but this is the sort of week that friday favourites is supposed to be about. it's never more important to think about the things that make you just a little bit happy than when there seem to be a lot of things getting you down. so in that spirit... here's this week's friday favourites!
SEE MY FAVOURITES PLUS THIS WEEK'S CAT PIC- CLICK BELOW TO CONTINUE!
a different sort of dj set :: well, i already shared last week that i was looking forward to a first shot at a regular gig at cagibi and i'm happy to say that it's official! dj kali and mr. dna will be rocking the cat box (you'll get it in a few minutes) on the first wednesday of the month at "the caustic lounge", our little moniker for the night we're doing. one of the things that appeals to me about this gig in particular is that, unlike most of the other sets i get to do, this one is a lot more like when i used to do radio shows- there aren't really any expectations and it's more about what you want to hear and how you want to shape it into a coherent whole. there are some basic ground rules (don't make the people cry), but it's a very wide berth. i'm happy to have the opportunity to do gigs of different types and there is something intrinsically satisfying about being able to share something you love with friends and strangers.
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| mmmm... sin... |
specktra :: t's always nice to find a place where you can discuss something you like with others who share your interests. generally, that hasn't been a problem for me in terms of music, art, politics, etc. (it helps that a lot of people who share my tastes in one of those things are also interested in the others). as far as my "girly" interests, it's a little trickier, because there is the perception that women who are interested in beauty and fashion are always dimwits who couldn't possibly process a complex thought. and that's simply not so.
the cool thing about being part of specktra, the internet's largest beauty forum, is not merely that it's a place to get news and reviews of products and upcoming collections, but a place to talk to women (and a few gents) with a diversity of opinions on everything from all over the world.
my slightly paranoid world view tends to make me think of people being divided into two camps, with me and my friends on one side, while the other side is populated entirely by the cast of fox news and jersey shore. getting to talk to people from all over the world, from all races and age groups, all shapes and sizes, has a way of making you realise that things are a lot more complex and a lot more interesting than we like to assume.
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| camilla |
camilla :: a good friend bought her for dom and i in toronto. now how appropriate could that be? given my predilection for things macabre and things day of the dead, she's a pretty perfect fit. she's part of the ongoing series of living dead dolls, the much sought after friends from beyond the grave released in limited edition series. we'll definitely be giving her a good home. good friends who know who you really are always make my week better and every time i look at camilla (who sits, or stands, next to my desk where i can admire her) i'm reminded that i'm very blessed in that regard.
so that's this week's favourites. here's to next week being milder in all respects.
as far as news, i'm finally starting to figure out what the heck is going on is wisconsin, although i'm still not as well-informed as i'd like. at this point, so far, what i've learned is that the average teacher's salary is $51k per year (i'm not going to get into the value of benefits, not because they don't count, but because the value is always calculated by parties who have an interest in making it appear smaller or larger than it actually is) and people have a problem with this. seriously? i guess it doesn't look great compared to the average u.s. salary, which is in the high $30s, but that also includes everyone working who didn't need to attend college or university to get their jobs. isn't the reason why people do those things so that they can get higher-paying jobs? i guess the backlash is based on the fact that they only work nine months a year and that people have the perception that they only work the length of the school day. there's also the fact that the second you say the word "union" people get their backs up. (unions haven't done themselves any favours in this regard.) still, knowing what people in other fields earn, $51k doesn't seem excessively high for people who teach children. i'm making a point of learning more about this story, lest the teacher-hate spread outward in all directions.
i mentioned last week that we'd had our best month ever in terms of visits, because we would finish with over a thousand on the month. in fact, we finished with just over 1200- over 30% above our previous high water mark. so thanks everyone for your support!
finally, here's this weeks kitty pic. the model for today is simon, who is a tonkinese and our resident hunk. check out those eyes! (and, for those of you with fine attention to detail, check out seth pulling a photobomb in the background!)
