I have moved - new online digs

For all intents and purposes I am now located here:

crazyassplanet.com

Well, since I moved my real world location, why not my online one? Yes, I went to Wordpress and the simpler URL and, hopefully, fewer of the problems I had with Blogger.

If you have me linked, please change that link to: http://crazyassplanet.com/

Merci!

(Now all I have to do is see if there's a way to move my archives over to the new place.)

What a Blogger mess!

As you can seem, I made the mistake of upgrading to the new Blogger templates and now I have to jump through a million hoops to get things back to looking as it should.

On the upside, it makes a decision easier. I was planning a shift to Wordpress so I'll likely do that in the next few days. The only downside is the URL will change but - what the hell?

Soon the URL will simply be crazyassplanet.com and that's much more agreeable, don't you think?

Update: Thankfully I found a way to pull my old template back. But that doesn't change my decision to change things here.

Bicycle Boy

What could I have been thinking?

Well, I don't drive. And much as I like walking, it is preferrable to have some form of transport that works with a bit more alacrity than ... feet.

Yes, a car would be faster. But they're expensive and they produce odours. They're noisy too.

Anyway ... I bought a new bike, the Globe City 7.1. Don't ask me what that means. I haven't a clue. As far as I can tell it's just a name, somewhat better than calling it the Bumba Bumba 6.3a.

It is simply a bike for getting around the city. I think it has 24 gears. If so, that's roughly 20 more than I actually need. I ain't no Lance Armstrong. I'm not a cyclist. I'm just someone who wants to get around.

And I shall do so with my new blue bike!

Fredericton: Crazy with birds

This place I've moved to, in Fredericton, not far from Odell Park, is crazy with birds.

Not that I know much about birds, but they kind of get your attention when you're living in what appears to be a kind of aviary.

As spring has unfolded over the last month or two, I've been entertained by warblers, black-capped chickadees, winter wrens, ravens, mourning doves, robins and varieties of other birds I couldn't identify for lovin' or money.

What I find particularly engaging is the soundscape they create. Having lived in larger cities for the last few decades, the sound of this place is a welcome change.

You know, when people talk about places they talk about landscape, weather, architecture and so on. But they don't very often talk about sound which can (and should) be a distinctive characteristic of a place.

In Edmonton, the sound was cars. Here, the sound is birds.

I prefer the latter.

We are Paris Hilton

I am amazed, and appalled, by the glee with which the Paris Hilton jail sentence has been greeted.

Good heavens, how far up your own ass does your head have to be when the highlight of your life is this? Paris would be a nonentity if we all didn't follow her like the lonely halfwits that we are. We made Paris Hilton. To despise her is to despise ourselves.

For those who are too stupid to understand these things, taking pleasure in another's misfortune, no matter who they are, is called spite. Close cousin of malice. Not enviable qualities.

The world, meaning all of us, really needs to get a life. Wouldn't it be nice if this display of the world's pettiness actually led to a little self awareness and a change in personal values?

Yeah, I ain't holding my breath either.

Bluesin' Through Time

Hard to believe this is me. I've lost track of how long it has been since I was dressed in such a fashion.

There was a certain nostalgic quality to it. I use to be dressed this way all the time. Or close to it.

Unfortunately, it is late at night as I type this. And I don't trust my semi-inebriated state. Were I to generate a legitimate blog post I might publish something I could regret.

It was an interesting evening, to say the least.

I mean, how often do you sip wine, step outside for a smoke with like-minded people and hear Voltaire's name brought up in a drunken rant?

Yes, it was entertaining ...

(btw ... The evening was a C.N.I.B. event and the music was provided by the George Street Blues Project.)

Tear down the wall

Yes, this use to look like this. The kitchen is now considerably different, as it a good deal of the house.

It's not complete, however. There are some niggling things remaining. Hopefully they'll be completed early next week. (Although the "backsplash" stuff has to wait at least a week to get the tile in, then a few days as they put it in ... blah blah blah.)

But at least I can use my kitchen again. The stove is back!

You've no idea how happy that makes me.

T-t-t-talkin' 'bout ...

Thumbs up.