archives
03/28/2004 - 04/04/2004
04/04/2004 - 04/11/2004
04/11/2004 - 04/18/2004
04/18/2004 - 04/25/2004
04/25/2004 - 05/02/2004
05/02/2004 - 05/09/2004
05/09/2004 - 05/16/2004
05/16/2004 - 05/23/2004
05/23/2004 - 05/30/2004
05/30/2004 - 06/06/2004
06/06/2004 - 06/13/2004
06/13/2004 - 06/20/2004
06/20/2004 - 06/27/2004
06/27/2004 - 07/04/2004
07/04/2004 - 07/11/2004
07/11/2004 - 07/18/2004
07/18/2004 - 07/25/2004
07/25/2004 - 08/01/2004
08/01/2004 - 08/08/2004
08/08/2004 - 08/15/2004
08/15/2004 - 08/22/2004
08/22/2004 - 08/29/2004
08/29/2004 - 09/05/2004
09/05/2004 - 09/12/2004
09/12/2004 - 09/19/2004
09/19/2004 - 09/26/2004
09/26/2004 - 10/03/2004
10/03/2004 - 10/10/2004
10/10/2004 - 10/17/2004
10/17/2004 - 10/24/2004
10/24/2004 - 10/31/2004
10/31/2004 - 11/07/2004
11/07/2004 - 11/14/2004
11/14/2004 - 11/21/2004
11/21/2004 - 11/28/2004
11/28/2004 - 12/05/2004
12/05/2004 - 12/12/2004
12/12/2004 - 12/19/2004
12/19/2004 - 12/26/2004
12/26/2004 - 01/02/2005
01/02/2005 - 01/09/2005
01/09/2005 - 01/16/2005
01/16/2005 - 01/23/2005
01/23/2005 - 01/30/2005
01/30/2005 - 02/06/2005
02/06/2005 - 02/13/2005
02/13/2005 - 02/20/2005
02/20/2005 - 02/27/2005
02/27/2005 - 03/06/2005
03/06/2005 - 03/13/2005
03/13/2005 - 03/20/2005
03/20/2005 - 03/27/2005
03/27/2005 - 04/03/2005
04/03/2005 - 04/10/2005
04/10/2005 - 04/17/2005
04/17/2005 - 04/24/2005
04/24/2005 - 05/01/2005
05/01/2005 - 05/08/2005
05/08/2005 - 05/15/2005
05/15/2005 - 05/22/2005
05/22/2005 - 05/29/2005
05/29/2005 - 06/05/2005
06/05/2005 - 06/12/2005
06/12/2005 - 06/19/2005
06/19/2005 - 06/26/2005
06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005
07/03/2005 - 07/10/2005
07/10/2005 - 07/17/2005
07/17/2005 - 07/24/2005
07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005
07/31/2005 - 08/07/2005
08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005
08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005
08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005
08/28/2005 - 09/04/2005
09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005
09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005
09/18/2005 - 09/25/2005
09/25/2005 - 10/02/2005
10/02/2005 - 10/09/2005
10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005
10/16/2005 - 10/23/2005
10/23/2005 - 10/30/2005
10/30/2005 - 11/06/2005
11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005
11/13/2005 - 11/20/2005
11/20/2005 - 11/27/2005
11/27/2005 - 12/04/2005
12/04/2005 - 12/11/2005
12/11/2005 - 12/18/2005
12/18/2005 - 12/25/2005
12/25/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 01/08/2006
01/08/2006 - 01/15/2006
01/15/2006 - 01/22/2006
01/22/2006 - 01/29/2006
01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006
02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006
02/12/2006 - 02/19/2006
02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006
02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006
03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006
03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006
03/19/2006 - 03/26/2006
03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006
04/02/2006 - 04/09/2006
04/09/2006 - 04/16/2006
04/16/2006 - 04/23/2006
04/23/2006 - 04/30/2006
04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006
05/07/2006 - 05/14/2006
05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006
05/21/2006 - 05/28/2006
05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006
06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006
06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006
06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006
06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006
07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006
07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006
07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006
07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006
07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006
08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006
08/13/2006 - 08/20/2006
08/20/2006 - 08/27/2006
08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006
09/03/2006 - 09/10/2006
09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006
09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006
09/24/2006 - 10/01/2006
10/01/2006 - 10/08/2006
10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006
10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006
10/22/2006 - 10/29/2006
10/29/2006 - 11/05/2006
11/05/2006 - 11/12/2006
11/12/2006 - 11/19/2006
11/19/2006 - 11/26/2006
11/26/2006 - 12/03/2006
12/03/2006 - 12/10/2006
12/10/2006 - 12/17/2006
12/17/2006 - 12/24/2006
12/24/2006 - 12/31/2006
12/31/2006 - 01/07/2007
01/07/2007 - 01/14/2007
01/14/2007 - 01/21/2007
01/21/2007 - 01/28/2007
01/28/2007 - 02/04/2007
02/04/2007 - 02/11/2007
02/11/2007 - 02/18/2007
02/18/2007 - 02/25/2007
02/25/2007 - 03/04/2007
03/11/2007 - 03/18/2007
03/18/2007 - 03/25/2007
04/08/2007 - 04/15/2007
04/15/2007 - 04/22/2007
04/22/2007 - 04/29/2007
04/29/2007 - 05/06/2007
05/06/2007 - 05/13/2007
05/13/2007 - 05/20/2007
05/27/2007 - 06/03/2007
06/10/2007 - 06/17/2007
06/17/2007 - 06/24/2007
06/24/2007 - 07/01/2007
07/01/2007 - 07/08/2007
07/15/2007 - 07/22/2007
09/02/2007 - 09/09/2007
09/16/2007 - 09/23/2007
10/07/2007 - 10/14/2007
10/21/2007 - 10/28/2007
11/18/2007 - 11/25/2007
11/25/2007 - 12/02/2007
12/02/2007 - 12/09/2007
12/09/2007 - 12/16/2007
12/16/2007 - 12/23/2007
12/23/2007 - 12/30/2007
12/30/2007 - 01/06/2008
01/06/2008 - 01/13/2008
01/13/2008 - 01/20/2008
01/20/2008 - 01/27/2008
01/27/2008 - 02/03/2008
02/03/2008 - 02/10/2008
02/17/2008 - 02/24/2008
02/24/2008 - 03/02/2008
03/02/2008 - 03/09/2008
03/09/2008 - 03/16/2008
03/23/2008 - 03/30/2008
03/30/2008 - 04/06/2008
04/06/2008 - 04/13/2008
04/20/2008 - 04/27/2008
04/27/2008 - 05/04/2008
05/11/2008 - 05/18/2008
05/18/2008 - 05/25/2008
06/01/2008 - 06/08/2008
06/08/2008 - 06/15/2008
06/15/2008 - 06/22/2008
06/22/2008 - 06/29/2008
06/29/2008 - 07/06/2008
07/20/2008 - 07/27/2008
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Shyeh
Stayed in last night and wrote a piece for MONDO. I think it's a killer, but I'm not sure yet. It's a first draft and they sometimes need a little more digestion. If I read it tomorrow or the next day and still like it, it may come up on here.Reading this book on history of hip hop, essentially. Written by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, the former music editor of The Source. Listen to the track The Sauce by Eminem (WB, you have it I think), it turns out he actually is giving a pretty good summary of what happened over there. Shit, I have a MILLION things to write about who's signing who and who's getting shot, but it'll have to wait. I gotta go help moms with supper.
Sum-Ups
Hey hey hey. I'm still here, despite not having posted in the last week. "So Sam, what up?" You all say. Well, I guess the answer to that would be "quite a bit."Recently, I have a)consider taking fencing lessons b)met a girl c)wrote a very well drawn (in my opinion) comic c)had things cut off with said girl on account of my being an immature person (can't disagree) d)participated in a comics jam and e)had an assignment deadline creep up on me. So yea, eventful.
Firstoff, The Comic. Not the best joke-writing I've ever done, but I feel that I did a damned good ink job and some pretty fine drawrings as well. Judge for thyselves.
And the "relationship"? I feel you Apes deserve to know what went on, in a short form. Basically, we (but mostly her, admittedly) decided to break it off before anything really started because of a bit of a "maturity gap", i.e. my relative (to most human beings) inexperience in the grand field known as "love" vs. her having had a normal human experience. No bitterness, she's still cool, etc. For my part, I think I've learned a bit, and am eager to apply said lessons. Boy, I sure wouldn't have bothered to blog about things this personal if I wasn't already drunk! (Which I totally am!)
What else? Mondo comics jam, that's what! Booze, paper, pencils, and a crowd of like-minded individuals to impress/be impressed by! What could be greater? Answer: nothing.
And that's it. Will I delete this post when I'm sober? Stay tuned!
Friday, January 13, 2006
No, Fuck You Steve Jobs
So I take back all the mean things I said about local Green Party Candidate Eric Walton. I went to an all-candidates debate with him, the Liberal, the Tory, the NDPer, the Canadian Action Party guy and some crazy douchebag running as an independent. Walton won the debate hands down, he was calm, smart and wryly funny. I talked to a lefty Liberal and an anti-abortion Conservative and they both agreed with me. Only him and Peter Miliken (the lib) seemed like serious candidates. So I'm voting for him and got a sign (which some schmuck stole).I went up to ask a question and was debating what to ask. I was thinking of directing one to the fringe party candidates. Either to both of them: "You said we could solve all our problems by borrowing from the Bank of Canada. That's just a fancy way of saying printing more money. Given that we had a whole failed political movement based on that idea (Social Credit) what makes you think that I'd work now"
Or only to to the independent: "Sir, you said that it was a disgrace that parties got money from the government and that corporations have too much influence over the government. Do you think that a political party that was publically funded instead of corporate funded would be more or less likely to be influenced by corporations?"
Or to the CAP guy: "Sir, Paul Hellyer–the former leader of your party–said that George Bush was planning to build a military base on the moon that could spark war with aliens. My question, to you and to all the candidates, is what are your parties plans for this coming intersteller war?"
But that just seemed mean/shooting fish in a barrel. So I asked the conservative a question. "In the event of a free vote on the traditional definition of marriage how would you vote?" That's the kind of question I approve of in general, short, to the point, to gather information as oppose to making a political point. But then I kept on talking, "I'm also wondering, sir, what type of traditional marriage you're talking about. Polygamy? Only within the same race? Woman-as-property?" The crowd went nuts with cheering and the Tory glowered and didn't answer the question and was heckled for it. It doesn't take a lot of courage to say something the rest of the room agrees with, but what the hey, it was fun.
Oh and I got a new computer, an iMac. I like it, it's nice looking and has a built-in webcam (which means that if I were a 15-year-old girl it'd pay for itself). Then, several days after I buy it new iMac's come out that are twice as good and $200 less. Goddamn.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
An Evening of Musical Shenanigans!
Hokay. So, you all must come to the Horseshoe this Thursday Jan. 19 around 9:30pm. There will be musical awesomeness. Canned Hamm (all the way from Vancouver!), The Vulcan Dub Squad, and Kid Metropolis. Only $6.00.I helped organize this concert for the Canadian University Press National Conference that Excalibur is hosting this year, and it would mean a lot to me if you guys came to support me! Tell your friends and come party down with a bunch of drunken journalists!
Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
A Twiddling Of Thumbs
This title sprang to mind last night after listening to George R.R. Martin explain why he decided not to put a five year gap between two of his books. I support his decision. Would have been an amusing title though.Ash was exactly that flakey, and not just in front of Martin. She stayed that way the whole time, and kept looking at the picture once she had it on her camera, stroking it.
In other news, scientists have declared that it is, in fact, plants that cause global warming. They blame everything else, too, but it really should be kept in mind that plants have been discharging methane since the dawn of time without global warming being an issue, unless anyone wants to claim that global warming killed the dinosaurs. In which case I would have to shoot you. I can see Bush using this as an excuse to clear-cut forests. "We're clear cutting the greenhouse effect!" except that he and his administration deny that global warming exists.
I have been playing Shadow of the Colossus a lot. I've killed off 14 of the 16 Colossi, and there may be a secret 17th colossus lurking about somewhere, according to a breif thing I read. the game looks fantastic, and the actual battles with the Colossi are the most fun with a videogame I've had in a long time.
The whole game is divided into two activities: Finding the Colossus, and Fighting the Colossus. Both of these things can be very difficult. In order to find these bigass monsters, you have to hold your magic sword in the air. When the light hits it, it will cause bright rays of light to come off your sword, pointing in all directions. As you turn, the rays will come closer together or farther apart. When all the rays converge, that is the direction the Colossus lies in. When terrain gets in the way, you can occasionally be led astray, or forced to take a long, scenic journey that is very enjoyable, because every inch of ground looks fantastic and there is a lot of variety. Sometimes you pretend to be the Prince of Persia, climbing and jumping, except you suck at it, and the game makes this plain. Most of the time, you'll be riding your horse, Argo, and he really moves and acts like a real horse. Since the only two characters in the game are you and Argo, they did a lot of work on him, and it pays off. He is much more adept at staying alive than you are, so you never need to worry about his safety. He'll shy away from cliffs and walls of his own accord, and either follows you around or wanders off to graze, depending on where you are. Argo is probably smarter than you are. Sometimes you need to ride him to fight a Colossus effectively, and these battles are some of the most enjoyable, but he's mainly for getting to them.
When you actually find the Colossus, there is a short cut-scene in which the shit is scared out of you, and then you try to kill it, which involves figuring out where its weak points are, figuring out how to climb it and get to these tender locations, and then trying to hang on long enough to stab it, which can be really, really hard, because these things don't like you and shake and stomp and wave their limbs around to get you off of them. As you flail around like a rag doll, holding on to its thick, coarse fur with one hand, birds will fly past, driving home the fact that you are at least 150 feet in the air. Occasionally you will dangle in front of a colossal face, and that is when you will feel truly, exceptionally tiny.
The first time I "fought" a Colossus I didn't know what I was doing, and he crushed me to death without actually ever noticing me. I was too busy being happy to care. This game is the most satisfying experience I've ever had on the PS2.
I'm considering shaving off my beard for a while and feeling the breeze. This isn't important, I just want everyone to know so they'll recognize me without any difficulty.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Grad-schoolified!
Having left all of my grad-school applications until now, January was going to be a month of annoying essay responses, online application forms, and costly application fees. But no more! I've been in correspondence with the director of graduate studies at Western and he's given me informal admission (formalized upon actually completing the application form), promise of financial aid, and waiving the application fee and foregoing any essay-style questions on the application. It's in economics, which I know nothing about, but it will be fun to do something different. The way the program is designed, I'll get my M.A. in a year, and then from there I can do my Ph.D. It's slightly unnerving to think that in 16 months I could be a Ph.D. student, but also very exciting. Mostly I'm just happy that I don't have to give up my sheltered, insular student existence for a while yet.
