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WALL-E is an adorable movie with a happy ending but . . . The first time I watched the movie, Wall-E, I remember thinking that we are becoming just like the people in the movie. We are sedated by media and food to the point that anything involving effort is no longer desired. Why struggle, when we can be happy just relaxing and eating and getting someone else to tell us what to do, think and feel? I don't have an answer. Just the thought.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Hidden Cameras are a Canadian indie pop band. Fronted by singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the band consists of a varying roster of musicians who play what Gibb once described as "gay church folk music". Their live performances have been elaborate, high-energy shows, featuring go-go dancers in balaclavas, a choir, and a string section. The band's first album, Ecce Homo, was released independently in 2001 on EvilEvil. It was after this first release that Gibb assembled a band and they began to perform in venues varying from art galleries to churches to porn theatres to parks. Since these early days the Hidden Cameras have played host to a number of notable musicians, including Reg Vermue, Owen Pallett, Laura Barrett, Don Kerr, Magali Meagher (of the Phonemes), Mike Olsen (of the Arcade Fire) and Maggie MacDonald. The Hidden Cameras are still active and just released a new single -- How do you love? -- and the video is available on you...
Do you prefer to do your shopping from home online, or are you out there in the stores, fighting mano a mano for the deals? I have never been Black Friday shopping. I hate shopping at the very best of times. I definitely do not do this. But when I do have to shop I try to go at off-peak hours. I do some online shopping but not a huge amount. I am a fan of lulu.com, kobo.ca and gianttiger.com. When I do get stuck in a mob, I try to keep a happy frame of mind. I try to remain calm. I try really hard not to elbow anyone in the ribs who gets too close to me.
Happy Publication Day to Deviant (University of Alberta Press) by poet Patrick Grace! Deviant traces a trajectory of queer self-discovery from childhood to adulthood, examining love, fear, grief, and the violence that men are capable of in intimate same-sex relationships. Richly engaged with the tangible and experiential, Patrick Grace’s confessional poetry captures profound, sharp emotions, tracking a journey impacted equally by beauty and by brutality. Coming-of-age identity struggles are recalled with wry wit, and dreamlike poems embrace adolescent queer love and connections as a way to cope with the fear and cruelty that can occur in gay relationships. Later poems in the collection recall vivid moments of psychological trauma and stalking and explore the bias of the justice system toward gay men. Collecting memories, dreams, and fears about sexual identity, Deviant makes important contributions to queer coming-of-age and intimate partner violence narratives. ...
Today's Journal Prompt: Fancy When was the last time you dressed up / got into formal wear? The last time I got all fancied up was when Hal and I participated in a Valentine's Day Vow Renewal sponsored by our local radio station. It was so much fun getting my hair done and make up and the fancy new dress. Even Hal went out and got a new suit. Here's what we looked like at the vow renewal before the reception . . .
Today's Writing Prompt: Salvage If your house was on fire, what would you grab and save before you escaped? Funny enough, I have given this question a great deal of thought. It started the day someone took down all the signs in our apartment building that would have warned us that there was going to be testing of the fire alarm system. So the next day when the alarms kept going off I know I wasn't the only one a little "concerned" by them. We quickly found out is was a test, but it made me start to think about what I would grab in the case of a fire or other emergency. On the lucky side, I am in a main floor apartment so I knew, unless the fire was in my own unit, I would have a few minutes to prepare my departure. I decided the things I would grab would be medications, coat and boots or shoes, a change of clothes, house and van keys, purse, a box of memories that could not be replaced and the external hard drive of my lap top which contains copies of all my d...
The Lower Grand River Land Trust Inc., now Ruthven Park National Historic Site Inc (RPNHS) evolved from a group of local residents interested in protecting the natural, cultural and heritage resources of the surrounding community. The descendants of Scottish immigrants, the Thompson family made their home at Ruthven Park in the mid 1840’s. It was here that they and their descendants would live and visit for 5 generations until the early 1990’s. In 1996 Marion Hartney, (an aunt of the two brothers David and Drew Thompson who represented the fifth generation of the Thompson family), generously transferred her ownership of Ruthven Park and associated lands to Ruthven Park National Historic Site Inc. (RPNHS)RPNHS Board members recognized the significance of Ruthven Park’s natural and historic values. The property includes 598 hectares (1476.6 acres) on both sides of the river and an island with vast areas of slough forest and wetlands. An 1845 Greek Revival 33 room villa , the f...
This is one of my favourite scenes from the movie. I had seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest many many many years ago so I decided to give it another go. I think even more of it now than I originally did. Jack Nicholson plays McMurphy, who wrangled a trip from the prison farm to a mental institution for an assesment. McMurphy was sure he would have an easier time finishing out his sentence at the hospital. I'm not going to state that McMurphy was or was not mentally ill when he arrived but, because of his rebellious behaviour, he was treated as ill. The end of the movie was so sad and yet so powerful. It does not surprise me that this movie won so many awards. Academy Awards, USA 1976 Won Oscar Best Picture Saul Zaentz Michael Douglas 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' became the first film in 41 years to sweep the major categories ... More Best Actor in a Leading Role Jack Nicholson Best Actress in a Lea...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hey Rosetta! was a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, led by singer-songwriter Tim Baker. They released four studio albums, five EPs, and one live album. On October 13, 2017, the group announced via a Facebook post that they would be taking an indefinite hiatus, which persists as of 2025. The origin of the band's name is the Rosetta Stone, a stele inscribed in three languages: Egyptian language hieroglyphs, Demotic, and Ancient Greek—discovered in Egypt in 1799. In 2005, Tim Baker brought together a group of musicians to record songs he had written. This included Adam Hogan on electric guitar, Josh Ward on bass, and Dave Lane on drums. After a few rehearsals, the band added cello and violin players and arranged their first show, choosing the name Hey Rosetta! Within a matter of months, the band had recorded and self-released a demo, simply entitled EP, consisting of four studio songs as well a...
1 medium cabbage, chopped and spread on cookie sheet. 1 tbsp salt sprinkled over cabbage. Let stand one hour. Squeeze juice out by hand. Chop up celery, carrot, pepper, etc and add to cabbage. Mix together 1 cup white vinegar, 2 cups white sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp celery seed and 1 tsp mustard seed. Boil one minute. Let cool. Pour over cabbage. Place in bags and freeze.
I cooked this dish for supper tonight and it was DELICIOUS!!!!! 6 small potatoes, whole or halved 1 red onion, cut into 2 cm pieces 1 yellow or red sweet pepper, seeded, then cut into 2 cm squares 3 Italian sausages, cut into 2 cm pieces 2 tsp olive oil salt & pepper to taste Preheat the oven to 425F. Generously oil an oven-proof dish. Prepare the vegetables and cut them into uniform pieces. Put the pieces in the dish then coat them thoroughly with the oil. Add the sausage and season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast in the middle of the oven until the potatoes are fork-tender and golden-coloured, about 30-35 minutes. Stir once halfway through the roasting time. Makes 2 servings. This recipe is from www.soscuisine.com
Happy Publication Day to Susan Wadds’ debut novel, What the Living Do! (Regal House Publishing) With equal measures of compassion and bite, What the Living Do plumbs the twisted depths of survivor's guilt and childhood trauma to grapple with the question of self-worth. More about the book: Sex and death consume much of thirty-seven-year-old Brett Catlin's life. Cole, ten years her junior, takes care of the former while her job disposing of roadkill addresses the latter. A cancer diagnosis causes her to question her worth, suspecting the illness is payback for the deaths of her father and sister. Thus begins a challenging journey of alternative healing that she doubts she deserves. Just as Brett surrenders to the prescribed cure, a startling discovery sends her on a more profound exploration of cause and effect. Encounters with animals, both living and dead, help her answer the question: who is worth saving? About Susan Wadds: Winner of the Writer’s Union of Canada’s Prose Cont...
1 cup soft butter 1/2 cup sifted icing sugar 1/4 tsp salt 3 tbsp finely chopped ginger 2 cups of flour Mix by hand. Put in ungreased 8" square pan. Bake at 300F for 60 minutes. My mom made these cookies for a recipe swap last year and I really enjoyed them. That is saying a lot because I'm not really fond of ginger.
Built by the free labour of its own congregation with stones gathered from nearby fields, the Paris Plains Church was completed and dedicated in 1845. It is a fine example of a type of cobblestone construction seldom found elsewhere in Canada. An American stonemason, Levi Boughton, was responsible for introducing this type of construction to the area. In 1835 Boughton and his wife, Sida Mann, moved to Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Three years later they settled in nearby Paris Plains. Boughton was a busy Baptist, businessman, and father of 16 children. According to historical records, he did quite well for himself professionally. In addition to his success as a sought-after builder, he owned 4 houses. Over two decades in the mid- to late 1800s he decorated Paris’ streets with the unique building style not seen elsewhere in Ontario. These cobblestone buildings still stand in Paris today. The first minister, the Rev. John Law, served from 1845-47, and the church remained active in the...
. . . perfect for broccoli and cauliflower. 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese salt and pepper to taste Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; whisk flour into butter until smooth. Pour milk into butter mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Cook and stir until mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Add cheese and stir until cheese is melted, about 3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
LOVED IT !!!!!!!!! I forgot to put the lemon juice in so I don't know if that would have made it even better or not. From soscuisine.com . . . Preparation 5 min / Cooking 5 min 220 calories per serving Ingredients 1 tbsp butter, unsalted 1 tbsp sugar 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed 2 bananas 2 scoops vanilla ice cream Method Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sugar and stir, using a wooden spoon, until the sugar is slightly caramelized. Add the lemon juice and cook 2 min with stirring. Slice the bananas crosswise on a bias and add them to the skillet. Sauté 3 min over high heat, turning them once. Portion out the bananas onto individual plates, add the ice cream on top and serve.
Tuesday is cheap night at the movies so I went with Mom, Connie and Charlotte to see The Help . Krista and John were there too but in the back rows somewhere probably smooching since they were still very much newlyweds at the time. Guess what? The movie was good. Not quite as good as the book, of course. But it was very good. I would definitely go to see it again on another cheap night at the movie theatre. The script writers managed to pick out quite a few of the best bits of the book and put them in the movie. I'm not sure I'm happy with the way they changed the Constantine story line but for the most part it was very well done. See the movie and read the book. You will enjoy them both so much. Academy Awards, USA 2012 Winner Oscar Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Octavia Spencer Nominee Oscar Best Motion Picture of the Year Brunson Green Chris Columbus Michael ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hey Ocean! is a Canadian indie alternative rock and synthpop band formed in 2004 in Vancouver. As of 2025, they have released four studio albums and four EPs. David Beckingham (vocals/guitar) and Ashleigh Ball (vocals/flute) had been friends since sixth grade, joining with David Vertesi (vocals/bass) in 2004 to form the band. They ran their own label for many years, being represented by Nettwerk Management, and had overtures from Gene Simmons before signing with Universal Music Canada for distribution in 2011. After releasing the EPs Triceratops (2004) and Rainy Day Songs (2005), Hey Ocean! issued their debut full-length album, Stop Looking Like Music, in 2006. They followed it two years later with It's Easier to Be Somebody Else. In 2009, the band toured Canada with the Cat Empire and performed at SxSW. A year later, they again toured Canada and played several events for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In April 2009, "A Song about...
Quite delightful. Hal had a second serving and added a scoop of vanilla ice cream. He says this dessert is a real keeper. Another great recipe from soscuisine.com 2 servings Preparation 5 min Standing 10 min 70 calories per serving Ingredients 2 oranges 360 g 2 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/4 lemon 1 tsp sugar 4 g Method Cut the oranges into bite-size pieces. Put in a bowl, sprinkle with lemon juice and sugar. Let rest a few minutes. Toss well and portion out into individual cups. Serve.
I've renamed this "Tomato Stew". Delicious. Simple. Very filling. 2 servings 190 calories per serving 7 tbsp green-brown lentils(dried), rinsed and drained 1 cup My Mother's Tomato Sauce (recipe below) salt to taste It is not necessary to soak the lentils in advance. Rinse the lentils and pick out any small stones and debris. Cook them in a saucepan of salted water, about 20-25 minutes until tender but still somewhat al dente. Drain the lentils, discard the liquid and set them aside. Heat My Mother's Tomato Sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the lentils and cook 5-7 minutes, with occasional stirring, until the lentils are fully cooked. Serve with steamed couscous, steamed basmati rice or steamed brown rice. I served it with whole wheat couscous and it was perfect. My Mother's Tomato Sauce makes 2-1/2 cups 1-2/3 cup canned tomatoes (diced or chopped) 1 clove garlic 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1/2 carrot, finely chopped 1/4 stalk celery, finely chopped ...
I love this book! It is so totally ridiculously out of control and funny. I think it would make a great movie or situation comedy. Sylvia Mulholland's Woman's Work will likely strike a chord with any woman who has juggled family, career, and home ownership and wondered in the process whether a course in time management might be not only helpful but essential. Mulholland, a Toronto lawyer and frequent contributor on women's topics to The Globe & Mail's Facts & Arguments page, knows of what she speaks. The novel is in many respects unapologetically autobiographical. Claire, the novel's protagonist, is a lawyer too. Her husband, like Mulholland's, is a plastic surgeon who used to play semi-pro hockey in Sweden. Fortunately, in this particular novel, the personal experience is put to good use. The plot is rather simple. Claire is thirty-nine and married to Ben, who is seven years younger. After giving birth to her son Harry, she returns to work but not wi...
This was our supper one Saturday night: Garden Salad, Cabbage Soup, Green Lentil Stew with a Tomato Sauce, and Apple Compote. Here's the dessert recipe: 7-1/2 apples 1/1-4 cup water 1/4 cup sugar (optional) Cut the apples into quarters without peeling them. (I peeled 8) Put them in a saucepan. Pour 1-2 cm of water in the bottom of the saucepan and add sugar. Cover and cook over low heat about 10 minutes, until the apples are softened completely. Puree the apples using a food mill. Let the puree cool down and serve cold or at room temperature. (I left the apple quarters whole; didn't puree them) A lovely light dessert; a perfect end to the meal. www.soscuisine.com