Italian Festival 2009: Hamilton, Ontario

Today was quite an eventful day for me. Wasn’t too bored, or lazy at all. I spent all day pretty well outside. Well, the later half anyway. All afternoon outside. It was a blast. There has been many festivals here this weekend. Three to be exact.

Friday to Sunday there was the WingFest at Hamilton Harbour which looked like a blast with bands, chicken wings, entertainment for the family, carnival, and arts and craft show, boat cruises, fireworks, and what restaurants/ vendors had the best tasting wings. Fun for all to say the least. Honeymoon Sweet, The Spoons, April Wine played at the show, plus many others. I can’t really say anything about a review because I didn’t go. I should have went because it would have been awesome to see the fireworks, and the floating museum – a Canadian warship. Not sure if they’d let me take pictures inside as it’s part of the navy down at Hamilton Harbour. I’ll probably go next year if they have other more popular bands. The radio said that they’re giving Buffalo a run for the money, or well … competition since Buffalo was the first ever place to have a WingFest.

The second festival I went to this weekend was the Turkish Festival down at Gage Park. It was today, Sunday afternoon. It’s really nice to see different cultures, and foods and just overall differences in human beings. Turkish people have my utmost respect. The festival was an all day jamboree of music, dancing, food, and drink. Even though I can only speak english – it was still awesome. I bought a Turkish tea, and a Qur’an. I encourage everyone to go to the festival next year. At least anyone around the area, or at least anyone who wants to go. It was really nice to see a bunch of happy people, and different characteristics of different cultures. I loved it.
I liked it so much, I went back a second time. This time it was quite late in the afternoon, around dinner time. I picked up a Shish Kebab on pita from a food vendor. Originally I wanted a Chicken Shawarma, but they didn’t have anyone there selling any. Then I figured I’d go in line to get a Donair. But, ended up in the kebab line, which was still alright. Albeit, quite expensive, but it was well worth it. I also picked up a Turkish coffee that time, too. Drank about 6 waters throughout the day. It was the perfect day! Coming home from the Turkish festival, I realized that there was a lot of activity at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
I took my dog for a walk around the stadium after getting home, and sure enough – the Italian Festival was a sure sign of the activity. I waited for a few hours, and around 9:30pm I headed over to the stadium with my camera strung around my neck, and patiently awaited for the fireworks. While take a few pictures of the fireworks from the middle walkway in the stadium seats(the walkway), a security guard told me I was a fire hazard standing there taking a picture. So I thought about it, took a few more pictures and went and sat down in the east part of the stands.
Once the fireworks arrived, it was awesome – the pictures started rolling out of the camera. A bit loud, but the display is really awesome. They do a good job every year with the pyrotechnics. The Italian community loves it. The other onlookers love it, too. The italian festival consists of a free concert, Italian merchandise, food, and beer. A lot of  talented musicians play there.

I’m glad I live in such a diverse community. I’m proud to be Canadian. I’ve never said that before, and I’m so glad we have such festivals around. It brings people together in such an event where people can be happy, and be social at the same time. I love different cultures, food, music and happy people. I’ve yet to find a person to tell me stories of how they’ve became to be, or how life was when they were not in Canada. I’d love to hear, and see the expressions of such people. It’s one of the things that interests me the most about people.

Anyway, that was pretty well the extent of my weekend. It was a great weekend. Hopefully tomorrow is just as good.

Here’s a link of the fireworks, and a few shots of the stage area.

Proudly Canadian.
Have a good one.
Until next time.
Justin

Study Group – Hamilton, Ontario

Hello, for all of you waiting for a post – I’m sorry it has taken me this long to post an entry. I haven’t really been too busy, but I’ve just lacked subjects to talk about. And, I really want this blog to be pretty good. So far I can’t really complain, I like the ideas and situations I’ve wrote about and I plan to write more. And, if you haven’t read any entries except this one, the time is yours to discover inner thought and emotion. Give it a go, be critical and send me a comment or few. Just make sure if you do set up a similar idea of mine, give me citations to show respect.

In relation to the title, I’ve came up with an ongoing idea on how to set up a study group. The idea is still in the works and is quite preliminary, and it’s an awesome idea which I think will work out. Once the idea is concrete I will try and get some attention in the local newspapers and articles that float around my city. And, here’s an introduction to the idea I want to present to you:

Education is such a relevant path, and everyone needs such a thing. Whether you’re at a level far beyond many, or on a smaller consensus. You learn everyday on how to do a new thing, or a walk a faster/ different path in life. Situations come up and you learn how to flow with things, and eventually that flow guides you through everyday life. Some things are forgotten and some things will always be remembered.

Definitions of Study Group on the Web:

a group of collectors who meet or correspond to advance their mutual interest in a particular group of stamps; virtually another name for a small …
www.adminware.ca/esg/esg-glossary-s.htm

Taken from Google.com

I want to create a study group that will contribute on both research, and documentation. Obviously the topic would be agreed upon. Once the data is retrieved, it can either be placed in a blog or website dedicated to that documentation written. This means huge knowledge gain on a particular subject, completed with bibliographies so we don’t get sued from any authors or publishers, and so we can backtrack what resources were used. Subjects should be worth looking into, have vast amounts of data that can be conceived. Nothing that discriminates people or things. Basically, we should write about something of interest that is not illegal.

We should write the documentation in Verbatim form. Copying and redistribution of an entire document permitted provided a notice is preserved that is subject to a copyright. All images under the Creative Commons Noderivs Noncommercial license version 3.0 or later.

The study group would be situated in a two or three person group at a library since the library always has a wealth of information, it’s quiet, and has all the resources possible. The internet has many resources too, but it’s hard to be descriptive on one particular subject when you can click on many other websites that not so relevant to a subject and will take a lot longer to orientate.  Which means it’ll take more time to learn a subject that only should have taken 5 weeks or 4 months. When we agree on a subject, we should never make it the fastest time possible to finish such things. But take all the time that is needed for one subject. Plus researching on the internet will sometimes create tension on who wrote it and where the resources came from which isn’t a good thing. The ideas need to have backing via bibliographies. Then once we feel the subject has been discussed enough and we’ve agreed on what we wanted to achieve – we move onto something else.

With such documentation written, our interface would have to be revision orientated so we can revise things if needed. A revision system can be such things as a CMS. A CMS is a content Management System. Some big names are; Drupal, WordPress, Xoops, Typo, Plone, MoinMoin, Joomla, etc..
A list of resources can be found here.

If someone doesn’t know how to write bibliographies, or write the subjective documentation. Obviously the first step would be to learn how to do so. The ideal group would be based on agreeing on something, and helping each other out no matter how or what we come across.

Three things I’d like to include as well; One should have a laptop as the library only allows you to use a computer for a limited time. If you’re at a computer elsewhere, it would be a burden to the group and that puts singularity on the line. The opposite thing we want to do. We as a group should visit the library either 2 or 3 times weekly. Discussion is obviously needed for such a time frame to exist. Two; Everyone in the group should have an education of Grade 12, or more or mature in nature want to learn. Three; Open-minded individuals are a must. We must have correlation between all of us to achieve our goals as a group.

People build bridges to get across water dry and safe with a mode of transportation. That mode of transportation might be the feet you walk on, bicycle, automobile, or motorbike. Those people building the bridge know something others don’t. They share the wealth(information) with each other with the tools they’ve been given. If the concrete is over-saturated with water, or if there’s not enough concrete mixed into a barrel that concrete will be weak when it sets into something solid. If that bridge isn’t formed with tie-rods how much resistance will the bridge have? How much weight will it bare before it breaks down?

I could probably go on with a million other questions about that bridge being built. But you get the idea. If there are no questions being asked, is the subject worth studying?

A wealth of knowledge is worth more than words can describe.

Anyway, this will be an ongoing thought as I do want to create a group and eventually it will happen. All we have is time, and sometimes there isn’t enough time in one day to do something you like. There’s always the days after the last to do so.

If you’re interested and you’re in the area. Let me know. I will provide information about myself if one is interested.

Regards,
Justin

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Subtle Decisions;

Here I am, bored and debating what I should do while drinking a couple beer and elaborating what I did and had to be done today. No, it wasn’t a yes or no situation. A “Got To Get Out” type of situation. Not that I like to tell people what to do, but, it was relevant to a situation where potential harm could have been done, and people could have suffered both physically and mentally by either loss of oxygen, or someone dying because of CO2 poisoning.

There I was procrastinating on the computer totally focused on the computer listening to music, and chatting on Internet Relay Chat like I always do. Blocking everything out of my head. Seamless time rolling by, yet nothing to show and account for. Faint beeping I hear in the background. No, it wasn’t the smoke alarm that I’ve heard more than a dozen times. But, it was the Carbon Monoxide Detector going off.

Rushing out of the room deliberated and focusing on others, I tell my mother and her friend to get out of the house with my dog. My mother grabs the dog, while my neighbour puts on her shoes and my mom slips on her shoes and exits without caring. Happy wasn’t even part of my emotion, I opened the back door in relief while airing out the back part of the house, then I went to the front of house and opened my front door. My mother and her friend were already in the house next door. So, evidently everyone was fine.

While keeping the doors opened for a little while longer, my mother phones in a frantic emotion stuttering and splurging out words of worry. I told her I was fine, and everything is alright, and the house and alarm are alright. But, that wasn’t enough. While on the phone I went out to the local hardware store, and bought a brand new Carbon Monoxide Detector.

Walking home at a nice pace almost arriving at my house. I see this slum of the earth walking by. Greasy hair, holey jeans, and probably missing teeth with a smoke in his hand. He says, “Pull up your jeans, you’re going to freeze your ass off”. Well, I wasn’t in the mood for some comic relief, so I uttered back, “Hey buddy, go smoke another cigarette”. Which that evidently shut him up, and put up his defence mechanisms up on high alert, and bowed to my honest self, “Oh, hi man. Have a good day.” he mutters and carries on walking. I’m surprised I said something. But, I wasn’t really focused on those consensus. I wanted to get back home, put the battery in the Detector and plug it in and see if the house had any ratings of monoxide and point out anything that was wrong and start troubleshooting.

A short time after arriving home, and putting the battery in the detector, my mother calls back, and she told me the fire department will be arriving shortly. Four or Five firefighters arrived in their massive tank, knocked on my door, and began investigating the source of the cause with a Carbon Monoxide/ Natural Gas meter and a bunch of questions upon arrival. They tested every part of the house including points of interest including the water tank, and furnace since they are only the gas inhibiting futures of the house. Nothing came up. A sign of relief, and a situation well handled both on their part, and mine.

Now, I’d like to thank all firefighters. Thanks for being the people you are and helping such communities. Prevention and action to such things as relieving people, and determining the state of the situation. Fire prevention, and helping when the time is needed. Saving lives is the best thing anyone can do, the gratitude of what you do and the situations you put yourselves in to save people, animals, buildings and forests.

–Justin