Ribfest Update

Ok so in the rush of getting ready for Ribfest this weekend I put the wrong dates in the last blog. Its actually from Thursday til Monday 11am-8pm.

Sorry for the mistake!

Today

One year! Can you believe it. Me and Dani have been married for one whole year as of yesterday. Its gone super fast it seems but I'm happy and its all good! We spent the day just hanging out, had a nice picknic in Springbank, got my butt kicked in a game of Scrabble and went for Brushetta with Feta at kelseys. Over all a good day!


So it is festival time for me again! I'm going to have a tent in the Ribfest in London to sell my art (or try to)! They have an 'Artist Alley' which i'm assuming is a couple artists put into one area of the park for the ribfest. I've never been in this before and have no idea what to expect. The Sunfest a few weeks ago is the largest festival in London for my kinda thing, so ribfest could be good or bad. Either way it'll be interesting. My lovely wife dani will be helping out for the week as well. So if you're in the area, come see me! I think its running Wed-Sunday, 11am-8pm.


This video is just gross if you don't like to see things decomposing. Yet its very informative. This guy took one of each main sandwiches from McD's plus a pack of fries and let them sit in jars for 10 weeks to see what happens. The results of the sandwiches are slightly normal, but the fries are just weird. It just shows you what they could do to your body.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2bvL7YNts

------------------

Back from the cottage!

Well we just got back from a week up north cottaging, and I'm proud to say that I'm about 5 shades darker (tanned). We had a great week of 24/7 relaxing (like i need it), but it gave me a chance to rest and read and think and plan (and also to fish! but not catch fist...i'm not good at that i found out...). I got some interesting ideas from reading Richard Branson's Autobiography 'Losing My Virginity'. Its a very interesting look into his life, how he came about to create one of the world's foremost companies. It is for sure a must read for anyone getting into business or interested in entrepreneurship.

So this week I've got a few things planned out, hopefully getting some work going with something. Its also my anniversary tomorrow!!! One year! Wow!

Today's awesomeness

Now to selflessly promote a website. This has got to be the most awesome website i've seen in a while.
Its call Picnik.
Basically its a image editor online. You can edit contrast, colors, apply a vignette, add effects, crop and more! And the best part is that its hooked into facebook and flickr, so you can just take your own photos from there and edit them online!
Now i know this isn't as good as photoshop, but imagine that you can edit a photo from a internet cafe and have it available to see on flickr.
Its free for now, but they are going to start charging soon, so check it out while you can!!!

http://picnik.com

Christian shopping!

I may be stepping on some feet here but the topic of today's blog(rant) is 'Exclusive Christian marketing'. I just recieved a business guide in the mail that markets only Christian businesses. That means if you arn't a church-goer, then you don't get to be in the guide. Now i can see how some people could see this as good: "yahh now I can deal with only christian businesses and not have to worry about getting screwed over!" But i think the people behind the guide missed a certain few sunday school lessons. I personally thought that as christians we were NOT supposed to push others away, NOT think we were better than other people. John 13:34: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Hmmm now does detaching the 'non-Christian' businesses from the Christian world sound like love? I don't think so.

Do people really think that advertising as a christian business is going to get them more business? Well i guess some shoppers would concider that business more righteous, but I personally wouldn't change my shopping plan because of that. As bad as it sounds I sometimes dont' even like dealing with other 'religious' business people and would rather go to someone who doesn't flaunt church in your face.

I remember once hearing a conversation between a business owner friend who was talking to a customer:

Customer: Hey Jack, with me and you both being christian, how about you give me a better deal on this $20 item??
Owner: Sure, for you, being christian and all, i can sell it for $25.
Customer: (confused) But that's more money!!??
Owner: Well yah, because now its a christian item!

haha

Smoke

I just got back from a nice drive over to UWO to shoot some inter-mural soccer, had the windows down enjoying the evening air when I had the joy of getting a face full of smoke. No it wasn't from my engine. It was from this car infront of me whos passengers were blowing cigar-smelling smoke out of their windows. I'd never imagined that I would get bombarded with secondhand smoke in my own truck.
Now i don't really care if these people are out to kill themselves with the smoke, but I myself don't want to breathe it in. I've never experienced this before. I mean i have seen lots of poeple smoking in their cars, looking all hip with their windows down an inch to let out the smoke (i guess they don't like the smoke themselves eh...), but the people tonight must of had a smoke machine or something. I'm talking clouds coming out of the windows while driving.
So it brings to mind the question, can something like this be allowed to happen? I mean you can't smoke in any buildings now, and i'm sure its going to happen to most public places (outdoors) as well, but can we stop people from smoking in cars? I know tonight was a weird situation, but it was like i couldn't breathe while behind this car.
And then, to make things worse, i watch the driver just toss his cigarette butt out the window. That just adds to the hate. But that is another rant for another time.

How to end world poverty :: Theory One

While in Europe last month we made sure we saw as many 'tourist' sights that we could. This included statues, old buildings and churches. It was during visits of the latter when I had this brilliant idea on how to end world hunger/poverty. You see, there are thousands of old catholic-based churches in europe. And by experience, I've come to two conclusions about catholics. 1.Their faith is so shallow that they must build and decorate elaborate churches to 'house' God, and 2.They are greedy. I know this doesn't extend to the worshipers there, its just church itself.

In almost every large church that we visited, there were countless historic paintings, gold idols...er...statues, relics and more. Now i know that it says in the bible that God loves the wealthy more than the poor...wait no it doesn't...yet these churches hoard these relics like there is no tomorrow.

So here is my proposition. I would bet anything that if the catholic church sold off even 50% of their treasure they could pretty much buy half of Africa and maybe bring a better life for those who need help.

Now i know you say giving money doesn't stop poverty, but I'm not suggesting that. What i mean is that the church could then fund enough programs of irrigation, drinking water, crop stabilization, etc to let those in poverty build themselves out.
So what if you can't worship or pray to the painting of mary on the wall of the church. Do you think that God would be hurt if you didn't have that statue of a naked cherub greeting everyone as they entered the church? I mean they can say that these are priceless peices of history and art, but really, is it seriously worth more than helping people live better?

Take another example that I saw: the Vatican. Biggest tourist trap ever. Come see where the pope lives! Yah!! As if the catholic church didn't make enough with collection plates, they charge you to get in to see the world's famous Bastilia. And I'm sure there are hundreds of people every day paying $75 for private tours. They even charged us just to walk to the top of the church. I really thought that God didn't like people using the church for profit. hmmm

So here is the challange Catholic Church! How about you realize that God doesn't care if the church looks rich and pretty. He doesn't care if it is a work of art. I'm sure whoever buys it will cherish it just the same. God wants you to care about others, his people, the poor who Jesus treasured above others. Does the vatican think they can bring that wealth when they die?

Ok enough ranting.
Send any death threats via comments.

Cheers.

Stuff for today.

Something i just got hooked on is the iGoogle page. I've had a custom homepage with yahoo for a while, giving me updates on news stories, science, comics etc, but with the iGoogle it is just so much more advanced and user friendly its crazy. Check it out when you have time to spare:: http://igoogle.com

--------

Apparently according to the roman catholic church, if you're not catholic then you're not really a real church. Pope whatshisname issued a document stating that if you don't see him as your ruler than your church is 'defective':

"It follows that these separated churches and communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation," it said.

The document adds that Protestant denominations — called Christian Communities born out of the Reformation — are not true churches, but ecclesial communities.

I think this is the first step in the Pope's plan to take over the world. Seriously.

Sunfest

Currently in the middle of this year's Sunfest, I'm about as tired and sore as i was after a few weeks of backpacking. I've found that sandels give you zero support while standing all day, yet i keep wearing them because with the heat shoes suck.

Sunfest has been great so far being busier than the past few years already. I've met some interesting people, some who liked my art, one who educated me in an overall view of the middle easy conflicts and others that are artists as well. What i've noticed tho is that generally people are just not friendly. My Sunfest neighbour stated how much he hates londoners because they are the least friendly of any other festival he goes in. I've noticed that as well now, how poeple don't even want to talk to others, even when one of the said parties tries to be nice and friendly. are we so scared to open ourselves to the idea that someone wants to genuinely talk to you that we can't even try? i know that as a vendor i'm tagged as 'only wanting to sell my product', but do you have to be that rude that you'll ignore any attempt to strike a conversation.

Ok enough rant. Its from working for 14 hours today and not having enough sleep.

Good night.

Europe Day 31 - 32:: Edited July 1

Day 31.
Brugge. Trained from antwerp and bussed to the hostel which is in the old city area. The hostel is one of the more known ones in all of Belgium and was pretty big, even having its own bar and restaurant. We walked around town to check it out. It was pretty cold and no sun. Got some frenchfries from one of two "competeing" stands in the main square. I guess these are famous fry stands that get auctioned off every 7 years to a new company...no idea why. We shopped for a bit and found this random art exhibit with an amazing artist (probably one of my most favourite artists ever now), named Arthure. I love his type of paintings, really abstract yet brings feeling. We headed back to the hostel for supper and watched a belgium soccer game in the pub as i tried some belgium beers. They have this cherry beer that is really good.

Day 32.
We wandered around brugge today, walked to the top of the Belfry (big bell tower), which was about 300 stairs. It had a great view but sucked when the bells started ringing as we were beside them...very loud.
We found a candy store that actually stretched the candy infront of you, and was quite amazing to watch. Got some great kiwi candy there (that actually looks like slices of kiwi!) We then headed to this church that supposedly has a vial of Christ's blood that was brought over from the middle east by the crusading knights. People can actually pay to pray with the blood (which is watched over by two creepy looking women).