...but always optimistic. Today is D's last day at the uni as his term contract is at an end. It's been fun working at the same place. A little like when we first met and were working in the same building together. It's a little sad because he really enjoyed working with the folks in his department and enjoyed the job itself. He's a people person so working on the helpdesk suited his personality. But changes happen and now it's time to look forward. Although I know he'll miss the friends he's made, I'm sure he'll find another job soon that's as enjoyable and rewarding.

Wow - it's been exactly a year since this blog first launched. I thought I'd post a cheery photo of a happy face (with goatee? or is it a tongue sticking out - not quite sure). At the uni, some lucky person is tasked with the job of attaching these little notes to the lockers to remind people to clean them out and remove the locks by the end of the exam period. In some places they are on every locker, in other places every other. Notice they are attached with little pieces of scotch tape, they're not even Post It's ®. What a job! Well, it seems that someone else got a little creative with the notes and posted this art piece on the wall.
So happy 1yr anniversary day. Here's to more blogging: observing/writing/commenting.

Wow, today is my daughter's birthday but it was I who got the present when I checked my gmail this morning. How cool. The folks at Flickr had mentioned they would be rewarding their pro account holders as part of the Yahoo deal and today they made good by extending the account holder's current expiry date and by offering 2 free pro accounts to give away. That's just awesome. Being a happy Flickr user now I'm happy to spread the joy. Thanks Flickr - you rock!

So it's all good - my daughter will be getting prezzies and cake tonight after work and maybe one of the free flickr accounts too. It seems only right and she's just fanatic with her digital camera.

My crocuses are up and happily greeting the sun every day. Right beside them my tulips and daffodiles are starting to poke up through the ground. Spring is such an optimistic season, energy and vigour seems to be bursting out of everything.

Well with the weekend weather being so glorious, it was natural that we would gather at my mom's house for the first barbeque of the season - a full month and a bit earlier than last year. And like always - the hambies are eagerly anticipated. Why is it that food cooked outside over flame always seems to taste better?

Feeling a bit of nostalgia, D and I went to see the Amityville Horror on Friday night. I have to say it was much better than the 1979 version. If you go see it, make sure you go on a busy night - the atmosphere was much heightened by the number of screaming teenagers in the theatre. The screenwriters definitely have an understanding of what makes people jump and they employ these devices throughout the film.

Apparently the story is actually a hoax, but it certainly caused a sensation back in the 70's. I remember being scared/disturbed after reading the book, but the original movie was not that creepy.

4 stars our of 5

Via the CBC: Spammer sentenced to 9 years

Finally - a tough sentence for what is surely the scourge of the internet. But folks, spammers will keep on clogging up the bandwidth - why? Because, according to the article,

"Prosecutors said Jaynes received 10,000 credit card orders in one month for the processor, each for $39.95 US."

An excellent article by Simon Collison (Collylogic): "7 Steps to Better Handheld Browsing"
This is definitely a must-read and for me it was timely too - just recently I had occasion to view our website on a PDA and, frankly, while it is navigable - it could be better. I'll add it to my project list.