tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49974948010573612452024-03-21T22:00:25.998-04:00A Lake of StarsGE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-64432662794281017042012-11-27T21:07:00.000-05:002012-11-27T21:07:09.772-05:00Merci: Another Linguistic Mystery SolvedI went to dinner the other night with some friends at <a href="http://www.northrestaurant.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=77" target="_blank">North</a>, a Persian restaurant, in Vaughan. The food was quite good, though I think I enjoyed the interior more. There was a mural of an Iranian village with mountains in the distance. The houses in the mural extended into three-dimensional, physical houses, so that you could eat inside. There were even some fake mountains extending from the mural. I wish I had taken a photo, especially since there seem to be no photos online! <br /><br /> Towards the end of the meal our friend, Aiden, told us that "Merci" is the way to say thank you in Farsi -the same as French (though the pronunciation is not quite the same). I was very surprised, but then I was reminded of a time when I noticed that there were other similarities between French and Farsi (how I noticed this, I do not know). So I wondered how there could be similarities between two languages that don't have common roots. Yes, both are Indo-European languages, but their proto-languages don't really share a common history. <br /><br />I discovered the article <a href="http://www.staff.amu.edu.pl.proxy2.lib.uwo.ca/~inveling/pdf/Marszalek-Kowalewska%20_22.pdf" target="_blank">"The Iranian Language Policy: A Case of Linguistic Purism" by Katarzyna Marszałek-Kowalewska</a>. The author notes that French words began being borrowed into Farsi at the turn of the 18th century as a result of modernism in then-Persia: "For Persia, [French] was the most important model of modern secular culture" (91) The esteemed position of French was strengthened with the the creation of modern education systems, such as the first institution of higher education, Dal al-Fornun, (now existing as the University of Tehran). Academics used French to transmit technical and scientific vocabulary. More importantly for the dissemination of French words into Farsi, the education system of the 20th century was modeled after the French education system. Additionally, French was nearly the only language studied by students at the post-secondary level. As the author notes, "the importance of French on the educational level resulted in a situation where almost all scholars in scientific and technical, as well as in other <div>
disciplines, studied in French-speaking countries or otherwise received a French-influenced education in Persia" (91). </div>
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I find that within my interest in linguistics and culture I am especially interested in the attitude that elites take on the direction of the language. With my little training in linguistics, I've been taught to not make judgements on language for what "should" and "should not" be, but to simply study language. Thus, I am fascinated when elites act prescriptively with specifically dictated language policy, changing the direction that the language would naturally take. More on language policy and examples another time. </div>
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GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-52619019595319405822012-10-02T20:30:00.000-04:002012-11-13T20:42:47.713-05:00"Program Complete"<br />
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Things are coming together for my convocation. The other day I received that long-awaited confirmation. It was simply: "Program Complete. Graduation Autumn Convocation”</div>
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But I tell you, seeing “Program <i>Complete</i>” was such a relief! I’ve had many little panic attacks over the summer. I thought I had actually calculated my courses incorrectly and that my academic counsellors had missed something, which would mean I need to take more courses and not graduate until June 2013! Fortunately, my little nightmares are not coming true. October 26th, I will be looking snazzy in my gown and mortarboard (graduate’s cap).</div>
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I took this photo in my first month at Western, back in 2007. But right now it’s symbolizing the freedom that comes with graduation and that my future is wide open. “The sky’s the limit” and that sort of thing. </div>
GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-48065258722695923242012-09-28T20:27:00.000-04:002012-11-28T13:09:24.432-05:00You already know. <br />
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I am seeing this as a life mantra. When faced with a decision or something you’re not sure of, you should look to oneself, because so many times you already know the answer, you just may not have come to terms with it yet. <br />
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And a song with the same title by one of my new favourite bands.</div>
<br />GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-22053026868960381842011-03-25T10:01:00.004-04:002011-03-28T17:00:55.292-04:00Essay: Human Rights of Migrant Workers<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m currently researching for an essay on Migrant Workers and Human Rights. It’s for my Human Rights Reporting class. I’m going to focus on the Canada’s guest worker program, particularly on the town of Leamington, Ontario with Mexican migrant labourers. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was hoping to find a documentary to get me “warmed up”, as it were, to ease my way into the research. This will also be an excuse to watch a film. The last film I watched was in class (<i>Crossing Midnight</i>-I highly recommend it) and before that… I think it was <i>Chloe</i>. I miss films! Gah. And I can remember when I was in first year in a film class and in MIT classes, I watched so many movies that I stopped liking movies for a bit! Of course, this was soon remedied, once classes ended. (and now back to the topic at hand)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In an article, I found mention of <i>El Contrato</i>, a documentary about man from Central Mexico who makes the yearly journey to Leamington to work. It is very critical of the whole situation, so this will be the perfect start to delving into the research. Here is an excerpt from the aforementioned article: </span><br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Min Sook Lee’s 2003 National Film Board film, El Contrato or The Contract, illustrated poignantly the exploitation of this new migrant Leamington population. She narrates in the film, “They are wanted as labourers, not as citizens. The program only accepts men who are married, with less than a grade school education and with strong ties and families back home, men who will go back after months of painful separation.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2002, a workers’ centre opened in Leamington, offering counsel and advocacy for the farm labourers. In 2003, the time of the filming of El Contrato, the migrant farm workers worked seven days a week, ten hours a day for a flat rate of $7.25 per hour, no overtime, no holidays.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something that is most excellent is that you can watch the whole film on the NFB website! Here’s the link, in case you’re interested in watching: http://www.nfb.ca/film/el_contrato (I’m fairly certain that anyone in the world is given access to the films- but please tell me if you can’t access the film)</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and if you watch it and you want to discuss anything in it, feel free to message me.</span>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-65986934245422873742011-03-13T15:42:00.000-04:002011-03-28T15:55:48.116-04:00A Saturday Afternoon<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: url(http://assets.tumblr.com/images/input_bg.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 50% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; color: black; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 12px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I had the hardest time getting myself down to the library to get some solid work done. I was in a certain mood. If I was in Cornwall I could have asked a friend to go to the Art Gallery and then The Grind for coffee. If I had been in Toronto I would have visited The ROM and strolled through Yorkville. If I was in Montreal I would have gone to Old Port by the water. But I was in London, and I didn't know what to do with myself because I am in school and I have lots of work to do, so I shouldn't be doing anything, but reading or writing an essay. So I pushed away these thoughts and walked outside intending to take the bus downtown.<br />
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But it was such a nice day- both mild and sunny, that I <em>had</em> to walk downtown. Besides I now have some snappy red rubber boots! Walking through slush and puddles is now a joy, reminiscent of the simple pleasures of childhood play- and what confidence I now have! That is, I don't hop from the shallowest part of the puddle to another, nor do I avoid the mud! I just trudge on through!<br />
During my jolly walk I listened to a podcast of CBC's <em>Q </em>featuring the band Hey Rosetta! I've heard about Hey Rosetta a lot over the last few years, but I've never given them a listen, which is honestly rather appalling because they are a fairly popular Canadian band. They are quite good! With Jian's (the host of <em>Q)</em> mirthful banter with his various guests I found myself walking with a little more bounce than I started out with, smiling at every person I passed, and laughing outloud at times.<br />
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After about 20 minutes I came to Richmond and Oxford, the north end of downtown. It had been quite some time since I had walked down Richmond. (Oh what the winter does to me, keeping me from my explorative adventures). I hadn't eaten lunch, which was another indicator of my uncommitted, wandering mood. I ended up at India Spice Express, a small sort of deli- except that it was Indian food. As I walked in I was greeted by a girl, a few years younger than me. I guessed she was probably the daughter of this likely family-owned and operated business. The choices were numerous. I didn't even know where to begin, so I told the girl I was overwhelmed and asked for her suggestion. She inquired about my hunger level- was this to be a snack? A full meal? I told her I wanted a meal, but I was not too hungry. She suggested some naan bread and a curry. Of the five vegetarian options; I chose the lentil curry. She told me to have a seat and she would bring it out to me.<br />
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A few minutes later I had a small bowl of curry and one piece of naan in front of me. I continued listening to my podcast as I ate the sweet, fluffy, yet crispy on the bottom naan dipped in the flavourful and perfectly spiced curry (not too spicy).<br />
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As I ate, I observed this small restaurant. The atmosphere was very open with it's high-ceilings, yet bright and comfortable. The walls were a calm blue-grey colour and the floor tiles were yellow and red. Looking up, the exposed ducts were painted a light purple and pipes in the ceiling were painted a bright red. There were 7 tables of four, the kitchen was partially visible, and I noticed that this restaurant also doubled at a bit of an Indian grocer. Finishing my meal I went up to the counter to pay. The girl asked how I liked the meal, especially if it was the right size. She was genuinely concerned with it being the right size. She was very sweet. I will certainly go back there.<br />
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Upon walking out of the restaurant, I noticed a new flower shop across the street. I wondered if mini daffodils were available yet. It is my tradition to buy a female friend a pot of mini daffodils at this time of year. I crossed the street and saw on the outside stand that they did indeed have mini-daffodils, though none were in bloom. Since they were to be a gift, I wanted to have just one beginning to bloom. I walked inside the shop to see if there were any in bloom yet. The shopkeeper said hello to me, even though she was with another customer. Then the customer told me to "look" and pointed upwards to some signs with clever sayings that mothers love to put in their homes, like "the house was clean yesterday, sorry you missed it". I didn't know which one this woman wanted me to pay attention to. Then she commented about how easy it really is to change the toilet paper; there was a sign assuring just that. I laughed a little, to show her I understood her. Then the woman left the shop. I approached the middle-aged Asian shopkeeper and asked if she had any mini daffodils in bloom. Very apologetically in a strong foreign accent, she told me she didn't. I said it was fine, that I would take one of the ones she had anyway and walked outside to pick one out. She followed me and advised me on the ones that would bloom first. I picked one of the ones she suggested and followed her back in to pay. Knowing the store was new, I asked how long the shop had been open for. She told me it was just a week since she opened and asked if it was my first time in. I said yes, so she gave me a small gift of cinnamon scented cranberries in a star-shaped mesh frame. Sincerely, she thanked me for coming in and told me to have a good day. I liked her. She was the type that was so eager to please her customer. I hope she doesn't lose that over time.<br />
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As I walked out the door I saw a customer from the pub I work at. The last time we spoke we had a good conversation about music and art, so I said hello and asked where he was walking to. He was a bit aimless, but he was going downtown, so I said we should be walking buddies since I was headed to the library, which is right downtown. On the way we discussed the closing camera shop he had just visited, his upcoming art projects, and the celebration birthday of a regular customer, who is also our bartender's girlfriend. We parted ways at another camera shop and I walked to the library. I found a comfy chair and, satisfied, I began to read Adam Smith's <em>The Wealth of Nations</em>. </div>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-39442379994057609012011-03-13T11:18:00.002-04:002011-03-28T15:51:36.923-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='420' height='366' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GOUgVIbQrqw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-31736973647570291002011-01-09T14:58:00.001-05:002011-03-28T17:01:54.999-04:00Apple Juice and Baby Crackers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TSoM9rag1bI/AAAAAAAAA-g/5PIvKBVy_FA/s1600/Photo+517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TSoM9rag1bI/AAAAAAAAA-g/5PIvKBVy_FA/s320/Photo+517.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apple juice and baby crackers (aka arrowroot cookies) as my mid-afternoon snack. (Note that I am studying for my pushed-back-from-December-due-to-"Snowmageddon"-Public Administration exam).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been years since I've had both apple juice and baby crackers at the same time. It reminds me of "milk and cookie time" when I was at playgroup (though we usually had apple juice and cookies). This playgroup was somewhere you could bring your children to socialize with other children before they were school-age (no doubt it was for the moms to socialize too). What I find surprising is that I remember so clearly the things that happened there, even though I was so young. Once you turned 4 you weren't allowed to go there anymore (since you should be going to kindergarten then).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was the time that a much bigger Megan pushed me off a chair at milk and cookie time for no apparent reason. From her, I ended up with a mostly pink hand-me down snowsuit that already had 'Megan' written inside. I thought that was really neat at the time. She was the first Megan I can remember meeting.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there was the time that the visiting optometrist told me I had stars in my eyes. Her telling that made me think that everyone had a shape in their eyes. My mother set me straight when I was a bit older. She said the optometrist probably said it to get me to open my eyes wider. I was angry with the optometrist for deceiving me. I told my mum that she could've just asked me to open my eyes wider.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In highschool, when I would mention the names of friends, my mum would tell me that so-and-so was in playgroup too. I don't remember anyone specifically, except for the Whaleys.</span>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-63889228772563122572011-01-08T02:26:00.004-05:002011-01-10T23:25:50.709-05:00Listen more<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I often feel the need to express myself. I like to tell stories, talk about the ideas that pop into my head, and display my photos. Recently I've become aware that I feel this need too much. It is affecting my ability to listen. This blog has been renewed for my new year's resolution of listening more. To allow for listening, I still need to get these things off my chest and out of my head. This is the outlet for some of that.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">As well, I have more drafts in this blog than posts. Upon the advice of a friend, I will just post and not worry if things are "perfect". If the idea isn't fully thought out and I'd still like to muse on it, then I will do so. The writing may not flow perfectly either, but as was pointed out to me, it's probably more important that I just write.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Just letting you know that things are going to be different around here. (haha) </span>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-70604214966709346212010-09-30T14:22:00.000-04:002010-09-30T14:22:12.037-04:00Phallon & Asia<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Written on June 19th)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This day has already been extremely interesting... I'm heading to Cornwall on the bus as I speak, but while in Toronto I had some intriguing experiences. I was starving, so I left the terminal in search of food (I had an hour and a half to kill before the bus to Cornwall left). Of course, it was six in the morning, so nothing was open- even in downtown Toronto. I walked up to Yonge St. where a fellow traveller struck up conversation with me asking why I look so sad- lol. I had 2 hours of sleep on a bus! It wasn't sadness, it was lack of energy. He was strange though, he was wasting time until his bus came also, so it would seem natural to maybe waste it together. But he decided he was going to walk down a street that did not look promising for food. So I did not go with him and he didn't decide to come with me when I told him I was going to continue up Yonge. Oh well.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I decided to eat the apple and banana I had brought, since I couldn't seem to find anything else. I watched the peaceful, early morning Yonge St. wake up. Quite a few police went by on their way to breakfast, it seemed because they were all in a jovial mood and didn't seem to be walking with purpose as you typically see them. At this point, they seemed very social. There were quite a few police because of the G20</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Just after I sat down on some steps and bit into my apple I heard a someone saying, "Asia, Asia", as though they were speaking to a pet. When I looked up, there was a man in a white sailor's suit walking a dog. Immediately he enthusiastically said hi and asked me if he could talk to me, saying I seemed like I'd be an interesting person. He introduced himself as Phallon and the dog as Asia (who was his friend's). Phallon told me he was going to make a television debut by interviewing people on the streets of Toronto. He was curious to know why so many people in Toronto are "cold" and he wanted to find out what makes people "tick" in this city.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">He wanted to start the interview with me, but he said he was having trouble with the camera (which was also a friend's). I said I could probably fix it, so he handed it to me. After a minute of fiddling with it I discovered that the brightness was turned up far too much and the white balance was off. Just as I was fixing the settings four young punk kids walked our way. Phallon asked if he could talk to them, citing that they looked like interesting people. They excitedly said he looked like an interesting person and that they loved his outfit. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I had just fixed the settings, so I started recording their conversation. Phallon noted the reasons he was talking to people and said that they didn't seem like cold people and wondered why so many others are. The one guys said it must be the drugs. Phallon didn't seem too impressed with this answer. He then asked them what they would say if he told them he was a healer. They said they would say B.S. since they have a friend who claims the same thing and it's not true. He told them the story of how he was recently at a picnic for homeless people (he has now been homeless for a month and apparently loves it) where he saw a girl going through withdrawal from "oxycotin or something". She was shaking on the ground and just generally was not well. Phallon said he went over to her and put his hand on her shoulder, saying that everything was going to be ok. She seemed to relax, she stopped shaking, the wind blew her hair out of her face and she smiled. Later she was walking around and appeared just fine, he said. The conversation ended and the young punks went along their way. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Phallon then turned back to me. He asked what I would say about the healer thing. I said I would be curious and want to know more. The conversation turned to the subject of auras and he asked what I thought about them. I've always found the idea of auras fascinating (when I was a little kid, I used to try to see them). I want to know more about auras, so Phallon said he'd try to teach me to see them. I thought, Wow, this is kind of cool! It would be really neat if he were to end up being for real. He put his hand up against his white shirt, told me to look in between his fingers and asked if I could see a tinge of colour. I couldn't. He then told me that it's like a muscle. You need to continue to use it and work it to see auras. Watching his teachers in class is where Phallon first noticed auras. Since I couldn't see something he looked for another background. A concrete wall would work since it's a neutral colour. This time he put his whole arm out and told me to not look at his arm, but to look six inches above and below it. I tried, but I saw nothing. After a while we gave up, but he told me to continue looking for it. The things Phallon was talking about, his ideas of positivity, the auras, and more made me think of the book, The Celestine Prophesy. He said he had read it and he based a lot of his life on things that came up in the book. We discussed the sequal and found that neither one of us had finished it. Phallon suggested I read The Alchemist, so now that's on my reading list. We ended our conversation and Phallon went to find the policemen he asked to speak with as they walked by. Before we parted ways, I asked to take his photo and he obliged and asked me how he wanted him to pose- he was pretty excited about it. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TCYVWcZGKhI/AAAAAAAAA80/7bMgLNoa8ug/s1600/P6190262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #333399; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TCYVWcZGKhI/AAAAAAAAA80/7bMgLNoa8ug/s320/P6190262.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TCYVWz9Z6XI/AAAAAAAAA84/iSupsQnMUuY/s1600/P6190264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #333399; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TCYVWz9Z6XI/AAAAAAAAA84/iSupsQnMUuY/s320/P6190264.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TCYVXuc9XII/AAAAAAAAA88/5loy_CgvYTE/s1600/P6190265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #333399; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/TCYVXuc9XII/AAAAAAAAA88/5loy_CgvYTE/s320/P6190265.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div></span>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-41387102577415569302009-12-13T14:26:00.002-05:002009-12-13T17:07:22.173-05:00Microsoft's Encarta Tells Two Different StoriesI'm reading the 'Audience Fragmentation" section of a book for class. It talks about how we now have specialized channels to cater specific demographics of society. The authors talk about how we have "narrowcasting" now rather than broadcasting and that we share less and less of our media experiences because of this audience fragmentation.<br /><br />I came upon the part where it says that Microsoft's <i>Encarta</i> encyclopaedia stated the inventor of the telephone was two different people... In the US, UK, and German edition Encarta said that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, but in the Italian edition it was "Antonio Meucci, a poor Italian American candlemaker who -according to this version of history- beat Bell by 5 years" (Croteau and Hoynes 207).<br /><br />The authors then pose the questions, "If companies producing supposedly authoritative information such as encyclopedias are comfortable generating multiple versions of history to appeal to different markets, then what is to prevent them from doing the same to court domestic audiences? Will corporations in the future produce different versions of history [and this is what I think is most important] or current events for different demographics?" (Croteau and Hoynes 207).<br /><br />I think it is important that we see that this is occurring. Being media savvy isn't just for the kids in Media Studies, it's important for everyone. I ask why the editors of <i>Encarta</i> couldn't say something like, "Although Alexander Graham Bell is widely credited as the inventor of the telephone, it is quite possible that Antonio Meucci invented the telephone..." Or something of the like, which mentions both possible inventors. Why should one group of people be told one story and another group be told a completely different story? I find it jarring just thinking about this. Thoughts?<br /><br />Reference:<br />The Business of Media: Corporate Media and Public Interest by David Croteau and William Hoynes. Published in 2006. (I don't feel like doing a proper citation. This is close enough. Too many essays lately.)GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-86267767946620413562009-07-21T18:40:00.000-04:002009-07-21T18:40:08.727-04:00It turns out I don't end up as bored in the summer-time, so ze blog gets neglected. Around London I have seen this piece of graffiti that has been covered up as soon as possible. I mean, really -what tomfoolery! What scoundals those kids are to do this! No wonder there are bi-laws in London against selling Sharpies and spraypaint to minors. Those scallywag kids! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY4riLXluI/AAAAAAAAA3g/6ZtskrrKS-Y/s1600-h/IMG_1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY4riLXluI/AAAAAAAAA3g/6ZtskrrKS-Y/s400/IMG_1378.JPG" zj="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY4tPxKOJI/AAAAAAAAA3o/rhEqEwL0K9E/s1600-h/IMG_1379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY4tPxKOJI/AAAAAAAAA3o/rhEqEwL0K9E/s400/IMG_1379.JPG" zj="true" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY4uMEkysI/AAAAAAAAA3w/KKaln2gko24/s1600-h/IMG_1380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY4uMEkysI/AAAAAAAAA3w/KKaln2gko24/s400/IMG_1380.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">... I'm being entirely sarcastic in this. I mean ice cream and diamonds? Frankly, I find these little pieces amusing and much more visually pleasing than the tags that are sprayed around the city. (This is what the City is up in arms about). Also, since there are many of the same "series" sprayed around I notice them and sort of think of them as a collection. "Oh, got another one!" :P </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I especially like the ice cream graffiti in the first photo- it's next to the best ice cream shop in town! Mmm Marble Slab! How appropriate! (PS Anyone who comes to visit me this summer gets a Marble Slab on me!) </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">London has a lot of great murals in the alleys downtown, on the sides of buildings next to train tracks, etc. I'm talking about actual works of art- not just a scribbled tag. I walked in one alley the other day and took photos. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY70RZG4nI/AAAAAAAAA34/BlKLQ0sh31U/s1600-h/IMG_1365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY70RZG4nI/AAAAAAAAA34/BlKLQ0sh31U/s320/IMG_1365.JPG" zj="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY73NCJoFI/AAAAAAAAA4I/f8CWcv0kfYc/s1600-h/IMG_1367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY73NCJoFI/AAAAAAAAA4I/f8CWcv0kfYc/s320/IMG_1367.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY72IseuWI/AAAAAAAAA4A/1xJTfb-eEt0/s1600-h/IMG_1366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY72IseuWI/AAAAAAAAA4A/1xJTfb-eEt0/s320/IMG_1366.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This alley is dedicated as a public art display- ie it's especially for graffiti. A Christian group is responsible for most of the art in this alley (their <a href="http://gccrew.com/">website</a> is on the walls). Of course others have come and done their thing over top. I found "ignore alien orders" amusing. Looks like that was not from the Christian group. haha </div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY7405T3XI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/A2N3UV8XSOc/s1600-h/IMG_1369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY7405T3XI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/A2N3UV8XSOc/s320/IMG_1369.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY737qEn5I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/_l7uRYnsR9Y/s1600-h/IMG_1368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY737qEn5I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/_l7uRYnsR9Y/s320/IMG_1368.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY78pQIGVI/AAAAAAAAA44/dLpl4rTOCzg/s1600-h/IMG_1373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY78pQIGVI/AAAAAAAAA44/dLpl4rTOCzg/s320/IMG_1373.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY75naJwqI/AAAAAAAAA4g/1M3EazuVD0Y/s1600-h/IMG_1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY75naJwqI/AAAAAAAAA4g/1M3EazuVD0Y/s320/IMG_1370.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY8FaXPBuI/AAAAAAAAA5A/MXdP_735578/s1600-h/IMG_1375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SmY8FaXPBuI/AAAAAAAAA5A/MXdP_735578/s320/IMG_1375.JPG" zj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Now off the topic of graffiti...</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm listening to a song I've heard occasionally, but never knew what it was called. I heard it at work the other day and asked everyone there if they knew what it was called. No one did. Yesterday, Nate (one of the regulars) handed me a piece of paper and said, "I think that's what its called". Wow! I was so-so excited! It's a beautiful song and to know what it's called! *gasp*... *sigh*... Well, now I can listen to it whenever I like! :D Nate made my week. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Now you have to listen. It's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-baMQfolRwE">Con Te Partiro</a>" by Sarah Brightman and Andreas Bocelli. (I prefer the all Italian version, but I can't find it as the duet on youtube).</div>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-84415806521078940122009-06-12T10:55:00.001-04:002009-06-12T10:55:14.926-04:00Drops of Sunshine<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemna/3588246428/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3588246428_ca93d4a410_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemna/3588246428/">Drops of Sunshine</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/gemna/">Gemna</a></span></div><br clear="all" />GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-42800872427229580822009-05-28T09:12:00.013-04:002009-05-30T22:03:52.510-04:00I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sh6OW5yP3VI/AAAAAAAAA1M/pVuAjNp0gR4/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sh6OW5yP3VI/AAAAAAAAA1M/pVuAjNp0gR4/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340862732227829074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33484541@N06/3571053969">158.365 – Catch Yourself</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/niki-lynn/">nikilynn</a></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">I can't believe the skill and creativity of some of the photographers on flickr. The girl who took this photo is only 15! It is pretty neat to view the progression from her first photos to the last ones.<br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />I have been pretty interested in photos where the subject is floati</a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">ng in midair lately. Here are some more that have caught my attention.<br /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sh6REFOe7lI/AAAAAAAAA1U/YNjcd-S_q0g/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sh6REFOe7lI/AAAAAAAAA1U/YNjcd-S_q0g/s400/Picture+7.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340865707416415826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/niki-lynn/">32.365 The Misarranged Mary Poppins</a></span> <span style="font-size:85%;">by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/niki-lynn/">nikilynn</a><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sh6SMcPPd9I/AAAAAAAAA1c/Moh-Qa7Dd1U/s1600-h/Picture+8.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sh6SMcPPd9I/AAAAAAAAA1c/Moh-Qa7Dd1U/s400/Picture+8.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340866950544193490" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">Week Eight. by </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/darcyface/">darcyface </a></span><br />(another 15 year old photographer)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SiHY4d_EIxI/AAAAAAAAA1s/Np-4TKSMKOI/s1600-h/Picture+11.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SiHY4d_EIxI/AAAAAAAAA1s/Np-4TKSMKOI/s400/Picture+11.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341789097671533330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24021012@N06/3289380117">One Day I Floated Away</a> by<a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/steph_hu/"> steph_who</a><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SiHc1_7BQTI/AAAAAAAAA10/aC5MIL02SwY/s1600-h/Picture+12.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SiHc1_7BQTI/AAAAAAAAA10/aC5MIL02SwY/s400/Picture+12.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341793453288276274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30785237@N03/3392755063">Floating Away</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/stephenbeadles/">'Stephen Beadles</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'd like to recreate some photos like this soon. I need to find a model for this however... Perhaps one of the girls from work.<br /></div><br /></div>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-61167757183478128902009-05-28T00:59:00.001-04:002009-05-28T00:59:29.276-04:00Rainy Toronto<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemna/3571697027/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3571697027_4a81fe771b_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemna/3571697027/">Rainy Toronto</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/gemna/">Gemna</a></span></div>I was waiting to meet a friend for coffee and I took this photo. The tree was not a perfect shelter, but it worked well enough!<br clear="all" />GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-75646971358551102562009-05-18T21:38:00.011-04:002009-05-20T09:27:04.623-04:00Step TwoI wanted to make an update on how I am doing with falling in love with London. So the first step in this process was to figure out what London has to offer me that I would most appreciate. I realized that I greatly value outdoor spaces, such as parks. As well, in the summertime I like to do a lot of biking, so I enjoy having paths to bike on. :P Combining these two interests and discovering locations that would appeal to them was step two.<br /><br />There are lots of bike paths along the Thames River and through the city. Today I explored this area a little better and took pictures! This is also the way I get to work! (up until the second-last photo)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVbjMADnI/AAAAAAAAAz0/BbEBsFElY34/s1600-h/IMG_0443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVbjMADnI/AAAAAAAAAz0/BbEBsFElY34/s400/IMG_0443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337352071433686642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVcQoH6jI/AAAAAAAAA0M/4j68DlZ40po/s1600-h/IMG_0448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVcQoH6jI/AAAAAAAAA0M/4j68DlZ40po/s400/IMG_0448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337352083631237682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIWzY1lfhI/AAAAAAAAA0c/cdJrJbraKQo/s1600-h/IMG_0474.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIWzY1lfhI/AAAAAAAAA0c/cdJrJbraKQo/s400/IMG_0474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337353580483804690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIYAoYhc6I/AAAAAAAAA08/F-3adsmf2Xg/s1600-h/IMG_0461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIYAoYhc6I/AAAAAAAAA08/F-3adsmf2Xg/s400/IMG_0461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337354907506799522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIW0dDXiDI/AAAAAAAAA00/0S1BszpTxf4/s1600-h/IMG_0592.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIW0dDXiDI/AAAAAAAAA00/0S1BszpTxf4/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337353598795221042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVcUGUxeI/AAAAAAAAA0E/wX7PhslMxmk/s1600-h/IMG_0447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 481px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVcUGUxeI/AAAAAAAAA0E/wX7PhslMxmk/s400/IMG_0447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337352084563215842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVbxU9SgI/AAAAAAAAAz8/grMHY3j0q6o/s1600-h/IMG_0445.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIVbxU9SgI/AAAAAAAAAz8/grMHY3j0q6o/s400/IMG_0445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337352075229350402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIWzwvDQxI/AAAAAAAAA0k/eaX3Bl6CKA0/s1600-h/IMG_0527.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIWzwvDQxI/AAAAAAAAA0k/eaX3Bl6CKA0/s400/IMG_0527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337353586898846482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIW0HvnIBI/AAAAAAAAA0s/F2X49DNnQ5I/s1600-h/IMG_0544.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/ShIW0HvnIBI/AAAAAAAAA0s/F2X49DNnQ5I/s400/IMG_0544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337353593075212306" border="0" /></a><br />So everything is going very well with London! I knew I could find more than a little beauty in London! This city gets such a bad rap with people! There is a lot of beauty here and there are a lot of things going on! :) That is all for now.GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-50372490894275817112009-05-12T18:40:00.000-04:002009-05-12T18:40:32.368-04:00Salvador Dali's BirthdateHe is one of my favourite painters. Because who can come up with this stuff? Really! You have to be incredibly creative to think this stuff up or -well, Salvador Dali!<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/The_Persistence_of_Memory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dd/The_Persistence_of_Memory.jpg" style="height: 119px; width: 167px;" /></a>Dali was a Spanish surrealist painter who lived during the 20th century. His most famous painting is one that you may know as "Melting Clocks", but he actually titled it "The Persistence of Memory".<br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you took a first year film class you may have watched <i>Un Chien andalou</i> (1928), one of the best known surrealist films. Dali and the first-time director Luis Buñuel produced the film with Dali co-writing and acting in for the film. The poignant opening scene where an eye is slit with a razor is an indelible scar in my mind. *shudders*Oh dear, and now we move on...<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dali was influenced by Sigmund Freud's writing about the <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/150173/Salvador-Dali">"erotic significance of subconscious imagery"</a>, which subsequently influenced his paintings. To access the images of his subconscious, he would cause himself to go into a hallucinatatory state. The paintings in this state are his most well regarded paintings and made him the <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/150173/Salvador-Dali">"world's best-known Surrealist artist"</a>. The following are some of my favourite Dali works...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cise.ufl.edu/%7Efishwick/ac/2008/Dali_Temptation_of_St_Anthony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://www.cise.ufl.edu/%7Efishwick/ac/2008/Dali_Temptation_of_St_Anthony.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://viceroyforlife.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/5-salvador-dali21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="http://viceroyforlife.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/5-salvador-dali21.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kacajendela.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/dali-salvador-les-elephants-77001961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kacajendela.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/dali-salvador-les-elephants-77001961.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I was in Madrid, I spent a day in Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sophia where a number of Salvador Dali's works are displayed (and <i>Un Chien andalou</i> is played). It was really neat to see one of my favourite artist's paintings for real! (I saw Picasso's Guernica too!)<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In recent Salvador Dali News... <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Ashes</span>, a film about Dali's <i>just</i> came out on May 8th. Robert Pattinson (you may know him as Edward Cullin in Twilight) plays Dali. would like to see it, but perhaps I'll wait till it's on DVD or something<br />
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To finish off this post on Dali, here are two amusing quotes by Dali:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LjB3ob1O4f_LsvBwHkAydV_UggCF3j0pAkg-bqB6xTVAXONTnVXBBE_QHJghHjnCXnWcMr3-TA8Lig2KoqQBIRMbfmD3-W_nEwTwh7NwmTmTaHM3vb4v7XlkDMp5vDOQd8sp7Umhff8/s1600/salvador_dali_flower_moustache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LjB3ob1O4f_LsvBwHkAydV_UggCF3j0pAkg-bqB6xTVAXONTnVXBBE_QHJghHjnCXnWcMr3-TA8Lig2KoqQBIRMbfmD3-W_nEwTwh7NwmTmTaHM3vb4v7XlkDMp5vDOQd8sp7Umhff8/s200/salvador_dali_flower_moustache.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<a href="http://www.tv.com/salvador-dali/person/208407/trivia.html">"I don't do drugs; I am drugs."</a><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">&<br />
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<a href="http://www.tv.com/salvador-dali/person/208407/trivia.html">"The only difference between myself and a madman is that I am not mad."</a></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Update: After posting this I received an email from someone in the PR dept. at Time Inc. and who is in charge of communications for Life. She stumbled upon my blog post in the press for Salvador Dali for today and suggested that I might appreciate a series of photos of Dali from Life Magazine's website. Have a "look-see"! You'll see what an eccentric character Dali was!<br />
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<script src="http://www.life.com/embed/index/js" type="text/javascript">
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LIFEembedDrawGallery(26312);
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Work Cited: "<b>Salvador Dalí</b>." <u>Encyclopædia Britannica</u>. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 11 May. 2009 <<a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/150173/Salvador-Dali">http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/150173/Salvador-Dali</a>>.<br />
All photos and direct quotes will take you to their original site by clicking on them.<br />
</span></div></div></div>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-70064570138827146642009-05-11T11:21:00.007-04:002009-05-11T12:02:22.342-04:00Water-JuiceWhen I was a child, I was my mother's right hand. That's what happens when you're the oldest. I did what I could to help my mum with my siblings. One instance was then Ainsley wouldn't drink water for supper because she wanted juice. But it was the rule to have a glass of juice then if you wanted more to drink, you would get water. But she was putting up a big fight about it this one time, so I told her that this jug of water in the fridge was actually "water-juice". Water-juice looked like water, but tasted like juice. Mom poured her a glass and she drank it. It worked for a while! hehe She was a gullible kid!<br /><br />So there is this Baby Blue comic that my mother sent me saying it was very much like me as a kid. And this is what prompted me to tell the "water-juice" story...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.arcamax.com/newspics/8/859/85931.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 193px;" src="http://www.arcamax.com/newspics/8/859/85931.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-70226994008691770452009-05-06T20:18:00.004-04:002009-06-01T00:41:36.524-04:00Bicyclettes on the mind!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikivisual.com/images/7/70/Bicycle_two_1886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img dj="true" src="http://en.wikivisual.com/images/7/70/Bicycle_two_1886.jpg" border="0" height="325" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found this and couldn't help but put it up! What a cute bicycle! For those <em>without</em> good balance <span style="font-size:x-small;">AND</span> a desire to stay very close! heh hehh </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, does it look like they're in front of the White House?<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh dear... Bicycles are on my mind! Hm, I need a basket for mine now... Bookbags on the back are never good in the summer. Especially black ones. I shall go to Talize tomorrow and hope for the perfect one! Orrr maybe I'll go to the really far, ginormous Value Village... I suppose it all depends on the weather. It's raining now. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. I want sunshine again!</div>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-47570573452137914162009-05-05T19:57:00.010-04:002009-05-05T20:45:06.551-04:00Falling in Love with London<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDdDmfE4iI/AAAAAAAAAxc/LHeSnsbW-2Y/s1600-h/03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 443px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDdDmfE4iI/AAAAAAAAAxc/LHeSnsbW-2Y/s400/03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332505012746904098" border="0" /></a><br />As well as falling in love with reading books again, I also plan on falling in love with London. One of the ways that I plan to fall in love with this city is to explore it. There are many, many bike trails and paths by the river throughout the city and I think that they are the key to discovering the beauty that this city holds! :) And so, to aid in my discovery of these paths I intend to employ at least two friends; my camera and a bike!<br /><br />I have been antsy to ride since the weather became nice! Unfortunately, on the first nice day, I discovered that my bike was not in the shed. It was one of the most anxious feelings I have ever experienced! I consoled myself by pretending that I imagined bringing the bike to London- that it was all "in my head". I attempted to trick myself. As well, I told myself that if I really did bring the bike to London then the person who took it must have needed it more than me. Within a few days the feeling was gone.<br /><br />There is a plus side to this! It gave me an excuse to seek out the bike I have always wanted: A cruiser! I've always wanted a cruiser bicycle for two reasons; because they are classic and because they are better for my posture (a more upright position while seated). I mentioned to Gen that I was looking for a cruiser which informed her of the name of the bike that she had always wanted! With the name in hand/mind, she searched craiglist and kijiji for a cruiser bicycle and purchased one within hours! I was so-so jealous! But I kept patiently checking the online classifieds for mine.<br /><br />So here we are two days later and I now have my bike! I toured all over London today! I have yet to name my bicycle, but I think I shall go with Norco (the company name) for now. I will probably to paint him, because black is just too gloomy! But here he is!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDWrJfoxGI/AAAAAAAAAw4/TTYZqTzRm6w/s1600-h/IMG_0344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDWrJfoxGI/AAAAAAAAAw4/TTYZqTzRm6w/s400/IMG_0344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332497995578000482" border="0" /></a><br />So with my trusty "steed" and camera companion I shall explore all the beauties and secrets that are held by London! I will fall in love with this city and come to value all that it offers while enjoying sunny days in between chaotic, busy shifts at the pub!GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-12849601025741938492009-05-05T19:52:00.001-04:002009-05-05T19:52:47.742-04:00Sunny Summer SundaysSunday was one of those fabulous summer days! Although this blog is not meant to be journalistic, I can't help but write about it! And this shall also be in response to Genevieve's blog entry... <br />
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It began with a lazy Sunday morning and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios with banana (this is a quintesential part to beginning most good days! :P). At about 12:30 I left the house with the intent to walk to downtown in about an hour -surprisingly it only took me thirty minutes!<br />
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I had brought Maxwell (my camera) along with me, so we were able to spend the better part of the early afternoon taking photos! I was inspired by the lovely buildings and homes to make a follow-up blog posting to the one on interesting homes. The difference is that these photos will be my own. The following are some of the buildings that always catch my eye and the houses that stood out from the others around them. Of course, none of these are <i>quite</i> as unique as the ones seen two posts before, but they do have characters of their own. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDM_ehtLJI/AAAAAAAAAvw/DbvLn6tZ9Mg/s1600-h/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDM_ehtLJI/AAAAAAAAAvw/DbvLn6tZ9Mg/s400/IMG_0263.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDN-XRBvlI/AAAAAAAAAv4/gTRKVoFUcos/s1600-h/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDN-XRBvlI/AAAAAAAAAv4/gTRKVoFUcos/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOE2V-_eI/AAAAAAAAAwA/vfpEF9B11bE/s1600-h/IMG_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOE2V-_eI/AAAAAAAAAwA/vfpEF9B11bE/s400/IMG_0278.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOL1Ca0qI/AAAAAAAAAwI/sOBKGVeWlzU/s1600-h/IMG_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOL1Ca0qI/AAAAAAAAAwI/sOBKGVeWlzU/s400/IMG_0281.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOSWTNttI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/e3sSMICIY2Q/s1600-h/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOSWTNttI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/e3sSMICIY2Q/s400/IMG_0289.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOZ9AvzmI/AAAAAAAAAwY/kx-mRt491Eg/s1600-h/IMG_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDOZ9AvzmI/AAAAAAAAAwY/kx-mRt491Eg/s400/IMG_0297.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDQPJdH2pI/AAAAAAAAAww/pE2cJ8dkYEA/s1600-h/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDQPJdH2pI/AAAAAAAAAww/pE2cJ8dkYEA/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDP_Q2a0yI/AAAAAAAAAwg/G_zAMAFGruw/s1600-h/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDP_Q2a0yI/AAAAAAAAAwg/G_zAMAFGruw/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDQHJj1-xI/AAAAAAAAAwo/CtFxVcGdBPw/s1600-h/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SgDQHJj1-xI/AAAAAAAAAwo/CtFxVcGdBPw/s400/IMG_0306.JPG" /></a></div><br />
During my photo spree I came across a box of fabric by the side of the road (don't read "garbage"). It appears that in a former life some of these pieces of fabric were samples... for couch fabric perhaps? It is quite durable stuff! I have been planning on making a new bag- so this fell perfectly into my plan! Free stuff! <br />
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Not too long after that I met Juliana in Victoria park to play frisbee! It was beautiful! So many people were at the park- a lovely Sunday afternoon... :) We also went for ice cream at Marble Slab and people-watched -you know, like bird watching! <br />
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We walked around downtown for a bit and then ran into John, Juliana's boyfriend's brother. We ended up going to John and Spencer's (Juliana's boyfriend) house for dinner. After dinner we had some interesting conversations about identity, nationality, and our experiences with ghosts. And then I went home! It was such a lovely day!GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-6664431033182897582009-05-03T10:10:00.003-04:002009-05-03T11:05:19.590-04:00Falling Back in LoveThis is the summer I will get back in to reading for sheer pleasure! :) It's been a long time since I would just pick up a book and consume it all in one day or be so enthralled that I had the greatest difficulty putting it down. I intend to make me fall back in love with books!<br />
<br />
Whenever I finish a book, I will write a review of sorts as a blog posting. I'll also talk about how I came to that book. My aim is to read a book a week, but at the start I'm not to worried about filling that quota since my first priority is to learn a full menu at my new job (which I am incredibly excited for!).<br />
I have a few books on my list thus far:<br />
<ul><li> <i style="color: #351c75;">Metamorphosis</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">by Kafka</span> </li>
<li> <i style="color: #351c75;">In the Skin of a Lion</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">by Michael Ondaatje</span> </li>
<li><i style="color: #351c75;">Breakfast at Tiffany's</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">by Truman Capote</span> </li>
<li><i style="color: #351c75;">In the Beauty of Lilies</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">by John Updike</span> </li>
<li><i style="color: #351c75;">Through the Looking Glass</i><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Lewis Carroll</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><i>The Omnivores Dilemma</i></span> by Michael Pollan <br />
</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span>I will take suggestions for books too! Oh, also I want to read something by Jane Austen. What should I read by Austen? <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>? <i>Sense and Sensibility</i>?<br />
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I've started with <i>Wild Boy</i> by Jill Dawson. I won't say anything more about it now; you'll hear about it once I'm finished!GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-16665127110577556712009-05-02T22:18:00.019-04:002009-05-02T23:23:39.798-04:00Something NewTime for some thing a little different; a series of gathered photos with a theme. Today's theme is..<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Interesting Homes</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0B_Y3zYYI/AAAAAAAAArg/SdDlGUcw1yk/s1600-h/c59437a2c83750fcafb1a72583655d20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 404px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0B_Y3zYYI/AAAAAAAAArg/SdDlGUcw1yk/s400/c59437a2c83750fcafb1a72583655d20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331419722396426626" border="0" /></a>Something I posted on facebook a little while back... <span style="font-size:78%;">By <a href="http://sleephead.deviantart.com/art/Fairyland-116500843">~sleepyhead</a></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0CQsnEfsI/AAAAAAAAAro/NMj-QRPrwyo/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0CQsnEfsI/AAAAAAAAAro/NMj-QRPrwyo/s400/Picture+7.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331420019752730306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">By<a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/arekev/"> arekev</a><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0KVNchODI/AAAAAAAAAsY/UY754YnynM0/s1600-h/2446923995_671ffa0945.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0KVNchODI/AAAAAAAAAsY/UY754YnynM0/s400/2446923995_671ffa0945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331428893379344434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliarda/2446923995/">ali eminov</a><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0IMzBcW4I/AAAAAAAAAsI/WLSUqMqrmrk/s1600-h/Picture+8.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0IMzBcW4I/AAAAAAAAAsI/WLSUqMqrmrk/s400/Picture+8.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331426549824248706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/17983499@N00/101395084">shutrbugr</a><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0JDR993pI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/5z8lI3NU0HM/s1600-h/266524061_e8e088cce4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0JDR993pI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/5z8lI3NU0HM/s400/266524061_e8e088cce4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331427485844102802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83093398@N00/266524061">Somewhere In Toronto</a><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0HMrPZwOI/AAAAAAAAAsA/H-ZdcR-gP_0/s1600-h/314387321_215b239058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0HMrPZwOI/AAAAAAAAAsA/H-ZdcR-gP_0/s400/314387321_215b239058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331425448223686882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawna_mail/314387321/in/photostream/">Shawna</a><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0MbrCGVxI/AAAAAAAAAsg/eL1M18ZiKp4/s1600-h/27696251_ad81510780.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Sf0MbrCGVxI/AAAAAAAAAsg/eL1M18ZiKp4/s400/27696251_ad81510780.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331431203424065298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/71401718@N00/27696251">Wonderlane</a></span><br /><br /></div>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-87666630138549517882009-04-21T01:02:00.008-04:002009-04-21T10:17:32.138-04:00Streetscape on Dundas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Se1TpXLBAJI/AAAAAAAAAYk/O7Wd178Qp_c/s1600-h/Picture+6.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/Se1TpXLBAJI/AAAAAAAAAYk/O7Wd178Qp_c/s400/Picture+6.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327005904309125266" border="0" /></a>Found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chewie007/3451541486/in/photostream/">this</a> photo on <a href="http://www.flickriver.com/">flickriver</a>. I think it is absolutely amazing!<br />It makes me miss Toronto!<br />Even better when bigger <a href="http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=3451541486&size=large">on black</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=3451541486%22%3EView%20On%20Black%3C/a%3E">.</a>GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-10137092318581424002009-04-17T10:02:00.008-04:002009-04-17T10:37:06.081-04:00Sponsored by the Letter EI thought I'd tell you about a funny story that happened last night with some friends. Someone said that Sesame Street used to have this "pusher" character that would push letters. You know, those guys in trench coats that open up their coat to reveal fancy stolen watches or something. Well this guy would push letters and numbers. Apparently Sesame Street stopped using that character because the kids that lived in areas where there were real pushers- of drugs and such- would grow up having good associations with these guys.<br /><br />Someone said they could just picture a kid going up to someone that looked like this the pusher character; much to their surprise this person doesn't have letters- but drugs! And then I said, the kid would have said, "so that's what "E" is!" hehe Everyone laughed. I'm not usually clever like that, so I had to share it!<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Here is one of those pusher episodes.<br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bf0S_GhiX7Q&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bf0S_GhiX7Q&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br />Also, if you want so see Neil Patrick Harris (Barney from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Met_Your_Mother">How I Met Your Mother</a>) "suit up" and sing about shoes, then look no further! <object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wDaszN9ByxM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wDaszN9ByxM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object>heheGE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997494801057361245.post-77296652183679444762009-04-12T13:58:00.015-04:002009-04-13T19:28:31.311-04:00Dreaming in the Stale SunshineI don't like to put up photos of myself, because people make fun of me and say I'm vain or something similar. The fact of the matter is sometimes I'm the only one around. And if I'm feeling inspired, why not use myself as a subject? I shouldn't have to justify this to people. It should just be accepted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now that I have that out of the way, I'd like to show you this layered image composition I created- again, while I should be studying. I was on flickr this morning while in bed and munching on cereal (at least I was multi-tasking!). And I got an idea...<br /><br />The photo is a new edit of something I took this past summer while living in Toronto. I did not like the original, but I do like this. The sources from the compilation are available <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemna/3435922897/">here</a>.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SeOrjg3mIeI/AAAAAAAAAWI/dMA-6yPJCdg/s1600-h/Stale+Sunshine+-bird-clouds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 159px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8NEq8eliykc/SeOrjg3mIeI/AAAAAAAAAWI/dMA-6yPJCdg/s400/Stale+Sunshine+-bird-clouds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324287811088949730" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=3435922897&size=large">View On Black</a><br /></span></div>The image should be viewed on black and in a larger size. (so click the link! :P)<br /><br />So as soon as I post this, I shall be off to the library to get some real studying done!GE[M]NAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07081536437774230664noreply@blogger.com4