John - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I am a well grounded individual with roots in rural Canada. As a child, youth, and teenager my spare time was spent exploring the natural wonders of my habitat. This curiosity has developed into an interest of the complexities and mystique of the physical sciences. My work is guided by the knowledge and training gained during the attainment of an advanced education in the sciences and a continuing education in the field of engineering.Although I have limited spare time for these activities, I enjoy cycling and canoeing and golf. I can also do a pretty good two-step (with a bit of practice). Capturing the beauty and intricacies of nature, Manâ€™s creations, and the microscopic world on film is always pleasurable.Friends and relatives tell me that I have a natural talent in the field of psychology. If this natural talent is present, I prefer to think that I have a non-intrusive constructive interest in people. I do enjoy talking to people who have a genuine interest in life.

My Interests

"Photography" is a hobby at work and in my leisure time. In my 'pics" section are a few scanning electron microscope images that I have collected for the underground pipeline research that I have been involved with. The low carbon steel pipelines are protected from corrosion by the application of cathodic protection systems and by organic surface coatings. Despite these efforts the pipeline surface will corrode, typically as the result of coating disbondment. The end result are pitted surfaces that may eventually grow in cracks. Upon reaching a critical several millimeter crack size the pipeline will either leak or burst in a rather dramatic fashion. The latter can cause considerable environmental damage in the form of contaminated water systems and fires. Wildlife displacement and death cannot be totally avoided. The repair of these pipelines and the surrounding environment results in lost revenue in the millions of dollars for each major pipeline break.FYI (picture caption), low carbon steel pipelines are often a pearlitic steel. Thus the major microstructures are ferrite and eutectoid pearlite.Other interests are mentioned in the "about me" section of my profile.

Television:

Friends, Lost, According to Jim

My Blog

Complexities of Life

Life is complex. What seems to be is, or is not. Some of us believe in fate or devine intervention; some believe that we create our own destinies; others combine both philosophies. S...
Posted by John on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:16:00 PST

H u m o r of Yesterday

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Posted by John on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:42:00 PST

Addendum to Previous Blog - Billboard Postings

Human rights considerations indicate that billboards cannot be posted on private property without the permission of the owner. To post such billboards on private property suggests that permissio...
Posted by John on Sat, 21 Apr 2007 10:24:00 PST

What to do when you have a bad day or otherwise.

Well, I am not sure what most people would do but I decided to go cycling - something that I do quite often. The river valley in this city has hours of bicycle trails, both hard-surfaced and dir...
Posted by John on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:04:00 PST

The Inner Human Spirit and Life

Juan Mann, as explained at www.freehugscampaign.org, has correctly identified social disconnectivity and a lack of human contact as general social issues. Many of us can relate! Wha...
Posted by John on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:59:00 PST

Relationships

Meaningful relationships take time and involve two-way communication. True friendships require a respect for the other person's "space" and needs. Though at times deceptive, th...
Posted by John on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:24:00 PST

The Human Environment

The previous two blogs dealing with billboards, labels, and their application is intended to make people (you) more aware of the impact that the messages or the delivery of the messages may have on th...
Posted by John on Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:46:00 PST

Billboards, Labels and People

Billboards carry messages that represent the agenda of the billboard sponsor. The person carrying the billboard may be a volunteer or expect IOUs, and may or may not support the agenda advertize...
Posted by John on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:44:00 PST

Picture Caption

The horse and sleigh pictures shown in the "pics" are taken at a ranch about one hour north of Edmonton, Alberta. A number of my friends and relatives spent Christmas afternoon (several years ag...
Posted by John on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:09:00 PST