Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Open letter to the makers of Audi and BMW cars

Dear Automakers,
It seems your dashboard design is lacking in one area: the appropriate location and placement of your turn-signal lever/button. It seems that the drivers of almost all Audis, and to a lesser extent, BMWs, have a difficult time finding it when they should be using it. 
As well, please take out the SOE* button on your cars; at least disable it on cars destined for leasing.
Many thanks!
(I drive an entry-level Nissan Versa who puts in a combined city/highway daily average of 200 km and I see a lot of cars on the road; clearly the observation above is not derived solely from anecdotal sources.)
* SOE (Sense of Entitlement): comes as an option on higher-priced automobiles.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

"If"

If a loved one announces, on short notice, that they are going to be away from you, whether it's for a day trip or for forever (death), do you get upset and get mad at him for leaving? Or do you resolve to enjoy and savour each remaining moment with each other?

iPhone Diaries #243: "Have you ever been mellow? Have you ever tried?"

Guelph, Sept 18th.

iPhone Diaries #242: "Vote for Nobody"

Joe Nobody, close relative of Sarah Apathy. Sept. 18th.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Using the Sony TVR9 (circa 2000): The Hon. MPP Glen Murray, Ontario Minister for Research and Innovation

iMovie, Quicktime, 30p (huge files) reduced for web: 176x144.
Azden WMPRO wireless mike at the podium (omni-directional).
At the launch of National Biotech Week, Sept 2010.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

iPhone Diaries #239: "Miriam"

While shooting a wedding earlier today on Crooks Hollow Road in Dundas, ON, I met my first cousin Miriam, who was a guest at the wedding. Small world!
Nestled in a small valley, through which the Spencer Creek flows on its journey to the Niagara Escarpment north of Dundas and Hamilton, lies the pioneer community known as “CROOKS’ HOLLOW”. Following the close of the American Revolution in the late 1700’s, Upper Canada became a haven for United Empire Loyalists escaping from the United States, many of whom made their way from Niagara to the Western end of lake Ontario where they had been granted land by King George III of England. Attracted by the potential water power offered by the Spencer Creek, many early settlers came to this area of Flamborough West.
Upper Canada's (Ontario's) first paper mill, the Darnley Grist Mill, started operations in 1926, on the Spencer Creek where it crosses Crooks' Hollow Road.
Sept 12th.

iPhone Diaries #238: "VDSLR set-up"

Canon 5DMark2, Rotolight mounted on an Azden shotgun mike, mounted on a ThinkTank bracket. Zacuto Slider. Contrary to what I posted on a previous blog entry:
I think I could get used to shooting video with the 5D2. First two tests will be within a week. Updates to come.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

iPhone Diaries #235: "Wellington Barn"

Near the northeast corner of Wellington Road 35 and Wellington Road 34. 2:50 pm, Sept 4th.

iPhone Diaries #234: "Mary's Nails"

Mary's nails as done by Mary's Nails on Gordon south of Kortright. 
Sept 4th.

iPhone Diaries #233: "Perverse logic"

Kudos to the genius who decided that this ad would be a customer-grabber. Supposedly  a good deal!!! You can also get a better deal if you PICK ANY 3 for $5.97 or PICK ANY 4 for $7.96 and so on...
Available at a MacDonald's near you!  MacDonald's on Stone Road, Sept 4th.

Donald Forster Sculpture Park

The Mask, by Evan Penny, 1989.
One of my favourite sculptures at the Donald Forster Sculpture Park, adjacent to the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, on the grounds of the University of Guelph. More images on my site at:
The Donald Forster Sculpture Park website:
The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre website:

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

iPhone Diaries #232: "Parkour"

Tomas with his parkour moves, at the foot of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, on Norfolk. 10 PM, Sept 1st.
Parkour (sometimes abbreviated to PK), or l'art du déplacement (Englishthe art of movement) is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment.[1] It is a non-competitive, physical discipline of French origin in which participants run along a route, attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible. Skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves are employed. The goal of a practitioner of parkour, called a traceur if male, or traceuse if female, is to get from one place to another using only the human body and the objects in the environment. The obstacles can be anything in one's environment, but parkour is often seen practiced in urban areas because of the many suitable public structures available such as buildings and rails.

iPhone Diaries #231: "Charlie"

This is Charlie, the meow-about-town, with the day's catch. Spotted today by Mary, around 7:30 pm. (Looks like one of the easter bunny's friends). Sept. 1st.

iPhone Diaries #230: "Looking out towards the goalposts"

Aug 27th.

iPhone Diaries #229: "Up in the pines"

Looking up while sprawled on a slope on the grass on a very warm day. Aug 27th.

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