À quelqu'un qui me demandait ce qu'était le concept de "rapture", je répondit simplement:
- C'est le paradis sur Terre!
- Ah bon? Je croyais que c'était quelque chose comme “tout les croyants fidèles sont emporté au ciel”?
- Et bien c'est une question de perspective. Si toute l'extrème droite religieuse disparaît du jour au lendemain et qu'il ne reste que les gauchistes écolos échangistes alors...
- C'est le paradis sur Terre!
- Exactement!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Happy Holidays
Just a moment to wish you all Merry Holidays and an Happy New Years. I have the feeling that 2012 will be a though one so good luck to you all. I have a few days off for the holidays and I intend to work on the house and finishing to clean up the warehouse / garage in order to be able to have some working space. If I still have some time left after that I'll probably try to catch up with my writing and blogging. Enjoy the holidays and take care of yourselves!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Vilain Matin
Odeur nauséabonde dans l'air matinal
Manque de civisme des gens pressés qui
attendent le bus en une ligne informe
Cacophonie de la foule anonyme qui
parle sans cesse sur leurs téléphones
C'est un matin qui s'annonce plutôt banal
Manque de civisme des gens pressés qui
attendent le bus en une ligne informe
Cacophonie de la foule anonyme qui
parle sans cesse sur leurs téléphones
C'est un matin qui s'annonce plutôt banal
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Clodjee au SMAQ
Je n'y avais pas mis les pieds depuis plus de cinq ans mais comme cette semaine mon épouse et moi avions une journée de congé en même temps, on a décidé de se payer la traite visuellement avec une petite visite au SMAQ. Et, comme j'ai parfois l'habitude de le faire, je partage avec vous mes découvertes en mettant des liens vers les sites des artisans qui ont suscité notre intérêt. On les revisitera peut-être plus tard pour faire quelques achats (qui sait?):
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Scraplinking
I remember seeing my father seating at his old desk in the basement, surrounded by piles of newspapers. As he was reading them, he would clip articles that would interest him and -- instead of gathering them in scrapbooks -- would classify them in subject-indexed filing cabinets (he was particularly interested in national history, genealogy, or personalities belonging to some family names he was researching).
As a kid I quickly learned to emulate him and gathered my own newspaper clippings in files dedicated to subjects that would fascinate any kids in those days: prehistory, archaeology, dinosaurs, UFOs, paranormal, international politics, and the philosophy of religions. That's an habit that probably made me the news junkie I am today, but I am now just realizing that I am still doing somekind of news scrapbooking -- virtually! When I gather links of the news stories that interest me in my weekly press review I do it to share them with my (quasi-inexistant) readers, but mostly to keep them for my own future reading and research. Therefore I am continuing this old habit of news scrapbooking. It's amazing that I am only realizing this now. That certainly makes sense as it takes less space and is more ecological!
As a kid I quickly learned to emulate him and gathered my own newspaper clippings in files dedicated to subjects that would fascinate any kids in those days: prehistory, archaeology, dinosaurs, UFOs, paranormal, international politics, and the philosophy of religions. That's an habit that probably made me the news junkie I am today, but I am now just realizing that I am still doing somekind of news scrapbooking -- virtually! When I gather links of the news stories that interest me in my weekly press review I do it to share them with my (quasi-inexistant) readers, but mostly to keep them for my own future reading and research. Therefore I am continuing this old habit of news scrapbooking. It's amazing that I am only realizing this now. That certainly makes sense as it takes less space and is more ecological!
Friday, December 09, 2011
Weekly Press Review (2011/12/09)
Busy couple of weeks both at work (a few co-workers were either off on vacation or on sick-leave, so we were all scrambling around; we caught a dvd thief!) and at home (trying to finish preparing the house for winter but, as usual, there's not enough hours in a day). I got my work schedule for winter and I am doing a little more hours than in fall so I am quite happy with it. A surprising revelation makes my life feels like a soap-opera (and that's all I can say). The gray weather makes me feels tired and depressed... Reading the news (even on a binge) does nothing to improve the mood... (See the news links after the jump)
Friday, November 25, 2011
Weekly Press Review (2011/11/25)
Despite some seemingly (and, I am quite sure, temporary) good news, new and unexpected upheaval is making everyone at work very upset. This continuing situation is utterly depressing, unnerving and rather demotivating. (By Jove, what are they thinking?!) I just hope it will eventually calm down, because some of us cannot take this for long without damages. Luckily we recently had a pay raise... [Update: The rollercoaster ride continues... Up again! Some quite wise decisions averted the crisis and everyone is smilling again!] In other news, I visited the Montreal book fair, I am taking care of my sister's cats for the week and we got the first snow of the season (a couple of inches [5 cm], enough so I had to shovel!). Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the USA: some people are simply thankful to have a job; for my part I am thankful to have found such a nice and affordable house. Happy Thanksgiving! (and, no, this it NOT Turkey's “Independance Day”!) In order to try keeping my spirit up, I am reading some great comics and I am following the news (after the jump):
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Clodjee au Salon: les découvertes
Je me souviens que, dans ma jeunesse, j'avais l'habitude de passer une journée entière au salon, déambulant inlassablement dans les allés, en cardo puis en decumanus, de cette cité livresque, à la recherche des derniers trésors. Malheureusement je n'ai plus la même endurance, ni la patience, et après trois heures j'en ai vite fait le tour. Il me semble que je ne vois plus rien. Il y a tellement de livres et de kiosques que nous sommes vite saturés.
Monday, November 21, 2011
A Magazine Is an iPad That Does Not Work!
Someone at the book fair brought to my attention this funny (and viral it seems) video:
Think whatever you want of it, it is cute.
Think whatever you want of it, it is cute.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Bonne nouvelle pour Georges
Les efforts des citoyens de l'arrondissement du Sud-Ouest ont porté fruit (voir mon billet Culture? Vous avez dit culture?) et la section adulte de la bibliothèque Georges-Vanier restera ouverte... pour l'instant. Il s'agit en effet d'un moratorium d'un an, le temps de faire de la consultation publique sur le sujet. Les citoyens devront donc rester vigilants...
- Maintien de la section adulte de Georges-Vanier : le Sud-Ouest ira en consultation publique sur les bibliothèques (lien)
- Maintien de la section adulte de Georges-Vanier : le Sud-Ouest ira en consultation publique sur les bibliothèques (CNW)
- Maintien de la section adulte de la bibliothèque Georges-Vanier (Radio-Canada)
- Little Burgundy library may stay open for adults (CBC)
- Sud-Ouest : l'argent tombé du ciel (Le Carnardo Pressé)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Weekly Press Review (2011/11/17)
I took a couple of days off in order to rest my mind a little and to do some housework at home. Not much happened this week, but still there was a few noteworthy news:
Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture
Local News & National Politics
Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture
- Digital Comics Round-Up (ICv2)
- Montreal's Animaze Film Festival Screens Redline, First Squad Films (ANN) [ Link ]
- Everything You Need to Know About iTunes Match (Mac|Life)
- Free iPad comic tells the story of Operation Ajax (TUAW)
- Annie Leibovitz: iPhone is the 'snapshot camera of today' (Electronista)
- Salon du livre de Montréal: la lecture pour voyager (Métro Montréal)
- Alerte! La relève dans les librairies indépendantes se fait rare (Le Devoir)
- Bédé: Des entretiens avec le mystérieux Enki Bilal (Le Devoir)
- Paul au parc: Personnage en quête de son moi (Le Devoir)
- Annonce des lauréats des 75e Prix littéraires du Gouverneur général (Link)
- 2011's National Book Awards Winners Announced Last Night (USA Today)
- Walt Mossberg Reviews Kindle Fire, Amazon's Color Tablet (WSJ)
- La Ville ouvre les données de ses bibliothèques (Métro Montréal) [ Lien ]
- L'«effet Tintin» se fera-t-il sentir en librairie? (Métro Montréal)
- Couverture du Salon du Livre (Le Devoir)
- Accès gratuit au Salon du livre (Bibliothèques de Montréal)
- Un poisson sur deux consommé dans le monde provient de l'élevage (Le Monde)
- Une députée islandaise dénonce le "piratage légal" de son compte Twitter (Le Monde)
Local News & National Politics
- Le Bain Émard demeurera ouvert (Métro Montréal)
- Bain Émard to remain open (The Gazette)
- City of Montreal lifts hiring freeze (The Gazette)
- Un gel d'embauche qui a duré trois semaines à Montréal (Métro Montréal)
- Montréal précise le gel d'embauche (Métro Montréal)
- We laugh until it hurts (The Gazette)
- 'Doctor Who' Movie in the Works From 'Harry Potter' Director (AOLtv)
- The first full trailer for The Hunger Games is here... (JoBlo.com)
- 'Hunger Games' Trailer (ICv2)
- Qui a dit que la langue française était difficile !!! (MacQuébec)
- Is slow TV taking over the airwaves? (BBC)
- PBS Confirms Season Premiere Dates for 'Downton Abbey' and 'Sherlock' (AOLtv)
- "Samouraï", la guerre au rang des beaux-arts (Le Monde)
- New Li-ion Battery Design Boosts Energy Capacity and Charge Rate 10-Fold (Popular Science)
- Visa aims at developing countries with new international prepaid mobile payment service (Engadget)
- Will bank branches wither away? (USA Today)
- Skype adds Facebook video chatting to software (USA Today)
- Report reveals drop between peak and off-peak surfing (BBC)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The Girlfriend Experience
The Girlfriend Experience is definitely not an entertaining movie — which is surprising considering that Steven Soderbergh is an experienced director (who gave us such movies as Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), Kafka ('91), Erin Brockovich (2000), Traffic (2000), Ocean's Eleven (2001), Solaris (2002), and Che (2008)). However, it is certainly an interesting movie and reminds me more of the rather experimental productions from his early career. The movie is shot in video and edited in short sequences that tell the story in a non-linear way. As new characters are introduced you keep asking “ok, who's that guy?”, and “when is this hapenning? Before or after this other sequence?” So it is very confusing and you cannot really enjoy the movie as you would normally do. Fortunately, the subject was interesting enough to keep me trying to make sense of it.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Weekly Press Review (2011/11/11)
Another busy week. All the stress at work is finally getting to me (both mentally and physically). I am feeling really tired and definitely need a few days of vacation. The Holidays will probably be even crazier with all the work to move out the books from the library, so I better get some rest before then. I also just got the flu shot so my entire body hurts. And there's a zillion things that I still have to do in the new house. The heater in the guest room started slightly leaking again; I don't know yet what I'll do with that... The Montreal book fair is coming later this week and I'll probably attend some workshops about children & YA literature just to keep my mind sharp. Finally, I really hate Google: not only they changed the interface of Blogger, but also of Reader, not only making them more confusing but also eliminating the functions I was using to gather my links for this entry. That's why the Shared Items have not been updated in a while, so until I find an alternative solution (I'll investigate Digg, Google+ or others whenever I have time later this week) ALL my suggested links can be found bellow:
Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Local News & National Politics
Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture
- Top 25 Manga Properties for Summer 2011 (ICv2)
- Comics in Turnaround? Different Answers by Format (ICv2)
- 'Game of Thrones' Moving Product Across Categories (ICv2)
- North American Stream List: October 31 to November 6 (ANN)
- A free Montreal Japanese Film Festival (Coco☆Montréal)
- Japan's digital divas take to the stage, wow fans (The Gazette)
- The Drops of God Manga Launch Celebrated with Wine-Tasting (ANN)
- Interview: Viz Media's Seiji Horibuchi on New People, Manga and Anime (ICv2)
- iTunes est un «vampire numérique», dénonce Pete Townshend (Cyberpresse)
- Bientôt une application iPhone pour Gmail? [ Oops! ] (Cyberpresse)
- New app uses brainwaves to track sleep quality (The Gazette)
- How Siri could change the 911 emergency system (TUAW)
- Doctor Who Encyclopedia released for iPad (MacNN)
- Watch PBS’s ‘Steve Jobs: One Last Thing’ Online, Right Here, Right Now (Cult of Mac)
- Does Apple's Voice Recognition Work Just as Well as Siri? (MacLife)
- Siri: Apple entre en concurrence directe avec Google (Cyberpresse)
- The Doctor Has An App Now. Apps Are Cool [Review] (Cult of Mac)
- Apple Store 2.0 brings Personal Pickup and EasyPay (GigaOM)
- Apple’s Newsstand a Huge Success for Digital Publishers (Wired)
- Apple launches iOS 5 update with potential battery fix (USA Today)
- La fin de la librairie (1ère partie): Ce n’est pas l’internet qui a tué la librairie (Le Monde)
- De Dorval (Canada) à l'Angleterre de Cameron en passant par la pensée d'Edmund Burke (Bib92) [Confondre Le Sud-Ouest et Dorval: bravo les français!]
- La librairie numérique de Google arrive au Canada (Cyberpresse)
- Bientôt le 34e Salon du livre de Montréal (Le Devoir)
- The World's Most Amazing Databases: WorldCat (Popular Science) [Unfortunately, the data of the Montreal Libraries Network are not available on WorldCat...]
- Une campagne pour sauver Bibliothèque et Archives Canada (Radio-Canada)
- Amazon introduces free lending library for Prime members (TUAW)
- Paul à La Presse (Cyberpresse)
- Esi Edugyan's Half-Blood Blues wins Giller Prize (The Gazette)
- Kobo acquired by Japanese firm for $315 million (The Gazette)
- Rakuten signs agreement to purchase Kobo (Engadget)
- Japanese giant Rakuten buys Kobo ebook business (BBC)
- Amazon: l’industrialisation de la fidélisation (Le Monde)
- Alexandrie: papyrus et octets pour la bibliothèque (Le Monde)
- Un Américain sur 15 vit dans la grande pauvreté (Métro Montréal)
- More boomers working past retirement (USA Today)
- Myths about the flu shot (The Gazette)
- Memory lapses caused by mental 'event boundary' (The Gazette)
- Le high-tech pour vieillir en restant chez soi (Le Monde)
Local News & National Politics
- Les éluEs du Sud-Ouest doivent reculer (La pointe libertaire)
- Conseil municipal: les citoyens participent à la démocratie! (Projet Montréal)
- Protestation pour le Bain Émard (Radio-Canada) [à la Première Chaine: Bulletin Regional du 2 novembre à 15h05, commence à 00:45]
- Faits saillants du conseil d'arrondissement du 1er novembre (lien) [Étrange changement de ton depuis le dernier conseil: “Le maire Dorais invite la population à demeurer mobilisée”?!]
- La première bibliothèque publique francophone du Canada (Avant l'autoroute)
- Sovereignty is wasted on the young, poll says (The Gazette)
- Pool protest: Evening News (Global)
- Manifestation contre la fermeture du Bain Émard (La Voix Pop)
- Bain Émard: pas de bouée de sauvetage de la ville centre (La Voix Pop)
- Le Bain Émard restera ouvert en 2012 ! (La Voix Pop)
- Good Show! 'Downton Abbey' Gets a Third Season (AOLtv)
- Death to Amy Pond? 'Doctor Who' Star Karen Gillan Sounds Off (AOLtv)
- Pan Am obtient du renfort (Métro Montréal)
- The Criterion Collection comes to iTunes (TUAW)
- Les lois de l'Univers sont contre nous (Le Monde)
- La «pierre de soleil» des Vikings n'est pas une légende (Cyberpresse)
- Photos: A walk through Montreal history (The Gazette)
- Genes of first settlers predominant in Quebec population (The Gazette)
- Montreal's new open data portal inspires historical photo site (The Gazette)
Remembering
I used to think that such day was not worth remembering, often feigning to have forgotten what it meant. I had this image in my mind of all those very elderly veterans at a ceremony who couldn't really remember why they were there. I thought that the fact Canadian soldiers were mostly used as cannon fodder for the British Empire was not something that should be celebrated. Then again, the poor lads that gave their lives in those wars were oblivious of any political motivation and, after all, their sacrifice should not be forgotten.
So, there we are: have an happy Rememberance Day!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Anecdote of the day
I am exiting the subway station and notice that it is raining outside. Sitting against the wall of the station, under its protruding roof in an attempt to get some protection from the light rain, a young man in worn out clothes is begging. A small black labrador dog is sleeping at his sides. He asks me, “Can you spare some change, sir?” Trying to look contrite, but I am sure I sounded rather smart-assed, I answer him: “Sorry, son, if it's change you want, I cannot help you. Change must come from within.” And I busily continue on my way home.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Épanouissement du DALIAF
Compilé par Claude Janelle (à qui l'on doit aussi L'Année de la science-fiction et du fantastique québécois, Le XIXe siècle fantastique en Amérique française et La Décennie charnière) et publié par les Éditions Alire (le principal éditeur de paralittérature au Québec, qui est mieux connu pour les romans d'horreur de Patrick Sénécal ou les thrillers des Jean-Jacques Pelletier mais n'en est toutefois pas à la publication de son premier essai), le DALIAF recense la production des littératures de l’imaginaire (c'est-à-dire science-fiction, fantastique et fantasy) produite, entre 1835 et 2008 inclusivement, en Amérique du Nord francophone (mais principalement au Québec) et s'attarde particulièrement aux plus de mille sept cents hommes et femmes qui en sont les créateurs.
Le DALIAF est un ouvrage à la fois bibliographique, biographique et critique. Fort de 535 pages, il est publié en quadrichromie dans un grand format couverture caisse (couverture cartonnée et reliure cousue). Il coûtera 79,95 $ pour la version papier (978-2-89615-074-8) et 49,99 $ pour la version électronique (format pdf, 978-2-89615-479-1). Lancé à la fin du mois de novembre (manquant de justesse le Salon du Livre!?), il sera disponible chez Alire en décembre et en librairies dès janvier 2012. Quoique dispendieux (mais volumineux et en couleur!), c'est un outil de référence essentiel pour tout bibliothécaire, étudiant en littérature, intervenant de l'édition ou simplement amateur extrème du livre québécois. Vous pouvez en avoir un aperçu (en feuilletant un extrait) sur le site de l’Entrepôt numérique ANEL-De Marque.
Et bien sûr, ayant publié quelques nouvelles comme auteur et quelques fanzines ou anthologies comme éditeur, on peut me trouver dans les pages du DALIAF. J'ai bien hâte de voir ça.
(voir aussi mon commentaire détaillé)
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Anecdote du jour
J'entre dans la station de métro en même temps qu'une bourrasque de vent. Je me rends en quelques pas vers l'escalier mécanique que je descends à grande vitesse, pestant contre les gens qui ne respectent pas la tradition de tenir la droite dans les escaliers et couloirs du métro. Je murmure un vague “S'cusé” pour qu'on me cède le passage. Au bas de l'escalier, un camelot de L'Itinéraire, offrant des exemplaires du magazine dans un présentoire suspendu à son cou, répète machinalement “L'Itinéraire! L'Itinéraire!” Je n'y porte aucune attention mais au moment où je passe à ses côtés il m'interpelle: “Monsieur? L'Itinéraire?”. Je lui réponds, avec un air contrit, “Non, désolé, je sais très bien où je vais. Merci.” Et je continue mon chemin, sans ralentir, vers les tourniquets de la station...
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Weekly Press Review (2011/10/30)
Another though week at work due to the excruciatingly slow computer system. I finally got a plumber to repair the heating system at home. It was about time since it is getting quite cold at night. I also spent the entire day friday walking around in the city of Outremont, enjoying the parks and looking at rich people's homes. It's nice to dream once in a while that you could be a millionaire. I think that's the first time in six months that I could really rest and enjoy a sunny (although a little chilly) day. Probably because it's the first time in a while that it's not raining on my day off. Here's a sample of the news I've read this week:
Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture
Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture
- Viz Launches a Yaoi Line (ICv2)
- A New 'Watchmen' Comics Rumored? (ICv2)
- Femmes seules: Le cinéma japonais au FNC (Shomingeki Blog)
- Viz Media Launches SuBLime: A New Yaoi Manga Publishing Imprint (ANN)
- Why Cancel One of the Bestselling Comics in the U.S? Viz, Shueisha Execs Answer (ICv2)
- Right Stuf to Release 'Gasaraki' in February (ICv2)
- New Tezuka, Shinkai, More From Vertical (ICv2)
- Canadian app maker gains from the 'big shift' in publishing (The Gazette)
- 10 cool things you can do with Wolfram Alpha and Siri (TUAW)
- A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs (NYT)
- Religious stories are best for believers (The Gazette)
- Bibliothèques publiques de Montréal: Ressources en ligne (lien) [Voir en particuliers “Canadian Newsstand” qui offre des actualités en provenance de plus de 300 journaux canadiens]
- News popular on tablets but few want to pay: study (The Gazette)
- Condé Nast digital subs soar 268% after iPad gets Newsstand (Electronista)
- Les comptes du "New York Times" repassent dans le vert (Le Monde)
- National Gaming Day at Libraries on November 12 (ICv2)
- De l’aide au devoir à la bibliothèque (Métro Montréal)
- Digital Comics Fans Older And More Male than Paper (ICv2)
- Royal Society journal archive made permanently free to access (Royal Society)
- L'inflation accélère à 3,2% en septembre (Métro Montréal) [Tout augmente -- l'électricité, les taxes, etc. -- il n'y a que nos salaires qui ne suivent pas le coût de la vie!]
- World population hits seven billion and could double within 100 years (The Gazette) [Hit the panic button! Sorry, it's probably too late anyway...]
- 3 dead, over 2 million without power as snowstorm slams Northeast, Mid-Atlantic (CNN)
- Can a muffin help doctors diagnose diabetes? (The Gazette)
- Unshelved (2011/10/08)
- Unshelved (2011/10/23)
- If You Thought Siri Has Attitude Now, Just Wait Until Next Year (DogHouseDiaries via Cult Of Mac)
- Bibliothèque Georges-Vanier: pétition contre la fermeture de la section des adultes (La Voix Pop)
- Fermeture d'une bibliothèque dans le Sud-Ouest (CIBL)
- Le conseil municipal de Montréal, 24 octobre 2011: Période de questions du public (WEBTV.COOP)
- Montrealers using public transit like never before (The Gazette)
- Montreal to limit property-tax hikes to 2.5% (The Gazette)
- Des hausses de taxes d’au moins 2,5% en 2012 (Métro Montréal)
- La Ville de Montréal ouvre ses données (Cyberpresse)
- City of Montreal launches open data website (The Gazette)
- Tintin au Québec avant le reste de l’Amérique? Fort probable! (Cyberpresse) [En passant: je trouve le nouveau look de La Presse plutôt horrible!]
- La webtélé gagne en popularité au Québec, révèle un rapport du CEFRIO (Cyberpresse)
- Une tombe viking découverte en Écosse (Métro Montréal)
- Les secrets de la lévitation quantique (Le Monde)
- iPod fathers unveil their next project, the Nest Learning Thermostat (hands-on) (Engadget)
- At Waldorf School in Silicon Valley, Technology Can Wait (NYT)
Après une journée à s'en arracher les cheveux
Je suis tombé sur le film “L'homme au masque de cire” (House of Wax) aujourd'hui et je me suis dit que ce devait être un dvd totalement désopilant!
Par ailleurs, je recommande la série télé “Six pieds sous terre”. C'est très profond comme série...
Par ailleurs, je recommande la série télé “Six pieds sous terre”. C'est très profond comme série...
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