i'm very passionate about disability awareness - not only because i'm a health professional but also because i myself am a person with a congenital disability. i had a number of surgeries at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto that allowed me to walk, run, and jump with my little classmates. but despite their incredible work, i now face a number of physical limitations that are growing every day.
while completing my master's degree, i was involved in research about occupational therapy students with disabilities - both as a participant and as a researcher. i focused many of my projects on disability awareness and one prominent yet simple theme continually arose:
people-first language.
it's very difficult to keep up with the most current politically correct terms. sometimes these terms do seem clunky and ridiculous. it's usually a good idea to use the term that the person with the disability is using; that's what they're comfortable with and are accepting of. but a general rule of thumb is people-first language which puts the person before the disability. for example: person with a disability instead of disabled person; child with a hearing impairment instead of deaf child. this simple switch of terminology shows that they are a person first and that their disability - while still a part of them - is secondary and does not define them.
this concept has yet to catch on in general society. rarely does the media use people-first language although their terminology is often appropriate and polite. so how great it was to see the people-first strategy being used in a major pop culture reality show. i was watching an episode of So You Think You Can Dance Canada and watched a young man, Jonathan Arsenault of Kitchener, give a wonderful performance, emotional and organic. after going through 3 of the 4 judges, they came to the last judge who brought up the fact that Mr. Arsenault has a condition in his brain that causes migraines and seizures; moreover, the surgery to correct this problem may deteriorate his motor skills. naturally, because of his desire to dance, he is foregoing this surgery for as long as possible.
the key to the example i just outlined is that they let him perform first so you could see him as a dancer and judge him as such. THEN they told you about his medical situation. i've seen episodes of So You Think You Can Dance (the original American version) where they tell you about a person's condition before you see their audition. well, then you already have preconceived notions about this person! you are not judging them solely on their skills because perhaps even unconsciously, you're factoring in their disability. as i stated in one of my campaigns, i have a disability but i am not disabled, and i believe it is the same for these dancers.
i'm so glad that this season of the Canadian show has made this change. it's a small change for the disability awareness movement but it could have big results.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tech Advancement: is there an iPhone app that measures fear of tech evolution?
i'm reading a book by Christopher Moore called "Fluke". it has little to do with technology; it's actually a story about a whale-watching scientist who sees a strange message on the tail or 'fluke' of a diving humpback. this blog entry stems from a minute part of the story that had little to do with the plot or characters. it was simply a description of some of the scientist's equipment which included a "portable GPS (global positioning system) device". when i read this, i was taken aback because the book was written in 2003, and yet, the author felt it necessary to explain the acronym GPS. if he wrote this book a mere 5, maybe even 4, years later, that explanation may not have been necessary. a bit profound isn't it?
to me, the evolution of technology is both wonderous and terrifying. in recent decades, the rate seems to have grown exponentially. i had an earth science professor who believed that our technology is growing too fast for us - that it is developing at a rate that we humans cannot handle. i tend to agree with him. and i don't think that bodes well on our survival as a species. sure this evolution has created miracles in health care and information access. but at what cost? face-to-face communication is decreasing and we learn about each other through Facebook statuses and MSN names. of course i'm glad i can see up-to-date pics of family members in other countries. and i do enjoy writing up these little blurbs. but the print industry is suffering. as are musicians trying to break into the scene. our young people have underdeveloped social skills because they spend hours hunched over a computer instead of out in the world learning how to socialize appropriately.
i know you cannot slow the progression of technology nor would i really want to. but doesn't part of you hate how dependent you are on your computer, your cell phone, your GPS (global positioning system)? no need to try different restaurants in search for that gem in the city - there's an app for that. why pick up the phone to greet your friend on her birthday when you can post on her wall? these may seem like fairly trite issues but the bigger picture is there too.
ancient South American tribes were wiped off the planet leaving only the ruins of their vast and beautiful cities. their technology was incredibly advanced for their time. could the same be said about the human race now? perhaps just 5 or 10 years down the line? i for one hope not. because some historians believe that those societies could not handle the rate of their advancement - and were crushed under the weight of their own technology.
to me, the evolution of technology is both wonderous and terrifying. in recent decades, the rate seems to have grown exponentially. i had an earth science professor who believed that our technology is growing too fast for us - that it is developing at a rate that we humans cannot handle. i tend to agree with him. and i don't think that bodes well on our survival as a species. sure this evolution has created miracles in health care and information access. but at what cost? face-to-face communication is decreasing and we learn about each other through Facebook statuses and MSN names. of course i'm glad i can see up-to-date pics of family members in other countries. and i do enjoy writing up these little blurbs. but the print industry is suffering. as are musicians trying to break into the scene. our young people have underdeveloped social skills because they spend hours hunched over a computer instead of out in the world learning how to socialize appropriately.
i know you cannot slow the progression of technology nor would i really want to. but doesn't part of you hate how dependent you are on your computer, your cell phone, your GPS (global positioning system)? no need to try different restaurants in search for that gem in the city - there's an app for that. why pick up the phone to greet your friend on her birthday when you can post on her wall? these may seem like fairly trite issues but the bigger picture is there too.
ancient South American tribes were wiped off the planet leaving only the ruins of their vast and beautiful cities. their technology was incredibly advanced for their time. could the same be said about the human race now? perhaps just 5 or 10 years down the line? i for one hope not. because some historians believe that those societies could not handle the rate of their advancement - and were crushed under the weight of their own technology.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
I Hate Commercials
seriously. i f-in' hate commercials. i hate them.
now and again, something genuinely fun or interesting will amuse me, but generally, commercials fail at both entertaining me as a viewer and enticing me as a potential customer. some make me downright angry. examples?? no problem...
- the yogurt commercial where the family has a grand old time spraying each other with water out in the backyard. oh i'm sure that sounds fairly benign, maybe even a little fun, but why do they do it in slow motion? the creators of this ad have now turned family fun in the sun into something borderline seductive. slow motion water should be relegated to sex line commercials, r&b music videos or parodies of either. but to have a mom and kids in wet t-shirts, tossing their hair slowly in the sunshine is just gross and creepy. and has NOTHING to do with yogurt.
- the car commercial in which they ask: 'did you see the solar eclipse? did you see the woman with the leopard?' the concept may have looked good on paper but could it be any more condescending? it sounds like it was written by some know-it-all smartass. let's consider the visual: a slick vehicle swerving around some high rises. from the first fade in, it is obviously a car commercial. nothing unique there. so no shit i didn't notice the eclipse or the leopard, but neither do i notice the grassy hills or boutiqe background on any other car commercial! that doesn't make this company special. and the funny part is, i'm not leaving out the name of the car so as not to identify the company... i really actually don't know which one it is. withhold the commission for that writer.
- every eHarmony commercial. let me preface this by saying i have nothing against dating sites or the people who use them. i think love can be found in any way as long as there's mutual trust and respect. but my God...the background music, the slow motion - YES again!! must it be so cheesy and lame? if i was single and wanted to use a dating site, i wouldn't use eHarmony for fear of becoming one of those sickly sweet couples. one in particular grinds my gears: when the gentleman says that bars and clubs are the passive way of meeting someone, and that eHarmony is the active way. hold on a second now. passive means someone other than yourself is doing the work while active says you're doing it. going out involves you gussying up, heading to the hoedown and charming your way into someone's BlackBerry. is that not an active approach? and eHarmony involves you filling out the online survey and having the service match you with potential people. hmmm... sounds passive to me! this is not to compare the merits of each method; i'm sure they both have their pros and cons. but that whole commercial is rendered pointless when their spokesperson doesn't have his terms correct!
i do enjoy the Dos Equis commercials, and for some reason i love the little food characters on the Excel commercial. so it's not all bad out there. some writers are capable of entertaining the audience while remaining memorable. these ads shine all the more brighter when lined up against the rubbish i listed above. we are a materialistic society, wrapped up in consumerism. do these companies not have enough money to pay some good writers?! if they posted a YouTube contest and implored the masses, i'm sure they'd come up with advertising gold...instead of cornball couples and dairy product incest.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009
there is little i can say about the late great Michael Jackson that has not already been said far more eloquently. the memorial service at the Staples Center in LA has just finished and it was a beautiful and moving tribute to Michael. celebrities, musicians, family and fans found themselves united in their grief, their need for closure and celebration. we were all equal today. we were all mourners.
whatever allegations and accusations surrounded his tragic life, his artistry and generosity transcended all negativity. he changed the world of music and opened doors for people of colour. in sharing his talent with us, he broke down walls and united us through his art. no corner of the Earth was left untouched by his genius and we will never see one like him again.
today, all of the rumours, the eccentricities, the doubts and the criticisms fell away. we were left with an empty spotlight and a gold casket adorned with roses.
he was a prodigy and an artist.
he was a son, a brother, and a father.
from one EmJay to another, thank you for sharing your gift. i'm sorry for how we invaded your life and stole any chance of serenity you may have had. now, finally, may you rest in peace.
whatever allegations and accusations surrounded his tragic life, his artistry and generosity transcended all negativity. he changed the world of music and opened doors for people of colour. in sharing his talent with us, he broke down walls and united us through his art. no corner of the Earth was left untouched by his genius and we will never see one like him again.
today, all of the rumours, the eccentricities, the doubts and the criticisms fell away. we were left with an empty spotlight and a gold casket adorned with roses.
he was a prodigy and an artist.
he was a son, a brother, and a father.
from one EmJay to another, thank you for sharing your gift. i'm sorry for how we invaded your life and stole any chance of serenity you may have had. now, finally, may you rest in peace.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - movie review
entertaining but not memorable.
that's pretty much the bottom line, so feel free to stop reading at anytime...
years ago, while i was still basking in the afterglow of the X-Men trilogy, i heard through the imdb.com grapevine that a Wolverine movie was in the works. my love of Hugh Jackman combined with my childhood memories of the animated series had me totally hyped for this movie. i highly doubted it could actually reach - much less exceed - the high expectations of X-Men fans but i knew i'd be shelling out some cashmoney to watch it on the big screen. even the piss-poor, mid-30s rating it got on rottentomatoes.com couldn't deter me. i heard Liev Schreiber was wonderfully vengeful as Sabretooth and that in itself was worth the ticket... plus, Jackman was fucking jacked, man - did you see those commercials of him bursting out of the tank in wet and sexy fury?!
but i digress. and need to take a cold shower. i don't want to give a ton away in case you haven't seen the movie and still plan to, so i'll make a few points instead:
- the opening scene and credits provide a quick but effective glimpse into Wolverine's past. there are "ohhh i see" moments and an underlying feeling of sorrow for the child whose human existence was replaced by a mutant future in a single explosion of rage. HOWEVER, this walk down memory lane lasted just a few minutes! granted, it did lead into a very cool montage of Wolverine and his brother fighting in various wars, but i think a deeper delving into his childhood would have built his character in a way that the previous X-Men movies did not.
- the chase scenes, the explosions, all very well and good. but occasionally, the CGI was shockingly poor. one scene in particular - in which Wolverine owes his elderly hosts some new porcelain - had the worst-looking adamantium claws i've ever seen. they looked like they were either painted on or lifted from a South Park episode. terrible. also... trying to make Professor X look young - ugh. looked like a rookie Photoshop job.
- Wolverine and his wife had zero chemistry on screen. it was awkward. and when the couple has no chemistry, it's hard to care when something tragic happens. you can't tell me that there weren't hundreds of other gals waiting in line to be his on-screen wife! surely there was someone else whose kisses with him wouldn't look like they resulted from a bad spin of the bottle.
- the debut of Gambit left something to be desired. his style, attitude, and kinetic powers were fairly well done but i was hoping for someone a little more chiseled and a lot more charming. like a younger version of that dude from the Dos Equis commercials ("stay thirsty, my friends").
X-Men Origins: Wolverine still contained the cleverness and fun that fans came to expect. but it lacked the oomph that turns a decent action flick into an awesome superhero movie. some of the new characters and plot twists seemed tacked on or simply there to satisfy the regulars on X-Men internet forums. it's impossible to bring in all the characters people want to see. all in all, i feel it may have been better to build a small cast well instead of a large cast half-heartedly.
that's pretty much the bottom line, so feel free to stop reading at anytime...
years ago, while i was still basking in the afterglow of the X-Men trilogy, i heard through the imdb.com grapevine that a Wolverine movie was in the works. my love of Hugh Jackman combined with my childhood memories of the animated series had me totally hyped for this movie. i highly doubted it could actually reach - much less exceed - the high expectations of X-Men fans but i knew i'd be shelling out some cashmoney to watch it on the big screen. even the piss-poor, mid-30s rating it got on rottentomatoes.com couldn't deter me. i heard Liev Schreiber was wonderfully vengeful as Sabretooth and that in itself was worth the ticket... plus, Jackman was fucking jacked, man - did you see those commercials of him bursting out of the tank in wet and sexy fury?!
but i digress. and need to take a cold shower. i don't want to give a ton away in case you haven't seen the movie and still plan to, so i'll make a few points instead:
- the opening scene and credits provide a quick but effective glimpse into Wolverine's past. there are "ohhh i see" moments and an underlying feeling of sorrow for the child whose human existence was replaced by a mutant future in a single explosion of rage. HOWEVER, this walk down memory lane lasted just a few minutes! granted, it did lead into a very cool montage of Wolverine and his brother fighting in various wars, but i think a deeper delving into his childhood would have built his character in a way that the previous X-Men movies did not.
- the chase scenes, the explosions, all very well and good. but occasionally, the CGI was shockingly poor. one scene in particular - in which Wolverine owes his elderly hosts some new porcelain - had the worst-looking adamantium claws i've ever seen. they looked like they were either painted on or lifted from a South Park episode. terrible. also... trying to make Professor X look young - ugh. looked like a rookie Photoshop job.
- Wolverine and his wife had zero chemistry on screen. it was awkward. and when the couple has no chemistry, it's hard to care when something tragic happens. you can't tell me that there weren't hundreds of other gals waiting in line to be his on-screen wife! surely there was someone else whose kisses with him wouldn't look like they resulted from a bad spin of the bottle.
- the debut of Gambit left something to be desired. his style, attitude, and kinetic powers were fairly well done but i was hoping for someone a little more chiseled and a lot more charming. like a younger version of that dude from the Dos Equis commercials ("stay thirsty, my friends").
X-Men Origins: Wolverine still contained the cleverness and fun that fans came to expect. but it lacked the oomph that turns a decent action flick into an awesome superhero movie. some of the new characters and plot twists seemed tacked on or simply there to satisfy the regulars on X-Men internet forums. it's impossible to bring in all the characters people want to see. all in all, i feel it may have been better to build a small cast well instead of a large cast half-heartedly.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
90s alternative music
the other day i had a sudden urge to listen to some alternative tunes that were popular back when i was in grade school. i went on youtube, typed in whatever i could remember and was led through playlists upon playlists, all of which reminded me of this great time in music history - especially for canadian bands. remember these gems??
"Remote Control" - Age of Electric
"Incarnate" - Watchmen
"My Old Self" - Wide Mouth Mason
"Caught a Lite Sneeze" - Tori Amos
and anything from I Mother Earth's album Scenery & Fish
shit, i wish the quality of popular music maintained itself throughout these new generations. where are the poetic lyrics? the layers of musicality and the artistic videos? none of the songs in the above list sound anything like each other. each group/artist expressed their unique sound, seemingly for the sake of expressing it. this is not so today. there seems to be this push to prove oneself as a celebrity first and a rockstar second. not only that, but rockstar doesn't necessarily equal musician or artist.
today's generation wants to be entertained and immediately gratified. the song doesn't need artistry if it has a catchy hook, suggestive lyrics, and a seizure-inducing video to match. case in point: "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga - it has spent 19 weeks so far on the Billboard's Top 100. upon searching for the lyrics to this masterpiece, here' s what i found (note: if you know the song, don't sing along, just read it like a poem):
- - -
I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas Plays
Fold 'em let 'em hit me, raise it baby, stay with me (I love it)
Luck and intuition play the cards with spades to start
And after he's been hooked, I'll play the one that's on his heart
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face (she's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face (she's got me like nobody)
- - -
incredible isn't it? like stepping into a lyrical wonderland.
now, there's nothing wrong with repetition because by its description, pop music nearly requires some repeats. but at least add a decent melody to the words! 3 of the 4 lines in that first verse are one note - that is not singing, that is melodic talking. and barely that. you hear more musicality when a congregation of church-goers recite the Apostles' Creed. you get more complexity from the prepubescent rantings of suburban emo children. anyway... i could go on. the point is, i am not a fan of pop music today (dur). and i long for the days of 90s alternative. ohh, remember "Andromeda" by Zuckerbaby? and "Salvation" by the Cranberries?!
"Remote Control" - Age of Electric
"Incarnate" - Watchmen
"My Old Self" - Wide Mouth Mason
"Caught a Lite Sneeze" - Tori Amos
and anything from I Mother Earth's album Scenery & Fish
shit, i wish the quality of popular music maintained itself throughout these new generations. where are the poetic lyrics? the layers of musicality and the artistic videos? none of the songs in the above list sound anything like each other. each group/artist expressed their unique sound, seemingly for the sake of expressing it. this is not so today. there seems to be this push to prove oneself as a celebrity first and a rockstar second. not only that, but rockstar doesn't necessarily equal musician or artist.
today's generation wants to be entertained and immediately gratified. the song doesn't need artistry if it has a catchy hook, suggestive lyrics, and a seizure-inducing video to match. case in point: "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga - it has spent 19 weeks so far on the Billboard's Top 100. upon searching for the lyrics to this masterpiece, here' s what i found (note: if you know the song, don't sing along, just read it like a poem):
- - -
I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas Plays
Fold 'em let 'em hit me, raise it baby, stay with me (I love it)
Luck and intuition play the cards with spades to start
And after he's been hooked, I'll play the one that's on his heart
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face (she's got me like nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face (she's got me like nobody)
- - -
incredible isn't it? like stepping into a lyrical wonderland.
now, there's nothing wrong with repetition because by its description, pop music nearly requires some repeats. but at least add a decent melody to the words! 3 of the 4 lines in that first verse are one note - that is not singing, that is melodic talking. and barely that. you hear more musicality when a congregation of church-goers recite the Apostles' Creed. you get more complexity from the prepubescent rantings of suburban emo children. anyway... i could go on. the point is, i am not a fan of pop music today (dur). and i long for the days of 90s alternative. ohh, remember "Andromeda" by Zuckerbaby? and "Salvation" by the Cranberries?!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Juicy Fruit
so they've brought back the classic juicy fruit jingle with a little pop-country twang. the song, however, is noticeably lacking the best lyric from the original jingle:
"take a sniff, pull it out/ the taste is gonna move you when you pop it in your mouth..."
if this isn't a sign of the decline of our society i don't know what is. apparently, back in the 80s, that line did not make people giggle. go figure.
"take a sniff, pull it out/ the taste is gonna move you when you pop it in your mouth..."
if this isn't a sign of the decline of our society i don't know what is. apparently, back in the 80s, that line did not make people giggle. go figure.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Ultimate Fighters who can't cut weight
this bothers me to no end. we're nine seasons into The Ultimate Fighter reality show, and still contestants are coming in overweight - so overweight, that they're unable to cut enough to make it onto the show and are forced to give up their spots. cutting weight is not a foreign concept to these fighters. even as single-art young bucks fighting in tournaments at local hockey arenas, they had to cut weight. so by the time they hit the big show, it should be down to a science for them.
but alas... like Clay Guida's brother before them, two contestants this season were overweight, and one couldn't safely cut enough poundage and had to forfeit. even if the fighters don't win the show, likely they'll be given at least one chance in the Octogan. you get your shot unless you're one of the first to be cut or you do something stupid (e.g. Noah's mistake of love for jealousy or that ginger boy who jumped the fence to meet some Vegas Vagina). so why in the world would you risk your best shot at becoming pro just for a few extra beers and Big Macs?
my sibling has been in the competitive bodybuilding world for many years, both as a trainer and as a competitor. so i have seen first-hand how difficult and dangerous cutting weight can be. but my argument is not against how easy it is because i know it isn't. my argument is against those whose road to athletic glory winds through this tough task and yet on the eve of achieving their goal, they fall short because of too much weight. ultimately i just think it's disrespectful...to the UFC, to the other fighters, to the fans, and to the sport itself. competitors sacrifice jobs, homes, and time with their families to train and diet down into competitive shape. but then there are those who don't do enough preparatory work. they're given this incredible opportunity to break into the most successful arena for mixed martial arts, and throw it away for the sake of a few extra nights at the pub. i guess i should be thankful that these chubsters are in the minority. but really, they should be in the history books.
but alas... like Clay Guida's brother before them, two contestants this season were overweight, and one couldn't safely cut enough poundage and had to forfeit. even if the fighters don't win the show, likely they'll be given at least one chance in the Octogan. you get your shot unless you're one of the first to be cut or you do something stupid (e.g. Noah's mistake of love for jealousy or that ginger boy who jumped the fence to meet some Vegas Vagina). so why in the world would you risk your best shot at becoming pro just for a few extra beers and Big Macs?
my sibling has been in the competitive bodybuilding world for many years, both as a trainer and as a competitor. so i have seen first-hand how difficult and dangerous cutting weight can be. but my argument is not against how easy it is because i know it isn't. my argument is against those whose road to athletic glory winds through this tough task and yet on the eve of achieving their goal, they fall short because of too much weight. ultimately i just think it's disrespectful...to the UFC, to the other fighters, to the fans, and to the sport itself. competitors sacrifice jobs, homes, and time with their families to train and diet down into competitive shape. but then there are those who don't do enough preparatory work. they're given this incredible opportunity to break into the most successful arena for mixed martial arts, and throw it away for the sake of a few extra nights at the pub. i guess i should be thankful that these chubsters are in the minority. but really, they should be in the history books.
Corner Gas - farewell to one of the best
yesterday (Monday, April 13th, 2009) marked the end of an era; Corner Gas, the most successful Canadian sitcom to enter global living rooms, said good-bye after six LoL seasons. it ended the way it began and thrived - with everyday characters, tons of laughs, and no shocking bombshells. every episode, incuding the series finale, was self-contained, beginning and ending within itself. and you didn't need to watch the episodes in any particular order. this will make re-runs all the more enjoyable...if somewhat saddening since they ARE only re-runs. part of me wishes the show could go on forever but i know that the length of a show is often inversely related to its success. i am (reluctantly) glad that Corner Gas ended before it jumped the shark. i would have hated to see such a great and humourous show suffer a slow death... *whispers: the Simpsons.
so what made Corner Gas so successful? my humble opinion is obviously that of a fan and not an unbiased TV critic. but bear with me...
- the humour of the show is that of regular joe people - regular joe FUNNY people, but regular nonetheless. there was wit, sarcasm, and Oscar's frequent calls of 'jackass!' and it was nothing totally out of the ordinary. watching the show was like spending half an hour with a group of your funniest friends. effortless, every day, and very, very comfortable.
- the small Prairie town of Dog River was still with-it and modern: new cars, internet, cell phones. the people could be any one in your average suburban community...except they watch games and clink beers at THE bar instead of A bar.
- they never began any romances between the characters. not that it wouldn't have been easy as most of the main characters were young, single people. early on, the show hinted at a romance between Brent and Lacey but the writers let it remain as friendship, and thank goodness for that. i imagine a lot of fans would have liked to see it happen - the whole fairy tale happy ending thing - but it would have changed the show too much. the episodes would no longer be self-contained and the plotlines would grow complicated. it would lose the everyday fun that made the show what it was.
Corner Gas never strayed from its original vision. it was a small town Canadian sitcom, accessible to an audience of kids, grandparents, and everyone in between. the show stayed fun, simple, and never preachy. but most of all, Corner Gas never tried to be more than what it was. they gave us six years of great laughs and for that, i thank them. you've been great, good night!
so what made Corner Gas so successful? my humble opinion is obviously that of a fan and not an unbiased TV critic. but bear with me...
- the humour of the show is that of regular joe people - regular joe FUNNY people, but regular nonetheless. there was wit, sarcasm, and Oscar's frequent calls of 'jackass!' and it was nothing totally out of the ordinary. watching the show was like spending half an hour with a group of your funniest friends. effortless, every day, and very, very comfortable.
- the small Prairie town of Dog River was still with-it and modern: new cars, internet, cell phones. the people could be any one in your average suburban community...except they watch games and clink beers at THE bar instead of A bar.
- they never began any romances between the characters. not that it wouldn't have been easy as most of the main characters were young, single people. early on, the show hinted at a romance between Brent and Lacey but the writers let it remain as friendship, and thank goodness for that. i imagine a lot of fans would have liked to see it happen - the whole fairy tale happy ending thing - but it would have changed the show too much. the episodes would no longer be self-contained and the plotlines would grow complicated. it would lose the everyday fun that made the show what it was.
Corner Gas never strayed from its original vision. it was a small town Canadian sitcom, accessible to an audience of kids, grandparents, and everyone in between. the show stayed fun, simple, and never preachy. but most of all, Corner Gas never tried to be more than what it was. they gave us six years of great laughs and for that, i thank them. you've been great, good night!
Pontypool - movie review
an eerie, disturbing horror-drama that leaves your skin crawling long after you leave the theatre. it's a zombie flick sans zombies - at least for about the first two-thirds of the movie. and the premise itself - that the infectious virus is spread through certain words of the English language - is absurd to the point of ridiculousness. and yet, after the credits rolled and we walked the empty streets to the car, i found myself resisting the urge to look over my shoulder...
these days, Hollywood churns out flashy ADD blockbusters like they're going out of style - which they should be. today's audience demands immediate gratification, and the unfortunate by-product is characters that lack depth, unnecessary CGI, and plotlines so formulaic you could plug them into a Pythagorean Theorem (for an example of all three, see Transformers). don't get me wrong, i'm not into the super-artsy, hybrid-driving, eco-friendly, film student stuff. sure, i've watched my share of indie movies and legitimate documentaries, but i'm as excited for the Wolverine movie as any 20-year-old male undergrad.
that being said, Pontypool was a refreshing new take on the pop culture horror flick. the cast, minimal in itself, spent the entire movie on one set - a ho-hum church basement slash talk radio station. and leading the way through this audio creepfest was the gravel-voiced radio host, Grant Mazzy (played by Stephen McHattie). as frantic callers inform Mazzy and his crew of two about the growing chaos outside, the audience listens helplessly as their imaginations conjure mental images to match the fear-stricken stories. blood-soaked teenagers speaking in infant voices, neighbours babbling senseless gibberish, mobs of the infected swarming people in their cars. but the most effective communication in this writer's view was the use of an audiograph to accentuate the play-by-play of the station's reporter on the street, Ken Loney (played by Rick Roberts ). hunkered down, reporting as much as he can before his inevitable demise, Loney describes a small Ontario town descending into animalistic madness. Mazzy and his crew are torn between the need for more information and the fear for their friend's life and safety. Mazzy holds a cell phone to the radio mic, and Loney's panicked voice - barely held in check - is shown as a series of spiky blue lines on a black computer screen. the sound is deep-seated emotion but the visual is raw, detached. an inhuman but honest representation of terror and panic. the audience is forced to listen to the words of this man which underscores the deadliness of the virus itself - those who are infected are those who chose to listen.
Pontypool disturbed its audience without gory scenes or cheap surprises, and maintained a deep-set feeling of unease throughout. minimal set and a tiny cast, incredible scripting and unmatched ambience. even when the movie's dark humour provided some genuine laughs, that off-putting feeling of uncertainty would quickly flow back in...and remain until, well - i'll let you know when it's gone.
these days, Hollywood churns out flashy ADD blockbusters like they're going out of style - which they should be. today's audience demands immediate gratification, and the unfortunate by-product is characters that lack depth, unnecessary CGI, and plotlines so formulaic you could plug them into a Pythagorean Theorem (for an example of all three, see Transformers). don't get me wrong, i'm not into the super-artsy, hybrid-driving, eco-friendly, film student stuff. sure, i've watched my share of indie movies and legitimate documentaries, but i'm as excited for the Wolverine movie as any 20-year-old male undergrad.
that being said, Pontypool was a refreshing new take on the pop culture horror flick. the cast, minimal in itself, spent the entire movie on one set - a ho-hum church basement slash talk radio station. and leading the way through this audio creepfest was the gravel-voiced radio host, Grant Mazzy (played by Stephen McHattie). as frantic callers inform Mazzy and his crew of two about the growing chaos outside, the audience listens helplessly as their imaginations conjure mental images to match the fear-stricken stories. blood-soaked teenagers speaking in infant voices, neighbours babbling senseless gibberish, mobs of the infected swarming people in their cars. but the most effective communication in this writer's view was the use of an audiograph to accentuate the play-by-play of the station's reporter on the street, Ken Loney (played by Rick Roberts ). hunkered down, reporting as much as he can before his inevitable demise, Loney describes a small Ontario town descending into animalistic madness. Mazzy and his crew are torn between the need for more information and the fear for their friend's life and safety. Mazzy holds a cell phone to the radio mic, and Loney's panicked voice - barely held in check - is shown as a series of spiky blue lines on a black computer screen. the sound is deep-seated emotion but the visual is raw, detached. an inhuman but honest representation of terror and panic. the audience is forced to listen to the words of this man which underscores the deadliness of the virus itself - those who are infected are those who chose to listen.
Pontypool disturbed its audience without gory scenes or cheap surprises, and maintained a deep-set feeling of unease throughout. minimal set and a tiny cast, incredible scripting and unmatched ambience. even when the movie's dark humour provided some genuine laughs, that off-putting feeling of uncertainty would quickly flow back in...and remain until, well - i'll let you know when it's gone.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Junie Browning's Crazy Ass
so junie browning had a short and unremarkable stint in the Octagon this week. i'm an avid follower of The Ultimate Fighter series and have been watching the show since it began. i'm impressed and very pleased by the way TUF has blown up and how its success has rippled out to the UFC and MMA as a whole. but the antics of junie browning? come on...
i understand that crazy shit sells, and that the main demographic of Spike TV is probably attracted to junie-esque hijinx. you pack a Vegas mansion full of testosterone-spiked fighters, take away their phones, their families, their sex and yes - you will end up with over-the-top action full of anger and/or grossness. they spill their seed on a japanese delicacy, create effigies to demolish, and destroy the artwork and architecture in the mansion. but junie was at a completely different level. at the time of the show, he wasn't emotionally or cognitively prepared for what was ahead of him. and i think that may be troublesome for two reasons:
1. he's embarking on a new and scary ride by entering the life of the professional MMA fighter. taken from his old life, he's thrust into the spotlight with screaming fans and big money; his destiny is in the hands of the successful but ruthless big heads of the UFC. is someone who is that emotionally and mentally unstable fit for such a lifestyle? if he becomes successful and has more money, more pressure, and more ladies tossed his way, will he be able to react appropriately? i hope that in the time between the show and now, he's gotten the help he needs. yes, i have heard that he's addressed his drinking problem - but with every major life change comes both new and old ghosts to haunt you every night. i guess time will tell whether he's truly come around or not.
2. these young dudes are the new faces of the UFC. they should represent the organization and the sport in the best and most respectable way possible. MMA has come a long way from tournaments in backwater towns that pit one martial art against another. it's rough and it's brutal but it's also calculated and technical. it has safeguards and professionalism. it's both a sport and a business, and the athletes who represent it should reflect that. it bothers me that someone who doesn't know or respect MMA could channel surf to TUF and see someone like junie going off the deep end (figuratively and literally), and that his actions would validate their negative views of the sport. grasping for ratings is one thing, but i'm certain they can find weird and interesting characters to fill the mansion without resorting to someone whose actions may slow the progress of MMA toward a respectable household name.
i hope boys like junie and jesse taylor can get their shit under control and prove their worth as fighters and men. one thing about the UFC, if you've got talent and are not insubordinate, they'll give you your chance(s) in the Octagon. junie has time for redemption. but the clock is ticking...
i understand that crazy shit sells, and that the main demographic of Spike TV is probably attracted to junie-esque hijinx. you pack a Vegas mansion full of testosterone-spiked fighters, take away their phones, their families, their sex and yes - you will end up with over-the-top action full of anger and/or grossness. they spill their seed on a japanese delicacy, create effigies to demolish, and destroy the artwork and architecture in the mansion. but junie was at a completely different level. at the time of the show, he wasn't emotionally or cognitively prepared for what was ahead of him. and i think that may be troublesome for two reasons:
1. he's embarking on a new and scary ride by entering the life of the professional MMA fighter. taken from his old life, he's thrust into the spotlight with screaming fans and big money; his destiny is in the hands of the successful but ruthless big heads of the UFC. is someone who is that emotionally and mentally unstable fit for such a lifestyle? if he becomes successful and has more money, more pressure, and more ladies tossed his way, will he be able to react appropriately? i hope that in the time between the show and now, he's gotten the help he needs. yes, i have heard that he's addressed his drinking problem - but with every major life change comes both new and old ghosts to haunt you every night. i guess time will tell whether he's truly come around or not.
2. these young dudes are the new faces of the UFC. they should represent the organization and the sport in the best and most respectable way possible. MMA has come a long way from tournaments in backwater towns that pit one martial art against another. it's rough and it's brutal but it's also calculated and technical. it has safeguards and professionalism. it's both a sport and a business, and the athletes who represent it should reflect that. it bothers me that someone who doesn't know or respect MMA could channel surf to TUF and see someone like junie going off the deep end (figuratively and literally), and that his actions would validate their negative views of the sport. grasping for ratings is one thing, but i'm certain they can find weird and interesting characters to fill the mansion without resorting to someone whose actions may slow the progress of MMA toward a respectable household name.
i hope boys like junie and jesse taylor can get their shit under control and prove their worth as fighters and men. one thing about the UFC, if you've got talent and are not insubordinate, they'll give you your chance(s) in the Octagon. junie has time for redemption. but the clock is ticking...
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