Canadian Idol

OK, more TV stuff. I know I watch too much TV, too bad.

Recently I downloaded, and watched, the entire second season of Canadian Idol. Yup, all 34 episodes. And I loved it.

Here's the thing:

Even though the Idol franchise represents much of what I hate about the music industry, it also represents much of what I love about life.

You see, while the whole point of the show is to deliver some big name pop album and superstar, the stars of the show themselves are just some kids with dreams, and that's what makes it great. Seeing these kids go from no-name nobodies with stars in their eyes during tryouts, to bona fide celebs is an exciting experience to watch. And, unlike some other reality type shows, at least these kids are getting famous off of at least some modicum of talent; in some cases a lot of modicums!

Case in point -- the top 3 singers on this seasons Canadian Idol's were all quite talented. And quite varied -- one, a teen crooner kid, one, a goofy pop-punk rock kid, and one, a jazzy folk singer. Actually, the top 6 all had more musical talent than is typically seen on these shows, as was evident in one episode where the top 6 all performed a Gordon Lightfoot medley (Canadian Idol, dig) for which the Idols not only contributed the singing, but also the music! Yes, the Idols themselves played the instruments for the performance. Quite amazing, really.

But most of all, watching Canadian Idol brought back al of my memories of growing up in Canada, and seeing all of the wonderful people there made me jealous of what a wonderful nation it really is.

In comparison to American Idol -- production wise the US version is slicker, but the Canadian version has way more heart, and better judges to boot. On the Canadian version there are 4 judges, one a Simon type (who does not come off as a clone), one a female pop/rock singer (who actually has an opinion and who actually criticizes), and two music producer types, both opinionated (and neither of which say "dawg" every two seconds). The host is better, too, and the son of a former Prime Minister even. The Canadian version also has a comic relief guy, for variety. Very nice.

Eh.

And in terms of watching a copy off the internet, all I can say is if they released it on DVD I'd buy it, but until then I'll takes what I can get. Personally I'd rather watch it live (more anticipation), but video does have the advantage of being able to fast forward past all of the stinky singers (and there were a few... actually most besides the top 3 were pretty lousy). Plus, I'll definitely buy 2 of the top 3's CD's if they ever come out... and I'll give the winner's a listen too -- especially if there's a Gordon Lightfoot song on it.

Weiner schnitzel

I don't know if it's old age or what, but certain things seem to be slipping my mind recently. Actually, things have been slipping my mind for the past couple of years. My theory is that life expectancy used to be only 35 give or take, so that in reality I have reached old age. Much like the "wall" long distance runners must break through to continue their run, I think 35 is like the "wall" you have to break through in order to obtain your "second wind" in life, which will take you till 50 or 60 or something, I have no idea when the next wall hits, as I am but I mere child.

But, yes, a child at his first round of old age. And as one of the elderly, me mind ain't what it used to be. One thing I have specifically noticed, something that seems to be increasing in frequency, is my habit of not zipping up my fly after using the bathroom. I dunno what it is -- I go to the bathroom, I wash up, I leave the bathroom, and I enter the world... totally exposed. Well, not totally, I do wear boxers, but still. Luckily, because of this, I have also gotten into the habit of verifying my state of zipp'ed ness, so my reign of indecency typically doesn't make it more than a few steps passed the bathroom door, where I question aloud my sanity: "what the hell?" And ponder my mental deterioration.

Either that or I'm just an exhibitionist at heart and never realized it.

TV

I tend to be a bit of a TV freak... always have been. Not being the most social person in the world, I guess it makes sense. Fact is I like to be entertained. Sure I like being entertained by real life humans, but real life humans require feedback from me, which I often find difficult. Plus, if the TV starts to bore me I can just change the channel, which is awkward to do in real life. But enough of that; before I delve too deeply into my neuroses let me get to the crux of this post... I love TV, and as such will now share with you some of my favorite hidden gems.

These are the shows that have kept me entertained all summer, when network TV takes a breather. And by damn, some of these shows rank much higher than their more mainstream ilk:

1) Trailer Park Boys, BBC America. A current Canadian cable show (think the Canadian version of HBO or Showtime) being broadcast in the States by BBCA, TPB is currently my favourite show on the tube. Trailer Park Boys is about two 30 something guys living in a trailer park (surprise. surprise), and trying to survive the daily grind of life. Of course their daily life is hep full of drinking, and drug dealing, and robbery, but daily life nonetheless. The whole show is seen through the camera of a team of filmmakers documenting the lives of these individuals in the park, so we often see the characters talking directly to the camera in mock-documentary style. The trailer park boys and their co-horts are for the most part bumbling idiots, but are also quite indearing in a odd sort of way. In the end this show is really about the interactions between people, and is terribly funny. It's also completely full of profanity, and as such isn't for those who don't like the swears.

BBCA is currently airing the 2nd season. The first 3 seasons are available on DVD from Canada censor free. I own them, but have yet to watch them all. The commentaries I've seen thus far are really good (1).

Oh yeah, Bubbles rules!

2) Da Ali G show, HBO. Ali G is a white homeboy style character done by Sasha Baron Cohen, who also does 2 other characters on the show, the hilarious Borat, and the other guy whose name evades me. This show has seemed to have popped, so I'm not going to talk it up much. Respekt. I've also watched the Ali G movie that came out in the UK -- is was OK, but not up to par with the HBO show.

3) Chef!, BBC America. BBC America rules this year -- there are 4-5 shows on it that I watch regularly. Chef is one of them. Chef is a show about a Chef at a French restaurant, played by comedian Lenny Henry (who is married to Dawn French apparently). Pretty much the Chef character yells at and berates his staff every episode quite hilariously. Lenny Bruce is great. For some unknown reason this show isn't out on DVD, but there are 2 videotapes available. The show itself is from 95 or so. Highly recommended.

4) Monk, USA. I think Monk is pretty big so I won't go into it. For those who haven't watched it, it's a comedy/mystery show about an obsessive-compulsive detective. The only down side is that the seasons are too short and a couple stories were a bit implausible. Other than that, ace. Bitty Schram and Tony Shaloob rock.

That's it for now. Next time - My Hero!

HDTV

Recently I took the plunge into the brave new world of HDTV. Despite the cable guy arriving 2.5 hours late (thanks much,) and being relativly incompentant, everything is great. The picture is sensational, and I cannot wait until everything is HD. The only bummer part is the Olympics -- I was looking forward to watching the games in HD, but unfortunately NBC-HD only shows the previous days events in HD (in seemingly random order) and does not do a simulcast with regular NBC... what's up with that? Thanks for nothing NBC, or close to nothing anyway.

Lo and behold, I suck

Cuz I never write you see... was the same when I had a fanzine - "when are you gonna put out a new issue?" was all I ever heard. Which, I suppose, is better than "why the hell are you putting out another issue?"...

Speaking of fanzines, I do one day hope to put some of my old stuff up on my page, I just haven't gotten around to it yet (lo these many years). Someday I swear.

But for now it's this journal, which I never update.

The past month or so has been very hectic, you see, as my wife and I have been supro busy moving out of our old house and into our new. We moved a week and a half ago and are still being intimidated by the mounds of boxes surrounding us; don't know where I'm going to put a lot of this stuff to be honest with you. And this place is larger than my last! Just gotta start loading up shelves I guess.

And most of the stuff is mine, so I can't blame my wife. DVD's, CD's, video tapes, books, comics, toys, action figures... man I gots some stuff! And it's all mine!

I'm into possessions you see -- I know most think it best to be minimalistic and not into earthly possessions, but they haven't seen my STUFF! My stuff is the heart of me; it represents all that I stand for, all that I admire, all that makes me happy to be alive. And that, my friend, takes up space.

Like my Jimmy Osmond doll, that takes up space.
Or my NEW Leaping Lanny Poffo book, that takes up space.
Or my 100 some odd graphic novels, they take up space.
Or my Flaming Carrot statue, that takes up space.

And on, and on.

So yes, I suck, and I need to be less lazy, and stop making up so many excuses about everything, but not until I finish unpacking, which at this rate will take approximately 15.87 years.

Nuts about Peanuts

Not the edible kind -- the Schultz kind, you know - Sparky's work.

Truth is I've never really liked the Peanuts comic strip. I love the cartoon version they play on TV at Christmas, but the daily strip never really appealed to me the way, say, a Calvin and Hobbes did. I always respected the comic, and liked the characters, but the strips just didn't move me.

But, if there's one thing I like, it's origins, and the evolution of things -- especially when it comes to pop culture. One of my favorite "historical" comic strip books is Gary Larson's Prehistory of the Far Side, which has early versions of Far Side strips, and general info on the creative process behind Larson's work (as well as some hilarious rejected, or never submitted, comics). So when 2 new books about Peanuts came out I jumped on them. Or, rather, jumped on one of them, and plan to jump on the other as soon as it is released.

The first book is not a Peanuts book per say, but rather a collection of the pre-cursor to Peanuts - "L'il Folks". L'il Folks was a comic Schultz produced before Peanuts. It, like it's progeny, stars a bunch of little kids, and a dog that became Snoopy. In fact, in the book we find several L'il Folks panels presented next to the Peanuts strips they became years later, along with explanations of each strips. Great stuff. The book is only available at the Schultz Museum and has already sold out once.

The second book is upcoming the first collection of Peanuts strips from Fantagraphics that should be available everywhere: The Complete Peanuts: 1950-1952. It will include all strips from 1950-1952 in chronological order, and should make a nice follow up to L'il Folks. Fantagraphics is planning on publishing 25 volumes -- all of Schultz Peanuts strips I believe. Seth, of Palookaville fame, designed this volume, so it should be a sight to behold.

Why do I love these types of books? I guess because it gives me a glimpse into the artistic process, enabling me to see how things evolved over time. I also really like early works of creators -- I feel that a person's early work is more raw and immediate -- less polished and less mass-media friendly, which for me makes it more personal and real. While often not a creators best work, I think their first work is often their most interesting -- capturing the creative explosion that erupted from their brains when they first conceived their creations, and wanted to unleash them to the world at large.

I know from some of my own work, that early versions, while often utterly embarrasing and horrible to behold, contain some of the most immaculate of gems. I'm sure Schultz felt the same derision about some of his early strips; luckily most readers won't feel the same way.

On to the reading!

Ebert

I've always liked Roger Ebert -- mostly because we seem to share the same taste in movies. He also seems like a good guy. Today I read his review of a new movie "Osama", about a woman living in Taliban ruled Afghanistan. The movie is about how horrifically the Taliban treated women, and one woman's attempts to life a normal life. Roger gave the movie 3.5 stars. Sounds good -- probably not easy to watch, but necessary.

I was struck by the last paragraph in his review, which read:
"In this country Janet Jackson bares a breast and causes a silly scandal. The Taliban would have stoned her to death. If you put these things into context, the Jackson case begins to look like an affirmation of Western civilization."

Which is probably, if not definitely, the most intelligent thing I've read regarding the Janet Jackson incident. Kind of puts it in a new perspective, no?

Movie Day

Was feeling sick Monday (Feb 16) and decided to take the opportunity to watch some of the seemingly infinite supply of movies currently being stored (and overwritten) on my beloved Tivo... see, I am one of those people with a serious love/hate relationship with a little electronic box - actually, more of a love/annoyance relationship. I read an article about it once, or rather, about "us" - the Tivo junkies, and the stress our most precious device causes us. The article pointed out how the Tivo was touted to be the great black (box) hope, allowing people to "time-shift" TV - play their favorite show when ever they wanted, freeing them from the evil TV scheduling empire that loves to put our favorite shows all on the same night (jerks). However, the article pointed out, what has happened, is that rather than be FREED from our TV's, we are now becoming SLAVE to our Tivo's.. and you know what? It's true! And you know what else? We love it! See what happens is that Tivo gives you too many options, and too many features! Feature rich I tell you! Tivo has enabled dopes like me to search out every little movie I might ever have an interest in, and record it on one unit that requires no tapes, and no manual intervention. Heck, I don't even have to know what's being recorded. What dopes like me, or more specifically, I, have done, is to give Tivo a list of every Movie I would ever like to see and told it to record them if ever they appear on the TV dial. Additionally, I have instructed my Tivo to show me a list of all movies that are going to be on the next month starring my favorite big screen stars, or directed by my favorite movie moguls.

So, day after day, week after week, my Tivo does it's duty and records me more movies than I could ever hope to watch. And what does this ever-growing (and re-writing) pile of unwatched movies cause? That's right - STRESS! But not too much really... I make sure Tivo keeps what I one day hope to watch, and allow the deletion of things I care less about (and wondered why where recorded in the first place), and yes, ever once in a while find time to watch some of the damned things...

Which brings me to Monday... Monday I had a whole day with nothing to do but lay on the couch feeling sorry for myself, so I seized the opportunity to get down and dirty with my Tivo.

Here's what I watched:
Independent Lens (PBS) - WHY CAN’T WE BE A FAMILY AGAIN?: This is a new (I think) PBS series that features a short film every week. This week's was about these two kids living with their grandmother as their mother goes in and out a rehab. It was good, but sad since the Mom will never go clean, you can tell. Kids seemed smart though. I recommend Tivoing this series.

Driver 23: A documentary about the singer of a metal band called "Dark Horse.” This guy's dream is to be a big rock star, but probably lacks talent. This movie documents his efforts to get his band going (2 members leave) and to record a CD in his homemade basement studio. The singer, Dan, is on medication for being bipolar or something, and likes to create things, mostly but duct taping them together it appears (including his cigars). One of his creations is his workout machine, which consists of a milk crate full of concrete blocks attached to a series of pulleys. Nice. I enjoyed the movie - it reminded me of American Movie, but not near as good. One big flaw -- they end the movie with Dan recording his album (like a year and a half into it), but never tell us how it ends! What the heck! I was expecting some explanations to pop up in the screen "Dan finished the album 8 months later" etc. But nothing. Oh well. Tivo gave this 1.5 stars, I give it 2.5 (3 if not for the lack of a conclusion). I should also point out that movies like this make me very nervous that I am also just a hopeless dreamer with no real notable talent and no chance of succeeding at anything creative, but I try not to let those feelings stop me for too long :)

Update: I just found out there is a second movie to this entitled "Atlas Moth"... off to the Tivo I go!

Das Experiment: German film about a scientific study of prisons. Scientists create a fake prison with volunteers who play the part of the prisoners and security guards for 2 weeks. The whole project gets out of hand and violence is the result. I liked it! After the movie I looked on the net and found that this movie was inspired by an actual experiment called the "Stanford Prison Experiment" done at Stanford University in 1971 (http://www.prisonexp.org/) The movie follows the real story pretty much to the point where the real study was cancelled (6 days in). The movie then continues the story and explores what would have happened it the study had continued, and if the study took place in a movie where unrealistic event are allowed to happen. I liked it! If you get a change, check out the link to the real study... it creeps me out that the behaviours of the students changed so dramatically so quickly -- e.g. the prisoners rebelled on the 2nd day, and the guards got very brutal and authoritarian. Wild. At then end, I think 3 of the kids had physiological breakdowns, and the guards turned truly brutal. It's amazing to see how people change so quickly when put in a new environment. I've seen this to a smaller extent when playing games, or working on projects. I've been involved in some team building exercises at work where the regular work roles between people completely disappear as they get drawn into the game. Soon they take on the roles enforced by the game to the point where the games rules become the reality in which they are now living. This is what happened in the fake jail -- to them it became a real jail to the point where they felt that there was no escape, even though their imprisonment was voluntary. And the guards took their roles so seriously they actually abused the prisoners, even though in the real world, they were no different from the prisoners, and this was just an experiment. Fascinating stuff. I had never heard about this experiment before. I blame my education, or maybe I just skipped that class. Oh well. Thanks to Das Experiment now I know. The movie itself was good, although there were several subplots, I wish they had explored more (e.g. the woman), and some of the guard’s behaviour I found had to swallow. They got more evil than seems possible - even if you were so into the role I imagine you would still realize laws apply to you. Nevertheless, good, nonetheless.


With a Friend Like Harry - Sheesh, why'd I have to watch so many movies? This one was French. It's about a guy and his family who run into an old schoolmate. The schoolmate turns out to be a nut job. The movie was good, but kind of long.

I think I watched another movie but I can't remember what it was... that's enough anyways...

Just another test :)

test4

test3

test2

Poetry

Came across this today -- it's my favorite poem. Or, rather, was my favorite poem, until I forgot about it. But now, in seeing it again, can confirm that it is in fact my favorite poem.

This Is Just to Say
by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

----------------------

Now I'm not a big poetry person, in fact I would consider myself rather ignorant regarding the subject, but some poems - like this one - I just like. I remember liking it when I first read it back in -- grade school I believe, perhaps high school. The last line is the best of course... so sweet and so cold. Nice. Perhaps it is the simplicity of the poem that attracts me to it - easy to understand and the like; I'm not big on poetry you have to study in order to understand. Not that complicated poetry is bad; I'm just lazy is all. There seem to be two kinds of poetry: one kind, like the one above, are immediate, and sensual, and vital, the other kind are complex and contain hidden meanings and secrets that can be studied and argued by those who have made it their devotion to research such things. It's like anything really, if you look at any area of interest there are two levels -- an immediate level that is accessible by all, and a deeper level reserved for those that are fanatical. Like religion for example -- there are more entry-level religions, like the uber-churches, and deeper ones that require years of meditation, or hours and hours of service and study. Or something as simple as music -- at the immediate level you have people just listening to the cool cold funky beats, but at a deeper level have people analyzing the relevance of the music and lyrics at that time in music history.

Of course Williams might disagree...

But which is better? Most would say that which takes the most intelligence to unravel is the true "art". But maybe there really is no inherent superiority in the complex and convoluted, indeed, perhaps the opposite is true -- that to state intangible the in a simple, eloquent, and accessible manner is truly the height of the creative skills. To touch directly the synapses, without the murk.

More Sleep News

Well, I had some more hallucinations last night - 4 I think. Most I've had in a while. They were mostly interesting, but one of them made me scared that I might be losing my mind. This has happened before (being scared about it, I meant, not losing my mind, although some may argue otherwise). Hmm... I guess I should really start at the beginning...

As far back as I can remember I've had insomnia; nothing substantial, typically it takes me an hour or two to fall asleep. Sometime more, sometimes less. Accompanying the insomnia for the last 15 years or so have been hallucinations. Hallucinations I used to thing were completely normal, but have come to realize may not be.

The hallucinations come just before I fall asleep. I believe my entering into REM before I am actually asleep, such that I am in fact dreaming whilst awake causes them. That is, my brain is dreaming of something and my eyes and ears perceive these things as if they were really occurring, and not just figments of my mind. Occasionally these hallucinations several minutes, and prompt me to action, but most of the time they last less than a minute -- typically until I recognize them as hallucinations and not reality.

So last night I had 3 hallucinations -- at least that I can remember. I don't remember what I saw during the first one. In the second one my wife had put her face right up in mine and was eating something like looked like a green pipe cleaner... maybe a green bean. I watched her eating it bit by bit, slowing drawing it into her mouth and couldn’t figure out why she was awake; why she was eating; and why she was eating right in my face. Coming to the conclusion that it didn't make any sense I quickly realized it was just a hallucination. My hallucinations typically end this way... I realize that it isn't real and I just stare at the illusion until it disappears. The image of my ravenous wife disappeared before my eyes, reveling my real life wife asleep next to me, facing the opposite direction.

During the next hallucination, I actually ended up waking my wife up. I was lying there, trying to sleep, when something started crawling up on the bed (I get this one a lot). I don't remember what it was, but I started hitting the side of the bed trying to get rid of it. Actually, now that I think about it, I must have been partially asleep, as I don't remember it that clearly. After hitting it, I rolled over to try to sleep. That's when my wife asked me if I were awake. "Yeah," I replied rather indignantly, "why?" She didn't respond; she had either fallen back asleep, or didn't hear me. I didn't think it was worth it to wake her just to see is she was awake, so I let it slide. At the time I didn't know why she had woken up to ask me if I were awake... I figured all my tossing and turning has woken her. Today at lunch I asked her and she said she had been woken by my hitting the bed. It was only at that point that I remembered doing so, thus my uncertainty as to whether this was a dream or a hallucination. My wife was just glad I wasn't facing her when I started beating the bed. In the past I have touched her because of these events -- once time I shook her awake; another I shook her leg, or squeezed it or something. Such fun for her...

The last hallucination is the one that scared me mentally. And, again, I don't mean in the horror movie "aaaaah!" kind of way, I mean in the "what if I'm really going crazy" kind of way. The last hallucination is the kind that freaks me out the most -- auditory hallucinations. For some reason seeing things that aren't there doesn't bother me - I can rationalize how my eyes can be deceived by my brain, but hearing things that aren't there is different for some reason. And not because hearing things is generally though of in a "crazy" kind of way, I mean it's just a freaky experience.

Last night's auditory delights took the form of some sort of big-band music. There I was lying in bed when all of a sudden (as I entered REM no-doubt) the music started "ba-rumpa-pumpa-rump..." etc. It was quite good, and quite imaginary. I say up in bed to isolate the source of the music and quickly realized the source was between my ears, not outside of them. Upon this realization, I listen to the music for a couple of seconds, waiting for it to disappear. It must have taken longer for it to subside that the visual ones do because I remember as I sat there listening to the music suddenly becoming a big scared and depressed - here I was, listening to music that wasn't there, music that I *knew* wasn't there, but could hear none the less. I was also partially amazed at my brain for being able to synthesis an actual none existent song so realistically! If only I were a musician, then I could write these orchestrations down for the world to see - me - the next Mozart! But alas, all I got out of it was the fear of insanity, which, in all but a few cases doesn't pay the rent (and in other cases causes the state to pay the rent).

Actually, I think the air filter in our bedroom plays a part in the auditory stuff -- it's hum becoming the stirring of a song in my mind, so perhaps no so crazy after all, eh?

I finally fell asleep at 12 something. I am tired today, but not too bad.

Sometime I'll write about some of my memorable hallucination, like the time I ran all over the house trying to find the music I had left blaring (in my head) or the time I woke up on the floor. Fun!

So I've started a blog... um hm.

'Bout time I guess... and, on the other hand, why bother, what with the multitude of yappin and yackin alreasy out there? I dunno. Not like I have anything important to say. Mostly this'll just be a way for people to keep up to date with my brain. And who, I say, who, doesn't want to date my brain? Me thinks it died several years ago...

Anyway, I'm really tired today. Last night I didn't take a sleeping pill. I had on the previous 3 nights and felt awake each day... so that might be it. I also ate a Taco Bell for lunch, which always makes me tired, for some reason. Probably a food allergy. Tonight I won't take a pill and won't eat at TB to see which it be. If it's the pills I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a sleeping study done. I think I have some form of narcolepsy, since I have nighttime hallucinations. Last night I saw my wife sitting next to the bed picking things from under the sheets, but it was just a hallucination - in reality she was sound asleep next to me.

I went down to the cafe today to get some Pepsi Blue but they had none left. Dammit! They stopped making the stuff in June or something and I miss it. I have some in my garage, but am going to have to search out some krappy marts to see it I can find more.... maybe I'll hit up some gas stations.

Later,

-DBM.