Thanksgiving Weekend

So maybe you've noticed that I haven't posted in a while. At least I hope some people have...

I started this blog as a means of killing time while bored at work. Now that I'm done with that contract, well, I don't have the spare time trapped in front of a computer that I did.

So I'm just chillaxing at home, catching up on some stuff, taking my time looking for a new gig. This mellow attitude isn't very conducive to ranting and raving.

What we have here is a bit of a hiatus. We'll see how it goes.

In the meantime:

- George Bush's approval rating hit a new low of 33%. Honestly, I can't believe it was ever that high.

- Michael Ignatieff is leading in the Liberal leadership race, though pundits claim he'll be overtaken in the next ballot. I'm not quite sure who I'm cheering for here. Ignatieff seems a little too new to the political scene, but his neophyte status is somewhat appealing when Bob Rae is the opposition. In this case, It's hard to believe that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

- The Departed is getting crazy good reviews. I'm shocked. I thought this movie was going to be cheesy obvious crap. Guess not. Gotta see it now... Still have to see Jackass Number Two...too. Don't knock it until you've seen the first one.

- The Leafs have started their season. Jury's still out.
- Caught part of the William Shatner Roast on The Comedy Network yesterday. Holy crap was it crass. Hearing George Takei talking about taking it in the jaw was surreal.
Alright, time to do more chillaxing.

Securing Luggage: Fly With Guns

A few years ago a friend and I flew to Milwaukee via Chicago. When we got to our destination, my friend noticed his suitcase lock had been cut off. There was a brief note inside about it having been cut so that his bag could be inspected.

I found this strange because we watched the bag go through the screener - why not ask us to open it then? My lock wasn't cut...

Then I found it outrageous: once the lock had been cut off, what was stopping anyone (see corrupt baggage handling mofos) from stealing his valuables? Nothing. That's why passengers put locks on their luggage. Once the bag had cleared the screening machine, why would anyone have any cause to cut the lock?

Oh, right: 'cause they want to steal your stuff.

Ridiculous.

So it was with more than a little satisfaction and interest that I read this Boing Boing post. Seems some guy figured out how to ensure your things don't get stolen out of your suitcase: pack a gun. Because of the security measures taken once you declare your firearm (see: starter's pistol), there's no way your stuff will get lost/stolen.

That's it. I'm buying a gun at lunch.

CTV airs wrong Grey's Anatomy episode

I'm surprised Denis McGrath hasn't blogged about this yet, being a Grey's Anatomy fan, so I guess I'll have to.

It's good to know I'm not crazy after all.

Following up on the Global Rock Star: Supernova snafu a couple of weeks ago, I found it interesting that CTV made a similar mistake with regards to a high-profile show.

I happened to tune in to the season premiere of Grey's airing at 8pm on CTV (it airs at 9pm on ABC). I noticed that I seemed to be a bit out of the loop. Some of the things being discussed seemed unfamiliar to me, as if I had missed something. But the episode was great. I noticed they weren't dwelling on the events of the season finale, but rather were hitting the ground running with the way the characters were moving on.

But then the ABC version came on at 9pm.

Oops.

I realized right quick that the reason the season premiere seemed so interesting, and why the characters were "moving on" was because this was, in fact, the second episode of the new season. CTV played the wrong episode. Unlike Global, however, CTV didn't catch on. The whole episode aired.

And now they're taking the same shit-kicking from fans that Global did for Supernova. Considering this foul-up, their claim that they are "fans" themselves rings terribly hollow. They're also clearly blaming ABC. Wonder what ABC would say...

I gotta say: I liked the second episode as a season premiere better than the actual season premiere. That episode sucked big monkey balls - because they DID dwell on the events of the finale.

Maybe there's a lesson for screen writers here...

DRM Article: Why Do We Steal?

A friend of mine sent me a link to an article. I'm not going to tell you who that friend is, 'cause, well, other friends might give him flak for giving me ammunition.

See, I hate DRM (Digital Rights Managment). I think it sucks. I also think we deserve this kind of b.s. in our lives to remind us of how trust and honesty have gone out the window. Businesses have started looking at their customers as threats instead of patrons. Theft'll do that to you.

I don't know who Stephen Speicher is (and I'll admit to not trying to find out) but wow, is he ever asking for it. He's posted an article on the internet that touches on the subject of piracy and why some people think it's ok. That's like a Republican Congressmen criticizing Bush.

See, some people (Cory Doctorow...I'm looking in your direction...) think consumers are "entitled" to media, whether it be music or video; that somehow anything created artistically belongs to the people, not the artists and not the company that paid the artist for the right to own and distribute that given work.

This is a subject I haven't talked about for a while, because, quite frankly, it's tiresome and there's no convincing practioners that what they're doing is harmful and against long-standing business practices.

I know, I know, Cory: "come up with a new business model, then!" You first, pal. Until then, don't buy an iPod and let them know what you think.

So, I encourage any readers of this blog (there must be one or two of you, according to Clustrmaps) to have a gander at the article. Where do you stand on the moral fibre scale?


"Law-abiding, moral people do things with entertainment content that they wouldn't dream of doing with physical goods. Can you imagine walking into a restaurant which you knew to be overpriced, eating, and then leaving without paying just because the you felt the place was a rip-off and not worth the prices they charged? Worse yet, can you imagine doing it the next day also? Of course not!"
-Stephen Speicher

Olbermann and Me

Thought this was interesting.

Denis McGrath had a post about Frank Rich's new book, which prompted me to try to find the Keith Olbermann commentary in question (I couldn't get sound off Denis' post).

I came across this one. At about the 5:30 mark he uses a quote from the Declaration of Independence which I had also used in relation to the current Administration.

Check it out.

By the way, you know that whole "independence" thing? Don't look now, but a whole bunch of that could have been called "terrorism", too - just ask the British. Ain't perspective a bitch?

Frank Miller's "300"

Holy shit, Batman! How had I not heard about this before now?

Was checking out rottentomatoes today (as I often do near the end of the week to see how the new releases are faring) and noticed a link for a trailer for 300 a new action flick based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller.

This.
Looks.
Cool.

As one guy put it: it looks like Sin City meets Gladiator -- only cooler.

Check this out!

Brad Pitt to lead Mission: Impossible 4?

No way...

There's a story on MSN.com that claims the Daily Mail has a story on this.

Pitt would be offered the lead for *gulp* $39.5 Million.

...Ok, so maybe that makes it slightly believable.

But how is this a good career move for Pitt? It's a tired franchise and Pitt has claimed he wants to make more "mature" flicks.

I think Mr. and Mrs. Smith showed Pitt could be a kick-ass action star, but why not use a new brand? I mean, it's not like the Mission Impossible name will draw more movie-goers than Pitt's would. So why throw a potential anchor around the project's neck?

The story goes that Pitt wouldn't play Ethan Hunt, but a new character. Hunt would "retire" to be with his wife. But the flick would still have the MIF world attached to it. Again: why?

You might as well do Mr. & Mrs. & baby Smith.

...

...you don't think...

Nah.

The Rose & Crown

My Toronto "haunt" has to be the Rose & Crown just north of Yonge & Eglinton.

I've been going there for about 7 years. The kitchen is pretty good (it used to be outstanding), the service is alright (it used to be terrific) and the atmosphere is decent (...unchanged).

I love the pad thai there. Authentic or not, it tastes great. Thursday nights: $6.99. Sweet.

A friend pointed out to me that when he checked out the website, he noticed they have a couple of webcams. There's one at the bar (where I never hang out) and one near the "rear", where I can sometimes be found having sunday brunch or thursday pad thai.

Check it out sometime, and I'll try to remember to wave.

Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip

I think I'm in love.

...and that means trouble.

Big Brother and Rock Star are finally over and I was thinking I might get away from my tv a little more.

Not so much.

I taped Studio 60 last night and got around to watching it today. It's freakin' great. But what do you expect from Aaron Sorkin, the mind behind the best show of the past 10 years: The West Wing?

Truth be told, however, this show is a lot more like Sports Night, the terrific but horribly scheduled precursor to The West Wing; it's a show about a show and the characters who put it together.

I wasn't surprised that I loved the West Wing alumni: Bradley Whitford and Timothy Busfield, with more undoubtedly to follow. I've always been a Busfield fan, and Whitford's Josh was probably my favourite character on The West Wing.

I was surprised I liked Matthew Perry as much as I did. He was the wild card in this for me. I loved him in the early years of Friends, but by the end he was just a drag. If the first episode is any indication, he's gonna be just my cup of tea in Studio 60.

Now for all you women out there: what did you think of the women characters? Is it true that there are no good roles for women anymore? I mean, the best characters in Studio 60 were Felicity Huffman (one-time appearance) and the P.A. girl. I didn't care much for Amanda Peet (Jordan McDeere) - she was a wash at best. But Sarah Paulson (Harriet Hayes) - wtf? You know, for this kind of role you can have a funny person with attitude, but a character with attitude who isn't funny? No thanks. Booooring.

The "show's" cast is the key here. If they're gonna have any believability, the cast has to be good, smart, funny. I mean, Saturday Night Live (the blatantly obvious inspiration) may not be as "cutting edge" as it was, but this is the same show that produced Will Farrell, Mike Myers and Tina Fey. They're still funny, interesting people. They're comedians. We'll see...

So, it seems the tv gods are conspiring against me. I'm gonna be hooked on another show. Add it to the list.

Crap. I just saw a commercial for a new Dana Delaney show with Timothy Hutton co-starring (Kidnapped). I think I'll be able to avoid getting hooked, but geez, Dana Delaney? I'd watch her with the volume off anytime...

And then there's James Woods in Shark. Love that guy. With Jeri Ryan as a co-star. ...Yeah, that wasn't enough for me, either.

Oh crap: and now Not Another Teen Movie is on.

Damn you, tv gods.


Danny Tripp: I have no reason to trust you and every reason not to.
Jordan McDeere: Why?
Danny Tripp: You work in television.
- Bradley Whitford and Amanda Peet in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Reality show wrap-up: Big Brother & Rock Star Supernova

Ok, so to follow up on my previous posts: (for those who care)

Mike Boogie won Big Brother All-Stars while hometown boy Lukas Rossi took home the Supernova gig.

First off, I'm glad Boogie won. He deserved it way more than Erika. It's been my experience however that the deserving person rarely wins these competitions. Survivor almost always rewards the wrong person. Tina over Colby? What the heck are these people smoking on these islands? They always take it personally and rarely reward the best player.

I'm glad that almost everyone involved was in agreement that Will and Janelle were the two best players and that Chill Town ran the show. I love those boys. I want the t-shirt.

Lukas Rossi as lead singer for Supernova...hm.... I dunno....

To be honest I think they made a mistake. I was kinda pulling for the hometown boy, but I gotta say I think Toby would have been the best choice. The chicks dig him, he can write, he's got presence, and his voice is strong. Lukas has showmanship, but I think his "moves" would wear on me real quick. Jason Newsted better whip that boy's voice into shape or no one will ever understand that kid.

I also love how they didn't explain to Dilana why they didn't choose her - especially after heaping so much praise on her. The answer to me seems fairly clear - Gilby didn't think she could contribute anything to the band other than her voice, and I truly believe the band didn't want a female lead singer. They kept her around because she was awesome and she was good for the show. (I actually think they would have kept Storm around longer than, say, Magni, but unfortunately for her she was up against Dilana and Lukas on her elimination night)

And shame on Global Television for not pulling a mea culpa and admitting that they messed up the finale broadcast. In case you missed it, Global played the wrong episode at 8pm - for a good twenty minutes! That's some kind of quality control they got there. When they finally played the right feed, Magni had already been eliminated. They replayed the entire correct episode at 10pm - when the results were already known. D'oh!

**update: apparently, it came from the source, says Global...but considering the snafu only lasted a few minutes on American channels... (check out the mock Global explanation - nsfw)

...and that's all I gots to say about that. No more "reality tv" talk. I'm done. I don't watch Survivor, I catch only glimpses of The Amazing Race and I won't watch any of the Idol shows.

Now, it's House, Prison Break and...oh yeah...oops...Ultimate Fighter. Ok, one more reality show.


"This is truly an all-stars season, because I'm astonished by your game play here. Now a lot of you have come up to me and said 'Will, you don't really seem like you're into it, you don't really seem like you want to play.' And you said 'Why?' I said to myself, I don't know, I don't know why, I can't understand it. So I had a heart-to-heart with myself, and I said 'Will, what is the reason? Why are you having such a hard time playing?' And this is the truth. Season two, the season that I won, there was a lot of people that I hated. And it was easy for me to motivate and find individuals that I disliked, and it gave me power. It gave me a reason to want to play, it gave me a reason to want to fight, and it gave me a reason to want to remove people from the game. Then I thought, so why haven't I had that motivation? And I thought it was because I really like everyone here. But then I realized it was the opposite of that. I can't find an individual to hate, because I hate you all! There's no one I hate more than anyone else.

This is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna ask to be removed from the game by you all. Now, if you refuse to kick me out, I will be throwing every competition, I will throw every HoH, I will throw every POV, and I will throw every food competition. George is on slop, and I will do the best I can to ensure that we are all on slop, unless you get together, have a big group meeting and vote me out.

So George, please don't use the power of veto on me. I want this nomination to stay in place. I encourage you to use it yourself. You know why? (Clapping, pointing at George.) This man is a bad-ass! He went up against the five wickedest, freakiest Big Brother players, and he whooped their ass! Don't use it.

Vote me out."

- Will the Puppetmaster gives the speech of the year (and stays) on Big Brother All-Stars

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Whenever I question the reasoning behind a boss' request or shake my head at how things are done, I often reflect on a quote from Lord Tennyson's "The Charge of the Light Brigade":

Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.

Some of you may know this work from watching The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and hearing Geoffrey's "Cannons to the left of them! Cannons to the right of them!" speech.

I always liked that piece of writing, but until now I never knew the real story behind the inspirational events of that day. Well, I came across it today and thought I'd share.

Enjoy.


Read a book!
-Handy from The Tick

The Future of Terrorism: Beyond 9/11.

Five years ago today I was working as a temp at the Ministry of Energy, Science & Technology (I think that's what it was called). I remember hearing a rumour about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. Probably a Cessna, I thought. Weird, but not unheard of.

Then the details came slowly but surely and I was glued to MSNBC for the rest of the day until we were finally able to leave.

No, it doesn't seem like yesterday, but five years? A sixth of my life? Time flies.

So where are we now? Where did we think we'd be, five years ago, by this point? Safer? Terror-free?

The War on Terror is an interminable battle, with no victory possible. That's because terrorism cannot be defined merely by the combatants. You could wipe the Middle East off the face of the Earth and terrorism would survive. It doesn't belong to any one government or region.

Terrorism is simply war by other means. It's the poor man's battle ground. Eradicate Islam (no, I'm not even coming close to suggesting that) and you'd still have someone, somewhere willing to kill to oppose an unjust power.

Timothy McVeigh, the IRA, South American guerrillas, Chechnyan separatists...

Madmen? Freedom fighters? Terrorists?

Semantics.

So, since terrorism won't go away, let's try to figure out where it's headed. For a very long time, the answer has seemed obvious to me, and a Boingboing link reminded me.

"Second Life has disclosed that an intruder broke into the Second Life database through the company's web servers -- and customer information was compromised. Potentially exposed data included Second Life account names, real-world names and contact information, and encrypted account passwords and payment info. To minimize risk, the company has invalidated all account passwords. Users will have to create new passwords in order to log in."

Hasn't anyone seen the ending to Fight Club? We're becoming so dependent upon digital/internet/electronic formats for communication/banking/daily life stuff that at some point the target will be way too juicy to pass up. Why train to become a pilot and run the risk of exposing your network when you can wreak havoc from a Lazy-boy?

Don't get me wrong: I'm not trying to give anyone ideas here, just slapping a few people in the face who put too much faith in the electronic establishment and might need a wake up call. The other day I got an invite from Rogers that would mean paying my bills via internet alone, with no more paper bills - uh... no thanks. If some shmo can steal your Second Life ID, think what a really motivated hacker/terrorist could do with a few million bank accounts.

Can you spell "economic anarchy"?

Man, I really hope I'm not re-reading this blog five years from now...

- Chicken Little.

Back to Reality - Rock Star: Supernova

Okay, okay, I watch Rock Star: Supernova, too.

Ya got me.

I won't watch two minutes of the Idol shows (holy crap are they terrible), but this one gets me because it's different: the competitors are vying for a specific spot in a specific band - it isn't about who's the best singer, it's about who's best for the band (INXS got it right with JD - he's got Michael Hutchence's voice down cold). To boot, these aren't snot-nosed kids walking in from Smalltown, Kentucky - these are seasoned club singers looking for the big break and the big gig. Every night is a min rock show and the talent is pretty darn good.

At least now that they've eliminated some of the crap. There was some dead wood there for a while.

(oh, right, and she's on it - there's that reason, too...)

But now it's down to the final four: Magni, Toby, Dilana and Toronto's own Lukas Rossi.

Lukas and Dilana were easily the favourites from the word go. They had presence and they had talent. They stood out. But now that there are only four competitors left and we're weeks into the audition process, everyone stands out. The advantage has disappeared.

I'm going to make a prediction: neither Dilana nor Lukas will win.

My money's on Toby. Young, single, buff-ish, moderately talented and Australian. No way Tommy Lee wants to drum for a band that has a woman, married man, or obnoxious shrimp as a lead singer. Toby represents the fun these guys are trying to recapture.

We'll find out Wednesday, I guess.

Who do you got?

Big Brother: The Will Show 2 ends

Yes, I'll admit it: I watch Big Brother.

I'm not a fan of "reality shows" (a misnomer if I've ever heard one - these are just drawn out game shows, people, get over it), but this one I can watch. First of all, it's very well edited, the shots are usually clean and well-lit, and it's rarely dull.

I wasn't hooked from the beginning. I didn't watch more than 5 minutes of the original incarnation, and thought it was a pretty silly concept - why would I want to watch these people live for 3 months? It all seemed kind of sad.

But an interesting thing happened in Season 2. I tuned in out of curiosity and noticed that the set-up seemed to be vastly improved. But what got me hooked was the best thing to ever happen to reality television: Evil Doctor Will.

Will was the suave, cocky, charming guy in Season 2. He got the hot girl, he had the goofy buddy, and he seemed to have things well in hand. This, of course, made him a huge target. The other members of the house quickly dispatched his girlfriend and buddy and they all figured Will was as good as gone.

Not so fast.

This is where Will became my hero. He played the part of the dead meat to a tee. He put up little outward struggle, threw competitions for seemingly valuable rewards and pretty soon the target all but vanished. In the meantime, he became the game's puppetmaster. He systematically dismantled the ruling alliance by pitting one "friend" against another and charming the queen bee. He played to their ego, he played to their pride and in the end he just plain played them. Understanding his circumstances, he played to the camera in numerous asides, entertaining the audience while the other competitors bored us. He was the Iago of reality tv: he used cunning and deceit to manipulate this game of trust, showmance and betrayal. It was effing brilliant. I ate it up. Big Brother 2 became known as The Will Show.

Of course I was delighted then, when Will was selected to compete in the All-Stars version of the show.

Immediately the two main brains, Will and Kaysar, identified each other as threats. But it was Kaysar who went out early. Then, one by one, the other competitors fell. Week after week, Chill Town (Will and his buddy Boogie) schemed and manipulated to get what they needed to advance. It was all working brilliantly.

You could not have taken a bet before this season started that both members of Chill Town would make it to the final four; but that's just what happened.

That's when the odds caught up with the good doctor.

I knew Will was in trouble when Boogie won Head of Household. It was only a matter of time before the puppets did what they should have done weeks prior: they spoke to one another and the scheming was exposed. With Boogie safe, the only potential revenge would come at the expense of Will. And so the king fell.

For me, the show is essentially over. At this point, the only thing that would surprise me is if by some miracle Boogie managed to win. I cannot imagine the "jury" will choose to give him the $500k over either of the other two competitors (exception: if Erika stabs Janelle in the back and Janelle takes revenge by getting all the Season 6ers to vote for Boogie). The jurors all know they fell at the hands of Chill Town, and these are not reasonable people. A reasonable person would recognize Chill Town's achievement and say, "Wow. Well played." In this game? Not likely. And so skilled, pretty, but hopelessly stupid Janelle will likely win, provided she gets to the final two, otherwise Erika will take the prize.

For me, it's a bittersweet ending. I'm sad Will is gone, but incredulous that he made it this far.

But I suppose I should not have underestimated the puppetmaster. That's what his competition is known for.

Wow. Well played.


The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
- Kevin Spacey as Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects (1995)

MSNBC's Keith Olberman bitchslaps Donald Rumsfeld

Really busy at work here, kids.

I wanted to take a sec and link this article, though. This deserves as much attention as possible.

Couldn't agree with this guy more.

There's hope, folks.

Go.
Read.
Now.


The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack. Donald H. Rumsfeld is not a prophet.
- Keith Olberman

Selling used books

So I wanted to get rid of a bunch of books I owned before I moved. I didn't want to pack them up and lug them to yet another apartment where they wouldn't be read.

I ended up only getting rid of a couple.

Most will end up with my friend Aimee, eventually. She's going to be teaching drama at a camp, and I have a ton of theatre books. She couldn't get them before the move, so I decided to hold onto them for her. I'm such a wuss.

Today, I dropped by the Ryerson University used book store since they were closed on the weekend (bastards). They don't buy the books from you, but rather they sell them for you and pay you a percentage (consignment). That's fine. Except they only buy Ryerson text books (the real book store sells more than just text books). So they took a couple off my hands. If they sell, I'll make $60. Good luck. Oh, and if they don't get picked up within a year, they become the property of the university. Bastards.

So I took the remaining books in my backpack to BMV (Books, Magazines, Videos) just north of the Atrium on Bay. I figured what the heck, give it a shot. The guy behind the counter offered me $10 for a couple of UofT Poli-Sci textbooks and some French lit (don't tell mom). I figured there was no way I was lugging these to UofT, so I agreed. Hell, $10 is way more than I would have gotten for them at a garage sale.

So, if you've got some crap to unload, try BMV. But don't BUY anything there; it's insanely overpriced.

I guess they have to increase the margin to make up for the crap they buy...

Moving Day + 1

Done.

Sorta.

Had the big move yesterday and managed to get things out of the old and into the new without any major disasters. Of course, I managed to forget a couple of things like my hockey equipment and kick-ass shower head, but I still have the old place until Thursday, so I can rescue them.

Big thanks to the guys and gals who helped me out. Good to know who your friends are in times like these.

Now it's time to acquaint myself with the new place and make note of the little idiosyncrasies - like The Window That Might As Well Not Be There (ah, contruction noise at 7am - love it) and The Superintendent Who Doesn't Do Shit. Then there's the twins: The Phone Jack That Doesn't Work and The Outlet That Doesn't Work. Oh and let's not forget The Invisible Curtain Rod and The Towel Rack That Wasn't There.

Yup, this place has charm - enough charm to fill an entire work order sheet.

But it's home.

...damn it.

Survivor : A Race Against Time

So imagine this:

Faced with sagging ratings, the producers of CBS' Survivor decide to mix things up. They decide to have four tribes in the next edition, each based on race: black, white, asian, hispanic.

Survival of the Races.

Seem far fetched? Nope, not so much.

Welcome to Reality TV Gone Wild: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast, Outrace

Oh, and one more: Outrage.

Someone, it seems, thinks this is a good idea. Uh boy. So, very soon, we're going to see black folk competing against asian folk in competitions involving puzzle-solving and athletics. How can this possibly help race relations in a country where segregation was alive and well only 40 years ago? Even with a kumbaya ending, the only thing people will remember is whicvh race beat which at what.

Will people watch? Yup. Perhaps even in record numbers. Will people be talking about it the next day around the water cooler? Yup. Will advertisers be lined up to get a piece of all those eyeballs? Yup.

...but they shouldn't. If this plays out anything like it sounds, advertisers should pull out and denounce CBS as loudly as they can. I don't know, I think, "My America Doesn't Include This Racist Bullshit" is a pretty catchy slogan.

Only in America.

Martin Luther King must be spinning in his grave.

Top 10 Sci-Fi Movies of All Time

Sister M sent me a link to the Guardian Newspaper's rankings of the top 10 science fiction movies of all time. I pretty much agree with their list. Here it is:

1. Blade Runner
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. Star Wars (New Hope & Empire)
4. Alien
5. Solaris (1972 version)
6. The Terminator/T2
7. The Day the Earth Stood Still
8. War of the Worlds (1953 version)
9. The Matrix
10. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

For once I didn't read one of these lists and shake my head.

This is a good list. I must say, however, that I haven't seen Solaris and only parts of The Day the Earth Stood Still and War of the Worlds. But I like the explanations the Guardian gave and I give them credit for acknowledging the true titans of sci-fi.

Let's examine:

Blade Runner is a very deserving choice, though this will not sit well with many folks. Like the number two choice, many people find Blade Runner dull. From personal observation, I'd surmise that this is mostly due to the fact that they saw the director's cut the first time and not the theatrical version. Purists will roll their eyes, but I personally think the theatrical version is better (good luck finding it - it disappeared off the face of the Earth). I enjoyed the monotone film noir narration, and if it's your first time seeing the flick I find it hard to believe you'll catch all the issues and themes without it. This movie still looks great and was sooo far ahead of its time in terms of aesthetic that it should be required viewing for any film fan.

Personally, I might have dropped 2001 a little further down the list, but I have no problems with it being number two on the Guardian's list. It's a classic, no doubt about it. It's so effed up and took so many chances that it deserves to be way up there on any list of sci-fi or overall films. But it's definitely a little dull and not everyone's cup of tea.

Star Wars is one of my favourite films of all time. I probably would have had this number two, if not number one. When you consider the Guardian paired the first two released films, well, hard to deny it the top spot with twice the firepower. This was the film for my generation. It inspired us, thrilled us and revolutionized the toy industry. If you owned the Millenium Falcon, you were a god. Add the fact that this movie had virtual no-names leading its cast (Hamill, Fisher, Ford) and was essentially a fairy tale set in space, and you've got to give it huge props. The themes were timeless, the performances were terrific, the look was sharp, the film technology was revolutionary...Yeah, I think this probably deserved to be number one. Oh, right, and then there was Vader. Best. Villain. Ever.

Considering episodes 4 & 5 of Star Wars were lumped together (and T1 & T2), I wonder why Alien and Aliens were not. I actually think Aliens might have been the more complete film. It had everything, especially in the longer version. Even if they're separate, I think Aliens should have made the list. Regardless, the original Alien was a great flick that scared the crap out of teenagers in the 70's. It also featured one of the hottest, most memorable deaths put to film.

Solaris: didn't see it, plan to see at least the updated version, so didn't even read the description. Don't wanna spoil it. I'll assume they know what they're talking about.

The Terminator was way better than T2. WAY better. Not even close. Way better performances, way better story, way more theatening. Arnold didn't have to act as much and barely spoke. 'Nuff said. If it weren't for the special effects and great cinematography, you could even mention T2 in the same breath as this list. The Terminator deserves to be on this list. Alone.

Can't really speak for The Day the Earth Stood Still and War of the Worlds, so I'll skip 'em.

The Matrix is a modern classic. How often do you see a movie these days and say, "Wow"? The Matrix was stylish, compelling, and more than a little religious. It seemed so original in so many ways that it is a natural choice for this list. Would it have been better without Canoehead Reeves? Maybe. Too bad the sequels dropped the ball.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a classic, no doubt, but I'm not sure it's top ten material. It's epic, grandiose, well shot and charming, but when you reflect one it...there ain't much there. The script might have been 5 pages.

Hold on...where the f**k is E.T.!?

F**k all that sh*t: here's my personal list of favs (not "greatest"):

1. Star Wars
2. Blade Runner (very close)
3. Empire Strikes Back
4. Predator (More "action", but it has an alien, for Pete's sake)
5. Aliens
6. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
7. E.T.
8. The Terminator
9. The Matrix
10. Alien

I left some off that I felt weren't really "sci-fi", like Escape from New York and 28 Days Later (both would have made the list for sure). There's a fine line between Science Fiction and Fantasy. Science Fiction to me involves either aliens or a level of science that is far beyond our current levels. EfNY isn't that far-fetched. 28 Days Later is essentially a zombie movie/horror. Superhero movies are fantasy for the most part. Lord of the Rings is fantasy, and so is Harry Potter (though it's a moot point for that Harry Potter shite). Is Donnie Darko sci-fi? Back to the Future? I guess so...Both would have still missed the cut. Honourable mention to Jurassic Park for the innovative effects. I also really liked AI, despite the terrible ending.

Now go forth and rent some of these classics!


Billy: I'm scared Poncho.
Poncho: Bullshit. You ain't afraid of no man.
Billy: There's something out there waiting for us, and it ain't no man. We're all gonna die.
- Richard Chaves and Sonny Landham size up their odds in 1987's Predator

Good riddance to downtown

So I move on Sunday (August 27th), and after four days of painting (mostly with some helpful friends) I'm exhausted. I don't think I ever want to see a paint brush again. To add insult to injury, I didn't even get the colour I asked for. My sister "M" would be happy with the bold choices, but the "Arizona Tan" I asked for turned out to be more like "Peruvian Tan". I think "Caramel" would have been a better name.

Oh well.

This post isn't about that.

See, at the moment I live in a hit-and-miss neighbourhood of Toronto: Carlton & Jarvis. For those unfamiliar with T.O., Jarvis is sort of the dividing line between the decent and the crap (Cabbagetown being the exception). To the west is the gaybourhood (safe) and Yonge Street (bright), but to the east (and all along Jarvis) is just about every social assistance project you've ever heard of. This tends to attract the "less motivated" members of society.

Since I walk down Jarvis to get to work, I see these guys and gals every day. I get asked for money every day. I get fed a story every day.

Am I the only one who has noticed that very few of these able-bodied bums (and that's what an able-bodied beggar is: a bum - I'm not talking about the crazies or the cripples here) don't ask for change anymore, but rather they approach you with a big yarn about how they need two bucks (two bucks! What the hell happeend to "change"?) to get back to Georgetown because they lost their wallet? I've been approached MANY times with this sort of story, which makes me wonder: are these guys being coached? I've been stopped by a normal-looking guy yelling across the street that he needs money to get back home to Castlemore (which I happen to know is the rich area of Brampton). WTF?

Anyhow, I was walking to work today, thinking about how I'm moving and how tired I am of seeing these bums with their bullshit stories and lazy attitudes, when I notice the young guy who had been walking in front of me stop at a bike that was parked in front of a coffee shop. He inspected the bottle that was secured to the frame, snatched it out of the holder, and kept walking. As he took a swig, I said: "Dude! Are you serious?" He looked over his shoulder at me saying, "Huh? What?" I asked, "Is that your bottle?" To which he kind of shrugged and kept walking (east). As I turned to walk into my building I made eye contact with him again, gave him a thumbs up and said, "Model citizen."

The guy was not destitute. His clothes weren't special, but they weren't tattered by any means. He looked young, healthy and able. He just didn't care. He thought nothing of snagging someone else's property. Regardless of its insignificance, it showed a complete and utter lack of respect for another person and their property. I was stunned and depressed.

Good riddance to downtown.

Review: Bon Cop, Bad Cop

So I went to see Bon Cop, Bad Cop on Friday, a Canadian buddy-cop movie starring Colm Feore and Patrick Huard.

It ain't Lethal Weapon or Rush Hour, but it's still entertaining in the same way Strange Brew was; it's distinctively Canadian. There's no way the average American moviegoer enjoys this flick, though. Juuuust a bit inside.

Anyhow, the film has a good number of laughs - especially if you know your Quebec-Canada issues, history and sports.

The MAJOR drawback to this film - which seems to be generally acknowledged - is the total weak-ass villain. What the heck were they thinking? Maybe Huard took the day off when they wrote those pages...

After the record-setting box office (for a Canadian flick) I hear a sequel is in the works...

So get out there and support Canadian cinema!

Bush Bash Fridays

*Sigh*

I swear I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or move to Europe.

Without a doubt the Worst. President. Ever.

If you haven't heard about this whole warrantless wire-tapping business, I suggest you crawl out from under that rock and pay attention. This is fate-of-the-world stuff when you have a guy like this with launch codes at his fingertips and an effed-up sense of right and wrong.

If you're American, for Pete's sake, get out and vote.

From the Toronto Star:

CAMP DAVID, Md. — President George W. Bush said those who agree with a federal judge that his warrantless surveillance program is unconstitutional "simply do not understand the nature of the world in which we live."

"This country of ours is at war," Bush said today. "And we must give those whose responsibility it is to protect the United States the tools necessary to protect this country in a time of war."

The day before, a federal judge in Michigan struck down the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program, ruling it was an unconstitutional infringement on the right to privacy and free speech. On Bush's orders, the Justice Department appealed within hours.

*sigh*

Honestly, just what country is this guy talking about? I thought the U.S. was supposed to be about Freedom and all that. You can't defend freedom by denying freedom! You're defending America and all it stands for but ignoring the Constitution? WTF?

You.
Stupid.
Bastard.

Besides, no one is saying you can't wiretap - you just need a warrant. You know, that whole "legal" thing. What a pain in the arse, eh?

How has this guy not been impeached? High crimes and misdemeanors, indeed.


Experience has already shown that the impeachment the Constitution has provided is not even a scarecrow.
- Thomas Jefferson

Cell phones: whatcha think?

I'm moving next weekend. As a result, I'll no longer be splitting certain costs with housemates (cable, internet, phone, hookers...no, wait...). This inevitably means reassessing my priorities with regards to incurred expenses.

Can I get by without internet access at home?

Do I want to get a cable box/PVR?

...Do I want a cell phone?

See, a land line costs about $40/month, give or take long distance calls. This is a good deal, especially if you're splitting it with housemates. But if you're living alone, you're the only one using the phone - so why not take it with you? There are advantages: you're reachable wherever you are, so you can arrange to meet people on the fly and no one gets lost; if there's an emergency, you can be reached immediately; if you're in trouble, you can reach 911 from a ditch; no more changing phone numbers when you move.

But there are disadvantages: you're always reachable; you have to carry the damn thing with you; the reception almost always sucks (inferior to a land line at least); it may ring at inopportune times in public; you'll be one of those annoying fucks who carries on conversations in public places; you might get a brain tumor; the cell phone company will probably find myriad ways to screw you over; you'll annoy your friends by bitching about your cell phone company; you may end up counting minutes; you have to recharge the thing; you may drop/break/lose the damn thing or have it stolen; you may be tempted to use it while driving, thereby endangering my life, you selfish, stupid bastard.

My buddy Dan posted about his recent experience getting a cell phone and trying to avoid the cell phone company b.s., which got mixed reactions in the comments section. Go check it out and come back.

What do you folks think? Let Dan or I know and maybe I'll be convinced to become "mobile".


I like my new telephone, my computer works just fine, my calculator is perfect, but Lord, I miss my mind! ~Author Unknown

As Blog As My Witness...

...I'll never eat McDonald's again.

Ok, I hear you laughing. It's true, I swear.

Actually, I swear lots so maybe that's not so good.

I've had way too many bad experiences with the contents of Big Macs to justify eating this slop, cheap or no.

Yes, it tastes oh so good, but it feels oh so bad.

And my waistline ain't what it used to be. I had to have the pants of my suit taken out a bit recently. Bad sign, dude.

So instead of waiting until New Year's, I am making a Mid-Year's resolution: no more effing McDonald's.

Gotta maintain my perfectly toned ass.


“One of the glories of New York is its ethnic food, and only McDonald’s and Burger King equalize us all.”
-John Corry, NY Times Reporter

Maclean's University Rankings Gets Failing Grade

Here in the Great White North, one of our big magazines is Maclean's. You'll find it in most doctors' offices. My (recently former) housemate Dan collects them. They in turn collect dust but that's besides the point.

...or maybe not so much. 'Cause, you see, there is some debate as to how worthy this magazine is of being read.

Probably the most popular issue every year for Maclean's is their "Canadian university rankings" issue. As one would expect, this brings out great pride and debate amongst the educated readers.

But, see, I've always questioned the findings, even though my alma mater, the University of Toronto, has always found itself at or near the very top - deservedly so.

It always seemed to me that Maclean's was just pulling opinions out of their asses and passing it off as fact. I mean, how could they possibly compare student life (let alone programs) between universities without having attended them all? A survey is unscientific since it depends on the disposition of the surveyed. It could be that people who attend a certain university are more intelligent and therefore more critical - making the university in question seem undesirable when in fact it is the elite.

So I've kinda taken the whole thing with a massive grain of salt. Especially when Montreal-based McGill outranks UofT.

If you've read any of these issues, you've probably noticed that not all universities participate. Many of the smaller universities opt out of the survey - probably because they wouldn't get a favourable ranking anyways. They'll tell you it's because the grading is unfair, but that's always sounded like sour grapes.

...But now the big dogs are starting to bark.

Seems this year the University of Toronto has opted out, along with some other notables like UBC, the University of Alberta, and McMaster University.

Oops.

Eleven universities in total have opted out, citing the flawed data and arbitrary conclusions.

Regardless, Maclean's says they're going ahead with the annual issue.

Geez, McGill is a lock this year.


In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.
-Eric Hoffer

Warp Factor Love

Oh man...

Definitely in the "so awful yet I can't look away" category.

Warp Factor Love, via Wil Wheaton.

Speaking of all things Trek, the Hobbystar comicon is coming up on Labour Day weekend and guests include William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Wil's tv mom, Gates McFadden.

...but I'm going for Carrie Fisher and Roddy Piper.

Mmm...Carrie Fisher....

The Legion Grows...Life Eclectric

Somehow managed to get added to another blogroll...alongside Rick and Wil again!

This time I'm on top. Take that, Mercer!

Over at A Life Eclectric (I don't know either), Greg and Lin talk about northern life and their impending parenthood, amongst other things. They even have that freaky baby picture up.

Check'em out. Tell'em Phil sent you.

Terrorism: This guy said it for me

Ok, here's my comment:

go here

If I had had the patience, this is what I would have written. Perfect.

This is me, sitting in the pub, flipping the terrorists off.

I still think Beckham got jobbed.

Beckham Bounced From English Squad

I know what you're thinking: wtf, Phil, there was a full scale terror alert yesterday and you're talking soccer?

I know, I know, I could go on and on about that disturbing event, but I'm doing my part not to let the terrorists win - unlike the morons who react to the threat of a liquid explosive by having thousands and thousands of people dump oodles and oodles of "potentially hazardous" fluids into a common container in a crowded terminal. (Someone else had the same thought here) God bless the folks who work diligently to uncover these plots, and God help us from the obtuse airport personnel and United States presidents who react to them.

And on we merrily go...

So news comes today that David Beckham, recently resigned English soccer captain, has been dropped from the squad altogether by the new coach, Steve McClaren.

It's a sad day, I figure, 'cause I remember when Beckham broke in with the big squad as a 17-year old. Back then he was the quiet kid with the monster foot and he quickly became the pride of my favourite team as a kid, Manchester United. Having him dumped from the English team is almost worse than having him leave Man. U. We'll probably see a lot less of his soccer prowess on the boob tube now.

I don't know what you folks think, but this reeks of personal agenda. I mean, how do you figure that the guy who contributed to just about every goal your team scored at the World Cup can suddenly find himself not even in the top 8 of English midfielders?

McClaren clearly wants to put his mark on this team and the best way to do that is to dump the team's poster boy. Problem is, there's a reason the guy is the team's poster boy. He's good. Yeah, he may be "getting up there" in age (he's almost a year younger than me!) but he still holds his own on the pitch and contributes from the spot like no other. In a sport like soccer, where free kicks, corners and penalties offer more scoring chances than straight runs, this is the guy you want on your team.

Scratch the surface a little and I think you'll find McClaren resented the treatment Beckham got from former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. McClaren wanted to dump the golden boy with the smoking hot wife and cologne ads; and that's just what he did.

This is definitely a turning point for England. New blood is being brought in. Hell, whereas England had once been the "Manchester United All-Stars", it now features more players from Tottenham Hotspur than any other club. But will it help them win a European or World championship?

Who cares? GO IRELAND!!!!!!

The Descent (no spoilers)

Saw The Descent on Friday with two lovely friends. (we're friends now, right Joce?) :P

It had been gettting favourable reviews on rottentomatoes, and the gals and I were looking for something to watch. Joce had seen Miami Vice and said it was trash, so that was out. I'm still gonna see it though. I'm pig-headed that way.

While The Descent didn't feature anything particularly special and the "threat" was kinda lame, I was entertained - and really, that's all you can ask for these days. Suspension of disbelief is definitely required here, though. This is not the smartest movie I've ever seen.

Kudos to the filmmakers, though, for having a suspense/horror film starring almost exclusively women. No nudity and I still dug it. What's the world coming to?

Movies at a Glance

Screw this. Rants are part of this whole therapeutic blog thing, but I'll be damned if I'm going into the weekend thinking about George f***ing Bush and his dumbass cronies.

(switches gears)

Alright, too many of my friends don't know enough about movies. Too many don't know that there are movies out there other than the ones advertised fifty times a day on tv. So, in the hopes that they will follow the bread crumbs and open up their minds to the possibility that there is something to be seen on the dark side of the moon, I offer a couple of links.

First, one that I've linked to before: rottentomatoes.com. Great site for seeing what's coming out and getting an idea if it's utter crap or pretty good. It pools reviews from all over the place and and calculates an approval rating as a percentage. Anything over 60% is "fresh", under is "rotten".

If you insist on seeing what a movie is about and will look like before throwing down your hard-earned cash, check out Apple trailers. This site has dozens and dozens of trailers for viewing via QuickTime. Although I won't watch trailers for movies I know I'll see, I find this site to be a great tool for discovering lesser-known gems. I'm wasting time at work right now, checking some stuff out.

...don't tell the boss.

I'm jonesing for "Renaissance" now.

Terrorism Works

Is there anyone with half a brain left in the world who honestly does not believe "the terrorists" have won?

The Worst President Ever may still be sending people to die in Iraq and Afghanistan, but this "War on Terror" ended long ago. America lost. Some folks are just too f***ing stupid to realize it.

Terrorists may have hijacked planes on 9/11, but George Bush lost the war when he reacted to the attacks and forgot what the U.S. is supposed to represent: freedom. You can't profess that you will bring democracy and freedom to the world when you build walls around your country (remember Reagan's demand of Gorbachev in Berlin?), make your citizens feel like prisoners, and bomb the crap out of foreign civilians while tracking down rebels (baby with the bathwater anyone?).

But the great disgrace, the testament to the lost war, comes in the form of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

I become incensed when I read stuff like this. How can the U.S. get it so f***ing wrong? How can you fight a war on terror in support of freedom while spitting on the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and the Geneva Convention? We celebrate when deposed foreign leaders like Slobodan Milosevic are brought to trial at the Hague, but somehow GWB slaughters thousands based on inflated, doctored or outright false evidence and not only does he not get impeached, he gets re-elected, something even daddy dearest couldn't accomplish! Bill Clinton got impeached for telling a white lie about a blowjob for fuck's sake!!!

*sigh*

When I read this sort of thing, it makes me want to get into politics - if only to meet men like GWB at G-8 summits and bitch slap them.

***UPDATE***
Check out this Boing Boing post. It also makes the argument that the handling of the "threat of terrorism" by the Bush Administration has had a greater impact than the attacks themselves. By definition, if you are afraid, terrorism works.

Moving Soon - 23 Days

I get my keys on the 15th, but since the apartment comes in a hideous shade of "congealed piss" I want to repaint that first weekend and move in the next. So I still have a bit of time before the big day. Regardless, I try to plan ahead and there's lots of little crap to take care of beforehand.

...Like transferring your cable and phone. Fun.

Cable wasn't too bad. Rogers was pretty straightforward with me. The only bitch is that some guy has to physically come by between 5-8pm the first evening and hook it up. Aren't we beyond that by now? What does this guy need to do? It's not like there wasn't able there before...

Today I took care of Ma Bell. This call was a little more of a hassle as the lady on the other end started trying to push stuff on me almost immediately. Extra features, satellite tv, cell phones - you name it, she was pushing it. I brushed her off repeatedly, but took her up on one offer: take on another 3 calling features for an extra $10 per month and the $55 transfer fee would be waived.

...Really now?

I know this scam: you take on the extra features at a reduced rate and they hose you down the line when you forget to cancel them. Now, my memory sucks ass when it comes to remembering things like names and the like (like the man says: "what's in a name?"), but when it comes to affairs of the wallet, I'm the proverbial elephant.

I got my mind on my money, my money on my mind.

So in the end I get three bonus features (I already have call waiting): call display (I don't have a display phone), call answer (I have an answering machine) and unlimited *69 (I can't even get regular star 69! Ohhhh!) :P

This costs me about $30 instead of the $55 transfer fee - I save $25 and get the bonus features for three months. Not bad.

...Oh, but I'm sure I'll get hosed somehow...

(Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. Moving is fun. )


Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes.
- Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet, Act III, sc. i

Worthless memorabilia

So I'm moving at the end of the month. For the first time, I'm gonna have my own place.

I'm gonna be bored as hell.

But this post isn't about that, it's about some of the issues that have popped up as a result of said move.

It's always a good idea to do some spring cleaning when you move. Since all of your stuff is gonna be picked up and moved anyways, you might as well figure out where it should go: the new place or "a better place".

I've been going through our storage locker, bringing stuff up to the apartment one box at a time, performing triage a la Hawkeye Pierce. Man, I have a lot of stuff..and some of it is shit.

Anyhow, I came across some old sports cards - hockey cards and the like. Hmmm...maybe I could finally sell some of this old stuff I have and make some cash, eh? I remember an episode of Amazing Stories where this kid kept all of his old toys on the advice of a troll, despite his parents' pleas and the taunts he got from friends. He eventually became a millionaire when all that old stuff gained value. Ever since then I've been afraid to get rid of any of my comics or toys or sports cards for fear that I wouldn't be maximizing my "investment".

But all this got me thinking: what the heck happened to all those sports card stores? Back at the end of my highschool days and all during my university days sports card stores were popping up on every corner and kids would pour in and buy packs which, of course, could never be opened. I hated those stores. The idea of buying something you couldn't enjoy as an investment seemed absurd and arbitrary to me.

Comics were different. You could read a comic, put it away in a bag and board, keep it in as good condition as when you bought it, and still make some dough. You still got to enjoy the "episode". I love comics. Always have. The fact that they have become an investment and have led to higher prices ($0.25 when I was young, $5.00 now - what kind of inflation is that? I'm not THAT old!) has discouraged me from buying any more, except on very rare occasions.

Baseball card packs you couldn't open for fear of depreciation? Stupid.

It would seem all (or most) of these card shops have vanished, the victims of market over-saturation. Serves 'em right, the greedy bastards.

Coincidentally, I came across this article on MSN today. Looks like I may not be able to sell these cards at all...

But then who's gonna buy my Welcome Back Kotter cards?!


Have you noticed that their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff? God! And you say, "Get that shit offa there and let me put my stuff down!"
- George Carlin

Star Wars: A New White Hope

Oh man. Oh man.

LMFAO.

Thanks to Denis who found these mash-ups. Someone took Star Wars footage and mixed it with James Earl Jones lines from other movies. Brilliant. It helps, though, if you've seen Field of Dreams and The Great White Hope.

The best one is 9 minutes long, though - probably 3 minutes longer than it should have been. The first few minutes brought tears to my eyes - mostly because I was stifling laughter at work.

The other one is shorter and has its own nice moments - especially in the confrontation with Obi-Wan.

Me, Rick Mercer and Wesley Crusher - Together At Last

Over at The "New" Ranger Blog Show, Ranger Bob has added my blog to his blogroll, alongside Rick Mercer and Wil Wheaton. Sweet!

(That explains the Alberta dot in my clustrmap.)

You may have noticed my blog does not have a blogrool. That's 'cause I'm an idiot and haven't figured that bit out yet. While my brain tries to figure out how to escape my ass, I figured I'd give props to one of Bob's posts. In it, he links to the Rick Mercer Report website where there are some funny "spoof ads". Check out the "Hands in my pocket" spoof - "Knee in my package".

So, I guess I'm really linking to Rick Mercer's site...sorry, Bob.

p.s. There's only one "L" in Philip, Bob. But I forgive you.

You Link Me! You Really Link Me!

Seems this blogger recognizes talent.

Sai Chronicles has my blog listed in its blogroll. Aw, gosh, shucks, I don't know what to say.

I figure the least I can do is reference in kind. I read one of her (? I assume...I don't know who this person is) posts and it got me thinking. Here are a list of books. The idea is to bold the ones you've read and italicize the ones you plan to read. If I've seen the movie, I linked to rottentomatoes.

This is going to be embarrassing because I don't read books anymore: being force-fed in highschool and university will do that to you.

Here goes:

# The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (Will see movie, may read)
# The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger (Saw Conspiracy Theory – does that count?)
# The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams (Saw movie)
# The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald (Saw movie, read book)
# To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (Saw movie, read book)
# The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (Never heard of it)
# His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (Bought this for a friend)
# Harry Potter and the Half - Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling (Will see movie)
# Life of Pi - Yann Martel (Meh. I’m sure a movie will be made)
# Animal Farm: A Fairy Story - George Orwell (Saw Animal House…)
# Catch-22 - Joseph Heller (May read some day. Isn’t there a movie?)
# The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien (Saw movie, read book)
# The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon (?)
# Lord of the Flies - William Golding (Saw bits, read bits)
# Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (Saw movie, I think...and Bridget Jones)
# 1984 - George Orwell (Have I read this...?)
# Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling (Saw movie)
# One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
# Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (I’ll see the flick sometime)
# The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
# The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
# Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut (ThereMay see flick)
# Angels and Demons - Dan Brown (Movie sometime?)
# Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk (One of my favs. Will read)
# Neuromancer - William Gibson
# Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson
# The Secret History - Donna Tartt
# A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess (Messed up flick)
# Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (Saw bits)
# Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
# American Gods - Neil Gaiman
# Ender’s Game (The Ender Saga) - Orson Scott Card
# Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
# A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
# The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis (Saw movie)
# Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
# Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
# The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien (Saw movie and puppet play years ago)
# Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (May see flick)
# Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
# Atonement - Ian McEwan
# The Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
# The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway (Read in school)
# The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood (Saw, read)
# The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
# Dune - Frank Herbert (Saw movie)

The One Goes Buh-bye

Wow. That didn't take long, did it?

ABC's American Idol wannabe, The One with Canadian host George Stroumboulopoulos, has been cancelled after two weeks.

We hardly knew ye.

Anybody watch this crap? It was brutal and suffered from incredibly poor timing. Apparently America's Got Talent is doing well, but it's hard to believe that there's much more room for these talent "reality" competitions.

The One was supposed to be American Idol+, because we'd get to see the stars in the making, backstage, in the rehearsal studios, etc. But they didn't count on one thing: the show was terrible. I watched about 3 minutes of this thing and could tell right off the bat it was in trouble. George seemed to be holding his own, but the judges were sad and the look of the show was abysmal. Honestly, it looked like a CBC studio production (which the show was slated to be down the road - no word yet on whether or not that'll still happen, but given this terrible press, I somehow doubt it).

The beginning of the end for "reality" competitions? We can only hope...

The Sun: it burns! It burns!!!

Ok, so maybe I'm not crazy.

See, I've had the sense all summer that the sun somehow, well, felt different.

Stop laughing.

I walk to work every day and I have just been under the impression that while the actual temperature may be in line with hazy summer days, this was only true when one stood in the shade. As soon as you exposed yourself to the sun - bam! It was a whole different story. The sun has been almost stinging in its intensity, it seems. This, to me, is unusual.

Am I crazy?

Maybe it's just me, 'cause, hey, I'm a sensitive guy (*wink*).

According to this, though, the heat is everywhere...

Bye bye Kazaa

Another Boing Boing piece.

Seems a settlement has been reached between the movie and music industries and the owner of Kazaa, the latest trendy file-sharing service.

It would appear Sharman Networks will fork over $155M and promise to filter out copyrighted works from the service. (Good luck)

While I'm shocked file-sharing proponent Cory Doctorow was not the contributor who posted this article (along with another diatribe as to why it was absolutely the wrong decision and steps on the God-given right of computer users to download an artist's material) I was pleased by the news.

This
Is.
The.
Right.
Decision.

(Although, granted, I was not privy to the arguments)

Look, you can argue all you want that file-sharing should be allowed. But in the end, you'd have to change copyright law in order to make it legal. Fair use CLEARLY does not cover Joe Blow downloading stuff off the net for his own kicks and making it available for his buddies to rip from him (and once again highlights how the Beatmax decision was flawed and short-sighted). It's the economy, stupid: things have to have value or the world goes to shit. If I write and record a song or shoot a movie, I have to have the right to control the distribution of that work. That's how I make money from putting in the effort and how the work retains value. If we all got everything for free, no one would work and there'd be nothing to get for free. Comprende, amigo?


That ain't workin'. That's the way you do it. Get your money for nothing, and your chicks for free.
- Dire Straights (1988)

Putting Death Tolls in Perspective

I'm back to my Boingboinging ways.

I liked this link that was posted today. It puts the death tolls in the Israel/Hezbollah conflict in perspective by giving it a visual representation. With all the news coverage, it's sometimes difficult to see the casualties for what they are: lost human lives (note that the Palestinian coffins represent all Palestinians, not just Hezbollah loyalists). Another guy obviously had the same thought I did when I read this and came up with a U.S. vs. Iraq version. The next time George W. Bush talks about war strategy and the need to do what he thinks is right, think of this.

National Car Rental sucks

This blog has really fallen by the wayside, huh?

Anyhoo, here's a public service announcement for all you folks who might be moving in the foreseeable future: do NOT rent from National Car & Truck Rental.

I'm moving in a month (end August) and booked online. The National website quoted a very good rate for a Sunday move and had better hours than other rental agencies. Perfect. Book'em, Dan-O. I got an email notice that said my booking was pending (not unusual) and that I would get a call from a rep (which is unusual - usually you just get an email confirmation).

One week later - no call.

So, being the paranoid guy I am, I call them just to make sure everything's cool.

Good thing I did.

The dope on the other end babbles on incoherently. Finally, I manage to figure out that my online booking is essentially worthless. It's just a request which is not a booking until confirmed by a rep. Now, here's the stupid part: the rep won't call if there are no trucks available. The rep will only call if the trucks are available, and even then they may not call soon. The rep explained that if there were no trucks by mid-August (!!) I would get a call explaining that there were no availabilities.

Gee, thanks.

At that point, of course, I would be S-O-L in terms of finding a moving van elsewhere in time. I was stunned. I couldn't believe what this moron was telling me. By the end of the conversation, we were both annoyed at one another. Of course, I couldn't tell this guy to kiss my perfectly toned ass because I might actually need that long shot truck.

As fate would have it, I called Budget, where I expected to have to pay $159. Instead, I got a truck for the same moving day for $49.95!

Hey, National: KISS MY PERFECTLY TONED ASS!!!

I wrote a note to the National head office via their website, explained what happened, and told them I would spread the word about their ridiculous protocols.

My mission is done.


Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns.
- Paul Gleason as Principal Vernon in "The Breakfast Club" (1985)

Maple Leafs lose Lindros, sign Peca

So John Ferguson Jr. (Leafs GM) has been pretty busy this offseason. Most Leafs fans would be very happy at the idea of their GM being busy, but when the man making the decisions is relatively incompetent, well...

The recent news is that the Leafs let Eric Lindros sign with the Dallas Stars instead of paying him more than the $750k offer that was on the table. Lindros wanted something in the neighbourhood of $1M, with incentives totaling $2M or so.

Now, it's been reported that the Leafs didn't like the incentives idea, perhaps because this leaves you with no clear idea of what your total salary is going to be. And in this day and age of salary caps, that's a risky proposition.

But in Lindros' case, you want a cheap deal with incentives. The knock on Lindros is that you never know what you're going to get - the stud or the dud. Last year, Lindros was a total stud - until he got hurt. Getting hurt is not a new thing for Lindros, but in this case it was a busted wrist, which is beyond his control and has nothing to do with his soft melon. In my opinion, Lindros was the best player on the ice for his 33 games and he gave the Leafs a presence on the ice and a deft scoring touch. I think they're gonna miss him.

Saying goodbye to Eric and his potential $2M salary (he signed with Dallas for $1.5 + incentives equaling a potential $2.5M salary), the Leafs turned their attention to Mike Peca. I like Peca. He's a defensive-minded forward (which is a polite way of saying he doesn't score a lot) and goodness knows the Leafs need help in their own end. But at $4M last year with the Oilers (and 9 goals or so), Peca had to be considered overpaid. But he's a playoff performer (see Claude Lemieux for other example) and that's when he pays dividends.

...Of course you have to GET to the playoffs first, right boys?

One thing's for sure: this is not last year's team. Yes, some of the good ol' boys are back (Sundin, Tucker, McCabe, Kaberle, O'Neill and *gulp* Antropov - why JFJ? WHY????) but the Leafs have shed some major names (Belfour, Lindros...Allison? - fingers crossed, fingers crossed) and picked up some others (Raycroft, Peca, hopefully another winger).

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out on the ice. If the team doesn't improve greatly, though, I hope the first butt thrown out the Air Canada Centre doors is Ferguson's.

Ignore this post. No...really.

Sorry, folks, just conducting an experiment here...

9/11 Pentagon crash

Conspiracy theorists of the world unite!

You know, I've always thought there was something weird about the Pentagon crash.

Sure, it didn't happen over downtown Manhattan, but still there should be a dozen or so camera angles from various places...but I have yet to see one. Or, at least one that shows a plane.

Although apparently camera angles do exist...

This dude (and others if you search YouTube) believe the Pentagon was hit not by a plane, but by a missile. You gotta hand it to them - they make a semi-convincing argument, especially in the face of evidence to the contrary.

Check it out.

Songs of the Salamander

About a week ago, my sister in Montreal sent me a link to a blog she thought I might enjoy.

Since I put no stock in her opinion or tastes, it took me a while to get around to it. I must admit, however, that I got a bit of a chuckle out of this one.

I wonder, though, if she sent me the link based on the article on hair loss (oh, you bitch!).

Man, I'm sitting at "III vertex" on that list with "IV" quickly approaching. As the man says: "Holy F**k!"

But what I like about this blog is what I tend to like about blogs in general: the use of voice. See, when a blogger takes on a personality it makes the reading experience that much more enjoyable (not that reading is ever enjoyable!).

I can't put on too much of a character voice here, unfortunately, since...well...only my friends read this thing anyways.

...one or two at least.

I'll admit that I chuckle when I read blogs that are of the Denis Leary variety. This is bad, since I already swear entirely too much and have a habit of making inappropriate jokes in inappropriate situations.

My wit is a gift and a curse, I tell you.


Working hard to get my Phil,
Everybody wants a Thrill
- Journey "Don't Stop Believing"

It's the economy, stupid.

I shook my head at this one. Then I laughed. Then I shook my head some more.

The headline on MSN.com read: "Is it Over for YouTube?"

Being a casual visitor to YouTube, I was curious and read the article. It boiled down to this one quote:

"Josh Martin, an IDC research analyst, issued a report Thursday asserting that YouTube will struggle to squeeze profits from its video-sharing business, primarily because its audience has grown accustomed to paying nothing for the service. "

Gee, you think?

It used to be that the way to make money was to offer someone a valuable service or item for which they were willing to trade currency. Nope, not anymore. World, meet the Internet - aka the "Cyber Wal-Mart" where the lowest price (see "zero") is the law. If it ain't free, it'd better be porn.

While no one in their right mind would argue that the internet is not a fantastic invention with extremely valuable applications, it has also opened the floodgates for economic anarchy. And don't give me this "old business models just need to be replaced by new ones." Bullshit, Cory, STFU. The internet, like television, is seen as a means of making money largely because of the commercial applications (electronic retailing) and, you guessed it, advertising. Money makes the world go round. Fortunately for the internet, there are still ad agencies out there that think people read the ads that appear on popular sites - so if your site is popular, hey, cha-ching!

...But I don't read those ads...do you? Does anyone?

And watch out: as soon as all those ad execs realize that no one is watching, there'll be a lot more "Is it over for (blank)" articles.