Loving The Layton

Since this is from the 2005 Gallery Dinner I don't get some of the references. I don't follow politics very closely as it is, let alone remember stuff from 4 years ago. I still love this clip though because, well, Jack is awesome. I still think that the NDP slogan should be "Who wants a mustache ride?" and my response would totally be "I do! I do!"

The Beginning of The End - Presentation

Yesterday morning was my last presentation of my undergrad career. I will never again have to speak infront of Carleton students as part of my BA. I hate countdowns, both on Facebook and MSN so I won't be putting anything like that on my blog. So even though I have 4 huge papers and 2 exams to do in the next 3 and a half weeks I won't be announcing each one as I do it. I'm very very glad to be at the end of this degree. I'm not done with school at all, I'm just done with Carleton and my undergrad, can't wait for it to be over.

UofT

The first deadline for grad school applications is coming up in early December. University of Toronto (MA in the Field of Creative Writing), for some reason, wants things then instead of in January and February like most of the others. I wanted to give my two references lots of time so went to the UofT website to find out what the whole thing entails. (Hoping I could just print out some sort of reference form for them and worry about the rest later.) Turns out I had to go through pretty much the entire application so that UofT would send my references e-mails to get their letters, after I paid. One part of the application was my Statement of Intent, where I explain my area of interest. In the case of my program this is a novel pitch. They only gave me 250 characters, including spaces, to do this!! That is like 2 or 3 sentences. So, I freaked out and stressed about it for a minute then wrote a bit of something and submitted it. Thankfully I found out at the end of the application that you actually later on submit a Statement of Purpose which is a longer pitch, of about 500 words, still really short in my mind, that is only about a paragraph. Anyway, this is my tiny novel pitch...
I would like to write a genre women’s fiction novel which uses the technique of typography. The novel will not only focus on the female protagonist’s use of new media but also include quotes and references to classic and popular literature.

Learnt & Learned

I didn't think 'learned' was a word. After arguing with a friend about the proper past tense for the word 'learn', I decided to look it up. It turns out that both 'learnt' and 'learned' are equally grammatically correct. They are alternative forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb. 'Learnt' is more common in British English, and 'learned' in American English. There are a number of verbs of this type (burn, dream, kneel, learn, leap, spell, spill, spoil etc.). They are all irregular verbs, and this is a part of their irregularity. For most, but not all, of these irregular verbs I use the 't' in past tense. I like that I'm a little more British than I am American (6 out of the 9 words I would use with a 't').

Different Tastes

Christine's Favourite
By Stephanie Beach

This picture is also from the Algonquin College photoshoot with Steph. I gather she took over 600 photos which have been edited down to about 250. Then she has 6 or 7 polished ones that she submitted for the assignment. I have been seeing them in drips and drabs and will eventually get the whole folder from her. When I saw this one I couldn't believe it. I love it so much. (It is already my Facebook Profile picture, and I never change that.) Steph wrote on her Photo Blog (see link on right) that her favourite picture from the shoot is the one I posted a few days ago but I like this one way more. There also is a really nice one with me and a tripod. I'm so looking forward to having the lot of them.

Enhances Energy & Helps Alleviate Fatigue

I got these herbal energy pills from my mom when I was last down for a visit. Since it contains B12, which I have been instructed by my doctor to take daily, we thought that this might be a good pill to try. On the front of the bottle is says Swiss Natural Sources, Solutions, Energy, With Siberian Ginseng, Vitamin B12 & Guarana. Seeing that I have never heard of the last thing, and that ginseng has a tendency to mess with other drugs we also thought it was a good idea to check with my doctor about it. (Siberian Ginseng sounds super cool though.) Anyway, this morning my doctor nix it saying that since it only contained 500mg of B12, and I need at least 1000mg, I would have to take two. The reason I shouldn't take two is that this Guarana thing has 22% caffeine and also in the small print it tells you that it contains Green Tea (not mentioned on the front I might remind you) which has 8% caffeine. She doesn't think it is a good idea to have that much caffeine. Basically this is a caffeine pill masking as a herbal supplement. I am going to choose to ignore my doctors advice for the next few weeks because I have tons of papers and presentations due and could really use the caffeine. I don't like coffee or tea and pop or chocolate are a bad choice. I think this will work out well to get my caffeine intake, especially since I won't be compounding it with any other caffeine sources. Now before you start lecturing me on ignoring professional medical advice or the dangers of caffeine pills, herbal or otherwise, I want you to think about your own use of the drug. What is your coffee, tea, or pop intake look like daily?

Poets

"I think everyone writes poems when they are sixteen; it is a phase in a passage from adolescence to adulthood. I do not remember where I read that there are two kinds of poets: the good poets, who at a certain point destroy their bad poems and go off to run guns in Africa, and bad poets, who publish theirs and keep writing more until they die."
- Umberto Eco from The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana

I don't really get the whole "run guns in Africa" reference but I really like the idea that it is the bad poets who are publishing. I have a very weird relationship with poetry. I write it but I think my poems are hilarious crap. I read it and love some but as a whole find the form fairly annoying. I hate studying it. Poetry is a strange thing.

You Know What I Mean

I'm A Mmmmodel, You Know What I Mean
By Stephanie Beach

Monday night I did a photoshoot at Algonquin College for Steph as part of one of the assignments for her photo course. It was great fun, Steph is amazing to shoot with. Just from looking briefly at the photos on her camera I think we got some good shots. This is one that she sent me quickly since I was begging to see something. Keep an eye out on her Photo Blog (see link on Right) as I'm sure she will post more from the shoot at some point.

The Creek

I don't know why but I was thinking about the show Dawson's Creek. It started when I was in Grade 8 and continued all through my years in high school, I watched it off and on. Some seasons my friends and I would gather each Friday to watch every episode, other years I would just catch it a few times. What I realise now is that not a lot happened on that show. Relationships between the characters came and went, love was sometimes unrequited, a student slept with a teacher, parents had affairs, and as far as I can remember that was pretty much it. Maybe there was some party episodes that talked about drugs and the dangers of drinking and driving but on a whole it was a fairly mellow show. In contrast to the more recent Gossip Girl and The OC which are crazy teen dramas filled with action. I liked Dawson's Creek though and I wonder if I watched it now what I would think.

Don't Ask Me How

Late last night I put a load of laundry into the washing machine, it was a Red Load, not that it matters. This morning I went to go and move it into the dryer. After taking all the clothes out of the washer I noticed something at the bottom of the machine. Somehow I had washed one of our cordless phones. I have no idea how it ended up in my laundry basket and how I didn't notice it going into the washing machine. Anyway, it looked ok, though the screen was a little bubbled from being washed. I tried to turn it on but it wouldn't, so I thought the water had completely broken it. Taking the phone over to the charger and putting it in, the red 'charging' light came on. Maybe the washing didn't wreak it and the battery is just low. I guess I will find out when I get home tonight.

Spanish Train

There's a Spanish train that runs between
Quadalquivir and old Seville,
And at dead of night the whistle blows,
and people hear she's running still...

And then they hush their children back to sleep,
Lock the doors, upstairs they creep,
For it is said that the souls of the dead
Fill that train ten thousand deep!!

Well a railwayman lay dying with his people by his side,
His family were crying, knelt in prayer before he died,
But above his bed just a-waiting for the dead,
Was the Devil with a twinkle in his eye,
"Well God's not around and look what I've found,
this one's mine!!"

Just then the Lord himself appeared in a blinding flash of light,
And shouted at the devil, "Get thee hence to endless night!!"
But the Devil just grinned and said "I may have sinned,
But there's no need to push me around,
I got him first so you can do your worst,
He's going underground!!"

"But I think I'll give you one more chance"
said the Devil with a smile,
"So throw away that stupid lance,
It's really not your style",
Joker is the name, Poker is the game,
we'll play right here on this bed,
And then we'll bet for the biggest stakes yet,
the souls of the dead!!"

And I said "Look out, Lord, he's going to win,
The sun is down and the night is riding in,
That train is dead on time, many souls are on the line,
Oh Lord, he's going to win!.."

Well the railwayman he cut the cards
and he dealt them each a hand of five
And for the Lord he was praying hard
or that train he'd have to drive...
Well the Devil he had three aces and a king,
and the Lord, he was running for a straight,
he had the queen and the knave and the nine and ten of spades,
All he needed was the eight...

And then the Lord he called for one more card,
but he drew the diamond eight,
And the Devil said to the son of God,
"I believe you've got it straight,
So deal me one for the time has come
to see who'll be the king of this place,
But as he spoke, from beneath his cloak,
he slipped another ace...

Ten thousand souls was the opening bid,
and it soon went up to fifty-nine,
but the Lord didn't see what the Devil did,
and he said "that suits me fine",
"I'll raise you high to hundred and five,
and forever put an end to your sins",
But the Devil let out a mighty shout, "My hand wins!!"

Well that Spanish train still runs between,
Quadalquivir and old Seville,
And at dead of night the whistle blows,
And people fear she's running still...
And far away in some recess
The Lord and the Devil are now playing chess,
The Devil still cheats and wins more souls,
And as for the Lord, well, he's just doing his best...

--Song by Chris De Burgh (guy who sings Lady In Red) I saw him in concert a few years back and despite seeing many concerts over the course of my life that one was still the best. This is also my favourite of his songs.

Funny But I Don't Know Why

Don't Be Afraid

I shouldn't write this post but I'm going to because I'm feeling broke and I have dreams of making money from my writing. In my current circumstances this could really only come from my blog and logically the only way I can make money on my blog is through the advertisements by AdSense. I put them up a while ago and the pennies are adding up, just not very quickly. I just wanted to tell you not to be afraid to click on an ad that interests you. I have clicked on some on Steph's blog, every now and then an ad about photography or writing appears on hers and I feel the need to check it out. They aren't terrible spam things. You click them and it goes to some normal site about something or the other, you don't get piles of pop-ups and other scary things. So, if something appears that appeals to you, don't be scared, click on it and check it out.
*Note: When I signed up for AdSense I promised that I would not click on ads that appeared on my own blog, I may also have agreed not to promote the ads by writing about them in this fashion but I don't really remember. So while I hate to write this cause it is annoyingly selling out, I also might not even have been allowed to write it.

Generation Z - All Those Kids

The future of our tomorrow who are predominantly the children of Generation X. This is a very young generation with the oldest at 12 years old. Despite their young age, the characteristics of this generation are quite apparent. They are exposed to technology very early in their lives and most already have an online identity. They are considered the most stressful generation for their involvement in too many extra-curricular activities – piano lessons, tap dancing, swimming, soccer practice, singing class, etc. With the rigid schedule of daily activities, they sometime forget to be children.There is no doubt that each generational difference is marked uniquely. The previous generation lays the path for the next. Of course, conflicts between generations are commonplace as one generation expects conformity from the other generation. This would indubitably make our relationships less complicated, but that is not reality. The reality is that generational differences should be embraced, accepted and respected.

Generation Y - Me!

The offsprings of the Baby Boomers are Generation Y. They love fame, celebrities, technology, brand names, and six degrees of separation through social networks. Somewhat ironic, Millennials inherited and benefited from the creation of Gen X platforms such as Google, YouTube, MySpace, and Amazon which are largely responsible for classifying this generation as the Internet Generation. With their sense of empowerment, they demand “I want what I want when, where and how I want it.” Quick access to information and to communication equate to instant gratification. This generation’s easy access to a plethora of information can be an overload. This trend will continue to a great degree onto Gen Z.Born in the mid-1980's and later, Gen Y is the fastest growing segment of today’s workforce. Gen Y grew up with technology and rely on it to perform their jobs better. Armed with BlackBerrys, laptops, cellphones and other gadgets, Gen Y is plugged-in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This generation prefers to communicate through e-mail and text messaging rather than face-to-face contact and prefers webinars and online technology to traditional lecture-based presentations. The fast-track has lost much of its appeal for Gen Y who is willing to trade high pay for fewer billable hours, flexible schedules and a better work/life balance. While older generations may view this attitude as narcissistic or lacking commitment, discipline and drive, Gen Y professionals have a different vision of workplace expectations and prioritize family over work. Nurtured and pampered by parents who did not want to make the mistakes of the previous generation, Gen Y is confident, ambitious and achievement-oriented. They have high expectations of their employers, seek out new challenges and are not afraid to question authority. Gen Y wants meaningful work and a solid learning curve. As children, Gen Y participated in team sports, play groups and other group activities. They value teamwork and seek the input and affirmation of others. Part of a no-person-left-behind generation, Gen Y is loyal, committed and wants to be included and involved. Gen Y craves attention in the forms of feedback and guidance. They appreciate being kept in the loop and seek frequent praise and reassurance. Gen Y may benefit greatly from mentors who can help guide and develop their young careers. For the most part, I find all of this true for myself.

Generation X - A Little Older Than Me

The letter "X" originally suggested the ambiguous, misunderstood, disheartened generation. Gen X can be described as growing up with MTV, Pac Man and The Breakfast Club. Pressed between two large generations of the Baby Boomers and Gen Y, Gen X is also characterized with having the middle child syndrome - always being ignored and underappreciated. Like sibling rivalry, with Boomers as the self-righteous eldest and Millennials as the pampered baby with a sense of entitlement. The media has focused a lot of its attention on the Baby Boomers entering into retirement, social security problems, health issues and the rise of biotech. With even more spotlight, the media is fascinated with tabloids of today’s youth, their lifestyle, their relationships, and more of the same monotony. Gen X are feeling overlooked and invisible. They have a generational chip on our shoulders. Generation X encompasses those born between 1965 and 1980. Members of Generation X are largely in their 30’s and early 40’s. On the whole, they are more ethnically diverse and better educated than the Baby Boomers. Over 60% of Generation X attended college. Generation X came of age in an era of two-income families, rising divorce rates and a faltering economy. Women were joining the workforce in large numbers, spawning an age of “latch-key” children. As a result, Generation X is independent, resourceful and self-sufficient. In the workplace, Generation X values freedom and responsibility. Many in this generation display a casual disdain for authority and structured work hours. They dislike being micro-managed and embrace a hands-off management philosophy. The Generation X mentality reflects a shift from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. The first generation to grow up with computers, technology is woven into their lives. This generation is comfortable using PDAs, cellphones, e-mail, laptops, Blackberrys and other technology employed in the legal workplace. Many Gen Xers lived through tough economic times in the 1980s and saw their workaholic parents lose hard-earned positions. Thus, Generation X is less committed to one employer and more willing to change jobs to get ahead than previous generations. They adapt well to change and are tolerant of alternative lifestyles. Generation X is ambitious and eager to learn new skills but want to accomplish things on their own terms. Unlike previous generations, members of Generation X work to live rather than live to work. They appreciate fun in the workplace and espouse a work hard/play hard mentality. Generation X managers often incorporate humor and games into work activities.

The Baby Boomers - My Parents

Baby Boomers are predominately in their 40s and 50s. They are well-established in their careers and hold positions of power and authority. This generational segment constitutes a large majority of today’s law firm leaders, corporate executives, senior paralegals and legal managers. Baby Boomers are extremely hardworking and often motivated by position, perks and prestige. Since they sacrificed a great deal to get where they are in their career, this sometimes workaholic generation believes that Generation X and Generation Y should pay their dues. Baby Boomers may criticize younger generations for a lack of work ethic and commitment to the workplace. Baby Boomers are confident, independent and self-reliant. This generation grew up in an era of reform and believe they can change the world. They questioned established authority systems and challenged the status quo. Baby Boomers are not afraid of confrontation and will not hesitate to challenge established practices. They welcome exciting, challenging projects and strive to make a difference. They are clever, resourceful and competitive. Boomers believe in hierarchical structure and rankism and may have a hard time adjusting to workplace flexibility trends. They believe in “face time” at the office and may fault younger generations for working remotely.

Generations

--The Lost Generation, primarily known as the Generation of 1914 in Europe, were those who fought in the First World War.

--The Interbellum Generation is composed of those born at the close of the 19th century and were young adults during the 1920s.

--The Greatest Generation is the generation that includes the veterans who fought in World War II. They were born from around 1910 to the mid-1920s, coming of age during the Great Depression.

--The Silent Generation is the generation that includes those who were too young to join the service during World War II. Many had fathers who served in World War I. Generally recognized as the children of the Great Depression, this event during their formative years had a profound impact on this generation.

--The Baby Boom Generation is the generation that was born during World War II to the late 50s, a time that was marked by an increase in birthrates worldwide. Baby Boomers in their teenage and college years were characteristically part of the counterculture of the 1960s, the generation remained widely committed to keystone values such as gender equality, racial equality, and environmental stewardship.

--Generation X is the generation generally defined as those born after the baby boom ended, extending from around 1960 to the late 1970s.They were the first generation with widespread access to television during their formative years. Other names used interchangeably with Generation X are 13th Generation, and Baby Busters.

--Generation Y is also known as Generation Next or the Millennials. Generation Y spans from the late 1970s to the late 1990s.

--The following Generation, referred to as Generation Z, and various other names, was born between the mid-1990s and end of the 2000s.

Halloween Cat

Me & My Halloween Cat
By Stephanie Beach
-
To see more: visit Stephaine Beach Photography
(Steph's Photo Blog) Link on Right

It Just Isn't Important

The first time she heard the song she asked the room who sang it, they all glared at her. She never knew music, it just had never been important to her, never crossed her mind in day to day life. Trained in Ballet and often found on the dance floor of any club or bar, you would think that music would have had a more lasting effect on her life. She didn’t own an iPod or any mp3 player, before that she hadn’t had a portable CD player, walkman or diskman. Walking to school or sitting on a bus you would never see headphones in her ears. The only CD’s she owned were gifts from distant relatives or ill advised new boyfriends. It isn’t that she doesn’t like music, it just isn’t something she does. It is something that is done for her. Someone else will put it on, someone else will pick the track, someone else will make the playlist, someone else will choose the station. She knows words to songs and can sing along, just from hearing the overplayed ones off and on around town, but she never knows their titles or the artist. It really just isn’t important to her, it isn’t a part of who she is. People find it shocking, they never understand it. She always has a hard time explaining this strange relationship with the thing that means so much in everyone else’s life. The real oddity is that there isn’t a single song on her computer. Her 4 year old laptop is completely pure, clean, free from any music. She asked again who sang the song, then sheepishly asked what it was called. Maybe, just maybe this one would make it onto her hardrive.

A Fiction Workshop Jump Start: Write a Memoir "The first time I/She/He heard the song ….. by …..” While the above is fairly accurate in my life, I did take slight poetic license of course.

Banksy

Show Me The Monet
2005
By Banksy

It is hard to describe this artist as he is pretty much anonymous at the moment. British and part of some kind of pacifist anarchism movement, Banksy is a really interesting artist. I personally don't really care about his background, beliefs, or even who he is. His work speaks for itself. He is predominately a graffiti artist but has also done some controversial things in the art world like walking into galleries and hanging up his own paintings. Look into him, you won't be disappointed.

Presentation

I had my first presentation of the semester this morning. It wasn't really a normal one though. In my Renaissance Drama 4th Year Seminar we had some options for our first assignment (worth 25%). We could either write an essay, do a formal research presentation, or preform from memory a section of text. I joined in a group of three and we preformed a scene. It was so much fun. I wish all my school presentations were like that. We took the John Webster play, The Duchess of Malfi, and refashioned it in 1950's mafia Chicago. I played two parts, both the nanny and the crazy brother. As the brother, I got to threaten my sister, The Duchess with a hand gun, and I had some great lines, including; "Die then quickly! Virtue where art though hid? What hideous thing is it that doth eclipse thee?" when yelling at my sister, who I incorrectly think has had a child out of wedlock. And "Do not speak" when she is trying to defend herself. I also had two big (20ish lines long) speeches that were really fun too. Including one that is a big story about Reputation, Love and Death. " 'Stay,' called Reputation, 'Do not forsake me, for it is my nature if once I part from any man I meet I am never found again.' And so, for you, you have shook hands with Reputation and made him invisible." Then I end the scene as the brother by walking out and saying, "So you have some virgins that are bitches. I will never see thee more." It was great fun!!!

A Sweet Story

I took the book "No One Cares What You Had For Lunch: 100 Ideas For Your Blog" out of the library a little while ago and this was in it. It is written by Margaret Mason and was featured on her blog Mighty Girl.

Apr 17 2006

Social Indicators

This couple is crossing the street on a cold Sunday morning. He’s wearing a baggy sweatshirt, jeans, and a baseball cap. She’s wearing a black halter top, dangling earrings, tight jeans, and high heels.

-Wow. He’s walking her home from last night.
-They had a good night last night.
-That’s why he’s walking her home.
-She’s extra cute. That’s why he’s walking her home.
-He’d like for that to maybe happen again sometime, please.
-Why didn’t he offer her a sweatshirt or something?
-He did. She’s fine. Thanks though.
-Look at how he’s looking at her, he wants to keep her around.
-If he were on his game, he would have dressed up a little so she wouldn’t look so Saturday-night next to him.
-That’s why, when you shrink a sweater in the wash, you should keep it around.
-For the tramps?
-She’s not a tramp. Tramps walk home alone.

Lesson Of The Day

The worst thing to eat when you have a sore throat is popcorn.

Weekends

So no one reads my blog on the weekends. (I have Google Analytics tracking the visitor traffic, significantly less people check the site on Saturdays and Sundays. It's a creepy statistics tool I admit.) But, since it is Day-Light-Savings-Time and I have gained an hour I thought I would write a little post. I have been sick all weekend which has royally sucked!! I missed Erin's party tonight and more than half of the one held last night at my own house. Basically I have been holed up in bed with a wretched sore throat, massive aches, and a runny nose for the better part of a the last couple of days. I hope everyone else is having a better Halloween than I am and that you all dressed up, since costumes are the best part. Happy Halloween, I'm going to continue to drink lots of fluids and hope that this cold passes quickly.