Brain-drain made easy!

And In Just a Few Days...

2007-01-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

After the Fall opens on the 11th (Thursday). It will then continue through the 12th, 13th, 18th, and 19th, with the final performance being on the 20th. Tickets are $10 at the door; you can also reserve yours by calling the box-office at 377-6100.

You can also find a write-up about the show at Kamloops This Week.

In GF

2006-12-21T22:36:00.000-08:00

I wonder what crazy adventures and wonderful times will be had during this holdiday-week? I'm back in ol' Grand Forks until around the 29th, when I shall head back to the 'Loops.

And in case you only know how my life is going by reading this weblog, I got the role in After the Fall that I so wanted. So yes, that's After the Fall: on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 20th of January.

Meh, that's all for the time being. The bus-ride was tiring. G'night!

Democrats Win US Congress, and...

2006-11-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

A good two days, no?

Something Worth Fighting For

2006-11-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

From the website of the BC Federation of Labour: Scrap the training wage, increase minimum wage to $10 per hour.

My sister works at Subway back in Grand Forks. It's her first job, and she recently got a raise to $7 an hour... so she's now working for "only" a buck less than minimum wage. The training wage is such horseshit. The provincial government believes that my sister's time and labour are worth less than that of someone who has held any job for 500 hours. Never mind that she works as hard and does as much as anybody else.

HAPPY SNOW DAY!

2006-11-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

Kamloops: November 2, 2006.

Late-Night Essay-Writing Party

2006-10-31T02:00:00.000-08:00

Carly, Lindsay, Laura, Alex and I are all finishing our directing analyses right now. It is such fun. I'm writing page twenty right now.

The first three of six performances of Father's Day are complete, and all went well. You must come and see if you haven't already... we play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8:00pm, and the cost is ten buckeroos.

And the auditions for the next TRU show, Arthur Miller's After the Fall, were tonight. I want the role of Quentin more than any in my life, yet it also terrifies me.

I guess that's it for now.

10/20 Changed Everything

2006-10-20T07:50:00.002-07:00

Years from now, people will still remember where they were at 6:30 on the morning of 20 October 2006. If you're a resident of Stetson Place like me, you were out in the parking lot waiting for the fire-department to say you could go back inside. The women who live a couple of doors away and a floor above us dropped a cigarette on their outside couch and got it going pretty good. When the fire-alarm sounded, I remember feeling confusion, as I knew I hadn't set my clock's alarm. I then realized it was the building's alarm-system, wandered aimlessly into the living room, then back into my room because I could see an odd red reflection through the blinds. I stuck my head out the window to observe violent flames ripping out of the building about four metres away. I informed my roommate to make haste, adorned myself with pants, shoes and my grad-hoodie, and then exited with said roommate in a timely-yet-orderly fashion. He then fucked off to buy breakfast somewhere, while I was able to talk with some people in the building I rarely do, including Tracy, my upstairs neighbour Mike, and that guy from some of the polisci classes I've taken. Perhaps we'll all make "I Survived the Stetson Place Apartment-Fire 2006" t-shirts.

Now, if you'll excuse me, as I was awake reading until 5:00am, I have decided to go back to bed.

Hey, I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself!

2006-10-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Talking Like a Real Perv

2006-09-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

The leader of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, took time out from accusing the U.S. of threatening to "bomb Pakistan into the Stone Age" (a charge which may be true or may not, who knows) to launch a salvo against Canada and its troops in nearby Afghanistan:

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf told CBC Tuesday that the Canadian military casualties from fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan have been insubstantial compared with those suffered by Pakistan.

Musharraf brushed off the suggestion that his government was endangering Canadians and other troops in Afghanistan by not doing enough to root out the Taliban and al-Qaeda and their sympathizers.

"We have suffered 500 casualties," he said. "Canadians may have suffered four or five."

Pardon my French, sir, but fuck you. Fully 36 Canadian soldiers (and the diplomat Glyn Berry) have been killed in Afghanistan; and many more have been wounded, including a close friend of mine. I defy you to find me a mathematician who will tell you that 37 is equal to four or five. Unless that's what they teach at your country's Islamic fundamentalist schools.

Speaking of assholes, where is that Osama character? You and the U.S. are supposed to be in charge of killing or capturing him, aren't you Pervy? Maybe that's why you guys are still allies; you both can't get shit done, aside from pissing off other countries.

Yet Another Reason Why Patrick Stewart is a God Amongst Men

2006-09-21T23:53:00.000-07:00

It's right here.

If I could meet any one ~~celebrity~~ human being in all the world, it would without a doubt be this man. He's just so awesome, it's unbelieveable.

AHOY!

2006-09-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a very happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day today.

We Shall Embark Upon Our Quest to Fame

2006-09-16T23:30:00.000-07:00

This is the way Alex and I will become household-names: we're going to post, on YouTube, videorecordings we make of us watching episodes of Kirk Cameron's current television program and making enlightened comment. Episode 7 is one of the greatest and most intellectual pieces of educated philosophical thought you will ever see. Just watch it and try your darnedest to deny the existance of God.

Listen Up!

2006-09-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Today I learned a valuable life-lesson: if you run into your second-year French teacher at the liquor store, you will not leave without buying at least three bottles of very good wine.

Basement Hockey Championship Series

2006-08-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

Game One:
Kayla 5-6 Chris

This save by Kayla was not enough to prevent a Game One victory for Chris

Stutter, Stutter

2006-08-02T02:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, off I go to the ol' Gee-Eff for about a week. Man, will that be strange. I hope that some of my old friends will be there, in addition to the family I will see. I know that Moose will be, as well as Lisa Butler. Either way though, I'm looking forward to it a lot. It's been too long since I've seen the fam, especially my baba, uncle Larry, and cousins. (I was fortunate enough to see my uncle Jim last week in Vancouver, and I get to see him again as well.) I also hope to be able to visit Lou and Ché in Osoyoos, and Dallas and Adrian in Kelowna on my way back up to Kamloops. I can already feel the water of the Kettle River as I float by in my inner tube...

In other news... BIG news. As of a few hours ago, my friends David Young and Allison Kitella are husband and wife. I wanna offer my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple. May God rain down joy and fish-sticks upon them.

I bought a digital camera today. It's been a long time coming, really. It was even rather cheaper than I had anticipated ($225 for the camera and storage-card). If I can, I'll upload the video Laura and Rob and I made today of us smashing... something.

Tonight I saw Project X's production of Timothy Findley's Elizabeth Rex, which I have to say is quite a wild play and a fantastic time. If you get a chance, do go and see it. If you don't... well, your loss.

After the show I went with aforementioned cast-members Laura Wong (Stanley) and Rob Landers (Jack) on a quest for food after dropping off at home David Balser (William Shakespeare), then Laura came over and hung out for a while. That was trés cool.

That brings us to right now. Uh-oh... I haven't begun my packing. That is trés stupide. Ah well. It will get done either right now or when I wake up at around 6:00am. Y'know, whichever. Love to you all!

Just So You Know

2006-07-31T03:15:00.000-07:00

The Clash's Sandinista! is one of the greatest albums ever made.

More on the Hockey Front

2006-07-29T02:12:00.000-07:00

About an hour ago, I totally defeated Alex two-in-a-row at Blades of Steel. Game One saw two fights in the first minute of play, then I fell behind 5-0 (!) in the first period before performing a comeback of epic proportions to win 8-7! Game Two was a much more straightforward victory, with me winning 10-6.

The moral of this story: I rule.

All in Your Mind

2006-07-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

Well, that trip to Vancouver was more fun than a barrel of monkeys... though I've never experienced the latter, so I'm not quite sure of the significance of the saying. Therefore, I'll just say it was real fun.

The trip started with me getting home late from work because I had to do things that were supposed to be done before I'd started my shift eight hours prior. That wasn't good or fun. Then Braden and I spent the night at Brodie's in order to get an early start the next morning, which we actually accomplished.

The Coquihalla was a pretty fast highway for us that Monday mornin', much to our appreciation. Fast enough it was, in fact, that we were able to stop in Abbotsford at (a) a cold beer and wine, and (b) Castle Fun Land, where we spent too much fun time. My personal highlights were mini-golf (hole-in-one on number 18 with a pink ball I found on top of a cage) and defeating Brodie 4-2 in a table-hockey game which could only be described as epic (and I think one of his defencemen was playing with an injury). We very nearly left without Kyle, who was supposed to meet us there and then did so, only an hour late.

Into the city (of Richmond). We picked up Kelsey from the airport only a few minutes late, then Braden and I departed to the bus to head into the city (of Vancouver). I checked in with Paul in Coquitlam and played some surprisingly fun Star Wars video-game he had, then headed to the West End to hang out with me uncle where we had dinner and talked about baseball, Canada, and I realized that I don't hate the former as much as I sometimes think and that I really need to travel around the latter more. Hey, a road-trip to Vancouver's not a bad start.

Early the next mornin'. The UBC campus makes one realize just how small the TRU campus is. The Warped Tour was loud and intense and contained far too many "merch"-booths for my liking, but at least the first two items are positive. (I also got positively burnt brick-red... suntan lotion is for wimps.) I can safely assert that you have not truly lived until you've crowd-surfed to Joan Jett singing "I Love Rock & Roll." Anti-Flag, NoFX and Motion City Soundtrack were my other favourite performances. From there we went to the shitty UBC students' bar (we were just about the only ones there, which I suppose shouldn't be shocking considering it's summer) and drank. Then we went to Brodie's pal's Mike's place. Then we slept.

Up at the crack of... not noon! More like 11:00am, to those who may accuse us of sloth. Brodie and Kyle and I lunched at a family restaurant in the Eastside, the elderly woman who ran it sent me on the wrong bus, and I eventually did find my way back to Paul's place. After hanging out there for a while (Moose came over as well), we and Paul's new ladyfriend Helena embarked for Vanier Park to meet up with the rest (sans Kyle) and take in Bard on the Beach's production of Measure for Measure. 'Twas a wonderful show, largely well-acted and directed on a real professional-lookin' set. Tia did poorly to miss it; she was supposed to attend too, but apparently there was some miscommunication. And then, well, we all got into our respective vehicles and headed home, in the cases of Brodie, Kelsey, Braden and I, that meant Kamloops (Hope for Kyle). And now, a mere six days later, I recount this tale.

And now, off to Brodie's I go to do something I've meant to for a long time: play Metal Gear Solid 3. Take care o' yerselves!

As We Awake, We Depart

2006-07-17T01:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow at six in the mornin' Brodie and Braden and I will haulin' off to Vancouver for the Warped Tour and Bard on the Beach and picking Kelsey up from the airport. Oh, and random, unforeseen craziness too. No doubt about that one.

Me: 250-682-0068
Brodie: 250-318-6203

Oh, and Liberal Party leadership candidate Stéphane Dion came to my Esso today. Only his two quite attractive and affable young female lackeys set foot inside the store, which was fine with me. I couldn't think of anything to say to him, anyway. I did, however, do a decent-enough job of chatting the two girls up. So, good for me!

Updates Regarding Various Goings-On

2006-07-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

I've changed the sidebar for Alex' and Paul's new blogs (Paul's is behind a MySpace registration wall).

I got called in to work both yesterday and the day before; isn't that wonderful. Oh well, I need to save up as much money as I can now since the busyness of this comin' school year has the potential to make the previous three look like kindergarten by comparison. This assumes, of course, that I can get into David's show (Father's Day) and/or (more likely "or") Wes' (After the Fall). I desperately need to get into at least one of those.

Actually, I've been so fortunate over the last year-and-a-half to have been inundated with theatre that, now that I have no roles, no acting to do at all, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do with myself. This is the first time I haven't had some role or other since, well, the run of Wit way back in October 2004. Wait, no, that's wrong. It was exactly at this point last summer after Walls finished that I had no theatre to do. Hmm. Well, at least this time I have the onus of searching for my Directors' Fest script. I read a really funny one called The Apollo of Bellac a few days ago, but, like all of the one-act plays in that particular book, the character-list was much too populated for my needs.If any of you knows of a show that would be perfect for me, let me know. I'm leaning toward a dark comedy or some political drama, but I also wouldn't mind trying my hand at a good ol'-fashioned love story. So, as I seem to have just stated, the field is wide-open.

So now too is my CD-wallet. I cleaned it out last night as I need a new variety to listen to at work. What I listened to in the couple of weeks included:

The Clash - Sandinista!
Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Live in New York City
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Spinal Tap - This is Spinal Tap
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers - Gold Against the Soul
Gang of Four - Entertainment!
The Weakerthans - Fallow
The Tragically Hip - Trouble at the Henhouse
The Tragically Hip - Live Between Us
Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 1
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Propagandhi - How to Clean Everything
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
Our Lady Peace - Happiness... Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch
R.E.M. - New Adventures in Hi-Fi
The Smashing Pumpkins - MACHINA/The Machines of God
Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
I Mother Earth - Dig
Adam Sandler - Shhh...Don't Tell
Radiohead - Amnesiac
Various Artists - Dumb and Dumber: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack*

* denotes probably the first CD I ever owned

Speaking of music, play the band game.

I've been doing an encouraging amount of hanging-out with people lately, which is really what summer is supposed to be all about. Good times, whether that be tossing a Frisbee around at the beach or seeing Superman Returns last night (the movie was decent). Going to the beach with 'em also leads me to believe I should be doing something to lose these rapidly developing love-handles I seem to have acquired somewhere. Maybe when I'm not so ridiculously busy, which I am as you've no doubt gathered by reading my post up 'til now.

Time to clean up the flat and do some laundry. And, in case you weren't aware...

Italy v France

On to Round Three

2006-06-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

The second round of the World Cup finished about an hour ago; these are the quarterfinal pairings:

Germany v Argentina
Italy v Ukraine
England v Portugal
Brazil v France

The Band Game (stolen)

2006-06-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

Taken from Paul. Dunno where he got it from. "Choose a band/artist, then answer the questions using ONLY titles of their songs. Better yet if you can do it from one album." Try and be truthful. Or not.

Mine:

1. Choose a band
Manic Street Preachers

2. Are you male or female?
Sculpture of Man

3. Describe yourself
Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll

4. How do some people feel about you?
Vision of Dead Desire

5. How do you feel about yourself?
Enola/Alone

6. Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend
Another Invented Disease

7. Describe the person closest to you
Further Away

8. Describe where you want to be
Australia

9. Describe how you live
Faster

10. Describe how you love
Always/Never

11. What would you ask for if you had just one wish?
The Love of Richard Nixon

12. Share a few words of wisdom
Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart

13. Where do you live?
My Little Empire

14. Now say goodbye
Happy Ending

Now you try!

UPDATE: I'll do another:

1. Choose a band
Matthew Good (and his Band)

2. Are you male or female?
Pony Boy

3. Describe yourself
Born to Kill

4. How do some people feel about you?
Strangest One of All

5. How do you feel about yourself?
In Love With a Bad Idea

6. Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend
She's Got a New Disguise

7. Describe the person closest to you
Fearless

8. Describe where you want to be
In a World Called Catastrophe

9. Describe how you live
Double Life

10. Describe how you love
Going All the Way

11. What would you ask for if you had just one wish?
Flight Recorder from Viking 7

12. Share a few words of wisdom
Look Happy, It's the End of the World

13. Where do you live?
Suburbia

14. Now say goodbye
Oh, Be Joyful!

On to Round Two

2006-06-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

The first round of the World Cup finished about an hour ago; these are the second-round pairings:

Germany v Sweden
Argentina v Mexico
Italy v Australia
Switzerland v Ukraine
England v Ecuador
Portugal v Netherlands
Brazil v Ghana
Spain v France

(image from the World Cup website)

If You Want to Get a Hold of Me

2006-05-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

...for the foreseeable future, try Alex' phone at 318-1642 or, for this weekend, Chris Miller's at 319-0673. My phone is currently in the shop.

Yo, Fuck the Oilers

2006-05-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

I'm disgusted by the fair-weather fans of other hockey teams (especially of the Canucks) switching allegiances now that the Edmonton Oilers are enjoying a good playoff run. NO sense of loyalty to club have these people. Hell, I've even heard of Flames fans softly cheering for their most hated enemies. You want the Cup to "come home to Canada"? Just wait until the off-season and it will, for a barbecue at the home of any number of Canadian players who are on any one of the four remaining teams (Anaheim staved off elimination tonight). The Edmonton Oilers are the side who prevented my beloved Canucks from participating in the tournament. (Well, one could say that it was Vancouver's horrible play down the stretch that really cost them, but that's a matter for another time.) So, I repeat: fuck 'em.

Tomorrow I'm headin' up to Sun Peaks to hang out with Mr Miller and Laura Michel and Braden and some people I've never met. So that should be a good time. I just hope they're not cokeheads or some damn thing. (Or Oilers fans.)

I need to get more hours at work so I can further tell you what I listen to while I'm there. This past week's list is shorter than the one prior, and gets fairly Britpop-heavy toward the end:

Gordon Downie - Battle of the Nudes
Incubus - Make Yourself
Our Lady Peace - Clumsy
R.E.M. - Up
Manic Street Preachers - This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Buddy Holly & the Crickets - The Best of Buddy Holly
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Oasis - Familiar to Millions
Travis - Good Feeling
Various Artists - The X-Files: The Album

Well, that was fun. In the meantime... what the hell am I doing writing this? The deadline for new material to be used in the summer show is Monday; I've got to get more writing done for that! See you the hell later!

We Froze

2006-05-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

The celebrations for Watford are ongoing right now as they were easily the better side in the Championship play-off final. As the BBC commentator just remarked, "for Leeds United it's another year of footballing hell outside the Premiership, where they do not want to be." Now all that's left for the Whites is to try, try again for promotion next season.

Leeds United 0-3 Watford.

Hey, This Is My First Post In a Long Time

2006-05-16T02:28:00.002-07:00

The title so nice I just had to use it twice. People often say that the sequel is never as good as the original. I intend to fully prove that assertion true with this post.

It's my birthday on the 17th (Wednesday). It'll be in the evening at Kelly O'Bryan's, because that's just how original I am.

I worked a lot last week, and you know what that means: time for ol' Fof to dig out his erstwhile-mothballed CDs and smack 'em into the trusty Esso ghettoblaster. Samplings from my CD-wallet included:

Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
The Chemical Brothers - Come With Us
Moby - Play
Bob Marley & the Wailers - One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers
Manic Street Preachers - Lifeblood
U2 - Achtung Baby
The Tragically Hip - Fully Completely
Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
The Dust Brothers - Fight Club: Original Motion Picture Score
Weezer - Maladroit
The Tea Party - Tangents: The Tea Party Collection
Treble Charger - Maybe It's Me
System of a Down - System of a Down
Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
Robbie Williams - The Ego Has Landed
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
Various Artists - Mantra Mix: Tibetian Refugee Benefit Album
Various Artists - Peppers & Eggs: Music from the HBO Original Series The Sopranos

Astronomy (study of the Solar System, to be precise) looks to be fine and three rather easy and needed science credits. Collective Writing (my theatre course this summer) is the one that is really shaping-up to be a classic (in spite of the fact that members of the collective seem to have been dropping off like flies). It seems hard to believe that we're in the midst of writing a play which will be read to the public barely more than a month.

I've added the link to Lou's new blog on the sidebar, replacing his old one. The link to Brodie's dead blog is now gone too.

And, of course, I've changed Today's Manics Lyric.

See you in a month...?

Hey, This Is My First Post In a Long Time

2006-04-18T02:18:00.000-07:00

Ahh, drunk enough to again make a post. Tonight was good times, as both Lou and Allison came over (at seperate times) and kept Alex and me good company. Ouzo was consumed, as well as Centennial-brand rye whiskey (orders reversed). In the morning, I'm going out to the gym with Lou to build up my various muscle-groups, and feel really sore afterwards. Lou and I watched Collateral tonight; that's not a bad flick. Soon, I shall be watching The Silence of the Lambs and V for Vendetta, so that will take two off of my "to-see" list. I'm looking forward to both.

In other news... I'll get back to you with other news. Don't worry, it'll be sooner than one month's time.

Also, I've changed again "Today's Manics Lyric."

Also again, I've re-added the link to Will's blog on the sidebar.

With the Birds I Share This Lonely View

2006-03-19T07:10:00.000-08:00

I'm a man of wealth and taste?

Premiere Tonight

2006-03-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

Come see A Lie of the Mind, starting tonight and running tomorrow, Saturday, the 16th, 17th, and 18th. Tickets are $10, the show starts at 8:00pm at the Actors' Workshop Theatre (and lasts for three hours).

Other Stuff That's Been Going On

2006-01-26T23:33:00.000-08:00

I have not watched nearly enough hockey this season. A combination of constant rehearsing and a cable-free apartment (no Sportsnet!) would be the major contributing factor in that. At least I'm missing the shootouts and restricted goalie-zones.

Hard-won labour, homosexual and abortion rights (among others) may well soon be under attack on both sides of the Canada-US border. We've a Conservative minority government with some pretty crazy people here, and down there they've got an upcoming vote for a new Supreme Court Justice. The nominee is Samuel Alito and many say his past judicial record is troubling. There's more out there on this kind of stuff. Google it or something.

To quote something Paul had in an MSN Messenger screen-name a long time ago, "I've been watching the Discovery Channel eight hours a day. You know what I've discovered? I need a girlfriend."

I'm finally changing "Today's Manics Lyric."

Last night's premiere of The End of Civilization was a fun time, although it felt a little flat. (Having an audience of twenty-two can do that.) We'll do a lot better, I feel, with the large crowd that will hopefully be there for Saturday night (our next performance of this particular play). I know at least five will be there! Since you asked, those would be my mom, dad, sister, and cousins.

Last week I was cast in the next TRU production, A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard. We have a stellar cast (amazingly, all third-years or higher) and I guarantee you it will be a helluva show. Oops, I mean, "heckuva" show. That, in case you were wondering, was an inside joke from rehearsal tonight.

Prost!

Well, Poo

2006-01-24T10:24:00.000-08:00

We didn't even get to see Paul Martin cry. He did resign though.

I guess the NDP is pretty happy with 29 seats (we're number four! We're number four!), and hopefully Layton will be able to use this seemingly small number as well as he used 19 last time (though by looking at how the numbers break down, maybe not). No incumbent NDP MPs were defeated.

Betty was re-elected here in Kamloops. We're all just thrilled about that.

Alex Atamanenko won Grand Forks' riding of BC Southern Interior by over 13,000 votes. Interestingly, almost 9,000 people in my home riding cast their votes for a dangerous driver/alcohol smuggler. Oops, I'm sorry. I forgot to say accused. Well, at least we know he's a liar for sure. I wish him a speedy recovery, but not as speedy as the recovery of the nurse into whose car he smashed. Dick.

Vote Today

2006-01-23T11:44:00.000-08:00

Go out and freakin' do it. Please? If you're unsure as to where/how, Elections Canada's website is chock full o' help for you. Polls are open until 7:00pm (not 8:00pm as you may think).

Say a Prayer

2006-01-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

We used to go on donut-runs... especially when the two of us were in rehearsals for Quiet in the Land back in early 2003. The invasion of Iraq began when we were doing that play. After rehearsals on quite a few nights, we would walk up the hill from downtown to Robin's Donuts, pick up a half-dozen day-olds each, in a plastic bag, and walk up to Hutton School's playground, talking, opining and bullshitting all the way. After one of those donut runs, I believe, we did something called Ten Questions. We were back at Robin's by this time, and the way the game goes is simple: you ask the other person ten questions, about anything you want to know about him. It's that simple. One of my questions was why he was planning to enter the armed forces. (For those of you who don't know, Will is of Russian origin as I am, but not Doukhobor.) He is good at physics, computer programming... if our high-school soccer team had a captain, it would have been him, no question. And in case you wondered, he is a damn fine actor. He and I have a chemistry onstage that you can feel, and something like that is very rare. And we wrote a script together, The Right Way, which was put to paper in three days and to production in two weeks. Anyway, his to me answer was that one of the biggest reasons he felt the need to serve was to protect his family, those he loves. I hope he doesn't have to die for that.

A B.C. man is among the injured in a suicide car bombing in Afghanistan.

William Salikin of Grand Forks was one of three Canadian soldiers wounded, as a convoy moving near the Canadian base in Kandahar was targeted.

Two are said to be in critical condition, with life-threatening injuries. The extent of Salikin's injuries is not known. Glen Barry, a representative of Foreign Affairs Canada, was killed.

The prime minister has sent condolences to the victims' families on behalf of all Canadians. Salikin's mother is too upset to comment on her son's condition.

CKNW story here. Others here, here, here, here, here, and here (with pictures of the blast). ~~Will's blog is here~~.

I selfishly hope with all I have that he is the one whose injuries aren't life-threatening. Everyone please, pray, send positive energies, do whatever you think you can for him. And for the others.

Please.

* * *

UPDATE, 13:07 Sunday: My dad tells me that the Grand Forks radios station's news says that Will is in "serious but stable condition." Let's hope to God that's true.

* * *

UPDATE, 14:50 Sunday: I have to head to work. If any of you hear any more news or just want to call, you know my number. I've also removed the link to his blog for the time being.

* * *

UPDATE, 23:56 Sunday: Nothing to update. As far as I know, Will's situation hasn't changed in the last eleven hours. I suppose we can count that as a good thing.

* * *

UPDATE, 00:14 Monday: A new story from 24 Hours Vancouver:

Audra Franklin's so happy her husband Paul is alive after a suicide bomber ripped apart his G-Wagon near Kandahar yesterday she's actually cracking jokes.

She's not dwelling on the fact Paul, 38, had his left leg amputated below the knee, and may still lose the other.

[...]

Audra, 33, said knowing that Glyn Berry, 59, a director with Foreign Affairs Canada, was killed in the blast, and the other soldiers - Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey , 26, of Edmonton and Pte. William Salikin, 22, of British Columbia - suffered more grievous injuries, puts things in perspective.

"They have head injuries," she said. "(Paul's predicament) really isn't so bad. If you can't find a way to laugh about things you'd never stop crying."

* * *

UPDATE, 08:24 Monday: Will and the other critically wounded soldier have arrived at the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany and are currently receiving treatment.

* * *

UPDATE, 12:29 Monday: The Globe and Mail says that now that they've arrived safely in Germany, their conditions will be reassessed:

Three Canadian soldiers seriously wounded in a deadly weekend suicide attack in Afghanistan were airlifted Monday to a U.S. military hospital in Germany for treatment.

“Because they just physically arrived at the hospital, their overall medical condition is going to have to be reassessed,” National Defence spokesman Lieutenant Ken Allan said Monday.

Further details of their condition probably will not be known until Monday evening at the earliest, he said.

[...]

The three were flown to Landstuhl hospital, about 20 kilometres outside of Ramstein, Germany, on Monday. They arrived at the facility just after 2 p.m. EST.

“We won't know anything more specific for another eight hours, because the medical staff is just starting to look at them now,” Lt. Allan said.

He could not say how soon the soldiers would return to Canada.

“Of course that won't be until they're capable of being moved, and again we won't know when that will be until later some time today or early tomorrow morning,” he said.

* * *

UPDATE, 23:38 Monday: As far as I'm aware, no new developments to report. Keep those prayers and good wishes coming.

* * *

UPDATE, 17:16 Tuesday: The Canadian Press is now reporting that Will and his comrades could be flown home to Canada within the week:

Three Canadian soldiers now in the fight of their lives at a hospital in Germany could return to Canada early next week despite the massive wounds inflicted by an Afghan suicide attack, a military doctor said Tuesday.

The families of Pte. William Edward Salikin, Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey and Master Cpl. Paul Franklin were winging their way to Europe on Tuesday afternoon to be at the soldiers' bedsides, military officials said. Salikin and Bailey both remained in medically induced comas after the attack Sunday that killed Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry.

One of the men was listed in serious condition and the other was in very serious condition 26 hours after they arrived at the hospital in Landstuhl, Maj. Nick Withers said in an interview.

Franklin, who applied a tourniquet to his own severed leg before trying to help his wounded comrades, was in stable condition.

"There's been no change in their condition since they arrived, which is a positive thing for sure," Withers said late Tuesday.

"Their condition has not deteriorated in any way. We are encouraged by that, at this point, and the neurosurgeon is remaining optimistic."

Early planning for their return had begun Tuesday. Withers said they could be repatriated within three to seven days, but more likely toward the end of that range.

Neurosurgeons attending to Salikin and Bailey could not speculate on the soldiers' long-term prospects, or to what extent either would suffer life-changing effects from the car bomb that mangled their armoured jeep.

Withers' comments were restricted by patient confidentiality, but he described Salikin and Bailey's wounds as "very typical of those that are being seen in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The hospital is seeing wounded arrive in fits and starts, especially from Iraq. Some days there are two or three flights with wounded; others there are none, said Withers, a medical liaison officer.

"They're quite busy," he said.

The doctors are among the best and most experienced available in dealing with wounds that are inevitably "very complex when you're talking about suicide bombers and bomb blasts."

The complexity of such wounds can hinder doctors' ability to project long-term recoveries, he added.

"We're certainly hoping for a recovery over the next weeks to months."

I guess "guarded optimism" is the order of the day. But we will of course relish every bit of good news we hear. Keep on keepin' on, Mr JacK.

* * *

UPDATE, 17:19 Wednesday: One line from this Canadian Press story gives me reason to smile today:

It was unclear whether Pte. William Edward Salikin and Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey were still in medically induced comas.

As far as I'm concerned, that means Will may well be awake right now! I certainly hope so. I'm sick as a dog today (and if I believed in that "power of the human mind" stuff, I'd wonder if maybe I was acting as a small crutch for him?), but as soon as I see another news story confirming whether or not he's conscious, I'll post it here.

* * *

UPDATE, 02:42 Thursday: An Edmonton Sun piece says that Will is still in the medically induced coma.

The military doctor looking after the three soldiers injured in Sunday's suicide bombing in Afghanistan says their recovery looks promising.

Master Cpl. Paul Franklin lost his left leg below the knee and could still lose the other. Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey and Pte. William Salikin are reported to be in medically induced comas.

One is listed in serious condition, the other in very serious condition.

"There has been no significant change at this time, but we are encouraged by the signs," Maj. Nick Withers, a physician, said yesterday from Landstuhl, Germany, where the soldiers are being treated.

* * *

UPDATE, 12:52 Thursday: Another friend of mine and Will's, David Young, has sent me a link which states that Will could be off his respirator inside a day or two:

Two soldiers with head injuries remain on breathing machines in the Landstuhl facility.

Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey is still in a medically induced coma as doctors try to reduce swelling around his brain, while Pte. William Edward Salikin should be well enough to breathe on his own within the next 48 hours, doctors said.

There are also two other pieces on the more personal side of things, on Grand Forks' yellow ribbon campaign and Will's online supporters. Read 'em both. The latter article has some news on his health as well:

Military doctors at the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany now say they're optimistic about the condition of the three Canadian soldiers, saying they're making a good recovery.

But they also caution that two of the men "are not out of the woods yet." They say two of the soldiers – Salikin and Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey – are in critical, but stable condition with head injuries. They remain on breathing machines in the Landstuhl facility. Bailey remains in the most serious condition, and is still in a medically induced coma as doctors try to reduce swelling around his brain. The doctors say Salikin should be well enough to breath (sic) on his own within the next 48 hours. But they say he remains in serious condition after suffering "closed head injuries," meaning his skull was not pierced by the bomb blast. "We're very pleased to say he has made a significant recovery in the past 24 hours," said Maj. Nick Withers. "We're starting to see him wake up a lot more, and that is very encouraging form a brain injury perspective." On Wednesday, doctors performed a three-hour operation to repair bone fractures in Salikin's right forearm.

* * *

UPDATE, 13:06 Thursday: A brief report tells us that Will has opened his eyes.

Private William Salikin is also being treated for a head injury. He's in a medically induced coma, but doctors are easing his medication, and he has opened his eyes briefly.

* * *

UPDATE, 23:10 Friday: CTV News gives us some more information:

Pte. William Salikin and Master Cpl. Paul Franklin are making encouraging progress, while Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey remains in a medically induced coma.

[...]

A neurosurgeon treating the men said Pte. William Salikin's condition is greatly improving. He is coming out of a medically-induced coma and is responding to stimuli.

Combine that with this CP article and an earlier CBC story where he's squeezing the hand of his girlfriend Desirae (whom I've not met) and it seems like another day of good news. From the former:

Doctors have been easing Salikin's medication and he is emerging from the chemically induced coma that has helped his brain recover from bleeding and bruising.

"He's slowly coming to," said Hansen, who sits by his bedside and talks for hours at a time. "He hears me; he knows I'm there.

"He's been responding well to any commands. If someone says raise your arm or move your feet, he does it. He knows I'm there. When I came in this morning, he squeezed my hand."

Salikin, who had surgery to repair a badly broken arm, has tried to make eye contact but drifted off again, she said. "The first hello is going to be the best feeling in the world."

Hansen said she's told his prospects for a full recovery are very good.

* * *

UPDATE, 13:23 Saturday: It seems he's well on the road to recovery. I suppose the number-one question now is how long that road will be.

An Edmonton-based soldier who sustained serious head wounds in a Kandahar, Afghanistan, bombing flexed his fingers and moved his arms and legs on command on Friday, a sign he may make a full recovery.

Pte. Will Salikin's fiancee stood by his bedside while doctors tested his awareness as he slowly emerged from the drug-induced coma which has reduced the swelling of his badly bruised brain since the Sunday bombing.

"He was not completely awake but he recognized me because he started playing with my fingers the way he always does," Desirae Hansen said by telephone from Landstuhl, Germany, where Salikin is recovering in the Intensive Care Unit of an American military hospital.

"He was still drowsy but there is no skull fracture. Any damage would have been inside, to his brain," she said after an afternoon spent by the side of Salikin's bed.

"He is responding to every command, though, and he would raise a hand or raise a foot by following commands so I am pretty sure his brain is intact."

Salikin also suffered a broken right arm in the explosion which tore his Armoured military G-Wagon to pieces.

Friday evening, doctors increased Salikin's medication after he became uncomfortable with the tube in his throat which is helping him breathe. Once he is strong enough to breathe deeply and keep his lungs clear, that tube will be removed, Hansen said.

* * *

UPDATE, 23:58 Tuesday: Will and his two comrades are home, well, in Edmonton anyway:

Three Canadian soldiers badly wounded in a suicide attack in Afghanistan landed safely in Edmonton yesterday after leaving medical facilities in Ramstein, Germany.

[...]

Salikin was also heavily sedated but was recovering well.

I know it's not exactly the spotlessly clean bill of health we've all been hoping for, but no news is good news, right?

* * *

UPDATE, 17:56 Thursday: Will's recovery continues, but Cpl Bailey may not be so fortunate:

"The injury that has happened to [Bailey's] brain is very severe. The swelling is a sign of how much underlying brain injury there is. And the chances for a good neurological outcome from this remain very slim," Brisebois said.

"And there is a potential that he could pass away from his head injury or the complications thereof."

Bailey is also suffering from blood strain infections, pneumonia, a blood clot, burns and fractured ribs.

Another of the soldiers, Pte. William Salikin of Grand Forks, B.C., was still on a breathing machine Thursday, but was expected to be taken off the apparatus soon.

Salikin has been in and out of consciousness, but was responding to doctors by wiggling his toes on command. He even managed to give doctors a thumbs-up.

"He is doing fairly well in respect to his head injury," said Brisebois, who noted Salikin is scheduled to have an MRI of his brain and his spine.

"He continues to make progress."

* * *

UPDATE, 23:57 Wednesday the 8th: I've sent off a brief video for Will; hopefully he'll see it soon. Thanks a bundle to Les Johnson for all the help.

An article from the Edmonton Sun tells us that Will's coming along pretty nicely under the circumstances:

Salikin has been taken off his respirator and is now breathing on his own.

"He's now able to speak, although it is a little bit at a time," McLaughlin said. "The weakness on his right side has been improving."

I Know That This Is Vitriol

2006-01-15T00:42:00.000-08:00

The LGFers are at it again... this time they're up in arms about a post on potential security risks posed by terrorists communicating through disposable cell-phones. Some commenters on the post call for their privacies to be taken away. Others just do what they do best: scream for Muslim blood.

Lib Candidate Dumped in Abbotsford

2006-01-14T20:52:00.000-08:00

With a collective ego apparently bruised by the Conservatives' Zeisman debacle, the Liberals are out to prove that they're not ready to be knocked off their perch as Canada's sleaziest party.

The Liberal candidate in Abbotsford has been dumped by the party because he's been accused of trying to bribe the NDP candidate in his riding.

David Oliver has been asked to stop identifying himself as the Liberal candidate.
New Democrat Jeffery Hansen-Carlson has filed a complaint with Elections Canada --claiming Oliver and his campaign manager offered him a job if he agreed to drop out of the race.

(Hat-tip to my dad.)

This is a Public Service Announcement... Without Guitar

2006-01-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

Advance voting stations for the federal election are open today and Monday, before official voting day happens on the 23rd. Here are some of the polling places to which you can go if you want to get the voting thing done early. They're open from noon to 8:00pm.

In Kamloops:
Desert Gardens Centre
540 Seymour Street

In Grand Forks:
Senior Citizens Branch - City Park
565 71st Avenue

In Coquitlam:
Blue Mountain Baptist Church
450 Blue Mountain Street

Be sure to bring your voting card (if you've received one in the mail, I know I haven't) and/or valid ID.

Bye Bye Zeisman

2006-01-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

And now, an update to my previous post. From CBC News: B.C. Tory candidate dumped over smuggling charges.

The federal Tories are dumping a B.C. candidate who faces charges of attempting to smuggle a car and booze across the Canada-U.S. border.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said on Thursday that it's too late to replace Derek Zeisman as a candidate, but that he wouldn't be allowed to join the caucus.

"Mr. Zeisman will not be sitting as a Conservative should he be elected," Harper said. "He'll have to get this matter resolved."

Zeisman is running to replace retiring Conservative MP Jim Gouk in the riding of British Columbia Southern Interior. The party only found out about the six charges on Wednesday after it was contacted by the media.

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency alleges Zeisman tried to smuggle a 1989 Mercedes-Benz as well as 112 bottles of liquor in July 2004 from the U.S. into Canada. He's also accused of lying to customs officers about the incident.

If convicted, Zeisman could be fined up to $50,000 and face six months in jail.

Zeisman, who is to appear in court next month, did not tell his party about the charges, which he called "unjustified." He said the information was leaked by someone in the government who had a grudge against him.

Harper said he should have told the party about the charges.

The Tory candidate has worked as a trade commissioner for Industry Canada and a foreign service officer with the Canadian diplomatic corps.

Zeisman has other problems. He's currently in hospital because of a serious car accident just before Christmas.

An NDP candidate running against Zeisman says he couldn't believe the news.

"Shock and surprise. That was my first reaction," says Alex Atamanenko.

Atamanenko says he's alarmed voters were unaware of such a serious allegation about a candidate, less than two weeks before the Jan. 23 election. But he also says it would have been far worse had Zeisman won the seat, and the news came out later.

So will he now be elected, with criminal charges pending and a major party having dumped him? According to my magic eight-ball, "my sources say no."

Conservative Candidate Accused of Smuggling

2006-01-11T23:48:00.000-08:00

This is great... from CTV News, Derek Zeisman, the Con candidate for BC Southern Interior (the riding of which Grand Forks is a part), has been charged with a little illegal importing:

The Conservative Party was not aware that their candidate in the B.C. riding of British Columbia Southern Interior is due to go on trial next month on smuggling charges, and if convicted, he could end up in jail.

Derek Zeisman, who is running in the riding currently held by Conservative MP Jim Gouk, previously made national news for a serious car accident five days before Christmas.

Zeisman is still in hospital with injuries from that accident, and would not agree to an interview. However, he did speak with CTV News off-camera.

"I have had nothing to hide during this campaign and those charges which were not even criminal charges are unjustified," Zeisman said. "And when I have my day in court, I am very confident that I will be exonerated.

"I have no doubt about that whatsoever, but you know, again, I hope we still live in a democratic country where people are allowed to have their day in court before they're found guilty in the court of public opinion."

In July 2004, Zeisman was crossing into British Columbia from the United States, when Canada Customs charged him with attempting to smuggle in a Mercedes-Benz vehicle and 112 containers of alcohol.

Zeisman is also accused of lying to Canada Customs about the incident.

Zeisman did not explain to CTV News why he didn't tell his own party about the charges, and blamed someone in government for leaking the information.

"I don't know if it came from the Department of Foreign Affairs or if it came from the Border Services Agency," he said. "Somebody obviously has a grudge to harbour."

Zeisman is a cross-border trade specialist, and up until the time of the charges he was working as a trade commissioner for the federal government.

The government knew about the charges, but the Conservative Party admits it didn't check Zeisman's background with his former employer.

Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper, who signed Zeisman's nomination papers, says he relies on others for such checking.

"There is a screening process," Harper said. "My understanding is that it is supposed to look into criminal backgrounds, and obviously we rely on candidates to be forthcoming with information as well."

Duff Conacher of the group Democracy Watch said the party should have taken a better look at their candidate's background.

"They should be taking the initiative and making sure candidates for office maintain the highest ethical standard, so we're not in this situation," Conacher said.

However, he added, "the primary responsibility is with the candidate since they obviously had full knowledge and should have gone public with it even if they didn't tell the party in the first instance."

Zeisman's party bio says that in 2004, he began working as Gouk's part-time constituency assistant.

Gouk, who is retiring from politics, had previously hired Zeisman as his parliamentary assistant, working in both his Ottawa and Castlegar offices.

The Conservatives say despite just finding out about the charges, they will stand by their man and won't pull him out of the race.

Opening Night Tomorrow

2006-01-11T23:28:00.000-08:00

It's for the TRU production of John Patrick's farcical comedy Anybody Out There?, a story of... well, I'm not totally sure, except the set is pretty elaborate and in one scene Brodie eats bees. And it is funny. Go see it. It runs the 14th-16th and 19th-21st.

Happy Birthday to It

2006-01-09T00:17:00.000-08:00

This blog turned a year old yesterday, and I'd totally forgotten until a little while ago. The blog noticed. After it cried, yelled at me, and accused me of no longer caring and allowing our relationship to become emotionless and dead, I apologized profusely and promised I'd get it a new template real soon... it seemed to work. Then the lovin' began.

New Blog Alert, the Sequel

2006-01-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

There's a link to Kelsey's blog on the sidebar now.

A Thousand Monkeys at a Thousand Keyboards

2006-01-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

Man, those posters at LGF make me angry. Chuck J posted about a Daily Kos story which itself quoted a New York Times report on a secret Pentagon study:

A secret Pentagon study has found that at least 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to their upper body could have survived if they had extra body armor. That armor has been available since 2003 but until recently the Pentagon has largely declined to supply it to troops despite calls from the field for additional protection, according to military officials.

(Quoted from NYT.)

Sounds pretty harsh, right? Well, if you read the LGF post, you'd see a rebuttal from an AP story in which some U.S. troops would dislike wearing more armour and feel it would add to their risk by restricting mobility. Fair enough. But the attitude of some of the Little Green Fuckheads is unbelieveable. Take a look at a few of their comments, all drawn from this one post.

Example #1:

Here is an idea. Get behind the war and save the anti-war debate for peacetime. They just don't understand that their opposition emboldens the terrorists and is responsible for the planitng of more than a few IED's that would defeat any armor option.

Example #2:

Whenever you hear that a LLL or democrat is "concerned",you may as well start rolling your eyes.

Example #3:

Just par for the course for the KOS kids. The military does a study that includes statistics that can be spun and they whine. We all want our soldiers to have the best protection they can have so lets leave the politics out and get them the best. This with the knowledge there are tradeoffs in all the gear they have to carry on their backs (doubt most of the KOS kids could make it a 100 feet in full battle gear nor could I ). The heaviest of all the weight our soldiers have to carry are the traitors and backstabbers back here at home.

Example #4:

Shouldnt our troops have like, force fields and stuff, like they do in star-wars?

And saving the, um, "best" for last:

The better way to protect our soldiers is to:
1) stop the funding of mud ra asses
2) Blow the Sh!t out of moose limbs
3) Stuff a sock in Murthas mouth
4) Stuff a sock in Kennedy's mouth
5) Wire tap the shit out of every moose limb in the US
6) Delclare the religion of "blown to Pieces" a death cult and put it out of business and out of the US.
7) Stuff a sock in Mama Moonbats mouth.
8) DO NOT LET A MOOSE LIMB ON ANOTHER AIRPLANE

and oh yeah, just in case I forgot:
Blow the Sh!t out of moose limbs

/sarcasm --- NOT!

To be fair, it seems that commenter was banned. Nonetheless, ladies and gentlemen, I give you... the LGF supporters of the Iraq War.*

*People who are eagerly willing to sacrifice as many of their fellow countrymen and women as necessary in order to achieve whatever they choose to accept as "victory."

It's the Time of Your Life

2006-01-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

Don't let it slip away.

New Blog Alert

2006-01-06T00:10:00.000-08:00

Chris Cooley is off and running like a Spanish poophound.

Basement Hockey Championship Series Update

2005-12-30T22:19:00.000-08:00

Game 6:
Kayla 10-6 Chris

Basement Hockey Championship Series Update

2005-12-30T20:05:00.000-08:00

Game 5:
Chris 7-5 Kayla

Basement Hockey Championship Series Update

2005-12-30T15:32:00.000-08:00

Game 4:
Kayla 8-5 Chris

Basement Hockey Championship Series Update

2005-12-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

Game 3:
Kayla 5-6 Chris

The "J" in "CJF" Will Soon Stand For "Jowls"

2005-12-29T11:31:00.000-08:00

Last night I weighed myself at my baba's house, and tipped the scale at nearly 190 pounds. I think it's pretty much confirmed that I've developed a small paunch. Looks like I'm past my best-before date, people. It's been a good run these 21-and-a-half years, but I've finally peaked. Now all I have to look forward to are thinning and greying hair, man-tits, arthritic limbs, and a yearly visit to the proctologist. So long, it was nice knowing all you crazy kids...

...or I suppose I could go to the gym once in a while. Y'know, whichever.

You Know What I Say?

2005-12-27T17:23:00.000-08:00

I say you haven't truly returned to Grand Forks until you've crammed yourself inside a hatchback with eight other people and taken a drive out past Nursery.

But, to start with my initial trip from Kamloops... I slept pretty much the whole bus-ride back; it was good stuff aside from the sore neck it caused. That'll teach me to pull a completely unnecessary all-nighter the night before (see Alex, I told you I'd do it). Returned to the GF around 5:45pm after a lame stop-over in Kelowna, then had some borscht (YES!) for dinner here at (my original) home and watched the Canucks game, then over to Paul's place where I saw some folks I've not seen in a while, including the brothers Lloyd. I was feeling very tired from my all-nighter the previous evening, and told myself when I left at 10:00pm that I'd stay for just an hour. That was before the pool and the whiskey. I think I got home at 5:00 in the morning, after karate-demonstrating Paul (with real chop-lunging action!) nearly de-eyed me.

When I awoke on Christmas Eve at 2:45 in the afternoon, I headed downtown to see what I could see. Of course, most of the stores were closed early and Video Express, Radio Shack, and the liquor store were the only real places I could go. So I bought the family a bottle o' rum (Lemon Hart) and a fuckin' forty of Carolans' (on special for only $30!) and headed on home, then to the hospital, where I finally got to see my aunt Helen, then back home again to at last see my baba, uncle Jim, and uncle Larry.

Wholly shit, it's Christmas morning already! I gave books to everyone this year... only the acknowledged "classics," like Gulliver's Travels (my sister), A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (my mom), Fathers and Sons (my dad), and so on. Things I got included a little MP3 player, a knitted afghan from baba, Queen DVD, pyjama pants, and a 30-pack of toilet paper... ohh right. Christmas dinner of course came after that, and it was good aside from the fact that some dumb business with Helen's wheelchair prevented her from being able to come too... lousy screws. It was still great though, in spite of that.

Yesterday was devoted to going up to my deda's grave (he died on Boxing Day, 1988), more visiting at the hospital, including with my granduncle Peter, and basement hockey with my sister:

Game 1:
Chris 9-9 Kayla (reg)
Chris 5-4 Kayla (OT1)

Game 2:
Chris 5-5 Kayla (reg)
Chris 2-3 Kayla (OT1)

Game 3... she's going down. And then it was off to Clyde's to have a few with some folks... a LOT of folks. I had to wait in line... at a bar... in Grand Forks. I'd always assumed there was some sort of bylaw prohibiting lines -up here. That led to merriment and catching-up with a whole bunch of people at the bar, then some of us going to City Park to smoke a bit of GF weed and sing. I don't think any of us had sang improvised scat-bop before... it was truly magical for all involved. Then, off we went in Ally's hatchback.

Today Dallas is in town so I've hung out with him some. And that's all for which I have time to write at the moment... voreniki are about to be served.

Running for Home

2005-12-23T05:41:00.000-08:00

My God, it's really been two weeks since my last post. I've a few things to talk about, but for now, I'll just say this:

Grand Forks in twelve hours, baby. Oh yeah.

It's All Set

2005-12-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

Here are the groups for the 2006 World Cup, which were announced earlier today in Leipzig:

Group A
Germany (hosts)
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

Group B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago
Sweden

Group C
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montenegro
Netherlands

Group D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Group E
Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

Group F
Brazil (champions)
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Group G
France
Switzerland
South Korea
Togo

Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

Imagine Canada in Trinidad & Tobago's place and dream of how fun it would have been.

It's Official

2005-11-28T23:54:00.000-08:00

Election time!

UPDATE: He's running in the wrong country? That won't stop me.

Not Another Trainee

2005-11-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

Chelsea's blog is up on the sidebar. No time to say something witty... back to homework I go.

Meanwhile, In International Relations

2005-11-22T01:15:00.000-08:00

It looks as if the CIA have been poking their noses where they're not welcome: our country.

At least six airplanes linked to alleged CIA front companies have landed at Canadian airports in the last six months, records show.

Flight data obtained Monday by The Canadian Press indicate the airports, including three in Newfoundland, have been used as stopover points for the aircraft on several occasions.

And who is standing up and crying foul? Why, it's none other than the eternal defenders of Canada, the... Bloc?!

The latest information surfaced as the Bloc Quebecois called on the government to press the United States for answers about the possible presence of foreign intelligence agents.

Bloc MP Francine Lalonde wants Ottawa to question the United States about evidence the plane was in Newfoundland last week.

Well, it seems that when they're not too busy trying to tear our country apart, some Bloquistes make decent MPs.

Great Fight-Back

2005-11-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

Today Leeds United came back from a 3-0 half-time deficit to beat Southampton away 4-3.

The 28th of This Month

2005-11-17T01:57:00.000-08:00

It looks like the government will fall sooner rather than later.

The opposition has set Nov. 28 as the most likely date to bring down the minority Liberal government, forcing an election campaign over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

Prime Minister Paul Martin repeated again on Wednesday that he won't give in to opposition demands he call an election in early January.

If Martin doesn't change his mind, the opposition is vowing to bring down the government at the end of the month.

I fail to see how bringing about an election over the Christmas season will benefit any of the opposition parties. You thought voter turnout was low last time?! Try getting a public to cast their ballots in the middle of winter in a vote which is being called for reasons which are vague at best, for blatantly hypocritical parties. (Though it still holds true that if you vote for the Green Party, you can be diagnosed as clinically brain-dead.) Sadly, it seems like a major factor in this election will be who is best at spinning perception of who forced the election in the first place.

And our democracy will die a little more.

The Germany 32

2005-11-16T14:06:00.000-08:00

Today the road to the 2006 World Cup came to an end. Canada, of course, have sadly been out of the running for one of CONCACAF's 3.5 places for over a year, a fact that still makes me hurt inside. Had we made it, you can bet I would've been one of the first to make travel plans for this upcoming summer. (In fact, tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of the 1-0 victory at Guatemala... the last of our six WC qualifying matches.) Guess I'd better start planning for South Africa 2010...

Anyway, here are the teams who will be going to merry Deutschland:

Africa:
Angola
Cote d'Ivoire
Ghana
Togo
Tunisia

Asia:
Iran
Japan
Saudi Arabia
South Korea

Europe:
Croatia
Czech Republic
England
France
Germany (hosts)
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Serbia and Montenegro
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

North America/Central America/Caribbean:
Costa Rica
Mexico
Trinidad and Tobago
United States

Oceania:
Australia

South America:
Argentina
Brazil
Ecuador
Paraguay

On a Monday Afternoon

2005-11-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

At the behest of Gisella (and my own boredom), I'm hunkering down for some blogging again at long last. Things have not really slowed down after Desdemona wrapped, to my surprise. I would deduce that that's the reason there really wasn't any post-show depression for this one... after I expected it to be worse than I've ever had.

Say, I never did post about how the play went after the opening night, did I? Well.... I've done around a dozen plays in my time, and this one was, to put it simply, perhaps the most fun I've ever had doing a show. It may even out-do Will's and my rendition of David Mamet's The Duck Variations in terms of sheer pleasure to perform. You all did such a hell of a job: Laura, Marita, Ashley, and yes, even you, Ben. If we could only take it on the road... to be totally serious, I really would love to do that if it were at all possible someday. I can dream, can't I?

As great an experience Desdemona was, I am looking forward, not back! We've had two reads-through for The End of Civilization, and I have a feeling that I can sink my teeth into my character, Henry Cape, perhaps deeper than I have with any person I've portrayed before (should that prediction perhaps frighten me a little?). I'm working with some top-drawer people in this one too; it should be a blast.

The Thompson Rivers University Drama and Theatre (TRUDAT) Club is also having a sketch show on Friday 25 November at the Clock Tower Theatre in which I'll be appearing. That too will be fun; we've got some comedic material with poignancy as well as some satire and farcical elements. It's really all over the board; be sure to check it out. Rehearsal for that is tonight.

The federal government may fall next week. Looks like we could have a December election as opposed to one in February or April.

I'm sure there was more that I wanted to talk about, but I'm sure I'll remember it later. In the meantime, Paul McCartney's Band on the Run is ending, and so will I do. Adieu!

Today is Remembrance Day

2005-11-11T02:28:00.000-08:00

Remember to take two minutes at 11:00am to honour with silence those who have fought, those who have died, and those who serve today. It is the least you can do.

The Best Opening Night Ever

2005-10-28T02:22:00.000-07:00

Man oh man...

What an experience. Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)'s first run was fucking spectacular. I honestly could not have possibly forsaw it going better than it did. I mean, wow.

Thanks to all of you who came out, especially fellow theatre students. Performing for you, my friends and peers, was a joy.

And On It Goes...

2005-10-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

Final dress-rehearsal was tonight. We're all ready. Getcher tickets for Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) at the theatre box office between the hours of 11:00am-2:00pm, or at the door before the show. The cost is $10. Bring your friends, your mother... no icky people, though. They leave a real bad gump on the seats. And for God's sake, you better have your cellphones off. :O

Sunday, Sunday

2005-10-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to a party at Stu's and Rob's place... very fun, it was. That household knows how to throw a good shindig.

I like having today off. No school, no (official) rehearsal, no work. (And no ill effects from the rum and cola, aside from a bit o' dizziness, as well as tiredness from not sleeping enough last night.) The cast is however supposed to be getting together later today for an Italian-style run-though... it should help us keep our energy and lines up-to-snuff for dress rehearsal tomorrow.

In other news, infantile babbling in LGF's comments sections continues unabated. (Also, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.)

With my hair and "beard" dyed, I now look like as much like General Zod from Superman as I ever have:

(Seven hours pass and I forget about this post for a while.)

Christos' on Columbia is a good place for dinner. Alex and I went there tonight (I had a coupon—thanks James). I indulged myself with some great lamb chops.

And we never did do the run-though today.

Um... yeah!

Hey, We're Famous!

2005-10-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) is being featured on TRU's homepage. From left in that tiny, "thinking" thumbnail are Ben (as Romeo), Ashley (Juliet), Laura (Constance), Marita (Desdemona) and myself (Othello).

Tonight's rehearsal... boy, start-stop is fun, huh? It was tiring for all involved, and there was a frayed nerve or two on some occasions, but all-in-all another good time and yet more learning was done. Man, am I looking forward to performing this show!

One week until the curtain goes up!

Take Two

2005-10-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this post. It's great.

Okay, I'll Let You In On It

2005-10-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Here's the secret to a great essay: stay up all night writing it so that when you're done, you're too tired to care that you just wrote a shit essay.

I Wonder

2005-10-07T01:09:00.000-07:00

Why did they get rid of stubbies? I want them back again, so I can drink beer as my father and his generation did.

The New Season Is Upon Us

2005-10-06T00:10:00.000-07:00

Canucks 3-2 Phoenix. Kelsey's VCR wouldn't work, so they couldn't tape it for me.

Incidentally, Markus Naslund is on a pace to score 164 goals this season.

As Alex and I Were Watching a Fox News Clip...

2005-10-06T00:02:00.000-07:00

What a great segment. Wait until the sixty-ish woman near the end says her bit... hilarious. Don't ask. Just watch it.

UPDATE: The link didn't work. Instead, go to Fox News, and click on "video" near the top. A new window will pop up, then click on "Foxlife" and then "Porn in America."

US House's Second-Top Republican Indicted

2005-09-29T01:25:00.000-07:00

Tom DeLay has been charged with criminal conspiracy for allegedly violating Texas' campaign finance laws in 2002.

WASHINGTON - A Texas grand jury on Wednesday indicted Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates on charges of conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, forcing the House majority leader to temporarily relinquish his post. A defiant DeLay insisted he was innocent and called the prosecutor a "partisan fanatic."

"I have done nothing wrong. ... I am innocent," DeLay told a Capitol Hill news conference during which he criticized the Texas prosecutor, Ronnie Earle, repeatedly. DeLay said the charges amounted to "one of the weakest and most baseless indictments in American history."

You should've seen the vigour with which DeLay attacked the prosecutor in his prepared statement. It was unholy. Here, by the way, is the press conference given by the prosecutor, Ronnie Earle.

If convicted, DeLay could face up to two years in prison and a US$10,000 fine. Wonder if he and his Republican colleagues would consider it worth the five House seats their Texas gerrymandering helped to win in 2004?

The indictment accused DeLay, 58, of a conspiracy to violate Texas election law, which prohibits the use of corporate donations to advocate the election or defeat of political candidates. Prosecutors say the alleged scheme worked in a roundabout way, with the donations going to a DeLay-founded political committee, then to the Republican National Committee and eventually to GOP candidates in Texas.

The indictment stems from a plan DeLay helped set in motion in 2001 to help Republicans win control of the Texas House in the 2002 elections for the first time since Reconstruction.

[...]

The indictment accused DeLay of a conspiracy to "knowingly make a political contribution" in violation of Texas law outlawing corporate contributions. It alleged that DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee accepted $155,000 from companies, including Sears Roebuck, and placed the money in an account.

The PAC then wrote a $190,000 check to an arm of the Republican National Committee and provided the committee a document with the names of Texas State House candidates and the amounts they were supposed to received in donations, the indictment said.

Let's hope he gets whatever he deserves.

Hooray, Dialogue

2005-09-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

There's a good debate going on over at Brandon's blog regarding the Iraq war and web-based insults. I encourage all y'all to go take a look and give your fiftieth of a dollar.

Geez, Not Again

2005-09-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

It looks like the US gulf coast is in for another category FIVE hurricane, due to make landfall on Saturday. Hurricane Rita is now the third-most powerful ever recorded (stronger than Katrina, the fifth-most). The last time there have been two category-fives in one season was back in 1961.

At least it's projected to miss New Orleans... but I wouldn't want to be in east Texas in a few days.

Lou's Impaired

2005-09-20T23:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry folks, but as far as drunken posts go, the one Louis wrote tonight takes the cake. It's the first post of his new blog, as apparently he can no longer make posts on his old one because he dragged his ass so terribly on updates. Heh heh. I'll update the sidebar, too.

GOP: Radical Leftists

2005-09-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Click here for a comic that is quite simply hilarious. And intentionally so.

Obligatory Post

2005-09-20T00:44:00.000-07:00

A short one. Man, I can't believe that I've really made only two posts in the last month. Anyhoo, I'm enjoying my third year of university so far (yes Alex, except for Logic). I'm seeing my friends again on an almost-daily basis, and it seems I have more faith in myself than I've had in a while. Rehearsals for Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) are going swimmingly... even after a whole week, David hasn't ripped Ben a new one yet.

Chris moved out of the place and into his new one downtown a few days ago, so the apartment is a little (lot) emptier. Alex is planning on adorning the living room with plants, lamps, and a fucking giant framed poster of trenchcoated Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie. We're also going to be purchasing copies of Matt Good's greatest-hits compilation, In a Coma: 1995-2005. I mean, damn, that's not a bad deal for less than $30. Sadly, it doesn't look like I'll be seeing him on his current tour... perhaps the embarrassingly (for me as a resident of this city) shitty attendance at his Kamloops show last year forced him to take a second look at coming back here for a while.

Too tired to continue right now. Will post here more frequently in future. Also thinking of re-doing the template for this site when I have an extra day or so. In the meantime, take care.

Say... Not Bad!

2005-09-04T02:21:00.000-07:00

Spain 2-1 Canada.

Stamatopoulos was at some amount of fault for the second Spanish goal. Grande's strike for Canada in the 74th minute was absolutely world-class. All-in-all, a very good showing from our boys. They refused to be intimidated by names like Raúl, Morientes, or Luis García and took the game to the Spanish on many occasions. I look forward to what these guys can do in the future.

Admit It, She Was Hilarious in Exit to Eden

2005-08-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

The blogosphere takes you places you never thought you'd go... this is a re-posting of an entry at the blog belonging to, of all people, Rosie O'Donnell (link via A Socialist in Calgary). I can only assume the e-mail and quotes are accurate:

an e mail i got 2 day - enjoy

Quotes from Republicans when Clinton committed troops to Bosnia:

“You can support the troops but not the president.”
–Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

“Well, I just think it’s a bad idea. What’s going to happen is they’re going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years.”
–Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

“Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?”
–Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

“[The] President . . . is once again releasing American military might on a foreign country with an ill-defined objective and no exit strategy. He has yet to tell the Congress how much this operation will cost. And he has not informed our nation’s armed forces about how long they will be away from home. These strikes do not make for a sound foreign policy.”
–Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

“American foreign policy is now one huge big mystery. Simply put, the administration is trying to lead the world with a feel-good foreign policy.”
–Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

“If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy.”
–Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W Bush

“I had doubts about the bombing campaign from the beginning . . I didn’t think we had done enough in the diplomatic area.”
–Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)

“I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just learning that lesson right now. The President began this mission with very vague objectives and lots of unanswered questions. A month later, these questions are still unanswered. There are no clarified rules of engagement. There is no timetable. There is no legitimate definition of victory. There is no contingency plan for mission creep. There is no clear funding program. There is no agenda to bolster our over-extended military. There is no explanation defining what vital national interests are at stake. There was no strategic plan for war when the President started this thing, and there still is no plan today.”
–Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”
–Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)

Funny thing is, we ended that war without a single American killed in action.

WOOO!

2005-08-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

I got the part! Stu just called, and he will be directing me in the role of Henry in "The End of Civilization," one of the six playets which make up George F. Walker's Suburban Motel.

And, in case you missed it... WOOO!

We Have a Resource of Ever-Increasing Importance? Sell, Sell!

2005-08-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

The buy-up of strategically important, (nominally) Canadian companies by foreign interests continues unabated. This time the buyers are those capitalistic Chinese communists.

Speaking of petroleum, boy, isn't it great that the federal government got out of the oil business when they sold the public's last remaining shares in Petro-Canada in 2004? Oil being such a low-profit industry and all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go pump SUVs full of regular unleaded at 103.9¢/litre.

A Real Forward-Thinker

2005-08-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

A fellow by the name of Reuel Marc Gerecht was on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday to discuss the writing of Iraq's new constitution, and... well, just download the video clip. For those of you not on your own computer or simply unwilling to take the file onto your machine, here's his top quote:

Women's social rights are not critical to the evolution of democracy.

Yeah, because women in America (Canada as well) weren't allowed to do things such as vote in 1900, we shouldn't care too much what rights Iraq's women will be denied today.

What a fucking knob.

Action in Afghanistan

2005-08-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

Looks like Will may have been busy:

Canadian troops have fired shots in Afghanistan's Khandahar region. Officials report that a Canadian soldier opened fire today to stop a vehicle.

It's the first time since deployment in the region that Canadian soldiers have fired weapons. Lieutenant-Colonel David Anderson, Task Force Afghanistan Chief of Staff in Kabul, says the incident happened during a routine patrol.

The taxi was warned off several times before the soldier fired four machine-gun rounds into the engine, disabling the vehicle.

Officials say nobody was hurt in the incident, though the convoy did not stop to check on the driver, fearing a suicide bomb.

Anderson says the incident was well within Canada's rules of engagement for the Kandahar provincial reconstruction team mission.

Good to see that apparently no-one was hurt.

Near-Random Tidbits

2005-08-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

Since I'm blogging tonight (NOTE: I wrote this last night, but it didn't post because the 'net was so slow), I thought that I'd put up some nice little links for all y'all to click on.

The first is an interesting piece of legislation soon to be introduced to the United States House of Representitives. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is sponsoring it, and has this to say:

What more do we need to know about the rising price of gasoline? Profits are soaring to all time highs while oil companies raise prices with impunity. Oil runs the White House, puts us into war, runs geopolitics, frustrates the development of alternative energy, ruins the environment. What will it take for the Congress to wake up? $5 a gallon?

There is a short term, effective solution: The Gas Price Spike Act of 2005. This bill exacts a 100% windfall profits tax on oil companies on excessive profits. The money gained from the windfall profits tax would be put into a fund for tax breaks for the purchase of ultra-efficient vehicles made in the US. Money would also be made available for mass transit assistance. Review the bill and its sponsors here.

Only a 100% windfall profits tax will cause the oil companies to stop their aggressive pricing which is destroying the budgets of millions of American families. I need your help to wake up the Congress and pass this legislation.

Second, they've discovered some amazing ancient artifacts in Bulgaria (link via John Murney).

Third, and sticking with the John Murney theme, a lot of people seem to be upset at the possibility of our newly appointed dictator being a Quebec seperatist. Doesn't seem she is, but I am still quite puzzled over what a large brouhaha this is for someone whose new job's toolkit consists of a rubber stamp and not much else.

Fourth, this video is worth a look (link via Daveberta).

Finally, with Anson Carter having climbed aboard just yesterday, the Canucks have now re-signed Dan Cloutier to a two-year contract. I am a Dan fan, so this news makes me happy. Also making me happy is the fact that Brendan Morrison is now at the Canada training camp in Kelowna. Can't wait for the NHL, even with all its new faults, to face-off on the fifth of October!

The Things To Which I've Been Up, or: What I've Been Up To

2005-08-18T23:39:00.000-07:00

Tonight I had an audition for Project X's winter show, Suburban Motel. Hopefully I can get a part in the play... without having to sleep with any of the directors. (That is, of course, still an option.)

Having read it again, I see that my last drunken post was kinda harsh, misdirecting, and off-target... in addition, quite frankly, to being remarkably well-typed for a guy filled with rum and amaretto. The language I used seemed to suggest that I had a hate-on for all women; of course this is not true. And I had a great time besides that, partying with an insanely drunk Dallas (probably the pal I've known for longer than any other, and currently living in Kelowna), his friend Aaron, and Aaron's ex-girlfriend Joclyn (sp?). AND I wore my Calvin and Hobbes tie, which is of course awesome in itself. And keep in mind, I was pretty hammered. Hee hee.

Plus, I am now really shilling for the corporate world: I now have a second job, at Sahali Esso. Esso is of course the Canadian arm of Imperial Oil, 70% of which is owned by Exxon. According to The Daily Show, Exxon had profits of US$7.5 billion just in the last quarter. And by "quarter," I mean "three months." So, long story short, I get paid minimum wage to pump dollar-a-litre gas which will pollute our air into cars so people can drive to the video store. There is something very, very wrong there.

No updates on the US presidential candidacy of Christopher Walken.

Finally, you'll be happy to see that I've finally changed "Today's Manics Lyric."

On the Bright Side...

2005-08-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

Fifth Drunken Post... Important

2005-08-14T03:10:00.000-07:00

I can't help but, whenever I go to the bar, feel unattractive. Ugly. Undesirable. Um, other words starting with "U." All that fun stuff. The Max is derided (rightly so) as the "meat market," and yet (exactly because of that, actually), the place can be very incisive sometimes. It certainly lets one know where he fits in the hierarchy of physical looks. As far as I go, quite low. It sucks. Girls always seem to go for the, y'know, "good-looking" guys. Mostly the ones who have rocks for brains. Of course, a guy like me, who although he may not be the best-looking of dudes is very intelligent and witty, gets fuck-all. Naturally. Yes, I know I "shouldn't read too much into the bar scene" and all that crap, but it's been going on just about all of my life, to be honest. After a while, it gets tough to ignore the fact that the vast majority of girls hate you, the way you look, the way you dress, the things you say, the things you don't say, the things you say wrong, er, not to mention the way you look, etc., etc. It gives you the feeling that you want to give up entirely. Say a big "fuck you" to even vaguely romantic feelings of any kind and completely embrace emotional nihilism. Even asking a girl to dance, for hell's sake. And yes, I know I shouldn't care what girls at the bar think. But, as I said earlier, it's an intruiging social/physical barometer of where you really stand. In terms, I suppose, of your confidence as well as your looks. Also as I said earlier, "as far as I go, quite low." Which almost certainly contributes to the problem. Even the girl I was mostly hanging out with would've rather spent the time dancing with her ex-boyfriend. I guess a guy like me doesn't show up on her radar. Although I do thank her and Kasey, both of whom are good people, for at least making me feel a little better. But for you girls (not "women" or "ladies") who take such delight or disinterest in disregarding me, please accept this "eat my shit" straight from the heart. May you die from AIDS, barren and forgotten, while I dance on your stupid graves.

Wow, dark. But I've been meaning to post this kind of thing for a while, and you get the point, anyway. Girls dislike me. Or at least the way I look/am. And that makes me feel some kind of worthless.

I Headed Home, and Now I'm Back!

2005-08-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

Grand Forks was simply great. I got to spend pretty much my whole time swimming and with my family, which were both great. I don't really have anything more to say... brain fart.

Heading Home!

2005-08-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

In a half-hour, I'll be on my way to Grand Forks. Today I go as far as Summerland where I'll stay at my cousins' house, then on Thursday night, all of us will go the rest of the way to the ol' GF, where I will see my family, old friends, and do some TUBING! That's all for now, no more time! Adios!

Festivals for Fun

2005-08-01T02:10:00.000-07:00

Good luck to Brandon, Stu, Gisella, and everyone else associated with the Saucy Fops. They're all headed to Saskatoon's fringe festival at 5:30 tomorrow morning to blow the prairie lid off the place. I got a chance to hang out tonight with Stu and Rob, as well as some of their friends, then went to a party with Bigman at Braden's place in Valleyview where we hung out with, among other people, the sultry chanteuse and overall crazy woman known as Morgan. All told, a pretty cool night.

Oh, and enjoy the peaches, Stu & company.

Writers' Bloc

2005-07-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

One of my best pals from Grand Forks, William Salikin, was among the 110 Canadian soldiers who left CFB Edmonton for Kandahar, Afghanistan, just a few days ago. Kandahar is one of the country's most unstable and violent areas... but he'll be alright. Anyone as good as he is at Battlefield 1942 shouldn't have a problem staying safe. ;) And I've told him that, as my co-writer for The Right Way, he has to come back since we have more plays to write.

In all seriousness though, good luck Will. I and everyone who knows you are thinking of you and can't wait to see you again.

As I Walk Through the Valley of the Conservative Blogosphere

2005-07-25T03:14:00.000-07:00

I sometimes come across some interesting posts on the Con weblogs. Some I like, some I hate, some make me laugh, still others make me gassy. Here are a few.

LIKE: From Red vs. Blue:

...let us look at the idea that since Canada was a country founded upon Christian values, we should allow Christian values (such as no abortion, etc.) to rule.

For a variety of reasons, I believe that this idea is absolutely ludicrous and downright historically inaccurate.

He goes on to make a compelling argument for both that stated fact and for those of the opinion that not all conservatives are irredeemable.

HATE: This... er, "imaginative" piece from American newspaper doodlers Cox & Forkum. For a revealing rebuttal of some of their works, check out LGFQuiz and scroll down.

FUNNY: The Guys' Rules. You've probably received this list in an e-mail already.

GASSY: A sacrilege to the late, great John Lennon. And keep in mind, one of my favourite songs has the lyric "I laughed when Lennon got shot." So you know this one must be by someone who is completely at odds with Lennon's (not to mention my) ideology, and very probably a dick... yet, I will admit it's a little clever. Therefore it is in the gassy column.

We're Number One!

2005-07-25T02:40:00.000-07:00

Amongst the world's most stupid governments, that is.

And a special for you ladies: clicking on the link will bring to your computer screen a photo of Daily Show mega-hunk Lewis Black!

It's Finally Over

2005-07-23T03:54:00.000-07:00

The NHL lockout, that is; or as the sports networks overdramatically called it, the "Cold War." I'm going to be honest and say that a lot of those selfish assholes, owners and players alike, have come suprisingly close to losing yet another fan over all of this.

One thing by which I was saddened in this whole ordeal is the complete and total contempt in which ordinary fans of the game, people like you and me, were held. "Cancel an entire season? Hey, as long as the ONLY OTHER side in all of this gets screwed over, we're fine with that." Neither of them realized that all the time it was the fans who were really the ones who got screwed over during the last year. But it looks like in the end, everyone is set to lose.

But now that we have the game back... well, what kind of a game will it be? My more pointed question would be, "Will it even be fucking recognizable?" Let me know what you think of the proposed rule changes for the 2005-06 season:

* * *

1. Changes to the dimensions of the ice surface, namely increasing the distance from blue-line to end-boards from 60' to 64' and decreasing the distance from goal-line to end-boards from 13' to 11'.

This is fine.

2. Players who dive or fake injury to draw penalties will be fined, and suspended if they continue to do it.

This is good indeed, though I can see some controversies erupting near the end of the season when a player may be incorrectly suspended for a crucial game. Still, I think it will be worth it.

3. Zero tolerance on interference, hooking and holding/obstruction.

Another winner. It's a wonder that they had to have a lockout to come up with this.

4. Reductions of goaltender equipment sizes.

As a former goalie myself, I should be opposed to this change... but I'm not. Things were getting too easy for those guys; some their pad and glove sizes were borderline ridiculous. By 2003 you could catch a toaster in an NHL trapper. It had moved too far beyond mere protection.

5. Reintroduction of touch-up offsides.

Another one that makes you ask why they waited for a lockout to implement it.

6. Introduction of no-touch icing.

I have to agree with Don Cherry and say that this new rule will mean that we won't see "NHL defenseman suffers broken neck in icing chase" on the back pages. And that is a very good thing.

These new rules listed above are all sweet and dandy. The ones listed below provide the strongest argument I can think of for those against the decriminalization of marijuana... the fact that only people who were high out of their minds could have possibly come up with shit like this:

7. Shootouts to settle all regular-season ties.

Quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard. We grudgingly accepted four-on-four overtime and a point for an overtime loss (their other recent attempts to "liven up" the game for Americans who would rather watch NASCAR), but come on, this isn't baseball, geniuses. Ties happen, and it doesn't mean the game is "wimpy." Just suppose each team played pretty much as well as the other? Shootouts suck in international hockey, and they'll suck in the NHL.

8. There will be a special "puck-handling" area behind the goal. A goaltender cannot play the puck behind the goal-line except in this area.

Say, I thought you wanted to make the game more entertaining? How handcuffing people like Martin Brodeur (an expert puck-handler and passer) accomplishes this is lost on me.

9. A further tightening of the instigator rule, including suspensions to players and fines to coaches.

Yeah, the fans just hate fights.

10. Elimination of the two-line offside pass.

On its surface, this is a great rule, right? It'll be exciting in the way it's intended for about a month. Even as you read this, coaches across the league are devising ways to ensure their teams aren't hit by five breakaways in a game. Defensemen will be much more reluctant to press forward for risk of exposing themselves at the back. (Get your mind out of the gutter.)

11. The defensive team will not be allowed to make a line-change after an icing.

Because defensive mistakes by tired d-men are really what hockey is all about. I guess they'll just have to flip the puck out over the gla-

12. Any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass in his defending zone will be penalized for delay of game.

Spoke too soon.

* * *

Thank God they weren't able to tamper with the playoff format and size/shape of the nets. But who knows, they might just try to do for the 2006-07 season.

These rule changes were apparently suggested by the NHL/NHLPA's "Game Committee," made up of "current and former players, owners, general managers, coaches, on-ice officials and broadcasters," and, judging by some of the rules up there, at least a couple of idiots.

One certain non-idiot member of the committee was Trevor Linden, whom Canucks fans rightly worship as a god. In discussing the rule changes, I'm sure he was the consummate gentleman and spokesperson which we've come to expect. You can't help but wish he weren't always so diplomatic with his words, though. (I assume, of course, that he is in complete agreement with me. And in my pretty little world at least, he is.)

But the bottom line is that NHL hockey will be back in October. More importantly, my Canucks will be back in October. I love it. Now all we have to do is re-sign our key players and overturn Bertuzzi's suspension... THE WORLD IS OURS!

From the Centre of the Conservative Universe

2005-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

...comes a dissenting voice. Brendan Wheaton, currently of Calgary by way of Grand Forks, is now another publisher of his own online magazine, just like the rest of us. Whoopee!

UPDATE: My apologies if you misconstrued my meaning to think that I was saying that Brendan is a conservative. He is quite far from it. Calgary at large, on the other hand...

I Love This Movie

2005-07-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't take it already, you can now find out what classic movie you are.

...But I would have sold my car.

UPDATES:
Alex = Platoon
Bigman = The Godfather
Laura = Raiders of the Lost Ark
Jess = Wuthering Heights
Stu = Apocolypse Now
Brandon = Apocolypse Now
Brendan = The Godfather

Whoooo Are You? Who, who? Who, who?

2005-07-16T01:14:00.000-07:00

Rob would be so proud.

Yes! you too can find out what famous leader you are. It has been gnawing away at your soul for your entire life and you will now, finally, know the answer.

UPDATES:
Alex = Saddam Hussein
Bigman = Saddam Hussein
Laura = Bill Clinton
Jess = Mother Teresa
Stu = Bill Clinton
Brandon = Che Guevara
Brendan = Mahatma Gandhi

Comments Temporarily Disabled

2005-07-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

Whatever could be wrong with Haloscan?

UPDATE: It seems to be fixed now.

Keeping Caught-Up

2005-07-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed The Tempest last night. If you haven't yet seen it, make sure to. It runs until the 24th of this month, outdoors at Prince Charles Park on Columbia Street between 11th and 12th Avenues.

I just had to link to this article by Matt Taibbi, who was just on The Daily Show last week. Enjoy an excerpt from an excerpt from The Rise and Fall of the United States (Putnam, 2037):

No single television show, however, was to have more influence on the terrible events to come than Extreme Fascist Makeover, launched in 2007. The appearance of this inspired piece of programming is one of the more unlikely subplots of the American tragedy. It was conceived by a onetime political dissident named Matt Taibbi, whose late conversion to the imperial cause has caused him to be judged very harshly by history; indeed, his very name would become a synonym for "traitor" in languages all across the planet. In his memoir, Why Not? Diary of a Collaborator, published shortly before his execution, he describes the origins of the idea:

I tuned into the news on CNN just after watching an old rerun of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and found myself troubled by the drab appearance of President Bush and his lieutenants as they walked through the ruins of Damascus… It occurred to me at that moment that America was a strapping fascist hunk, straining to get out but trapped in the frumpy wardrobe of a Jeffersonian democracy. And I thought to myself: "There’s a tv show in this."

[...]

It is an undeniable fact that for more than a decade before the big wars, the chief trend in all television programming was a kind of growing uniformity of the broadcast esthetic–in which all events, no matter how disparate in character, were produced in an identically saleable style loosely identified as good television. Wars were thus covered in the same splashy style as football games (complete with colorful commentary), while elections were indistinguishable from ad campaigns, and televised trials were given the same glitzy graphics and segues as police shows. As the postwar historian Fritz Werner wrote:

Throughout the later prewar period, what was successful politics was seldom not also successful television… And with the lines continually blurring between fantasy and reality on the air, and with the medium’s rapacious quest for marketable new taboos to shatter, it was probably inevitable that successful television would eventually itself become successful politics. Extreme Fascist Makeover was nothing if not good television.

Oh, and those friendlies I mentioned? We've got news on them already. We play Spain in September and Luxembourg in November. The CSA is also apparently trying to get us at least one October match too. Just the kind of news I needed to get out of my post-Gold Cup football funk.

We're Out

2005-07-13T02:53:00.000-07:00

Canada 2-1 Cuba.

We needed to win by three goals to have a hope of reaching the quarterfinal round. Such chances we wasted. Again. How Occean and Gerba missed their golden opportunities I'll never know. But we had hope. Gerba's goal in the 68th minute was pure garbage, but infinitely welcome. Hutchinson's strike in the 87th was an absolute stormer, massively powerful and perfectly placed in the bottom corner. But again, just like against the USA, we conceded a goal in added time. Had we not, who knows, we may have tromped back the other way and got our third instead. But that didn't happen.

Now begins the long wait until the next friendly match is announced, probably not until September at the earliest...

(Technically, we're not yet out... but Jamaica would have to beat Mexico by a baseball score tomorrow for us to advance. And, suffice it to say, that will NOT be happening.)

Shitty

2005-07-12T01:23:00.000-07:00

USA 2-0 Canada. (From Saturday.)

An own goal followed by an injury-time marker. Another sending-off. We can't catch a damn break. We must beat Cuba on Tuesday and hope that results in one of the other two groups go our way.

It's on Sportsnet at 11:00pm (on tape-replay because of the MLB All-Star Game), and there's a preview of the match here.