THE SIMPSONS...Trivia...

So, Colin was a last minute addition to the game when one of our contestants was a no show. I achieved my main goal, win the first round and make it into the finals (and also kick Colin's ass so bad I almost lapped him in points!)As you can see from the above photo he came in second and got some Duff beer (the prize he would have most wanted anyway)and I came in first and got the sailboat painting I wanted oh so bad!!



Sadly in the final round I came in 2nd, losing by 1 fuckign point eats it, especially when there were 2 different, insanely easy questions that I buzzed in on time for but then totally blanked. It was stuff I knew, stuff I that I consider common knowledge! But when your on stage with a time limit the pressure gets to you...Goddamn.










I have the best friends ever, they came out to support me and they made the cutest signs ever. My entourage definitely brought the party, everyone else was jealously looking out into the audience wishing their friends were that cool and liked them that much! Thanks guys, I had such a fun fucking night!

The Runway Lights

Bang It Out is dead! Long live Bang It Out!



So, we did the most rockstar thing ever and broke up after our first show. All is well though, The Runway Lights (Yvo, Misty, Katt, Monica, and Me) are in full swing! We already wrote an entire song (back ups and all) and we tweaked the song Yvo wrote (tentatively titled Jawbreaker) Things are going well and it's nice to be in a band where everyone is always eager to practice and has a lot of time to put in.


Also, isn't this cute, Katt made it, she's so excited:




Things are looking up, I really think we'll be playing shows by winter, maybe sooner depending on our progress writing. We still have a lot of song skeletons too so we are at no loss for material.



In other news, this Saturday I will be taking part in a Simpsons gameshow at the Lennox Gallery (at Queen and Ossington)I'm actually really excited but also kind of nervous. I know it seems pathetic but, what if I lose!? I pride myself on extensive, useless knowledge about the Simpsons, I couldn't imagine how bad losing (in front of my friends no less) would feel! I do keep feigning confidence though, I figured as long as I seem like I'm going to win, even if I lose my ego will be alright.

London

And a few of my favorites from London!

Wales

Here's a few photos from Wales!

Amsterdam

So here are some of my favorite pics from amsterdam

Here are some sweet pics from Paris, some of my favorites that I never compiled into a favorite photos list.

I feel they get somewhat lost amongst the other 700 photos I took while in Europe so I thought this was a good place to post a few (prior to this I was unaware that you could post more than one picture per post...)

Knowing really is half the battle...

Godless Morality

I can't speak for everyone but as an atheist (or anti-theist) I can answer my own perspective.

I really have very few absolutes in morality, even killing can sometimes be justified (i.e. food, defense, etc...) same with stealing, lying, etc...

One of the few absolutes I do have are rape, I have never found a just reason for this to occur.

I think a lot of my morality comes from my beliefs that I am an animal and I have a overwhelming responsibility to preserve our species (a very primal and instinctual need) This is why I care about the welfare of minorities and children, why I don't want to hurt other human beings, why I want to preserve our habitat (the earth) and why I don't want to bring our society to chaos (i.e. raping, stealing from, killing people in my society)

It may be hard to understand but even without the bible or other dogmatic book there are many sources to get a good idea of morality. Myths and stories are chocked full of moral messages to humanity, even bible stories aren't bad in and of themselves (ok, some are, King Nebakanezer and Job stand out to me as some of the worst morals in the bible) as long as they are taken as literary myth (which is what they are)

My point is that man made all these things (from Christian God to Zeus) and we have been figuring out our morality since we became capable of abstract reasoning. Abstract reasoning is the only reason we think about morality in the first place, otherwise it wouldn't come up at all. But, if you look at a herd of elephants while they don't have the reasoning or the moral teachings of religion (or any other source) they still take care of their young and sick, grieve for their dead, and work to preserve their community, all this without a bible or a God.

I know this is a bit long winded but my point is that human beings invented God to:

a) Control a vast uneducated majority
b) Remove responsibility from themselves when they do act immorally or aren't strong enough to act independently (i.e. the satan made me do it defense or " turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him" in AA)

There is nothing wrong with a personal relationship with a god you believe in, it can give you strength when you feel you have none, the problem comes with the fact that you if you believe, it's an entire lifestyle.

If you believe you have some sort of greater realization about the creation of the universe and everything in it, including yourself, you can't keep it to yourself.

If you actually believe that your God holds all the answers to life then you will follow anything that claims to be his work because you have to, IT'S GOD. This leads to horrible acts and makes it hard to socially evolve, which is how this comes back to same sex marriage.

Human beings are capable of despicable acts because they feel they are acting on behalf of a higher power and a greater purpose. Instead of learning new things and furthering our intelligence it would seem that religion has haltered our social and moral evolution, it continues to pull us back to medieval thought processes despite the fact that we should be dispelling these ancient ideas based on new knowledge.

My biggest peeve comes from the idea that "we figured it out", religious types are convinced that they know "the purpose to life", that they figured out why we are here and all the secrets to the universe (god made them...) and that they figured it out before we had indoor plumbing! They have the arrogance to point out the fallacies of science, the points where it went wrong and we proved ourselves incorrect. But, the people who reject the idea of an omnipotent, omnipresent god have a better insight into this. We don't know, we'ver never known and while it seems we know less than before we know less and less about more and more, and that's what matters.

There is no shame in humbling in the face of our own ignorance as long as we strive to know more, religion tells us we don't need to do that because it already has the answers, except, it doesn't.

I know this was really long winded and I went on a few digressions but hopefully this explains my position on morality without deity.

Hey, You know what sucks?

when you are the lowest priority...

Does everyone else react to this the same way I do?

As soon as I feel unappreciated my first instinct in to unappreciate back... It's strange, do I think somehow the other person will feel this and reflect upon their own unappreciative ways?

That's not how people or situations work, I know this and yet still, this is my immediate response. Retributive justice is ridiculous, it's not justice at all!

Ok, so I'm having a kinda pissed off day, does it show through my blog?

I can't wait till Andrea comes home!!! (July 6-13th!) I'm already dreading when she will have to leave again... sigh...

wickkkked!!

So this Friday (that just past) band practice got canceled because Caitlin was sick. She's our drummer so renting a space for $20 an hour without the drums being used seemed pointless.

We decided to just have a writing session at Misty's, Dee didn't make it. Half way through our jam Misty, Yvo, and I got a text from Dee telling us to "come over and drink", to which we replied "come to band practice and drink!!". We got one more reply from her saying "her tetra is broken", that's a good enough excuse in any of our books, we know the importance of a well working tetra.

Anyway, without Dee and Caitlin there Misty, Yvo, and I still ended up writing 2 songs. This is kind of rad because all three of us really love 3 chord punk rock so our songs (while definitely simpler without the guitar wailing experience Dee has) reflect that and are very much the kind of stupid fun songs we wanted to write when we got together.

Also, we have 2 shows that are pretty much confirmed. June 24th at the Kathedral (I believe this is a cake fight show) and July 10th, opening up for the Creeps in Toronto. I REALLY want to do an away show, one of the big reasons I wanted to be in a band was so that I could go on tour (and possibly see Andrea since she moved to Vancouver!) So things are looking up and promising!

BANG IT OUT!!!!

update...

The FINALLY official name of my band is "Bang It Out", look for our upcoming album (at a yet to be disclosed date) "Really, Really Good Taste" soon... or when we finally do more than get really fucked up at band practice...

The "DL"

Disclaimer: This opinion of the "Downlow*" is based completely on the number of stories I have heard from people I know and knew and the vast amount of craigslist.ca casual encounters posts I have read, it comes from personal experiences (as a mostly straight girl) and does not in any way try to explain this group as a whole despite the blanket statements and run on sentences...

Straight guys on the "DL" get their cocks sucked by boys all the time, yet they claim they are straight, or "bi-curious". In most if not all the stories I've heard the first time a straight boy has one of these "encounters" it is with a male who is significantly (whether factual or relative) older than he is, the situation is somewhat seedy, or at the very least scandalous enough to become a secret (whether factual or relative) and it usually happens after a good amount of sex with girls, making the boys in their early to mid twenties and up.

It seems that this first encounter has a lot to do with who goes back for more and why. As we know people have sex for pleasure, not just families but that's not where the reasons people have sex stop. People have sex in anger ("hatefucking"**) there's resentful sex, sex to get back at other people, drug sex (pick your poison) and the list goes on and on, but one that comes up a lot, a really common one is "feel better about yourself fucking". When you have sex and someone makes you feel incredibly hot and out of their league it feels amazing, there's a certain satisfaction in it that nothing duplicates. When you're heading out of your prime or you aren't a movie star good looks person it feels amazing to fuck someone who feels privileged to service you.

Most gay guys I know find straight boys incredibly erotic, probably because they are the untouchables. The boys that gay guys know, no matter how good looking they are, they can never fuck. So when one of these so called "straight men" gives it a go it's a triumph for the man who "brought them over". This is probably what makes it so erotic to get them.

On the other hand the "heterosexuals" are both curious and knowing in this encounter. They are curious because it is simply human urge to wonder about things outside the norm in every situation (even if you detest it you had to wonder about it to come to that conclusion) and this includes sexuality, who can say they haven't had at least one homoerotic dream? They are knowing because they can sense the anticipation and the excitement in their partner (like anyone who is about to engage with someone who really wants it) and this spur’s them further, making it even more enticing than the initial curiosity.

These all spring from the same thing, both the straight and the gay man are given a boost to their self esteem. The heterosexual feeling more wanted than usual (specifically because in most heterosexual relationships this power is held by the female) and the homosexual feeling that he is so enticing he tempted someone who isn't usually attracted to his sex. I believe the DL has nothing to do with women***in any capacity, it's not that these men are no longer attracted to women but being with women doesn't give them the same boost of self esteem. They still go home or out and try to have sleep with the opposite sex but now and then they engage in this gratifying sex that has more to do with "feeling good about yourself" than anything else.****


*The Downlow or DL is when men who claim to live a heterosexual life participate in homosexual acts and keep it a secret (unless they get really drunk with a loose tongue and their most "open" friend)


**Ha ha ha


***well yeah, I guess that's obvious but I'm not just talking about the act.


****Unless they're gay...

Top 10 ways for straight girls to have sex...or more importantly, great sex.

Just something that I was going to put into a zine I was going to start, needless to say that didn't happen so I thought I would pollute the internet with it. Stand by, more to come!

1. Masturbate Like Crazy and Lose Your Virginity! - I lost it early and it took me till I was legal to find someone who could make me cum, you don't want to spend forever with someone who can't make you cum. Women’s bodies aren't easy to manipulate and you have to figure out how it works yourself first and that takes practice, you don't want to waste the most fun part of a relationship (the honeymoon period) still working on it! Though it seems shiny and new the first couple times regardless of whether you cum or not, eventually it'll drive anyone insane. Besides, the older you get the older the guys you have sex with get and it seems that now days few want the daunting task of your first intercourse experience (save for a few kinks)

2.Use The Internet - That's what it was invented for anyway and while in the real world women out number men, in the online dating/casual encounters world the opposite it true. It's an untapped well of horny straight (and slightly curved) men that will fuck anyone, a girl, any girl, is a godsend. Just make sure your safe (online safe means a jimmy) and meet in public first.

3.Don't Be Desperate, Be Confident - It appears that there is nothing people want less than things that are thrown at them. If you want to have sex with someone the last thing you should do is walk up and tell them that, flirt, be obvious even, but never tell them because as soon as they know for a fact that it's true they know that they get to decide when and if it happens (which immediately drains it of a whole bunch of sexy anticipation, the chase is always better than the kill) I know it sounds like inspiration for young teens but being confident is so sexy, when you walk out thinking you are going to fuck whoever you want, it shows. People are immediately interested if they see you with no fear, if you're not confident, fake it.

4.Lower Your Standards - If you're out to fuck you can't expect to fuck only your ideal, that's the guy you want to be in a relationship with, not have a one night stand with. Take a chubby/scrawny/big nosed/bad hair/bad tattoo/bad taste/short/tall one sometimes. Don't rid yourself of standards (because that can lead to gross post feelings) but a 7or 6 (or 5 if you get really desperate) outta 10 ain’t bad, and sometimes the not ideal could surprise you by being ideal in the sack!

5.Be A Giver - Boys love a good blow job, if you don't suck cock you should learn fast because your breed is dying. Does sex without oral even exist anymore? Is it fun? Being good at sucking cock gives you an edge if you ever end up with a guy who isn’t the biggest giver. He’ll know that if he wants your sweet, sweet cock sucking action he’ll have to reciprocate!

6.Don't Be Shy - Being coy and shy is one thing when your flirting but in the middle of copulating it's just annoying. Again, the female body is hard to figure out so throw your partner a bone so to speak and tell him what you want. Tell him where to go and what to do when he gets there, it will make sex more enjoyable and stress free for both of you and inspire more vocalization during sex which is always more fun. This rule also applies to your kinks (and his) if there's something different you want to try, ask, if he's not into it don't take it personally. If he asks and it's something you don't want to do very respectfully (and not judgingly because he just showed huge vulnerability) say no, or jump in and try something new, who knows what it will awaken within you.

7.Show Off the Biggest Part Of Your Body - No matter what part it is there's a fetish out there for it and if boys with that fetish see it they are more likely to approach you. It's especially good if you hate said body part because there is nothing hotter and more confidence inspiring than fucking someone who thinks your giant tits/ass/feet/belly/nipples/vagina/hips/neck/shoulders/ears/whatever is the sexiest thing ever and seeing you flaunt it will just make him want you that much more.

8.Know How To End A One Night Stand - don't turn sex into this huge emotional thing all the time. Can sex be emotional and "special"? Yes, of course it can but not if that emotion and "specialness" wasn't there before the sex happened. There are important times in your life and relationships when sex will mean something deeper but those times usually don't include the random you met at a party and talked to for 25 minutes before going home with, there is no need to cry when he doesn't call or bring him a homemade tuque/baked good the next time you see him because he probably wants to see you for the same reason he saw you last time (and that should be the reason your seeing him) you fall in love in between, not at the beginning. If you’re that person, stop it, your ruining casual sex for the rest of us. If you sleep with a boy that is that person, run.

9. Orgasm - or fake it, either way people will want to have more sex with you if they think they are a great lover and it will inspire them to work harder (so ideally the next one will be real). If you do fake it just remember that you are only cheating yourself because there's no way he's faking it so that you feel good.

10. Go Out And Party, But Not With All Girls – You’re not going to meet anyone new to fuck if all you do is hang out with the same people in the same place night after night. A lot of great sex comes from friends of friends you meet on a whim and end up chatting with, it's harder to meet someone when you don't have that initial icebreaker introduction. Also, a pack of girls spells hard to penetrate (in every sense) to a guy, it's hard enough for them to approach one let alone an entire horde. Your best luck will come from going out with a mixed gender group but staying distant from the boys in it (so your potential doesn't mistake one of your friends for a boyfriend) When you first get introduced say something that let's him know you noticed him before your meeting, i.e. "I saw your hat/bike/art/penis earlier, it was awesome". If there is reciprocation you are in, if not, move on.