act of god

My best friend in the world

On recommendation, I picked up a documentary called 'Act of God' directed by Jennifer Baichwal, who has more notably directed another documentary called 'Manufactured Landscapes'. 

Before I get in to my thoughts on Act of God, I'd like to point out a funny figure from IMDb. In the films opening week it made 522 bucks. I haven't bothered to research the budget on the film, but it looks so clean yet the shots have a raw and kind of grainy quality to them. Of course there is a lot of 'home' footage used in the film... wait.. why am I talking about this? I really don't know a god damn thing about moviefilm making... RAMBLE ON!

The documentary addresses the stories of several different people who have been struck by lightning and how they view their own experience. In depth, the film manages to take in account the full spectrum of reason. From gods of lightning and thunder to simple chance, the abstract principles or metaphysical effects are carefully addressed. While some stories of these 'acts' appear playful at moments, there is a general tone of despair from each representative, even if they have put this act in the hands of god or state they have come to terms with the event. To be blunt, they all seem pretty fuckin' bummed out to me, forever changed. 

I'll never be good at writing about movies, so be it. I was captivated by this one, so... dearest reader, all zero of you - if you get a chance, check it out. It looks and sounds great, it highlights our biggest questions in life, but in the framework of a lightning strike. 

Act Of God on IMDb

I decided to skip bootcamp today. Feeling pretty run down lately, had an intense hockey game last night, have the 'monday nighter' tonight. The Monday Nighter involves an informal game of hockey with folks who are leagues better than me, so I have to skate a lot harder to get involved in the game. Its a ton of fun, and a good challenge for me. 

In lieu of the gym, I am going to do 45 minutes of core exercises, some weights, and walk over to the liquor store. yup. 

Deaden (a band I'm in) is playing a show February 8th at War on Music with our pals Scab Smoker and Wolbachia. It should be a great show. We'll be playing some new stuff that I am pretty excited about. 

Started a new project with my good buddy "Joe" called Winding Shadows, the writing process is getting some legs, I'm hopeful for another good jam on Wednesday.

I'm fairly certain there are better words out there that will better describe my knowledge on current state of Egypt. It seems to have 'calmed' to a degree, and if the fear of being shot seems to be slowly dissipating quickly leads to my opinion of 'things calming' then I've already given some commentary on the amount of life and death situations I have faced in my life. There have been a couple, however in no instance have I had the barrel in site so to speak. Anyways, it appears that groups of young people have formed in the absence of police to monitor entrance in to their communities. My distrust and hope for the nature of humankind is at war inside my tiny brain right now. My distrust stems from where power draws us, my hope tells me that finally... fucking finally this is happening, a community in the hands of people. 

Aljazeera in English

I really just don't know what I am talking about. 

youtube music for today:

Kate Bush

waiting for the shower

I've enrolled myself in a fitness bootcamp. Why? 

There a couple of main points, the first being that I have stumbled upon injury on a few occasions over the last few months and I am simply not healing as fast I used to. 

At a certain the point the body just is no longer interested in what the mind thinks it should, I think this vessel of mine is at that crossroads. 

Secondly, I just want to be more able. I have found myself saying 'no' to various adventures over my adult life because I am fearful that my body won't be able to keep up or handle the pressure. I was lucky enough to be born with a respiratory system that is decent, limbs that are functional, and a brain that can do most simple math problems and the occasional cross word - hell, I've even made it through a shotty college course with honours. I guess I am learning that there is just no sense in wasting this privilege. 

That all said, there is a mental toughness that I need to acquire... or rather build on. I've missed one class now as result of a my idiocy and forgetfulness, other than that I've been to all classes. Today, to be honest, I feel a little bit discouraged as I was unable to do some of the exercises. Simply do not have the physical ability... yet. yet! This is a process and its going to take some time, probably more than six weeks of boot camp, and I just really need to be O.K with that. Being O.K with it to a degree, there is a necessary push that has to come from the mind that I am admittedly often lacking. Whether it be at the gym, on the ice, or even in life matters generally. Enrolling for school, budgeting, reading books instead of floating between facebook and hockey highlights... these things just have to happen, yet I find myself avoiding and/or finding ways to not do them. Time to get tough, and time to see a counsellor!

Today at class our warm consisted of: Sprinting up the stairs x3, after that, more stairs with five push ups between each level. We did this about six times. After that we began our circuit, which consisted of 60 skipping jumps, 15 push ups, 15 kettle bell things, 15 arm kettle lifts, 20 lunges - we did this three times. After that we ended with some core exercises... and this is where I got discouraged. I could do the russian twists, but had trouble with the toe touches (lie on yer back, feet to the sky, and touch 'em), and boat rockers. 

The solution to this is to stretch more and start working those core muscles I guess. Fuuuuuck.

Next time I write on here it will be about music or something. something less jocky. 

In the meantime: If you are a dude, or know a dude who is terrified of crying, interested in domestic violence (they oughta be!), and gender analysis, power role analysis. Check this out, it might be a good starter. This is a link to part one, there are nine. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP1ACIUHhp4&feature=related

on the music front:

U.S Maple