Wednesday, June 30, 2004
My street in the summer. It's much shadier in the summer.
flickr
Today was spent in a few areas of the city, an appointment at my branch, which it turns out I didn't really need (my personal banker said I coulda just emailed her my request to open a new account and she would have done it... boy I like her), on Sargent trying on a tux, then at Polo Park mall, trying to find a present for Shane and buying shoes. James hung out with me while we were trying to find some sorta proper wedding present for Shane (who's getting married this Friday), to no avail. So it's down to where we're all going to chip in $100 or so and give him cash. We also cobbled together something of a party for Shane on the 1st, after the wedding rehersal. Hopefully it'll come to fruition. Then James' gf showed up and we parted ways, and I managed to find some pretty snazzy dress shoes at Aldo's (see picture below).
I was planning on buying new glasses for the wedding, but my enhanced benefit plan doesn't start until July 1st, and I can't buy new glasses before then. The wedding's on July 2nd, and I don't have to be at Shane's place until 11am or so... so, I suppose I do have time before then to find some new frames and get them made up. But, I don't see that happening. I'll take care of it on Saturday or something.
Anyways, that's it for now.
Monday, June 28, 2004
Today, after exercising my democratic franchise, I spent most of the afternoon outide walking around with James, going to Liberal supporters' houses and asking if they'd gone out to vote already.
The first round was from 1-4 or so, and resulted in lots of people not being home (go figure). Next round was half-an-hour later or so, but was interrupted by the hordes of unbearable mosquitoes. This resulted in us fleeing back to James' house and phoning people instead of walking. Ah lies, so much easier than the truth. However, it was all for naught, as Glen Murray (the fella for whom we were canvassing) lost. Pictures are below. Perhaps I'll update some more later, some of our donairs with snot sauce.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
This is just too good to pass up. I meant to paste this a few days ago when it actually happened, and wish I could find a link to some pictures or video. Regardless, read this:
"We've gotta put an end to this bullshit right now," Layton said during a news conference. "The idea that we have said in any way that we are going to prop up Conservatives (is) something that was never said. I very strongly disagree with almost everything I see Mr. Harper claiming. Now, if he is saying he wants to clean up Parliament with some sort of ethical package, something along those lines, does that mean we are suddenly propping up a Conservative government? That is absolute bullshit."
Shaking and red-faced, Layton dropped his trademark smile and blamed press reports for twisting his words earlier in the day to suggest he might work with Conservatives.
So I'm quite looking forward to the election tomorrow, should make for some great tv. As it turns out, after voting tomorrow morning I'll be heading to meet James to cart around old people so as they can vote. Should be an interesting time, I'll have to be sure to pick up some batteries for my camera before.
I took this week off, cuz of Shane's wedding on Friday. I just realised I need to buy dress shoes, which I suppose I'll do on Tuesday after getting last-minute measurements for my tux.
That's enough for now.
p.s. My watch is awesome.
Friday, June 25, 2004
I just overheard someone on BBC World talking about a study done by some 'left-leaning' organisation called The Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policies, or something to that effect. What they were saying how the cost for the war in Iraq will amount to over $3400 per US household.
I offer no opinion, merely pass on the information.
So yeah, my blog updates haven't been coming as frequently as of late, but I'm out of AA batteries for my digital camera, so haven't been able to take any pictures. I'll get some this weekend.
This post shall be a blatant ripoff of something I read in Matt Good's blog. And with no further ado...
I refer you here.
"As the Coalition's rule draws to a close, the numbers show that we have an awful lot to be proud of," Bremer said Tuesday. "As anyone who's taken a minute and actually looked at the figures can tell you, the vast majority of Iraqis are still alive—as many as 99 percent. While 10,000 or so Iraqi civilians have been killed, pretty much everyone is not dead."
Isn't that nice?
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Alright, this link is a MUST to check out. Props go to boink for posting this in the FaitH forum:
Click here to download and listen
Saturday, June 19, 2004
I took a short trip downtown today, to pick up a watch at The Bay store downtown, and to pick up Jennie from work (surprise!). I also actually remembered to bring my camera with me, something I'll be trying to do more often.
But, there's this really bizarre movie on Space right now, so I'm going back to it.
Friday, June 18, 2004
Listening to Newsworld just now, I heard a quote by some US official. I'll get an exact quote later, but the gist of it was:
"We will track down those barbaric terrorist, and kill them."
That in retaliation to the most recent beheading of that US hostage. 'attay boy USA! You go kill those who killed yours!
I bought myself two of the 'Classic NES' games for my GBA-SP last week, and I must say I'm quite pleased.
First off, Walmart seemed to be having a sale on them and I picked up Mario Bros. for $19.83 before taxes. Sadly, at the time they were sold out of Zelda. This was 2 days after the release.
I finally managed to score a copy of Zelda last Sunday, and have been playing it ever since.
I suck just as hard at Mario as I did when I first played it in the 80s, and I'm just a clueless about Zelda. Though, I'm becoming more skilled at Zelda. My Mario skills however, are still laughable.
I saw on ign.com that Shining Force has been rereleased for GBA, with a few enhancements, and 2 new characters. Now this is quite cool, but what I'd LOVE is to play Shining Force II on my GBA. Though, as Barrett and I were discussing, I'm sure it's simply a matter of time before awesome games like Chrono Trigger get rereleased.
This from cnn.com:
Beset by poor design and oversight, the federal program that connects schools and libraries to the Internet is a target for fraud and abuse, an independent review shows.
Financed through phone charges, the $2.25 billion-a-year program, known as E-rate, provides discounted Internet access and internal connection gear such as wiring and adaptors.
Of 122 audits done over the past year, about a third revealed substantial violations, Feaster told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
An investigative team found in February that about 74,000 wireless computer cards purchased for schools were sitting unwrapped on a loading dock in a warehouse. The cards were purchased in 1999 for about $24 million, including supposed installation charges.
Canadian politicians must look south and just imagine how nice it must be not to be held accountable for anything at all. I'm sure I don't have to go into the phony war, or blowjobs under the desk.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
I just happened to stumble across an article written by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. It's a satirical take on the whole Iraq invasion.
Click here to read it
Here's another one
I'm sure there are more, but the site's not very search-friendly. Well, either that or my spending no time searching for others doesn't help.
I've always been a bit suspicious of my neighbour...
Just a quick post to relay some lyrics that I came across on Matt Good's site, for a song called North American For Life. The title's linked.
Ain’t got a job but the future’s bright
Flip off the world you know they say it’s all right
You never get what you want to
And modern love you just can’t stand
That candy coating is just a scam
You never get what you want to
Oh ya, all right
North American for life
Ya mother fucker we’re number one
All out of beer so go get your gun
And we’ll take what we want to
The price of freedom is getting steep
For everyone one we spend three
Just to take what we want to
George is teaching the kids to fight
Look at the world and you tell me it’s all right
My baby’s New Amsterdam
If she can’t do it no one can
And now I get what I want to
Oh ya, all right
North American for life
I wonder if I'm the only one in thinking that perhaps him using "North American" is a way to prevent Americans from lashing out? Though, reading through his site he's not too happy with Canada either. I guess some people you just can't please.
So I took some time out of my busy day today to purchase, and listen to Matt Good's new CD White Light Rock & Roll Review. Another good CD from him, this one's a bit harder and faster than Avalanche. I suppose 'driving' might be the appropriate word. Haven't yet listened to it enough times to have a favourite song other than Alert Status Red, which I've heard numerous times on the radio.
It comes in one of those cardboard tri-fold cases, which bothers me a bit because I do enjoy the sturdyness of jewel cases, but I've since gotten past that. I will admit, the cardboard case has a much more pleasant tactile.... feel(?).
Written in small text on the inside flap is a link to Matt Good's website. A bit of browsing around there took me to his blog, which I'm sad to say is a hell of a lot better than mine. Granted, I don't try that hard.
To check out his blog directly, click here.
In similar news, I also purchased a bag of dried pasta for $.99.
That's all for today.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
So my blog's all new and snazzy now, and still has no audience.
Watching a rebroadcast of the English-language leadership debate, a few things come to mind.
However, the only one of those things I'll bother to mention is that Gilles Duceppe is a very well-spoken and intelligent man. He has so far stuck out to me as the only one of the 4 that can carry on a debate without speaking over someone else. It's a shame he's a seperatist, because he has come out, at least in my opinion, as the most capable sounding leader of all 4.
There has recently been some hullaballo about the Green Party not being included in the debate. The rational, as I understand it, is that they currently have no sitting members. However, they're running a candidate in every federal riding, which is a LOT more than can be said for a party like the Bloc. But, I suppose if the Bloc were left out of the debate, Quebec would erupt.
Edit: Another thing, Gilles really has no input on any of the national issues being discussed, other than to point out the other leader's flaws and to ask them questions. As he represents solely the interests of Quebec, and really can have no position on national issues. Still, he's taking it to them.
[Stupid Stephen Harper talking about buying 'hybrid carriers' to carry troops and helicopters across the water. Lord I can't stand his hair. There Harper goes again asking why we didn't participate in the Iraq war, as we had troops there already. Well yeah! The 35 troops that we had on an exchange program would have made a HUGE contribution.]
I had considered voting for my local Green Party candidate, as after reading their website, I seem to agree with more of their dogma than of any of the other parties. However, with the grim spectre of a minority government in which the Conservatives hold the most seats rearing its ugly head, I feel my duty is to vote liberal in order to prevent this ugly thing from happening.