Day 16
Nice. (The city, not the exclamation.)
Left florence at about 8am to train to Nice, france. Got to Nice around 4pm and found our hostel. The hostel people seem pretty dence, but we got in a room with two girls from Guelph, so that was fun. We headed down to the beach/shopping area to get food and check out the town. Lots of really expensive cars around; fararis and such. Would be a fun place to live if you had money to throw away. A one bedroom apartment downtown is about 450 000 euros to buy.
Day 17
Hiked up the side of a small mountain to check out an archeology museum. Turns out that romans left some buildings there a long time ago. Who knew. We then hiked back down to the beach to relax. For a really expensive resort town, the beach sucks. No sand, just large pebbles. Not too comfy unless you can afford a beach chair. Walking along the beach later in the day to a point that jets into the water, we saw a huge school of dolphins swimming and jumping from one horizon to the other.
Day 18
Monaco. Headed from nice to monaco for the day. Its only a 20 min train ride and costs almost nothing. We also found out that the Monaco Grand Prix was on that week too which was cool, but it made the city busy and loud. We walked over to the palace which overlooks the whole area and gives you a good view of the racing as well. We also headed to the Oceanographic museum which is world renound. Had some sweet looking fish and old relecs. We also walked up right to the races but couldn't get in. Was a great walking day until my $7 walmart sandels decided to completely fall appart (shoulda known), but besides that it was great!
Day 19
Marseille. We trained to marseille and tried to find the hostel that we booked. After taking a metro and a bus, we started walking and walking and walking and finally found our hostel, which turned out to be this couple's house (awkward) and whats worse (and funny for me) is that we were sharing a room with two guys from holland who spent all night drinking and listening to the most random music, and then to make the stay more fun, the "free internet" turned out to be their own home computer in their living room, so when we tried to search for a room for the next day with 5 random people sitting in the room with us was most awkward. Anyway, we did get the chance to boat over to the Chateau d'If (the location for the Count of Monte Cristo), which was really cool. A nice old prison island. Had warning signs about seagulls who attack people...and one happened to divebomb Dani. Really fun! haha
Day 20
Beizers. Found this little town on the coast between marseille and Barcelona. Big mistake. We trained here and planned to get info about our hotel at the train station. Turned out that the station was too small for info...so going with my memory of the general direction of the hotel, we started hiking. After walking for a while, we founda bus stop with a map, which didn't help. We then had a gang of teens throw fruit at the bus stop and start following us while we walked. It was just pure luck when we finally stumbled upon a tourist info building with nice ladies who informed us that the hotel we wanted was not a good place and like 7km out of town. They then got us a hotel right next to the train station, where we spent the res of the day and night in because i'm pretty sure the town was run by gangs. Not happy day. We were glad to leave.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
Europe days 9 -15 :: Edited June 22
So this may be the biggest sets of blog posts ever when i'm done with it. Since internet here has been iffy at best, and can cost as much as a good meal for an hour, i could not keep up as much as i would have liked. so what i'm doing now, nearing the end of our trip is i'll condense it into short blurbs for each day/event with the help of Dani's well written notes in her conventional journal and enlarge them when possible. so this post should keep getting bigger until i have filled in all the details. so here we go:
Day 9
heading to the train station to go to rome we met some fellow londoners (what are the odds!)They gave us some advice on things to see in rome, which turned out very helpful even tho i've been there 3 other times...
We arrived in rome late, as all trains it italy are late, and after metros and busses we made it to our hostel which was a campground just on the outskirts of the city. The place was pretty nice, we got our own room and bathroom. It even had a pool and 'jaccuzies'which to them are round tubs with cold water jets...not my idea of a good hot tub...oh well cant complain.
Day 10
ROME! We bussed and metro-ed downtown to check out the old sites, including the Trevi fountain, old ruins, tomb of the unknown soldier and the collesium. My fav part was thanks to the Londoners we met the day before. As they told us to do, we followed the buildings to the left of the unknown soldiers tomb and eventually found a small door that led downstairs into an old cell. turns out this cell is where the apostle Paul was supposedly held. The cell is small and very few people seemed to know about it since it was pretty empty when we were there. Rumor has it that Paul baptised fellow prisoners with a small stream that went through the cell and that the water actually glowed. There's a small mural in the cell showing this event, but besides that it doesn't tell anything except a list of names of who was in the cell, including Paul.
Cool eh!
Day 11
The Vatican. Bussing into the city, we walked into see the vatican's huge walls that surround the city. We didn't know where to go there, so we saw this huge line (as in thousands of people), and decided our best bet would be to join the line and hope we get somewhere. Thankfully it went really fast and we got into St.Peter's Bastilia. Well actually it went UNDER the bastilia to the tombes of the popes. YOu'd think with all the money that the vatican has it wouldn't have to bury the popes in the basement eh! haha. What was really weird was that when we went past the most recient tomb (John Paul?) people were actually praying to the dead pope, leaving gifts and more. NOw i'm not big into catholic things, but thats just weird people. We also saw the tomb for St.Peter (from a distance, since no one is allowed in). We then went into the church itself, which is amazing in terms of architecture and design. I also think that if they auctioned off everything in there they could pretty much end world poverty. But they're too greedy i guess. God only likes really expensive churches, right?
We then decided to get in another huge line and climbed up to the top of the bastilia which was about 550 stairs, some that led through tunnels that were slanted on an angle, so that you had to walk crooked. Came with a great view of the upper roof of the church (painted by michelangelo) and a good overview of the whole city.
Our plan then was to go see the sistine chapel, but after walking all the way to it, we found that it just randomly closed for the day (sign said it closed one day a month and it just happened to be our day there...blah). On the plus side we found this amazing gelato place were we got 6 scoops of the icecream. not bad.
Day 12 and 13
We took a train to our next town, a place called Filgine or something like that. We had booked this campground place that we knew nothing about but it was in the Tuscan area, so we figured it would be good. We got there at about 2:30 and got a shuttle to the campgrounds, on top of a mountain, which we found out happened to be a resort. (but we only payed $13 per night!) IT had 6 pools, tennis, soccer, restaurants, market and more. It was basically like a 4 star camping resort. we decided it would be a good place to relax for a few days (by the pool of course). We also noticed that it just happened to be the weekend that the European chapter of the H.O.G. Club (Harley-Davidon Owners Group), got together at that resort, meaning lots of bikes and noise! Was very interesting.
Day 14
Florence. Took an early train to florence where we left our bags and took another train to Pisa. Walking through the town we found the leaning tower (very cool) and the historic area. After taking the normal 'holding up the leaning tower' photos and wandered around for a bit, we then headed back to the train and back to Florence and a bus to our hostel.
Day 15
Walked through florence. Our hostel is on top of a hill overlooking the city and is right beside a lookout with a huge statue of David on it. We wandered around the streets and churches for about 8 hours. Didn't see the original David...most museums were closed that day. oh well.
Day 9
heading to the train station to go to rome we met some fellow londoners (what are the odds!)They gave us some advice on things to see in rome, which turned out very helpful even tho i've been there 3 other times...
We arrived in rome late, as all trains it italy are late, and after metros and busses we made it to our hostel which was a campground just on the outskirts of the city. The place was pretty nice, we got our own room and bathroom. It even had a pool and 'jaccuzies'which to them are round tubs with cold water jets...not my idea of a good hot tub...oh well cant complain.
Day 10
ROME! We bussed and metro-ed downtown to check out the old sites, including the Trevi fountain, old ruins, tomb of the unknown soldier and the collesium. My fav part was thanks to the Londoners we met the day before. As they told us to do, we followed the buildings to the left of the unknown soldiers tomb and eventually found a small door that led downstairs into an old cell. turns out this cell is where the apostle Paul was supposedly held. The cell is small and very few people seemed to know about it since it was pretty empty when we were there. Rumor has it that Paul baptised fellow prisoners with a small stream that went through the cell and that the water actually glowed. There's a small mural in the cell showing this event, but besides that it doesn't tell anything except a list of names of who was in the cell, including Paul.
Cool eh!
Day 11
The Vatican. Bussing into the city, we walked into see the vatican's huge walls that surround the city. We didn't know where to go there, so we saw this huge line (as in thousands of people), and decided our best bet would be to join the line and hope we get somewhere. Thankfully it went really fast and we got into St.Peter's Bastilia. Well actually it went UNDER the bastilia to the tombes of the popes. YOu'd think with all the money that the vatican has it wouldn't have to bury the popes in the basement eh! haha. What was really weird was that when we went past the most recient tomb (John Paul?) people were actually praying to the dead pope, leaving gifts and more. NOw i'm not big into catholic things, but thats just weird people. We also saw the tomb for St.Peter (from a distance, since no one is allowed in). We then went into the church itself, which is amazing in terms of architecture and design. I also think that if they auctioned off everything in there they could pretty much end world poverty. But they're too greedy i guess. God only likes really expensive churches, right?
We then decided to get in another huge line and climbed up to the top of the bastilia which was about 550 stairs, some that led through tunnels that were slanted on an angle, so that you had to walk crooked. Came with a great view of the upper roof of the church (painted by michelangelo) and a good overview of the whole city.
Our plan then was to go see the sistine chapel, but after walking all the way to it, we found that it just randomly closed for the day (sign said it closed one day a month and it just happened to be our day there...blah). On the plus side we found this amazing gelato place were we got 6 scoops of the icecream. not bad.
Day 12 and 13
We took a train to our next town, a place called Filgine or something like that. We had booked this campground place that we knew nothing about but it was in the Tuscan area, so we figured it would be good. We got there at about 2:30 and got a shuttle to the campgrounds, on top of a mountain, which we found out happened to be a resort. (but we only payed $13 per night!) IT had 6 pools, tennis, soccer, restaurants, market and more. It was basically like a 4 star camping resort. we decided it would be a good place to relax for a few days (by the pool of course). We also noticed that it just happened to be the weekend that the European chapter of the H.O.G. Club (Harley-Davidon Owners Group), got together at that resort, meaning lots of bikes and noise! Was very interesting.
Day 14
Florence. Took an early train to florence where we left our bags and took another train to Pisa. Walking through the town we found the leaning tower (very cool) and the historic area. After taking the normal 'holding up the leaning tower' photos and wandered around for a bit, we then headed back to the train and back to Florence and a bus to our hostel.
Day 15
Walked through florence. Our hostel is on top of a hill overlooking the city and is right beside a lookout with a huge statue of David on it. We wandered around the streets and churches for about 8 hours. Didn't see the original David...most museums were closed that day. oh well.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Europe day 7-9
I appologise for the lond delay bettween posts. Internet was hard to get in italy for cheap, so we only used it when needed.
Rimini was a fun resort town right on the beach. the hostel was cool; probably used to be a hotel and kept a 60s feel with the colors and furniture.
We mainly layed on the beach which looked to be fully set up for the upcoming tourist season with rows and rows of beach umbrella holders. would be quite a site to see in full season. we also tried to get a bus to the nearby city/state/country of San Marino, which is the oldest country in the world; but the busses ran too sparatically for us and we had to ditch the idea. so we just put in more beach time.
we met some people from london there on our last morning, and it was good to talk about things we knew!! plus got some info about other towns from them.
Then after two days in rimini, we hopped a train and started for Rome.
Rimini was a fun resort town right on the beach. the hostel was cool; probably used to be a hotel and kept a 60s feel with the colors and furniture.
We mainly layed on the beach which looked to be fully set up for the upcoming tourist season with rows and rows of beach umbrella holders. would be quite a site to see in full season. we also tried to get a bus to the nearby city/state/country of San Marino, which is the oldest country in the world; but the busses ran too sparatically for us and we had to ditch the idea. so we just put in more beach time.
we met some people from london there on our last morning, and it was good to talk about things we knew!! plus got some info about other towns from them.
Then after two days in rimini, we hopped a train and started for Rome.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Europe Day 4, 5, 6
To start off, Venice is definetly one of the most visually astounding cities i have seen, if you take away the crowds. We started day 3 (after sleeping in) with a boat ride right into venice. my last experience here was not a good one, so it was great to finally see the city in good light. I liked the 15 min boat ride in along a 'water highway', it lets you into the city in the most fun way, and its a great buildup of anticipation as you see it coming closer. The boat drivers are amazing here. they just cruise into these little spots with such grace, where i am sure i would have rammed straight into the walkway. its like they can control the boat within inches.
getting around venice is not an easy task. there are no straight roads, most zigzag around and end in either big squares, sudden dead ends or into the water.
it makes for an interesting walk, but is hard to follow on a map. so for the most part you just try to head ina general direction and you should be good.
we got to see some pretty cool old churches with amazing paintings on the walls that have to be hundreds of years old. we also went to the top of a 100 meter tower that looks out over all of venice, pretty cool. its fun seeing all the red brick roofs and all the rooftop patios.
I think my favourite part of the city are the small streets and bridges that are deserted. its just a wonderful place to see.
on day 6 we headed out by train to Rimini, a costal town on the east side of italy. Trains are hot, stuffy and hot here. Did i mention they are hot?
We got to the town at about 6 and after catching rides on multiple busses (a few that ended) we found our hostel.
getting around venice is not an easy task. there are no straight roads, most zigzag around and end in either big squares, sudden dead ends or into the water.
it makes for an interesting walk, but is hard to follow on a map. so for the most part you just try to head ina general direction and you should be good.
we got to see some pretty cool old churches with amazing paintings on the walls that have to be hundreds of years old. we also went to the top of a 100 meter tower that looks out over all of venice, pretty cool. its fun seeing all the red brick roofs and all the rooftop patios.
I think my favourite part of the city are the small streets and bridges that are deserted. its just a wonderful place to see.
on day 6 we headed out by train to Rimini, a costal town on the east side of italy. Trains are hot, stuffy and hot here. Did i mention they are hot?
We got to the town at about 6 and after catching rides on multiple busses (a few that ended) we found our hostel.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Europe Day 1, 2, 3
Starting out with a flight to London england at 9:50pm, we began our 48 hours of no sleep travel. We landed in england at 9:30 am after a night of not sleeping on the plane and enduring 2 children crying right next to us during the last hour of flight. We trained into london and left our bags at a train station locker and wandered around for a few hours. We made our way to the KLondon tower and the Tower bridge, which were great if we wern,t so dead. The weather kinda sucked, it was cool and rainy, which ruined our plans to sleep in a sunny park somewhere. Having enough by about 4pm we headed back to our bags (nearly forgetting them) and hopped on a train to the next airport, waited in the airport over night for a 7am flight (airport floors suck to sleep on), then flew to Bologna Italy. Taking a bus then a train then a bus, we made it to our current hostel and crashed in our beds for a nice 3 hour nap followed by food and a 12 hour sleep.
The hostel here is one of the best iàve been at, with nice showers, private trailer rooms, a restaurant, market and you can see the city of venice right from the hostel. a boat goes right from the front gate into venice. a very nice setup.
Coming next: day 3 and 4 in Venice!!!
The hostel here is one of the best iàve been at, with nice showers, private trailer rooms, a restaurant, market and you can see the city of venice right from the hostel. a boat goes right from the front gate into venice. a very nice setup.
Coming next: day 3 and 4 in Venice!!!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Europe Trip 2007 - Day One
Well its been quite a busy week here. This past weekend I got to enjoy my sister-in-law Rachel's wedding to Nathan (see link to the right). It was a great wedding, as well as the few days before and after. I got to hang out with Nathan's friends for two nights, met some cool people there, won $80 at a casino and got to watch nathan get dressed up like a girl. All in all an eventful time! The wedding was like nothing i've been to before. The cerimony was nice and short (thanks Joe!) and the reception was a pot-luck, which was a great idea by Rach and Nathan. Definetly came with a sense of community; everyone coming together, providing food for each other, enjoying the night. It was great! I'll link some photos with this post later today.
But on to more exciting news. Today we leave for europe!!!!!!
Me and Danielle are going to be flying out to europe tonight for 6 weeks. Staying in England for a day, we then get to hang out in an airport all night and grab an early flight to Bologna, Italy and train over to Venice to start our adventure. From there we have no plans, no itinary, no clue. I think this is the best way to travel! This way you're never late for your plans, you don't have to rush and you will probably see things you didn't even think about!!
So watch this blog for updates (as many as I can when I get to a internet cafe). This is going to allow me to update more of you faster than emails, which bodes well in 6 euros-an-hour cafes.
Photos::
But on to more exciting news. Today we leave for europe!!!!!!
Me and Danielle are going to be flying out to europe tonight for 6 weeks. Staying in England for a day, we then get to hang out in an airport all night and grab an early flight to Bologna, Italy and train over to Venice to start our adventure. From there we have no plans, no itinary, no clue. I think this is the best way to travel! This way you're never late for your plans, you don't have to rush and you will probably see things you didn't even think about!!
So watch this blog for updates (as many as I can when I get to a internet cafe). This is going to allow me to update more of you faster than emails, which bodes well in 6 euros-an-hour cafes.
Photos::
Friday, April 27, 2007
Time to die Yellow Signs
I have come to forcast the downfall of what was the "big thing" in advertising a few years ago: Yellow Signs (or any version of them!)
A few years ago the idea of yellow signs (and their flourescent counterparts) surged around the area as a great way to advertise your business, attract attention, and make people read a bright sign in hopes of making them crash their moving cars. Ok so i may have made that last one up. But needless to say, peeople loved this bright way of diverting attention from on-coming cars and other businesses.
I am stating now that this form of advertising has reached and passed its peak. In a country where we are trying to clean up our cities and make them more green, natural is the new yellow. I was reminded of this just the other day when driving downtown I saw three yellow and one black/ugly/flourescent signs on ONE business' property. FOUR SIGNS!!!! It was more than hard to look at. It was just plain ugly. Have these businesses sunk so far into the idea that people want to see advertising that they've decided to hide their buildings with the yellow signs? I do believe that there was a garden under the signs, but you wouldn't notice it at all due to the glare of yellow. Plus it can't be good to have cement blocks in a garden!
Its time for a change. I LIKE seeing oncoming traffic as I drive or try to pull out of parking lots. I LIKE being able to see buildings and not have to look at big yellow boards taunting me with their messages of what I 'need'. I don't want a new watch. I don't need half price shredders. I don't care if I get one can of tuna for the price of two, or something like that.
I look forward to seeing less of these signs as people realize that direct, in your face advertising is coming to an end. I hope that people can voice this opinion to see less yellow and more green (and i don't mean green signs, you geeks). How about you take a minute and think, ponder, pull hair about a prettier way of letting people know that they should buy that arm chair they can't live without.
Just watch this blog. I'll tell you how in the future. Until then, let's take down the yellow signs. We could probably build a house for a needy family with all that wasted materials.
A few years ago the idea of yellow signs (and their flourescent counterparts) surged around the area as a great way to advertise your business, attract attention, and make people read a bright sign in hopes of making them crash their moving cars. Ok so i may have made that last one up. But needless to say, peeople loved this bright way of diverting attention from on-coming cars and other businesses.
I am stating now that this form of advertising has reached and passed its peak. In a country where we are trying to clean up our cities and make them more green, natural is the new yellow. I was reminded of this just the other day when driving downtown I saw three yellow and one black/ugly/flourescent signs on ONE business' property. FOUR SIGNS!!!! It was more than hard to look at. It was just plain ugly. Have these businesses sunk so far into the idea that people want to see advertising that they've decided to hide their buildings with the yellow signs? I do believe that there was a garden under the signs, but you wouldn't notice it at all due to the glare of yellow. Plus it can't be good to have cement blocks in a garden!
Its time for a change. I LIKE seeing oncoming traffic as I drive or try to pull out of parking lots. I LIKE being able to see buildings and not have to look at big yellow boards taunting me with their messages of what I 'need'. I don't want a new watch. I don't need half price shredders. I don't care if I get one can of tuna for the price of two, or something like that.
I look forward to seeing less of these signs as people realize that direct, in your face advertising is coming to an end. I hope that people can voice this opinion to see less yellow and more green (and i don't mean green signs, you geeks). How about you take a minute and think, ponder, pull hair about a prettier way of letting people know that they should buy that arm chair they can't live without.
Just watch this blog. I'll tell you how in the future. Until then, let's take down the yellow signs. We could probably build a house for a needy family with all that wasted materials.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Today's Stuff
Watch out Superman! Kriptonite exists in Serbia! haha that is so cool! Too bad a superman isn't found with it eh! Check out the full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_britain_kryptonite
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And now scientists have found a planet that superman could come from! Seems a new planet was found 20 light years away that is called a "Super Earth" being 1.5 times the size of ours. more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6589157.stm
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And just when you thougth the world wasn't nuts enough, "Polar bear cub Knut in the Berlin zoo received an anonymous death threat, causing alarm at Berlin Zoo on Thursday and prompting heightened security." Now come on. A baby polar bear, cute as anything, getting a death threat? Do you think he could read it?? Maybe get a little scared? yah...wow.
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And now scientists have found a planet that superman could come from! Seems a new planet was found 20 light years away that is called a "Super Earth" being 1.5 times the size of ours. more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6589157.stm
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And just when you thougth the world wasn't nuts enough, "Polar bear cub Knut in the Berlin zoo received an anonymous death threat, causing alarm at Berlin Zoo on Thursday and prompting heightened security." Now come on. A baby polar bear, cute as anything, getting a death threat? Do you think he could read it?? Maybe get a little scared? yah...wow.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Bell Canada
About a month or two ago, when moving my studio to my basement I had to discontinue my internet from bell canada. Of course you would think it would be a pretty simple task which could go like this:
Me: Hello bell canada representitive. I need to cancel my internet because my business is closing at the end of the month.
B.C: Not a problem Mr.Robb, we'll bill you till the end of the month and send a box for the modem after that. Is that everything? Have a nice day!
But alas, customer service is not on bell's prime objective summery. On my first phone call, I was told that I couldn't cancel because I was signed up on a 5 year contract that started last december when (and I do remember this), a bell sales person called me up and asked if I wanted to upgrade my account to a wireless modem (which never worked because bell doesn't understand that people use MAC computers...). I did verbally agree to this, since I had no current plans to move at that time, but mind you I signed no contract. Needless I hung up with the rep, knowing that I needed to look back into my bills before to get more info.
A week later I called again, going through their automated phone services, and got to talk to a very nice rep who I could not understand what she was saying for the life of me. I explained my situation and what was going on and after being on the phone for just over 10 minutes, and asking her to repeat everything she said at least twice, I hung up in frusteration again when she kept saying that I can't cancel. She did give me another phone number to call to talk to another service rep that may help better. Calling this new number brought me through another set of automated messages (which by the way you don't have to deal with if you just keep pushing 0 as fast as you can!), and I started talking to another lady who spoke slightly better english. Explaining my problem, and the steps i've been through already, she looked into my account and after talking to her manager told me that I could get out of the contract (woo hoo!), but only after paying for 1/2 the time left which equaled about $3400 (not so woo hoo...). I then got my dad involved (he can talk people out of anything), and it was only after he called and had to ask the service rep to repeat herself 5 times that he asked where she was located. Turns out that India is the headquarters for bell CANADA. Great to see a canadian company keeping the jobs here. My dad did finally get a number for a rep here in canada and after only 3 calls to him and an email to the president of customer service for bell did we finally get a call saying that the charges have been taken off and we are free to stop the service.
So quite a relief after being told I had to pay $3000+ just to not use their internet any more. So all was happy.
Then a week later I recieved two new modems in the mail (on the same day). The same modems they tried to get me to use before but don't work with mac computers. (Oh and a side note, according to their tech reps, no one at bell knows how to use mac computers, they're not trained on them at all. You can tell who keeps up with the changing economy of technology!)
Finally today, after a month of waiting for bell to send a box(which they never did) to return the modem that they most likely would try to charge me for, I physically returned ALL the modems to a bell store (no more automated service for me).
So kids, the moral of this story: don't use bell for anything. if you want to work for bell, all the best, but at this rate they'll be going under soon (one can hope).
Me: Hello bell canada representitive. I need to cancel my internet because my business is closing at the end of the month.
B.C: Not a problem Mr.Robb, we'll bill you till the end of the month and send a box for the modem after that. Is that everything? Have a nice day!
But alas, customer service is not on bell's prime objective summery. On my first phone call, I was told that I couldn't cancel because I was signed up on a 5 year contract that started last december when (and I do remember this), a bell sales person called me up and asked if I wanted to upgrade my account to a wireless modem (which never worked because bell doesn't understand that people use MAC computers...). I did verbally agree to this, since I had no current plans to move at that time, but mind you I signed no contract. Needless I hung up with the rep, knowing that I needed to look back into my bills before to get more info.
A week later I called again, going through their automated phone services, and got to talk to a very nice rep who I could not understand what she was saying for the life of me. I explained my situation and what was going on and after being on the phone for just over 10 minutes, and asking her to repeat everything she said at least twice, I hung up in frusteration again when she kept saying that I can't cancel. She did give me another phone number to call to talk to another service rep that may help better. Calling this new number brought me through another set of automated messages (which by the way you don't have to deal with if you just keep pushing 0 as fast as you can!), and I started talking to another lady who spoke slightly better english. Explaining my problem, and the steps i've been through already, she looked into my account and after talking to her manager told me that I could get out of the contract (woo hoo!), but only after paying for 1/2 the time left which equaled about $3400 (not so woo hoo...). I then got my dad involved (he can talk people out of anything), and it was only after he called and had to ask the service rep to repeat herself 5 times that he asked where she was located. Turns out that India is the headquarters for bell CANADA. Great to see a canadian company keeping the jobs here. My dad did finally get a number for a rep here in canada and after only 3 calls to him and an email to the president of customer service for bell did we finally get a call saying that the charges have been taken off and we are free to stop the service.
So quite a relief after being told I had to pay $3000+ just to not use their internet any more. So all was happy.
Then a week later I recieved two new modems in the mail (on the same day). The same modems they tried to get me to use before but don't work with mac computers. (Oh and a side note, according to their tech reps, no one at bell knows how to use mac computers, they're not trained on them at all. You can tell who keeps up with the changing economy of technology!)
Finally today, after a month of waiting for bell to send a box(which they never did) to return the modem that they most likely would try to charge me for, I physically returned ALL the modems to a bell store (no more automated service for me).
So kids, the moral of this story: don't use bell for anything. if you want to work for bell, all the best, but at this rate they'll be going under soon (one can hope).
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
End of my era.
So i'm told that an era is a long period of history with a noteable feature or characteristic. I guess this applies to the past two years for me. At the end of this month I'll be closing down my studio location (just the location, not the photography business). It is an era for myself in that I built everything there with my own hands, my life and heart (and some blood here and there) went into it. I took it from an empty, dirty back of a wharehouse and made it into my second home. I know all the creaks, leaks and what steps not to step on (damn those stairs are hard to build straight). Its been my shelter, my bat cave, where creativity came, and left. The reason for the closing is mainly money. It was costing me too much to keep it open with rent, and driving there with the price gas is now was just insane. Plus only 1 out of 10 shoots happened at teh studio, most of what i do are on location. This also gives me the chance to get out into the location photography groove which i've been neglecting since having a studio to fall back on. So it comes to an end. The future is bright, the money I save should help pay off some debts and hopefully eventually I'll open a new location that meets more of my current needs.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Stuff for Today
One of the more utterly rideculous ideas i've ever heard, but also one of the most unique: Advertising on the Homeless
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I dunno why I like this comic....
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I dunno why I like this comic....
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We don't need farms anyway.
I believe that farmland, fields and flatlands beside highways should be the first to go. I mean the destruction of all things natural is inevidable, so I just want to make sure that our drives to and from cities are covered first. This of course will be beneficial during winter drives where snow blows accross the road, causing black ice, drifting and cold cold death. Thats right, death! Who knew that an open field causing no resistance to wind and therefore blowing snow would cause such a catastrophe. The farmers should be ashamed. Driving through inches of blowing snow due to flat pastures is just insane! INCHES!! Plus you have the fact that people drive about 20 km/h less than the speed limit at the very sight of snow, so encompassing the highways with nice big buildings will decrease travel time! It is a win-win situation for everyone! I mean we will have to give up the sight of farmland, rolling fields, animals and pretty much all of nature, but who needs that. I'm going to grab my shovel and start digging a skyrise foundation now!
The preceeding blog is a farce, in that we made it up. The complaints are fake, the locations are fake and no animals were hurt in the making of it. Please conserve our ever-shrinking farmlands. Moo.
The preceeding blog is a farce, in that we made it up. The complaints are fake, the locations are fake and no animals were hurt in the making of it. Please conserve our ever-shrinking farmlands. Moo.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Wow its been a while....
I really need to make this blog something I do more often. It gets put on the back burner too much, probably because my memory is so short that when I think up good blog topics, they're gone by the time I get here...
So heres the update on my life right now.
This sunday is the first Presence, being held downtown London at the Arts Project. I'm leading (well not really leading...more like organizing a group of people) the worship this sunday, and by the look of it, the next few as well. I'm working on getting people to see the idea of 'alternative worship', in that its not about the songs, the lyrics, how we play, but about the idea of coming together, using our talents, creating something unique.
It will be an interesting day. Website here: http://presencelondon.blogspot.com
I am currently in the process of closing down my studio location (not the business, but just the location) as it was costing me too much, and I rarely used the space. I'm converting my basement into an office/lounge (retro baby!). Besides saving me money (wow gas prices are $1!!!!), I'm using this as an opportunity to expand my creativity to location shooting. There is no cushion of having a studio to shoot in with simple backgrounds and set up lighting (though I do like having total control). I now have to push myself back into shooting at different locations, which I have been wanting to do for a while now. I get bored too fast with the same thing over and over, so this is good.
I'm also starting a magazine called Revolutions. This is a motorcycle lifestyle magazine. So far i've had some good responses about it. People wanting to write for it, giving me new ideas, etc. Its going to be alot of work, at least for the first one, but I think its worth it. I've been playing with this idea for a few years, but now seems to be the time. I'll be editing and publishing and writing and photographing and....wow...You can check out the temp site here: http://revolutionsmagazine.com
EUROPE!!!!! Oh i've missed traveling. Its been almost two years since I last went traveling, so i've been getting antsy. Me and Dani leave May 8th for england and don't get back until June 20!! We have no real plans on where to go (just the way I like it), but Dani is making a list of where she wants to see. We'll be backpacking, hitting the hostels, getting lost and loving it. I can't wait to take more photos over there. Attention National Geographic: my resume will be coming this summer. haha
Umm that is about it. I will hopefully get this updated more often, and hopefully someone reads this!
Cheers
So heres the update on my life right now.
This sunday is the first Presence, being held downtown London at the Arts Project. I'm leading (well not really leading...more like organizing a group of people) the worship this sunday, and by the look of it, the next few as well. I'm working on getting people to see the idea of 'alternative worship', in that its not about the songs, the lyrics, how we play, but about the idea of coming together, using our talents, creating something unique.
It will be an interesting day. Website here: http://presencelondon.blogspot.com
I am currently in the process of closing down my studio location (not the business, but just the location) as it was costing me too much, and I rarely used the space. I'm converting my basement into an office/lounge (retro baby!). Besides saving me money (wow gas prices are $1!!!!), I'm using this as an opportunity to expand my creativity to location shooting. There is no cushion of having a studio to shoot in with simple backgrounds and set up lighting (though I do like having total control). I now have to push myself back into shooting at different locations, which I have been wanting to do for a while now. I get bored too fast with the same thing over and over, so this is good.
I'm also starting a magazine called Revolutions. This is a motorcycle lifestyle magazine. So far i've had some good responses about it. People wanting to write for it, giving me new ideas, etc. Its going to be alot of work, at least for the first one, but I think its worth it. I've been playing with this idea for a few years, but now seems to be the time. I'll be editing and publishing and writing and photographing and....wow...You can check out the temp site here: http://revolutionsmagazine.com
EUROPE!!!!! Oh i've missed traveling. Its been almost two years since I last went traveling, so i've been getting antsy. Me and Dani leave May 8th for england and don't get back until June 20!! We have no real plans on where to go (just the way I like it), but Dani is making a list of where she wants to see. We'll be backpacking, hitting the hostels, getting lost and loving it. I can't wait to take more photos over there. Attention National Geographic: my resume will be coming this summer. haha
Umm that is about it. I will hopefully get this updated more often, and hopefully someone reads this!
Cheers
Friday, December 22, 2006
Here we destroy again!
In a time where global conservation is a front-page issue, you would think that people who care about 'creation' would be foremost in wanting to keep our forests alive. This doesn't seem to be the case here in St.Thomas. In our city of dwindling natural trees and forest habitats, more forest is being torn down to accomidate another building.
Just north of town in a once wooded area, construction has now started to build a new church. Trees have been cut down, habitats have been destroyed and who knows how many animals have been evicted from their homes, all in the name of religon.
First of all, you would think that being a religious organization, they would want to keep God's creation intact. Now I understand that building and production is inevitable and forests and farmland are where we will have to move to next, but while we still have open, unused space in the city, why would you want to destroy what little forest we still have? Do you think that God would suggest tearing a hole in a natural forest over choosing an existing, non-forest lot? Churches should be in the forefront of enviromental rights arguments because we are destroying what God gave us, not adding to the disaster.
There are so many buildings in town that are empty and unused that would be a suitable space for a church. What it might come down to is a desire to make a building that would 'represent' the people who want to come to the organization. That is saying that they expect the people who want to come there to appreciate a large, new and probably very expensive building and couldn't see a use for an existing, not-so-exqusite building that could maybe save them money which they could help out a needful community. What kind of money would they save, not to mention the trees and forest, if they chose a building not normally percieved as a church. What could they spend this money on? Maybe helping the homeless? Assisting children in need? No, they'll just get that $500 per-square-foot marble for their walkway.
Take a walk downtown. Look in a few of the empty buildings and imagine a gathering of believers sitting there. It may not be an amplitheater with spotlights, pillars and stone fountains, but put the extra money to good use in our city and you'll get those pillars, marble walkways and stone fountains in heaven where no bulldozers exist.
Edit:::
This story was published a few weeks ago in the St.Thomas Times Journal. I surprisingly havn't gotten any calls or threats yet, but the year is still young...
Monday, December 04, 2006
Today's Links
More posts coming soon! Here's some links to keep everyone (mostly myself) occupied!
Heres a compilation of some of the year's weirdest news. It includes a story on a man who fights laws to freeze his parents so that he could revive them once medical knowledge could bring them back to life only to have his freezer fail...Another reports about a cartoonist who sketched a burglar as she was robbing his house infront of him...And watch for the one about "Jesus Loves Pornstars"...More here
Ok now the most amazing site ever! This site allows you to go in and view an animal and switch parts with other animals. Check it out and watch the morphing closely, its done so well. Switch Zoo
More to come!!!
Heres a compilation of some of the year's weirdest news. It includes a story on a man who fights laws to freeze his parents so that he could revive them once medical knowledge could bring them back to life only to have his freezer fail...Another reports about a cartoonist who sketched a burglar as she was robbing his house infront of him...And watch for the one about "Jesus Loves Pornstars"...More here
Ok now the most amazing site ever! This site allows you to go in and view an animal and switch parts with other animals. Check it out and watch the morphing closely, its done so well. Switch Zoo
More to come!!!
Friday, November 17, 2006
Worship: The Next Step
Worship is a staple in most churches. As music, it has been used for centuries as a way to glorify God.
The normal worship scene consists of a band playing a number of songs a few times over and the congregation singing along.
But there is a new wave of worship leaders who are starting to experiment with the next phase of worship.
The original form of worship was not what you see thesedays. It was using the talents that God gave you in whatever way you could to glorify Him. Whether that was playing an instrument or using your mind to design something, as long as it was done for His glory, then that is considered praise.
The new evolution of worship is just that; using whatever talents God gave you to praise Him publicly. My ideal worship would be this: a worship band playing songs that come from the heart, not practiced and pre-chosen weeks before, leading the people and not playing for themselves. This all surrounded by people praising God in other ways: painting as they embrace the music, digital graphics done on a screen, perhapse a sculpter moulding a peice of clay into an abstract that portrays how he feels about the song.
Worship need originality, creativity and passion. Its coming to the next step.
The normal worship scene consists of a band playing a number of songs a few times over and the congregation singing along.
But there is a new wave of worship leaders who are starting to experiment with the next phase of worship.
The original form of worship was not what you see thesedays. It was using the talents that God gave you in whatever way you could to glorify Him. Whether that was playing an instrument or using your mind to design something, as long as it was done for His glory, then that is considered praise.
The new evolution of worship is just that; using whatever talents God gave you to praise Him publicly. My ideal worship would be this: a worship band playing songs that come from the heart, not practiced and pre-chosen weeks before, leading the people and not playing for themselves. This all surrounded by people praising God in other ways: painting as they embrace the music, digital graphics done on a screen, perhapse a sculpter moulding a peice of clay into an abstract that portrays how he feels about the song.
Worship need originality, creativity and passion. Its coming to the next step.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Moments of silence
With Rememberance Day yesterday to honor the men and women who have fought for our freedom and current way of life, you would think that everyone would respect that day. A friend of mine was at a Tim Horton's in St.Thomas yesterday with his family, out for a morning coffee, when the staff at Timmies announced that there would be a few minutes of silence. With trumpet music playing in the background and all conversations and work stopped, the silence was broken after about 3 minuets with a customer in line who exclaimed out loud something like "this is stupid" and proceeded to walk out of the building.
I find that so conceeded. How pressed must you be to need a hit of coffee that you would disgrace the day and anyone who has fought and died to defend the defenceless? Is it that hard to be quiet and patient for a few minuets of your year to honor the day? I mean like who was dying in those few minutes in which you chose to tap your craving that you had to leave for and not keep your mouth shut.
It was tasteless and childish. I hope that the rest of this guy's life is filled with old coffee and spoiled doughnuts.
I find that so conceeded. How pressed must you be to need a hit of coffee that you would disgrace the day and anyone who has fought and died to defend the defenceless? Is it that hard to be quiet and patient for a few minuets of your year to honor the day? I mean like who was dying in those few minutes in which you chose to tap your craving that you had to leave for and not keep your mouth shut.
It was tasteless and childish. I hope that the rest of this guy's life is filled with old coffee and spoiled doughnuts.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
First story post
Writing has always been at the back of my mind for a way to get some of the thoughts out of my head before they eat my brain like a pig at an hawaiian feast. Of the various attempts at making words work, most of which found their way quickly to my trash can, I figured I'd post a more recient one that I am liking so far. Here is the beginning of it, the rest is on the link below. The story isn't done yet, still a work in progress...i'll post the rest when finished (if ever). Enjoy. Or hate.
FATE
from Latin fatum, literally, "what has been spoken"
by aaron robb
One often wonders how events somehow come together in such a fashion that they seem to be predestined. Hands of the so called "fates" drive our lives, sometimes erratically and sometimes they seem to group together certain people who have nothing in common but destiny. This certain grouping of fates starts with our journey with Matthew.
Matthew Jackson was a calm man. Friends recent and past will tell you that they had never seen him angered or overly worried. Some in college figured he was stoned most of the time due to his placid nature, but those who knew him really well knew that it was just his personality. This came in handy when he decided to become an arson inspector for an insurance company. Seeing burnt out buildings every day would be depressing enough, but to make things worse they sometimes come with a dead body. It just happens that the latest assignment was just that. An old factory in a small town had been burnt down in what looked like an accident, but it got bad when the body of a homeless man was found inside. The police said it was an electrical fire, but when Matthew and the local fire marshal looked it over, they ruled it arson. And this meant Matthew had to watch the medical examiner expect the body found to get any evidence to send back to his company.
Now on his way home, the 4 hour drive in the dark was not looking very pleasing. He just got off the phone with his wife, who now was in bed, and was missing his own soft pillow. His mind mulled over the case from earlier today, thinking what forms he needed to fill out in the morning and making mental notes of what he had to do. He was almost in a daze when his headlights caught the figure of a man on the side of the road. He barely had time to snap out of his daze and swerve his car back into his lane before he just missed clipping the hitchhiker. It took a few seconds of shock before his heart beat normal again. Then a few extra seconds until his humanity kicked in and he realized that the poor man back there was standing in the rain on a highway where he may be the last car for hours. He slowed his car down and pulled over. Throwing it into reverse he slowly backed along the shoulder until he glimpsed the figure in the distance. By now the hitchhiker had seen him reversing and started to walk his way. A handful of seconds later Matthew rolled down the passenger side window and looked and looked into the tired wet face, noticing that fate wore an army green coat and pants.
Lucas started his day like any other: woke up from a bad dream, looked around and realized that it wasn't a dream; he really was sleeping in an abandoned house on a bare mattress that was made 60 years ago. He had found the house a few days back after hitching a ride on the back of a farm truck out into the country. He had to get away from the city for a while; there were a few groups of people who were now looking for him, including the police due to a report or two of Lucas breaking and entering. He had never done anything to hurt anyone, but being homeless with no money he had to do a few things to keep himself alive, and that meant finding food however he could. Needless to say, he had decided it was best to lay low for a while and headed right out of town.
THE REST HERE
FATE
from Latin fatum, literally, "what has been spoken"
by aaron robb
One often wonders how events somehow come together in such a fashion that they seem to be predestined. Hands of the so called "fates" drive our lives, sometimes erratically and sometimes they seem to group together certain people who have nothing in common but destiny. This certain grouping of fates starts with our journey with Matthew.
Matthew Jackson was a calm man. Friends recent and past will tell you that they had never seen him angered or overly worried. Some in college figured he was stoned most of the time due to his placid nature, but those who knew him really well knew that it was just his personality. This came in handy when he decided to become an arson inspector for an insurance company. Seeing burnt out buildings every day would be depressing enough, but to make things worse they sometimes come with a dead body. It just happens that the latest assignment was just that. An old factory in a small town had been burnt down in what looked like an accident, but it got bad when the body of a homeless man was found inside. The police said it was an electrical fire, but when Matthew and the local fire marshal looked it over, they ruled it arson. And this meant Matthew had to watch the medical examiner expect the body found to get any evidence to send back to his company.
Now on his way home, the 4 hour drive in the dark was not looking very pleasing. He just got off the phone with his wife, who now was in bed, and was missing his own soft pillow. His mind mulled over the case from earlier today, thinking what forms he needed to fill out in the morning and making mental notes of what he had to do. He was almost in a daze when his headlights caught the figure of a man on the side of the road. He barely had time to snap out of his daze and swerve his car back into his lane before he just missed clipping the hitchhiker. It took a few seconds of shock before his heart beat normal again. Then a few extra seconds until his humanity kicked in and he realized that the poor man back there was standing in the rain on a highway where he may be the last car for hours. He slowed his car down and pulled over. Throwing it into reverse he slowly backed along the shoulder until he glimpsed the figure in the distance. By now the hitchhiker had seen him reversing and started to walk his way. A handful of seconds later Matthew rolled down the passenger side window and looked and looked into the tired wet face, noticing that fate wore an army green coat and pants.
Lucas started his day like any other: woke up from a bad dream, looked around and realized that it wasn't a dream; he really was sleeping in an abandoned house on a bare mattress that was made 60 years ago. He had found the house a few days back after hitching a ride on the back of a farm truck out into the country. He had to get away from the city for a while; there were a few groups of people who were now looking for him, including the police due to a report or two of Lucas breaking and entering. He had never done anything to hurt anyone, but being homeless with no money he had to do a few things to keep himself alive, and that meant finding food however he could. Needless to say, he had decided it was best to lay low for a while and headed right out of town.
THE REST HERE
Monday, November 06, 2006
Come hither Robin Hood!
As attention spans get smaller and bigbox stores get larger, it has come to this writer’s attention that the world seems content to be separated by class and money. The wealthy are getting richer off of first world nations’ hunger for anything that makes life easier and more fun, while the poorer nations are only getting…well…poorer.
Its amazing how self-centered and cheap people are as we see in a recent study of church tithing (giving of money to the church). While the bible recommends giving upwards of 10% of what you make to the church, a meager 1.5% is actually given. Could you imagine the tens of millions that the church could be using to help the poor (if that is indeed what the ‘church’ did with the money)?
What if the 50 richest people in the world gave even 10% of what they made to the poor countries to aid with relief or just to get healthcare.
A modern-day Robin Hood character is what I am suggesting to relinquish this divide of rich and poor. We have tried asking for money (and some does come to the aid of those in need when you show photos of crying children with no shoes in mud huts). There have been celebrity charities and spokespeople (some of which have done amazing things, thank you Bono). But what the world needs now is a vigilante whose only goal is to take from the rich who spend money on frivolous things without thinking about the money, and get it to those who need it. Someone who works under the cover of night and secrecy, whose ambition it is to not have the glamour of being in the spotlight for doing these deeds but who does it for the glory of those in need. There are so many Prince John’s in the world today, although some take the form of entertainers or tycoons, and who aren’t evil animals (see the children’s cartoon for reference on evil animals), but still they ‘hoard’ and ‘tax’ without giving back.
Where is our arrow-shooting, law-evading hero? Has our society become so registrated and policed that there is no hope for people who will do what is right and take from the rich? Why doesn’t the world care about the people dying every day from hunger and lack of healthcare?
It is because society thinks that there are ‘other people’ helping and that they don’t need to because of those good Samaritans. Ignorance is a great inhibitor of feelings and thoughts, especially if it is something that you only see on TV, where fact and fiction get so jumbled up that the subconscious mind has a problem deciphering.
I say let the Robin Hoods come! Lets start a revolution where having too much money doesn’t give you the leisure of being ignorant. You don’t need that extra Porsche, or that fifty thousand foot addition onto your second guesthouse. Beware those who are wealthy and don’t help humanity! Keep your silver pouches in eyesight, for you never know when a hero will come out of the forest’s shadows to snatch it from your carriage!
Its amazing how self-centered and cheap people are as we see in a recent study of church tithing (giving of money to the church). While the bible recommends giving upwards of 10% of what you make to the church, a meager 1.5% is actually given. Could you imagine the tens of millions that the church could be using to help the poor (if that is indeed what the ‘church’ did with the money)?
What if the 50 richest people in the world gave even 10% of what they made to the poor countries to aid with relief or just to get healthcare.
A modern-day Robin Hood character is what I am suggesting to relinquish this divide of rich and poor. We have tried asking for money (and some does come to the aid of those in need when you show photos of crying children with no shoes in mud huts). There have been celebrity charities and spokespeople (some of which have done amazing things, thank you Bono). But what the world needs now is a vigilante whose only goal is to take from the rich who spend money on frivolous things without thinking about the money, and get it to those who need it. Someone who works under the cover of night and secrecy, whose ambition it is to not have the glamour of being in the spotlight for doing these deeds but who does it for the glory of those in need. There are so many Prince John’s in the world today, although some take the form of entertainers or tycoons, and who aren’t evil animals (see the children’s cartoon for reference on evil animals), but still they ‘hoard’ and ‘tax’ without giving back.
Where is our arrow-shooting, law-evading hero? Has our society become so registrated and policed that there is no hope for people who will do what is right and take from the rich? Why doesn’t the world care about the people dying every day from hunger and lack of healthcare?
It is because society thinks that there are ‘other people’ helping and that they don’t need to because of those good Samaritans. Ignorance is a great inhibitor of feelings and thoughts, especially if it is something that you only see on TV, where fact and fiction get so jumbled up that the subconscious mind has a problem deciphering.
I say let the Robin Hoods come! Lets start a revolution where having too much money doesn’t give you the leisure of being ignorant. You don’t need that extra Porsche, or that fifty thousand foot addition onto your second guesthouse. Beware those who are wealthy and don’t help humanity! Keep your silver pouches in eyesight, for you never know when a hero will come out of the forest’s shadows to snatch it from your carriage!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Give me my floating city!
Is it so hard to find a job where you get to express your mind to the fullest extent? Everthing seems to want limits, yet the mind is limitless.
"Yes, be creative on this project....but stay within this color scheme"
There are so many ideas out there that could have surfaced if not for limits set forth by society.
Who knows how many floating cities we would have by now if it was allowed to think that way. But we are told that cities cannot be built in the sky and people believe that. This is why you shouldn't listen to people deemed "smarter" than you (like teachers?) if they tell you something isn't possible. All things as possible. THe problem is that many of our society have had their minds shrouded by others into not believing the "impossible".
So i say, express your mind, create that city, use red and yellow together!
Thats all.
"Yes, be creative on this project....but stay within this color scheme"
There are so many ideas out there that could have surfaced if not for limits set forth by society.
Who knows how many floating cities we would have by now if it was allowed to think that way. But we are told that cities cannot be built in the sky and people believe that. This is why you shouldn't listen to people deemed "smarter" than you (like teachers?) if they tell you something isn't possible. All things as possible. THe problem is that many of our society have had their minds shrouded by others into not believing the "impossible".
So i say, express your mind, create that city, use red and yellow together!
Thats all.
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