Photography, Travel, and Freedom

So, day two and a half in Sydney. I feel like absolute shit. I stayed up the past two nights to watch the matches. Very disappointed in Team USA. They better get themselves together to bring the pain in 2014. One day we’ll be able to hang with seventh world banana republics like Ghana. Until then…

Tada!

You’ve seen it a trillion times, and now here is 1,000,000,000,001.

I hired a car for the morning and took my own little tour of Sydney with a great driver named Vladimir from Belgrade. He took me to all the local points of interest and stuff off the normal routes. I don’t like exploring cities – they’re all the same. Especially Western cities. Sydney is a mix of SF, LA, and Brooklyn rolled into one. It’s a cute city – probably great to raise a family here except for the dreadful taxes.

Ugh, I feel like utter crap – I don’t know if it is from not sleeping for two days (probably) or jet lag (less probable, but equally likely – make sense?). I’m drinking water like its my job with no relief. I’m going to bed – later…

David :: Jun.27.2010 :: Photography, holiday, journal entry :: No Comments »

I’ll make some posts soon about my time in Madagascar and the fragile political climate there, to put it mildly.

However, I wanted to get a note up about Mauritius, since it will be my only one. Read on for a very funny/tragic story…

Continue Reading »

David :: Jun.20.2010 :: holiday, journal entry, recklessness, travel :: No Comments »

Three for today…lucky visitors…

David :: Mar.16.2009 :: Photography, Uncategorized, holiday, journal entry, travel :: No Comments »

This is the MUST HAVE appliance of the year.

Holidays are coming up, buy this for everyone. Use promo code OPRAHWINFREY to get 50 off direct from Amazon.

I’m recouping from some oral surgery and this thing has been a godsend.

How many of you have finished a book in the middle of the night only to want to pick up another book immediately? This is your toy.

As someone who travels 3/4 weeks a month, this thing is perfect. No more leaving books behind in hotel rooms or packing an entire suitcase of books. Without expansion – 100 boks + blogs/newspapers/periodicals.

Seriously. Buy one.

Now.

You can make notes with it, use wiki, buy books right to it bypassing amazon.com (or use amazon)…Read samples (generous sizes). Expansion slots. It is amazing. (Just buy a little light clip – the technology doesn’t support back lit light – but you’ll swear you’re reading on paper)

Hearty endorsement for the readers amongst us.

David :: Oct.31.2008 :: consumerism, holiday, technology :: Comments Off

Downhill, downhill, downhill…

Where should I begin? Being told I answered all four of my wake up calls today (the final two resulting in my missing half of the Blue Man Group show)? The broken clock and phone in the room – the latter of which I unplugged for them to replace, only to be told when the service man got here that the problem was the phone was unplugged?

How about an hour and a half for room service? Or calling at 6pm on Thursday to have my room cleared, only to come back at 4am and nothing has been changed?

Maybe my key being demagnetized and my sitting in the hallway in front of the room waiting for someone to come up with a new key?

How about $8.95 for two Tylenol?

How about playing a $600 hand of blackjack only to have some asshole play a $25 hand, sit on 16 against the dealer’s King, dealer has a 16 and pulls a 5 (next card, for the record, was a 9) and beats my K/J?

The only bright spot here is Tao (Beach and Club). I’m quite certain I’m done with my clubbing days, but last night was quite fun. Being slapped around really was a lot of fun…hope that happens again sometime…

Actually, one other thing – Wayne Brady was terrific. See him.

If I ever do come back to Vegas, it won’t be to the Venetian.

Update: The manager of the hotel has called me a liar. He says that his people confirm they spoke to me on four separate occassions TODAY for four wakeup calls…never mind the fact that the bedside phone was broken and it was impossible for me answer from there. Apparently, I am a somnambulist. I got up, out of bed, walked down two steps, answered the phone on the steps, went back to bed, and did it again…not once, but twice…today….within six hours.

Calling for a boycott of the Venetian. You’ll get better service elsewhere – guaranteed.

David :: Jul.28.2008 :: gambling, holiday, liberty, travel :: No Comments »

Wanted to apologize, loyal readers, for not posting so much the past few days. Tomorrow is my thesis defense and I’ve been quite busy preparing for that.

Just wanted to toss that out there for you guys. After I’m done, I’m off to Vegas through at least Sunday – perhaps longer, not quite sure yet. So, figure for the next week or so, posting will be light. I’m going to do my best to get a rant in later tonight and a good post tomorrow summarizing how my defense went and a wrap up about my program. I know you guys are looking forward to reading that – and I’m looking forward to writing it.

Stay safe!

David :: Jul.21.2008 :: Photography, gambling, holiday, travel :: No Comments »

Like any good American on the 4th of July, I will be going to an Indian Reservation to partake in the ritual of ‘gambling’. Posting will be light (read: nonexistant).

Happy Freedom Day, Freedom Lovers…

David :: Jul.04.2008 :: holiday, liberty :: No Comments »