Exciting and Funny

Alrighty, Annie and I leave tomorrow for Georgia.

I can't contain my excitement!

We'll take lots of pictures!

AHHHH!

p.s. ok, this pic doesn't have anything to do Georgia, it just made me laugh

GAH!

I went to the store to buy one pair of jeans.

I left with one pair of jeans, two t-shirts and one zip up hoodie.

And I'm going back tomorrow to pick up a bag that I saw on sale for $10.

Is it possible for Maggie to rub off on me, three provinces over?

Christmas Attack

Help.

In my office there is a tacky, fiber optic Christmas tree.

NOOOOOO!

After cracking the secret code...

Ralphie: (Reading It) Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a bitch!

Karma Anyone?

A Warning To Carollers In Airports

Consider this a warning.

I just saw a new Christmas commercial (yes, it's that time of year again) where a mother and two children are stuck at the airport, delayed for a flight.

In the midst of this dreary wait, the mother pulls out the crappy Hallmark "gift" and then turns it on. And plays Jingle Bells.

Let me make myself perfectly clear.

If anyone ever decides to actually do this when I'm waiting for a delayed flight in a high traffic time period I will take that sweat shop made Hallmark piece of crap and hit you with it. Repeatedly. Seriously, Frosty's carrot nose will be embedded in your ass like an American jounalist in Baghdad.

Just so you're all warned.

Question of the Day: What Is That Smell?

Alright, just got back from the city of Toronto where Dad, Annie, her friend Christy, and I went to the annual Canadian Royal Winter Fair!

Yes, late last night Dad and I decided that it was a perfect day to assault our noses with the sweet, sweet smell of agricultural victory.

We saw horses, and almost gave Annie an asthma attack when walking up to see the fancy horse stables. We saw the baby chicks, the alpacas, llamas, sheep, and goats. We even stopped around some of the booths to let Annie and Christy do some shopping. However, since the clothing being sold was reserved for country folk, there wasn't much to buy.

We did see one animal group which I will have to add to my list of animals that I hate: the cow.

I know, why is it that certain animals want to see me lying on the ground in pain?

When we were walking around the cow pavillion at the CNE I was almost run over by a very large cow, followed by another very large cow. Seriously, run over. It practically ran into me. Maybe this is some bovine retribution for the delicious sirloin steak I had last night...

So, for those of you keeping score the animals that I hate are:

- Chipmunks
- Squirrels
- Cows

"Scared cows make the best hamburgers."

~Mark Twain

I Hate This Man

I just heard about Kanye West (right) and his sore losing at the MTV Europe Music Video Awards.

Pathetic. And I'm even saying this despite the fact that Kanye wrote and performed a song about conflict diamonds.

Please note, as of today, I am removing him from my iPod.

Now you know I'm serious.

I Love This Woman

Alright, I just got off the phone with this woman, the amazing Eva Olsson, Holocaust Survivor.

She's like my very own Jewish grandmother.

She rocks and is truly inspirational...and the most exciting part? As of today (and if the planning, travel and cost all work out) I, along with 20 teachers, will be travelling to Auschwitz with Mrs. Olsson. She hasn't been back to the concentration camp since her release from Auschwitz during WWII.

An Update

Hello All,

Just thought I'd give you all an update on my crazy, busy life...

What's new, you might ask? Well, not a whole lot...still working away at the Gen. R. Dallaire Genocide Institute, and still having a good time.

Dad returned from his scotch filled tour of Scotland with Papa, Kevin and Bubbles, and from the pictures it looks like they had a merry old time in Scotland. In addition to drinking copious amounts of alcohol they did devote some time to finding our Scottish roots. It seems our ancestors, the MacIntosh-es, were a violent clan. Besides that it seems that the matriarch of our family was a general. Annie and I will have to keep this in mind when we travel to the SOA Protest in two weeks. However, it appears that the skills of the MacIntosh clan leave something to be desired. This meaning our clan was virtually (I say virtually because someone had to have survived to travel to Canada) were wiped out in, I kid you not, a massacre. That's right, my family in ancient times, were massacred. And even worse than that, their demise was the result of us following another clan into battle. A hard lesson to learn about being a follower.

Other than that the parents went off to Montreal, came back and then Mom went out to the East Coast for a conference and to see Mags.

Annie is spending longer chunks of time on the farm, oops, I mean University of Guelph.

And I'm getting ready to go off to Toronto next week to start preparations for the 75th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine (2007), when we plan to hold a scholarly conference. Very exciting, if forced famine and Stalin float your boat.

Other than that there is the very exciting trip to SOA that is coming up. Annie will be joining our group this year as we travel to Columbus, Georgia for the big protest. I think the most amazing thing about this year's trip is that people are horrified to learn Annie's going, but there's virtually no concern pour moi. I'll chalk that up to my experience and ability to protest and not to the fact that people like Annie better. Right, Grandma?

p.s. The above picture is of a singer I'm feeling at the moment, K.T. Tunstall, from Scotland!

I Am Victorious

Alright, we've finished the MindYourMind.ca Anti-Stigma Campaign this weekend.

And I can honestly say, it rocks.

I'll let you all know when you can get our groovy buttons...(aka "The Voices Are Telling Me To Go To mindyourmind.ca").

Later.

She's Trying To Redeem Herself

Yes, Oprah "The Saint" Winfrey is speaking out on behalf of Holocaust Education.

Anyone speaking out about this topic is important...let's just hope that Holocaust Education doesn't become the next celebrity fad in "What To Endorse For My Own Purposes Weekly".

We all remember what happened after Live 8...African debt miraculously cleared! Right? I only expect that this happened because no more celebrity are touting debt relief. That must mean that they were successful.

Right?

Reasons Why I Dislike Oprah

1. The Interrupter: Has anyone noticed that when Oprah asks a question, she answers it? See her interview herself in the presence of movie stars...

2. Mama Oprah: Oprah as the Second Coming in Africa is another thing that ticks me off. I can appreciate her donating her millions (very responsible), however I somehow get a sleazy feeling when she uses her show as a platform to demonstrate her generosity. There is the argument that she is doing this to show off a cause, or model responsible billionaire behaviour, but I somehow feel as though her attempts are insulting to my intelligence. How is it that children in rural Angola know who Oprah is? Why is it they run towards her? And if they don't run towards her and cry in her arms, why do we feel as though they are being ungrateful? Something about her aid work leaves me feel as though she wants to be sainted...

3. The Homophobe: In an attempt to appeal to the demeanour of middle America and the ever important soccer mom contigent Oprah explains away homosexuality in a manner that makes everyone love her (except those with brains). So she can say it's nature for those who are know homosexuality is something you are born as, and that it's part CHOICE, for those who are homo-prejudice. Does she really subscribe to this? I have no idea, but the mere fact that she believes that homosexuality is a duality of nature and nuture leaves me to believe that her desire to be loved by all has completely consumed her.

4. Rachael Ray: Why? Why? Why does this woman now have her own show? Why couldn't Oprah leave well enough alone. Yes, she does have a few good ideas, but let's not go over board. Look for a future post about why I dislike her.

5. The Superior Friendship: I can appreciate that Oprah has a long last friendship with Gail King, that's great, fabulous, everyone needs a BFF. But I resent the implication that Oprah and Gail's friendship is superior to any other relationship. It's incredibly irritating when I have to hear about how no one can ever have as close a relationship as she and Gail...believe it or not there are other women who are close with their friends. I refuse to worship your ability to be a best friend.

6. The Hour Long Commercial: I know that a talk show is a medium for people to promote their projects to earn money. Sometimes these projects are themselves (which is the only reason there is to explain why the Hilton sisters were on her show). But I draw the line at the "Favourite Things" episodes she has. Not only does she have an entire show that is one big commerical for useless gadgets, the materialism is so palpable that every time she does one of these shows you can hear viewers at home salivate over chocolate covered cookies and cashmere slippers.

7. The Oprah Audience: I hate them. I blame her. I heard one audience member say that going to the Oprah show is a religious experience. I don't know how to react to that. As well, they seem to be on some sort of upper when they're in the audience. The jump, scream, turn around and act like complete morons. It's ridiculous, and whenever I see these audience members I have the distinct desire to slap them silly and tell them to calm down.

8. Dr. Phil: Thank you, Oprah for inflicting this bully on the rest of the world. It's nice to know that we can be humiliated by the good Doctor with only a small email to his show. I appreciate his mask of "therapy in your hometown" at the end of every segment. Those bills must be getting extreme, eh? I appreciate getting dieting advice from a man who doesn't exactly follow them himself, very motivating.

9. Nobel Prize Accessory: Has anyone else notice Oprah's constant appearance at the Nobel Prize Ceremony? WTF? Why is it that every winner is given the trophy, the money and a photo op with Oprah? That's crap. Her hanging-on is annoying, especially with those who do actual good work. Wangari Maathai looked like she wanted to club the woman.

10. Cover Girl: Guess whose on the cover of the O Magazine this month? Last month? Next month? Yeah, Oprah. We get it, you have a magazine. Fantastic, please let's move on.

11. Presidential Candidate: If Oprah ever actually runs for president and wins, I will go insane. What's with the belief that she is the freakin' next best thing to JFK? COME ON. She knows how to get people to like her. That's her major talent. That's all, no political science, no economics...she'd be taking Kim Jong Il to the day spa for treatments while negotiating Middle East peace by her latest book club selection ("Edward Said is a god!!"). Meanwhile she'd send every household in America brand new towels because they: "Make you feel like a brand new woman!".

12. Angel Street: A few months ago I caught the tail end of an episode of Oprah when she built a street in Houston for Katrina Hurricane survivors. Now I can appreciate that she's helping out folks who have lost everything because of a few dumbasses in their nations' capital, but again, I got a creepy feeling from watching the show. Again the subtext of: Oprah is a saint, rather than these people are resiliant and strong was the message I was getting. Sigh.

Alright, maybe some of my reasons to dislike this woman are ridiculous, but these are my reasons. But the bottom line is, Oprah has a ton of cash and she didn't make it being a beautiful soul. The reason we watched her in the eighties and early nineties was because she was the queen of daytime sleeze. Now, with her newfound inner peace at a very calculated time, I dry heave.

A Game That I Hate

So I just started working on the anti-stigma campaign at MindYourMind (see previous post).

I'm working with a team of 7 others, mostly teenagers with a few young twenty year olds, like myself.

Most of them are in high school and they're playing that game...you know, the one where you find out the other person goes to another high school and to prove your popularity you start naming off people you know who go to their high school.

Example:

Teen 1: Where do you go to school?
Teen2: So-and-So High School.
Teen 1: Do you know John Smith?
Teen 2: No.
Teen 1: Do you know Kate Baker?
Teen 2: No.
Teen 1: Do you know Emily Jones?
Teen 2: Yeah.

The conversation never really goes anywhere. It's just an attempt to prove the other person's popularity.

Sigh. Five more days of this...hopefully I'll survive.

It's Alive!

So last Spring when I was at WAYS we developed a killer youth brochure...but since the funding ran out, there's no more programming at WAYS for kids in the sex trade.

However, now that Heather (the coordinator for the RISE for Youth program) is at www.mindyourmind.ca as a the Street Team coordinator, our youth brochure has been transformed!

Check out the link below to see our ANIMATED brochure! And take the quiz!

Yea!!!

http://www.mindyourmind.ca/mind-games/scan-stuff/sfs.htm

http://www.mindyourmind.ca/mind-games/play-stuff/sfs-quiz.htm

Book De-Tour

Has anyone heard of this book, "The Alphabet of Manliness"?

Well, it's number one on the New York Times Bestseller's List.

Can anyone guess what it's about? If you guessed how to be a real man, your right on the money. And in this case how to be a real man includes bottling up your feelings, only playing "man" sports and being a big "man" and using words like chairman instead of chairperson.

Because really, where do women get off thinking they can be in charge?

This is friggin' fantastic.

One small step for closeted homophobes every, one giant step back for civilization.

"Do not fall prey to the belief that mastery and domination are synonymous with manliness."

~Kent Nerburn

Book Tour

Guess who we got to come to Canada for a book tour?

Yes, Janis Karpinski.

Former commander of Abu Ghraib and author of "One Woman's Army".

For those of you who don't remember, she's the one who got screwed by Rummy.

Woot!

Wolverine Is My Hero

Ever watch all three X-Men movie in one weekend?

It's intense.

I heart Patrick Stewart.

"Let it be so."

~Capt. Jean Luc Picard

Build A Freakin' Bear

Sigh.

Has anyone heard of "Build A Bear"? This bizarre store where people pick their bear (unstuffed), stuff it (see left), dress it, name it, etc., etc.

Annie, Krista and I did this for Ashley's birthday.

It took almost 1 1/4 of an hour.

It was ridiculous.

Besides that, it is located in the mall.

At least Ashley liked it. I'm never going back.

Brigden Fair

Yes, we got to the fair again this year!

Sunday the family made the trek to Bridgen for the fair! Very exciting!

We went with Ashley and she had a great time. We had fabulous weather, sunny and warm. Although I remember why I liked the crappy weather better for the Brigden fair, less people around. But it was fun to see all the people carrying around the useless four feet stuffed animals that collect dust.

We saw the giant pumpkins, prize winning muffins, had a pickle on a stick.

And we coaxed Ashley into the barns to see the minature horses, cows, rabbits, and baby pigs!

A successful trip, to say the least.

Lots of Pies

With the past celebration of Thanksgiving (Andrea's favourite holiday) I decided to roll up my sleeves and contribute to the dessert portion of our annual day of gluttony.

I decided to bake pies (part of my domesticating).

I really didn't give this enough thought, I was in the kitchen all day long. Literally all day, from 10am to 8pm.

And I only made three pies.

But they were delicious.

"Promises and pie crusts are made to be broken."

~Jonathan Swift

Crazy Little Animals

Yes, it might surprise you all, but last week I was attacked by a squirrel. Those rat like creatures are becoming more and more familiar with people, and I DON'T like it.

Last week I was taking garbage out to the garbage "hut" at the office (Gen. R. Dallaire Genocide Instiute). We opened the door and saw a squirrel getting out of the hut. I throw my bag of garbage in the hut and the squirrel FLIES out at my head. I narrowly escaped a nasty scrap with a squirrel. Dammit.

It sounds innocent, but I was terrified!! Imagine one of those things coming out, pardon me, FLYING out at your head. Not cool.

Then to top it off I find out that there's a group of crazy Londoners who are trying to make the black squirrel our OFFICIAL MASCOT.

Because of a traumatizing event when I was a toddler, I have had a grudge with the chipmunk (a chipmunk mistook my toddler toe for a peanut). But it seems now that it has to expand to include squirrels. I know that Helen, my squirrel loving pal will hate me for a short time, but you'll all have to live with this.

Because of this, I can never take the garbage out again.

"We call this a fine mess of squirrels."

~Kathy Ulher