I don't understand why this is supposed to be cool

I'm not a music buff at all, so forgive me if I ever say things on the subject that are totally obvious and pitiably naive. Perhaps everyone has known The Submarines forever, but I just discovered them through an interview they did with one of my favourite podcasts, The Sound of Young America. Turns out that I, like everyone else, already knew their music through those iPhone 3G commercials.



In the interview, the band members John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard talked a bit about how pleased they were that Apple chose their song You Me and the Bourgeoisie for the ad, and then later spoke about anti-materialist message they hoped to get across through the lyrics.

Plastic Bottles
Imported Water
Cars we drive wherever we want to
Clothes we buy it's sweatshop labor
Drugs from corporate enablers
We're not living the Good life
Unless we're fighting the Good fight
You and Me just trying to get it right

From the interview:

John Dragonetti: I like the anti-consumerist element to it

Blake Hazard: Yeah, it’s definitely anti-materialist.

John Dragonetti: Which... you know, there’s some irony in all that!

Interviewer: Yes, we’ll leave it at that. I wasn’t going to say anything...

Blake Hazard: No, no! I just think it’s actually incredibly cool that it was chosen for an ad when clearly there’s a smart guy behind the decision and he must have seen the lyrics. I think it’s actually pretty great that he chose it...

John Dragonetti: Even though it’s the instrumental

Interviewer: Yeah, they took the lyrics out

(laughter)

Okay... so... what? I don't get it. We're just assuming that Apple is being very clever somehow and, uh, don't actually want us to buy their luxury products? Or they're mocking the band? Mocking their customers possible hypocrisy? Don't consider the purchase of an upgraded iPhone to be a materialistic, consumerist action? Or is it just a catchy tune and they don't give a shit about the original message so much as they want me to buy their phone?

Steve Jobs, please explain. You know where to reach me. I've already bought several of your products, so you probably have me on file somewhere.

Fictional Fashion Updates

I just discovered The Cherry Blossom Girl, a charming blog created by a Parisian fashion student named Alix. I'm enjoying it so far, although it's making me miss Paris to a painful degree. I also just recently watched Marie Antoinette after meaning to see it for the last two years, so I'm in the mood for Pretty French Things.

Luckily, The Cherry Blossom Girl is in the business of providing just that. Her most recent post takes one of my favourite movie characters, Amélie Poulain, and recreates her look with clothing available in 2008.
I also like her take on Little Red Riding Hood.

Gloria Kovach

Convervative candidate Gloria Kovach and an epic story from Jamie.

please join me in the laughter, those of you from guelph, share your stories of Gloria and her Family.

wal-mart

The other day at work a co-worker said she didn't care about workers rights because she loved her deals at walmart.
I asked her if she cared about her own rights as a worker. her response was something like "well i don't work at walmart".
Most people don't understand how even from a purely selfish perspective walmart does effect the quality of their life. Especially if one works in medium end retail. if one shoppes at walmart one is forcing other companies to compete with walmarts great prices, this does not just affect manufacturing of the goods we buy but affects the cuts made at store level. cuts to wages, hours, benefits, discounts, and eventually jobs. Walmart has created a lovely catch 22, where as one looses these important workers rights, and benefits, they are forced to continue to shop at walmart.
Honestly, if you don't feeling bad for mom 'n pop shops going out of business, or the abuse of manufacturing workers overseas, or even the store front workers with no benefits.
Please be aware of the affect on your one jobs. A lot of things can be bought at walmart, that means ever other business that makes or sells or has anything to do with that product or service is in competition with walmart, they are affected every time you chose the cheep walmart price over their very slightly more ethical price.


for most of you that was obvious, but for some reason, it freaked me out enough that i wanted to try to explain.

on a more interesting note, check out how the wal-mart logo has changed over time.

Dreamboat, plus a complaint.

Hmm. All of the videos Youtube recommends for me are James McAvoy-related. Well done, website. You've earned my respect and gratitude.

Here's one of the videos, from a show I've never seen called Shameless. Interesting fact: the woman McAvoy's character meets here later became his real-life wife. Join me in a round of "aww"s.



That's the dreamboat, now time for the complaint. I hate it when people react with fake, excessive enthusiasm to semi-obscure references just to show everyone present that they TOTALLY GET THAT REFERENCE AND APPRECIATE IT WAY MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE!!!!
Example: A dude in my class today whose laughter wounded my eardrums when the prof merely mentioned Mitch Hedberg. Man, I know who he is too, but you don't see me practically doubled over just from the memory of old jokes. Go home and think about what you've done.

Here's some Hedberg. Next time you hear his name you too can bray like a donkey with the joy of recognition.

they are making my life into a movie

after having a book series spanning 5 books, peers creepily far into my future, i never expected them to make a movie.

This time, unlike the original author Sophia Kinsella who edited personal details so that people would think she was drawing on her own experiences, they are keeping the details accurate.

well basically just that I will live in new york.



to be honest i am not excited, i bet it will be disappointing. it is not even about high school.
i should just watch clueless, and meangirls one after another instead.

funny!

"thats not the 'mile high club', that's the '30 miles per hour club'"
-Molly

Gossip Girl Here!

hey tv lovers!
I have a new addiction, move over cafe moca's i have discovered Gossip Girl!

mostly i love the slimy Chuck Bass played by my new boyfriend Ed Westwick!
He is the ultimate Mean Girl! and yummy (in an ogre-ish way)



I justify my love for teen drama's by believing that high school is a time when it is okay to; perpetuate stereotypes, play mind games, and we are all allowed to make mistakes.
Shows about anything else frustrate me because of the ridiculous expectations they portray, and how they allow the rest of society to believe that stereotypes are a reality for adult life. It is inappropriate!


in conclusion Chuck Bass is almost as good as shoes.

xoxo
Rachel

I voted for Jack. What a jerk!

Breaking News! Record participation in my insightful poll! I've been up all night fretting through the numbers, and the results are finally in.

Which dubious fairytale hero do you dislike the most?

Gretel, who pushed the witch in the oven 20%

The spinning girl who broke her deal with Rumpelstiltskin 40%

Jack, who stole from and murdered the giant 40%


Fascinating. We may have to hold a run-off.

Montreal

FUNNY!

Two of the funniest things i have seen on the internet today!

What would your name be if Sarah Palin was your mother?

and also

FakeJackLayton

also they are both political! awesome.

Can someone translate this video for me?

How does it feel?

Tina Fey!

She is great.

Jokes

A: knock, knock,
B: Who's there?
A: September eleventh,
B: September eleventh who?
A: YOU SAID YOU WOULD NEVER FORGET!

The pressure is rising

Ra-shell and I have been noticing an increase of international visitors to our humble blog of late, which is a delightful and yet also alarming phenomenon in my mind. I can't help but think of all the brave Americans and sophisticated French reading our meagre offerings and thinking "poo!" or "bah." This image breaks my heart.

In a fit of insecurity I've turned to the Internet for sizzling blog ideas. Luckily I've found a website which offers

101 Great Posting Ideas That Will Make Your Blog Sizzle!

Hurrah! Time to apply these fantastic, blog-saving ideas and capture your loyalty forever!

Tip #1: Brainstorm by matching up your readers wants and needs.

Okay, apparently most people arrive here through spying on Rachel, and searching for "guy turn ons" Some of this material is already well covered. Here is my spy photo of Rachel, taken through a hole in a wall, which should satisfy your lurking needs.



Tip # 22: Be opinionated in your post.

I HATE AVOCADOS. ANYONE WHO DOESN'T IS STUPID.

Tip # 41: Invite experts to comment on your post.



Tip # 56: Pose a rhetorical question in your post.

To be or not to be?

Furthermore, what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry? Huh? Answer me that, readers.

Tip # 68: Do a post transcribing live events (e.g., Macworld conference).

Ah, live-blogging my regular blogging. Okay.

3:33: Look at my fingers fly as I type this sentence. I'm pausing for a second. I corrected a spelling mistake.

3:34: Readjusting my sitting position. Legs no longer tucked under body, but stretched out in all their glory.

3: 35: Itchy eyelids. Continue to type. Switching back to 101 Great Posting ideas to find another great idea.

3:37: Have selected another tip, "Run a poll and post the results of that poll."

3:37: Proceeding to enact tip.

Tip # 95: Run a poll and post the results of that poll.

Go vote!

Tip # 79: Create a post that has a cliff hanger to be answered in a later post.

Okay, now what can OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT BEHIND Y

To Be Continued

?

Degrassi Talks, but do they Listen?

I
On my eternally long train ride back from Montreal, I was forced to drown out the sound of the irritating children in front of me by listening to episode after episode of You Look Nice Today.
What a funny trio of men. I doubt they'd be to everyone's taste, but I think it's like being invited to hear clever strangers' hilarious inside jokes as they are being created.

In addition to YLNT and the occasional song, I also played an episode of Degrassi Talks! Once again, I find myself wanting updates on the lives of the Real Canadian Teens they interviewed about Real Teen Problems back in the early nineties. Did 16 year old Carole's son turn out okay? Did that guy teaching kids the correct use of condoms die of AIDS? Did the girl who played Spike ever meet her birth parents? Did the girl who'd had so many STDs that she became infertile end up adopting? I need answers! Why are they wasting resources on Degrassi the Next Generation when they could be making Degrassi Talks! Some More to the Same People a While Later

Music

Cailin and I were just looking at this BBC study I am a little confused because I like and listen to all types of music listed. Perhaps the only one I would say I am not a fan of is Reggae. Does that mean that I don't know myself and have all these conflicting personality types? Studies like this are a silly waste of time.

Cailin and I are both in Montreal for the weekend. Hopefully this will mean we will have some interesting things to write about.

like the guy we saw on a bike yesterday. The bike was souped up and and playing Electro music. We also eat Indian food in a Greek neighbourhood.