Filed under: Life | Tags: Big Brother, Homeless, Scrabble, Starbucks, Summer, The Man Who Sued God, Therapy, Victoria
Life blows. You know you’re a loser when…you run into someone you haven’t seen all summer and you have nothing to tell them about the past four months.
Today
- Watched Big Brother
- Moved bed
- Completely scrubbed the shower
- Appointment with counselor
- Two loads of laundry
- Vacuumed bedroom
- Hung up pictures and posters in bedroom
- Played online Scrabble
- Watched The Man Who Sued God
- Went downtown, read in Starbucks for two hours
- Updated blog
BOOooring.
Downtown Victoria is a very interesting place. Half the people are American tourists and the other half are degenerates so your chances of getting shot are 92.5%. I blame the Americans. I’m usually somewhere ’safe’ such as a coffee house or the mall, but one of my favourite locations is the McDonald’s at View and Douglas. It’s free Jerry Springer every single night/day. It is always a gong show in there and it is always terrifyingly entertaining. I walked past it to get to the bus stop tonight and I saw a teenage girl being arrested by four policemen. Have no clue what she did but I’m fairly certain it’s drug related. In front of McDonald’s, on Douglas St., is a really long line of bus stops – it’s a high traffic zone for pedestrians. The spot directly outside the doors of the restaurant is always inhabited by a few beggars. One in particular with the sign “Spare change for weed.” Now I appreciate the honesty but I think that it’s a stupid thing to advertise. First of all, you’re going to give the Americans a stroke. Second, there is no way that sign encourages people to donate change. After waiting for the bus for twenty minutes I observed a few things that has led me to believe there is more to that spot than I originally thought. I don’t think the man with the weed sign is looking for spare change at all. I think he’s a drug dealer and the sign is his how he’s recognized by customers. He is like fucking Disney Land or the Pope. Every single creep, homeless, teenager, loser goes up to him, chats and does whatever. Everyone knows him. He always has a few kids hanging around him, too. Tonight I saw him send the kids to walk around and this huge guy, who just came from guarding the president, just stood a foot or two away from him instead. What. The. Fuck. If he’s not a drug dealer than he’s some secret guru of the degenerate, downtown population. Fascinating.
At least he has friends. Life still blows.
Filed under: Films | Tags: 2005 movies, Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Squid and the Whale
Who dares to face the giant squid?
The sperm whale seems to have no fear of the giant squid as squid remains are often found in its stomach. The whales don’t always come away unscathed as many boast nasty looking sucker scars. We can only imagine the underwater battles between these two amazing creatures. (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/life/life-sea/giant-squid/)
A film by Noah Baumbach, 2005
Dark, depressing and eye-opening.
Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980’s
I disagree that “touching” is the correct word here. The 81 minute film was intriguing and I recomend watching it asap but the story was not “touching” in any way. For a movie to be touching there needs to be resolution, an understanding, an ending. Unfortunately The Squid and the Whale did not have any of that which is really too bad seeing how there was plenty of room to fit it in.
This is the first movie I’ve seen that depicts divorce realistically. The children and parents are mean. Mean to each other like a “real” family.
Bernard Berkman: Your mum and I, we’re going to separate. I’ve got you tuesday, wednesday and every other thursday.
Walt Berkman: And what about the cat?
Joan Berkman: The cat!
Bernard Berkman: We didn’t discuss the cat.
I really liked this part when the parents let them in on the news. The youngest son “Pickle” has a classic face – all crinkled up ready to burst into tears. He’s probably nine or ten so a bit old for sobbing. Meanwhile the older son is so concerned with the cat that the entire issue of divorce is quickly swept under the rug.
The Squid and the Whale was depressing for me because I really don’t believe in divorce. If you normally read this blog you should know I am not Catholic so the divorce thing is entirely personal. Other people can get divorced, that’s fine by me, and I think divorce is a really good option but I don’t handle failure well and to me a divorce is a failure. You failed at marriage. I refuse to fail. It’s heartbreaking to see a couple with children hate each other so much after seventeen years of marriage. It scared me.
Everyone’s behaviour was pretty shocking. Walt started to emulate his Dad, ie. became an asshole, and became interested in girls. He told his girlfriend that she had too many freckles…awkward. He plagerized Pink Floyd at a talent show and duh people found out. Idiot. Frank/Pickle masturbated all over his school and wiped semen on books and lockers. He also took up drinking. Puberty was years away for this kid so yah shocking. Frank told his mother (Joan played by Laura Linney) she was ugly and he actually loved his mom! Everyone was blunt, mean and stupid. Arrogant! Hurtful. It’s an uncomfortable movie with some pretty strange events but it’s entertaining and different from anything else.
“Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.” It’s in the author’s essay. “Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.” It’s in Baz’s song. I fucking hate it!!
I Googled “throw out love letters” and “finding love letters” and in more than 70 percent of the pages that came up quoted this line. There is a pandemic and I want it to stop NOW. It is sick and twisted. Why is this encouraged? Can I write an article for the paper that says “Keep the arsenic, throw away the vitamins”? NO that would be madness. Right.
People who follow this mantra should all have to suffer the discovery of their partner’s kept love letters from exes. I’d love to see their reaction. How about you keep them in an underground vault only to be accessed by yourself in eighty years? Not out, in the open for innocent eyes and minds to discover. Fuck.
Filed under: Films, Life | Tags: BBC, Catholic, Catholic Films, Confession, Priest, Seal of Confession
Slept until 1 pm – now that’s more like it!! It would be so much easier if I did this everyday because then everyday would go by much faster. I fell asleep last night holding my book and woke up (who knows when) fully dressed with the lights on. I find that creepy because the last thing I remember is thinking about turning off the light. I guess I never went through with it.
Volunteering now and then home to bed. Another shitty, event-less day.
Old movie must see: Priest. 
It was one of those random pick-ups from the library that caught my attention by the title and subject. I thought sex scandal! Not exactly….. It was made in ‘94 by BBC so how scandalous could it be, right? During opening credits I see a really shitty street and a wide expanse of water with another city across. Yup – Liverpool! So after five seconds I was sold. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” played twice in the film so double bonus. So everything was quite normal until the new, young priest (Father Greg) decides to sneak out one evening. First of all, why sneak out? His in his late twenty’s, an ordained priest and he lives with the deacon but the deacon himself is the least bit orthodox. I was suspicious. He rides his bike to a club and I was like “Aha! Drinker!” But that didn’t make real sense because the deacon (Father Matthew) drank himself so there was no need to go out a hide it. When Father Greg steps into the bar it took me .999 seconds to realize the situation – gay bar! Gay!! He was gay! Shocker. Seriously, I was waiting for a boy raping scandal of sorts. Father Greg was super snotty and orthodox and to find out he was gay was unbelievable. Following this scene was a sex scene that rivals Brokeback Mountain. It was definitely longer…..more…ahem…positions. I love Brokeback and I own it and I think it’s brilliant but now that I know it is actually not groundbreaking I’m rather disappointed. Father Greg’s lover = Robert Carlyle!!!! Yeah so not a nobody either. I thought that this might be his big decision “between faith and the truth.” Oh no. It gets better. What do I love more than rape? Incest!! Yeah this movie was full of surprises. Absolutely no reference to little boys being raped by clergy. It was probably too early for that to be popular anyway. Tom Wilkinson played Father Matthew. He’s pretty big (Valkyrie, Michael Clayton, Full Monty and hundreds more) and he’s really amazing in this film. He had the opinion that homosexuality was not to be treated as such taboo in the Catholic Church. His sermons were chilling and I’m sure the Vatican (the real one) was pretty stressed out about this film. There is so much more that happens in this film but you must watch it so I don’t have to ruin it!!
It got me thinking about confessional and the oath between the priest and confessor. Is it morally acceptable for a priest to remain silent if he knows of a crime taking place? Not only that he knows but that he could end it by breaking his silence. It’s the whole client/patient confidentiality like doctors and patients, lawyers and clients. I think there a loopholes for those two professions though. I went in search of an answer from the main source: the Vatican.
1467 Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to persons, the Church declares that every priest who hears confessions is bound under very severe penalties to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him. He can make no use of knowledge that confession gives him about penitents’ lives.72 This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the “sacramental seal,” because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains “sealed” by the sacrament. (From Vatican.va, Catholic Catechisms)
That’s what the Vatican says and if broken it is punishable by excommunication (Code of Canon Law). As well, most countries have a “Priest-penitent privilege” meaning priests cannot be forced to report what they heard in confession. They cannot be subpoenaed and even if the confessee gives permission, by church law the priest still cannot divulge the information.
I think it’s time to consider Catholicism instead of psychiatric therapy….
Filed under: Life | Tags: Clingy girlfriend, USMC, Queen's, Concordia, UNC, Regent College, Vancouver School of Theology, McGill, UBC, Acadia
I was up at four am – a slight improvement from three. I have a massive headache suggesting exhaustion and dehydration. It’s 530 right now and I have no idea what to do. a) more scrabble b) read c) shower and go to Tim Hortons. I hate all of these options and want to sleep in until 8!!
Grad school has been on my mind lately now that I have an actual graduation date in sight. Spending five years figuring out my undergrad and potentially not even finishing a degree that isn’t my passion has led me to be super cautious and frightened of grad school. I don’t want to make a mistake and I don’t want to waste time. Archival/Library Studies has been a faint idea ever since last year’s career workshop but has recently surfaced after some research and volunteer work. I think I could actually enjoy being an academic librarian or archivist as long as I could specialize in religious studies. The only school that has this combined master program is at UBC. My problem is the large school. I have been volunteering in a private library and realizing it’s a pretty sweet deal. I am having trouble finding a volunteer position with an archivist and desperately want to get into the Royal Museum. I don’t think I could apply to Library/Archival school without testing out all fields. My second (and somewhat third) choice is theology/religious studies. I know I would love this but I don’t know what I would do after since my options are find a job or get my PhD. Teaching and researching would be ideal but I then have to commit for the long haul and know I’m going for my post-doctorate after my masters. How does one know this?
Out of pure boredom I researched a dozen or so grad schools offering a master of theology and religious studies. Well a master’s in theology usually requires a completion of a masters in divinity prior. Problem: I do not want to get a masters in divinity because I am not going to be working in a religious institution. I guess what I want is a master of arts in theological studies. What is the difference? I have no effing clue.
Schools that offer theological studies in Canada seem sparse. I run a high risk of going somewhere that is less academic and more….spiritual. Queen’s, Toronto, Concordia and Vancouver seem to be possibilities. U of A also has a school of theology but Edmonton is out of the question. The most appealing to me is Acadia in Nova Scotia but that has a reputation for being super expensive because it is private.
The States also have some interesting schools in New Orleans, Grand Rapids, Tennessee and Connecticut. I need to really look at each school and decide if it gives me a degree that allows for direct entrance to a post-doctoral program. Sigh. It is to early in the am for this.
On the other hand, a more general degree is a master of arts in religious studies. This guarantees a secular/academic experience. I checked out the department of religious studies at University of North Carolina and McGill. I don’t even know if this is possible to complete at UVic but it is less desirable to stay on the island. I want to escape undergraduates and move on.
The afternoon of research still didn’t take my mind off of my absent boyfriend. I have no clue what has brought on this lack of self confidence. I feel like a loser who sits around hoping for a message from her boyfriend. It’s gross and pathetic. It’s time for a Clingy Test. 
Filed under: Current Events | Tags: Around the world, Child Protection, Dutch, Laura Dekker, Sailing
Dutch court delays girl’s world sailing trip
CBC News
A Dutch court has granted the state temporary custody of a 13-year-old girl to delay her attempt to becoming the youngest person to sail solo around the world.
Laura Dekker’s parents did not object to her ambitious sailing trip but the Dutch Council for Child Protection has pushed for the journey to be stopped.
The Utrecht District Court ordered state child care authorities to take responsibility of Dekker Friday for two months while she undergoes an assessment by a child psychologist.
Dekker lives with her Dutch father, who is divorced from her German mother. The girl will continue to reside with her father during the assessment.
“We are satisfied with this decision,” said Richard Bakker, spokesman for the Council for Child Protection. He urged Dekker’s father to “co-operate with the investigation and ensure Laura’s safety.”
The family’s lawyer, Peter de Lange, said Dekker is considering moving to New Zealand if Dutch authorities continue to block her record attempt.
But New Zealand officials have said her journey could be blocked there, too, if it was deemed she was endangering herself or potential rescuers.
Dekker had planned to start her trip in September and to take two years to circumnavigate the world on an eight-metre boat named Guppy.
The court-ordered psychologist will assess Dekker’s capacity to undertake the risky voyage.
Born on a yacht
The social workers have argued that Dekker is too young to understand the dangers of the journey and some psychologists believe the two years of isolation could be damaging for her during an important period of her development.
Born on a yacht in New Zealand while her parents were on a round-the-world sailing trip, Dekker spent her first four years at sea. She started sailing solo at six and starting dreaming at age 10 of a solo trip around the world.
“I asked my parents if I could ? please ? start now,” Dekker recently said on a Dutch children’s television show.
“In the beginning, they asked if I was sure I really wanted to do it,” she said. “They have sailed around the world so they know what could happen and that it’s not always fun, but I realize that, too. But I really wanted to do it so my parents said, ‘Good, we’ll help you.’ “
On Thursday, Mike Perham, a British sailor who is 17 years old, finished a nine-month, 38,700-kilometre global round trip in his 15-metre boat.
Guinness World Records created a new category in honour of the British teen ? youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe solo, supported. Perham’s father sailed on a boat behind him, but did not assist him.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/08/28/dutch-dekker-world-sail-voyage-court482.html?ref=rss
Sorry Dora, you’re next! 
A US woman found after being abducted as a girl in 1991 gave birth to two children fathered by her alleged kidnapper – the first when she was 14.
Jaycee Lee Dugard and her daughters, 11 and 15, were kept in a “hidden backyard within a backyard”, police say.
Alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, are being held in custody in California.
DNA tests are being done to confirm Ms Dugard’s identity, but meanwhile she has been reunited with her mother.
“She was in good health, but living in a backyard for the past 18 years does take its toll,” El Dorado County Undersheriff Fred Kollar said.
Ms Dugard disappeared in 1991, aged 11, apparently taken by two people who bundled her into a car.
Mr Kollar said that since the kidnapping she had lived with the couple, isolated from view at a property in Antioch near San Francisco, 170 miles (273km) from her home in South Lake Tahoe.
“The tents and outbuildings in the backyard were placed in a strategic arrangement to inhibit outside viewing and to isolate the victims from outside contact.”
She and the children spent “most of their lives” there, he said, adding that they had never been to school or seen a doctor.
Their identities were revealed after police spotted Mr Garrido as he handed out religious literature at the University of California Berkeley campus with the two young children.
He raised suspicions because as a registered sex offender he was not allowed to be with young children.
He was called in by his parole officer for questioning, and brought the two children and a young woman he called Allissa with him.
During questioning he revealed that Allissa was actually Ms Dugard. She also confirmed her identity to police.
In a telephone interview from prison with the KCRA-TV station, Mr Garrido said he had not admitted to abduction and that the birth of the first child 15 years ago had changed his life.
“If you take this a step at a time, you’re going to fall over backward and in the end you’re going to find the most powerful, heart-warming story,” he said.
“I tell you here’s the story of what took place at this house and you’re going to be absolutely impressed.
“It’s a disgusting thing that took place with me in the beginning. But I turned my life completely around,” he said.
Some of those who had had contact with Mr Garrido over recent years said he had developed increasingly strong religious beliefs.
Tim Allen, who did business with Mr Garrido’s printing firm, told Associated Press that Mr Garrido gave the impression he was planning to establish a church. “He rambled. It made no sense,” Mr Allen said.
‘Given up hope’
Police said they had found a vehicle hidden in the backyard of the Antioch property that matched the vehicle described at the time of the abduction.
Although Mr Garrido was previously visited by a parole officer, there was nothing odd noticed about the backyard.
The area occupied by Ms Dugard and her children was concealed by shrubs, rubbish bins and a tarpaulin.
Ms Dugard’s stepfather, Carl Probyn, who witnessed the abduction on 10 June 1991, said he had “given up hope” she would be found alive.
“It broke my marriage up. I’ve gone through hell, I mean I’m a suspect up until yesterday,” Mr Probyn, 60, told AP.
Mr Probyn saw the young girl being taken away by two people as she walked from her home to a school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe.
He said a stranger drove up and grabbed Ms Dugard, bundling her into a grey car even as she tried to resist by kicking and screaming.
Mr Probyn believed a man and woman were in the vehicle. Despite several false reports of sightings in the intervening years, Ms Dugard was never seen again.
“She sounds like she’s okay,” Mr Probyn said. “I hope she’s been well-treated this entire 18 years.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/8226165.stm
Published: 2009/08/28 08:52:52 GMT
© BBC MMIX
Remember Austria?
http://brasskeys.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/adolf-hitler-says-he-is-fighting-for-the-work-of-the-lord/
Filed under: Life
It is 430 am. I’ve already been up for an hour. Enough said.
