October 05, 2003
IEEE Forum, After Four, BackHoe
- IEEE Toronto Centennial Forum on Reliable Power Grids in Canada
- It was almost like a reunion of former Ontario Hydro employees. Four speakers from the IMO, Hydro One, Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie, and Powertech Labs Inc gave either a description of the events of the August 14, 2003 blackout and what their companies did to help (first two speakers) or gave theirs views on the process of achieving a reliable power grid. My personal favourite was the fourth speaker, Dr. Prabha Kundur, president of Powertech Labs Inc. He’s a very smart fellow plus one of his ideas for Ontario was the same idea I had: to make Ontario an electrical power “island”using DC links. I was feeling sleepy during the middle of the presentations but, afterwards, I found this was common among others. Something about Friday evenings I guess — the technical mind starts to wind down after the work week. Four of us retired to the Spotted Dick pub across the street from the Marriot and I quaffed a quick beer before I had to run along a catch the GO train.
- After Four and More
- This afternoon we enjoyed an Italian lunch at dimmi's, a jazz quartet And More and a jazz vocal quartet After Four arranged by our good friend Lauren McCabe. Her partner, Ken Foster, was the fabulous saxophone player in the jazz ensemble. Ken is so modest. He joined the Bell’Arte Singers a few years ago and said he wasn’t really that good. Well, maybe he’s rusty on the sight-singing; however, he sure knows his sax improvisation and jazz rhythm. Somebody forgot to introduce the members of After Four — they were great. I was thinking that maybe I should do something like that when I retire. There must be dozen of things to do on that list now.
- Back Hoe
- Speaking of retired, I hear a friend of mine has bought himself a backhoe. I’m not interested in “toys”with engines like Sea-Doos and Ski-Doos but a backhoe — now there’s something I could get excited about. Rather than major landscaping, it turns out he’ll need to use the backhoe shortly as their septic tank is giving them major problems.
Posted by jservice at October 05, 2003 10:26 PM
Now THAT is a stinky venture. I wouldn't fancy getting my backhoe all shtanky for it's first use, that's for sure.