The Capitol Theatre

Fort Edmonton Park's Capitol Theatre was completed in 2011, and they routinely screen a selection of classic films. And yet, despite having visited the park a couple of times since the Capitol opened, I haven't yet taken advantage. It's certainly gorgeous. 

Checkers Chumps

Rodent, Run

Faster than a speeding bullet? No, but faster than my shutter speed or reflexes could handle. 

Checkersmate

Sequential art! It forces you to fill in the missing action. The brain is a pretty amazing thing.

Telling a simple (very simple) story with Photoshop is pretty easy. I just opened the two photographs, checked the image size, started a new image twice the height of one of the originals, then copy and pasted both photos into the blank image, one atop the other. The borders were added with the "stroke" function in blending options. Thanks to Jeff and Allan, who taught me pretty much everything I know about Photoshop. (They know far more.)

Panorama Mania

For three or four years after I purchased my little Pentax point and shoot, I was enthralled by the camera's panorama feature, which allowed users to easily compose and stitch together panoramic shots to create a super-wide-angle effect. As you can see, the images can sometimes turn out a little distorted, but overall the effect is pretty good, at least to my eyes. Plus you can craft some interesting special effects with a little creative staging. Click to embiggen for the full effect!

Images of Dad

As I noted on Mother's Day, I don't have sufficient poetry in my soul to properly express my love and gratitude to my parents. So this Father's Day, I present some of my favourite photos of Dad, who worked for decades - and to this day - to take care of Sean and I and to ensure that everything turned out all right for us. As these photos will show, Dad is a real Renaissance man - pilot, Mountie, sportsman, salesman, but most of all, the best Dad one could hope for.

 

Canada's Generic Holiday

While in Edmonton, visit...Fort Edmonton.

I love Canada for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that we have a holiday called "Civic Holiday." There's no religious or historic occasion, no dead white male to celebrate, no rhyme nor reason for a national day off. It's just a long weekend, a time to goof off.

So Sylvia and I made the most of it. On Saturday, we visited Mom and Dad and my brother Sean at Fort Edmonton. Mom and Dad were staying overnight in the Hotel Selkirk for their 40th anniversary (albeit a week late, I didn't book in time), so we thought we'd meet them for lunch. And then we had adventures.


A sweaty salesman peddles furs to a skeptical customer.

Father Earl, Preacher of the Damned, with his glowing eyes straight from the fiery pits of Hell itself!

Naturally I had to ham it up at every opportunity.


Sean hijacks a caboose.
As did my brother.


Sylvia smiles, Sean skulks.

Sylvia, always a good sport, puts up with the family eccentricities no matter what the occasion.


I just like this picture.

It's no SLR, but my little Pentax is capable of some pretty nice shots.


"But I, sir, am no gentleman. As you shall soon discover."

Fortunately, I had no hat. Anyone remember "Harriet's Magic Hats?" Hey, how come Ladies didn't have to remove THEIR hats?


Look out for J. Lauder!

What is the shocking secret of the Mad Butcher's superb sausages?


What Sean Woods would look like if he came from the planet Carggg. 50 geek points to the first person to get the reference.

All in all, it's just another Sean on the wall.


Earl contemplates past, present and future.

I.E., "Why didn't I wear sunscrean? Will this self-portrait turn out? When do we get ice cream?"


Sylvia points the way.

You'd think that after all the excitement of Fort Edmonton, we'd relax. But no! For on Monday, we attended Heritage Days, Edmonton's wonderful multicultural festival, where Albertans come together in the spirit of international solidarity and our common cause: to scarf down ethnic food and marvel at the throngs of other people.


Scott Friel brought his charming new daughter to Heritage Days. Note, however, that he wears the symbol of the dread Empire upon his breast.

My friend Scott Friel is a new dad. Gawk in wonder at his spawn!


This happy fellow handed out balloons all day, making people smile. By the way, I hear Western Union is the best way to send money fast.

Ah, the late 20th and early 21st centuries, when every man, woman and child became a billboard, working cheap to sell goods and services we don't really need.


Jump for the Balloon God!

But on the other hand...hey, free balloons.