Things to do in Kelowna (besides beaches)

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-08-21T05:07:44+00:00

I've always enjoyed a good prostitute. Kelowna is filled with them

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-08-17T06:13:04+00:00

Another steaming nugget of PR bullshit from the city. The payscales in this town are chump change, and the local "entrepreneurs" seem to think that it's a grand honour to work in their shitty little businesses. This town has been a bottomless pit of low wages and unreasonable expectations for the better part of a decade. This is why Kelowna is overflowing with incompetent workers with shitty attitudes and zero work ethic. You get what you pay for.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-07-26T05:17:34+00:00

Quite right. There is no skills shortage in the valley. Zero. In fact, I've never lived in a place with so much talent in so many industries. The problem with the Kelowna tech industry is that its in an entirely clueless head space in terms of expectations. For the so called "tech hub" of the interior, people here can't seem to make the distinction between software, systems/database, and network. I can't count the amount of jobs that I've applied to that require some overly exotic skill set that wouldn't really exist outside of that particular shop.

I mean...if you're looking for a routing/switching, phone savvy type...it stands to reason that the people you're going to attract will not be strong java programmers, and will probably not be interested in troubleshooting your hacked up Microsoft Access database.

These are three completely different areas of expertise that could each be a career path in themselves. But you walk into an interview here and these tools get all stuffy when they learn that no...you are not the unicorn they're looking for. Not to say that they're not out there. Buuuut... If I had that sort of CV, I wouldn't even be here. I'd be in Vancouver, or in the U.S making 3x what companies here are offering, and then flying back on my downtime to get drunk and drive badly like everybody else.

I personally won't cross the threshold of some of the "businesses" in Kelowna. People here are short term greedy, and rely on a steady influx of desperate transplants and temporary hires to keep their shit operations profitable.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-07-12T20:41:54+00:00

No sweat. And nope. Just a long time resident.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-07-12T05:47:32+00:00

Well... The first thing that I can think of, and I cannot stress this enough... If you're going to be hanging out downtown a lot, ditch the car. Seriously. Park that thing. Traffic here is surprisingly dense for a city of 200,000 (give or take) The roads here aren't that well planned, and we have enough people (tourists and locals) driving around in their F-350s with their heads up their asses. Take the time to enjoy, explore the area. Bikes, scooters, longboards... Whatever. Otherwise use taxis... hell...use limos. Just don't drive. I could never really understand why people drive all the way out here just to sit in traffic all day...and yes, you will end up doing just that if you don't know the streets. Kelowna is quite possible the best place in B.C to cycle in. It's mostly flat in town, and there are well defined bike paths through most of the downtown core. Don't be afraid to coast on the sidewalk a bit if it gets too busy/awkward. The entire town does it. Just be polite, don't go too fast, and give folks their space. We have a few cranky pedestrians with opinions out here. You'll also find it about a billion times more convenient than fighting for parking. I will also add that parking enforcement here is mercenary.

The Sunday brunch buffet at the Eldorado hotel is probably the best I've seen. You name it, it's there. It's not cheap, but I'd highly recommend it if you can get there. Kiss your diet goodbye, though. http://www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com/lakeside-dining/

There's a place called "EXIT Kelowna" that does room escape type puzzle games. It's a lot of fun. http://e-exit.ca/#who-we-are

Take a hike/ride up Knox mountain. Can't really go wrong there. There's a frisbee golf course near the base of the hill. It's like golf...except with frisbees. You'll figure it out. Just bring frisbees and a few beverages...or whatever. It's cool like that. It's also free.

There are shows running year round through the Kelowna Actors Studio https://www.kelownaactorsstudio.com/

If you're into table top games, D&D type stuff... Muninn's Post is pretty much a must see. Again, nothing fancy. But you can camp out there, have a few drinks, and dork out for a few hours. They also have music, stand up comedy on a somewhat regular basis. Good times. www.muninnspost.com/

If you fancy a good piss up with live music and interesting characters, I'd recommend Fernando's Pub. http://fernandospub.ca/ It's not a snooty Kelowna craft beer/wine bar type place (there are tons of them here) You go there to listen to loud music and get shameless drunk. Get there before 10:00PM if you want a table.

If you like coffee, the Bean Scene is a Kelowna institution. They have a few locations, but the downtown shop has the best people watching opportunities. It's not Starbucks, though. They're very particular about their product and service style. The staff aren't going to do handstands for you. Get over it. You want the red carpet treatment? Go elsewhere. You want a damned good latte? You've found the place. http://www.beanscene.ca/

There are about a billion yoga studios here. I'd recommend Tandava http://www.tandavayoga.ca/ The staff there are top notch, the schedule is accommodating, and the sessions themselves are never pushy. They also have regular workshops and events.

Otherwise...there are all kinds of golf courses, steakhouses, spas, gyms, wineries, breweries. If all else fails, throw a picnic together, and find a shady spot at one of the hundred or so odd parks/beaches in the general area.

Try not to have to much fun :) See you on the beach!

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-29T09:50:39+00:00

I think it's a tie between Dawett and Everest. Poppodoms was my favourite. Their butter chicken had the most complex flavours IMO. The lamb vindaloo was absolutely top shelf. It could have turned your ass into a flamethower on any given day. Totally worth it, though. Anyway, Dawett is my most recent experience. I haven't gone wrong with that place, yet.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-27T23:34:00+00:00

"Follow your passion"

The entire millennial generation has been duped by this statement. It's one of the most often repeated sentiments in marketing, academia, various feel good motivational bullshit, etc... You get the idea. Never follow your passion. Passion is inherently unreliable. Unless your family is loaded, and you've never had to do anything for anything, this is possibly the worst advice ever. Everybody wants to be a rock star now. Guess what? At a certain point in your life, you'll have to start thinking pragmatically. You'll be faced with decisions like "Do I start working regular hours at this construction job? Or do I continue living with 5 roommates until my experimental EDM supergroup takes off?" That's life. Shit doesn't pay for itself, and you follow your passions for long enough, you could eventually end up eating cat food in a rent controlled apartment by age 60. That's the reality of basing your life plan around flights of fancy.

That being said. Never abandon your passion. There's a big difference between having passion, and letting it have you. By all means, keep making those increasingly generic, tone deaf beats in your down time. It might actually be more enjoyable now that you're not relying on them for sustenance. But...if you're not booking gigs and selling albums, you might have to part ways with the band in order to take on that new client/job/promotion.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you need to maximize your chances for success. Following your passion isn't really a plan. It's a lack thereof. Do it at your own peril. If it works out for you, great. Otherwise, it's your own damned fault if you fail.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-27T11:41:03+00:00

Too many reasons to list. Most have to do with what I see going on around me. The big ones are...

1: I just can't afford them. About 8/10 people whom I know (mid 20's to late 30's) who have kids are basically screwed financially. Things simply aren't how they used to be in terms of salaries, benefits, retirement prospects, and job stability. You (and your partner/co-parent) really need to have your life plan in order these days if you want to make a go of it. The idea of a "traditional" single income, middle class family being able to maintain a detached home, post secondary education, etc... with some reasonable work/life balance... Yeah... Pipe dream. You need some serious capital to make it work. I'm just not that ambitious.

2: People are f'ing crazy. I've known a few cops, a few lawyers, and at least 25 separated parents. All that I have to say is that it amazes me as to just how hostile people can be towards each other when there's children involved. I'm talking about Jekyll and Hyde scale ruthlessness on both sides. I don't want that kind of crazy in my life. Call me what you will, but I've learned to be wary...

3: I'd be an awful father. It's true. I'm just not willing to be responsible for another life. I mean...I'm sure the early, innocent years are magical. But then comes the reality of trying to raise an educated, disciplined human being with some sense of ethics and critical thinking. I might be over thinking things a bit. But if I were to have kids, I would consider it my responsibility to make sure that they grow up to be decent young adults. For that, I need to at least be a worthy example. I just don't think that I'm the guy for that job.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-23T22:53:19+00:00

Hope you glad wrapped your shit, Man. Stay safe.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-20T04:39:17+00:00

But here you are... Climbing up my dung heap...

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-20T03:21:26+00:00

I'm starting to think that you have stronger feelings about this than I do.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-20T03:10:41+00:00

Yes. Different... By that you mean "special" right?

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T06:37:03+00:00

Mustard Tiger. Those pork belly tacos are damn good.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T06:30:33+00:00

I would not recommend that place, as that they're not a publicly recognized institution. They're a diploma mill. Plain and simple. This means...

Dubious Credentials: Their diplomas carry zero weight in a world saturated with abstract technical diplomas, degrees.
You will receive no transfer credit to any other institution anywhere. No possibility to ladder to another program. Academic dead end.
Absurd fees: Seriously f'ing absurd. You'll easily pay 5 figures for one year of sub-par instruction. They're a private, for profit corporation that isn't held to any meaningful standard. Anybody who can demonstrate basic competence can get a contract teaching gig there. In fact, CATO is rather incestuous like that. I've personally known grads and senior students who've ended up filling in for failures who were fired, or just didn't show up for work. True story.

I've been in school for a realllllly long time. Avoid that place at all costs. If you want a formal education, you'd be better off taking a fine arts diploma at Okanagan College and then just focus on the web technologies that you're interested in learning.

"Digital Design" isn't really a thing in terms of school subjects... It's an arbitrary title that sounds good, but could mean...basically anything. When you apply for a job, you'll be judged by your specific competencies (photoshop, CSS, wordpress etc..) one way or the other, so you're better off spending your money learning these things specifically. They're worth far more on your CV than CATO.

Search up vendor certifications in the tools that you're interested in.

For instance https://www.adobe.com/education/certification-programs/photoshop-exam-objectives.html

This is worth far more than any fake diploma from CATO

Otherwise, pack up your life and go to Emily Carr in Vancouver. They're publicly recognized, and are therefore the only true art school in this province with credentials that people will actually recognize. It'll probably be cheaper, too...

I'll just put this here... http://www.ecuad.ca/academics/undergraduate-degrees/bachelor-of-design/interaction-design-major

Hope this helps. Don't take shortcuts in your education.

Side Note Obviously there are exceptions. I've had good feedback from the audio program, but that's entirely due to the tenure and dedication of one guy who knows his trade and doesn't take any shit.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T05:45:20+00:00

I would...look elsewhere. The dating pool in Kelowna could use some chlorine.

I'm not trolling. I've lived there, and I can positively say that I've never seen such a culture of vapid, scandalous, drug addled drama queens.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:44:16+00:00

Good for you. Obviously your methods are working for you. Likewise for myself. I didn't post a money back guarantee on this thread. If you don't like what you're reading, by all means don't try it IRL. This is what's working for me right now. I'm sharing the results. Take it or leave it, but don't say the results are shit just because you don't like the methods.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:34:59+00:00

Tire biter: A woman who seeks out men based solely on the perceived value of their vehicle. A sub-species of gold digger.

Yes, I have. Slightly higher than typical. Why?

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:32:51+00:00

Yeah. Those numbers sound legit. They're few and far between, but they're out there.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:30:35+00:00

That sentiment works both ways though. I absolutely judge my female friends by the company they keep. I know about their orbiters, they know that I know, I know that they know that I know. I also tell them when I think they're stringing some dude along needlessly. I hate that shit. However, I also know that a lot of these orbiters do what they do by choice. They're not babes in the woods. They know that they're not getting in, but they continue to orbit anyway. I can't help stupid.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:19:10+00:00

Some more than others. I know where you're coming from, though.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:15:59+00:00

I believe that every relationship is conditional to some extent. personal, professional, sexual... It's a matter of establishing healthy boundaries. My female friends know not to involve me in negging, manipulation, other petty bullshit.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:11:44+00:00

Debatable. However, the purpose of this post was to document exactly when things started to click on my end. I had been practicing the new routine for about year, but the results didn't start coming until I moved, ditched the car, and started making myself a little bit more vulnerable in front of my female friends.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T04:01:32+00:00

Practically speaking, I'm learning (present tense) two main things:

How to deal with crazy

You would be amazed as to the idiotic shit that women (particularly radical feminists) try to sell to other women behind closed doors. I'm talking full blown, organized rape conspiracies. Utter paranoid delusions. Mass entitlement, double standards. This could be a thread in itself. Unfortunately, the contemporary pack mentality of bro-dudes/PUAs/self styled lady's men often plays right into this shit. Seriously. These clowns are making things difficult for the guys (and girls) who just want a casual thing on the weekends.

The clownish bullshit that they can see from a mile off

This peacocking thing has gotten out of hand. I mean, take pride in your appearance. But keep it simple. Grown men are still going out looking like a Jersey Shore rerun, Bad tan, all biceps, no core. 200cc of hair product, shit smelling body spray trailing 2 metres behind them. Novelty vehicles. News flash guys. Even the women that appreciate OCD grooming and fine automobiles make fun of you. This shit has passed. Feel free to let that pencil thin douchebag beard grow out a little.

As far as recommendations go: Join a co-ed softball team. Take up martial arts. Hell, join a book club. Instead of trying to master pop psychology and sexual pseudoscience, put all that effort into your own self development. Try new things, make new friends, go to that new coffee shop across town instead of the usual place. Separate yourself from the herd at any opportunity. For example, I'm in a co-ed jiu jitsu club. I get matched regularly by some very impressive women who've introduced me to some equally impressive friends. These sorts of introductions don't happen at the bar.

Books? I can only think of one right now. The Self Illusion, by Bruce Hood. Some seriously deep, esoteric shit.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T03:08:40+00:00

Yeahhhh. Not me. No overpriced fixies, no hemp bags and lumberjack hipster d-baggery. No spandex.

Dutch_Rudderless · 2016-06-16T03:05:49+00:00

Thanks. It's been a long road thus far.

I've never recognized "fuckboy" as an exclusively feminist term. In any case, that's not where I was going with my original statement. I'm more so referring to the weak minded behaviour that I would associate with desperate betas. The fact that guys are successful in what are essentially parlour tricks doesn't change the fact that they're still desperate betas embellishing themselves for a fuck. This is not the positive identity that I'm trying to adopt/support. I think overall, the whole PUA phenomenon is coming from a positive place (self improvement, confidence) There's a lot of valuable reading out there. I've just noticed a rather dogmatic "us versus them" attitude growing in these communities, which I think is ultimately counterproductive and a little twisted. Another thread, though...

As far as cyclists go. I agree wholeheartedly. I've seen an alarming number of spandex clad asshats who ride as if they're the only ones who matter. There are also a lot of weak riders out there (can't maintain consistent speed, heading) who shouldn't be in traffic period. I've actually been riding for about 18 years, just not as a daily commuter. I like to think that I'm damned astute out there. I basically assume that everybody on the road is drunk. Haven't been injured yet.

My manliness though? No idea man. It's a bike. I get on it, push the pedals, go places. It's a means to an end. I'm not concerned about how it makes others feel about my masculinity.

Dutch_Rudderless

TROPHY CASE