faim et jeudi

When I say literally I mean it (figuratively speaking)

benK — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:02:02 -0800

With regard to today's CBC article on the Transportation Safety Board's new recommendation for alpine-traversing aircraft to bear terrain detectors in the wake of a January 2006 air crash, a quote from the dead pilot's father belies his tenuous grasp on reality wherein he purportedly states that "Transport Canada ... directly caused the death of my son."

The extroardinary length of my preceding sentence notwithstanding, I take issue with the grieving father's remark: I do not believe that Transport Canada killed his son. According to the article, the plane crashed into the ground. In my opinion it is far more likely that, however unfortunate, the death was caused by the immediate deceleration of flesh into metal and earth.

First snow

benK — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:58:49 -0800

I have the sort of feeling in my face and jaw right now that I often find when I'm stoned. I haven't smoked anything in quite awhile though, so unless someone's stowed her stash in an air vent perhaps it's a manifest symptom of whatever's led to my copious over-sleeping the last several days, or brought on by a change in weather.

Tonight saw metro Vancouver's first snow of the season. Everything is that familiar uplifting bright, soft, crunchy, quiet. Though I sullenly didn't haul myself out into it before sundown, it was the saving warmth of a dull day; I did go out and walk 'round with a camera and tripod for half an hour, until my fingers froze. Then I went and watched a film. Alone.

Posting articles

benK — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:03:22 -0700

It's been æons since I've mailed a letter, so I decided to look up the current lettermail rate on canadapost.ca. Fifty-two cents. (Hmm, I have pristine memories of stamps in the 30-cent range; o the bygone days.) To my brief surprise, I noticed that the CPC solicits the customer to "buy stamps online." Hmm; makes sense these days I guess. I wondered what surcharges would be applied to such an order but quickly figured that of course, delivery's gotta be free – it's the postal service, right?

Nope... two bucks. And that's for "standard delivery (3-8 business days)." Three to eight business days; i.e. up to a week and a half?! (One can also opt to pay five bucks for "express" three-business-day delivery. Wowee.) What an endorsement for their own service. In contrast it would take mere minutes to walk to the damn store, get some fresh air, and spend a toonie on something else.

I ordered some light bulbs from homedepot.ca last week because I was feeling lazy and also happened to be at my computer when I read about their "free shipping for online orders" promotion. Seemed like a genius occasion to me; I could replace some fading bulbs around here that otherwise wouldn't be tended to for more distant weeks. Well, by the time my bulbs arrived over a week later – shipped casually by UPS all the way from Concord, Ontario – one of them was non-functional, and the wait had mitigated what savings I foolishly thought I'd gained.

Far more waste was generated here than had I simply headed down to a store: excess packaging, shipping costs which likely outstripped the profit margin on the items I ordered, and the fuel consumption and incident pollution created by hauling these items fully across the country rather than from a local warehouse around here.

At one time

benK — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:52:04 -0700

At one time I was disquieted with solitude, and forced to re-realize I spent five dollars too much tonight. But only in such squalid conitions of soul and mind would one quibble over such an insignificant bill!

Re-establishing contact

benK — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:07:04 -0700

There was a period of time, the better part of a year ago, where for the better part of more than a year I wore my contact lenses longer on a daily basis than I probably should have, and longer than for what I was advised. I got new glasses the better part of almost a year ago. These days, I try to wear them each in moderation.

Rest forever, dear fishie.

benK — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 20:27:31 -0700

Today, a faithful friend died.

After two years and nearly four months of dedicated companionship, my blue betta Fizz succumbed to illness.

With seeming suddenness only a couple of days ago, he began to show symptoms of lethargy and disorientation. He stopped eating, eventually began listing to his right side, and has seemed to throw himself spasmodically around his cage amid long intervals of stationary floating in various positions.

Brief research suggested it might have been swim bladder disorder, some kind of relatively common ailment that tends to cure itself after some days. Maybe he didn't have enough strength left to ward it off; two and a half years is a passable lifespan for a betta. Alas, whatever the explanation, it turned out too much.

Fizz was the only living creature under my care and custody; before him I'd had just one other betta whose longevity and attachment were not nearly as great, and never any kittens or doggies (despite my longings) due to allergies. Even though he was a low-maintenance and not-terribly-engaging companion, Fizz was nonetheless somebody I said hi to a couple of times daily when I fed him, and changed his water and scrubbed his place out every week.

I cared for him; his passing makes me sad, and gives me occasion to contemplate death and loss, and loneliness and impotence and love. I am going to miss him, for what he was, and what he represented.

Sleep well, little buddy, and may you find comfort and much joyous bubble-nesting in a more comfy place.

Thinking season

benK — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 21:47:36 -0700

This afternoon I was walking through woods when I happened upon a brisk thump thump thump from above. Right there, thirty feet up, a woodpecker was dutifully in search of a resonant dead birch for snack. The fullness of its knock seemed to resound with unusual clarity amongst the unbound space we occupied.

I reached out to touch the tree; were I deaf I'd have just as easily swallowed the full character of the sound. Each whack of beak into wood transmitted cleanly through the trunk like a telegraph. I pressed my ear up to the smooth still-white bark and listened, for some moments, to the crisply amplified foray.

Mosquitoes ushered me onward too hastily, but I walked with a smile to myself in an unexpected and welcome contented wonder.

Make action werds at kollege

benK — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:29:34 -0700

A couple of weeks ago I was riding the bus and noticed with great amusement this advertisement for Algonquin College (right). "Impact your life and your community" it declares in a vibrant and approachable-looking font, while a couple of bored-looking students clad in ceremonial graduate garb pose at centre, one clutching a rolled-up paper tube like a baseball bat.

It is reasonable to presume that this ad is a product of the minds of brilliant Algonquin marketing graduates — or if not, that it is at least representative of their typical quality and skill. Reading the copy I could not help but wince at the hackneyed choice of noun-cum-verb. To me it serves only to reduce any smart and intriguing impact that the otherwise tired-looking banner might have successfully delivered.

Where you would you choose to study English?

Lil bits

benK — Wed, 03 May 2006 12:01:53 -0700

This past weekend we did the MS Walk and our team, spearheaded by the unfazible and jubilant Beth Button, celebrated our collection of over twelve thousand dollars for research. Wow. I'm not sure whether it looks bigger written in words or with the several zeroes, but put either way it's a helluva laudable figure. I am so proud of what we were able to achieve, and to have been able to participate. Even if I am just a transient meatsac in the grandscheme (and one who sucks at keeping up well enough with his friendships on a good day), to be able to contribute some difference to a worthy cause and a vested interest of an amazing friend makes me feel more alive. Way to go, dudes. And thank you sincerely to everyone who donated on my behalf.

In unrelated regional news, the city of London has gone insane. According to the CBC, "signs will soon be posted in the city warning young people that they need a parent or guardian to buy certain art supplies." Apparently, sales of markers and spray paint will be restricted to those of voting age. Ridiculous! What's next, banning chewing gum because some dicks mash their spent wads on the undersides of restaurant tables?

Talking of regional affronts, an anonymous coward addressed quite articulately on /. this morning the differences between Britain, England and the United Kingdom. I found this not only enlightening but insightful.

Finally, Mark sent me a link to this most awesome vendor: Goat Gifts. Who could ask for more? Hee!

Opening up to the next stop

benK — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:15:04 -0700

A few weeks ago I bought another camera, a new digital SLR. I had been contemplating such a move for awhile, but made the snap decision mere hours before departing on a week-long tourism with Sarah to Arizona and environs. It was about time, and the occasion provided good impetus to upgrade my kit from the Olympus C-5060 which I have been using for the past year and a half.

The 5060 was my first digital camera, and for practical purposes my first camera of any kind — although my dad gave me his old instamatic when I was smaller which I remember playing with for awhile (it's now long gone), I never really got really into photography until the last couple of years. At the time Robyn had a C-4000 which she quite enjoyed and introduced me to Olympus, which turned out to be a rewarding move. The 5060 remains an excellent camera; it offered about as much full-manual control as you could ask for in a point-and-shoot style of enclosure (with a rugged and attractive build to boot). I will likely keep it around since it will be well-suited to particular situations where a bigger SLR won't cut it — though if anyone is interested in buying, I invite your calls!

Over the course of a couple weeks and several product exchanges between a couple of vendors (morbid details spared from this story), I had the opportunity to test-drive both the Olympus E-500 and Canon 350D. These cameras represent, to me, two of the best four or five DSLR candidates at the entry level (read: affordable yet remarkably value-packed). By far most photo afficionados seem to cheer for Canon and this camera is popular amongst my photographic peers, so it was a candidate. And of course I was already pleased with Olympus so it was mandatory to try their comparative offering. Nikon is also well known for good DSLRs (as are some other well-known brands not worth itemizing here), but I chose to narrow my evaluation to these two machines.

I was pretty happy with both of these cameras; each offered its own set of pros and cons. For the sake of anyone contemplating a similar investment, I present a short comparative summary of my findings.

Olympus's new line of DSLRs employ their new Four Thirds system (a specification which covers lens format, sensor size and so on designed specifically for digital use), while the Canon offerings use a lens system compatible with their legacy EF-mount 35mm lenses. In practical terms this means a smaller choice of lenses available for the E-500 now, but those that exist are both physically smaller for equivalent performance and optically better-suited for the digital sensors. On the other hand, there is a huge existing after-market for Canon lenses, making them more readily available and generally cheaper.

My understanding is also that the kit lenses provided with the E-500 are of somewhat better quality than those provided in the 350D box; indeed, they certainly feel that way in hand. They also come with plastic hoods. On the other hand, the Canon lenses provide a mechanical switch for selecting autofocus or manual mode, where the latter disengages the motor and one can manually turn the lens to focus. The Olympus E-series lenses use a focus-by-wire method for manual focus; turning the focus ring causes the camera to electronically move the focus. The net result is about the same, but there is definitely something to be said for the manual feel afforded by the Canon lenses — although it is impossible to auto-focus and then adjust manually, as you can with the Olympus.

Another obvious difference between these two cameras is the resulting image format: the Canon cameras deliver a picture with a 35mm-like 3:2 aspect ratio, while the Olympus sensor makes a 4:3 aspect picture. I guess 35mm purists have an attachment to the former, and while I do appreciate the wide picture for landscape-style framing, besides being used to already shooting in 4:3 (as most point-and-shoots) I find the latter shape more suitable for portrait-orientation framing. Performance, on the other hand, becomes an issue in low-light situations; the E-500 uses a CCD sensor which draws more power and tends to display more and less-tolerable noise in higher ISO modes compared with the Canon, which employs a CMOS. In typically-illuminated conditions, though, both cameras do just fine.

Ergonomically, I preferred the feeling of the E-500; it seemed a little more solid and comfortable in my hand, whereas the 350D had a kind of plastic toy feel going on, with what I found to be an awkwardly angular hand grip. The Olympus also features a gigantic 2.5-inch monitor for image review (and seemed substantially faster in zooming and panning), compared with the Canon and its 1.8-inch monitor. However, one small but nice feature the 350D provides is a one-button facility to cancel a save immediately after shooting, where on the E-500 one must first play back the image before hitting delete.

Some other minor but notable differences between the two cameras include file naming and USB connectivity. Like other Olympus cameras before it, the E-500 writes files with a name in the format "PMNNDDDD.jpg", where P is an assignable letter, M and NN indicate the month and day respectively of the shot, and NNNN is an incrementing serial number. The 350D on the other hand simply names its files like "img_NNNN.jpg". If you are one to rename your files or otherwise use software that makes this irrelevant, this is a nitpicky distinction. However, I routinely make reference to photos this way (for cataloguing, sharing, etc.) and the Olympus scheme virtually guarantees a unique filename for every shot I'll ever take. For me this is a small but hugely valuable feature. On the downside, the E-500 inexplicably provides a slow USB 1.1-style computer connection (compared with the fast USB 2.0 on the 350D), but I'll be solving this annoyance with a $30 CF card reader.

In the end I decided to settle on the Olympus E-500. Notwithstanding its less-pleasing low-light performance, I found the camera to perform well and to just feel better in hand during overall use, and its value proposition more favourable than the 350D to boot. These are both great cameras though, and a photo enthusiast would do well with either.

I am looking forward to many more months of happy shooting, and resisting the urge to spend too much money on new lenses!

Walk and Rock

benK — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 15:42:15 -0800

Life hits inopportunely at times.

One of my aunts has multiple sclerosis, and just recently, one of my friends was abruptly diagnosed. I had the fortune to meet Beth last year, and came quickly to realise that she's one of those wonderful types who can bring light to anyone; full of love and wit, patience and insight. She's also a great writer. It is confounding that such a challenge be bestowed upon someone so undeserving.

Fortunately she is well outfit with caring friends and supportive family, as well as a good prognosis for a mostly regular life. I am making my effort at joining that force of support by participating in this year's Ottawa Super Cities Walk for MS, which takes place April 30th. The idea is to raise funds for MS research, to improve our understanding and eventually, one hopes, develop a cure.

If you are able to contribute a few bucks toward my participation in the walk, two million people will be appreciative. You can pledge online with a credit card, or contact me if you'd prefer paper. And if you'd like to join our team and walk with us, all the better.

I'm not sure whether it's more uplifting or more dismaying that once someone close by has a vested interest, one suddenly appreciates a disease and its institution more. Perhaps both.

Freedumb of analysis

benK — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 07:37:47 -0800

I must be missing something, for I am perplexed with the recent conviction of Austrian guy for "denying the Holocaust". Not only are they throwing him in jail, but prosecutors feel his three-year sentence is not long enough. What happened to freedom of speech? So the guy is a nutcase. I can write a book proclaiming that it is really the moon which provides earth its light, not the sun, and people would merely look at me funnily. Hell, in the 'States there are public schools that even teach that kooky "intelligent design" thing. These are no longer the times of Galileo where professing even a truth would get you killed. What's going on in Austria?!

While on the topic of news and newsworthiness, another thing that amuses me with increasing frequency is the preponderance of "news" sites to report not actual news, but opinions of some people on what might be news later. These self-important types call themselves "analysts". I guess the joke is on us, though, or at least the sources publishing their spoutage.

Sincere congratulations, though, to Willard Boyle. Till last night I had no idea that a Canadian dude invented the CCD.

Yammering about soft

benK — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:30:34 -0800

Pleased to say that after far too much time, Doggiebox 1.3 — a new version of my flagship percussion-sequencing software — is finally up out. All you Mac musickers, go muck. I just realised that I never even discussed the prior major release, in late 2004, on the "what's new" page. Yeesh. Really gotta get with it on the web site updating.

On a vaguely related note, it amuses me that John Gruber of Daring Fireball seems to have jumped onto the "look! look! our newly-formed startup company has a blog! upon which we will post random miscellany not pertaining at all to our core business, but for which we feel no shame because it's a blog!" bandwagon.

Normally I don't give two shits about such self-indulgence, because if people want to stroke their own egos upon a stage of paeaning audience, then let 'em go nads; such personal delusion scathes me not. However, amusement is noteworthy in this case because John's columns are consistently well-written, insightful and not only relevant but accessible to a broad audience. Of course I've optimism and little doubt that df will continue as such.

Hi kwality editorial

benK — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 09:10:31 -0800

This morning I'm reading the CBC news and come across this piece entitled Canadian soldiers in second Afghan accident. The choice of headline, combined with numerous editing errors in the body, immediately provided me with much amusement.

Midway down the article, the second heading reads "Canadians diffuse [sic] large bomb", and the text goes on to explain how these munitions are "constructed out of ordinance [sic] found in the ground". Apparently, Thursday was a busy day. Not only were our soldiers involved in a fluffy wool blanket incident, but they also managed to explode expansively a bomb made out of municipal legislation. Way to go, CBC!

Thanks for the fish

benK — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 19:03:58 -0800

Several weeks ago I was sitting on the OC at around 12:30 or 1 in the afternoon, heading west. New old Vancouver threads hung on my shoulders and I clutched a McDonald's coffee in one hand (having earlier downed a medium Orange Drink™ to quench the thirst of a prior night's excessive imbibement).

A presentable middle-aged man was seated next to me. Some minutes into the ride, he remarked conversationally, "coffee smells good!"

With a smile I replied, "yup! It's essential for breakfast this morning." He chuckled. Moments later, realising the probable hour, I added, "even if it's lunch time now."

"Thanks for reminding me," he exclaimed. "I've got to take a salmon out of the freezer for dinner tonight!"

I asked him how he was going to cook it, and he proceeded to explain that when wrapped in tin foil and barbequed diligently with some salt and pepper and juice added, that it turns out to perfection. You can lift it right off the foil, leaving the skin behind.

Other chit chat followed; soon my stop was imminent, and as I duly said goodbye, he returned my smile and wished me well with a couple of quickly-sought turns of phrase — "best of luck; take care now!"

It warmed me the rest of the day. It is good to say hello to strangers.

Saffron in Kits

benK — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 12:50:00 -0700

I am sitting at Saffron, a quaint little bakery-style coffee shop at 4th & Macdonald. Walked in and there wasn't a customer present, just two friendly people behind the bar: a friendly serveuse and another perky woman clad in bandana and white cooky-garb. I can't identify the music playing but it's pleasant, folk-style, sounding as though it were recorded live in some kind of festival setting.

I stopped in to this same shop one week ago to grab a tea-biscuit en route home from an afternoon of shooting photos along the seawall near Volunteer Park, and like on that afternoon, there lies an impressive array of freshly-baked goods waiting beneath plastic wrap and glass lids across the counter. After ordering a medium dark coffee (black), with little hesitation I decide to provide it some company with a Halloween-esque cupcake lathered in orange icing and adorned with ju-jubes. A good choice.

Contrary to allusions there appears to be no reliable wireless draping this building, at least at where I'm sitting. Not a big deal as I came here to write, anyway. The decor is mod-industrial in a bright but not glaring kind of way; Ikea-esque, almost, with some half-boothlet round wooden tables along one wall, another kitchen-style table seating at least four, and a high-chair bar outlooking the front window. There is a mood of comfortable vibrance, or perhaps vibrant comfort. I could easily see making myself a permanent fixture here if there were net access and a good lunch menu as there undoubtedly is.

I would love to do the Delicious kind of gig, with a partner or two, making coffee-shop tours during the week while spinning great work with our minds and fingers. But, how to find other people like that; collaborators of a similar wave and like mind, a creatively independent inclination... this frustrating plight has dogged me for quite awhile.

Some time later, the cupcake long done and the coffee nearly spent, I tipped the cup up to my lips and drained the remaining mouthful onto my tongue. A cluster of five or six bubblets followed shyly behind but then slowed to a halt as they stuck to the paper, as if in reconsideration.

I thought it was said that in a cup of tea, the bubbles signify your loves-to-be. Did I not deserve mine? Are they just taking their time?

Patent duty

benK — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:58:25 -0700

I read an article today talking about the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office is apparently facing an exodus of employees. The ensuing discussion of course involved bashing on the USPTO and lamenting the state of "intellectual property" laws we deal with these days.

However, one reader made an interesting proposition: that the office be transformed into a board of public participation where citizens of the country are asked at random to come and serve on the decision-making panel for an afternoon. Patent duty, much like jury duty.

I think it is a stellar notion, and perhaps one that could be more generally applied to many functions of government and public services.

To give the "man on the street" a voice to chip in to evaluating decisions that affect public policy and can influence everyone's lives would create a much more mediated, representative body of thought and opinion.

Bleeding vessel

benK — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:57:18 -0700

Yesterday morning I woke up abruptly from an intimately uncomfortable dream. It was one of those where the feeling is acute and speakingly personal, which happen rarely.

It's been hard to eat like usual lately and I haven't been able to do much work. I did get out out for a three-and-a-half hour ride with JP and Ed in the afternoon, though, which was rewarding. We biked from our place down the parkway and into Gatineau Park, where we headed up toward Pink Lake and rode trails through there for a couple of hours. The sustained physical exertion is good; as Kat said, "exercise helps the brain create happy juice." Well, a little sure is a start (despite particular little signposts — in this case literally — which provoke pain, seemingly scattered inevitably).

Wednesday night, we saw Wintersleep (from Halifax and area) at Z. Pretty good. Can't say I was as excited with the performance of Uncut however. Last night the Double Pumpers played, and they offered a tight and energetic show. The crowd was into it and the sound was actually good.

I'm going to get out of here for a little while.

Ah, Phuket all to the hills.

benK — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:59:51 -0700

I am growing to dread weekends. I remember that near the beginning, for most of a year, there wasn't a single one spent alone. I'm not good, this one. I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately, and spilling of tears.

I've come to understand that being in love with someone, even expressing to her the feelings of one's love, is ultimately a selfish act. It doesn't do her any good when I sit and daydream of her, or discuss her talents with a friend, or curl up with a stuffed animal she gave me while thinking about how happy and lucky I feel. That doesn't keep her company, or make her feel thought-of, or share with her any personal part of me.

She was good to me, so thoughtful. There are evidences of this everywhere I turn my head, and they splash like a syrup into my chest, bittersweetly: the warmth and loving context with which little things were given and received, versus the painful retrospect, the unforgivenness of self for the lonely present.

I wish that I had done more to reciprocate in kind. I feel that compared to her, I'm a poor example of thoughtfulness, creativity and caring. I know she felt that way too, at times.

On a few occasions she'd described how I seemed difficult to get into; that I was distant, closed. Partly I couldn't understand it, and partly I think I knew what she meant, although I couldn't really figure it out to explain why, even to myself.

Throughout high school I had a huge crush on a particular girl, which haunted me for several years. Some months ago, as I was cleaning up and rearranging things in the house, some old journals surfaced. A couple of these were from the period in question, and she wanted to read. For some reason I was overly protective; I was cold to the idea, I really didn't want to open them. I didn't want to revisit them myself, and even now I don't think I've ever gone back to re-read any more than maybe a page of it. It's been over ten years.

I wish I'd let her leaf through them; I wish we had sat together, and laughed, and rolled our eyes, and talked about whatever words I'd thrown onto those pages so long ago.

I don't know what my hesitation was; I didn't have quite a direct view of my fear. More importantly though I couldn't appreciate at the time how I was shutting her out, even moreso than I was already shutting out myself. Maybe she could have helped me sort it; perhaps the experience would have been insightful and intimate and rewarding for both of us. Probably would have been. Instead, I was a selfish coward.

There are a lot of things I regret.

A successful relationship, over the course of developing and sharing love with another person, is an exercise in learning about one anothers' weaknesses. I got to know some of her weaknesses. I've also come to discover many of my own, and unfortunately, those weaknesses finally manifest as failures.

I think also though that true love is tolerant and forgiving of mistakes, and bears an inherent optimism; that it can bend back into life like a magical elastic polymer, even if the gravity of a circumstance warrants a long time to repair. I feel that longing and that conviction. But I'm just half. I guess only time can tell for certain.

In the mean time I hope I have more opportunities in life to try and do things properly.

Schmeusy-bleuse

benK — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 00:47:06 -0700

Last week, Bluesfest reigned. I biked from my western-edge abode to the downtown and back every weekday (except for Thursday where I had respite from volunteer duties). Despite being shorted on promised free meals, they were good itmes. Behind-the-scenesy stuff, and exercise, and physical labour with a team... it's rewarding stuff. Personally.

There was a phenomenal electrical storm the Wednesday night; I biked home through it. Fortunately I was not stricken by lightning as was an unlucky man in a Kanata parking lot. I was, however, drenched to the bone. The inches-thick-water-inundated streets were a rare spectacle though, as was the light show above. I regret only that I did not learn of the Franti-at-Babylon impromptu relocation until the next morning. Pity, as I about biked right by there en route.

This week, up-catching on work. Slowly, it goes. Switching my office phone service to VoIP. So far, unimpressed with the quality of service provided by our new ISP; there is enough inbound packet loss to cause regular blips in the audio. Scheißen; working on it.

Tonight a good friend had some people over (culminating chez Zaphod). Earlier on, as we sat about sipping domestically-concocted beverages and listening to a grade-A playlist emanating from her Powerbook, she asked something akin to "there is this guy I've been listening to but I'm not sure how you pronounce his name..." With smooth interjection I responded, "Sufjan Stevens?" — to which she promptly returned an "omigod that's exactly it" kind of look. Thank yoooou, KEXP. There is some kind of indescriptive synergy with identifying with another's tastes — and having enough incidental education to be able to fill in a blank now and again.

Appropriately, to and fro the venues tonight, my ears contented with absorbing KEXP's first-ever podcast. Some weeks ago, under discussion, I was poo-pooing (pooh-poohing?) this whole "podcast" thing... but now, I must say, I give it props. To be able to dial up some KEXP as I zoom smoothly and drunkenly along the urban pavement (and through midnight law sprinklers hidden innocently off of industrial parks) is schwa, man, schwa.

Candle on the credenza

benK — Sat, 09 Jul 2005 21:46:27 -0700

This past week has been a bit whirlwindy; a little bittersweet, a bit mundane, a tad exciting. A week ago Friday, my bro flew into town from Vancouver. After hanging out over the weekend, I took the early part of this week "off" to head up with him and hang out chez nos parents for a few days. Wednesday afternoon, before beetling back into town, we got out in the canoes for a brief jaunt and boy did it feel nice to get on the water again. Within the span of an hour or two we met both a low-flying blue heron and a nonchalant turtle sunning himself on a log, and also witnessed a young moose swim across a lake and bound into the woods. Boo-ya.

Starting Thursday and continuing for the next week, I am part of the volunteer crew on the main stage this year at the Ottawa Bluesfest. This will mean some early mornings and tired days, of course in addition to regular band-watching (already've seen some good things, and the festival is barely underway).

Friday also happened to be my birthday. I'd learned early in morning that the incumbent custodian of my heart is pursuing someone new; suffice it to say it was not a beautiful start to the day, though perhaps not unforeseen.

I haven't written about much personal thought/feel stuff here; I've never felt it an appropriate venue. However, I think I will try to do some more of that, elsewhere. In fact, some weeks ago I had the idea to state some Birthday Resolutions — kind of the new-year's style that nobody ever makes, but perhaps a little more personally relevant — although that notion seemed to get lost. I suppose it's never too late to be a little late. I've a number of personal threads I need to get into order.

I had some time in the late afternoon so I did what any self-respecting 27-year-old (canonical age of rock star death) would do facing heartache, hope and stagnation: I biked to the music store to buy a new guitar. I've been wanting to get a Telecaster, for its characteristic bright tone and simple elegance, to supplement my current electric (the Alcivar hack-job which I love for its appearance and charm but which really is in need of some technical overhaul). A sale was not completed, though I did look at and play some for an hour or two. I ultimately reserved consideration for another day once I've decided what particular qualities I want in it — or more importantly, want to pay for.

On the brighter side, my family decided to drive into town and take me out to dinner (we had an excellent meal at the Lindenhof, a German restaurant off of Carling). They stayed over the night and we hit up some Bluesfest this afternoon.

I'm grateful they did; it is nice to have family at hand, particularly when they are nominally spread across the country, and when one is feeling lonely and stifled in his own environs. Like many things, including those that precipitate broken hearts, the common things are sometimes easier to sense, recognize and cherish when they convene rarely after a drought. And then they are on the road and gone, too easily, too quickly.

Take the bizzle ninety-fizzle

benK — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 21:40:21 -0700

Summertime. Things for me lately have been blah. But more music festivals are approaching, which might keep me duly distracted for some days. It's Canada Day and Matt is flying in for a week and a half, so that should liven things a bit.

I took some photography this evening that I'm fairly happy with. It's nice to get one of those sessions where I can point my camera around at things all really within a few feet of each other, and still come up with a range of results.

If anyone wants to go see Poison sometime (yeah, the 80's hair band), maybe I can hook you up. I talked on the phone this afternoon with the guy who runs their lighting show on tour... he bought Doggiebox earlier in the week, and needed a hand with his registration key. Nice.

Pondering people who purposefully pass

benK — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 20:59:17 -0700

Yesterday: some girl rode past my window on a bicycle, wearing what resembled a military-style helmet and a SARS-style face mask. Not a minute later, two kids followed in the same direction, one sporting headphones and the other holding a small ghetto-blaster above his head which was playing Alice Cooper's "School's Out".

Earlier in the day, a chick walked the same stretch of sidewalk wearing a earphones and playing the meanest and most engaged air guitar I think I've ever seen. There was no cease as she crossed my entire field of view, heavily ensconced in the tunes.

Today: this afternoon, a short man came walking by in the other direction. Dressed in a blue cap, blue collared shirt and track shorts, he meandered happily along while well-audibly singing the Lord's Prayer in a half-spoken, half-melodic kind of way.

The sun is now down. A moment ago, an older middle-aged man passed in the same direction, clad in a kilt and pressed white shirt and striding confidently as he lit a cigarette.

Odd and mundane people are interesting to notice.

Hittin' trails

benK — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 17:16:54 -0700

This afternoon, Paul and I took our bikes up to Camp Fortune for some cross-country trail riding. It was good times. My Soul has now finally seen some real dirt, rocks, roots and mud... and I think she liked it. I managed to narrowly avoid a couple of potentially-spectacular bails, and made it home with remarkably no bruises and only a couple of minor scrapes.

Several of the other riders we met in the woods were also riding Rocky Mountain cycles... no doubt I made a good choice. And I can certainly appreciate the benefit of having quality gear; I can now hardly imagine how I used to ride a completely unsuspended bike (R.I.P. stolen Billygoat II) over this kind of stuff sometimes. It would be fun to borrow a downhill bike sometime and see what it feels like.

Paul lent me some shin+knee pads, which for a rider of my level I view as a necessity, particularly with the pedal set I have (Wellgo Big Flats — I can't seem to find a link or even a web site for the company, but suffice to say they are conventional-style and devoid of clips, but with a bunch of embedded studs for shoe grip). Losing footing and taking one of these in the leg would be bad news. I can appreciate where clipless (that is to say, with clips) shoes/pedals would pay off, particularly on technical terrain where efficiency of stroke would pay off.

Near the bottom of the run, I made acquaintance with a deer standing perhaps 20 feet off the trail. With obstacles flying at me however I did not have an opportunity to stop and say hello.

I'm keen to get out again... who wants to ride?!

Tunesack of Indie

benK — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 14:18:06 -0700

This afternoon I made a 100 USD contribution to KEXP, a Seattle-based radio station which also streams real-time in 128 kbps MP3. Matt introduced me to them a few years ago, and I have been listening on-and-off (more on, lately) since. I remember chilling at his abode in Kingston at one point and seeing the KEXP stickers and stuff, and enquired; he had made a contribution, having appreciated the quality and diversity of the dish they consistently feed. I too have come to appreciate the station; they are really quite unlike anything else that's accessible to the public these days (outside of scattered college stations). Radio in Ottawa and environs is unlistenable, granted, but even if it were passable, KEXP would far exceed. I've discovered a lot of new tunes and bands by listening throughout the days, so it's a cause worthy of support. Are you an indie musician or supporter? It's worth thinking about putting your money where your morals lie.

Talking of music, it's time that I respond to a thingy that Robyn posted awhile ago.

Total volume of music files on my computer: My iTunes database says 30.02 GB, including network-attached storage. About half of that is duplicated on my iPod.

The last CD I bought was: Gimme Fiction by Spoon.

Five songs I listen to a lot, or that mean a lot to me: Hmmm. This would be far easier had I installed Audioscrobbler more recently than just a week ago, but lessee.

Only Then Will Your House Be Blessed by Harry Manx

Non-Believer by Joel Plaskett

Girlfriend by Jonathan Richman

Engine Driver by the Decemberists

Northumberland West by the Sadies

My goat it's tough to make a list of only five. So many more to choose, for so many reasons, and so much to say. But this time, just a list.

Part of the idea here I think is to pass this staff on to a few other people to seek out their similar answers. Curious to see what Matt, Sara, Kat, Julia would say; similarly of Lisa, Brad, Kara and others who don't have typical bloggythings to which I can link.

T-shirts, lanyards, free pepsi

benK — Sat, 28 May 2005 14:19:04 -0700

So what's new, what's new...

Another several days of driving and Alberta Scene was over. I probably logged somewhere close to 50 hours of volunteerism on that one. The whole experience was fun; scooting around the city, talking on a two-way radio, meeting various luminaries and dignitaries (who else has had Terry David Mulligan and Holger Peterson in their car at once?) and doing something a bit out of the ordinary. I didn't even put a single scratch into any of the vans — until I the very last time I parked in the underground garage at the end of my final shift, where I had a little run-in with a concrete pillar. Figures!

Talking of concrete... About a week and a half ago, I got my hair cut (professionally) again (third time, go me!). En route home, I managed to ride my sweet new bike into a freshly-poured concrete sidewalk. Needless to say this was quite embarrassing, but fortunately for me the attendant work crew was more amused than upset, and kindly helped hose everything down with pressurized water from the mixer truck. After booting it the remainder home, I wiped down my rims, brake pads and rest of the frame to ensure removal of any residual sandy particles, and all was mostly as good as new. Next time I pay closer attention to pylons.

There were only a few days to rest, however, because by the end of the week I was on stage crew duties for the 2005 Tulip Festival. Over the course of the subsequent week I hauled amps, placed kits, fetched guitar stands, played valet driver, cleaned artists' trailers and chilled with bands and other volunteery folk. The Joel Plaskett Emergency played a great show one night (couple of sound check shots with the full set here although most of the latter are blurry), as did the Sadies, David Wilcox, the Golden Dogs, Fiftymen and others. Fun times. Next up in a month a half: Bluesfest (unless I happen to get in on Folk or Jazz before then).

This past week has been kind of slow and heavy, with the lack of mobile daily bustle of music festivities to keep me occupied as I'd refreshingly become accustomed. Fortunately it's provided some time to catch up on work for clients that's uninentionally fallen a little behind, as well as Doggiebox and other odds and ends. Time to start making some money again.

Adventures of an ad hoc chauffeur

benK — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:07:38 -0700

Tonight marked the start of the Alberta Scene festival here in Ottawa. It's a two-week long event showcasing a wide range of artistic talent (musical, theatrical, visual) from out West.

I have signed up as a transportation volunteer, i.e. to drive performers and suchlike between the venues, airport and hotels. I've been assigned a few shifts already, though they were not due to start until Saturday. This afternoon, however, I received (as apparently did a few others) a panicked phone call seeking additional drivers for tonight, as evidently there had been some kind of scheduling situation. So in I went.

The first hour and a half of the nominally four-hour shift were spent mostly sitting around the volunteer office (which doubled as the transpo HQ) schmoozing with the dispatcher dude and another girl who had been pulled it for the same shift. About what I expected. At last, we took our rental Dodge Caravans out to the Musée de Civ for the pickup of a whole wack of people which, after various stalling and sorting, turned out to be only two as the rest had found other rides.

Without ado, I was from there sent to the airport to collect a couple of women who were due on an Austin, TX-originating flight. Well, the timing was tight anyway but I was further delayed by confirming parking arrangements — the festival apparently has permission to park no more than one van at a time at a particular pier on the arrivals concourse — and having to make a couple of laps of the traffic route before determining that it was necessary to drive through a region marked "restricted access only" to get to the building-side lanes of the concourse.

All told I was probably 15 minutes late relative to the scheduled arrival. For various further reasons of miscommunication and delay, my charges and I were not united in the airport for probably at least 20 minutes after that — which culminated in listening to a conversation over the two-way radio between my dispatcher and a coordinator at the hotel who had my party on the phone, the other end of which turned out to be a payphone at which a happy woman was waving her arms at me having just heard the same conversation over my radio from midway across the arrivals area.

In any case, the delay turned out to be fortuitous, for while I was milling about in search of my travelers I was summoned by a familiar looking man who himself had just arrived. It was Gordie Johnson, who happened to be waiting for his counterpart Kelly Hoppe to arrive on another flight due shortly thereafter. Conversation ensued, and it became apparent that while he was expecting a ride, none was scheduled. Some back-and-forth with dispatch confirmed this. Apparently there was no record of Hoppe's flight, and according to the list, Johnson was supposed to have already arrived much earlier in the day.

Anyway, after some reorganization another van was dispatched to fetch Johnson and Hoppe, and I took off downtownward with my two visitors before clocking out for the night.

Earlier in the evening while sitting around in the volunteer office, I was perusing the festival schedule and only then clued in to the duo's performance tomorrow night at Barrymore's. Tickets are listed as $25, and I had no idea about availability. Gordie was gracious enough to take my name and cell number on a scrap of paper in case he were to ostensibly happen across a guest list. A long shot but, but can't hurt to try eh?

I shall keep my phone at hand tomorrow, just in case.

Raising the curtain

benK — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 13:55:38 -0700

After much toil and avoidance of regular paying work for most of this week, I have finally got my aforementioned photoblogging app to a usable point now and suitable for unveiling. Weee!

So without further ado: I welcome you to visit my new blog of imagery at www.myselfmusic.com/firstcurtain/ and share in the latest of my photographic efforts.

I have imported all of the images that are currently up in Pho Bo Tempo on this site, as well as posted a wack more — particularly the remaining lot of Vancouver pics that I've been talking about. By default you will see the most recently posted photo, with navigation links and other categories at hand.

Refinement of the application is ongoing; I have taken some inspiration for design and function from various places and I intend to write about these goals in a bit more detail later. There are bound to be bugs, and things about the user interface that either irk or tickle you, and I would be most grateful to hear about them. I should also mention that while I have been testing under both Safari and Firefox, I have no idea yet how things look under MSIE or browsers on other platforms. Good CSS compliance will be required for things to work right.

If the new site seems to work out, I will probably soon retire the photo section on here.

Vanilla Coke for breakfast

benK — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 16:19:23 -0800

I'm back in Ottawa now after a week and a half in Van City and environs.

I went into the trip without much preparation (mental or otherwise), and though I was looking forward to a week away, I was not overtly excited for any particular destination or event. Nonetheless it turned out to be a much-welcome departure from the mundanities of routine in Ottawa, and a due opportunity to spend some time with important people I haven't had much chance to see much of lately. New things to walk through, mountainous horizons, fresh springly air (both urban and forested)... in short order I was having a blast; regular things like eating a meal or sleeping on a mediocre mattress on the floor were great times. And in the end I realised I didn't really want to come home.

To dump a damper on things a little further, the Decemberists show scheduled for Saturday was canceled at the last minute after the band's gear trailer was stolen. Mark one against Major Lee Harsh and 32 militant eyeballs give or take. Thieves: couldn't you have targeted a, you know, shitty band instead? :(

The girl on the plane eastward beside me was kind of wide-eyed when I pulled out my iPod... she asked what it was, and was thoroughly impressed when I explained how you could hook it up to your computer and put your CDs on it, and showed her how I had almost 2700 songs from which to choose. I asked her what kind of music she was into, and she said she was a music lover but not of anything in specific for she tended to not remember song titles. I offered her use of the iPod but I think she was too shy to oblige. Probably just as well because I suspect she wouldn't have found much of anything to recognize on it anyway.

It was pretty anti-climactic sitting on a mostly empty OC Transpo bus earlier today though en route to my house. I was crankin' Limblifter's first album (great drum tracks and rock aesthetic there) so it wasn't all terrible.

I have taken a couple hundred more photos since the Victoria shots I posted last week. I'm going to try over the next few days to sort and cull them, and post the proceeds as they become available.

Some shots from the west

benK — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 23:16:21 -0800

I've just posted two-and-a-half dozen photos from my British Columbian meandering over the past few days. I have created a new new photo section to accumulate imagery from this trip, to separate it out from the usual random chaff. It's set up like Pho Bo Tempo to display several thumbnails per page in reverse chronological order (comments welcome if you feel there's a better way to organize it).

(Updated post-facto: The photos have moved to here.)

Matt has also pinched my style by posting shots on his blog now. He's capturing some funky things too; well worth a look.

Tomorrow I think we're off to Stanely Park and environs.