South Park's New Kenny

Click here to join the cast along with me!

American Graffiti

For the past few days back and forth on the bus I've been watching American Graffiti on the little portable DVD player. The more I watch this movie, the more it grows on me....it almost ranks up there to being one of my favorites. I love the look of it, the story behind it, and the intentions that George Lucas had in making it. Outside of these things, it's hard for me to really describe what it is about it that draws me in, especially since it revolves around an era that I wasn't yet born to be part of, but I think that's the main reason why. I have a similar guilty pleasure obsession with Dirty Dancing, which is set in almost the same year. This time period of 1962-63 is often referred to as the 'end of innocence' right before Kennedy got shot, the British invasion, the hippie culture and the Vietnam war. It's a great concept....these inbetween moments right before a major upheaval in society. Probably relates to why I have such fond memories of early '89 and the 'making funny tapes' era with my friends....it was right before starting high school, moving away from my childhood house and things becoming gradually more complicated and dark for me. It's an ache to get back to the 'garden' before the 'fall'.....that's the spiritual sub-conscious part of it.

I know that the music in Graffiti is a major factor of my love for it, since I just got the soundtrack on vinyl and have always enjoyed going back to the roots of modern rock n' roll. I relate alot of the memories and sentiment around this music to my dad, and growing up listening to his records. Perhaps this is my way of dealing with my desire to be closer to him. I've lately had a small obsession with learning more about the history behind this era and the radio age. The mythology of the Wolfman is especially fascinating to me...the whole idea of a phantom DJ who is listened to by everyone; a true testament to the power of music. Music, like nothing else, brings a sense of community to people who would normally be estranged and disconnected from each other. This idea of the Wolfman has inspired a story idea I've had in the back of my head for a long time, to be incorporated into a book or screenplay...this idea of an angelic DJ who plays the soundtrack of a main character's life as he drives across the country.

"The Wolfman is everywhere!"

How can we sleep when our Beds are Burning?

5 points if you got the Midnight Oil reference!

Now that I've put that song in your head so you can't get it out, last night there was a fire in our building, and today I still have smoke in my lungs so the occasional cough is needed. *cough* The emotional impact of it finally hit me this morning, as I realized that we still don't know if our unknown neighbor made it through ok or not. It's very scary.

Anyway, as Jay has already blogged in full detail the events of last night, I will save myself the trouble and direct you here: http://thisisthegreatadventure.blogspot.com/2005/10/burning-down-house.html

The Great Pumpkin

This weekend we carved our Halloween punkin. During the activity we watched 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'....my favorite TV special ever. I love the music, the backgrounds, the animation, the surreal dialogue, everything about it is so nostalgic and wonderful, and sums up the feeling of the season for me.

Also we finally saw the Wallace & Gromit movie, which is probably one of the best films I have ever seen, animated or otherwise, and I'm not just saying that because I'm biased.

My HollywoodJesus review for the film is here: http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/comments/ken/2005/10/wallace-gromit-and-curse-of-were.html

Ken needs...

There's a freaky web thing where if I type "ken needs" into a search engine, the various results that come up will have random things I need spread throughout. Try it with your name!

Here's what the internet tells me I need. This is worse than a horoscope!

Ken needs to learn the balance between being a great friend, and being a poor fiancé.
Ken needs long blonde hair.
Ken needs everybody’s prayers and support at this time.
Ken needs to buy that Bible version that features the dancing clowns and pop-up pictures.
Ken needs a hug and some new windchimes.
Ken needs a new cleaning lady.
Ken needs judges to participate in the Central Regional Science Fair on March 20th.
Ken needs to follow up with SMETE (Science, Math, Engineering, and TechnologyEducation) on NSF-oriented content and tools.
Ken needs to go on more "ski" holidays.
Ken needs your photos!
Ken needs your support to continue that work as the US Congressman for the 44thCongressional District.
Ken needs to learn how to discuss how he is feeling and why he is frustrated in a constructive manner.
Ken needs bigger hints than most people.
Ken needs a fully functioning animal with a working nervous system - in other words, the animal must be conscious.
Ken needs breast milk because he is having trouble growing.
Ken needs a part to fix the water.
Ken needs to see progress in his life. If he doesn't he'll become very frustrated and angry.
Ken needs the paddles, STAT!
Ken needs to take care of his baby brother.
Ken needs to watch sports.
Ken needs to implement an intense and high profile anti-fare dodging campaign targeted on people who seem to think they really are 'free' buses.
Ken needs to travel 280, but Miller tells him he’ll be going 250 or so.
Ken needs to take himself out of the Christian leadership role for which he no longer qualifies.
Ken needs a hug, things aren''t going so well since he helped drive Enron into the ground.
Ken needs time to deal with reality and decides to go off on his motorcycle.
Ken needs more pimping out there in the blog world.
Ken needs some extra underground Muppet inner circle trade cred.
Ken needs proof and goes to Bismark Falls Nebraska to interview Wallace.

Won't you please help?

A year without McDonalds

It's officially been a whole year since I've stepped into or eaten at a McDonald's, after seeing the film Super Size Me. Not much more to say about it, other than I'm sure I'm a healthier person today.

Lots to look forward to for the rest of this year: Halloween, trip home to Michigan, Christmas, and the Hollywood Jesus gathering over New Years. Makes me feel all squishy inside.

Have you greeted your neighborhood moose today?

Shining Video

I can't get enough of this video I found on Ifilm. It's a brilliant and funny piece of editing.
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2681181

Victoria Trip and Clockwork Cold

We're now back from our annual Victoria visit, which was intruded upon by another annual visit, my October cold. So I'm home today trying to recover. Nonetheless, we had a great time as usual.

Hopped on the 1pm ferry, checked into the Regent (highly recommended), got my antique Mountie photo done to commemmorate my citizenship, shopped around, had dinner at Chandlers, and got to participate in a wonderful event happening at the Parliament building. The Cancer Society was accepting donations in return for handing out paper bags with candles inside to light in memory of someone struggling (or who lost the battle) with cancer. So we placed one for Grandma Priebe. It was a moving sight.

Next day we had high tea at the Empress and spent the afternoon at Butchart Gardens, where we had never been before, and it was worth the trip! Very beautiful. Felt good to connect with nature in all its glory. Much more soothing than the way I'm connecting with nature at the moment. *cough sniff hack*





Jay has more details on her blog and more photos on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjay/
http://thisisthegreatadventure.blogspot.com/

Movies and Comments

I've recently posted a new review on my HollywoodJesus blog for Corpse Bride...
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/corpse_bride_reviews.htm

...and with Wallace & Gromit opening today, a review for that will follow soon once I've seen it.

I just noticed today a comment from an old friend on one of my old posts...it's neat to find out who's checking in now and then. Possibly a whole lot more, since I was mentioned on Cartoon Brew (www.cartoonbrew.com) recently too. If you are an old friend, a new friend, or even a stranger, and you have just read this, leave me a comment and contribute to my little experiment!

If you are a parasite who is just going to post fake junk comments, then may your prize bull hate cows.

I'm Canadian

It's finally official!

I would like to thank my loving wife Jay for the inspiration and waiting patiently through all the paperwork, and Nana, Stella and Pastor Dave for attending my ceremony (and giggling when they said the oath would be recited in French too). Seriously though, thanks for the support! Also to my family and friends back home, who helped me get to this day and will always have a place to hang their touque across the border.



The ceremony was very nice...94 people from 29 different countries were there too. The judge who performed it was very heartfelt and said some inspiring things. It's neat how there is lots of emphasis on joining a family and contributing to a community when coming here; I like that. I shall miss my colorful PR card which got thrown into a box, but I have a nice new citizenship card now with a more current haircut. Afterwards we all went out for lunch at White Spot, and I had my BC Burger with fries and a coke....a very symbolic American/Canadian meal. Beauty.

Also while in the neighborhood we made a visit to Ten Thousand Villages and the awesome record store in Langley, where I finally found a mint-condition copy of the Muppet Movie Soundtrack on vinyl, with a bonus poster, so naturally I was very excited and it was a perfect gift to find on a day like today. Praises!