The self-propelled Weblog

I had recently been driven to madness by new registrants to the self-propelled forum being for the most part panderers of pornographic material. It seemed that regardless of the controls I instituted, they continued to confound me and link to some extremely inappropriate content.
"ENOUGH," I called, out loud to an empty room "I'm getting rid of that thing!"
As if "that thing" were some foul rotting garbage under the sink. In fact it is a very useful tool for contribution and collaboration but the lack of controls have led me to decide that the blog might be a better place for such collaboration.
So from now on, if you would like to contribute to the sites content please do so through this blog.

Thanks!

Posted by fourteen56 at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Finally after much perseverance over this weekend I managed to get 2 more continental maps completed and up on the self-propelled site. They are Oceania and Africa and both were heaps of work and it is very satisfying to see them up and operational.
That means all continental maps are compete with the exception of Antarctica which will have to wait because I don't have what I need to do it yet. At any rate, this was a small milestone crossed and in the future it will be on to country maps.

However, before I continue with them I will be working on the overall site to get it more consistant and with general areas of content completed to an initial stage that can be futher expanded on as required. For now I feel good and as it is 6:30 pm I am also really hungry, so I'm going to grab a shwarma from down on Main. Maybe some desert too... reward!

Posted by fourteen56 at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This morning I have finished the asia map and have launched it on the self-propelled.org site. The next step will be to launch Africa and Oceania, oh and Antarctica too.

Once they are completed I will begin modifying certain content on the main site pages and links which have really only been placed there temorarily for the purposes of layout and concept development.

Please return regularly to see changes or subscribe to this blog.

Thanks,
Chris

Posted by fourteen56 at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (2)

Recently we received an email at the Travel Bug from local UBC professor and author Ron Walkey. He has self published a great book about living on the island of Tinos in Greece called Luminous Encounters. It has garnered much local attention and praise from a number of circles. Recently Ron contacted us to inform us of a shipment of his books he'd arranged to our store. The message was quite amusing and a fun take on shipping, globalisation and sense of place.

THE MYTH:
It is always a pleasure to watch a pair of donkeys as the make there way down over the stone stairs of the ancient roads here. Watching out for each foothold they pause, step down, and everything they might be carrying heaves and rocks to the side. Then down another step, and a heave left. As I sit in the sun at Stella's kafeneon with a small glass of Marko's raki in hand I can see the donkeys about 200 meters from me as they begin their descent from this mountain village the to the port. Marko is riding side-saddle on the first donkey, bobbing and weaving with the beast. The second, roped to the first is carrying large wicker panniers on each side that are filled with "Luminous Encounters". All this is making its way down to the small port to where the steamer will call this afternoon to load the packets off to Athens and then on to Vancouver where they will end up in a nest of travelbugs. Prodding the animals forward with his stick, Marko shouts "Hew-vrai!, hew-vrai!" Maybe they pay attention, Maybe not.
.
THE REALITY
Four Athenian taxi rides over three days to three different post-offices to wait in nine lineups to confront four different clerks to fill in eight forms in French and Greek to buy seven boxes, three rolls of tape, yards of brown paper and a small acreage of bubble wrap.
.
THE FACTS
Sent Tuesday, February 27, one box, 14 'Luminous'
Sent Wednesday February 28, two boxes, each with 42 'Luminous'
Total sent = 96
Two clerks said to expect arrival in Canada customs in 6 days.
.
Lemme know when they arrive, or if they are delayed.
Best to you both,
Ron

Posted by fourteen56 at 01:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Over the last couple of days I've added 3 maps to the map navigational interface. These are North America, South America and Europe. I have also added the required navigation to select previous areas. The three maps are all based on accurately produced GIS map data which was compiled in Adobe Illustrator with Avenza's MaPublisher. More to come soon.

Posted by fourteen56 at 01:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)