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!

Stop Farting on me!

The Times had a really interesting article on Sibling Rivalry. Well, more like sibling abuse. Pretty much an extreme form of the jabs and pokes that the older sibling usually inflicts on the younger.

Perhaps most interesting is the fact that violence between siblings transcends all socio-economic fronts.

Also, the author brings up the rivalries that appear amongst animals:

Baby animals, researchers theorize, fight mainly to establish dominance and to compete for scarce food. Human children, on the other hand, fight not only over who got the bigger bowl of ice cream but also over who decides what game to play, who controls the remote, who is supposed to do the dishes, who started it and who is loved most.

Perhaps there is nothing we can do about getting the beats if we are born 2nd (or 3rd....). I maintain, if I were born before my sister, I'd be the one farting on her.

Starting Production

Long time no babble. The reason is because I'm knee-deep in work. It's been a crazy week, and I don't think it will let up for at least another week.

I'm still working on cutting my documentary, which is supposed to be an observational 5 minute character portrait, using no 'talking head' interviews. I shot about 8 hours of footage, which I cut down to 15 minutes. That took me a couple of weeks. The hardest part would be to cut it further down to 5 minutes, since I actually like my 15 minute version. That has to be done by Thursday for evaluations. It will get done, it just needs some time.

We also started casting my next narrative film, which will be shooting in about 3 weeks. I'm pretty close to locking down the script, so all I need now is just to find the right two people to lead it. I put a posting on Craigslist last week, and got about 300 responses within a couple of days. It's so strange the amount of people willing to work for free on your productions. I mean, it's mutually beneficial, but still, it's just awesome that people are willing to trust you and get aboard your ship.

My producer and I cut down the applicants to about 30 (honestly, it becomes really boring and tedious), and invited them for auditions this past weekend. As usual, there was a range of quality: from the laughably awful to the incredible. I'm going to have call-backs really soon for a selected few, and then decide from that.

Once I nail down actors, I'll be able to work with them to really get the film going. Then all of the work with my director of photography. I think it's going to be a challenging shoot in that respect, as I plan to use a lot of natural light and simple sources like candles and flashlights.

The hardest part in this whole film game, is getting the movie you have in your head on the screen. Usually it's not possible, and you have to compromise and be willing to change your vision. I think I need to be more of a control freak to be a better director.

FASTER! HARDER! HARDER!

The Superbowl party I had the pleasure of going to this year was given by a sketch comic, and thus a bunch of his cohorts were in attendance. Much laughter occurred, except for the crack about curling. Naturally, I took offense. Curling is a lot of fun, and it really is quite strategic. Chess on ice.

There's also some interesting physics involved: you sweep the ice in front of it, the friction of the broom on the ice creates heat that melts the top layer of ice, creating a slicker surface for the rock to move even further. Also, it underscores a seemingly basic question: why are things (more precisely, ice) slippery? Some Scottish blokes have made some interesting discoveries using Great Britain Curling Team as experimenters. Pretty cool experiment, with great results. They hope their study can be used to better design tires that grip better on ice. Read the article, if only to see that they spell tire as 'tYre'. Teehee they spell things different.

For your enjoyment, play some Championship Curling Game on the CBC site (it's on the left side).

UPDATE: By some weird coincidence, the Times has an even better article summing up everything that we know about ice. There's even a cool (i.e. goofy, but good) video with their science writer Kenneth Chang. Definitely worth checking out.

We're cool. Try not be jealous

Much to my surprise, the hats sported by the Canadian squad in Torino have become the 'it' fashion accessory. I can't say that I'm surprised, but it's just a bit ho-hum since I've been sporting mine for 5 years now. Why am I such the fashion visionary for?

In general, this year's Olympic wardrobe designed by The Hudson's Bay Company is a bit boring compared to the slacker-chic designs of the last few Olympics done by Roots Athletics. Then again, Roots' work with the American team has clearly shown that they have become followers rather than leaders.

In case you are wondering, you can get all of your toques, scarves and other over-priced swag here. Get 'em while they're still hot.

Tell GQ: I plan to be wearing a White-Sox baseball cap for my Spring '06 collection. Make sure it's smaller than your head.

I've Got a Hunch...

Although there is no rhyme or reason, more and more I've found myself making decisions purely on whim, or my gut feeling. Perhaps you have too. In general, things work out or at least work out not too badly. I've learned to trust my gut, even if the 'logical' part of me tries to rationalize it.

Easier said than done, following your intuition never made much sense. Until now.

Some Dutch researchers have tried to quantify the effect, and their results agree with common knowledge: your guts know best.

They asked people to buy clothes or housewares (defined as 'simple purchases', unless you're a girl. Zing!), and a separate group of people to buy furniture (defined as a more involved decision making process). Their results:

Department-store shoppers who made simple purchases were happier if they had thought consciously about their choice in advance. IKEA shoppers, on the other hand, were happier with their choice if they hadn't mulled them over.

At least when making some complicated decisions, such as choosing a car or house, the results suggest that we would actually do better to go with our gut.

This seems to suggest that our unconscious mind is far more important than we originally thought. Perhaps the mind is able to quickly move through a huge amount of information and produce the most prudent decision, unknowingly to our conscious mind.

With that being said, I feel that I need to eat some pie. Citing current research, I shall indulge.

I'll have a Buddha Burger with extra blood of Satan. To go.

This is just as huh-larious as the Freedom Fries debacle.

Skiers with Lipstick

After a lengthy 'discussion' last night, I've been thinking a lot about female/male societal roles. I'm more interested in the deeper philosophical ideas: how we perceive ourselves and how external people perceive us. This all sounds like humdrum intro to phil stuff, but can we ever not be influenced by other people's perception? Are all of my actions done with other people in mind? Whoa!?!

Where was I...oh yeah women and society. I saw this interesting article about 'powerful' women, and their woe when it comes to relationships. The results are not that surprising: in general, women with larger IQ's (granted, a rather dubious measuring scale) find it tougher to hook up. If they do, it's usually to someone in their profession.

I remember reading a more in depth study a few years ago involving physicists (still pretty much a man's game, although it is changing...slowly), which stated that ~90% (ok, I don't remember the exact numbers. Let's just say the overwhelming majority) of male physicists that are married, are married to women outside of the field. Whilst ~95% of married female physicists are married to other physicists. From my experience, I've found that to be true.

In a sort of related path, I started to look up old Helmut Newton photos (he's responsible for that one above), and learned that he died a few years ago, which I didn't know. His work for Vogue is the stuff of legends, not to mention his nudes. In general, people are divided by his body of work: Feminist or misogynist? You decide.