First Final Fruit

I just finished my first final piece for this fruit project I'm working on.  I'm glad I did the test because this one worked out really well.  Still lots more to do, but it's working out.

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New Look

You might notice that some of the photos on this blog are starting to come up bigger, and at this point kind of random in size.  You might also notice that I've changed the look of the site a few times as well.  Well I'm experimenting with the look of the site and I want to see what works and what doesn't.  Once I'm happy with a look I'll stop messing around.

CC

Workin' at The CIG

One of the things I'm doing here in Athens is volunteering at the Canadian Institute in Greece.  This is a non-profit group that helps Canadian archeologists and students study here.  They also hold other cultural events and even have a hostel for students.  It's a really great group of people doing some fun stuff.

I'm helping them out with everything from creating a blog, to helping them market themselves. Lately I've been going through a collection of old photographs, as early as 1957, from Professor Fred Winter.  He's done so much field research in Greece over the years and documented it all in photographs.  I'm going through the photos cataloging them, and trying to figure out what kind of final project could be done.  It's a long process, but really fascinating.

Click here to learn a little more about the CIG.

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Slow Moving Sculptures make me....

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

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My Latest Photo Project

A while back I started work on a photo project that deals with fruit.  Well I've started to focus on it again.  Right now I've just finished my prototype for the project.  I have a lot more work ahead but things are looking OK.

I made the prototype because one series of photos was too large.  It was a European conversion problem.  I figured it would be the best one to test out my construction ideas because it was so big.  This one's not perfect, but I've learned a lot building it, and I think I have most of the problems worked out.

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Signs I Like

My final (and slightly longer) installment of Signs I Like from my vacation:

I don't get it, do Big Macs have gherkins on them?

I assume this man plays a horn?

The sign should read, "Caution Hot Water... Eventually".

Double negative I think.

To advertise the beef they have a picture of a cow, to advertise the rabbit they have a picture of a bunny, to advertise they lamb they have a picture of a kid dressed up as a lamb... don't eat the lamb.

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Happy Greek Independence!

Today is the day that the Greek people celebrate their independence from... well to be honest I don't really read too many history books.  It means great things for everyone in this country, since from what I understand it's a big event.  To celebrate this holiday many store windows have been decorated and many shops are selling special festive paraphernalia.  This window is showing off the great selection of Greek traditional clothes you can buy at this store.

And to make sure you go all the way, they even offer glue on traditional Greek mustaches for the kids, the guys that can't grow them and...

The ladies.

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Some New Doodles

I've been working a lot on some photography projects as of late, but I've managed to get a couple of doodles out too.  This one is based on a guy on TV that was being overly modest about the popularity of his website, and no it's not a self portrait.

This is a squid with a magnifying glass.

This is a sketch of Igor, the protagonists in my friend Brent's comic book.

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A Little Something About The Word Pink

These photos are from my photo site Beware the Cheese.

I've never really liked the word "pink".  I don't like it because it often has a bad reputation among artists and people uncomfortable with their femininity.  In many countries the colour pink is often similar (or the same as) the word rose.  The word rose comes from the flower, or so the internet leads me to believe.  The word pink has a convoluted origin and either comes from a term meaning little (as in pinky finger), or from a term meaning to cut out (pinking sheers).  Either way I still believe that the word "Pink" isn't a good word to use.

These photos are from my photo site Beware the Cheese.

I thought to myself, maybe from here on in I'm going to use the word rose in order to describe pink.  Then I heard a song (in Greek) that had the word for pink in it.  They call it light red.  That makes even more sense than Pink or Rose.  After all if I came across a pink rose, would I call it a rose rose?  So now I'm thinking that I should just call it a light red.  Why do all the other colours get a "light" version, but light red is stuck with a silly word like pink?  I don't know why I though about this so much today.

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Spring In Athens

Over the last few weeks I've been kind of down here in Athens.  At first I thought it was because I was going through some culture shock, but I'm starting to believe that I got a touch of the Athens winter blahs.  Sure the weather here doesn't get too cold, but frankly the attitude here in the winter really changes.

But spring seems to have sprung, and things here in Athens are seeming a little cheerier.

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Updating Beware The Cheese

I've decided that I'm going to post more blog entries here about Beware the Cheese.  I'm still working out the details, but in the near future you'll be seeing more images from the site and more information about what we're up to.  But don't worry, I'll still keep posting the other stuff too.

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Something I Understand

I came across this animated video that tries to explain what's going on at the Japanese power plant right now.  Compared to the babble I've heard on news stations, this interpretation at least makes a little bit of sense to me.

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No ad, just a link to the Japanese Red Cross Donation Webpage.

Signs I Like

More signs from my trip:

I think this sign is telling me not to molest the birds and the plants, I'm not even sure how one molests plants.

This might not be a typo or a joke.

Nothing says "classy airline ad" like a dog taking a dump in the background.

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Random Pile Of Photos

The other day I was walking through the Sunday Flee market that happens here in Athens.  It's a pretty intense market that sells everything from hand made jewelry to "used DVDs" and even toothbrushes.  The thing about this flee market is that when the people are finished selling, sometimes they just leave whatever they have left behind for people to pick over.

One dealer had apparently been selling something (used I assume) dealing with photographs.  What they left behind was a pile of random photographs.

It's really strange to look through people's memories from what looks like a fun vacation.

Mr. Sumbrero Man you will live on as a legend.

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Poof-O-Mania

While walking through the streets of Athens, Allison and I came across the "Poof-O-Mania" store.  First of all it's one of the most clever names ever given to a store.  Secondly, it's pretty much what you would expect inside.  It's full of soft chairs, cushions and anything else that would generally make the sound "poof" when you hit someone with it.

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I Love Watching Dominoes Fall

I can't explain why I like watching dominoes fall but I can't look away.  I've always dreamed of watching one of those worlds record domino setups go down, but for now, videos like this will have to do.

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Naked Manikins Make Me Uneasy

In Cyprus, there's a clothing store chain that has decided that they would decorate their windows with naked manikins.  I can't for the life of me figure out how naked manikins could possibly sell clothing, but I can tell you that these windows make me feel uncomfortable.  Maybe it's the detail in these manikins (avoid looking at the crotch), maybe it's the vacant look in their faces, maybe I should stop talking about this before I creep myself out even more.

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Signs I Like

Here's a few more signs from my recent vacation:

Is this a crosswalk or a sign warning me of re-enactments from the movie "Big"?

This is the coolest looking guy ever to evacuate out of an airplane during an emergency.

Cute little cop.

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Been Traveling a Whole Lot Lately

It's been a pretty crazy month and I've seen some pretty great things.

Most importantly I've seen some pretty great bathrooms.

Even more important than that, I've posted them on the bathrooms I've been to map.

Click here to check out the map.

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Signs I Like

In this installment of "Signs I Like" we have a special series called "funny names for British places".  They're not all funny per-se, some are just fun to say.  How about "Wivelsfield"?

"Plumpton"?

"Cockfosters"?

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A New Collection, Transportation Textiles.

I collect a lot of things, although as of late, I've started instead to collect pictures of things.  A good example of this would be my collection of bathroom photos from all over the world.  During my trip to England and the Canary Islands I found a new obsession, transportation textiles.

I'm talking about the textiles they use for buses, airplanes, and just about any other form of public transit.

Who pics out these patterns, more importantly who designs them?

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A Thought About Booze

While on our trip to the Canary Islands, Allison and I visited a rum distillery.

It was a modern facility.

With an old way of manufacturing.  It was very impressive.

One thought was stuck in my head while watching thousands of bottles being boxed up to be shipped all over the world. Can you imagine how many university students these boxes will help move?

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Disturbing Theme Park In the Canary Islands

While on vacation last week, Allison and I decided to check out a little theme park near Playa Del Ingles in Gran Canaria.  We hoped to find a cheesy fun park, what we found blew us away.

It's most important to note that this whole theme park is based around a bowling alley.  It's also important to note that the park was for the most part closed down for winter repairs when we went.

But that didn't stop us from checking out some of the cheese-tastic decorations.  Who knew that a cowboy could do the splits so well.

Since the park wasn't open we couldn't tell for sure what you where supposed to do with the "Los Toros" ride, but Allison assumes you're supposed to dodge the bull heads as they try and knock you over.  Sounds like fun for the whole family.

Nothing says fun like riding a carousel, that doesn't move, and only seats one.  The only thing sadder than this ride is the poor kid ridding it alone.

How many potential lawsuits can you see on this ride called "Los Simpson"?  I counted at least 6.

I figured I'd leave the best for last, there aren't enough words to describe how disturbing I find this ride.

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