Monday, May 29, 2006
Markham Rodeo
The rodeo came to town to put on a show. Here are a few shots. Some more shots can be found here portfolio at DPchallenge.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
Nuclear Power for Ontario?
Premier McGuinty is hinting that nuclear power is the best way to meet our energy needs. We asked you what you think. Here's what you had to say. (from the Toronto Star)
The complexity of operating a province wide electrical generation system can not be understated. In the words for Albert Einstein "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler" Any simplistic and ill-informed ranting is unhelpful at best and more likely harmful.
Electricity in sufficient quantities and competitive cost is key to the continued economic strength of Ontario. In the global economy business can and does relocate to the jurisdiction that provides the optimal return on investment to maximize shareholder value. If electricity is unreliable/too expensive, businesses move out of the province, then unemployment follows, reducing the taxes collected and simultaneously increasing social spending.
On a consumer level: The increase in the price of oil and gasoline is starting to have impact on personal budgets and spending habits. People are shifting spending from other areas into their gas tasks (reduced purchases, increase debt, not saving for the future) all of which will negatively affect the future economy of Ontario. The other choice is to reduce gas consumption by driving less. The government has known for a long time that gas consumption is non-elastic and that is why they tax gasoline as much as they do. However as the price becomes too great a burden, then consumers may use public transit instead (but they will have to increase prices also) or consumers may decide not to make the trip (to the store/restaurant/vacation) which will also have a negative impact on the economy. A similar analysis can be conducted for electrical consumption, but increasing the cost of electricity will have a negative impact on the economy.
What about alternative sources of electricity. I'll lump together supply side and demand side approaches. The amount of power that the government is talking about is refurbishing Darlington and Pickering B (5,000 MW) and building 6,000 MW new nuclear all as base-load generation (i.e. running all the time 7/24). A large windmill, with sufficient wind can generate 1 MW, therefore we would need 11,000 of these windmills all with strong enough wind. Not to mention the land and transmission lines these would require. However wind does not blow all the time, so you would need to source contingency power when the wind does not blow (import power from US coal fired plants? Build addition Gas/Coal plants in Ontario?) What about getting people to use less electricity? Each person is projected to use less electricity, but the population growth will still mean higher demands.
Nuclear power provides vast quantities of power from resources completely within Ontario without creating any emissions. The AECL Candu reactors are designed here in Ontario by Ontarians. There is the question of the spent fuel, but is really is a small amount. If you took a football field and stacked the spent fuel to a depth of 10' that would contain ALL the spent fuel EVER created by ALL nuclear plants in North America. By comparison, a loaded cargo ship of coal is burned in under a week and then sent up the smoke stacks into the atmosphere. The permanent long term effects to the environment are a certainty with coal, but highly unlikely with nuclear. There are over 30 reactors under construction around the world. Even the Americans are looking to build new reactors. If Ontario leads the way and can provide clean, reliable, affordable electricity it will allow the economy to continue to perform well.
The complexity of operating a province wide electrical generation system can not be understated. In the words for Albert Einstein "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler" Any simplistic and ill-informed ranting is unhelpful at best and more likely harmful.
Electricity in sufficient quantities and competitive cost is key to the continued economic strength of Ontario. In the global economy business can and does relocate to the jurisdiction that provides the optimal return on investment to maximize shareholder value. If electricity is unreliable/too expensive, businesses move out of the province, then unemployment follows, reducing the taxes collected and simultaneously increasing social spending.
On a consumer level: The increase in the price of oil and gasoline is starting to have impact on personal budgets and spending habits. People are shifting spending from other areas into their gas tasks (reduced purchases, increase debt, not saving for the future) all of which will negatively affect the future economy of Ontario. The other choice is to reduce gas consumption by driving less. The government has known for a long time that gas consumption is non-elastic and that is why they tax gasoline as much as they do. However as the price becomes too great a burden, then consumers may use public transit instead (but they will have to increase prices also) or consumers may decide not to make the trip (to the store/restaurant/vacation) which will also have a negative impact on the economy. A similar analysis can be conducted for electrical consumption, but increasing the cost of electricity will have a negative impact on the economy.
What about alternative sources of electricity. I'll lump together supply side and demand side approaches. The amount of power that the government is talking about is refurbishing Darlington and Pickering B (5,000 MW) and building 6,000 MW new nuclear all as base-load generation (i.e. running all the time 7/24). A large windmill, with sufficient wind can generate 1 MW, therefore we would need 11,000 of these windmills all with strong enough wind. Not to mention the land and transmission lines these would require. However wind does not blow all the time, so you would need to source contingency power when the wind does not blow (import power from US coal fired plants? Build addition Gas/Coal plants in Ontario?) What about getting people to use less electricity? Each person is projected to use less electricity, but the population growth will still mean higher demands.
Nuclear power provides vast quantities of power from resources completely within Ontario without creating any emissions. The AECL Candu reactors are designed here in Ontario by Ontarians. There is the question of the spent fuel, but is really is a small amount. If you took a football field and stacked the spent fuel to a depth of 10' that would contain ALL the spent fuel EVER created by ALL nuclear plants in North America. By comparison, a loaded cargo ship of coal is burned in under a week and then sent up the smoke stacks into the atmosphere. The permanent long term effects to the environment are a certainty with coal, but highly unlikely with nuclear. There are over 30 reactors under construction around the world. Even the Americans are looking to build new reactors. If Ontario leads the way and can provide clean, reliable, affordable electricity it will allow the economy to continue to perform well.
Quotes by Albert Einstein:
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
As the circle of light increases, so does the circumference of darkness around it.
Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction.
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
As the circle of light increases, so does the circumference of darkness around it.
Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction.
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Trip Report – Vancouver Island and Tofino
In early April 2006 I flew from Toronto to Victoria, B.C. for a short vacation.
I took a direct non-stop Air Canada flight. The plan was an AirBus A319. This plan has an over wing emergency exit (Row 16) that they have taken out the window seat (i.e. only two seats in row 16). Therefore if you can get the window in row 17, there is no seat in front of you. It is a very big deal for someone like myself that is 6’6”. The flight left on-time or even a bit early at (8:45pm) arriving in Victoria about 10:40pm (1:40am Toronto time).
I visited with some friends and family for a day. The next day my Mom and I set off for Tofino from here place near Mill Bay (just north of the Malahat).
Cowichan Bay (took some photos early in the morning on a grey raining morning) There was no wind which made being out in the rain much more pleasant. With no wind the rain was just falling straight down and my hood wasn’t being buffeted around.
I took a direct non-stop Air Canada flight. The plan was an AirBus A319. This plan has an over wing emergency exit (Row 16) that they have taken out the window seat (i.e. only two seats in row 16). Therefore if you can get the window in row 17, there is no seat in front of you. It is a very big deal for someone like myself that is 6’6”. The flight left on-time or even a bit early at (8:45pm) arriving in Victoria about 10:40pm (1:40am Toronto time).
I visited with some friends and family for a day. The next day my Mom and I set off for Tofino from here place near Mill Bay (just north of the Malahat).
Cowichan Bay (took some photos early in the morning on a grey raining morning) There was no wind which made being out in the rain much more pleasant. With no wind the rain was just falling straight down and my hood wasn’t being buffeted around.
We started off about 9am, drove to Nanaimo where we had breakfast. A brief stopped in Parksville to pick up a few last provisions and take a look at the beach. It was still raining so we didn’t stay long. Then we got on Hwy 4 to cross the island.
We stopped in to Little Qualcum Falls provincial park. This is a very intriguing river/waterfalls. Fast moving water in a narrow and deep gorge.
Cathedral Grove
Pass through Port Alberni
As we left Port Alberni, the rain stopped and the skies cleared. We saw snow capped mountains. There was even some snow at the side of the road in shaded areas.
Polished River Bed
Kennedy Lake very large
Highway ends at a T, Right is Tofino, Left is Ucluelet.
We took a short drive through Ucluelet and only found one restaurant that was open. We stopped in for a late lunch. After lunch we drove towards Tofino.
We stopped at the Wickaninnish Centre. Here we got our first view of the Pacific Ocean. WOW! They have a restaurant that we made reservations for 7pm (sunset is about 8pm)
Check in to Pacific Sands Resort. Highly recommend. Clean, comfortable, accommodating. Nice beach, and sunset point is very nice.
Went for a walk on the beach to take some photos
Dinner/sunset at Wickaninnish centre restaurant.
Next day
We woke up to another glorious sunny clear day. Breakfast at Wickaninnish Inn (The Point Restaurant), and made dinner reservations. Drove around Tofino, visited the Ray Vickers Gallery and a few other stores.
We spent the next few hours stopping at each of the beach areas.
Radar Hill
Coombers Beach
Long Beach
Went back to the resort for a rest before supper
We went back to the Wickaninnish Inn (different than the Wickaninnish Centre) for dinner 6pm (I was feeling a bit off and didn’t really each that much)
We got back to the resort about 7pm. I headed off to Sunset point. Nice trail in the woods (half way with a board walk) other half was over tree roots and a bit muddy. I should have worn my rubber boots and carried my whole camera kit. When you have all your stuff you don’t use any of it. When you decide that you only need to carry a couple of things, that’s when situations arise that you would have used the stuff that you don’t have.
The walk was well worth the effort and I was rewarded with some wonderful views in a very calm and relaxing area overlooking two different bays. Watching a glorious sunset over the pacific ocean is a very rewarding experience.
The next day was another glorious day, clear skies and warm temperature. After checking out of the resort, we went to Tofino for breakfast and to buy some art from the Ray Vickers gallery. It was late morning and we started the drive back to Mill Bay. As we were leaving the skies started to cloud over and cool off. We stopped again at Cathedral Groves and Little Qualcum Falls for some more photos when it was not raining.
The early flight home the next morning was uneventful. No matter how good a trip is, coming home is always the best part. :)
Harper Leader or Control Freak?
He won't let his cabinet speak to the media. He won't let the media set-up outside the cabinet room. He won't even let the chief of defense give a speech without having it cleared by the PMO! He has also fired sever communication people in his own office.
Sounds like his less about leading the country and more about being a dictator.
my $0.02
Just found this column from the Toronto Star
Hear that glove snap? The PM will see you now (Apr. 17, 2006. 06:38 AM
LINWOOD BARCLAY) (www.thestar.com)
All this animosity, these bad feelings, this distrust between the Ottawa press gallery and Stephen Harper should soon be a thing of the past now that the government has got this whole lie detector screening system pretty much up and running.
Since the Conservatives took office, the media have been having a heck of a time dealing with the Prime Minister. Reporters barely get to ask Harper any questions, interviews reporters book with cabinet ministers are cancelled at the last minute without explanation, photo-ops of Harper meeting important national and international visitors are not allowed.
One might almost get the idea that Harper is, I don't know, paranoid or something. A control freak, perhaps. But the government, in its wisdom, realizes keeping the media at a distance can't last forever. Harper has decided to open the door to reporters, to let his caucus members be as up front as possible, provided reporters are willing to meet the government halfway.
That's where the lie detector thing comes in.
Sounds like his less about leading the country and more about being a dictator.
my $0.02
Just found this column from the Toronto Star
Hear that glove snap? The PM will see you now (Apr. 17, 2006. 06:38 AM
LINWOOD BARCLAY) (www.thestar.com)
All this animosity, these bad feelings, this distrust between the Ottawa press gallery and Stephen Harper should soon be a thing of the past now that the government has got this whole lie detector screening system pretty much up and running.
Since the Conservatives took office, the media have been having a heck of a time dealing with the Prime Minister. Reporters barely get to ask Harper any questions, interviews reporters book with cabinet ministers are cancelled at the last minute without explanation, photo-ops of Harper meeting important national and international visitors are not allowed.
One might almost get the idea that Harper is, I don't know, paranoid or something. A control freak, perhaps. But the government, in its wisdom, realizes keeping the media at a distance can't last forever. Harper has decided to open the door to reporters, to let his caucus members be as up front as possible, provided reporters are willing to meet the government halfway.
That's where the lie detector thing comes in.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
A new Zoo Picture
This is a shot I took at the Toronto Zoo last summer (2005). I have recently re-done the post processing to try and make the image 'pop', what do you think?
I was at the zoo first thing when they opened and went straight for the tigers. I got 3 or 4 shots of this cat just chilling in the little pond. After that they got up and hid in the back of the enclosure.
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