The Great Race

Fresh Start

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:26:00 +0000

It's a (Chinese) New Year, visiting a new city, in a country reborn. It almost feels like Canada.

Mix it up

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:28:00 +0000

It seems that no matter where you go in North America, there is always a local radio station called "Mix" (or Jack or Bob).

Driving to and from work every day sounds the same as back home, while listening to The Mix 101.9 (KTMX-Chicago, with Eric and Kathy in the Morning), or Mix 102.9 (KDMX-Dallas), or Mix 100 (KIMN-Denver 100.3).

Of course, you do notice the reduced CanCon, the advertisements for stores you've never heard of, and the weather forecasts in Farenheit.

Now with Sirius XM Radio in the rental car, and Virgin Radio with programs like the Ryan Seacrest Show, driving in Canada starts to feel like driving through middle America.

Passport

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:30:00 +0000

While my passport is at the Chinese consulate, I'm temporarily grounded. While it's probably possible to drive to Buffalo and catch a domestic flight within the US from there, I'm not going to take a chance. Not these days, when a day of jet-skiing can land you in detention.

Sometimes it's easy to forget the significance of having a passport, or the potential problems of having the "wrong" one.

Like at the UK Immigration checkpoint at Gare du Nord in Paris, where a Canadian passport gets a cursory inspection, a couple of gruff questions, and a Channel Tunnel stamp. Meanwhile, the "Asian" family [in Canada, the more commonly-used term would be "South Asian"] right behind, with green-coloured passports, gets the third degree.

Aside from US Citizenship and Immigration, the last time I felt this personally was in Iceland. As the European Union expands, certain countries have become very defensive, with their immigration policies and increased scrutiny of non-Schengen passports.

As I handed over my passport, I watched the officer flip through, waiting for something to happen. Waiting, until he reached the page with the US work visa. He did not try to hide his "wow" reaction, but let me through. It was a long wait though, for my new friend Haya.

While in the clearance area behind the booths, we were both pulled aside again. Couldn't help but notice that they picked out the two non-Scandinavians. Passports were taken for photocopying, no doubt to be added to an immigration watch list.

At the end of the trip, that passport is still the only universally accepted ticket home.

Rounders

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:16:00 +0000

No, not Rounders, but rounders.

As Iceland sits between Europe and the Americas, this game sits between cricket and baseball, bridging together Britons and Americans, and any Canadian hangers-on.

Play Ball

When all you have is a cricket bat, everything starts to look like a cricket ball.

Lagoon

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:31:00 +0000

Flashback: Tuesday, July 20, 2004

After a hard day of surveying, and dodging the skuas, a pleasant surprise trip to the Jökulsárlón (glacial lagoon).

Placid

If it looks familiar, you may have seen this place before, in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider or Die Another Day.

Circling

The tour boats are actually amphibious boats with wheels, painted grey for Angelina Jolie's visit.

Bridge

It is rumoured that they use tugboats to keep the bergs in the lagoon for the tourists. I wonder if they also tow away the muddy and unsightly ones.

Calving

The Breiðamerkurjökull which feeds the lagoon is rapidly retreating. One day this may all be gone.

Jökulsárlón Panorama

Ice Climb

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:11:00 +0000

Flashback: Saturday, July 17, 2004

Our ride today is the trusty Volvo Laplander - the Swedish Jeep.

Laplander

It's a dangerous path up to Svinafellsjökull. The weather is also miserably rainy, for the first time since we got here.

Dangerous Path

I have many rucksacks with loops for an ice axe, and now I have the axe. With the crampons attached to the boots, and some instruction and practice on how to stop a fall, it's up the glacier we go.

Climbing

While we're not actually tackling vertical walls, it's a pretty dangerous path on the ice as well. One of our party was from Israel, where he's presumably done some military training. Yet he almost took a tumble, saved only by an older lady.

Crevasse

On the one side is a sharp drop into oblivion. On the other, is a gentle rolling slope for about 15 metres, and then a sharp drop into oblivion. To add insult to injury, the large super-glacial ice crystals would probably shred your waterproof trousers on the way down.

Icy Waves

Like a sea of ice, the glacier ripples out, all the way to the mountains.

Day Hike

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:50:00 +0000

Flashback: Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Maybe it's because I never play hard (or often) enough, but very fortunately (touch wood), I've never been seriously injured in sports [until November 2006, unfortunately]. A few months prior, I'd landed my left foot awkwardly during a squash game, and could still feel the occasional twinge in the ankle.

The Trek Begins

Today, Hart and I are putting ourselves to the test, taking our turn at a big hike. Fuelled by our standard rations of cheese and Nutella sandwiches, we were looking at a full day in the hills.

Sjónarsker Viewpoint

Above the hexagonal basalt formations surrounding the Svartifoss, is the first landmark, with obligatory panorama sundial.

Skaftafellsheiði

It's all so verdant here. Among the mosses and tall grass of the heiði (heath), we take lunch. It's a pleasant day, and pleasant conversation.

Long uphill climb

One of many reasons for taking this trip was a milestone birthday, and a sense of time slipping away. I could only hope that I'm a fraction as strong as Hart when I'm in my 60's. Not many people could survive being run over by a motorboat in a drunken hit-and-run like he did. It can't be that easy, but he still handles the climb very well. For scale, note the figures ahead, walking up the path.

Over the Edge

The more daring members of the group are going to the Kjós Valley, tucked in behind the mountain on the left, around the bend. It's supposed to be spectacular, but it doesn't seem as scenic a route, trudging along the Morsárdalur, looking up at the mountains. At least that's what I tell myself. From up here, we also get to see part of the Morsárjökull, and the lake at its base, from afar.

Kristínartindar

The highest summit on this side of the glacier is the ridge on Kristínartindar. That will be left for next time.

The Real Prize

It's good that we chose the clockwise direction. The views just kept getting better and better, until we reached Gláma on the east, overlooking the glacier. Note the adventurous photographer behind the rock. Don't step back!

Gláma Viewpoint

According to GPS, it's over 400 m down. To solid ice. This unadventurous photographer will stay well back from the edge. Especially after Hart almost lost his footing in the wind.

Skaftafellsjökull panorama

The scale of this place seems scarcely believable. You can't even take it all in without turning your whole body around. No wide angle lens is wide enough, which is where digital comes in.

Long way down

On the downward path, there's one last lookout from Sjónarnípa, over the foot of Skaftafellsjökull. Then it's trudging back through the brush, down to camp.

Breaking Up

By my reckoning, at least 15 km, in a leisurely 7.5 hours, including a lunch stop. Not a bad day at all. Unforgettable.

I can see for miles and miles

"Getting older sucks, but it sure beats the alternative: getting deader." - Joe C.

Cash Flow

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:27:00 +0000

Most ATMs outside of North America do not have letters printed on the numeric keypad. This makes sense, since the local alphabet is usually not English. The sequence of the keys may even be reversed, following the pattern on the computer keyboard (the number 1 in the bottom left corner), rather than the telephone (starting from the top left).

I first learned this long ago, the hard way, in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, while trying to get some krónur (ISK) to buy lunch. It took a hurriedly drawn diagram on a scrap of paper before I could enter my PIN. However, that won't help if you've forgotten/never chosen a PIN for your Eurocard (Mastercard) kontokort in Sweden, where a PIN is sometimes required for transactions.

The second tip I learned about foreign currency is not to withdraw a round number, but an amount like €180, or 990 HUF, so that you always get some small bills. A very accommodating shopkeeper in Old Town Prague once allowed me to buy some fruit and water with a 2000 koruna (CZK) note.

When the credit card bills come in after a vacation, I'm glad that I followed and then forgot about a third tip, to conceal a €50 note separate from the rest of your valuables, like deep in the pages of a guide book. It's as good as finding an $80 bill in the pocket of an old coat. Just the extra incentive to do some more tidying up.

Disconnected

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:11:00 +0000

On this overseas trip, I actually did bring my cell phone, but only as a portable viewer for electronic maps. Incompatible technology however, leaves me disconnected, in a land where having a cell phone is assumed.

Running low on virtual memory

Turning on the television only furthers the digital divide. Unlike in Sweden, where foreign-language programs are never dubbed, but only subtitled in Swedish, the only English-language channels here are usually BBC World and/or CNN. The CNN International edition (including The Daily Show Global Edition) is quite different from the original, and more like the BBC News. Which only serves to make Fox News (where available) seem even more distasteful in comparison.

No Bush

The Americans you meet overseas are on average, not the same as those you meet in America. Still, I wonder what they make of all the state-run networks, and the handful of private independent networks. Not to mention Al Jazeera...

Nevertheless, you can always count on catching an episode of
Die jungen Ärzte on RTL or Lost on RAI.

Fußball ist König

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:18:00 +0000

If I can't be in Italy with the Azzurri still in the hunt, then I might as well be in a place where everyone is caught up in a big semi-final game.

This is a place where household names like Ballack, Schweinsteiger, and Klose have resonance. The Schwarz-Rot-Gold is everywhere, on buildings, cars, shirts, and painted faces. With the Turkish consulate down the street, there are also plenty of Turkish flags. On the news, one gentleman had sewn together halves of the German and Turkish jerseys.

Fighting the jet lag and lack of sleep, it becomes difficult to keep watching the game on TV. There is a lot of tense waiting by the fans, for their team to pull ahead, or hoping desperately for the equalizer. The reaction to goals by both sides is instantly heard, up and down the street. In this well-played and entertaining match, there are several, and none of the ugly kind.

Vienna Calling

In the end, the home team pulls out a victory in the last minute of regulation time. With the windows open for lack of air conditioning, it takes a bit longer before I can sleep, due to the requisite honking of horns.

Going international

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:26:00 +0000

After four straight weeks of travel (24 out of 31 days in May), three weeks at home is quite refreshing. However, the layoff also meant that today, I became the dreaded clueless infrequent traveller, during a moment of inattention, while stuck in the security line behind a clueless infrequent traveller.

It's been 18 months since my last trip to Europe, and my first time in the new international wing of Pearson. The glass art is nice, as are the metal sculptures, so tempting for children to play on.

Das Crazy

Guzzler

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:24:00 +0000

Strike three against the Chrysler company. After the debacle of driving a Dodge Magnum on Vancouver's narrow roads, and a so-so experience with a glaring white PT Cruiser, the anachronistic behemoth that is the 300 has closed the door. Granted, I had one generally positive rental with the Dodge Caliber SXT, but it wasn't good enough to convince me not to avoid Chrysler in the future, whenever possible.

I even tried to return the 300 early, to exchange it for another, less monstrous car, but the only vehicles in the the rental lot were 300's in various other colours. I'm convinced that there's a glut of these cars, probably off-lease from Chrysler and auto union executives. The rental companies are probably desperate to push these, and cash in through their exorbitant re-fueling charges.

The numbers:

Chrysler 300 Touring
40.454 L for 255 km (15.864 L/100km)

Ford Fusion SEL
20.666 L for 180 km (11.481 L/100km)

In the stop and go traffic and (baffling!) flashing green lights of Vancouver, even the "green rental" Fusion only gets half the fuel economy of a Prius.

God Save the Queen

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:10:00 +0000

In Canada, Victoria Day is the unofficial start of summer. Unfortunately, working for a US client means no holiday long weekend today. And working for a Canadian client next week means no Memorial Day long weekend next week either.

Forgotten Passage

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:48:00 +0000

It's been a lot of flight segments (7) in the past two weeks. Including the first ever fly in to a customer direct on a red-eye from another city.

In my sleep-deprived state, while munching on a cold Buy-on-Board sandwich for breakfast, I made my way to US connections, past my favourite airport art installation, by Ingo Maurer. Unfortunately, it seems to be in dry dock at the moment.

Earthbound

I guess you can't expect something with moving parts to keep working 24 hours a day, year after year. The MTBF would appear to be pretty good, at around four years.

On the other hand it did make me take a closer look at something on the opposite wall, which I'd noticed before in the year that it's been there, but never really paid attention to.

Terminal 01

It's a fairly clever interactive exhibit, inviting public input into the airport experience. However, I'm most impressed that the Airport Authority would approve and endorse something as politically-charged as the section called Passage Oublié. Granted, it's not sitting right in the US Customs and Immigration area, but still pretty bold.

Ejected

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:02:00 +0000

For the first time, as if straight out of an episode of Airline, I saw someone removed from the plane.

Boarding was almost complete and the doors were about to close. Several rows ahead, a quiet discussion was going on, with a flight attendant trying to help a "tall" passenger find a seat where the person in front of him would not recline their seat.

My first assumption was a case of DYKWIA, or someone trying to weasel their way into a free upgrade to business class.

The conversation continued sporadically, as more flight attendants became involved. All the while, everything seemed very civil, if vaguely gauche. When the Service Director came by, I could now hear the words "alcohol" and "drinks" mentioned.

Eventually, the passenger was asked to get up, and retrieve his carry-on luggage. At this point I could see that he was wearing an expensive suit, and certainly didn't seem intoxicated. I guess it can be hard to tell, just like on the TV show, where people keep insisting, quite lucidly, that they're not drunk and should be allowed to board the plane.

He removed both of his bags from an overhead compartment (typical), several rows ahead (typical), and headed to the front and out the door. All in all, very well handled by the crew. As this was the last flight out this evening, there would certainly be a long wait, and probably a new booking required. I just hope he wouldn't be trying to driving home.

Cuts like a knife

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:15:00 +0000

After several flights out of the dreaded East Satellite Terminal, today was my first day back in the Maple Leaf Lounge in many weeks. Passengers are now entrusted with metal cutlery again. While soup spoons have been back for a long time, you can now get forks for salad, and (gasp!) knives for buttering bread.

On the other hand, all the large bottles of water have been opened and the caps taken away. It seems you can trust the passengers not to attack each other, but not enough to leave bottles of water on the counter.

Wireless

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:01:00 +0000

I held out as long as I could, but I've finally joined the world of mobile devices. Four and-a-half years is a good long run, but my phone was about ready to give out (the first battery having already done so two years ago). My first cell phone before that managed to limp into its sixth year, before the issue was forced by switching providers (GSM to CDMA).

There are some sobering statistics on the number of cell phones being discarded, or piling up in people's homes - some 426000 each day in the US alone. Certainly, some get lost, stolen, run over, or otherwise smashed. However, most are still perfectly functional, and were only used an average of 18 months.

In Japan, there are stories about foreigners scavenging on sodai gomi (over-size garbage) day, where appliances and electronics are collected for recycling, when new models come out.

There's definitely something wrong here, and it's inspired people like Chris Jordan and Annie Leonard to call out for societal change.

Power-down

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 05:49:00 +0000

I can't say I'm a big fan of the Starbucks Coffee Company. They often figuratively and literally leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Lights out

However, on this night, at Earth Hour, they're setting a good example. Here in suburbia, every other business seemed to be lighting up the night sky. Certainly downtown, it was much more obvious.

Although there was a city-wide drop in power consumption of some 8%, the main point of it all is awareness. For my part, on Saturday night I would normally have just one lamp and the TV on in the living room, and maybe one kitchen light. So it didn't make too much of a difference for me to head out for a walk.

I'm not sure how many of my neighbours were participating, or if they just weren't home. In one non-representative row of 16 homes, I counted only two with lights on during the event (one with seemingly all lights on, as if in protest). At the end of the one hour, five more were lit up, leaving nine which were probably empty all evening.

In the Drink

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:21:00 +0000

It's been a long winter, with much more snow fall than in recent memory. I suppose I've been fortunate to have been out of town during the major storms of the season, and also to have someone contracted to shovel my sidewalk and driveway.

No Parking

Even managed to avoid the chaos at the airport, although there were massive snowbanks which dwarfed the regional jets.

Snow Barrier

Now that the snow is finally melting away, I've been thinking a lot about water recently. Also been reading more about it in the news. Not sure if I or the media are just paying closer attention, or if we're now seeing more and more indisputable signs of a true global crisis, as many have warned before.

Beating a Retreat

The solution will not be a technological quick-fix, but much more difficult, massive societal change. And flying jets on biofuel won't cut it either.

World Water Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:23:00 +0000

It turns out today was World Water Day. Been hearing about Earth Hour for months, yet didn't hear a word about something arguably much more important, until it was almost over.

Hybrid

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:09:00 +0000

A new contender for favourite rental car of all time.

2008 Toyota Prius

The good:

Terrific fuel economy - 98 miles on 2.37 gallons = 158 km on 9.0 L = 5.7 L / 100km = 42.0 mpg

Pretty good power - no trouble accelerating up to 65 mph, while going uphill, and easily coasting along at 75 mph, charging the battery, while going downhill. You'll just have to ignore the high whine of the CVT (and the lack of a tachometer).

Silent [WARNING: link NSFW] - battery mode is only good for a few miles, but perfect for parking lots, stoplights, and bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Rear View

The bad:

Awful rear window visibility - the big spoiler bar across the rear window is a huge distraction, which alone guarantees I will never buy this model for myself.

Complicated, distracting touch-screen controls - just asking for trouble if you need to adjust anything while driving.

42.0 mpg!

The quirky:

Dashboard mounted. tiny gearshift lever - only Drive, Reverse, and Battery. How does CVT cope with snow?

Rear-facing camera for Reverse - sorely needed because of the poor visibility. Also beeps annoyingly when backing up.

P button to Park - the rental company had to add a label to remind drivers to use it.

Unintuitive features, which make the owner's manual mandatory reading. Like the power switch (and keyless operation), and the odd exterior buttons for the door locks.

Paradise by the Dashboard Light

All in all, it does grow on you, but while fun to rent, it's not a keeper. Some improvements over my previous Prius experience, but also more quirks and drawbacks than before. If buying, I still would probably look at a more "normal" car like the Camry Hybrid instead.

2003 Toyota Prius (Swedish trim)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:59:00 +0000

Unfortunately, I missed the parade this past weekend. Missed it in Toronto (where I was), Pittsburgh (where I had been), and Chicago (where I might have been).

I sometimes have a dangerous wish to be stuck somewhere interesting, and to be able to go exploring for an extra day, at airline expense.

For example, if I had an extra day in the Pittsburgh area, I might go and visit Fallingwater, or Punxsutawney Phil, who correctly predicted six more weeks of winter (which should have ended last week).

Of course, as always, sometimes you get what you wish for. Like a broken radio which results in three hours of purgatory in the East Satellite Terminal.

Taxiway

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:21:00 +0000

It's a miserable day to be driving. More miserable than usual if it's your living. A recent study makes startling claims about the life of cab drivers - 77 hour work-weeks at $3 an hour [Minimum wage in Ontario is currently $8 an hour].

I'm hearing some awful stories today. A lot of time is spent idling in the "holding pens" I've seen at the airport, waiting behind hundreds of other cars, for a fare which may be far out of your way, and take many more hours, for not that much money at all. The pricing model is also geared towards cheap customers or small groups. Crazy runs to Montréal or Ottawa are actually a lot more common than you'd think.

Rising fuel costs can only be making things more difficult, especially with antiquated city by-laws which forbid using small cars such as the Prius for taxis and limos.

Leap Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:49:00 +0000

A post to save this day for posterity.

While not on the same level as Y2K, or even the (bonus) Leap Day of 2000, it seems that United Airlines' Easy Check-in ("Mr. Chicken") kiosks failed today.

The last time I actually had to be on-call for work was over eight years ago, in late December, 1999. With luck, I should be happily retired by the time Y2K+38 rolls around. Or even better, I might be called out of retirement on an exorbitant contract for specialized skills in ancient 32-bit systems...

Starstruck

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Q. Which is the largest city in the world without a planetarium?
A. Probably Toronto...

Gas Giants

To top it all off, the University of Toronto is now shutting down the historic David Dunlap Observatory. Granted, the facility has limited scientific value now, surrounded by the big city. Let's just hope the university doesn't completely sell out to developers. We've already lost the Canadarm in recent months. We could really use a proper, dedicated Space Museum.

"Let's go burn down the observatory so this will never happen again!" - Moe Szyslak, The Simpsons

Adler Planetarium

Once again, Chicago just seems to do things better. Maybe all we need is a dictatorial, despotic mayor.

Copernicus

Without a local option, I've been wanting to visit the newer Hayden Planetarium, in New York City, but the Adler in Chicago will have to do for now.

Liberty Bell 7

One thing about being in the U.S. is that sometimes, you get to see the original equipment.

Ecliptic