I've taken to disputing a grade. Has anyone done this before? I am disputing a C paper in a course where I was getting As and A+s only. It dropped my final grade to a B+. I know, I know, a B+ is a good grade. This 3% (max) difference between the B+ and A- could mean the difference between the Dean's List or a 4.0 GPA. If I get an A in law (unlikely) I'll have the Dean's List requirements fulfilled. If I get a B+ or less in law, and retain the B+ in Fiction (the class in dispute), I don't make the Dean's List by this much --->||<--- (3%).

The paper in dispute was because the instructor is a hippy and I'm a shit-disturber writing about the pros of war. The majority of his comments were questions answered in my paper. With comments like "So: people should die so we can enjoy ourselves?", when that is clearly what I was saying--It was my fucking thesis!

"Female teachers were common before the war" Right beside that note of his in my paper is the line: "Examples of the types of employment women were traditionally entitled to prior to the war include the profession of Broken Ground’s Johanna Seyerstad as a teacher (24)." So frustrating.

Needed to rant.

Stupid hippies.

Spent About 10-11 hours in a room this weekend, watching some kind of fucked up movies. This is my limited recollection of these:

1) Flame: About an hour and a half long film starring 70's glam rockers (and ugly sonuvabitchez) Slade. Film quality was horrible, and super dark. Essentially, the movie was about a band named flame (oddly appropriate name methinks) and their trials and tribulations on thier way to fame. No story arc to speak of, most of the action occuring with secondary characters, and really no resolution, since the band gets dropped at the end, but there's no real rhyme or reason to any of it.

* first 15 minute break *

2) Serge Gainsbourg - Made for TV special called "Melody"
About a hald hour of the French Leonard Cohen going on about some chick named Melody Nelson, with her horrible dancing, and crazy psychedelic light show. Music was cool, camp value high.

3) Revelation starring Tadeshi
You know at the PNE, there's this ride called the Revelation, that's so crazy that they film your reaction and you can buy the video? Well this is that video, done with someone of questionable mental abilities and who's super creepy. I was rolling in the couch laughing super hard at the absurdity of it.

4) The Devil and Danial Mouse.
Essentially a old school animated short about the evils of the record industry. Probably the least entertaining thing of the evening.

5) The death of Syd and Nanci
As performed silently by babies/children with a horrible soundtrack and poor sound quality. Thankfully short, but seriously fucked up, what with the murder and the heroin and babies and all. Pretty much the only reason I would have kids would be to have them star in something akin to this.

6) Corey Haim: Me, Myself, and I
Pretty much an attempted pilot for a reality show made by Corey just as his career was starting to disappear from under him. Seriously, the most hilarious unintentionally funny thing I have ever seen.


* 2nd 15 Minute Break *

7) Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (reimagined)
This is Wrath of Khan with the over dubbing replaced with some seriously funny shit, by two drunk Star Trek fans. They match up the dubbing with the lips quite well, and made some pretty funny observations. What I liked best was when they gave up making actual sound effects opting instead for "Kerblamo!" and also when they started losing control and laughing. It was pretty funny.

* 3rd 15 Minute Break

8) Charlie's Family
A fictional documentary based on the Manson family murders. Pretty fucked up shit, but quite well acted and portrayed.


Almost fell asleep during this one (there's only so long you can sit in a comfy sofa).

* 4th 15 Minute Break *

9) Black Devil Doll From Hell
Worst. Movie. Ever. Repressed hardcore Christian woman buys a magical ventriliquist dummy and fantasizes about it. It comes alive and rapes her (but she likes it). It disappears but she's a chnaged woman who craves sex, but normal men don't satisfy her, she needs doll dick. Doll kills her and returns to the store, ready for the sequel. Could have been 15 minutes, but extended over an hour and a half. Really poor sound and video quality, the slowest pans in film history, needless footage, and the only breasts to be seen belong to a really ugly fat woman. Horrible, but one of those things that needs to be seen to be believed. This ended around 4:30 AM.

* 5th 15 Minute Break *

10) Deafula
A vampire story, akin to Dracula, but performed in Sign Language. Really slow and boring. Also exceedly stupid. ("I know he's a vampire, I'm English, I know these things!"). This is the Torture Garden living up to it's name. I fell asleep half way through. Corinne managed to stay awake through it, which I will forever be amazed by.

We got out around 7AM and had to walk home from the Main Street Skytrain station since buses hadn't started yet. (Fuck Translink.)

Thanks to the folks who put it on (Kier-La, and Criminal Cinema), who accompanied me (Corinne, Aidan (only for a little bit), Mariko, and BJ who stayed for most of it). It was a blast, now I can't wait for Cinemuerte this summer.

CONFESSIONS OF A RUM-ADDLED MIND

Rum Manifesto Issue #2

"Scavenging around Vancouver and the North Shore"

Over the weekend, I attended a party that spanned over two days, beginning with a Scavenger Hunt the first night that commenced after the legendary 1.5s goal by Matt Cooke. Armed with 2 disposable cameras and a list of 60 or so items, we packed into my recent acquisition, a 2002 Mazda Protege. Items ranged from the rare, including a two dollar bill and an 80's playboy, to the insane, including the spanking of a stranger and provocatively mounting a public monument.

The rules: take pictures anywhere that clearly illustrate the subject and turn in cameras by 7:00am. We could optionally meet at checkpoints and engage in challenges that ranged from a four legged shotglass race to a blind game of tag involving a mannequin (strip poke-her).

North Vancouver provided us with access to Janet's four leaf clover, smoking in front of a non-smoking sign, pink clothes for the team, a belly-button ring, a funny church sign, an opportunity for Gareth to proclaim his love for Satan as well as a few kodak shotgun moments in front of city signs.

Once the Hockey game and Zwan had cleared out, it was time to hit the downtown for the really kinky stuff...first, where do you find a guy in Chaps? Nelson and Davie, that's where. Also knocked off about five items in an adult store where a flirtatious male clerk posed for a classic picture with G as he made his rental purchase of "Man 2 Man". Also got the 80's playboy and Ang and I making out in public.

The only checkpoint I was in attendance for was probably one of the most entertaining...a deep throat banana contest outside "The PumpJack" on Davie...classy. Contestants managed to non-destructively cram a banana down their throats, 4-5.5", but our G made it to 6! Some replied, "We can't be friends anymore!!!!" Also hit the all-night pharmacy to spank a clerk and catch a mullet.

Robson was a little disappointing, but it does get dead after 1:00am. No cops to high-five other than two who had a female suspect handcuffed w/ a purse on the ground for about 20min, not sure why they were just standing there...Soph danced w/ a stranger.Metrotown...here we found the monument to mount, a mermaid in the middle of Crystal Mall, as well as a golf course to cartwheel over, tennis court to hang off and a tree to climb. Had to be a little creative in making a snowman, catching an "accident" and shaving a swear word into G's head...went for J's spelling of "FUK". G also protested our thoughtless destruction of the Pigeon habitat. Prolly a better idea than mine to protest hockey outside GM Place.

Pictures were amusing the following night, my couple shining moments didn't turn out, nor did G riding a mermaid...in retrospect, we had tough competition from people who went to male strip clubs and danced on stage along with a group of brave, brave souls who went to photograph the skanky mattresses underneath the burrard street bridge, where they discovered a shanty town ala Shangri-La and were chased away by angry winos. "We know where you live!"

The video footage from various points rivaled CKY I must say...

-Duke

Easter dinner out in Pitt. I am running on three hours of sleep (tops) an egg and a coffee. I have an understandably large headache.

But it's all good in the sense that last night was spent watching some of the most bizarre shows ever made. I know that Grae has intenetions to post a thourough review of the evening, but he always has intentions.

It all started with Slade in Flame. I kind of liked this non-sequitor movie about a glam band from the UK (Slade plays the band Flame... I know, I know). What little plot this movie did have (the record execs stage a radio station hostile takeover, the record exec has his daughter kidnapped over a stolen contract, the two timing groupie, the left at home wife, etc.) did not string together. the film quality was horrible and the lighting was some of the worse I've seen in a long time. It could be because of the projector or the footage used, but there were scenes that were full black with a headlight dot of white. I liked the absurdity and shear lack of plot. I would have hated it had it not been for the surroundings of the Torture Garden. A room with only people expecting the worse and getting what they asked for.

Next up was the shorts program. And by "shorts" I mean "insanity". Serge Gainsbourg's Melody had me laughing the hardest. A psychedelic display of the story of Gainsbourg and a ficticious character by the name of Melody Nelson (note to self: hilarious online name forming--as well as Alan Smithee) and their short-lived relationship. It was a television special in France (Jinny TV) in the early 'seventies. Anyway, the "Melody" character gyrates and spazzes in what is supposed to be in the fashion of "Go-Go" dancing. All I could think about was how high one would have to be to truly understand "the movie within the movie" with this one.

And Corey Haim: Me, Myself and I was priceless. I think it is one of those things you need to see for yourself. But let's just say that it is the ramblings of a washed-up desparate drug-recovering TigerBeat actor as he begs and pleas for a future in fame. Hilarious. I think Grae can describe it better. It also helps I am exhausted and can't really remember a lot of last night.

There is a lot to write about but I think something needs to be said about the puppet porn and the Deafula.

Black Devil Doll from Hell was filmed on a home camcorder in 1984 by one Chester N. Turner. Woo. This has quite the odd cult following online (do a Google search search to get a good idea about the movie and the content). Puppet porn at its finest. While there were some seriously funny parts, what could have been a short was turned into a feature (read: extra) length movie. The panning in this movie was obscene (not like puppet-sex obscene, but rather fat man in a speedo obscene). what could have been a couple quick shots of the Helen Black's apartment turn into half the movie. What could have been a quick snipet of pedestrians walking becomes the other half of the movie. Excruciating and a cruel movie for the 3:30-5am slot.

Even worse was the 5-7am slot. Deafula. Dracula in sign language. And I don't mean a women in the lower corner signing the dialogue. I mean the dialogue is all signed. There is overdub of what they are signing, but, as expected, Deafula is not dialogue/handy heavy film. The girl next to me was snoring and I think four people stayed awake for the whole night (including yours truly--Grae nodded off in Deafula).

And at 8am I went to bed jittery with cola.

I've got a new blog (again... I'm up to four)! This time I am using the new blogger program Dano. And is it buggy. A lot of fun, that beta testing is.

BUNNY I saw bunnies on the way from the ferry! They were cute.
Thursday and yesterday (April 24-25) I attended an academic freedom conference. The speakers were faculty from SFU, UBC, Toronto, Wales, Capilano etc. and some graduate students from UBC. The first day we spent speak more broadly on what freedom means. How much responsibility does the University have towards the greater society is the universities role to further society through knowledge or be economically profitable even though that might mean the loss of important knowlegde and research. Yesterday, we talked about the very insiduous and widespread influence of the pharmaceutical corporations. Dr. Healy spoke to us he was hired and then almost immediately fired from the U of T for speaking out about the dangers of anti-depressants. He pointed out there is some evidence that for some people anti-depressants can disturb them and make them far more suicidal than being left without drugs. Dr. Oliveri cut short a case study on a drug for a widespread blood disorder (starts with a "t" thats all I know about it) At first the drug was promising but then she noticed scarring developing on the liver that could have potentially fatal consequences. She went to the drug company and said she would stop the trial and tell the patients and the medical community about the serious side effects of the drug. They said she was wrong and if she released this information she would be sued. She went to the University and the University Hospital. (Sick Kids in Toronto) but they wouldn't offer her any protection and refused to get involved as they were about to sign a $20 million deal with the same drug company. A few of her fellow doctors stood up for her but all were severely punished. Grant cuts, removal of privelleges, denying promotions etc. She was fired five times from the University and was only completely and safely reinstated after an international outcry and movement to get her reinstated. The drug company is trying to get the drug licenced in Europe. Dr. Oliveri bankrupted herself to launch an appeal in Europe to have the EU relook at the drug. Also a Proffessor of English at SFU who was a expert witness for the defence for the Sharpe child pornography case and the head of the BC civil liberties association came and talked to us about free speech. Very interesting conference. Sorry for abandoning my friends out in the cold and wet waiting for me. Thanks for the Bunny.

so it has been a while since i posteded and corinne was getting mad, and complained "no one is posting on the blog!" So, here it goes. Last night I went to see Zwan, the new Billy Corgan band. They were great, though their set was a little short, a mere 90 minutes. and presently im in vic visiting my friend rob gotta go now.

Rae and I had planned to get together last night. That failed miserably.

I got out of my exam close to two hours into it. Evidence that it was longer than the mid-term. I left the mid-term around an hour and a bit (I was number two to leave that one). Anyway, at around 3:30pm, it was too late to go home first and too early to go to Grae's work to pick him up. I chose the A&B hoping he would get off early--which he did. I emailed Duke asking whether or not he would be there and he said he had plans, and that I should have told him earlier. I thought Rae would have mentioned soemthing to him. They live together. Not a big deal; I said that I would drop off his birthday gift (two days shy of a month overdue).

We hop onto the skytrain and jet across Burnaby, hop on the first bus and away we go. We show up and no one is home. I knew Rae had a thingme downtown during the day, but since I said that I would pick up Grae after his work and show up after that, I kind of expected her there 6:30 at the latest. We were a bit early (6), and we waited outside in the rain for about half an hour to forty five minutes. Grae called Bob a few times and tried to figure things out. Grae and I were freezing so we decided since there was no sign of Rae or when she might be back, we decided to just go home. As we were walking to the bus I startled Grae with a loud "Fuck!" as I watched the bus go by a block and a half away. Things were not looking good. There isn't even a shelter at that stop.

We did see Bob though as he was getting off of the bus. He must have waited an hour and a half for Rachael.

Instead, I went home and scrubbed the carpet, had a shower and went to bed.

I lead an exciting life.

There are plans for drinks tonight if anyone is interested.
Somewhere downtown, with no stops at the clubhouse. We're renovating.

And just so Rachael doesn't think I am mad at her:

While my notes are printing, I would like to take the time to say "goddamnfuckdamnitdamnitdamnit!" as I enter my Law final clueless. That is what happens when you put two weeks between your last class and exam and you don't study.

Fuck.

At least even if I fail this exam, I'll probably still get a B- or C+.

Just a quick little post before work. Gawd, I really don't feel like being here today. Sales are down, its cold and wet out side, and there are wolves chasing me....Thank god for coffee (and my first real roll up the rim prize: a muffin).

Corinne was trying to set me up for some epic post about what I expect from this party. Well, I expect mass drunkeness. I know Cool Quarter's got the tequila, we have some visitors coming from all over the place (Killa Cali & Ottawa) so a good tiem should be had. I'm trying to get a large turnout, and I want a wicked good time. Booze, and friends, should be fun.

A little later maybe, I will post what I thought of Cowboy Bebop, but I have work to do now, sadly. (Maybe I will take time out of the time I normally spend doing crosswords or printing philosophy papers out on the company dime.)

Pictures for the Special Party are coming in. Consider them advertisements to a mellower party than Cinqo de mayo. I'll get Grae to post his idea about May 10th here.

Here's Grae, at the "Special Party." I suspect the night was still young.

And this is why I drink in the comforts of home.

Note the sugar built up on the bottom of this bevy.

Mandatory weblog quiz time!

"It's time we started our own struggle." - #19 Mimura

Which Battle Royale Character are You?

Disney movie! What the HELL are you doing taking
this quiz, Goldilocks?! You're not a very
sexual person...in fact, you're probably a
virgin. You'd be better off trying your hand at
voice-overs for a Saturday morning cartoon.

What kind of porno would you star in?

You have been involved in a shameful online RPG,
and your soul will never be clean. You've
soiled the memory of a dead author and
neglected yourself and other human beings for
months at a time; there is no way to make up
for this. The Lord has turned His eyes from you
forever!

Keep back, you utter trash!

Why Will You Go To Hell?

And I'll admit, I seriously cheated for this one:

Legolas

Who is your Ideal Lord of the Rings Mate?

Grae ended up picking up a can of the acrylic (as opposed to paint-thinner required alkalyd) paint. The room is almost done. I just need to do around the door frame and behind the wardrobe. I think in the nea future I will paint the doors and closet, but that requires me to take them off and paint them seperately.

I ended up seeing Cowboy Bebop on Monday with Aidan and Grae. I wasn't really expecting to go until I got a chance to go with Tim, but I went anyway.

I liked it. It was hard to look at Edward as anything other than a humanized G.I.R. in order to suppress the homicidal rage (I was going to post pictures, but the ftp isn't working... methinks I can't use the ftp servers at work. Either that or telus blocks shaw servers).

I wish that I could see more movies, but between time, work, school (soon to be done as of tomorrow) and household duties, I think I see too many movies as is.

Back to the grind.

wow... I just read your news Graeme. eeeeee... I'm so happy cause you sound excited. I hope the money can be found or sweated/ earned and transfered or some thing. Corinne, the living room sounds ab fab! It's all about the lighting hunny. oh and if I may (having painted many a room myself) go for the soap and water paint. you will love yourself for it! I did.
ok I just came on here to say I'm going, with some beautiful people, to the 2:20 showing of Cowboy Bebop tues. so If any of you beautiful people would like to exchange glances at crucial plot twists with other of like mind, body and beautiful spirit I know I'd be thrilled. love, kisses and we gotsta' keep spreading peace, Karen

It's link time!

Canadian Comics a go-go!
I can't belive I stumbled across this wicked site. "The Mundane Adventures of Dishman" rules. I want a Dishman shirt.

And you thought we were boring?

Who wants to go to the Torture Garden next weekend?

I'm putting off my thoughts about Grae's schooling. I guess I have enough things to think about.

I wonder how I am going to start working here again. I've thought about a change in careers, but I feel bad for leaving Stephen. It used to be Stephen, Tim and Peggy, and it still has a tinge of Peggy, but I think Peggy'll do fine without me and having Kimberlee around. She's adapted so far. I wonder what kind of work I would otherwise do. Anyone hear about a job opening anywhere? I don't know what I want to do with my life in the next five years. I know I'll be working, but should I work where I get paid the highest amount for the least amount of work (here)? Or should I go and do something I really like, such as testing video games or work in a movie theatre or video rental place?

I guess I have a few years to play with.

Grae will probably want me to continue working here because of the hours, the pay, the lack of stress (save Ian, who hasn't been so bad as of late).

I've got my final final on Thursday. It's strange, I haven't studied, per se, but as I fall alseep (some nights) I find myself thinking of all the types of insurance I would want if I were to own, say, a bookstore that shipped internationally. In a sense I am studying, but how weird is that?

And I'm busy with the home renovations. I found an awesome lighting thingy for the living room. The sliver one is $54.95 (out of stock) and the really cool blue one is $69.95 (in stock and much cooler). And they use halogen bulbs, so it's a less yellow lighting condition. Which is kind of what I want to do. I'd move the living room lighting to the bedroom, and dispose of the fire hazard that is the the bedroom fixture. I feel like I am on TLC. On a TLC rampage.

But Grae's right, we shouldn't spend money on these things, expecially when we need to save for his school. It looks like it's $6,000 a semester. As much as I don't like student loans, it may be necessary and then pay it off as the semester goes on. Even with the TAships, it won't cover the cost of tuition, and then there is the housing issue. I don't know how this is going to work, but since my income is equal to his output financially, as long as we use the TAships and whatever other work Grae can get to pay bills and rent, it should be okay. However, it's really nice to have a savings built up before going into a burden like that. Emergency funds and all that. Thinking outloud again.

Back to the painting issue at hand. I finished two walls, and now I need to finish off the rest of the room. I hope the other two cans are enough. I accidently picked up the wrong kind of base coat. It takes 6 hours to dry, but I think it's a one coat deal. We'll see. I may take it back because clean-up involves paint thinner, whereas the other paint was only soap and water. Meh.

Wow. Corinne sure has hyped my news up quite a bit. And yes she's right, I did spend a lot of time last night devoted to that game of games, Battlefield:1942. (Playing with someone you know is a whole lot of fun, I must say, and it seems to improve your score, but maybe that's 'cuz I was playing with a master). I wasn't really sure if I wanted to post my news here, or my other page, but I think that this one is a little more personal, and I have more friends who check this one out methinks.

So here it is: I'm finally going to grad school this fall.


Wow. I almost never thought it would happen, and I had forgotten why I wanted it. Now it all comes together, I procrastinated for a few years, which I shouldn't have because I had a feeling that I wouldn't have been accepted (I always get that kind of feeling for some reason, call it fear of success or something). But Corinne finally convinced me to do it, and now I feel really quite happy about it. I will keep you all posted as the news comes.

As it stands we are not really sure how this will work financially (although its looking like Corinne might go back to work for awhile, sadly). I will get a certain amount of money from TAships, but its unclear how the cost of school will be. I, again, will let you all know as details arise. Its weird having to quit my job, and I'm not sure how I will go about it, since they do seem to be planning for the far future. I hope I can stay on, in some respect, because I really do enjoy this place of work, but hey, its no where near as important to me as school.

I'm through yammering for now.

Anyone feel something's been missing from Hockey for awhile? Something that has been missing since they made the crease useless and they tried the "glowing puck" crap?

Remember back when you heard the venerable Howie Meeker calling the plays made by speedy Guy Lafleur and the Canuck's own toothless Tiger Williams? Remember the fun it was to watch before it all became so much about big business and not the love of the game?

I do. I might be showing my age a bit by saying those names, but it just seemed more fun back then. I'd been feeling this way about hockey for awhile, still watching it with my friends. We all swear and scream in disgust at the even-up reffing and some of the high pay divers and loafers.

But I got a breath of fresh air just the other day when I was flipping channels. I put the remote down and thoroughly enjoyed the next hour and some odd minutes when I stumbled across one of the final regular-season games of the NLL. That's the National Lacrosse League to the uninitiated.

Now, it may just be that it's because I used to be on the Abbotsford Warriors Lacrosse team back in the day, but I really enjoyed watching that Lacrosse game. It's essentially a faster-paced and more physically aggressive version of hockey with no ice and no giant contract deals. All these guys have regular jobs and yet play their asses off - just because they love it. Kinda how it should be, I say. The NLL is only really starting to get coverage now, so don't miss out on the early days before it goes too commercial!

Anyone interested can see the next Vancouver game on Sportsnet (check your local listings) on Saturday, April 19th @ 7pm PST. It's Vancouver Ravens vs. Colorado Mammoth in Colorado. It's the playoffs! A friend of mine is looking into pricing and availability for tickets for any remaining local games. Anyone interested in learning more about the game, watching it on the tube, or even going to a game, feel free to get in touch and we can hook it up!

I've started the painting. I'm so tired. I've decided with a blue that's a little darker than the previously proposed. You'll all be able to to see it in a couple weeks on the tenth. I only hope I can be finished by then.

I was hoping Grae would've made his announcement, but it looks like he was busy playing Battlefield:1942 (at this time I would like to say that I have processor envy over his computer vs. mine) with Gareth. I guess I'll have to wait a while longer before I post my opinion and comments about the news.

Other than that, I still miss Tim, Passover still bites, and the living room will be painted. It's already started, so I will be seriously concerned if I can't finish it.

I find I clean and take on big tasks when the world gets to big for me. I think I need to see a pee-sigh-colo-gist about that.

Oh, and after last nights Seder (gefilte fish is all you need to remember), Grae's grandfather said he would see us on Sunday. I had no idea what he was talking about, but luckily we got filled in today by Grae's dad. Apparently there is an impromptu Easter dinner à la Wiggins's that night. Which of course fell on the same night as my family's dinner. My parents are flexible so the switched nights to next weekend. I can bring one or two extra people for free turkey dinner. Anyone without the symbolic turkey representing the zombification of Jesus Christ this year? That wants it... I know Rachael's out.

Covered in sanded spackle and paint, going to sleep, only to paint all day tomorrow in my skivies, I am Corinne.

Alison: I finally know what you're talking about!

There appears to be a bit more good news to celebrate for Cinqo de Mayo!

But I'll let Grae tell you, instead.

Black Wednesday is over, the Seder was gross, and long. Four hours long. Four long hours long. I apparently was giving a recoiled look at the youngest member of the family (11 months), and the mother noticed and said, "She won't bite." To which I replied, "Yes they do." She came back with, "You have to admit, she is cute." and I said "Yes she is." I should have just said "Yes, I have to admit in polite company (otherwise I would admit to how freakish your child looks)."

I know, it's brutal, but this thing has zombie hair and is really freaky looking. I will admit that she has potential to be a bombshell in her late teens, early twenties. She'll have black hair and ice blue eyes, but as it stands her current look is not cute on babies. It also helps that I find babies intimidating.

Speaking of babies, I got an updated picture of Sue and Emma (her 5 week old daughter). I'll post it later for those who like to feel like they are getting old. And admittedly, Emma is slowly losing her Churchill look (the "all babies look like Winston Churchill" theory is true--pictures will also be posted later). When did we get to be adults, guys?

*&@#%$^%#!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, perhaps it's not what I miss most, but it's &^%#ing well up there!!!

You know what I miss most about you guys?

If any of you are on the %$@#ing Atkins diet, you're &@$%ing polite enough not to talk about it!!!!

Does anybody think that ketosis can be harnessed for the power of good?

Now for some sad news, my favourite co-worker got fired. I’ll be sure to keep in touch via email. We’re supposed to watch the Cowboy Bebop movie. So sad.

I told Duke that I would post my wacky and busy schedule for the next few days.

Wednesday not only finds me working (and boy am I ever), but tonight there is a Seder at Grae’s grandparent’s house. I have a feeling the dogs Jeremy and Tinker will be receiving some gefilte fish snacks during meal time. Fish cakes in brine is not tasty.

Tomorrow I… I sleep in? For being so hectic, I realize that I need someone to help me move really heavy televisions and furniture in order to paint this week. Friday is the day of paint. I still haven’t picked a colour. I’m seriously considering the Home Depot consultation. Maybe I’ll go with two colours. I think I’ve been watching too much T.V. home décor shows. Thanks, Angela.

Friday I’m taking off work to paint the house uhm… not red. This will last into the night, I assume.

Saturday day I’ve got work, and possibly more painting. I think I should begin to study just a bit for my final exam in Law on Thursday.

Either Saturday night, or Sunday morning, it is off to my parent’s house for Easter. It all depends on whether or not the Easter Bunny decides to hide eggs for me. I love Easter egg hunts. They’re the best.

And then I hope to find time on Monday or later to clean the house, visit Duke and make arrangements for Cinqo de mayo, and my boss’s wedding.

Corinne:

*Hrrrrrmmmm*?, Oh yeah I'm still 27. God how the time flies, (INSERT RANDOM AGE RANT HERE). Eeeek! Oh...just killed a fast spider. Sorry, thought it was another cockroach...very interesting work environment. Otherwise, I was coined as one of the best technical writers my boss has ever met the other day, I think he was kidding when he threatened not to outshine 'im...anyhow I write technical descriptions and project proposals that defend the validity of new research and development amongst small, private companies. However, with my intended audience being Revenue Canada, I've already violated the prescribed maximum word length of four characters...You should come over soon though, I have about 20 hours of movies I haven't even previewed yet, including BIZITA Q, Audition, Versus and 5 classic marx brothers flics! Damn, what the hell is that on the floor? I think it's one of those silverfish I keep hearing about...is that what they look like?

Owen:
Wow, that's a drag about getting hit by a car, did you happen to note the LP? If I do take the plunge and purchase the 2002 Protege I went over from bumper to bumper w/ a mechanic last night, I'll rebalance that ratio of good BC drivers to bad BC drivers from 150:600,000 to 151:600,000. Feel better?

Aw crap, I gotta go...there's a gator crawling around in the network drop closet...

Mike "Duke Radule" I.

*next manifesto around easter*

This morning was warm and sleepy and freakishly domestic.

Last night I excavated Ben's breadmaker from the dark recesses of his closet, and resurrected the bread mysteries of the past. I then set the machine to finish at 5:50 AM (10 minutes before Ben was due to wake up). At 2:30 AM we were both woken by the sound of the machine turning on and kneading the dough. For half an hour, neither of us could get back to sleep while the bread kneaded and kneaded and kneaded. I was just getting used to kicking around Ben's postage-stamp sized place, but the noise from the kitchen this morning has made it much much smaller.

So at 6:30, Ben woke me up, even though the alarm's volume was turned way down, and I went to check the bread. It was, quite frankly, the most perfect loaf of bread I've ever made. I've flubbed a lot of bread in my time. We ended up eating hot bread and butter in bed, getting crumbs all over the place (apparently we both think that the other is worth it).

We ended up walking out to the bus stop together (I had to run an errand with him), and I kissed him goodbye before he got on the bus destined for a long day of making people pay. I headed back to his house to pick up my stuff and (evidently) write this blog entry.

He phoned half an hour later to tell me that his co-worker had seen us and referred to me as his wife. This was very significant to him. I'm not sure how I feel about it - it's what I want eventually, but right now I'm full speed ahead for school.

ACK!!! I sound like a such a girl, and certainly not like myself. It's kind of nice to have quiet, happy moments in my life, though. Luckily, Ben is game for necrophile jokes and anime nights (check out the gratuitous panty shots in "Kiki's Delivery Service"), so it's not boring in the least. I don't think I've finished the conversion to hausfrau quite yet, but it's kind of fun to play at it for a day.

-A

I just read over the past two days on here and I just want to say (sniff, tear) that, um, GOD! WE SO RULE! We are the beautiful people, yes, yes we are. that's the whole thing really. This blog reminds me of a favorite saying of mine. yes I've been heard (maybe not listened to, but at least heard) saying, "There's only so many really great people in the world, so we have to find and support each other." This is like, us doing that and doing it well. I must say, I love you guys! cheers.


If I were to write a book of answers, every page would have the word "love" It sounds cheesy, but think about it for just a moment.. and don't ever stop. -Big Poppa E

I forgot to mention! I did a project a couple weeks back for Marketing* that was a magazine proposal (link takes you to magazine covers). Anyway, I got the project back today and we got the highest mark in all of the classes (which I think was expected of us). And with a design editor like myself, it's damn straight we did that well.

*The reason why I thought about this was that my final exam was today. Don't tell Grae, but I didn't study very much. Maybe a couple hours, but even then it wasn't really studying. I showed up for the exam and Erica was already there with her notes and her flash cards and all the necessities for last second studying. She cracked out her flash cards, and between Lora, Erica and I, we were pulling .250 average. The top students in the class were looking, what I like to call, doomed. With the exception of Lora, it was a mass confession about our horrible study habits for this exam. So when the instructor came in I asked if we could do the exams in pairs. It was worth a shot. The exams get handed out (yellow and "goldenrod" papers to read off of! It was visual hell), and I crack it open. I do about 8 of the multiple choice questions before reading through the whole exam to see what I can answer with confidence. After filling out one of the more major questions, I got went to the beginning, feeling a little bit more refreshed about what the course was about. And it was really easy from there on in. I dropped maybe 10-15 points with stuff I couldn't recall for the life of me, and I wasn't going to sit there for an hour hoping the exam fairy would plant the memory back in my head. I was the second to finish, and was relieved to have finished my first exam in six years. Six years. Time flies.

Hey Duke! I finally have your birthday gift. Are you still 27?

I'm in stream-of-consciousness mode right now, so forgive the impending ramble. If it gets boring, change the channel or just spin on, ok? Oh, I'm not including smileys in my posts, so just imagine a crooked grin throughout. Thanks, heh.

So I don't know if it's the intermittent sunshine, or if it's just spring, or what. I've been in one hell of a good mood for about a month and it just keeps coming on. I can't put my finger on why exactly, but I figure I'll just go with the flow. Don't question being happy, right?

It's not like I haven't been dealing with the annoyances of daily life. In fact, these past two weeks have seen me fighting with the government and my old employer trying to straighten out a mess caused by my old company getting caught 'being creative' with their bookkeeping. Screwed over a lot of people I worked with, too. Anyway, I finally got my ex-employer to convince the gov't that I in fact did NOT earn twice my actual income and therefore I do NOT owe them $6,000. I only hope it actually gets sorted out. I'm holding off on doing cartwheels until I see the notice in the mail. Man, that place is FUBAR.

But anyway, even despite that and the world going to hell in a handbasket on another continent, I've been feeling really good. Just getting outside is a total pick-me-up for me, which is strangely cool. I have to get out more this summer, even if it means burning the crap out of myself the first few times. I have some beach time to make up for from the last few summers. Corinne, we should round up the wagons and take The Clubhouse gang on an outing or two this year. Hit the beaches or a park or something, you know? Relax a bit in the sun. What do you all think?

With this good mood has come a welcome burst of motivation and inspiration. Although the first few weeks was painful, I've gotten back on the weights (they had been staring at me with their accusing eyes too long - the benefit and curse of owning your own equipment, I suppose). Even my roomie is getting on the bandwagon, which is good since having someone to adjust the weights and spot is very handy for both of us. Helps keep the motivation and stop the slacking, too. I'm constantly amazed by the human body. I was slacking for months and yet a few weeks back on a routine and I can see and feel the tone coming back. Not bad for this old bod.

I've also caught myself writing a short story, of all things. I've always been an avid reader, but my meager talents with pen and paper started and ended with drawing, or so I thought. Who knows, perhaps it still does (and I suck at writing). I might also finish it, too. The damn thing seems to write itself anyway - just like all my really strong creative visions have done. I hope I can finish it and that it's worth putting out there. I was always very self-conscious about my artwork and I can sense that again with writing. I also have a twinkle of an idea for a script and maybe even storyboard, too (purely for my own enjoyment, of course). I'm sure that's getting ahead of myself. I haven't written a script or drawn up a storyboard since I was at OUC in Vernon...

I've also attempted (so far in vain) to do some artwork for a small blurb article for the website I somehow wound up as a staff writer for (gratis, unfortunately - but I love the subject matter). If any of you are interested in Lovecraft, horror, and the Cthulhu Mythos, you might find a few interesting things over at Calling Cthulhu, the place I write the very occasional article for and haunt the forums as Wilbur Whateley. Stop in and say "ftagn" if you're down with that. Heh. If I do ever finish that short story, it'll wind up at Calling, I'm sure.

Hell, I'm feeling the best I've felt in about 3 years, if not longer. It's amazing what a bad job and a totally botched relationship linked to that job can do to a man. That and two failed relationships while in an emotional tailspin from the previous problem. Those didn't help, either. I'm almost considering giving that whole boy/girl thing re-consideration, but thankfully my cynicism saves me from what would surely be an end to my happiness [insert half-assed grin here]. I think I'll play it safe and keep my head down a bit longer - no sense getting all gung-ho about it.

What's even more amazing is what a few months away from those situations can do to revive one's spirit. Here's a tip for you all: if you're working a job and it's killing your soul, just get out - in the long run it's not worth it. Trust me. I hope none of you have to work at a place like that. I wish fun jobs and good co-workers upon you all!

I think I've about said my piece here. Time for me to clean up my spelling and HTML-ize this thing. For anyone reading this who is in the same headspace I was not too long ago, I'm sorry, I'm not trying to rub anyone's nose in anything. Happy people can be a pisser, I know. ;^) Ok, I know I used a smiley there, but it needed one real bad...

It's painting time! And I don't mean "happy little tree" kind of painting, either. I'm talking about overalls, rollers and brushes kind of paint. Here's a series of hearts to show you what kind of colour I was thinking (plus a red, but Grae doesn't like it):

♥♥♥♥

Anyway, I'm letting you guys help in the actual paint colour selection for the living room. Should be fun. I would like the colour to be bright or light. Those are the two options that will spare this room from from being a dungeon. After the living room is all painted up, I'm going to tackle to bedrrom. To which I'll be taking less suggestions as it will be a blue of one shade or the other (if that helps with your living room decision).

Select!

So I just got back from the Paul Van Dyke show at the Commodore. I'm not much of a dancer, so I usually sideline myself when attending dance clubs or events that promote dancing, but tonight I decided to venture forth into the crowd. My newfound courage was found at the bottom of a bottle of 151 which I left in the parking lot after consuming it minutes before entering the club. By the time I had climbed the stairs and scoped out a good sitting position, I was ready to abandon it and hit the floor... For about 10 minutes. Fully embarassed and in pain from dancing (it's been too long obviously), I limped back to my spot. Luckily, being the pessimist I am, I brought my sketchbook and was able to keep myself entertained by sketching and doodling. Here is the strange part:

On three seperate occasions, women came up to me, the guy with his head in a book, sitting nowhere near the dance floor. Not only did these women approach me, but the got my attention and started talking with me. All of them (three) wanted to peruse my sketchbook. Anyone who knows me well will realize that the usual contents of my sketchbook aren't exactly 'chick bait' yet all three of them seemed to really like my drawings (eg. emaciated ghoulish kid, screaming banshee, widemouthed gargoyle wrapped in chains, assorted eyes). I ended up sketching one in return for a rose that she bought me from one of the peddlers wandering around selling cigarettes, matches and roses. hmmm. At any rate, I walked out with three phone numbers tonight, and a pink rose. i handed out some doodles to the woman who posed for me.

I couldn't have flirted with them if I wanted to. The music was way too loud for me to understand anything they had to say and vice versa. I ended up writing down most of my conversations just like we used to in highschool when the teacher wasn't looking. All told, it was a strange experience that I'll have to recreate at a later date.

In other news, I was hit by a car the other day while crossing at a marked crosswalk. I don't understand how people can blast through an obvious stopline / crosswalk combination when there is someone walking on it. I had just stepped past the centreline of the road when the driver side mirror whacked me in the right hip / back. Knocked me down onto one knee (luckily not in the path of the car). I'm no worse for wear really, but the car didn't even stop. It didn't slow down. It just sped off. I've had near misses on crosswalks before, but never before had I been hit. I KNOW this person was aware of my contacting the car because it made a loud noise as i hit the mirror DIRECTLY NEXT TO HER WINDOW. Wouldn't you stop in a situation like that? Bunch of savages in this town.

Hey guys, just a quick note: With the influx (Yay!) of recent postings, I've decided to leave it a daily page in the front, archives are to the left of here. The archives are in case you want to search them or check responses or reply to any other post. Keeps things fresher and up to date this way. Complaints? Suggestions? Photos you want hosted and posted?

So I "registered" today. I am not a student for the summer, I am but a waitlist for classes. Any suggestions when approaching the teacher about bumping me 53 people ahead of the line?

I finally finished the essay that has been hanging over my head for two weeks!! Dr. Schuler might not like it, but he can go suck an egg! I pulled A+ in Dr. Best's class, so it's not like my self worth is hanging on this grade.

I'll update more later.

-A

CONFESSIONS OF A RUM-ADDLED MIND no.1
"KAIJU BIG BATTEL REVIEW"
by duke radule

(www.kaiju.com)

"Kaiju Big Battel is a modern conflict of epic proportions. Unbeknownst to most humans, planet Earth is under threat. Scattered throughout the galaxy is a monstrous mob of maniacal villains, menacing alien beasts, and giant, city-crushing monsters that are waging war against one another...Presiding over this mayhem is the Kaiju Commissioner, an enigmatic human-arbiter appointed by a clandestine cadre of world leaders to regulate Kaiju rage."

I was speechless when I witnessed my first Kaiju battel in badly rendered quicktime glory...the only alternative for us westerners, or anyone not living in the northeast corner of the atlantic coast...Apart from a pathetic two minute segment on Jimmy Kimmel live, this three ring celebration of classic japanese monster movies can only be witnessed live in New York, Boston and occassionally Chicago.

Kaiju, meaning "mysterious beast", began as a series of concept art sketches in 1994 and evolved into a massive exhibition involving monster suits, 15m x 15m chain cages, foam cities and pure adrenline. Fighters develop their suits over the course of several months and then decide whether to fight with the people's champion, Silver Potato, or join
Dr. Cube's evil faction.

As for the monsters, the aforementioned Silver Potato arrives in a round-ish silver costume resembling a capri-sun drink bag turned inside out. His efforts to maintain his title of reigning champion are thwarted only by Dr. Cube's gang, Cube appearing as a guy in overalls with a surly look painted on box-head. Other battel-ers such as American beetle, Uchu Chu (the space bug) and Hell Monkey, my personal favorite, tackle one another and perform some of the most painful looking body slams you'll ever see off the sides of the arena cage. Why Hell Monkey resembles the illegitimate love child of Elmo and a pig, I'll never know...

Not eccentric enough for you? Ok, try this...ever seen a club sandwich put the ham-on-rye smackdown on a walking can of chicken noodle soup before? Not sober I'll wager...Kung Fu Chicken Soup was getting wailed on by the Club, and I mean a Club-wielding club sandwich. I'm also a fan of the tag team "los plantanos", twin banana brothers (Pedro and Pablo) with a little south american flair.

The special moves are classic, very reminiscent of early japanese tv shows like Kikaida and Spectreman...take Silver Potato's Au-gratin kick for example, it catches monsters like Unibouzu off guard every time. Check out their grueling battle in the video section under "live battels".

Some might try to write this whole concept off as a pro-wrestling hybrid, one part WWE to two parts old-school japanese mass-media culture, but damn, you just can't stop watching as the insanely stupid tale unfolds...not that I concur with Jimmy Kimmel's grim assessment, as if this were a late-night
fixture on CH or the new VI (like that recent "BONZAI!"), I'd have the VCR or TiVo set.

Cheers,
Duke

I can't remember the last time...I...submitted...a...post. Through the miracle of modern computer science, a scripting glitch effectively cost me a 15 minute rant I tried to post on Friday...much to your benefit I might add. Anyhow, most of you know me as Mike...no? The jello shot guy? There ya go...

So anyhow, this looks like an appropriate forum for rants, complaints, movie reviews, political essays, website commentaries and drink recipes (including what I remember of Owen's anti-cola swamp concoction, but only if you're GOOD). All this and more, coming up in issue no. 1 of the rum manifesto.

Now go read penny arcade and homestar runner.

Duke
-looking at a thing in a bag.

uhh hi everyone. I have this fucked up, super great, but hyperactive social life right now and at the same time I have the, can only log on after midinght because my hours ran out through SFU thing right now. I was telling Owen the other day (much to his horror) that yes, I am on dial up. SAD. fuck. I know, but cheap (like free cheap) through school so yhea look, my point is that the only time I get to write is after I get home from my nights out and that has ranged, since last Wed., from 1 to 4 am. The idea of tryin' to discuss parenthood or religion in civilization makes me sort of want to puke. oh shit, ha, you know what I mean right? just because it's 4:36 am right now.
Ok I'll dish a little before I go. I'll just give the highlights from tonight. I went to see Buddy Wakefield (click on the talking head it says in the liner notes of his cd) tonight and this is how it went down. I showed up at the venue at like ten and he was already on stage but the stage is right by the door and he was just between pieces so he got this big grin on his face and he says really loud "Hi Karen. Karen's here y'all." So I was like all glowing and I figured well what the hell, he started it right, so I was like "I made this for you." and I pull out this thing I made for him earlier today. It was this metal wire all wrapped around in little spirals to look like a flower and stem, but then I painted it with nail polish and you can use it to blow bubbles. cool eh? ok anyway so I'm like "It's a bubble maker." and he looks sort of like 'ok.... but he said "thank you Karen" and asked if it was to use with dish soap I was like "yhea, yhea." I got to see two of his works and he rocks my world. I'll try to give you some lines I think I have down ok, "pretend for a second that inside of you is someone who will give you everything you've always wanted in exchange for everything you've ever been." - "pretend you're just being yourselves, pretend you live for a living." - "she said I was amazing for the things I see and she was amazing to me" - "you still don't know you're amazing, you still don't know you're amazing." - "there was a boy sits on a log, eatin' pie, drinkin' fog, playing catch with a dog that just won't run his way, and there was a girl sits on a swing that don't sway singing songs about history, sayin' why'd's vanity look so good on me? but there's a little dity called happiness says I'm gonna walk away from this, before I loose my masterpiece to an ectch a sketch again. and in the morning when I rise if everybody's being randomly kind and I feel as good as I do tonight, then I'm gonna walk away from this with a little dity called happiness.""

It was a really great line up, CR Avery, This chick from Montreal who does spoken word but uses petals to get loops and effects, These four guys (Jason's the lead and writer) who use acustic guitars and do classical/rock melding stuff (weird but ok), an opera singer who was really great, and Randy who does the most beautiful poem about butterfly sex went up with a sax player. I never knew it was possible but it gets to me ever time. as soon as he went up his sax player had to take a minute so he was sort of stalling and was takeing requests and I yelled Butterflies and he looked at me a grinned and he was like "I'm doing that one." I felt all in the loop cause the one I asked for was the one he had planned out with the sax guy. Ahh happy days. there were hugs and love all round.

there's more cause there's always more but I'm spent for now. Ohoh oh yhea but tomorrow, Monday night will be um well outstanding is still a pale shadow of what it will be at the slam on Monday, tomorrow. um a guess it's really Monday now. I really need to go to bed. I feel slower by the second and my back aches and my back never aches. umm oh I remember what I wanted to say. I love you guys. Karen

I've got the images going now. I finally dropped my procrastination in uploading/ftping/etc. when it came to my personal webspace. I don't expect this blog to go above a certain level of visits, but you never know how excited the masses get about posting nothing.

Did you know it would cost less for me to ship myself UPS overnight than to fly myself out to New York for a weekend. I wonder how I could package myself appropriately.

I made an Exploding Dog screensaver, only because I couldn't find a slideshow screensaver for Win98. I suppose I could lift it off of another computer on this network (I'm looking at you, Grae)

I've got a mid-term Tuesday, and I register Monday.

For a waitlist.

Sucks massively to register after registration ends. It's called getting the shaft as far as I am concerned. I'm going to try to set up meetings with teachers before school starts up again. If not, I may just have a summer semster off. Which I don't want at all. I really want my college life to end soon. The sooner I am at SFU the happier I'll be. The sooner I am in university, without distractions of the social and psychological nature, the happier I'll be.

Truth be told, I haven't told anyone this, (including Grae) but I am practicing the art of utmost forgiveness. And it's an art, I tell you. Everyday I focus on what angers me, bothers me or otherwise frustrates me and let it go. Or I guess, it would make more sense if I said I attempt to let it go. I'm making progress, I think. Baby steps mind you. The annoying screaming child still instills homicidal rage, and the twit teens make me wish that post-partum abortions were available until age 20 (and I don't choose 20 as an age lightly) and slow old women who cut in front of me while I am walking make me want to kick their cane from underneath them. Bitches.

I mentioned the other day (not here) that I hate kids. I seriously hate kids. But it dawned on me that I hate parents more. Anyone who has the audacity to pressume they can raise a child well screams stupid in my books. Sure, there are parents that have kids by accident or vow to do the best they can, but most parents have kids so that they can parent or have children to raise. This lack of forethought horrifies me. I respect the parent who says "I'd like to parent to the best of my ability. Sure it won't be perfect, and I can't expect my offspring to turn out ideal but--holy crap. Why am I having a kid?!" Yes, forethought, the brain's first action of birth control.

But then I could argue about that all day. So instead of attacking everyone's parents for birthing them (I am. I truly am; despite my affections for you guys, the truth is--if you haven't learned it yet, is that our parents are dumb) I'll hit atheism. Woo! Atheism! Arthur C. Clarke (you know, this guy) said in the Winter 02-03 Free Inquiry magazine: "Perhaps we should thank the Taliban for finishing the task the Crusades began nine hundred years ago--proving beyond further dispute that Religion is incompatible with Civilization." Discuss!

It's nice to see lots of people posting, it makes me happy.

It's been a quiet week or so for me, so I'm not sure if this will be all that long, but whatever. Finally, I'm recovering from the lack of sleep that was called last week. It was brutal. Corinne had term-papers due and is a queen procrastinator. Mix that with the fact that my bed is in the same room as the computers.....well, you get the picture. I didn't sleep well. I think it probably hurt my sales a bit, but what can you do? It sure felt nice to sleep in this morning (and actually despite having driks with Mike and Angela, I went to bed fairly early as well.) Went to visit the Pitt Meadows, parental units today.....mmmm free food, and ginger snap cookies. Not exactly the most exciting day, but at least I got to watch the Edmonton Game (which was lots of fun). Spent the evening trolling bulletin boards and debugging BF 1942.

Music to listen too: The Beautiful Mistake, New Alkaline Trio, the latest Sole album.
Movies recently viewed: Head of State, Ravenous (haven't watched much due to playoffs and video games)

"sigh" -- roadtrip... there is a skant possibility that i might be interested in that, if i don't get into school. i'm supposed to find out if i get in at the end of the month, so until then, my interesting, planning, having fun life is on hold and we're left with get-up, go to work, come home, cook dinner, wait for boy life. not that that's bad, but this is all starting to get to me. i can't help feeling like i'm not doing anything. that i'm going to be working at the video store, wondering if i'm going to have enough for rent and grocery on that next cheque forever. i know that's not true, but it's just so hard sitting and waiting not knowing if i'll have something to be excited about. i'm starting to feel like i'm loosing it. i get the flu once a month. once every month! i don't think that's normal. it's not even that i'm particularly unhealthy or anything. it must be stress.



i should go. the navel-gazing is hurting my neck.


~meeko

Anyone want to drive for a few days to New York to camp in tents? It'll cost $150US for a weekend festival pass to the Field Day and it looks like this:

Field Day - A two-day music, arts and camping festival
June 7th and 8th
Enterprise Park at Calverton
Calverton, NY
70 Miles East of New York City on the North
Fork of Long Island

Saturday, June 7
Radiohead, Beck, Thievery Corporation, Spiritualized, Beth Orton, Interpol, Royksopp, Liz Phair, Tortoise, TheRaveonettes, Ben Lee, My Morning Jacket, Gemma Hayes, 22-20s, Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players And More!

Sunday, June 8
The Beastie Boys, Sigur Ros, The Roots, Blur, Elliott Smith, N.E.R.D., Blackalicious, Peanut Butter Wolf, The Music, Polyphonic Spree, Le Tigre And More!

For fans of Radiohead, you already know that they are only playing festival shows right now and guess what that means to a lowly Vancouverite? It means that I will not be seeing Radiohead for their "Hail to the Theif" tour without some serious European travel. They have decided to do one North American festival showing, on my birthday no less, and I can't go. :cue tantrum in five, four, three, two, one:

Wraaaaaaaagh!

If I had a driver's license (which I don't really want) I would have rented a car and started driving. Dammit. This was such a cool idea. I could probably afford the $150US for the weekend pass and camping fee, but the flight down will be in the $500 mark. I think I should start a "Send Corinne to New York" paypal donation account somewhere. I'm not kidding either. :grin:

Why must everyone have plans for me on May 3rd!?

As you know, Cinqo de mayo is supposed to take part on the fifth, or a day on the weekend closest to the fifth, but as I was supposed to go to Victoria for a conference (I was really looking forward to 5 days on the island--sure it was with my parents, but most of it would be on my own or with Brent) so it got bumped to the 10th. I went to go and book my days off of work for that weekend, and it turns out that that is the same weekend Ruby and Stephen are getting married!

Enter panic mode!

I really committed myself to that weekend for my parents. My mother checked 17 times to make sure that it was not interfering with anything else. How was I to know about the wedding?! I felt so bad, and what made it worse was that Stephen had the invite already here for me (I'd like to add how super cool the invite is. It's red velvety with a chinese dragon and peacock on it in gold letters in English and Chinese letters. Most amazing looking invite I've seen in a while). I had to call my mother and cancel (I'm really glad that I still could give her a few weeks notice). I tried to figure out how much I owed her for the trip, especially if I could not make it. She refused to tell me the cost and said that she would try to get one of Brent's caregivers to go. I really wanted to go to Victoria, I love road trips, I love taking the ferry, but I really want to go to Stephen's wedding.

So, that's that. I feel so bad for cancelling that.

In other news: I register Monday and have finished my classes for this semester. Two more exams, and no more papers. That was fun. By Friday I was toasted by all nighters or 4 hours of sleep. I came home and slept solid through the night. Except for Bend it Like Beckham which I went to with Bob and Rachael, against my better judgement. Which I will post a review of separately.

Bend it Like Beckham

Here is where I go a wee girly (don't worry it's just temporary): OMG! <3<3<3!! I tolly <3 accents! OMG what a hottie! /girly.

Alright, aside from the cute boy (which I will add is not that cute but he has an accent worthy of my attention and portrays a sweet, lovely boy in need of some serious corruption) I do have valid things to say about this movie.

Now on with the show:
I liked it. That's an in depth review if ever there was one, eh?

Anyway, I don't want to insult it or make it sound bad but the synopsis is about an (East) Indian girl who's family insists that she respect and honour her family name by acting like a proper Indian (marry Indian, cook Indian, act Indian, dress like a girl). The crux of the conflict comes in with Jasminder's (Jas) desire to play "footy" (Football/Soccer). And from what she's played in the park with her all guy soccer group: she's a respectable player. Cut to cracker girl (Juliet/Jules) jogging in the park. Spots Jasminder and tells her she should try out for the team that Juliet plays for. Jasminder does, and the coach (Joe) is impressed and puts her on the team.

The story is really about one's conflicts with family tradition, pressures and expectations. All three of the main characters have some sort of failure to live up to their parent's expectations or desires for them. Both Jas and Jules are product of biased parents (primarily their mothers). Jules's mother wants her to stop playing football, wear lacey undergarments and dress more femine like so that she can attract the boys better. Jas's mother has told her explicitly to stop with the football and to start learning how to attract and marry an Indian husband. Joe is on the other side of things. After pressure from his father to participate more heavily in football, Joe sustains a permanent injury that prevents him from playing, and forces him into coaching. Underlying this coaching "problem" is that he has decided to coach a women's team.

That's the crux of the story. Where I thought the movie succeeded was in the portrayal of being torn between family and self, with two equally important things occuring on the same day. I found myself clapping at a goal (forgive me, I was exhausted and for a brief moment film and reality blurred). I found myself really rooting for the "home team" to win (Jas getting the boy, Jas scoring the goal, Jas getting on the team).

The cinematography was really good as well. The cut scenes between a wedding and a game to emphasize the importance of events in each person's life was well done. And while normally I am not a big fan of Indian music, it was well woven in. I think I even heard the British Columbian singer who covers Celine Dion in India--she's made quite a name for herself.

It is still a story about a girl coming of age, but at least it used a story line and underlying circumstances that were interesting.

Arbitrary score of 171.

Hi all. /grin

This could get really interesting, considering I'm only used to posting anonymously on forums with people from all over the world. If you've ever run across some opinionated asshole on some forum going by the handle Hyperion72 or Hyperion_72 - pleased ta meetcha, that's me. The line to beat the crap outta me forms to the left. No coupons accepted and bring a mouthpiece. Heh.

For those of you who know me, you pretty much know the deal with me. For the rest of you, I'm an admitted game, computer, and 'net addict that occasionally ventures forth from my apartment to have some fun with the likes of most of you. My favourite people tend to be those that are thinkers and questioners with open minds. I guess that kind of explains my circle of friends to a certain extent.

I'm currently on hiatus from the rat race so I suppose I'll have plenty of time to post, although I take no responsibility if what I post bores you senseless. I can outramble anyone I know, so you have been warned! Giving me an outlet to rant is like showing Stimpy the big, red, candylike button and then telling him not to push it. That sucker's gonna get pushed, but I promise I'll try and inject my own demented brand of humour into things to at least make it semi-amusing to read. Hopefully. I'll probably throw out a few of my fav links when I get settled in here.

That's all for now, I'm off to Abbotsford with my uncle for my mom's birthday and to hang out with my cousin. A busy weekend with family to cap off what was a busy couple of weeks catching up with friends.

oh my god! is it working? cool. My very first post. eeee I blush. thank you to Corinne for inviting me and reinviting me to join in. I'll write y'all soon but it's bed time for this babydoll. cheers and warm sheets to all. spreadlove

ps hi bob.

does this mean that i too am registered in this wonderful blog?

the bob

Hey guys, I understand that a bunch of you are having problems getting on. Make sure you have cookies and java enabled. That seems to be a big barrier. Another might be updating you web browser (IE or Netscape).

I know that some of you don't know about your registration level so I am posting a list of people who are officially registered:

Owen
Alison
Corinne
R M
Duke
Jason
Bob
Mariko
Karen
Graeme

If you are not on this list, then you have not registered yet. Fairly simple.

If you continue to have problems, you can contact me via email, or by the response section. By using the response section you are allowing others to help you. It's more open.

I will be adding more features as time goes on; if there is anything (free) that you would like to see here, send me the link or post a response below (click on the word Response).

There will be a link section in the near future for links of interest. If you have a webspace you want posted, either post it (add an asterix * after the link to let me know your wishes) or email me, or respond with it. Plenty of options and they all work.

I do have a webspace to upload pictures and the like to, and I'm considering what kind of pictures and graphics I might use on this site. Currently, I am using a Blogger template, but would like to upgrade in a bit. After exams, I assume. If anyone has a design they think would work in the blogger atmosphere of archiving and weekly post lists, email me.

Otherwise, I'm expecting some news and reviews. :grin:

I like to call it The Wrath of Procrastination. I am certain that Graeme is deep in his sleep laughing about how silly I was for starting my paper around 10pm tonight.

What can I say? I like my last minute exercises. And by last minute I mean I have to get up in an hour and a half. The up side to all of this is that I can proofread upon arrival at school. I generally am there an hour early thanks to my personal bus driver, Lawrence.

I cannot see straight. I have to write two more papers in the next 24 hours. Blargh.

Score two for the Canadian teams, what with both Toronto, and Edmonton winning! I wish I had gone in on a hockey pool of sorts, but somehow I always miss out on them. I also need to buy one of the new Don Cherry Bubba minikegs of Canadian and drink it while watching a playoff game. Plasticity, you up for it?

That having been said, I think I will post more movie, and philosophical-like posts here than I do on ApartmentFive. I don't post that kind of post there because I find that perhaps the cam-girl crowd might not really 'get it.' So you will probably get my more tl, dr type boring philosophical musings here, and if you check apartmentfive, my day-to-day type stuff, and humour.

You know you don't post enough when you forget your username and password. Luckily there is the "forgot your username and password, you idiot" function on the Blogger site. I knew it had something to do with rabbits. mmmm ... rabbits ... awwww

To Duke Radule: I found a site that reviews not only Suicide Circle (Club), but Ichi the Killer, Wild Zero and several others. It's called Snowblood Apple or something like that. Reads like a movie wishlist for me.

Naturally, there is something important that I should be doing instead of this, but Dr. Schuler can just cool his heels.

I'm Al, and you may know me as the red-haired-non-sequitor-girl at Clubhouse functions. I've been in Victoria for four months and it looks like I'll be here for at least another year. I may just graduate this time around.

Today was momentous, as I went to get keys cut. The keys in question open the front door of my significant other's apartment building as well as the door to his humble abode. This is a big first for me, and I'm not entirely sure about how I feel about it. Mostly happy that I get to sleep in, I guess.

I really should finish this essay...

-A

Owen?

Present.

It's introductory post time.

Hi guys! You found it! I'm Corinne and the originator of this word association. If you don't know me and you're posting here something has gone terribly awry. Enjoy!

I guess my intent is to make everyone aware of what kind of activities are going on around. All posters hould have received and invite email and on top of that an invite to Cinqo de Mayo this year. For those of you that missed Cinqo last year, you missed Cinqo de Mayo last year. Quite frankly, I think that was the most drunk I have been since I was fifteen years old. Ole!

I will try to maintain a feet on the ground level of sobriety this year (maybe). For those of you that couldn't make it out last Saturday, the madcap adventures of one Corinne the Bean were enough to make her think twice about consuming unidentified beverages. That is the most mixing I think I have ever done. Props to the Mix Master Mike for his super-tasty Pina Coladas, and to the Purcolator of Pain Owen for his concoctions of Doom (Jesus Murphy guy, how much cough syrup did you use? I got the shivers real bad--and apparently I gave Grae the glazed dead eyes when he tried to move me from one room to another. Perhaps that was just my mixing of alcohol, but it was a weird reaction), and to my boss Stephen for the beer and wine.

Feh, I guess that is what I get from drinking random crap.

School's winding down with three lengthy papers, two late exams and one more day of class (in a pear tree). Of course I am supposed to be working on one of my papers, but I have a procrastinator's feeling about it that I need to do it tomorrow. Tomorrow will produce better quality.

Has anyone else had problems focusing on their homework this bad?

Welcome anyone and everyone.

A few small regulations about this.

One is that you write in proper English. Well, preferably English. French is acceptable for the francophones in the crowd. Try to avoid using AOL abbreviations such as LOL and ROFL and uh... something else like that. It's a journal in the sense that there is no rush to type out the words, and if you write in a program with a spell checker before posting that would be even cooler.

The second rule is no insulting. This should be a given. Debating is okay, but lame insults like "you're dumb" or "you're wrong" aren't going to fly.

I won't edit anyone's posts unless there is a specific message at the bottom such as "edit for html coding" or insults fly. I figure we're all adults here, or adult enough to know that we're juvenille. Or something like that.

I will give admins over time to regular posters. That is to lighten the load of adding team members (that is what they call posters to a community blog) when needed and editing. If you know html, you'll probably get some admin privlidges early.