I don't know what to say on the internet anymore. I don't know whether the 365 Project helped or harmed my ability to form thoughts. Maybe i'm just too spread thin on the internet and real life.

Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Lightbox, Yelp, Tumblr, here/LJ.. It's too much to turn my attention to fully. I used to like putting together music mixes, writing about museums, posting photos for the hell of it, writing about film or posting big link roundups. I don't know how to focus on any of those any more.

2012 has had a rocky start for me personally also. I've been experiencing a lot of anxiety and mood/behavioural problems recently, and i'm realising it's having an impact on my general well-being, my happiness and my relationship. Maybe it's hard to get interested in being on the internet in an interesting capacity when I feel that way. I've just started therapy which is a bit of a scary thing but I hope in the short-to-long-term it'll help.

I miss travelling, I miss my friends, I miss having stability and sureness. But I love it here in Toronto and I love my mister and I need to start pulling myself up and out of the anxiety and mood cycles i'm finding myself in, and start finding enjoyment in hobbies & writing/posting content on the internet again too, to be more constructive.

I don't think this is the sort of blogging i'll ever go back to; this sort of run-on train-of-thought stuff could be used more constructively in my own space. Maybe if I focus on the more interesting external stuff i'll get my brain firing again.

But i'm still dropping in in most of those places I listed above and will even occasionally comment/interact - i'm hoping that sort of thing will increase if i'm able to enjoy and be productive in these spaces again.

So, for now: Hi.

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/542601.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

I have become lazy. I was having to manually crosspost my Posterous content here to Dreamwidth (which then automatically crossposts to LJ) - but I'm just too lazy to keep it up - and it's especially a pain if i'm on the go and posting from my phone's Posterous client.

So, if you want to keep up with what i'm posting you can see the 365 photo updates at Flickr (with a link to the blog entries in each pic). If you want to see it all, then hit up my Posterous itself (or the RSS).

Or if you're loitering about and follow me on Twitter or we're friends on Facebook you'll see an automatic update when I post anyhow.

Back to LURKING. Muhahaha.

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/542402.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

This week's Friday Five made my head hurt a bit much to properly think about and answer, so just links again this week. And not so many, either! Quiet on the internets, I have been.

Art & Design ::: I would buy this clear-cased Sony DSLR in a second if, y'know, it wasn't a Sony camera; you MUST watch the video of the process of making these 'Pour' paintings, it's so awesomely visual and mesmerising; these paintings are just beautiful, I love the texture - and the first one of the subway station is something i'd definitely hang a print of on my wall; nerdy sugar skull prints - Pacman's definitely my fave; the term micro-wunderkammern is so perfect for the jar sculptures this guy does; inventive and aesthetically awesome, the MP3 cigar box music player; a sculpture that you can control the shape of with your hands is a very cool concept; my final chance to be jealous of those who got to see the Twin Peaks 20th Anniversary art exhibit thanks to these images of the event.

Photos ::: I could stare at these library shelves all day long (that tumblr in general is a winner); combined tourist photos - amazingly cool project. They look like impressionist paintings of everyone's collective memory; Love the space in this photo - how perfectly shaped they are to make that square; "Created Equal, a provocative series of diptychs portraying Americans from all walks of life"; Back to the Future photo project, comparing (so perfectly in some cases) childhood photos with current recreations; a similar, but much visually stranger, project of matching photos of the adult with the kid photo; I could stare at this beautiful place and the gorgeous rock formations all day long; elephants out for a stroll in a lush Kenyan landscape; Awesome aerial landscape pics done with a homebrew helium blimp camera rig.

Misc ::: Slo-mo filming of stuff in a hotel room sounds boring but is actually AWESOME; anatomical model sleeping bag will help freak out the kids at your next sleepover; I still laugh and laugh when I look at this recent autocorrect funny - brownchickenbrowncowwwwww; Sometimes it's nice to be reminded how small scale we really are so I can stop worrying about stupid little things; I casually read Google Sightseeing but every so often something particularly great comes up, like their highlight of strange lake names, and I have to share it - I think the last lot of vegetable names really takes the lake; this waterfull illusion hurts my head almost as much as people trying to explain how the tricksy fellow did it; giant dice = less chance of stepping on a d4 of pain; don't drink and fly, Luke!; urban exploration reaches new heights [vid]; the evolution of ghosts tshirt concept art; totally bitchin' Castle Greyskull igloo.

I am about to have a 4 day weekend and that makes all the happy parts of my brain squishy with excitement. Have a fully sick weekend bros!

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/542128.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Since Words With Friends got ported to Android, i've had approximately 15 million games of Scrabble start up with friends. It's a great, GREAT app (and free on Android) - but i'm finding i'm playing enough in a day that it's draining my battery more than i'd like. Got to space out my turns! But i'm done for the night, so tally-ho! Sleep well and dream of triple word scores, my friends.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/541938.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Did you know I have a solitary freckle on the underside of my left hand? Well, you do now.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/541449.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Today I thought i'd take a photo of the hallways outside my office at work because they have this real samey maze-like quality to them. Then when I went to upload it I realised it totally fucks with your head when it's rotated to landscape rather than portrait, so i'm leaving it that way! Don't stare at it too long.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/541314.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Yesterday was the first day I took plenty of photos I could post, yet forgot entirely before going to bed.(I also almost forgot to take my asthma meds too, so that gives you an indication of how my brain was faring.)
Here's one I took at a bar where I briefly met friends for 'dirty bingo', an outrageous evening run by drag queens to raise money for a certain charity each week.

I hope my photo for today will be more prompt!



This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/540948.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Today I went with some friends from Yelp to go 10-pin bowling downtown; due to unforseen and sucktackular circumstances, we couldn't use the coupons we had planned on using, so the bowling was a bust. I've not been 10-pin bowling since I lived in London, so my face was pretty sad indeed. We loitered about the bar type place anyhow, played a bit of ping pong and tried to make the best of it. Me and a friend tried this miniature shuffleboard game before leaving, and it was totally ace fun. Even when you're a bit rubbish at it, it's fun; like lawn bowls but on sandy wood. Awesome. Makes me want to get off my arse to try curling real soon now before I miss my chance!

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/540814.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

The washrooms at TAN Coffee on Queen St W have blackboard paint on them, so you can grab chalk and leave a message or a little drawing. Today's very important messages included the following. Please make sure to not let the "illuminatie" lower your vibrations.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/540529.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

A while back I was on a message board where folks would occasionally post self-portraits or group portraits in washrooms (not stalls, the washrooms themselves! oh god!) - no particular reason, it's just fun! Mirrors! Tiles! Whee! My rag-tag 2009 road trippers and I bundled into the ladies washroom (Dan included!) at the House on the Rock for one, even. So I figured for today i'd snap a shot of me in my work washroom because it's an easy one and i'm super lazy this afternoon. Mirrors! Tiles! WHEE!

[View in Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/540347.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

No Friday Five today. It was full of lame. Also, I realise I am so inconsistent with the style I post these in but I can't help it! I just do it however takes my fancy. So to speak. ONWARD, to links!

Art things!

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  Very awesome large scale public art installation in NYC - the Roses.
  
  


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  Handy, looks lovely, and informative! Doctor Who infogram.
  
  


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  Incredible and detailed key art adorning a Greenwich Locksmith in NYC.
  
  


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  This postcard-layed-over-old-photos stuff is brilliant cognitive dissonance. My brain doesn't know what to do!
  
  


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  Parents who make awesomely nerdy video game mural art for their kids bedrooms are the best.
  
  


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  Blog full of art celebrating the 20th anniversary of Edward Scissorhands.
  
  


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  Feel like you need a Misfits vase amongst your decor? Never fear, the answer is here!
  
  


• 
  
  This weekend the Twin Peaks 20th Anniversary art exhibit is on and I guess this is my last chance to be jealous I don't get to see it - and these two pieces are fueling the jealousy fire: In the Trees (I love the mirroring here) and Scott C's fantastic piece (and making of!) which is actually of one of my favourite scenes in the whole show.
  
  

Comics things!

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  My cultural references are better than your cultural references. Sometimes I think i'm going to end up trapped in a neverending loop of this sort of thing as my only way to communicate.
  
  


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  Super-cool looking Hunter S Thompson biography graphic novel; love the art, and it looks to be a really comprehensive look at his life. I just watched Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson and felt it could've covered a bit more, but was still a pretty interesting insight into the stuff he wrote on. Makes me sad he's not around to be dishing out the gonzo on the current world around us.
  
  


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  Scenes from a Multiverse is still so terrific: Doctor Whoa made me laugh so much. Even alternate universe Amy is wary! Haha.
  
  


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  16 Ways To Use Your Wrist (Now that watches are obsolete) - very Oatmealish style of comic, I like it! I'm pretty sure I need that emergency Oreo.
  
  


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  Johnny Wander valentines are so grumpy! Haha! I love it.
  
  


• 
  
  XKCD gives me the twitch today. Narrrgh, close it off!!
  
  

Photo things!

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  I like photos that evoke a physical reaction from me - these ones make my stomach lurch: Zooming on a wall & the very last one on this page (leeeeeap!)
  
  


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  This is an astronaut on fire walking down the street. Pretty crazy.
  
  


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  Almost better than when people take trick photos with album covers - Obama tooting a horn. (And in the same vein - book covers!)
  
  


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  Why can't I take photos of Toronto like this one? Wah.
  
  


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  Long exposures are so amazing, look how soft this wave looks.
  
  


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  Deconstructed objects - so meticulous and a feast for the eyes. Love the alarm clock one, especially.
  
  


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  A Tsimshian amulet from the AGO's collection - I want to know its story! So pretty.
  
  


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  Golden Gate bridge in the fog - looks so unreal. Like someone made a model and covered it in cotton wool.
  
  


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  Remember the piece I linked to about the mansion that'd been shut for 100 years opening to the public? Nat Geo has some photos from inside!
  
  


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  Behind the scenes photos from the set of Twin Peaks - some spoilers there in the text, so don't go visiting if you've never seen the show!
  
  

Superhero things!
Between these & the Green Lantern trailer, it's pretty clear to me now that my #1 guilty pleasure is big ol' actiony superhero films. Come on Wolverine 2!

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  The Avengers and Thor spots that showed during the superbowl
  
  


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  First X-Men First Class trailer hits the internet
  
  

 Misc things!

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  Good info on when to buy airline tickets; this (a) makes me all itchy-feet to travel and also (b) makes me sad because i'll have to use these tactics to buy a flight home sometime.
  
  


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  They're making Good Omens into a TV show, apparently. They better MAKE IT GOOD. I do love that book.
  
  


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  Vegan infographic; i'm not sure about this 'tricking people' into eating vegan meals business though.
  
  


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  Star Wars IV retold using little icons. Very cute and pretty comprehensive!
  
  


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  Robots rocking - the Trons - I think for the perfect amount of ridiculous, they should be programmed to play Rock Band.
  
  


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  A blood bag shaped like a teddy - surely that will fuck up any child destined to be attached to it?
  
  


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  Costume wtf-ery: Teenage Mutant Ninja.. strippers? And I can't help but think the first guy here is just shagging that Tauntaun.
  
  


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  Someone made a video for Joy Division's Transmission with Playmobil figures and it just baffles me.
  
  


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  Got a spare $4500? You too could have a couch made out of a coffin!
  
  


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  Black Metal greeting cards - these things need to be produced en masse by a company called Hellmark.
  
  


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  Anatomically correct chocolate heart, just the thing for your sweetie on Valentine's.
  
  


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  Tetris board game? Sorta like Blokus meets Connect 4, I guess?
  
  


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  Cute little claymation "The Consumer" [vid] 
  
  


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  Anyone got 44,530 years to crack my password?
  
  


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  Quite an interesting read - a NYT photojournalist describes how to get out into the crowds and shoot stuff with a stripped-down equipment kit
  
  


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  It's one of the most dangerous mountain climbs in the world, so it's not surprising there's dead bodies up there, but it's sort of creepy to think that while each new crew tries to scale Everest, the bodies of those who failed are there as a reminder to that danger.
  
  


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  Audio nerds have banded together to create a big database of ambient noises - I kinda like that you could go in and pick the sort of white noise you're in the mood for.
  
  

Cute things!

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  Australians are pretty cute, I must admit. Especially baby wallabies.
  
  


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  Baby kitten rampages downtown Manhattan!
  
  


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  Slo-mo chipmunk is pretty cute, but I can't help feeling this rubbing my face and head all over is what I do when I wake up in the morning, but with more "aaauuugh" sounds.
  
  


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  Tiny deer TINY DEER. Look at the legs on it. Oh my.
  
  

Almost done! But I wanted to actually embed this last link, as I feel like I need to keep looking at it as a constant reminder not to be such a neurotic douchebag. Maybe I should print it out.. 

[clickthrough for source]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/540056.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

At the end of my first month of 365-ing, I asked if any readers has suggestions of photos they'd like to see upcoming in the months to follow. (A selfish request so I might build up a bank of things I could go to when uninspired.) However, only Suze responded and that means that on this uninspired day she gets a photo of shoes. L-R back: pretty well-worn pair of Vegetarian Shoes sneakers that I throw on if I need to go anywhere outside the office; 'work shoes' that I got forever ago from Vegan Wares that I really never wear because I look 100% dorky in them; snow boots! warm and covered in winter gross. At the front are my feets inside the slip-on shoes I wear most in the office at the moment, cos I can just throw them on and off and they're handy like that after taking off the boots. (In not-winter I don't have to bother with any sort of changing!) Soooo.. SHOES. Any more suggestions?

 [View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/539750.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

I had to drop by my library on the way home tonight to return a book I finished, and I like that the little chute still has such a formal term like book depository on it.

The book I returned was Never Let Me Go. A few months ago I went to see the film, which is a beautiful, muted piece of heartbreaking storytelling. Absolutely crushing, but amazing. I rarely bother to read novels that movies are based on unless i'm super impressed, so I was spurred on to put this on hold at the library to eventually check out.

The book was fantastic also, and it was great to see how well the story was adapted for screen - it's definitely got the same pacing and tone. It's such a subtle story, rolling along occasionally pulling punches but generally draping you with a feeling of melancholy. But in a good way, if that makes sense. It's technically a speculative fiction story due to the nature of the character's situations, but it is absolutely about the human condition and all the craze of emotion that goes along with it. I definitely recommend the book AND movie - but make sure you have something that'll make you happy on hand once you're done.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/539407.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

I am covering lunch on our reception this week. I'm not a big fan, being out in the public eye instead of my little hidey hold cubicle; I think all that front-of-house museum work i've done crushed my customer service spirit. Anyhow, each day I sit there and I look at this button - I think about pressing it, but the important point is I never do. Restraint! Now, come on end of week.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/539243.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

A co-worker was just in Australia, and I was telling her about all sorts of treats that are native to my land. While I know that sherbert is pretty well universal as far as candy goes, Wizz Fizz is The One in Australia. And she got me a whole packet of them! I forsee one of these + a can of Mountain Dew throwback in my future. Zzzzzzoooooooom.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/539111.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

When all else fails (i.e it's after midnight and inspiration fails), I guess i'm around to take a photo of. This one was snapped using the Vignette app for Android - it's a great app! This filter makes my eyes look strangely gray.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/538846.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

A latte and some gems. I'm the luckiest gal alive.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/538484.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

I fancied some riffs this morning, so here's a new mix! Threw a few pretty unknown/defunt Australian bands in there because it's amazing what I can find on my hard drive - I finished the mix up with an epic track from the Grey Daturas, in fact. Lots of delicious riffs and distortion - enjoy!

 

 

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/538222.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

The rhythm of this week has been strange and offputting, but not necessarily in a bad way. Many things have been really great about this week, in fact. Not the least of which is that it's almost Weekend Times. I've been dithering around with this list all day long, so let's have at it.

Art & Design :: Landscape prints - love her style, and the lines of the snow on the top one especially; the art and style of this Ferris Bueller's Day Off board game is just wonderful; super-cute and surprisingly well-done Japanese food type; this vampire on a shark print is probably more awesome than you're imagining right now; this set of photos are awe-inspiring - to be able to get such amazing shapes of light looking like that just astounds me; if anyone would like to consult these charts on cocktail making and whip me up a rockin' mojito, I won't say no; keeping it culinary - a lovely poster on culinary tools; get a load of these reorganised cities - description can't do it justice, but if you like a bit of map & design you'll like that; Helvetica cookie cutters make everything taste neater; ice-cream light fixtures (note: do not eat).

Autocorrect funnies :: It's been a while since i've linked any of these, but this mega-fail one is just too good. The round-up of January's most popular auto-correct funnies is good for a Friday arvo laugh as well.

Comics :: Nedroid makes Groundhog Day a little more sinister; Sinfest does the devil's social network; Dino Comics re: snowmageddon etc; a great XKCD about 'Trochee Fixation' (Banjo Turtle!!) - I also love that he blogged about the numbers behind Google searching the terms.

Photos :: The textures of these Kodachromes is awesome - I love this one especially; this snow sculpture gets a wonderful result; there are so many wonderful things about this image - the moon, Venus, the clouds, the light - it's all just super; where subway cars go when they retire - wouldn't it be more awesome to turn this into housing?; some more neato light trail photography; colour tunnel is awesome tunnel; a ghostly streetcar here in Toronto; small photo series about underneath Paris.

Miscellany :: Time travel convention tshirt; skinny but awesome house; mindblowing animation [vid] of the scale of various planets in the night sky compared to the moon - can you imagine how WEIRD it would be to see that in the sky?! "All I can see is Jupiter!!"; get the record straight [vid] on what Great Britain, the UK and England are; 17x17x17 Rubik's cube will hurt your mind; one-man cover of the Ren & Stimpy theme [vid]; confused about the situation in Egypt? - let this Raiders of the Lost Mubarak explain it for you!; TV channel promo with miniaturised TV show summaries [vid]; Star Wars job flow chart (i'm a bounty hunter!); this VW Superbowl ad doing the rounds just makes me wait around for George Lucas to remake the SW series and replace real Vader with Mini Vader; an Atheist's concerns (real vs actual).

Requisite Cute Animal Break :: Stubby little Hamster on his fat little haunches; someone needs to make me these hedgehog mittens (not with wool!); tiny tiny tongue!; this slothy guy is pretty adorable and then you hit the last picture and the adorable reaches critical mass; is there anything cuter than a rat perched on a cat? IS THERE?

Friday Five: Too much not enough. Going to keep this one pretty light today!

1.Who’s not as funny as he or she thinks? Kenneth Cole. What a d-bag. (Whoever did this, on the other hand, is fucking funny as hell.)
2.What’s not as big a deal as everyone else seems to think? Snow in Toronto. People, you should be used to it by now!
3.What’s something people aren’t concerned enough about? Getting out of my way on the sidewalk (footpath).
4.What’s something in the grocery store that’s underrated? President's Choice Blue Menu herb tofu. I could eat a whole block of that stuff EVERY DAY.
5.What do you pay too much attention to? Everything that I shouldn't. Overthinkarino!

 

Enjoy your Weekend Times, all!

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/537893.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Taken out my window just now. Not glamourous at all, but a sky like that is still a feast for the eyes. Have a good day, evening & weekend, you lot!

[View on Flickr]

 

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/537797.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

I went to a pot luck tonight, at what was ostensibly the Canadian Centre for Excellence in Legumology. Excellence with an extra L for Legume. You know they're serious when they do that. Now it is technically Friday, so I really ought to sleep off all that potluckin'.

[View on Flickr]

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/537409.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Last night a lovely Yelp friend, Chris P, took me along as his guest to a member preview of Black Ice: David Blackwood Prints of Newfoundland. I didn't know much going in except for it was the work of a Canadian artist, and that I found the main promotional image extremely evocative.

Overall, the exhibit is very tight - it presents an excellent picture of the artist and his work. I can't recall exact dates of the works, but it seems to work pretty well chronologically, as well as thematically. (I should have paid a bit more attention to this!) I enjoyed the fact that the further I got into the exhibit, the better I got to know the artist and his portrayal of Newfoundland; much of the exhibit is peppered with objects that help highlight the artist's portrayals - weapons, items of clothing, oil lamps and the like. As you look around the last room, things like the artist's letters and notes and objects like a shed door and a ship's bell help to complete the picture. You get a very strong sense of the Maritimes from this exhibit, and I took that away just as much as I took an appreciation for the amazing detail of Blackwood's art.

I can't wrap my head around the effort that goes into creating copper etchings for print-making. The concept and execution is completely beyond my non-arty knowledge (I always leaned more toward photography in art class anyhow). One small room in the exhibit focuses on the amazing print of Fire Down on the Labrador (the main promotional image I linked above) - starting from the conceptual sketch, you follow the progression of the work through its steps, all displayed in a small path along the wall, culminating in the final (amazing) print. It's a fantastic thing to be able to see an artist's process like this. In addition, a small display case in the centre of the room contains the copper etching, as well as tools and materials used to create the etching. This brings the art to life so much more for an art-pleb like me, seeing the physicality and process behind a piece of work. I suppose it's a fairly unique thing to have in an exhibit of an artist's work, and the AGO are lucky that they've had such great access to the artist and his collection.

Although some of the subject matter tends toward the bleak side, the aesthetic of Blackwood's art is bold and stark. It's visually rich and detailed, and every print really has its own sense of atmosphere. If you're in Toronto and able to visit, I highly recommend it - not only will you get to check out this fantastic art, but also get a great sense of Canadiana at the same time.

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/537095.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

I am really just using these as my photo of the day as an excuse to call the post 'Burrito Diptych'. Also, it was a pretty tasty burrito! I was sad they didn't have my favourite cola, so I consoled myself with a guacamole/chip side. Now I am no mere human, but part-lady part-tex-mex!

[View on Flickr]

 

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/536884.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Sweet sweet nectar.

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/536646.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Too tired to crosspost properly! See today's photo here. Yaay.

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/536572.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

[Posterous crosspost]

I went to Cairo in September 2008, for a brief visit with my Mum in the leadup to my birthday. There's a lot of amazing stuff to see there, naturally, but I was especially excited about visiting the Egyptian Museum (the entrace to which is pictured above - taking photos inside is forbidden). It was a strange experience - after visiting so many museums all over the world that hold a great deal of Egypt's cultural heritage, to see it here in its home was almost unreal. The museum itself is a lovely old building, and there is some great stuff on display; they aren't exactly rolling in funds so some of it isn't as flash as it could be, but in some ways that doesn't matter - it's the objects and the history that really speaks at this museum.

My museum keyword news alert has been on fire the last few days in Google Reader after what's happened at the museum - looting and damage. There is a little information here and Boing Boing has a little amongst all their coverage too. The Classical Archaeology tumblr's got a lot of info on their first couple of pages as well. I feel like with all that's going on I still need to think this part of events through and get this out. Much like when the Iraq war was at its height and museums were being looted and cultural heritage destroyed, i'm a big mix of confused and upset. No matter how angry you are, no matter how much you want change, no matter who you are, there is nothing to be gained from destroying cultural material. It's especially upsetting seeing looters (and perhaps others, depending on what you're reading) take advantage of this situation to ruin their own historic treasures. It really doesn't compute for me. I trust that there are enough sensible folks in Cairo who will be able to prevent any more damage, and it's seriously terrible it's gone this far. I hope that things can get safe in general for everyone in Cairo too, as soon as possible.

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/536073.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

[Posterous crosspost]

As a young'un, I was rather fond of a TV series called Monkey (also known as Monkey Magic). As a young adult I rediscovered the show when it was in re-runs (on Recovery) - when I started to get to know the BFF he lent me a copy of Journey to the West, which the TV series was an adaptation of. My love blossomed for the tale of Monkey and to this day i'm still as enamoured by the stories and characters as I ever was. (Still waiting for one of my favourite authors to release a book on the subject, too!) This afternoon I saw this awesome illustration pop up in one of my various internet feeding troughs and flailed just a little bit. SO GORGEOUS. I set to and made it my phone's wallpaper so I can stare at it all the time and remember the awesomeness of Monkey. Oh Monkey. I think it's about time for a re-read of Journey to the West!

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[Posterous crosspost]

Here's another mixtape. The sunny winter's day made me do it. If you can't see it embedded below, visit the playlist page here (includes Beasts of Bourbon, Rowland S Howard, Dear Nora, Sebadoh and others!)

This entry was originally posted at http://nicole.dreamwidth.org/535692.html. Feel free to read & comment either here or there with OpenID.

Tonight I went for some drinks. And then I went for some more, accidental drinks! It was pretty good. At the second bar, the tables were plastered with these faces - as nobody approached us while we were sipping to take our portraits, I can only assume these photos are snaffled from Facebook, from stupid people who get drunk a lot and leave their profiles unlocked.

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At my fave local Viet dive. Although I don't think this is Vietnamese art..

 

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