The Truth About Cats and Dogs in Black and White

Truth is just one person's reality. Here is mine in black and white (maybe some shades of gray). This blog has little to do with Cats or Dogs - just humourous sarcastic antics about my life or occasionally, someone else's. You know, intercepting volleyballs with my face, egg dropping, etc. The truth has seen some changes and in fluidity with change expect to see more artistic expressions posting up - so give your two cents worth!

Friday, June 30, 2006

Friday Random 10 - Moving Tunes

1. The Cowboy in Me - Tim McGRaw
2. Delicate - Damien Rice
3. Nerves Normal, Breathe Normal - Wintersleep
4. Everything Must Go - The Weakerthans
5. Ahead by a Century - The Tragically Hip
6. Who Did You Think I Was - John Mayer
7. A Night In Tunisia - Charlie Parker
8. Graceland - Paul Simon
9. Cannonball - Damien Rice
10. Eight Days a Week - The Beatles

Hmmm...30% Canadian Content, 30 % British Content...not too bad. Moving Today...Laurie? Where are you? I need a critic?

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Keith Macpherson's Newest Fan


Well we know I love a good quirky joker type. Well here is the funniest guy on Canadian Idol and I may have a secret crush....oops! The guys are super talented but for me he stood out like a... a... sore thumb? no not quite... bull in a china shop? maybe... but most like a cute witty guy, they do stand out you know. And sorry to CTV for rogueing the non protected image, let's call it free advertising and call it even. So its not all about the guys, there is some stand out female vocal stylings as well. I'm rooting for Ashley Coulter she's sassy and just has some stellar stage presence (but go Keith go!)

Photo Friday: À bon santé

Photo Friday Subject: Health
Date: February 13, 2006
Specs: Nikon D502006/02/13 00:31:19.1JPEG (8-bit) NormalImage Size: 2256 x 1496Lens: 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 GFocal Length: 55mmDigital Vari-Program: LandscapeMetering Mode: Multi-Pattern1/5 sec - F/5.6Exposure Comp.: 0 EVSensitivity: ISO 800Optimize Image: White Balance: AutoAF Mode: AF-AFlash Sync Mode: Not AttachedAuto Flash Mode: NoneAuto Flash Comp: 0 EVColor Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)Tone Comp.: AutoHue Adjustment: 0°Saturation: NormalSharpening: AutoImage Comment: Long Exposure NR: Off

Friday, June 23, 2006

Random my ASS

1. Workin' on Leavin' the Livin' - Modest Mouse
2. Sister Goldenhair - Signal Hill Version
3. All Night Diner - Modest Mouse
4. Disappear - INXS
5. Tipsy - J-Kwon
6. Yes I Will - Michael Franti
7. Interstate 8 - Modest Mouse
8. 3rd Planet - Modest Mouse
9. When I'm Gone - 3 Doors Down
10. Spanish Guitar Solo - Sting

Well there you go, life is random. So random that sometimes you get 4 tracks from the same artist even though the little random elf has 1000 tracks to choose from. I particulary like how "Tipsy" fits right into the selection.

American Idle - Friday Random 10 - your source for random musical inspiration.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Photo Friday: The Bumper

When I saw the topic "automotive" I immediately thought of this photo. A sharp contrast betweens worlds and well I love those Dacias! I chose this one over a photo of my personal car wreck, still scares the hell out of me.

Year: © 2002
Specs: None! This was prior to the aquisition of my SLR. This "old" Samsung automatic took some grand photos!
Photo Friday Subject: Automotive

Friday, June 16, 2006

Bottom of the Barrell - Random 10

Well this is quite possibly the worst Random 10 listing ever. But did I not tell you about the plague of the one Celine Dion song in my Library? Ok, there are two but one is in french. And I don't know how either one got into my Library in the first place. There are several possible scenarios (1) it sneaked in on a mixed disc someone made me, and they should suffer, or (2) those computer hijackers have a sense of humour, or (3) I was "drunken than Tom at a rodeo." Anyway, here is the list and then we will speak of it no more. There are a few golden highlights: my dear friend Rara Avis made the Random 10 again and Dynamite Walls is like the most played card in the deck and who doesn't love a little Paul Simon.

1. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
2. Sugar Moon - Rara Avis
3. Music And Friends - Simani
4. If You Were The Woman And I Was The Man - Cowboy Junkies
5. All These Things That I Have Done - The Killers
6. White Shadows - Coldplay
7. Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon
8. I Would Do Anything For Love - Meatloaf
9. Dynamite Walls - Hayden
10. Keep That Same Old Feeling - The Crusaders

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Illustration Friday: It ain't easy being green

Year: Copyright 1996
Media: Watercolour pencil (digital framing)
Illustration Friday Subject: Jungle

Monday, June 12, 2006

Friday's Random 10 - on Monday


As promised, following Everyone's a Critic's lead who followed Just a Cool Cat's lead via American Idle - here is the random 10 powered by Musicmatch Jukebox. I know its supposed to be for Friday but hell when am I ever on time.

1. Don't think of me - Dido
2. Moment in the sun - Clem Snide
3. Me and Julio - Dave Matthews Band Ft. Paul Simon
4. Honey , Honey - ABBA
5. Can't you see? - The Marshall Tucker Band
6. Massai - Rara Avis
7. Smile like you mean it - The Killers
8. Can't let you go - Fabulous Ft. Lil Mo
9. Never let you go - INXS
10. Amie - Damien Rice

Comments: I am disappointed that the Fire Song by Jazzy Jill and J5 didn't make it. Surprised by the absence of any completely embarssing selections.

Side rant: if itunes can sell music in Canada I don't see what the problem is with Musicmatch.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Slap on the wrist

I do indeed deserve a slap on the wrist and perhaps a good-natured kick in the ass. Obviously the novelty of this easy peasy lemon sqeezy blog thing has dissipated. I hereby resolve to improve my posting in frequency and content and to actually follow through on this photo/illustration Friday bit. That said, this will not likely happen for two weeks. I must turn my complete thesis into my committee on June 23rd which begs the question, what the hell am I doing sitting in front of blogger and not a dreadfully long document full of BS. Obviously, I prefer informal clever, witty, and often dry banter to social scientific mumbo-jumbo and statistical reporting. So I suppose an update is order.

First, I am alive and after my first week back on the block, I have not had one sore muscle, just a little muscle fatigue. Way to go Mr. Pratt. But now I feel it necessary to complain that my gym finds it necessary to close at 9pm on weekends - which - I do not like but can appreciate the pressure and competition from the newbie big box fitness operations in the city.

Second, As I said two weeks to go on the thesis front. Four chapters are edited and ready to submit leaving me with one and a half to go over the next 2 weeks - do-able. And I have at least two external examiners arranged, which technically I am not really supposed to be involved with but as things tend to only get done when i get involved, I submitted a list of my favourites with full contact information. And the two that I have...big wigs - destined to be highly critical of my work and both referrenced in my work. Can you say "jitters?"

Third, I am now a Newfoundlander on EI. A well deserving one. I paid my dues. I applied late as I thought I would not qualify while I am a student but argued the case that I have been working full-time while doing my research and looking, desperately I might add, for a job. And by the way, the wasn't a jab at fisherman, well not really. Many make a fortune during their seasonal employment and own millions in assets. I work as a heritage presenter and have been lucky to make it this far on my earnings. Oh yes, and I have ZERO assets, unless you count good hair. Don't get on my case about this one, I am the last person to throw everyone in the same pot. And I certainly sympathise with a dying fishery, this I do know something about.

Fourth, While EI is certainly not a sustainable form of income for me, I am moving out of my folks basement. If you did not know, I have been living there off and on through my Masters program. I have spent most of my time living in a National Park so there was really no good reason for me to secure my own place in the city. Well it was a sacrifice to maintain my financial sanity, and now that the thesis WILL be complete in two weeks, so has my semi-free ride. This will of course mean substantial fiscal restraint and stellar money management. The plan, really, is that with three degrees now, a job must be lurking around the corner.

Stay tuned for more madness.

Find the creepy man in the beans

Admittedly, it took me a while to find this one, like a good 2 minutes at least.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Next stop...hopelessly disheartening

I know that I have been less than dedicated to my blogging as of late. And I regret to inform you that my thesis is still not completed but progress is being made but has been halted, not of my own doing but of the entire geography department deciding to take time off damn smack in the middle of thesis submission time. Am I stressed? Not in the least. Well not about that anyway.

I do need a job... in fact, the current "need a job" scale has hit "desperately depressing" definately past the happy shamrock green safe area, obviously past the oblivious, cautious, everything will be just fine cadmium yellow, and definitively in that loud sirens going off, people running in every direction, blood red area. Next stop... "hopelessly disheartening".

In other news...in case you missed a previous newsflash, I (and I quote) "used to be sexy but now looks like a butch lesbian" (No offense intended). This was merely what was said of me, clearly unaware that standing one peron away from me at the bar does indeed constitute "within earshot." I should now state that I am only 93% certain that it was said, as who in their right mind would say that about someone standing less than a foot away? At this point I think it is important to say, "Scott, you're an ass." So... obviously I can do something about my ass but I least I will never be one.

Now, how should one react? Well given my time back definately not how I did. I did nothing as I was stunned, shocked, and actually thought I may be going deaf. And it gets more disappointing, while he was, once upon a time, one of the worst dates I have ever had, he is such a talented musician, covers the indie music I listen to and one of my favourite local live acoustic performers. Sucks eh? Oh so the update part...I re-instated my gym membership today. And I acquired the services of a long-time friend and kick-ass personal trainer.