This is a pic I took from my regular commuting station, Miyamaedaira (宮前平)… I guess it’s called Hachiman Shring or something… 30 seconds of googling suggested it might be dedicated to ancient Shinto war-gods… Whatever…. It looks pretty in the snow… Can anyone guess what the light is across the top of the picture?
I have a lot of DS games, but one of my favorites is Rampart, which is one of two games on the title: 
(GBA)
The first time I played Rampart was in this shopping mall in Richmond BC, when I was staying at my brother’s place in the summer of 93′, visiting from Japan.
It’s definitely an old school game. But the building walls and strategy… guess it appeals to the little kid in me who used to enjoy making similar battles in his head with Lego pieces… Also if you’ve ever liked Tetris, Rampart is a natural step, as the pieces for building walls are based on Tetris pieces. So fast forwarding again to my life now in Tokyo. After a long day at work, Brain-Age or Kanji-kentei, reading ebooks just can’t keep my tiredness and fatigue at bay…
I had great expectations for Metroid Prime Hunters on DS, but the requirement of using the pen to jump… makes it a pain, if you’re used to the Gameboy controllers…
But Rampart does the trick for me… I have missed my station because I was so into defending a castle or something. But then there are occasional hic-ups… Like my DS’s batteries going dead or say… a bug.
If you can see this screen shot, and know the rules of Rampart, you’ll see that I completed the wall around the upper left castle. And despite this, Rampart has a problem, particularly with these very close castles, where even if you surround it, it times and and thinks you’ve lost the game… I hope if they ever release the game for DS, that they fix this bug… and wouldn’t it be nice if they gave me a free upgrade for my troubles. 😉
Story 1
I moved back to Canada in 2003. I needed a phone to start my job search. I asked around and only Rogers would accept
foreign credit cards, so voila I signed up for two years with Rogers and got their Sony Ericsson T306.
After about 3 days of
giving my phone number and calling people, I was wondering why nobody was calling me back.
I tried calling my cellphone from a
pay phone. When I did, I heard the following message. “The cellular subscriber has not yet activated their voice mail. Please tell
them to activate their voice-mail before they can receive calls”.
I signed up for a mobile phone, not a mobile-answering
machine. Who cares if I haven’t activated my voice-mail yet’ I don’t even like voice-mail (on mobile phones, unless they sent it
to you as an MP3 which would be cool). I don’t think I missed any million-dollar deals, but still my social life did suffer directly
because of this major system design flaw.
Story 2
Some time after getting my Sony Ericsson T306 I decided to try and
read my email on my T306. I tried to set up my email accounts on my phone. It didn’t work so I gave up. I’m guessing now that it
was perhaps a network outage ‘, ‘at the time I set it up, but I don’t know why it wasn’t working, and I can say for surety that most
end-users would have just had my reaction. If it’s broke, and not than important, why bother fixing it?
In mid-October of 2004,
I started using this mobile CRM web application on my phone’s browser. For only 5 MB of data transfer I got a whopping $150 data bill
for October. I quickly proceeded to get onto a discount data plan, which would bring down the cost of my Internet use. I also started
shopping around for other carriers with the cheapest data plans, considering various camera phones, blackberry and smart phone
devices. The cheapest I found was Fido who was offering $40 for unlimited data on regular phones and $20 for their sort of weird but
funky Triband-Hiptop. Although bothered by the Hiptop’s lack of ability to click-and-call telephone numbers in the browser like most
mobile phones, I couldn’t beat the price.
In December I stopped using the browser on the Rogers T306 and gave it to my wife,
and canceled my discount-data-plan with Rogers, as I wasn’t intending on using the T306 for Internet use anymore.
In February
when my Rogers January bill came, it said that I had downloaded 6,381 KB of data and that my data charges were $319.05. I proceeded to
contact their Online Customer Service for which I was replied that I used the services and cannot have the amount credited back to my
account.
To which I replied ”Please be more specific as to the type of data you’re claiming I used.’
Online Customer
Service: ‘the Browser was launched on various different days at various different time, not possible to be an error’
I have
since confirmed with Data Customer Care that the email function (for most cellular phones, including the T306) uses the same protocol
as their Browser, which means they can’t tell what was ‘launched’ during the various different times.
On March 6th, I
finally found the cause of the data transfer; the email function in the T306, which I configured more than a year previously had
started working some time between October 2004 and December 2004, which was almost indeterminable as it doesn’t give any special
notification when new email arrives (compared with SMS which beeps every message), nor does the bill from Rogers give any specific
details for email usage. I proceeded to erase the settings to prevent it from continuing to download email, and promptly contacted
Roger’s Online Customer Service to share my discovery about the unknown data transfer. I never got a reply to that message.
/>I called Rogers on April 4th. I was put on hold and then the line disconnected. I sent a message to ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE
requesting a call back regarding the situation. They never called back. Instead they wrote back saying ‘Our GPRS data network has no
means or method available to ‘force’ a wireless product to initiate a data connection, unless the product is manually actioned to do
so.’
The Sony Ericsson T306 doesn’t need to be manually actioned to do so. It has the ability to have it be set up once, not
work because of an outage in their GPRS network, and then when the network starts working at some unknown time later, of ‘checking
email’ and downloading it without the mobile-subscriber ever being conscious of it.
In that April 5th email, they also
advised me to speak to a manager at their Data Customer Care department at 1 866 931 3282.
They then proceeded to send me
a letter warning me to pay, or they’d cut off my service, and also a bill for $1033.98, most of which was the disputed data-charges.
On April 7th, I tried to call a manager at the number provided, but was met with a most un-customer-oriented analyst who
refused to escalate my issue and hung up on me after accusing me of verbal-abuse (I’m getting embarrassed even mentioning this, as
some might think that I was abusive, like the rape-victim not wanting to mention it less people think she was ‘asking for it’). That
day my phone was also cut off. I called up billing that day and explained that I was currently disputing the data-charges, but that I
was happy to pay the outstanding voice-charges. I made a payment for $310.49, and was told that my phone would be reactivated without
re-activation fees and would have 20 days of phone use during which time I was to resolve the dispute. The phone was not
reactivated.
Reporting this to the ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE, I got a thoughtful reply on the 12th : “I have unfortunately
been unsuccessful in making an arrangement in obtaining a Data Customer Care Manager to respond to your inquiry. For this reason, your
exact intervention is required by calling. ”
My phone was still not reactivated despite paying the outstanding voice-
charges and being assured it would be activated for the following 20 days.
I then called, trying again to talk to a manager
at the DATA CUSTOMER CARE. The analyst still insisted on drilling me heavily before passing me to her supervisor. But first she tried
to negotiate with me, saying that a $100 credit is the best she could do. I explained that I am quite technically knowledgeable,
having experience in mobile-technical support myself, and was sure that few end-users could have gotten as far as I had in discovering
the problem, and how they might be putting others in danger of similar unfair data usage charges. I further explained that because I
was a ‘techie’, that I was one of the kinds of people to try out new services and then recommend them to less-technically enlighten
folks, saying “this is great”, or on the other side saying “that is a waste of time”. I further attempted to impress on her that I was
about to become the latter if I hung up without resolving this case with Rogers. She then put me on hold for 20 minutes after which
time I got to speak with her supervisor, Iv, who was quite understanding about my plight. However he did insist I took too long to
contact them and that the best he could do was credit me for half the amount, about $360. I tried to impress upon him that I had taken
timely action as noted above, but he could not concede. In fact he went as far as to imply that I was somehow at fault for having
relied on the ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE for such important communication to the ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE, and that I should have called
DATA CUSTOMER CARE directly sooner. I explained some of my problems with DATA CUSTOMER CARE and asked why they even have an ONLINE
CUSTOMER SERVICE, if not for providing a convenient method for customers to contact them. He did agree that the communications systems
in Rogers could be better, and that if I requested a phone call, that it should never take longer than 24 hours for someone to get
back to me. He also agreed that the networking department needed to report better on data-usage and that he would escalate that
problem internally in Rogers, but he still couldn’t concede that I was entitle to a 100% credit of the disputed data-charges. After
spending more than an hour on the phone and not feeling like continuing, I reached the conclusion of asking him “What do we do when we
cannot reach an agreement?” at which point he informed me that he could escalate the problem to his manager. I requested he do so, and
I was put on hold for another 5 minutes to get the voice mail of a M in Montreal. I stated my account number, telephone number, and
requested a call, and am still waiting for the reply. They still hadn’t reactivated my phone after this call.
I received
another notice of terminal of service from Rogers dated April 10th, this time stating that my credit-rating would be effected if I
didn’t pay the outstanding fees. I called the numbered on that letter (1-800-539-9605) on April 21. It is a dedicated number for
over-due payments. The number asks for the last three characters of my postal-code. I proceed to speak them and it tells me that they
don’t match. I assume this is because they are trying to match it with the number I’m calling from which they probably don’t have
on file as it’s not my home or work telephone number. I then asked for an agent and the telephone system proceeded to disconnect my
call. I then tried saying ‘Agent in a loud’ audible voice. I then got through to an understanding analyst who after explaining that
I was still disputing some charges, but that I had made a partial payment two weeks earlier, quickly reactivated my phone for 20 more
days.
Went to the most wonderful natural hot spring yesterday:
From this site, we looked for natural hot springs with the least hiking time, with relative proximity to Vancouver. Olympic in Washington was the best we could do.
We left at 7, in our new mini van (not exactly new-new). We arrived at the border where I got in trouble for not having my passport. We then proceeded on, past Bellingham to Burlington and turned west on the W20. I hadn’t read the instructions from mapquest that closely and discovered there was a small ferry ride, but that was OK, we got on right away and slowly made our way through the beautiful Deception Pass.
We finally wound up in Port Angeles from where we could see Victoria BC across the water.
About 16 km from there we found ourselves in the Park which contains the hot springs. As written on the web site, the hotsprings are not promoted by the parks’ people at all. None of the maps at the entrance of the park make any reference to it. I was warned about this on the web site, so I knew not to be discouraged by this. But there were some indiscrepancies on the web site, like the name of the road, and its distance from Port Angeles. Finally, half way up this windy road I saw a guy on a bicycle going full throttle up the hill. I stopped just a few meters in front of him, and I guess by my BC number plates and what not, he knew I was a little lost, came up to the side of the van and confirmed we were on the right path and gave me the goods on the good pool. He was sort of a hippy type dude, and spoke to me like “I knew what the mission was to be accomplished”. I felt honored by that acceptance into the brotherhood despite my disguise as “a nice family man with his family on the way out in the national park”.
Finally when we reached the end of a long windy road through the park, we came to this place that says “hotsprings, 2.5 miles”. Here there was a large group of cars very similar in appearance to the cars parked on Marine Drive on the way down to Wreck Beach in Vancouver.
However, we were way behind schedule. I knew that 2.5 miles meant a long walk for little kids. My faith was dwindling again. Just then our hippy-bicycle friend caught up with us and said “see ya up there”.
I knew that we were rushed, and ended up carrying Leon up most of the way. After twenty minutes we came to this river that was impossible to cross unless you hat deep rain/fishing boots on, or… did as we did and took our socks and shoes off, and piggy backed the kids across. Since the water was near zero degrees, I threw my shoes across so that I’d have to go…. After drying my feet off and putting my dry socks and shoes back on, it was the most wonderful feeling… (like getting dressed after canoe-dumping practice in April in Alberta, something I did in 86′).
After that I was convinced the worst was over and I’d shown my dedication to the mission. Up until then we met groups of young hippy looking people with tents and what not going up and down. But just then we met the first respectable family, two parents in their mid 40s with a 10 year old girl. They told us to reconsider, as their girl had a hard time, but they had gone all the way in two hours… TWO HOURS I’m thinking.. If we left at 3:15, then it’ll be … dark on our way back.. Part of their warning was there was a much worse crossing than the river I just beared, with an ice-covered-log bridge with only one handle… It turned out to be much worse than that.
We decided that we’d turn back at 5pm no matter what.
A few years ago a family friend, Hayashi-san and Susumu (Otoosan) were surveying some mountains in Mie Prefecture when they got split up. Hayashi-san was lost in the heavy raining pitch-black forest for more than 14 hours until a search crew found him. We didn’t want our family to have the same experience. Also I realized that we were out of liquids. Nana and I had each thought the other had the drinks, so the 500 ml bottle of juice we had was long gone and I was thirsty. However not long after, we discovered a little stream. I had my drink and filled up the 500 ml bottle and away we went.
Nearly forty-five minutes later, we stopped for lunch, and resigned to the fact that we’d probably not make it before 5. Just as we finished, a gentleman coming back from the top, asked me “first time up?” He then proceeded to advise me that we turn around immediately, as a 10 year-old-girl almost didn’t make it across. After we walked on, a younger member of his party turned to me and nodded as if to say “go for it”.
Just around the next bend we discovered the icy-log bridge. Up until this time, Taz had been in regular “park mode” enjoying himself taking little side paths and catching up with us ( which wasn’t hard when Leon was walking). But here I stopped and explained to Taz like this: “Taz, when we’re in Stanley Park, I don’t mind so much when you jump from boulder to boulder or what not, because we are always 5 minutes from a hospital. But here we are 5 hours from a hospital. So you need to be extra careful. No more climbing or jumping than is absolutely required. And don’t worry, there is plenty of required climbing.” Taz was incredible. He understood the gravity of the situation and was really in survival mode.
The terrible part was getting down to this icy-log bridge. The path was at a 30 deg angle down and total ice. I tried to convince Nana that the snowy edge was the safest, but it was the edge that went almost straight down into a rocky river, so chances of… being OK after a fall were slim. Once we got down to the icy-log bridge, I carried Leon under my right arm like a painting or something. ON the other side I found an equally challenging icy path up. At one point I found it only possible to get us up by slightly throwing Leon up onto a level path. He was so in-tune to my gestures and movements. It was 20 mins to 5pm and we were still OK. We went on and on and then found the easy bridge (see pics). A little past that, I saw the steam…
4:59 and we were stripping in to get going. Only Nana came equipped with swim-suit but that wasn’t a problem. Apparently the lower pool or first one is like Tower-beach, friendly to both nudists and swim-suits, where as the upper pool is the nudist only pool. Time was our only concern. I was surprised how perfect the water was. No taps or electronic-controls could have made it more perfect. Our efforts were rewarded and we were having a lovely time…
Sometimes the wind would blow and it would make snow crystals shower down over us. One gust made it feel like a snow storm for about 10 seconds. But it was mild and clear and aside from the time, perfect winter bathing conditions.
Just then our hippy-bicycle friend came by. Gave us the scoop on the upper pool. I said we’d definitely make it next time.
It was time to go. We were in a race to get over the two great hurdles before it got dark.
It did get dark, but a near full moon was on our side. In fact everything was on our side, we made it down in 1 hour 40 mins, made the last ferry for the evening at 8:30, cleared the Canadian boarder with little problems and made it home in 5 hours, a trip which took 8 to make in the morning.
It was a little hard for a day trip but well worth it…
We will be exploring more natural hot springs this year.
One unfortunate thing happened, my compact flash card was corrupted and I lost a huge number of pictures. We did manage to save the best ones of the family in the snowy natural hotspring. Log in to view the album and click on 050220 to see the pics of this adventure.
Dear Honorable Judy Sgro,
Good day, and thank you for opening my email. I’ll try to keep my issue as
brief and to-the-point as possible.
I lived in Japan from April 1997 to June 2003 with my Japanese wife and our
children on a Japanese spouse-visa.
Last March my company notified me that I might be eligible for a transfer to
Toronto. I went to the Tokyo Canadian Embassy and asked the procedures of
getting a spouse-visa for my wife so that she could legally reside with me
and our children in Canada. I was informed that there was no spouse-visa
and that if I was Japanese I could apply for a work-visa which would allow
my wife to residually get a resident visa of equal validity to my work visa
in Canada, but that because I’m a Canadian, that immigration was the only
choice for my wife.
‘, ‘Due to the time constraint I was advised to go to Canada and start an
application for immigration once I got here.
On coming to Canada my company lost the business which my position was
dependant on, and due to the precarious state that my family was in I would
not start an application for immigration for my wife until I secured a
steady income in Canada. After receiving a fairly steady income through
self-employment this year, I started an application for my wife’s Permanent
Residence on April 15th.
This situation is most inconvenient, as she cannot get public medical
coverage (despite my paying for the full-family rate). I also have to pay
$75 every time I renew her Temporary Resident Permit, not to mention all the
other benefits of residents or work-permit holders.
Why is it that spouses of work-permit holders should have an easier time
gaining residence in Canada than spouses of citizens?
I would just add that a situation like this makes repatriation to Canada
very difficult for any overseas Canadians married to non-Canadians, thinking
of coming back. I believe that immigration is very important to the
Canadian economy, but I believe that repatriation might even be more
important (on a per capita basis), as the cost of integrating these types of
‘migrants’ is much less than foreigners who may not understand Canadian
culture, society or our national-languages.
Thank you for kindly reading my email.
Sincere regards,
Nicholas Edmeades
For a little over a month, Taz has been playing baseball in the Vancouver Renfrew senior rookie league for a Team called the Angels.
On April 19th they had there first game, and Taz was the first up to bat. He hit the first pitch and just stood there, in time for the pitcher to fetch the ball and tag him out. Two weeks later when he got his next hit, he proceeded to run to first base with the bat.
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‘, ‘After inquiring to one of the coaches about batting ranges, she just recommended a I play catch ball with him and practice with him in a regular park. Slightly offended a the remark, I took a personal interest in seeing that Taz held is own in this team.
It turns out that it’s not a difficult team to hold your own in. It unfortunately has a large number of players who have never played before. For the last two weeks, whenever Taz can get to bed before 9:30, I reward him by waking up early and going and practicing baseball with him for 30 mins to an hour in the park by our house. I think it’s really paying off as today although the Angels had the butts kicked, Taz was the only player to get a hit for his team. He shown for a moment in a bleak game, but I was glowing that my little boy hit the ball. I have taken some photos, but I realize that baseball is video. Hearing the sound of the hit and the cheers. On an aside, since coming back to Canada, I’ve finally got my Mac ready to edit Video, so look forward to some new movies soon.
