Watercolours Not Team Colours Not Gang Colours



Pretty sure this one is from Minneapolis
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/jrock2/rockblog/cat_recently_noticed.html



Regarding the Winnipeg Sun piece about the German vending machines that sell miniature art, I couldn’t help but think that society’s new way to honor a lifestyle through a number and letter ID in a vending machine. Take health food for example, what a triumph busybody moms must have felt nation-wide when they saw the first vending machine stocked with Fruit to Go.

Personally-I know I say this all the time- I'm sick of sports being portrayed as the absolute antidote to gangs. Is releasing pent up violence on some poor sap with a ball really any healthier than smashing a car window? Do not get me wrong. I love sports, growing up, they were a huge part of my life, and still are. But, I can't help but feeling that we're projecting the message that they're the only appropriate option.

The election has only made everything worse, with sports on the top of the agenda for basically every candidate, not to mention former Jet Thomas Steen taking the Elmwood-East Kildonan ward by storm (I'll chalk that up as an implied victory for sports). With Shaneen Robinson yammering about that boxing club she -ALMOST STARTED- and let me just say that that potential boxing club has had a huge effect on my life- I plan to stay the hell away from gangs. -It's hilarious because this is definately the least of Shaneen's many credentials, but it was the topic that she couldn't help working in every 3 seconds at the Senior Centre forum. Doesn't this prove that the whole sports/gang garbage was way to close to the forefront of this election?

Most importantly, why doesn't anyone every talk about Graffiti Art Programming Inc. at Higgins and Gomez? Their contributions are notable among city workers, they do tons of programming with Community centres and free play drop ins,  but regardless of their contributions they're always overshadowed by some sporting effort.
We need to start encouraging the young artists and musicians in Winnipeg as much as sportsmen.
 I move that we give young artists opportunity for exposure but distributing their work in these art dispensers.

Movement number 2- Everything that happens in Winnipeg is tainted by weather. If we put on an awesome concert the headline reads: Fans Brave Sleet and Snow for MTS Centre Show. A lot of people apparently didn't even get out to vote because of the wind and rain yesterday (almost knocked me right off the sidewalk at one point in the afternoon).
Why don't can put the sweet art machines beside smaller vending machines that dispense gloves. That way, customers’ fingers will be appropriately limber for art selection. This started off as a joke, but now that i'm thinking about the times I would have killed for gloves, they could probably make a killing- or rather prevent a killing that would ensue from somebody killing somebody else for gloves.
Link to the article
Graffitti Programming Inc.

Dawna Friesen is Twitter!

Dawna Friesen came to visit us gutterly CreCommers at the college today, and despite my respect for her, I felt like a few things were left unsaid. Should I say them? At the seminar I didn't want to waste her important time with the fanciful musings of a student/I was just too chicken to speak up. But at the same time, even on this crappy blog that nobody reads, I don't want to undermine the fact that she took the time to speak to us, even though I'm only answering the questions she asked.

Ok I can't stand it anymore.

Dawna Friesen is Twitter.
Twitter is essentially a virtual news anchor. Her news desk is just like the feed. A couple of people were shot in the North End this weekend, followed by a few notes and A VIRTUAL LINK TO THE ACTUAL STORY- very similar to cutting to footage of a correspondent that has the larger picture details isn't it?
And its not like our actual news is much less cluttered with whatever-the-hell Lindsay Lohan is doing than Twitter is anyway.
And, if people are watching her on the news, are they any more likely to wait for what the correspondent has to say if her lead-up wasn't to their interest?
God I hate it when I become that which I despise...A weekly activity on this end.

Ok, now I'm going to refute my own beautifully executed metaphor...
I kind of agree with Dawna, Twitter is lame, and it does to a certain degree start filtering the world back into slots of black and white.
But does it destroy our ability to create narrative?
Impossible!

Storytelling is innate. Spinning our own lives into a story where we are the main character fuels our very existence. Look at society, we still our oldest stories, English majors are even taught to read middle english to preserve their integrity.
Technology can't be the antidote to humanity. If it is, than why instead of creating hundred-story cylindrical farms are we investing all of our resources into making cellphones you can fit into a hollowed out molar?
Therefore technology is only an extension of humanity giving us massive battery power to magnify the traits we already have.
Take blogging for instance. It turns even the most reclusive nerd into the grand director of their own life story. Even now, as I type, am I not imposing my own narrative of an event that was meant to be a purely logical discussion. -There goes those U of W Rhetoric classes again... Is using narrative in a news story unbiased blah blah- that's not really the point- I just wanted to hats off To Tristan and Dave Hollier my Brian Turner buds *throws hat*- That should keep the Brian Turner- reminiscence away for awhile.

Anyway, now everyone who was wondering what I thought about the questions Ms Friesen raised during the presentation instead of paying attention to said presentation, knows.

Thanks again for your time Ms Friesen- if for whatever reason you happen to be reading this.

These Crazy Kids and Their Social Revolutions



Just look at that fresh faced lad
     http://prpost.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/zuckerberg-hearst-and-hollywood-pr-lessons-learned-from-the-past/



Way back when, agaisnt the advice of concerned friends and family, I made the pilgrimage to see The Social Network. The main issue with the movie, is not in excecution, but the mere fact that the movie exists at all.
Frankly a lot of people were reluctantly joining because they were finding it difficult to keep their social and business lives afloat without an online profile- an innocence that is still mourned by a large amount of the population. South Park capitalized on this going-against-the-grain-goodness in their "You Have 0 Friends" episode- check the clip at the bottom.

People who had barely typed in their likes and disklikes, and were contemplating on joining applications with the promise of a free pig, saw the commercial and threw up their hands in protest. That's it! I can no longer contribute Facebook's evil regime. (they said, finger poised on the mouse in mid-friend accept) I will not succumb to a miltarist future that doesn't even involve evil robots-WASTE.

NOT WASTE I say! From a utilitarian persepctive the movie changes nothing.
In addition, the only people interested in seeing the movie were too invested in Facebook to worry about whether or not Zuckerberg came off like a jerk. Personally I think it was a bit of a toss-up. On one hand, they ended with the whole" you're not an asshole, you're just trying so hard to be" to cast him under the glow of ironically undersocialized nerd craving acceptance and admiration through acheivment.- did it work? I dunno, seemed like a last ditch attempt at character development instead of gradually working it into the movie. But I guess it's better than starting the movie with a scene of him sitting at his computer and being approached by his roomate saying: Say there Zuckerberg, on your computer again I see- my you don't get out much do you. Zuckerberg: Shut up, I hate you. Roomate exits, Zuckerberg *whisper*-Why won't you loove me?

Oh well., basically after the movie all I could think about were the two row-bros doing calisthenics and juggling elephants, the whole scene flooded in strawberry jam. *Zuckerberg sounds WAY to much like Smuckers, risking that the audience members should lose focus halfway into the movie as their mind turns to thoughts of toast.

Oh wait, I nearly forgot the implied other hand that comes with the aforementioned "on one hand". The other hand was how callously he treated his best friend- my understanding was that he barely cared about money so depleting more of his shares would have advanced Facebook in the way he desired while keeping his only friendship moderately intact. That can be attributed to nothing but pure asshole-dom.

But everyone fails now and again, all in all it seemed like his heart was in the right place.

In Zuckerberg, Hearst and Hollywood: PR Lessons Learned From the Past Zuckerberg mostly addresses inconsistencies only with the overall mood of the film. That's narrative though- a story can exist stretched out over time and seem like a series of insignificant events but when condensed creates a more saturated picture. As for the whole kissing babies little league strategy, I think we're all giving a collective "What-ev's" to the timing, It's hilariously transparent no matter how removed from the event. If Hitler was alive and tomorow there was a tabloid article featuring a picture of him petting a dog the caption would read: Hell's sweetheart attempting to improve his image by starting an animal hospital." - Side note: How hilarious would it be if some notorious figure started up a Teddy Bear Hospital  to improve his image. It would be like: send us your leaky stuffed animals and have it sewn up George Bush himself. And as a little souvenir, when injected with a plant-based dye and magnified 100X the thread is autographed! Now THAT'S Republican healthcare at its finest...hahahahaha

Interview and Private Life of Mark Zuckerberg



Did you see that guy on the skateboard- That's not conventional office behavior!!
These crazy kids and their social revolutions.

YOU HAVE 0 FRIENDS


I feel like I have less friends already

It's a Long Way to No-Drip-erary (and no, that's not too far to go for a play on words

Are we living in the Emerald City or is everything going green?
Apparently now in addition to cleaners that don't poison your kids, and solar powered chip factories (sun chips!) we now have plant bags to dispose of our plants! Compostable trash bags for yard waste that aim to be the equivalent of wrapping your raked leaves in an additional giant leaf. Now that's a horse of a different color.


In the Minnesota Twin Cities area, they've instituted the Compostable Bag Law. Essentially, residents and business owners who don't dispose of yard waste in a biodegradable bag that meets the bag law standards, are fined for the rebagging of their rebel trash.


Basically, our crack-team wanted to see if the compostable bags held up- and held up against what for that matter. Probably the first brand that comes to everyone's mind is GLAD. Specifically the GLAD ForceFlex Stretchable Strength Easy-Tie Bags    -the piano stuffing, girl's body enclosing diamond weaving good time.


THE CONTENDERS 
RONA ECO Compostable and 100% Biodegradable Bags for Garden Waste 24”x30” (61 x 76.2 cm) $4.99  10 bags per carton, without tax $0.499/ bag.

Great Value Ty-Up Flaps 75 L Capacity 26” x 32.5” (66 x 82.5cm ) 40 Regular Outdoor Bags Double-checking price (either $4.47 or $4.88) $ 0.112/bag

GLAD ForceFlex Stretchable Strength Quick-Tie Garbage Bags 77 L Capacity 30” x 33” (76.2x 83.8cm ) 15 Easy-Tie Bags Double-checking price (either $4.47 or $4.88) $0.298/bag

Husky Garbage Bags 75 L Capacity 26” x 36” (60x 91.4cm) 100 Regular Bags $9.99 without tax $0.099/bag 

RONA ECO Recycled Plastic Garbage Bags 67 L Capacity 26” x 32.5” (66 x 82.5cm) 40 Bags per Carton $4.99 without tax $0.124/bag

FEATS OF STRENGTH

We tested them for tensile strength, puncture and seepage. 

Strength: We lifted them to a height of 2.5 ft and progressively adding 5 pounds until they ruptured, Puncture: stuffed each bag with the same amount of pointy twigs,

and Seepage: filled them with two litres of water and tossing them into the back lane (all highly scientific)

THE CHAMPION

The overall winner, acing both the categories of strength and seepage was the recyclable bag. (Not as eco-friendly as it gets, but its a step in the right direction). We would recommend this bag to anyone.

The designer GLAD bag still prevailed in the puncture test. So I guess the infamous diamond weave doesn't just refer to the diamonds it costs to buy the bag.

What is essentially the moral of the story. If you buy bags to stuff them full pointy branches, buy GLAD. If you buy bags to transport your heavy barbell plates, buy RONA ECO Recycled Plastic Garbage Bags.

What about the compostable bags? Well they did pretty poorly. However if you're willing to shell out tons of cash, use them gingerly and spend weeks scouring the city for them (they're incredibly hard to find) in the name of the environment, then go for it.

Thanks to

Chadd Cawson

David Driedger

Sharon Mak

Michelle Palansky


Full Report

In conclusion, please enjoy our video of a garbage bag potato sack race set to Jack Judge's It's a Long Way to Tipperary.

TEST VIDEO

And On The Seventh Year, God Created Sam Katz

The mayoral forum, was a massive disappointment to say the least.
First of all, as if it wasn't stressful enough racing to the school in my car where CJOB is perpetually on, and having hyperbolic Richard Cloutier ram how intense it was going to be into my head- giving me visions of the school being backed up all the way down princess and me leaving my gridlocked car zombie movie style and running from China Town to the cafeteria panting: Sam, Judy, Sam, Judy....
Uh, sorry Steve, I meant to say, waking up at five, glancing casually through my day planner while simultaneously reading the Free Press and the Sun. Then, upon departure, stopping at every red light while pondering the idea of adding a second to the amber light, and finally strolling into the cafeteria 20 minutes early and taking a seat with my pen (because its inside, so it won't freeze) , my miniature (not full-sized) notebook (for field reporting because we're in the cafeteria) and finally my student card draped gracefully around my neck on a stately lanyard.

Anyway, time for the real news.
I think I misunderstood the format of the forum, because I assumed that this would be the time to make in depth, logical appeals, elaborating on their point-form plans so I could make an informed decision. Instead it was just more of the same childish crap. Should I go for Judy's five-fingered crime prevention plan (with youth in the palm) or Sam's two-pronged justice. (thanks for the imagery guys but I'm not twelve). I thought it was a bit of an insult to Winnipeg, that we would be swayed by same point-form junk we can find on the internet coupled with lame insults and biblical allusions. P.S: Way to liken yourself to God Sam Katz. That was actually way funnier than it was offensive. Especially since you said "God took seven years" when Genesis says seven days. Aren't you Jewish, Sam? Isnt' the Old Testament kind of "your thing".

Regardless, I definitely appreciate Katz's business approach to Winnipeg, and I think that if they went for it, a Provincial Sales Tax increase of 1% would definitely be the way to go, after all, its obvious that property is no indication of income. Also I think a huge component of how we view ourselves- hopefully as a serious city and not some hick- half-capital- has to do with Katz's attractions. However, with the exception of Canwest Park and The Forks (The parking in that area is magical). I avoid going anywhere downtown because its a complete maze of one way streets- and now that everyone seems to be so into getting more police on the streets, its crawling with cops, and the stress is mounting exponentially.
What's worse, I can't even take public transit because its a 45 min walk to the Portage 11 stop, and the only other bus that comes within 15 minutes of my house is 1. A horrendously residential route, and 2. An every-hour-if-I-feel-like-it-bus. I realize that I live at the edge of North Kildonan, but comeon, I'm still a resident.

So to get anywhere is a huge inconvenience. Why is this a problem? Because we live in Winnipeg and its a billion degrees  bellow zero. I can't idle around for 45 minutes in the cold waiting for a bus or walk 2 miles from my car to my destination because I will die on the way there. And if everyone's dying in the streets, they'll have to employ more street clearing services to push the bodies to the side of the road.

How could Sam not respond to Judy's accusation that he didn't have a plan. That would have been the perfect opportunity to shove it in her face if he even had the inkling of a plan- so clearly he doesn't. However much Judy made herself sound like Sam's mom, which he was right, she came off looking like a one trick pony, it was made abundantly clear that there is no plan.

Sam's claims against Judy Wasylyscia-Leis followed the same pattern. "Get back to reality" he would yell, as if to say "Adults are talking now Judy." And to a certain extent he was right. I wanted to hear the facts, and the facts weren't there. How can you prove this will be effective? He would say again and again.
This was something I really needed to hear. I work at a youth drop-in program and have worked for a city children's drop-in in the past. It was exceedingly obvious how beneficial the program was for the young children, but I would really like more information about how the youth programs work. For instance, I think there's definitely attendance issues for people over 13. Youth that aren't coming in for basketball aren't coming in at all, and I don't like how sports are portrayed as the ultimate gang solution.  We've had to open up some sites to 10 year olds and if I was 15, I wouldn't be hanging out anywhere 10 year olds could be found.

My excitement for her green plan has rapidly deteriorated since these questions have gone unanswered. Can she deliver? I'm not sure anymore. She isn't as fact-based as I thought, after all she misquoted the deficit.
As for Sam Katz, I'm a little pissed off that he's not even trying. You don't come into an election against somebody with a huge crop of fresh ideas, and jump into speeches about the great things you've done in the past. It's not like you just make a couple improvements to the city and it's awesome forever.

IN CONCLUSION: Please don't be offended by any of my comments. This post was essentially my impressions of my very first forum.
In addition, if you have any interesting information that I missed or facts and figures or other relevant info that may help me make a decision on my vote, don't hesitate to post it on my comments.

Call Me When You're a Real Holiday

So it seems that halloween is coming up again, and as per usual I'm as unexcited as ever. Halloween is one of those fakester holidays masquerading as a real holiday with days off and presents. Yes I know nothing excites like type on a calendar- sometimes I get a little antsy waiting to put a sharpie x through flag day, but just the same, nothing disappoints more than realizing you still have to go to school and work the next day.


Yep, nothing like waking up in a puddle of rum and melted chocolate, and dragging your still face-painted-because-it-won't-scrub-off ass to school. 


 Sorry Halloween, I say the only real holidays are the ones backed up with a week long break. Completely contrary to the break idea, you actually have to INVEST time in halloween, time out of your own schedule to craft a costume that nobody will recognize. Read me going as Catra last year. *sigh*. Counting down the hours of my not-actual-holiday, explaining to the only people nerdy enough to know who the Scarlet Witch is, that I wasn't the Scarlet Witch. Pah as if I would spend all that time constructing an X-men costume that wasn't even opposite Wolverine. (Don't get me wrong, I love X-men, any comic heros that shoot to kill are ok in my books.)