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	This has been a year of change and challenge, but I have on the whole enjoyed it. If life weren't exciting, where would we be? Here are some of the things that I am doing personally or that I am interested in. I am very interested in Art Deco architecture, and there are several examples of wonderful Art Deco buildings in Ottawa, however they are not generally well known, so I thought I could help fill the gap a bit. I don't have as much time as I would like to pursue looking for these buildings, and photographing them, however I will try to add to this page whenever I can. Please let me know what you think of my Ottawa Art Deco page. I have begun experimenting with the Linux operating system, for a variety of reasons. I have been interested and skirting the use of Linux for many years, and have several friends who are fervent believers. I have continued to be disappointed in recent years with the complexity and inflexibility of applications like MS Outlook, and their insistence on taking over all aspects of my computer - even when I don't want them to. I now have a computer running Mandrake Linux 9.0, with a GUI (Graphical User Interface) called KDE, which is really nicely conceived (and is included with the Mandrake distribution). Sept. 2003: Update on Cool Edit: The company that makes Cool Edit, Syntrillium software, was BOUGHT by Adobe Software in May of 2003 (press release and update) Adobe has launched a rebranded product called Adobe Audition. I have yet to upgrade so I cannot speak to this software. All I know is that Cool Edit is an astonishing software. Assuming Adobe has not messed with that, you should check it out. For those of you old enough to have these, you know all those vinyl LP's that you love? The ones that despite hours of searching in record stores and online, you simply cannot find? I have found the solution and am implementing it. I am recording the LPs onto my PC in WAV format, and then cleaning them up with a fantastic piece of software called Cool Edit 2000. Then I burn them onto CD, for playing in my CD player. I have also been putting them into MP3 format to play on the PC. If you are interested in trying this, I strongly recommend the Cool Edit 2000 software (now Adobe Audition, see above), check it out. I will put up a new page soon explaining the exact process I use. In addition, I don't just burn them to simple old CD-Rs - I am using the great Vinyl CD-Rs from E3Works, they look like LP's but work like CD's. The Warning on the box is almost worth the purchase price! About Tim If you are interested in who I am, you can download my current profile in Adobe PDF format here (44Kb ). This gives you a basic overview of my professional career. If that really interests you, you can also download my resume here (83Kb ). Eventually I will put some more personal information up here, like a short biography, but I am not there yet. Volvos Now you talk about a bright spot, I really love Volvos. After some horrific experiences with Chrysler - particularly a minivan that went through three transmissions before we finally gave it away in disgust - we now enjoy our two Volvos immensely. They are safe, fuel-efficient cars and pioneered in being as environmentally friendly as a car can be. Below is my 1985 244 DL, in really nice condition. It presently has 355,000 kilometres on it (Nov.2004). I bought it from the original owner, Claude Trepannier, who drove it primarily between Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto on business. It has been maintained carefully over the years and I intend to continue that trend. This is our 1998 Volvo V70 wagon, which we bought to replace the minivan (a horrible Chrysler Voyageur - I will never purchase another Chrysler product!), and our main thoughts were fuel economy and safety, as this is the car Connie uses primarily with the boys. We already know it can carry all of the hockey, soccer, snow sleds, and other sundry equipment that seems to come along with having two active young boys. It is an excellent vehicle.