We will soon be cyborgs…

Bionic glasses, developed by researchers at Oxford University, are imbedded with video cameras, position detectors, depth sensors, and facial recognition and tracking software. The glasses are capable of enhancing the vision of people who have little or almost no sight. The camera images are displayed on the lenses. I assume the lenses themselves are transparent, so that others can still see the wearer’s eyes, which opens up a plethora of applications (e.g.: imagine watching a movie while stuck in a boring meeting…).

Apparently, bionic contact lenses are also in development.

Photo from: Oxford University

 

Final Space Shuttle Launch

Today, at 11:29 ET, Atlantis lifted off, thereby marking the historic final launch of the space shuttle program.

After this mission it will be at least three years before US. Astronauts voyage into space aboard a U.S.-built spaceship.

Assuming the mission follows the current schedule, Atlantis will land back on Earth on July 20, which is the 42^nd anniversary of the Apollo moon landing (are NASA schedulers fans of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?).

 

Photo credit: NASA

 

The World’s Best Hotel Bar 2011

Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award finalists were announced earlier this month, and a Victoria Bar is up for the World’s Best Hotel Bar.

The criteria (from the tales of the Cocktail website):

“The classic ‘American Bar’ played an important role in the history and development of cocktail culture. The judges are looking for hotel bars, which uphold this tradition (but are not necessarily old) and offer five-star service and consistently well made drinks.”

The four finalists in the competition are:

• Artesian at the Langham, London, England
• Clive’s Classic Lounge at Chateau Victoria Hotel, British Columbia, Canada
• Clyde Common at the Ace Hotel, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.
• The Savoy, London, England

The event will be celebrated July 20 – 24, 2011, in New Orleans, and apparently “…involves an incredible amount of information and imbibition….” The Awards Ceremony will be held on July 23, 2011, at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre.

I’m rooting for Clive’s, with a secondary choice of Clyde Common; both bars — I’m quite sure — have a much smaller budget for renovations than the two in London, and I like to see the little guy win.

 

Postal Workers Legislated ‘back to work’

The Conservative government’s legislation was not just about getting the Postal Worker’s back to delivering the mail: it was a majority government flexing its muscles. If Canada Post had lifted their employee lock-out, mail service would have continued.

As a bit of a preamble, the key sticking points for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) were sick leave, and Canada Post’s proposed lower wages and benefits for new hires. The workers went on rotating strikes, which did not disrupt mail in a meaningful way. Then Canada Post — a federal government institution — locked out their employees, which put an end to mail delivery.

Now, the Conservatives have legislated the postal workers back to work (they cannot strike, or be locked-out by Canada Post). Unfortunately, the government took further actions that I find disturbing (and I won’t even dwell on the fact that the whole thing reeks of conspiracy theory: a government institution benefiting from a right-wing, majority government decision). The government has intruded into the bargaining process and is riding the slippery slope of bargaining in bad faith. In particular, the legislation includes two points that are extremely unusual and display a complete lack of respect for the bargaining process:

• The pay raise the workers will receive has been legislated, and the raise is less than what was offered by Canada Post during negotiations; Mr. Harper has attempted to justify this, but it is not his place to make these decisions. This should have been decided by an Arbitrator.
• There will be no true ‘collective’ agreement. The government has stipulated that the Arbitrator will pick either the union’s package or the agreement proposed by Canada Post. This terminates any semblance of bargaining and will cause lingering bitterness between workers and management. This is not an Arbitration; this is a win/lose scenario, a step backward in the evolution of bargaining.

There are serious problems and power-struggles with any union-management bargaining process, but this legislation is not meant to solve problems; rather, it is a shot across the bow of every union in the country. Some people undoubtedly think this is a good thing, but I firmly believe that both sides in difficult negotiations are at fault; unfortunately, the government stepped in and weakened one side only: not a fair fight. And a blatant abuse of power.

Mr. Harper’s government has acted in a disrespectful, provocative, and arrogant manner.

Is this the beginning of the end for organized labor (a sad day for the working person), or is it the beginning of a battle?

 

The Vancouver Riot: final words (I think)

A Vancouver Policeman came out of the coffee shop to a surprise this morning. When he first saw his police car, his first thought was a wish that he wasn’t experiencing more vandalism. But when he drew near, he realized that his car was covered with thank you post-it notes from the citizens of Vancouver.

Photo credit: Nick Procaylo, PNG

 

Vancouver Riot 2011

First of all, congratulations to the Boston Bruins: you were the superior team in the series, and full-value as Stanley Cup Champion.

Now, on to the post-game riot…

Obviously, there was a certain element in the one hundred thousand assembled people who came prepared to wreak havoc, whether the Canucks won or lost. There were also enough men of a certain age to increase the testosterone level, violence, and vandalism. Further, there were more than enough ‘spectators’ to incite the rioters. Finally, there was a plethora of ‘amateur photographers’ who revelled in the burgeoning disaster. It is abundantly clear that the populace of the greater Vancouver metropolitan area — especially the residents of a certain age (including the many young women, who were busy looting and cheering with gleeful criminality) — is still too immature to assemble in great numbers for emotional events. This was not about a hockey game, this was anarchy.

But we shouldn’t lose sight of the positive messages that emanated from the disaster: I’ve heard countless stories of people aiding others during the riot, protecting property (hindering vandalism and looting), and  hundreds of Vancouverites  arrived on the streets to volunteer to help crews clean up the mess that the spoiled brats of our society created. My hat is off to these people — the quiet heroes of our city — whose stories are buried beneath the detritus of media coverage.

photo credit: abcnews.go.com

 

Stanley Cup Finals: Game 5

It’s been a while since I felt the need to post about the Stanley Cup finals.

I’ve stayed positive, but I refuse to post when the Canucks lose.

Finally, tonight, Vancouver won another game: Maxim Lapierre scored the only goal and the game winner (assists to Kevin Bieksa and Raffi Torres) to put the Canucks into a three games to two lead in the series.

That was a good game (the past two were too much of a hack-fest): great sports on TV!

The Boston Bruins have played an excellent series so far: each team has won all their home games.

One more win and the Canucks will bring the Cup home.

Go Canucks Go!!!

 

it arrived from outer space…

The basic building-blocks of life have been identified on a meteor that landed on a frozen lake in northern B.C. (Tagish Lake). The methodology for the recovery of the meteor prevented contamination and it is considered to be the most pristine sample ever obtained.

A thorough investigation by a research team has confirmed that the meteor was home to organic compounds; and, in particular, amino acids and monocarboxylic acids that would have been necessary for the evolution of the first life forms on Earth.

Furthermore, because the meteor was frozen, the ice on the meteor may provide the first uncontaminated sample of extraterrestrial water.

photo credit: calgary.rasc.ca

 

The first spark of summer

This is the first warm weekend in Metro-Vancouver; the year after the Olympics and there’s still  snow-pack on the local mountains (timing is everything).

Finally, after a long, cool beginning to spring (which felt like a continuation of winter), I can look back at winter like ancient history…

 

Canucks 3 – Bruins 2: (OT)

The Canucks keep finding a way to win. they’re ahead 2 games to none in the Stanley Cup Finals!!!

Alexandre Burrows scored a HUGE goal 11 seconds into the first overtime period for the win (excellent neutral zone assists to Daniel Sedin and Alexander Edler).

I watched most of it in the middle of  Surrey Central City Shopping Centre’s plaza (where they were displaying a live CBC telecast on a very large screen): the atmosphere was electric; each time the overtime goal was replayed there was the same quietness, followed by a burst of celebration: as if it was the first time the crowd had witnessed it.

I think the entire Metro-Vancouver area (and maybe all of B.C.) is focused on the Canucks; people who never watch hockey are paying attention, and there is a palpable energy everywhere.

Go Canucks Go!!!

   Image: theprovince.com