Christopher Sikkenga

When It Comes to Our Streets
Spring and summer bring Edmontonians out to enjoy the warm weather walking, rollerblading, and cycling. But as anyone who has gone cycling on a busy roadway knows, sharing space with cars can feel dangerous. I avoid walking on Jasper Avenue because the fast-moving cars exfoliate my skin with sand. Is sharing the streets alongside vehicles safe at the current speed limits?
On March 11, city council voted 8-5 to reduce the core zone speed limit to 40 km/h on residen...

The cliché bumper sticker slogan that begins “I’d rather be…” is one way to describe my brain activity 5 out of 7 days of the week. Focus comes and goes unless I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum and completely obsessed with a task. So, I went and did just that. I got obsessed with tweaking my focus.

The Distraction Engine

How many thoughts does the average person have per day? There are loads of estimates, some as high as 70,000. However, what defines a thought? As I typed the last sente...

There are many changes happening in downtown Edmonton, how will they affect the core community?

I interviewed 3 individuals about the unique ways they travel around the city in the Summer. The article was also published online as part of a feature of Summer stories. This one is found near the bottom of the page. http://theyardsyeg.ca/how-to-summer

A short story by Philip K. Dick in 1956 became the 2002 film Minority Report and now it’s our way of life. Here’s hoping the marketing technology doesn’t get as obtrusive as in the movie. I’d rather not pluck my own eyeballs out like Tom Cruise.

The technology in question is face detection software, it lives in my elevator and most likely your local mall. Watching the scene below, you’ll see Tom Cruise being recognized by a number of cameras. The advertising walls react to his character by di...

From the episcura blog that closed its doors in 2017, a story on a duo in Canada bringing VR to consumers with their b2b plan.

A few months ago a friend called asking me if I knew of ways to find his wife’s stolen Android phone. Like backing up data, protecting your phone is one of those things you’re always warned about, but never follow through. At least, that was the case with my phone until this call. I went into action immediately to try and help my friend and learned a few things on the way.

My Phone Is Lost or Stolen!

Hopefully, an internet search hasn’t brought you here after your device has been stolen. If y...

As a card carrying member of the sweet tooth club, it’s very strange for me to crave lentils for dessert, but Lentil Power Bites have me hooked. I understand if you’re skeptical. Yet, you've got to try these!

episcura.com closed its site in 2017, but I spent a year there publishing one article a day.

4 tips about creating a demo reel including, "don't listen to me."

Software review I did for the now closed, episcura.com.

It seems laughable to overanalyze such a box office flop and yet here I am. Though it is supposed to be a comedy, the film serves as a glaring example of what is wrong with Hollywood when it comes to women & minorities. Quite literally, the movie shows just how awful Hollywood handles non-white actors.
R.I.P.D. stars Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Bacon. The film is about a police agency that enforces laws surrounding the dead, which are ghosts that refuse to leave their dead bodies? T...

Which game engine is right for you? A piece written for the now closed episcura.com.

VR is all over the media, but the average consumers have no reason to leap. Developers & bloggers seem to be the only people using VR.
A story from the late episcura.com, a stock textures market that closed its doors in 2017.