Gone Virtual Reality

*Updated*
(see below @ *Update*)


Help, I have gotten stuck within my laptop and can't get out. Please, whatever you do, don't hit Ctrl, Alt, Delete.

Hmmm, at least it is wireless; so I can still get lots of online work done, check e-mail and blog away ..., while I am trapped in here.


*Update*

One person I provided a heads up to concerning this post kindly sent me this great picture and asked if I remembered Max Headroom.

Certainly do. In fact, for those previously exposed it, how could anyone forget that one. It was both novel and humorous for a while, then was overkilled in a huge way, as usual. Anything for a buck.

Remembering about Max Headroom reminds me just how old I am beginning to get however. :-)


P.S.

By the way, I had meant to add a link to an earlier blog post of mine that helps to provide a little background about how the laptop photo came about, here.


*Note*: last updated on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 11:49 PM [EST].

Snow for Thanksgiving (Wednesday morning; 11/23/2005)

The Vermont State House, late Wednesday (November 23rd) morning last week with what little snow had managed to fall by then, while I had a spare moment on my way to do some errands and also gain some online access at the state law library prior to my returning the borrowed digital camera (Canon PowerShot A150, 3.2 mega pixels, 4x zoom lens) to its owner later in the day.

Late Autumn Short Hike Photo's: State House Trail to Hubbard Park Tower - Montpelier (Monday morning; 11/14/2004)

Information, maps and more photo's of Hubbard Park, here and, an online map, here (complete with *Hot Spots* - clickable spots on the map to access available photo's of certain areas) [via official City of Montpelier Website].

Reflections: Wash Day Blues

Two weeks ago yesterday I was asked if I would be willing to go to the 2005 NARPA Conference in Hartford, CT a mere two days later, so the next day (Wednesday, November 16, 2005) found myself doing a huge load of laundry for the trip as well as the rest of the month along with other crucial errands at the last minute.

The other difference between this and other such wash days, besides my being rather busy and preoccupied with plenty on my mind to both remember and accomplish within a very short period of time, was that I had the borrowed digital camera on hand with which to capture this particular image.

NARPA 2005 Conference Photo's Posted on Beyond VSH blog

Have finally just managed to blog up my first segment of photo's from the 2005 NARPA Conference, here [via Beyond VSH blog].

Those who attended the conference, whether from Vermont or elsewhere, are encouraged to post a comment on this and future segments regarding the conference with their own report or perspective.

That said, anyone who did not attend the conference, should not let that stop them from posting a comment either, if they are so inclined.


Housekeeping

By the way, due to problems with comment spam of late and trying to keep up with it all, I have been forced to make use of some the recent Blogger offerings to deal with such -- including comment moderation (which I do not like using) on both blogs. Sorry for these extra layers and hoops, but it was unavoidably necessary on my end of things.

P.S.

Speaking of comments and problems related to them: If memory my serves me correctly, I seem to recall several different people mentioning to me within e-mails of their interest in posting a comment on one of my blogs, but not being able to figure out how to and it was not working out on their end to do so for some reason unknown to them.

It finally dawned on me this morning that one possible reason for the problem they were experiencing is that they may have a very effective pop-up blocker and, because I had my comments setting for both the Beyond VSH blog as well as this blog (and some other blogs of mine too) set to use the pop-up feature for when people click onto the Comments for any given post so it comes up as a little box in another window. This is most likely why it was not available to them.

My apologies for this.

Thank you to those who let me know when they did and sorry it took me so long to figure it out, at least I hope I finally have and this solves the problem.

Since this effects almost anyone who may want to comment, I have just changed the setting so everyone should now be able to both view and leave comments.

Hope that helps.


*Note*: last updated on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 12:43 PM [EST].

My 50th Birthday

Thursday (November 17th) was my 50th Birthday, however since I was leaving early that day in order to travel down to Hartford, CT for the 2005 NARPA Conference, the celebrations planned by various friends of mine had to be off until later.

This evening I was treated to a hearty homemade meal as well as the huge double-layered, deeply
rich, chocolate birthday cake topped with creamy white frosting shown in these photo's while everyone else sang a chorus of Happy Birthday.

In addition, there was a half gallon of vanilla ice cream, some of which I have already had and more later to go along with all that cake; however I am so full at the moment that I have not had any of the cake yet, but will in a little while.

Sometime next week, yet another friend has plans to hold a small celebration that had previously been planned for last Thursday, but which they understood had to be tabled until after I returned to Vermont.

Blogger Photo: Yours Truly Onboard Vermonter Amtrak Train En Route to Hartford, CT (Thursday, November 17, 2005)

Blogger photo: Morgan W. Brown onboard the Vermonter Amtrak train en route to Hartford to attend the 2005 NARPA Conference [taken by Robin Lambert, Vermont Protection & Advocacy (VT P&A) board member]

[*Note*: NARPA = National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy]

By the way, speaking of the day our particular VT P&A sponsored group traveled down to Hartford, it just happened to be fifty (50) years ago to the day when I was born in Middletown, CT; and, when we were in CT nearing Hartford, I felt like I was going home or, at least coming full circle, sort of anyway (the photo featured here is the initial one taken by Robin Lambert and in view on the laptop within the above, second photo she also took of me).

For those who have not already read it yet, check out a somewhat related blog post of mine, here.

Norsehorse @ NARPA 2005 Conference

[*Note*: NARPA = National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy]

On Tuesday (November 15th), as someone else who had been registered to attend ended up having to cancel out from going -- but with everything already all paid for by Vermont Protection and Advocacy (VT P&A), I was asked by VT P&A if I would be interested in attending the 2005 NARPA Conference held from Thursday thru Sunday (November 17th - 20th); so this is where I am at the moment.

More later -- plus photo's -- when I get back home, since there is no free wi-fi and the hotel only has one available on-site public computer for all hotel guests (and I am grateful for that actually).

Thank you VT P&A!

NECN "Sky Scenes" Featured Picture (11/15/2005): Vermont State House -- Changing Autumn Sky

While watching NECN (New England Cable News network) on television about a week or two ago, I found out that each Tuesday morning Weatherman Matt Noyes introduces the new weather-related Sky Scenes featured pictures, which are selected each week from viewer photo submissions.

Since I had use of a borrowed digital camera that the owner was allowing me to hang onto for a while longer, last Thursday (November 10, 2005) I went into town and took lots of photo's including of the Vermont State House, including the one featured within this blog post; which is the photo I submitted to NECN's Sky Scenes.

Waking late this morning and, yet still feeling tired, it took me a few moments to realize I missed the 6:45 AM showing of the featured pictures. However just in case they would air it again, I put NECN on and at about 9:45 AM or so there was the photo of mine being displayed as one of this weeks selections: An early Happy 50th Birthday present!

Stately Art: Pavilion State Office Building Lobby Art on Permanent Display; Montpelier, Vermont

Local Public Transportation: GMTA

*Updated*
(see below @ *Update*)




The above Green Mountain Transit Agency (GMTA) bus is the one I took to and from town today, which also happens to among my favorite type of buses they operate. They usually use these particular buses for the City Route, which connects the cities of Montpelier and Barre as well as points in between along with connecting routes.

The rack on the front of the bus is for securely carrying up to two bicycles.

Below is the other, a little smaller type of GMTA bus they use for various routes, which also has a bike rack for two bikes as well; these buses were being used last Thursday (November 10, 2005), when went into town that day.




*Update*

Below is yet another photo of the same type of bus as in the above (2nd) photo, which I had a little more time to more carefully take.




*Note*: added a third photo: last updated on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 7:00 PM [EDT].

"Heat Up the House": Montpelier Emergency Fuel Fund; Fund Raiser

*Note*: See below for November 19th benefit dance party info


With Winter clearly on the horizon and, as such, the soaring costs of heating homes on the minds of most people within the region: Heat Up the House Montpelier Emergency Fuel Fund donation canisters will be available on the counters in many downtown stores, with which people can use to make contributions in order to help out area neighbors in need during what will surely prove to be a long cold season, with the funds raised going to the Montpelier Crises Fuel Assistance Program.

Anyone who wants to contribute can also do so by sending a check to:

Montpelier Crises Fuel Assistance Fund
c/o Bob Gowans
Town Services Officer
Montpelier City Hall
Montpelier VT 05602

This particular fund raising effort is being sponsored by the Montpelier Downtown Community Association (MDCA), the City of Montpelier and the Montpelier Interfaith Council.


Heat Up the House - Benefit Dance Party
Featuring: Tammy Fletcher & the Disciples



In concert with this fund raising effort, Tammy Fletcher and the Disciples will be performing their hot blues and R&B sound on Saturday, November 19th at the Montpelier City Hall auditorium beginning at 8:00 PM [EST]. Tickets are only $10 and will be sold both at the Montpelier City Clerk’s office as well as at the door.

Having been to a previous performance of theirs held at the same venue many years ago, a venue which of course has plenty of dance space available for those so inclined, I can personally attest to the fact that this will definitely be an event worth taking in -- especially considering it is for such a worthy cause.

Photo: Always Worth Looking Upward

Whenever telling someone about what to definitely check out while on a self-guided tour of the Vermont State House, I stress to them that when they are within the Cedar Creek Room to make certain they remember to look up and, without providing any further clue or detail as to why, I leave it at that.

The larger photo above shows only one of the two restored stained glass skylights found if one but looks upward when in the room, which no matter how often I pass by I try to catch at least a quick glance of at least once during a visit to the building.

It is actually surprising to me how many report they have been there and do not recall having looked up, something which one should do when surveying most rooms or chambers within the state house.

Both sets of batteries for the digital camera finally wore out on me early Thursday afternoon (November 10, 2005) or otherwise I would have tried to photograph the other one to feature here as well (which is also available for viewing via the above [third] link on the state house page).

Photo's: Reflected Autumn Sky; Vermont Transit Bus

The top photo was actually captured and, then cropped by me afterwards, from the right side window closest to the door of the Vermont Transit Lines bus, which is shown in full within the third photo featured; one I took of driver Tom Haney and the bus just prior to it departing for Boston.

The second photo was the first one I took shortly after passengers disembarked and new ones boarded at the Montpelier transit bus stop.

Late Thursday morning (November 5, 2005) I was walking across the Taylor Street bridge (in the background of 2nd photo) when the bus came by and, since I had a borrowed digital camera*[1] with me and was in a photographing mood, could not resist taking photo's of it.

*[1: Canon, PowerShot A510, 4X optical zoom]

Photo's: Vermont State House in Late Autumn (2005)

The above three photo's of the Vermont State House, located on State Street in Montpelier, were each taken around noontime (plus or minus) on Thursday (November 10, 2005) with a borrowed digital camera (Canon, PowerShot A510, 4X optical zoom).

The sky in the first photograph is obviously lighter than the latter two, due to my having done minor editing by adjusting the brightness, saturation and contrast levels after downloading from the camera to my laptop, as it otherwise was much too dark and I wanted the state house sign to be more viewable. Each of the photo's were also cropped to one extent or another as well.

Photo's: Small Hillside Farm

These are just some of the many sort of sights that granny blogger Pat Hejny enjoys each day on the small farm she calls home within Central Vermont (photo's taken on Saturday, November 5, 2005 with a borrowed digital camera; Canon, PowerShot A510, 4X optical zoom).

*Do Not Pass On This*: Watch and Rate this Ad!

Background:

As I was on the telephone this morning with a Vermont-based disability rights advocate concerning a separate, yet somewhat still related matter, they sent me an e-mail and then informed of their deed, suggesting I check it out and let them know my impression of it; something which, thanks to my laptop and the online access I have where I am residing for the Winter, I was able to quickly do while on the phone with them. This meant I could easily report my immediate reaction.

After viewing it for myself I knew this was definitely something in need of sharing, so after e-mailing it out all over the place, I also wanted to blog it up here for those readers of this blog of mine whom may have not already come across yet.


The Ad:

• Watch and rate the ad, here (commenting feature available as well; however if you are so inclined, please make certain to rate the ad first);


• French to English text translation, here (yet it is best if you view and rate the ad first in order to base you rating if it on your initial reaction or instinct).

More Background:

This particular ad either currently is or previously had been airing in France for the EDF Group, a European energy company. The ad agency responsible for the ad is Euro RSCG Worldwide en France.

P.S.

By the way, after I got done blogging up the above portion to this blog I finally got around to noticing that, even though one can apparently still rate the EDF ad as well as the all the other ads, the ad has already won the public's choice award.

Learn more about Ad-Awards (International Advertising Awards: The Finest TV Ads) on their About Us page.

2005 VT Blogger Meetup Photo of Yours Truly by Michael Martine

Morgan, originally uploaded by Michael Martine.

This particular photo, which is among my favorites and one taken by local blogger Michael Martine, captured me while the Sun was shining right into my eyes causing me to wear my hat during the introductions phase of the blogger meet up held at the Langdon Street Cafe in Montpelier on Saturday (November 5th).

Yet, as the photo shows, I still could not manage to look up due to the intense glare of the late afternoon Sunshine coming in the huge bay window; which probably was a good thing as it usually pains me to do the intro thing and, even worse, I was already long-winded enough on my own and then there were some people asking me questions that needed answering to boot -- which I guess comes with the turf when one is in a room full of bloggers, whom tend to do such, right?!

(which is also probably why I kept really busy with the camera after that, in part as a way to cope and also not get caught back into doing much more talking for a while; although I was not able to avoid it all together however, as I got into a rather long and intense conversation later when my guard was down and I was tired; luckily someone rescued the person from me talking their ear off even more than was already the case)

For the backstory concerning the tee-shirt, read a previous blog post of mine on the subject (Wednesday, May 19, 2004): Mutant Bloggers?

Norsehorse's Blogosphere Trot is Back: NBC Nightly News Netcast

After a lengthy hiatus from blogging anything on it over a two month period, I have finally managed to blog something up on Norsehorse's Blogosphere Trot: An Occasional Trot Around the Blogosphere: A blog I started during my visit with my sister and her family only a day or two just prior to my return to Vermont.

As stated within my first post to that particular blog (here; Tuesday, July 19, 2005), it is focused on sharing recent as well as various finds, information and, once in a while, even some of my own thoughts, insights and experiences concerning blogs, blogging, bloggers and all sorts of related matters found from among a variety of sources here and there.


NBC Nightly News Netcast Available

After blogging a brief I'm back type of post (here), I then blogged about NBC's introduction of their Nightly News Netcast, which has since been updated with a more detailed review of it. Read that post of mine, here.

Photo's: 2005 Vermont Blogger Gathering

*Updated*
(see below @ *Update*)




View my set of 2005 Vermont Blogger Gathering photo's, here [via Flickr] or, even better, the slideshow version, here.

In addition, check out the photo's of NTodd (here), Scully (here) as well as Michael Martine (here; which were featured within Michael's first two posts reporting on the blog meet up here and, here).

Bill Simmon also promises to post some photo's on Candleblog, here.

Cathy Resmer had a camera she was taking photo's with, so make certain to check 802 Online for photo's she might post there as well.


*Update*

Cathy's post and photo's are posted, here.

Michael Martine blogged another post in which he posted additional photo's, here.

Jeff Soyer blogged his account of the event, here [via Alphecca]; as did Andrew, the youngest blogger in attendence -- who also happens to have the blog with the longest name, here [via a quick word from the far side of the galaxy].


*Note*: Added links to Michael Martine's first two blogger meetup blog posts which trail the initial mention of his photo's: last updated on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at 3:24 AM [EST].

Political Pat in the News

Patricia Hejny,
Independent
candidate for
Governor
of Vermont
in 2004
(Photo via Vermont
Public Television)As Cathy Resmer (802 Online; here) blogged about earlier today (Wednesday, November 2, 2005), Pat Hejny had her photo published in the Times Argus, of when she was speaking out at a healthcare forum last evening.

The photo caption within the print edition reads:

Stefan Hard/Times Argus
Pat Hejny of Williamstown criticized corporations for lack of responsibility during a legislative hearing on health care reform held at Spaulding High School in Barre on Tuesday.

The article included the following paragraph, which generally described what Pat spoke out about during the meeting:

[...]

Pat Hejny of Williamstown, who ran as an Independent for governor last year, criticized large corporations who market unhealthy foods like sugary cereals and juices, and automakers for encouraging sedentary lifestyles, saying they contribute to health costs.

[...]

Read the article and view the photo of Pat, here.

Way to go Pat!