24Dec 2013 by R&O No Comments
When Price Isn’t an Issue

When Price Isn’t an Issue

Music, Observations, Of Interest, People
Fazioli pianos are arguably the finest pianos in the world, hand made in Italy and priced accordingly. Their model F308 is the largest concert pianoforte in production today at 10' 3" and comes with an equally large base price of $147,000.00. That's the base price. Now add a custom, very high-end case and you're talking about serious dough. Vancouver resident Zhao Zai Chen commissioned architect Ernest Collins and his wife, professional artist/designer Grace Gordon-Collins to design a case for this world-class musical instrument. After all, Collins designed the 19,000 square foot Shaughnessy home (worth $17.5 million when Chen purchased it in 2010) where the piano would reside, so why not design a case for the custom built piano? Duh. Ernest and Grace also designed the cabinet that went in behind…
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23Dec 2013 by R&O No Comments
Are People Awesome?

Are People Awesome?

Of Interest, People
Are people awesome? Most are probably not but there's a few that fit the bill nicely. They're amongst us, they fly above us, skate past us, drive by us and we only appreciate they're awesome for that split second when we realize that they're doing something quite cool. Luckily, someone has taken the time to compile a video that attempts to present a number of awesome people and their feats over the last year. Aptly titled 'People Are Awesome', this may be the best way you spend 10 minutes today. Or this week. Or, sadly, this year. Click the play button and enjoy some awesomeness.
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21Dec 2013 by R&O No Comments
First Lady of The Internet

First Lady of The Internet

Internet, People
Many moons ago, the internet was a barren landscape of computer nerds and curious onlookers. Before the days of Google, Facebook and YouTube, Marg Meikle, CBC's sardonic yet utterly charming 'Answer Lady' on the Vicki Gabereau show, contacted me for some Internet help. If my memory serves me correctly, she wanted to connect to this nerdy new computer network at home, a sometimes challenging and always frustrating endevour at that point in time. She invited me to her very groovy (her words) pad in Kits and we worked on her various computer maladies while she brewed tea and chatted about interesting stuff, all of which I can no longer remember. I helped Marg with her Internet connection (a dialup SLIP connection) that day and she jumped straight in, surfing, posting,…
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09Jun 2013 by R&O No Comments

One Less Scumbag

Crime, People, The Law
Thieving scumbags are all around us, snatching purses, removing the contents from our cars, breaking into our homes and causing nothing but headaches and misery. So it's exceedingly satisfying when one of them gets caught, and even more so when it's caught on video. A lowlife, miscreant piece of shit had the misfortune to attempt his shoplifting caper in the presence of an off duty North Vancouver RCMP officer. And it was documented in its entirety by an intrepid videographer who narrates the collar while conversing with a 911 operator. I found it hilarious that the thieving douche continually asks his captor, between sobs and whinging, "Why are you doing this"? I think we could all ask the very same question of the thieving douche, couldn't we? Behold, the disruption…
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