SFX people

A very tiny random sample of the people at the SFX in Toronto last weekend.
Who ARE these guys!


Now thats just cute.

ditto and ditto again.

The hall costumes at SFX

Zombies....starving in an environment which seems to be lacking brains.

click on any or all of these images to enlarge.

SFX

The Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy Exposition in Toronto. A big show...this is the first time I have done this show. Its pretty expensive...the point of sale terminal rents for 250 bucks, the insurance was much the same, and the booth was renting for rather more than the usual booth. On the other hand there were compensations.

The people above are "horror cheerleaders", they go to movie screenings, parties and shows to ... um...well, I'm not quite sure "what" they do besides look photogenic. But I can clearly see that being tall is a definite requirement. I had to check out my neighbours...its a rough job, as you can see, but somebody has to do it.
Brenda had spent all winter making chain mail bracelets, chokers and jewelry items. Above, you can see me puzzling how to sell these things. After she put them on display cards, it got easier.

And here is the sales booth. Obviously it was just before opening because of course, once the opening bell goes, the people are wall to wall. Also you know the show is not open yet because Brenda is actually sitting down! You can see my armours in the background, and a new way to display the swords at the side. This method seems to have been very effective...the swords can be seen, yet they are well out of the way. I brought my carved sign, and am thinking it was less than effective...perhaps if I had hung it a lot higher. Gosh knows I had the space.

So thats the 8 by 8 workspace I spent the weekend in. What a job!

Conversations...

A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, 'Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.'

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, 'What would you like to talk about?

''Oh, I don't know,' said the stranger. 'How about nuclear power?' and he smiles.

'OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first.

A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass - Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?

'The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.

'To which the little girl replies, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know shit?

One Brown Dog

My family brought me home cradled in their arms.

They cuddled me and smiled at me and said I was full of charm.

They played with me and laughed with me and showered me with toys.

I sure do love my family, especially the little girls and boys.

The children loved to feed me;they gave me special treat.

They even let me sleep with them - all snuggled in the sheets.

I used to go for walks, often several times a day.

They evenfought to hold the leash, I'm very proud to say!

.These are the things I'll never forget - a cherished memory.

I now live in a shelter - without my family.

They used to laugh and praise me when I played with that old shoe.

But I didnt know the difference between the old and the new.

The kids and I would grab a rug, for hours we would tug.

So I thought I did the right thing when I chewed the bedroom rug.

They said I was out of control and would have to live outside.

This Ididnt understand, although I tried and tried!

.The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadnt the time.

I wish that I could change things; I wish I knew my crime.

My life became so lonely in the backyard, on a chain.

I barked and barked all day long to keep me from going insane.

So they brought me to a shelter but were embarrassed to say why.

They said Icaused an allergy, and then they each kissed me goodbye.

If I'donly had some training as a little pup.

I wouldnt have been so hard to handle when I was all grown up.

"You only have one day left",

I heard a worker say.

Does that mean I have a second chance?.

Do I go home today?.

------author chose to remain anonomous.

------http://www.healthypages.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=42459

Morality police

At Jeff's birthday party (the one right after mine!) I mentioned that a mall had tossed out a young lady for wearing her dress too short. I suspect some thought this was an urban legend, however this is the article....and below is a pic of the lass in the dress. If you are young and can flaunt it...why is this a problem? As my friend Mike once said..."You won't be young and pretty forever, enjoy it while it lasts!"

Above is a picture of Kymberly Clem, a Kentucky college student who was tossed out of a shopping mall because her dress was too short. "According to MyFOXBoston, the guard informed her that several female patrons had complained that she was disrupting their shopping experience because their husbands were “checking her out.”

Nice to see the Taliban active is active right in there in Boston!

The whole news story is here...http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,403146,00.html

So what do my readers think?

Birthday Party

Birthday party...vegetable slicing (oooh...the humanity!) and tatami mat cutting. Great fun!
Here I am setting up for the cut.... The carnage from an hour of cutting vegetables scattered all underfoot.

And the slash. Unfortunately, this mat was not quite supported properly, and it folded over the katana.

Okay then, we try again.

And the mat goes flying!

Last try....that sword is moving really fast at that point, and the sweat is just glistening!

And the mat disintigrates into a blizzard of little flakes of outraged grass mat!

You have to click on these pictures to see them properly.

Last Saturday was my birthday, and in what has become a normal sort of thing, I have a tournament in my back yard. Part of that tournament was the cutting exercises. I didn't do too badly.

Bear Country

click on the image to be able to read the sign.

ewwwwww

Pride week. Thats Pride? Note the bicycle helmet....good to how he is riding safe.

This is just wrong.....

And sometimes the camera just HAS to move a bit to take in the scenery.

click on the images to enlarge...if you have to.

Tuesday Toons

Just to put a smile on your face.

Fireworks

The sky comes alight with actinic light. (song..the hills are alive)

Painted gold

Fan Dance (Can Can)

Marshmallow world

La tarantella

The Blues Brothers

New York, New York

New York, New York (the fans spray from right to left, one after another.

Cherry bomb

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's Amore! (see the hearts?)

I think it is a Canadian sort of thing....fireworks set to music. The format was invented in Montreal some 14 years ago, and has spread around the world since.





Last night was Italy's turn to compete against the worlds' best. I am gobsmacked.

Thanks Lorne for suggesting it.

Zoo 1

Canadian Cougar. Not the cute little pussy cat you might think! I think this girl just wanted to show off the ivory.

The Toronto Zoo is laid out by "continent". There is Africa, with elephants and lions, North America with otters, beaver, moose, and antelope, South America with flamingos, tapirs, and Jaguars, and Asia with Snow leopards and Tigers. It is considered to be one of the finest zoos in the world, and a day spent amongst the animals (while watching other animals) is a fine day.

The Zoo is HUGE...we traveled from place to place by the "on again, off again" train. Most of the exhibits are as natural as they can make them. Most of the animals seemed to be content, though the tigers seemed a little agitated...pacing about, wondering if another of those ubiquitous Canada Geese would drop in for dinner.

Pirates.....

The "seal pup" pinata. Only in Canada eh! The dog is very interested.
Yeah, we go after pinatas with swords around here. Why be normal?

The stones on that cake are actually chocolate.

Waterballoon fighting.

My team

Shayne's Team

A water balloon throwing, pinata breaking, cake crunching weekend. With a pirate theme.