I've Really Become Addicted to This Blogging Thing!

Ahem. Not surprising. It is fun to write about random things. Well, just a few lines to log in an awesome blog I just found: Rick Mercer's Blog Rick Mercer is to Canadian politics what Jon Stewart is to American politics. Rick was for 10 years on the fake newscast show (sounds familiar?) This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and he now has a show called Monday Report that lampoons Canadian politics. His show is now moving to Tuesday even though it's a very highly rated show (bizarre) so it will get a name change. Anyway, I'm happy about the move because it means I'll be able to watch since I was never home on Mondays, and always forgot to tape it.

He now has a blog for his wonderful rants, and he appears to love Photoshop manipulations! Some of the references may be a bit obscure for non-Canadians but it is still funny.

His first post was :
"You always remember your first....
Like many big personal firsts the anticipation is huge but it will probably turn out to be anticlimactic, clumsily executed and mercifully short.

Yup... I was right." Hee.

Today's Funny Relief

My mention of the day goes to the Daily Show writers for figuring out that an anagram of the banner "Mission Accomplished" that Bush used on the day he proclaimed the war in Iraq over was "C'mon I lied, so scampish". I laughed at that one for a while.

I had also to mention 3 findings in the realm of entertaining blogs...

First up, the first blog I ever read regularly, Dave Barry's blog. It never fails to crack me up. People send in links to weird and funny news blurbs and other items. Here is one of today's entries: Ebay Item You Should Not Click on While Eating Of The Day So Far. Sexy skirt for £0.99 & the picture...is a little scary. Hee.

Second, Go Fug Yourself. I mentioned it occasionally on my previous blog but, for not those tuning in then, this is just a fun place to visit. Marvel at all the ugly clothes stars that likely cost their owners a fortune. I agree with Jessica and Heather, the bloggers of Go Fug Yourself, it's dismaying to see the leggings making a comeback. Yikes.

I don't remember where I found this third link, probably at TWoP boards, but regardless it's awesome for a good laugh! I'm Tom Cruise, and I'm in LOVE!!! The picture of Tom as a crowned king in today's entry is priceless.

This Is Not Brain Surgery...

Today was a day of self-doubt and sadness and now, I'm just plain pissed off. Self-doubt because I finally finished writing my final exam for my course but I'm so uncertain as to whether it is good. I had students writing to me all weekend complaining about all the material to learn, and now, I had office hours today, and they're all bitching again, some on the way that I presented the material differently from my co-instructor, some on the volume of information. I'm just feeling like I screwed up somehow. Mind you, I have come to learn that students will complain regardless of what they have to do but ugh. They are complaining how tough the material is, but honestly, it's really not brain surgery. Yes, it is a class where there is quite a bit of memorization by its nature but now I'm wondering what I might have done wrong. I'm all twisted up inside. I hope my class evaluations don't suck too much.

I was sad today because I had to finally transfer my health care card and driver's license to Ontario cards. I was allowed to keep them for about 5 years since I was an out-of-province student. This means I'm now an Ontarian. I'm a bit sad about that to be honest. I have nothing against it but it made me miss home today.

Currently, I'm just pissed off because my roommate is being her picky self. 5 minutes before TDS, I turn on the lights and the TV in the living room and put my bottle of nail polish on the living room table. Yes, once a week, I like to change my nail polish on my feet and nails. So my roommate decides to get out of her room, get a bowl of cereal, and come sit on one of the living room couches to read a book. Then, she complains it will smell like nail polish, and how with the AC going and the windows closed, it will recycle the smell, blablabla,... I'm not too happy at this point, but I say: "I'll do my nails later." I have no interest in starting a battle. And then, she's like: "No, no. Go ahead. Really." ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Anyway, so I stare angrily at the TV, wanting to focus on enjoying TDS as opposed to being pissed off. After a few minutes her phone rings (it rings constantly so it's always a good trick to wait out the call that will take her away from wherever she is). So then, I decide to do my nails. After they are dry, it doesn't smell. Well, she has to come and open the window in the living room, and in the kitchen. Then, she says good night at 11:30, meaning I have to turn off the TV so she can sleep without the glare of it. I swear, I wanted to unscrew my head and throw it at her. LOL I'm not sure what it would accomplish besides freaking her out. I'm so tired these days that I just can't put up with this shit.

Mostly, I'm just sad and upset. I'm crying, and I just can't stop. Honestly, I'm not even sure why. I think it's mostly because I'm feeling alone in the universe tonight.

I Think I Should Start My Own Cult...

It really seems to work for 20th century oddballs like Ayn Rand and L. Ron Hubbard. Seriously though, reading about all these people with what seem like outrageous beliefs drive me absolutely bonkers. Now, I realize that not everyone can think like me, nor would it be very interesting if they all did. Although it might make me queen of them all. Mwahahaha! To get back to the point (LOL), I guess I have a few very strong beliefs such as in the importance of caring for each other, which staunch Objectivism opposes, and the importance of scientific knowledge when it comes to mental health issues, which Scientology seems to disregard totally. I'm at a loss when I come to be confronted with systems of belief I just cannot accept. Where is the line between disagreement and intolerance? How do we define these things as a society? I think I need to pick up philosophy books because I can't seem to come up with an answer with my already-established knowledge base.

Some hard thinking for a Sunday evening...

Melting Pot: Live 8 Concert, AI Gets Starstruck & The Daily Show.

Toronto is getting a Live 8 concert on July 2nd. Or so it has been reported in the media. The amphitheatre it will be held in is actually in Barrie, which is about an hour drive from Toronto. A friend and I were talking about going but to bus this would take 2 hours, and our lineup is not nearly as interesting as London's. Seriously, I would kill to go if I were in London. U2, Madonna, REM, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Coldplay, Dido, Mariah Carey, Sting, Pink Floyd, and the list goes on. As much as I think this is exciting as an event, I'm really wondering what it will do to help poverty relief in Africa. I'd like to think it will make a difference but somehow, it just seems like it will be a thing that will momentarily enter people's psyche to go right out again. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that people are trying to make a difference. I'm just wondering if rock concerts distract from the real goal of this endeavour.

I encourage you though to support the White Band campaign. Wear a white ribbon any way you can to signify your support to this campaign against poverty. I am going to put one on my backpack, and wear one in my hair. You can also buy the white wristbands on the Canadian page I just linked or on the American page.

In not-nearly-as-important news, since it was somehow decided there isn't enough American Idol on TV *rolls eyes*, they have to bring out a celebrity edition of the show where celebrities who are not known for their pipes will battle it out in a singing showdown. "Idol" Gets Starstruck - E! Online News report So Simon Cowell will get to yell and humiliate celebrities live while getting paid? He must think there is a God. Personally, I'm so over American Idol (and have been since season 2) so I shall stay away...

The Daily Show tonight was just awesome. Stephen Colbert had a hilarious field report on new members joining the Republican party but it was a porn director and a porn star, which led to a lot of silliness all around. I laughed so much. Very therapeutic! Howard Dean was also the guest tonight so it was very interesting.

I have more to say about the TTC deciding to invest in making public transit fun as opposed to on time and with newer buses & about la St-Jean but I'll keep that for tomorrow! :)

DVD hunt on Amazon: The X-Files Mythology: Vol. 1 - Abduction + Lois & Clark

I had to go check out Amazon as I am wont to do to see what wonderful books/CDs/DVDs are out there, waiting to draw me into their clutch. And what doesn't jump at me from the front page but...

The X-Files Mythology: Vol. 1 - Abduction We finally get an explanation! Errr, sort of. I'm not sure exactly what would be the lure of buying this for people who own all the boxsets already. Sure there are a few new commentaries but what hasn't been said already by people who have spent hours on message boards? I will confess I used to be one of them. LOL I only own season 1 DVDs but still... It would have gotten me all fired up and dancing-on-table excited 5 years ago. Now? Eh, not so much.

This on the other hand? Got me very excited! I used to luuuuurve Lois & Clark in all its cheesy glory. It had cool villains, a regular glass wearing guy/flying hero, very good supporting characters, and sizzling chemistry between the leads. Too bad they really ruined it towards the end. Nevertheless, the first few years rocked, and I haven't been able to see reruns of it anywhere. I shall rent them (I don't think I'd really rewatch them often) from my videostore to see it all again. Keeping my fingers crossed my videostore has bought this set. :)

There Are Not Enough Hours In The Day...

I'm under deadline mania in all areas of my work. I hear the tic-tac sound from Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?" in my head constantly. It's a good thing I'm in a healthy and productive place in my head at the moment. The summer is wonderful for that. I tend to get depressed & without energy in January/February/March, which is always so distressing to feel. That can be a topic for another post! LOL

Anyway, let's hope I can keep the current pace until September. I shall take a few days off at the end of July, which I will totally deserve.

Live from Toronto, This is Tuesday Afternoon Live...

Wow. The creativity well is a little bit dry if we consider the title I've given to this post. It's funny for me to have this blog, where I'm basically blabbing on to myself. It's nice though. It's just an outlet I can turn on to blatter on about my non-work thoughts. Considering I spend the bulk of my day doing one of the 4 following things : working on my computer, reading research/teaching material, watching TV when I'm too tired to do anything else(not much of that one) or more work on my computer, I do tend to spend a lot of time alone. Certainly, it depends on the day (sometimes, I spend a lot of time with students or patients) but overall, my work tends to be solitary. Such is the life of the graduate student. The introvert in me likes the time alone working but my extrovert side needs distraction from it every so often, and feels it is communicating with the world somehow. So this is my gift to my extrovert side. Hee.

Friday is St-Jean-Baptiste (for all my non-French-speaking readers, if this blog turns out to have any, it's the celebration of Quebec heritage). Big day! So there are having some French concerts in TO. Paul Piché is the main act. As one of my friends mentioned, what is HE doing out of Québec on the day of St-Jean? No idea! Maybe independentist singers have been exiled under Jean Charest? LOL Anyway, so I'm hoping to go with a fellow grad student friend on Friday night.

Anyway, back to work for me...

Girls' Bike Club: "Shut Up Tom Cruise" edition

Sars at Tomato Nation has The Vine, her rocking advice column, as well as many interesting essays. My favourite series of essays is without a doubt the Girls' Bike Club. The Girls' Bike Club is basically a collection of male celebrities who either get into legal problems or are generally acting like idiots, jackasses, and/or douchebags. The format of the essays is just as a discussion between Sars and her friend Wing. It always cracks me up so. Well, this week's essay is all about Crazy Tom Cruise, and angry Russell Crowe. It's a good read.

Seriously, what is up with Tom Cruise? I'm very empathetic towards people who suffer from mental illness, not that Cruise suffers from one as Scientologists believe there is no such thing as mental illness or, at least, nothing that can't be solved with vitamins. *shakes head* Anyway, regardless, it's very sad and dismaying to see him unravelling like that. Sanity is a sad thing to misplace.

Besides that, I'm reading Vanity Fair in my very scarce free time (i.e., while eating a meal or on the subway). Anyway, good profile of Nicole Kidman, if not exactly hard-hitting. But she doesn't deserve to be hit hard at this time (see crazy Tom and his formely-charming teen star bride-to-be). There is also an interesting story about the Michael Jackson's trial, an event I've been avoiding like the plague. There is also a piece on Iran, and the article I've been waiting for, the revelation of the real identity of Deep Throat. Can't wait to read it.

Prior to my purchase of Vanity Fair, I was reading "Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali", a semi-fictionalized story about the genocide in Rwanda. Very well-written book on a very disturbing topic.

Picked up Gwen Stefani's "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." & "Motown Unmixed" at HMV today. I'm currently playing Gwen Stefani's album, and it's wonderful!

Wow, I realized I was able to talk about a bunch of things not involving my job. Unbelievable! Good thing because I had a really long & somewhat stressful day. I love teaching but it's one tough job.

Night!

"The Fake News is All I Need" T-Shirt

Glarkware - The Fake News is All I Need

Hee! I'm totally getting this t-shirt. I must proclaim my love of The Daily Show to the world.

I've decided to use this blog as my little kingdom. I'm disappointed that queendom isn't a word. Damn you, Webster. Anyway, this place shall be a melting pot of ideas and crazy links. I'll probably post mostly when I'm tired of working and need some relaxation. I've been working for the better part of the last 12 hours. I'm freaking tired. Do you think death by PowerPoint is possible?

First Post

I'm really just testing. I used to be at livejournal which was intuitive. This site is baffling me so far. Clearly, I'm not necessarily living up to my moniker. Let's hope I pick it up. :)