-3 days

[sabotabby]

We're into the last stretch, gentle readers. Less than three days until I'm off to Chicago. Don't expect radio silence, necessarily -- I may have to pop into an internet cafe to stop my inbox from exploding. But in the meantime, here's a bunch of random things I've been meaning to post.

Quote of the day

What in all this disqualifies comparisons to other regimes? We’re less systematic and explicitly ideological about it than the Nazis? We’re not coming anywhere near the Khmer Rouge’s record-setting score for total percentage of population slain? Gitmo’s generated fewer notable works of literature than the Gulag Archipelago? That’s like saying you can’t be called an alcoholic because you drink less than Shane MacGowan.
--Teresa Nielsen Hayden, responding to Charles Bird's assertion: "Can we agree that … putting American in the same sentence with Nazis, gulags and the Khmer Rouge has no place in civil political discourse?"

Now for the last slew of photos you'll get for awhile.

First off, I did promise you guys a picture of a wet cat some time ago, and never let it be said that missnegativity does not keep her promises. Unfortunately,

On my way to take the bus to Montreal, I had to do a double take, because right in front of Toronto City Hall, there was a

Now, I never approved of the in front of City Hall -- both for political reasons and because I don't really think it's appropriate to have a British PM outside of a Canadian city hall. But at least it's a funny and unflattering statue, so I could pretend it was up for the irony value. But then someone went and put up . Man, I hope that none of my tax dollars funded that.

I stopped to take a picture of It made sense at the time.

I only took but I think it's a very nice photo.

Finally, when I got home, I found

Thing is, the only Mike I know is one of the Bad Neighbours (who, presumably, does not have access to my building), I don't know anyone named Ben, and when I looked out on the roof, no one was smoking "hoob" at all. How very odd.

P.S. I just saw a bunch of old guys dressed very Clockwork Orange, with white coveralls and red suspenders, wearing bells on their knees, and dancing gleefully in a circle to live fiddle music. I really shouldn't leave my apartment -- even if it's just to pick up hair dye at the drug store -- without bringing my camera.

Comments

[lovableatheist.livejournal.com]

Oh my god! I love that picture of Winston Churchill! My street name is Winston Churchill and I think it needs a pelvic-thrusting statue version Winston Churchill.

[sabotabby]

You wouldn't like Winston Churchill's pelvis if you had to see it all the time.

[bike4fish.livejournal.com]

Ah, you have Morris dancer infestations, too?

I think they are harmless. At least they make noise when they approach, so you are warned.

A few years, there were some stunned British tourists here, who were dumbfounded to find Morris dancers on the streets of Boulder.

[sabotabby]

I thought Morris dancers only came out for May Day. It's spreading!

wtf

[rote.livejournal.com]

Churchill: Schwwwing!

Re: wtf

[sabotabby]

Excellent!

Re: wtf

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really
Really really wanna zigazig ha.

The first and final time I will ever post Spice Girl lyrics.

[bike4fish.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read any of Churchill's "historical" work? It's so blatantly self-promoting that it's funny.

[sabotabby]

But there are good books I could be reading.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

Regarding Stalin - I mean Churchill - I think he once said, "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." Are they going to put up statues of the other two Yalta guys? I think they could still get ones of Uncle Joe pretty cheap. Write your city alderman.

[sabotabby]

I'd like a triptych. It'd be hawt. annaotto sent me a photo of a statue of Lenin (in Seattle) draped in Christmas lights.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

I really shouldn't leave my apartment -- even if it's just to pick up hair dye at the drug store -- without bringing my camera.

Bring it to Chi so you can cam-pimp me.

And are you dying your hair again?

[sabotabby]

Oh, there shall be much camwhoreage and campimping. What's the point of visiting a strange city and getting drunk with a bunch of Wobs if there isn't photographic evidence?

I just dyed my hair purple. No idea how it looks yet, since it's still wet. It was time for a change, and I haven't been purple since I was about 15.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

Is this also to help me spot you in O'Hare airport?

[sabotabby]

Nah, I have a ridiculously purple hat for that.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

Thing is, the only Mike I know is one of the Bad Neighbours (who, presumably, does not have access to my building), I don't know anyone named Ben, and when I looked out on the roof, no one was smoking "hoob" at all. How very odd.

1) I thought you Canadians didn't lock your doors. That's what Michael Moore says.

2) I'd be more concerned with the alternate spellings in the cryptic:

"Come round back and i'll cum round your back."

I mean, if you're really irked about their leaving peanut shells all over the roof, this may be more problematic, once fully understood. ... Maybe that's what the soggy couch is all about.

[sabotabby]

1) No one locks their doors when they're inside the house and awake. Do Americans?

2) Hey, I'm a tolerant person. I don't care what they do as long as they clean up after themselves. Besides, if they're cute, it's cheaper than renting OZ DVDs.

I was the one who left shells all over the roof (actually, it was my pistachio-addicted drunken friends); I was irritated at their cigarette butts. Pistachio shells are quite inoffensive and go away on their own.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

1) No one locks their doors when they're inside the house and awake. Do Americans?

Of course! It gives us time to load for the possible ATF house assault.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

Also: haven't you seen Boondock Saints?

[bike4fish.livejournal.com]

I don't lock my door when I'm home. I go off for hours with the front door open (just the screen door closed) without worrying much. Friends have instructions on how to break into the house if they need to.

Of course, I have a vicious attack kitty.

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

P.S. I just saw a bunch of old guys dressed very Clockwork Orange, with white coveralls and red suspenders, wearing bells on their knees, and dancing gleefully in a circle to live fiddle music.

On the whole I'd rather face Alex and his droogs giving it a bit of tolchocking than sit through Morris dancers. What the hell are they doing on the loose in Toronto? Not one of our more welcome exports; indeed, so bad that I thought they were strictly for home consumption. The wonderfully waspish old libertine Gilbert Harding had the right philosophy when he said he'd tried everything once except incest and morris dancing.

[sabotabby]

Well, like I told bike4fish, we usually get them once a year (it's a shame some other traditions haven't made it across the pond -- why my friends and I, none of us British, are the only ones around here who celebrate Bonfire Night, I have no idea. I suppose the Morris Dancers have to practice somewhere when it's not May Day. I'm not sure why they needed to do it in front of my apartment, though.

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

why my friends and I, none of us British, are the only ones around here who celebrate Bonfire Night, I have no idea

I detest what Bonfire Night has become in beautiful downtown Bradford. Kids chucking fireworks around and frightening my cat. Humbug.
Surprised you actually celebrate something where an effigy of Guy Fawkes, who after all entered the Houses of Parliament with honourable intentions, is traditionally burnt!

I suppose the Morris Dancers have to practice somewhere when it's not May Day.

I believe there are plenty of suitable spaces for them in the Gobi Desert, though what any passing Mongolian tribesmen may make of them as anyone's guess. It might frighten the yaks.

[sabotabby]

We modified the tradition somewhat.

Poor yaks.

[zingerella.livejournal.com]

Wot: these guys in suspenders?

Dude, some of those guys happen to be my friends.

Really.

They give pretty good parties, and the second generation are actually quite comely, and sing tunefully when drinking, which is much of the time.

'Course that doesn't mean I'm gonna start Morris dancing.

[sabotabby]

Hey, those are the guys!

[zingerella.livejournal.com]

Those are the Toronto F. Morris Men (I have no idea what the "F" stands for). They dance hard, drink hard, party hard, hold legendary feasts, and were probably doing some sort of pre-midsummer thing. Next time you see them, seriously look for the second generation. They're the young cute ones.