re: Tumblr

I'm trying out Tumblr for my posting addiction.

Maybe I'll stay here for long form stuff, or post my angst or something.

Anyway, it's just to prove iknowaboutstuff.

re: that there new Twilight movie the kids are talking about

Apparently it’s a big thing. So, in the most inexplicably far fetched idea for entertainment ever, a friend shows up with a copy, some for-adults-only snacks and we let the journey begin.

I’m not going into the movie because I don’t want to offend the INTERNET with how I felt. Let’s just say, before it was conceptual and now it’s real – sad face.

Anyway, that’s not the point – the point is Radiohead. The video montage that ends the movie (the best part of the movie – yes, the end, but also the montage) uses Radiohead’s 15 Step. It’s a fantastic song and, quality of the move aside, does not belong in what is ostensibly a teenybopper tease.

So now I’m confused, a little hurt and a little amazed/respectful at how big Thom Yorke’s sell out balls are. [read more about it]

Note: I limit my snark for this site because technically we're supposed to be promoting things.
But for you I say: the concept of Twilight is apalling, the execution ham fisted, and the acting terrible. It's not just contemptible, it's insulting. Not just as an idea, as an "art" object in itself. Boo.

re: Texas bans straight marriage?

“SOME Texans are worried that a constitutional amendment against gay marriage they passed in 2005 appears to ban heterosexual marriage as well.”

This popped up on my friendly neighbourhood social networking sight and I just had to share: a brief note from the Economist’ s “columnist on American politics” Lexington in “Lexington’s notebook“.

The blog post is brief but powerful, hilarious and completely on point [read the hilarity at MagMe]

re: Vogue being all Voguey to Hillary Clinton

This is another of my attempts at a recurring theme. This time it’s an interview with Hilary Clinton, photographed by my favourite over-rated (i.e. I like her but come on) photographer, Leibovitz. Again Vogue, has placed the fashion of a woman – and her looks – in highest priority over her accomplishments. Not so bad really, if it was an auto-mag, the focus would be on her cars. This is what keeps bringing me back to Vogue! I’ll explain after the jump. [get explained!]

re: teachers selling lesson plans online ethical?

The New York Times recently looked into a growing trend of teachers selling their lesson plans online. Some use the proceeds for supplement their classrooms, some for their own lifestyle.

Corporate copyright issues are not brought up in the article, though I’m sure someone will try to apply them eventually. But even more disturbing is the lack of questioning of WHY would people sell their lesson plans? While the article is more or less “neutral,” I think that they only pay lip service to the crappy salaries teachers live on. [keep reading! do it!]

re: some live music in your face

Manta Ray-Gun, photo by Kate Henderson

I reviewed a show for local music mag Discorder - pretty awesome.

Also, here's a quick question about live music from MagMe.

MUSIC.

re: technological light reading

Coupla posts coming AT YOU.

On dinosaurs and the new technology freak out, 60 Mins should not be your source for "wave of the future" news.

Some sweet Twitter quizzes to pass the time.

re: The (Olympic) Colbert Nation

New posts up in yer face.

US Speed Skating Joins the Colbert Nation.

C'mon Canada, open your mind(s).

re: no girls on the internet and the Georgetown PA

Here's a couple of posts: the sexism of the internet and on that Georgetown kid who hired a personal assistant.

No girls allowed?

Jerk or Genius: student hires PA.

re: viral videos, the brain and more Olympics

Hey you guys:

read all this and then read it again so I get PAID.

In with the old...combine with the new (some fun viral videos utilizing old techniques I've found).

Reverse Engineering the Brain (neural nets!).

While you're under my roof...(Olympic housing!)

re: camera that makes you even MORE obnoxious

Over at MagMe

A revolution in lifeblogging - just what we need!

re: 2010 medals and payphones: cultural significance!

New posts from MagMe:

Pay phones: a symbol of our cultural bias.

2010 Medals: finally, something Vancouver be proud of.

re: What a fine Shindig!

Here's my review of Night Five of SHiNDiG, CiTR's battle of the bands.

There are some typos I have to fix, but there it is.

Also, I'll be doing another review for Discorder next week, and will be running their Twitter as of soon! YEAH!

re: Dragonette, Matt Good, Cyborgs and Robots who...love?

Hey HEY hey....

Here are some new posts on MagMe:

Cyborgs are the future...and the future is now.

Matt Good's Vancouver - a review.

Do not listen to Lady Gaga. Do listen to Dragonette.

re: "web logging" for magme

hey MILLIONS OF INTERNET USERS and TENS OF INTERNET USERS WHO ARE MY READERS...

I will now be blogging for MagMe. Basically, it's a blog to support their upcoming venture that will let people read magazines online fo' freesies.

I'll be linking from here and from twitter, but it will probably take over whatever time I put into posting here. That being said, it's similar subject matter so my opinions will live on.

I'll be looking at music and technology but lots of people blog for them on all sorts of topics.

UPDATE: POSTS ARE UP!!

Robots that...love?

An introduction to technology...through comics.

re: actual first paid web writing on the web

I can't believe! Of course I've been paid to write before! It wasn't a major corporation but a small one, a not for profit BIA from which I learned a lot.

These profiles, Burnaby Dental, On the Rocks Curling, DeliJohn Market, Urban Seafood, Custodio Photography, Making Memories with Scrapbooking are by yours truly.
They aren't permanent pages so I'll have to get a new strategy for this post soon, were finished ages ago and were posted slightly less ages ago as my pictures had to be re-taken.

Read them, it won't be boring (it probably will be though).

Also, I finished a lot of content for their project pages, and I helped develop that nifty catch phrase/brand "Life as it should be." What I'm saying is, I'm a freaking marketing dynamo.

Anywhere, I learned all about the golden corporate voice writing for this website.

re: Web writing on the web - the man pays really well guys

So I'm tempting the corporate gods by posting this but I'm so damn proud of myself.

I don't care that it's not high faluting, and I don't care that it's corporate, and I really don't care if writing for a utility is not your idea of creativity. It takes another type of creativity to do this, think about it like problem solving.

But I wrote something and a major corporation allowed themselves to be associated with it in public. So, pride.

Now I've done a lot for the internal site which is too cool for you guys to see.
But I can show you these sections that I researched and developed and was the main writer for
Careers Main Page
Field Ops, Engineering, Marketing and Relief descriptions
Living in BC

Of course, there was a process that cleans out much of my voice.
That's the corporate voice - master that and you're golden for hire.

And of course, I didn't choose that picture.

Bye.

re: Rollercoasters OR the larger than life is life

Here is another Peak gem, this one about a cool lady, Alison Norlen, and her exhibition at the SFU Gallery.

Alison Norlen takes us to sensational places
By Maegan Thomas, Associate Staff Contributor

“Roller Coaster — it’s a great symbol for this exhibition. A roller coaster is not just a physical journey, it’s a psychological journey. Roller coasters can be exciting, fun, but also scary and a little dangerous.”

Alison Norlen presents a sampling of her work at the SFU Gallery, highlighting her ongoing affair with fantastic landscapes and her transition to the melancholy and monolithic. She spoke with me about her subjects and style.

Finish the article! (I'll know if you don't)

re: Idling, all the cool kids are doing it

Here is a review I wrote for The Peak (SFU's Student Newspaper). I originally had a lot of block quotes but you guys just need to read it. You guys. Read it.

Sit back and kick up
By Maegan Thomas

The Idler's Glossary by Joshua Glenn and Mark Kingwell, Illustrated by Seth

“Let us agree that life can be boring.” Yes, indeed let us. I’m now in the illustrious and much coveted 5th year of my degree and I also work a corporate job. I am busy, busy, busy and bored. Because of this boredom, I procrastinate, I slack off, I shirk. I am often lazy. But according to The Idler’s Glossary by Joshua Glenn and Mark Kingwell, I am not idle. And I should be.

The OED definition of “Idle” includes “actions, feelings, thoughts, words void of any real worth, usefulness, or significance.” The Idler’s Glossary is a pocket-sized glimpse into how the OED, and probably you, have it all wrong.

Read the rest...