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Clock Mouse
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2171
I've fallen behind. Projects to be caught up upon, tight deadlines, revisions have all conspired to keep me from keeping this blog up to date.
Nonetheless I've made notes.
There was the Clock Mouse of a few days ago. Now I knew that after the roundups of the last couple of months I still had a couple of mice left, but I wasn't comfortable rounding them up with the weather being so inclement and all. I'd just grin and bear it until it warmed up then finish collecting and transplanting them.
But there was one that seemed to have made his home on the kitchen counter, admittedly a bit of a mess, covered with toasters, blender, tupperware, an antique slate clock I've been meaning to find a place for, ....
And I'd see it dashing across the counter, but somehow it would always hide whenever I got near.
Then there was the chewing sound. As if it was somewhere close, but I couldn't quite place where, and as I scoured the countertop I for the life of me would have sworn the mouse was in the clock. But looking around it it was impossible.
Finally the weather turns and I resolve to clean the last few of them up.
With my daughter we search for it on the countertop, I can hear it chewing, oblivious, then the clock chimes. The clock I haven't wound for years. Taking this as a clue, I go to move the clock and from underneath dashes a mouse. There is a tiny, 1/4 inch groove at the back, invisible unless you happen to be looking right at it, and somehow or another the mouse has slipped under it and made him/herself a home.
Now I clean out the mousetrap and bait it with fresh peanut butter and leave it on the counter. That night I caught 2 mice, within 1/2 an hour of each other. I walk down the street a block or so and let them loose in a vacant lot/field.
The next day I catch yet another - an older, scruffier one, I can hear it tipping the trap back and forth from my room. I wake the children and we take it out and free it.
I begin to think that maybe I'm finally mouse free. For three days, then finally another one peeking out from behind the stove. I've moved the trap, but he still hasn't fallen for it.
Religulous & The Examined Life
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 1802
A couple of films to note, nothing exceptional but I've been choosing films to inspire conversation with the children. "Religulous" by Bill Maher and a film at the Plaza entitled "The Examined Life".
Now the problem with these films is that they're "Preaching to the Choir". By which I mean that if you've taken the time to go and see them, chances are you're already sympathetic to the film makers POV. The very people that should be seeing the film - who might benefit from it's skepticism and humour, are the very people who won't go to see it.
That said, "Religulous" was amusing. I'd give it 6/10. Nothing new or particularly insightful, merely amusing.
"The Examined Life" - despite the hype and the fact that if you were going to see a film about practical philosophy you'd probably be predisposed to rate it highly, was as well somewhat of a disappointment. A few interesting characters, but somehow it felt like it just could have been done, well, better. Philosophy without action is nothing but speculation. And again, preaching to the choir, it's highly unlikely anyone went to the film and was even slightly surprised as to what it offered, and chances are most of the audience (when we went I counted about 8 other people) have already mused upon these themes. I'd give it a 6/11 - with points off for the very annoying philosopher they interviewed at the start of the film.
On this note I'll end with the idea that to reach their target audiences these films need to sugarcoat their plot and their message. Sort of like "Fight Club" or "The Matrix", films that have a strong component or central theme of philosophy and/or spirituality, yet on the surface were not "about" philosophy or religion. And as a result reached a much wider audience while still prompting conversations and debate about their "message".
Bryce Kulak
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Link of the day
- Hits: 1814
A little discovery listening to CKUA, Bryce Kulak, post modern cabaret singer and pianist. I searched for a torrent, with no success, which is just as well because if you were to support the arts this is a new artist worth supporting.You can listen to his music on his website - www.brycekulak.com. Or view a You-Tube clip here.
An unexpected absence
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2210
Apologies if you've been waiting for me to post. I'm not dead, although nearly, a few projects with short deadlines were won a couple of weeks ago and have necessitated the 14 hour days on the computer. Not, obviously, blogging.
My time is not my own.
Still I've found time to make a few notes, opine, as it were, upon even more topics with unpopular facts and opinions.
I should note that the difference between my opinions and facts is only ever one of interpretation. I generally get the facts right. The interpretation is subjective.
Met with a friend in Starbucks yesterday who had as well noticed my absence, we sit, catching up and exchanging thoughts on the imminent new world order, around us everyone has unfolded their MacBooks....PC's, apparently, are not allowed in Starbucks. I say this to a man next to us, but I think he believes me and is relieved that he made the right choice. "Whew" he thinks to himself. No sense of irony, or he simply refuses to acknowledge any sense of humour that makes him the butt of the joke.
Beside him there are two girls sharing a table, they would appear to be acquaintances, they each have their MacBooks open and are busy ignoring each other while they surf the net. Or, rather, who am I to say they were ignoring each other? Quite possibly they were in a heated conversation, messaging each other about the cute guys waiting in line for their coffee's, the ones who like to bath and use soap and deodorant and fancy cologne.
This is what the world has come to.
I've started to believe my little confabulation, even more so as my companion is taking it seriously, and I start to wonder about the lonely girl at the end on her PC, "They should throw her out...." I think to myself; "That isn't Starbucks at all....".
It's good to get out, however briefly. Now there are new projects, but I have an abundance of notes to transcribe and so the updates here will be somewhat more frequent.
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