.:: {cerebral _ wasabi} ::.

Vatican's chief astronomer says it's OK to believe in aliens:

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:45:10 GMT

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080513/science/science_vatican_aliens

NIN remixes

Wed, 14 May 2008 21:34:29 GMT

"WELCOME TO REMIX.NIN.COM., an interactive community for creating, sharing, and listening to nine inch nails remixes."
>> http://remix.nin.com/

I wouldn't be surprised if every one of these remixes turned up on CSI:NY over the next few years; TheEchoingGreen from MP3.Com's glory days struck gold [so why not a series of kick-ass NIN mixes]? Finding this was a godsend.

We are blessed indeed.

The Kids in the Hall - Night of the Living Dead chase sequence

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:31:52 GMT

Canadian news > "Ontario government ending discrimination with historic agreement: Métis"

Mon, 12 May 2008 23:07:11 GMT

News article from the Métis Nation of Ontario website (Tuesday, April 8, 2008).

http://tinyurl.com/4fvr4n

Silent Hill 2.

Mon, 12 May 2008 02:28:44 GMT

In other news, SH2 is the scariest, most thrilling game I have ever known. It's even frightening to go through as a "wing-man", dispatching the walk-through. It's scarier, even, than any movie I've ever seen -- partly because the overall time spent is so much longer. As it is, Birna and I are about 7 1/2 hours in, and deep below a lake in a series of lock-ups (first a mental hospital and then a terrible prison). We're so far down, I am surprised that there is even air to breathe... The entirety of Silent Hill, including the journey into [Hell perhaps], is overrun by demons which we assume used to be former town residents, prisoners, hospital staff, and patients. But whom they once were doesn't matter as there is no trace of anything remotely human about them. They are truly monsters and will freak you right out.

The only one who trumps the rest for ability to inspire panic and shrieking is Pyramid Head. He seems to move throughout Silent Hill's various territories far more quickly than one would think possible, and will disappear for long periods of time. This, of course, only means that he is just as alarming to meet again the next time. He seems to be king of both horror and desecration here.

Of the monsters, I couldn't tell you whom is my favourite. For the past year or so, preceding my actual exposure to the game, I've placed Nurse (cutely nicknamed "Silent Nurse" by some) on an odd type of pedestal for her wonderful adeptness in the category of "Sexy-Creepy". Now, though, I have to say that her lack of evident personality is a bit of a turn-off. Maybe she does have one and it is simply that the creators of the game chose not to show us... but I do wish that they had. :/ In her favour, I can say that Nursie doesn't strike any bimbo poses, use sexualised weapons, or demonstrate lingerie... she just comes daringly close with a pin-up style uniform.

Expect a lack of face on all baddies to make you twitch throughout the game.

Pyramid Head gives us little glimpses into the concept that he is a thinking character, though I will warn you, if you have not seen the game, that it is not at all pretty what things we discover him doing for fun. The other monsters are tame in comparison, and seek nothing for themselves.

The aesthetic appeal of Silent Hill 2 is phenomenal, as I've understood through various websites it is in all SH-related media. :) I can't wait to see the other games and watch the movie!

By the way, for those of you who are already fans of this way freaky series, the 3D chat client IMVU has a few talented designers who have created their own SH-inspired offerings as a sign of fandom. You can join the network for free and either "purchase" these products with free credits, or outright buy them with real life money. Currently available are scary nurses, Pyramid-like outfits for both male and female avatars, as well as ghastly environments to give you that "What have I gotten myself into?" cozy feeling. :)

Online shopping to fall in love with.

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:28:03 GMT

Orient Touch:
http://www.orienttouch.com/index.php?page=all

Elvis Costello...

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:09:51 GMT

"When I Was Cruel":

Dave Edmunds, 80's Rockabilly

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:09:03 GMT

"Girls' Talk": The first Rockabilly song I ever heard. I was 5 and hooked. Some folks claim that it's actually a cover and that Elvis Costello is responsible for the original, but I don't know that. Can any of you verify the claim?

"Queen of Hearts": I really loved this one too, and learned all the lyrics right away. In fact, I requested it more than any of the other songs my father showed me on that trip to Grandmaman's. I still favour this version over all others.

7 Questions to Finding Your True Passion

Thu, 08 May 2008 03:31:36 GMT

http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/04/7-questions-to-finding-your-true-passion/

Very. Cool.

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:13:53 GMT

OneWord is a website where you click "Go" and when you see the word at the top of the screen, you have 30 seconds to write about it. Great tool for creative writing enthusiasts!

http://oneword.com/

NSFW : The Divinyls - "Pleasure and Pain"

Tue, 06 May 2008 23:51:24 GMT

The song is fine, but the video is terrible. The main singer isn't that old, but she comes off like a manic, cranky 60-year-old, who is dressed way too young, and really, really needs some saving from her bad case of "English teeth". Those chompers look like widigo (wendigo) teeth!

This is the Divinyls!?!?

Seriously: you have been warned.

This has been your daily dose of SUW . . . (Straight-Up Weird).

Wabi-Sabi for the Recovering Shopaholic

Tue, 06 May 2008 21:31:34 GMT

At last: someone who lives in the exact shoes that I do. :)

I learned Wabi-Sabi from "The Tao of Pooh", in the the Uncarved Block concept. :)

Wabi-Sabi for the Recovering Shopaholic:
http://www.catanna.com/wabisabi.htm

One of my favourite bands, doing one of my favourite songs.

Tue, 06 May 2008 06:53:37 GMT

Portishead - "Roads"

You can try to play this on guitar, but it will not be the same at all without the full orchestra, I guarantee you... plus the missing keyboard section kind of takes away from the overall sense that you've got the real sound down.

What I love about Portishead is that they defend with their choices the notion that a vocalist doesn't need to be playing a second instrument while singing, in order to be either effective or taken seriously. I say second instrument because the voice is really an instrument in and of itself -- much as the word "vocalist" is not interchangable with the designation of "singer".

A vocalist is one who has spent a long time studying not just voice but also singing, breathing and postural techniques, and involved in this is also the study of inner-motion. This is why we don't call most rock band lead singers "vocalists". Their style of music generally only requires them to go part-way on that, with focus on effective use of air intake, tone, listening to all the incorporated sounds together, volume control (though this is less of a problem, given microphones), and knowing what to do if something messes up.

In Portishead we find a very good example of a vocalist. Beth Gibbons, if I have her name right... Watch her again, and note that she is actually reciting a dramatic poem with song, and unafraid to play a character while she does so. Most musicians in the international public eye do not do this. They are only themselves. She approaches this as art, and in so shows respect for the entire study of this genre... Hard not to be a fan of that, or her for it.

I have to admit: this town does look a little bit awesome.

Mon, 05 May 2008 19:09:07 GMT

It's in Alabama, not far from Mobile and Biloxi, and offers what looks like a pristine environment as well as the chance to enjoy Mardi Gras throughout the season in the nearby settlements.

http://www.townofsaltaire.com/

I almost wonder if it's a joke.

Sun, 04 May 2008 16:16:09 GMT

Illustration Friday dot Com:
http://www.illustrationfriday.com/index.php

Antonia Pesanti:
http://www.antoniapesenti.com/

Cool or goofy?

Sun, 04 May 2008 15:58:31 GMT

"Arachibutyrophobia — [Fear of] peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth."
"Zemmiphobia — [Fear of] the great mole rat."

http://tinyurl.com/68od8

A particularly funny list of phobias listed at a website called ChangeThatsRightNow.Com, as part of their self-advertising. I don't know if they understand that some of these are so rare and silly-sounding that they come off as comedy.

By the way, the fellow whom this website thanks for its information is offering to sell us a wall poster, displaying a list of all the phobias noted on his website. Cool or goofy? Well, as a person who works in a medical field I'd say it's neat, but I'd hope these are accurate and useful phobia names, too. :S

"This is a high quality 18" by 24" poster and is printed on 80lb paper completely suitable for framing!"

http://phobialist.com/poster.html

You could frame it, guyz.

Canadian news

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:17:25 GMT

"New sexual consent law may confuse teens" - Canada inducts 16 yrs old as the new Age of Consent.
http://tinyurl.com/57c7d4

New driver's licences to become a passport alternative
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/05/02/license.html

Two reservists get 11 years in death of homeless man
http://tinyurl.com/6rv7tc

News worth pausing for.

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:08:08 GMT

Help Darfur, Farrow urges China
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/420804

A moving news story covering a public display that Mia Farrow made in Hong Kong regarding Darfur, displaying photos and child-drawn depictions of what they have seen, in order to convey the horrors abroad. She urges the Chinese government to "show leadership" (or we could also interpret, "take responsibility") for the amount of Chinese funds that have gone toward the terror in Darfur.

Scientology leader, David Miscavige - Nightline Show

Fri, 02 May 2008 17:33:17 GMT

This seven-part interview was conducted between Ted Koppell and the current leader of Scientology, David Miscavige, in 1992. Incredibly interesting conversation.

Part 1/9:

Part 2/9:

Part 3/9:

Part 4/9: Part of what he says here is true, but as to the truth of the slant he is putting on it, (ie. "[Putting the kaibosh on the Sibera Bill was a major fall for the institution of Psychology]"; "[If you even had an argument with someone, you could be sent to the planned Alaskan psychiatric camps]."; "[This was to form an alliance between America and the Soviet Union]"). I consider these claims to be up for debate... Fact: If you look for the "Siberia Bill" you can indeed read about it. He didn't make it's existence up. A few minutes ago, an objective report on the bill was read out loud to me from across the room by a fellow free-thinker and skeptic.

Part 5/9:

Part 6/9:

Part 7/9:

Part 8/9:

Part 9/9: The end of the discussion, nearly an hour and a half later. Toward the finality of this segment Mr. Miscavage addresses why Scientology is called a religion. "It deals with the spirit." I would say that so does shamanism, but it is not a religion -- it is a collection of techniques. As well, a North American aboriginal who holds many traditional beliefs of his/her people, does not necessarily worship the Creator that is so often referred to by Native spiritual theory -- there is no demand for it. As well, let's look at an atheist -- a person who does not believe in a higher power, such as Christianity or Judaism include: the atheist could believe that social communion in an open sense of personal bonding is an act of spiritual union -- spiritual activity not reliant upon the belief in a god or necessarily a soul.

This gives us an understanding of the difference between spirituality and religion, I would posit... so I wonder what it is that Scientology would tell us it worships.

Scientology gets Rick-rolled. (XD

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:55:38 GMT

Anti-Scientology protest from this past February.

Humans are such weird and funny creatures.

8-Bit happy time!

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:07:20 GMT

8-Bit Version of Tay Zonday's "Chocolate Rain", of the famous Internet meme phenomenon:

Catchy, isn't it?

(Blah, I don't like seeing the word "f-ggot", though...)

Ram Rider - "Sun Lights Stars" (8-Bit Remix)

YOU'VE BEEN RICK-ROLLED!

Estelle - American Boy (Soul Seekerz Club Remix)

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:37:23 GMT

What is zen?

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:02:09 GMT

http://www.do-not-zzz.com/powerd/index.html

Archetype: The Fiction Writer's Guide to Psychology

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:51:26 GMT

http://www.archetypewriting.com/resources/resources_downloads.htm

Duke Spirit - "The Step and the Walk"

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:04:39 GMT