Well, I haven't posted in here in ages! But since my friend Dara is still doing the LJ thing and I've been haunting the communities still I thought I would revive the poor sucker. Which of course means I get to play with layouts! woot!

Hmm... I'm now going into my fourth year of University with an double major in History and English. Loving both subjects of course. Thinking about doing my Masters and PhD with a focus on literature as a form of social history. More than that and I'm like most Undergrads and have NO FREAKIN' clue! lol.

TV: Shark, CSI (the original), Eureka, Dr. Quinn (on DVD). I've dropped Atlantis because I just can't take it without Lizzie. Maybe I'll watch the entire thing in one fell swoop when I know what finally happens to her. But, can't do it now. Shark is absolutely fantastic and I love the chemistry between James Woods and Jeri Ryan. Haven't seen Eureka in a little while but as long as they keep Debrah Farentino on the show I'm happy. As for Dr. Quinn, who doesn't love Jane Seymour. 'Nuff said.

Books: Currently reading Northanger Abbey. I just can't get enough of Jane Austen. And to make that painfully obvious the next book on my list is The Jane Austen Book Club. Which has been turned into a fabulous movie which I think everyone should see.

Guess that's it. Toodles.

Starting up randomly with some questions about Simon and Atlantis fan fiction.

Why on Earth do people feel the need to make Simon into an abusive SOB? The only reason seems to be his rather sudden change of heart in Intruder (to which I did think Elizabeth was mistreated), but to go as far as saying he is abusive? Being abused or being the abuser is a serious offence and sometimes I wish people would not throw it around so lightly in fan fiction.

To me Simon seemed to be a loving, supportive, partner who Elizabeth genuinely loved, but had to leave behind because their lives were diverging. However, when she got the chance she did try and bring him with her; it was just too little, too late. When Elizabeth and Old Elizabeth talk about the Balkans negotiations in "Before I Sleep", I thought Simon was her protector and comforter during that period. Simon was the first person she went to see in "Home" and it was the feelings she got from him that told her something wasn't right. So, logically, she needs some basis as to what feels right if she can instantly tell that something is off.

It seems to me that it is being used as a plot device to get Elizabeth and John together and that just annoys me. (Like rape as a plot device... equally bad if not handled with extreme caution.) I think it is quite possible for a woman to love a man, but to realize their lives are not going in the same direction. That doesn't mean she loves him any less, but the nature of their relationship will fundamentally change. Can't that be enough of a reason for Simon and Elizabeth to part? Can we PLEASE stop writing Simon as abusive?

Thanks.

Please, this isn't a joke - pass it on!

( Missing Canadian Children - thought to be in either Sydney or Beirut )

Plaster this all over the net! The web is a powerful tool. When I get a link to the website, I'll post that too.

I'm doing some research on Net Neutrality for my job and I found out something interesting. If you are using Rogers High-Speed Internet they do throttle some of the ports that Bittorrent needs. However, Rogers leaves port 1720 unthrottled at the moment because it is the port that VoIP uses. So, that should let you use your high-speed internet to its full ability. I'm going to try it next time I download Stargate and we'll see if it works.

I feel like I'm back in school when I don't update forever. Sorry.

Update of RL ahead: Well, I'm almost through with my co-op and it's been an interesting experience. I thoroughly recommend it for anyone going through their first university degree. It definitely gives you a different work experience. Actually, I'm really enjoying how much more relaxed my work environment is to my prior retail jobs. And the fact that I am a lot more respected in my co-op job.

Off work I'm still running nightly and it feels great! My legs aren't hurting any more and today I felt like I was flying. (I didn't mean for that to sound so cheesy, but it's true!) I think everyone should take up some form of exercise in their daily routine.

Cheers!

Found an interesting blog on blogspot that I thought I would share with all my history/social sciences inclined friends. (And those who just want to learn interesting tidbits.) American Presidents Blog was created by Michael Lorenzen who is a librarian at Central Michigan University. It really interesting to check out.

For example: did you know that the largest currency denomination ever printed in the United States (but never generally circulated) was a 100,000 dollar note with Wilson's portrait on it. Now, considering American ideals for life, liberty and freedom doesn't that just make so much sense?

So, I'm self-imposing myself to a no-junk-diet (not because I think I'm fat but because I'm eating way to much of it) and I'm heading to Silvercity today to see X-Men 3 again.

The problem: Silvercity is like one of the only places where you can get Taco Bell in Ottawa! And I can't have it! This is so very unfair. But I will be true to my promise. NO MacDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King... any of the sort. Shit.

Okay, so I've been jogging daily for almost three weeks now and in the last week my calf muscles, shins, ankles, and knees have really started to hurt. Got to the point this week that I had to stop after about 6-8 minutes into a 20 minute run. I had to walk the rest of the way and it HURT! Of course this left me feeling bummed because I don't really feel like I got the exercise I wanted.

I've been talking to a few people and all seem to have different reasons why I'm feeling so much pain in the last week. Some say it's because I'm running on pavement, some say it's because my running shoes don't have enough cushioning, and some say I'm not stretching properly. I think it may be all of the above.

Anyway, my question is can someone suggest anything to me to help improve the situation? I really want to keep jogging as it makes me feel terrific when I get back in, but right now it is getting physically painful making me stop. So, suggestions on better shoes? Ways to run? How long I should be stretching for a 20 minute run on pavement? Stretching techniques?

Thanks

Happy Canada Day!!!

And to those in Ottawa: Go to the Hill and Go Crazy!

So, I think I got caught up in this.

( Nine arrested in debit card fraud ring )

I got this really scary phone message yesterday saying that my debit card information had been taken and that my bank had cancelled my debit card. The really scary thing happened when I got to work the next morning. My other two co-workers had the exact same thing happen to them. That means whatever scam we got caught in is around our work. Now, I have to go get a new debit card. Damn. But at least no money was taken from my account.

Oh, but wait! We aren't in Montreal. We are in Ottawa. Guess the nation's capital got hit also.

Snagged from irony_rocks

( So, I'm Ireland? )

Oh Boy, this was was amusing to say the least.

Even though I like reading fanfic, unless the story is bad!fic, and deliberately satirical, I don't like tv characters reading fanfic. Don't know why, but it bugs me to have the entire story revolving around a character reading ff. Am I being hypocritical?

One thing I love about my office is that we get weird little links in email. Basically, sites people have found and thought interesting enough to pass on. (Welcome to your bored public service! lol. Seriously, we do work sometimes.)

Anyway, here is another link I'm passing on. The flash clip is called Animator vs Animation! It is really well done and after you watch it we can try and figure out how he did it. My guess is lots and lots of print screens and Macromedia Fireworks. I recognize that toolbar! lol.

Here's the link: Animator vs Animation

So, after deciding that sitting around all day in an office (and eating too much crap) is making me gain weight, I decided to do something about it. And I refuse to diet. I will cut out the fast food cheeseburgers, but that isn't really dieting. That is just eaiting sensibly.

What I decided to do is take up a morning jog. Which means getting up at the ungodly hour of 6am to run around the block for 30minutes before I need to come back in, have a shower, and be off for the day. So, I'm going to need all the encouragement I can get to keep this up. Believe me, waking up in the morning is not something I like to do. Sigh. But it will make me feel better in the long run.

So, cheer me on!