So...

Last update OCTOBER!? Scandalous. Stupid facebook.

Well, in summary:
1. I'm alive
2. School is good. Exams are upcoming as you are all acutely aware, I'm sure.
3. ICSS is good.
4. Winter break is also upcoming and that's awesome. I'm heading to New York but will try to see you all when I get back or before I go because I miss my gifted loser friends :D

This was a total crap post but I just wanted to do something about the utter lack of posts in general.

Black Gold

eretsThe movie you should all endeavour to see: Black Gold (rated 83% fresh, if that helps)
The website: Black Gold: the official site

The story: We drink 2 billion cups of coffee a day, and retail sales have reached 80 billion. At the same time, a farmer earns three cents for a three dollar cup of coffee. Now, 25 million coffee farmers around the world are facing bankruptcy. Follow one man's quest to help alleviate the suffering by working for fair trade. If you thought Supersize Me was interesting (although seriously, who DIDN'T know that fast food was horribly unhealthy?) then you will absolutely find this documentary gripping and paradigm-shifting.

The directors say: "Our hope was to make a film that forced us, as western consumers, to question some of our basic assumptions about our consumer lifestyle and its interaction with the rest of the world. And in doing so, we wanted to challenge the way in which the Western media bombards its audiences with an overload of de-contextualised images depicting poverty in Africa with no link to our own lives.

We focused on coffee because it is a universal experience enjoyed by billions of people on a daily basis and is part of an industry worth over $80 billion a year. But, the people behind the product are in crisis with millions of growers fast becoming bankrupt. Our goal was to urgently remind audiences that through just one cup of coffee, we are inextricably connected to the heart of the global economy. We focused on Ethiopia because we were struck by the paradox that Ethiopia produces some of the best coffee in the world, but continues to be one of the world's poorest countries."

You can catch it at the Bloor Cinema until Thursday (that's TOMORROW, so make haste). Right now it's mostly doing the rounds of the film fests so this is a pretty good opportunity. However, I fervently hope that it will be more widely released in the fall. I'm telling you, no other movie has lit a fire under my ass like this one. Run, don't walk, to your nearest neighbourhood rep theatre. And definitely let me know if you see it - or if you're planning to. I might even join you for a second go.

Ma'am, yes ma'am.

Hello everyone, from your newest ICSS Internal Officer! If any Innisians who got out there and voted happen to read this, thank you so much. I'm really looking forward to an awesome and successful year with an amazing council. Certainly the excellent quality of next year's council makes my job easier; I won't have to administer any death-glares (although Ian tells me my death-glares are more amusing than fear-inspiring, I say it's just that he's built up an immunity) to ensure compliance with ICSS regulations and the constitution. So I'm really psyched, and can't wait to get started!

In other news: SWAMPED. WITH. STUFF. Obviously it's business as usual. When Thursday comes I'll be the happiest gal in the world. For five minutes, before I start studying for exams.

You may all commence naughty secretary jokes now. No, don't really.

Vote for me (again) and I shall bring eternal happiness...

...I'm allowed to lie in these campaigns, right?

Seriously though, I've decided to run for ICSS Internal Officer. What with two tests and an essay before next Wednesday, creating posters and a platform, campaigning and possibly sleeping (*sigh*), I'm swamped. But I'm always swamped, so yeah, moving along.

If you're from Innis and you're reading this (AHEM IVAN) I would really appreciate it if you would drag yourself over to the Innis College pit on Thursday or Friday between 10 to 4 and vote. I'm running against someone in res and even though I have more experience and am going to campaign my ass off, I'm going to have to get more commuters this time if I wanna make sure of a win. Which I do.

So yeah, wish me luck kids!

Can't think of one right now.

This has been a relatively interesting weekend, and so I'm going to stop working to tell you all about it, even though, as usual, I have sooooo much of it. But we all know that if I stop, it'll be impossible to get it rolling again, SO:

Friday, Ian and a few of his friends from school came down so that one of them, Liz, could get a tattoo. And get it she did. Now I kind of want to go get mine, but thinking about how Liz is now changed forever and how I will also be changed forever if I get a tattoo has still got me wondering if I really want one. Also, she was practically passing out from the pain, so that was a bit deterring. It's kind of moot point since I don't have enough money right now to go do one, but still, I've been thinking about it on and off for a couple of years now. I can't decide if the fact that I don't obsessively want one means that I shouldn't get one, or the fact that it's a recurring theme in my head means that I SHOULD get one. How badly do I need to want to get one before I know I'll want it for the rest of my life?

Also, Saturday I had training from 9-5.30. Although it was definitely a long day, everybody came up with really interesting workshop ideas, so it was pretty cool. Right after, I went home, took a Tylenol and passed out for, like, ten minutes, and then headed down to Jack Astors to meet up with Stella, Kala, Elaine, and Anita. Stella's posted some photos on her blog so you can check them out if you'd like. It was awesome seeing everyone again (y'all looked smashin', dahlins), although being in Scarborough late at night actually makes me feel kinda paranoid now. I've been away far too long, obviously.

Now, after badmintoning, I have chem test studying, physics lab, bio essay, bio presentation, physics problem set, calc sections to do in the next week. Not that anybody cares, but it just makes me feel more organized when I can see it all in type. Also hopefully people will take pity on me and volunteer to do my lab and essay. Anybody? *sigh*

On the upupUPside, the weather is GORGEOUS. I strolled around Kensington and down to Queen Friday night and let me tell you, it was lovely. Soontime it'll be bust out the camera time. Soontime.

Bam! (Now we're up to speed)

I haven't posted in SOOOO long. I've been dying under huge loads of homework and other obligations. It's funny that Tiff recently complained in her blog that she has too much free time, and is used to filling every minute with stuff. She mentioned that back in the day, "loitering around after Sunday service for half an hour deciding where to go seemed like an insufferable waste of time--because I needed every minute I could hoard just to keep myself afloat." AND SHE MISSES IT. Well, how the tables have turned. What with work, ICSS, school, gym, family, friends and Ian, now I need every minute I can hoard. And I frickin hate it to death. All I want to do (and I want this very very badly) is to sit around all day, watching movies on pirated DVD/download and reading till my vision goes blurry. Reading novels, not course-stuff. After my piles of homework I don't have the energy to stagger to a computer (remember, I have to actually go find one) and update this damn thing. I don't even have much energy to write in my diary, and that's unfortunate because I love it. I mean, on the one hand it's nice to accomplish so much and always be accomplishing. On the other hand, sometimes I'm convinced I would be happy as a goat-herd on some frickin Tuscan mountain as long as I had enough food, a little mud hut, and sunshine. And time. I could lie in the grass all day, watching the goats. *sigh*. Summer!! I could go for some watching of "The Notebook" right now, actually.

Okay so for a quick update:
Reading week, visited Tiff @ Western and had myself a good-ass time. Surprised at how not-boring London is. I mean, less variety, but all the necessities are definitely there. Also surprised at how huge the campus was. It feels larger than UTSG - more open space. All the people I met were awesome, and it was cool to finally meet mysterious Mr. Kevin (I approve :D:D) who was a very interesting and engaging individual. Dinner at Garlic's (good thing I like garlic), dessert at Demetre's (which apparantly exists in Toronto - it's GOOD) and a good time was had by all (as well as an excuse to do makeup!). I went to church and enjoyed it, although as always the singing made me feel awkward. Going to church always makes me tear up, maybe it's something to do with a spiritual void in my life or something. But I had already embarrassed myself by falling over while dismounting from the bus, so it didn't really matter. Of course we stayed up to some ridiculous hours chatting, but that's standard issue sleepover stuff. Overall, it was awesome and I'm looking forward to hopefully reciprocating some time in the summer (after we're all nineteen - clubbing, ahem?)

I also saw Barbara near the end of the week during badminton-playing and we all went out for dim-sum (unintentionally; I'm sorry I thought it was noodles!) and bubble/milk tea.

So as you all know, I turned 19 on St. Patrick's day (Friday). In order to celebrate, I went out with Stella and co. (Adrian, Phil, Will, Amy, to a pubnight at the James Joyce on Thursday night. It was certainly a memorable night. Not for me, I can't remember anything, but I'm sure the others won't forget it :P (kidding, I remember it all!). Anyway, Stella was hugely helpful so big thank you to her (also breakfast was really good, I would totally do it again). It was an awesome time, and I wish you alllll could have come, but that's okay. We'll redo it sometime soon (Who's turning 19 next? :D) Next night, headed over to the Innis Pub Night with Ian and although he wouldn't dance (booo) it was still tons of fun. It was excellent as usual to see him, and we celebrated my birthday in style. Yes.

And that basically is what I missed putting up while I was being crushed in productivity. But the hiatus was kinda good because now there's lots of stuff I wanna post about.

Now I have to go be productive, dammit.

I'm not dead.

I have merely been kidnapped by a group of funny-smelling engineers burning in white-hot anger that I infiltrated their organization through Science Outreach* and stole their stupid little cannon. Once I make good my escape (I telepathically posted this so my dear readers wouldn't worry :P) then I shall post about my adventures over reading week, and with the maurading band of merry practical scientists. Until then, be vigilant. They could be coming for you. Especially if I manage to bend them to my will through feminine wiles, and don't particularly like you**.

<3 Webnesh




* I knew that rejection letter was a false alarm. Since the moment we first met, it was evident that Science Outreach could never REALLY resist (hiring) me. Moral of the story: don't play mind games, children. It's silly.
** which would never happen because I like everybody. *ahem*