Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Christmas Quake?

VanDusen:VanCity Buzz 2015

Stanley Park: Picscristmas 2015
BCIT: 2015
Lumiere Festival Vancouver: 2015































































CBC December 29-30

Cited

'B.C. earthquake wakes up Vancouver, Victoria-area residents Quake, 4.3-4.8 in magnitude, centred 20 km north of Victoria at 11:39 p.m PT Tuesday but no damage reported'

'B.C.'s South Coast was hit by an earthquake that shook many people from their sleep just before midnight, in what one seismologist called the largest quake in the region in years.'

'Some people near the epicentre northeast of Victoria reported their homes shifted, and others were knocked off their feet. "The house moved seriously to the right, came back, it was loud. The aquarium had a mini-tsunami and overflowed. We were in the kitchen and got tossed into the counter," wrote one commenter on the CBC website.'

End citations

I had just arrived home from a day's work when at between 23:30 to 23:59, I heard a very large, big bang. But, I could see no interior damage to the condominium.

I however, did not think it was an earthquake or Christmas quake immediately because my good friend, Mr. Rogers friendly neighbour, retired famous East Maple Ridge natural bodybuilder the one and only Mr. Bobby Buff, may have dropped one of his dumbbells during his workout...

One gets used to such living in proximity to a living legend...

Saturday, December 12, 2015

How To Win Friends And Influence People?








































This week in Toronto as taxi drivers protest Uber...

I am sympathetic to both taxi and Uber drivers attempting to make a living.

Please do not misunderstand.

However, the gentleman speaks like my friend, Indian co-worker and trainer 'Sandy'.

But the video is a comedy classic. As is the one from the Ukraine.








































Sunday, December 06, 2015

Birthday Chuck: Tom Jones Commentary

Maple Ridge about two years ago exactly, on a local walk




















Tom Jones, The Star, April 2015

Trish Crawford author

Cited

'Tom Jones — The Life, beyond the knickers, open shirts and gold chains'

'Tom Jones, the singer known for his exposed chest, swivel hips, sexual escapades and deep, strong voice, has always wanted to be respected as an artist, according to a new biography.'

End Cited

Here was have (satirically) a possible Biblical connection with the fine singer, Mr. Tom Jones.

Perhaps Tom Jones' chest hair made him 'like Samson' in regards to his Delilah?

 

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Satire & Security?


















Late night/early morning dinner at a restaurant, after the end of the work week...

I am greeted by an approximately 6 foot 1 inches in height redhead and very friendly hostess.

Paraphrased

Hostess: The weather here (Metropolitan Vancouver) is nothing like California, like I was told it would be (Vancouver weather would be like California weather).

Me: True, the Okanagan has summer weather somewhat like California, but the winter would be much colder (In the Okanagan).

Hostess: I came out here from Toronto because my boyfriend did, and so I followed him. I thought like, what the hell.

Me: So, it must be pretty serious? (The relationship)

Hostess: No, it is nothing too serious.

Me: Vancouver is like California in that the people (generally) are liberal.

(I could not resist making the philosophical connection)

Hostess: Yes!

She was sort of ditzy and smart...

The previous time we chatted she mentioned that after her shift she had to get a ride home from a taxi because her boyfriend was drunk and could not provide her transportation home.

Interesting secular perspective on romantic relationships and life, in contrast to a Biblical view.
---

A perspective from work and a few employees...

Being above average (attractive looking) is not the same as being 'hot' (beautiful looking).

A colleague and I were reasoning a few people need some attitude adjustments.

(I am neither above average or beautiful, in my opinion, by they way)

One's looks are not primarily self-caused, so one should be humble in any case.
---
I state this is a moderate conservative, but one thing philosophically confirmed to me being in the corporate world for two years is that many corporations have money as their God.

This is of course contrary to Scripture (James for example).

James 5:1-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of [a]Sabaoth.
5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [b]fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and [c]put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

Footnotes:
James 5:4 I.e. Hosts James 5:5 Lit nourished James 5:6 Or murdered
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Wealth is not inherently wrong, but its misuse is...

The needs of the shareholders and top executives take precedent over everything else in many cases, including employees, ethics and morality.

Now of course I had my complaints with the academic world and academic 'dictatorships' as well...
---

A fellow security officer informed me that our employer, a security company, is for sale for...

1 Billion (Canadian I assume)

The corporation we are contracted for onsite is worth approximately 2.7 trillion (US) worldwide in assets. According to Wikipedia.
---
The other day at work I took mandatory company security courses (as opposed to the different mandatory site corporation courses which I have to do more often).

As an academic it appears to me the courses were rushed after the 'Paris' terrorist incidents.

There were numerous spelling mistakes and the section on Workplace Violence even had many questions with the answers in red provided in the question.

(Note, I realize I make mistakes on my sites, but when I see them I fix them as soon as possible)

As well, with my weapons training and the MMA-Street Fighting online course I am presently working through, red flags were raised; many of the photos shown where a security officer was to defend self have the officer in the line of attack with a gun or knife.

Any substantial weapons training will demonstrate that one is to stay off the line of attack, in other words be to the side of the weapon in defending. This is the case with outside blocks and even inside blogs required as the stance and defence should begin from the outside heading in with a block (or hold) and a severe strike needs to be used simultaneously.

This is where elbow strikes are very useful, as one can use elbow strikes while holding the attacker's arm, keeping him/her off balance.

Low kicks can also be useful in this context, especially a roundhouse.

It is essential to not face the attacker and weapon directly.

I also mentioned the courses to the new site corporation area security manager, a former Australian commando and trained terrorism expert. We agree that in close combat a knife is more difficult to defend than a handgun. The knife having more 'points' of attack. He also stated that no one gets away without being cut in a knife fight and that is quite reasonable, whereas it is easier, if one is close enough and knowledgeable to at least disarm someone with a handgun.

A gun from a distance against one unarmed requires one to run and or hide.

There was one main gross company video (dramatized) by the way as one of the opening scenes shows the bloody results of a female employee being shot in the head...

Vancouver