Friday, July 23, 2004
at
11:27 a.m.
|
It's going to be a good joke for me for the next week or so. People will ask what movie Catherine and I went to see last night, and I'll be able to truthfully say Nothing.
It's the new brainchild of former Cube director and stars about two guys who literally hate away existence. Most of the movie takes place with two actors against a perpetually white background. There's nothing ahead, nothing behind, and as a result, comedy ensues.
The house, the turtle, the tinfoil suit all work together to actually tell a decent 90-minute movie. It's not something that you'd expect to see work for so long, but as the two loser-like friends embrace their utopia away from the world that was more than a little cruel to them and they lose a bit of their marbles in the process, you can't help but be morbidly enthralled.
It's a great quirky film, totally original and 100% Canadian. It's like nothing (pardon the pun) you've ever seen before. I can't guarantee multiple viewings, but it's definitely worth checking out.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
at
8:25 p.m.
|
A little theory I've picked up (though some of you will likely say it's source is common knowledge) is that in job searching it's as much who you know as it is timing and luck. Though my pool of sources is limited, the people I've known in such a short time over the past couple of years are proving very helpful in making sure I'm able to support myself in the future.
Don't let that mislead you, though as I have absolutely no job prospects at the moment. A nibble or two from the production department at eye, and the managing editor (who has been fantastic during my time there and whom I hope to get work from in the future) mentioned another possibility.
The only drawback to the job search is the amount of time it takes to get a job versus the amount of time you're willing to spend searching. Catherine, for instance, searched quite a lot for about a month before she began to lose steam. A friend of mine from school, Lisa, just sent her resume in to eye today in hopes of an internship. What we're willing to do to pay our dues says a lot about our grit and determination to succeed.
At this point, I'm willing to settle for survival.
My poor and meagre funds will last me a little while yet provided I stop spending money on things like season 2 of Buffy (it was a bargain... I just have to think of it as an investment) and the only thing slowing me down is how much time and effort I'm willing to put in.
Given that Sarah, a very loud but kind intern was fired yesterday (you couldn't help but see it coming) leaving eye with two interns, I'm kind of surprised that I haven't been asked to stay on until a replacement can be found. Heck, even if they offered me something like $200 for the week I'd probably take it. They've been good to me and I don't want to leave them in a lurch.
Ball's in their court, I suppose. As with everything else, time will sort it all out. As the great sage and eminent junkie put it: "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
at
10:38 p.m.
|
One of the great things about staying in a hotel, such as the one I was in during my visit to New York, is that they are like a small nexus. They all have the same basic content and all that changes is the view out the window.
Sometimes I wish I was a hotel room.
Not a place for people to stay and to mess up their sheets or use their phone, but rather an extension of that changing window. This is a funny thing for me to say, especially for those of you who know how much I hate change. Yet I always felt as though I should have a different piece of road under my feet each day and a sword strapped to my back.
I suppose that's part of the allure of movies and comic books. They provide a nice dose of escapism into a world of possibilities. Don't get me wrong, I love my life here with Catherine and provided I actually get a job, I'm quite content to stick with Toronto for a few years.
I suppose I just feel the travel bug slowly starting to call and opportunity fading away. I suppose that unless I go in the next couple of years, I'm not going to go. Sounds kind of fatalistic but at the same time we all know that life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
I've stayed in hotels all over the world and I know there are more than a few in the future ahead of me. Hopefully once both Catherine and I have our nice jobs we can make this more of a reality. In the meantime, there's always the Amazing Race.
Why won't they make it so Canadians can compete? Man, that would be incredible.
Monday, July 19, 2004
at
8:42 p.m.
|
Just when I think I'm a full grown, responsible adult who can take care of himself, Catherine goes away and suddenly I find myself without direction or purpose.
Is she a stabilizing influence I wonder, or am I just unusually clueless? Without someone else here to help guide my day, to talk to, to listen to and to love you get an odd disorientation towards everything. Last night I was up until 2am (though I was working) and today I came home to an empty apartment.
I'm just not used to it.
She hasn't left me or anything (yet), she's just at home visiting her family and helping to look after her mother who is a little sick this week though it's nothing serious. Catherine'll be back on Wednesday, but what on Earth am I going to do stuck as I am all by my lonesome?
Do I pull a Jamie and fill the apartment up with balloons? Pull a Doug and disappear to Florida for months on end? Actually, I"ll likely just wind up watching Buffy and terrible reality TV shows while consuming what's left of Patti's ice cream.
All in all, not a bad way to pass the time. Maybe I"ll even paint.
Thursday, July 15, 2004
at
3:42 p.m.
|
It's a fun game and it's also a bitch. Take today for example. Things today have reshaped many paradigms that I thought were certain in the coming months.
The first was Eye. Immediately in the morning I was asked to get a story ready for the next day based on a story I pitched the day before. I had long sinced given up trying to be a useful member of this society and yet today I was out and about researching and writing a story I actually liked. Go figure.
The story is done and awaiting editorial mangling.
Then, Catherine, the girl who never knows as well as I do what's in store for her got her dream job. She's been employed by Career Cruising for a ridiculous sum of money and starts on July 26. She sounds very calm as do I, but I think that's the shock speaking. More than a job, this is security, peace of mind, comfort and a career direction she's always wanted to explore. I can't express how happy I am for her and yet at the same time feeling the gnaw of jealousy as I doubt I'll be getting offers from Marvel in the near future.
The last was an odd quiz.
Head to www.colorquiz.com. Answer honestly and get in return a surprisingly accurate reading of who you are. Most of these are complete bunk, but for some reason this one rang true. Check it out.
I still can't believe she got the job. Yet I knew in my heart the whole time that it would be her, the fact that they were a few days later in letting her know than they said they would be upped the tension factor. I even joked yesterday that they were holding out just to tick us off.
I'm so proud. Now I have to try and get a job. The competitive part of me wants to try and best her somehow. Not very charitable, but at least I'm honest in a "hey, you're a jerk" sort of way.
:)
Good job, Boo.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
at
11:41 a.m.
|
In devouring as I have been seasons 1-3 of Angel recently I find myself attracted to characteristics of David Boreanaz's character, Angel.
We have a man who struggles with his very real inner demon, a world that doesn't understand how he can be both good and evil at the same time, and yet he manages to have friends, a family and a warm home to return to.
Really, Angel (or Angelus) is no different than anyone else. Maybe that's what makes him an interesting character. It's the choices that define us, not our baser feelings or motives. Is that the overall theme of the story? Maybe, but it seems like a message to me. Wesley (Alexis Denisoff) has got to be my favorite character on that show. I still can't believe he had his throat cut like that in Season 3. That's some good TV eating...
I'm very frustrated with this series as season 4 hasn't even come out on DVD yet. For those of you who've watched the series, season 3 ends on a brutal cliffhanger that, while I know things will work out, still leaves many unanswered questions.
Thanks to Jamie, Jer and others I know what happens in broad strokes on both of these series. VERY broad strokes but it's in finding out the details of how and why that I've become enthralled with Joss Whedon and his writing process. I still think he outdid himself with Firefly, but Angel comes a close second.
I'll have to wait to give a final verdict on Buffy as Season 5 is supposed to be in at the video store for me to rent at any time...
Yummy.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
at
8:17 p.m.
|
Lord, why am I cursed with such geekdom?
On the way home from work today I had to stop by the Silver Snail to check once again (fruitlessly I expected) for the new series of Marvel Legends figures.
To my shock and wallet's horror, they were in. Series 6 had touched down.
What makes this remarkable is that we're ahead of the States. For the most part, the toys go coast to coast for our neighbours to the south and we get the sloppy seconds about a month later. This time we're ahead and I'm loving it.
I picked up Juggernaut, Cable and Deadpool (also Doop who came with 'Pool). Juggernaut is huge... by far the biggest figure put out by ToyBiz yet. Deadpool wins for articulation and coolness (not to mention an uber-creepy second head) while Cable's arm is just a thing of sculpting beauty.
I didn't get Wolverine, which while more articulated than previous versions, is more or less just another repaint and I don't need to buy him. Punisher (movie version) would be redundant as well as I have the comic version figure which I prefer anyway. The last is Phoenix... while girl figures have traditionally been horrible to view there was something appealing about this one. Rather than the old hip joints that make all the figures look like wanton sluts when they're placed in sitting position thanks to their legs flaring out to the sides (and how many people gleefully adjusted my shelves of figures to porn positions over the years??) but now ToyBiz has finally given girls the same hip joints as the men. My Rogue figure is a slut, but Jean is prim and perfect.
Lordy lord, I love my toys.
They're very cool. I expect you all to oooh and aaahh over them when you next appear.
Part of my job here at intern hell (which I must tell you, faithful readers, ends next Friday. Aaron will be down to celebrate, and hopefully Pushee too. Perhaps an impromptu trip to Wonderland should be arranged) is to fact check dozens of useless articles that fill the rags pages.
Don't get me wrong, there are several aspects of this paper that I like. One or two of the staff have been nothing but friendly and kind and part of me will miss the consistency of coming into work every day with a list of things to do.
Another part of me could give less than a shit.
It becomes quickly apparent when you fit into a place and when you don't. I'm forever on the fringe of things... bobbing and weaving, sticking and jabbing, to a result I don't even know is clear. I'm sure I'll get strong references, but the need for coin and a home is driving me away sooner than I'd really like.
There are other things to do. I'm planning on taking over the world, starting my own publication, and writing several stories in addition to the massive task of job hunting. No worries, I'll still have time to be lazy and depressed I'm sure.
If I can, I'll make treks around to visit friends and family. My mom quite correctly pointed out today that we hadn't seen as much of each other as possible. The only consolation I can offer is that it's far more frequent for me to talk to her and see her than any of my other relations. After all, I'd only gotten back to Guelph to see my Dad back in May after a five-month hiatus.
There's much room for improvement. Part of it was just the huge amount of time school and internships were taking, not to mention the quick pace at which life in Toronto seems to move. I feel as though I barely have time for myself much less anyone else and this includes Catherine.
Maybe I'm just getting old.
Certainly I'm getting odd.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
at
9:51 a.m.
|
The first medium used to spread news and information is believed to be the Acta Diurna (“Daily Acts”), founded by Roman emperor Julius Caesar in 59 B.C. The daily paper, posted in prominent areas and gathering places all over Rome, contained news items as well as birth, death, and marriage announcements, updates on criminal trials and executions . . . and even news of sporting and theatrical events.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
at
12:40 p.m.
|
Catherine and I went to a midnight showing last night. Though I hate Toronto prices at $30 for the two of us, I must say that this is one of those few movies worth that price.
Seriously, being an uber-spider fan I had high hopes and I was worried that I'd be left feeling cold. I had memories of Batman and Superman sequels where the villains went over-the-top, the costumes sucked and lights went all wonky.
This is not that movie.
From the start Sam Raimi shows that he hasn't lost his love or affection for the characters who take center stage. Fittingly so, as it's Peter Parker audiences are more interested in than Spider-Man. While the fights between Doc Ock and Spidey are brilliant, it's Peter Parker, Mary Jane, Harry and Aunt May that make this movie worth watching.
Alfred Molina is a much better villain than Willem Dafoe. In the first movie, Dafoe goes with the assumption that he has to be a little larger than life which made sense given that his face was often covered by a mask. With Molina's face out in the open for the film he's able to put more heart into Otto than even the comics have managed. It makes for a more tragic villain and a more interesting confrontation.
That's not to say that Dafoe's impact isn't felt in this film. The Green Goblin is never as far away as you may think...
Still, Bruce Campbell does his bit for the film, and J.Jonah Jameson steals every scene he's in. I realize that as a comic fan I'm a bit biased towards liking this movie, but as a fan who watches everything with an eagle eye I have to say I wasn't disappointed at all.
Make sure you see it at least two or three times.
Now.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
at
1:07 p.m.
|
There are a number of things that I should be doing to keep myself interested during the day at my internship. But since I find myself feeling a growing apathy and distaste for their methods (one of my editors actually called one of the interns a homophobe loudly) I do my best to find other bizarre things to do.
Thanks to Larisa, I've found something strange and unusual.
She sent over this link... which is so wrong it's great.
http://www.jesusdressup.com/index.html
That's right! Dress up our Lord however you see fit! The clothes change from time to time to reflect the holidays and seasons so keep going back for more and more fun!
Somebody save me.
Saturday, June 26, 2004
at
2:18 p.m.
|
In the black-and-white newsreel days of journalism, covering traffic accidents was as common a practice as it is today; yet somehow the footage was gorier. Using the cheapest special effect available—water—the camera crews would often pour several gallons on the roadway before filming. Why? When seen in black-and-white, water looks a lot like blood.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
at
12:05 a.m.
|
So, weird things happen, right? It's the staple of life that no matter how much you think you know or how in control of things you think you are, something inevitably comes along to challenge those perceptions then laugh in your face.
David ran into something like that last week. Catherine's brother, whom many of you know to be an original person in many ways, got an interesting package in the mail. It was addressed neatly to him and he didn't think much of it.
Until he opened it.
Inside was a lot of bubble wrap and a small naked doll. There was a note that read "Corinna's things are in the observation booth. Thanks, Cam." David knows neither of these things and thought it best to keep the whole package in the freezer "just in case."
My brush with oddness came tonight while Catherine and I were watching season 4 of Buffy. For some reason or another, the disc started to jam and the show went very jerky. It happens rarely when a disc is dirty or something, and given that it's a rental I'm sure it's got one or two scratches on it.
Still, after nearly 10 minutes of this crap and trying to fast forward or skip the chapter, the screen froze once more but this time...
I'm still a little fucked up about it.
At the bottom of the screen the words "FIX ME." appeared. No joke, deadly serious. My player was crying out for help. Now I've had this thing for nearly five years and it has NEVER done this. I do have subtitle options which weren't engaged at all and didn't fit the plot anyway.
I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for it, but all Catherine and I could do was stare at the thing with a shocked silence. I tried to engage it in casual conversation, politely asking what there was I could do to help.
No answer.
The disc started playing properly again shortly after, but it's been more than an hour since then and all I can think is "that's really fucked up."
Don't you think?
PS. David found out who sent the package. It's a server he's familiar with at East Side Mario's. I don't know how he knows this girl or why she would do this, but I found it funny then and continue to do so now.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
at
10:26 a.m.
|
Chimpanzees, apes, orangutans, and a few other primates laugh—but no other animals do. Chimps’ laughter sounds like rapid panting, but unlike humans, chimps can’t regulate the air as they breathe out, which means they can’t change the way it sounds. This lack of ability to control airflow is the same thing that deprives them of speech.
But just because primates can’t talk doesn’t mean they can’t share jokes. Chimps and gorillas that have learned sign language have been known to sign one another for laughs. Sometimes they give incorrect signs in “conversation” and then laugh; other times they urinate on humans and then sign “funny.”
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
at
11:40 p.m.
|
This will be the fourth or fifth graduation that I'll have attended in my short 26 years. God, am I that old already?
Yet tomorrow means about as much to me as my university graduation did. In terms of getting a diploma, degree, or whatever, it's just a piece of paper and an excuse to get together and hang out. For my english degree, I didn't feel the need to leave my summer home in Jasper, Alberta to come back to see people I barely knew.
Tomorrow is a bit different. Journalism at Humber was one of the best things to happen to me, personally and creatively. I made a lot of great friends, picked up an amazing assortment of skills, and put myself on track to something I hope will be a successful career.
First I have to stop interning for free.
Still, I can't complain. The only thing I don't really like about tomorrow is that Pushee won't be there. He's currently in Spain or some such area with Nick having the time of his life. Though I don't think he's picking up any women. Knowing Push, he's probably just admiring them from afar.
Tonight is just another night as tomorrow is just another day. Except that I won't be going to work, but back to Humber to network and 'graduate'. Honestly, it's the people I'm going for, not the piece of paper. That means less than nothing to me. The magazine I made, the friends that came with it, that's what I'm celebrating tomorrow and for the time being at least, what I'm leaving behind.
On the movie front, I went to a press screening for Two Brothers tonight. It's about twin tiger cubs who are separated when they're very young and meet up again years later when they're forced to fight one another. Sounds silly in a sentence, but the movie latched on my heart as much as my time. It's well worth checking out if you have a bit of spare change.
• MAN SHOOTS NEIGHBOR WITH MACHETE
• Iran Claims Success in Its Attack on Iran
• KICKING BABY CONSIDERED TO BE HEALTHY
• Milk Drinkers Are Turning to Powder
• BIBLE CHURCH’S FOCUS IS THE BIBLE
• QUEEN MARY HAVING BOTTOM SCRAPED
• BRITAIN INCHES GRUDGINGLY TOWARDS METRIC SYSTEM
Friday, June 11, 2004
at
9:42 a.m.
|
• Call an addiction hot line and explain that you’re hooked on phonics.
• Go to the airport wearing a suit of armor and try walking through the metal detector.
• Call the Q-Tips 800 number and say that one of the cotton swab parts just came off in your ear. When they reply, keep shouting, “What? What? What did you say?”
• Go to the polar bear enclosure at the zoo and shout, “C’mon, Larry, enough’s enough! Take off that costume and come back to the office!”
Monday, June 07, 2004
at
3:58 p.m.
|
She's the best thing in the world to happen to me and I'm sure to her family and friends.
There's something so wonderful and pure about her heart, her soul, her voice, her face, everything. I wish I could put into words how grateful I am for her presence in my life. Even when things are bad, they're still okay as long as I have her to return to each night.
She's not perfect, good lord is she not perfect, but she gets me. She likes my quirks and enjoys my company. The fact that she can stand to be around me for more than five minutes at a time says great things about her endurance.
I don't know that I show her how much I appreciate her. I should do bigger and grander things all the time. But hopefully she knows how much I love her and want to be with her.
I tell her, but I don't know that she understands just how much I love her.
"It's all I know/
This empty road
Keeps me lookin' for a place in your heart
Keeps me lookin' for a place in your heart
It's all I know"
One of the great things about interning at a weekly mag and making semi-decent friends with the people who work there are that a few perks are involved.
Today, for instance, the music editor took pity on me and handed me Matthew Good's new album, White Light Rock & Roll Review to keep a full week before it's due out in stores.
Sweet.
He had previously let me borrow it to listen to here in the office. When he handed it to me today it was because I was much more "fanboy" about Matt than he was. I can live with that.
The album is a straight-forward rock offering with a touch of country flavour. The rock hits hard on "Alert Status Red" with loud guitars, easy refrains, and a solid vocal performance. It's easy to see why this is the leading single, though "Put Out Your Lights" makes a solid entry to the record.
Slowing things down with a country twang are "Empty Road" and the hidden track at the end of the album. These are the kinds of things that I love Matt for when he gets a bit slower and more into the sounds he's creating than a mixture of noise and fury. "Been A While Since I Was Your Man" is another great example of this.
"Buffalo Seven" is on track to being the next single (or at least one of the singles) from this album. Unlike the prevous album, Avalanche, where the guitars and radio friendly songs were missing, this album delivers in full force. Matt Good may not have matured, but he's gotten back to his roots and seen the white light.
The title may refer to his own career and the need to express himself however he feels. It's what he's done so far to amazing results. It's no wonder Matthew Good is one of my favorite musical artists.
If you're interested in good, solid, classic Matt Good... check out previous offerings The Audio of Being and Beautiful Midnight.
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
at
11:10 p.m.
|
I'm not really that tired, but I can feel fatigue of a different sort seeping into my bones. Simply put: I'm tired of paying my dues.
It's time to get paid.
Won't happen JUST yet, but soon. Very soon. And then you'll all be sorry. Or something less scary.
I tore through the second season of Buffy in record time and now I'm feeling quite impatient about getting season 3, though the store just doesn't have a copy in at the moment. This makes me angry.
Oh well, I have Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban to look forward to on Friday. Ah, Harry and J.K. Rowling... the power they have over me and my wallet. That said, I'd about kill to get the next book.
Thankfully Stephen King has stepped up to the plate and is offering up the next part of The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah ships next Tuesday and I'll be there bright and early to pick it up. There's something so appealing about Roland and his ka-tet and they journey to End World through the field of roses to the Tower at the middle of it all. Eddie, Susannah, Jake, Oy, Callahan and Roland await... and those of us who wish we had swords on our backs can at least travel as voyeurs to see what happens next.
Normally I reject all mainstream (successful) authors but this series has haunted the past year of my life. It's just that damn good.
|
MARVEL and SPIDER-MAN: TM & 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. Motion Picture © 2007 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2007 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All rights reserved. blogger template by blog forum |
