Doing my bit as...Citizen

Figuring I might do my bit, my bit as…er’um [clearing throat, a mite embarrassed, perhaps really just wondering how close to Fool I’m nearing]…doing my bit as citizen: I signed-up to have my email box visited by surveys from Our Regional Transit Authority. Y’see, part o’me, naïve me maybe, still wants so to believe that an unelected authority beyond all expectation cares, and public input might make all the difference…

However…cynical me understands enough and distrusts enough. Just the same as some dark dark satire, all that conscientious public input – for all anyone might know of it – filed away under Public Relations Exercise. We do live in these more interesting times…as another However. Never before as simple to speak and possibly be heard, thanks to this new-fangled thingy called bloggin’ on the worldwide web.

Perhaps my posting this here leaves no more ripple than I’ve said it twice. I’m satisfied then this at least is once more than an ignored statement filed away under No.

Today I answered to my mind one of their more relevant surveys: it actually cared to ask would I ever ride the thing – and the why’s or why nots…dot dot dot:

I’ve lived in Marpole almost 30 years.
Worked at YVR almost 30 years.
Waited for light rail, or whatever the thing would eventually be named: and cheap round-the-clock service logical in any ‘world class city that never sleeps’.

Imagine – no more standing one hour in rain and cold, because I had to work late and it’s no longer rush hour on transit’s clock.

I have used the 100 Bus to and from work: bus stop one block over from my home.

Considering how crime seems to love riding the trains, it’s probably just as well that Canada Line is over one mile out of my way.

Canada Line goes where I work, kinda – Doesn’t go where I live. And your ‘Airport Surcharge’ adds insult to the already absurd fare – because some genius drew a fare zone line in the Middle Arm of the mighty Fraser.

Yesss – some PR starting up that airport workers won’t have to pay that surcharge. Logistically, that implies permits, or ID: oh, cripe, enforcement, more infrastructure, and more cost – again.

I stay with this Translink Listens – still input my two-bits’ worth – because I want transit to work.

But I will only ever use transit as my very last resort – because it costs me too much to travel hardly any distance at all.

I know I’m not the only commuter to say so.
I know – inexplicably – Translink cannot seem to grasp this.

So…I bike to and from YVR. And on those days when I’ve lost my nerve, because of…construction, or YVR tree-planting, or free-range taxis, then I drive my pick-up [a utilitarian vehicle much loved in North America] – because that’s cheaper than paying two-zones on transit.


Currently re-reading bits of:

The Prince,
by Niccolo Machiavelli


Current diversion(s):

Age of Empires, Age of Kings (Nintendo DS)

Archers + High ground = Victory!


Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 (PC - PC's basic, so it's this FS version, or I'm grounded)

Virtually flying around the world, because it says I can, and in a small Cessna, because it’ll be very interesting ocean crossing in my little Cessna. Wanting to post screen captures from my flights, but have still to check that publishing such pix doesn't constitute some definition of theft as far as Microsoft cares.

Meanwhile, just my log, minus all those numbers, course headings, and time notations, that make navigation such fun:

Um…only time enuf for plotting out gps way-points.
Too tired. And I don’t fly on auto-pilot.
Chaco Canyon is the next where!
And northwest to Shiprock.


An Admission

[The following section appears in my author profile on Protagonize. It's my content, I like it, and don't wanna change a word: just right that I say where first posted]

…I contracted Chronic Seriousness right after puberty. It has since shadowed my every heavy step.

Determined to remedy my sad condition, I've begun a flexible course of treatments, nothing too intense for my brittle constitution, because as with all medicines too much too soon of any good thing can be as bad…

Currently dosing with:

Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett

Monday, July 14...distinctly feels that I'm repeating myself

Here I was thinking this quick-jot blogging formula should make it simpler, so easier and more fun, for actually and regularly posting my current goings on. Well, that was only ever gonna happen in another reality: one in which I have a time machine, and weekends and getting about town would make for really fascinating reading.

So…been busy…yada yada…exactly – everybody’s likewise busy…and…time to get on with this.

Figured out that before I can properly outline the bones of a smaller story I’d really like to get moving I’ll need to fully flesh out the main conflict in the world the smaller story is part of. Thematically momentous happenings in the bigger world shape the smaller ones, after all. Kinda important that I think this through now, as there are several of these smaller stories possible – yup, the makings of possible sequels – each of them happening in this world I’ve been running like a simulation in my head…oh, no small count of years.

Logic work: so it all fits nicely together.
And fun, actually, because it’s always fun playing a small-g god.

Currently re-reading bits of:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, by John le Carre


Current diversion(s):

Age of Empires, Age of Kings (Nintendo DS)
I’m Attila. I’m tryin’ t’be ruthless.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 (PC - PC's basic, so it's this FS version, or I'm grounded)

Virtually flying around the world, because it says I can, and in a small Cessna, because it’ll be very interesting ocean crossing in my little Cessna. Wanting to post screen captures from my flights, but have still to check that publishing such pix doesn't constitute some definition of theft as far as Microsoft cares.

Meanwhile, just my log, minus all those numbers, course headings, and time notations, that make navigation such fun:

Alamogordo, New Mexico, northwest to Trinity site.
Flew north along the San Andres Mountains. Eyeballing the many curious round bare patches dotting the desert. Also eyeballing onboard gps.

White Sands Missile Range: A-Bomb tests; captured German V2 rocket tests; ongoing ordinance testing, undoubtedly including cruise missiles. Got no permits - I could never over-fly in the real world.

Stallion airport in view. Circling. Saw that road trailing south from Hwy 380.
No one curious round bare patch stood out. No fenced enclosure, no tour buses, no ant-like tourists posing for snapshots at the Ground Zero cairn that stands 12 feet tall. And no pocketing souvenir trinitite – which the soldier-slash-tour guide will have cautioned against pocketing.

Basic computer and this older version of Flight Sim: wasn’t really expecting to see spectacular real world detail, tho would’ve been nice. Satisfied myself by gps-boxing the coordinates.
Landed at Stallion AAF.

An Admission

[The following section appears in my author profile on Protagonize. It's my content, I like it, and don't wanna change a word: just right that I say where first posted]

…I contracted Chronic Seriousness right after puberty. It has since shadowed my every heavy step.

Determined to remedy my sad condition, I've begun a flexible course of treatments, nothing too intense for my brittle constitution, because as with all medicines too much too soon of any good thing can be as bad…

Currently dosing with:

Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett

…also, a short shot glass of:
My Favourite Brunette (1947) Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour