Random Stuff

Weather: Just last week, we had temperatures of 10 C or 15 C...what the heck? Why is it skyrocketing to 35 C with warnings of heat alert? Yesterday I heard on the radio that they were distributing bottles of water to the elderly and homeless b/c of the heat alert. Why is the weather so drastic?

TTC: I usually am a supporter of unions and the TTC but this time, I'm mad at them. The strike that happened yesterday came without a warning. The first issue warning was 5am which left everyone with almost no time to reschedule or think of alternatives. Some people didn't even know of the strike and spent hours waiting. Myself? I almost got stranded at home, unable to go to work, if not for my dad and his generous offer of his car.

However, on a bus that I boarded this morning, a TTC driver (who is usually really nice and funny with announcement likes, "Welcome to Toronto. The temperature is 35 C with clear skies and a few clouds...etc, etc") apologized to all of us on the bus for yesterday's inconvenience and thanked us for our courtesy we gave him this morning. It made me smile but I was like, "What courtesy? Is it because we didn't beat him up or spit on him like the two other incidents that happened yesterday?" So ya, his comment made me a little less bitter at the TTC...but just to let you know, I haven't thanked one TTC driver today. I always thank them.

York: The National Congress for Humanities and Social Sciences are having their weeklong conference at York. Classes were cancelled this whole week for this all-important conference. I went there today to meet with a group for a project and man, some of the key speakers are David Suzuki and Stephen Lewis. They have CIDA there with lots of other NGOs in Vari and there are tons of publishers set up in York Lanes due to the number of scholars we have at York right now. And has anyone seen the library? They've transformed it with flowers and everything. There's banners around the school, lovely new benches put up...Where's all this money and extra bonus stuff for me as a student? Aren't we, the students, the primary customers of the university here? hmph.

Family: Today we had distant distant relatives come visit out of the blue. I found out that my grandfather is a brillant brillant man who teaches, or taught, in American universities. All three of his sons either have a PhD or went through Med. school and became doctors. I also found out that my grandfather's sister and husband are professors at PeKing University. Now, why didn't I know that when I went to Beijing last summer? I was at PeKing University all the time visiting poor Mike and his commie housing.

Apple is SOOO cool...

I think after my ibook, I will never go back. I just checked out this really good software called iWork which is essentially the programs of Pages and Keynote. I took this virtual tour through my ibook and wow. Some of the stuff I can do on a Mac would take years to do on a PC. Simon would call me a Mac elitist...something which he hates. But c'mon now, I'm not trying to snub everyone who owns a PC about how my computer is so much better, because it isn't. In fact, my computer is lowest chain of the Apple laptops. But this is why Macs are so cool:

1) They never freeze (I've only experience this ONCE since I've gotten my laptop), they never crash, and they never need to be restarted or that stuff. I also never turn off my computer. I close it and it just goes to sleep.

2) You basically don't need anti-virus protection cause 99% of viruses out there are targeted towards PCs. (However, the new Intel processing chips make a new debate about the susceptibility of Macs to viruses)

3) Spotlight (Apple button + space bar) which allows you to search for anything on your computer in an instant. Kinda like Gmail, search don't sort except better.
4) Dashboard and widgets. I put POST-IT notes there. I have a Family Guy widget which gives me daily quotes to make me laugh. I have a week long update on the weather...there are tons of widgets from the Apple site!
5) iChat - I can talk to other Apple users like I do on Skype...
6) iCalendar - wicked cause I have alarms telling me of when to do stuff and when stuff is due.
7) iPhoto - making a slideshow has never been easier. my wedding slideshow is going to be terrific!!
8) and I recently discovered iWork! It makes publishing and presentation soo easy! My career as a teacher is set with this!!
9) although my list essentially ends at 8, I still have not utilized my computer to the fullest. I mean, has anyone used Garage Band to make their own music? iDVD or iWeb? Or any of the other programs I haven't mentioned?

Call me a Mac elitist if you will. I'm not telling everyone to hop onto the bandwagon and buy a Mac. I'm simply sharing my enthusiasm for Macs with the rest of you. I'll admit that PCs are good in terms of their raw power... :P

Weekend in Ottawa

It was a great weekend aside from the rainy cold weather we received while we were there. Oh, and just so that you know, next time when you visit Ottawa for the Tulip Festival, don't wait until the last weekend.

Most of the tulips had died when we arrived. I think 10% of the 20, 000 bulbs that are planted were left. Ken and I had to take pictures of the same tulip beds over and over again to make it look like we saw LOTS of tulips.

Testing...

Hmm...It really is easier to put pictures up.

Farewell Xanga!

So as you all know, Xanga has been my home the past year...throughout my adventures in Asia last summer, Xanga was where I detailed my experiences and was a place where I poured out my frustrations and excitement. With great reluctance and regret, I must leave Xanga. I hear that it's easier to put my pictures on blogspot. I will be putting up pictures shortly.

:) I still hope to keep Xanga active though b/c as you view from the title: jenninchina so if I ever return to China or have anymore travelling adventures, I'll be sure to post it on there.