hola. como ca va? Molto Bene!

I've taken French since grade 1 and I still can't speak French. Maybe one day I'll move to Paris and force myself to fluently learn it. Actually doesn't sound so bad... Baguettes, Eiffel Tower, Crepes, grumpy French people annoyed at my English-French...sounds good to me! In second year I took a full-year Spanish course. I really liked it. Now I'm in my fourth year and i'm taking Italian. Why you ask? because second year Spanish was on Fridays... and we all know that's not happening. Anyway, my point is, now i'm tres confused with my languages. Instead of knowing ONE language really well, I know a bit of all three languages now. Cool? Yes. Helpful? No.
I have an Italian test tomorrow and here are some random words that fascinate me. Italians are going to think i'm crazy, but that's ok.

Si Danno la Manno (they shake hands) - it just rolllllssss off the tongue doesn't it?
l'arancia (Orange) - don't ask
Cosi-Cosi (so-so) - it's just so cute
i funghi (mushrooms) - it makes me laugh every time I say it.
noiosi corsi (boring classes) - it rhymes... things that rhyme make me happy.

Okay, no more procrastination. Back to studying now.

One love

I like that I am away for school because it makes me appreciate how great Vancouver is. Now and then, especially when school gets a little bit busy, I get a tiny bit homesick and I remember all the amazing things I love about home :)

1) Wreck Beach Stairs (so tiring, but so worth it)

2) The scarves, bongos and crazies down at Wreck

3) Pacific sunsets

4) The Cherry Blossoms in the springtime

5) The landscape and mountain backdrop

6) The dreary but oh so beautiful weather

7) Granville Island

8) The Vancouver Public Library

9) Delicious sushi everywhere!

10) Summer picnics at Jericho with my friends

11) My dog Jemma lives there. Isn't she cuuuute?

Morning After Dark

For some reason...I really like this song. Dance anyone?

The Zolas

"The Zolas" use to be called "Lotus Child".
I absolutely adore the new name. These boys hail from Vancouver, BC and was our local, high-school-days music obsession. That was a while ago and they have only got even better ever since. Some of my old favorites include their songs "These Colors" and "Malboro Friday" and "Swedish Girl". Oh what great memories.
Think of a Beatles, Jason Mraz, Coldplay milkshake topped with fresh whip cream and a cherry on top. mmmm.

THE ZOLAS - The Great Collapse from Mitch Fillion on Vimeo.

Here is the link to The Zolas' Myspace

You have GOT to be kidding me

This was an actual PSA advertisement shown in the 50s. It's basically saying that all homosexuals are child molesters. It's called "Boys Beware". This is propaganda to the extreme. No WONDER why they had a sexual revolution in the 60s. Look at all this repression. Start at 3:40 for the good stuff.

Counterfeit Disney

We all know that China loves to make Counterfeit products- DVD's, Clothing, Accessories, Bags, Toys...the list goes on and on. But have you heard of Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing, China? The park has a similar castle like the famous U.S. "Sleeping Beauty" Castle. They also have characters that undoubtedly look like Disney characters. However, park officials deny that the characters are Disney characters. In fact, their "mouse" isn't Mickey, its just a really large mouse. hmmmm, something smells fishy. But I'm not worrying. I'm pretty sure Disney (who pretty much owns the world), is taking care of this immediately.



This isn't Donald Duck, it's just a really large duck dressed in blue!

Community Channel

This Youtube Sensation has been entertaining me ever since I discovered her in two years ago. She is hilarious. Take a look at some of her best videos. Warning. Very addictive.



Ok, I actually do the below sometimes- HOW does she know?

She has style, she has grace... wait, or is she a he?

"Katoeys” or “Ladyboys” are transgender individuals M2F. Thailand has over 100,000 “ladyboy” population who are often passable as women. With this large and open transgender population, “Katoeys” are considered a “3rd sex” within Thailand. I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty extraordinary.

Pattaya, Thailand annually hosts The International Ladyboy Beauty Pageant. Beautiful Sorrawee Nattee is crowned "Miss Tiffany Universe 2009". I know when many of us think of "trans" people we think of overly-dressed up individuals who are obviously masculine and have make-up caked on like clowns. Hows-about we rinse our minds, open up our distorted perceptions and blow out that ridiculous stereotype? Why you ask? Simply because stereotypes suck.


Nong Toom is a famous Champion Ladyboy Thai Boxer. Toom started fighting as a male and was eventually disqualified for being a female. Check out the National Geographic video below:

UNFRIEND

This is absolutely amazing:

"Unfriend, a term from the world of social networking, has been chosen word of the year by the Oxford American Dictionary. It is defined as a verb that means to "remove someone as a friend on a social networking site such as Facebook.""

Click here to read the article

Security check ????

So, I know we have all experienced the "security check"...and i'm pretty sure we've all experienced the..."what on earth does this say" when trying to pass the "security check". OK, is it me, or WHY do internet sites try to make it as IMPOSSIBLE as they can for you to understand what on earth you are suppose to copy? Below are an assortment of annoying security checks. For instance...

What the heck is "ALICE WHIMPERS" ?? or is that what it says because i can't actually read it.






OK, this has to be my favorite..."shiloh wi-what?!"


I think everyone should make their next "Security Check" their "Stripper Name". Right now, mine would be "Alice Whimpers". Great. Now what's yours?

Lovely Day

Everyday is a lovely day when i'm listening to Jason Mraz. Watch his art in action below on the streets of Paris. Despite the fact he's saying "sans une belle journée" which means, "without a lovely day" instead of "c'est une belle journée" -which i'm pretty sure he is trying to say... it's still pretty cool. If you know french, suspend disbelief and pretend he's saying the right thing :)

fish

Hey Ocean! you totally get me. Up and coming band from Vancouver, Check out the new video "fish" below on Youtube.

Bread Shoes

I'm Pretty sure these are the BEST inventions of life. Apparently, they aren't ACTUALLY wearable... But people don't care one bit because three of the "styles" are "sold out". They should invent real, fake-bread slippers with a squishy inside. I would totally buy them and wear them EVERYWHERE.







These ones are called "Minis"- they are children's shoes. Love it.



Want More info? Great Christmas presents? Click here to buy some Bread Shoes!

Confetti

My friend went to Osheaga - a music festival held in Montreal during the summertime- and I found this beautiful confetti image in her photo album. Wanted to share it. It reminds me of Disneyland and the mickey-mouse-shaped confetti that is thrown around after the fairytale fireworks show ! Disneyland is seriously the land where dreams come true... it really is.

Super Dog, Come save me!

Remember when I told you about this? The man piggybacking his dog while biking?



Well, I was telling my friend about it the other day when he told me a similar experience. Apparently, him and his friends were just going about their day, when they saw a man biking by. A dog had his two front paws on the man's shoulders and his hind legs wedged in the man's back pockets. As the anonymous man and dog were biking by, the dog swiftly turned his head, acknowledged my friend's existence, and turned his head back forward as if EVERYTHING were normal. It's as if the dog was saying, "yeah? what? jealous?". I guess a little bit of attitude never hurt anyone. Anyway, the best part of the story is, not only was this talented dog riding on the back of the bike but IT WAS WEARING A SUPERMAN CAPE... AMAZING? This dog really IS super-dog. I hope I see this man-dog couple around again. I would love to meet them.

Sacred River or Sewer?

Did you know more than 400 million people reside along the River Ganges?
Locals bathe in the river daily and perceive the river to be a sacred body of water- a link to the heavens. In 2001, for a religious festival called "Kumb Mela," over 30 million people gathered and rinsed their bodies in this historic river. The River Ganges is an extension and manifestation of divine gods.

However, this river is also filled with chemical wastes, sewage and feces. Over 40,000 cremations are performed each year along the river in Varanasi, and many of the bodies are not fully decomposed. Its a river swarmed with water-borne diseases from cholera and hepatitis to typhoid.

I find our perspectives on this river very interesting. Despite the danger of disease, locals still believe this river to be sacred- a gift from god. Westerners most likely believe the river to be an unsanitary dump/ sewage and would not dare to bathe in it.

Makes you think.

Raining stars

The last time I saw a meteor shower I was 11 years old. My dad and two brothers made a night of it. We got pillows, lied comfortably in our backyard and watched the sporadic falling meteors fizzling into the atmosphere. Tres romantic, oui? Tomorrow is the Leonid Meteor shower... 11PM-4AM is the best time for viewing. My friends are coming over to my apartment and we are going up to the rooftop with blankets and hot chocolate. Jealous? You should be.
So excited.

Cy Twombly

Love Twombly's artwork. My friend is doing an art project on him and told me about his work. I am infatuated! I think my eyes are in heaven. I could stare at a piece for hours. I wish I knew him... Maybe he could paint my apartment wall ?

I like

I like Jeff Wall. A lot. Ever since I saw his pieces at the MoMA two years ago...i've been in love with his work. He makes me want to go into photography.