Ben Myers: The website

The Ottawa Technical High School graffiti wall looks amazing...

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:35:38 -0400

The Ottawa Technical High School graffiti wall looks amazing these days. I snapped these pics today.

"If the Occupiers ever figured out that these industries’ various regulatory, tax and ownership..."

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:54:57 -0400

“If the Occupiers ever figured out that these industries’ various regulatory, tax and ownership regimes are really about protecting incomes paid to some management or owners in protected markets, they would face a more receptive audience among those who understand the importance of capitalism in generating ideas and economic growth. Instead, Occupiers focus on more regulations, higher taxes and government ownership, policies that undermine innovation and productivity.”

- Interesting idea from Jack Mintz at Financial Post about better angling the Occupy movement to constructive ideas that will actually gain support from average Canadians.

John Carter - the movie no on wanted to (pay to) see.

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:47:00 -0400

John Carter - the movie no on wanted to (pay to) see.

Neil Gaiman on freelancing, being creative, and being successful...

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:57:00 -0400

Neil Gaiman on freelancing, being creative, and being successful in arts.

“More and more of today’s world is freelance because the work is good, they’re easy to get along with and because they deliver the work on time; and you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine.”

This is the ‘screw you for covering up our graffiti’...

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:20:00 -0400

This is the ‘screw you for covering up our graffiti’ graffiti.

A rebuttal to my comments about the Avengers. I cried a little.

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:38:00 -0400

A rebuttal to my comments about the Avengers. I cried a little.

Was the Avengers really that good? A dissenting opinion

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:12:12 -0400

Image from this website.

I’ve heard everyone from film critics to common movie fans state their unfettered love of The Avengers. The movie has a 93% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been praised for everything including its dialog, pacing, visual effects and casting.

But was it really that good? Consider this a dissenting opinion.

The movie was overall enjoyable, but in hindsight, largely forgettable. Thinking about it now, only a few scenes have been added to the trailer that was injected into my brain for the past year in various media—a snarky comment or a particular visual effect.

It seemed that when the movie had no larger ambitions than to be a summer blockbuster, and that any themes that may have expanded its intellectual reach were quickly painted over. At risk of being a spoiler, I will say that the one scene in which Shield’s true intention for Phase 2 of its secret project is revealed has no impact the rest of the movie; the heroes continue on their way to stop the villain and the villain continues his plot.

For the Avengers to turn on Shield and its board of shadowy figures would have been an unexpected left-turn for the movie. But I guess it’s not in the long-term plans for the franchise. A lost opportunity, in my opinion.

Back to the immediate threat: a rather bland and recycled villain in Loki - an evil mastermind whose plot to take over the world is no more creative than super weapon + army = world domination. We know this from the very first scene of the movie and very little changes in this arc.

His personal vendetta? Revenge against his brother. No twist on that since Thor came out in 2011.

Can we say anything about his army? They’re… uh.. alien robots with teeth and guns?

Mid-way through the film, the audience cycles through pairings of heroes as if constantly reminding us before the question pops up: Where’s Thor/Iron Man/Black Widow again? In the prison/bridge/laboratory? Oh yeah, got it.

There are the requisite large-scale battle on the streets of a major city with well-known bridges and buildings being destroyed. Cool - haven’t seen that since Transformers 1/2/3.

Keeping the movie/aircraft carrier afloat

While credit should be given where it is due for snappy dialog and a few fun side-bars, the movie seems as set on its course as the invisible flying aircraft carrier. Like the Avengers themselves, the film keeps itself afloat, but you’re left to wonder if it would have been a better idea to take a less cumbersome vehicle.

This summer is a spoil of riches for comic-book fans with The Avengers, a new Spider-Man film/franchise and The Dark Knight returns. While The Avengers may very well be the biggest of these three movies in terms of box office gross, I doubt that it could be considered the greatest in terms of ambition and execution.

The biggest upside for the movie is that it didn’t suck. Though that’s not an easy accomplishment for any filmmaker, I think an audience is well within its rights to desire to be surprised—and not just satisfied—when it leaves the theatre.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS!

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:06:54 -0400

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS!

Freeze, sucker. From the area surrounding the new World Trade...

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:43:20 -0400

Freeze, sucker. From the area surrounding the new World Trade Center buildings.

Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times....

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:18 -0400

Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times. (Isaiah, 33:6)

Rockefeller Center, NYC

Some inspirational words I found in the basement at Fall Down...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:12:38 -0400

Some inspirational words I found in the basement at Fall Down Gallery.

Ottawa's Fall Down Gallery About More Than Paintings

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:39:00 -0400

Ottawa's Fall Down Gallery About More Than Paintings:

I had a great time talking to Robbie Lariviere for this article. We talked in the basement at Fall Down Gallery, near the corner of Bank St. and Somerset St. West.

It’s the sort of place where the community matters as much as the location and the products. They host events on a regular basis and they’re celebrating their first anniversary along with dance studio Flavor Factory tonight! (Saturday, April 28, 2012).

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:14:52 -0400

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

- Benjamin Franklin
Doing both this summer.

White Guilt & Groupon

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:26:00 -0400

White people agree (and others concur): Indian food is fantastic.

So when the Groupon for $30 worth of Indian food for $15 comes up, any white man with half a tongue will gladly jump on that deal. I certainly did.

But knowing the mathematics of Groupon makes them… let’s just say ackward to use.

I waltz into the shop with a hidden, golden secret. They seat me - still unknowing - and place a menu in front of me.

A shameful secret

It’s time to break the bad news: “Yeah, hi there… we have a Groupon… I hope that’s cool.”

If it wasn’t cool, we would probably stick around and have the butter chicken just as a means of apologizing for having gaul of asking for 50% off. And worse yet: doing the dirty deal behind the server’s back over a week ago!

“No problem. That’s good for all food and drink except alcohol.”

I resist the urge to order 10 beers off the bat to end the indentured servant-powdered wig aristocrat relationship that has now been established. (Conflicting historical references notwithstanding.)

Knowing the economics of the Groupon makes the relationship all the more shameful. Of the $30 value that was bought for $15, only $7.50 will land in the coffers of the establishment. The remainder will go toward boosting Q2 2012 revenues for NASDAQ:GRPN in hopes of a 2014 Class B stock split and 3% investor dividend! Fuck yeah!

The meal was fantastic. My dinner guest and I ordered no alcohol. (Delivering a slap in the face to the establishment.)

At the end of the meal, the dirty secret again needed to be aired.

“Can I see your Groupon?”

“Actually, it’s on my phone.”

I almost buy a helicopter ride

I fumble through apps, menus, and log-ins to bring up the deal; narrowly avoiding the purchase of a $350 helicopter ride for only $169. The server writes down the code signifying my knowing abuse of the restaurant.

“We hope you enjoyed your meal and that you’ll return.”

I KNOW! I’M SO SORRY FOR THIS. I WILL COME BACK - I SWEAR TO GOD THAT I’LL MAKE THINGS RIGHT AGAIN.

The bill (-$30.00) is paid and we leave, stomach full of delicious, disgusting discounted nourishment.

I don’t know if I’ll use Groupon again, but I do know that the lamb korma at The New Nupur restaurant is off the hook.

Again, I’m so sorry.

Got my Sens jersey hanging in the window just so everyone knows...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:02:44 -0400

Got my Sens jersey hanging in the window just so everyone knows whose side I’m on.

geekfeed: advanced new ipad stand 画 Love it.

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:33:45 -0400

geekfeed:

advanced new ipad stand 画

Love it.

"Clever things make people feel stupid, and unexpected things make them feel scared."

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:48:16 -0400

“Clever things make people feel stupid, and unexpected things make them feel scared.”

- Futurama

(Inspiration for my next career.)

An Ode To My Flip Phone

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:41:07 -0400

You, my dependable flip phone, never let me down.

The pictures you take are unrecognizable. It would take 30 seconds to type a three-word text message. And, flip phone, I love you.

I see people stuck in the rat race of cell-phone upgrades. And you have stayed by my side (literally) through it all.

While Rogers or Bell has asked/demanded that many people upgrade their phones, I have been able to resist for nearly 4 years, thanks to your durability and grace.

When the evil phone companies came calling, offering me the outstanding offer of a new phone for only $100* (*denoting an additional 3-year contract when you also sign up for Super Family Plan 3000 including Facebook messenger but not wall access additional wall access $.50 per message), I laughed! hahah! My flip phone and I have have no need for Facebook! We have no need for picture messages! Be gone, foul salesman!

You have been dropped, but there was no glass touch-screen to shatter. Your camera was shitty, but the pictures were never shared. Your reception was fine… which is more than what many people say of their iPhones.

So now, it’s on to greener pastures for you, my trusty flip phone. You will be shelved, but you will never be forgotten, just in case I drop my new phone once and it gets all fucked up.

A truly stressed out fan watches last night’s games....

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:58:04 -0400

A truly stressed out fan watches last night’s games. It’s only hockey, amigo.

One of the last pics I took from my El Salvador trip. Some...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:26:03 -0400

One of the last pics I took from my El Salvador trip. Some colourful gates lining the streets.