I'm still here!

I swear I'm still alive more or less. The big move has been hectic and emotional. If anyone who reads this is interested in what I've been up to you're better off taking a look at Speedhero and Zombievrobot since they seem to be the only ones that get regular love.

Who needs three blogs anyway. Nobodies THAT interesting.

Back to my serious business.

Victoria Bombed!

Really?

There is no other reason to this post than my utter amazement at Christadelphians. That's a new one for me. Their beliefs seem to be standard, the bible is the word of God, it's 100% accurate and without error (that's what their website says anyway).

It's only frightening when you start to think about the bibles views on slavery, incest, homicide, genocide, unicorns, men commanding entire bodies of water, talking snakes, women being made of ribs...

No, I'm sure they're fine.

Right?

Victoria, finally.

So, I've landed in Victoria safe and sound. I'm going to leave it to a couple of pictures to really express the peace and joy my new surroundings have started to bring me.

I walked for 5 hours yesterday and another 4 today. I spent 20 minutes watching this heron work on lunch, apparently I wasn't a concern.




















I love it, I'm happy to be here.





















I've gotten to thinking that the best way to preserve my trip to Japan would be book forum, a photo book of all my best and most memorable shots. What do you think?

So slackerly. What with all the slacking and all.

So, I swear there is more to be said and seen when you go to Japan for 11 days. That being said, with my upcoming move to Victoria (Yay, 4 days) everything has been put on the back burner.

I realize I'm probably only explaining this to myself at this point but I'm fine with that. More Japan and more life will be committed to the interwebs for posterity very soon.

Intermission the second.

If you're not familiar with the film "The Devils Backbone" you may want to get informed.

Universal is developing a feature film based on the Spanish-language short Mama, from newcomers Andy and Barbara Muschietti. Guillermo del Toro is apparently in negotiations to produce the film and mentor the filmmakers, much like he did with Juan Antonio Bayona for The Orphanage.



The Muschietti duo are currently working on the English-language script, with the possibility of filming to take place in New Zealand while del Toro shoots The Hobbit next year. The premise is being kept under wraps, but the short reportedly centers on two girls, Victoria and Lily, who are on the run from a ghostly woman who appears to be their mother.

The "effects-heavy picture" will likely contain an "emotional as well as a horror element, since the girls are pursued by someone, who at one time was their guardian and caretaker."

I'm not sure whats going on with the size, but don't worry. Watch it NOW!

Source: www.upcominghorrormovies.com

Intermission

Not feeling very motivated, though this is helping...



If you don't know about Ronald Jenkees you should. Go nao!

Akihabara

We spent day two in Akihabara, after breakfast at Sukiyaki (Rice with raw egg, miso soup, salmon, pickled vegetables and fermented soy beans).

We dumped our baggage at the Akihabara train station and wandered the Akihabara electric town. Every niche and hobby is represented in this area, it's the Valhalla of nerds everywhere. It's full of geeky obsessions like every conceivable model shops, discount electronics and video games.


We found a 5 floor building devoted to retro video games, Quinn and I sat down to a game of Street Fighter 2 where he was soundly decimated.

We couldn't help ourselves, we tried, but McDonalds in Japan is very persuasive. I was beckoned by something called the McCutlet (Pork filled with cheese and covered with teriyaki sauce) and Quinn was entranced by a teriyaki burger (chicken with sauce, lame).

The afternoon became the quest for a map with even the slightest bit of english. Fail. It then turned into the day we found our new home.

SUZUKI SAMBAR DIAS!

Nippori to Akihabara

Now it would seem that everyone in the world knew about "Love Hotels", not Quinn, not Phil, not me, but everyone else. It's an interesting experience when three large white me wander into a "hotel" to ask about a room. We ask a price, the ask if it's two men and one girl, we say it's three men, they cross there arms in a big X and offer no more assistance.

It wasn't until the third stop that we realized why we were getting such strange looks. It was even later that we realized why two men and one women was acceptable. Yowza.

We decided to hop back on the train and head from Nippori to Akihabara thinking there may be more accommodations further into Tokyo.



As soon as we step of the train and into the wide open courtyard Quinn exclaims "I want to ride flatland here". We look across the massive area and spot a young man doing just that. We wander over and strike up a conversation, this will be one of our last English conversations (aside from each other) for the next week and a half.

We explain that were looking for accommodations so we follow him to the nearest capsule hotel. He mentions that there are also "relaxation suites" just down the street so off we go. There is no Canadian equivalent. It's like going to the nearest porn shop which also happens to have private rooms and a shower. You pay your fee to the overly excited otaku porn dealer and you can stay for 12 hours and you get 5 free rentals...pass.

We spent the night in the porn store. The night was restless, noisy and smelly (durp) but the shower was fantastic though I'm sure there was someone watching the action at all times, look for my DVD I assume it will be out soon.





Welcome to Akhiabara. There are better photos to come, that first night was a painful wash.

Japan April 9 from Toronto to Narita

I'll be blogging every banal detail of my 11 days in Japan for my own amusement and posterity. You've been warned.

We get to Pearson nice and early, with plenty of time to catch our flight. Sit down and have a meal with Quinn and eventually Rob and Phil at Coyote Jacks. All seems fine since we've already dealt with customs and baggage, we're all set to go. With our tickets in hand we head for our gate.

There was the first of many heart-stopping moments when Rob is reprimanded for a seriously underdressed group of travel companions they begin threatening to bar us from the flight. On further reflection Rob is sure that it's more likely good natured ribbing but at the time it seemed ludicrously serious. They adjust Quinn's seat and put him at the very back of the Boeing 777.

12 hours and a handful of crappy movies later we are setting down in Narita. Security and customs are quick and easy with the exception of having to find an address to put on our paperwork even though we have no idea where we're staying at this point.

It turns out Rob wasn't staying in Japan but actually just flying us over and then hopping directly onto the return flight, too crazy, it's not an easy trek.

While sitting in arrivals we met an English teacher named Adam. His parents were on their way from L.A. to China with a stopover in Narita so he'd come down for a brief visit.

Unfortunatley they ended up stuck on the plane so he made the long journey for nothing. He was nice enough to let us tag along as he made his way back into Tokyo on the train. We followed him as far as Nipporri before we parted ways and went to look for somewhere to sleep. Not the best plan...

Japan!

2100 pictures later and I'm back in Ontario for a little bit. I was lucky enough to travel to Japan for 11 days so there are plenty of posts to come.

Kampai!

How to fix a Monday morning.

Laugh yourself stupid!



Win!Win!Win!

Sticker Party! Come on, don't be so stuck up! It's going to be great!

And that has made all the difference.

This helped salvage an otherwise devastating day.



Thank you Jonathan Kim

One Week...Awwww, just a week?

So, for all the folks out there either tormented by or intimately acquainted with wanderlust, there is a new movie for you.

It stars Joshua Jackson as a young man diagnosed with cancer and the folly of finding meaning in a life with a time limit.



It started off strong with a healthy dose of dark comedy and I had high hopes for the movie in it's entirety. Unfortunately it couldn't decide what movie it wanted to be. The dark humor disappeared and the tone of the film rollercoastered the rest of the way.

The characters were likable enough that your heartstrings were successfully tugged but they fell flat since they managed to do nothing but gaze into space looking forlorn.

Overall the movie was inconsistent in acting, tone, humor, pacing etc. Save yourself some time and just watch "Into the Wild" again, you'll be much happier.

Backyard Adventure

I don't know about other people but I often get so wrapped up in dreaming about adventures in far off locales that I often forget there are things to see in my own area.

 

Mix two parts frigid water with one part large green dumpster. Shake well with ice.

 

The ice flow along the Grand River is one of those interesting things ignored too easily.

 

Discoquinn with his eye on the ball...rock. Rockball?

 

Just be careful. The ground isn't always as solid or not water as it looks.

Pictures that actually fit? Could this be?

Thanks very much Phil for the help, I will share the entire photo from now on.

You're living in the past, stop living in the past!

I didn't post about it then so I'm going to do it now. Driftmania, August 2008.

I've immortalized it with a musical montage. Prepare to be after-school specialed.


Drift+Mania+Toronto

Dorifto

All hail our new cyborg rulers!

Why are my pictures massacred?

I've tried everything and my pictures are cut off. Other people have none molested pictures why can't I?