Michael Schilder

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:34:27 GMT

and the winner for the most obscure spam of the day is...

Hello, 12662897758382

You have 83227044405954 now.

pora 726811482297726 pososat 313467 hui.
Best Regards 75803539181628 m 43767134686194

well...I am now filled with the desire to buy....um.....a cryptography primer?

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:50:40 GMT

Apprently, in the new TV series Caprica, the society will have both gay marriages (apparently Adama's uncle will be married to a same sex partner), and group marriages (with an unspecified "positive example" of such showing up in the first couple of episodes). So says a (mostly) spoiler free review of the first 2 episodes. The society is also polytheistic (but anyone who watched BSG knew that already).

While that carries the slight danger of the show being preachy on an anti-conservative level (which I don't want), I do look forward to seeing if they treat the alternative relationships fairly.

In other news, I BOUGHT ICE SKATES. I finally broke down, and ponied up for a pair of custom made skates from Bauer. They are on order (haven't arrived yet), but there is a chance I can go skating for winterlude in my own skates, THAT FIT! I haven't skated in over 20 years, but I used to love it. I am excited about being able to travel the canal in skates that fit well, don't pinch, and support me. In theory, since Bauer will keep the pattern on file, I may be able to leverage the custom effort into inline skates as well, but one thing at a time.

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:07:13 GMT

Got my rehearsal schedule for Urinetown.

Going to be pretty damn busy in a couple of weeks between that and ASL class. I am going to have to plan my gym time carefully if I still want to get any. Right now...Mondays are looking like my only reliably free day (weekend morning and evenings too). Slightly frustrating is that they seem to be scheduling 2 scenes on many days, when I am only in one of them. I hope that doesn't mean I am waiting around a lot.

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:29:30 GMT

Sherlock Holmes was a brilliant film. One of the most entertaining movies I have seen all year.

I'm 37 now. I think my brain has not caught up with the number. I still feel young. I still feel I have more in common with friends in their 20s. I do not feel 3 years away from being 40. I was confronted with the real number twice in the last week though, when I learned of 2 different gatherings some friends are going to, one for people under 30, one for people 35 and under. I realized I was ineligible to join either of these social gatherings. Bah I say. BAH!

Kids today. Get off my lawn! daggnabbit

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:44:07 GMT

Holy crap!

It's a skating rink out there. I had to walk carefully just to bring my trash to the pickup point. Drive carefully people. Better yet, don't drive at all.

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:35:15 GMT

Happy Christmas
If Christmas is not your thing, than
-happy sunny day
-perhaps happy family time
-happy day off work
-happy party season
-happy movie outing
-happy holiday baking

or whatever else makes you happy at this time of year.

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:21:07 GMT

First of all, Mexico city has legalized gay marriage
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-mexico-gays22-2009dec22,0,250742.story

Just the city apparently, not sure how jurisdictions work there, but it's still noteworthy.

Second of all, there are few things as bliss inducing as an hour long stress relieving massage. I realized my work benefits 2009 allowance for massage expires on Dec. 31, so I made an appointment yesterday, and I have another next week. Even so, I will still have only used maybe a third of my allowance under my benefits plan. I really need to schedule that better. I hope my RMT doesn't mind that I have no medical issue I am trying to fix, I'm just getting it because it feels pretty damn good, and Great West Life is paying for it (well, they don't cover my tip, so we'll call it a very inexpensive massage, rather than a free massage).

Considering I have no big plans over xmas, I am surprised how many little plans lined up to make the space between now and new year's pretty damn busy actually.

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:28:54 GMT

For those that missed B&B, this is Gaston's best song. Our production arranged it a bit differently, but this song isn't in the movie, so you may not be familiar with it.

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:10:51 GMT

Do you backup your computer?
edit: ok, I wish I made them checkboxes, I realized multiple answers could apply.
edit2: Sorry, I didn't want to imply by the last option you didn't know what backing up was. It was simply meant as a tongue in cheek way of indicating you don't do backups.

View Poll: Backup

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:07:04 GMT

Another birthday come and gone. I had a great day overall. I spent a good chunk of the day at a combo housewarming, gift exchange, birthday party. I even got a mocha cake made for me. I also went to go see Avatar.

Oh-my-god. That movie blew my mind. One of the most engaging cinema-going experiences I have ever had. Yes, it was mind blowingly pretty to look at, but it actually had a pretty decent story as well. The story itself wasn't especially revolutionary (and I have to admit, the mean nasty humans oppressing noble aliens is a theme that is strangely overdone this year), but it was well presented. My only criticism....I wish people would stop trying to put the bipedal piloted mech concept into sci fi movies until someone figures out how to make it look realistic and like it won't topple over the moment it lifts a leg. Apart from that, the movie is mind blowing, I haven't been that glad I made it into the theatre in a long time.

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:20:41 GMT

ASL level 4 - registration complete.

Someone come join me! (you know who you are)

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:43:00 GMT

I love you, you're perfect, now change.

I was treated to an outing to this production last night, and I thought it was great fun. It's a hilarious series of unconnected scenes exploring dating, sex, weddings, marriage, and gender stereotypes. It's just a 4 person cast, but they are a talented set of people. It's playing through until Saturday, and I enthusiastically recommend it (even if it is a little strong on the stereotypic models of relationships)

edit: WTF! I just got my first LJ reply that was spam, selling...not sure actually, but it was plastered with links, and an icon that was clearly a model shot. Anyone else get this before?

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:33:26 GMT

The princess and the frog will not go down in the annals of Disney classics, but it kind of cute, and adequately amusing. The music I found utterly forgettable, but the story is ok. In some ways it's nice to know that old school frame cell animation isn't dead, and that it can still deliver some nice visuals. I love cgi, but there is something to be said for that hand drawn look as well. They seemed to be trying very hard to counter the typical Disney complaints of racism and sexism, almost too hard sometimes, with mixed success. The inbred redneck stereotype is certainly alive and well, but I think the portrayal of the black population of New Orleans is fair, and the main character herself is a pretty strong character who talks a lot about the value of hard work, and pursues her dream which has nothing to do with finding a man, and doesn't compromise on that dream. She's also a little curvier than some disney princesses, not a lot, but a little.

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:30:54 GMT

Dexter finale

HOLY CRAP

that is all.

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:59:27 GMT

Well, Beauty and the Beast is done. It turned out to be a really pretty damn decent show. It wasn't perfect, but for a cast that size and age range, I think we pulled off a strong show. I really enjoyed the character of Gaston. He's not complex, but he's deliciously over the top, larger than life, and also nasty in act 2. I enjoyed playing off the energy of the woman playing Belle, and we had a fun kind of fake antagonism going on backstage. I loved seeing after the show all the various people I know that came to see me, I loved the little kids that came up to me asking for my autograph (so cute)...it was a good time all around.

Urinetown next. Very different company, very different show rehearsal style, different energy, but what a great show. It's going to be a blast.

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:19:11 GMT

damn, winter has really arrived hasn't it?

Last reminder...did you want to see me in Beauty and the Beast? It's running this weekend.
You can buy tickets online at http://suzart.ca/

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:39:02 GMT

Totally rocked my performance review at work. I am all that and a bag of chips apparently.

Woot I say, woot!

ouch, don't hiccup in the middle of taking a sip of hot tea.

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:20:37 GMT

Now *this* is a team Edward type t-shirt I can admire.

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:32:47 GMT

So freaking excited about doing Urinetown. Shows are March 18-20 and 25-27 (and possibly the 24th), please set aside a date now.

Listen, I *know* it seems to have an absurd title. I get it, if you don't know it, and you hear me say "Hey, I'm in Urinetown", that you're liable to think "Urinetown...like.....URINE town?". Trust me, it's a fantastic show. The script is brilliant, the music is amazing, and it's funny as hell.

Really!

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:34:42 GMT

Officer Lockstock-no dice

I am in the chorus though, small named part. I don't mind at all though. The chorus gets some brilliant scenes in this show.

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:34:19 GMT

I just finished reading all 4 Twilight novels. I figured if I was going to render an opinion on the books, even to condemn them, I should be able to say I read them, and know what I'm praising or condemning. Anyone summarily rejecting them without having read a word of them are simply jumping on a bandwagon.

First of all, a lot has been made about the abusive nature of Bella's relationship with both Edward and Jacob. Several people have posted a link to an excellent rant on the subject already. I feel I need to put that in some perspective.

Yes, the relationships in the books are incredibly abusive. The subject matter is rather scary when you consider how many tweens are reading and worshipping these books. How many kids are taking these stories, and modelling their romantic ideals on the behaviours they read within? That's a frightening thought. However, looking at it from a pure story point, ignoring who is reading the book, there is nothing wrong with having this element in a book. How many books out there are full of examples of abusive relationships, violence, rape, racism, or any number of other things I would never want anyone taking to heart in real life. These are fictional characters. They have a very poor role model of a relationship, but fictional characters are entitled to have those at the whim of the author. A Clockwork Orange is not a bad book because it has violent characters in it, if anything the brutality of the book is part of what makes it compelling.

As a fictional work, Twilight kind of benefits from the abusive nature of the relationship in that it engages the reader as a kind of horrified fascination. Now, it is in large part poorly written, with a lot of wooden characters, but that's just a flaw of the author. So, the fact Bella and Edward have an abusive relationship is not what I think should anger anyone, not in and of itself. The fact that hordes of tweens read it and think of it as a romantic ideal *should* anger people. The fact that the author specifically considers these kids her target audience, and therefore is willfully targetting them also upsets me. However, the actual presence of those plot points as ink on paper, is not what upsets me.

Now, there is one other controversial point I see brought up in a lot of forums

(spoilers ahead)

Jacob imprints on Renesmée (god what a stupid name). The 4th book overall was actually not bad. It had some stupid parts, but it some fairly engaging parts as well.

Ok, for those that haven't read it, Imprinting is a bit like recognition in the Elfquest series. An instant, and permanent bond to another person, such that they become the most important person you could ever have in your life.

Now, what has people in a stink, is that he imprints on a baby. People have associated imprinting with romantic attraction (the basis of imprinting was the mind recognizing a perfect genetic match). However, they actually make a fairly extensive point in the second book that imprinting only creates a bond of importance. The second book has a different werewolf also imprinting on a baby, and they talk a fair bit about how at that stage, the werewolf would naturally become like the best older brother she could have. When she's older, he's be like a caring uncle. When she is an adult (since the werewolf hadn't aged), the bond could likely become a romantic one. All along, the werewolf would naturally model his behaviours into whatever his imprint needed at that stage of her life. The imprinting actually would leave the werewolf incapable of doing anything that would not be in the best interest of the imprint's health and well being.

I have to say, I both enjoyed this concept in the books, and I like the fact that the author dealt with it with a character who was a baby. I found nothing at all wrong with the concept. There was never the slightest romantic overtone while the imprintee was a baby/toddler, the book contains no suggestion of it. Merely a familial love, very much like a caring older brother. The fact this baby sister may grow into (many years later) a romantic partner icks a lot of people, but I don't see why it should. It's important to remember this is *not* the same as an older brother or uncle seducing their sister/niece when they become of age. The werewolf doesn't age for one thing, and also instinctually sidesteps the harmful behaviours that could arise from a relationship with an older family member, remodelling himself into whatever his imprint would need most at that stage in her life.

Now, all that aside, I found the books as a whole to be a fairly lackluster contribution to our literary wealth. The first book was dull, the characters were wooden, Edward was a tedious and boring character (and continues to be so through all the books), I found the glittering vampire thing cheesy...ok, kind of moronic. I didn't find much redeeming in the first book at all.

The second book was a bit better. Edward was hardly in it, so that's a plus right off. The author explores werewolves in more detail than I expected, getting into their history, their culture, and while I hate Meyer's take on vampires, I actually quite like her take on werewolves. I enjoyed that part of it quite a bit. Bella seems to be a bit more human, and her relationship with Jacob was a lot more genuine, and initially, a lot healthier. Jacob turns into a bit of an ass later, but initially he's not bad. I also liked the idea of the Volturi, and sort of enjoyed their place (if I ignored that they'd all be sparkling if they decided to go out for a brisk afternoon walk).

The third book sees the return of Edward, so it immediately becomes duller than book 2. It also lacks what minuscule character development book 1 and 2 had. That leaves book 3 with pretty much no redeeming features. I liked it the least of all 4

Book 4....book 4 is a such a mix of actually kind of interesting plot points, and points that made me want to reach in and smack some characters around. The whole premise of Renesmée (hey, I merely smirked when I wrote that, no laugh...well not an audible laugh) I find a bit stupid. I know she's the central plot point, but I didn't like it. I wished the whole story could have been turned around to not have her. I did enjoy Bella's experiences as a new vampire. I liked that the Volturi came back, and we met a bunch of other vampires (and that they weren't all either goody two shoes, or evil incarnate, there are various shades of grey). I found the cornucopia of special powers a bit cheesy though, they hardly seem special when half the vampires have some special power or another.

Ok, this post was way bloody longer than I ever expected it to be.

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:24:34 GMT

That was a hell of a lot of fun! Sock & Buskin callbacks are a lot of fun. I think I did well, we'll find out in a day or two.

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:18:39 GMT

I got a callback!

Oh yeah.

I'll actually do the editing for my ASL assignment.....sometime. Sleep is for the weak.

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:56:47 GMT

All right, *if* I get the part I want in Sock n Buskin's production of Urinetown, then Saturday will rank pretty damn high on my scale of quality days. I did my audition for Urinetown at about noon, and it went fairly well...not amazing, but good. The last lingering traces of my cold, slightly dampened my vocal performance, but the role I want doesn't even sing very much, so whatever. I have not however, heard results.

I then dropped in briefly to dagibbs gaming day get together, where I was offered the BEST veggie samosa I have ever eaten. I was sufficiently impressed that half an hour later, I was at the grocery store where they were purchased, buying more. This samosa ranked as one of the days highlights, that's how good it was. I then met up with assorted people at Pub Italia for blinkus2000's annual ABTAB (Awesome Beer Tasting of Awesome Beers), and had some of the best damn beer I have ever consumed. I seriously need to get to that place more often.

I closed the day with the Orpheus banquet celebration for Little Women, which was fun, but not especially remarkable. The one cool point, is that the stage manager for the next Orpheus show (Tom Sawyer) asked me to be assistant stage manager, if I don't get into Urinetown. I've kind of wanted to do ASM again, so I was gratified to be asked. I wish I could do both (I really can't).

A pretty damn awesome day overall.

Sunday, after rehearsal, I got trapped by Hell's Kitchen. I swear, this was always the kind of show I mocked, I always thought it absurd, and then I got trapped watching the majority of season 6 which is entirely on Youtube. *sigh*

The next 2 weeks are BUSY (good thing theatre is fun). Beauty and the Beast is in the last 2 weeks, and going almost every day starting Wednesday, and I have to finish my ASL video assignment before that. I also realize, the B&B dress rehearsal is the same day as my ASL final exam. ARG! That was frustrating timing. I have emailed the teacher asking if I can write it the week afterwards. I wonder when the heck I'll be able to get to the gym in the next 2 weeks.

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:39:58 GMT

Dance routine: pretty good, forgot one move, but kept smiling

Reading: great (at least I think so)

Song: good, but I've done better. My cold is practically gone, but I think it left a lingering effect on my tone. Oh well, what can you do?

Audition for Urinetown...done.

Someone told me Goya is doing Lion King next year. Too many good shows!