so are people wondering what to get for belated christmas presents?
here's an idea.
Dec 27, 2003
buy nothing day got nothing on this....
i suppose boxing day is like the unofficial antithesis of buy-nothing day huh? it must drive liberal and hip MIT students nuts to see all this commercialism driving the capitalist engine in seemingly mindless and sheeplike masses.
to this i say.....enh. stop bitching and do something about it. not buying anything and making your own clothes isn't gonna help the kids you're so darn worried about in indonesia. all it does serve to do is make you feel self-rightous and pretentious enough to look down at all us corporate pawns who aren't clever enough to design our own shirts out of hemp....
annnnyways, end rant/
another boxing day come and gone. surprisingly i spent the whole day shopping and technically bought nothing for myself. i DID get a bunch of stuff for other people, but we shall discuss this on a later date. the holidays seem to be flying by a little faster then i'd care to admit. before i know it this break's gonna be gone. but that's ok.....i really feel that this is nothing more than a break as opposed to a reprieve (like i usually think of my extended school breaks). i'm looking forward to getting back to london and continuing my life there as it were, as it seems more and more to me that london is where my life should be centred right now anyways.
it may not be "home" officially, but it's where i live and strive for the future, so i might as well enjoy it there.
besides. i have 250 hats to sell.....
to this i say.....enh. stop bitching and do something about it. not buying anything and making your own clothes isn't gonna help the kids you're so darn worried about in indonesia. all it does serve to do is make you feel self-rightous and pretentious enough to look down at all us corporate pawns who aren't clever enough to design our own shirts out of hemp....
annnnyways, end rant/
another boxing day come and gone. surprisingly i spent the whole day shopping and technically bought nothing for myself. i DID get a bunch of stuff for other people, but we shall discuss this on a later date. the holidays seem to be flying by a little faster then i'd care to admit. before i know it this break's gonna be gone. but that's ok.....i really feel that this is nothing more than a break as opposed to a reprieve (like i usually think of my extended school breaks). i'm looking forward to getting back to london and continuing my life there as it were, as it seems more and more to me that london is where my life should be centred right now anyways.
it may not be "home" officially, but it's where i live and strive for the future, so i might as well enjoy it there.
besides. i have 250 hats to sell.....
Dec 25, 2003
Dec 20, 2003
Dec 18, 2003
random thought of the moment:
you know how they're researching hydrogen cell technology for cars where the only final emission would be h2o?
i was thinking earlier.....if all the cars on the road were just spewing out a trail of water everywhere they went, driving conditions in the winter would probably really suck.
i bet those smart ass scientists never took THAT into account. huh? huh? did you?
yea. i didn't think so.
you know how they're researching hydrogen cell technology for cars where the only final emission would be h2o?
i was thinking earlier.....if all the cars on the road were just spewing out a trail of water everywhere they went, driving conditions in the winter would probably really suck.
i bet those smart ass scientists never took THAT into account. huh? huh? did you?
yea. i didn't think so.
appreciation
so....when i think of the word appreciation, i guess the first thought that pops into my mind is appreciation in the context of thanking someone for something. the idea that you appreciate a gesture or thought from someone else, and that they've helped you or done something for you.
i think only after this context do i think of appreciation in its broader means - the appreciation of art, the appreciation of skill, talent. appreciation as admiration, not necessarily as thanks. simply recognizing when something is worth appreciating, and understanding.
i've been thinking about the corrolation between the two meanings, and i think that it's interesting how so much of the time, we like to think there are few instances where both definitions of the word are relevant. which is odd, because really....they're the same word, aren't they?
we say to a friend "i really appreciate what you've done" and i think 90% of the time what we really mean to say is "i'm really really thankful". i'm not entirely sure, but (in my personal experience at least) we rarely take the time out to step back and really....truly appreciate things on the level of their full scope.
i mean sure, we're thankful for things, we appreciate them....but do we appreciate them in the sense that someone appreciates a piece of art? by analyzing, contextualizing, understanding and interpreting the aesthetic and intangible aura produced by it? do we appreciate to that depth of knowledge and intimacy the things we have, the things people do?
i've been realizing that so much of the time, we don't stop to consider how much we're blessed with. and i think i'm starting to realize that....i can't.....even if i tried my hardest, fully appreciate all the things in my life.....because the fact is, i don't deserve any of it. i'm a product of circumstance, and God chose to place me here for his reasons, his timing and his plan. he could have put me in africa, struggling with aids. he could have put me in indonesia, fighting against ethnic cleansing and political turmoil. he could have put me anywhere in the world, even here in this city, but in a much different situation. but he didn't. he put me here.
and trying to appreciate.....i mean, truly appreciate the things in my life. not just appreciate things when i say thank you, but really stop, stand and appreciate all thats going on around me, not necessarily with me, or concerning me.
i'm trying to fully appreciate the depths of my relationships, the memories i have, the moments i'm making. i'm trying to fully appreciate everything that i appreciate. to understand at more than face value not just that i AM thankful for things in life, but WHY i'm thankful for them. and it's a great experience, because i find it makes things so much easier to understand....
so....when i think of the word appreciation, i guess the first thought that pops into my mind is appreciation in the context of thanking someone for something. the idea that you appreciate a gesture or thought from someone else, and that they've helped you or done something for you.
i think only after this context do i think of appreciation in its broader means - the appreciation of art, the appreciation of skill, talent. appreciation as admiration, not necessarily as thanks. simply recognizing when something is worth appreciating, and understanding.
i've been thinking about the corrolation between the two meanings, and i think that it's interesting how so much of the time, we like to think there are few instances where both definitions of the word are relevant. which is odd, because really....they're the same word, aren't they?
we say to a friend "i really appreciate what you've done" and i think 90% of the time what we really mean to say is "i'm really really thankful". i'm not entirely sure, but (in my personal experience at least) we rarely take the time out to step back and really....truly appreciate things on the level of their full scope.
i mean sure, we're thankful for things, we appreciate them....but do we appreciate them in the sense that someone appreciates a piece of art? by analyzing, contextualizing, understanding and interpreting the aesthetic and intangible aura produced by it? do we appreciate to that depth of knowledge and intimacy the things we have, the things people do?
i've been realizing that so much of the time, we don't stop to consider how much we're blessed with. and i think i'm starting to realize that....i can't.....even if i tried my hardest, fully appreciate all the things in my life.....because the fact is, i don't deserve any of it. i'm a product of circumstance, and God chose to place me here for his reasons, his timing and his plan. he could have put me in africa, struggling with aids. he could have put me in indonesia, fighting against ethnic cleansing and political turmoil. he could have put me anywhere in the world, even here in this city, but in a much different situation. but he didn't. he put me here.
and trying to appreciate.....i mean, truly appreciate the things in my life. not just appreciate things when i say thank you, but really stop, stand and appreciate all thats going on around me, not necessarily with me, or concerning me.
i'm trying to fully appreciate the depths of my relationships, the memories i have, the moments i'm making. i'm trying to fully appreciate everything that i appreciate. to understand at more than face value not just that i AM thankful for things in life, but WHY i'm thankful for them. and it's a great experience, because i find it makes things so much easier to understand....
Dec 16, 2003
dreams realized
you know, i've always wanted a television in my room. i remember i used to have one when i was in kindergarden....i used to watch carebears as my dad helped me get dressed in the morning.
alas, those days are long gone. i spent my adolescent and teenage years longing....wishing, dreaming about having a television in my room, but space was prohibitive in my last house.
but....now......now the dream has become a reality.
i know other people have tv's in their room, but.....uh....well.....shutup. this is my moment.
alas, those days are long gone. i spent my adolescent and teenage years longing....wishing, dreaming about having a television in my room, but space was prohibitive in my last house.
but....now......now the dream has become a reality.
i know other people have tv's in their room, but.....uh....well.....shutup. this is my moment.
Dec 15, 2003
what a few days its been. a new PM and saddam captured.
in other news, i moved into my new house yesterday. it was pretty tiring, but we're starting to settle into the new digs and cleaning up our mess. our living room is still just a pile of furniture, we've been too lazy to arrange anything thusfar, so if anyone wants to play aspiring interior decorator, let me know and you can come by and tell us how to arrange all our rooms. si? si.
also, i got baptized this morning despite some early....uhh.....setbacks, haha
it was a beautiful winter morning (well, maybe not for the driving part) but all things asides, i'm really thankful for everyone who showed up, everyone who's wished me well, and the giant stack of books i now have to amuse and enlighten me. thanks everybody, a guy couldn't ask for better friends.
now cue the full house music and audience "awwww....."
in other news, i moved into my new house yesterday. it was pretty tiring, but we're starting to settle into the new digs and cleaning up our mess. our living room is still just a pile of furniture, we've been too lazy to arrange anything thusfar, so if anyone wants to play aspiring interior decorator, let me know and you can come by and tell us how to arrange all our rooms. si? si.
also, i got baptized this morning despite some early....uhh.....setbacks, haha
it was a beautiful winter morning (well, maybe not for the driving part) but all things asides, i'm really thankful for everyone who showed up, everyone who's wished me well, and the giant stack of books i now have to amuse and enlighten me. thanks everybody, a guy couldn't ask for better friends.
now cue the full house music and audience "awwww....."
Dec 10, 2003
Powell 'appoints' soul legend James Brown to new diplomatic post
you know, there aren't too many things in the world that could make a grown man giggle.
this is one of them.
yes, i'm using my newly aquired freedom to.....surf the net.....hm, maybe i should go do something i haven't had a chance to do in the last two weeks. like....sleep....
this is one of them.
yes, i'm using my newly aquired freedom to.....surf the net.....hm, maybe i should go do something i haven't had a chance to do in the last two weeks. like....sleep....
Dec 8, 2003
Vita! Boisson A La Mangue!
no more due dates for the year. i am rather relieved.
this term really flew by.
i wonder how we each tend to judge the relative value of each term of our lives? by academic performance? social satisfaction? good balance in all areas of our lives?
if anything, i think i've been pleased by my non....apathy, this term. i've still hated school, but i've trudged to class more often, submitted more assignments on time, and studied a little bit harder than i would care to admit sometimes. on top of everything, i had a good time this term. lots of fun, lots of memories, lots of lessons learned......although i realize my school efforts have improved, they still leave much to be desired. but enh. everyone's gotta have goals, no?
upwards and onwards.
classes missed this term: ~20
days spent sleeping past noon: ~40
assignments submited on time: 8
assignments submited late: 3
litres of pop consumed: ~50
albums purchased: 5
meals missed: ~120
hats purchased off ebay: ~260
hats sold after ebay purchase: 0
trips back to toronto: 6
mice killed: 0
courses dropped: 0
classes failed: 0
i love my mouse free home.
this term really flew by.
i wonder how we each tend to judge the relative value of each term of our lives? by academic performance? social satisfaction? good balance in all areas of our lives?
if anything, i think i've been pleased by my non....apathy, this term. i've still hated school, but i've trudged to class more often, submitted more assignments on time, and studied a little bit harder than i would care to admit sometimes. on top of everything, i had a good time this term. lots of fun, lots of memories, lots of lessons learned......although i realize my school efforts have improved, they still leave much to be desired. but enh. everyone's gotta have goals, no?
upwards and onwards.
classes missed this term: ~20
days spent sleeping past noon: ~40
assignments submited on time: 8
assignments submited late: 3
litres of pop consumed: ~50
albums purchased: 5
meals missed: ~120
hats purchased off ebay: ~260
hats sold after ebay purchase: 0
trips back to toronto: 6
mice killed: 0
courses dropped: 0
classes failed: 0
i love my mouse free home.
Dec 6, 2003
Philosophy Games
this site is just a bunch of interactive games concerning philosophy, religion, rational thinking and the like. it sounds boring, but if you're into philosophy or even just pure intellectual stimulation via rational thinking process', you might find this amusing. i sure did.
my personal favourite is "battlegroundGod".
i took one hit and bit no bullets. yay.
my personal favourite is "battlegroundGod".
i took one hit and bit no bullets. yay.
Dec 5, 2003
Broken Social Scene - Dec. 4th, 2003
twofold update - removed picture of tina so she won't kill me.
also, so i can show off my spiffy pictures from the BSS concert. it was an absolutely amazing show. first some context - this show is actually the second of a back-to-back; they played yesterday night as well. it's all in an effort to raise money for a charity called the george herman house, for women in toronto who are in transitional periods of their lives. so not only was it a great show, but it was for a great cause.
metric opened, a band fronted by Emily Haines (the female vocals on the BSS track 'Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl'). they're not bad.....but i found her voice to actually get a bit annoying after a while. the band really shines musically when she focuses on playing the synths and they really just jam in the typical prog-indie rock climax attaining swell that is all the rage now-a-days. less is definitely more in this situation.
broken social scene were......AMAZING. production values, energy levels, enthusiasm and overall professionalism were all evident, and the crowd was extremely hyped and intelligent. all factors combined to make for an amazing 2 hour set, including every song off of their LP 'you forgot it in people' ending in an absolutely blow-your-mind performance of the aforementioned "anthems...." that featured pretty much everyone and their little dogs crowding the stage with 6 guitarists, 2 female vocals, an 8 piece brass section, and various other guests here and there. it was......near sonic perfection.
to cap it all off, returning for their encore, they were accompanied by special guest, Hayden who proceeded to perform.....some song....that frankly i'm unsure of the origins of. oh well, it was good.
and...as you can see by the picture.....the disco ball and stars were a very nice touch to the ambiance. all in all, one of the better shows i've been to this year. naturally, ranking behind bjork, but well ahead of even the death cab show several weeks back. very much worth the 20 bucks and wait in the cold weather. i'm not sure when these guys are gonna have the time to get together and play another toronto show, but if they do, i highly highly HIGHLY suggest you make it out to catch them. i promise you won't regret it.
also, so i can show off my spiffy pictures from the BSS concert. it was an absolutely amazing show. first some context - this show is actually the second of a back-to-back; they played yesterday night as well. it's all in an effort to raise money for a charity called the george herman house, for women in toronto who are in transitional periods of their lives. so not only was it a great show, but it was for a great cause.
metric opened, a band fronted by Emily Haines (the female vocals on the BSS track 'Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl'). they're not bad.....but i found her voice to actually get a bit annoying after a while. the band really shines musically when she focuses on playing the synths and they really just jam in the typical prog-indie rock climax attaining swell that is all the rage now-a-days. less is definitely more in this situation.
broken social scene were......AMAZING. production values, energy levels, enthusiasm and overall professionalism were all evident, and the crowd was extremely hyped and intelligent. all factors combined to make for an amazing 2 hour set, including every song off of their LP 'you forgot it in people' ending in an absolutely blow-your-mind performance of the aforementioned "anthems...." that featured pretty much everyone and their little dogs crowding the stage with 6 guitarists, 2 female vocals, an 8 piece brass section, and various other guests here and there. it was......near sonic perfection.
to cap it all off, returning for their encore, they were accompanied by special guest, Hayden who proceeded to perform.....some song....that frankly i'm unsure of the origins of. oh well, it was good.
and...as you can see by the picture.....the disco ball and stars were a very nice touch to the ambiance. all in all, one of the better shows i've been to this year. naturally, ranking behind bjork, but well ahead of even the death cab show several weeks back. very much worth the 20 bucks and wait in the cold weather. i'm not sure when these guys are gonna have the time to get together and play another toronto show, but if they do, i highly highly HIGHLY suggest you make it out to catch them. i promise you won't regret it.
Dec 3, 2003
TheStar.com - Jays sign Taiwanese pitcher
i didn't know people even played baseball in taiwan. oh well. it'd be awful cool if he eventually made it up to the big show for a few innings next year. it would probably double the crowds at the skydome.
can you imagine if he's good looking? girls from all over the city would take a sudden interest in the jays.......
i didn't know people even played baseball in taiwan. oh well. it'd be awful cool if he eventually made it up to the big show for a few innings next year. it would probably double the crowds at the skydome.
can you imagine if he's good looking? girls from all over the city would take a sudden interest in the jays.......
Dec 2, 2003
CBC News: Deadline Iraq - Uncensored Stories of the War - Resources
i saw this documentary on CBC:Newsworld last week, and i highly suggest that if anyone get the chance to sit down and watch it that they do so.
it details the stories of journalists and cameramen working in Iraq during the war last year, and it really shows the side of war that you never see. not from the opinion of a soldier, or some sort of biased view, but through the relatively objective eyes of the news.
they talk about all the stuff the army wouldn't let them say during the war, and they tell the real stories of what war is like reporting from the very midst of it. stories of innocent lives killed, civilians injured and the ramifications and consequences to the country that are never given a second thought here in the comfort of north america.
i saw this documentary on CBC:Newsworld last week, and i highly suggest that if anyone get the chance to sit down and watch it that they do so.
it details the stories of journalists and cameramen working in Iraq during the war last year, and it really shows the side of war that you never see. not from the opinion of a soldier, or some sort of biased view, but through the relatively objective eyes of the news.
they talk about all the stuff the army wouldn't let them say during the war, and they tell the real stories of what war is like reporting from the very midst of it. stories of innocent lives killed, civilians injured and the ramifications and consequences to the country that are never given a second thought here in the comfort of north america.
Dec 1, 2003
Psalm 19
"14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."
May the words of my mouth,
And the meditations of my heart,
Be pleasing to You,
Pleasing to You.
May the words of my mouth,
And the meditations of my heart,
Be pleasing to You, my God.
You're my Rock and my Redeemer,
You're the reason that I sing.
I desire to be a blessing,
In Your eyes,
Every hour, every moment,
Lord I want to be your servant,
I desire to be a blessing,
In Your eyes,
In Your eyes.
i've been posting a lot of song lyrics lately...i think the best part about songs is the knowledge and comfort that you're sharing in the same experience as someone else.
i've had this song in my mind all week....no particular reason why, i haven't sung it anywhere in a while but it's just been constantly popping into my head. the peace of God's mercy is overwhelming joy. it's like.....
yum.
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."
May the words of my mouth,
And the meditations of my heart,
Be pleasing to You,
Pleasing to You.
May the words of my mouth,
And the meditations of my heart,
Be pleasing to You, my God.
You're my Rock and my Redeemer,
You're the reason that I sing.
I desire to be a blessing,
In Your eyes,
Every hour, every moment,
Lord I want to be your servant,
I desire to be a blessing,
In Your eyes,
In Your eyes.
i've been posting a lot of song lyrics lately...i think the best part about songs is the knowledge and comfort that you're sharing in the same experience as someone else.
i've had this song in my mind all week....no particular reason why, i haven't sung it anywhere in a while but it's just been constantly popping into my head. the peace of God's mercy is overwhelming joy. it's like.....
yum.
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