Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
New Suicide Girls Article Up
Read it while it's hot.
It's on self-disclosure, an essential skill which applies not just to dating, but to general conversational skills---unless you're working on a crisis line or as a ninja in which case it's probably a no-no.
There's a little more "straight technique" in it than in previous articles, so I'd love to hear any feedback on how people found the explanations or any questions.
It's on self-disclosure, an essential skill which applies not just to dating, but to general conversational skills---unless you're working on a crisis line or as a ninja in which case it's probably a no-no.
There's a little more "straight technique" in it than in previous articles, so I'd love to hear any feedback on how people found the explanations or any questions.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Roses Have Thorns They Say
Anybody who spends time with me knows I'm a fan of music nobody my age should still listen to. Most of the time, the lyrics to these songs are pretty stupid, but sometimes they surprise you. The Pussycat Dolls have occaisionally hit on some pretty interesting relationship dynamics. The lyrics to Rihanna's Disturbia, would cause many a Buddhist to smile and nod knowingly.
One song I've been thinking about recently is Lady Gaga's Just Dance. Is it a party anthem celebrating the power of music? Or is it about desperation and self-reassurance in the face of overwhelming evidence that you are making very bad lifestyle choices?
As someone who works in show business, I see a lot of partying, and there seem to be two types of people who do it. There are the kind who party because they enjoy it, and there are the people that do it to run from something else.
So which type is Lady Gaga singing about?
To me, the pivotal line is in the chorus: "Gonna be okay."
Does she really believe it? Or is she trying to convince herself?
To quote James Ball: "Discuss. Groups of five."
One song I've been thinking about recently is Lady Gaga's Just Dance. Is it a party anthem celebrating the power of music? Or is it about desperation and self-reassurance in the face of overwhelming evidence that you are making very bad lifestyle choices?
As someone who works in show business, I see a lot of partying, and there seem to be two types of people who do it. There are the kind who party because they enjoy it, and there are the people that do it to run from something else.
So which type is Lady Gaga singing about?
To me, the pivotal line is in the chorus: "Gonna be okay."
Does she really believe it? Or is she trying to convince herself?
To quote James Ball: "Discuss. Groups of five."
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
New Suicide Girls Article
Latest Suicide Girls article is up. You can find it here. The topic is dating cliches.
I've also been posting like mad on my Hot Chicks and Strangers blog, for those who can't get enough of my dating pontifications.
I've also been posting like mad on my Hot Chicks and Strangers blog, for those who can't get enough of my dating pontifications.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Cereal Monogamy
Have I mentioned how much I adore my day job co-workers? They certainly keep things interesting.
While making the arrangements with Someone Special--whose anonymity we will preserve by giving her an every-day, ordinary, generic female name, say, Bastet) to drop of the cereal at work, one of the women in my office overheard the conversation.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: Is your girlfriend coming here?
ME: She's not my girfriend.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: If she's dropping things off for you, she's your girlfriend.
I should pause to explain most of the people at this office are women. And they love stuff like this. Another male co-worker of mine is getting married and the Girls have taken it upon themself to make a countdown calendar for his impending nuptials and update it daily.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: I may have told Office Woman #2 about your girlfriend coming to visit. But just her.
OFFICE WOMAN #3: (coming up out of nowhere): Hey, when does this girl we've all been hearing about get here?
OFFICE WOMAN #1: Well, you shouldn't have told me if you didn't want people to know.
I shouldn't have been surprised. These are after all, the same women who upon hearing some of my woman troubles last year, considered the idea of turning my personal dramas into a skit and performing it at the company Christmas party.
It was an interesting feeling: three parts mortified and one part loving all the attention.
Then again, I write stories about them on my blog, so I guess we're even.
Still, I felt I needed to get a little emotional revenge on Office Girl #1
ME: Now, I'm worried she's going to stand me up.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: And if she does, the whole office will know about it! Ohh that would be so horrible. I would feel so bad for you.
OFFICE WOMAN #3: (from across the room) Hey, I'm on your Facebook right now. What's your girlfriend's name? I want to creep her pictures.
ME: She's not my girfriend.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: Hello? What part of "bringing you cereal" did you not understand?
ME: I don't really see how...
OFFICE WOMAN #1: It's an emotional commitment! When a woman brings a guy breakfast products at work, that's a sign that she's investing herself in him and he should appreciate her effort by not spending his entire Friday night playing video games with his STUPID LAME FRIENDS, when he knows it's the only time he and his girlfriend will have together for the whole weekend, because she's spending her only free Saturday this month helping HIS mother plant a vegetable garden. Hypothetically.
Anyway....
Bastet showed up and I went to reception to meet her....while a few doors away half the women in the office were watching on the security monitor, yelling instructions at the screen like football fans at a Super Bowl Party.
"Public display of affection! Yes!"
"Relax, you'll sscare her off!"
"No, you jackass, walk her to the elevator as she's leaving..."
At this point Bastet and I stepped into the camera's blind spot. Ten seconds later the reception phone rang as one of the women in the office phoned down for an update. Which was awkward for the receptionist since we were standing right beside her.
RECEPTIONIST: Mmm-hmm...Oh, interesting...Yes, that would be fine.
Afterwards, the ladies debriefed me--I was thoroughly chastised for not walking her to the elevator. OFFICE WOMAN #3 was most excited as she actually saw Bastet in person ("I walked PAST her on the way to get photocopies!")
I love my job.
While making the arrangements with Someone Special--whose anonymity we will preserve by giving her an every-day, ordinary, generic female name, say, Bastet) to drop of the cereal at work, one of the women in my office overheard the conversation.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: Is your girlfriend coming here?
ME: She's not my girfriend.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: If she's dropping things off for you, she's your girlfriend.
I should pause to explain most of the people at this office are women. And they love stuff like this. Another male co-worker of mine is getting married and the Girls have taken it upon themself to make a countdown calendar for his impending nuptials and update it daily.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: I may have told Office Woman #2 about your girlfriend coming to visit. But just her.
OFFICE WOMAN #3: (coming up out of nowhere): Hey, when does this girl we've all been hearing about get here?
OFFICE WOMAN #1: Well, you shouldn't have told me if you didn't want people to know.
I shouldn't have been surprised. These are after all, the same women who upon hearing some of my woman troubles last year, considered the idea of turning my personal dramas into a skit and performing it at the company Christmas party.
It was an interesting feeling: three parts mortified and one part loving all the attention.
Then again, I write stories about them on my blog, so I guess we're even.
Still, I felt I needed to get a little emotional revenge on Office Girl #1
ME: Now, I'm worried she's going to stand me up.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: And if she does, the whole office will know about it! Ohh that would be so horrible. I would feel so bad for you.
OFFICE WOMAN #3: (from across the room) Hey, I'm on your Facebook right now. What's your girlfriend's name? I want to creep her pictures.
ME: She's not my girfriend.
OFFICE WOMAN #1: Hello? What part of "bringing you cereal" did you not understand?
ME: I don't really see how...
OFFICE WOMAN #1: It's an emotional commitment! When a woman brings a guy breakfast products at work, that's a sign that she's investing herself in him and he should appreciate her effort by not spending his entire Friday night playing video games with his STUPID LAME FRIENDS, when he knows it's the only time he and his girlfriend will have together for the whole weekend, because she's spending her only free Saturday this month helping HIS mother plant a vegetable garden. Hypothetically.
Anyway....
Bastet showed up and I went to reception to meet her....while a few doors away half the women in the office were watching on the security monitor, yelling instructions at the screen like football fans at a Super Bowl Party.
"Public display of affection! Yes!"
"Relax, you'll sscare her off!"
"No, you jackass, walk her to the elevator as she's leaving..."
At this point Bastet and I stepped into the camera's blind spot. Ten seconds later the reception phone rang as one of the women in the office phoned down for an update. Which was awkward for the receptionist since we were standing right beside her.
RECEPTIONIST: Mmm-hmm...Oh, interesting...Yes, that would be fine.
Afterwards, the ladies debriefed me--I was thoroughly chastised for not walking her to the elevator. OFFICE WOMAN #3 was most excited as she actually saw Bastet in person ("I walked PAST her on the way to get photocopies!")
I love my job.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Dan Gets Angry
You wouldn't know it from reading my columns, especially the dating ones, but I don't give often advice to people.
There are a host of reasons for this from my belief in letting people make their own decions to the fact that a lot of times, I have no idea what people should do in any given situation.
Every once and a while though--if someone asks and I'm feeling smart--I'll do it.
Some people take what I have to say under consideration and make their own decisions.
Those are my favorites.
Occasionally though, I will have people reject my suggestions--whether it's on relationships, comedy, or one of the two or three other things I happen to know something abou--as being 'trite' or 'cliche.'
They're usually right. I don't think I've ever given anyone advice that hasn't been said a bazillion times before.
But often the reason those things are cliche is because they're absolutely true.
What boggles my mind though, is that even though people have heard this 'stock' advice before a million times, they STILL won't do it. And then they wonder why they're miserable.
Even more mystifying, they then start to blame the advice. "That's cliche. That's trite."
It's like a guy going to the nutritionist and complaining that being told to excercise and eat properly is cliche. Well, yeah. It's also what works. In fact, as far as I know, it's the ONLY thing that works. What's the guy supposed to tell you?
Oh, You want SPECIAL advice. Because you're DIFFERENT from other people. Fine. Eat nothing but foam packing peanuts for fifteen days. See what that gets you. Hey, at least it isn't cliche, right?
I'm starting to think some people don't actually want to know a solution to their problems. What they want is for people to tell them a way they can keep doing the same stuff they've always done, yet magically get different results.
This was more of a rant than I expected. Good for me. It's honest though, and honesty about what upsets me is good for me and the people around me.
Or maybe that's a cliche.
Upcoming Comedy
Monday, June 22 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Other Appearances
Saturday, May 23 - OSCW: Rumble in the Ring - Hazeldean Community Hall, Edmonton
Writing
Dan Brodribb's Geek Love appears regularly on the Suicide Girls website. Current article is here.
Dan also writes on wrestling for worldwrestlinginsanity.com. Current article is here.
There are a host of reasons for this from my belief in letting people make their own decions to the fact that a lot of times, I have no idea what people should do in any given situation.
Every once and a while though--if someone asks and I'm feeling smart--I'll do it.
Some people take what I have to say under consideration and make their own decisions.
Those are my favorites.
Occasionally though, I will have people reject my suggestions--whether it's on relationships, comedy, or one of the two or three other things I happen to know something abou--as being 'trite' or 'cliche.'
They're usually right. I don't think I've ever given anyone advice that hasn't been said a bazillion times before.
But often the reason those things are cliche is because they're absolutely true.
What boggles my mind though, is that even though people have heard this 'stock' advice before a million times, they STILL won't do it. And then they wonder why they're miserable.
Even more mystifying, they then start to blame the advice. "That's cliche. That's trite."
It's like a guy going to the nutritionist and complaining that being told to excercise and eat properly is cliche. Well, yeah. It's also what works. In fact, as far as I know, it's the ONLY thing that works. What's the guy supposed to tell you?
Oh, You want SPECIAL advice. Because you're DIFFERENT from other people. Fine. Eat nothing but foam packing peanuts for fifteen days. See what that gets you. Hey, at least it isn't cliche, right?
I'm starting to think some people don't actually want to know a solution to their problems. What they want is for people to tell them a way they can keep doing the same stuff they've always done, yet magically get different results.
This was more of a rant than I expected. Good for me. It's honest though, and honesty about what upsets me is good for me and the people around me.
Or maybe that's a cliche.
Upcoming Comedy
Monday, June 22 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Other Appearances
Saturday, May 23 - OSCW: Rumble in the Ring - Hazeldean Community Hall, Edmonton
Writing
Dan Brodribb's Geek Love appears regularly on the Suicide Girls website. Current article is here.
Dan also writes on wrestling for worldwrestlinginsanity.com. Current article is here.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
New Articles Up and Vipassana Thoughts
I promised an update on the vipassana retreat. Here are a bunch of random thoughts.
But first...article update.
New wrestling article is up here.
My latest Geek Love article for Suicide Girls article is up here. It's on the importance of guys taking charge in a relationship and has already got some interesting comments.
As well, Rumble in the Ring is the next OSCW show, taking place this Saturday at the Hazeldean community hall, featuring a 20 man Royal Rumble style match. If you're interested in coming, message me, and I'll put you in touch with the folks that can get you tickets.
Back to the Buddhism stuff...I didn't have a notebook, so these are random notes I jotted after the fact. Some of them may grow up to be jokes one day.
-Living like a monk for two weeks was fun. If you call getting gonged awake at four in the morning fun. And you know what makes being up at four in the morning even better? Chanting. Foreign language chanting.
-We weren't allowed to speak or interact with each other in any way. Since I didn't know anybody's names, they got cool nicknames in my head like "Cool Haircut Guy" or "Unabomber." Although it made me think about what counts as communication. Sure I couldn't directly address people, but what if I were merely to express my feelings about being awoken at four in the morning--say by slamming my head into my bunk five or six times--and other people happened to be around. Was that breaking my vow? I say no. But I took a lot of blows to the head.
-Even at a meditation retreat, I found myself getting competitive. I wanted to out-meditate everyone. I was like, "I'm a being of way more compassion than those losers." I later learned a lot of guys were feeling the same way. The only thing that kept some of them from running out screaming when their back and legs were cramping up and they felt their minds were going crazy was the fact they refused to be the first one to quit. Competition is a good thing, I guess.
-There was a log in the camp and for fun, we would often walk across it, balance-beam style. Trouble started though when you saw a guy coming the other way. Because the rules say you aren't allowed to talk or interact with each other. But you know what isn't in the rules? Being a bitch. So you'd just keep walking towards each other until you found out which of you was the better, more compassionate person...and which of you was the winner.
- I am not an enlightened person. People talk about inner peace and serenity when medidtating. I mostly got songs stuck in my head, memories from the firt season of Big Brother and the track listing to Skid Row's debut album. I guess my Buddha-nature likes to rock.
- You would think with nothing to do, there would be no stress, but I found instead, my brain would magnify everything in order to give me something to be neurotic about. I remember coming out of the breakfast hall thinking, "Man, I have to brush my teeth AND take a nap? There is not enough time in the day."
Upcoming Comedy
Monday, June 22 - The Comic Strip
But first...article update.
New wrestling article is up here.
My latest Geek Love article for Suicide Girls article is up here. It's on the importance of guys taking charge in a relationship and has already got some interesting comments.
As well, Rumble in the Ring is the next OSCW show, taking place this Saturday at the Hazeldean community hall, featuring a 20 man Royal Rumble style match. If you're interested in coming, message me, and I'll put you in touch with the folks that can get you tickets.
Back to the Buddhism stuff...I didn't have a notebook, so these are random notes I jotted after the fact. Some of them may grow up to be jokes one day.
-Living like a monk for two weeks was fun. If you call getting gonged awake at four in the morning fun. And you know what makes being up at four in the morning even better? Chanting. Foreign language chanting.
-We weren't allowed to speak or interact with each other in any way. Since I didn't know anybody's names, they got cool nicknames in my head like "Cool Haircut Guy" or "Unabomber." Although it made me think about what counts as communication. Sure I couldn't directly address people, but what if I were merely to express my feelings about being awoken at four in the morning--say by slamming my head into my bunk five or six times--and other people happened to be around. Was that breaking my vow? I say no. But I took a lot of blows to the head.
-Even at a meditation retreat, I found myself getting competitive. I wanted to out-meditate everyone. I was like, "I'm a being of way more compassion than those losers." I later learned a lot of guys were feeling the same way. The only thing that kept some of them from running out screaming when their back and legs were cramping up and they felt their minds were going crazy was the fact they refused to be the first one to quit. Competition is a good thing, I guess.
-There was a log in the camp and for fun, we would often walk across it, balance-beam style. Trouble started though when you saw a guy coming the other way. Because the rules say you aren't allowed to talk or interact with each other. But you know what isn't in the rules? Being a bitch. So you'd just keep walking towards each other until you found out which of you was the better, more compassionate person...and which of you was the winner.
- I am not an enlightened person. People talk about inner peace and serenity when medidtating. I mostly got songs stuck in my head, memories from the firt season of Big Brother and the track listing to Skid Row's debut album. I guess my Buddha-nature likes to rock.
- You would think with nothing to do, there would be no stress, but I found instead, my brain would magnify everything in order to give me something to be neurotic about. I remember coming out of the breakfast hall thinking, "Man, I have to brush my teeth AND take a nap? There is not enough time in the day."
Upcoming Comedy
Monday, June 22 - The Comic Strip
Friday, May 08, 2009
Back From My Trip
I returned from a 10-day Vipassana mediation trip yesterday. I haven't even gotten home yet; I'm writing this from the library. There are some stories worth writing about--don't know if they'll show up in this blog or somewhere down the road.
In the meantime, here's a link to my most recent wrestling article, about the perils of trying to fit in when you aren't six feet tall and two hundred and thirty pounds of muscle.
In the meantime, here's a link to my most recent wrestling article, about the perils of trying to fit in when you aren't six feet tall and two hundred and thirty pounds of muscle.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Gone Fishin'
I'm on vacation and will be incommunicado until May 8.
Last night Big Jess, Heavy Metal, and I celebrated my impending departure by not being killed in a car crash.
Good times.
Talk to you later, everybody.
Dan
Last night Big Jess, Heavy Metal, and I celebrated my impending departure by not being killed in a car crash.
Good times.
Talk to you later, everybody.
Dan
Monday, April 20, 2009
An Email From The World's Smartest Man
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
World's Smirtest Man: New Wrestling Column Up
New World Wrestling Insanity article is up. It's on my favorite wrestler as a kid, The World's Smartest Man.
You can read it here.
I can't remember if I've said this before on the blog, but one of the goal with my wrestling columns is to write something that appeals to wrestling fans, but that also non-fans can read and enjoy. Even if they don't necessarily like wrestling after they finish, I hope they'll understand why so many of us do have a passion for it.
Speaking of wrestling, I'll be at the OSCW show tonight at Hazeldean Community League in Edmonton. The last show went really well, and I'm looking forward to tonight's shenanigans. I'm told there are some surprises planned.
Upcoming Comedy
Monday, April 20 - The Comic Strip - Edmonton
Writing
Dan Brodribb's Geek Love, a column on relationships appears in the culture section at www.suicidegirls.com. Check out the latest column here.
Dan's Wrestling writing appears at worldwrestlinginsanity.com Check out his current article here.
Other Appearances
Saturday, April 18- OSCW Wrestling - Hazeldean Community Hall
You can read it here.
I can't remember if I've said this before on the blog, but one of the goal with my wrestling columns is to write something that appeals to wrestling fans, but that also non-fans can read and enjoy. Even if they don't necessarily like wrestling after they finish, I hope they'll understand why so many of us do have a passion for it.
Speaking of wrestling, I'll be at the OSCW show tonight at Hazeldean Community League in Edmonton. The last show went really well, and I'm looking forward to tonight's shenanigans. I'm told there are some surprises planned.
Upcoming Comedy
Monday, April 20 - The Comic Strip - Edmonton
Writing
Dan Brodribb's Geek Love, a column on relationships appears in the culture section at www.suicidegirls.com. Check out the latest column here.
Dan's Wrestling writing appears at worldwrestlinginsanity.com Check out his current article here.
Other Appearances
Saturday, April 18- OSCW Wrestling - Hazeldean Community Hall
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
New Suicide Girls Article Up
Latest Suicide Girls article is up. Longtime readers knew it was only a matter of time before I brought pro-wrestling into the equation.
You'll find the article here.
In other news, I've started posting again on the hotchicksandstrangers blog. Mostly they're going to be random, half-formed thoughts on dating, possibly for use in future columns.
But if such things interest you, feel free to check it out.
You'll find the article here.
In other news, I've started posting again on the hotchicksandstrangers blog. Mostly they're going to be random, half-formed thoughts on dating, possibly for use in future columns.
But if such things interest you, feel free to check it out.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Horrifying New Invention
Saw this invention on the TED website.
I won't lie. This stuff terrifies me. The camera application was neat, but once it starts getting into remembering people's names for you and telling you what Amazon said about books...that's where I get off the train.
It's clever. But it's also another technological crutch. It's like giving a healthy person a wheelchair. They're fun to roll around in, but it's not so good for your legs. They call it interactive, but to me it loosk like another way to AVOID interacting with the actual real world, putting up a technological filter between the user and what's actually out there.
The idea I suppose, is to free your brain for more important things. That's like telling a bodybuilder not to lift weights so he can free up his muscles for competition.
One of the best feelings in the world is learning to trust yourself. And that trust comes from making your own decisions, not relying on a computer. If you want to know if a book is any good, read the goddamn thing and make up your own mind.
Technology should be a tool, not a crutch.
In other news, here are my upcoming dates.
Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, April 7 - Zombie Laughpocalypse, New City, Edmonton
Wednesday, April 8 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Thursday, April 9 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Friday, April 10 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Saturday, April 11 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Sunday, April 12 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Monday, April 20 - The Comic Strip - Edmonton
Writing
Dan Brodribb's Geek Love, a column on relationships appears in the culture section at www.suicidegirls.com. Check out the latest column here.
Dan's Wrestling writing appears at worldwrestlinginsanity.com Check out his current article here.
Other Appearances
Saturday, April 18- OSCW Wrestling - Hazeldean Community Hall
I won't lie. This stuff terrifies me. The camera application was neat, but once it starts getting into remembering people's names for you and telling you what Amazon said about books...that's where I get off the train.
It's clever. But it's also another technological crutch. It's like giving a healthy person a wheelchair. They're fun to roll around in, but it's not so good for your legs. They call it interactive, but to me it loosk like another way to AVOID interacting with the actual real world, putting up a technological filter between the user and what's actually out there.
The idea I suppose, is to free your brain for more important things. That's like telling a bodybuilder not to lift weights so he can free up his muscles for competition.
One of the best feelings in the world is learning to trust yourself. And that trust comes from making your own decisions, not relying on a computer. If you want to know if a book is any good, read the goddamn thing and make up your own mind.
Technology should be a tool, not a crutch.
In other news, here are my upcoming dates.
Upcoming Comedy
Tuesday, April 7 - Zombie Laughpocalypse, New City, Edmonton
Wednesday, April 8 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Thursday, April 9 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Friday, April 10 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Saturday, April 11 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Sunday, April 12 - The Comic Strip, Edmonton
Monday, April 20 - The Comic Strip - Edmonton
Writing
Dan Brodribb's Geek Love, a column on relationships appears in the culture section at www.suicidegirls.com. Check out the latest column here.
Dan's Wrestling writing appears at worldwrestlinginsanity.com Check out his current article here.
Other Appearances
Saturday, April 18- OSCW Wrestling - Hazeldean Community Hall
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