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Leonard Cohen - The Contest
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2239
Cheered on by my early victory in the Safeway contest I've developed a little taste for contests. Another Safeway contest, another Lagostina Cookware set. Which I'm going to keep, as having won 2 Lagostina Cookware sets seems like a bit much of a coincidence. I was trying to win a hoover, or an electric toothbrush, or a trip to Vegas or a Diamond Tennis bracelet, but the cookware set it is.
There's another contest. Now this is a win or lose contest, but I have a theory, maybe a 20 or 30% chance of winning if I use this theory, VS a .0001% chance if I don't, so it's worth it, and besides there is some joy and redemption in proving a theory. And the contest, this contest I'm entering, the prize is worthwhile. Tickets to see Leonard Cohen. I'd like to see Leonard Cohen. More importantly, I'd like my child to see Leonard Cohen. But I'm looking for bigger contests. Free contests, as contests where you have to buy tickets aren't contests, they're lotteries. Contests where you stand to win a house or a car, as I could use a house or a car. Or groceries, even. I could use groceries. I'm a great winner, look good posing besides oversized novelty cheques, jump up and down and look excited and gush "I never thought it could happen to me..." when I win....
The Red Balloon
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 1678
The children this weekend past, and in an effort to improve them and find constructive ways to pass the time I showed them "The Red Balloon" by Albert Lamorisse. Now don't follow the links and Wiki it, it will destroy the surprise. A charming - or as the boy punned - "Uplifting" film about a little boy and his balloon. Short, only 30 some odd minutes, visually spectacular (esp. given it was filmed in 1956 - Paris), appropriate for all ages. Treat your kids to something not by Disney, in Calgary you can rent it at Bird Dog Video.
The Moth - Riveting Listening
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Audio & Podcasts
- Hits: 1642
Listening to stories from "The Moth" - riveting and fascinating narratives from all & sundry. Funny, sad, thoughtful, inspiring, they're all there.
Listen here: http://www.themoth.org/listen.
OR, if you've listened to them all and have a need to listen to some more, listen further here: http://odeo.com/channels/2105685-The-Moth-Podcast or here: http://castroller.com/podcasts/TheMothPodcast
The Exorcist Remixed
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Dreams
- Hits: 1920
I've somehow made the decision to show "The Exorcist" to my 12 year old boy. I've glossed over the girl-crucifix scene, I can just ffwd it or cover his eyes when we get there.
We, he or I, are in a village on top of a small mountain or large hill. It's a beautiful sunny evening, that warm, sad light of evening. And there's about to be a flood. The kids are just leaving school, and the water comes rising over a lip at the end of the street, rising and everything is being swept away. I'm in the flood, hauling children out to higher ground, feeling around for them with my feet. I find a couple of things of laundry detergent, I was carrying them and lost them, it seems stupid now, unimportant, but I take them out as well and carry them to the banks.
The flood is rising, and I keep going into the water, into the street, to look for people, but I'm not finding anyone. SO I go up the sidestreet, there's a large burgundy SUV, the boys' father is riding around in it through the countryside, telling the boy that he's just gotta sort things out, he's gonna get a jeep, the boy can have the old stationwagon. And I wonder why the mainstreet has flooded when, from here, looking around, we're the highest point in the countryside, nothing else is flooded, the water must have run uphill to the village.... It really is a beautiful evening, golden rays of light through dark and broken cumulus clouds, a perfect moment that fills me with sadness that it can't last forever....
And I think to myself "This is just like the movie, just the way I remembered it....."
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