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Wise men talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something. Sorry for the lack of posts lately there kids. A gazillion things going on in my head- none of which I can actually coherently type out. Sorry.Give me a day. Things won't be as muddled as soon as I figure some life things out. Posted by Bella at 10:53 PM# It's Saturday. It's semi-late. But like seriously. If you're in the mood for something feel good- go spend $10.95 and see the movie Finding Neverland. Seriously guys.No, like seriously. Posted by Bella at 11:33 PM# Band Interview: The Fray Funny funny thing happened once I submitted this interview to Fresh Tracks Music... the artist/music director quit due to circumstances at the company, FTM. So. This just might be the last interview. Anyways, these guys are actually a super good band. I would highly recommend hearing them out on the FTM site... and then buying their record... and then sending them fan mail that they can post up in the studio while they are recording their first REAL record. Really really- do it.Their addy is: The Fray - PO Box 29056, Denver Colorado, 80229, USA. In the meantime, read this superstar interview: The Fray's drummer, Ben Wysocki's, answers:
Posted by Bella at 2:25 PM# Take a ride on the cheap thrills of the media. This is also found on the Calgary Herald Q website.A story in The Calgary Sun the other day sent chills down my spine. The story was intense, thought provoking and gruesome. The ladies in my department were all horrified by what we read. You could just feel it hanging in the air. The fact that the death of Calgary Realtor Susanne Lee was printed in such detail, in my opinion, was something that the editors over that the Sun should have edited out. What is the appropriate amount of detail to put into a news story? Obviously this detail, "He also shaved off her pubic hair before leaving her bound and naked body in his home after taking off with her car" might have been crossing that line. No one, absolutely no one (except the homicide detectives and the judge) needs to the details of someone's rape and death. Susanne Lee was murdered while collecting rent from a tenant for her colleague last January. John Robson received the maximum sentence possible under the Criminal Code; life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. The difference with the news article between the Calgary Herald and The Calgary Sun is that the Sun went into way more graphic detail of Lee's sadistic rape. The Calgary Herald gave the facts but didn't go into too much unwanted detail but still was able to tell the story. Something that I have noticed in the past few years in just how uncensored the news is. Maybe it's because I am actually reading each page of the paper and the online news publications and making sure I watch the 6 o'clock news. Sure, knowing what is going on in the world is a handy conversation starter but when the news delivers more news than is actually wanted- who can turn away? Who is the law on what can and cannot be discussed in a "newsworthy" piece? Unfortunately I believe our world has turned into an uncensored thrill ride where anything is game. Global News showed Harjinder Singh Cheema standing in blood drenched clothes, shot by Calgary Police. Not something necessary on TV. My 20 year old brother said to me, "It's different when you see someone real, shot on TV compared to an actor being shot on a TV show. It's more disturbing- hits you a little harder". For my brother, who used to kill Barbie with his GI Joe's, to say this- you know there is something wrong. Is real journalism about un-censorship? I realize that we have a choice in the matter as to what we do and do not read, but where is the line drawn? Where should the line be drawn? How do we, as writers and readers make sure that the information reported on, is actually what the public should know, and not just something that offers a cheap thrill. Posted by Bella at 1:11 PM# Band Interview: The Argument Take a minute (or two) and check out my latest interview with the band The Argument. These guys are super fun and the lead singer, Scott Simmons is one cheeky little bastard when he answered some of my questions.When I asked him what their plans for 2005 were- he responded, "... touring and we plan to build churches in the Amazon out of Legos..." Check out their full interview at the Fresh Tracks Music website. Posted by Bella at 3:56 PM# I should have taken the hint when my room started being referred to as the "Guest Room". Also found on the Calgary Herald Q website.So mom hands me two Condo magazines tonite and points to a new development which is being built in way south Calgary. Um. Was that a hint? Have a finally out stayed my welcome at my parents house? I've spent the past 23 years living with my parents. Well, that's not counting the seven months off on "my own" in a mountain town where I quickly learned that I needed to move back in with my parents. Long story. I'll tell it sometime. My friends have all moved out from their parents nests and on to their condos or newly built houses. They rent basement suites, have apartments and even live in a van down by the river. Me, still at home. My best friend of the past 10 years just received the keys to her brand newly built house in McKenzie Towne. It's all good. I'm not tasting green at all, it's just curious how the people my age are growing up and gaining this crazy responsibility that I don't remember us having 10 years ago. I finally looked at myself in the mirror differently tonite I guess. God. I'm getting to that point where I need to be a full fledged adult. Things were so much easier when I was a kid. It's kinda curious to see how fast we grow up. I remember playing in the park with my friends in elementary, the school dances where the guys are on one side of the gym and the girls on the other side. The groundings my parents used to give me which I can't remember the reason for anymore. I guess the search is on. Time to move out (again) and get my own place. Maybe I'll start looking this weekend. Mom and Dad have been incredibly good to me while I have lived here. They've helped me with bills, advice, made dinner (mainly because I can't cook anything really other than pasta) and been supportive of (mostly) everything I have done. God willing, Dad will still come and clean my house of spiders whenever I see one. Posted by Bella at 8:40 AM# Ya'll may think I'm nuts, but... So this book is incredibly fascinating. This man is extremely interesting.Pick up the book, read it, then we can have something to discuss. It's not very often I talk about a book I've read, with someone. Posted by Bella at 10:39 PM# The 'Random Shuffle All CDS" button on my stereo lies to me. It has played the same song for the past 17 minutes. How's that for an opening line, eh? I'm getting rather witty in my old age.Thought I would treat you to another late night session with Megan. I find that when I write these late(r) at night, when I go to read them the next day I realize how drunk and stupid I must have sounded to some people. Meh. We're all friends here. New pet peeve: Not calling when you are going to be late. I realize that things happen but c'mon. Call and let me know what the dillio is. Common sense. Ok- maybe not to some people. Maybe common courtesy!?! /end rant I went to The Bay tonite and when I went to pay for my purchase (with my handy dandy Bay card I might add), the chick behind the counter says to me, "Would you like to donate your points to the tsunami relief fund?" I very kindly declined. God damnit, they're my points. People, I realize what happened in Asia was a horrible thing. I do, really. But. Have you taken a look downtown? Have you maybe picked up the paper and read about what sort of crap goes on in our world on a daily basis but that we don't hear about because either Americans or Canadians aren't a part of it? Bingo. Keep your points people. Donate your money to another noteworthy cause such as the STARS Lottery or the Mustard Seed or jeez, treat yourself to something nice and enjoy the fact that you are lucky enough to live in a place where a tsunami or earthquake won't hit us at any immediate time. Just bitter cold weather and BSE. That is Megan's not-so-wise words of wisdom. Over and out. Posted by Bella at 1:09 AM# If you need a laugh like I need a laugh... In case you were wondering what people actually look like while they are singing in front of their webcam on their computer, this might just enlighten you.Posted by Bella at 7:27 PM# And a ooga booga to you too. In order to understand this, please read this post first and then this one might make a little more sense. You will also find this post on the Calgary Herald site.Everyone take a deep breath. Everyone. Gays, straights, Muslims, Jews, whites, oranges and Yanni fans too. Gay people of Canada: We aren't out to get you. We just don't trust the fringe of any group to not abuse laws that get railroaded through without a lot of care to protect everyone else's freedoms while granting new freedoms to a minority. That's fair isn't it? The majority of us breeders think you deserve to get married. An equal majority of us think the changes in the laws are happening a bit fast, and fast laws are sloppy laws. Christians and other assorted religious folk of Canada: We aren't out to get you. Yes you piss us off. A lot. A whole lot. But no, we're not meeting secretly in some darkened bunkers plotting to bomb your churches and drag your leaders off in chains. When's the last time anyone in Canada organized the whole country around a shared vision for anything? Exactly. The majority of us want to stand up for gay couple's security, but that doesn't have to mean we think the only way that can happen is by burning the churches down. Remember, it's YOU who sees gay and Christian as something that can't come together. We don't. Us saying we like gay people doesn't mean have to not like you. Left-leaning folks: Canada is the kind of country that depends on lots of old fashioned thinking. We farm, fish, raise meat-animals, chop down trees, and dig up things in the dirt we can sell. Usually old fashioned people do that kind of work really well. It's just a fact of life. Canada needs old fashioned conservative people to get lots of the important stuff done and to keep lots of the important stuff running. They're not being conservative just to pick a fight with you; they're doing it because that's what's worked for generations. Being the old fashioned conservative people that they are, they probably aren't plotting radical revolutionary crap to take away your freedoms. You're seeing the enemy getting closer only because you're running right at them with your stuff, your changes, your brave new ideas. Chill. Approach them slowly, sensitively and heck, even with a little respect. Art majors didn't tame the west or build Vancouver. We just bought it up after. Right leaning conservative folks: You should know better. Every thirty years or so the left gets all fired up and organized and throws a big revolution party. Lots of big talk, a few token laws, lots of smug screeching and hollering, and of course the movie stars and musicians right there shaking their snot nosed faces in the camera calling you a bad guy. Meh. Let em. Remember this, dumb laws never stay on the books for long. If some whacko gets it in his head that he can sneak in a law that lets him arrest all the pastors and rabbis and clerics in Canada, ask yourself just how long they'd stay in jail... in Canada? Exactly. It looks bad, it sounds bad, they're rude and insensitive and boorish and have the media in their pocket? but hey... you have your pride. Keep it, be a bit more dignified and stable, and a little less of a fire breathing mob of grumpy old men. The left does 'angry' better. Let them work it out of their system and then take them out for a coffee and work out a more sensible deal after the tantrums. OK everybody? Let's get along. Leave the rock throwing to our neighbors down south and lets enjoy our freedoms up here, including the freedom to not get our shorts in a knot all angry at each other! Posted by Bella at 3:04 PM# Wanted: New Faith with followers who don't complain about EVERYTHING I have almost completely had it with "Christians". Who are these people?Posted by Bella at 9:21 AM# Calgary Herald Car Review - Numero Uno Name: Steve TsuidaAge: 33 Job: Graphic Designer What did you drive to work today? I drove to work in my 97 Pontiac Sunfire coupe. Cheap enough to drive, cheap enough to repair, cheap enough to fuel, but easier to travel and commute in than some of the space capsule tupperwaremobiles I see people strapping themselves into just to look socially conscious. What was your first car? My first car was a 1988 Ford LTD Crown Victoria that sat eight people and could carry two mountain bikes in the trunk. A classic cab/cop car that weighed three million pounds but cost nothing for a younger guy to insure because it was such a dad car. Funny enough we could get ti up to 205 km/h, which is more than I can say for anything else I've driven besides my motorbike. What was your worst car? My worst car was this 1980 Subaru hatchback I bought for $1000 and kept for $3000 in repairs and fines. It was water soluble. I got rid of it the same day the jack pushed through the frame while I was trying to change a tire. What would be your daily driving choice if you were looking at all-around convenience? No doubt about it, a BMW R1150GS motorcycle with ice-racing tyres and heated handlebars. What traffic jams? What roads? What co-workers who want a lift home? Who's moving? What hitchhikers? If money were no object . . . No doubt about it, a BMW R1150GS motorcycle with ice-racing tyres, heated handlebars and a matching jacket. Keep in mind if money were no object I wouldn't live in this windswept, frigid, desolate, arid wasteland; I'd move somewhere where a motorbike was feasible. Posted by Bella at 9:01 AM# Save the penguins. Quick- everyone get a hairdryer and help out.Posted by Bella at 10:55 PM# Sigh... Conference is done. Finished. Wahoo! I had a triple Malibu and pineapple juice last night at the reception after my conference. Just fuckin' wicked.I received my mark back for my final project- I passed! Looks like things are peachy keen around here... just need to continue writing on here to keep you entertained! Posted by Bella at 11:24 AM# I love the Sleep button on my stereo. One might think that while laying in a nice warm cozy bed that they might be able to just hunker down and sleep for the night, catching up on all the beauty sleep they need to make it through til the next day. Well, not I.For the past hour I have been tossing and turning contemplating the meaning of my existence. No, I am not losing it but yes, I am wondering what I am doing. Why am I doing the things I am doing? Who are the people who meander into my life? Are they going to have a purpose? Are they using me for something or vice versa? Questions which may never be answered but are thought-provoking when considered. I am sure if Aaron was here, he would have something deep and Deepak Chopraish to tell me. Man I miss those. So I am doing a bunch of gigs for the Herald as you may know about. The blog which is updated whenever I get around to it, the car review which is going to be published in the Herald every Friday, potential pieces in Swerve Magazine, Neighbors, Life section, etc. Looks like I am going places. I am a writer for Fresh Tracks Music interviewing and reviewing bands- what the heck do I know about music?! I have this job at this place I enjoy which, by the way, just informed me that they like me enough to want to keep me on permanent and not just contract. But then that scares me. Being contract was a bitter sweet experience. I was hourly, did my own thing, really wasn't held accountable for too much there as I was kind of a disposable employee, and no benefits. Well this is all about to change after January 31. A real employee somewhere. Wow. Man, Joseph Arthur is a fantastic artist. With all this writing that I am getting involved in, it sparked the light in my head. I need an assistant. I would love to be able to have someone who would follow me around and be everywhere, well almost everywhere, that I am. When I have something to say which I think would be a good piece somewhere, that assistant would write it down so I don't lose the thought. I hate losing the good thoughts. I think I need to do something radical. Nothing like lose 50lbs or cut all my hair off or quit my job or anything, something else. Spontaneous trip somewhere. Quick. I thought my trip to Victoria/Vancouver at New Years was the ticket but it has left something of a bitter taste in my mouth which isn't being acquired very well. Whatever it is, it needs to happen soon. Maybe it will be as simple as the satisfaction I have within myself once I receive the Project Management certificate, leave the hotel on Wednesday after a successful project completion and close the book which I have been secretly interested in reading for quite sometime now. Whatever it is, you will be with me on the journey and will find out about it once I reach the destination. Nighty night. Posted by Bella at 1:47 AM# A little luck of the Irish. Also found on the Calgary Herald site.Ireland is known for its grubbiness; it's a drunken, dirty profanity-stricken country. That's all begun to change in 2004. In 2004 the Irish government flat-out banned smoking in all pubs and outlawed drinking in the street. The government has also announced plans for a levy of 10% on every one of the 80 million or so packets of chewing gum sold annually in Ireland. (Apparently they had a lot of gum on the sidewalks.) Not a bad idea. At first when I read this in the most recent issue of The Economist I laughed and thought- "Ha- try enforcing that". But now that I've had a few days to think about it, it's starting to sound like a good idea. In Ireland, this government tax would create about $5 million which would be used to help fund some poor smuck to go and scrape all that chewing gum from the sidewalks and streets. Although I really wouldn't want that job, I applaud the government for taking a stance on chewing gum. Who would have thought? There is nothing more annoying than seeing some guy throw his cigarette butt out the window and then watching it dance towards my car, or that big tinder dry field of grass. On occasion, I have been known to flip the bird or swerve in my lane to miss it. If taxes were significantly higher than they are now on cigarettes, smokers might be more enticed to keep and frame the smoked butts. Meanwhile we'd have a few more dollars for our forest fire fighters and street sweepers. Back to Ireland. They've also got a tax on plastic shopping bags that has already proven to be quite the success with a huge recycle rate. The next step in the plan is to initiate a tax on fast food wrappers and ATM receipts. Could you imagine a street in Calgary without seeing a McDonalds or Tim Horton's wrapper? Maybe we westerners can take a few lessons from the Irish and put them to our own use. Posted by Bella at 7:26 PM# Band Interview: In Flight Safety Just going to inform you all of a new place where you can see my work... a little website which I have told you about before- Fresh Tracks Music.I recently interviewed a Canadian band by the name of In Flight Safety - check out their interview. Posted by Bella at 11:18 AM# Tell me about your 'Alistair'. I have been offered a new chance at the Calgary Herald. This time writing car reviews. I know, you are all thinking "what the heck does Megan know about cars?" Good observation my fine friends. And that is why I am asking you to do it.If you are interested, fill in these questions and email them to me at meganepratt@mac.com along with a photo of you and your car. Each review will be printed in the Friday Driving section of the Calgary Herald. I definitely encourage you guys to take part in this. ======== Name: Age: Job: What kind of car do you drive? What was your first car? What was your worst car? What would be your daily driving choice if you were looking at all-around convenience? If money were no object . . . What do you think your car says about you? What would one find in the backseat of your car? Would you recommend your car to anyone? Would you buy another one? Posted by Bella at 8:25 PM# Drowning mercy in a wave of cool compassion. This piece is also found on the Calgary Herald website.This is the most offensive op-ed piece anyone could write about the Tsunami charity drive. Ready? Taken as a whole, we have nothing to be proud of for how we've managed our giving in the past few weeks. We've let fashion rather than compassion steer our hearts, and we've let mania rather than mercy guide our choices. In the end, the UN has almost five times as much money and support as it said it needed, while one of our neighbors froze to death alone under some bridge in this spoiled rich city. The spirit of the new west. Bravo Calgary. I tip my white hat to you. Here's something you will disagree with because it's too late to even allow yourself to think about why to agree: Tsunami aid is the cool thing to do. It's as expected of you as enrolling your kids in soccer or belonging to the right gym is. It was what biologist Richard Dawkins calls a meme (Google it), and we let our me-too selves get swept up in it the way we all wore jeans during Stampede, stuck a Flames flag on our car, and cried on cue when Canada wins gold in name-your-sport. Caring for our neighbors? That's not as cool. In fact in times like these it's almost unacceptably un-cool. You lose me-too points when you say you're taking a flat of bottled water down to the food bank, "at a time like this!" Here's the thing. Ever wonder why the flight attendant tells us to put our own air mask on before we put one on a kid or travelmate? Sounds cruel and self-absorbed doesn't it? Well only to the short sighted. Mean, pragmatic people figured out that if you pass out halfway through putting a mask on your kid, that both of you will die. The same principle applies with charity. A society that loses it's merciful care for its countrymen can not possibly hope to keep up its long-term compassion for foreigners. Mercy versus compassion? Wow, someone's being fussy with words. Yes, I am. Here's another ugly truth that's a taboo but has to be said: We don't think those bums in the homeless shelter deserve our help. We made it! We got through school and tough times and a recession and bad parents and cavities and addiction to smokes, so tough beans for them if someone needs it more than they do! Right? Wrong. Mercy is giving something to someone who may or may not deserve it. Why be merciful? Because mercy takes more love than compassion ever will. Mercy takes sucking up your anger, resent, and distrust and still managing to fund the rehab program and the beds and the meals eve if they're a money pit. The love we train up in ourselves from giving mercy goes on to fuel our compassion. Imagine a country so stoked up on merciful love, that it was willing to do more than just write 400 million in one-time donations. Imagine a Canada that said it's wrong for Indonesians to grow coffee for us slave prices. Imagine a Canada that said it's wrong that our resort stay in Sri Lanka was dirt cheap because the staff make scrap wages. Imagine a Canada that said, "Hey Tsunami People, let's re-jig the whole long term deal to make sure you have the kind of solid money footing to take care of yourselves even before our DART and Red Cross gear can arrive. We'll be there too, but we want to be sure you're never stuck waiting for us." Well, just keep imagining, because a merciless Canada will never think like that. We'll just jump around looking for the next 'meme' me-too cool cause to throw some spare dough at. All you need is love, but all we want is cool. I'm sorry. Posted by Bella at 8:36 PM# Yah so what can I say? I'm a bit of a failure lately. I can't believe it. Nothing for the Calgary Herald. Nothing for my own site. Nothing. Egad what is happening to me? On the plus side- I finally got my final assessment for school done and my conference is next Wednesday at work. Ahhhhh sweet relief.At the pub tonite I brainstormed a couple award-winning ideas for my next posts. Oh yah baby, they're going to be good. No, great. Tomorrow night. Yah. Watch for it. Posted by Bella at 11:03 PM# If you're scared of the world outside- you should go explore. And that is just what is going to happen.On Sunday night, my prize guy is leaving town for about 9 months. Have fun Aaron. No, have a blast. You'll meet amazing people. See exciting and breathtaking places. Experience new wonders. Have stories to tell from now until the end of time. Will miss you. Posted by Bella at 5:20 PM# Whoa. Lindsay and I always hoped this would happen therefore increasing our chances with him. Hm. The day has come.Posted by Bella at 9:05 PM# You can all be sheeple. I am looking for someone to do a guest blog. You can write about anything you want to. Anything.Send me your thoughts. Comment or email. I would love to see what ya'll come up with. Posted by Bella at 1:12 AM# Ha. Ha. Now, if this doesn't scream to you "Sweedish Crap!" , I don't know what will.Posted by Bella at 10:42 PM# Um... ugh.Posted by Bella at 5:12 PM# Back home finally and ready to get back into the groove of things. Here are a couple random thoughts. 12 hours in a car, alone, will do a lot to your train of thought...Are Police embarrassed to be Police? - Gotta admit there is something wrong with police who drive around in cars that don't look like cop cars. Come on. Show you're not ashamed of your job- drive a real car that everyone can see and recognize. Fucking BC roads. - Using boulder size "gravel" isn't going to help the icy situation on the road. Especially not when you're dodging these bastard size rocks from hitting your windshield. (Editors note: I am writing a letter (with big freakin words in it) and I am making the BC Government or whoever the hell is in charge of the highways, buy me a new windshield and maybe even a new paint job. Goddamn rocks...) New Years Eve. - Who the hell thought up this random holiday? Nothing big is happening. Really. It's just a new page on the calendar. Next year: NO New Years plans. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nadda. Need: Airmiles. - I only stop at Shell to fill up my car with gas just so I can get the Airmiles. I am going to work on starting something here: If you have Airmiles you just don't need/want/use/care about... give them to me. It will send me on my trip in the spring. What do you get in return? A postcard. How the hell does a ferry stay afloat? - You stick a gazillion cars and trucks and people on to this huge boat made of steel and drive it from one island to the next. Um. Weird. Ok sure you brainiacs- give me something scientific but I am looking for a real reason. The real non-scientific reason. Hey, while you're at it, you can explain to me how a plane can fly. And on that note, it's bed time. Posted by Bella at 2:48 AM# |
