tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33833712009-02-23T23:37:29.774-05:00Al's Archive BlogAlnoreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-70874157420258825322007-04-14T20:53:00.000-04:002007-04-17T18:49:35.546-04:00

I ran across this unusual backyard art display in an unusual place, in a backyard at 695  Sheppard Ave W in Toronto. Titled Meeting The Shadow - Baggage Unclaimed, the artist describes it as a social comment about "...how individuals handle and most often disown their negative personality traits, their denied shadows".More photos here at Flickr.The artist asks for feedback at papor@sympatico.ca

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-33323359236904740052007-03-03T12:33:00.001-05:002007-03-03T12:49:39.921-05:00

Icy Car Originally uploaded by DeafDJ.It's always interesting which photos other people like. It's not always the shots you expect. This recent picture of my car in the morning after Toronto's snow and ice storm on March 1, has rapidly become my most popular with viewers.I was lucky that I forgot to take out my recycling blue box the night before. I had to do it in the morning before the garbage

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-39425741748199824302007-02-25T21:43:00.001-05:002007-03-03T12:49:03.503-05:00

Snowy Fill-Up Originally uploaded by DeafDJ.Filling Up at Wilson Heights and Sheppard as the lastest storm blows in. Don't ya just love the prices! And Canada is an oil exporting nation, eh!

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-34243835048166617792007-02-07T21:16:00.001-05:002007-03-03T12:50:49.194-05:00

Ghost Dog Originally uploaded by DeafDJ.Pretty much every time I leave the house or arrive back home, Sasha is watching through the window. Often not moving, just watching, watching for those signs and clues that let her know she's going for a walk! She has a really comfortable couch to rest on while she watches, but she'd immediately give it up for a chance to run outside, no matter what the

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-41898103626287008012007-01-05T21:25:00.000-05:002007-03-03T12:42:59.293-05:00

The local, grassfed Bison Sirloin Tip Roast was promoted as being the highlight of the meal I was preparing for my mother's birthday. All care was taken in it's sourcing, transportation and preparation. I even bought a digital meat thermometer to make sure I cooked it correctly. But all that was in vain, as I cut into a less than tender, and fat veined roast.Luckily I had a couple of backup plans

Alnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-43822301082599985992006-12-31T00:46:00.000-05:002007-03-03T12:53:58.778-05:00

These old fashioned, sugar shack style butter tarts are the liquidy kind that I love. And if the repeated requests 'to make some more' are any indication, there's a lot of runny tart lovers out there! Here's the recipe:Alan's Maple Syrup Butter Tarts1/3 cup pure maple syrup1 egg1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted1 tbsp half & half cream (10% MF)2/3 cup brown sugar, packed1/2 cup raisins1/2 tsp

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1166571134408836892006-12-19T16:55:00.000-05:002007-03-03T12:46:28.860-05:00

Michael Schmidt, the Ontario farmer currently on a 4-week hunger strike to protest the government's shutdown of his raw milk business, has another press conference/rally in front of the Legislative Building at Queens Park tomorrow, Wednesday December 20, 1996 starting at 10:30am (inside and out of the Blue Bus). Along with support of Toronto's top chefs, Michael will announce the end of his

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1166477621833339982006-12-18T15:59:00.000-05:002007-03-03T12:52:57.446-05:00

Green website TreeHugger has concerns about some of the conclusions reached in Voting With Your Trolley (trolley=British supermarket cart), a recent article in The Economist that looks critically at the practices of the Organic, Fair Trade, and Local Food movements.What does seem clear is that using only economic logic to analyze real-life problems leaves much out of the equation.

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1164516491830395642006-11-25T23:22:00.000-05:002006-11-26T16:48:14.480-05:00

The original 100 Mile Diet was created in Vancouver, Canada.I've always tried to have a edible garden, use pick-your-own farms, and make preserves when local produce was in season, so this plan really appeals to me.When I draw a 100 mile circle around Toronto I get a big chunk of New York State and Lake Ontario. Since I don't think there's anything in the lake that I'd want to eat, and NY State

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1162952470668534002006-11-07T20:54:00.000-05:002006-11-26T17:08:56.966-05:00

We all need shaking up every so often.Well I've been shaken and stirred! And I like the results...Old sites are being renovated, and new one are coming online.This blog (In Service To My Selfish Meme) will focus on sustainable local food, photography, travel, music, science and technology, plus my overflow repository of stuff that I can't fit anywhere else.Photo journals, both family and other,

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1141182411784121632006-02-28T22:02:00.000-05:002006-11-26T16:56:59.036-05:00

Just too funny not to post!An ANAGRAM Map of the Toronto subway system.

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1136349385136223272006-01-03T23:36:00.000-05:002006-01-03T23:39:59.120-05:00

Bothers On The Ledge Originally uploaded by DeafDJ. A snowy winter day outside, but Sims & Shrimper have a warm viewing ledge.

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1133641627014276602005-12-03T15:27:00.000-05:002006-11-26T17:00:57.033-05:00

Blustery Madawaska Lake Originally uploaded by DeafDJ. Well, Irate Radio was disappointing.First it saved all the mp3s it played on my harddrive. Now this is ok, but now I have to manange them!I rated the music I heard, but the system didn't seem to be able to find anything that I really liked.SO... off it goes into the land of forgotten uninstalls....MUCH BETTER is Pandora!Enter a

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1127190116110456252005-09-20T00:08:00.000-04:002006-11-26T16:59:12.063-05:00

Thanks to a suggestion from Steph The Geek I've been having loads of fun with iRATE radio.The program automatically downloads legal mp3 files. You listen and rate them. Over time the server chooses music similar to tracks you've previously highly rated.I'll let you know if it really picks music I like after I've spent a week or two training it.PHOTO: Sims Eyes

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1123643991361537482005-08-09T22:34:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:11:06.340-05:00

If you've been browsing my pictures you may have noticed that I cohabit with a number of cats.That results in a surplus of empty cat litter containers.Here's a couple of uses that I've found for the plastic cat litter containers with handles.1. Plant Containers.Rip off the top, pull off the litter logo, and punch a few holes in the bottom with a hammer and screwdriver. Fill with potting soil and

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1123033322606329722005-08-02T21:37:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:11:58.906-05:00

Is anyone else getting *%$!@@ off by the Canadian Tire guy?How about the commercial where his ATV is 'just a summer toy'!For most people it would be a struggle to afford, a major purchase.But the CTC guy, who has everything, his smug attitude just annoys!And with his exclusive contract, perks, and salary, he probably does have all the 'toys'.Sorry, just had to let that one out!

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1110597366185373172005-03-11T22:09:00.000-05:002006-11-26T17:16:22.640-05:00

I've been busy posting, but mostly to Flickr.com.There's a set from the Internet Retailing conference that I attended in Palm Springs, and kittens everywhere you look!Use the MY FLICKR PHOTOS link at the top of this page, or just click the link in this post.

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1106882993875162872005-01-27T22:25:00.000-05:002006-11-26T17:13:53.020-05:00

If you take digital photographs and want to see them at their best, try the excellent FREE photo management program from Google, PICASA.This is a really sweet program. Besides the organizational benefits, the image manipulation tools are both extremely easy to use and first rate.Even your worst photos can suddenly look like works of art!

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1105316583154903972005-01-09T18:50:00.000-05:002006-11-26T17:15:12.686-05:00

One of my recent distractions has been FLICKR.It's filled a need I had for sharing photos that didn't warrant the work of creating a web page for GlobeUrban, my Home Site, and were not 'serious' enough for my account at Deviant Art.My Flickr photos are for friends, relatives, and other social communications.Others are pushing Flickr into new uses. Where else can you find 44 great pictures of

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1096948592870526222004-10-04T23:43:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:17:35.810-05:00

47 years ago today was the dawn of the space age, when when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I.Now, on the anniverary of that amazing day, SpaceShip 1, the first private rocket ship wins the X-Prize.The backyard spaceship, like the garage microcomputer, is destined to change our expectations of the future.

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1088385688335874412004-06-27T21:15:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:24:58.816-05:00

A quick cold front storms through and leaves a sunset with rainbows and dramatic skies.

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1087257036895787852004-06-14T19:20:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:27:28.373-05:00

The long, slow journey to ringed Saturn is over, we're in the neighbourhood! And the view is amazing! On the way to a landing on Titan in January 2005, the Cassini plutonium powered spacecraft is passing by Phoebe (see photos below), one of Saturn's 31 know moons. You can see the underlying ice of the crater wall shining white in the weak light from the far away sun

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1085236671630235452004-05-22T10:13:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:37:29.623-05:00

Music without big business, what a concept.Even when I find music that I like, if it's managed by a major record company then I somehow feel abused,manipulated and overcharged.Music produced by people who have signed a contract with the mainstream labels makes for a more stressfullistening experience than hearing music directly from the creators.The decaying ethics of the majors devalues and

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1084855877488563862004-05-17T23:23:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:38:28.050-05:00

I like listening to new music.I don't enjoy hearing the same song over and over again.So being both tired of the hassles involved in just listening tonew 'copyright' music and seeing little value in buying mp3 music files,I've been receptive to new sources for my musical satisfaction.Here's the 1st of a couple links that you might want to try.Whole Wheat Radio originates from a 12 x 12 cabin in

Alnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3383371.post-1082518142721496182004-04-20T23:28:00.000-04:002006-11-26T17:42:55.646-05:00

Early Spring in the Land of Sasha's Dacha

Alnoreply@blogger.com