Greatest Fear: Realized

My hand broke through the toilet paper.

Cleaver

I got a cleaver. It was my grandmother's favourite, and after she passed away, it just sat in a cupboard collecting rust. My dad didn't want it, so I took it on as a project knife to clean up, sharpen and learn to use.

Old school Chan Chi Kee 20cm chopper

After 15 minutes of scrubbing off the rust and patina on the opposite side

Every Day I'm Carrying

I've been looking for an Everyday Carry knife for the past few months, as I've been carrying my freebie Stanley 10-253 liner lock. It was serviceable, but had nothing going for it other than its price ($0). The blade was waved and dull out of the box, the steel was like metal butter (soft and bendy) and any edge I could develop with stropping was gone after cutting open some packing tape.

I decided to look for the very popular and highly rated Spyderco Para-Military2. Unfortunately, every online establishment I could find was sold out and I resigned myself to waiting for the email notification for when they come back in stock.

On a whim, I poked around Kijiji last week and stumbled upon someone selling the Para-Military2 black, exactly the model I was eying, and selling for about half of MSRP.

Para-Military2 Black G10

This is easily the most expensive knife I've ever carried in my pocket, but it has remarkably good value. It sports an S30v steel blade for edge retention, G10 handle scales for a very slim, grippy handle, and a clever, easy-to-deploy compression locking system.

Giant Spydie hole for one-handed deployment; compression lock for one-handed closing

This knife was much bigger than I anticipated. It has a blade of just under 3.5 inches, and a fully opened length of 8.23 inches. I saw those numbers, but I was still surprised. It's not a subtle, stealthy size, but it is really light and svelte. Ergonomically, it feels very sturdy in the hand in a variety of grips, be it for tactical purposes, or precision work.

The clip can be positioned in four ways: Left/Right, Tip up/down. I carry it right side, tip-down in my back pocket, so the spine of the blade is pressed against the pocket seam to prevent unwanted opening. Deployment is quick and easy, as the thumb hole is easy to grab, and the handle is already positioned for the Spydie drop deployment method.

Duty Calls

You are being summoned for the purpose of jury selection in accordance with the provisions of section 19 of the Juries Act...

I received the summons back in January, and answered those summons today. Unbeknownst to me was that the minimum duration for jury selection is one week. I thought I'd just be sitting there today, waiting to be called, deemed fit/unfit for duty, and that would be that. Having gone through the process now, I can see why they keep you there for a week.

It. Is. Tedious.

The adherence to procedure borders on liturgical, and requires a lot of sitting, listening, and occasionally, some public speaking. Basically it's everything they train you to do in elementary school.

So you've been summoned. Here's what it's like:

Provided that you are eligible to serve jury duty, show up at the courthouse in your jurisdiction (your city of residence). It will be clearly marked on the summons what location, day, and time you are to arrive. Bring your summons notice with you.

Pro tip #1: go there 30 min. earlier than the request time. Courthouse entry is security screened (like the airport), so there will be a lineup to enter, especially on the first day when all the jury candidates show up for the same requested time.

Pro tip #2: bring something to occupy yourself because it is going to be a lot of sitting and waiting, followed by sitting and listening. Bring snacks while you're at it, and anything you'd need to stay awake, or stave off headaches/incontinence/diarrhea.

On your summons will be displayed your juror number, and panel number. Usually there are about 4 panels of jurors (groups). Each panel will be called up at some point during the day to attend a trial's juror selection process. This is repeated until you're either serving jury duty in a trial, or the week of selection is up. Even if you don't get selected, it will count as having served jury duty and you will be exempt for the next three years. Keep your summons as proof because sometimes they summon you again.

The selection process is the fun, but also tedious part. At the beginning of each selection process, the judge will dutifully describe each and every step for you, along with an introductory spiel about what an interesting and rewarding honour it is to perform your civic duty.

Juror numbers/names are drawn from the pool by the registrar of the trial. Selected jurors have a chance to state their reasons for exemption to the judge if they should require it. The judge and counsel decide relatively quickly whether or not the exemption is granted. The counsel teams get a chance to assess each juror candidate. If both counsellors declare they are content with this choice, that candidate becomes part of the jury. If either one of the counsellors declares a challenge, the candidate is vetoed out and is off the selection panel for that trial.

They repeat this process until they have the required number of jurors. Civil cases only require 6 jurors. Criminal cases require 12 jurors, and that process is subject to additional checks and balances. Juror candidates are first assessed by a miniature jury of their juror peers (also selected by random draw) to determine if they are acceptable for candidacy. Then the candidate faces the accused and the counsellors read that reaction to determine whether they are content, or would like to challenge the appointment.

Everyone I sat beside today got selected. I was eventually selected for candidacy in a criminal case today, but was rebuffed on the final opportunity by the defense attorney. Thanks! Four more days to go!

Kitchen Knives

Kristen surprised me earlier this year with an excellent gift (for our anniversary, my birthday, Christmas, etc.). She snuck over to KNIFE one day and picked up a starter set of water stones and a gift certificate for a sharpening class with the proprietor of the store, Eugene.

credit: Spotlight Toronto

This past Wednesday, we made the trip downtown to attend the 2-3 hour private lesson to get a rundown of the basics of water stone (or whetstone) sharpening with Japanese knives. I had watched countless hours of sharpening videos leading up to this and it made a big difference to see it in person, feel the blade and stone feedback, and receive expert direction on the spot. We got to put some new life into a couple of Kristen's mom's worn down blades as well.

Military Diet - Day 3

Day 3:

As a result of my adventure yesterday with so much cottage cheese, vegetables, and Asian lactose intolerance, I made a poo mountain this morning (no photos -- you're welcome). It was peppered with carrot chunks (because I did not chew excessively) and looked like a decent chili.

Breakfast: 1 slice of cheese, 5 saltine crackers, 1 small apple

8:40 am - No egg =(
8:42 am - cheese with crackers tastes pretty good with water.

Summary: This day looks like it will be relatively lame overall.

Lunch: 1 slice of bread, 1 egg

12:00 pm - EGG! on toast! I have good toast.

Summary: Egg is satisfying.

4:39 pm - I am very hungry now. Only an hour to go until tuna.

Dinner: 1 cup of tuna, 1/2 a banana, 1 cup of vanilla ice cream

5:09 pm - So hungry that I ate the banana first to tide me over
5:30 pm - Cooking the copious amount of tuna with a pan.

Summary: That's a lot of tuna. And now I'm done.

Military Diet - Day 2

Day 2:

Breakfast: 1 egg, 1 slice of bread, 1/2 a banana

8:50 am - to eat boiled egg whole, or not to eat boiled egg whole...
8:55 am - I don't like to live on bread alone.

8:57 am - I should not be a food photographer

Summary: If (when) I do this again, I will distribute the yolk better.

Lunch: 1 cup of cottage cheese, 1 hard boiled egg, 5 saltine crackers

1:45 pm - This was the meal I dreaded the most. 5 saltines? not an even number? 1 whole cup of cottage cheese?
1:51 pm - Cottage cheese is not half bad... It's got cheese lumps that remind me of poutine curds. Is there a poutine diet?
1:55 pm - Cottage cheese is whey good as a saltine cracker dip.

Summary: 1 cup of cottage cheese really feels like 2 cups towards the end.

Dinner: 2 hot dogs, 1 cup of broccoli, 1/2 cup of carrots, 1/2 a banana, 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream

6:30 pm - hot dog good

Summary: hot dog good

pocketfish Returns: Military Diet - Day 1

Pocketfish hasn't been closed down due to inactivity yet! So I'm going to add some activity.

Today, I started the Military Diet. It is a US government sanctioned three day meal plan to get soldiers to meet weight requirements using a precisely calculated and chemically compatible set of foods. There is the potential to lose up to 10 lbs after those three days without strenuous exercise. I will be logging the meals and any interesting notes -- interesting to me, that is-- that might come up.


Why am I doing this? Because it looked like a useful challenge. Each meal comes out to under $3. I do feel (and look) a bit flabby. The only item that looks like suffering might be the tub of cottage cheese I'm slated to eat for Day 2's lunch.

Day 1:

Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 1 cup of tea/coffee, 1 slice of bread, 2 tbsp of peanut butter

8:35 am - I went with green tea. This is more of breakfast than I normally eat.
9:51 am - My burps smelled funky with the mix of grapefruit and peanut butter. It was otherwise delicious.

Summary: I really like grapefruit. It was well chosen, and supremed.

Lunch: 1/2 cup of tuna, 1 cup of tea/coffee, 1 slice of bread

12:34 pm - Eating tuna out of a can like a hobo (with a can opener), and an open-faced mayo-less tuna sandwich.
12:37 pm - I miss mayo already.
12:40 pm - There is a marked difference between toasted tuna, and straight-from-the-can tuna.
1:00 pm - Is it okay to not drink the tuna can juice?

Summary: I hope I don't smell like tuna all day. I am looking forward to that half steak for dinner.

Dinner: 3 oz of meat, 1 cup of green beans, 1 small apple, 1/2 a banana, 1 cup of vanilla ice cream

6:10 pm - Angus Inside Round Steak, baby

$7 for half a kilogram of steak, but $3 off because it's best before date is today

6:34 pm - There is so much steak left (for after!) 3oz is only 1/6 of the package.

6:45 pm - Fruit is an excuse to knife things

Summary: I like steak.

Game of Thrones

Once in a long while, a piece comes along that is so compelling that is spawns a litany of covers and variations.

Original: Ramin Djawadi


The intricacy, depth and layering lends itself to split screen fun.

Guitars: Misha (OogirtMoonfrad)


Violins: Jason Yang



The period feel also begs for adaptation to different genres and eras.

Heavy: Roger Lima


The natural evolution of all these variations is to breed them together!

Mash-up: Jason Yang + Roger Lima

It's super effective!

Walking on Sunshine

I don't play games on the iPod Touch anymore

because I found out about this: Stanza

When I was young, I would play games; as I grew up, I read books instead. It's like ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny, except less false.

Future Daughter's School Clothes

Behind the scenes

Who are these guys?

Trade Deadline Day has come and gone, and the exodus of roster players signed in the dark PreBurkian era continued. Our roster compared to the beginning of the season:

OCT 2009		NOW
Goaltenders
Vesa Toskala Jonas Gustavsson		Jean-Sebastian Giguere Jonas Gustavsson
Defensemen
Tomas Kaberle Mike Komisarek Francois Beauchemin Luke Schenn Ian White Jeff Finger Garnett Exelby Carl Gunnarsson		Dion Phaneuf Tomas Kaberle Francois Beauchemin Luke Schenn Carl Gunnarsson Jeff Finger Garnett Exelby
Forwards
Matt Stajan Alexei Ponikarovsky Niklas Hagman Mikael Grabovski Nikolai Kulemin Jason Blake Wayne Primeau Jay Rosehill Colton Orr Rikard Wallin John Mitchell Lee Stempniak Jiri Tlusty Viktor Stalberg		Tyler Bozak Phil Kessel Nikolai Kulemin Luca Caputi Fredrik Sjostrom Viktor Stalberg Christian Hanson John Mitchell Colton Orr Wayne Primeau Jamie Lundmark Rikard Wallin
Injured
Mike Van Ryn Phil Kessel		Mike Van Ryn Mike Komisarek Mikael Grabovski
Marlies	Acquired	Traded	Injured

O is for the only one I use to browse the web

It's faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssst

Good Grief

One of my favourite episodes of AD was just given new life.

Stop. It's T-Shirt Time.

Aglaonema

I have a potted plant sitting behind me, by the window (I have a window now!). It is some kind of house fern. My Boss named it Sherman because I am my brother's keeper.

I use one glass per week for all the drinks that I drink during the workdays, be they breakfast beverages or simply water.

Sometimes I get more water than I want. The next day, that water goes to Sherman.

There is a large jug of water that someone left at a softball game one day that I kept in my trunk for a good 5 months. It now sits under my desk and I use it to water the plant.

My life is average.

Armchair Coach: Canada's Roster

The Canadian Olympic Men's Hockey Roster was unveiled this afternoon in Saskatoon. Following the disastrous outing in Turin in 2006, Steve Yzerman put a greater emphasis on team cohesion, youth and versatility, overlooking some veterans by picking players with known chemistry together (see San Jose's top line). Going into the selection process there were some indubitable locks to make the team, but the rest of the roster was up in the air.

Canada's Olympic Men's Hockey Roster in my projected, but rather obvious line combinations:

GOALTENDERS
Martin Brodeur	Marc-Andre Fleury	Roberto Luongo
The schedule is not as tightly packed as last Olympics', so there is a good chance that one goaltender gets a majority of the workload. Brodeur will likely get the nod as #1 for the tournament barring injury or a demoralizing loss. Fleury will likely get the call against one of the lesser teams to see how he performs on the international stage. Luongo, who has never been past the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has plenty of international experience, but not as much as Fleury in the pressure-cooker games of the finals.

DEFENSEMEN
Scott Niedermayer	Chris Pronger
Anchoring the top spot are Canada's defensive stalwarts, and top pair from the 2007 Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks, Niedermayer and Pronger, epitomizing the desired mix of intelligent playmaking defense with a bruising physical presence.
Dan Boyle	Shea Weber
Boyle is a smart, and gritty puck mover who can put pucks to the net while Weber is as solid as they come in the defensive end.
Duncan Keith	Brent Seabrook
Keith and Seabrook are a young pair that anchor the Chicago Blackhawks defense corps together.
Drew Doughty
Drew Doughty, at only 20 years of age, brings a complete game to the ice and will be ready to fill any role required of him.

FORWARDS
Patrice Bergeron	Sidney Crosby	Rick Nash
Crosby and Nash found some intriguing chemistry on the ice during the orientation camp held in Calgary earlier this year. Patrice Bergeron was Crosby's set-up man back in his last World Juniors appearance on arguably the strongest team ever iced in that tournament. Bergeron was a sleeper pick whose solid two-way play, ability to play all three forward positions and familiarity with Crosby gave him the leg up on other contenders. I am hoping Bergeron changes his name to "Stills".
Dany Heatley	Joe Thornton	Patrick Marleau
These three are San Jose's top line. This line pairs Thornton's big-body playmaking with a pair of shooters in Heatley and Marleau. They are a consistent scoring threat that will add even more depth and balance to Canada's attack.
Mike Richards	Eric Staal	Jerome Iginla
Eric Staal and Jerome Iginla will be looking to prove themselves as they are having sub-par seasons. They are both very gifted scorers who've had some trouble finding the net recently. Mike Richards, a defensive-minded power forward and captain of the Philadelphia Flyers and captain of the 2005 World Juniors squad that featured the likes of Crosby, Bergeron, Seabrook, Weber, Getzlaf and Perry, adding a defensive presence to an otherwise offensively oriented line.
Brenden Morrow	Ryan Getzlaf	Corey Perry
Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have played together since junior, both reaching mainstream recognition with their stellar campaign in the aforementioned 2005 World Juniors when they took home gold. This line will be relied upon to tire out the other team as they are big, fast and can hold the puck down in the opposing zone for a long period of time.
Jonathan Toews
As one of the youngest members of the roster, but also one of the most dynamic scorers in Canada's arsenal, Jonathan Toews and his hard to read name is an indicator of the direct Steve Yzerman wants to take this team: young, fast, responsible, and oh so very talented. He is on this very deep squad to fill in for any injury. He is a game-breaking clutch performer, as evidenced in the 2007 World Juniors when he scored 3 times in the 7-round shootout to seal the victory for Canada over the US.

The team Steve Yzerman has put together is characterized by size, skill and skating. Learning from the Turin debacle in which a team chock-full of talent and experience had their collective butts handed to them by border-line NHLers, Yzerman aimed for putting together a team with existing chemistry. The Olympic teams have about 2 weeks to gel together as a unit under a different coaching system, the pressure of the national stage and teammates that were, just a week before, the enemy. This year we also see a changing of the guard. Gone are the likes of Ryan Smyth, Shane Doan, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, Adam Foote, etc. In their stead is the successful core of younger players from the World Juniors of 2005 led by Sidney Crosby and other standout players who've developed their game to take on new roles.

What the Fractal?

A fractal is a geometric shape that, when broken down into its constituent parts, contains the same approximate shape exhibited in the whole.

One of the simplest and most popular fractals is the Koch Snowflake, an infinitely recurring pattern of equilateral triangles.

They can be extremely complicated, like the Mandelbrot Set.

Some fractals are even nutritious and delicious.