Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

December 16, 2019. Back in the office today; this is a view from the road just outside our building. Back at the ethics paper, which will One Day Be Done. https://flic.kr/p/2i1xPUm

December 14, 2019. I spent most of the day working on my ethics paper, and also a couple of hours reviewing a paper. Evenings these daya I play No Man's Sky, which for me means working on my base/city I call Trantor. It may be the largest city in NMS, but it's hard to find. You have to get to Budullangr galaxy, then get to the Galactic Hub. It's near there, in a region of space called the Downes Federation. https://flic.kr/p/2i1xCXg

December 15, 2019. I cleaned up the basement and prepared the cycle after a bit of a hiatus, because it's time to get back on the bike to prepare for next summer's cycling season. https://flic.kr/p/2i1yJQC

December 13, 2019. I'm on to winter food now - a warm and nourishing broth of egg noodles, vegetables, tuna, gumbo soup mix, and ghost pepper for bite. It was back to the ethics paper today, which is slowly taking shape. https://flic.kr/p/2hZEuBa

December 12, 2019. I took a day off from the ethics paper to write a proposal for a May conference (a Canadian conference, so I don't get booked onto an Air Canada Rouge nightmare). Back home to play No Man's Sky. These are my various travel mugs. https://flic.kr/p/2hZBNDL

December 11, 2019. It's hard to see but there's a vigorous snowfall taking place. This is the Chateau Laurier as seen from the Rideau Centre in downtown Ottawa. We took the LRT downtown while waiting to have snow tires installed. I also checked in at the office to determine that the internet is now working again, so it's back to the usual routine tomorrow. https://flic.kr/p/2hYjL8P

December 10, 2019. I tought for a while wondering why we must always build buildings above ground, creating the need for ramps (which are always awkwardly constructed) and decided it must be because of snow, which would otherwise melt into buildings. This was a quick trip to the bank in the morning during a day spent working on (you guessed it) my ethics paper. https://flic.kr/p/2hYohjZ

December 9, 2019. This is the view of the back yard from the downstairs bathroom. I'm up early and ready to work from home (due to the internet outage in the office). It was another day spent working on my ethics paper (by now a Major Project). https://flic.kr/p/2hYjwDp

December 8, 2019. Sunday means errands as we ventured into the city (still on summer tires) for a Costco run. Other than that, I'm still working on my ethics paper. https://flic.kr/p/2hYjtFF

December 6, 2019. Before I went to Brazil our TV went zzzzzzzt and died. Today the replacement arrived. We set it up, and while the cats were not impressed by the disruption, Lexi at least approved. https://flic.kr/p/2hVWciq

December 5, 2019. The 'NRC' logo is there to prevent people from trying to walk through the plate glass in our lobby. The view is of the back of the wreath hung over them. The good news ended there, as I came back to find out that internet on the 'black' network is out. That said, I can work from home until it's back up again. https://flic.kr/p/2hVQgvq

December 4, 2019. I spent the day working on my Ethics paper, trying to create a nice video of it. I say 'trying' because I learned the hard way that OBS will only support a certain number of image slides. This is in the evening, just before bed. It's the latest of my Senators Mugs, bought at the airport, to replace yet another lost Senators mug. https://flic.kr/p/2hVLzaY

December 3, 2019. Back from Brazil, taking a rest day before working again. This is Andrea's chair, and sitting pretty on Andrea's chair is Lexi, who knows where to find the softest chair in the house. https://flic.kr/p/2hVQ1PM

December 2, 2019. This is what greeted us when we landed in Toronto. After a layover, I got into my 10:10 flight to Ottawa. After a three hour delay we managed to take off. Back home now. Cats are very happy. https://flic.kr/p/2hU5ymV

December 1, 2019. Arrived in Sao Paulo early in the morning, had breakfast, stayed at the 'Fast Sleep' in the airport, sleeping most of the day, then caught my flight to Toronto in the evening. I had thought about taking my 13 hour layover and visiting the city, but decided to play it safe. This the the view from a short walk I took outside the airport. https://flic.kr/p/2hU7Q1Q

November 30, 2019. The day after the conference livia Nery celebrated two things - the successful completion of the conference she organized, and her birthday. This is at the celebratory lunch. Before lunch I went for a walk around the hotel in 40 degree weather taking pictures, and after I was taken for a quick tour of the city centre, which I really appreciated. I was in bed by 5 p.m. in preparation for my 2:00 a.m. departure. https://flic.kr/p/2hU8JNp

November 29, 2019. Today was the big day. I was working on the slides right up to the final moment, did a really nice presentation (IMHO) and then (of course) we went out for another longish dinner to talk about it all. These were flowers outside the restaurant; it was the only good photos I was able to take for the day. https://flic.kr/p/2hU6MrZ

November 28, 2019. I have to say, any lead singer that comes out in pink tights shreds has my support right off the bat. I did my panel session and general conference attending in the morning, then worked on slides in the afternoon. There was also a lengthy lunch, dinner, and evening show. https://flic.kr/p/2hU6v2V

November 27, 2019. This is Carlos Alberto P de Oliveira from Rio, one of my co-presenters in Teresina (and all-round good guy). I didn't attend any sessions today (since they were mostly in Portuguese and I wanted to spend more time working on the big talk) but there was plenty of time for bantering during the (typically) long lunches and dinners. https://flic.kr/p/2hU7m3G

November 26, 2019. This is the traditional Brazilian orchestra from the opening ceremonies for the conference in Teresina. They were quite good, playing standards that had the audience singing along. https://flic.kr/p/2hTCSu9

November 24, 2019. This was one of two dogs being led through the Ottawa airport for people to pet and just generally enjoy. He was a very good dog and loved all the attention. Security staff loved the dog, too. For me, it was part of a good start to my trip - I was able to pay for an upgrade to premium economy for the long flight to Sao Paulo, and I got to pet a dog before boarding my flight. Made my whole day. https://flic.kr/p/2hQQw6n

November 23, 2019. We ran some errands today, one of which was running the car through the car wash (it's the fastest and easiest way to make sure all the windows, lights and cameras are OK). https://flic.kr/p/2hQLSFp

November 20, 2019. This is the railway bridge at Casselman (I can also see it, at a different angle, from my kitchen window). I've been focused on my current paper on ethics, preparing for a trip that might not happen, and watching the days grow shorter as winter extends its grip. https://flic.kr/p/2hNHNjB

November 19, 2019. Another day spent working on my ethics paper, and also adding publications to my c.v. As I walked outside under this sky I thought "the mark of a good sunset is that makes you feel small." https://flic.kr/p/2hNbfXy

November 18, 2019. Just as I was about to submit my claim, I got a call from Montreal airport saying the luggage was coming in on the 7 pm flight. That was Saturday. Sunday evening I got a call from the Grayhound station in Ottawa. Monday at lunch time I drove down to the station and picked up my luggage, only 26 days late. Ah, but it's nice to have it back. Money doesn't replace stuff - that's why I gave money for the stuff in the first place. https://flic.kr/p/2hNcf6n

November 17, 2019. This is our stress case Alex lounging in the front hall waiting to snag anyone who goes by. Another day spent playing No Man's Sky. https://flic.kr/p/2hNbccc

November 16, 2019. In retrospect, I should have built my base in No Man's Sky on a planet that has more colours. Still, I like my super-heated world, and though there's zero point to doing it, I've been enjoying the task of creating a large city on a world near the centre of the galaxy. https://flic.kr/p/2hN8wsz

November 14, 2019. I've started working on my paper on AI and ethics. I also played a bit with some VR as part of a study. I can't wait to try VR with No Man's Sky - this is my space ship, 'Nomad'. https://flic.kr/p/2hNb1d8

November 13, 2019. Still recovering from jet lag, did odds and ends all day, including some editing. This is the driveway in the dark. It's too soon for winter! https://flic.kr/p/2hN8jEB

November 12, 2019. First day back in the office today and right back into the fray with a meeting. But it was all OK. Spent the day catching up on email. Home tired with only enough time to capture this photo of out three year-old geraniums. https://flic.kr/p/2hNaVhS

November 11, 2019. This is the scene on the front lawn the day after returning from Italy. I spent the day editing and uploading photos. https://flic.kr/p/2hN8cDT

November 10, 2019. I was up at 4:00 to catch a cab at 5:00 that never showed up. It turns out that it is not easy to get to the airport early Sunday morning in Cagliari. Still, I managed. This mosaic was on display in Rome's Fiumicino airport - it was flat, I took the photo at an angle, and rotated it the rest of the way in Lightroom. Made it home; my luggage should follow eventually. https://flic.kr/p/2hJ56a9

November 9, 2019. I was up bright and early and at the conference to deliver my paper. The presentations ended around 1:30 so I had time to visit the botanical gardens (in the rain). Early night tonight because I have a super-early flight to catch. https://flic.kr/p/2hJ3VJ1

November 8, 2019. I skipped out of the conference 'social activity' and took a short train ride up the coast to Oristano, where I visited this unique cathedral. This is from the ceiling over the pews. https://flic.kr/p/2hH1NGN

November 7, 2019. This is just down the road from the conference I'm attending (and of course, up one steep hill and down another). It dates from he 1st or 2nd century and sat about 10,000. https://flic.kr/p/2hH1FxT

November 6, 2019. Walked some 13 kilometers through the city - from the Bonaria cemetary, where this photo was taken, to the high point in the city, pictured in the photo. Then a few more km in the evening. First impressions - I like Cagliari a lot. https://flic.kr/p/2hGApBM

November 5, 2019. I was a while finding my hotel, then walked around in Cagliari for a bit to get the knots out of my muscles. This was at the entrance to Chiesa di Sant Agostino - I couldn't say how old it is, 5 yrs or 500. https://flic.kr/p/2hGwyhG

November 4, 2019. Looking out at Ottawa airport as I set out. First they would stuff me into a tiny CRJ, then into a 787 crammed to the gills where I could not move for 9 hours, then an even tinier seat in an A-320 that somehow sat 180 suffering souls. I am determined never to fly economy again, which probably means an end to my traveling days, but the fact is I no longer fit into the seats, not after the latest round of size reductions. https://flic.kr/p/2hGyQRY

November 2, 2019. The Cost was for some reason really really crowded today, so we had to park in the overflow parking lot (usually I can just drive behind the store and park in the back, but even that was closed off. Today was a day for errands as I prepare for my next trip. https://flic.kr/p/2hERLkr

November 1, 2019. It's hard to tell from the photo, but there was a gale force wind all day - it knocked down trees, cut power, and generally wreaked havoc. My day consisted in part of a tour of the NRC fire safety facilities - interesting art deco architecture from the 1950s. https://flic.kr/p/2hEP1Ch

October 31, 2019. This is what it looked like outside today as I drove home. This was actually better than it was earlier when we were wrapped in a thick fog. Now it's just dark and steady rain. Bleah. Spent today working on updating my projects database and some other odds and ends. Still trying to get my luggage back. https://flic.kr/p/2hDkMff

October 30, 2019. The original Bones lasted more than 15 years, first in Moncton, then here. Son of Bones is enjoying his third Halloween.The grave stone came last year, when the village dug a burial plot in our front yard and put a sewage line in it. https://flic.kr/p/2hDou1N

October 29, 2019. This is what I saw first thing today as I prepared to go back into the office. Fog. Regular meeting, and an afternoon spent catching up on email and admin tasks. Made a slide for a group presentation. https://flic.kr/p/2hDppst

October 28, 2019. Back home, running errands, replacing clothes that are somewhere in my lost baggage. This is the bridge at the Gloucester Costco. Posted my photos from Casablanca today. https://flic.kr/p/2hD78xa

October 27, 2019. Started my day thinking I had missed my flight in Abidjan, but made it just in time. This is the view from inside Casablanca airport; the crow is made from tires. Back home now. Still don't have my luggage. Apparently they 'closed the file". I don't know what that means - except I guess that my luggage has joined the giant pile of unclaimed luggage in Abidjan airport. Still trying to get it back. https://flic.kr/p/2hBv3QG

October 26, 2019. Today was my day to explore Abidjan, and after exploring the downtown area ('Plateau') and visiting the Cathedral, I headed to the nearby Parc National du Banco for a nice long walk in the rainforest. Pictures hardly do it justice, but this one comes close. https://flic.kr/p/2hAGrRb

October 25, 2019. Today was the last day of the conference. These were part of a display in the conference hotel (not where I was staying; I'm at a hotel near the airport, an arrangement that has worked out quite well, as traffic has been nothing near the problem it is in other cities). https://flic.kr/p/2hAJWxy

October 24, 2019. 'Plateau' is the name of Abidjan's central business district, seen here from the hotel. After the panel, I took a walk around the hotel area - a short walk, because of the heat. Today jet lag caught up to me a bit, leaving me tired and irritable. https://flic.kr/p/2hA9bYt

October 23, 2019. The view from a rural area in Abidjan. The weather here: cloudy, rainy, and oh so hot. I spent the day at the conference today, with limited opportunities for photos. But the workshop experience was everything I had hoped for, by itself worth the cost of coming here. https://flic.kr/p/2hA967t

October 22, 2019. I arrived at an early morning hour sans luggage and promptly went to sleep until the afternoon. Then I had time only for a quick dash to Carrefour to buy some emergency supplies, then back to the hotel, some food, and back to sleep for the night. So I only had time to take a phone camera photo outside the window of the cab. Here it is. https://flic.kr/p/2hzGLm7