The Screen Actors Guild held their annual awards ceremonies last night with few surprises. Check out the SAG Awards article over on the movie blog for a full list.

Wow! Nothing for cowboys kissing? I thought it was all about politics. I guess I was wrong and that the people who have done the best job actually can win awards in Hollywood.

We've seen most of the movies that people are being nominated for and I actually agree with the choices on this list. My guess is the Oscars are going to shake out the same way (noms out tomorrow). Penis party (as Carol likes to call it), otherwise known as Brokeback Mountain, will probably win best director, screenplay and best picture, but the actors will be out in the cold... in a tent... with nothing but each other to keep themselves warm... ewwwwww.

Well he's back in the news.
CBC News: Pickton pleads not guilty

We haven't heard a hell of a lot due to a publication ban on the evidence presented at his preliminary trial. The public may have to wait for another six months to find out the awful details of Robert (Willy) Pickton's alleged crimes. His trial began today with him pleading not guilty to 27 counts of first degree murder, for which, if convicted, would make Mr Pickton the most prolific serial killer in Canadian history.

To think we lived only minutes away from where all of this supposed happened still makes me shudder. I guess we'll see.

I've been playing around with a new skin for the site. Heck Carol can't have one and I not. Anyway, its different but the same and no I'm not switching back. I was so friggin' bored with the way it looked I had to do something, plus I'm adding some google adsense ads in the third column (now empty) to make a couple of extra dollars per month. If I make enough for the site to pay for itself (now about $15 bucks a month) I'll be happy. The colours are the same but I think that's going to change too eventually.

UPDATE: Yep Al, a click brings me a percentage of a penny I do believe. So click once or twice a day if you like. Or not, they're not overly offensive and are somewhat targeted (according to Google) to site content. The only reason I even considered it is because I've used them on other sites.

UPDATE 2: Up for less than 24 hours with 5 clicks (thanks folks) I have made $1.01. If everyone who came here (an average of 1100 people) every day clicked once or twice a day I could do this full time. Conversely 5 clicks through to the Amazon.ca brings nothing, however, if you do your shopping searching through my link I get paid a percentage in Amazon.ca gift certificates. I think it takes a long time to earn anything but oh well. I'll use the space that way for now until I have my own DVD's to sell.

Thanks to Mark at Hollywood North Report for this link. Oh my!

"Top Gun with just little more gayness." Laugh? I nearly peed my pants. I love the remixed trailer thing. Too much fun.

Frey admits lying; Oprah apologizes to viewers
"Controversial author altered tale, claims to no longer fully recall details"

Can't fully recall details? No kidding. Having lived through somewhat similar things (the real parts) as Mr Frey I can understand that. However, perhaps he should have clarifed all that prior to having his book called a memoir and then lying to cover up his other lies. Had he gone the 12 step route like many others he may have learned about honesty and this may have kept the current pain of facing his wrongs out of his life. Who knows?

I have written parts of my story into fictional things that I've written. Every writer does to some degree. To call that kind of writing a memoir would be outrageous. My story is fairly tame (to the point of being sleep inducing) compared to some, one late friend's self-administered 2x4 to the head comes to mind, so I'd have to "spice it up". However, if I ever write anything like A Million Little Pieces it will be a novel. My life just ain't that exciting.

Our stories are quite similar in a number of ways including our ages at the time of 'hitting bottom' so I very much relate to him. I wish Mr Frey well and hope this doesn't send him backward into that world his book is about escaping from. I'm grateful I've gone the direction I went and have the friends I do. Troubled times are much easier as a result.

CBC Article

Again with ... Badger Badger Badger oh yeah and Mushroom Mushroom... just for Dianne!

I've been reading the Hollywood North Report for quite some time. This past week Mark Somner, founder of the site, contacted me about my work with Brian Trenchard-Smith on Her Line of Fire this past year.

After some MSN chatting we decided to meet and have a coffee this afternoon. We ended up shooting the shit for a fast two hours about everything from Google to music. Oh yeah, and movies of course. Mark gladly talked my ear off about his plans for his site. Sounds to me like he's got some really progressive ideas and wants to utilize the latest in technology. The cutting edge is good I say.

It turns out we have a lot of common interests and more to offer one another in the way of the web and the film industry. I may even do some writing for HNR.

There's nothing like shared enthusiasm to keep me moving forward. Somone else jazzed about something I believe in does tend to light a fire under me. Thanks Mark! I look forward to more whacky chats!

A guy breakdancing with his fingers?

MENSA INTELLIGENCE TEST... If you can answer 19+, according to Mensa, you're a genius. (Whatever) I've answered 26 correctly so far.

I am so smart - S-M-R-T!

Somehow I don't think this proves genius at all. That or mensa is full of dodos.

How many can you answer?

I've been sorting through some older writing from eons gone by and found a little two sentence poem that I wrote ten years ago.

The Inside Job by Mike Browne (April 23, 1996)

Painting the TV a different colour doesn't cure the fuzzy picture. Take it in for a tune up and have it rewired for clarity.

Have I been writing that long? I guess so. There's also the beginnings of at least 3 movies here that may or may not have some potential.

One story in particular stands out and I feel compelled to see where it takes me.

I've been feeling pretty dark lately, perhaps this is the flashlight I need to lure me from this weird little cuccoon I've contstructed around myself.

Court rules US govt can't stop Oregon suicide law | Reuters.com

Coming up next...

We did. Carol posted on our experience over on her site, but below is an interesting observation from someone at IMDb pro's boards on Felicity Huffman's win for playing a transexual:

1998 : Gwyneth Paltrow (she played a man)
1999 : Hilary Swank (she played a man)
2002 : Nicole Kidman (feminist)
2003 : Charlize Theron (she played a monster)
2004 : Hilary Swank (she practices a male sport)
2005 : *beep* huffman (transexual)

What's next ? A transexual feminist boxer who becomes a serial killer ?
Why not giving the oscar or the globe to a man directly?

Check out The Prejudice Map. According to Google Canada comes out smelling fairly rose-like. Click on the "How does this work?" link at the bottom of the page to learn more.

Looks as though the book I just finished reading, James Frey's, A Million Little Pieces, may be A Million Little Lies according to an investigation by The Smoking Gun. Too bad. I really liked the book. Some of it I found a little far fetched and now I see why. Oh well. I'm glad I read it anyway.

I am so grateful that I got to watch the game and be a part of the crowd! Holy crapola! Team Canada, the underdogs, blanked the Russians and their scoring superstar Evgeni Malkin. I've never seen such a display of team play in my life. These boys, under the coaching genius of Brent Sutter, did a fantastic job and never said die. Congratulations guys, you deserve this win and the gold!

There are pictures and some video after the jump.

Take the cool test. Apparently I am not cool. Thanks Bill!

They are the hottest heavy metal band in Iraq. Too funny.

One, count 'em, one, ticket for the gold medal game. Hooray for Craigslist! There will be photos and some video. Oh hell yeah! Section 325, row 14, seat 110... otherwise known as the nosebleeds, but I'll be there! Yeehaw!

I'm ready for the gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Tourney tomorrow. I'll be clad properly for cheering as I bought the team jersey in stylish red today:


I would love to get to the game, but its sold out. Pauly is going with his press pass as he's announcing the relegation games at the Coliseum (bastid!) and might be able to swing us tickets in a longshot, but he doubts it. Hey Pauly if you want to eat and sleep inside for the three nights after the tournament you'd better come through. ;)

Oh please! Santa God please! We want to go to the game and sit near the home team's bench close to the redline! (hey its doesn't hurt to ask).

Regardless of whether we go or not I'll enjoy the game watching in style in our new home on a new 52" Toshiba widescreen TV in HD thanks to our new Shaw HD+PVR Digital Terminal which I will also be recording the game on to watch again and again.

Whether or not Canada wins we're proud of them. They fought hard to get to the gold medal game and are unbeaten in this year's tournament (and last). Win or lose, we know they'll be great ambassadors for the sport and our country's love of it, unlike that other team we saw last night losing to the Russians. Poor sportsmanship is disgusting.

I think I'll go watch the Canada / Finland game again. Its on right now.

Go Canada Go!

Secret image found in Mel Gibson's new movie trailer
I slowed the trailer down hitting the pause button quickly around 3/4 of the way in and saw it myself. Funny stuff. I'm wondering if that's tobacco he's smoking. :)

Yes, I'm alive and a happy 2006 to all who stumble upon this sad excuse for a blog. Last year was insane, to say the least. Let's see...

\After deciding to take another run at "the biz" in 2004 with some progress that year I had a couple of cool gigs in the movies helping out as an AD for free on a short and then as a 2nd AD on Daingerfield in early 2005. That was fun.

Then I lost my job at the place that shall not be named, that was not fun, especially the nasty way it went down. There was much kicking and screaming. Thoughts of violent retribution etc. That passed luckily for them. Muhahahahahaha! (insert Darth Vader theme here)

Next I got more gigs in movies and TV and was extremely busy meeting and working with people I had admired. That's cool!

The coolest thing to happen in 2005 probably has to go to the family stuff. I finally made contact and met with Dianne, my birthmother, and some of her (my) family. I found out I have brothers, am an uncle twice to two cutie patooties, and learned about an extremely interesting family history. After our brief trip hom Dianne even came out here for a visit. Thank you Dianne for doing what you have to welcome me into yet another family. It is such a relief to find out there are actual cool and creative people I am related too by blood as well as my adopted family and in-laws. I'm proud to call you all family and count myself very lucky.

In the middle of all this we also sold our house and moved - twice! Once to a cool place downtown tainted by junkies (escape was required) and next to great place in Burnaby owned by friends. I love it here, even though it seems to be the house of farked appliances. We had to buy our own diswasher and ask for a new stove. Now the washer/dryer is on the fritz and that's looking like another $250+. Ouch!

Oh well, 2005 was crazy, but I have a feeling that 2006 is going to be plenty interesting as well.