Movie roundup: Bond, Queen, Aviator, Prestige, Break-Up

*mild spoiler warning*

I caught the latest instalment of the Bond franchise yesterday (love the poster by the way). It had been getting a crazy high rating on rottentomatoes, so I was a little worried my expectations would be too high and the flick would be a disappointment.

It wasn't.

It was really entertaining, though I'm still trying to decide what I think of this new direction for the series. If I had a word of warning for people planning to see it, it'd be this: don't expect a Bond movie.

This movie was not end-to-end action, it didn't have the typical Bond cheese and Daniel Craig definitely attempts to actually act in this flick. This is a rookie Bond, making rookie mistakes and learning the tricks of his new trade.

Craig, however, gives Bond a quality he was lacking in the other incarnations, save perhaps Connery: he's a thug. With Craig, you actually believe his punches would hurt. The action sequences (though they may seem few) are great (except, unfortunately, the last one - but I'll avoid spoiling the rather odd final 20 minutes).

He doesn't need the designer watch that emits an EM pulse that can avert a nuclear threat; he's a bad mother f***er who likes to fight. Bring it on.

Goldeneye was on the boob tube when I got home and as I watched the first few minutes I was reminded of just how much of a departure Casino Royale is from its predecessors. This Bond is much more, dare I say, realistic than its gadget-wielding, one-liner-laden breatheren. I never want to see that stupid invisible car again.

But, in the end, is it...Bond? James Bond?

------

The Queen: a fine flick and it certainly has its charms, but more of a movie-of-the-week, I must say, without any grandeur or effects or subject matter that would make it required viewing at $10+ on the big screen. Wait for it to be aired on tv. It'll be worth it then.

The Aviator: I own this one, having bought it last Christmas during one of HMVs annual blow-outs (what will I pick up this year?). Figured it was about time I got to it, and seeing as I have a little more free time these days... Anyhow, this one is entertaining as well, so long as you find the characters appealing. I'm not a big Leo fan, and here it's more of the same emoting on his part. Been there, done that, won't buy the t-shirt. But the story of Howard Hughes was compelling enough for me. Thumbs up.

The Prestige: Good flick, thumbs up, but I gotta say I saw the ending coming about halfway through. The problem with movies that involve deceit and double-crosses, etc, is that you start to anticipate them. You look for the angles. Unfortunately, that means the surprise is lost and hence, the effect. But this movie is definitely different enough that it's worth a viewing.

The Break-Up: I ordered this via my new digital box, since I had an afternoon to kill and was curious to see how this system worked. It was ok. I enjoyed it, but it definitely could have had a few more laughs. I don't know if this movie was trying to be a little more mature, a little smarter, a little more like the relationship movies of the 70s, but it didn't quite get there for me. I appreciated the ending etc, but that doesn't cut it. In the end, it just wasn't enough of anything for me to rave about.

Does this mean Rogers' plan has worked and I'll be on the hook for bigger cable bills in the future? We'll see.

Georges St. Pierre: UFC Champ

Some folks may read this and have no idea what I'm talking about, but the Canadian flag is flying a little higher this morning.

At about 12:35am, Montrealer Georges "Rush" St. Pierre was being fitted with the belt that had belonged to UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes.

Of all the UFC champs, Hughes was considered the most formidable, the best (he was also considered by many to be an asshole jock, which his ignorant comments about Canadian war involvement seem to prove). What makes St. Pierre's victory so impressive is not merely that it came against a man considered pound-for-pound the best fighter in the UFC, but the manner in which St. Pierre won.

He didn't beat Hughes. He absolutely destroyed Hughes.

Hughes was never in this fight. From the opening moments, St. Pierre asserted himself, taking the centre of the octagon and delivering punishing kicks to Hughes' legs.

Hughes complained of a couple of low blows, but unless his testicles hang somewhere around his knees, the second "offense" was clearly clean. It would seem unlike Hughes to complain without cause, but his protestations rang hollow.

After being saved by the bell at the end of the first round, Hughes' demise came early in the second. He leaned forward to deliver a punch, unaware his face would soon be introduced to St. Pierre's shin, courtesy of yet another punishing kick. Hughes was rocked and hit the canvas. St. Pierre pounced on the fallen champ and delivered shot after shot to Hughes' face until the referee was forced to stop the fight.

The crowd in the bar went apeshit.

New UFC Welterweight Champion of the World: Georges St. Pierre.

Boomshakalaka!!!

Frank Thomas a Blue Jay

Uh boy...

I'm scratching my head over this one.

Why was "The Big Hurt" a priority? The Jays have been on the verge of contending for the last couple of years, but their holes were obvious: middle relief pitching, a shortstop who can hit, and maybe some starting help (though, if healthy, the Jays are pretty good in this area).

So, I'm tempted to add this signing to the list of strange signings by GM J.P. Ricciardi. Don't get me wrong, I think Ricciardi's been doing a good job of getting the Jays off the scrap heap of recent years, but he seems to be incapable of getting the Jays that last mile.

My favourite example? Bengie Molina. What was up with that? The Jays had a veteran leader with an underused dependable bat in Greg Zaun, but just when it appeared Zaun had clearly earned the starting catcher's spot, the Jays go out and sign free agent Molina for way more money ($5M vs $1M). Why? They then had two catchers, so of course the higher paid one got more playing time, deserved or no (they ended up with very similar stats). Now both have signed for free agency and both want starting jobs. That was $5M very poorly spent; Zaun was a bargain.

So now 48 year old Thomas gets $9M. The same Thomas who was essentially dumped by the Chicago White Sox a couple of years back. The same Thomas who was named "Comeback Player of the Year" last year and made Oakland so happy (no wonder: he was earning next to nothing).

So now Thomas is getting big bucks again. It remains to be seen if, at 38, he's a big bucks player. Either way, odds are his signing means he'll be playing with small bucks teammates.

That's what I call a "Big Hurt".

CFL: Selling its soul...and the Grey Cup?

There's a rumour going around that the CFL is considering selling the naming rights to the Grey Cup.

That's right: not a stadium, not a game, but the actual trophy itself.

Someone, somewhere thinks this is a good idea.

Add this to the many reasons I dislike the CFL, which previously included:

1. Game days - I never know when the Argos are playing next. If I did, I might be motivated to tune in more often. Why the CFL doesn't play all of its games on the same day like the NFL (mostly) and NCAA is beyond me. It would increase rivalries in the standings throughout the season and help to give the CFL some kind of identity. How about fridays? That work for you guys?

2. Three downs - Let's see: I get two tries at ten yards and then I have to punt. Joy. Can I please watch some more punting? I love punting. So exciting. Best part of the game. More punting!!! (and considering how obsessed the Argos were at running on first down, I got my wish plenty this season)

3. Skill level - Say what you want CFL-fans-who-don't-have-a-hockey-team, the skill level in the CFL ain't what it is in the NFL. That much is obvious. So you'll have to forgive me if I don't pledge my allegiance to an inferior product. I want my NFL team, and I want it yesterday.

4. NFL hinderance - The NFL clearly does not want to kill the CFL since they provide a nice little farm system (which otherwise would only exist in the form of the Arena League and World League...is that still around?). The NFL has made it pretty clear over the years that it will not expand to Toronto while the CFL is still on life support. So let's pull the %&@#ing plug already. With Godfrey et al kicking around, now's the time the strike: buy a team and bring 'em north. Buffalo won't like it, but I have no doubt Toronto could support an NFL team (heck, there are only 8 or so home dates). I don't even think the Argos would have to change their name nor jerseys!

But back to the issue-du-jour. It's bad enough that SkyDome has been renamed the Rogers Centre and that stadiums around the globe are being renamed seemingly at random, but to change the name of the top prize? Why? To make a few bucks? So, what, we get the Fido Cup for ten years, then the Telus Cup for the next ten, and so on and so on? STFU. What does that say about the history of your league? Can you imagine looking back at the stats in 50 years to see who won the league chamionship, only to read the confusing list of names associated with that championship?

History means something, folks.

Would you rename Maple Leaf Gardens the Loblaws Maple Leaf Gardens? (oh...wait...bad example...) You know what I mean.

Have some pride in your product, you morons.

Rogers Digital Cable Offer

You know those deals that sound too good to be true? I hate those.

I went through an insane sales pitch experience recently with a travel company (The Travel Store) - more on that at another time (I'm still waiting to see how ridiculous it gets).

Yesterday, however, I got a call from Rogers that had me scratching my head. They were offering me a digital box at no charge for one year (anyone else get this call?). My bill wouldn't change, and if I chose to keep the box after the one year, I would simply pay the regular $6.96/month price.

Hmmm...what's the catch? None, according to them.

So I went by the local Rogers store, picked up my box and set it up upon returning home.

Voila: digital cable.

The immediate benefit is that I can now receive a couple of channels that came in fuzzy before (NBC and CKVR, for some reason) and the handy-dandy remote allows me to control my tv, vcr, dvd player AND stereo (I need to run the tv sound through it - long story). The universal remote I was using before didn't quite cover all of these bases adeqately.

On top of the million channels I now get (and will never use) I can also access Rogers on Demand and pay-per-view options (though, for $40 versus $10, I think I'd rather see UFC ppvs in a pub)

The bitch is that there's a lag between channels when flipping. And anyone who knows me knows I'm an unrepentant channel flipper. This will take some getting used to.

So I guess Rogers is hoping I'll get hooked on the "superior picture quality" or maybe order tons and tons of movies. Otherwise, this seems like an expensive promotion for them.

But in case they think I'll simply forget to cancel at the end of the year term and shell out for the extra $6.95 per month: I canceled my additional Bell features this morning.

An elephant and a thrifty bastard never forget.

Long Live the King!

So apparently there's some new study out that claims it has discovered certain "predictors" that can tell if a man will lead a long life.

"Nine factors were good predictors of which middle-aged men would live healthily into their 80s and beyond, concluded a 40-year study of nearly 6,000 Japanese-American men living in Hawaii."

(Asian men living in paradise? Don't they ALL live beyond 80?)

1. Not being/becoming overweight: No worries there. I have a crazy metabolism.

2. Having low blood pressure: According to that Shoppers Drug Mart doohickey, I'm soaring in this category.

3. Low blood sugar levels: I wouldn't really know, but since I tend to avoid sweets in general, I'm gonna assume I'm doing alright here.

4. Low levels of bad cholesterol: Hm...don't know about this one. This may be my first real blip. I like fries.

5. Not drinking alcohol excessively: Define "excessively". I'm Irish.

6. Not smoking: Have only smoked for stage, so I'm ok. This is also my number one turn-off in women, so seond-hand smoke isn't too much of a concern either.

7. Having a strong grip: Can't say I'm known for my strong grip, but I plan to work out. How's that?

8. Achieving a high level of education: Well, I did go to university twice, so that can't hurt.

9. Being married: Hmmm...Kinda out of my control for the most part, I figure. I'll do what I can, though.

So by my calculations, I've got to be at least 6/9. If I manage to get some girl drunk enough, I may even be 7/9 some day.

If I hit the gym and stop eating fries, hell, I'm gonna live forever!

Just gotta stay away from those falling pianos...

Late Bloomer

It's 1:30am and, once again, I'm still up.

I've been having a heck of a time getting to bed at a reasonable hour. Since I've been off work, I've been going to bed between about 2 and 4 am every night. I get up between 10am and noon.

This is not good.

Clearly, I am not a morning person. I knew that. I've always known that. Part of the reason acting suited me, I guess.

Working in an office? Not so much.

Still, I've got to get a handle on this. By the time I get up, half the day has gone and, before I know it, it's time to go out with friends or watch my favourite show and *boom* everyone else goes to bed. Day's over.

But I'm still up.

If I don't figure out a way to change my sleep cycle I'm gonna end up in Malaysian chat rooms.

Don't. Wanna. Go. There.

Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day, of course.

I was thinking about it, and it struck me how sad this occasion makes me. Not because of thoughts of those who died in the Great War, or WWII or Korea, etc, (that's a given) but because of how that is juxtaposed by the same sacrifice made by soldiers today - without the same noble cause.

War has changed a great deal (not that I'm an expert) over the decades. As I watch some of the great stories being told this week on the History Channel, I am reminded that war, back in the day, was much more savage - face to face, hand to hand at times, and fought in the trenches. This is contrasted greatly by the eye-in-the-sky, surgical missile strikes and stealth bombing raids in Iraq and elsewhere. It used to be that if you fought for what you believed in, it meant getting your hands dirty and bayonetting a man while looking him in the eye - while facing equal odds that you would suffer the same fate.

That was war. And war was hell.

Today, superpowers squash "insurgents" like bugs and the only way for them to fight back is to strap explosives to their chests. Today, armies don't face each other in equal numbers in farmers' fields because no equality exists (note that not marching to slaughter makes you a "terrorist" or "insurgent", though - ain't labels a bitch?). Today, people like George Bush (take your pick) lead the world into "wars" where a button is pushed and dozens of the "enemy" die at a time - soldiers, civilians, whatever. (I wonder: what was the civilian casualty rate during the American Civil War? What is it in Iraq?) And instead of praying that the casualties on "our" side are fewer than those suffered on "their" side, we get news reports on individual soldier deaths. That is to say, when one Allied/American/Coalition soldier dies, it's newsworthy. What does that say about our expectations of war? What does it say when the "general public" is up in arms that the casualty rate has reached double digits and demands that our soldiers return home?

What does it say when the Prime Minister tries to ban coverage of a single soldier's body being returned home for fear it will weaken our resolve?

I've said it before and I will say it forever: if you are not willing to suffer at least as many casualties as the other side in order to win a war, that war is not worth fighting in the first place. It doesn't mean enough to you.

Today, war has become too easy. It's convenient. It's "in the bag". Got a problem with Iraq or Libya? No problem: just bomb'em.

Got a problem with North Korea or Russia? No prob--

...Oh, wait.

But how do you say that to the soldier who is sent overseas? How do you say that to the soldier who is risking their life in Iraq? How do you tell them you don't support what they're doing? (Because, believe it or not Mr. Redneck Warmonger, you CAN support your troops WITHOUT supporting the cause they were sent to fight by the Administration-du-jour)

So, on this Remembrance Day, I remember the wars that were and pity the soldier who makes the greatest sacrifice at the whim of George W. Bush.

Uncle Philip to Baby Caleb Sullivan Flaherty

My sister Christine who lives in Vancouver had her baby overnight. Little Caleb (yeah, right: 7 lbs 12 oz.) was born around 4:30 ET - which is about the time I woke up needing a drink (I don't normally need one).

I bet my sister could have used a drink right about then, too!

Caleb makes my mom a grandmother for the first time.

Awwww.... "Grandmaman Sullivan"

I'll be seeing Caleb for the first time around Christmas.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some shopping to do!


Dessie Curley: [at a pub, after Sharon's delivery] 7 pounds 12 ounces.
Loner: Is that a baby, or a turkey?
Dessie Curley: A baby!Loner: That's a good-sized baby.
Dessie Curley: Right.
Loner: Small turkey, though.
- Colm Meaney and Birdy Sweeney discuss babies and turkeys in "The Snapper"

Don't Anger the Dirt Gods

I love this ad...

http://www.metamorphose.org/entry/index.htp?&entid=6593&

I think it only airs on Spike and/or during sports events, so many of you may be missing out. And you are missing out. Apparently video game ads are the bomb.

Dirt God: Gary, what are you doing?
Gary: I'm shining up my ATV.
Dirt God: ...Why?!
Gary: Because it's dirty?
Dirt God: From now on your name will be "Sally"! (gives him a pink dress and a pink ATV)
Dude passing by on ATV: Hi Sally
Sally/Gary: ...Hi...

US Elections: Rumsfeld gone

Phew!

For the first time in a long time, the American electorate came to their senses and returned some power to the Democrats - or, rather, removed some power from the Republicans.

Right now I'm listening to George Bush eat crow at a press conference. This is by far the longest time I have spent in one sitting listening to this moron speak. I guess it's the subject matter.

He's actually talking about the war in Iraq in negative terms.

He's tripping over his words, he's backpedalling, he's contradicting himself - he's being George. Priceless.

He's called the election "a thumpin'."

He painted himself into a corner and actually said that Democrats want to defend the country just as much as Republicans, and will do it just as well - remember THAT quote! (as I write, a reporter just called him on it and he dodged the question; but in true George fashion used a double negative such that he implied Democrats want America to be attacked! Oy vay...)

But the big news is that Donald Rumsfeld has resigned.

Phew!

The story, of course, is that Bush and Rumsfeld agreed that a "change in perspective" was necessary. So is it just coincidence that the resignation comes after this election "thumpin''?! If a "change in perspective" was necessary, it should have been necessary regardless of the election results!

The fact is that it would have been impossible for Rumsfeld to work with the Democratic House (Senate is still undecided) based on his behaviour in the past. He was the hawk of all hawks, he was the warmonger of warmongers, the stubborn s.o.b. who is directly responsible for the many needless deaths of American soldiers overseas. History will judge him. Goodness knows no justice system ever will.

The world is a brighter place this morning. That's all that matters, I guess.

My Halloween Costume

I'm posting because I have no way of sending this to Diane, who requested to see it.

The rest of you: close your eyes.

Here you go, Diane: Corporal Punishment.

...It would take too long to explain.

Yes, my name tag says "Punishment" and I am wearing corporal's flashes on my sleeves.

Hope you like.

Saddam Hussein : So Damn Insane

This really is nuts, ain't it?

I mean, how did a guy who runs (ran) a little country half way around the world loom so large in North American politics and news?

Oh...right...Bush.

Anyways, I find it mildly interesting that the US would be so happy with this "trial" (quotes included since the outcome of a trial is supposed to be somewhat in doubt, normally).

See, as far as I can tell, no one has accused Hussein of actually pulling any triggers, of actually killing anyone. But then again, I don't know the details of this trial (does anyone?).

My point is this: having a leader hanged because he ordered the death of civilians is an interesting precedent. I mean, it ain't like civilians haven't died due to the orders of Mr. Bush et al. Have they?

Argue all you want that it isn't on the scale of "crimes against humanity", but surely there are degrees of guilt in the "let's make leaders accountable" judicial system, no?

How about...I don't know...manslaughter. Is that ok? Surely the boys of Law & Order could make those charges stick. 'Cause we're accountable here in the West, right? I mean, we hold our leaders to account, yes? We judge them as we would hope other leaders would be judged, right? What's good for the goose and all that?

Heck, even Michael Ignatieff, a political neophyte, was able to deduce that Bush had authorized a modern-day war crime (oops - don't use that term in the West. We save that one for Nazis and Iraqi leaders and some Eastern European folk).

I'm not saying Hussein is innocent - like I said, I don't know the facts - but I do know that leaders are normally hanged thanks to a mob, not a court. If we're claiming this trial was on the up-and-up and that leaders should be accountable in this fashion, let's take a real long look at the thickness of the glass walls before we start chucking stones.

Know what I mean, GB?

Gears of War

I was sitting at my computer when a cool commercial came on. I'd seen it before and loved it, so thought I'd spread the word.

There's a commercial for the new Xbox game Gears of War. It goes something like this:

A (computer) soldier runs through dark streets, jumping into buildings through the windows, loaded for bear. He dives to the ground. He opens his eyes to see a beautiful array of lights. It seems peaceful. Until the lights are revealed to be the luminescent eyes of a gigantic spider-like monster. The soldier stands and opens fire, making a stand against all odds.

Gary Jules' version of "Mad World" (Donnie Darko) plays throughout...

Wicked.

All around me are familiar faces,
Worn out places,
Worn out faces,
Bright and early for the daily races,
Going nowhere,
Going nowhere,
Their tears are filling up their glasses,
No expression,
No expression,
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow,
No tomorrow,
No tomorrow.

Mad world,
Mad world.

Lost characters

***SPOILER WARNING*** (Lost)

This week, a certain character left Lost.

I was really disappointed to see them go. I really liked that character. They were different. They were...I don't know...in tune with the island in a way Locke seems to be (in part, at least). They were spiritual and violent, pensive and vicious.

It's a shame, I think. And I can't help but figure it again had to do with things outside the show. You won't convince me that the writers created this character only to have them written off this way. I'm convinced now, more than ever, that this show is being bullshitted as it goes along (all apologies to Denis, who believes this is what makes television great - yes, it makes it fluid, but how is a fan supposed to feel to know, to KNOW that there is no plan?).

Lost character indeed.

Update on Moi

The posts have dwindled, but that doesn't mean I'm too damn busy - it means I'm not all that motivated. Which is a good thing. It means I'm not bored and trapped in front of a computer. Now when I log on it's for a good reason.

Like porn.

...Email! I mean Email!!

I haven't been surfing as much as I used to. I haven't been to Boingboing. Same with Dead Things On Sticks. Dan doesn't post, so nothing lost there.

I'm not gonna take a ton of time to write out long diatribes on what's irking me. At this point, it'd have to be something pretty freaking bad. So, just some quick hits:

- Studio 60 rocks. Great writing. This is not a comedy show, folks, it's a show about comedy. Not nearly as confusing as it sounds.

- I still haven't been back to McDonald's. Two months plus and counting.

- Had a hard time finding a Hallowe'en costume idea this year. Settled on something. Not sure how good it is. You can decide. Anybody who wants a pic, though, is gonna have to post a friggin' comment to show their love.

- The Leafs still can't score on shootouts. Don't they practice these things? Last year showed how valuable these lost points are.

- Battlestar Galactica took another big turn this week. Wonder if this show can keep my interest? It's still unlike anything else out there.

Anything else worth writing about? Didn't think so. Back to my porn.

...Email! I mean Email!!

Maclean's: The Internet Sucks

I'm tired as hell and don't have the energy to get into this right now, but wanted to pass along my recommendation that folks read this week's Maclean's mag. There's a bang-on article inside that gives one man's opinion on what's wrong with the Internet.

It was a great read.

There's irony of course in the fact that I am passing this along via my blog, but those of you who take the time to read the article (which I can't find online, go figure) will get it.

I found myself smiling as I read it. It was just...so...true.

Maybe I'll get into my experience with the Internet some other time when my eyelids are cooperating. Basically, however, it boils down to these points:

- The Internet was born from an idealistic notion. If only the world worked that way.
- The Internet is, for the most part, uncontrolled - which is both it's greatest promise and greatest fault.
- The Internet is not bringing us closer together - it is driving us apart. Politically, socially, economically.
- The greater the technology, the greater the benefit to those who would take advantage of others.
- Porn will always - ALWAYS - rule the 'Net.

Goodnight.

Bush lays claim to SPACE!

Unbefuckinglievable.

The Toronto Star has an article lifted from the Washington Post that states that the US Government has "quietly signed a new National Space Policy that asserts his country's right to deny access to space to anyone "hostile to U.S. interests."

...?!

Honestly: who does this guy think he is? Could international politics get any more screwed up?

Ladies and gentlemen, it's official: the Western World has become the global bad guy. I think I just might move to China. Suddenly it seems pretty liberal.

When some folks claimed the new language could be seen as a prelude to the weaponization of space a Bush administration official "strongly disagreed with that characterization, saying the policy encourages international diplomacy and co-operation."

...as long as you co-operate with the U.S. on their terms.

"National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said in written comments that an update was needed to "reflect the fact that space has become an even more important component of U.S. economic, national and homeland security."

Ah, "homeland security", that old gem.

"Although it had abstained in the past when proposals to ban space weapons came up in the United Nations, last October the United States voted for the first time against a call for negotiations — the only "no" against 160 "yes" votes."

How can anyone in their right mind (Max, I'm looking in your direction...oh wait, you're not in your right mind) support this administration? This is without a doubt the most shameful period in U.S. history since the Civil War.

Worst.
President.
Ever.

Garth Turner Booted

Time's up.

Garth Turner, the Conservative MP from Halton (north of Toronto) got the boot from caucus.

It was bound to happen. No one this honest, this transparent can survive in party politics.

I encourage everyone to stay on top of this story and judge for themselves if Mr. Turner is a breath of fresh air or a moron who got what he deserved.

Either way, I wish there were more of him.

You can catch his blog here.


I have said here many times, and consistently since I was elected this last time, that I work for the voters - the people, the taxpayers. After that I heed my party and the political establishment. All are important, of course, but the people come first.
- Garth Turner

What a Jackass

So I got around to seeing Jackass Number Two the other day.

Funny.

...but so gross.

...but sooo funny.

This was one of those flicks that makes me fear for my life. That is to say, I'm laughing so hard for so long that I think I'm gonna have a heart attack. This one was way sicker than the first and didn't have as many lulls in the action. Sick funny bit after sick funny bit.

Go see it. And bring a barf bag.

Not for the faint of heart.


If your asshole can't see the camera, the camera can't see your asshole.
- Johnny Knoxville in Jackass Number Two

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.