March 8, 2003

World of Ends What the Internet Is and How to Stop Mistaking It for Something Else. by Doc Searls and David Weinberger 8:17:44 AM (GMT-04:00)  00000017

March 3, 2003

Sooner than expected Against all odds, Object First With Java, A Practical Introduction Using BleuJ, the book that I have ordered last Sunday (February 23) arrived Friday (February 28). I didn't expected it so soon. I took a good look at the book this weekend. It has 13 chapters. I think that if I read a chapter a week (which includes doing the exercises and everything), I should have read it all by the end of May. Frances and I went to Montreal, to spend the weekend and we brought Laurence back with us to Saint John for March break. Even though I have to work the rest of the week and I expect to be very busy, I am very happy that the LADIES are on vacation. Jean-Claude 9:54:36 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000016

February 23, 2003

Something Meaningful I need to start focusing on something that is meaningful to me. I need to start concentrating on learning something new. So I decided that it's time that I should seriously seek to get certified on Java. Just learning a new programming language, especially in Java's case, is not enough. Java is an object-oriented programming language. Design considerations are as important if not more important than knowing the language proper or any of the APIs that goes with it. There are lots of resources out there. Namely, there is a simplified development environment named Bluej that is specially geared at teaching object oriented programming using Java. It looks like it's something that I could live with it. Consequently, I decided the buy the book Objects First with Java A Practical Introduction using BlueJ by David J. Barnes & Michael Kölling that goes with it and formally start my process of learning the object oriented programming using Java. I will buy the book today and I think I might use my weblog to track my progress. Jean-Claude 4:04:01 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000015  Atomic Bombing: How to Protect Yourself (1950 survival guide) Enjoy! Jean-Claude 7:53:44 AM (GMT-04:00)  00000014

February 21, 2003

God creates Canada . . . Frances brought this home today . . . enjoy! Once upon  a time  in the  Kingdom of  Heaven, God  went missing  for six  days.  Eventually, Michael  the archangel  found him,  resting on  the seventh  day. He inquired of God, "Where have you  been?" God sighed a deep sigh  of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look Michael, look what  I've made." Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?" "It's a planet,"replied God, "and I've put LIFE on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a  place of great  balance." "Balance?" inquired  Michael, still confused. God explained,  pointing to  different parts  of Earth,  "For example,  NorthernEurope will be a place of great opportunity and wealth while Southern Europe  is going to be poor; the Middle East over there will be a hot spot. Over there I've placed  a continent  of white  people and  over there  is a  continent of  black people,"  God continued,  pointing to  different countries.  "This one  will be extremely hot and arid while this one will be very cold and covered in ice." The Archangel, impressed by Gods work,  then pointed to a large landmass  in the top corner and  asked, "What's that  one?" "Ah," said  God. "That's Canada,  the most glorious  place on  Earth. There  are beautiful  mountains, lakes,  rivers, streams and  an exquisite  coastline. The  people from  Canada are  going to  be modest, intelligent and  humorous and they're  going to be  found travelling the world. They'll be extremely sociable, hard working and high achieving, and  they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace, i'm  also going to  give them  super-human, undefeatable  ice hockey  players who  will be admired and feared by all who come across them." Michael  gasped  in  wonder  and admiration  but  then  proclaimed;  "What about balance, God? You said there will  be BALANCE!" God replied wisely. "Wait  until you see the loud-mouth bastards I'm putting next to them...." Jean-Claude 7:34:22 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000013

February 20, 2003

Frances Ann Wants a Cell Phone Frances wants her own cell phone. She says that now that her COOP course that she is teaching takes her all over town, it is too inconvenient to be searching for a phone everytime she needs one. We will end up having two cell phones on one account. We will share the minutes. Ok as long as we do not call each other's cell phone. Because if we do, we will be eating up twice as many minutes. More on this later! Jean-Claude 12:01:30 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000012

February 16, 2003

Saint Valentine's day Weekend Mahogany Manor Bed & Breakfast Stay Last December there was a Bazaar organized as a fund raiser for Saint John  High School.  Frances Ann,  my spouse,  teaches there.  At the  bazaar there was an auction. One of the item  open for bidding was a  night for two at the  Mahogany Manor Bed & Breakfast. Against all odds,  she won the bid and we  decided to go this weekend. Large rooms, nine  foot ceiling and  tall windows; this  house was built quite some time ago. They do not make them like that anymore.  The hosts, a  couple of middle  age men, were  genuinely nice and  made our stay memorable. We had an excellent evening: Diner at Chruch Street Steak House and early evening movie: About Schmidt Once again, especially this weekend, Monday will come too soon. Jean-Claude 9:04:43 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000011

February 15, 2003

A Soldier's Viewpoint on Surviving Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Attacks Interesting reading ... Hope never to go through that! Jean-Claude 10:49:29 AM (GMT-04:00)  00000010  The Cold and Frances The cold might stop Frances from going to work (she works as english teacher at a local high school here in Saint John, NB) but I will not stop her to go shopping early on a Saturday morning. Specially if ther is a 50% to 75% sale going on. It is currently -24C outside . . . in the sun. Jean-Claude 9:33:32 AM (GMT-04:00)  00000009

February 13, 2003

Got the most thoughtful and original card/photo album that reminisces on our 7 years together from Frances Ann for Saint Valentine's day. Incredibly busy day today. Got up at 02:00, left for work at 03:00. Got there at 05:00. PassCode to get in the building did not work. Lucky me, someone got out and that created an opportunity for me to get in. Worked on final touch to presentation and walked up to training room in the other building that our company has in Moncton, NB. Did presentation in front of 6 persons. Finally took the road back to Saint John at noon. Bought some flowers, card, candle and heart shaped balloon to Frances for Saint Valentine's day. It is so cold out there (-20C to -30C), it's not even funny. Jean-Claude 9:43:37 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000008

February 12, 2003

Still busy writting a presentation. Somebody gave me a 720k diskette instead of a 1.44M. I save my presentation on it. My computer can not read those. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I should have just emailed myself instead. Because of that I will have to get in to work very early tomorrow . . . after an 1.5 hour drive. Looking forward to the weekend. Jean-Claude 10:05:33 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000007

February 11, 2003

This is a picture of Laurence & me taken in 1998 Challenge of the week: SQL Fundamentals of querying, a presentation still currently in gestation for Thrusday & Friday of this week; . . . getting everything . . . hardware, software and presentation . . . ready in time. Ok, I am not sure that I am of the blogging type. This is suprising because I am normally quite willing to comment about things. I think I am intimidated by this new medium. Lucky me, nobody is reading . . . at least for the moment. From now on, I will blog everyday. Going through the process on a daily basis . . . this will be the only way that I will be able to tell if this is for me. I must say that I have learned and quite a few things since I have discovered Weblogs. Jean-Claude 9:04:54 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000006

February 3, 2003

This is a picture of Laurence, Frances & me: Jean-Claude 8:44:53 PM (GMT-04:00)  00000003

February 2, 2003

Counting the days? This is day one after the shuttle disaster . . . and I am not feeling any better. Are we going to start counting the days after this disaster. And, at the same time, entertain a sort of countdown to the a war that each day seems more unavoidable. My heartfelt sympathies goes to the family, friends . . . and colleagues of those astronauts who died. At this time, 2003 does not look good! 5:15:37 AM (GMT-04:00)  00000002

February 1, 2003

Well I guess that's it! This is the start of Radio's 30 days evaluation period and my first post. This is a new world to explore and like Russ Lipton says, I will have to find my voice. . . . Oh my God!!! I just received telephone call from Frances's father telling me to turn on the TV! It appears that the Space Shuttle might have missed re-entry and is burning . . . Jean-Claude 10:56:05 AM (GMT-04:00)  00000001

© Copyright 2003 Jean-Claude Noel. Last update: 2003-03-08; 8:17:52 AM.