The
Squamidian Report – Dec. 18 / 10
Issue #447
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
I know it’s been around for a while but we have now been introduced to something called ‘Skype’. Ryan loaded it onto one of our computers so we can communicate easier when he is away. In fact, he called from Lebanon in the Middle East the other morning but ironically we weren’t at the computer, we were out for a walk in the bush so he ended up calling the cell phone, which works just fine as well. Anyway, there is now a little camera sitting on top of the monitor so someone on the ‘other end’ can see us if we should deem that acceptable. It’s going to take a bit to get up to speed using the computer for talking because we never got into the social networking stuff at all. Kind of funny though, for many years I was very computer savvy, I could build them, fix them, do pretty well anything with them that they were meant to do… back then. Now instead of being mostly for creating documents and web pages and crunching numbers, they are for keeping track of everyone you know. That just never appealed to me, perhaps because I can count everyone I know on my fingers and toes although I doubt anyone would actually want to be included on my ‘toe’ list.
We’ve now had some Skype conversations over the computer with Ryan from various places, such as Beirut where there are armed guards on every corner and where tourists are restricted as to where and what they can take pictures of. The thing he is finding most interesting is the total traffic kayos and confusion on the streets. Traffic is the main source of danger over there. In fact, his taxi ride to the airport for his flight to the next destination included 3 fender-benders, none of which the taxi driver seemed to even notice.
Supposedly we should be able to find people we know who also use Skype and then somehow put them on our contact list and have them put us on theirs. Then when one of us sees the other on-line we would instigate a verbal or video conversation. At least that’s the theory. I don’t even know if we know anyone else who ‘Skypes’ (if that’s even a word). I guess the first step should be to read the instructions in the on-line Help section.
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Had a funny thing happen the other day, at least it struck me as funny and made me think of those taxi drivers in Beirut. We took a run into the city to tend to some things that needed tending to. Normally we would go in the car unless it was bike season in which case we would obviously go on the bike. This time however, we took my little pickup truck. She’s been used very little over the last several months and has been feeling rather neglected lately and a run up the highway would do her some good. When it came time to head home I used the Capilano Road entrance onto the Upper Levels Highway. This is not a nice highway entrance because there is no merge lane, just a very short yield lane and therefore vehicles must come to a stop and then wait for a break in the heavy traffic at which point you go like hell to get up to speed.
I had stopped and waited for the break in traffic. When it came I began to pull away but had to stop again as some jerk in the highway’s left lane decided to pull into the right hand lane. So I waited for the next break. When it came I started to pull away but the impatient vehicle behind me pulled away as well but much faster than I did and ran right into my back bumper. Now I knew from the jolt that there would probably be no damage to my tuck so I was not too concerned and because we were now out in the traffic there was no where to immediately pull over. I had a view of the vehicle that rear-ended us, it was a fancy BMW. I pulled off at the first opportunity but the BMW just kept on going.
The joke is on him (or her). They may have figured they had gotten away with hitting another vehicle and they did, but they hit the high back bumper of a tuck with the front end of an expensive car. If there is even only a small dent it will be expensive for them to have fixed. So we had a good chuckle and headed on home.
Of course there would not have been any consequences from hitting another vehicle anyway, even if they had pulled over. This is BC and in BC there is no deterrent for bad drivers for several reasons. Firstly, the cops just don’t care and will not even respond to a traffic situation unless it is very serious. In fact, they get quite ticked off at some poor shook that makes the mistake of calling them when they don’t want to be called. If there would be paper work involved, forget it, because they just don’t want to know about it. Secondly, because BC has state run insurance, there is no incentive to decide on who is at fault, they just don’t care. It would be paperwork and a hassle for the insurance agent (can you say bureaucrat) and that just puts them into a bad mood. We found all about this a few years ago when a Greyhound bus cut a corner and ran over the front end of Ryan’s car… nobody cared. Anyway, we weren’t damaged and we did have the satisfaction of knowing that the ‘at fault’ vehicle would have some damage and that it would be expensive to fix. Like I said, we had a good chuckle and headed on home.
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Remember that lunar eclipse coming up this week? Well, this is the first time in 456 years that a lunar eclipse will coincide with the winter solstice. Just one of those interesting little pieces of information worth passing along.
And oh yeh, don’t forget to write that Christmas message you’ve been planning to write and get it Emailed to me by Thursday so I can get it included in next week’s Squamidian. It will only take you a few minutes but it will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment and all happy and warm and Christmassy.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello everyone!
Gee whiz it’s been cold around here this week!
I guess that’s what to expect when it’s winter! I’m happy to say the TORO is
working well and giving me good mileage too! LOL!
We’ve been very busy lately and it’s not going
to slow up until after the New Year I don’t think! Since early July we’ve been
working on redecorating and making changes to Adam’s new house. He took
possession on June 25th and we’ve been installing new flooring,
painting walls ceilings and trim. He’s had a few other items that needed
attention and after 5 months we’re pretty much finished. Of course when you buy
a previously lived in home there is always cleaning and other changes of the
interior that the new owner wants to do. Fortunately Adam has been able to
remain living with us while working on his new home. With nothing in the form
of furniture and other belongings in the way it made all the work on the house
much easier to complete. After starting out with a few ideas of what needed
updating the house has been pretty much gutted and rebuilt, inside at least. The
exterior is in great shape and there’s virtually nothing left to be done to
make the house a home. This coming week Adam will be able to move in to his
first house and enjoy home ownership without worrying about all that work that’s
already finished! He’s going to be happy there I’m sure but no doubt there will
still be changes he’ll make when the snow is gone next spring. I do know that
he still wants to rip out the asphalt driveway and pour a concrete one in its
place so that’ll be a spring project for sure. Anyway, it’s been fun helping
him with the changes in his new house and it’ll be fun watching him enjoy home
ownership. With this change in his life and ours of course too, we should have
lots of gift ideas for his birthdays and other special occasions for many years
to come. We’re looking forward to this as much as he is and of course wish him
many years of happiness in his new home. We will miss having him live with us
but he’ll only be 10 minutes away!
That’s it for this week!
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to
talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion
Report!
Bye for now..> GREG.
PS: Something to Think About>
Santa Claus has the
right idea. Visit people only once a year.
- Victor Borge
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Have a good one..
the doug
The Fine Print!
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