Went boxing day shopping yesterday. Overall, I'd have to say that the retail scene looked a lot busier this year than last. A good sign - a sign of consumer confidence and spending. Perhaps we really are on the path to economic recovery, but the dread double dip still hangs over us. Maybe this is just the eye of the hurricane, and we're only really half way through. 2H/2010 will give us a better indication of whether our recovery is temporary or real.
Anyway, on the consumer front:
Started the spree at Due West (nothing of interest left there) and Getoutside Shoes on Queen West.
Getoutside.
Picked up a pair of moccasins for my dad. He loves moccasins for use as indoor slippers. For myself, I was interested in the Dr. Marten's vintage reproduction 1460 ankle boots. Made in England at the original factory using vintage equipment, it's probably the only pair of Docs I'd buy. I personally hate the cheap vinyl feel of other Dr. Marten uppers - I'm afraid that my feet would suffocate in them. The higher-end Docs (yes, there is such a thing) have uppers made with various kinds of leather, and the 1460 vintage repro is one of them. Sale price was $200, down from $250. In he end, I decided against it. I'm pretty happy with my current boots, and I really don't need another pair. Then again, need rarely has anything to do with my buying decisions...
H&M.
Gaudy, flashy, cheap, and thin. I had a giftcard for H&M but couldn't find anything worth getting for free. Thats right. I wouldn't take H&M clothing if you gave it to me for free.
Roots.
I swung by roots and picked up a 100% cotton hoodie. It's got a good vintage Roots feel, down to the rough terry inside and embroidered logo. Comes in grey, green and brown. There's still a good selection of sizes available - I assume because it's not as 'soft' or comfortable as the Chinese 80-20 cotton-poly fleece blends that sweats are made of now. If you're into natural fibres, and you're looking for a cotton hoodie, like I am and have been for the last little bit, then this is the hoodie for you.
The winter line of boots from Roots Leather is also out. In the fall, we saw the release of the Leather Chukka's (which I was not too impressed with), and now we have some winter boots. The snow-boots (for lack of a better term to describe them) are basically a Kamik winter boot with a leather shaft instead of nylon. The upper and sole are a soft (as soles go) rubber. Roots also has a workboot styled ankle boot, but I found the supple leather a bit too soft for my liking. Soft leather means stretch. Stretch is weakness. Especially when it comes to footwear. Still not impressed with Roots Leather footwear.
Sears.
I had a gift card for Sears, so I went straight to the kitchen section to pick up some stemware. The discount isn't that deep (just 25%) but the hand-blown lead-free crystal glass stuff is pretty damn good for its price. I picked one that was ~$40/4 glasses ($30 with the discount). The glass is thin and clear, the rim is a fine edge with no ridges. The stem has been pulled from, and forms one smooth line with the generous-sized bowl. I'm pretty satisfied with this particular purchase - It's the next best thing to the Riedel crystal stemware across the street at the Bay, but costs a just fraction (vs. Riedel @ $114/4 glasses). Apart from the pitch of the 'ring' (ping for Riedel, pang for Allegro) you'd be hard-pressed to differentiate the two brands.
-d
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Olympic Fatigue Already?
The Olympic torch passed by my building today at about 2:30 PM. It was pretty cool to see the crowd lining the street as the torchbearer made his/her way down Yonge St.
The one thing I noticed was that security was a sham. I mean, it was a complete joke. They had no control over the crowd whatsoever - unable to keep the crush back from the torch bearer.
How embarrassing for Canada would it have been for a brave protester to run up with a fire extinguisher and put out that 'eternal flame?' A good number of people were able to get pretty close to the bearer with their digital cameras and cellphones. Fact is, if you can get that close with a camera, you can get just as close with a can of ABC.
In light of Canada's recently reinforced stance on emissions and climate change, it would have been fitting had a couple of well-organized rabid environmentalists rushed the torch and put it out.
I think I'm already sick of Vancouver, sick of VANOC, sick of the Bay, and sick of the Olympics... and the games haven't even started yet.
On the other hand, maybe I'll get my sister a gift card to Lulu lemon - I hear they have a special edition line of clothing out called "Cool Sporting Event That Takes Place in British Columbia Between 2009 & 2011 Edition"
-d
The one thing I noticed was that security was a sham. I mean, it was a complete joke. They had no control over the crowd whatsoever - unable to keep the crush back from the torch bearer.
How embarrassing for Canada would it have been for a brave protester to run up with a fire extinguisher and put out that 'eternal flame?' A good number of people were able to get pretty close to the bearer with their digital cameras and cellphones. Fact is, if you can get that close with a camera, you can get just as close with a can of ABC.
In light of Canada's recently reinforced stance on emissions and climate change, it would have been fitting had a couple of well-organized rabid environmentalists rushed the torch and put it out.
I think I'm already sick of Vancouver, sick of VANOC, sick of the Bay, and sick of the Olympics... and the games haven't even started yet.
On the other hand, maybe I'll get my sister a gift card to Lulu lemon - I hear they have a special edition line of clothing out called "Cool Sporting Event That Takes Place in British Columbia Between 2009 & 2011 Edition"
-d
Friday, December 11, 2009
Chew-FC Champion
I entered a Wii-boxing tournament at work courtesy of the Maynards brand. After a week of single-elimination games, I made it to the semi-finals.
The semi-finals and final rounds were played in the lounge with a good crowd from the office watching and cheering.
That there is a real belt. It was mounted on a board for display purposes. -d
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Quick update
Bought some dining room chairs on Craigslist - 6 for $120. They're hard-wood antiques, in pretty bad shape. The construction is solid - no nails - all dovetails, pegs and glue. The glue has pretty much broken down over time and everything is just barely holding together. At some point, I'll have to refinish/restore them, but that's some time in the future. Maybe I'll restore them one at a time at my parents' place.
Made my own lip balm.
2 parts beeswax
1 part petroleum jelly
1 part olive oil
It's not soft enough. I'll have to tweak the formula (- wax + oil). I'm not sure what function the petroleum jelly serves. I'll try 1:1 wax & oil next time.
-d
Made my own lip balm.
2 parts beeswax
1 part petroleum jelly
1 part olive oil
It's not soft enough. I'll have to tweak the formula (- wax + oil). I'm not sure what function the petroleum jelly serves. I'll try 1:1 wax & oil next time.
-d
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Gartered Expectations
Yikes. I caught the garter at KT's coworker's wedding reception on Saturday.
This would be the second time in a week that I've caught a garter at a wedding reception.
At Jeff's wedding, KT caught the bouquet, and shortly after that, I caught the garter.
-d
This would be the second time in a week that I've caught a garter at a wedding reception.
At Jeff's wedding, KT caught the bouquet, and shortly after that, I caught the garter.
-d
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hudson's Bay: In the business of selling heritage
In light of the HBC's recent bad press over the outsourcing of Cowichan sweaters for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, I felt the need to provide a different perspective in defence of our venerable trading company.
Despite what the media in general has made this out to be, the HBC didn't sell out Canada's Heritage. But yes, I won't pussyfoot around the fact that this was about making a quick buck off tourists in Vancouver who, in the spirit of the games, are overcome by an impulse to wear an ugly souvenir sweater. That tourist doesn't want a piece of Canadian heritage. That tourist wants a reasonably priced disposable souvenir. A Cowichan-like sweater made in China for $100 is just that. A $350 version made by a BC manufacturer? Maybe.
So, like any good business that smells a market full of suckers, the HBC sought to maximize profitability by outsourcing the manufacture of the low-end sweaters to China, and the high-end sweaters to a Canadian company. Not only is China capable of meeting the volume of demand, they're able to do it cheaply. Two key things that the Cowichans couldn't do - high volume, low cost. So, it's no wonder that the Cowichans didn't get the contract - they just can't deliver the goods.
Another thing, every apparel company out there is now pushing a Cowichan-like sweater. It's okay for American fucking Eagle to make a Cowichan-like sweater, but it's not okay for HBC? Let's stop hamstringing our own Canadian businesses, please - they've already got one foot in the proverbial economic grave.
The fact is, anyone who wants to spend the dollars to get a real Cowichan sweater can go ahead and buy one when they finally become available. There's no reason to deny the HBC access to the market full of people who want the sweater right now. Would we rather have the profits end up with another company? Because the profits wouldn't have gone to the Cowichans... they were unable to deliver the volume in the first place.
Fortunately, for HBC and the Cowichans, an outraged Canadian public has helped drive a market for genuine sweaters, in a classic case of fortuitous bad PR. Now, everyone wants a real Cowichan sweater, and is willing to shell out the cash for a piece of Canadian heritage.
Despite the fact that the sweaters are really ugly, I kinda want one now.
-d
Despite what the media in general has made this out to be, the HBC didn't sell out Canada's Heritage. But yes, I won't pussyfoot around the fact that this was about making a quick buck off tourists in Vancouver who, in the spirit of the games, are overcome by an impulse to wear an ugly souvenir sweater. That tourist doesn't want a piece of Canadian heritage. That tourist wants a reasonably priced disposable souvenir. A Cowichan-like sweater made in China for $100 is just that. A $350 version made by a BC manufacturer? Maybe.
So, like any good business that smells a market full of suckers, the HBC sought to maximize profitability by outsourcing the manufacture of the low-end sweaters to China, and the high-end sweaters to a Canadian company. Not only is China capable of meeting the volume of demand, they're able to do it cheaply. Two key things that the Cowichans couldn't do - high volume, low cost. So, it's no wonder that the Cowichans didn't get the contract - they just can't deliver the goods.
Another thing, every apparel company out there is now pushing a Cowichan-like sweater. It's okay for American fucking Eagle to make a Cowichan-like sweater, but it's not okay for HBC? Let's stop hamstringing our own Canadian businesses, please - they've already got one foot in the proverbial economic grave.
The fact is, anyone who wants to spend the dollars to get a real Cowichan sweater can go ahead and buy one when they finally become available. There's no reason to deny the HBC access to the market full of people who want the sweater right now. Would we rather have the profits end up with another company? Because the profits wouldn't have gone to the Cowichans... they were unable to deliver the volume in the first place.
Fortunately, for HBC and the Cowichans, an outraged Canadian public has helped drive a market for genuine sweaters, in a classic case of fortuitous bad PR. Now, everyone wants a real Cowichan sweater, and is willing to shell out the cash for a piece of Canadian heritage.
Despite the fact that the sweaters are really ugly, I kinda want one now.
-d
Monday, November 16, 2009
Congratulations Jeff & Beth
Jeff's a pretty serious guy. I've known him for a really long time, since elementary school, when we were enemies. He had this jacket, see - it was bright blue and yellow, and being the bully that I am, I made fun of him and called him blueberry banana. Seems pretty benign, right? You'd think so, but I haven't seen him wear that jacket since.
He took it pretty seriously. Not unlike how he used to take video games seriously. He and I and the boys used to skip chemistry class to go play counterstrike at the local cyber cafe. Evidently, he didn't take chemistry seriously. Anyway, he really sucked. A lot. So, he studied and practiced playing counterstrike, and the next time we played, he was kicking ass. You’d think he’d be satisfied, but no. Jeff’s a pretty serious guy, and he took counterstrike seriously. He played and played and played until he became one of the best regional players. None of us could even come close. So, it’s no coincidence that at around that time, a few of us graduated from counterstrike and our interest shifted to girls.
As in his start in video games, Jeff was a bit slow in his uptake of our new interest. He’ll deny that, I’m sure, but just ask his mother. She can corroborate what I’m saying. But very much like his career in video games, he showed insight and wisdom far beyond his years. He found Beth.
It’s fitting then that Beth is also someone who has insight and wisdom beyond her years. She’s warm and caring, has a sense of humour and sharp wit to match. And bonus! She’s a red-head... When they’re together, they play off each other like a pair of talk-show hosts and if you’re lucky, you’ll be treated to a string of sarcastic tongue-in-cheek remarks. It’s great, by the way, that she appreciates his sarcasm, which I’m sure would have been lost on a dimmer bulb. It’s this aspect of their chemistry that really strikes me as uncommon, yet strong. It’s the kind of chemistry that yields a perfect match. It’s the kind of chemistry you learn from skipping chemistry class.
So, here’s to Jeff and Beth, who we shall from this day forward refer to as Eliza-jeffa-beth-ery. May you be blessed with logevity, prosperity and... fecundity.
Cheers!
Aaaaand, another for Her Majesty, the Queen.
The Queen!
- The Best Man's Speech, November 14th, 2009.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Now serving Rabbit Stew.
Hit up St Lawrence Mkt yesterday for some fresh rabbit.
I stewed it with red wine and the regular stewy ground roots and vegetables. It turned out quite good. Texture-wise, rabbit is like a cross between chicken and pork. It's tougher than chicken, but not as stringy as pork.
Keep-it-simple Rabbit Stew (serves 6)
1) coat rabbit chunks in flour, salt, pepper
2) melt butter in pot
3) brown rabbit chunks in pot and then take rabbit out
4) olive oil, garlic, onion, celery, sage
5) deglaze with a dry red wine
6) add chopped vegetables (I used what I had - potato, carrot, beet, mushroom)
7) add rabbit chunks back in
8) melt butter in a pan
9) fry rabbit liver to medium-rare and cut into slices
10) serve liver with cheese and crackers as appetizer
11) thicken stew with cornstarch or flour
12) serve stew when vegetables are tender
I stewed it with red wine and the regular stewy ground roots and vegetables. It turned out quite good. Texture-wise, rabbit is like a cross between chicken and pork. It's tougher than chicken, but not as stringy as pork.
Keep-it-simple Rabbit Stew (serves 6)
1) coat rabbit chunks in flour, salt, pepper
2) melt butter in pot
3) brown rabbit chunks in pot and then take rabbit out
4) olive oil, garlic, onion, celery, sage
5) deglaze with a dry red wine
6) add chopped vegetables (I used what I had - potato, carrot, beet, mushroom)
7) add rabbit chunks back in
8) melt butter in a pan
9) fry rabbit liver to medium-rare and cut into slices
10) serve liver with cheese and crackers as appetizer
11) thicken stew with cornstarch or flour
12) serve stew when vegetables are tender
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Personal and professional development
For your reading enjoyment and personal development:
The 12 Steps to Entrepreneurial Success
The Science of Sport: Running Technique
-d
The 12 Steps to Entrepreneurial Success
The Science of Sport: Running Technique
-d
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Merino Wool Base-layers
Hit the Ski & Snowboard show earlier this month. There were definitely some good deals for those looking to buy their own equipment. I didn't buy anything major - I just received a brand new board for my birthday (thanks KT!), and purchased matching bindings last month. So having the hardware boxes checked off, I really only went to check out the clothing. I bought an Icebreaker 150 g/sq m pure merino wool base-layer top for $65.
This year, I'm going to try a 100% natural fibre baselayer. Merino wool, to be specific. 3 reasons, really.
1) sustainability - I'm going green.
2) the main reason - warm, even when wet. I've never been completely satisfied with the synthetic baselayers for cold weather. They do a great job cooling me off in the summer, but they've continually failed to keep me warm (when wet) in the cold weather. Wool is a natural fibre that is supposed to be able to keep me warm, even when wet. We'll see how that compares during this upcoming ski season.
3) no stink. Synthetics have this magical smell after sweating in them. I test-wore my new merino base-layer for 3 days (2 x 16 hr days light activity + 1 x 8 hr day moderate activity), and there was no similar stink.
Unfortunately, most wool products are mixed with acrylic (like yarn) for lower costs. Anyway, because the acrylic fibres are stronger than the wool fibres, friction and wear will cause shearing of the wool fibres, leading to pilling. It's actually pretty hard to find quality wool products. Most of the stuff out there has acrylic in it.
Anyway, if you're interested in merino wool base-layers, the best value will probably be at MEC. However, MEC doesn't carry a base-layer as light as the Icebreaker 150. If you're looking for the thinnest possible (because you overheat quickly and sweat lots), I'd recommend trying the Icebreaker 150.
-d
This year, I'm going to try a 100% natural fibre baselayer. Merino wool, to be specific. 3 reasons, really.
1) sustainability - I'm going green.
2) the main reason - warm, even when wet. I've never been completely satisfied with the synthetic baselayers for cold weather. They do a great job cooling me off in the summer, but they've continually failed to keep me warm (when wet) in the cold weather. Wool is a natural fibre that is supposed to be able to keep me warm, even when wet. We'll see how that compares during this upcoming ski season.
3) no stink. Synthetics have this magical smell after sweating in them. I test-wore my new merino base-layer for 3 days (2 x 16 hr days light activity + 1 x 8 hr day moderate activity), and there was no similar stink.
Unfortunately, most wool products are mixed with acrylic (like yarn) for lower costs. Anyway, because the acrylic fibres are stronger than the wool fibres, friction and wear will cause shearing of the wool fibres, leading to pilling. It's actually pretty hard to find quality wool products. Most of the stuff out there has acrylic in it.
Anyway, if you're interested in merino wool base-layers, the best value will probably be at MEC. However, MEC doesn't carry a base-layer as light as the Icebreaker 150. If you're looking for the thinnest possible (because you overheat quickly and sweat lots), I'd recommend trying the Icebreaker 150.
-d
Thursday, October 15, 2009
New personal bests
Aced my annual physical fitness test last night.
4-mile (6.4km) run: 28:52 (personal best)
5km split: 21:55(personal best)
Chin-ups: 12 (personal best)
Push-ups / 2 min: 50 (personal best)
Sit-ups / 2 min: 45 (previous best - 55)
Funny that at my ripe old age, I've never been fitter in my life. Is it all downhill from here?
-d
4-mile (6.4km) run: 28:52 (personal best)
5km split: 21:55(personal best)
Chin-ups: 12 (personal best)
Push-ups / 2 min: 50 (personal best)
Sit-ups / 2 min: 45 (previous best - 55)
Funny that at my ripe old age, I've never been fitter in my life. Is it all downhill from here?
-d
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Definition of suck.
If you wiki "suck" you'll see a youtube video of last night's Leafs game. Not really, actually.
I got tickets from a co-worker who couldn't make it, so KT & I hit the ACC for her first live Leafs game ever.
Now, I don't know much about hockey, but I do know suck when I see it... and hear it. Half way into the second period, the stands were about 25% empty and a big chunk of the 300's started cheering "Lets go Blue Jays, Lets go - ! - !" and as if that weren't bad enough, cheers (jeers?) for TFC, the Raptors, and the Argos followed throughout the rest of the night. In fact, the last minute of the game was one continuous resonating "boo."
The loudest cheers were reserved for Darcy during the first period, after a short video of his 'greatest hits' played on the big screens. The camera focused in on him, and the crowd exploded in the longest round of applause of the night, while he meekly waved from the bench.
You know your team is in sad standing with the fans when the loudest cheers of the night were reserved for a player on the other team.
-d
I got tickets from a co-worker who couldn't make it, so KT & I hit the ACC for her first live Leafs game ever.
Now, I don't know much about hockey, but I do know suck when I see it... and hear it. Half way into the second period, the stands were about 25% empty and a big chunk of the 300's started cheering "Lets go Blue Jays, Lets go - ! - !" and as if that weren't bad enough, cheers (jeers?) for TFC, the Raptors, and the Argos followed throughout the rest of the night. In fact, the last minute of the game was one continuous resonating "boo."
The loudest cheers were reserved for Darcy during the first period, after a short video of his 'greatest hits' played on the big screens. The camera focused in on him, and the crowd exploded in the longest round of applause of the night, while he meekly waved from the bench.
You know your team is in sad standing with the fans when the loudest cheers of the night were reserved for a player on the other team.
-d
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Surprisingly unoriginal
In the process of developing my new inventory of seasonings, spices and sauces, I thought long and hard about how to organize the various spices I would invariably pick up over the next few months.
I've seen all kinds of spice racks and containers, and there's a lot of very similar stuff out there. So, I decided that to be original, I would buy a set of test tubes and a test tube rack to serve as my original home-made spice rack. How cool would that be? Spices are part of that myseriously alchemical world of flavouring, and the parallel with the world of chemistry, I thought, would be clever.
I got to Science City in underground Yorkville, near Holt Renfrew, and asked about test tubes.
The Manager's reply, "Is this for chemistry, or for a spice rack?"
And my delusion of cleverness and originality falls away.
"Do a lot of people come in here for test tubes to make spice racks?" I ask a little while later.
"We've been selling test tubes here for 30 years, and that's all everyone ever buys them for."
Great.
Back to the drawing board.
I've seen all kinds of spice racks and containers, and there's a lot of very similar stuff out there. So, I decided that to be original, I would buy a set of test tubes and a test tube rack to serve as my original home-made spice rack. How cool would that be? Spices are part of that myseriously alchemical world of flavouring, and the parallel with the world of chemistry, I thought, would be clever.
I got to Science City in underground Yorkville, near Holt Renfrew, and asked about test tubes.
The Manager's reply, "Is this for chemistry, or for a spice rack?"
And my delusion of cleverness and originality falls away.
"Do a lot of people come in here for test tubes to make spice racks?" I ask a little while later.
"We've been selling test tubes here for 30 years, and that's all everyone ever buys them for."
Great.
Back to the drawing board.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Happy Birthday KT
Cooked 'white chopped chicken' yesterday - aka ginger chicken. It turned out quite well. In fact I would go as far as to say that I made it better than my mom makes it.
I bought the chicken at St. Lawrence Market, on the assumption that it would be fresher and tastier. Fresher, yes - there was no chicken stink that you sometimes get from grocery store chicken. Tastier, I don't know. More like, I can't tell.
Anyway, KT came over before dinner was ready, so to keep her occupied, I had pre-arranged a scavenger hunt for her birthday gift. I hid a succession of clues around the apartment, one by one leading her to the hidden gift:
Well, it wasn't exactly that bag - the colour I chose was a new release that isn't on the website. I got the one that's a darker brown with a tinge of blue-grey. It's definitely distinct from the others.
Speaking with the Roots sales-guy, I learned that Roots ran a whole ton of limited edition versions of their bags in as many premium Italian leathers that they could ge their hands on, for the duration of TIFF. They're almost sold out of all the special stuff, but they have some dregs left. Also learned that they do free repairs on all of their leather goods. That's handy to know.
I also noticed that they have the new Roots leather footwear on display too. While the shoes are nothing special, they've brought back that iconic Roots Boot that everyone wore back in middle school. They look way too dorky. There's an 80's or 90's fashion crime aura around it that overcomes the little bit of nostalgia you might feel when you look at them.
Roots also has mid-calf length boots. They look like wellies made of soft leather. They look great stuffed with paper, but I'm not sure how well they'd stand up with a real leg in there.
Back on topic. I took KT to Ovo after dinner, where I lost my Cirque virginity. It was a pretty good show (not that I have any point of reference). I'm especially impressed by the freaky facial expressions some of those clowns/acrobats can adopt. Nightmarish stuff.
-d
I bought the chicken at St. Lawrence Market, on the assumption that it would be fresher and tastier. Fresher, yes - there was no chicken stink that you sometimes get from grocery store chicken. Tastier, I don't know. More like, I can't tell.
Anyway, KT came over before dinner was ready, so to keep her occupied, I had pre-arranged a scavenger hunt for her birthday gift. I hid a succession of clues around the apartment, one by one leading her to the hidden gift:
Well, it wasn't exactly that bag - the colour I chose was a new release that isn't on the website. I got the one that's a darker brown with a tinge of blue-grey. It's definitely distinct from the others.
Speaking with the Roots sales-guy, I learned that Roots ran a whole ton of limited edition versions of their bags in as many premium Italian leathers that they could ge their hands on, for the duration of TIFF. They're almost sold out of all the special stuff, but they have some dregs left. Also learned that they do free repairs on all of their leather goods. That's handy to know.
I also noticed that they have the new Roots leather footwear on display too. While the shoes are nothing special, they've brought back that iconic Roots Boot that everyone wore back in middle school. They look way too dorky. There's an 80's or 90's fashion crime aura around it that overcomes the little bit of nostalgia you might feel when you look at them.
Roots also has mid-calf length boots. They look like wellies made of soft leather. They look great stuffed with paper, but I'm not sure how well they'd stand up with a real leg in there.
Back on topic. I took KT to Ovo after dinner, where I lost my Cirque virginity. It was a pretty good show (not that I have any point of reference). I'm especially impressed by the freaky facial expressions some of those clowns/acrobats can adopt. Nightmarish stuff.
-d
Thursday, September 24, 2009
15 milliseconds of fame
http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/09/clear_sailing_ahead_for_distillery_district/
That dude in the white helmet on the left hand side of the picture looks vaguely familiar. My colleagues & I were also in a vignette on the Weather Network on TV.
Anyway, the segways were pretty damn fun to ride (despite the speed limiters). The guide told us about off-road segway tours at Horseshoe resort. Sounds like fun - tackling mountain bike-esque trails with a segway.
Gave Soma a shot. I was skeptical at first, but I was definitely impressed by their signature Mayan spicy chocolate drink (can't recall the name). I didn't try anything else in the store - I'm still very skeptical.
-d
That dude in the white helmet on the left hand side of the picture looks vaguely familiar. My colleagues & I were also in a vignette on the Weather Network on TV.
Anyway, the segways were pretty damn fun to ride (despite the speed limiters). The guide told us about off-road segway tours at Horseshoe resort. Sounds like fun - tackling mountain bike-esque trails with a segway.
Gave Soma a shot. I was skeptical at first, but I was definitely impressed by their signature Mayan spicy chocolate drink (can't recall the name). I didn't try anything else in the store - I'm still very skeptical.
-d
Monday, September 14, 2009
Glass the way to go
Remember when the BPA scare hit and everybody started to buy those Sigg aluminum bottles? Remember how I called bullshit on that?
Told you so.
Sigg is now offering free replacement bottles for consumers who purchased theirs before August 2008. Why? BPA.
If you're a Sigg customer I don't know how you can go on using your bottle or even bother taking advantage of their free exchange program. Why support a company that demonstrates either gross incompetence or a lack of integrity?
Which brings us to today's topic. Glass bottles. Reuse your San Pellegrino glass bottle for holding drinking water.
Ohh, but Dust, what happens if you drop the bottle and it BREAKS?!
Well, the same thing that happens if you drop you cup and it breaks. Honestly, people, that's not a good reason to not use glass. Any other reason you can think of not to use glass? I thought so. Use glass.
-d
Told you so.
Sigg is now offering free replacement bottles for consumers who purchased theirs before August 2008. Why? BPA.
If you're a Sigg customer I don't know how you can go on using your bottle or even bother taking advantage of their free exchange program. Why support a company that demonstrates either gross incompetence or a lack of integrity?
Which brings us to today's topic. Glass bottles. Reuse your San Pellegrino glass bottle for holding drinking water.
Ohh, but Dust, what happens if you drop the bottle and it BREAKS?!
Well, the same thing that happens if you drop you cup and it breaks. Honestly, people, that's not a good reason to not use glass. Any other reason you can think of not to use glass? I thought so. Use glass.
-d
Monday, August 24, 2009
Barefoot running.
Ordered a pair of Vibram Fivefingers Classics. It's like a toughened sock for your feet to facilitate bombing around barefoot.
The idea is derived from the principles of barefoot running, which is really white people trying to explain how black people win all the track events. This is how it works: people from poor-ass countries can't afford shoes, nevermind a bike or a car, so they run around barefoot. As a result, they become really good at running marathons and the 400 m race.
So, someone thought "hey, why don't we run barefoot too?" Someone else replied "because you don't want to get HIV from that dirty needle that you might step on." You can see the niche market developing right? Vibram makes soles for shoes. It was a logical step for vibram to start making soles for your soles. And that, in a nutshell is what the Vibram Fivefinger shoes are. Soles for your Soles.
Now, I'm naturally wary of new-age bullshit - and this smells like some new-age hippie bullshit. Still, I like the idea of strengthening my feet - a part of my body that has been found weak and underperforming.
I haven't found any training regimens that satisfactorily address my foot issues, and my orthotics really dampen performance. There doesn't seem to be a lot of real research done in this area - just a whole lot of speculation and pseudo-science. I mean, if you mess up your knee, there are some pretty solid, proven rehab regimens that will help restore your range of movement, stability, and strength. When it comes to feet, "orthotics" is the most common answer. To me, that's akin to saying "crutch" for the aforementioned knee example.
Anyway, I'm easing into the barefoot thing. Starting with a lot of walking and some very short runs (no more than 400 m). My legs are pretty sore in some weird places, so I'll read that as a positive sign that the barefoot thing is working as planned.
-d
The idea is derived from the principles of barefoot running, which is really white people trying to explain how black people win all the track events. This is how it works: people from poor-ass countries can't afford shoes, nevermind a bike or a car, so they run around barefoot. As a result, they become really good at running marathons and the 400 m race.
So, someone thought "hey, why don't we run barefoot too?" Someone else replied "because you don't want to get HIV from that dirty needle that you might step on." You can see the niche market developing right? Vibram makes soles for shoes. It was a logical step for vibram to start making soles for your soles. And that, in a nutshell is what the Vibram Fivefinger shoes are. Soles for your Soles.
Now, I'm naturally wary of new-age bullshit - and this smells like some new-age hippie bullshit. Still, I like the idea of strengthening my feet - a part of my body that has been found weak and underperforming.
I haven't found any training regimens that satisfactorily address my foot issues, and my orthotics really dampen performance. There doesn't seem to be a lot of real research done in this area - just a whole lot of speculation and pseudo-science. I mean, if you mess up your knee, there are some pretty solid, proven rehab regimens that will help restore your range of movement, stability, and strength. When it comes to feet, "orthotics" is the most common answer. To me, that's akin to saying "crutch" for the aforementioned knee example.
Anyway, I'm easing into the barefoot thing. Starting with a lot of walking and some very short runs (no more than 400 m). My legs are pretty sore in some weird places, so I'll read that as a positive sign that the barefoot thing is working as planned.
-d
Monday, August 10, 2009
Cadbury ads
Came across these three Cadbury ads from Argentina arguing that a man will never be as good as a whole Cadbury Dairy Milk bar.
You're Right
The Check
Shhhh
They're on youtube, so too bad for those of you who can't access it at work.
Enjoy,
-d
You're Right
The Check
Shhhh
They're on youtube, so too bad for those of you who can't access it at work.
Enjoy,
-d
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Big update
So, lots has happened over the last week.
My company sent me on a business trip to New Jersey. Flew Air Canada out of Pearson to Newark. Outbound, we were delayed, cancelled, booked onto another flight, delayed again before departure, and delayed again in the air before landing. I left home at 2:30 PM and checked into the hotel at 11:30 pm. Two of my less fortunate colleagues with checked baggage didn't make it.
Lesson learned: don't check baggage in if you don't have to.
In New Jersey, a lot of the service people seem devoid of personality - from the hotel concierge to the limo driver, they all wear this fake smile and have this glassy-eyed expression. It's like their souls have been sucked out of them and they're a carbon copy of the next guy.
Anyway, I came back to Toronto on the 28th and stayed a few days in Toronto before leaving for Newark again on the 31st - this time with KT, and onwards to Manhattan.
We flew out on Porter Airlines, and though our flight was cancelled, they loaded us onto an earlier flight that was delayed to our departure time. It's an overly complicated way of combining two flights into one. I found out later from some other colleagues that their flights to Newark via Air Canada were cancelled completely and they had to wait until Saturday afternoon to fly. Some other colleagues also made it to Newark that night on Continental flights. So, while AC customers got the shaft, Porter and Continental made it through. From what I've heard, AC was the only carrier that didn't make it into Newark that night.
Lesson learned: Don't fly Air Canada to Newark - not only is Porter cheaper, it actually does the job.
Anyway, we had 2 days of fair weather and 1 day of rain. Did the typical tourist stuff - Battery Park, Ground Zero, Wall St, Empire State Bldg, MOMA, Museum of Natural History, Central Park, 5th Ave., etc. Saw a broadway show - In the Heights. It was awesome - a lot of fun.
Shopping. Did a lot of shopping for myself. Got a new pair of cleats from Niketown. While we were there, Adrian Peterson showed up to check out his wall-sized photo of himself (I guess). Also checked out the Levi's store, which carries completely different clothing than the Canadian counterparts. Uniqlo - lots of really cheap graphic t's. Manolo Blahnik, just to say I've been there. Blue in Green, where I bought myself a big-ass belt. Build-a-bear, where I got some boxers and aviators for my bear. Sales were on in just about every store.
Eating. Checked out Katz's Deli, allegedly the best deli in New York. I don't see what's so special. The meat was okay, but it wasn't melt-in-your-mouth good that I would expect from 'the best deli in New York.' We also went to Anthos, a Greek restaurant which won some kind of award for 'best new restaurant in 2009.' We had a tasting menu paired with a wine tasting. This was unlike any Greek food I'd ever had. Think fine French dining with Greek/Mediteranean ingredients. The Greek wines that they paired with the menu were superb. I didn't think Greek wines were any good, but apparently, they export only their worst wines and keep the best for domestic consumption. Complete opposite of every other country - go figure.
Anyway, that's it for now. Pictures to come.
-d
My company sent me on a business trip to New Jersey. Flew Air Canada out of Pearson to Newark. Outbound, we were delayed, cancelled, booked onto another flight, delayed again before departure, and delayed again in the air before landing. I left home at 2:30 PM and checked into the hotel at 11:30 pm. Two of my less fortunate colleagues with checked baggage didn't make it.
Lesson learned: don't check baggage in if you don't have to.
In New Jersey, a lot of the service people seem devoid of personality - from the hotel concierge to the limo driver, they all wear this fake smile and have this glassy-eyed expression. It's like their souls have been sucked out of them and they're a carbon copy of the next guy.
Anyway, I came back to Toronto on the 28th and stayed a few days in Toronto before leaving for Newark again on the 31st - this time with KT, and onwards to Manhattan.
We flew out on Porter Airlines, and though our flight was cancelled, they loaded us onto an earlier flight that was delayed to our departure time. It's an overly complicated way of combining two flights into one. I found out later from some other colleagues that their flights to Newark via Air Canada were cancelled completely and they had to wait until Saturday afternoon to fly. Some other colleagues also made it to Newark that night on Continental flights. So, while AC customers got the shaft, Porter and Continental made it through. From what I've heard, AC was the only carrier that didn't make it into Newark that night.
Lesson learned: Don't fly Air Canada to Newark - not only is Porter cheaper, it actually does the job.
Anyway, we had 2 days of fair weather and 1 day of rain. Did the typical tourist stuff - Battery Park, Ground Zero, Wall St, Empire State Bldg, MOMA, Museum of Natural History, Central Park, 5th Ave., etc. Saw a broadway show - In the Heights. It was awesome - a lot of fun.
Shopping. Did a lot of shopping for myself. Got a new pair of cleats from Niketown. While we were there, Adrian Peterson showed up to check out his wall-sized photo of himself (I guess). Also checked out the Levi's store, which carries completely different clothing than the Canadian counterparts. Uniqlo - lots of really cheap graphic t's. Manolo Blahnik, just to say I've been there. Blue in Green, where I bought myself a big-ass belt. Build-a-bear, where I got some boxers and aviators for my bear. Sales were on in just about every store.
Eating. Checked out Katz's Deli, allegedly the best deli in New York. I don't see what's so special. The meat was okay, but it wasn't melt-in-your-mouth good that I would expect from 'the best deli in New York.' We also went to Anthos, a Greek restaurant which won some kind of award for 'best new restaurant in 2009.' We had a tasting menu paired with a wine tasting. This was unlike any Greek food I'd ever had. Think fine French dining with Greek/Mediteranean ingredients. The Greek wines that they paired with the menu were superb. I didn't think Greek wines were any good, but apparently, they export only their worst wines and keep the best for domestic consumption. Complete opposite of every other country - go figure.
Anyway, that's it for now. Pictures to come.
-d
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The New Old Kenzo
On Friday afternoon, after work, I took Katie to the new Kenzo Ramen (owned & operated by the old Kenzo crew) on Dundas, just a little west of Bay St. I've been to the original Yonge/Steeles location on numerous occasions, but hadn't realized that the ownership changed last fall.
My colleague pointed out an article reviewing the new location in Thursday's edition of Now.
I wasn't that hungry, so I ordered a basic sho-yu ramen, and it was just as yummy as the uptown version. However, the highlight of the meal came after the meal proper.
I got to chatting with the owner, Daniel Park (yes, he's Korean) about his business and the economics of ramen. He explained that the reason there are so few ramen houses in Toronto is because it's horrendously expensive to make genuine ramen. Here's a summarized breakdown of some of the things he mentioned:
Ramen. Japanese Ramen, specifically Japanese Ramen as it is understood by Japanese people in Japan with respect to ingredients, manufacturing, taste and texture, is made in very few places in Canada - most establishments import it from Japan. There's actually only one place that makes ramen that Daniel knows of - his own kitchen. Five years ago, he invested in a ramen machine, so that he wouldn't have to import frozen ramen from Japan. This led to an 80% cost savings on ramen.
Soup base. Soup base is made from dried fish. Specifically, dried mackerel and/or 'flying fish.' Incidentally, won-ton soup is supposed to be made from the same stuff. In any case, dried fish also commands a premium price due to low availability and high demand. So, in an effort to keep bringing down that bottom line, he started making his own dried fish. He bought an industrial drying oven, buys the fish frozen, and dries it himself.
Lastly, he invited me on a tour of the kitchen and showed me the soup bases, ingredients, and ramen.
Pretty neat stuff. Check it out when you get a chance.
-d
My colleague pointed out an article reviewing the new location in Thursday's edition of Now.
I wasn't that hungry, so I ordered a basic sho-yu ramen, and it was just as yummy as the uptown version. However, the highlight of the meal came after the meal proper.
I got to chatting with the owner, Daniel Park (yes, he's Korean) about his business and the economics of ramen. He explained that the reason there are so few ramen houses in Toronto is because it's horrendously expensive to make genuine ramen. Here's a summarized breakdown of some of the things he mentioned:
Ramen. Japanese Ramen, specifically Japanese Ramen as it is understood by Japanese people in Japan with respect to ingredients, manufacturing, taste and texture, is made in very few places in Canada - most establishments import it from Japan. There's actually only one place that makes ramen that Daniel knows of - his own kitchen. Five years ago, he invested in a ramen machine, so that he wouldn't have to import frozen ramen from Japan. This led to an 80% cost savings on ramen.
Soup base. Soup base is made from dried fish. Specifically, dried mackerel and/or 'flying fish.' Incidentally, won-ton soup is supposed to be made from the same stuff. In any case, dried fish also commands a premium price due to low availability and high demand. So, in an effort to keep bringing down that bottom line, he started making his own dried fish. He bought an industrial drying oven, buys the fish frozen, and dries it himself.
Lastly, he invited me on a tour of the kitchen and showed me the soup bases, ingredients, and ramen.
Pretty neat stuff. Check it out when you get a chance.
-d
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The new 'do
My Dad's reaction: "ho-ho-ho-ho-ho..."
He took it as a challenge. He will now grow his sideburns out like mine.
-d
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Roots Footwear
The Toronto Star last Saturday featured the return of Roots footwear in early August.
Since I wasn't alive during the glory days of Roots boots, I can't say I can associate with any strong feelings of nostalgia. Still, I am curious to see what Roots will have to offer. I regard Roots Leather highly for several reasons:
1) Style. The Canadian identity was born out of the frontier. Plaid flannel, touques, and muk-luks. Frugal simplicity and un-pretentiousness have been the key ideas of this country growing up, and are reflected in the designs at Roots. Tough raw textures combined with functionality resonate with our values and traditions as outdoorsmen and naturists. No wait, not naturists... those are something else. Pioneers, builders, hunters, and if need be, warriors.
2) Quality. Made by Canadian Unionized Labour in Toronto. Not to be confused with Chinese Socialist Labour in Guangdong. Built tough like Ford, but also actually reliable, like Toyota. Case in point - it's been about two years and My Roots Raiders bag has yet to fail me.
3) Price. In terms of bags, you won't find better value anywhere else. Any comparable leather bag is designer-branded and will cost you twice as much. Where jackets are concerned, they're double the price of what you can get at Danier, but almost twice as well made, and twice as tough.
4) Cowhide. It's all about the toughness and stiffness of cowhide. Soft lambskin is for ladies and soft skinned Italian men who switch to the winning side when the outcome of a war is becoming quite clear. If you've been watching the highlights of the Stampede, you'll know where cowhide comes from. It's all about the hyper-masculine Canadian cowboy image. Think Brokeback Mountain but with real men who don't show their emotions and rely on a sense of humour to deal with problems.
Now, if the new old Roots footwear sticks to the model they've painstakingly created over the last couple of years, I'll be really interested in what they have to offer.
-d
Since I wasn't alive during the glory days of Roots boots, I can't say I can associate with any strong feelings of nostalgia. Still, I am curious to see what Roots will have to offer. I regard Roots Leather highly for several reasons:
1) Style. The Canadian identity was born out of the frontier. Plaid flannel, touques, and muk-luks. Frugal simplicity and un-pretentiousness have been the key ideas of this country growing up, and are reflected in the designs at Roots. Tough raw textures combined with functionality resonate with our values and traditions as outdoorsmen and naturists. No wait, not naturists... those are something else. Pioneers, builders, hunters, and if need be, warriors.
2) Quality. Made by Canadian Unionized Labour in Toronto. Not to be confused with Chinese Socialist Labour in Guangdong. Built tough like Ford, but also actually reliable, like Toyota. Case in point - it's been about two years and My Roots Raiders bag has yet to fail me.
3) Price. In terms of bags, you won't find better value anywhere else. Any comparable leather bag is designer-branded and will cost you twice as much. Where jackets are concerned, they're double the price of what you can get at Danier, but almost twice as well made, and twice as tough.
4) Cowhide. It's all about the toughness and stiffness of cowhide. Soft lambskin is for ladies and soft skinned Italian men who switch to the winning side when the outcome of a war is becoming quite clear. If you've been watching the highlights of the Stampede, you'll know where cowhide comes from. It's all about the hyper-masculine Canadian cowboy image. Think Brokeback Mountain but with real men who don't show their emotions and rely on a sense of humour to deal with problems.
Now, if the new old Roots footwear sticks to the model they've painstakingly created over the last couple of years, I'll be really interested in what they have to offer.
-d
Monday, July 06, 2009
Frye vs Car
As some of you may recall, I have a pair of western boots - Frye Harness Boots, to be exact. Anyway, I've had these boots for about 2 years, and after almost daily wear, through winter, spring, summer, and fall; I wore out the soles and had them resoled this past spring.
On Saturday, my sister had her engagement party, and to save some space in the drivew, my brother-in-law-to-be parked in the garage. On top of my boots. So, after being run over and parked on for 8 hours, they looked pretty FUBAR'ed. There were tire tread marks embossed in the leather, and the hard square toe cap was crushed flat. Figured I'd take a shot at DIY repair. I jammed my car keys into the boot and popped the toes back out, hammered the flattened parts straight again, and stuck a shoe tree in overnight. All-in-all, other than looking a little scuffed up at the toes, they're no worse for wear.
The leather uppers are virtually unharmed apart for a few scuff marks and some extra wrinkles. The left toe is a bit more rounded than the right toe, but I think I can fix that with a piece of wood and a mallet.
Anyway, if you're looking for a solid boot that'll last a long time and a lot of wear, I'd definitely recommend Frye.
-d
On Saturday, my sister had her engagement party, and to save some space in the drivew, my brother-in-law-to-be parked in the garage. On top of my boots. So, after being run over and parked on for 8 hours, they looked pretty FUBAR'ed. There were tire tread marks embossed in the leather, and the hard square toe cap was crushed flat. Figured I'd take a shot at DIY repair. I jammed my car keys into the boot and popped the toes back out, hammered the flattened parts straight again, and stuck a shoe tree in overnight. All-in-all, other than looking a little scuffed up at the toes, they're no worse for wear.
The leather uppers are virtually unharmed apart for a few scuff marks and some extra wrinkles. The left toe is a bit more rounded than the right toe, but I think I can fix that with a piece of wood and a mallet.
Anyway, if you're looking for a solid boot that'll last a long time and a lot of wear, I'd definitely recommend Frye.
-d
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
You are the Sunshine in my Ass
For those of you who don't know, the Canadian Organic Regulations came into force last week. This is the logo they picked for Organic foods in Canada:
It looks like the sun rising behind a set of buttocks. Maybe the implication is that if I eat Canadian Organic, I'll shit sunshine.
On a more serious note, these regulations mean that there's actually a framework and legitimacy behind the word 'organic' w.r.t. foods in Canada. When you walk into Loblaws now, you can be a little more confident that the produce labelled 'organic' actually meets the legal definition of 'organic.'
That said, I'll try not to make as much fun of organic food as much as I used to. Actually, belay that; I'll wait until I see some enforcement action before I check my skepticism.
Rebel update: My tomato plant has contracted bugs from my mint plant. I might need to euthanize the plants.
-d
It looks like the sun rising behind a set of buttocks. Maybe the implication is that if I eat Canadian Organic, I'll shit sunshine.
On a more serious note, these regulations mean that there's actually a framework and legitimacy behind the word 'organic' w.r.t. foods in Canada. When you walk into Loblaws now, you can be a little more confident that the produce labelled 'organic' actually meets the legal definition of 'organic.'
That said, I'll try not to make as much fun of organic food as much as I used to. Actually, belay that; I'll wait until I see some enforcement action before I check my skepticism.
Rebel update: My tomato plant has contracted bugs from my mint plant. I might need to euthanize the plants.
-d
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Beer League
Played ultimate frisbee last night with beer. It was crazy fun. The objective of the game was to catch and throw one-handed without spilling the beer. It was challenging at first, but the more you drink, the easier it gets.
It's amazing how fast you get drunk when you add cardio and alcohol together. I got pretty buzzed after two beers and was mildly drunk after 4. The effect lasted a good 2 hours, but I crashed after the effect wore off.
Finished the night off at Joon's for some tabletop cooking. Every table in the restaurant ordered the tabletop cooking. I rarely see people in there who eat anything else. Our extras for the night: rice cake, cheese, noodles.
I really needed some sleep last night but it was so uncomfortably hot and muggy, I couldn't stop sweating. So, I had to keep drinking water because I felt so dehydrated. I left the door to my room open to promote ventilation, but it didn't help much. It just seems like my room is cursed with being the warmest in the house.
-d
It's amazing how fast you get drunk when you add cardio and alcohol together. I got pretty buzzed after two beers and was mildly drunk after 4. The effect lasted a good 2 hours, but I crashed after the effect wore off.
Finished the night off at Joon's for some tabletop cooking. Every table in the restaurant ordered the tabletop cooking. I rarely see people in there who eat anything else. Our extras for the night: rice cake, cheese, noodles.
I really needed some sleep last night but it was so uncomfortably hot and muggy, I couldn't stop sweating. So, I had to keep drinking water because I felt so dehydrated. I left the door to my room open to promote ventilation, but it didn't help much. It just seems like my room is cursed with being the warmest in the house.
-d
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Office ecology
Rebel update:
My coworkers and I have started our very own departmental vegetable garden, in defiance of company policy prohibiting personal plants and animals.
We just potted our first tomato plant, alongside some basil (apparently the basil will make the tomatos taste better).
We also have some mint growing in a separate pot.
Now, we'll actually be able to use the compost that I make under my desk (also in defiance of company policy).
In other news, I opened a ticket with IT to have OLG.ca unblocked so that we can check our departmental lottery numbers.
-d
My coworkers and I have started our very own departmental vegetable garden, in defiance of company policy prohibiting personal plants and animals.
We just potted our first tomato plant, alongside some basil (apparently the basil will make the tomatos taste better).
We also have some mint growing in a separate pot.
Now, we'll actually be able to use the compost that I make under my desk (also in defiance of company policy).
In other news, I opened a ticket with IT to have OLG.ca unblocked so that we can check our departmental lottery numbers.
-d
Monday, June 15, 2009
No Poo
So the no-poo campaign has started to hit the mainstream fan. Or at least, the Toronto Star.
No poo, short for 'no shampoo' takes a few forms:
1) washing hair less frequently; ie. less than every day (no wash, no poo).
2) washing hair with a dry shampoo (wash with dry poo).
3) not using shampoo when washing hair (wash with no poo).
Okay, so #1 I heard about from a podcast, and #2 I read about in The Star. #3 is my own practice.
I haven't used shampoo for the last... 8 years at least (exception - coming home from camping or an army exercise, I've used baby shampoo to get that dirt and grime out). First reactions when people find out are generally incredulity followed by disgust. To this I say:
1) my hair is short (up here and down there).
2) my hair is rarely greasy (here, touch it).
3) I have less bug bites than you (they don't even notice me).
I understand why people apply fragrant heavy-duty detergents to their hair on a daily basis, I just don't buy into it. That's all.
-d
No poo, short for 'no shampoo' takes a few forms:
1) washing hair less frequently; ie. less than every day (no wash, no poo).
2) washing hair with a dry shampoo (wash with dry poo).
3) not using shampoo when washing hair (wash with no poo).
Okay, so #1 I heard about from a podcast, and #2 I read about in The Star. #3 is my own practice.
I haven't used shampoo for the last... 8 years at least (exception - coming home from camping or an army exercise, I've used baby shampoo to get that dirt and grime out). First reactions when people find out are generally incredulity followed by disgust. To this I say:
1) my hair is short (up here and down there).
2) my hair is rarely greasy (here, touch it).
3) I have less bug bites than you (they don't even notice me).
I understand why people apply fragrant heavy-duty detergents to their hair on a daily basis, I just don't buy into it. That's all.
-d
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Chips are good for you
I'm eating this bag of PC Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Sea Salt & Vinegar Flavour, and when I look on the back of the bag, there's a Blue Menu box that's telling me this is "Good For You" - excuse me?
Potato Chips are Good For ME? You gotta be kidding, right? This stuff is almost 20% pure fat, and just becuase they have less fat than the other PC chips, they're good for me?
On another note, I took my shoes off and started walking around the office in socks. So far, nobody has noticed.
-d
Potato Chips are Good For ME? You gotta be kidding, right? This stuff is almost 20% pure fat, and just becuase they have less fat than the other PC chips, they're good for me?
On another note, I took my shoes off and started walking around the office in socks. So far, nobody has noticed.
-d
Monday, June 01, 2009
INCPLA disowned
My blog has been banned by China. "so turns out china has now banned your blog too. i used to read it from my home, but now it's gonzo." I find that equal parts funny and disturbing.
Did some Chinese government worker read my blog and determine that it was unsuitable for the Chinese population? On what basis, I wonder? I don't think my blog is particularly critical of the Chinese government.
Let's hope that China doesn't become the next world superpower.
Anyway, starting to pave the gazebo site now. Will probably use the same interlock as the patio, because we have a surplus of it and because it's cheap.
I originally wanted to use stone slabs - natural limestone as can be found in the riverbeds that cross the bruce trail. Expensive stuff, unless you pull it out of the ravine yourself. I envisioned slabs of limestone with a mixture of sand and clay to fill the gaps - substrate ideal for moss. Still haven't decided on furniture. Go with patio set - round table & 4 chairs, or benches and side tables?
As for secondary projects, the trees we planted seem to be doing well. We'll have a few cherries this summer, and hopefully more next year. Need to start thinking about how to construct the swing. Probably will use bench seat and back (no legs) suspended on rope.
-d
Did some Chinese government worker read my blog and determine that it was unsuitable for the Chinese population? On what basis, I wonder? I don't think my blog is particularly critical of the Chinese government.
Let's hope that China doesn't become the next world superpower.
Anyway, starting to pave the gazebo site now. Will probably use the same interlock as the patio, because we have a surplus of it and because it's cheap.
I originally wanted to use stone slabs - natural limestone as can be found in the riverbeds that cross the bruce trail. Expensive stuff, unless you pull it out of the ravine yourself. I envisioned slabs of limestone with a mixture of sand and clay to fill the gaps - substrate ideal for moss. Still haven't decided on furniture. Go with patio set - round table & 4 chairs, or benches and side tables?
As for secondary projects, the trees we planted seem to be doing well. We'll have a few cherries this summer, and hopefully more next year. Need to start thinking about how to construct the swing. Probably will use bench seat and back (no legs) suspended on rope.
-d
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
House hunting update
Got off work early on Friday and headed downtown immediately to check out some places downtown. Visited a good number of places in the Bay St corridor (including a little bachelor unit in Ivan's building). Out of the Bay Street corridor, I'd have to say the best bachelor units are at 25 The Esplanade.
The bachelor unit I looked at was about 650 sq ft, for $1200 (all in - utilities, heat, a/c, etc.) The room has a small solarium with glass walls (which you can convert into a bedroom), a bathroom with separate tub and shower stalls, a giant closet, washer/dryer and an open concept kitchen. It's essentially one big open square with the aforementioned occupying space on the perimeter, leaving the centre completely open.
The vacant unit I looked at was on the 11th floor - so half way up, with a south view over the railyards and the lake. Lots of natural light.
The building is very well maintained (probably the best I've seen so far, even compared to brand new buildings). The amenities are amazing (and free of charge) - full gym, outdoor track, 6 garden terraces, billiards room, party room and bbq area, as far as I could see. Security is tight - this is the first place that asked my agent for his real estate licence and picture ID, in addition to the standard business card.
It's pretty much equidistant from union station, St Lawrence market, and queen's quay ferry terminal. There's also a Loblaws and the Bier Markt nearby.
So why is it so cheap? What are the downsides? 1) There's no parking - which for me is an upside, because I don't have a car and it drives down the prices of the units. 2) South view, while beautiful, is also noisy because of the rail yard. 3) The only time any of the good units go on the market is because the owner died.
The wedge units (not the one I'm looking to rent) are considered among the best condo units in the entire downtown core. Those units have a 240 degree view - that's pretty much a full north, west, and south view. The only other comparable view is at 1001 Bay, which overlooks campus - sacred ground that will not likely ever be developed.
The more I think about this building, the more I want to live there - at least for a year to see how I like it. Anyway, the one unit I visited on Friday came on the rental market on friday, and by this morning, was already gone. Now I sorta regret not jumping on it...
-d
The bachelor unit I looked at was about 650 sq ft, for $1200 (all in - utilities, heat, a/c, etc.) The room has a small solarium with glass walls (which you can convert into a bedroom), a bathroom with separate tub and shower stalls, a giant closet, washer/dryer and an open concept kitchen. It's essentially one big open square with the aforementioned occupying space on the perimeter, leaving the centre completely open.
The vacant unit I looked at was on the 11th floor - so half way up, with a south view over the railyards and the lake. Lots of natural light.
The building is very well maintained (probably the best I've seen so far, even compared to brand new buildings). The amenities are amazing (and free of charge) - full gym, outdoor track, 6 garden terraces, billiards room, party room and bbq area, as far as I could see. Security is tight - this is the first place that asked my agent for his real estate licence and picture ID, in addition to the standard business card.
It's pretty much equidistant from union station, St Lawrence market, and queen's quay ferry terminal. There's also a Loblaws and the Bier Markt nearby.
So why is it so cheap? What are the downsides? 1) There's no parking - which for me is an upside, because I don't have a car and it drives down the prices of the units. 2) South view, while beautiful, is also noisy because of the rail yard. 3) The only time any of the good units go on the market is because the owner died.
The wedge units (not the one I'm looking to rent) are considered among the best condo units in the entire downtown core. Those units have a 240 degree view - that's pretty much a full north, west, and south view. The only other comparable view is at 1001 Bay, which overlooks campus - sacred ground that will not likely ever be developed.
The more I think about this building, the more I want to live there - at least for a year to see how I like it. Anyway, the one unit I visited on Friday came on the rental market on friday, and by this morning, was already gone. Now I sorta regret not jumping on it...
-d
Sunday, May 10, 2009
What I've been saying about Canada...
... but without the eloquence.
Haroon Siddiqui captures in his essay the qualities that make Canada the best place in the world to live as a person of colour.
Better than old Europe, that professes liberty, equality, and fraternity while the disadvantaged set fire to cars in ethnic slums, the new Union paralyzed by paroxysms of islamophobia, in denial of economic reality, and drunk on delusions of moral superiority. Better than Austrailia which is said to be very like Canada, save for the overtly racist white majority and intensely protectionist and isolationist tendencies. Better than the US of A, a foundering country with a careless trigger-finger and enough megatonnage to end the world.
We take it for granted that we can enter into competition with a white male and still win the decent well-paying job. It isn't so in most of the world. We take it for granted that we can see a doctor anytime we like, without paying through the nose, but complain that we must wait too long for a service simply non-existent or inaccessible elsewhere (Granted, the complaint is valid since we must always advocate for improvement and positive change). We live in peace, without fear, without hunger or thirst, but we complain about the annual price for such luxuries and necessities.
Of course, I paint in broad strokes (for we are not without our own problems - we do have poverty), but I mean that generally speaking, for us, there are no 'good old days' because our lot in the world has been better than ever.
-d
Haroon Siddiqui captures in his essay the qualities that make Canada the best place in the world to live as a person of colour.
Better than old Europe, that professes liberty, equality, and fraternity while the disadvantaged set fire to cars in ethnic slums, the new Union paralyzed by paroxysms of islamophobia, in denial of economic reality, and drunk on delusions of moral superiority. Better than Austrailia which is said to be very like Canada, save for the overtly racist white majority and intensely protectionist and isolationist tendencies. Better than the US of A, a foundering country with a careless trigger-finger and enough megatonnage to end the world.
We take it for granted that we can enter into competition with a white male and still win the decent well-paying job. It isn't so in most of the world. We take it for granted that we can see a doctor anytime we like, without paying through the nose, but complain that we must wait too long for a service simply non-existent or inaccessible elsewhere (Granted, the complaint is valid since we must always advocate for improvement and positive change). We live in peace, without fear, without hunger or thirst, but we complain about the annual price for such luxuries and necessities.
Of course, I paint in broad strokes (for we are not without our own problems - we do have poverty), but I mean that generally speaking, for us, there are no 'good old days' because our lot in the world has been better than ever.
-d
Friday, May 08, 2009
Going green
We've started ordering groceries directly to the office. Every week, I order a box of fruit, which is delivered straight to my desk. This week, I got a canteloupe, a bunch of bannanas, a box of strawberries, 3 grapefruits, a bag of apples, and 4 pears. It just happens to be whatever is fresh at the Terminal, local if possible. The food is guaranteed fresh, and we can exchange overripe or rotten fruit. I trade some of my fruits to my colleagues for veggies - namely carrots. I take home some of the bigger or messier items, and the remainder I eat at my desk as snacks. The odds and ends, cores and pits I throw into my secret compost under my desk where I raise and breed worms.
-d
-d
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
On predators and prey
This past weekend, I got shot at. Bullets landed not 10 m away from me. Pretty unnerving stuff.
We were conducting training with live ammunition, and the final assault on an enemy position involves crawling up to the position (with your comrades' rounds flying overhead) and clearing it.
The whole time, I was paranoid about getting shot. We trained in pairs at first, and then in groups of four. I had a really good teammate, so no worries there, but the other pair were pretty green. First couple of times, I sent the green troops up to the position, but eventually it was my turn (lead by example). I think next time, I'll choose my teammates more carefully.
For the latter half of the weekend, I led a reconnaisance patrol out to observe an 'enemy' position overnight. It's a strange feeling stalking through the forest, hiding in the darkness of night from patrols and spying on people. On the one hand, we're outnumbered and outgunned, so engaging in firefights and heroics is out of the question - we are clearly the prey in the big picture. On the other hand, we're stalking unsuspecting people who neither perceive us nor understand our intent, and are apprehensive (if not terrified) of our imagined presence. In this sense, the roles are reversed. We are the predators and they the prey. When morning comes and the sun rises, the roles revert back to their original state. We hide like frightened mole rats from the searing brightness of the sun, and they try to flush us out.
-d
We were conducting training with live ammunition, and the final assault on an enemy position involves crawling up to the position (with your comrades' rounds flying overhead) and clearing it.
The whole time, I was paranoid about getting shot. We trained in pairs at first, and then in groups of four. I had a really good teammate, so no worries there, but the other pair were pretty green. First couple of times, I sent the green troops up to the position, but eventually it was my turn (lead by example). I think next time, I'll choose my teammates more carefully.
For the latter half of the weekend, I led a reconnaisance patrol out to observe an 'enemy' position overnight. It's a strange feeling stalking through the forest, hiding in the darkness of night from patrols and spying on people. On the one hand, we're outnumbered and outgunned, so engaging in firefights and heroics is out of the question - we are clearly the prey in the big picture. On the other hand, we're stalking unsuspecting people who neither perceive us nor understand our intent, and are apprehensive (if not terrified) of our imagined presence. In this sense, the roles are reversed. We are the predators and they the prey. When morning comes and the sun rises, the roles revert back to their original state. We hide like frightened mole rats from the searing brightness of the sun, and they try to flush us out.
-d
Monday, April 27, 2009
Weekend report
Pretty productive weekend.
After work on Friday, my agent took KT and I around downtown and showed us some condos that I was interested in. One at Bay/Wellesley, and two in Yorkville. There are several factors that I'm finding are important to me as a renter:
1) Locker - I have tons of army equipment that needs to go somewhere. A locker is critical for this purpose.
2) Parking - If I can rent that space out, it's another $100-150 a month.
3) Amenities - If I can cancel my gym membership, that's another forty-something dollars a month.
4) Furnished - Makes it easy to move in and move out of a place if I don't have to worry about many belongings. This feature is awesome for short-term renters, like me.
Saturday morning, I went for a 4 km practice run in anticipation of the 5 km charity run on Sunday. I just needed to make sure I was in good enough shape. I spent the rest of the day working on the gazebo site and cleaning up a felled tree. I built up the ground around the site so as to raise the grade and discourage the water from flowing down into the site. It was tough working against time, watching the storm clouds roll in. It appeared to be only partially successful, but I think it sufficiently reduces the flow of water into the site to avoid future drainage issues future. Progress is slow - I'm maybe half way through clearing the actual site - a 8' radius circle, about 4 inches deep. I'll have to dig down another few inches to improve drainage. Hopefully I'll be finished the gazebo by the end of summer. Had a barbeque with my family and some of my sister's friends. I was the lucky guy stuck outside in the rain, tending to the grill. In any case, I must have spent 9 hours or so outside, and came away with a nice sun burn.
Sunday, I ran the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation Legacy 5km. It was pouring rain and kinda cold and miserable in general. I clocked in at 23:21.1 min (4:40 km split time). Not too bad, I guess. Spent the rest of the day shopping.
-d
After work on Friday, my agent took KT and I around downtown and showed us some condos that I was interested in. One at Bay/Wellesley, and two in Yorkville. There are several factors that I'm finding are important to me as a renter:
1) Locker - I have tons of army equipment that needs to go somewhere. A locker is critical for this purpose.
2) Parking - If I can rent that space out, it's another $100-150 a month.
3) Amenities - If I can cancel my gym membership, that's another forty-something dollars a month.
4) Furnished - Makes it easy to move in and move out of a place if I don't have to worry about many belongings. This feature is awesome for short-term renters, like me.
Saturday morning, I went for a 4 km practice run in anticipation of the 5 km charity run on Sunday. I just needed to make sure I was in good enough shape. I spent the rest of the day working on the gazebo site and cleaning up a felled tree. I built up the ground around the site so as to raise the grade and discourage the water from flowing down into the site. It was tough working against time, watching the storm clouds roll in. It appeared to be only partially successful, but I think it sufficiently reduces the flow of water into the site to avoid future drainage issues future. Progress is slow - I'm maybe half way through clearing the actual site - a 8' radius circle, about 4 inches deep. I'll have to dig down another few inches to improve drainage. Hopefully I'll be finished the gazebo by the end of summer. Had a barbeque with my family and some of my sister's friends. I was the lucky guy stuck outside in the rain, tending to the grill. In any case, I must have spent 9 hours or so outside, and came away with a nice sun burn.
Sunday, I ran the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation Legacy 5km. It was pouring rain and kinda cold and miserable in general. I clocked in at 23:21.1 min (4:40 km split time). Not too bad, I guess. Spent the rest of the day shopping.
-d
Thursday, April 16, 2009
YYZ
"I Love You, Man" really rekindled my interest in Rush, which happens to be a staple of Classic Rock stations in the Ottawa area. So, I went ahead and downloaded YYZ from iTunes. I didn't get too carried away, though - just downloaded that one song because I don't hear it played on the radio as frequently as the others.
Fuckin Rogers. Those bastards clawed back my $15 credit, claiming that it was given to me in error. When I called them, Customer Care lied their asses off, at first saying that it was a bundle discount that I shouldn't have received because I don't have a bundle. I called the rep on her bullshit and she backpedaled and deferred responsibility - sent me to Customer Relations (which is apparently different from Customer Care).
I spoke to the Customer Relations rep, who actually had the audacity to lecture me about the primary goal of a business (ie. to make money). Right, that's why you do your due diligence BEFORE agreeing to a service contract (bitch). Because that's what a REAL business does. I really don't see why I have to pay for a Rogers mistake. She tried to convince me that I'm actually lucky that Roger's didn't decide to retractively bill me for the previous months that I'd received the credit. WTF? So, let's see - I'm getting fucked every month for the next two-and-a--half years, and I'm lucky that Rogers didn't come and fuck me last month. Bitch, I'm being fucked RIGHT NOW - do you think the timing really matters to me? Escalate.
So I got to speak to a Customer Relations manager, who offered me a $5 credit. She explained that the 'system' looks for situations where credit > half the plan. Thus, she can give a $5, $10, or $15 credit, but because my plan is $24.50 ($17.50 + $7), and I already have a separate $7 credit, the largest credit I can receive is $5 ($5 + $7 = $12 ~ 50% of $24.50). She did offer to give me my $15 credit back, but mentioned that it'd get clawed back every other month (nets out to $7.50 / mo), and I'd have to call in again to get the credit re-instated.
So I accepted the $5 monthly credit, but after some more moaning and griping, got her to give me a free month of service as compensation.
I guess in the end, my plan is still pretty good (but not excellent). I take no consolation in that, because for some reason, my ass hurts and there's a bad taste in my mouth.
Anyway, another trip pic. I like taking pictures of stairs and flowers. I don't know why.
-d
Fuckin Rogers. Those bastards clawed back my $15 credit, claiming that it was given to me in error. When I called them, Customer Care lied their asses off, at first saying that it was a bundle discount that I shouldn't have received because I don't have a bundle. I called the rep on her bullshit and she backpedaled and deferred responsibility - sent me to Customer Relations (which is apparently different from Customer Care).
I spoke to the Customer Relations rep, who actually had the audacity to lecture me about the primary goal of a business (ie. to make money). Right, that's why you do your due diligence BEFORE agreeing to a service contract (bitch). Because that's what a REAL business does. I really don't see why I have to pay for a Rogers mistake. She tried to convince me that I'm actually lucky that Roger's didn't decide to retractively bill me for the previous months that I'd received the credit. WTF? So, let's see - I'm getting fucked every month for the next two-and-a--half years, and I'm lucky that Rogers didn't come and fuck me last month. Bitch, I'm being fucked RIGHT NOW - do you think the timing really matters to me? Escalate.
So I got to speak to a Customer Relations manager, who offered me a $5 credit. She explained that the 'system' looks for situations where credit > half the plan. Thus, she can give a $5, $10, or $15 credit, but because my plan is $24.50 ($17.50 + $7), and I already have a separate $7 credit, the largest credit I can receive is $5 ($5 + $7 = $12 ~ 50% of $24.50). She did offer to give me my $15 credit back, but mentioned that it'd get clawed back every other month (nets out to $7.50 / mo), and I'd have to call in again to get the credit re-instated.
So I accepted the $5 monthly credit, but after some more moaning and griping, got her to give me a free month of service as compensation.
I guess in the end, my plan is still pretty good (but not excellent). I take no consolation in that, because for some reason, my ass hurts and there's a bad taste in my mouth.
Anyway, another trip pic. I like taking pictures of stairs and flowers. I don't know why.
-d
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Morning Kisses
Just came home from watching "I Love You, Man." It was a pretty entertaining movie. Anyway, that's not the point of this post. You sit through an evening show, maybe 1.5 to 2 hours long, not talking, not doing much of anything. It's been approximately 12 hours or more since you last brushed your teeth, and between then and now, there's been 3 meals and maybe a snack. The cumulative effect - bad breath. Good thing you can always pop that piece of gum into your mouth to cover it up.
I've always wondered how they did it back in the day with no dental care - no dental hygeine whatsoever. Every time I watch one of those era Hollywood flicks - say set in the medieval times or maybe a western, a couple of characters kiss and I can't help but think about how much they must stink and how bad their breath must be. I think about that every single time I see it. Every. Single. Time.
I guess they just got used to it, or maybe never knew anything better.
Anyway, I'm going to get my boots resoled tomorrow (hopefully). It's only been 2 years, and I haven't worn through the sole completely, but a chunk of the sole at the toe fell off. I have a habit of tapping the toe against the ground when I'm impatient or nervous, and all that tapping has taken a toll. I also need to find some red-brown shoe polish to match my Red Wing Boots. I completely didn't think about maintenance when I bought them. No Matter, I still like them a lot, and I've received a lot of compliments about them.
-d
I've always wondered how they did it back in the day with no dental care - no dental hygeine whatsoever. Every time I watch one of those era Hollywood flicks - say set in the medieval times or maybe a western, a couple of characters kiss and I can't help but think about how much they must stink and how bad their breath must be. I think about that every single time I see it. Every. Single. Time.
I guess they just got used to it, or maybe never knew anything better.
Anyway, I'm going to get my boots resoled tomorrow (hopefully). It's only been 2 years, and I haven't worn through the sole completely, but a chunk of the sole at the toe fell off. I have a habit of tapping the toe against the ground when I'm impatient or nervous, and all that tapping has taken a toll. I also need to find some red-brown shoe polish to match my Red Wing Boots. I completely didn't think about maintenance when I bought them. No Matter, I still like them a lot, and I've received a lot of compliments about them.
-d
Monday, April 06, 2009
Bamboozled
A couple of months ago, it came to my attention that most (> 90 %) of those "made with bamboo fibre" clothing are labelling and advertising their products in a misleading manner.
Basically, the clothing is made of polyester. Polyester that is derived from a bamboo source. Thus, the clothing labels should read "made with polyester" and not "made with bamboo"
Apparently, the culprit were the textile manufacturers/suppliers who successfully duped everyone with a claim that was just plain wrong. Among the victims (apart from the consumers) were ethically minded retailers such as MEC and Lulu Lemon, who both positioned the polyesters as natural bamboo and environmentally friendly.
I was always a little wary of that bamboo clothing... I always imagined that bamboo clothing would be really coarse and scratchy - worse than hemp, maybe. But when I felt the smooth soft texture of the bamboo material, I was immediately suspicious that it was a little too smooth... a little too soft.
Anyway, this all irritates me a bit. It's like all those stupid bio-plastics - "biodegradable" plastic pens and cups and etc. Sure, they're biodegradable - under high O2 and UV light conditions... I say, if it won't mostly rot away within a year in my garden compost, it isn't biodegradable in the sense that the normal consumer understands.
-d
Basically, the clothing is made of polyester. Polyester that is derived from a bamboo source. Thus, the clothing labels should read "made with polyester" and not "made with bamboo"
Apparently, the culprit were the textile manufacturers/suppliers who successfully duped everyone with a claim that was just plain wrong. Among the victims (apart from the consumers) were ethically minded retailers such as MEC and Lulu Lemon, who both positioned the polyesters as natural bamboo and environmentally friendly.
I was always a little wary of that bamboo clothing... I always imagined that bamboo clothing would be really coarse and scratchy - worse than hemp, maybe. But when I felt the smooth soft texture of the bamboo material, I was immediately suspicious that it was a little too smooth... a little too soft.
Anyway, this all irritates me a bit. It's like all those stupid bio-plastics - "biodegradable" plastic pens and cups and etc. Sure, they're biodegradable - under high O2 and UV light conditions... I say, if it won't mostly rot away within a year in my garden compost, it isn't biodegradable in the sense that the normal consumer understands.
-d
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Fire Sale!
According to Wikipedia, a Fire Sale is "the sale of goods at extremely discounted prices, typically when the seller faces bankruptcy or other impending distress. The term may originally have been based on the sale of goods at a heavy discount due to fire damage."
As it turns out, the original meaning isn't dead. Bootmaster on Yonge St. is having a Fire Sale following an electrical fire they recently had. All showroom pieces are 50-80% off. Mostly, I couldn't see any smoke/water damage to anything but a couple pairs of boots. I came away this afternoon with a beautiful full-grain leather belt with braided horse-hair reinforcement/decorative layer. It's stiff as hell owing to the thickness of the leather. Retails for $109, but it was half-off. It was the last brown-coloured 34" belt, so I snapped it up. They still have a 34" Black version, also 50% off, if anyone's interested. It'll fit a 32" - 36" waist, but once it starts stretching, I'd say it's probably closer to 33" - 37" waist. The leather is quite thick, so I wouldn't expect that much stretching anyhow.
I didn't like the buckle it came with, so I replaced it with one I got in Japan a couple years ago.
I think I'll go back and check out some boots this weekend. Sizes are limited, so I won't get my hopes up. I'll be hunting for a pair of black boots, simple-looking, with a western heel. Something a little dressier, that can be polished.
-d
-d
As it turns out, the original meaning isn't dead. Bootmaster on Yonge St. is having a Fire Sale following an electrical fire they recently had. All showroom pieces are 50-80% off. Mostly, I couldn't see any smoke/water damage to anything but a couple pairs of boots. I came away this afternoon with a beautiful full-grain leather belt with braided horse-hair reinforcement/decorative layer. It's stiff as hell owing to the thickness of the leather. Retails for $109, but it was half-off. It was the last brown-coloured 34" belt, so I snapped it up. They still have a 34" Black version, also 50% off, if anyone's interested. It'll fit a 32" - 36" waist, but once it starts stretching, I'd say it's probably closer to 33" - 37" waist. The leather is quite thick, so I wouldn't expect that much stretching anyhow.
I didn't like the buckle it came with, so I replaced it with one I got in Japan a couple years ago.
I think I'll go back and check out some boots this weekend. Sizes are limited, so I won't get my hopes up. I'll be hunting for a pair of black boots, simple-looking, with a western heel. Something a little dressier, that can be polished.
-d
-d
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Yikes!
I'm off to Japan and HK again for some R&R. This time, I'm going with friends instead of family. I a little pissed about our travel arrangements... suckered into paying more for crappier flights because I couldn't get my way in that aspect of the trip.
I was all for self-plan, but some of the others who haven't been there were apprehensive about an itinerary not built by a travel agent. Oh well, I guess that's the price of travelling with others - you have to compromise a bit. I figure we overpaid by approx $500 CDN - maybe more.
Anyway, I'm leaving tomorrow (Wednesday March 18th) and I'll be back by April Fool's day.
I find that I'm starting to use the word "yikes" a lot. It's taken the place of the "oh my god" exclamation, as well as the "daaaamn" expression.
So, let's say you watch someone get hit by a car, "yiiiikes..."
The TTC's three-tone chime sounds and the double doors slide shut on your bag - "yikes!"
Not sure where I got it from.
Alright kids, I'll see you in two weeks.
I was all for self-plan, but some of the others who haven't been there were apprehensive about an itinerary not built by a travel agent. Oh well, I guess that's the price of travelling with others - you have to compromise a bit. I figure we overpaid by approx $500 CDN - maybe more.
Anyway, I'm leaving tomorrow (Wednesday March 18th) and I'll be back by April Fool's day.
I find that I'm starting to use the word "yikes" a lot. It's taken the place of the "oh my god" exclamation, as well as the "daaaamn" expression.
So, let's say you watch someone get hit by a car, "yiiiikes..."
The TTC's three-tone chime sounds and the double doors slide shut on your bag - "yikes!"
Not sure where I got it from.
Alright kids, I'll see you in two weeks.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Centses
To celebrate my 100th post on this blog, I'm going to post something. Gotta love circular logic. Anyway, the big update:
We're supposed to hit 15 celcius today and maybe break a record. I'm happy about the relatively balmy temperature today - it's finally given me the opportunity to rock my new(ish) Roots(tm) leather jacket. I got it because it's thinner than my current leather jacket - the liner in my Roots jacket is a single thin layer of polyester. It's my new 3-season jacket (spring/summer/fall) for temperatures ranging from 0 to 20. The cut is young and slim (unlike Danier's fat-boy cuts), and after a couple months of wear, I'm sure it'll stretch a bit and conform to my body-type.
In other news, my sister's boyfriend proposed on Valentine's day. She said yes. They're tying the knot June 2010. Looks like they're gunning for Estates of Sunnybrook or Liberty Grande for the reception. I wonder who's going to pay...
On snowboarding.
Took 1 lesson last year, and went snowboarding maybe 5 times this year. I am now considered 'intermediate.' Means I can turn and stuff and get down a green or easy blue hill without plowing or falling. I got down a black diamond in Vermont, but I was scared silly. People ask me how I learned so fast, and I tell them that I follow 2 rules: 1) Don't fall, and 2) Go fast. I'm being totally serious. You have to keep pushing the boundaries of comfort in order to improve. Obviously safety and control are paramount, but pick up some speed and don't be such a pussy - you'll learn faster. I'll probably buy a board end of season.
On skiing.
I tried snow-blading. Whoooo-whee, it was FUN! I like it better than skiing. You can do 360s and jumps so much easier. It's like a cross between skating and skiing. I may buy snowblades too...
On the markets.
Buy, buy, buy, buy, buy. I rang in 2008 at about 75% cash. Thank procrastination for not buying anything until October. Since then, I've been committing 50% of each paycheque to the TD Waterhouse account - haven't lost that much, but my RRSPs suffered a bit... maybe 40% down since March '08 (8% in the big picture). I maxed out my RRSP contribution for '08 last weekend, right at the deadline. Thank procrastination again, since I'm buying super low after last week's dismal drop. I hope to be 75% equities by 2010, 90% by 2011. Hopefully, we're not that far from the bottom. I'm no expert, so I'm not going to guess where the bottom is, but hopefully, I'll be able to average out the cost as time goes on.
On moving out.
I've narrowed my focus down to condos on the Bay Street corridor - the area bounded by Bay, Yonge, Bloor, and the lake. With a bunch of new condos having just been finished, plus the exodus of students in May, hopefully, I'll be able to score a 1 br for 1,200 or a bachelor for just under that. There's stuff around that price available in the rental market right now, but I'll hold out for $50 - $100 / month. Some of the rentals on MLS have been stuck in the listings for 60 days... With inventory going up, I can't see those rentals not dropping in price come May-June. In the meantime, I'll just use the rent money to buy stocks and cool shit.
On girlfriends.
Minus one, plus one. It's kinda early, so I don't wanna jinx it or otherwise fuck it up. Knock wood.
-d
We're supposed to hit 15 celcius today and maybe break a record. I'm happy about the relatively balmy temperature today - it's finally given me the opportunity to rock my new(ish) Roots(tm) leather jacket. I got it because it's thinner than my current leather jacket - the liner in my Roots jacket is a single thin layer of polyester. It's my new 3-season jacket (spring/summer/fall) for temperatures ranging from 0 to 20. The cut is young and slim (unlike Danier's fat-boy cuts), and after a couple months of wear, I'm sure it'll stretch a bit and conform to my body-type.
In other news, my sister's boyfriend proposed on Valentine's day. She said yes. They're tying the knot June 2010. Looks like they're gunning for Estates of Sunnybrook or Liberty Grande for the reception. I wonder who's going to pay...
On snowboarding.
Took 1 lesson last year, and went snowboarding maybe 5 times this year. I am now considered 'intermediate.' Means I can turn and stuff and get down a green or easy blue hill without plowing or falling. I got down a black diamond in Vermont, but I was scared silly. People ask me how I learned so fast, and I tell them that I follow 2 rules: 1) Don't fall, and 2) Go fast. I'm being totally serious. You have to keep pushing the boundaries of comfort in order to improve. Obviously safety and control are paramount, but pick up some speed and don't be such a pussy - you'll learn faster. I'll probably buy a board end of season.
On skiing.
I tried snow-blading. Whoooo-whee, it was FUN! I like it better than skiing. You can do 360s and jumps so much easier. It's like a cross between skating and skiing. I may buy snowblades too...
On the markets.
Buy, buy, buy, buy, buy. I rang in 2008 at about 75% cash. Thank procrastination for not buying anything until October. Since then, I've been committing 50% of each paycheque to the TD Waterhouse account - haven't lost that much, but my RRSPs suffered a bit... maybe 40% down since March '08 (8% in the big picture). I maxed out my RRSP contribution for '08 last weekend, right at the deadline. Thank procrastination again, since I'm buying super low after last week's dismal drop. I hope to be 75% equities by 2010, 90% by 2011. Hopefully, we're not that far from the bottom. I'm no expert, so I'm not going to guess where the bottom is, but hopefully, I'll be able to average out the cost as time goes on.
On moving out.
I've narrowed my focus down to condos on the Bay Street corridor - the area bounded by Bay, Yonge, Bloor, and the lake. With a bunch of new condos having just been finished, plus the exodus of students in May, hopefully, I'll be able to score a 1 br for 1,200 or a bachelor for just under that. There's stuff around that price available in the rental market right now, but I'll hold out for $50 - $100 / month. Some of the rentals on MLS have been stuck in the listings for 60 days... With inventory going up, I can't see those rentals not dropping in price come May-June. In the meantime, I'll just use the rent money to buy stocks and cool shit.
On girlfriends.
Minus one, plus one. It's kinda early, so I don't wanna jinx it or otherwise fuck it up. Knock wood.
-d
Friday, January 23, 2009
Data!
Yay.
Upgraded my value pack to the new 2009 Rogers $35 iPhone Data value pack.
- Unlimited txt msg
- Visual Voice Mail
- 500 MB data including unlimited instant messaging.
- Call display
Upgraded my value pack to the new 2009 Rogers $35 iPhone Data value pack.
- Unlimited txt msg
- Visual Voice Mail
- 500 MB data including unlimited instant messaging.
- Call display
Monday, January 19, 2009
Man-icure
We have free massage, manicure, shoe shining and caricatures today, as part of the Trident Xtra Care gum launch.
I got everything except the shoe shining done (nobody shines my shoes but me). Gotta say, the manicure (sans polish) was nice, and I certainly see the appeal for most women, but I think I take good enough care of my nails. Clean, neat looking nails are a minimum standard, for sure, but you don't need a manicure for that.
I got everything except the shoe shining done (nobody shines my shoes but me). Gotta say, the manicure (sans polish) was nice, and I certainly see the appeal for most women, but I think I take good enough care of my nails. Clean, neat looking nails are a minimum standard, for sure, but you don't need a manicure for that.
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