Monday, September 27, 2004

Bootwhistle
It's been a while since I last posted but without a home computer find I really can only check email dilligently (plus the school computers aren't that great *sigh*), anyway for this week we have a company called imaginus on campus selling various posters to students at ridiculous costs. Actually I went looking for something since my room is decidedly spartan at the moment, however when looking through the posters and pictures I found that nothing really 'spoke' to me, most of the posters were from movies or crush pics of desired actress/actors (as well as the semi famous). There were also quite a few funny pictures and some inspired posters... my favourite being the periodic table of mixing drinks, but overall there wasn't anything that I wanted to see everyday, well there was a few but of course the better it is the price went up ... way up. I just can't justify spending over $30 on one poster - actually that's not the real problem I have, seriously if you have the money and it speaks to you then go ahead... but the impression I got from the whole scenario was one of mass capitalism disguising itself as setting yourself apart and individualizing. Exactly how individual can you be when you're buying mass produced posters from classic movies, and insightful wisdom that have been around for centuries (I also find it ironic that they sell posters with communist themes).
They say pictures are worth a thousand words, well I'm beginning to think your own art is worth a thousand pictures. I do have some artistic talent and while I may not be able to draw a masterpiece I can create something that has meaning to me and hang it with pride on my wall (also at almost no cost but thats a different issue). I'm not saying everyone should create their own art (because really some of you people suck big time) but at least think about what speaks to you (your soul to put it in another way), instead of what is popular/pricey. Jeez I can't seem to stop going on about the cost, arrgh, well you know what? I'm sick of this just do whatever other wierdos do, besides its a good thing for some students to have something shiny/glossy to look at while stoned.

Thursday, September 16, 2004

Well the topic I find most interesting today is the apparent (yawn) lockout by the NHL franchise owners. Not that I really follow sports but this story kind of caught my attention a little late, so from what I gather the NHL commissioner wants to impose some new payment scheme designed to help the ailing NHL franchises that are losing money. Under the recalculation of revenue the average players salary drops from 1.83 million to only a mere 1.3 million per year... pardon me while I lower the heat to keep gas costs down (actually heat is included in my res but couldn't think of another good example). Now while I'm of the opinion that sports players in general are among the most grossly overpaid people in the world that doesn't mean I give the owners a passing grade either. I've always wanted to know EXACTLY how much are these teams taking in and what exactly are they spending it on? Interestingly enough that is one of the beefs the NHL players association has, they were able to look at the books only after signing a non-disclosure agreement. Of course that could just be a ploy, since a lot of companies don't have books open to the public. That said, I really wonder how much of the revenue goes directly to the owners of these teams and how much goes back into the franchise? Its not beyond the realm of possibility that the franchise might be paying for lavish lifestyles of the owners a la Tyco (ice statue of Michelangelo's David that urinated Vodka).
Bah, the whole system reeks of corruption top to bottom, anytime money is involved everything can go to pot. Actually that's an idea to end the lockout, put the players and owners in a small room filled only with happy weed, matches and bongs. Then the lockout would be over real fast, heck the owners might try playing on the ice, just have to make sure to install a burger stand by each team bench (okay I'll stop with the silly weed jokes). That's about it for now

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

School life is pretty nice, I can see why some people may want to stay here forever. In the real world there is no way you could get away with drinking till 3 am and then show up for work (also based on personal experience). Moving on, I was watching CNN, which is really looking less and less than a real news channel and more like a day time opinion talk show (with skewed opinions at that) and I kind of realized something. That scrolling text on the bottom of the screen is a truly igenious and evil form of brain washing ( I say evil in the way Dr. Evil is evil). The text would distract me enough so that I couldn't really think about what the reporters were saying and just take at face value, if I ignored the text completely I found real loopholes in their 'logic' and how they altered the facts enough to give a certain impression which might not be 'exactly' the truth.
Now this might not have been done intentionally but that doesn't make it any less wrong. Especially now we have to question everything that is 'told' to us, nothing can ever be taken at face value from the media anymore. With the monopolization of media but corporations and individuals it would be ignorant to believe that their isn't an agenda that they want to either push or hide information from the public. I want to say people should treat the news like commercials but some people still believe everything in advertising is also 'the truth', hopefull we'll all come to our sense in the end, if it isn't too late.

Sunday, September 12, 2004

There isn't anything too remarkable to 'remark' on today however, yesterday was quite interesting. My dad had come down from Edmonton so we went to downtown Victoria to do some sight seeing, while we were there a reporter from global, stopped us and asked us about how we felt about the 3rd anniversery of September 11 (cue eerie or bandstand music). To be honest I kind of knew that is was Sept. 11 since while flipping channels in the morning every american station had someone talking about the Terrorist Attacks.
The whole event is being overused to the point that for most people who really have no connection to the event, are really desensitized to the coverage, though I'm sure the polite thing to do for americans is to feign outrage and yell hysterically about protecting freedom. Especially with the upcoming elections in the US the republican party (while maintaining that they won't exploit 9/11) use every opportunity to bring it into the limelight.
So what I should of said to the reporter was that I think that the tragedy that befell the friend and famillies of 9/11 have been overshadowed by politics, people really should stop talking about it, when someone dies you don't keep talking about their death for years on end - one remembers their lives and the impact they had on your own life, the good times and the hard ones. If 9/11 keeps being used by politicians, film directors and sensationalistic media then they are all stomping on the living memories of the people who died.

Friday, September 10, 2004

Wow, posting finally worked again! and it magically posted a blog I though was zonked. Anyway its finally friday and I manged to survive my first (half) week of classes, everything seems to be going smoothly but its getting to be a bit lonely on campus I think the weekend is going to really suck. I never realized how much time computer games and anime watching took up before I left my computer in Calgary... well only another couple of months to go then I can bring them with me :)
Well there were a couple of interesting news items, the oppostion parties in Canada have apparently made a list of demands to the government so now the liberals basically have to agree or parliment will be dissolved and I don't think Martin wants to risk another election especially since he has yet to do anything that proves he is a capable prime minister. The list however is what really piques my interest so far I haven't been able to find out exactly what is on it, hopefully with the NDP as part of the opposition the list isn't too right wing.
Running short on time so I'll cut this short for now. Remember 2+2 can sometimes equal 5 (well not really but it can make one think)
This is really just a test, my last couple of blogs were eradicated by the school computer, not sure what's wrong since the first time I posted just fine. Maybe its all the traffic which would mean I have to come here during the off peak times... man this blog is going to die.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

First day of classes! Feeling pretty good despite nagging doubts about how well I'll do, but hey have to try and just do ones best. Victoria is a little different than other places I've been in, actually from what I've seen of BC the majority of people are either under 30 or over 60, the middle aged are in the defininate minority, kind of odd to see but interesting none the less. The city seems to have everything that one needs but haven't been able to explore that much of it yet. Still trying to catch up on the news but so far just enjoying the scenery and rabbits and deer that wander around campus.

Monday, September 06, 2004

Well, I'm here in Victoria BC, the campus is pretty nice. Still feeling a little nervous for some reason but hopefully once classes start I'll settle down a bit.
It feels a little different, but everthing is still the same I suppose anywhere in Canada, its probably only when you leave to explore the more remote areas that you really feel the personality of the place your in.
Looking forward to getting the rest of my stuff done today, then can relax just before first day of classes on Wensday, now I'm getting even more nervous, I am deteremined to succeed for this year, and not be afraid of what others may think - easier said than done hehe. Anyway signing off for now.

Friday, September 03, 2004

This will be my last post from Calgary, starting tomorrow I'm off to Victoria to attend Uvic, it still kind of feels unreal but still exciting and stressfull. I finally managed to get my packing done, but as always there is the nagging feeling I've forgotten something. Its sad to leave a place you call home even if its just for a year, plus if things work out I won't be seeing my family for a few years.
One thing I found kind of odd is that whenever I tell someone I'm going to Uvic they always say its "a nice place" or "I wish I was going", somehow I don't think its because of the excellent 'academic' facilites. Anyway I'll see first hand what they mean when I'm there. All I have to do is survive the 20h bus ride and then the registration line ups... sigh, sometimes it might be easier to just stay in bed.