THIS post on Craigslist is priceless.
If you don't like the F-word, you best avoid the link.
h/t Donna
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
A Ghana Primer
Ghana Notes
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Questions about Ghana?
Here's a Dandy little website that answers the basic questions.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Ghana
Cheers!
Closed for the season
Closed for the season
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
More winter views... from Tuesday afternoon.
Cheers!
from the "TPOH" dept.
With my buddy Scott (aka Scooter) on the cusp of 40, here's a throwback to our younger days. The video is grade-A gouda (heck, it was 1986!)... but the lyrics are as true today as they were then. In fact, they actually apply now.
from the "idle hands" dept.
There's hope for me yet after taking the movie buff test:
h/t John Gushue (required daily reading)
Your Movie Buff Quotient: 82% |
 You are a movie buff of the most obsessive variety. If a movie exists, chances are that you've seen it. You're an expert on movie facts and trivia. It's hard to stump you with a question about film. |
h/t John Gushue (required daily reading)
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
from the "pennies from heaven" dept.
roadspill news
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
After the surprise cheque from CRA yesterday, I am pleased to report there are some more funds that I can earmark for Africa.
I've just added 7 CBC days in December -- which means I am getting pretty booked up.
I have to be careful not to overdo it because:
a) I want to enjoy some of the Christmas Season.
b) I have a list of things to do to get ready for Ghana.
With a little bit of balance, everything should be fine.
Cheers!
Monday, November 27, 2006
from the "goofy government" dept.
My Mom sent me an interesting op-ed item about the Canada Revenue Agency and some of their wacky proceedures:
Read it here.
This dovetails nicely with a little surprise the mailman brought today.
You see... this summer I was audited by CRA for three tax years and a determination was made that I owed a little bit more than originally thought. How much? We're not yet sure.
This morning, my friendly mailman presented me with two envelopes from CRA. The first contained a letter notifying me that I had been credited $99 in GST payments based on changes to 2002 net income. Okaaaay....
The second envelope contained a cheque! $99, I thought. Nope. Nearly $450! Why? More changes to my income. This time 2003.
I guess I can afford that 10.5 lens for Africa now. :)
And, I look forward to additional funds based on 2004 changes. Although the negative part of me expects a bill for nearly $450.
We'll see!
Cheers!
Read it here.
This dovetails nicely with a little surprise the mailman brought today.
You see... this summer I was audited by CRA for three tax years and a determination was made that I owed a little bit more than originally thought. How much? We're not yet sure.
This morning, my friendly mailman presented me with two envelopes from CRA. The first contained a letter notifying me that I had been credited $99 in GST payments based on changes to 2002 net income. Okaaaay....
The second envelope contained a cheque! $99, I thought. Nope. Nearly $450! Why? More changes to my income. This time 2003.
I guess I can afford that 10.5 lens for Africa now. :)
And, I look forward to additional funds based on 2004 changes. Although the negative part of me expects a bill for nearly $450.
We'll see!
Cheers!
from the "winter blues" dept.
Tunnel
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Vancouver BC after a rare dump of snow.
So here's the deal: I've had the opportunity to live across Canada. Born in Halifax, raised in Winnipeg. Thunder Bay, Ontario for college. Portage la Prairie, Manitoba for that first job. Then Halifax, NS for six years. Then back to Winnipeg for a few. And eventually I landed in Vancouver (though that too comes to an end when I move to Takoradi, Ghana in January).
Most people know Canada as the land of winter. We wear it like a badge of honour while complaining about scraping the car windows and clearing the walk. But we love it because it reminds of who we are and where we are.
But you might not know that the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, on Canada's Pacific coast, is a bit of a freak of nature.
Owing to things like mountains and ocean currents, the southwestern bit of Canada rarely sees what the rest of the country calls winter. Sure, we get snow in the mountains, but that's more like winter on demand. Want snow? Drive to top of mountain. Want beach? Drive to waters edge.
At the lower elevations, Vancouver rarely freezes and rarely gets a big white dump more than once a year. Usually it's never more than a cm or two. Normally, endless amounts of rain fall from the skies during the winter months.
Just a couple of centimetres of snow is enough to cause chaos in a city with little more than a straw broom and a couple of shovels in its snowclearing kit.
The 2006 dump arrived on Saturday (Nov 25) and, as I write this, continues. Where I live, in the south part of Vancouver, we've had about at least 20 cm -- transforming my home into an absolute wonderland.
All the while, people living in places where the snow lasts for months wonder what the big deal is.
It's a Vancouver thing. It's a reminder that we're in Canada and that every once in a while our home becomes a winter wonderland, just like in the rest of the country.
Thankfully, it doesn't last for four months! :)
Morning Cruise
Morning Cruise
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Large tree branches came within feet of our cars overnight. The white stuff is heavy and seems to be staying put. If we get more without a warm up, we could see more trees give out.
Snowy Lane
Snowy Lane
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Vancouver was looking more like Winnipeg Monday morning. This shot is taken in the backlane behind the house, facing west. I desaturated it a bit.
It's been fun playing around with pre-sunrise images. It's pretty amazing out there and I hope to venture to Stanley Park or other areas of the city later today.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Historic Vancouver Winter Pictures
As the snow continues to fall outside, I decided to do a little surfing through the City of Vancouver's archives. I found some beautiful and historic pictures of the city during a similar rare snowfall.
How do you make a beautiful city more beautiful? Add snow. (But don't drive!)
Streetcar on Hastings Street during a snow storm
Vancouver, B.C., April 1, 1936
How do you make a beautiful city more beautiful? Add snow. (But don't drive!)
Streetcar on Hastings Street during a snow storm
Vancouver, B.C., April 1, 1936
Historic Vancouver Winter Pictures
Granville Street Looking South from Pender Street.
Vancouver, B.C., April 1, 1936
Collection of the City of Vancouver Archives
Historic Vancouver Winter Pictures
"Snow scene in Stanley Park"
Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C., ca. 1919
From the City of Vancouver Archives
from the "anyone got a shovel?" dept.
Here's a wee bit of video of the snow Sunday morning in Vancouver.
More to come (snow and video)!
See the big version here.
More to come (snow and video)!
See the big version here.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
from the "snowfall warning" dept.
As you know, it rarely snows in Vancouver. And when it does, chaos usually ensues.
However, a significant dump turns the city into a winter wonderland:
Just moments ago, Environment Canada issued the following warning for the City of Vancouver:
Warnings: Greater Vancouver
10:28 AM PST Saturday 25 November 2006
Snowfall warning for Greater Vancouver issued.
20 to 30 cm of snow expected by Sunday evening.
This should be fun! Pictures to come!!
Cheers!
However, a significant dump turns the city into a winter wonderland:
Just moments ago, Environment Canada issued the following warning for the City of Vancouver:
Warnings: Greater Vancouver
10:28 AM PST Saturday 25 November 2006
Snowfall warning for Greater Vancouver issued.
20 to 30 cm of snow expected by Sunday evening.
This should be fun! Pictures to come!!
Cheers!
from the "karma bus" dept.
RBC sucks
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
I was amused yesterday when I read that RBC had serious problems with their debit card system yesterday:
Royal Bank glitch affects debit, credit transactions at stores across Canada (CBC.ca)
I believe the Karma bus just made a stop at RBC HQ.
Cheers!
Friday, November 24, 2006
RBC sucks - VICTORY, sort of.
RBC sucks
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
So they've pulled their heads out of their asses and seen fit to unlock my accounts and give me access to my old cash and my new deposit.
How long did that take? 10 days. 10!
Now I am in a position to get things ready for Ghana and to acutally spend my own money.
Unlike CIBC, who offered to cover a cheque that Royal bounced for no reason, RBC was a nightmare.
I was lucky in that the third person I dealt with on this matter was normal and understood how silly, inconsiderate and stupid their lock-down was.
I mean, really. You make a deposit and your accounts are frozen? I expect that at the Kim Jong Il Memorial Bank of North Korea -- not from RBC.
And while they're deciding how to make good over this massive f***-up, I'm deciding what bank to move my accounts to.
Hello? Is that the Pyongyang branch of KJIBONK? I'd like my to open a new account and get my free nuclear test viewing pass...
Cheers!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Ka Ching!
ghana spending blog
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug). And the bleeding continues!
Today $36 for more shots. And now that I've bought my plane ticket and cancellation insurance the total amount spent has grown considerably. But there is a caveat: I will get a portion of my airfare back. I'm also including my recent $776 dentist visit because it was directly related to leaving the country in January.
Still, I've bucked up a crapload so far. Not that I'm complaining. I'm just counting.
Let's take a look at the tote board... drumroll please!
$3,999.72
Rain, man.
Rain, man.
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
The boil water advisory continues.
It's cold and wet.
Let's stay in and watch a movie.
CLICK HERE!
RBC Sucks
for blog
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
The short version:
I deposited a large cheque in my RBC account Nov 14th. The idea was to pay off some bills before I leave for Ghana.
After waiting a couple of days I started to move the money around.
Suddenly, my online access was locked out. I called RBC and after trying to reset my access over the phone, I was told that my account was locked down and I would have to contact my branch.
On Monday of this week (six days after depositing the cheque and knowing it cleared) I had my debit card declined at the local grocery store.
Now, bear in mind that I had money in this account before I made the deposit.
I called the branch and was given the runaround. I was also told it was customary to put a hold on the cheque until it cleared. Which it did the previous Wednesday. Where did the money go? Pluto?
After making a deposit, RBC has arbitrarily kept me from all my money!
There was no warning either. No call. No email. Nothing. Just the surprise of being locked out.
The lockdown has created a ripple effect. Cheques I've written to pay off other bills have now bounced and my CIBC accounts are a mess.
There is even a questions as to whether my plane ticket went through on my Visa, as I made a payment to make room for the $2300 charge.
Yesterday, 8 days after making the deposit the bank left me a voicemail message saying it would be at least this FRIDAY (day 10) before the account would be unlocked.
I left a message with the rep. saying this was completely unacceptable. I mean, sure, keep me from using the money from the cheque until it clears. That I get.
But to take more than 10 days to do it... and keep me from my money already sitting int the account -- well, that's complete crap.
Needless to say, the Royal Bank has lost a customer of at least 20 years. They were rude, uncooperative and unable to even appear to want to help resolve the situation.
I will spread the word in the hopes that more people dump this prime example of what is wrong with the major banks.
They make money off our money and turn around and treat us like peons. Hello credit unions!
More on this to come.
Cheers!
Ghana Notes
Ghana Notes
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
I had the opportunity yesterday to meet two fellow JHR trainers.
Eva and Sam are two young women who are embarking on the same adventure in Ghana.
We met upat the Watermark restaurant overlooking Kits Beach and chatted for a couple of hours.
Eva will be working at a newspaper in Accra, the capital. Sam will be placed at Justice Radio in Tamale.
I've still yet to speak anyone who is going to Takoradi -- so I might be on my own.
It was great to talk about the various issues, concerns and expectations we all have. We've also initiated a couch network so that we've got places to stay across the country.
Both Eva and Sam are quite a bit younger than I -- both in their early 20s. When I met Sam, she was surprised at my age. Heh. I think I'm the oldest one!
I head back to the travel clinic today to get more shots. Although I am going to pass on the rabies shots and save nearly $400.
I've also got a break in work, so I will fill the next few days with Ghana related tasks. I still need to sort out my health insurance and Visa.
Things are slowly coming together...
Cheers!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
from the "my car is on glue" dept.
Several months ago I bought a 1995 Dodge Status. It's a plain-Jane sedan but it was in good shape and cheap like borscht.
Until recently, it worked like a dream. It stalls the odd time, though this is more due to me blowing shifts than the car. Plus, it desperately needs a tune-up.
Regardless, I've been driving to and fro in a vehicle that a) isn't embarrassing to drive and b) is dependable.
About a month ago, things changed.
If you know me, you know that I suffer from what I like to call an "electronic hex".
Throughout my life I have had problems related to electronic or electrical devices not working properly in my presence.
I'm not alone: read more here.
I've had computers, tills in grocery stores, bank machines, electronic gas pumps and, just last week, the till at a liquor store in Winnipeg shut down or crash in my presence. Coincidence? Maybe.
Back to the car.
About a month ago I parked in front of my house. It was pouring and I made a quick dash inside. When I looked out the kitchen window, I noticed the headlights and taillights were on.
I figured I had left the lights on, and went back to the car to turn them off. Imagine my surprise when I discovered they were off. Then I noticed the electronic door locks wouldn't function.
Odd.
I hopped back in, started the car up and went for a spin around the block. After parking again, I noticed that the interior light would not go off. I switched it to manual mode. The door locks still wouldn't work but this time when I cut the engine and turned off the lights, they actually went out.
Fine.
I was perplexed (read: mad) about this latest electro-hex, but figured the recent Vancouver monsoons had done something warped to the electrical system. The car seemed to work fine the following day, with the exception of the door locks and the interior light. Life was good.
About a week ago I travelled to Winnipeg and left my car with a friend of mine. We'll call him Randy.
I thought nothing more of the car until I returned to Vancouver this past Saturday and Randy picked me up.
While driving home he explained that he had had some weird troubles with -- you guessed it -- the electrical system in the car.
One night he parked it in his underground garage only to find the battery was flat the next morning. After getting a boost, the problems with lights not turning off resurfaced. This time even pulling fuses didn't help.
But then the problem suddenly cleared up and the Stratus has been trouble free.
Until this morning.
I was putting on a pot of coffee when I looked out the window. Through the driving rain I noticed that the taillights on the Stratus were burning brightly. Damn!
I pulled on some monsoon-wear and ventured outside to investigate. The lights were switched off. There was no key in the ignition and yet the lights were on.
I hopped in, drove around the block, turned the car off. The lights stayed on.
I opened the interior fuse panel and started pulling fuses. The lights stayed on.
Arrrgh!
I had to turn the lights off so that I wouldn't have a flat battery later in the day. I needed wheels to drive cross-town for a meeting with two other folks who are headed to Ghana in January.
I thought I'd disconnect the battery, but some bright bulb at Chrysler designed the Stratus with the magical hidden battery. Maybe it runs on a nugget of plutonium.
Then I found the Holy Grail of the electrical system: the main fuse box. I started pulling fuses with glee.
Air Bag? Who needs it!
Brakes? Whatever!
Heater? Pfffft!
But removing the fuses did squat. The lights burned on as the battery slowly discharged. I could hear the evil laughter of Lee Iococa.
And then: BINGO!
Removing fuse #16 - a 40 amp orange baby - did the trick. The lights went off.
The manual says this fuse is for the "Run/Ignition Feed". Although I have a feeling it will be more like a light switch in the next few days. Whatever works.
For no real reason I wondered if the car would work with the fuse pulled. I hopped in, turned it over and -- voila -- it started. I turned the lights on and they worked. I tried the auto door locks and they worked too.
The only thing that didn't function was the heater fan. Ah, shades of the old Buick and memories of last winter without a heater. And radio. And -- wait a minute! -- these are the same problems I had with my last car.
I AM hexed!
However, at least now I have a temporary solution (I think). Every time I park, I'll turn off the ignition and the lights, then pop the hood, pull a fuse, and really turn off the lights.
Cumbersome, dirty and a pain -- but the silver lining here is that I can put off taking it in for service for another few days.
And for a car that I paid $1500 for, it's still been a good deal.
Cheers!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Heck of a menu, Brownie
Perogies
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Love Winnipeg for the simple things -- like the great selection of perogies!
Bluenosers
Bluenosers
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
A pack of Grey Cup fans from Nova Scotia tour Winnipeg's Forks Market.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Kelly
Kelly
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Kelly and I went for a short photo-safari at the Forks Saturday. We had some fun with the 10.5 fisheye. More images here.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
In the airport
Robin's
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
The background:
I'm sitting in the airport (6:10 p.m. CT) and I don't have the proper cable to upload actual interesting pictures from my nearly finished trip to Winnipeg. I found this out-of-focus shot of an empty Robin's coffee cup sitting on the console of my rental car. Not really art, but it was taken in Winnipeg.
The trip is over and I now await the big winged thing to whisk me back to the land of water turbidity and rain. And a day before the Grey Cup. Damn!
I tried to extend the visit, but waited too long. So it's home I go. Although I gotta say, Winnipeg certainly feels like home. I reckon that's because it is. If not for the winters and bugs, I would consider a return. But B.C. has made me weak.
I'm full of knots regarding Africa. There is no way I would bail... but... the thought of what I am about to embark on is occasionally overwhelming.
In the end, you get what you wish for. And I've been wishing for this kind of opportunity for some time.
On Sunday I am hoping to find me a decent Grey Cup Party to watch the B.C. Lions smoke Montreal like a corned beef sandwich. Surely someone will be having the ultimate bash?
If not, I have three dozen perogies from Alycia's to cook up and join me on the couch.
The plane is about to be called... so I'm shutting 'er down.
See you in Turbidville!
Cheers!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Ghana Notes
Ghana Notes
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
It's official - I have purchased my plane ticket for Ghana.
I fly to Toronto on Sun Jan. 7th for a week of training.
Then, on Jan 15, a Lufthansa flight will take me to Accra, Ghana via Frankfurt and Lagos, Nigeria.
My return flight departs Sept. 30.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
from the "retro-peg" dept.
It's a long tramp
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
An oldie but a goodie. I remember this from my childhood in St. James. And I can't believe it's still there. And in MILES, no less.
VJs
VJs
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Out of focus or not, VJ's (Main and Broadway) makes the best damn burger ANYWHERE. Droooool!
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