tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74662742024-02-28T16:37:21.221-05:00theArciverThoughts on the world and my worldRichard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-83793628993154675432010-01-25T14:31:00.004-05:002010-01-25T15:02:22.196-05:00New Apple product launches January 27 - iNoteRecently lots of bits have been spilled about Apple's new "tablet" device expected to be announced on January 27, 2010. Just what is Steve and team likely up to this time ?<div><br /><div>I am going to suggest Mr. Jobs is up to something that circles around the concept of wanting to introduce what might be called the "21st century version of the notepad". Of course, no analogy is perfect but this best approximates what I believe he is going to deliver.</div><div><br /></div><div>Simply put, Steve envisions a device that is carried by all and used in both ones personal and professional life and that moves computing beyond an archaic desktop/laptop paradigm to a "notepad" paradigm. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today, in both business and academia most users of laptops and desktops carry physical notebooks to meetings....I am one of these. And in these notebooks we write down meeting notes, ideas, sketches, etc. What if a small and mobile computing device could replace this core functionality and yet hook into the internet, music, movies, video and the "cloud" as well as sync with existing devices such as an iMac or iPod or Windows PC? This device would become the indispensable thing that we carry with us during work or at school in our "workday" personas and would also serve as an information and entertainment device in our "playtime" personas when we need to access games, news, music, etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>And what would you call this new category of product? Not a tablet, nor a slate - but something that alludes to the idea of a "notepad" - or the 21st century "CPU meets internet, meets notepaper, meets music, meets video, meets images, meets books, meets newspapers" version of a notepad.</div><div><br /></div><div>My prediction for the new name, derived from the core vision of Steve Jobs is the "iNote". Stay tuned and see how close I am in either the specific name or the core concept behind the product. </div></div>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-42509132027791015532008-07-05T08:06:00.004-04:002008-07-05T08:18:17.515-04:00Soccer 2008 -Ryan starts playing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy17GwUzERKV7ZfmZBiEO9bOYciAJHwy5It99nT52NLqz_7ap1C-5TJCzHroA17JfbtUcwZoLP6jduXIhsgH6NoznbWo3hjNy7wMQx5Kws6hlTOPFT88LSeVcBrnIuQxRmOLEy/s1600-h/Ryans+first+soccer+game+2008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy17GwUzERKV7ZfmZBiEO9bOYciAJHwy5It99nT52NLqz_7ap1C-5TJCzHroA17JfbtUcwZoLP6jduXIhsgH6NoznbWo3hjNy7wMQx5Kws6hlTOPFT88LSeVcBrnIuQxRmOLEy/s320/Ryans+first+soccer+game+2008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219502824392328370" /></a><br />Summer 2008 is the year that Ryan started playing soccer, at the age of 7. This is the same age that Spencer started. Ryan is having a great time playing so far this year, and loves it. He plays with such energy and really puts his whole heart into the game. He runs up and down the field staying with the play, and has a real sense of the game an how it is unfolding. I think he has definitely benefited from having played with his older brother and his friends over the years.<div><br /></div><div>Ryan scored his first goal in one of the first couple of games he played. It was the one game I could not be there because I had my boss in from out of town and we had dinner with the CIO of Purolator. Sandra was there and proud ! It is interesting to note that Sandra missed Spencer's first goal (but I was there) since she had to stay home with Ryan who was ill. We are proud parents of two great lads. </div><div><br /></div><div>A few games back Ryan also saved two goals when he suddenly appeared out of nowhere to kick the ball out of the crease....he did this twice in 1 game and these "saves" were very dramatic - and made us very proud.</div>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-56445545920005281402008-03-09T20:49:00.004-04:002008-03-09T21:00:39.763-04:00Spencer at 11, Ryan at almost 7Spencer turned 11 this past Friday. I wanted to document a few observations. Firstly, he has become very interested in the last 2 weeks in learning guitar. I have now given him my old guitar (purchased in about 1980 - an Ovation Applause). I have shown him some simple 2-3 note chords...and he seems to really like it. And then a while back he started piano lessons (Sep 2007 ish). Just today I showed him how to play a few simple 3 note chords in the Piano so he could play the Coldplay song "The SCientist" from the songbook I purchased for his birthday. Amazingly he has already figured out how to play the entire song this way. I am impressed, and happy for him since he enjoys music so much.<div><br /></div><div>Spencer is now in his second year of hockey and really enjoys playing goalie. He played a key playoff hame yesterday against his friend Mathew's team and Spencer's team won 2-1.</div><div><br /></div><div>The winter this year has been one where we have seen a great deal of snow. Since Friday night we received something like 30 or more cm of snow. It snowed on Friday night, and then most of Saturday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ryan has been a busy bee again lately. His latest interest is playing Runescape on the PC. He is doing very well at school and enjoys his teacher (Mrs. Cheyne) and his classmates. We are happy that he is comfortable and learning. Ryan is so full of interest in making and collecting things and is very engaged with his physical world. We love him dearly.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am sitting here Sunday night on March 9 and the Sunday ritual is underway...the boys watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" - something they have enjoyed for the past couple of years. </div><div><br /></div>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-61904692034184685132007-07-15T07:23:00.000-04:002007-07-15T07:24:39.119-04:00Spencer's first lawnSaturday, July 14, 2007 begun as a gray, cloudy, but pleasant day. Unlike most Saturday's since early May, I did not have a long list of outdoor projects to finish (like the shed which consumed May, and painting, lawn repair, etc during June). However, I still hav ethe weekly lawn cutting to do! But this Saturday was different. Sandra had to head out to get Ryan a haircut before our Chicago trip. Usually Spencer would tag along on such errands if I was working around the house. However, it said to Samdra, "I want to stay and help Dad work outside". I looked at Spence and said. "Are you sure of that, or are you just wanting to stay home to play on the computer ?". He assured me he was staying to help, and so I agreed.<br /><br />I had a couple of things to do inside first, so I asked Spencer if he wanted to get started on the lawn (using our new push mower that I had purchased about a month back). He did. And lo and behold, about 15 minutes later I looked outside and about a 1/3 of the lawn was cut). I mentioned to him how you need to overlap each cut, so he went back a re-did the first few rows and over a period of about 30-45 minutes, with no help from me since I was inside, he producly completed cutting his first lawn - and what a great job he did.<br />That day I also showed him how to use clppers, and he trimmed a good part of the lawn by the driveway next to Doug and Dots place. Truly, Spencer is growing up.<br /><br />That same morning, before I cut the lawn, I had been out to Longo's to grab some odds and ends. While I was there I saw a mother and her young teenage son who was obviously mentally handicapped. He was helping his mom shop and pack up he groceries. I was moved to tears there in the shopping lineup as I heard him speak to his mom in the tone and language of a child a fraction of his age. I was moved by the sweetness of how he spoke to her as if he were a 4 of 5 year old child - guileless, simple and sweet. I was also saddened and moved with compassion over seeing a tall, slender teenage body, ready to take on life, but with a mind that is not. I felt for his Mother and the sadness she must feel, which she seemed to wear on her face with a sort of mild disdain. I wanted to hug that boy and let him know that God loves him. I was moved and reminded that very little matters in this life, but showing the love of God and the compassion of Christ to the weakest - to those who cannot reciprocate or appreciate what is being done for them. That is what I saw that Mother doing by caring for he son - something I suspect she will be doing until she dies.<br /><br />As they left the mall parking lot, I pulled out in my car behind them and drove behind them praying for that boy, who I do not know, that he would find the love of God and that our Lord would help his mother find joy in the calling he has for her. Our society knows little of sacrifice and of putting others first. She was living that, whether she wanted to or not. I hoped she would find the joy in it.Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1176687148729228592007-04-15T21:32:00.000-04:002007-04-15T21:32:28.733-04:00Ryan and my trip to Ottawa<p> </p> <p>I left Monday April 9 for business in Ottawa planned for the 10th. It was a short trip, and I drove to Ottawa Monday afternoon, and back to Toronto Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p>On my way home I called and Ryan said, "Daddy, I have something for you." When I arrived home he lead me by the hand upstairs into our bedroom. He had made a gift basket with a number of "love notes" for me...it was his way of expressing how he felt. What a job, and how great it made me feel.</p> <p>Here is a picture....</p>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1172285655643156332007-02-23T21:54:00.000-05:002007-02-23T21:54:54.980-05:00<P><FONT size=4><STRONG>Ryan, the giftgiver</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </P> <P>Yesterday (February 22, 2007) Ryan starting wrapping up some of his toys and decorations in any paper he could find and giving them as gifts to Sandra and I. He gave Sandra 6 of these self-wrapped gift items, and then 2 for me. Sometime today he also wrapped two more gifts for me and left them and a love note by my bed under the sidelight. It was touching to Sandra and I, and showed what a generous heart little Ryan has.</P> <P> </P> <P>We appreciated this act of love so much.</P>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1170981711468257682007-02-08T19:41:00.000-05:002007-02-08T19:43:01.196-05:00<P><FONT size=4><STRONG>Hockey Night in Brampton, in our basement</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </P> <P>Tonight was the night. Ryan was fueled with juice(Sunny D) and Spencer was low in energy, after a game at school that sapped 2 goals from his "energy supply". We have been playing this tournament since just before Christmas - and it was a best of 5. Until tonight Ryan/Daddy's team had won 2, and Spencer had won 2. Tonight, the RD team won 20-19 - wow - so close !</P> <P> </P> <P>Soon we will start another season - and another best of 5 ! What great fun!</P>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1170703072269012412007-02-05T14:17:00.000-05:002007-02-05T14:20:50.940-05:00<P><STRONG><FONT size=4>Cold in Toronto</FONT></STRONG></P> <P> </P> <P>Well, until about a week or so ago, it seemed like Winter has passed us by. When we came back from Florida in early January, there was no snow, and it was 11 degree Celsius. </P> <P> </P> <P>Today, with a wind chill around -30, I think winter is here.</P> <P> </P> <P>On Sunday morning I am off to Orlando for a Motorola Enterprise Mobility sales conference...perhaps I can thaw out while there.</P> <P> </P>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1168873024686833472007-01-15T09:57:00.000-05:002007-01-15T09:57:50.963-05:00Ryan - moving back after 2 years.<p> </p> <p>As of Saturday night, January 13th, 2006 Ryan officially moved back into his own room. From what Sandra and I recall, he has been in Spencer's room for about 2 years, and finally decide it was time to get back to his own room. I seem to recall that he moved his bed out of his room since he was scared of the dark, and having his bed in Spencer's room gave him some comfort that he was not alone. </p> <p> </p> <p>Many great memories were made by the two boys sharing this same physical space for so long. I am sure it helped them bond even closer as brothers. But as Ryan approaches six, he is truly growing up in so many ways...and feels a confidence and need to move out.</p> <p> </p> <p>The end of an era? But the beginning of a new one.</p>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1168121306046176582007-01-06T17:08:00.000-05:002007-01-06T17:11:17.710-05:00Florida 2006/2007<p> </p> <p>This year Sandra and I were glad to be able to finally take Mom, and and Lynn to Florida.. We left Brampton on Wednesday, December 27 and stayed in Beckley, WV the evening of the 27th. We arrived in Hilton Head the afternoon of the 28th, after some considerable delays coming along the 26 onto the I95. </p> <p>We spent two nights at the Hilton Hilton Head resort..and enjoyed it. The weather was a bit cool the first full day we were there (about 18 C), but still nice. We played ping pong the first morning at the resort, the headed out to explore Hilton Head. We ended up playing mini-golf at a "Pirate Theme" mini-golf park - and Ryan and Spencer played with Lynn. The boys did fabulously. <p>After Hilton Head, we left to head south to St . Augustine to show Mom and Dad this charming little town, with an abundance of history going back to the 16th century. We arrived there on Saturday, December 30 by the early afternoon. We spent the afternoon exploring the downtown, then headed to the beach at St Augustine to enjoy the fabulous weather. I took lots of pictures. <p>On Sunday morning, December 31 I was fortunate to go for a nice run along the beach. I ran about 3k each way and it was a beatuiful morning - with sun and perfect weather. After the run I joined Sandra, The Boys, Lynn and my parents who were playing and hanging out on the beach. One of my best memories from this trip was how Ryan and I spend about 1/2 hour building a "lake" and "rivers" on the beach, where the tide would wash up and water would flow into our 2/3 lakes. I had a great time with Ryan, and he seemed to really enjoy it. <p>We left St. Augustine around 11am on the 31st and drove down to Daytona Beach where we drove out onto the beach for a bit....it was pretty busy. We left there and headed to Orlando where we checked into the Floriday Resort to a 3 bedroom luxury unit where we spent New Years Eve. The Boys and Lynn spend ages in the pool that afternoon, then we went back to the room where Mom cooked up some great spaghetti. We put the boys to bed around 9 and stayed up until 10.30 or so watching the "Dick Clarks" New Year's Eve event. <p>On January 1 we checked out of the Floriday and headed to the Florida Mall. This day was the first cloudy day, and it threatened rain and stayed cloudy all day. By about noon we drove back to Daytona Beach and then watched the greyhound races for an hour or so. We then headed back to St Augustine for 2 more nights - January 1 and January 2. When we arrived in St. Augustine that night it rained. I went out to McDonald's to get supper and we enjoyed it in our rooms. I then headed out again to the pharmacy to grab some cough medicine since I had develped a dry cough about the same day we left for Florida. <p>We left Florida on Wednesday, January 3 and started the 2,000km trek back to Toronto. We stayed the first night in Charlotte, and the made it to Erie the second night. We arrived home Friday around 12.30pm. <p>Another year down, and another great set of memories made. </p>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1165706766427570942006-12-09T18:26:00.000-05:002006-12-09T18:30:58.773-05:00The boys - observed<p></p><p></p><p>Ever since he was very young, Ryan has always had an openly generous heart. He will often do things like put one of his little toys in my lunch bag, or give me a heart from his cereal to eat. He has picked flowers for Sandra and given them to her, and then says things like, "I am giving you this beautiful flower, because you are beautiful." </p><p></p><p>Today I introduced Spencer to the concept of binary numbers, and had been asking me questions about binary and hexadecimal numbers all day long. I love the way he grabs onto a concept or idea and tries to figure it all out - his curiousity has always been so strong on such a wide range of topics.</p><p>On a lighter topic, the Leafs play Detroit tonight - in fact it will be the only time they play Detroit during the regular season. They have been on a losing streak for the last 5 games, and in fact I was at the last game they won against the Islanders. Go leafs go.</p>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1165453988847708192006-12-06T20:13:00.000-05:002006-12-06T20:13:08.856-05:00Spencer and the web<p> </p> <p>Yesterday Spencer was home from school. He updated his own website with a posting on the meaning of Christmas. Here is a copy of the text:</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <font face="Arial" size="1">I really like Christmas. It is one of my favourite celebrations because it celebrates Jesus' birthday. I like giving and receiving and giving gifts, but in my perspective, Christmas is about Jesus. Not all people agree with me so this could possiblt start minor conflicts.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="1"> This, of course, explains why store's signs sometimes use X-mas instead of Christmas because this could be insulting to other people if they don't have the same beliefs as christians do. So now you and I, I hope, now know that Christmas is not all about gifts, but about Jesus' birth.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="1"> It is greatly unfortunate that not all people know the true meaning of Christmas and that it is in fact not all about gifts. If you do not agree with me on this topic, I do not mind as you are the one to deccide weather Christmas is about Jesus' birth or merely about gifts alone.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial" size="1"> Gifts are fine to be giving and getting as long as you keep in mind that the celebration is not all about gifts.</font></p>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1156295181196605282006-08-22T21:02:00.000-04:002006-08-22T21:06:21.206-04:00A summer walk in Newport with my son: August 2006<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4201/461/640/IMGP0085.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4201/461/320/IMGP0085.jpg" border="0" /></a>Again, this summer we ventured to wonderful Newport for our vacation.<br /><br />This picture brings the trip it all back to me. Spencer and I went for a walk in the evening (August 15th) in Newport. Sandra and Ryan stayed back at the room. Spencer and I talked about lots of things, but for some reason his topic of the evening was whether there were sharks and whales in the bay, since we were going boating the next day on the Newport Ferry. The night was comfortably warm. This picture captures the greater inner warmth that I felt as I spent this special hour with My Son. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1138503827236798252006-01-28T21:57:00.000-05:002006-01-29T20:13:06.143-05:00The Rebel JesusI heard a fabulous song today for the first time, thanks to my XM satellite Radio and an interview with Jackson Browne playing on The Loft (channel 50) this afternoon. It is a song he wrote since he was asked to contribute to a Christmas album. Rather than deconstruct the song, I only wanted to note that I found it moving and powerful. We too soon forget that Jesus came in many ways as a "rebel". I use the term with a small "r" since Jesus did not come to be the "Rebel", as if that defined His essence. But, the ideals of the kingdom when justaposed against the measuring stick of our world, clearly makes Jesus appear to us as a "rebel". <br /><br />To Jesus, all of our weak and frail human efforts, though understandable within the content we live, must be submerged below the true meaning of life in order to live well. Jesus came and told us that those that seek power, will not find it. Those that seek peace, will not find it. Those that seek to be respected and treated as important, will not find it. It is in entirely seeking something else, that these things are awarded...but they cannot be sought, succesfully, on their own.<br /><br />That makes Jesus, among many other more important things, a "rebel". We have to ask in what sense we believe today's visible chruch body carries on that tradition...and to what extent we have traded our world-changing "rebelious" worldview for some sort of compromised faith.Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1138333723513437682006-01-26T22:48:00.000-05:002006-01-28T21:58:07.633-05:00Something Big in the land of Little<!-- Converted from text/plain format --> <P><FONT SIZE=2>We live our little lives each day, going to our little jobs in our little town. We live in our little house and we think little thoughts. What car shall we buy, where should we go for vacation, etc. The littleness can seem so Big.<BR> <BR> But there is Something Big in the land of little. An idea that tells us that although we are Little People who think about Little Things and live our little lives, there is something more.<BR> <BR> Something tells us that when our little lives end, and we are buried in our little graves....then Something Big begins.....<BR> <BR> The Land of Little is not unimportant. It is in living in this little land that we learn about and prepare for the Big...and learn that the little is not all there is.<BR> <BR> The End (from a limousine at 10.30pm EST after a business trip to Las Vegas)<BR>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1137168418006906012006-01-13T10:56:00.000-05:002006-01-29T20:23:40.180-05:00Canada - Election 2006<span style="font-family:georgia;">Well - we are down to less than 10 days now before we all vote. During the last two weeks polls have been released showing that the Conservatives seem to have a solid lead...and perhaps might even form a majority.<br /><br />Prim Minister Martin looked desperate the other evening on the debates. He is increasingly looking like a man drowning in his own confusion. He seems to change his spots every month or so. From Child Care Paul to Health Care Paul to Gun Control Paul to Constitution Paul - and there seems to be no unifying thread and core to what he sees as a vision for Canada.<br /><br />On that topic, I also decry the poor job the Conservatives are doing in painting a vision for the strategy for our country. The only focus is on tactics and whose are best. I tend to like a few more of the Conservative tactics and believe we need to "flush" the system and have some new people have a chance to lead.<br /><br /><u>A bridge now crossed</u><br />The bottom line for many Canadians, I suspect, is that they have crossed a bridge mentally recently in increasing numbers. During the 2004 election, Harper was an unknown quantity who was easily to paint as a "scary and unknown" leader. Given this feeling, not enough Canadians could get comfortable with him and his party to take advantage of the desire for change in Ottawa. This time is very different. Harper has not been stellar in his performance, but he has been "good enough" and it has been harder for the Liberals to pain him as not ready to lead.<br /><br />Good enough is often enough. But I am saddened we cannot find greatness in a Canadian leader.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1137167247222321712006-01-13T10:45:00.000-05:002006-01-29T20:23:06.936-05:00Memories of Florida 2005/6<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4201/461/1600/IMGP0412.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="193" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4201/461/320/IMGP0412.jpg" width="287" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once again we spend time in Florida after Christmas. We left Dec 29 and came back to Brampton on January 6. Our itinerary was that we spend 2-3 days driving down (one night in Pittsburg, one night in Charlotte and then Hilton Head, SC from Dec 30). We then moved to Gainesville Florida for New Years Eve (after a great dinner at the Sunset Grille in St. Augustine) and spend Jan 1/2 evenings in the Sirata Beach Resort in St Pete’s Beach. We headed east to spend a night in St Augustine on Jan 3 and then to Charlotte for Jan 4 and Pittsburg for Jan 5.<br /><br /><u>Key memories</u><br /><br />I think the best moments for me (many during this great trip) were: a) Beach soccer with Spencer on Jan 1. We arrived at the Sirata about 1pm and headed right to the beach. It was a cloudy, but nice afternoon and Spencer and I setup goal posts and played soccer in the sand for almost an hour. What a blast we had. I remember after this thinking that the entire drive was worth it just for that once, special hour together. Sandra and Ryan hung out by the ocean. b) Bike riding in Hilton Head,SC. We rented some bikes on Dec 31 just after lunch and spend a wonderful hour driving on the beach, around the local neighbourhoods, etc. The weather was perfect (72F or so with some sun) and we had a blast. c) On the afternoon at around 4pm on Jan 3 we arrived at the Hampton in at St Augustine Beach and the sun was starting to go down. The skies were a clear blue. The temperature was about 70F and we explored the beach for an hour. It was beautiful. d) The next morning we got up and headed right to the beach at around 8.30am. It was a clear and sunny day and expected to reach 74F or so. We walked for about a mile up and down the beach with the boys collecting seashells. It was fabulous - what a greta memory. Sandra even found a live purple and orange starfish that had been washed ashore. We debated keeping it or throwing it back - and did the latter.<br /><br />It was a fabulous trip - and one I would be happy to do again !</span>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1135719483863441512005-12-27T16:38:00.000-05:002005-12-28T10:30:08.430-05:00Off to Florida Again<p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:110%;">Another year is drawing to a close. Last year Sandra and I started a "tradition" of heading South just before New Years and spending the first few days of the year in Florida. Well, we are planning to head off again on Thursday, Dec 29 and plan to be back January 6. The itinerary is a bit flexible but includes 2 plus days down and staying in St Augustine for New Year's eve and then 3-4 days in Florida before heading North.<br /><br />We do hope to get to Cape Canaveral and perhaps even Dinosaur World in Tampa. However, we are not stuck on a particular itinerary as much as a general and flexible one....with the main goal being to enjoy some family time in the nice weather.<br /><br />Back to wiring my new XM Satellite radio into my Saab 9000....<br /></span><br /></span></p>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1129814088959209472005-10-20T09:09:00.000-04:002005-10-20T21:02:54.006-04:00Apple Computer's brillianceI have to say I am watching Apple Computer execute and am impressed. What they are doing with their product design and creating new markets and new business models is simply brilliant. I have conclude that what Apple is good at doing is finding something at the tipping point and pushing it over the edge into mass acceptance. This involves them having to anticipate technology impacts, as well as sometimes simply repackaging something that already exists in another form and then monetizing it.<br /><br />Take podcasting as an example. Podcasting could have been done practically for a number of years using the internet as a delivery backbone. Quite simply, it is audio recordings distributed over the internet. Can you imagine someone 2 years ago seeing a Silicon Valley VC and saying that he has this fantastic new business idea - allow people to distribute their own recordings on the internet! I can only imagine the reaction. Now, along comes Apple and creates an ecosystem that does the very same thing - take a a solid hardware device ( the ipod - the new "Walkman" ), add some software (iTunes) to distribute the files and a very simple idea leads to a new information distribution platform that could threaten some traditional media outlets over time. But at its core, this is not different from a technology perspective than what audible.com or Napster could have done years back. Distributing audio files is basic stuff indeed. Aha - but Apple saw that this "almost there" solution needed a push and a user-friendly platform. Name it "podcasting" and away you go with a new phenomenon. Apple literally surfed the wave that was already building off the technology shoreline.<br /><br />Am I criticising Apple for repackaging old concepts or for not being original ? Quite the contrary. Apple and its team seem to have an uncanny sense of when something is ready for prime time and they know how to evole it, and then execute it to be warmly recieved by the end-users.<br /><br />That, my friends, is one heck of talent. And I would bet it has far less to do with focus groups and market studies, and far more to do with wisdom and good instincts at the top. A "job" well done indeed.Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1129755457171357242005-10-19T16:51:00.000-04:002005-10-19T17:03:49.423-04:00Intelligent design and evolutionSo the debate has begun in the US over the teaching of evolution versus the teaching of alternates like intelligent design ("ID") theory. The slippery slope theorists are worried that if ID is presented as at least a viable hypothesis, then perhaps there are others as well. Where would this leave our schools and teachers ?<br /><br />My perspective is that "slippery slope" concerns aside, evolution is a theory that is taught as fact and if nothing else it will be helpful in the pursuit of truth to clarify that this theory is lacking and an alternate exists. I can recall my grade 9 science class where my teacher talked about how the basic building blocks of life were created in a test tube. The impression left was that we know where we came from and how we got here. To me, in restrospect and now better educated on the facts, evolution is a theory with many weaknesses.<br /><br />Science, as it peels back the layers of our physical world, continues to uncover astonishing things about how the universe is governed. Regardless of one's position on how these came to be, science can never answer the question "why" in the ultimate. Religion and science are not in opposition to each other - but each speaks to different parts of the truth. Science can examine the physical world and propose how it works and why is works, but it can never answer the question about "why" or the question about the ultimate source of matter and order in the universe.<br /><br />This debate will stir up emotions, but it should shed some needed light on this issue.Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1128992904667911282005-10-10T21:03:00.000-04:002005-10-10T21:08:24.673-04:00ThanksgivingToday marks the celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada. It is always good to pause, and focus, on the things that we appreciate - not the things we feel we need. Our consumerist society plucks the hearstrings of desire every way we look-whether on TV, the internet, or magazines. We are told, again and again that we need the new car, the new house, the new clothes, the new self. I am glad for one day where we can formally say "hey-we have more than enough". <br /><br />There is an author who has proposed that we need to practice "learned thankfulness". And in a culture of dis-thankfulness, I agree. Funny, the happiest people most of us know have learned to be happy in the simple ways, and to be thankful for the small things.<br /><br />May that be me today. <br /><br />I am truly blessed, and my heart overflows with thankfulness for my wife, Spencer, Ryan, my parents and family and friends.Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1125971815791893702005-09-05T21:56:00.000-04:002005-09-05T21:56:55.796-04:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/30/2769/640/IMGP0559.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/30/2769/320/IMGP0559.jpg'></a><br />Sunday lunch at Movenpick in Toronto<br /><span style='font-size: 8pt;'>Posted by <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'>Picasa</a></span>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1125971714763443062005-09-05T21:55:00.000-04:002005-09-05T21:55:14.766-04:00<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/30/2769/640/IMGP0578.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/30/2769/320/IMGP0578.jpg'></a><br />A lazy holiday Monday enjoying ice cream<br /><span style='font-size: 8pt;'>Posted by <a href='http://picasa.google.com/' target='ext'>Picasa</a></span>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1125971300024916572005-09-05T21:48:00.000-04:002005-09-05T21:53:43.463-04:00A day in the life of Newport,RI<div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/30/2769/640/IMGP0464.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; MARGIN: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" height="268" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/30/2769/320/IMGP0464.jpg" width="148" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This picture captures the spirit of our recent holiday in Newport. We fell in love with the sea, the sounds, the sights of this charming little city just an hour or so south of Boston. We hope to be back again in 2006. Until then - this picture reminds me of just one of the many sights of this great place.</span><br /></span></div>Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7466274.post-1124565100869688262005-08-20T15:04:00.000-04:002005-08-20T15:25:23.626-04:00Soccer season ended<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4201/461/1600/Soccer_August20_20051.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4201/461/200/Soccer_August20_2005.jpg" border="0" /></a>The season has come to an end. My first year as a coach, and I enjoyed it tremendously. I will miss these great kids and their enthusiasm and different personalities. I appreciated the chance to play some very small role in their young lives, perhaps just a passing marker on their journey in life that left a faint memory of joy and hope and encouragement.<br /><br />It is humbling to see children and their enthusiasm, simplicity and yet the small strands of early insecurity and doubt and competitiveness that haunt us all. The strong players learn that they are strong and get the respect they hope for. The weaker players are seen as such and the pattern continues throughout their lifetime.<br /><br />Fundamentally, every human being is a spark of life, a breath of God in this fallen rocky planet. To have interacted with and experienced them for a brief time has been a joy.<br /><br />Here is a picture of the gang....may I carry their memories with me for life. Go get 'em boys - may you find what you need in this world and find the Truth that sets you free.<br /><br />I am thankful for them all, and in a special way for Harman, the son of a gracious man who is in a wheelchair for reasons I do not know. When Harman scored his first goal during the last game of the regular season, I felt such joy for his father and it was somehow poetic for him to watch his young, fast, strong, and hopeful son run down the field and score. The son that he cannot kick the ball with, but must in his dreams. As a father I cry when I think about this.<br /><br />And finally, it was fitting that Spencer scored his first and last goal of the season on this last tournament game (we won 4-0). I was so proud of him and burst with joy. Go Spencer go ! Whatever you do in life, I am here to cheer you on.Richard Baulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03332859821692640785noreply@blogger.com0