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[Jul. 8th, 2009|09:39 am] |
I'm back from Canada, or as me and my sister call it, America's Hat. There are only a few times a year when US and Canadian holidays overlap (mostly because Canada doesn't have as many holidays) - Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year's. When you finesse the vacation days right, you can get Canada Day (7/1) and the 4th of July.
It was a pretty mellow time. Went up to cottage country for a few days, dropped by Waterloo to see some of Chris's friends, eat a ton of fruit, had burgers, had maple syrup, got several mosquito bites, saw some relatives, chill out, nap, watch some Farscape. Canada doesn't seem to have a lot of patriotic songs but I had discovered A Place to Stand, A Place to Grow, which was considered Ontario's unofficial anthem back in the 70s or so:
After a while, certain phrases are just reaaaaallllly catchy.
Oh! We also saw Bon Cop, Bad Cop, which is supposedly Canada's highest grossing film for a Canadian movie. It's essentially your action buddy cop film but uber-Canadian. Rebellious guy from Montreal teams up with by-the-rules cop in Toronto when a body is found literally on the border. They team up because their captains don't want the MOUNTIES involved. The bad guy wears a HOCKEY MASK. Hell, the entire plot revolves around HOCKEY and how Canadians are freaked out by the possibility that one of the CHL franchises will move to the NHL. The DVD itself has 3 tracks - one with English substitles when people speak French, one with French subtitles when people speak English, and a perfect bilingual track with no subtitles.
This is why I like Canada. That and easy access to Kinder Bueno.
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[Jun. 30th, 2009|05:09 pm] |
I'm heading off to Canada for a week, but I think everyone should read this (from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) alicetiara 's twitter): The Not-So-Hidden Politics of Class Online.
So as we think about creating public spaces, what's the meeting point for our conversations? Is it MySpace or Facebook? Twitter or IRC? What you choose matters. Where you and your colleagues hang out matters. The "voices" of the Internet that you get are biased by the people who are in the places that you hang out. But do you know this? Do you account for it? Are you working to represent all people or just the people that you can see and hear? When you're trying to reach out to people, are you trying to reach out to all people or just the people in the environments that you understand? Are you embracing difference or are you only taking into account that with which you are comfortable?
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 30th, 2009|01:35 am] |
Grace of My Heart was on the Ovation Channel the other day. I DVR'd it solely for the below song. It's a shame it didn't make it to the soundtrack, although I can understand why they'd choose the Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach version instead.
The movie's about a Carole King type singer during the 60s who can't make it as a singer but is able to make a living writing songs. She's just lost her current love and as an effort to cheer her up, her boss lets her cut a single. This is the first time she's sings the song for her producer, a Brian Wilson-type played by Matt Dillon:
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 26th, 2009|05:52 pm] |
Is Martin Sheen aka President Jed Bartlett doing Midas radio commercials?
Is Michael Jackson singing "I want to be a vegetable" in Gonna Be Startin' Something?
Where can I get good pie at this time?
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[Jun. 25th, 2009|07:56 pm] |
I'm not sure what is more disturbing - that Michael Jackson is actually dead or that a musical tribute is playing on the oldies station. It's one of those moments when you realize your generation is starting to no longer be the main advertising demographic.
I'm just listening and bopping along, which I suppose is as fitting a moment as any. I'll probably be a wreck when Prince dies, though. |
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[Jun. 20th, 2009|10:19 pm] |
What I Learned Today (ha, WILT), concluded:
Thursday: Made corn fritters for the first time. The batter was a little too eggy and needed more pepper, but was tasty for a first try. Weekly car rental rates are an utter ripoff.
Friday: Kansas City Burnt Ends are delicious! It seems difficult to tell which flatscreen TV is the best just by looking at it.
Saturday: How to transplant a plant. Also made blueberry cookies for the first time. Nom. |
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[Jun. 17th, 2009|02:54 pm] |
I hate resume revision. I'm also not a fan of OpenOffice's Word substitute at the moment, either.
I haven't updated in awhile, so I figured I'd overshare.
What I learned this week:
Monday - how to help a potty-training three year old boy go to the bathroom with no warning and no foreknowledge. Logistics made things challenging. And when a child says "Hold me" and you read two meanings into it, you really favor one interpretation over the other.
Tuesday - how to cook swiss chard. I followed a general recipe on Chowhound - separate the stems, chop them up as well as some garlic, an onion and the leaves. Fry some turkey bacon, remove. Throw in the onion and garlic and cook until soft. Toss in the chopped stems, cook until they look shrivelled, add leaves. Then toss in a can of drained chickpeas.
Today - that there is such a thing as Air Sex World Championships.
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[Jun. 6th, 2009|07:45 pm] |
It's been a good week. I spent most of it with friends who have adorable small children. Someone gave me Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I registered to vote, I've walked a lot, I finally got through to the unemployment office and spoke with a lovely person who actually understood what I used to do, I made awesome pork chops.
I've learned that I definitely need to set some boundaries and some structure for me. I need to get out of the house and walk or explore. I think I've got two good ways to format my resume. I found a couple temp agencies that seem to specialize in the industry so it'd be great to set up an interview and discuss options. I'm combing through a few industry associations for possible companies.
I might make cherry clafoutis. Breaded eggplant? I'll go to the Scooperbowl and check out the local farmer's market. Catch up on my reading. Expand my knowledge.
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[Jun. 3rd, 2009|12:54 am] |
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Wow, Bejeweled Blitz is so bad for me. |
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[May. 31st, 2009|05:56 pm] |
Wow, Up. You laugh, you cry, you laugh, you cry, you see negative space, you see things rushing in to fill the void, you want to open up your arms to embrace everything and hold on to whatever you can and smile as the light slips between your fingers.
Thank you, Pixar.
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| ARRRGGGHHH |
[May. 29th, 2009|01:24 pm] |
Oh dude, the nearest drive-in (like an hour drive away this region totally sucks why don't we get a makeshift drive-in by the waterfront for the summer? it'd be AWESOME) is doing a double feature of Up and Star Trek this week.
I already have tickets to Up on Sunday. But the sheer awesome is making me seriously consider going on Sunday even though I wouldn't get home until at least 1am.
I'm not really into fandom except for icons and picspam but I do love me some ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) ontd_startrek. It's like sparkles and animated gifs and CAPSLOCK ALL THE TIMES GQ MOTHERFUCKER and quotes upon quotes and photoshopping memes upon memes (srsly, Kate's hair and Aretha's hat? I wish someone could track the speed and long tails of memes and pop culture markers.) Hell, I'd be listening to I'M ON A BOAT SHIP if there was a better recording of it.
Edit: Aw yeah, LeVar Burton just tweeted about his image macro.
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[May. 28th, 2009|11:52 pm] |
Good for Kavya! She worked her butt off for years to win.
I had Aishwarya and Kennyi to win it but I'm good with a Kavya win.
Yeah, I totally stayed as unspoilered as possible.
WHOO BEE! |
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| Happy things |
[May. 26th, 2009|07:25 pm] |
NFL Network is all about Tom Brady and yay Mike Reiss is on. His blog is the bestest.
I had a pretty good long weekend. I'm still coughing every now and then, but I got to explore a bit of the neighborhood (even though the photo lab went out of business) Saturday morning. Then we headed over to my folks to eat lobster and then headed to Kimball's for the first ice cream of the season. NOM. Sunday morning, we drove them to the airport. Some friends and their kids came by and we hit the bike path and had dinner. Monday morning, we checked out the Friendly Toast (tasty but service was a bit lacking) and then I cleaned the apartment. This is a terrible long weekend tradition, cleaning and laundry but it was weirdly relaxing at the same time.
My boss is going on a fishing trip and won't be around Thursday to Monday.
THE SPELLING BEE IS NIGH. PRELIMS START TOMORROW. It's kind of weird seeing less and less newspapers being represented on the spelling roster, as well as seeing more and more non-Americans. We've got a kid from China and New Zealand and Ghana as well as your usual Canadians. Anyway, I hope I get to see Shevelle Six! She looks adorable, lists LeBron James as a role model, has two horses, and wants to pursue a career in computer science.
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| SINGY SINGY FLAAAAIIILLLL |
[May. 19th, 2009|10:58 pm] |
OMG GLEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
YOU GUYS THE BACKGROUND MUSIC IS A CAPPELLA
(I DON'T EVEN LIKE A CAPPELLA REALLY BUT IT IS SO AWESOME HOW THEY INCORPORATE IT HERE)
REO SPEEDWAGON
The preview for the fall season looks amazing. Kanye's Gold Digger?
AND THEY ARE DOING QUEEN
Somebody to Love (upfront youtube video!!!!!)
JANE LYNCH AS A CHEERLEADING COACH
PLUS YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH JOURNEY
CURSE YOU SUMMER TV WASTELAND
(Also? Stephen Tobolowsky guest stars in it. My name is Werner and my voice is my passport!!!)
(hulu will have the episode up for a month but i guess you can see it at FOX)
FLAILY FLAILY FLAIL
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[May. 18th, 2009|11:50 am] |
No more Life or The Unusuals, but at least Better Off Ted is saved.
I am RIDICULOUSLY excited for the Glee preview tomorrow. It's a fall series on FOX, but it's got the big pimp lead-in of the American Idol finale. And OH YEAH THIS IS WHY:
Yes, yes, Ryan Murphy, Nip/Tuck. But he also did a show called Popular. I wasn't a regular viewer, but I do remember channel flipping to it and seeing random bits of crack.
( 2 youtube videos ) |
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[May. 17th, 2009|05:00 pm] |
I feel like I'm missing May because of whatever I have. I don't think it's allergies anymore, I'm tired and I'm slightly congested and my cough will not go away and the sun is out there and shining and there are things to do.
Chris has something new now as well so we're both really boring and lame. Yesterday, we dropped off some stuff at the UPS store and counted it as a win. It's like we can only get out in hour-long bursts and then we need a two hour nap. Today, we got library cards. Yaaaaay boooks. |
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[May. 14th, 2009|11:22 pm] |
I TOTALLY LIED TO MYSELF WHEN I SAID IT'D BE OK IF THE BRUINS LOST GAME 7. NOT IN OT. NOT ON HOME ICE. TOTALLY LIED.
I HATE YOU CANES.
FUCK YOU CAM WARD
YOU TOO SCOTT WALKER
DAMMIT |
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[May. 11th, 2009|10:37 pm] |
Oh allergies. When I walk to the T stop, the pain increases to the point where I can feel my nasal cavaties all the way to my ears. It is not awesome. Fortunately, it stops hurting once I move away from the freshly cut grass and the happy growing trees.
But then I think, "Ow! Oh my nose." in a Marsha Brady way and that makes me feel better. For a few seconds. |
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| macro/micro contrast |
[May. 11th, 2009|02:04 pm] |
Cases of swine flu have almost tripled over the past four days.
There is nothing like being at Fenway while there are two playoff games happening at the same time. Fantastic night.
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[May. 9th, 2009|11:14 am] |
My parents are coming over today for Mother's Day lunch. It was her idea. Actually, her idea was to come over to my place, I make soup, my sister make paella, and everyone eats my still-in-the-freezer wedding cake.
Since I do not want my family to eat my wedding cake as I am Very Irrational when it comes to Desserts that are Mine, she's going to get this instead:
peach iced tea
fruit salad
scallion pancakes
my sister's paella
tres leche cake
And maybe some flowers. But not to eat.
I think we will all be bouncing off the walls afterward. It's going to be quite the natural and unnatural sugar buzz. Although, it will probably be channeled into chores and eventually a nap. Last night, I dreamed Chris pulled a Hannibal and chopped off the top of my anesthetized head with a buzzsaw.
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