Actually, it’s not so new. This new design is very similar to the design I used from 2006 to early 2009, with simplicity overall and the focus being on large samples of my photography at the top. This revision uses a simpler logo than before and a wider overall format.
I hope you like it. Enjoy!
How pathetic. Anyways, there’s lots that is new, which I will insert here in sections in no particular order!
iPhone
After months of singing the praises of my BlackBerry, I got rid of it and moved to an iPhone. This was an expensive procedure because I am still on a contract with Telus, but selling my old phone and iPod touch helped offset the cost. For me, it’s a much better device that I am happy with. I really wish I could be happy with a BlackBerry for the wide variety of uses I get out of my iPhone, but the manufacturer just doesn’t want to put enough effort into developing the software properly.
Saint John Politics
I am back in Saint John visiting my family for a couple weeks. A few things have changed, but not much, as always. City debates continue to spur over the new Peel Plaza complex, which currently includes a plan to ruin a historic Carnegie Arts Centre building by burying the lower windows so that a tunnel for transporting prisoners can be built. Umm, what?
Academia & Robots
The main reason for my lack of time lately is the amount of work I’ve been putting into my school work. I’m working on a new robot that interacts with people in different ways, though not quite on the level of reading emotions as I previously explored. I did extensive development with my robot, now named PAUL-E, and am now working on a couple submissions to two upcoming conferences, so more travel may not be far away.
New Cell Phone Network
Say what you want about the Canadian cellphone industry, something done right has seemingly accomplished by 2 of the big 3, Telus and Bell. They have launched a new 3rd generation high-speed cellular network which enables them to offer phones that don’t suck, like the iPhone. Rogers offers a similar, compatible network, but it’s only fast in the main cities, whereas Bell and Telus created their network to be the same speed across pretty much most of the country. So far, my experience has been decent, with a few bugs that I hope they work out soon. This network was actually launched several months in advance ahead of the Olympics.
In the United States, people regularly complain about AT&T’s cell service which is the only company officially offering the iPhone in that country. Dropped calls and defaulting to the slower speed network is a regular occurrence in many large cities. Hopefully our networks will continue to be expansive with prices falling more due to increased competition.
That’s all for now. I hope to update my blog more often.
After a week of sub-zero temperatures, Mother Nature granted Calgary a likely temporary reprieve from the start of winter with warmth in the 10 to 15 degree range.
Fall is definitely here in this park near my house with most of the leaves on the ground already.
I also biked through the entire University of Calgary campus taking pictures for the first time since being here. I didn’t get too many good shots at this time of day, but there’s something I like about the windows of the ICT building.
Lots of artificial colour radiates through the sports fields just south of the university campus.
Looking towards the sky near City Hall.
A few weeks ago, I participated in the Ride the Road Tour. Basically this was a bike tour of downtown Calgary organized to raise awareness for the need of bike trails, bike lanes, and other infrastructure for bicycles in the City of Calgary.
In this photo taken by Kristin Marquardt, you can see all the bikers including me as the tour begins. This event was not a race, but rather a relaxed15km bike tour of the city.
It was a bit difficult to take these photos, which I did while operating my moving bike with my other hand. In this shot, we’re crossing the Elbow River (I think) as we head further south.
We’re returning to the downtown core in this shot. The streets were blocked off for the bikers, although not for a long time, only long enough on a temporary basis for all the bikers to make it through. Police on motorcycles basically escorted us through.
Overall, it was a fun event. Hopefully events like this will lead to better bike pathways through the city. It’s not too bad right now if you plan, but it only takes a few rogue car drivers to make it dangerous.
You can view the rest of myphotos in my Ride the Road Tour gallery.
