Reboot! Reboot!

You know how when something unexpected happens on your computer and it gets all messed up and acts “wrong” until you reboot it? Well, I think it just happened to Leeta!

I had gone for a drive down the lane (along the edge of Rob's cornfields), and when I came back I was driving pretty fast because it's always fun when the tires are muddy. Because I'm running 44″ Boggers, it literally throws mud twenty feet or more into the air, plus there were some corn stalks on the front of the truck.

Anyway, Leeta was taking a crap in the middle of the driveway (thanks a lot) and when she saw me coming, she stopped, and instead of moving out of the way, she went into a spin — sort of like how some dogs do when they're chasing their tails… Or maybe like Homer Simpson when he walks/lies on the floor in a circle saying “woo woo woo woo”? Anyway, she didn't stop.

She literally kept doing it the whole time I was parking the truck and didn't stop until I came over and petted her and told her “it's ok”. Then she ran into the house and is now hiding in her crate (her safe zone)… I know I shouldn't think it was funny, but now I know what she does when totally unexpected input is thrown her way.

PS. Check out this hilarious picture on Midian2000's page…

So you want your 15 minutes…

Here are a few television requests I've gotten lately. If anyone is interested, feel free to contact them. I can't vouch (or un-vouch) for any of them, so make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.


Subject: TV Series looking for Subjects
From: Chris Williamson <chris.williamson@innercityfilms.ca>

Hi,

I just started working for a Gemini award-winning tv series called "Skin Deep" that explores the personal and social reasons people choose featured have been mainstream, including breast augments, liposuctions, tummy tucks, face lifts, etc. Since I am personally involved in the body modification scene I would like to make a case to the network to feature some alternative perspectives on beauty and modification practices. We were able to make a case for tattooing and brandings, now I would like to take it one step farther.

Would you be willing to pass on the word that we are looking for Torontonians and people living within an hour or so of the GTA who are interested in modifying their bodies (subincisions, corsetry, corset peircings, etc.) and telling their stories on camera?

Honorariums will be paid for the candidates stories and time.

With much thanks,

Phia


Subject: Extreme Surgery
From: "Berendsen, Anouk" <Anouk.Berendsen@granadamedia.com>

My name is Rachel Bloomfield and I am a producer/director for Granada Television in London. I'm currently making a documentary for the ITV network looking at extreme cosmetic surgery and am trying to find people who have had extreme surgery and surgeons who perform extreme surgery. I am particularly interested in people who want to look like animals. I wondered if you could help me with this?

Many thanks

Rachel Bloomfield


Subject: VH1 Special
From: "Thomas, Scott" <Scott.Thomas@vh1staff.com>

Dear BME,

I'm currently researching a one-hour special for VH1. The main theme is, of course, tattoos and body art, but we're specifically looking for stories that go against the usual tat stereotype. We're looking for incredible stories about the journeys (both physical and/or emotional) that people make, with the result being the tattoo.

I was wondering if you could post our info and our e-mail address on your website. This info is up on the VH1 website right now, but we could reach a much larger audience with your help. Here's the blurb to be posted:

"VH1 is looking for your tattoo tales for a new one-hour special. We want to hear about your life-changing journeys-past, present and future-which end with you in a tattoo artist's chair. Hilarious, heart-warming or just plain bizarre-the stories we're seeking should be unique personal odysseys that shed knew light on a culture commonly associated with bikers, rock stars and sailors on shore leave.

You've got that tattoo for the rest of your life. E-mail us at tattoo@vh1staff.com and tell us why."

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.

Sincerely,

Scott Thomas
VH1 Series & Specials

Slacking

OK, I've got to get to real work now… Fixing a couple old bugs in iam.alive, and then figuring out what my options are on the adult avatar issue. I want to re-run a series of slogan shirts, I just have to come up with some good ones that haven't already been used. Oh, and I just checked UPS tracking and the scrapbook files I think are in the truck and will be delivered shortly.

Gimme a poll…

I took this from Lullay's page, but I added a few things to it (I hope that's ok):

——————START NOW——————
* Starting Time: 12:09 am (Hey, I was doing other stuff too!)
* Nicknames: None (online I go by glider, but it's rare for me to go by anything but “Shannon” IRL)
* School: York University (BFa/Visual Arts program), University of Toronto (BSc/Artifical Intelligence program)
* Graduated? I left highschool with a 96% Grade 13/OAC average, but left both universities before completing my degrees.
* Colour of eyes: Blue/green
* Colour of hair as a child: Very light blonde
* Height: 6'2″
* Is your weight more or less than it was a year ago: Significantly less.
* Shoe Size: 12
* Brothers/Sisters: Younger brother and sister and two older half-sisters.
* Who lives with you: Rob, Jon, Jason, and of course Rachel
* Where have you lived (including extended stays with family/friends where you could call it “your house”)? Victoria, BC; Red Deer, AB; Big Island, ON; Miramichi, NB; LaHave, NS; Piladelphia, PA; Leil, Germany; Wapoos, ON; Toronto, ON; Tweed, ON.
* Parent's political stance: Mother: Leftist/socialist. Father: Pink Libertarian?
* When is your bedtime? When in Tweed, by midnight. When in Toronto, by about 3AM usually.
* When do you get up? When in Tweed, between 6 AM and 7 AM usually. When in Toronto, around 9AM usually.

——————HAVE YOU EVER——————
* Been so drunk you blacked out? Passed out? No. Didn't remember clearly what happened? All the time.
* Quit a job? No, the only time I left a job was from moving out of the country.
* Been fired from a job? Never.
* Kept a secret from everyone (tell it now if you can)? Probably not… I tend to be pretty open.
* Had an imaginary friend? Do stuffed animals count? If so, yes. Otherwise, no.
* Wanted to hook up with a friend? Yeah (and generally I do if I want to).
* Cried during a Movie? Yes, or at least close to it. Gattaca tugs the heartstrings for me, as does Whale Music.
* Had a crush on a teacher? Nope.
* Cheated at school? I view “cheating” in the same way as James Tiberius Kirk does.
* Ever thought an animated character was hot? Nope. Furries neither.
* Had a New Kids on the Block tape? No, but I have seen MC Hammer live.
* Been on stage? Of course.
* Cut your own hair? I've only went to have my hair cut once in my entire life (so yes, definitely).
* Been in a band? I played bass in a GNR cover band, and did various projects with friends.
* Had a supernatural experience? Yes, but I believe that they have “natural” (that is, true and logical and verifyable) causes.
* Been institutionalized? Three times, all involuntary (and a long time ago) and unneeded. It's a large part of the reason I distrust the medical profession.
* Been sarcastic? I pity the person who never has been.

——————FAVORITES——————
* Day/Night: I don't think I could like one without the other.
* Summer/Winter: I only don't like some of the transitional periods because they're hard on my joints.
* Lace, satin, or burlap: Burlap — it's carnal are real.
* Fave Cartoon Character: Ed the Happy Clown
* Fave Shampoo: I like mint and tea tree based products.
* Fave Soap: See above.
* Fave Colour: I like all colours. Seriously. It's important to me to be able to appreciate all things in their full depth and I believe that arbitrary favorites detract from that process.
* Fave Hairstyle: Long and interesting.
* Fave Language (other than your own, and say why): Inuktitut, because of the way it allows you to express abstract states of being.
* Fave Food: I have a sincere weakness for cheap tacos.
* Fave Advertisement: I don't watch ads any more; in fact, I barely watch TV.
* Fave Ice Cream: I don't eat ice cream.
* Fave Subject: Political homesteading, free expression rights, personal spiritual exploration.
* Fave Drink: Tea (all but Orange Pekoe).
* Fave Animal: Blue whales, because they are big and gentle and live in a world of sliding textural dreams.
* Fave Spice: Sage, Garlic, Ginger.

————-RIGHT NOW——————
* Wearing: Olive pants, one white sock and one black one, boxers with numbers on them, and an old TEAM BME shirt with bleach stains on it.
* Wallet/purse is made of: Leather (it was a gift ages ago).
* Hair is: Clean and growing.
* I'm feeling: Alive and awake.
* Eating: Rachel just made some amazing vegan breakfast burritos.
* Drinking: Tazo Chai tea (Thanks, Meg)
* Thinking: About class warfare (for an article I'm writing)
* Watching: The last TV show I watched was two hours of promos for the Jackass movie.
* Listening to (last three songs): Ordinary World (Duran Duran), Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man (Joan Baez), NoMeansNo (I'm an asshole).
* Sitting on: A cheap but comfortable high-back black office swivel chair.
* Talking to: This person
* Who in your family are you most compared to by others and why: Maternal grandfather, because he's considered a “dark and troubled artist and scientist”.
* Who in your family do you think you are most like and why: Father, because I look just like him and have followed his life path almost to the letter.
* Name three IAM members you respect, and why: Jason (because he keeps a level head in ethically/emotionally complicated situations), Ed (because he has courage), Blair (because he has restraint, ethics, and talent). I could go on with this list forever — there are so many people on IAM that I have deep respect for. This is a very impressive bunch of people.

Bowling Pix 1/2

This is the first entry of two with pictures from the BME Bowling Party in Toronto on October 26, 2002. Most of these photos were taken by Rachel. If they're of you, feel free to use them on the page or wherever!