In The Happiest Geek on Earth: It’s synchronicity — Paul Graham and Eric S. Raymond write on the relationship between the hacking and painting and writing.
Which FARK cliche are you?
I’m not obsessed with “Which X Are You?” tests — Kelly’s actually the queen of that — but I couldn’t resist the Which FARK Cliche Are You? test.
(If you’re not familiar with FARK, check it out.)
My result:
Other possible results include Domo-Kun, Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars, The Guy From Memento, The Mustard Guy and of course, The Too-Cute Kitty. Notably absent are those poster children for spoiled kids trying to act “street”, the Icy Hot Stuntaz.
Okay, it’s a dumb title. It sounded clever to me in the shower. (And yes, that’s the way you spell it.)
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve received about a dozen emails asking if I’m doing anything differently as a result of the SARS outbreak. With all the coverage of Toronto and SARS in the media, I suppose it’s easy for someone to think of Toronto as a city beseiged by plague, but from it doesn’t seem that way to me.
I live a mere two blocks away from Queen and Spadina, an intersection of two of Accordion City’s most interesting streets that forms a nexus of several neighbourhoods: the bohemian boutique-y neighbourhood to the west, a yuppified boutique-y neighbourhood and the financial district to the east, the club district to the southeast, the warehouse loft conversion district to the southwest, the waterfront to the south, the University of Toronto to the northeast, downtown Chinatown to the north and Kensington Market, Little Italy and Little Portugal to the northeast. This corner is under the ever-watchful eyes of Max’s hot dog cart, which is open twenty-four hours a day, closing only for Christmas (Toronto’s hot dog carts easily trump those of New York City — ours are real sausages as opposed to their piddly Oscar Mayer offerings; while they boil or steam theirs, we barbecue ours; in New York, you’re lucky if you get more than just ketchup, mustard and relish, here in Toronto, we get dozens of toppings). If you want a gauge of Accordion City’s leisure mood, just come to my neighbourhood on a Saturday afternoon or evening.
The weekend was gorgeous, with spring-like temperatures, budding trees and cloudless skies. I spent Saturday afternoon wandering about my neighbourhood and part of Sunday afternoon in High Park. Both were filled with teeming crowds, and I didn’t see a single N95 mask.
SARS didn’t scare away anyone from the opening of the X-Men 2 movie this weekend. The theatre was pretty crowded. (I saw it on Friday with Paul and Hector and on Saturday with Paul, Deenster, her boyfriend Chris, Possum and Cory Doctorow. Great fun.)
I did a little busking over the weekend, and I’m pleased to report that the accordion is still more infectious than SARS.
Not everyone was out enjoying the gorgeous weather, but they were outside, in a manner of speaking:

…nobody, that is, except for Mr. T, in Mr. T.’s Storm Chase School. Funny and educational!
[Thanks to FARK for the link.]
Not "broken", but…
Last night, after the 2003 edition of Iron Chef White Trash (where I played the role of Chairman Kaga — here are the 2000 photos), the friend whom I brought along turned to me and said “It’s nice to have a funny evening out with someone who isn’t…broken.”
Things have been a little twisted lately. While I’m pretty sure I’m not broken, I’m certainly feeling dinged. Or would the correct word be scratched? Or scuffed?
Perhaps I should hit the pub and get bent or hammered. (It is Cinco de Mayo, after all…)
Taking the weekend off
The weather in Accordion City is lovely (it could stand to be a little warmer), and I also have some chores to do. Enjoy the weekend!
I love you, really, I do. I’m even the direct descendent of an American from Dayton, Ohio (actually, he was from Eaton, Ohio, which is just outside Dayton). You know, the home of Vicky von Vicky jeans in that one episode of WKRP.
You get lots of things right. Rock and Roll. The Internet. Diet Coke. The Constitution. Sara Lee chocolate-covered cheesecake bites. Women’s sufferage. Plentiful air conditioning. The civil rights movement. Lots of ice cubes in drinks. New York City. The Daily Show. Inspiring the lyrics to AC/DC’s greatest rock anthem. Occasionally doing the Philippines a favour (getting rid of the Japanese occupation, making the Philippines the Asian hub for FedEx). Allowing me to live the lyrics to AC/DC’s greatest rock anthem. Freedom.
America, you’re my friend. And friends can talk honestly with each other, right? You’ve been acting a little weirdly lately — and not in the good way. Here’s the latest sign: U.S. says Canada cares too much about liberties.
Is everything all right?
