Wine Club

I belong to a social group that gathers to sample wines, as well as food pairings, under a theme. I am not a wine expert by any stretch but my wife has a better palette. I have found it to be a very good way to be introduced or become more acquainted with different wines.

How it works is that every two months, and every month in the summer, someone hosts a wine tasting. So far it has been by type (like chardonnay ) or region (like beaujolais). The host then provides the food that goes best with the wine and a bottle. Everyone else brings a bottle, couples can bring one from the two of them but should be more expensive than one. We use $20 as a single and $30 as a double. We start at 2pm and a bottle is opened with light appetizers and finger food. A bottle is opened about every five to ten minutes and comments and conversation had by all. Once all the wine has been sampled, its a free for all and the more substantial food is brought out. People talk, converse and have a chance to sober up. The event generally ends at 6pm.

We have twelve people in the club, which is a good variety. Even though my palette has not improved by an amount I do enjoy the food.

First Time at the Rollerderby

When I was first asked if I wanted to go to the rollerderby by a friend, I was not interested. I had seen in 1989 a pilot show called "Rollergames". The show had wrestler like theatrics, gimmicks and rock acts at half-time like Deborah Harry and others. I was growing out of the wrestler thing and didn't see another episode. That tainted the offer to see the local roller derby.

I did more research and found that roller-derby's it started in the 1930's and was televised in the 1940's. The televised events drew more to the live events and it has grown to over 1200 clubs worldwide, including Egypt and Dubai. The sport is more self-empowering for women and girls than I realized as I was worried about the objectification of women that I remembered in the Rollergames TV show.

The league name is "Eves of Destruction" and last night was started by the junior local team "Rotten Apples vs the away team of the "Honey Badgers". The junior team is made up of girls aged 13-18. The headliners were the home team of the "Belles of the Brawl" vs the away team of "Hula Honeys". The sport is non-profit and every person is in it for the fun of the sport.

The pun and sly humor of the names of the participants, including referees, were hilarious. Some of the names of the local team "Belles of the Brawl" are Sixty Hurts, Taj MaBrawl, Slaya Patra, Jack Widow, Dalai Slamma and Maux Faux to name a few. Some of the Hula Honeys names are After Bertha, Assauted P-Nut, Daisy Chainmail, Impailor Moon, Kay Boom, and Pippy Longstalker.

The night was fun but the seats were not. I'll have to bring a cushion to the next event I go to. I won't become a seasons pass holder but I do respect the sport much more and the women that compete in Rollerderby than I did before.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 24 July 2013

Blocking overactive receptor in Alzheimer recovers memory loss: AT McGill university in Montreal, they have blocked the B1R receptor responsible for inflammation in the brain and in all persons with Alzheimer's. By doing so in mice they have seen significant cognitive improvements. This research can also help other who suffer swelling in the brain and the disorders that are affected by it.

Useless Box: Great ingenuity!

How Cancer Spreads: This article explains the new findings for how metastasis (how cancer spreads) works. The healthy cells move away from the cancer cells. In the "running" they give off a trail that the cancer cells use. In effect the healthy cells spread the cancer. Now all they need is a way for the healthy cells to ignore the cancer cells until the cancer cells can be dealt with. Science begins with small steps to a solution.

Spider-man house: This building is built around optical illusions and mirrors to make it seem that you are doing impossible things. Designed by Leandro Erlich. Cool!

Cheaper and easier to install Carbon scrubbers: Researchers at MIT have designed a system that can be cheaply and easily retrofitted to existing power plants. It uses amines that bind to CO2. It uses less power than current systems and captures 90% of the emissions.

Canada builds human powered helicopter: Propose a problem and ask people to solve it. What better way to stimulate thinking! University of Toronto students, alumni and volunteers helped to bring this achievment from concept to fruition.

Camera attached to stick. Introduce dog: Let the fun begin!

House Number Art

I wanted to share this art from my neighborhood. It showcases all the pets (four cats and a dog) that live at this address. Done in a Star Trek kind of theme its imaginative and original. Its also a great way to show the number for people to find.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 17 July 2013

Depression linked to an Abnormal Circadian Rhythm: One of the many interesting articles that I've read of where researchers were investigating one thing and discovered something else that is as or more important than the original research. Scientists discover that they can determine the death of a person by studying the amount of on or off state of particular genes in the brain. In a depressed mind it is skewed as the genes used to determine death are based on proper sleep cycles, something depressed persons usually do not have. This led the scientists to determine that light activity and better rest could reset the cycle, as it does for those with jet lag, and help with those who have depression break the cycle.

Alligators can help Dentists: Because of the regenerative ability of alligators to make new teeth, scientists are working on using the three stages of tooth growth (tooth, replacement tooth and dental lamina) to see if the same can be done for humans to regrow healthy teeth. They are also trying to see if this can be applied to bone growth in general.

Awesome Rug: I'd really like a rug like this.

Ancient Roman Concrete better than Modern Concrete: By using volcanic ash Roman concrete used less heat and chemicals to make their concrete. It also has withstood over two thousand years of use. It is also extremely durable in water. Volcanic ash is also ever renewable on the surface of the Earth.

Changes in Brain Chemistry Sustain Obesity: A study at Brown university found out why obese people have such a hard time loosing weight. Its because their brain chemistry changes to prevent the hormone that allows the burning of calories and curbing of the appetite. This hormone is Leptin and although they were able to break the cycle with drugs, these drugs are not approved for human use because of possible side effects. Give the pharmaceutical companies a few years and there could be a cure for obesity. For those who are not there yet studies have shown that moderate eating, moderate exercise and good sleep habits go a long way to keeping people fit and healthy.

Kitten smelling flowers: A very cute picture.

A new type of wheel: Inventor David Patrick took an idea of making a better wheel into a full concept with the help of Kickstarter. He is getting more funding by making skateboard wheels but this could have far reaching implications for all vehicles to better navigate all types of terrain and conditions. This is because the shape of the wheel allows it to be more stable.

Vancouver - University of British Columbia

UBC is located on the Western side of Vancouver and has been established since 1908. We were in Vancouver to attend a birthday celebration and for National BBQ day. We were in UBC, in particular, to see my Aunt and Uncle for the second time this weekend as they were staying on Campus. I had not been here since the early 1990's for VCON, a science fiction and fantasy convention in Vancouver. Above is the rose garden at the Northern edge of the Main mall pedestrian walkway.

They had these very nice flowers there too.

This is where my Aunt and Uncle were staying at. It was built in the early 1900's but has been very nicely remodeled inside.

The merging of nature with architecture and art was impressive.

 This is the Chinese symbol of Yi, or righteousness. It means: to be unbiased and impartial, to conduct matters in an appropriate manner, to respect people of virtue and to be tolerant toward others, and to be upright and selfless.

 This is a statue of Rabindranath Tagore, of India (1861 - 1941). He was the first non-European to win the Nobel prize for literature in 1913. One of his quotes is: "I do not put my faith in institutions, but in individuals all over the world who think clearly, feel nobly, and act rightly. They are the channels of moral truth".

 This is looking up in front of his statue.

 The Nitobe Japanese garden is regarded as one of the best in the world. Unfortunately it was closed s I sneeked a picture above the wall. I'd like to come back some day.

 Even the parking garages are one with nature.

 This waterfall is at the First Nations house of learning.

This is on the Xwi7xua (Squamish nation word for echo) library. It represents the framework for a traditional Squamish dwelling. It is the only First Nations University library in Canada.

 Another nice building and greenery.

 What would a University be without debate. The Zeitgeist movement advocates an end to currency and a movement of a resource based economy and sustainable energy. Anarco-capitalism is unfettered capitalism that supports institutions by their own volition and advocate an end to nations and states.

This motto was in front of the Law school. It says let justice be done though the heavens fall, meaning when the going gets tough justice still must be carried out fairly and without bias.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 10 July 2013

Protein reverses heart disease: Not for humans yet but this protein GDF-11 may help our aging population with heart disease with a simple regular injection.

Ideas don't have rights. People have rights: A solid statement. Applicable not only for human rights but also for the right to make generic drugs, grow crops, create innovative technology...etc.

Child demands another Smurf: Hilarious image.

Mental Health reclassification: I'm of two minds (pun not intended) after reading this article. I do believe that humanity is over-diagnosed and medicated for various disorders that mental health issues that can be cured by helping the person help themselves. This can be done through mental strengthening exercises, psychiatry, self-analysis, exercise, meditation and good rest. Another side of me knows the human brain a wondrous and surprising thing that continually baffles and amazes people for what it can do, hence my support for the reclassification of mental disorders after valid and solid research.

Star Trek Audi commercial: I'm sure Zachery Quinto and Leonard Nimoy had great fun doing this.

Creepy doll in water: Sends the chills down your spine. Reminds me of the shortest sad story: "Yard sale. Baby clothes. Never used."

List of key words the NSA is watching for: No idea if this list is accurate but creepy and confusing for some key words: Freedom, privacy, dictionary, zen...the list goes on and on.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 03 July 2013

Sign against Child Abuse: This clever sign is designed so that adults see one sign and children 10 and younger see another, based on height and angles of vision. Clever.

Roots and Evolution of Language: Take the basic words we use today and compare them to other languages as they trace back in time. Even though they may have changed, the tone and pacing of them would be familiar to our distant ancestors. That's what this article talks about. Seven language families were cross examined and found that even separated by distance and written language the roots join together using speech analysis.

Paper Horror Movie Cutouts: Talented art!

Missing Heat of Global Warming trapped 700 meters below ocean: Interesting article that led me here and here. I know from my career in the Navy that there are layers of temperature that reflect sonar in the oceans which submarines use to hide themselves. For such a warm layer it would also affect the sea creatures who called that layer home as well as what is or isn't passing beyond it.

Eugene Whelan, the Canadian whose tardiness ended the Cold War: True story. So in 1983 the Canadian minister of agriculture, Eugene Whelan, was showing around the Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and the USSR ambassador around Canada. At a farewell party for Gorbachev, Whelan was late and the ambassador and Gorbachev talked for three hours about the future of their country. The perestroika, or restructuring, that led to the end of the cold war and the breakup of the USSR was born.

Surreal Self Portraits: Very imaginative and excellent photography.

Statistics to track Murder: An incredibly cool article using statistics of crime in order to track it like an infectious disease. It made me think of the plot of Minority Report (book and film).

Happy 146th Birthday Canada

I just want to wish all Canadians, at home and abroad, a happy birthday.

You can see CBC coverage of today's events here.