the pod bay door

This was a good weekend, a sad weekend. Sad because of the space shuttle tragedy. Good because I spent time on Saturday night having fun with friends, ate a damn fine dim sum today, saw The Pianist, the amazing new movie from Roman Polanksi (note: site is in French), and enjoyed a 90 minute full-body massage on Saturday afternoon. The weather warmed up as well, making life easier to take for a change.

The Pianist is based on the true story of Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who lived in Warsaw at the time of the German occupation in WWII. He escapes deportation to the death camps, lives for a time in the Warsaw ghetto, and then escapes, living in the ruins of the city until the war’s end. The movie features a career performance by New York actor Adrien Brody, in the title role. Attention to detail is meticulous, especially scenes of deserted neighbourhoods in Warsaw, devestated by bombs and artillery. It was in such a neighbourhood that Szpilman hid to survive.
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Possibly on the verge of WW3, should we be concerned that Wal-Mart is the world’s largest employer, with 1.3 million workers, and that it has an enormous impact on the US economy? Are Canadians on the verge of turning into a Wal-Mart Nation, like the US? There’s one down the road from my house, and I do shop there too.

From Derryl‘s site comes this bloody brilliant way to deal with junk mail, including credit card applications.

I had acupuncture on my tennis elbow today (which, contrary to a previous entry, is on my left arm.) This was my first time, and it was interesting. It was administed by the physical therapist working on my injury. Tonight it feels a wee bit better.

I’ve been in a crabby, poopy mood for a few days. (What, you’re saying? Is that any different from any other day?) Anyway, I think the planets converged and All Things Annoying hit me at the same time, heightened by the constant pain in my left arm. I’m looking forward to drinks after work tomorrow with BAWK (Bi-weekly After Work Club), and on Saturday, a full body massage at noon, and friends over in the evening for an Outer Limits Pizza Party. We’ll be watching episodes from the original series.

It warmed up here today for the first time in weeks. By warm, I mean 4C. And it felt great. Tonight I’m as restless as ever.

Courtesy of Fiona comes this interesting link to a story about how eBay is changing how some academics conduct their research. One of my responsibilities as a librarian is to instruct students in research and library skills. That scholars and researcher would be searching eBay for material relevant to their work was something I had not considered until now.

Just returned from the fascinating movie Narc. A suspended narcotics officer is asked to participate in the investigation of the murder of a police officer. Ray Liotta plays the slain policeman’s partner, and Jason Patric is the suspended officer assigned to the case. Not your typical buddy movie by any stretch of the imagination.

Yesterday at the Power Plant, in the midst of our giddiness, we tried inventing new band names. The one that had us laughing the most was Botox Nutsack. Have you invented any good band names?

Risking a name drop, Derryl sent me notice that William Gibson has a blog. I’ve added it to my list to the right. It’s fascinating reading from a complex individual who is credited with inventing cyberspace. Read his first entry. And the name drop? Derryl and I know Gibson as Bill, not William. I’ve known him since the early 80s, before he published anything. I haven’t seen him since his tour for Virtual Light brought him through Edmonton. So, forgive me this moment of self-indulgence, but check out his writing.

My brother Chris finally made it onto Big Sandy’s photo page (check the bottom of the page). Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys were a huge hit at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival in August 2002, and Big Sandy himself is a consumate gentleman and all-around nice guy!

I am a little more upbeat of late, despite the cold and the dark of January, and the insanity of university this time of year. I delivered two well-received research skills/library resources lectures to two materials engineering design classes this week, with more to come next week in civil and environmental, and another materials class. I feel much satisfaction when I know I’ve reached at least one student and helped them to understand and develop information literacy skills.

My friend Jen has the ability to write bits for her blog and then solict comments up the wazoo. Check her site and read the entries Love Circles and SUV Redux. (Jen, when are you going to add Permalinks!?)

Happy New Year to everyone! Begin your 2003 by reading the “28th annual ‘extreme’ List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness, which the world needs ‘now, more than ever.’” The 2002 list is still applicable and relevant, especially the note on “9-11” “9-1-1”, the use of which I’ve railed against since September 11, 2001. All the lists are here.

2003 is the year I turn 50. I can’t believe it. I’m still wrapping my small mind around it. It feels very, very strange, and at the same time, it feels like nothing. But it’s a benchmark year in a person’s life, and already I’m wasting time going the motions of evaluating all I’ve done up the now. *sigh* I know, age is just a number.

Anyway, my best to all who read this little blog. Thanks for visiting my site, and the very best to you in 2003.