This video came to mind recently and i thought i would share this massive flashback with the rest of you.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Monday, July 9, 2007
do not safedrop
I've had some dealings with the post office lately, i'm hoping someone can shed some light on some possibilities i have not considered.
A few months ago i placed an order with amazon.ca for 8 or 9 music cd's. About a week and half after i received their shipment email, i still had not received them. I checked canadapost's tracking site, and it said the parcel was delivered to the recipient a week ago. I phoned canada post, and they said they can't do anything, i should call amazon. So i did, and they said "this happens", and said they'd resend the entire parcel. It surprised me how easily they agreed to do this, but whatever, i was happy.
This time I followed this tracking number a little closer, and when canadapost said this package had been delivered and it had not, i grew worried. I called amazon again, and again they were very nice. They said they rarely send a parcel 3 times, but made an exception for me cause i really wanted these cd's (they also would've just refunded my money at this point). The availability of one of the cd's was a little off, so they graciously offered to split the shipment up into 2 chunks.
Again, i followed the tracking info, the bulk of the items being the first thing shipped. I added myself as an email recipient for updates on changes to the status of the package tracking. When i got the email telling me this package was delivered i was home. I of course went straight outside, again to find no package waiting for me. My guess is this info isn't "up to the minute", and likely was reported delivered the previous day (when i was not home).
A few days later, the lone late cd did arrive in my mailbox. My mailbox is pretty standard, big enough to fit a small parcel, but any larger parcel would stick out the top. I've gotten books from amazon before, and they did stick out the top. This was the first time i've ever had any issues.
I called amazon again, they were apologetic, but we both agreed there was nothing left for them to do. They refunded my money, and someone out there might very well have 3 copies of neon bible, joel plaskett's new cd, and a variety of other kickass albums. I ordered all the missing cds again, this time shipping them to my work, and they arrived safely there within 5 or so days.
So what happened? Is it possible that "bad people" stole these parcels off my doorstep 3 times, when previous amazon packages that were sticking out of my mailbox arrived in my safe hands? This is the only possibility i can possibly accept. Did someone in the middle (ie an employee) scam them? Unlikely considering the parcel did arrive to my work. Is it possible amazon never actually sent them? Very unlikely considering canada post did note tracking info. Can anyone think of any other possibilities?
I was told by someone (can't remember who) that you can request canada post not deliver parcels to your door without a signature. I called canada post and asked about this. They said i can not do this, but i can ask that parcels not be left at my house. They referred to this practice as "safedrop" (not sure whats safe about it though!). You are allowed to request that letter carriers "do not safedrop". The lady asked me to put a note on my mailbox that says "do not safedrop" and that she would put a request in to the depot marking my address with this same bit of info. So i did these 2 things. I got a call today from the local centertown postal outlet. The lady there informs me that letter carriers never leave parcels that do not completely fit in the mailbox. I said... ok. I didn't know what else to say, as well, i had no additional ideas. I was tired, frustrated, and bewildered.
With the package that i did successfully get delivered to my office i debated filling it with cat poo, arming my house with cameras, eagerly hoping to catch a culprit... but i lost interest. The cat poo woulda been fun, but some possible outcomes could've been disastrous for my property, so i opted against it.
I really hope it isn't skids walking by scoping out folks' mailbox's in hopes of treasures... i really really hope this isn't the case... but the whole situation has added to my cynicism, which was sparse before but increasingly grows as i do. Which kinda blows.
A few months ago i placed an order with amazon.ca for 8 or 9 music cd's. About a week and half after i received their shipment email, i still had not received them. I checked canadapost's tracking site, and it said the parcel was delivered to the recipient a week ago. I phoned canada post, and they said they can't do anything, i should call amazon. So i did, and they said "this happens", and said they'd resend the entire parcel. It surprised me how easily they agreed to do this, but whatever, i was happy.
This time I followed this tracking number a little closer, and when canadapost said this package had been delivered and it had not, i grew worried. I called amazon again, and again they were very nice. They said they rarely send a parcel 3 times, but made an exception for me cause i really wanted these cd's (they also would've just refunded my money at this point). The availability of one of the cd's was a little off, so they graciously offered to split the shipment up into 2 chunks.
Again, i followed the tracking info, the bulk of the items being the first thing shipped. I added myself as an email recipient for updates on changes to the status of the package tracking. When i got the email telling me this package was delivered i was home. I of course went straight outside, again to find no package waiting for me. My guess is this info isn't "up to the minute", and likely was reported delivered the previous day (when i was not home).
A few days later, the lone late cd did arrive in my mailbox. My mailbox is pretty standard, big enough to fit a small parcel, but any larger parcel would stick out the top. I've gotten books from amazon before, and they did stick out the top. This was the first time i've ever had any issues.
I called amazon again, they were apologetic, but we both agreed there was nothing left for them to do. They refunded my money, and someone out there might very well have 3 copies of neon bible, joel plaskett's new cd, and a variety of other kickass albums. I ordered all the missing cds again, this time shipping them to my work, and they arrived safely there within 5 or so days.
So what happened? Is it possible that "bad people" stole these parcels off my doorstep 3 times, when previous amazon packages that were sticking out of my mailbox arrived in my safe hands? This is the only possibility i can possibly accept. Did someone in the middle (ie an employee) scam them? Unlikely considering the parcel did arrive to my work. Is it possible amazon never actually sent them? Very unlikely considering canada post did note tracking info. Can anyone think of any other possibilities?
I was told by someone (can't remember who) that you can request canada post not deliver parcels to your door without a signature. I called canada post and asked about this. They said i can not do this, but i can ask that parcels not be left at my house. They referred to this practice as "safedrop" (not sure whats safe about it though!). You are allowed to request that letter carriers "do not safedrop". The lady asked me to put a note on my mailbox that says "do not safedrop" and that she would put a request in to the depot marking my address with this same bit of info. So i did these 2 things. I got a call today from the local centertown postal outlet. The lady there informs me that letter carriers never leave parcels that do not completely fit in the mailbox. I said... ok. I didn't know what else to say, as well, i had no additional ideas. I was tired, frustrated, and bewildered.
With the package that i did successfully get delivered to my office i debated filling it with cat poo, arming my house with cameras, eagerly hoping to catch a culprit... but i lost interest. The cat poo woulda been fun, but some possible outcomes could've been disastrous for my property, so i opted against it.
I really hope it isn't skids walking by scoping out folks' mailbox's in hopes of treasures... i really really hope this isn't the case... but the whole situation has added to my cynicism, which was sparse before but increasingly grows as i do. Which kinda blows.
Friday, June 22, 2007
regrets
I may have mentioned this before, but i don't often have regrets. Serious ones that is... i may regret calling a bet, or not paying more attention to some zinfandel's flavour, but i rarely am sickened by a choice made badly.
Recently though, i was. I decided to get a full refund on my roger water tickets as i knew he would be playing the same night as the sens, game 5. That was a big mistake as one of my coworkers told me i basically missed one of the 10 best shows he's ever seen, and he's seen a lot. One of my childhood dreams was to see this guy, and i set aside the one best chance i'll have to do so. Damn.
Another regret i have, but not nearly as serious, is not writing in here enough... i've said that before though haven't i!!! Well, i'm not going to vow to do anything about this one, but i tell you, if mr. waters comes back to the shite old corel centre again (or place d'scotia whatever), i'm there.
Recently though, i was. I decided to get a full refund on my roger water tickets as i knew he would be playing the same night as the sens, game 5. That was a big mistake as one of my coworkers told me i basically missed one of the 10 best shows he's ever seen, and he's seen a lot. One of my childhood dreams was to see this guy, and i set aside the one best chance i'll have to do so. Damn.
Another regret i have, but not nearly as serious, is not writing in here enough... i've said that before though haven't i!!! Well, i'm not going to vow to do anything about this one, but i tell you, if mr. waters comes back to the shite old corel centre again (or place d'scotia whatever), i'm there.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
jaks kitchen redux
Ok, so i've now been a few times. Went for breakfast there last weekend, and what can i say, it was much improved, so much in fact, that i almost want to remove all my previous reservations about the switch over.
To summarize, there were a ton of homies, the fruit was massive, juicy and better than ever, there were specials, one of which i had, and hot damn it, it was overflowing with what it promised. We were out on the balcony, and hot diggidy the service was almost too god in that my coffee never got below half... below HALF!!! I don't even like drinking that much coffee!!! Ya, it was really good.
Partially by chance and partially because of that previously quite large breakfast, we hit it up for dinner last week as well. Again, not disappointed in the least, in fact quite delighted (i need to start using words like 'delighted' when i order bottles of white wine instead of bottles of beers). Non spicy curried cream farfalle!!! Giddeup!!! The mussels were rippin hot too (not like spicy hot, like sexy hot), with pancetta and portabellas in a red wine kickass broth, they were unlike any mussels i've eaten recently (including the ones i had at savanna last night, which you'll likely hear about elsewheres). And the wine, i think we just had house wine, not even bottles, was super crisp and perfect.
So, since i'm just an individual who has little moral responsibility to the community at large and can bounce from one location, to the next, and then back again, i am in the business of second chances, as they often bear juicier fruit, and damn, this time it was falling from the trees. I can't help but feel a little flushed or perhaps setup, as my original posting is on their cork board, but i'm going to pretend no link up was made and these were just natural changes and in no way directed at yours truly. Bye bye stoneface, hello jak. Thank goodness for second chances, proximity will no longer be the only thing bringing me back (again and again).
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
bye bye stoneface
So it's official, "Jaks Kitchen" has moved in down the street, replacing the iconic original location of "Stoneface Dolly's" gourmet homestyle eatery. I am, tres triste. I've been going for brunch still, albeit not as often, regularily over the past few months during the long transition. I've got a few things to say about the changes, and what i like and dislike. I realize some of the things that have changed will improve over time given that it is technically a new restaurant, but i'm going to mention them anyways.
Good Changes
Fruit - the new fruit is good. Big chunks of cantelope and pineapple. The fruit has gone from a whole variety, big pieces to small, on the plate to a bowl, and then back again. I actually can't remember how it was originally, but i remember the occasional blueberry. Now i'm not so sure this is a good change.
Renos - they did some renovations that gave the place a bit more space, which is definitely good.
Ambivalent Changes
Decor - i really liked the old art, then the transitional chunky art, and now i like the mirrors. The new paint is nice too.
Service - the old girls and guys served great, and so are the new. I miss the old cause they knew me of course, and i'm saddened the new may not get to know me as quickly, but i can't hold that against them.
Coffee - perhaps it hasn't changed, i'm not sure, but its still damn good.
Negative Changes
Service Times - No matter how busy it used to be, i used to be able to be in and out in 30 min or so. Last time, i was waiting at LEAST 30 min just for my food, and it wasn't that busy.
Homies - they don't even call them homies anymore!! They used to have chunks of onion and peppers in em, at least on occasion, and they just tasted better. The new ones are probably healthier tho, less butter, but the old ones definitely tasted better
Omlettes - um, hello?? Can i have cheese in my omellete. Both myself and my friend got omlettes, her the goat cheese, me the fruilano (now called peppers and spinach). Neither of us could taste the cheese, and my friend asked them to check that it was in there... they said it was. I'm skeptical. Mine was just not cooked right, the egg was too cooked, and i don't think the spinach was saute'ed at all before going in. Thats just a no-no, especially when you can't taste the cheese.
Portions - the portions are smaller, not by much, but by a little
Coffee Creamers - different company now, used to be organic creamers, now its just regular stuff.
Brunch Specials - there is a complete lack of these alltogether! The specials before were what i went for, only occasionally did i not get the semi-special eggs blackstone or mexican fritatta. Now, there are no specials, and thats just uninspired.
Let me now say this. Breakfast, was awesome, no doubt about it! One of the best breakfasts in ottawa, was and still is. But when you mess with a winning formula, even just a little, its liable to piss a few people (aka me) off. I will go back, i will grow to love it i'm sure, but i'm a little bitter that such an awesome place would every change, even a little bit.
Good Changes
Fruit - the new fruit is good. Big chunks of cantelope and pineapple. The fruit has gone from a whole variety, big pieces to small, on the plate to a bowl, and then back again. I actually can't remember how it was originally, but i remember the occasional blueberry. Now i'm not so sure this is a good change.
Renos - they did some renovations that gave the place a bit more space, which is definitely good.
Ambivalent Changes
Decor - i really liked the old art, then the transitional chunky art, and now i like the mirrors. The new paint is nice too.
Service - the old girls and guys served great, and so are the new. I miss the old cause they knew me of course, and i'm saddened the new may not get to know me as quickly, but i can't hold that against them.
Coffee - perhaps it hasn't changed, i'm not sure, but its still damn good.
Negative Changes
Service Times - No matter how busy it used to be, i used to be able to be in and out in 30 min or so. Last time, i was waiting at LEAST 30 min just for my food, and it wasn't that busy.
Homies - they don't even call them homies anymore!! They used to have chunks of onion and peppers in em, at least on occasion, and they just tasted better. The new ones are probably healthier tho, less butter, but the old ones definitely tasted better
Omlettes - um, hello?? Can i have cheese in my omellete. Both myself and my friend got omlettes, her the goat cheese, me the fruilano (now called peppers and spinach). Neither of us could taste the cheese, and my friend asked them to check that it was in there... they said it was. I'm skeptical. Mine was just not cooked right, the egg was too cooked, and i don't think the spinach was saute'ed at all before going in. Thats just a no-no, especially when you can't taste the cheese.
Portions - the portions are smaller, not by much, but by a little
Coffee Creamers - different company now, used to be organic creamers, now its just regular stuff.
Brunch Specials - there is a complete lack of these alltogether! The specials before were what i went for, only occasionally did i not get the semi-special eggs blackstone or mexican fritatta. Now, there are no specials, and thats just uninspired.
Let me now say this. Breakfast, was awesome, no doubt about it! One of the best breakfasts in ottawa, was and still is. But when you mess with a winning formula, even just a little, its liable to piss a few people (aka me) off. I will go back, i will grow to love it i'm sure, but i'm a little bitter that such an awesome place would every change, even a little bit.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
top uberalbums of 2006
I've been reading pitchforkmedia for some time, mostly for their top albums reviews (2006, 2005, 90s). 2006 is no different, i'm supremely interested in all they recommend. And thanks to a friend of mine, i discovered another music site, short list of music, that has also catalogued their favorite albums of the previous few years (in no particular order).
In order to "give something back" to the community and at the advice of this same friend, i've decided to cross reference the 2 lists this year, looking for hip similarities, exclusions, and things that i already think are large, or think i will probably think is large at some point during 2007.
If you've got any suggestions for albums to check out on the list, let me hear em. Or perhaps if you know of a better way of presenting this massive tabular data on a blog, cause i agree this is nasty.
In order to "give something back" to the community and at the advice of this same friend, i've decided to cross reference the 2 lists this year, looking for hip similarities, exclusions, and things that i already think are large, or think i will probably think is large at some point during 2007.
| Album | Pitchfork Rank | On Longlist | Large | Likely to become Large |
| Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time | 12 | Yes | Yes | |
| Belle And Sebastian - The Life Pursuit | 30 | Yes | ||
| Cat Power - The Greatest | 28 | Yes | ||
| Danielson - Ships | 31 | Yes | Yes | |
| Girl Talk - Night Ripper | 34 | Yes | ||
| Hot Chip - The Warning | 26 | Yes | ||
| Joanna Newsom - Ys | 3 | Yes | Yes | |
| Liars - Drum's Not Dead | 6 | Yes | Yes | |
| Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor | 32 | Yes | Yes | |
| Matmos - The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth Of A Beast | 47 | Yes | ||
| TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain | 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| The Decemberists - The Crane Wife | 41 | Yes | Yes | |
| The Knife - Silent Shout | 1 | Yes | ||
| Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet | 21 | |||
| Beach House - Beach House | 16 | |||
| Booka Shade - Movements | 50 | |||
| Boris - Pink | 9 | Yes | ||
| Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light | 36 | |||
| Califone - Roots & Crowns | 27 | Yes | ||
| Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country | 45 | Yes | ||
| Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury | 7 | |||
| DJ Drama & Lil Wayne - Dedication 2 | 37 | |||
| Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies | 18 | |||
| Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra Of Bubbles | 49 | |||
| Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things | 39 | |||
| Ghostface Killah - Fishscale | 4 | |||
| Grizzly Bear - Yellow House | 8 | Yes | ||
| Herbert - Scale | 35 | |||
| J Dilla - Donuts | 38 | |||
| Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye | 11 | |||
| Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds | 25 | |||
| LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 | 22 | |||
| Lily Allen - Alright, Still | 29 | |||
| M. Ward - Post-War | 46 | |||
| Man Man - Six Demon Bag | 20 | Yes (Zaphods, tonite!) | ||
| Mastodon - Blood Mountain | 42 | |||
| Mission Of Burma - The Obliterati | 33 | |||
| Peter Bjorn And John - Writer's Block | 24 | Yes | ||
| Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That | 13 | |||
| Scott Walker - The Drift | 10 | |||
| Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped | 43 | Yes | ||
| Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming | 15 | |||
| T.I. - King | 19 | |||
| Tapes 'N Tapes - The Loon | 40 | |||
| The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America | 5 | Ya, Duh?? | ||
| The Long Blondes - Someone To Drive You Home | 48 | |||
| The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes | 44 | |||
| The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine | 17 | |||
| Tim Hecker - Harmony In Ultraviolet | 14 | |||
| Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass | 23 | |||
| Against Me! - Americans Abroad Live In London | Yes | |||
| And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - So Divided | Yes | |||
| Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll | Yes | |||
| Beck - The Information | Yes | |||
| Beirut - Gulag Orskestar | Yes | Yes | ||
| Bonnie Prince Billy - The Letting Go | Yes | Yes | ||
| CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy | Yes | |||
| Country Teasers - The Empire Strikes Back | Yes | |||
| Cursive - Happy Hollow | Yes | |||
| Dabrye - Two/Three | Yes | |||
| Dead Heart Bloom - Dead Heart Bloom | Yes | |||
| Editors - The Back Room | Yes | |||
| Field Music - Field Music | Yes | |||
| Forgive Durden - Wonderland | Yes | |||
| Jeremy Enigk - World Waits | Yes | |||
| Kidd Jordan - Hamid Drake + William Parker- Palm Of Soul | Yes | |||
| Kimya Dawson - Remember That I Love You | Yes | |||
| Love Is All - Nine Times That Same Song | Yes | |||
| Mates Of State - Bring It Back | Yes | |||
| Mew - And The Glass Hand Kites | Yes | |||
| Midlake - The Trials Of Van Occupanther | Yes | |||
| Mohair - Small Talk | Yes | |||
| Mute Math - Mutemath | Yes | |||
| Neil Young - Living With War | Yes | |||
| OOIOO - Taiga | Yes | |||
| Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom | Yes | |||
| Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers | Yes | |||
| Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope | Yes | |||
| Roots - Game Theory | Yes | Yes | ||
| Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops | Yes | |||
| Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh | Yes | |||
| Skream - Skream | Yes | |||
| Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo | Yes | |||
| Teddybears - Soft Machine | Yes | |||
| The Blow - Paper Television | Yes | |||
| The Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control | Yes | |||
| The Hush Sound - Like Vines | Yes | |||
| The Stills - Without Feathers | Yes | |||
| The Strokes - First Impression Of Earth | Yes | |||
| The Velvet - Teen Cum Laude | Yes | |||
| The Weepies - Say I Am You | Yes | |||
| Tom Waits - Orphans | Yes | Ya, but its not really 2006 | ||
| Vaux - Beyond Virture Beyond Vice | Yes | |||
| We Are Scientists - With Love And Squalor | Yes | |||
| Wolfmother - Wolfmother | Yes | |||
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones | Yes | Yes | ||
| the Bronx - The Bronx | Yes |
If you've got any suggestions for albums to check out on the list, let me hear em. Or perhaps if you know of a better way of presenting this massive tabular data on a blog, cause i agree this is nasty.
Friday, March 16, 2007
lunchtime
Not much has changed, not much is new. Life has been very good lately. As evidence of this, i will present this image, my lunch on this march 16th 2007.
- de cecco tagliatelle, comes in spools, best dried pasta you can buy
- 3 large mushrooms, sliced
- 8 cherry tomatos, halved
- a bunch green onions, 1.5 inch pieces
- 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
- half red pepper - unnecessary
- pinches of hot peppers
- tons of s & p
- large bunch parsley, chopped
- a tablespoon or 2 of olive oil
- a bit of wine, a bit of broth, optional, unnecessary
1 Start water on high, start fry pan on med-high
2 add shrooms n pepper, cook for a few min
3 add pasta to water when boiling
4 add oil and s n p n hot peppers to pan
5 a few min later add rest of stuff to fry pan
6 keep on kookin!
7 when pasta done, spoon directly into pan, add a bit more oil, combine
Eat!!! This may not be everyones cup of tea, but a refreshing pasta lunch like this revitalizes me like nothing else.
I'm working from home today, it rules. Things of note:
- Apparently my blog is worth a little over 500 bux:
- Its getting warmer! Soon to start running in prep for 10 million K!!!
- House stuff mostly on hold, trying to find people to build a deck for you can be hard work.
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