Birds With Eyes

The True Ingredients to a Vegetarian Omelette Part One

2011-03-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

Despite cliques often inaccurate labelling, the clique that young males are lethargic eaters has some validity in regards to myself. Where does this apathy stem from? Well, it’s not a question of disinterest. I am after all a vegetarian, and therefore, I’m very mindful of the food I consume. While other costumers are merrily picking yogurts off the supermarket shelves, I’m carefully scanning the ingredients for that ominous word: gelatine. Also, servers at restaurants are often disgruntled when I enquire about the origins of a soup’s broths or the question the type of oil used in their deep-fryer. Of course vegetarianism has social implications if we begin to consider the connotations of food. For example, beer and burger night (marketed by beer manufactures as the essence of masculinity) transforms into coffee and house-salad night. Still, I brave the snide comments from friends and occasional hostility from avid carnivorous because I have resolute ethics surrounding animal welfare. Yet, I can’t be bothered to actively engage with food on a culinary level. Instead, I’d dig within my white fortress of refrigeration for my jug milk, which sits quietly and presumably counting down its exasperation date, and then reach my jumbo-box of Vector cereal; in almost instance gratification I assemble a tasty bowl of breakfast, lunch or dinner. In an effort to combat the inherent malnourishment associated with my lethargic eating habits, I’ve begun to tackle the wizardry of cooking. Thus, a spark of enthusiasm for cooking, okay more accurately a shortage of milk, I began eating numerous omelettes over the reading break.

Often opponents of vegetarianism, usually those hostile carnivorous who assume vegan is slang for vegetarianism, will question my consumption of eggs and dairy products. Of course, my lethargic diet can’t accommodate the extreme limitations of a vegan diet. Yet, considering my contentions with the agricultural industry’s environmental, economic, social, and anthropocentric implication, why stop at meat consumption? What are the latent implications of my omelette? Where are the eggs produced? Who is harmed by the vegetable production? How does globalization provide out-of-season vegetables at the supermarket? All valid question I considered over a three egg omelette with peppers and onions.

Eggs, as the primary ingredient to my breakfast and a staple in my diet, are the first on the chopping block of critical thinking. I’m not going to dwell on the animal rights and anthropocentric issue surrounding egg production due to its subjective nature. However, in regards to deceptive marketing language of eggs, I’ll outline the stark contrast between the advertising language and realities of lay hen’s living conditions.

Against the Wall

2011-02-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

Deviant politics and the forgotten populous
Mass-media chokes our vote and we're asphyxiated by the ambiguous
Eventually the filled ballots are shadowed by the apathetic
Who have been distracted by the unnatural aesthetic
A society trapped in a self-inflicted nebulous

Pebbles

2010-09-29T18:18:00.001-07:00

There is something transparent about ideas
They lurk behind the glass curtain
Until it’s considered explicit
Then a moment of serenity
Followed by the swish of a magician’s hand
The curtain has fall upon the stone

"These Monkeys can't Figure it out"

2010-08-09T20:46:00.000-07:00

Morning sickness: not in the traditional sense but rather the commonplace. That slow grumble of dread that kicks and screams in the pit of your stomach as you rise for work. Possibly it’s a residual hangover from the “good old days.” Nevertheless, life’s become a nine to five hustle in order to keep out of the red. Now, the best and worst part of your day is going to bed. How are the lunchroom conversations, complaints or shop-talk? We’ll spend the majority of our awakened life at work! Therefore, if you hate you’re work, you hate your life! Cut from my anchor, I want to drift wherever I please. Vicariously I’ve begun to realise significance job satisfaction.

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

2010-07-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

Face Time?

2010-06-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

Since deactivating my facebook account, I’ve found myself in various situations where people inquire about my decision to “isolate myself from society.” Coincidentally, people have been informing about their facebook habits and justifications. From the small and reliably-insufficient information I’ve received: people generally spend two hours a day on facebook!

Let’s dig into the mathematics of this:

Two hours a day X 356 days a year = 730 hours

Divide 730 hours by 24 hours a day = 30.42 days (that’s one month of 24/7 tagging, poking and liking.)

Full-time employment—that’s Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm—equals forty hours a week.

Multiply 40 hours a week by four weeks (one month) = 160 hours of work

Divide 730 hours of annual Facebook hours by 160 hours of monthly full-time work.

Result = 4.5625 months of full-time Facebook.

Gross income for 730 hours of work at $8.25 per hour (minimum wage) = $6022.5

Alternative Groove In 35mm's Perspective

2010-05-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

A Modest Opinion

2010-04-06T21:36:00.001-07:00

If you fall in while digitally surfing the net, are you swimming for fun or survival? It seems people have replaced fun with facade, as our digital perception has transformed photography into a popularity meter for the narcissistic social networks. Certain people appear to evaluate the photographic opportunities provided by social events or even certain sports as their motivation to participate. The once artistic medium is now a social tool to proclaim that you’ve “been there done that.” What’s worse, photographic manipulation software, such as Photoshop, has become a secondary cosmetic tool for those blemishes that could harm your profile picture. Ultimately, photographs facilitate in obtaining more digital friends and you subsequently climb up the binary hierarchy of facebook—which means what exactly? The quality of books aren't defined by their shiny covers and page counts, it’s the words within them at are important. So if a photograph says a thousand words, what does that picture of you intoxicated say? Obviously, I don’t know the answers—mainly because I’m drowning in the currents of social networking—but I implore you to consider them.

May.21.2010 - Finally, I summoned the courage to delete my facebook account—although, there was a moment of hesitation when I thought of my film-school friends.

Free Write

Digitally, we the younger-generations believe in a idiosyncratic ideology, for us the thought of losing our digital identity is paramount to the thought of ambiguity, We select people and events around us to expose a falsified perception of ourselves. Why are we so consumed with social bewilderment? Why aren’t we proud of our individualism? Moreover, people attribute binge drinking and obnoxious parting as a popular trend; believing that the union-of-peers will be attributed to your self-worth be means of your alcoholic resume. Since when was the ability of consuming an entire 26 ounce bottle of vodka considered a virtue? It appears the majority of my generation has absorbed this prediction that: “you’re only cool if you party hard.” Subsequently, the validation of those intense parties must be solidified by posting photos and entertaining others with your recollections—too really be indicative, create a intuitively couth declarative status update!

Flo

2010-03-17T23:03:00.001-07:00

Life as a student contains little bloggable content. Thus, I'll share with you my inspiration!

Beware of the creatively conducted fallacy
That program you’re watching is not reality
its all, make-up, media and money
and it’s funny, how well it’s influenced the youth
Yet, these images do not convey the truth
Capitalism’s flicking in your eye because they’re captivity couth

Now marketing majors whisper in your ear
Materials to consume each and every year
Celebrity endorsements ensures you the product’s sincere
So you dance beneath the marionette strings
Masqueraded in processions and superficial things
Credit scores depreciate every-time the till rings

Yet, your new facade has improved your look
So select your best photos to appear on facebook
Carefully craft you’re digital friend fish hook
Because appearances are key in this digital hierarchy
And beauty is no longer skin deep in this binary society
We’ve inarticulately distorted perception due to vanity

Who knows the person beneath those doctored photos?
Who knows what’s really going on in those reality shows?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Vancouver Film School Shorts

2010-02-28T12:59:00.000-08:00

Outcast - Cinematographer

Man From Nowhere - Cinematographer

Poised - First AC

Poised from Tobias Silverstolpe on Vimeo.

Genuine Leather - Editor

More to come the games back on

Broker

2010-02-27T16:34:00.001-08:00

Shortly after graduation from VFS, I was scammed out of nine hundred bucks while hunting for an apartment. It`s understood that karma is obligatory; yet, I don`t recall punching infants lately, so it seem unwarranted. Regardless, some hooligans drained my account via debit card fraud, leaving me with three dollars and pocket lint for the first. Lesson: be careful where you leave your card and protect your Pin.

Skate for Kids

2010-02-27T14:37:00.000-08:00

Regardless of your beliefs, it’s human nature to judge and classify people upon impressions. It could be advantageous while applying for a job, or a disadvantage while attempting to woo girls at the bar. One major stereotype closely affiliated with distrust is the skate community. Unfortunately, people are ostracized by their association with skateboarding and its lifestyle. However, individualism sits at the heart of all board sports and thus, style and personality are the pivotal points that separate skaters; yet, most board sports (especially skating) are generally met with atomicity in society. As a result, I’m hoping to transform that perception, by creating a charity beneficial skate contest this summer: Skate for Kids. All proceeds from merchandise, donations and entry fees will go towards the local Boys & Girls Clubs of Nanaimo. I`ll definitely need some help with this event in: organization, judging and photography so let me know if you`re interested.

while I'm talking about skating check out this video of Luke & Zack Connor, Rylie Murphy and Adrien Bigger.

* I just got scammed a few hundred bucks again!

In 1969

2010-02-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

The best typography video I've ever seen.

In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced him to do an interview. 38 years later, Levitan, director Josh Raskin and illustrators James Braithwaite and Alex Kurina have collaborated to create an animated short film using the original interview recording as the soundtrack. A spellbinding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit and timeless message, I Met the Walrus was nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Animated Short and won the 2009 Emmy for 'New Approaches' (making it the first film to win an Emmy on behalf of the internet)

Bataleon in Alternative

2010-02-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

In 2006, I bought a Burton Jeremy Jones with high expectations and dismal results: basically a coffee table with bindings. Fortunately, I stumbled upon the industry’s hidden gem, the Bataleon Evil-Twin. This Swedish company introduced the innovative Triple Base Technology in the tips of their boards to facilitate jibbing and edge transition. Every season since, my obsession with Bataleon has seeped throughout our crew of friends. Even Burton and Forum snowboards are attempting to evade Bataleon’s paten and incorporate TBT to their line-up. With that said, I`ve been pushing hard to introduce Bataleon to the Alternative product line next season; after some tribulations, I managed to get Three Airobics and three Evil-twins for next season. Trust me these gems will disappear fast so let me know if you’re interested in one: if you`re on the fence and I trust you, I`ll let you borrow my old ET for the day.

My AG photo contest

2010-02-24T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hey digital acquaintances

We’ve got a few things on the metaphorically plate; Green salad, grilled vegetables, photography challenge, veggie ground round and a skate contest. Dinner won’t be ready for awhile so enjoy some prune juice and snap shots while you wait. Speaking of snap shot, the photographer who successfully captures Andrew Ottosen’s new Double Cork Finger twist, pretty much has the contest in the bag.

Stop reading for second while I call our fearless leader Marc…. one more moments he’s on the other line.

Okay continue reading: While we sauté the details of the skate contest dinner. Alternative’s going to present a photo contest to hold you over (R.A.B, Kyle and Matt you can’t enter: you’re too good). Like beer pong and dating your best friend’s sister, there are guild lines (bendable rules).

No nudity (you’re really not that good looking)
No Party Shots (We’ve all been there, you’re nothing special)
No Chucking of the horns. (That includes you JT)

I know what you’re thinking: “what are we suppose to take pictures of?” Well I’m glad you asked because here are the categories: Surf, Skate, Snow or Lifestyle. All submissions must be submitted by March 31st. Depending on my birthday hangover, expect the winner announcement on the first (possibly give or take a few days). The winner “will get a prize pack with a sweater, two shirts, [I forget what Marc said but some swag from our shop] and love! You can submit your photo via our facebook group’s album with “Pickle” at the end of the title.

Remember, use your light meter and get permission from your subjects.

John Moon

2010-02-23T18:21:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest video from one of my favorite film school classmates: John Moon. We worked together on, The Largest Rat on Planet Earth, Music to Fuck Too and Outcast. He's hands down one of the funniest people I know.

"This is the story of a mysterious flower eating creature that lives in Mr. Corky's mysterious, "Flower Eating Room". Big thanks to everyone who showed up on that Sunday to help me out. Follow the link below for some behind the scenes information"

Might as well include Music To Fuck Too

Life Elements

2010-02-23T16:36:00.001-08:00

A few aspects of my life are pivotal in my decision paradigm, Snowboarding, Kierstyn and Photography. Only one of those really provides an input into my direction in life (or tattoos on JT’s ass). Here’s my introduction to those elements.

Number Seven Dunbar

2010-02-23T15:46:00.001-08:00

The humidity clings to the windows as a thousand little beads and the air has a tinge of perfume and body odour. The suppression of commuters has made the lack of personal breathing room common place as my shoulders rub strangers to my left and right. The Chicken Coop claustrophobia expands into the isle where people squeeze themselves into this already congested bus and all of whom appear to be plug into an IPod. Curiously I wonder where they’re from, where they’re going and why they’re going there. Whoever once said “The worlds a small place” was naive because I see hundreds of people a day who I’ll never see or remember again. As result of that fact, we isolate ourselves; horrid on to bus and avoid interaction. A confined space filled to the bream with adverting eyes, arbitrary distractions and amusing IPods. It’s an eerie sensation when a bus with no vacancy falls dead silent at a red light. Is society making us evade each other or is it human nature?

Transit sound track:

Hands down my favorite artist: Enjoy!

The Beginning

2010-02-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

Hello random blog surfers

As the predominate blogger of Alternative Groove, I’ve recently decided to create my own blog, outlining the events of my life. Egotistical to presume people would be interested? Yeah, that’s undeniable but, hey you’re reading it. So here’s a quick recap of life within the past year. I studied cinematography at the Vancouver Film School, after graduation I began to work for the film school. However, I quickly realized the importance of a degree and my loathing for urban living. Thus, I’ve moved back to Vancouver Island to pursue a Natural Resource Protection degree: ultimately aiming for natural protection filmmaker.