Not a bad day so far, considering I've already had a needle in my arm

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Went to get some tests done this morning, as per the doctor’s orders: first, an “upper GI series”, where they stuck me on this crazy table and x-rayed me a bunch of times while I drank water, alka-seltzer and some kind of weird pasty stuff; second, a quick blood sample. It’s all related to the heartburn I’ve been feeling pretty steadily for the past 6 weeks or so.

The initial tests were at 8:30, and I was done by 8:50. Hardly any waiting, very nice doctor, very cool screen where I could see my own esophagus working, whiz-bang and I was out. The blood test was upstairs, so I waited for a few minutes and then the test was over in about 30 seconds. Usually it’s impossible to draw blood from me; last time I had blood drawn they stuck me twice in each arm before giving up and going into the back of my hand. This woman, however, got me on the first stick and had a full vial in about 20 seconds. I kind of didn’t believe her when she said she was done. Anyway, two tests later and I was on my way back to work by 9:05. Can’t beat that.

The muffin I just ate tasted extra good, as it was the first thing I’ve been allowed to eat in 14 hours. I was also happy to see a sign on the doors downstairs telling all the jackasses to stop hitting the wheelchair button just because they’re too fucking lazy to turn a knob and pull.

[tags]medical tests, wheelchair button, lazy-ass bastards[/tags]

The New World

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Forgot to mention that we watched The New World (imdb | rotten tomatoes) the day we got the new TV. It was a great way to stretch the new system’s legs, as both the picture and the sound were so rich. While I had trouble staying awake through it, that wasn’t the film’s fault; I enjoyed it quite a bit. Terrence Malick’s style turns some people off, and he played fast and loose with the Pocahontas story, but he painted this beautiful picture of evolution and growing older, of leaving behind — sometimes painfully — one phase of our life to move on with the next. I’ve grown to appreciate Malick’s style a little more (I like The Thin Red Line much more now than when I first saw it), and the craft with which he tells stories is undeniable.

.:.

I also finally watched the new(er) director’s cut of Donnie Darko. I’m not sure which version I like better; the director’s cut explains more about what’s going on, but I like that the original was difficult to follow and made you think. I’m even on the fence about the song they use to open the films; the original used Echo & The Bunnymen’s “The Killing Moon”, which seemed to fit perfectly, but the director’s cut used “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS, which also worked surprisingly well.

I think I’ll have to keep both. I think that if someone ever asks to borrow it, I’d give them the original version first and let them see the director’s cut on the second or third watch. ‘Cause really, it demands multiple viewings.

[tags]the new world movie, donnie darko[/tags]

Foiled. By agents of SPECTRE, no doubt.

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We tried to go see Casino Royale today, but it was sold out. Drag.

The movie theatre was abnormally busy; at first we thought it was related to all the suburbanites who drove into the city to see the Santa Claus Parade [warning: WORST WEBSITE EVER], but that seemed unlikely as those folks were all pushing their strollers to wherever they’d parked their Caravans. It’s not that popular a movie (in North America, anyway); it didn’t even win the box office weekend, losing to a bunch of animated penguins.

.:.

The elephants are as mad as hell, and they’re not gonna take it anymore.

All across Africa, India and parts of Southeast Asia, from within and around whatever patches and corridors of their natural habitat remain, elephants have been striking out, destroying villages and crops, attacking and killing human beings. In fact, these attacks have become so commonplace that a new statistical category, known as human-elephant conflict, or HEC, was created by researchers in the mid-1990s to monitor the problem.

Call me insensitive, but I’m rooting for the elephants.

[tags]casino royale, santa claus parade, angry elephants[/tags]

Fun with Yam and Sharp

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A few things we found out last night while testing out the new TV and stereo:

  • Raptors games in hi-def look freakin’ amazing. The Lakers uniforms were so yellow it got hard to look at, and you could see every tragic after-effect of all that surgery on Dyan Cannon’s face.
  • The New World looks stunning on the new TV (and sounds equally stunning in surround sound) but not stunning enough to keep me from nodding off. Star Wars Episode III looks awesome too.
  • If I put the sub-woofer on anything higher than -5, the neighbours will likely kill me.
  • I can’t get the universal remote to control the amp — maybe the codes in the book aren’t made for this new model? — but I did accidentally stumble across the code to control my Soundbridge.
  • Speaking of the Soundbridge, even 128-bit MP3s streamed across a wireless connection sound brilliant on this stereo. The guy who came to set it up was surprised how good it sounded, considering what poor sound you get when you plug an iPod into a real stereo.

[tags]new tv, new stereo, sharp aquos, yamaha, definitive speakers, the new world movie, star wars episode iii, roku soundbridge, raptors, lakers, dyan cannon, hdtv[/tags]

The new cuteness

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I’ve decided to update the look of my blog a bit; that black & white theme was getting a little tedious.

I’ll likely replace that cutesy header image, and I need a new favicon, but overall I like it.

[update: cutesy header image replaced and old favicon struck; new one coming whenever i get my arse to it.]
[tags]wordpress themes[/tags]

Little swag, anybody?

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Now that my new TV and stereo are here, I’m selling the old stuff. If anyone in the GTA (who’s willing to come pick it up) would like to buy anything, the items are up on eBay as of today.

Everything’s in near-perfect condition. I take good care of my gear. I also have a Sony VCR that I’m selling, but the selling price isn’t even worth posting it. I’ll take $10 for it; if anyone’s interested, email me or leave a comment.

[tags]out with the old, in with the new[/tags]

Adverse to human health and happiness indeed

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The Bush administration has appointed Eric Keroack head of the federal Office of Population Affairs, which is responsible for federal family planning program and budgets. Dr. Keroack is also the medical director of A Woman’s Concern, “an organization that opposes premarital sex, contraception and abortion.”

My guess is that this is Bush’s way of saying “fuck you” to the Democrats, who can do little about this, if anything at all.

.:.

Making a Johnny Cash / Neko Case concert CD doesn’t make much sense. Then again, maybe it makes all kinds of sense.

.:.

If you haven’t checked out today’s Daily Dose of Imagery, you really should. In general, if you don’t look at that site every day, you really should.

[tags]bush, eric keroack, office of population affairs, johnny cash, neko case, daily dose of imagery[/tags]

The good, the bad and the hyperextended

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I definitely have a cold. Sore throat, stuffed up goodness. It’s not that bad yet, but it’s enough to be annoying.

I also seem to have pulled a muscle (?) in my chest last night while dismantling the TV/stereo equipment. I assume it was from trying to gently drop the 101-pound TV into the box; I actually don’t remember doing it. All I know is that this morning it hurts to do…well, anything.

On the plus side: I have the day off, I finished my stats assignment last night, and my new TV & stereo are being delivered today.

[tags]cold, pulled chest muscle[/tags]

Reasonable accommodation

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The Toronto Star asks the following question:

What to do if you’re a [Montreal] policewoman trying to take a statement from a Hasidic Jew who refuses to look at you, never mind answer questions?

Well, how about you treat them like anyone else who refuses to look at you or answer questions? Would it be acceptable for a citizen to ignore a black cop or refuse to answer his questions so long as the citizen is a avowed racist? Of course not. So why is discrimination somehow more palatable when it comes dressed as religion?

I suppose we could always ask gay people.

[tags]montreal, hasidic jews, women, police[/tags]