For those of you out there are wondering about the history of Hallowe'en, just follow the link. I found it very interesting reading as it involves the Celts and Druids originally.

Have a happy, and safe, Hallowe'en everyone!

I discovered a new blog today. It is the blog of Yasmin the Storyteller. It is insightful and if you get a chance, you should take a look...

I finally got around to seeing Shaun of the Dead last night and I must say I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I nearly choked to death from laughing so much.

If you haven't seen it yet and you don't have a weak stomach (because after all it IS a zombie movie... you've got to expect some grotesque images) you should check it out.

Not much new here but I thought I had better post in case you were beginning to lose interest.

Am still trying to follow the news about the earthquake in Niigata, Japan that happened this weekend. The latest mentions airlifting the stranded people out of areas that cannot be reached by other means. The worse thing about this is that outside new sources don't seem to have much information or at least they are not giving us important information. I found out because my friend's mother texted him from Japan on his multi-zone mobile. I also got notification from a friend south of Yokohama that she felt one of the quakes that far south.

I find that the human network is getting news to us faster than the conventional news sources. Funny, don't you think? Makes me believe that we'd be better off without television sometime. Most of our news now contains information mainly about the upcoming US election and the fact that a local company is offering a package fee for Americans to come up here and get flu shots because their own government doesn't have enough.

To tell the truth, I have had enough of this kind of thing. Their government have treated us like a supply truck as far as hydroelectric power and have tried to rip us off by imposing illegal tariffs on our softwood lumber and now when that same government doesn't have the foresight to have enough flu vaccine, we are taken advantage of once again. What happens when we run out?

(You know what I wonder? How is it that Mr. Bush conveniently didn't include Canada in his list of "Friends of the United States" when our government did the wise thing and didnt' back his "war" yet he doesn't stop his constituents from crossing the border for flu vaccine. I mean, after all, we could be injecting them with tainted vaccine...)

What really gets my knickers in a knot is these companies that are making money out of it this kind of hysteria. One of these is the a certain Victoria/Seattle ferry service. Why? Because they are offering round-trip fares to people and when they get here, they get a flu shot. It is supposed to be that people getting flu shots are supposed to be under the care of a Canadian doctor for a minimum amount of time before they are eligible for these shots but somehow, that all goes out the window when arrangements are created. Many Canadians feel that this is just unfair. As a result of this company's actions, I will be boycotting them and encouraging others to do the same.

That said, I don't really believe in flu shots because I think they weaken the body's natural resistance to illness. Look where we are people! Our food supply has so little value that we are told we need injections to help us get cured.

When did we let this happen? Our meat is pumped full of hormones to make the supplies larger and full of antibiotics to keep it disease-free, our vegetables are full of pesticides to make them bug-free and preservatives to make them last longer. Do you know why we are all a lot bigger than generations before us? The hormones in our food are making us that way. I am not talking of just obesity, I also think that we are a lot taller that generations before.

I say that we become more proactive. We wouldn't need the flu shots if we had an untainted food supply. Let's quit thinking about how convenient life has become and break free from the complacency that has caused the situation to get this way. Speak up everyone. It's your future that hangs in the balance! Make some sacrifices to create better lives for ourselves! And we might just put the planet into a much better balance in the long run.

Some of the things that come to mind are striving to get a more nutritious and stable food source, stop the materialism that plagues developed and developing countries and finally, get out of your cars. Fossil fuels are not the answer!

(Speaking of fossil fuels, I just wanted to add that I went to see I heart Huckabees last weekend. Along with Mark Wahlberg's character's obsession with petroleum, it was pretty funny.)

Anyway, back to the rant...

I just believe that we all have the power to make change. This is particularily relevant in light of next week's US presidential election. I, and many Canadians, are hopeful that the people there will vote for change. I don't know how good or bad Mr. Kerry is but he certainly can be no worse than the lying, warmongering individual that currently sits in the seat of power.

Just before I sign off, can anyone out there say that they weren't surprised when they released the information about faulty intelligence in respect to the WMDs in Iraq? I mean, without that original statement saying that they existed, the war in Iraq would not have gotten any backing from the "friends of the US". Pretty convenient excuse, don't you think?

Tell me what you think!

I know that it's a bit early for dressing up but I saw this today and wanted to send it out to you.

I don't know if this will work but please check out this Hallowe'en greeting. Just click on the link and follow the prompts. I think it only stays for 30 days so you might not be able to see it after that.

Just a note that you will need to have sound to get the full effect. However, not too loud because it might freak people out.

Last night, while I was walking back home from photographing the charred remains of Happy Valley school which was levelled by fire last week, I saw the strangest thing. I saw a squirrel.

Okay, so seeing a squirrel wasn't so strange except that it was crawling across a vertical wall. How was it holding on, you might ask? Well, it was clinging on the the stucco surface of this house. I have never seen anything like this. It looked like it had been stuck on with velcro however it was able to move quite nimbly.

I was amazed. At first I thought it was a Hallowe'en decoration but soon learned that I was wrong.

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Tom Waits is playing in Vancouver tonight. While I am not a big fan of his, (and I really appreciate that there are those out there that ARE big fans) I must say that it brought a smile to my face. Why? Because there was a long line of people WAITING to see Tom Waits. In fact, they even had a sign that said something like "This line for Tom Waits"...

What I would like to know is there anything that this particular Tom waits for?

(Sorry Rasmus, I am not trying to make fun of this artist, I just saw a bit of irony in his name... I suppose that it's not lost on a lot of people)

Ciao all! Hope that you had a great weekend!

PS. At the time I experienced seeing the queue for T.W., I found myself guilty of the very thing that I talked in my previous post. I don't know what came over me!

What is it with people who smile to themselves? Not just a casual smile but one that looks like they are ready to burst out in some sort of maniacal laughter. I find it just a little unnerving.

Yesterday, I was in Vancouver's Chinatown and stopped to eat lunch in some Hong Kong-style restaurant when, sitting across from me was a solitary man who was eating his lunch. This man was eating his lunch, looking around the restaurant and smiling this weird smile. His eyes were laughing but not in a cute way. I kept thinking that he was amused that there was a white girl in the place but I don't know. Just before I left, he started talking to a woman who was sitting next to me. I never did figure out what was going on as they were speaking Chinese together.

I have to laugh at that kind of situation. It was funny that I didn't understand in a city where primarily English is spoken. It reminds me of being in a country where English is not spoken but without the expense of flying there.

That's what is so great about cities like Vancouver. You can go on an exotic holiday and not have to worry about travelling a long time nor the exchange rates.

Our teacher and the founder and head of 3HO has died. Yogi Bhajan, who brought kundalini yoga to North America, passed away on October 6, 2004 in New Mexico. He will be missed however we will continue on.

In case you haven't heard, Mount St. Helens is threatening to erupt. I was fifteen when it happened last time. I could hear the blast here.

I suppose that I will soon have to change the date for my Mount St. Helens eruption party which happens on May 18.

I managed to survive the weekend and have emerged knowing that "old age" really does have it's advantages...

Our world is full of the desire to retain youth but to tell the truth, I think that I prefer the wisdom of experience than the naivety of youth. Beauty is found within. This weekend made it apparent that the person that I am now, is more confident and worldly.

I wouldn't trade it for anything!

I think that we should make it a personal goal to embrace our experience and work towards convincing others of this.

Dave W.:

If you are reading this, please take a look at this site about recycling in Wales. I haven't had much time to look at it but I would love your opinion on it.

Thanks to yummy wakame for the original link to recycling in the UK.

Sincerely,
lola

You know, since the eighties, David Sylvian has been one of my favourite artists. I was at a Virgin megastore a couple of weeks back and found a copy of his most recent album but at $42 CDN, I passed on the opportunity to buy it. Last night, I heard one of his songs on a new radio station and thought that I would check out his official website and I am glad that I did.

I have never seen him live but have followed his career with great interest. He has collaborated with many talented artists and musicians and by keeping track of that, I have expanded my musical boundaries. It is truly inspiring to see that artist like this still exist.

His interest in Japan influenced his career and the band that he was a part of at the time. Myself, I was becoming more interested in Asia as well. Although the lyrics of the songs they produced were less than cheerful, I felt a "click" with the ideals that I had. It really influenced the person that I became.

While going through Sylvian's website, I came across mention of Masakatsu Takagi, who is working with W+K Tokyo Lab. W+K's website is amazing! Right down to their philosophies! They are a music label concept allowing creativity to flow. David Sylvian himself has created a new label called Samadhi Sound and it's philosophy is also quite inspiring.

On my journey through David Sylvian's website, I found myself reassured in respect to self. It had a very new feel as well as a nostalgic side to it. It's funny that where we come from shapes what we have become. We can never go back but the memories are still there.

All of this makes me feel so inspired today. I think that not only my perusal of these sites has contributed to this though. I would especially like to thank GS who, after a evening of food and photographs and insightful discussion has helped me to once again feel that "today is a great day!" I hope that you all know it as well.