Time and Numbers..

This Blog is for Kevin and I write these blogs to make my grand kids think.. What do we know about the watch we wear?
Watches like the one here, were invented 1500 years ago, The wristwatch on your arm was invented less than 100 years ago. Soon it is Remembrance's Day.. Well the watch is our gift from the war. The First World War, pilots and soldiers needed a quick method to know the time (for reports and actions beginning at the same time) without reaching into a pocket and the army asked for something to be invented. the wrist watch was invented and used and may service men came home with their watches.
The twelve hours on the clock are marked with numbers. But what are Numbers? They are symbols used to count.
How do we count... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and so on up to thousand or millions. but these symbols (numbers) that we use to count could also be other symbols.
The ten symbols we use for numbers, are zero and 1 to 9, and are called the Arabic Numerals . Because there are only 10 symbols used this is called a Base 10
The Romans who conquer most of the world in the time of Jesus Christ found these numbers more helpful than the system they were using which was called Roman Numerals.
During the time of Jesus, the civilized world was using Roman numbers which use 7 symbols. "I", "V", "X" "L", "C", "D" and "M". Today, we sometimes see them on a clock and watches as. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X XI and XII (12) as on the photo watches. Here in Roman I is 1, V is 5, X is 10 and L is 50 and C is 100 (cent) so MMXI is 2011 and today's date is IX V MMXI. As there are only 7 symbols in the Roman numbers, we say that it is a BASE 7. The Romans changed it because in the Base 10,numbers after all 10 number are used (10, 11, 12, or 21,22, 23,). In Roman some of the symbols only get used later when a higher count is need (like C at 100 where CXI is 111)

But if we worked in a shoe store we would count our shoes in pairs. Left and Right or Gauche and Droite. So when we have 10 pairs we really have 20 shoes. One could say that there were only two symbols for the shoes (L and R or G and D) or this was like a Base 2 counting system. ( so L R, 1pair, LR 2pairs).

The most daily counting of BASE 2 is the computer. or called Binary.. Actually computers work like a light switch ( it is either on or off) .

And all a computer does if decide if electricity (very small) is there or not. So it checks if the bit is.. on (with current) or off (without current) and the computer switch. Because 3 bits are called a byte. and used by the computer to make a word or number. Because of 3 switches or a base 8. Base 8 because 3 switches can be on/ off and create a total of 8 different symbols. This is Octal System If the three switches are 1 for on and 0 for off then we can have.. 100, 101, 111, 000,001, 010, 011, 110.

Lets have some fun Kevin..
A clock has how many possible symbols.. 12 ..Right.. yes we use the numbers from 1 to 12 but see the watches above they have different symbols..I is base 12 because when we see other parts of a clock or time. like the 60 minutes and the 60 seconds we see the 60 is simply 5x12=60.
But our calendar is based on the earth orbit around the sun so the number of days are Lunar.. but our days are based on a 7 different day of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday..

Kevin how many others can you think of that I have not mention.. eggs, beer, What is a baker's Dozen (13). Hope you enjoy this test of Math and the Base system.

Facebook and Criminal Charges

Yesterday's news in the Plymouth Patriot Ledger reported how four young 15 year old girls and .
students at Plymouth North High School were charged because of making Columbine like threats on Facebook. Then on Sept 16th news
(right photo) a police officer is being charged in Honolulu for posting a mobile camera video of a burn victim in a hospital bed on his Facebook page.
How does this apply to students and what they write on Facebook.
As my grandkids are on Facebook all the time and with sometime 100 friends, I think it is time to point out the responsibility they must show... and the danger of not respecting how much FACEBOOK is dangerous.
First,In october last year, a 13 year old, 8th grade student was mad at a School administrator and posted a threat on his Facebook, Then one of his friends (girl of 13) replied to the post and said that the school should be bombed (on Facebook). These posting results in them both being suspended and even criminal charges. The mother, who saw the FB posting and called the police, felt bad but knew it was serious and did what was right. What would you expect your mother to do?? The Right thing ??

We ask, "Who is responsible for teaching our kids on how to use the internet ?". A reporter writing about a Brandon Manitoba student who is facing charges for Facebook impersoning one of his teachers. He says " There is a moral, ethical and legal compound to this issue . "And while parents bear a significant amount of the responsibility to educate their children on the use and abuse of the internet, schools need to take a leadership role on access and education."
Students are being charged but also adults are being found guilty of improper use of Facebook. For example; When a NewMarket (Toronto) father got mad at the Social workers who took his kids and attacked the Children Aid Society (Protection des Enfants)by creating a FB group of parents attacking the organization. He was jailed and although, his lawyer said. " People use Facebook to Blow-off-Steam.
His lawyer argued that "today, people use Facebook today like the way people used to use their DAIRY and did not intend his personal thoughts or opinion to be made public. Remember FB comments are read by many poeple; not just your friends, their friends and parents.
So first, be careful of what you say and be sure what ever you say will be misunderstood by someone.
Today, you can not say. "I will kill him, if he..." because it is a threat. unless no-one hears you. But of course, if you write on facebook where 100 friends can read it.. you will be charged for assult or making a death threat.
Posting Photographs. Who owns the photo ? Who is in the photo ? Do they want their photo posted. Respect.. the word that must apply and Privacy. Everyone has the right to privacy and unless they give up that right by doing something illegal (a crime or possible crime) or legal (authorize publication). When a police officer posted on his facebook page, a picture of a suspect as he laid in the hospital bed in Honolulu and said that this possible thief was burned when stealing copperwire; he was charged for what he did.
And we even find the Police being guilty of imporper use of Facebook. The photo and video above tells about a Honolulu Police who placed on his Facebook last friday, a photo of a burnt thief and is now in trouble. In this case, the photo was intended to show how bad burn a person can become if they are stealing copper wire and forgot to disconnect the electricity. Photos are BAD.
The point is, you may not have a bad intention when publishing a photo. But does the person like the photo. Is it a small child in a bathingsuit and can be consider sexual? (especially if the person was a old man and the photo was a young girl) Maybe, the individual did not like their looks or the way the photo showed something in the background. Example: look at the photo below.
This photo from a news story, shows how Facebook has done good by showing that Rodney Branford was home. When in October, 2009, he was charged for 2 crimes in brooklyn area of NY, it was possible to see that at 11.47 he had written his status comment of "Where are my pancakes" on Facebook. The Brooklyn judge said this proved his alibis of being at home with is parents.. As for someone else using his password on his parents computer; the judge said "This implies a level of criminal genis which you would not expect from a young 19 year old".
But if I was to look at this photo and say that the bars on the window behind Rodney, indicates the type of neighbour in the Brooklyn area . It becomes judgement because I do not know if they are bars. I do not know if they live in that part of Brooklyn. Enjoy and learn to be smart online.

Trust.. "Who can you Trust?"

What a beautiful photo. . That is our Tidal Bore here in Moncton.
The picture is in the moncton newspaper, because over the last year our river had been allowed to make a lot of changes..Some poeple builded a Dam and Causeway about 10 years ago, which blocked the river for 10 years; and now the dam is open and the river is allow to flow and be "A River" Over time things change and we say " Who cares or who can change it back ? Sometimes, in our life we do a wave (or thing) and like the Tidal Bore, where the water comes up the river one wave behind the other wave; our thing becomes a Big thing.. When the little wave with a lot of other wave behind it, seems impossible to change, we must be wise and try to fix it. Don t leave it.
Today, Sept 11 I am working on my phone bill. When the sold me the phone, they promised $10 off for the next 12 months ($120) Now I see they forgot it and owe me $27. Also, I send back my cell phone which they charged me $9.99 and $15 for 1 month of using. I never used it.. But they still charged me the $25. I will be on the phone tomorrow to correct their mistake. But a lot of poeple donot take the time to chase and correct these "waves" behind what was a simple thing..
So be careful. I hope this blog for the older grand children will teach, that you must be wise and not trust anyone fully. Always be careful.

I hope that Samuel and Marie-Pier see this blog as "xibdyaubf" or ???????? what is the word.. all I did in moved my fingers one key left on the keyboard..Simple to mix up poeple with a little mistake. And I ask that they talk to their parents, my daughters, about what I write and I hope they understand. The lesson is what you do has effects which might get more and more big.. Snowball effect.. Keep rolling and get very big.. Be careful.
First, lets get the visit to Grandpapa done. This summer I had a beautiful hedge in front of my balcony door. The owner asked the worker to trim it and in order to have a nice belcony I had to plant flowers..
I am proud of the way the flowers came but most of all I am proud of the photo gallery over the Television. I need to get new photos and with the internet I will soon print them.
I so love my new apt. ha ha

So here is my Blog and like school it teaches a good lesson but can be very hard to understand. When you understand you will say.. Oh, that is strange..
I sat down to type this Blog.. my keyboard has changed. Where the key has "?" on it I now get "É". Where the Key that has " ^ " over the number "6" I find the Question mark "?". Who did what to my computer ? No kids were here.. It just happen.. When computers were first started before the Internet and Facebook the keyboard (clavier) was becoming Smart.. Not as smart as the Smartphone but smart enough to change from English to French keyboard. (I discovered the next day after this blog that the cat had gone behind the computer and the keyboard cable was loose.)
The keyboard would change if you typed "F1" and back to English if you typed "F2" Guess, . Boring...Boring.. not really... This could happen to you.. To your life.. It happens to all of us.


The story I tell here is, we Trust big companies like banks and telephone companies, and like the cartoon (left) they are big men next to us little poeple..Are they honest? Yes the poeple may be, but in today.s society everything is computers and they will say.. "Oh the computer did that" as if it is ok and it will get fixed. "Trust me.. the bill will be fixed" Trust is what makes us good.. We believe in the good in poeple. Especially kids believe adults... Their parents should be a sign of trust.
On TV now, CBC news, is a document called Google World.. Yes, the Google of internet and they are talking about Cloud Technology.. Putting all your information which you might have on your computer today.. "out There". On the internet, storage somewhere.. Like on a Cloud floating overhead, which you can just look up and see.. (or get your information).. Is this too much for children.. Yes, but Marie-Pier and Samuel my two oldest grandchildren are 15 and living on the internet.. Living on Facebook or doing many things which involve the computer.
First, a few blogs earlier I was excited about my new BlackBerry phone.. It is called a Smartphone.
Why? like the keyboard above it was doing things for itself. Tina said to me "You have to be smart enough to use it" which is true because there is so much to learn. Last week, I got a message from TELUS my phone company saying I had used 6390 kilobytes of Data and would be charged $150 for 5,000 kilobytes. I had not ordered a Data package.. Data package is like a phone but the way we connect to the internet. (you are building a data package as you bring this blog to your computer and read it..) But we pay a fee to have the internet and that is what or how much data (information) you can read. Like taking out a book at the library and paying to borrow it.
What happen ? My smartphone was on "Cloud 9" referring to the Cloud technology of Google. The smart phone was using the satillate to get GPS location where I was. It was sending information to BlackBerry. and many other things.. Do them all by it self. I asked TELUS, Why ? I did not ask for that.. "Oh, you should have told us to Block your phone from doing it" Do I pay the $150. I talked with them and they said.."we will cancel the bill because you did not know" but then the credit department send a message saying "You have passed your $200 limit" and unless you pay $120 your phone will be disconnected" I called and was told "Oh ok, your bill will be send to you on Sept 11, and the $150 will be taken of by then.. Just wait until then and it will be fixed" Then my phone was disconnected.. (probably because I did not pay the $120) and when I called it was "Why not pay the $120 and have money for future bills when the $150 is cancel as you only owe $68.. ($25 a month and the Service connect fee of $35.) The lady went on to say. If you don.t and wait until September 11th you will then be charged $35 to reconnect your phone.
Grandpapa got caught in a snowball which keep rolling and got bigger and bigger. I forgot to check and ask questions about my phone service and I hope that I show how things build and build until you are paying even if it was nothing you did wrong.
Because they are big does not mean they don t make mistakes and should be trusted. Take banks. Marie-Pier is now using a Debit card.. it is a small Grandpapa and Marie account. and she is learning to buy clothes for school. Buy things like a coffee at Tim Horton for Mom with money she earns. I give an allowance and even $5 a week for work.(like her room and reading this blog) Last month it was working on being careful what you sayWords hurt poeple". This month it is learning to Not Trust everyone.
At 16 Marie-Pier (and Samuel,) will sign a Bank Signature Card for her own checking account and then her signature will be put on checks, buying things and by then maybe she will know who she can trust. With a debit card she checks what the girl at the cash charges her. When she signs the checking signature card for the bank it will allow the bank to take out what ever service fees it wants. I know of one incident (thing that happen) where I had a balance of $10 and a check for $15 came in. The bank could have send back the $15 and charge me $40 and the person who received the returned check would have also charged me $30 dollars because their bank would have charged them for the returned check. (I would have paid $70 for the $5 missing in the bank)

Yes, I was responsible to make sure the money was there.. but at the end of the month the bank took $5.60 in service fees so the money was there. What I am saying, the computer took out the money, the computer send back the check for the insufficent funds, and the computer charged the $40. ( I talked to the bank and they cancelled the fees.. but I still had to tell the insurance company who received the check returned what happen and they charged me $30 because their bank charged them) Like the $150 above for TELUS, they accepted it was their mistake... and did not charge me.. but they could have been difficult.
I trusted that the Smart phone was just a phone..
. but I knew it was a special phone, I just did not know it could do so many things and end up costing me $150. As children coming into this computer world you must remember that computer is a machine, like a car, it does what you or someone tells it to do. Don.t walk across the road until you see the person driving starting to slow down.. maybe the car is running itself and does not see you.. So that is the story. Be careful Life is like the Bore here in Moncton, the big wave might be a lot of small waves behind it.. You will like it when you visit Moncton and see this wonder of the world

Hurricane Irene Coming

First, This week I saw and heard,. for the first time, Samuel and his singing group. Thank You Lisa for the V-Motion Video. I know it is a great experience for Sam and he certainly looks like he is having fun.
Now I have exciting news. Francis, my sister, who has been out west for many many years is coming home.. probably to Moncton.
So because this Blog will be send to her to show my family and their family I must get everyone into the photos. Chloe at left and Samuel at right (from his video) and of course Mom and Dad.. (Lisa and Pat)

My news of the week is tomorrow.. Hurricane IRENE will pass between me and my family in Montreal. What is a Hurricane for the kids.. Probably their first so I will do a couple photos and video here. On Monday it started as a tropical storm in the Ocean and has for the past week got bigger and bigger until now it is in Boston with Winds of 100 miles and Rain of 10 to 12 inches. Astronaut Ron Garan (from the International Space Station in space above us) took the Hurricane over the Caribbean.yesterday. So what does a Hurricane look like from space. See. the Video Sunday the rain and wind will start and we will see what it looks like from earth... Ha ha ha.
Well, Marie-Pier and Tina got the Twin Look hair cuts..
and I proud to see the young women she is becoming. As a young lady she has heart and compassion for truth and that will lead her to be wise in her decisions.
Lily-Jane is the baby and certainly will be as beautiful as either of her sisters. Both Roxanne and Marie go back to school next week and Lily is more excited then them both. Guess it is less work for her and Kevin..
(What do I say about Kevin except this video and I know he will be out running around in Hurricane Irene. He is so BAD..)
And what has Grandpapa been doing this week..
Well end of the month so waiting. First, I was so excited about my Blackberry Smart phone but without a power cord had to wait. Got it thursday and been discovering a lot. For example, the previous owner had loaded Google map and with the GPS I can get reading anywhere I am. Then I waited for the PC cable from HongKong ($1.69) so I could connect the smartphone to the computer...But now I find I need memory as there is only 5Mbytes left. I looked on e-bay and about $13 for 8Gbytes. That all phone... Hope Francis my sister likes the photos ofmy two girls and their kids ( my Grandkids). Love ya all.

Following Grand Kids

A quiet week, although I spend a lot of time on the phone with Tina and her kids..
my grand kids. And, as a grand father who wanted to teach them about banking; the accounts opened when they were kids are now becoming a part of their life. I discovered from Facebook about Marie-Pier's Bike and flat tire. and last month, I asked Tina to go get a Debit Card with Marie. So this week, when I received my Hydro cheque, I was happy to bank her allowance. As I watched online and follow her with her first Debit Card actions; I am proud of her mature attitude. She did her first POS in buying a inner tube for her new Bike at Canadian Tire. (Marie.. What is POS?)

By the way, Marie-Pier and Roxanne both had summer gifts of a Bike from there Godmother. (Bravo Lisa) And as if celebrating, Marie's 2nd bank card transaction she then made a visit to Tim Horton. With her bike repaired she then travelled across town.. quite a long trip and I wonder why do boyfriends always live so far away ?? haha By the way, This is my bicycle which I repaired after finding it near my garage. It took 3 hours to repair.. I am happy and losing weight.
Thursday, here in Moncton, the Walmart flyer indicated a lot of $0.25 and $0.50 school items.

Since I would have bought them for her, it was easlier to bank $10 and have Marie go get them in Longueuil. Also, I wanted her to learn to economize and be wise with the little money she has in the bank. Finally she went with Mom and after shopping they had a Mother-Daughter visit to McDonald for cool drinks.. I am sure Marie was proud to treat Mom and be buying on her Debit Card. (I was afraid she would go wild but she spend days without spending with her Debit Card. So very proud of her. Go Girl Go.. Grow up and become quite a women.

Then Friday, I received a call from Tina saying Kevin had gone to Rox's Boyfriend place to try and sell his bracelets
at the garage sale his parents was having. I wish I was a fly on the wall and watched as Kevin attempted to explain how his Stainless GoldPlated bracelets were worth $20 and he was selling for $15. He sold one but his profit was an exchange.. getting $10 cash and a similar bracelet from the buyer. Still, a great day for Kevin and I was so proud of him.. He made $5 profit for himself and had to put the other $5 in the bank to buy more to sell. Bravo Kevin.

Visiting Me You find my reading corner and TV chair..

on the wall is the paintings that Gisele did for my apartment and the corner has everything.. Telephone, good reading light, Night Lamp, my dogs and the Cat.. haha.. Oh by the way Tina.. The photo beside Marie-Pier is your Grandmother... my mother at Marie-Pier age.. don't you see the tupper or Gaillard in Marie..

Love ya all... Grandpapa... Pape

Grandkids Growing up..

Growing up.. This week, University and Collage Students here in Moncton, are looking for their first apartment. Every sunday I will blog for my Grandchildren. With Facebook and the Internet, the mail never brings or sends a Family letter of "Hello - How are things" so to give news and tell the grandkids how much they are loved and missed; I have decided to write this Blog.. It is their Blog about what their Grandfather is doing.. Welcome...
Pour Lily-Jane et Chloe, j'ai met une photo de Gilbert (Minnn) qui dit "BONJOUR"
Si vous Plait....Les Grands fait dire en francais au petite qu'est ce que je ecrit ici...

This week it is for Tina's kids. Next week for Lisa's; although I hope all grandkids read these blogs.

Woke up this morning with a wonderful dream. I was with Rox (or was it Marie, as I know I was happy to be with my granddaughters)
walking in a parking lot when this Brown Van drove into the parking. ((It looked like the old 1950 Voywagon) Guess I think of mom, Tina, having an old one, because of all the problems she been having recently.
As Tina walked around the front of the Van; Rox or Marie, left me and ran to the passenger side and greeted her sister who had just stepped out. There was a big (french culture) hug and kiss on the neck or cheek. I was so happy to see them excited to see each other, as this week on Facebook I read a message of " :'( Ma soeur ma reni'e :o :'( " This is a message asking for love and explaination. But as I look back at your mother (Tina) and Aunt Lisa, they have had a few of these moments.
I just went to Facebook and saw that Marie has posted a lot of new photos. I have not yet gone and seem them but I am excited to see them all. And Grandmama (Gisele) says that even there is english under some of the pictures. What a joy and surprise as the kids write and speak English for me. .. Thanks Marie
Next what's News , Tomorrow (le 15 Aout ) here in New Brunswick is Fete Acadienne (comme St-Jean Baptiste au Quebeche celebration is today and as I grew up with my grandmother who was Belgian and spoke french at home; you my grandchildren are French.. Be Proud. See photo and especially Music on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmaiNFzcwR8 )

Next, My weekly disappointment. We all have them.. Tuesday, I was told I would get a call Wednesday because this friend needed a man to help cleanup construction. I need the money ($10 for the rest of the month), so I was ready at 8 am. No call and at noon I took off my construction boots. Then Thursday, my cell rang and he asked me to help go get a Fireplace for Betty. Disappointment was not the lost job and money. It was him telling me how he paid the breakfast for the workers and gave them all $100 each..

Now my week just past.. What happen. Well it started with the BlackBerry Smartphone arriving in the mail Monday. This was because, I had put $22 into PayPal for a Virus Control Purchase and the offer of $19.95 was now raised to $39.95.. So the money was used on Ebay where I bid $2.25 on the BlackBerry WE Smartphone. This
phone usually sells for $200 and on e-bay for $50 to $100. My $2.25 was good Sunday night, and I waited to see if it would be shipped or I receive a message of "Sorry Bid was too Low"
Then I ran around to get it hocked up, Today, I have Telus for $20 and Text for $3 (unlimited incoming but 30 Outgoing) and I am waiting for a battery charger and cable to arrive in the mail. Battery is almost dead so phone is disconnected..

VISIT GRANDPAPA This section of my BLOG offers a change to visit my apartment by photos.
Here you are looking at the collection of pictures on top of my TV and looking toward the kitchen seeing the Boat builded from nails and strings.

Tomorrow a new week starts, Friday I took back the recycleables for $5.50 so now I wait for tomorrow. Why ??? Monday morning is Senior's Day at the Casino, and they give a good Buffet Breakfast for $3.99 and a compon for $5 on the Casino machines. So my $5.50 will pay the breakfast. Oh yeap.. They give a sign-in form to enter a draw for your age in money.. I have won it twice. Yes twice.. Never two , lest three, the saying goes.

So this has been my news this week, my dear wonderful grandkids. I Love ya all. Now to go and look at the photos on Facebook. I am so excited to see them. (MY apartment floorplan)

Have a great week my little treasures... Hope you have not had trouble reading this and I hope that you tell your young sister what it says.. Love you all..

Grandpapa or Pape