The oscars=dreadful

So I did watch the Academy Awards last night. Early on, I had to ask myself, "what the hell am I watching?"

First of all, I only saw one of the movies nominated for best picture, Juno. Honestly, if this was one of the best movies of the year, it's probably good I didn't see too many this year. Then last night I had to endure performances of those three god awful songs from Enchanted.

There were very few laughs. The only thing I kind of found funny was Jon Stewart's line after The Bourne Ultimatum won one of its awards, "Someone just jumped ahead in the office pool with a complete guess." T

he show wasn't as predictable as many critics have said, however. Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton were total surprises. But most speeches were a total bore. Thumbs down. A boring cliche, I know, but fitting.

My next post will have new pieces of writing, I promise. I know it was Friday I promised it would come.

Expensive Chain Coffee Joints

Tonight, rather than going to the local pub to write, I went out to a local coffee joint. Not a local independent one, mind you. A couple of weeks ago, through details I won't get into, I received a gift card for Second Cup. I sat in a Second Cup on Bloor St., the one across from Bloor Cinema, writing and reading Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Hey, that Pole/Ukrainian sure could write.

Anyway, A chocolate tart, a chilled green tea milkshake or whatever it was and a berry smoothie (I was there for awhile) cost me roughly $14. That's almost three pints in a pub. I'm not complaining. It wasn't my money and I'll probably feel better tomorrow morning than I would've with three pints. Mind you, I'm sure that chocolate tart packed alatta calories and wasn't all that healthy. But this morning I had no time to eat and thought I'll grab a muffin or something at Timmy Ho's on my way to work. I got there and saw I wouldn't have time to stand in a lineup going around the store. I ran across the street to another Second Cup. A (really small) scone and a croissant cost me $5. Five bucks! Now Magazine spent a whole whack of time bitching about how it costs up to $30 to get into the ROM. How about how it costs too much to do anything?

Anyway, I'll post some of what I wrote later. Like Lady MacBeth said, "to bed, to bed, to bed."

Haven't written here in awhile

I haven't written here in awhile.

I went and saw Juno last night. It was alright and kind of funny, though I found it bizarre they managed to make a comedy out of teenage pregnancy. I just don't understand what was so great about this movie to the point where it would be movie of the year and where one would think Ellen Page had an absolutely standout performance. I didn't think any of the performances or the story or the direction stood out with greatness.

Probably the highlight of my week this week was me launching my own poetry series in Toronto called Rich Dog Rhymes and Readings (RDRR). Probably 12-15 people showed up to see Krystle Mullin and Lara Bozabalian. I was happy with the turnout considering the miserably cold weather. This weekend seems to work as follows for poetry in Toronto: Toronto Poetry Slam on Saturday, $100 Slam on Sunday. Live Words on Monday and the Art Bar as well as the Plasticine Series. I figure I'll have to sit out one of these days. I have other things to do besides just poetry. The date for the next RDRR has not been set, but it will be on a Sunday at the Regal Beagle on Bloor St. W.

Four things bothering me tonight

1. The Raptors lost tonight.
2. The Raptors lost by a lot tonight.
3. The Raptors absolutely mailed it in toward the end tonight.
4. When in the shower, no miniature Irish woman pops her head out of the Irish Spring bodywash bottle to check out my manhood.

Things that have made me mad in the world this week

1. Christian bashing- There seems to be an ongoing thing where it's almost progressive or politically correct to bash those practicing Christianity. While it's very politically incorrect to bash other religions. For some reason, even though most other religions hold even more socially conservative values, bashing Christians is OK. I think this is because other religions are seen as a minority and Christians aren't, so they're safe and people need someone to vent their anger at. The fact you need to vent at a general group of people is bothersome. The fact you'll pick what people won't get mad about and bash that group is cheap. By the way, I am not a member of any religion.

2. Sexist guys- Look, as far as women's rights go, forget about changing laws. What needs to change are attitudes. I am now sick of hearing from so many men about how they want to stuff their sausage in that and how they want a piece of that and how they want that girl's pussy. I hear about all these men glorifying playing women from their own mouths and it bothers me. This is out in public I see it and not just in rap videos. I'm not advocating celibacy or denying each other as sexual beings. But can you not see the opposite sex as something just a little more than meat?

3. black-focused schools- I realize this such a touchy issue and we're all entitled to our opinions on this. But was a lot of blood not shed once upon a time to end this? Those against religious schools, be aware. This issue is coming back. This will be a slippery slope where everyone is going to need their school funded. I'm against funding black schools, white schools, Catholic schools, Muslim schools, Jewish schools, satanist schools, green schools, blue schools and most importantly, purple schools. Greenlandic and Mongolian-centric schools might be OK with me. But kidding aside, I want kids learning together. How do we ever get rid of racism by segregation? I have no doubt racism exists, but this plan is taking the easy way out. This plan is like separating two groups of people to avoid racism so we can sweep it under the rug and pretend there's no place for it to exist anymore. It's similar to my stance on those who have hateful views. Let's let them say, "I'm dumb enough to believe the holocaust wasn't real" and then unite and show the world that this sort of thinking exists and then, of course, expose them for the fools they are rather than sweeping them under the rug. Laws and procedures will do nothing to stop racism if attitudes are not willing to change. If we start separating children into different groups based on race and religion (yes, even Greenlandic and Mongolian kids), it's going to be that much harder to co-exist in the adult world. Perhaps I'm naive or a hopeless romantic, but it's not the Canada I dream of. I just see no progress in segregation. I feel like today is such a sad day in my city and country.

Just a thought

Ever notice how Barack Obama and Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson have almost the exact same voice? If he wins, I want Barack to dedicate his victory to "the millions and millions of Obama's fans."

Band Names I'm Copyrighting

If you're starting a band, you're no longer allowed to use these names as they are now property of Mike Lipsius. Using them will require a fee of a case of beer and then a bunch of money if you ever get big.

1. The Cadaver Family Flower Shop
2. Hindus of Scotland
3. Both Hearing-Impaired Leopard and Hearing-Impaired Leppard, Hearing-Impaired Leopyrd remains free as someone else thought of it for me.
4. Jewish Priest
5. Semi-Autistic Machine Gun
6. Sawed Off Arm
7. (for the female punk band out there) Clit 'R' Us, though Cliteracy remains free as I didn't think of it either.
8. Jesus Hates Brampton, Brampton Hates Jesus

As an addendum, also add Jesus Hates Scarborough, Scarborough Hates Jesus and Jesus hates Whitby, Whitby Hates Jesus. Jesus hates Mississauga ...is too long so you can have that if you want.

Copyright Mike Lipsius ©2008

More to follow