Friday Rambles

Friday Lessons:

• Waking up late is no good for the equilibrium, even when unemployed. Respect the German radio program summoning you from sleep.
• Thinking about the gym is not equivalent to attending the gym.
• I have no maximum threshold for anime. I have no saturation point. Conclusive amounts of writing will only be accomplished in the absence of anime.
• Battlestar Galactica: Brilliant source for parodies. I want to attempt a one-person summarized version of an episode. Call for an actor is pending.
• Get dressed before the parentals arrive home from work. Older generational anger still exists on Fridays.
• Chuck Palahniuk is the bee's knees. How is one man so violent, impish, and eloquent all at once? And productive. Productive is an important description.
• Toast is not an adequate dinner. Add hummus.
• YouTube was designed to suck me into an endless stream of British television (QI: Quite Interesting) and Japanese comedy (Downtown)
• Do not look up symptoms online. Ever. Chronic sore tummies will not be cured in this fashion.
• Scout out some chocolate-covered ju-jubes this weekend. It might be counter-productive for general health purposes, but it is conducive to heightened enjoyment of nerdtastic weekend television.

Indeed.

What My Student Allowance Allowed Me To Have This Week

………

Perfection In A Pint

Oh, St. Patrick's Day -- I marvel at the crazies you draw out from across the city. The lure of green-tinted beer, potato-based meals, and emerald-clad twenty-somethings is too overwhelming for the questionable quarter of the populace.

(Wow, enough dashes used in that last sentence, huh?)

Now, before I sound all removed from the festivities, I admit -- I was in the centre of the madness. Or, rather, our crew dodged the mad core and discovered our own bit of Irish-themed fun. I was decked out in the vibrant green button-up that tends to draw compliments from friends and strangers alike and had a sweet excursion to Toronto overall.

I wasn't a reveler the whole time, of course. I was downtown for 6 PM on account of a volunteer orientation meeting at the Harbourfront Centre. It's one of the cultural and artistic hubs of Toronto and, well -- I want to get in on that. Local bookworms will know the Centre for its epic International Festival of Authors event in the fall, featuring Canada's finest writers in addition to fantastic authors from around the world. As I said, I want to get in on that. Even if it means clearing plates for Margaret Atwood, I want to get in on that.

Alas, the meeting went far longer than expected. I was set to meet The Advocate for 7 PM and ended up arriving an hour later. Horrific. The meeting was informative and cleared up a number of questions I harboured. And, heck, we even got a tour of the area. Still, I felt like a cad for keeping The Advocate waiting. I know she ~steeped~ herself in three cups worth of tea at her old tea haunt, but I was cad nonetheless.

After we joined forces, we attempted to gain entrance to The James Joyce Pub. Note to Readers: Entrance to an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day is going to be impossible. And expensive. We learned this the hard way.

The Advocate scored a free t-shirt from the pub while we waited in line. Then we discovered it was a Bud Light shirt. *Shudder* I suggested she throw it into a cab window as one drove past, but she found an unsuspecting bicycle basket to "donate" it to. Oh, word.

Quote of the Night: Miz Moffatt: BOOMER! OMG! ..... You're a Cylon.

(I recently got sucked into the world of Battlestar Galactica, so, prepare for future posts as I delve further into it. I give you ample warning.)

We waited in the line for.... one and a half hours? It was an entertaining wait, for sure. I find I have the most fun while waiting for the scheduled fun to occur. Weird. Anyhow, the bouncer was letting all these random people pass through the door who hadn't been waiting in line. Then, as The Advocate and I were about to go in, we discovered there was a cover charge.... OF 10 DOLLARS. WHAT?! Are you for serious, James Joyce Pub? More like... LAMES Joyce Pub. *Smug at her horrible insult*

We ditched that scene.

New Plan: Red Room. (Alas, there's no website to link to.) It was an excellent location with a delicious array of food, all for decent, student-friendly prices. We met up with The Advocate's Boy as he was exiting a streetcar. We had time on our side from that point on, it seemed. (P.S. -- Advocate, if you are reading this, we are in need of a nickname for your gent. I need an Advocate-approved name, methinks).

We scored our green beer at the Red Room -- in actuality, it was beer with blue food colouring added to it. It didn't quite blend with the beer, but heck -- it was green enough. Beer is beer, which means it is good in all forms. The Advocate and I dove into some premium breakfast plates (since beer and breakfast are flawless partners). The Advocate's Boy went global with a Pad Thai dish. Get this: three meals, one pitcher of beer, and two additional pints = $45. Serious, it's awesome pricing there.

We were all quite silly for the night. The Advocate's Boy performed a few of James Joyce's smut-filled letters with a genuine Irish accent. I find it impressive that what was once a disturbing collection of letters is rendered impish once read with an Irish accent. I know, it's a powerful accent. I'm still curious to know Nora Barnacle's responses to this... literature. Ah, lost letters -- the curse of all historians. We brainstormed theatre ideas for these letters, too. Oh, ho, the potential therein.

We headed back earlier this time around (1 AM!) and The Advocate and I meandered through another late-night, tea-induced conversation about whatever we could think of. Those are the greatest conversations, I would argue. People become more honest past midnight and tea tends to loosen those hidden concerns. So, there -- tea confidantes include O'Neill and The Advocate. Soon, all friends I know shall be converted.

So yes, all in all, a splendid night. It was one of those gems we should all strive for. And if green beer is involved, then all the better.

***

PARALYMPIC UPDATE:

Wowwowwow -- Team Canada has doubled the medal count since I last updated this blog. We are up to 12 medals now and the excitement keeps right on building in Vancouver:

• Viviane Forest, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Giant Slalom, Visually Impaired (Bronze, March 16)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Giant Slalom, Standing (Gold, March 17)
• Brian McKeever, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 10KM Classic, Visually Impaired (Gold, March 18)
• Colette Bourgonje, Cross-Country Skiing - Women's 5KM, Sitting (Bronze, March 18)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Downhill, Standing (Gold, March 18)
• Viviane Forest, Alpine-Skiing - Women's Downhill, Visually Impaired (Gold, March 18)

Check it out, Canadian athletes are taking multiple medals at the 2010 Games. And again, I return to the same question: Why are we not seeing coverage of these events? I've gotten updates on medal scores via the local evening news (to a degree) and through the Vancouver 2010 website. But, what about clips, people? We've had stunning performances that should be seen and celebrated, especially considering we've got key athletes owning that elusive medals podium. Methinks some athlete profiles are needed for the ol' blog. More to come!

Tunes for [Wednes]days: Luck o' the Irish

... Or, luck of the reader, whomever gets to this post first.

And a Happy St. Patrick's Day to the Blogoverse. I've been scrolling through a number of Irish-themed posts this morning and I'm excited to add my voice to the hoarse chorus. I imagine folks are gearing up for a night of potatoes, green suds, and Guinness -- even if it is a Wednesday. Should be a treat to read the repentant blogs tomorrow afternoon.

As I missed the Tunes for Tuesdays post last night, I thought I would make amends with it now. What better form of celebration is there than music videos filled with spirited, talented Irish lasses? I hit the Internet with that mission in mind and stumbled across some excellent singer-songwriters/performers for you. Better to celebrate a pre-drink with some great new gems sprinkled into the soundtrack.

I tried to veer from obvious choices: I LOVE the likes of The Cranberries and Sinéad O'Connor. I will even admit to reasonable affections for The Corrs. However, these ladies have attained the elusive international fan base and are veritable household names, so I thought I'd share the spotlight with some equally-talented, albeit lesser known, Irish artists for the moment.

Shall we?:

Wallis Bird

"To My Bones," New Boots (2009)

An instant shot of optimism -- that is Wallis Bird for you. She blends traditional folk elements with the occasional blues and funk edge to craft energetic, ear-popping rock albums. She has released two albums to date including Spoons (2007) and New Boots (2009). And I just discovered she toured with Billy Bragg, so, um, I love her.

Cathy Davey

"Reuben," Tales of Silversleeve (2007)

It's safe to name Cathy Davey as the gem of Ireland's current music scene. I discovered she's known as "Ireland's Björk," at least from a musical standpoint. I don't know that her fashion sense follows Björk's.... uh... flavour, per se. Davey is a platinum-selling artist with two albums under her belt including Something Ilk (2004) and Tales of Silversleeve (2007). She's garnered an impressive amount of critical claim in Britain thus far which means she's poised to make the leap across the pond in the near future. Keep your eyes on this one, ladies.

Lisa Hannigan

"I Don't Know," Sea Saw (2008)

I am in love with Lisa Hannigan. I am more than thrilled with my research as it led me to the music of Lisa Hannigan. All it took was the little laugh and the first two lines of this clip to leave me smitten. And, turns out I have a good ear, too. Hannigan started her career with Damien Rice and was featured on his breakthrough debut album, O (2002), and on an additional album, 9 (2006). The two ended their work together on a rough note (he announced to the press she was out of his band before SHE was made aware of it) -- however, I am thankful she was given the space to produce her first solo album, Sea Saw (2008). She describes her sound as "plinky plonk rock" -- I describe it as my new favourite obsession.

Gemma Hayes

"Let A Good Thing Go," Night On My Side (2003)

I found it difficult to pick which Gemma Hayes track I wanted to showcase for this segment -- she's got three albums' worth of compelling music and I'm drawn to it all. She's got a quiet edge to her. Her voice is deceptive in its sweetness as her tracks are loaded with unfulfilled desire and a nostalgic undercurrent. Hayes has found increasing success with each of her albums including Night On My Side (2003), The Roads Don't Love You (2005), and The Hollow of Morning (2008). She's a heavily-awarded musician in the UK and she's started making the jump to the North American scene via television soundtracks. Geeze, I'm four artists in and I think there's going to be an Irish music invasion in the near future.

Laura Izibor

"Shine," Let The Truth Be Told (2009)

Laura Izibor: Talented, radiant, and a time traveller. If it hadn't been caught in her video, I bet you never would have suspected she could jump through time like The Doctor. In all seriousness, Izibor is carving a name for herself in Europe and in North America... and she's just one album into her career. She won the RTÉ 2fm song contest while still in high school and, at seventeen, she followed her mentor, Steve Lunt, to N.Y.C.'s Atlantic Records to launch her career. Izibor's music was featured in movies from The Nanny Diaries to Seven Pounds and she's been included on countless television soundtracks in the U.S. And heck, she's even opened for Aretha Franklin. 'Nuff said.

Imelda May

"Johnny's Got a Boom Boom," Love Tattoo (2008)

Rockabilly revival takes on a distinct Irish flavour with Imelda May. Again, we've got another Irish woman who has dominated the charts and reached across the Atlantic to find success with a single of album. Love Tattoo (2008) is full of spunk and is prime music for all those swing kids out there. And, I hope you caught the 2010 Grammy Awards this year -- that's right, Imelda May performed in the Les Paul tribute with the rest of her band. "Impressive" would be an understatement.

Róisín Murphy

"Ruby Blue," Ruby Blue (2005)

She's the queen of quirk and she now owns the dance floor with a sleek new set of tracks. Róisín Murphy is innovative with whatever project she touches and she's earned respect for her willingness to push and break genre boundaries. I first encountered her music via So, You Think You Can Dance when Wade Robson used her iconic "Ramalama Bang Bang" for a show opener in season two. Since then, she's just about owned U.S. television with the inventive, rock-infused dance tracks from her debut solo, Ruby Blue (2005). With the band Moloko (1994-2003), she dominated European airwaves, but her solo efforts have pushed her ever further into the public eye. If you're partial to disco-influenced fare, I would suggest checking out her latest project, Overpowered (2007). You won't be disappointed.

***

Right, ladies -- I leave you to the evening at hand. Press those green clothes, nurse a beer or two, and make sure to take these Irish lasses with you for a fine soundtrack tonight.

Apologies and a Tuesday Recap

Apologies for missing yet another Tunes for Tuesdays post -- methinks this is the Universe's decision. It's telling me to change the night for new music. Paf, I say. Paf. I dismiss the notion.

Despite the absence of a post last night, I was involved with some music-related fun in Toronto. One of lil' brother's school bands played at The Trane, so my sister and I headed in to check it out. It was the first time I'd stepped into a self-proclaimed jazz lounge and I was quite impressed. The Sister and I were sitting near the stage and didn't notice the crush of people building behind us until the band finished their set.

WOW. It gets packed, even on a Tuesday.

Lil' brother's band is (unofficially) known as The Suspects and their niche is African-styled music. It's quite the sight with that number of people on stage: one bassist (lil' brother), one pianist, three brass instruments, two guitarists, three singers, and... about four percussionists? I know. I think half his music program is in The Suspects (hence their "suspicious" aura). Serious it was energetic and fun and very different from what the lil' brother writes himself.

Hmm, I find myself gravitating toward the city more and more these days. I love the potential of it, all the youth and vitality. I know, I sound like the suburbanite girl I am. Still, I know it's the city life for me, whether in Toronto or another spot.

I find those little reminders helpful.

So, yes -- it is St. Paddy's Day as I write this. I shall return with a special music post for the occasion. Do stay tuned.

PostSecret and Homophobia

PostSecret: Discover instant therapeutic release contained in one 3" x 5" card. Frank Warren's art project started out as an Internet phenomenon circa 2005 and later spawned numerous printed volumes and videos. Now, it's become a social movement supported through Warren's endless tours -- and heck, the audience has expanded across linguistic borders at this point with sites designed for France, Germany, Spain, and China.

I've followed this blog for at a number of years now and I mention it tonight because of one nagging question burrowed deep in my brain:

Why is there such a huge influx of homophobic postcards on PostSecret?

When I use the term "homophobic," I reference a number of issues. The tone is often aggressive among this set and there's a trend toward supporting narrow, hurtful, and often stereotypical perspectives about queer people. In addition, when the author is queer, the secrets often featured on the blog are thick with an internalized, self-directed sense of hatred.

Now, given the nature of this blog, I understand the higher number of closeted LGBT people who might write in. If the site caters to a crowd needing to vent their secrets in an anonymous form, then I can see how closeted individuals might find release. I just wonder why Mr. Warren tends to select postcards with a definite homophobic vibe to them. This is a hefty accusation and I do have examples where queer-themed cards are positive and uplifting, of course.

But, with the current suicide rates among queer youth as high as they are, I wonder how postcards of this nature would help:

Internalized Homophobia

I am one of the lucky few who have never felt the press of internalized homophobia. I know it took me some time to come out, but I never once hated myself for being queer. Women are gorgeous and have a knack for making me overjoyed, so why be down about it? But, after reading postcards like these each Sunday makes me wonder if I'm a minority within a minority.

Abrasive Commentators

I imagine most queer readers would get defensive after these gems. Without context, I tend to picture the worst scenarios. Response to the First: Visibility matters. Just re-read the first three secrets and you will see why representation is important. Response to the Second: Four exclamation marks? Really? I'd love to know more about the back story there...

A Curable Cause

I find it strange how few people are willing to acknowledge bisexuality as a legitimate sexual identity. Instead, queerness is presented as a character flaw or a curable affliction -- and now, there's yet another platform to promulgate the idea.

Abuse as a Trigger Cause

The idea of sexual misconduct or abuse from childhood leading to a queer identity in adulthood is one of the oldest "explanations" for homosexuality in the textbook. (You might need to shake off the dust on said textbook, of course). Again, when I see postcards like these, I'm concerned for queer youth stumbling across them and deciding these are the consensus of all queer people.

The Queer Shotgun

... Where "gay" is synonymous with "last nail to the coffin." Is the writer pleased that the child is with a loving couple, or is the writer reveling in the supposed paradox of the situation? I find it problematic when queer kids are used as ammunition or the nightmarish worst-case scenario.

***

Right, enough with the rants. I do have examples of uplifting, reaffirming postcards with queer content. I wish these secrets were more common to Warren's site. I give ample credit to him for including postcards featuring LGBT voices at all, but, I think there's still ample room to develop a more queer-positive voice for the masses.

***

PARALYMPIC UPDATES:

No time to slow down in Vancouver -- the 2010 Paralympic Games opened on March 12 and the competition's fierce. Team Canada has taken home six medals thus far and are gearing up to own more podium space. So, who's been crowned with the laurels of success thus far?:

• Colette Bourgonje, Cross-Country Skiing - Women's 10 KM, Sitting (Silver, March 14)
• Josh Dueck, Alpine Skiing - Men's Slalom, Sitting (Silver, March 14)
• Viviane Forest, Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom, Visually Impaired (Silver, March 14)
• Brian McKeever, Cross-Country Skiing - Men's 20 KM Free, Visually Impaired (Gold, March 15)
• Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom, Standing (Gold, March 15)
• Karolina Wisniewska, Alpine Skiing - Women's Slalom, Standing (Bronze, March 15)

Coverage has been sparse on the major networks which I find ridiculous considering Team Canada's Paralympic team is outshining their able-bodied teammates at the moment. Make sure to check out medal updates and full coverage over at the Main Headquarters. I shall keep readers posted in the following weeks, you best be certain of that.

Summer….Can’t Wait…