James Koole
@jameskoole.ca
Blue Jays fan since the 80's. Habs fan for a while now. Avgeek and transport nerd. Distance runner. Director of Product during business hours. Toronto, ON. 🇨🇦🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 https://www.jameskoole.ca
Purchased a current version Echo speaker from Amazon over the break for use on my basement office desk. For $80, it's easily the best sounding Bluetooth speaker around. I don't care about the Alexa stuff and it even has a line-in if I wanted to go that route. Much nicer than using AirPods all day.
January 6, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Purchased a current version Echo speaker from Amazon over the break for use on my basement office desk. For $80, it's easily the best sounding Bluetooth speaker around. I don't care about the Alexa stuff and it even has a line-in if I wanted to go that route. Much nicer than using AirPods all day.
I wish it was summer and warm and that I could work out on the back deck all day and enjoy being outside.
January 6, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I wish it was summer and warm and that I could work out on the back deck all day and enjoy being outside.
From what I can figure out, I'm supposed to go to "work" this morning in my basement office. Trying to remember what that means. All I have is some vague memories.
Confluence. PRDs. Jira. Gemini. Anyone able to make any sense of any of that?
Confluence. PRDs. Jira. Gemini. Anyone able to make any sense of any of that?
January 5, 2026 at 12:06 PM
From what I can figure out, I'm supposed to go to "work" this morning in my basement office. Trying to remember what that means. All I have is some vague memories.
Confluence. PRDs. Jira. Gemini. Anyone able to make any sense of any of that?
Confluence. PRDs. Jira. Gemini. Anyone able to make any sense of any of that?
Back from a lovely weekend at Ste. Anne's Spa out near Grafton, ON. Perfect way to end the Christmas break. Back to work tomorrow, I guess.
January 4, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Back from a lovely weekend at Ste. Anne's Spa out near Grafton, ON. Perfect way to end the Christmas break. Back to work tomorrow, I guess.
Thank you very much, Finland.
January 3, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Thank you very much, Finland.
I’m aiming to read 52 books this year. I did 18 in 2025 but I was not consistent at all with making time for reading instead of mindless surfing or watching TV. I think a book a week should be doable. The new Kobo helps too—the Elipsa 2E is a really nice device.
January 1, 2026 at 11:34 PM
I’m aiming to read 52 books this year. I did 18 in 2025 but I was not consistent at all with making time for reading instead of mindless surfing or watching TV. I think a book a week should be doable. The new Kobo helps too—the Elipsa 2E is a really nice device.
Book one of 2026 is done. "Heartwood" by Amity Gaige. Solid first read of the year although I confess that I started it in 2025. I think it counts to this year's tally though.
January 1, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Book one of 2026 is done. "Heartwood" by Amity Gaige. Solid first read of the year although I confess that I started it in 2025. I think it counts to this year's tally though.
Yet again the new year arrived even though I was asleep.
January 1, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Yet again the new year arrived even though I was asleep.
Watched Jay Kelly on Netflix last night and it was...meh. Too long, too slow, and also too nothing. Adam Sandler was good as the manager, but that was about it.
December 30, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Watched Jay Kelly on Netflix last night and it was...meh. Too long, too slow, and also too nothing. Adam Sandler was good as the manager, but that was about it.
Yesterday's run, before the awful weather started. Got out and back while it was still dry. www.strava.com/activities/1...
SDRC Sunday with the Boyz | Strava
Solid run with the usual Sunday group (minus a few members). Peaceful coffee at Aroma afterwards (since we were minus a few members). | Strava
www.strava.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Yesterday's run, before the awful weather started. Got out and back while it was still dry. www.strava.com/activities/1...
I really, really like the Kobo Elipsa 2E. Size is about the same as a trade paperback page meaning fewer page turns. Being able to use Overdrive directly for library books is a game changer. Stylus and note taking is nice too.
December 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I really, really like the Kobo Elipsa 2E. Size is about the same as a trade paperback page meaning fewer page turns. Being able to use Overdrive directly for library books is a game changer. Stylus and note taking is nice too.
It’s Saturday. You’re welcome.
December 27, 2025 at 1:31 PM
It’s Saturday. You’re welcome.
Pleased with the Christmas haul. Traded up from a Kindle Paperwhite to a Kobo elipsa2 with the stylus. Built in Overdrive and I can make notes right in the books or in docs. Me happy.
December 25, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Pleased with the Christmas haul. Traded up from a Kindle Paperwhite to a Kobo elipsa2 with the stylus. Built in Overdrive and I can make notes right in the books or in docs. Me happy.
Christmas Eve prime rib dinner was a success. Parents heading home (on the TTC because that's how they roll).
December 25, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Christmas Eve prime rib dinner was a success. Parents heading home (on the TTC because that's how they roll).
Reposted by James Koole
Gingerbread houses in Toronto
December 23, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Gingerbread houses in Toronto
Sportsnet is so Toronto-centric it’s not even funny. Not a single story about the second place Montréal Canadiens game last night. But boy, do they love to talk about the last place Leafs.
December 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Sportsnet is so Toronto-centric it’s not even funny. Not a single story about the second place Montréal Canadiens game last night. But boy, do they love to talk about the last place Leafs.
Teaching the kid about the wonders of same-day standby and how to work the system to get home faster. Moved up onto an earlier flight (an extra 2NNN flight number). Home more than an hour earlier.
December 21, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Teaching the kid about the wonders of same-day standby and how to work the system to get home faster. Moved up onto an earlier flight (an extra 2NNN flight number). Home more than an hour earlier.
Giving @thestorygraph.com a go because Goodreads is a UI disaster and is also owned (and clearly not cared for) by Amazon.
December 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Giving @thestorygraph.com a go because Goodreads is a UI disaster and is also owned (and clearly not cared for) by Amazon.
Heading into the final hours of work for 2025. As usual, the year flew by. We always joke in Q1 that next week it'll be December and then code freeze and the holidays. It never fails that a year seems like a long period of time at the beginning and a short period of time by the end.
December 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Heading into the final hours of work for 2025. As usual, the year flew by. We always joke in Q1 that next week it'll be December and then code freeze and the holidays. It never fails that a year seems like a long period of time at the beginning and a short period of time by the end.
Finished up Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The space stuff was accurate and plausible. The human stories were gripping and thought provoking. Sadly, the US is back-sliding rapidly and I fear that all the progress made over the last few decades for women and LGBTQ+ is being lost.
December 19, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Finished up Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The space stuff was accurate and plausible. The human stories were gripping and thought provoking. Sadly, the US is back-sliding rapidly and I fear that all the progress made over the last few decades for women and LGBTQ+ is being lost.
I wish that I could gain a better understanding of what the triggers for whatever this crushing mental shit hole I find myself in from time to time are. I guess I’ll just add “doesn’t even comprehend his own brain” to the pile. Not especially helpful, but noted for the next therapy session.
December 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I wish that I could gain a better understanding of what the triggers for whatever this crushing mental shit hole I find myself in from time to time are. I guess I’ll just add “doesn’t even comprehend his own brain” to the pile. Not especially helpful, but noted for the next therapy session.
Maybe I’ll just stay on this train until it gets to where ever it’s going.
December 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Maybe I’ll just stay on this train until it gets to where ever it’s going.
I mentioned that I read books and now my Discover feed is like “books books books!!!” I like planes and trains too. And running.
December 17, 2025 at 1:36 AM
I mentioned that I read books and now my Discover feed is like “books books books!!!” I like planes and trains too. And running.
The phishers are getting more imaginative or maybe AI is helping them out. The latest attempts to phish into our SendGrid account are emails saying that they are going to add their own LGBTQ+ pride theming to all emails and that you need to sign in to opt out. Nice try.
December 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The phishers are getting more imaginative or maybe AI is helping them out. The latest attempts to phish into our SendGrid account are emails saying that they are going to add their own LGBTQ+ pride theming to all emails and that you need to sign in to opt out. Nice try.