Nerd. Big Big Nerd.

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly be a bigger nerd than I already am I come across this....

... and I want it so very very much. That being said, no, I am not willing to spend the $621 it costs to buy one. But oh baby, if I had any disposable income, you may be dismayed at how fast I'd be whippin' out the credit card for this one. For those of you that DO have crazy disposable income and want your very own ray gun - have at 'er care of Weta.

Wine Fest

I'm getting really excited about the upcoming Playhouse Wine Festival in Vancouver in March. Last year was my first one and I was much more mezmerized than I thought I would be. Also I quite unexpectedly fell in love with the wine industry. I had been introduced to fine wines a few years ago by a friend of mine who was visiting Vancouver and had retained a strong interest but was always tentative to go exploring. Being at the wine festival I discovered I had a bit of a passion for wines - not just the drinking, but the learning. I have a deep deep passion for music and I feel that wine is a kindred spirit to music. Just like music there are different genres, different instruments, different creators - but the same song will never sound the same twice. It can come close, but there will always be a new nuance to discover. I suppose the same can be said of many things, but I just find it amazing that one little grape can tell such vast and varied stories.

I'm still floundering a bit with my learning but I'm picking up more and more. I'm planning on studying my various resources and doing my research over the next month with the hopes of this year's wine festival taking me to the next level of my relationship with the grape. If anyone reading this has any suggestions for "must try wines" - please let me know.

Gaiman messing with Penn

From Neil Gaiman's journal:
(and who am I to deny Neil's request)
(and who are you to deny Neil's request? - now go clicky clicky)

I'd like to ask a small favour of those of you who have read down this far. Would anyone reading this, anyone with a blog or a website that is, mind linking to the last post -- http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2007/02/and-in-time-it-took-to-say-that-neil.html -- with the link text Penn Jillette? Given Penn's recent rant about the power and ubiquity of this blog on his radio show, I'd like to mess with his head just a little and see if we can actually google-bomb it so that that entry shows in the top few entries if you google Penn's name.
And sshhh, don't anyone tell him. I want it to be a surprise.

Project 365 and local musicians

I've decided to join Shannon in Project 365 - take a picture a day, every day, for a year. I figure it'll help me get my creativity flowing. Or at least make it so it doesn't atrophy. My pics are viewable at http://www.flickr.com/photos/chandra4042/

Also, I'm making some use of my myspace page. I have a lot of lovely musician friends in and around Vancouver so I've decided to spotlight each of them for a few days each. I'll be changing the feature song every few days and I'll write a little something about each one as they're featured. You've already missed out on Kristia Di Gregorio and The Paperboys, but you can still check out their myspace pages which features their music.

Preview - Famous Puppet Death Scenes - January 2007

Preview - Famous Puppet Death Scenes
Push Festival - VECC - January 25 - 27

I seem to be spending a fair amount of time at the Cultch this year. They've had some really nice shows lately and I won't even hold it against them for the cancellation of Hecuba (seeing as it has nothing to do with them and all). A couple of friends of mine and I went to the Ronnie Burkett show 10 Days on Earth there and it very well may be the best thing any of us has seen - and we've seen A LOT. Which segue's nicely to today's topic - Famous Puppet Death Scenes as put on by The Old Trout Puppet Workshop out of Calgary. The same two friends and I went to this show last year at the Push Festival and had no idea what to expect, which is actually a rather nice frame of mind to go to a show with. We laughed, we cried, we laughed some more. It was essentially 30 or so "shorts" showcasing famous puppet death scenes. They were indeed puppet death scenes (some poignant, some silly, some both) but not famous (not yet anyway) as they were all created by The Trouts themselves. I think what I loved most about it was how varied it was. There were quite a number of different puppet styles and set styles - which really added to the feeling that these really could be Famous scenes from who knows where. So now we're gathering our friends, families and enemies and insisting everyone go to this show. If you go on January 26th, be sure to come and say hi.

And for those who are interested, one of the founders of The Trouts is the same dude from The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, also author of such books as The Wolf King. Talented bastard.

Monkey's at the VIFF

No, I'm not silently protesting the VIFF by not going, I'm just still saturated by years and years of involvement with them and know that if I get within a few feet of a VIFF event I'll want to be involved again, and we just can't do that as it will inevitably end in tears. They have some really great films showing, of course. The one I was considering breaking pattern for is Monkey Warfare and really it's only because the love of my life - Don McKellar - is in it. Yes, I'm in love with a nerdy Canadian Filmmaker - there, I said it. The fact that he doesn't know who I am (unless he remembers that time we brushed up against each other at that Canadian Images party a few years ago) - is merely a minor setback. I still may go see the film this morning but I think I've caught my house-guest's cold so I may just spend the day watching my zip.ca movies instead. Besides, I'm not sure if I'm ready to see my darling Don McKellar with a handlebar moustache.

Science of Gondry

Michel Gondry has a twisted mind. Oh how I love twisted minds. I'm not sure I LOVED Science of Sleep. I certainly didn't like it as much as Eternal Sunshine, but I suppose it's unfair to make that comparison - it's a different film. I did like it though, but it did take me a while to talk myself through it. It's a confusing film with incredible imagry. It's not always clear when our hero is awake or dreaming and the cuts can be a bit messy but really, that's what it's like in our hero's head. Once I decided that that's what Gondry was doing (that and concluded that the hero might be mentally ill) I was able to let go of any expectations and enjoy. Gael Garcia Bernal has secured his place in my heart of one of my "I don't care what the film is, if Bernal is in it - it's good" actors. He was absolutely delightful. I also loved the used of language and stop motion. It was a rich film for many reasons, and it's definitely not a typical hollywood cookiecutter film. As a bonus - Fifth Ave Cinemas finally replaced their seats!

Sad Excuse for a Blogger

I realize I'm hardly living up to my purpose for keeping this blog if I don't actually pre/re-view shows. The sad part is that it's not like I haven't had things to write about. This summer has been rather amazing for shows, music & film. Here's a sampling of what I didn't write about:
Little Miss Sunshine - I laughed so hard I lost my voice
Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir - fabulous if you like appalachian music
Mission Folk Fest - very very hot but worth it for the great music
Portobello West - has potential
Prairie Home Companion - very sweet for those into the genre

But it took going to see Hawksley Workman to bring me back. First a bit of history...
I first saw the beautiful man a couple of years ago when a friend called up to say he had an extra ticket and asked if I would like to go. I had heard of Hawksley but hadn't heard him, but I hadn't seen my friend in ages so I said okay. I think went internet-spelunking and found the video for Jealous of Your Cigarette and was stunned and the live show lived up. A couple of weeks ago when another friend asked if I wan't to go see Hawksley I just couldn't decline.

I must admit I liked the intimacy of the previous show at Richards on Richards as opposed to this show at the Commodore. The smaller venue lends itself a bit better to his intimate personality. My friend and I both agree he seemed a bit off, but "off" for Hawksley is still pretty amazing. He played all of my favourites and I rather enjoyed the mid-song interlude of Pinball Wizard. I'm only sad that my allergy meds knocked me on my ass, forcing me to leave before the 3 encores. But if a gal is gonna wear her feather boa then she's gotta takes the meds. And really, if I can't wear a boa to see Hawksley, what's the point of having one?

All friends and foes who have supported the 2010 Olympics thusfar can, in my opinion, suck it.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/09/14/bc-olympic-costs.html

May the intellegent discussion begin. Please post your thoughts.