Tres Sneaky

2008-06-28T17:43:00.001-07:00

Surprisingly, there are a few people who still view this blog. No idea why, but thank you, Phil and Toni. Because of your dedication, we felt we couldn't wait another 363 days from our last post to update. So, in your honour, we have posted again. Yes, it's tres sneaky of us, but you should have seen that coming (check the blog name). Since our last post we have become dog owners as well. Because our previous post showed our two fluffy, furball kittens, in the name of fairness (and for those of you not on facebook) here is a shot of our devilishly handsome dog, Lando. (Also known as Little Bono for our West Coast relatives.)

2007-11-20T18:38:00.000-08:00

It's been 363 days since the last post.
So much has happened: We're homeowners. We're kitten owners. We're full-time (almost!) teachers. We have two more nephews. Our cars died (goodbye and good riddance). We now thrive on the false sense that we are more actively ecologically concerned than everyone because we only drive one car that gets great gas consumption. But it feels good. We don't have the internet at home. (This accounts for the lack of activity on this blog.)
And yet, so much remains the same: Todd's still tres sneaky. Um... and ... ok, that's about it. Well, we're still married, and the Montreal Canadiens are still the greatest hockey team ever. But some things are just so obvious.

There's little to say. Just an update to let any of you who still bother to check this blog know that we're still here. And a picture of our kittens from May, at 7 weeks old.

2006-11-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

This is a reenactment of the last video:
Brilliant, simply brilliant

The Vulture strikes again!

2006-11-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

2006-11-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

*I edited that pathetic hockey post I did and it even includes a video now.*

Looking Through Windows into the World
Yesterday I had a cool opportunity to learn how to remove and install windows. This is a big thing for me. I'm not really handy but I really want to be. I'm the guy who buys that manual for repairing his car and actually believes he'll learn to do all the work on his car. Needless to say, I was pretty happy to learn to do some work with my hands.

What I liked more about the experience, though, was that I learned all this at a refuge house where we were taking out old drafty windows and replacing them with new high quality ones. It always feels good to be doing something that you believe is worth doing. The best part of the whole experience was meeting two palestenians who left Israel a month ago because they found it too hard to live there. I always hear about the middle-east in the news and maybe even have minor debates with people over the dinner table about the issues. When I personally meet the people who been displaced because of the conflicts I kinda feel dumb just talking about it so impersonally.

I'm realizing the world is actually out there.
It's happening. I can talk about the way it should be, debating ideals and philosophical stances in an impersonal way.
Or I can jump in and do something.

2006-10-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

We had front row for the penguins vs sabres game (September 30, 06). I added a bunch more pictures and made them all full size. Also, here is a link to a video my brother Joel took of the fight between Ruutu and Kalinenm, which was right in front of us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wFC2KbVSjg

2006-09-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

"Perhaps, if I am very lucky, the feeble efforts of my lifetime will someday be noticed, and maybe, in some small way, they will be acknowledged as the greatest works of genius ever created my man. "

2006-09-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's me in the blue. I get angry at times when I'm losing.

Thanks for everyone who supported me in the Terry Fox Run - $ 205.00 is what we raised. The race was actually a lot of fun and I highly recommend it for next year to everyone. I ran 5 km in just under 20 min.
I had so much fun that I'm thinking of entering a bunch of more races - maybe the run for Haiti and some others. I have a friend that wants me to run in the 'Around the Bay' race but it's 30 km so I'm not so sure.

I was definitely envious of some of the hardcore people's running tights. That's truly why I was angry - I want tights.

2006-09-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Marathon of Hope (sponsor me online)

So I am entering the Terry Fox Run on September 17 at McMaster University. I am really hoping that some of my friends sponser me because I think it's good to raise money for cancer research. We can all name dozens of people who have been afflicted with this disease.

To sponser me online go to this link:

http://www.terryfoxrun.org/local/asp/r/e/41148

2006-08-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Another Book Quiz

Tagged by Todd Guthrie (it's kinda cheating when the person you share a blog with tags you, but who cares? I'm answering the questions anyway).

1. One book that changed your life: The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupery
2. One book that you've read more than once: Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein
3. One book that you'd want on a desert island: A big one that has a motor and mini fridge stocked with food. Or a giant hollow one filled with food. Yes, that'd be good.
4. One book that made you laugh: The Buz Gem Blues, by Drew Hayden Taylor
5. One book that made you cry: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, by Mark Haddon
6. One book that you wish had been written: The story of the fateful encounter of puppetry and balloon twisting in what turned out to be a magical, almost spiritual, moment that dissipated all too soon and left an empty, aching hole in the hearts of many children's performers. It would change your life, you'd read it more than once, you'd want in on a desert island, it would make you laugh and it would make you cry. It would be the quintessential book in everyone's personal library.
7. One book that you wish had never been written: Sheet Music, by Kevin Leman... if you don't know, don't ask. If you do, I'm sorry.
8. One book that you're currently reading: Ready or Not Here Life Comes, by Mel Livine
9. One book that you've been meaning to read: Life of Pi, by Yann Martel (I know, I know, the plaigiarism scandal, but it's been on my to-read list for a long while and I just might get to it sometime).
10. Now tag 5 people: Chris W. (something to blog about), Cherelynn, Matt (update your website!). I don't know 2 other people with blogs. But maybe Phil will start one at work. And Garg.

2006-08-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

Another Book Quiz

Tagged by Jake Belder: (He's a big guy so I better do what he asked)

1. One book that changed your life: The Far Side, by Gary Larson
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: The Lord of the Rings, by good ole' Johnny Ronald Reuel
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Boatbuilding for Beginners (and Beyond): Everything You Need to Know to Build a Sailboat, a Rowboat, a Motorboat, a Canoe, and More, by Jim Michalak
4. One book that made you laugh: The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli (Jake put this and I really agree), also Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy.
5. One book that made you cry: The Catcher and the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (Tears of laughter)
6. One book that you wish had been written: Something detailing the scandal between Hot Dog stand owners and wiener factories (I think it's kinda a love/hate relationship)
7. One book that you wish had never been written: Two Words: Margaret Atwood
8. One book you’re currently reading: The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, by Simon Blackburn (I read it before bed and that officially puts me the category of "awesome")
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler
10. Now tag five people: Kimberly, Melissa, Aaron, Buju, and Daryl

2006-08-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

What has amused me most lately is how often people check this blog to see if there is anything on it, and how they are only disappointed and must simply go back to work in their lonely cubical in downtown Ottawa.

I hope these motivational posters inspire Phil and others who are also just looking for ways to fill the time (Kimberly introduced me to this funny website).

2006-07-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

Attention!

Some people are desperate for any attention they can receive. Some people crave attention in certain forms from certain audiences. Some people desire attention but don't know what to do with it when they get it. Some people don't want any attention at all - for anything. Some people need attention to feel good about themselves. Some people define attention as "a military posture with the body erect, eyes to the front, arms at sides, and the heels together". And then there is Chris Wignall. The attention he seeks, finds, and revels in is something else altogether. But what? There is no word for it in the English language. In French it is too sacred to be spoken. In Cantonese it is the most complex character ever formed. In Russian one must fast for a week before speaking it. And we, the English speakers of the world, have no word for it at all...

2006-07-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

2006-07-26T04:29:00.000-07:00

So, it has been a while since I posted. Here's a bullet-style update on what's been happening in my world. I don't have anything political, deep, or philosophical to say (visit Buju's blog for that... very thought-provoking).

-Apparently "bullet" is now politically incorrect. We're to call them something stupid that I forget, like dash point, or presentation point.

-My sister (see Cherelynn Jamont link at side) got married on Vancouver Island in June.

-There was a grand total of 16 people, including the bride and groom.

-The last comment on Todd's last blog is from Daryl - it says "Today is July 8th".

-July 8th is Todd's and my wedding anniversary.

-We were supposed to attend a wedding that day.

-Instead, we spent it in the ER at Mac.

-As it turns out, I had appendicitis. But they sent my home that night anyway. (With some Tylenol 3s).

-The next night I had an appendectomy.

-I hate medicality and all things related. Especially needles.

-I still have a bruise from the anti-blood clotting medicine they injected into my thigh.

-People took very good care of us while I was recovering. (Thank you, especially, to Erica, Aaron, Scott, Kristy, and Nina.)

-I love being on summer vacation.

-Why? Camping, shopping, book club, relaxing, sunshine, beach days, zoo days, hanging out with friends, family reunion, weddings, etc. Oh, and no work.

-Secretly, I'm very excited about back-to-school... but I'm trying to wait until August before I start preparing.

-Last week, my book club finished. We read Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. I recommend it. A lot.

-Next week I'm learning to make homemade bread. From scratch. Without a bread maker. Mmmm.

-I'm hoping people will leave more positive comment this time...

Kimberly

2006-05-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

What is today?

2006-05-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

Moments after the Ottawa Senators were eliminated...

2006-05-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

Da Vinci ate my baby.

Last night I saw the Da Vinci code and, to be honest, I don't see why it recieved mostly scathing reviews. It was a decent movie, following the books style that is similar to a mixture "24," "CSI" and "The X-Files."

After reading the book, I decided to look into some of Dan Brown's history and my findings amused me. Like many now know from being overwhelmed by the constant documentaries, books, article, new casts, and discussions, it has become obvious that the history in the book is rather poor. Scholars, artists, architects, historians, and theologians have all cringed at the claims found in the book.
Putting the history aside, the book makes some conclusions that the general public is quite comfortable with. Mainly that religions have no historical, scientific, or objective grounding but, none the less, should be respected for the meaning and comfort provided to the believer.
I see here that this is a pragmatic approach to religion.

The standard of truth: It works.

Under this approach, historical or scientific grounding (seemingly objective standards) are not needed for belief. The only standard to judge the validity of the faith is whether there are practical outcomes of believing. In the movie, Robert Langdon argues it does not matter whether Jesus really was God but that he brings hope to people when they pray and provides a framework for their lives to have a sense of meaning and purpose.

In response to this, I have a few questions:

Can someone have faith but not believe the historicity of their religion?
Should it matter to a Christian if Jesus existed historically as the Son of God?
If yes, should the historical existence of Abraham, Jonah, The Ark of the Covenant, Zacheus, and Simon the Sorcerer be important for maintaining faith?
How can one judge whether something "works" or accomplishes its task?
Doesn't the weighing of "practical outcomes" require some sort of objective standard by which to weigh them?

2006-04-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

My first contribution to this blog.

A few comments:

-I don't understand the purpose of blogging, really.

-As previously mentioned, I was watching game 2 of the Habs/Hurricanes series, doing a Sudoku (challenging level), and trying to buff my nails.

-When I looked up, they showed the replay of the goal that tied the game, and because I hadn't been listening, I thought that the OT had started and the Hurricanes had scored.

-Todd misrepresented what had happened.

-Men.

-Coldplay is my favourite band.

-My brother, Ian, is moving to B.C. this summer

-That means 60% of my parents kids will be outwest.

-I'd like to move there myself and make it 80%.

-I miss the mountains. But not the rain.

-I haven't been to B.C. in the spring/summer in 9 years.

-I'm consumed with Sudoku. I don't want to be, but it has reeled me in.

-Thanks, Dad.

-Monday, June 19th, 2006 is Juneteenth. Juneteenth, I have just learned, is a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.

-Supposedly, if you read the comments from a previous post, my mother wants to know where to buy a Billabong shirt like Todd's.

-Courtesy of Phl.

-Aka: Vulture.

-I love Keith Urban.

-Too bad he's so short.

-I'm going to do my taxes now so that I can be done in time to watch game 4. Go Habs, go!

-I don't believe I have mentioned anything too deep or profound yet, so I will leave you all with one important message.

-Dr. Bungspruten says "Ich bin der struudel bach".

Kimberly

2006-04-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

Because John mentioned Kimberly and I on his weekly list, I thought I would copy him.

-I watched the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox (7-6, in the 12th innning) on Friday and remembered that I do in fact like to watch baseball.

-There were funny drunk guys sitting in front of us; they danced and mocked Red Sox fans.

-One was skinny one was fat : kinda like Bert and Ernie.

-So a grade 8 girl asked me if I work out. Yessss.

-The movie An Unfinished Life is good. Actually, I think I recommend it.

-I recieved my last evaluation from Brock today.

-Kimberly just yelled "Noooo!" because she thought Carolina scored and beat Montreal.

-She then realized that it was actually just a replay from another game.

-Women.

- I think our culture is best defined by the term "Pragmatism" not that stupid vague term "Postmodernism."

-I hate Christian ministries that think they have solved the churches problems because they have gained this amazing new revelation that our culture is "Postmodern."

-What does that even mean, anyways?

-I know, it means after whatever "moderism" is.

-I am a master of etymology.

-The funny thing is the term should actually be "post-foundationalism"

-Okay, I changed my mind; maybe our culture can be called "post-foundationalism" instead of pragmatism.

-Scott Reckman is moving to Hamilton again. Yessss. (As Buju says, "Frick!")

-When brainstorming a list with my students about "good" things, Chuck Norris and G-Unit may have made the list.

-That reminds me, Jesse (Aaron and Erica's nephew) also potentially learned the following amazing phrases while at my house: "Yeah buddy!"; "It's a doorag"; "For schizel"; and "My Nizel!"

-One of my favourite things is when Phil maintains the ritual of asking me if any of my clothes are new. That's fun.

-Religion that isn't about love is death.

-Hi Joel, if you're reading this.

2006-04-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

2006-04-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

I'm glad that picture is not of my car.

However, I kinda banged up my car. Taking a sharp turn in the rain, I slid into a curb. The axel bent near the right tire where the impact was made and the bumper broke on the right side as well. This will be the first time I am at fault for damage to any car. I love insurance claims.

2006-04-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is a response to Buju:

How many books do you own?

Since I am one of those odd people who believe I will actually re-read all the books I bought during my years at University, too many. I had to buy more bookshelves so I could display all the books I will probably never read again.

What book is your latest purchase?

Wow, I just realized that I don't buy books that often. The good thing is, there is a library in walking distance from my house. The most recent is "Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas."

What books have you read most recently?

Completely: The Giver, Kingdom Come, 1984
Partially: Heart of Darkness, First Days of School by Harry Wong (I thought the author's name would amuse the immature who are like myself), First Steps in Mathematics

Name five great books with impact on you:

1) The Catcher in the Rye
2) Anything Tolkein
3) The Prince
4) Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
5)the new oxford book of english prose ( Obscure. I don't know why, I just use to read it every night before bed)

Oh, and maybe anything by Franklin W. Dixon ;)

2006-03-31T13:35:00.000-08:00

Hey. Two things:

First, I just put up a post that I think is important but its marked "Feb 15" so you have to go down before the pictures to read it.

Secondly, my Grade 8 students are obsessed with Chuck Norris. I love kids.

Oh yeah, one more thing. People believe my school is haunted. Kinda eerie. Check out this Hamilton Spectator Article. Its quite interesting actually.

2006-03-13T18:06:00.000-08:00

Tres Sneaky is Back!

Guess whos back, back again
Sneaky's back, tell a friend, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back..

Well well; so you're back too. How convenient.
In order to keep you coming back, I'm giving you the good stuff - the real reason people go to blogs: to search for pictures. Picture guy knows this all to well.

(P.S. Buju and Picturegy, I saw Dave Chappele's Block Party. Pretty good, pretty good.)

Brock, Faculty of Education, Group 3:

2006-02-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

Watching a Holocaust survivor watching some B-Boying.

Telling this story to Buju, Lorianne, Phil, and Kimberly, in Gatineau, Quebec, I realized that I would like to put this up on my blog (even if only a handful of people read it) because I think it is important:

About a month ago I went to a "social issues day" for the Faculty of Education at Brock University. The main session that took place in one of Brock's larger theatres was on Haulocaust Education - essentially, teaching students about the Halocuast.

There were two main speakers: a leading figure in Halocuast education from U of T - O.I.S.E. and also a halocuast survivor. Although I found the expert on Halocuast education to be highly informative, with many intelligent and thought-provoking ideas about how to teacher students this topic, I found the survivor to impact me more deeply.

He told of his experiences from the beginning of identification, persecution, life in Auschiwitz, the final death march, and finally liberation. I heard as he told about how their names were taken away and they were simply given a number in order to dehumanize them. Although he will never go back to Auschiwitz because of the painful memories, he asked someone when they were going to look up his uncle and dad's number to find out what happened to them - to him they just simply disappeared from the work camp one day. Sadly, the man found out that his father and uncle were taken away for medical testing, one of the most horrible things anyone could experience (the details of what the Nazi's did in these experiments are despicable). He told many stories about what he experienced, many sad and some with a bit of hope. Normally stories like these are just part of my historical understanding. However, when you hear it right from the person who experienced it, something deeper inside of you responds; you feel the reality and weight of it.

After the main session on the Halocaust, we had to watch a session put on the by the Niagara Catholic School Board to a couple of grade 5 classes where some B-Boyers put on session on morality where they would rap and break to get the students interest and respect. It was such a stark contrast from the earlier session while I heard such clever ryhmes as "Its not cool to be cruel; its cool to stay in school!" Not only that, but the group was completely disorganized, at times not knowing what to do while their DJ ran to his car to get some of their music that they left behind. They did have a litte bit of skill at B-Boying though; I'd give them that.

I looked to my left and I saw that the holocaust survivor was watching the b-boying with curious interest. I felt embarrassed for the guys on stage, with a seemingly superficial approach to moral improvement - one I saw to be little benefit in sowing any seeds that would prevent the atrocities talked about in the previous session from happening again (Okay, so I was being extremelly harsh and judgemental!) However, I watched as the old gentleman laughed and enjoyed the session. He especially lit up when the children were getting into it, singing and dancing. I saw that even after going through such anguish and oppression at the hands of another, coming out the other side of it all grace and joy must be a major part of ones life. At that moment he seemed to trasform to me from a piece of history to a human being, one who is living, breathing, laughing - one who is not contained in a historcial period but who contained a historcial period within himself.
During the seminar the survivor pointed out that he is parting of an aging group that are the last remaining people who actually contain the experience of these historical atrocities. He only asked for one thing: pass on this memory.

2006-01-22T18:19:00.000-08:00

Buju made these comments on January 6, 2005:

"Some people call Hamilton "the Hammer." I lived in Hamilton for fifteen years before I heard it called this name. " He went on to use the term "The Hammer" in a somewhat ironic tone.

Out of respect for Buju, and all the faithful who have lived in Hamilton for over ten years, I will change the name of my city in my profile from "The Hammer" to Hamilton.

Yeah buddy.

Todd

2006-01-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some important facts about Mr T and Chuck Norris:

The punishment for manslaughter in El Salvador is 35 years of Mr. T's pity without parole.
The last person who looked at Mr. T was Ray Charles.
Mr. T uses e before i as he pleases.
Mr.T was the pope, twice
During the first season of American Gladiators, 24 contestants died while attempting to run the Eliminator. The Eliminator was a cardboard cutout of Mr. T.
Before Mr.T was born there were only 25 letters in the alphabet.
Mr. T is slated to star in the hit show formerly known as "Everybody Loves Raymond," which was changed to "Everyone Tolerates Raymond" last season and will now become "Mr. T Pities Raymond."

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes ever.
Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting infers the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.
The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.
As a teen Chuck Norris impregnated every nun in a convent tucked away in the hills of Tuscany. Nine months later the nuns gave birth to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only undefeated and untied team in professional football history.

2006-01-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

"Whenever something screeches across the room and latches onto someone's neck and they scream and try to get it off, I have to laugh, because what is that thing?"
- Jack Handy

If you haven't read any Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy (which was a SNL segment during the 90's), you are definately missing out on some hilarious stuff. I remember my friend Shayne and I would read them for hours and just laugh.

So..Kimberly thinks I'm Don Juan. Yeah, Buddy.

2006-01-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

My blog would be more interesting if I had a digital camera and a blog like picturegy's. "Yeah buddy! Its a doorag."

2006-01-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I am back to school - the holidays are over. Back at Brock taking my Ed courses, I am again learning the subtle art of forcing a kid to sit in a desk for six hours a day. I remember when I complained about 3 hour night classes at Redeemer. Yeah, well most kids (except the ones on the "Balanced Day" program) only get a 15 minute break in 3 hour period. Ouch.
Although it amused me that I was in music class this morning at 8 am singing songs, its good to be back because pretty soon I will be graduating and I can start teaching.

I was looking up some philosophy of education. Here are a some quotes I found. I particularly like the ones by Nietzsche and Twain.

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."
-- Mark Twain

"The authority of those who teach is often an obstacle to those who want to learn."
-- Cicero

"In large states public education will always be mediocre, for the same reason that in large kitchens the cooking is usually bad."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."
- Albert Einstein

"Education costs money, but then so does ignorance."
-- Sir Claus Moser

"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts."
-- C. S. Lewis

"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance."
- Will Durant

"Education would be so much more effective if its purpose were to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they don't know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it."
-- Sir William Haley

2005-12-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

To all the doubters who thought I would not post again: "Eat it."
I put that in quotes simply to amuse myself.

I bet that picture of the conservative party to the right has some people confused. Well, the reason for that is because they have provided me with employment over the holidays. But wait, don't be worried, I'm not becoming political and siding with a party. Nope, I'm just using them for my financial benefit. I'm just too apathetic to identify himself with any one party.
Political parties have a name for me: The Swing Vote.
Right now, I'm working in the riding where Sheila Copps got screwed over (For those that don't know, when the vote for who would represent the Liberals in the riding was done, people were snuck in a back door to add additional invalid votes to make sure Tony Valeri would win). I'm putting a list together to send out propoganda to Copps supporters to vote for the Conservative party since they might be jaded by corruption that stabbed their hero in the back.
Also, I am entering info into a database that can rate the likelyhood that a constituant will vote for the Conservative party. Fun fun. Basically any political action or opinion constiuants have ever manifested in public gets recorded. All the parties do it and I get to be the guy at the "Telescreen" who puts in the info. I am grateful for the money but I feel a bit like Winston in the novel 1984.

Big Brother is watching you.

2005-11-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

The second sneaky post has arrived!

Yes, there has been a considerable time between this post and the last post but that is the way of being Tres Sneaky; You can't be predictable.

I promise I will start writing things of interest but for now I'll let Christopher Walken do the talkin'.

2005-10-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

This is my first sneaky post