Matthew

Dear World

2009-10-26T12:22:05Z

Just started playing MGS4, the time was right.

The game is so good I would actually contemplate getting a PSP just to play MGS: Peace Walker, cuz' you know it would be a good time.

I think I killed too many people though (too many being even one), but given Snake's condition I just couldn't help from giving in and popping a few caps using my custom M4 or PS90. I started out in full stealth/non-lethal mode, but when I realized just how easy it was to get though some parts of the game by killing I found myself saying "Snake is TOO OLD for this shit!"(shit being sneaking around on all fours and getting STRESSED OUT and hurting his old man body). Every time he hits his back because it's sore I wince and feel terrible for making OLD SNAKE go though all this.

But, from now on, it's time to MAN UP, SNAKE OUT and do the right thing by not killing anymore; it helps that I got the anesthetic rounds sniper rifle.

If songs were tag-teams....

2009-10-02T13:34:21Z

...these would win WRESTLEMANIA by killing everyone with PURE ROCK & ROLL:

#1

It's sad y'know, THE CLASH could have been as big as THE BEATLES if only they hadn't been so durn ugly/potentially uninterested in pursuing such a career. But, really, matching haircuts would have been all it would have taken.

Not that I'm really up on how THE CLASH figuired into the "British Invasion"...I do recall them playing some pretty big tours in America at one point.

Addendum: I understand rap music like nobodies business and I write rap like nobodies business

2009-08-15T01:20:46Z

Once upon a time, I thought that the rap band "Swollen Members" might be good since I kinda found their name funny, even though I had never really heard them. Boy was I ever wrong! Although I'll admit that it may not be THE WORST rap out there, maybe because it's CDN, in that it is THE WORST rap out there, but only the CDN version, and not the U.S. version which is actually THE WORST RAP EVER ANYWHERE; which is, I dunno, PUFF DADDY or something.

p.s. this special rap article is in honor of my good friend Nic "Voted least likely to become a rapper, due to his being, when I first met him, the nerdiest French kid ever and thus not a good candidate for rapper-hoodom/later did I realize being a nerdy French kid also meant getting to live a sweet life of teaching and reading comics in Montreal" Carrier, whom I accidentally left out of my recent bro-related roll call.

oblique reference: plot vs. meaning

2009-08-15T01:02:22Z

So, recap"

- I live in cottage country, since more people come to vacation here than do live here. There is a big ol' nice beach, literally about 15 minutes biking time from here. I really only started to appreciate this recently. I mean it's not like like Fredericton is Toronto or anything (i.e. where all that surrounds you is filth and concrete, ha ha, jk/no really), but still, a nice beach from where I lived in Fredericton was easily as much as 35-45 minutes bike ride away (that 20-30 minutes is all the difference, really). Also, today I stopped to watch some farmers farm when I was out earlier...Farmers....farming (which, I'll mention for the sake of any of you living in Toronto, ha ha,jk/no seriously, is done with machines now and is all very professional and not in anyway involves serfdom).

- I spent most of the day staring into a computer screen and thinking about transforming every-day, good and proper sentences that easily make sense into much more impressive ones that make less sense and are generally confusing. This is called "writing a research paper".

- Yoga is a fine way to spend your time, if you are so inclined.

- I really do have lots of love for lj still - sure I check face book everyday, as I assume 90% of people do as well, even those who so much as wouldn't have used their real name on the internet a few years ago - since I assume other people actually pay attention to things that are said here (as unlike facebook). Seann? Scott? Josef? MattR? Roll call my brothers. Ryan, I didn't put you there since I don't have a total sense of your lj reading tendencies despite your prolific entries (which, I still do my best to read and almost always enjoy, despite my envy of your wealth of knowledge and focus - but, really, I just could never drink that much).

- And, most important:

Dear Diary,
I have a girlfriend, her name is Marchell Coulombe, she lives in Wolfville because of school, so I moved too - it's the best thing evAR. We are just super, super gay for one another. And, yes I know gay is not a word to be used thusly, but fuck you, it's true; SUPER SUPER GAY. We have a cat/child named Madoc Coulombe, she is cute and has a lovely little purr.

♥♥♥Matthew♥♥♥

p.s. sometimes I like to channel a 13-year old girl, cool?

I swear I wasn't googling myself (no, really!)

2009-07-14T00:22:00Z

This will be of limited humour to a few, perhaps even only myself, and of no interest to most.

Werd, Nerdz!

2009-07-12T16:16:23Z

Buck 65: Synesthesia: Best or Greatest rap album to come out in 2002?

"Just trying to do my job people. just trying to do my job..."

Sadly, I find him a frustrating radio host.

Hey, look: I wrote a letter to the Editor of a University paper about. . . Student Union politics!

2009-02-25T19:24:35Z

Student politics, like other political endeavors, are often instructive, valuable and inspiring; however, similar to their larger counterparts, they are occasionally disheartening or even asinine.

Ina recent SU decision, David Rabinovitch has been disqualified from candidacy in the current election for not having paid his SU fees earlier this academic year. According to the Chief Appeals Officer, Chris Samuel, their ruling in this matter is final and cannot be revisited.

This decision is based on a bylaw which, stated simply, says that an individual may not run for SU office without being a SU member by virtue of having paid their SU fees.

This bylaw is essentially correct and, in some cases, may be justifiably enforced. It makes very clear sense that a candidate for SU office should be an SU member. However, it is not correct to enforce this bylaw in such a manner that does not first give an individual the opportunity to correct this minor infraction.

In most cases, I support the following of rules to the letter. This puts necessary onus on law makers to ensure that the wordings of their laws are clear and support the spirit of their laws. In denying Rabinovitch his candidacy in this matter we have a clear example of the enforcement of a law contradicting the spirit behind its creation. The intention of the relevant bylaw is not to bar candidates from running for not having paid a small sum of money by a certain date, but rather to ensure that candidates are members of the SU. Rabinovitch claims, that for reasons unbeknownst to him, a banking error resulted in him inadvertently not paying his SU fees.

I have not read the relevant bylaw and, consequently, I am unaware of its specifications. However, it appears it may allow for a decision by the CRO that would provide Rabinovitch the opportunity to pay his SU fees and remain a candidate in this election. If it does allow this ruling it is in the interest of justice and sound judgment that the original ruling be revisited and changed. If, after having been given this opportunity, Rabinovitch does not pay his fees then it would be a justifiable decision to bar him from running for SU office.

If this mistake is not corrected and David Rabinovitch is not given the opportunity to remain a candidate in the current election I would suggest that the relevancy and character of the SU bylaws and the actions of current SU officials are more asinine and laughable than they are valuable and inspiring. However, they will remain instructive. Yet, in this case the lesson to be learned is not a positive one. (Ouch! Zing!)

Matthew MacLean

Note: Parts in bold not included in actual submission.

Doctor Who

2009-01-28T13:54:42Z

I wonder if anyone would read that as Doctor Who... Who?

"Knowing's easy; everyone does that ad nauseam. I just sort of hope."

The Doctor, in "State of Decay"

I watched a lot of Doctor Who as a kid. I loved that show. I don't know what I got out of it. Not much likely. I did like the fantasy and sci-fi elements and being a nerd it was important to be versed in those kinds of things.

I certainly didn't think: The humorous, good-natured, intelligent, compassionate, optimistic yet pragmatic attitude of Doctor Who (exemplified in Tom Baker) is a hero for all time and a personal model I would certainly strive towards.

Consider the model of the enlightened master: wise, detached, eccentric, esoteric, and, if they're really good: funny as hell.

But, why? Why funny? Why not just be plain about the whole affair and say: "Listen, okay, this is easy: the key to happiness or fulfillment or whatever you want to call it. . . the key to that thing you want. . . is to buckle down, find out what it is, stay happy, and go for it with all your energy. I make no guarantees you'll get it, but what else are you going to do? Anyway, it's way more interesting than being disinterested or discouraged."

End of story. There is no need to say more. The general principle is right there: Do it, stay upbeat, have fun, and GO FOR IT.

However, who is going to buy that? It's easy enough to understand and maybe that is sufficient for someone, but here are a few more keys:

- nothing that is easy will stick
or
- the context and/or origin/source of information is sometimes more important than the information itself
or
- you will value more what you've had to fight or work for

Now, ignoring the dangers associated with platitudes, these broad statements are meant to show that enlightenment (or whatever, no point in dickering about details) is usually only possible through struggle. Or, is better when gained through struggle, or something like that. Do you see what I am getting at? No? Good!

See, if the Doctor/Enlightened Master didn't crack wise or remain obtuse it simply would not be any fun at all. And, as a general rule, things that are fun are far more engaging than those that are not. Therefore, fun = increased engagement and motivation. And, further: fun in the form of esoteric statements, riddles and such = increased critical thought and logical analysis.

So, in conclusion: The Doctor makes learning fun.

Billy Idol: Isn't he cute?

2009-01-27T13:40:36Z

BILLY IDOL: Does anyone mind if I propose a new musical genre just to describe Billy Idol's music? I would like to call it "Seriously Silly". (Note: I really do on the whole find his music generally fun and can listen to it with minimal irony shields).

orchomonous @ 2009-01-20T09:59:00

2009-01-20T18:45:54Z

On this very important day in American History (A.H.) we should all take time to truly contemplate what is important:

By God, I hope someone saw that coming.

RE: Obama: Just how far will he take his seeming rationality, sensitivity and appeal? I don't know.

What I fear is, because that in order to be a moderately successful politician in the US (or in most places, I imagine) you have to know how to play a game. You have to think, even a little bit, that if I do x I will get y. Simple, enough, right? But, that kind of cold rationality would actually be disturbing to the voter that really mattered in the US election: the human heart. You see, this past US election was so fucking emo. I don't pretend to ignore those issues having to do with important political differences between Bush and Obama (there are quite a few), but what you hear the most about, what you probably think the most about is the whole romance of it. He is the First Black President and that shit is a pretty good starter, but when you throw in his secular (er, wait, no, he IS religious - in the coldest most contrived way ever - and not that I have a problem with that I'm just letting you, the reader at home, know it too) humanism, his lanky frame to Bush's Cowboy hats and you get a pretty convincing good vs. evil story structure.

In the Simpson's World George Bush is, well, George Bush:

"[Santa's Little Helper goes off running with George Bush, leaving Homer all alone]
Homer: I guess you might say he's barking up the wrong Bush.
Homer's Brain: There it is, Homer. The cleverest thing you'll ever say and nobody heard it.
Homer: D'oh. "

(I'm not sure exactly what the comment is here, but. . . it is pretty funny).

However, he is also the big cowboy hatted Texan Businessman; and, that guy was an evil buffon.

Yet, Barack Obama in the Simpsons world:

Plus! Note the following: The music in the first bit is the Treehouse of Horror theme song. I.E. Who Kang? Who Kodos? Clever.

Back to the Barack as game player: An article I read in Harper's magazine last year on Obama talked about how in order to make it to the presidential race you will have had to claimed opinions, accepted money and promoted issues that you yourself as an individual find unacceptable. This is a comment on the labyrinthine and financially based system which controls who gets to the upper echelons of political aspirations in the US. There is a substantial PR component (and eventually it comes down to PR), but no one is going to make it to the presidential race without sacrificing some of their own, perhaps deeply held, beliefs. So, in that way, in can be hard to distinguish what he stands for in terms of what he will do in actual practice and what he is actually only paying lip service to. Granted, he seems pretty genuine, but that could just as easily mean that he knows the game very well.

In conclusion: meh, for now.

Bonus:

1) When I make waffles it's not because I want to eat some waffles, I want to eat a Maple Syrup soaked sponge, but I'm too afraid to actually try.

2) I've decided why I like fake cheese slices: They are the food that people in Cyberpunk stories have to eat and buy from a vending machine in an alley or a restaurant with armed guards as the only staff. And that is cool.

Checkit'

2009-01-16T12:04:56Z

antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090115.html

100% true stories

2009-01-07T02:18:53Z

Shit ya'll! I almost forget to mention: My favorite new "I tried it during" 2008 jam is officially:

POMEGRANATE JELLY.

Which is, technically, not really a jam. But, here is the thing: jam vs. jelly is a useless distinction. Yes, some people do prefer one of the other (mostly people with a preference tend to want jellies instead of jams); but. no that is not the point! The point is that those people shoot be shot.

Ha! I have hidden three grammar and/or punctuation anomalies in the previous paragraph! Can you spot them all?

Hey Starchamber007: If you haven't already written stories about the kitchen and the need to "own it to pwn it" you really should!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

THE BOOK "THE CAT WHO WALKS THROUGH WALLS" BY ROBERT A. HEINLEIN IS, Y'KNOW, QUITE GOOD.

Love is a transfer of power

2008-12-18T16:30:35Z

I propose an experiment:

1) Watch the film 'Babylon A.D.' starring Vin Diesel.

2) Then contemplate the following maxim: "In the future all nuns will know kung-fu".

3) Enjoy.

Also, once again, this film proves how Vin Diesel should be amongst the favorite actors of geeks everywhere. His movies might not be the most subtle or intellectual treatments, but gol' darn they sure are fun, inventive, and obviously inspired by pulp science fiction, Shakespeare, and Conan (The Chronicles of Riddick is a masterful interpretation of both MacBeth and Conan The King).

And, let us never forget: The dude played DnD and had one of his favorite characters names fake tattooed on his stomach for the film XXX.

I was also greatly inspired by a particular performance from 'Babylon A.D.'', or, rather, a particular brand of performance: The guy who shoots stuff while leaning out of a moving car.

These guys are likely extras who are brought in for a day or two of shooting to capture just a 1-2 second shot of "a man shooting out of a moving car". This direction ("you lean out of the car, you shoot at something") is probably all they know about their character. They likely don't know much about the movie, or who/what they are shooting and why. Yet, these actors deliver some of the most forceful and committed performances seen in any medium. I think this reveals a real dedication to the craft of acting - if all they know is that they are shooting something then they are going to SHOOT THE HELL OUT OF THAT THING. Many extras don't want to just be an extra, they want to be actors, and actors are compelled to deliver the most pure and believable scene they can.

I think this warrants a new Academy Award category: "Best performance delivered by an unrecognizable actor portraying someone shooting a gun out of a moving car."

Unfamiliar Ceiling Beast/The Best Baba Ganouj in town/The Dark Knight was really good AND stupid

2008-12-06T18:12:36Z

Unfamiliar Ceiling Beast
I've been re-watching NEON GENESIS EVANGELION over the past two weeks, and...and, well...

I think I finally get it.

The reason I am so hesitant to say so is because of why I am now getting it, but I'll get to that later.

The first watch through (conducted in a few pretty lengthy spurts with the regular crew at that time) left me kinda "meh" on the whole series. I mean I 'liked it', but 'love it' I did not.

However, that has definitely changed. I mean how could I not love a story with obvious yet powerful and resonant allegories? Shinji's experience, or what Shinji's experiences represent were close to something I shared at one point in my life. I was as withdrawn, unsure, awkward and sad as was common for a lot of kids then/now - but, I just didn't have enough trauma in my life to really keep that up for long. Well, that might not be it exactly - I certainly had pain too, but being as goofy/non-serious as I was stopped me from dwelling in that place for long. Perhaps more likely, however, is that I became for the most part an intensely social person and this would have by necessity prevented me from being introverted for long.

Introversion is in my mind the real culprit behind Shinji's problems - rather than his sense of abandonment or isolation. Introversion when combined with pain and fear can make us sad, lonely and alienated people on a more or less full time basis. All my personal and professional experience has shown me that the most powerful and helpful act on this planet is that of resonance with another human being. This act can provide us with a great deal of hope, happiness and healing. This can be a hard thing for Shinji's everywhere because when we open up we can also make ourselves vulnerable. If you are lucky enough to have not been hurt by someone you were vulnerable to in this way at an early age you can usually handle it if it happens to you later in life. However, if it happens to you early enough or often enough or for any number of other reasons you will learn to defend yourself from this possibility in the future and that can make the experience of resonance and understanding harder to come by.

I realize I'm not saying anything new here (about life or NGE), but I thought I'd share anyway. In fact, that is likely another reason I avoided remaining withdrawn - I usually tell all people all my shit all the time. I can honestly say there isn't a single thing about myself I haven't or wouldn't share with anyone and I have done some pretty terrible shit in my time.

Oh well, we all have.

Anyway, to return to the reason I am finally getting NGE.

The English language.

Sadly, it is as simple as that. I, just like most people with good taste, usually opt for subtitles. However, I may not be adept enough to really get the complex emotional information from reading subtitles and listening to the Japanese audio that a show like NGE can offer. This of course depends entirely on the quality of the translation and voice acting, and, hopefully my newfound understanding syncs up with the corresponding original Japanese one (though, really, either could be just as valid), but it seems that now not only do I finally get plot points, but I feel I have an understanding of what the show is trying to say and explore.

The Best Baba Ganouj In Town

It involves real roasted eggplant and actual spices and is not just flavoring and mayonnaise (the secret behind most PC and Sobey's brand dips). It costs $3.50. It is only available on Saturdays (that I know of).

Yup, the small market stall in the new section, a stall or two down from the OJ place, on the left hand aisle (coming from the other half of the indoor market) has the best Baba Ghanouj in town.

Really, try it.

The Dark Knight Was Really Good AND Stupid (and other things that have already been said on the internet a billion times by now). <SPOILERS>

When I first saw TDK I was, basically, underwhelmed. I was setup for something pretty big, and while I was mostly satisfied, I wouldn't have given it that much praise. To be fair, I was pretty close to the front (i.e. too close), and long movies are hard for me in theatres because I pee so damn much and that results in the anxious dilemma of wanting to hold it for as long as possible and also constantly evaluating each scene by thinking "How important is this scene? Should I go pee now?" That compounded with the actual unpleasant sensation of having to pee would probably diminish any movie going experience.

Still, even before the "pee factor" kicked in I found myself doubting the film in the first 5 minutes.

When the Joker pulls out in the school bus that just crashed into the bank and merges seamlessly into traffic between a bunch of other buses I was confused and disappointed. Isn’t someone going to notice that? It was covered in dust; there was a bunch of people around and, oh yeah: IT JUST PULLED OUT OF A BANK THAT IT CRASHED INTO AND KNOCKED DOWN A CONCRETE WALL.

Now, that could all be explained away I agree. Maybe all the other busses were driven by Joker henchman or maybe someone did notice it and call it, but by then it was too late, etc....

Fine. And, of course, it is a movie. I'm not one to point out things and go "That would never happen!" Of course, it would in all likelihood, never happen, it's a goddam movie! It’s fiction!

However, this Batman reboot is supposed to be a more realistic approach and while that still means you can have ninjas and secret assassin societies and pretty much everything Batman does, you still have to let us think "that was sweet AND it could totally work, even if it was kinda unrealistic". Violate that rule too much and you end up making something look cartoonish.

This brings me to my next point: I found I enjoyed TDK a lot more when I started to think of it as a cartoon. When we say something is cartoonish we mean that it is over-the-top, improbable, comedic, or even just brightly colored. Basically it means that it is not to be taken seriously. This doesn’t mean it still can’t be meaningful, but we are far more forgiving of cartoons in this regard then we are with live action media. This seems to be an odd distinction. Both are representations not of reality necessarily (although they could be), but definitely involve data of some kind – which can include any or none of: stories, plot, characters, words, ideas¹ , action, etc. Furthermore, something that looks live action but doesn’t involve a record of light travelling off people through a lens and burning onto film and then later shining light through the semi-transparent film onto another surface is just around the corner, if not here already. I don’t have the energy to really get into how technology can change our or reveal the inconsistencies in our behavior (thinking included!), but just imagine it here anyway. Or, Google it and imagine that’s what I’m telling you now.

Three final points about TDK:

1) Despite my newfound filter I still found the setup of the final plot device (boats go boom!) too hackneyed and ridiculous (I did, however, like seeing the prisoner’s dilemma being mined for ideas). Here is my note to Directors everywhere: You don’t have to go with the first cool idea you think of for MAJOR PLOT POINTS. First of all, it just seemed to stretch the plausibility of the idea that not only is the Joker a force of chaos and disorder but that he is a master strategist and organizer that maintains and coordinates the necessary work force to accomplish such a task, but als that if the police were so concerned, and presumably were directly involved with putting the prisoners and perhaps the non-prisoners on the boats someone would have checked them out a little. I mean, not much, maybe just A FUCKING GLANCE INTO THE ENGINE ROOM that would have revealed the many dozen barrels of explosives.

2) If you ever find yourself on a boat with a button that will explode another boat filled with prisoners who you know also have a button that will blow you up and that you can either push the button first and save yourself for sure or wait it out until a certain time when you will both be safe then you should PUSH THAT FUCKING BUTTON. The guys in the other boats were criminals – have you seen the stats on the link between criminal behavior and mental illness? AT LEAST one of those guys was going to be unstable enough to think “Shit! The people in the other boat think we are a bunch of no good scum – I’ll show them!” and then pushed the button. Now, please don’t think that my mention of mental illness means I think an individual with mental illness is necessarily criminal, evil, or unstable, but, based on pure probability, it is more likely when compared to your average person without mental illness. I don’t have a similar and seemingly accurate way to frame the odds from the point of view of the prisoner boat people, but I think it still results in pushing the button. Anyways, lucky for the people on the non-prisoner boat being a “magical negroe” is apparently illegal, because along comes the actor who played another such character in ‘The Green Mile’ to portray the large, tattooed, black criminal to make the supposedly surprising choice to throw away the device.

3) Finally, I found Lucius Fox’s stance against the cell-phone imaging technology incongruous with his character and an obvious tack on comment on recent US domestic and foreign policy. I think that as a man of intelligence and science he would have recognized its usefulness and felt that if proper safeguards were provided to prevent its abuse he would support it. Furthermore, he had NO PROBLEM INVENTING IT AND THEN USING IT AGAINST SOMEBODY HIMSELF. Sure, the scope was different, but is Lucius Fox then saying “Well, that just makes it too easy! Batman, if you want to spy on people using this technology I demand you fly me first class or rent me a limo and have me plant the necessary technology where it is needed myself. . . I just want to feel useful is all.”

Okay, that’s all.

Oh, except this, my favorite quote from BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT:

“CLOWNS ARE HOSTAGES! DOCTORS ARE TARGETS!"

¹Although, what could possible have no idea attached to it? At the very least someone thought of doing x and then actually did x – as well, anything you perceive automatically becomes something and has meaning attached to it.

Long time listener, first time caller

2008-11-19T16:04:06Z

"Long time listener, first time caller"

Or, at least, it feels like it. I check LJ every damn day. It is an integral experience in my daily ritual.

So, why am I posting now?
_______________________________

To share the following: The Cars are a great band and I really like listening to them. Either late at night or early on the bus is best. Snack and meal times are also acceptable.

It all started with 'drive':

I listened to on repeat for about a week - then I moved on to the 'best of' album, which is where I still find myself. I may move into actual albums at a later date. Now, I knew very little of The Cars when I first started listening to them and I was kinda surprised at how many seemingly ubiquitous songs from tv and movies are from them. The obvious one being "Just What I Needed":

If I had been asked about that song before I listened to it during this recent obsession, I would probably have been forced to label it as soundtrack fodder.

But Holy Shit Man:

I dont mind you comin here
And wastin all my time
cause when youre standin oh so near
I kinda lose my mind
Its not the perfume that you wear
Its not the ribbons in your hair
I dont mind you comin here
And wastin all my time

I dont mind you hangin out
And talkin in your sleep
It doesnt matter where youve been
As long as it was deep, yeah
You always knew to wear it well and
You look so fancy I can tell
I dont mind you hangin out
And talkin in your sleep

I guess youre just what I needed
(just what I needed)
I needed someone to feed
I guess youre just what I needed
(just what I needed)
I needed someone to bleed

I dont mind you comin here
And wastin all my time time
cause when youre standin oh so near
I kinda lose my mind, yeah
Its not the perfume that you wear
Its not the ribbons in your hair
I dont mind you comin here
And wastin all my time

I guess youre just what I needed
(just what I needed)
I needed someone to feed
I guess youre just what I needed
(just what I needed)
I needed someone to bleed

I guess youre just what I needed
(just what I needed)
I needed someone to feed
I guess youre just what I needed
(just what I needed)
I needed someone to bleed
Yeah, yeah, so bleed me

Youre just what I needed
Youre just what I needed
Yeah, youre just what I needed
Yeah, yeah yeah

_______________________________

Okay, now look. In some ways you have got to look past some 'surface' level aesthetic stuff when it comes to The Cars. I say 'you' because I don't find I really have to, but I do see how someone could be put off by such a line as:

'Its not the perfume that you wear
Its not the ribbons in your hair'

For me the weakest part of the song might be the "just what I needed" chorus repeat, but that is a minor complaint.

_______________________________

But, really, my #1 favorite so far has been Candy-O:

Candy-o, I need you
Sunday dress, ruby ring
Candy-o, I need you so
Could you help me in?

Purple hum, assorted cards
Razor lights youll bring
And all to prove youre on the move
And vanishing

Candy-o, I need you so
Candy-o, I need you so

Edge of night, distract yourself
Obstacles dont work
Homogenize
Decentralize
Its just a quirk

Different ways to see you through
All the same in the end
Peculiar star, a-thats who you are
Do you have to win?

Candy-o, I need you so
Candy-o, I need you so

Candy-o, I need you so
(candy-o)
Candy-o, I need you so
(candy-o)

_______________________________

orchomonous @ 2008-04-10T10:28:00

2008-04-10T13:46:25Z

When I clicked 'post entry' LJ asked me if I'd like to 'save from draft'?

Here is what it said: "He was 70". I'm pretty sure that was from post I was going to write about Gary Gygax. I was hoping to find the life expectancy table from AD&D 2nd Ed. and see how well he rolled. The internet really let me down on that one.

Anyways, I'm only really writing to state something obvious: The samosas at the SUB are freshest in the morning. I got some about 1/2 hour ago ad they were still warm. On a related note: How can having meat filled samosas at room temperature all day a) not violate a health/food safety code, and b) make any sense at all. I mean the sandwiches are kept refrigerated so it seems like there is some kid of double standard at work here.

I ate at the Indian restaurant downtown yesterday and had a pint with my meal. Upon returning to work I discovered that I was now somewhat tipsy and felt like a nap.

Today is kinda perfect: writing and researching, multiple snack breaks, visits to the library to read all the papers (a task enjoyed by me and several elderly gentleman).

I'm in the process of developing further contingency plans in the event that I am not accepted into any of the programs I have applied to. I call them "fail at life plans". No, I don't think not being accepted will actually constitute 'failing at life', but I can't argue that it makes a snappy title.

Options include:
a) More school! A Master's in Public Health? Epidemiology? I dunno. These can't really happen since the deadline will have passed, but something to keep in mind for the 2009 season.
b) English... abroad? But, you know, probably not.
c) Work! I could likely find some work in my field either around here, or more likely...
d) Move to _______ (Toronto? Vancouver?)
e) International internships? Rwanda?

I could also stay put and work at the HERG since there are plenty of projects to go around, and some are actually very interesting to me, but Fredericton has begun to take on a certain odor (not to be confused with the general aroma of defrosted crap that permeates at the moment).

orchomonous @ 2007-10-11T12:17:00

2007-10-11T15:18:03Z

I am vaguely self-conscious/ashamed about loading the facebook page in public areas.

everyone is doing it/zombie jesus

2007-08-29T13:25:32Z

As an amateur zombologist I feel it is my duty to educate the public about zombie myths and misconceptions. Knowing the difference between what zombies can and cannot do could prove the difference between life and death in an actual zombie encounter.

Therefore, let us examine the claim of Jesus as zombie. This claim pops up in humourous photos often deriding the Christian myth. Now, I'll admit that zombies can be defined very broadly, not only in terms of their origins (cosmic radiation to toxic goo), but in their behavior (eating brains/eating any flesh, slow/fast. etc.). There are, however, two basic requirements that must be met for zombie status - these are:

1) Un-dead.

Zombies must have at one point in time been a living creature who was dead and then re-animated. Okay, Jesus gets this one. In the story he dies and then comes back. Easy enough.

2) Must feed on the living, and/or suffer from mental and/or physical degredation.

This second point is a little trickier since it involves the inclusion of atleast one of the above variables. Either zombies must be driven to consume some part of the living, and/or lose some mental capacity, and/or be rotting. Without any of these variables the individual/creature in question has merely been raised. A raised individual is one who returns from the dead in the state they were before death. This is likely the case with Jesus, although we don't really have info on his mental or physical status. We can be fairly certain he was not driven to consume flesh, since Jesus taking a bite out of Mary Magdalen (not in that way) would likely have received some mention. I will admit to the possibility that any mention of these acts has been obscured and/or removed by any number of bibilical authors/scholars over the years, and one could certainly understand their motives in doing so.

Fortunately, the case of Jesus as zombie is not over. While Jesus may not possess any of the second criteria for zombie status, he does present an interesting case nonetheless.

I make the claim that while Jesus is not a zombie, he is in fact a reverse zombie. A number of the followers of Jesus regularly eat of his flesh and drink of his blood. So now we have an un-dead individual who feeds his un-dead flesh and blood to others! Remarkable! The purpose of this reverse-zombiedom is a mystery to me, but this Jesus fellow was known for his charity. Perhaps his force of will, or his supposed mystical connection/powers, allowed him to overcome his own desires for the flesh of the living, and instead allowed him to feed his flesh to others. I think I begin to understand the allure of this reverse zombie cult known as Christianity. Truly, he was an intriguing individual.

Country livin' is easy, but city life can be grand

2007-07-01T13:55:19Z

It was nice to wake up to birds and bullfrogs, grass and wind.

Easy access to sun, a quiet spot, and the ability to be in your underwear outside without cause for concern.

I've been mulling over big city life vs. small town, or out of town living - the verdict is in: Live long enough in a big city to get used to cheap and good restaurants/take-out, better bars and bands, and other metropolitan comforts - but retire soon enough to the country to enjoy open land, fresh food from a garden, and nudity. Possibly this should be done in chronological order - and don't forget that when you retire to the country it is important to have a bitchin' entertainment setup. Living in the country doesn't mean you can't have video games and loud speakers. Secondly, friendly cats - I can't stress that enough.

So, soon(ish) I will be ending my life in "downtown small city" and will likely begin "downtown big city" for which "downtown small city" has acted as something of a training ground, but that will last only so long before I decide to move to a geodesic dome by some water - maybe where there is waves for surfing? Surfing in later life could be a golden ticket to good times.

Ginger Beers

2007-05-20T23:26:44Z

Many different ginger beers were bought. A full report will be forthcoming.

Oh man

2007-05-12T20:00:51Z

What to say? Well, not much, but I feel like I haven't been partaking enough in my own livejournal. I make sure to check it out everyday - which I start to think is a weird habit.

I ate too many dolmades, and then when I was listening to the hip I started to feel nauseous when I imagined myself to spin.

I have tried and failed once again to keep a consistent dream journal - I can usually be bothered to write down the ones right after I wake up, but in the middle of the night the importance of lucid dreaming training seems unimportant.

Uhm. I'll likely (for sure?) be in Fredericton until December '07 - a four month long internship opened up here which is a decent opportunity. Plus I got a new job at the university as a research assistant which makes staying here, uh, less financially tiresome. School goes.

Off to Vancouver for a while to do some climbing, and later some conferencing with my professional and academic peers.

Later this summer? Spain.

missing country

2007-04-05T23:43:43Z

Does anybody know where I put Puerto Rico?

culinary advice

2007-03-25T19:04:04Z

Apparently adding yogurt to a curry is about the most delicious thing ever.

orchomonous @ 2007-01-16T12:08:00

2007-01-16T16:20:40Z

Occasionally I work long overnight shifts at work (say, like today when I'll be working 4 PM to 8 AM) at which I am not allowed to sleep. Essentially this means I have about a good solid 8 or so hours with nothing to do. I generally bring some books (but reading becomes difficult past 1 AM), some movies, and some schoolwork (also difficult past 1 AM). I invariably end up watching some tv, which is sometimes good (Star Trek movie marathon) and sometimes bad. For instance two nights ago I ended up watching "When Animals Attack" parts 3 and 4, which is narratted by Louis Gosset Jr.

Poor, poor, Louis Gosset Jr. I understand though - it's hard coming out of the shadow of being a poor persons Danny Glover.

Tonight I'm looking forward to watching a VHS copy of "Leviathan".

I also experienced a huge impulse to play some Citadel when I was at Jumbo Video last night and looking at all the crazy Spawn models. It seemed that kind of really out there aesthetic would warrant some type of deluxe Citadel - and, technically, wouldn't the next incarnation of Citadel be number 6? I could kind of see it even being a return to the first Citadel in it's style of play and world set up - yet, somehow, even more out of control - with like headless angel ninjas, and half-demon half-city hybrid monsters - and maybe we could even fight a planet. Yeah.

Man, that Dungeons and Dragons movie really sucked

2006-11-03T13:43:08Z

I do, however, want to see the sequel. You know, I also feel that the best part in that movie is the blue lips guy. I dunno, maybe it's only in the backdrop of shoddy story-telling, and campy costumes/sub-par cg, but he seems to have a real personality, is well-acted, and maybe even a cool character.