Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 12:35 am: This week & Friday Five

Another week gone by so fast. Monday and Tuesday i had yoga, finally. Had a nice chat with Shannon Tuesday. Had my massage therapy Tuesday afternoon, which has kinda left my neck/shoulder unusually sore/stiff.

Wednesday night was a party for Jelavic getting his Ph.D. Pizza, cake and hot tub (not for me - no bathing suit, plus it was damn cold outside, and the chlorine reeked). I was a little late for the surprise part, as i'd stopped to get a bottle of wine (which was actually much appreciated).

Thursday Matt, Miah and i went to Staff Appreciation Dinner, though the person who pushed us to go (Emma, plus John) ended up not going. Boo! Virtually no one else from our division went, even though some had 20 year service anniversaries (and i had 5). The food was okay - perogies, (but not sauteed), ordinary salad, white bread rolls, mashed potatoes, chicken-like gravy, breaded chicken, breaded over-sized kebabs (pork?), cabbage rolls (which i don't like), black forest cake for dessert (i can't eat chocolate). I guess i shouldn't complain over free food, but the food wasn't the issue, just the fact only 3 of us went. I think it was more non-teaching staff than faculty. Buh.

Today i got up as if i were going to work, but went to movies instead. Grabbed a meatless Egg McMuffin and berry pie for breakfast, and in the middle took a lunch break, with 20th Century Boys, at Licks. I've been home all evening, doing laundry, cutting my hair, reading the papers, and such.

I said last week i wasn't going to do the Friday Five anymore, but the Friday Five for October 2, 2009, is actually pretty good.

Careers, Dreams, and Reality

1. What did you dream of being when you were a little child?
A vet, but not seriously - i just loved my cat, ha ha.
2. What did you think you might become when you were between the ages of 12-13?
I don't remember thinking about it at all.
3. What career choices did you consider as a young adult?
I went to school for Political Science, and assumed i would get into government some way.
4. Did you follow along one of the career paths you considered?
Nope - ended up in retail (UGH!).
5. Have you changed careers since then? Was it by choice or necessity?
Oh yes - ended up in Animation, by necessity and choice. I wanted to do something creative, and kinda fell backwards into this. It works for me!

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 12:37 am: Toy Story I & II in 3D

The first movies i saw today were Toy Story and Toy Story II in 3D - a double feature (with no shorts). Wow, it's been so long, i barely recognized the stories, aside from the very basic plot idea. The 3D was good, although you forgot about it after a while, although i think the AMC's projection is a bit dark. I will say, although they were enjoyable, i don't think they were great, and i didn't have an inkling of what was to come in the form of Incredibles, Ratatouille, Wall-E and Up. Sid was strangely evil for a kid, and i'm not sure where romance leads for toys (or for Cars, for that matter).

"Look, I'm Picasso."

"Laser envy."

"You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity."

A lost opportunity - Woody should've still had that scar so it could be fixed in II.

I realize these were made forever ago, in computer animation terms, but man, the humans were ugly-looking. Looks like they were from Shrek, ha ha. I still think Toy Story should have been done as a live-action/CG mix (switching to CG when the toys came alive).

"So, uh, how long is this gonna take?"
"Ya can't rush art." (Geri from Geri's Game).

"I just wanted to say you're a bright young woman with a beautiful yarn full of hair."

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 12:40 am: Zombieland

The other movie i saw today was Zombieland, the dark comedy/buddy pic/love story/zombie movie. It was pretty funny, very good. I liked the narration (the rules of zombie fighting, etc).

Let go of your drink, for pete's sake.

Okay, these are virus zombies, rather than mystic zombies, so don't they need to eat and sleep on a regular basis?What about going to the bathroom (can they take their clothes off)? I wonder if zombies can read?

The bad girl (Emma Stone, cutie from Superbad), the alpha male, the nerd, and the kid.

Time to nut up or shut up!

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 01:21 pm: Rebuild Of Evangelion, Part One

This morning i saw Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Evangerion Shin Gekijôban: Jo), part one of a four-movie retelling of the original anime series (which will have a new ending). Apparently it is, at this stage, mostly a retelling of the first 6 episodes - in fact, it felt somewhat like a bunch of episodes cut together - some redundant scenes, choppiness, yet it's only 90 minutes long (where the episodes should total at least over two hours).

Overall, i was kind of mixed on it. I loved the original series (at least, up to the end), but it did have its issues. It's supposed to be a gritty story set futuristic post/pre apocalyptic world, but then it has this weirdly sentient penguin living with one of the characters (you can do comedy relief with out that kind of nonsense). Rei essentially has no personality, and Shinji's emotions range from quietly depressed to screaming fear. Some real emotional change would be welcome. I understand Shinji's Dad is supposed to be something of a bastard, but how they treat the kids is just bizarre, especially considering the future of the world rests on them. Realistically, you'd treat them as well as you would your top soldiers and star athletes - they should have their own tutors (not placed with the neighbourhood school), doctors, nutritionists, chef, psychologists and so on. They would also spend a lot of their training (with their EVAs, hand-to-hand combat, weapon use, etc), rather than, say, history quizzes. I mean, the movie starts with Shinji arriving alone, wandering around the deserted town, and ending up almost being killed in the middle of a battle - so much for security.

"Where's the saviour of humanity?" "I dunno, has the local train dropped him off yet - anyone got a train schedule?"

A classmate beating up on Shinji. I admit, he's so whiny, i want to be beat him up myself - the character you most want to beat up since Anthy Himemiya.

Okay, tell me again why they built NERV hq in the middle of the city?

The trailer for Part 2 actually promised more fanservice, ha ha.

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 10:29 pm: Nuit Blanche 2009

Saturday night was another Nuit Blanche (or as i heard one person call it, noo-ee blawnsh) - hard to believe it's been a year already. Overall, i was disappointed with the 2009 show. Nothing really grabbed me (and compared unfavourably with ones from 2007 and 2008), a lot of the exhibits were obscure, the meaning only discernible if you read the descriptions, while i think the art should be able to speak for itself. Bay Street between Gerrard and Front was shut down to traffic, but it was barely used, an awful waste (and because east-west traffic could cross it, it was fenced at all the intersections, so couldn't even be used as a pedestrian 'main street'). Then again, it's possible i just went to the wrong exhibits. My plan was to hit all the recommmended exhibits, and as many as i could along the way.

<lj-cut text="Nuit Blanche 2009 pics">

Pretty sunset, as i drove into the city. On the 401.

On Sheppard Avenue.

On Don Mills Road.

My first stop was on Parliament near Carlton. It was well past 7, and NONE of the exhibits had been set up.

You all officially suck, lol. Not a good start.

I wasn't gonna wait, so i headed downtown and parked. Okay, people, this guy is not an exhibit, he's always down here.

This was Sonic Fun House, in the Atrium on Bay, presented by The Music Gallery.

This guy was leading people in making random sounds, acting like musical instruments. It was okay.

</lj-cut>

The bus station had Battle Royale - volunteers enter the stage blindfolded, to fight (there were pro wrestlers in there too). Funny idea, though i didn't get the supposed connection to African-American post-slavery bouts, or the artist's "own personal fear of societal invisibility".

<lj-cut text="Nuit Blanche 2009 pics">

The program guide says men, but there were clearly women in there.

They weren't actually fighting very hard, lol.

These colour-changing benches were set up to watch a video screen set up on Canadian Tire.

It was showing The Reflecting Pool and Ancient Of Days, a couple of 'video installations' from about 30 years ago.

Pwn The Wall - Graffiti Research Lab. This looked lame at first - it wasn't presented well, but it is a cool idea. You have a kind of light spray can that you can paint with.

And it's projected onto a building across the street.

This is Ghost Chorus - Dirge For Dead Slang, with people dressed as ghosts chanting old slang to a baseline beat - one of the exhibits which don't really lend themselves to photography.

An exhibit at the Church Of The Holy Trinity, behind the Eaton Centre, first of several with ridiculously long line ups. There's no way i'd wait half an hour for one exhibit.

The line up continued and wrapped itself back towards the Eaton Centre.

You can see into the Eaton Centre.

</lj-cut>

Rabbit Balloon by Jeff Koons, who continues to disappoint me - last year's balloon was more fun (it spun around and played with light better).

<lj-cut text="Nuit Blanche 2009 pics">

It's supposed to be connected with the rabbit from Alice In Wonderland?

GAH!

Ice Queen: Glacial Retreat Dress Trent. "Inspired by Butoh dance", it's supposed to "investigate global warming", as well as "exploring desire, body and land from a female perspective". Really? I should stop reading the descriptions, lol.

Mall kids, just hanging out.

Another big line up at Massey Hall - ugh, it wraps around to Yonge Street.

These guys (White Man Group?) were entertaining people in the line up.

Ha ha, i liked these bird feet in the pavement - not an exhibit, but cute to see.

Audio Parade, Field Recording #4. Traditional marching band music was playing, but only a few people were marching along. It nicely illustrates the problem of creating an exhibit that requires audience participation.

-
The speakers were supposed to lit by streams of light from the stained glass windows, but it looks to me that the stained glass windows were lit from the outside, and no speakers were lit by anything.

</lj-cut>

Beautiful Light: 4 LETTER WORD MACHINE, at City Hall, showing 'codes, DNA sequences and elemental words'.

<lj-cut text="Nuit Blanche 2009 pics">

There were certainly lots of people there.

I didn't really get the point of the text - most of it seemed random (it held onto FATE for 15 minutes at least). I thought maybe it could actually type out sentences - or something!

Dead Philosopher's Limbo - dancers dance to words from a book which provides epitaphs for various philosophers...

This was about the lowest tech you could imagine - in fact, it's the 'anti-tech' interactive exhibit - but i thought it worked very well.

You get to sit down and chat with Dave, ha ha ha. Awesome. After i went to see Skry-Pod, some witchy installation thing, but again, another 30 minute wait. I stopped to get an 'organic beef' burger at a food booth. The meat looked really good, fresh on the grill, but it tasted funny and gave me awful indigestion. I should've waited.

Wasted Breath, in an alley - the garbage bags "inhale and exhale", symbolizing both the waste of lives in the financial district, and all the "hot air". I would've enjoyed this more if it weren't for the people around me repeatedly commenting "i thought the garbage strike was over', and "i guess they missed cleaning this after the garbage strike" - okay, we heard you the first five times.

redTV, filtering live signal from financial news channels, 'a meditation on the circulation of blood and information'. Huh! My question is, would the live signal from other channels look much different?

NO. You could barely see this. The artist's work "addresses the structure of power in art and society".

What? Seriously? It's just the word, how do you know what it addresses?

This is just a light decoration on a commercial building, and i liked it more.

Sounding Space. Visitors' movements trigger sound and musical samples - this was neat. Those strips were motion-sensitive, somehow.

The square was full of people, and it was very musical, cool.

Respire. A sound installation, which features a 'multi-channel array of radio receivers' (i.e. a bunch of cellphones, lol), which are both receiving and sending the ambient sounds - breathing, whispering, etc.

Annoyingly, there was an exhibit which appeared on the map to be across the street, but i couldn't find it - i wasn't the only one, and it wasn't the first one i was unable to find.

Shoot With This Film Mentorship Project (kinda self-explanatory). It was here where i finally found a full program guide, with street addresses and everything.

</lj-cut>

Wild Ride, a mini-amusement park, the rides reflecting the ups and downs of the financial markets, ha ha.

<lj-cut text="Nuit Blanche 2009 pics">

Although this is a bit ironic, as going down is the point, and the fun part, ha ha.

Vodka Pool - money is intoxicating? Alcohol is abused both when you're wealthy and when you're down on your luck? I guess.

Gone Indian, with a "rezzed up truck"...

... and a First Nations performance, "reclaiming the land".

A bit of a light show at the Allen Lambert Galleria (Brookfield Place).

It was the location for Witches' Cradle, which had a series of witches' cradles set up, once used for torturing witches, lately used for creating altered states through sensory deprivation.

10 Scents, not regular portable toilets, but a series set up with different materials and scents, and another line-up i avoided, lol.

</lj-cut>

Imminent Departure, a multimedia presentation of smoke, light and audio (we listen in to conversations of people saying good bye, hello, missing their trips, etc).

A lot of people were lying on the floor to watch and listen. I wonder what regular travellers thought.

People were making shadow puppets outside Union Station - i'm not sure if this was an installation, or the light was just part of the construction going on.

Bright Lights Big City. The lights of the CN Tower were synced with music of CIUT FM (the music was being broadcast into the street where University, York and Front meet).

Monopoly With Real Money, literally played with real money (though it was hard to see).

How To Win The Lottery, an all-night art performance (lectures, workshops, demos) geared towards generating winning lottery numbers, the irony being it's in a bank building, i suppose. You know, it doesn't matter what numbers you pick, it's totally random.

Then i did my now traditional stop at the Queen Mother Cafe, but that burger made me not at all hungry. I did sit, rest and have a Strongbow, though.

Then i went up McCaul Street. This was beside the Manifesto Gallery.

There was an artshow at the Manifesto Gallery, the closing show for 'Chapter 3'. I don't think it was an official Nuit Blanche event.

EGR (whom i know) had a piece in the auction - most of her pieces are of women (the piece i bought from her is).

The rest of McCaul had Moon-een On McCaul, pieces from OCAD.

</lj-cut>

<lj-cut text="Nuit Blanche 2009 pics">

This is at the AGO - i think it's just part of the upcoming Tut exhibit, lol.

Still part of OCAD, i think. I had to use the flash, cuz it didn't turn out. By this time it was almost 1:30, and i was dog-tired - over 6 hours walking. I'd hoped to go over to Liberty Village, and see a bunch there, but i couldn't make it.

</lj-cut>

It's a shame there's so much, and you can only see a small part of it. Maybe next year i'll get a hotel room, and take a nap - it's on all night. I should also research the exhibits more, try to get a sense of where to go.

Three ideas for exhibits, all using buildings as the 'screen': 1. shadow puppets being projected onto a building (maybe even hands?), 2. using a building as the screen for a giant video game (maybe several?), 3. interactive animation - years ago, a fellow teacher went to a dance club that had animation that was hooked up to music, something like the CN Tower synced music, but more visually interesting - set up mo-cap for that would be interesting too, like you could play Godzilla attacking a building.

Thursday, October 8th, 2009 12:00 am: Whip it good!

Sunday was a more relaxed day, just going to see a movie. The movie i saw was Whip It, starring Ellen Page as a misfit girl frustrated by her controlling mom and small town life, who develops a passion for roller derby. If you've seen the trailers, there's really no surprise, but it's still really enjoyable.

"I like smart girls. That's why I married your mama. Well, that and I knocked her up."

"Has anyone ever thrown up on the track before?"
"Yeah"

!

Friday, October 9th, 2009 10:14 pm: fat, snub-nosed loser

Monday night i went out to see a movie, Zombieland again. Held together even better than the first time around - except, i wondered what the girls were doing in the grocery store with all those zombies, ha ha.

I left school early on Tuesday, and saw The Invention of Lying, starring Ricky Gervais (also a writer, director) as a man who becomes the first person to lie in a world where everyone tells the truth. For example, dates start off with people bluntly being told they are not attractive enough. WIthout the ability to even conceive lies, there is no fiction, He's overheard telling his dying mother she's not going to disappear, but is going to a better, and inadvertently becomes the founder of religion. People will believe whatever he says: "Have sex with me, or the world will end!"

It doesn't really push the possibilities, but just plays it for a sweet romantic comedy. It has enough guests stars and gags to keep it fun.

Thursday morning was stupid - spent a lot of time trying to track down flyers for our programs, and send them off to Ottawa. For lunch, Chris, Matt, Edin and i met up with Torrie and Felicia for sushi (funnily, they had gotten there at 12, rather than 2:30).

Today i had lunch with Lisa at Licks. After, i went to see Whip It again.

Saturday, October 10th, 2009 12:14 am: Dragonette at The Mod Club

Thursday, after sushi and school, i went to see Dragonette at the Mod Club - i'd won a pair of tickets from Now magazine. I offered the second ticket to Shannon (friend and yoga instructor!). We had a nice chat on the drive down there (and on the way back). We met her friend Kat down there.

We missed most of the opening act (traffic was not good), but Dragonette was awesome.

Martina Sorbara has such stage presence - she is mesmerizing.

And she obviously loves being on stage.

Shannon and Kat.

I have video, but it's too big, and the audio is very crappy, although for some reason, the video generally produced better images than just on photo.

It was my first time at The Mod Club - so tiny compared to The Guvernment or Sound Academy, but it meant we were very close to the stage, so it's quite intimate.

A small version of I Get Around.

Saturday, October 10th, 2009 11:59 pm: AGO: Steichen, Calder, Photographs

Today i went to the AGO to see the newest exhibits.

First up was Edward Steichen: In High Fashion, the Condé Nast Years, 1923 –1937, an interesting look at one of the top photographers of the inter-war period, especially his fashion work. I especially liked the more stylistic work, with a very art deco feel. It works well with the Vanity Fair exhibit at the ROM, too.

Joan Bennett

Greta Garbo

Joan Crawford.

The next show was Alexander Calder: The Paris Years 1926–1933. Alexander Calder was an American sculptor who worked mainly in wire, and who essentially invented mobile sculpture after he moved to Paris and became inluenced by the abstract artists there.

He did a whole series of circus pieces, which were essentially toys, with moving parts, which he used to create among the earliest 'performance art', live and on film.

I like the more character-based works.

And these 'portraits' were great ! This is Jimmy Durante - too bad you can't see how '3D' it really is.

My favourites were the later, more abstract pieces. This show was about his early period (even had some drawings from when he was a kid) - he went on to create some massive, outdoor pieces.

Not actually part of the exhibit (it's from the Montreal Museum of Fine Art), but a more 'classic' piece.

The last show of the day was Beautiful Fictions: Photography at the AGO Featuring the David and Vivian Campbell Collection. While the Calder show spun off the same period as the Steichen show, this spun off the photography theme.It includes "works from the late 1960s to the present through the lens of some 60 Canadian and international photographers including Candida Höfer, Thomas Struth, Michael Snow, Suzy Lake, and Cindy Sherman. The installation also features three works by internationally acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Mark Lewis." It was quite a varied mix of pieces, well-worth seeing. I especially liked the super-sized photos.

Axel Hutte.

Candida Hofer - i found the subject matter less interesting than the fact they were enormous.

Cindy Sherman (she creates stills of herself as if they were from fake films).

Thomas Ruff - i really liked this (another person-sized one), this little photo doesn't do it justice.

A still from one of Mark Lewis's films - i like how they weren't really 'movies', per se, more like moving stills.

Another one by Mark Lewis - i liked this too, a split screen showing the same street at dawn and dusk (one side gets lighter while the other gets darker).

Sunday, October 11th, 2009 12:05 am: Coco Avant Chanel

After the AGO shows (and lunch at Spring Rolls) i went to see the movie Coco Avant Chanel, starring Audrey Tautou (Amelie), a biopic of the early life of the famous fashion designer (born Gabrielle Chanel). This connects to Steichen through fashion!

It starts off with the two girls being dropped off at an orphanage by their father at age 9 (rather than 12, and ignores the fact they spent summers with other relatives). They learn how to sew, and when older become both seamstresses (by day) and performers in cabarets at night. Coco hooks up with a playboy/horsebreeder, who becomes a sometimes lover/life-long friend. She later meets and has an affair with one of his friends, an Englishman nicknamed Boy. In the movie, it seemed like that relationship lasted months, but in real life, it was a decade! All along it shows Coco's penchant for simpler, almost masculine (by that era's standards) fashions.

It was pretty enjoyable, although it felt like it just stopped rather than ending properly. I don't know how accurate it is, as there's some basic info which was changed, like the fact she had 3 brothers, and 2 sisters (only one is shown, with a different name).

Monday, October 12th, 2009 09:30 pm: Ten Suggestions

Yesterday i went to see a movie early (saw Whip It again), before festivities began.

When i got back, it was off to my sister's for Thanksgiving dinner. The wine flowed, and there was food (turkey and all the traditional stuff). I ate too much (mainly the cheese, crackers, veggies and dip beforehand). My sister, her hubby, her two boys, my brother, his wife, two of their kids (one's in BC), my Dad and me were there. We played cards (euchre) after (me with my sister and her boys). We were there from 2 until about 8:30.

This morning i went into the city to see the Second Set of Dead Sea Scrolls at the ROM, including the Ten Commandments (which were in a different section, and i didn't have to pay for). Really, there's not a lot to see - most of the scrolls are fragments and very dark, and it's not like i can read Hebrew (or Aramaic or Greek). Still, it's interesting to get all the context, and to say i saw them, ha ha. I didn't realize different groups number them differently.

Many of the scrolls were in large jars like this.

The Ten Commandments (from Deuteronomy) from the scroll, the oldest known list of all (by far).

I was able to park really close to the ROM. As i was about to buy my parking, someone from Parking Enforcement drove up and told me i didn't have to, because it was a holiday. ACE!

After, i went to Yonge & Dundas for a short bit, decided i didn't really need to shop, bought a hot dog and left. I saw another movie (i'm addicted!). I came home for a bit, and then my Dad and i went to my sister's for leftovers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Interestingly, in Hebrew, it's not 'Commandments', but 'Words' (in Greek, the 'Decalogue'), or 'Terms', and this could be seen less as universal laws, and more a coveneant between the Jews and their God. These are based on the New Revised Standard Version, from Deuteronomy.

1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;
you shall have no other gods before me.
Nothing here says JHWH is the only God, or the Supreme God - in fact, it rather implies there are others, and this is just between this God, JHWH, and the Jews.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
The older term is graven image, and the implication was aganst making any kind of image (much like Islam does).
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me,
Not only is there the reference to being a jealous god (jealous of other gods - and it's a pretty petty emotion), but this is the only commandment that mentions punishment. Not sure why great and great-great-grandkids get punished.
but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
This is also the only reward, but it conflicts with the punishment above.
3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
How about defining 'wrongful use' (or 'in vain')?
4. Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
For six days you shall labour and do all your work.
But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you.
The reference to slavery is unfortunate - apparently it's acceptable.
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.
Well, acceptable for some people and not others.
5. Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
This is less being rewarded by God, and more a practical guide - that is, you take care of your parents, and in turn, your kids will take care of you.
6. You shall not murder.
Apparently, the original Hebrew denotes murder, rather than any kind of killing. Aside from the fact death is an acceptable penaty for all kinds of biblical transgressions, there are tons of killings sanctioned by God*.
7. Neither shall you commit adultery.
Well, this means sex outside marriage, but definitely not one-man/one-woman. There are plenty of instances of men with mulitple wives. Also, there's an out if you rape her, and then marry her**.
8. Neither shall you steal.
Apparently this would be better translated as 'abduct' (which makes sense, as coveting covers ordinary stealing). However, there's an out when you rape, pillage and steal during war.
9. Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor.
But you can lie about yourself (see Abraham pretending to be his wife's brother, to save his ass).
10. Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Obviously this is addressed to men, and not women, since it doesn't refer to woman coveting neighbour's husbands. Also, woves are put in the same category as other property.

*Deuteronomy 2:24-35, where God commands the Hebrews to enter the lands of Amorites, asking for passage through their land, but specifically makes sure Sihon, the King of the Amorites, will refuse, so that they will battle, and the Hebrews kill every man, woman and child ("And the LORD our God delivered him up before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every city, the men, and the women, and the little ones; we left none remaining").

**Deuteronomy 22:28-29, "If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, that is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he hath humbled her; he may not put her away all his days."

***Deuteronomy 20:10-14, "As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you."

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 09:29 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Thursday 'Shorts Competition #2'

I forgot what i did last week between Monday and Thursday - other than go to school, that is.

On Thursday, after class, i drove to Ottawa to be ready for the Ottawa International Animation Festival the next day - the first time Durham College is there as a school. I got there about 6, met up with Peter (Peter Hudecki, one of our teachers, look him up on Wikipedia), and we got our badges, i got settled into the hotel and such. Peter met up with someone for an interview, so i decided to see a screening, the Shorts Competition #2.

Roadrunner (USA - High School) "In this fast-paced stop motion animation, a bored young suburbanite dreams of skating through the streets, using only her shoes."

Pretty good for a high school kid!

<lj-cut text="Shorts Competition #2">

Comcast 'Anthem 60' (UK & USA - Promotional) "With a memorable folk ditty spelling out the surprisingly catchy refrain, 'C.O.M.C.A.S.T,' and encouraging the mantra of 'Dream Big,' this is a technicolour world where anything goes."

Madagascar, A Journey Diary (France - TV for Adults) "The story is told in a journey diary, re-drawing the trip of a European traveller confronted with various Malagasy customs."

Beautifully done, looking like sketches and water colours.

Milk Dots Compilation 'Eyes'

8.
Milk Dots Compilation 'Bones'

Milk Dots Compilation 'Teeth'

(Canada - Promotional) "Milk Dots is an ad campaign that extolls the benefits of drinking milk by presenting its virtues in a series of irreverent and sometimes insane spots. Each spot was developed using a different animation technique and visual style."

I didn't know it had themes, lol.

The Astronomer's Dream (Canada - Narrative) "When a hungry astronomer falls asleep while working on a problem, he discovers a solution not in outer space, but in the surreal food-chain of his subconscious mind."

Just bizarre!

Pellet Gunn (USA - Undergraduate)" A dog, a cyclops, and others kill some time with the help of wormholes and hobbyist self-modification."

Gruesomely funny!

Nullsleep 'Dirty ROM Dance Mix' (USA - Music Video) "A crew of party people toss a rave on the moon, and then bend space-time".

Hot Seat (USA - TV for Adults) "A tale of life in the office told comically through an animated world of rabbits and their carrots. This independently produced film short deals with the day-to-day perplexities that many people face at work, the value of taking responsibility and finding solutions for the little things that affect others to create a better working environment."

Very funny! All about a broken chair being switched in cubicles.

Twist of Fate (USA - Experimental) "This 35mm experimental animated film expresses the transformative experience of being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The film explores this emotional and physical landscape, and visualizes an internal world inside the body, imagined on a cellular level."

Wow, i had no idea it was about a life-threatening illness, i just thought it was beautiful to look at, lol.

Lies (Sweden - Narrative) "Three perfectly true stories about lying. In three episodes based on documentary interviews, we meet the burglar who, when found out, claims to be a moonlighting accountant, the boy who finds himself lying and confessing to a crime he didn't commit, and the woman whose whole life has been a chain of lies."

The Universe Cotton (China - Graduation) "The story is a narration of a pseudoscience on cotton plantation. The protagonist waters the cotton with music and love, resulting in such a great harvest that the sky is the only way for the cotton to go. Landing from the sky, the cotton turns from clouds into candies in a child's hand"

Danko Jones 'King of Magazines' (Canada - Music Video) "Mimi Wobbly and her friends have some explosive, jiggly fun at a Chinese restaurant."

Bizarrely funny.

Yellow Belly End (UK - Graduation) "An enormous cliff top, blue sky, multiple deaths, and a man keeping a meticulous note of it all."

More oddly wry than laugh out loud funny.

After, i went back to the hotel, and happened upon Peter trying to phone me, and Trish. We went over to the Arts Court for the Salon Des Refusés, which was a screening of shorts rejected for the competitions - for good reason, as it turned out, lol.

The three of us met up with John and Emma, who arrived late, at my hotel room.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 09:36 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Friday School Fair

Friday John, Emma and i went over to the National Gallery to set up for the Animation School Fair. We were one of the schools with an Information Table set up, and Peter was doing the School Presentation (Durham was at 2:30).

It was on and off busy, as students flowed in and out of the Presentations.

<lj-cut text="Friday School Fair">

I'm surprised how steady my hand is for this.

There's Herzing College (Ottawa) - i missed getting a good shot of their booth. One of the guys came over and was very complimentary towards our reel.

The joint Carleton-Algonquin Media program was a hit among high school kids for the free tees.

I took a break for a bit to go get lunch, and after came back to see the Algonquin Presentation. It was a little dry and technical.

What did you think Peter?

I went back out to cover the tables when they began showing their reel while the others went to eat. Concordia (Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema) was here last year too.

Algonquin, sorely needing a bigger logo, but chock full of art.

VFS, usually so busy (but the presentations were on again). So popular, despite the cost.

Sheridan.

Carleton and Algonquin's Bachelor of Information Technology program had their own table.

I'd planned to see Peter's Presentation, but they started it early, once the last one ended, so i just caught the finish of it. I estimated there were 250-300 students here.

More the actual colour/lighting of the room.

Around 3 the organizers came around to close us down, which was two hours earlier than i'd expected, ha ha. Actually, it worked out well, because the students were leaving or going to a screening, and we could take the booth over to Saturday's venue right away.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 09:40 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Friday 'Making Of Coraline'

After lugging the stuff over, i went across the river to the Museum of Civilization, meeting up with Trish, who was able to sneak in on her volunteer pass to see The Making of Coraline.

It was actually a talk, like Inside the Actors Studio, with director Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Coraline - which he also wrote). He talked about his background, the challenges of stop motion (especially in stereoscopic 3D), and Coraline in particular. A great event!

When we sat down in the theatre, you could see they had some dolls set up.

<lj-cut text="The Making of Coraline">

Actual dolls from the movie - you can see the lines (beside her eyes) where you can change Coraline's expression. She doesn't like getting her photo taken.

He has very animated hands, and a bit of a twitch.

Here he is, changing Coraline's face.

And now Other Father.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 09:29 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Friday 'Shorts Competition #3'

After The Making of Coraline, Trish and i had just enough time to make it to the Bytowne Theatre (back in Ottawa) to see Shorts Competition #3.

All The Time (Canada - High School) "The animation follows a character whose actions reflect the words of the song All The Time. It is drawn on tracing paper and layered in documentation to produce a fade effect. The only computer work was the cropping of frame length, syncing together of frames, and dropping the music in over the animation."

Another pretty good for a high school kid.

<lj-cut text="Shorts Competition #3">

U2 'I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight' (UK & Ireland - Music Video) "Several characters decide to give up on their routines and make a change in their lives."

The video reminds of U2 - kinda over precious, but okay if you're in the mood.

The Baader Meinhof Kit (Germany - Narrative) "The German terrorist group Red Army Fraction came to movie theaters in 2008 in the action-filled Baader Meinhof Komplex."

Perhaps funnier in Germany - how many people here remember the Baader-Meinhof terrorists?

Mak the Horny Mac Daddy (USA - Undergraduate) "Mak is a horny guy and nothing will get in the way of his goals."

Funny!

Cottonballs (Australia - Music Video) "If you can dance with cottonballs, you can do anything."

Nice!

History of the Meat Packing District (USA - TV for Adults) "A cartoon history of the Meat Packing District of NYC, part of an ongoing commission from the New York Times."

The Black Dog's Progress (UK - Narrative) "A series of flipbooks tell the sad story of the Black Dog. The Black Dog, unwanted by his owner, is thrown out into an unwelcoming neighbourhood. On his journey, he's corrupted by acts of violence and grows determined to live happily ever after back home. The scene grows denser as looped scenes accumulate and the narrative develops."

Shot in the Dark (USA - Undergraduate) "A lonely artist travels the city, not knowing what his purpose is. It takes a coffee lady to show him what his work is all about."

I don't remember it, lol, though i remember seeing it.

The Bellows March (USA - Experimental) "Anthropomorphized concertinas play out a Sisyphean cycle of destroy-create-destroy. It bridges digital and physical processes in animation by creating, spinning, and shooting 18 hand-painted 3D printed sculptures (dubbed 'cinetropes') to make the film."

Wait, maybe this is the one i liked that was all about movement, not that disease one, lol.

Please Say Something (Ireland & Germany - Narrative) "A troubled relationship between a Cat and Mouse, set in the distant future."

Good, but kinda long.

Must Drink More Milk (USA - Promotional) "A collection of short shorts, told through unconventional methods, in which we learn why we must drink more milk."

The American equivalent of the Milk Dots ads.

Pears or Aliens (China - Graduation) "The story is about a grotesque battle for the safety of the Earth. The city where the protagonist lives is attacked by unknown intellectual creatures from outer space, particularly in the disguise of pears, who also turned his grannies into pear-shaped creatures. The protagonist strives for peace by bringing love to the people."

His second piece in the Festival.

Myth Labs (Netherlands - Experimental) "Myth Labs interweaves Puritan visions, folk art, religious allegories and victims of the current methamphetamine epidemic. It is a film about fear, paranoia, faith, and loss of faith and salvation."

I don't remember this either, lol.

OXFAM 'Face the Music' (UK - Promotional) "A graphic, musical take on climate change and its unequal impacts on humanity."

Miles Kurosky 'Dog in a Burning Building' (USA - Music Video) "An animated music video for Miles Kurosky's song, Dog in a Burning Building."

The Terrible Thing of Alpha-9! (USA - Undergraduate) "A space bounty-hunter travels to a lonely planet to kill a terrible monster."

Very good! Funny and dark.

Peripetics (UK - Experimental) "A piece in six acts that each entail an imagination of disoriented systems that take a catastrophic turn, including the evolution of educational plant-body-machine models and liquid building materials."

Son of Dino-Orange (Canada - Narrative) "Two Good Guys and The Skipper return from 2007's DINO-ORANGE (How Birds Fly). This time adventure beckons on a mysterious island, but is there love in the air? Apologies to the original King Kong."

Wait, didn't i kinda dislike Dino-Orange?

Gemeinschaft (Turkey - Undergraduate) "The transformation of causeless habits into taboos."

Based on a story by Kafka? Not gonna end well, lol.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 10:46 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Saturday Animarket

Saturday morning, John, Emma and i went to set ourselves up at our booth in the Animarket, and it was CRAZY BUSY! I was shocked! Miah and i had been to the Saturday School Fair last year, and it was nowhere near as busy. This time it was at the same place as the Aniboutique (books, DVDs, tees, etc) and ChezAni (coffee, snacks, other refreshments), but especially the 'Animators For Hire' - studios with tables set to interview potential hires.

Some girls checking out Durham's booth.

<lj-cut text="Saturday Animarket">

People checking out DHX Media from Halifax (wonder if that's where Adrian is working?).

John talking to a potential student?

Carleton & Algonquin's Bachelor of Information Technology.

Rainmaker from Halifax, and Disney.

Vancouver Film School.

Sheridan.

Concordia's Film School.

Rainmaker interviewing.

Pop6 from Montreal interviewing.

John again.

Who is that being interviewed by DHX? Someone who wants a job, i think.

Nelvana.

Crazy crowds.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 11:06 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Saturday 'Mai Mai Miracle'

John, Emma and Miah had the booth covered for the afternoon, so i was able to catch a couple of screenings (lemme tell ya, having a festival pass was awesome).

The first screening of the day was a feature, Mai Mai Miracle, a Japanese animation in the style of Miyazaki - actually, the director used to be part of Miyazaki's team. "In the spring of 1955 in a small village in southwestern Japan, a nine-year-old girl discovers she has a family connection with a a thousand-year-old province of legend, known as Su?. Joined by a new student who has recently transferred from the city to her school, they embark on a magical experience."

A very sweet movie, although it gets a little serious in places. The best parts are when the kids are acting like kids. The getting-drunk-on-whisky-chocolates scene was funny.

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 11:17 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Saturday 'Shorts Competition #4'

I dropped by the Animarket to make sure things were okay, which they were, and went on to another screening, this time Shorts Competition #4.

Did U See That? (Korea - High School) 'One silent night, a man wakes up and finds himself surrounded by water. Furniture and appliances float around his room while he remains at a loss... He wakes up the next day thinking it's a dream, but sees something strange...'

Funny.

<lj-cut text="Shorts Competition #4">

Dialogue (Canada - Experimental) 'Working directly onto the surface of 16mm and 35mm film using letterpress, the typographic forms are also printed onto the optical soundtrack. As the printed type is translated into sound, the results vary from harmonious to discordant. They represent a bridging of two ages, a communication between the printing press and the digital era.'

Meh!

Inukshuk (France - Narrative) 'On the last polar day, on the singing ice, little man Inuk and the playful bear see their white universe transformed into the black ocean of a wide-eyed whale.'

Very funny!

Kaki King 'Air and Kilometers' (Australia - Music Video) 'The official music video clip for Kaki King's 'Air and Kilometers' - animated and produced by Ingrid K. Brooker - journeys through an eclectic, immersive, stop-motion world of maps, pin wheels, and inky clouds to complement the perpetual motion of Kaki’s music.'

Lebensader (Germany - Graduation) 'A little girl finds the whole world in a leaf.'

Bowery (USA - TV for Adults) 'A cartoon history of the Bowery in lower Manhattan, part of an ongoing commission from the New York Times.'

I saw three of these.

Dahlia (USA - Experimental) 'A moving portrait of the bustle and permanence of a city, Dahlia juxtaposes the stable forms and patterns of life with the frenetic behavior of humanity, set to a driving score of vocal percussion.'

Magic Cube and Ping-Pong (China - Graduation) 'The story takes place in the city of Magic Cube, where people’s heads are made of magic cubes. In a Ping Pong tournament, the ping pong ball accidentally falls out the window, and the protagonist starts on a journey to find the ball. Eventually, he meets the most beautiful magic cube girl. The magic cube is a metaphor of human relationships within the society, while the animation emphasizes the importance of love in a society that assimilates individuals.'

He also had three (at least).

Nick Idents (Germany - Promotional) 'We wanted to create a spot that incorporated the Nickelodeon corporate identity without feeling forced. We also wanted something with an analog look that relates to the every day life of the kids. With that in mind, the idea to put realistic orange objects in the focus of each spot was born.'

Pretty good.

Laïka (Canada - Promotional) 'Laïka was a Russian female dog, picked to be the first Earthling ever sent to space. What history often forgets is that the poor bitch died in the process. Need a more cheerful story? In April 2009, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of a true Montrealer bar, named after the adventurous - and mourned - dog.'

The Drawer and The Crow (Canada - Narrative) 'A young woman imposes on a young man trying to forget another girl...'

Oh, was that what was happening.

N.A.S.A. 'A Volta' (USA - Music Video) 'Another day, another drug deal gone wrong in this NC-17 bit of ultra violence set in 8-bit isometric metropolis.'

Darfur Drawings (Canada - Promotional) 'Children's drawings from Darfur tell the awful story of a child's death at the hands of the Janjaweed.'

Chick (Poland - Graduation) 'Chick is a humorous true-life story about male-female relations. Infatuation and its consequences are depicted in a ironic way: meeting a guy, dancing, having fun, a sexual act.'

Very good, but true-to-life? Oh, those sexist Poles....

The Soliloquist (Taiwan - Graduation) 'During some lonesome days, a heart-broken man receives letters and packages with the wrong addressee. Unable to return the letters, he starts to read them. As he reads more and more of the letters, he falls into a fictitious love with an imaginary character.'

BBC 'Journey to the East' (UK - Promotional) 'This is a spot for the BBC's coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games that is based on the traditional Chinese folklore 'Journey to the West'.'

Inherent Obligations (Estonia - Narrative) 'This film should be the artistic approach to our nearest future. We can see the media playing a continuously greater role in the arrangement of social life. How can we get more precise results in surveys? How can the largest companies fulfil the needs of vast numbers of consumers by changing themselves? '

Bleagh.

WWF 'Because We Are All Connected' (UK - Promotional) 'An illlustration of the absolute reliance and connectedness of our world’s ecosystem with a wheel of life, inspired by animation from classic children’s TV programs of years gone by.'

Is it me, or were the Shorts collections getting worse? Too many pretentious ones.

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 11:35 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Saturday 'The Making of Pixar's UP'

I hurried back from the screening to help with the packing up, and wanted to get a copy of My Name Is Dug, illustrated by Ronnie Del Carmen, who was doing a book signing. I hadn't figured on his being so well known.

<lj-cut text="The Making Of Pixar's UP">

Nina from Paper Biscuit.

I knew him first through the handful of comics he's done, Paper Biscuit (which i have signed, because i ordered them directly from him), and Fragments, an art book. Also, i didn't count on the book being sold out (for a book signing? seriously?). Anyway, i rushed over to Chapters, and found a copy, but by the time i got back, the signing was almost over, and the line-up crazy long.

Fragments, by Ronnie del Carmen and Enrico Casarosa.

And, as it was, he had to rush across to the Museum of Civilization to... stand in line... to see The Making Of Pixar's UP. Nicely, the sponsorship assistant had given John, Emma and Miah passes, plus we still had Peter's.

The talk was by... Ronnie Del Carmen, who was the story(board) supervisor on Up.

What's it all about?

We got to see boards and other preproduction.

'Trust the process'? Why? Because people who've been doing it a long time have developed the process because it works.

Where does it begin?

Wow, Pixar even sent them to Venezuela.

Two co-workers.

Why we critique and brainstorm.

</lj-cut>

He was an awesome speaker - used up the whole time, so no questions.

We also got a preview of the new short for the Up DVD, Dug's Special Mission. Amazing!

After, it was late, but we all went out for dinner. We'd planned to go the big Festival party Saturday night, but the line-up was nuts, and some people were feeling tired.

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 11:47 pm: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Sunday 'Animarket'

Sunday was somewhat slower for prospective students, but it was packed for interviews, especially with Disney.

<lj-cut text="Sunday Animarket">

Who's that being interviewed? Someone who wants a job.

"You'd better send me copies of those." I like Dawn. Trish is looking for whomever Dawn was talking to.

Saturday, October 24th, 2009 08:55 am: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Sunday 'International Showcase #2'

After packing up our booth, i decided at the last minute to see a couple more shows before hitting the road. I met Miah, and we went to see International Showcase #2. The showcase pieces aren't in competition, but are generally more professional (one was Pixar's) and better on average (which isn't to say there aren't a lot of good ones in the Competitions).

Juiced and Jazzed (USA) 'Wild jazz music and dance overcome a young flapper named Lulu in prohibition era 1920's after she stumbles upon a flask. Her night on the town is cut short when the long arm of the law intervenes. The swinging jazz of Joe Venuti and the wild music of Spike Jones accompany the visuals, inspired by early 20th century animation.'

Fast-paced and fun!

<lj-cut text="International Showcase #2">

Partly Cloudy (USA) 'Everyone knows that the stork delivers babies, but where to the storks get the babies from? The answer lies up in the stratosphere, where cloud people sculpt babies from clouds and bring them to life.'

Awesome.

Become Firm (Ukraine) 'This is what can happen to a man who fails to be what he actually is.'

I liked the idea of the character being molded by other characters - fun to watch, and i get the metaphor. Kinda slow.

French Roast (France) 'In a fancy Parisian Café, an uptight businessman is about to pay the bill when he finds out that he's lost his wallet. To stall, he decides to order more coffee...'

Brilliant!

The Machine (USA) 'The Machine is an animated fable that follows an innocently forged creation as he becomes more and more determined to consume everything in his path.'

Okay, except it's an idea that's been done to death.

Utopia City (France) 'The city is seen a 'utopia,' par excellence. But what is a city? In this piece, filmed entirely with live images, a series of questions and remarks build the portrait of the ideal city.'

Didn't like this one - an animator uses pieces of tape over top of live footage, while a voiceover rants about cities.

Consoul (Norway) 'A man's life told in 8-bit video game graphics.'

Funny, good, but too long - and it should've syopped at play again, or sped through each life.

Wings and Oars (Latvia) 'A former pilot looks back over his life - The Earth, the Sky, the Woman - everything that took place on the journey from an air strip to an abandoned boat house.'

Looks nice, but meandered around, i didn't get the point.

L'homme à la Gordini (France) 'At the end of the 70’s, in an imaginary suburb, the custom is to wear neither underwear nor trousers, only orange tops. With the help of a masked rebel driving a blue R8 Gordini, Mister R and his wife plot a radical clothing revolution and the assault of monochromic orange totalitarianism.'

Good one - a bit long, but i liked the style - the grotesqueness of the characters was funny in itself, and a good little story.

Crocodile (Estonia) 'The story of a former opera star who must work in a crocodile costume entertaining children. This kind of life is joyless, and he vents his frustration by behaving rudely. Until one day, a fateful woman enters his life... and...a crocodile.'

Started out okay, funny, but eventually lost the plot - just didn't resolve the story well.

Saturday, October 24th, 2009 08:55 am: Ottawa International Animation Festival - Sunday 'Shorts Competition #5'

We barely had enough time to make it from the Gallery to the Bytowne to see the final screening of the Festival (for us). Plus, i had to grab a hot dog on the way, as i was starving.

A Recipe For Disaster (Canada - High School) 'The story of a French baker who encounters numerous troubles as he gets ready for work, in stop-motion animation.'

Cute, and again, pretty good for a high schooler.

Runaway (Canada - Narrative) 'What would happen if the world were a driverless train thundering recklessly over bumpy tracks? From the Oscar-nominated director of The Cat Came Back and Strange Invaders.'

Funny!

<lj-cut text="Shorts Competition #5">

Man Up (UK - Graduation) 'Up, left, right, round and round, but not down.'

Pretty good, about a man who prefers to live up on his crane.

Kitchen Dimensions (Estonia - Narrative) 'Three orchestrated journeys to the unseen dimensions of an ordinary kitchen.'

I don't understand the purpose of animations that are more or less just hallucinatory trips - what is the point? At 18 minutes, 3 trips was killing the audience, which groaned in relief as it finished (and somehow, this won an honorable mention). I started falling asleep, and made a trip to get popcorn and a drink and it still wasn't over.

Audi 'Unboxed' (UK - Promotional) 'The film opens on a large cardboard box in the middle of an empty room. An animated character, who is drawn onto the surface of the box, is engaged in the painstaking construction of a mysterious object. It is revealed to be a perfectly crafted cardboard Audi Q5 car, whichs transforms into the gleaming real car.'

The commercial ones tend to be nice and short - maybe because they have the most money.

Postalolio (Canada & USA - Experimental) 'Animated in traditional 2D pencil animation, traced onto blank, watercolour postcards, painted and mailed, every frame of Postalolio traveled through the international post. The animated journey of the main character is surrounded by postage stamps, cancellations, and handling marks.'

Interesting idea that went on too long, and was something of a cheat, as it kept repeating sequences, which maybe makes sense in a regular production, but when the stamps and cancellations become part of it, it doesn't. Also, travelling should've been part of the story somehow.

United Airlines 'Butterfly' (USA - Promotional) 'Butterfly is directed by Aleksandra Korejwo, who uniquely animates using coloured salts that are manipulated with the use of a condor feather, and then shoots directly under a camera. The spot advertises for United Airlines.'

Unnatural History of Wallstreet (USA - TV for Adults) 'A cartoon history of Wallstreet, NY, part of an ongoing commission from the New York Times. The series is called Concrete Jumble, and each short animation explores a different New York City neighbourhood.'

The third of this series (that i saw, anyway) - yeah, it is something of a jumble of images.

Vive la Rose (Canada - Narrative) 'The tale of a tragic love story set in Newfoundland based on a song by local musician Émile Benoit, is anchored in a beautiful, remote corner of the province, and pays homage to its land, sea, and the harsh lives of the local fishermen.'

It was a French-language song, so it worked better when it had lyrics written out.

Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death (UK - Narrative) 'Wallace and Gromit have opened a new bakery and business is booming, not least because a deadly Cereal Killer has murdered all the other bakers in town.'

Great, as always. Perfect way to end the festival.

Then it was back on the road for 5 hours back home.

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 11:28 am: Sickness

Okay, it's been a while since i posted. Aside from the time it took me to write up all the Ottawa stuff, i've been sidelined with illness. I brought something back from Ottawa, something flu-like. It was worst on last Monday, the 19th, with dripping nose, sinus pain, painfully sore through, phlegm, all the good stuff. So much so, i called in sick to work for the first time in maybe 3 years on the Tuesday, though as it turned out i felt a little better (maybe because i didn't go out?). I was productive though, as i'd brought work home. I've been slowly recovering since, although my symptoms can vary through the day. My throat is okay, and i don't have much of a runny nose, but i still cough phlegm sometimes (sorry). I regret missing last week's yoga.

I wonder if i should get a flu shot? I'm still recovering, and maybe i already have antibodies anyway? What;'s more annoying than the H1N1 hysteria, aside from the fact it's not just H1N1 (which is the most common flu virus), but H1N1-09, is the anti-immunization myths.

Speaking of sorry, last Sunday i had an issue where it looked like i had internal bleeding again, like from my ulcer in 2006. I don't know what caused it, as i haven't been using aspirin, though i guess i'd taken a fair amount of acetaminophen, and pseudephedrine. My friend Lisa gave me an herbal supplement, mainly fenugreek. Its possible side effect is bloating and so on, and those were symptoms. So, i don't know. I went to the hospital ER, bringing reading material with me, though it wasn't too slow. They didn't find anything wrong, and my hemoglobin was actually a little high (opposite of what i'd expect). Anyway, i quit all medication, except my ongoing antacid - he actually gave me a different, more powerful prescription (since stomach acid helps to cause ulcers). The symptoms disappeared. Who knows?

I've still seen a handful of movies here and there, some more than once (like, this Tuesday, when i took my car in for servicing), anmd saw a show - more on those later.

Also, the Wednesday before Ottawa, i had gone to the first evening life drawing class, but my neck/shoulder started hurting and i had to quite after about an hour. The pain got worse over a couple of days, though it's faded since. Annoyingly, i'd just had massage therapy that morning. I skipped it next week and this week too. This Wednesday was my first massage session since, and i told her, so she did stuff to calm it down, and it's feeling okay. I'm going to check for a proper easel, instead of a drawing donkey - that should help.

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 11:31 am: Socialness and Halloween

Last Saturday, i went to Lisa & Russ's for dinner, first time in a month or so. I felt crappy after dinner, partly because i ate too much, partly, i don't think some of it agreed with me - not really big on parsnips or cauliflower, and the chicken was kind odd.

On this Friday, i dropped by Russ's place, because i needed a shirt ironed for my Halloween costume, and i couldn't find ours. I'd actually expected Lisa to be there, but it turned out Russ took tyhe day off because Lisa had to catch up on work, and the girls were home, still recovering themselves.

Speaking of Halloween, i went out as a droog again, this time with a better hat, and suspenders. Oh and better eye make-up, but still not as good as i could do with, say, a marker. The first party was at Matt's condo in Toronto. Chris and Rebecca, Miah, Dawn and Matt Jelavic were there, plus a bunch of Matt and Stephanie's other friends. I was feeling tired, and was leaving around 12:30 when some cute girls arrived. Uhh, yes, the self-described 'half-assed vampire' - you could have made me stay, though i decided it would be an effort in futility and left anyway.

Yesterday, i just ran errands during the day, including the suspenders, better yoga equipment, and so on. Polished my shoes, finally. Found the iron to give the shirt another go, lol. Oh, and i went to Dar's old house, and picked up a couple of old boxes from our TSB/Puppets days. Some videos that need posting, lol.

In the evening, i picked up Felicia, Torrie and her boyfriend Adam, and we drove to Toronto for a party at Andrew P's/Diego's/Mo's place (though Mo was not there). Quite a few people were there - Andrew & his girlfriend Gina, Diego, Ryan & Diane, Molly & Justin M, Natasha & Justin G, Mike R and his girlfriend (Ellery?), Jackie, who brought a friend (and eventually the friend brought her boyfriend), aside from Felicia, Torrie, Adam and me. That's 12 of my students. Plus there were a handful of other people's friends/relatives. As a DD, i kept my drinking to a minimum - a couple of Magners, and a handful of jello shots., although some barely knew each other (Torrie was in third year while Molly was in first). Drama was kept to a minimum, ha ha, though there was a lot of crude behaviour, ha ha (Torrie used someone's sword as a substitute penis all night, lol). Also some took advantage of my not being their teacher anymore, ha ha. Got a lot of hugs and such. the four of us left around... i dunno, there was a time change in there. We made it to Whitby and went to a Chinese restaurant (my General Tao chicken and fried rice were not that good). After we parted, i had to stop for gas, and then it was just past 3 EDT, so 2 EST, but when i got home, i went online for a bit.

Woke up at 9/8 this morning, not feeling too bad, just tired, as usual. Cut my hair.

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 01:13 pm: "...I really wanted to show you something."

One of the movies i've seen (a couple of times, actually) is Where The Wild Things Are. It's dark, unbelievably dark if you're thinking of taking children to see it. I liked it, it's great as an adult fable, about a kid in a newly broken family who uses his fantasies (we can assume) to learn to deal with his emotions. It's interesting, because i didn't find Max all that likeable at the beginning. It's also interesting that Maurice Sendak was involved in the movie's production.

I was kind of appalled at the scene in class, where the teacher tells the small children that the sun will die, destroy the earth, though humanity will probably have destroyed itself by then. What the hell are you thinking?

"Let the the wild rumpus begin!"

The Wild Things - Alexander, Carol, Judith, Ira, Max, Bull.

"It's going to be a place where only the things you want to happen, would happen."

Douglas, Max and KW.

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 01:16 pm: "Mighty Atom!"

I also saw Astro Boy, the CGI movie based on the old manga/anime. Overall, it was enjoyable, although not one of the greatest - i liked it more than Shrek, but less than Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. Kids apparently love it.

It tries to remain faithful to the original story, but it felt a little by-the-numbers, and also a little not full thought out. There are issues they don't explain, like, is anyone running the surface world? If Metro City jumps dumps its garbage onto the surface, where do they get their resources (to build robots, or just food?). How did Cora get separated from her parents, and down to the surface. The very last scene is set up something similar to the last scene of The Incredibles, but they should have done it the same way, with a break - otherwise it's a weird transition (does this happen all the time, and we just didn't know about it?). Also - if all robots are sentient, doesn't that mean Astro killed some of them?

I didn't really like the adult character voice actors - Donald Sutherland's voice was too soft and muffled to be the militaristic President, and when i heard Dr Tenma, all i could see Nicholas Cage (who is not the right voice for a brilliant and aloof scientist). Nathan Lane was fun as Hamegg, although the character looked much different than the original, he was closer in personality.

Drs. Elefun and Tenma.

Astro Boy.

The Robot Revolutionary Front - the oddly Marxist, English-accented comedy relief.

Nicely designed trashcan-dog hybrid.

Cora, the character not from the books or anime.

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 01:53 pm: "An edification"

Last weekend i saw An Education, a very different movie, about an about-to-turn-17-year old girl in early 1960s Britain. Both she and the country are about to engage in a social revolution, but at the moment, her prospects are a little limited. She's very smart, and her father pushes her education, but to what end? When she meets a young man who not only charms her but her parents (naively in both cases), her life takes a dramatic turn, dropping out of school, travelling to London, paris, eating in fancy restaurants, going to galleries, all the things she's dreamed of. Something that wasn't mentioned but i found a bit odd was the obvious age difference. Sure, he was supposed to be older than the high school boys she had been seeing, but he had to be at least a decade older than her (the actor is actually 38).

Her 'education' is more about life than school. It was a funny movie, in a witty, and an interesting look at a period and place. The actor who played Jenny was great.

Someone is repressed...

"Do you go to concerts?"
"We don't believe in concerts."
"Oh, I assure you, they're real."

"You seem to be old and wise."
"I feel old. But not very wise."

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 01:16 pm: "Metric at Massey Hall, with the Stills"

On October 20, 2009, i went to see Metric play at Massey Hall. I was annoyingly sick when i went, but i was determined. It's taken me a while to edit the pics, as i had to go through the Ottawa Animation Festival pics first, then my laptop croaked.

Uhhh... nice view, thanks Massey Hall. Thankfully, the seat on either side of me was empty (ha ha, i hope the scalpers got screwed when Metric added the second show... or maybe someone was sick). Also, a lot of people went up to the front to dance. Massey Hall is an odd venue for a rock concert.

<lj-cut text="Metric pics">

The opening act was The Stills, who were pretty good. There were a lot of familiar songs, but i could only have named Still In Love, which i don't think they played - i will have to look into them more.

</lj-cut>

Then on came Metric. Amazing, as always!

<lj-cut text="Metric pics">

</lj-cut>

THE SETLIST:
1. Twilight Galaxy
2. Help I’m Alive
3. Satellite Mind
4. Handshakes
5. Poster of a Girl
6. Gold, Guns, Girls
7. Collect Call
8. Empty
9. Gimme Sympathy
10. Sick Muse
11. Dead Disco
12. Blindness
13. Stadium Love
ENCORE:
14. Monster Hospital
15. Combat Baby (Acoustic)

[PRIVATE]

[/PRIVATE]

<lj-cut text="Metric pics">

The band saying good night.

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 08:42 pm: Life Drawing

2009 October 14.

From the first life drawing class this term. I was having a terrible time, my neck/shoulder was really hurting - first time i'd had that from life drawing (and i'd had massage therapy that morning). I left after only an hour, and my neck got worse the next few days. Ugh. Anyway, not much turned out from that night, but i like the energy in this one.

He didn't have glasses, that's just a line for the eyes.

2009 November 4.

I waited until after my next therapy session to start again. I also stood the drawing donkey on its end, and stood while drawing. It was a much better session. These ones i liked were all 15-30 minutes pieces.

<lj-cut text="Life drawings">

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 09:02 pm: Fall photos

Last week, on the way to Dar's, i stopped along the way at several spots to take some photos of the leaf colours, and other fall scenery.

<lj-cut text="Fall pics">

This is on Regional Road 57.

Looking down Concession Road 4 (or is it 6 or 7?), west. Pretty sure it's 4.

<lj-cut text="Fall pics">

Looking down Concession Road 4(?), east.

I think this is 6 or 7...

Near Old Scugog Rd and 6 or 7th Concession.

Definitely Durham Region.

Stupid wind!

This is on Regional Rd 3 (Concession 8) just west of Enniskillen. I think this is the northern tip of the Enniskillen Conservation Area.

Looking east along Regional Rd 3, back towards Enniskillen.

By this time, Regional Rd 3 is called Columbus Rd.

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 11:00 pm: Movies, Ange, Ovo, Wings

What happened this week? Gah! Can't remember. Lots of marking. I think i saw Astro Boy again Monday night. No! I went to Kennedy Commons to see A Serious Man, but i didn't want to think, so i saw Whip It again, lol.

Thursday after class i went to TO to met up with Ange, whom i hadn't seen for a few months. We had lunch at Peter Pan - i had some delicious lamb chops, and wine. After, i did a bit of shopping, then saw Where The Wild Things Are again, this time on IMAX. Then it was off to see Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo again. So good. But.... dang, it was cold in the outer concessions tents - not to mntion the water outside the portable toilets.

Friday i had intended to see a movie after our meeting, which was kind of rushed, and got a little heated, ha ha. Anyway, Angelina, Matt and i, and eventually Chris, wnt to Wild Wings. I tried different than my usual, starting with Lemon Pepper (after a while, the lemon got strong). I tried one of Angelina's, with i think was BBQ & Blue Cheese (too much blue cheese is obnoxious), and one of Matt's, which was BBQ and Taco (a little spicy for me). Later on, i ordered a second pound, Wild West, which was BBQ and mustard. It was okay, but eventually i realized it tasted like brown beans, and that kind of made it less interesting, lol.

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 11:03 pm: A Srs Man

Saturday, i went into TO to do some shopping - i saw stuff at the Queen St H&M i liked, but they had only one thing in my size. The Eaton Centre store had a few interesting sweaters and a pair of pants. There were black pants with a paisley pattern i liked, but they didn't have my size either.

I had lunch at Spring Rolls (pork chop rice platter, springrollini, chicken-veggie dumplings).

Then i saw A Serious Man, the latest by the Coen Brothers. After a prologue involving a ghost in a Jewish settlement in centuries past, the jumps to the late 60s, and a serious, rational man named Larry Gopnick. Larry is a physics professor hoping for tenure (although someone is writing nasty letters to the tenure board), is bribed by a foreign student who wants to pass his class (or sued for accusing the student of bribing him), a neighbour encroaching on his property, has an unemployed brother living on his sofa, has a wife who want to divorce him (much to his surprise) and marry the widowed neighbour, a pothead son coming up to his bar mitzvah, and a very bitchy daughter. Every time he moves, something else happens to him, and he is slowly having a breakdown. He looks for help from lawyers and rabbis, but no one can give him answers.

It's funny, although dark, and ends rather darkly. The best comparison is Job (from the Bible, being a good man to whom many bad things happen with no explanation - and in that book, it's very much debated about why God was punishing Job). Larry is a good man, tries to be honest, doesn't swear or get angry and so on. Where he differs is that he has no faith in God, he has only faith in the mathematics of physics. One school of thought is that Job was punished for his arrogance (when he was being punished, he said he was not a sinner, but isn't everyone? Though the idea that your prosperity indicates your righteousness is somewhat disturbing). Is Larry being punished for his lack of faith? The biblical connection is also made with the storm, which was a element in Job's story and the movie.

There's also Larry being hounding by the Columbia Record company - Larry Gopnick repeatedly rejects 'Abraxas' (the album by Santana), which a gnostic name for God.

There's the foreign student's father, when Larry points out the contradiction in being sued for defamation of character when he accuses the son of trying to bribe him but wants him to take the money for a higher grade, who tells Larry, "Please, accept the mystery."

And there's the Jefferson Airplane music that kept appearing, "When the truth is found to be lies, And all the joy within you dies, Don't you want somebody to love?" maybe it's talking about Larry's beliefs in math and physics as the answers for the universe?

Maybe all the people hounding Larry are the equivalents of the Adversary from the Book of Job.

Maybe when Larry went to talk to the rabbis, when they talked about God or mysterious messages rather than his family problems, when h thought they were missing the point, it was actually he who was missing the point.

Being embraced by his wife's new love.

"Dad, what's sodomy?"

Monday, November 9th, 2009 10:28 pm: A Srs Gt

Sunday, after grabbing some darker paper at Curry's for life drawing, i had lunch at Licks. I was there for two hours, reading manga - i this case, Tsubasa and the xxxHolic Guide. Tsubasa actually managed to shock me with the twist in its storyline. Apparently, there are only 5 volumes left. And, man, xxxHolic is beautiful to look at.

The movie i saw was The Men Who Stare at Goats, about a reporter from a small-city newspaper getting caught up in a story about an American military unit devoted to psychic warfare (and peace-making - very 70s/hippie-ish). It was funny, enjoyable, but not great. I thought it should have been pushed more - there were lines that were supposed to be funny, but fell flat bcause of the delivery (poor direction). Anyway, a renter.

"Lieutenant Colonel Django used funds from the project's black budget to procure prostitutes..."
"That's a lie!"
" ...and to get drugs for himself and his men."
" That... well, the hooker thing is definitely a lie."

"It's ok we're Americans, we're here to help you! I think I just ran him over. Oh crap."

Busy day Monday - three classes, plus yoga (Shannon was sick both classes last week), Ryan Miller & Suzanne were here to speak to the students, tho' i saw them only briefly.

Saturday, November 14th, 2009 12:10 pm: A Srs Gt

Tuesday also had yoga, which is less stress than Mondays because i have an hour gap between teaching and the class.

I had massage therapy on Wednesday at 11, which was kind of late, because it meant i was home all morning. It also meant standing in the waiting room for the two minutes of silence. I had lunch at Licks before driving up to the school. The parking lot was crazy, as there was some big blockage as a giant truck spent its time backing out of some place (plus our security has no idea how to direct traffic). I finally get to the other side of the school, where i'm waved off and told that the school was being evacuated. WHAT?! Crazy. I went down to get my comics for the week, and phoned people, and found out some worker had broken the water main. DER. Classes cancelled for the whole day. Including life drawing in the evening, which worked out because apparently that class was being cancelled anyway.

So i decided to make use of the day for fun. I just wish i'd known ahead of time - i would've got my comics first, and read leisurely at lunch.

I decided to see a movie, A Christmas Carol, the CG-made version by Robert Zemeckis, who also made Polar Express, a movie which i despised. A Christmas Carol was very disappointing, i hated it. I like this quote from Variety: "...shortchanging traditional animation by literalizing it while robbing actors of their full range of facial expressiveness..." Except... the faces look dead even when still (the emotional nuance of porcelain dolls). There was a point where young Scrooge and a young lady where staring into each other's eyes, but she was actually staring off into space.

It's an uncomfortable mix - the faces are caricatures (with super-sized eyes) but the skin textures are realistic, the body motion is mostly mo-capped, but then there's a bizarre twist into cartoony (like when a pair of dancers are suddenly swirling in the air).

I didn't even like the story - i've seen so many different takes on it, and this was the least interesting. Scrooge is simply miserable - not gleefully nasty, not bitter and sharp-tongued - and it's miserable to watch. When he gets the visits from the ghosts, he converts to a nice guy almost immediately. It's not the Jim Carrey version trailers would make you think (they put all of the humour, what little there is, into the trailer).

The only people who are impressed with this movie are those are still impressed with CG effects, regardless of story or character, or even design. Oh, like say, Roger Ebert: "Robert Zemeckis... proves for the third time he's one of the few directors who knows what he's doing with 3-D. I remain unconvinced that 3-D represents the future of the movies, but it tells you something that Zemeckis' three 3-D features (...including Polar Express and Beowulf) have wrestled from me 11 of a possible 12 stars." Beowulf? Seriously?

To tell you how little creative thought went into this mess, a good chunk of time is spent on a chase scene, where Scrooge runs, slides through and flies through the air, bonking his head, and so on. Aren't we way past CG roller coaster rides? It was old when Aladdin and his carpet did it.

The only bit from the trailer i liked (i don't remember it being in the movie).

They aren't looking at each other! Not only is he looking at her nose, and she at his brow, but her head is tipped towards us, looking beyond him.

Bob Cratchit is a hobbit.

"What do you want with me?"
"You will be haunted by three spirits."
"I'd rather not."
Amen.

After the movie, i went to visit Lisa and the girls for a bit. They were getting ready to go to ballet. I wasn't really hungry, so i just drove. I ended up going into Ajax, going to Chapters, bumping into Caroline (she was finishing a shift) and Meaghan (she was running in to buy a book). I didn't find anything - the selection in books isn't what it used to be. I also dropped by the liquor store, and picked up some cider.

I drove back to Whitby, and had supper at Licks, again, although this time turkey sausage and sweet potato fries instead of steak sandwich and onion rings. I was there an hour or so, reading comics (Tsubasa 24, actually, very soon after 23 came out). I went home after that.

Saturday, November 14th, 2009 01:07 pm: National Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

Thursday i did a ton of marking after class finished. Then i went to pick up Lisa to go to the ballet. She was a bit late in getting ready, so we didn't have ton of time. I needed to eat, so we went to the Queen Mother - i had the pad thai, she had the curry roti. Service was kind of slow (i've been served and finished eating in a half hour, when i wasn't in a rush), and we missed the talk before the show started.

The ballet we saw was the dress rehearsal for Sleeping Beauty. Actually, it was my least favourite ballet i've seen. Aside from preferring the programs of shorts, where the pieces are more modern and experimental, i didn't think the dancing and story held together. It was a bunch of dancing, then moving the story forward a bit, then a bunch of dancing, and so on - the dancing itself rarely moved the story. I think we were five dances in before the witch came in to disrupt the Princess's birthday party. I also had trouble telling one character from another (like, the king and the master of ceremonies).

The dancing itself undercut the story: When the good fairy gives the Prince a vision of the sleeping Princess, they actually dance, which dramatically should be put of until later - he shouldn't be able to touch her in the vision. When he wakes her up with a kiss, rather than embracing, they both go wake up the rest of the castle. Then there are a bunch of dances, i couldn't tell which was the Prince and Princess or other random couples.

I understand that the story is often just there to hang some good dancing on, but can you imagine a movie musical where the story stops every so often for a half dozen songs and dances? That being said, Lisa loved it, ha ha. The dancer who played the Princess was pretty amazing.

I kept thinking of all the gags you can play on sleeping people, like sticking her hand in water or arranging fruit around her. In several earlier versions of the story, she gets pregnant while asleep (ahem).

Saturday, November 14th, 2009 01:50 pm: I, You, Him, Her

Friday morning my sister and i went looking at houses. Gawd, they were awful.

I got to near the school around 12:30, but the city has started digging up Simcoe and Taunton AGAIN, so i drove aways away and had lunch at McDonalds (the puniest and busiest one i've been to).

We had a meeting at 2 about some recent issues among students - i'm still not totally reassured all was done that should have been. I didn't get much marking done around the meeting.

I rushed to the city (i hate rushing) to see a movie at the Cinematheque. The Queen Mother was crazy busy, so i went to East, had their chicken-spring rolls-rice platter, and a springrollini, but no dumplings.

The movie i saw was Je, Tu, Il, Elle, a French movie from 1974. The plot is sparse, and really, well, boring. "In the first part she lives like a hermit, eating only sugar, compulsively rearranging the furniture in her one-room flat, and apparently writing and rewriting a love letter. In part two she hitches a ride with a truck driver and eventually gives him a hand job. In part three she arrives at the home of her female lover, and they proceed to make love."

I get that it's meant to reflect the detachment of (modern?) life and sexuality, but it's not particularly interesting to watch someone sitting in a room, eating, getting up, sitting down, and narrating it, for 40 minutes. I think this is the first movie at the Cinematheque i've been to where people have left midway through (in fact, 8 people!). Even the last bit was boring to watch (and kind of odd - it started off like Greco-French wrestling).

'Je' is the lead actress, who also happens to be the director.

'Il' is the truck driver.

'Elle' is her (former?) lover.

'Tu' is probably the audience (though one would think it should be 'vous').

Monday, November 9th, 2009 10:28 pm: MOCCA

Saturday i went to the two new shows at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA). The first was John Heward: A Trajectory / A Collection, retrospective of the Montreal artist, featuring nearly 40 years of painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, sound and other work. I didn't really like it much. I like some 60s-style abstracts, which these were, but they were kind of rough, and just didn't appeal to me.

"Self Portrait" = ha ha ha...

The other show was Insoon Ha: Drain, which "features an arrangement of several recently-completed components..." by the Toronto-based artists, "...that, exhibited together, conjure worlds embedded and fraught with pain and darkness". It had some wit, but didn't really grab me either.

Hooves in uncomfortable places.

Not from the same exhibition, but there was a horn like that on a chair.

And a tongue like that on a wall, that the artist (i assume) sprayed with chocolate.

One piece that i like was set up like a shower/tub stall, and inside the curtains, where the tub is, was a 'bed', with two woman sitting projected from above - an eerie presence. No photo though.

Monday, November 16th, 2009 08:43 pm: Arrrrr!

After MOCCA, i parked up on Bloor & Huron, and bumped into a former student (now in 3rd Year Games) - man, can't escape these people, lol.

I ended up eating lunch and reading at the local Licks, ha ha. Plus ca change...

I ducked into Club Monaco and Chapters for a bit, but didn't get anything.

Then i saw Pirate Radio, which was called The Boat That Rocked in Britain. The trailers tried to sell it as the story of rock and roll rebels, which they were - in 60s Britain, rock wasn't allowed on the radio, so pirate radio stations were set up on ships offshore, outside Britain's territorial waters - but this movie is more of out and out comedy, from Richard Curtis, who also made Blackadder, Mr Bean, Four Weddings And A Funeral, Bridget Jones, Love Actually, and so on. It reminded me of a cross between those show and 60s/70s British comedies (Carry On, On The Buses). It had the virtue of being very very funny!

"So... expelled?"
"That's right."
"What for?"
"I suppose smoking was the clincher."
"Drugs or cigarettes?"
"Well, both."
"Well done!"
"So your mum sent you here in the hope that a little bracing sea air would sort you out?"
"Something like that.
"Spectacular mistake." (I love Bill Nighy!)

"I intend to broadcast from this ship 24 hours a day until the day I die. And then for a couple days after that."

Monday, November 16th, 2009 08:43 pm: The punk rock song that saves the world!

After a quick hot dog and pop, i saw Fish Story (Fisshu Sutôrî), part of the Reel Asian Film Festival.

In 2012, with a meteor headed towards the earth, three men spend the afternoon inside a record store listening to an obscure release by a proto-punk band. In 2007, a girl falls asleep on a ferry. In 1982, a group of friends discusses the mysterious silence and its curse in the middle of a song, . In 1975, the starving band Gekirin tries to fit a new sound into a world that isn’t ready for it. In the 1950s, a man is hired to translate an English-language novel into Japanese.

It was a mind-blowing film! Comedy, sci-fi, superhero, horror, martial arts - it evens spoofs The Ring and Armageddon. It would be hard to find a more unique movie.

|
The song that saves the world...

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 11:03 pm: Scarborough Bluffs

Russ asked me if i wanted to go out photographing Sunday morning/early afternoon. We drove out to the Scarborough Bluffs - first time i've been there.

<lj-cut text="Scarborough Bluffs pics">

The bluffs are spectacular in places - this looks like it's from the American southwest.

That is tall grass.

</lj-cut>

<lj-cut text="Scarborough Bluffs pics">

Panoramic shot.

It was a foggy morning.

You can really see the layers - wonder how long ago the dark band was?

Thought i'd get a shot, before he disappeared into the waves.

Photo by Russ Styles - of me photographing, to get a sense of scale.

Panoramic shot.

Interesting that this layer is all green.

Comfy home!

I took the opportunity to chill...

Russ got drafted to take some photos.

Cliffs in the making.

</lj-cut>

We drove through some neighbourhoods looking for a certain old structure. We came across this, which has to be the tackiest mail box ever.

We stopped at Licks for lunch on the way back.

Busy busy! Taken me a few days to get caught up with movies and photos. Tonight i was at the school for an open house, had with wings with Chris and Emma after. Did yoga Monday and Tuesday. Is it getting easier?

Friday, November 20th, 2009 09:10 am: Life Drawing

Wednesday was another life drawing class. Took a while to get into it - didn't like the quick ones so much. Partly i didn't like his poses so much - wrapping his arms around himself and hunching over into totally unnatural poses, more like standing roadkill.

<lj-cut text="Life drawing pics">

I like the gesture here. The photo turned out awful - stupid white paper. 30 seconds?

I was having more success when i did one of two things - cuttting the body into pieces, like an artist's wooden model, or in just massing areas, and then defining the form. 2 minutes?

</lj-cut>

30 minutes.

<lj-cut text="Life drawing pics">

30 minutes. Yeah, i should put in background, but i'd like a better background to work with, ha ha.

Almost 30 minutes.

I got to the point where i figured i couldn't do anything more with the last drawing, so redid the same pose a couple of times. Approx 2 minutes?

Approx 1 minute?

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 11:35 am: Sparkly vampires and wet dogs

Friday i did some Christmas shopping, got caught up on a bunch of reading, and, of course, saw a movie.

The movie i saw was... The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Okay, it's kind of silly, but i saw part one, so...

Bella is kind of annoying, as she has no interests other than being Edward's girlfriend. She's worried about being too old at 18, for a 100+ year old vampire, while Edward is looking all of Robert Pattinson's 23 years (and more). How about being worried about boring him for eternity? Then again, he does seem to have the emotional maturity of a 17 year old - you'd think after 100 years you'd get bored of high school drama. Why are the Cullens even in high school? I think Edward could pass for a high school grad.

It does have a sense of humour, even though the characters take themselves far too seriously, and the funniest bits are unintentionally funny. Apparently Edward can recite lines from Romeo and Juliet, and even though they make fun of its characters' deaths, he repeats it anyway:
"Hey, is Bella's dad there?"
"No, he's arranging a funeral."
"NOOO! BELLA'S DEAD, I MUST KILL MYSELF!"
"Dude, ever think it's like maybe a grandparent or uncle or something?"
"D'oh!"

Or how about when Bella gets a paper cut, and to protect her from a frenzied vampire, Edwards plows her into some furniture? Why didn't he just beat her with a sharpened 2-by-4?

"I know you don't eat regular food, but if we're always going to be face to face like this, you're going to have to brush your teeth. Wouldn't hurt to brush your hair either."

"It's my job to take off my shirt. By the way, i'll get to grandma's house before you"

Are you sure they're vampires, and not elves or fairies or something? This is pretty fey right here. It would explain the sparkly nonsense too.

"The absence of him is everywhere I look. It's like a huge hole has been punched through my chest."

Do the Volturi spend their days just sitting on thrones? How many vampires are there, anyway? That's a LOT of unexplained deaths.

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 02:58 pm: He gave his life for tourism...

Dancin' by the Nile (disco Tut)
The ladies love his style (boss Tut)
Rockin' for a mile (rockin' Tut)
He ate a crocodile (King Tut)

Yesterday, i had lucked into a free ticket for KING TUT: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs at the AGO - that is, a preview, as the exhibit doesn't officially open until Tuesday.

I didn't mind the line up so much, but when we had a movie to watch, why no seats? And the movie should've been longer, or they should've had more background on ancient Egypt, and especially about King Tut's era. This is the second time i've seen King Tut's treasures at the AGO, and i still think it would make more sense at the ROM.

Apparently, they were frustrated with how long it was taking people to get through the exhibit, but there was a lot to read, and little video clips to watch, and the space was a little awkward or cramped in places (especially corners) - like you're done looking at one piece, and you have no choice but to stay there blocking it while you're waiting for the people in front of you to move.

That being said, the exhibition itself is fascinating. Over 100 pieces, it's more than twice the size of the last show, but only 3 objects are the same. There are no mummies, but there's CT scans of the mummy.

Coffinette that held Tut's stomach.

Sandals!

Cat sarcophagus.

<lj-cut text="more Tut pics">

Amenhotep IV (Akhnaten) behind, Tut's daddy.

Gold death mask of Psusennes I.

A shabti, statuette of the king, made so the king himself wouldn't have to work in the underworld.

I think this is the 10 foot statue.

A fancy box.

Apparently there's another touring show that's been to Vienna and Atlanta that will also make it to the AGO, one that is more focussed on King Tutankhamun himself. It's easy to forget 'Ancient Egypt' covered 3000 years of history, before being taken over by the Romans.

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 03:04 pm: Pop-ups

After King Tut, i saw the Origamic Architecture Exhibition at the Japan Foundation.

"Origamic architecture involves the three-dimensional reproduction of architecture, geometric patterns, everyday objects, or other images, on various scales, using cut-out and folded paper, usually thin cardboard."

They are actually more like pop-up art than origami. There were some duplicates, and they didn't even use the whole space. I think an origami exhibit would be more interesting. Over even just larger pieces. Also, when they reproduced famous buildings they should have photos of those buildings for comparison. I was a little disappointed.

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 11:25 pm: Mary and Max

Another trip into the city today, although a bit of a twist, as i didn't leave until 4ish. I ate at By The Way Cafe, having hummus and shish-kebab, while i read Red Moon, a short story collection by Susumu Katsumata from D&Q. Interesting book, reminds of the Color of Earth manwha series, although not focussed on the relationship between a girl growing up and her relationship with her mother, with more about abusive relationships and folktales. I also picked up a cookbook at BMV (not so much for the recipes but the cultural details).

Anyway, i was in the city to see Mary and Max, a stop-motion animated movie i kept hearing about, but didn't have a chance to see at the Ottawa festival. It's an odd story, about a little girl in Australia who becomes penpals with a middle aged Jewish man with a behavioural disorder, It actually follows them over 18 years. It's not a fast-paced action story or kiddie story (by a long shot), and much of it is sad - they're both misfits, and have trouble dealing with events in their lives. And it's fairly dark at points, dealing with neglect, suicide,alcoholism, depression and anxiety. But it totally sucks you in. It's often quite funny. It is supposedly based on a true story.

I'd heard that Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) did the narration, but i was surprised that Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Eric Bana did the main voices.

Mary mailing a letter to Max.

Max puts a pompom Mary made on his head (and her self-portrait is stuck in the mirror).
"Do you have a favourite-sounding word? My top 5 are ointment, bumblebee, Vladivostok, banana and testicle."

Mary's Mom, in one of her more vertical and relatively sober moments.

Mary is writing about being bullied at school.

Max is having an anxiety attack.
"He smelt like licorice and old books, she thought to herself, as tears rolled from her eyes, the color of muddy puddles."

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 11:13 pm: Fantastic

Lessee, last week i had massage therapy, did my two yoga classes, last lifedrawing session of the semester (pics to come), went out with the guys to The Tap for some wings.

After massage on Wednesday, i had enough time to catch an 11:00 am movie (and eat at Licks after) before class. It was good because it was the opening day for Fantastic Mr. Fox, which has been getting rave reviews. It's at Wes Anderson adaptation of the Roald Dahl book. I've never read the book (Dahl also wrote James and the Giant Peach and Willy Wonka/Charlie & the Chocolate Factory), but it was very much like a Wes Anderson movie (The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Royal Tenenbaums).

I like Wes Anderson, so i really enjoyed it, even though some of the animation is rather crude (compared to Coraline, for example), although it did have its subtle moments - and occasionally the crudeness was funny in itself.

Some reviewers have compared Fantastic Mr. Fox with Where The Wild Things Are, talking about a return to retro styles of animating, usually accompanied by disparaging (and ignorant) remarks about computer animation. I think the real connection is the use of children's stories to tell adult stories of emotional angst. Watch for the ignorant remarks to surface again with The Princess and the Frog (classically 2D animated to some degree, but still using Toon Boom, CGI visual effects, backgrounds cintiqs for drawing, etc). I do think kids will enjoy Fantastic Mr. Fox more than Where The Wild Things Are (which is actually pretty scary in places).

"Why a fox? Why not a horse, or a beetle, or a bald eagle? I'm saying this more as, like, existentialism, you know? Who am I? And how can a fox ever be happy without, you'll forgive the expression, a chicken in its teeth?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds illegal."

"The cuss you are."
"The cuss am I? Are you cussing with me?"
"No, you cussing with me?"
"Don't cussing point at me!"
"If you're gonna cuss, you're not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss!"
"You're not gonna cuss with me!"

"You know, you really are... fantastic."

"Basically, there's three grabbers, three taggers, five twig runners, and a player at Whackbat. Centre tagger lights a pine cone and chucks it over the basket and the whack-batter tries to hit the cedar stick off the cross rock. Then the twig runners dash back and forth until the pine cone burns out and the umpire calls hotbox. Finally, you count up however many score-downs it adds up to and divide that by nine."

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 10:41 pm: friends, late fall photos

On Friday, i drove to visit friends in western Ontario. On the way, i stopped to see Fantastic Mr Fox again at the Colossus. We didn't do a whole lot at Matt's - we saw Star Trek on DVD, hung around the house, saw Paisley's little Santa Claus Parade, ate and drank - but it was a nice visit.

I had to leave early Sunday to see Lisa & Russ's girls in a ballet, although i stopped at a few places to take some photos.

<lj-cut text="Late Fall pics">

This is the Saugeen River (facing south) in Durham (village) Ontario. That's actually two anglers. Obviously, it was a foggy day.

Saugeen River (facing north).

I think this is Grey Road 23, between Highway 4 and Grey Road 9, facing south.

Where Grey Road 23 meets Grey Road 9, facing south.

Where Grey Road 23 meets Grey Road 9, facing south.

Where Grey Road 23 meets Grey Road 9, facing southeast.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

</lj-cut>

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

<lj-cut text="Late Fall pics">

Wellington Road 15, facing east. Ugh - why is a county road unpaved? Uhhh, yeah, i'm actually driving, ha ha. BUT NO CELL PHONE.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing south.

Wellington Road 15, facing west.

Wellington Road 15, facing east.

Dufferin Road 15 (same road), facing south.

Dufferin Road 15, facing south. Close-up of sheep.

Dufferin Road 25, south part of Grand Valley (village).

Dufferin Road 25, south part of Grand Valley (village).

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 11:34 pm: Swan Lake

I made it in time to see the girls' ballet, which was Swan Lake this year (a version with a happy ending, ha ha). The one in the foreground is the Swan Princess.

<lj-cut text="Swan Lake pics">

It was performed at my old high school.

Here are the girls, as Swan Maidens.

Monday, December 7th, 2009 11:59 pm: Miserables, Red Cliff, Sophie

Thursday after school i went out for wings with Michelle & Courtney, and John.

Then i saw my nephew Mitch (and his girlfriend) in a production of Les Miserables at the Oshawa Little Theatre, with my sister, her hubby and Jake. Unfortunately, they didn't allow photos to be taken, and i couldn't find any online.

Friday was all running around, getting a prize for a school contest, printing a photo for my dad, and so on. Speaking of photographing, i'd taken my charger into the school to charge batteries for Les Miz, but forgot it in the wall. Unfortunately, it appears someone stole it. It bummed me when i went back to the school to look for it. Also, printing was frustrating.

Saturday, i went into the city. First up, i saw Red Cliff (Chi Bi), John Woo's epic about the Battle of Red Cliff from 209 AD. Apparently, the original was cut from 280 minutes (4 hours and 40 minutes!) to 148 - apparently in Asia it was released as two movies. It stars Tony Leung, an actor from a number of great movies (Wong Kar-wai's Ashes of Time, Days of Being Wild, In the Mood for Love and Ashes of Time, Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, and Hero).

Anyway, it was okay, worth seeing if this kind of stuff interests you, although i found it didn't really engage me, often a problem with historical movies (as opposed to fiction set in the past). I caught Kung Fu Hustle on TV on Sunday, and enjoyed it lot more.

After the movie, i shopped a bit on Queen Street and Chapters. Later i met up with Jackie, her friend (potential animation student) Colleen whose birthday it was, and Colleen's mother at Jack Astor's for supper.

Sunday i went into the city for more shopping, finally picked up some music books for Mitch form Christmas. I went down to College Street to get some Christmas cards. I was looking for something simply for a late lunch, and started driving out of the city, heading for Licks or something, when i decided to go to Leslieville. I was expecting to go to a new burger place i read about, ha ha, but ended up at Sophie, a French/Quebec cafe i'd also read about. Cute little place, i had the squash-sweet potato soup and tourtiere (which came with a bit of salad and ratatouille). I read manga while i ate.

As i finished up, i noticed there was an arrest happening out on the street, about where the man is outside the window (i was sitting to the left of the person in black), some woman was being arrested for shoplifting (it appeared).

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 12:15 am: Miserables (part 2)

Okay, found (stole) some pics of Les Miserables, starring my nephew as... one of the ensemble.

Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert.

Ah, you gotta love the theatre.

Hey Mitch!

Monday, December 14th, 2009 11:49 pm: School, Parties, Choirs

Last week was the final week of classes for the semester, although i'd cancelled my second and third year classes so i could attend the third year reviews Thursday and Friday. It was also the last week for yoga until the winter - wah! Unfortunately Shannon missed the last class because of some staff Xmas party.

The reviews were rather brutal. Oh, and i discovered a couple of students cheated by submitting the same assignments.

Wednesday night was supposed to be our staff Xmas party, but we had a big snowstorm Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. So, some of us went out for wings instead (Chris, Miah and me).

Thursday night was the Games class dinner. It was mostly 3rd years, with a couple of 2nd years, and one 1st year. 5 of us stayed there till 11, me & Miah (the only teachers), Michelle, Courtney and Stefan.

Friday afternoon i did marking, until Chris, Matt and i went out for wings. We went back to the college, had a drink(!) in the office, and then went to the big Animation & Games Screening/Party. Most of the Animation 1st, 2nd & 3rd years were, most of the Games 1st years, a couple of second years. It was kind of freaky to see everyone all there, lol. Also, some teachers had a bit much to drink - i only drank ginger ale. After the screening, we went to a student house party. Ahem! I've bee nto student parties before, but always sober. The other teachers had had stuff to drink (and one was rather hammered)... Thankfully we left before anything too inappropriate happened.

I sit on Santa's knee.

Animation students in the foreground, Game students in the background.

Looking at ceiling balloons at the student party.

Miah gets involved in arm wrestling.

I think this is me....

God, i was so tired, all that going out... Actually i'm still tired - i seem incapable of going to bed before 1 pm.

Saturday i went into the school to finish marking. DONE!

Saturday evening i went to see Lisa sing in the Christmas concert for her choir(s), the non-auditioned Durham Community Choir and auditioned women's-only Britten chorus. She had a solo part. Her sister and mom are also in the choir(s). After, Lisa and the girls and i went to Casey's for a late bite to eat.

A screenshot taken from a youtube video.

Monday, December 14th, 2009 11:52 pm: The Princess & The Frog

Sunday, i drove around the city, checking out various Winners to find 'Cinderella' dresses for the girls (7 stores, no luck), picked up a new knapsack (zipper came out on the old one).

Sunday evening i finally saw The Princess And The Frog, Disney's new (digital) '2D' animated movie. It was mostly pretty fun. Some reviewers say it doesn't quite reach the height of the classic Disney animations, but if you watch them, you realize how little personality the so-called lead characters often have (the princes have as Much personality as Ken). Anyway, this movie skirts the race issue somewhat - and it doesn't ask why Tiana's good white rich friends don't lend her some financial assistance. The theme of hard work over wishing is worthy, though it gets undermined a bit at the end. the only thing i ddin't like a lot was the songs, which were kind of bland - too Randy Newmanish.

"All women enjoy the kiss of Prince Naveen. Come, we pucker."

The movie was racist - against Cajuns!

Today we had our marks meeting, with a heated discussion about the student reviews. Oh, and this morning i spoke with one of the students who cheated - i hate confrontation. Chris, Miah, Matt and i went for sushi after, and found a group of students there, too, ha ha.

Monday, December 14th, 2009 11:52 pm: Life Drawing

I was finally able to scan some drawings from the last life drawing class on November 25. The session started out okay - the model did some great poses, but when we finally go to the longer poses, she out on a costume, which frustrated me a little, spending too much time drawing clothing than the poses.

<lj-cut text="Life drawing pics">

The only quick drawing i liked.

Meh, it wasn't working out.

</lj-cut>

My favourite piece.

Thursday, December 17th, 2009 12:27 pm: Sadness

It was two years ago today my Mom passed away. Life is lacking.

Thursday, December 17th, 2009 01:46 pm: Olympic Torch

Why am i standing on a very cold Whitby street at 6:30 in the morning in December? The Olympic Torch is travelling across Canada for the Winter 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and i wanted to take some photos as it passed through the area. I missed it coming through my hometown yesterday, as we headed to a failed attempt to go to an event at Starz Animation downtown TO - failed because the snow made the 401 so slick it became practically unpassable. The only thing that stopped a van from crashing into me, since my brakes were not stopping me, was another vehicle taking the hit. Miah and i got off the highway, headed to a pub for some grub, and we saw The Princess And The Frog (again for me).

<lj-cut text="Olympic torch pics">

So you can see the convoy coming down the street (Brock Road South).

I think they were actual Olympic athletes.

I waved between camera shots.

Oh, and the Coke van, ha ha. At least i got a free pop.

After they passed it was another very cold wait until the runner came by (did i mention how cold it was?).

Here he comes.

Of course, he's just a blur passing at 1/8th of a second.

</lj-cut>

<lj-cut text="Olympic torch pics">

There were quite a few people around, but i went home and crawled back into bed.

Saturday, December 19th, 2009 01:17 am: I am really upset...

...someone broke into my car, went through my knapsack, took all my membership cards, tossed my knapsack in the snow, spilt beer in my car, left the bottle in the car, and stole my winter gloves. In addition to having my batteries and battery charger stolen a few weeks ago.

Saturday, December 19th, 2009 09:30 pm: The good and the bad...

Thursday i stayed at home and did very little of importance, lol. After i took the photos anyway. Read stuff, internet stuff.

Friday, i went out early to see Avatar, and shop a bit. Shopping didn't get me anywhere. I got home mid-afternoonish, tried to get a nap in, trimmed my hair, enjoyed some time alone when my Dad went out for a bit.

In the evening, i met up with Miah and Chris to get some wings before Alumni Night. Alumni night was okay - we got 10 or so, i think. Let's see, we had Travis (and GF), Ginny, Dustin, Eric, Rob T, Rob S, Jenn, all from class of 2009, and Torrie, Felicia and Steve, all from class of 2007. Others couldn't make it to where Chris organized it, or just didn't reply. Plus, Chris, Miah and me.

And, oh yeah, someone broke into my car (see previous entry). When i got back i cancelled the debit card that may have been lost - probably a good thing anyway, as i never used it.

This morning i drove back to the scene of the crime, found my gloves in the snow (why, you asshole?), and walked around the area, looking for the things they stole. It was two little nylon... purses, i guess. Just the right size to hold cards, so one was full of all my membership cards (video, blood donor, AGO, ROM, etc). The other i had emergency stuff, like nail scissors, bandaids, nail file. Annoying. I bought the little purses at the AGO a few years, and haven't seen anything like them since. Also irreplaceable, a bunch of business cards by my friend Esther.

After, i went to the Shopping Centre. I was looking for shoes for my Dad - is Walmart the only place that carries Dr Scholls? Got some cash, looked at H&M briefly, went to the bookstore, got something for Russ. Then i got some Magners from the LCBO.

I had lunch at Licks (per usual), feeling kind of down. People suck. As i ate, i read the latest 20th Century Boys, and Mushi-Shi 4. I had some time after lunch before the movie, so went to Future Shop to finish buying for Russ (3 people down for Xmas).

I'd hoped to be visiting Lisa & Russ tonight, but they had an other engagement. Boo! So, here at home, writing this instead.

Saturday, December 19th, 2009 10:49 pm: Avatar

Friday morning i saw Avatar, which has been getting extraordinary press, both in positive reviews, and as a phenomenon ("Will it change the way movies are made?" - no). Here's the set up: a company is mining valuable ore on an alien world. The primitive natives are hostile to the outsiders, and in the way of the best mineral deposits. The company has two approaches to the problem - a military detachment, led by a gung ho colonel, and a science group, who have created hybrid bodies that look like the aliens, which can be controlled by a human remotely ('avatar'), with the goal of peaceful engagement. Into this mix comes a crippled marine, our hero, who becomes an avatar, hooks up with a native girl and begins to learn their ways.

First off, it looks great, it's all very pretty to look at, beautiful and believable. Easier to do when you're making aliens rather than realistic humans, but still amazing.

But the story is really nothing special. It plays out exactly as you'd expect from the set up. The story isn't even that different from Pocahontas (the Disney movie, not the reality). It's not awful, it's okay, just not very exciting. James Cameron needs John Lasseter.

Will the military get aggressive?

Will he turn native?

It turns out the native chick is the chief's daughter (chiefs', i guess) - did you expect that?

Saturday, December 19th, 2009 10:51 pm: Up In The Air

Today i saw Up In The Air, the new George Clooney movie. He plays Ryan Bingham, a man who fires people for a living, brought in by executives who are too cowardly to fire their own employees. He flies around the country, having turned airports and flying into an art - he aims to reach 10 million air miles, which only 7 people have done before. He enjoys the fact he is unattached (even to his family) and unburdened - even does 'motivational' speaking about getting rid of the baggage in your life.

Two things happen - one is he meets up with a woman is nearly equally asept at flying, and begins arranging their schedules to hook up. The other is a young college grad hot shot, who develops a plan to replace the travelling with video conference firing, which would turn Ryan Bingham's job into a desk job. She is the opposite of Ryan Bingham - optimistic about love (she took this job because she followed her boyfriend), and knows the work only in theory. He is put in charge of training her on the job.

The movie spends a lot of time on the people who get fired, the emotional impact and their reactions. It also spends time building the relationships among the three main characters. I like how it sets us up expecting a certain outcome, and then plays with it. A really excellent story. It was directed by Jason Reitman, who also made Thank You for Smoking and Juno.

"The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places; and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over."

"How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life... feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks."

Ha ha, his sister asked him to take photos of a photo of her and her groom-to-be at various places. First time i've seen Danny McBride in a serious role.

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 11:37 pm: Canadian Christmas

Canadian Christmas, it's the best, We drink and dance and show our breasts!

Thursday, December 24th, 2009 04:48 pm: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Saturday, December 26th, 2009 07:29 pm: The week before Christmas

Well, the past week has been a bit of a blur. I saw Broken Embraces, but which day? Sunday? No... Sunday i went downtown, did some Xmas shopping, bought some pants for myself.

Monday i went into school and finished off Final Grades for the semester. Finished around noon - i think i saw The Princess And The Frog again after that. Oh, i went to Cobourg on a whim, looking for shoes i wanted to get for my Dad.

Tuesday i went shopping - finally found a place that had those shoes (a place i went to Sunday except they were closed). Finished Xmas shopping altogether. Tuesday evening i went to Lisa & Russ's for supper, which was nice. After, i went shopping with Lis, a Christjas tradition.

Wednesday i went downtown on the GO Train, brought some comics to read. I wandered through the Eaton Centre (via Bay-Adelaide Centre - new route). This is when i saw Broken Embraces. I took the 3:13 train home. Well, to The Shwa, the picked up comics, then to home.

Thursday was Christmas Eve. I started my wrapping in the morning, which was when i realized the shoes i got for my Dad were not the right kind, so it was off 'shopping' again (next year, start earlier). Anyway, the owner was good about exchanging - the colour was even better, but the size was one half size smaller. I took them i wear 10.5/11. Stopped at Licks on the way back.

Thursday evening i went over to Lisa & Russ's for supper, and afterward, some Trivial Pursuit and then gift exchange. Fun! Lessee, i got Three Shadows GN, My Neighbors The Yamadas (Studio Ghibli) DVD, a couple of CDs Russ put together (The Dears, Dragonettte), and some other things which have slipped my mind.

Thursday, December 24th, 2009 04:48 pm: Christmas Day

Yesterday/Friday was Christmas Day.

Man, i woke up feeling so tired.

My original plan was to sneak in a movie in the morning before coming back here, and then going to my sister's for the family thing, but niece Katie and her BF were coming at noon (one a trip back from Vancouver), and i wasn't sure how long they'd have. As it turned out, they didn't get there until 1, with my nephew too.

Eventually, their parents arrived before 2, and that's when we went over to my sister's. We got into the wine and hors-d'oeuvres right away. My other niece showed up after a while, and Katie was there until 4 (they went off to her BF's family for dinner, boo, lol).

We did our gift exchange, though most of us had decided not to buy gifts... except, for some reason one of my nephews bought me a gift, and so did my brother and his wife, even though i discussed with them specifically not getting gifts... weird. I only bought gifts for my Dad (who gave everyone $$), and my two younger nephews (who i thought would still be getting me a gift in return, but oh well, lol).

Dinner was a big roast beef dinner... mmmm.... plus, i had slices of apple and raspberry pies. After dinner, we played euchre - me with my sister and her boys, and my Dad with my brother, his wife, and... not sure, lol.

Saturday, December 26th, 2009 10:18 pm: Broken Embraces

On Wednesday i saw Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces), the latest from Pedro Almodovar. It's about a blind author named 'Harry Caine', who used to be a film director named Mateo Blanco. It jumps back and forth between the current era (2008), and 1992-1994. We learn about his past, the past of the two people who help him (one his former producer, the other her son), and the mysterious man who comes to propose to direct a screenplay to be co-written with Harry. This man is connected with the financial backer of Harry's last film, who has just died, and his mistress (Penelope Cruz), who was also the film's female star (and the emotional centre of Broken Embraces).

I really enjoyed it - it was kind of a mix between thriller, romance and melodrama, with a bit of comedy thrown in. The only thing i didn't like was the gay teen was really too 'swishy' (more sitcom than serious movie), although better when older. And i wouldn't have minded some more comedy.

Saturday, December 26th, 2009 10:59 pm: Sherlock Holmes

Today i saw the new Sherlock Holmes, by Guy Ritchie, and starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. It was pretty fun, although as Guy Ritchie goes, a little long. If you don't like Guy Ritchie movies, you probably won't like this, although i was surprised that it had the fewest Guy Ritchie tics of his movies i've seen (of course avoiding the ones with Madonna). It's been set up for a definite sequel.

Except for the hygiene (the original Holmes was very clean, just messy) and petulance, it's actually a fairly accurate portrayal.

"You do know what your are drinking is meant for eye surgery?"

Eye candy (and far too young for Holmes).

"Does your depravity know no bounds?"
"No."
I liked the back and forth between the two.

I need you to remain calm and trust me, I'm a professional. Beneath this pillow lies the key to my release.

Saturday, December 26th, 2009 11:11 pm: Missing the interaction...

The internet has become too atomized. I miss the old Oni Press Community, and Yahoo Chat. Even Livejournal ain't what it used to be. Twitter is okay, but no substitute.

Saturday, December 26th, 2009 11:11 pm: Peter Milligan: "I started questioning my sexual identity, and my sexual identity didn't have the right answers."

[Peter Milligan]

A couple of week ago i had this really weird dream in which i was wearing a big flouncy dress. I remember lying down on a bed and looking at it - i jokingly said (to whom, i'm not sure - Miah?) i was disappointed it wasn't gothic-lolita (it was however rococco-style, so a kind of lolita, i suppose). I wasn't wearing it as part of my attire, or even as a costume - it was almost like i was wearing it for someone else, to do adjustments? Ha ha.

I also had a bit of a dream about the paint on the wall behind my head (at the moment) peeling in sheets off the wall. I admit it's in awful condition. I need a headboard, i guess.

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 11:07 pm: The Parnassium of Doctor Imaginarus

Sunday i went downtown to do some shopping - got a pair of pants, but that was it. I'd thought about getting new boots and gloves, but decided what i have will do for another year. Oh, i did get an umbrella, because i seem to have lost mine, and new sunglasses, because the last pair (which i use for driving) broke outright (one arm snapped off).

Yesterday, i did a bit of shopping. Traded my Dad's shoes in again (for the right size). Looked for new exercise clothes (unsuccessful). Dropped by a place that sells shelving (closed). Boo! Ha ha.

In the afternoon i saw The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus. Another crazy movie by Terry Gilliam. It is definitely not what i thought it would be, which was some grand adventure in some oppressed Wonderland (/Oz/Narnia). There are brief trips there, but mostly it follows a traveling carnival sideshow (with Doctor Parnassus and daughter, companion midget and the daughter's suitor), in which you get to literally enter a dream world. But i'm not sure why - it's only later that it acquires a purpose.

We find out that Doctor Parnassus has struck deals with the 'devil' (not a particularly evil one, played by Tom Waits), most importantly for his daughter when she is of age (but does he want to win her? I don't know). Into this mix falls a man who seems to have lost his memory, played by Heath Ledger. His unfortunate death is covered by having the scenes in the imaginarium played by different actors (Johnny Depp, Jude Law, both of whom are fairly convincing, and Colin Farrell, whose bit is longer and less convincing). Maybe i missed something, but i didn't really understand how things played out.

"Don't worry if you don't understand it all immediately." Well, it didn't make sense, but it's always interesting.

"Nothing is permanent, not even death."

"Can you put a price on your dreams?"

Today i saw Sherlock Holmes again. Felt a little faster this time through, and i enjoyed it even more.

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 11:53 pm: Urasawa's Pluto

A manga series i cannot recommend highly enough is Naoki Urasawa's Pluto (more officially, Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka).

It's a remake, essentially of Osamu Tezuka's AstroBoy (in Japanese, "Mighty Atom"), more specifically, the story arc known as 'The Greatest Robot on Earth'. Instead of AstroBoy being the star of some light-hearted adventure, it is a murder mystery thriller, but starring a robotic detective named Gesicht (whose counterpart in the original was a secondary character).

It's set in the future, where robots are commonplace. Many look like robot toys, others look human, none are supposed to feel real emotions. They are all supposed to be bound by Asimov's Laws of Robotics (1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.).

It is some years after a brutal war, in which some of the most powerful robots practically destroyed a country. Someone or something is now destroying those robots (and others, such as Atom). Gesicht is assigned the case.

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 11:53 pm: Mushishi

Another worthwhile manga is the series Mushishi. A Mushi-shi is essentially a kind of exorcist, who removes or contains hostile supernatural spirits (known as 'mushi'). The book follows one such person, named Ginko.

Ginko spends his life wandering from place to place, dealing with the mushi that are causing problems, though he can't stay in anyone place too long, or he begins to attract the mushi.

It's set in Japan's past, mostly in small villages and the countryside, rather than among samurai or nobles, and with the daily struggle to survive than wars or politics. Thus it has a timeless quality - except for Ginko, who wears rather modern looking clothes (a leftover from an earlier version where it was set in modern times).

It's an episodic series - there's no overall story arc (although we do occasionally jump to scenes of Ginko's youth). There's no extreme violence, or screwball comedy, or histrionic drama - it's more atmospheric and moody, and beautifully drawn. It really grows on you (but watch out, that may be a mushi).

Thursday, December 31st, 2009 10:18 am: photos on Lakeshore Road between Newcastle and Port Hope

Wednesday was sushi lunch with Chris, Matt, Torrie & Felicia. After, i was able to get a hold of Russ, who was out photographing, and meet him on Lakeshore Road between Port Hope and Newcastle, closer to Port Hope. Lakeshore Road is pretty desolate (and good thing i didn't need my phone - most of the time i had very little signal.

<lj-cut text="Lakeshore Road between Newcastle and Port Hope pics">

Our first stop together was an old cemetery. I hope that's an index finger...

Washington Monument.

Some very shabby old structure - presumably a barn.

Across the road.

The Batcave has really gone to crap.

I don't know.

Where Lakeshore Road meets Stephenson Road and railway tracks, at a place that at some point was known as Lovekin.

Uh... you aren't expecting me to drive on that?

Looking west towards the Port of Newcastle

We stopped at a little beach/park. The water was a bit rough.

</lj-cut>

As i was taking shots of the ice, a stronger wave came in and got my foot and leg wet. I stepped back and paused to take a photo, my feet slipped forward and i landed with a thud. I hit my arse, back, left hand and right forearm. I hit so hard, wind knocked out of me, that i couldn't speak - took a few minutes before i could recover enough to actually speak. The only visible injuries are a bruise/swollen blood vessel on my left thumb, and red streak on my upper left back. I'm feeling kind of beat up today (day after).

<lj-cut text="Lakeshore Road between Newcastle and Port Hope pics">

This is what i landed on.

Geese out on the water.

We went over closer to the harbour, and i just barely caught a shot of these ducks, not sure of the species (bufflehead?).

Looking up the creek (Graham?).

This was only a third or so of the geese out there.

</lj-cut>

After, Russ and i went back to their place. Lisa and the girls returned home from a birthday party, and i had dinner there, and played a bit of their new Wii (Mario Kart).

On the way home last, i saw some roadkill on the 401. Then, a lot of blood. A LOT. More chunks of roadkill, wtf. Holy crap! Avoid hitting the arse end of what i assume had been a deer!

I had an odd bit of dream last night. I was lying in what i assume was my bed, but propped up a bit on pillows, and saw these lines coming from my ribs, going down my torso, kind of like tendons or veins (like, i only saw them because of the way i was positioned). I asked Lisa about them - was i in her living room? - and she she said they were called strawberry frenetti. WTF. Ha ha ha...

Thursday, December 31st, 2009 04:20 pm: Uberlist 2009 REVIEW

Another list for another year. I had some serious successes (vacations in Cuba and New York), and some not-so-successes (art, place to live).

Car & Travel Tasks
1. Arrange a vacation for Reading Week - i've booked it off! (DONE! I went to Cuba!)
2. Visit a winery in the winter. (DONE! First weekend of January, lol.)
3. Plan what to do in an ACCIDENT. (FAIL!)
4. Learn how to use a CARWASH, so i'm not stuck doing it at home. Ideally some automatic thing. (FAIL!)
5. TRAVEL somewhere during the summer (realistically): Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, and/or New York. (New York in the summer AND Ottawa in October - DONE!)
6. TRAVEL to San Diego SDCC? (FAIL!)
7. TRAVEL somewhere (unrealistically): British Isles, France, Japan or Australia. (FAIL!)
8. Try to be better organized before Christmas, arrange a trip to NY or Vegas. (FAIL - except i did visit New York AND Ottawa!)

Arts &c Tasks
9. Finish Halloween costume ASAP, well in advance of October - at least finish last one, proper hat, suspenders. (DONE!)
10-11. Possibly new cameras - (a) high-end one with interchangeable lenses, you can focus properly, (FAIL!)
(b) small one you can use in places like a club - i like my current one, which is good 90% of the time, but that 10% is frustrating. (DONE!)
12. Buy an ukiyo-e print. (DONE!)

Digital Tasks
13. Get stuff off those VHS tapes and into digital format. (FAIL!)
14. Try to get data off the old PERCEPTION system.(Mostly FAIL, but some of it i got in digital format from Dar.)
15. Organize my data BACK UP system. (Done, but need to back up more reguarly.)
16. Do something with my personal LJ (not the madlycool one). (FAIL!)
17. Create a digital version of my COMICS CATALOG. (FAIL!)
18. Finish scanning all the photos I have, turn them into a DIGITAL ALBUM (replacing the old physical ones), with captions - an enormous job (one day....). (FAIL!)
19. Change PASSWORDS for various email addresses and eBay, again. Should do it every year. (FAIL!)
20. Will have to update VIN page, again. (DONE!)
21. Convert the name of any .JPG files to .jpg, standardize on my website and blog (annoyingly sometimes they're seen as identical, sometimes not). (DONE!)

Learning Tasks
22. Learn ILLUSTRATOR (not a priority). (FAIL!)

Junk &c Tasks
23. Get rid of old VINYL albums. (FAIL!)
24. Clean out shelves/closets/dressers of my stuff. (DONE!)
25. I'd like to find a place to RECYCLE worn clothing, stuff that's not useable, like old socks and such. (FAIL!)
26. I think i need to do a major cull, of what COMICS i have, and what i'm buying. (FAIL!)
27. Take COMICS downstairs. (FAIL!)
28. L&R have some of my negatives - one day i'd like to get them back. (FAIL!)
29. I think Matt has some of my letters from him - they're missing anyway. (FAIL!)
30. Toss out old electronics. (FAIL!)

Home & Financial Tasks
31. FIND A PLACE OF MY OWN. (FAIL!)
32. Will have to think MORTGAGE. (FAIL!)
33. Do a proper BUDGET - I used to have one when I made much less money. (FAIL!)
34. Get a rice cooker (wait for when i move...). (FAIL!)
35. Do something with my PC Points. (DONE!)
36. Do something with my Airmiles Points. (DONE!)

Fashion &c Tasks
37. Need SHOES and CLOTHES for exercising. (DONE!)
38. Get some new DRESS CLOTHES. (FAIL!)
39. Need dressier SHOES. (FAIL!)

Reading Tasks
40. Read the book on BRITISH LEGENDS i bought but let sit. (FAIL!)
41. Read HITCHERHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY. (FAIL!)
42. Read final HARRY POTTER book. (FAIL!)
43. Read the TARTAN book I bought and is just sitting. (DONE!)
44. Read the COMICS I've let sit (Batman from the late 90s). (FAIL!)
45. Read the COMICS I've let sit (Hellblazer from the late 90s). (FAIL!)

Music Tasks
46. Get soundtrack of ON VA S'AIMER 2006. (FAIL!)
47. Get soundtrack of J'AURAIS VOULU ETRE UN DANSEUR. (FAIL!)

Movie Tasks (ha, this is 24 movies)
48. Rent or see THE MAD FOX 1962 by Tomu Uchida (FAIL!)
49. Rent or see this Godard film: 1962 VIVRE SA VIE (TO LIVE ONE'S LIFE, MY LIFE TO LIVE) (DONE!)
50. Rent or see this Godard film: 1964 UNE FEMME MARIÉE, FRAGMENTS D'UN FILM TOURNÉ EN 1964 EN NOIR ET BLANC (A MARRIED WOMAN: FRAGMENTS OF A FILM SHOT IN 1964 IN BLACK AND WHITE) (FAIL!)
51. Rent or see this Godard film: 1966 MADE IN U.S.A. (DONE!)
52. Rent or see this anime: WONDERFUL DAYS (SKY BLUE) (Korean)(FAIL!)
53. Rent or see this anime: THE PLACE PROMISED IN OUR EARLY DAYS (FAIL!)
54. Rent or see this anime: THE BOOK OF THE DEAD (FAIL!)
55. Rent or see PERHAPS LOVE 2005 (Oscar nominee) by Peter Chan (Hong Kong). (FAIL!)
56. Rent or see this Demy film: 1962 LA BAIE DES ANGES (DONE!)
57. Rent or see this Demy film: 1970 PEAU D'ÂNE (THE DONKEY SKIN OR THE MAGIC DONKEY) (DONE!)
58. Rent or see this Demy film: 1979 LADY OSCAR (FAIL!)
59. Rent or see this John Hughes film: 1984 SIXTEEN CANDLES (FAIL!)
60. Rent or see this John Hughes film: 1985 BREAKFAST CLUB (FAIL!)
61. Rent or see this John Hughes film: 1985 WEIRD SCIENCE (FAIL!)
62. Rent or see this John Hughes film: 1986 PRETTY IN PINK (DONE!)
    Rent or see (at least) 5 of these Kurosawa films: (Only 2 - i have some sitting on my desktop, but need to figure out hhooking up laptop to mesozoic TV.)
63-67. 1943 SANSHIRO SUGATA (JUDO SAGA), 1944 THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, 1945 SANSHIRO SUGATA PART II (JUDO SAGA 2), 1946 NO REGRETS FOR OUR YOUTH (DONE!), 1946 ONE WONDERFUL SUNDAY, 1948 DRUNKEN ANGEL, 1949 THE QUIET DUEL, 1955 RECORD OF A LIVING BEING (I LIVE IN FEAR), 1970 DODESUKADEN, 1975 DERSU UZALA, 1980 KAGEMUSHA (DONE!), 1990 DREAMS, 1991 RHAPSODY IN AUGUST, 1993 MADADAYO (NOT YET), 1945 THE MEN WHO TREAD ON THE TIGER'S TAIL (tried to rent, but it was damaged)
[seen: STRAY DOG, SCANDAL, RASHOMON, IKIRU (TO LIVE), THE IDIOT, SEVEN SAMURAI, THRONE OF BLOOD (SPIDER WEB CASTLE), THE LOWER DEPTHS, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, RED BEARD, HIGH AND LOW (HEAVEN AND HELL), THE BAD SLEEP WELL, YOJIMBO, SANJURO, RAN].
68. Rent or see Serge Boson's LA FRANCE 2007. (FAIL!)
69. Rent or see this Eddie Izzard dvd: CIRCLE. (DONE!)
70. Rent or see this Eddie Izzard dvd: SEXIE (FAIL!)
71. Rent or see this Eddie Izzard dvd: LIVE AT THE AMBASSADOR (FAIL!)

Shows
72. FRIENDS' CORPS NIGHT (tour): Wednesday, April 8, 2009. (DONE!)
73. BALLET working rehearsal: Feb 11, 2009. (FAIL - missed it!)
74. BALLET Romeo & Juliet rehearsal: March 10, 2009. (DONE!)
75. BALLET working rehearsal: May 6, 2009. (DONE!)
76-81. See Bands in a Club at least 6 times. (DONE!)
82: CIRQUE DE SOLEIL NEW SHOW: Sep 5, 2009. (DONE! twice!)

Health Ongoing
83. EAT BETTER - this would definitely be easier if I were on my own. Why don't i crave fruit? I need to eat more fruit and vegetables. (FAIL!)
84. I still ought to FLOSS and use that weird little rubber thing every day. (Mostly FAIL! Although i floss semi-regularly)
85. Take my daily VITAMINS. (DONE!)
86. SLEEP! - seriously, i think it got to the point where i was so sleep deprived it was hurting my health. (FAIL!)
87. Go swimming at least once a week during the summer. (UTTER FAIL!)
88. Get a massage (having discovered how to do the physio, i think i'd like to get an occasional massage paid for through school). (DONE!)
89. LOSE WEIGHT - i've still got at least 50 lbs of unwanted fat. It looks awful, and is very unhealthy. (FAIL!)
90. EXERCISE - it needs to be aerobic, and i still like the idea of yoga, tai chi and swimming. I just wish i had someone to do it with (at least three times each week). (Started - taking yoga classes.)

Arts Ongoing
91. DRAWING - fill a sketchbook. (TRY AGAIN!) (SUPER-FAIL! i did a very tiny bit)
92. PAINTING. (FAIL!)
93. PRINT-MAKING. (FAIL!)
94. More PHOTOGRAPHY. (DONE!)
95. LIFE DRAWING - hopefully there’ll be classes going on this term. (DONE!)
96. DRAWING - cartoony. (FAIL!)
97. DRAWING - 100 people (that's at last 8 a month). (FAIL!)

Home & Financial Ongoing
98. Stop WASTING my time online. (FAIL!)
99. Regular SAVINGS (downpayment). (DOING!)
100. Regular SAVINGS (RSP). (DOING!)
101. CLEAN, dust and vacuum more regularly. I guess that means launder sheets more too. (FAIL!)
102. Take the new comics DOWNSTAIRS regularly. (FAIL!)