Friday, January 31, 2003
The Man Who Knew
At work today, Tim and I were discussing the upcoming war. As per usual, conversation turned to the events of September 11th. Tim mentioned that PBS had a special on John O'Neil, the FBI's expert on terrorism. O'Neil was the FBI's expert on the Al Qaeda and had warned the FBI of an upcoming attack on America. Because of the politics of the FBI, O'Neil's warnings fell upon deaf ears. Afterwards, he retired from the FBI. Ironically, O'Neil was killed in the September 11th attacks.
There's lots of information on John O'Neil at the following website, including the PBS television special "The Man Who Knew". It's worth watching if you doubt that the FBI knew about a possible threat against the United States.
At work today, Tim and I were discussing the upcoming war. As per usual, conversation turned to the events of September 11th. Tim mentioned that PBS had a special on John O'Neil, the FBI's expert on terrorism. O'Neil was the FBI's expert on the Al Qaeda and had warned the FBI of an upcoming attack on America. Because of the politics of the FBI, O'Neil's warnings fell upon deaf ears. Afterwards, he retired from the FBI. Ironically, O'Neil was killed in the September 11th attacks.
There's lots of information on John O'Neil at the following website, including the PBS television special "The Man Who Knew". It's worth watching if you doubt that the FBI knew about a possible threat against the United States.
Thursday, January 30, 2003
Stalker
I think that I might have a stalker. For the last two days, when I've been using the computer at the library, a Japanese chick has always been on the same computer as me afterwards. Normally this wouldn't be so odd if I went on the computer at the same time every day, but this isn't the case. Two *completely* different times, same Japanese woman. AfterI left the library today, I went downtown to do some birthday shopping. When I hit Coles, I was shocked as hell to find that the same woman was there. It was incredibly eerie. I'm sure he recognized me because we both gave each other a look. I was so shocked that I didn't think to introduce myself. If we bump into each other again, I plan on saying hello. I believe that I have an advantage over her as I know her name via the internet sign up book, Jawie Hui. More on this later.
I think that I might have a stalker. For the last two days, when I've been using the computer at the library, a Japanese chick has always been on the same computer as me afterwards. Normally this wouldn't be so odd if I went on the computer at the same time every day, but this isn't the case. Two *completely* different times, same Japanese woman. AfterI left the library today, I went downtown to do some birthday shopping. When I hit Coles, I was shocked as hell to find that the same woman was there. It was incredibly eerie. I'm sure he recognized me because we both gave each other a look. I was so shocked that I didn't think to introduce myself. If we bump into each other again, I plan on saying hello. I believe that I have an advantage over her as I know her name via the internet sign up book, Jawie Hui. More on this later.
A look at work
Normally I try to avoid talking about my personal life in my blog and there's a good reason for it. It seems to me that half of the blogs out there are attempts by the writer to garner pity about their current situation. "Poor me, I'm so alone!" "She doesn't understand my being a furry!" "Why did that priest touch me? Why?" I'm making an exception this time because enough of you would like to know what my job is like. Here's the breakdown.
I wake up at 7:00 in the morning via the French CBC and I get my weather report. Since my sleeping patterns are so fucked, I usually stay in bed for an hour or so, hitting the snooze over and over again. This allows me to prolong any dream and helps me acheive a lucid state, from time to time. By 8:00, I'm out of my bed and off to the shower. Once out, I turn on some music, do some writing, gather any material needed for work and have some breakfast. Right before I head off to work, I turn on Animal Crossing to see what's new in my village, look for fossils and make sure that they're mailed before I leave. Occationally, if I have enough time, I wait until Tom Nook's shop is open and sell my fossils that I received via the mail. When I'm done this, I head out the door.
I walk to work for two reasons. The first one is pretty simple, I don't have any other mode of transportation. It's too slippery and cold for a bike. The bus routes are a mess here and I'm afraid that I haven't bothered to learn the routes. Secondly, it's a good way to get exercise. When I lived in Victoria, I walked for at least 2 hours every week day, to school and back, plus any other places that I want to visit along the way. If I have the time, I stop by IGA on the way to work and pick up something to drink. I usually pick up a fruit drink of some sort as I get very thristy at work.
After about 45 minutes of walking, I arrive at Tim's place. Tim usually greets me at the door, but from time to time his wife or his daughter is there and they let me in. If his wife or daughter opens the door, we do a little chit chatting about how my walk was, what the weather is like, et cetra and then I'm off to the office to work.
Each day is different depending on the project that I'm working on. Currently, I'm working on editing a promotional video for an asphalt company. Right now I'm not doing any editing, but rather working on a paper edit. That is to say, I look at my log of all the footage, decide which clips are the best and begin to create an asembly. To facilitate this process, in back of my desk is a large bulletin board with index cards. The index cards are used to illustrate shots that I've culled from watching the raw footage and I arrange them to create an edit. This allows me to look at how my project will look without actually cutting on the computer. In the long run, it should, (in theory) save me some time. If the project was further along, I'd be behind my computer working on an edit.
I'm a person that works best with some sort of noise, so I usually have the television turned onto CNN. CNN is good background noise and, if anything interesting happens, I get to know about it as it happens. If an intersting news bit occurs, I take off my headphones, tell Tim about it and turn the television around so that he can take a look. This usually prompts discussions on current events and we usually add our two cents about any issue that comes up and then we get back to work.
From time to time, Tim will ask me to stop working on my project and ask him to give him a hand with something that he's doing. Since he's going to Vancouver next week to do some pitching to Global, he's working on fine tuning three projects that he's interested in. Right now the main focus is a project on Canada's Defense. Since he doesn't have a writer on board at the moment (that'll come once we're in Development), my job is to help him do research for the project. Last time I worked for him, my job was to reseach the GNP of all the developed countries in the world and find out how much of a percent they spend on their militaries. Tim believes that Canada, compared to the other countries in the world, spends the least on our defense and he believes that it's a problem to our soveirgnty. I do this until I find the information that he's looking for and then it's off to do some more editing.
This will continue on and off during the day. I don't get any breaks like a normal job, but the time spent talking to Tim about our current projects and plans for the future is relaxing enough to consider a break. When my work is done, we call it a day and I get a ride to where ever I need to be. All and all, my work is fun and challenging in different ways every day.
Normally I try to avoid talking about my personal life in my blog and there's a good reason for it. It seems to me that half of the blogs out there are attempts by the writer to garner pity about their current situation. "Poor me, I'm so alone!" "She doesn't understand my being a furry!" "Why did that priest touch me? Why?" I'm making an exception this time because enough of you would like to know what my job is like. Here's the breakdown.
I wake up at 7:00 in the morning via the French CBC and I get my weather report. Since my sleeping patterns are so fucked, I usually stay in bed for an hour or so, hitting the snooze over and over again. This allows me to prolong any dream and helps me acheive a lucid state, from time to time. By 8:00, I'm out of my bed and off to the shower. Once out, I turn on some music, do some writing, gather any material needed for work and have some breakfast. Right before I head off to work, I turn on Animal Crossing to see what's new in my village, look for fossils and make sure that they're mailed before I leave. Occationally, if I have enough time, I wait until Tom Nook's shop is open and sell my fossils that I received via the mail. When I'm done this, I head out the door.
I walk to work for two reasons. The first one is pretty simple, I don't have any other mode of transportation. It's too slippery and cold for a bike. The bus routes are a mess here and I'm afraid that I haven't bothered to learn the routes. Secondly, it's a good way to get exercise. When I lived in Victoria, I walked for at least 2 hours every week day, to school and back, plus any other places that I want to visit along the way. If I have the time, I stop by IGA on the way to work and pick up something to drink. I usually pick up a fruit drink of some sort as I get very thristy at work.
After about 45 minutes of walking, I arrive at Tim's place. Tim usually greets me at the door, but from time to time his wife or his daughter is there and they let me in. If his wife or daughter opens the door, we do a little chit chatting about how my walk was, what the weather is like, et cetra and then I'm off to the office to work.
Each day is different depending on the project that I'm working on. Currently, I'm working on editing a promotional video for an asphalt company. Right now I'm not doing any editing, but rather working on a paper edit. That is to say, I look at my log of all the footage, decide which clips are the best and begin to create an asembly. To facilitate this process, in back of my desk is a large bulletin board with index cards. The index cards are used to illustrate shots that I've culled from watching the raw footage and I arrange them to create an edit. This allows me to look at how my project will look without actually cutting on the computer. In the long run, it should, (in theory) save me some time. If the project was further along, I'd be behind my computer working on an edit.
I'm a person that works best with some sort of noise, so I usually have the television turned onto CNN. CNN is good background noise and, if anything interesting happens, I get to know about it as it happens. If an intersting news bit occurs, I take off my headphones, tell Tim about it and turn the television around so that he can take a look. This usually prompts discussions on current events and we usually add our two cents about any issue that comes up and then we get back to work.
From time to time, Tim will ask me to stop working on my project and ask him to give him a hand with something that he's doing. Since he's going to Vancouver next week to do some pitching to Global, he's working on fine tuning three projects that he's interested in. Right now the main focus is a project on Canada's Defense. Since he doesn't have a writer on board at the moment (that'll come once we're in Development), my job is to help him do research for the project. Last time I worked for him, my job was to reseach the GNP of all the developed countries in the world and find out how much of a percent they spend on their militaries. Tim believes that Canada, compared to the other countries in the world, spends the least on our defense and he believes that it's a problem to our soveirgnty. I do this until I find the information that he's looking for and then it's off to do some more editing.
This will continue on and off during the day. I don't get any breaks like a normal job, but the time spent talking to Tim about our current projects and plans for the future is relaxing enough to consider a break. When my work is done, we call it a day and I get a ride to where ever I need to be. All and all, my work is fun and challenging in different ways every day.
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
Jerry Springer for Senate?
Saw this earlier on CNN and I was impressed by Springer's intelligent and grasp of the issues presented to him. If I were an American, I'd be proud to have Jerry Springer represent me. Springer for president, baby!
Saw this earlier on CNN and I was impressed by Springer's intelligent and grasp of the issues presented to him. If I were an American, I'd be proud to have Jerry Springer represent me. Springer for president, baby!
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Unknown Canadian History: Sam Steele
An excerpt from Will Ferguson's Canadian History for Dummies
**************
Sam Steele, Lion of the Yukon
The Mounties kept a right rein during the Klondike gold rush. They confiscated handguns, checked supplies, and turned around anyone not prepared for the riours of the north. At the forefront was Sam Steele, "the Lion of the Yukon," a character who, had he not existed, we would have most certainly have had to invent. He was the classic archetypical Mountie, strong of jaw and steady of eye and his life reads like a dime store novel. His very name seems mythical.
Sam Steele was directly involved in every major event that occured in the opening of Canada's frontier; from the Great March West to the Riel Rebeillions, from the the signing of Native treaties to the building of the CRP and the Klondite stampede. Steele stared down violent rail workers, and he disarmed American desperadoes and unruly mobs. And, as befits a Canadian hero, Sam Steele was not brought down by vengeful outlaws or drunken miners, but by Canadian bureaucracy. When Steel began prosecuting corrupt Liberal-backed profiteers, he found himself up against Laurier's all powerful minister of the interior, Clifford Sifton. The Steele-Sifton fuel ended (predictably) with a Victory of polictis over law. Steel was relieved of duty and sent packing. Ottawa had effectively "de-fanged" the Lion of the Yukon.
**************
A couple of thoughs on this. Firstly, isn't it interesting to note similar the story of Sam Steele is to the state of the Canadian military? Did you know that after World War 2, Canada (next to the USA) was one of the richest countries in the world and that it had the fourth largest navy and the third largest airforce? Because of Trudeau's insistance that Canada become more of a peacekeeping nation, our military has dwindled to the story state that it's in now. Note that Steele and the Canadian military were both emasculated by a Liberal government. Makes you think, doesn't it?
Secondly, why hasn't anyone in Canada snagged up this story and made it a big budget action film? It would be ten times more interesting than Men With Brooms and it has more international appeal. Another pitch for my boss in the future.
An excerpt from Will Ferguson's Canadian History for Dummies
**************
Sam Steele, Lion of the Yukon
The Mounties kept a right rein during the Klondike gold rush. They confiscated handguns, checked supplies, and turned around anyone not prepared for the riours of the north. At the forefront was Sam Steele, "the Lion of the Yukon," a character who, had he not existed, we would have most certainly have had to invent. He was the classic archetypical Mountie, strong of jaw and steady of eye and his life reads like a dime store novel. His very name seems mythical.
Sam Steele was directly involved in every major event that occured in the opening of Canada's frontier; from the Great March West to the Riel Rebeillions, from the the signing of Native treaties to the building of the CRP and the Klondite stampede. Steele stared down violent rail workers, and he disarmed American desperadoes and unruly mobs. And, as befits a Canadian hero, Sam Steele was not brought down by vengeful outlaws or drunken miners, but by Canadian bureaucracy. When Steel began prosecuting corrupt Liberal-backed profiteers, he found himself up against Laurier's all powerful minister of the interior, Clifford Sifton. The Steele-Sifton fuel ended (predictably) with a Victory of polictis over law. Steel was relieved of duty and sent packing. Ottawa had effectively "de-fanged" the Lion of the Yukon.
**************
A couple of thoughs on this. Firstly, isn't it interesting to note similar the story of Sam Steele is to the state of the Canadian military? Did you know that after World War 2, Canada (next to the USA) was one of the richest countries in the world and that it had the fourth largest navy and the third largest airforce? Because of Trudeau's insistance that Canada become more of a peacekeeping nation, our military has dwindled to the story state that it's in now. Note that Steele and the Canadian military were both emasculated by a Liberal government. Makes you think, doesn't it?
Secondly, why hasn't anyone in Canada snagged up this story and made it a big budget action film? It would be ten times more interesting than Men With Brooms and it has more international appeal. Another pitch for my boss in the future.
Monday, January 27, 2003
My newest Obsession:NationStates
NationStates is an online nation roleplaying simulator. It's pretty cool. If you want, you can turn your country into a facist Nazi state, or, if you're like me, a Marxist paradise. Be sure to check out their website and give my country,Montica a look.
NationStates is an online nation roleplaying simulator. It's pretty cool. If you want, you can turn your country into a facist Nazi state, or, if you're like me, a Marxist paradise. Be sure to check out their website and give my country,Montica a look.
the Boxtop
Are you one of those people who reads your cereal box like a wall street investor reads the market section of the paper in the morning? If you are, then you'd like the dead website the Boxtop. Although it hasn't been updated since 2001, the Boxtop has a wealth of information on cereal mascots, suggestions for new cereal products and memerobilia. It's worth a visit.
Are you one of those people who reads your cereal box like a wall street investor reads the market section of the paper in the morning? If you are, then you'd like the dead website the Boxtop. Although it hasn't been updated since 2001, the Boxtop has a wealth of information on cereal mascots, suggestions for new cereal products and memerobilia. It's worth a visit.
Rejected Documentaries: Love in the Coven
One of the perks of working for a producer is that they're always looking for new ideas. Unfortunately, it turns out that all ideas are shit except for theirs. While I'm working on a project Tim usually bounces his ideas off of me and I give him my opinion. Sometimes, if I feel bold, I pitch him one of my ideas, to see what he thinks. Since he was going to meet with some broadcasters with WTN (the Woman's Television Network), I thought that I'd pitch him something that would fit on their station. He rejected my idea.
*************
Love in the Coven
Follow Christina Fabry as she tries the impossible, an immaculate conception. Raised Catholic, but turning her faith during university, Fabry travels across the country with her white wiccan coven going to haunted house to haunted house. At these haunted houses she performs a ritual in which the souls bound to earth attempt to impregnate her. Many dismiss this as hokum, but Fabry, now pregnant claims that she's done the impossible and is ready for a virgin birth.
In this documentary we focus on the female yin yang of sexuality: the madonna and the whore and a woman's attempt to unite the two in a new and thrilling way. What happens when a woman does the seemingly impossible? Do we live in a world where miracles are discarded like most of our waste? Love in the Coven will strive to answer these questions and show the viewer with an astounding truth so profound that they too will be changed like Christina Fabry.
One of the perks of working for a producer is that they're always looking for new ideas. Unfortunately, it turns out that all ideas are shit except for theirs. While I'm working on a project Tim usually bounces his ideas off of me and I give him my opinion. Sometimes, if I feel bold, I pitch him one of my ideas, to see what he thinks. Since he was going to meet with some broadcasters with WTN (the Woman's Television Network), I thought that I'd pitch him something that would fit on their station. He rejected my idea.
*************
Love in the Coven
Follow Christina Fabry as she tries the impossible, an immaculate conception. Raised Catholic, but turning her faith during university, Fabry travels across the country with her white wiccan coven going to haunted house to haunted house. At these haunted houses she performs a ritual in which the souls bound to earth attempt to impregnate her. Many dismiss this as hokum, but Fabry, now pregnant claims that she's done the impossible and is ready for a virgin birth.
In this documentary we focus on the female yin yang of sexuality: the madonna and the whore and a woman's attempt to unite the two in a new and thrilling way. What happens when a woman does the seemingly impossible? Do we live in a world where miracles are discarded like most of our waste? Love in the Coven will strive to answer these questions and show the viewer with an astounding truth so profound that they too will be changed like Christina Fabry.
Touch me, Time Machine!: redux
Just like a boomarang, my blog has returned and like a boomarang, it hasn't returned better than ever. I'll probably be more or less the same with possibly more pictures. But at least it's back, right? It's not like one of those boomarangs that gets lost in the woods. At least, not yet. Onwards!
Just like a boomarang, my blog has returned and like a boomarang, it hasn't returned better than ever. I'll probably be more or less the same with possibly more pictures. But at least it's back, right? It's not like one of those boomarangs that gets lost in the woods. At least, not yet. Onwards!
Friday, December 27, 2002
Battle Royale: the novel
Finally, Japan's most conterversial novel is coming to North America. For those who aren't in the know, Battle Royale is Survivor meets Lord of the Flies. The movie was savage yet incredibly moving. Shocking, but never explotive, Battle Royale is a movie that everyone should see and now it looks like a book that everyone should read. Aptly, it should be in stores near Valentine's Day. Give it to a loved one. You know that I will.
Finally, Japan's most conterversial novel is coming to North America. For those who aren't in the know, Battle Royale is Survivor meets Lord of the Flies. The movie was savage yet incredibly moving. Shocking, but never explotive, Battle Royale is a movie that everyone should see and now it looks like a book that everyone should read. Aptly, it should be in stores near Valentine's Day. Give it to a loved one. You know that I will.
Wednesday, December 25, 2002
Mike Myhre: the essay
One of the joys of coming home is seeing what my family has been up to in my absence. One of the more remarkable things was my brother Steven's essay on my good friend, Mike Myhre. The assignment was to write up an essay about an "unknown yet important Canadian". Mike was that man. For your pleasure, here is the essay, uncorrected and in it's original form for your consuming pleasure.
Mike Myrhe by Steven Andrews
Its year two thousand and two in Vancouver a dark and gloomy day and Mike Myrhe is looking for a job. Mike can not find a job anywhere he is an animator and draws extremely well. He was born in 1981 in Fort St John and has two parents and one sister. Its really hard to find to find a job in Vancouver especially when you are a looking for a job like a cartoonist or a comic book artist. He went to animation school in Vancouver for 2 years. After that him and his pals tried to make a company called atomic toaster. But they couldn’t do that because there was a company called atomic industries. Right now Mike lives in a house and watches cartoons all day. In Vancouver Mike has won awards like the Ben Wicks cartoon award. Mike made a cartoon and it will be shown on one of Ben wicks shows. Mike has also done a drug free brochure for all of the schools in British Columbia. Mike designs all kinds of super heroes and monsters but Mike still can not find a job in Vancouver. Eventually Mike will find a job, he is looking for a job like making comic books or making cartoons. Mike will turn 21 on Christmas day in year 2002. There are all kinds of things Mike has done like going to art camp and learning how to draw and paint. In Elementary school Mike designed a t-shirt. Mike is very successful so far he has won many awards and designed lots of things. When Mike gets a job he probably will be famous. In grade 12 Mike won a scholarship for the Teletoon cartoon channel and won 400 dollars. Mikes Mom and Dad work at Myrhe muffler in Fort St John. And his sister is a substitute teacher.
One of the joys of coming home is seeing what my family has been up to in my absence. One of the more remarkable things was my brother Steven's essay on my good friend, Mike Myhre. The assignment was to write up an essay about an "unknown yet important Canadian". Mike was that man. For your pleasure, here is the essay, uncorrected and in it's original form for your consuming pleasure.
Mike Myrhe by Steven Andrews
Its year two thousand and two in Vancouver a dark and gloomy day and Mike Myrhe is looking for a job. Mike can not find a job anywhere he is an animator and draws extremely well. He was born in 1981 in Fort St John and has two parents and one sister. Its really hard to find to find a job in Vancouver especially when you are a looking for a job like a cartoonist or a comic book artist. He went to animation school in Vancouver for 2 years. After that him and his pals tried to make a company called atomic toaster. But they couldn’t do that because there was a company called atomic industries. Right now Mike lives in a house and watches cartoons all day. In Vancouver Mike has won awards like the Ben Wicks cartoon award. Mike made a cartoon and it will be shown on one of Ben wicks shows. Mike has also done a drug free brochure for all of the schools in British Columbia. Mike designs all kinds of super heroes and monsters but Mike still can not find a job in Vancouver. Eventually Mike will find a job, he is looking for a job like making comic books or making cartoons. Mike will turn 21 on Christmas day in year 2002. There are all kinds of things Mike has done like going to art camp and learning how to draw and paint. In Elementary school Mike designed a t-shirt. Mike is very successful so far he has won many awards and designed lots of things. When Mike gets a job he probably will be famous. In grade 12 Mike won a scholarship for the Teletoon cartoon channel and won 400 dollars. Mikes Mom and Dad work at Myrhe muffler in Fort St John. And his sister is a substitute teacher.
Sunday, December 15, 2002
Ichi the Killer
I'm a Miike junkie. I believe that Japanese director, Takahi Miike is the most interesting film makers on earth. That's not to say that he's the best, because his body of work is incredibly consistant. I wouldn't say that he's the most entertaining director because his films have a tendancy to bore to digust the more level headed viewer. I find him incredibly interesting because he does movies for himself. With an average of 7 movies a year, he's amazingly prolific and always has something of interest on the horizon. Last year, Ichi the Killer was released. Hailed by viewers as being the best super hero movie ever made (which makes perfect sense, if one has seen the film), Ichi the Killer has gained cult status world wide. I had the fortune to see Ichi the Killer this Thansgiving. Although I feel that the film isn't his strongest work (that would be either Audition or Dead or Alive), I loved the manic pashion the director brought to the film and the brillance of the film's villan, Kakihara. The movie is getting a wider release of video next year. If you want to know more, check out this site.
I'm a Miike junkie. I believe that Japanese director, Takahi Miike is the most interesting film makers on earth. That's not to say that he's the best, because his body of work is incredibly consistant. I wouldn't say that he's the most entertaining director because his films have a tendancy to bore to digust the more level headed viewer. I find him incredibly interesting because he does movies for himself. With an average of 7 movies a year, he's amazingly prolific and always has something of interest on the horizon. Last year, Ichi the Killer was released. Hailed by viewers as being the best super hero movie ever made (which makes perfect sense, if one has seen the film), Ichi the Killer has gained cult status world wide. I had the fortune to see Ichi the Killer this Thansgiving. Although I feel that the film isn't his strongest work (that would be either Audition or Dead or Alive), I loved the manic pashion the director brought to the film and the brillance of the film's villan, Kakihara. The movie is getting a wider release of video next year. If you want to know more, check out this site.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
