I'm typing here at the Northern Voice 2008 Blogging Conference. I figure that is reason enough to finally put something up - the first post in over half a year! Since I started keeping a blog in about 2003 I've had a few such unplanned "sabbaticals". I think that this conference might just be enough to jolt me back into action!
I'll report through the day if anything comes up.
PS - I have to mention that I have big news to share that deserves some proper attention...
Slides for my "Achieving Awesome Drupal Design" presentation have been saved as a PDF document and are available for download. The PDF export did not work correctly for slides with lots of animation such as the design examples. Half of the design examples were from my workplace Image X Media so you can always visit our portfolio there to see many of the examples again. The presentation was taped and I'm sure that it will be online soon.
Connecting with fans is what makes some bands stand out as great live bands. The Arcade Fire is one such band as goes farther than any other to bridge the gap between the band and their audience. They actually get rid of this barrier. Here's the proof:
This video gives me chills as I was lucky enough to witness a similar performance the last time I saw the band in Vancouver. Perfect memories. I just got wind that Neon Bible (the band's next album) has leaked to the P2P networks. Of course I'm going to be buying the album on release day to make up for my sins. The wait for new material is finally over.
rain rain rain rain rain rain rain
Originally uploaded by David Watanabe.
I love Vancouver but this rainy season really gets to me sometimes. I can't wait for the summer when everything is warm, sunny and green.
PS - I've been on an unofficial (and unintended) blogging hiatus since I've returned from South America. Consider the hiatus over!
I've been delayed in uploading all of my Bolivian photos yet again so what I will leave you with is just a bunch of "odds and sods". Photos of Bolivia that are just a bit off kilter, just like the country itself. First up is the strange list of house rules for Randy´s "flat", which I at least found to be hilarious. Judge them for yourself, if you can make out the writing:
[editors note: "Catu" is a selfish pet cat]
The rest of these photos are on or around the Salt Flats in Uyuni. I hope that the smart ass commentary doesn't get old too quickly.
This is supposed to be me jumping out of a massive roll of toilet paper. How large of a failure this is depends on the eye of the beholder. Personally, I think the pink adds a nice feminine touch to compliment the beard.
Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
I really hope that someone online can see the large breasted woman in this photo. If not, I've taken one to many psychology class!
This guy on the bike is making his way across South America on his bike. Jeremy may think this is inspiring... I call it insane. The worlds largest salt flat followed by the Atacama desert? Sounds like a bitch to me! (Oma, I am sorry for throwing in the explicative...)
Mortal Kombat!
Hacky sack on the flats
The salt flats are where caucuses come to die.
The pose is for GQ, the body for Lana...
Aaron goes for his own GQ shot
We've decided the "the cleaved hooves" would be an excellent band name.
Lamas: the cows of Bolivia
Geyser smoke = dramatic photos
Skulls also = drama
Dead flamencos, on the other hand, are more gross than dramatic.
This jump cost Jeremy and I all of our remaining Bolivianos (pesos). Also of note is that the entire hotel in the background is made completely out of salt. Crazy!
Me and the Japanese flag, my favorite as there wasn't a Canadian flag representing.
For whatever reason this random running photo is my favorite photo of Bolivia on Flickr ("an excellent minimalist image). My guess is that the whole thing is because of the simple rule of thirds.
I forget the entire story but apparently this is a tribute to some sort of goddess of lactation. I just really don't get this one.
Myself staring at "Edwarda scissorhands" in Uyuni. For a better shot of her, hu-hum, "assets" check out this other shot.
Everything on the salt flats is made out of salt...
...everything!
I like this photo of the train graveyard because "¡Urgente!" is written on the wheels of the train. I wonder what was wrong with it?
Bolivian love
Yup, that´s right - I´m taking a vacation from traveling. I know what you´re all thinking "a vacation? are you not already on vacation?"... contrary to popular opinion, traveling can actually be a lot of hard work: climbing mountains, getting sun burns, trying to find a hostel at 2am, 31 hour bus rides through the Andes, 7 day without showers and even 41 days (and counting!) without shaving.
All of these inconveniences slowly take their toll, which made me almost cheer at the sight of the beautiful paved roads as we crossed over the Bolivian boarder into Chile. From there I´ve traveled a ways North to find the amazing beach town Iquique waiting. I really didn´t expect things to be so nice here. Palm trees are everywhere, the beach is full of white sand, surfers infest the water, the sun is hot and the city´archetecture spectacular. It all reminds me a lot of Maui although with a more Spanish and only a sprinkling of gringos lurking about.
With the beach across the street from my hostel, I´ve taken to waking up late, reading Harry Potter and even working on my tan. There hasn´t been much progress on the tan (I´m still as white as the Salt Flats!) but I am pretty relaxed right now. For the first time I truly feel like I´m on vacation. I´ve even involuntarily taken a break from posting photos due to lack of speedy computers here. However, I´ve found a few good shots from other photographers to post so you have a feel for where I am.
You may have noticed that I didn´t just say "where we are", which correctly implies that I´m by my lonesome for the week. The whole story about why I´m not with the other two Amigos is fairly long, so I won´t take the time to retell everything here. Lets just say that I have a nack for loosing important things, like say... a credit card, in Bolivia. To shorten the story considerably, I´ll jump to the part where I quickly needed to find a town in Chile to send my emergency replacement card to. The Lonely Planet description of Iquique looked great and was in the North near Bolivia. I quickly got the card sent off in the mail and everything seemed perfect. That is until we got to Uyuni and realized that we´d be crossing into Chile at San Pedro De Atacama, a good 7 - 9 hours South of Iquique.
Our planned destination in Chile is the capital Santiago. Jeremy and Aaron weren´t too keen on adding a couple of day detour onto 30 hours of busing down the coast so we decided to go our separate ways temporarily. While they are out hiking (more) mountains in the Southern Lake District, I´m sitting here relaxing on the warm, sandy beach. After a few more days sitting around here I´m scheduled for more sitting around, this time on the brutally long bus ride to catch up to my tavel-mates in Santiago. Just the thought of the ride is making me want to head back to the beach! Ciao for now...
Chile, Iquique: Off to work Photo by kool_skatkat.
