Thursday, December 30, 2010
Why is fake meat so expensive?
Why are things like Lick's burgers and Tofurky sausages so bloody expensive? They are more expensive than real meat burgers and sausages. (Not to be preachy, but I think if more people knew what was in real sausages and wieners, they wouldn't call them "real meat.") Vegetarians already have to endure people making fun of them for eating fake meat. They have to endure "You eat that shit?" at family barbecues. Why do they have to pay more to do so? Nobody's being paid at the slaughterhouse. I'm sure a farmer makes less on soybeans than a real cow or pig. This might be something for Mike to investigate.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Dogs Playing Pool
If you were wondering, my avatar features a rug behind me. Printed on the rug are dogs drinking beer and playing pool. It's a rug my father has had for years and is now nailed to a wall in the basement bedroom I once slept in until a few years ago.
Friday, December 10, 2010
I Am Back
This blog has sort of sat on hiatus, while I mostly stayed focused on my Wordpress blog. My Wordpress blog, Tales from the Beer Truck, was a project I undertook this past year in school. I've since kept it going as a hobby. But I'm renewing my interest in Making Sense in a Rambling Kind of Way as I need a place to vent in the blogosphere about all the million other issues going on in the world.
I became a serious Twitter user during the race for this year's Toronto mayoral election. (I have no doubt Toronto will eventually come to regret the election of the Homer Simpson-like Rob Ford.) In recent months I've been #tweeting like mad about events from the World Cup, the already-mentioned mayoralty race, WikiLeaks and the Keith Olbermann affair. (I sided with MSNBC. Olbermann's a journalist. He should've known better.) Then there was all my outrage at what happened at the G20 summit that took place in Toronto in late June. Was I ever angry at the way protesters were treated. I am more conservative than a lot of friends, but it does not matter if I support the protesters' issues. It was their right, especially at Queen's Park, to protest. This is Canada.
But I decided it was time I try to make sense of things again, even if I'm ranting while doing so.
I became a serious Twitter user during the race for this year's Toronto mayoral election. (I have no doubt Toronto will eventually come to regret the election of the Homer Simpson-like Rob Ford.) In recent months I've been #tweeting like mad about events from the World Cup, the already-mentioned mayoralty race, WikiLeaks and the Keith Olbermann affair. (I sided with MSNBC. Olbermann's a journalist. He should've known better.) Then there was all my outrage at what happened at the G20 summit that took place in Toronto in late June. Was I ever angry at the way protesters were treated. I am more conservative than a lot of friends, but it does not matter if I support the protesters' issues. It was their right, especially at Queen's Park, to protest. This is Canada.
But I decided it was time I try to make sense of things again, even if I'm ranting while doing so.
Monday, March 29, 2010
It's spring in Toronto
I've been focused on blogging about beer at beertruckdriver.wordpress.com. I've also been focused on finishing up school. I'm in the last week of Centennial's book and magazine publishing program before I go on internship. In the meantime, spring has come to Toronto. It came early and hasn't really gone away. Unfortunately, I have one of those nasty spring colds.
The next year is scary and exciting as it is so unpredictable for me. I don't know where I'll be working/living or if I'll be going back to school again next year. I've looked at a couple of out-of-province opportunities. But it is scary to look in a crystal ball and see black, not as if things look bad, but as if things look non-existent and impossible to predict.
The next year is scary and exciting as it is so unpredictable for me. I don't know where I'll be working/living or if I'll be going back to school again next year. I've looked at a couple of out-of-province opportunities. But it is scary to look in a crystal ball and see black, not as if things look bad, but as if things look non-existent and impossible to predict.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Watching the Super Bowl
Last night's Super Bowl was incredible. I was one of the many cheering for the New Orleans Saints out of sentiment. I walked around pretending Reggie Bush was my best friend and we were going to a strip club after the game.
Some low points:
The Who. To say Roger Daltrey looked unwell is an understatement. It appeared to me a lot of his high-pitched screams were dubbed or electronically aided. Also Pete Townsend looks silly now when he's still doing that windmill thing.
CTV's constant showing of horrible minute-long slots pushing their Olympic coverage. They are crying poor and are asking for a public bailout, yet can't sell their Super Bowl slots. These slots are the most coveted slots in television.
Some low points:
The Who. To say Roger Daltrey looked unwell is an understatement. It appeared to me a lot of his high-pitched screams were dubbed or electronically aided. Also Pete Townsend looks silly now when he's still doing that windmill thing.
CTV's constant showing of horrible minute-long slots pushing their Olympic coverage. They are crying poor and are asking for a public bailout, yet can't sell their Super Bowl slots. These slots are the most coveted slots in television.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Why I haven't been around
In the blogging world, I've been dedicated to a new blog about beer. This is why I haven't been blogging about the random general stuff you're used to reading about here. The blog is called Tales From the Beer Truck and can be viewed here.
The blog is part of my school program I'm currently enrolled in. Honestly, I would've preferred to stick with trusty old Blogger.
The blog is part of my school program I'm currently enrolled in. Honestly, I would've preferred to stick with trusty old Blogger.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Bored
It's Friday. I'm bored. I'm tired.
I have a meeting with the student association newspaper I am now the copy editor of. After that I plan to go grocery shopping (since I finally got a paycheck that didn't go all toward rent) and pick up a copy of the latest CP Style and Caps and Spelling, as my versions aren't up to date. I wanna be a copy editor when I grow up. Some kids grow up saying "I want to be a football player" or a fireman. I wanna be a copy editor! I have to drop words like wanna from my vocabulary.
I have a meeting with the student association newspaper I am now the copy editor of. After that I plan to go grocery shopping (since I finally got a paycheck that didn't go all toward rent) and pick up a copy of the latest CP Style and Caps and Spelling, as my versions aren't up to date. I wanna be a copy editor when I grow up. Some kids grow up saying "I want to be a football player" or a fireman. I wanna be a copy editor! I have to drop words like wanna from my vocabulary.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Words still spewing, knuckles still bleeding
“The walls kind of close in sometimes, if you know what I mean.”
Tim Henderson is talking about his North York office, “the bat cave.” It’s the home of Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles, commonly referred to by fans as BWBK. Unfortunately for Henderson and fans of the Canadian bi-monthly heavy metal magazine, the statement could easily refer to BWBK itself. The large amount of computer equipment can easily be ignored in the bat cave, with the assortment of rock memorabilia and posters collected over the years grabbing your attention. But those computers are now the publishing house of BWBK.
At the beginning of this year, the magazine closed its print edition, around the same time legendary American magazines Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs did, all of whom opted to go with an electronic only format. BWBK’s only major Canadian competition, Unrestrained!, folded after publisher Adrian Bromley died suddenly of pneumonia in December.
“Metal Tim,” as he’s commonly known as, says he’d rather be on a beach right now, noting how much he hates the weather on this unseasonably cold, rainy Friday in October. However, he’s busier than he’s ever been and choosing the route he has may be more cost effective, but can invoke more responsibility.
“It’s harder because we’ve made the commitment to report on news 24/7… Today, I posted three Slayer tracks. We would’ve never had the rights to put those songs on a CD, just because of all the label politics. We’re offering much more content and much more audio than we ever could have with the magazine. And it’s up to the minute,” says Henderson, “I don’t miss the fact when I was building the news, for example, it was so dated (by the time the issue was purchased). I’m building the news and by the time this magazine gets into some kid’s hands in Florida, it’s so old and dated.”
Henderson started the magazine in 1994. It was originally printed on photocopied paper and sold for $1.95. In a few short years, the magazine was in full colour and distributed around the world. The magazine would come wrapped in plastic and include promotional items like band stickers and condoms. Another popular gimmick was the free Knuckletracks sampler CD that came with each issue.
“From the get-go it really helped sales. It was a great package that worked in unison, like one helped sell the other. It was cool as hell. We were lucky enough to sell the space on the CD, so for the most part it did pay for itself,” says Henderson. “It probably helped with distribution around the world, especially the US, because when people would see that full package they would say, ‘Oh now I know why it’s $7.99.’”
Henderson thinks some fans might’ve seen the eventual sale price as too high toward the end, but serious BWBK fans continued to buy the magazine.
His experience in retail, as the buyer for the hard rock and heavy metal department at the HMV megastore on Yonge St. in Toronto was a major part of the magazine’s success. Seeing the success of the magazine at his store, HMV distributed the magazine to stores across Toronto and eventually across Canada. Henderson also made his department such a success it became a hangout among metal fans in Toronto, who bought large quantities of BWBK magazines.
“I remember in the heyday, it would double and triple Spin or Rolling Stone at my store. I’m not bullshitting you. There would be weeks when the magazine would come out and sell a couple hundred copies. Goddamn, it was crazy,” reminisces Henderson, who describes his age as too old to have fallen in love with grunge and too young to have owned 8-track tapes.
Henderson is still surprised, looking back at how successful his magazine was when the musical genre he covered struggled.
“God, how did it happen? It is pretty incredible to think, being in a small market like Canada in a genre that in itself is tiny … on the grand scheme of things. Especially in the 90s when we were doing it, it was pretty small. It was a fight, but there was a community out there,” says Henderson. “Maybe in hindsight it’s remarkable, but when you’re in the trenches trying to get the issue out, time doesn’t fly that
fast.”
David Gold became a fan of BWBK in 1999, when working at an HMV store in Windsor. His metal band Woods of Ypres, bought space on the Knuckletracks CDs. He was disappointed in the demise of the print version of BWBK, but believes fans could’ve supported it more.
“Well it was sad. Especially with Metal Maniacs and Unrestrained!, and others all coming to an end at the same time. … But I understand their situation. People generally just haven't been as supportive of the magazine itself, which was really the most crucial part. There are hundreds of people who visit the Braveboard (online) forum on a daily basis who haven't bought a magazine in years, if ever. If you love something, you must do your job to show your love and keep it alive. Do your part,” says Gold from his rural cabin outside of North Bay, Ontario. He also feels a quantity of magazines going electronic-only will help fans realize times have changed and it’s time to move forward.
Henderson graduated from McMaster University with a degree in political science and economics in the early 90s. He dreamed of starting his own heavy metal magazine having been a longtime fan of international magazines like Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs, Japan’s Burrn! And the UK’s Kerrang! And Terrorizer. While working at HMV, he wrote for the long defunct M.E.A.T. Magazine, where he met Carl Begai. After moving to Germany in 1995, Begai later convinced Henderson he needed a European correspondent and has been such since 1997. He had great disappointment in the news of the print
edition folding.
“Me, Tim, we were devastated. Tim phoned me with the news, but I’d seen it coming for about a year,” says Begai from his current home in Nuremburg. “Tim works so hard at this. This is his baby and everyone knows it,” Says Begai.
In 2008, Henderson says the struggles for the print magazine really began.
“Although I’ll say our last issue, the Metallica issue was the most successful one in terms of revenues. We really went off on a high. But when we started to work on issue 114 it was just like, ‘this is hopeless. This isn’t going to happen.’ This year everyone slashed their print budgets and we just couldn’t keep it going.”
Begai says metal magazines survive in Europe because, while the Internet is used, there is more respect for print media. Companies not specifically related to the genre, such as breweries, will still buy advertising space, and see more value in the medium. He also says record companies are more respectful to the print medium.
“A label (in North America) might’ve advertised in a magazine for 20 years, but a lot of the people with the label might not have been there that long and they say, ‘it has to be online. We want up to the minute,’” says Begai.
He and Henderson both say it was the passion of the metal genre held by the staff that kept BWBK going through its struggles. Both believe BWBK will be back in print again, at the very least, on a special edition basis.
Henderson made an attempt in 2008 to access grants available to Canadian publishers, but it was in a time of budget cutbacks and he may have been too late.
“It was all self-financed by myself and the ad revenue… I can proudly say that every magazine, we paid for and the Canadian public didn’t pay a bloody cent,” says Henderson.
Though he recognized it was time for him to move on, closing the print magazine was a heartbreak.
“It’s a shame, but at the end of the day I’m not this rich publisher sitting in an ivory tower. We just worked from issue to issue. We had a pretty good run, man. But there’s no way I would suggest anybody do this.”
Tim Henderson is talking about his North York office, “the bat cave.” It’s the home of Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles, commonly referred to by fans as BWBK. Unfortunately for Henderson and fans of the Canadian bi-monthly heavy metal magazine, the statement could easily refer to BWBK itself. The large amount of computer equipment can easily be ignored in the bat cave, with the assortment of rock memorabilia and posters collected over the years grabbing your attention. But those computers are now the publishing house of BWBK.
At the beginning of this year, the magazine closed its print edition, around the same time legendary American magazines Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs did, all of whom opted to go with an electronic only format. BWBK’s only major Canadian competition, Unrestrained!, folded after publisher Adrian Bromley died suddenly of pneumonia in December.
“Metal Tim,” as he’s commonly known as, says he’d rather be on a beach right now, noting how much he hates the weather on this unseasonably cold, rainy Friday in October. However, he’s busier than he’s ever been and choosing the route he has may be more cost effective, but can invoke more responsibility.
“It’s harder because we’ve made the commitment to report on news 24/7… Today, I posted three Slayer tracks. We would’ve never had the rights to put those songs on a CD, just because of all the label politics. We’re offering much more content and much more audio than we ever could have with the magazine. And it’s up to the minute,” says Henderson, “I don’t miss the fact when I was building the news, for example, it was so dated (by the time the issue was purchased). I’m building the news and by the time this magazine gets into some kid’s hands in Florida, it’s so old and dated.”
Henderson started the magazine in 1994. It was originally printed on photocopied paper and sold for $1.95. In a few short years, the magazine was in full colour and distributed around the world. The magazine would come wrapped in plastic and include promotional items like band stickers and condoms. Another popular gimmick was the free Knuckletracks sampler CD that came with each issue.
“From the get-go it really helped sales. It was a great package that worked in unison, like one helped sell the other. It was cool as hell. We were lucky enough to sell the space on the CD, so for the most part it did pay for itself,” says Henderson. “It probably helped with distribution around the world, especially the US, because when people would see that full package they would say, ‘Oh now I know why it’s $7.99.’”
Henderson thinks some fans might’ve seen the eventual sale price as too high toward the end, but serious BWBK fans continued to buy the magazine.
His experience in retail, as the buyer for the hard rock and heavy metal department at the HMV megastore on Yonge St. in Toronto was a major part of the magazine’s success. Seeing the success of the magazine at his store, HMV distributed the magazine to stores across Toronto and eventually across Canada. Henderson also made his department such a success it became a hangout among metal fans in Toronto, who bought large quantities of BWBK magazines.
“I remember in the heyday, it would double and triple Spin or Rolling Stone at my store. I’m not bullshitting you. There would be weeks when the magazine would come out and sell a couple hundred copies. Goddamn, it was crazy,” reminisces Henderson, who describes his age as too old to have fallen in love with grunge and too young to have owned 8-track tapes.
Henderson is still surprised, looking back at how successful his magazine was when the musical genre he covered struggled.
“God, how did it happen? It is pretty incredible to think, being in a small market like Canada in a genre that in itself is tiny … on the grand scheme of things. Especially in the 90s when we were doing it, it was pretty small. It was a fight, but there was a community out there,” says Henderson. “Maybe in hindsight it’s remarkable, but when you’re in the trenches trying to get the issue out, time doesn’t fly that
fast.”
David Gold became a fan of BWBK in 1999, when working at an HMV store in Windsor. His metal band Woods of Ypres, bought space on the Knuckletracks CDs. He was disappointed in the demise of the print version of BWBK, but believes fans could’ve supported it more.
“Well it was sad. Especially with Metal Maniacs and Unrestrained!, and others all coming to an end at the same time. … But I understand their situation. People generally just haven't been as supportive of the magazine itself, which was really the most crucial part. There are hundreds of people who visit the Braveboard (online) forum on a daily basis who haven't bought a magazine in years, if ever. If you love something, you must do your job to show your love and keep it alive. Do your part,” says Gold from his rural cabin outside of North Bay, Ontario. He also feels a quantity of magazines going electronic-only will help fans realize times have changed and it’s time to move forward.
Henderson graduated from McMaster University with a degree in political science and economics in the early 90s. He dreamed of starting his own heavy metal magazine having been a longtime fan of international magazines like Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs, Japan’s Burrn! And the UK’s Kerrang! And Terrorizer. While working at HMV, he wrote for the long defunct M.E.A.T. Magazine, where he met Carl Begai. After moving to Germany in 1995, Begai later convinced Henderson he needed a European correspondent and has been such since 1997. He had great disappointment in the news of the print
edition folding.
“Me, Tim, we were devastated. Tim phoned me with the news, but I’d seen it coming for about a year,” says Begai from his current home in Nuremburg. “Tim works so hard at this. This is his baby and everyone knows it,” Says Begai.
In 2008, Henderson says the struggles for the print magazine really began.
“Although I’ll say our last issue, the Metallica issue was the most successful one in terms of revenues. We really went off on a high. But when we started to work on issue 114 it was just like, ‘this is hopeless. This isn’t going to happen.’ This year everyone slashed their print budgets and we just couldn’t keep it going.”
Begai says metal magazines survive in Europe because, while the Internet is used, there is more respect for print media. Companies not specifically related to the genre, such as breweries, will still buy advertising space, and see more value in the medium. He also says record companies are more respectful to the print medium.
“A label (in North America) might’ve advertised in a magazine for 20 years, but a lot of the people with the label might not have been there that long and they say, ‘it has to be online. We want up to the minute,’” says Begai.
He and Henderson both say it was the passion of the metal genre held by the staff that kept BWBK going through its struggles. Both believe BWBK will be back in print again, at the very least, on a special edition basis.
Henderson made an attempt in 2008 to access grants available to Canadian publishers, but it was in a time of budget cutbacks and he may have been too late.
“It was all self-financed by myself and the ad revenue… I can proudly say that every magazine, we paid for and the Canadian public didn’t pay a bloody cent,” says Henderson.
Though he recognized it was time for him to move on, closing the print magazine was a heartbreak.
“It’s a shame, but at the end of the day I’m not this rich publisher sitting in an ivory tower. We just worked from issue to issue. We had a pretty good run, man. But there’s no way I would suggest anybody do this.”
Blogging in the new year
So it's my first post of the new year. You might think since I'm done school for the semester, I'd be able to write more, etc. You are wrong. I am busy with work while trying to write a lot of poetry, etc. My next blog will be from a class assignment last year, my profile of Tim Henderson of BWBK fame.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
More of writing for the sake of writing
So I'm taking a short break from studying for finals week. That studying isn't going so well, but I'm sure I will be fine.
So I am now the copyeditor for the Centennial Courier, the campus newspaper. This should be interesting, i.e. juggling school, my sucky job and this role.
In a few days I'll probably post the profile I wrote on Tim Henderson of BWBK fame for a class assignment. It was a great story, I think.
So I am now the copyeditor for the Centennial Courier, the campus newspaper. This should be interesting, i.e. juggling school, my sucky job and this role.
In a few days I'll probably post the profile I wrote on Tim Henderson of BWBK fame for a class assignment. It was a great story, I think.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Writing for the sake of writing
I've been busy with school work and getting out to promote RDRR (Dec. 3 at The Regal Beagle with Sachiko Murakami, Myna Wallin and Allan Briesmaster). I've studied a lot on the history of heavy metal magazines and have done a lot of work on this. Fun times.
It's about bloody time I wrote something on this blog. What I'm about to say next is controversial, but I'm not too sure anyone reads this blog.
I was at the Toronto Poetry Slam last night to see the return of Electric Jon as the feature. I'm just going to come out and speak my mind and say TPS has lost a step or three. In the last few months it's become overrun with aspiring rappers delivering the same thing over and over. I can't believe I'm saying this. A year and a half ago I got into a nasty online debate (I wasn't alone) with local poet Paul Vermeersch over the value of spoken word to poetry. He argued slam was full of failed rappers with big egos pretending to be poets. I told him to write about what he knew about; otherwise, shut up. At the time I don't believe he knew what he was talking about. Lately the major slam here in Toronto has become more like his description. It's probably because there is an influx of new people into the scene who have the idea it's nothing more than an a cappella rap off. I'm not putting down everyone who wants to rap their poetry. I thought a few of the more rap style poets (Relevant, in particular) were very good. But just rapping off the same cliches over and over gets tiresome after awhile. There's been a lack of originality in recent months.
Don't get me wrong. I'll continue to attend slams and support the scene. I'm not griping that I didn't make it to the second round last night. This isn't a case of sour grapes. I just feel the shows are starting to become stale. Last night some of the old guard I was hoping to see were eliminated before the show (eliminated by the draw), which was disappointing, though it's good to know nothing is fixed in the slam.
It's about bloody time I wrote something on this blog. What I'm about to say next is controversial, but I'm not too sure anyone reads this blog.
I was at the Toronto Poetry Slam last night to see the return of Electric Jon as the feature. I'm just going to come out and speak my mind and say TPS has lost a step or three. In the last few months it's become overrun with aspiring rappers delivering the same thing over and over. I can't believe I'm saying this. A year and a half ago I got into a nasty online debate (I wasn't alone) with local poet Paul Vermeersch over the value of spoken word to poetry. He argued slam was full of failed rappers with big egos pretending to be poets. I told him to write about what he knew about; otherwise, shut up. At the time I don't believe he knew what he was talking about. Lately the major slam here in Toronto has become more like his description. It's probably because there is an influx of new people into the scene who have the idea it's nothing more than an a cappella rap off. I'm not putting down everyone who wants to rap their poetry. I thought a few of the more rap style poets (Relevant, in particular) were very good. But just rapping off the same cliches over and over gets tiresome after awhile. There's been a lack of originality in recent months.
Don't get me wrong. I'll continue to attend slams and support the scene. I'm not griping that I didn't make it to the second round last night. This isn't a case of sour grapes. I just feel the shows are starting to become stale. Last night some of the old guard I was hoping to see were eliminated before the show (eliminated by the draw), which was disappointing, though it's good to know nothing is fixed in the slam.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Metal!
Late last week I had the opportunity to interview Tim Henderson, most famous for being the publisher behind Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles. From the time I discovered it in 1997, BWBK was my favourite magazine. It was a metal magazine that stayed true to its roots and just didn't cover the flavour of the week. It started out as a black and white magazine on gray stock paper and eventually developed into a full colour glossy magazine that was internationally respected and distributed. It came wrapped in plastic and included Knuckletracks, a sampler CD, in every issue. In the early days it often included other promotional items like other sampler CDs, stickers, cassette tapes, folded posters, etc.
Henderson was able to gain nationwide distribution through HMV, as he was the buyer for the hard rock/metal section at the Megastore on Yonge Street. That section of the store became THE place (I'm editorializing) to buy metal CDs. When I visited Toronto from the Peterborough area, the first place I was interested in going was the third floor of 333 Yonge St.
The magazine no longer exists in print, with its last issue coming out at the end of 2008. But BWBK still exists as an online magazine. Unfortunately, this is a trend with metal magazines, as American magazines Metal Maniacs and Metal Edge went out of print this year as well.
I'm writing the story for a Book and Magazine Publishing class. The program is going well. We are in career week. Today we met with magazine professionals and watched The September Issue. Tomorrow is a day for meeting with book professionals. Yes, talking about magazines going out of print when I'm studying in this type of program is depressing.
Henderson was able to gain nationwide distribution through HMV, as he was the buyer for the hard rock/metal section at the Megastore on Yonge Street. That section of the store became THE place (I'm editorializing) to buy metal CDs. When I visited Toronto from the Peterborough area, the first place I was interested in going was the third floor of 333 Yonge St.
The magazine no longer exists in print, with its last issue coming out at the end of 2008. But BWBK still exists as an online magazine. Unfortunately, this is a trend with metal magazines, as American magazines Metal Maniacs and Metal Edge went out of print this year as well.
I'm writing the story for a Book and Magazine Publishing class. The program is going well. We are in career week. Today we met with magazine professionals and watched The September Issue. Tomorrow is a day for meeting with book professionals. Yes, talking about magazines going out of print when I'm studying in this type of program is depressing.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Silly, silly, silly
I read in the Toronto Star today Michael Jackson has been nominated for five American Music Awards, including artist of the year. I know now that he's dead everyone wants to honour him and pretend they never thought he was a joke. I know those award shows are lame-brained, but he didn't put out a proper album in the last five years. He just put out some posthumous single. He's not artist of the year. Bestow some honour on him like artist of the century or artist of the last 25 years. Award shows are meaningless anyway. They're a way for artists to celebrate being total sell-outs and not feel bad about it.
In other funny news, I got a haircut today that looks pretty bad. I can wear a hat and I'm a guy so it will grow soon enough. I don't care. But I end up having to wear a hat because it looks funny, and it's so damn cold!
In other funny news, I got a haircut today that looks pretty bad. I can wear a hat and I'm a guy so it will grow soon enough. I don't care. But I end up having to wear a hat because it looks funny, and it's so damn cold!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Time for an Update
It's time for an update.
I've been in school for over a month. Admittedly, I was a little intimidated as most other students had university degrees, and in some cases, masters degrees. So far I am happy to say I am holding my own and doing fairly well. I am happy to be back in school. Money is tight, but I'm used to that anyway.
It's unfortunate my time for poetry readings and time to promote RDRR is lagging. I'll really have to work on this as much as I can, even though I go to school full-time and also have a job.
I'm on my way to Peterborough this weekend. That's my hometown. Other than a one-day visit in late July, I've made a trip in mid-March and early June. That's it for this year. I'm excited to be headed home for Thanksgiving. I'm also excited to check out the debut of my good buddy Paul Longhurst's band... I think they're called Revival or something. The band features most of the original members of the now departed Shitreign, who I believe I've discussed somewhere on this blog before.
I've been in school for over a month. Admittedly, I was a little intimidated as most other students had university degrees, and in some cases, masters degrees. So far I am happy to say I am holding my own and doing fairly well. I am happy to be back in school. Money is tight, but I'm used to that anyway.
It's unfortunate my time for poetry readings and time to promote RDRR is lagging. I'll really have to work on this as much as I can, even though I go to school full-time and also have a job.
I'm on my way to Peterborough this weekend. That's my hometown. Other than a one-day visit in late July, I've made a trip in mid-March and early June. That's it for this year. I'm excited to be headed home for Thanksgiving. I'm also excited to check out the debut of my good buddy Paul Longhurst's band... I think they're called Revival or something. The band features most of the original members of the now departed Shitreign, who I believe I've discussed somewhere on this blog before.
Friday, September 11, 2009
September 11th
What do I think about when it comes to September 11th?
I don't think about how the western world is doing in Afghanistan or Iraq. I don't think about how how much safer North America is for declaring war on Afghanistan and Iraq, though I do think of the innocent people who've lost their lives in the "battle for freedom." I don't think about alleged inside jobs that have no real evidence. I don't think of "Jewish conspiracies."
I sure as hell don't think of the bravery of the suicide bombers. I've heard some people say this was deserved upon America for everything America has done to certain parts of the world and talk about this as a noble act. This is disgusting.
I think and pray for the well being of those children who on September 11th had to go to bed without their parents who perished, regardless of what they did for a living.
As much as we might want to criticize George W. Bush and everything that happened afterward, let's remember those children who went to bed without their mom and/or dad on September 11, 2001.
I don't think about how the western world is doing in Afghanistan or Iraq. I don't think about how how much safer North America is for declaring war on Afghanistan and Iraq, though I do think of the innocent people who've lost their lives in the "battle for freedom." I don't think about alleged inside jobs that have no real evidence. I don't think of "Jewish conspiracies."
I sure as hell don't think of the bravery of the suicide bombers. I've heard some people say this was deserved upon America for everything America has done to certain parts of the world and talk about this as a noble act. This is disgusting.
I think and pray for the well being of those children who on September 11th had to go to bed without their parents who perished, regardless of what they did for a living.
As much as we might want to criticize George W. Bush and everything that happened afterward, let's remember those children who went to bed without their mom and/or dad on September 11, 2001.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Interesting thing on Facebook
So I got one of those Facebook page suggestions that was actually intriguing. A kid in Franklin, Tennessee whose Facebook name is Jackson S., ended up with a demo from a band called Oceanship. His dad works in the record industry and was away and he and his mom listened to the demo. He decided to make it his science project. He would see how successful he could be to make a Facebook page increase the popularity of one unknown band. I wrote I found the band unoriginal and repetitive (think of Coldplay, who I'm not a fan of, playing virtually the same song over and over. I know, most Coldplay music sounds the same. But think of Coldplay if they were even more repetitive). Nonetheless, it's a very good idea for a science project. Check it out here.
I saw Sachiko Murakami read at the Art Bar tonight. I thought her book, Invisibility Exhibit was the best poetry book of 2008. I told her afterward what a fan I was of her. I'd love to have her at Rochdale Rhymes and Readings now that she lives in Toronto.
I saw Sachiko Murakami read at the Art Bar tonight. I thought her book, Invisibility Exhibit was the best poetry book of 2008. I told her afterward what a fan I was of her. I'd love to have her at Rochdale Rhymes and Readings now that she lives in Toronto.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Poetry and Stuff
Over the pervious three nights I was fortunate to see three great poetry shows. All of them featured Randy Jacobs, AKA RC Weslowski. I'd never seen him perform until Tuesday at the Art Bar, along with Tara-Michelle Ziniuk and Rob Gee. His poetry has with and much depth to it, but he also is funny and entertaining. I also saw him at a really fun event called the Toronto Story Slam on Wednesday at the Boat. The slam portion was won by Kevin Fortnum. I was honoured and pleased the best show (only in my opinion) of his tour of Toronto happened at my Rochdale Rhymes and Readings show at the Regal Beagle. The show also featured Joe Dewar and Robin Richardson in a couple of great other readings. I'd booked Joe once before when I guest hosted for the now defunct Cryptic Chatter series. I'd never seen Robin feature before and had wanted to and decided booking her to read at my series was a way to solve the problem.
So I didn't make it to the CNE this year. I haven't made it in a couple of years. It's popularity seems to be coming back, if not to where it once was. I went to it about three years ago on a day when a borderline tropical storm hit Toronto. It was a mess. The rides shut down early, though most people had given up and gone home before then. In 2007 I went and realized it wasn't as big or fun as I remembered. Maybe I should check it out again. I think I'm running out of time for this year and may have to wait for next year. Maybe I should put it on my to do list now.
So I didn't make it to the CNE this year. I haven't made it in a couple of years. It's popularity seems to be coming back, if not to where it once was. I went to it about three years ago on a day when a borderline tropical storm hit Toronto. It was a mess. The rides shut down early, though most people had given up and gone home before then. In 2007 I went and realized it wasn't as big or fun as I remembered. Maybe I should check it out again. I think I'm running out of time for this year and may have to wait for next year. Maybe I should put it on my to do list now.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Scarborough
So I went all the way to Progress Avenue and sat in the basement of Centennial College's main campus waiting to sort out my loan documents. It took me almost an hour and a half to get there and then an hour and a half of waiting. Getting home took about two hours as I sat on a subway train stuck between Warden and Victoria Park Stations. The train eventually went back to Warden and we were advised to go take a shuttle bus. While waiting for a shuttle bus, we were told the subway was now open. After waiting for the subway, I got on a packed car with broken AC. After a few stops, I hopped off and waited for the next train.
Speaking of my day in Scarborough, here's a funny thing to check out. Read the comments for this hotel.
Speaking of my day in Scarborough, here's a funny thing to check out. Read the comments for this hotel.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
More updates
So we are in the stretch run of the last few weeks before I am officially a student again, at least for another eight or nine months. Yes, I am nervous.
Last weekend I saw an amazing concert in the Progression Nation Tour. The show was headlined by Dream Theater. I saw Dream Theater about two years ago and their setlist and performance was a little weak. Dream Theater plays a different setlist every time they play. I was also distracted by a couple of rowdy drunks in front of me which hurt the experience. This show was phenomenal. The setlist was amazing and there were many moments of "holy fuck," with their musical performance. I was also impressed with Dweezil Zappa's band, Zappa Plays Zappa. He's an amazing guitar player and has an incredibly talented band with him. His keyboard and saxophone player, Scheila Gonzalez is mind blowing.
This week I will attend a going away party for a friend named Miriam who's leaving Canada for the homeland of Ireland. Will be sad to see her go.
Rochdale Rhymes and Readings is back September 3 with RC Weslowski, Joe Dewar and Robin Richardson. The day before that is Toronto Poetry Slam's Story Slam at the Boat, also featuring RC Weslowski. Rochdale Rhymes and Readings, as always, happens at the Regal Beagle at 335 Bloor St. W., 8 p.m. with pass the hat admission and an open mic.
Last weekend I saw an amazing concert in the Progression Nation Tour. The show was headlined by Dream Theater. I saw Dream Theater about two years ago and their setlist and performance was a little weak. Dream Theater plays a different setlist every time they play. I was also distracted by a couple of rowdy drunks in front of me which hurt the experience. This show was phenomenal. The setlist was amazing and there were many moments of "holy fuck," with their musical performance. I was also impressed with Dweezil Zappa's band, Zappa Plays Zappa. He's an amazing guitar player and has an incredibly talented band with him. His keyboard and saxophone player, Scheila Gonzalez is mind blowing.
This week I will attend a going away party for a friend named Miriam who's leaving Canada for the homeland of Ireland. Will be sad to see her go.
Rochdale Rhymes and Readings is back September 3 with RC Weslowski, Joe Dewar and Robin Richardson. The day before that is Toronto Poetry Slam's Story Slam at the Boat, also featuring RC Weslowski. Rochdale Rhymes and Readings, as always, happens at the Regal Beagle at 335 Bloor St. W., 8 p.m. with pass the hat admission and an open mic.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
just some updates for the week
Hi, I'm just updating how my week was and plans for the next week.
Saturday, I made my first ever trip to Taste of the Danforth, the big yearly Greek festival happening in Toronto on Danforth Avenue. There was cheap food, I imagine not as many people as expected due to the rain, yet nonetheless, it was a struggle making my way through all the crowds of people, especially with umbrellas clashing.
Sunday, I ended my hibernation from the Toronto Poetry scene, when I attended WordJam at the Free Times Cafe. Yes, people could see in my hibernation, I'd grown a beard.
Events I'm excited for this week are Dream Theater on Friday at the amphitheatre, as well as Next Tuesday's Poetry Hoedown, as part of the Art Bar series. It's an event where country lyrics are read as poetry. I know what I want to read on the open mic portion, if I get a chance to do so. I have not decided if I will attend either the Toronto Poetry Slam or Bam! the Toronto Youth Slam.
Saturday, I made my first ever trip to Taste of the Danforth, the big yearly Greek festival happening in Toronto on Danforth Avenue. There was cheap food, I imagine not as many people as expected due to the rain, yet nonetheless, it was a struggle making my way through all the crowds of people, especially with umbrellas clashing.
Sunday, I ended my hibernation from the Toronto Poetry scene, when I attended WordJam at the Free Times Cafe. Yes, people could see in my hibernation, I'd grown a beard.
Events I'm excited for this week are Dream Theater on Friday at the amphitheatre, as well as Next Tuesday's Poetry Hoedown, as part of the Art Bar series. It's an event where country lyrics are read as poetry. I know what I want to read on the open mic portion, if I get a chance to do so. I have not decided if I will attend either the Toronto Poetry Slam or Bam! the Toronto Youth Slam.
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