New Zealand Hotel Unzips Eye-opening New Loo

For my sister who believes way to much of what she reads from her friends.  ;o)

Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel and the Sofitel Melbourne often attract visitors from around the world who want to visit a loo with a spectacular view. Now Queenstown’s newest hotel, Sofitel Queenstown, is joining that prestigious list with the most eye-opening male toilet of them all.

The second floor men’s toilet, which services the complex’s restaurants including Bezu and Fatz Cat, has been tastefully and aesthetically designed by the complex’s developers Cam Marsh and Mark Perriam of Perron, and Brett Taylor of Group CDA. It features six unique individual ‘stands’ manufactured by Three Sixty Limited in Auckland.

But it’s not the tasteful design or subtle lighting that has tongues wagging in the New Zealand resort town.
It is the six-metre long backdrop of life-size photographs featuring local models in varying poses directly behind each of the six stands – each with a full view of the action.

Urinal

One has a tape measure out, one a pair of binoculars, another has a camera, a fourth is peering over her glasses and so the list goes on. Queenstown photographer Sheena Haywood shot the images of models from local agency Ican — after Auckland model agencies turned down the job when they heard where the images were going to be placed.

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Posted in Humor, Oddities, Playtime, Too Spicy for some | Tagged , | 3 Comments

John Bogle: The Twelve Pillars of Wisdom

My dad dropped this off at my house after an afternoon of 4th of July festivities including grilled food, happy kids, exuberant pets, and family talk.

“Despite the 15% stock market rally of the past month, a nice rebound from the early April lows, the bear market in stocks that began nearly 14 months ago may yet have some life remaining. But at that scary low point, even if you were a prudent investor, and even if you had seen the decline coming, you may well have had at least two second thoughts: "Why didn’t I cut back—or even eliminate!—my equity holdings a year ago?" And "What on earth should I do now?" – John Bogle, Founder of the very successful Vanguard Group.

Pillar 1: Investing is not nearly as difficult as it looks

Pillar 2: When all else fails, fall back on simplicity

Pillar 3: Time marches on

Pillar 5 Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Pillar 6: The eternal triangle

Pillar 7: The powerful magnetism of the mean

Pillar 8: Do not overestimate your ability to pick superior equity mutual funds nor underestimate your ability to pick superior bong and money market funds

Pillar 9: You may have a stable principal value or a stable income stream, but you may not have both

Pillar 10: Beware of “Fighting the Last War”

Pillar 11: You rarely, if ever, know something the market does not

Pillar 12: Think long-term

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Posted in Books | 2 Comments

NYT: Ruins of the Second Gilded Age

In Chandler, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix, more than a dozen subdivisions are unfinished because of the economic downturn. The developer of this abandoned model home, Michael Roberts, chief executive of Charlevoix Homes, intended to turn a 35-acre former alfalfa farm into a community of 92 luxury houses, with prices starting around $500,000.

Ruins 

Photo by Edgar Martins

During the boom, Charlevoix Homes grew to 32 employees; it was recognized in 2006 by the state’s small-business association as one of the “50 Arizona Companies to Watch.” According to The Arizona Republic, Roberts’s wife hosted a show about real estate on a local television station. Last August, Roberts filed for bankruptcy protection, listing $118 million in debts. A fence has been erected to protect the three unfinished model homes from damage.

See and read more in the New York Times ….

Posted in News and politics | 1 Comment

Microsoft Orchestra, a Summer concert

 MSO_09

Enjoy a Microsoft Orchestra Summer concert at the Ballard Locks on a Sunny Seattle day. I had so many friends in this group which in the last six years has gone from a scary-small 25 to an impressive 82 musicians. And I forgot a pivotal piece of the camera tripod so I had the camera tied by it’s strap to the tripod.

This montage includes cuts from the music of Jurassic Park, Copeland’s Rodeo, and the 1812 Overture. The canon booms are from a digital device. The director is Jim Truher. Those of you on Facebook have already seen this.

I’m working on a follow-up of a friend’s performance of Grondahl’s Trombone Concerto too. So keep your eyes peeled.  :o)

Posted in Music | 3 Comments

Pacific Cascade – Summer Concert at the Locks

The Pacific Cascade Big Band plays at Seattle’s Ballard Locks as part of the Summer Concert series. Soloists in this montage include Charlie Wickham and Sharon (Shaz) Adams. Songs include Take Five, Do Nothing till you hear from Me, Summertime, and Makin’ Whoopie. Our director is Cam Davison.

We play this Thursday, 2 July at 7 PM at Cottage Lake.

Posted in Jazz | 1 Comment

Quintessence Saxophone Quintet Plays Bach: Fudge Fugue

I’ve been sucked in by the borg in Germany called the Quintessence Saxophone Quintet. Jeff, you arrange this, I’ll find the players.

Or this one, as many of you know my fav:

I’m off to the the Ballard Locks for some sax goodness with the Pacific Cascade Big Band. I doing solos on Misty (alto), Queen Bee (tenor) and Summertime (tenor). Looks to be a beautiful day.

Posted in Saxophone | 1 Comment

Windows 7: Now my peeps can be first and save half.

Win7

Many of you may have heard about the awesome pricing for Windows 7 that Microsoft is offering to customers for the next 10 days. The offer will be available from online retailers and directly from Microsoft through the Microsoft Store. Most of my family and friends are all over this so I thought I’d put it out there for my Windows Spaces family.

Windows 7: Be first. Save half.

Pre-order Windows 7 today at the Microsoft Store. You’ll get it for at least half off and be one of the first to get it. Hurry, quantities are limited.*

It’s pretty simple

Windows 7 is coming on October 22, 2009. Here’s an easy way to get it fast and save a bundle: Pre-order a Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49 or a Windows 7 Professional Upgrade for $99 at the Microsoft Store.   That’s about half off the estimated retail prices.

Want more info? 

Go to the Windows team blog and find out all the details. 

* The offer begins on June 26, 2009 and will continue while supplies last, or until July 11, 2009, whichever comes first.

Posted in Computers and Internet | 9 Comments

Good Girls do not get on Slides

Firstly, I stole this title from Zep because it just made me laugh. Zep is a fellow with which English is a second language for him. Me, I have no excuses for my use of the English language.

So one of those girls would be KimP who sent me a bunch of sax quartet audio recordings to listen to. It was fun, but I’m spoiled. I prefer videos because I can tell so much more from a good video. In a video you can often see a players reaction to a mistake or how they internalize rhythm. In that vein I share one of my quartet videos.

This is  a session with the Professor Gadget Sax Quartet, a fledgling group that meets once a month every once in a while. It is a rare piece where I actually agree to play the soprano, not my best instrument to say the least.

Putting something like this out there is like baring one’s soul or going on a slide with a dress on. Many hobbyists refuse to record themselves but I find it both a very humbling experience and a good learning tool.

Be well my friends.

Posted in Saxophone | 6 Comments

I luv Bing. :o)

Bing

Posted in Computers and Internet | 3 Comments

Perpetuum Jazzile – Africa

Posted in Jazz | 3 Comments