Another gray day in Paris

There is something I find comforting in an overcast, rainy day. When the weather isn't too terrible, just constant drizzle. It reminds me of Vancouver I find.

I have to say, that really, the 35 hour work week is an amazing idea. It really just gives you the time to go and do things you need to get done on weekdays. I mean, really, if businesses are open all days of the week, but everyone works, who goes to them? So an afternoon off it was. And it was glorious.

Feeling good now, I think a few days brooding every once in awhile is healthy. Builds character. I guess to follow up my last article, the counter argument is that there does exist change. And that's the funny thing about change, it doesn't last forever. I guess an analogy would be Robert Pirsig's view of different modes of thought in his two books, "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" and "Lila". He discusses the idea basically between science and art minded people, and then goes deeper (or higher I should really say) as in discussing it as different aspects of Quality. He did one really nice analogy that I liked describing the two aspects of quality as a moving train. The first being the very tip of the train, full of change at a constant pace and the rest of the train following making up the other aspect of it. You can substitute my discussion in as that sure change exists at the very start of the train, each moment it pushes through the air. But the rest that follows doesn't change too much, or tends to repeat itself. Both being the same and not. What the hell am I getting at? Well, I guess it is a somewhat Zen thing in that change can only exist without change. That's my big thought for the day.

So where does that leave me? In Paris, drinking wine and doing my thing.

By the way Nicko, if you read this, you were right: The Z-Trip website rocks. Click! Download it all, if you like good music.

Hope all is well.

Everything Changes, But It All Really Just Stays The Same

So it's a matter of perspective or is it? I see everything as cyclic, at least on some meta level. Sure I do something different at work everyday, but I get up at the same time every morning and get home at the same time, to pretty much do the same thing every night. I go to different places, but end up getting myself into the same situations as I always do. Perhaps the circumstances are different, but the form is always similar.

This makes me believe that a lot of human behaviour (or mine at least) must be genetically based. I construct my reality and environment to suit my genetic tastes. That being said, the nurture side does play a role. Sure I went to school, and that may make me prone to certain things. But the reason I went? Because I'm good at math, something which has to be there to begin with before being fostered. Donc, c'est un boucl.

I've been meaning to write a blog for awhile, but life has a funny way of getting in the way of things. Does anyone else find that it's easy to get caught in a loop? Not just with an activity, as I've gone over, but in terms of thinking. Repeating the same thought process, coming to the same conclusion, but feeling obliged to do it all over again. Perhaps that's why people are so good with computers, because all they are is are loops and loops.

So I guess a concrete example is in order. This has happened to me...quite a few times so far. I meet a girl, she is really impressed with my intelligence (honestly, not trying to make an arrogant statement). We have fun. Then it goes sour. Why? Because what was the initial attraction becomes the point of contest. It becomes too much, I ended up drying the well of all decent conversation within a few months (if that) and everything becomes too hard. Someone loses interest and that's it, done. So if you can't be yourself and make it work, then what the hell can you do? I dunno, I think I'll have to do quite a few more iterations of this scenario to learn something.

I don't know where I'm going with this. Just bitching I suppose. As Calvin (of the & Hobbes variety) stated, "Nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around." On the same token, a good quote I read was "Don't tell other people your problems. 20% don't care, and the other 80 are glad you have them."

Anywho, off to my (regularly scheduled) boxe francaise. I'll try to keep up the updates regular, you know, to keep in my theme.
----------------
Now playing: The Chemical Brothers - Alive Alone

Would I invite a vous over for dinner?

After long delay, the sloth known as Josh emerges. Squints at the daylight, and sighs.

It's been a busy couple of weeks here, so I treated myself to a nice weekend of doing nothing. Mission accomplished. Unfortunately, I didn't get my picks in for UFC 80; yes, I was that lazy. In any case, next week is a fresh start to a... cleaner path. Back to the gym and routine, methinks.

What has been on my mind lately? Well, I found this pretty cool: Click!

This too: Click!

Now, that you've got your weird internet fix, I realized I'm mostly looking for originality in music. When I listen, I thoroughly enjoy people experimenting with different sounds, different ideas of melody and beat, and if it works, I find it fascinating. Though recently, my friends here have had to put up with some really weird shit.

I guess to expand this idea a little, as I tend to do, I realize this what I look for in life. After deducing that is what kind of movies I like, and media in general, I started realizing that it stretches far. I really enjoy exploring new ideas, seeing how they work, and applying them to create new solutions. My project leader at work has been amazing for this so far, because he always takes the newest, most sophisticated approach. This actually makes work difficult quite a bit, but what fun would it be if it wasn't? Life in general, I like to think I'm an explorer at heart. Both literally, and figuratively, I like doing new things.

Wow, just wow: Click!

The US primaries are on right now, and it's getting pretty interesting. I have a feeling that Mitt Romney may take it for the Republicans, and I really hope Obama takes it for the Dems. But Clinton...ugh. Even worse, Guliani.

I tried making my first true French meal last week, and I have to say that it worked out fantastically. I've held off on really doing it up, due to the size of my kitchen. But enough was enough, and the full 4 course meal it was. Starting with pitted prunes wrapped in bacon, then broiled, then a salad with palm tree hearts, corn and pinapple with a dash of red wine vinegar, followed by the main dish of magret de canard, accompanied with green beans and roasted potatoes. A light dessert of chevre and bread and a bottle of Pinot Noir, a feast it was. A big damn mess too. I need a sous chef.

Speaking of food, I got a most generous donation of a cut of deer today from the Finnish dude at work. He went hunting over the weekend with his in-laws and managed to snag a hind quarter of a deer, and he wanted to give it away to a deserving soul. Thus, I had a nice steak, and I must say, it's one of the best cuts of meat I've had in a long while. I wish I could have been there to catch it.

Also, tonight was the first night back at boxe francaise. Muscle memory is an amazing thing, I pretty much picked up where I left off a month ago. I'm also stoked because a new guy at work has also joined and we got to spar a bit. Even more pleasing was that he's actually really good, so we can definitely learn from each other. I really enjoy the kind of people that are attracted to fighting sports. They really understand the idea of good sportsmanship, more so than any other sport I've been in.

Life is good. Thursday is a strike, so I'm taking the day off. Ah France, how I love it.
----------------
Now playing: DJ Shadow - Hindsight

Well, well, well

After long delay, I'm finally going to make a post. I hope everyone had a good holidays, I know that I did.

It was good to see everyone back in Calgary. I find that despite a bit of traveling now, that not much has changed. That being, I still get along great with all most of my friends, and life is good. I love being able to go see everyone and just pick up right where we left off. It's good to know that I haven't forgotten my roots either, eternally Josh.

I had a good conversation with a few people about the idea of modifying our law structure based on people's religion. It's an interesting debate because, well, I'm not completely convinced of my own argument, or anyone else's for that matter. My stance is that I don't like the idea, I prefer the notion that we create a secular set of laws. For me, the whole notion that we create laws based on each set of belief systems can be troublesome. Mostly because of the fact that people can believe anything and therefore would have an argument for any law because of that. The problem with the a secular law set is then the idea of which moral/ethical system to follow. Philosophers in general haven't decided on the best system (albeit they never really decide on anything), so the religious folk have an argument for this new system since each group can at least agree on a set of laws.

I just watched "I am Legend." It sucks, don't bother. Will Smith has a tendency to fuck up sci-fi films, by neglecting the actual interesting moral problems that result. At least in Omega Man, they made the zombies at least a bit interesting, in that they had an agenda beyond killing all the non-zombies.

I've also realized that I've gotten to the point where I want to get my shit together. I really can't be bothered to chase girls who have no motivation or plans in their life, because that just drags me down. I also like to be with friends who have at least some notion of what they want to do with themselves, because I find it's getting harder and harder to relate otherwise. Is this a good thing? I dunno. But it just is.

I remember the movie, Big Kahuna, talking about the regret. How once you truly feel regret about something, and realize it's nature (that being there is nothing you can do about it) and this realization paints itself across your face. This is how you gain character, supposedly.

Well, I'm not too sure what else to write right now. I'll try to think of some interesting things this week so everyone can have something more substantial to read.
----------------
Now playing: Hot Chip - Take Care
via FoxyTunes