SuSuSudio

Sususudio 2.0? Vlogs?

2009-06-30T18:24:00.002-04:00

“You strip me of my rights and I interrupt you. Who’s really suffering here?”

2008-11-13T13:12:00.001-05:00

Go Dan Savage!

President-Elect Obama Collects Super-Man and Conan The Barbarian...

2008-11-11T01:52:00.003-05:00

... comic books.

Racist Ends Forever

2008-11-09T03:04:00.001-05:00

"The Strength of Our Nation"

2008-11-05T01:06:00.003-05:00

"Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

- President-Elect Barack Obama

This is why I do not descend into juvenile hatred of America, because I do believe in what American represents. I believe that America is a beacon of liberty and democracy and hope. And in spite of the difficulty of keeping this belief in the past eight years, I have kept on believing in it, and I believe I have been reward tonight.

I have said privately before that the War on Terror was lost because it has alienated large portions of the world when America should have been winning them over.

It seems to me that the new president-elect thinks along those lines as well, and I am just so overwhelmed with emotion. I have such hope now for the future of not just America, but the world.

Today at various points, I have had sudden mini-attacks of panic when I remembered that as charismatic as Obama is, he is not magic. The new president would have to deal with not just the financial crisis but also two difficult and unpopular wars. I was seized with the same skepticism that plagued me back during the primary season, which did not allow me to embrace Obama as swiftly as many others did.

But in tonight's speech, Mr. Obama addressed those issues so well. He was not triumphant, but seemed truly to realize the serious burden he is about to take on.

Other than the above quoted passage, the other portion of the speech that really struck me was when he applauded all those who voted.

"Young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

How right he is that all of these demographics make up America. And how wrong the McCain/Palin campaign were to imply, through their use of the absurd expression "Real America" that some of them didn't make up America. The people gathered at the Obama rally, who were young and old and of so many more ethnicities than the people at McCain headquarters, they, not (just) "Joe the Plumber", are real America.

Speaking of McCain, he gave a great speech as well, though his supporters were less than gracious about their loss. As he spoke, it struck me that this was a really nice man, a man of integrity who sold his soul, and got nothing in return. Had the man who spoke tonight been running this campaign, and not the negative, cheap shop-taking McCain we saw in the last few months, then the result might have been different. Or at least, he would still command the respect of far more individuals than he does now.

Finally, I'd just like to say that I hope that tonight's result will bring a renewed belief in the power and virtues of democracy around the world and inspire more people to take active roles in their governments.

As I have said on Facebook, I have never been so proud of democracy.

Bradley Effect

2008-11-04T16:51:00.002-05:00

I've been overhearing a lot of people saying that it might be difficult for Obama to win because of the so-called Bradley Effect, in which more people say they will vote for an African-American candidate than actually do.

This may or may not be in effect in this election. However there is almost definitely a lack in polling of the "mobile vote" or voters who only use cell phones and not land lines. Since it is mostly young people who are cell phone-only users, and young people are more likely to vote Obama, this will likely make a difference. Cell phone polls have given Obama a nine-point lead, while landline polls only give him a five-point lead.

So will the Bradley effect and the mobile vote cancel each other out? We'll have to see.

Sarah Palin as stupid as Britney Spears

2008-11-04T16:45:00.002-05:00

The Masked Avengers talk about their prank on Sarah Palin on a CBS morning show.
Apparently the only other person they have pranked who didn't realize it was a joke until the very end was Britney Spears.

What will happen to this blog after the election?

2008-11-04T16:27:00.001-05:00

Hopefully, I can go back to writing about Pet Shop Boys and comic books without feeling so guilty.

As well, tonight I do not think I will be updating. Instead, I'll write something tomorrow morning. And then that's it!

Frank L'Ouvrier

2008-11-04T16:13:00.002-05:00

What a lot of people seemed to have missed in the Sarah Palin Prank Call, is that at the very beginning, when the "aide" to "Sarkozy" is on the phone, he identifies himself as "Frank L'Ouvrier" = Frank the Worker.

This. Fucking. Election

2008-11-04T01:42:00.001-05:00

http://thisfuckingelection.com/

Marching on Parliament

2008-11-03T21:50:00.006-05:00

On Wednesday, we will know who the new American president will be, Barack Obama or John McCain.

As well, I, personally, will be having an interview for a volunteer position in the Parliament Hill office of Maria Minna, the MP for Beaches - East York.

On that same day Carleton students are marching on Parliament Hill to demand lower tuition costs.

Awkward much for me?

Anyways, I have no idea what the kind of demonstration they are planning once they are on the hill. Oh wait...

They are obviously planning to blow up Parliament.

Election Day Snacks

2008-11-03T21:00:00.003-05:00

When Americans vote tomorrow they will receive stickers saying "I voted". These stickers have now become redeemable for free goodies from Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, and Ben & Jerry's. That leaves me with one question:

Why isn't our democracy as tasty?

Chris Lowe Playing a Keytar... Whaaaa?

2008-11-01T20:10:00.001-04:00

Pet Shop Boys - Left to My Own Devices, 1988 Top of the Pops performance".

This was my Halloween costume

2008-11-01T16:57:00.004-04:00

No one got it.

Election Night vs. Goodfellas

2008-10-31T01:53:00.007-04:00

I am facing a dilemma, which I hope you, my readers, can help me with.

The upcoming Tuesday, as you no doubt all know, is the US election. Now, I have been invited to an election-watching pub night (at the Arrow & Loon on Bank St in Ottawa. If you're around, come so I won't be totally surrounded by McCain-ites! Or if you support McCain, that's fine too!) I was all set to go, but I recently remembered that I actually can't.

To be precise, I have class at that time. I had conveniently forgotten about this fact. The class is Film 1000 and we are watching Goodfellas. Pretty badass, I know. My class is from 5:30 to 8:30, while the pub night starts at 7:00. Pick-up from Res is at 6:30, though.

I wouldn't want to miss any second of the vote-counting madness. After all, as I keep saying, the American election is like the Super Bowl to me, if the Super Bowl was every four years and affected everyone in the world.

At the same time, I like Goodfellas, and since are essay topic is on comparing gangster movies from different eras, it might hurt my grades if I miss it.

Then again, I could attend the first part of the class, the lecture, and bail out for actual movie screening. And if I really needed to, I could rent the movie, I guess. Or, I could just go after class. Will the ballot-counting be done by 9:00?

What do you guys think?

Plus, a Reminder:

2008-10-29T22:41:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is Cabinet Day!

Admiration for Sarah Palin?

2008-10-29T22:10:00.011-04:00

Recently, my friend Nan questioned me about my previous "support" for Sarah Palin on Facebook.

I seem to remember a blog entry along of lines of 'I admire Palin'. Defend yourself, woman.

The following is how I replied, with slight corrections.

Immediately after the choice was announced Palin seemed like a potentially good choice. At the time, she seemed like what McCain needed to win over the Hillary supporters who weren't totally behind Obama. That was basically what they got her for at the time. As well, I think I might be one of the few people who didn't say "Sarah who?" when I saw the headline. I first heard of Palin in March when she announced her pregnancy. At the time she just embodied, in my mind, the possibility to have it all: a fairly large brood of children, a solid marriage, and lots of power. That's basically what I want. I used to tell people that I wanted 4 kids and to be Prime Minister of Canada. So her story resonated with me. Obviously when McCain first picked her, I had reason to believe that it would resonate with other women with similarly high ambitions in both career and home.
At the time, in August, I wrote, "Having Palin as his running mate can only help McCain's chances." Can't believe how wrong I was there.

My change in my view of her isn't inconsistent with most people's. Immediately following the convention, McCain's numbers soared above Obama's, especially among women. They've sharply declined since, and most people now believe that Palin hurts McCain's campaign more than anything else, including George W. She's proven herself to be woefully incompetent in a multitude of ways, all of which you no doubt know about. Though I am confident that the McCain/Palin ticket won't win, I am terrified at the prospect of Palin in 2012 or Palin as a TV host. Imagine.

Another thing I think you should know about me. I used to like McCain. Unimaginable now, but remember, there was a time when McCain appealed to Independents and even some Democrats. He seemed, during primary season, to be more reasonable and more centrist, than the other (Repubican) candidates. McCain at the time was viewed as the guy who could possibly renew the party after Bush. He could move the party to the center and end the era of divisive politics and mudslinging typical of the Bush/Rove campaigns. I find it shocking that he screwed up so badly. There was a time, not so long ago, when the McCain "brand" meant integrity, but now that brand has been damaged irrevocably, and McCain is losing spectacularly.

Yes, I wrote all of that on her wall. What a great friend, aren't I?

Anyway, I just thought that I should emphasize the point that for me to change my point of view like this isn't so strange. Plenty of other people, especially women, have followed the same trend. It doesn't make me a flip-flipper. It was merely an organic change of attitude.

Anyhoo, I'm now going back to writing that 2500 word essay due tomorrow of which I have not written one word yet.

Dancing Children

2008-10-28T22:25:00.002-04:00

We Didn't Start the Fire

2008-10-26T16:42:00.008-04:00

Last night at Prescott House at Carleton University, the fire alarm went off and the building had to be evacuated. The fire trucks came, we stood outside, the fire trucks left, we went back inside.

Then, a mere four hours later, at 3 a.m., it happened again. This was actually the third time in two days. Fourth, if you count the Thursday night 2:30 a.m. one when someone pulled the boxes off two alarms on the second floor setting off a shrill but slightly different alarm sound, but only on our floor.

At this point, I wish the place would burn down, I hate it so much. I want to torch the place, especially the fourth floor, which I overheard from the security guards was where someone pulled the alarm in the first false alarms of last night.

If Prescott were to burn down, I could get my check back and move somewhere else, somewhere where I can read about child kidnapping cases at 3 a.m. without being interrupted by having to rush outside to huddle in the cold while the firefighters, who really must be livid at us, check each floor of the building. I want this place to burn, and I don't even care if all my possessions are inside.

I may seem facetious, but I serious! This hardly makes us any good at responding in emergencies. In fact, I don't think I will ever take a fire alarm seriously ever again! I have spoken to other Prescott residents who don't even bother to come out of bed when the alarm sounds anymore.

What causes these alarms? God knows. Apparently some are caused by despicable drunk children who truly think it would be great fun to pull the fire alarm and disturb the peace of 400 students. Other times, it appears that it's all due to the cooking appliances.

Prescott is one of only 3 Carleton residences that allow cooking appliances in suites. We pay more and in exchange we get a little kitchenette with a fridge and a microwave and the permission to bring other appliances such as toasters, toaster ovens, electric grills and hot plates.

Clearly, most first-year students have never used toaster ovens before and burn their toasts all the time, with disastrous consequences.

Or maybe the school authorities are so afraid that we are going to set ourselves on fire that the smoke and heat detectors are rigged too sensitively.

In any case, I am sick of it. If I could move out now, I would. As it is, I'm going to have to bare it until May.

Update

I just found out from Amber, our floor rep, that all of these alarms, expect for one very early on, were deliberately done for pranks. Though once a month there is a planned drill.

Sarah Palin Makes An Ass Out of Herself

2008-10-23T01:58:00.005-04:00

Am I the Most Inconsistent Blogger Or What?

2008-10-22T23:09:00.003-04:00

I mean, months ago, I wrote a post about how much I admire Sarah Palin and think she could be a great choice for McCain. But do I ever do a follow up to say that I was bloody wrong? No.

The day after the election here in Canada I write a long post about the Liberals' loss. But when Stephane Dion announced his resignation two days ago, what was the topic on my blog? A detailed review of a vampire show from ten years ago.

I know I'm supposed to be "random" as the header says, but this is ridiculous.

The Best Vampire Show You've Never Heard Of

2008-10-21T00:00:00.035-04:00

It's no secret that I am a fan of vampires. Besides having read all the vampire-related Anne Rice Books (yes, even Blood Canticle), and I was once notoriously obsessed with Buffy. As well (you may know this because I foolishly talk about it in public) I have a vampire saga of my own that has been boiling over in my brain for the last few years.

Many vampire stories are disappointing, though. For example, there is nothing in this world that will convince me that Twilight is not shit. And blazing through ten (10) Anne Rice novels in just a few short months can leave you feeling underwhelmed. Blood Ties has got so many elements that I should by all means love (including but not limited to the fact that the main vampire is the illegitimate son of Henry VIII and as you may know, I love me some royal bastards) but it does nothing for me.

That is why I was so happy to discover a brilliant tv series about vampires which unfortunately only lasted six episodes. Its name is Ultraviolet.

I first heard of this show when I became obsessed with Idris Elba, the (totally hot) actor who played the classy and shrewd gang boss Stringer Bell on The Wire. Looking him up on good old Wikipedia, I discovered that he first became known after starring in something called Ultraviolet.

Though short-lived, Ultraviolet was an extremely influential television series shown on Britain's Channel 4 in 1998. Apart from Mr. Elba, it also stars Jack Davenport (of the British Coupling), Susannah Harker (of BBC's Pride and Prejudice miniseries) and Philip Quast (of theatre, apparently).

The series starts off with Mike (Jack Davenport), a police detective whose best friend/partner Jack (Stephen Moyer, currently playing a vampire on HBO's True Blood) disappears on the day of his wedding to Kirsty (Collette Brown), a girl we get the impression Mike likes a little too much.

Jack Davenport as Mike Colefield

In the subsequent investigation into Jack's disappearance, Mike comes up against a couple of supposed CID officers (like Internal Affairs, apparently), Detective Inspector Angie March and Detective Sergeant Vaughan Rice, who interrogate him about his friend and the investigation they were working on.

Susannah Harker and Idris Elba as Angie March and Vaughan Rice

As it turns out, Jack has been co-opted by the global vampire conspiracy, whose only opposition is the government-funded paramilitary group with ties to the Catholic Church that Angie and Vaughan are a part of.

After a few skirmishes, in which Mike tries to help his friend, Jack is killed and Mike joins the team, which is headed by Father Pearse Harman (Philip Qast), a priest.

Angie, it turns out, is a doctor whose husband (a famous blood disease specialist) and daughter were taken by vampires while Vaughan is a former soldier whose entire squadron was killed by vampires as well.

What's significant about this series is it's use of scientific methods to combat the vampires. The agents use carbon bullets, gas bombs containing garlic extract and ultraviolet lamps to detect infection. The word "vampire" is never uttered either, adding to the realistic feel. The vampires are instead referred to as Code 5. (Five as in the Roman numeral V, get it?)

Through the next five episodes, the team comes across several

different cases involving Code 5 and discover more and more of the various ways in which the vampire organization is attempting to take over the world.

Most of the vampires' plots involve science, or at least modern technology, as well, whether it's attempting to create an airborne version of the vampire virus or using time locked caskets for transportation.

Despite the faceless menace of the vampire organization (we don't get to hear a vampire give his side of the story, really, until the finale) the sense of moral ambiguity is always there. Are the vampires really evil or are they just like any group of people who are different and persecuted?

The characters' faith sometimes waver, especially in the case of Angie, who probably still harbours some hope of getting her husband back, and Pearse, the priest and the team's leader, when he is diagnosed with a blood cancer.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Mike and Kirsty gets complicated when Mike is forced to cease contact with her and she starts to investigate what his new job is really about.

My favourite episode, because it has the best twist, is the second one, "In Nomine Patris". However, all the episodes are top-notch, possibility because they were all written by one person, show creator Joe Ahearne, who also directed all episodes as well.

Such an obscure show is obviously difficult to find on DVD at Blockbuster, but thankfully, someone has uploaded all six episodes to Youtube. You can find them by searching a bit. I highly recommend anyone who is into vampires or just well-made television to take a look.

Also...

2008-10-20T12:25:00.001-04:00

Flight of the Conchords as David Bowie and Mick Jagger.

Click here for more.

In a serious matter

2008-10-20T00:40:00.008-04:00

It has recently come to my attention that one of my all-time favourite music videos, "Dancing in the Street" by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, has been named the "Rock Crime of the Century" by Rock Town Hall.

Long-time readers may remember this video from a "Retro Video of the Day" post on March 27 this year. You may also know that this record is one of the only things on vinyls that I own. It's cover looks like this:

And the video, once again:

Apparently the good people of Rock Town are against fun. And awesome.

Seriously, you know what I consider a rock crime? Taking yourself too seriously. And that is something that pretty much everyone in rock and their fans are 100% guilty of.

Rock Crime of the Century

In related news...*

2008-10-16T22:20:00.004-04:00

My two favourite gay Jewish men (who are British) were united on last week's episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Yes, that's right, Stephen Fry was a guest on Never Mind the Buzzcocks! I swear, when I found out about that... well, I just thought, "Now I can die happy."

For those of you who don't know (let's face it, that's most of you), Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a British comedy quiz panel show about pop music featuring celebrity guests. It is hosted by Simon Amstell, who regularly rips his guest to shreds. Stephen Fry is the greatest man on earth who has ever existed.

Here are all three parts of the episode in question, courtesy of Youtube.

So, wasn't that great? Okay, maybe it wasn't a great as I thought it would be, but it was still damn entertaining.

Now if only Neil Tennant would guest then... then, I don't even know.

*... gays? Youtube?