The Evil Empire by Steven A. Grasse

If you're interested in an entertaining, tongue and cheek (the way I viewed it anyway) recollection of factoids about the British, you can't go wrong with The Evil Empire: 101 Ways That England Ruined the World.  Written by Steven A. Grasse, he explains that the idea for the book came about from being criticized by Brits who had strong opinions about the USA.  I can't say I blame them, but Grasse makes some good points from the perspective of a citizen of the current world superpower towards the actions of the former.

The book is a great light read as the list of 101 points is divided up into comfortable one or two page summaries of specific criticisms.  From things like 'they hooked the Chinese on Opium' to 'they caused the Great Depression', The Evil Empire is a fascinating read that just goes to show for as critical as we (as in the rest of the World) are of the USA, they're not just paying for their mistakes, but are currently paying the price for a long chain of events that we've all played a part in creating.  However, in true managerial fashion, if you're at the top, you're also the easiest one to blame.

I can see both Americans and Brits getting up in arms about who did what, who's worse, etc.  But frankly, I'm Canadian so historically we've had our issues with both, haha.  If you're easily offended I can see this book striking a nerve, and to be honest, I can't tell if Grasse is taking himself too seriously or not - but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

The Evil Empire is a mixed bag of cultural and historical snippets that create a convenient argument, but essentially just asserts that there's no shortage of guilt to pass around.  Of course, it's easy to make a case for how much the British have also improved the way our modern world operates - English is a great language after all.  But naturally this is more fun.

Custom Gear Shift Knob

One of the first upgrades I made after buying my Jaguar was replacing the leather gear shift knob with a custom one. In contrast to the original, the upgraded version is slightly larger, hand-made, and has a Jaguar badge inlaid under a high gloss resin. I was also diligent in my selection to find one that matched the colouring of the burled walnut in my car's interior. It's no surprise that you can find these knobs with a variety of stains and custom badges, although the wood interiors of Jaguars have made them popular targets.

I made my purchase online from a craftsman who specializes in custom woodwork out of Quebec. The piece cost about $80, which isn't the cheapest option obviously, but it was still more affordable than buying one of these gear shift knobs directly from Jaguar. The interior of the XJ8 is stunning as it is, but this is one of the easiest upgrades to make and it adds a striking focal point to the centre console. Not to mention, it seems like a small price to pay for something that you get to look at and enjoy every time you drive.

My Film School Notes

I rediscovered all of my film school notes over the weekend.  Had I gone to class more often I'm sure there would've been even more.  I'm not entirely sure what I've stored away here, but I'm fairly certain that there's going to be lots to share.  

I'm hoping to pull up some notes on former assignments and show you the resulting projects I did, maybe showcase a few syllabuses to give you an idea of what some of my classes were like, and ultimately archive anything of value for my own sake.

Hmmm, this looks like it could take a while.