Monday, May 25, 2009
Protest sign
Twitter is garbage!!! If this is what the youth them today are engaging in then my previous post is all the more important!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Strangest Thing
This is the most amount of blogging I've ever done in a single day but I had to write this down somewhere before the memory escaped me. Last night I had a dream that there was a sort of A/V club type competition going on in a room at my Blockbuster. Dozens and dozens of people attended this thing. I was a participant and my project involved animating a toy Optimus Prime. So in my dream I sat there embedded in the crowd with my animation team watching the other videos which sucked hard. Then our video airs on the projection screen and the lights go down.
You know those dreams where everything is going so well you wish you never woke up? This was that.
I know it's not typical to remember most of any dream but this just stood out so much I couldn't forget it. So the video begins with Optimus moving along a tabletop in truck form, just basic amateur stop motion. Then some hardcore music splices in and he transforms, no wires nothing, and he starts breakdancing to the beat. The crowd stand up and starts cheering madly, the livliest reaction to any video shown at the competition. All the while my team and I are sitting there watching them enjoy it and just laughing at this popularity. It's funny I should dream about such success, maybe it's because I want it so bad.
I've seen a stop motion animator whose work I admire on youtube. His name is Patrick Boivan and his youtube profile under his own name has jet-propelled him into stardom. The Optimus Prime video I made in my dream reflected his technique and originality a lot. In fact, on youtube, he has more than one video of the autobots transforming and fighting. The video in my dream also had those comic elements that are best described as "sudden" and "unexpected" like in Jan Svankmajer's early stop motion shorts (Svankmajer is the God of that shit and his videos from the eighties are also on youtube).
Anyhow I felt this had to be blogged. For the longest time I used to have dreams about the end of the world, post-apocalyptic terrains that I'd scale all alone but for my weapon of choice hanging on my back, scenarios I was happy with because no one else was around and I could do anything I wanted. And everyone that knows me well knew that I loved those dreams, especially the ones with vicious, speedy zombies chasing me, feeding my hibernating mind with imaginative adrenaline. I don't have those dreams anymore and I know why. My whole mindset has changed. Suddenly I'm not so careless about the fate of mankind, but rather, I've been convinced somewhere along the line that I can change it. This latest dream gave me a new kind of adrenaline rush, a better one. To demonstrate, it's kind of like in the Pixar film Monster, Inc. when the monsters discover laughter is ten times more powerful than fear.
I think whatever line of work we choose to pursue should not only reflect our interests and talents but should be an attempt, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to change the world.
And that thing they call immortality, it's not being able to live forever. That's the misunderstood definition of it. Living forever is the last thing I'd ever want, that's the real nightmare. Immortality is rather the idea of being remembered forever for things you've done or are about to do. How is it that I've admired Alfred Hitchcock even though he died seven years before I even existed? It's not the tangible evidence of our work that will traverse the eternal clock but rather the memory of us. People should be able to write about your person. Your achievements, your attempts, other qualities you demonstrated that proved hope is apprehensible.
I've learned that no matter what you do, if you're really passionate about bringing change to the world, never take away someone's hope, it's worse than driving into them with a four-by-four. Even if you choose that you're not the one to change the world, please just let them do it. I know that if I am the one to open the eyes of the planet's population and if they write about me, I'd want them to mention my people. My generals on the battlefield. My family, my lovers, my archenemies and their involvement with me.
It's the craziest thing, you know? I'm thinking so far ahead, yet I'm still in the year 2009. The Mayan calendar is supposed to end in December of 2012 and bring about the end of the world, like it did the first time around. I know it looks like it did the first time around, but I believe whatever divine force is at work here won't let the humans go that easily. There is just too much that we represent as a six-billion person body to be rid of with cross-continental disasters in three and a half years from now. I believe whoever is up there just loves us too much. Apparently, the second coming of Christ was highly anticipated to have occured at the end of the last y2K-happy millenia, the year 1999. LOL don't worry people, we're not going anywhere, there's too many good people that that high divine force will feel too guilty to destroy. Filmmakers, architects, engineers, lawyers, stock brokers, investors, writers, doctors, whatever...this is the time of all times to heal a bruised planet. Don't let one experience cloud your judgment of the rest of us, now let's join hands like fags and work together here. It is our responsibility to complete an unfinished project.
Wow, all this came from a four-minute dream.
-BLOG OUT-
You know those dreams where everything is going so well you wish you never woke up? This was that.
I know it's not typical to remember most of any dream but this just stood out so much I couldn't forget it. So the video begins with Optimus moving along a tabletop in truck form, just basic amateur stop motion. Then some hardcore music splices in and he transforms, no wires nothing, and he starts breakdancing to the beat. The crowd stand up and starts cheering madly, the livliest reaction to any video shown at the competition. All the while my team and I are sitting there watching them enjoy it and just laughing at this popularity. It's funny I should dream about such success, maybe it's because I want it so bad.
I've seen a stop motion animator whose work I admire on youtube. His name is Patrick Boivan and his youtube profile under his own name has jet-propelled him into stardom. The Optimus Prime video I made in my dream reflected his technique and originality a lot. In fact, on youtube, he has more than one video of the autobots transforming and fighting. The video in my dream also had those comic elements that are best described as "sudden" and "unexpected" like in Jan Svankmajer's early stop motion shorts (Svankmajer is the God of that shit and his videos from the eighties are also on youtube).
Anyhow I felt this had to be blogged. For the longest time I used to have dreams about the end of the world, post-apocalyptic terrains that I'd scale all alone but for my weapon of choice hanging on my back, scenarios I was happy with because no one else was around and I could do anything I wanted. And everyone that knows me well knew that I loved those dreams, especially the ones with vicious, speedy zombies chasing me, feeding my hibernating mind with imaginative adrenaline. I don't have those dreams anymore and I know why. My whole mindset has changed. Suddenly I'm not so careless about the fate of mankind, but rather, I've been convinced somewhere along the line that I can change it. This latest dream gave me a new kind of adrenaline rush, a better one. To demonstrate, it's kind of like in the Pixar film Monster, Inc. when the monsters discover laughter is ten times more powerful than fear.
I think whatever line of work we choose to pursue should not only reflect our interests and talents but should be an attempt, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to change the world.
And that thing they call immortality, it's not being able to live forever. That's the misunderstood definition of it. Living forever is the last thing I'd ever want, that's the real nightmare. Immortality is rather the idea of being remembered forever for things you've done or are about to do. How is it that I've admired Alfred Hitchcock even though he died seven years before I even existed? It's not the tangible evidence of our work that will traverse the eternal clock but rather the memory of us. People should be able to write about your person. Your achievements, your attempts, other qualities you demonstrated that proved hope is apprehensible.
I've learned that no matter what you do, if you're really passionate about bringing change to the world, never take away someone's hope, it's worse than driving into them with a four-by-four. Even if you choose that you're not the one to change the world, please just let them do it. I know that if I am the one to open the eyes of the planet's population and if they write about me, I'd want them to mention my people. My generals on the battlefield. My family, my lovers, my archenemies and their involvement with me.
It's the craziest thing, you know? I'm thinking so far ahead, yet I'm still in the year 2009. The Mayan calendar is supposed to end in December of 2012 and bring about the end of the world, like it did the first time around. I know it looks like it did the first time around, but I believe whatever divine force is at work here won't let the humans go that easily. There is just too much that we represent as a six-billion person body to be rid of with cross-continental disasters in three and a half years from now. I believe whoever is up there just loves us too much. Apparently, the second coming of Christ was highly anticipated to have occured at the end of the last y2K-happy millenia, the year 1999. LOL don't worry people, we're not going anywhere, there's too many good people that that high divine force will feel too guilty to destroy. Filmmakers, architects, engineers, lawyers, stock brokers, investors, writers, doctors, whatever...this is the time of all times to heal a bruised planet. Don't let one experience cloud your judgment of the rest of us, now let's join hands like fags and work together here. It is our responsibility to complete an unfinished project.
Wow, all this came from a four-minute dream.
-BLOG OUT-
Wonderland Day 2
I title this one Day 2 because Day 1 was the same day I picked up my season pass, the week before. This time around was awesome. My three cousins and my four boys came with me, lots of company. The behemoth is far more exhilarating the second time around. I enjoyed teasing Jackie the whole ride because she had her eyes closed. The highest point of the ride, right before the main drop at the beginning, provides a grand view of the edge of Vaughan right up to downtown Toronto. If you look to your left (if you ever do ride the ride fearless reader) be sure to look to the left right before you drop and you will see the CN Tower, even on an overcast day. I've seen it twice. Next time I ride it I will try to record the whole experience on someone's phone:D
We ate at some buffet restaurant for lunch, Jaclyn, Pradip, Abdi and I before Alex and Michele and Jackie's boyfriend showed up. We tried to get the staff to surprise her with a birthday song but they were too busy, or too lazy.
Jackie's birthday party on Monday went well. Lots of PS3'ing with familia and random people. It's funny when fifteen people are in one room and only four people can play at a time, we resort to watching the original ninja turtles movie from 1990 and openly yell out critiques of how ridiculous the film has become. We still love it though.
Matrix, Marlon's dog, is still fat as ever.
We ate at some buffet restaurant for lunch, Jaclyn, Pradip, Abdi and I before Alex and Michele and Jackie's boyfriend showed up. We tried to get the staff to surprise her with a birthday song but they were too busy, or too lazy.
Jackie's birthday party on Monday went well. Lots of PS3'ing with familia and random people. It's funny when fifteen people are in one room and only four people can play at a time, we resort to watching the original ninja turtles movie from 1990 and openly yell out critiques of how ridiculous the film has become. We still love it though.
Matrix, Marlon's dog, is still fat as ever.
Monday, May 18, 2009
To be continued...
Today went well, but I'm completely exhausted of all energy to digitally record all of the events that transpired with great success this day. It's midnight, I will sleep now but elaborate this post further. This short post is just so that you know you have something to look forward to read by tomorrow! Have a good night my readers.
-BLOG OUT-
-BLOG OUT-
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Criminals
It's 3:45am and I've just returned from a memorable night out. My shift assessments are done at work and I now consider myself a shift manager (plus the shirt is nice:D), and the next two days are going to be exhilarating. Tonight five of us hit up a Chinese/mafia run pool hall in the east part of Tdot, played about ten games. For some odd reason my cousins and brother were there as well. Unfortunately they have beef with my boys so we didn't get into the mix. In four hours I'm supposed to be waking up and waking the rest up to go to Wonderland. Seasons passes are a blessing! I've decided to stay up the whole night and watch the final episodes of Lost (fifth season). Monday could mean a savoury BBQ on the beach, weather permitting, or some vicious paintballing at Sergeant Splatters.
I just had some chicken fried rice that burned my tongue off. It may have been the over-excessive hot sauce or the temperature heat, but I found myself missing shots all over after the meal. If you're ever looking for some satisfying rice head over to V.I.P. on Ellesmere. It's a pool hall, but you don't have to play pool, just order the rice lol.
This day also introduced me to my new position at work. I was running my own shifts and had to deal with everything from cash management to unfavourable customers to assigning tasks. It feels weird when the very people you've been working with for over a year suddenly have to ask you if they can leave early. I find I have a hard time saying "no" to them so I let them go home early. What's even stranger is that my manager had to behave like a CSR and assess my shift-managing. So I go up to Jodi and I say, "Alright Jodi, it's dying down in here, why don't you put away some returns and prepare the report printing station for me," to which she replies, "Sure thing." Our positions are equalized! No more subordination for me. It feels funny. A year ago I'd have never thought that I'd be bossing around my co-workers. I never even considered a shift manager position until they offered it to me. Anyways I found I handled it pretty well. If so many people hadn't supported my decision I probably wouldn't have taken it. I also received a lot of help from people who don't read this blog, so I won't throw out shout-outs :P. But thanks to my store and assistant manager, and my fellow shifts, and even my CSR's for not hassling me about the little things. And Jason I know you're reading this, thanks for leaving so I could take your position haha. Hope you're having fun in Korea, brother.
Anyways I'm off to my television, gotta keep up for Wonderland. I promise the next blog will be about something useful. Maybe the next couple days?
I'll let you (the readers) know how that goes;)
-BLOG OUT-
I just had some chicken fried rice that burned my tongue off. It may have been the over-excessive hot sauce or the temperature heat, but I found myself missing shots all over after the meal. If you're ever looking for some satisfying rice head over to V.I.P. on Ellesmere. It's a pool hall, but you don't have to play pool, just order the rice lol.
This day also introduced me to my new position at work. I was running my own shifts and had to deal with everything from cash management to unfavourable customers to assigning tasks. It feels weird when the very people you've been working with for over a year suddenly have to ask you if they can leave early. I find I have a hard time saying "no" to them so I let them go home early. What's even stranger is that my manager had to behave like a CSR and assess my shift-managing. So I go up to Jodi and I say, "Alright Jodi, it's dying down in here, why don't you put away some returns and prepare the report printing station for me," to which she replies, "Sure thing." Our positions are equalized! No more subordination for me. It feels funny. A year ago I'd have never thought that I'd be bossing around my co-workers. I never even considered a shift manager position until they offered it to me. Anyways I found I handled it pretty well. If so many people hadn't supported my decision I probably wouldn't have taken it. I also received a lot of help from people who don't read this blog, so I won't throw out shout-outs :P. But thanks to my store and assistant manager, and my fellow shifts, and even my CSR's for not hassling me about the little things. And Jason I know you're reading this, thanks for leaving so I could take your position haha. Hope you're having fun in Korea, brother.
Anyways I'm off to my television, gotta keep up for Wonderland. I promise the next blog will be about something useful. Maybe the next couple days?
I'll let you (the readers) know how that goes;)
-BLOG OUT-
Friday, May 8, 2009
A bag and I
As most of you know already I've been hitting the gym consistently lately. I don't know where all this mysterious energy and will to get off my ass came from but for some reason I can't go two days max without boxing or running or engaging in any other form of cardio workout. I've pressed the pause button on weightlifting, I used to go to Mr Gibson's weight room seminars at 7a.m. back in high school, and I've developed and excellent height and frame to put to work. Anyways, cardio is the new direction and I feel highly accomplished after each daily exercise. I have more stamina, I have more energy (mind you I haven't changed my diet in any way), and I feel plainly better.
I love the punching bag, it's my favourite spot in the gym. The punching bag is in the corner, therefore I am in the corner. I bought new hand wraps to protect my knuckles against the impact of my punches. Lately I've been terrifying customers when handing them movies (they see my heavily-scarred knuckles and unbeknownst to their own disposition they give my hands the look of disgust, which I'm sure they don't mean to because a majority of them are polite). I've as of late been considering taking up boxing or kick-boxing. It seems like a great activity because I find when hittin that bag I want to hit it in more ways than one, with different body parts. I tried kneeing it but I was on the receiving end of my own hit. Either way, I feel that once I made the choice to visit the gym in my complex, everything else just fell into place. That's all everything in life comes down to really, choice.
I urge the lazy people to take a trip to your local gym at least twice a week. It'll leave you feeling better and it'll give you hope for better things. I can't explain it, but suddenly with all this self-discipline coming into play I feel like all my current responsibilities are a cinch. I had a list of tasks to do last week which I've already finished. My modules at work are 90% complete. It seems after I made the choice to go to the gym, everything else just became easier to me. And you know what happens when everything else becomes easier for you, you tend to want to write a new list of tasks (goals) to accomplish. Bigger, badder ones for you to battle on the battlefield. That's how I feel right now. I feel I can assign myself to things that were once beyond me.
So in essence, make the choice that matters most, the choice of choosing the good choice, and I can assure you everything else will piece itself together impeccably.
I love the punching bag, it's my favourite spot in the gym. The punching bag is in the corner, therefore I am in the corner. I bought new hand wraps to protect my knuckles against the impact of my punches. Lately I've been terrifying customers when handing them movies (they see my heavily-scarred knuckles and unbeknownst to their own disposition they give my hands the look of disgust, which I'm sure they don't mean to because a majority of them are polite). I've as of late been considering taking up boxing or kick-boxing. It seems like a great activity because I find when hittin that bag I want to hit it in more ways than one, with different body parts. I tried kneeing it but I was on the receiving end of my own hit. Either way, I feel that once I made the choice to visit the gym in my complex, everything else just fell into place. That's all everything in life comes down to really, choice.
I urge the lazy people to take a trip to your local gym at least twice a week. It'll leave you feeling better and it'll give you hope for better things. I can't explain it, but suddenly with all this self-discipline coming into play I feel like all my current responsibilities are a cinch. I had a list of tasks to do last week which I've already finished. My modules at work are 90% complete. It seems after I made the choice to go to the gym, everything else just became easier to me. And you know what happens when everything else becomes easier for you, you tend to want to write a new list of tasks (goals) to accomplish. Bigger, badder ones for you to battle on the battlefield. That's how I feel right now. I feel I can assign myself to things that were once beyond me.
So in essence, make the choice that matters most, the choice of choosing the good choice, and I can assure you everything else will piece itself together impeccably.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Centurion87
I was playing Call of Duty 5 online early in the morning today on PS3. I must say, a lot of online gamers are polite. My boy Farhan and I were tearing up the arenas with eight other players and users were ACTUALLY wishing us luck and congratulating us on our kills. There was minimal swearing and a lot of sportsmanship. These guys should really consider athletic sports and not be constrained by home electronics and gaming, they be great players I'm sure. As soon as we left THAT arena we somehow ended up in a private game. So it was Farhan, I, and eight other guys who kept bombarding me with questions and asking how we got into the match. Obviously in private matches you can't join unless someone invites you, which is exactly what happened somewhere along the line, but anyways. We start the match and they warn us (we're all talking on mics here) that they're going to slaughter us alive, which is exactly what they did. Farhan got one kill and I was camping and sniping but they still had the arena packed with a plethura of heavy gunners and snipers on the roof that were even too good for me. Then these pricks start calling names and making fun of us, so I tell Farhan to follow me. We make our way around some buildings and flank the camping snipers, but then of course there are proximity mines there protecting them and we both get our limbs blown clean off. The match ends with Farhan and I at the far bottom with the lowest points possible, and these losers with hardcore Southerner accents start trash-talking. It's too bad when you play online you never play with the people you're playing with again, unless you randomly get thrown into another game with them in it, which is a slim chance. I however did manage to make allies and add friends in previous matches. The allies all know my name now, centurion87, and I theirs. This circumstance, like any other circumstance in life, is a test of patience. Every battle in life presents you with options and I've picked mine. I've made allies because this is not a battle I can win alone. I will improve my aim and I will learn each and every weakness there is to exploit. They've probably forgotten my name by now, but the next time they see me, they won't. Chop chop Farhan, we've got a battle to win.
-BLOG OUT-
-BLOG OUT-
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