privacymatters
An interesting article about the dangers of blogging. Very pertinent to me with my history of privacy issues regarding blogging, but really... a good read for anyone.
Whether not I'm deterred from blogging, no... not really.
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November 30, 2005
aristotleistehpwn
Battleground God. Test your beliefs!
My friend mentioned this to me, saying that I'd taken it years ago. I have no recollection of this, but he says I went through it perfectly.
Answering the questions in an Aristotelean (and perhaps Aquinian) manner, I once again emerged unscathed with their highest honour.
Booya.
ithinkmyheartjustbroke
I just had a conversation with John Lennon.
*le sigh*
No, I want to sleep with you.
I'll have to talk to Ringo and see how he feels. Are you a vegetarian?
Not really.
Me either.
Wonderful, let's get married.
How old are you?
Nineteen.
Did you say nineteen Johann ? I thought you were older.
That's because I've an ethereal beauty.
Thanks for explaining it.
Did you love Yoko?
Only in the mornings.
And on Yoko:
Did you love Yoko?
We went through the whole bag about marriage. Intellectually, we know some man just gave us a piece of paper after we'd already lived together a year. Some Establishment games do happen to have a basic truth, and I think marriage is one of them. It's like, a few months ago.
Did Yoko kill you?
It's all over the place.
On love and death:
I love you.
Thanks I like you a lot too Johann.
I also love Julian.
And that's why I like it.
A blind seer told me Yoko had you killed.
Get Back Monkey. Whether they're for us or against us-it gives people a laugh.
Your death hardly gave anyone a laugh.
What about yours?
I wouldn't know, I haven't died yet.
No one says you have to.
I have however felt like I was dead.
It goes for the others too.
Did you love Ringo?
I don't think so.
Did you at least admire him?
I suggest you take a flying leap for yourself.
A flying leap? What, like Graham Bond?
I'm thinking one word, flying leap what like graham bond , and that's it. They're more free in Amsterdam than anywhere else.
Graham Bond died in London.
Is there room on your shoulder for both of us?
I should hope so.
You should hope so ?
Yes, I should.
I don't know about that, mate. How did you hear about the John Lennon Artificial Intelligence Project?
From Paul.
It's a big, wonderful world out there.
I must go. I love you.
Why must you go?
Socialism.
Not this trip.
Hello Goodbye.
Bagism Baby.
On divinity:
I am god.
So is almost everyone else around here.
Are you God?
Are you kidding? Sometimes.
Do you believe in God?
Yeah. I believe in you and me. We're all god Johann. And man's just a shadow in the scenery.
*le sigh*
I love John.
This thing has pretty much just broken my heart.
Mostly because I never will really have a conversation with John.
This is where I cross my fingers and hope that there actually is such a thing as an afterlife.
Note to all: Listen to The Beatles' Christmas Album... you can hear them getting more and more experimental... then you can hear Yoko coming into the band the band becoming John and Yoko.
I love you. I hate Yoko.
Yoko's sitting on my shoulder like a parrot.
Why did you fall?
Let me ask you this: Would you hang around if I didn't?
whoareyoupeople
I am discussing with an old friend past times, how memory has been selective, and how... if we were to return to some of those fond moments, we would probably find them quite lacking.
Since we really can't skip around time like that, I suppose the discussion is a bit moot.
Used to blog with him, I did... interesting times, those.
Listening to nostalgic music... in this case, Nick Drake's Bryter Layter... because Nick Drake is beautiful.
Who ARE all you people? I'm surprised enough that some of you check my blog regularly (and enjoy it, no less!) in my day to day reality... (lookin' at you, Kelly, Kim, etc... Mike reading for mentions of his name doesn't surprise me so much) but I get over 300 unique visitors (a total of 32974 hits so far) a month... apparently more of them come from the Russian Federation and Sweden than even Canada. United States naturally being number one, unsurprisingly.
Not to say this is a bad thing at all! Thanks for reading, really, I'm flattered that you think that my day to day life is interesting enough to read about.
I'm just confounded. It's like my little slice of internet fame, hehe. =)
Thanks.
tehawesomest
So... today we had an interesting discussion about music in the lounge. Stuff about music, actually... Cameron felt that rock destroyed the intellectual jazz of the fifties, and that jazz was clearly superior. While I am not inclined to disagree, my take on music is that of excellence in its genre, where excellent jazz is excellent jazz, and excellent rock is excellent rock. It's like trying to compare baroque and classical masterpieces.
I fixed Laura's internet finally. Somehow I'm the tech geek for the Humanities second years. I'd almost say, "Voon..." but then, it's not very Voon at all. It's more... uhm... I dunno. But she gave me candy and we had a cool chat, so it's all good. =) Plus helping people gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside!
So yeah. One essay down, three to go. My stomach is hungry. I have only had half a sub during my last class today as far as food goes... and candy. Mmm... caramels.
Caramels are like Aristotle without the words. I don't know why, I don't know how, but they just are. Kind of like how Homeland Security just knows bad things will happen! (please Robin Williams, don't kill me for stealing that joke...)
Gotta go!
November 29, 2005
imustbetired
I must be tired, because I think this bastard of an essay that I just wrote in my tiredness is actually GOOD.
Is that fucked or what?
heylook
Guess who hasn't gotten anywhere on their essay.
That's right.
Of course, I have an excuse. A poor one, but whatever... I went to Mike's Place with Mike and Kim. Oops.
So yeah, I took a nap to sleep off the drunk, and now I gotta work like a bitch. I had a lot of thoughts while I was drunk about cool stuff having to do with my essay, but I've pretty much lost them all. They probably weren't actually any good anyway.
Oh hey, for non-Canadians, our government just got ousted by a vote of no confidence. Even BBC covered it! Then again, considering BBC covers overthrows of third-world dictators too, maybe that's not that big a deal.
Steven Harper is jacking off to the news as we speak. Yay dumb-conservative sperm! Hopefully he does it too much and goes blind!
No offense, of course, to people who've actually gone blind from jacking off too much.
November 28, 2005
nappynap
Oh wow I've napped a lot today. But no matter, that means I get more work done now.
My cousin Howin joined UOTC in England (University Officers Training Corps) and gets to horse around at Army ranges.
Look at him, all happy with that L85 in his hands.
I'd almost be jealous, except for the... well, not joining the army thing on my front. And the fact I continually hear horror stories about the L85A1 failing on people.
S'always was more of his sorta thing, to join up and play with guns. =)
Though I did consider it once. Then I remembered the ugly war going on and my brain kicked in.
fourthirtyessay
It's 4:30 in the morn and I am now beginning the process of writing out an essay that has been coming together all day as underlines in my copy of Nicomachean Ethics.
Whether not I will finish before the sun rises... we'll see. I also have to take a quiz on Othello and read some Aquinas to prepare a discussion group later today, as well as start another ten-page research essay for Thursday... and get that essay for Professor Beer done.
I may take a nap within the hour, though, so perhaps this essay won't be done till nightfall. It's amazing that I started this essay two days before the due-date already.
Hopefully that's a sign of improvement.
I'm pleased to note that Child's Play, a charity for toys to give to sick children, now has The Hospital For Sick Chilren in Toronto involved in the program.
I'm no big fan of the waiting line at Sick Kids... nor the understaffing and all that (we have a pretty bad nurse shortage in Canada, and our healthcare, as much as we take pride in it, could be even better, mostly cause doctors get paid more in the States *le sigh*)...
But I've been to Sick Kids as a patient. I had a pretty bad virus of some sort, and was hospitalized and hallucinating for quite a while (though I remember the spinal tap quite vividly... owww) and I do remember a distinct lack of things to do while lying in bed in pain and sick as hell.
If waiting in there for those scant days for some over-blown flu was that shitty... I can only imagine what kids going in for much more serious things have to sit through. A little joy in their hearts... man, that makes a heck of a lot of a difference.
So yeah... I dig getting sick kids toys and games. Nothing like a kid smiling... not just for the kid, for the families, it's really great for everyone, really.
So yeah. If you want to put money into a good cause, especially in the coming holiday season... Child's Play.
Find a hospital near you, and buy them a game, a book, a movie, or something else...
November 27, 2005
peacethroughsuperiorfirepower
I found out where that patch on the support gunner in Battlefield 2 comes from and what it says.
The site's description of the pin says:
"These high quality, 1" metal lapel pins are perfect for annoying liberals and hippie peaceniks. Great for hats, backpacks and rifle slings."
Being an annoying hippie peacenik (for the most part) I'm almost insulted. But I gotta admit, the pin is funny.
You can get one here if you're one of those crazy pro-gun types.
drugsandscarychristmas
The further you get in Christmas albums of The Beatles you realize how more and more drugged and fucked up The Beatles got further and further into their careers.
I would be lying if I said it wasn't awesome.
reallyshouldstop
One Guinness down, vodka now sitting on my desk calling out to me. Aristotle sitting on my lap, caressing my crotch and trying to teach me to come to a mean in my life about... you know... drinking and other bad habits.
Me, of course, ignoring it all.
Shit. I haven't drawn anything in ages. Anything worthwhile, anyway, except that one thing I did with the felt-tip fat-ass marker I bought for marking... well... canvases, walls, whatever I can get my hands on.
Not to say I indulge in vandalism of course. At all. Mostly because I haven't taken the felt anywhere, but still, I don't.
Maybe it's cause I've got no models to work with. Something in me really wants to clear out a corner of my apartment and set up a mini-studio, but I don't think there's enough... space... to do that. Not unless I cleared out all of my living room and used the whole space for it.
Though that would be a cool idea for next year, just using my room as studio space. I could do it too, if I made enough money over the summer for equipment.
I'd just need models.
I should ask some of my friends. Since most of my model friends live elsewhere... and I really can't afford to hire anyone, the only thing I really could offer are prints. But I'm sure someone might be up for it.
Fucking Ivy Leagues. My shot glass sits on a pedestal cause it's Cornell, a fucking Ivy League. But it's probably the most considerate gift I've ever gotten. Except with the possible exception of the 3M tape I got this week, that was cool. But I mean...
Seth knows me too well. This might possibly be the most treasured thing I have in my cupboard. I love that guy.
And to think if I stayed in the States I might've gone there. Now I'm at Carleton.
Not to say I have any regrets. Less work, plenty fun, great people. And by great people I do mean great people... I love practically everyone I've gotten to know here, they're just all fucking awesome.
Almost, anyway. =)
I have KFC coupons sitting on my desk from the mailbox and I'm doing my best to resist getting KFC tomorrow and being a greasy loser. Though... it reminds me of Bonnaroo when I had Gator. Gator was like... lean-chicken-like pork. It was so fucking cool.
Why is U2 playing? I'll have to fix that. Hendrix time.
Do I reveal too much of my day-to-day life here on the blog? Maybe. Though I rationalize that it lends time (when speaking with people who read the blog) to better know the inner me. Whether it's true or not, who knows?
It makes for a killer alibi though. I didn't kill that guy, I swear occifer! Even check my blog.
That's funny to me 'cause the cops have used blogs to incriminate me before. *sigh* Which is odd, because blogs are a place to bitch and over-exaggerate, but they took everything I said dead serious. Oh well.
Like I said in the first post....
But this blog will end that. This blog's about my life, my views, and my whatever my goddamned imagination likes. There'll be times when it's dramatic, times when it'll be a little extreme. I don't make excuses for any of it, because damn it, you may as well arrest everyone who writes a damned horror flick. I'm not a violent person, I don't kill people, I'm not a sadist. So fuck off, you fucking pigs.
I'm not making excuses for my life. I live the way I live because I like living the way I live. I was going to use love, but that may be too strong a word in this instance.
I like being who I am. I like expressing myself in whatever ways I can, I like getting hammered, I like running around and engaging in wanton debauchery, and at the same time I'm that guy who will fall head over heels into love and just... engage in stupid acts of emotion and silliness. And if I still could, even get those pains that come with all that and cry a little. But I don't think I can cry any more.
Hey... that's life, right. I'd rather live it than see only so much.
Then again, Aristotle is sitting right here and kicking me in the balls, telling me to put some control over my wayward ways.
Wayward ways?
Tacky.
But maybe he's right.
Anyway, time for a shower and back to work and vodka. I really need to trip down to the LCBO sometime and pick up some more nectar and ambrosia.
christmasalbums
Taking a break from mad Aristotle review (for an essay) to list a bunch of Christmas albums that I've been playing lately, to wash out the crap carols I hear in public elsewhere.
Honestly... if you HAVE to play Christmas music a month before Christmas, don't play goddamn Jingle Bells and nonsense.
In any case... here are the few I've listened to so far: Joan Baez's Noel... apparently listening to Joan Baez makes me a lesbian, but that's alright in my book.
Besides, if you've seen videos of Woodstock (not the new one) you can't help but have respect for someone who can belt it out to a huge fucking audience alone up there.
Other than that... Bright Eyes's Christmas Album... pretty much because it's Conor and I would have his babies if I could.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Eve and Other Stories too... which is cool... I mean, if you're into Proggie-metal bands that play only Christmas music. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
And finally, of course, The Beatles's Christmas Album. You really can't live without The Beatles.
And since Miller sucks, it's GUINNESS TIME! then back to essays.
November 26, 2005
buttafuoco
Buttafuoco. I think that's my new favourite pop-criminal reference. Except if I use it too much I may become Letterman.
He actually was an actor for a while, he was in Finding Forrester.
In any case, HOLY MOSES Escorts make a lot of dough. Who the hell shells out $400 an hour for sex?
I mean... come on... ugh...
On the other hand... imagine making that kind of money. $400 an hour. That's like... wow. A few hours of sex and that's my monthly living expenses.
INSANE.
Of course, I realize a whole heck of a lot of it goes to the service (or pimp). But talk about a living.
Unrelated: Coolest Christmas lights EVER!
sixweeksofrockin
I broke six weeks of music on my playlist. Currently listening to Devendra Banhart.
November 25, 2005
retireddudeswithguns
Well this is something I already knew intellectually, but trust a bored retired guy to go around shooting locks with a variety of guns to see if it was just like the movies.
Answer being, "Fuck no."
Fun to see all the dented locks. Of course, I find it slightly American and almost disturbing that the guy has a such a wide variety of personal firearms.
But only slightly.
He also has a bunch of tests to see the penetration of different ammunition through sheetrock, which is a pretty accurate way of testing how bullets go through interior walls.
Good to know. Even a handgun loading .22 will punch through three walls. Someone ought to inform the police and the gangland idiots in Toronto that shoot off hundreds of rounds into the night. Or the idiots who shoot off guns in their building and expect not to kill someone.
It's really frustrating when I read about cops that unload hundreds of rounds at one person and hit less than a fifth of the time... often hitting innocents in other buildings in the process.
Anyway. That's enough internet craziness for now. I've got four essays to write.
Gettin' my redneck on. Muhahaha.
Disclaimer: Don't shoot me.
You know, a friend of mine linked me to a post about Critical Mass and how they're all hooligans.
My thoughts... I don't think it's cause they're cyclists. I mean, sure, I'm a cyclist, and on occasion I am a menace. Sometimes by accident, and mostly cause I spent my more formative cycling years in the States.
But Critical Mass Ottawa was today. I actually saw them ride just down Gladstone behind my apartment... and I'll be damned if they were unsafe at all. I would've been in it if I weren't so bloody sick.
They took up one lane on the two-lane road, all had their blinkers on, and as far as I could tell, followed the rules of the road pretty well. And I drive when I'm home, so it's not like I'm just a cyclist, I'm pretty adamant about my need to drive at times, especially since at home I live a good hour or two bike ride from anything.
So the only conclusion I can reach is just this: Yanks are hooligans. I mean, I've lived there long enough to reach this conclusion without having to think of Critical Mass, but it helps the argument just fine.
Crazy fuckin' Yanks.
To Critical Mass Ottawa: Keep on rockin.
sighs
The heroes of a generation are all leaving us...
R.I.P. George Best
1946-2005
November 24, 2005
hothotpillows
snowfrenzy
So we got a bit of snow today... I was watching it fall last night (well... this morning, really) and it was awesome.
Having long hair is great... slap on a tuque and the hair acts as a great insulator. Not to mention that long hair is great to have in general.
Kelly gave me double-sided tape for my posters. That girl is a lifesaver. Thanks Kelly!
I really have to get crackin on essays...
On another note, my hydro bill finally came, after these people continually knocking on my door asking if my bill met price control standards and asking to see my bill.
Now I have something to show them, rather than standing at the door wrapped in a towel and a t-shirt.
I should answer the door naked sometime. That would be fun.
Time to read some Cicero, I'm out. I need to get some water too... the only thing I've had to drink today is a pint of Guinness.
Oh yeah... one last thought. And this is for readers in second year Hums. We're starting to get a bad rep as the "sits alone in the corner" year... which is terrible! I like to get to know everyone, and that kind of reputation just sucks. Though I have to say it's not all our fault... no one from any other year went to Cam Laird's birthday party.
monkeybusiness
There's a huge debate about cheating and other nonsense here in the lounge right now.
No way I'm getting involved in this discussion... too much for me right now.
Now someone's talking about scat. If you know our year, you can probably guess who.
*sigh*
Far too much sexspeak lately and not enough sex. I'd blame it, like everything else, on being sick, but it's also probably because I really am getting bored of casual nonsense.
In any case (oh hey, someone just said those exact three words)...
Screw in any case... I just heard "when a guy does you up the ass you get a brown belt..."
Mmm anal.
This conversation I'm hearing is really just getting lame. It's really unfortunate I have to listen to this shit.
George says word, by the by. If you don't know George, I suggest you get to know the dude.
That was my room last year.
"I'm not saying I'm going to force my dick up a girl's ass!"
George says: You could see that on like... pokemon or something... "Young grasshopper, you have a long time to go before you get your brown belt."
Man... I'm out.
Ciao.
November 23, 2005
somethinglessscaryornot
Probably going on a little bit too much about WP, suicide bombs, and all that. Just that there's a lot of buzz going around it, and having studied it so in-depth in my life I thought I might speak a few words on it.
Funny thing is, I can't believe how many people, no matter what end of the spectrum they're at, speak about a topic on which they have no fucking clue what they're talking about.
I really don't like it when people put their opinions where it simply doesn't belong. It'd be like me going to a concert violinist and going, "here, this is where your hands go."
However, that doesn't mean I can't say that they're using those weapons, or to continue the metaphor, the violin, for things they were not meant to do.
For example, I can easily say that a violin is meant to be played with a bow, and not with say... a spoon. And I'd be right to do so, especially when the person playing with the violin is an infantile idiot.
To relate that back to WP... WP shouldn't be used as an incendiary weapon. The delivery mechanisms, the dosages applied, are inhumanly maiming, rather than deadly. I'll leave your mind to consider an appropriate image of what such a burn victim would be feeling.
The usage of the weapon in such a way, in fact... is very hugely telling of the state and morale of US troops in Iraq and where this war is going.
Too bad, so sad.
This is probably my last scary "the world is just fucked up! Guns and bombs and shit!" post in a while. It's time to go back to ramblings about my life and socialist theory and cool little artsy fiddlebits.
So I'll just leave one last note:
Trust the Russians to defeat Star Wars. I bet they've been working on this since the original SDI program back in the 80s... oh that crazy Reagan guy.
*shudders*
In a totally unrelated note, when I linked the Plenoptic cameras, I'm serious... I really want one. Being able to refocus a photo AFTER the fact?
That's awesome! Especially with digital camers, many of them have way too clumsy aperture and shutterspeed controls.
ohyeah
My two cents on the White Phosphorous (WP) scandal... which the media is downplaying a lot...
Well... WP isn't banned. But point being, the United States has referred to White Phosphorous, when Saddam Hussein's supports were using it... as a Chemical Weapon.
I find the hypocrisy hilarious.
Whether it's illegal or not... I couldn't care less. WP has been around for ages and it'll be around ages more. The fact that it's been used on civilians itself is disturbing, but no more disturbing than anything else I've heard out of mil-news since getting knee-deep in the shit.
Fact is, incendiary weapons are scary, but you can't strip a man of his weapons, give him a stick a sharpened rock, and expect him to fight a war against people who won't disarm or sue for peace.
Wish it worked that way though.
You can, however, expect them to use those weapons responsibly.
A good article can be found from the Washington Post about it here, if you have no idea what I'm talking about.
In any case... other things that rock:
Light Field Photography - I want one!
Do you pay Credit Card bills? Maybe you should pay them a bit differently... and be aware that Big Brother is ALWAYS watching.
stupidfallingness
Aww dammit, Kelly was right... sticky tack isn't holding my posters up well on drywall at all. Janet suggested I use more... I guess that could work.
For now I'll leave them down till I actually have more.
If you haven't looked at the post below about suicide bombers and seen the pictures... you won't get this one.
I had a thought... in the briefcase pic it shows a cell-activated bomb. What if someone calls the wrong number? Happens all the time on my cell...
Additional thought: oh dear lord, they're making a Dead Or Alive movie... *gouges out eyes*
ahardlookatterrortech
For those of you without any previous glimpse of what the devices used by suicide bombers actually look like, I stumbled across this site while I was surfing just now.
Here ya go. That oughta give you nightmares.
You just gotta love the screws and bolts strapped to the front of the damned things, makes people bloody walking claymore mines.
Crazy eh?
Don't go making one yourself now.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add... and I'll do it now since I doubt anyone is reading at 6 in the morn...
I got this in an e-mail yesterday from Timothy:
So I caught up on over a months worth of blogging and concluded I read your blog because:
1) There isn't enough Johann in my life. Especially now that essay season and Johann-constantly-cutting-class season is upon us.
2) It's nice to know there's someone else out there that always has smiles for friends but spends lots of time feeling sad and lost.
Next time you're feeling especially down you should give me a call (particularly if it's still early enough that you won't wake up the house).
I especially like point number 2. Especially. I think it's most excellent.
NOW I actually should go to bed.
likealotusblossom
I've finally decided on a real motivation to work my ass off and graduate.
I really have very little capitalistic sense in me, as you all well know. I'm a socialist bastard and I'll readily share what I have with those around me.
But now I've a real reason, as an adrenaline junkie, to get my ass in gear and get a decent job.
Because I've decided I want to buy a Lotus Elise (around $50,000 USD) when I need a new car. Cheaper than any so-called supercars, and light as a feather. None of that gas-guzzling big-ass engine muckabout.
I dig that.
Time to go listen to Boards of Canada and read Cicero some more. I hope I'm absolutely not feeling any of the sick at all tomorrow.
Oh yeah. To the person who keeps scanning my bloody ports all the time... though I doubt you're reading this... stop it. You're not getting in, and I'm bloody annoyed at the number of scans I see when I look in my firewall's log.
November 22, 2005
alittlequestion
If you can call your female friends "girlfriends" as in... "You go girlfriend!" why doesn't anyone call their guy friends "boyfriends?"
dayinpictures
Just saw this over at BBC... I think this may be my favourite picture in the world right now.
An Israeli soldier aims his rifle at Palestinian schoolgirls demanding to cross a roadblock in Hebron.
Image and caption from: BBC News
smokekills
I want to know how deep smoking has to be in your psyche for that to happen.
I know well the addiction of smoking, and I'm somehow not surprised.
Jeeeeesus.
By the way, if you haven't seen it before... a flash video about the dangers of smoking.
November 20, 2005
holymoleydeath
Alright. Remember when I went on about Blair's 16 Million Reserve... the stuff that is literally pure capsaicin, and would kill you if you ate it pure?
I found a place that sells it.
Honest.
I said I'd never touch it, but now I'm tempted to have some. Only I know I'm a total drunkard, and would probably do something stupid as hell with it and end up dead.
From spice.
For those of you who are horrendously stupid... or horrendously brave... here you go.
As a disclaimer RIGHT NOW, I take NO responsibility if anyone gets hurt cause they thought it'd be fun to eat it without putting it in food. Or in too little food. Or you know... anything. Regarding it and pain and death.
Allow me to point out now that pure capsaicin rates at 16,000,000 Scoville units.
Police grade pepper spray ranks at 5,300,000. A third of that deathly little bottle. Common pepper spray ranks at 2,000,000.
And pepper spray can kill people.
... still tempted to buy some. Dammit.
recipetimeonceagain
So here I am, feeling a lot less sick, well enough at least not to be coughing non-stop... eating a bowl of my fried rice... and deciding that yellow bell peppers are now one of my favourite veggies to cook with.
So anyway, I realized I haven't posted any recipes in a long while... so here's one for the fried rice.
Fried Rice - a loose guide
What you need:
3 cups cooked rice
Spring onions
4 eggs
Peas
Canola oil
Salt
Optional:
1 yellow bell pepper
Canned ham (if you're Hawaiian, use spam)
Spices
I'll start by saying that this is a loose guide because, to be honest, fried rice is that kind of food that I make when I don't have the energy to make anything more complex. Sort of like my Blue Cheese English Muffin West Coast Style (insert West-side hand gestures here). Actually, I daresay though it takes longer than the muffin, it's a lot simpler. Less work, and much harder to screw up. Unless you burn it.
Don't burn it.
After all, I make this out of whatever the hell I can find in the fridge. The only thing that's absolutely required are the eggs, the spring onions, the salt, and the rice.
Though left only at that with nothing else on it, the meal itself is bland. I warn you now. I normally use the canned ham to give it that extra flavor.
And don't forget to cook rice ahead of time. Or if you have leftover white rice from a meal the night before... perfect! You're getting into the spirit already.
Anyway, if you're a meateater, you'll want to start by cutting the ham into cubes. Half-cm cubes, cm^3 cubes, whatever... so long as they mix well into rice. The ham is optional for veggies and people who just don't like ham. You can always cut up some beef, marinate in soy sauce, sugar, and starch, fry it till it's brown, and save for later. But anyway, this recipe is with ham.
Cube that ham. Cube it! Then toss those cubes into a greased pot on a medium-high heat. A big pot. You're going to want that pot big enough to fit all our ingredients. Or a wok. A wok is preferable, but for that you need a gas stove. Brown the ham... then pour that into a bowl for later.
While that ham's browning... scramble four eggs in a bowl, add two teaspoons of salt (while scrambling). Once the ham is out, make sure you've got enough oil in the pot, and make some scrambled eggs. Don't overcook, since you'll be taking that out and putting that back in later. Keep in mind this egg is going in rice. It doesn't need to be omelette-intact. In fact, when you're done cooking it, break it up.
While the eggs are cooking, take a bunch of spring onions (usually, they come in little bundles) and cut off the root ends. Discard those.
Then cut them laterally into little round nibbits. Thin as you like, or thick as you like. Doesn't matter. Though inch-long bits of spring onion in your rice is not going to be appealing.
Dice up that bell pepper if you have it too.
Once the eggs are done, take them out. Again, make sure your pan is greased enough. Too much is not a problem... you're making fried rice, after all, but be aware it gets less and less healthy the more oil you have in there.
When the eggs are cooked, take them out, put them in a bowl. Doesn't matter where.
Now pour those peas in there, if they're the frozen variety. You want to unfreeze them, after all. Two or so cups should do, put in more if you like. Peas can't hurt you. Then the rest of the veggies go in, and right on top of it all, the rice. Stir-fry. When it's all mixed in, toss in the ham. Mix some more.
Once that's all in, give it a minute or so, then toss in the eggs. Mix it up some more.
Stir it occasionally. On a wok you'll be doing this on high heat, and you'll just be flipping it from the handle. In a pot you don't want stuff sticking behind, so high heat may not be the best thing. Use your own discretion, but mix it up every once in a while so it doesn't burn... but you get a nice searing of all the ingredients and the veggies get cooked. You want an even cooking...
If your rice is brown, you're burning it. The only thing that makes rice brown in fried rice (as you may see in restaurants) are spices and/or soysauce. Usually soy sauce.
If you ask me, that's way too much sodium. Forget the soy-sauce. Unless you've got no ham.
Turn down the heat when it's all nice and cooked together, adding water to soften if needed. Usually the best indicator of doneness is whether the peas are done. Scoop one out and try one.
Share and enjoy!
Should serve about 4-6 people. Or leave enough leftovers for a few meals.
OH I FORGOT!
In case you DO burn it, don't fret! As long as the damage isn't TOO bad and it's a black ... rice ... cookie... then you can just mix in ketchup and cover it allllll up.
Sure, you're injesting black carcinogens and it's not really good for you... but waste not, want not, right?
Of course, not burning it would be the best thing. It's actually very, very hard to burn fried rice if you turn it often enough.
November 19, 2005
iheartyou
I <3 Velvet Underground.
So I went to the party for Cam's birthday.
And I feel better.
The alcohol is killing the sick!
I hope.
November 18, 2005
canyoudigit
Can you dig it?
You know... fucking cold. I wasn't going to go out tonight because of it. Being sick as a whole lot of suck.
But any excuse to get dressed up in my suit (especially since this may be the last time I'll wear it this year, given that at the next semi-formal I intend not to repeat the same outfit as last year)... is a good one.
So I'm gulping down some Tylenol, trying to make myself not look like I'm a ball of pus (to quote Lindsey) and promising myself not to drink or do anything that would irritate my recovering SICK tonight.
But in any case, it's an excuse to get all dressed. And I like this suit.
[Later edit: Not drink? Johann? PAH!]
November 17, 2005
whoaworking
You know, I was so sick to do anything but Photoshop... because that takes so little brainpower on my part.
So I took an hour off lying down, playing video games, and trying to read... to actually start out on the layout for the site.
This is what I've got after an hour or so. Lots of work still to be done on it.
Something about it I don't like, I don't know what. But otherwise I'm pretty happy about it.
Now I sleep. Hopefully I'll have the brainpower tomorrow to work on school stuff.
Thank god Hums is cancelled tomorrow... I'll just skip my other two classes, I'm way to sick to move.
November 16, 2005
isitjustme
Is it just me or are people suddenly using "svelte" more often than ever before?
November 15, 2005
sickblehbleagh
I hate being sick.
Knowing that my sickness is a result of mad drunkenness doesn't help either.
Not being able to find my cellphone is also not very comforting.
In general, today just sucks.
And when this is what greets you when you wake up wanting to take a shower in the morning...
It really begs the question: What in blazes was I doing last night?
November 13, 2005
naughtytouches
I think I might sneak into the lecture hall sometime and touch our piano in all sorts of naughty ways sometime soon.
*sighs*
I think I might have to spend the rest of the day listening to Beethoven.
Actually... might is a very shifty term.
I will.
I need to find some Bach. And soon. Wish I was home.
Great line came up in conversation today. "And then there was Floyd."
*loves the Floyd*
And <3 Claudio Arrau.
oooh
Oooh I forgot to mention that someone put on Mozart's Requiem last night.
Oh. My. Lord.
=)
Current Listening: Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 27 no. 2... Adagio sostenuto - "Moonlight"
itsasif
It's as if my evil genius shoulder-angel hand a gun to my naive, altruistic hero shoulder-angel for years now and he's only now realizing whats been done to him all this time.
Doesn't change the fact that he's only realizing now he was created for the simple purpose of appearances.
Teehee. I think I might write a story about this. It's an interesting thought.
Time flies on a bike when you're focused only on one thing... getting home to a can of Pringles. And internal arguments. And...
Oh yes... perhaps writing another of the manifesto's chapters in my head and wishing I had time or temperature to stop over and write it all down.
A socialist masterpiece must be constructed slowly, I suppose. And over laboring.
Tonight was good. Nothing like just a good, mellow night.
To the friend who asked whether I wanted you to stop reading the blog: No. =) I told you as much, but I figure I might as well tell everyone else to follow the same advice. I write these for a reason.
It's a very good way to write down my thoughts and share them. While it isn't the core of me (those are what journals made of paper are for), they're little trivial details about my life I find interesting. And for people not to read them would defeat the purpose of my writing them.
I'm glad about this lack of smoking thing that's going on with me. This pack has lasted me a good two weeks... and it's only eight cigars.
Maybe I can quit for good. I certainly would like to. Filthy habit.
Listening to Clann Zu... they're good.
I may very well make some food. Getting kinda hungry. The night is so wonderful for thoughts and biking. The chill seems to bring out the best and worst in me... and my best writing cannot exist without my worst self.
Or so I say.
I feel rather upset about the fact that in all my life I've never met one true Zapatista. Sure I've not ere shot twenty of those years down... but still, it's upsetting.
It's so disappointing that my fiction has been coming out in bits and pieces lately, and my ... lifes works are at a near standstill. And I thought years ago it would only take five or six years to write the manifesto.
Lennon's staring at me with that crossed-armed "I'm a bad-ass with my NYC shirt" stare. And I think he understands my world.
At least I hope so.
I've been invited to jam organstyle sometime. I'm excited and apprehensive at the prospect. I know I've always been slow with the organ and the whole lack of any keyboard practise as of late would half make me uncomfortable on an organ.
And the whole embarrasing self... inbred Chinese fear about losing face. *bleh*
In any case. I'm excited too.
Jamming is just... so wonderful. And playing again would be so... I want to say a word that I've been rolling in my head but wont... hmm...
It's so excellent.
There's a fun word. Exxxxcelllennnnt. Bring me my... uhm... food?
Ooo I should so cook something good tomorrow to fuel my essayage.
I wish I had a keyboard now. I'd probably plunk out chords and be the happiest person alive.
... or close enough.
On that last note, since I'm tired and I want to put head to pillow... womanizers who think they're actually subtle are hilarious.
Bleagh!!1!11!1!!!1!11!!11!11one!11
[LATER EDIT]
Ohhhhh Mars Volta. Craziness for the ears and the mind. I wish Utopia could be quickened in its arrival. Sad I'll never live to see it.
November 12, 2005
hasitoccured
Has it occured to anyone that Rabin died ten years ago? Anyone not Isreali, I mean.
It's hard to say if there's been improvements since that time.
Actually... that's probably because there haven't been any.
Oops.
November 11, 2005
mercilesshell
It is bloody cold out.
I had to go to the office today (despite being a bit sick) to make some calls for an article I'm doing.
My fingers are just now regaining feeling as I type.
Ow...
November 09, 2005
expensiveliquiddeath
Too rich for my blood.
I can just imagine getting drunk, opening the bottle in my stupor, and drinking away $27000.
Now... what I want to know is... if it's not meant to be opened ever... how can you know that it's actually any good?
torturecenterwhee
Pretty much means... they have them.
Doesn't surprise me... at all. What SURPRISES me is the bureaucratic bullshit that the CIA has sank into has actually let themselves confirm it the way they have by investigating for a leak.
The CIA of the Cold War would've denied, then looked for a leak themselves, and shut the bastard up.
What do I think about these jails?
They shouldn't have them, legally. They're morally incorrect. Sure. I don't LIKE the thought of them.
But to not have suspected their existence?
That's just fucking naive.
This is an intelligence agency borne out of the Cold War.
They have jobs to do too, after all.
ohboysinlove
"I feel like somehow I ended up at a school chock-full of petty sluts and self-absorbed hos... and then I meet someone who just vibrates with life."
- A friend
Who said men couldn't be romantic?
Pains me to see things go wrong when people are so obviously in love.
But then, I don't have all too high an opinion of love most times. The past is a bitch.
Oh The Beatles. Yay. Saving my life one note at a time.
November 08, 2005
albumreview
So I finally got a chance to sit down and listen to the new Rammstein album, Rosenrot. For those of you who've been under a rock for the last ten years, Rammstein is an industrial rock outfit out of Germany... and possibly one of the most famous bands to ever come out of Germany; depending on who you talk to, that could be a good or a bad thing for the Germans.
But then, we say that about Celine Dion. At least Rammstein isn't anywhere near as hard on the ears.
Forgive me if I'm a little biased, but I joined in thousands in booing Celine at Live 8 Barrie.
But we're getting off track... What really enticed me into listening to Rosenrot was pure nostalgia. I've had my Rammstein days, and I still like to return to them. There are things to be said for harsh German lyrics with overly sexual innuendos, for those of us who can understand German.
That isn't to say Rammstein isn't deep, it's a hardhitting sort of twisted romance and the pure industrial sound of the working class.
That said, very few of the songs on Rosenrot managed to impress me anywhere near as much as their previous albums on the first listen through. It's the same explored sound that Rammstein is so famous for, but there just seems to be something lacking, some sort of passion that it's missing. I thought at first that it was a little all too hardhitting, perhaps, and not enough of the soaring interludes.
Then I realized my equalizer settings had tweaked the bass far too high. The soaring harmonies were all layered into the underlying beat... and I found some real jems.
Spring is a gorgeous track, starting off with a slow build, and building to a emotional high released in a slow, headbang-able beauty.
But perhaps I'm a little obsessed about stories of jumpers... those of you who've read my short story, Watching Me Fall, will understand that one.
Also of note is Stirb Nicht Vor Mir/Don't Die Before I Do, which is performed with British wonder Sharleen Spiteri from the Britpop band, Texas. Her voice adds something to the Rammstein feel, and the song becomes a insane and intense duet between Till Lindemann's growling voice (Rammstein's lead singer) and Sharleen's britpop cuteness.
All in all it's a great album with a good mix of pounding hard mechanic Rammstein and a few of their softer tracks mixed in... perhaps it's shifted a little bit more to the side of Goth than pure industrial, but that's all fine with me.
It just gets better every time you listen to it. As with all good Industrial, it really takes a fine ear to pick everything out and appreciate the music.
Or just an inherent need to rampage and pound out beautiful chords in succession.
(Fin)
P.S. As a keyboardist, Christian Lorenz is my hero. His stage antics would probably amuse Beethoven. Or anger him to the point of rage and murder. Which is cool too.
buah
BUAH!
Just thought I'd share a picture from Chris Landreth's Ryan... which I thought was a really good short.
The image itself is from The NFB's site for Ryan.
thewash
I'm putting human beings through a wash in my head.
I don't really know how that occured to me, but that's what I am doing.
I'm introducing new elements to break everything down to its very basics, spinning it all up to a point of crisis, and filtering out all the trash, leaving only what they really are.
A wash.
I know there are better wasy to describe this process, but this seems very effective. And adds more to my thinking... which is still jumping all over the place.
It's funny how after a certain point... just by looking at someone you can tell the kind of person they are.
Depends on the amount of people you know, I suppose, and how well you know them.
I haven't been wrong in a while, given a few minutes to acclimatize myself to a person and get a quick approximation.
Even just in the handshake I can learn a thousand things.
Monkeys.
In any case... I am hungry. Very, very hungry. I've got a thousand things on my mind, lots of things to do... I'm glad I got a sort of reprieve when I was invited to play Spambo today. Might have to fill in for no-shows in the tourney.
For those of you not in the know, Spambo's a game developed and maintained by some third year Hums kids.
Fun game.
Back to Aristotle and mindless banter.
November 07, 2005
whatisitgoodfor
Walking by the War Memorial here in Ottawa always produces a mix of feelings in me. I wonder if anyone else actually ever takes the time to look at it.
I look at it and I feel... we need this reminder. We need it because people willingly gave their lives for their country, or for the world.
Sure, not every war is justified. Current situations indicate that quite clearly.
Nonetheless, you cannot deny that people are paying the ultimate price for the machinations of their nation. If the war is unneccessary, then their deaths may be unneccessary... but that makes it even more tragic.
And I suppose, that has to be remembered. You can't go on forever thinking that people will remember all their history if you don't have it recorded somewhere.
I guess that's why I feel that in a nation with an international army and government capable of supporting an extended war (by an international army, I mean one capable of jumping into conflicts around the globe, not one controlled by something like the United Nations), it is very important to have a leader who has served time in the army in actual engagements.
(Goofing off and not being able to produce real evidence of service does not count)
Someone who has actually served would not be so inconsiderate in wasting lives on something that wasn't worth doing, and they wouldn't do it without the proper logistical support and proper planning.
If they did, they'd be just... utterly and totally stupid.
I can think of great leaders who've served and used their military might wisely and frugally because of it. Especially when leaders had to go to war with their soldiers themselves.
But even in 'modern' times... we've had leaders like Ike. (He would be the most... well known example I could cite) He ended the Korean war, after all.
Now there's a Republican even I'd vote for.
Yeah. Those are my thoughts for now.
wilddreams
Craziness. I had a ridiculously vivid dream.
Well, dreams are typically vivid when there are people trying to kill me... and I end up trekking across Europe to hide from them.
Nonetheless...
It was ridiculously vivid.
I saw a lot of my old friends in dream in my trek though... given that a lot of people I know live across the great big puddle, it was... nice.
I think I'm recovering my sanity. Might be the nice weather that's doing it... but it's all good. =)
November 06, 2005
sundaynightsweremadeforsinging
I think I may have gotten sick after getting so floored last night.
Oh well.
Sunday night alone in my apartment, sitting back, listening to Jack Johnson.
Yum.
owwowwoww
Ow...
Hangover...
Owwwww...
I got drunk with soldiers in ceremonial uniform (they were escorting the Gov General)
W00t!
Oh yeah, and I made vegan curry.
YUM!
November 05, 2005
besidesthat
Well, besides the mild schizophrenia that seems to be creeping up on me... (I should probably stay away from drugs, in case it starts leaping over my reality)
Yay for Janet's birthday!
And yay for Tim looking all serious, heh.
Finally took the time to see Chris Landreth's Ryan... about Ryan Larkin.
*sighs* Very good short film.
Back to cleaning before hitting up the supermarche (eh).
ithinkican
I think I may be mildly schizophrenic...
Shit.
November 03, 2005
wootwoot
Life is getting better. Kind of like Stratton's 'Sin Wave'... heh.
Martin found me a wheel to replace the one that got stolen off my bike... and I had a good dinner and a beer tonight, which is good. The fact that I have a pack of deathsticks for the next while (until I quit for two months plus again) also helps.
The wheel's great. Maybe a tiny bit small (the tire scrapes the brake a bit) but I used it to get home today and that means I can bring it in to get a wider (both in circumference and width) wheel fitted.
That is a whole lot of good.
Janet's birthday is tomorrow, and her party is the next day. Happy birthday Janet!
In any case, I'm going to get another beer and celebrate having my bike back. Then I'm going to get the wheel replaced tomorrow before I meet with Janet and Tim for fun times, and bike for hours.
Whee, simple joys.
trusttheduke
Trust the Duke to bring my spirits back up to an acceptable level.
Or it could be the fact that I've had my first nicotine hit in a month and a half today.
Bad me. Bad, bad bad me.
But it was the choice between my sanity or my lungs... and a bet.
I think I chose the right course.
November 02, 2005
littleredbutton
Feeling particularly self-destructive right now.
Silently going insane in my fucking apartment, stumbling about, drinking like a fish out of water.
I've lost all faith in this world. All faith.
If I had no promises to keep, I think I'd jump.
Instead I think I'll drink myself into a coma tonight.
ohbeethoven
When my emotions are in disarray...
You throw them into the wind.
Gods.
This is beauty. It is pain. Passion.
nightmares
I woke up wishing it were all one big fucking nightmare.
It wasn't.
Fuck.
bombsdropfromthesky
Jesus.
Today was depressing to begin with. I got to school with an essay I began and completed in the morning, handed it in, thne just... totally skimped off on everything. Hung with people, went to some of my classes... died in my own thoughts and the plights of others...
I mean, that's life, right.
And Janet was sad, so I took her out (it's her birthday this weekend) to an oyster bar for dinner and then talked for a long time about stuff, like past worlds and places, you know, the like. Chit-chat.
Good for filling in time and killing the depression. I just got home maybe fifteen minutes ago from talking to her, I mean the girl's like my sister and it's nice to have someone to listen when you're horrendously depressed by a shameful past.
Like that thing that happened a few years ago with this person and this other person... and the whole bamboozle of lies and shit... and somehow all that got washed away in a happy-go-lucky frenzy of friendship and such. And how it still hurts sometimes when I'm alone at night.
Then I get home and a bomb has been neatly dropped off on my lap.
Right on it. Dead front and center.
More of a bomb than having my bike wheel stolen at school. Which happened. And I found out today. And I'm still bitter and angry about.
Think of it as Oppenheimer's gift to the idiocies of the world.
That's how fucking dumb (dumb: in military terms, unguided. In real world: Lack of sense) and kilotons in immensity.
Right now I'm too tired to be angry.
But tomorrow there may be heads lopped right off.