Monday, October 31, 2011

Not X Nor Y: Generation Catalano? by Rebekah Hakkenberg


This is the single most RIGHT ON thing I have ever read about my "in-between" generation:

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Dark Beauty by Rebekah Hakkenberg

I am not Ana
Kate Pugsley

Sunday Songs: Nightmare on My Street by Rebekah Hakkenberg


This is the ultimate Halloween mix.
Follow the link for the tracks listed below, and in the meantime enjoy a couple of old school videos (I tried, but couldn't find a vid for Nightmare On My Street anywhere.)
Found vie the Hairpin, my source for all things awesome, always.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Shameless Pug by Alex Snider

I can't have been the only person who misread the title of Rebekah's last post, Shameless Plug, and was vaguely disappointed (sorry, Dave!) when I clicked the link and there were no hilarious pugs to be found. And I don't even like pugs! Then I complained and now Rebekah's got me hooked:

Shameless Plug by Rebekah Hakkenberg

Hey friends, if you've got a second today, please go to canadasnexttopcomic.com and vote for this guy: Dave Merheje* (Toronto, 2nd night) Why? Because he's got a serious beard (and he's pretty funny, too!) Voting closes on Oct 31st, so do it now, and share this with everybody you know!

Get Your Swim Cap On With Creepy Puppets Posted by Rebekah Hakkenberg

Monday, October 24, 2011

A Fine Whine by Alex Snider

I'm having one of those days. Everyone obviously hates me. I'm obviously a huge failure. And I've never even seen the mouse (Gus-Gus) that lives in our living room. Basically everything is terrible. }: (

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Migraines and Me: Part Two by Alex Snider

One of the biggest hurdles I've faced with migraines has been my own perception of them. Similar to the stages of grief, I've had to face down shame, blame, guilt, depression, frustration, denial and anger to get to a place of relative acceptance. It wasn't necessarily in that order, and I've not necessarily left any of those unhelpful emotions behind but more and more acceptance is dominating.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

MIND-BLOWING NEWS Discovered by Alex Snider

OMAR LITTLE IS THE COP IN TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET.

Can't Stop Listening to: Styles and Pharoahe Monch Posted by Alex Snider

Jerkwads of Occupy Wall Street by Alex Snider

There's a lot of Internet discussion on whether sexist, objectifying video and Tumblr Hot Chicks of Occupy Wall Street is sexist and objectifies the women featured. Most women and feminists and some guys are in agreement that yep, a video which reduces women to pretty faces is misogyny at work.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Friday Fiction: Comparative Lit 101 or If You Loved That You'll Love This or The Ouroburos Post by Alex Snider

I have this fantasy where I'm hanging out with some of my favourite American authors: James Dickey, Cormac McCarthy, Robert Penn Warren, Wallace Stegner, Ralph Ellison, John Steinbeck and Flannery O'Connor. William Faulkner would probably be there, too, but only because the rest of them are all of a certain school of writers and he was kind of the godfather of their movement. We'd be in a bar, most likely, given the number of drinkers in the group (although several of them would probably feel better around a campfire in the mountains) and the probable need for social lubricant. Wouldn't want it to just be a lot of awkward silences while Warren and Ralph, BFFs, whispered amongst themselves.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Zachary Quinto: Even More Awesome by Alex Snider

Zachary Quinto has just come out publicly and written this really lovely piece about the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer and so many other young LGBT people and his own pledge to "live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action".

A Problem I Just Faced by Alex Snider

This morning was my turn to run out and get coffee and breakfast for Rebekah and I so like the classy dame I am, I just pulled on a pair of jeans (ugh, don't you hate pants?!) and threw on one (!) of my leopard print coats. (*side-note* I absolutely love these coats and they kind of keep my self-esteem afloat all spring, winter and fall – goddamn summer. I got my first one 7 years ago when few other people were wearing them other than really old ladies and toddlers, which I kind of loved, and now they're all over the place which is also really cool because they are so incredibly amazing and everyone, everyone, should have one! Also, Mischa Barton was once on SVU playing sex-worker and she had auburn hair and was wearing a leopard print coat, coloured tights, red lipstick, floral-patterned dress and heels. Incidentally I had worn almost the exact same thing that day. Although much nicer shoes. /end side-note) This left me with a predicament: which shoes to wear.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

10 Things I Learned in First Aid Training by Rebekah Hakkenberg

1. Be very careful who you sit next to on the first day.
Seriously. Choose wisely. Because that person is going to get to know you very intimately by the end of this. Don't choose the lady who will show no respect for your need for personal space (I'll show you where she touched me if you bring me a doll).

John Cale: 'Catastrofuk' Posted by Rebekah Hakkenberg

What's this? A new video from John Cale? And it's directed by his daughter, Eden? And it's really weird? Cool. Has this helped soften the blow after learning that my musical heroes Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore have split? Not really, no.

Going Carrie Bradshaw on All Your Asses (in the first sentence then I swear I'm done) by Alex Snider

So much better than a picture of a snake. Heehee. 
Last night as I lay in bed, listening to the electric guitar player guy on the corner (yes, it's an electric guitar, not a bass – will revoke whatever's left of my baby music nerd status pronto) I found myself thinking, what would I do if there was a snake in my apartment? Specifically, my room? More specifically, my bed? (I'm not speaking metaphorically although god knows I've been there! Have I? I don't know...)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

A Win for Battered Woman Defense by Alex Snider

Barbara Sheehan of Queens was found not guilty of killing her husband, a former police sergeant. She had survived 24 years of physical and emotional abuse before shooting him 11 times. The verdict is monumental for battered woman defense and for domestic abuse activists in general when so often domestic abuse is ignored or normalized. Hopefully it's a sign of changing times and attitudes.

The Moral Thanksgiving Post: Things to Keep in Mind for Non-Aboriginal People by Alex Snider

As I'm celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada, here are some things that I'm thinking about (rather things that I think about everyday but seem particularly pertinent on Thanksgiving given the historical context):

The Pleasant Thanksgiving Post: What I'm Thankful For, the Micro and the Macro by Alex Snider

The Micro:

My mum, my dad, my brother, my sister. Rebekah. My kick-ass friends. My family who's stuck around. The dance party I was at Friday night. Rebekah's family for being my surrogate family when my own is so far away (and for taking me in for Thanksgiving this weekend). My health and my mobility (stay with me, right knee!). My access to education. My bike. My apartment, howling pipes and all. Duggan's Number 9 IPA and Mill Street Tankhouse Ale. The sunny day. My brand new internship (!!!!). My friend Adam for publishing some of my work at his website Little Red Umbrella. Student loans. My childhood. The clean water that comes from my taps. Applewood smoked cheddar. Skype. Universal healthcare. The breeze that is breezing on in through my window right now. Leopard print. Paz De La Huerta interviews. Watching TV online. Really good writing that inspires me to want to write better. Really bad writing that increases my confidence. The Oprah/goat video.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Hilarious or Terrifying? Posted by Rebekah Hakkenberg



Rubber (2010) directed by Quentin Dupieux

Both, definitely both. And added to my Netflix queue.