Sympathy for the Devil

Ms. Arielle, Huddler of Brazillian fame (who recently has neglected to delve any deeper into the crust of the Brazillian Amazon for us), once upon a time came to visit me in Austin town and was so kind as to leave a little reading material (accidentally I presume-sweet).

Well, several years later, my illustrious eyes lay on said book, and here we are, a few weeks hence, and Engarde! I have finished it.

So, it was a really good (if long) read. I recommend it to anyone up for a little historical fiction. The story intertwines the architecture and construction of the amazing Chicago World's Fair in 1893 with the story of the U.S.'s first serial murderer. A bit dense at times, but really good stuff all the same.
Up next for me? I'm dabbling in short stories from Michael Winter (amazing), and started a new Toni Morrison book... but i'm considering reading Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential first.

So, my question: WHAT are YOU reading this SUMMER?!!?

royale with cheese

Just returned from 2 weeks of wind and rain in beautiful Montreal and I am ready to embrace the St.John's summer! Unfortunately, St.John's does not have a Krispy Kreme and is way behind in it's poutine. During my travels to Quebec City I did stumble upon the swankiest Burger King you're likely to see outside of Beverly Hills. I also rode my first rollercoaster during my trip and I'm still trying to get the stain out of my underpants.

What was Tom REALLY doing in New Zealand?

Luke and I, via Google Talk, were lamenting the fact that we really didn't get many juicy details as to why one Thomas Crosbie adventured in New Zealand. I think I have figured it out.

Below is a map, taken from Wikipedia, of the current (red) and previous (orange) areas around the world where one may find the fine establishment known as Wendy's, the late Dave Thomas's jewel*.


Australia, as it turns out, no longer has a Wendy's as Tom is used to! Wendy's in Australia is an ice cream chain, known, says Wikipedia, for their large Mega Choc Shakes. While probably delightful in its own way, I imagine this has been causing our good friend serious grief.

However! New Zealand, as you can plainly see, does have a Wendy's as Tom is used to. It is my conclusion that our esteemed colleague went there for purposes of the Great Biggie Fry variety. Agree or disagree?

* [Aside: both Mr. Crosbie the elder and Mr. Crosbie the younger's proper names make up the entire previous owner's name. Coincidence? I think not.]

Mommar Szyslak

Soooo.... I just read an article on the SIMPSONS (doing a research degree is sweet) and the author praises the series use of two underrepresented groups: "indians (Apu) and Arabs (Mo the bartender, real name "Mohammed")." What up wit dat?

As we all know, Moe is clearly not Arab. So let's just all agree once and for all that the author of that random article was wrong..... aight?

Is that clear???

I'm not sure where Mommar comes from, but the "web" (superhighway) never lies, so I guess in some episode that was his name. I bet Michael secretly dislikes the simpsons as much as star wars... true or false?

that's it, that's all I got. Congratulations again to my cocobro's sudden nunclehood (as Shakespeare would have called it, and so that's what I'm calling it). I don't think enough fuss was made, especially since we still haven't learn a name. Here's a suggestion in case there IS NO name: Mommar.

that is a sweet burn, you might say...

I've been blogging a lot lately, but here's some more from Roger Ebert's answers to letters:

Q. I'm always amazed at the irrational nature of the debate on medical care. In your review of "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu," you state, "At least in Romania he is not asked for his insurance company, and he has a theoretical right to free medical care." In the next sentence you quote a Romanian doctor who discusses the horrible condition of medical care in his country. Isn't it obvious that when something is "free" for everyone, it will be inadequate for everyone? Do people get left behind in a medical system that involves free enterprise? Of course they do. But when you have a system where personal responsibility plays no part, you certainly get the system you deserve. I for one am glad that I get asked for proof of insurance when I show up at a hospital. It annoys me that people who cannot do so get treated at my expense anyway.

Jeff Grant, Centreville, Va.

A. The hospitals are always looking for volunteers. Maybe you could help them turn away sick poor people.

That, you might say, is a sweet burn. Sweet like a picture of honey on hard bread {above} Freaking Americans. . .

Aussie say what?

Is Australia an Island or Continent? Which the fuck is it? I need to know for the purposes of a very small wager (a bottle of Lysol: don't ask).

As far as I'm concerned, Tom and Jill should know this, and just about every other basic fact about their new home. They've been living there for what... months? Aussie Aussie Aussie -Oy Oy Oy!

The debate: I've heard both, but I figure if it's a continent, then it can't be considered an island, and vise-versa. Otherwise, North America's looking pretty "continenty" to me. yeah?

Does that make me craaaaazzyyy!?!?!

chillax to this cover tonight.

Smells like the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain

The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain does Smells Like Teen Spirit. Sweet.

Da Vinci's goin' down

Happy LOST day to all. (Who's psyched about the finale!?!?!).


Yesterday in a bookstore, I came across a hysterical bitchslap review of the Da Vinci Code movie, and the reviewer couldn't help but take a few swipes at the lameness of the novel itself. Here's a sample:

There has been much debate over Dan Brown’s novel ever since it was published, in 2003, but no question has been more contentious than this: if a person of sound mind begins reading the book at ten o’clock in the morning, at what time will he or she come to the realization that it is unmitigated junk? The answer, in my case, was 10:00.03, shortly after I read the opening sentence: “Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum’s Grand Gallery.”

With that one word, “renowned,” Brown proves that he hails from the school of elbow-joggers—nervy, worrisome authors who can’t stop shoving us along with jabs of information and opinion that we don’t yet require. (Buried far below this tic is an author’s fear that his command of basic, unadorned English will not do the job; in the case of Brown, he’s right.) You could dismiss that first stumble as a blip, but consider this, discovered on a random skim through the book: “Prominent New York editor Jonas Faukman tugged nervously at his goatee.” What is more, he does so over “a half-eaten power lunch,” one of the saddest phrases I have ever heard.

Oh, it hurts when it's true! (I still enjoyed the read, of course, but c'mon, the writing's pretty rotten). Read the whole thing here. And for Crizzleby, check out this new review of your Arch -Nemesis.

Words of Wisdom

Janes, how did you start a conversation with two members of depeche mode? and why did you post a link that doesn't work? I'm so vexated...

Cocobro, that's a handsome n-phew you got there, he does us proud. His name is Thomas Alexander Clarke-Prince. Just to let everyone else know... !!! Jaybird and I are so proud!!!

Here's a coo picto: this feller's got a conference dedicated to him in Sydney and cocobean123 himself will be attending and giving a brilliant paper. Who's excited! It's all about the Benjamins... (that's the name of my paper).

A quick note to MG Rowe: what you at?? where you at??

I'll leave you all with an interesting revelation I was revelated by whilst googling myself:

I compiled something for your website when my mother, Catherine Crosbie, reached her 100th birthday. Sadly have to tell you that she died on 19th April this year 2004. Quite peacefully, in reasonable health and still in her sound mind. Best wishes Lin Thomas

This is a photo of my mother, Catherine Crosbie, taken on the day of her 100th birthday, 19 October 2000. As you can see she is holding the card from the Queen, which now replaces the redundant telegram!

Mum was born in Maybole, as were her two brothers Peter and William Tweedily and her sister Elizabeth (Lizzie) who married Maybole businessman George Mulvein in the early 1930s. Uncle Peter, the eldest, died in August 1979 aged 81. My uncle Bill, who was a stalwart member of the British Legion and the bowling club in Maybole died in Ayr aged 97 in 1995. Her sister, who will be 95 in February, lives near Bristol, so there is longevity in the family!

As Miss Tweedily my mother taught at Dalrymple Primary School from 1920 to 1928, when she left to marry Tom Crosbie.

[Freakey....]

Name that Singer

Rather than bore you with details from my recent trip to the GTA, from which I just returned, I thought I'd share with all you bastards my greatest "purchase", an album I have been looking for for a LONG time...

Found it in an old record shop near the corner of Bloor and Yonge...interestingly, I ran into two members of Depeche Mode inside. Luckily the topic of their particular group didn't come up in our brief conversation, as I honestly couldn't name one song or album they've made. As a side note, I found their purchases interestingly as bizarre as my own...one was carrying a Klezmer music album (the same one I was looking at before chatting with him), and the other was carrying a Doo Wop anthology....

Anyways, here's the first track from the album I bought.....it's up to you to guess the singer, who goes by the name "Joe Doggs" for this recording (Joey DeFrancesco is the organist, by the way). Sorry it's a bit large....deal with it.

Enjoy!

A few snaps

Why ain't nobody blog no more? Where's my Coco Bro? So how was everyone's Victoria Day weekend? Mine was pretty good, spent a night at Casa Hinchey, cozy spot but a few too many insects crawling out of the ceiling. No long weekend for me, I get American holidays and they apparently don't celebrate her Royal Highness Queen Victoria (I don't really know much about this holiday, did she do something on this day or is it just a general celebration of her?) QE2 should declare a holiday in her name, it would be unpopular for a politician to oppose a holiday. Do they also go round da bay (or outback) in Australia, this is addressed to our bloggers down under. Here are some pics of my nephew The Real OC, as he prefers to be called these days though he'll probably change it next week...crazy kids.

just to see something else

i'm posting this picture of an oak tree outsside nina's apt. and sending you to hear HR's new stuff. I'm truly impressed so far...Mr. Baker is making us proud and jacob too- for all his hard work imeansexualfavours... and i'd know.

Running...To the Extreme!!!

This is the next big thing. It's so cool, I can't possibly give it justice in written word. That would be hypocrisy, heresy, idolatry- in short they would come after me (in an extreme-running kind of way)!

If by now, you have not guessed what I'm talking about- I barely dare unearth its name. But here it is...

PARCOURS.

That's right. It's a fancy french word that somehow has made its way to fools with video cameras.
The goal is essentially to blend in with the urban environment in an acrobatic sort of way- basically running and jumping over stairs, benches and other obstacles in an effort to look cool. Transcendent? Maybe.

Apparently, I'm finding out, it's been Aglicised and is actually spelt "Parkour." The poor French can't get a break. It's also called "Free-Running."
And for a much more indepth analysis, head on over to the definition of the "movement."

Did I mention I desperately want a pair of "roller shoes"? I'm sure that would be frowned on by the Parkour...ers. So this is the next big thing. Parkours: It's what's new. Agree?

Alons-y!

Found on the side of the road:

We are the proud owners of a new coffee table. One of the two doors was cracked off, so we just removed both! A+ to free side-of-the-road furniture.

Padme Raps

"When I went to Harvard I smoked weed every day"


That's right- Natalie Portman throws down in this SNL video. She may be from the hood- but she can still be my girlfriend anyday.

Across the Tasman Sea

That's where I be.

I've been viding the tv via my hotel room, good stuff on here. Got to love viding the tv...

thank you for the good times

'Tis the season of shitty television shows. Can't believe I'm following "Flavor Of Love". Flava Flav is such a fucking dirty old man, it's just so amusing and also slightly embarrassing. I've started my first Chuck Palahniuk novel last week, Diary, and it's a whole new world considering the last three books I've read have been Pride & Prejudice, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, & Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince. The whole point of this post is to tell Cory that I'm the O.U. (original Uncle) on this blog. I don't have as many entries as you because I've been too busy kicking ass and chewing bubble gum. And guess what........I'm all out of bubble gum.

I also want to announce my obsession with bobbleheads. I just bought one off eBay. giggity giggity giggity.

Sunday night food blogging: vegetable stirfry

An old staple:



medium heat, olive oil in iron pan;
garlic, chopped as you like it;
tofu, cubed;
soya sauce to flavour tofu, don't use too much, then leave to cook the tofu;

add:
green and red peppers, chopped;
carrots, sliced;
florets of broccoli;
mushrooms, sliced;
baby corn;
sliced waterchestnuts (crack a joke re: janezgamer);
dollop on some sweet/sour sauce for flava; let sit stewing in own juices until broccoli and carrots are cooked to your liking.

served alongside rice; miam.

Plan Your Escape

As those of you in the inner circle know, (well, that's about all of us- or at least ye in St. John's), Hey Rosetta- the Official band of the Huddle- is set to release their first major recorded effort on the world on June the First.
I'm pretty psyched about it- the EP was a treat (especially the live tracks), and it's exciting for a band to have someone come in, and work their mojo to bring something new/special out from the musicians and the music.

Who did the album Art? Anyone we know? I'm way digging that- I like the minimalist feel, and a great concept for the pic.

My Question? I'm in the middle of pre-ordering Plan Your Escape but wondering: Do they charge for shipping or what? What about to Los Estados Unidos? There's just no info so far on sending it via mail- and I'm just curious how it all works out. I want the by's to get as much as possible from my hardworkin' American dolla.

So, Jacob, just yell across the hall and answer that for me, would ya?

Eye O' Pine

The Rowe's of Newfoundland include:

(See
http://www3.sympatico.ca/john.rowe/teldir2002.html )

I can't get enough of sympatico.ca / john . rowe. Maybe somehow, someday it will reveal the nucleus of the Rowe family magic; a potent potion.

Anyhoo,
here's
post
numbah.......
2!!

Ambitions? I'm ambivalent, but the proof is in the posting. (Comments are for foo's, like yous; posts are for privileged). I'm taking an aggressive stance, but satay with me....

As it turns out, I don't have much to s[at]ay. I'm reminded of a certain Harlem Renaissance scrabbler: "Tonight its earthquake weather!!!" Remember that??? The good ol' days of Scrabble are ours for the mere sacrifice of all our free time and mental power.... Who's with me? Holyroodhuddle, task 1: One-letter words. Anyway, the real point of this post is to take a tally of how many posts you all want me to post from the land of lotr. Following Mr. Jr.'s provacative pontification, does everyone need a little more epicality up in the holyroodhizous?

To vote, place one comment for each post you want. I'll add them all together and post accordingly....

The Chest is Best

Un[cle]like all you other huddlers, this histure cuddler's (that's right)'s going to Zealand. I'm a goin' to Zealand! It's all business, no pleazh. What can I say? I'm big time in demand. Five days of fun in the auck-city sun, soaking it up, and then back to more bisnass when I get back. I like to get bizay.

Anyhoo, Janez's journey better be better documented than either Arielle's (which is already the case) or mine, which is strictly offlimits to huddlers. Cuddlers? Po'chance. No pictures in this post. Like my cocobro, I eschew pics. They're for fools only. Pictures of newly born nephews? that'd be sweet though. Share the emotional wealth!

Anyway, even though this post sucks, it still deserves at least five comments, not counting our ambitious and amphibious friend mr jr's obligatory post. Let me just say that I love the new banner though, since everyone else can't stop crapping on it. Luke, no body domains like you.

Janez out.

Headin' to the T-Dot

Greetings Ladies,

Well, it's that "road trip" time of year again, so I decided to make it a big one this year. So, after much consideration, I decided I'd drive to Toronto! Yep, gonna visit my sis in the 'ol T-Dot...

So here's the plan: Leaving tomorrow afternoon and spending the night in Lewisporte with a friend of mine. Driving to the Port-aux-Basque Ferry for the Monday Night Trip, and pretty much drive as far as I can through Nova Scotia/New Brunswick on Tuesday. Wednesday we'll make the rest of the journey, and then spend that night and Thursday at my friends' place in Toronto, then head out to their cottage in Muskoka for the weekend. Back to Toronto on Monday, where I'll stay with my sister until Sunday night, the 21st, when I'll fly back to the Rock.

SO.....the billion-dollar question is.....

what's a brother to do in toronto? I have some ideas....I'm already going to a comedy club a couple nights to see my sister's friend perform (who's from the Goulds, by the way). Hangin' out with another friend of mine who's living in Toronto for a night or two. Anyways, if anybody has some suggestions for a show to see or something, let me know. I'm currently thinking either the Lord of the Rings musical (hopefully it wo'nt be TOO "musically" - the less singing the better) and checking out Blue Man Group.

So make with the ideas, now.....

Mike "Crosbert" Janes

ReImmigration: Mexico- land of Opportunity

This is the sweetest post I've seen about the hubub over Anti-immigration. We always knew the best reporting came from The Onion.

Mexican immigrants to the United States have begun making the deadly journey back across the border in search of better-paying Mexican-based American jobs.

"I came to this country seeking the job I sought when I first left this country," said Anuncio Reyes, 22, an undocumented worker who recrossed the U.S. border into Mexico last month, three years after leaving Mexico for the United States to work as an agricultural day laborer. "I spent everything I had to get back here. Yes, it was dangerous, and I miss my home. But as much as I love America, I have to go where the best American jobs are."

Read it Here. Also recommended: "Friendship with Homeless man One-Sided"

I'd like to join the call for a new banner, one that is less shitty. I have a week old nephew Luke, perhaps you should hand the reigns over to him. Does this make me the first Uncle/Aunt on this site, besides Brad who hasn't posted enough to count yet. (Was that a proper sentence, what about the question mark, anyone?) Anyway, that was the most significant thing to happen to me lately. The baby's pretty cool and all but the best thing to happen lately and I think Jacob would agree, happened a few weekends ago. Earlier in the eve myself, Jacob, Brad and Tony were watching a video of stuff that was banned from tv (don't ask). One clip was a police officer shooting some guy in the head in San Salvador, El Salvador. I commented that that was a pretty unoriginal/lame/stupid name for a city (St. John's, El John's-stupid). Anyway, later on we shared a cab with a fellow from San Salvador, El Salvador his name...Salvadore! Sadly I don't know much more about him other than he was really big, bald and may have left after the cab, or we may have played pool and shot Sambuca with him at Bubbles...I was drunk.

P.S. My recommendation for the banner is a comparison of hairy chested Tom vs shaved chested Tom, that one's for the ladies.

Speaking of the summer...

Speaking of summer, tickets home have been purchased!

JULY 5th
23:15 YVR -> 06:45 YYZ (+1 day)

JULY 6th
07:30 YYZ -> 08:40 YUL

JULY 7th
13:55 YUL -> 17:50 YYT

Yes, that's right, Newfoundland-bound for July 7th at ~6PM with a day of roaming the streets of Montreal along the way! Sue and I couldn't have planned it to be any more hipster.

So, suggestions for a place to stay and things to do near Mount Royal for a day?

And for completeness, the return trip:

JULY 22nd
17:40 YYT -> 19:00 YUL
19:55 YUL -> 22:24 YVR.

Bring on the Summer, babay

The birds be a chirpin'

The Fun be a lurkin'

The Heat be a pumpin'

The Snow be an imaginary construct of our imagination

Roll out the Summer Digs, baby... The Huddle's a' Changin' with the Seasons.

A Threadless Public Service Announcement

I'm a big fan, although I've never bought one of their Tees. But the folks at Threadless are having their Spring Sale on now, for anyone who has bought before, or is interested. Their stuff is pretty primo.

I'd have a hard time picking, but I might settle on the one pictured here titled "SNACK". Cleverly... and I think the artist a local San Martian. So that's kewl too. Ya heard, Bird?
P.S. who's bought one, and how do they make em' so dang purdy? I wish I had me a lil' Photoshop. PAZ!

Right, as usual...

Did I NOT say "they were gonna blow it"???

No, I didn't watch the game, but went to a concert instead.

Why?

Because I'd rather not have to buy a new TV and dog, as I figured the game would have ended with me throwing Gentle Ben through the friggin' screen in a fit of drunken rage, were I to watch it.

Bah.

go flames go.

Holyfood Huddle?

Supper tonight was a delicious lasagna, which is not quite as photogenic as Jordan's chocolate leaves, but that's all I can do.

Things I can't explain about this photo? Why all the zucchini seems to have migrated to the far end. Weird.