Worst Blogger In The World

That would be me.

Apologies for neglecting RJ. I will be a better person soon.

Love,

Me

xox

Why So Serious?

And then President Obama slowly emerged
from the Crystal Swamps of Dancing Unicorns...

Seeing that I get paid to search the internets, I have plenty of time to check out other super awesome blogs. Rarely do you see blogs that are not focused on a certain topic (knitting, bondage, the recession whatever...) other than mine of course. I was convinced it was a flaw in my blogging capabilities but it turns out I am not alone!!!

Conjured up by some sketch comedy makers, Serious Lunch boasts a large collection of hilarious videos but it also has a wicked blog filled with content random enough to keep me reading on (i.e. ugly Obama paintings). If you watch Conan, SL are the dudes who noticed that his new backdrop looks like Super Mario.

Check them out. I now have less of a life thanks to them and so should you. But don't stop reading my blog because I am equally as awesome (if not more). Ok? Good.

For my birthday...

I know I've been video-focused but come on...



How can I resist?

Ally McBeal Dancing Baby: Eat Your Heart Out

Heavy Metal Revisited

Have you seen Heavy Metal Parking Lot? Because you should. It captures the 1980s metal culture at a Judas Priest concert in Maryland. It's equal parts entertaining, amusing, and reflective of a time that once was involving people who probably don't remember being there.

Keeping that in mind, a then / now slide show was just published visually comparing the JP concert in 1986 to one in Missouri in 2009. It's a clear indication of how dedicated fans grow with their favourite bands and how that love for a genre can be passed on.

Now this slide show was more nostalgic than anything. If one wanted to create an appropriate cultural comparison of heavy metal then / now, the new footage and images would be from a contemporary metal show with an adolescent following. Does this HMPL 'sequel' exist? Tell me if it does. If not, someone should really get on that!

There seems to be a contemporary metal culture but it's fragmented into subgenres with different yet connected fanbases (I sound like a Communications professor, oh gosh). Some elements of 80s metal still remain (long hair, band t-shirts etc...) but it seems like Metalheads have less to rebel against now. Not that it's a bad thing, there just doesn't seem to be an aggressive counter culture in the metal community.

I'm so far out of the loop that I probably sound like a senior citizen talking about computers so PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.

Disgusting

2 Years Old.

I won't deny ever smoking. I've smoked on many occasions (not that I'm proud of it), but I haven't touched a cigarette in a long, long time. A number of my friends are smokers and that is fine with me to an extent. It's not like people are oblivious to the risks associated with it; their boxes contain graphic depictions of them. It's their problem. Of course, I would never want to see my friends suffer from lung cancer (heart disease etc...) but it's not my place to scare them out of smoking.

Regardless of the horrible things smoking can do to your body, cigarettes still have a 'cool' image. Cigarette companies are amongst the most recognizable brands in the world.

Many people find reasons to smoke or keep smoking. In this recession, the habit has actually increased because it gives people a sense of comfort and soothing.

This is where you're crossing my moral boundaries: when your smoking is intrusive and harmful to non-smokers. Take that horrid video as an example. I hope this doesn't happen very often. I am going to take the naive stance and say that this video depicts a rare instance of child abuse. If you're giving a vulnerable person a cigarette or blowing smoke in their face, no matter how old they are, it is the most insensitive, selfish, awful thing you could possibly do.

Here's another example: I was at the Kitchener (ON) bus terminal and I saw the usual teen mom wearing her Catholic School uniform (surprise, surprise). Here's the kicker--she was holding a cigarette, yelling at her toddler and blowing smoke into the poor thing's face. At this point I was ready to let her have it but I decided against it. I somewhat regret my decision.

Is this not as destructive as beating a child?

Perhaps that's a bold statement but I stand by it.

If you're going to smoke, keep it personal.

If I Were A Cat Lady...

Just chillin with my tigers

I went to the zoo this weekend and had the urge to cuddle every animal I saw. I knew that doing so would not end well on my part but the temptation was definitely there. I blame LOLcats. Those mischevious little buggers just look so cute and fluffy all the time.

Anyways, it seems as though Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen feels the same way about these kitties as I do but has a larger disposable income and more balls than I'll ever have. She has rescued numerous big cats that are at risk of becoming extinct and has welcomed them into her home. By numerous, I mean 11.

Good for RVN, but tigers and friends aren't known for their loyalty to humans.

Let's hope Riana doesn't turn into a giant cheezburger.

Seeing Green

Not that kind of green you potheads.


I made this vid for Screw You Recession but I figured I'd post it here too so you can love it and treasure it and watch it alll the time.

You're welcome.

Chaining My Macbook To My Desk From Now On...

Manoeuvre that Broccoli!!!!!

Thank goodness for spell check. I try so hard to ween myself off of it, becoming ashamed when I see those red squiggly lines appear under words. At least I still make the effort to type like a normal human being and not LyKe A 15 Yr oLd MySpAyZe AdDIcT. We all make mistakes, and a new study has caught us in the act of misspelling.

The most misspelled English word is.... 'definitely'. Most people spell it 'definately'. This surprised me somewhat since I do know how to spell it but I will admit to shortening it more often than not to 'def' or 'defs'. I am single handedly dumbing down the English speaking population. Oopsies.

The top ten misspelled words are less surprising, give or take. Here they are:
1 Definitely;
2 Sacrilegious
3 Indict
4 Manoeuvre
5 Bureaucracy
6 Broccoli
7 Phlegm
8 Prejudice
9 Consensus
10 Unnecessary

Just like everything else, our lack of spelling expertise is blamed on technology. Text messaging has corrupted us and we can never look back. Ya tech has shortened our words but who the heck is using 'sacrilegious' or 'phlegm' when sending texts to their friends?

"Oh ya, that party was sooooo sacrilegious. OMG I cannot believe the prejudice I endured from Tommy. So unnecessary. We should totally indict him!"

Come on; brushing up on our spelling should be on a to-do list but our lack of skill is more likely due to our limited vocabulary.

I suggest getting a library card.

I'm still going to see it

Poor Kid...

Oh gosh, Roger Ebert gave the new Transformers flick the worst review ever. Even if you're planning on seeing the film, read it anyways. I got a kick out of it. Ebert's advice to you:

"If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination."

Sometimes I crave mindless garbage in my life, hence why I watch the Bachelorette. Likewise, I'm sure I'll make it to see T2. Perhaps I'll use my Scene points and see it for free. Yes, that's what I'll do.

Are you going to see it?

hehehehe

Nothing wrong with a little shameless self promotion

www.screwyourecession.ca

Rose coloured Versace Sunglasses

Elisabeth Eaves
Putting the fun in Recession...can't you tell?

The recession has been a wake up call to well, everyone on the planet. The majority of sane individuals are working their asses off to conserve the little money they have while keeping their jobs in tact. A large chunk of people have already been kicked to the curb while struggling to support their family but for a small yet depressingly powerful percentage of people, the recession is FUN! Elisabeth Eaves, the deputy editor of Forbes, is one of those lovely people.

In an article entitled "The Recession is Great" she describes the upsides to this economic downturn, that is if you are a member of the wealthy elite. Why you can get a new boat where you'll hang your new Picasso while wearing your new Burberry ALL for discount prices! What great times we are living in!

Don't bother reading the article. It will hurt your eyes and probably give you cramps. Instead, read this 'fabulous' response. A perfect summary to the most obnoxious recession related article on the interweb.

Point is, even us regular folk get so enchanted by sweet sales and deals on just about everything that we lose sight of the importance of conservation. Sure you may get a steal on a new pair of shoes but in turn you will be a couple days late on paying your rent. Spending is good for the economy but smart and reserved spending is good for the economy and your well-being.

For some more tough love and some regular love, check out SCREW YOU RECESSION! a.k.a. The 2nd best blog ever (guess which one is #1) and the most helpful resource for kicking the recession in the butt.

It's a bird! It's a plane!! No, It's.....

BIBLEMAN!!


Where's my DVD box set?????

As much as my possible future spawn (sounds more evil) would stay far far far away from this, for those who believe that god is the "man", it's way more exciting than other Christian TV programming I've seen (i.e. almost everything in the proximity of Christmas). All hail the god fearing Power Ranger!

A separate yet related thought: Who would be his nemesis? The Liberal Lightning Bolt? Demolition Darwin? A ruthless atheist gang called the Nonbelievers? All of the above?


First person to make me an action figure gets a Holy High Five (one of Bibleman's divine superpowers) and a slap on the ass (for good measure).

Looking up

Something to think about....


This might sound cliche, but I try my best to not take things for granted. This has been my mantra for years, since my days working as a camp councilor. During my camp gig, I noticed the happiest campers were those who could hardly walk or talk while those that complained about the most insignificant things were very able-bodied and I don't want to say spoiled, but it's the only word that comes to mind.

I realized how lucky I was to have what I have and how important it is to not dwell on the little things. It's impossible not to be in a bad mood sometimes. Naturally, things get us down but it's always a great feeling knowing that I have a roof over my head, running water, a fridge full of food, a solid group of family and friends etc.... I honestly believe that I am way happier thinking this way.

Point of the story is, lighten up. Yes, we're dealing with some shitty stuff right now (i.e. recession), but there's still so so much to look forward to. It's friggin summer! Take your broke ass outside and appreciate the non-smoggy (yet) air.

p.s. sorry for being a cheeseball


Oh, and listen to these guys:

Soul Patches, a haiku.

Why get a soul patch?
Looks like chin vagina,
George, no exception.

This was not on my Raffi tape

But I wish it was...

Watch Bananaphone Lil Jon Mash Up on CollegeHumor

Blogging WIN

So I ended up getting a blogging position for Virgin! Thanks to all of you that voted for me.

I get to do what I already do AND get paid for it! WOOOO!!!

Next week the blogging begins. Keep reading RJ but keep an eye on Screw You Recession for some awesome posts by yours truly :)

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Sometimes, photographs come along that make me laugh harder every time I see them.

This is one of them:

Ryan Seacrest circa 1980something

I am not one to make fun of awkward husky kids but he's rich and famous now so let me laugh a little.

He would be a good candidate for one of those "look at me now!!" episodes of Maury. Maybe not since he isn't an exotic dancer.

He kind of looks like the SNL character Gilly (Kristen Wiig)



I'm a terrible person.

Anyways, thank you Ryan Seacrest for making me smile tonight. Sorry for being a meanie.

Watch out Snuggies....

There seems to be a trend of wearable objects in the infomercial sector. Following the genius that is the Snuggie, a wearable blanket, comes a wearable towel:



How stylish! I know what I'm asking for for my birthday. Never will I be in need of drying AND unfashionable ever again!


Thanks wearable towel!!!

Tweetology

A while back, I addressed the Twitter phenomenon. At that point, I had just gotten it so I wasn't exactly sure how it worked and what its significance was in a larger context. I did see the potential but I didn't realize how much potential Twitter really has...which is a lot. So much that it's the cover story in Time Magazine entitled: "How Twitter Will Change The Way We Live".

That's a pretty big deal. For most people Twitter seems like an annoying fad where people can tell other people they may or may not know how their stomachs reacted to last night's burrito. For companies, celebrities, and technologically optimistic folks, Twitter is so much more than that.

Considering one of the founders of this social networking site is Evan Williams who happens to be one of the founders of blogger.com, it's obvious there is some genius behind this phenomenon. Williams, we could say, brought blogging to the public eye transforming it into an extremely important venue & outlet for expression and conversation.

On Twitter, conversation is made easier, quicker, and more compact. By entering certain subjects in your post (i.e. #blogging), you can respond to those who have something to say about certain issues without having to be their friend, follow them, or know them at all. Keeping the character restriction helps us to summarize our points instead of rambling on meaninglessly. How democratic is that? Anyone anywhere (to an extent) can put their two cents into a public forum.

Interestingly, there has been a lot of scholarly criticism regarding the lack of a true public sphere where action and change can happen. I argue that this active public sphere is in fact the Internet. Although we aren't staging a revolution per se, the net can create global communities of people who can fight for a cause and defend their beliefs.

Beyond being a stage for discussion, Twitter is the master of networking. Yes, Facebook keeps you in touch with friends, and lets you "creep" non-friends, but it isn't as strong of a link to companies and organizations. Being able to read a series of headlines and follow links to what you're interested in changes the way we read the news in a good way. We all know that newspapers are a dying breed and you know what, that's okay. Online news means more news and faster news. When something happens, a story can break online where one used to have to wait until the next day for a print paper.

Twitter is exercising its potential well but there are possible scenarios that may devalue this service:

1. Advertising: Once Twitter receives advertising, the site won't be as organic as it is now. People will be distracted and discouraged to tweet and be tweeted at.

2. Applications: although Twitter is slightly extending one's abilities at the moment, their applications (i.e. Twitpic) are more beneficial than unnecessary. I mentioned in my previous Twitter-themed article that there may be a day where one can play TwitterGames. I personally hope this doesn't happen because it will cause the same kind of disturbance that advertising would.

Fingers crossed it won't succumb to that.




Alright, enough rambling.

If you're down with Twitter, follow me: www.twitter.com/romeh

Etiquette

Certain concerts should not take place in venues with seating. That being said, those who prefer to be seated should not come to said concerts. Why? Because they act like douchebags.

Tuesday night, I saw TV on the Radio (incredible) at a larger venue in Toronto (Docks). TVOTR fans are extremely diverse (in age and concert-going experience) which makes for an interesting crowd. There are, however, those who are accustomed to a different vibe and do not appreciate being sandwiched between sweaty people. I have no sympathy for those people. It baffles me that people will come to a concert and think that they're untouchable. Tough luck homeslices.

There was one particular 'human being' that snarled at everyone who tried to get past her. What was even funnier is that Snarly was situated close to the bathroom so those poor souls that had to empty the bladder had to feel her wrath.

Turns out there is legit concert etiquette behaviour on the interwebs categorized by genre. In a pretty cute (and comprehensive) list entitled "The (Rock) Concert-Goer's Guide to Etiquette", section VI. Pre-Concert Behaviour promotes the mantra: "push and be pushed". Regular concert goers will adhere to this rule but that doesn't exempt the newbies.

Just thought I'd give you all a heads up. If I ever catch you pouting at those "damn teenagers", you will feel MY wrath....or I'll just yell profanities at you.

The future of Jonas

I have a confession to make: I think the Jonas Brothers are adorable... in the same way that I find puppies and babies adorable. What I find creepy about them is that in two years from now, their appeal will change completely yet they are in denial about it. The oldest one is my age (21) meaning he'll be 23 singing to 8-13 year olds in a couple years. Does that seem odd to you? I was watching part of a Barbwa Walters interview with the JBs and she asked the same question. Their delusional response in a nutshell was: "our fans will grow with us". I don't know about that, boys. Pop music, especially of the Disney persuasion, isn't something that people stay devoted to for the rest of their lives. If they don't break away from this genre, or break up soon, they will forever be 20-something 'virgins' trying to live the Disney dream.

I guess it worked for Timberlake and the Mickey Mouse clubbers though so perhaps I'm wrong

...but maybe I'm right?

OMG

Thank you!

Thanks to all of you who voted for me on screwyourecessionintern.com. I managed to get into the top ten meaning I'll be interviewed for the position! One step closer to landing the sweetest job imaginable.

Thank you Thank You Thank You!!

Common SenseLESS

"Common Sense": how common is it? It is my perception that a significant number of people share a certain understanding of the way people should behave. A lot of common-sensical ideas are enforced by laws (i.e. don't steal, kill etc...) and some are unwritten standards of behaviour (i.e. don't pick your nose in public...).

You would think that most people, especially in North America, especially in Canada would share a certain degree of common sense. Well it turns out, this belief system is not as streamlined as I thought. Let's take a trip to Manitoba, shall we?

An 8 year old is currently being taken out of her mother and step father's custody for, get this, coming to school with Neo-Nazi and racist symbols (think swastikas) drawn on her body and relaying graphic instructions of how to kill people of colour. Although her parents are openly associated with white supremacist groups, they deny encouraging their daugther to commit violent behavior against racial groups. Here's the full story in all of its glory.

This type of behaviour would be typical of WWII Germany where millions of lives where taken at the hands of an ignorant nation. Considering it's 2009 in one of the most liberal countries in the world, how much did this couple think they could get away with? And how common is this blatant display of hate?

Though this case is extreme, it is definitely not isolated. We constantly see manifestations of hate all the time; pre teens are comitting suicide because they are being teased, police partake in racial profiling, states such as California deny granting legal unions to same-sex couples. All of these demonstrations of hate bring us two steps back when we try to take a step forward.

What are people afraid of?

Doors way open

Osgoode Hall, pretty awesome.

As an advocate for fun free things to do in Toronto, It's no surprise I participated in Doors Open Toronto. This was an opportunity to see inside of buildings we don't normally have full access to.

Here are some pics from my Sunday adventures :)

Hart House

Queen's Park

U of T building

Flatiron

Osgoode Hall or Beauty and the Beast?
'The Great Library'

Some clearly found this event less exciting than others

Model of Toronto in City Hall. Pretty cool eh?

Great Virgins think alike

In the midst of the battle to become Virgin mobile's Summer Intern, I stumbled upon this ad for Virgin Trains:



It reminded me of my application video for some reason...



I just can't put my finger on what it was ;)



Thank you for clicking my button every day. Please continue voting! www.screwyourecessionintern.com

Finding Toronto

ahh this is the life (High Park)

Apart from being in Waterloo schooling for the past four years and spending my first six months of life in small town Saskatchewan (don't ask), I've lived in Toronto all my life.

The city has always been loved by its inhabitants, envied by some, and hated by everyone else mainly for being "too Americanized". I would fall into the "loved" category in describing my relationship with the city. Since I was 12 I've been travelling via the TTC all over the Toronto. More recently, It has become my conscious quest to discover every unique neighborhood, street, attraction, event etc... The majority of Toronto residents don't even realize how much there is to see and do in Toronto and how much of that involves nothing more than a TTC token and some walking shoes.

Here are two of my favourite places to go in Toronto that don't involve breaking the bank. I'll keep updating this throughout the summer.

High Park is the ideal place to spend a day without spending a cent. There's 398 acres of walking space at your disposal along with a zoo (With llamas!!!), public pool, and an adventure playground (I know you are too old for this but as soon as you see it you'll be wanting to play 'I'm the king of the castle'). Fan of Mister Shakespeare? Thou art in luck. Canstage presents Shakespeare in the park for your viewing pleasure. Bring a blanket, some food, perhaps a bottle of wine/ multiple beer bottles, and enjoy a green High Park afternoon (not THAT kind of green, you naughty people).

**Also, the Bloor West area around high park (on Bloor St., obviously) has some cute shops and great restaurants. The Yellow Griffin, for example, has the most unbelievable selection of burgers so if you have some extra cash, I would recommend spending it there :).


Harbourfront Festivals. Not only is the Harbourfront a cool place to walk around at night, but they offer some really great festivals all summer long. The great thing about these fests is that most of their attractions are FREE! Events such as Smirnoff's Beats, Breaks & Culture and Canadian Voices offer free shows and demonstrations while the South Asian food festival can fill you up on samples and educate you on cultural cooking. For a list of summer festivals at the h-front, click here.

Stay tuned for some more Toronto hot spots and events.

Anywhere you'd like to see on here? Comment away!

VOTE!!!

Hey Guys, I'm applying for an intern position at Virgin Mobile. To get an interview, I need to have people vote for my video submission. Please please go to www.screwyourecessionintern.com to vote for me (once a day!).

Thank you so so so so so much.

I love you all :)

Romi

New synergy? News Energy?

I have just received the best thing ever from fellow blogger and Radio Laurier alumni Dan Zinman (Visit his blog here).

As most of you probably know, the name of my blog comes from an episode of my favourite show on the planet, 30 Rock. In light of this, Mr. Zinman gave me the honour of providing you lucky SOBs with this. "This" is a link to a glossary of words and phrases coined by Liz Lemon and associates on the show.

Haven't seen the show? BY THE HAMMER OF THOR, get on that.

I like Mr. Giggles

I am pretty good at admitting defeat and this is one of those times. I like jimmy Fallon. There I said it. In a previous post, I expressed my uncertainty regarding the quality of his late night show. I take it back. Yes he is awkward, interrupts people, and laughs at everything (including his own jokes), but he is quite charming. I like that he has fun with his guests, getting off of his ass for the sake of comedy. He also has a genuine appreciation for his predecessors and the entertainment industry as a whole including his fellow celebrity guests. It's nice to see some genuine interest and excitement. And The Roots as a house band? I'm surprised there hasn't been more crazed superfans that want to jump them. I would in a second (Not in a sexual way, I promise). Maybe they have to sign something before being on the show

Jimbo, if you're reading this, please give me tickets to your show and a flight down to NYC. I promise not to assault your band.

Thanks,

Sincerely RJ

Stay alert, stay employed.

Being unemployed and looking (sounds like I'm looking to date hehe), I've been very weary of my e-presence and so should you. If you have been hibernating or cryogenically frozen for the past couple years, you best be aware of the ever increasing cyber stalking of current and potential employees by companies. As private as you think your info / pictures is, it aint.

Not only can your boss look at your facebook pictures from that night downtown where you lost your....dignity.... but they can also scan the content on other social networking sites such as Twitter.

Results can be detrimental and humiliating so you better watch yo self.

I'm no angel, but you won't see me posting an album entitled "huge hits on the bong" any time soon. What should and should you not post on these sites? That's common sense, my friend but here are a couple tips to keep in mind:

1. If you look intoxicated, even if you are not, people can assume that you are.

2. If you can't decide if it's appropriate or not, it probably isn't.

3. Don't talk smack about your boss or employees like these people did in your status / on Twitter

4. you can change the privacy settings on facebook. Limit who can see your info. This may not stop some employers but it will make it harder at least.

Be careful out there, young grasshoppers!

Examination Fever

It's that time again...Final exams (EVER OF UNIVERSITY!!!) begin on Friday for me and I can't seem to bring myself to study for them. If only failblog.org did not exist :(

Get Addicted

Love RJ

rise of the Phoenix

This past week I traveled south to the Phoenix, Arizona. Being the kidnapping capital of the USA (second to Mexico City on a global scale), I was weary of city quality. To my surprise, it was a heck of a lot nicer than expected. Of course all cities have their slums but for the most part, Phoenix and Scottsdale (East of Phoenix) are fascinating places to visit.

Here's a visual tour of some of the highlights + must sees of the P-S area:

Old Scottsdale: North on Scottsdale Road is this touristy part of the region. The area is designed in the old-timey southwest style of way back when. The streets are filled with cowboy paraphernalia stores, Souvenir shops, restaurants, and art galleries. If you don't mind the kitsch, it's a nice place to walk around in.
Within this area, there are a number of different sub divisions. One can take a free trolley ride through all of the different areas too. Pretty cute. I'd recommend the Fashion Square for those who need a shopping fix. It's a large mall with the usual chains one would expect in an American Shopping mall. Across the road from it is an Urban Outfitters and some Boutiquey stores that are a bit pricey.

Around Main St. in Old Scottsdale is the hub of activity. What surprised me about Phoenix and Scottsdale in general is the central role of art in the design of the cities. There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, one of the first groups of settlers in Scottsdale was artists. The scenery and climate attracted the bohos way back in the late 1800s. As influenced by the fairly large art community, a law was put in place demanding that for every building built, a portion of that budget must be for public art. In doing so, one can see a large selection of sculptures throughout the cities. I absolutely love this. I think that every city should celebrate local art in such a fashion.


Desert Botannical Garden: Not your typical gardens. This is one of the most enjoyable places to visit. We went here in between 4 and 8--the prime time to go. This way you see the garden in sunlight, sunset, and nightfall. Every kind of cactus you can think of is on site along with some other flowers and plants. The flora and fauna is situated next to a number of small mountains (or large hills?) making it an ideal place for sexy wildlife photoshoots.
Also in the garden is an incredible art exhibit by Dale Chihuly. The artist implanted giant glass installments throughout the garden creating an incredible synergy between art and nature. At night, the pieces were illuminated. It's nice to see art in different contexts outside of galleries.

Here are some pics from the garden:





Heard Museum: The only place worth going to in downtown Phoenix. There is absolutely NOTHING to do downtown otherwise but get to Heard because its pretty amazing. The museum is a collection of historical artifacts and art from Native communities across North America. It's nice to see that there is a celebration of Native culture. This makes sense within Arizona since there are currently 22 tribes living in the state. I find modern native art to be fascinating because it has many traditional elements while containing contemporary influences as well. A temporary exhibit entitled "Mothers & Daughters" featured clay sculptures by native women and their daughters. It was deeply personal and extremely interesting. Here are some pieces from the gallery (we were allowed to take pictures without flash...exciting!)


Tea in Carefree: North of Scottsdale is a little town called Carefree. With an intersection of Ho Hum Road and Easy Street, one cannot resist the charm of this little community. The highlight of the town is the Red Rose Tearoom; a little English tearoom equipped with an eclectic collection of British memorabilia, art, tea accessories and a trunk of classy hats for those yearning for the girliest tea drinking experience possible. My family and I are chronic tea drinkers. We will search far and wide for places to have tea and scones so finding this tea room was simply mahhhhvelous.



Mystery Castle: Hands down the most incredible place in Phoenix. So there's a little bit of history surrounding this house. If you don't want to read the whole story, here's the gist of it:

The castle was built by Boyce Luther Gulley in the 1930s after finding out he had TB. He abandoned his wife and daughter Mary Lou Gulley in Seattle in order to build an elaborate estate for them in Phoenix. Most of the house is made out of scraps and recycled materials which adds to the quirkyness of the house. Each room has a distinct function and meaning infused with a bizzare sense of humour (i.e. a room with a bar with uneven floors for drunks to stumble around in equipped with a bed to pass out on and a gravestone for those who don't make it out alive). Well into her 80s, Mary Lou still lives in the house today.

Everything about this place has a story--Every pot, painting, teddy bear, and pair of jeans (a pair was given to Mary Lou by John Wayne!!).

Here are some bits and pieces of the Mystery Castle in all of its glory



Right on the Castle's doorstep is South Mountin Park where you can drive through the winding mountain roads to find the best view of the city.

Get over there!

...But not in the summer because It's unbearably hot. The coolest places are those you find on your own accord. You don't need to stick to travel guides religiously. We wouldn't have found South Mountain park otherwise AND we saw a coyote as we drove through residential areas.

And there you have it.

Communications Breakdown: a response

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.”

- John M. Richardson Jr.

Speaking of The Cord, an article was published last week in the paper criticizing the Communications department at Laurier. Upon first hearing about it I was mildly upset that my dear program was being picked apart but on second thought, and after reading the article I realized that everything said was 100% true. I have always been critical of the program so in truth, those who are acting out of hand are the ones that are angered by this piece.

Today I had the chance to talk to Kim Elworthy, the author of said article and apparently she's been getting some insulting messages via Facebook by angry Comm students. The article has also been brought up by professors and students alike causing quite a stir among students on campus. Even the department head has admitted to agreeing with a lot of what Elworthy had to say. Doesn't that speak volumes about the program and the students in it?

This is my Communications department theory (CDS):

10% of students are actually interested in the content of the program,

50% of students are Business drop outs, and

40% of students would rather be at a kegger but have settled for this "bird" major.

If you delve into the course content within the department, you will find some interesting and thought provoking information yet students refuse to dig deep. Kim faces a similar predicament in class where she is / I am one of the only people who participate in class. It gets to the point where my hand is up and the Professor looks around for other willing participants. It can be pretty embarrassing but when a quarter of your grade depends on participation, you'd think the class would be more engaged.

Wake up Communications students. If you're so passionate about your major, PROVE IT.

Student Radio Update

In a previous post I discussed the sticky situation our campus radio station, Radio Laurier, was faced with. I thought I'd update you with some good news via our student newspaper, The Cord Weekly. We are officially transitioning to Student Publications, the organization on campus in charge of, well, student publications (i.e. newspaper, magazine, yearbook etc...). We can all collectively breath a sigh of relief.

For details on our transition, read this article featured in today's publication of The Cord.

You can listen to the station online here.

Glad to see all of the hard work put in by our executives and DJs payed off.

Look what you can do with a little bit of Chutzpah. :)

Springtime's for musicals

Spring Awakening: ****/*****

I don't get to see musicals very often. They are way too damn expensive for students to see on a regular basis but this past Saturday I got my semi-annual musical fix--Spring Awakening.

Awakening interestingly enough premiered off-Broadway in 2006 but it wasn't always a song and a dance. A play of the same name was written by German Playwright Frank Wedekind in 1891 but was banned for its controversial (at that time) content; think abortion, homosexuality, suicide, masturbation etc...It was only in the past decade that Wedekind's work was adapted for the Great White Way.

Since hitting the Broadway circuit, it has received critical acclaim including 8 Tony Awards and a Grammy. Pretty impressive, huh?

I went into the theatre pretty uninformed about the plot of the production. I figured it was a cheery coming of age testament to way back when but it turned out to be a lot darker than I had envisioned it. This is not me being disappointed, just me dealing with a false understanding / lack of previous knowledge/ ignorance on my part…Much like the time I watched Pan's Labyrinth thinking it was a children's film. Rude awakening, I tell you. Anyways, the darkness proved to be a nice break from the happy-go-lucky style and content of most musicals I've seen.

On a side note: Not to get all reflective but we’ve come a long way since the über orthodox ideologies of even 20-30 years ago. We still deal with many inequalities but not even a fraction of what was considered taboo in the past.

Back to Spring Awakening: The show opens with a song called "Mama who bore me"—Great opener to a fabulous musical. One of the leads, Wendla (Christy Altomare), sings of her sexual curiosity. Her only knowledge of sex is of the stork delivering babies. The catchy rock ‘n’ roll number set a good pace for the rest of the show. The guitar-based soundtrack was a nice touch. It added some edge to the emotionally charged music. I love a good rock-opera [disagree if you will, but We Will Rock You is not included on this list]. The genre is a great way of updating the musical / expanding the viewer demographic.

The cast delivered a high caliber of talent putting longer-term residents of the Yonge Street entertainment sector to shame [see previous musical mentioned]. The set was simple yet impressive; enough to captivate yet not distracting from the performance itself. There were some audience members that were seated on the stage adding to the interesting mise en scène. They also threw some plain-clothed chorus members in there too which was a cute addition.

Of course the show was not without its campiness. From a flamboyant homosexual character [avec some man on man action] to 'cheeky' song titles like "the bitch of living" and "totally fucked", it celebrated the essence of musical theatre.

Definitely would recommend seeing the show if you have any appreciation for theatre [if you don’t, what’s wrong with you?]. Splurge on this one. It’s worth sacrificing two nights of drinking for.

To buy tickets / see cast and crew info click here

Get Excited

Remember the days of taking out picture books from your elementary school library? Well here's a way to get a little bit of your childhood back: Director Spike Jonze has adapted the beloved children's book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak to film. The film uses suitimation, live action, animatronics and CGI so expect some high class cinematography.

The trailer alone is phenomenal. Adding to the film's cred is the use of a really cool version of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" and music collabs with Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Excited? Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until October 16th to see the film.

Below is the trailer for your viewing pleasure

enjoy! I know I did...many, many times.

If I can do it, You can do it.

"If I can do it, You can do it"

I just watched the second commercial where the phrase "If I can do it, you can do it" bears its ugly head. The first was for one of those online colleges...perhaps Everest College? It was more of a "if he can do it, you can do it" so this poor guy didn't have any way of defending himself. The one I just saw encouraged people to become school bus drivers. A woman says "If I can do it, you can do it".

Am I the only one who finds this phrase offensive? Doesn't it seem like these people are saying "hey, we're the lowest common denominator. We have no skills but we managed to get this degree / do this job". Maybe it's just me, but this doesn't seem like the best marketing technique.

Just a little peeve. Beg to differ? If I can do it, you can do it.