Archive for the ‘Administration’ Category

Feel like writing but I’ve got nothing to say…

March 19, 2008

I returned the blogroll on my sidebar to my stupid made-up titles instead of the blog’s actual title. I was bored yesterday. Slow day at work, took a long break and it was raining. I didn’t want to go for a walk in the rain.

Today, I really feel like writing something good, something inspiring. Screw that. I wanna write something funny or at least interesting enough that would make me want to read it. But today, I got nothing.

In the past couple of days, I’ve burned through some posts I’ve had sitting in my drafts pile. It’s funny how creativity comes and goes. Some days, I can write two posts (at least one of them worth reading) while other days I can’t string together two sentences.

So, here’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna impart some wisdom. Look at it this way. I must have learned something in my years on this world. Maybe somebody can learn some of these things from me. I’m sure many people know these things already, but if I can help one person, then I’ve done a good thing.

  • Hard liquor that goes down smooth is a bad thing. It tricks you into drinking too much of it. You have to figure, the more it stings and burns and scrapes at your throat, the less you are going to drink. If you are drinking whiskey and it slides down your throat like water, well, you are going to have another shot, and another, and another and so on until you don’t remember how you got home. Lesson learned: never drink smooth whiskey.
  • If you want to get some respect from your bank, which I find is pretty rare. You would think a company that makes money by holding my money would be really nice to me and call me ’sir’ and stuff like that. But they generally don’t until I walked into the bank, went upto a teller and said “I would like to withdraw $2000.” All of a sudden, I’m a sir. All of a sudden, the teller pronounces my last name correctly. And nobody pronounces my last name correctly. Lesson learned: money equals respect.

This is pathetic. Twenty something years on this planet and all I can come up with is two things that I’ve learned. That is sad, so very sad.

Oh, and the light does go off when you close the refridgerator. Freezer too. Same goes for many wine coolers. Garage doors are the opposite though. When you close a garage door, the light turns on.

If you haven’t figured it out yet. I have had insomnia all week. And right now, I pretty much feel like I’ve been awake for twenty plus hours straight. I’m a bit light-headed and the clock on the wall is starting to look ever so slightly maliable at room temperature. It hasn’t melted yet. But it’s getting there.

21st Century Schizoid Banner

February 8, 2008

You may have noticed the new banner on this blog. Yesterday Juice sent me that banner.

For a while I had been using that Genesis - Duke banner, but that had been getting tiresome. I went back to the Asia Dragon banner and was waiting for the weekend to see Juice and ask him to make me a new banner. Me and Juice though, often of one mind, he already had a new banner ready for me, without me having to ask.

Much like the Duke and Asia banners, this comes straight from a prog rock album cover. Those of you reading this who know the album cover — ah — who am I kidding, other than Dan and Juice, who of those that might read this post will recognize the image of the Schizoid Man.

In the Court of the Crimson King (an observation by King Crimson) is a favourite album of mine. Years ago, my father purchased the LP. I’m not quite sure if he really listened to it. For years, my brother and I would stare at this album and at this guy with the sad eyes screaming. Then one day, we heard the tune In the Court of the Crimson King on the radio. After the song finished playing, we ran to our dad’s record collection and checked to see if that song we heard was the same as the one on this record with the bizarre cover.

Since that day, we’ve been King Crimson fans.

Weekend Recap

February 4, 2008

Friday I had plans to go bar-hopping with Bob and Janet. Those plans quickly fell through as the GTA got buried underneath a whole heap of snow. We all quickly decided that staying in was the better idea and we rescheduled for the next night.

Saturday Janet cancelled again because of the weather. This chick, I don’t get. She’s always got an excuse and frankly, I’m sick of trying. I decided to call it in early. I stayed in, went to bed early. Bob was a bit upset but I made it up by going to his place the next night to watch the game with him and his friends.

Sunday Okay, the Super Bowl. The first three quarters were a snooze fest. The fourth quarter was exciting. I wanted the Patriots to win because their head coach is painted by the media as the world’s biggest asshole. And I root for the asshole.

I’m too cynical to think that game wasn’t coreographed by the bookmakers. There was just too much money on the Patriots for them to win. Not to take anything away from the Giants, they played well, but in the end, the fix was in. There’s just too much money involved for their not to be a fix.

As for the commercials, I watched the Canadian feed, so… must watch Dexter, must watch Dexter… I didn’t see the fancy-schmancy Super Bowl ads. And I’m glad. People, they are commercials. They are things designed to make you buy stuff you don’t need. Its a sad world we live in where people are going to go on the Internet just to find commercials. Holy shit people. I don’t have a subscription to SI because I like to look at ads for razors and JD. I read the articles dammit! What’s next? Buying tickets to the World Series just to get a good look at the Goodyear blimp. Come on people! They’re advertisements.

And speaking of blimps, Bob… (yeah, lame fat guy joke), Bob raised a good point last night during the game. The broadcast included aerial shots from a blimp. Okay, that’s pretty common for the Super Bowl, right? But the game was being played in a domed stadium. The blimp had no actual view of the game. Oooh, the outside of a stadium, wow!

Blogosphere This is something new I’m trying out. Here’s some of my favourite blog reads from the past week. Things I enjoyed reading, things I think are worth sharing.

Ask WIGSF: the Answers

February 1, 2008

Thanks to everybody who wrote in. I very much enjoyed reading your questions and I very much enjoyed responding to them.

To really get into the questions, I’ve tried reading them in what I’d think the voice of each writer is like. Most of the writers, I’ve never heard their voices. A lot of it is guess work based on the writing style. I have included a description of each voice so you can play along too.

Maxie asked in a valley girl voice: If I was visiting Canada, where should I go and what should I do? Do you think people are nicer in Canada?

If you were to visit Canada, there are many places to go. It is a pretty big country. If you like to ski and all that goes with the ski resort mentality, Banff, Alberta. Really pricey, but apparently its pretty nice. If you need a heroin fix, Vancouver. If you like watching women take their clothes off for money while being surrounded by snooty French people, Montreal. If you want green, rolling hills and nothing else, the east coast. Otherwise, Toronto. Its the biggest city in Canada and therefore has all the big city stuff. The nightclub scene is a bit to urban for my liking but to each his/her own, right? And if you like really big phallic symbols, there is none bigger than the CN Tower.

As for whether or not Canadians are nicer. We’re not. The Ministry of Tourism has recently enacted a new policy where all tourists are spat at upon entering the country. If you’re driving in, when the customs official asks “Can I see your passport,” duck. That official has got a loogie with your name on it. You don’t want to know what we do to people arriving by the airplane (we’ve only got the one).

But I guess the one definitive good thing about my nation, better beer. Okay, not so much better taste-wise, its more like beer in Canada is an alcoholic beverage. Even the imports are stronger in Canada. A bottle of Heinekin in the States (~3%) is different from a botttle of Heinekin in Canada (~5%), although they’re both imported from the same place.

I can’t speak for restaurants outside Toronto, but the ones in Toronto are great. I don’t think enough is said about the dining experience in Toronto. Just stay out of the restaurants in Toronto’s Scarborough area. For some reason, all the restuarants there have crumby service.

In conclusion, if you get a chance, come up here. Give Toronto a try. Its a nice place to visit. Especially in the Spring or Autumn. That’s when the weather is really nice. The Summer might be too humid for spending any amount of time outdoors.


Dan asked like that good drinking buddy every guy has: What’s up with that $500 bet you made a while back? Any progress?

Good question Dan. As it turns out, the agreement was not as I described it originally. From later discussions with pals Bob and Columbia, it was determined that Columbia is going to pay $500 dollars to the first of me or Bob to do the dirty deed with a woman in a manner that is consistent with a set of rules that were agreed upon.

As for any progress, on my part, no progress has been achieved. I haven’t actually tried. There is a part of me that really wants Bob to take this challenge. He needs it more than me (the sex, not the money). Of course, there is also a part of me that is forgetting what boobs look like.

I also see the situation from a financial perspective. Sure, if I win, I’ll get $500. But how much will it cost me in dinners, drinks, flowers and shit like that. Frankly, the $500 won’t cover my expenses. It may be cheaper in the long run just to get a hooker. And with a hooker, there’s none of that relationship bullshit bogging me down afterwards.


Bob asked trying to be sly but failing miserably: I don’t know where to start, so many questions to ask, so little time: 1) Do you plan on working for your boss for the rest of your life? 2) Who is going to win the NBA championship this season? 3) Are you planning on moving anytime in the next 5 years? 4) Who is going to win the Superbowl? 5) Do you want to go to my bro’s on saturday night?

1) Only the rest of his life.

2) Kobe.

3) No. I love it in Maple.

4) The New England Patriots.

5) Not really.


Miss Ash asked in a firm, angry feminist voice, almost acusitory in tone: Yes I would also like to know the progress on the bet. As well as: 2)Who do you live with? 3)Why do you dislike women so much?

2) My wife.

3) See answer #2.

Okay, seriously, I didn’t always dislike women, I used to like them. Then I realized they all disliked me. I’m not willing to bend over backwards to appease them and their irrational hatred of all things me. I’m better than that. If they don’t like me, that’s their problem, not mine.


Wiwille asked in generic manly curious tone: 1) Do you have any desire to be involved in matrimony? 2) Why do you believe Miss Ash is the hotness? 3) Would you ever be an activist in Canadian politics? 4) Ginger or Mary Ann? 5) Does your obesssion with modern music mask the fact that your secret desire is to be a world champion square dancer?

1) Right now, I think my current level of matrimonial involvement is plenty. Honestly, I’m just not sold on the whole ’till death part. People can live for a long time these days. I don’t see somebody putting up with me for more than a week let alone a lifetime.

2) She ain’t half bad to look at, you know, when she’s not tomato red. And she likes Bowie.

3) Possibly. If it ever gets to the point where the socialist powers that rule this country ever make direct efforts to negatively alter my lifestyle (or that of my family), I may have to put aside the rhetoric and physically take a stand.

4) Mary Ann.

5) I have no desire to be a world champion square dancer. I’m not much for the dancing. The music I enjoy very much. As for modern music, if you’re thinking modern music is just new music, screw that shit. Its all junk. But if by modern you mean music of the 20th century and on, well, there’s just so much of it. Prior to that century, audio recording wasn’t in existance. Sure, classical music has some great pieces, but all we have of Mozart and Beethoven is the sheet music, we don’t have the performances themselves.


Helloblog asked in thick accent, not sure exactly which one, something British: 1. How do you like your tea? Strong or rather milky? And do you perfer it in a cup or a mug? (Yeah, that’s right, i’m combining questions). 2. Do you know my mum’s boss, Mario? He is also from Canada. 3. Who won the FA cup in 1988?

1. I like my tea strong but I often use a bit soy milk instead of any other whitener. I also change the amount of sugar I use from time to time. Right now, a spoon and a half of sugar. And I drink it in a mug. I’ve actually got a couple of those large mugs that fits nearly a litre of tea.

2. I’m an Italian Canadian. Do you have any idea how many people I’ve met named Mario?

3. Wimbledon.


Shae asked, how to describe that tone, high of pitch with a generous dosage of happiness and curiosity: 1) What makes your world go round? 2) What’s your ideal woman? 3) Ginger or Mary Ann? (I’m copying wiwille!)

JOY!

I’m going to answer #2 first. My ideal woman, I’ve covered this before but I’ll sum it up for ya. She’s funny, passionate, musical, and enjoys a good meal; therefore she doesn’t exist.

My world, well, my world is Earth and based on generally accepted scientic theories, it goes around because of the Sun’s gravitational pull. For more details, ask somebody who has studied astrophysics. I’ve got a diploma in computer programming, that’s it. I was never that interested in physics.

But if you were asking that question in a more metaphysical tone, well, its got nothing to do with the Sun. My world revolves around finding pleasure in the simple things. I don’t have oodles of money, I don’t sleep with supermodels and I keep my nose clean. Pleasure, happiness, its all around. An evening walk through a lightly snowed on park, fried chicken, turning on the radio and hearing a great song I’ve haven’t heard in a long time, stuff like that. That’s what makes my world go round.

And again, Mary Ann.


Jessica asked in a simple, bland manner: Do people in your real like know about this here blog? Was there ever a WIGSF 1.0?

Them is some good questions. A couple of people I know in life read this blog. Bob and Juice stop by from time to time.

When I started blogging, I used Blogger but after some screwy technical difficulties I was having with the site during the whole Blogger Beta fiasco, I switched over to WordPress. When I made that switch, I chose to change up the name, just a bit. This is my second significant attempt at blogging. I think the version 2.0 is both appropriate and nerdy. And Jessica, I’m a nerd, a big one.

I Attract Preverts

November 1, 2007

I checked the stats on this blog earlier this morning. Last month my blog received more hits than in any other month. You would think that more people reading my nonsensical ramblings would delight me. I don’t actually think more people are reading and enjoying my blog. It would be nice to have people find some sort of enjoyment or enterainment or informative information in my writings. Really, that would be nice, but I’m a realist. And, through a service provided by WordPress.com, I can view search engine terms actually used to find my blog.

Apparently, that post I wrote a while back about ugly titties still receives many hits, mostly from search engine lookups. Some of the more popular terms used to find my blog are: “hairy boobs,” “ugly boobs” and this is an interesting one “the bottom bitch on jerry springer.” Oh, and “el kabong” garners my blog a couple hits each day.

I would like to think these people googling and finding my blog would find what they were actually looking for. But again, I’m a realist. I don’t think anybody is looking for my lame MS Paint drawings of stickwoman titties. I imagine many people are dissappointed when they find my blog. Oh well, my blog is a perfect internet representation of me. People are often dissappointed when they see me. Why should my blog be any different?

Recommended Listening: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2.

More Carmine

October 29, 2007

Another post has been published in the Life with Carmine blog. It involves Carmine being completely oblivious to the world around him.

Contest Answers

October 8, 2007

Nobody submitted a single correct title. So I guess everybody loses. How sad. Here are the answers anyway.

  • The Cult - Love
  • Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits
  • David Bowie - The Singles (tape 2 only)
  • Eurythmics - Touch
  • Don Henley - The End of the Innocence
  • Tesla - The Great Radio Controversy
  • Boston - Walk On
  • Kiss - Smashes, Thrashes and Hits
  • Famine - Send in the Clowns
  • Gypsy Kings - Greatest Hits
  • some mixtape I made called More Senseless Junk
  • another unlabelled mixtape

    The following are in the shot but are nearly if not completely impossible to make out in the shot.

  • Steve Winwood - Roll with It
  • Genesis - We Can’t Dance
  • a sampler from Sunrise Records
  • Solid Gold Collection Volume Eight
  • David Bowie - Let’s Dance
  • an empty cassette case