Friends

When I'm not busy doing promotional work, I'm geeking out on LARP. I just put together a costume that incorporates a beach ball and a self-inflating whoopee cushion. It's hysterical, and I hope to get pictures. One of my characters has been writing like mad, and so, perforce, have I. I am also working on a lore handbook from the game. This is going to take a while. It's a daunting task, especially since time is a scarce commodity.

Yet somehow, somehow, I am still inundated with links. My links. Let me give them to you.

"Your Friends Were Very Jealous, Even If They Say They Weren't, They Were Envious I Approached You": A transcript from that amazing voice mail I posted not too long ago.

Nemesis: Greek goddess of retribution & indignation: My favourite member of the Greek pantheon at the moment.

Video Shows Woman Ignored While Dying in New York Mental Hospital: I hope I never end up in an American hospital.

Pregnant women get morning sickness to protect fetus: It's because people eat so much crap!

Daily Tails of Chase: This is one ugly cat, but his lack of eyelids apparently doesn't get him down.

Boy with OCD thought he caused 9/11 terrorist attacks: When I was ten, I cried myself to sleep because I thought I had Alzheimer's. Kids are dumb.

Schoolboy found hanged after his father confiscated his new Wii: When he's told he can't play his video game right now, kid throws a hissy fit then hangs himself in his room. See? I told you kids are dumb.

Court reverses judgment against church in exorcisms: "A North Texas Pentecostal church should not be held liable for emotional trauma a former parishioner suffered as a youth when church members physically restrained and touched her during two exorcism attempts in 1996, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday."

Lorry carrying 12m bees overturns: Before I read this article, I had no idea transport trucks laden with bees were driving around.

Saudi Marriage Official Says 1-Year-Old Brides OK: You should wait until they're at least nine before you consummate the marriage, though.

And here's a picture of a 40-year-old Afghani man (he looks so much older!) and his 11-year-old fiancée:

From Telegraph's Pictures of the Day:



While I'm at it, this is pretty funny, too.

From The Local:

Lost scenes of 'Metropolis' discovered in Argentina

Lost scenes from German-Austrian director Fritz Lang's legendary silent film "Metropolis" have been discovered in Argentina, German weekly newspaper Die Zeit reported on Wednesday.

( Read more... )

This is just a "Wow" moment. Most people don't seem to realise just how much was cut from Metropolis for the US-release (about 2 hours), and just how much is missing from even the most complete restorations (about one hour). As a Fritz Lang fan, I'm simply speechless.

(ltmurnau, I promise that I will get around to typing up a response to your last comment.)

Burn to Black return to Toronto in a flash of glory!

Brought to you by the fine folks at DSoL and No Official Capacity.

Brought to you by the good people at DSoL (hey, I'm one of 'em!).

Oh thank fuck.

My parents left this morning. They're my parents, and they were definitely a huge part of what shaped me into the bizarre person I am today, but holy crap, do they ever spike my blood pressure.

Time for a silly meme:

Post 3 things you've done in your lifetime that you don't think anybody else on your friends list has done.
- See if anybody else responds with "I've done that." If they have, you need to add another!(2.b., 2.c., etc...)
- Have your friends cut & paste this into their journal to see what unique things they've done in their life.

1. Was the flat-chested demo model for a medical video on breast self-exams.
2. Went to a truck-stop restaurant "dressed" as a naked dark elf.
3. Nearly drowned in a septic tank.

Go.

My browser tabs are insanely full. Gotta do something about that. So here you go!

Remember Arseface from Preacher: He's real (thanks, gha5t).

Catullus: I've been on a Catullus binge lately. I thought I'd share. Gotta love his invictive and erotic poetry. It's the best.

Eugenio Recuenco Photography: Intensely creepy stuff that uses Photoshop in all the right ways.

12 Extremely Weird Diseases and Conditions You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of: My favourite is the Jumping Frenchmen of Maine Disorder.

Bomb alarm clock wakes you up with an explosion: I think this would get old REALLY fast.

Twin Sisters Neena and Veena Get Naked: Better known as the Belly Twins, these are the belly dancers who have put out numerous instructional videos over the past decade, helping bring the dance to the mainstream. You can see a bizarre clip of them mostly naked and writhing about in a badly filmed softcore segment here (NSFW, of course).

Dimitri: Astonishing answering machine message. Olga, why didn't you call back? The guy is a real catch (thanks, schwartzung)!

Dark Knight dedicated to Ledger: I post this only because it contains a magnificent example of poor writing: "The hotly anticipated Dark Knight film also stars Christian Bale as Batman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman." Christian Bale truly is a master of disguise.

Who Has the Right to Take Vengeance?: A Methodist sermon I am plundering for much the same reason that I'm reading the poetry of Catullus....

George Carlin on Death: Apropos.

Now, I must get back to the task at hand: spending time with my insane family before they return to New Brunswick. Lord help me....

I am performing in an upcoming burlesque show called Garden of Hedon. Once upon a time, there were many acts, but in an unfortunate series of coincidences, several of the performers have had to pull out of the show at the last minute. Posters have already been made. The theatre has been booked. Tickets have been selling.

The show must go on.

So, would you, or some other performer you know, be willing to join the show? It's for a good cause: raising morale for Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Huzzah!

If you think you can do this thing, please contact Donna, the producer of the show as soon as possible.

London Pinups Present: Garden of Hedon
Saturday, July 12, 2008
8:00pm - 11:55pm
The Registry Theatre
122 Frederick Street
Kitchener, ON

This is the St. Charles North Northstars, State Champion dance drill team. I think this is an excellent example of how costuming can be integral to a powerful performance.

So incredibly busy.... Gonna take some time for ME. After I do the housework, I guess. Too bad my washing machine gave up the ghost yesterday. Here's hoping Dad can fix it when he comes to visit in a couple of days.

Links? Sure thing. Have a few.

Deepest Pool in the World: I don't think there is a shallow end in this sucker.

Harold: NSFW. Features extra cock and wristfeet options.

2008 Ugliest Dog Contenders: Man, those are some seriously hideous canines.

Monument to be erected to an enema in southern Russia: I'll betcha Kellogg would have loved one of these in Battle Creek.

Man Brandishing Palm Frond, Flip Flops Tries To Rob Store: We must institute palm frond and flip flop control in order to prevent criminal elements from doing this sort of thing.

English Crop Circle's Mysterious Pattern Solved: Pi!

Dirty Car Window Art: Now that's some pretty dirt.

Vladimir Putin hailed as virile vampire: Somehow, I can't see Stephen Harper as a vampiric sex symbol. Eugh.

From watching various sites and being sent links to join them, it would seem that the prevailing trend in methods of voicing displeasure online has moved away from the free, online petition towards the Facebook group.

I can't help but wonder, however, whether the Facebook group method is any more effective than the free, online petition method — which seemed to have an effectiveness rating of 0%.

I suppose it all comes down to: do people actually do things with these groups? (e.g. Arrange campaigns/schedule events and actually follow through.) Or is it just largely composed of people who either join and bitch/swap conspiracy theories on the group wall and or who join as a method of voicing their displeasure and never do anything else?

If it's the former, then good on them for finding a way of adapting the Internet to suit more widely-distributed participants. If it's the latter, which the pessimist in me thinks that it is, then they serve little more point than slapping a ribbon magnet on one's car and never doing another thing — feel-good actions that assuage one's conscience about doing something without the effort of actually doing anything.

Hey, you!

DSoL has been very busy putting together some great shows and entertainment for you. Wanna know what's in the immediate future? Here you go....

Kitchener

June 25
In Kitchener this Wednesday (June 25)? Put on your blackest black clothes and hustle your butt on down to Club Renaissance for DJed gothy goodness. And say hi to Cheryl for me!


July 12
Garden of Hedon. London Pinups and DSoL present Garden of Hedon, an 18+ burlesque show at the Registry Theatre (122 Frederick St). Proceeds go to the London Pinups project, which sends retro-styled pin-up photos to Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Want to help boost morale and ogle some gorgeous and talented acts while you're at it (and yeah, I'll be dancing!)? The show starts at 8pm (doors open at 7pm) and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at The Centre in The Square or in person at The Centre in the Square, 101 Queen Street N, or by phoning 1 (800) 265 8977. There will also be a silent auction.

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Toronto

June 25
In Toronto this Wednesday? Make your way to the Reverb in Toronto (651 Queen St. W) to catch 16 Volt, Bella Morte, Cyanotic, Virtigo, and Defence Mechanism. Doors open at 7pm, and tickets are just $15.

Fridays at Savage Garden
June 27: Delica and Sorrow Has a Perfect End
July 4: Metal mayhem!
July 11: Schizoid and Combat Exhaustion
July 18: Retro goth DJ set

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A special request!

Do you know some talented Celtic/Irish musicians or dancers? We're on the lookout for traditional (and not so traditional) Celtic performers to do shows in southern Ontario. Drop us a line with the particulars. Thank you!

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Love and violence,
Shantell....

16 Volt
Bella Morte
Cyanotic
Defence Mechanism
Virtigo
with special guest DJ Shok

Brought to you by the fine people at Darker Side of Light (DSoL) and No Official Capacity.

A Stitch in Nine will be taking place July 4-6 in Acton (not too far out of Toronto).

Underworld is a fantasy, medieval, live roleplaying system. Its complex and intelligent rules allow for broad character development including aspects of race, culture, socio-economic background, and faith.

It's a helluva lot of fun....