tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-141724862011-08-29T04:40:06.074-04:00Because your own opinion just isn't enough...The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.comBlogger721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-12961992475178295382009-10-16T01:28:00.002-04:002009-10-16T01:32:30.035-04:00

Wow, so no posts for a year, huh? Well, I just spent the last hour reading over all the posts we've ever done, for we have written so few, especially when you take out the Irish Bull Blogging Challenge. Anyway, I was just reading this article wherein I posited that by age 27 perhaps I would score a "wicked awesome push-pin". I just thought I would take this opportunity to update you all, that

Iannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-43795399392826894602008-10-26T14:21:00.002-04:002008-10-26T14:26:07.732-04:00

Well, we've both been busy this month. Ian was out of town for a while for work, and I was... well, lazy. Hopefully, we can get back on track soon, because writing again has been pretty fun.I've only ever started one Facebook group, and that was for a brief and limited purpose. I came up with an idea for one while cooking the other day, and a quick search of Facebook has confirmed that nobody has

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-56708487945104836572008-10-01T00:26:00.002-04:002008-10-01T00:29:43.603-04:00

Instead of blogging, I am going to sleep. There will be a full post tomorrow. In the interim, here is what you need to know:1) I have a preliminary appointment with LASIK tomorrow. If it's not SUPER cost-prohibitive, I'm going to give laser eye surgery a try. My appointment is at 8:50am, which is why I'm going to sleep instead of blogging tonight. If I'm going to get shot in the face with a laser

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-6190370187141310962008-09-29T01:55:00.002-04:002008-09-29T01:59:34.820-04:00

Holy shit, I've pulled a Jon and completely forgotten I still have to post today. It is now 23:55 PST, er 23:56. I'm out west on training for my work, and I totally got caught up this evening in having fun and being ridiculous. WITHOUT booze, might I add. I didn't think it was possible, but hey, live and learn.Surrey BC is a shithole, folks. Don't go there. I was unable to go out for lunch

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-76428945132754323942008-09-28T10:58:00.002-04:002008-09-28T11:18:48.832-04:00

Disclaimer: this blog post does not absolve Ian of his responsibility to write tomorrow. I just wanted to write some things down before I forget them, and make up for Friday's thin post.Talking Point #1:I'm starting a new job on October 6th, and am effectively on vacation until then. When I get bored, that boredem tends to manifest itself in charmingly domestic ways. Lately, I have been on

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-35152509385567652262008-09-26T00:32:00.002-04:002008-09-26T00:33:54.679-04:00

If Ian can be lame, so can I. I am postponing my post until tomorrow afternoon, at which time, I plan to be sober.For the moment, I am drunk on red wine, and full of delicious beef. A successful barbecue was thrown at our house tonight, and I cannot be responsible for what I write, should I continue.Tomorrow, then!~JT

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-71092970313277196062008-09-24T01:38:00.002-04:002008-09-24T01:39:53.213-04:00

This isn't going to be two hundred words. I'm away from Calgary, farther west, thank you, work! I'm also drinking.Victory!!!

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-70886967420981196542008-09-21T21:33:00.003-04:002008-09-21T22:16:09.901-04:00

The pun in the title makes no sense. Thank goodness nobody is reading this.My educational background is in the study of history, and it's through the historian's lens that I typically view world events. Here's what two degrees and about $35,000 in tuition taught me:1) Since the beginning of time, every generation of human beings has sincerely believed that the world was coming to an end in their

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-22109537935220449442008-09-18T23:51:00.002-04:002008-09-19T00:33:51.261-04:00

So, I'm victorious, but I'm going to keep writing. This has been a fun experiment in realising I'm better than Jon at pretty much everything except Jitsu and English. I don't really have much to talk about these days. Jon covered the election to a tee. I don't know why I'm going to vote on October 14, but I am. Problem is, see, I live in Conservative MP Jim Prentice's riding. I don't think

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-79779170992862236002008-09-17T00:43:00.003-04:002008-09-17T00:57:53.708-04:00

The truth is, I knew that I had a blog post due. I was really, honestly and truly planning to write this evening, but then I got distracted having dinner with friends, which turned into drinks, which got me home past midnight.Actual MSN conversation (approx. 12:40am):Ian says:I WIN!!!Jon says:You know, I was wondering about your interpretation of the 12am rule.Ian says:How so?Jon says:Originally,

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-80176745288640319212008-09-14T18:34:00.002-04:002008-09-14T18:53:19.237-04:00

It's a surprisingly warm Sunday in September out here in Hicksylvania, AB, aka Calgary. The sun is shining, people are outside, oil changes are being performed and the New York Jets are losing to the New England Patriots on the television set. But, I'm not here to talk about any of those things. I think.Good lord, I have tried not once, not twice, but thrice to begin this second paragraph, so

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-41203848356936118392008-09-11T20:53:00.002-04:002008-09-11T23:04:38.602-04:00

Huge life news this week, but I'm going to hold off on writing about it for a while - want to let some thoughts settle, first. Here's what's on my mind, lately:The nickname "Toronto the Good" is apparently derived from Toronto's historic reputation as a bastion of Victorian-era morality. I'm sure it's also a nickname that's getting tossed around sarcastically this week, as the city got word of

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-87862320641690981432008-09-09T21:25:00.004-04:002008-09-09T22:22:19.352-04:00

I have a lot I could talk about today for once, and since I'm not writing this at 11:49 or so, I could go into some level of detail, but we all know that's never really been my style. Besides, pro bloggers have probably blogged the shit out of things happening in the world today.1. The Puffin Shit Fiasco - Personally, I find this hilarious. For those of you who didn't hear, a terribly juvenile

Iannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-24532648934896204512008-09-07T22:10:00.002-04:002008-09-07T22:26:29.080-04:00

Actual phone conversation today:*ring*Jon: Hey, Ian?Ian: What, you need me to post again for you?Jon: No, I need to list you as a ref-- what? It's YOUR turn to post.Ian: No, it's your turn. I took one for you last week.Jon: ....So, once again, Ian keeps me in the contest. Honestly, I don't know how I managed to miscount something with two alternating possibilities (Post? No post), but I did. And

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-67763175702515530872008-09-04T21:24:00.002-04:002008-09-04T21:39:57.862-04:00

This past Tuesday night, I realized that it would be impossible for me to make my blog post on-schedule. I phoned Ian immediately, and informed him of this fact; I also told him that if he was unwilling to post, that I would simply concede defeat. Ian, being the good sport that he is, covered my blog post and offered to keep the competition going. It was a fine show of sportsmanship.So, here I am

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-63238668010781238522008-09-03T00:49:00.003-04:002008-09-03T01:03:27.334-04:00

I receive a phone call this afternoon from Jon while I walked home from work. He asked me if I could post today because his lack of internet and potential booty would make it impossible for him to keep up the challenge. Could I do this? Otherwise, he would be forced to concede defeat. I doted on this briefly before deciding I want to keep this thing going. Admittedly, the quality of our work

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-65963805339997382622008-08-31T21:46:00.004-04:002008-08-31T23:41:36.011-04:00

It's a cold and miserable Sunday on the Labour Day long weekend. I have managed to accomplish the following so far:1. I bought myself a new iMac, making the switch from PC. I'm fed up with all the crap that comes with PC, and also, my old laptop was sounding like it was trying to take off anytime it was on. It seemed to be the right time.That is all. I ain't done shit. Fall is apparently

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-79134842315558719242008-08-28T22:30:00.003-04:002008-08-28T23:03:23.371-04:00

I am still in the process of moving, and do not have home interwebz. Therefore, I am again at my friend Dave's apartment, tearing him away from his thesis in order to keep this blog alive. I should get some kind of plaque.Things I've Learned This Week:1) Nobody in Toronto can properly navigate a 4-way stop when there are more than 2 cars stopped at the intersection. I don't know why this is,

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-45205362749251245782008-08-26T21:39:00.002-04:002008-08-26T21:48:25.215-04:00

I'm going to level with y'all. I really don't feel like writing today. As I may have mentioned before, while I work for as a public servant to pay the bills, it's hardly my dream career. I want to write for a living. While my samplings provided here certainly give no indication I have any potential or this so-called "talent" to do this for a living, it's the thing I want to do more than

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-83073643965785003902008-08-24T21:04:00.004-04:002008-08-24T21:16:26.118-04:00

Making this blog post has been extremely difficult, as I am in the process of moving from here:to here:The new place isn't exactly at Bloor and Lansdowne (apparently, one of the worst cocaine neighbourhoods in Toronto), but it's within a 10 minute walk. Or, to look at it another way, 5 seconds of bullet-time.I'm definitely excited about the move, though - more on the new house later.I'm currently

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-19513844463626020892008-08-21T22:02:00.002-04:002008-08-21T22:06:09.423-04:00

I should begin this post by apologising to Jon for taking a light jab at his portly figure. He isn't really fat and also he is pretty good at Jiu Jitsu and could remove my head from my body in an instant, take it to the local bowling alley and roll a strike, then come back to my body which wouldn't have hit the ground yet and just make it disappear into oblivion with some weird voodoo jitsu

Iannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-25293323182752345732008-08-19T23:53:00.001-04:002008-08-19T23:55:00.634-04:00

It’s 11:23pm, and after several false-starts on this blog post, I have decided to throw caution to the wind and get as much down on paper as possible, coherent or not. … on screen, I guess. Not important. Anyway, The funniest thing I read on Wikipedia this week was about the “Yuppie Nuremburg Defense.” As you might know, the “Nuremburg Defense” was utilized (unsuccessfully) by

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-6450530559706772572008-08-15T21:58:00.003-04:002008-08-18T01:11:22.279-04:00

I may be living some thousands of kilometres from Jon at present, but I can feel his nerves. He's scared about this challenge. His last posts have been laden with macho posturing, but it's just that. It's all a show. Since he threw down that smelly gauntlet, he's probably lost about 15 pounds through sweating alone. If you know Jon, you know that's not a significant amount of weight, but

Iannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-71503284015507081562008-08-14T23:32:00.002-04:002008-08-14T23:55:06.569-04:00

Thursday Night. 11:24pm. EST Time to Deadline: 36 minutes. Ian is online right now. MSN for sure. Probably Facebook, too, although I haven’t checked. I’m not saying “hi” to him. He’s not saying “hi” to me. I know he’s waiting to see if I’ll update the ‘Bull. He’s not saying “hi” to me because if he does, he thinks it will remind me that an update is due, and I’ll have a

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-74079524213530373212008-08-13T01:12:00.002-04:002008-08-13T01:34:35.600-04:00

Oh, how I love time zones. If it weren't for them, I'd have lost this challenge on day one, and then again now, the next day, which I shall dub "two". What will I discuss? Well, as much as I love to avoid big ticket items, I'm going to lean on such a one.Now that I have you writhing in your seats, sweat dripping from your chins in anticipation, ready to burst with excitement, here we go:

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-82566627486805807182008-08-10T22:18:00.005-04:002008-08-10T22:24:24.286-04:00

G-d help me, I almost forgot to write a blog post. And if I had forgotten to post this post by the posting deadline of midnight, I would have owed Ian… Nothing. We didn’t publicly (or privately) agree on stakes, so I’m guessing that it’s only pride up for grabs. No matter, though, for this is a bet I intend to win. Point the First: Ian has only ever taught me one useful thing about

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-74154256231906203632008-08-08T00:49:00.002-04:002008-08-08T01:23:35.468-04:00

So, Jon express-posted the aforementioned glove, which I received today at home and immediately upon being freed from its cardboard prison leaped up and slapped me repeatedly across the face. The resulting concussion is probably what gave me the brilliant idea I came up with, a personal challenge within the blogging challenge issued to me on Tuesday.Arriving home thirsty on a hot summer's day in

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-3471530692962721212008-08-05T21:11:00.003-04:002008-08-05T21:16:13.912-04:00

Ian and I suck at blogging. It’s a harsh reality that we’ve had to come to terms with, but there are several inescapable facts here: The Irish Bull is like a coma patient that wakes up at random intervals, asks if there are hovercars and roboprostitutes yet, then falls back asleep in shame and disappointment. It’s heartbreaking for the family, and you just wish that your comatose blog would come

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-144475099177200302007-11-27T15:54:00.001-05:002007-11-27T15:55:58.367-05:00

So I never started. It was always going to be tricky with two term papers to write in a month. So, that's what I have to say about that. I claim victory by having followed up in November and not March, as anticipated. To anyone that is actually trying, I say "word up".

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-53399086492924799842007-10-24T14:26:00.000-04:002007-10-24T14:31:24.394-04:00

I figure as long as we're posting about things that we can't/won't be able to keep up, I thought I would put it out there that I am going to attempt, after years of chickening out, NaNoWriMo 2007.For those of you who aren't familiar with this, it is National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write a 50 000 word novel, beginning 00:00 November 1 and finishing it by 23:59 November 30. The prose

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-36015534262514693402007-10-02T00:57:00.000-04:002007-10-02T01:09:32.845-04:00

I say "reader" instead of "readers" intentionally, because I hold no illusions when it comes to the fact that nobody reads this thing except for Ian and I.A quick backgrounder: Ian and I (Jon, the more awesome of the two) have been chums since elementary school. In the ensuing years since Grade 6, Ian has moved to Calgary, and I now live and work in Toronto. The Irish Bull is a blog we update

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-59675972254354324512007-05-07T20:24:00.000-04:002007-05-07T20:42:07.244-04:00

The following is a brief tutorial on how to board, ride and alight from the C-Train, Alberta's finest Light Rail Transit system.1. Spitting on seats is not advisable, even if you do quickly wipe it off with your dirty, filth-encrusted sleeve.2. Do not be a loud-mouthed moron herding people on an already crammed car when you are just getting off at the next stop, you lazy shit.3. The doors on

Iannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1171147120760450192007-02-10T17:32:00.000-05:002007-02-10T17:38:40.776-05:00

“Hey, man. You – You gotta stop blaming me for your problems. I’m not the cause of your problems. I’m not the cause of anything. This is all you and it has always been you from day one. I just don’t know what to do with you anymore. Like, listen, alright? All I’m saying is you’ve got to take some responsibility in your life. You’re always trying to pass it off. No, no, no, no, no, no,

Iannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1167785014530478172007-01-02T19:35:00.001-05:002008-10-21T17:06:35.172-04:00

Three big thoughts on my mind today:(1)Redacted. For real.(2)The most terrifying sound you encounter on a Toronto subway are the words, “Attention, passengers on the Bloor-Danforth Line….,” because it’s never suffixed with anything good. It will be rush hour, and you’ll hear something like “Attention all passengers on the Bloor-Danforth Line, due to a power outage at the ______ Station, trains

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1167204192259765992006-12-27T01:34:00.000-05:002006-12-27T02:23:12.300-05:00

If Finding Forrester has taught me anything, it's that the key to writing is to write.Ironically, I have now spent about ten minutes staring at the first sentence of this post, and wondering what I was going to write about. Let me begin by explaining that there are, generally speaking, three types of blogs:1) The "What I Had for Breakfast" Blog2) The "Just Off the Wire" Blog, and3) The "Special

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1152583142131131032006-07-10T21:54:00.000-04:002006-07-10T21:59:02.143-04:00

I took a break from blogging, mostly for two reasons:1) Every blog entry tended to be some variation on "Waaah! Grad school sucks! I hate my life! Waaah!"2) I'm really lazy.But every once in a while, you have a conversation that puts things back into perspective. I was working on an essay at my parents' house in Oshawa tonight when the phone rang. This is pretty much the conversation, verbatim:

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1147452500608526742006-05-12T12:46:00.000-04:002006-05-12T12:48:20.633-04:00

I haven't abandoned the 'Bull just yet, but I came to the realization last week that all I ever write about anymore is angry race stuff. So, expect a calmer, more mellow Jon in the future.In the meantime, I just need the Ottawa Senators to lose, so all of the Leafs and Sens fans I know will just fucking shut up already.I said the future. This is now.

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1146887303638570262006-05-05T23:38:00.000-04:002006-05-05T23:48:23.650-04:00

It would seem that Jon has all but forgotten this site, much like I did a few months back. I will then take this opportunity to label Jon a deadbeat, unemployed alcoholic. In other news, the Calgary Flames have been eliminated from the playoffs. As a Toronto fan living not too far from the Dead Mile, I say "w00t".There are too many penalties called in hockey now. It's like basketball.There are

Iannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1146547973161078582006-05-02T01:32:00.000-04:002006-05-02T01:33:47.806-04:00

So I came across the following link and became Canada's first Canadian conspiracy theorist in Canada: Right hereWell, okay, I'm far from the first Canadian conspiracy theorist, but it seems we haven't had a really good reason to launch a conspiracy theory and this is as good as anything I've thought of before or since the sasquatch sighting in Norway House, Manitoba last May.Anyway, this article

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1146110995915053272006-04-27T00:09:00.000-04:002006-04-27T00:09:55.936-04:00

Good lord, I have been having a lot of trouble coming up with something to write about today. I thought that I had something when a triple homicide happened this week in Medicine Hat, but then I realised that I write too much about shit happening in Alberta as is, and the last thing I want to be seen as is a Westerner. I'm an Ontarian living in Alberta, dammit.So, here's my topic: I've got

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1145908177662890052006-04-24T15:28:00.000-04:002006-04-24T15:49:37.690-04:00

The big news at Queen's University hit the front page of the Toronto Star last weekend. You can check out the article here.Twenty-three years on this planet as a Black and Jewish person, including the last few as a "serious" race scholar has taught me one unavoidable fact: trying to talk to people about the links between race and social disadvantage is usually an enormous waste of time. On one

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1145502740810912072006-04-19T23:10:00.000-04:002006-04-19T23:12:20.826-04:00

Browsing through CBC Calgary, I came across a couple of articles that I was thinking of commenting on, but I touched on the topics of both in my last real article. The first was regarding a crazy cat lady that is being sought by Calgary Police after her house was found with 96 cats, 2 of which were dead and 10 that had to be euthanised, and one dog. The second was that Calgary Health Region

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1145330642455877652006-04-17T23:09:00.000-04:002006-04-17T23:24:02.466-04:00

The past year of my life has taught me two harsh facts:1) Whenever I don't get enough sleep (i.e. pull an all-nighter) I will get sick without fail.2) Doing an MA means that a full-night's sleep is, on any given night, as likely to happen as G-d descending from the heavens to personally smite your cruel, oppressive thesis supervisor.That being said, I've been fighting a cold/flu/cold/flu/cold

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1145060612485039392006-04-14T20:18:00.000-04:002006-04-14T20:23:32.500-04:00

So I was just at the video store picking out some movies to watch over the weekend (for those that are interested I grabbed The Bourne Supremacy, March of the Penguins and the 1981 BBC Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) when I overheard this little nugget of gold involving an older couple that were choosing a movie to rent:Old Woman grabs Jarhead off the shelf, looking at it quizzicallyOld Woman:

Iannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1144819826119016212006-04-12T01:29:00.000-04:002006-04-12T01:30:26.133-04:00

This evening I watched a newsstory on Calgary's City TV news, one that was intended to be heartwarming amidst the numerous stories of violence, greed and irrelevance that fill Alberta's newscasts. Tonight's story was the story of a lovable dog named Rascal.Rascal is a 13-year-old bichon frisé, and wouldn't you know it, this poor animal has nasal cancer. Now, let me clarify that I wish in no way

Iannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1144798531393641262006-04-11T19:31:00.000-04:002006-04-11T19:35:31.406-04:00

Today I had a job interview.The job entails working for a local synagogue, cataloguing some records they have graciously donated to the Queen's Archives.The interview went as follows, by my best estimate:15% - Jon answers questions.85% - Jon chats patiently with his interviewers about bagels.I got the job.If nothing else, this confirms that my life is one, enormous stereotype.

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1144446604353219782006-04-07T17:49:00.000-04:002006-04-07T17:50:04.370-04:00

I'm not sure how many people read this thing at all, especially hockeyfans, especially Toronto Maple Leafs fans, but after years of this one ad,it just really started bothering me this week.The cheap cordless phone (not cellular, but cordless) company V-Techsponsors a contest during Leafs games on TSN called "Score to Win withV-Tech!" If you miss the first part of the ad, it's not that bad.

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1144280392517802612006-04-05T19:30:00.000-04:002006-04-05T19:39:52.526-04:00

I remember about this time last year, when I was sitting around waiting to hear back about graduate applications, and my friend Steve smugly told me that grad school was for chumps. I didn't believe him.I should have believed him. Let's just put it this way:As a graduate student, you can typically measure the level of suck in your life by the number of consecutive nights you sleep wearing pants.

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1144038929256399202006-04-03T00:35:00.000-04:002006-04-03T00:35:29.256-04:00

So, Jon and I have decided that we are keeping The Bull on life support. I have to confess his drunken (though very well-typed) post of Friday evening caught me quite off-guard. I had been entertaining thoughts of taking down the old girl, startling as though it would be to the droves of devoted Irish Bull readers. But, if Drunken Jon (DJ, as he shall henceforth be known) thinks it's worth

Iannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1143848430828876732006-03-31T18:38:00.000-05:002006-03-31T18:40:30.843-05:00

My editorship of Golden Words is over, so I plan to return to blogging as soon as possible.In the meantime, I would like to point out that Ian was very, very wrong regarding the federal election.That is all.

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1133303895008953262005-11-29T17:35:00.000-05:002005-11-29T17:38:15.036-05:00

Good lord, it has been many moons since posting to the Bull. I have to admit that I just have not been feeling it for the last couple of months. I've been busy seeing my new province, dealing with work stress, life stress, and all these great things that come with moving out of the house with about a 30 000 dollar debt.*4 minutes pass*Well, here's news. The opposition has successfully brought

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1132902795476183512005-11-25T02:02:00.000-05:002005-11-25T02:13:15.493-05:00

God help me, I'm a bad blogger.A few weeks ago, I wrote an editorial in Golden Words called "Grad School Blues," where I basically complained about how tough graduate work is. I stand by my previous statement: my MA so far has been the academic equivalent of boot camp. Sometimes, I wish I was doing push-ups in the mud instead of reading about the agricultural history of Maryland, but I knew the

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1129167839104667492005-10-12T21:41:00.000-04:002005-10-12T21:43:59.110-04:00

In my second foray into serious academia, I participated on the panel for a Symposium entitled "Coming to Home What? Aberdeen Street and the Culture at Queen's".The paper I wrote and my talk basically talked about how while the students were responsible for the riot that happened, Queen's suffers from a vacuum of institutional leadership.The kicker? The Principal of Queen's University came in

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1128361503751921502005-10-03T13:37:00.000-04:002005-10-03T19:13:37.536-04:00

At some point, I'm going to write some kind of Omnipost describing the events of my life over the past month. But not now, because I'm busy reading for a seminar class later this afternoon.Short story, though: This past Saturday, I made my first foray into the world of legitimate academia by giving part of the Queen's University Archives' Annual Lecture, which took place in the form of social

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1125780640933759292005-09-03T14:50:00.000-04:002005-09-03T16:50:40.953-04:00

Well, school begins again for Jon, so, as editor of his school's hilarious paper, Golden Words, I know that his contributions will become impossibly fewer and farther between. But, it's the long weekend, and since I don't have to spend 3 days sitting in front of a computer analysing insurance claims, I'm feeling the ranting flow.I just turned to CNN, where the topic, not at all surprisingly, was

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1125117197527585952005-08-26T22:16:00.000-04:002005-08-27T00:33:17.533-04:00

Man, humans are interesting creatures. We have superiority complexes our whole lives. When we're kids we think we're mature and hot shit, then we hit high school we see those grade schoolers and think down on them, and then it repeats as we hit university and I guess it will just keep on happening until I'm a toothless 87 year old looking down on those youngen septagenarians thinking they're

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1124592233560287452005-08-20T20:40:00.000-04:002005-08-20T22:43:53.570-04:00

Alright, here's the deal. I will have internet in my apartment on Wednesday, at which point I will be able to write some stuff down. I've had lots brewing lately, but I haven't had the time/internet access to get any of it down for your reading pleasure.Okay, shit, I have to run... But I WILL have some goods out for your on Wednesday, you bet your bippy (sp?). Thanks for keeping this shambles

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1124420069156922622005-08-18T22:23:00.000-04:002005-08-18T22:54:29.163-04:00

Turns out, being black in a bank while a robbery is being committed is a crime.I suppose it's hypocritical of me to criticize the American penchant for optimism without touching on the Canadian. Sure, ours is a much more benign kind of cultural blindness, but tell that to the guy that just got beat up by Peel Police.Is there racism bubbling underneath the surface of Canadian society, or were

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1123893132842446372005-08-12T18:21:00.000-04:002005-08-12T20:32:12.853-04:00

I've been trying to think of something worth writing for a few days now with limited success. I don't feel I've been here long enough to write as an expert on the City of Calgary. Thus, I propose a return to the classic: Quick Hits!The Leafs signed Eric Lindros to a one-year deal the other day, having previously let go of Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk, and then resigning Nik Antropov. The

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1123531319099096222005-08-08T13:58:00.000-04:002005-08-08T16:01:59.103-04:00

So, as I may or may not have already posted (and I'll be damned to look back and check to see if I did), I have just completed a move out to Calgary, Alberta. I was on the road for a week after stopping in to visit people and all the fun stuff that comes with travelling. We're staying at the house of a friend of Saara's godmother, so we're not really settled yet, as it were. We've been

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1123470224251159812005-08-07T22:38:00.000-04:002005-08-07T23:03:44.256-04:00

Hey, you knew I was a bad blogger. Shut up.I loved this line from a CNN report regarding the Hans Island debate:"Notwithstanding the disputed area, the Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry is allowing its cafeteria to sell Danish pastries as a goodwill gesture towards the Danish government and people," ministry spokesman Reynald Doiron said."At least if we're going to create an international

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1122530480556503142005-07-28T02:02:00.000-04:002005-07-28T02:01:20.566-04:00

If you know me, you are probably aware that I am often very nostalgic; sometimes too much so. I have a deep attachment to the past, and I feel that too often we ignore the past, choosing not to learn from it or even see things that were interesting before our time. I was until very recently a citizen of the town of Whitby, a soulless suburb half an hour east of Toronto. I think that this place

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1122349964031016452005-07-25T23:10:00.000-04:002005-07-25T23:53:33.170-04:00

Read the story here. Executive summary: The U.S. military was caught using the same quotation in two different incidents that occurred 11 days apart, from two respective unnamed Iraqi sources. According to CNN,[The 24th of July's] news release said: "'The terrorists are attacking the infrastructure, the ISF and all of Iraq. They are enemies of humanity without religion or any sort of ethics. They

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1122260012927528232005-07-24T22:53:00.000-04:002005-07-24T22:53:32.933-04:00

My apologies for the interval since my last post, especially since that led to Jon posting twice in a row, which, as a quick glance through the archives shows, has never happened. Truth is, I'm in the process of moving out west and I need money, so I'm doing grunt work for my girlfriend's dad for the next week and a bit before I begin the long drive west to Calgary. Anyway, on to my rant, an

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1122221727375692272005-07-24T11:59:00.000-04:002005-07-24T12:15:27.380-04:00

So, I got the following email from one of the editors of the Queen's Journal:"Salut Jon,We would indeed appreciate some of your input for the upcoming issue. We're asking campus celebrities such as yourself to answer a few questions and including the surveys in the frosh supplement.Questions are:Program/Year?Where did you live first year?Best part of first year?Worst part of first year?Advice for

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1121906591588649272005-07-20T20:32:00.000-04:002005-07-20T20:43:11.593-04:00

Anything Ian says about our golfing trip today is a lie. I'm just posting first so the truth hits the streets before the bitter, angry, booze-filled lies.I was unfortunately unable to get my shit together on the course today, so I shot an embarassing 95. That's right, a full 16 strokes more than my performance last week. For those of you who don't golf, having a terrible game is not unlike a bout

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1121477413955112202005-07-15T21:30:00.000-04:002005-07-19T01:26:10.413-04:00

Man, reading that post of Jon's was just sad. Now, I don't mean sad in reference to the quality of his work, but rather to the actual act of a t-ball coach paying a kid to knock out a handicapped child in order to win. I think we have sunk to a low.Incidentally, Jon laid a beating on me on the golf course today; one from which I may never recover, but dammit, I'll try. The point is not my

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1121476340535124272005-07-15T20:56:00.000-04:002005-07-15T21:12:20.540-04:00

Headline: Coach allegedly paid player to hit boy.When I first scanned this headline, I made a guess as to what the news story might be about. I figured some overzealous hockey-dad type must have given one of his players a little extra incentive to injure an opposing player, and take him out of the game. Pretty low, but possible, right? I mean, couldn't you just see some asshole coach yelling at

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1121301513009000392005-07-13T20:38:00.000-04:002005-07-19T01:26:37.456-04:00

And I for one am experiencing surprisingly mixed feelings. I thought that I would either be overjoyed at the return of hockey or I would be entirely indifferent to the return of hockey. Predictably, such as I am, I'm caught in the middle.The AHL, so it was said, would provide entertainment at an affordable price. The problem with this was that they didn't specify the level of entertainment. The

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1121149217318014632005-07-12T02:08:00.000-04:002005-07-26T03:17:33.940-04:00

I figured I should post something before Ian points out that my laziness was why the old Irish Bull bellied-up.I am a terrible blogger. Seriously, check out my old blog here if you don't believe me. There's something just... I don't know, delicious about seeing a 7 month old headline post about how someone is going to blog more often. I just can't keep up with it, for several reasons:1) Most of

Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13722138204368454575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1120698475049934992005-07-06T20:54:00.000-04:002005-07-19T01:27:09.596-04:00

It's funny. When I was 18-19 years old, this writing thing seemed to come much more easily to me. I had immature things to rant about, or if I had something more mature to rant about, I just didn't have the ability to express and discuss what I had to say in a suitable fashion. So now, here I am, 23 years old, fresh out of university, and I have a much stronger command of English, and a more

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14172486.post-1120448669342372232005-07-03T23:40:00.000-04:002005-07-04T01:05:09.813-04:00

The Irish Bull was a website started by two friends, Ian Espeut and Jon Thompson back in either 1999 or 2000. It all seems so long ago. At any rate, they wrote some rather witty articles and zingers on daily life well before blogging became such a popular internet phenomenon. Everyone thinks that they have something interesting to say, and what's worse, they think that they are good at saying

The Irish Bullnoreply@blogger.com0