I've had longstanding issues with religion - I prefer not to discuss the subject unless provoked. But, this is part of the 30 day challenge, and so I will indulge, if only an hour or two behind the times.
I love some of the morality that religion can provide - I find it absolutely necessary for a man's development to take some of the cornerstones of religion very seriously, especially that of humility and faith. I find it extremely valuable to the permanence of society that we trust in a few things; that we can grow individually, that we can grow collectively, and that we must all be treated, if not equally, then with dignity and respect.
I find it important to identify that the people that monitor some of the religions I've been more familiar with have been working outside the original teachings of the works they're supposed to adhere to. I understand the need for the church to develop and broaden it's viewpoint on the world. Like anything, a failure to adapt would mean the end of any church at all, and the teachings of Christ can be interpreted in many different ways. I cant partake in anything that doesn't see a woman or a homosexual as an equal member of their society.
I think that some people seem to identify with their god as a scare tactic to keep them motivated, and this disturbs me greatly. I often will use the analogy that my god is a lamp post somewhere. It has as much control over my life as some omnipresent force, and that point is absolutely inarguable as long as I identify a faith in my lamp post god. It really doesn't matter.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
03 - Drugs and Drinks
There's little sense soapboxing on the latter; I've had more than my fair share of the sauce. I've resolved to drink a bit less this year, and I'm pleased with my current consumption level. I think that if there were more to do in Vancouver socially during the colder winter months, we all wouldn't spend our nights pouring drinks down our throats¹.
I haven't touched a lot of drugs - I didn't try pot until high school was long over, and I wasn't very impressed, to be honest. I ended up choking up black phlegm the next day to boot, which was the end of that. I don't think it should be illegal at all, intent to distribute or not, because you'll find less health concerns in a dime bag of pot than you will in a cheeseburger or a cigarette. If anything, I think it should be entirely legalized so the city of Vancouver can take a major financial motivator out of the hands of gangs, and tax it the same way they do everything else.
I'm somewhat impressed with Vancouver's progressive drug laws; they've set up InSite, a place for heroin addicts to safely exchange needles, shoot up in peace, and discuss with health professionals any issues they have, including rehabilitation. Taking a hard line on hard drugs isn't cheaper, and it doesn't fix anything. People are human, and need to be educated on the issues of drugs, as it's fairly clear to see that the hard lines in the States haven't actually prevented any drug use at all.
¹That being said, Vancouver has a wonderful theatre scene. But, it's also very expensive and fails the face-time that most people are looking for.
I haven't touched a lot of drugs - I didn't try pot until high school was long over, and I wasn't very impressed, to be honest. I ended up choking up black phlegm the next day to boot, which was the end of that. I don't think it should be illegal at all, intent to distribute or not, because you'll find less health concerns in a dime bag of pot than you will in a cheeseburger or a cigarette. If anything, I think it should be entirely legalized so the city of Vancouver can take a major financial motivator out of the hands of gangs, and tax it the same way they do everything else.
I'm somewhat impressed with Vancouver's progressive drug laws; they've set up InSite, a place for heroin addicts to safely exchange needles, shoot up in peace, and discuss with health professionals any issues they have, including rehabilitation. Taking a hard line on hard drugs isn't cheaper, and it doesn't fix anything. People are human, and need to be educated on the issues of drugs, as it's fairly clear to see that the hard lines in the States haven't actually prevented any drug use at all.
¹That being said, Vancouver has a wonderful theatre scene. But, it's also very expensive and fails the face-time that most people are looking for.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Day 2 - In Ten Years
Life, to me, is not about having a few hard set goals, and working towards them to the best of your ability. When I was younger, I threw around the term "life is fluid" a lot, and hardly understood the true gravity of what I was saying. So, instead, let's play with where I aim to be in ten years. I'll likely be managing a small label or business. I already have one artist under contract, and, in my opinion, have worked hard to carve our way to some success. I think social media is something that's exploding right now, and it's a key time to capitalize on this.
I see myself settled, in a long term relationship with some kind of intend of foreverness, be that with a ring of sorts or a privately conducted contractual agreement (Ha!) I love kids, but if having them in ten years isn't something that is healthy for me, it very likely wouldn't be fair to them. This will also be influenced greatly by formerly mentioned contractual life partner.
I plan (jokingly) on being rich, but this isn't very likely to be true. What I make will likely be poured back into synth bundles, software packages, and keystations. I plan realistically on living somewhat modestly, as the real joy of life isn't found in cash. Though, if I fall into it, I certainly wouldn't complain.
PS - For those that are in the know. I'm shellacking the cat.
I see myself settled, in a long term relationship with some kind of intend of foreverness, be that with a ring of sorts or a privately conducted contractual agreement (Ha!) I love kids, but if having them in ten years isn't something that is healthy for me, it very likely wouldn't be fair to them. This will also be influenced greatly by formerly mentioned contractual life partner.
I plan (jokingly) on being rich, but this isn't very likely to be true. What I make will likely be poured back into synth bundles, software packages, and keystations. I plan realistically on living somewhat modestly, as the real joy of life isn't found in cash. Though, if I fall into it, I certainly wouldn't complain.
PS - For those that are in the know. I'm shellacking the cat.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Music as a Deterrent
As a friend pointed out, I haven't blogged in a few days. Starbucks seems to have turned up the music in the location I frequent on Tyne & Kingsway. This may be in response to the longevity of a visit; looking around this place reminds me of an old-school lan party.
I understand the sentiment, but it's hard to see a coffee shop follow the trend of the bars around here; playing loud music so you'll shut up and drink.
Don't get me wrong; I love music. I listen to tons of it. My last.fm profile tells me so. But there should be a line between a nightclub and a pub/social house/lounge. Actually, the idea that some of these places will define them as lounges strikes me as ironic, as the volume at which they play music is enough to rile up George Wendt.
They do it because studies have shown that the louder you play music, the more people will drink. This makes perfectly good sense; it's extremely uncomfortable to chat in an environment so loud. I've been in lounges that play music so damned loud I've left with a bloody throat. I sound like Lawrence Tierney for the next couple of days.
I understand that Alibi Room charges more for beer than a lot of places; but I can understand why. There's a value to having people drinks less in volume of higher quality beer in a setting suite for conversation. If you look around, it's clear that this is a social gathering house at it's purest form; there's no televisions (though they briefly had a couple downstairs that seem to have been removed), there's no clocks, and there's no goddamned music. There's a time and place to listen the subtle nuances of Peter Buck, and there's a time to chat over some pints. I applaud the few Vancouver establishments that follow through with the latter.
I understand the sentiment, but it's hard to see a coffee shop follow the trend of the bars around here; playing loud music so you'll shut up and drink.
Don't get me wrong; I love music. I listen to tons of it. My last.fm profile tells me so. But there should be a line between a nightclub and a pub/social house/lounge. Actually, the idea that some of these places will define them as lounges strikes me as ironic, as the volume at which they play music is enough to rile up George Wendt.
They do it because studies have shown that the louder you play music, the more people will drink. This makes perfectly good sense; it's extremely uncomfortable to chat in an environment so loud. I've been in lounges that play music so damned loud I've left with a bloody throat. I sound like Lawrence Tierney for the next couple of days.
I understand that Alibi Room charges more for beer than a lot of places; but I can understand why. There's a value to having people drinks less in volume of higher quality beer in a setting suite for conversation. If you look around, it's clear that this is a social gathering house at it's purest form; there's no televisions (though they briefly had a couple downstairs that seem to have been removed), there's no clocks, and there's no goddamned music. There's a time and place to listen the subtle nuances of Peter Buck, and there's a time to chat over some pints. I applaud the few Vancouver establishments that follow through with the latter.
Friday, January 14, 2011
How to Win at Taboo
Every few weeks, a bunch of my friends end up at Guilt & Co. playing Taboo. The premise is relatively simple, if you've seen Million Dollar Pyramid; you have a single taboo word that you need to elicit from your partner without saying five associated words that are listed on the card. Do as many of these as you can in about 62 seconds¹, tally the score, and pass the turn onto the next group. An example card would look something like this;
Some things in the game are really obvious; the go-to on a card like this would be to explain that it's a breakfast food that isn't pancakes that requires batter, and that it visually resembled a grid.
People however, tend to fail at the transititional game, which, to me, is the most important. The movement to grab a new card and quickly scan it for unmentionable words without losing the beat is the most important element between equally matched pairs.
1. Thank you, okay, so.
I find that these words open up every transition I make. They keep me talking, they thank the person who correctly guessed my clue (which relieves tension), and I've already got an approach for the next card. One that I didn't have to think about, because I'm still reading.
2. Analyzing card difficulty
I find that a lot of filler words will keep you talking, and can give very subtle clues about your card. If I get a card that says "malevolent" and I can't say evil, I can tell the person how incredibly difficult my card is by saying something like "Oh, man." or cursing it. They'll then know that we're not working with something easy. Saying something like "Oh! Hey!" lets them know that this should be an easy card for them to deal with.
3. En français?
In Canada, the cards have two different words on each side; often, they're just a French equivalent, but this is not always true and can burn you if you're not careful. It's also much more difficult to read the unspeakable words upside down. If the upright word on the card you're about to flip is in French, when you flip it, you'll see English. It's important to know when the opposite is about to be true, so you can rotate the card before settling it in the tray for play.
I hope this helps. If you're a Vancouverite who'd like to lose at Taboo, give me a shout.
¹I tested this with a copy at home. For science.
Some things in the game are really obvious; the go-to on a card like this would be to explain that it's a breakfast food that isn't pancakes that requires batter, and that it visually resembled a grid.
People however, tend to fail at the transititional game, which, to me, is the most important. The movement to grab a new card and quickly scan it for unmentionable words without losing the beat is the most important element between equally matched pairs.
1. Thank you, okay, so.
I find that these words open up every transition I make. They keep me talking, they thank the person who correctly guessed my clue (which relieves tension), and I've already got an approach for the next card. One that I didn't have to think about, because I'm still reading.
2. Analyzing card difficulty
I find that a lot of filler words will keep you talking, and can give very subtle clues about your card. If I get a card that says "malevolent" and I can't say evil, I can tell the person how incredibly difficult my card is by saying something like "Oh, man." or cursing it. They'll then know that we're not working with something easy. Saying something like "Oh! Hey!" lets them know that this should be an easy card for them to deal with.
3. En français?
In Canada, the cards have two different words on each side; often, they're just a French equivalent, but this is not always true and can burn you if you're not careful. It's also much more difficult to read the unspeakable words upside down. If the upright word on the card you're about to flip is in French, when you flip it, you'll see English. It's important to know when the opposite is about to be true, so you can rotate the card before settling it in the tray for play.
I hope this helps. If you're a Vancouverite who'd like to lose at Taboo, give me a shout.
¹I tested this with a copy at home. For science.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
To My Husband/Wife
I've recently started reading a pair of Tumblrs; tomywife and tomyhusband. I was initally taken aback by how starkly different the two of them seemed; but I was really unsure if I had some kind of male bias going on. The guy seemed really wonderful and helpful, whereas the girl came off as pushy and demanding. It made me think that she appreciated the relationship less than he did. So, I took the last four pages of the blog, and decided to break down the posts into five categories;
It's pretty clear who the better catch is. The girl only made a single, attachment-free offer in fourty posts. And even it is unclear; she offers to bring the bacon home, but will she share? He can't have yellow mustard, must tend to her on Mother's Day, and generally behave as she envisions Paul Rudd.
He's the kind of guy who shares headphones at the airport, will pick up the Chinese food when it snows, and will offer you his blazer when it's cold.
I wish them the best, but hope that she knows what she has. And people who think that they're better than yellow mustard deserve a visit from the Murph Mobile.
- Demands
- Compromises
- Requests
- Offers
- Blanket statements
Comment Type | To My Wife | To My Husband |
Demands | 6 | 23 |
Compromises | 5 | 5 |
Requests | 0 | 3 |
Offers | 12 | 1 |
Blanket Statements | 17 | 8 |
It's pretty clear who the better catch is. The girl only made a single, attachment-free offer in fourty posts. And even it is unclear; she offers to bring the bacon home, but will she share? He can't have yellow mustard, must tend to her on Mother's Day, and generally behave as she envisions Paul Rudd.
He's the kind of guy who shares headphones at the airport, will pick up the Chinese food when it snows, and will offer you his blazer when it's cold.
I wish them the best, but hope that she knows what she has. And people who think that they're better than yellow mustard deserve a visit from the Murph Mobile.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Had a great night out with the Bean last night; had dinner at Tony's Oyster Cafe, had drinks at Cat's Social House, and saw a round of the Ultimate Improv Championship. Finished off with a hookah at the Persian Tea House a half hour before they closed. It was dizzying and wonderful.
I thought that the first group we saw at the Improv was the better team, though they lost to something of an improvisational stand-up comedian who offered more audience interaction, but lacked almost any spontaneous hilarity. It's hard to appreciate what it takes to create a 25 minute musical based on the invention of the telephone with not so much as a quick huddle; it's pretty easy to make cheap jabs at the audience for the same time period.
I'm still in the hunt for a good offline editor; when I was on Livejournal years ago there were several of them.
I thought that the first group we saw at the Improv was the better team, though they lost to something of an improvisational stand-up comedian who offered more audience interaction, but lacked almost any spontaneous hilarity. It's hard to appreciate what it takes to create a 25 minute musical based on the invention of the telephone with not so much as a quick huddle; it's pretty easy to make cheap jabs at the audience for the same time period.
I'm still in the hunt for a good offline editor; when I was on Livejournal years ago there were several of them.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Hello, new friend.
I haven't blogged, in a personal format, in years. It's 2 AM now, though I figured it'd be time to throw my first post up, as I've just set up an account. I wrestled with the name for a bit, and unfortunately livingwithlions has long since been abandoned.
Tonight was interesting. I've just started to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and have enjoyed the book so far. Instead of coming off as smarmy or sarcastic, it takes the Victorian zombie theme pretty seriously.
Next up? I need to find a tool or widget so I can update this without having to log in.
Since you had to read this tripe, here's a pic of a sea lion I took.
Tonight was interesting. I've just started to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and have enjoyed the book so far. Instead of coming off as smarmy or sarcastic, it takes the Victorian zombie theme pretty seriously.
Next up? I need to find a tool or widget so I can update this without having to log in.
Since you had to read this tripe, here's a pic of a sea lion I took.
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