I somehow stopped reading Now magazine (I guess time + priorities), but I just stumbled upon some goodies.  The husband and wife duo behind Sukhothai and Khao San Road (now owned by Jeff’s parents) — the best Thai restaurants that I know of in Toronto — have ANOTHER restaurant that I am only now aware of.   It’s called Sabai Sabai and on Church and Dundas.  Like Khao San Road they conveniently have a separate vegan menu, and they also seem to have some fun drinks that you can get by the pitcher; for instance a “Thai Mojito” (dark rum, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, mint, lime, coconut sugar syrup) or a “Midnight Monsoon” (spiced rum, fresh ginger, Thai basil, lime, coconut sugar syrup).  AND, the environment looks like good vibes too.  I think this could be a new favourite restaurant, but I don’t want to be tooo wishful thinking…

my love!

Annie: Isn’t she perfect for Abed. She’s like one of those quirky girls from the movies.  I saw her in the cafeteria trying to pay for lunch with a song.


OMG, my dream grrrl (mostly kidding). I love Kat’s hilarious over the top, ridiculous “quirkiness” with her scootering off, and how she wanders off distracted by the bubbles that the girl from coat check shoots out from a bubble gun (my bubble gun broke last summer — booo).

Now Abed and the girl from the coat check — that’s the real deal <3

(Source: the-average-gatsby)

sometimes I feel like if I go tooo hardcore focusing/working on school and staying up all night I will explode (or die).  Last hall though.  I think it’s safe-ish.  Let’s do this…

“To JK Rowling, from Cho Chang” by Rachel Rostad

But like Cho Chang, I would also perhaps be in Ravenclaw; not because of the smart/studious Asian stereotype, but perhaps because my love (Luna Lovegood) was in Ravenclaw.  Though Hufflepuff is interesting in that they’ve historically had the fewest amount of dark wizards.  Or maybe I would be in Gryffindor…  

(Source: penguinsledding, via sauerkrautforever)

catsandgraffitis:

daily reminder

I am not even into cats that much, but this is soo cute!

tyrawm:

Sorry its so messy… but a dude threw a fucking toad at me today >_> 

ahhh, didn’t sleep much and didn’t have time to prepare as much as I’d like for a group presentation.  Too much time making cookies trying to impress my class crush!

CHRVCHES — The Mother We Share (Miaoux Miaoux remix)

No clue why Eddie Murphy shows up, but I really like this remix

Ughhh, my career opportunism … Not sure if I should go to this food co-op’s AGM tonight.  In a sense I’d rather stay home.  I have a headache and wouldn’t mind resting and/or working on this final project before it gets tooo rushed and/or reading more of my new book.    

(well, to be more honest/less playful with meanings, It’s not like it’s a super slimy/sleazy endeavour — becoming more Powerful and making 6 figures.  It’s career opportunism I guess, but an organization that I think does a lot of good, progressive work and that I’d love to be part of.  Maybe there’ll be some interesting things to learn and/or people to meet at the event.  I can even pick up poutine — well, fries and gravy — on the way home…)

Perhaps I shall go…

Recently came across Scot Nakagawa (who I think is quite endearing) on Democracy Now.  He wrote the article “Why I Support Same Sex Marriage as a Civil Right, But Not as a Strategy to Achieve Structural Change”

“You know, I’m a community organizer, right? That’s my main path in life. And I recognize that in order to build movements for change, you have to speak to people’s hearts and not just their minds. And marriage has done that for the community and, I think, galvanized us. You know, when people are hungry, they don’t join marches to protest against poverty because it will put food on their table; they do it in order to win recognition and respect and acknowledgment of their humanity in spite of their poverty.” — from his Democracy Now talk

“So, while I’m supportive of same-sex marriage rights as a civil right, and I’m a powerful believer that civil rights ought not arbitrarily exclude people, I worry. Civil rights demands for LGBT people need to expand democratic rights for everyone, or our gains will fail to address the foundations of unjust power and remain vulnerable to roll back. Or, put another way, to a movement that likes to repeat Dr. King’s Letter From Birmingham Jail, 

…injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…
” — from his article: http://www.changelabinfo.com/2013/03/25/why-i-support-same-sex-marriage-as-a-civil-right-but-not-as-a-strategy-to-achieve-structural-change/#.UWHBV6t35A4

(I think I’d have to read more/discuss more to better understand everything Scot said/wrote but, among others, I really liked those two comments)

Community – “Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations” (S04E05)
Jeff meets with his estranged father for the first time 
(one of my favourite scenes in Community)

Jeff’s dad: For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you.

Jeff: Wow. Thanks.

Jeff’s dad: Makes you think.

Jeff: Wait, what do you mean?

Jeff’s dad: … I look at you, so self-reliant and well-adjusted, and I think, maybe I did something right.

Jeff: You did something right?

Jeff’s dad: Well, let me say that different. Uh, the universe is a constantly expanding…

Jeff: Stop. I get the impulse, but that’s not going to work here.

Jeff’s dad: No, I just mean that, uh, we are defined by what happens to us, and me leaving, seems to have made you independent, made you strong.

Jeff: With all due respect, which is none, go to hell.

…
(Jeff leaves, but then decides to go back after realizing that not being transparent is giving his father undue credit and legitimization)

Jeff:  I’m sorry. You should take some credit for whom I’ve become. So, let me tell you how I turned out, just so you’re crystal clear on your impact. I am not well-adjusted. And more often than not, I am barely keeping it together. I’m constantly texting, and there’s no one on the other end. I’m just a grown man who can’t even look his own friends in the eye for too long because I’m afraid that they’ll see that I am broken. So, you get credit for that. One time, when I was in 7th grade, I told everybody at school I had appendicitis. I wanted somebody to worry about me, but when Beth Brennan asked to see the scar I didn’t want to get found out. So, I took mom’s scissors, and I made one. It hurt like hell. But it was worth it because I got 17 cards, and I still keep them in a box underneath my bed 22 years later, because it proves that someone at some point cared about me. Want to see the scar? So, I give you credit for that, too. This is me.

(thoughts from a particular moment in time, subject to change…)

I somewhat like these things (though my snarky side finds them slightly cheesy).  I’m not sure if there is an inherent “truth” to these analogies/frames of thinking.  I can’t help but think that a whole Hallmark store could instead be full of cards equally as (in the other direction) depressing/cynical/jaded.  That would amuse me, but at the same time I don’t really want to think of analogies to fill those shelves.  Partly because I’m scared of what that would do for myself.  Also, I don’t want to bring people down; I want to inspire people (but I also want to be real).

I guess it is not so much about “true” or “false.”  It’s more just about a frame of thinking, where an “untrue” frame of thinking (that is, it can be debunked or thought of in an oppositely defeatist way) can be very motivating/helpful.  It’s about deciding to be happy or positive and embracing it, even if it means ignoring certain ideas and/or lying to oneself; ultimately, what is more productive/helpful?  I just have a tough time embracing these approaches and buying into it.  Though, maybe it’s just a half glass full or half glass empty thing(?)

Maybe I will tweak/edit/change/drastically alter this later…

[update: I am not sure I agree with the ~reasoning I wrote.  Gabor Maté writes on the “power of negative thinking”; as in, over the top positive thinking often leads people to suppress emotions, due to a lack of courage to be honest about difficulties.  This suppressing of emotions is actually even more detrimental to health than being negative — which actually enables people to be real/honest about challenges, and from there figuring out how to deal with them.  There is a difference between thinking positively and genuinely being positive.  I wonder, though, don’t you have to think before you can be?  Does faking it before you make it — or alternatively, faking it until you become it — not apply?  I am thinking no(?) …] 

CHVRCHES - Recover

I have no clue how people can manage being a recording artist while being a student.  
(I don’t want to be that invasive and/or horndog fan, but…)
- How To Dress Well - currently a PhD student in philosophy at DePaul University.  Btw, I can’t believe his recent show sold out!  Last time it was a safe bet to get tickets at the door.
- CHVRCHES — the vocalist (who I have a major crush on) did a law degree then a masters in journalism.  I *assume she was in her former band Blue Sky Archives while doing school.  Hoping to see them in June. [Btw, when I say ‘them’ (as in ‘the band’) I really mean ‘her’ … but I’m trying to be less creepy — half jokes.  An article in the Guardian I read seemed to allude to her concerns of being fetishized while her two producer bandmates get blurred.  After all, she did her master’s dissertation on images of femininity in women’s magazines!]
- oh yeah, and Ohbijou whose singer goes to the same school, and is even in the same faculty, as me.  I was going to post a status on facebook to ask if any of my classmates/friends knew her or which specific program she was in, but thought that might be tooo creepy.  Yes, probably.  

I tried to play around with Fruity Loops seven years ago and fail (that is, no skill.  Not that I failed school).  Now I just want to make a mixed set on Ableton, but haven’t set aside the time.  Maybe this summer…

Valerie (Collective), call on me!  Actually, I just remembered I met that dude (briefly) at his show.   

I especially like 6 and 8