Update

Apologies for no posts lately: I am not only busy reading day and night but am currently convalescing from a nasty cold. I have been mulling over one or two good, more cerebral, posts which I hope to write in the next few days. Being sick sucks, even more so if you have to read Spivak and Bhabha (or Bhlabla) in such a state.

In the meantime, enjoy this list of internet safety tips. I am posting my favourite, and therefore truest, one of the bunch:


Anyone who has been to any site such as ebaumsworld.com knows that this is perfectly true. I just don't get the logic of people who, in the comments section of an innocent video, write "ya, teh rulez ya, my nigga boggs!" or something even less coherent and intelligible, let alone some insanely racist stuff that would make a neo-nazi's ears curl.

Funnies

I know this may be a slightly dated cultural reference, but this guy is one of the most talented impersonators I have ever seen. I know he was on the cast of MadTV about 5 years ago, but I haven't heard of him since.

It figures: MadTV produced some of the funniest people I know (especially Will Sasso), but none of them has had any success after leaving the show. On the other hand, Saturday Night Live produced some of the biggest excuses for comedians who inexplicably went on to have LOOONG and successful careers (1980s Eddie Murphie and the sadly short-lived Chris Farley among the exceptions).

Make your day

Enjoy these motivational posters with a twist I found this morning. Here are my two favourites:

Res Ipsa Loquitur, vol. IV

Nothing against fat people, but this is so very wrong

Da Police

Here's an amusing game I found today. The game itself is fairly dumb, but the concept had me rolling in the aisles. Kids can never be too young to practice.

useless post about my life

Well, it's that day of the year that Dr. J is famous for disliking. No, it isn't christmas or anything like that. Let's just say it has something to do with the passage of time and feeling it.

The good news is I'm slowly getting back into the groove of things, but it seems as if the comp lists never ends.

After picking up the habit again for a few months, I've now been smoke free for two weeks. I passed the test on saturday when I was at a party surrounded by smokers on the balcony and didn't give in. I can exercise good will power when I want to, just as I can be efficient when I want to, but that seldom happens.

Res Upsa Loquitur, vol. IV

This collection of humorous signs from around the world ought to make your day. A couple of them are surely photoshopped, but the good majority are as real as it gets. Don't know which is my favourite yet.

Microslopt

(sorry, that's the best I could do this morning).

Not that we needed one, but here is just one more reason not to bother with Microsoft Vista or any new product released by Microsoft.

I currently alternate between AbiWord and Open Office Word, both of which are free and very simple. The former has its problems, unfortunately, but Open Office can save files in every format known to man. Oh yes, it's also faster than MS Word.

RIP

In case you hadn't heard, opera legend Luciano Pavarotti died this week.

I know he was the butt of many jokes, but he will be missed. His stature in the world of opera was unparalleled: whether or not you knew anything about opera, you knew Luciano.

RIP maestro.

First time for everything, vol. I

Back from a much needed trip back home. I have returned fresh and full of vigour, just in time for comps.

Now on to the post.

I never though I would say this in a million years, but here goes:

"For the upcoming provincial (Ontario) election in October, I will most likely be voting for Dalton McGuinty because he is the saner candidate."

Allow me to explain:

Let me say outright that I am no fan of McGuinty. I know politicians lie through their teeth, but this guy's ridiculous. However, there are two reasons why I will most likely vote for him rather than the Conservative candidate, John Tory. 1) I'm not normally scared of conservatives--Stephen Harper is a softie, in my opinion--but John Tory scares the living hell out of me. I think he would probably bring back some sort of fascism.
2) More importantly, John Tory is all for establishing publicly funded religious (or "faith based") schools in the province. I am against this to no end, and happen to agree with McGuinty that this is a bad, bad idea. Yes, I'm aware that McGuinty is somewhat hypocritical since his children attend Catholic school, but there's no sense in making an undesirable situation palpably worse.

Another reason I will most certainly go to the polls in October is the referendum. Voters will also be asked whether they would like to keep the current voting process or switch to proportional representation. I am in favour of the latter, but I have a feeling it will not fly because most people simply won't understand it and are afraid of change.

More on this as it develops.

Update from Home

I've had a pleasant visit to TO, but I look forward to my return to my new home Thursday evening.

At long last, PHD Comics has acknowledged that Humanities students exist. Enjoy