My Piaggio

So after several months of looking (and drooling) at scooters I have pretty much decided which one I want. I am pretty sure I want to buy a new one because I really don't know enough to be able to fix them and I don't know anybody who is either.

Anyway here are the specs for my Piaggio Derbi Boulevard 150 (which I still have to buy)

Manufacturer		Derbi
Model Year		2007
Model		Boulevard 150
MSRP		Request a Quote
Engine		4-stroke, 2V, forced air-cooled
Displacement		149.8 cc
Bore x Stroke		62.6 x 48.6 mm
Carburetion		28 mm
Compression Ratio		11:1
Ignition		Electronic CDI
Starting System		Electronic
Transmission		CVT with centrifugal clutch
Suspension		Front: 35 mm hydraulic fork, effectual run 76 mm Rear: Lineal gas single shock, effectual run 60 mm
Brakes		Front: 220 mm disc Rear: Tambor
Tires		Front: 130/60 x 13 in. Rear: 130/60 x 13 in.
Length		73.2 in. (1,860 mm)
Width		27.2 in. (690 mm)
Height		45.9 in. (1,165 mm)
Wheelbase		51.4 in. (1,305 mm)
Fuel Capacity		2.4 gal. (9 l)
Oil System		Oil pump
Maximum Speed		11.5 CV @ 7,000 rpm
Colors		Black, Blue, Red, Silver

It is an Italian made bike with the same engine as the Vespa LX 150. That is the bike I really want. The main difference between the two is the Vespa has a full metal body and is put together all by hand. The Derbi is what is known as a plastic scooter because the body has plastic panels. It also is more modern looking and happens to be about $1000 cheaper than the equivalent Vespa. But the Vespa is better looking and retains its value. The decision to go with the Derbi is mostly economic and because I am just getting into it.

The Vespa LX150
The Derbi Boulevard 150

More Europics!

For anybody who is interested I have added the rest of my Eurotrip pics to my picassa site. I also discovered a cool feature where you can link the albums and pictures to Google Maps and Google Earth (the coolest program ever). I did it with the Provence album so you can see exactly where I took those pictures. Google does some amazing stuff.
Anyway here are the rest of the albums. I tried to keep them short but there we saw and did so much....

Paris

Provence

Montserrat

Barcelona

Enjoy.

Michael 'shaddup already' Moore

A few nights ago I couldn't fall asleep because all I could see when I closed my eyes was that most annoying documentary filmmaker known as Michael Moore.
The reason was I had been reading an article earlier in the day about him and it had triggered a memory from Europe. When we were in Provence, close to Cannes (where the film festival was underway) we took a day to explore one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Europe (called St Paul de Vence). While Irene and I were exploring the tiny streets I noticed a fat american looking guy whole I am convinced was Moore. When I saw his buddy it confirmed it. His buddy was wearing an 'I Hate Bush' shirt and looked extremely american too. Those americans stand out quite a bit in Europe.
Anyway, Irene disagreed with me and talked me out of walking up to moore and kicking him in the crotch. But I know it was him because I have read too much stuff about the guy. I have always had a deep dislike of the way he makes movies and the way he talks/shouts. Personally, I would rate him the most annoying person on the planet. He is worse than Michael Jackson, Prince and all those annoying rappers and their wigger fans combined.
So here I am lying in bed thinking of all the things I could have said to him (tell him to keep his fat american chops shut for once) or done to him (pushed him off the ramparts - probably more productive). And when I told Irene she just laughed at me and told me it wasn't even him.
It took me forever to fall asleep and when I did it was a fitful dreaming type of sleep with lots of kicking. If only I had kicked him - just once.
But then he would probably just counter with a documentary on violent Canadians abroad and how the Bush administration is to blame.
Yup should have lured him to the ramparts and tripped his fat lazy american butt.

And you thought the rabbit in Monty Python was bad...

This is the kind of article that makes you wary of traveling to countries like Poland were the local animals are not what we are used to.
The second last sentence makes this article.

Westfest

On Saturday night we went to Westfest on the spur of the moment. I had read about it but forgot that it was this weekend. Karin and Josh called us up and invited us to come. It was a great time with tons of people there (mostly because there was no game 6). They closed off most of Westboro, one of the chicest (sp?) areas of town and all the awesome (but expensive) restaurants can spill onto the street to mix with all the vendors of other expensive merchandise. Anyway, they also put on a decent concert which turned out to be headlined by Ottawa's folk/alt/country singer song writer Kathleen Edwards with her buddy Jim Bryson. She put on a great show for a crowd of about 10000 (thats what it said in the paper). Great voice and smooth sound. I think one of her guitars was like Lawrens new acoustic (gotta check that out though). She was supported by some other capable Ottawa area artists such as Ana Muira, Jason Collett (of Broken Social Scene), Lily Frost and Lindsay Ferguson (they were the ones I had heard of). One of the coolest things about this group of artists was they all seemed to relate to Ottawa music scene so well. They all were/are regulars at the Black Sheep in Wakefield so they all mentioned that on their sets. Overall it was very encouraging to see the Ottawa music scene so pumped up and clearly doing quite well. This all bodes very well for the Ottawa Bluesfest..... anyone wanna come?

Unjetlagged

I am finally back in the country and all unjetlagged so I guess I should throw a blog up.
These are the pictures from some of the places we visited. I have not uploaded everything due to some coordination issues and an uncooperative memory card. Paris, Provence and Barcelona will be up eventually.
We had a fantastic time and one thing I can say is that these pics do not do Europe justice. Half the time I didn't bother taking pics because I knew that whoever looked at them could never understand how amazing it was.

Lyon, France

Geneva

Zurich

Monaco Grand Prix