Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sceptre from Roman emperor exhibited
The only Roman emperor's sceptre to have been found has gone on public display in Rome for the first time.The sceptre, which is topped by a blue orb that represents the earth, was discovered at the end of last year and is believed to have been held by Emperor Maxentius, who ruled for six years until 312 AD.
Archaeologists believe that Maxentius' supporters hid the sceptre...to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
Read more here.
Oh man, maybe they shouldn't have bothered
The face of a late Stone Age woman who lived in Sicily has been reconstructed by a sculptor working with anthropologists at Palermo University.The skeleton of the woman, who lived 14,000 years ago, was discovered in a cave near Messina in 1937, along with the incomplete skeletons of six other humans, presumably her family.
Read more here.
North America's Fascist Redlightocracies
Coolipolis has an article concerning the continuing adventures of Montreal mayor Tremblay.
Montreal has always been able to throw up little tin plated dictator mayors, but in Tremblay is sounds like they have a doozie.
After him ramming through* a name change for Parc Ave (now it's Avenue de Boo-Boo), now he remains steadfast in resisting right turns at red lights in the city.
...the island of Montreal, which sees 20,000 residents leave per year, remains the last of North America's fascist redlightocracies, the only place other than Manhattan in the entire Can-Am that forces people to sit at right lights even when they want to turn right when nobody is around.
To add hypocrisy to its anti-environmental folly, a coupla dozen months back the city passed a bylaw. Police can now slap people with tickets for daring to warm up their cars before getting in them. Running a car unnecessarily pollutes the environment.
And yet the city forces drivers against their will to commit their grievous sin against the environment by making them wait unnecessarily at right lights.
Ekkk, 20,000 a year...
*Update, according to Kate at montreal city weblog, the Mayor backed off the name change after public protest. Woohoo, this makes him slightly less tin potish.
Read more here.
Montreal has always been able to throw up little tin plated dictator mayors, but in Tremblay is sounds like they have a doozie.
After him ramming through* a name change for Parc Ave (now it's Avenue de Boo-Boo), now he remains steadfast in resisting right turns at red lights in the city.
...the island of Montreal, which sees 20,000 residents leave per year, remains the last of North America's fascist redlightocracies, the only place other than Manhattan in the entire Can-Am that forces people to sit at right lights even when they want to turn right when nobody is around.
To add hypocrisy to its anti-environmental folly, a coupla dozen months back the city passed a bylaw. Police can now slap people with tickets for daring to warm up their cars before getting in them. Running a car unnecessarily pollutes the environment.
And yet the city forces drivers against their will to commit their grievous sin against the environment by making them wait unnecessarily at right lights.
Ekkk, 20,000 a year...
*Update, according to Kate at montreal city weblog, the Mayor backed off the name change after public protest. Woohoo, this makes him slightly less tin potish.
Read more here.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Asian paper's 'I Hate Blacks' column assailed
A San Francisco weekly newspaper that bills itself as "The Voice of Asian America" is facing harsh criticism from that very community for publishing a column Friday titled "Why I Hate Blacks."
In the column, AsianWeek regular contributor Kenneth Eng listed "reasons" to discriminate against African Americans. The piece has been pulled from the newspaper's Web site, but the print edition of the free paper, owned by the politically influential Fang family, was still available in news racks Monday.
Eng called himself an "Asian supremacist" in January in another installment of the column, which runs under the label "God of the Universe."
First I'd like to say that Mr. Eng and the publishers of AsianWeek don't seem to be the brightest of lights.
Second, "God of the Universe"?
How incredibly pretentious.
Read more here.
In the column, AsianWeek regular contributor Kenneth Eng listed "reasons" to discriminate against African Americans. The piece has been pulled from the newspaper's Web site, but the print edition of the free paper, owned by the politically influential Fang family, was still available in news racks Monday.
Eng called himself an "Asian supremacist" in January in another installment of the column, which runs under the label "God of the Universe."
First I'd like to say that Mr. Eng and the publishers of AsianWeek don't seem to be the brightest of lights.
Second, "God of the Universe"?
How incredibly pretentious.
Read more here.
Find of Roman coin shows ancient Britons in a new light
Experts are excited about a rare coin unearthed by an amateur treasure hunter which could change the accepted ancient history of Britain.
The silver denarius which dates back to the Roman Republic — before Julius Caesar made Rome an empire — was unearthed near Fowey in Cornwall.
Dating from 146 BC, it shows how ancient Britons were trading with the Romans well before the country was conquered in AD 43
Read more here.
The silver denarius which dates back to the Roman Republic — before Julius Caesar made Rome an empire — was unearthed near Fowey in Cornwall.
Dating from 146 BC, it shows how ancient Britons were trading with the Romans well before the country was conquered in AD 43
Read more here.
Black Snake Moan
Prewarblues.org has a piece on the new Samuel L. Jackson movie Black Snake Moan, in which he plays an aging blues musician.
Ok, so the movie's site doesn't fill me with confidence, but just check out his performance of 'Stackolee'.
Included as well on prewarblues.org are original performances by such as Blind Lemon Jackson, Brownie McGhee and Leadbelly.
Dr. Rice needs a history lesson
Condi Rice maggles history on a Sunday talk show.
"…It would be like saying that after Adolf Hitler was overthrown, we needed to change then, the resolution that allowed the United States to do that, so that we could deal with creating a stable environment in Europe after he was overthrown."
See more here.
"…It would be like saying that after Adolf Hitler was overthrown, we needed to change then, the resolution that allowed the United States to do that, so that we could deal with creating a stable environment in Europe after he was overthrown."
See more here.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Ancient Stone Weapons Not Ancient Enough
The traditional story of the peopling of the New World holds that ancient migrants out of northeast Asia slipped into the Americas bearing finely shaped stone projectiles, so-called "Clovis points," after the town in New Mexico where they were first uncovered. This Clovis culture rapidly spread throughout the empty continents and by 1,000 years after their arrival had reached the southernmost tip of what is now South America, making them the original ancestors of indigenous Americans. A number of controversial archaeological sites have challenged this theory and now, by using more advanced dating techniques, researchers may have killed it, throwing the original population of the Western Hemisphere into question again.Read more here.
Conservapedia
A conservative encyclopedia you can trust.
Conservapedia is a much-needed alternative to Wikipedia, which is increasingly anti-Christian and anti-American. On Wikipedia, many of the dates are provided in the anti-Christian "C.E." instead of "A.D.", which Conservapedia uses. Christianity receives no credit for the great advances and discoveries it inspired, such as those of the Renaissance.
Their server is very busy today, but I found this at first glace:
Wikipedia often uses foreign spelling of words, even though most English speaking users are American. Look up "Most Favored Nation" on Wikipedia and it automatically converts the spelling to the British spelling "Most Favoured Nation", even there there are far more American than British users. Look up "Division of labor" on Wikipedia and it automatically converts to the British spelling "Division of labour," then insists on the British spelling for "specialization" also.[3]. Enter "Hapsburg" (the European ruling family) and Wikipedia automatically changes the spelling to Habsburg, even though the American spelling has always been "Hapsburg". Within entries British spellings appear in the silliest of places, even when the topic is American. Conservapedia favors American spellings of words.
LOL. Damn English, how dare they mangle good old American!
Conservapedia is a much-needed alternative to Wikipedia, which is increasingly anti-Christian and anti-American. On Wikipedia, many of the dates are provided in the anti-Christian "C.E." instead of "A.D.", which Conservapedia uses. Christianity receives no credit for the great advances and discoveries it inspired, such as those of the Renaissance.
Their server is very busy today, but I found this at first glace:
Wikipedia often uses foreign spelling of words, even though most English speaking users are American. Look up "Most Favored Nation" on Wikipedia and it automatically converts the spelling to the British spelling "Most Favoured Nation", even there there are far more American than British users. Look up "Division of labor" on Wikipedia and it automatically converts to the British spelling "Division of labour," then insists on the British spelling for "specialization" also.[3]. Enter "Hapsburg" (the European ruling family) and Wikipedia automatically changes the spelling to Habsburg, even though the American spelling has always been "Hapsburg". Within entries British spellings appear in the silliest of places, even when the topic is American. Conservapedia favors American spellings of words.
LOL. Damn English, how dare they mangle good old American!
And the award for the most flamingly stupid article of the day...
the winner is...
I’m not Homophobic; I’m Chick-O-Centric or Don't hate me because I'm a moron, I take pride in it.
This unbelievable collection of words by a certain Doug Giles has such gems as:
Heck, we don’t understand women. What makes you think we’ll ever understand a man who doesn’t like women yet wants to be a woman?
or
If girls are so icky and men are so mondo-jovial, why do you and a lot of your reps take on feminine mannerisms and dress? I would think that if you are going to be gay you would at least be a man about it.
and
Here are 10 more things you should know about most typical heterosexual males:
5. A hunted wild animal’s gut pile is a glorious and beautiful thing. Long live the hunt and the hunter.
Mr Giles, thank you for exposing to the world what a mindless uninformed species the American hetro is, oh excuse me, can be.
I’m not Homophobic; I’m Chick-O-Centric or Don't hate me because I'm a moron, I take pride in it.
This unbelievable collection of words by a certain Doug Giles has such gems as:
Heck, we don’t understand women. What makes you think we’ll ever understand a man who doesn’t like women yet wants to be a woman?
or
If girls are so icky and men are so mondo-jovial, why do you and a lot of your reps take on feminine mannerisms and dress? I would think that if you are going to be gay you would at least be a man about it.
and
Here are 10 more things you should know about most typical heterosexual males:
5. A hunted wild animal’s gut pile is a glorious and beautiful thing. Long live the hunt and the hunter.
Mr Giles, thank you for exposing to the world what a mindless uninformed species the American hetro is, oh excuse me, can be.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Star Trek
So they're finally officially announced J.J. Abrams is directing the new STAR TREK, news that has been out for months.Now the speculation begins over who will play Kirk and Spock, all youngifed and all.
I really wish they set in that time period, but let's drop the attachment to TOS. This film's premise has me...nervous.
Friday, February 23, 2007
State of Montreal discos 1970
The Montréal theme in posts continues with this.
Coolopolis has a transcribed article about discos in 1970 Montréal.
They used to call Montreal the Paris of North America – the city that offered the best nightlife on the continent.
Much of that image is gone – or at least faded. Most of the big, brassy glittering clubs have closed, undermined by the trend to smaller, more intimate rooms, and, of course, television.
But there’s still one aspect of Montreal entertainment that doesn’t take a back seat to any other city’s.
Our discotheques rank among the best in the world.
Oh the Humanity. Read more here.
Coolopolis has a transcribed article about discos in 1970 Montréal.
They used to call Montreal the Paris of North America – the city that offered the best nightlife on the continent.
Much of that image is gone – or at least faded. Most of the big, brassy glittering clubs have closed, undermined by the trend to smaller, more intimate rooms, and, of course, television.
But there’s still one aspect of Montreal entertainment that doesn’t take a back seat to any other city’s.
Our discotheques rank among the best in the world.
Oh the Humanity. Read more here.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Washington's Tent
For nearly a century, a large oval-shape linen tent where George Washington is believed to have slept during the Revolutionary War sat on display in Valley Forge, Pa., with a gaping hole in its roof.
But now a combination of luck and forensic detective work has led to the discovery of the missing section of fabric — snipped out, historians believe, by a memorabilia seeker — and to the discovery that the tent was originally striped blue and white.
Read more here.
Probe to look for Martian rings
A spacecraft that aims to land on a comet may also establish whether there is a thin ring of debris around the Red Planet this week.
The Rosetta probe will use Mars' gravity to pick up speed on a mission that will reach its climax in 2014.
But during a very close flyby, Rosetta will look for a scattering of dust from Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Read more here.
The Rosetta probe will use Mars' gravity to pick up speed on a mission that will reach its climax in 2014.
But during a very close flyby, Rosetta will look for a scattering of dust from Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Read more here.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Nestle homophobia
Ad from New Zealand. Some are being more diplomatic than others. From me, a big fat FUCK YOU to Nestle.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
The Rape of the 60's
continues with this monstrosity....
Yes, the good folks at Disney have decided to fuck with another piece of culture, this time Underdog.
Is Underdog an animated feature? Oh no, it's live action, how original!
One Nation, Underwhelmed.
Yes, the good folks at Disney have decided to fuck with another piece of culture, this time Underdog.
Is Underdog an animated feature? Oh no, it's live action, how original!
One Nation, Underwhelmed.
Monty Python's Dead Parrot sketch, scammer style!
"This is a video created by a Nigerian email scammer who thinks he is producing a video for a scholarship payment from a victim he tried to scam. Unfortunately for this particular scammer, the "victim" fought back and created a fake video production company with promises of cash!"
Monday, February 19, 2007
Did Bush just compare the British to Al Quada?
President Bush honored the 275th birthday of the nation's first president on Monday, likening George Washington's long struggle that gave birth to a nation to the war on global terrorism.
"Today, we're fighting a new war to defend our liberty and our people and our way of life," said Bush, standing in front of Washington's home and above a mostly frozen Potomac River.
"Today, we're fighting a new war to defend our liberty and our people and our way of life," said Bush, standing in front of Washington's home and above a mostly frozen Potomac River.
American Trash
Is it just me or has American Idol lost what little integrity it once had?
Once had???!!! HAHAHHAHAHA!
Andrew Sullivan, writer for The Atlantic Online (and gay Republican..hahahah!) has just discovered American Idol is a piece of shit...
"American Idol is no longer, it seems to me, primarily a talent contest. It's a reality show designed to manipulate emotions in near-pornographic and abusive fashion."
It always has been that Mr. Sullivan, but good of you to catch on.
"And I'm probably a fool for even hoping for some integrity in the thing."
The biggest.
Read more here.
Once had???!!! HAHAHHAHAHA!
Andrew Sullivan, writer for The Atlantic Online (and gay Republican..hahahah!) has just discovered American Idol is a piece of shit...
"American Idol is no longer, it seems to me, primarily a talent contest. It's a reality show designed to manipulate emotions in near-pornographic and abusive fashion."
It always has been that Mr. Sullivan, but good of you to catch on.
"And I'm probably a fool for even hoping for some integrity in the thing."
The biggest.
Read more here.
Rome II ep 6
You are a ferocious little cunt...with a pen
No, not him, Octavian. And certainly not the writers.
"Making a list and checking it twice..."
We begin in Greece with Brutus in a good mood, then it's off to Gaul and The List.
Did you notice Anthony and Atia are wearing the wardrobe from "Gladiator"?
So maybe tonight we'll get an episode based around the events of this troubled time in Roman history.
The List! The List!...but no, who do they hand it to but Don Dee.
Yes, my favorite fictional characters are plunged, yet again, into the middle of events. The writers are not up to the task, as their created events integrate uncomfortably with the historical ones.
Case in point: of course the writers have Tweedle Dumb (of all people) pay a little visit on Cicero. Are not he and Don Dee the center of all events? Must they not always be there when major events take place. Is it not the only way we poor viewers could possibly relate to history, but by having so called ordinary everyday psychopaths stand in for us.
Gad, they go on a Picnic. Yes dear, I'm off to murder one of Roman's leading citizen...Let's make a day of it!
You gotta hand it to that Cicero.
Dumb stupid writing, and the show is filled with it. Silly domestic squabbling. Tweedle Dee and Dumb act like robots, their actions not really making a lot of sense.
And for the Most Unbelievable Moment™ Cicero's messenger LOOSES a message, a message he has sworn his life to deliver, because he runs into...wait for it...Tweedle Dee...and doesn't NOTICE it's gone.
Blah blah blah...
More domestic stuff, this time with the rich folk...then something about Zionists....and awww, Tweedle Dumb is Army SIck.
We end with the Battle of Philippi (which begins with one of the great crimes of filmmaking, the reversed shot. As the camera pans over a line of soldiers, it is clear the flag in the background is blowing backwards).
"If you need to urinate, now would be the time"
Vast vistas of computer generated legions, then five minutes of Braveheart.
The Death of Brutus, and Octavian's "reluctance" to enter the battlefield are handled nicely though (I thought the soldiers surrounding Brutus would not do him in, but would just make sure he did the deed himself).
Next week, there will be much lamentations.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
It's so...big
Yes, it was an exciting trip to the megastore today. What fun! Ikea!
I have never been to an Ikea in Toronto before. It's so...big, and evilly laid out so that you have to walk by *everything* to get to where you want to be.
At least you are treated to the highest of Sweden design and craftsmanship. And I don't know how they do it, but the televisions there are so light.So on you go, until at last you are at the checkout...what! a fucking warehouse first! You must be kidding?
Yes, off we go to find our larger items....
Said items turned out to be too big to be transported in our car...
Bloody Vikings
Saturday, February 17, 2007
You know you're a Montrealer when:
You pronounce it "Muntreal", not "Mahntreal".
You have ever said anything like "I have to stop at the guichet before we get to the dep."
Your only concern about jaywalking is getting a ticket.
You understand and frequently use terms like 'unilingual,' 'anglophone,' 'francophone,' and 'allophone.'
You agree that Montreal drivers are crazy, but you're secretly proud of their nerves of steel.
The most exciting thing about the South Shore is that you can turn right on a red.
You know that the West Island is not a separate geographical formation.
In moments of paranoia, you think that there's no red line on the Metro because red is a federalist colour.
You have to bring smoked meat from Schwartz's and bagels from St-Viateur if you're visiting anyone west of Cornwall.
You refer to Tremblant as "up North."
You know how to pronounce Pie IX.
You have an ancient auntie who still says "Saint Dennis"
You believe to the depth of your very being that Toronto has no soul - but your high school reunion is held in Toronto because most of your classmates live there now.
You greet everyone, from lifelong bosom friends to some one you met once a few years ago, with a two-cheek kiss.
You know at least one person who works for the CBC, and at least one other person who used to work for Nortel.
You're not impressed with hardwood floors.
You've been hearing Celine Dion jokes long er than anyone else.
You can watch soft-core porn on broadcast TV, and this has been true for at least 25 years.
You cringe when Bob Cole pronounces French hockey player names.
You get Bowser & Blue.
You were drinking cafe-au-lait before it was latte.
You order fries 'with sauce', not 'with gravy'.
Shopper's Drug Mart is Pharmaprix and Staples is Bureau en Gros, and PFK is finger lickin' good.
You really believe Just For Laughs is an international festival.
For two weeks a year, you are a jazz afficianado.
You need to be reminded by prominent signage that you should wait for the green light.
Everyone on the street - drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists - think they're immortal, and that you'll move first.
You're proud that Montreal is the home of Pierre Trudeau, Mordechai Richler, William Shatner, Leonard Cohen and the Great Antonio...and, you considerDonald Sutherland (and by default, Keifer), Guy Lafleur,
Charlie Biddle, and Roch Carrier Montrealers, too.
You know that Rocket Richard had nothing to do with astrophysics.
You know the apocryphal story of the fat lady at Eaton's.
You miss apostrophes.
You've seen Brother Andre's heart.
No matter how bilingual you are, you still don't understand "ile aux tourtes."
You know the difference between the SQ, the SAQ, and the SAAQ.
You measure temperature and distance in metric, but weight and height in Imperial measure.
You show up at a party at 11 p.m. and no one else is there yet.
April Wine once played your high school (alternativ ely, Sass Jordon or Gowan).
You know that Montreal is responsible for introducing the following to North America: bagels, souvlaki, smoked meat and Supertramp. Also, Chris de Burgh and the Police.
You don't drink pop or soda, you drink soft drinks.
You have graduated from high school and have a degree, but you've never been in grade 12.
The margarine in your fridge is the same colour as lard.
Every once in a while, you wonder whatever happened to Luba.
You never thought that Corey Hart was cool, but you know someone whose cousin or something dated him.
There has to be at least 30 cm of snow on the ground in less than 24 hours for you to consider it too snowy to drive.
You remember where you were during the Ice Storm.
You used to be an Expos fan, but now all you really miss is Youppi.
You're a Habs fan; always was, always will be...
You know that your city's reputation for beautiful women is based on centuries-old couplings between French soldiers and royally-commissioned whores (aka Les Filles du Roi).
You don't understand anyone from Lac-St-Jean, but you can fake the accent.
You've been to the Tam Tams, and know they have nothing to do with wee Scottish hats.
You discuss potholes like most people discuss weather.
You encounter bilingual homeless people.
While watching an American made-for-TV movie, you realize that "Vienna" is actually Old Montreal, that "New York" is actually downtown and that the "The Futuristic City" is actually Habitat '67.
You find it amusing when people from outside Quebec compliment you on how good your English is.
You have yet to understand a single announcement made on the Metro PA system, no matter what the language.
You think of Old Montreal as nothing but a bunch of over-priced restaurants, old buildings and badly paved streets.
You understand that La Fete Nationale is not a celebration of "Quebec's birthday".
You don't find American comedians speaking "gibberish" French even remotely funny.
You don't find it weird that there's a strip club on every corner downtown.
You like your pizza all-dressed
You have ever said anything like "I have to stop at the guichet before we get to the dep."
Your only concern about jaywalking is getting a ticket.
You understand and frequently use terms like 'unilingual,' 'anglophone,' 'francophone,' and 'allophone.'
You agree that Montreal drivers are crazy, but you're secretly proud of their nerves of steel.
The most exciting thing about the South Shore is that you can turn right on a red.
You know that the West Island is not a separate geographical formation.
In moments of paranoia, you think that there's no red line on the Metro because red is a federalist colour.
You have to bring smoked meat from Schwartz's and bagels from St-Viateur if you're visiting anyone west of Cornwall.
You refer to Tremblant as "up North."
You know how to pronounce Pie IX.
You have an ancient auntie who still says "Saint Dennis"
You believe to the depth of your very being that Toronto has no soul - but your high school reunion is held in Toronto because most of your classmates live there now.
You greet everyone, from lifelong bosom friends to some one you met once a few years ago, with a two-cheek kiss.
You know at least one person who works for the CBC, and at least one other person who used to work for Nortel.
You're not impressed with hardwood floors.
You've been hearing Celine Dion jokes long er than anyone else.
You can watch soft-core porn on broadcast TV, and this has been true for at least 25 years.
You cringe when Bob Cole pronounces French hockey player names.
You get Bowser & Blue.
You were drinking cafe-au-lait before it was latte.
You order fries 'with sauce', not 'with gravy'.
Shopper's Drug Mart is Pharmaprix and Staples is Bureau en Gros, and PFK is finger lickin' good.
You really believe Just For Laughs is an international festival.
For two weeks a year, you are a jazz afficianado.
You need to be reminded by prominent signage that you should wait for the green light.
Everyone on the street - drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists - think they're immortal, and that you'll move first.
You're proud that Montreal is the home of Pierre Trudeau, Mordechai Richler, William Shatner, Leonard Cohen and the Great Antonio...and, you considerDonald Sutherland (and by default, Keifer), Guy Lafleur,
Charlie Biddle, and Roch Carrier Montrealers, too.
You know that Rocket Richard had nothing to do with astrophysics.
You know the apocryphal story of the fat lady at Eaton's.
You miss apostrophes.
You've seen Brother Andre's heart.
No matter how bilingual you are, you still don't understand "ile aux tourtes."
You know the difference between the SQ, the SAQ, and the SAAQ.
You measure temperature and distance in metric, but weight and height in Imperial measure.
You show up at a party at 11 p.m. and no one else is there yet.
April Wine once played your high school (alternativ ely, Sass Jordon or Gowan).
You know that Montreal is responsible for introducing the following to North America: bagels, souvlaki, smoked meat and Supertramp. Also, Chris de Burgh and the Police.
You don't drink pop or soda, you drink soft drinks.
You have graduated from high school and have a degree, but you've never been in grade 12.
The margarine in your fridge is the same colour as lard.
Every once in a while, you wonder whatever happened to Luba.
You never thought that Corey Hart was cool, but you know someone whose cousin or something dated him.
There has to be at least 30 cm of snow on the ground in less than 24 hours for you to consider it too snowy to drive.
You remember where you were during the Ice Storm.
You used to be an Expos fan, but now all you really miss is Youppi.
You're a Habs fan; always was, always will be...
You know that your city's reputation for beautiful women is based on centuries-old couplings between French soldiers and royally-commissioned whores (aka Les Filles du Roi).
You don't understand anyone from Lac-St-Jean, but you can fake the accent.
You've been to the Tam Tams, and know they have nothing to do with wee Scottish hats.
You discuss potholes like most people discuss weather.
You encounter bilingual homeless people.
While watching an American made-for-TV movie, you realize that "Vienna" is actually Old Montreal, that "New York" is actually downtown and that the "The Futuristic City" is actually Habitat '67.
You find it amusing when people from outside Quebec compliment you on how good your English is.
You have yet to understand a single announcement made on the Metro PA system, no matter what the language.
You think of Old Montreal as nothing but a bunch of over-priced restaurants, old buildings and badly paved streets.
You understand that La Fete Nationale is not a celebration of "Quebec's birthday".
You don't find American comedians speaking "gibberish" French even remotely funny.
You don't find it weird that there's a strip club on every corner downtown.
You like your pizza all-dressed
Friday, February 16, 2007
Right Wing American Humour
Yes, having Coulter & Limbaugh in this scene is humourous...until they open their mouths.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Ethos
Carl Sagan is greatly missed. His voice would be welcome to help counter the clamor of anti-scientific creationists and the like.
He has planned a series of lectures and a new television series called 'Ethos', "about the spiritual implications of the scientific revolution."
He died before it came to be, but his wife Ann Druyan has collected together the lectures under the name "The Search for Who We Are.", and released them in book form.
Read more here
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Lincoln
In 1977 Albert Kaplan purchased the daguerreotype receipted as "Portrait of a Young Man" from an art gallery in New York. "When I first saw it I thought that there were similarities between the handsome, aristocratic, and tastefully groomed young man of the daguerreotype, and my mental image of President Lincoln."Over the years Kaplan researched and assembled materials which cast light on the physical man, Lincoln. Kaplan believed that the best qualified people to analyze the image...
Read more here.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Munimula
The Ruff & Reddy Show was the first television show produced by Hanna-Barbera from 1957-60, and is now largely forgotten.
One aspect of it I never forgot were the MuliMuli Men (as my sister and I called the highlights of cars coming up behind us on long family vacation trips...).
These were actually the Munimula Men (Aluminum backwards), evil robots bent on destruction.
Update! Through the magic of the net, there is an episode in (sorry) RealVideo, The Mad Monster of Muni Mula
Update update!
Screw RealVideo
Loser
That dear friends, is our Glorious Leader, Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of almost all of Canada.
Mr. Harper is running ads attacking the leader of the opposition Stéphane Dion. Highly intellectual, biting ads that stir the imagination.
Gee, I guess the Media can work for you after all.
There is nothing more rousing than Conservative attack ads...coming from a party in a minority government...who have *just* discovered there is an environment...after that gay bashing thing didn't work out for them...
See them here
Mr Harper, you are an inspiration to us all.
Oh and how depressing...I wanted to browse the Conservative Online Gifts and Apparel store, but my browser says it "can’t open the page “http://www.cboutique.ca/” because it can’t find the server “www.cboutique.ca”."
Awwwww
Rome II ep 5
To begin...Let's ignore the whole Tweedle Dumb/Tweedle Dee (now again Don Dee) storyline, with it's endless series of events that I stopped caring about back in 50 B.C. for Christ's sake.
Except for the massively telegraphed scene where Mrs. Dumb makes hubby promise he'd save her first (over Don Dee) in event of an emergency, because she's afraid hubby loves him more..
No shit Sherlock.
That and the highly entertaining Magic Chicken Children Saving Ceremony.
"Now for a little chat between your drug binges".
No, tonight had what all Rome viewers have been waiting for: A Roman Orgy™!...if somewhat tame (first stages only. Have you noticed there are far less giant penises this season?)
"I say, are the walls melting?"
When HBO's Rome focuses on history, albeit not terribly accurate history, it is watchable.
Shame though that even during these rare bites, there are very few scenes and dialog that makes you sit up and take notice.
Tonight's show had some that were different.
The standout was Octavian's appearance in the Senate. Beautifully played, it went from Hope to Despair. Watch Octavian's eyes...
Someday, I would like to see a re-edited version of Rome, where all the fictional nonsense is removed, because I think the makers have the seed of a good version of the rise of the Empire.
It's their lurid imagination that brings this production down. It's good to know though that Don Dee's daughter is a Judas Priest fan.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Is CNN nuts?
Quick Vote
Do you see parallels between the lives and deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith?
Yes
No
Do you see parallels between the lives and deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith?
Yes
No
Escalation - a film by Ward Kimball
Independent film from 1968, made by one of Disney's so-called "Nine Old Men"
(thanks to Cartoon Brew)
Friday, February 09, 2007
A Platoon of Lesbians
It would make me run.
This is too funny. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY).
and he continues with this:
The affirmative suggestion that I would make is why can’t the State Department look to pick up all those people that were fired from the military because apparently you don’t have a policy, and put these three dozen Farsi and Arabic people to work doing what you’re suggesting would cost a lot of money to train, etc., because we have them. Can we marry up those two — or maybe that’s the wrong word — can we have some kind of union of those two issues, that you might be willing to –"
'Doomsday' vault design unveiled
Bloody Vikings.
The final design for a "doomsday" vault that will house seeds from all known varieties of food crops has been unveiled by the Norwegian government.
The Svalbard International Seed Vault will be built into a mountainside on a remote island near the North Pole.
The vault aims to safeguard the world's agriculture from future catastrophes, such as nuclear war, asteroid strikes and climate change.
Read more here
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Lesson 4 - How to check your loved ones' sexual preference
Eddy G. Lazaro, who says "due to my knowledge in love and relationships I specialized in something I call Love Voodoo. (By the age of 13 I had been with over 25 nice looking girls). Now I run my own Love Voodoo business and have clients all over the world...
I make superb macaroni and cheese with special herbs that makes the women go uh uh uhm! I won’t tell you the recipe. It’s my secret."
Krafty.
Snickers
My thoughts on the Snickers "anti gay" ads that ran during the Superbowl...
Actually only one out of 4 ads aired, and I didn't find it particularly offensive (unlike blogs such as AmericaBlog, who is in a outright tizzy).
No, it was the website that did it....
There, 2 football players are shown reacting to the ads, with intellectual commentary such as "Ewwww" and "That's not right".
Masterfoods USA, a Division of Mars, Incorporated responded:
"Feedback from our target consumers has been positive."
I'm sure it was...
America, slipping backwards culturally, still believing the World takes them seriously. Quick! Do something manly!
Actually only one out of 4 ads aired, and I didn't find it particularly offensive (unlike blogs such as AmericaBlog, who is in a outright tizzy).
No, it was the website that did it....
There, 2 football players are shown reacting to the ads, with intellectual commentary such as "Ewwww" and "That's not right".
Masterfoods USA, a Division of Mars, Incorporated responded:
"Feedback from our target consumers has been positive."
I'm sure it was...
America, slipping backwards culturally, still believing the World takes them seriously. Quick! Do something manly!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tam Tam
I am pleasantly surprised to hear that Tam Tam still takes place in Montréal.
Its beginnings have stumped Wikipedia ("The origins of this spontaneous gathering are unknown, and it is not organized by the municipal authorities.").
It in began spontaneously and quiet small (as I remember in the very late 80's or early 90's), as people began to gather on Sunday afternoons at the base of the monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier (the Cartier Monument), and play drums (tam tams in French).
It is connected, at least in spirit, with the older "Sundy in the Park" in N.D.G., who origin dates back even unto the Sixties.
I first attended in 1993 and already it attracted large numbers. Montréal continued to keep hippie alive.
This could be explained away as just a reflection of the "grunge" look, then at its height, but no...
Take a look at this Flickr photo set here, and it is clear hippie is alive and well in Montréal, at least on Sundays.
And why no YouTube? The videos available are of surpassing awfulness.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
CNN hits a low
Incredibly unbalanced "discussion" of atheism. New low in American television, cause this sure the fuck ain't journalism.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Firsts
I can't guarantee that all of these are indeed the "first" they claim, but what the hell
Number One
David Bowie's First Television appearance 1970
Number Two
Ernie & Bert's first appearance c. 1969
Number Three
First iPod Commercial 2000
Number Four
First Superman Cartoon 1941
Number Five
First Artificial Satellite 1957
Number One
David Bowie's First Television appearance 1970
Number Two
Ernie & Bert's first appearance c. 1969
Number Three
First iPod Commercial 2000
Number Four
First Superman Cartoon 1941
Number Five
First Artificial Satellite 1957
Rome II ep 4
Nasty, brutish and short.
No, not him. That sums up tonight's episode of HBO's Rome. Romans are all horrible terrible people.
"What about the aqua duct?"
Shut up!
We begin pleasantly enough with Atia enjoying some dinner theatre at home, where one of her slaves sings Monty Python's "The Most Deadly Song in the World"
And deadly is was, as the slave doesn't even make it to the song's end. Atia looses her appetite and her temper and has Servilia's visiting murderous little slave boy tortured and murdered.
Mother, what are you doing now?! Such fun.
Meanwhile...Tweedle Dumb arrives after a battle between Anthony and Octavian to witness a beautifully done camera pan across the battle field. Who should arrive, just at that moment, out of nowhere but a new actor claiming to be Octavian. Using the royal footstool, he drops everything to help T. Dumb find Tweedle Dee (the former Don Dee), even giving him a letter stamped with the royal seal.
Needless to say, Tweedle Dumb does find Tweedle Dee, who gets the news his children are alive.
We then visit Brutus in Turkey for...for...I'm not exactly sure why we did.
Oh no, Servilia has been kidnapped, and we are then given 10 more minutes of torture, until we, and the actors have had enough.
And then, and then...
This episode of Rome was mostly given over to the fictional characters, with the historical elements appearing here and there only where needed. Left to their own devices, these character misbehave in the worst ways possible. The Tweedles amazing influence over the rich and powerful continues as well, including a somewhat unbelievable scene about requesting army leave.
There is a message about torture and war, but it's lost among the images of lovingly crafted violence.
Good elements there are as well though: the increasing "Imperial" look of Octavian and his surrounding, and umm, oh, there must be something else.
Because honestly, it's hard to care for the murderous parade of thugs the writers present us with.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Art as Terror 3
Boston releases terrorist artists.
I'm sorry, that is not a hair question
"Why are you not taking this seriously...?"
We've had our War of the Worlds moment. Mr Welles, you have company.
I'm sorry, that is not a hair question
"Why are you not taking this seriously...?"
We've had our War of the Worlds moment. Mr Welles, you have company.
Art as Terror 2
Boston officials, always vigilant, have arrested the artist Peter Berdovsky behind yesterday's terror attack, because..um because..he embarrassed the shit out of them and they have to do something.
WCVB-TV, concerned the deadly terror device may still be dangerous, have photoshopped away the offending area.
One can understand this happening, as modern American have never seen such things as art, or irony.
WCVB-TV, concerned the deadly terror device may still be dangerous, have photoshopped away the offending area.
One can understand this happening, as modern American have never seen such things as art, or irony.
Vista
I don't use Windows, never have (oh ok, in work situations, but only by necessity and under extreme protest).
Windows may be a fine OS for certain types of computer needs, but I don't understand why so many people still continue to use it.
For me, the virus/spy/mal ware etc of the Windows world is reason enough not to go there. Period.
But now comes VISTA. Woohoo. More reason to dislike Microsoft.
I pity the legions who switch over, only to find that Microsoft (and Hollywood it seems) have taken back more control from you over your own computer.
It's a Genuine Advantage™, don't you know.
Seems Microsoft can disable, on your computer, software it deems "unwanted". Oh but you can control that feature, no?
From the BBC: the terms and conditions remove any doubt about who is in control by providing that "this agreement only gives you some rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights".
For those users frustrated by the software's limitations, Microsoft cautions that "you may not work around any technical limitations in the software".
It's good Windows has no limitations...or do they....?
Then comes this piece of joy:
the restrictions associated with the ability to play high-definition content from the next-generation Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs (referred to as "premium content"). He noted that Vista intentionally degrades the picture quality of premium content when played on most computer monitors.
For your convenience.
Said Microsoft: "If the policies [associated with the premium content] required protections that Windows Vista couldn't support, then the content would not be able to play at all on Windows Vista PCs."
While that may be true, left unsaid is Microsoft's ability to demand a better deal on behalf of its enormous user base or the prospect that users could opt-out of the technical controls.
When Microsoft introduced Windows 95 more than a decade ago, it adopted the Rolling Stones Start Me Up as its theme song. As millions of consumers contemplate the company's latest upgrade, the legal and technological restrictions may leave them singing You Can't Always Get What You Want
LOL, or "It's All Over Now" or "Surprise Surprise" or "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" or...
And yes, Apple could slap the same bullshit on us with Leopard.
Windows may be a fine OS for certain types of computer needs, but I don't understand why so many people still continue to use it.
For me, the virus/spy/mal ware etc of the Windows world is reason enough not to go there. Period.
But now comes VISTA. Woohoo. More reason to dislike Microsoft.
I pity the legions who switch over, only to find that Microsoft (and Hollywood it seems) have taken back more control from you over your own computer.
It's a Genuine Advantage™, don't you know.
Seems Microsoft can disable, on your computer, software it deems "unwanted". Oh but you can control that feature, no?
From the BBC: the terms and conditions remove any doubt about who is in control by providing that "this agreement only gives you some rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights".
For those users frustrated by the software's limitations, Microsoft cautions that "you may not work around any technical limitations in the software".
It's good Windows has no limitations...or do they....?
Then comes this piece of joy:
the restrictions associated with the ability to play high-definition content from the next-generation Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs (referred to as "premium content"). He noted that Vista intentionally degrades the picture quality of premium content when played on most computer monitors.
For your convenience.
Said Microsoft: "If the policies [associated with the premium content] required protections that Windows Vista couldn't support, then the content would not be able to play at all on Windows Vista PCs."
While that may be true, left unsaid is Microsoft's ability to demand a better deal on behalf of its enormous user base or the prospect that users could opt-out of the technical controls.
When Microsoft introduced Windows 95 more than a decade ago, it adopted the Rolling Stones Start Me Up as its theme song. As millions of consumers contemplate the company's latest upgrade, the legal and technological restrictions may leave them singing You Can't Always Get What You Want
LOL, or "It's All Over Now" or "Surprise Surprise" or "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" or...
And yes, Apple could slap the same bullshit on us with Leopard.
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