A Kominar Chronicle: In the beginning… 

The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony played for CIGI/IGLOO over the lunch hour this friday. Beethoven, Bach and others were on the set list, spiced with an excellent flute solo for good measure. It was a pleasure to hear classical music resonate through the office. If only more employers could bring the symphony in to play for their employees!

Hosted in the Seagram’s Building the aire was something special. The building used to be a brewery for Seagram’s from 1857 until 1992. It’s got quite a history, you can read more at the City of Waterloo’s Seagram Collection website.

I’m feeling pretty cultured lately as this is the first of two symphonic experience I’ll be privy to this week. Later this evening, Massey Hall will be hosting Video Games Live a mixed media experience. I’ve been anticipating the event as I enjoy music and video games together.

Check out either of the symphony experiences and you won’t be disappointed.

• Video Games Live
• Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
  

Since last September I’ve been working as a Research Assistant for Dr. Dan Jerker B. Svantesson. He is an associate professor at Bond University and has been studying Internet Geo-location technologies for some time now. I’ve assisted him doing research and reviewing various draft papers. My last project was assisting in research and reviewing chapters for a new legal textbook, “Internet and E-Commerce Law” Forder & Svantesson Should your travels find you near scholarly legal tomes, look me up!

Dan’s recent article, “The Internet, geo-identification and the law – they know approxymately where you are located” features a reference to the research I’ve been conducting over the past year. Its nice to see my work out in the world without having been first turned into Turn-it-in.com. On the same note, I’m continuing to do some work developing GeoComp to assist in further study of the field.

Thanks Dan!

Jere and Emily flew into Brissy International on Monday morning and were quickly whisked off to the Gold Coast. (Note: Jere’s Nerdy Hat reads ‘Kitchener/Waterloo Software Quality Association’)

Tired, weary and jet-lagged, they were good-natured about seeing local highlights. We went grocery shopping at Robina Town Centre and toured around Bond. Dinner was a special treat as we dined on Kangaroo and Crocodile cooked up for us by a true Aussie, Nadine! It was particularly delicious and a great way to start any Australian adventure.

The next day we scouted out the coast itself and got to some of the beaches. We started at the northern end of the Gold Coast and slowly worked out way south. Lunch in Southport with Nadine, and idle wandering down civilian pavilions. by the courthouse in Southport for a delicious lunch at Mason’s.

I decided that we should head over to Q1 to get a birds-eye view of the land (Left). Q1’s claim to fame is that it is the world’s tallest all residential tower. It is apparently the 20th tallest building in the world, and the fact is well advertised at the base of the tower. Suspiciously absent in any comparison is mention of Canada’s own CN Tower. Amongst the 30 some odd technological tower-marvels, the CN doesn’t deserve to be listed!? More to follow, informal investigation to follow.

We went down the coastline and hit North Burleigh Lookout at sunset (Right). After getting lost in Miami on the way back home we indulged with some Tuk Tuk Thai Takeaway.

The next morning, I cooked up a continental brekky for the travellers and we ventured off to Brissy for our last day together. I learned something that day, Brisbane is a terrible city to drive in if you haven’t driven there before. We enjoyed the adventure because it was a good way to see the city, but stopping right turns for three streets in a row simply can’t be good for traffic. Anyhow, we made it to the airport with plenty of time and I saw them off to Cairns. They’ve got a great tripped planned, owed mostly to Emily from what I hear!

It was quite a treat to see Canadian family and friends down in Australia, and a nice way to celebrate finishing my degree! Thanks to my family who sent me down graduation cards, very appreciated and safely received.

Wishing Jere and Em all the best on the rest of their journey!

Bon Voyage!

For the past two years I have been fortunate enough to be employed on campus working for Teaching Support Services. My duties were many, but mainly focused around supporting WebCT users. It was quite enlightening to see the gamut of web-savvyness come through my mailbox. It’s sometimes difficult trying to decipher the enigma of a half-hearted technical explanation that gets relayed to me daily. As a succinct and bona fide example I offer you the following: “Please help me, I need the best things in physic” (sic)

As I finish my last day of work I reflect on my memories of what was a thoroughly enjoyable work experience. For the sake of the reader and my lackluster memory it will be kept short and sweet.

• A stellar interview involving discussion of Montessori philosophy and demonstration of grammar zombies
• The convenience factor of work and school being physically intertwined. Combined with work being very accommodating at accommodating my educational accommodations
• Consistently besting my co-workers at lunch hour games(Including but not limited to: Checkers, Solitaire Showdown, Yahtzee)
• Being recognized as “University of Guelph Co-op student of the Year” for my work
• Free peanut M&Ms being stored in an $80 candy machine on my desk
• Having ‘an office’ on campus
• Having my own ‘official cookie distribution centre’ on campus
• Avoiding catastrophe.. sometimes

Heartfelt thanks to TSS and to my exceptionally cool-headed manager Richard for taking me on.