3/15/2004
3/12/2004
The Frontier Between Sadism and Masochism is Drawn With a Stick of Deoderant
I'm in Ottawa this weekend. Part of it has to do with my big decision, part of it is to socialize part of it is business related. How complete. How unified. How practical.
A month ago I complained to Procter and Gamble about a deoderant product of theirs that semed to have naplam as the active ingredient. Today in the mail I received a coupon to replace that product with another of the same line. Argh I'm not a masochist. I could give it to someone else. But I'm not a sadist either.
A month ago I complained to Procter and Gamble about a deoderant product of theirs that semed to have naplam as the active ingredient. Today in the mail I received a coupon to replace that product with another of the same line. Argh I'm not a masochist. I could give it to someone else. But I'm not a sadist either.
Big Decision=Big Insominia
I can't sleep even with the Valerian. Although I am very mellow. I made a big life changing decision to day (and no it doesn't involve married women) and now I have to follow through. I'll keep you updated as the time approaches. I feel excited so I know it was the right decision. I just can't articulate all my thoughts about it now so sorry for being so vague. I'm mostly writing this to myself.
This is how I made my decision by the way, as all life changing decisions should be made. How do you think Bush Jr. got to be Prez?
This is how I made my decision by the way, as all life changing decisions should be made. How do you think Bush Jr. got to be Prez?
History Ninja Says
The Good: (March 12, 1930) Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi begins a defiant march to the sea in protest of the British monopoly on salt,
The Bad: (March 12, 1938) Anschluss: German troops occupy Austria; annexation declared the following day.
The Ugly: (March 12, 1953) Ron Jeremy, pornographic film actor is born
3/11/2004
Introspective Reflective Sensitive
How did they know?
In this test you are shown a grid of 9 images. You select one and it reveals your essence! Gasp! Basically I think they are all true of me in varying degrees and contexts.
You come to grips more frequently and thoroughly with yourself and your environment than do most people. You detest superficiality; you'd rather be alone than have to suffer through small talk. But your relationships with your friends are very strong, which gives you the inner tranquility and harmony that you require. You do not mind being alone for extended periods of time; you rarely become bored.
In this test you are shown a grid of 9 images. You select one and it reveals your essence! Gasp! Basically I think they are all true of me in varying degrees and contexts.
Madrid
This morning when I first heard about the bomb attacks in Madrid, rightly or wrongly, I assumed that it likely had something to do with Islamic fundamentalists. Then I heard that they were connecting it to the Basque seperatist group the ETA. This never seemed right to me. The ETA is known for using extreme violence but it almost always has been directed at authority figures, at least this is my recollection. These attacks were on such a large scale and directed at the general public. How could this help the ETA? It can't. So who is responsible? Someone whose goal is revenge, and terror. Someone who wants to turn up the intensity of whatever conflict they see themselves in. Someone who wants more blood to come. If it is the ETA I can't understand what they hope to accomplish.
3/09/2004
A Little Sleep and Grapefruit
Are their any bio-chemists out there who can tell me what it might be in grapefruit that makes me feel so good? Over the past few months I've noticed that when I eat grapefruit I feel great. I feel energized and clear. Is it just my imagination? If it is then that's amazing too because the difference is that between night and day.
I think my flu is over with. I went to sleep for a few hours and woke up at 4:30pm confused and thinking that I had actually slept straight through the day. In anycase I feel a lot of my energy has come back. I then had some of the GF and now feel 90% normal. I also am happy to say that I've lost 8lbs this past week through daily exercise, eating a well balanced diet, drinking beer all weekend, being sick with a flu and stress. My goal was to lose 10lbs. However since this method can't be sustained I guess I'll keep the exercise up and watch what I eat and refrain from beer for another spell. Hopefully that will work.
I think my flu is over with. I went to sleep for a few hours and woke up at 4:30pm confused and thinking that I had actually slept straight through the day. In anycase I feel a lot of my energy has come back. I then had some of the GF and now feel 90% normal. I also am happy to say that I've lost 8lbs this past week through daily exercise, eating a well balanced diet, drinking beer all weekend, being sick with a flu and stress. My goal was to lose 10lbs. However since this method can't be sustained I guess I'll keep the exercise up and watch what I eat and refrain from beer for another spell. Hopefully that will work.
Lyrical Obsession
I'm still sick today so rather than do anything constructive or experience fresh air I've taken on an exploration of Steely Dan's lyrics as inspired by Korak's blog. The thing that is captivating about Steely Dan is not only that they play sophisticated multi-layered music that draws from jazz, rythm and blues, soul and funk, but that when you actually listen to the lyrics they are often about drugs, perverts and god knows what. The fact they can be heard in super-markets singing about these subjects through a glossy and catchy tune also makes them of interest. here are two examples given on the Meaning of Lyrics From Songs of the 70s website:
Another characteristic of Steely Dan songs are the obscure references that are scattered throughout their songs. In fact the name of the band itself is a reference to a dildo that appears in William S. Burroughs novel "The Naked Lunch". Details of this sort are found in the Steely Dan dictionary.
More analysis of the lyrics than anyone could ever bear can be found at Fever Dreams.
"Everyone' Gone to the Movies"
A song about a guy who shows dirty movies in his den on his own old movie projector to kids. Key Lines "Soon it will be to late..bobbing for apples can wait. I know you're used to 16 or more, sorry we only have 8" That last line is a reference to the size of the film, 16mm or larger would be a pro film...8mm is amateur. The song sounds happy and upbeat, but this hides the character's seedy hobby.
"Kid Charlemagne"
This is a tough song to decipher..as are many Steely Dan Songs. Its about Stanley Owsley III, a chemist who was well-known in the San Francisco drug culture. He made millions of tablets of strong LSD in his day, and then dissapeared. Key points: "Just by chance you crossed the diamond with the Pearl..you turned it on the world..thats when you turned the world around" And..."All your low-rent friends are dead..life can be very strange...those test-tubes and the scales, just get em all out of here.....is their gas in the car? Yes, there is gas in the car. I think the people down the hall, know who you are.."
Another characteristic of Steely Dan songs are the obscure references that are scattered throughout their songs. In fact the name of the band itself is a reference to a dildo that appears in William S. Burroughs novel "The Naked Lunch". Details of this sort are found in the Steely Dan dictionary.
More analysis of the lyrics than anyone could ever bear can be found at Fever Dreams.
Flu Dreams
Whenever I have the flu my dreams take on an Imax level of stature. Everything is bigger, brighter, longer and weirder.
Phase one:
There is a lake that goes on for as far as the eye can see, but it's inside a warehouse. I have purchased some plastic viking ships from the dollar store and have launched them in the lake. The ships however are on a such a scale that a crew of 12-20 men are needed to sail them. I gather such crews and we set off on the waters. Soon I am in control of the water. I have established camps on all the isles, the peninsulas and shoreline.
Then come the beasts from the depths. Scaly snaking things are sighted coiling through the depths of the water. Heads the size of cars, with mouthfuls of teeth like combs, break through the surface. Soon I am sailing between fearsome ancient colossi that are populating the water.
We are cut -off from our homebase and bank our ship by an outcropping of rock that stabs out of the water.
We lay down to sleep for the night. In the dead of night I feel wet. I have rolled into the water. I am supported only by weeds and water and I panic. I begin to sink. The light of day is coming and I see the silhouttes of the creatures lining the horizon. I look for my crew and ship, but they are gone. Only a canoe sized vessel has been left behind.
I paddle out into the water my way is blocked by these towering beasts. I end up reaching the edge of the water where it ends at the warehouse wall. I realize that if I follow the wall I will eventually arrive at the base camp. The dream here fades.
Phase Two:
I am in the countryside sitting in the back seat of a leaf green convertible with it's top down. Two older men, friends of my father's who are from this area, are in the front of the car. The roads are winding and lined with thick brush and forest making it difficult to see what is coming. As we race around a bend we almost run over a five year old girl in a blue dress. The driver curses her mother for letting her play on the road. I look back. I see a family following us. The driver has slowed the car down as we enter the village. The family nears us and I see that some of the children are not normal. There is a baby cyclops covered with rough skin. Despite his age he leaps onto the trunk of the car and attacks me. He strikes me and claws me and trys to bite me. I grab the squirming thing and dash it to the roadside. The driver speeds up and this part of the dream fades out.
Phase Three:
I am on a train travelling through Europe. It is the end of an exhausting trip and I am returning home to Montreal. The seats are arranged in a "C" shape so that I face a young woman seated opposite me, and between us is a third passenger with her back to the window. The third passenger is a small blonde woman and she is sleeping. I chat with the woman opposite me about what we are reading. We are sleepy. I lay down my novel and close my eyes. I feel something across my abdomen. It is warm and I begin to breath heavily. It is arousing. I peek through half closed eyes to see what I suspected is the case. The small blonde woman has stretched out and her leg rests across me. I'm not certain how to react. It feels nice. I close my eyes again to sleep.
There is some commotion in the train. The woman I had discussed books with is gone. I get up to get something from my bag and the blonde woman now is sitting in my seat. She asks me if I mind "It's so cramped in the other spot" It's fine I say and sit down opposite her. I realize at this point that she is the actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. Further she is seated wth her knees pulled up to her chin and it is apparent to me that she is wearing a t-shirt and nothing else. We talk, but my attention is constantly divided between her words and by what I see.
We arrive in Montreal and get off the train. We walk through a Park. I tell her that I really haven't seen any off her films. She tells me that she chooses parts that are dark and that the reason she makes a film is primarily for the role. Her career has been difficult in that respect she explains. We continue to walk until we arrive at the door of her hotel. It is a grand stone edifice that rises high above the tops of the canopy of leafless trees that we stand under and then this dream also fades.
Phase one:
There is a lake that goes on for as far as the eye can see, but it's inside a warehouse. I have purchased some plastic viking ships from the dollar store and have launched them in the lake. The ships however are on a such a scale that a crew of 12-20 men are needed to sail them. I gather such crews and we set off on the waters. Soon I am in control of the water. I have established camps on all the isles, the peninsulas and shoreline.
Then come the beasts from the depths. Scaly snaking things are sighted coiling through the depths of the water. Heads the size of cars, with mouthfuls of teeth like combs, break through the surface. Soon I am sailing between fearsome ancient colossi that are populating the water.
We are cut -off from our homebase and bank our ship by an outcropping of rock that stabs out of the water.
We lay down to sleep for the night. In the dead of night I feel wet. I have rolled into the water. I am supported only by weeds and water and I panic. I begin to sink. The light of day is coming and I see the silhouttes of the creatures lining the horizon. I look for my crew and ship, but they are gone. Only a canoe sized vessel has been left behind.
I paddle out into the water my way is blocked by these towering beasts. I end up reaching the edge of the water where it ends at the warehouse wall. I realize that if I follow the wall I will eventually arrive at the base camp. The dream here fades.
Phase Two:
I am in the countryside sitting in the back seat of a leaf green convertible with it's top down. Two older men, friends of my father's who are from this area, are in the front of the car. The roads are winding and lined with thick brush and forest making it difficult to see what is coming. As we race around a bend we almost run over a five year old girl in a blue dress. The driver curses her mother for letting her play on the road. I look back. I see a family following us. The driver has slowed the car down as we enter the village. The family nears us and I see that some of the children are not normal. There is a baby cyclops covered with rough skin. Despite his age he leaps onto the trunk of the car and attacks me. He strikes me and claws me and trys to bite me. I grab the squirming thing and dash it to the roadside. The driver speeds up and this part of the dream fades out.
Phase Three:
I am on a train travelling through Europe. It is the end of an exhausting trip and I am returning home to Montreal. The seats are arranged in a "C" shape so that I face a young woman seated opposite me, and between us is a third passenger with her back to the window. The third passenger is a small blonde woman and she is sleeping. I chat with the woman opposite me about what we are reading. We are sleepy. I lay down my novel and close my eyes. I feel something across my abdomen. It is warm and I begin to breath heavily. It is arousing. I peek through half closed eyes to see what I suspected is the case. The small blonde woman has stretched out and her leg rests across me. I'm not certain how to react. It feels nice. I close my eyes again to sleep.
There is some commotion in the train. The woman I had discussed books with is gone. I get up to get something from my bag and the blonde woman now is sitting in my seat. She asks me if I mind "It's so cramped in the other spot" It's fine I say and sit down opposite her. I realize at this point that she is the actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. Further she is seated wth her knees pulled up to her chin and it is apparent to me that she is wearing a t-shirt and nothing else. We talk, but my attention is constantly divided between her words and by what I see.
We arrive in Montreal and get off the train. We walk through a Park. I tell her that I really haven't seen any off her films. She tells me that she chooses parts that are dark and that the reason she makes a film is primarily for the role. Her career has been difficult in that respect she explains. We continue to walk until we arrive at the door of her hotel. It is a grand stone edifice that rises high above the tops of the canopy of leafless trees that we stand under and then this dream also fades.
3/08/2004
Ink Blot Test
For fun I did the free personality test at www.tickle.com I can't say how valid it is but my reults make sense to me:
james, your subconscious mind is driven most by Peace
You have a deeply-rooted desire to make peace in the world. Whether through subtle interactions with loved ones, or through getting involved in social causes, it is important to you to be able to influence the world in a positive way.
You have a deep respect for humankind. You care about the future of the world, even beyond your own involvement in it, and you inspire others to feel the same way. Your innate drive toward peace guides you in daily life towards decisions that are respectful toward yourself and others.
Paying the Price
I'm sick. Flu. Nausea. I pushed myself to hard this last week with interviews and meeting new people. Doing job interviews is incredibly stressful, but the effects of the stress always hits me after. During the interview I'm fine. Then I start to review what i said. I kick myself. I hate that you're being scrutinized and try not to take it personally when it doesn't pan out.
The I've been meeting people more or less at random trying to make new friends and expand my social network. Personal interactions with strangers are unpredictable. I'm very sensitive to other peoples comfort zones, which can work for or against me. When someone is clearly uncomfortable it throws my natural flow off. I focus too much on their awkwardness as if it is a reflection of me. On the other hand if I sense that person just needs a little time to open up, or is receptive to me, I find a nice groove and by the end of it I usually have a friend. Examples of both of these situations occured this week. But again it is stressful because in a sense you are weighing yourself against another persons perceptions of you. It's a matter of knowing who you are and accepting that some people are compatible with you and others aren't and not worrying about being judged.
The I've been meeting people more or less at random trying to make new friends and expand my social network. Personal interactions with strangers are unpredictable. I'm very sensitive to other peoples comfort zones, which can work for or against me. When someone is clearly uncomfortable it throws my natural flow off. I focus too much on their awkwardness as if it is a reflection of me. On the other hand if I sense that person just needs a little time to open up, or is receptive to me, I find a nice groove and by the end of it I usually have a friend. Examples of both of these situations occured this week. But again it is stressful because in a sense you are weighing yourself against another persons perceptions of you. It's a matter of knowing who you are and accepting that some people are compatible with you and others aren't and not worrying about being judged.
3/06/2004
Last Blog of the Day
I have to say that I was always uncomfortable with Howard Dean. Even before the "scream". Not that I don't agree with him. He seemed rash. I'm rash sometimes so I know what is wrong with that.
Now I see that John Kerry is Pepsi to Bush's Coke (snort). That's not good enough when you want a drink of something else. Kerry's recent statements about how he would deal with Haiti smack of a sense of ownership of other countries which isn't so far removed from the Bush school of stomping loudly and whacking a motherf**king big stick into your little pea-brain. It's not my country, but it is our planet.
Now I see that John Kerry is Pepsi to Bush's Coke (snort). That's not good enough when you want a drink of something else. Kerry's recent statements about how he would deal with Haiti smack of a sense of ownership of other countries which isn't so far removed from the Bush school of stomping loudly and whacking a motherf**king big stick into your little pea-brain. It's not my country, but it is our planet.
Your Name
Do you.
1. Hate Your Name?
2. love your name?
3. Indifferent?
Do you know the entemology of your name?
1. Hate Your Name?
2. love your name?
3. Indifferent?
Do you know the entemology of your name?
Note to Jerry
Thanks Jerry,
You said what I already know. Part of the reason I posted that was because temptation doesn't grow in the light of day. As you can see I removed the post. It served it's purpose. It's difficult to truly know the limits of our own moral fibre until we are confronted with choices such as this. It's one thing to say I know what is right and wrong and it's another to live it.
You said what I already know. Part of the reason I posted that was because temptation doesn't grow in the light of day. As you can see I removed the post. It served it's purpose. It's difficult to truly know the limits of our own moral fibre until we are confronted with choices such as this. It's one thing to say I know what is right and wrong and it's another to live it.
3/05/2004
3/04/2004
History Ninja Says
The Good: (March 04, 1933) Frances Perkins' appointment as Secretary of Labor: first woman to serve as a member of the U.S. President's Cabinet
The Bad: (March 04, 1999) Outraging Italians, a military jury in North Carolina cleared a Marine pilot of charges he was flying recklessly when his jet sliced through a ski gondola cable in the Alps, sending 20 people plunging to their deaths.
The Ugly: (March 04, 1999) Monica Lewinsky's book detailing her affair with Bill Clinton goes on sale in the United States.
Amish in the City
A new reality show called "Amish in the City" proposes to follow some young Amish people as they encounter life in the big city for the first time. There is nothing inherently wrong with this idea, if it were aproached seriously. The mocking title, with it's reference to "Sex in the City" however set's the apparent tone of the show. Although spokesperson for the show has stated that they intend to depict the Amish with"utmost respect and decency." Leslie Moonves, Chairman at CBS, explained the entertainment value of the concept which is" to have people who have never had television, who will walk down Rodeo Drive and be freaked out by what they see." In other words it's a freak show.
The original concept was to do a "real life" Beverly Hillbillies, but there was too much bad publicity generated over the idea at the behest of rural groups who saw this as an attempt to parlay ugly stereotypes into cheap entertainment. Said Moonves on the decision to use the Amish instead "(the Amish) don't have quite as good a lobbying effort."
Which may not turn out to be the case:
"We know of no other reality series that singles out the beliefs and practices of a specific group of people as a subject for humor," protests a letter sent to CBS from "fifty-one lawmakers, including Pennsylvania's two United States senators, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum" according to the New York Times.
The original concept was to do a "real life" Beverly Hillbillies, but there was too much bad publicity generated over the idea at the behest of rural groups who saw this as an attempt to parlay ugly stereotypes into cheap entertainment. Said Moonves on the decision to use the Amish instead "(the Amish) don't have quite as good a lobbying effort."
Which may not turn out to be the case:
"We know of no other reality series that singles out the beliefs and practices of a specific group of people as a subject for humor," protests a letter sent to CBS from "fifty-one lawmakers, including Pennsylvania's two United States senators, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum" according to the New York Times.
Ray Davies Secret Sauce
Do remember what a rush it was to hear the Kinks: "You Really Got Me," "All Day And All Of The Night," and "Till The End Of The Day", the first time. Turns out Mr. Jimmy Page played those riffs on those early Kinks songs. Then listen to "Black Dog" and "Rock n Roll" by Led Zeppelin. Makes sense.
3/03/2004
3/02/2004
Alien Nation
When has to wonder if the alienation that Quebecers (English and French) sometimes feel in regards to the rest of Canada will ever subside. A recent on-line Globe and Mail poll (which it must be emphasized is not a scientificly valid poll) had over half of respondents state that official bilingualism is a bad thing for Canada. To a Quebecer this is also saying that french speaking people shouldn't have the expectation that they can correspond with their national government in their own language.
Of course some respondents could have been thinking the official language should be french only, or that Canada should be officially trilingual, do you think?
Of course some respondents could have been thinking the official language should be french only, or that Canada should be officially trilingual, do you think?
2/28/2004
More or Less
Was allowing Women or African-Americans the vote a threat to voting? Was allowing women in the military a threat to warfare? You get the drift. Is allowing more marriage a threat to marriage? Or is it that those opposed to gay marriage, just don't like gays and lesbians. I have to admit it's taken years for me to be comfortable seeing a man kiss another man, but I did get over it, like a child get's over seeing mommy and daddy kissing "Ew don't do that, that's gross". Allowing gay marriage doesn't threaten the institution it reinforces it. These gay marriages aren't in place of straight marriages. The fact is that being against gay marriage either means you're against marriage period or you really don't accept that same-sex relationships are as legitimate as straight realationships. That being said society isn't always fair and just, but wouldn't it be nice if it was.
A Good Thing He Only Has Two Feet
Sometimes an apology reveals more about why the original statement that led to it was misguided, offensive or otherwise wrong-headed. Here's an example from Gregg Easterbrook in the New Republic apologizing(?) for his comments on what he believes is Hollywood film executives worship of money above all else. Oh did I mention he particularily questions the Jewish ones?
There is some very weird thinking going on in this man's mind. In fact in the original article he even draws out an implication that Islamic terrorism just might be fueled by exposure to Hollywood violence.
There is some very weird thinking going on in this man's mind. In fact in the original article he even draws out an implication that Islamic terrorism just might be fueled by exposure to Hollywood violence.
2/27/2004
It Looks Like a Dog
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This beast is named Chester. He is a super dog. He will pick up garbage and throw it in the garbage can. He will leap through the air and catch his frisbee. He has no leash and will go through any series of obstacles that you ask him to. He will "talk" on command. He writes poetry.
2/25/2004
K-tel Memories
After a hard day's work there are few things in life finer than sitting back with a cold beer, some wood on the fire (in my case a stick of burning incense) and access to every super fantastic piece of schlock that ever hit the top 40, all thanks to the world of zeros and ones. Ah sweet memories. I feel like I'm 14 again sitting by the water with my transistor radio, The black Sony with the industrial rubber handle/antenna and that little red eye on the dial that lit up when you dialed into frequencies from near and far: Atlanta, Chicago, Montreal, Baltimore, Ottawa, rocking through the static with the sounds of Chilliwack, BTO, Bad Co., Cheap Trick, Styx, Kiss, Trooper, Disco, Abba, Muskrat Love and Kiki Dee and the breeze across the water. Superfine.
Globalism Revisited
So, I finally read (His Excellency) John Ralston Saul's article on Globalism. I see that he is using the term in a narrower sense than what I would have. He refers to a particular economic vision of the world and the fallout of adhereing to it as if it were a religious force. In my days as an anthropologist the term had a broader sense. While it encompassed the economic realm, it also referred to culture transmissions, the movement of people, whether individualy or as populations, to identities.
I had a neo-marxist professor who used the term in the strict economic sense. He would fall into the anti-globalism camp who saw globalism as a kind of imperialism, a nationalism writ large. This was in contrast to the po-mo's and others who understood globalism in a less ideological way, as referring to social processes in general. This included the more frequent encounters of people across national boundaries, fusion in cuisine, music, religion etcetera, that goes along with modern communications and transportation. Globalism in this sense was not singularly about the exchange of goods, resources and currency. There was a lot of ill will bred by using the same word to refer to different (although overlapping) things.
By the way the article is very interesting ands if you get a chance give it a read.
I had a neo-marxist professor who used the term in the strict economic sense. He would fall into the anti-globalism camp who saw globalism as a kind of imperialism, a nationalism writ large. This was in contrast to the po-mo's and others who understood globalism in a less ideological way, as referring to social processes in general. This included the more frequent encounters of people across national boundaries, fusion in cuisine, music, religion etcetera, that goes along with modern communications and transportation. Globalism in this sense was not singularly about the exchange of goods, resources and currency. There was a lot of ill will bred by using the same word to refer to different (although overlapping) things.
By the way the article is very interesting ands if you get a chance give it a read.
The History Ninja Says:
Today in History:
The Good: Happy Birthday Jim Backus Feb 25th 1913.
The Bad: Adolf Hitler granted German citizenship Feb 25th 1932.
and lest we forget
The Ugly: Feb 25th 1751, The first performing monkey exhibited in America (admission 1¢)
2/23/2004
Coming (not a moment too) Soon: Earth II
The US military is actively creating a virtual to scale model of the earth for training purposes. It looks like we're going to need it if this pentagon report has any creedence. Hope you enjoy those Siberian winters Britain.
2/22/2004
2/21/2004
Blossom Dearie
Today moving into tonight has been an indulgence of dredging the net, drinking beer listening to very loud music , playing the old guitar and yearning. Not bad. I found this singer named Blossom Dearie who sings this very sweet sappy song called Surrey With the Fringe on Top.
Little things like that make it all worth while. More than worthwhile. Oh I'm sorry, this will pass. It's a "heart on sleeve" weekend.
Little things like that make it all worth while. More than worthwhile. Oh I'm sorry, this will pass. It's a "heart on sleeve" weekend.
The Earth Has Spun It's Circle Without You
It was a year ago this week Steven left us. Here are some of his doodles from when we were kids.
Heartbreak and All That
One of the few positive things I can manage to dredge out of sorrowful circumstance, is the fact that these are moments that deliniate very clearly what matters in this world. After accumulating enough disappointment, heartbreak and death you find your way through the pain. It' still hurts like hell but you survived last time, you know what to hang on to, when to drift with the current and when to resist it.
It's a gloomy wet day but there is light and music and friends and fond memories. And there is tomorrow, without which I never would have met you all.
It's a gloomy wet day but there is light and music and friends and fond memories. And there is tomorrow, without which I never would have met you all.
Goodbye
I said goodbye to Sophie on Thursday. Friday she took her things back to St. Damien and is driving to Boston today where she will start the next chapter. I wish her all the best and look forward to hearing about her Ivy League adventures although I know Luna and I will miss those evening walks through Parc Lafontaine. Yes I'm sad dammit.
Gettin' the Hits
You would think the best google bait would be something like "Jane_t Jackso_n's Brea_st" or "Cele_brity Nip_ple S_lips" but noooo, John Ralston Saul, The Collapse of Nationalism turns out to be the ticket to a torent of google hits.
2/19/2004
Womble Ponderings
Does anyone remember the Wombles? I barely do from when I lived in Saudi and was exposed to a lot of British pop culture. Who were they exactly?
Bush Science
How would you feel about your credentials if 60 prominent scientests, of which twenty were Nobel Laureates, told you your approach to science was dubious? You'd feel like G W Bush I suppose. This week that's what happened in a public letter that explained how the Bush administration has unprecedently politicized science within the government, to the long-term detrement of the public.
When scientific knowledge has been found to be in conflict with its political goals, the administration has often manipulated the process through which science enters into its decisions. This has been done by placing people who are professionally unqualified or who have clear conflicts of interest in official posts and on scientific advisory committees; by disbanding existing advisory committees; by censoring and suppressing reports by the government’s own scientists; and by simply not seeking independent scientific advice. Other administrations have, on occasion, engaged in such practices, but not so systematically nor on so wide a front. Furthermore, in advocating policies that are not scientifically sound, the administration has sometimes misrepresented scientific knowledge and misled the public about the implications of its policies.
2/17/2004
Atkins this
When I recieved a Harper's magazine in the maill today with a full page add on the back cover screaning in bold red letters "Wake up to Atkins" "Look for the Red 'A' " it was the last straw.
So here it is, via the Smoking Gun the Wall Street Journal the medical examiner's report of the deceased Dr. Atkins "shows that the 72-year-old physician had suffered from a heart attack, congestive heart failure, and hypertension" which is why he fell and bonked his head which is what did him in.
So here it is, via the Smoking Gun the Wall Street Journal the medical examiner's report of the deceased Dr. Atkins "shows that the 72-year-old physician had suffered from a heart attack, congestive heart failure, and hypertension" which is why he fell and bonked his head which is what did him in.
Globalism and Nationalism
I've noticed that there is an article in this month's Harper's by John Ralston Saul titled "The Collapse of Globalism: And the Rebirth of Nationalism." I haven't read it yet but as a student of the subject I was always critical of the notion that "Globalism" was preceding "Nationalism" to create a new paridigm in which the importance of individual states woud whither away. The models of globalism drew largely from what was occurring in those days (mid to late 1990's) in terms of communications and the internationalization of economy and transposing this to state political structures, but if one looked at political events even then, it was clear that nationalism was as strong as at any point in history. With the collapse of the Soviet Union there commenced a great change in Central Asia and Eastern Europe as former satellite states and republics of the USSR redefined themselves. In Africa nationalism was also very much a fact. Indeed the only places where political globalism seemed to be a given was in Western Europe and North America, where we had the European Union in the former and NAFTA in latter presented as signs of the future, in otherwords globalism was a phenomena arising for the most part from the traditional wealthy industrial nations known as "the West".
So "globalism" has always been localized, which makes it a strange kind of globalism to begin with. Globalism didn't diffuse globally, it's force flowed from the West and drew back to the West. In fact globalism probably plays a large role in the kinds of nationalist movements that we see now. Despite the rhetoric of nationalists, the nation is not the natural social/political unit of mankind nor does nationalism exist through much of the history of civiization.
It's a relatively recent phenomena that originates in Western Europe, at least in the form that is the ancestor of contemporary nationalist movements. Nationalism is almost always born in in the face of adversity and thus typically a reactionary movement. The more oppressive the circumstances of the adversity the stronger the nationalism. Nationalist movements rarely survive in conditions of prosperity such as in Quebec, northern Italy or Spain.
All this to say, and this is a simplification of a lot of complexity, is that because globalism was a phenomena whose force originated among the wealthy nations of the world its force was not distributed equally so we have reaction in the form of localism, as the transnational colldies with the village, as the interests of the global players clash with the man and woman in the street or field.
One small example: The emergence of Hindu Nationalists as India becomes an economic and industrialized state (not Indian nationalists but Hindu) and their rejection of all things "foreign" such as Valentines day. There's a myriad of other examples but I'm not really meaning to right a thesis here.
So "globalism" has always been localized, which makes it a strange kind of globalism to begin with. Globalism didn't diffuse globally, it's force flowed from the West and drew back to the West. In fact globalism probably plays a large role in the kinds of nationalist movements that we see now. Despite the rhetoric of nationalists, the nation is not the natural social/political unit of mankind nor does nationalism exist through much of the history of civiization.
It's a relatively recent phenomena that originates in Western Europe, at least in the form that is the ancestor of contemporary nationalist movements. Nationalism is almost always born in in the face of adversity and thus typically a reactionary movement. The more oppressive the circumstances of the adversity the stronger the nationalism. Nationalist movements rarely survive in conditions of prosperity such as in Quebec, northern Italy or Spain.
All this to say, and this is a simplification of a lot of complexity, is that because globalism was a phenomena whose force originated among the wealthy nations of the world its force was not distributed equally so we have reaction in the form of localism, as the transnational colldies with the village, as the interests of the global players clash with the man and woman in the street or field.
One small example: The emergence of Hindu Nationalists as India becomes an economic and industrialized state (not Indian nationalists but Hindu) and their rejection of all things "foreign" such as Valentines day. There's a myriad of other examples but I'm not really meaning to right a thesis here.
2/16/2004
Conan the O'Barbarian
As you may or may not know Conan O'Brien has been taping his nightly comedy/talk-show in Toronto this past week. The other evening they did a segment with the cigar chomping dog puppet, Triumph, whose raison d'etre is to insult people. They sent the feisty one up to check out the Quebec Carnival and it turned into a minor political fiasco.
I saw excerpts from the show and it was both ignorant and funny. Funny in an outrageous way. You can't believe how stupid and naive the producers of the show are about Canadian society.
I only spoke to one Francophone friend about the show. He used to live in the USA and in fact worked for the CIA in the 1980's. So is familiar with a certain kind of existing American mentality. He reacted with a resigned disappointment. "Typical American ignorance. What can you do." he sighed and said that in Canada we've learned how to live together with our differences and to have someone who knows nothing about our country come and throw this shit in the pot was too bad.
The thing that upset him most though was the Toronto audiences enthusiastic response to the denegration of his culture. Yes, we know it's "only a joke. Chill out". Gee thanks being a francophone in North America is a joke. That makes us feel so much better.
I saw excerpts from the show and it was both ignorant and funny. Funny in an outrageous way. You can't believe how stupid and naive the producers of the show are about Canadian society.
I only spoke to one Francophone friend about the show. He used to live in the USA and in fact worked for the CIA in the 1980's. So is familiar with a certain kind of existing American mentality. He reacted with a resigned disappointment. "Typical American ignorance. What can you do." he sighed and said that in Canada we've learned how to live together with our differences and to have someone who knows nothing about our country come and throw this shit in the pot was too bad.
The thing that upset him most though was the Toronto audiences enthusiastic response to the denegration of his culture. Yes, we know it's "only a joke. Chill out". Gee thanks being a francophone in North America is a joke. That makes us feel so much better.
In a Bloggy Mood
After a slow period of blogging I find myself replete with blog topics today. Sophie is moving to Boston next Saturday. For the record I will miss her. Last night we went to meet a prospective room-mate. A man studying neurology at Harvard. He was in Montreal to visit his wife who is a dancer. She was admitted to a Dance program in New Yrk City but was then refused a student visa so she came to Montreal.
We met them both and they were very nice. Sophie has not been to keen on the idea of living in the land of Bush and having to live without French for 18 months, but after last night she was much more enthused. Hector painted a picture of Boston that made her feel much more relaxed about the idea of living there; even excited. I know she's going to have a great time and I look forward to going there to visit. It's really not so far from Montreal and I'm sure is a fine place to be in its own right.
We met them both and they were very nice. Sophie has not been to keen on the idea of living in the land of Bush and having to live without French for 18 months, but after last night she was much more enthused. Hector painted a picture of Boston that made her feel much more relaxed about the idea of living there; even excited. I know she's going to have a great time and I look forward to going there to visit. It's really not so far from Montreal and I'm sure is a fine place to be in its own right.
The Sad Story of the Segway
There's an article in today's Globe and Mail about the new mode of transportation that was going to change the world. There was a lot of hype surrounding the Segway and when it was presented to the public there was a huge deflation. "Oh," I remember thinking, "that's it?" The Segway never caught on and think it has something to do with the fact that it isn't sexy. It isn't cool . In fact it's an electric wheelchair without the chair. On top of it all it doesn't do anything that a bicycle can't do at a lower cost and more efficiently. The Segway is a case of too much applied technology to create something that has already been done more simply.
A bicycle is made of physical parts that can be readily replaced and tuned. A Segway has computer chips and gyroscopes. It has no storage space and isn't convenient to bring up or down stairs. It's no good in a snowy climate like mine and I'm not certain that you can leave it out in the rain. Poor Segway nobody loves you.
A bicycle is made of physical parts that can be readily replaced and tuned. A Segway has computer chips and gyroscopes. It has no storage space and isn't convenient to bring up or down stairs. It's no good in a snowy climate like mine and I'm not certain that you can leave it out in the rain. Poor Segway nobody loves you.
2/15/2004
2/14/2004
A Quick Political Blog
One of the things that I've always detested about the Canadian political system is that we end up with Prime Ministers that the populace didn't vote for. It's based on the idea that a vote goes to a party not an individual. So we had Kim Campbell step into Mulroney's shoes and she was trounced. Now we have Mr. Martin stepping into Chretiens and he is being pummelled. Had Chretien finished his term and called an election with a new Liberal leader I think things would be different. Ther is an inherent resentment for a leader that we feel we didn't choose. It rubs the democratic spirit the wrong way. Martin still may win an election but it's not a sure thing.
Of course the scandal hasn't helped. According to the Globe and Mail the the Liberals are at 39%. 39% of what? They don't say. According to "a poll". What poll? They don't say. Talk about low standards in journalism. Anyhow the Liberals are where the Conservatives were just before the Canadian public disintegrated them. Are the Liberals next? That would be exciting, but what would we get in return? I've said it before here at the Glob, but for the first time in years I will not be voting Liberal.
Jack Layton has problems in that the NDP has almost no presence in Quebec and Ontario still begrudges the Bob Rae days. You aren't going to win a majority without these provinces. It's too bad because I believe that he is a fresh (federally), competent and likeable man. Especially by the standards of politicians.
I don't even think that there is an NDP candidate in my riding. It's Bloc and Liberal. So I can't even vote for the man. Something is wrong with this system.
Of course the scandal hasn't helped. According to the Globe and Mail the the Liberals are at 39%. 39% of what? They don't say. According to "a poll". What poll? They don't say. Talk about low standards in journalism. Anyhow the Liberals are where the Conservatives were just before the Canadian public disintegrated them. Are the Liberals next? That would be exciting, but what would we get in return? I've said it before here at the Glob, but for the first time in years I will not be voting Liberal.
Jack Layton has problems in that the NDP has almost no presence in Quebec and Ontario still begrudges the Bob Rae days. You aren't going to win a majority without these provinces. It's too bad because I believe that he is a fresh (federally), competent and likeable man. Especially by the standards of politicians.
I don't even think that there is an NDP candidate in my riding. It's Bloc and Liberal. So I can't even vote for the man. Something is wrong with this system.
2/13/2004
Strange Wink
I Googled an image called "Winking" this evening looking for someone winking to use in a graphic and to my surprise a picture I took of Sophie winking that I put on the Glob and Wail last August came up ( mind you on the 7th page). She's a famous winker now. it freaked me out a bit; how public this is.
2/11/2004
One More Thing
I always thought that the Liberals had been in power too long. In effect we have been living in what amounts to a one party state. There are good reasons for this given the choices voters have been given over the years. Preston Manning? Alexis McDonough, Doris, I mean Stockwell Day. It turns out in light of the Auditor-General Sheila Fraser's report that the corruption was institutional. It's criminal and those responsible should be in prison. For the money stolen from Canadian citizens every child in Canada could have been immunized against menengitis and a host of other life-threatening diseases that at present are paid for out of an individuals pocket. All I can do is growl. Grrrrrrrr.
2/09/2004
The Inventors of Timekeeping Have a Lot to Answer For.
Not much time for blogging these days. I'm working on the professional side of things with a renewed intensity that is taking up all my time. I figure in March things will have stabilized somewhat.
2/04/2004
Whether it snows...
We had a beautiful snowfall last night. It's been a real winter this year, which is fine by me. I I've lived in climates where there was no snow and cold and I missed it then. Granted it can drag on but in general I love the strong characters of the four seasons we have in Eastern Canada.
In Montreal Spring is a bit of problem. It doesn't come at once (if at all ). Instead we have a day here a day there that you could call spring weather, popping up between the continuing winter days. Then , smack, a heatwave slaps you and you are in the midst of summer. Humidity, sweat and raging waves of heat slither off the tarmack.
But that's not today. today is painted in soft grey tones and the pillows of snow absorb all the ambient noise.
In Montreal Spring is a bit of problem. It doesn't come at once (if at all ). Instead we have a day here a day there that you could call spring weather, popping up between the continuing winter days. Then , smack, a heatwave slaps you and you are in the midst of summer. Humidity, sweat and raging waves of heat slither off the tarmack.
But that's not today. today is painted in soft grey tones and the pillows of snow absorb all the ambient noise.
2/03/2004
Last Night
The woman who lives upstairs is being evicted tomorrow. She hasn't paid her rent since last summer. She hasn't budged yet and tomorrow the bailiff comes. He will put everything she owns on the street. While I feel bad for anyone in this situation, I will not miss her. She has been a bane to everyone in this building. If she repaid us for all of the sleepless nights she has given each of us we could sleep for days.
I won't miss the screaming, the fighting, the tantrums, the parties, or the shady characters that sometimes drop by looking for her. One evening in December a fellow dropped by looking for her. I knew him vaguely as the boyfriend of a woman I sometimes meet in the Park while walking the dog. He is a man of few words. Rather he communicates with small shifts of his eyes in his otherwise expressionless face. His head is shaved and he likes to wear pseudo-military clothing.
When he asked for her I could tell it was not for tea. He had given her money for a room she was renting last October. He had asked for it back when he found out that she wasn't paying the landlord. He didn't say anything more about this and offered me a bottle of beer that he pulled out of the pouch on the front of his camouflaged poncho. He had the demeanor of a man who could kill you with no more emotion than he would tie up a bootlace. He made me nervous.
The woman upstairs stopped staying in her apartment just before Christmas. Her phone was disconnected and the light in the front room was on at all hours. She would return at odd times, perhaps to get fresh clothes and feed the cat. Beyond that all was quiet until last night. The stomping the yelling, the strange sounds returned and for the first time in all the time she has lived there, I heard the rhythmic sawing of the bed upstairs accompanied by squeaky moans. Strange that this should happen the night before the bailiff comes.
I won't miss the screaming, the fighting, the tantrums, the parties, or the shady characters that sometimes drop by looking for her. One evening in December a fellow dropped by looking for her. I knew him vaguely as the boyfriend of a woman I sometimes meet in the Park while walking the dog. He is a man of few words. Rather he communicates with small shifts of his eyes in his otherwise expressionless face. His head is shaved and he likes to wear pseudo-military clothing.
When he asked for her I could tell it was not for tea. He had given her money for a room she was renting last October. He had asked for it back when he found out that she wasn't paying the landlord. He didn't say anything more about this and offered me a bottle of beer that he pulled out of the pouch on the front of his camouflaged poncho. He had the demeanor of a man who could kill you with no more emotion than he would tie up a bootlace. He made me nervous.
The woman upstairs stopped staying in her apartment just before Christmas. Her phone was disconnected and the light in the front room was on at all hours. She would return at odd times, perhaps to get fresh clothes and feed the cat. Beyond that all was quiet until last night. The stomping the yelling, the strange sounds returned and for the first time in all the time she has lived there, I heard the rhythmic sawing of the bed upstairs accompanied by squeaky moans. Strange that this should happen the night before the bailiff comes.
2/01/2004
February
It's February. February is one of the nothing months. Like November it exists in a seasonal limbo. If you were at a party and all the months were there you would want to spend as little time with February as possible. The best thing about February is the fact that is short.
However all that being said, today is a beautiful sunny day and mere very cold rather than a deep freeze. I've only strolled down Mount Royal once since before Christmas as the weather has been so beastly.
Sophie started moving her things back to her parents this weekend in preparation for her move to Boston at the end of the month. She has mixed feelings about leaving, but it's going to a be a great opportunity to work with some of the top scientests in state of the art facilities on her measles vaccine. Measles is I understand the number one cause of death of children globally. (But isn't there already a vaccine for measles? Yes, but you'd have to talk to her about it. In general it will be a more effective, safer and cheaper to produce vaccine).
Which brings me to the growing anti-vaccination trend, among North Amricans who grew up without fear of childhood disease, but I'll save that for next time.
However all that being said, today is a beautiful sunny day and mere very cold rather than a deep freeze. I've only strolled down Mount Royal once since before Christmas as the weather has been so beastly.
Sophie started moving her things back to her parents this weekend in preparation for her move to Boston at the end of the month. She has mixed feelings about leaving, but it's going to a be a great opportunity to work with some of the top scientests in state of the art facilities on her measles vaccine. Measles is I understand the number one cause of death of children globally. (But isn't there already a vaccine for measles? Yes, but you'd have to talk to her about it. In general it will be a more effective, safer and cheaper to produce vaccine).
Which brings me to the growing anti-vaccination trend, among North Amricans who grew up without fear of childhood disease, but I'll save that for next time.
1/30/2004
Religion's Turn
I know this is going to upset people but I'm just so fed up with religion. Actually religion can't be held responsible for the actions of its practitioners. Let me refine this idea. What I'm truly tired of is people who use religion to justify any sort of inhumane, self-serving, narrow-minded agenda. Having stated this I realize that religion itself is not the problem it's people. If you remove religion from the stage people will use political affiliation, ideology, race, ethnicity, or whether you like Star Trek or not as a platform from which they will launch their abuse upon others.
I initially began this blog with the thought that religion is all mythology (which I still think is true) and that the false nature of religious beliefs was responsible for injustice. I don't think that really is the case. There are many decent people who do immeasurable good and are religious. My feeling however is that they would likely be decent with or without religious concepts.
What I really am fed up with then is thoughtlessness. Monotheism was an invention that seems to have begun in the Middle East. It took the forms of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (and Zoroastrianism). Prior to this people believed in many deities and accepted the existence of other gods and goddesses. At some point the idea that there was a single correct way to be religious entered into civilizations practices: One God, Sin, Heathen, 'I'm right, you are wrong'. Warfare was simply about conquering people and benefiting from the resources in pre-biblical times in the ancient Middle East. Conquerors even adopted the religions of the people they conquered. Commencing with monotheism came warfare based on belief. Persecution.
The Romans persecuted Christians and Jews for their beliefs. They didn't persecute Egyptians, Greeks, Gauls etc for their beliefs the simply oppressed them to control their land and wealth. Monotheists presented a new threat to the Romans in that they presented a divide based on religious belief. "You are with us or you are against us." You believed only in THE GOD and all his trappings or you were a pagan.
In other words the Romans could not accept Christians (whereas they could accept Egyptian, Persian, Germanic, Pictish, Greek, Phoenician, Syrian, and Indian religious notions among others), because Christians could not accomodate pagans. The history books are full of examples of Roman Christians who refused, based on their religious convictions, to accept Roman, Egyptian , Greek religious traditions. All the while these peoples did not fight over religious ideas. They fought over trade routes, resources, and land, but not over Zeus, Isis, Neptune or Vishnu.
So it's not religion I'm fed up with; it's a mindset. May Freya smile upon you and St. Christopher guide you safely home.
I initially began this blog with the thought that religion is all mythology (which I still think is true) and that the false nature of religious beliefs was responsible for injustice. I don't think that really is the case. There are many decent people who do immeasurable good and are religious. My feeling however is that they would likely be decent with or without religious concepts.
What I really am fed up with then is thoughtlessness. Monotheism was an invention that seems to have begun in the Middle East. It took the forms of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (and Zoroastrianism). Prior to this people believed in many deities and accepted the existence of other gods and goddesses. At some point the idea that there was a single correct way to be religious entered into civilizations practices: One God, Sin, Heathen, 'I'm right, you are wrong'. Warfare was simply about conquering people and benefiting from the resources in pre-biblical times in the ancient Middle East. Conquerors even adopted the religions of the people they conquered. Commencing with monotheism came warfare based on belief. Persecution.
The Romans persecuted Christians and Jews for their beliefs. They didn't persecute Egyptians, Greeks, Gauls etc for their beliefs the simply oppressed them to control their land and wealth. Monotheists presented a new threat to the Romans in that they presented a divide based on religious belief. "You are with us or you are against us." You believed only in THE GOD and all his trappings or you were a pagan.
In other words the Romans could not accept Christians (whereas they could accept Egyptian, Persian, Germanic, Pictish, Greek, Phoenician, Syrian, and Indian religious notions among others), because Christians could not accomodate pagans. The history books are full of examples of Roman Christians who refused, based on their religious convictions, to accept Roman, Egyptian , Greek religious traditions. All the while these peoples did not fight over religious ideas. They fought over trade routes, resources, and land, but not over Zeus, Isis, Neptune or Vishnu.
So it's not religion I'm fed up with; it's a mindset. May Freya smile upon you and St. Christopher guide you safely home.
1/29/2004
1/27/2004
Chairman of the Board
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Call me irresponsible - call me unreliable |
1/26/2004
Welcome Baby Girl!
My dear friends Bob and Anna brought a sweet baby girl into this world last Saturday while I was eating homemade pizza and drinking beer and playing Rummy. I wish the three of them a whole lot of love and bliss.
1/24/2004
My Fingers Are Numb
I walked home this morning, I walked to the grocery store and back, I went for a walk through Parc LaFontaine with Sophie, we walked down Mt. Royal and ran into her ex. I walked home from Sophie's and I'm only thawing out now. Alefia just called and invited me over, but I'm not walking. I'm taking the 24 and then I've got a ride home with Mappie. Yes the world needs to know this. I'm only blogging this because I was going to blog something else when the phone rang. I hate this entry but I've done it now so it's staying. Goodnight.
1/23/2004
My Other Job
I've been reading a lot of history lately, mostly things about the ancient Mediterranean world. I think this explains why I had this dream last night in which I was a member of a family that produced olive oil. I was filling up urns and jars with freshly pressed oil for shipping to Anatolia. The sun was shining and I felt that this was a good life. It's -15 C in real life but the sun is shining and I do have greek olive oil but that's where the connection between dream and life ends.
1/22/2004
1/19/2004
The Perfect
We can probably all remember those days when everything just seems to go wrong, but once in a while the gods bless with a day in which everything is right I was fortunate enough today to have one of those. Of course it began with a nice weekend so that when I woke up this morning I was brimming with 'penso positivo'. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and I felt this utter calm through and through.
I had to some research for a client downtown and I hadn't really been out of my neighbourhood since I returned to Montreal after Christmas. It's just been that cold. So it was a thrll to see all the faces and the beautiful Montreal women as I rode the 24. I don't know how these things work. There are beautiful women all over this world but it just seems that Montreal has a higher percentage of them for some reason.
I also met my financial advisor for the first time and opened up a new mutual fund account and realized I'm not afraid of money and numbers anymore (I know it sounds weirder than it is). I did some grocery shopping, found the $80.00 O'Reilly DHTML book I wanted on sale for under $20.00, did my research and came home to a message from Sophie telling me that the events in the dream that woke her up in the middle of the night Saturday had in fact been verified.
I walked over to Sophie's for dinner and on my way met JP. He had his gall bladder removed last week but he was feeling great he said. Sophie and I spent a quiet evening eating, drinking, talking, laughing and playing games and it was so nice. So simple a day. Really nothing special except everything was so easy and pleasant and satisfying.
On the way home I was walking through the park. The snow was deep and soft and the wind blew whispy tails of snow along the ground between the trees. I was listening to the song 'Electricity' by Joni Mitchell and the stars were all twinkling in the clear frozen sky. The chord changes matched perfectly with my environment. From across the park I could see the light of my door and when I entered the house it was toasty and welcoming.
I checked my e-mail and found more praise for the chinook dog training site that I built for Trish. But the capper of the entire day were the tears and belly laughs that Bob of Filbert provided via this web site. Yes a perfect ending to a perfect day.
I had to some research for a client downtown and I hadn't really been out of my neighbourhood since I returned to Montreal after Christmas. It's just been that cold. So it was a thrll to see all the faces and the beautiful Montreal women as I rode the 24. I don't know how these things work. There are beautiful women all over this world but it just seems that Montreal has a higher percentage of them for some reason.
I also met my financial advisor for the first time and opened up a new mutual fund account and realized I'm not afraid of money and numbers anymore (I know it sounds weirder than it is). I did some grocery shopping, found the $80.00 O'Reilly DHTML book I wanted on sale for under $20.00, did my research and came home to a message from Sophie telling me that the events in the dream that woke her up in the middle of the night Saturday had in fact been verified.
I walked over to Sophie's for dinner and on my way met JP. He had his gall bladder removed last week but he was feeling great he said. Sophie and I spent a quiet evening eating, drinking, talking, laughing and playing games and it was so nice. So simple a day. Really nothing special except everything was so easy and pleasant and satisfying.
On the way home I was walking through the park. The snow was deep and soft and the wind blew whispy tails of snow along the ground between the trees. I was listening to the song 'Electricity' by Joni Mitchell and the stars were all twinkling in the clear frozen sky. The chord changes matched perfectly with my environment. From across the park I could see the light of my door and when I entered the house it was toasty and welcoming.
I checked my e-mail and found more praise for the chinook dog training site that I built for Trish. But the capper of the entire day were the tears and belly laughs that Bob of Filbert provided via this web site. Yes a perfect ending to a perfect day.
Jesus Scares My Dog
Tonight I was coming home from Sophie's and I passed one of the numerous Catholic churches that seem to be on every corner of Montreal streets. There is an oversized statue of Jesus in front, his arms outstretched to embrace the world with his divine love, and as we passed it my dog arched her back and slunk her head low fixing her gaze on him. She kept checking to make sure Jesus wasn't following us.
1/17/2004
My Pal Foot Foot
Legend has it that in 1969 1000 copies of an album called Philosophy of the World were pressed of which only 100 were made available to the general public. The recording which included mysterious songs such as 'My Pal Foot Foot' and 'Who Are Parents?' was made by the three Wiggins sisters at the prompting of their fame obsessed father.
Thanks to the "magic" of the Internet I was able to experience the sonic thrills of the Wiggins sisters the other evening. This is what I have to say on the matter:
They are the best bad musicians I have ever heard. That's not an original statement. They can't play their instruments, but somehow they are using these atonal melodies to hold the chaos together to make highly original and sickly tender music. The name of the group was the Shaggs
Thanks to the "magic" of the Internet I was able to experience the sonic thrills of the Wiggins sisters the other evening. This is what I have to say on the matter:
They are the best bad musicians I have ever heard. That's not an original statement. They can't play their instruments, but somehow they are using these atonal melodies to hold the chaos together to make highly original and sickly tender music. The name of the group was the Shaggs
1/15/2004
It was a Dark and Bloggy Night
Some rumination on Paul Martin's new Liberal Party; I never liked the way that a new party leader steps into the shoes of Prime Minister simply because it was held by the previous leader. Nobody elected Paul Martin Prime Minister. He'll surely call an election soon but I won't be voting for him. Even before his little dance with the idiot king of the south I had made up my mind about this. He is a man "to the manor born". At least Chretien worked his way up the hard way.
Today Jack Layton contacted Sheila Copps over the riding redistribution in Stoney Creek. I don't like Sheila Copps myself every since she weasled out of her resignation over Free Trade promises, but I see what Jack is doing. He's spotlighting for the country Mr. Martin's Machiavellianism.
(then the phone rang and I lost my train of thought)
Today Jack Layton contacted Sheila Copps over the riding redistribution in Stoney Creek. I don't like Sheila Copps myself every since she weasled out of her resignation over Free Trade promises, but I see what Jack is doing. He's spotlighting for the country Mr. Martin's Machiavellianism.
(then the phone rang and I lost my train of thought)
Super-sized Dowry
Conservatives in Washington have managed to dig up 1.5 Billion dollars to be spent on the promotion of Marriage Compare that to what the federal government's budget for Education was for 2003 (3.5 billion).
The thing that irks me is that conservative rhetoric consistently berates government interference in peoples lives and browbeats those 'liberals' who are always trying to legislate morality. Here we have some juicy hypocrisy.
In fact Republicans are as guilty as anyone of wanting to engineer society, whether it's tax cuts for the wealthy 10% or trying to force 'creationism' into school science curriculums. It's what politics is about.
Granted there is a distinction that can be made between social conservatives and economic conservatives, and it's primarily social conservatives that I am referring to here. Economic conservatives have there own set of issues connected to the mythology of the self-regulating market, but that's another topic.
Marriage is a something that two people (or more in some societies) enter into of their own volition. Why a penny of tax money should be spent on anything other than data management in regards to marriage is beyond me.
The thing that irks me is that conservative rhetoric consistently berates government interference in peoples lives and browbeats those 'liberals' who are always trying to legislate morality. Here we have some juicy hypocrisy.
In fact Republicans are as guilty as anyone of wanting to engineer society, whether it's tax cuts for the wealthy 10% or trying to force 'creationism' into school science curriculums. It's what politics is about.
Granted there is a distinction that can be made between social conservatives and economic conservatives, and it's primarily social conservatives that I am referring to here. Economic conservatives have there own set of issues connected to the mythology of the self-regulating market, but that's another topic.
Marriage is a something that two people (or more in some societies) enter into of their own volition. Why a penny of tax money should be spent on anything other than data management in regards to marriage is beyond me.
1/13/2004
When He wasn't Burning Crosses He Invented Sea Monkeys
Last November the "inventor" of Sea Monkeys, Harold von Braunhut, passed away. He was also a member of the KKK and Aryan Nations. He also ripped my cousins and I off when we sent away for some of his lovable sea critters and they never showed up (although Ben did bust Shawn's piggy bank to get the dough. Maybe we shouldn't have sent cash).
Eventually Ben bought some in a packet from the local hobby store. They were dried up brine shrimp. It was pretty cool that they came to life when you put them in water, but they were pretty boring after that and they didn't live long. We should have tried drying them out and rehydrating them again. A zombie sea monkey family that would have been even cooler.
I wonder what would happen if von Braunhut were dunked in water? But how do you stop a vampire sea-nazi. Somethings are better left unknown.
Eventually Ben bought some in a packet from the local hobby store. They were dried up brine shrimp. It was pretty cool that they came to life when you put them in water, but they were pretty boring after that and they didn't live long. We should have tried drying them out and rehydrating them again. A zombie sea monkey family that would have been even cooler.
I wonder what would happen if von Braunhut were dunked in water? But how do you stop a vampire sea-nazi. Somethings are better left unknown.
1/12/2004
1/10/2004
My Big Brother's Bigger than your Big Brother.
What if governments quietly approached software companies and asked them to include specially written codes in their product that was beneficial to the governments needs? What if this was all done secretly, the consumer never informed that the product they have purchased includes this third party code provided by the government?
Well there's no need to ask 'what if'? It's already been done by Adobe with recent releases of their famed Adobe Photoshop image editing software. It includes code to prevent the copying and thus counterfeiting of some currencies. It was only discovered by accident. What a wonderful precedent. Would the conspiracy theorists in the back please use the drool cups provided.
Read the details.
Well there's no need to ask 'what if'? It's already been done by Adobe with recent releases of their famed Adobe Photoshop image editing software. It includes code to prevent the copying and thus counterfeiting of some currencies. It was only discovered by accident. What a wonderful precedent. Would the conspiracy theorists in the back please use the drool cups provided.
Read the details.
1/09/2004
Vixen Love
"Read the logs of poor internet junkies tricked into a relationship with a mindless program"
It's what it says. Guess which one is me! No, not really.
My favourite line: "Judge Demolition: i am sorry to have confused such a vibrant woman"
It's what it says. Guess which one is me! No, not really.
My favourite line: "Judge Demolition: i am sorry to have confused such a vibrant woman"
My Niece
Last Christmas she was a pink blob in a blanket, now she walks and "talks" and has firm opnions on things.
1/07/2004
Time Capsule
I found a folder full of pictures that Steve and I did when we were 12-13. There were different drawing games we played. One was to draw a squiggle and see what the other could turn it into. Another was like the surrealist Exquisite Corpse game. One would draw a head and fold it back leaving only the lines where the nuck joined the torso showing. The other would add to this and so forth. We folded it in four sections so we each drew two sections. Another game was one would draw a goofy character and the other would select a phrase from a comic book or magazine and put the words in a dialogue balloon for the character to speak. And then there was just doodling. This Shark scene is a reference to Jaws. It was drawn in the summer of 1977 or 1978.
1/04/2004
Paul Harvey Riddle
Here's the answer to the following e-mail I recieved this evening.
The answer is "Nothing", at least that's what happens if you press shift whether you send 10 e-mails or none. The riddle is prefaced by a long list of nostalgic advice for an idealized childhood and seems to be set up as a way to get people to spread the list. Very odd, but at least it's not asking for money.
What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it,
The rich need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?
Send this to 10 people and then press shift and you will get the answer.
P.S. You won't believe this, but this really does give you the answer!!!!
The answer is "Nothing", at least that's what happens if you press shift whether you send 10 e-mails or none. The riddle is prefaced by a long list of nostalgic advice for an idealized childhood and seems to be set up as a way to get people to spread the list. Very odd, but at least it's not asking for money.
Goodbye Film We Hardly Knew Yee.
I was given a great little digital camera for Christmas so things may be going in a photo direction for a while. I began with the Sophie and Luna New Years greeting. Now here's a sweet shot I took to day of Lu.
