An Amazing Discovery

I have found the COOLEST website. Head over to www.pandora.com, and type in the name of your favorite musical artist. Go ahead, try it. The website will start streaming songs for you to listen to, which are similar in quality to the artist you love. You can tell them "yes, this is great!" or "no, this isn't what I had in mind", and they'll adjust the stream accordingly.

For example, I typed in Oasis, one of my favorite bands. The Oasis "station" began with Pearl Jam's "I Got ID", followed by the Verve "Slide Away", Blind Melon "Paper Scratcher" and The Kings of Leon "The Bucket". I heard a song or two that I didn't like as much (can anyone say Fugazi?) and they took them out of the station and played songs more similar to ones that I told them I liked.

It plays the whole song, top quality, and gives you the chance to buy the song on itunes. The whole set up is free, and you can create upto 100 different 'channels' to listen to.

AMAZING!

I've been telling myself for a while that I should be discovering new music - this just might be the way to do it.

www.pandora.com

V for Vendetta

I saw the movie "V for Vendetta" tonight, and while not overwhelmingly moved by the plight of the masked terrorist, I was compelled to think critically about the world around me, and was relieved to find that even though I've been out of school for a year, I'm still capable of being smart.

What struck me most, besides the obvious parallels to Bush's war on terror and the effectiveness of fear as a tool of governance, was the eventuality of disaster. What a morbid thought. Does it ever occur to you though, that there are unavoidable things in our collective future ... murders, plane crashes, terrorist attacks and natural disasters, that will become a part of our children's memory ... that we can't even predict? I can map my life by these events in my past, remember the exact moment that the world focused their eyes on one particular event or the next. I remember as early back as the Oklahoma City bombings, the death of Princess Diana, the Los Angeles earthquake, the exact moment that O.J. Simpson was pronounced Not Guilty. I remember TWA flight 800. The Colombine shootings. When Elizabeth Smart was abducted. The oil rigs burning in the Gulf War. When the planes hit the WTCs. The tsunami of 2004.

It makes me wonder what sort of monumental events are waiting for us in the future. Perhaps there are positive landmarks as well; maybe we will cure cancer or treat aids, or find a way to abolish famine. Maybe we will blow up a meteor on its path to earth. Maybe we will have fresh drinking water or learn to produce no garbage. But there is an eventuality to the world; everything that can happen, will happen - in time. V for Vendetta is both a comment on our current state of political affairs and a desperate warning on the possible social landscape of the future. To me, it felt like a reminder that we will all suffer personal grief in our time. I am thankful, therefore, for today: sunny, carefree and safe. Hopefully more of the world can say the same in the future.

That Was Rewarding

I've been an avid member of the Shoppers Optimum and the Airmiles Reward Miles bandwagons for at least the last 6 years or so. It makes sense, right? You earn points for spending money at places you're probably already going to spend it, and redeem them for rewards at a later date. I've already gotten a 75$ shopping spree from Shoppers and lots (lots!) of movie gift certificates from Airmiles (which doesn't really matter now that I'm banned from Blockbuster, now does it?)

Tonight, because I'm sick with the flu and can't sleep, I joined the HBC rewards program. It looked good - 50 reward miles for every dollar I spend at the bay. Yahoo! But then I checked out the rewards:

Get this. If I wanted to get a 14 piece knife set, I would need to redeem 1,200,000 points ... the equivelent of spending TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS at the Bay. Or Zellers. That's kind of pointless, don't you think? I mean, I buy my bras and underwear there, but that's gonna take freakin' years. I'm kind of depressed, actually. I don't even need a knife set.

Thoughts on Relationships

I read something interesting in Reader's Digest last week while I was at the dentist's office waiting to get the last of my teeth drilled into. Apparently, something like 50% of Canadians are playing the weekly lottery, hoping that their winnings will provide them with the adequate funding necessary for retirement. That's an amazing number. What's more amazing is the following: if a Canadian took the $4.00 they spent each week on a lottery ticket and invested it into a low-risk stock portfolio or into a high-interest RRSP for, say, 30 years, they would have close to ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND dollars saved up by the time they retire.

That's probably more than any of them are going to win on the lottery.

It got me thinking about relationships. A lot of people I know, myself included, believe in 'soulmates' - that one person who is so insanely perfect for us that God himself must have decided that they were the one. So we're all sitting around, waiting for our proverbial love-of-a-lifetime to come into our lives and sweep us off our feet... sort of the same way someone might buy a lottery ticket, waiting for the win of a life time to take care of them for the rest of their life.

But what if we took what we had instead; our not-necessarily-perfect, but loving, smart and kind significant others, and invested in them. Took the time we spent waiting around for Mr.Perfect and dedicated it into our Mr.Imperfect. A small investment - a card written, a gift purchased, a back rub at the end of a long day, or even just simple words- over a period of 30 years ... well, you might get your soulmate after all.

Ultimately, I believe that a life-long monogamous relationship doesn't exist between two people who are a perfect match, or who were 'destined' to be together, but two people who (despite their flaws and imperfect edges) love each other enough to commit to the investment. People who will put in the time and the effort, week after week, to make it work. I think that you can create the perfect relationship slowly, and that each time you listen instead of making an assumption or aim to be kind instead of being right, or do something for the other person without expecting anything in return ... well, you'll be a rich man (or woman) indeed. Eventually.

The Miniscule and the Mundane

I have two things to say. Firstly, if you're a fan of the Toronto Subway system, have ever ridden it or are even remotely familiar with it, check out this site. It's silly, but it made me laugh at 2 in the morning, so it deserves a mention. If your parents work for the TTC, they may be tickled to know that it was banned from general consumption ... for what reason? I don't pretend to know. Anagrams, while geeky, don't seem to dangerous to me.

Secondly ... well, I dunno. I just got a long email from one of my best friends from childhood and I want to say that nothing feels better than being remembered, noticed or loved. Maybe even all three. The best things we can all do for each other are the ones that cost nothing; take time to thank someone that made your day easier. Give the one you love your actual, full attention. Mail a handwritten letter to a friend to let them know you think they're great. It doesn't seem insurmountable to make the world a better place, with such small gestures. I truly believe it's possible.

Adam Say: This Man Is My Hero

I just wanted to give a well-deserved shout out to my friend Adam Say, who was rightly bestowed the title of Queen's University Walkhome Head Manager for the 2006-2007 school year. Not only is he one of the best friends I could ask for, he's also all of the following: a joke and a pimp and a huge-hearted man, and Walkhome has never been the same since he joined. He was partly responsible for bringing together Steve and I when we worked for Walkhome together, so I guess I owe him at least this much!! I couldn't be more proud, and am already considering accepting teacher's college at Queen's instead of at U of T, so that I can work for his service. Congrats, Saj - I am absolutely thrilled for you! (shown here after shaving his head for cuts for cancer last year)

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ugly Keychains!

I have a very interesting confession to make. Back when I was about 14 years old, I decided it was time for a collection. I considered stamps. I dabbled in exotic stones. I once had small entourage of shiny dog figurines... but the collection that stuck was that of the ugly keychains.

This is how it started. My friend in junior high went to Mexico, and came home with this - the mother of the ugly keychain:


As you can see, the back reads: Manzanillo Mexico: Caramba ...! Cuantas Curvas Y Yo Sin Frenos!, which roughly translates into: Manzanillo Mexico: Caramba Whichever Curves And I Without Brakes! ... Who knows. Either way, I was hooked.

Now I have the following collections:
The Australian Posse, all brought for me by my mom's ex-boyfriend Keith (who travelled extensively for work, and also, apparently, had hoes in different area codes)


The American Collection; and yes, the George Bush-esque bottle opener from Nashville does say "American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"


The English Collection (again, from my mom's ex-boyfriend)


The Vibrating Keychain - a replica of a San Francisco street car. Pull the string and it vibrates aggressively


The Canadian Collection. I don't have as many canadian keychains as I should - especially since I live here; there's really no excuse. These two gems are from the east coast, when my brother went to Acadia University in N.S.


Finally, the Tropical Collection. Most were purchased for me from my mom, who has been to several warm-weather destinations with various men interested in wooing, wining and dining her. Thanks, mom!


The lesson here? Well, firstly - my mom is currently in Mexico with her boyfriend Joe and my boyfriend Steve is currently in the UK, so at least two keychains are going to be added to the collection. Secondly? If you're my friend and you go somewhere exciting or cool or non-canadian ... get me a keychain! Not only will I pay you back ... you'll be my hero forever. I hope I haven't lost your respect, and that maybe you understand a little bit more about why I'm such a geek. No wonder Steve loves me :D

A Bri Refresher

THIRTEEN Random Things I like:
Orangutans
All-Day Breakfast
Hoodies
Ikea
Napping
Roadtrips
The Beach
Knitting
Lots and Lots of Journals
Dogs
Going to Hockey Games
Making Out
Hand-written Letters

TWELVE Movies That All My Friends Should Watch At Least Twice:
Shakespeare in Love
Forrest Gump
Moulin Rouge
Bridges of Madison County
Big
Turner and Hooch
Bend it Like Beckham
When Harry Met Sally
Big Fish
Garden State
Edward Scissorhands
Benny and Joon

ELEVEN Random Thoughts:
"Just one more cookie"
"How do you know if someone is the one?"
"I should be at the gym"
"I don't know if I'll be a good teacher"
"There has to be a better way of organizing my blue dresser"
"Do I NEED this, or do I just want it?"
"I miss you"
"Orange is not my colour"
"I wish that I could know more about you - I think we could be friends"
"Is it possible to be close to my dad, after everything we've been through?"
"I wish we had a different couch"

TEN Random Things about Me:
If my dad won the fight, my name would have been Freya
I remember my dreams vividly
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to have a big family
It's really important to me for other people to like me
My left eye is smaller than my right eye. It’s especially noticeable when I smile
All of my grandparents are still alive
I've never shoplifted, been to a funeral or smoked a cigarette
I have climbed a mountain, walked across the golden gate bridge and saved a life
I tan easily in the summer
I have lived in 6 cities in Canada (Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Mississauga, Toronto, Kingston)

NINE Ways to Win My Heart:
Write me letters
Take me to Ikea and kiss me in the pretend apartments
Stand up for me if my integrity is ever in question
Teach me about things that you are passionate about and be interested in the things that *I* am passionate about
Love my family as much as I do
Be willing to try new things with me, from rock climbing to poetry reading
Take me on a random road trip ("pack your bag, I'll be there in an hour!")
Surprise me with flowers
Help to create traditions that are only "ours"

EIGHT Things I Want to Do before I Die:
Own a bed and breakfast
Learn how to snowboard
Travel to Borneo
Marry my soulmate and raise a family
Teach in a university
Act on stage
Be able to afford my own home
Adopt dogs

SEVEN Ways to Annoy Me:
Act ungrateful for something that you are priviledged to have
Smoke around me
Make an insensitive comment about my family
Snoop through my things / read my journal
Talk on your cell phone in a restaurant
Be drunk
Not wash dishes properly :)

SIX Things I Believe in:
The only way to achieve something is to work hard and work harder
In every situation, you can always choose how you react
People are more alike than they are different
Every human being has the desire and the right to be loved
The institution of marriage
Everyone has a story to tell

FIVE Things I am Afraid of:
Not achieving my potential
snakes
divorce
not living my life in the moment
being average


FOUR of My Favourite Items in My Room:
My stuffed monkey "Fatter Guts"
My journals
The picture of Steve and I from Charity Ball
My poster of Vancouver

THREE Things I Do Everyday:
Write a letter or email to someone I care about
Write in my journal
Check my favorite websites and friend's blogs

TWO Things I Want to Do Right Now:
Go out with friends instead of sticking around the house
Get all of my dental restorations over with so that I can eat regular food again

ONE Person I Want to See Right Now:
Steve, who is in England. My sisters in Calgary (I know, I cheated)

Thanks to Steph for the format and inspiration. Let me know if you do one of your own

Now I Can Die In Peace

It's official - the day I have secretly been awaiting is almost here! While Steve pines over Pearl Jam tour announcements, I've been patiently waiting for the good folks at Warner Bros. to announce the release date for the final installment of the Dawson's Creek series: Season 6. I know that the above statement might make me the biggest teenaged-angst-drama-loving geek alive (even though I'm 22), but please don't doubt that I will be first in line at Future Shop when the DVD is released on April 04th.

Under the Drill, Part III

I find myself sensitive to the smell of burning tonight. Because today, when I was getting 2 more of my teeth worked on at the dentist, the smell of the high speed drill chipping away around my nerve smelled like my mouth was on fire. I was midly concerned, but mostly uncomfortable. Tonight when I was making soup, a piece of kraft dinner that had fallen under the element started to smoke, and the smell had me running to the bathroom wanting to throw up.

Most of all, I'm ready for my dental work to be over. I have one more appointment, 2 more needles, and I'll be done, for the time being. My dentist keeps telling me that a lot of the teeth may need root canals in the next few months, but I just want to focus on finishing with all the restoration work now, and getting a break so that I don't hurt any more.

There. I'll step off of my soap box and stop whining. It's just not FUN, y'know? Hopefully there are brighter, more fun days in the future for me :)

The Academy Awards, by the Numbers

During the 78th Academy Awards:

Number of Jokes about Tom Cruise or Scientology: 1

Number of Times a Winner Walks the Wrong Way After Accepting an Award: 3

Number of Gay Cowboy Jokes: 3

Number of Gay Cowboy Montages: 1

Number of Gay Cowboys to Win an Oscar: 0 (not counting the possibility of George Cloony being a flaming homosexual)

Number of Jokes About Dick Cheney Shooting Someone: 1

Number of Dogs Thanked in Acceptance Speeches: 1 (Hooch, from Turner and Hooch)

Number of Oscars Wearing Matching Bowties: 2 (The winners for Wallace and Grommit)

Number of Stuffed Penguins Making an Appearance Onstage: 4

Number of Times Someone Refers to How Heavy the Statue Is: 2

Number of Times Jack Nickelson Grins: 6

Most Embarassing Presenter: Ben Stiller in a green unitard that clearly displayed the outline of his weiner

Best Comment By Steve: "And now, Charlize Thereon, wearing a bow that could swallow a whale"

Number of Awkward Jewish Jokes Made By Jon Stewart: 3

And there it is folks. "Crash" may have taken home the big honours, but I kept the REAL count. And honestly, it made the whole 3 and a half hour ordeal a lot more interesting to watch.

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

I was riding the streetcar home from Steve's house today (after an unexpected night off from work, which resulted in me lounging, eating pizza and going to bed early), and something really nice happened, although it took me a while to notice it. I flashed my metropass at the driver when I boarded, as per usual and to no unusual response; whenever someone tried to pay cash, use a ticket or use a token, however, the streetcar driver held his hand over the collection box and said "free today". People would insist - here's my money! And the driver simply refused to take it. "I'm telling you - get on, and keep your money - you'll need it for something else today!" About half way though the ride, I navigated up to the front of the car and asked him "is the TTC running a promotion today?"

"Nope", he replied, cranking the wheel to turn on to Carlton Street

"Are any other street cars free?" I asked.

"No, just me". He was jovial, almost laughing to himself. We picked up another few passengers, all of who were allowed to board without paying.

"Are you going to get in trouble for this?" I was worried. I am always worried about people getting into trouble.

"How could this," he said as he gestured at the people riding the car, "be trouble?"

I looked back at the passengers, who were smiling, laughing with each other, and trying to guess why they were allowed to keep their two dollars and fifty cents. There were old Portuguese men, street roamers with dreadlocks, little old ladies with crocheted hats, students, a plumber on the way to a job -- the people of Toronto who needed that money the most. The mood was almost giddy. There was camradarie between people who usually wouldn't make eye contact with each other. Every time someone else was denied fare, we all laughed out loud. For whatever reason, the streetcar driver decided to do what he could for us. When I got off at College and Spadina, the air seemed a little less cold, the sun felt wonderful, and I smiled knowingly at the people getting on the streetcar - their days would be better too. Somethings you don't see very often, but they're certainly worth noting when you do.

Who is Your Celebrity Twin?

Today I stumbled across a fascinating website called www.myheritage.com, which is pioneering a facial feature recognition process that is able to match people based on the percentage of facial similarities that they share.

The best part? They've amassed a database of more than 3500 celebrities, and if you upload a picture of yourself, your face is scanned and then compared to every celebrity in the database to see whose facial features are most similar to your own.

I uploaded this picture of myself:


And after mapping my face, I got the following celebrity matches:

Mira Sorvino

Misha Barton

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

Drew Barrymore

Pretty Cool, hey?
So which one do you think is the most accurate?

GO try it for yourself - www.myheritage,com