dryfly.ca started as a website for sharing one of my DIY projects, a stitch and glue kayak. Since then I've added several more projects including a skin-on-frame kayak, cedar strip canoe, kayak paddles, canoe paddles, building a spey rod, and an antenna for receiving OTA HDTV. I also occasionally ramble on about politics, technology, bike racing, product reviews and last but not least, our kids.
Click on the Photo Gallery to lots of my pictures in their full glory, including family, friends, boat building, travels, etc.
Tight Lines!
Archive for Technology
August 23, 2010 at 8:50 am · Filed under Technology
I’m not one to really do the pros and cons on Windows (7) and Mac OSX. In fact, I think that on most accounts the two operating systems are essentially the same. They both have icons, usually at the bottom of the desktop, that a person clicks on to open a program. The programs are often identical in both OS. To install a program, you download it and then click on it. To print, you hit the print button. They both use a two-button mouse. etc. The whole apple user experience thing is completely overblown and not really rooted in any kind of reality.
Having said that, I have a question for Microsoft. It’s 2010, what up with all the reboots? I was using the computer the other day when I was notified that an update was installed and that I should reboot my computer. Windows users get these messages weekly. This time I just leaned back in my chair and stared at the screen. Really, a reboot? Wasn’t MS supposed to have re-written Windows, couldn’t they work things out so that our PCs don’t need constant reboots? After all, we all know how long it takes for Windows to boot (2 or 3 times longer than a mac) and it gets really annoying.
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June 1, 2010 at 7:04 am · Filed under Just Stuff, Technology
Being an education student at SFU and hopefully meeting all the requirements for a teachers certificate from BCCT this August, I am naturally curious about the pay scale categories assigned in BC. The Teachers Qualification Service, TQS, is the organization that is in charge of this. I had a question about categories and how they are affected by UBC’s MET programs, so I went to the TQS website in hopes of finding someone to contact with my query.
I was a bit surprised that on the TQS website they say that all questions should be directed via mail, fax or in person. I don’t have a fax machine, I didn’t want to wait for the mail service, and I had some free time yesterday so I went to their office to ask my questions. I turned out that the people “in the know” weren’t in the office at that time, so I wrote a letter outlining my questions and left it there, along with some supporting documentation.
Later that day I received an email from the TQS. I thought that was a bit odd considering they don’t apparently like email. In the email, the person asked for my BCCT certification number. I replied that I didn’t have one yet. I then received the following email:
from: TQS
subject: *Please submit your request by fax or mail.* Re: TQS Inquiry
Teacher Qualification Service
106 – 1525 West 8th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 1T5
__________________________________________
Well shiver me timbers, I had a good laugh at that one. It of course begs to be replied with any number of smart-ass responses. Here are some of the better ones that I’ve thought of:
“When is a good time to pick up the letter I dropped off, so that I can mail or fax it to you?”
“Would you be so kind as to mail or fax me my letter, so I can do the same for you? I don’t have a fax machine, perhaps you can drop it off at my house?”
“Do you remember that flat, white, papery thing that I dropped off today? There’s a good chance it’s still on your desk. If you can’t remember what it looks like simply recall that it’s the thing that you used to copy out my email address. There, you found it. Good. Can we just pretend it is the letter, and that it has already been mailed AND faxed?”
“Can I fax only a cover letter? You can then attached to the documents I already dropped off at your office and we can call it a day.”
“Do you remember seeing that flat white thing on your desk with a bunch of blue lines, circles and arcs on it? That is paper with writing on it. The hi-tech name for it is “letter.” You already have it, me mailing or faxing another one isn’t going to change that situation. Please take action accordingly.”
“Can you please scan and email me the contents of the letter? I recall that it was written quite clearly and neatly covered all the points that I was interested in. I’d hate to re-write it in case I miss something.”
May 17, 2010 at 11:44 am · Filed under Sports, Technology
Yesterday I went to tune the rear suspension sag on my mtn bike but when filling it with air I saw a bunch of oil leak out of the air valve. I quickly thought this meant that the shock was screwed and started looking into getting it repaired.
As it turns out, Fox has quite a bit of service information on their website including pdfs and videos on servicing their shocks. The RP2 service looked pretty straight forward so I thought I’d give it a try.
Removing the shock from the frame was simple. The next step required me to remove some reducer bushings with a 3/8″ bolt remover. Luckily I had one so I was well on my way.
After unscrewing the shock body by hand, I had a good look inside the shock. It then became obvious that oil leaking out of the air valve would be completely normal. The valve leads directly into the shock which has oil for lubrication. Now with everything disassembled all I had to do was get my hands on one of Fox’s Air Service Kits – a collection of replacement seals and pil. One phone call later and a 30min commute I was home with the kit. Different Bikes on Broadway stocked them with a price of $12.
Today I bought a $3 dental pick from Shoppers DrugMart to help remove the old seals. It only took a couple of minutes to replace the seals and a few more to re-assemble the shock on the bike. As I went to pump new air into the shock it became obvious what the real cause was for my initial problem: my Fox shock air pump was broken. The shock itself was probably ok. However, Fox recommends servicing the shock every 30 hours, so it was well overdo for some new seals. I could tell by feel that the seals were getting worn, as they were getting slightly brittle.
So far, so good. Now what to do about the Talus front shock…
December 10, 2009 at 5:22 pm · Filed under Technology
I would like to get rid of my cel phone. More specifically, I would like to get rid of my cel phone bill. Between my wife and I, our cel phone’s cost us more money per month than our hydro or gas bill. Our plans aren’t extravagant because we pay about $30/mo for voice each and $30/mo for data each. Once I add in some taxes, the completely BS “system access” fee, and call display, we’re chucking away a good stash of coin.
I’ve already canceled all of our “extras” and this will save $20/month. It’s hard to trim much else down. If I could do it, I’d ditch the voice plan and only have the data plan. This isn’t possible and so I’m left with three options.
1. Keep things as is.
2. Cancel my phone, and get a telus prepaid for $100/year, for emergencies only
3. Switch to Fido, pay $15/mo for an anemic voice plan and another $15/mo for bb email only.
The problem with #2 is that it is a guarantee of inconvenience. The concept is to keep a cel phone for emergencies and this seems to make sense. However, because of the rate and projected amount of use, I would be essentially resigning myself to carrying a phone around all the time but never using it. Who wants to pack an electronic device every day but only use it a couple of times a month?
I think I’ll do option #3. Both my wife and I have the $30 for 6gb per month data plan, but we never go over 200mb. I might as well trim mine right down and save the $15. The Fido voice plan is really skimpy but it will save quite a bit because not only is it cheaper, it also does not charge the system access fee.
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