My Thunder Bay

This is not so much a movie review, more like a reflection. I saw Guy Maddin’s My Winnipeg at the tail end of TIFF this year. I went to this “docu-fantasia” (as the director deemed it) without knowing what to expect and not having read up much on it. So my first impression was that of seeing a college film project: a pretentious free verse poem on screen. The first part sets the tone, then the film dives into the personal history of the narrator (Maddin, himself) and blends with tidbits of the city’s past. Part of me was worried that this stylized documentary would grow tiresome 20 minutes in; it didn’t.

What it did do was remind me of my hometown: My Thunder Bay. It describes a strong and desperate need to break free from a town trying too hard and remaining so cold. The kind of town where there are urban legends that, though embarrassing and possibly bizarre, you can’t wait to tell big city folk about. One that, if anything, is a safe haven for childhood memories that can never be so easily torn down like the local hockey arena or swimming complex. Despite wanting to leave that town at a young and fiery age, you yearn to have those memories rebuilt and relived.

This is Any Town, Canada.

I <3 Kat

True or False: You Are Tricia Helfer

Answer: FALSE - You are not, in fact, Tricia Helfer.

The Diva and the Geek

I'm a Frosted Mini-Wheat - the kind from the 80s and not that disgustingly catchy jingle that takes place at a tropical villa.

And what do I mean by that? Well there are two sides of me. I'd like to say one is healthier over the other but both boast their share of guilty pleasure.

I decided to engage both the diva and the geek within this weekend starting with a Madonna-centric dance party called Madonnarama. What can possibly suck about that? Though the party, which took place in a dangerously-at-full-capacity building, was slotted to go til 4am, I left early (early being 2:30) without so much as hearing a peep of the following songs:
Like a Prayer

Borderline

La Isla Bonita

Open Your Heart and
Material Girl (no doubt being left as the finale)

Yet Gambler was played -- top drawer!

My apologies for the horrible quality picture, there's just so much I can ask of a camera phone:Yes, that is Darko.

The next day, I put my geek face on to attend the SFX. By the way, if you thought I'm a geek (or even if YOU'RE a geek) FALSE! There are people who reign their geekdom with a mighty staff and 12-sided dice. I'm not big on seeing celebs though Adam West was there this year which prompted me to take my room mate with me (though we were unsuccessful). I usually go just to walk and browse about the comic book artists. This year I picked up some prints from an artist named Alana Machnicki who also does a comic called Corduroy High. Might have been the colours that attracted me - or perhaps it tapped into my love for robots and ninja cats:

The only thing that can top these is one giant picture of robots fighting ninja cats... or a robot ninja cat.

Umm, hi. My name is Clark Kent.

CURSED BLACK MAGICS!

Here is a collection of Superman/Superboy covers where Superman's mild mannered secret identity is jeopardized... repeatedly!

If You're Into It

Hiphopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros REMIX

See the original live performance!

God, I love work!

The Non-Existent Blog

I was in the middle of writing this blog for the FT website (aptly called Producer's Journal) when I suddenly realized I wasn't going to publish it. So instead it finds its way here:

About over a year ago, I was asked to work on a new series’ web site and I felt oddly proud to be part of that particular project. And the new series in question? Cycle One of Canada’s Next Top Model. A year has passed, and many things have changed or rather evolved: 1) the site for Cycle Two is probably one of the sexiest I’ve seen 2) the show stepped up its game proving to be more compelling and exciting than the previous year and dare I say, previous America’s Next Top Model cycles (oh no she dinnit!) and 3) I, in no way, helped or was a part of Cycle Two’s run.

And in doing so (or rather NOT doing so) I was not included in this year’s finale party. You know how our lovely FT producers are always blogging about the hottest parties they go to and come back with lots of sexy pictures and sexier stories? Well here’s my riveting blog about the finale party I didn’t go to :)

...

And then Rebecca won.

Monsieur Jacques "I'm So French"

Back from Paris and THIS is the first picture I post :)

An Open Letter to the Cake Thief

I did not send this. This came from the CHUM International Marketing Manager in an email to the building titled: An open letter to the cake thief...

Hi all,

Most of you probably already know this - but when you see a really big cake, with a MuchMusic logo on it, and a lid on it, and no slices taken out of it - a virgin cake, if you will - it's probably not a great idea to take a HUGE FREAKING SLICE. Needless to say, it's put a little kink in our celebratory plans with our channel format partners.

If you see food in the 4th floor CI kitchen, leave it alone unless someone says it OK. Thanks.

I’m Telling You for the Last Time...

I AM NOT A DESIGNER!

This goes out to my parents who, despite the past 3 years where I’ve told them I’m a content coordinator and had to explain to them what exactly it is I do countless times, think I’m a designer. I am not nor have I ever been a designer for CHUM Interactive. Please stop thinking and telling people I am a designer.

Also, please stop sounding disappointed every single time I correct you and clarify that I am not, in fact, a designer but merely a content coordinator. Seriously, it’s actually starting to hurt my feelings. I gave up my hopes and dreams of being a designer 3 years ago and haven't looked back.

Not what you think...

Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

Emma says:
Capers, Cauliflower, Casino Royale!
I think I want to find a "bears, beets, Battlestar galactica" reference for every letter in the alphabet
miVi says:
well that concludes my Tuesday -- i shall help
Emma says:
challenge accepted
Player 2 enters the game

You see the pattern. You can play along too!

-----------------------------

Aardvarks. Avocados. Arrested Development
Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
Cats. Cauliflower. Casino Royale.
Dogs, dandelions, death of a salesman
Eagles, enemas, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (according to Emma, "enema" may not be an edible fruit or vegetable or plant, it's just an awesome word)
Ferrets. Figs. Full House.
Giraffes. Grapes. Grey's Anatomy.
H
Iguanas. Ivy. Indiana Jones.
J
K
Llamas. Lemons. Love Boat.
M
N
O
P
Q
R
Squirrels. Strawberries. Saved by the Bell.
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

It was 40 Years Ago Today!

It was twenty years ago today
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
They've been going in and out of style
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile
So may I introduce to you
The act you've known for all these years
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

We're Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
We hope you will enjoy the show
We're Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sit back and let the evening go
Sgt. Pepper's lonely, Sgt. Pepper's lonely
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
It's wonderful to be here
It's certainly a thrill
You're such a lovely audience
We'd like to take you home with us
We'd love to take you home

I don't really want to stop the show
But I thought that you might like to know
That the singer's going to sing a song
And he wants you all to sing along
So let me introduce to you
The one and only Billy Shears
And Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!

Happy Birthday Sgt. Pepper!

Give this a listen!

A Softer World: Cupcakes

Flight of the Conchords

Flight of the Conchords follows the trials and tribulations of a two man, digi-folk band from New Zealand as they try to make a name for themselves in their adopted home of New York City. The band is made up of Bret McKenzie on guitar and vocals, and Jemaine Clement on guitar and vocals.

Here's the cross-promo with Entourage for their new show on HBO:)

I [heart] these guys!

Thumbs Down - the latest edition

Thumbs Down to the thief who stole a plastic slide structure from inside a fenced play area at the Kakabeka Falls Public School. How does it feel to steal from a bunch of kindergarten students? I‘m curious to know what you told your children, about where you got this new toy for them. And since we‘re talking about thieves, Thumbs Down to whoever found the full bottle of children‘s shampoo in the women‘s showers at Churchill Pool a couple of weeks ago and didn‘t turn it into the lost and found. I know it is just shampoo, but it was brought by the Easter Bunny to my four year old, and was adorned with her favourite Disney princess.
May 25, 2007

Thumbs down to the “two young men in a white Sierra GMC pickup truck who drove 120 km/h down the Thunder Bay Expressway with their heads sticking out of the windows Thursday. What were you thinking? What if an insect or stone hit you in the eye causing you to lose control of your vehicle? How many people could have been hurt because of your stupidity? I followed you for a while then backed off – but not before taking your picture.”
May 18, 2007

Thumbs down to “all you careless people who are somehow oblivious to the hot, dry, windy weather conditions. It is hard enough dealing with Mother Nature but yet as mighty as she is our own stupidity is still our biggest enemy. Use your head, and your ash trays!”
May 12, 2007

THUMBS Down to newlyweds who send mass produced photos with “thanks for sharing our special day” printed underneath. What about the handwritten thank-you note for the gift?”
May 12, 2007

Thumbs down to “the man who was wearing the strong cologne at Silver City at Saturday‘s 3:30 showing of Spider-Man 3! I had a headache through the entire movie and this man wasn‘t even sitting near me. I‘m sure everyone in the theatre could smell his presence! Have some respect for those with chemical allergies.” The same thing happened to a woman attending the B.B. King concert at the Community Auditorium Monday night. It was so bad she had to leave.
May 12, 2007

Thumbs Down to the south-side drive-thru employee “who got my order wrong and thought that they could adjust the cream/sugar levels by sticking their finger in the coffee and tasting it. Did they not realize that I can see them through the drive-thru window?”
May 5, 2007

I say, stand up straight boy, you're slouching

So I recently got back into writing and the character I'm writing for (he's an arrogant superhero chocolate chip cookie - what?) seems to be inadvertedly getting his mannerisms and speech from Lord Flashheart and Foghorn Leghorn. Their influence had slipped into my subconscious without me knowing it.

But he is missing the odd "I say" and "WOOF!"

Looks like an apple?

Tastes like a grape???

This one earned a double-take worthy of Val Kilmer's Ten Commandments the Musical!