Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 21 —[Doctor Who]–

And I should know, because… I’m VJM!

Faithful readers, a few of you may have noticed that the past three opening one-liners were references to Doctor Who. Well, I’ve realized that I haven’t talked about it yet, so here’s the bit.

Doctor Who is a British Sci-Fi show which first aired in 2005. It actually first aired in the 1960’s or something, but whatever. Anyway, after successfully getting several people hooked, I decided to… umm, I’m not sure how I want to end this sentence, so I’ll just start another one. Here’s what I said (more or less) to describe the show.

It’s a show about this guy who travels through space, right? And he has this space ship. And his space ship has this thing where it can change it’s shape to blend in with it’s surroundings. Like, if it landed in Rome, it could look like a column or something. But, the thing is, it’s broken; so his ship is stuck as a 1950’s phone booth. So this guy flies through space in a phone booth, fighting crime. He also has this assistant with him, usualy a girl, who’s basic job is to ask “Oh, what’s going on?” and let him just shoot out paragraphs and paragraphs of information, and also sometimes act as his conscience.

The latest special “The Waters of Mars”, will air in Canada on December 19th on Space (ch 45 for most of you), at around six, I think.

I like the show for many reasons. It’s well made. It’s well written (see below). I’m entertained by the accents. But I think the reason I like it so much is that I see myself as similar to the Doctor (ego ego ego!).

To step back a bit and look at it at a distance, a more likely theory is that I saw bits of similarities to myself in the Doctor (completely independant of having watched the show), and then picked one or two more. A sort of meeting in the middle, perhaps.

Y’know. Talking fast, running, enthusiasm, cleverness (arguable, but bear with me), lonely, energetic, talkative, cheerful, a tendancy to babble and so on.

One of the things I admit I lifted directly from the show it the little head tilt I’ve ended up doing for a while now. I’d actualy like to stop doing that, to be completely honest.

But one similarity I noticed, is the need for an audience. On the show they’re called his Companions, but I won’t use that term in relation to me, because that would sound more than a little weird (“Hey everybody, I need a Companion!!!!”). But no, I’ve said it time and time again, I’m different when I’m around people I can talk to. What I need, when I’m doing stuff, is someone to talk off of / talk to. An assistant or an audience or a girlfriend. A penguin. Anything really.

On a lighter note, here’s a scene from the Christmas special two years ago (man, has it been two years already?), titled Voyage of the Damned.

To repeat, I am Mr Copper, the ship’s historian, and I shall be taking you to old London town in the country of U.K. ruled over by good King Wenceslas. Now, human beings worshipped the great god Santa, a creature with fearsome claws, and his wife Mary. And, every Christmas Eve, the people of U.K. go to war with the country of Turkey. They then eat the Turkey people for Christmas dinner… like savages.

Now, spending money — I have a credit card in Earth currency if you want to by trinkets or, uh, stockings or the local delicacy, which is known as “beef”. But don’t stray too far, it could be dangerous. Any day now they start boxing.

Also, hey! Keep those questions coming, folks! Got some great ones so far!

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Tomorrow’s Topic:
“I Believe the Children are our Future”

Twenty-one is done / it’s time for fun

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 2o —[Talking With The Family]–

Clinging to an iceberg, it’s VJM!

Faithful readers, do you have conversations with your family? Me? My family doesn’t have conversations, we have competitions. Whenever someone says something, the other tends to take it as a sort of challenge, responding in a kind of snippy way. Case in point: on Monday, here’s my mom telling me about the new pencil sharpener…

Mom: Oh, Justin, we got a new electric sharpener. So, we won’t need to borrow yours anymore. You can use it if you want.
Me: I already have a sharpener.
Mom: Well, ours is electric. It’s faster.
Me: …

I’ve started to notice things like this creeping into the way I talk, so if I’ve said stuff like that I apologize.

If I haven’t, then I don’t.

Also, halfway to the end! Twenty days till Christmas!

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Tomorrow’s Topic:
Doctor Who

The entry with the sentry / is door number Twenty

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 19 —[Public Transportation]–

From on board the Titanic, it’s VJM!

Found on the side of a bus seat:

HELLO
my name is
What would it take
for things to be QUIET.
QUIET like the snow
The Devil Wears Prada

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Tomorrow’s Topic:
Talking With The Family

Nineteen is gone / let’s all sing a song

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 18 —[Toys as Pets]–

With a degree in Earthonomics, it’s VJM!

Faithful readers, I’ve noticed that a lot of the popular kids shows that are on the air these days use the concept of toys as pets. Now, I’m not talking about pets as toys; I’m not talking about little plush puppies or plastic horses, I’m talking about shows where the characters treat toys as if they were pets (to one extent or another). The shows I’m talking about are Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Beyblade. (I may be exaggerating when I say ‘these days’.) They all also come from Japan, in case that’s important.

Pokemon, while not exactly using the idea in the same way as the other two, is big enough and popular enough that that doesn’t matter. Pokemon, the show that depicts a ten-year-old adventuring through the wilderness with nothing but an arsenal of killer monsters, has the whole “Hey kids, you know those cards you’re playing with? Well, here, the cards are ALIVE!!” However, it requires a different kind of suspension of disbelief than Yu-Gi-Oh! does. In Pokemon, the cards are flat out animals while in the other, they admit that they are cards, but from ancient Egypt. Though I do recall times when they occasionally fell into Pokemon with the whole “THE CARDS ARE REAL!!1!!1″

However, Beyblade, that show about fighting pull-cord tops, is the most extreme case. Here’s the gist of it:
“Oh, I have a big competition coming up! I should train!”
*Pulls cord*
*Runs around stadium beside spinning top*
“Boy, that was some good training. We’re gonna win for sure!”
*High-fives top*

Maybe they’re trying to tap into the kid’s imagination. Maybe it’s just a marketing ploy (buy this toy and be like the dude on tv). But, if too many of these shows pop up and the kids get really into it, we’re going to have a generation of kids with an ENORMOUS disconnect from reality. Or… not, I guess.

Like, we turned out fine.
Right?

___
Tomorrow’s Topic:
Public Transportation

Eighteen rhymes / I have too much time

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 17 —[Questions and the 40 Day Habit]–

Pre-emptively vaccinating for the upcoming Cat Flu, it’s VJM!

Faithful readers, seven (7) days from now, that is, Wednesday December 9th, I will be posting up a question and answer answered by me. However, for that to work, I need you- yes YOU!- faithful readers, to send in the questions. Call it a project of ego, me believing I have some sort of vital information my readers can’t live without, call it boredom, call it a recipe for disaster; whatever you call it, send in questions. Ask me all the questions you want and I will answer them as fully and as honestly as possible (as far as you know).

Send questions to me through FaceBook or directly to my email. You could also ask me in person, I guess. I’d rather not use the comment system here as questions aren’t as fun if you (the reader) know them in advance.

Ask me anything. Questions about high school, post-sec, work, writing, my favourite food, my thoughts or opinions, why my trash can is full of candy wrappers, anything. If there’s anything you want to know about me or ‘me as a random person with a different set of ideas than you’ now’s your chance. (Ego ego ego ego). Also, the questions will be anonymous, in case that’s important.

So, ask away!

Now onto today’s actual topic, a 40 day habit.

Faithful readers, a time ago, I heard tell of a theory (or belief or what have you) that if you could actively do something (or, actively not do something, I guess) for 40 consecutive days, that it would become a habit (or, inversely, would have broken out of a habit). Usually this is applied to diets or exercise routines or as a method or whatever to quit smoking. Perhaps 40 was chosen as a short hand for “more than a month”, or maybe it was chosen because of the whole biblical connection. But, as it applies to this blog, I think I like it. Faithful readers, I have a lot to say, too few people to say it too, and not enough time to say it all, but this whole 40 days of posting has helped me find an excuse to get a bit of it out there.

Faithful readers, I don’t live a very exciting life. The highlight of my day most of the time is reading my little circle of blogs. I’m sure that says something about my life, but we won’t go into that today. So guys, keep on truckin’.

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Tomorrow’s Topic:
Toys as Pets

Seventeen! Seventeen! / The grass is blue and the sky is green

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 16 —[Name]–

Sarrrrrrrrs! It be VJM!

Holy crap, faithful readers. It’s already December! It’s time to break out the reindeer and throw up the garland (and if I was still in high school, start making paper cranes) because it’s slightly less than a month till Christmas!

In an entirely unrelated topic, faithful readers, let’s talk about my name. As you probably know, I have two first names: Vincent and Justin. What you probably don’t know (as I just recently (in relation to how long I’ve known my name) learned myself) that my last name ‘Mitra’ is ALSO a first name. So, yes, you are correct, ALL my names are first names.

The meanings also seem to have an eerie… correctness to them. You see, according to some random name website I pulled these from, my names mean:

Vincent – The Conqueror

Justin – Righteous, fair, or kind

Mitra – The god (well, goddess but whatever) of love and the sun

Isn’t that weird? The fact that one of my names means ‘The Conqueror’ really gels well with my desire for power and authority. Although, I do think of my self very fair and kind (your mileage may vary), so if I DO ever rise to power, I guess I’d be a very kind and benevolent tyrant. And, ‘god of love and the sun’? ‘Marble Girl’ and ‘me in the summer’ respectively.

Do YOUR names mean anything, faithful readers?

Signing off,
-The Fair, Kind Conqueror of the Sun
(Mwahahaha)

___
Tomorrow’s Topic:
Questions and the 40 Day Habit

Sixteen is finished / ‘Cause I’se eats me spinnach

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 15 —[Dr Horrilble's Sing-Along Blog]–

Arrrrrrrr! It be VJM!

Today, I will be talking about Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Now, hear me out, faithful readers. Didn’t you learn anything about judging a book by it’s cover from any of my stories? Or have I not released that one yet? Anyway, DHSAB (as I will abbreviate it because I’m typing on an iPod), despite it’s name is neither a blog nor a sing-along. It does, however, involve someone named Dr Horrible. It is a mini Internet miniseries created over the writer’s strike and released for free over the Internet (and for a minor fee on iTunes). It was made by Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Dollhouse, and probably others), and stars Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D., How I Met Your Mother), Nathon Fillion (Firefly, Buffy, Castle) and Felicia Day (Buffy, Dollhouse, and appearances on House and Monk).

Dr Horrible (played by NPH) is a minor super villain with dreams of becoming more recognized, and also the main character.
Penny (Felicia Day) is Dr Horrible’s love interest.
And Captain Hammer (Nathon Filion) is the city’s hero and, obviously, Dr Horrible’s nemesis.

The entire thing is made up of three fifteen-minute acts, the sum total of which is about one single episode of Doctor Who (beyond that, they are unrelated).

It’s a funny, well made, and the songs are great. In fact, I still watch it from time to time.

Here’s question one of the FAQ made by creator Joss Whedon to himself explaining the reason behind it.
—-

1) Why, Joss? Why? Why now, why free, why us?

Once upon a time, all the writers in the forest got very mad with the Forest Kings and declared a work-stoppage. The forest creatures were all sad; the mushrooms did not dance, the elderberries gave no juice for the festival wines, and the Teamsters were kinda pissed. (They were very polite about it, though.) During this work-stoppage, many writers tried to form partnerships for outside funding to create new work that circumvented the Forest King system.

Frustrated with the lack of movement on that front, I finally decided to do something very ambitious, very exciting, very mid-life-crisisy. Aided only by everyone I had worked with, was related to or had ever met, I single-handedly created this unique little epic. A supervillain musical, of which, as we all know, there are far too few.

The idea was to make it on the fly, on the cheap – but to make it. To turn out a really thrilling, professionalish piece of entertainment specifically for the internet. To show how much could be done with very little. To show the world there is another way. To give the public (and in particular you guys) something for all your support and patience. And to make a lot of silly jokes. Actually, that sentence probably should have come first.

—-

I implore you (apparently with enough gusto to use the words ‘implore’ and ‘gusto’) to watch at least the first act.

The movie is available online at:
DrHorrible.com or for $5.oo on iTunes.

Or on my iPod.

___
Tomorrow’s Topic:
Name

Fifteen is done / Here comes the sun (do do do doot doo)

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 14 —[Movies You Need To See]–

Batten down the hatches, it’s VJM!

Faithful readers, today, I will be talking about three movies that you need to watch (eventually).

The first movie is the recent Pixar release, Up. Fantastic movie, fantastic story. Not only was the movie great, but the little pre-movie short was amazing as well. And, since it’s already come out on DVD, you have no excuse not to see it.

On the other end of the spectrum (in regards to tone, not quality), is the movie District 9. Although it’s a much darker movie, it’s just as well done. However, it is R rated, sorta graphic, and also throws the F-word around like candy. But, if you can get over that, it is a great movie that most people should see… eventually.

Lastly, running down the middle in regards to tone, is the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. This classic was made over a decade ago, and throws Halloween and Christmas together. I admit that it gets a little slow in the middle, but all movies of that era did, so that’s not something to hold against it. Plus, it’s a musical!

Also, two weeks! Yay!

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Tomorrow’s Topic:
Dr Horrilble’s Sing-Along Blog

Fourteen is good / Sock glove hood

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 13 —[My Awesome Photography]–

Inside The Hatch, VJM!

Faithful readers, this is a photo I took while in Chilliwack on F.E.C.’s Charis Camp retreat thing back in August. According to the data tag, I took this picture on August 2, 2009, at 12:04 pm.

I remember it clearly. The lunch bell had just been rung and everyone was sitting at their tables, waiting for their turn at line up. My table had yet to even think about getting up, so I decided to snap a few pictures here and there.

I went out the side door onto the balcony. The rafter sprinklers were on, releasing a fine mist onto the planters below. The mist was so fine, and fell so lightly, that… well, the flowers looked like that. I stood there for a moment, breathing in the cool fresh air.

I pulled out my camera…

Now, faithful readers, I’m not taking credit for this picture. No, if I had set up the flowers, set the sprinklers, arranged the leaves, did some post production, then, sure yeah, I’d be awesome. But I didn’t do anything. I was just in the right place at the right time.

I’m not saying this isn’t a good photo; it’s an amazing photo. The best picture I’ve ever taken.

But, I don’t want people saying I’m a good photographer.

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Tomorrow’s Topic:
Movies You Need To See

Thirteen is done / it’s twelve more than one

Vague JMMPOP Mission: Day 12 —[The Five Faces of Me]–

You all everybody, it’s VJM!

*Scottish* Hello, faithful viewer! */Scottish* I mean… Howdy, faithful reader! Isn’t that such a cool title? Sounds all deep, and junk? Something that I’ve noticed is that I have about five different personality sets used in different settings. They are (in a very specific order) as follows:

1) Me at home
2) Me at school
3) Me at work
4) Me at church

We’ll get to the fifth one later.

Now, I said that they were in a very specific order, right? Well, they are ordered as a scale. They are ordered from Boring (1) to Energetic (4). But, more accurately, they are ordered from what I enjoy the least, to what I enjoy the most.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy being at home (1). That’s where my stuff is, it’s where I sleep, and it’s where I get food. But, if I were to take a step back, away out of my body, and look at that life? It would stand in stark contrast with (4). I spend most of the day in my room, messing around with video games and watching tv. There are times I’ll spend hours on end siting in that chair. Hours just flying spaceships, shooting monsters, sweeping mines, and basically just turning my brain off and shutting out the world. No one in my family has conversations, no one eats together, and everyone is possessive of their little corner of the fridge. The closest thing to a conversation recently was when my grandma was arguing with my uncle as to who finished the jug of milk, and whose job it was to buy a new one. It also doesn’t help that I don’t really have my own room. My room at my grandparents house is actually my aunts room (she lives in Vancouver now), and my room at my parents house is now my mom’s office. The former is full of shiny sequined gowns, shelves of European music books, and old sound equipment. The latter is an office because “it’s the only room with a free phone jack”. As I have two half-rooms, my stuff is spread out more or less evenly (but not equaly) between them. Also, my grandparents house doesn’t have an Internet, so I’m basically cut off from the outside world. In short, it doesn’t have the social aspect or the energy I look for.

At school it’s a little better. Being around people my age, talking to people I know, expanding my mind; it’s stuff to do. But I spend most of my time there sitting on a bench, typing away on my iPod. Checking my email, reading blogs, checking my email again. The fact that it has Internet is tempered by the hour long commute time. It has a bit more people, and I’m out of the house, but it all seems a bit shallow.

Work kicks thing up a notch. There are coworkers and customers and I need to keep supplies stocked. It’s almost like a game. Keep the customers happy, refil the strawberry, make a burger, make sure the boss doesn’t see you eat the food… Highscore! I make cones that look just like in the picture, I spin from grill to microwave and back in time with the radio; I get to vent my high-energy, and the customers see it as me being into my job. And I get paid! But, ay, there’s the rub. I’ve hardly ever seen my paycheck. Because, the thing is, my mom takes it and puts it into my bank account. Always. My bank account to which she keeps the card, and I can’t touch. Basically, it’s the opposite of an allowance; I’m volunteering at my job. Plus, working in fast food isn’t really that exciting or limit pushing. So, bottom line is, I’m under motivated and I’m not learning anything.

Ah, number 4. I live for Friday nights (and Sunday, but mostly Friday). Church! Youth group! The place I run and jump and sprint and learn and talk and laugh. The place where I have a bit authority. The place where my friends are. The place where I know mostly everyone. The place where I can run for no reason. The place where I have some residual power from my term in SLC. The place where I don’t run the risk of making someone angry, getting kicked out of school, or losing my job. The place where I know the rules and how to play the game. And, be honest, it was weird that week I sat comatose on the floor for an hour, right? Exactly.

I remember this one time, back in Kairos, we had just taken a Spiritual Gifts test and were putting a dash on the board beside the one we had the highest to see which had the most. One person would get one of the two markers, go up, put the dash down, walk back to their seat, hand the marker over, and so on. After about three minutes of this and having barely finished a quarter of the people, one of the advisors asked people to pick up the pace. I leaped into action. Standing up out of my chair, I said to the kids “Alright, let’s all go up to the board [and line up so this'll go faster]“. I went up to the board and stood a few feet away. No one had followed me. I simply looked over my shoulder and said in my most The Doctor-ish voice “Well, come on!” Right away, the remaining people all got up and fell into step. I never knew I had that much clout to throw around. That wouldn’t happen at home.

Or this other time when Kairos was supposed to be practicing for Parent Appreciation Night, no one knew how to form groups because it was the same night as the RCS Wizard of Oz play and no one was sure who would be attending. After twenty (20!!) minutes of people screwing around, I decided to take charge. I pulled out my whistle, stood at a music stand, pointed at corners, and with much shouting, organized three presentations that, when you think about it, went pretty well.

Basically, lots of people, lots of talking, lots of energy.

And that brings me to number 5.

5) Psychiatrist Justin

If you’re reading this, I’ve probably gone all Psychiatrist Justin on you before. It’s when I stop jumping around, stop shouting and running, and give you advice (with a disclaimer that I have no idea what I’m doing). It’s when you ask me a deep or serious question, and I try and help. Whether it’s analysing a dream, unlocking secrets of the universe, or, just verbalizing motivation. I admit it’s rarely high energy, and always one-on-one (I almost refuse doing it over the web), but it does have another aspect.
I’m being helpful.

And I like that.

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Tomorrow’s Topic:
My Awesome Photography

Done day twelve / Five short elves