A step in the right direction

Just read an article about a town in the US that has made smoking illegal in all public places, indoor and outdoor, where anyone may be exposed to second hand smoke.

This is a great idea. Personally, I really don't care if anyone chooses to smoke, it's their life - but just.. don't do it around me! Cigarette smoke is a carcenogen that has already been shown to cause serious illness and even death in second hand smokers. The indoor smoking ban we have in Toronto is a good start, but this doesn't protect us from people smoking right at the door of buildings, or walking down the street, or waiting at a bus stop.

The only thing is, I hope they enforce it well. Without enforcement, this law is meaningless. Take, for example, the no-smoking bylaw at TTC subway stops. This is rarely enforced, the net result being people smoke while waiting for buses with impunity.

What a long, strange trip it's been..

This has been one of the most eventful weekends I've had in recent memory:

• Thursday was Iron Ring
• Friday was the first day of the National Business Technology Conference (which I attended)
• Saturday was the second day of the conference, and Gradball.
• (Sunday spent recovering :->)

Let me go through each one, in turn:

Iron Ring
For the most part, the ceremony was pretty much what I expected, although I won't talk about it specifically, as that's forbidden by the Ring Wraiths. (I suspect Frodo was really an Engineer who told someone about the ceremony. Or maybe it was Bilbo who told Frodo. Something like that. Either way, it was bad news when the Ring Wraiths went after him in the movie, and I don't want them after me.)

"Iron" Ring is actually a bit of a misnomer, as most of the rings (including mine) are actually made of stainless steel nowadays. Stainless steel having the obvious advantage of not rusting and leaving discolourations on your pinky finger. I really don't see any advantage of having a real iron one - the ring is a symbol of the commitment you've made at the ceremony.. and I don't think a more practical material makes it any less symbolic.

Anyway, moving on.. The after-party at Suds was quite disappointing:

• There was no music - what party doesn't have music? One that isn't very good, that's what.
  
• There was nothing to eat - as the pizza that was ordered was gone within a few minutes of the time I arrived.
  
• There wasn't much to drink - the ECE club, for some reason, decided beer was the drink of choice.. but I don't drink beer, as I can't stand the taste. Apparently, it's an acquired taste - but I have no inclination to suffer through the process of acquiring it. There was none of what I do like to drink, such as Smirnoff Ice (and other drinks in the same vein).

So, after taking a few obligatory pictures giving the one finger salute (not the one you may be thinking), a few of us left early to have dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Pacific Mall in Markham (you know, the place that had, and probably still has, all of the stores the RCMP closed down for selling illegal DVDs).

Much more to talk about, but that will have to happen after I finish a computer graphics assignment I have due tomorrow..

Iron Ring

Iron Ring is tonight. This is when I truly, officially become an Engineer (well, not really.. need to pass a licensing exam to be able to legally call myself a professional Engineer, but who's nitpicking details?).

Not really sure what to expect of the ceremony itself - as it was presented to us by the Iron Ring people (henceforth, I'll call them "Ring Wraiths", even though that's not their official title, because I like that better.. and yes, the reference to Lord of the Rings is intentional), it seems almost like a cult thing:
- You must not record/take pictures/etc. at the ceremony
- You must not discuss the details of the ceremony with anyone who is not "obligated" (the ring wraith's fancy term for someone they've given a ring to..)
- You cannot bring friends/family to the ceremony, unless they are obligated Engineers and have been working as an Engineer for at least four years.. and then, you can only invite one person.
- It's supposedly a powerful spiritual experience for some.

So what does the ceremony involve? I have no clue, but I'm looking forward to finding out.