Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

I recently watched this movie called Scott Pilgrim vs. the Wold. I didn't see it in theatres and I waited forever for it to be on sale on HMV. I finally bought it for $10 and this is my new favourite movie!!

It's about a guy (Michael Cera) who falls in love with this funky-looking girl who came across one of his dreams before he met her, Ramona. However, in order to be together, Scott must fight 7 of his ex-boyfriends, called "The League of the 7 Evil Exes" or something. The first is like a very dramatic self-loving brown guy. The second is like this super cool looking movie star who also skates. The third is like this vegan guy with super powers and very white hair. The fourth is a chick who Ramona had a "phase" with. The fifth and sixth are some Japanese twin brothers ("Ramona dated both of them at the same time?!"). Finally the seventh is this powerful guy who signs bands to recording contracts or so. On top of that, his band wants to be known and Scott has to find a way to break up with his high school girlfriend to be with Ramona.

What I liked about the movie is that it's different. But cool different. It has a lot of special effects - read comic effects- like the DDDDDD's when guitars are playing, screams, when someone gets punched, or video game references like "1up", and the division of screens when two or more things are happening at once, like when Scott talks to his sister on the phone. I find it very creative and eyecatching. Makes it kinda interactive, feel like you are playing the movie or something. But moreover, I love the sense of humour in the movie. Conversations and the script are very clever in the way that there is some humour in every character. Like when Scott fights the vegan guy, he says "You might be ve-gone, but now you'll BE-GONE!" Or when the first ex-boyfriend wants to fight Scott and he was surprised with that. The exboyfriend says "didn't you get my email explaining the situation?" Things happen so random and fast, it's like telling the story without all the unecessary junk. Like the scene when Ramona delivers Scott his package. When she said that if he signs the package she will go out on a date with him, it shows Scott's signature, giving it back, throwing the pen away, and asking her out...all in like 2 seconds. Oh yeah, did I also mention that it was filmed in Toronto? Yeah, they show the streetcars and the Pizza Pizza by the Honest Ed's in downtown.

It's just a cool movie in general. Special effects, humour, action, romance, video games, music, Michael Cera lol.  It's like everything teenager in a movie. or..twenty-somethings too. I would totally recomment it to anyone who likes a good laugh and entertainment. I leave with you the trailer and with one of the scenes I liked from the movie.

Secure obscured

I have been tired of hearing a lot about sexual assaults, robberies, violent assaults, vandalism incidents on campus. It is ridiculous to attend such a great university, yet I feel very insecure about stepping out of my house to go out for a walk around the block.

When future students and parents ask me about York Security system I feel like lieing to them. Yes, it is true that we count with services like GoSafe that goes around campus to pick and drop-off people, CCTV's, blue light emergency phones, indoor safety phones, foot patrols and escorts, etc. Yet, there is at least one report of harrassment, sexual assault or theft every week. Are security staff doing enough?

On facebook I was invited to a group called "We Want A Safer York", started by students who are rallying and making petitions to reinforce the security system at York. Big part of the concern was that there are not many security staff patroling the Village area, a private non-property of York. Whereas the Village mostly encompases students living there, there are also women and children who inhabitat in these residences that are equally put in danger.

In my experience, I have barely seen any security staff around the Village at York. I aknowledge the presence of security bodies wandering around campus, but definetly not beyond the university boundaries. And it is in the Village where most sexual assaults and robberies occur. Yeah, there are plenty of cop cars and (well take a guess) parking enforcement police. But when it gets dark at night, it is mostly students walking on the quiet dark and lonely streets of the Village. Some women are careless enough to walk by themselves late at night. I don't even want to imagine what happens on every thursday that is Pub Night, where some girls get drunk and some guys get a little frisky.

I don't know about the GoSafe operations, but in my experience, it is a very poor security service offering to students on campus. First of all, this year they changed the type of transportation. Last year they were couple vans going around campus. This year they changed those vans into a SINGLE mini bus that comes by every half an hour. This is what I find ridiculous! If anything they should ADD on more vans or mini buses, not pack couple vans and compact it into one mini bus. There should be dropping off people to wherever they need, not picking up a few spots for pick up. And hours of operation should be EXTENDED, not diminished. A lot could happen on 30 minutes waiting for the mini bus to come. This reminds me of the time I called the service to pick me up by Winters College because I needed to get to the other side of the campus, Calumet College. I called, and I waited all by myself at like 10pm for like 45 minutes and they never came. I was so frustrated for waiting so i walked by myself. This is not the only case. Most of the times I have called them, it always took them a while to get me. There was one time, when I was at my friend's apartment, a little bit over the Village. I called them at 1.40am, and they said they stopped their service already, when on the website it clearly states that their working hours is until 2am. They also told me that they could not do anything beyond the York Boundaries. But I Need To Get To My Residence On Campus!!! Can't they even like, wait for me in one spot so that they can walk me back to res? ugh. And aparently I am not the only one with bad experiences. heard from a friend, who was trying to help a drunked friend to get back to residence, that the GoSafe people told them that they wouldn't take that person because they don't want any puking in the van. If anything, they are the ones who really need the van. There was also this time when couple friends wanted to get a ride to the Village from campus. They said they could take the ladies, but not the guys. Hmm...as if guys were in less danger of getting an assault than girls. I was also reading on the facebook group, and someone commented that even the mini bus driver was being mean.

I know the GoSafe can't be that bad, can it? I can't totally bash about it because a good friend of mine used to work for it. I mean, I know they try what they can do. They make sure to follow the good instructions they received, but sometimes you gotta look further, thinking about helping out somebody with their safeness, rather than thinking it is 'just' a job.

Although I still think that York security system should be reinforced. Also, people should stop walk by themselves at night, leave their expensive belongings alone, dress provocatively, listen to ipod and stop paying attention to their surroundings, be mischief. People should stop being stupid.

Meet the parents day

FINALLY I am done with all my school work. It was about time! Sorry Blogger, I had you abandoned because I had gazillion assignments to do all due last week. But since I am done, I will be dedicating you more time.

Also, finally, both of my parents came visit me in Toronto. It is usually my dad who comes, and mom stays watching the house. But this time both of them wanted to come to look for a place for me and my sister Sonia.

Today was the day that my parents met my boyfriend Jacob. jacob not only had to be put in an awkward position with my parents, but my aunt and uncle were also there. Poor boy. But anyways, he was pretty nervous before meeting them, his feet kept tapping the floor. Then they came. It was an akward 'hello', since none of my parents and relatives are the hugging type of people. What happens when white boy meets chinese adults? Cultural shock. The whiteness of Jacob came when he was eating fries, fried rice, and noodles. Of course mother wanted him to try new things, but I understand why Jacob would be so afraid to try. And I don't think that was a place for him to start trying new things. I didn't want to push him to try Chinese food, like the 'asian-ess' of my mother came out when she kept insisting him on eating more. "Eat some meat!" "Try the BBQ ribs!" "Eat some of these fruits!" "Here, have some more!" drink this, eat that, etc. etc. Whereas for me, it's all about "Stop eating this" "Stop eating that" "you look fat" "what's that piece of meat you have on your side". You see, she is the kind of person that likes to critisize people, especially labelling people as either 'skinny' or 'fat' since she is a health freak after all. My dad says nothing, all he does is sit there and nod (and eat cuz eating is important to him). My aunt just tells me about my little cousin Adam. My uncle....haha...my uncle is such a character.... He is the kind of person that talks, talks, talks, and talks. It's almost like his mind is processing words more rapidly than he can utter them out. If you never want an awkward silence, have a talk with my uncle, or more like listen to my uncle. Because whenever you wanna get into the conversation, express an opinion, agree with him, disagree with him, etc. he will cut you off and start talking even faster. That is why I can never ride a car with him driving, because the whole time is him talking, sometimes I feel like I wanna fall asleep. You can just nod to him, like my dad.

But the good thing about the awkward lunch was that it seems like they approved Jacob. I am really glad, since I have never brought a guy and introduce him to my parents. Jacob is definetly the type of guy I want my parents to meet. They said he was very polite, very good to comprimise (according to wikie it means "a concept of finding agreement through communication, through a mutual acceptance of terms"), very easy going and a good gentleman. Jacob thought my parents were kind, and although they did not talk much, they seem to be good looking people, even though they look younger than their actual age. I am happy that no blood was spilled - in other words, I am glad that they were good to each other. Let's keep it that way, shall we?

I love my Jacob, he is so good with parents, and very refined and polite. Plus very good looking. I am very happy with him and I would not change him for anyone else.