Some background: Skype is a software-based voice (and video!) chat system that works over the Net. With a headset and/or speakers and microphone you can chat system-to-system with anyone for free. With SkypeOut, this is extended to regular landline and mobile phones as well. So slap a headset onto your computer, get your high-speed line going (ADSL, Cable) and call someone, anyone, anywhere in Canada. Or the US. Toll free, no charge, nothing.

The caveat – the only one I see – is that this is a temporary offer and will likely only run until the end of 2006. The theory is that Skype is positioning itself even further into the VoIP (Voice over IP) vertical and getting ready to compete bigtime with other players such as Vonage. I’ve always liked Skype, and they offer more than just these services. Video conferencing and voice conferencing are easy to do and perform fairly well. Oh, and if you really want to go virtual, get SkypeIn and a phone number and say goodbye to your phone line completely.

Well, here’s a few why nots: the price was tolerable, but frankly only because we’ve all been conditioned to make it tolerable. The show started 15 minutes before the hour, but we were treated to no less than TEN commercials, each a full minute long. Then of course came the trailers… I believe there were 5 of those but honestly I tuned out by that point. All in all, 20 minutes passed before the movie started.

Lastly, I happened to notice one of the food “bundles” that were being sold. Large pop, Medium popcorn and a bag of Twizzlers. $12.49. When do we say enough is enough??

Now I can’t say I’ve done a ton of research on this, but I don’t think I’m out of line when I say the $12.49 probably cost the theatre about $1.00 to buy/make. Heck, let’s make it $2.00 and be really generous. $2.00 to $12.49 is a six-fold or 500% profit. When was the last time you were able to do anything other than maybe that one lucky lottery ticket for a 500% profit?

So on one hand, the MPAA is complaining and campaigning big time about movie piracy, downloads, etc. Yet on the other hand they turn a blind eye to movie theatres that rent their movies and gouge the living hell out of everyone actually trying to pay to see one. The movie industry needs to WAKE UP and realize that it’s not the cost of movies that is forcing people to stay home, rent/buy DVDs, download illegal copies of movies. It’s the out and out theft of the facilities that show the movies that make it basically too painful to pay to see them with any regularity.

Competition would help this, I’m sure. But as far as I know, there are 2 main chains of movie theatres in Canada. That’s it. There’s the odd Mom & Pop shop (way too few) but they either are bought or die off. In fact try to find a single movie theatre anymore. The Stanley is gone, so is the Park.

So what do you do about it? Here’s a few suggestions:

a) Don’t go to the movies – for those of you that “must”… keep it to a minimum ;).
b) Don’t buy the food – ever. Make a stand, say you’re not willing to pay $12.49 for something that you can buy in a 7-11 for 1/4 of that – and we all know how expensive 7-11 is.
c) Tell a movie theatre company – I did. Click here to fill out a feedback form for your “theatre experience”. The criminal experience.

I’m not one to go after causes, but come on. If a family of 4 wants to see a simple movie and have a bowl of popcorn with their kids, they have to plan on $50-$75.

THAT’s piracy.

So thanks to Mare and Rennette (Mare’s friend) I made it. They stuck with me through the 10km and we ended up having a very pleasant race, even if it meant dodging hundreds if not thousands of people along the way. Turns out that not only does Vancouver have bad drivers, it has bad runners too ;).

Decided to stay with Nikon, as the Coolpix 995 I’ve had for 5 years has treated me very well. Also decided to make the leap to Digital SLR – many factors point to going that way, except price of course ;). But ultimately it’s worth it if you take many pictures, and I definitely do – especially when travelling.

So the Nikon D70s was my choice:

London Drugs had a couple of packages available, one with just the body and one with the body and a Nikon lens (Digital SLRs have interchangeable lenses, of course). I actually decided to go without the Nikon lens and picked up a Sigma lens that LD had on sale that week instead. So rather than having the 18-80mm lens that is provided with the basic Nikon kit, I have an 18-200mm lens with the same speed – for effectively the same price. Add on a Haze/UV filter, camera bag and 1gb CF card and I was good to go.

So far, great camera. As with any amateur, I have a LOT to learn but I’m getting there. My usual “read every website and piece of paper I can find on the subject” attitude should help.

In honour of the new camera, here is a shot of my newest nephew James:

Looking forward to taking many pics and evolving my “skills” as a new-to-the-game photographer.

Some links:

Nikon D70s product page
Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 lens

Spent 2 hours there, saw many – you guessed it – animals. Some unique to this visit, like a Panda (Mare was very happy):

Also got close to a gorilla – very cool:

Oh, and we went to the Iwo Jima Memorial as well. Had no idea it was so big – 30 ft. figures holding a 60 ft. flag up on a 10 ft. pedestal. Very impressive:

For those of you that are wondering, Jeff and I were at the protest yesterday. Was amazing to see, and we’ll probably never experience anything like that again. Lots of pictures of that too, will show them off when we get back.

Jeff is back home again. The boy drove 7 HOURS each way to come visit. Hats off to him – he says he had a great time, but 7 HOURS? Wow is all I can say. Thanks again, Jeff, was a blast.

Heading home tomorrow, should be home by midnight. No, really … ;).

Some examples… the Seinfeld Puffy Shirt lives at the Smithsonian now:

And who remembers Ted Baxter?

Ok maybe not everybody…

How about something more air and space. Chuck Yeager’s plane, the first to break the sound barrier:

Like I say, lots to see…like the Capital Building, very impressive:

Seeing Arlington Cemetery tomorrow, I’ll post later.

A flat-fee cab ride downtown to the Lincoln Memorial started us off:

We saw much more as well, but it’s late – I’ll post more pics in the morning!

Mare of course has seen more, being born there, but we won’t hold it against her.

Got to DC via a shuttle flight, took about 90 minutes. After about a 40 minutes Super Shuttle ride (I think I’m going to call it Super Shuffle, the guy was asleep when we got to the van and I think he stayed that way during the drive) we arrived at the Hilton Washington. Crappy weather here today, unfortunately, so we may not sightsee too much today. But here is the (wet) view from our hotel room so far:

More blogs to come… we’re awaiting the arrival of Jeff to see what’s up for the rest of the weekend. The plan is Smithsonian(s) tomorrow and see how the day goes as far as monument visits, etc. We’ll keep you posted!