tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37195812012-02-19T10:06:13.618-06:00<em><strong>That well-known name awakens all my woes</strong></em>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.comBlogger5001100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-39792955917872569292012-02-19T10:06:00.001-06:002012-02-19T10:06:13.624-06:00

My author copies arrived on Friday. I can't even begin to express how thrilled I am with the final product. "With scrupulous and brilliant close analysis of key films and stars, Boyce reveals and complicates a new era of 'Britishness' in the immediate postwar years, one irrevocably marked by war trauma. In remarkably clear prose, The Lasting Influence of the War on Postwar British Film

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-89758916231937623942012-02-09T18:22:00.001-06:002012-02-09T18:22:32.718-06:00

Yesterday, in order to best describe how things have been going lately, I turned the name Sisyphus into a verb. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-90805378943831667582012-01-28T13:38:00.001-06:002012-01-28T21:44:44.608-06:00

Okay, I know I haven't been around here much lately. I think I have a reasonable excuse: I’m about to publish a book. It’s set to be released March 2012. I think it’s pretty good; in fact, so do a few other people.The book is about postwar British film. Although most of the films made in the ten years after the war ended (1945-1955) never mention the war explicitly, the war and the postwar

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-59170109360781208872012-01-28T13:35:00.001-06:002012-01-28T13:35:06.822-06:00

I haven't posted on here in some time, but I intend to correct that. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-52120228813012609242010-10-03T19:26:00.005-05:002012-01-27T14:21:12.914-06:00

On October 5th, Oliver will have been with us for two years. Time certainly flies.This photo was taken that first week. We still thought he was going to be a 25-30 lbs terrier cross. He was so small - mostly from almost starving to death - that I could hold the little guy in my arms. He wore a cat collar and slept in a cat carrier.This was taken today. He's grown so much, but is still the sweet

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-73499955163239161812010-07-20T13:00:00.003-05:002010-07-21T00:51:40.058-05:00

Well, because Keira asked nicely, I'll try to do this on my iPod touch. Excuse typos and punctuation problems. 1) The Pumpkin Pie Show: Commencement. Best thing I've seen so far. Amazing. 2) Pitch Blond. The story of comic actor Judy Holliday's run in with the anti-communist movement in the 1950s. 3) Gibberish. Chris Gibbs works a crowd like no one else. If you don't laugh you are a sad, soulless

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-61646619488482168762010-06-24T08:39:00.002-05:002010-06-24T08:55:11.178-05:00

This morning has been a bit of dramatic ordeal for me. Let me explain...As I listening to the radio on my weekly drive across town, the deejay announced that he'd just received a text that dog had been hit by a car in the Grant Park area and had run off. The owener was looking for it and if any listeners in the area could help it was much appreciated. My wife came across a similar incident about

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-22444389197579010342010-06-21T14:42:00.001-05:002010-06-21T14:43:25.797-05:00

http://jam.canoe.ca/PhotoOfTheDay/home.html?&pic=1

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-36829909565661296772010-02-26T12:52:00.002-06:002010-02-26T13:05:28.170-06:00

So, it seems that that the IOC has decided to investigate the Canadians women's hockey team for their post-gold medal win over the US. After the team won, they celebrated on the ice with champagne, beer and cigars. So what? The party took place AFTER fans had left the building. Honestly, there are times when the IOC come across as whiny children. Gilbert Felli, the IOC's executive director of the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-68620952445728442272010-02-19T11:12:00.001-06:002010-02-19T11:13:35.009-06:00

Tiger Woods's press release: better scripted than "LOST."

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-16366031588119814102010-02-16T15:39:00.001-06:002010-02-16T15:41:20.075-06:00

I wanted one as soon as I’d heard they existed. They sounded so good, so decedent, so terribly, terribly wrong. And a few weeks ago I fulfilled my five year quest: I finally had a deep-fried Mars bar. I can’t remember where I heard about them – probably some Brit comedy – but I was immediately curious. Curious the way people are intrigued by car accidents and the first couple of episodes of each

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-60842111622343562632010-01-05T11:25:00.002-06:002010-01-05T11:40:31.159-06:00

Like most of the civilized world, I saw Avatar over the Christmas holiday. Unlike most of the civilized world, I was pretty disappointed with the whole experience. Let me just get my biases out of the way: I'm not a huge James Cameron fan. I think he's a largely overrated, under talented filmmaker. The Terminator films (by which I mean, and mean only, the first and second ones) are solid. Aliens

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-43815149061898011072009-11-30T14:03:00.005-06:002009-11-30T14:47:40.007-06:00

I wanted to write something about the amazing Grey Cup victory this afternoon, but an accident with my dog has distracted me. It seems Oliver cut his eat on another dog's studded collar. According to my wife, blood was pouring out of the cut. She took him to the vet and he's in surgery now. There's a good chance he'll lose a bit of his ear and will have to wear a cone for a few weeks. Poor little

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-36294201300932624132009-11-09T11:05:00.004-06:002009-11-09T11:26:40.812-06:00

With the Winnipeg Blue Bombers officially (and perhaps not surprisingly) out of the playoffs, I need to find another CFL team to cheer. I'm leaning towards the Hamilton Ti-cats: the dramatic, late-season turn around; the impressive win over the Roughriders; and the fact that their current starting quarterback, Kevin Glenn, should have never been traded by Winnipeg. On the other end, I could cheer

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-54260554416107499502009-11-02T13:34:00.003-06:002009-11-02T15:10:24.070-06:00

I know, I know. Months have past by without so much as a "how-dya do." I'm a terrible friend and a horrible person. Please forgive me. Rather than going on and on about the mundane events of my average life I thought I'd list a couple of websites and their stories that have brightened my dark days. My Life Is Average Last night, after I thought all of the trick-or-treaters were gone, a boy of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-17028594501147295842009-09-14T15:44:00.003-05:002009-09-14T15:49:21.535-05:00

Harrison Ford has been talking up Indy 5 and his plans to redon the fedora. He claims he, Spielberg and Lucas have figured out what the story will be and are in development. I can't wait to see what new adventure Dr. Jones will stand around and watch conclude. Maybe they could make that stupid CGI gopher his new sidekick.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-51974085422784053712009-08-14T12:53:00.003-05:002009-08-14T13:52:39.579-05:00

Was watching Entertainment Tonight in glorious HD in the middle of the night. Truly HD is the only way to watch Mary Hart and that steaming pile of faux-important celebrity worshipping tripe masquerading as hard-hitting journalism (have you seen the way they present the Michael Jackson story?)I'm finding it hard to care about celebrities these days because they just seem so incredibly stupid. Do

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-22273454894466606182009-07-28T09:02:00.003-05:002009-07-28T09:44:58.322-05:00

I'm always a little sad when Fringe comes to an end. For the 12 or so days that the Festival is one much of my time is spent in the Exchange (and now Osbourne Village and the Forks) seeing plays, wandering between play venues and queuing up for tickets and plays. And the quality of shows was so good this year, I wish the Fringe was on for another couple of days. Of the 20-25 shows I saw, there

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-34455847263477265892009-07-20T02:24:00.005-05:002009-07-20T03:30:15.453-05:00

I know some people still read this blog and if you're reading it during the Fringe Festival 2009, I thought I'd do a quick list of recommendations of the stuff I've seen so far. I'm hoping to have a little bit of time this week to do a more concentrated review post, but I won't make any promises. Highly Recommend:Fall Fair: The guy who did Giant Invisible Robot puts on an amazing one-person show.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-82469703626829297612009-06-17T08:56:00.002-05:002009-06-17T09:00:58.901-05:00

First, you killed Stars Wars with The Phantom Meance and the Greedo-shoots-first re-edit. Then you pooped on Indiana Jones with The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and its monkeys, shrugging gophers and unfathomably employed Shia Lebeouf. Now you've decided to poop on Indy again? Fifth Indian Jones movie planned

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-55380212521749305512009-06-11T12:02:00.002-05:002009-06-11T12:10:22.961-05:00

Well, I'm back from southern Ontario. All in all, it was a good trip. The conference was really good; my paper seemed to be well recieved by the small audience. Made some good connections and met some interesting people. I was particularly glad to be able to see my very first best friend and his family. I first met Dave Row when I was under 4 and we basically grew up together. We went to Beavers,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-68611345599005560182009-05-22T11:53:00.003-05:002009-05-22T18:58:18.046-05:00

So tomorrow, May 23, is my birthday. It's not a big deal, and will, in all likelihood, slip by with little hoopla. May 23 is a date marked by intrigue, illlicitness, death, murder, and cartoons. Here are just some of the literally dozens interesting things that happened throughout the years on my birthday:On May 23, 1430 Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians during the Siege of Compiègne.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-56196989335545350962009-05-19T11:07:00.002-05:002009-05-19T11:13:30.684-05:00

Until I was walking a dog two or three times I day, I didn't really pay attention to how much broken glass there is on the streets of Winnipeg. Some of it is in front of businesses on Portage Ave, broken beer bottles after late-night carousing; some of it is in front of people's homes. I guess I can understand (that's not to say I like it) the former, but the later just baffles me. Who doesn't

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-31825218504995872322009-05-01T13:51:00.002-05:002009-05-01T14:07:52.436-05:00

My first year of university was what can only be described as a watershed year. I moved out of my parents' house; I struck out on my own; I met the woman who became my wife; I developed a love for literature and began on the path to my current career. Some of these new things were inconsequential - like learning to use chopsticks; others were considerably much more substantial.One of the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-23916759875118765122009-04-21T18:20:00.003-05:002009-04-21T18:30:17.514-05:00

I wasn't sure that I would post anything about the whole Susan Boyle phenomenon. I mean, I haven't posted in eons and why should that be the thing to inspire me to break my silence?I first saw about this story on one of the local news programs. The dowdy little woman with Martin Scorcese eyebrows belting out a difficult song with gusto and style. I watched the youtube clip and saw the look of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-60835366661357267042009-03-02T14:48:00.003-06:002009-03-02T15:04:15.759-06:00

A few posts back, Tom asked about podcasts and I figured I'd take a few minutes and write a little about what I'm listening to on the ol' Ipod these days.First of all, it's important to note that I listen to my Ipod a lot. I walk over 2.5 hours a day (30 minutes to work, 30 minutes home, at least 1.5 hours of dog walks) and, as I almost always walk listening to something, I go through podcasts

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-39075499676920118672009-02-23T11:07:00.002-06:002009-02-23T11:10:14.805-06:00

I loved Nolan's The Dark Knight and thought Ledger was great, but was he really the creepiest Joker?

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-8466690265878551582009-02-17T14:30:00.011-06:002009-02-17T15:12:50.209-06:00

25 Random and (not really that) exciting things about me:1) I know the words to a ridiculous number of lame late 80s, early 90s rap songs. "All right, stop what you're doin'..."2) My favourite movie is Casablanca. I've seen it over 50 times and can recite the dialogue.3) I'm addicted to "Lost."4) I drink an obscene amount of coffee. 5) After learning that people who drink a lot of coffee are more

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-9567908153403989012009-02-13T09:52:00.002-06:002009-02-13T09:58:02.713-06:00

I feel bad about not writing more this semester, but things are quite busy. Not much to report in the way of updates as the things I'm busy with are pretty dull admin type things. I don't see that changing any time soon, so perhaps I'll have to try harder to see the amusing bits in the very, very mundane.I have read some interesting novels in the past little while that I quite liked. The novels

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-34219340656925756902009-02-09T14:37:00.002-06:002009-02-09T14:49:03.488-06:00

Bad weather breeds camaraderie.Steady rain and temperatures hovering around zero have made sidewalks of Winnipeg are a virtual skating rink today. Walking to work took an extra 20 minutes because I had to do the straight leg shuffle most of the way. As I passed the other people silly or desperate enough to brave these condition, our eyes would meet, we'd share a smile and, in a few instances, an

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-31217682691540898722008-12-30T09:59:00.005-06:002008-12-30T10:16:33.858-06:00

With the rush of Christmas now over and the rush of New Year's just beinging I thought I'd take a few minutes to give a quick update to whoever still reads this blog. Christmas was quite low key, but also enjoyable, this year. My in-laws came in on the 23rd, but stayed with my brother-in-law and his wife. So, they'd come over here or we'd go over there. There wasn't too much planned, captial-e

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-27468814940560039572008-12-19T11:01:00.002-06:002008-12-19T11:07:16.227-06:00

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-22685691823122023292008-12-17T10:08:00.003-06:002008-12-17T10:16:31.767-06:00

Well, it looks like the deep freeze we've been experiencing here in Winnipeg will be with until Christmas. I must admit, the four half-hour-to-hour long walks a day have turned my feet into perpetually frozed blocks of ice. They only begin to thaw before it time to go out in the cold once more.Instead of posting a brand new Christmas blog that in all likelihood wouldn't be that good, I thought,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-90700479928529323442008-12-16T11:20:00.004-06:002008-12-16T11:42:59.109-06:00

The other morningI realized how much my life has changed: I reached into my jackey pocket for my house keys. I produced the said keys, an unused pooped bag and a handful of loose kibbel. As Dave has commented, I might as well change the focus of this blog to my dog.On another, non-Oliver, note, I've just finished reading Ron Hansen's fantastic novel Exiles, which tells of English poet Gerard

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-813272508754261032008-11-24T10:41:00.005-06:002008-11-24T15:45:36.301-06:00

A few posts back, I mentioned that a former student of mine, Brad Toews died and that I would write more at a later date. There have been no fewer than 15 attempts. Everytime I sit down to write something I find myself at a loss: Brad was popular, funny, the life of the party... and Brad took his own life. I will never be able to wrap my mind around that.Brad started taking classes with me last

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-65854644538524588662008-11-10T16:49:00.002-06:002008-11-11T11:08:29.439-06:00

We got some sad news this week: one of Rachel's uncles - Gerry Peters - died. I really like all Rachel's family, but Gerry has a special place in my heart. When Rachel and I first started dating, way back in the mid ninties, Gerry took on the role of protective father-figure as Rachel's dad was in Newfoundland. Gerry and his wife Sylvia were always very hospitable to me, and I'm very sorry he's

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-79164866915535282212008-11-04T10:01:00.005-06:002008-11-04T10:16:05.852-06:00

So, I'm going through a little separation anxiety. We took Oliver to the vet for his final booster shots. These will allow him to be able to take obediance training and go to dog parks. While there, the vet had a look at his one cracked tooth (a baby canine) and was worried that it could get infected and damage the adult canine. So, he stayed over night and is getting 1) a tooth removed, 2)

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-57217520749705454762008-10-12T08:19:00.003-05:002008-10-12T08:42:40.363-05:00

This is Oliver. He's come to live with us. I know I haven't written in over a month, and so much has happened - some good, like Oliver; some... very, very bad, like the unexpected and terrible death of a former student. I'll need to write about Brad soon, but the grief is still too fresh. So I thought I'd return to the world of blog by introducing our new puppy to you. Oliver's early story is,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-28395442992691318062008-09-02T10:14:00.000-05:002008-09-02T10:16:49.833-05:00

School starts tomorrow.... la la la-la.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-78223356848379896792008-07-28T10:33:00.005-05:002008-07-28T10:46:01.150-05:00

Well, the Fringe is over. It was an excellent fringe this year. The quality of shows is quite high. The only show I didn't really like was still quite good - the humour was a little too frat-boy for my ultra-sophiscated tastes (that's sarcasm, by the way). Since I last posted I saw a few more excellent shows: "Singing At the Edge of the World", "Manners for Men" and Gemma Wilcox's amazing "

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-23827231141710744262008-07-22T08:37:00.004-05:002008-07-22T15:00:25.474-05:00

My favourite of the Winnipeg summer festivals (IOW the various events they put on to make up for the horrible winter) is the Fringe Festival. Some people prefer Folk Fest with its man-skirts, wannabe hippies, and mini-lawn chairs, but I'm a Fringe guy. I like theatre.As most years, I've seen a pretty wide variety of shows, everything from serious "plays" to experimental spoken word. And, like

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-46109751552007941972008-07-16T13:44:00.003-05:002008-07-25T12:05:56.785-05:00

So, Feist is going to be on Sesame Street with a revamped version of her ridiculously catchy, "One, Two, Three, Four." Instead of being about annoying love, the new version is about counting to four. She counts monsters, penguins, all sorts of things. Here's the video evidence. Sesame Street claims that Feist's appearance is the first step in an attempt to focus this season (the 39th, btw)on

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-24617367370254690532008-07-15T14:30:00.004-05:002008-07-15T14:38:57.840-05:00

I haven't really had a lot of time to write anything in the last few weeks. My wife and I just bought a house and the possession date is ridiculously close, like the end of the month. So most of my "spare" time has been spent getting ready for the move: getting help, packing, figuring out the joys of home-ownership. We're having a yardsale this weekend to get rid of bunch of stuff too. There's

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-56982442156555668092008-06-23T10:59:00.006-05:002008-12-09T02:39:08.231-06:00

I first discovered George Carlin in the mid 1980s when my friend Shawn and I started buying comedy cassettes and lps. I picked up his seminal Class Clown, which is famous for his routine "Seven Words You Can't Say on Television"; however that routine, for which Carlin was arrested and tried for obscentiy - overshadowed the astute political and cultural criticisms as well as the smaller, more

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-74082849101703884352008-06-19T08:42:00.002-05:002008-06-19T08:58:54.424-05:00

I never feel as out of touch with popular culture as when I'm watching shows like "Entertainment Tonight" or "Access Hollywood." Those celebrity-focused magazine shows, with interviews with people I've never heard of, tell me loud and clear that I really don't have a clue what young people like, what they're watching or what they're listening to. In the fifteen minutes I was watching ET last

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-68093143543058952632008-06-11T13:45:00.002-05:002008-06-11T14:03:16.703-05:00

Just got back from a conference in Vancouver. I'd never been to the west coast, so I was looking forward to it. Sure the conference promised ot be interesting, but people told me about the beautiful beaches and the lovely weather. It was cold and rainy (almost) the whole time. The sun only really broke the afternoon I returned to Winnipeg. C'est la vie.Here are some thoughts from my journal I

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-57495821171080060722008-05-26T16:06:00.003-05:002008-05-26T16:30:02.466-05:00

As part of my birthday celebrations, my wife took me to see the new Indiana Jones film on Thursday. Like most people my age, two trilogies made up my formative film-watching experience: Star Wars and Indiana Jones. And while time and experience (and Lucas's revisions) have chipped away at my appreciation of the original Star Wars films, Raiders of the Lost Ark remians one of the greatest and most

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-49403033220282647142008-05-17T13:25:00.006-05:002008-05-20T16:04:12.690-05:00

I just finished up teaching a week-long intensive course. Figure I'll spend the majority of the weekend sleeping and recovering. Teaching for several hours a day for five days straight took an awful lot out of me. I borrowed the DVD of No Country for Old Men from my brother-in-law, so maybe I'll watch that too.My wife and I have been getting up and ready at the same in the morning for the first

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-57193038484264626082008-04-25T09:43:00.003-05:002008-04-25T10:54:11.560-05:00

Well, the weekend is upon us once more and once more the majority of my time will be be spent in graduation. I just returned from a lovely, filling breakfast with the Booth College Board. There's an alumni presentation and reception tomorrow afternoon; and the graduation itself on Sunday. I decided not to go to the Grad banquet, although that was the most enjoyable event at Prov last weekend.This

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-30441080561684118092008-04-22T11:46:00.004-05:002008-04-22T13:46:01.200-05:00

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)2. Put it on shuffle3. Press play4. For every question, type the song that's playing5. When you go to a new question, press the next buttonOpening Credits: "The Island, Come And See, The Landlord's Daughter, You'll Not Feel The Drowning" The DecemberistsWaking Up: "Walk Away" Tom

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-87215084011281311222008-04-17T14:25:00.003-05:002008-04-17T14:34:01.009-05:00

Well, my three classes have written their exams and I'm almost finished all the grading. I'd love to say that when I'm finished this last batch of papers that I'll be able to take a couple of days off and relax, but that's simply not going to happen. I have two consecutive weekends of grad ceremonies and hoopla and then a week-long intensive course in May that I have to prepare. In fact, this is

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-59820997252382008422008-04-11T09:45:00.002-05:002008-04-11T09:58:16.615-05:00

Taught my last class at Providence College. I'll still be going out there a few more times before I'm officially done, but this was the last day of teaching, the last day of "normal" work. Don't know what I was expecting - weeping? being carried out of the room on the shoulders of the students? - but it all felt a little anti-climatic. Some students came up after class and told me how much they

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-33261938177729770232008-04-07T10:46:00.001-05:002008-04-07T10:48:58.891-05:00

My wife will be so pleased...25

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-59192105983514214022008-04-02T18:23:00.000-05:002008-04-02T18:28:31.304-05:00

Anxiety? Giving a public lecture in 35 minutes and being sure no one will be showing up. I have an Inbox full of regrets...I know Dave thinks that I've been shurking my bloggin duties and I have lost the right to be called a blogger... maybe I have. There have been many possible posts abrewing in my brain. I've just had a hard time finding 1) the time to blog and 2) the right language to express

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-39816358543003094532008-03-13T19:49:00.003-05:002008-03-13T20:11:29.034-05:00

I wish I had time to write a bit more frequently here. Since returning from my business trip on Sunday, I've been going non-stop - class, meetings, class, more meetings, catching up on marking, picking Rachel up from the airport. There was a mildly amusing incident involving lost keys that I'll spare you from; though I will say it concerns yours truly on his hands and knees in a snowbank with a

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-10462870980439574132008-02-29T14:07:00.000-06:002008-02-29T14:13:00.951-06:00

I have admit it, I've been really depressed lately. I think I'm grieving the loss of the Mockingbird cast. Most of us still see each other around campus, but it's different. Instead of an almost familial relationship, we've been thrust back into acquaintance-land.Maybe that makes no sense if you haven't experienced something similar.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-45378864601497498652008-02-25T14:24:00.002-06:002008-02-25T15:00:22.446-06:00

As a Valentine's Day present to my wife, I agreed to accompany her to an exercise class at her all-female gym. As the gym was interviewing guys for a soon-to-be-opened co-ed location and there'd be males there anyway, they extended an invitation to the husbands, boyfriends, brothers, fathers of its members: "Come... and be tortured."I'm sure part of reason behind Rachel asking me to show off just

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-3139087889422343672008-02-23T18:58:00.002-06:002008-02-23T19:02:05.605-06:00

.... a couple more performances with this amazing cast.The house music is playing, Val's almost ready to address the audience, and we're ready, READY to take the stage one last time and tell this story. Last night's performance was plagued with problems - some minor, some not so minor (a major character having a nosebleed on stage would fall in the later category). But we got through. Few people

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-23847512261703179292008-02-22T13:13:00.002-06:002008-02-22T13:18:54.852-06:00

Last night's performance marked the half-way point of our Mockingbird run. Only two performances left and then it's all over. I must say, as tired as I am, I will really miss it. I haven't had so much fun in a long time.Last night I also finished reading the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.... about 5 minutes before I needed to be on stage. That college's English Lit prof had never read the novel

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-91345741109574722932008-02-20T15:45:00.003-06:002008-02-20T15:51:35.017-06:00

We finished our first performance of To Kill a Mockngbird at about 1 o'clock. The audience (made up of mostly high school students) seemed into the play, and there was a general feeling of satisfaction amongst the cast and crew. Personally, I felt the mob scene (of which I am apart) was the best we've done.There's another performance tonight (at 7) and two more tomorrow. And I continue to be

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-1775340825978983912008-02-18T17:42:00.004-06:002008-02-19T10:18:50.413-06:00

Well, To Kill a Mockingbird opens in a few short days (first performance is Wednesday morning), and I think it's going to be a really good show. Personally, I'm bone-tired and a little despondent - a few events have taken some of the wind out of my sails - but this is going to be an amazing show. Prov has some truly remarkable actors (students, faculty and alum) and Val Hiebert is fantastic

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-80501507676720335322008-01-16T17:11:00.001-06:002008-01-16T17:18:37.574-06:00

So, I'm in a play.I know I haven't updated at all since the new year and that I still have a couple of excellent fruit stories untold, but those shall have to wait. I am in a play.It's a bit part. I mean, I'm on stage for a long time, but I only say one line. I'm not sure it's a particularly important line, but it's a line nonetheless. Most of the time I'm sitting in the in audience of the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-77604162497167174172007-12-19T16:06:00.000-06:002007-12-19T16:13:32.495-06:00

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do much posting in the next couple of days. My in-laws are set to arrive tomorrow evening sometime and most of the next few days will be spent in the traditional holiday activities: eating, watching movies and avoiding conflict. I do have some excellent stories to share, but I'm afraid they'll have to wait until the New Year. I want to tell you all about my

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-51142171935806107292007-12-16T07:58:00.000-06:002007-12-16T07:59:29.352-06:00

Congratualtions are in order once more as my friends jpunk5 and kimbee gave birth (well, kimbee gave birth) to a lovely daughter on Dec 12th. The baby is healthy and happy and the lucky owner of a skull emblazoned onesy made for her by her proud papa.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-92062274784150958362007-12-10T14:44:00.000-06:002007-12-10T15:00:01.736-06:00

I read an interesting article in the Pamphleteer (the Providence College student paper) about their peaceful protest at St. Vital for Buy Nothing Day. I didn't know about this event, but I can tell you this: I agree with the sentiment.I was in St. Vital on Friday night. Now I'm not really a mall person at the best of times, but to be in mall on a Friday evening just a few short weeks before

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-72719540722260185072007-12-05T16:15:00.000-06:002007-12-05T16:18:58.958-06:00

Happy St. Nicholas Eve, everybody. I hope that the former bishop of Turkey stops by your house with his six to eight black friends. "They might put some candy in your shoes, they might stuff you in a sack and take you to Spain, or they might just pretend to kick you."

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-32596062681079156032007-12-03T20:30:00.000-06:002007-12-03T20:37:49.660-06:00

I haven't updated in a while. There have been plenty of things to write about but most of them are/were either a) somewhat confidental and therefore inappropiate to comment on, or b) time sensitive and time just passed me by.Despite the fact that it doesn't officially begin for another few weeks, it's winter. Winnipeg is capital-C cold. And snowy. Althought we didn't get dumped with as much snow

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-57014916575107852972007-11-05T13:09:00.000-06:002007-11-05T13:11:49.378-06:00

Congratulations are in order.A tip of the hat to my friend, Jaimie, and her husband, Andrew, on the birth of their daughter, Hanna. I've seen pictures and she's very cute.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-87972316175225036532007-10-24T13:39:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:39:08.391-06:00

All right, I promised (Tom) I would talk about Julie Taymor's Across the Universe and that's what I'm going to do.I liked it. A lot.If you like the music of the Beatles (and if you don't, you might be trying too hard to be alternative and contrary), you pretty much have to like this film, because it's all about the Beatles - and not just their music. There are clear parellels between the lives of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-7762855717704525602007-10-18T14:46:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:39:08.668-06:00

I thought this post was going to discuss Julie Taymor's Across the Universe, which I saw this past weekend. However, when I found out this afternoon that Deborah Kerr died, I decided to change gears and remember Kerr. In his autobiography, A Life in Movies, British director Michael Powell reflected on the special relationship he shared with Deborah Kerr (pronounced Carr - "Kerr rhymes with star,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-33190753372311282002007-10-11T11:14:00.000-05:002007-10-11T11:29:21.557-05:00

Yeah, so I haven't posted in a long time. Sorry about that. My dog ate it.Not much to report or review - my job has been taking up the majority of my time. Since Sept 25 I've been teaching an intensive course that adds 6 in class hours to my week (and that's not including prep and marking time). It'll be wrapping up on November 6, which can't come fast enough. Not that it's a bad group of

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-84017894083591157322007-09-12T10:53:00.000-05:002007-09-12T11:30:55.748-05:00

Well, the semester's underway, classes have begun and we're now in full academic swing (which, by the way, is the worst looking dance ever). Looks like I have a promising crop of eager minds this year.It's a little different being a real professor, and I'm still figuring out the whole meeting/committee responsibilities. It definitely fills up a huge part of my time. Because I'm half time at two

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-91822841053169039942007-08-30T15:01:00.000-05:002007-08-30T15:22:13.295-05:00

Well, my life's about to get a lot more busy. Classes start up next week and both schools are already abuzz with students and doings.Spent most of last week in the pictureseque RM of Gimli, Manitoba. My brother-in-law got married and many people from my wife's family came in for the wedding. We all stayed in a quaint little cabin.Went to see Mr Bean's Holiday on Tuesday and I don't think I've

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-86173282682957262402007-08-19T10:05:00.000-05:002007-08-19T14:28:02.768-05:00

I highly recommend that readers in the city of Winnipeg go check out Theatre by the River's production of Shakespeare's Two Gentleman of Verona, which is running at the Cricket Pavilion at Assiniboine Park. Suggested donation is $10, and there's really no reason NOT to check it out. The play runs August 19, 21-26. Go. Now.The play is thought to be Shakespeare's first, and, while not as

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-18891860037063848192007-08-17T08:10:00.000-05:002007-08-17T08:22:22.454-05:00

It's hard to believe that we're nearing the end of summer. In fact, I refuse to believe it. I'm saying it's still July 5th. Who's with me?The next week holds meetings and family things. I'm not sure which I'm looking forward to more.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-11491495615891852152007-08-13T10:22:00.000-05:002007-08-13T10:38:50.717-05:00

I saw Stardust on the weekend. It's very good. Michelle Pfeiffer has followed up her 5 year hiatus from filmmaking with two of the best villians of the year: Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray and the witch Lamia in Stardust. I run hot and cold when it comes to fantasy. I didn't read a lot of it as a kid. I've never read A Stitch in Time or The Hobbit. I've never read any Robert Jordan, though I have

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-9197574837820483272007-08-08T13:13:00.000-05:002007-08-08T13:46:46.588-05:00

Saw a number of movies this weekend, and all of them were pretty good. Firstly, there was The Simpsons Movie/Bourne Ultimatium double bill at the drive-in. Drive-ins are pretty cool, and take me back to the simpler times of my childhood. In today's environmentally conscious age, however, I believe that idling my car to recharge the battery between movies borders on irresponsibility. We opted to

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-59932260124990783662007-07-30T10:42:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:39:08.764-06:00

Ingmar Bergman (1918 -2007)In Memoriam

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-36801597316623643882007-07-25T09:09:00.000-05:002007-07-25T09:19:57.745-05:00

The half-hour walk to work has left me a sweaty, sticky mess. I really hope this afternoon's expected thunderstorms do something about this humidity. The way people talk, humidity is a relatively new thing in Manitoba, though complaining about the weather is as old as the hills.Of course the sub-Arctic conditions in my office will likely give me pneumonia. I love how we compensate for the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-62425744731059023652007-07-23T08:28:00.000-05:002007-07-23T12:43:39.177-05:00

After spending the majority of the weekend Fringing it, I find myself at a bit of a loss about what to say/recommend. Incredibly, I liked everything I saw. Sure, some plays/performances were better than others, but, on the whole, I was more than happy with each thing we went to. In fact, the only terrible, pretentious crap I had to sit through were the other Fringers in line trying to pass

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-29962989920630443342007-07-19T13:56:00.000-05:002007-07-23T12:40:16.753-05:00

Well, it's Fringe time in Winnipeg once again.I always enjoy the Fringe festival and try to see my share of plays. This year, as my work schedule is much more flexible than it has been in previous years, I'll likely get to a dozen or so plays. Last night I saw the first of those - Maxim and Cosmo by TJ Dawe. Dawe is a perennial favourite; his shows are always witty, insightful and very funny.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-4309381605525355192007-07-16T09:46:00.000-05:002007-07-16T10:02:09.748-05:00

Saw the new Harry Potter film last night and with the exception of the packed theatre, it was a mostly enjoyable experience. The film is, as most reviewers have pointed out, considerably darker than previous entries, but given the tone of the book is that any surprise? I thought the real highlight was Imelda Stauton as the prickly, prissy Undersecretary-cum-schoolmistress, Dolores Umbridge.After

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-20318229163204978662007-07-09T15:21:00.000-05:002007-07-09T15:27:42.457-05:00

In which our protagonist complains about the amount of moving he's done in recent weeksI hate change. Hate it with a fiery passion. Once the change takes place I'm all right, but during the period of change, not so much. Even good change. I'm in a time of change right now and I recognize it as good change (starting new jobs in my chosen field, moving into better offices, leaving jobs where I'd

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-36753795564466242712007-07-06T12:18:00.000-05:002007-07-06T12:21:27.978-05:00

In which our hero relates his recent - and utterly humiliating - experience with airport securityI pride myself at how well I fly. I arrive early at the airport, I have all my documentation ready to display, and I have never been (even moderately) hassled. I don’t set off metal detectors and, despite flying in the US a few months after 911, I have never been asked to remove my shoes. And I don’t

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-16364795125991536282007-07-05T08:39:00.000-05:002007-07-05T11:24:03.021-05:00

Well, the new job(s) started this week and I've spent most of the past few days setting up my offices - one in Winnipeg, one in Otterburne. I've been hanging picutres, filing, and trying to get some sense of which of my many summer projects need the most attention. I still have another day or so of filing to do; hopefully I can start next week off in a reasonably organized space.Went to a Bar BQ

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-4397882987826663292007-06-27T09:28:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:39:08.798-06:00

Everything's going to be all right now. "But we've missed you, Mike," you say. "Our lives just aren't as sunny without your aecerbic wit." There, there, little ones. Daddy's home. The past month or so has been particularly crazy. My parents came for a week-long visit (sans sister, who has expected and backed out at the last minute ofr reasons I don't want to get into) and to watch me graduate.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-9008522433233509802007-05-23T10:53:00.000-05:002007-05-23T10:54:39.330-05:00

I'm 32 today. And it's my last day of work at the UM Press. Pity I have to spend it in the asbestos-filled sweat box, assembling shelves.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-32415146774424507392007-05-17T21:48:00.000-05:002007-05-17T22:03:56.758-05:00

After the well-documented Spiderman 3 fiasco, I was a little reluctant to go to the movies the other night. But I sucked it up and went. And as much as I hated Spiderman 3, I loved Sarah Polley's amazing Away from Her. Based on Alice Munro's short story, "The Bear Came Over the Mountain," Away From Her deals with effects of Alzheimer's on a couple. Having dealt with a grandmother who we had to

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-8997756905414479562007-05-13T15:06:00.000-05:002007-05-14T08:51:09.081-05:00

Words can't express how much I hated Spiderman 3... well, a string of profanities could perhaps sum up my thoughts on the matter. This film was capital-T terrible. More than once during the course of the movie I turned to my wife and asked, "What the hell is this?" In fact, I spent most of the time asking questions as a way of keeping my brain active lest it explode. I thought I'd share of these

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-8882962490508176192007-05-09T22:09:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:39:08.913-06:00

I love W.C. Fields. W.C. Fields is a comic after my own heart: he tells it like it is, isn't afraid to make himself the butt of the joke, doesn't care what people think. He didn't care for kids and didn't care who knew it. After starting out on the vaudeville circuit with people like Chaplin and the Marx Brothers, Fields moved into short silent comedies where he displayed his gift for physical

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-67592021243184452682007-05-08T10:22:00.000-05:002007-05-08T11:04:31.275-05:00

I released something this morning: I've lived in Manitoba to recognize the ulitimate act of a desperate politican. PC leader Hugh McFayden announced the other day that if he's elected he'll bring back the Jets. Seriously? Gentlemen, I think the horse is dead, yet you continue to beat on it.Whenever someone running for office realizes their snowball-in-hell's chance, they evoke that holy-of-holies

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-84747195631024040632007-05-06T21:09:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:39:09.230-06:00

I know I've been a little behind with the updates, but, truthfully, I really haven't had much to say - no pearls of wisdom, no amusing stories. I've been working a bit. Not too much, mind you, but it's been more than a little bit frustrating. Most of my job this past week has involved the massive reorganization of our storage area at the UM. This translates as Mike moving a lot of very heavy

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-72390508662330647472007-04-30T10:22:00.000-05:002007-04-30T10:34:18.722-05:00

I've come to realization: I hate bikes.In Winnipeg biking is a big deal. Even in the dead of winter some crazy person is peddling his or her way down the street. And I understand why biking is a good thing - better on the environment and healthier - but I'm tired of cyclists who either ignore the rules of the road or make up their own version of those rules. Personally, I love the

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-39434480997774769552007-04-28T18:56:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:39:09.338-06:00

I got an unexpected email from someone I believe is one of the funniest comedians currently working, letting me know about an upcoming gig. She trying to get an audience together as she tries out a new show. The problem is she's in England. I am not. So any readers who are in England, are going to be in England in the next little while, or know people in England: please, check out Nina Conti.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-62891834749693596332007-04-26T21:56:00.000-05:002007-04-26T22:11:35.127-05:00

30 secrets about myself...1. Is that your natural hair colour? Why would I colour my hair?2. Where was your default pic taken? From the internet3. What's your middle name? William4. Your current relationship status? Married5. Honestly, does your crush like you back? Probably not.6. What is your current mood? Gregarious7. What colour underwear are you wearing? green8.What makes you happy? filling

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-37099882629078364632007-04-23T22:55:00.000-05:002007-04-23T23:05:05.724-05:00

Surprise, surprise: I hate McDonalds' new marketing campaign. This time it's not an innocuous, brain-numbing jingle or celebrity whoring that's bothering me, it's the implications of their new bus ads. See, McDonalds apparently cares about their employees, but these new ads all seem to revolve around the romantic lives of their employees... and it's creeping me out. They say things like, "Should

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-53433379279980767532007-04-20T14:32:00.000-05:002007-04-20T14:41:46.917-05:00

Through the magic of Facebook, I have learned a little something to warms the cockles of my heart: I was mentioned as someone's favourite high school memory. And I quote, [High school] did have its few moments, like Revels - Christmas concert, especially the one that the 4 guys, can't remember their names, they did some skit and at the end they opened their coats and dropped banners that said "

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-80190238360479598162007-04-19T17:18:00.001-05:002007-04-19T17:37:37.167-05:00

So, all my exams have been administered. And, though I have 45 handwritten exams that have to be graded in the next little while, it's time to turn my brain to happier things, like my summer reading list.I intend to finish Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time, which in and of itself is quite the commitment. I just began the fourth novel (of twelve), after some internal debate. You see,

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-17677272404829883752007-04-17T12:00:00.000-05:002007-04-17T12:06:57.249-05:00

Ipod Random 10:1) "A Peak you Reach" Badly Drawn Boy2) "I'm a Believer" The Monkees3) "The Chimbley Sweep" The Decemberists4) "Hallelujah" John Cale5) "Jesus" Velvet Underground6) "Red Right Hand" Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds7) "Maggie's Farm" Bob Dylan8) "A Foggy Night" Ella and Louis9) "The Seeker" The Who10) "Tota pulchra es" Tallis Scholars

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719581.post-3154360241159667282007-04-16T12:07:00.000-05:002007-04-16T12:28:16.658-05:00

Movie Quizlet My friend Chris always has the best blog quizzes...1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.I've seen a number of movies more than 10 times: Casablanca (over 40), Star Wars (over 30), Raiders of the Lost Ark and Scrooge (over 20), Ladykillers, Third Man, Lady Eve, Citizen Kane, Brief Encounter, Rushmore, Pulp Fiction (over 15)2.

Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06571657514113218053noreply@blogger.com3