His Holiness The Guru Pitka Live

Here is his holiness The Guru Pitka (Mike Myers) presenting his mantra & philosophy to a live crowd at the Magnet Theatre in New York City.

My very own internet, about time.

I now have internet in my home, I can stop going to the Second Cup across the street every time I want to blog. That, along with my busy schedule has kept me from posting more frequently. I'm hoping having internet access will change my posting habits. My postcard blog should benefit since being close to my scanner is a necessity for those posts.

Record Store Day at Criminal Records in Toronto!

On Record Store Day, independent record stores around the world get swarmed with record hounds seeking limited editions and exclusive releases by their favourite artists.

I lined up at 11:30 last night in front of Criminal Records on Queen St West for their midnight opening. I was not early enough and abandoned the line in favour of a better position in the morning.

I can justify record purchases as an unemployed shlub, only because of their limited nature, I guess I'm a sucker in that respect.

I was up just before 7 and since I'm right across the street I was quickly in line, but not first (I was 5th, not bad). I chatted with the folks in line to pass the time and soon enough we were spending money on records!

Here's what I picked up:

Nirvana
Hormoaning (UMe)
This EP was originally released in Australia, this is the first time it has been released in North America

City and Colour
Sometimes (Record Store Day Exclusive)
- hand numbered of 500 (mine is #126)
- 2 x 180g black vinyl
- silk screened jacket
- includes bonus track "missing"

Daft Punk
Tron Soundtrack EP (Walt Disney Records)
Exclusive track 'Castor', Unique picture disc design of identity ring on clear vinyl disc with ring in 3 different colors: Blue, Yellow & Red, and overall first vinyl release, packaged in clear cellophane wrap see through sleeve to allow for visibility of picture disc, all disc information to be printed on sticker on sleeve.

The White Stripes
Lafayette Blues / Sugar Never Tasted So Good (Third Man Records)
Reissue of the White Stripes second single from 1998. Limited quantities available on white/black swirled vinyl. 7'' vinyl single, fold-over picture sleeve in poly bag

Let's Shake Hands / Look Me Over Closely (Third Man Records)
Reissue of the White Stripes first ever release from 1998. Limited quantities available on red/black swirled vinyl. 7'' vinyl single, fold-over picture sleeve in poly bag

Deftones
(singing) Covers (WBR)
LP Exclusive to RSD. Tracks previously available digitally and on import CD singles.
-The Cars' "Drive",
-Drive Like Jehu's "Caress",
-The Smiths' "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want",
-Sade, "No Ordinary Love",
-Jawbox "Savory",
-The Cardigans' "Do You Believe",
-Lynyrd Skynyrds's "Simple Man",
-Japan's "Ghosts",
-Duran Duran's "The Chauffeur",
-Santo and Johnny's "Sleep Walk"
and a live cover of The Cure's "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep"

UPDATE: picked up Skysaw the next day.

where am i?

My lack of time and internet is the reasoning behind my sparse updates. The Internet Man (Rogers) should be by this week to hook up the tubes, then I will be out of excuses. I'm writing this from my friend Shawna's place while I watch her dog Rambo. Today I'm going to help put up election signs for my local incumbent MP Olivia Chow, then I have a Captain shift at the Lightbox. I'm so busy and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Yankees are in town next week and I also have to help a friend move.

The High Cost Of Living @ Tiff Bell Lightbox

I vas volunteering at the Lightbox and I got to watch a great new Canadian film called The High Cost of Living. Shot in Montreal and starring Zach Braff (an American, playing an American) and a fantastic Quebecoise actress Isabelle Blais, this is the first feature for writer/director Deborah Chow. It preemed at tiff last year and it gets a Canadian theatrical release later this month.
The movie is about two people whose lives colide in a tragic accident. It was very good. If you only know Zach Braff as a prat-falling doctor on Scrubs then you should check this out. Both the Director and the two stars were there to introduce the film. Unfortunately I could not take pictures because I was working.

no more coffee for internet

I ordered the Internet, my brother had taken responsibility of the task when we began cohabiting in January. As I write this from the Second Cup across the street from my house I wish I had placed the order months ago. It will still take a week to get hooked up (I'm with TekSavvy but I have to wait for a Rogers guy to open the Internet Tube).

I can't wait to have internet where I can actually download some tv shows and movies, legally of course.

Lolita at the Lightbox

I was volunteering at the Lightbox, without the responsibilities of being a Captain, I was able to watch the movie (after performing my volunteer flashlight duties of course). The film was Stanley Kubrick's Lolita, as  part of tiff's Books on Film Series. The print was rather old and rough, a few minutes were skipped when the audio was blown out, but otherwise a great screening of a 49 year old film.

The audience was mostly women over 50, and there was an audible gasp when Richard Corliss, TIME magazine film critic and author of a book about Lolita for the British Film Institute suggested that the character, Lolita, was anything except a victim. The audience seemed to grumble at the idea that she held any power or control. The volunteer I watched the movie with wondered if they had watched the same movie as us. Peter Sellers is really great in it.

Scalpers Suck. Blue Jays Rock!

Me and my brother Marc pre-game at Steamwhistle Brewery

I went to see the Jays on Saturday with my actual brother Marc and some friends of his from Timmins.  I could not get a hold of Cayen or Shawna, which has happend before, and not a surprise.

I sent this email to the Blue Jays feedback regarding my experience picking up my tickets before the game:


"Wow, what an exciting weekend. I am a Toronto Star Pass holder and lifelong Jays Fan. I had a great time at the games, and all your staff were friendly and helpful. 


In the Terms & Conditions of the Star Pass, it said that you could only redeem 6 passes per person. On Saturday I showed up just before 10am for my tickets, I had a scalper cut in line in front of me and redeem a stack of 12 Star Passes, then he attempted to pass off another stack of passess to another scalper who just showed up and cut into the line. The ticket agent was going to proceed with the transaction till I protested. The ticket agent then served me my tickets (top row, surprise!).  
I understand scalping is a reality of any ticketed event, however in this case your ticketing staff were facilitating tickets to the scalpers beyond the terms of the Star Pass.


On Sunday staff at least made an attempt to set up a line divider, but the scalpers were still not respecting the line. Other fans I talked to were equally upset by all the obvious line cutting. Fans want good seats to sit in, Scalpers want good seats to sell. 


Please do something about the line.
Please instruct your staff to respect limits regarding Star Passes.


Thank you,
Julien Chabot
GO JAYS GO!"

OK! Blue Jays! Let's... play... ball!

I've got a nice new Jays hat, my classic Jays jacket is dry cleaned and looks brand new, and earlier this week I picked up my 2 season passes for all 80 of the Toronto Blue Jays the home games. My good friend and brother from a bus driving mother John Cayen is coming to town and we will be going to Saturdays game against the Twins.

I love going to baseball games with friends and I'm looking forward to lots of good times this summer at the Ol' Skydome (Suck it Ted Rogers).

Julie Dorion Live at The Garrison Toronto

I took some video with my flip camera at last nights Julie Dorion show at The Garrison.

Lula at Soccer!

My cousin Treya takes her daughter to soccer practice and sometimes I get to tag along. It's the cutest thing. The kids are so fun to watch. I took this video with my flip, I will post more as I can. I am still dependent on the nearby Second Cup for internet.

Here Lula can't seem to figure out the cones when they are in a curved line.

My Flip Video is here!

Canada Post delivered my flip video! It took 9 business days to get here. The "custom" design looks so cool, I'm really happy with how it turned out. Now I just have to give it a charge for 3 hours before I try and take some video. I will post the results here as soon as I upload them.

Sam The Record Man NOW Magazine Ad

I used to work in the video department at the greatest store on Earth, Sam the Record Man. This was an ad placed in NOW magazine back in May 2005. Christian, Christa and I were able to choose some titles and write a blurb. It was one of the few times we got to give any real input. I'm only transcribing a few, it's time consuming to retype!

Clerks X
Kevin Smith
Ten years after his breakout hit Clerks, Kevin Smith is still working late nights at the Quickstop. Clerks X celebrates the convenience store that started it all (Mecca of all things Askew) with 3 discs loaded with commentaries for the theatrical release and the Sundance cut, a Q & A with the cast and the great "Snowball Effect" documentary. the animated lost scene is a must see as is Randal querying Dante to the depths he would go for Mans ultimate dream…"The Flying Car". A true comedy classic, Clerks X is an essential addition to your collection to be enjoyed for decades to come.
Julien Chabot @ Sams 3 years

Bubba Ho TepDon Coscarelli
Elvis is alive and well… living in Writer/Director Don Coscarelli's offbeat horror-comedy cult hit. Bruce "the Man" Campbell is Elvis, retired and waiting to die in a texas nursing home.When an evil soul sucking mummy shows up to feed off the easy targets, Elvis joins a conspiracy minded JFK(Ossie Davis in one of his final great performances) to flush out the ancient egyptian before he flushes their souls. Watch it again and again and when a friend who hasn't seen it comes over watch it again.
Julien Chabot @ Sam's 3 years


ElephantGus Van Sant
Winner of the Palm d'Or and best director awards at the 2003 Cannes film festival, Elephant is Gus Van Sant's (My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting) realistic and haunting portrayal of high school life on an afternoon that should have been like any other.His use of non-actors and a minimal script creates an unconventional and captivating film. this is a simple yet hard hitting picture in which Van Sant offers us an objective look at high school violence and gun control. The film leaves you with a somber feeling considering these evens have happened and seem inevitable to happen again in the future. A unique docudrama fit for every film enthusiasts collection.
Christa Szakonyi @ Sams 2 years

Pick up your EarsStephen Fears
Joe Orton was one of the bad boys of swinging London in the 60's, Hero of the anti establishment, and winner of several awards for his plays. The film "Pick up your Ears" charts Orton's life in a series of flashbacks and benefits from a strong performance by Gary Oldman in the leading role. Most of the narrative revolves around the year 1964-1967, from Orton's first West End success to his death at the hands of Kenneth Halliwell, his live-in partner. Oldman is superb in this role, his Orton is totally convincing, charming selfish and occasionally infuriating. Alfred Molina co-stars as Halliwell, Vanessa Redgrave as Orton's agent, the formidable Peggy Ramsey. Stephen Fears does a fine job with direction. Excellent cinematography by Oliver Stapleton, and very good period music by Stanley Myers.
Christian Wehrhahn @Sam's 3 years

Scott Pilgrim Flip Video

I ordered this customized Flip UltraHD 8GB Video Camera. I need this thing for a bunch of reasons. I have opportunities to take videos people want to see, and I want to present those videos in the best quality possible.

The amount of cool things going on in this city, I need to be able to capture HD video at a moments notice. I want to do interviews and produce some video blogs. My Youtube page should be really bumping in a few weeks.

Imagine if I had taken this video of Jack White here in Toronto with a better camera?

Face the Taxman

I used TurboTax, formally QuickTax to complete my tax return last night. I have used the software in years past and had some difficulties. All my problems have been solved with the current release. This year's online version was easy to use and was free, thanks to my simple tax situation. I was done in 20 minutes.

The hardest part was changing my address information with Canada Revenue Agency (I liked it better when they were Revenue Canada). I used NETfile to file the return and it was super easy. I will have my return in two weeks.

Last year I was talking to a girl in San Francisco and I asked her who she worked for. She said I wouldn't know them, and then said she worked for Intuit, a software company, and I was like "I USE YOUR TAX PROGRAM!" The company has commented on my blog in the past, I wonder if they will read this post.

I really recommend you do your taxes as soon as possible, even if you owe the government money. Get it out of the way and the stress will finally go away. Do it yourself or let the super easy program do it for you.

captain at the light box

I'm getting dressed to go to the light box. I am volunteering as a captain again today
Yesterday was family day and it was totally crazy. Today should be a bit more civil. I am dictating this blog post into my phone. I still don't have internet I figured this would be a good way to update. I will go to second cup after so I can access the internet and write a better post.

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Radiohead's New Album: The King of Limbs

I just ordered the new Radiohead album The King of Limbs. Unlike 2007's In Rainbows this time the band isn't allowing fans to name a price, and are selling the download version for a reasonable 9$ I decided to get the deluxe edition, since Radiohead vinyl never seems to depreciate in value (it ships in May, I will review it here when it arrives). I am just waiting for the download to finish up here in this Second Cup coffee shop and then I will head home to give it a listen since I can't use headphones to hear new Radiohead (crank the speakers!).
CLICK HERE TO ORDER NEW RADIOHEAD ALBUM THE KING OF LIMBS

   
   

Finally, Digital TV on my Mac

I can finally unleash the awesome power of the Elgato EyeTV Hybrid, a device for watching digital tv on my macbook. I bought the EyeTv at the Macworld Expo about two years ago, it plugs into the USB port and is very simple to use. It has allowed me to digitize all my VHS tapes, It can pick up digital TV signals with the help of an antenna, but because I had basic cable at my old place I hesitated to spend the fifty bucks at Be$t You Buy. What the hell was I thinking waiting so long? The CN tower emits a VHF (very high frequency) signal that can be picked up easily with an antenna. I found a decent Phillips antenna for 5$ on College Street and after running the quick setup assistant I can now pick up 8 channels of uncompressed HDTV: CBC, SRC, Global, CFTO, Omni 2, City Tv, Omni 1, SunTV.  A full compliment of terrible programming, however woven into the turd tapestry of television is a golden thread of The Daily Show, Letterman, Conan and the Simpsons (I also enjoy a little CBC news and some Strombo as well). This device is so cool, I can rewind and record live TV, which is sweet, and the best part is Roger$ dosen't get a fucking penny.

I Won a copy of The Art of Tim Burton, Autographed!

I have already said I love volunteering at the Tiff Bell Lightbox, I get to contribute to the festival's artistic vision while at the same time scoring free movie vouchers. Last week I entered a contest just for the tiff volunteers, and I won! It's an autographed copy of The Art Of Tim Burton. You may recall I met Tim Burton back in November at the Tiff Bell Lightbox, he was there to promote the opening of his awesome exhibit. I could never afford this book and had to settle for two much cheaper (still very cool) journals. I'm so lucky to have won this beautiful book. 

Click here for The Art of Tim Burton publishers website where you can order the book for yourself, or come buy one at the Tiff Bell Lightbox.

Nintendo Hipsters Unite!

I got some new Nintendo games for Christmas but since I don't have a TV I really can't play any of them (Nooooo!). I registered my new games at Club Nintendo and with my Club Nintendo coins (550) I ordered this sweet side bag last week and it arrived today!

It's a real cool looking bag and I cant wait till the weather is a bit nicer, I will use it to carry my laptop or, eventually, an android tablet of some type. I'm proud of being Nintendo Otaku.

Non-update

I haven't been updating this blog as often as I would like. I have been keeping quite busy for an unemployed slacker. Posts about my trip to Montreal, a Julie Doiron show last week and a wicked Burning Man party this past weekend are all half finished. I feel creative but I'm not sure this blog is my outlet. I really want to start producing some short video blog-type things, but I need a new camera.

I have been devoting as much time as I can to the Tiff Bell Lightbox. I find it to be extremely rewarding, along with spending time with other like minded lovers of film, I am gaining tons of valuable experience as a Volunteer Captain. Sure it would be nice to get a paying job, but I am honestly as happy as could be.

I just read this article about Paul Haggis and his decision to leave Scientology in the New Yorker. It's long, but a very interesting read. I am looking forward to seeing him at the Lightbox tomorrow.

Splice at the Lightbox

I won free tickets to see Splice at the Lightbox as part of the Canadian Top 10 of 2010, I was going to see it anyways since I missed it's theatrical run. It was fun take on the Frankenstein story. The director, Vincenzo Natali was in attendance and spoke about the film afterwards. It was very cool.

Wise Man says "Dont Fret the Bass"

I got off the bus at 6:15am, back in sweet Toronto, I went home and then slept all day.

Now I'm hanging with my friends The Stormalongs in the jam space, and they sound fucking great.

Here is what they worked on tonight:

The Stormalongs Jam List, Notice no "Freebird"

Red State out October 19th, see it early

Kevin Smith debuted his new film Red State at Sundance this week, and then announced with much fanfare that he would forgo selling his first horror film to traditional distributors and release the film himself. Kevin Smith alway bets on Kevin Smith. It's a good bet and it's paid off before (Kevin backed his first film Clerks on multiple high-intrest credit cards). He is willing to make this gambit because he has supreme confidence in his work and in his ability to secure an audience by networking directly with his fans. He blogged for a long time, and then he pretty much stopped blogging the minute he discovered twitter, and hasn't stopped tweeting since.

The movie will Open October 19th 2011, but US fans can see it early, buy tickets here.

March 5 Radio City Music Hall, NY, NY
March 6 Wilbur Theater, Boston, MA
March 8 Harris Theater, Chicago, IL
March 9 State Theater, Minneapolis, MN
March 10 Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI
March 11 Clowes Memorial Hall, Indianapolis, IN
March 12 Midland Theater, Kansas City, MO
March 14 Clark State PAC, Springfield, OH
March 22 Paramount Theater, Denver, CO
March 26 McAlister Auditorium, New Orleans, LA
March 28 Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX
March 29 Cobb Energy Centre, Atlanta, GA
April 4 Marion Oliver McCall Hall, Seattle, WA

I'm sure he will add some Canadian dates, perhaps around the Walter Gretzky Ball Hockey Tournament in June. I hope the screenings happen at the Lightbox but I could see it happening at the Underground since they have a bigger room. Either way Red State will sell out when it screen in Toronto. I will be there and if you want to know about it keep checking this blog.

Incendies at the Tiff Bell Lightbox

My good friend Regimbal wanted to see Incendies. the Canadian film that was nominated for a Best Foreign-Language Film Academy Award on Tuesday. It's playing at the Lightbox (it opened at Tiff). I picked up the tickets early because some showings have been selling out. I finally got to use some of my massive Volunteer Voucher stockpile to get the tickets. When I told Regimbal that he would have to reimburse me for the ticket with his time, he said he would rather pay me in cash.

The movie was fantastic. It's no wonder it was nominated. I would recommend it for anyone who can handle some heavy subject matter. The movie is about a mothers dying request of her children and their journey to fulfil it. Thats all I'm gonna say. Go see it and support Canadian Cinema.

"That's Called Chin Music"

Eric Nagler hands you a brick in a sock and you ask "What kind of music does this make?"

I'm at the jam space watching the guys run through the set, just heard them play a great Clowns. Colin was getting shocked by his amp being plugged into an ungrounded outlet. They worked out the beginning of Days Alight, different since Momo is gone.

The Stormalongs played in Sudbury this past weekend. The show went well I'm told, although the car battery died on them as they tried to leave. I really want to go with the guys next time they go out of town. I'm missing all the rock n' roll adventure.

I had a Johnny Cash dvd I was going to sell at a CD store, but since they would probably only give me 2$, I figured I might as well just give it to Colin. 

 

Waiting in line for a new Health Card

I just downloaded an update to this blogger-droid app and figured I would test it out while in line at Service Ontario.  I need a new health card. I love socialist medicine but I can't get any without a Health Card. In the past this app has not worked well, so if you are reading this on my blog then it works, the next step is seeing if it works with a photo (this has given me a lot of trouble before).

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Coffee for Intenet is fair trade

I'm in a coffee shop across the street from my place. I can actually see my bedroom window from where I am sitting. I would like to be enjoying the interwebs from the comforts of said bedroom but my brother has yet to secure an interweb provider. I used to come to this Second Cup when the net was down at my old place which was quite often in the past few months. I'm pretty much a regular here now, which fuels paranoia that the staff no doubt talk about me behind my back.

 

Birthday Lightbox

I had decided to work on my birthday because I really like being at the Tiff Bell Lightbox and it was the only Captain shift available for the rest of the month. I went and met with Granny Mo, we went to Tim Hortons for some lunch. She did not have any of the bread, she is sticking to her new diet and loosing weight. Gmo feels like she has been getting really old really fast, but its been a gradual process from my point of view.

I started my Captain shift and Granny Mo explored the Tim Burton Extibition for over two and a half hours. She really enjoyed it, and was inspired to try some stop motion herself. I have an idea I will write out for her and see what kind of sketches she comes up with. We grabbed dinner at the Canteen on my break and talked about the exhibition. I'm lucky to have such a cool supportive granny in my life. It made for a great birthday.

Facebook has made birthdays way too easy on people. People can post best wishes on your wall and feel satisfied with a job well done. Facebook is fine for wishing someone you went to grade school with a happy birthday, but if I was your best friend since we were 5 and you almost killed me in a car once and I performed your marriage last year, then maybe I deserve a personal call on my birthday *hint*. I got so many posts on my facebook I put up my cell number and asked for text best wishes, and overloaded my phone with texts. I also had no idea who the messages were coming from since I didn't have their contact in my phone and the senders usually only wrote "happy birthday!".

After my shift I went and picked up a few cans of Steamwhistle and went back to my place to celebrate my birthday. It was low key affair. A few friends came over for a few beers. I really enjoyed it. Ian brought me a bottle of Wild Turkey, so I made some Rusty Nails with Wild Turkey Burbon and Wild Turkey Liqueur.

Breakfast and Green Hornet

Paul and I have a bounty of food in the fridge, thanks to me. Today I started breakfast while he was doing his ablutions. Bacon and sausage cooked on ye olde Geogio Forman and a super-cheese omelet and hash browns. It covered all the grease groups. Over coffee Paul mentioned how he would like to see some Captain Crunch in his cereal bowl, I recommended he try the grocery store.

Ian and I like to see every new movie we can, and opening weekend is a great time. We both wanted to check out Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg penned Gondry directed Green Hornet. Ian picked me up in his production wheels and we drove to the Carlton since the snow was going to prevent us from making it to the Queensway in time for the 1:30 show. The old Carlton Cinemas was owned by Cineplex and had fallen in disrepair, but the Rainbow Cinemas bought it and cleaned it up a bit. The screens are still ridiculously small, and I probably would avoid going to see a movie there again if I was offered any other option. The movie itself was very entertaining. James Franco has a great cameo up against Christoph Waltz, who as the villan can't seem to gain the fear and respect he so deserves. Jay Chou is a great Kato and Rogen maintains plausibility as a hero. Rogen and Goldberg are my heroes, their writing is so violent and so funny.

My other hero Kevin Smith had a go at Green Hornet back when it was a Miramax picture. They have adapted his un-produced screenplay into a comic book, I'm going to check it out for sure.

Gmo Monday!

I went shopping with my Granny Mo today. I got a pair of black New Balance shoes for working at the Lightbox. My dress shoes are just too uncomfortable to stand in for long periods. I have a few shifts this week so I'm glad to have good comfy shoes. We went to lunch at Baton Rouge, it was a little pricey, but Gmo loved the soup. She thinks she's been getting really old really fast. She has to take a lot of breaks to sit down and I cant really walk slow enough for her, I don't mind slowing down. I'm lucky I get to spend time with her. Her questions can be frustrating. Sometimes she wants me to elaborate on Yes or No answers.

My buddy Ian started working on reshoots, so he has a production vehicle again. We went for an evening drive. I love rolling around the city with Ian. We just talk movies and the conversation is always so enthralling.

Danny Husk in a Comic Book

I was at the CNIB all day helping distribute the 2011 TTC Metropasses. Afterwards I hurried to the Beguiling to pick up Scott Thompson's graphic novel The Hollow Planet and meet the man himself. I'm a huge Kids in The Hall fan and it was great to meet him in such an intimate setting. He was very nice and the book looks really funny.

 The book features one of Scott's most memorable characters from the series, Danny Husk. If you don't remember Danny then watch this video: