.

wharf ichiban

2002.07.21, Sechelt, BC
Ken, Heidi, mum and I left Vancouver this morning for a day trip up to the Sechelt peninsula.

a visit by my mother

2002.07.20, Vancouver
My mother arrived for a week's visit, this evening.

poor beastie

2002.07.19, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.  the quick a

returning to Toronto

2002.07.17, Vancouver
I've started sending off emails to folks in T/O advising them of my plans to return.

a fellow named Skot (no longer Scott)

2002.07.15, Vancouver
While dropping off a roll of film for development at Custom Colour, I was recognized by Skot Nelson, a former coworker from my days at Trimark in Toronto.

killed a mouse today

2002.07.14, Vancouver
I had to kill a mouse this afternoon on a walk around the sea wall.

zoom the light fantastic

2002.07.12, Vancouver
In my early thirties, I was unemployed and living in Vancou

Arnon is a dad

2002.07.12, Vancouver
I called up Arnon and asked him about his due baby.

half a million page views in three years

2002.07.11, Vancouver
According to the web logs, etherlabs.

movie review - Minority Report

2002.07.10, Vancouver
Well, well, Tom Cruise can act after all.

swimming in water

2002.07.10, Vancouver
I swam in the ocean, today.

reverse-mounting a lens

2002.07.09, Vancouver
Today I made a wondrous discovery; reverse-lens photography.

car full of mysterious girls

2002.07.08, Vancouver
On my walk around the seawall this evening, I spotted a seal a number of times; it seemed to be making about the same time I was.

leaving Vancouver

2002.07.07, Vancouver
It looks like I'm gonna have to leave here.

daylight mugging

2002.07.04, Vancouver
This neighbourhood never ceases to entertain.

Henry Kissinger, how I'm missin ya

2002.07.03, Vancouver
I saw a fleeting reference to Henry Kissinger on a news clip about the international war crimes court that's being set up at the UN.

movie review - Straw Dogs

2002.07.02, Vancouver
I'm writing this review a full two weeks after I watched the flick, because I've been trying to decide what the point of the thing really was.

zoom lens and color film

2002.07.10, Vancouver
I made this shot by zooming during a long exposure. C

hit by a car while walking

2002.07.02, Vancouver
More fun news.

one fine sunset

2002.07.05, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.  twilight &n

drunken dialing for a tow

2002.07.01, Vancouver
Here's a new one.

lightning strikes the sea

2002.07.02, Vancouver
I couldn't believe my timing with this. Despite the copious

farewell, basket case

2002.06.30, Vancouver
So, Brazil has won the cup.

so crows eat robins

2002.06.28, Vancouver
I've learned something about crows, today.

Japan means business

2002.06.27, Vancouver
I applied for a job in Japan, on the advice of my friend Jon who's been living there for a year and a half.

tripod plates are expensive

2002.06.25, Vancouver
So I went 'round to a couple of stores yesterday to try to price a new release plate for my tripod.

allergies wiped out a day

2002.06.23, Vancouver
Bleah what a crap day.

movie review - Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

2002.06.21, Vancouver
This is a story about three Australian drag performers who take their shtick on the road to do a performance in the Outback.

movie review - Drowning Mona

2002.06.21, Vancouver
What a great flick.

voting in the basket state province

2002.06.20, Vancouver
Signing the petition the other day required that I register to vote, something I haven't done in over a decade.

just got paid today

2002.06.19, Vancouver
Got paid today, for the first time in quite some time.

petitions, yes

2002.06.18, Vancouver
I signed a political petition today.

Alberta high country

2002.06.17, Alberta
Alberta high country Collections containing this photo.

movie review - Star Wars Episode II

2002.06.15, Vancouver
Saw this on the digital projector down in Richmond.

propositioned by a male prostitute

2002.06.13, Vancouver
I went for a long wander round the city today because it was so damn warm and sunny.

car vandalism and theft in Vancouver

2002.06.12, Vancouver
It seems that Rogers (cable modem) and Bell (ADSL) are imposing 'bit caps' on their high-speed internet services.

half naked man escapes ticket from lady police officers

2002.06.11, Vancouver
Part of the seawall path around Stanley Park is closed due to some work they're doing on part of the wall.

leaving to find work in Calgary

2002.06.09, Vancouver
I talked briefly with my landlord today about potentially leaving this place in July.

catching up with database technology

2002.06.08, Vancouver
My little photo database project is great for learning some of the recent additions from a developer's point of view.

lines and architecture

2002.06.07, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  moods  

gliding in alberta

2002.06.07, Alberta
My brother and father, taking off in Pincher Creek, Alberta

Alberta songbird

2002.06.07, Alberta
Alberta songbird Collections containing this photo.photos

making a new photo editor

2002.06.07, Vancouver
I've been working on a replacement for my highly manual method of managing my photos on this site.

eight hour migraine, what else is new

2002.06.06, Vancouver
Lousy migraines, robbing me of sunny Spring weather!

weather in the Rockies

2002.06.05, Alberta
There's pretty much always a chance of snow in the Rockies.

did my friends commit the murder

2002.06.05, Vancouver
So I was watching Law and Order tonight (the episode where Dt.

oh boy soccer people

2002.06.04, Vancouver
You can tell the World Cup is on.

Sangria in the park

2002.06.03, Vancouver
Had a great weekend.

the old man and me

2002.05.31, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime

back to Vancouver

2002.05.30, Vancouver
Aaaaaah, back in Vancouver.

leaving Calgary, time for some changes

2002.05.29, Calgary
Time to leave.

computer bits and pieces

2002.05.28, Calgary
Today I went to a retail computer outfit here in town called CompuSmart.

lilac festival

2002.05.26, Calgary
I headed out to see some more of the city today.

can I help you?

2002.05.25, Calgary
So I went for a wander through the city because the weather was decent and there's the possibility that I'll find contract work here in Calgary.

there's a hare in the neighborhood

2002.05.22, Calgary
Tonight I saw the hare that lives in the neighbourhood tentatively nibbling on some green grass at the edge of the sidewalk across the road.

movie review - Alien

2002.05.20, Calgary
This is the third time I've seen this one, and I've noticed something.

movie review - Panic

2002.05.19, Calgary
This is an interesting American flick featuring William H.

movie review - Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones

2002.05.16, Calgary
I went and saw the first showing of the new Star Wars movie last night.

taking off my shoes at the airport

2002.05.12, Calgary
It finally happened.

a day to myself in Seattle

2002.05.11, Seattle
Well, I have the day to myself in Seattle, so I've spent it on the road.

marathon interview and a tackling on the street

2002.05.10, Seattle
Now *that* was an interviewing session.

I'm interviewing with Amazon

2002.05.09, Seattle
So, I'm here for a round of interviews.

Calgary is just tiring and libertarians are morons

2002.05.06, Calgary
So, I went 'into town' to get my roll of b + w film from our trip to SW Alberta, battling the remaining 20 cm of snow in the 'carriageway' and the dimwit drivers (snow, wet conditions?

Great Sand Hills

2002.05.05, Calgary
We spent the day toodling about in the Great Sand Hills again, then got back for about 5 PM.

to the Great Sand Hills

2002.05.04, Leader, Saskatchewan
Today Charlie and I rented a car and headed to rural Saskatchewan to see the Great Sand Hills.

freezing rain in Calgary

2002.05.03, Calgary
Last night it snowed after dumping freezing rain on us for two hours.

can't develop black and white film in Calgary FFS

2002.05.01, Calgary
Today, I tried to have a roll of TMAX 100 B + W film developed at the London Drugs.

a real job interview

2002.04.30, Calgary
Today, I had my first face-to-face job interview in some time.

registered mail awaiting me in Vancouver

2002.04.28, Calgary
My brother, who has been watching my mail for me, says that a registered letter has turned up.

movie review - Harry (with a friend like...)

2002.04.27, Calgary
This is a slightly odd French film about a young man and his family and a killer from his past.

bison steak

2002.04.27, Okotoks
I had bison steak today at a place in Okotoks which, fifteen years ago, had been the Lazy L.

movie review - Spy Game

2002.04.26, Calgary
This is a movie about two CIA agents.

movie review - The Scorpion King

2002.04.26, Calgary
Wow.

to the airport!

2002.04.23, Calgary
Today I took Dad and Renate to the air port.

snow in April, this must be Calgary

2002.04.22, Calgary
Had another phone interview today.

my friend Arnon has done well

2002.04.20, Calgary
Whew.

nose hill is burning

2002.04.14, Calgary
The papers say that the huge pall of smoke that appeared over the city yesterday was half of Nose Hill burning!

nose hill is cold and beautiful in the early morning

2002.04.13, Calgary
I went out this morning at 5 AM with Charlie to Nose Hill to take some pics of the city during sunrise.

redneck Calgary

2002.04.09, Calgary
It took me almost a week, but I had my first redneck experience in Calgary.

can I be downtown by 9 o'clock

2002.04.08, Calgary
I got a call from Charlie this morning asking if I could be downtown by 9.

Blake's journal

2002.04.07, Calgary
A former colleague from my time at i7 (who said, when we gathered on his last day at the firm, to send him off, that he "would not miss the place"), has started a journal of his own.

Kananaskis

2002.04.07, Calgary
Charlie and I went out for a bit of a hike in the kananaskis this afternoon.

sky of grey, and sea of brown

2002.04.05, Calgary
Talk about seasons.

farewell, Vancouver

2002.04.04, Vancouver
So, another season, another move.

movie review - Jaws

2002.04.02, Vancouver
This is a movie about three guys who go out to hunt down a shark that's been terrorizing the waters of their small resort town.

movie review - Blade II

2002.04.01, Vancouver
Blade II feels quite a bit like an unintended sequel, picking up the two central characters in very different positions from where we last saw them.

Calgary, here I come again

2002.04.01, Vancouver
It's arranged; I'm off to Calgary on Thursday.

movie review - The Empire Strikes Back

2002.03.31, Vancouver
I've always thought that this was the best of the original "Star Wars" movies.

movie review - Midnight Lace

2002.03.31, Vancouver
Aside from being an amusing look at the American take on British life in 1960, this movie about a woman being hounded by a maniac suffers from one horrible flaw; it's plot can be entirely deduced by reading the summary on the cassette box.

movie review - Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (Cavedwellers)

2002.03.30, Vancouver
Man, it just doesn't get any worse than the original movie 'Cave dwellers' that gets torn to ribbons in this episode.

movie review - Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (Pod People)

2002.03.30, Vancouver
The Mystery Science Theatre flicks are always so bizarre there's no real placing them amongst the 'normal' movie universe.

movie review - Star Wars

2002.03.30, Vancouver
I picked up this flick for $5 at a video store that was closing down, along with the others in the original series (I declined the offer of 'Episode I').

movie review - High and Low

2002.03.29, Vancouver
This is a film dating to 1963 by Akira Kurosawa.

I need some luck

2002.03.28, Vancouver
The time has come, I think.

movie review - Ice Age

2002.03.23, Vancouver
This is an animated kid's movie set in the ice age.

crazy sunset over the water

2002.03.19, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.twilight the sea s

stark building

2002.03.19, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.architecture

we're susceptible to twins

2002.03.17, Vancouver
I've discovered through a bit of genealogical work I've been doing that my family is susceptible to having twins!

movie review - Sexy Beast

2002.03.16, Vancouver
It was the rave reviews of Ben Kingsley's performance in this one that drew me to see this flick.

contacted by a childhood friend via the Internet

2002.03.15, Vancouver
Today I had a bit of a shock.

a chat does some good

2002.03.14, Vancouver
A conversation last week with Trena at the Grove just around the corner has done wonders for me.

contacted by a former colleague

2002.03.13, Vancouver
A former coworker found me online while conducting a job search.

my first hovercraft!

2002.03.11, Vancouver
Today, while on a walk, I saw my first hovercraft!

jesus these people

2002.03.10, Vancouver
Ken and I took Charlie off to the airport in the morning, and I returned to my struggles with my photo study of vancouver, which has been difficult to organize.

movie review - Musketeer

2002.03.09, Vancouver
This is another version of "The Three Musketeers" by Alexander Dumas.

movie review - The Count of Monte Cristo

2002.03.09, Vancouver
This is an adaptation of the novel by Alexandre Dumas.

celebrating being young

2002.03.09, Vancouver
Still reeling (literally) from the night before, we went to the usual spot for a late brunch, and then went down-town.

unemployed walk

2002.03.08, Vancouver
With Ken and Heidi back off at work (poor buggers), Mr.

show-shoeing is a blast

2002.03.07, Vancouver
Charlie arrived this morning, and we went out for lunch with Heidi when she got off work.

fire in the night

2002.03.06, Vancouver
I was woken at 4:15 or so this morning by a series of bright flashes and loud bangs.

movie review - Evolution

2002.03.05, Vancouver
This is a silly bit of science fiction/comedy about a couple of professors at a community college who discover extra-terrestrial life in a meteorite.

struggling with an old watch

2002.03.05, Vancouver
I decided to resurrect my old watch from the drawer where it had been sitting since I moved here.

movie review - The Thing

2002.03.02, Vancouver
I can't believe it took me 20 years to see this flick.

easy mark

2002.03.02, Vancouver
I met a fellow from Brock for dinner last night.

tainted love for 20 years

2002.03.01, Vancouver
My God.

a cyclist on the seashore at sunset

2002.02.28, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.the sea color

a rock on the sea after sunset

2002.02.28, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.color the sea twilight

shooting velvia at sunset

2002.02.27, Vancouver
Went back to the sea wall during sunset and got some pics.

sneaking around the sea wall

2002.02.26, Vancouver
Went out tonight with my camera and tripod, as I often do just before sunset.

apparently a Canadian team won something

2002.02.25, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.a lifetime

hockey hangover

2002.02.25, Vancouver
Gotta hangover this morning (like much of the rest of the adult population, if this neighbourhood's behaviour last night was anything to go by).

unemployment gets tedious

2002.02.20, Vancouver
Ten months of unemployment, as of today.

wave patterns in the sand in late afternoon

2002.02.19, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.the sea at my feet

a stark apartment building stands in the sky

2002.02.19, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.architecture

a year with an injured shoulder

2002.02.19, Vancouver
I was just having a look at my journal entries from a year ago, and I've discovered that it's been quite nearly a year since the little incident in the bar that damaged my shoulder.

movie review - Curse of the Jade Scorpion

2002.02.18, Vancouver
This is a Woody Allen flick, starring Woody Allen (naturally) opposite Helen Hunt.

whining about the olympics

2002.02.17, Vancouver
Thank God all this nonsense with the figure skating is over with.

crapped on by a bird - again

2002.02.16, Vancouver
Wuh, it happened again - crapped on by a bird.

five job leads dead

2002.02.15, Vancouver
I managed to finally get a-hold of some of the people with whom I've been chasing job leads.

odd sky in Vancouver

2002.02.11, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.skies cityscapes moods

new health card for BC

2002.02.11, Vancouver
They taketh with one hand, and inexplicably giveth with the other.

long exposure to capture the lights

2002.02.10, Vancouver
This technique eliminates the vehicles but catches the ligh

movie review - Amelie

2002.02.09, Vancouver
This is a French flick, from Jean-Pierre Jeunet the director of Delicatessen, City of Lost Children, and Alien Resurrection.

ministry of health refuses my application

2002.02.08, Vancouver
The *&#(*!

hours with the oven on

2002.02.06, Vancouver
Did something supremely dumb today.

the eternal pipe upgrade

2002.02.04, Vancouver
I'm getting pretty tired of this pipe upgrade in my building.

hiking around a dam

2002.02.03, Vancouver
After an admittedly slow start to the day, Charlie, Heidi, and I went for a bit of a hike around the dam that holds most of Vancouver's drinking water.

failing to impress waitresses

2002.02.02, Vancouver
I managed to fail to impress the waitress at my somewhat-regular lunch spot, today.

snow in Vancouver

2002.01.26, Vancouver
We've had quite a dump of snow; the last thing I was expecting from Winter in this city.

the Vancouver job market is dead

2002.01.24, Vancouver
Whew, this job market is dead.

writing on a bicycle race

2002.01.22, Vancouver
Today I've finally published the short story I wrote two weeks ago.

movie review - Requiem for a Dream

2002.01.20, Vancouver
Another amazing movie from the director of 'Pi'.

movie review - Royal Tanenbaums

2002.01.18, Vancouver
This is a flick about a family that comes together after years of failure and heartbreak.

chat apps

2002.01.17, Vancouver
I decided, for the first time in almost a decade, to try out one or two of the chat apps that are out there.

lens shopping with no money

2002.01.16, Vancouver
While getting a roll of negatives developed (for $2.

movie review - Ghost World

2002.01.15, Vancouver
This is a movie about a teenage girl graduating from high school and trying to figure out what to do with her life.

my place is soaked due to a plumber

2002.01.15, Vancouver
The plumber working in my bathroom knocked the hot water pipe off the bottom of my sink, jetting water everywhere.

now I have no shower

2002.01.14, Vancouver
They've completely dismantled my shower, now.

sunny for two days in a row

2002.01.13, Vancouver
It's the oddest thing.

movie review - Made

2002.01.12, Vancouver
This is a Jon Favreau flick.

movie review - But I'm a Cheerleader

2002.01.12, Vancouver
This is a flick about a young woman who is sent away by family and friends to a camp where she'll be "set straight".

farewell, Terry

2002.01.12, Vancouver
They buried my mom's cousin Terry today.

plumbers in my place

2002.01.10, Vancouver
The plumbers needed access to my apartment today.

writing is fun

2002.01.09, Vancouver
Wrote a 15,000 word short story today.

the joys of weeks of plumbing

2002.01.07, Vancouver
They're working on the water pipes in my building.

dark so early

2002.01.06, Vancouver
It's 5:15 and there's still light in the sky.

movie review - Heist

2002.01.05, Vancouver
This is a David Mamet flick, and that shows in the pacing, the dialogue, and the grim, over-real violence.

movie review - Ocean's Eleven

2002.01.05, Vancouver
This flick has a great cast, and what promises to be a complex plot, but it somehow fails to fall into place.

missing binoculars

2002.01.05, Vancouver
When we went into the interior to watch the meteor shower in October, I'm pretty sure I left behind my binoculars, somewhere.

have I never dreamt of a life I could make?

2002.01.03, Vancouver
These last 4 months and change have been interesting, but I've been dogged with the feeling that I may be missing an opportunity in simply looking for more work in the same line of business.

movie review - What's The Worst That Could Happen

2002.01.02, Vancouver
This is an amusing flick with Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito.

movie review - Ghosts of Mars

2002.01.02, Vancouver
This is an amusing attempt at Sci-Fi by John Carpenter starring Natasha Henstridge and Ice Cube.

some new job postings

2002.01.02, Vancouver
And to start off the new year, I've encountered three new job postings that I'm interested in.

some goals for 2002

2002.01.01, Vancouver
Well, 2002 already.

2001

a tough year is over

2001.12.31, Vancouver
Well, the year is coming to a close at last.

movie review - Lord of the Rings

2001.12.29, Vancouver
What other rating could I give this flick?

Lord of the Rings was beautiful but disappointing

2001.12.29, Vancouver
Saw Lord of the Rings last night.

a west end moment

2001.12.28, Vancouver
Well, I had what my brother laughingly called a 'West End moment' last night.

rain means Vancouver

2001.12.27, Vancouver
Back to rainy, cold Vancouver.

Christmas dinner alone

2001.12.25, Manzanillo
Had Christmas dinner alone at the resort today.

Christmas in Mexico doesn't quite feel like Christmas

2001.12.24, Manzanillo
It does *not* feel like Christmas.

Manzanillo is an interesting town

2001.12.23, Manzanillo
Manzanillo is an interesting town.

my teenage cousins

2001.12.20, Manzanillo
My teenage cousins seem to be living in a different world than the one I inhabited at their age.

Leaving Vancouver for a spell

2001.12.17, Vancouver
Off to Toronto tomorrow, then Mexico for a week!

movie review - The Score

2001.12.12, Vancouver
This is a flick about two robbers (played by Robert De Niro and Edward Norten).

imitrix on TV

2001.12.12, Vancouver
I saw the strangest ad on TV the other night.

movie review - Blue Collar

2001.12.11, Vancouver
This is a 25-year-old flick by the writer/director of Taxi Driver.

some sun at last

2001.12.11, Vancouver
This city had a grand total of two full sunny days in November.

banking blues

2001.12.07, Vancouver
The bank that has my line of credit has managed to endear itself to me, already.

saw the day star today

2001.12.06, Vancouver
I went out for a wander today because the day star put in a rare appearance.

movie review - Moulin Rouge

2001.12.04, Vancouver
This is a musical flick by Baz Luhrmann set in Paris in 1900.

so that wedding wouldn't have flown

2001.11.30, Vancouver
I was speaking with a head-hunter this morning when an odd thought occurred to me for the first time, and that was this: even if my ex and I hadn't called off our engagement, the wedding would have been a disaster!

movie review - Pitch Black

2001.11.28, Vancouver
This is a Sci-Fi flick, and quite a good one.

working on my book at the library

2001.11.26, Vancouver
Today I blew the dust off my laptop and got some good work done on my novel down at the library.

milestones

2001.11.23, Vancouver
Another week of 'looking for work' while the news talks about BC's gloomy future.

frosted conifers

2001.11.22, British Columbia
frosted conifers Collections containing this photo.bc -

frosted mountain wetlands

2001.11.22, British Columbia
frosted mountain wetlands Collections containing this p

how we're responding to 9/11

2001.11.21, Vancouver
Saw a telling bit of news last night.

movie review - Monsters Inc

2001.11.20, Vancouver
This is an animated flick from Pixar.

driving in British Columbia

2001.11.18, Osoyoos
What an amazing night.

off to Osoyoos!

2001.11.17, Vancouver
So, the system is all back in order (I think).

failed hard drive

2001.11.13, Vancouver
I had a disastrous HDD failure on Sunday.

alpine wetland

2001.11.12, British Columbia
alpine wetland Collections containing this photo.bc - c

movie review - The One

2001.11.10, Vancouver
This is a Jet Li ultraviolence sci-fi flick.

movie review - Happy Texas

2001.11.08, Vancouver
This is a movie about three escaped convicts and their adventures in the small town of Happy, Texas.

movie review - Caddy Shack

2001.11.07, Vancouver
I finally saw this.

movie review - The Others

2001.11.06, Vancouver
This is a ghost story, set in the English Channel island of Jersey in the post-war era.

sold some silver coins

2001.11.06, Vancouver
Finally got 'round to pricing the coins that Oma left us in May.

movie review - From Hell

2001.11.04, Vancouver
This is a movie about Jack the Ripper.

after three months I learn I have cable TV

2001.11.04, Vancouver
I take back what I said about Enterprise.

dog in a milk crate

2001.11.03, Vancouver
I saw the strangest thing this morning.

am I just a grump or are these digital cameras junk

2001.11.02, Vancouver
I had a look at one of the new Minolta DiMage 7 cameras in the London Drugs today.

blogging about Star Trek (I might be a nerd)

2001.11.01, Vancouver
Finally saw last week's Enterprise (I know, I'm a horrible nerd).

grizzly bear cubs

2001.10.29, Vancouver
We went up Grouse Mountain, just north of Vancouver, and saw some grizzly bear cubs that are in an enclosure up there.

movie review - Rat Race

2001.10.28, Vancouver
Well, I finally did it.

walking out of a movie

2001.10.28, Vancouver
Today was Heidi's birthday.

there's red and then there's red

2001.10.24, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.greenery color streets

bird crisis and a hero

2001.10.23, Vancouver
I was walking along the street today (yes, drifting about

progress on my business

2001.10.23, Vancouver
Got my business cards, today.

the burning seagull

2001.10.21, Vancouver
A bit of excitement around the neighbourhood this morning.

I like macro flower pics

2001.10.20, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.greenery macro photogra

movie review - The Mexican

2001.10.20, Vancouver
The Mexican is a tale about an antique Mexican pistol and the pack of thugs and losers who try to obtain it once it turns up.

an anthrax scare

2001.10.19, Vancouver
On my way to the photo lab for some negatives, I was re-routed today by some fireman who had roped off an area about two blocks from my house.

a rambling lunch companion

2001.10.18, Vancouver
I went and had a $6 stir fry at the local greasy spoon for lunch today, at around 3:30.

out on a ledge to save a bird

2001.10.16, Vancouver
As I was walking down the street today, I came across a bunch of sparrows squabbling in the small space below the over-hanging roof of a low-rise apartment building.

Fran's

2001.10.15, Toronto
Collections containing this photo.  oddities

blurred action for an air vent

2001.10.15, Vancouver
I used a long exposure in low lighting to capture the moti

wild mushrooms

2001.10.15, Vancouver
I love the delicate structures and the delicate light. Co

ghost ship

2001.10.15, Vancouver
Collections containing this photo.vehicles moods

movie review - Along Came a Spider

2001.10.15, Vancouver
This is a Morgan Freeman flick, where he plays a cop specialising in serial killers.

photographing strangers on the street

2001.10.13, Vancouver
Today I took photos of strangers on the street.

tried to apply for a government job

2001.10.11, Vancouver
I tried to apply for a job with the government today.

trekking to tofino

2001.10.06, Tofino
Charlie came down last night so the two of us could take a trip out to Tofino to take some pics.

movie review - Jurassic Park III

2001.10.05, Vancouver
This one wasn't actually too bad.

the RIAA is evil, episode 72

2001.10.02, Vancouver
I've just read a fascinating article on the analysis by the RIAA's lawyers on how the MusicCity.

So, 2001.10.02 is palindrome time!

2001.10.02, Toronto
Hey, 2001.

cashing cheques in foreign currencies....

2001.10.01, Vancouver
Lousy banks!

sister Juliet

2001.09.30, Vancouver
Dad, Ken, Heidi, and I went to my step-sister Juliet's place in Pt.

movie review - Ronin

2001.09.29, Vancouver
This is the second time I've seen this, and aside from a couple of movie making shortcuts I noticed this time around, I still think it's an outstanding movie from the points of plot, cast, setting(s), and pacing.

a visit by dad

2001.09.29, Vancouver
Dad arrived (by bus!

another interview

2001.09.28, Vancouver
Another Friday, another job interview!

welcome, Cameron!

2001.09.27, Vancouver
My good friend Gord and his partner had a baby boy this morning, in Toronto.

open border no more

2001.09.26, Vancouver
The US is tightening security at the Canadian border, and the Canadian gov't announced today that it will be doing the same.

spanish lessons

2001.09.25, Vancouver
Tonight's my first Spanish lesson.

is spiking trees terrorism

2001.09.21, Vancouver
Gee, we're going to war.

a lead in a new city

2001.09.18, Vancouver
I've landed an interview.

with the Autumn comes rain

2001.09.17, Vancouver
Ah, Vancouver rain.

movie review - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

2001.09.16, Vancouver
I'm well pleased that we saw this at the discount cinema for $4.

flabby, getting flabby

2001.09.16, Vancouver
This evening, I realized that my legs and butt were sore, from having gone to the park with Ken and Heidi yesterday to throw a Frisbee around.

nothing but memories

2001.09.15, Vancouver
Today was the day I was supposed to be getting married.

momentum

2001.09.13, Vancouver
I resumed work on my novel, last night.

sleepless after 9/11

2001.09.12, Vancouver
I was shocked to have a restless night, last night.

movie review - The Mummy Returns

2001.09.11, Vancouver
Sequels are never as good as the originals, and this is yet another sequel.

today's news in the US

2001.09.11, Vancouver
What a day.

movie review - Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

2001.09.10, Vancouver
This is Kevin Smith's latest flick.

movie review - Bridget Jones' Diary

2001.09.10, Vancouver
I thought this might be cute, because I like its stars.

fairwell to summer

2001.09.09, Vancouver
Well, summer is over.

movie review - Joe Dirt

2001.09.07, Vancouver
This is about as good as it gets when the predictable hand of Adam Sandler has touched a movie.

return of the machete kite bag!

2001.09.05, Vancouver
Great news!

movie review - Planet of the Apes (the remake)

2001.09.03, Vancouver
I'm not sure what it is about Tim Burton.

avoid the movie AI I am not joking

2001.09.03, Vancouver
Downloaded a couple of movies, using musiccity.

photography prints

2001.09.02, Vancouver
I got my prints from last night's night-time photography experiment.

movie review - AI, Artificial Intelligence

2001.09.01, Vancouver
This is the longest write-up I have ever (or will ever do).

walking in the city with nothing else to do

2001.09.01, Vancouver
At around 1:00 PM I left for a walk.

movie review - Shrek

2001.08.31, Vancouver
I was disppointed by this one.

art on the walls

2001.08.31, Vancouver
Today I finally got some of my pics up on the walls.

what's .info good for huh, absolutely nothing

2001.08.30, Vancouver
I've decided that when it comes to alcohol, I'm like dogs with porcupines.

incorporating a business.

2001.08.29, Vancouver
I've decided on yet another new look for my home page.

standing on the shoreline

2001.08.28, Vancouver
standing on the shoreline This rock reminds me of me; sta

swapping lenses

2001.08.28, Vancouver
I traded in one of my lenses today for another.

meeting a lawyer

2001.08.27, Vancouver
Today, I made my first ever appointment with a lawyer.

high school crush turning tricks

2001.08.20, Vancouver
Recently, I've found myself thinking of a girl I knew in high school.

movie review - Almost Famous

2001.08.18, Vancouver
This is an excellent flick that I'd been wanting to see since I was in Sydney.

movie review - Killer Condom

2001.08.17, Vancouver
This is a low-budget German flick about a hard-boiled, homosexual detective's fight against a carnivorous condom.

gov't conspiring for my dollars

2001.08.17, Vancouver
Yesterday I went to the 'driver's services' thing downtown to try and get a BC driver's license.

alpine meadow flowers

2001.08.16, British Columbia
alpine meadow flowers Collections containing this photo.b

interviewing in Vancouver

2001.08.16, Vancouver
Another day, another interview.

1/8s rapids

2001.08.15, British Columbia
1/8s rapids Collections containing this photo.bc - camp

interviewing, interviewing

2001.08.15, Vancouver
Another interview today.

Vancouver drivers

2001.08.13, Vancouver
If the sudden gaps in my journal are any indication, I'm starting to have a life again!

stone chimney

2001.08.12, Huronia
Many of the stone chimneys in the area around Robin's Point

movie review - Tron

2001.08.12, Vancouver
Yes, it's that early '80s Sci-Fi standard.

movie review - Shadow of the Vampire

2001.08.07, Vancouver
This movie is about the filming of the German horror classic Nosferatu.

met a stranger from my past

2001.08.07, Vancouver
Had my first job interview today.

lucky best systems is born

2001.08.03, Vancouver
Began the process of registering a company in BC, today.

picked up the keys to my new life in Vancouver

2001.08.01, Vancouver
Got my apartment keys today.

leaving for Vancouver at last

2001.07.25, Toronto
Booked my tickets, I'm on my way.

now Kamil's off for Manitoba

2001.07.23, Toronto
Going back to St.

now it's cookware

2001.07.22, Toronto
Bought myself a small set of cookware today, in preparation for moving into my new place.

prospect cemetery

2001.07.21, Toronto
Today, mum and I went over to Prospect cemetery on St.

movie review - Nurse Betty

2001.07.20, Vancouver
This movie surprised me; it was better than I expected by a fair margin.

so that's why she wanted to meet

2001.07.20, Toronto
I met Sara, today.

meeting the ex

2001.07.19, Toronto
Looks like I successfully moved out of my storage room yesterday.

had a nice drive in Ontario before I leave it again

2001.07.18, Toronto
Vacated my storage unit today.

movie review - Felicia's Journey

2001.07.16, Vancouver
This is Atom Egoyan's latest movie.

movie review - Kiss of the Dragon

2001.07.15, Vancouver
I've only seen Li in one or two other (N.

sick from MSG

2001.07.15, Toronto
The Chinese food at 2 AM was definately a mistake.

movie review - Final Fantasy

2001.07.14, Vancouver
This is the first completely computer-animated movies I've seen.

the nose

2001.07.14, Toronto
Today, we went and saw a flick.

meeting people and influencing no-one

2001.07.13, Toronto
Moving Jon was an ordeal.

the return of Jonathan

2001.07.12, Toronto
Jon got into town tonight.

unemployed bum

2001.07.11, Toronto
I realised today that with the time since my last employment now hitting the three month mark, I've only worked nine months of the last 18.

how to play Side Meier's Alpha Centauri for free

2001.07.10, Toronto
I stopped in for a Starbucks coffee on the way back to the apt.

breaking into my own storage unit

2001.07.09, Toronto
Met with a fellow from a moving outfit, today.

word from the ex-fiancee

2001.07.07, Toronto
Got some email from Sara.

cooking knives to turn over a new leaf

2001.07.06, Toronto
And now, the shopping for housewares.

I have a home

2001.07.03, Vancouver
Well, I got the first place.

feet have grown again – at the age of thirty

2001.06.30, Vancouver
Saw another good apartment.

a corner unit in the west end

2001.06.29, Vancouver
Saw an apartment that I really want.

finding a home in a new city

2001.06.28, Vancouver
I saw three apartments today.

Vancouver here I come

2001.06.27, Toronto
Bought my ticket, I'm gonna Vancouver to hunt for an apartment.

movie review - The Big Lebowski

2001.06.24, Vancouver
This is a Cohen brothers flick, which means it finely blends a tight plot, a host of surreal characters, and substantial philosophical meanderings.

moving to Vancouver

2001.06.24, The Cottage
I've made up my mind.

eight pina coladas

2001.06.23, The Cottage
In an effort to relate the problems she'd had last night with heartburn, my grandmother was describing the last time she'd felt the same symptoms; when she'd had 8 pina coladas in one day during a trip to Mexico.

deciding a new course

2001.06.21, The Cottage
I made a little matrix, today, in attempt to plan my next move.

my generation is marrying off

2001.06.19, The Cottage
Yvonne managed to depress me with the news that two of my cousins

movie review - Prophecy III

2001.06.18, Vancouver
This is, of course, the third in the Prophecy series starring Christopher Walken.

a cold in june

2001.06.18, The Cottage
Sick all day.

take that, teflon frying pan

2001.06.17, The Cottage
I managed to destroy my grandmother's teflon frying pan.

a walk through the woods with a backpack of ice

2001.06.16, The Cottage
I tried to find the old road that my grandfather showed Ken and me, years ago, that led from a point across the road behind the cottage back to town.

one month on my own

2001.06.15, Toronto
Rented a car and headed up to the cottage.

sex on the mind

2001.06.14, Toronto
Today I went over to Berkeley St, about a block or two west of Parliament.

goodbye Zoë

2001.06.11, Toronto
What a day.

still wrapping up odds and ends

2001.06.09, Toronto
Today mom and I went down to Jordan Station, to get the furniture I'd wanted.

movie review - The Way of the Gun

2001.06.08, Vancouver
Just before Benicio Del Toro won an oscar for his part in the strange movie Traffic, he co-starred in this gangster flick with Ryan Phillipe.

movie review - Run Lola Run

2001.06.08, Vancouver
This is a surprising flick from Germany.

scanning film at last

2001.06.08, Toronto
This new scanner works very, very well.

getting my things after a break-up

2001.06.07, Toronto
I've got a van arranged, and will be retrieving the furniture from Oma's house on Saturday.

new scanner, no luck

2001.06.06, Toronto
I took the laptop to a Toshiba-recommended outfit downtown today.

a film scanner

2001.06.05, Toronto
Bought myself a negative/slide/print scanner.

adrift in Toronto

2001.06.03, Toronto
We went for a walk, this afternoon.

in the aftermath of a death

2001.06.02, Jordan Station
At the end of the hour long memorial, my dad announced that the four brothers (himself, Horst, Wolf, and Ulli) would be returning to the house to 'sort out the legalities', and that everyone would be welcome to join for pizza and beer at six o'clock.

farewell, Zoë Kupusa

2001.06.02, Jordan Station
Today we had the memorial for Oma.

hummingbirds are hard to shoot

2001.06.01, Toronto
And I thought photographing butterflies was hard. At least

dreary reason to fly

2001.05.31, Vancouver
We've all got our tickets to go to Toronto for the funeral.

I've lost my Oma

2001.05.30, Vancouver
My Oma died this morning.

I'm losing my Oma

2001.05.29, Vancouver
As I was walking to the downtown library this afternoon, I noticed a tiny barber shop called house of Envy on Richards St.

killin' time

2001.05.27, Vancouver
It's good to be back in Canada.

things in Canada

2001.05.26, Vancouver
Woke up with a three-star migraine today.

bad news in the family

2001.05.25, Vancouver
My dad called from Calgary, this morning.

settling into Canada again

2001.05.24, Vancouver
Here are some familiar things I've re-discovered since I've

my camera broke, so I fixed it

2001.05.22, Vancouver
I had a bit of a scare, today.

Wreck beach

2001.05.21, Vancouver
Ken took me to a beach, here in Vancouver, beyond the University, ostensibly to see the variety of eagles that he and Heidi had seen down there on previous occasions.

Ah, Vancouver

2001.05.16, Vancouver
I'd forgotten what Vancouver was like.

heading home, at last

2001.05.15, Honolulu
As promised on the bizarre airline tickets, it's still the 15th of May.

final day with my fiancee

2001.05.13, Sydney
I spent my last full day with Sara, today.

movie review - Kamikazi Taxi

2001.05.11, Vancouver
This is - surprise - a Japanese flick.

leaving here

2001.05.11, Sydney
Didn't do too much, today.

I guess I'm leaving

2001.05.10, Sydney
I paid $30 for my first Zip disk today.

odd weather

2001.05.07, Sydney
Unlike last year's Autumn, this one is shaping up to be a really dark and wet affair.

yup, it's broke

2001.05.06, Sydney
Well, what a day.

kill 'em dingoes!

2001.05.04, Sydney
Hooray, they're killing off the dingoes on Fraser Island.

my novel's second draft

2001.05.03, Sydney
I was having a critical look over my novel today.

I love black and white infra-red film

2001.05.02, Sydney
The infra-red shots came out great!

startled by a stranger's ruined face

2001.05.01, Sydney
Well, that lunatic who paid to get on the international space station is up there.

developing IR film in Sydney

2001.04.30, Sydney
After an interview with an agency (oh yeah, I'm looking for work!

it's over

2001.04.28, Melbourne
Around 3 AM, I awoke to discover that Sara hadn't returned.

trouble is brewing

2001.04.27, Melbourne
Jo and I have crashed at her friend's place, here in Melbourne.

rollerblading is kinda fun

2001.04.26, Melbourne
I tried rollerblading for the first time, today.

our wedding, postponed

2001.04.24, Sydney
Sara has asked that we postpone the wedding.

goodbye bank!

2001.04.21, Sydney
Ah, sweet unemployment!

silly life, this

2001.04.19, Sydney
What a life I lead.

etherlabs.net is alive again

2001.04.18, Sydney
Well, it's been a harrowing three months, but etherlabs.

movie review - Bats

2001.04.14, Vancouver
This is an unbelievably bad movie.

"black friday"

2001.04.13, Christchurch
It's Friday, the 13th.

new etherlabs.net in the works

2001.04.12, Sydney
Well, today I bought the new etherlabs.

playful penguins and a terrifying movie

2001.03.28, Sydney
The Exorcist; what a delightful romp.

dinner in Manly

2001.03.27, Sydney
We took the ferry across to Manly after work to meet Dad and Renate once more.

Susannah apartments remind me of home

2001.03.25, Sydney
We met up with Dad and Renate.

waiting while hungover

2001.03.24, Sydney
Hung around the apartment all day waiting for word from Dad.

good ol' saint Paddy

2001.03.17, Sydney
It's St.

Another goodbye

2001.03.16, Sydney
For the second time, a person who hired me at an Aussie company left.

movie review - Traffic

2001.03.11, Sydney
Saw Traffic last night.

blacked out airport

2001.03.09, Brizzie
Landed in Brisbane during a blackout.

Well, well - I'm 30

2001.03.08, Sydney
I'm 30 years old, now.

LGBT Mardi Gras is a lot of fun

2001.03.03, Sydney
We went to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade again this year.

drinking with Jo

2001.03.02, Sydney
Tonight we were out celebrating Jo's 28th birthday.

what happened last night

2001.02.28, Sydney
Last night was the worst of my life.

ferry mishap

2001.02.27, Sydney
A ferry ran aground in the harbour today.

I got into a bar fight (yes, me)

2001.02.23, Sydney
I got us kicked out of a bar, last night, for getting into a stupid little fight with some assholes.

surfin' and drinkin'

2001.02.17, Sydney
We just had a great day up at the home of Sara's coworker Jo's parents.

the boom has boomed

2001.02.16, Sydney
I've got the feeling that something's in the wind.

difficulties at the office

2001.02.14, Sydney
Today at work I was told that the fellow who'd hired me would be leaving the project (under what sounded like strange circumstances).

woke up laughing

2001.02.09, Sydney
I woke up laughing this morning.

horrible dream

2001.02.08, Sydney
I had a particularly harrowing dream last night.

a year in Sydney

2001.02.07, Sydney
We've been in Sydney a year today.

movie review - All About My Mother

2001.02.02, Sydney
Today, Sara and I went to see "All about my Mother" at the outdoor cinema by Lady Whatsit's Chair, along with Jo and Rob.

screw the bank I work for, screw the bank!

2001.01.24, Sydney
Started my new job today.

movie review - The Cell

2001.01.15, Sydney
This is a surprisingly well-filmed flick with a decent plot, good acting, and an interesting premise.

movie review - Girl Interrupted

2001.01.15, Sydney
This movie surprised my, mildly.

back in the sun

2001.01.11, Sydney
Damn this city.

56 long hours

2001.01.10, Sydney
We're back in Sydney.

movie review - O Brother where art thou?

2001.01.04, Sydney
I was really stunned by how much I liked this movie.

movie review - The Great Escape

2001.01.03, Sydney
Ah, the sixties.

time for a new leaf

2001.01.01, Barrie
Well, the new year began, as so many have, with a touch of a hangover.

2000

movie review - State and Main

2000.12.30, Sydney
Ah, David Mamet, you've done it again.

goodbye, millennium!

2000.12.26, Toronto
Well, this has been a great year, and now it's about over.

the night before Xmas, and the day itself

2000.12.25, Bobcaygeon
Did a lot of driving, today.

movie review - Miss Congeniality

2000.12.22, Sydney
Hmm!

cold day for dumping CD's

2000.12.22, Toronto
Minus 25 with the windchill, today.

broken jade figurine

2000.12.20, Toronto
In an especially gifted moment, I managed to break one of the two little jade figurines from Woodside that I kept after Grandpa's death.

Canada, land of the damned

2000.12.19, Toronto
Read a charming story about a 54-year-old woman in Ottawa.

movie review - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

2000.12.17, Sydney
Amazing.

apartment sales are a bad idea

2000.12.17, Toronto
We had our content sale yesterday.

Toronto is cold tonight

2000.12.15, Toronto
Jesus.

movie review - Proof of Life

2000.12.14, Sydney
This is an overly realistic portrait of life in the wild and woolly corners of the world where hard-working imperialist corporate scum gets kidnapped by equally scummy drug lords and desperados.

back in grundgy Toronto

2000.12.12, Toronto
I'm finding myself spoiled by Sydney's excellent mobile phone service.

Toronto again

2000.12.07, Toronto
Just arrived in Toronto.

is Bush an idiot?

2000.12.06, Sydney
I've been paying mild attention to the whole US election debacle, but what really strikes me is this: I think Bush is an idiot.

bon chance, Sleepy

2000.12.04, Sydney
We finally sent off Sleepy the moose (or reindeer) today.

draft no 2

2000.12.03, Sydney
The second draft of my novel is coming along.

movie review - The Bachelor

2000.12.02, Sydney
It's hard to imagine a light-hearted thing like this being both porrly written and acted, but that's just what you get with the Bachelor The supporting cast are the only ones capable of a performance, it seems, with both of the leads delivering their lines as if reading from a teleprompter.

movie review - Unbreakable

2000.12.02, Sydney
This flick is about an ordinary man (marriage in trouble, one kid, job as a security guard) who survives an extraordinary train crash.

incessant sun

2000.11.30, Sydney
This week has been frighteningly sunny.

goodbye, Blake

2000.11.29, Sydney
We're going for drinks to say goodbye to Blake.

employment matters

2000.11.28, Sydney
Sara's employer has asked her to resume her contract in the new year.

a draft complete

2000.11.27, Sydney
I have completed the first draft of my novel.

how to write a novel

2000.11.26, Sydney
Bought an interesting book on novel writing.

strange marriage proposal

2000.11.25, Apollo Bay
I asked Sara to marry me today.

movie review - Charlie's Angels

2000.11.24, Sydney
With a straight out of the original series, an excellent supporting cast, and many a fine layer of cheese, this is an amusing use of two hours.

a new tattoo

2000.11.24, Sydney
I've just had my third tattoo done.

voted!

2000.11.22, Sydney
Another week, another entry.

movie review - Boys Don't Cry

2000.11.20, Sydney
This is a brutal telling of a true story about a lesbian who finds life livable in the guise of a man.

movie review - Bringing Out The Dead

2000.11.18, Sydney
I liked this movie, but not as much as I wanted to.

movie review - The Whole Nine Yards

2000.11.16, Sydney
I first saw this flick on a plane, and didn't think much of it.

movie review - What Lies Beneath

2000.11.15, Sydney
Three things stand out in this movie; it delivers a reasonably substantial plot, it is actually suspenseful (yes, Hollywood can still do that?

novel progress

2000.11.15, Sydney
Hmm, not many entries of late - days seem to slide by between entries!

rain rain, we'll go away

2000.11.14, Sydney
Rain.

movie review - Snatch

2000.11.10, Sydney
Funny, fast, violent.

voting from Australia

2000.11.10, Sydney
This inverse seasonality is just bizarre.

hippo birdy two ewes

2000.11.08, Sydney
Sara's birthday.

the Sydney groove

2000.11.07, Sydney
It's surprisingly difficult to get back in the Sydney groove.

movie review - The Dish

2000.11.04, Sydney
This flick is about the Aussie and American team that ran the relay dish in rural Australia that had the good fortune to carry the tranmissions from Apollo 11 during the moon landing.

swimming with dolphins is doubly awesome

2000.11.04, Mandurah
Today we had a most amazing adventure.

real whale watching is awesome

2000.11.03, Fremantle
Charlie and I went down to Fremantle today, and went whale watching.

movie review - Shaft

2000.11.02, Sydney
The original Shaft movies were cult faves, but were actually pretty lame.

out in the back of beyond

2000.10.31, Alice Springs
The tour of the outback was really something.

foggy Alice

2000.10.28, Alice Springs
Today we arrived in Alice Springs, after another couple of days on the road heading from Melbourne to Adelaide.

this is Sleepy

2000.10.22, Melbourne
Sleepy, the moose (or Reindeer). I was handed him at the O

Hepbourne and Monroe

2000.10.21, Melbourne
Today, Sara, Charlie, and I started a two-week trip around Australia.

movie review - Saving Grace

2000.10.16, Sydney
This is an English comedy I'd wanted to see.

movie review - Homicide

2000.10.15, Sydney
I have never before included a really good movie I saw on television, but this one has stuck with me for the past two months, so here it is.

Yoon is here!

2000.10.14, Sydney
Charlie arrived today.

four tugs

2000.10.09, Sydney
I'm sure of it now.

second verse, same...

2000.10.08, Pt. Nelson
Like two inept Jacques Cousteaus, we've managed to fail to spot whales on our second go.

whales of New South Wales

2000.10.07, Sydney
Today, we've been in Australia for 8 months!

movie review - The Ninth Gate

2000.10.02, Sydney
Okay.

stunning fireworks

2000.10.01, Sydney
Saw the fireworks come down the river from Homebush Bay to the Harbour Bridge.

amazing event

2000.09.30, Sydney
We went to the athletics finals tonight.

another job.. done

2000.09.29, Sydney
Another six months, another start-up, another job.

Sleepy is going home

2000.09.28, Sydney
I've heard from the mother of the boy who launched Sleepy the wandering moose last year!

hello, Sleepy

2000.09.27, Sydney
Last night after the diving semifinal, we were sauntering out of the Olympics venue when we were approached by a young (Korean) couple, who asked if we were from Canada.

the PM is a dunce

2000.09.26, Sydney
When Kathy Freeman - the Aborginal athlete who lit the torch in the opening ceremonies - won the women's 400m final yesterday, she ran a victory lap with the Australian and Aborginal flags.

movie review - Supernova

2000.09.24, Sydney
I was somehow expecting more from this film.

renting a car

2000.09.24, Sydney
We figured out where we're getting our car for the upcoming trip.

missed the women

2000.09.23, Sydney
It turns out that the twelve helicopters over our office were a trial run for the marathon, when that many helicopters will be gathering to cover the event.

caffeine comfort

2000.09.22, Sydney
I guess my coffee withdrawal experiment is essentially dead.

kookie Aussies

2000.09.21, Sydney
My Aussie coworkers are amazed that the world does not share their official view that Spring starts on Sept.

helicopter noon

2000.09.20, Sydney
There are twelve helicopters hovering around the harbour right now.

movie review - High Fidelity

2000.09.18, Sydney
This movie is about a fellow (Cusack), who runs a music shop with two equally able and elitist staff.

attending

2000.09.18, Sydney
We went to the Olympics yesterday.

helicopter yawn

2000.09.16, Sydney
Okay, the helicopters are getting old quick.

helicopter dawn

2000.09.15, Sydney
For possibly the first time in my life, I was woken by the sound of a sky full of helicopters.

work

2000.09.14, Sydney
olympics.

dress rehearsal

2000.09.13, Sydney
This evening, Sara and I - and 90,000 Australians - went to the dress rehearsal of the Opening Ceremonies.

movie review - Boondock Saints

2000.09.12, Sydney
This is a bizarre little flick about two brothers who take it upon themselves to annihilate the local mafia organisation.

more Werneburgs

2000.09.12, Sydney
Today I got email from a fellow Werneburg, in Germany.

what

2000.09.09, Sydney
This morning, I opened a letter from Energy Australia that arrived last night.

sweet coffee

2000.09.08, Sydney
After six days of coffee freedom, I had a cup today and IT WAS SO F*CKING GOOD.

ticket madness

2000.09.05, Sydney
Tried to pick up those Olympics tickets.

olympic tickets

2000.09.04, Sydney
Sara's got a line on some tickets for the 4x100m & 4x400m relays.

movie review - Ten Things I Hate About You

2000.09.02, Sydney
Incredibly, no less an author than William Shakespeare is given writing credits for this - they think this was Taming of the Shrew!

pricey tix

2000.09.02, Sydney
Bought our tickets to the Games.

movie review - Two Hands

2000.09.01, Sydney
Aside from a dead theme involving the main character's dead brother (who appears as some kind of ghost in a few scenes), this is a pretty straightforward Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels in sunny Australia.

flag wavin' nationalist

2000.09.01, Sydney
Saturdays are great.

movie review - Hollow Man

2000.08.31, Sydney
I'm not sure what happened with this movie - it was like the makers decided half way through that they wanted to switch from a reasonably creepy thriller to a really dumb action flick about a rapist.

another startup goes live

2000.08.31, Sydney
I've survived my third startup launch.

yapping and pissin'

2000.08.30, Sydney
Now I've seen everything.

coffee, sweet coffee

2000.08.28, Sydney
Well, today it all fell apart.

multidaisy

2000.08.27, Sydney
Today we bought each other an anniversary gift.

hump day

2000.08.26, Sydney
The coffee thing went much more easily yesterday.

Yoon to visit

2000.08.25, Sydney
Charlie says he's coming to visit.

withdrawal

2000.08.24, Sydney
This no-coffee thing is about all I can think about.

breakdown

2000.08.23, Sydney
So far, the no coffee experiment has not been fun.

no coffee

2000.08.22, Sydney
Well, methinks I've bitten off more than I can chew, this time.

movie review - Rules of Engagement

2000.08.20, Sydney
We saw this only because we'd decided to wander into one cinema after having walked out of Shanghai Noon.

movie review - Shanghai Noon

2000.08.20, Sydney
Ah, Jackie.

movie review - Chopper

2000.08.19, Sydney
This is an Aussie film about their most famous real-life criminal, a 'stand-over man' name Mark 'Chopper' Read.

eyes going green

2000.08.15, Sydney
I've noticed that this country is changing me.

movie review - Cidar House Rules

2000.08.12, Sydney
Again with Tobey MacGuire.

movie review - The World is Not Enough

2000.08.12, Sydney
Man.

movie review - American Psycho

2000.08.11, Sydney
This movie was based on a book which, admittedly, I simply skimmed as my girlfriend was reading it.

Aussie slang

2000.08.11, Sydney
One of my co-workers told me she liked my sunglasses.

the gym works

2000.08.08, Sydney
We've been going to the gym for about three or four weeks, now, and I'm amazed at the difference.

movie review - Wonder Boys

2000.08.05, Sydney
Wonder Boys is a movie about an author who holds down a tenured position at the University of Pittsburgh, played by Michael Douglas in the first role in which I've enjoyed watching him since the first Romancing the Stone.

movie review - Drop Dead Gorgeous

2000.07.30, Sydney
Amusing, but somewhat too awkward to really fly.

movie review - The Seven Samurai

2000.07.30, Sydney
One of the best movies I've ever seen.

what watching

2000.07.30, Pt. Stephens
Today we went whale watching.

sirens mean stop

2000.07.28, Sydney
I noticed a wonderful difference between Toronto and Sydney, today.

flywheel

2000.07.27, Sydney
I have decided that I have an enemy on this Earth.

so this is winter

2000.07.24, Sydney
It hit 24 degrees C today.

homesick

2000.07.23, Sydney
We caught a bit of the Molson Indy on TV.

movie review - The Patriot

2000.07.20, Sydney
Long and dull, and full of shots of the original American flag waving.

movie review - Deuce Begalow: Male Gigolo

2000.07.19, Sydney
Amongst the worst movies I've ever seen.

home computing

2000.07.18, Sydney
The PC arrived.

computing in paradise

2000.07.16, Sydney
Sara's decided to buy a PC.

ill in paradise

2000.07.14, Sydney
Uch.

movie review - X-Men

2000.07.13, Sydney
This is the movie based on the long-running comic book series by the same name.

joining a gym

2000.07.12, Sydney
Sara and I went in for our interviews with the fellow who runs the gym and does the evaluations.

movie review - My Life as a Dog

2000.07.10, Sydney
This is a flick about a kid growing up in Sweden.

gym membership

2000.07.10, Sydney
We joined a gym.

visitors and yachting

2000.07.09, Sydney
John, Sabrina and Catherine are visiting from Toronto.

movie review - Brown's Requiem

2000.07.07, Sydney
This is a detective story, featuring a washed up drunk and a bunch of demented low-lifes.

movie review - Just a Little Harmless Sex

2000.07.07, Sydney
This is a silly B flick about three female friends and three male friends.

cat prowls harbour

2000.07.02, Sydney
I just watched a military craft pull into the harbour.

hello, GST

2000.07.01, Sydney
Today we had a little taste of home: we got to pay GST for our train tickets and the movie tickets cost $28!

movie review - The Dinner Game

2000.06.30, Sydney
Another French, subtitled movie, about a pack of assholes who run a dinner game, wherein each member invites an 'idiot' to dinner.

movie review - Brokedown Palace

2000.06.30, Sydney
This one was pretty dull, I have to say.

getting chilly

2000.06.30, Sydney
Had to buy another heater today for the apartment.

torch, redux

2000.06.28, Pt. Douglas
We went to the little torch celebration thing in town, and witnessed an awesome display of Aussie 80s-forever spirit.

the torch

2000.06.27, Pt. Douglas
The Olympic torch run is in the neighbourhood.

snorklin, after sunrise

2000.06.24, Pt. Douglas
We snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef today.

movie review - 28 Days

2000.06.20, Sydney
An excellent tale about a recovering drunk.

tuberculousis free

2000.06.14, Sydney
I don't have tuberculousis!

movie review - East is East

2000.06.12, Sydney
Set in a poor English city, this grey tale depicts a Pakistani-English family trying to cope with the generation gap between immigrant parents (or in this case, the father) and first-generation children.

hello, Brizzie

2000.06.12, Brisbane
Brisbane's not bad.

movie review - Isn't She Great?

2000.06.11, Sydney
A flick about the first author to tackle the sleeze and debauchery of Hollywood as a setting for fiction.

rough day

2000.06.08, Sydney
What a sh*tty day.

ben harper is high

2000.06.07, Sydney
We had a great day.

movie review - End of Days

2000.06.05, Sydney
Ho hum.

movie review - Mission Impossible II

2000.06.01, Sydney
Terrible.

movie review - Bowfinger

2000.05.27, Sydney
Well, it's a silly bit of a flick, and not too memorable.

odd dream

2000.05.25, Sydney
I had the damndest dream last night.

movie review - Pitch Black

2000.05.21, Sydney
This is a 'sci-fi' piece that's set in the future, on a distant world.

movie review - The Haunting

2000.05.20, Sydney
Actually pretty terrifying at times, this is about a small cast of people invited to spend the night in a crazy old mansion, supposedly on a study about insomnia.

movie review - The Whole Nine Yards

2000.05.19, Sydney
Set and filmed mostly in Montreal, this is a Hollywood movie about joe average, a dentist with an unpleasant wife and a lot of debt, and the mob hit-man who move in next door.

movie review - The Wog Boy

2000.05.16, Sydney
This is an extremely Australian movie about a 'dole blodger' (that's "welfare bum" to Canadians) of Greek extraction (hence 'WOG': backronym'd to Western Oriental Gentleman) who makes trouble for the government by first crashing into the car transporting the minister responsible for employment, then suing her for damages, and striking back on TV when publicly humiliated.

pacific pesos

2000.05.16, San Francisco
Been flown here by i7 for two days.

movie review - Gladiator

2000.05.14, Sydney
Gladiator is a brilliantly filmed piece about a Roman General who's fighting in the 'Germania' campaigns in the second Century CE.

australia is hot tonight

2000.05.11, Sydney
Geez.

visa questions

2000.05.06, Sydney
My current employer wants me to extend my contract.

missing lorikeets

2000.05.01, Sydney
The rainbow lorikeets have stopped coming in the mornings.

movie review - Erin Brockovich

2000.04.26, Sydney
Julie Roberts plays a plucky single mom with bills to pay who gets nailed in a car crash in an early frame.

movie review - Fight Club

2000.04.22, Sydney
This one was utterly misrepresented in the ads.

movie review - Bullitt

2000.04.20, Sydney
I've always wanted to see this film, which was created in the late 60s.

movie review - You've Got Mail

2000.04.18, Sydney
Having already seen Joe Vs.

movie review - Galaxy Quest

2000.04.17, Sydney
This is a space spoof on the Star (trek|wars) movies, and it's very funny in its own right (if my staunchly non-'Star (trek|wars)'-fan fiancee's reaction was any indication).

movie review - Mickey Blue Eyes

2000.04.15, Sydney
Good dumb humor.

movie review - Final Destination

2000.04.15, Sydney
The only notable thing about this movie was that during our viewing, the fire alarm went off in the mall in which the cinema is located.

lorikeet living

2000.04.13, Sydney
Well, we've been in Sydney for two months and a week, today.

movie review - Wild Target (Cible emouvante)

2000.04.10, Sydney
This is an excellent French film about a professional killer, his apprentice, his client, and his rivals.

all set up in our new home

2000.04.03, Sydney
Collections containing this photo.  color  

threesome: just kiddin...

2000.03.31, Sydney
Sara and I went out with a couple of the guys from work.

no longer homeless

2000.03.27, Sydney
Got the keys to the new apartment.

movie review - Notting Hill

2000.03.15, Sydney
This is a quiet flick about an American movie star and the Englishman she meets while shopping for books in a small district of London.

movie review - Heaven's Burning

2000.03.15, Sydney
This is an Australian flick about a getaway driver who inadvertently winds up in teamed up with a runaway Japanese housewife.

apartment searchin'

2000.03.10, Sydney
We may have found an apartment.

employment

2000.03.01, Sydney
Looks like I've got a job, too.

jobseekin' down under

2000.02.25, Sydney
Sara's got a job.

movie review - Primary Colours

2000.02.15, Sydney
Primary Colours is a supposedly fictional account of a American Presidential candidate who bears an uncanny resemblance to Bill Clinton, both physically, politically, and in his philandering & crookedness.

movie review - Lake Placid

2000.02.15, Sydney
Another in the endless stream of who-will-survive-the-encounter-with-a-deadly-force-of-nature flicks, this one is about a buncha cops, game wardens, scientists and a crocophile who get together to fuck around with a giant crocodile that's living in a small New England lake.

movie review - City On Fire

2000.02.15, Sydney
This movie is yet another of the well built, plot rich HK cop stories starring Chow Yun Fat.

movie review - Celebrity

2000.02.15, Sydney
This is about a bumbling fellow going through a mid-life crisis, and the wife he leaves early in the movie to become a play-write.

movie review - Volcano

2000.02.15, Sydney
Let me summarize this movie by relating a scene from its denouement: a child points out at the ash-covered crowd of firefighters, cops, citizens, and reporters, and says: 'Everyone's the same color'.

movie review - Happiness

2000.02.15, Sydney
This is a bleak affair about a family of three sisters and the various people floating around them.

livin' in Sydney

2000.02.10, Sydney
We've been staying in a hotel, but have found a furnished apartment to stay in.

hello, Sydney!

2000.02.07, Sydney
Arrived in Sydney.

we stayed in Fiji for two weeks

2000.02.03, Fiji
My girlfriend shot this shortly after we'd shaved my Toront

fijian retcon

2000.02.01, Fiji
At this point I'll interrupt the journal with an entry written precisely twenty years later (also 4,001 journal entries later).

goodbye, wintery Toronto

2000.01.24, Toronto
Departing for Fiji and Oz!

me in Fiji

2000.01.20, Fiji
Collections containing this photo.  fiji  

movie review - Analyze This

2000.01.15, Toronto
Sometimes Hollywood "gets the idea for a movie" by taking two or three of its stars and turning them loose in front of the camera.

movie review - American Pie

2000.01.15, Toronto
This is a teen movie.

no pain, baby, no gain

2000.01.12, Toronto
Survived another trip to the dentist.

eat your heart out

2000.01.11, Toronto
I was listening to a NIN song (it's called (Too) Physical, I believe, and for the first time I noticed that he says something like 'Eat your heart out, Stevie' at the beginning.

TD ice sculptures

2000.01.10, Toronto
On the way to work today, I noticed some strangely clear, wonderfully sculpted chunks of ice on top of one of the TD Centre's entrances to the 'PATH' system.

1999

goodbye, '99

1999.12.31, Minden, Ontario
Well, what a year.

movie review - Braveheart

1999.12.28, Toronto
Given that Gibson directed this one, I have to give him a bit of credit because I don't think he's that bright and I think this was his first time.

holing up for y2k

1999.12.17, Toronto
Counting down the days.

movie review - Waking Ned Devine

1999.12.15, Toronto
A pretty little farce about a small village in Ireland, pop.

movie review - Enemy of the State

1999.12.15, Toronto
Silly, but a good flick.

movie review - A Midsummer Night's Dream

1999.12.15, Toronto
This is a brilliant adaptation of Shakespear's play.

movie review - Affliction

1999.12.15, Toronto
This is a brutal, unrelenting tale about a small-town sheriff whose alcoholism, rage, and bitterness drive him to paranoia, dementia, and violence.

SETI at home interview

1999.12.13, Toronto
Strangely enough, I was interviewed by the CBC for my involvement with the SETI@home project today.

sitting Zoë

1999.12.11, Toronto
We babysat Zoë today.

movie review - Being John Malkovich

1999.11.19, Toronto
This is a movie in which a wretched puppeteer discovers a strange gateway that allows you to experience the life of John Malkovich, the actor.

movie review - Facade

1999.11.12, Toronto
Fncking godawful.

movie review - Saving Private Ryan

1999.11.12, Toronto
A war movie that seems real.

ticketmaster nonsense

1999.11.12, Toronto
In the spirit of Remeberance Day, we rented Saving Private Ryan.

movie review - Election

1999.11.11, Toronto
This is a quiet little comedic thing about a number of characters in a small town (Omaha) high school.

Sara's turning 30

1999.11.11, Toronto
Against all odds, Sara managed to get tickets to the Bumcheek Boys.

another 30th

1999.11.10, Toronto
Jon's thirtieth.

shower

1999.11.08, Toronto
Met with Sara, Catherine, John, Charlie, Ken, and Heidi for drinks at Zazu.

dinner at Janine's

1999.11.07, Toronto
We had a nice dinner out at Janine's to mark Sara's thirtieth.

surprise!

1999.11.06, Toronto
The party went well.

movie review - Big Daddy

1999.11.05, Toronto
Crap.

movie review - Sleepy Hollow

1999.11.03, Toronto
Holy Moly.

movie review - The Story of Us

1999.11.03, Toronto
Another good job by both of the leads in this one.

happy birthday, Heidi

1999.10.28, Toronto
Heidi's birthday!

we're off!

1999.10.26, Toronto
Our visas arrived.

a day for car crashes

1999.10.25, Toronto
I witnessed a car crash on Yonge Street today.

movie review - While You Were Sleeping

1999.10.24, Toronto
This is a romantic comedy set up when the female lead saves the brother of the male lead from being crushed by a train.

movie review - Happy Texas

1999.10.22, Toronto
A funny story of two bad robbers who break out of prison and get mistaken for the gay couple visiting the tiny town of Happy, Texas, where they're expected to put on a beauty pageant for girls.

Rosie the banker

1999.10.21, Toronto
The letter of standing wasn't available when I arrived at the Bank.

tiresome bank business

1999.10.20, Toronto
I called the bank fukkas.

of cars and visas

1999.10.18, Toronto
Despite all the setbacks, we sorted out the car business, and Sara's now driving a brand new 2000 New Beetle.

movie review - Go

1999.10.17, Toronto
Amusing but dumb.

movie review - Life

1999.10.15, Toronto
Fncking terrible.

billions and billions

1999.10.12, Toronto
A new announcement in the news, today.

$golden opportunity

1999.10.11, Toronto
I just got off the phone with a head-hunter.

movie review - The Eternal

1999.10.10, Toronto
Goddamn bizarre.

movie review - Cookie's Fortune

1999.10.08, Toronto
This is a somewhat odd movie.

way to go, Royal Bank

1999.10.07, Toronto
The Royal Bank - with whom I've been dealing for nearly twenty years - turned me down for a line of credit.

movie review - Never Been Kissed

1999.10.05, Toronto
Good by comparison with Big Daddy, a movie utterly unrelated other than I saw it on the same night, this one was nothing special.

movie review - Mars Attacks!

1999.10.05, Toronto
This is a sci-fi flick about an invasion by aliens from Mars.

movie review - American Beauty

1999.10.02, Toronto
Rilly rilly good.

scavanging

1999.10.02, St. Catharines
We went to St.

walking during a transit strike

1999.09.29, Toronto
With the TTC on strike, this is what the city looks like.

working man and bubble gum

1999.09.28, Toronto
Walking to work because of a transit strike, I saw a lean older guy with green zippered nylon work jacket, greenish pants, work boots.

movie review - Stigmata

1999.09.17, Toronto
This is a movie with Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne and Jonathan Pryce about an atheist who starts exhibiting stigmata after she's possessed by the spirit of a holy man who stole and translated the Gospel According to Jesus from the Catholic Church (and the Cardinal in charge of such dox, as played by Jonathan Pryce).

movie review - Ed TV

1999.09.12, Toronto
This is a charming but flawed comedic romance by Ron Howard.

movie review - Thomas Crown Affair

1999.09.03, Toronto
My Gods, was this boring.

movie review - The Sixth Sense

1999.08.31, Toronto
This is a very good film, and yes, it starts Bruce Willis.

movie review - Dangerous Liaisons

1999.08.29, Toronto
This was the previous film adaption of the French novel that also spawned the entirely less worthy Cruel Intentions.

movie review - Cruel Intentions

1999.08.28, Toronto
This one was better than I expected, but I expected I'd walk out.

movie review - Analyze This

1999.08.28, Toronto
This isn't De Niro's best.

movie review - Mystery Men

1999.08.22, Toronto
Silly but amusing, this is a sometimes awkward flick that dives into the world of comic book heroes without shame.

movie review - Butcher Boy

1999.08.03, Toronto
This is a miserable tale of a boy who grows up in an unnamed town in Ireland with two parents who fight bitterly, a best friend who abandons him, and a world of adults who hate him.

movie review - Fireworks

1999.07.30, Toronto
This is a Japanese movie about a cop who loses his way during a bad patch.

movie review - The Spanish Prisoner

1999.07.30, Toronto
When you watch some of Martin's earlier works, it's incredible how far he's come.

movie review - Henry Fool

1999.07.26, Toronto
This is a surprising film, as are most of Hal Hartley's other works, with wonderful throwaway dialogue and a cast of rich, real characters.

movie review - The Red Violin

1999.07.26, Toronto
This is a beautiful movie about a violin.

movie review - What Dreams May Come

1999.07.23, Toronto
First let me say that I'm not a Robin Williams fan.

movie review - The End of Violence

1999.07.23, Toronto
Bloody boring.

movie review - Blair Witch Project

1999.07.19, Toronto
This movie scared me, pure and simple.

movie review - Hurly Burly

1999.07.18, Toronto
Hurly Burly is about a Hollywood casting agent, his partner/roomate, and his friends.

movie review - Last Night

1999.07.16, Toronto
I'd wanted to see this one for ages, and wasn't disappointed.

movie review - A Simple Plan

1999.07.16, Toronto
A charmless flick about two small-town brothers (played by the respective Bills) and the loser friend of the older sibling.

movie review - South Park

1999.07.13, Toronto
In a word?

movie review - Very Bad Things

1999.07.10, Toronto
This one isn't for the squeamish.

movie review - Still Crazy

1999.07.09, Toronto
Still Crazy is a movie about a bunch of aging rockers who string together the old band for a twenty-year reunion festival.

movie review - I Went Down

1999.07.05, Toronto
This is a very funny little Irish film about two decent men on a gangster's errand.

movie review - American History X

1999.07.03, Toronto
This movie is ably filmed, alternately in colour film (present) and black-and-white videotape and film (the past).

movie review - Steel Magnolias

1999.06.29, Toronto
Steel Magnolias is a cult movie with a vast following: the majority of the N.

movie review - Good Will Hunting

1999.06.27, Toronto
This was surprisingly good, given the intense hype surrounding the film.

movie review - Another Day in Paradise

1999.06.26, Toronto
This is a gritty American gangster movie about four junkies and their doomed relationships.

movie review - From Dusk Til Dawn

1999.06.25, Toronto
This was Tarantino's sendup of his own genre of gangster flick.

movie review - Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me

1999.06.24, Toronto
I didn't really enjoy this one.

movie review - Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

1999.06.05, Toronto
Not what I was hoping, after a decade and a half (and more build-up and speculation than anything since moon landing).

movie review - Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

1999.05.28, Toronto
This is a gangster movie, in which some brash young lads get taken by the establishment and must now do the bidding of the masters of the underworld.

a ruined church in ireland

1999.05.17, Ireland
Collections containing this photo.  ireland 199

movie review - The Mummy

1999.05.15, Toronto
Ridiculously over-the-top, but pretty amusing.

movie review - Ronin

1999.04.30, Toronto
This is a thriller about a pack of post-Cold War agents-for-hire, assembled into a lose team by someone with an Irish lilt and homicidal employers.

movie review - H20 - Halloween 20 Years Later

1999.04.27, Toronto
Michael finally gets his head hacked off by his little sister, who had turned into a drunken psychotic in the twenty years following Michael's initial bouts of homicidal Halloween hell-raising.

movie review - Wag the Dog

1999.04.26, Toronto
This was one of the best movies I've seen in a while.

movie review - Bullworth

1999.04.22, Toronto
Beatty plays a burnout politician who's exhausted his ability to stay afloat in the sea of hypocrisy, compromise, and bribery that his career has become.

movie review - Lost & Found

1999.04.21, Toronto
Cute.

movie review - Halloween II

1999.04.17, Toronto
This one picks up with a re-reeling of the last two thousand frames of the first film, and carries right on.

movie review - Halloween

1999.04.17, Toronto
So this is the flick that started it all!

movie review - Matrix

1999.04.16, Toronto
Keanu Reaves played someone like himself, I think - he's got that Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise way of churning out the same character over and over.

movie review - Pleasantville

1999.04.08, Toronto
This is a thinly veiled piece about segregated, racist America in the '50s.

movie review - Your Friends + Neighbours

1999.04.02, Toronto
As dreary and disheartening as In the Company of Men, the writer/director's last flick, this film is about a number of dysfunctional and largely unpleasant thirty-something characters, and the relationships that form within their small circle.

movie review - Doom Generation

1999.04.02, Toronto
Very raunchy, including near-continuous nudity and some scenes many viewers will find disturbing, this flick is about three teenage losers on an unintentional killing spree in California.

movie review - Ravenous

1999.03.24, Toronto
I didn't recognize Guy Pierce (the clean-shaven 'hero' of L.

movie review - Suicide Kings

1999.03.21, Toronto
Entertaining but a little disappointing.

movie review - The Negotiator

1999.03.20, Toronto
This was an entertaining movie.

movie review - Slums of Beverly Hills

1999.03.14, Toronto
In a word?

movie review - Rush Hour

1999.03.12, Toronto
This movie stinks.

movie review - Gattica

1999.03.10, Toronto
I have trouble taking Ethan Hawke seriously, which detracted from what was otherwise a nice little sci-fi story.

movie review - Return to Paradise

1999.03.10, Toronto
This was a gritty little number that came and went through the theatres without much ado, but which deserves a look.

movie review - Pulp Fiction

1999.03.10, Toronto
Seeing this again reminded me of just what a slick piece it really was.

a funeral and a realization

1999.03.06, St. Catharines
It was my grandfather's funeral, today.

movie review - The Corrupter

1999.03.03, Toronto
This flick starts out on pretty shaky ground, with a cliched corner-store explosion, a BANG BANG BANG shootout in a lamp shop, and a couple of badly overracted bit parts.

movie review - Office Space

1999.02.28, Toronto
This flick's about three software engineers working for a software firm with a typically vanilla 'tech' name, a typically brain-dead cast of management, and no discernable organization.

movie review - 200 Cigarettes

1999.02.25, Toronto
An amusing series of relationship shorts threaded together as the would-be attendees of a new year's party on the eve of that most momentous year, 1982.

movie review - The Mask of Zorro

1999.02.20, Toronto
Not too good.

movie review - Scream II

1999.02.07, Toronto
The same as Scream, I guess.

movie review - Payback

1999.02.03, Toronto
I suspect that this was intended to be an action/comedy, but the thin humor is almost entirely based around violence.

movie review - Sliding Doors

1999.01.26, Toronto
This one has a great cast but is kind of slow.

movie review - Black Robe

1999.01.25, Toronto
About a jesuit priest making a miserable journey to the mission among the Hurons, all the way from Quebec.

movie review - Playing By Heart

1999.01.23, Toronto
Four or five stand-alone stories make up this slow-paced flick.

movie review - Shakespeare in Love

1999.01.15, Toronto
I enjoyed this.

movie review - Copland

1999.01.14, Toronto
Surprisingly good.

movie review - Godzilla

1999.01.02, Toronto
Crrrrrrap, and I do mean that in a tired-plot and cliché-overkill kinda way.

1998

movie review - Antz

1998.12.28, Toronto
This is an animated movie about an ant who wants to free his colony from the repression of its own social order.

movie review - Star Trek: Insurrection

1998.12.26, Toronto
Ouch.

Ken-my-brother at X'mas

1998.12.25, St. Catharines
It's Christmas!

movie review - A Bug's Life

1998.12.16, Toronto
This is an animated movie about a desperate ant who wants to free his colony from the oppression of a gang of locusts.

movie review - Elizabeth

1998.12.15, Toronto
Pretty.

my former and current colleague Leah

1998.11.29, Toronto
In one of my all-too-frequent job changes I've landed at a place called StarData.

movie review - The Truman Show

1998.11.28, Toronto
This is a comedic movie with a softly dramatic core (like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles) featuring a fellow who gradually becomes aware that his life is a hermetically sealed reality show and that he is essentially property of the show's producers.

movie review - Blade

1998.10.23, Toronto
I wasn't expecting much from this vampire flick but I was happily surprised.

once more with feeling!

1998.10.07, Toronto
OK, I've started again.

Ontario in autumn

1998.10.05, Ontario
Autumn is when Ontario's at its best. Collections contain

the Eaton estate

1998.10.05, Ontario
For some reason, the gang decided to rent a car and go for a wander in the countryside.

movie review - Rushmore

1998.10.02, Toronto
This weird little number is about a love triangle between a private school student, his young teacher, and the wealthy father of some of the other students.

movie review - Rush Hour

1998.09.28, Toronto
Once in a while a crazy match-up in a buddy movie really works, and this is one of them.

movie review - Rounders

1998.09.28, Toronto
This is a movie about a law student who is dragged back into the underground gambling scene when a friend gets out of prison.

paddling in the Haida Gwaii

1998.09.15, Haida Gwaii
paddling in the Haida Gwaii I signed up for a "float and b

movie review - Eat The Rich

1998.09.09, Tokyo
This is a grim comedy about the plight of the poor, down-trodden masses and what happens when they've finally had enough and decide to start grinding up the rich and serving them to each other.

Jan's new tattoo

1998.08.29, St. Catharines

movie review - Armageddon

1998.08.17, Toronto
The dear old Earth is threatened with an extinction-event meteor impact, and only a pack of loser rough necks can help because reasons!

trekking in front of a glacier

1998.08.15, Alberta
It was five years ago that Brandon, Ken, and I trekked alon

movie review - There's Something About Mary

1998.07.17, Toronto
This is a screwball comedy designed to teeter at the edge of being too obnoxious.

movie review - Face-Off

1998.07.12, Toronto
I guess there must have been a contractual obligation at play here because I can't otherwise explain how John Woo got involved in this mess.

MLX softball team

1998.06.29, Toronto
Ah, beer leagues!

movie review - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

1998.06.28, Toronto
This is the insane and loosely-factual telling of a two week period in "our foul year of the Lord 1971" when Hunter S Thompson went to Las Vegas on first one assignment and then another only to live a life of such excess that it would take on the sort of mythical status that they make a movie 25 years later.

heron takes flight - center island

1998.05.29, Toronto
Charlie and I went to center island by canoe, today.

movie review - The Wedding Singer

1998.05.21, Toronto
This movie is about a loser in life who is struggling to get it right.

movie review - Boogie Nights

1998.05.03, Toronto
This was a surprisingly good movie about what appears to have been a catastrophic era for all involved: the 1970s porn industry in California.

movie review - L.A. Confidential

1998.04.17, Toronto
This is a movie about the eternally crooked police department of Los Angeles.

movie review - Dark City

1998.04.04, Toronto
This is a grim sci-fi piece about a man struggling to piece together his own identity and life.

movie review - Fallen

1998.03.29, Toronto
This is a movie about a cop who sends off a killer, when he attends his execution.

27 years old

1998.03.10, Toronto
Happy birthday to me

movie review - Rocky Horror Picture Show

1998.03.07, Torono
Thanks to a friend, I now own a copy of this video.

movie review - Jack Frost

1998.02.21, Toronto
So bad, so deliciously bad!

spent a week in St. Catharines

1998.02.20, St. Catharines
I pulled the plug on my job of all of eight months and went to visit with my grandparents in St.

Marge, dear, I haven't learned a thing

1998.02.20, Toronto
Another year, another false start.

movie review - Devil's Advocate

1998.02.16, Toronto
Only caught the last half of this, but it seemed a little stupid.

movie review - Brassed Off

1998.02.16, Toronto
This little film from England starts off strong.

movie review - Sweet Hereafter

1998.02.10, Toronto
This is a typical Atom Egoyan film.

movie review - Kundun

1998.02.08, Toronto
A well-shot but overly overdone flick by Martin Scorcese.

movie review - Replacement Killers

1998.02.06, Toronto
Awful.

movie review - Eight Heads in a Duffle Bag

1998.02.01, Toronto
Unfortunately amateur film-making.

movie review - As Good As It Gets

1998.01.25, Toronto
This dull, obnoxious, and ridiculous movie had one or two touches, but it was mostly patronizing bullshit.

movie review - My Best Friend's Wedding

1998.01.22, Toronto
I'd listened to my roomates and good friend Jonathan on this one, assured all round that it was quite good.

movie review - Chasing Amy

1998.01.16, Toronto
I think Kevin whatsit (who did Clerks and Mall-rats) wants to be Canadian.

movie review - The Full Monty

1998.01.10, Toronto
This movie has been in the theaters for months by the time I saw it, but the Carleton theater was full - and for good reason.

movie review - Flesh and Bone

1998.01.09, Toronto
This film was good for a Dennis Quaid effort, but it was strangely slow and the dialogue predictable.

movie review - Get Shorty

1998.01.08, Toronto
This flick suffered from "I read the book" syndrome in that I spent some time debating with myself on their choices for actors, etc (overall - good).

movie review - Mulan

1998.01.07, Toronto
This is an animated story about a young lady in China who disguises herself as a man to join the army in her aging father's place.

movie review - Cosi

1998.01.04, Toronto
Named after a play (Cosi Fan tutti), this mildly funny 'romantic comedy' from Autralia by the fellow who made Murial's Wedding.

a new year and a new home

1998.01.01, Toronto
Testing, testing, one, two, three.

1997

I like keeping goldfish

1997.09.29, Toronto
When we moved into this apartment, there was a large aquarium left by the previous tenant.

they were swimming in the Caribbean

1997.08.15, Mexico
We went to Cancun.

the imoney.com launch

1997.08.10, Toronto
After a couple of all-nighters, we launched our employer's new website today.

setting this aside for now

1997.07.30, Toronto
Two things have become clear to me, of late.

movie review - Palookaville

1997.07.26, Toronto
Hilarious late-90s moody bungling-ganster flick, as was Bottle Rocket.

movie review - Devil's Own

1997.07.26, Toronto
Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, hamming it up, trying to be dominant male.

movie review - The Godfather

1997.07.24, Toronto
I suppose this was the original, but it's hard to take as seriously now that so much of what this film did became a staple and from there a cliche.

movie review - Albino Alligator

1997.07.23, Toronto
The "directorial debut" of the fellow from Swimming With Sharks, Seven, and The Usual Suspects.

movie review - Millennium

1997.07.21, Toronto
Absolutely the lamest sci-fi I've seen in some time.

movie review - Nothing To Lose

1997.07.20, Toronto
Buddy movie with two goofs, one black, one white.

movie review - Mission Condor (Armour of God 2)

1997.07.18, Toronto
The best of Jackie Chan's movies.

cementing my place in history

1997.07.15, Toronto
cementing my place in history In honor of the recent succes

movie review - Event Horizon

1997.07.15, Toronto
Terrible.

movie review - Kingpin

1997.07.14, Toronto
Bullshit movie about a circuit of losers who bowl for a living.

movie review - Contact

1997.07.13, Toronto
Absolutely the best sci-fi produced in some time.

movie review - The Crucible

1997.07.10, Toronto
A lovely little film set in the 17th century, when England still ruled Massachusetts, and people got slaughtered for witchcraft.

movie review - Michael

1997.07.08, Toronto
Lousy.

movie review - Set It Off

1997.07.07, Toronto
A gangster movie about four young urban black ladies who decide that bank robbing is the only viable alternative to prostitution, unemployment, or suicide.

movie review - Loaded

1997.07.06, Toronto
This is the best film I have seen in a while.

movie review - Men In Black

1997.07.05, Toronto
Sci-fi from the USA.

movie review - Howard Stern's Private Parts

1997.07.04, Toronto
A very funny account of Howard Stern's life and times.

movie review - The People vs. Larry Flint

1997.07.03, Toronto
Very self-aggrandizing, but what can one expect from a movie made by a pornographer about himself?

time to leave

1997.06.30, Toronto
I've decided to leave my job after nearly two-and-a-half years.

movie review - Apocalypse Now

1997.06.21, Toronto
Old and weird, but still as nightmarish as I suspect it originally was.

movie review - Heavy

1997.06.08, Toronto
This quiet little film features a shy, overweight fellow who falls in love with Liv Taylor (who wouldn't?

movie review - Con Air

1997.06.06, Toronto
Jesus this was terrible.

movie review - Swingers

1997.05.31, Toronto
A movie about a group of would-be Hollywood actors on the prowl for women and careers.

movie review - Escape from L.A.

1997.05.30, Toronto
Supremely bad to a cartoonish level.

movie review - Reality Bites

1997.05.30, Toronto
Reality Bites is a disappointingly uninteresting movie.

Mahone Bay

1997.05.17, Nova Scotia
We stopped on the Trek to Halifax in this tiny town. It was

movie review - Austin Powers Man of Mystery

1997.05.04, Toronto
May is off to a goofy start with this ridiculous flick.

movie review - Star Wars (drinking game edition)

1997.04.29, Toronto
Well, this was the drinking game version of the movie, where you take a shot every time Luke whines, R2's head spins, an old Jedi rambles about the force, someone gets strangled, someone complains about the Millennium Falcon, Han brags about the Falcon, etc.

movie review - Kissed

1997.04.19, Toronto
This is a quintessentially Canadian movie.

movie review - Addicted to Love

1997.04.15, Toronto
Mmmm, Meg Ryan.

movie review - Grosse Point Blank

1997.04.12, Toronto
This is about an offbeat comedy as you'll get from the U.

movie review - Fifth Element

1997.04.10, Toronto
Bruce Willis playing His Role as the unwitting action hero, gun in his hand, hurt scowl on his face.

movie review - Two Days in the Valley

1997.04.08, Toronto
For a formulaic Hollywood flick, this one is an entertaining, slick film.

movie review - Slacker

1997.04.08, Toronto
Well, it was an unseasonably warm night, so we rented two flicks -- for the price of one, even: Living life to the max!

movie review - The Right to Remain Silent

1997.04.07, Toronto
Things are definitely looking up for April!

movie review - The English Patient

1997.04.05, Toronto
This is an excellent movie.

movie review - The Last Boyscout

1997.04.01, Toronto
Well, it can only go uphill for April from here.

movie review - First Wives' Club

1997.03.31, Toronto
Well, this month had its moments, but they were all Star Wars movies.

movie review - Sling Blade

1997.03.23, Toronto
This nasty little flick follows a convicted killer who returns to his home town, and returns to as normal a life as a mentally handicapped (or whatever the hell the appropriate term is this semi-decade) ex-con could hope for.

millennium falcon model

1997.03.17, Toronto
Eraño bought me this 3D puzzle of the Millennium Falcon for my birthday.

movie review - Return of the Jedi

1997.03.17, Toronto
The final - and nicely improved - chapter of the Star Wars trilogy.

movie review - Taxi Blues

1997.03.16, Toronto
This is a depressing Russian film which won raves at the Cannes film festival, but is just to grim and pointless to get into.

movie review - That Thing You Do!

1997.03.14, Toronto
This is Tom Hank's much-reported first directorial attempt, and his first screenplay (to my knowledge).

movie review - Tin Cup

1997.03.14, Toronto
Starring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Cheech Marin, and Don Johnston, which seems to have been the point.

movie review - Rumble in Hong Kong

1997.03.12, Toronto
This is an older Jackie Chan movie from HK.

movie review - Before and After

1997.03.08, Toronto
This is about a kid who gets into a fight with his girlfriend and accidentally kills her.

dead man on the Gardiner

1997.03.10, Toronto
I noticed that the traffic was unusually light on the Gardiner Expressway this morning.

life in Toronto

1997.03.05, Toronto
I've been living in Toronto for two years, as of today.

movie review - The Empire Strikes Back

1997.03.05, Toronto
The second in the Star Wars trilogy, this nicely retouched classic features the trilogy's pivotal scene, where Luke learns that Vader is his father (sorry everyone, if I ruined that for you).

movie review - Eddie

1997.03.01, Toronto
This was a lousy movie.

movie review - Phenomenon

1997.02.20, Toronto
I was astounded.

movie review - She's the One

1997.02.19, Toronto
A quasi-sequel to The Brothers McMullen, this is another relationships movie starring the same crew as the first film, minus the older brother and plus the guy who plays Frasier's dad on TV.

movie review - The Trigger Effect

1997.02.15, Toronto
This one is about an electrical blackout which appears to have effected the entire North American continent.

movie review - Things to Do in Denver when You're Dead

1997.02.14, Toronto
A very typical American '90s gangster movie.

movie review - Leolo

1997.02.14, Toronto
A film from Montreal with that Canadian weirdness-for-the-sake-of-it and depressing French grittiness.

movie review - Chain Reaction

1997.02.07, Toronto
Morgan Freeman, Keanu Reeves star in an action/spy piece about scientists who discover fusion.

movie review - Street Fighter II

1997.02.04, Toronto
I suspect that you have to be a fan of the game to get this film.

movie review - Star Wars: A New Hope

1997.02.02, Toronto
This is a number about a young man who's swept up in big events when he buys a droid with a bad motivator.

movie review - The Michelle Apartments

1997.01.31, Toronto
This kinky little Ontario-filmed and produced film follows the hero (Henry Czerny) through a few days in a small town filled with the type of aren't-we-sleazy characters you expect to find in a Canadian film.

movie review - Wallace & Gromit

1997.01.31, Toronto
Three excellent stop-motion short flicks by Nick Park.

movie review - Vampire Hunter 'D'

1997.01.26, Toronto
I found this a third-rate anime with uninspired animation and story.

movie review - Restoration

1997.01.25, Toronto
This was a pretty film, but a little long.

movie review - Eat Drink Man Woman

1997.01.25, Toronto
This is a flick from Taiwan about a small family - a man and his three daughters.

movie review - Georgia

1997.01.24, Toronto
This is a flick about two sisters who are singers.

movie review - Fierce Creatures

1997.01.24, Toronto
The quasi-sequel to A Fish Called Wanda.

movie review - Pulp Fiction

1997.01.21, Toronto
Samuel Jackson leads in this recent "instant classic" by Tarantino.

movie review - A Time To Kill

1997.01.20, Toronto
You know how some movies are made around the leading cast, and they tack on a story of some kind and then half-ass it?

movie review - Toy Story

1997.01.16, Toronto
This is a story about a room full of toys.

movie review - Jerry McGuire

1997.01.14, Toronto
The crowd went and saw this one.

movie review - Fled

1997.01.13, Toronto
Minutes into this one, we were savaging it.

movie review - Ghost in the Shell

1997.01.12, Toronto
A manga brought to film, this one is amazingly well animated, though the story is strange.

movie review - My Father is a Hero

1997.01.11, Toronto
A B kung-fu flick about an HK cop who loses his wife and rescues his son while bringing a host of baddies to brutal justice.

movie review - First Strike

1997.01.11, Toronto
"Jackie Chan's First Strike" is the best in several outings.

movie review - Ninja Scroll

1997.01.10, Toronto
This is animated piece set in historical Japan during the Shogunate.

movie review - Scream

1997.01.01, Toronto
This is a slasher pic, a spoof.

hummingbird

, Huronia
I'll have you know I shot this with a manual focus lens and

rand()m quote

People learn how to treat you by observing how you treat yourself and others. Be sure to provide positive demonstrations.

—Unknown