Smart People

On Tuesday, April 29, 2008, I went to see the movie Smart People. The major stars in this movie are Dennis Quaid and Ellen Page. Dennis Quaid plays an English professor at a university, and Ellen Page is his youngest daughter. He pushes her to achieve the best score that she can have. Quaid, who plays Professor Lawrence Wetherhold, is a single parent professor, who has not really be able to let go of his wife's death, and ever since then has become socially awkward. He has also lost his passion of teaching literature. He has a son, played by Ashton Holmes, whose name is James. He's studying Art History at the same university that Quaid's character teaches at.

All of a sudden, his adopted brother, Chuck Wetherhold, played by Thomas Haden Church, comes for a visit, and it makes his already distant family even more difficult. Dr. Wetherhold's car gets towed, and he wanted to get it back, but since he refused to pay the fine required to acquire it, he jumps the fence, grabs his briefcase and then climbs back out. But on his way out, he falls and suffers a concussion. At the hospital, the doctor who treats him ends up being a former student of his.

The movie is sort of a journey between all these members of the family, and trials and tribulations of what happens, how they get over it, and how they grow as individuals.

This movie also highlights the two types of intelligences: IQ and EQ. These people have very high IQs, but EQ, not so much. I know, it's acting, but it's true.

That's bureaucracy for you...

Today, I was checking information about my account for fun, and discovered that I was charged $0.26 in interest from my university.

I had applied to graduate, but when I realized I wasn't going to make it, I asked for my name to be removed. I thought, since I didn't pay the fee, it would be $40 and then -$40, which would give $0 balance. However, I was mistaken. I was charged $0.26 in interest. Happily, when I spoke to the Accounts balance people, they took that off. But seriously, $0.26 of interest?

Next time, when I apply to graduate - and this time it's going to happen (I've already booked an appointment to talk to a Writing Assistant about structuring my project, and I have a rough outline of how I envision my project),I'll pay my fee right away, to avoid this situation again. Seriously, $0.26 in interest?

What about the little guy? (part three) - aka - Resto du vilage - my favourite diner no more

Today, I went to my (formerly) favourite diner for my regular meal of three eggs (over easy), with sausages, home fries, toast (no butter) and coffee. And boy was I greeted with a surprised, and not a pleasant one for the owner too... I walked in, around 12:15 p.m., on a Sunday afternoon. In all my years there, Sundays are very busy for greasy spoon breakfasts. I mean, there are some off weeks, but that happens rarely. But this seemed to be more of a common occurrence when the owner decided to not only raise prices yet again by about 5 - 10%, but also decided to take out the: "taxes included". So, today, I walk into the restaurant, and it was like a ghost town. there were only a couple of tables that were occupied, and I would say a good 60 - 70% of the tables were not occupied. On top of that, my favourite waitress, who knows my order by heart, and knows that I am a coffee addict, stopped working there, and that last week was her last week. I found out that she now works at Chez Cora.

So... More and more reasons for me to stop going to this restaurant... Price raises every year, but not really justified, considering that the quality is not increasing, and the prices are. I understand that prices increase because of inflation, whatever, but at a certain point, it passes the consumer value of what he/she believes is worth it... When I found out that the prices increased again, there were really two things that kept me going... (And I already sort of had one foot out the door): The coffee, and the waitress. And now that the waitress is gone, I don't think the coffee is good enough to keep me to stay... I could get good coffee at Tim Horton's...

And on top of that, I did some price comparison between the two places... At Chez Cora, I could get two eggs, bacon or sausage, home fries, toast and coffee for $5.25 plus tax. At Resto du village, I get three eggs, bacon, ham or sausage, home fries, toast and coffee for $4.75 plus tax... I think now that it's only the coffee that I would go for, I will just fork out an extra $0.75 + tax + tip for a better ambiance... Especially since I know that my favourite waitress will be working there.

What's even worse, when I paid the cash today, I was digging around for money, and I paid the guy a $5. (The total was $5.36 - which he automatically rounded up to $5.40). After he took the $5 bill, he automatically shut the drawer. When I dug out a loonie, he just told me to leave it there, so he got more tip than he deserved. I mean, I don't take much back, I just take the dime back, and a dime is not a huge amount of money, but it's the principle that counts.

Seriously: When I went to the restaurant three years ago, my meal was $4.00 (taxes included), and then it increased to $4.30 (taxes included), and then it was $4.50 (taxes included), and then now it's $4.75 (taxes not included). This was a time span of three years. I don't think that this type of increase is justified over three years. Every time the price went up, I went to the restaurant less and less... At first, I would be there like two or three times a week (including the breakfast on Sunday), and then the first price increase, I would go once or twice a week (including the breakfast on Sunday0. After the second increase, I would only go once a week (for the breakfast), and on some very odd/rare occasions, I would go a second time. Once they put the price up to $4.75, I swore that I would only go once a week for the breakfast, and half my foot was already out the door, because as soon as I found a place that does good coffee, I was going to leave.

As the title suggested - Resto du village, my favourite diner no longer.

Mathematicians and hygiene

While I was doing my business in a public washroom (I will leave it to your imagination - and won't go into further details), I witnessed two of my colleagues (Bachelor/Master's/Ph.D or even possibly professors) go to the washroom, do their business, and leave without washing their hands... Argh!

Please people, wash your hands... It's not just better for you, it's better for everyone...

This was a two for two, it wasn't 50% success/failure rate, so that's a bit troublesome. And don't give me the whole, it's only two people, so you don't have a representative sample. the point of this post is about health, not math.

21

On Thursday, April 25, 2008, I went to see the movie 21. The major stars of this film are Jim Sturgess, Laurence Fishburne, and Kevin Spacey. The premise of the movie, which is based on true events, is that six students from MIT become expert card counters, and win the casino out of millions of dollars. And of course, this also has other plots attached to it, like a bit of romance, and conflict, etc.

The premise of the movie is that Ben, played by Sturgess, is a very bright student, finishing his degree at MIT. He has been accepted into Harvard Medical School, but does not have the money to proceed with his studies, that's why he applied for a scholarship. And he recounts his story of what he lived through. What follows is an intense tale of how people can get lost in the game, and silly things that people can do.

I was very impressed with the vocal coaching that was given to Sturgess, because he's British, and his British accent was not audible at all. There was one or two instances in the movie where it did slip up, but the majority of it was in American English. Although, I do prefer him with a British accent.

A fun, good movie, and not too violent. Very mathematical as well, so if you're a math nut, it's a great film.

Ben X

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, I went to see the movie Ben X.

This movie is about a boy named Benjamin. He's being picked on at school, kind of anti-social. He's an avid gamer, and has a friendship with a girl online. He's also got some health problems, and always requires a heart rate monitor to make sure that his heart rate doesn't go above a certain point.

Doctors have determined that he is autistic, but he is a very good student... However, so much crap happens to him, Ben is pondering suicide, taking his own life to end it all. Does he take his own life? You'll have to watch the film to find out.

This film was apparently based upon a real story where an autistic boy did end up taking his own life because of bullying experienced at school.

As an educator, this film really rang a bell for me, because firstly, when I was bullied in school, my teachers didn't do much, and also, knowing that bullying can have such huge consequences, I will look out more for this type of behaviour.

This was a Dutch film, and thank goodness for subtitles. Haha.

In other news, I made a purchase from Archambault today, and got a free reusable bag as part of Earth Day celebrations. It was awesome.

I think it's time for a new circle of friends...

This weekend, I had a very interesting and a bit frustrating experience with Rupert. And since Rupert and Raoul (same as the previous postings) are often together, when I have an experience with Rupert, it tends to be the case with Raoul as well.

On Friday, I was asked to go clubbing with these two, because Rupert cannot stand going clubbing with a mutual friend that they met (while clubbing). Let's call this friend Ronald. Ronald is also in the armed forces, and apparently doesn't like Rupert, because Ronald believes that he should be with Raoul and not Rupert. Ronald believes that Rupert would be happier with him and not Rupert, etc., etc., so there's all this drama going on about wedging oneself into a relationship. And Rupert's words were, "Please don't make me spend the entire evening with him... I'm going to die."

So, during the course of the evening, Raoul asked me if I wanted to go and dance upstairs with him... I said, "Sure." I just thought he wanted to cool off upstairs. Apparently, he had an ulterior motive... He wanted to get me away from the crowd so that he can "have a talk with me". We started off with how many dates we had... And the number here differs, because our definitions of dates were different. For me, an outing is a date if there is follow through with romantic ties... And since I was "dumped" in the middle of a cafe in the village, there are no romantic ties, and thus, Raoul and I did not go on dates... For him, however, a date is just an opportunity to gage to see if there is any chemistry... We decided on two dates... And there was this whole talk about how we have a lot in common, blah blah blah...

Then, Raoul asks me if I believe that Rupert loves him. What am I, a psychiatrist? How am I supposed to know? I haven't even experienced real romance myself, what makes me the expert to answer this question? And this led into a discussion about how Raoul knows that I do not like Rupert, and that he doesn't know what I'm thinking. (He's not supposed to, I have a little world that I don't let him into). Anyway, I told him in that in all fairness, when I have my relationship, I would not model it after his. That's a fair statement, I think, without having to put too many people down... And Raoul told me that, "he knows that it's not a perfect relationship, but he wouldn't be able to do it without my friendship..." What the hell is that? If you need a third person to help you, then obviously this is not the right guy?

Also, Raoul and Rupert were talking about going to Ottawa on Saturday. They were thinking of taking a day trip up to Ottawa, from about 12 p.m. - 12 a.m.. Now, since I had to work on Sunday, I thought that 12 - 12 was a bit on the late side... So I asked if it was possible to leave earlier... At that particular moment, Rupert wrinkles his face up like he's eaten a sour lemon... His eyes, nose and mouth all wrinkled together like a badly presented plate of greasy spoon breakfast - sausages, eggs over easy and fruit... (Did I mention that Rupert has sausage lips?), and he looked like his face was going into warp drive about leaving at 10 a.m.. So we decided to leave at 12 noon.

And then to make matters even worse, I get a phone call at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday saying that Rupert has to take his sister and brother to go swimming at the community pool, and that Rupert couldn't say no to his mother... So, after doing a bit of projection, it pretty much boiled down to them being done at about 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, which means that there is practically no point in going to Ottawa. I was really looking forward to going to Ottawa, because I wanted to see my friend whom I haven't seen for about nine months. And I thought that since those two were going to Ottawa, I would hitch a ride up with them. But no, that was not to be. I was really, really disappointed not being able to see my friend... I mean, she might not have had time for me anyway, but at least if I got to Ottawa, I did my part and I tried.

As my brother humorously said, "I think you need a circle of friends... You're in the black ring (of the Olympics) for friends... Why not try the green ring?" I think he's right... I think I'll be spending less time (or if at all) with those two, and more time with my other friends... I do not have to be the emotional "crutch" of the relationship. If Raoul wanted my emotional energy, then he should have launched into a relationship with me.

The Band's Visit

On Tuesday, April 15, 2008, I went to see the movie The Band's Visit. This movie was about an Egyptian orchestra who was on their way to play a concert... What happened is that they make a wrong detour and end up staying a night in a small little town...

This movie's title is pretty precise... The movie is just about the Band's visit, and that's pretty much it... No extra plot attached, or very little, no nothing... It was an okay movie, some funny parts, and thank goodness, subtitled... It was in Hebrew and Arabic... I don't read either.

Not one perhaps you need to see in the theatre, but maybe one to rent on DVD if you are a fan of indie film.

What about the little guy? (part two)

It's been a week since I discovered that the prices at my favourite diner has increased. Right now, I haven't found a new diner yet, so I am still going to go to the same one temporarily. However, today, when I went, about slightly less than half the tables were empty.

It could have been an off week, but I don't think so. The basic rules of economics still apply.. When you raise the prices, customers go elsewhere, or they come less often. I know I'm already considering going elsewhere.

The Bank Job

On Wednesday, April 9, 2008, I went to see the film The Bank Job, starring Jason Statham.

This movie was based upon the great bank robbery in London that happened in 1971. Of course, it's not the entire story, but based upon the story of the robbery.

A fun movie, with S&M Elements, a bit of action, and a bit of ass kicking by Jason Statham at the end... I didn't expect that this movie would have ass kicking in it, but they apparently found a way...

What did I lose that I wish I still had?

A question that I saw when I logged into livejournal. I'm responding to it now...

About a year ago, I had my school bag stolen, all of it... Luckily, nothing of value was in it. The bag was heavy because there was an algebra textbook in it, and it was about three or four editions out of date... There was also a Nalgene bottle, a scientific calculator about six years old, a half open box of facial tissues, a bunch of napkins... But, in that bag of stuff, I lost the pencil case that I made when I was in grade eight in metal shop... I had a field day with the unit on sheet metal, and I made a lot of stuff with sheet metal, including a pencil case, complete with oxidization. I cannot turn back time to make another one and use it so that it oxidizes, and even if I make one now at the metal shop again, it's not the same... Yes, something that had sentimental value was taken.

The Counterfeiters

On Tuesday, April 8, 2008, I went to see the film called The Counterfeiters. This movie is about the biggest counterfeiting scheme in history, where the Germans were creating counterfeit notes of the English Pound and the American Dollar to try and flood the allies' economy after the war (or during the war).

The thing was, the Germans were using concentration camp prisoners to do this operation. So, a lot of the prisoners were faced with not printing money to help the enemy, or being shot for disobeying, and not living to help fellow Jews.

This was a movie that was shot mostly in German, with a few words of French. So, subtitles were definitely needed. Not that much blood, and tastefully done in the parts that required it... And a bit realistic in the accounts of how or why prisoners were shot...

An interesting movie that will help educate you about a bit of history... Probably not entirely historically accurate, but somewhat. (I.e. based on history). A historical fiction piece, perhaps.

Wow, I never thought of it this way...

I stumbled across the following quote: "The first time your heart is broken, it will scar for life... The second time is another learning experience."

Wow... I never thought about it this way, but I think there's an ounce of truth in that... I mean, I would never wish a broken heart upon somebody, and this is not a Disney Fairytale where people just meet each other, sing and dance, fall in love and get married. And in the way, get rid of an evil stepmother. I know that in real life, this love at first sight thing happens, but it's rare.

Until I fall in love, I have power music to keep me feeling funky and empowered.

What about the little guy?

Today, I went to my favourite restaurant for my greasy spoon breakfast... I won't go into what I eat, as it's not the important point here.

What's important is that they raised their prices again, and this time around, the prices are not even tax included, so it's an increase in price, and then on top of that, you have to pay taxes. I understand that you have to pay taxes everywhere, but an increase, and the fact that your prices are not tax included is like a double increase...

What bugs me is, as I have previously stated before, the unbalance of increase in price versus salary increases... In none of the jobs that I work (part-time) this year, I got a wage increase, to reflect the increase in inflation. All the business for cheese, milk, etc., said that since gas is so expensive, they need to increase their prices... Fine. I understand that. However, as a mathematician, I realize that if you don't increase the living wage the same amount as the inflation, people get poorer, as they have to eat into their portion that would normally go into savings... And this has been happening for a while...

I may not have studied economics, but the mathematician in me says that this is a problem. And I don't think that it's just me... None of my friends that I'm aware of has gotten a wage increase... And people at my university (the support workers), they have been without contract for about four years, and these wages still reflect the prices then... For example, they are still being paid the same wages when the bus pass for the adult was $50. Now, it's $65. That's $15 that's eating into the wages that could be saved or invested...

I mean, I'm not a fan of LaRouche's policies either, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that there is a problem...

Oh crap...

I just got off the phone with my parents and they were telling me about a great idea that my brother had...

My brother is thinking of buying a property here in Montreal, and then I would live there. He would charge me rent, which would be equivalent to his mortgage payment.

This has bad idea written all over it...

Run Fatboy Run

On Tuesday, April 1, 2008, I went to see the film Run Fatboy Run. Now, the reason why I am a bit late in putting up the commentary/review is not because I wanted to participate in April Fool's, but because the neighbourhood had a blackout, and the power didn't come back on until about 5:00 a.m.. Therefore, I couldn't write up the review until now.

This movie starts off with Dennis, played by Simon Pegg, leaving his then fiancee at the altar. The fiancee, Libby, who is also pregnant (talk about tasteless - leaving a pregnant bride at the altar), is played by Thandie Newton.

Five years later, Libby has let Dennis back into her life, but only because she wants her son to know who his real father is... And now, enter Whit, played by Hank Azaria, better known as the wide variety of voices on The Simpsons - Chief Wiggum, Apu, Moe, Comic Book guy, Professor Frink, who is a very well off financial banker, and who has caught Libby's attention. Whit and Libby are clearly dating, and Dennis is jealous. For five years, Dennis has been trying to win back Libby's affection, but he has not been successful.

So, Dennis is trying to get to know Whit better, to size up his competition, and it turns out that Whit is training for a marathon, so Dennis decides that he too will run this marathon. And practically everyone is betting against him. But a small bunch of individuals believed in him, and decides to help him to train for this marathon.

A heartwarming, clever, funny movie. This movie has the tributes of clever English humour, the delayed punch lines, the intelligent humour, instead of the ha-ha humour. There was one joke in the movie that was "American Pie esque", but the other jokes were all very funny and clever.

I have to admit, when I first saw the trailer for this movie, I didn't really want to see this movie... But I have to say the trailer does not do justice to this movie... This is a movie that is worth seeing, for sure.