Filed under: Uncategorized — David @ 9:01 am Comments 3
So baby has received his/her very first plaid. We can soon have Baby Urminsky looking like Dad! Here is the garment
Picture Baby Urminsky wearing this while in the great Canadian North when all the Leaves change colour! Very cool I must say!
Of course, Baby Urminsky has a long way to go if the goal is to look like dad…
Filed under: Uncategorized — David @ 3:11 pm Comments 5
I managed to finish reading “The God Delusion”. I will stand by my earlier post about it. He doesn’t provide any new arguments to support atheism. In addition, many of his conculsions about christianity are not founded on anything which is true about christianity. Finally, for a book which tries to promote the scientific way and scientific reasoning, it is anything but scientific. I am also trying to avoid complaininig about its constant abuse of anyone who is religious. I think the kicker was when he had this to say about Mother Teresa concerning her comments that abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace:
“How can a woman with such cock-eyed judgement be taken seriously on any subject, let alone be thought worthy of a Nobel Prize?”
Well… I won’t go into a rant. I will say to you readers, if you want to talk about it give me a call.
For a nice response, read “The Dawkings Delusion”.
Now for the machine..
Last night I spent the night at the sleep clinic. It was good to know that they don’t diagnosis me with sleep apnea, but with just a breathing problem when i sleep. This is mainly because I don’t have bad enough symptoms. However, they did have me sleep with the cpap machine which helps you breath while you sleep. I felt like I was getting geared up to fly a fighter jet when they strapped this oxygen mask to my face. All that was needed was the jump suit, helmet and cool shades. If I had that I could pretend to be Ice Man in Top Gun. Hey, Val Kilmer is awesome.
Filed under: It Grinds my Gears — David @ 9:24 pm Comments 5
Do you know what really grinds my gears? Commercial sound levels.
Soon after Neyir and I got married we got rid of our cable tv and settled for just watch’n DVD’s on our telly. When we came to scotland we purposely get rid of the TV’s in the flats we rented cause we didn’t want to watch it. Plus we didn’t want to pay the TV tax here. Yes, for all you north americans who read this, they tax you for owning a telly here.
Well, we recently got a telly and purchased our TV licence so that when Neyir is on mat leave and when baby is up late at night, we have something to keep us from falling asleep.
Well, not only do they tax you for having a telly here, they also show only crappy shows here. Maybe it is just because I have been out of the popular television culture for 5 years, but there really isn’t anything interesting to watch any more.
But what really ticks me off is that they crank up the sound levels during commercials. I don’t remember how bad it was in North America, but it seems like the sound is 1.5 times louder during commercial breaks here in the UK. I think this is just counter productive. Neyir and I just turn off the sound during commercial breaks so we don’t hear what the commercials are about. If the advertisers want to see the product, they shouldn’t annoy the viewers, but instead entice them to watch their commercials.
Filed under: Neyir's Posts — Neyir @ 11:49 am Comments 0
Let me just say before there are any wise-cracks that no I do not mean a new version of HP Brown sauce but rather the publishing phenomenon that is Harry and his friends.
We have purchased the last book. It sits on the coffee table before me. Heaven knows at the moment I have the time to do nothing but read straight until I’m done. No I don’t have to share - David has this silly distraction at the moment (writing up his PhD). But, I have not started the book…..
I am not someone who is known for their patience so the fact that we have had ‘it’ in the house for the last 2 hours and I haven’t started yet is something of a marvel. Why? Well yes I am sad that this will be the last book and yes I am apprehensive as to how the various threads will be resolved. I think, however, the real issue lies in the fact that I’m not sure how much it all matters to me. You see usually before I read the latest book I re-read all those preceeding it and before I see the latest movie I read the book on which it is based. My short term memory is accurate enough that I will even remember whose lines have been moved to which character in the movie - sad I know. But this time I have done neither of those things. We went to see movie 5 last night and I haven’t looked at that book in probably 2 years and now here I sit with book 7 before me and there is every possibility that I might read it and miss some subtle connection, not comprehend the fulfillment of foreshadowning cleverly planted in book 3 - I might not get all the details. I am someone who is know for her ‘neurotic’ attention to detail.
So what to do and why the changed in book inhalation behaviour? Well the change I suspect has something to do with our imprending life change and the fact that my current circumstances are interesting enough that I haven’t felt the need to escape by immersing myself fully in Harry’s domain. Also I am a fair amount busier. I read the first 3 books directly after gum surgery the fall after grading from Uni, just post travelling in Europe and before I had a job. I distracted myself from the physical pain by sitting by the window, occasionally eating soup and reading continuously until I had finished them all. At some point I read the 4th book though my memory of the circumstances are sketchy (must have had some sort of social life at this point!). 5 came along in the 1st summer we were married at the tag end of the school year when I was teaching music and David and I were on completely oppositie schedules. We had one simple rule - the book was not to leave the house. This was fine as I read during the day while he was at work and David while I taught. Then 6 was published 2 summers ago - our first summer in Edinburgh. Edinburgh! The city that had fostered the creation of the first book, where I could go and sit in one of the cafes that JK had spent hours frequenting as she crafted the first installment. They dressed the Castle as Hogwarts and the city was awash in Potter mania - too fun.
So here I am, I am not post surgery, working an opposite schedule from my husband - not working at all, nor swayed by the romanticism of ‘wow another HP book or wow the last HP book’. Nope. I am however looking forward to immersing myself for a little while in that fantastical world and forgetting that very soon I will be unable to read anything continuously due to other demands on my time. I think I may even indulge in a bubble bath with some of the scrumptious lavender bath suds work gifted me with on my last day yesterday. I might however still miss connections with the earlier books…..
I could always re-read the last book first……but I don’t think I am that patient and I hate the notion that the plot resolution might be spoiled by overhearing other’s conversations…..mmmmm
Guess I really must be on maternity leave (pre-baby) if this is my big dilemma!
Filed under: Uncategorized — David @ 8:45 am Comments 7
While I have been waiting this morning for my meeting with my supervisor, I had a few moments to read the news. I came across this article on the CBC. In the article it claims that J.K. Rowling has outstripped authors such as C.S Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
I am now in a bit of a tiff. Except for the fact that Rowling chooses to initial her first and middle names like Lewis and Tolkien, I see little to compare between these authors and her. I certainly don’t think she has outstriped those writers either. Sure, she may have sold more book and had more movies made after her books, but is it fair to compare her books to those two great writers of the 20th Century?
What do you readers think?
(BTW: I am going to see the new harry potter movie tonight…. Ironic?)
Filed under: Uncategorized — David @ 11:43 am Comments 4
So I am in the middle of reading Dawkings “The God Delusion”. I must say, it is not very good. It isn’t just that I am biased either. I find most of his arguments to be self destructive. Besides the continual pot shots he takes towards believers, I was mainly turned off by everything he had to say when he made the argument that he knows Christians who do bad things so therefore you should believe in God. Another flamboyant claim is that you shouldn’t believe in God because famous scientists believe in God and Christians like to quote them. I’ll qualify that with the fact that his book is littered with quotes of famous athiests which he uses to support his athiestic view point. It is really amazing just how dumb some of his arguments are.
Two of my biggest problems with the book are his view point of darwin evolution and his claim to the scientifc method. His idea of what evolution is, is just plain wrong! Additionally for a book which promotes science and the scientific method, his arguments are anything but scientific.
It is really hard to read. Not because the ideas are hard (in fact there is nothing overly complex in anything he says), but because the reader has to read through alot of nonsense to understand his point.
I am debating whether to continue reading it. I thought I would gain some insight to modern athiest views, but all I am getting out of it is how not to write a book and how not to make an arguement.
Overall, I think that Dawking just does not get the point. His or the points he is trying to disprove. I won’t go into it here, but if anyone wants to talk with me about the book just give me a call.
My next read will be…. “The Dawkings Deliusion”.
Watch these YouTube video for a response to The God Delusion by David Roberson.
video 1
Filed under: Uncategorized — David @ 1:52 pm Comments 3
First of all…
What do you all think about the new blog design? A few of you commented, but as I like to tell Neyir (or she tells me), I need more affirmation. The banner image above is Neyir doing something on Juno beach in Normandy. I think I captured the moment with that shot.
Secondly…
I am waiting patiently for the dentist to see me. I have a tooth ache. Hopefully all will be well.
Thirdly….
I have been doing alot of advertising for Our church lately. By advertising, I mean that I am designing posters and leaflets for them.
If you have time, check out this poster and let me know what you think. Remember… I need affirmation.
Fourthly….
Can you believe that I have 21 pages of my thesis written. Sure, it needs to be reworked and checked over, but I am excited all the same.
Fively…
I suffered from a bout of insomnia last night. Reasons for it include: Tooth Ache, Thesis Stress, Baby Stress (what i mean by baby stress is me worrying about being a good enough dad), and the lovely coversations with friends in Canada.
Whenever i suffer from some insomnia, I usually call my friends back in Canada. Many of them are about 5-8 hours behind us so the middle of the night was a good time to call. It is funny, when I was calling around many of them started of by saying “having insomnia?” (or something like that). It is good to know that my friends know me so well.
Sixly….
Happy Birthday to my Mother. She got a call last night, but little does she know that she will get mentioned in this blog and she will get a phone call tonight!
Filed under: Neyir's Posts — Neyir @ 10:01 pm Comments 5
Here I am - did you think I had disapeared from the face of the blogging world? Nope just been spending lots of time on the sofa lately and being spoiled by all around me!
Last weekend I was the guest of honour at an absolutely spectacular Afternoon Tea Baby Shower. Beautifully organised by my dear, dear friends Melissa and Johanne, the exact nature of the event was kept secret (from me) until we pulled up at the gorgeous Prestonfield Estate. Let me just say - there were Peacocks (I love peacocks though they do make the most extrodinairy cat-like cawing noise which provided a fun soundtrack to the afternoon), I don’t think I could have come up with a more Neyir-esque event if asked to brain storm ideas myself!
As the weather was a bit changeable (read Scottish grey and threatening showers) we ate in the main house instead of the very picturesque (but likely unheated) gothic teahouse on the grounds. What a fantastic afternoon! A few highlights include being given a tour of the possible rooms and getting to choose our own private room, Judith reading out the menu to me as my pretend Personal Assistant, being gifted temporarily with a mobile call button encased in marble for whenever I felt we needed something (like opening windows or more cream for the scones). Best of all was getting to see everyone - Lisa took time out from running a restaurant with her husband JP to attend, Carolyn graciously walked across Holyrood park and Judith (kindly as always) picked me up to save the bus ride :-). We had a wonderful afternoon where I think I managed to eat for 3.5 hours straight.
On the menu were coffees to order (even decaf lattes my fav) a variety of delectable sandwiches, fruit and sugar dusted scones with fresh cream and gooseberry/rhubarb compote, mini eclairs, mini fudge brownies and raspberry tarts and of course a lovely selection of teas. It may not sound alot of food but it was very generous and fantastic, I couldn’t eat for many hours afterward and spent the remainder of the evening on the sofa :-).
As if that was not enough I was also gifted with this excellent nappy bag - well done Johanne for remembering the passing comment I made 1.5 years ago!
Since the extravaganza last Saturday I have also had my leaving lunch at work (I will only be in one more day - next Friday) which was a super yummy Thai lunch complete with a lovely bouquet of freesias. I was supposed to work all of next week but due to a few pregnancy complaints, mainly my fun diagnosis of PSD it seemed prudent to stop a bit earlier. My plan is to intersperse all the bits and pieces I want to accomplish over the next few weeks with lots of sitting and lying on the sofa possibly watching cable - yes we now have cable and a tv - thanks again to Johanne!
This is Mr T inserting his jibba jabba
Yup Mr T has just graced us with his presence and invaded my post - lucky for him his other half appeased me with delicious brownies!
Here is my official 34 week belly shot (8.5 months) and a few shots from the baby shower (thanks Melissa) unfortunately both Johanne and Lisa are not pictured :-(.
Filed under: It Grinds my Gears — David @ 3:36 pm Comments 2
English is the language of academia. This fact doesn’t grind my gears. In fact, it is rather pleasing to me as I only speak english (and badly at that). So it really grinds my gears when I visit an academic website and it is only offered in an entirely different language.
If you want the world to read about the research you are doing, it is important to publish/write/display in English. It sounds a bit snobbish i guess, but that is the way it is.
I should have been paying closer attention in my highschool french classes. And also, I should sign up for the japanese class my advisor goes to every week.
Filed under: Uncategorized — David @ 10:33 am Comments 2
I came across this article in the globe and mail today.
I can’t say that I would order from the Pizza place, but I did find whole idea very amusing.