life as i know it...

Check out this fantastic mash-up of Twilight and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I liked the movie, but watching this and reading the commentary made me think of the male/female roles in a whole new light (I still plan to see the new movie, though!).



According to the author:

Buffy vs Edward is essentially an answer to the question “What Would Buffy Do?” My re-imagined story was specifically constructed as a response to Edward, and what his behavior represents in our larger social context for both men and women. More than just a showdown between The Slayer and the Sparkly Vampire, it’s also a humorous visualization of the metaphorical battle between two opposing visions of gender roles in the 21ist century.

...It has sparked a wide-ranging and timely online conversation about how obsessive and predatory male behavior passes for romance in too much of our pop culture.

...In the end the only reasonable response was to have Buffy stake Edward – not because she didn’t find him sexy, not because he was too sensitive or too eager to share his feelings – but simply because he was possessive, manipulative, and stalkery.

...I would like to say that the video is not intended as a stab at the fans. Rather, it’s an argument against the specific way in which romance and gender roles are constructed in the Twilight series. Ultimately, Buffy’s triumph over Edward is only one small part of much larger story: the story of our collective journey towards a world of gender equity and empowerment.

Posted in: equality, feminism, videos on July 07, 2009 5 comments    

I'm excited that the new Disney movie is done in 2D (traditional) animation, and it will be a musical!
Not so excited about all the princess marketing that will come with the movie though... but it's nice that finally there will be a black princess to add to the bunch!

Posted in: movies on June 06, 2009 0 comments    

This is cool, but a bit creepy too - just like the original, I suppose! French artist Francois Macre has created an entirely a cappella version of Michael Jackson's Thriller. He has recreated every drumbeat, synthesizer note and spoken word segment using 64 different tracks.

Posted in: music, videos on May 30, 2009 0 comments    

Could this be it for the famous Riverdale love triangle?
It's a 6-part series, so I suspect a few surprises are in store!

I read a lot of Archie comics as a child. My favourites were the ones from the 50s and 60s. I loved Betty & Veronica's dresses!

Posted in: comics on May 28, 2009 6 comments    

Belugas in Newfoundland! Wish I could have seen them! I used to occasionally see whales in the Torbay, NL harbour, but I've only ever seen a beluga at the Vancouver aquarium.

In other news, pandemic potential of this swine flu is scary! Today there have been 4 cases confirmed in Nova Scotia.

I'll admit, I've been avoiding too much news these days; most of it is just depressing, and I've preferred to spend lots of time outdoors with my gal, enjoying spring. I can live in my own little bubble for a little while, can't I?

Posted in: on April 26, 2009 1 comments    

Received this today. I have my doubts about online petitions, but I value the CBC, so I signed, and plan to write some letters.

In just 6 days, over 100,000 of us have come together and signed the petition to Save the CBC and Radio Canada from deeply damaging budget cuts - one of the largest online petitions in Canadian history!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_cbc/

The CBC is vital for Canadian art, culture and identity. These cuts have been forced on it for no good reason - the CBC has asked the government for sensible bridge financing - borrowing against their funding next year to spread the cuts out and make sure vital assets aren't damaged this year. The government has refused because, as we know from numerous past statements from Prime Minister Harper, they have an ideological agenda of opposition to a public broadcaster. They'd like to see the CBC privatized and sold off. With the CBC already forced to get half of its revenue from advertizing (compelling it to carry expensive American TV shows) that process is well underway. Even while the CBC survives in name, it's public character and mission are under attack.

With enough of a public outcry, we can reverse the government's decision. But even if we don't, a powerful statement is being made, to this government and future ones, that Canadians want the CBC and Radio Canada to survive as public service broadcasters. If enough of us act together now, they'll think twice the next time they look to undermine the CBC, and together we'll form a voice that can empower our national broadcasters to fully return to their precious public service mission.

With hope and determination,

Ricken, Lisa-Marie, Laryn and the Avaaz Canada team

PS - the best group providing information and opportunities to get more deeply involved in this issue is Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

Posted in: politics on April 03, 2009 7 comments    

Cadbury to use fairtrade chocolate in its Dairy Milk chocolate bars

Impressive! Plus, Cadbury plans to convert its other chocolate products to fairtrade as soon as they can. It's nice to see such a large company supporting fairtrade farming!

Posted in: on March 29, 2009 2 comments    

If you're curious to see how The Barenaked Ladies sound without Steven Page, check out this free download: Live at Universal Studios from BNL.com. This will only be available until March 27th!

Thanks to Simply Frugal in Canada for the link!

Posted in: music on March 24, 2009 0 comments    

Hello folks!

Just a heads up to those of you with kids - I've been in the Mommy mode for a while, and I've started a new blog called Painting Pink Pajamas to share some of our favourite toddler books, music, recipes and activities.

I'll still be posting here as well, but I'll keep most of the child-specific posts there.

Posted in: baby, kids on March 23, 2009 0 comments    

...this would be me:


Visit The Hero Factory to make your own Superhero, then send me a link so I can see too!

Thanks to Reflections and Ramblings of a Not-So-Superwoman for the link!

Posted in: on 1 comments    

Hilarious!!!!



I still find it strange that some people haven't seen Star Wars though...
(says a girl who went to the 12:01am showing of Phantom Menace! Too bad it was so disappointing!)
(seen on grrrl meets world)

Posted in: funny, politics on February 01, 2009 2 comments    

We're getting C a play kitchen for her birthday next month, and I've been stocking it with food and accessories. We're pretty much set, as I've been picking up odds and ends, some great Plan Toys food sets, and making felt food for her to play with. I usually get a blank look when I say that, so here's a picture of a few (mostly) finished pieces (the lettuce and cucumber still need some stitching). I have ideas for a lot more - click here or here to see some of my inspiration. I'll post some pictures when I'm all done! It's been fun to have something creative to work on again, and a deadline to ensure that I don't put it off to get something more substantial done, like the never ending housework!

We ordered the kitchen through a US store because we couldn't find it in Canada - and it was a fantastic price! It sounds a little crazy, but because shipping + duty to Canada is outrageous through the stores we looked at, we're bringing it back as a piece of luggage on our trip back from the States. The box is apparently 51lbs, so we plan to put a few of the smaller pieces in our other bags, so we're under the 50lb limit. It's a quarter of an inch longer than the limit, so here's hoping Air Canada won't ding us for a quarter of an inch! Even if they do, the extra bag fee would be cheaper than shipping and duty to Canada, so it's a gamble we're willing to take. Cross your fingers! It's the perfect size to fit in a nook in our kitchen, and we wanted something that was made of wood and not pink or rainbow! I love the retro style of this one.

It's hard to believe C will be 2 years old in less than a month!

Posted in: crafts on January 18, 2009 1 comments    

Frigid temperatures break 125 year old record in Fredericton

Brrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Florida, here we come!!!

Posted in: on January 17, 2009 0 comments    

Speaking of my birthday, I'm going to Disney World on my birthday!!!
Free admission to Disney parks on your birthday!

Posted in: crafts on December 23, 2008 2 comments    

Pre-Christmas celebrations are in full swing at our house!
The gingerbread house, tree and cookies have all sustained a bit of damage, but that's the fun of Christmas with kids! Claire is so excited about everything, even though she can't really understand the holiday, and she's a joy to be around!

Posted in: on December 15, 2008 3 comments    

Posted in: helpful tips, household on 0 comments    

This is just sick.

Surging Shoppers kill New York Wal-Mart Employee

I've never experienced any shopping trips so horrible and sad, thank goodness, but I do remember the crazy Boxing Day shoppers in Canada. It wasn't too bad at Sam the Record Man, but when I worked at Future Shop in BC, people camped outside the store all night on December 25th and raced into the store in the morning of the 26th. I remember kneeling on the floor getting something from a cupboard, and a guy actually jumped over me in his rush to get to a different department.

Sheesh.

Posted in: on November 28, 2008 0 comments    

We've had snow, slippery roads, and both Brad & I have been sick this past week. Claire's okay so far, thank goodness, but we're going for flu shots today anyways!

Enjoy this cute little video for all of the sickies out there!

Posted in: on November 24, 2008 0 comments    

Heard on As It Happens on CBC Radio last night. A clip of George Bush talking about the economic crisis:

"We don't need bigger government, we just need smarter government."

Posted in: on November 14, 2008 0 comments    

In Flanders Fields
by Dr. John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.



A Soldier - His Prayer

As the story goes, this anonymous poem was blown into a slit trench in Tunisia during a heavy bombardment in the early days of World War II. Who its author is, or was, cannot be determined, but it is certain that he had a gift for poetry which he used to express his great faith and sense of hope.

Stay with me God. The night is dark
The night is cold: My little spark
Of courage dies. The night is long;
Be with me God, and make me strong

I love the game; I love a fight.
I hate the dark; I love the light.
I love my child; I love my wife.
I am no coward. I love life.

Life with its change of mood and shade.
I want to live. I'm not afraid,
But me and mine are hard to part;
Oh unknown God, lift up my heart.

You stilled the water at Dunkirk
And saved your servants.
All your work is wonderful, dear God. You strode
Before us down that dreadful road.

We were alone, and hope had fled;
We loved our country, and our dead.
And could not shame them; so we stayed
The course, and were not much afraid.

Dear God, that nightmare road! And then
That sea! We got there - we were men.
My eyes were blind, my feet were torn,
My soul sang like a bird at dawn!

I knew that death is just a door.
I knew what we were fighting for:
Peace for the kids, our brothers freed,
A kinder world, a cleaner breed.

I'm but the son my mother bore,
A simple man and nothing more.
But - God of strength and gentleness,
Be pleased to make me nothing less.

Help me, O God, when death is near
To mock the haggard face of fear,
That when I fall-If fall I must-
My soul may triumph in the dust.

In Memoriam:

Posted in: on November 11, 2008 0 comments