americans...

This is just one of the things that makes americans so funny. Everything there has to be to the extreme. Why?

Animal Battle

This movie was pointed out to me a few weeks ago and I have finally got a chance to post it after spending my nights either house searching, driving, flying or camping. By now most people have probably seen it already but it is so good that it deserves to be posted again.

It is like a huge production but it is totally unplanned. Some tourists with a crappy video camera stumble upon several species of animals interacting in a violent but funny way. You just have to think that stuff like this must go on all the time without anyone noticing.

HD Photos

I got a buddy of mine to do some HD photography stuff with my little point and shoot camera. He does some amazing stuff with his high tech stuff. Check out his website here.
Anyway essentially what we did was take 3 pics at different exposures and merge them using Adobe Photoshop. Using the mini tripod we set up the camera on my balcony. Since my camera doesn't have a auto-bracketing feature we had to do 3 separate pictures with the timer to minimize the shake. Even so they did not match completely but still pretty good for a 2 year old point and shoot.

Here is the original. Sorry for the crookedness. (I will straighten it with Picassa sometime)

and after it is merged... notice how much more colour there is.

The original.

and after it is merged. You pretty much see what your eye sees.

Ticketmaster = Microsoft

Both have a monopoly on providing sub par (but necessary) services while charging outrageous 'convenience' fees when there actually is no convenience in their service.

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.