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Learning:
The Journey of a Lifetime
or
A Cloud Chamber on the Mind

Sunday March 2, 2008 5:15 am Lethbridge, Alberta

It is -6 C with a high forecast of +2 C. Sunrise 7:11 Sunset 18:15 Hours of daylight: 11:04

4:50 PM

A. Morning Musings

Although the days are definitely getting longer, it is still dark when I get up. The bitterly cold weather appears to be over (hopefully) but we still have a couple of months in front of us before it is pleasantly warm.

Progress on my model train layout has been slow but steady. I have now mastered the procedure for mounting the Caboose Industries manual throws for turnouts. I now have 3 on the layout and the fourth is almost ready. All that remains is to add the pole containing the target. I have also learned that the target for CN is yellow for turnouts located in a yard (i.e. a switching area away from the mainline track). I am surprised at how much such manual models add to the realism of the layout, both in appearance and in terms of operating procedures. I now feel that I am throwing the switch rather than just pressing a button. It makes a huge difference. The 2 Digitrax stationary decoder modules for DCC control of my mainline turnouts arrived last week. The next task will be to learn how to wire these so I can control 8 (4 for each module) such turnouts. This will be particularly useful for the turnouts behind the Jasper yard as they are hard to reach.

I am delighted with my understanding of some of the features of Dreamweaver CS3. I now have control over the different procedures for saving CSS commands in a separate file rather than having it embedded within the XHTML file. It is also important to realize that when one wants a table, then one should use the table features rather than trying to figure out the equivalent div code.

My reading is also continuing at a nice pace. I have developed a pattern of having one fiction and at least one non-fiction book on the go at any one time. At the moment I have three "Technology" books on Dreamweaver CS3 that I want to carefully review.

I can think of two areas of activity that need to be addressed. One is to add a second book to my list of non-fiction books that I am reading at the moment. Done. I have just selected "Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed" by Jim Al-Khalili (2003). I would like to gain a better understanding of this topic.

The other activity is using my Pelikan fountain pen with its new "fine" nib. Today is a good day to rectify this.

These Morning Musings are a good way to begin the day. I now feel that I have a good grip on the next few hours. I will begin with something new: the book on quantum theory looks interesting. It has been awhile since I have sunk my teeth into a good science book.

Learning Category	Planned Activities for Today	Time
Literature	Begin morning with a Rumi reading
Literature	Begin reading "The Successor" by Ismail Kadare	2 hr
Technology	Make notes on formatting text using CSS with Dreamweaver CS3	1 hr
Model Trains	Install 1 Caboose Industries Ground Throw	1 hr
Science	Begin reading "Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed" by Jim Al-Khalili	1 hr

B. Actual Learning Activities

3:00 PM

I have read "The Successor". It is a powerful glimpse into the political life of Albania in the 1980's. Terrifying.

5:00 PM

Here are two close-up photos of the model train layout. The first shows the two manual throws for the turnouts at Wild Rose siding. The second is of the red water barrels on the wooden trestle. I have had an initial look at the instructions for installing the Digitrax DS64 stationery decoder for handling four of my mainline turnouts but it is not yet clear to me how I connect the wires from the turnouts to the decoder. This will be another learning experience.

 

Books on the Go