[Editor's note: on Saturday, two of my favourite people in Vancouver the world, Kurt and Theodora Lamrich, tied the knott - at the Planetarium, and it was epic. And their reception at Main Street's Heritage Hall was equally epic and unfolded as a true representation of the couple's love and character. For example, the hashtag #TheoandKurtkiss was trending on Twitter by the end of the evening. The wedding was, like there love is, truly galactic. More importantly, it was foretold by one of William Shakespeare's little known comedic characters, Hornlet. The poem unfolds below. Enjoy!]

HORNLET: To wed, or not to wed–that is the question:

Whether ’tis proper to wait four years to marry

Finding each other, your quite good fortune

Did you take arms against a sea of troubles

And with our help, ended them. Tonight, no sleep–

No more–and when you sleep to say we end.

Marriage, tell your story together forever

That love found in you. ‘Tis a declaration

We devoutly wished. To love, to wed–

Marriage—to live your dreams: ay, there’s the rub,

For in your marriage what dreams may come

When you are nestled in your lovers’ coil,

Must give us pause. There’s the respect

To grow old together of so long life.

For you will bear the whips and scorns of time,

Th’ NPA is wrong, the Heinrich’s qualified

The pangs of bromance love, did some delay,

The insolence of Hornlet, and fiery burns

That nutted merit Lammer’s friendship makes,

When she herself might cross the hall take

View a bare bottom? What do neighbours share,

Some advice to live your married life,

Or the dread of zombies after death,

The undiscovered marriage, from you’s bourn

No traveller returns, journey you will,

And will you rather bear the love you have

And fly to places that we know not of?

This wedding does make lovers of us all (not literally, that’d be weird),

And thus the serious tone of my elocution

Is shaded o’er with a much happy thought,

Your enterprise of red hair and eyebrows

With this regard your currents intertwined

And love the name of Lamrich. — Soft you now,

The fair Theodora! — Kurt, kiss her crimsons

And we all your love remember.

- Exeunt

Who are you?

[Editor's note: Pete Mackenzie is an Employment Counsellor & Facilitator at Job Options BC with the YMCA-YWCA of the Okanagan. Born and raised in Vancouver, he misses the rain and real estate prices. His messianic zeal is built around youth employment issues and he believes with some creative entrepreneurship, BC can be the next Mumbai, India. Pete is also this blog's newest Correspondent!]

Most people think of me as the guy with chiseled abs. Actually, that’s the guy standing next to me… he’s a bit of a jerk.

What do you do for fun?

Um, work. I’m really lame. I saw Superbad a few years ago, it was pretty good.

What is your favourite community? Why?

Pete can't belive the Canucks lost again!

What is your superpower?

The ability to talk even when no one is listening.

Pete building community!

How do you use it to build community?

One day I hope have something meaningful to say.

My Three Favourite Things About Pete Are…

1. Brevity. This was one of the fastest and more entertaining GTKYCs ever. Well played, Pete. Well played.

2. The Man Knows Funny. One need only check out Pete’s first contribution to The Daily Gumboot, “How Not to Look Like an Idiot” to get a sense of his humourous, um, sense. I  appreciate our newest Correspondent’s penchant for “laughing it off” – in the business of blogging, one needs to be able to laugh reflexively, as there are a lot of annonymously mean-spirited trolls out there.

3. Entrepreneurial Spirit. I love that Pete works for fun and I also love – and am honoured by – the fact that he sought out this piblication and pitched us on his writing style and substance. To say that he’s a good fit would be one of the biggest understatements of 2012!

- As told by John Horn

You’re welcome.

Over the past week, our international team of correspondents – many of whom are experts in post-apocalyptic studies (the other one is named “Martin”) – discussed how the world will probably end, what it will look like around the world, what skills you will need to survive, how you will live on anyway, and a general planning guide for the post-apocalyptic world. We wrapped up the week with a special The List and Kurt pulled himself together to complete a rousing interview with John Connor (because Kurt probably believes in Johnism).

Anyway, here is a brief and editorialized synopsis of the week’s offerings:

Day 1: The Apocalypse Project Begins!

• Lesson learned: there is something really, really interesting happening with the planets in our solar system; this being said, the infinite John Horn’s who live in the infinite other universes don’t really think it’s that interesting. Yeah, I just blew your mind!

Day 2: The Many Horsemen of the Apocalypse

• Lessons learned: first, thanks to Lord Hashbrown III for teaching everyone how to spell “Gumboot” in Ancient Mayan; second, while I certainly champion Kurt’s well-supported argument that computers – or, more specifically, “Google” – will rise up and destroy us, it also seems highly likely that Cobra Commander has some sort of zombie-based strategy up his sleeve; third, let’s face it, Mother Nature isn’t too pleased with us and she’s probably going to be the one who ends it all (civilization, not the Earth).

Day 3: The Global Toolkit of Skills You Will Need to Survive the Apocalypse

• Lessons learned: I dunno…something about throwing dinner parties for Marxists?!

Day 4: An Apocalypse Planning Guide

• Lessons learned: community asset maps and outdoor skills are essential in the post-apocalyptic world; we need to know where things are and, most likely, how to fight zombies in the woods. Oh, and cardio is really, really important, too. Because whether it’s a Terminator, a thousand zombies, or a tidal wave, when the world ends you’re going to be outrunning something.

Day 5: The ApocaList

• Lesson learned: Michelle really doesn’t like it when I put her On Notice, even if it’s all in good fun. And, in her defense, she has since come up with a much better survival plan – we don’t want to share it, though, because then you (or worse, Google) will know.

Day 6: Interview with John Connor

• Lesson learned: Kurt Heinrich is an intrepid interviewer who can travel in the future to conduct an interview that is published in the past because he sent his father back in time to work for The Daily Gumbo – they made how many of these movies?

Courtesy of Kookaburra2011

In conclusion, The Daily Gumboot community hopes that you this series made you laugh, made you scrunch-up your face in a quizzical manner, made you angry, and, most importantly, made you think about the end of the world. After all, it’s probably the only world we’ve got. So, before we, as a community, plan how to live once it dies, let’s think about how we can work together to keep it alive!

–

Masthead photo courtesy of Stuck in Customs

CarlosVanVegas - Mayan Calendar

The world as we know it will end on December 21, 2012. There, I said it. Exactly how this is going to happen is debatable, but planetary alignment is a part of it. And there are a few theories (zombies, more zombies, meteors, robots, God, Mother Nature, nuclear war, aliens, nuclear-zombie-dinosaur-terminators) regarding how we will meet our end. And several “survival guides” and “tip sheets” and “disaster kit lists” are also available for all of your post-apocalyptic-planning needs. And this is why The Daily Gumboot team is excited to bring you The Apocalypse Project. Because such a thorough and comprehensive assessment of how humanity will end, how you can survive, and how you can re-build – or newly build – your post-apocalyptic community ever been written.

Until now.

Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to The Apocalypse Project!

Over the next seven days, our international team of correspondents will answer the following questions:

• Are you talking about civilization ending or the world ending?
• How is the world (or civilization or whatever) going to end?
• Who are these “Mayans”? And where is their “Mayan” country? Can’t we just attack it or something?
• Are “Mayans” like zombies? Because it seems like zombies are going to be a big problem pretty soon. What are your tips for dealing with a Zombie Apocalypse?
• What about robots and technology? How are they – or is it – going to rise up and destroy us all?
• You write about the Sun a lot. Will that have something to do with it?
• So the world is ending, what skills do I need to survive?
• What are some good tips for growing food in a post-apocalyptic hellscape? What about Detroit?
• In the post-apocalyptic world, how can I be a leader of people? Like Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games.
• Why can’t we all just hop on a plane and go to Earth 2?
• According to String Theory, we all live in alternate universes at the same time. So, does any of this really matter?
• When civilization as we know it crumbles into oblivion, will people still be nice to each other?
• I hear that John Travolta, Richard Branson and Rain (the Korean pop star) all have bunkers. Where are they and how can we infiltrate them?
• How will your bloggers’ “superpowers” build “community” in this post-apocalyptic world?

Courtesy of ian on Flickr

All these questions (and more) will be answered during the next week. From zombies to terminators to Gaya to supervillains, we will chronicle the Earth’s possible potential probable definite demise. Don’t worry. We’ll also talk about how you and your community can survive and thrive (before, during and after) the apocalypse. Oh, and Kurt is going to interview John Connor (the leader of The Resistance).

Hey, Twitterverse, all I can say is this: you’re welcome.

Enjoy the apocalyptic edutainment!

Who are you?

My response to this question depends on who is asking. Since you met me when I was doing comedy I’ll answer from my performer persona.

I’m Sara Bynoe. I’m an actor, writer, producer, host and general ‘who’s that girl’ about town. I run a monthly show called Say Wha?! Readings of Deliciolusly Rotten Writing where I get funny people up onstage to read from the worst books they can find. I’ve also been the force behind a community comedy show called Teen Angst Night, where anyone can get up on stage, the catch is that you have to share embarrassing writing you wrote when you were a teenager. I’m also the Den Mama for the Vancouver Chapter of Dance Dance Party Party – currently on hiatus while I have a contract for the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Jan 17-Feb 4 in various venues around Vancouver.

What do you do for fun?

For fun I dance, sing, and hang out with friends. I often combine all three by going to karaoke. I also perform, write, produce and act silly on stage for fun.

Other things I think are fun: yoga, pilates, traveling, and dancing. I said that already, didn’t I?  I really like dancing.

What is your favourite community? Why?

This is a tough question. I feel a part of so many communities it’s hard to pick just one. Lately I’ve been loving how I can hardly walk down a street in Vancouver with out bumping into anyone I know. So I guess I’ll have to say Vancouver’s performing community. I know so many wonderful people working hard on and for events and their art; be it comedy, theatre, film, dance, writing, music or art. I’m constantly inspired by the endless dedication to creation that is in the city.

What is your superpower?

My superpower is the ability to see projects through to fruition. I don’t feel particularly talented in any art form but my gift lies in dedication and the ability to produce.

For example: In 2000, when I was 19 years old I had the idea for a website that would be the online database of the world’s worst teenage poetry – 11 years, one website, one book, several international gigs and maybe a hundred Canadian shows later I’m still doing it.

How do you use it to build community?

A lot of my superpower is already dedicated to building community, be it through organizing Dance Dance Party Party, growing my connection with the performing and comedy scene or through my audience at Say Wha?! Nights.

I’ve recently added a community element to my shows where I encourage the audience to talk to each other. It’s amazing how people will follow directions if you have a microphone in your hand. The way I see it, why shouldn’t you say hi to people at other tables, you’re at the same small event which means you’re all awesome, therefore you should know each other.

My Three Favourite Things About Sara Are…

1. She makes reading fun! Not to mention friggin’ hilarious.I absolutely love the powerful simplicity behind Say Wha?! - crappy writing, when read with style, sass, and interspersed-witticisms, begets many laughs from lucky guests. With perfect stage presence, playful unpretentiousness and Jill Barber-ish style (unless, Sara, you aren’t a fan…I’m just saying that you have a wonderful, throw-back fashion sense that jives well with your act) Sara makes us all appreciate good literature while we cringe, squirm and howl at the bad stuff. My lovely wife and special lady, Michelle, doesn’t care too much for comedians; and she absolutely loved Sara’s performance at the Havana Theatre in early January. Because Sara makes reading fun!

2. Organized drive that delivers awesome. I have the highest respect for people who deliver on what they say they’re going to do. And people who set and achieve goals (especially stretch-goals). And people who get results. So, what’s the difference between real entrepreneurs and everybody else? Entrepreneurs do things. Their life is a living laboratory of thinking, testing ideas, revising them, and then testing them again. Seeing Sara perform – and then conversing with her in person and through the Internets afterward – revealed her sparkling possession of such character. And it’s a beautiful thing!

3. Audience participation. Inclusiveness is once of the most important pillars of happy and healthy communities. And whether it’s organizing Dance Dance Parties Parties (right?) or encouraging a talkative audience, Sara gets more – maybe the best – out of myriad Vancouver communities. Hey, Sara, I look forward to bumping into you on the street sooner than later!

- As told by John Horn

Who are you?

At first I wondered whether I should answer this question about me personally or about my work. Then I realized that it is the same answer, because who I am is my work. After years of feeling lost and misaligned with my work, I decided to embark on an adventure of self-discovery from which I wanted to connect with my own inspired work. Through this journey, I discovered my own purpose and vision, and my mission is now to help others realize the same. The creation that helps me fulfill this is my business, which is called The New School for Inspired Work. A place where I share my process with those who desire to create work that feels meaningful to them. I believe when we work from this place of inspiration, we serve the world best.

What do you do for fun?

My work is the most fun thing I do. Whether I am creating new courses or facilitating them or being with the incredible people that participate in them – I feel the most alive, the most joyful, and the most myself. I cannot imagine anything being more fun than that. I do have other loves outside of work. I enjoy playing games, all games – card games, board games, computer games. I also spend a lot of time cooking, using new recipes – I never cook the same meal twice. As well, I like to participate in a variety of activities such as swimming, biking, yoga, tennis, and boogieboarding. I especially love taking courses, learning, and being at school. In fact, I love it so much I decided to create a school so that I could be there all the time. Oh, I am talking about work again, aren’t I?

What is your favourite community? Why?

Outside of the people I work with every day, my favourite community is the Olympic community. What I mean by this is anyone and everyone around the globe who has any connection with the Games, whether hosting them, participating in them, or watching them. Why is because every two years for a short period of time, during the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, I feel as though we come together as one planet and I feel connected to the spirit of all. When I felt this most powerfully was when we hosted the Games here in Vancouver and personally saw the Olympic torch afire. To me, the flame represented the heart alight in each and every person.

What is your superpower?

I would define my superpower as “intuitive listener”. By listening with every part of my being, I am able to feel what others are saying, and what they are not saying, on many different levels.

How do you use it to build community?

We all want to feel heard, mostly from ourselves. When I am listening, others hear themselves to their own clarity, and this is where inspired work comes from. Those who want to connect with their work join me on this journey. Along with the programs, I create community by hosting movie nights, book clubs, and game nights at the school. More information can be found at http://www.thenewschool.ca/.

My Three Favourite Things About Kiley Are…

1. Entrepreneurial Super-Spirit. Kiley’s honest and transparent entrepreneurism is reflected by her very awesome comment about work being her life and life being her work. And her belief that working is how and when she has the most fun tells the story of a person who has truly found the intersection of her talent and passion.

2. Game-playing Fun. I think that Kiley might be the first person to admit/celebrate playing board games. I like this. A lot. I’m not saying that she’s a nerd, but I’m not not saying it, either. Regardless, nerds are awesome!

3. Getting the Best out of People! Starting with her awesome intuitive listening, Kiley applies her superpower in a way that is sure to support communities as well as reveal the best things about them (and the people that live inside).