Amnesty mission responds to crisis in Colombia

 I got this from Amnesty International:

http://www.amnesty.ca/blog/index.php?TopicID=141&utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Informz

Dear Human Rights supporter,

"Indigenous Peoples where I live are facing the grave danger of physical and cultural extermination.”  - Luis Evelis Andrade, leader of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, ONIC

Right now in Colombia, thousands of Indigenous people from all over the country are making the long and often arduous journey to Bogota for the 8th national congress of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, ONIC, where they are sharing information about ongoing attacks on their human rights.

Just attending this meeting is an act of incredible bravery in a country where so many Indigenous people who have spoken out have been killed or disappeared.
Thanks to financial support from Canadians like you, I am currently in Colombia along with Amnesty International campaigner Kathy Price, at the request of the ONIC, to provide vital international observation and accompaniment.
Our presence signals that Amnesty International is extremely concerned about what is happening to Indigenous Peoples in Colombia. This is an important opportunity to deepen our understanding about what members of Indigenous communities are confronting in their daily lives, particularly those whose territories are coveted for their natural resources.
At Amnesty International, we take seriously the call for solidarity from ONIC, which two years ago appealed for our help with efforts to break the silence about a devastating human rights crisis in the South American country. At least a third of Colombia’s 102 distinct Indigenous Peoples are at risk of complete destruction amidst armed conflict and the imposition of resource extraction projects on their territory.
Colombia’s highest court describes the situation as “an emergency … as serious as it is invisible” and called on the Colombian government to take immediate action to protect the rights and survival of Indigenous Peoples. Yet effective measures -- and the political will to implement them -- will not happen until the emergency is made visible and sufficient pressure is mounted.
This week we will share the hopeful message that many Canadians like you have heard of the crisis facing Indigenous peoples in Colombia and are standing up for their rights.
We will share the messages of concern and solidarity, the signed banners, messages on maple leaves, and comments added to our petitions. All of these convey a deep resolve to stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples who legitimately, peacefully and with enormous courage claim their right to survival with dignity. Their struggle is ours.
Watch for updates this week on our website as Kathy & I report to you directly from Colombia.

Thank you again for your ongoing support for our calls for protection of the rights and survival of Indigenous Peoples in Colombia!



Alex Neve
Secretary General
Amnesty International Canada

fun video/ positive thinking/ Zeddy

Sept. 25 Fun video: I was listening to rap artist Miss Eighty 6 and it lead me to this Russian version of the X Factor.  It's where a young white guy is rapping Enimem's songs in Russian.  It's pretty interesting to listen and watch it.  The audience and judges like it and cheered. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cb5f9EV3BM&feature=related Joke: I have cut out an old article from the Edmonton Journal in 2007.  It was about how more women are attending post-secondary, because men are entering construction and manufacturing. It started off with a joke: A doctor and a plumber are going over plans for a bathroom renovation when the plumber presents his estimate.  The doctor is horrified.  "Do you know what I earn?"  "Yes," says the plumber.  "I used to be a doctor." Positive thinking: I got this from the Great American Pitchfest.  It's not really about screenwriting.  The article is called "Create Your 2012 in Writing."  The thing is to write your future first in the past tense. Like pretend it's Jan. 1, 2013.  Now imagine what you want to happen in 2012.  Create the way your year wants to be.  For example, write "I got a promotion in Mar." In the article, it says: "The act of dreaming your future into being in writing allows you to interact with your subconscious mind and see its musing in a material form. You may discover desires and hopes that you hadn't even realized you had. You also get a chance to be guided by your higher consciousness into possible solutions to puzzles that may be lingering in your mind right now." http://thevertexfighter.blogspot.ca/2012/09/create-your-2012-in-writing.html Money poll: I got this from the Globe and Mail.  It was either in 2011 or 2012.  I cut it out. Would you rather win $1 million in the lottery or have your dream body for the rest of you life? 59% I'm all about the money (plus, I could always buy the body of my dreams with my cool million!) 24% Hot bod all the way 16% wanted to hedge their bets: Can I have $500,000 and a so-so body Me: I would take the money.  I like my body. Sept. 26 I am Genie: I was reading 24 today, and there's a charity called I Am Genie.  It profiled Experience Genie Joshua Dawson who wears a blue mask and a red suit, and he grants people's wishes like cancer victims and survivors.  He gave a special day to Kristen Fersovitch and her husband Mike.  Kristen has kidney cancer and it can't be treated with radiation or chemotherapy. Their day was a private sea lion show at West Edmonton mall, and a night's stay at Fantasyland hotel.  http://iamgenie.org/page/about-genie Zeddy: Zeddy is the name of the bear mascot of Zellers.  These commercials are 1:22 sec and the bear is so cute and funny.  Everything must go-including Zeddy:  This is where the manager abandons Zeddy in the woods and he has to fend for himself.  Some are interesting comments: "I like Zeddy. His ears look like cinnamon buns." Me: I didn't notice that until now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_rHRUOxUtA Zeddy in the woods: Zeddy wakes up.  He is running away from bees, eating berries and then getting sick. He finds a can and makes a face, and he puts two sticks as his arm to create a companion.   It's at night and he's cold and he makes a fire from two sticks from the can.  He says sorry to the can. Comments: Person: I'm very impressed with Zeddy's fire making skills. Maybe he can use it to take down Target Me: lol. "Every time I walked into a Zellers it was a huge reminder of why I never shopped there. It was always so dirty, especially the floors, that it made me feel like I was going to catch something. I swear, nothing looked like it was cleaned since the 80's." "these are great. too bad the effort wasnt put into the stores ;)" "Only YOU can prevent forest firers........from killing Zeddy." "Target better adopt Zeddy or I'm going to Walmart!" "This is surprisingly sad" "like dis if u cry everytime" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Ppq8kbtf4&NR=1&feature=endscreen Government joke: This was last month, I wrote this: "I did run an errand and I learned that the govt. doesn't take credit cards when you buy something from them.  They only take cash and debit." My friend Sherry emailed this: "interesting. you'd think they'd accept credit cards. maybe they are too worried people will use stolen credit cards to buy from them. and that was half a joke." Me: I thought the govt. took cash and debit as a way to 100% guarantee that they are getting money.  As for credit cards, lots of people have debt and don't pay it.  So the govt. can not guarantee that they will get money if it was on a credit card.   Sept. 28 Baby- sitter's Club: I was on Yahoo and it said that a famous actress was a model for a Baby-Sitter's Club book called Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls.  It's Kirsten Dunst.  I thought it was kind of funny. http://ca.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/the-juice-celeb-news/kirsten-dunst-first-modeling-gig-baby-sitters-club-152651725.html Sept. 29 Question: Here's another question from that money poll: "Would you rather live in the late 19th century and make $70,000 a year (roughly $700,000 back then) or live in present time and make $70,000 a year?" 63% chose now: Are you kidding?  With polio, scarlet fever and measles running rampant, I'd take 2011 and $70,000 a year any day! 37% chose the 19th century: I'd have a beautiful manor home, an army of servants and my very own horse table.  I'd also host fancy costume balls on the weekends. I would live in the present time because I can't live in a world without TV or internet. Flashback: I remember having this kind of conversation.  Once in jr. high school with my friend Heather.  She said: "We can grow our own vegetables and food and live on it."  In 2010, I met this guy who said it would be cool to live back in the day.  In both convos, I said no TV or internet.  He said: "But what you never had, you never miss."    Sept. 30 Charity: A 6 yr old girl named Avalanna Routh who has brain cancer, has recently passed away.  She was a big Justin Beiber fan and had a pretend wedding with JB's picture.  It started a social media campaign and she got to meet JB.  They spent a couple of hrs together.

counseling/ Stephen R. Covey/ two situations

Sept. 14 Counseling: I went to Counselor #1 again.  I saw her 2 months ago.  She said she was pleasantly surprised to see me.  After I saw her, I was emotionally exhausted.  It's because I had to talk about my feelings, hardships, expose myself, and it's hard.  But it's good to release your emotions  After I saw her, I was told to expand my horizons so I entered a few restaurants and bars I have never been to check what's out there.  It's a little stretch. Then afterwards, I emailed a couple of people to plan something.  That was the hard part. Flashback: I talked to her about this flashback.  It was back when I was 10, 11 yrs old and I was friends with this girl who lived next door.  She was lonely and bored and she always rang my doorbell everyday wanting to play.  I just wanted to read.  She didn't have any other friends.  She did with a few before, but the friendships ended and I was her only friend.  When I didn't want to play, she asks to hang out with my brother who's 3 yrs younger. I always said to myself that I wouldn't be needy like her.  If I'm bored and lonely, I would read a book and I can always entertain myself.  My Counselor then drew this spectrum.  One at the far end was needy and the other end was independent and kind of a loner.  The middle was like social.  I said I was between social and independent. Sept. 15: That's good that she drew the spectrum, so I can see myself clearer. Dateline: I will also bring this back up again about that 35 yr old guy who was going to date a 12 yr old girl.  He said he was lonely so he was going to do something illegal. Sept. 22 Obsessions: I asked one my friends if she found me intense.  She said yes, and that I seem to obsess about things more than other people.  You can tell by my weekly emails about how I keep bringing up that girl who's in a religion that doesn't allow her to talk to boys and that Dateline guy. However, I find a lot of people are like that.  I was reading a article called "When your home is like your skin" by Adriana Barton in the Globe and Mail.  It talks about people (mainly women) who are obsessed with decorating their houses.  It's like if the home is perfect, then your life is perfect.  Or if the home is ugly, then you're ugly.  Spending hours and money decorating your home is excessive. All things in general should not be taken to the extreme. Sept. 23 Celebrities: There are lots of people who are obsessed with celebrities.  You know like Twilight fans called "Twihards" and Justin Beiber fans called "Beliebers."  I was a teenage girl once myself and I was obsessed with the boy band O-town.  I watched their show Making the Band on every week, I spend hours on the internet reading about them and looking at pics, buy their cd and listen to them. Not just teen girls, but adults can be super obsessed with celebs too.  You can be fans, but don't let it take over your life and that it actually prevents you from living your life. As I got older, I do get into celebs, but I'm more calm about it.  I will obsess about it for a couple of weeks to a month.  You know like Michael Trucco back in 2008.  I watched him on Law and Order: SVU and then I went on Youtube to look him up and watch him in other videos. Intense: It was really intense today.  So I used my energy and read the newspaper.  Then I went and looked for a job and put a lot of energy into that.  I then watched 2 hrs of Degrassi eps that I missed.  So it's new to me.  Had dinner and then looked for a job a bit. I also did a little writing on my Rain script.  Use that intense energy to do productive things. Sept. 24 Stephen R. Covey: He wrote Seven Habits for Highly Effective People.  He died this year at 79 yrs old, due to the cause of complications of a bike accident 3 months earlier.  The article by Douglas Martin said: "Covey was a bit baffled by his success.  He said he was simply telling people what he thought they already knew: the efficacy of good behavior." Covey: We believe that organizational behavior is individual behavior collectivized. The 2nd habit was "Begin with the end in mind."  Covey: If you carefully consider what you want to be said of you in the funeral experience, you will find your definition of success. Sept. 25 Job search: I had taken down notes at counseling.  One of them was to volunteer at this one place where there should be a fundraiser.  I emailed them about it. The counselor also said apply to TV and radio stations in Edmonton.  This year, I did apply to all of the ones in Edmonton, and the ones I can get to. The Secret: I was looking up Edmonton magazines like Vue Weekly.  I found this article dissing the book The Secret. "Watson also targets The Secret, a book teaching people that if they want something, all they need to do is act like they already have it, and the universe will manifest their wishes. The book has been targeted at women in particular and Watson says at first glance, the book is innocuous, but is horrific upon further inspection. "What they're saying is kids with cancer, they could get better, but it's really their fault for not asking the universe in the right way," she adds. " I'm for focused positive thinking, but I will draw the line at the cancer part. http://vueweekly.com/front/story/women_and_pseudoscience/ Sept. 27 Two situations: Flashback: I remember Psychology class in gr. 11.  The task was to get into groups of 2 or 3 people.  We are to think of two really good situations.  I was with my friend Kyla and this girl in gr.10.  All three of us thought: "Picking between 2 really good guys to date." Then we got stuck thinking of picking between 2 situations with a pro and a con.  I then thought of this. Me: There are 2 parties.  One is close to your house, but it has parental supervision.  There is a party that doesn't have parental supervision, but it's really far away." Mr. Smith: That sounds like a really good situation since it's close by and it has parental supervision. Yeah, I know he was trying to be funny instead of seeing parental supervision as a bad thing. NAIT: I do run into a lot of those situations where there is a pro and con.  I was at NAIT, and I knew that no matter how hard I work and study I wasn't going to graduate. Situation 1: I either drop out and cut my losses and get a job.  That's a pro.  I would lose the tuition I had already paid and am not getting my money back because there's only 3 months left of this 8 month course.  That's a con. Situation 2: I stick with school.  I go to school for 3 more months, learn as much as I can, and get my money's worth of education.  That's a pro.  I would lose time and the opportunity to make money by getting a job.  That's a con. My dad told me to pick #2.  It's like being in a rock and a hard place, but go with #2.  I can put that on my resume that I did a whole yr at school instead of saying I dropped out mid-yr. One of my friends did drop out mid-yr because she didn't like the program, I can sympathize.  Lots of people quit or switch majors. High school: This is a more hypothetical situation.  If I had gone to Victoria Performing Arts high school, I would be able to pursue my acting career and there would be more creative types around me.  That's a pro.  My parents would be worried and stressed about me, and then they won't give me as much freedom.  They would be asking how school is, did I do my homework, etc.  That's a con. I went to the high school that they made me go to.  They didn't worry and stress as much, because they knew I was at a good school.  That's a pro.  I wasn't able to pursue my acting career as much.  I did take drama, art, and choir for one year, but quit choir after gr. 10.  The drama and art was not as good as Vic.  That's a con. Saying: I remember a saying: "You can have it all, but not just at the same time."  I Google that saying and Oprah Winfrey says "..not all at once."  Lots of articles about women having a career and a family at the same time. As you can see my above examples, it's not just about women have a career and a family.

careers for shy people/ human resources/ retirement

Sept. 24 Careers for shy people: I found this article on Yahoo and it's called "Smart Career Options for Shy People."  That would be me.  It mentioned computer programmer, accountant, and paralegal that I'm not interested in.  It did mentioned graphic designer, health information technician, and survey researcher.  I did study graphic design for a year.  I have been applying to work at medical offices so I could work as a health information technician.  I have worked at call centres and interviewed people to do surveys.  To be a survey researcher, it says to have a Bachelor's degree in: "business, psychology, or political science, according to the Department. Taking courses in research methods, survey methodology, and statistics could also be beneficial. Most technical or advanced research positions require a master's degree or Ph.D., adds the Department." http://education.yahoo.net/articles/careers_for_the_bashful.htm?kid=1MO9Z Sept. 25 Agrology: I have copy and pasted these occupations and education on my disk.  One of them is this.  Do you know what Agrology is?  On Wikipedia: "is the branch of soil science dealing with the production of crops." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrology Banks: I haven't looked for a job at banks in awhile.  Have you heard of the Canadian Securities Course?  If you want to be an investment advisor or financial planner, you have to take it.  There is the Canadian Investments Fund course, Conduct and handbook practices course, etc. I also have this written: General insurance license, Life insurance license, Financial security advisor license, Mutual fund representative license. None of it interests me.  If you're interested working in finance, go here to get your education and you can learn on your own: https://www.csi.ca/student/en_ca/home.xhtml IAP2: I found this in my notes and it stands for International Association for Public Participation.   On the site, it says: "IAP2 Canada is an Association of members who seek to promote and improve the practice of public participation in relation to individuals, governments, institutions, and other entities that affect the public interest in Canada and around the world." This organization seems to be about charity and volunteers.  To be a member, you have to pay $140 for a year. Sept. 26 Call Centre #6: Today I did a job interview at call centre #6.  I think it went well.  The best part would be that I bumped into one of my supervisors from call centre #1.  He was working there, and we chatted a bit.  I'm going to email him my blog so we can stay in contact.  That is how I'm staying in contact with one of my friends.  He has a blog and I've been leaving comments on them. Sept. 27 Vector Marketing: This must be the law of attraction.  Last week I was talking to my friend Dan L. about it.  This week, one of my friends went to a job interview for it.  I Google "Is Vector Marketing a scam?"  There are these comments about how you have to buy the knives and sell them. Kev: The secretary had the nerve to tell me, you have to wear proper attire for the interview. NO *** even mcdonalds require a button shirt and tie for interview. Thats how stupid she was. Me: Looks like someone is really angry about being told the basics of a job interview attire.  I did call up this place back in 2006, and the secretary said that to me too.  I wasn't angry though.  Kev's comment said it was from 67 months ago.  I did the math and it's like 3 yrs ago. Here are more comments: http://www.indeed.com/forum/cmp/Vector-Marketing/Vector-marketing-Big-scam/t8961 Sept. 29 Human Resources: I was reading Metro, and there was an article about being a Certified Human Resources Professional.  Elizabeth Dorion was being interviewed and she majored in management and labor studies.  She took the National Knowledge Exam before she worked in HR. I guess I'm researching it because I have done all these job interviews, I want to know what it's like on the other side of the desk.  lol. I found the website that tells you how to become one.  It's informative.  This page gives facts like 60% of CHRP's work in a corporate/ business environment (60%).  35% earn $51,000-75,000 per yr. http://www.chrp.ca/the-lounge/a-day-in-the-life/ HR does the hiring and training.  If it's a small company, there's no HR, then the manager does the hiring and training.  Or the manager hires, and the co-workers train and show the new worker how things operate. http://www.chrp.ca/become-a-chrp/ Oct. 1 Feelings: Here's a mild rant.  The other day I could have done training for Call Centre #6.  They gave me 2 days notice and I had to work at the restaurant.  The centre will reschedule.  I went to the restaurant, and it was very quiet.  If I didn't go to work, they would have been fine without me.  After work, I was to meet someone.  I got there and read the newspaper.  I got a text and he said something came up and he can't up.  I went home and looked for an agent on the internet.  I then watched a TV movie on Youtube.  The day was kind of downer, but I have to write about it so I can get over it. Graduate early: Hazel Taylor sent me this article "7 Benefits of Graduating Early."  There were good points like saving money if you graduate a yr or a semester early.  You get a head start on your career.  I remember talking to this woman in Professional Writing.  She says: "I am sick of going to school, and I want to start working."  I know the feeling.  That's why I looked into one or two yr college programs instead of 4 yrs. http://www.onlineclasses.org/2012/08/22/7-benefits-of-graduating-early/ Retirement: In the same article, it mentioned saving for retirement and here's the math: "If you put away $4,000 a year from the time you’re 22, you’ll have $1 million when you’re 62 (if you get 8% annual returns). If you wait until you’re 32 to start, you’ll have to save $8,800 a year instead, a sum that might be tough to save with the likelihood of increased financial responsibilities by that age. Getting a job and starting retirement savings early will only put you ahead of the game, benefiting you in the long run."

Omar Khadr is back in Canada!

I got this from Amnesty International: 


http://www.amnesty.ca/iwriteforjustice/take_action.php?actionid=922&utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Informz


I’m sure you’ve seen or heard the news already, but just in case you hadn’t: former child soldier Omar Khadr was returned to Canada on Saturday morning – a full decade after he first arrived in Guantanamo as a sixteen year old.
And I want to thank you for standing in solidarity with Omar.
I also want to invite you to send a special message of solidarity to Omar as he adjusts to life back in Canada during his evaluation at the maximum security Millhaven Institution in Bath, Ontario.
Before dawn on Saturday, Guantanamo Bay guards unlocked Omar Khadr’s cell for the last time to bring him to a small landing strip for the flight that would take him away from the prison where he spent almost half his life and back to Canada where he was born. He was forced to leave the few things he had – books, pictures, letters from his family and supporters – behind in Guantanamo, and so your message of support now will mean so much to him. Click here to send a special message to Omar. 
It may seem odd to celebrate someone’s imprisonment in a Canadian jail cell as a human rights victory, but that’s exactly what it is. And while the Canadian government has finally taken a step in the right direction, there are still serious human rights concerns that have never been addressed – including torture and ill-treatment.
For far too long, Canada has been inconsistent in its approach to Canadians detained abroad facing serious human rights violations – and Omar Khadr’s case stands out as one of the most spectacular failures to stand up for a citizen. You can read more about Omar’s case in from Amnesty Canada campaigner Hilary Homes here. 
Thank you for standing up for human rights. We will again need your support to ensure Omar receives the full protections he is entitled to as a former child soldier, and to ensure that he receives appropriate rehabilitation in preparation for his eventual release.
Sincerely,


Alex Neve
Secretary General
Amnesty International Canada

P.S. You stood up for Omar’s human rights, and the government took notice. Thank you! Send a welcome home message to Omar here.

Tekken movie/ Gamer/ joke

Sept. 13 Tekken movie: Today is my day off.  I did an hr of my job search, some chores, and then another hr of my job search.  I was listening to techno music, and the song "Techno Syndrome (Mortal Kombat)" by the Immortals while I was looking for a job.  On Youtube, the music then lead me to the full-length movie Tekken.  I worked already, so I decided to treat myself to it. My brother had that video game way back in 2001.  My siblings and I played it.  Then my friend Leslie came over and played it and in 2003 she bought the game off us.  I emailed my friend Dan L. if he watched it and he said no, though he played the games. Now to the actual movie that came out in 2010.  The movie is about a young man named Jin who lives in a post- apocalyptic world.  He sees his mother get killed by the bad guys, and he decides to avenge her death by being a fighter.  He will win the Iron Fist fight competition, and meet the man who created Tekken and was responsible for the order on the death of his mother. Comparisons: There are a lot of movies based off video games like Resident Evil.  This movie also was like The Hunger Games where people fight to the death.  It was also done on supernatural TV shows I mentioned like Angel, Being Human, and Grimm about bad guys kidnapping vampires, werewolves and demons and they fight to the death. This movie also reminded me of the TV show Dark Angel where they lived in a post- apocalyptic world. There are flashes of previous events in the movie that leads to Jin's final fight.  That was also done in Never Back Down. Dialogue: It was average.  Then again, you're not really watching this movie because of the dialogue.  You watch it for the action. Action: The action is really good.  The first scene is a chase scene and Jin is running and getting shot at.  There is good rock music playing.  Story: Now this is the important part- at least for me.  There is a good intro about how the world is divided into 8 districts.  Jin is played by John Foo, and I think he's a good actor in this movie.  Jin delivers a ball with gigabytes to these hackers and gets paid very well. The world is introduced as a dark and run down atmosphere.  It's introduced on the big TV screen that there's a Tekken tournament.  His friends tell him to fight in it.  Jin comes home to his mom and there's good dialogue that exposes about how Jin's dad is dead and he's running contraband to make money. His mom taught him to fight.  I will give points for ethnic diversity.  Jin, mom, and the bad guys are Asian.  There is a black guy fighter named Raven.  Introduce Jin's girlfriend Sarah who's white.  They actually show them getting it on a bit.  I remember reading Fametracker Forums way back in 2002 about how you don't see Asian guys get it on, on the screen. The guards are named Jackhammers and they bust into Jin's house and asks his mom where Jin is.  She won't tell him.  The big old boss Heihachi and his son Kazuya decide to bomb the place with her and the soldiers in it.  Jin goes to an open call and does a cage fight so he could get into the Iron Fist competition.  Jin wins and needs sponsors.  He meets his manager Steve and they team up. Kazuya does some exposition and introduces the fighters and their past.  Jin meets this hot girl fighter Christie (Kelly Overton.  I did a quick check on her and she's been on True Blood.)   Jin is an amateur, an underdog, so you want to root for him. Jin meets bad guy Kazuya and Kazuya insinuates that he may know him.  There are flashbacks of Jin and his mom training.  She says to him: "Defeat is a choice.  So is victory."  Kazuya does some research into Jin and there's a DNA match to his mom. Jin and Christie hang out in night club and they're dancing and kissing. Surprises: There were quite a few surprises like the surprise attack on Jin in his room.  There's a connection between Jin's mom and the manager Steve. How the fights were going this way, and then to another route.  I thought this one fight scene was going to be the last, but no, there was another one thrown in. Characters: There are surprises like connections between Kazuya and Jin's mom, and Kazuya and Jin, Heihachi and Jin.  There is betrayal.  There is some depth in the characters and the families.  As for the other fighters, they're just there to fight in the action scenes. Sept. 16: This must be the law of attraction.  I watch Tekken earlier this week and then this other movie comes on TV, with a similar storyline. Gamer: This movie came out in 2009, and I saw it on Space Channel last night.  It's about a game where death-row convicts fight and kill each other.  If one of them wins 30 battles, they are released out of prison.  The movie is futuristic, great visual effects.  There is a lot of nudity, profanity and violence.  It's kind of disturbing. Action: There is lots of action here with explosions, gun fights, running, car chases.  It's exciting.  It's also surreal like you're in a video game.  It starts off with a "Sweet Dreams" cover.  It's a hard rock version of it.  At the beginning there was mindless shooting, and then a pause. It's sci-fi action with lots of suspense.  It's very cool, hypnotic to watch.  It feels like you're in a battlefield.  There are fist fights.  There is beautiful cinematography with the lighting and filming. Story: This is a really good story.  The character Kable (Gerald Butler) is a death row convict and he has won 27 battles.  He needs to win 3 more battles so he could be reunited with his wife and daughter.  He is a sympathetic character because he has a family and will later show how he got into prison.  Kable is in the game Slayers. Kable's wife Angie (Amber Valetta) is also working in the game Society.  Castle (Michael C. Hall) plays the villain.  He's like Bill Gates and it's a good intro to the world that this movie is in.  He created the game Society where real people pay to control other real people in the game.  Real people get paid when they are in the game doing whatever the controller wants them to do. Slayers is a game for pay-per-view.  It gives death row inmates a chance to be released from prison. Humanz Brother (Ludacris) is against Castle and his games.  Simon (Logan Lerman) is a teenage boy who controls Kable in the game.  Humanz says the games are like slavery.  Seriously, if you think about it.  Someone is controlling another person's every move.  The desperate are the ones being controlled because they need the money. There is a good and strong ending.  It was unpredictable. Actor: On a side note, I saw Sam Witwer (a vampire on Being Human) in this movie.  It was a nice surprise.  I have never seen him in a button- down shirt and glasses before. Sept. 17 Eric Johnson: I was reading the 24 News and it said my favorite Edmonton actor Eric Johnson is now the voice of Sam Fisher in the video game called Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist. EJ: It really is a blend of theatre and the most high-tech, on-set camera stuff. Bonnie Doon: I went shopping today for work clothes.  My mom and I went to Suzy Shier and there weren't any pants on sale.  We went to Sears to look at shoes.  Did you know La Senza and Everything for a Dollar Store closed down?  IXIA Boutique opened.  Zeddy: I saw this ad in the paper about Zellers and everything must go, including their teddy bear mascot Zeddy.  I saw one 1min 23 sec video where a man leaves Zeddy in the woods.  It's cute and funny.  There's a contest on Facebook that if you want to adopt Zeddy, you can get $5000 to a charity of your choice and win a $500 HBC card. Sept. 18: I called the Zellers at Kingsway and they said they will be liquidating in Nov. and closing in Feb. Sept. 20 Joke: I got this from Daily Silly. The phone bill was exceptionally high.. Man called a family meeting to discuss. Dad: This is unacceptable. I don't use home phone, I use my work phone. Mum: Me too. I hardly use home phone. Son: I use my office mobile, I never use the home phone. All of them shocked and together look at the maid who's patiently listening to them Maid: What? So we all use our work phones. What's the big deal? Me: Oh, I thought it was going to be the teenage daughter who uses the phone, but it was the maid.  Unpredictable and funny.

pitchfests/ Doug Richardson/ Scriptshadow

Sept. 18 Pitchfests: Great American Pitch Fests emailed this video on how the screenwriters Geof Miller and Troy Hunter got 41 requests to read their scripts at one pitch fest.  They said: "And all day long executives were shoving their business cards into our hands.  It felt like a dream.  But it was very real.  We were sending emails and returning calls for the next week non-stop." They booked 3 deals in 10 days.  They said they needed the right attitude, expectations, and approach.  Don't leave success to chance.  This is a 12 min. video.  It was very entertaining to watch.  At the end it said one of them is a lawyer and the other is a banker.  They each full-time jobs, but they're screenwriters too. http://www.sceneplay.net/vid1-tgpitch/ Script pitch: GAPF sent me this great interview with the GAPF president Signe Olynyk.  It talks about how to pitch your script.  When some producer asks a question about your script, don't say: "Read the script."  It's like shutting the door.  Answer the question.  If you're afraid of spoiling or giving something away, then say: "I don't want to spoil it for you, but...." then give something away in vague wording. http://www.markwtravis.com/2012/05/an-interview-with-signe-olynyk-the-great-american-pitchfest/ Day job: GAPF sent this article "The Day Job is the Writer's Best Friend" by Richard Walter.  By having a day job, you get to interact with people and use it in your writing: "That’s why the day job is the writer’s friend. It keeps him sane and solvent, which are two closely related enterprises. More important, it keeps writers in touch with the more important resource for their writing: the humanity around them." It mentions Colin Higgins who won 2nd place in a screenwriting contest.  He got some money and worked cleaning pools which is a really good writer/ actor's job.  He met a movie producer who owned the house and convinced him to read his script. "The producer ended up buying and producing the script. It was called HAROLD AND MAUDE, and it launched Colin’s substantial career.  'Had my dream come true,' Colin told me years ago, “had I won not second but first prize, I’d be cleaning swimming pools today.” http://pitchfest.com/the-day-job-is-the-writers-best-friend/ Inspiration: Signe Olynyk wrote an article called "Living without a Net." She mentions these big filmmakers: "These giants of filmmaking all made their films using the resources and contacts they had in the places they were from, and developed their careers from there. There is no reason why we can’t all do the same."  "Like every great chef, cull the ingredients from your life and use them to create your own great story. You probably have more resources than you think." http://pitchfest.com/living-without-a-net/ LIFT: This stands for Liason of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto.  I get these monthly emails from them.  It's in small Courier new font and all these workshops in Toronto.  I'm going to unsubscribe from them, and like them on Facebook.  I also now follow them on Twitter. Sept. 21 Doug Richardson: He wrote the action movies Die Hard and Bad Boys.  He also writes books.  I found the interview inspirational because he wrote action movies and that's what I want to do.  Check out his website: http://dougrichardson.com/ GAPF sent this newsletter with this really good interview with him.  I put it up on my blog.  Here's a good quote from him: “There are a lot more successful relentless people in Hollywood than there are successful talented people. You need to water and fertilize the grinder side of you as much as your creative side. Grow it. Turn yourself into a grinder because relentless will win over talented every time.” http://thevertexfighter.blogspot.ca/2012/09/doug-richardson-interview.html Dialogue: GAPF called this the "most poetic chunk of dialog award for the movie Hugo.                      HUGO           Right after my father died, I would           come up here a lot ... I would           imagine that the whole world was           one big machine. Machines never           have extra parts, you know.            They always have the exact number           they need. So I figured if the           entire world was a big machine I            couldn’t be an extra part, I had to           be here for some reason ... And           that means you have to be here for           some reason, too.  Sept. 24 TV production companies: I found some old notes like omnitv.ca.  There's OMNI TV channels in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.  I looked for careers on the site, but there weren't any I'm qualified in Edmonton. I typed in mediajobsearch.ca and found this instead: http://www.mediajobsearchcanada.com/ There were also 3 positions in Edmonton that I wasn't qualified for like an assistant editor with 3 yrs experience. Yorkton Film: I had also written down www.yorktonfilm.org and I only got a Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival.   It's held in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkton_Film_Festival Sept. 25 Inspiration: I was reading my old The Great American Pitchfest newsletter and I found this article called "Inspiration from a Slaughterhouse" by Signe Olynyk.  She talks about how she locked herself in a meat freezer to write her screenplay Below Zero so she could buckle down and write it. I put up her article on both my blogs. http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2012/09/inspiration-from-slaughterhouse.html Scriptshadow: There was also an interview on the same newsletter by someone named Scriptshadow.  He gives really good tips on screenwriting.  I put his interview on my blog: http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2012/09/scriptshadow-interview.html Here's his blog: http://scriptshadow.blogspot.ca/2011/06/scriptshadow-special-how-to-craft-damn.html Oct. 1 Poetry: Today I submitted two poems to a contest.  I haven't submitted my writing to contests in 2 months, judging from my notes.