October 30th:
So, my first reaction when someone asks, "What kind of animal are you?" is, "I -am- an animal." Really, people are animals! But I still can't resist tests like this one that will tell you your "animal personality."

I came up as fox:
The fox tempers its serious nature with a sardonic sense of humour and engaging playfulness while interacting with its eclectic community. It expects others to be as honest about their strengths and shortcomings as it is of its own, and while these high expectations don't make the fox a snob, it expects its friends to first demonstrate their worthiness before returning the favor with loyalty and devotion.

or horse:
Horses are those strong, capable people that breeze through life with envious ease. But a closer look at these free-spirited personalities finds surprisingly complicated individuals that are sensitive to criticism and hate to be ignored.

Sensitive, playful, gregarious, complicated, smart, creative, conversational, sometimes annoying or off-putting... they got all that from five questions? Yipe.

October 29th:
The little artbook I made Java Sutra, is now scanned in with some others from the lofi trade this season. They're all good and I'm finally feeling (almost) worthy of the books and zines I get in return.

October 25th:
Since I'm about to move to Pittsburgh I've been reading the Post-Gazette and today read a story about someone vandalizing a Jewish cemetery and burning flags (from Veteran's graves!). What the hell is wrong with people?

Caretaker Robert McKivitz said, "I don't know how anybody can do this. The poor people are dead," and I wonder if he means the people buried there or the vandals.

October 24th:
So I've tried to write stuff about what happened on September 11th, and what's happened since then, but it all comes out either cliche or way too wordy. I really wish I could capture -something- about what happened in an original way without rambling for eight paragraphs.

Not like an artist, who can give you one image and say a million things in such a way that it leaves you feeling turned inside-out. What Paper Soul did with this image and then this one are almost harrowing. Definitely moving and powerful.

October 23rd:
My one good essay, Manic Mama, got reprinted at Austin Mama this week and I'm excited, and inspired to update it. Well, not update -it-, but write a separate update.

Also I wrote a piece for Suite101 about where to get news outside the box. (I know -- the computer monitor is still a box but television is "the" box, isn't it?) Anyway, the writing is dorky but the links are very good.

October 21st:
Wow. Take this quiz and see if you can tell the difference between quotes from Jerry Falwell/Pat Robertson and quotes from Usama bin Laden. Scary.

October 20th:
Okay, read about Mama Kitty and her three kitties who survived in the rubble of the WTC and try not to cry. I didn't even finish reading the first sentence before my eyes started watering.

October 18th:
Okay, I know everyone wants to be safe and airlines need to be more cautious, right? But this is so over the freaking top and outta control I can't believe it. Stupid and scary. Was he carrying any sort of weapon, did he appear dangerous or nervous? No. He was simply putting something in his mind that freaked them out.

If I ever get on a plane again I'm carrying Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Brave New World, Ecotopia and Anarchism for Dummies.

Okay, I made up the last one, but someone should write it, dammit.

October 17th:
Do I have a secret friend? Someone sent me Martin Kratt's high school photo and someone (maybe the same person?) sent me the latest issue of hipMama. I'm hoping a pound of Kona Coffee is next....

October 16th:
I must be dreaming. Ontario Premier Mike Harris resigns? Spots appeared before my eyes when I first read this, followed quickly by goosebumps. Whoever is responsible for this "Common Sense Revolution" has my sincere thanks.

Okay, sure, another Tory will replace him, but let me enjoy this before I have to think about that....

October 12th:
Burger King workers burn feet:

Dana Frydman, vice president of product marketing for Burger King, was injured but had no regrets about the event she helped organize. "It made you feel a sense of empowerment, and that you can accomplish anything."

Ocotber 10th:
Did I tell you how sad I am that Mademoiselle is going under? No, really.. what will we do without one more magazine advertising cigarettes and leaving us feeling fat, unmotivated and imperfect? Hmm, maybe pick up a copy of Bitch (or Bust) instead.

October 9th:
Must read -- Getting Inked at Chicklit! Ooh, aren't those some good looking girls? Er, women.

Rush Limbaugh loses his ability to hear, but as we all know he lost his ability to listen -years- ago...

Here's a tip: When crossing into a country that's been recently terrorized do not just happen to have a copy of the Pakistan Star in your backseat. Yes, all in Arabic.

Happy Birthdays to John and Larry. I miss both of you.

I'm sure everyone in the afterlife is reading my weblog...

October 5th:
Last night I had a dream about Eric Lindros. What is that about? He needed to go talk to some of the Avs before a game and I was going to help him -- like I was his PR rep or something. I even had to explain how deeply I disliked him, but he ended up being a nice guy, I helped him give his speech to the Avs and it was all okay.

We were supposed to meet up after the game for drinks and smooching, but Brian called and woke me up. How'd he know?

October 2nd:
Toddler Found Safe in Bear's Den After 3 Days. But I want to know, did the bear family cry like they did on The Simpsons when Maggie had to go back with her family?

Scrubs is my new favorite thing on tv. It's too good for television where good things never last. I predict it will be cancelled before Hallowe'en.

October 1st:
Welcome to the new layout, but of course it's not quite right yet, is it? Oh well. Expect some more tweaks.

Brian answers the unanswerable.