Letter writing campaign

Alright, so I got bored at work (big surprise), and tracked down Terry Gilliam's agent. I think I'm going to send her a note that lets her know that I'm in support of the Good Omens project. Butt-load of good that it will do, I think it's a nice gesture. Maybe I'll tell him about the $75 in donations people have put up. For all the six seconds of time that would buy him, it might be fun.

If anyone wants to join me in this, here's the address to write to:

Terry Gilliam
c/o Jenne Casarotto
National House
60-66 Wardour St.
London W1V 4ND
UK

Let's try to bring these people together!

Aww nurtz...

So....

1) All my work shirts are dirty except for the black one I have on, owing to the fact that the washing machine in my building is a hunk of junk.

2) I need to wear black pants for when I go to my other job tonight

3) Jenny bought me a black t-shirt at the Tori Amos concert that I am wearing now.

4) I'm wearing black shoes, because running shoes would have looked silly with all of the above.

5) I'm wearing black socks because when I sit down, my pant legs hike up and expose my socks.

6) I dyed my hair black about a month and a half ago.

7) Jay loaned me the Best of H.P. Lovecraft about a week ago, and I am now reading it.

8) I work in a big, scary mansion.

Crap. I'm a goth, and I didn't even know it. How did that happen?

Uuuugggghhhh....

Man, I feel like this guy. I need to start eating actual foods, not just the parts of food which combined properly make food.

On the plus side however, I don't yet feel like this guy:



How grotesque. I fear that I might be driving people away with these horrid images and religious rants. (pffft.. "people." Like anyone comes here but me.)

Confession time: I feel a little bad about the religious rant. I shouldn't make fun of God or religion because it means a lot to some people. Not me, but some people. What I should have done was comment on how much I hate it when people try to push their religious views on others. If you want to worship a carrot, go ahead. Just don't hit me on the head when I rinse your god in the sink and take a nice, crunchy bite.

I can put up $25. Who's with me?

Movie maverick Terry Gilliam is amazed that a planned movie starring Johnny Depp and Robin Williams is still on the shelf - because American investors can't raise $15 million. The former Monty Python member was thrilled when international money men offered him $45 million to make the film Good Omens with Depp as a demon and Williams as an angel. But he was shocked to discover that Americans didn't have the same sort of faith in the project, and they failed to raise the extra cash he needed to start work on the project - an adaptation of fantasy writers Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's book. Gilliam tells US magazine Entertainment Weekly, "I couldn't get 15 with Johnny and Robin... These two guys, who would have been brilliant were not worth $15 million in America. That was the moment where I went, 'I don't understand this game. I don't understand this town (Hollywood). I don't understand any of the rules. All I know is I don't like it.'"
Damn it! How could this not raise a hundred million bilion dollars?! I wish I was a movie exec. I'd stop fucking around with poor Terry Gilliam.

You've always got time for blasphemy

I was just thinking about the story of Abraham and Isaac and I realizd what a twisted fucker that God is. I love the angel in this painting. It's like he's saying "Whoa! WHOA!(S)He was just kidding! Heh heh.. You weren't actually going to do it, were you? Jesus.... heh heh... you people."

I can't help but think of God as a little (albiet all-powerful) kid who pouts when (s)he doesn't get her/his way. I hear a lot of talk about God's great love, but it only seems to appear in hindsight.

"Hey, a baby's laughing! That must be God's great love!"

"Hey, that guy renounced his prejudiced ways! That must be God's great love!"

"Hey, Angelina Jolie took in another orphan! That must be God's great love!"

I think the thing that set me down this path was a philosophy class in high school. We were discussing the idea of free will in relation to God's omniscience. If God knows Everything, then (s)he knows what I'm going to do before I do it, thus throwing the idea of free will out the window. If someone knows what I'm going to do before I do, and that someone just happens to be all-powerful then I don't have much choice in the matter. The church's explanation of this was that God exists outside of time.

"Oh... well... that solves everything, doesn't it?"

"Yeah... yeah, that'll do nicely."

"Ok, so now God exists outside of time."

"Yeah, and hey! How about we burn alive anyone who says different!"

"You know, I think you're onto something there."

It was all so convenient, like when you're playing G.I. Joe's with some kid and you say "Bang! I shot you" and he says "No you didn't!" and you say "Yes I did. I shot you right in the face." and he says "Yeah, but I'm wearing an invisible helmet that's bulletproof." and you sigh resignedly, even though you're only seven years old.

Ever since then I've been leery at best about the nature of God. Like for instance, what is all this Hell business? In the dictionary, Hell is listed as being "the place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death." Eternal punishment? What the Hell's the point of that? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the whole point of punishment so that you won't do something again? When I was a kid I broke an oil lamp playing catch in the house. I was lucky it wasn't lit or the house would have burned down. My mom sent me to my room, and I forfieted a bit of my allowance to help pay for a new lamp. I didn't play catch in the house again. But if I was still in my room, still shelling out for a new lamp I kind of doubt that I would feel remorse. Rather I'm fairly certain I would feel bitterness and contempt. You are punished so that you can learn from your mistakes and not make them again. But eternal punishment doesn't give you that option.

And what's so great about Heaven anyway? According to John Entwhistle, Heaven is "on top of the sky... a place where you go if you've done nothing wrong." It's also supposd to be a place where you can be with God for all eternity. I don't know, it just doesn't seem too convincing. Sorry, God fans. I don't buy it. I haven't yet heard a convincing argument for why I should try to get into Heaven. I've heard loud and passionate arguments, but nothing that's resonated.

I think religion shouldn't be viewed as law. It should be in the format of "This is a good way to lead your life. You might want to try it" instead of "If you don't make the appropiate changes to your lifestyle immediately you will spend eternity in painful, ironic agony!"


&

YaaaaaWWWWWWNNNnnnNNNnnnn

This is my favourite Beatles song of all time. It's the theme song of my university life. It's the theme song of today. It's the theme song of my twenties.

I'm So Tired

I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No,no,no.

I'm so tired I don't know what to do
I'm so tired my mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind

I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid git.

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind

And while we're on the topic of songs, this one is brilliant:

Upward Over the Mountain

Mother don't worry, I killed the last snake that lived in the creek bed
Mother don't worry, I've got some money I saved for the weekend
Mother remember being so stern with that girl who was with me?
Mother remember the blink of an eye when I breathed through your body?

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds, flying upward over the mountain

Mother I made it up from the bruise on the floor of this prison
Mother I lost it, all of the fear of the Lord I was given
Mother forget me now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to
Mother forgive me, I sold your car for the shoes that I gave you

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons could be birds, taken broken up to the mountain

Mother don't worry, I've got a coat and some friends on the corner
Mother don't worry, she's got a garden we're planting together
Mother remember the night that the dog had her pups in the pantry?
Blood on the floor, fleas on their paws,
And you cried 'til the morning

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds, flying always over the mountain

Iron & Wine is quickly turning into my new favourite craze. I feel the urge to buy every album that Samuel Beam has put out. His voice is so gentle and the lyrics are very affecting. And apparently he's a cinematography professor at the University of Miami! Whoa! Go here to download a radio interview/performance including the above song, as well as another song featuring the "mess up at the end remix."

Can't talk for laughing

Dear everyone,

Everyone should listen to "This Week in Braille" aka Luke's radio programme. Luke, Jeff and I hosted the show last night in a frenzy of irreverent discussion and music. We used the phrase "peanut butter lust," discussed the pros and cons of adoption, and made a tasteless innuendo.... or two. It was good times. At one point, I couldn't make comments on a particular topic because I was too busy picturing David Blaine drift off into the unknown after being hit by a gust of wind while jumping from the CN Tower into the Skydome filled with Jell-o. If I had been drinking milk, it would have come out my nose.

I also officially met Jeff and Angelo last night for the first time. High caliber gentlemen to be sure. Very urbane (whatever that means). Angelo took a picture of my "Kick the Cheat." Jeff played my piano. Luke, Jeff, Angelo, Stephie and I watched some Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Luke, Jeff, Angelo and I drank Guinness. Kat (Stephie's dog) wanted to play ball. Angelo told me that socks were over-rated. Laughter and merriment ensued.

I'm working with about 3 hours of sleep. I'ma go curl up under the desk.



I am Rick. The security cameras are Jade.

WHOA!

Check it out! I knew he was a good musician, but geez.....

John Paul Jones playing a Mando-tar-bass... or a Bass Man-Tar.



Take that and EAT IT, Jimmy Page. Real men have three phallic symbols.

What a day...

I'm in that uncomfortable position where the person who screwed up isn't here to take the blame.

There are a lot of angry people in the building right now.

SAVE ME TORI!

Points are overrated.

I bought Hot Fuss by the Killers about a week ago and I can't stop listening to it. I think I'm going to try to work out a laid back, funky acoustic version of "Mr Brightside" or "Somebody Told Me." That would be fun.

Nora's sitting on my lap. She's got that "puppy smell" that I love so dear. She really is a sweetheart.

I post too often, but this is funny

Greedy greedy bo-beedy

Is there any way to switch venues for the White Stripes concert? Don't get me wrong, I love the Amphitheatre, but a historic theatre or old opera house seems to be more the Stripes Style. Plus then I might get to see them like this:





If there's anything better than Jack and Meg, it's a sweaty Jack and Meg.

AAAAUUUUUGGGGGG!!!!!

AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!! HE CAN FLY!!!!

Sunrise, Sunset

'O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

Ah, the universe felt bad about Tori Amos, so it's compensating by giving me more White Stripes. (Note the ridiculously blue eyes on Meg.)

Also, Jenny, Jay, Stephie & I have scored front row seats to see the Blue Man Group! That's right, they're giving us ponchos.

It's too early. I'm at the start of a 17 hour work day. There are only 24 hours in a day. That means that I only have 7 hours of non-work today, and I woke up at 7:00am.

Alas for future societies.

I realized tonight that I have an inordinate amount of clutter in my bag. (The bag is the one and only thing I ever bought from the Gap, and only because it was 90% off. I'm still ashamed.) I made a list of everything in there, and should we be struck by a comet or should every volcano on earth erupt, future societies are going to think we were one screwed up race of Canucks. Here (hopefully in list form) is the list and then the conclusions I drew from it.

• 1 set of large headphones
  
• 1 Sony Shockwave CD player
  
• 1 Killers CD
  
• 1 Shins CD
  
• 1 Amelie soundtrack CD
  
• 1 stuffed lizard
  
• 2 sets of keys
  
• 1 copy of Hamlet
  
• 1 copy of Dante's Inferno
  
• 1 copy of The Best of H.P. Lovecraft
  
• 1 KitKat
  
• 1 CKLU programming guide
  
• 1 bottle of water
  
• 3 pens
  
• 1 pencil
  
• 1 "G7" notebook
  
• 1 fork
  
• 1 wallet with various cards/currencies
  
• 1 disk containing fragmented short stories
  
• 1 bingo calle's license
  
• 1 letter from Jenny
  
• 1 note from a co-worker
  
• 1 White Stripes pin
  
• 1 Pink Floyd pin
  
• 1 ivory scarf pin
  
• 1 pearl clip-on earings
  
• 1 battery
  
• 1 pair of sunglasss

I guess that future societies will gather that I was a depressed, possibly deranged music fan who lived off chocolate and water, and worshipped a lizard.

Seems accurate.

Criminy

Well, I think that I've come to accept the fact that I'm not going to the concert and exorcised my demons by feeling sorry for myself for an evening. Now I feel kind of better. Not going to see Ms. Amos means that I can finally co-host Luke's show with him! Woot! I have no idea what to do. But listen anyway! (Saturday from 12 - 2, 96.7 FM)

I came in 8th place on Kirsten's compatabiliy quiz. Is that cause to celebrate? Apparently the thing that put me there was my music answer. For the record, I've never been a KISS fan, and hadn't heard of XTC (which is the correct answer) at the time of taking said quiz, so I award myself the Ribbon of Jocundity as well as ten "Andrew Bucks" redeemable at Roots stores everywhere. At least they should be. I've never tried to pass myself off as the nephew of the owner of Roots in order to get free swag, but I just might have to.



p.s. Jenny & Stephie are asleep right now. It's pretty darn adorable.

damn, damn, damn

You know what's cruel? I'll tell you what's cruel.

Getting really great free tickets to see one of the finer artists of our generation in concert and then having to miss the show to sit at a goddamn desk in an empty fucking gallery being bored out of my skull.

No more hope for a day in Toronto with Jenny, visiting Wonderland and M.H. and no more Tori.

Verily it is a black day for your intrepid narrator. I am going to retreat to the bowels of the shack with a box of Triscuits and an H.P. Lovecraft book and scare myself silly.



****Update****

The song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones just started playing, but rather than helping me to accept my circumstances, it just makes me want to throttle Mick Jagger.

Thank you for this, Mr. Snickett

Razors pain you
Rivers are damp
Acids stain you
And drugs cause cramp

Guns aren't lawful
Nooses give
Gas smells awful
You might as well live

- Dorthy Parker, "Resume"

Closer

I just finished watching this movie (though I need to stop raiding Stephie's collection), and I was reminded that it is possibly the single most intriguing movie I've ever seen. So I decided to try to put some of it to words, rather than just spouting out a bunch of "favourite moments."

I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out whether or not any of the characters have any redeeming qualities to them. Dan is a pathetic person, unable to be happy with what he has. Anna is a coward, unwilling to allow anyone to think ill of her. Alice is transient, bolting at the first sign of trouble. Larry is petty and vengeful, and he uses others to get his revenge.

Out of all of them I think I prefer Larry; his faults come up as a result of the actions of others. He hurts Anna and Dan because of what they did to him. I've heard some argument that Larry is just as bad as Anna because he too slept with someone else (a prostitute on his business trip). This just isn't true. He was upfront and honest about his infidelity, whereas Anna let hers continue for a year before she brought it up. The difference is that she lied about it and he didn't. This redeems him and villifies her. When Larry offers the exchange of sex for signing the divorce papers, it is plain that he has something else on his mind. He knows that Anna will go along with it because she can't let him hate her, and he knows that Dan will not be able to tolerate it. He is cruel to Dan in the office scene because Dan has a year of deception to live down and all he wants is more.

Dan is one of the more complex characters in the film. He is a child, essentially who does not know how to function on a normal social plane. He is a hedonistic opportunist, not to mention selfish beyond reproach. He is living with Alice, but he kisses Anna at their first meeting. He knows that Larry and Alice slept together but he doesn't just tell Alice that he knows, he forces it out of her in a slimy (and obvious) way which only drives a wedge between them. And in the end, he hits her. Though Larry might be the more testosterone driven of the par, he's never hit Anna, not even after all she put him through. Alice spits in Dan's face and calls him a fucker and that's all it took. Dan is the least redeemable of the four characters.

Anna is a close second though. While Dan actively screws things up, Anna does so by being passive. She decieves Larry for a year because she's frightened of telling him about "Cupid." She even marries him rather than tell him the truth. And when Larry makes his proposition, she cannot bring herself to be cold towards him. She wants to leave him (if she didn't, she wouldn't have had the divorce papers drawn up), but she needs it to be on good terms. So much so that she'll sleep with him so that they can smile as they part, thus screwing up her relationship with Dan.

Alice would have been my favourite character if it hadn't been for the sloppy way she deals with the ending of a relationship. She doesn't even attempt to tie up loose ends, preferring rather to fly across the ocean. She is always running from people, from herself. That said, she is one of the more honest people in the film. She seems to have an understanding of the darker side of human nature, evident in her critique of Anna's exhibit and her fight with Dan. When she says "I've been you," she means that she has been in Dan's shoes. She's cheated in the past and tried to patch things up with easy words. Easy words don't work, especially not in this film which is why she runs. To Alice it's easier to leave the rope frayed at the end.

I love that this film is based on a play. The script is just dazzling. So many classic lines and images. The dialogue is so bruising, so sharp. The fellow says that truth is beauty, and beauty truth, but that's not necessarily so in this case. Well, it could be seen that way. But this truth has been preceded by so many lies and falsehood that it is not truth for the sake of truth, but pointed truth, aimed to hurt. Dan does not simply tell Alice that he knows she slept with Larry because he wants to hurt her. Larry does not want to know what happened between Dan and Anna, he wants Anna to say it so she'll hurt. I love some of the subtleties in the script. It was refreshing to see a movie set in london where they don't show Big Ben, or the London bridge, or (shudder) the "Welcome to London" sign. It was just enough for Alice to ask to use the loo, or Larry to say that the invoice was in the post.

It should be known that I'm not a big fan of Mike Nichols as a director. I don't think I can forgive him for butchering Catch-22, but he did an alright job. It was an excellent choice to have Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter" bookend the film. At first it seems like a love song, but by the end it seems to be about obsession rather than love. Ironically, the last line of the song is "I can't take my mind off of you, until I find somebody new." It was great too that Clive Owen was in the original stage version too.

All that being said, here (as predicted) are my "favourite moments."

Larry: Have you ever seen a human heart? It looks like a fist, wrapped in blood!

Larry: Is he good?
Anna: Yes.
Larry: Better than me?
Anna: Different.
Larry: Better?
Anna: Gentler.
Larry: What does that mean?
Anna: You know what it means.
Larry: Tell me!
Anna: No.
Larry: I treat you like a whore?
Anna: Sometimes.
Larry: Why would that be?

Alice: I'm not a whore.
Larry: I wouldn't pay.

Alice: So you're Anna's boyfriend.
Larry: A princess can kiss a toad.
Alice: Frog.
Larry: Toad.
Alice: Frog.
Larry: Toad. Frog. Lobster. They're all the same.

Dan: If you love her you'll let her go so she can be happy.
Larry: She doesn't want to be happy.
Dan: Everybody wants to be happy.
Larry: Depressives don't. They want to be unhappy to confirm they're depressed. If they were happy they couldn't be depressed anymore. They'd have to go out into the world and live. Which can be depressing.

Alice: Don't eat fish.
Dan: Why not?
Alice: Fish piss in the sea.
Dan: So do children.
Alice: Don't eat children either.

Anna: Why is the sex so important?
Larry: Because I'm a fucking caveman!

Larry: I'll pay you.
Alice: I don't need your money.
Larry: You have my money.
Alice: Thank you.
Larry: "Thank you, thank you." Is that a rule?
Alice: Just being polite.

Alice: Look at your little eyes.
Dan: I can't see my little eyes.

Larry: Are you dressed because you thought I'd hit you? Who do you think I am?
Anna: I've been hit before.
Larry: Not by me!

I've been tagged!

I've never been tagged before! I usually just steal from people, but this is so much better!

Okie, here we go:

1. Total number of books you own: Over a hundred, not including a bunch of old textbooks and reference books that I might (will definitely never) never look at again.

2. What was the last book you bought?


3. What's the last book you read?


4. List 5 books that have been particularly meaningful to you (in no particular order):






5. Tag 5 people and have them fill out this quiz on their own blog:

Jenny, Jay, Liz, Kirsten, and this guy.

Thanks Angelo! That was fun.

Michael Hooper was right

I've lost my will. I was here for 19 minutes before any energy I had was just sapped out of me. But I might be being overly negative.

I watched 3 movies yesterday.



1) "Being John Malkovich" which is brilliant. Charlie Kaufman is my GOD. The conversation between John Malkovich and Charlie Sheen is sublime. I like any scene where someone refers to someone else as potentially being a witch.



2) "Bewitched" last night with Stephie. Nicole Kidman is as cute as a six-foot tall button.



3) "The Virgin Suicides" again with Stephie. We both commented on how distracting it is that Kirsten Dunst is the only recognizable girl. The "making of" documentary should have been titled "The Virgin Suicides: Nepotism in Action".

Speaking of Kirsten, I hung out with Jenny and Kirsten at the Laughing Buddha yesterday. It was fun. Everyone should go there all the time. They make their own freakin' croutons.

And disgruntled is his name-o.

People at work are getting to me. Last time I was there an old woman vigourously gave me the finger. I guess she had needed one more number to win a considerable amount of money, but someone else's number was called first. I confirmed the first winner, asked if there were any others, and she waved me down.

"Any others? Ok, over there in the back? Oh, no that's just someone giving me the finger. Incidently, giving me the finger is not the way to win. If it were there would be a lot more winners out there."

Afterwards she came up to me and told me that she didn't appreciate me singling her out. I told her that I didn't appreciate her giving me the finger. I thought that seemed fair. People sometimes act like I choose the numbers that come up, rather than simply announcing what fate has determined (not that I believe in fate). The point is that I've got no control over what happens. If I did, I would demand a much higher chair, a black cape and mantle, and a machine which shot lightening bolts when I pushed a button. As such, I am Mercury. I am Hermes. Don't shoot the messenger.

Tonight a man kept calling bingo when he hadn't won, simply because he couldn't keep up and was falling behind. I was already way behind schedule because of some people who didn't understand how the game worked, so maybe it was me going a bit too fast. The fact is that no one else was having trouble keeping up, and this was slowing things down further. Eventually I said "To the gentleman who keeps calling false alarms, if you would like me to slow down, tell a runner and they will pass on the message. Please stop disrupting the game, as we are already behind schedule and this is not helping things. Thank you."

I got a bit of trouble for that. Apparently there is a "Customer is always right" policy at the hall, which if you've read the archives, know I've got a problem with. Bottom line: I was more than polite considering the circumstances. I could have told him to stop fucking around, which I would have liked.

Well, tonight also marks the first time I've taken a substance to help me stay awake. That's right; I, your intrepid narrator, took coffee. It did the trick, that's for sure, but I felt so dirty. It was like when Merry and Pippen are forced to drink the orc brew. I need me some Ent-draught. Now I'm worried that I'll just turn to "C" whenever I'm tired and want to stay up. I don't want to turn into Jessie "I'm so excited" Spano here.

It's a date

On August 27th (assuming I'm getting out of work.... which I will, dammit) Jenny and I are seeing this fine lady at the Molson Amphitheatre somewhere in the 200 level.

Get this:

FOR FREE.

That's right. No charge. Courtesy of Daniella Zidek who works security for the venue (and who apparently has spent most of the summer with the Rolling Stones). So... sweet deal! Big big big thanks to Daniella for her random act of kindness.

This is the summer of good concerts and good seating at said concerts.

***************UPDATE!*****************

I'll be sitting somewhere on the red line for Tori Amos, and standing on the red dot for the White Stripes. I think I just geeked out with excitement!

673-OKFU

I'm hoping to start my foray into radio country. That's right, not so much copying, but inspired by Luke's free-form radio programme "This Week in Braille" I'd like to try one of my own. There's a meeting at the school tonight to get "oriented" so I'm saddling up my pony and heading over. I've been thinking about this for quite a while now and I have a 1st show all planned out. Want to hear? Sure you do! You're me! Because I'm assuming that only myself will ever read this. Me first, others later.

I think I want to call the show "Sleepwalking" because I'm hoping for a late-night slot when I can play whatever I feel like, but also because I want the show to have a sense of mystery, and the allure of the late night. Like when you frequent a place in the daytime and it's busy, but when you return at night and it's deserted and filled with the artificiality of flood lights. That's what I want to capture. Runners up for the name were "This Old Shack" but I passed on that because I didn't want to confuse the show with this place, and "Dead Air... Um... Dead Air" which is becoming more and more appealing. It's a Strong Bad quote and I'm thinking I might have that be the subtitle of the show. I also have an old "Lord of the Rings" radio show that I want to present in 10 - 15 minute segments. Some of it is pretty corny, but some is pretty cool too, so if it works, it works.

So here's the rundown of the show:

1) Sleepwalking - The Raveonettes
2) Explanation of what the show's about
3) Your Ex-Lover is Dead - Stars
4) Satellite - Amy Campbell
5) That's the Way - Led Zeppelin
6) 1st Lord of the Rings segment
7) Screwdriver - White Stripes
8) Heroin - Velvet Underground
9) Leather - Tori Amos
10) Sta-alfur - Sigur Ros
11) Sleep - Dandy Warhols
12) B is for Brutus - The Hives
13) Frosti/Pagan Poetry - Bjork
14) Kissing the Lipless - The Shins
15) I'm so Tired - The Beatles

That's all I have planned out right now, and it's all pending whether or not I can bring in my own music. I'll have to check and see what else is in the archives at the station. I'll probably put another Lord of the Rings segment in there somewhere too.

I'm hoping for Thursday nights because I have classes so I won't be able to work anyway, and no classes the next day so I can sleep in after being up all night. Jenny might be a frequent co-host if she likes. She's expressed interest and I think it'd be fun. I'd hope Jay would want in on it too.

Here's hoping it all goes to plan!

Burt Reynolds

That's right, my crack research squad has uncovered that Burt Reynolds was the voice of the talking crystal on the 80's tv favourite "Out of this World." You know the one whose theme song was "Would you like to swing on a star, carry moon beams home in a jar..." and the little girl who can freeze time by touching her fingers together!

I don't know what to think about Burt Reynolds. Isn't he supposed to be acclaimed? But it's been years since he's done anything good! Now he's just appearing in tripe like "The Dukes of Hazzard," and "The Longest Yard." But I guess he was in "Cop and a 1/2" also, so maybe he's always just been mediocre. I need to watch more Burt Reynolds movies and see what the deal is. Is he a good actor in a string of crappy movies, or a crappy actor in a string of good movies?

The full weight of two more hours at work just hit me.

Stripes-apalooza!

Sorry to rant and rave, but here's some more White Stripes ranting and raving:

1) Luke, in his infinite coolness, played "Little Bird" and "Death Letter" on his radio show "This Week in Braille" for ME, your intrepid narrator. Thanks Luke! Those were great choices! Your show rules! I bow at it's feet.

2) The new music video is out for "My Doorbell." I do hereby declare it The Smilingest Video Ever. Go here if you want to take a peek for yourself. There's a live concert available for download on there as well, but the quality is pretty poor. You can hear guys yelling things like "Meg! Megan! Marry me!"

I fear I shall become one of these guys. I hope Jenny understands.

Little Acorns

When problems overwhelm us and sadness smothers us where do we find the will and the courage to continue? Well the answer may come in the caring voice of a friend, a chance encounter with a book, or from a personal faith.
For Janet help came from her faith, but it also from a squirrel. Shortly after her divorce, Janet lost her father, then she lost her job.
She had mounting money problems. But Janet not only survived she worked her way out of despondency and now she says, life is good again. How could this happen? She told me that late one autumn day when she was at her lowest she watched a squirrel storing up nuts for the winter, one at a time he would take them to the nest. And she thought, if that squirrel
can take care of himself with the harsh winter coming along, then so can I. Once I ripped my problems into small pieces I was able to carry them,just like those acorns, one at a time.

Take all your problems
And rip 'em apart
Oh Oh Oh-oh-oh
Carry them off
In a shopping cart
Oh Oh Oh-oh-oh

And another thing you
Should've known from the start
The problems in hand
Are lighter than at heart

Be like the squirrel, girl
Be like the squirrel
Give it a whirl, girl
Be like the squirrel

And another thing
You have to know in this world
Cut up your hair
Straighten your curls
Well you problems
Hide in your curls

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I'm a big fan of this song. Jack White's ungodly guitar howl is in full swing here.

ONLY 34 MORE DAYS!


They're waiting for me!

Hunting Steve Martin

On the drive to work, I was listening to the CBC. They were playing a documentary about how the lead in bullets is poisoning the swan population of a certain lake along the Canada/US border. A hunter was quoted as saying "Hunters don't know anything about swans. Can't shoot 'em, so why would we figure anything out about 'em?"

This seems as good a time as any to bring up how I feel towards hunters. Well, let me put it this way: I have yet to encounter an informed opinion from a hunter. All they seem to care about is that they like to hunt, and they'll be damned if anyone's going to tell them they can't. It's like someone's telling them they can't shop at their favourite store anymore. Did anyone see Wedding Crashers?

Jeremy: Wow. Mr. Environmental is also a hunter. That's an interesting combination.
Sack: I hunt quail, Jeremy. They're overpopulated in this region and they're decimating the grubworm population. You got a fucking problem with that?
Jeremy: Not as much as I do with your attire, or just your general point of view toward everybody here. But hey, lets go kill some birds. I'm psyched.

Just look at the bloodlust! I wish everyone could be able to respond to that sort of tyranical passion. It's like thosepeople who drive big, rusty trucks with "Register my firearms? NO WAY!" bumperstickers in the back and Virgin Mary statues in the front.

"Thou shalt not kill.... except for quail. Those little fuckers have it coming."

I think animals view hunting as a sport in the same way we view... well, getting tricked into thinking everything is ok then getting shot in the head and mounted on the wall. But humans wouldn't do that to other humans.... would they?


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And because I can't keep just one thought in my mind at any given time...... "Shopgirl" looks like a ridiculously good movie. It's based on a novella by Steve Martin which I've just now made up my mind to read... as soon as I can get my hands on it.... which won't be for some time.

Anyway, it's the story of a "plain Jane" girl (Claire Danes)who works at the rarely frequented glove counter in a high-class store (or "Shop"). She meets two men; an older, refined rich guy (Steve Martin) and a young, less reliable guy (Jason Schwartzman), and begins dating them both. Obviously they both have their charms and their setbacks. The line from the trailer that caught me was "So I can hurt now, or hurt later."

Anyone want to wait and wait and wait for it to come to Rainbow Cinemas and then end up getting it second hand from Blockbuster with me?

There ain't no title!

The black, indistinct shape I'm hiding behind is actually Nora. She's pretending to be a wraith. Good doggy.

Foul mood day

I don't know how to feel today. I'm torn between my duty to smile and answer questions pleasantly and telling everyone where they can stick it. To quote Ghost World:

"Some people are ok, but mostly I just feel like poisoning everybody."

So to cheer me up and try to face the day ahead, another stream of consciousness photo monogle! (They make me so happy. Google Images is the best friend a boy could have! But not because of the porn.)

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Pugs are really awesome. Especially when they prove their dominance over blocks of wood.


Xena wants you to know that she's got you just where she wants you. Oh yeah... You're in trouble.


I heard the One Ring was seductive, but come on...


"I know! We'll surf to Mordor!"
"Brilliant!"


Ahhh, Hell. The perfect vacation spot.


Oh! Oh! Whuh-oh! Ah ha ha ha!


This is a mountain range.... No, I'm lying.


I've been to one of these things once.



Right now he's thinking "Damn..." and she's thinking "I wonder if I could fit inside that sewage pipe... He'd never follow me in there."


The end for Burt anyway! (poor dope)