Yes, but does it Cure Lobsterphobics?

So they've found a pill that can potentially cure you of your fears. I was thinking that maybe that's not such a good thing. Maybe it's what we fear that provides our motivations, in a general sense. I guess it's about learning how to use your fears to learn about yourself.

I, myself am deathly afraid of lobsters and crabs. You could imagine my dismay when I took a trip out to Shediac, New Brunswick a few years ago (the self dubbed "Lobster Capital of the World") and came face to face with this beast to the left.

Brooklyn STAND UP! I mean, Brooklyn WTF?!

On Monday morning, my regular commute out of Brooklyn was hampered by a water-main break just a few blocks from my home. What a pain in the ass, and my commute was twice as long.

Didn't bother thinking twice about it, as delays usually happen all the time. It wasn't until I started poking around the web did I see the real damage that was done. An SUV fell right through the road!

It totally reminds me of the huge storm that swept away part of a major artery in Toronto last summer when I was visiting.
Come to think of it, the disaster on Finch Ave back in August is about the same distance as my folks' home as I am from this new street collapse in Brooklyn. Hmmmmm.

It took them over 6 months to fix that road in Tdot, but I reckon this one in Brooklyn will be done in no time.

Don't Hate

For the third year in a row, the Princeton Review has said that NYU is the "dream school" for kids applying to schools out of highschool. This is kind of cool, and with it comes bragging rights.

NYU seems to be on the rise recently with Faculty/Alumni getting a few Oscars.

Also, they've just announced a $200 mil. donation to create a new research institute.

All this comes at a price though. It would be great if they could increase the amount of scholarship money that goes around. I mean, I knew it would be expensive, but I didn't realize just how tough it would be.

Worst Celebrity Endorsement EVER!

I usually think it's really funny/cool when washed up/B-List celebrities can make fun of themselves on TV. It shows that they don't really take themselves seriously, and just to what lengths they will go to get their face out there.

But Jeebus, what was Ben Johnson thinking when he decided to shill for D'Angelo's new sports/energy drink Cheetah (Cheetah...cheater...get it?). It's just uncomfortable to watch it. I mean, I could see how it could have worked, but it's awkward and I kind of feel sorry for Big Ben. The low production values (it looks like my basement with my bedsheet for a backdrop) don't help things.

Here's an excerpt:
President of D'Angelo/Talk Show Host:`Ben, when you run, do you Cheetah?'
Ben Johnson:`Absolutely! I Cheetah all the time!'

It's really kind of sad, and almost exploitive. I mean, I really can't think that Ben got rich off of the deal considering how much he's in demand these days. D'angelo's knows what they are doing though. I mean, I'm devoting an entry to them.

I still feel that Ben's illegal time at the 1988 Olympics was still an incredible human achievement.

See the commercials here.

Information Wars!

There is an interesting fight developing between Nature and encyclopedia Britannica. Late last year, Nature published an article claiming that Wikipedia provided information on topics with about the same level of 'correctness' (my word, not theirs) as Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Obviously, the Britannica people took issue (this is their bread and butter, with Wikipedia...Well no one is out of a job), and it looks like quite a few feathers were ruffled behind the scenes.

The gloves are off now. Britannica posted an open letter on their site (20 pages of argument) claiming Nature is misleading the public (blah blah blah), and Nature published their response today. In short, Nature isn't retracting their story and told them to screw off.

Ultimately, I side with Nature, as I believe that Wikipedia is going in the right direction. Granted, everything on there is not factual, I feel that over time Wikipedia will sort itself out and it will become the new standard of information. Britannica has a lot of money involved and is just trying to save face and sell a few more copies of worthless volumes to school libraries. Why pay for the milk (via Britannica's books and website) when you've got the Cow (Wikipedia's dynamicism, and free) at home?

The days of going to some massive tome in search of the truth, or the fact that there can exist a volume with the truth is over. Sorry Grandpa, you've earned your sleep, now go and take it.

Where do Numbers come from?

I've always been interested in numbers. Not necessarily 1's and 2's, but rather our concept of numbers and the world around us. Like how do we "know" that 1 + 1 =2? OK, it sounds like I'm being trite, but I don't mean it that way. Is our ability to count and compare quantities something that's learned? Just as I suspected (and hoped), recent research suggests that our ability to count is something innate within us (and other animals). Personally, I've always believed that numbers (or the concept of quantity) is more of an abstract idea.

Transit Geeks of the World: Unite and Takeover!

I ain't gonna front: I like trains. More specifically, subway trains. It just appears to be a jumbled mess of connections (and missed connections), tracks extending forever. The chariot of the people. Whether it was my first system: The TTC or the other systems in which I've grown to love: Hamburg's sprawling HVV, Chicago's beautiful CTA, or the ZOO of Berlin. I always feel that I'm with my people when I'm on the train or bus. My latest love affair is with the great Queen herself: NYC's MTA. Oh, is there somewhere you don't go?

So I'm a transit geek. There, I said it.

I'm not alone. Here's the page for the TTC's geek page, and better yet, my latest call to arms: the straphanger (check the Rider's Diaries for a topic that is causing much debate: Should the N Train skip 49th St at all times? I say yes. Yes it should).

I'm Back

So between recovering from the flu, passing it on to my roommate (woops!), and shooting my film, it's been a hectic week. My shoot went OK, Friday was a bit of a challenge as I had to work with child actors, but it was easier than I thought. Saturday was much easier, but somehow took much longer. In the end, we got it in the can, and I've seen my footage. It looks good, the performances by my main actors are great, and I was working with a great producer. It's still really humbling when people bust their ass for you...for free. I still believe that no one really understood the film that I was making, except for myself. Needless to say, the hard work is over for me, and I can bust my ass working on my classmates films now.

I Think I'm Dying

This is what I've looked like the last couple of days. And to make matters worse, I am shooting my film on Friday.

I'm also holding rehearsals tonight and Wednesday, big movie premiere tomorrow (red-carpet shin-dig), then working on a friend's shoot starting on Wednesday.

What I need to do: rest.

The True North Strong and Free

The look on Derek Jeter's (the most overrated player of all time) face says it all.

I'm truly shocked that Canada defeated the USA 8-6, in the World Baseball Classic.

I don't believe this result to be a testament of Canada's prowess at baseball, but rather a result of team work, which is the essence of America's game.

Some weird facts that I remember from Childhood: Buck Martinez is managing the US team, you may recall he managed the Toronto Blue Jays for a bit, and is perhaps best known to Canadians as the long time Colour Commentator during Blue Jays TV broadcasts. He got that job, because he was a general all 'round good guy, AND because he was a catcher back in the 80's with the Jays.

Back in the 80's Martinez had a platoon situation with another catcher, who was on the original 1977 Blue Jays roster. That catcher was Ernie Whitt, the manager than led the Canadians yesterday. Rumour is that he's being groomed for the Blue Jays managerial position in a couple of years.

I predict that Pat Borders (whom replaced Ernie Whitt, and World Series MVP) will come back and manage Cuba in a couple of seasons.

'Till I'm Laid to Rest

One of the crappy things about completely relocating, and downsizing your life is that you can't take everything with you.

For example: CD's & Tapes. Most of them are stuck in a Toronto garage, whilst a lucky 10 made their way with me to NYC.

Once in a while, you have the desire to hear something, and you can't, because you don't have that CD.

Well it's the digital age, so I download. I don't feel bad about it because I actually do own these recordings somewhere. Anyways, I just got Buju Banton's 'Til Shiloh, which has aged beautifully. It's one of those albums that you remember liking a lot, and then when you hear it again, it's like Why don't I listen to this more often?

Considering the Dancehall/Reggaeton explosion recently, it all can be traced back to this genius album. Before it, Buju was one of the most popular dancehall artists out of Yard. I personally didn't take to him, as I found most of his lyrics to be trite and offensive. I initially dismissed this album, until my sister urged me to give it another chance, and I'm glad I did. It's just a great hybrid of dancehall/roots with words of wisdom all through a gravelly voice.Buju got older and wiser.

There has been better dancehall singles since then, but no one has made a stronger artistic statement as this. Dancehall stresses the hot track, not the hot album, so I doubt 'Til Shiloh will ever be topped in terms of consistency. This is the album Bob Marley would have made if he was still around.

Rites of Passage

Today, I became an adult. Got myself a Costco membership. Not with my parents.

To make matters worse, we showed such enthusiasm over the great price on buying pretty much a WALL of toilet paper for such a low price. Don't get me started on the rock-bottom price paid for dishwashing detergent. Almost 100 loads it promises!

When leaving the store to the massive parking lot, I understood how a minivan would actually be useful.

Oh, wasted youth!

House Party!

It was supposed to be such a great time. The 'rents gone for the weekend.We're young. It's expected that there would be a houseparty.

There would also be the expected expensive vase that would get broken, that would tip off the parents that something was amiss.

A few weeks grounding, and a maybe a stern lecture.
That's the Cosby Show.

Some girl pulled the wool over her parent's eyes, and threw a party for a 'small group' of friends, which quickly swelled to some 300 young, drunk kids:

One young partygoer described the scene as "nuts", saying he saw "some kid
go down the stairs on a rocking horse."

The cops were called once, and the girl was passed out on the floor. So the cops take her to the krankenhaus and fix her up for alcohol-poisoning. The same cops get another call talking about a possible break-in at the house. They enter the house to find:

No room was left untouched. Computer monitors had been thrown through windows, a
large-screen television had been kicked in, furniture and electronics were
ransacked, and the family car had been stolen.

Awesome. Check the article here for even better video footage.

Those wacky suburban kids!