September 2007 Archives

With slightly fewer classes than I am normally used to, you'd think that I'd be overflowing with free time, but this is sadly not the case. For starters, as I suspected, the classes that I did choose have a fairly high workload to them anyway. I find any class with a lab component is naturally going to consume more time. In addition, I have found that with Rick just beginning his ministry, I need to spend more time with that showing the ropes and getting everything is place. I have certainly been enjoying it, but it keeps me busy.

This last weekend I wound up driving in a nice rented Gran Prix down to Granum to see my cousin's wedding. A somewhat crazier weekend than I am used to with that going on, but it was great to see my family again. Last time I had been down to Granum was just shy of one year ago, and that's a pathetically long time to go without a visit. Besides, my father had flown out for the wedding as well, so it was a good chance to see him for a bit. I did all of the video taping for the wedding, so I have about 4 to 5 gigs of raw footage around here that I need to process into something respectable in the next few weeks. It's been a long time since I cut any video, so I am hoping this doesn't turn out too badly.

I came back up to Edmonton after dropping my Dad off at the Calgary airport, and then enjoyed the cruise. Listening to CBC Radio 1, I came across an excellent interview on Tapestry with Anne Lamott. It was interesting, and unusual, so that helped break up what was a rather monotonous drive. I found it very genuine.

Fall here is already in full swing. I'll probably head out for a run tomorrow evening to take a few pictures of the area. If I don't, I don't think I'll catch too many leaves on the trees. I must say that I love Fall, and really always have. I am not sure if it's football, or perhaps the world sighing after a hectic summer, maybe its the cooling off, or the apple cider. Whatever it is, there's nothing quite like Autumn, and I do miss the East a bit when I think about it. They have a far more spectacular Fall...

Verizon wants a federal appeals court to overturn the FCC's open access requirements for next year's 700MHz spectrum auction.

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I been been following with great interest the FCC's plan to open up spectrum at 700 MHz for auction and public safety following the discontinuation of over-the-air analog TV signals in 2009. The licensed spectrum having better penetration than cellular phones means that consumers in the States will get that fabled third pipe for internet access (in addition to DSL and cable). This will hopefully provide far more competition and lower prices, and make high speed internet available to a broader cross section of Americans. Including actually, where I used to live in Michigan. The FCC has been considering for sometime now the rules for the auction and exactly what they will be selling. They were presented with four "open" requests. The FCC was asked to require that the successful bidder allow open leasing (any company could lease the spectrum wholesale for innovative use), open networks, open devices, and open applications. These rules would mean that you could sign up for service and use whatever programs or devices to connect with it, so long as they are compatible, similar to how WiFi is now. The FCC decided to mandate open device access and application use, but declined the other two. However, the telecom industry is very interested in preventing these rules from happening for a number of reasons. For one, any additional pipe into the home is another source of competition, something any monopoly provider would like to avoid. In addition, the company that has now filed a lawsuit aginst the FCC to enjoin them from implementing the regulations has a history of forcing customers to use only Verizon provided equipment on their wireless network and limiting applications to ones they specifically approve of (and charge for). Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It seems to me AT&T (Ma Bell) claimed that customers should only be allowed to rent a telephone from them. We all know what a disaster it was when they were forced to allow customers to buy their own... Given the sorry state of broadband in the US, here's to hoping Verizon loses.

I ran out to the Mill Creek ravine the other night. It's getting colder here and so I actually had to use sweats for what they were originally intended for. Once I got going and my blister numbed up though, I found it was a remarkably pleasant run. The Mill Creek is buried in a little used park somewhat in the center of the city, and so I didn't see any other people in the immediate vicinity. With a splash of color starting to hit the trees, and spectacular view of the downtown over Saskatchewan Drive, I had a good time.

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Tags: wirelessinternet, running, Edmonton, FCC

I love the colors in this shot. The photographer has done a wonderful job with the washed-out look in addition to an inspired composition. It looks almost... wistful.

I have now finally begun what I am almost certain is my last semester as an undergrad at the U of A. Of course, never say never, but I am fairly determined to wrap this degree up and move on to bigger and better things (that pay). Still, I am somewhat enjoying my last run around the track. For one, my courseload is difficult, but not as large as it has been in some years. Plus, it's my last run around the track and I plan on making the most of it.

Last night I went to the first Pro sports game that I have ever been to. It was a Canadian league, but that's close enough. Saw the Eskimoes play the Calgary Stampeders... and lose. That said, the tickets were given to me, and it was a pretty close game. All in all, a pretty neat experience and certainly one I would be more than happy to repeat in the future. I got some good use out of a set of binoculars that my grandparents bought me years ago for a birthday. I had not realized how many mini-games and the like that they run while doing the game for all the people in attendance.

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Tags: Eskimoes, school, university,