Fragile February 26, 2008
Posted by ohdearanotherusername in Artsy Fartsy, Eyefood, Friends.1 comment so far
My friendships are too often grimly serious affairs.
Each joke, each question
a fickle gust of wind
that could flatten this house of cards.
I weigh each card so carefully
before reaching out
to place it,
building a relationship with a feather-light touch.
I hold my breath at a smile
or a confidence,
revelling in this moment of easy camaraderie
but fearful of its passing
and the risk that it may never return.
They are slow, tottering structures,
these friendships,
with little to hold them up,
not because I don’t care,
but because I care too much.
Surface tension February 22, 2008
Posted by ohdearanotherusername in Good Intentions, Randomness, Wordwise.add a comment
surface tension’s the only thing
keeping my fingers gently clinging
to this cup of ginger-honey tea
The words “surface tension” have got a lot of potential. I mean, surface tension is not only an interesting scientific fact, but it could be a metaphor for many things. And the words “surface tension” evoke all sorts of themes: conflict, superficiality, the depth of our relationships with others, barriers… Someone could write something good from those words. They’ve got a lot of potential. But that person won’t be me right now, cause I’m sick. And I just feel like mindlessly consuming ideas, instead of baking them.
Creatures full of eyes all around February 16, 2008
Posted by ohdearanotherusername in Appartment, Food, Funny.add a comment
We clearly do not eat potatoes often enough at this appartment.
La OLF s’en prend aux décorations dans une brasserie irlandaise February 15, 2008
Posted by ohdearanotherusername in Brainfood, Current Events, Montreal, Society.add a comment
Je suis bien d’accord qu’il faut promouvoir la langue française au Québec. Mais est-ce que l’Office québécois de la langue française s’y prend vraiment de la bonne façon?
Le 6 février 2008, l’OLF a donné des ordres à la brasserie McKibbons Irish Pub (une taverne bien connue de Montréal) d’ôter leurs affiches décoratives de bières importées de l’Irlande parce qu’elles sont en violation de la section 58 de la Charte de la langue française :
58. L’affichage public et la publicité commerciale doivent se faire en français.
Ils peuvent également être faits à la fois en français et dans une autre langue pourvu que le français y figure de façon nettement prédominante.
Toutefois, le gouvernement peut déterminer, par règlement, les lieux, les cas, les conditions ou les circonstances où l’affichage public et la publicité commerciale doivent se faire uniquement en français ou peuvent se faire sans prédominance du français ou uniquement dans une autre langue.
Tout ça c’est bien beau, mais vous ne trouvez pas ça un peu ridicule? L’OLF s’attaque à une brasserie irlandaise pour ses affiches décoratives! Tu vois un inspecteur de l’OLF rentrer dans un resto chinois et demander que les caractères chinois sur leurs décorations soient enlevés parce qu’ils ne sont pas traduits en français?
Il y a une part à faire pour protéger et promouvoir la langue française au Québec, mais il y a des limites. Et une de ces limites vient encore d’être franchie : la frontière entre l’amour de sa propre langue et la crainte de la diversité. Je suis parmi ceux qui croient qu’une des richesses de Montréal, c’est sa diversité ethnique et culturelle. Mais des mesures absurdes comme s’attaquer à une taverne irlandaise parce que son décor n’est pas bilingue ne feront qu’aliéner l’affection potentielle de gens pour la langue française.
Que le gouvernement arrête de chicoter sur des “infractions” insignifiantes à sa charte et qu’elle se concentre à la place sur des moyens de promouvoir la langue française de façon positive!
En attendant, je crois que l’OLF se fait des ennemis. Pas très brillant.
Must share the lol February 14, 2008
Posted by ohdearanotherusername in Eyefood, Funny, Netwise.1 comment so far
I just discovered “lolcats.” And I have been chuckling ever since.
Where was the joy before lolcats?
moar humorous pics
Where was the happiness before lolcats?
moar humorous pics
Where was the LOL before lolcats?
moar humorous pics
Visit Icanhascheezburger.com to see what I’m cackling about.
One last one to get it out of my system.
moar humorous pics
Book shelves February 13, 2008
Posted by ohdearanotherusername in DIY, Eyefood.add a comment
Here’s a photo of the bookshelves I made for my room (so my Grandpa can see them). I followed a how-to someone posted at the Instructables website.
I bought some sturdy hardcover books from a used bookstore. Then I cut them up a bit and screwed in L-brackets. Then screwed them to the wall. When you stack up your books, the L-brackets are hidden and it looks like just a stack of books clinging to the wall. Fun.
The project took a few days as there was gluing involved, but it’s very doable if anyone wants to try it out.
Vending machine inflation February 11, 2008
Posted by ohdearanotherusername in Work.add a comment
The vending machine at work has raised its prices! I like saying it that way, as if the machine is a thinking entity out to get me. Candy bars now cost $1.30 instead of $1.25! Not only is this a shocking example of the corporate greed of vending machines, but it is really not practical because who wants to fiddle with the nickles and dimes you need to reach 30 cents? 25 was a nice-and-easy quarter. Hrumph. What a gyp!
Thank goodness there’s “Saki’s depanneur,” as we cubicle-dwellers have dubbed it. One of my coworkers has stocked up her cubicle in manner of convenience store, with chips, chocolate, gummy bears, etc. She sells them for $1, much less than vending machine. Also, she gives profit to Centraide. This makes the temptation to buy sweets much easier to swallow as it’s “for a good cause.”
But she doesn’t sell my favourite KitKat bars. Oh, the despair!
Read a previous installment of the vending machine saga
