Mike Browne’s Blog

Operation Lifesaver

by Mike Browne on May 15, 2003

in old stuff

As Carol and I were getting onto the train this morning there was a WCE employee handing out the pamphlet pictured at left to passengers. At first I laughed at the idea of Operation Lifesaver and immediately thought, “Oh look more spam from people who need to come up with various and sundry ways to spend the money they already get from us and justify raising our fares even more.” But after a brief scan of the information (written in English and French) I found it to be extremely useful and informative. An interesting fact of note: ‘Passenger/Commuter trains travel faster and are lighter than freight trains and although they may stop more quickly, it can take up to two kiliometres or 18 football fields to come to a complete stop.’ Yikes! Racing the train to get to the crossing first isn’t exactly a smart thing to do, but people do it. When working in security one night I saw the results of a freight train vs. Ford Tempo accident. What a mess. The woman, amazingly survived, even though we could see her brain through the split in her skull. Eek!! What a horrible sight. Apparently she was coming home from a late shift at aRichmond hotel and didn’t notice the lights and bells at the railway crossing on Cambie and SMUCKO!

I can sum up the information in the pamphlets into two words, BE CAREFUL! You don’t want the sneaky train to get you. Right, Carol?

Statistics on highway/railway crossing and trespassing incidents can be found at the Transportation Safety Board website. Other rail safety information can be found on the Transport Canada and Direction 2006 websites.

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Our New Network

by Mike Browne on May 15, 2003

in old stuff

We’re finally wireless at home. I know it’s geeky, but I’m stoked about this. We bought a Linksys: WRT54G – Wireless-G Broadband Router and a Linksys: WPC54G – Wireless-G Notebook Adapter so we can be online with a true network rather than just the hub I set up before. This network rocks, especially the wireless part. This laptop can be online anywhere inside the house or even in the yard at 54 Mbps. The notebook adapter will also enable us to login to any public wireless network in places like airports, convention centres and even some coffee shops. We’re truly connected now.

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10 Pixels per meter

by Mike Browne on May 14, 2003

in old stuff

10 Pixels per meter There you go Tyler. Some more Star Wars ships to scale

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Flatulence Deodorizer

by Mike Browne on May 14, 2003

in old stuff

I can think of a few folks who would do well to look into this product. For God’s sake put a cork in that thing before you kill someone.

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None of the big ones are getting away

by Mike Browne on May 14, 2003

in old stuff

CNN.com – Study: Almost all big ocean fish gone – May. 14, 2003

More: CBC News – Big fish disappearing from oceans

As I grew up in an area reliant on the fishing industry for it’s survival I have seen the result of this on the economy first hand. The Atlantic Cod fishery has now been permanently closed by the Canadian Federal Government due to an apparent lack of fish. I recall days just 25 short years ago when the fish were plentiful many folks around my hometown of Bridgewater, NS were flush with cash. When fresh off a National Sea factory trawler or cod boat all they could do was spend. The ripple effect from overfishing and the closure of the cod fishery has been devastating there. It’s not the place it used to be.

Bridgewater is that the Michelin Tire plant is there to keep the economy going. As far as any other big business, there’s not much there.

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