Home of DJ and technophile Jonathan Puddle (aka J Puddy)
Posts by Jonathan Puddle
Remember, remember…
76 years ago
The 5th of November. I just got back from seeing V for Vendetta. Two words: freaking wow.
The movie is based on a graphic novel by Alan Moore. It takes place some 30 years in the future, in a distopian England. The United States’ various wars eventually ripped the world apart, and the power-hungry religious-oriented leader of England made radical steps to rid the country of immigrants and undesirables (gays, rioters, Muslims, and the like), and built a new position for himself as High Chancellor. As the movie unfolds you siwftly realise that this future is not a happy place, and people are under no illusions that all is not right in their country. V is the result of an experiment gone wrong, and begins to insight violence against the regime, all while wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.
Honestly, this movie blew me away. There are a load of great themes brought out, and tough questions asked. What’s the difference between good violence and bad violence? Do the ends justify the means? How do you violently rebel against a corrupt bureaucracy, but not end up the same as the original perpetrators? Things like that.
And of course there’s ass kicking. Ass kicking of the wildest kind. Hugo Weaving, the excellent Nigerian born, Australian actor plays the man behind the mask. I was commenting to my family on the way home that putting him behind the mask was a really great idea, because after The Matrix Trilogy, I had a really tough time seeing him as anyone other than Agent Smith. I never liked his being cast as Elrond in Lord of the Rings for this reason. (I still think Liam Neeson quite possibly IS Elrond.) So, you put him behind a mask and you get the benefits of his name, his voice, and his truly great acting skills. (If you’ve never seen Priscilla Queen of the Desert, you should rent it.)
Natalie Portman was also great, as she’s always been in anything other than Star Wars. She plays a young girl who’s rescued by V early on, and later decides to join his mission.
Right now, I give this movie a 5/5. I do have the weakness of falling in love with a movie immediately, and overating things, but I was really impressed with this one. I’m going to try and see it again in theatres, and maybe then I’ll have a more balanced approach. But I hope not.
Favourite quote:
V – “A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.”
P.S. The soundtrack was hawt!
Wireless High Speed Internet
06 years ago
by Jonathan Puddle
in Uncategorized
I just wrote this long witty post about how I’m using my laptop and internet on a TTC bus. And then I lost it. I hate technology.
But where does the bartender go to party?
26 years ago
by Jonathan Puddle
in Uncategorized
Maija and I took in another Methodology gig last night. Technically her first, but my second. It was at Bar Italia in Little Italy. Twas a nice albeit small establishment with dinning/bar on the first floor, and bar and stage on the top floor.
Melissa Bathory played first, singing solo vocals supported by an acoustic guitar. She was decent, but nothing that really stood out to me. Her voice was a little loud in the system, but that wasn’t her fault.
Freeflow played next, a band from Vancouver who Methodology bumped into and asked to play with them. They had a fun sound; part rap part jazz infused rock.
Methodology closed off the night with 5 or 6 of their better tracks. We had fun.
And now it’s time for the cartoon
46 years ago
Maija had the pleasure of interviewing one of her univeristy professors recently regarding the college program at York University. After he found out she was a Christian, all he wanted to discuss with her were the infamous Muhammad cartoons.
Ahh cartoons. Sweet sweet cartoons. Much like alcohol; the cause and solution to all of life’s problems. My wife recently commented on my cousin’s blog (regarding this issue) that she secretly likes reading cartoons, as they get away with saying all kinds of things.
But… as we all now the Mohammad cartoons have developed into a serious issue. Heck, they’re in Wikipedia! If that’s not a serious enough issue…
So who’s right? Who’s wrong? My cuz says:
“Anyway this whole thing makes me feel really annoyed because I know that Islam does not respect the rights of any other religion, especially Jews and Christians, yet they demand a western country respect their rights, they don’t understand that the state cannot interfer in what the newspaper publishes. So the whole arguement about whose rights are the most valid are now raging. Also it proves again just how widely apart the west and the middle east are in terms of worldview. I fear we will never understand each other, or even try too, it seems that Samuel Huntingtons ‘clash of civilizations’ is coming true.”
I tend to agree, but my thoughts are as follows:
- To the dude who wrote the cartoons: “Wouldn’t it better to leave well enough alone?”
- To the countries who demand “free press” and permit the cartoons: “There’s got to be a limit, especially if people’s lives are at risk. Which they now are.”
- To the company and countries defending the artist: “That’s admirable, but there is a difference between condoning something, and protecting one of your own. You got half of it right.”
- To the Muslim individuals burning buildings, attacking people, writing death threats: “Congratulations on playing exactly into the stereotype the cartoons painted of you.”
- And to the professor at York University who asked how we’d feel if people made fun of Jesus: “Tell me something new.”
And to the first person who reveals where the title of this post is from: “Biggups!”
North Country
96 years ago
by Jonathan Puddle
in Personal
Maija and I just finished watching North Country, with Charlize Theron and Sissy Spacek. Man… very powerful movie. Maija’s still wiping the tears from her cheeks, but at least they’re smiling cheeks (due in part to my kisses, naturally).
For those who don’t know, the film is set in Minnesota in the 1970s, and is the story (based on true events) of women mine workers and their struggle against sexual harassment. It’s directed by Niki Caro, the New Zealand born director of Whale Rider (if you haven’t seen Whale Rider, rent it soon time). Also staring is the ever excellent Sean Bean (who once sued Rowan Atkinson for his Mr. Bean character).
I’d give this movie 4.5 / 5 stars. It’s truly a well made film, doesn’t pull it’s punches, and is an important message to get out. It was surprising to my naive self to hear that up until the mid 70s, no women were employed in any of the mines. Cause the 70s AINT that long ago.
My lovely wife and I were discussing rape, and payback, two themes that are prevalent near the end of the movie, and she asked what I would do if someone was assaulting her (not rape specifically). It’s certainly not a pleasant question to answer, as a husband and a man who knows (on the good days) right from wrong. I told her that if I encountered someone assaulting her, or was made aware of a person assaulting her on an ongoing bassist, then that person’s number was up. However, if I hunted down someone who had assaulted her, to exact revenge on said person, I believe that is wrong. I would be loth to continue the cycle of hate and sin that the enemy only wants me to continue, but I would also hate for my wife to feel that I am not/would not be protecting her.
Where do you think that line is drawn? No really… where?
Public Service Announcement
36 years ago
Please ignore the general brokenness of this website. I just upgraded to the latest version of WordPress (the wonderful free blogging software that powers this website), and the latest version of Squible (the wonderful free template that by-and-large makes this website look cool). I’m desperately trying to remember what parts of my site I had where. Thanks :)
Cunning cranked to 11
46 years ago
I like to think of myself as being sneaky and devious. Sometimes my work-mate Jon Patell and I discuss how much cunning a particularly difficult task took us to accomplish.
Well friends, tonight my cunning is cranked to 11. In honour of Valentine’s Day, Internation Singles Awareness Day, and Hallmark International Highest Revenue Day, I shall take my pretty wife to the Marriot Hotel for dinner. We did this last year, where I presented her with airline tickets to go to New Brunswick. In New Brunswick later that May, I happened to propose to her.
Tonight, in honour of the passing of 365 calendar days, I shall give her airline tickets to…
Finland!
The Internet Age: The Age of Sillyness
86 years ago
by Jonathan Puddle
in Tech
I’ve been thinking lately how the internet seems to have brought a candidness to business that I don’t see paralleled elsewhere. It seems that the Age of the Internet has become in parts an Age of Sillyness. Especially when it comes to company names, identification, and other things involving names.
Companies like Google and Yahoo for instance. Two of the most influential companies online today, publicly traded and all. I can’t think right now of any companies before who have had such strange names and have not been niche market type companies. What about HotBot? That admittedly didn’t last long in the limelight though… or BigFoot. How about Red Hat Linux, or anything Linux really. What about Skype? Napster even.
Similar is accepted forms of ID. I called Xbox Live Customer Support a few days ago to cancel my membership. I was immediately asked what my gamertag was; I felt a little funny having to say – and spell – RancorDeath. But it could have been worse! Ipwnnewbs, for instance, or W0lfT1t$. Or any of these:
ViewtifulVirus
Splinter21
bendak
DazedNConfuzed
GrumpyMicrobe
sinisterDonkey
Divine Tyrant
StormHawk
CureYouAllMen
WastedAdvance
SittingDuck85
Clawgrip
DJ Doubledown
Frankie
I could go on forever.
What made it acceptable for an adult male to say RancorDeath to another adult male, without one of them laughing? The Internet I say… and maybe it was a good thing too.
Review: Methodology
06 years ago
The CD release party was a fun fun time. DJ Shagz spun a couple of great sets, mixing funky soul with a bit of hip hop. Methodology played a pretty good show, with two sets, the second featuring some special guests. Most notable was Nick “The Brownman” Ali, who I had not heard of but is evidently one of the best young jazz trumpeters in Toronto. The venue, Revival, was a very cool place with room for about 150, with brick interior walls, a high black ceiling, fabric draping from the ceiling to the walls, and candles burning in recessed windows.
I seriously recommend you check out Methodology. They have some serious talent, and I’m excited to see what happens for them next.
In other news, the hunt for my misplaced wedding ring continues apace, and there shall be no prayer night at our place this Thursday, as I shall be joining Edward King to spin records for the School of Ministry graduation ceremony.
Vote for your favourite DJs
16 years ago
TheDJList.com‘s list of the world’s favourite DJs has been reset as of January 06. So go there and vote for your favourite DJs… *cough – J Puddy and Shagz.
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