Summer days

We're going to France! We're going to France!

That's right: our summer holiday involves a quick trip to France to drive a canal boat through Burgundy.

Then we're headed to Squamish for another week of climbing, hiking, jet-boating, and other miscellaneous fun.

Between now and then, I'm going to spend a week in Vancouver, a week in Banff, and a weekend in Montreal.

Pretty fab, huh? Think I'll go rest now and get ready. Summer begins in just a few days. I can hardly wait.

L

Now reading: Dr Delicious: Memoirs of a Life in CanLit by Robert Lecker; You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn; and The Female Thing: Dirt, Sex, Envy, Vulnerability by Laura Kipnis

Happy birthday, B!

Here's hoping your day was fabulous. And remember, in the words of the fine folks of Squamish:

Who needs big jugs when you've got a great crack?

love,
L

Because she did it first...

If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put your player on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every scene, type in the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new scene, press the "advance" button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool - first songs only

The Life of Bruce
Opening Credits: "Please Mr Please" by Olivia Newton John

Waking Up: "Breathe" by Collective Soul

First Day of School: "I'll be There in a Minute" by Gowan

Falling in Love: "As Lovers Go" by Dashboard Confessional

Fight Song: "My Girl" by Chilliwack

Breaking Up: "Drive My Car" by The Beatles

Prom: "We are the Champions" by Queen

Life is Good: "The 59th Street Bridge song (Feeling Groovy)" by Simon and Garfunkle

Mental Breakdown: "Smoky Mountain Rain" by Ronnie Milsap

Driving: "Layin' Pipe" by David Wilcox

Flashback: "Hitch A Ride" by Boston

Getting Back Together: "Holding Out For a Hero" by Frou Frou

Wedding: "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels Band

Paying the Dues: "I'm Just a Kid" by Simple Plan

The Night Before the War: "Go Down Gamblin'" by Blood Sweat and Tears

Moment of Triumph: "Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles

Death Scene: "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC

Funeral Song: "Knocking On Your Backdoor" by Deep Purple

End Credits: "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette

*****


Hmmmmmmm....

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Let's try this again...

An iteration of the MP3 game that I was playing earlier this year finally made its way to the Ecto mailing list that I'm still on after ten years. Here's another set of answers — plus instructions for those who were confused the last time around.

What this round tells me is that I listen to way too much pop music — and mostly songs I should be embarrassed to admit having in my library!

***

If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put your player on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every scene, type in the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new scene, press the "advance" button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool - first songs only

Opening Credits: "Dirty Water" by Rock and Hyde

Waking Up: "Dance of the Clowns" by Berlioz

First Day of School: "Fame" by Irene Cara

Falling in Love: "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" by Jet

Fight Song: "We Don't Talk Anymore" by Cliff Richard

Breaking Up: "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell

Prom: "Fox on the Run" by Sweet

Life is Good: "The Battle of Evermore" by Led Zeppelin

Mental Breakdown: "Have You Never Been Mellow" by Olivia Newton-John

Driving: "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin

Flashback: "Monster Hospital" by Metric

Getting Back Together: "The Visitors" by ABBA

Wedding: "Take One Away" by Burton Cummings

Paying the Dues: "Mr Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan

The Night Before the War: "What About Love" by Toronto

Moment of Triumph: "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin

Death Scene: "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton

Funeral Song: "China Grove" by The Doobie Brothers

End Credits: "Elegie" by Massenet

Thought for the day

"In hindsight, it seems evident that a guerrilla group started by middle-class men and women who name their group from a Bob Dylan song will likely be their own worst enemies." — Mark Kurlansky, referring to The Weathermen, later the Weather Underground

Turning Japanese!

In honour of Zak's imminent departure. Unfortunately, I still cannot read the kanji, but I can sound my way (badly) through Romaji. Nihongo has a very different linguistic structure from Ego ... I have a lot to learn!

Ichi — ni — san .... ikimasho!

Asa desu.

Haha to chichi.

Aka to kuro to shiro

Hai! Ie! Zenzen!

Sushi o tabemasho.

San-ju-hachi sai desu.

Gomen nasai.

Anti-erotic poems lifted from the NYT

These lines are taken from a review of an anthology of American erotic poetry. The anthology sounds awful, but the review was brilliant!

1) "Their Sex Life" — A.R. Ammons

One failure on
Top of another.


2) "On Reading Poorly Transcribed Erotica" — Jill Alexander Essbaum

She stood before him wearing only pantries
and he groped for her Volvo under the gauze.


Happy Easter!
L

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 95

Like many of my "Lost" picks, this song didn't chart in Canada's Top 40 (it peaked at #68, according to online sources), but it displays the somewhat paradoxical, subjunctive style of writing that I particularly enjoy in pop music. You probably don't remember it, but if you do, enjoy your synth-enhanced nostalgia trip.

**

"When Time Turns Around" (as recorded by The Spoons)

When all the clocks stop in my heart
Will you still be there to take me
Back to the start?

When time turns around
We'll do it all over again
One more time
When time turns around
We'll take all the chances we missed
The first time around

When the world stops outside my room
I know you'll take me to a place
Where everything comes true

When time turns around
We'll do it all over again
One last time
When all the clocks unwind
We'll take all the chances we missed
The second time around

There's something in this room
Scattered in the airwaves
Bouncing off the ground right to my head
The pictures on the wall
Shadows of a replay
Of things that should have happened long ago
Now no-one else will know

When time turns around
We'll do it all over again
One more time
When time turns around
We'll take all the chances we missed
The first time around

When time turns around
We'll do it all over again
One last time
When all the clocks unwind
We'll take all the chances we missed
And never turn around

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 34

Technically not "lost" lyrics since you've likely never heard this song, but still a beautiful track.... donne-moi, donne-moi, donne-moi...

**

"Pour ton sourire" (as written and recorded by Jorane, violoncelliste suprême)

Donne-moi tes lèvres
Donne-moi ton coeur
Donne-moi tes yeux
Donne-moi ton sourire

Pour ton sourire, j'veux donner une belle bague
Une belle bague pour ton sourire

Pour t'embrasser, j'veux donner une tasse d'amour
Une tasse d'amour pour t'embrasser
Pour tes yeux et pour tes lèvres
Pour ton sourire

Pour ton sourire, j'veux donner toutes mes nuits
Mes jours et tous mes rêves
Pour tes yeux et pour tes lèvres
Pour ton sourire

"Welcome to Alberta's century!"

This morning I am ashamed to be an Albertan. In the spirit of change, we have elected 72 of 83 Tory MLAs.

Here is the breakdown, pending any recounts, with percentage of popular vote in parentheses:

PC: 72 (52.67%)
LIB: 9 (26.36%)
NDP: 2 (8.53%)
WAP: 0 (6.76%)
GRN: 0 (4.58%)
OTH: 0 (1.1%).

Only 41 percent of eligible Alberta voters bothered to go to the polls.

To friends who ran, congratulations on your efforts to try to change the political landscape for the better. I admire your conviction and dedication.

As for me, I'm hanging my head. Why don't we just save the money and do away with elections in this province? Who needs democracy when you're rich, after all? I am so, so disappointed in Alberta.

For Leslie & Editors Everywhere...

Hmmmmmm, Poofreading...sound slightly 17th century

Embedded Video

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Blogging with Flock

This is just a bit of a test of some new software. Flock is what they are calling a Social Browser. It includes links to Facebook, YouTube etc as well as built in RSS and Blogging utilities. I can also upload pictures to Flick'r  but not to Picassa (which is what I have been using).

Theoretically I can link to an image like this:

One of L's favorite Demotivators

Guess that works. As well you can poke people right from the browser without going to Facebook or check status etc. It also supports media streams, but since I don't know what that is  I'm not too thrilled yet. You can post to multiple blogs (see here at MacBlaze) either on standard services like blogger or LiveJournal or self hosted one like mine which is totally bonus. It links to del.icio.us and magnolia. It's cross platform as well.

It also has all the latest browser features like tabbed browsing, search capabilities etc. All in all is seems like a real gem.

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The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 85

Such a sweet and wistful little song. And though we may be cynical now, isn't it comforting to remember simpler days?


**


"A Good Heart" (as recorded by Feargal Sharkey)

I hear a lot of stories
I suppose they could be true
All about love and what it can do to you
High is the risk of striking out, the risk of getting hurt
And still I have so much to learn

I know 'cause I think about it all the time
I know that real love is quite a vice

And a good heart these days is hard to find
True love, the lasting kind
A good heart these days is hard to find
So please be gentle with this heart of mine

My expectations may be high
I blame it on my youth
Soon enough I learned the painful truth
I'll face it like a fighter, then boast of how I've grown
Anything is better than being alone

Well I know 'cause I learn a little every day
I know 'cause I listen when the experts say

That a good heart these days is hard to find
True love, the lasting kind
A good heart these days is hard to find
So please be gentle with this heart of mine

As I reflect on all my childhood dreams
My ideas of love weren't as foolish as they seemed
If I don't start looking now, I'll be left behind
And a good heart these days, it's hard to find

I know it's a dream I'm willing to defend
I know it will all be worth it in the end

And a good heart these days is hard to find
True love, the lasting kind
A good heart these days is hard to find
So please be gentle with this heart of mine

I iz aliving noobz

Yeah. I just am.

L

"If I ever lose my faith in you"

The challenge: Set your digital music player to random/shuffle. Use the title of the next song to play to answer each question.

These are the real answers that came up! It's uncanny — and a little unnerving!

1. If someone says, "Is this okay?" you say?
"It's All Right with Me" (Tom Waits covering Cole Porter)

2. How would you describe yourself?
"Wrong" (Lindsey Buckingham)

3. What do you like in a guy/girl?
"Sexual Healing" (Kate Bush)

4. How do you feel today?
"You Oughta Know" (Alanis Morissette)

5. What is your motto?
"Love Is Love" (urm ... Culture Club)

6. What do your friends think of you?
"Jump Around" (House of Pain)

7. What do you think of your parents?
"Laying Down the Law" (INXS w/Jimmy Barnes)

8. What do you think about very often?
"And So Is Love" (Kate Bush)

9. What is 2 + 2?
"The Crucifixion" (Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack)

10. What do you think of your best friend?
"California" (Sarah Slean)

11. What do you think of the person you like/love?
"Give Peace a Chance" (John Lennon)

12. What is your life's purpose?
"Love Will Find a Way" (Pablo Cruise)

13. What is your life story?
"Waterloo" (ABBA)

14. What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Lucky Me" (Sarah Slean)

15. What do you think of when you see the person you like/love?
"Walk like an Egyptian" (The Bangles)

16. What will you dance to at your wedding?
"Spark" (Tori Amos)

17. What will they play at your funeral?
"I Put a Spell on You" (CCR)

18. What is your hobby/interest?
"Don't Go" (Yaz)

19. What is your biggest fear?
"On My Own" (Les Misérables soundtrack)

20. What is your biggest secret?
"Look What You've Done to Me" (Boz Scaggs)

21. What do you think of your friends?
"Fame" (Irene Cara)

22. What will you post this as?
"If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" (Sting)


Try it yourself — and be sure to post the results!

L

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 132

Probably one of the strangest Christmas singles ever, and likely also one of the most histrionic — and yet it still gets me every time.

**

"The Power of Love" (as recorded by Frankie Goes to Hollywood)

I'll protect you from the hooded claw
Keep the vampires from your door

Feels like fire
I'm so in love with you
Dreams are like angels
They keep bad at bay
Love is the light
Scaring darkness away

I'm so in love with you
Purge the soul
Make love your goal

The power of love
A force from above
Cleaning my soul
Flame on, burn desire
Love with tongues of fire
Purge the soul
Make love your goal

I'll protect you from the hooded claw
Keep the vampires from your door
When the chips are down I'll be around
With my undying, death-defying
Love for you
Envy will hurt itself
Let yourself be beautiful
Sparkling love, flowers
And pearls and pretty girls
Love is like an energy
Rushing inside of me

This time we go sublime
Lovers entwine, divine divine
Love is danger, love is pleasure
Love is pure, the only treasure

I'm so in love with you
Purge the soul
Make love your goal

The power of love
A force from above
Cleaning my soul
The power of love
A force from above
A sky-scraping dove
Flame on, burn desire
Love with tongues of fire
Purge the soul
Make love your goal

I'll protect you from the hooded claw
Keep the vampires from your door

2008

As a post for 2008 (it seems I only get around to one a year or so) I think I will dedicate it to Leslie's teaching, Carmen's studenting and Bruce's stand-around-observingness. The first issue of Enjoy Gardening hit the shelves at Hole's today and will be populating magazine racks across the country in the coming weeks. Not quite a magazine, similar to a book, sort of a journal and not at all a serial, I believe this is a new form of publication that I intend to call a Moosh.

Long live the Moosh and may she fly high and true.

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 123

Contemplate the unity between la belle et la bête. Who doesn't love a bit of drama in his life?

**

"Beauty and the Beast" (as recorded by Stevie Nicks)

You're not a stranger to me
And you are something to see
You don't even know how to please
You say a lot but you're unaware how to leave

My darling lives in a world that is not mine
An old child misunderstood out of time
Timeless is the creature who is wise
And timeless is the prisoner in disguise

Oh who is the beauty ... who the beast
Would you die of grieving when I leave
Two children too blind to see
I would fall in your shadow, I believe

My love is a man who's not been tamed
Oh my love lives in a world of false pleasure and pain
We come from different worlds ... we are the same
I never doubted your beauty ... I've changed

Wondering...

What does the aspect of this line imply about the speaker's imminent actions?

"You have been the one,
You have been the one for me."

Since I first heard this song (by James Blunt), I've been writing its story in my mind, and I'm really puzzled by the tense. Any ideas?

L

Welcome to 2008

Happy New Year! I hope your entry into 2008 was bright and beautiful. Here's wishing us all a joyous, healthy, and satisfying twelve months. Whee!

L