One of the most valuable things on the planet is to have the pleasure of working with people who can take how you see things, turn your head around 180 degrees, and show you an entirely new perspective that makes you go "OH! I never thought of that! Maybe there is a solution to this problem after all."

Once I get my mind set into thinking of things in one way, it can be EXTREMELY hard to get me to see things differently. So, kudos to both Nick and Heather for their patience in banging away at my brain until some light comes in.

Sometimes the world of intellectual property rights makes me laugh.... like yesterday when it was brought to my attention that a consulting firm in the United States has received (and is attempting to enforce) a "servicemark" from the US Patent office for the phrase "Information and Communication Technology for Development" and "ICT4D". Look carefully at the footer on the last page of the ARD, Inc. ICT4D brochure

It would be funny if it weren't so pathetic. In any case, if they can do that, I was thinking I should buy up Canadian rights for MIS, GIS, DSS... and the list goes on.

Nahh... that's not a silver hair. It couldn't be. That's just a more blonde strand which has popped up on my head. Look... there are others which are more red. And others which are more brown. Nope... definitely not silver or grey.

On Saturday night, I participated in my first bouldering competition at the climbing gym. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing which emphasizes technique. It's all about horizontal movement across the face of a wall/rock at relatively low heights (e.g. 10 feet or less). It's fun because you don't need harnesses or any gear - other than climbing shoes.

It also hurts like hell two days later if you are as out of shape as I am. I successfully completed 13 out of the 50 available routes (1-10, 12-13, 17) and can barely move my arms today. I think it has to do with the 10 times I tried Route #11 and fell off every time. That route has become a minor obsession for me... once my arms stop hurting this week I'm going back to Vertical Adventures and staying there until I get past that idiotic yellow brick of death. If 8 year olds can do it, surely I should be able to figure it out.

If I can get pictures of it from my brother-in-law (who organized the competition), I'll post them so you can see how deceptively easy it looks.

Woohoo! The initial designs from the eight semi-finalists for the architectural competition are now online! The design firms that have gotten this far are from Canada, USA, India, Denmark, and South Africa.

On the site, you can submit questions that you would like the interview committee (meeting on 1 April) to ask the architects. After that meeting, the top 3 design firms will bee given $100,000 each to flesh out their proposed design and the final selection (I think) will be announced on 1 July.

So... drop by the musuem site and give your feedback!!