On Wednesday evening, quanta and I saw the Toronto version of the Blue Man Group show as part of our office Christmas party.  The show was very different than anything I have ever seen before, and I’m not really sure that I enjoyed it.  The music was exceptionally loud, and the strobe lights were uncomfortable.  But, there were sections of the show that were amazing.

I really liked the themes of information overload and pollution that played a role in some parts of the show.  It was interesting to me to see how I reacted to sections were you had time to only read one of three posters.  When the posters I read said that the other posters could be read at www.wordsontheleft.com, I felt a strange sense of relief.  But, being me, I still tried to read all of the posters.  I’m glad I did, because the website doesn’t show what’s on the posters!  But, by trying to read all the posters, I think I proved one of the points they were trying to make–that we fill ourselves with much more information then we need.

I was really disappointed by obvious product placements in the show.  Food is used in several sections, and the logos associated with the food are always clearly visible.  This seems to be in conflict with the show’s theme of information overload.

Overall, I’m pretty sure I would not go see the show again, but in an odd way I’m glad I did see.  If only for that small insight into myself that it gave me.

If you do go to a Blue Man Group show, be aware that people who sit in the front may get hit with food.  (Plastic ponchos are supplied.)  And also be aware that at the end of the show strobe lights are used excessively, and you will get buried in paper.

Lately I’ve been working on a Top Secret project that has required me to spend a lot of time looking at the websites for provincial and territorial ministries of education. (Okay, the project isn’t exactly top secret, but that makes it sound cooler and infinitely less boring then it actually is…)

Anyway, while exploring the government site for the relatively new territory of Nunavut, I noticed something odd–Nunavut ripped off Nelvana’s logo!

(Hopefully using these logos is acceptable under copyright fair use exceptions…)

The logo’s aren’t identical, but it sure seems like Nunavut’s (est. April 1, 1999) polar bear was inspired by Nelvana’s (est. 1971).

I wonder if any other countries/provinces/states have logos (or flags, or crests) that look similar to ones used by a company.

And since I am writing about governmental oddities, check out this site that rates and critiques national flags: The world’s flags given letter grades. Canada got an A-.

Halloween hasn’t happened yet, but Christmas trees are already decorating the stores. It is enough to turn anyone into a Scrooge.

In Canada, Thanksgiving occurs early in October, so Christmas is the next big holiday after Halloween. But, for goodness sakes, wait until at least November 1st to put up the decorations! It is no wonder that so many people are tired of Christmas before it arrives.

I will admit that I am one of those people who do their holiday shopping early. I only have two or three gifts left to buy, and I should be done by next Friday. But I do this so I can enjoy the holiday season and avoid the malls. Just because I buy gifts in June doesn’t mean that I want to see Christmas items then.

It has been a rule of mine to avoid malls during the month of December. But with the shopping season being continually extended backwards, I may give up malls as early as November 1st soon.

As an aside, Canada Post releases their holiday stamps on November 1st. That doesn’t bother me too much, since international cards and party invitations need to me mailed early. But I think the secular stamps aren’t very attractive this year.