Forbidden Planet

Seeing as today is Halloween , I thought I'd share an early childhood memory. I have a quite a few memories from before the time I was 4 years old - perhaps they are easier for me to remember because I emigrated (along with my parents) from Great Britain to Canada - so it serves as a sort of demarcation point. This one goes back to when I was around two years old or so. I don't remember my sister (who was born a few months after I was two), so that is why I think I was two, but hey! I could have been three years old for all I know. Anyhow ... I remember waking up and going to one of the bedrooms in the house. Seated on the edge of a bed was a young women with long raven hair. Her face was buried in her hands, crying plaintively. I approached, seeking to see what was the matter. When I got close, she looked up at me. Her face was old and twisted, her eyes burned with fire, long taloned fingers shot forward grabbing my pajama top , while she screamed, "I'm going to kill...

A friend sent me this on 07-July-2005. I thought it would be nice to share. Beautiful Life You need Power Point to view it. Windows Version here or MacIntosh version here . The file is hosted on www.sharemation.com . You get 5Mb of storage and 5Mb per 3 hours bandwidth. It is free.

Yes, a long title, but here I am 3 days before November slowly filling with anticipatory dread. Why? Because like some foolish child whose eyes were bright with wonder, I signed up for NaNoWriMo . I was partially inspired by Ingrid who apparently survived last years NaNoWriMo. And partly because of an over inflated sense of my own grandeur and the desire to write something outstanding. Now, I just stand (sit, actually) here and wonder what in the world am I going to write 50,000 words about, during the month of November. sigh. I have no ideas (well, not practical ones, anyway), no plot, no focus, no direction, no plan - sort of the way I live my life. Will the Muses not take pity on me? Calliope. Erato. Melpomene. Polyhymnia. Thalia. Will none of you fly to my aid? I have ruled out doing something Doctor Who themed - even if the new series was fantastic!

I first came across the International Club as I was heading to a different campus club with clear intent to argue (I had been earlier taken aside by one of the leaders and told I “would not fit in” – so I foolishly intended to go and be disruptive). Anyway, I passed a poorly scrawled sign (I’m not sure I was even able to make out what it said) hanging on a door, with some bored looking people inside (at least they weren’t hostile). I asked what it was about and was told a social club for international students, but anyone was welcome to join. Ok, I was game, definitely sounded more interesting than engaging in stupid arguments. In the end, I wound up being in charge of PR - which was kind of cool. I like exercising my offbeat creativity. My first ad campaign ran the the following two posters (these are recreations and far more sexy than the originals, since the originals used line graphics instead of a cool picture): I thought it was very successful. We got a number of really interesti...

schizoid Which Personality Disorder Do You Have? brought to you by Quizilla SCHIZOID: Believe it or not, but people are likely quite scared of you. You are the classic Crazy Old Hermit in the Woods type. But it's not because you’re actually crazy; you just prefer to be alone. People take you the wrong way, anyhow, because of your distant, emotionless persona. I think you’re pretty cool. Others, however may whip out their crucifix’s/revolvers whenever they see you emerge from hiding … you know, just in case. Protector The ULTIMATE personality test brought to you by Quizilla PROTECTOR: You are the rock, the keystone of your friends and family. They look to you for support and leadership. You don’t push for devotion or attention, but when the situation is dire, even the Idols and Exhibitionists will turn to you. You are the trusted, the loved. You have the capacity to love more deeply than any other type, and are fiercely devoted to your friends and lovers. Highly idealistic, you ...

I have always harboured a secret desire to be more artistic - a quiet, private secret that I usually don't share. Perhaps out of embarrassment about wanting to pursue something impractical. Three months ago, or so, I borrowed a book from the library called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. Happenstance? Destiny? Who knows? I have picked up, over the years, various books on drawing. None have ever made me believe I was capable of doing more than simple scrawls on a piece of paper. This book is different. Within 30 minutes of getting home with it, I started a drawing exercise - copying Pablo Picassos' 'Portrait of Igor Stravinsky'. About an hour later, I looked at what my hand had wrought and saw that, while not perfect, there was more resemblance than I could have ever imagined. Sadly, I didn't have time to do any more exercises and returned the book. I did, however, buy my own personal copy of the book. This past weekend, I chose ...

Development and Peace is currently running a campaign against the privatization of a fundamental and essential resource - water. While I believe that everyone has a right to private property and space. I also strongly believe that fundamental human needs and requirements must not be denied or taken away from people. Water is definitely one of those. No one person, no one organization has a right to exclusively monopolize a fundamental resource so essential for life. Water must be available to all. No one must be denied their right to it. No one has the right to monopolize it. No one has the right to make it unfit for others (pollution). No one has the right to deny it to others (diversion, damming). I have no problem with people offering a service and charging for it, but I do have a problem with someone taking and controlling something that should be freely available to all.

I like walking. I used to walk a lot – more than 10Km per day. Now, I’m lucky to get 2 or 3Km in. The night was cool, crisp and refreshing, without bite or bitterness. I wore a long sleeved shirt, a vest and a light jacket. I really didn’t need the jacket because I don’t think it was below 10C last night, but, since I had it on, I just left it open. There was a soft undulating breeze, gently teasing me with the fragrant aromas of hardwood fires burning in fireplaces. Smells stimulating comforting and reassuring memories of home and family, of happiness and joy – not unlike the aroma of fresh baked bread in the morning, gently teasing you from a restful slumber with the reassurance that life is a glorious celebration of love, peace and harmony. The gentle breezes tickled the leaves, caressing them, exciting them, filling the air with cheerful rusting. There is something different about rustling leaves in the Fall. The sound is filled with the mature confidence of a full and well led lif...

Shamelessly copying a quiz I found on My Imperfect Offering . Pretty much what I would expect, high on the internal characteristics, low on external interfaces. You scored as Intrapersonal . You prefer your own inner world, you like to be alone, and you are aware of your own strengths, weaknesses, and feelings. You learn best by engaging in independent study projects rather than working on group projects. People like you include entrepreneurs, philosophers and psychologists. Intrapersonal 100% Logical/Mathematical 89% Verbal/Linguistic 79% Visual/Spatial 79% Bodily/Kinesthetic 39% Musical/Rhythmic 39% Interpersonal 29% The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences created with QuizFarm.com Commentary: Intrapersonal: 100% - sure, I am highly self-reflective and constantly analyze myself, life, the universe and everything. Logical/Mathematical 89% - I like to think so. Verbal/Linguistic: 79% - I can read and occasionally cobble together some words in a semi-articulate manner. Visual/Sp...

I am a non-conformist. It has been that way since I was a child. Some examples from kindergarten: (1) I talked back to my teacher (says so on my report card) (2) I argued over the need for nap time. I was not tired, I did not want to nap. (3) I would not follow directions because I saw no point to them. I constantly questioned why I had to follow prescribed patterns. You know the exercise, there will be a string of shapes: circle, square, triangle, and star which repeated. Then you would be told to colour it in a particular way: yellow star, green square, blue triangle, red star. Why? I want to colour it my way. I followed the pattern for the first four, now I want to explore my own pattern. Same with copying patterns of stars, circles, squares, and triangles (and why couldn’t I throw in rectangles and squiggly shapes?) This is not to say I was a troublemaker. I was (and am) not. I simply don’t follow instructions and fall into line like a good citizen should. A former boss of mine (th...

Is the way a philosophy professor in college tried to entice me away from electronics to philosophy. My answer was that I didn’t really care about money (hah! Can you say young, idealistic, fool? Actually, I’m not any different these days, just older - though, I'm still waiting for the wisdom that comes with years). Sometimes I think I should have studied philosophy instead. I’m not sure how hard or easy it is to be a philosopher, but at least I could spend my day asking questions and being paid for it. There are two things I crave: stability and change. I need to have a secure quiet place alone where I can recharge – it is the one reason I never did roommates. On the other hand, I am insatiably curious and need new and constant stimulation to keep me from being bored. My ideal job would be a jack-of-all-trades (that pays really well). If you have seen the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (a wonderful children’s movie that my kids love), I can identify with Professor Potts, living in...

It has been another blustery, cold gray, rainy day. The clouds break for periods, then the rain comes again. It is nice to watch the clouds being pushed across the sky. I like the view from my cubicle. I have the best view in the whole building. I have a corner, with two windows, overlooking a small watershed, with two nice sized ponds. In the spring and summer, I see Canada geese making their home and nurturing their young. The geese are gone. All that’s left are the trees, shrubs, reeds and the cold dark gray ponds. On very windy days – especially in the spring, I love to watch the surface of the ponds for the fantastic trails which skate and scoot and whirl across the surface - signs of unseen fairies dancing with euphoric abandon across the surface. They dance best in the Spring, jubilant at being freed of their icy bonds. “Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus Taken in Gatineau Park about 12 years ago.

The missus and I are currently enrolled in a program call “The Marriage Course” offered by Alpha International (don’t worry, everything is fine in the married bliss department – we have wanted for years to take such a course to help us refocus on our marriage, no point in waiting until the boat has hit the rocks). Lesson 2 is on communication. Apparently, the five bad habits of communication are: (1) jumping in and reassuring (2) giving advice (3) intellectualizing / spiritualising (4) interrupting (5) going off on a tangent I am guilty of all five. No questions asked, no argument. Apparently, the proper way to communicate is to: (1) pay attention and do not interrupt: let your partner finish what he or she is saying (2) put yourself in your partners shoes: put aside your own feelings and views. Do not ask a lot of questions. (3) acknowledge their feelings: reflect back what has been said. (4) find out what is important: ask “What is the most important part of what you have been saying...

Given that today is a blustery cold Autumn day, I figured I'd drag out my award winning chili recipe (it was in a three way tie for first place in my company chili cookoff) - but, a good thick French Canadian Pea Soup is good too (the kind you can stand your spoon up in or cut with a knife.). My chili recipe is something like this (I never know exactly because I always use approximate measures - my hand) - feeds a bunch of people: 2 medium/large onions 1 tbls garlic paste 500g (1 lb)ground lean pork 500g (1 lb) ground lean beef 500g (1 lb) ground lean turkey 2 tbls paprika (sweet not hot paprika) 1 tbls ground cumin (more or less, depending on taste) ½ tsp turmeric (it wouldn't hurt to add upto 1 tsp) ¼ tsp chili powder (this depends on how hot your chili powder is and how hot you like your chili) 1 tbls salt ½ tbls ground pepper 1 bottle (650 ml) Presidents Choice Mild Chunky Salsa 1 can (540 ml, 19 fl oz) red beans 1 can (540 ml, 19 fl oz) white beans 1 can (540 ml, 19 fl oz...

Yesterday was a day filled with pleasantness. While we should hold dear and cherish our blessings each day, the truth is that most days are like the others in their sameness - so blessing counting can at times be uninspiring at best. Yesterday, was one of those days when an abundance of happiness seemed to flood in. It started with me receiving a photo by e-mail of a dear friend whom I have not seen in 8 years. The joy of recognition was very strong because this is the only friend of whom I have never had a picture. Somehow, we never got around to taking pictures of ourselves and one another when we were together. Later, I managed to leaver work (in Ottawa) at 15:00, so I was able to pick up Jason and Tania from daycare (in Montreal). The children were overjoyed to see me - since the only day I pick them up is on Mondays when I am still here. Finally, coming home, there was a message on the answering machine from another dear friend I had given up for lost these past two years. He suff...

"Father? Mother?" Jonas asked tentatively after the evening meal. "I have a question I want to ask you." "What is it, Jonas?" his father asked. He made himself say the words, though he felt flushed with embarrassment. He had rehearsed them in his mind all the way home from the Annex. "Do you love me?" There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Father gave a little chuckle. " Jonas . You, of all people. Precision of language, please! " "What do you mean?" Jonas asked. Amusement was not at all what he had anticipated. "Your father means that you used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete," his mother explained carefully. Jonas stared at them. Meaningless? He had never before felt anything as meaningful as the memory. "And of course our community can't function smoothly if people don't use precise language. You could ask, 'Do you enjoy me?' The answer is ...

I missed you last night I woke up It was dark I did not hear the furnace fan I turned to see the time But it was dark I assumed a power failure I reached out to touch you But you were not there Maybe I had been snoring So you left me, to sleep with the children I fell asleep Alone I woke up again I reached out for you again Once more, you were not there I remembered ... I was in Ottawa You were in Montreal I was lonely For those who don't know (which is probably everyone - since this blog is not known by anyone I know - except Ingrid whose example inspired me to try my hand at it), Sofia and I work (and live most days) in different cities. I work in Ottawa (which is were I have held my latest job for the last 5 years). Sofia has been working in Montreal the past year. Distance between homes (yes,we have two houses) is 170Km. Travel to my job adds another 30Km. I work a 4 day week, so I can spend more time at home. The reason we are in this situation is because for the past few yea...

Interesting pictures of "motion" can be found here . They are all static images, but their construction forces the eye to perceive motion. Gaze deeply .... (It probably wouldn't hurt to listen to "Incense and Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock , either).

When the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies don't you want somebody to love don't you need somebody to love wouldn't you love somebody to love you better find somebody to love A few months ago, when my emotional state was bouncing around between low and very low, I was listening a lot to Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love". I would have preferred to be listening to Bif Naked's "I Love Myself Today" , but I was too apathetic to go find the CD. One of my problems over the past little (long?) while, is that I have been feeling acutely lonely. People do not understand. After all, how can I be lonely if I have a wife, kids, family and friends? It is a loneliness that longs for a kindred spirit. Unfortunately, I am not a typical person. There is no question that my vision of reality, my view of the world is unique to me. The problem is that I cannot find anyone who even closely resembles me. I can find people who share facets...

Today is Thanksgiving ... or maybe it is tomorrow. Anyway, we went over to my parents' place for Thanksgiving dinner. My dad asks me this question every time, despite the fact that I don't drink. Never have. Maybe he is hoping one day I will have changed. This is not to say that alcohol has never touched my lips. I do occasionally sample, but, all the alcohol I've consumed in my life probably would not fill two glasses. I have no idea why I never started drinking. Growing up, I expected that at some point I would be an adult and drink, smoke, womanize and gamble (or maybe I watched too many James Bond films). But ... somehow, I never felt the need or urge. Perhaps it was because peers who experimented with alcohol only consumed to become intoxicated. Maybe it is because I don't like the taste (although, I do remember once sampling a very sweet wine - probably it would be described as sugary - dry wines are absolutely the worst). Maybe it is because I never felt the need...

One of my favorite quotes from Seneca (the Stoic philosopher) is: Thank you for writing so often. I never get a letter from you without instantly feeling that we are together. If pictures of absent friends bring us joy, relieving our emptiness with a solace however insubstantial, how much more so are letters that bear the marks and signs of the absent friend, affording us what is so delightful about seeing him again – the sense of recognition. When I was younger (ok, ok, I wasn't that young, it was between the ages of 26 and 29) and had penpals, I would include this quote after the third or fourth exchange with someone. I thought it captured wonderfully my sentiment in establishing a correspondence with someone. The first time I ever used it was business related. I was dealing with a supplier trying to get shipping information on some parts I had ordered. After many unanswered faxes, I included this quote (out of irony) and lo! and behold!, I got a very sweet answer back in a few ...

My son is 4 years old today! If he were a horse, he would be full grown, but, since he is not, he is still my little boy and I can hug him, kiss him, and tell him I love him to my heart’s content. He is crazy about dinosaurs and can identify more than 20 of them. An interesting side note is that many children’s books which feature the fearsome T. Rex, actually draw it wrong. The T. Rex has only two fingers on each forelimb (not 3 or 4 or 5) – this is something Jason catches all the time (if it has 3 fingers it is probably an Allosaurus). We will just have a small family celebration. Jason didn’t want other children because, as he put it, “They will eat my cake!” [edited 08-Oct-2005. Added image of Jason with unspecified baby sauropod (I think it is a diplodocus)]