..who the HELL is 'THEY'...

wait, so - who the hell is THEY?
so here is something i wonder...why do people always want to give you advice by saying....'you know what THEY say?'........who the f*$@ is 'THEY'?
who gets to be in this group who hands out information like that you shouldn't swim for 30 minutes after you eat. i feel like saying...'listen 'THEY', don't tell me how to live my life.'
wait, how does one get to be a part of this 'THEY'? do you have to try out? is it a special club? do I have to apply? can I get a student loan for this...or maybe i too can just start my own fascist regime of sorts where I can just start handing out random information under the guise of 'THEY'.
yeah - that's it!!! like, 'you know what 'THEY' say, you should give me a dollar everytime i give you advice' or 'you know what 'THEY' say, honking too much can mess up your car' 'you know what 'THEY' say, picking your nose can give you nose herpes'...really, anything - no matter how random could be used...

...the winner is....OBAMA!!

Who among us is not at a loss for words? Tears pour out. Tears of joy. Tears of relief. A stunning, whopping landslide of hope in a time of deep despair.

In a nation that was founded on genocide and then built on the backs of slaves, it was an unexpected moment, shocking in its simplicity: Barack Obama, a good man, a black man, said he would bring change to Washington, and the majority of the country liked that idea. The racists were present throughout the campaign and in the voting booth. But they are no longer the majority, and we will see their flame of hate fizzle out in our lifetime.

There was another important "first" last night. Never before in our history has an avowed anti-war candidate been elected president during a time of war. I hope President-elect Obama remembers that as he considers expanding the war in Afghanistan. The faith we now have will be lost if he forgets the main issue on which he beat his fellow Dems in the primaries and then a great war hero in the general election: The people of America are tired of war. Sick and tired. And their voice was loud and clear yesterday.

It's been an inexcusable 44 years since a Democrat running for president has received even just 51% of the vote. That's because most Americans haven't really liked the Democrats. They see them as rarely having the guts to get the job done or stand up for the working people they say they support. Well, here's their chance. It has been handed to them, via the voting public, in the form of a man who is not a party hack, not a set-for-life Beltway bureaucrat. Will he now become one of them, or will he force them to be more like him? We pray for the latter.

But today we celebrate this triumph of decency over personal attack, of peace over war, of intelligence over a belief that Adam and Eve rode around on dinosaurs just 6,000 years ago. What will it be like to have a smart president? Science, banished for eight years, will return. Imagine supporting our country's greatest minds as they seek to cure illness, discover new forms of energy, and work to save the planet. I know, pinch me.

We may, just possibly, also see a time of refreshing openness, enlightenment and creativity. The arts and the artists will not be seen as the enemy. Perhaps art will be explored in order to discover the greater truths. When FDR was ushered in with his landslide in 1932, what followed was Frank Capra and Preston Sturgis, Woody Guthrie and John Steinbeck, Dorothea Lange and Orson Welles. All week long I have been inundated with media asking me, "gee, Mike, what will you do now that Bush is gone?" Are they kidding? What will it be like to work and create in an environment that nurtures and supports film and the arts, science and invention, and the freedom to be whatever you want to be? Watch a thousand flowers bloom! We've entered a new era, and if I could sum up our collective first thought of this new era, it is this: Anything Is Possible.

An African American has been elected President of the United States! Anything is possible! We can wrestle our economy out of the hands of the reckless rich and return it to the people. Anything is possible! Every citizen can be guaranteed health care. Anything is possible! We can stop melting the polar ice caps. Anything is possible! Those who have committed war crimes will be brought to justice. Anything is possible.

We really don't have much time. There is big work to do. But this is the week for all of us to revel in this great moment. Be humble about it. Do not treat the Republicans in your life the way they have treated you the past eight years. Show them the grace and goodness that Barack Obama exuded throughout the campaign. Though called every name in the book, he refused to lower himself to the gutter and sling the mud back. Can we follow his example? I know, it will be hard.

It's been a long road, and huge damage has been done to this great country, not to mention to many of you who have lost your jobs, gone bankrupt from medical bills, or suffered through a loved one being shipped off to Iraq. We will now work to repair this damage, and it won't be easy.

But what a way to start! Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th President of the United States. Wow. Seriously, wow.

Michal Chronicles....Europe - Episode II

Hello again! Well, I know that I've talked to quite a bit of you through facebook and such... Things are still fantastic across the pond! I'm having a blast! I left Italy 3 days ago and am now in Spain. I've posted pictures on facebook and for those of you that aren't cool - and not on the ol' FB...I'll send you some when I get a moment. As you may know I tried to 'run with the bulls'. I chickened out. After 45 people died and I thought maybe a block was too far to run as those bulls are f'n fast!! Plus, I had my camera, I'm on my period and you know what they say about animals and chicks on their periods - oh - and I also had the baby...maybe that wasn't a winning combination. HAHA!
Anyhoo, I was at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain and got some great photo's. I can see myself living in a Palace. Hee Hee.... They were very protective of what I shot, so I can only publish a few...which I have...but I'll have some great stories to share. The mojito's are good here but I think Cuba is #1 in that department. Last night I was enjoying the 'VIRGEN DEL CARMEN' Festival here in Malaga. A little history about that below:

'...It's a hot, muggy eight o'clock in mid-July in the overgrown fishing village of Rincon de la Victoria. Crowds are gathered in the tree-lined plaza in front of the church, with its typical whitewashed façade. Others line the pavement on both sides of the street, or squeeze onto their balconies. If you peer through the open door, you can just make out the white and gold-robed priest presiding over a special mass for the town's patron, the Virgen del Carmen.

At last the bells ring out, long and loud, and the traffic police blow their whistles to redirect the traffic away from the main thoroughfare. The steady stream of residents and holidaymakers turns into a river, as they pour in from their houses, from the beach and from the cafes. A brass band strikes up the national anthem, and seconds later, the velvet-robed virgin appears on a throne decked in white carnations, borne by a dozen or so barefoot men in blue and white sailor suits. Everybody cheers and claps

Then, the equivalent of a boat's coxman, gives the first of the ceremony's many rallying cries: "Viva la Virgen!" And the eager congregation, respond, "Viva!" This is repeated three times. Now, the leader moves on to everyone's favourite chorus: "Y cómo es?" And what's she like? The crowd shouts back, "Guapa, guapa y guapa" - pretty, pretty and pretty, and the cheering and clapping start again.

Led by the priest, the sailors solemnly lift the throne onto their shoulders and make their way across the main road, with the crowds either rushing on ahead or following slowly behind. To get to the beach, they must pass through the narrow streets of the fishermen's quarter, where every cottage - whether traditional whitewashed or modern red-brick - hangs large Virgen del Carmen posters from its balconies, and where most have decorative "virgin" tiles set in the walls.

When the entourage finally step out into the fading sunlight, the cheering and clapping resume, this time rippling along the packed promenade, where elderly men and women in their Sunday best rub shoulders with bikini-clad holidaymakers and excited children. They are all word perfect when a Carmen enthusiast dressed in mourning black starts off the "Viva la Virgen" chorus. And most of them know what's coming next, when the sailors go into their display of physical prowess and devotion.

First, they lift up the throne on one hand, sweat pouring down their faces, then, incredibly, they get down on their knees and shuffle along a few painful metres. More "vivas" and "guapas" and applause.

At last they turn onto the beach and take the "Reina de los Mares" (Queen of the Seas) down to the shore. In some kind of ritual baptism they push her in and let the waves wash over the throne. Then they pull her out and set about mounting the throne onto a specially-prepared boat, decked with red and white carnations.

The waves are strong and they struggle with the launch, cheered on by scores of youngsters who are already in the choppy water up to their waists. Then she's in, rockets start firing off, and the little fishing boats lead their queen on her voyage round the bay, accompanied by some of the stronger swimmers.

As the regal party fades into the horizon, and the remaining light fades, the crowds disperse. Some wander down to the virgin's shrine at the western end of the beach, but most set about the serious business of finding a table on this, one of the busiest nights of the summer. An hour or so later, when coffees are being lingered over, the traffic stops again and the bedraggled tired out sailors make their way back to the church. Feeble cries of "viva" and "guapa" still ring out, but the excitement is just about over for another year...'

I'm here in Malaga for 1 more day then we're off to Huelva, Spain. It's very hot here and THANK GAWD our hotel is on the beach! Number of reasons - the ocean for swimming and the beach for banana hammock city!! AWESOME. Well chicas es chicos...gotta jet but I'll be back for Episode III very soon....maybe with some tales of debauchery and nudeness...we'll see. :p xoxo

Michal Chronicles....Europe - Episode I

Let's start off by saying, 'I'd like to say I wish I were back in Canada...but I can't...i LOVE it here!! The weather is fantastic, the men are *drool* - the food is delicious, and the booze seems to be flowing from every direction - there goes my 'going clean' streak! Pic's to come once I download them to my puter... Everyone is awesome from the crew to the band. The tour bus is soooo cool as you'll see in the pic's...and I've marked my territory by throwing up in it 4 times my first day in it! My flight from London from Toronto was awesome. My 'pod' in executive class was next to Dustin Hoffman. He spent the entire flight starring at me. Finally his assistant came over to me when he was in the bathroom and said I hope he's not creeping you out as he thinks he knows you from somewhere.... I was like, 'he's not creepy - he just has good taste...'! Bah hahahaha!!! Anyway, then Dustin as he likes to be called...apologized for gazing at me and then we talked about film for a bit and what I did - blah blah blah - then I introduced him to the 'mile high club'....He won't forget me anymore...
LOL! It was cool. The hotels we've been staying in have been pretty sweet. The only think that sucks balls is that when I'm in my room late at night the only thing on TV are shows in the language of the country we're in...there are only some many german shiza videos I can watch...sheesh! I can't even streamline or download here as I'm international - fer f's sake! I've enjoyed parts of England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and now I'm in Italy...Buongiorno mi amore!! The drive from Stuttgard Germany to Udine Italy was AMAZING! The mountains on each side of the bus were breathtaking... and right behind those were the Swiss Alps - the biggest snow capped mountains you'll ever see! There are no words to describe the things I saw... The smells here in Italy are absolutely incredible...Wine, Flowers and Food...mmmmm and the freaking men - WOAH!! Man, I've never been hit on so much in my life - I'm not complaining but I'm starting to run out of excuses on why I wont kiss them... LOL! I'm going to go out for dinner and drinks with some of the guys from the crew and the band....Other than that all is well with me. I'm not throwing up anymore on the bus thanks to these amazing patch things I stick behind my ear - Tomorrow we have concert here in Udine, Italy...then off to Brescia for 2 days and then Milan...wooooo After Milan we fly to Madrid, Spain - where yes, I've psyched myself out to run with the bulls - a couple of blocks at least! Note to self: don't wear my red bandana or red shorts... Well dudes, I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer thus far and Episode II of the Michal Chronicles will soon follow with pic's!

...what's new... hummmmm

well, not much has been going on - i mean, nothing to write home about...
with 'facebook' so popular and almost everyone i know on it - there's been no need to blog! with status updates, albums fer pics and instant messaging... i've lost touch with my poor blog. so, i'm back from the bar - a bit tipsy, wait - who's kidding who - i'm tanked... i'm wide awake, everyone has gone home and it's me with my puter and the faint sounds of some twisted sister, i wanna rock, playin' in the background... i find i get alot done when i'm drunk...writing, cleaning, emailin' etc etc... it could be all in my head - but i highly doubt it. anyhoo... not workin' on a show, just finished one in ottawa... back in TO where film is dead. huhhhhhhhhhhh. well, that's it...my glass is empty and screamin' fer a refill...! until next time, take care of you and each other... :p

paris sucks, wait...that was tooo easy... BAH HAHA!

okay - does this make anyone else as sick as it does me?! fer f's sake!
geez girl! get some balls... it shouldn't be hard - i do know you like them...! there's prolly some guard in there that will keep you safe as he gives it to ya! all jokes aside - here is a girl that should be a role model - but gets caught, not once, but twice drinking and driving - plus driving while her license was suspended... gets sentenced to jail and can't even finish 3 freakin' days! i mean, if i had 3 square meals, and hour of 'yard time', a free bed to sleep in, rent free i might add...and an excuse to slack off...sign me up!! plus, if i act mean enough i could have my own bitch! i can't believe that the girl got outta of jail! her 2.5 days have turned into 5 days served...what kind of treatment is this? wtf!?! what does this show society? it's disgusting! she's disgusting - and i hope she gets sent back to jail and that for her leaving early - when she returns, the judge makes it so she now has to serve the 54 days... enough with the poor baby bullshit - she's a big girl... suck it up paris - you'll be back out whoopin' it up, showin' yer beaver with yer pals and prolly back in the car doing rails off the dash and pounding back the redbull & vodka you have stashed in the console.... wait, do you know what console means? it the bump between the driver seat and the seat beside you... when you lift the top of that bump you can put things in it... neat huh?!
anyway, i came across this from a friend on the inside... HIYA BIG BETTY!!!

Paris Hilton's Diary....
Dear, dear, dear Diary:
All I wanted to do was hug my Mom and they drug me out of the courtroom. I just wanted to hug my Mom before I was drug out of the courtroom. They are really, really, awful. The mean, hateful judge would not even listen to me. What kind of church does he go to where they applauded him for what he did to me. I mean they clapped. That is soooooooooooo mean.

My lawyer is filing a Writ of Mandate this very minute to overturn the mean Judge’s Order. Now the Judge is ordering me to serve 45 days but the Sheriff said I will serve the original 23 days with eighteen left.

My lawyer says there are two hearings coming up on this and I could get out earlier. My lawyer says the minute the appeal is filed I can get out on bail. They are doing that now.

Sheriff Baca clearly said again that the time typically served is three days and I served three days. He also said that I was sentenced longer because I was a celebrity. He refused to send a Sheriff’s car to pick me up at first so we called my driver and then he gave in and sent a car.

I just said, “It is NOT RIGHT,” and it’s NOT. I just did what they said to do. Now I have to stay longer. This Judge is out of control. The Judge just took everything out on me.

Richard Hutton — my attorney — is all over this. This was NOT OUR AGREEMENT!

I am in the medical unit downtown at the twin towers … I am not alone. That’s better. I am getting my medication.

Eighteen days OR LESS. Pray for me. I miss my family soooooooooooo much.

My lawyer said that the Sheriff can just let me go. The problem was that he put be in an ankle bracelet. If he releases me again without an ankle bracelet the Judge cannot do anything.

Sheriff Barca said clearly: “The only thing I can detect as special treatment is the amount of her sentence is the amount of her sentence.” He said this is a low level crime and under our standard release system she would be released after serving ten percent of her time. It is standard policy that women in the county jail for crimes such as mine are released after serving ten percent of their time. Sheriff Barca made it clear I am being discriminated against because of my celebrity.

He does not have to release me under house arrest, he can just release me if he wants. But we are pretty sure I will get bail on Monday pursuant to my appeal.

My publicist keeps on saying think of all the money I will make CHA CHING, CHA CHING, CHA CHING.

I do not need money. I need to be at home. I have more money than I can ever spend. I just want to be home but at least I am not in isolation again. Thank you dear Lord. That was not fair to me. Isolation is an extra punishment and if I were not Paris Hilton … I would not even be in jail … That’s what Sheriff Baca said, that what virtually the entire LA Criminal Bar says, even mean old MSNBC is admitting that now.

Please send letters. I will be stronger tomorrow. It is just hard being put in, taken out, and put back in. Really, hard.

All my love,

XXOOOXXXOOO

Paris H!

treat yo' mama right sucka!

the life of an 'assistant director'

***a look into my daily life, if i were on set...***

'...why can't we all just get along...'

violence breeds violence. repression breeds retaliation and only the cleansing of our whole society can remove the sickness from our souls. when you teach to hate your brothers and sisters...when you teach that you are a lessor man and/or woman because of color, beliefs, and/or the policies that they wish to pursue...when you teach that those who differ from you, or threaten your freedom, your job, home or family - then you also learn to confront others not as fellow beings but as enemies. to be met not with cooperation but with conquest...to be subject gated and to be mastered. we learn at the last to look at our brothers and sisters as aliens. alien men and women with whom we share a city but not a community...bound to us in a common dwelling but not in a common effort. we learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other. only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force.

our lives are short. the work to be done is to great to let this spirit flourish any longer in this world of ours. we cannot banish it with a program or resolution but we can perhaps, remember if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers and sisters. they too share the same short moment of life, that they seek as do we...nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness...winning the satisfaction and fulfillment that they can. surly this bond of common fate, and surly this bond of common goals can begin to teach us something. surly we can learn at the least...to look around at those of us - our fellow men and women - and surly we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and become in our hearts...brothers and sisters once again.

'...we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives in the shattered dreams of other human beings...' robert kennedy

real time....the movie

so, 'that's a wrap!' on the feature 'REAL TIME'. this movie stars RANDY QUAID & JAY BARUCHEL. had a blast! we all had a blast!

10 reasons to date a hockey player...

Top 10 Reasons To Date A Hockey Player

1. They always wear protection
2. They have great hands
3. They are used to scoring
4. They have great stamina
5. They find the opening and get it in
6. They never miss the target
7. They know how to use their wood
8. They have long sticks
9. They know when to play rough
10. Because baseball players only know how to hit balls

woo HOOOOOOOO!!!!

so, get this.... i've got season tickets to TORONTO ROCK LACROSSE. anyhoo... i was coming out of the washroom - on my way to get yet another beer...mmmmmmm beer... well, this chick comes over to me and my friend DAWN (pictured here w/ me) anyway, asks me if i wanted to be the last shooter on PROLINE'S SHOOT FOR CASH! i was like, 'uh yeah!' so, she escourts DAWN and I to the field for half-time... i came in 3rd place.... i was the only chick and didn't get boo'd - so i think i made out well... they gave me a knapsack full of stuff - for 3rd. didn't look in it until MARC asked me if i knew what i got. UH - WOW!

yup... IPOD NANO! cooooooool!!!!
(the babies after i won....) yes dave, jody & marc - an IPOD NANO! MINE MINE MINE! na na na na na

by request...some of my art

...let's go red wings...!!!

my team (best team EVER!) RED WINGS wanted to add toughness and depth up front, and have accomplished both goals just before the NHL's trading deadline. detroit acquired TODD BERTUZZI from florida on tuesday - along with forward KYLE CALDER in a three-team trade. WOOOOOO! now an ever COOLER team! HASEK is also back for another year! ALRIGHT! can we say 'welcome back STANLEY!' although BERTUZZI hasn't played since he had lower back surgery in november -- after being sidelined for more than two weeks by a herniated disc...he sealed a goal and six assists in seven games after being acquired last summer. THE RED WINGS, WILL - not HOPE, have BERTUZZI in the lineup by the end of march...says ME...and well, i'm always right! :) i'm assured when BERTUZZI says, (quote) "i've been feeling a lot better." "i've been doing some work off the ice and i've been skating the past two weeks."

BERTUZZI is a huge, talented man that adds the dimensions of size and skill that DETROIT needs on one of the top two lines. FYI - THE WINGS are among the NHL's top teams this season...

...LET'S GO RED WINGS!! (clap clap clap clap clap)

in dinky's mind today

the dink here with a much belated addition to my blog...

where the F- have you been!?�, scream my (not literally) hundreds of
readers...well, i'll tell you. there have been some big changes in the dink's life since the start of 2007 and i've been busy as a beaver... ha-ha, i said 'beaver'

[note: i know full well that that phrase makes no sense whatsoever...beavers are not busy unless their dams are continually knocked down and destroyed by pesky neighborhood kids and/or storms]

anyhoo, there's been a question that's been eating away at me like a flesh eating bacteria or possibly a wolverine...
'WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CAST OF BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CRASH LANDED ON THE LOST ISLAND???!!!'

well, first of all...they would have lasers. adama would quickly secure the hatch for his crew. the survivors of the oceanic flight 815 would be herded up like little children and inspected like cattle. could these people actually be cylons!� starbuck would be thinking to herself... then she would think, that one who calls himself sawyer is pretty hot. i wonder what he would look like swimming in just his jeans� [i know i'm often thinking that myself - along with wondering what it would feel like as he swims through MY jeans]

then, starbuck would take sawyer on a reconnoiter of the island where they would visit the swimming hole and start necking. then, kate & apollo would stumble upon them and then they would all be getting it on when a huge crashing would come through the jungle and one of those huge unseen monsters would tower above them (the monsters that disappeared after episode 8 of season 1) and they would be screaming...

AHHHHH!!!! cut to commercial... (and in 3...2...1)

meanwhile back at the hatch, adama would want to imprison the 'LOST cast' in the old cave with the creek in it, but president roslin would want to reason with them and have both casts mate in order to create more surviving humans...'cut to' the cylons would have contacted 'the others' and they would form an alliance to destroy all the good humans and especially that annoying french woman who lives on the other side of the island...starbuck would shoot the unseen monster - then sawyer would say something witty and sexy, like 'nice shot, blondie...where'd you learn to shoot a laser like that - from watching princess Leia...?' the she'd reply...'put a sock in it sawyer - but then, the attraction would be way too much for them and they'd begin to start making out again...

cut to commercial...product placement - then, next week on...

another low budget - but i'll take er'!

well...after i got the unemployed life down to a science - i received a call from a production called 'REAL TIME'. it's a feature starring RANDY QUAID. i love him! anyhoo... i've started prep and am VERY HAPPY to have some work. it'll take me to the end of march, which is nice...unfortunately, it's ULTRA LOW BUDGET!!!! but meh, it's work! :) so - as usual, i will post pic's and try to blog as often as i can. i hope y'all are doing well! sure hope to see some of you soon! not all of you....just some of you.... HAHAHAHA - just jokin'! pints? i love pints...makes me stand the sight of some of you a lil' longer - ZINGGGGGG!

actors *eyeroll*

ACTRA - PPPHHHFFFTTTT!!!!! c'mon people... i mean, i've been in the 'biz' for lack of a better term, for 13 years... for actors to strike - yet again - infuriates me! i work on set for 16+ hours a day, making shit money...while actors sit pretty in the trailer, until needed, and make 3 times+ as much as i do! for y'all to do this, AGAIN, is massively hurting our industry. over 80% of the crews are not working... people with families to support - all because you want more money...get over it. we all need more money. think ahead...you're fighting for something that, if you get it, won't matter anyway because no one will want to shoot/work here. you're only hurting yourselves - not to mention the thousands of people you've put out of work for 2 months now. thanks...*eyeroll* i would say i work about 110 hours a week... not raking in the 'big' dough...you, work for a minimum of 8 hours a day - and if you go over 8, are making time and a half...! i have to work 14 hours a day before i begin to go into time and a half! but i don't complain - it's work and we should be thankful that we're working. just so you know... if i can't find a job because 'hollywood north' is no more - i'm blaming you. if i have to sit at home and watch another episode of maury and 'i've tested 10 men with dna tests' - i'm blaming you. if i have to buy anymore groceries at the dollar store because that's all i can afford - i'm blaming you...and you better believe, if the time comes, when we do eventually get back to work...and you're lucking enough to have me on set as an AD...if you ask me to get you a coffee/tea...or something from craft - i'd be thinking to myself...do i really want to eat/drink this? - go ahead...i dare ya... fyi - only applies to actra members - yer safe sag...for now that is.... mwah ah ah

...fyi - 'part deux'...

...uh...

so, JIMMY FALLON. I HEART HIM. he's friggin' HILARIOUS! his crooked smile makes my insides quiver. not only is he cute as a button - he's prolly a tiger in the sack.....like me. you know, it's always the quiet ones that you have to watch out fer.

the secret..... ssshhhhhh

the secret has a similar documentary-style format to what the bleep do we know? but without the cheesy storyline and cartoons. i liked what the bleep, but i thought the secret was much better. the secret is about the intention-manifestation model and how to use the law of attraction to create whatever you want. as the movie aptly points out, most people focus their thoughts either on what they don’t want or on reinforcing what they’re already getting. but the way to succeed with intention-manifestation is to keep your thoughts focused on what you desire, even if it seems to have no presence in your life yet. intention-manifestation is the basis for the million dollar experiment, which has been going for almost 7 months now and has collectively manifested over $1.2 million — not a bad result for simply focusing our thoughts on what we want to attract. huuummmmm... my intention-manifestation - om... huuuummmmmm 'i will marry john krasinski...' 'i will look hot in a white string bikini...' 'i will open a beer from my fridge and it will be ice cold and refreshing...' 'i will wake up tomorrow and not have morning breath...' ooommmmm