February 2003

I’m taking an entrepreneurship course and we have to come up with a business plan. For the next deadline we have to do some market research. Our product is a video game and I’d really appreciate it if you would fill out a survey I’ve prepared. It will only take a few minutes of your time. It’s located here. Thanks!

I just realized what an idiot I was last week. I wasn’t there for a dear friend when they needed someone the most. This really distresses me because I’ve come to realize just how important this person is. Hopefully, in time I can regain their trust.

I’m going to sleep now. Tomorrow is going to be so much fun. If I live and am conscious on Wednesday, I’ll post some details.

ERTW!

Well from N.E.R.D. last week, it seems that this week’s obsession is squarely on my man, Joe Jackson. It seems that I’m not the only one either, Steppin’ Out is on Vice City and ?uestlove played it on Worldwide on Wednesday night. Admittedly is a great song, probably one of my favourites. I’ve actually purchased two Joe Jackson CDs this week – Steppin’ Out (The Very Best Of Joe Jackson) and Night & Day. Additionally, I’ve obtained other albums of his through various distribution channels.

Back to studying…

So Saturday was the D.U.S.T.E.D. event, which stands for:
Drink an
Unsuspecting
Small
Town
Etablishment
Dry

Sound like a neat idea? Well it was a lot of fun, but we didn’t even come close to finishing off their beer. It was kind of interesting seeing the regular patrons’ reactions when this big band of engineers came in. They were expecting a nice quiet roast beef dinner, watching the hockey game. I wish I had taken a picture of the ticket, because apparently we were going to an “Unspecting” small-town establishment. The bar was called Kennedy’s and is located in St. Agatha’s, which is just outside of Waterloo. The funny part of the night is that out of the 85 or so pictures taken with my camera, maybe 15 of them are mine, so don’t ask me about certain pictures. If you want to see them, they’re located here.

This will be the day when part of my fate is decided. I’ll be in Seattle interviewing for a full-time position. Now I need to start preparing. Also, do I allocate some time for seeing friends? I think I do.

I get hooked on songs too easily. That Zero 7 remix of N.E.R.D.’s Provider is still driving me crazy, and this is almost 2 months after I first heard it. Other recent (and some not-so-recent) musical obsessions:

• Shaun Escoffrey – Let It Go (Jazzanova Remix)


• The Cinematic Orchestra – All Things To All Men


• Jazzanova – Another New Day


• 4 Hero – Les Fleurs


• 4 Hero – Hold It Down (Bugz In The Attic Remix)


• Kate Bush – Cloudbusting


• Blur – The Universal


• Radiohead – Black Star


• Rjd2 – Here’s What’s Left


• Gangstarr – Moment Of Truth


• Fila Brazillia – A Zed & Two L’s


• Sylk 130 – City (5/6 Theme)

Ok not really, but I’m really into N.E.R.D. this week, as you may have already guessed. It has taken me a while to grow into this album, but I’m glad that I planted the seed in the first place.

Last night was a lot of fun.

I’m not sure what happens next, but I’m sure it will be interesting. We ended up going to the pub crawl but most of the drinking had already been done so there was much discussion. Tomorrow is D.U.S.T.E.D. (I’ll explain later) and that’s bound to be interesting. I’ll remember to bring my camera along.

Last night was fun. Becky had invited me to come to Hamilton to see 8 Femmes, part of the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s special film series. As it was in French, I had to make use of my years of French training to understand what was going on. It was either that option or read the subtitles. Admittedly, there were points where I had to read what was said but the vast majority of the conversations I could understand. What a funny movie! The songs were definitely over-the-top, but it fit in with the whole satirical goal of the film.

Dinner was supposed to be Casey’s, and I must be honest here and say that I was really looking forward to eating some fine Casey’s fare. We went to Casey’s Walt’s Beanery & Taps instead. Facts and scenarios were divulged, mainly concentrating on my dangerously high intake of Vitamin R. It must be due to the Malk I drink. Also, for previous weekends, Becky baked us some muffins and cookies. It’s nice having some homemade stuff in the house, though we could make some of our own as well.

Tonight I’m going to the opening of the new FASS show. It’s loosely based on the Muppets, so it should be interesting. Afterwards we may or may not go to the pub crawl. First though, I need to decide where we’re going for dinner.

I think about life pull down my hat
It’s just this road I don’t know where I’m at

In the beginning there was man and for a time it was good.

This is how the first episode begins, detailing the backstory of The Matrix universe. The suite of four Web shorts (to be released as 9 on DVD), called The Animatrix is directed by well-known anime directors. Naturally, it has a pessimistic tone and I can’t to see the next episode, due out in March.

View The Second Renaissance, Part 1 here, or for a saveable link, try here.

I have many Hinterland Who’s Who videos on my computer. I watch them for their peaceful portrayal of Canadian wildlife. The first time I heard DJ Shadow’s “Influx”, I could have sworn that the flute sample was from the theme song to Hinterland. Sadly, I was mistaken, though they are somewhat close in tone. I wish more of the videos were available for download.

This suite of songs is very intriguing. I have no idea who Cen-Art is (I can’t find any information anywhere), but this mix is very enjoyable.

But Deadringer’s real jewel comes after the album is officially over. While hidden tracks tend to be gimmicky clunkers, this is a diaphanous slab of soul. The brief, simple sample that anchors the track is both melancholic and resilient. A smoky yet smooth vocal sample declares, “You are gone, I’m so all alone… as I stare at the ceiling.” It’s a rare display of emotional transparency in hip-hop, although it would be a bit unfair to classify Deadringer as strictly hip-hop.

Cause I need you baby. Oh how I miss you baby.

After 3 hours at Swiss Chalet, Polyphony looks closer to inception. Target date: end of February for the first phase.

Today we learned about The Kipling Ceremony, which will be held on the 18th. It’s a very secret and solemn (voluntary) ceremony where we repeat our obligation to the community of Canadian engineers. Apparently we are allowed to “imbibe in the afterglow of the ceremony”. That’s putting it mildly.

Two of my constructed worlds crashed into each other today. At first I didn’t make the connection, uttering wild accusations and such, until I realized exactly what was going on.

Needless to say, it made for an amusing experience.

Apparently I have underestimated the skills of certain individuals. The egg is still running off of my face. Revenge? Well that will be just and well-deserved.

Do I need to be more careful what I say here? Well for security reasons, sure. However the events that have transpired have no effect on my online digressions. I will flout their knowledge!

Lipton Iced Tea, Sweetened With No Lemon is one of my favourite drinks. Unfortunately it can only be purchased when I go home so my supplies are rather limited.

I really should buckle down and finish off this lab. Otherwise my group will be angry and I aim to please everyone. No really, I do.

I’d just like to state that I despise freezing rain. It poses a serious risk to my livelihood when I’m driving. Why can’t it make up its mind? If you want to rain fine, if you want to snow fine, but decide between the two. It makes navigation around, well, anywhere, very treacherous. Also, it makes for lots of “fun” when I get to “clean” off my car after it has been sitting in this precipitation.

Over the weekend, Lisa made me promise never, under any circumstances, to play Lovage again. Fortunately I can still play it for my own enjoyment.

When putting on contact lenses, especially sets where each eye is a radically different prescription, make sure you put the correct lens in the correct eye.

That is all.

Weird connections to people reveal themselves everyday.

An especially unusual one was revealed today.

It caught me by surprise.

I am even more interested to follow this further.