I am *so* Amused.

Posted by DSAFIRE on June 20th, 2009

OK, first a little background.

Toronto and Hamilton are two longtime rival-cities. One, an old manufacturing city, that has been slowly crumbling into disrepair, the other an upstart attempting to ape the cultural and financial capitals of the world.

Currently, Hamilton is fighting to gain an NHL franchise. A worthy enough goal for a city attempting major recovery as the manufacturing sector dies all over North America. But a particular columnist from Toronto has decided to comment on this movement with the following words:

Dear Hamilton: You misunderstood.

When I called your city a “dump,” I meant it would be a worthy place for Toronto to send our garbage during the looming public-sector workers’ strike.

I mean, who’d notice, thereabouts?

Of course, this leaves me repressing giggles. Oh, Toronto, you are so goddamed cute in your big-girl pants, thinking you’re some kind of player in the grand scheme of things.

Now, I wont claim Hamilton isnt a city in crisis. There are some major issues that both are and remain to be addressed here. But Toronto’s egotism knows no bounds if it’s denizens really think this way.  Maybe it’s my New Yorker ego coming into play, but to me, TORONTO is the real joke. Hamilton is what it is, and doesnt make claims otherwise. Oh but Toronto seems to think it’s the Paris of the north. Which of course has me giggling again.

Paris, London, Rome, Tokyo… and yes dammit New York .  One could possibly include St Petersburg, Luxembourg, L.A. and Vienna.  These are cities rich in culture, history, art. Notice Toronto isnt in that list.

I admit to not spending much time in TO. To be honest, there hasnt been a reason for me to do so. To my eye, Toronto is just another second rate city, but this one has such pretensions of grandeur as to make it laughable.  Pot, meet kettle.

Silly little Toronto. Keep your arrogant yuppies, annoying hipsters and your “I’m the best” mentality. You remind me of my little sister during her most obnoxious pubescent stage, full of bravado and ignorance while slavishly aping whatever fashion will make you popular. Hang on to that darling little ego.

We’ll call you when we need a second stringer to fill in.

The EDAR

Posted by DSAFIRE on January 3rd, 2009

Coolness. chack it out here: http://www.edar.org/

*outraged*

Posted by DSAFIRE on July 8th, 2008

See this man? This is Charles Thomas Bolton.

Most folks wont know his name, but it’s important. This is the first man to offer up irrefutable evidence of the existence of a black hole. Pretty big deal. This man is considered one of the worlds leading Astronomers.

This man is sitting, crying, on the steps of the observatory he has worked in since 1971.

Because the University of Toronto has decided to sell it to the highest bidder rather than actually fund worthwhile research.

Fucktards. Bastards and fucktards. May their balls fall off and roll under a moving truck before their very eyes.

In the weird coolness category

Posted by DSAFIRE on December 5th, 2007

Ninja restoration team fixes Panthéon clock, gets arrested.

Article in The Guardian. Ok, so they werent really ninjas. But Ninja-esque? Stealth restoration team FTW!

Harlan Ellison on getting paid.

Posted by DSAFIRE on November 8th, 2007

Yanno, crazy as he sounds, he’s right.

Talk about getting noticed, about making contacts, about a foot in the door, but the arts really are pretty much the only industry where you’re fully expected to fuck yourself over. Almost *required* infact.

I wonder what would happen if every writer, every musician and actor in the world stood up and said, “Fuck you, you want my work, you pay me for it”.

Support the WGA strike.

Posted by DSAFIRE on November 7th, 2007

Check out the United Hollywood Blog. Keep your eyes on it, hopefully they’ll give us, the viewers (and Fandom in all it’s loud, shrieking glory) a way to get our voices heard as well.

Writing is work, like any other kind of work. And like any other kind of work, it has value. In this case, a value that never entirely disappears. How is it right that this value isnt reflected in pay to the creators?

Support the WGA. Support the Unions. It could be you next.

Whoa….

Posted by DSAFIRE on October 29th, 2007

I noticed this little mini-article on Salon.com- Pick Your Pretty Poison.

Apparently there’s LOTS of toxic chemicals in your makeup bags ladies. Including ones that are possible carcinogens and suspected of causing birth defects. Tiny amounts… that can interact with OTHER tiny amounts, and that can in some cases build up in the body over years.

Including lead. They’ve found small amounts of lead used in 33% of top-shelf tested lipsticks.

Among the top brands testing positive for lead were:

• L’Oreal Colour Riche “True Red” – 0.65 ppm
• L’Oreal Colour Riche “Classic Wine” – 0.58 ppm
• Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor “Maximum Red” – 0.56 ppm
• Christian Dior Addict “Positive Red” – 0.21 ppm

Pretty scary stuff. Check out the FAQ at The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics and Skin Deep: The Cosmetic Safety Database.

You wouldnt EAT things with this stuff in it, but you put in in your eyes and on your lips…

WHOOHOO!!

Posted by DSAFIRE on August 2nd, 2007

Finally today we hear from CIC.

Lee’s sponsorship approval notice and my “Approval In Principal” letter are here on my desk. So Im through the first hurdle finally, and have legal status in Canada again. We have to pay the rest of the fee, but from what I’ve heard, the odds are high of my final approval and Permanant Resident card being rubber-stamped through since Im just from the States.

Now we’ve been referred to the Local Hamilton office. I have to wait to hear from them, since they may decide to call us for an interview (I hope not, i’d be so nervous!) and will want my passport to stamp so I can offically “land” in Canada.

Slightly nervy as to what exactly the “decision made” notice on the eclient is. It may just be in reference to my AIP, or it may be that I’ve already been rubber stamped and they’re just waiting for the fee. I wish it was clearer.

PROGRESS!! At LAST!!

Sicko and chatter about medical care.

Posted by DSAFIRE on June 18th, 2007

No, I havent seen it. Michael Moore’s opinions dont really interest me. But it’s spurred a lot of talk about medical care in North America.

The Canadian system isnt perfect. Dont let Mike there fool you. (more…)

On the Destructions Of Coney Island

Posted by DSAFIRE on March 12th, 2007

http://www.myspace.com/saveconeyisland

Thor Equities, the company that has bought up most of Coney Island has begun demolishing the Amusement park.

For years they led everyone to believe they intended to revamp, revitalize and preserve the park, that they didnt intent to change use. Not that everyone believed them.

Now the nonbelievers are proved right. Thor Equities has been seeking zoning changes, in order to build timeshare and high-end condos on at least part of the land. The City has so far resisted, and in response, Thor has begun evicting longtime tenants and demolishing attractions on the site in an attempt to pressure the city into either giving them their zoning changes or having Coney become a wasteland of demolished and empty lots.

Apparently the Go-Carts and the Batting cages are already gone. Possibly the Bumper Boats too.

http://community.livejournal.com/newyorkers/2535724.html?view=24965420#t24965420

A protest is being planned for the near future. Get involved if you can, and help try to save Coney Island from these greedy bastards who want to destroy part of NYC’s cultural heritage because it wont make them millions of dollars. Remember what this kind of action did to Rockaway. Dont let them kill beachfront Brooklyn too.