Monthly Archive for October, 2009

My new copy of Howard Aiken: Portrait of a Computer Pioneer arrived from Amizon today. Ken Iverson is referenced on pages 193, 205-208, 216-217 & 237.

I was all excited to find it in my door when I got home from work today.  And then I read my mail and found out about Donald.  Now, I’m just sad.

It’s time for me to move it.  Do you get me, folks?

The truth about stories is that they exist within a context. 

The truth about documentaries is that they take the perspective of the person writing them.  Of course, we try to be as true to the subject and as objective as possible.   Ultimately, though, when I write a story, it is, by definition, a story told through my eyes. 

As a documentary evolves, more people contribute and the perspective of the film broadens.  To a point.

So, when my dad asked, “What does Homeland Security have to do with APL?”

I flippantly answered, “Me.”

Damn! I approved 4 sneaky spams!

I was pondering why the heck Roger could post comments when the other guys got caught by my Spam filter.  When *ping* a flash of insight.  Hmmmm, that post sounds just like another…  Hey, it’s the same as another… Duh!

So, I took that spam down.  Sorry folks.

I’m thinking I will Digitise more of the Dyalog conference tonight. Get that done.  And work some on my demo for the film…

Tomorrow I’ll be at Loco Burrito, for just 1 hour at lunch.

As for my visit to US Homeland Security…

My trip to Homeland Security was interesting.  On the American side, everyone was polite and helpful.  I felt  an understanding that there are a lot of reasons a Refugee could get kicked out of Canada, no need to judge or be nasty.

The Canadians on the other hand, were rude as hell, treated me like I was abetting a criminal.  In fact, they wouldn’t let me back into Canada.  No kidding.  So I was stuck in that in between space like that Airport movie with Tom Hanks.  Thankfully, the US let me back in on their side.  When I explained the problem to the US customs agent, he said, Clothing? Weird. I guess he’s not going back.

Not without a fight.

I mailed the stuff to my sister in Ohio.  And on my second attempted to come home, the custom’s man was very nice, What’s wrong?

He asked.  So I told him, refraining from using the B-word.  He just shook his head.

I continued, And they told me, you’re going to check my car, so go ahead.

Do you have anything in your car? He asked.

Nope. Nothing.

Go home, sweetheart. And he waved me through.

Barred from my own country! humph! Fine.  Gasoline on the fire.

Oh man.  A whole week.  No blogging.  Not much progress on the film. And what a week it was.

My dad sold his house.  He’s moving to the country.   Bye, bye Hotel Lathwell.  I’m sad.  70 Winona Drive has sheltered more than one traveling APLer over the years.

I’ve also been minding the cash register at Loco Burrito every day at lunch.  It’s fun to see the business get off the ground and I’m looking forward to having my days back hopefully this week.  Ah… The things we do for love.

I think I passed my exam on Thursday.  I’ve moved on to Business Law and Administration in Canada.

And here’s the really tough part.

While I was writing that exam, my friend, a genuine Tibetan Convention Refugee, went to help a distressed friend of his here in Parkdale.  The police came, took every one’s name.  My friend is on the deportation list, in spite of ongoing diplomatic efforts to get him off that list. Within 24 hours, he was in jail in the USA.

What is going to happen to a master traditional Tibetan Thangka painter in an American Prison? Now I’m worried sick and working to get him out of that American prison.

detail from My friend's painting

Ironically, while my life lesson of this week is about ruthless brutal bureaucracy; from books, I’m learning all the things, good and wonderful, that we’ve done to civilize our Common Law system here in Canada so that we are NOT cruel in our application of the law.

I want to throw that book at some people at this moment.