Marinate that Meat!

As reported on BBC News ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7804571.stm ) , it has been found that marinating meat in red wine or beer can decrease the number of cancer-causing compounds. I was unaware that fried, grilled, or barbecued meats had greater numbers of these compounds. Interestingly enough, people who eat their steak medium or well done are three times more likely to obtain stomach cancer than those who cook it rare. Of course, whether this is causation or correlation is completely unknown.

The article also states that marinating chicken in olive oil, lemon juice or garlic decreases the compounds by 90%. If there is substantial evidence that these compounds do cause cancer, then this is quite a big health discovery. But overall, the study provides more compelling evidence that meat should not be eaten in excess, if at all.

Best Films of 2008

Even with my very limited selections in Thailand, I did get to see many films this year. And except for the International Film Festival (which was incredible), I mostly had to settle for very mainstream movies. While it wasn't a great year (I can't even think of ten!), here are my favorites.

Best Films of 2008:

1. Vicky Christina Barcelona - Beautiful scenery, hilarious Woody Allenesque plot. What else do I need? (Maybe for him to get over his Scarlett Johanson fetish)

2. Batman: The Dark Knight - I generally hate the millions of super hero films produced, but the last Batman film was very enjoyable. With the addition of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger ( and his subsequent death, right before the film's premiere) made this film's worth shoot up. Joker was brilliant, dark and really creepy.

3. No Country for Old Men - Country western thriller. The little dialogue emphasizes the serene scenery.

4. The Fall - Beautifully shot, fantastical film about an epic fairy tale told in a retro hospital.

5. Sex and the City - I wasn't completely devoted to the series, but was slightly interested in seeing the movie. And loved it! They really made it work for the big screen. I thought it missed the fresh (crude) edge of the series and that the ending was horrible!!

6. Be Like Others - Excellent documentary on transgendered people in Iran (when homosexuality is still condemable by death). Insightful, funny, entertaining, educational. Really left me thinking for long afterwards, which I think is a trademark of a really good film.

7. Wall-E - Socially and environmentally aware film about a robot falling in love. Humans have trashed the planet beyond recognition and are now living in space, ignorant and overweight.

8. The Counterfeiters - German film about a Jewish counterfeiter who is recruited by the Nazis during the war. He is put in the position where he must make money to fund the Holocaust.

Ricky Martin's Surrogate Births

In sort of strange news, Ricky Martin now has twin boys, birthed from a surrogate mother. Doesn't this man have many girlfriends? Didn't he date Anna Kornakova? (Oh wait, that was Enrique). Perhaps he was inspired by the nicole richies and ashlee simpsons and just really wanted some babies to lug around? Or maybe it wasn't a surrogate mother, but rather some chick he met one night who wanted her claim to fame?

But this news came after the news that Clay Aiken also now has children via surrogate. And then he revealed that he is gay... Hrm

The boys also have insane hair!

Next Up: Bruno

Aaaaah yes! Sacha Baron Cohen is completing the trilogy and making a Bruno movie. While the Borat movie was pretty disappointing and much of the charm and brilliance of the character was lost, I will still be very excited to see this.

Baron Cohen stormed the runway at Milan Fashion Week and subsequently, arrested. Photos here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1062374/VIDEO-Sacha-Baron-Cohen-held-police-outrageous-stunt-Milan-catwalk.html

That doesn't even look like Bruno! Maybe he got a makeover.

I wish more Ali G episodes were made instead of these movies. The movies have none of the depth of the episodes! Bruno in particular is great at making the fashion people say ridiculously contradictory things. I remember one interview he did with a designer and he said "your show is soo light, everything is just floating up to the ceiling!". The designer agrees saying it was meant to be light and carefree. Then later in the interview Bruno says "please comment on why there is such a darkness in this show". And the designer goes on to explain how he wanted everything heavy and permanent.

Lesbian Lindsay

Lindsay Lohan has a girlfriend now?? And may be engaged to her????

While it's not impossible to sleep with every man in Hollywood (wasn't there even Bruce Willis?) and then fall in love with a girl, I'm just very suspicious. It seems like everything these girls do is for publicity. Lohan has made probably ten films in a row that were absolutely unwatchable. And I think people expected great things from her. I loved her in The Parent Trap!! (And Freaky Friday and Mean Girls) But she hasn't been able to transcend these teenage roles.

Since these girls (Lohan, Nicole Richie, Jessica Biel/Alba, etc. etc.) have so little talent, they always need some sort of image to fall back on. And that image needs to keep changing so short-attention spaned views don't get bored. Britney Spears has never been that cold because she is always doing something ridiculous and tragic. For a while now the "in" thing to do was to go the wholesome, reformed, mother route and pop out some children. Maybe the other route is still to have a bit of a tragic image, but reform through rehab and then get a lesbian girlfriend?

Or perhaps Lindsay has dealt with so many shitty men over the past few years she did the most logical thing possible?? I know me and many of my female friends have considered it...

Homeless in Victoria

The homelessness problem in Victoria has hit a new low. They are now invading schools, trying to camp out over night.

" 'You've got feces and urine and blood on walls, you've got garbage that piles up, you've got mattresses, people are living there,' said Greater Victoria board of education trustee Peg Orcherton, who raised her concerns with fellow trustees this week.
She said discarded needles are also a big concern...."

The huge homeless population downtown was already getting to me. Now they have taken over high schools? Why is anyone letting this happen? (Ie/ school officials, govenment, parents) I know it's hard to monitor every nook and cranny in the city. And it costs money to have security guards. But couldn't they just put up a huge fence? Letting this happen in schools filled each day with children just seems disgraceful. The problem is already out of control downtown. But now young children must come to school each day to find feces, urine, blood and needles?

I think this really should be a wake up call to the BC govenment. Really any public space could be better than this. This people have a multitude of issues. Most have drug or alcohol addictions and many have mental illnesses. But these people should be treated and cared for. The problem has just reached some large proportions in Victoria. Where should they all go? Is it possible to open such large care facilities? But really, they have taken over the downtown. Now they are taking over the schools? It's like Dawn of the Dead. Seriously. There have been countless times where I've ran (quickly walked) away from some zombie-like figure, yelling insults and crazy talk at me, possibly throwing something.

At least in Vancouver, it's designated to a very localized area. You can go shopping, out to eat, meet friends without being constantly harrassed. Yes, it is incredibly sad that these people have come to that. But it's effecting every citizen that wants to venture near downtown Victoria and now even school children are being effected.

The Canadian govenment needs to wake up and deal with this problem. How long will it be before Victoria just becomes a wasteland??? When the homeless mobs have so much control, the middle and upper classes just leave?

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=c80cc6ff-a3a8-4d28-9054-fcf431abfeb9

Post Secret

I forgot how awesome Post Secret is. Here are some recent additions:


Oh, Derek... I think my friend Meagan has been in love with each of these men one time in her life.

After three Leos I begin to doubt my addition skillz

Don't date/marry robots! Real men have emotions.

The Spears sure know how to pick their men

This is great. Jamie Lynn Spear's baby daddy took a bunch of digital photos of her and the baby. These included her in lingere and breastfeeding the baby. He then decided to get them printed at his neighbourhood Walmart. God, this is the trashiest family ever. I hope it was a Walmart in Louisiana... Anyway, an employee of course stole the photos.

But here is the best part.. the employee is now involved in an investigation. Because lil Jamie Lynn is only 17 (regardless of the fact she is a mama), the photos are techincally child pornography! Aaah I love it.

I probably won't wear yellow stripper heels at any point in my life. But in your second trimester? That's pretty tragic

Christian Siriano makes new clothes

Christian Siriano, of Project Runway fame, has come out with a new line. Wow, is this dude talented!

Here are a few of my favorites. I'm glad he has decided that colour is not uncool.

International Jobs Website

I've found this website that seems like a great resource for international jobs and internships. It's free to sign up and there are a ton of jobs. Makes me want to start applying and not head home!! Difficult to know what to do. Not sure if I should deal with more culture shock right now, especially since I've been missing Canada so much.. It's neat to think of all the cool places I could go though. It really just seems like such a better idea than visiting a place. How can you really know a country from spending a week there?

http://www.ihipo.com/

Just what the U.S. needs..

I've read a couple articles about Sarah Palin -- (quite) possibly the next vice president of the U.S. And wow, this woman is an environmental disaster! She's the current governor of Alaska, a beautiful place, so you'd think she'd have some respect for nature.

She doesn't think climate change exists, but is rather a man-made delusion. She has rallied to take polar bears (the first animal thought to go extinct as a result of global warming) off the endangered species list. She says polar bear populations are actually increasing. And if all the ice of the Arctic shield melts, the polar bears can just live on the land. She thinks all the oil in Alaska should immediately be drilled for use as soon as possible. In one of her political positions she allowed hunters to use low-flying planes to shoot wolves and bears (I'm guessing most species are endangered).

This is scary stuff! She also had never left North America until last year and is 44 years old. And of course, is a lifetime member of the NRA.... Gesh, I hope this election works out better than I expect..

Ellen and Portia

Ellen and Portia got married!

Both of the videos on this site are awesome:

http://www.ohlalamag.com/en/2008/09/footage-photos-from-ellen-portias-wedding.html

"Our cats had previous engagements.." haha. God, I love Ellen.

Then of course John McCain says he doesn't agree with gay marriage on her show... boo.

New Michael Cera!

I was very excited to see an advertisement for a new Michael Cera movie! I love this boy so much, it's difficult to explain. So young, funny, boyish, awkward and Canadian....

Here is the plot blurb:

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living, and, live, loud music. Nick (Michael Cera) frequents New York's indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah (Kat Dennings) is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band's secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives"

Doesn't sound like hilarity, but hopefully it is as cute as Juno. With just as great of a soundtrack! And what the hell is queercore??

Did I just step on your foot?

This bizarre series of findings is probably well known in Canada, but being outside the country I am pretty detached from it. The findings are this: five right feet have been found of the shores of the west coast. I have been trying to catch up on Canadian news once in a while. And it seems every time I view a news site, the same story always appears -- another foot has been found!

A sixth foot was found in June. A left foot! It was wondered if it could match one of the lone rights. But alas, the sixth foot was a copycat. It was planted, and actually a animal foot (dog's I believe?).

Police won't say any information about the feet. But CBC has reported one foot to be female. It would seem easy to determine much from someone's feet, without the use of dna testing. Can you not easily tell if a foot is male or female and the general age??

I think the feet have all been in running shoes. This seems to narrow down the choices, since no one wears runners. So it would seem to be either an unfashionable male, a woman just from the gym or a lesbian.

To find a foot would have to suggest someone out there was murdered or probably tortured. The newspaper articles are suggesting they may be coming from an airplane reckage. Seriously though?? Five right feet?

Generally, murder is hard to take. We are flooded with murder stories in every newspaper. We have to distance ourselves from these kinds of stories, because, frankly, they get depressing. So why, when the murder turns bizarre or serial does it become fascinating??

When I started hearing about these feet, I instantly thought of some Saw-esque serial killer on the Gulf Islands. Perhaps the moral tale of the torture would be something along the lines of 'walk a mile in this man's shoes'. There has to always been a moral tale behind every torture scheme in Saw, usually something to do with appreciating life more..

Perhaps serial killing becomes interesting because it's seen not as senseless violence, but rather a true psychological condition. It becomes more of a film. We want to know who, what, why. And humans like to be scared. Perhaps we want to think there is someone out there that will kill, kill, kill. Until a trusty RCMP catches him.

The Gulf islands -- harbouring not just boats but.......serial killers???

Le Premier Cri

I saw a french documentary yesterday about childbirth techniques across the world -- Le Premier Cri. It wasn't particularly informative, but did tell some interesting stories. It was beautifully shot and showed very intimate scenes of childbirth from across the world. I had to wonder how the filmmakers were able to document a childbirth, at night, in a tent in the desert. As in, how they managed to find that opportunity. Also strange, there was a quebecoise woman who wanted to have a completely unassisted birth, but let a whole film crew into her house while she was giving birth??

The film does raise questions about modern childbirth. The big issue being childbirth in a medically-sterile environment or natural childbirth (at home, in the desert etc.). The argument raised by those who advocate unassisted birth is that women have been giving birth without the assistance of doctors and technology since the beginning of human history. This is entirely true -- child birth is one of the most natural things. But what was the rate of infant and mother mortality during childbirth before modern hospitals?

Hospitals can be sterile and dehumanizing, so perhaps it makes sense to give birth in a more welcoming environment. This view was exemplified by a hospital in Ho Chi Minh with an incredibly high birth rate (120 births a day!) Left and right, all over this hospital, women were popping out babies. A doctor was delivering one baby and right beside the woman was another one ready to deliver, legs sprawled. Rooms were filmed with dozens of women laying on beds craddling new borns. It was akin to a factory, producing babies by the minute.

But the woman, in the film, who gave birth at home, didn't want anyone to phone a doctor even if there were complications. I don't think it's fair to entirely dismiss technology and modern medical advances, just because you want a 'natural' birth. I think the woman in the desert who gave birth to a stillborn shows this point. Complications can happen both in hospitals and out in the jungle, but there is a greater survival rate in hospitals.

The woman who gave birth at home, had her child in one of those birthing tubs. There were also stories of women who gave birth in the ocean, strangely, with dolphins. Apparently the echolocation of dolphins improves the baby's immune system and helps coordinate right to left brain activity. How the hell they figured this out, I'm not sure. Water births are intended to be less traumatic for the child, since they go from womb fluids and placenta out to warm water. But then they're just pulled out of the water anyway... I guess it seems bizarre for a land-dwelling animal to give birth in the water. A whale wouldn't temporarily beach itself to give birth.

The movie centered around a night with a total solar eclipse, which apparently comes with many, many women giving birth all over the world. Pretty interesting. And a neat way to present cases of child birth from all over. It was also interesting to learn that giving birth laying on your back is very European. Most other cultures will do some sort of squat; a japanese women was crouched on all fours too (This film got pretty graphic).

http://www.disney.fr/FilmsDisney/lepremiercri/