Was playing video on my newly updated wall of lcds. The 12 bottom ones are Dell U2413.
This was media player stretched over 12 displays in 4x3 and running a 4k video. WOOT!
Thursday, October 02, 2014
Yay Dentist
This morning I'm trying to make it into work by 8am, so I can leave at 9am to go to the dentist. I hope it doesn't rain, don't like driving in the rain. Could be worse, I hate driving in the rain in the dark more!
Also don't know how the roads will be and how much construction will be on my way. Going to the dentist for teeth cleanings is a necessary evil, and considering how much money my mom put into my mouth, I feel guilty if I don't take care of my teeth.
Also don't know how the roads will be and how much construction will be on my way. Going to the dentist for teeth cleanings is a necessary evil, and considering how much money my mom put into my mouth, I feel guilty if I don't take care of my teeth.
Wednesday, October 01, 2014
Some things change way too slowly.
I've blogged before about the inhumane treatment of workers from Asia in Dubai and the UAE. Where people are treated like slaves. Well the practice isn't limited to UAE, Saudi Arabia is just as bad if not worse.
Read the story of this Ethiopian maid. She is just one of many abused in KSA. This should come as no surprise to many, this country doesn't even allow WOMEN to drive, so the fact they treat foreign workers like slaves is not particularly surprising, though quite disappointing in 2014.
Those who would argue that it's the fault of Islam would be wrong. Sadly in KSA, tribal rules apply more then Islam, even though they shroud everything under the guise of Islam . I mean they are the only country in the world where women cannot drive and there are over 1.5 billion Muslims on this earth, of which there are less then 30 million Saudi's. Just sayin.....
Read the story of this Ethiopian maid. She is just one of many abused in KSA. This should come as no surprise to many, this country doesn't even allow WOMEN to drive, so the fact they treat foreign workers like slaves is not particularly surprising, though quite disappointing in 2014.
Those who would argue that it's the fault of Islam would be wrong. Sadly in KSA, tribal rules apply more then Islam, even though they shroud everything under the guise of Islam . I mean they are the only country in the world where women cannot drive and there are over 1.5 billion Muslims on this earth, of which there are less then 30 million Saudi's. Just sayin.....
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The UAE's first female fighter Pilot
Happy to see that the UAE is slowly opening doors to women in non traditional jobs, here is one article about the UAE's first female fighter pilot, Maj. Mariam al-Mansouri
Snailing away
When I took out the corning ware container to make Shepherds pie, I found a tiny snail that was attached to the edge. I noticed it just before putting warm ground moose in the corning.
What baffles me is that the corning ware is in the cupboard. It's been in there since the last time I made Shepherds pie about 2 months ago.
Where did the snail come from, and as a FB friend pointed out, and it moved too slow to even attract the attention of the cats....
Things that make you go HMMM!!!!
Monday, September 29, 2014
More photos from canoeing this week-end
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| Looking towards Rosemere from l'ile aux Juifs |
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| Standing at the lookout on Ile aux Juifs |
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| Very pretty the Ivy with red leaves |
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| Every year there are more geese at this house |
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| Woman feeding the geese |
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| Duck wandering away |
It's 3 in the AM
It's a beautiful night, I can hear the crickets chirp through the open windows. It's not even cold, for a September night. Would be a great night to be camping next to a lake.
But I digress, it's a night I should be sleeping, but am awake because I fell asleep around 10:30 last night. I was tired, I was in pain. I'm still tired and my belly still aches, but I'm awake. Stomach has been off since last Thursday. First I thought it was the heat. But it's going into 5 days, so it's not something I ate. Other then the store bought hummus I had Saturday, everything else I made from scratch from fresh food. Must be viral or alternatively, stress. I was pretty testy at work on Thursday and Friday. I'm too old to work 45 + hour weeks.
Either way most often then not when my stomach aches, I tend to eat a lot of Franks hot sauce. Something about hot peppers settles my stomach. That and strawberry extract.
It's 3:30AM and my kitten is fast asleep at my feet. I want to go back to sleep. I wish I had someone to read to me "Go the fuck to sleep" Maybe, just maybe it would lull me back to sleep.
But I digress, it's a night I should be sleeping, but am awake because I fell asleep around 10:30 last night. I was tired, I was in pain. I'm still tired and my belly still aches, but I'm awake. Stomach has been off since last Thursday. First I thought it was the heat. But it's going into 5 days, so it's not something I ate. Other then the store bought hummus I had Saturday, everything else I made from scratch from fresh food. Must be viral or alternatively, stress. I was pretty testy at work on Thursday and Friday. I'm too old to work 45 + hour weeks.
Either way most often then not when my stomach aches, I tend to eat a lot of Franks hot sauce. Something about hot peppers settles my stomach. That and strawberry extract.
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It's 3:30AM and my kitten is fast asleep at my feet. I want to go back to sleep. I wish I had someone to read to me "Go the fuck to sleep" Maybe, just maybe it would lull me back to sleep.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
It's dead Jim, and stinky too
Sadly it's time to say goodbye to my George Foreman, Mean Lean frying machine. The fries I had for dinner last night are sadly the last fries anyone will have in it.
Sucks when half the unit melts, and it smokes up the kitchen with some foul smelling odour. My friend says hers died exactly like that too, and hers barely lasted 1 year.
I can't complain too much. I got it in either 2009 or 2010 and was used a lot. But the disappointing part is the product no longer exists, so now I have to shop to find myself a new deep fryer.
Sucks when half the unit melts, and it smokes up the kitchen with some foul smelling odour. My friend says hers died exactly like that too, and hers barely lasted 1 year.
I can't complain too much. I got it in either 2009 or 2010 and was used a lot. But the disappointing part is the product no longer exists, so now I have to shop to find myself a new deep fryer.
Canoeing on La riviere des Mille Iles - with lots of photos
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| This couple in rowboat, the guy was sitting wrong and couldn't figure out paddling! |
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| Fall colours with water lilies |
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| On L'ile aux juifs |
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| Fall colours |
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| Fall colours |
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| The tunnel from a distance |
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| Love this weeping willow |
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| This is the Radisson, the American version of the Sportspal canoe |
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| At the lookout on Ile aux juifs |
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| At the lookout on Ile aux juifs |
Saturday, September 27, 2014
I met someone last night.
I had a hot beverage with someone I met on POF last week at Timmies last night. When I arrived he was on his iphone. By the time we parted company an hour later he could not find his iphone. Which is pretty sucky. I'm thinking it was when this girl asked if she could move the chair. Someone else must have grabbed the phone while we focused on the girl.
I'm hoping that wasn't the case, but he looked several times and didn't find the phone. Unless he found it after I left, he went back in to look some more. I'd be pretty upset if I lost my android.
As for the meeting I think it went well. No surprises and conversation flowed and we're meeting up again on Sunday.
I'm hoping that wasn't the case, but he looked several times and didn't find the phone. Unless he found it after I left, he went back in to look some more. I'd be pretty upset if I lost my android.
As for the meeting I think it went well. No surprises and conversation flowed and we're meeting up again on Sunday.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Long week before release.
Most who read this blog know I was shipped to Toronto Monday July 21st and came back on the Thursday. I was sent to Toronto because the company I work for is producing a product based on an AMD chip.
In some ways it was a thrill, because ATI technologies, has been my favourite graphics vendor for over 20 years. It was too bad that it wasn't before the merger with AMD. I suspect the company mentality was different before being bought by AMD
The products I've been working on are out as customer samples and I have to get a release on our website by Monday morning. I've been working on this project for easily a year and it's been a long year. This project has by far been the most confusing, with the least possible documentation.
Usually I get some form of specification which helps me understand the software and drivers. This time, nothing. Trying to get information is like pulling teeth. Also because those responsible for drivers aren't in our building or even in the same city, and the guy who is our go to guy at AMD, while being an outstanding human being, is a lousy tester. He tries, he really does. But it means I get to revisit scenarios over and over and over again. To prove to my bosses, that yes, the problem is still there. Why they aren't seeing it at AMD... your guess is as good as mine.
Some time ago, I ranted about Eyefinity cards. I talked about how much more congenial our software and interface is then theirs, but how their graphics engine was far more awesome then any of ours. Well we will now have the best of both worlds. Our very user friendly, configurable software interface with their kick-ass hardware.
I have to say, I've been validating the AMD version for 8 months and our spin-off since mid july, my specialty is to find catastrophic fails in display drivers. Their driver is reasonably well validated, as I found very little display driver issues per say. Most of the issues I'm finding are communication issues between their driver and their low level interface which talks to our interface.
This week and next week are going to be killers, with many hours of overtime. Hopefully what gets posted on the web Monday as a beta for customer samples is going to be a success. We worked really hard like headless chickens in the past few months, would be nice to see some results.
Of course while all this is going on, this is when I start going through CVs and am doing interviews for hiring interns that would start in January. I started yesterday with 3 CVs and it's going to continue. The timing is so wrong but if I miss the deadlines I miss having interns and that would be a bad thing.
Also our June equipment budget only got approved in July and while the purchaser was on vacation, so while I'm trying to get this release out the door, I've been flooded with new equipment . Most is unpackaged but I still have a huge box of items to tag before distributing it. I have LCD's that are doubled on shelves because I don't have the bandwidth to re organize my benches and my teams work benches. And if this wasn't enough, we got maintenance to postpone waxing our floors THIS week-end. That would have meant that all systems are shut down for week-end, and all cables rolled up otherwise EVERYTHING gets caked in wax.. That's going to be next week-end.
In some ways it was a thrill, because ATI technologies, has been my favourite graphics vendor for over 20 years. It was too bad that it wasn't before the merger with AMD. I suspect the company mentality was different before being bought by AMD
The products I've been working on are out as customer samples and I have to get a release on our website by Monday morning. I've been working on this project for easily a year and it's been a long year. This project has by far been the most confusing, with the least possible documentation.
Usually I get some form of specification which helps me understand the software and drivers. This time, nothing. Trying to get information is like pulling teeth. Also because those responsible for drivers aren't in our building or even in the same city, and the guy who is our go to guy at AMD, while being an outstanding human being, is a lousy tester. He tries, he really does. But it means I get to revisit scenarios over and over and over again. To prove to my bosses, that yes, the problem is still there. Why they aren't seeing it at AMD... your guess is as good as mine.
Some time ago, I ranted about Eyefinity cards. I talked about how much more congenial our software and interface is then theirs, but how their graphics engine was far more awesome then any of ours. Well we will now have the best of both worlds. Our very user friendly, configurable software interface with their kick-ass hardware.
I have to say, I've been validating the AMD version for 8 months and our spin-off since mid july, my specialty is to find catastrophic fails in display drivers. Their driver is reasonably well validated, as I found very little display driver issues per say. Most of the issues I'm finding are communication issues between their driver and their low level interface which talks to our interface.
This week and next week are going to be killers, with many hours of overtime. Hopefully what gets posted on the web Monday as a beta for customer samples is going to be a success. We worked really hard like headless chickens in the past few months, would be nice to see some results.
Of course while all this is going on, this is when I start going through CVs and am doing interviews for hiring interns that would start in January. I started yesterday with 3 CVs and it's going to continue. The timing is so wrong but if I miss the deadlines I miss having interns and that would be a bad thing.
Also our June equipment budget only got approved in July and while the purchaser was on vacation, so while I'm trying to get this release out the door, I've been flooded with new equipment . Most is unpackaged but I still have a huge box of items to tag before distributing it. I have LCD's that are doubled on shelves because I don't have the bandwidth to re organize my benches and my teams work benches. And if this wasn't enough, we got maintenance to postpone waxing our floors THIS week-end. That would have meant that all systems are shut down for week-end, and all cables rolled up otherwise EVERYTHING gets caked in wax.. That's going to be next week-end.
Ziva and her green eyes
Thursday, September 25, 2014
This song is stuck in my head
I made the mistake of listening to the radio in the car. This song has been stuck in my head for days
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Visitor from Lebanon
Looking forward to the visit of the woman who was my 2nd mother-in-law. She will be visiting from October 3rd to October 17th. I have invited her over for dinner on Sunday the 5th, since the week-end after that is a canoe camping week-end, probably the last of this year.
I was looking forward to introducing her to my closest friends and family and well this will be limited. Neither daughter will be in Montreal that day. Nor will one of my friends, she's going to be on a cruise. There's still a few friends that I will be asking, hopefully they will be available. If no one is, just means more left-overs for those present :) Yes I will be cooking for 20 people even if there will be no more then 8. One of the dishes I plan on making is Shepherds pie with moose meat.
As it turns out at work they want overtime from me this week and next week. This works. I can then get a day off to take my visitor friend shopping on a week day. Maybe take her to Carrefour Laval. The biggest Mall in Quebec, as well take her around various neighborhoods of Montreal including the houses where I grew up.
I was looking forward to introducing her to my closest friends and family and well this will be limited. Neither daughter will be in Montreal that day. Nor will one of my friends, she's going to be on a cruise. There's still a few friends that I will be asking, hopefully they will be available. If no one is, just means more left-overs for those present :) Yes I will be cooking for 20 people even if there will be no more then 8. One of the dishes I plan on making is Shepherds pie with moose meat.
As it turns out at work they want overtime from me this week and next week. This works. I can then get a day off to take my visitor friend shopping on a week day. Maybe take her to Carrefour Laval. The biggest Mall in Quebec, as well take her around various neighborhoods of Montreal including the houses where I grew up.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Dress I finished Sunday night.
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| Simplicity 1623 made with cotton stretch knit bodice and woven skirt. |
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| Simplicity 1623 |
You can't tell but the pleats on the left don't match those on the right of the bodice. I had all sorts of issues putting the sleeves on and I had to redo them twice.
But it's finished, and I just love it. I'm going to be making several other dresses with this pattern. some just like this one, half knit, half woven, requiring a zipper, or all knit, which requires no zipper.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Desert Lynx and very cute.
Though I don't have official papers, I know my kitten is a desert lynx kitty and not a straight eared highland lynx kitten. A true desert lynx does not have curly eared ancestors in it's bloodline. The people I got it from has been breeding desert lynx cats for years before Highland lynx became popular in Quebec. They also only had one breeding pair, and all cats had straight ears, all were bobtailed, but not all were polydactil.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
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