Dammit
30 June 2009 - 08:59.
So I just found out that my company has lost a big client. Not the biggest, but definitely up there. Either way it's not pleasant.
The shock of it hasn't set in yet I don't think. It will, which will undoubtedly be unpleasant for those closest to me. Let me take this opportunity to apologize in advance if you feel the brunt of my wrath. But this too shall pass; that darkest always comes before the dawn.
I guess it's time to switch my brain back into heavy marketing mode, isn't it? If anyone knows of a company looking for some IT help, let me know....
Ever Have...
10 June 2009 - 14:54.
... one of those days? Me, it's the month.
The latest and greatest installment consists of me going to visit a client, then coming out to hop on my bike for the next stop. Only to find that my back tire is pancake flat. Thanks to the screw sticking out from the tread line.
Best part? it's end of day, so getting a tow via BCAA isn't quick or easy, plus the shop may be closed by the time I get there.
Le sigh.
Google Army
03 June 2009 - 07:05.
While I was riding the other day (the same day I had my love-fest with a couple other people on the road), I noticed the Big Google Machine in Richmond, in the form of their street view image capture cars.
I'd always thought that those vehicles worked alone, and so was a tad surprised to see a pair of them. Then again, it could be just that they were both on their way to a neighbourhood they were planning to stakeout take pictures of. Also? Surprised how high up the cameras sit. Those post they use are pretty tall.
Once streetview of Richmond comes out, it'll be interesting to see if there are any motorcycles on 99 north near Westminster highway.
Drivers
01 June 2009 - 10:28.
Dear Drivers
Fuck you. You suck.
- To the lady driving the silver Honda Odyssey on Hwy 17, northbound, around 9:45 this morning. You tried to change lanes into the same spot I was occupying on my motorbike. When I honked at you, you looked me in the eye, then kept changing lanes anyways. People like you are the reason people like me get to be dead. Fuck you.
- To the guy driving the red Ducati on Hwy 99 northbound around 9:55 this morning... you're on a pure sport bike wearing shorts and a tank top, with a beanie and sunglasses. I understand having fun on a bike but that's just a tragedy waiting to happen. People like you make people like me look bad. Fuck you too.
More On Reliving the Past
21 May 2009 - 07:30.
Since my last post (and the furore it caused - no, I won't provide details) I've actually spent a lot of time thinking about how people treat and consider the past. And then last night I got hit with the 2x4 of clarity.
It's Hollywood's fault!
It seems that Hollywood has completely lost all sense of creativity, and are bent on remaking every movie they think will generate a buck or two. For example, some industry bigwig decided it would be a good idea to remake Footloose. Seriously? Footloose? The thing is only 25 years old. Remaking the Italian Job 34 years later wasn't quite as bad, but still strikes me on the tight side. And don't get me started with the Batman franchise. Footloose apparently qualifies as a "cult classic". Really? Then tell me why they haven't remade Rocky Horror...
My point here is that film makers (and even TV producers) seem to have abandoned their creativity. Spin-offs of this show, remakes of that movie, it all coems back to a lack of originality. Now I'm NOT saying that we the people are at fault for absorbing his stuff; I'm only saying that production houses of the world are to blame for being constrained by the successes of the past.
On Reliving The Past
09 May 2009 - 20:04.
Wow... it's been a while since I've blogged, hasn't it?
I was having a chat with a friend a short while ago, about something wew had both seen on Facebook. Specifically, it was a reunion type thing for a group of people I used to hang out with many years ago.
These are people that I did, and still do, care about, even though I don't really see them very often. And yet I have utterly zero interest in attending this reunion.
.
But wait! There's more!
Small Condolences
12 April 2009 - 09:33.
It's somewhat reassuring to know that even if you're mad at your partner, you still don't want to leave them. Even when the fight lasts for days.
Better still to find out she feels the same way.
Dawning of a New Day
03 April 2009 - 00:01.
As of today, the people of the Tsawwassen First Nation are determining their own future. The treaty they passed in 2007 goes into effect today, wiping out the control imposed by the Indian Act.
If you've ever read the Indian Act, it's an archaic piece of shit legislation. Forgetting the boorish terms it uses ("mentally incompetent Indian" comes to mind), it was designed for life in the 2nd half of the 1800's. Not the 21st century. It's nohing more than insipid, demeaning tripe.
And now it's no more, as far as TFN is concerned. The Tsawwassen people now have the right to determine their own futures, govern their own selves and lands, make their own laws. Under the Indian Act these rights were grossly limited.
They'll receive a seat on the GVRD board, as well as land and cash from the government, the middle of which is a big bone of contention for many. In my view, the Coast Salish people were on those lands long before anyone else was. And when the Europeans came along they simply took what they wanted. I've followed along with this story for a while, and I'm reasonably familiar with the treaty terms; I think it's a good compromise. from all parties involved.
Why do I care about this? My best friend is one of the Tsawwassen people, and has been for over 25 years. I've seen the changes on the land, and the conditions on the reserve. I've seen the challenges of the people, and the struggles of a culture.
But I've also seen the challenge of the stereotypes. The drive and the strength of will displayed over the years never cease to amaze me. The Tsawwassen people never gave up believing that it was their right to govern themselves, as it is.
I'm lucky to have been able to witness, to a small degree, the birth of a new government. From the time the treaty vote was held until now, the workload has been phenomenal. The real work is just beginning of course but what has gone before is, by itself, a stunning accomplishment.
So to the people of the Tsawwassen First Nation, I say congratulations. Bravo for the perseverance, and kudos for taking on such a daunting task in the first place.
Is It Theatre?
30 March 2009 - 08:17.
The last part of my birthday celebrations came this last weekend, when I got taken out of the house for the weekend. The highlight of it all was going to see Tony And Tina's Wedding, a sort of performance piece dinner theatre type thing.
If you haven't seen it, you don't have much time left, as the run ends in late May. Of course it's been running for something like 14 years in this city....
It's an interesting work, really, but I don't know if it qualifies as theatre per se. I mean really, how often do you end up with cast members sitting at your table eating dinner with you? That having been said, it's still really interesting. The food you're fed is decent, though hardly inspired, and certainly not what I'd expect from an Italian wedding buffet. But of course the food isn't the purpose of the evening is it?
The action takes place all over the venue, literally inside and out. The "reception hall", the bathrooms, the hallways, and even outside are all fair game in this performance piece. There are sub plots and side plots galore, and you actually have to pay fairly close attention to catch as much as you can.
Without giving anything away, it's kind of like going to the wedding of that distant relative that someone told you was on the Jerry Springer show once. No actually fights, but it's that kind of train-wreck drama/comedy. You can't decide if you're going to laugh or cry, but either way you can't keep your eyes off it.
Missing Muse
24 March 2009 - 18:15.
Has anyone seen a muse lately? I can't seem to find mine.
There's been a lot on my plate and mine lately. Some of it is important, some of it isn't. But for whatever reason, I haven't been blogging about it. Looking back at some of the posts on here in the past couple months, I find them (at least in my own eyes) rather trite, and certainly uninspired more often than not.
I think part of it is apathy. Hardly anyone ever comments here, even though my stats page shows nearly 20k hits a month. Now granted most of that is going to be feed readers and bots. But if even 1% is real people, that still leaves something like 6 or 7 people visiting each and every day. Considering I can keep one hand in my pocket and still count the number of regular commenters here... well, let's just say it's tough to speak when you don't feel like anyone is listening.
One change I'm going to try is to come up with some more interesting content. Peechie, the author of one of the blogs I follow (
World Wide Water Cooler) found something I'm going to try for a bit. It's called
Plinky, and leaves me wondering if they're
slinky fans or love the
Plinko game from The Price is Right.
I'm not sure if it'll help, but what the hell, right?
