| wordpress |
[Feb. 20th, 2009|04:28 pm] |
I set up a WordPress. What am I going to do with it? I dunno.
http://vravina.wordpress.com/
So far I've posted this:
It happened that Mallory MacLeod’s hands burst into flames. She was eager to avoid a virus going around her high school and had disinfected her hands “like five times” with alcohol-based Purell hand sanitizer before going to a chemistry class. It was her turn to light the Bunsen burner for the group. PHOOM.
“It just burned away the hand sanitizer and stopped, but my teacher was very concerned.”
MacLeod is now in her first year at Carleton University in Ottawa, studying Public Affairs and Policy Management. She has about five containers of Purell, one of which she carries in her bag wherever she goes. In her dorm, she disinfects her doorknobs with Lysol, “and I’ll go around disinfecting the doorknobs of anyone’s room I hang out in.”
MacLeod, and many others like her, do their level best to keep the germs away. There are Purell dispensers at the mall, disposable toilet seat covers in public washrooms and disinfecting wipes for your cart at Sobeys. Antibacterial soaps are as ubiquitous as the germs they kill. But is cleaner really better?
Let’s ask a science guy.
David Evans is a virologist in the Medical Microbiology & Immunology Department at the University of Alberta and he’s a really nice science guy. He was the only person in his field who deigned to respond to an interview request and he didn’t even get angry at me when I screwed up my time zone math and called him at 5 AM.
He says, “There’s this impression being created that somehow we have to sterilize the environment around us because that’s good for us.”
It isn’t, necessarily.
It seems that 99.99% of bacteria on every surface you touch is totally harmless – and some of it is actually good for you.
( Read more... ) |
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| then they came for me |
[Jan. 13th, 2009|12:18 am] |
A Sri Lankan journalist, Lasantha Wickrematunge, was recently killed because of his work. He knew it was coming and he wrote an editorial about his impending death. It's quite amazing.
And Then They Came For Me
No other profession calls on its practitioners to lay down their lives for their art save the armed forces and, in Sri Lanka, journalism. In the course of the past few years, the independent media have increasingly come under attack. Electronic and print-media institutions have been burnt, bombed, sealed and coerced. Countless journalists have been harassed, threatened and killed. It has been my honour to belong to all those categories and now especially the last.
I have been in the business of journalism a good long time. Indeed, 2009 will be The Sunday Leader's 15th year. Many things have changed in Sri Lanka during that time, and it does not need me to tell you that the greater part of that change has been for the worse. We find ourselves in the midst of a civil war ruthlessly prosecuted by protagonists whose bloodlust knows no bounds. Terror, whether perpetrated by terrorists or the state, has become the order of the day. Indeed, murder has become the primary tool whereby the state seeks to control the organs of liberty. Today it is the journalists, tomorrow it will be the judges. For neither group have the risks ever been higher or the stakes lower.
Why then do we do it? I often wonder that. After all, I too am a husband, and the father of three wonderful children. I too have responsibilities and obligations that transcend my profession, be it the law or journalism. Is it worth the risk? Many people tell me it is not. Friends tell me to revert to the bar, and goodness knows it offers a better and safer livelihood. Others, including political leaders on both sides, have at various times sought to induce me to take to politics, going so far as to offer me ministries of my choice. Diplomats, recognising the risk journalists face in Sri Lanka, have offered me safe passage and the right of residence in their countries. Whatever else I may have been stuck for, I have not been stuck for choice.
But there is a calling that is yet above high office, fame, lucre and security. It is the call of conscience.
The Sunday Leader has been a controversial newspaper because we say it like we see it: whether it be a spade, a thief or a murderer, we call it by that name. We do not hide behind euphemism. The investigative articles we print are supported by documentary evidence thanks to the public-spiritedness of citizens who at great risk to themselves pass on this material to us. We have exposed scandal after scandal, and never once in these 15 years has anyone proved us wrong or successfully prosecuted us.
The free media serve as a mirror in which the public can see itself sans mascara and styling gel. From us you learn the state of your nation, and especially its management by the people you elected to give your children a better future. Sometimes the image you see in that mirror is not a pleasant one. But while you may grumble in the privacy of your armchair, the journalists who hold the mirror up to you do so publicly and at great risk to themselves. That is our calling, and we do not shirk it.
( full text )
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
If you remember nothing else, remember this: The Leader is there for you, be you Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, low-caste, homosexual, dissident or disabled. Its staff will fight on, unbowed and unafraid, with the courage to which you have become accustomed. Do not take that commitment for granted. Let there be no doubt that whatever sacrifices we journalists make, they are not made for our own glory or enrichment: they are made for you. Whether you deserve their sacrifice is another matter. As for me, God knows I tried. |
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| coalition government |
[Dec. 4th, 2008|01:38 pm] |
The Canadian Press wrote up a handy Q&A regarding the possibility of a coalition government.
Q: Why is the House of Commons at an impasse? A: All three opposition parties reject the economic update presented last week by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative government. They say they will vote non-confidence in the government on Monday, and they want the Governor General to hand power to a Liberal-NDP coalition cabinet that would govern with the tacit support of the Bloc Quebecois. Q: How can Parliament get rid of Harper’s government when he won the last election? A: Canadians don’t vote directly for a prime minister the way Americans do for a president. We vote for MPs, and a prime minister holds power only as long as he has the confidence of a majority of those MPs. Q: Why is the Governor General involved in this? A: Her chief constitutional duty is to ensure any government commands the confidence of the House of Commons. If Harper loses a Commons vote of non-confidence, she has two options: dissolve Parliament and call another election, or let Liberal Leader Stephane Dion form a government with NDP and Bloc support. ( Read more... )
Update: Well, looks like parliament has been prorogued. |
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| blrejh |
[Nov. 27th, 2008|08:02 am] |
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J-Research is finally over. Math test, I don't know how well I did and I could not care less. I stayed up until 3:30 AM doing a project for Ethics. Very tired today. Awoke at 7:00 AM. |
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| i am a poor and a wretched boy |
[Oct. 17th, 2008|01:25 pm] |
1. I have been listening to the Decemberists basically nonstop for the past three or four days. They are inspiring me in terms of the Darren/grandmother part of Ungodly Trifles. That portion of the story is changing significantly, in terms of direction after the first chapter. I guess the author frame has changed a lot too, though. That was largely inspired by my reading The Boy Detective Fails, though! Hopefully Ungodly Trifles doesn't suck when I'm finished!
2. I had two dreams a while ago that were interesting. I dreamed I was a Sasquatch. I turned into one and I was in a house and there was a woman I was carrying to safety or something and my arms were full with this woman, so I couldn't open the door, so I tried to softly nudge it open with my foot, but when the door swung open, part of the door frame came with it. Because I didn't know my own strength as a Sasquatch. Anyway, there were these little guys (very cartoonish looking) who were after me. I guess they were the mythological being police or something. I walked outside and it was snowy and even though I was a Sasquatch, it was difficult to walk in the deep snow. Then, the little guys, being quick little guys, snatched the woman I was carrying! I was like, what the hell. One of the little guys had large nostrils, so I threw a snowball right up his nose! This is all I recall.
My other dream involved a large cardboard box filled with soup on my stove. I was trying to move it, but the burner was burning through the cardboard and soup was starting to come out. Yep.
3. Today, I went to class and arranged to meet Kathleen Hunter in the Wardroom for noon. I bought a sandwich, ate it while reading The Know-It-All and then Kathleen showed up a bit later. She sat down and we talked about our story and we wrote out the pitch, story summary and all of that special goodness. I think this report should be an interesting one. If the Book Room people get back to me, that would be grand.
4. I forgot some things about Nina's visit yesterday. Namely, she texted me to let me know she was going to swing by and advised me to "have an un-terrified face ready". According to Nina, whenever I see her, I appear to either be 'terrified' or 'perturbed'. So when she arrived, I smiled broadly and said, "Nina!" as a greeting-like. I was proud of it.
Also, when arranging lunch, Nina explained to Kristian that in the entire time she and I had been friends, she had never seen me eat (this is a lie). It was approximately like this:
N: In all the time I've known this guy, I have never -
V: She's about to tell a lie.
N: - seen him eat.
V: That's not true!
N: I saw you eat goldfish crackers once! And that cookie.
V: And I ate several of those two bite brownies that time.
N: When was that?
V: The last time I was over at your place. To play boardgames.
This all began because when I worked at Rogers, I asked Tassia something like, 'What are you going to eat on your break?' and she said, 'I don't eat... When you see me eat, I’ll give you money.' And I thought that this was hilarious, so I stole it, and told Nina I got most of my energy through photosynthesis. Anyway, it has so happened that I have eaten very little in the presence of Nina, mostly because I have this habit where if a person offers me food, I won't accept the offer out of politeness. Pretty much if anyone offers me anything, I will not initially accept the offer. Like last week, at Matt's. Matt offered me a cup of tea and I said, "No thanks, that's alright." But later that evening I accepted a cup of green tea with honey mixed in. I don't know. It is just a habit I have. Anyway, this habit, in conjunction with my habit that I eat before I go out so I won't be hungry while I am out, lead to my almost never having eaten in Nina's presence. So, I suppose lunch with Nina on Wednesday will be an earth shattering event.
4. I've started using Google Reader.
5. Weird Al has a new song! You should listen to it because it is humourous:
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| procrastinotron |
[Oct. 13th, 2008|04:38 pm] |
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, everyone. Did you know Canadian Thanksgiving predates American Thanksgiving by something like forty years? I did not know this until very recently.
Last night I procrastinated on my Pop Culture essay by FINALLY doing something with the domain I purchased ages ago, Savour The Sea Dot Com. Productivity! I've decided to make it into my website for my creative writings. All I've got up there now is PDFs of Wooing Peaceably and the first chapter of Ungodly Trifles and that old chestnut, Symbolic Gesture. There's more to come, of course. I haven't yet decided whether to upload a couple stories I have never yet shared publicly. www.savourthesea.com
On Saturday, went to Matt's for Rock Band. Fun. And Matt made me some green tea. |
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| these are my bookshelves |
[Sep. 21st, 2008|03:49 pm] |
http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=5AD631B5-9495-4DE0-8B59-C6A0A1C5451B
These are my bookshelves. I took 31 pictures, uploaded them to Photosynth. Then some kind of program figures out where they belong in relation to each other and it maps out the objects in 3D. So it is a 3D panoramic thingy where you can check out my bookshelf. You can even look behind the bookshelves, a bit. Check it out. Click on stuff! And then hit 'ctrl' on your keyboard and you can just look at the 3D data it has gathered! |
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| quote |
[Sep. 19th, 2008|09:01 am] |
"People can't conceive of a virtue in someone else that they can't conceive in themselves. Instead of believing you're stronger, it's so much easier to imagine you're weaker. ... People are always ready to believe the opposite of what you tell them."
- Survivor, Chuck Palahniuk |
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| bed bugs |
[Aug. 14th, 2008|02:00 pm] |
I keep neglecting to update this thing. How frustrating for my future self who will forget this entire section in his life without journal entries to remind him. In any case, my bed bug article is in this week's issue of The Coast. They made art for it.
Click to read it! |
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| New York '08 Part Two |
[Aug. 9th, 2008|12:47 pm] |
This is the second part of our trip to New York! This video features Toys R Us Times Square, the Met, Trump Tower, the Nintendo World Store, FAO Schwartz and various other places.
And the New York '08 still photography post is located HERE. |
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| New York '08 |
[Aug. 8th, 2008|09:31 am] |
Cam and I went to New York in May. Here is part one of our trip.
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| crispin hellion glover |
[Jul. 31st, 2008|01:12 pm] |
Last night I went to see Crispin Glover (George McFly from Back to the Future, the Creepy Thin Man from Charlie's Angels, Willard from Willard). He was showing off his creepy disturbing weird movie, WHAT IS IT? and doing a performace of his art books. His performance was awesome and hilarious. The movie just made me want to leave, but luckily the 70 odd minutes flew by. The Q&A was interesting, though Kate felt it went on overly long. I wanted a photograph with Crispin, but Kate was very interested in leaving immediately. I talked her into standing in line to meet him and also into taking a photograph of he and I when the time came. Though Kate assured me that if I asked Crispin Glover to sign my Back to the Future boxed set, she would leave.
The person running the line, however, egged me on and I decided to do it. Especially since someone ahead of me in line had given Crispin a pirated copy of his own movie, which based on what I had read, Crispin would not be pleased with. Thus, asking him to sign my copy of Back to the Future would not be such a huge offence. To play it safe, I bought one of his art books for him to sign. Kate was very nervous and anxious for some reason, but she got over it by the time it was our turn.
He signed my copy of Back to the Future! I was so so so psyched. Ask Kate. She'll tell you. |
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| chris o'donnell |
[Jul. 18th, 2008|06:08 pm] |
Kate, Cameron, James, Janette and I went to see The Dark Knight at midnight. They didn't start projecting the movie until about 12:30 AM. And then, it cut out in the middle of one of the initial commercials. We all groaned. The entire theatre groaned. The house lights came up and there were people moving around up in the projectionist's booth.
They started it up again. Then, in the middle of the Watchmen trailer, it cut out again. The entire theatre groaned. "What if we're already dead and this is our Hell?" said James. One of the cinema workers came out to say that they had no idea what was wrong, but assured us that there were people working on it. The theatre applauded the worker. Someone yelled out, "ARE YOU ON FACEBOOK?"
They started it up again. It played through. The movie is good. Very good. And very dark. Kate said she was not expecting that level of darkness. There was about ten minutes to go in the movie and then boom. It cuts out again and the house lights come up. The theatre is in an uproar. A cinema person comes out. They don't know what happened, they're looking into it. "I don't know what part of the movie you were at," he said, "It must have been very near the climax." Someone yelled a question about getting free movies passes or something for our terrible theatre-going experience. "I work for minimum wage, I can't really say," he said. The theatre applauded the minimum wage worker.
Apparently our print melted. The manager on duty told us to leave. On our way out, we'd get free passes. I was not pleased. People around were not pleased either. A couple people stole posters. It was lame.
I'm going to try to see it again tonight.
Afterward, Cameron and I decided against accepting a drive home from James and opted instead to walk home. We went to the 24-hour McDonalds for food first. It was a good night. |
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| hulk smash |
[May. 27th, 2008|06:50 pm] |
Yesterday I saw Kate and we went to Sobeys and she gave me things from Denmark. I got a deck of Dallas (the old TV show that I have never seen) playing cards and a t-shirt that says 'KILDE SKAT' in huge letters and means something in Danish but GOD KNOWS WHAT. If you know Danish, don't tell me because I like the mystery. Also, she gave me the in-flight safety card from her Icelandic plane, a Danish currency coin, some other stuff she stole and some chocolate. Pretty sweet!
We walked around Sobeys and then went to her place, where we played poker, kind of. I only just recently learned how to play, so I'm not really the best person to be teaching someone how to play poker. And we played Go Fish and then I showed Kate the magic effect I bought in New York and she and some of her roommates played with the props trying to get them to work but ultimately failing. Which is why I bought that particular magic effect in New York. I had the effect years ago, but then someone stole it (I'm pretty sure) and then I was left without this awesome bit of magic. So, even though I rarely ever do magic, I bought it while I was at Tannen's Magic Shop in New York.
Today I was supposed to go to breakfast with Jasmine but I slept in and so we ended up going to lunch. I told her about New York and she told me about what she's doing. She's planning on staying in Halifax for a while. Anyway, we got to talking about libraries and I mentioned how I lost my card years ago and even if I knew where it was, I wouldn't use it because it is FILLED TO THE GILLS WITH FINES. Later, Jasmine said she was going to library and asked if I wanted to join her. So I did! She suggested that I take the opportunity to check on my fines. So I did! I went to the desk and got the lady to look me up and then I bought a two dollar replacement card and the lady WIPED ALL MY FINES AWAY because I hadn't used the card since 2001 and I was a MERE CHILD! I am blameless! So I didn't have to pay the $45! And I have a brand new library card! I borrowed The Prestige and The Illusionist and when I got home, I watched Scoop. So I have the three 2006 movies that featured magic prominently in them in one day! Neat.
I intend to see the Incredible Hulk. I wasn't going to, because Ang Lee's version was kind of bad, but I recently saw a clip of the Hulk punching the ever-living crap out of the Abomination, so now it looks promising. Ang Lee's failed because Hulk didn't smash enough, but I guess they have realized their mistake and Hulk smashes a lot in the new reboot. Hooray. |
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| blah blah indiana jones blah blah |
[May. 21st, 2008|09:47 pm] |
Indiana: Get some transport back to England. Boat, plane, anything. Meet me at Omar's. Be ready for me. I'm going after that truck.
Sallah: How?
Indiana: I don't know, I'm making this up as I go.
-Raiders of the Lost Ark
I am seeing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull tonight at midnight. I'm excited, but I'm lowering my expectations. I just hope it is better than Temple of Doom. That is all I ask.
I'm going in as pristine as is possible. Everything I know about the movie comes from trailers and press releases and a couple interviews with Spielberg and Lucas. I am as unspoiled as I thought it possible. I've been trying to keep myself busy the past little while to keep myself from reading reviews on Ain't It Cool. I've been sick, so that helped. I slept for a large portion of the day yesterday, due to my cold. Also, I watched The Mummy, which is like the closest there has been to a new Indiana Jones movie since 1989.
I watched Last Crusade with Cameron today. He was seeing it for the first time. Me, I have no idea how many times I've seen it. A lot of times.
I like that part near the end of Last Crusade where Indy's hat blows off and then about five minutes later, the wind blows it back to his feet. That part is great.
I also like a lot of the exchanges between Indy and his father in Last Crusade.
Professor Henry Jones: Those people are trying to kill us!
Indiana Jones: [shouts] I know, Dad!
Professor Henry Jones: This is a new experience for me.
Indiana Jones: It happens to me all the time.
I've also been avoiding listening to the score for Crystal Skull, which those stupid people released two days before the film just to torture me. I've got it downloaded, but I can't listen to it. All I have listened to is a newly recorded Raiders March. It is the exact same piece of music as the Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark, which is interesting. I suppose it makes sense, because Marion is back and thus, Marion's theme can be reimplemented into the music, making it exactly the same as it was for the first film.
Oh man, I hope this doesn't suck. And even if it does suck, I hope it does well at the box office, so they make another one to make up for it. Like how after Temple of Doom, Spielberg made Last Crusade to apologize for Temple.
Cameron and Camillia and her boyfriend Brent are coming along for the midnight screening. I hope they're not talkers. God help them if they talk during this movie. May God have mercy on their souls if they talk. I will murder everyone in this room.
Blah blah blah is it time yet? is it time for indiana jones yet?
Marion: You're not the man I knew ten years ago.
Indiana: It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.
-Raiders of the Lost Ark |
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| new york and indy 4 |
[May. 17th, 2008|01:40 pm] |
I got to tour the Mad Magazine offices and I was part of a Broadway standing ovation. New York '08 was awesome. It went swimmingly and was glorious. More to come on NY08.
Now I'm excited about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Midnight screening Wednesday (so, actually Thursday). |
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| NEW YORK '08 |
[May. 5th, 2008|05:48 am] |
I'm off to New York! Email me the big news, I'll have my iPod Touch with me. Just not my laptop! See you all on the 15th!
Bye! |
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| weezer's forthcoming sixth album |
[Apr. 17th, 2008|01:47 am] |
Weezer is BACK. And Rivers is sporting a pretty awesome mustache. Their sixth album will be their third self-titled album (The Blue Album and The Green Album preceded it). This one will be red, so it will be dubbed The Red Album. Kickass. Their official site is streaming their first single off the forthcoming Red Album. It is called Pork and Beans. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE NEW SONG.
After listening to it approximately five to eight times (the website, if kept open, plays the song on a loop, which is helpful) I quite like the new song. It is catchy and hearkens back to some classic Weezer. The song's opening is reminiscent of El Scorcho, which is definitely a good direction to go in. The lyrics aren't particularly great, but I have high hopes for the rest of the album.
( Read more... ) |
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| viva la vida |
[Mar. 18th, 2008|06:32 pm] |
Rolling Stone:
Coldplay’s fourth album, due out on June 17th, will be called Viva la Vida. Singer Chris Martin chose it after seeing the phrase, which means “long live life,” on a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who endured polio, a broken spine, and chronic pain for decades. “She went through a lot of shit, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said ‘Viva la Vida,’” says Martin. “I just loved the boldness of it.”
Of course, Frida Kahlo will not be the first name that jumps to most peoples’ minds when they hear the phrase. “Everyone thinks it comes from Ricky Martin, which is fine. I have absolute respect,” says the singer, who gave Coldplay its original name, Pectoralz, and named his children Apple and Moses. “I’ve been through this before, naming something or someone and everyone saying that ‘That’s a terrible name’. But then saying, ‘Well, fuck you, that’s what it’s called, and I’ll be proved to be right eventually’. So when Viva la Vida came along, I was kind of annoyed because I’m going to have to try and convince everybody of this, but it just felt right.”
( Read more... ) |
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| deathly hallows |
[Mar. 12th, 2008|07:53 pm] |
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Well, the jerk who directed Order of the Phoenix and the upcoming Half-Blood Prince is directed Deathly Hallows... And Deathly Hallows is going to be split into two movies. |
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| NEW YORK '08 ARE GO |
[Mar. 9th, 2008|05:57 pm] |
NEW YORK '08 is a go. Cameron texted me earlier, letting me know that he has confirmation from his work that he can get the time off. Tomorrow we buy the tickets, make the hostel reservations and get travel insurance. I am super-psyched.
You're probably saying to yourself, "That's all well and good, Vincenzo, but how can I help you?" And I'm glad you asked that question. Here is the answer: You can examine THIS list/map of places that Cam and I intend to visit in New York. And perhaps you see a GLARING OVERSIGHT. You ought to suggest, then, that we visit that particular glaring oversight. If you've been to New York or you've seen New York on TV, and you have JUST THE PLACE that we SHOULD NOT miss, please speak up! I want to do New York RIGHT. For instance, when I was in London, I went on the London Eye, and it was OK. Far more impressive was the hand dryer in the washroom of the building in which you get tickets for the London Eye. I wish someone had told me, "Screw the London Eye, just use the washroom in the building where you get tickets for it. They have an amazing hand dryer in there that actually works. Ten seconds and you're dry!" HERE IS THE MAP/LIST.
Here is just a list:
Statue of Liberty.
Mad Magazine offices.
Ground zero.
Museum of Natural History.
Times Square.
FAO Schwartz.
Empire State Building.
Central Park.
Bronx Zoo.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Tom's Restaurant (Monk's Diner).
Tannen's Magic Shop.
Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater.
Magnolia Bakery.
Brooklyn Bridge.
Chinatown.
Chrysler Building.
Macy's.
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Staten Island (via ferry).
Rockefeller Center.
Daily Show Studios.
Carnegie Hall.
New York Public Library.
Bryant Park.
Nintendo World Store.
Museum of Modern Art.
Trump Tower.
Suggestions? Additions? Removals? Addendums? Theories? Queries?
Also: we don't have tickets to the Daily Show, but I'm hoping we'll be able to scrounge up standby tickets. |
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skilledbastard's journal
