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Attention all NIN fans! Free album!
Oh Trent, how we love thee!
Click here for a link to a free download of NIN's new album, The Slip
Calling Interscope Records "thieves", Trent split with them in 2007 because he wanted to distribute music over the internet free or at low cost -- he suggested $4 through paypal. Trent is a smartie pants, because he knows that artists make money off concerts and touring, not the album itself. He first put out an album of video game concept music. But The Slip's an actual NIN record.
When you click the link, punch in your email and you'll get sent a link with a download code. Check your junk folder: that's where my email ended up. The mp3s will download zipped, but I tested it out and imported the tracks into itunes just peachy. They have FLACS as well for those of you who have memory to spare and want the best possible quality. This is legit. They might be building a mailing list, but I don't mind that if they're offering a service like this.
So once you've downloaded, check the touring schedule NIN has on its Myspace page and support a musical act that doesn't have its head up its ass.
Oh what the crap?!
Now that they don't have Hillary to kick around anymore, THIS happens?!
A fist bump is news?!
Telling that Michelle Obama is now the biggest Neo-con target now, not her husband, isn't it? I say neo-con and not Republican Party because I think the two things are rapidly diverging.
But... This is news!? GOD!
Summer of Geek Love Update
Wanted to update this listing because there have been quite a few additions:
ADDED Anime North, Toronto: May 23 - 25
ADDED Gregor's Crossing Medieval Faire, Chatham Ontario, Saturday May 31st
Wizard World Chicago; June 26 - 29
ADDED For environment geeks -- I'm A Believer -Benefit for the Utopia Conservation Area & Gristmill restoration project featuring Micky Dolenz / The Spoons @ the Capitol Theatre, Toronto; July 10
Paradise Toronto Comicon; Saturday July 12 - July 13
ADDED: Wonder Women of America book launch at San Diego Comicon: click here for book
A little more info on the I'm A Believer concert:
This benefit concert is to help fund the restoration of Bell's Gristmill in Utopia, Ontario (just West of Barrie). Utopia, a small community of 100 people has banded together in effort to revitalize the Utopia Conservation Area and the historic Bell's Gristmill from the 1800's. It is their dream that it will become a functioning gristmill again and an environmental resource education centre.
Micky Dolenz lends his support to this worthwhile cause by singing many of his favourite hits such as Last Train To Clarksville, Stepping Stone, I'm a Believer and others from The Monkees TV show and more!
Toronto's 80's band The Spoons will kick off the night with hits like Nova Heart, Romantic Traffic, Tell No Lies and more.
And Ed and I will be on hand at the event as well.
But what's saving one little mill in the middle of nowhere going to do? Well...
Firstly, the protected park space around it will help combat urban sprawl. Within my lifetime, the area North of Toronto has become increasingly developed by housing. While that's good for property values, it's not good for air quality, shrinking amounts of Class A farmland, or... hey, those things called trees!
But it's also about the symbol that is the mill. It's a small part of Canadian history that, without preservation efforts, will be torn down to make way for yet another subdivision. We in the GTA take for granted our access to preserved and restored historical sites, but they don't happen by accident. At some point, someone took up an initiative just like this one.
Phrases like 'sustainable growth', 'green energy', and 'reducing our carbon footprint' are thrown around a lot these days with insufficient understanding of what these terms really mean. In light of this, and the growing awareness that the environment is a great marketing gimmick for large companies, an environmental education center is a vital tool for those of us who are concerned about the fate of the planet.
Even if you don't live in Toronto, you can help by purchasing a ticket. Consider it a $50 donation to the mill.
Tickets can be purchased at click here for ticketsLabels: geek
I'm just a bill... yes I'm only a bill... and I'm sittin' here on Capitol Hill...
I've been playing Professor Layton and the Curious Village lately, so maybe I'm just seeing things from a puzzle point of view, but there's a quote in the New York Times that I've been scratching my head over.
“The only votes that come up are votes that are purposely designed to divide people. It’s true that if I’m presented with a series of votes like that, I’m more likely to fall left of center than right of center. But as president, I would be setting the terms of debate.”
This is a comment from Barack Obama, talking about how the Republicans have been running things, and how things would be different if he were president.
It's a great comment. Very inspiring and hopeful. And it would be completely true if he were the Prime Minister of Canada.
But he's not.
And it's not.
The President of the United States neither introduces bills nor makes laws. The President is a powerful figurehead and certainly influences policy, but the job is to be, pardon the cliche, the 'commander and chief': he -- I use the male pronoun because there has not yet been a female president -- is the head of the US military and upholder of American law. The President is the leader of the Executive Branch of government, which makes policy to enforce existing laws, which are made by Congress. The president has no right to force Congress to debate things in a certain way. In fact, when it comes to the passage of laws, the president has a very stark choice: to veto, or not to veto. Voting 'present' isn't an option.
So what's Obama going on about with this setting debate terms messhugas?
As a civil rights lawyer (Judicial Branch) and a legislator (Legislative Branch) I think Obama knows how the American government works. Unfortunately, MOST Americans don't know how their government works, which allows them to be swayed by nonsensical, impossible statements made by politicians. Americans are aware of their myths far more than their history, and a good example of this -- yes, I'm fully aware of the minefield I'm stepping into by bringing this one up -- is the Emancipation Proclamation.
Most Americans think of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation as the President of the United States, ol' Honest Abe, making slavery illegal. But that's not at all what it was. The Emancipation Proclamation was, in fact, an executive order, made by the President as the head of the American Military in a time of war. Slavery wasn't officially made illegal until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, a legislative act of CONGRESS, not the President. There ha been a great deal of debate among historians about the actual legality of the Emancipation Proclamation, but all of that is all legally moot, because of the Thirteenth Amendment.
Since then, executive orders which attempt to make laws instead of interpreting them have been overturned, albeit it extremely rarely. Only twice, in fact. One happened when Truman tried to nationalize the steel industry. The other happened to an executive order issued by... drumroll... Bill Clinton.
This might be why Hillary's approach to government is more 'cynical' and 'skeptical'. These symptoms of experience and practicality have become poo poo words as America struggles to pull hope out of numerous economic crises and a war that hasn't turned out like the 'shock and awe' victory they were hoping for.
To put these varying viewpoints in perspective, allow me to make a mundane analogy. I've seen a lot of would-be television professionals come out of the colleges with a ton of theory and ideology and enthusiasm. They want to be directing after a week on the job, because they think their singular vision and charisma will be the vanguard of a television revolution. They'll 'change the way television is made'!
Of course, they usually just end up getting fired. Meanwhile cynical, skeptical me keeps on making small changes within the scope of my power and influence, over a slow and painful process of many many seasons of shows. I made the same mistakes when I was twenty years old and just starting in the executive branch of television. I'm still trying to live some of them down. But I learned that to change things, one must work with the flawed and brittle system, as opposed to attempting to abolish it.
Yes, you can make revolutionary changes in individual programs, and do some really fantastic things, but change the entire process of television? There're hundreds of network execs managing the system. That like the way things work. And who are more likely to tell you to kiss their asses than listen to your ideas on remaking the entire process, because their networks will bleed money while some douchebag is trying to reinvent the wheel. So we get procedural dramas and reality tv, but the BUSINESS of television, the inner workings, still progress the same way they have since I Love Lucy was on the air.
So one could claim that simple inexperience led Obama to make his evanescent, enthusiastic declaration that he'll change the way Congress works. But this isn't the only possible motivation for Obama's statement, and isn't the one I subscribe to, since that's absolutely inexcusable ignorance and I think he's a smart guy.
He could have simply gotten carried away. He could have been outright lying. Or he might have simply misspoke and needs to refine his message. Although I don't know about that last suggestion, since he's been claiming that he can change the way Washington is run throughout his campaign.
You may believe that Obama believes he can change Washington. You may believe he's even going to try. But if you think that he and his compatriots can override hundreds of years of tradition, legalities, and constitutional boundaries, you're pissing in the ear of every president from George Washington to George W. Bush, and trying to tell them it's raining.
And you're encouraging the candidate you're backing to do something that is essentially illegal, since it's a violation of executive privilege and free speech.
I absolutely agree with Obama that partisanship is out of control. Unfortunately, "we're going to do things my way now" is just an extreme form of partisanship. Equally unfortunately, both Hillary Clinton and John McCain, ESPECIALLY John McCain, have much longer resumes of bi-partisanship and non-partisanship. In fact, McCain co-sponsored a bill that actually became the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001. The man he co-sponsored the bill with was Russell Feingold, a Democrat, hence the... yeah... 'Bipartisan' part. This alienated McCain rather severely from the Republicans before primary voters decided they'd had enough of the hard Right. The McCain-Feingold bill divided people, all right, but along money trails, not party lines.
Unfortunately, words seem to speak louder than actions in politics, and this election cycle is just politics as usual. But it's not the first time I've read some comment about government that makes my head threaten to explode from the sheer nonsense of it, and these very smart, very educated people wouldn't make these statements if they didn't think they'd get them somewhere.
It's up to American voters to understand how their government works so that they aren't swayed by nonsensical rhetoric. Someone needs to bring back Schoolhouse Rock or something.
(EDIT: Immediately after writing this blog, I discovered that a third ruling against an executive order issued by a president was overruled by the Supreme Court TODAY. President Bush was found to have had no power to tell the State of Texas to reopen the case of a Mexican on death row for the murder and rape of two teenaged girls. The ruling quoted language from the 1952 ruling against Truman.)
Press Release
Strong enough for a man...but women like it too!
Ed & Red`s Night Party! maintains ratings lead among male viewers --
and now among female viewers too!
March 6, 2008 - According to the Fall 2007 Toronto ratings data from Nielsen Media Research, Ed & Red's Night Party! continues to beat both the Tonight Show and the Late Show on Friday nights among males 18-54. This is a streak that extends back to 2001, when Citytv first began measuring Ed the Sock`s strength against that of American powerhouses David Letterman and Jay Leno.
As well, ERNP leads Leno and Letterman in all adult viewers 18-49 and 25-54.
And now for the first time in the show`s 13 years on Citytv, Ed & Red lead Leno and Letterman among female viewers in all categories - 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.
This new strength among women may be attributed to the titular `Red`, co-star and producer Liana K. A funny and vivacious redhead, Liana has provided a strong female presence on a show previously co-hosted by a procession of men. In her 4th season as Ed's comic foil, Liana's unique combination of confident sex appeal and sharp intelligent wit have earned Red her own fan following among men and women -- who have come to identify with her attitude and anti-Hollywood natural beauty.
ERNP's strong female viewership puts the lie to the notion that the show is simply tailored for frat boy audiences. While in its earlier years the program did cater to young males, the show has evolved and broadened its appeal while mediating the nudity and coarseness it had been famous (infamous) for. And this year, the show continues to grow with a slew of new features & full HD.
The continuing strength among men and solid growth among women is all the more remarkable for a show in its 16th season (13 on Citytv). 2008 represents Ed the Sock`s 21st year on Canadian TV, and the Night Party is the longest-running late night show and second longest-running comedy show in Canadian TV history. Not bad for a show that began on Toronto's tiniest (now extinct) cable access station.
Ed & Red's Night Party! is an international co-production of Kerzner/Mediarts Entertainment (Canada) and Ripe Digital Media (USA) and airs Fridays at 11:35PM and Sundays at 11:30PM on Citytv.
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Ed and Red's Summer of Geek Love
Unveiling... *fanfare*
...What we're affectionately calling the Ed and Red's Summer of Geek Love Tour! Here's our line up for the coming months:
Ad Astra, Toronto (Friday March 28 - Sunday March 30) Website Click HERE
-- Once again Ed and I will be doing opening ceremonies, and I'll be participating in the infamous Beefcake/Cheesecake event. Come get a photo or eat cheesecake for charity!
One Day CHO, Paradise Comics, Toronto (Friday April 18, 5-8PM) Webby Goodness Or the FACEBOOK group
-- If you can't make it to New York Comicon, fear not! While con-goers will be crammed in there with other sweaty guys, we'll be partying Frank Cho style! Ladies, you will not be the lone girl at this comics event!
Calgary Comics Expo (Saturday April 26 - Sunday April 27) Yee haw!
-- First chance to get your hands on Ed and Red's Comic Strip #3! MC Sean Ward will be with us for this show!
Free Comic Book Day, Happy Harbour Comics, Edmonton (Saturday May 3rd) Click dis!
-- As the name implies, lots of freebies.
Winnipeg Keycon (May 16th - 19th) Dee PEG boss, dee PEG!
-- I might be jumping the gun a little on this one because I'm not on their web page yet, but it's in the hopper. 25th year anniversary! Wow!
Wizard World Chicago (June 26th - 29th) Da CON!
-- The yearly pilgrimage. Look for us in the small press area again!
Paradise Toronto Comicon (Saturday July 12th - July 13th) <3 this show FACEBOOK
-- The one COMICS show we do in Toronto. This show is always a blast, and now with a change of venue bringing it right downtown, it'll be easier to get to!
San Diego Comicon LAND CRUISE! Departing from Edmonton, AB ( July 20th -- July 31st) KAPOW!
--Only 12 spaces left!
Pandemonium, Toronto (late August) Fortune favours the bold Adventurer!
-- My Realms Quest friends from the now-infamous LARP episode organize this show, and it's serious fun! If you're into gaming, used to play and want to get back into it, or even if you're just curious but have never played before, this is a good weekend. They're a very welcoming bunch who are kind to newbies. It's the hidden gem of the Toronto convention scene.
More to come about events, giveaways, and exclusives! Keep checking back!
Plus, don't forget the ParGar Pre-Garden Party!
(Geek) Love,
Liana K
RIP Gary Gygax
:(
Sniffle
Event!
Come one, come all!
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